Book Reviews
These are my thoughts on some of the books that I have read.

They are mostly arranged in reverse chronological order, with the one that was read last at the top,
along with the dates that I finished reading them.

 

 

 

 

 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (8/11/10):
Amanda read this before me, as well as her mother, my sister, our neighbor, and every other woman in town it seems.  And as you can guess by the gender of the aforementioned readers, this is a very estrogen-rich book.

The story is told from three different points of view, and all of them are women.  Not only that, but 95% of the sub-characters are women too.  Taking place in the deep American South of the 1960s, it delves into the life of two black maids and one white writer who attempts to write and publish a book about their lives.  While the book was fiction, I can't help but wonder how much truth there is to the emotions, actions, roles, and experiences in it.

I have heard and read about the history of segregation and racism before, but it was gratefully never part of my life experiences.  Black kids in my schools were treated with just as much love and respect as everybody else in the class, if not more.  So while reading historical facts provides knowledge, it produced very little comprehension.  While I never disbelieved the history, I have a hard time really absorbing it as a reality.  But walking in their shoes, even if was only based on truth, gave me a whole new appreciation of what black people experienced during the trials and difficulties of racial desegregation.

As a whole, I loved this book.  It was well written, emotionally gripping, had a positive message, a slight underlying spiritual tone (for Christianity, but against hypocrisy), and epitomized the greatest reason why I love reading - to put myself in someone else's shoes and to see what life was like for them.  To gain a better understanding of different places and times.  To not only use my imagination, but to expand my knowledge of people, cultures, and events.
 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Life of Pi by Yann Martel (5/26/10):
This book was recommended by several people, including my pastor.  So I had somewhat high expectations for it.

After the main character and some of his childhood as a zookeeper's son is introduced, he experiences being present on a sinking ship, then being stranded on a lifeboat for 200+ days.  While the details of his daily struggle to survive were certainly interesting, you can imagine that time slows down significantly for someone in that sort of predicament.  Similarly, the reading felt slower for me as the reader.  It was still enjoyable, mind you.  But it wasn't one of those books that I had a hard time putting down because of the drama, action, and/or suspense.

At the end of the book, there were two possible realities that occurred, but I still don't know which one was correct. "Which is the better story?" Pi asks two men who are interviewing him.  Then after they gave him their answer he replies "Thank you.  And so it goes with God."  Huh?  Does that mean that God gave us a spectacular story to help us to remember it, but it wasn't really true?  Or does it mean that the story that we are told is the real one, but it is so weird in order to make it more interesting, palatable, and/or memorable for us? Or...?

But the last and most significant complaint I have with this book is that Pi passionately pursued all three of the world's major religions equally.  Now, while this is unique, that in and of itself is not the problem for me.  The annoying part about it is this: throughout his entire ordeal of 200+ days at sea, he doesn't really encounter or talk much about anything spiritual.  All three of these religions, Hindu, Islam, and Christianity are different in some very significant ways.  Yet Pi never attempts to seek the answers, the Truth?  Heck, even if he chooses not to sort out what the Truth really is, I would think he would have some awesome moments of prayer and/or reflections with God!  But he doesn't! 

To summarize, I think that while it was certainly a unique story that I did enjoy overall, it was still a bit of a let down.
 

The Falcon and the Snowman by Robert Lindsey (4/27/10): 
I picked up this book at my work, when the library was getting rid of it.  To me, the most intriguing aspect of this story is that it actually occurred at TRW in San Jose.  Not only is that just a couple of hours away from here, but the facility of Northrop Grumman that I work at was previously owned by TRW, before they were acquired by NG.  So while the connection between my life and the plot in this book is tenuous at best, there is still some there.

Having worked in a high-security environment, the first thing that fascinated me was how lackadaisical TRW used to be regarding the decisions about who to hire and how closely (or not) they monitor the activities of those individuals.  Things have changed a lot since then, and probably largely due to the series of events that are told about in this book.

