American Phoenix

This is a fascinating work on the American Revolution. It is told as a tale of English leaders--political (George III, Lord North, Lord Germain, the Earl of Sandwich), army (Generals Howe, Burgoyne, Clinton, and Cornwallis), and navy (Admirals Howe and Rodney) One narrative of the success of the Revolutionary War is poor leadership by the British. This book, though, contends that many of the leaders were actually very good. Leadership was not, in fact the reason for the American victory.

George III? He is described as a king whose (Page 19) "accession seemed like the dawn of a new age with unbounded promise." And, later in his reign--before medical problems began to cripple him--he was still viewed positively by his people. Hardly the image of the tyrant. Given the increase in the role of Parliament that had been ongoing, his reign is the more intriguing.

Military leaders? The Howe brothers were part of a team that routed the Americans in Long Island and Manhattan. Generals Clinton and Cornwallis, as chief lieutenants, were key players in the humiliating defeats of General George Washington's forces. Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne was another of the key army leaders. He, too, had been under the command of General Howe. He convinced the British leaders that he could take a force down the Hudson and cut the republic in two. It did not work out, as he was defeated at the Battle of Saratoga and then surrendered to the American army under General Gates.

The narrative continues. Including General Cornwallis' string of victories in the South--which amounted to nothing as he ended up surrendering to George Washington's French-American army.

In the end, the author concludes, the military commanders--for the most part--did their jobs quite well. There was political turmoil that ended up undermining the military forces--budget problems, the questions about the war by many powerful figures, the involvement of France and Spain in the conflict.

In the end, the author concludes that the war was not readily winnable. There were too few military resources committed to the continent. There was not a full political consensus for continuing the war. There were budgetary constraints. Military resources were adequate for victory in battles--but not for occupation to maintain some degree of tranquility. Incompetent leaders? The author notes that many of the team (Page 361) "who lost America were also the men who saved Canada, India, Gibraltar, and the British Caribbean." A thought provoking work, with lessons going beyond the American Revolution.

4/5!

What will a college campus be like ten - or even five - years from now? What is right - and what is very wrong - with college curricula these days? Will a traditional college degree go by the wayside, now that there are online classes available in so many fields? Is a traditional college education the right choice for every young person? How can families choose the best post-secondary school for their young person? How should a young person go about choosing a major? Is a gap year a good idea? How do prospective students and their parents get an honest view of a school they're considering? Why do many students, whether in traditional face-to-face classes or online classes, leave school? Which colleges are the most innovative?

These are a sampling of the many questions William J. Bennet , editor at large of The Chronicle of Higher Education, answers in College (Un)Bound, and he answers them very thoughtfully. Readers won't agree with everything he says, and some things he says seem counterintuitive and contradictory ("get into the most selective college you can - BLAST the cost!" -- but then he discusses how appalled he is with high student loan debt these days). However, he does make some excellent points.

Bennet also points out all the non-academic features colleges have these days simply to attract students. I can understand offering nice residence halls and good food service, but why offer climbing walls?

I say four stars for this book because I would've liked to see more about what to do about the things that are going wrong. How do we put a stop to grade inflation and get the rigor back into college education? Also, as a college instructor myself, I would've liked to see more about one more important topic: What do we do with the students who come to campus underprepared? These underprepared students are both non-traditional students whose skills simply need a little extra time to come back to them, but also the eighteen-year-olds who somehow managed to slip through the cracks in high school.

Quick verdict: Very good, hits many problems right on the nose, but needs more!

Domination Book #3 in the C.H.A.O.S trilogy

I am seriously in love with this book. It has everything I need to find a book great. Interesting storyline, amazing characters, it is unpredictable and unique, full of fascinating mythology, with amazing writing and a believeable and heartwarmig romance. It also has a lot of blood, tears, pain and betrayal and death so it is frustrating until the end but I think that this book is a great start to what I am sure will be a wonderful series. I must compliment Hashway on the world she has built and also on the creativity with which she writes and the way she made this book amazing with her vision. I love all that I have learned in this book about Medusa and I hope to learn even more in the future books about mythology because that is one of the many reasons this book is now one of my top favorites of the year. I anxiously wait for the sequel, Stalked by death, that comes out in the summer of 2013.

