The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America

Author: Albert Marrin

This was an interesting read. It is refreshing to read a story about a person I have absolutely no interest in and find commonality. Theodore Roosevelt had something about him that appeals to me. He acheived great successes in life and ignored warnings and did what he thought was good regardless.

A tough guy. A "real" man. Someone you might have wished was your father. A person you can model your self after, to show toughness, and truth at the same time.

This was a good read.

Slaughterhouse Five

Author: Kurt Vonnegut

I was told that this was a great war story... And with the title Slaughterhouse five. I was hoping that it was going to be a story about five friends who took on the German army single handed.
WRONG!
This is a story about a guy who is abducted by aliens. ?? He becomes unstuck in time and tells his story the way he flip flopped through time. It was interesting, but not a great story. I'm sure that when it was written it was cutting edge, but now I can't say that it was worth the time.

I can appreciate the fact that the story was written decades ago. It was written not to glorify war, and it did just that. But really... snore. I kept waiting for something amazing to happen.

I really don't get it. Maybe if I tried reading it again in 20 years or so? Or maybe I can't appreciate it because I have no understanding of what it means to go to war? Or live through a war? To me it is all something that happens in other places.

It is not a long book, and if you are looking for something strange and choppy to read, you should spend the time getting into this book. Otherwise, forget about it.

1984

Author: George Orwell

This was also another book that turned out to be something that I did not expect. This story was explained to me as a book that had predicted the future. The book that was written 40 years before its time. I was expecting to read about all the machines and gadgets that existed in 1984. And styles like rap music and the violence, and the freedom of religion and so on... but instead this turns out to be a story about the government controlling peoples thoughts.

Also I was a bit disappointed to find out that a large portion of the story was a romantic interlude. I guess it could have been worse. And I had to keep reminding myself that the story was written in the 40's.

I story became interesting in the end when the character was being tortured and manipulated. I found it interesting because he convinced them that he had been rehabilitated. But in truth, I don't believe that he had.

The end of the story was disappointing.

Save yourself the time and watch the movie.

Animal Farm

Author: George Orwell

This story is messed up?? Its a short read. And I think its about politics and how people are like farm animals... I think?

The story is about a farm, where the animals take over and kick out hte farmer. It goes through a series of years and you can see how the animals are eventually manipulated and treated worse than they were before they rebelled. The pigs take over and in a way abuse the rest of the animals.

It shows how we can be turned by propoganda and manipulation. The masses think they might be doing something good, when in fact they are being lied to and worked to death.

This was a strange read, and I thin there is alot more to this story than I was able to grasp.

This book woul dbe good for people that are interested in politics and how to manipulate large groups of people.

The Prince (second attempt)

Author: Niccolo Machiavelli

Second time is a charm. I had trouble getting through this the first time. It is not a story. It is an account of wisdom for the prince. It goes over the history of the time and explains the do's and don'ts of being a prince, obtaining land, ruling the people, etc.

It was a tough read. It was boring on the most part. But I can say that there was an interesting section that spoke about character and morals. As well, I found it interesting when he compared ruling by love or by fear.

This is not a story, it was about history pre 1600's. This book is interesting but not for everyone. I found out while reading this book that it is required reading for poli-sci students in university. Sucks to be them, I can't believe picking this stuff apart would be much fun.

I don't recommend this to anyone, unless they are interested in pre 1600 Italian and European history. Or the pro's and con's and the how to of being a prince.

The Call of the Wild

Written by: Jack London in 1903

A written from a dog's perspective. I thought this story was going to be lame. It turned out to be a really nice story. I thought that the dog was going to talk and communicate with other animals and that it was going to be like a Disney movie. The author was very smart when he wrote this piece of work.

The story for me was more about survival, and a call that is in each of us. The call to be more, to be better, greater... that we are a part of something larger. It was a real story. when I say this I am talking about how characters die unexpectedly and there are bad things that happen without reason.

It was a touching story at times. The dog "Buck" is a survivor. He respects the way things are, and deep inside knows that there is more. He succeeds in his endeavors and at points is holding on to a thread of life. Things are bad for him at points and at others he is in ecstasy.

I found this story very real and true to life. It was not graphic... though there were some fight sequences that go into detail. It was not disgusting. All the characters were very true to life as well. This story is great.

Into Thin Air

Written by : Jon Krakauer

This book was really interesting. I used to rock climb a bit (mostly indoors). It never interested me to climb a mountain. But after reading this book I have a spark that has begun in me, and I feel a need to get to the top of a mountain. I don't want to climb Everest... but something high.

This is a story about the author, and a trip that he took to the top of Mount Everest. It was a catastrophe. A large number of people died; it was sad. I was very compelled to understand why and how and what happened as a reader. The author did a great job explaining all of the above. He gave his account of what had happened, and it was very interesting to read. I think that he felt compelled to write this story to help himself cope with the horrible & wonderful event he experienced.

The detail in the book is magnificent, it lead me to google many beautiful images. He explained the climb in a way that any juvenile read would understand. It was an exciting and wonderful read. I felt like I was breezing through the 300 pages.

