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thebookdad's reviews
182 reviews
Congo by Michael Crichton
5.0
Really enjoyed this book. Jam packed with interesting facts and action, Micheal Crichton is a genius.
Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
2.0
Super disappointed with this one, I really struggled to get through it. I'm a huge fan of GOT but this was extremely boring and lacked of the really interesting stories mentioned in the books like Baelor the Blessed, Dunk and Egg, the mad king or the king that drank wild fire claiming to be the blood of the dragon. Would not recommend this if your a fan of the author.
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
4.0
I'm not a huge fan of YA books but I did enjoy this one. This was my first stab at reading science fiction and although I didn't like alot of the dialogue, the story compelled me. I will definitely read the sequel.
The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones by Elio M. García Jr., George R.R. Martin, Linda Antonsson
2.0
I found this book extremely boring. Although much better than the Targaryen history book it was tough to get through.
In the Scrape by James Newman, Mark Steensland
4.0
To be honest, I don't know why I chose to read this book. I don't typically read novellas, not that I don't like them I'm just not drawn to them. Normally a cover catches my eye or I know of the story from another review. The books cover was not that appealing to me but I have seen it floating around my social feed so maybe that's why. Well, I am so glad I did because it is an incredible read.
In The Scrape is suspenseful and heart-pounding. I just couldn't stop reading. The character development had me continuously flip-flop between father and son, who is right and who is wrong. It made the story more relatable and disguised the plot so you never knew what was coming until part two (about three-quarters of the way through). I also really liked the careful and deliberate storytelling. There was nothing in this story that didn't belong, nothing that didn't keep the momentum going. I will say the ending was a dud for me. The book was just so good but the ending hits you like a brick wall and just like that it's over. This book was a great read. I loved it all the way till the end (it was just over and that was it…)
The characters are very well written. I teeter-tottered between father and sons, antagonist and protagonist constantly. Obviously a dad myself, I could definitely see the father's side of things throughout the story. I'm not saying I condone the ruthless alcohol driven lickens with a switch. What I mean is, we as parents do a lot of stuff a child might perceive as unfair when really it's the lengths we take to shape them as human beings. So often I found myself thinking the narrator was being a brat. Then the father would get out the ol"leather strap and I would be back with the boys pleading for them to escape. It was truly a rollercoaster of emotions as the characters developed until part two when the shit hits the fan.
I think the one thing that made this book so good was the fact that the authors kept the stories momentum. There wasn't anything that I would consider filler or pointless. So many authors are guilty of stringing the reader along with a bunch of pointless narratives. This was not the case. I was glued to the pages and completely intertwined in the father-son feud that escalated to the point of no return.
This book went zero to a hundred REAL FAST. The narrative held a fast pace full of suspense that kept me flipping the pages and then part two hit me with this:
This is the point in my story where there are parts that I can’t promise are a hundred percent accurate. A lot of it occurred somewhere else, while my brother and I were putting our plan into motion. I’m filling in the gaps the best I can, based on what I heard from the police and saw on the news afterward. Some of what was said between certain parties might have been slightly different from the way it really happened……so if I flub a few of the minor details, forgive me. Most of the folks who would argue with me died that day, out there in the woods, so you won’t hear them complain.
Boom! The story explodes from here on out and its as if your reading a whole new book. It's incredible what the authors did until the ending. I will not spill the beans and I hope this does not deter a person from reading this book. But the ending just kind of happens and it's done. This was disappointing considering the pace of the book. It was as if the author was just through with writing and called it quits. It's hard to say more without spoiling the book but I will say the authors could have done more for the reader.
I absolutely recommend this book especially for any other book dads out there. It will really make you think about parenthood and the inner workings of a child's mind. I definitely related to the book on a certain level that most parents will understand. If you are looking for a quick read that will keep you reeling until the end, then this is an excellent book for you.
In The Scrape is suspenseful and heart-pounding. I just couldn't stop reading. The character development had me continuously flip-flop between father and son, who is right and who is wrong. It made the story more relatable and disguised the plot so you never knew what was coming until part two (about three-quarters of the way through). I also really liked the careful and deliberate storytelling. There was nothing in this story that didn't belong, nothing that didn't keep the momentum going. I will say the ending was a dud for me. The book was just so good but the ending hits you like a brick wall and just like that it's over. This book was a great read. I loved it all the way till the end (it was just over and that was it…)
The characters are very well written. I teeter-tottered between father and sons, antagonist and protagonist constantly. Obviously a dad myself, I could definitely see the father's side of things throughout the story. I'm not saying I condone the ruthless alcohol driven lickens with a switch. What I mean is, we as parents do a lot of stuff a child might perceive as unfair when really it's the lengths we take to shape them as human beings. So often I found myself thinking the narrator was being a brat. Then the father would get out the ol"leather strap and I would be back with the boys pleading for them to escape. It was truly a rollercoaster of emotions as the characters developed until part two when the shit hits the fan.
I think the one thing that made this book so good was the fact that the authors kept the stories momentum. There wasn't anything that I would consider filler or pointless. So many authors are guilty of stringing the reader along with a bunch of pointless narratives. This was not the case. I was glued to the pages and completely intertwined in the father-son feud that escalated to the point of no return.
This book went zero to a hundred REAL FAST. The narrative held a fast pace full of suspense that kept me flipping the pages and then part two hit me with this:
This is the point in my story where there are parts that I can’t promise are a hundred percent accurate. A lot of it occurred somewhere else, while my brother and I were putting our plan into motion. I’m filling in the gaps the best I can, based on what I heard from the police and saw on the news afterward. Some of what was said between certain parties might have been slightly different from the way it really happened……so if I flub a few of the minor details, forgive me. Most of the folks who would argue with me died that day, out there in the woods, so you won’t hear them complain.
