6 Events: the Restoration Model for Sloving Problems

This is written by Stephen R Covey. Like all of Covey's books, if you have read one you kind of know what to expect in the others. This is no different. Where it was different was in that he walks you through the idea that you can approach solving your problems the same way God in restoring the Church. A very creative approach and it works.
There are 6 stages you need to go through in order to solve your problem. Covey walks you through them with his stories and examples, most you know if you have read his other stuff but some new ones popped up and were great.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to Covey fans and others who need to look at something a bit different for tackling your troubles

The Autobiography of Stana Claus

Ok, I really wanted to like this one...but I can't stand it.
It is written as the story of Santa being told to a reporter.
How and where did Santa come from, what is the secret to his magic, who are his helpers...well the first 3rd tof the book sounded like a wiki pedia page then we hit full blown into the magic that makes Santa not age and all who hang out with him have the same blessings..yeah right!!!! (By the way it doesn't really explain the magic, act of God I guess)
Without giving away too much Santa runs into a lot of Histories famous people, almost like a Bill and Ted's adventure or the Forest Gump of History...this wore thin very fast for me.

Over all this did not help my Christmas Spirit,(I know it's March but had hoped)
I do not think I can recommend it for anyone.

Death of Kings

This is the 6th book in the King Alferd saga.
King Alfred is dying and then dies and England is in chaos.
This sersis has one of my favorite characters. From the book jacket
"For the Viking-raised but Saxon-born warrior, Uhtred, whose life seems to shadow the making of England, this presents him with difficult choices."
#4 in this group was a bore, #5 brought my interest back to the story and this book restores my full excitement for Uhtred and what happens to him.
Written in the first person the author shows how to do this point of view. We know Uhtred lives since the story is told from his recollections but the author leaves everything else unknown and that is the magic of his story.
A must read if you like the earlier books, if you have not read any of the adventures of Uhtred then start with Book one. If you gave up on 4 then pick this one up and you will not miss any important points since part of the style is to review earlier events through out the story.

The Belivieng Heart

This is a book made up of 4 essays on faith and applying it in our lives.
Nothing earth shattering but I enjoy the examples that the author used.
I really enjoyed the last section where he compared our own spiritual journey to the movement of the Church from New York to Kirkland to Navuoo. That was new and I am still thinking on it several days after finishing the book.
What better recommends can you have than the reader still thinks on the words written days after finishing it.
For anyone wanting to strengthen their faith.

Peter and the Starcatchers

This was a really fun read!!! Basically set as a pre story to Peter Pan book, (well more likely the Disney Movie version). It tells the tale of how Peter became Peter Pan and Neverland created. It has familiar characters (Hook, Smee) It also gives the origin of the mermaids, Peters flying and even Pixe dust.
I really enjoyed this and will read the others in the set.
This is geared to Young Adult even Children but I found it fun. I look forward to sharing it with my 4 year old when she gets a bit older.
The writing style tried to mimic Mr. Barrie's at times and for me it worked.
Highly recommended for any one. I listened to this on Cd and loved it. It is read by Jim Dale so it took me about 1/2 a disc to get over how the characters sounded so much like Harry Potter but that was quickly swept away with he movement of the story.

InkHeart

It has been along time since I have been able to be lost in a book. It felt good.
I have heard some say that this book is for those that love to read and love books. I get that, in fact I can relate to the love the characters have.
This book is basically about a man that can read characters and items out of stories to be in our world and what happens when the most evil villain comes out and the mans wife is sucked into the book.
This was wonderful time spent.
Not really fantasy per say but a tale of fantasy.
Much better than the movie but most books are.
I will be moving on the the other 2 books in due time and hope to enjoy them as well.
This is highly recommended to anyone and a extra push for those that love the feel of a book and the smell of the pages.

One Second After

I picked this up on a whim based on the back cover description.
Set in a small town it follows what happens to the town after someone (never find out who exactly) set off 3 EMP bombs across the USA.
The bombs basically fries all the electrical items in our everyday lives.
No power, no cars (except really old ones) no medical, no radio or communication with anyone.
I was greatly is appointed. The phrase "Show don't tell" that I hear in every writing workshop or book on writing I have ever read seems to have been lost on this author.
The book seemed to be one meeting after another reporting on deaths, fights, rumors. Even the deaths of some main people happened "off screen"
The main character is a ex-soldier (of course). I found him to be a punk.
He spent most the book thinking on 3 things, His daugther who has diabetes and will die without insulin, how physicaly attracted he is to a stranded woman from the freeway and how great his next smoke will be. His smoking seems to make everything better for him.

I cannot reccommend this to anyone....