Of Pigs, Pearls and Prodigals

This was John Bytheway style all the way through. I enjoyed his insight into some of the parables. I enjoyed his collection of comments from General Authories that matched up with the scripture being talked about. Over all a nice easy read                  

The Price We Paid

This book details the story of the Martin and Willie Handcart companies that came across the United States to Utah and were stuck by early winter storms.
The author researched to great detail the story's of these pioneers. I appreciated the detail and the story's about what happened after they got here to Salt Lake.
I found great strength and inspiration from these everyday people who pushed on through troubled times and hardship because of their faith and trust in God.

A must read for every person even slightly interested in the pioneer experience.

Inferno

I have read the other 3 Langdon books by Dan Brown.

When I picked this one up I knew to expect the following:

1. A beautiful genius of a woman will become the "Co-Star" to accompanying the Professor Langdon for the duration of the book then disappear never to be heard of again.

2.I would need to suspend my disbelief in al logic and real life.

3. I would once more shake my head at the total luck that Professor Langdon has. He seems to have good fortune and just plain dumb luck be his constant companion.

4. By the end of the book I would feel like I had sat through a semester of a class in Art History.

5. I would be best to hear this on audio book since the art history parts as well as the latin and other foreign language would mare my reading.

6. I will hear a lot of parts repeated over and over again

7. I would have to put up with some lecture being smashed over my head on some political or social belief and the authors point being all to clear.

 This book was the above as well as the normal Dan Brown-Robert Langdon type of book.

Our hero once more is thrown into a matter of life or death the will effect the whole world unless he can figure out puzzles only he seems to know.

This is not quite up the Angels and Demons but I have to give it one point that made me happy I read it. I was totally caught off guard by the ending.

Only twice before have I been caught in a "Oh no that just did not happen" Once in Harry Potter series and once at the end of Elfstones of Shannara.

This book did the same once the real villain was revealed then one mrore final twist revealed.

That made me happy that I pushed on and finished the book. I almost gave up 3/4th the way through.

If you liked the other books you should be happy to read this.

 

Aquatia: Treacherous Currents

This book really spoke to my inner 10 year old.
Images of the earth being divided into those on land,those in the air and those in the sea.
People that can fly, breathe under water and seem to communicate with dogs!. (Doesn’t matter if they are bad or not, still cool to a 10 year old).
This is the story of a young girl who loses her mother then a year later finds out she is part of this under water people/kingdom.
She discovers she has the ability to talk to fish which become her true friends.
The story line moves smoothly for most of the book. Some weak spots but that’s my grown up mind popping up I think.
The friendship and interaction between the different fish is refreshing. The dialogue was strong and believable in most of the interactions. Several times I laughed out loud at the interactions. Very fresh writing style.
Again my adult mind would pop up and ask if that is really how the fish would talk to each other or how they could know that phrase but my inner 10 year told the adult to pipe down.

The lessons from this book were straight forward and out in plain sight. Friendship and being true to yourself and your friends trumps any evil.
This is one book that I look forward to having my daughter read when she gets old enough. I also plan on giving it to my wife’s niece to read.
A solid 4 out of 5 and a must read if you want a fun time and escape into the dreams you had when you were 10

Drums of Desolation

  I have followed this from the very first book.
This one, much like the last was a disappointment. TOO MANY CHARACTERS AND INWARD WHINING.
This book covers only a few days and a lot goes on in those few days but I sure got tired quickly of listening to Josh inward complaining and uttering nonsense.
I do find it interesting that Josh has spent most his life in ancient time but yet uses modern references so easily.
Combining the two book series adds to the utter confusion in the story line now...also not sure if I want to read the next a(and maybe the last) book, that is sad.
Even more sad is that I think I have stopped caring about the characters that I have followed for all these years.