Book Review - The King's Deception - Steve Barry

Title:  The King of Deception

Author:  Steve Barry

Review:  This was a great book and I don’t say this all that easily.  It was exciting, had a great amount of history a few myths, and a little gossip tossed in for good measure.  It is a Cotton Malone story so that only adds to the fun of reading it.

The book takes place in England around London and surrounding areas.  The premise of the book is that Elizabeth the First, Queen of England, was actually, oh I don’t want to spoil the story so I will not go on with that thought.  Just know that the CIA, M16 and all the old spy agencies are intertwined together,  trying to beat each other to the prize.  This great secret, which has been protected for over 500 years, if uncovered could affect the political situation of world and England will not allow it!   

The story is full of the history of the Elizabethan time, before Elizabeth the !st and after her time.  The book goes from the story of the Princess soon to be queen, and back to the modern day building the story page by page to an exciting and unpredictable ending.

Malone’s son Gary has just found out who his real father is (but I won’t share that bit of information either) and he wants to get to know him better.  Malone knows nothing about this and thinks that Gary is being cared for by the agent he trusts to protect him.

The story goes at a fast pace, moving without any dull pages anywhere.  The story unfolds fast and finishes just as fast.  It tells the story of the dirty tricks that governments play on each other to get their own way and then make it all go away in the eyes of the world.

Great book I would recommend it to anyone that likes mystery and intrigue.  This book rates 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you Eileen for this review

Publisher:  Published June 11th 2013 by Random House Large Print 

ISBN: 9780307990945

Copyright: 2013

Pages: 608

Where did I get the book: At my local library.

Quick Review:  5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:  Cotton Malone is back! Steve Berry’s new international adventure blends gripping contemporary political intrigue, Tudor treachery, and high-octane thrills into one riveting novel of suspense.

Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.

At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.

Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.

Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.

Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.

 

Author Biography:   Steve Berry is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cotton Malone series featuring The Jefferson Key, The Emperor's Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, and The Templar Legacy. He also has three stand-alone thrillers: The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room ---- and two e-book original short stories, The Balkan Escape and The Devil's Gold. He has 12 million books in print, which have been translated into 40 languages and sold in 51 countries. Steve's road to publishing was long and arduous, spanning 12 years and 85 rejections over 5 separate manuscripts. He's also an accomplished instructor, having taught writing to audiences across the globe. When Steve's not writing, you can find him either on a beach, a golf course, or traveling --- discovering more things lost --- thinking of the next novel. He lives in the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. Steve and his wife Elizabeth have also started a foundation, History Matters, dedicated to aiding the preservation of our heritage.

Other Reviews:

The Picky Girl

Historical Novel Society

Movie Review - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Great Film 5 stars

I loved this movie - so many critics panned it and so I was reluctant to go and see it.....I am glad I did.  The message in the movie is needed for all of us.  The movie is full of comedic actors and yet it really is not a comedy at all - a few laughs here and there, but this movie has a message to send to all of us who go go go go and never stop to smell the roses - we have what we need and yet we never live our life - we think of tomorrow and yesterday and what could be - yet life is happening right now while we are thinking of the future or the past - live for today!!!!  Tomorrow will take care of itself and today is for you- I loved this film and will see it again  -

What a feel good film that really makes you think - a few tears ran down my face at the ending - silly because it was not sad - but I loved it- go see this movie you will enjoy your time there and then think of how you can live your life today not for tomorrow but for today - live in the moment - Page down for the trailers- GO SEE THIS FILM -

Happy 23rd Anniversary to us!!!!!!

23 years together-

Those who read together stay together!!!!!!

Maybe????

Happy reading to you all!!

Book Review - Bones of the Lost - Kathy Reich

Title: Bones of the Lost

Author: Kathy Reich

Review:   I like this author but feel she is stuck in a rut, this book at least gave me the idea she may be finding a way out of it at last.  Her main character travels between Canada and the US and sometimes the travel is so boring to read…but this time the character went to Afghanistan and that was quite a bit more interesting to read about.  The trip was short and sweet, but I liked it so much better than the Canadian trips where she whines about the weather and about Ryan and his issues with love.

This book with its murder and mayhem was still much more positive than the last few have been and I could see a sunnier side to the story.  I love mystery/thrillers but I don’t like to get depressed reading them.  More excitement in this book and more personal interaction with other characters outside of the police and the morgue, right there it was more upbeat.

