Memoir is a genre that I rarely read. I enjoy browsing through that section in the bookstore, but most of the titles seem like either humble-bragging or exploitative messes. Or, even worse, they're preachy, "I've been saved" tales of turning a life around. If reading allows us to experience other lives, memoir and autobiography allow … Continue reading Appreciating Lit, a Memoir
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Review: MJ-12: Inception
The fall of Berlin ended one war but began another. America in its modern form has consistently moved from one conflict into another. However, this new Cold War wouldn’t be fought in the same manner of the recent World War. Instead of marching battalions and deployed tanks, it was fought by information gathering and asset … Continue reading Review: MJ-12: Inception
Five Quick Reviews 04/2017
Spiderlight by Adrian Tchaikovsky An adventuring party enlists the aid of a creature of darkness in their quest to destroy the Dark Lord. As they pursue said quest, members of the group come to see the creature not as a spawn of pure evil but as something else – not human but not monster. Tchaikovsky … Continue reading Five Quick Reviews 04/2017
Review: The Island Deception
When real magic is possible, would the Vegas kind satisfy you? It doesn’t for Quinn Bradley, the protagonist of Dan Koboldt’s Island Deception. Quinn, a stage magician, has worked his whole life for the big show in Las Vegas, and with a little help, he finally accomplishes his goal. The opportunity of a lifetime is … Continue reading Review: The Island Deception
The Character of Extreme Ownership
At the beginning of my career as an engineer, I was under the delusion that I wanted to end up in management. As part of planning that career path, I turned to books for advice and lessons on leadership. Most of those books drove home the need to be a strong leader while at the … Continue reading The Character of Extreme Ownership
2017 Goal: Short Story Reading
One of my goals from this year has been to read more short stories, and since that's a very vague goal, I rewrote it to say one short story per week. That's a very easy goal to accomplish. Is it too easy? Well, since at this point in the year, I've read more short stories … Continue reading 2017 Goal: Short Story Reading
That Lonesome Dove on My Shelf
Back in college, I kept a list of my top ten favorite books. I haven't updated it since then. In fact, I haven't even thought of it until cleaning the house over Christmas break. Each book on the list greatly affected and changed my life. To signify their status, I tried to find each book … Continue reading That Lonesome Dove on My Shelf