Recent Reviews
3.0 stars
Regardless of how much of this story is true and how much of this story is fabricated, it is still a raw, terse tale of the fight against addiction.
4.0 stars
“When Richard Merlin first sets eyes on Serena Smyth - the bedraggled sixteen-year-old runaway who shows up on his doorstep - he can sense the barely restrained power within her. Guided by pure instinct, Serena has come over three hundred miles in order to find a Master Wizard to teach her a forbidden art. For Serena's sake Richard will teach her his art, despite a taboo so ancient that the reasons for its existence are all but forgotten.
Nine years later, Richard never expects to risk all that he had and all that he is in order to save Serena, and in the process find a love none of his kind had ever experienced. Richard and Serena's quest will bring them back in time to a lost civilization called Atlantis and will test their faith in and love for each other. I give this time travel romance four stars. (read less)
“When Richard Merlin first sets eyes on Serena Smyth - the bedraggled sixteen-year-old runaway who shows up on his doorstep - he can sense the barely restrained power within her. Guided by pure instinct, Serena has come over three hundred miles in order to find a Master Wizard to teach her a forbidden art. For Serena's sake Richard will teach her his art, despite a taboo so ancient that the reasons for its existence are all but forgotten.
Nine years later, Richard never expects t... (read more)
4.0 stars
If you are a DBA who has just been assigned to manage a Unix-based system for the first time in your career: get this book. Forget all the (great) general Linux/Unix/shell scripting books for now. Don't even think the Oracle docs will teach you what you need to know. Oracle Shell Scripting: Linux and UNIX Programming for Oracle (Oracle In-Focus series) is what you need!
More at http://pratalife.blogspot.com/
4.0 stars
I stumbled upon Hot Pink Flying Saucers and Other Clouds in Kinokuniya last week. This is a mischievous little "gift book" with some 30 utterly amazing pictures of "clouds that look like things". I had to get it, despite the fact that the 3" x 5" format just doesn't do the subject justice. If anything deserved to be a full size coffee table book, this is it!
The book is produced by the Cloud Appreciation Society, and a magical gallery of images is available on their website. It truly reinvigorates your faith in mankind's inner child that organisations such as this exist.
More at http://pratalife.blogspot.com/
I stumbled upon Hot Pink Flying Saucers and Other Clouds in Kinokuniya last week. This is a mischievous little "gift book" with some 30 utterly amazing pictures of "clouds that look like things". I had to get it, despite the fact that the 3" x 5" format just doesn't do the subject justice. If anything deserved to be a full size coffee table book, this is it!
The book is produced by the Cloud Appreciation Society, and a magical gallery of images is available on their website. It t... (read more)
4.5 stars
I love Sarah Vowell's literary voice. I really enjoyed her dry humor in each and every one of her anecdotes about everything from history, to politics, to life experiences as a twin.
4.0 stars
This book is a series of anecdotes from the life of advice columnist, Amy Dickinson. The story centers less around the "Queens" of the title and more around the men in Amy's life that have left, her father and her (ex)husband. The whole tale is told in an endearing fashion without a trace of bitterness and leaves you rooting for both Amy and her daughter at the end.
5.0 stars
I actually loved this book. I enjoyed Dante and Abby a lot. There were some really funny parts between the two. I read the book in only a few hours. I couldn't put it down. This one is a keeper. I can't wait to read the next installment in this Trilogy. I think Viper's story is next...?
4.0 stars
The Aviary Gate is a story of two romances. One takes place in ancient Constantinople, the other takes place in present day Istanbul. Elizabeth Staveley is our modern day heroine who stumbles across part of a letter detailing the story of Celia Lamprey, a young woman who was captured and sold into slavery. The story alternates between Elizabeth's trip to Istanbul (taken to further research Celia's story), and Celia's adventures in the sultan's harem in Constantinople. Overall I found both stories very interesting and entertaining. (read less)
The Aviary Gate is a story of two romances. One takes place in ancient Constantinople, the other takes place in present day Istanbul. Elizabeth Staveley is our modern day heroine who stumbles across part of a letter detailing the story of Celia Lamprey, a young woman who was captured and sold into slavery. The story alternates between Elizabeth's trip to Istanbul (taken to further research Celia's story), and Celia's adventures in the sultan's harem in Constantinople. Overall... (read more)
2.0 stars
I was very disappointed by this book. The ending of Left Behind led me to believe this book would be quite a bit more than it was. There was very little action or suspense in this book, it was mostly a character driven novel about the 4 main characters getting jobs, falling in love, and feeling overwhelmed by what is to come. It does pick up a bit at the very end to set up the next book, but I'm not willing to take the bait.
0.0 star
"Love will find you when you least expect it," Ellie said softly.