Category: Reading



Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the MilitaryAccessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

War is not my thing. Often it feels like the author is trying to tell us we need a war if we want to explore space or see new inventions. But it is the opposite of that. He has researched points to prove this is how it has always been, and, please hang on until the end of the book, he has some answers as well researched and thought out of how we can improve our lives, save us from global warming and other imminent disasters, and finally space travel for good not evil. Yes, I prefer Star Trekking to Star Warring.

I could listen to Neil deGrasse Tyson all night. In fact, the other night, I did just that. His voice is soothing, and his articulation is precise. I’m not a scientist or a historian, but I felt this wasn’t over my head.

I highly recommend this book, especially the audio. I picked this up on Libby, a great place to read for free! Libraries are the greatest!

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The Psychology of Time TravelThe Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A friend recommended this to me. She knew I loved reading about the concept of time travel. And she was not wrong. This was very interesting and even brought up ideas I hadn’t considered before. A lot of time travel science is included in the book, but I loved the story. I loved reading about all the different women who invented the time machines.

I borrowed this Kindle edition from the library. And for a lot of books, the text-to-speech works quite well. But for this book, it made it more challenging. All the voices are the same one, no matter the time or area the person was from; it was the same voice with no emotion. So I got pretty mixed up with who was who. So I have ordered the Audible version to try again later. I am concerned as there are so many characters I may have to take notes to keep it all straight.

Still, even as it was, I found it engaging every single night. I never wanted to quit reading, even when confused.

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Fever 1793Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I just remembered why I write reviews. So I would look up the book and know if I read it before. But guess who didn’t read the review below? Yep. Me. But I’m kind of glad. I just got to listen to the Audible version of the book with Bailey Carr as the narrator. It felt like a new story to me. Is that because of a different reader? Time? It was several years ago. At any rate, it was an enjoyable ‘read’ even though about a tough time in American history. The funny thing is, it is far easier to relate to now since America has dealt with Covid19. Anyway, I highly recommend the read, again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Here’s the review from 2015~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I finished this masterpiece a couple of days ago. It was part of my anti-depression about my husband being in the hospital while I was home with fibro flare. In this case, I would say misery loves company. Or… at least things aren’t as bad as it was then.

This was a birthday present from me–to me! I had picked up the whisper sync for voice also, so I was able to listen to Emily Bergl’s narration. I have to admit she is not my favorite narrator. But once she was into the story, I felt drawn in and forgot that there was a narrator.

Laurie Halse Anderson always amazes me with her works. This book is no exception. Wow! The amount of research that she dug through to write this fiction is overwhelming! This is based on a real epidemic that happened just a few years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Yellow Fever takes over. But no one knows yet that it is due to mosquitoes. Medicine was still in its infancy. Through Ms. Anderson, we get to see what could have happened to a young girl, her family, and her community.

Okay. Confession time. I have never been a history buff. I did have a fabulous professor in college that made me appreciate it a bit. That class was when I was in my forties. So imagine how long it was that I hated history. I think with books like this, I might have been able to relate to historical events as a middle grader. This younger generation is so lucky to have such writers as Laurie Halse Anderson!

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Jurassic ParkJurassic Park by Michael Crichton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, I’m late in reading these. I am a huge fan of the movies.

Usually, I like reading the book first before watching the film version. But I just didn’t get around to this one before memorizing the series’ first few movies. And that sadly gave me an up. I knew what needed to happen.

But the shows are better. I am so glad they rewrote the shows to tell a more friendly bunch of main characters. I don’t want to give spoilers if you haven’t read the books, but there were shockers. And now I feel I must read the next book in the series.

I do enjoy the writing of Michael Crichton. Yeah, I’m a newbie to his work.

Scott Brick gave a sense of authority to the science of the topic and acted most of the characters with gusto. But females were not done as well, sounding a bit demeaning. But overall, he kept the story interesting.

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The Burning World (Warm Bodies #2)The Burning World by Isaac Marion
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Though not as good or a quick a read as Warm Bodies, it was still a crunchie and delicious read. Seeing through the zombie’s eyes, R’s, we learn as he does about his past and the world’s past and present. The romance, though ongoing, seems to be cooling as a whole team of acquaintances attempts to find places of safety.

The narrator, Jacques Roy, does a great job acting out the various characters. At least he doesn’t make the females sound like he’s demeaning them. He keeps the listener engaged.

The author, Isaac Mario, melds action and poetry. Sometimes I wish I could turn on the light and write down a line or two he says. Just beautiful for a zombie story! Especially toward the end. I have already ordered the next book. And though this was a Libby audio, I ordered my own copy of the audible version, and I now have the blu-ray. I love this series!

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Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1)Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Now, this was a fun book. How is it I never heard about it until recently? I wish I hadn’t finished it so quickly. Luckily, there is a book two, so as soon as Libby has it available, I can go back into M’s world and watch brains form in the once-dead zombie.

Go check out the blurb on GoodReads or Amazon. But maybe, like me, you only need a good friend to tell you this is fun. You need a fun read. Here it is!

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Late BloomersLate Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you, Netgalley, for letting me read this book.

Sadly, I nearly quit reading at the first chapter. Nothing against the writer, but I had assumed the book was about women. Fair warning: it is about a family, including the father and son. Each member gets their chapters. I must admit that listening to text-to-speech, it was hard to tell who the chapter was about. I think that if an author sets up a book this way, they should include the words Chapter 1 or another number and then the name of the point of view. That would clear confusion right up front.

Once I figured out who the chapters were about and the book’s aim, I could see the novel through.

On the other hand, though this book was about an Indian-American family, it was universal in many ways. People not listening to each other. People not expressing their authentic truth. People jump to their own conclusions. Gossip. Betrayal. The reader wonders if they will ever find their way to healthy relationships. It was hard to live through all of this.

It is worth the read to learn how new Americans of other origins might see how this melting-pot culture gets in their own ways, too.

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Becoming Crone (The Crone Wars #1)Becoming Crone by Lydia M. Hawke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun book that, at last, didn’t have to do with someone under 60. It only took a couple of nights to get through. I do wish it were in Audible, but text-to-speech was still doable.

A mature woman whose marriage is over and the offspring has a child of his own finally finds her power, and boy, it’s a lot!

And her caretaker is a gargoyle. Her name is Kevin!

Hopefully, those weren’t spoilers.

It was such an entertaining book; I now have the second book lined up.

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One-Liner Wednesday


Trail: Thanks Lynn, via Lindsey Hall
One-Liner Wednesday, a Linda G. Hill prompt.

Lockdown Drill at Superhero School: Calmly prepare for a Lockdown Drill with Superhero Skills!Lockdown Drill at Superhero School: Calmly prepare for a Lockdown Drill with Superhero Skills! by Tamara Rittershaus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m on a mission to attempt to read primers of other languages as I can. I found this one about superheroes and school lockdown safety. I saw there was one in English and this one in Spanish.

It is a sad commentary on our world that this primer is necessary. But I love how it is written and presented to the kids who are given this way to view the way to their safety.

The illustrations are fun.

No, I am still not good enough to read this without help. But I opened this one on my laptop Kindle app and the other version on my cell phone Kindle app. It worked out.

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