Still not pleased with what is going on with Ryan and Tempe, but oh well who knows what the twist with Pete will do for this book series.  I like that Katy is a strong women who wants to fight for this country and yes the feeling Tempe has are normal for someone whose daughter is fighting in combat…scary stuff for sure.

I would recommend this book and I am now looking forward to the next one…after the last few I was thinking of dropping this author, but maybe she has a new lease on life now…one that I can enjoy.


Publisher: Published August 27th 2013 by Scribner (first published January 1st 2013)
ISBN: 9781439102459

Copyright: 2013
Pages: 336
Quick Review:  4 stars out of 5
Why I Read It: Enjoyed her other book
Where I Obtained the Book: From my local library

Synopsis: #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her sixteenth riveting novel featuring forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan, whose examination of a young girl killed in a hit and run in North Carolina triggers an investigation into international human trafficking.When Charlotte police discover the body of a teenage girl along a desolate stretch of two-lane highway, Temperance Brennan fears the worst. The girl’s body shows signs of foul play. Inside her purse police find the ID card of a prominent local businessman, John-Henry Story, who died in a horrific flea market fire months earlier. Was the girl an illegal immigrant turning tricks? Was she murdered?

The medical examiner has also asked Tempe to examine a bundle of Peruvian dog mummies confiscated by U.S. Customs. A Desert Storm veteran named Dominick Rockett stands accused of smuggling the objects into the country. Could there be some connection between the trafficking of antiquities and the trafficking of humans?

As the case deepens, Tempe must also grapple with personal turmoil. Her daughter Katy, grieving the death of her boyfriend in Afghanistan, impulsively enlists in the Army. Meanwhile, Katy’s father Pete is frustrated by Tempe’s reluctance to finalize their divorce. As pressure mounts from all corners, Tempe soon finds herself at the center of a conspiracy that extends all the way from South America, to Afghanistan, and right to the center of Charlotte. “A genius at building suspense” (Daily News, New York), Kathy Reichs is at her brilliant best in this thrilling novel.

Author Biography:  Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina, and for the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Quebec. She is one of only fifty forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. A professor of anthropology at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs is a native of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. at Northwestern. She now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal and is a frequent expert witness in criminal trials.

Other Reviews:

Thinking about Books
Thinking in Fragments

Merry Christmas to you all!!!

I hope your stocking are full of books to read and enjoy!!!!

Monday in my Mailbox -

I know I have missed a few we have received lately and I will try to post those as I read and get them scheduled for posts.  Thanks for looking I hope you have some fun things in your mailbox this week.

Back when not being able to stand each other also meant not being able to keep their hands off each other in Beautiful Bastard, neither Bennett nor Chloe could have seen this day coming.

An exasperated bride who just wants to elope. A determined groom whose only focus is getting to the wedding night. And—of course—a whole lot of name calling.

A bombshell bookworm. A chronic Casanova. And a lesson in chemistry too scandalous for school.

When Hanna Bergstrom receives a lecture from her overprotective brother about neglecting her social life and burying herself in grad school, she’s determined to tackle his implied assignment: get out, make friends, start dating. And who better to turn her into the sultry siren every man wants than her brother’s gorgeous best friend, Will Sumner, venture capitalist and unapologetic playboy?

Will takes risks for a living, but he’s skeptical about this challenge of Hanna’s…until the wild night his innocently seductive pupil tempts him into bed- and teaches him a thing or two about being with a woman he can’t forget. Now that Hanna’s discovered the power of her own sex appeal, it’s up to Will to prove he’s the only man she’ll ever need.
An elegant addition to the successful “1001” series—a comprehensive, chronological guide to the most important thoughts from the finest minds of the past 3,000 years.From Democracy to Cultural Revolution, Courtly Love to Survival of the Fittest, and Kant’s Enlightenment to the Oedipus Complex, here are the big ideas that have revolutionized our world. 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think offers a wealth of stimulation and amusement for any reader with a curious mind, showing how once-radical propositions have become accepted truths.



