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jamestomasino's reviews
1811 reviews
Jumping Off the Planet by David Gerrold
1.0
I picked this book up at an airport minutes before a flight. It was a total panic buy. I grabbed the nearest fiction I could find so I'd have some company in flight. As I sat down in my squished middle seat I glanced over the back cover to see what the book was about.
"Sci-fi, rebelling against parents, elevator to the moon, check."
Then I tore into it. The writing wasn't anything special. It seemed that many parts of the plot were just excuses for the author to explain more about his ingenious moon elevator idea. Around halfway through the book I paused to re-read the back cover. Then I started wondering how long it was going to take before the book caught up with the synopsis.
Let me make a quick comment here about book jackets. When you read the back of a paperback or the inside jacket of a hardcover novel, you are expecting certain things as a reader. This short blurb will give you the overview of how the book is going to start and a vague idea of how it might proceed, or perhaps a lingering tension that will be paramount later in the story. These are teasers, like a movie trailer, meant to get you interested and started. They are not to be, at any time, a complete summary of everything you are about to read. After all, if that were the case, what's the point in reading the story?
So I continued the read and managed to finish it before I reached my destination. And there it was, on the very last page, that the story finally fulfilled the back cover text. Not a single surprise. Not a single new development. The book was its own spoiler.
I was pretty pissed off. Not only was the book bad, but it was ruined before I read it. Perhaps it was the middle seat on the plane, but I found absolutely nothing about this reading experience enjoyable.
In hindsight, I suppose it is a good omen for any budding authors out there. Apparently TOR doesn't set its bar very high.
"Sci-fi, rebelling against parents, elevator to the moon, check."
Then I tore into it. The writing wasn't anything special. It seemed that many parts of the plot were just excuses for the author to explain more about his ingenious moon elevator idea. Around halfway through the book I paused to re-read the back cover. Then I started wondering how long it was going to take before the book caught up with the synopsis.
Let me make a quick comment here about book jackets. When you read the back of a paperback or the inside jacket of a hardcover novel, you are expecting certain things as a reader. This short blurb will give you the overview of how the book is going to start and a vague idea of how it might proceed, or perhaps a lingering tension that will be paramount later in the story. These are teasers, like a movie trailer, meant to get you interested and started. They are not to be, at any time, a complete summary of everything you are about to read. After all, if that were the case, what's the point in reading the story?
So I continued the read and managed to finish it before I reached my destination. And there it was, on the very last page, that the story finally fulfilled the back cover text. Not a single surprise. Not a single new development. The book was its own spoiler.
I was pretty pissed off. Not only was the book bad, but it was ruined before I read it. Perhaps it was the middle seat on the plane, but I found absolutely nothing about this reading experience enjoyable.
In hindsight, I suppose it is a good omen for any budding authors out there. Apparently TOR doesn't set its bar very high.
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
4.0
Some books don't hide the fact that they're going to be epic series. This is certainly one of those. The story barely gets started by the end of the first book, which isn't short by any means. The writing is fair with decent character development. I only had a few major pet peeves, the main one being the way the supplemental characters treat the main character.
The main boy is about 14 years old through the majority of the story, but the other characters treat him like a child of 8 or 9. He is physically washed by his aunt at one point, and he is constantly guarded and scorned for playing with sharp things.
Beyond this, some of the characters seemed a little flat, which I attribute to new-writer syndrome. As this is only the first book in the series, I'm sure the depth of these characters will grow as the story does.
The main boy is about 14 years old through the majority of the story, but the other characters treat him like a child of 8 or 9. He is physically washed by his aunt at one point, and he is constantly guarded and scorned for playing with sharp things.
Beyond this, some of the characters seemed a little flat, which I attribute to new-writer syndrome. As this is only the first book in the series, I'm sure the depth of these characters will grow as the story does.
Magician's Gambit by David Eddings
2.0
This was the weakest of the Belgariad books so far. Most of the book seemed like a rambling Dungeons and Dragons game filled with random encounters and new, made-up monsters described on the spot and forgotten about just as quickly. There was a smattering of character development, the introduction of a few new party members, and a short but satisfying showdown.
I'm not really sure why the book was titled Magician's Gambit. There wasn't much of a gambit at all. Perhaps David Eddings should have named this book, "A Chorus Line of Gods and Random Monsters." At least then I'd know what I was going to run into.
The series still has life in it, though, and I'll press on. Here's to hoping book 4 is better than book 3.
I'm not really sure why the book was titled Magician's Gambit. There wasn't much of a gambit at all. Perhaps David Eddings should have named this book, "A Chorus Line of Gods and Random Monsters." At least then I'd know what I was going to run into.
The series still has life in it, though, and I'll press on. Here's to hoping book 4 is better than book 3.
Contemplatives in Action: The Jesuit Way by Robert G. Doherty, William A. Barry
4.0
In this short volume, William Barry attempts to show the many creative tensions that work in the heart of Jesuits today and through history. With roots in the founding of the society, this work expounds on the changes that have shaped and shaken the society and the hearts of individuals among its numbers and those whose development for which it has been responsible. In all things, Barry attempts to provide a fair assessment, acknowledging not only the many graces of the Jesuits, but also the many times the society has strayed from its core values, whether those be internally in its structural and hierarchical relationships, its relationship to the world, or even its relationship to God.
The book is a wonderfully written overview of what it means to be a Jesuit, and should be near the top of the reading lists for those people discerning a call to religious life within the society, or those who find their lives surrounded by those interesting individuals.
The book is a wonderfully written overview of what it means to be a Jesuit, and should be near the top of the reading lists for those people discerning a call to religious life within the society, or those who find their lives surrounded by those interesting individuals.
All Will Be Well by Julian of Norwich
4.0
This book is a short collection of 30-day meditations by Julian of Norwich. Each day has four parts: A short reading of Julian's writing, a single line that is called out for daily meditation, a reflective commentary to be read at the end of the day, and a brief prayer before sleep. I found it easiest to read the full text of each day at once and think back to whichever part was most fitting later.
Julian's writings are definitely the reason for reading. Most of the end-of-day commentaries are obvious and seem to be more filler than anything. The lines picked out for meditation are sometimes helpful, but in many cases I found myself connecting with different things in the writing more. I was never really sure if the nightly prayers were authored by Julian or the editor. Delineations in the text aren't very clear.
The most interesting thing about the book for me was the unique vision Julian has of Christ as "Mother." It evokes some beautiful imagery and some great ideas to ponder. I think the feminine aspects that she explorers would be a fun read for any feminist Christians out there, or women who are looking to find a special, holy place to live their lives in connection with Jesus.
Julian's writings are definitely the reason for reading. Most of the end-of-day commentaries are obvious and seem to be more filler than anything. The lines picked out for meditation are sometimes helpful, but in many cases I found myself connecting with different things in the writing more. I was never really sure if the nightly prayers were authored by Julian or the editor. Delineations in the text aren't very clear.
The most interesting thing about the book for me was the unique vision Julian has of Christ as "Mother." It evokes some beautiful imagery and some great ideas to ponder. I think the feminine aspects that she explorers would be a fun read for any feminist Christians out there, or women who are looking to find a special, holy place to live their lives in connection with Jesus.
The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism by Michael Himes, Michael J. Himes
4.0
This fun little book covers some of the biggest topics in Catholicism in a very brief, but interesting way. The chapters are concise (cleaned up transcriptions of video-tape presentations), clear, and offer decent scriptural examples. It might not be the most thorough review, but I would recommend it as an introductory book.