Boom! The story explodes from here on out and its as if your reading a whole new book. It's incredible what the authors did until the ending. I will not spill the beans and I hope this does not deter a person from reading this book. But the ending just kind of happens and it's done. This was disappointing considering the pace of the book. It was as if the author was just through with writing and called it quits. It's hard to say more without spoiling the book but I will say the authors could have done more for the reader.
I absolutely recommend this book especially for any other book dads out there. It will really make you think about parenthood and the inner workings of a child's mind. I definitely related to the book on a certain level that most parents will understand. If you are looking for a quick read that will keep you reeling until the end, then this is an excellent book for you.
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
5.0
I want to start off by saying that I highly recommend this book. Treacherous Spaniards, cannibalistic natives, horrific storms at sea, and Kraken (ya, that's right. A gigantic octopus hell-bent on destruction). These are just a few awesome details that bring this fantastic story to life. The extraordinary adventure, strong theme, and setting are what I think make this a great story. As much as I enjoyed the book, I did struggle at times. Although well written, the reader was forgotten in parts where facts consumed the story. Michael Crichton did an amazing job with this adventurous pirate tale but also overwhelmed me when I needed to be entangled in more swashbuckling and treasure seeking.
The book has a powerful theme that comes to fruition only while reading of the pirate's constant struggle for gold. It wasn't evident in the beginning but I think I settled on: No guts, no glory. Pirate Latitudes is the story about a brave Englishman, Captain Charles Hunter, and his crew of cutthroats that venture from the newly colonized settlement of Port Royal to find treasure under insurmountable odds. They are constantly faced with a new challenge that kept me on the edge of my seat and made me wonder how they could possibly move forward in their quest for treasure. I found myself asking the same question over-and-over. Is the treasure worth it? No guts, no glory folks. Hell ya, it's worth it!
Michael Crichton will take you aboard El Trinidad the treasure galleon and place you amongst its crew to experience the Caribbean but don't be fooled, there are dark tides on the horizon. The story is set on the island of Jamaica in 1665. A time when the English Crown colonized the island but had little control of its inhabitants. There is a presence of order and even though piracy is outlawed privateering is an acceptable profession. A slight by the English Governor on the island to produce gold for the crown. I really dove into the scenes reading this book as I have travelled to Jamaica, my wife and I were even married there. I remember seeing sunsets and swimming in the ocean. This book just transported me back to those times. Of course, when I visited I didn't witness the deadly hurricanes and shark-infested waters that plagued Captain Charles Hunter and his crew.
Michael Crichton is truly a brilliant author that earns credibility from his readers by presenting facts in a scene so that you have a very clear understanding of what's going on. This is great because it's very interesting information relevant to the story but also overwhelming. I didn't think when I started this book that I would learn what the aftcastle of a ship is or how many people it takes to operate a cannon and why. Don't get me wrong, the facts are a big reason why a person reads Michael Crichton's books but I did feel slightly bogged down with narrative and it took away from the story. It's important to know that the author quickly brought me back into the tale with murderous Spanish Don's and flesh-eating Carib natives.
All-in-all I would recommend this book for anyone. It's a wild, adventurous tale that will keep you up at night wanting to read more. If you need a quick vacation from life, go grab a bottle of rum and get lost in the Caribbean with a Captain Hunter and his crew. You'll be glad you did.
The book has a powerful theme that comes to fruition only while reading of the pirate's constant struggle for gold. It wasn't evident in the beginning but I think I settled on: No guts, no glory. Pirate Latitudes is the story about a brave Englishman, Captain Charles Hunter, and his crew of cutthroats that venture from the newly colonized settlement of Port Royal to find treasure under insurmountable odds. They are constantly faced with a new challenge that kept me on the edge of my seat and made me wonder how they could possibly move forward in their quest for treasure. I found myself asking the same question over-and-over. Is the treasure worth it? No guts, no glory folks. Hell ya, it's worth it!
Michael Crichton will take you aboard El Trinidad the treasure galleon and place you amongst its crew to experience the Caribbean but don't be fooled, there are dark tides on the horizon. The story is set on the island of Jamaica in 1665. A time when the English Crown colonized the island but had little control of its inhabitants. There is a presence of order and even though piracy is outlawed privateering is an acceptable profession. A slight by the English Governor on the island to produce gold for the crown. I really dove into the scenes reading this book as I have travelled to Jamaica, my wife and I were even married there. I remember seeing sunsets and swimming in the ocean. This book just transported me back to those times. Of course, when I visited I didn't witness the deadly hurricanes and shark-infested waters that plagued Captain Charles Hunter and his crew.
Michael Crichton is truly a brilliant author that earns credibility from his readers by presenting facts in a scene so that you have a very clear understanding of what's going on. This is great because it's very interesting information relevant to the story but also overwhelming. I didn't think when I started this book that I would learn what the aftcastle of a ship is or how many people it takes to operate a cannon and why. Don't get me wrong, the facts are a big reason why a person reads Michael Crichton's books but I did feel slightly bogged down with narrative and it took away from the story. It's important to know that the author quickly brought me back into the tale with murderous Spanish Don's and flesh-eating Carib natives.
All-in-all I would recommend this book for anyone. It's a wild, adventurous tale that will keep you up at night wanting to read more. If you need a quick vacation from life, go grab a bottle of rum and get lost in the Caribbean with a Captain Hunter and his crew. You'll be glad you did.