Besides the great, eternal questions (how was the universe created and what is the place of humans within it? How should a person live? And how can we build a just society?), 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think also includes a host of hypotheses that are remarkable for their sheer audacity—from the concept of the transmigration of souls to parallel universes and the theoretical paradoxes of time travel. Discover the mathematical proof of the existence of life in other galaxies, and relearn inspiring ideas ranging from Gandhi’s theory of civil disobedience to Mary Wollstonecraft’s groundbreaking advocacy of women’s rights.



Abounding with quotations and more than 900 full-color, gorgeous illustrations, this is both an in-depth history of ideas and a delightfully.

A glorious, sweeping novel of desire, ambition, and the thirst for knowledge, from the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Committed.

In The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction, inserting her inimitable voice into an enthralling story of love, adventure and discovery. Spanning much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the novel follows the fortunes of the extraordinary Whittaker family as led by the enterprising Henry Whittaker—a poor-born Englishman who makes a great fortune in the South American quinine trade, eventually becoming the richest man in Philadelphia. Born in 1800, Henry's brilliant daughter, Alma (who inherits both her father's money and his mind), ultimately becomes a botanist of considerable gifts herself. As Alma's research takes her deeper into the mysteries of evolution, she falls in love with a man named Ambrose Pike who makes incomparable paintings of orchids and who draws her in the exact opposite direction—into the realm of the spiritual, the divine, and the magical. Alma is a clear-minded scientist; Ambrose a utopian artist—but what unites this unlikely couple is a desperate need to understand the workings of this world and the mechanisms behind all life.

Exquisitely researched and told at a galloping pace, The Signature of All Things soars across the globe—from London to Peru to Philadelphia to Tahiti to Amsterdam, and beyond. Along the way, the story is peopled with unforgettable characters: missionaries, abolitionists, adventurers, astronomers, sea captains, geniuses, and the quite mad. But most memorable of all, it is the story of Alma Whittaker, who—born in the Age of Enlightenment, but living well into the Industrial Revolution—bears witness to that extraordinary moment in human history when all the old assumptions about science, religion, commerce, and class were exploding into dangerous new ideas. Written in the bold, questing spirit of that singular time, Gilbert's wise, deep, and spellbinding tale is certain to capture the hearts and minds of readers.

Presented in the format of Top 10 lists, this book is a comprehensive yet fun look at the greatest aspects of Pro Sports. From the top athletes to the most popular teams in the world, SI Kids ranks a variety of topics covering every professional sport. Readers are guaranteed to love the big, exciting action photos from the Sports Illustrated collection and the insider knowledge of SI Kids. Filled with trivia and information, this dynamic book will be the definitive kids sports book. 

Book Feature - A Madaris Bride for Christmas and Candlelight Christmas

A MADARIS BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS by Brenda Jackson (Harlequin Kimani Arabesque; November 2013) 

Brenda's website: http://www.brendajackson.net/

Netgalley download: A MADARIS BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS

It’s only fitting that bestselling author Brenda Jackson’s 100th book is A MADARIS BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS as she began her writing career with the Madaris family in her first novel — Tonight and Forever. Throughout the years millions of readers have come to love the Madaris family and have made them part of their own. 

This November Jackson brings readers another sizzling Madaris family romance. A MADARIS BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS is a steamy new novel that blends heated sensuality with drama and features one of Jackson’s most unforgettable Madaris heroes yet. Lee Madaris, the sexy owner of one of the hottest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, knows his grandmother has pegged him to be the next Madaris to marry; and he intends to beat her at her own game. He refuses to let her play matchmaker and sets out to claim his destiny by finding a woman of his own.

A prolific writer of contemporary multicultural romance novels, Brenda Jackson is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author and is the first African-American female romance writer to become a USA TODAY and New York Times bestselling novelist.

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS by Susan Wiggs (Harlequin/Mira; November 2013)

Susan's website: www.susanwiggs.com

Netgalley download: CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS

We all love the holidays, but can’t deny that they can add unnecessary stress to our already complicated lives. For Darcy Fitzgerald and Logan O’Donnell, the couple at the center of  #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs’s delightful holiday confection, CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS, the familial obligations of the holiday season just further underscore how unsettled their own lives are. 

Set against the familiar backdrop of Willow Lake, Lakeshore Chronicles is vintage Wiggs—peopled with finely drawn characters, peppered with humor, and driven by a compelling, circuitous plot that leads to unexpected places. Wiggs even supplies holiday recipes ranging from Seductive Hot Chocolate and Maple Bacon Bread Pudding to No-Process Pickles, inspired by the nineteenth century German tradition of a special pickle ornament on the tree that grants the first child to spy it an extra present.

