Very satisfying and thought-provoking
930590
The author is worthy, we all know that. All his books have been enjoyable. But this book has a profundity to it which I believe is a sign of the author's ever-expanding wisdom (and certain eventual apotheosis). The ending was just magnificent.
2862765
Disclaimer:  Although under no obligation to review this book, I did receive a complimentary copy from the author.

For as long as people have existed, they have wondered about the meaning of life.  From this has sprung the worship of spirits, animals, the sun, and God(s) - the study of physics, consciousness, and evolution - and a vast collection of literature and art.  In the author's words, "As science knocks down each door, philosophy and spiritual inquiry regroup behind the next."

In this ambitious and delightful book, Walker boils it down to "Persistence."  Life wants to persist on three levels: individually, at the species level, and collectively as the whole of life.  Hunger, thirst, and self-protection are representative samples of individual persistence.  They are ultimately responsible for our social interactions and our sense of ethics and morality.  The sexual urge indirectly leads to the rearing and nurturing of our children.

Persistence drives the topic in each chapter.  In the Big Bang and cosmology chapter, protons, neutrons, and electrons persist while more exotic particles did not survive the cooling after the Big Bang.  Carbon based life-forms persist because, among other reasons, they propagate their patterns on to the next generation.  Individual genes and collections of genes persist through the competition of natural selection.  Consciousness and the availability of concepts make it possible for people to further the persistence of the third level of life - an impossibility for other species.  Our moral analyses focus on all three of the author's categories - individual, species, and life as a whole.  Naturally, there are shades of gray everywhere in deciding on a moral action, but the bottom line is that the most moral approach is the one that is most helpful in aiding the persistence of all three life forms.

I really liked Walker's book but my main objection is his main premise - that this strange life force he calls "persistence" causes one force of nature to persist while others don't - yet they exist while others don't because they have attributes the others don't.  I kept thinking of Daniel Dennett's "sky hooks."  These are the compulsions some people have to find a god (of some sort) in nature despite nature acting very much like it has no driving force.
But that is my own prejudice.  His book was a delightful assortment of knowledge and assessment about a very complex and ambitious subject from a very smart physicist.

Walker does not get into evolutionary psychology or game theory (Tit for Tat and beyond) - the details about how persistence might have shaped a system of human ethics, but that's another whole book.  I just brushed up on particle physics, so I thoroughly enjoyed his 25 or 30 page cosmology section.  The whole idea of religions thinking they guard the only door to morality is a hot issue with me, so it's easy to like this author's approach to human ethics.  Finally, to write a science book such as this apparently without teaching and research experience seems to me quite a feat, and I congratulate this author on his fine effort.
591187
I bought the book on a whim (given that it's free, and why not?), and ended up devouring it. I was very pleasantly surprised.

This isn't a book for people who like instant gratification. The story unfolds gradually; each piece of the puzzle is deliberate. The characters are complex and have their own motivations. A lot of locations are backdrops you may never see again, but what occurs there is relevant later.

The Entire (or the "All") is an artificial construction, carefully shaped by its alien lords. It is pressed up against our universe, so close that they are able to peer in upon Earth, which they call the Rose. One man of Earth has visited the Entire, though few believed his tale, and fights desperately to return. The story picks up when he's granted his wish, and the consequences unfold from there.

Kenyon's vision is far reaching. Her pacing is steady, but if you can enjoy a good story for the sake of the story itself, you may very well find yourself reaching for the second book as soon as you finish this one.
4233450
If you had it to do over, would you do it differently? Its a great premise and a fascinating question that leads readers to analyze themselves as they follow along with Jeff Winston, the protagonist, on his repetitive journey through life.
Ken Grimwood delivers an incredibly well thought out tale and tackles new possibilities with every replay of his characters story. Repetitive never becomes boring when the options available to Jeff continue to change, and he as a character evolves from the experience. This is a story about cherishing life and love and the miracle of existence.
Well written and surprisingly accurate in its notions of the future, Grimwood gives us a story of hope tied up in a lot of difficulty and challenge. Jeffs journey as a character rises and plummets by varying degrees as he searches for meaning in his seemingly endless yet temporally imprisoned existence. The story touches on beauty and hope but does not shy away from the definitely R-rated options also available to someone with plenty of time and very few qualms about repercussions.
Jeff as a character is sometimes admirable and sometimes despicable in his attitudes toward life and the other people in it. He presents an interesting mirror for the reader as we follow along and are forced to wonder what we would change about our lives and about ourselves if we had it to do over again, and again
This is a five star read containing very adult content. A thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful lesson, it will leave you open to the endless possibilities left to be lived, and treasuring the moments you have left to enjoy them.
1756221
I am not a reader of science-fiction. I am a reader of mysteries that are set in cozy villages and solved by quirky protagonists. I only read this book because a friend gave it to me as a present. It's very good. The characters exhibit a wonderful depth and complexity as they struggle with the underlying theme: will humans always take science too far? Is hand washing at the top of an inevitable slippery slope to DNA-altering? At least, that's what I think the underlying theme of the story is. That's what I was left pondering after I finished the book. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the ending is just too abrupt. It ends in the right place; there's no frustration there. But it ends rather artlessly, without the creative effort displayed earlier in the book. Or perhaps it just seems that way to me because I like a good mystery-novel denouement. In summary: thought-provoking; rich characters; glad I read it.
148031
[Disclaimer: I first read an ARC of "Equinox" but have since completed a second read-through of the Kindle-formatted version.]

