This little light packs a seriously powerful punch! It is small, but so powerful that my daughter has nicknamed it the "Simone Biles". I just got this, put the batteries in, and accidentally turned it on while the light was facing me, right in my eyes. I am still seeing spots. The flashlight comes in a sturdy box that suggests that it is "The Perfect Useful Gift For Anyone". And, since this light has 5 different modes, I can see it having many practical uses. The modes are bright, medium, and dim, strobe, and SOS. The smaller bonus light has three modes, bright, dim, and strobe lights. I am not sure how long the batteries will last, but they are rechargeable and the packaging indicates that they can be recharged up to 500 times. Two lithium batteries and charger are included. We tested this flashlight against my son's flashlight iPhone app, and this was much brighter. I received this flashlight kit at a discount in exchange for an honest review.
 I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This book challenges conventional beliefs, mores, and ideals. It is an uncomfortable read, because it often feels like the rantings of the author, in that it is often very subjective. Even if you do not accept what Richard Todd Devens writes, this book should make you at least reflect on what it is you believe and why. After reading Rational Polemics, I had a deeper appreciation for my belief system and a better understanding of beliefs different from my own. I was occasionally challenged to reconsider why I hold specific moral beliefs. In the opening paragraph, Richard Todd Devens admits to being disillusioned with organized religion, and considers himself to be an atheist. Therefore, if you are devoutly religious to the point where alternative viewpoints will offend you, then this is not the book for you to read. Not only does the author appear to be anti-religious, but he is not too fond of liberals, to whom he refers as “bleeding heart liberals”. I often found the author’s views to be limited in scope. For instance, on the chapter on racism, he focuses almost entirely on racism between blacks and whites in America. However, racism is broader in scope than that. And, I found the chapter on racism, as with many of the chapters, to only skim the surface of the issue. I was actually disappointed not to have been drawn into deeper philosophical discourse.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
My children and I just finished reading this book. My original plan was to read one or two stories a night, but the stories are so short that we completed the book in one night. The book would appeal, though, to children with short attention spans and very modern sensibilities. What I appreciated about this book is the introduction of some lesser-known animals, such as a Pikasso the pika, Miss Gnu, and Bobo the bobolink. I also thought that the morals or lessons of the stories were told in a simplistic manner that children could grasp. The cartoon-like animals and the illustrations throughout the book are also eye-catching, colorful, and often-times humorous. The large chocolate cream cookie in “Cookie Twist” for example, was hilarious. However, as a read-aloud, some of the puns and humor are lost on younger pre-reading children. Without seeing or being able to read the words in print, they missed the subtle differences between “heard” and “herd”: in the story, “The Heard of Buffalo.” The title, while clever and unusual, was a little confusing. When I asked my children what they thought the book would be about based on the title, they thought the stories would be about animals who tell lies, or fibs. Their initial thoughts were that the stories would be about various fibs and how the animals got into trouble based on the fibs, and then learned lessons based on the fibs they told. This wasn’t the case, although the stories did all have morals.  I have been in full homeschooling mode over the past few months, so this blog is going to naturally become more homeschool focused.
We just finished reading The Castle in the Attic, by Elizabeth Winthrop. It was a book which appealed to my pre-teen son, and kept his interest somewhat piqued throughout. The story is about a boy named William who refuses to allow his long-time nanny to leave. So, he uses a magic token to shrink her and keeps her hidden in a castle in his attic, along with a knight. The story tells of the adventures William has with the Silver Knight as they venture out for battle an evil ruler, Alastor, to reclaim the other half of the token, which will also restore Mrs. Phillips, (the nanny) for her full stature. I enjoyed the book for the medieval references and terms that we don't use in conversation today. In fact, my son wrote a paragraph about portcullises after researching what they are and for what they were used. Initially, I was hesitant to read this book with my son. My now-ninth-grade daughter did not find this book enjoyable at all four years ago. There are no strong young female characters in this book, so perhaps my daughter could not relate to any of the characters. I am glad I revisited this book and read it again through the eyes of my son.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
When I first skimmed the beginning pages of the book and wanted to read more when I saw the numbers. $3.25 million for writing a screenplay? I was hooked and motivated to learn how to turn my writing from merely a hobby into a successful career. The Complete Guide to Writing a Successful Screenplay by Melissa Samaroo is a must-have handbook for all beginning screenwriters. Samaroo lays out the screenwriting process in clear, easy-to-follow steps, giving practical advice and examples throughout. Readers of The Complete Guide to Writing a Successful Screenplay will learn everything from how to think like a screenwriter; to analyzing movies and scripts; to developing characters, plots, and themes; and of course how to market and sell your script. The book is easy to understand, with practical examples that and advice that can be put to use immediately to improve your writing. Ms. Samaroo breaks down the process into manageable stops. This book could replace the majority of college-level screenwriting textbooks. The wealth of information is astounding. I found myself pulling out an old screenplay I had written many years ago in college, and re-writing entire scenes as I read the book. I found Ms. Samaroo’s advice on reading already-produced screenplays extremely helpful. That exercise alone gave me insider insight that I didn’t have before. As I closed the book after reading the last word of the last chapter, I reflected upon the book’s cover. The movie crew in the background, and the smiling scriptwriter holding a manuscript in the foreground, inspired and empowered me want to make that picture my own—to visualize myself in the place of the content model on the book’s cover.