"William Shakespeare's Star Wars" by Ian Doescher

My best friend received this book as a Christmas gift and after reading it lent it to me. 

Summary: Honestly, this is the story of Star Wars, Episode 4: A New Hope. That's it. 

Well, there are some differences. Like how the whole thing is written in the style of William Shakespeare. Many of the speeches are adaptations of famous Shakespearean soliloquies or turns of phrase. I have not read many of his plays, but even I recognized a lot of bits here and there that were space-age adaptations of the Bard, like "Once more unto the trench, dear friends, once more!" for example. It was also interesting to imagine this as a stage production with actors reading these lines to a live audience. The play includes stage directions explaining where the actors should go and what they should be doing. The space battle even envisions pilots arranged on the stage to attack the Deathstar. 

Many times the characters have wonderful soliloquies where they explain their thoughts to the reader in a way that is never done in the movie. R2-D2 finally gets to say some things, but only to we readers. There are also a few illustrations that are inspired by the Renaissance era, but depict the high tech world. All around this is a perfect book for that nerd who loves sci-fi movies and Renaissance festivals!

What I Liked: This is a very funny book because this combines two things that don't necessarily go together. They pair up awkwardly which is fun to read. Since this is a retelling of a popular story, it also is a commentary on the story. We get to see what Doescher thinks about the inner minds and motivations of the characters.

What I Didn't Like: Shakespearean writing is always a bit frustrating for me.

Rating: AMAZING. If you like Star Wars (which, of course you do) then you will find this book very entertaining.

Also Read by this Author:  This is his first book, but I will be reading the next two in the trilogy.

Reviewed by: Nick

"Shadow Spell" by Nora Roberts

Picture via GoodReads

I say this every time, but I'm a total sucker for a Nora Roberts story.  The characters are normal enough (or as normal as an moderately wealthy, incredibly attractive, happily employed 20-something can be), the dialog is current, and the characters often live or work in amazing places.

Summary:  This latest installment of Robert's Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy takes us back to the misty land of Ireland where three cousins must fight an ancient evil that has been haunting their ancestors for centuries.  Connor O'Dwyer, sexy Irish falconer finds himself the target of the sorcerer Cabhan's latest attempt to destroy the Dark Witch of county Mayo.  As Connor, his sister, his cousin and his closest friends plot to destroy Cabhan once and for all, he finds himself falling hopelessly...and gloriously...in love with his long time friend.

What I Liked:

• Since spending May Term in Ireland between my junior and senior year of college, I've had a soft spot for the Emerald Isle.  Roberts describes the land, the weather and the lingo with an accuracy that does the nation proud without falling into generalizations or stereotypes.
• It's hard to go wrong with a classic good vs. evil tale, and I enjoyed the twists of magic and fairy tale.
• The best bits of the book were the portions that covered the original Dark Witch three.  Although written in small bits, the characters are fully fleshed out, the plots is fast paced and exciting, and the language Roberts uses is absolutely captivating.

What Drove Me Nuts:

• We all know I love Nora, but I had a hard time enjoying her dips into fantasy.  As like the other book in this series, I felt that Robert's didn't explore the depths of her characters as much as she does in her non fantasy books.  She focuses more on mystical and less on the relationships and personalities of the characters.
• I felt that Meara was a little ho-hum.  Roberts clearly was more interested in Connor, which was fine, but I felt that Meara wasn't developed into being a strong...or interesting...match for Connor.  The romance felt like it was an afterthought instead of the point of the plot.

Rating:  This book is best enjoyed on a stormy night when you're looking for something quick and easy.

Reviewed By:  Tami

Also Read By:  For a complete listing, go to www.noraroberts.com

"Dark Witch" by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts kicks off a new trilogy of family, love and magic set in Ireland.  

Summary:  Long ago in the lush country side of County Mayo, there lived a witch named Sorcha.  The Dark Witch was powerful, though she used her power sparingly and only for good.  While Sorcha was loved by her family and accepted in her community, there was one who wanted her power, and her body, for his own.  Sorcha's match of will and power with the Sorcerer Cabhan sets into motion a fight of good versus evil that plays out for centuries.  Will Sorcha's ancestors be able to stop Cabhan once and for all?

