Book Reviews – Page 133

Cashelmara by Susan Howatch

July 29, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: A multi-generational family drama based around the Irish estate Cashelmara.

Cashelmara was originally published in 1974. It is a good example of the importance of the digital book market. Open Road is a publisher that mostly focuses on former bestsellers that are now out of print.

After reading Susan Howatch’s Church of England Series this spring, I have decided to pick up anything written by Susan Howatch when it goes on sale.

I was surprised that Cashelmara was told in a very similar format to the Church of England series (just compressed into one very long book.) Both have six sections, each with a different person narrating the story from their perspective.

Hourglass by Myra Mcentire

July 28, 2013 by Adam Shields

I am reposting this review because this book, and the following book are on sale for $1.99.

Summary: Emerson discovers that she is not just a messed up kid that people think is crazy. She is actually a time traveler.

I am not sure why Young Adult literature seems to attract me so often. Maybe because the themes are often so clear, or that they are often quick reads or that I usually actually like the characters (unlike so many of the adult oriented fiction that I have read recently.)

Regardless, this is the opening of a series that I mostly liked. Emerson is a 17 year old girl that has spent the last few years trying to escape from two things. 1) Her parents died. And 2) she can see ghosts. She has been treated by a variety of mental health professionals and quacks. Her brother (her guardian) has found yet another person to work with her. And being that this is a young adult book, he (Michael) is hot, and just a couple years older than her.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

March 5, 2025July 26, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: A utopian future that realizes it dystopian potential.

If you are impatiently waiting for the Hunger Games movie, you should pick this up. It is a trilogy as well, but only this first book is out. The second book will be released May 1, 2012.

The main character Beatrice, is part of a faction devoted to selflessness. As she approaches her time of choosing which faction to join (the others are devoted to bravery, knowledge, truth telling and peace) she realizes she is not nearly as selfless as she should be to continue to live with her family’s faction. The factions were established to keep peace and create the perfect society after the last great war. However, the tentions between the factions are increasing.

Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers by Eugene H. Peterson

July 26, 2013 by Adam Shields

Cover of "Tell It Slant: A Conversation o... — Cover via Amazon

Takeaway: If theology was taught like this more often, it would not be such a bad word for so much of the church.

I am a fan of Eugene Peterson. I think he is the best living narrative theologian out there. Others write about narrative theology and using story to communicate the gospel. Peterson writes as a pastor and doesn’t just write about theology, but shows us how to read scripture and how to understand the gospel. He does theology.

Tell it Slant is another in Peterson’s recent series of books. I listened to this one on audio as I have the others. Peterson is best, at least for me, on audio. Grover Gardner is a great narrator and give just the right voice to Peterson.

New Bookwi.se Category – Book and Movie Reviews

July 25, 2013 by Adam Shields

A couple weeks ago Emily Flury (regular contributor at Bookwi.se) suggested a new category for Bookwi.se: Book and Movie Reviews. These reviews will review both the book and the movie adaptation. Or at least compare the way they different mediums tell a similar story. The first official post is tomorrow post about Peter Pan. But … Read more

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

July 25, 2013 by All Old Users

I am pleased to report that Eleanor and Park By Rainbow Rowell is another book that can be included in a list of books that is redeeming the young adult genre. No vampires. No fights to the death. No flying witches. This story is about two individuals who both have home lives that could be better (that is an understatement for one of them) and yet they find friendship, love and an escape with each other.

Westmark by Lloyd Alexander

July 22, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: A young adult coming of age book in a fictional 18th century setting.

Lloyd Alexander is known for his Prydain novels (The High King, Book of Three, etc.), but he has written a number of other books. Some of my favorites were the Westmark series. I read them several times as an early teen and was feeling nostalgic and decided to track them down. They are not available on kindle, so I found an old paperback copy.

Westmark is a fictional monarchy in a world that seems very much like 18th century europe. It is a relatively small kingdom. But it has seen better days. The king, since his daughter disappeared (and presumably died), has become despondent and reclusive. In the eight years she has been gone, one of the king’s advisors has slowly taken over the kingdom and turned it into a tyranny.

The Other Wind by Ursula Le Guin (Earthsea Cycle #6)

July 19, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: The final book of the Earthsea Cycle.

Urusula Le Guin is one of the classic authors of young adult fantasy. I read the first three books in this series as a teen, but the later books were not published until I was older. This last book was published 33 years after the first in 2001.

I re-read the first book in the series last year (The Wizard of Earthsea). The last book in the series (The Other Wind) was on sale a while ago and I decided it would be a good beach read.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

July 18, 2013 by All Old Users

An Abundance of Katherines is my second John Green novel. SInce I immensely enjoyed The Fault In Our Stars, this novel was recommended to me also. While I liked this novel also, I didn’t feel as strong of an emotional connection to the main characters as I did with The Fault In Our Stars. I did like the characters and I especially liked the friendship between Colin and Hasan but I guess I just didn’t relate to their plight as well.

In the novel, Colin is a child prodigy who isn’t quite reaching his potential and his best friend, Hasan, is a seemingly conservative Muslim. The unlikely friendship of these two boys makes for a fun listen.

Perhaps also I didn’t feel that the story was as believable but only slightly less so. The boys go on a post-graduation road trip and end up staying in a small town for the summer. In that small town, they meet some unique characters and end up figuring out what their lives are about and what they want to do with them.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

July 17, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: “The World is Not A Wish-Making Factory” (a frequently used line from the book that quite adequately sums up reality.)

The Fault in Our Stars is narrated by Hazel, a 16 year old with cancer. Her cancer is terminal. But she has gained a few years with the help of a (fictional) trial drug that has slowed the growth of the tumors in her lungs. It is only with her ever-present oxygen tank that she still manages to stay alive.