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I must admit that science fiction is not my favorite genre, in fact, I can count on one hand the number of sci-fi novels I have ever read. However, I was immediately intrigued by the cover art and the synopsis of Future Prometheus by J. M. Erickson. I wanted to read more about a civilization in which the males with normal right-hemisphere brain development succumb to an unusual disease, leaving women in charge of running the world. And the seal on the cover indicating that this novel was a five-star reader’s favorite made me feel as if my time would not be wasted reading this book. I was not disappointed by this futuristic novel by J.M. Erickson, in fact, I had a hard time putting it down. Jose Melendez, who is autistic and therefore not impacted by the disease, is sent on a mission to Antarctica to engage in an eight-month cryogenic sleep as a means of repopulating the world. When Melendez awakens from the sleep 160 years later, that is when the action really takes off. Melendez discovers that the female-dominant culture has no use for males outside of reproduction. He learns of the plight of the male children, and it becomes his mission to save them. That mission is what drives the action in this novel. Although a sci-fi novel, there is a very human, emotional element in several scenes. And, a Jose Melendez, an autistic hero, sheds light on a human condition that is often overlooked and unfamiliar to many. I was moved by some of the interactions, more that I imagined I could be in by a work of science fiction. The book is thought-provoking and intelligently written. In fact, I found myself stopping at points to research scientific themes such as cryogenics. This novel made me want to know more, to delve deeper. J.M. Erickson brought the characters to life in a way that made it easy to empathize with them, to feel what they felt, to cry and to laugh. I didn’t feel like an outsider in this novel, but I was brought into the novel by the descriptive and vivid writing. I rated this book a 5 star because it has been one of the only science fiction novels I have ever been able to finish! I won’t say that I am a sci-fi convert, but I would love to read more of J.M. Erickson’s writings if they are as well written as Future Prometheus.  I was drawn to the book by its cover. I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about the sixties-chic man and woman who, although standing close together, seemed to be very distant from each other. Aside from proximity, there is no closeness—no electricity—emitted from the pair. The title seems to be an oxymoron for the cover art.
The story opens with an introduction of six wealthy, artistic, young adults spending a summer in Sag Harbor, NY. The settings are vivid and descriptive. Throughout the novel, readers travel back to the 1960s to an era when, for these young people, almost anything goes. Drug, sex, and alcohol are consumed without much thought of consequences, until it is fatefully too late. While the characters are well-developed and defined, because they come off as self-centered and egocentric, it is difficult to find empathy for any of them. A love triangle between Andre, Robert, and Maya is one of the strongest story lines in the novel which begins in the opening chapter and does not resolve itself until the end of the novel. The struggle is raw, realistic, and shocking. In fact, all of the characters struggle throughout the novel, whether externally with relationships and careers, or internally with addictions, self-doubt, unrequited love. I didn’t find the book deeply thought-provoking, but definitely a novel that is a satisfying read for a long car-ride, or one of those wintery days when you are stuck inside the house.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Lost in the Fjord is a century-old children’s adventure tale with a message for the ages. The story follows the adventures of Nonni and Manni, Icelandic brothers, whose disobedience leads them on an unexpected adventure. Parents and adults will appreciate the quaint tale’s message of love, forgiveness, and, compassion, and faith. In 1914, Jon Sveinsson was Iceland’s only Jesuit when he penned Lost in the Fjord. The original tales were titled “Nonni und Manni” were written in German, and quickly became extremely popular in German-speaking countries. The bestsellers have now been published in 40 languages, including this 2013 English translation. The book is written from 11 year-old Nonni’s viewpoint. When a flute-playing relative, Arngrim, stops for a short overnight visit to Nonni’s family’s home, Nonni begs to learn to play the instrument. While teaching the young boy to play, Arngrim tells Nonni that the flute is a magical instrument with the power to attract rats, snakes, and even fish. Nonni desires to play the magic flute to lure fish into his boat. The adventure begins when Nonni and Manni venture out in their small boat for a day of fishing and flute-playing. Despite warnings from both his mother and a neighbor to stay in the harbor, Nonni decides they need to row out further to a quiet spot to lure the fish. As the fog rolls in, a storm throws the boys off course and they are lost in the fjord. Facing whales, a leaking boat, extreme cold, and hunger, Nonni and Manni find strength in their faith in God to help them overcome these obstacles. I found Lost in the Fjord to be a quaint tale with an inspirational, timeless message of compassion, forgiveness, and love. The story would appeal best to Christian families with pre-adolescent children. I could see this book on a shelf wedged between Aesop’s Fables and the “Little House” series. I read the book aloud to my youngest children who unfortunately were not as mesmerized as I. They found the illustrations bland, the cover art forgettable, and the story predictable. They could predict the outcome of each chapter almost immediately, by just reading the chapter title. Nevertheless, Lost in the Fjord is an appealing character-building story for the ages. And, despite my children’s dislike of the cover art, I found it delightfully refreshing in its simplicity. Unfortunately, there were some editing problems within the pages of this edition. The most consistent error was the placement of commas outside of the quotation marks, causing “floating commas.” This was distracting to me, but might not be an issue for others.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