Tough Guys and Drama Queens - How Not to Get Blindsided by Your Child's Teen Years

"Parents of preteens and teens can move from scared to prepared with a new approach to parenting their adolescents.
Parents of preteens intuitively know that no matter how good their kids are, there is turbulence ahead. Many feel lost and unprepared as they watch the damaging effects of culture collide with their child's growing pains and raging hormones.
For the past 35 years Mark Gregston has lived and worked with struggling teens and knows what it takes to reach them. He says, "A parent's success has little to do with either the validity of their words or their intent as messengers, it's more about how they approach their child and engage with them."

This book provides a functional interface between a teen and a professional therapist. I recently bought a copy to review and immediately purchased several for current clients. My adolescent clients identify with the examples and quickly catch on to "go to thoughts." Teens don't usually read straight through a book. They will tend to identify what matters most to them (in spite of what I may suggest as homework) and cut right to the salient features. It works well. Five thumbs (stars) up! Not too academic for them...thanks for your work.

I love the fact that she started off at Eagles on a whim, and then allowed herself to be drawn so deep into these lives, and to weave them together with her own. This is a wonderful document of dawning relationships, and it's wonderfully generous because it describes not only what the author could do for these trans teens, but also what they did for her.

Of course it involves such interesting questions. The issue of class is everywhere here, the fact that she could break out of her own world and accept their world on their terms. And the issue of when she got carried away with that--as when she accept the girls' prostituting themselves, which might be bowing to reality, or might be accepting someone else's life as they present it, or might be losing sight of the horror, or might be a realization that it's not quite so horrible if you actually get up close and look at it. There's something voyeuristically satisfying about reading the narratives of what it is like inside this strange universe. She has managed by and large to look at the questions attached to being poor and abandoned and the questions attached to being trans, and the balance she has achieved there is elegant. I found myself toying with what it would be like to be trans, and not feeling threatened by or uncomfortable with the idea, even the idea of being trans and impoverished and lonely and lost. Beam has brought a kind of solidness to these terrifying experiences, that made it possible to process them without too much trauma. Her courage in all she faced gives the reader a kind of courage to face it too.

The River

The basis of this story was unique, refreshing, involved, and interesting. That said, the execution of how it was laid out was lacking. The author starts out with an unexpected and confusing reunion with a man thought to be dead that plants the seed that her father might be alive. It progresses to an adventure of a River full of myths with native legends mixed in and ends with a trip to the future to show us a hint of how technology can go horribly wrong. It involves thoughts on certain ideals which have circulated for centuries including eternal youth, immortality, genetic manipulation, technological advances, and conspiracies.

While I like the story, the execution is completely rushed involving massive leaps of faith on how conclusions were made to advance the story (Much of it in translating the journal) and hurried endings. There are secrets and depths hinted at that are never followed through. Examples is Hawk alluding to certain native beliefs with them being these silly little tidbits only incorporated to explain the guide's willingness to follow the adventure, Gary suddenly turning into this computer hacker savant when an escape is needed when he is barely alluded to previously in the story (treated as an appendage that just is until suddenly he becomes useful), Hints at Miki's past yet never actually saying what it is.. then hints of other secrets in the group except they are never mentioned again. There is this mysterious time portal that is references yet never really described or even any more depth except "Oh yeah, you can get to the past and future through that. But only one person can go at once. Oh, and apparently crossing does something funky to your DNA", then Del and Jake just stumble into this relationship with no buildup. Then there are a million questions left to answer. Where did the girls in the center come from, who is the director, what happened to Jake, Why was it a big deal that Jake looked up his past, Why even allude to Del having MS except to try to create some complication that never arose, Did the Center Fall? Then the author killed off almost every character with little to no "ceremony". Just oh yeah, goodbye and they're dead.

I would love to see this book rewritten and the whole story idea revisited. This book had the opportunity for a huge depth that would of left a lasting impression in our thoughts and it simply, fell short. It was worth the read, but truly lacking by the end. For the price, I guess I should not of expected much and honestly the blurp about the book barely touches what the book is really about. I was pleasantly surprised as the story progressed but left the book wondering where the rest of it is.

Remember. We are told to remember many things. Our parents told us to remember to brush out teeth before bed, remember to clean up our room, remember to finish our lunch at school, etc. God tells Israel to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy (Ex. 20:8) and to remember the day when they left the land of Egypt (Deut. 5:15). Remember.