Susan is an international best-selling, award-winning author, with millions of copies of her books in print in numerous countries. Her recent novel, Marrying Daisy Bellamy, took the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List, and The Lakeshore Chronicles have won readers' hearts around the globe. 

Christmas Idea - Book Review - All Girls Are Pretty and Sally's Silly Hair Day - Mark Smith - Author and Julie Richmond - author & Illustrator

Title:  All Girls are Pretty and Sally's Silly Hair Day

Author: Mark Smith  (Author), Julie Richmond (Author and Illustrator)

Review:  These two books are cute rhyming books that are great for kids working on phonemic awareness (needed skill to learn to read); also the rhymes are just plain fun to read out loud.  I love that all girls can be pretty, especially now days with the impossible perfection expected of all women and girls according to the media.  Everyone is special in their own way and a book that helps you realize that, is a treat. 

Sally’s Silly Hair Day is also a good book for learning and hearing rhyming.  Who doesn’t want to have silly hair now and again?  Little girls will enjoy the colorful illustrations and the silly hair dos. 

These two books would make a great addition to your child’s Kindle library.  Christmas is coming why not a few good books on the Kindle for those little ones in your life?

Publisher:  Both Published August 25th 2013

ASIN: B00ESQIN56, ASIN: B00ESNCR6U

Page Numbers:  Kindle Edition

Quick Review:  4 out 5 stars

Why I Read this Title:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  All Girls Are Pretty is a fully illustrated rhyming picture book for little girls age 3-9. The bright and colorful illustrations teach little girls that beauty is not what's on the outside. Beauty comes from within, and it is something that every little girl has. The cute rhyming story helps build self-esteem and confidence.

All Girls Are Pretty helps girls realize that they are beautiful no matter what anyone may say. This cute picture book is sure to put a smile on any little girl's face.

Best selling children's book authors Mark Smith & Julie Richmond team up to bring you one of the cutest, silliest rhyming picture books that every little girl is sure to love.

This fully illustrated picture book comes to life with bright vibrant colors, and illustrations that will make you laugh.

Sally's Silly Hair Day is a silly rhyming picture book for girls age 3-9, but the kid in all of us will laugh and giggle right along with our children.

“What if I was a princess with hair that was shiny and bright?

My hair would be full of jewels that sparkle with delight.”

“What would my hair look like if I lived in the sky?

It would be white fluffy clouds, and I would float right by.”

What other types of silly hair does Sally think of? Pick up a copy of this funny picture book and find out for yourself!

Author Information:   As a young boy, Mark always enjoyed reading, writing and the outdoors. His father took him on many fabulous outdoor adventures that just fueled his passion for nature. By the time he was 13 years old, he was swimming with dolphins, manatees and sharks. He became a certified scuba diver at this young age and spent his summers diving in the Florida Keys with his father and older brother. He has been places that most people only dream of.

His passion for nature did not stop as he got older. He continues to observe, study and respect nature to this day. If there is a turtle in the road, Mark is the guy that will stop in the middle of traffic to help the turtle cross the street.

Now Mark shares his passion for nature with his own family. His children have been a great influence and inspiration to him and his writing, and now he is sharing his adventures and knowledge with the world.

Mark presently resides in New Smyrna Beach Florida with his wife and two children.

I could find no information Julie Richmond

Other Reviews:

Goodreads Sally's Silly Hair Day

Goodreads All Girls are Pretty

Book Review - Accidents Happen - Louise Millar

Title: Accidents Happen

Author: Louise Millar

Review: Remember when you watched Hangover 1 and laughed you butt off?  Then they came out with Hangover 2 and you thought to yourself I can’t wait  to see what they do with these characters this time.  But then you saw it  and realized it was just the exact same movie as the first one but this  time it was in a foreign country with a tiny twig and berry shot.  SO what I am saying is if you read Louise Millar’s very good first book you will get that same feeling with her second effort.

While this book is fine it doesn’t really cover any new ground.  Basically you have a young woman with child fighting against unseen forces of baddies conspiring to destroy her life. The life lesson to take from her books is that if you are a woman you cannot under any circumstance take what you see as being the real story.  There are all sorts of nefarious individuals who are out to get you.  As the great Irish poet Paul Hewson once said; “No one is blinder than he who will not see.”

