Through the Fire by Shawn Grady

Growing up I never really wanted to be a fireman, I was more of the policeman type.  As I have gotten older (and hopefully wiser) I have come to realize more and more that I think I would like to be a firefighter.  Not in a big city like NewYork or Chicago, or even Reno (where this book is based), but in a small community.

Aiden O'Neill (or A-O) is a third generation firefighter and is beginning to have some trouble "hearing" the fire when he goes in.  He has an inate talent to "hear" the fire and know what it is going to do next ... so did his dad.  The problem is, his dad died in a fire five years ago ... in a circumstance where he shouldn't have been in harm's way.

This is what is making Aiden think about life ... well that and him almost getting his new partner killed in an accident where he wasn't following orders.  Aiden is "every-man" ... working hard to make something of himself, often putting it before everything else.  His life is in shambles and he is places on two week leave.  He visits his uncle in Mexico and comes back to face his fears once again.  He speaks candidly to his father's friend Ben, and Ben tells him that he can still hear the fire ... he just needs to listen.  Kinda like we can always hear God talking, but are we really listening.

Decent read ... it was worth the time.

Rating: 3/5

Day of War (Lion of War Series) by Cliff Graham Review

Finally ... another post regarding a book review.

Let me start off by saying that I have never read First or Second Samuel, but reading this book made me dive into the Old Testament with fervor.  David was an amazing person, with all his warts, problems, issues, lusts, and everything else he loved God above all else.

This book takes a small reference from 2 Samuel and novelizes it.  It is gracefully done, and follows not only David through a very trying time but it also follows his Three and the one who should also be considered Benaiah.  It gives great historical references and is so true to how things were in Davids time that you feel as if you are right there in the dust and grime.  It is extremely graphic in its description of the battles and how they tried to totally annihilate the opposing forces, not just make them surrender.  They tried to kill them all.

The story centers mostly on Benaiah and his struggles in his personal life, and how it is affecting his entire world.  He is a sturdy character and it is nice to see that some of the most important people in the Bible were really human as well.

I guess that Cliff Graham is going to be writing four more books in this series.  I'm interested to see how he is going to do it.  This is definitely a book that I'd recommend if you are into Biblical history.  From reading in 2 Samuel I see that the historical evidence is there for the basis of this story, and I appreciate Mr. Graham's ability to expound on what was handed down to us in the Scriptures.

I'm not sure what is next, but I'll let you know when I finish it.
Rating: 4/5

Dragon Ore by Brian Rathbone

Let me start off by saying that I really felt that this series was beginning to be drawn out.  That was until I started to read Dragon Ore.

This story chronicles the final installment to the Catrin Volker saga.  Catrin is (as normally the case) just a normal kid who is given some amazing powers.  She is the Herald of Istra.  Basically the incarnation of a goddess and has been given amazing powers.  Catrin has travelled all over the know world, from her home on the Godfist to the Greatland and on to the Firstland.  In her travels one thing has remained constant ... her friends have been there.  They have protected her and she has protected them.  She gained more friends and more enemies, and at the end she even decided to settle down.

This was a pretty cool series.  I was skeptical at first, but became enthralled in the world of Catrin Volker and her adventures.

See my other reviews on the series here:
Call of the Herald
Inherited Danger

Overall I'd give the series a 3.75/5, only because of the seeming longness of the story.  I'd rate Dragon Ore a bit higher , but it could have been better.

For Dragon Ore:

Rating - 4/5

Pentecost: A Thriller by Joanna Penn

Fatherhood (for the second time) is pretty stinking cool.  Seeing Emma smile up at me just melts my heart.  Hearing Sydney say, "Daddy, I made this for you." turns me into a mess of emotions.  I have been a little lax lately in posting.  I finished this book a couple of weeks ago.

I've always liked the name Morgan for a girl.  And that just so happens to be the main character's name in Pentecost.  Morgan was born and raised in Israel, and has a twin sister that she never really knew since Morgan had lived with her father and her sister lived with her mother.  They were (and still are) drastically different people.  Morgan is a psychologist at Oxford University in England, where she specializes in the connection between religion and the mental acuity of some  of the problems that it may cause for an individual.  Her sister is married to a pastor and has a beautiful daughter whom Morgan adores.

The story revolves around the Apostles Stones, and the power that they may (or may not) have.  Stories tell of the time of the Resurrection of Jesus and the power that it took for that to happen.  The Apostles took small parts of the stone and kept them as a memento and reminder of that day and the power that they have been given.  Through time the stones were scattered across northern Africa, southern Europe and of course through the Middle East.

