First of all, I've just now realized that the title of this series (intended to indicate, as Brandon says in the first book, that the Book of Mormon contains the answer to every question) really only applies to the first book. It's entirely possible the author never intended to write any others and thus got stuck with a series title that didn't really make sense.
Secondly, the series switches perspectives every other volume between Brandon and Jeff, which is disconcerting at the beginning of this story, since it takes a couple of pages to realize who is narrating.
Thirdly, it's a fine book with an interesting enough premise. Not as good as the first one though.
Author: C.B. Andersen
Potentially objectionable content: Somewhat tense moments and a few ritual animal sacrifices (yes, really)
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Sunday, July 6, 2014
I'm Going to Disneyland!
Well, actually I already went. I'm currently consigned to the modern version of Dante's first circle of hell: hanging out in the airport. (Considering I'm in Las Vegas, it could probably qualify as either four or eight also. Your call.)
Anyway, I have a couple of titles to write up, and I'll be getting to those shortly. But this was my first trip to Disneyland in almost twenty years, and as such I thought you might be interested in the various things I learned.
1) There are bubbles EVERYWHERE. The first time you see them, you are taken by surprise. The next time, you figure out that about 1 in 10 people has purchased a bubble gun. The time after that, you re-evaluate your assessment to one in five. Then you just start seeing them all over the place, with no apparent source, and you decide it is just part of the magic of Disneyland.
2) Speaking of which: no matter what channel you've been watching when you turn the TV off, it's on the Disney channel when you turn it on again.
3) You can get married at Disneyland. Probably expensive. But true.
4) You can also bring in your own food and drink. They do check your bags at the gate, but not for consumables. I was surprised by that.
5) The Jungle Cruise is exactly no fun. Or at least, the amount of fun derived from it divided by the amount of time waiting in line equals such a small number it might as well be zero.
6) I truly hate roller coasters.
7) Oh my gosh, the humidity. I'm from a desert, okay? Can't handle it.
8) Which means that you end up completely gross by the end of the day. Let comfort and temperature be your clothing guides-just shove style right out the window.
9) Wear ALL the sunscreen. Especially if, like me, you inherited the sensitive alabaster skin of your redheaded maternal grandmother. Carry it with you. Apply often.
10) Buy a couple of magazines if, like me, you are incapable of taking a bath without reading material. (I brought my Nook with me, but I decided not to use that in the bath.) And you will want a nice soak in the bath, because...
11) So. Much. WALKING. And also a lot of standing, which for me was worse than the walking. Get really good shoes.
12) Waiting in line is the worst. Get fast passes every time you can. They are the bomb. Yes, even the bomb diggity.
13) About 95% of the people you meet are completely delightful. So, so nice. The lady at the rental car place, most of the hotel staff, all the Disneyland cast members, almost everybody we stood next to or rode the train with.
14) The other 5% are deplorable human beings. They know who they are.
15) If you are a fireworks person (or even, like me, you're not), you must see them the way they are meant to be seen: at Disneyland. Seriously. They're amazing.
Overall, it was a fantastic, wonderful, magical trip. If you haven't been recently (or ever): go. Go now. It's totally worth it.
Anyway, I have a couple of titles to write up, and I'll be getting to those shortly. But this was my first trip to Disneyland in almost twenty years, and as such I thought you might be interested in the various things I learned.
1) There are bubbles EVERYWHERE. The first time you see them, you are taken by surprise. The next time, you figure out that about 1 in 10 people has purchased a bubble gun. The time after that, you re-evaluate your assessment to one in five. Then you just start seeing them all over the place, with no apparent source, and you decide it is just part of the magic of Disneyland.
2) Speaking of which: no matter what channel you've been watching when you turn the TV off, it's on the Disney channel when you turn it on again.
3) You can get married at Disneyland. Probably expensive. But true.
4) You can also bring in your own food and drink. They do check your bags at the gate, but not for consumables. I was surprised by that.
5) The Jungle Cruise is exactly no fun. Or at least, the amount of fun derived from it divided by the amount of time waiting in line equals such a small number it might as well be zero.
6) I truly hate roller coasters.
7) Oh my gosh, the humidity. I'm from a desert, okay? Can't handle it.
8) Which means that you end up completely gross by the end of the day. Let comfort and temperature be your clothing guides-just shove style right out the window.
9) Wear ALL the sunscreen. Especially if, like me, you inherited the sensitive alabaster skin of your redheaded maternal grandmother. Carry it with you. Apply often.
10) Buy a couple of magazines if, like me, you are incapable of taking a bath without reading material. (I brought my Nook with me, but I decided not to use that in the bath.) And you will want a nice soak in the bath, because...
11) So. Much. WALKING. And also a lot of standing, which for me was worse than the walking. Get really good shoes.
12) Waiting in line is the worst. Get fast passes every time you can. They are the bomb. Yes, even the bomb diggity.