The Amazon reviews of Cantrell's highly-regarded debut, Containment, often focused on the readers' reactions to the last act of the novel. It was "interesting", "thought-provoking" or "abrupt". It was clear that it generated strong sentiments.

Without spoiling the story for readers who haven't yet read Containment*, I was in the "thought-provoking" camp. I've been looking forward to a follow-up set in the world that he'd built.

"Equinox" did not let me down.

Authors, like their characters, grow through experience. I can see that Mr. Cantrell took to heart what reviewers of his past works have expressed. While Containment often relied on heavy exposition, I feel that Equinox met an excellent balance. Descriptions of the technologies of the world contained enough detail to make me believe that they could exist, but not in a way that made me wonder if I had stumbled upon a science textbook or trade journal pulled from an alternate history.

The characters in "Equinox", too, improved.

To me, the world they live in is an alien one, only vaguely resembling what I know. The characters managed to bring it to life in ways that made me realize it was the world I know, just one that evolved in radical and unexpected ways.

Each major character (and many of the minor ones) are multi-faceted. I can imagine their motivations and their actions reflect their beliefs. These actions revealed their human emotions which drew me in. Returning characters had evolved from the computationally-logical versions we met in Containment and in Equinox became "real people".

It's my sincere hope that "Equinox" is not the last glimpse of the world of Occam -- there is a lot more for us to explore!

* While not required, I suggest you read Containment first to get the most out of your reading of Equinox.
2346751
Extremely satisfying to read.  I couldn't put it down.  I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it.  It was funny, certainly, but what I really liked about it was how well everything ties together, even little incidental things.  I also liked the way it weighed the Baptist brand of religion against taking the bible less literally, and the references to dinosaurs.  The ending was perfect.  Favorite character was easily the guy's mother, I was worried about her in the back of my mind all the way til the end.  All in all, excellent reading.  Very worthwhile.
4116843
This is a wonderful thought-provoking book. It provided me with many insights into the mysteries of life and the beauty of nature. It contains life stories that demonstrate the power of the mind in dealing with the challenges that confront us in life, such as suffering grief from the loss of a loved one or facing our own mortality. Above all, it stresses the importance of love in each person's life. When I finished reading it, I felt very much at peace with the world and with life.
1749675
This is one of those rare memoirs that not only shares a very personal experience, providing a catharsis for the author, but also draws the reader in to thinking about their own life and relationships.  This is a thought-provoking commentary on parent-child relationships, the passage to adulthood, planning for the inevitability of death, and coping with the aftermath of a parent's passing. Few adult readers would not find something to relate to in this interesting and moving memoir. Don't let the heavy subject matter scare you off; this is ultimately a very satisfying work that provides a positive affirmation of life.
4165786
Oola is a very thoughtful and thought provoking little book. Ms. Newell has created an interesting pair in Leif and Oola - reminiscent in ways of Nin's "Henry and June" minus some of the grittiness and erotica.  The novel moves along at a comfortable pace, and Ms. Newell's narrative voice is both provocative and comfortable. Although I enjoyed the book I found that it began better than it finished - I kept waiting for a "big reveal" to put some of the events into perspective, and it never arrived.  Perhaps that was the point!  In any event, it left me wanting more, and looking forward to the author's next book.
2732239
While this book is aimed at the young adult market, it is a wonderful story that makes you consider what things are really good and bad for a society. In the world of the Giver, society's collective memories involving  anything unique or different are held by one person. As that person reaches the end of their life, a new person is chosen to receive all of the memories. The society runs under the premise that any difference in anything and any extreme thought or feeling is to the society's detriment. Enter the Giver and the new receiver, and their radical ideas for change. A very thought-provoking story. I am hoping the sequels are as strong as this one.
3008591
You will enjoy reading this book from the first to the very last page, and you will be sad when it's over. It is easy to read, yet thought-provoking. The three main characters describe their journeys, which are exciting to follow, as they set off separately and later on meet without knowing their past or current motives. The book has a good pace, unexpected plot twists, and it builds up to an enthralling ending. The author offers an interesting, though utopian, solution to the Middle Eastern conflict. The book will have you thinking for weeks and months after reading - not only about the main characters but also about the way to solve the Middle Eastern conflict - perhaps, it is possible...
2169761
Reading this book has been a very satisfying experience. I cannot claim to be a Holmes connoisseur but I have been a fan of the Phantom for some time now, always eager to read or see an alternate version of the story. I have been waiting quite some time for this book and after reading it, I believe it was definately worth it. The plot is very good, even the somewhat minor characters are for the most part well developed -note the conflict between Raoul's background and temperament and Christine's choice between conventional thinking and idealism; Conflicts that help define them and create depth. That certainly is a refreshing change from plenty other versions of the Phantom that over analyse Erik, while leaving every other character shallow and undeveloped. The Persian was a surprise; A direct contrast to Leroux's original and Kay's version, but an interesting change nonetheless that fits right into the story.