Morgan and her sister each have one of the stones ... you can see where this is going.  There is also and evil politician (really ... a politician that is evil ... never) who has a twin brother who has a sever medical condition.  He also thinks that if he is able to get all twelve stones together he will be able to heal his brother.  He does everything he can to get the stones ... kidnapping, murder, deceit, hatred ... you name it, he's done it.

Morgan teams up with Jake Timber from the ARKANE Corporation, to try to get the stones and deliver them to the political madman.  ARKANE specializes in "protecting" religious artifacts, no matter the cost.  Jake is directed to get the stones and get them to the ARKANE headquarters.  Morgan thinks that he is there to help get her sister and niece back ... oh yeah, they were kidnapped by the evil politician.

I'll stop there ... you can probably guess where it goes from there.

It was a decent read overall ... supposedly is is going to be a series.  I'm looking forward to the next installment to see if it can make the story more realistic.

Rating: 3/5

Inherited Danger by Brian Rathbone

The Dawning of Power trilogy is getting better with each book.  Brian Rathbone is a very skilled author and develops the characters wonderfully.

Catrin Volker is the heroine and becomes bigger than life.  She struggles with the cards that she has been dealt, and that is mostly with moral issues.  Should she risk the lives of her friends and family?  Should she risk the lives of total strangers?  Should she do what she has set out to do?  She has her protectors; her cousin Chase, friends Osbourne and Strom, and her surrogate father Benjin Hawk.

She makes the journey to the Greatland in search of answers.  Is she really the Herald of Istra?  Can she control these powers that she is conflicted with?  Will Benjin stay at her side?  Will she ever see her father again?

Catrin finds out much more than she ever reckoned she would when she makes it to the Greatland.  She finds out more of her mother and her father, and how Benjin played a part in it all.

The story is a mixture of Hunger Games and Lord of the Rings.  There is a heroine, with magic and swords and special journeys that only the main character can complete with the assistance of her protector.  Catrin is much like Frodo, and Benjin is muck like Sam.  Catrin is much like Katniss and Benjin is much like Haymitch.  Both Frodo and Katnis are on a journey, like Catrin.  Both Sam and Haymitch are there to protect, much like Benjin.

I am excited to see where this story ends.  I have already begun to read Dragon's Ore, and am excited by the title.

Inherited Danger by Brian Rathbone

Rating: 4/5

The Gift by Bryan Litfin

First off let me apologize for being a little lax in my reviewing lately.  Since my last post on July 15 my wife and I have had our second little girl.  She was born on July 16 and is healthy and mom and baby are doing great.

Onto the review of the second book in the Chiveis Trilogy.  This book, much like the first in the series (The Sword), took me to a time where swords and not guns were the weapon of choice.  Horses were ridden and cars were just the rusty motorized carriages that littered the landscape.

Well Teo and Ana are exiled from their homeland because they will not renounce their God, who is know as Deu.  This story begins as they arrive over the mountain in the Beyond, and come in to a group of soldiers where Teo is employed as a mercenary.  A bit of a downgrade from his well respected title of Captain in Chiveis.  He is employed due to the ability that he has to wield a sword, and wield it he does.

Ana, on the other hand, comes to be befriended by some very wealthy ladies in the country and begins to struggle with moral issues, since there is s definite lack of morality in the country.  She is pursued by a Dojh (or prince/king) and Teo comes to the rescue, as the Dojh attempts to force Ana's hand in marriage.

The pursuit of the New Testament is the main story in this tale.  There are many other sub-plots that are mixed in for good measure.  Some seemed to drag along and others seemed to flow effortlessly.  Many of the new characters are very endearing and others make you want to jump inot the book and take them on yourself.

I am going to rate this a touch lower than The Sword, but still very much worth a read.

The Gift by Bryan Litfin

Rating: 3.5/5

Call of the Herald - Pre-Review Problem

So I'm again in a quandary.  I have just been offered a lent copy of Bryan Liftin's The Gift.  Which is the second in the Chiveis Trilogy.  I totally loved the first novel The Sword as you can see from my prior review.

http://nextonmykindle.blogspot.com/2011/06/sword-by-bryan-liftin.html

I am just about done with Call of the Herald, which has been slow at times, but I can definitely see myself finishing the series.  It is about a girl and her becoming the Herald of Istra.  The book has been well written and I anticipate the others to be that way as well.