The sad part is Louise Millar is a very good writer and tells an excellent story.  It just seems she lacks the confidence to break free of her first novel and explore different themes.  She almost had it here if she had
spent more time digging into a woman struck by tragedy whose irrational fears are fed by statistical maxims.  While that may have not been a great book it definitely would have been unique and interesting.

So a good book but struggling with a repetitive theme.

Publisher: Emily Bestler Books
ISBN: 978-1-4516-5670-1
Copyright: 2013
Pages: 385
Quick Review:  3 stars out of 5
Why I Read It: Enjoyed her first book
Where I Obtained the Book: Sent to me by the publisher for review.

Synopsis: Kate Parker has weathered unimaginable horrors—her parents died in a traffic accident on her wedding night, and her husband, Hugo, was murdered in a tragic break-in gone wrong. All she has left is her young son, Jack, and determined to make a better future for him, she attempts to pull her life back together. But are she and her son safe?

Author Biography:  I am the author of The Playdate, a psychological thriller published by Pan Macmillan in the UK, and Emily Bestler Books in the USA. Before turning to fiction, I spent 20 years working in magazines and newspapers, starting as a freelance sub-editor on entertainment titles such as the NME, Kerrang!, Empire and Smash Hits, before crossing over into women’s magazines and becoming a senior commissioning editor at Marie Claire. In 2006, I left Marie Claire to start a business writing ‘ordinary people’s memoirs – appearing on BBC’s The One Show to promote it – while writing freelance features for Psychologies, the Observer, the Guardian, Stella (the Telegraph), Stylist and Marie Claire, and starting work on The Playdate. I live in London with my husband and children and am currently working on my second novel, Accidents Happen, which will be published in 2013.

Other Reviews:

Euro Crimes

Tina Marie Says

Christmas Idea - Q and A with author Robert Treskillard - Merlin's Shadow

Buy the book for your reader this Christmas-

Q&A with Robert Treskillard:

Your newest book, Merlin's Shadow, is Book two of your Merlin's Spiral Series. What about the legend of Merlin and King Arthur draws you in?

The legends of King Arthur are filled with everything a storyteller needs … action, adventure, powerful enemies, romance, mysteries, and swords!  Not only that but these stories touch on the deep themes of heroism, faithfulness, and sacrificial love. How can one not be drawn to that?

Personally, I’ve loved this genre since I was twelve years old, and so to come up with a new twist on the tales in my fourth decade, write a trilogy, and get them published has been very rewarding experience.

What sets your books apart from other Arthurian tales?

My focus on the stone as the enemy. That was the only answer that made sense to me when I began to ponder why one would shove a sword into a stone. Everything flowed from there!

Two other things is that I’ve made a strong commitment to keep the story exciting while at the same time keeping it as historically accurate as possible. Whether I’ve achieved that is up to the reader, but I worked very hard on both aspects.

You are very involved in Celtic research, sword-making, and blacksmithing. How did you get interested in those things?

A combination of things came together to bring that about. 

My daughter became interested in Celtic history, learned Gaelic, and started singing and playing harp at local Scottish and Irish festivals. Soon my son (playing bagpipe) and youngest daughter (a fiddler) joined in and I was roped in to play backup guitar and mandolin. 

At the same time my mother mailed us box after box of old history books from the British Isles that she had been collecting. I was already a Celtic-phile, but all of this took it to a new height.

Then my son wanted to learn bladesmithing. I mail-ordered an anvil (imagine the shipping costs!), built a forge, bought a lot of books, consulted craftsmen, and began learning the craft with him.  Then my sister told me that we were descended from a Cornish blacksmith.

And so MERLIN’S BLADE was born … and Merlin became the son of a Cornish swordsmith. His love interest, Natalenya, sings and plays the harp like my oldest daughter. His best friend Garth plays the bagpipe like my son. It was fun to write, and I had lots of fodder for my stories.

The Merlin's Spiral series is written for the YA audience—how can today's teens connect to Merlin's story?

First off, I made him eighteen and on the cusp of manhood. But he’s also disabled with very poor vision, so this makes him vulnerable and shy, and I think a lot of teens can relate to those feelings. Growing up is hard, and I tried to make Merlin’s journey believable and relatable.