Forget. We are told to forget many things as well. If we receive new training on the job we may be told to forget everything we thought we knew about how we did our job previously. While encouraging us in our Christian life Paul tells us, "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead" (Phil. 3:14). He also encourages us to forget about ourselves. Really?

This is exactly what Tim Keller brings out of Paul's words in 1 Cor. 3:21-4:7 in his new book the Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness. The primary verses in this section are as follows:

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me." (1 Cor. 4:3-5)

In addressing the many divisions that were in the church of Corinth "Paul shows that the root cause of the division is pride and boasting" (p. 8). It is pride and boasting that shows we have a high view of self. But lest we think we can just think lowly of ourselves and be getting it right Keller reminds us, "A person who keeps saying they are a nobody is actually a self-obsessed person" (p. 32).

If we are not to think too highly of ourselves or to lowly either, then how are we to think of ourselves? We are to be self-forgetful. How does this work? Keller explains:

"A truly gospel-humble person is not a self-hating person or a self-loving person, but a gospel-humble person. The truly gospel-humble person is a self-forgetful person whose ego is just like his or her toes. It just works. It does not draw attention to itself. The toes just work; the ego just works. Neither draws attention to itself." (p. 33)

So Paul will not be judged by others, but neither will he judge himself. It is only the Lord that judges. And here is where the freedom of self-forgetfulness comes in. "But Paul is saying that in Christianity, the verdict leads to performance. It is not the performance that leads to the verdict" (p. 39). The deal is that before we can even perform any of the good works we were created for (Eph. 2:10), we have been declared righteous in Christ at the moment of our salvation. It is then out of this declaration of being found righteous in Christ that we can and do perform these good and righteous works. This is the freedom of self-forgetfulness!

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness was truly a joy to read as well as a reality check as it exposed the depths of pride in my heart. I read the whole thing in one sitting which is best but I encourage readers to read it all the way through several days in a row. The further you read the more the point becomes clear. Just when I thought I had an idea of what gospel-humility was I read this book and realized I still had no idea. This is a must read for any Christian living in the self-absorbed culture of our day that has crept its way into the pews of our churches and the seats of our homes.

All Pro Dad

I highly recommend All Pro Dad for any Dad that wants to be a better father, better husband and ultimately a better man. Gregory Slayton advises that fatherhood is really a lifelong journey and that we Dad's should expect good times right alongside rough times. But, in either case the outcome is often in our hands and in our leadership techniques.

The book is formatted as a `tool box' for dads, offering 10 tools for effective fatherhood. While all 10 tools have relevance, I found Tool #5 and Tool #9 to be the most helpful in my circumstance. Tool #5 is about the "All in Marriage"; specifically, that one of the most important gifts we can give our children is to love our wife and to be faithful to her. We really do set our children's expectations about what it means to be a good dad (and mom) and how those expectations will play out for them later in life. A Dad's loving relationship with our kids Mother has long term, even multi-generational, positive impact on our families.

Tool #9 reminded me that even though we may experience conflict and discouragement within our families, only dad's bring the emotional, spiritual and physical leadership every family needs. Our job is to maintain, and to instill, a never-give-up, optimistic attitude regardless of circumstance.

Slayton, a former Ambassador and Professor at Dartmouth College, points out that the research is clear, children whose fathers, grandfathers and even great-grandfathers were men of commitment, competence and character are more likely to succeed.All Pro Dad offers us a unique set of tools that makes our success as a family and our children's success much more likely.

Sherman

Book Description:

A compelling and rounded portrait of the man who set the stage for “total warfare,” Major General William Tecumseh Sherman.

General Sherman has come to be regarded as one of the most influential military strategists and tacticians. His campaigns in the South during the Civil War set the precedent for 20th century warfare. Sherman set the stage for “total warfare,” and for this he is considered the ultimate Yankee. In the American South, even to this day he is reviled for it. He was the self-fulfilling proponent of his apt observation that “war is hell.”

Psychologically complex, intellectually brilliant, militarily inventive, Sherman was hounded by depression and plagued by an inherited tendency to nervous collapse. Nevertheless, he compelled extraordinary loyalty from his troops. Sherman will explore these and many other aspects of his life and military career.