What I Liked:

• This first installment of the Cousin's O'Dwyer trilogy introduces us to Iona, an American who has quit her job, sold her belongings, and moved to Ireland in the hope of restarting her life off in a way that lets her feel like she is truly living.  I will come right out and say that I love this concept.  Nothing is more exciting than the idea of sticking it to the man and starting life over with a blank slate.
• The settings the author uses and paints are amazing.  An stone castle?  Ancient ruins?  A small cottage in the woods?  Sign me up, I'm going there now.

What Drove Me Nuts:

• I hate to say it, but Iona.  While the author tried to paint her as bubbly, happy and energetic, she came off a little flighty and irritating.  Maybe I just have a problem with adult characters that consistently dance in place when they're happy.  I blame pregnancy hormones.
• Moving on: t he story its self.  While I was absolutely enthralled with the story of Sorcha and her children, the actual meat of the story left a lot to be desired.  Iona and Boyle's romance felt surface deep and lacked Robert's usual care with characters and plot.  The romance was meant to be the primary driver of the book, but was clearly secondary to the magical plot.  And I don't think that was intentional.
• I was overall underwhelmed.  Roberts last two series blew me away, so my expectations might have been a little too high.

Rating:  It's worth a read to get a taste of Ireland, but don't go in with high expectations.

Reviewed By:  Tami

Also Read By:  For a complete listing, go to www.noraroberts.com

"Ice Bound" by Dr. Jerri Nielsen with Maryanne Vollers

We selected this book it combined my interest in science and Tami's interest in autobiographies. 

Summary: This is the story of Dr. Jerri Nielsen, an emergency room doctor who lives in Ohio. She talks about her personal life and how her family fell out of her reach. This moved her to a mental space where she was lost and uncertain about her future. She decided to apply to be the winter doctor at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station on Antarctica. She describes the process of getting ready for a year long stay at the pole and how one gets there. She talks about the summer crew she met when she arrived and the "night shift" when the summer folks flew out. Once the summer ends, the team is in total physical isolation without any planes able to safely land or takeoff at the pole. Even their communications is limited by the brief windows of satellite reception available at the pole. They learn to make do with what supplies they have and keep a very close eye on all critical systems. She talks about the kind of people who choose that sort of job and way people behave while they are down there. There were 41 people total on the winter crew and they got to know each other very well.

The doctor describes the sorts of training she received before and during her stay. As an emergency doctor she saw a lot of different injuries, but at the pole there would be only one doctor who would be expected to treat any and all injuries. Unfortunately for her, she ended up becoming her own patient! Trapped on the station with limited supplies, Nielsen led her own medical treatment with the assistance of specialists via satellite. Eventually, after deciding her life was in danger the US Government decided to risk a dangerous flight to the south pole in the middle of winter!

What I Liked: It is always interesting to hear people talk about their lives, especially when they are doing something exciting in an exotic place. I learned a lot about the south pole and doctors from this book.

What I Didn't Like: We listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author. She is not an experienced voice actor, so it was distracting.

Rating: This was a very good autobiography.

Also Read by this Author:  None.

Reviewed by: Nick

"Impact" by Douglas Preston

We selected this audiobook because of the excitement and fascination we had reading The Monster of Florence, by Preston & Spezi. 

Summary: There are three main story lines that eventually all weave into one. There is a NASA scientist who identifies and investigates strange phenomenon recorded by the Mars Orbiter satellite, Wyman Ford an ex-CIA agent hired to track down the source of radioactive gems, and two young women who search for a meteorite that struck off the east coast. Most of the book is spent following each character as they learn more and more through their investigations. All the characters eventually meet and put their heads together to figure out how it is all connected. There is also an assassin trying to kill all of them and some other exciting dangers like ships in storms, drug addled gunmen/rapists, Cambodian separatists, and more.

What I Liked: Preston does a good job writing individual scenes so that they are exciting and interesting. He also fleshes out the characters and gives them opportunities to develop.

What I Didn't Like: Early on, the NASA scientist (who has no social life and studies Mars all day every day) forgot the length of a Martian day. It led to him profoundly bungling a work presentation. That is one example how the professionals in this book made amateur mistakes. The professional assassin was really sloppy and the experienced boaters kept destroying their boats.