It would be my hope that teen readers come away with a courage to face their own problems.

But I’ve also highlighted the story of Merlin’s father, Owain, and adults can latch on to his story and find their own fascinating protagonist.

Buy it today here.

Book Review - Inferno - Dan Brown

Title:  Inferno

Author:  Dan Brown

Review:  Well I had been on the list at the library for months and I finally got the book on a Friday and read it over the weekend.  This is a fast paced book with lots of action that you come to know from this author, but I didn’t really get or care for the subject of all that speed.  Yes…Dante’s Inferno is interesting and everything, but the idea that the super genius is using it to send clues to others on how to sop his deadly plans for the world?  Are we James Bond now?  Really I think the subject could have been better.

I like Landon and the new characters he meets along the way as he tries to stop the end of the world…plaque…who knows…But I really think that the idea of this plague is just plain strange and really?   Sorry but I didn’t get it and yet it was interesting like the rest of this authors books and maybe it has been to long since I have read one that I forgot what silly premises these books are set on.

If you enjoy this author then read the book, just know that the ending will leave you wondering What the Heck happened?  That is about all I can say about this thriller…too bad because it had such a good start.

I will try to find some reviewers that completely disagree with me in the other reviews section.

Publisher:  Published May 14th 2013 by Doubleday

ISBN: 9780385537858

Copyright: 2013

Pages: 463

Where did I get the book: I picked it up at my local library, I was on the list for months.

Quick Review:  3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:  In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

 

Author Biography:   Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown is interested in cryptography, codes, and keys. Currently his novels have been translated into many languages.

Although many see Dan Brown's books as anti-Christian, Brown is a Christian who says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

Other Reviews:

The Boston Globe

Patheos

Girls Lost in a Book

Little Sar - read by Pat Boone

Merry Christmas to you all !!!!

Book Review - 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think - Robert Arp General Editor -

Title:  1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think

Editor: Robert Arp - 

Review:  1001 ideas - are there really that many- you betcha.   Ideas that have been around forever and things that have been around for a short time, but all have changed things for all of us.  Here is one item from each section of the book.

·        Ancient World pre – 500 CE – Clothing. 

·        The Middle Ages 500-1449 – All is Water – All matter is composed of water as its basic substance.

·        Early Modern 1450-1779-Seperation of  Powers – The division of a government’s powers into branches, each with its own responsibilities.

·        Late Modern 1780-1899-Ring Theory – The study of “rings” or structures in abstract algebra, that relates integrally )in terms of whole numbers) if they are commutative, but not if noncommutative.

·        Early 20^th Century 1900-1949 – Antibiotics – The discovery of medication that destroys bacteria and prevents infection.

·        Contemporary 1950- present – Rap Music – A style in which rhythmic and/or rhyming speech is chanted to musical backing.

I love to read and look through books like these.  This is quite thick and needs two hands to handle, my only issue with this book. 

A great idea for Christmas gifts for the reader in your life.

Publisher:  Published October 29th 2013 by Atria Books

ISBN:  9781476705736

Page Numbers:  960

Quick Review:  4 out 5 stars

Why I Read this Title:  I love books like this. – Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  An elegant addition to the successful “1001” series—a comprehensive, chronological guide to the most important thoughts from the finest minds of the past 3,000 years.From Democracy to Cultural Revolution, Courtly Love to Survival of the Fittest, and Kant’s Enlightenment to the Oedipus Complex, here are the big ideas that have revolutionized our world. 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think offers a wealth of stimulation and amusement for any reader with a curious mind, showing how once-radical propositions have become accepted truths.

Besides the great, eternal questions (how was the universe created and what is the place of humans within it? How should a person live? And how can we build a just society?), 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think also includes a host of hypotheses that are remarkable for their sheer audacity—from the concept of the transmigration of souls to parallel universes and the theoretical paradoxes of time travel. Discover the mathematical proof of the existence of life in other galaxies, and relearn inspiring ideas ranging from Gandhi’s theory of civil disobedience to Mary Wollstonecraft’s groundbreaking advocacy of women’s rights.

Abounding with quotations and more than 900 full-color, gorgeous illustrations, this is both an in-depth history of ideas and a delightfully accessible popular reference.

Other Reviews

Boston Globe

ABC blog for gift ideas