Review: Yesterday's Gone: Season One

Yesterday's Gone: Season One by Sean Platt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun read. Serialized so its long. Which means still not sure what the cause of the catastrophe is. Hopefully in season 2.

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Review: Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End by Manel Loureiro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very good zombie end of the world story although its a bit light on hope. Danger mayhem and fear for 90% of the story.

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Review: The Map of Time

The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't really like this book about 1/3 of the way through. It's broken into 3 sections and after the first I began to feel cheated. But I plowed on to the second section and things didn't seem to be getting better. Until section two turned into a lovely little story and the threads that tie all three sections are revealed. The final third is a mind blowing and thought provoking bow tie that wraps the whole novel.

Really well done. Helps is your a fan of h.g. Wells but that's not mandatory.

Recommend highly.

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Review: Inferno

Inferno by Dan Brown
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'll write a longer review sometime later but I think this summarizes:

In a strange reversal, lets hope the inevitable film is better than the book.

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Review: The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book that started it all. And a classic of fantasy.

For those who have never read it, most highly recommended.

If you are familiar with the Lord of the rings, the hobbit merely sets the stage. On many levels it is a happier story: it's villains not as villainous as those in the Lord of the rings: bad rather than evil. A good introduction for a young reader to the world of middle earth.

I've probably now read this three or four times and each time enjoy it more

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Review: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

a bit geeky, good story with good pacing, well written. although final solution is a bit obvious.

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Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book that you will either love or not. I am in the latter category. I found its plot slow and thin and considered abandoning it several times. I did finish it, and found the last third of the story pick up significantly.

There has been a lot of praise for this book and I can understand why, its a bit "arty" and presents the reader with a mood and style that is unique. Ms. Morgenstern is clearly a talented writer. However, like I said - its either your cup of tea or not.

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Review: Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thee ultimate geek read. Really well done.

look its not Shakespeare but its a great quick fun read.

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Review: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fun read.

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Review: Survivors

Survivors by James Wesley, Rawles
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Read the author's first book, patriots. Typical christanist/survivalist fare. Despite that, was interesting read. This is the sequel/prequel and its just not as good. Fills in some gaps from the first book but just not as well written.

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Review: The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen

The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen by Thomas Caplan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really good thriller. Recommend.

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Review: A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Better than than the last book, not as much history and flashbacks but still long. The quicker pacing made the length bearable plus there was plenty of action. However, I'm now 4 books into this story and the author keeps killing off or leading into dead ends all the sympathetic characters. I'm wondering if I even want to continue with this series. Perhaps, it would just be best to watch the HBO treatment of the story. Can't say that I am a fan of the author's decision to make book 4 and book 5 separate books of the same story time frame. After book 3 nearly 1/2 the characters disappear in book 4 until book 5 when there story will be told. Since I already own book 5, I guess I'll give it a shot.....

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Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Slow to get moving, tough to follow the jargon and gives proof to fact that the British and the Americans are 2 people's separated by a common language. That said, it is what everyone says it is : a masterful spy story.

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Review: 11/22/63

11/22/63 by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really good. Recommend.

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Review: A Storm of Swords

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow. Incredibly long. Quite a slog. More than once I considered giving up but like on occasion, there are sections that fly and sing and move the great narrative forward. Unfortunately, it seems that after two great books in the traditon of Tolkein, Martin decided that he had forgotten in the first two portions of the series to spew forth for long passages on history and song and ancillary storylines. Guess he decided to make up for it here. This book could have been half the length.

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Review: Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, regardless of how much you know about Jobs or Apple this is a really thorough bio. However, since I have followed apple and jobs since 1983, many of the stories in this book are well known to those who followed him and Apple. Also, most of the best bits have been put out in the media over the last several weeks. I was also struck by the fact that, as an apple watcher, how many of the "rumored" stories were either true or mostly true.

The real insight here is the fact that Jobs provided 40 interviews to Isaacson so you get to hear his take on his life. That said, I would have liked to see a bit more independent analysis from Isaacson. Its clear he likes Jobs but he never really takes a critical eye to Jobs' place in history. Isaacson is rightly critical of Jobs' personality flaws, but as to his technical and business decisions (many of which I think were right) - not so much. Perhaps that has to come when some more perspective has been gained by time and by someone more grounded in technology. That said, definitely worth the read.

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Review: A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings

A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kind of a long slog, not as good as the first book of the series. Martin feels the need to alternate each chapter between characters making it tough to maintain continuity of the story, especially given the number of characters he parades in and out of each scene. Also, he uses the second book to impart the backstory he missed in the first.

Where the first book seems written for the screen, this one is going to be tough for the HBO crew to translate for the series.

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Review: A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2 thoughts: really well written story, equal to Tolkein, without all the unpronounceable poems. Thought #2: the hbo series was damn near 100% faithful to the book.

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Back to blogging?

It's been a while since I have updated this blog. The reason I had left it alone for so long is that I began to use Twitter. Twitter, combined with google reader's "share with note" feature is a great way to "micro blog". Add in facebook and you suddenly have a pretty full featured communication/social/content creation tool.

The problem? As you would expect - limitations. 140 characters is not always the best way to express ideas/thoughts/commentary.

So, back to blogging. At least on occasion.

So, even though the last post to this blog was back in 2008, you can still find out what's been happening since then via my shared feed on google reader or my tweets.

Only good news for NJ tonight:

AP just called the race in NJ, but there is good news.

Cory Booker can now run for Gov. in 2013.

wiki entry