Love Joseph Campbell but his writing seems to not be ...
355562
Love Joseph Campbell but his writing seems to not be as on "direct target" according to titles.
Still worth reading.
144773
I was lucky enough to get a pre-release copy of Fearless by Max Lucado as part of the [...]Thomas Nelson Blogger Book Review program</a>.  I've heard a lot about him but have never read one of his books (unless you count children's books).  In this book, Max addresses various commonly held fears such as not mattering, worst-case scenarios, the coming lean times, and global calamity among others.  He begins each chapter with a personal story that leads right into the Bible and he's an expert at making scripture blend seamlessly in with current situations, so that you could see Jesus saying the same things to us today as he did to the disciples 2000 years ago.

I have to say that having never read one of his books, I was looking forward to reading it.  He is a very exuberant writer and stories of the things he has done are interesting.  He also liberally sprinkles bible verses throughout to help make his point and I didn't find it lacking in biblical truth or anything.

Overall, though, I was kind of ambivalent about it.  I'm not sure if it was the subject or if Mr. Lucado is just too evangelical for me (I'm an orthodox Latin Mass kind of Catholic).  Either way,  I can't really pinpoint the reason but I felt pretty blah about it.  I wish that I could have loved it, but unfortunately, I just don't think his style is my thing.
640862
This is a novella which will maybe take you an hour to read.  It's written by Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Near the end of her life, she's living in Ephesus with two disciples who are writing the Gospels.  Despite the passing of time, she is still raw, grieving and confused by the events of her son's life and death.  Her impression is that he was used by those around him, caught up in events that he couldn't control and that now his followers are trying to create a legacy of his life which isn't consistent with the way that she remembers things.  She is frustrated that he couldn't just stay an ordinary man, living with her.

One big question in my mind reading the book was - did she not believe that he was the son of God?  It would seem not.  She gets confused and angry when his followers talk about his father without meaning Joseph.  She worships at the temple of Artemis.  She talks about the miracles that Jesus worked in his life, but from another perspective.  Lazarus was never the same after rising from the dead and who knows for sure that there was water in the jugs before they "turned into" wine.  Accounts of Jesus walking on water she attributes to mass hysteria.  While this is an interesting perspective, it completely negates the story of the Holy Conception - according to the Bible, Mary knew from the outset whose baby she was carrying.  I presume that the Mary in this book would point to that as another aspect of her life that is being twisted by the disciples as they write the story that they want Christians to believe.

A lot of thought has gone into this book, the language is almost poetic and its an interesting and thought-provoking perspective, but somehow Mary comes across as a completely dislikable woman: bitter, self-centered and distrustful.  I didn't feel that Toibin got under her skin.

This would be a good book for book clubs because a) it's very quick to read and b) there are so many layers that would be fascinating to discuss.
780718
It's a pleasant enough tale, but I just didn' feel the spark.  It seems that every once in a while King feels the need to prove he's a "serious writer."  He's brilliant, a wonderful wordsmith and scares the hell out of me (and millions of other fans), so what's to prove?
3391769
Really interesting story, but unfortunately I found the author's writing style too juvenile for the serious nature of the subject matter. I also did not care for the changes from 3rd person to 1st person perspective at times. It's really fascinating that the author found himself involved in the case, but it didn't seem as instrumental as the blurbs on the back cover make it seem. I certainly did not get the feeling that he was in some kind of mortal danger.  I also really wish there was more information behind the stories. I guess I wanted this to be more historical than a recounting.
2915899
When reading Zone One its plainly obvious that Whitehead is writing in a style with which he is unfamiliar. Whitehead is a good writer, it's easy to see why he's famous, but he is not a GENRE writer, so this book ends up being full of oversights. (i.e. The zombie outbreak started years ago but the power is still on in some buildings, the bodies of suicide cultists are still decomposing after all these years, some helpless zombies are still around and haven't been eaten by carrion animals, the list goes on and on)
It's clear that Whitehead was much more interested in the metaphor happening in the novel between the lines instead of what was actually on the page. This is where Whiteheads literary fiction background really shows through. The novel is just a vehicle for the metaphor, but with no thought given to the science of the zombies that vehicle has some serious flat tires.
It's not a bad book. People who don't like genre fiction or zombie novels will probably enjoy it, but those of us who read sci-fi are going to see this novel as a serious of gaping plot holes.
341503
The story line is pretty good, but I do not think it is the same high caliber as other books he has written.
2015417
As a short novel or story used by the author to explore different aspects of his past writing I understand the point behind the novel. The concepts in this book have been explored in a lot of his past writings. However, I know he can do better. The writing is very simple, the dialog as stated in the book is supped t be smart but it really isn't. I would say this is more of a tool for the author and is something that could be expanded upon but it didn't seem ready for an audience to me. I did like it but I think that is because I'm a huge Anthony fan and I saw how it tied into his other work.
1047447
I first read Paul Maier's writings in A Skeleton in God's Closet over a decade ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed that novel and have often recommended it. It challenged me to prove what I believe from scripture rather than from tradition. I hoped for the same in The Constantine Codex. I was disappointed.  Perhaps my standards for novels have increased in the years since I read Skeleton. Perhaps Codex is not written as well. I'm not sure.