Here is my plan ... I am 80% complete with Call of the Herald and the loan offer is available for 7 days from today.  I'm going to do my best to finish COTH over the weekend and download the loaned The Gift on Monday.  Sound like a good plan?  Here is the catch ... my wife is 100% pregnant and could give birth to our second daughter any day now ... that MAY throw a little wrench in the works.  I think I can make it to still read even though we'll have another little one in the house.

UPDATED 8/16/11 - Call of the Herald Complete!!!

I was able to complete Call of the Herald and loved it so much that I dove right into the second story.  Catrin Volker is just your normal farm girl, who struggles with the rich brats in the town.  She and her cousin Chase and her friend Osbourne mut endure abuse and torture daily.  Until ... one day Catrin is faced with a life or death situation.  Life wins ... at least HER life wins.  She protects those that she loves on numerous occasions, and is accused of being a witch with amazing powers.

She fights her way through this book with the help of those who have sworn to protect her.  Her cousin Chase, her friends Osbourne and Strom and her father's friend Benjin.  There are struggles and problems, and Brian Rathbone weaves a thread that develops over time.  The characters grow and it is quite enjoyable.

Rating: 4/5

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

WHY DIDN"T ANYONE WARN ME?????

So after reading the classic work The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, I realized that it won't be a book that I'll read to my daughters anytime soon.  Granted it was amazingly written, in short prose and amazingly crafted short chapters I was pretty dark at times.  The Tin Man chops off wolves heads (40 of them to be exact), the Scarecrow gets his brains (made of bran and needles) and the Lion gets his courage by destroying an overlarge spider by knocking it's head off.

I was anticipating the nicely done 1939 movie where Dorothy visits the Munchkins, gains some friends and gets home.  I actually got something much, MUCH better.  I loved it.  The characters were intricately woven into each other.  The other 13 stories in the series will be just an enjoyable I have a feeling.  I liked how Baum described Kansas as a place full of gray, and Oz as a place beaming with color.  The characters in each place displayed those characteristics as well.

Rating: 5/5

I can't wait to read more about the land of Oz, but Call of the Herald is next.  It is supposed to be a cross between Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Eragon ... sounds like fun!  Plus it is a trilogy ... I love books in a series.

The Hangman's Daughter AND MORE!!!

All I can say is WOW!  This was an awesome read.  I didn't want to put it down ... ever.  It incorporates love, murder, mystery, and even who-dun-it.  My wife even got mad at me saying, "Will you put that thing down and empty the dishwasher."  Obviously I emptied the dishwasher.

This book is based int he 1650's in Bavaria.  It is set in the village of Schongau, and describes the time period beautifully.  It tells of the town hangman, Jakob Kuisl and his daughter Magdelena, along with Simon Fronwieser the young town physician's son.  Well, Magdelena is branded and relegated to a life of shame only because she happens to be the hangman's daughter.  The thing is that she ans Simon care for each other deeply and even talk about running away and living by begging, just so they can be together.

As I've said in my other posts, I hate giving away a book's plot ... but, just say that some children are murdered, and pleasant Schongau midwife is accused of witchcraft and is thrown in the keep.  The keep is where prisoners are kept during trials and questioning and torturing (which is the responsibility of the hangman).  This is where the compassion of Jakob is exhibited.  Typically the hangman is seen as the devil himself, but Jakob actually cares for people and loves his town.  He and Simon do everything in their power to prove the innocence of Martha the midwife.  The turn into super-sleuth's and become early detectives and do it pretty well.

Anyway, again ... AWESOME read.  In a couple of points it drags a bit, but Mr. Potzsch make up for it with his imagination and character development.  It'll make you think about history and how far we have come.
Rating: 4.5/5

My next read is an oldie.  I'm going to try to read all 14 books in the Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum.  We had a family movie night this week and watched the classic 1939 movie with Judy Garland.  My five year old daughter loved it.  In our town we actually have a Wizard of Oz Gift Shop and Museum.  Every year there is a Wizard of Oz festival, where there are look-alike contests and general fun.  I have never even been to it, but I have a feeling that this year we're going to need to go.  I'm actually kinda looking forward to it.

Until next time ... read on!

Let's get WEIRD!!!

Craig Groeschel is WEIRD!  But weird in a good way ... in a Christian way.  He hits on some very obvious things that we, as Christians, should be thinking about on a daily basis.  We should look at being weird because what we, as Americans, think is normal (high debt, divorce, self-centeredism, etc) obviously isn't working.  People think that high consumer debt is acceptable, divorce rates are at 50% and we think about ourselves before we think about others.

