jeffphilly's reviews
236 reviews

Gather: Loving Your Church as You Celebrate Christ Together by Tony Merida, Tony Merida

reflective slow-paced

3.0

Another book that is really not in my normal reading realm.  This is a book talking about the importance of attending church if you believe and the benefits that can come from attending in person.

Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another by Barnabas Piper

informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

Typically not my thing to read but I had joined a church about a year ago.  Recently, the clergy had asked this book one of a series of books realted to the church.  The focus of this book was on what it means to belong to a church and what sort of expectations come with belonging to it.

Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders

challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

Doctor Ice Pick by Claire Prentice

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman

hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

Eagle Against the Sun: The American War with Japan by Ronald H. Spector

informative medium-paced

4.5

Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I’m glad I finished the book and I’m intending to finish the original dune series. However, as science fiction is not my typical genre I’m really struggling to get through these books. So I’ll be taking a break from the series and reading some other genres and books in the meantime.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The second half of the book is bettter than the first half.  So I implore you if at all possible to try to stick around for the second half.  That being said I'd understand why if you decided that you just couldn't make it through the rest of the book.  It is after all a very sttrang book, full of supernatural and mythological type stuff.  Not my typical book, but chosen by my book club.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0