I picked this book because of the fantasy/apocolypse topic. I was not aware it was a Christian allegory. If that appeals to you, you might enjoy this I picked this book because of the fantasy/apocolypse topic. I was not aware it was a Christian allegory. If that appeals to you, you might enjoy this YA novel. Personally, I thought the allegory was heavy-handed. and I felt as if I'd been beaten over the head with the point. It's the first in a series. It is a quick read....more
The Messengers is told alternately by two sets of narrators. At first I found this annoying as each section seemed totally unrelated to the other. As The Messengers is told alternately by two sets of narrators. At first I found this annoying as each section seemed totally unrelated to the other. As the play progresses, it's clear why the author did this, but I found the first half confusing while I tried to figure out what the two sets of characters have to do with each other. This is very sci-fi and futuristic, but not overly scientific, so if excessive technology gets to you, you're safe here. One team of characters is one a spacecraft heading to the home planet. The other set is a soldier and a refugee stuck on an outlying planet. This is not the sort of book I would normally read, but I got into it. I went back and listened to the first part again after I saw why the author had juxtaposed the two plots. It was much more enjoyable the second time....more
The beginning of the novel was slow going for me. I'm not a scientist, economist, or philosopher and for many, many pages, those are the subjects I waThe beginning of the novel was slow going for me. I'm not a scientist, economist, or philosopher and for many, many pages, those are the subjects I waded through. I was ready to abandon the book so many times, but what I thought was the subplot intrigued me. It turns out, of course, that the subplot, the regulations about "levels" (a caste system) was the main plot. If you are fascinated by AI and the questions of whether bots are capable of sentience, then this book is for you. If Schroeder's cat is part of your background, this book is for you. If not (and I am among the "nots"), then skim a bunch and read for an exciting story. Imagine a world where the government banishes people to the desert and abandons them there. Most die, of course. Our heroes manage to survive impossible odds and rely on their innate creativity and a lot of luck for three years. That part of the book was really interesting. But all good things must come to an end, so they return to "civilization" and the revenge planned against them. Lots of action there....more
I was caught up in this story from the beginning, not having noticed that twins were the authors. The novel takes place inWell-written dystopian novel
I was caught up in this story from the beginning, not having noticed that twins were the authors. The novel takes place in the not so distant future and the similarities to today's political scene are painful. As with any good futuristic book, the plot is all too possible. In a society that has destroyed almost all natural resources, families are limited to one child. But Ava and Mira are identical twins. Their mother has died, so it falls to their father to devise a strategy to protect them. All works well until the governor's smarmy son gets involved.
Without giving away the ending, i'll just say their adventures are suspenseful and mostly believable. They encounter lost family and a resistance movement they thought had died years before. If this were a movie, I'd have been tempted to cheer at the end.
This is a YA book that will appeal to all ages. Parents, there is some language that is typical but not desirable....more
Victor Frankenstein is a promising young scholar who somehow figures out how to build a creature and imbue him with life. He is then horrified by the Victor Frankenstein is a promising young scholar who somehow figures out how to build a creature and imbue him with life. He is then horrified by the creature's appearance and abandons him (it?), but the creature will have none of that. Not understanding why humans react with horror when they see him, the creature kills several people who scream and make him feel bad. Wait--is this a bullying book? The creature determines that he needs a companion and threatens Frankenstein into agreeing to build one. Victor agrees and spends several years trying to do that, then he reconsiders, realizing the creature promised to leave humans alone if he had a companion, but the companion has made no such promise. This is a great story, which brings up many social issues, but the writing has not survived the ages. Shellley's language is so flowery and overblown that at times I wanted to scream. Frankenstein is Indiana's One State One Story book this year or I'd never have reread it (I hated it when I read it years ago). I can now appreciate the various stories within stories that Shelley employed but I sure wish I could edit this. I love other books written in this era, but I can't say that about this book. A retelling of the plot is far better than enduring the original. The old movie does NOT follow the book closely and is improved by that....more
I was disappointed with this book. I chose it because I'd been to Jackson Hole. The novel had an interesting premise, but it just didn't Light reading
I was disappointed with this book. I chose it because I'd been to Jackson Hole. The novel had an interesting premise, but it just didn't work for me. I almost stopped reading several times. The dialogue seemed stilted and the magical time travel just didn't work. Is it sci-fi? Fantasy? I'm willing to suspend disbelief and I love good fantasy or magic, but this isn't it....more
I listened to this on audio, and enjoyed the reader's interpretation. She SOUNDED as if she really was Jazz Bashara telling the events.
I hadn't read I listened to this on audio, and enjoyed the reader's interpretation. She SOUNDED as if she really was Jazz Bashara telling the events.
I hadn't read The Martian so I didn't know what to expect. This novel is sort of a YA book with cursing. Jazz is a gutsy young woman with an interesting assortment of "friends" and acquaintances. Her tone reminded me a little of Stephanie Plum in the Evanovich books. I liked her and, of course, rooted for her to fight off all the bad guys trying to take over Artemis for their own profit. She was a smuggler with a conscience.
Overall, I'd say this is an enjoyable read and great for long car trips if you have the audio book. The description let me see the city of Artemis and relate to the urgency that the situation demanded. It's a fun book, not a literary masterpiece and that was what I was looking for when I read it. ...more
Some novels are character driven and some plot driven. This one is theme driven with a heavy foot. The author is far more fond of sInteresting premise
Some novels are character driven and some plot driven. This one is theme driven with a heavy foot. The author is far more fond of similes than I am. ...more
I was totally engaged in this YA book about Evening, the daughter of a genetic engineering tycoon.
Healing (in only a few days) from a horrible car acI was totally engaged in this YA book about Evening, the daughter of a genetic engineering tycoon.
Healing (in only a few days) from a horrible car accident in which her leg was severed and reattached, Evening is drawn into the mysteries of life at her mother's lab. What she discovers about herself, her mother, and her friends totally changes the way she pictures the world.
She's a very capable teen, who knows how to gather human resources to fend off a Vietnamese drug gang, deranged scientists, and horrors hidden in the sub-basement of her mother's laboratory.
There was a bit of romance, plenty of adventure and action, some gore, and food for thought about science, ethics, and genetic engineering. ...more
This is probably the strangest book I've ever read. Daniel and Lucy have apparently been alive many times before in many different bodies and countrieThis is probably the strangest book I've ever read. Daniel and Lucy have apparently been alive many times before in many different bodies and countries. And what to you say to the woman you love whose hut and person you burnt in a prior life? And what about the evil brother who's found an unnatural way to jump bodies, spending centuries trying to find Daniel and get revenge. Having a hard time believing? So did Lucy. The author chose to tell the book through both Lucy and Daniel's points of view. As a result, there is a lot of narration as each character tells his/her part of the story. There's also a lot to explain about how the incident in 541 AD (can't remember the actual date) links the souls in the 2009 plot. I don't know how else Brashares could have told it, but the long narrative passages got me down several times. I did keep reading though because the story was intriguing. Ever felt like you are meeting someone you already knew? Have we passed this way before?...more
Awesome. Way better than the movie. It's an older book, but if you missed it growing up, read it now.Awesome. Way better than the movie. It's an older book, but if you missed it growing up, read it now....more
I had read this years ago. I just finished listening to the audio book and enjoyed it. After watching all the Jurassic Park movies, it's hard not to pI had read this years ago. I just finished listening to the audio book and enjoyed it. After watching all the Jurassic Park movies, it's hard not to picture the actors as I listen....more
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