Saturday, October 29, 2011

Revelation:Word of Promise New Testament. dramatized

I listened to this today as I did dump runs and helping my in laws in their yard and mine.
Basically the book of Revelation form the New King James version of the Bible dramatized.
The actors were top notch. Lou Gosset Jr was John and his voice was great and easy to listen too even if the topic at times gets deep.
The sound effects helped as did the different voices.
I have to admit that Jim Caviezel really is how I picture Christ sounding at times.
This was well worth the couple of hours to get through it and I think I will look for the whole New Testament at the library. A easy, enjoyable way to listen to scripture.

Matthew's Story

This is the 2nd of the 4 in this series's. Written by the team that brought us the "Left Behind" books. I have read them and enjoyed them even if I did not agree with the doctrine.
This is a the story of Christ's disciple Matthew. From his young boy hood to the Resurrection of Christ. I found it interesting. The weaving in of the slaughter of infants by Herod is something I had not thought about. This event drives Levi greatly.
The story of his hatred for God and wanting riches was well told. Once we got to the call by Jesus and the events of the new Testament it sounded a lot like straight from scripture. I wish the book had gone more beyond the end.
I will read the other books in this group since I find them easy to listen to as I drive or work in the yard.
If you want to know more about the early life of Matthew or what it may have been like read this.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Mission to Be Happy

I had to stay late at work and sit listening to a call of mostly silence while my networking guys worked on a change. During that 2 hours I pulled this book off my work shelf and re-read it. I first rean it last year and thought it was ok. On reading it again I have to say it is still ok. I enjoy hearing how song writers come up with their songs and there is some of that in this book. I also enjoyed the chapter entitled "Your Happiness Your Way"
This is a book inviting the reader to start today to be happy and find what makes them happy.
It has a companion CD and the songs fit the book but nothing really stick with you like most of his other songs. However, the phrase "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired" rings out when needed in my head.
Get this book and make sure you listen to the songs at the end of each chapter, it may or may not help or change your life but is worth the effort for the read.

BrainDroppings

This read like a transcript of a George Carlin record.
Funny, sometimes insightful and entertaining. While I do not agree with a lot of his take on things I find him funny. He was Seinfeld before Seinfeld. His look at the world while sometimes twisted is honest.
His sections on the words we use and how what they mean is funny.

Worth the time if you want to smile.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

One slilent sleepless night

Another book I found in my in laws good will  box.
I found this more touching to me since I remember President Kimball very fondly even though I never met him. He was the leader of the Church for most of my "Growing up "time. This is Pres. Kimball's first-hand account of his long night's experience following his 1957 throat surgery, wherein he reviews the memories of his childhood, the death of his mother at his age of 11, his call to the apostleship, and his marriage, are all written in a poignant way. He has a nice way with words,and it makes me want to be more detailed in my own journal writing

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Sun, shade 'n rain: Moods of life

Came across this book as I was helping my in laws clean out their storage unit. I sat down after we were done and spent the next hour inside. If you were in Utah in the late 70's and an active member of LDS Seminary you know of Sun Shade n Rain a singing trio. They were perhaps the first Mormon popular religious singing group. Of course the Osmonds were huge but not doing really religious songs. If on your mission you ever showed the film strip "I'll build you a rainbow" then you have heard these guys. I was a big fan and this book by one of the members about how they came together and their life in the entertainment world was great. Much like sitting down and catching up with old friends you haven't seen in a long time. It brought back great memories and I enjoyed reading it before I added it to the box headed to the DI (Goodwill Store)



Fablehaven

I have been pushed to read this book for awhile.
I must admit it started out slow, too many pretty fairies flying about but by the end I could see it was setting a base for future adventures.
Basically a story of a reserve where magical creatures can retreat too.
Through out the story was a main theme of "Rules need to be followed simply because they are rules". This bugged me at times but considering that the audience is the teen market I applaud it.
I think this is the authors firstpublished work, I think it is a good start and have heard he only gets better.
I look forward to the rest of the series.

Friday, October 21, 2011

World War Z

I listened to this on my ipod and am grateful I did. If I had read it in book form I would not have finished it.
Much like the title says it is a oral history of the zombie war.
I had a few problems with it.
1. It is a documentary style of report that talks about a war after it was won. All suspense is removed. Story after story started to sound alike.
2. The interview style of the book seemed very flat and made it uninteresting. On the ipod it reminded me of listening to something on NPR.
A world wide Zombie infestation is a cute idea. How some in the book survived also was good but it grew old.
It seemed to referred to events that were unknown to the reader and were never covered later in the book. This drew me out of the story...well what story there is.
As I said if I had started it in print I would have set it down, but the actors on the CD were great.
I know it is now being made into a movie starring Brad Pitt as the interviewer and it will be interesting to see if they stick with the interview idea or have the film do flashbacks as the survivors recall their journeys.
If you love zombies and often think of how you will survive when they rise this is for you.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

El Borak

I have read alot of this authors fantasy novels and some of his other novels. His heroes always pop  off the page and the term "a mans man" comes to mind. (Whatever that means)
His heroes are straight forward warriors, full steam ahead and damn the  consequences.
While El Borak is not fantasy it is great reading. Set in the middle east in the early 1930-40's I would guess, it follows several Americans that have gone there and found themselves. Indiana Jones before the movie type of hero
I still enjoy Krull the best then Conan but El Borak is moving steadily up the ladder.
The writing is almost poetic. Howard paints pictures with words so effortlessly that i am in awe.
I keep finding myself wishing that today's authors would do the same, but in this Video soaked environment it may not work.
Great read...

Monday, October 17, 2011

First King of Shannara

I have wanted to read this book for years. Listed as #0 in the Shannara universe it covers the time before Sword.
I found it very enjoyable to see where things and people came from. Mr. Brooks has a good grasp of all his story lines.
I have now read everything he has written, many several times and I found this one to be in the top 10%.
The action is detailed and while it follows the authors usual formula I still enjoy it.
I would say if you want to start this series to start with sword and come back to this after a few.