Many people have made the point that, for all their alleged disdain for “revisionist” history, those who hold to a “Southern” view of the war are themselves embracing an explicitly revisionist historical narrative. It’s a narrative that was carefully crafted in the decades following the Civil War to exonerate the Confederate cause, depict Southern leaders in the most flattering and noble way possible, and to undermine or denigrate the Union effort to highlight the contrast. This effort, which lies at the core of the Lost Cause, probably reached its zenith in the second decade of the 20th century. But with a few concessions to modern sensibilities — e.g., “faithful slaves” have now become “black Confederate soldiers” — the narrative remains largely as it was a century ago, and is held dear by many. But great longevity doesn’t make a revisionist narrative any less revisionist.

Despite having read most of major accounts of the American Civil War, I had not fully understood the central role played by Sherman until I read Hart's book. Hart makes it clear that Sherman's appreciation of the futility of attacking entrenched positions and his consequently developed strategy and tactics turned the tide for the North, salvaged the 1864 election for Lincoln, and saved perhaps tens of thousands of Union and Rebel lives. He also points out that the same insight accounts for most of Lee's success, i.e., Lee won battles in which he enticed the North to attack entrenched positions (e.g. Fredricksburg) and lost when he attacked entrenched positions himself (e.g. Gettysburg). Hart fully disposes of the popular prejudice held widely in the South that Sherman's approach to war was more inhumane than the alternative of massive blood letting which was by virtually every other Civil War general. It is rare to find a historical account containing so much insight.

The Seraph Seal

Madeleine L'Engle is the preeminent interpreter of the Christian journey as it pertains to these words of the Apostle Paul, "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8). Ms. L'Engle invites the reader to focus on that which is great, greater and greatest, in a world that all too often settles for what is dishonorable, unjust, impure, ugly, discourteous, shoddy and worthy of condemnation. In both her fiction and non-fiction writings, she helps the thinking Christian look at the world through the eyes of faith.

Ms. L'Engle takes as the theme of the book, Jesus' invitation to Peter to come to Christ walking on the water. For a brief moment, Peter did just that. Ms. L'Engle states that is how we were created to be, and even when we sink, and cry for help, that Jesus will pull us up. She says, "The impossible still happens to us, often during the work, sometimes when we are so tired that inadvertently we let down all the barriers we have built up. (Page 238).

Ms. L'Engle views the creative process as a successive letting down of barriers. Of opening to God. When one responds to the urge to create, one is one more than holy ground-one walks on water-since God is the Creator and God's creative energies are limitless and surprising. God's very unpredictability and joy become the same creative force in musicians and artists of all kinds. Ms. L'Engle speaks of the freedom to laugh at ourselves as one of the prerequisites for bringing about that which is worthwhile.

Lest we mistakenly think that Ms. L'Engle's approach is sweetly sentimental, listen to what she says about the rigors of faithful creativity, "Complicated creatures we are, aware of only the smallest fragment of ourselves; seeking good and yet far too often unable to tell the difference between right and wrong; misunderstanding each other and so blundering into the tragedies of warring nations, horrendous discrepancies between rich and poor, and the idiocy of a divided Christendom." (Page 153).

This would be an outstanding book to give or receive for a special occasion such as graduation or confirmation. For Christians of any stage in life, "Walking on Water" is a call to live expectantly and trustingly.

If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction

Washington

This book was a bit different from what I expected when I received it as a gift. I enjoy reading American history, and thought this would be a historical examination of the Washington years, i.e. the Revolutionary War and his two terms in office. While it did obviously cover those events, it was far less of a history book and much more a biography. Indeed, some key historical events like the battles at Lexington and Concord are barely mentioned, and then only to provide some historical context for the biographical discussion. In other words, this is a high level view of America in the second half of 18th century, with Washington at the center and other people or events coming into focus only as necessary to shed light on his actions and attitudes.

The great value of this book is to offer the reader a deeper look into the character of a person who has been elevated nearly to demigod status in the minds of so many Americans. The author takes us past the Adonis-like sculpture that so many of us have seen in the Smithsonian, and into the mind of this singular figure whose importance to the birth of the country is both undeniable and somewhat accidental. We get to take a warts-and-all look at the real Washington, with his intriguing blend of ambition, ego, self-interest, commitment, service and resolve. On one hand is the aristrocratic, slave-owning squire obsessively amassing an ever larger personal estate. On the other is the revolutionary leader willing to put that life on hold for years on end and endure severe hardship to advance the greater common good. From ambitious young soldier, to marginally competent general, to stateman and president, and finally to the retired gentleman manipulated by the scheming Hamilton, Washington's successes and failures are treated with equal fairness by the author.

