I just finished reading The Jinson Twins, Science Detectives, and The Mystery of Echo Lake by Steven Zeichner. It was a great book, especially coming from the children’s genre. Here’s my Good Reads review. It was a fun read.
I’d like to share a new book trailer for Cameron Conaway’s Caged: Memoir of a Cage-Fighting Poet. I just saw Conaway’s tweet about it and needed to share it. I recently read and reviewed the amazing book. If that review didn’t work for you, watch this trailer. It touches on a passage about the warrior and the poet that I really enjoyed when I read the book. If you think it’s the book for you, go out and grab it.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU0MRhHpxF0&feature=youtu.be&a
My review from last week: http://thingsfromalongtheroadoflife.tumblr.com/post/16184027666/caged-memoirs-of-a-cage-fighting-poet-by-cameron
I just finished reading the first book of Amanda Hocking’s Trylle Trilogy, Switched. I didn’t want to wait to write it before the enjoyment of the story left me if I were to allow time to pick up another book. This is my first exploration into the genre and I wasn’t disappointed. I will definitely go out and get the next two books when they are released, in the mean time anyone interested can find all three (along with I think some of Amanda’s other books) in ebook format. I might have to cave and get those if I can’t wait.
For my full review posted on goodreads.com click the link below:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/228346576
Can also be found on Good Reads here.
Reading Ten Tea Parties was a bit different than my normal choice of book. But when Ifirst say the title, I questioned the book. This sounds interesting, but it’s a history book isn’t it? Until reading it, I haven’t taken much pleasure in history books since middle school when learning about the Greeks, Romans, then later Americans was fun but not extensive enough to cause boredom. Then high school and college required courses took hold and killed the subject for me.
This book shattered that stigma against liking history. When I read the brief description on Good Reads alone I gained interest. There was more to the Tea Party, and more Tea Parties than just Boston’s? Yes, I want to know about this. Part of this was probably due to it being completely new information to me and another part is most likely because I don’t like how history is only fed to students in amounts and events the schools want to talk about. This seems to be an important part of our nation’s history and I wanted to know about it.
The way this information about the entire crisis of the various taxes leading up to and the final straw of the tax on tea was presented took me out of the mindset of “I’m reading a history book.” I was not bored once, which is uncommon for me. It wasn’t dry at all. I continuously wanted to read and read. I enjoyed the starting out with the explanation of the history of the East India Company as well. I’ve heard of it, but never knew just how powerful they were. It set up the rest of the book perfectly. From it went into how the various colonists dealt with the taxes, organized, and carried out a way of protesting against what they believed was wrong.
Before reading this book the Revolution to me was focused mainly in the north, part of that may be from being educated in New York, but at the same time a lot happened up here. Seeing that the protests occurred as far south as North Carolina was also refreshing. It brought a more whole perspective on the situation; this was really all 13 colonies under a common cause.
Bottom line: Pick this book up, even if you’re not into reading about history too often. I was in the same boat, but had a gut feeling about this book. I was pleased in the end. I learned something and it’s great to be able to take so much out of a book.
The following is my review from goodreads.com. I think I’ll get in the habit of posting the text on this blog as well to make it easier for everyone to access the reviews. After reading, if you would like to know more about the book or it’s author follow the links at the bottom.
As posted at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/261681925
This memoir of Cameron Conaway’s life touched me in ways that other books haven’t come close to. Setting aside how much of myself I saw in Conaway’s life (mainly relationship with the father,) there are just positive things to say about it as a whole.
From the beginning of the book, all the way through to the end, the style of the writing was unique for me. It felt like Conaway wasn’t writing an account of his life for others to read later. To me it felt like he was sitting in front of me having a conversation, almost like an interview instead of a prose account. This is was refreshing and very welcoming to me as a reader when many memoirs, while still great in their own right, can merely put the story on paper but not actually touch too deeply.
Something else that aided in the conversational feeling I got was how honest the book felt. I didn’t find a section in the book that felt embellished or distorted to make Cameron or anyone else into a “stronger” or “better” human being. When there was a need to show a negative aspect of himself, Conaway included it. When he accomplished something, it was in there, but the reader wasn’t forced to praise him excessively in the way it was worded. The reader can read the book without having to feel out where there could be untruths.
I would also like to address the addition of poetry throughout the book. With Conaway being an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter and poet, it was only fitting to show both aspects of himself. Along with the poetry there was a great overview of some history of various forms of MMA, such as a specialty of Conaway’s, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I went into this book knowing next to nothing about MMA and thinking I’d only relate with the book because of the poetry aspect. I was proven wrong in the end. The sport of fighting is shown in a different light from which it has normally been presented to me. There is a beauty and an art in the sport and its various components (training, conditioning, etc.)
If Cameron Conaway is to write another memoir as a continuation of this, I will be one of the first wanting to read it. This is the same for his poetry. I greatly enjoyed both in this book and would suggest everyone in need of a great read to pick up this book.
Caged on Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13089974-caged Cameron on Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4656594.Cameron_Conaway Cameron’s website: http://www.cameronconaway.com/
I just finished up reading Silas Marner, a book by George Eliot (pen name of Mary Anne Evans.) This is one of my girlfriend’s favorite book, which is the reason I bought it in the first place. After reading it, I can see why she enjoys it. It might not be a favorite of mine, but I didn’t mind reading it all the way through.
Here’s the link to my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/215695244
Just finished reading the 4th and 5th installments of Pablo D’Stair’s BlankVerseDead folio series. I haven’t written a review up for the 4th, for she, who kept the other alphabet, due to wanting to reread it another time or so before writing something about that one. But I gave it 3 stars as can be seen in the link. The 5th installment, his elegy to definition, was very enjoyable and my 5 star review can be found in that link below as well.
for she, who kept the other alphabet: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/257356309
his elegy to definition:
Received this small book of poems by Mike Parish today. Read it through and enjoyed the entire thing. It’s available online on peoplewhodontknowme.com.
I wrote up a review over on goodreads.com, check it out. The book’s an interesting and enjoyable read.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/254742611
Just finished reading Searching For Cecy: Reflections on Alzheimer’s by Judy Prescott. This book of poetry was simply amazing. my review is linked below.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/241425178
Just found what looks like a cool giveaway. It ends in on the 3rd so check it out fast.
follow the link: http://booksobsession.blogspot.com/2011/12/end-of-year-madness-giveaway.html
and check out the title.
Remember it ends soon.