What I found most amazing in the story was how much the human spirit can withstand. And how determination and drive can compel a person to risk so much for a goal. And that success and defeat are not important in the end when lives are on the line.
I was also amazed at the descriptions of what the people involved in story could endure. Truely amazing.

The Swiss Family Robinson

Written by : Johann David Wyss in 1812

Before reading this story you have to understand that it was written for the sole purpose of educating his children. I read this book and kept wondering where the struggles and survival for life would enter the story. It was very frustrating, I couldn't believe that there was this place that a whole family would be able to live and thrive alone.

Everything they needed was available to them. And their father was a walking freakin' encyclopedia. I don't remember him ever being wrong; even when he was under the assumption of something. The family was able to build a number of homes, and they sounded alot better than the homes I've lived in during my life; even though they were in trees and in caves?? They not only saved themselves from a ship wreck, but cattle and enough animals to run a farm. Not to mention enough gun powder to last generations, guns, supplies, books, clothes... its really nutty when you think about it. It would have made more sense to just have moved to an island.

They were ship wrecked and life turned out to be better for them than anyone could ever imagine. I kept saying that the only thing they were missing was that they didn't have other people to share it with, and then BAM! people show up (and they are friendly).

You can't watch Cast Away, or read Robinson Crusoe and then expect this book to make any sense. Its just really far fetched and unbelievable. Is there a place on this planet that houses elephants, penguins, whales, seals, lions and tigers... ridiculous.

If you can accept that this is a fictional story written for the purpose of educating children almost over 200 years ago. Then I can understand the appeal to the book.

The book I had was over 500 pages and took me a number of weeks to get through.

The Road to Cana

Author: Anne Rice

This is the second book in the Christ the Lord series from Anne Rice.

It was an interesting read and a different perspective to the account in the gospels. Anne Rice has written this story from the first person of Jesus. It is intersting to read the book from that perspective. There are a number of parts to the story that make me question the story, but then I remember it is a fictional account.

One of my favorite parts of the story is when Jesus goes into the desert and gets tempted by the devil.

It was a tough read, alot of details.

Robinson Crusoe

by Daniel Defoe

This book was written back in the 1600's. I was actually suprised to find this out. I was under the impression that the story was more modern, I guess with all the updated versions, movies and tv shows made from the book.

It was a difficult read, the language was hard to get used to. what you are reading is an account and journal of the voyages of Robinson Crusoe. The first part of the book is interesting and sets a great base or foundation for an amazing adventure. Then...

There was about 100 pages of describing the steps to survival. And they are told from the perspective of a person who knows nothing. It was brutal, I can't believe I actually read the whole thing. The part about planting crops was especially a drag to get through. But thankfully at the end of the book there is more excitement. Native canibals, action, murder, and of course the conclusion.

The end of this book was realistic. There is no Walt Disney ending here. it was a refreshing look at what life is really like. Its not always what you expect, and we all need to adapt to get by.

I enjoyed this book, even though it was a difficult read. i recommend it to the reader looking for a challenge. And a great story about survival and finding salvation and nourishment in body soul and mind.

Hatchet

Author: Gary Paulson

I read this book in 2 days. It was a very easy read, and had me at the edge of my seat. I found myself in the shoes of the main character. I related alot with him. This story was great.

My wife bought me a couple books for valentine's day. I found the premis to this story interesting. After finishing the first chapter I was hooked. I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn't reading the story. It is amazing how real this story became for me.

I found myself telling my kids and my wife about the book. And they were captured in what I shared. This is a great story, and it is so short and simple. It did not surprise me that my wife told me she found it in the young adult section of the book store.

If you like stories about survival and struggle, you are going to love this book.

I reccomed this to everyone.

This is the best book I have read since I started this blog.

Out of Egypt - Christ The Lord Series

Author: Anne Rice

I read this book over about a week period. it was a slow start and hard to get into. But in the end it was worth the read.

Some of the fist books that ever got me reading for pleasure were the Vampire chronicles by Anne Rice. After reading them I found truth in Jesus and decided to give my life to Christ. When I did I decided that I was done with the vampires and reading Anne Rice. But recently I came across an interview I heard on Focus on the Family, where Anne Rice was preofessing her belief in God and Jesus. She noted that she was writing a story in the first person of Jesus. A series called Christ the Lord. Coincidentally I am interested in writing a story going back to biblical times as well, so naturally I became interested int he read.

The story is sweet and touching. It is, like I already mentioned, very confusing at first. Where gaps in the biblical story are filled. It is a fictional account of perhaps what may have occurred, based on the knowledge and interpretation of what is left for us to review. So if you don't like the guessing game I suggest you stay away from this book. I also suggest you stay away from this book if you can't imagine what if and not take what is written literally.

I believe that Anne wrote this story to make the biblical account of Jesus' life more real. I have read the bible and know the stories, and parts of it are hard to grasp. This story "out of Egypt" helps piece the story together. I don't take what Anne has written as fact, it is a nice interpretation of what might have been.