This book covered the complete story of the two main characters, from their affluent upbringing to their major influences, then to their espionage activities, through their trial, and even beyond.  It wasn't as action packed as a Robert Ludlum novel, but it was certainly more realistic.

I wouldn't say it was a great novel and/or story.  But non-fiction is always a more interesting read (or movie) to me, so I'm still really glad I read it.  In fact, it's inspired me to read a story or see a movie about Robert Hanssen someday.

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (1/26/10):
I remember this book receiving rave reviews when it first came out.  Amanda was able to borrow and read it at around that time, but I was still in graduate school and didn't have the luxury of reading for pleasure.  Recently though, when talking about the newly released movie with a friend from church, he offered to lend me his copy of the book.  So here, at long last, was my chance.

Was it all it was built up to be though?  It was definitely a really good book, with a unique angle of narration and some very interesting scenes and characters.  My only gripe would be with the author's perspective on heaven and the afterlife - there were just too many questions that the book leaves not only unanswered but even unmentioned.  But then again I also recognize that that is not the intent of the story.  Just let it go Michael, just let it go.

I think the biggest reason why I (and probably the critics) liked this book though is that it was not only unique, but unpredictable.  I thought I knew what the ending would be and where some of the characters would end up well in advance of the ending.  But it threw me for a loop on many levels, while still leaving me satisfied with the conclusion.
 

Monster by Frank Peretti (9/13/09): 
I really loved the book that Frank Peretti is most famous for - This Present Darkness (link is to my review).  But when my friend Brian offered to let me read this one when he was done, I'll admit I was a little reluctant, mainly because a)I've never heard of it, and b) the title made me think of a cheap B-movie.  That being said, the first chapter was a great way to hook me - a very intense scene takes place in it that left me with goose bumps.

After that, the book was definitely different than anything else I have read - telling a very weird, but interesting story about bigfoot-like creatures.  In the end, the whole premise behind this odd but enjoyable book is basically to make numerous arguments against evolution.  And as with This Present Darkness, Mr. Peretti does a pretty good job of using the readers imagination and visualization to help make his points.

While this was definitely not in the league of his "..Darkness" novels, it was still a well told, interesting story and also a fairly effective way to get his points across too.
 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

   

 

 The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (8/8/09):
At nine hundred and eighty three pages, this book was pretty lengthy.  Nonetheless, I loved almost every minute and page of it.

The best part about it, as with probably any good book, was the characters.  The benefit of a book this size is that it allows the reader to follow the characters' lives through many years and many life adventures.  There were probably a dozen or so main characters that the author allowed us to follow through various ages, stages, and levels of interaction with each other's lives.  Ken masterfully led them through a myriad of joyous, suspenseful, and frustrating moments, but he was keen enough to avoid making the suspense so thick as to be torturous or annoying.  Their adventures were different enough to be intensely interesting, but not unbelievable or ridiculously heroic.  It also had a sufficient quantity of tragedies to make the story more believable, but not enough to give the plot a feeling of overwhelming dread.

I also found the time period of the story took immensely interesting.  It was easy to become engrossed in the battles, politics, architecture, settings, and stories of 12th century England, and some other parts of Europe too.  Many of the situations and circumstances were distinctly unique to the era and the locale, which made it feel like a bit of an educational experience too.

Even the conclusion of the book wrapped things up nicely.  My only gripe is that the main villian was allowed to get away with more throughout the story than I found reasonable or believable, although it did help make the end more gratifying.  The other protagonists also arrived at a gratifying conclusion.

I think Mr. Follett achieved an fantastic balance of every aspect of a great story.  And I am grateful to have read his work of literature.
 

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio (4/29/09): 
I'm not sure really what to write about this book.  I guess it was mildly interesting.  In the end it was redeeming, especially from a Christian perspective.  I never really felt engulfed in it though. It very well could be due to the gender and age gap, since the main character was a 12 year old girl.