Particularly intriguing was the insight into Washington's growing internal conflict between his idealism -- the realization that slavery was inconsistent with his revolutionary principles -- and his intense realism and pragmatism -- the knowledge that immediate action toward emancipation was not practical either for the country or his personal affairs. His willingness to compromise on the issue for the sake of holding the country together during its formative years is understandable as we consider Washington the statesman. His vacillation at the personal level, particularly the moral inconsistencies on the slavery issue -- his willingness to own slaves to secure his financial interests, while feeling a moral revulsion to selling them -- give us a look at the internal struggles of Washington the private man. Much has been said by historians about his decision to free his slaves in his will, but the intellectual and moral gyrations that led him to that point tell us much more about Washington than that final act.

Overall I was very pleased with the insights offered in this volume, and found it a very enjoyable and quick read. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to get an unvarnished look at the real Washington. A great man? Definitely. But this book reminds us that in the final analysis, he was just a man at a unique place and time in history, and he played his role well.

The Fight of Our Lives

A boot camp for troubled teens because his parents don’t like his behavior. There he is psychologically and physically tortured by the chaperons at the camp. Then when Garret and some of his inmates try to escape things get troublesome as they almost get caught by the same people who brought them in. Then Garret has to make a tough choice between freedom and another person’s life.

This book is legit. I can take all the blood that he wrote about and everything. It would suck to be him even though he was so close to getting free he just turns around and gives himself up to more and more abuse and punishment.

Well this was such a great book I really enjoyed reading it ….I'm a hater of reading but this is the first book that i really liked and just wanted to keep on reading to see what would happen and stuff ya know…well if you're looking for a book to read …this would be the next book that u would have to read i really recommend reading this awesome book!!!!!!

The Mountains Bow Down

In a long string of disappointments and average books, this one stood out as something unique: a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

One day, after graduating Mountain School, they will join together to create a new pack that will continue their guardian work. Life for Calla is definite and predetermined.

Until one day, when she, on impulse, saves a hiker, Shay, in the mountains who turns out to be much more than meets the eye– although what does meet the eye right out isn’t disappointing: Shay is as handsome as Ren and a whole lot sweeter. With the addition of him into her life, everything changes. Suddenly, Calla has to question the things she always thought were right and try to figure out how to exactly to do what is.

One thing I really did like about this book was the emotions it invoked. The Keepers could be pretty nasty, and I was angry that Calla had to stand by and take some of the stuff she did. Also, the sexists views they kept up made me angry, and I liked the that fact that they did irritate Calla too.

The only other complaint I have about this book would be that Calla has a certain set of rules she has to follow but then she starts breaking them and there seems to be no punishment. Which I thought was strange because at times her rule-breaking seemed public, like somebody would notice and report it but that never happened. My only thoughts on this are perhaps they are saving all the punishment for later.

I lied. I thought of one more complaint: There’s a part in the book where Calla and Shay are up to something and Calla gets hurt so to try and save her they have to do something forbidden and they do it and it seemed to me like it would be something really monumental but it sort of happens. I know that was really vague, but if you read the book you’ll understand. Hopefully.

In all, I definitely recommend this book. It was one of the best paranormal romances I’ve read. It was fresh and fun and has one heck of an ending. I honestly don’t know if I will make it until the sequel. Because I want to read it. Now.

Invasion

Ooooooooo! Doesn't that sound chilling! Nothing like a story filled with flesh-eating revenants (zombies), clockwork automata full of human tissue (robots), crashing airships (dirigibles), and a handsome British detective team cracking the case! In the spirit of my Sister Aurora (who is feverishly writing away on her new book), I chose the obscure, yet intriguing genre of Steampunk.

Perhaps, you're scratching your head over this one. One friend of mine gave me the most curious look when I mentioned my read this week. She's been pestering me for some time to read a really good vampire novel (I guess we'll just have to wait and see on that one!) and in the process I told her about Steampunk. Yes, Virginia, this really is a genre. Other than watching the dreadful movie Time Machine, this was my first encounter (Oh wait, I did catch that Castle episode as well!) with Steampunk.