Pastor Groeschel's other book "The Christian Atheist" is just as good as this one.  In that he talks about how we as Christians will admit that we are a Christian and yet act as if we aren't.

Weird is an amazing book for some good old-fashioned self reflection.  We need to look deep into ourselves and step up and make a change.  Let's not accept what the rest of the world accepts as normal.  We should be concerned with debt, we should hate divorce and we should think about others.  Let's try.  Read this book and think ... and think long and hard about it.

Rating: 5/5

A New Read ... Again

I was just lent (through booklending.com) the "it" book of the year.  I guess they (whoever THEY are) are saying that this book is this years "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo".

I'm talking about The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch.  So far just a couple chapters in I am intrigued.  The book is a great read so far.  But it is right in my favorite genre ... Historical Fiction.

Once I'm done you'll all get a full review, but so far so good.

Alright ... I knew I couldn't wait til the weekend!

Just like typical me ... I stayed up waaaay too late last night and finished Imaginary Jesus.  That may make for a pretty long Friday.  Going on four hours of sleep right now, so don't hold that against me.  But caffiene can be your friend in just these sorts of instances.

Pete punched Jesus in the face.

Great way to start the book in Chapter Zero.  No don't pull out your Peacenik Jesus and shame me for this.  Pete (The Apostle Peter) is here to save Matt's world.  But in order to do that, Matt must do away with his own imaginary Jesuses.  You know what I'm talking about ... the Jesuses that we make up that support our views on anything from animal rights to feminism to sin to free will.  This book really struck me.  I related to it well, maybe TOO well.  I can see myself as Matt.  The real world all around us, and us surrounded by our own Jesuses, personified and real (in our eyes).  We all have them, whether we are Christians or not.  Even atheists have their own Atheist Jesus.

This book is wrought with humor and a main character who is sarcastic beyond belief (which I can relate to as well).  Then there is Pete, who is really trying to get it through Matt's thick skull that the Jesuses that he had imagined are not real.  I loved Daisy, the talking donkey.  I even shared a few of her lines with the share feature on my Kindle onto my Facebook page.  I called her the Genius Donkey, because everything that she said was so true (at least for me) that it was obvious that her IQ just has to be 180 at a minimum.  Then there was Sandy the former prostitute.  She really impacted Matt in a positive way, and introduced him to the Atheist Bible Study group.  Which is funny if you think about it, but it shouldn't be.  Shane is the leader of this group, and he end up enlightening Matt the most during his quest to rid himself of his Imaginary Jesuses.

In the end Matt realizes that life isn't about making sure you have all your Jesuses lined up to take on any problem that you may have, but it's about realizing that there is only ONE real Jesus and He is talking to us ... alot.  If only we could learn to listen.

I loved this book and HIGHLY recommend that you head over to Matt Mikalatos' blog to learn more about him and his upcoming book entitled "Night of the Living Dead Christian".  I can't wait for it this fall.

The Burning Hearts Revolution - Matt's Blog

And one more thing ... LONG LIVE HOUDINI DOG!!!

Rating: 5/5

Stuck In The Middle

So right now I'm in a quandary.  I have begun to read Relentless by Robin Parrish ... which is AWESOME so far, but I've also been lent Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos through booklending.com.  This website may be one of my favorite sites around (and NO I am not getting paid to say that).  What it does is hook up people with Kindle's (or Kindle app's) that have bought books and want to lend them to someone else.  The catch is, that the books can only be lent once.  Many publishers are declining the option to allow their books to be lent.  It's a great concept, and I can't wait for the Kindle library to begin this fall.  I've heard some rumors that it's gonna be pretty darn amazing.

In other words ... Relentless is on the back burner until I finish Imaginary Jesus.  Two totally different books here.  Relentless is total non-stop action from page one, and Imaginary Jesus is comedy, action, and thought provocation from Chapter Zero.  You'll understand when you read it.  I'll do full reviews on both of these when I get them done.  I'd guess that I'll get IJ done by the weekend.  Until then ... Happy Father's Day to all you dad's out there.  I'll be enjoying the day with my wife and daughter for the last time alone ... our next little girl will be here by the end of July.  I can't wait to bring another into the reading fold!!!

Hunger Games Trilogy

I have to admit ... I'm a sucker for teen fiction.  Harry Potter was a staple of mine when I had knee surgery in 2003 and was stuck on the couch.  I know this doesn't necessarily qualify for "teen fiction", but I am always mesmerized by the Pevensie children in The Chronicles of Narnia.  Some people call Narnia "Children's Fantasy", even though some of the lessons taught throughout the series are very much directed at adults.