If I were to extract a message from the story, it would be that no matter how bad life seems to be as a kid, it will in all probability improve with age.  Or maybe this:  Although you may think you are cursed, when you finally get over your own selfishness and pride to submit to God's will for your life, then you will become a blessing to many.

Taking the message into consideration makes it better, to be sure.  But while I liked it, I still didn't love it.  It wasn't a complete waste of time, but I would have rather read something else.
 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 Combat Corpsman by Greg McPartlin (4/11/09):  I noticed this book sitting on a bookshelf at my in-law's house.  We were there visiting them in Ohio and it looked interesting, so my father-in-law let me borrow it.

I was actually in the middle of reading a book called Icy Sparks, about a 12 year old girl (it's a hand-me-down from Amanda, as usual). I wanted to finish that one first, but after reading the first few pages of Combat Corpsman, the manly part of me craved the content of the new book.

So I let the manliness flow, and I'm really glad that I did.  What a great book.

It wasn't anything fancy, just memoirs of this guy's life up to and through his service in Vietnam.  But what an interesting bunch of tales he tells.  I never did join the military, although it certainly would have been the smart thing to do when I was an undirected youth fresh out of high school.  But it was nice to get a feel for what the most elite branch of the service, the NAVY SEALs, experienced in the Vietnam war.

And I certainly don't mind an additional testosterone boost now and then.
 

The Ha-Ha by Dave King (1/30/09):  I'll be honest - I almost didn't read this book because of the dumb title.  But Amanda had already read it and thought it was good, and the story did sound interesting.  So I gave it a try.

This book had a pretty decent cast of characters.  They were unique and unusual, but not annoying or unbelievable.  The main character, Howard/Howie, was likeable and easy to embrace. 

I enjoyed the story too, but it was a bit disappointing in several ways.  First of all, although Howie had more than his fair share of struggles, and he did his best to deal with them, he never really tried to solve or overcome them.  Or at least not when we meet him.  So while I enjoyed seeing things from his perspective, it was difficult for me to relate to him.

But my biggest disappointment with the story was that through all of his struggles, Howard never sought spiritual help.  He did come close to praying once, at his lowest personal point in the story.  But it was just a tease and he never actually crossed that bridge.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man by Tim Allen (12/30/08):  I bought this book at the same garage sale (and price) as Sein Language.  And while I don't think it was terribly funny, I did like the autobiographical nature of it.  It was interesting to learn a bit of history behind the comedian and his paths to success. 

And while I think Seinfeld's humor is generally funnier, Allen's frankness and transparency makes this book much more appealing to me.

 


The Shack by William P. Young (11/3/08):  My mom purchased this book for me after having it recommended to her by numerous people and after finding out that the waiting list at the library was about 20 people long.

The plot starts out pretty heavy, with a traumatic incident happening to the main character's (Mack) daughter.  Having a daughter myself, I found myself admittedly getting watery-eyed during some of the more painful parts of the book.

Then, throughout the course of the story, the main character gets the opportunity to directly ask God many of the questions that often stand as obstacles in people's minds and/or hearts in coming to faith, or in growing in their faith.  In doing so, the author tackles with amazing clarity various issues that plague both Christians and non-Christians alike regarding God. One example is in reconciling how and why we experience deep hurt and pain when there is a loving, all-powerful God that could have prevented it.

The Shack presented the trinity nature of God and what he desires in His relationship with us, in a way that This Present Darkness presented spiritual warfare.  It gives a wonderful sense of reality and comprehension to what I already knew as a mental truth.  In other words, it gave me a much greater understanding through fictional visualization what I already understood with my mind.