So, this week I hunkered down and cracked open George Mann's The Affinity Bridge. I like the cover art, but after reading it, I kind of wish they'd gone with an automaton on the cover. The description of those little clockwork men is creepy! The author, George Mann, is the head of a major British SF/Fantasy publishing imprint. He's also done his share of editing in the past (keep this in mind as I move into my review). Mann has edited the Solaris Book of New Science Fiction anthology series. He's also written numerous other works of fiction and nonfiction. The Affinity Bridge was published in 2009, through A Tor Book. This novel is the first in the 'Newbury & Hobbes Investigation' series.


Plot and Setting: London, England, 1901-- There are two things plaguing the sanity of Londoners: ghastly revenants (zombies) stalking the streets at night, and the "glowing bobby" -- a ghostly policeman killing off wastrels down in Whitechapel. Early in the story, an airship crashes in a park and two obvious problems arise: the automaton pilot is missing and all the passengers have been tied to their seats. And how did a Dutch nobleman manage to be aboard this passenger ship? Newbury and Hobbes are on the case of the missing automaton, but does it coincide with the case of the "glowing bobby"? Will Bainbridge do more than just stand around and watch? Is there love blooming between the Avenger-esque couple? Who will win the Super Bowl? Oh . . . sorry . . . I got carried away with all the questioning.


Cast of Main Characters: The dashing Sir Maurice Newbury -- He works double duty as a special agent for the Crown, Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and as an anthropologic scientist at the local museum. Newbury is coming up on forty-years-of-age and has a wicked addiction to laudanum. The lovely Miss Veronica Hobbes -- She is hired on as Newbury's assistant at the museum, but takes on the role of crime fighter as well. Hobbes is in her early twenties and deals with a psychic sister living in the local asylum. Sir Charles Bainbridge -- The Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard and rather a lousy sidekick when it comes to deadly skirmishes. Last, but not least, the evil duo of scientist Pierre Villiers and airship entrepreneur Joseph Chapman.

The Skin Map

""He had a sensation of being told a secret he knew to be true, but which would be far, far easier--and much safer--to ignore; all the more so since he strongly suspected that acknowledging the truth meant his life would change utterly."

Kit Livingstone's great-grandfather has re-appeared with an unbelievable story--the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legends but truly are pathways to other worlds. So few people know how to use them, though, that doing so is fraught with danger.

But one explorer knew more than most. Because of his fear of being unable to find his way home, he developed an intricate code and tattooed his map onto his skin. But the map has since been lost and rival factions are in desperate competition to recover it. What none of them yet realize is that the skin map itself is not the prize at the end of this race . . . but merely the first goal of a vast and marvelous quest to regain Paradise.

Enter the ultimate treasure hunt--with a map made of skin, a playing field of alternate realities, and a prize that is the greatest mystery of all."

A promising tale of interdimensional voyaging disintegrates rapidly into a clunky and incoherent mess. Londoner Kit Livingstone and his unpleasant girlfriend, Wilhelmina, are separated and sent back to an alternate 17th-century England. There Kit's great-grandfather Cosimo reveals secretive time travelers are racing the evil Lord Archelaeus Burleigh to locate a map holding an earthshaking secret. Stranded when Cosimo vanishes into a portal, Kit falls in with the beautiful Lady Fayth while Wilhelmina struggles to survive on her own in Prague. Lawhead (The Endless Knot) has come up with plenty of clever concepts and colorful settings, but they can't compensate for thinly drawn, incompetent characters and the lack of a coherent story line.

Patton (The Generals)

"General George Patton was known for carrying pistols with ivory handles and for his intemperate manner, but it's his outspoken advocacy for tanks that carved his place in history, not only as a military pioneer, but as one of the most colorful and controversial American generals of the twentieth century.

Patton was impulsive, impatient, and would often disregard higher command when he felt his methods or tactics would achieve the desired result. He is remembered for his fierce determination and ability to lead soldiers. Unlike most generals, he wasn't content to stay behind enemy lines and watch the battle from afar. He developed a system that allowed him to be on the frontlines and maintain communication with his rear command post by means of pigeons and a group of runners.

His uncompromising will and character were the basis of his successful crusade across Western Europe during World War II, forever defining him as one of the most successful field commanders of any war."