As a homeschooling parent I absolutely love introducing my kids to good historical fiction instead of reading dull textbooks. Churchill’s Children, The Phantom Zeppelin definitely fits the bill for our studies of World War II. I learned more about World War II by reading this book than I can ever remember learning in school. A.R. Grogan has added a lot of history in this novel, but it is not dull or flat. Readers learn about what is happening in London in 1939 through stories told by Christopher’s grandfather, the Sergeant Major; by Christopher’s mother; and through narration that flows seamlessly throughout the novel. The author really brings the characters, the settings, and the storyline to life. I felt as if I was actually there-- a fly on the wall-- as I followed the adventures, struggles, heartbreak, and successes of Christopher Finch. While reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I cringed, and I became emotionally attached to the characters. The dialogue flowed easily and naturally, and was believable. I didn’t want the book to end. I felt as if I were saying goodbye to good friends. At the end of the novel, there is mention that this if the first book in a series about the exploits of Christopher Finch and the other “Churchill Children” during World War II. Continuing in chronological order, the next book slated to be published is 1940- The Battle of Britain. I look forward to reading the series with my children. If they are as well written as this first book, I could envision using them as the backbone of a study of World War II. The book’s target market seems to be the young teen/middle-school age group. However, my high-school age children were also engrossed in the story. I also found the book’s cover intriguing. The enormous zeppelin emerging from the clouds gives readers a foreshadowing of what they might find once they begin to turn the pages of the book. I used to work as an assistant editor for educational publications before becoming a full-time homeschooling mom. Although no longer a professional editor, I still find it hard to hang up the editing hat, even when reading for pleasure. Churchill’s Children, The Phantom Zeppelin is a brilliantly written book, however I did come across some minor editing errors: On page 80. Christopher’s father, Richard, is talking to his wife, Julia, and refers to the Sergeant Major as his Julia’s grandfather instead of her father. On page 9, the Sergeant Major is identified as the Julia’s father. Confusion over familial relationships continues on page 165 when Christopher and his father, Richard head to America. At the end of the first sentence readers are told that they are going to “Christopher’s father’s ranch.” In the very next sentence we read that “Christopher loved staying at his grandfather’s ranch.” The ranch, indeed, does belong to Christopher’s paternal grandfather, not his father who accompanies him on the trip. On page 175, Christopher and his father visit President Roosevelt in the White House. Readers are told that Christopher is escorted out of the room by “an aid” so that his father and the President may speak in private. This is just a minor typographical error that must have been missed in editing.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Book Cover: The cover is a collage of vignettes from the book. At first glance they seem random, but after reading the book you see how they are all inter-related. The cover has a Southwestern color palette, and is visually appealing. The Main Characters: Princess Mirasol- 12 years old Lupita- Mirasol’s 80 year old grandmother King Pachuco- 13 year old king of Pacifista Queen Rosa- King Pachuco’s mother who rules Pacifista along with the young king Setting- The Planet of Pacifista- A planet with daily, kaleidoscope rainbows; lush vegetation; waterfalls; and dense forests. Earth- New Mexico, USA King Pachuco and Princess Mirasol- The Sequel is a fantasy tale for the pre-teen age group. The story revolves around 12-year-old Princess Mirasol and King Pachuco, the youngest king of Pacifista at age 13. The two have just returned from space-travel to the Planet Earth. Having been transformed into a lovebird and back into human form and sent through a wormhole to Planet Earth on another galaxy, and back home again, Princess Mirasol finds her life back on Pacifista dull by comparison. So, Mirasol welcomes the opportunity to return to Earth with King Pachuco when he asks her to accompany him on a mission to talk to an astronomer who can help them save their planet from an asteroid strike. The story takes readers on a journey through the adventures and obstacles the pair face as they race to save Pacifista. I read this story to my 11-year-old who was drawn into from the start. While I loved Princess Mirasol’s adventurous spirit, my son loved reading about string theory, space-travel, aviation and astronomy. As homeschoolers, I love when my kids learn without using textbooks. I thought author, Bonnie Rucobo brilliantly weaved scientific information into the story line. We learned a little about Navajo culture, astronomy, geography, and more. Bonnie Rucobo brings her writing to life. It touches the senses. I could almost taste all of the soups, stews, and other meals, and smell the artisan breads baking in the oven! We could envision the colorful kaleidoscope rainbows, and the various textures and colors of the fabrics woven by Princess Mirasol and Lupita. The only small editing issue I found was that in Chapter 19 (location 2326 of the Kindle version), the spelling of the name of a character named Marc was changed to “Mark.” Otherwise, the book was very well written, and in an easy-to-read format. My son and I read the sequel before reading the original book. We loved this so much that we are now going to go back and read the original story. |
AuthorHi! I'm Chelle and I am an avid reader and book reviewer. This blog is all about the most recent books I've read and reviewed, as well as occasional other items I've reviewed. Archives
July 2016
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