I believe that this book would be an absolutely enlightening and encouraging read for anyone who either is a Christian, or has pondered questions about Christianity.  Basically, if you have any concept of God and are familiar with Christian premises, then definitely go pick up a copy of The Shack.
 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

   

 


 

 Sein Language by Jerry Seinfeld (10/30/08):  I found this book at a garage sale for $1.  This book is basically Seinfeld's stand up routine - only in print.  He covers many of life's topics, with a few paragraphs about each, and with each paragraph usually being a separate joke.  The benefit to this is that I do enjoy his stand up routines.  The bad thing is that although some of the content is about his life growing up and the influence of his family (mainly his father), it doesn't give you much more depth into who Mr. Seinfeld really is.

While I enjoyed this book and got a few laughs out of it, reading Jerry's comedy is definitely not as funny as watching him present the material.  But the price was right, and the format of it makes for great bathroom reading.

 


Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (8/16/08):  I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book.  Amanda had read it before me, but it had been a while and she had forgotten what it was about.  Having read it though, I would say though that it's an odd book that fits somewhere between apologetics, an autobiography, and an attempt to change the current Christian conservative culture.

Some of what he said resonated with me, especially since it's not uncommon for me to find myself disagreeing with my ultra-conservative friends about issues of theology or practical applications of Christianity.  And I think if these ideas were to be more common, people would find themselves much more drawn to people who call themselves followers of Christ, and therefore much more drawn to what we believe.

All of that to say that the stories about Mr. Miller's life and spiritual journey were both entertaining and enlightening.  He is a good thinker and a gifted writer.  I think I would definitely recommend this book to people sitting on the fence about  Christianity.  He explains the general concepts of sin and faith in a simple and practical manner.  And he represents another side of Christ's followers that most people don't get to see.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 The Chip by T.R. Reid (7/22/08):  My dad found this book at a sale that the Nashville Public Library was holding, and thought I might find it interesting.  He sent it to me while I was busy with grad school though, so I didn't read it until recently (many years later), when I was looking for a new book to read and came across it again.

It tells the story of how the microchip was invented and the problems that it was intended to overcome.  It also gives a great deal of detail about the men who participated in it's invention and the growth of the industry on an international scale. 

Many times I found myself telling Amanda with great excitement about little facts and stories that were presented in this book.  Of course, she would respond by blinking her eyes with boredom, shaking her head in sympathy and then continuing on with whatever task she was previously involved with.  So maybe this book isn't for people with little or no interest in technology.

But I originally expected this book to be fairly boring to me too, and while I won't say that it was as interesting as a James Patterson novel, it was far better than I expected.   Truthfully, I wish I would have read it before I started college.  I believe it would have inspired me to a greater level of interest in my field and even learning in general.  In fact, I would go so far as to say that it should be required reading for anyone considering a career in the Electrical Engineering field.
 


Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (7/22/08):  My dad recommended this book to me when he was still alive.  So when I noticed it in a store before going on a camping trip to Colorado, I bought it and read most of it while on the trip.

This book is one man's memoirs about the experiences, stories, and life philosophies that his favorite college professor shared with him during the last months of his life.  It's a quick read, with short chapters and many heart wrenching moments.  It will most likely either change your life's outlook or renew it.  A highly recommended read.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen (1/23/08):  This book had a fascinating and unusual plot and setting. It revolves around a young man who winds up in a traveling circus after having his life basically fall apart. I found it very easy to become engrossed in his experiences, and it was especially enjoyable because it felt like being behind the scenes of the big top and the escapades that surround it.

The biggest detractor of the story though (without giving away too many details) is the immorality that is exhibited by numerous characters, including the main one. The author attempts to provide excuses, but there really isn't enough, in my mind, to justify it.

I thought it was especially interesting that the author is a woman, given that she seemed to write so vividly and accurately from a man's perspective. Also, as a bonus many of the scenes in the book are apparently based on real, if not embellished, stories that the author acquired during her research for this book.
 


Peace Like A River by Lief Enger (10/04/07):  This was a great fiction book.  The story was unique and compelling, as were the characters. It had a strong underlying Christian theme, but I don't think that it was a "Christian" book. Or was it?