  There is one more change from the main Phantom's story that proves ultimately enjoyable, although initially questionable; It is the consolation of the Happy Ending ,using professor Tolkien's term. One would assume that this development would deduct some of the Phantom's tragic nature, but it doesn't. I would actually dare say that it makes Erik even more human in our eyes, especially after the way he interacts with every other character in his underground home. There is still the bittersweet taste, provided for the reader by Holmes himself; but ultimately, a feeling of justice and comfort is overwhelming. Certainly, if overworked, this can become tiresome and unrealistic - but in Mr. Siciliano's case, it has become a very welcome addition to the Phantom's legend. Five stars.
295701
I really liked this book. It is now one of my favorites. It challenges you to think. Many of the ideas discussed in the book are open-ended for you as the reader to interpret, and it leaves you with a sense of deepness. This book opens your mind to many new ideas and thoughts, and really proves to be a pondering stimulator. Other than all this, of course, it has a great plot, and moves along at a great pace, leaving the end a mystery to the reader. You should definately read this.
1176731
It should be noted that this book is NOT a "thriller."  Instead, as other reviewers have aptly pointed out, it is about the relationship between a husband and wife following an apparent tragedy.  There are some supernatural/psychological trimmings and a well-crafted sense of eeriness, but certainly not what one would consider "thrilling."

That being said, it's an excellent and thoughtful meditation on love and the role of memories.  Joyce's writing and aesthetic choices are well suited to the silent, snow-laden atmosphere.  The uncanny and the mundane, even carnal, exist side-by-side in simple, clean prose.  This choice helps to ground the fantastic elements and allow the interactions between the characters to resonate.  There were parts that I would re-read to let the description settle in and experience the world.

The writing is very clear and pristine, but there are a few absolutely gorgeous standout sections that rise above the snow blankets.  In particular there are a few conversations between the characters and two exceptional flashbacks stand out as real high points.  If anything, I dropped a star from the rating because more of these highs scattered throughout could have made the book profoundly moving (instead its a great examination of these themes, but not quite perfect).

While some of the other reviewers found the main characters unidentifiable or unlikeable, I found them well-drawn.  The clean/sparse prose and focus on current dialogue/actions may leave some readers who want more backstory cold, but I found the characters relatable and very human.  Instead of a lack of detail, I saw enough concrete detail to appreciate the characters on their own, but also enough clear space to allow the narrative to resonate with my personal experiences, as well.

As a final note, many reviewers have commented on the "twist(s)" in the work and how they are/are not easy to see coming. These "twists" are more like gradual developments, coming a very clear "act-breaks" so that when it becomes obvious to the reader, it shortly thereafter becomes obvious to the characters.  That said, it doesn't seem that catching the reader off-guard was ever Mr. Joyce's intention, so readers expecting to savor the journey rather than find shocks will probably be better able to engage with the book as intended.

All in all, highly recommended. But read it at night, in bed beside a loved one, and let yourself get lost.
731057
Quick read with profound lessons for people of all ages, Winger uses delightful and charming characters to capture the dichotomy and sometimes difficult dilemma of fulfilling a curiosity and being comfortable with uncertainty.  There's an inherent sensitivity and philosophical question to overcome in any quest to satisfy one's curiosity; sometimes it is easy to overcome with self reflection, and sometimes very difficult when morality, superiority, and compassion for others plays a role.

The author brings the reader into a futuristic period of a species facing such questions in a unique story.  He takes the characters to a point of approaching that curiosity line, and takes the reader on an introspective exploration of values and decision making.  It isn't your typical "good guy vs bad guy" science fiction story with blasters and combat. Rather, the author brings to life the morality and spiritual lessons of the Starkind and expects the reader to interpret those lessons into his or her own life.

Unexpectedly, it became the first science fiction book in my library with highlights and notes in the margins, reminding me to remember, reflect upon, and revisit some of the Starkind's core principles.  It can be spiritual for the spiritual audience, and it can be a teaching tool for the impressionable. In either case, it is a refreshing short read.
4053587
When I was first given this book by a friend, I hadn't heard of the author and couldn't pronounce the title, so I was more than a little skeptical. However, within a few pages, I found myself engrossed in a plot both ancient and futuristic, reminiscent of The Da Vince Code in that structure but a thousand-fold more plausible and intelligent: Instead of a jumble of facts and made-up nonsense about Jesus, it deals with the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, and his cult of numbers, bursting more than a couple thousand years forward into the world of computers. It's both thoughtful and thought-provoking, and never stops moving. I highly recommend Tetraktys.