Anyway on the the review of this trilogy.

The Hunger Games Trilogy was so well written that it made me really want to go and compete in the Hunger Games ... for those that have read these books this might qualify me for being totally off my rocker.

The heroine is 16 year old Katniss Everdeen (awesome name), and she is at heart a great person.  Though conflicted in many ways, she seems to genuinely want to put others first.  Everyone from her mother and sister (Prim), to her friends (Gale & Peeta), to all other people in District 12.  She is also a crack shot with a bow.  She is one of the main sources of food for the people in District 12 as well, so people love her.  Peeta Mellark is just a baker's son, Gale Hawthorne is "Katnip's" (as he calls her) best friend, and Haymitch Abernathy is supposed to be her mentor for the Games.

Suzanne Collins has created a world from nothing, and it is fun to try to figure out where exactly District 12 is located.  How does District 12 still survive in the era that these books are created?  The overall premise is the fact that when government control gets to be too big, there will typically be problems for everyone involved.  Even the innocent teens that are forced to "compete" in the Hunger Games.

Collins continues the story into Catching Fire and on into Mockingjay.  These were both just a well written as the first, if not better.  You can see Collins style mature through the trilogy, just as Katniss matures.  In Catching Fire (like Empire Strikes Back) there are questions formed and concerns answered.  But it leaves you hanging ... in a good way.  I read these one after another, so I didn't have to wait for the "next installment".  It was enjoyable, and it kept me going for a couple of weeks to finish all three.

My favorite was Mockingjay.  At times when a series is written too much can be put into it, just to stretch it out.  Mockingjay does not dissapoint.  It answers so many questions that were left alone in the first two.  Katniss struggles with some pretty deep issues for a 17 year old girl, and shows wisdom beyond her years.  Let me know what you think.

PS- The Hunger Games will be coming to a theatre near you next March (2012).  I am pretty excited to see how the film adaptation will capture some of the minute details of Panem and the games.  Is it OK for me to be pumped up to see these movies?  I'm going to see it anyway.

PPS- I hope they do a better job of creating a movie than they did when Eragon was made into a film.  It was a great book, and the movie was TERRIBLE!!!

Ratings:
Hunger Games: 4.5/5
Catching Fire: 4/5
Mockingjay: 5/5

The Sword by Bryan Litfin

It is my understanding that Bryan Litfin is a pastor who is very, VERY learned.  Valedictorian at University of Tennessee, Master's work at Dallas Theological Seminary, works at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  He seems to have some brains!!!

Well, he has a great imagination as well.  He has created a world (really our world) where it is 400 years into the future, and has done it with clarity and grace.  The characters in The Sword are all at different places in their lives, spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.  Teo needs help (more than once), Ana is the helper (more than once), Maurice is the sage, Ana's parents are wishy-washy.  The realm of Chiveis is a beautiful place if you allow your imagination to see it.  There is evil, there is good, and there is a hope for a better place.  Don't try to read this all at once.  Allow yourself to drink it in and challenge yourself in your views.  I have to admit that I have been Teo in different points in my life.

I don't like to give away plots, so I will just recommend this book.  It makes you think about what it will be like in the future/past/future.  Read the book and you'll understand.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Allow Me To Introduce Myself

I'm just a guy who like to read.  I read anything I can, from the Bible to fantasy to mysteries to historical fiction.  Heck, I'll even read the toothpaste tube or the shaving cream if I'm in a pinch in the bathroom!

My story is long, but I'll give you the short version, and expose more about myself as we go along.

My name is John Szabo, but I've been called worse!  My mom was a libriarian growing up in my elementary school.  This was before PC's in the libraries to mess around on, so when I went to school with her before school, when none of my friends were there (and were probably still sleeping), all I had to do was read.  I can remember the smell of the books, the layout of the shelves and the offices.  I can remember the little roller stepstools that were yellow with textured rubber on the top.  My mom never MADE me read, I always just wanted to.

Since growing up my tastes in books may have changed a bit, but the love is still there.  With technology in the age that it is and ebooks becoming the wave of the future, it seems like I can read more now than ever.  Even though I have less time to do it.

This blog will be about what I am currently reading or have just read on the greatest invertion ever ... The Kindle.  I'll be giving my opinions (since they are the only ones that I have) on what I am reading, along with some recommendations on what to read.  I've tried this blog thing before, so we'll see how this goes.