Maier does well to challenge the reader to prove what he believes.  But I felt like the author went beyond challenge to insult when he attacks a large representation of Christendom and calls their belief in the authenticity of some passages of scripture "ridiculous" in chapter 22 and alludes to this feeling in other passages.  To support his claims, the author apparently uses incorrect statistics to minimize the vast acceptance of convictions opposed to his own, and this presents itself not only in the dialogue of the characters, but also throughout the narrative. I'm not opposed to opinionated characters who come across as insulting of others, but I was disappointed to find it permeating the author's attitude in writing.

There is some excitement in the possibilities of discoveries such as Maier's main characters make. But the believability of the work is undermined by the multiple sensational discoveries and "lucky breaks" included in the plot.

Overall, the book is adequate, but not one I'll recommend. I read it free with Prime membership, fortunately.  The author does bring some interesting theories, but his treatment of those opposed to his yet-to-be-discovered imaginations taints the excitement of reading the book.
2429299
I am in the middle of The Lost Symbol a the moment, yes i have not fiished it yet.  I just felt compelled to share some of my feelings.  First of all Dan Brown is not a writers writer; he is not creating some grand piece of literature here.  He aims for suspense over substance and at times his style is a bit sophomoric. Lets face it the formula for The Lost Symbol, is the same as it was in The Davinci Code and Angels and Demons.  Aren't authors supposed to grow and change with time and experience? His characters are not likeable at all, however having said that how can he really flesh out his characters when he spends most of his time trying to educate us about the Apotheosis of Washington and the vastness of Freemasonry?  Quite honsetly I find his writing style hokey, especially the villanous parts.  Every time I get to the chapters with Mala'kh I roll my eyes and skim through.
Obviously Dan Brown has learned that once something works, don't stray.  He's not offering us anything new here except location.
2702305
Great descriptive writing of the Amazon area and the people.  But the story line lacks believability.
3003078
At moments the writing can be good and at other times you lean back and wonder about it.  My biggest concern with the whole thing is it just comes across as....bland.  Like a glass of water you left out overnight.  It'll take care of your thirst but not in a way that makes you feel satisfied.
3086013
While his writing is great, and I anxiously wait each week for his next installment, paying $12 for 12 chapters of his book seems excessive.
I'll do it this time because I started and can't put it down, but I'll think about it next time.

Also parsing out a book over weeks is a reminder of what Dickens used to do, or how Sherlock Holmes was published.  There an installment might be 100 pages, not 25.

Leon
1505497
What to say?  Does anyone else find it hard to criticize an author who created such great old friends as Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn?  The book did hold my interest, mainly because I felt at home with Lt. Leaphorn after reading so much of him previously.

Unfortunately, it was hard to overlook the tons of inconsistencies (first Louisa knows Vang, then she has no idea who he is after joe just told her about him, where does joe live?) and the feeling that the whole story was just not quite believable (the master CIA plotter allows his rug to be photographed in a magazine?).

If you're a fan of hillerman, you'll enjoy riding with joe again.  If you've never read him, read "A Thief of Time" or "Skinwalkers" or "Talking God", but skip this one.

Did anyone else notice Lt. Leaphorn's obsession with coffee and food in this book?  Although if I remember reading Hillerman's descriptions of food has always made me hungry too.
3491806
As an avid Jack Campbell fan, I was totally thrilled to see a prequel series to the Lost Fleet books. Without fail, Campbell's writing is tight, thoughtful, and filled with some "I did not see that coming" moments. I did not give the book 5 stars for one reason - I just got tired of the "you can turn your life around" and "If I just do things by right it will all work out" dialogue. Black Jack was morally upright to a fault and it was obviously a family trait. I get it. Move on. Campbell could have dropped a few thousand words of preaching and added more exciting content. That being said, I still loved the book and am waiting for book two of the series.
2596068
My first Tibn read. If this is his masterpiece then he is a weak writer. Perhaps you need to be a child of the 40s to get excited by it. I can see why it was made into a move though. Perhaps it was write with screen in mind.
808319
Im not a big fan of LEngles writing. Its a bit scattered, and one has to strain to make sense of the narrative. C.S. Lewis does theology-tinged tales so much better.