3.24.2005
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1122 pgs hardcover
Amazon website
Overall Grade: A+
Sherlock Holmes is the bomb. I can't think of anything more enjoyable in the mystery dept. than his sardonic, quiet way of detecting. This anthology has ALL Doyle's works about Holmes, including all of the novels and all of the short story collections. I have to say that out of all of them, I only figured out two before they were explained out.
Anyway, for those who may have never heard/read of Sherlock Holmes before (and where the ^*&* have you been if you haven't?!), these stories are about the turn of the 20th-century British detective called Sherlock Holmes who investigates crimes & other odd cases merely for the mental challenge involved in solving them. He uses a fair amount of forensics for his day as well, and science is always cool. Most of the stories are written from the perspective of, and thus involve, his friend Dr. John Watson, who shares the reader's view of being completely baffled by most of Holmes' detecting and marvelled by how he makes connections and solves things. Good reads all.
Amazon website
Overall Grade: A+
Sherlock Holmes is the bomb. I can't think of anything more enjoyable in the mystery dept. than his sardonic, quiet way of detecting. This anthology has ALL Doyle's works about Holmes, including all of the novels and all of the short story collections. I have to say that out of all of them, I only figured out two before they were explained out.
Anyway, for those who may have never heard/read of Sherlock Holmes before (and where the ^*&* have you been if you haven't?!), these stories are about the turn of the 20th-century British detective called Sherlock Holmes who investigates crimes & other odd cases merely for the mental challenge involved in solving them. He uses a fair amount of forensics for his day as well, and science is always cool. Most of the stories are written from the perspective of, and thus involve, his friend Dr. John Watson, who shares the reader's view of being completely baffled by most of Holmes' detecting and marvelled by how he makes connections and solves things. Good reads all.
Labels: genre: fiction, media: book
Unabridged Christianity
Biblical Answers to Common Questions About the Roman Catholic Faith
by Fr. Mario P. Romero, 368pgs paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A
While not the most entralling read of your year, this book is definitely a must-read for Catholics. Especially if you are tired of feeling stumped when asked to justify your faith. It is one of my personal pet-peeves and this books offers great chapters on questions that always get asked about sola scriptura, the Holy Eucharist, Mary, the Pope and more. Not only will you come away with rational arguments, but the references from the Bible & early Church writers to back you up!
by Fr. Mario P. Romero, 368pgs paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A
While not the most entralling read of your year, this book is definitely a must-read for Catholics. Especially if you are tired of feeling stumped when asked to justify your faith. It is one of my personal pet-peeves and this books offers great chapters on questions that always get asked about sola scriptura, the Holy Eucharist, Mary, the Pope and more. Not only will you come away with rational arguments, but the references from the Bible & early Church writers to back you up!
Labels: genre: non-fiction, media: book
3.05.2005
Shadow of the Giant
by Orson Scott Card, 363 pgs, hardcover
Series: spinoff series from Ender's Game; Shadow series #4
Amazon website
Overall Grade: A
Wow, first time I've finished something in quite a while! Anyway, this is the last book in the series about Bean, from the "Enderverse" or alternatively spun-off from the "Ender's Game" books which makes more sense. So 'Giant' is really about the last year or so of Bean's life, ie. closure for most of the plot points developed earlier in the series. (In case you don't remember, Bean & Petra have children, sort of, and Peter Wiggin aka the Hegemon is trying to unite the world in peace, unfortunately, the half of the world wants war) So this has some very satisfying endings to be sure. I love what happens to Petra near the end of the book. Absolutely beautiful & unabashedly romantic (in a non-cheesy way). There are also some nice throw-ins to remind us of the merge into the Earth & characters we know later on (chronologically) from 'Speaker for the Dead' et.al. For example, if the name Jane means anything to you, you're in for a treat.
Also of note is the minute subplot that only appears twice in the whole novel. You'll know when you get to it & its nice to know that Card is leaving himself another opportunity to return to the "Ender'" sandbox of his imagination & with the possibility of future castles (books).
Overall warm, fuzzy feeling at the end of this one. So do pick up & read if you've followed the Ender/Bean cycle thus far...if you haven't or haven't read all of them, it is definitely the case where you need to get caught up before you grab the latest one.
Cheerio!
Series: spinoff series from Ender's Game; Shadow series #4
Amazon website
Overall Grade: A
Wow, first time I've finished something in quite a while! Anyway, this is the last book in the series about Bean, from the "Enderverse" or alternatively spun-off from the "Ender's Game" books which makes more sense. So 'Giant' is really about the last year or so of Bean's life, ie. closure for most of the plot points developed earlier in the series. (In case you don't remember, Bean & Petra have children, sort of, and Peter Wiggin aka the Hegemon is trying to unite the world in peace, unfortunately, the half of the world wants war) So this has some very satisfying endings to be sure. I love what happens to Petra near the end of the book. Absolutely beautiful & unabashedly romantic (in a non-cheesy way). There are also some nice throw-ins to remind us of the merge into the Earth & characters we know later on (chronologically) from 'Speaker for the Dead' et.al. For example, if the name Jane means anything to you, you're in for a treat.
Also of note is the minute subplot that only appears twice in the whole novel. You'll know when you get to it & its nice to know that Card is leaving himself another opportunity to return to the "Ender'" sandbox of his imagination & with the possibility of future castles (books).
Overall warm, fuzzy feeling at the end of this one. So do pick up & read if you've followed the Ender/Bean cycle thus far...if you haven't or haven't read all of them, it is definitely the case where you need to get caught up before you grab the latest one.
Cheerio!
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: scifi, media: book, series: Ender's Game, series: Ender's Shadow