Rating: Skip it, even if you like Preston's other work.

Also Read by this Author: The Monster of Florence (with Mario Spezi).

Reviewed by: Nick

"The Demon-Haunted World" by Carl Sagan

I found this book at a used bookstore and picked it up because it was written by Carl Sagan.

Summary: This is Carl Sagan's last book, and it is, rightly, a wide ranging text covering many of Sagan's biggest ideas. This is Sagan trying to make one grand argument that took a lifetime to develop. 

This is an excerpt from the book where Sagan puts
forward a clean argument for skepticism. It is presented
so neatly, I had to share it.

The argument in this book is that science education will save us and pseudo science will be our undoing. He takes the time to address each form of popular pseudo science in turn and evaluates the evidence for and against claims. He looks at alien abductions, astrology, psychics, witch trials, false memories and more. He puts each claim under scrutiny and shows how ridiculous they really are. As the claims dissolve, he replaces them with reasonable explanations and rational thought. This leads into a discussion on the value of skepticism and how it helps us get to the truth of the matter and avoid being taken for fools. He even has a chapter on The Fine Art of Baloney Detection, which gets right to the point. Throughout the book, Sagan tells stories from his life and from the history of science, each selected for its ability to highlight the point being made. Toward the end of the book he looks to the future of our civilization. We now have the machines to destroy ourselves several times over, and pseudo science gives us the reasons to do it. We need skepticism and wonder in order to survive. With these two tools of thought we can make it through.

What I Liked: I liked the way Sagan would explain each pseudo scientific idea respectfully, then explore it skeptically. Many of the ideas were more popular in the 90's, but there is still a lot of such claims today. I also liked his autobiographical parts and the stories.

What I Didn't Like: It was too short.

Rating: This is a Must Read. I consider this one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read.

Also Read by This Author: Pale Blue Dot

Published: 1997

Reviewed by: Nick




Special Note: Cosmos A Personal Voyage was hosted by Carl Sagan in 1980 and talks about a lot of the same ideas. The remake, Cosmos A Spacetime Odyssey, is currently being aired on Fox and National Geographic Channel, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. I recommend it!

"Chalice" by Robin McKinley

Robin McKinley writes young adult novels that don't feel like they're aimed at teens.  While her characters are smart and witty, they have a maturity about them that is hard to find in contemporary books for the under 18 crowd.

 

Summary:  Bee keeper Marisol is Chalice and therefore is responsible for the well being of her people and demense until a new Master can arrive to set the land and magic back to rights.  The new Master will need to rely heavily on Marisol as Chalice so he can attune himself to the land and coach it to respond as it should.  There's only one problem...the new Master is a third level fire priest and nobody knows if he is fit to live among humans, much less save the demense from self destruction.

What I Liked:

• Chalice has a clever plot.  McKinley has created a whole new world with a rich and well thought out history.
• The characters are excellently developed.  Even the most minor character has a back story that adds to the richness of the plot.  The main characters are likable, brave yet have enough human vulnerability that the reader can relate to them with ease.
• This is a fresh take on magic.  The normal fantasy plot lines are included in the tale, but there are enough twists and unique ideas to keep even the most avid fantasy reader interested.

What Drove Me Nuts:

• The end of the story felt thrown together, almost as if the author had to keep the book under a certain page limit and therefore ended things much too quickly.
• I thought Marisol was uncharacteristically negative towards the end of the story.
• The climax of the story wasn't that climactic.  Perhaps I was expecting just a little more.

Rating:  This young adult book can hold its own against any mainstream bestseller written for adults.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Also Read By This Author:  "Shadows", "Sunshine", "The Hero and the Crown" and "The Blue Sword"

Reviewed By:  Tami

"Concealed in Death" by J.D. Robb

Image Source

I'm a sucker for a thriller.  When you add in a little romance I'm a goner.  The "In Death" series covers the cases of Lieutenant Eve Dallas, Detective in the New York Police and Security Department in the year 2060.  The series showcases a strong, smart, tough woman who is dedicated and passionate about her job and how she manages events that turn her life upside down while still fighting for justice for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Summary:  Murder cop Eve Dallas' kajillionaire husband Roarke takes a ceremonial swing to take down a wall in his latest rehab project when he makes a gruesome discovery:  two carefully wrapped, long dead bodies.  As Lieutenant Eve and her partner Detective Peabody secure the scene, the CSI team uncovers more bodies: 12 in all, and all young girls.  Eve and Peabody must sift through history to try to find who killed the young girls and why. 