As a man, however, he was haunted by personal demons of a combination of impulsiveness, reckless personal behavior, feelings of worthlessness and outright depression. Of course, everyone knows of the " slapping incidents". It was these types of incidents that would help torpedo Patton’s career. Gen. Eisenhower, who was friends with Patton throughout their careers, saved Patton on many instances, but Ike believed that the very qualities that made Patton fast and aggressive in battle also created a certain instability and volatility which were barely under control. But ultimately even Ike could not save Patton’s career. His repeated conflicts with the chain of command and in particular the political leadership, as well as his conflicts with his allied counterparts would often leave him playing lesser roles in the grand scheme of things. His greatest self inflected wounds came from his encounters with the media. His comments were what we would call today " politically incorrect". He was reassigned to a non-combat command and would die shortly afterwards from a car accident. His untimely death would lead to the legend of Gen. Patton.

There is no question of the contributions that Gen. Patton made in the areas of command presence, tactics, military professionalism, updating the cavalry idea, combined arms approach, the principle of speed, reduction of collateral damage, training, and leadership.

While many of us are familiar with the legend of Gen. Patton, this book gives new insight into Patton the man.

Angel Song

http://booksneeze.com/art/_200_360_Book.225.cover.jpg

Angels eagerly watch over Annie Fletcher''s every move. She just doesn''t know it yet.

When Annie Fletcher returns to Charleston to see her younger sister, Sarah, receive her master''s degree, she finds herself riding in the back of an ambulance, watching helplessly as Sarah fights for life. During the ride, Sarah appears to talk to someone who is not there, humming a melody Annie has never heard before.

Neighbor Ethan McKinney is there to lend a shoulder when Sarah unexpectedly dies. And as a carpenter, Ethan volunteers to help Annie get the Fletcher family home into shape for selling. Ethan''s presence is distracting, but what troubles Annie is her neighbor Tammy''s 12-year-old son. Keith has Down Syndrome and the guile to believe he can see and hear angels.

God begins to reveal Himself to Annie - both in her newfound friends and through heart-rending and clearly supernatural events. Annie discovers faith in God, finally experiencing the comfort that His angels really do surround us.

Fearless

I have enjoyed many Max Lucado books, but I have to admit I am not a Max Lucado die-hard fan. For me many of his books began to run together and sound the same. I say that to tell you how much I loved Fearless by Max Lucado. I could not put the book down. Fear is something I struggle with, you name it I am sure I had some fear over it.

God makes it clear that if we as Christians are going to live a life of faith, we need to trust and step out into the unknown. Unfortunately to do that you need to turn over your fears and allow God to work through you. Satan likes to prey on our fears while making things seem impossible, even to God. In this well written, powerful book Max tackles fears all of us struggle with. Several of the topics covered are:

Fear of not mattering.
Fear of disappointing God.
Fear of not protecting my kids.
Fear of violence.
Fear of death.
Fear that God may not be real.
Fear of coming out of my box.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is when Max is retelling the story of the disciples out in a boat in rocky seas. Through this bible story we are reminded God is always with us, but it is not always easy sailing. “Getting on board with Christ can mean getting soaked with Christ. Disciples can expect rough seas and stout winds.” Life may toss you around, but in the end you don’t go under. What a powerful image of the Christian walk!

Powerful stories and parables woven through out this book made the powerful God lessons dance off the page. This book is a book that offers encouragement, healing, and strength in dealing with the cancer of fear. If you are living your Christian walk out of your comfort zone, this is the perfect book to have on your bookshelf to read yearly.

Same Kind of Different As Me

One weekend, out of curiosity, I cracked it open and couldn't put the book down. Within the pages of Same Kind of Different As Me, I found a compelling story about two men: Ron and Denver, the unlikely friendship formed between them, and God's redemptive story weaved throughout their shared lives.

The story of Same Kind of Different As Me is entirely nonfictional, which is the best kind worth telling. While it is a tale of deep pain and difficult circumstances, what is beautiful about the book is the element of nearly-unbelievable redemption.

A poor, black man who is bitter and penniless ends up graciously loving those who hate him and closing a few high-level art deaks, while a self-absorbed aristocrat ends up serving at a local homeless shelter and inviting the poor into his home. This simple story of friendship calls you to evaluate your life in light of the greatest love and compassion.

The synopsis of Same Kind of Different As Me is as follows (thanks to Amazon.com):

A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery.

An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel.

A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream.