The way the narrator described observing his father's relationship with God was really interesting and inspirational. I can only hope and pray that my children will see my Christian life with some semblance to it.  Excellent indeed.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

                   


London Bridges by James Patterson (2/17/06):  Sure, I enjoyed reading part two of the 'Wolf' saga (part one was The Big Bad Wolf, reviewed below).  In this second episode, the wolf is portrayed as even more ruthless and powerful.  He kills everyone who can possibly identify him, even his closest friends.  He undergoes extensive plastic surgery without any anesthetics.  So basically he has no emotions and feels no pain.

The journey to finally find the wolf was fun, but the ending seriously sucked in my opinion.  Alex (the main character) would have and should have been shot by him in the end pursuit.  It was completely weak and unbelievable, especially since we're led to believe that this guy is completely ruthless.  It's almost as if the author made his own bad guy so untouchable that he couldn't really think of a way to bring him down, but the book was getting long and the series needed to end, so he just added an ending to it.  I enjoyed reading it, but it was a far second to the first one.
 


Babyhood by Paul Reiser (5/24/05):  Knowing we were going to have a child, several of our baby owning friends recommended this book to us, which we found at a goodwill store for cheap.  I found this to be excellent bathroom reading, as each chapter is a brief interlude of an outlook on various aspects of pregnancy and early parenthood.  So you can easily read a chapter a day and just as easily get a smile, a snicker, or even an outright laugh out of most of them.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    


Give Me A Break by John Stossel (5/24/05):  A co-worker recommended this book to me and then encouraged me to borrow his copy.  I reluctantly agreed, as I was already reading several other books at the time.  The sad truth is, I had never even heard of John Stossel or seen him on 20/20 before.  As soon as I got through the first chapter or two though, I was hooked.  He presents various viewpoints and opinions on a very wide range of topics, primarily based on his reporting and research.

Although I probably agreed with most of his perspectives already, I would dare say that I have a hard time believing that anyone can read through this book without being affected and inspired with regards to many aspects of our society and government.  He outlines his experiences and attempts to persuade in an impressively straightforward and convincing manner.  I now plan on buying my own copy, then recommending and loaning it to my friends, just as Joel (my co-worker) did for me.
 


The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson:  While Amanda has read quite a few James Patterson books, this one is my first.  The story takes place as Alex Cross (the main character) begins working for the FBI after an illustrious career with the Washington PD.  For his first assignment, they are tracking down the participants in a slave trade ring, where people are purchased, then kidnapped for the usage of and then discarded by the individuals that requested them. 

It's a riveting story with really interesting characters, both good and bad.  It ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger though, which to me is not a bad thing.  I can readily say that I am really looking forward to the next installment in this Alex Cross saga.  If you like fiction and/or suspense, then you'll like this book.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 


The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas:  I read the book a while ago, but I'm writing the review now because the movie is out.  It is a long but quite enjoyable story of one man's journey from rags with one identity, to riches and revenge with another.  The majority of the book details the main character's extensive schemes of revenge.  While there were moments that it was hard to follow what was going on, it was neat to see how much he improved himself and to wonder how he would apply his superiority to accomplish his ultimate goal.  I enjoyed it and would suggest reading it.
 

The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deamer: Very different and interesting.  I had no idea that there was so much strategy, science, and analysis to the literary branch of forensics.  The added relationship story wasn't overplayed.  The characters were well developed.  The story was mostly believable (there were some parts that were far fetched, but that's to be expected).  It was a nice change from the usual cop vs. bad guy book.  I liked and would recommend it.
 