The story is about the exodus of Jesus and his family from Egypt to Nazareth. I'm sure there are people out there that had no idea that Jesus even spent time in Egypt. It is very vivid and touching at parts. You get a glimpse at what Jesus as a child might have been like. I don't agree with everything that is written, but it is a refreshing viewpoint.

I am looking forward to reading the continuing parts to this series.

It helps the reader alot to have an idea of the story from the bible before getting into this story. Also, Anne Rice is notorious for her attention to detail in historic stories. So there is alot of descrption in her story. If you can't handle it, skip it.

If you are interested in reading a story about the life of Jesus, I suggest you pick up your bible first and read the truth. This story becomes a pleasant add on afterwards.

The Time Travelers Wife

Author: Audrey Niffenegger





I read this book for two reasons. The first was that my daughter bought it for me for Christmas. The second was because I am interested in the time travel aspect of the story. It took me about 2 and a half weeks to read this story. I found it interesting that the main character traveled involuntarily through time. Without reason or control, the main character would be flashed away and sent to important or random times in the main characters life or lives of people he knew.





The story itself was a little too long. It revolved around the main character and his future wife. I thought it was going to end when the wife and the main character finally get together. But it continued into the two of them and their struggle to have a child. After that part of the story concludes it steps into more of the same until the demise of the main character. But becasue the main character traveled through time he continued to pop up even after he was dead. It was a strange story to follow. But very interesting twist in the aspect of time travel.

I found it frustrating that the main character believed that nothing could be changed. Even though he traveled through time and sometimes even spent time with himself at different ages, I thought he should be able to change something. It was a very frustrating part of the story. In retrospect, it would be a much more difficult story to follw otherwise. Since the character was unable to change things, some of the story became predictable.

There were a couple parts of this book that I would not let my children read. I thought that the story itself was harmless, but they threw in a couple of sex scenes that were pretty descriptive.

All in all, this book was too romantic for my liking. The time travel was interesting. And there were a couple parts of the story that I found exciting and unpredictable. I enjoyed the read, but would caution referring this book to a guy who likes action and violence.

The Road

Author: Cormac McArthy

I had seen the trailer for the movie before I wanted to read this book. I think there was more of a desire to finish the book before I see the movie. I have still not seen the movie. But I finished the book last night.

The book is an easy read. The dialogue is simple. I finished this book in 3 days. I could have probably finished it in one sitting, but I have things that need to be taken care of.

One thing that surprised me about this book was that there are no chapters. It was interesting to read through and still keep track of what was going on, and how much time had passed without having the breaks in the story to section and quarter the flow of the story. I can understand why the author wrote the book this way, its a journey and time is unknown to the characters in the book and so it is the same way for the reader.

This story was gripping and tense. I was talking to my wife about it and I mentioned to her that everything I didn't want to have happen, it happened! It was frustrating to read, but at the same time it gripped my attention. I learned alot about how to write and capture your audience by reading this book.

The story was very unique. There are still questions I would love to ask the author. It left me wanting more. I was very displeased with the ending, and at the same time enjoyed seeing the compassion of strangers turn into a new beginning.

The whole book makes it seem that there are no 'good guys' left in the earth. And in some instances that the characters are absolutely alone. That the only people in the earth besides them are evil.

I want to mention something else about this book. I love the fact that it is a story about a father taking care of his son. There are very few stories or role models in the world of popular culture that are willing to show this or express it. Most fathers in movies, or on tv, are deadbeats, or as dumb as a bag of nails. It was refreshing to read a story about a father that takes the responsibility to the extreme.

I really enjoyed this book. And I recommend it to anyone who might think it interesting.

Please note there are some parts of the story that may offend. There is reference to canibalism. And there is a couple scenes that are emotionally intense. This story is not intended for children.

Slaughter house Five

Author: Kurt Vonnegut

I started to read this book and couldn't keep interested. It is perhaps the way the book reads. Its about the war and I don't think I was quite ready to read a story like this right now.

I oly got to the end of the first chapter and it did not capture my attention.

I will again try to read this story at a later date.

Catcher in the Rye

Author: J.D. Salinger

I read this book over a couple weeks. It is a very easy read. The reason it took me more time reflects more on how much was going on in my life during the time I read the book.

This book is not what I expected at all. I thought it was going to be a story about something to do witht he 1800's. Something similar to the Charles Dickens stories. Something about a young boy struggleing to survive. Boy was I wrong.

The title is strange and doesn't tell alot about the story. In fact the words Catcher in the Rye is only mentioned once in the entire book. And it is referred to as an obscure strange thought.

This story is about a young man, who seems to me to be borderline delayed. The story is the adventures (if you can call daily wanderings "adventure") during a short number of days of a boy who feels ready to become a man. But as the story unfolds you realize this kid is in no way ready to venture out on his own.

I don't understand why this book is regarded as such a great literary work? It seems as if a child has written it. the whole time I was reading the book I was hoping it would lead somewhere... but it never did.

I don't recommend this book. It was very strange and pointless.