A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it.

It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana . . . and an East Texas honky-tonk . . . and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda . . . an upscale New York gallery . . . a downtown dumpster . . . a Texas ranch.

Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, this true story also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.


The book opens with the reader being immersed into the two parallel stories of two completely different men -- both from the South, both searching for meaning in different ways. Roughly every other chapter is narrated by one of the two men, and rightly so. It is after all, their story of friendship.

Ron is an affluent, Caucasian art dealer who makes it big, but his life begins to change when he and his wife start intentionally spending time with the poor. Eventually, their paths cross with an older black man who has lived as a sharecropper (a nice word for a modern-day slave), convict, and homeless vagrant; these various life experiences have deeply embittered him, especially towards white, rich people.

However, hate and prejudice are overcome by love and grace -- best exemplified by those are supporting the main characters. The story of Ron and Denver, rather, is really a story of humility, of learning that true friendship is birthed out of a healthy understanding of who one really is, warts and all.

Ron's moments of realization that are provoked by Denver's simple worldview are enough to convict the reader of over-analyzing simple things in life, like loving someone no matter what, learning to live within your means, and not getting too caught up in material possessions.

One of the best lines in Same Kind of Different is when the men are discussing fishing. Ron confesses that he's not much of a fisherman, but answers some of Denver's curious questions about "how white people fish." He's surprised to hear about a certain phenomenon in which white people do what's called "catch-and-release fishing." He can't believe that someone would actually throw back perfectly good food. He then uses this as an illustration to explain how if Ron is only looking for a "catch-and-release" friendship, then he better consider looking elsewhere. Through their shared experiences, the two men begin to see the world through the other person's eyes and are changed for the better because of it.

I can't say enough good things about Same Kind of Different As Me, but honestly, I don't want to ruin it. The narrative is told creatively - both in the voice of Ron's polished, educated tone and Denver's rough, illiterate vernacular (someone had to transcribe it for him). The end result is a fabulous work of nonfiction that strikes the reader with the beauty that comes out of difficult and painful situations and how God can redeem just about anything.

The awkward friendship between a white man and a black man that begins over coffee eventually evolves into the two sharing their lives with one another, even going on road trips together. It's a bit of a feel-good book, but I confess that I, at times, wept through this profoundly touching tale of friendship.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves a great story that challenges the reader to live more courageously.

Venom and Song: The Berinfell Prophecies Series - Book Two

Now in the strange realm of Allyra, the Seven young lords confront a traitor in their midst, a creature-infested forest, teenage fears and doubts, inexplicable mysteries . . . and the Spider King himself.

In a rigorous training program that makes boot camp look like Disneyland, the Seven must quickly learn to harness their own powers, work as one, and elude the Spider King's spies. But as the ancient Berinfell Prophecies are revealed, the Seven soon discover their training might not be enough. To stop the Spider King they must also unravel the secrets of the Rainsong, travel to a creepy, trap-infested fortress to find the legendary keystone, and lead the Berinfell Elves in an attack on the Spider King's own turf. An epic adventure with powerful messages about true strength, forgiveness, and working together as one body that will grab the attention of intermediate readers.

Venom and Song is an epic sequel to The Curse of The Spider King. This book follows seven teens as they struggle to live and love in their new world of elves. They train hard to be able to survive against the villain (the Spider King). Readers of any of Christopher Hopper’s or Wayne Thomas Batson will love this wonderful, epic novel.

A Guy's Guide To Life

What does society want of teen guys? To be independent, tough, and macho? To be a sensitive, caring metrosexual? To excel in school and sports and business? The challenges are many, and we haven't even mentioned the most important -- and most frightening -- topic of conversation: girls. The road to manhood is a perilous one.

Guys need a guidebook, one that asks and answers the questions they're reluctant to bring up. A book that addresses the myths of manhood with a straightforward approach teenage guys will appreciate and absorb. A book that understands what many fail to realize -- that somewhere between the awkwardness and braggadocio, the goofiness and the developing body, there is a real person struggling to make his mark on the world. A book like A Guy's Guide to Life: How to Become a Man in 208 Pages or Less.

This book really explained to me everything I needed and/or wanted to know about life. I went to camps during the summer and every one I went to all the guys in my group all wanted to read it wherever I went. Even the non-Christian ones. It helped me spread my faith in a way they could understand.