What I Liked:  I'm fascinated with cop stories, and Robb's twisty plot turns are just sneaky enough to keep you guessing about whodunnit.  Throw in futuristic fashion, technology and slang, and you've got a great formula for an interesting story.  The fact that this series is not "scary" also probably helps. 

What Drove Me Nuts:  Nothing drove me nuts this time around; however, I will admit that this plot wasn't as twisty as usual, and was a little bit more sad than usual. 

Rating:  Clever and interesting, although not my favorite in the series.  A little sad.

Also Read by This Author: I've read every book in this series.  For a complete listing, click here.  To read Tami's other reviews on this series:  1

Reviewed By:  Tami

"Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain

We selected this audio book based on the author and our interest in autobiographies. 

Summary: This is an autobiographical account of Bourdain's life in commercial kitchens. He got his start in P-town working the wild pirate kitchens by the shore where he fell in love with the high stress world of cooking. He then went to the Culinary Institute of America to get some formal education on his resume. He then describes the fast-paced world of kitchen hopping. He would move from one short-lived place to another, constantly networking and learning new skills. He describes the people he met in his adventures, the cooks, chefs, owners and vendors who make the business possible. He also provides a fascinating look into the typical day of a chef. And as the name implies, he divulges secrets of the restaurant business that other might wish he hadn't said. Some people who read this book might change their eating out habits. You also get a taste for his life right when he starts to make it big.

What I Liked: Bourdain reads the audiobook, and for those of you familiar with his TV work you know he is very good at reading scripts. It made the experience more authentic having him read it, and he did a great job. He is also brutally honest with regard to his own shortcomings. Bourdain does not flinch from blaming himself for his mistakes.

What I Didn't Like: Honestly, I don't know what to say. No complaints.

Rating: This is a wonderful book. I recommend it.

Also Read by This Author: None.

Published: 2000

Reviewed by: Nick

"Origins" by Neil de Grasse Tyson and Donald Goldsmith

I selected this book because I am a fan of Neil de Grasse Tyson, the Director of the Hayden Planetarium. He does a lot of speaking engagements and special projects. He can be found all across the internet, but I had not read a single one of his books.

Summary: As the title suggests, this book is about the beginnings of things. The authors discuss the best theories out there as to the origins of the universe, including the fascinating moments immediately after when the energy of the cosmos begins to form matter. The authors discuss the role of anti-matter and dark matter in our universe as well. They then move to the origins of galaxies and other cosmic structures. Then a focus on the origins of stars, which formed out of the cosmic dust. The stars play an essential role in the creation of heavy elements.

At the beginning of the universe only hydrogen and helium were created when protons and electrons smashed into each other. All the elements heavier than those two were formed in the hearts of stars. In fact, that is where the energy of a star comes from. It is the energy released as the protons clump together and form the periodic table. In fact, most if not all of the molecules in our bodies came from stars that died and exploded these same heavy elements. When the planets formed, they collected this detritus and that is how we have iron in our blood, carbon in our flesh, oxygen in our lungs. As Carl Sagan said, we are star stuff.

The authors also go in detail regarding the origins of life on earth and the possibility of finding it elsewhere in the universe. In short, this book addresses all the big questions and presents the leading answers in the scientific community.

What I Liked: I liked how it went in chronological order and sort of told the story of the universe. It covered all kinds of exciting topics and explained them in a way that made a lot of sense. I learned a lot about this place.

What I Didn't Like: There were a few places where the theories get complicated and the authors do a little hand-waving to avoid overwhelming the reader with math or technical details. I am not a fan of hand-waving, even if it means I get a little confused.

Rating: This is a very good text for any one interested in science.

Also Read by This Author: None.

Published: 2004

Reviewed by: Nick

Special Note: Cosmos A Spacetime Odyssey, is currently being aired on Fox and National Geographic Channel, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. I recommend it!