Easy Prey by John Sandford:  Overall, a secular testosterone novel.  By this I mean that the main character was an independently wealthy tough guy who possessed rugged, even slightly battle scarred good looks, a nice house, a Bronco, and a Porsche.  When he wasn't working on the case, he spent his time trying to figure out which woman to decide to have sex with, or maybe even a relationship.  Basically the world was his playground.  The various people skills he employed in progressing through the solution of the case was the only redeeming quality in the book.  But not enough for my recommendation.
 

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis:  An interesting perspective of the afterlife.  This fairly short book presents many people after death, going through the process of choosing something, or somewhere, besides heaven.  Their own earthly tendencies keep them from getting, or once they're present, from staying in heaven.  If they make it there, people who have previously passed away attempt to persuade them, to get them to understand that they're better off there, to rid themselves of certain of their earthly personality traits so they can stay.  I know it sounds odd, and it is, but pleasantly so.  I'd definitely recommend it.
 

Les Miserable by Victor Hugo:  This is quite possibly my favorite book of all time.  I read it a long time ago, but the general idea sounds a lot like The Count of Monte Cristo (below), so I figured I'd write about it now.  This story follows one man's journey from rags to riches, with one identity to then another (like below).  One of the great things about this book though, is how it mirrors and models the process of becoming a Christian, and the lifestyle of living as one.  The battle of the main character isn't for revenge, but to live a righteous life while also taking care of his daughter and protecting them both from his past.  Liked it.  Loved it.  Read it if you get a chance.
 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis:  What a fantastic book about the principles of Christianity from a non-Biblical perspective!  The gospel and other Christian issues are presented in a way that makes it clear and logical by using general human characteristics and analogies.  It's fairly short in length, but deep enough to make you want to take your time to think through his ideas.  I've scanned several pages from his book and linked them to the web pages of my thoughts which are applicable.
 

The Testament by John Grisham:  I've read quite a few John Grisham books by now, and this one ranks maybe in the top-middle of them as far as my preferences go.  I liked exploring one of the central themes, which was the psychological effect that obtaining a large sum of unclaimed (for tax purposes) money could have on an otherwise normal, logical, law abiding individual.  I also appreciated the non-definitive conclusion at the end, knowing that in a year from the ending, the main character will know the final outcome of his discovery.
 

This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti:  I've heard that this book was a popular read among Christians.  I don't know where we even got the book from, but seeing it on our shelf, I decided to give it a try.  Well, it didn't take long into the book to see why it's so popular.  As a fictional work, it portrays the spiritual realm in a way that is perhaps far fetched, but quite possibly somewhat accurate.  The concept of spiritual warfare isn't a new one for anyone who has spent a decent amount of time in church or reading the Bible.  Reading it though, and hence visualizing it in a story format really caused me to have a greater conviction of what effect spiritual forces and battles could have on the physical world.  It truly inspired me to become more passionate about prayer and to look at the problems and difficulties of this world with a different perspective.
 

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates: At times frustrating. I love her descriptive style of writing and intense character development.  However, there were moments when I literally skipped a chapter to come back to it later because she skipped around in the story so much, going back to a previous moment in history to give insight to a relationship that didn't really matter in that point of events.  In the end though, most of the characters redeemed themselves and I was happy to have read it.  I also appreciate the ways that she presents the religion (or lack thereof) of her characters into very complex and difficult circumstances of life.
 

 Wild at Heart by John Eldredge: A must read for all Christian men.  The author describes (accurately, in my opinion) how the Christian culture has weakened the fighting spirit and attempts to all but eliminate the manliness of men in the church.  He explains the necessity for us, as men, to take our natural desire for adventure and not only keep it active in our everyday lives, but also and more importantly to apply it to our spiritual lives.  In essence, to approach Christianity as a battle that we must fight.  This book is a rally call to pick up our weapons (the Bible, prayer, etc) and gather the soldiers (fellow Christian men) in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones from, and eventually conquer the enemy that would have us fall.  In the end, it's not only spiritually inspirational, but is also an encouragement to search for our passions and pursue them, while trusting in God to guide in that pursuit.

 

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