13) About 95% of the people you meet are completely delightful. So, so nice. The lady at the rental car place, most of the hotel staff, all the Disneyland cast members, almost everybody we stood next to or rode the train with.
14) The other 5% are deplorable human beings. They know who they are.
15) If you are a fireworks person (or even, like me, you're not), you must see them the way they are meant to be seen: at Disneyland. Seriously. They're amazing.
Overall, it was a fantastic, wonderful, magical trip. If you haven't been recently (or ever): go. Go now. It's totally worth it.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Book #22: "The Book of Mormon Sleuth"
First of all, in case anyone was wondering about the last several posts: no, I didn't read all these books in one day. I'm just behind in writing about them. And since I spent the day in bed recovering from a migraine, I thought I'd at least do something productive and catch up.
So this is a fun little adventure story, particularly for LDS parents who want their kids to read but are concerned about the content in today's literature. I myself believe that kids should read whatever they want as long as they have someone to talk to about it...but I'm also not directly responsible for the morals and values of any small humans-or any big ones, now that I think about it. Which is why I always mention potentially objectionable content, both here and in books I recommend in person.
This book has none of that. It's not brilliant, but it's fun and funny and fast-paced, with a few sweet and spiritual moments thrown in.
Author: C.B. Andersen
Potentially objectionable content: Not so much
So this is a fun little adventure story, particularly for LDS parents who want their kids to read but are concerned about the content in today's literature. I myself believe that kids should read whatever they want as long as they have someone to talk to about it...but I'm also not directly responsible for the morals and values of any small humans-or any big ones, now that I think about it. Which is why I always mention potentially objectionable content, both here and in books I recommend in person.
This book has none of that. It's not brilliant, but it's fun and funny and fast-paced, with a few sweet and spiritual moments thrown in.
Author: C.B. Andersen
Potentially objectionable content: Not so much
Book #21: "The Crossword Obsession"
Being a voracious reader means that you frequently get asked what you're reading. (Never more true than when you have embarked on a mammoth reading project, by the way.) And when the answer to that question is "A book about crossword puzzles", you are bound to get, at the very least, some odd looks.
But I'm used to that and carry blithely on. When I was in my early twenties, I used to do the crossword in the paper with some friends, and since then it's a hobby I dabble in. I found this book in a bargain section of a different bookstore, and this subtitle says it all: "The history and lore of the world's most popular pasttime." Compiled mostly of quotes from interviews of crossword luminaries, it can get tedious, but still a worthwhile read for anyone who has ever wondered about the history and construction of word puzzles. It even has some puzzles in the back to solve.
Author: Coral Amende
Potentially objectionable content: Unless you have REALLY strong views about crosswords, I doubt you'd be upset by anything here
But I'm used to that and carry blithely on. When I was in my early twenties, I used to do the crossword in the paper with some friends, and since then it's a hobby I dabble in. I found this book in a bargain section of a different bookstore, and this subtitle says it all: "The history and lore of the world's most popular pasttime." Compiled mostly of quotes from interviews of crossword luminaries, it can get tedious, but still a worthwhile read for anyone who has ever wondered about the history and construction of word puzzles. It even has some puzzles in the back to solve.
Author: Coral Amende
Potentially objectionable content: Unless you have REALLY strong views about crosswords, I doubt you'd be upset by anything here
Book #20: "The Woman Who Is Tan And Always Has A Flat Stomach"
When I moved back to Boise and had to put my books into storage, I naturally spent some time looking for new ones to fill the gap. And since I worked in a bookstore with a large bargain section, I'd sometimes go browse for something that looked interesting. Which is how I happened on this book, a collection of humorous essays about all those women that seem to do everything better than you. Is this a problem men have? I don't know, but great is the rejoicing of the woman who can overcome her tendency to compare herself to others...and feel like she never measures up.
This collection is amusing, occasionally hysterical, and well worth the four dollars or so it cost me.
Author: Lauren Allison
Potentially objectionable content: Some language and adult topics
This collection is amusing, occasionally hysterical, and well worth the four dollars or so it cost me.
Author: Lauren Allison
Potentially objectionable content: Some language and adult topics
Book #19: "The High King"
The last book in the series, the only one to win the Newbery Medal and the first one I ever read. When I was probably, oh, ten or eleven, my mom ordered this from one of those elementary school order forms (remember those? The best thing about grade school? Yes, including recess. Okay, maybe that's just me), intending to read it to all of us at bedtime. We never quite got around to that, and (as most books in our house did at one point or another) it made its way into my collection.
The final chapter of this story is of a country at war, and while necessarily darker than previous volumes, brings it to a satisfying and even heartbreaking conclusion. In a last, furious attempt to destroy the evil Arawn, the characters must give (though it's a mathematical impossibility) more than their all. Thus the death toll is higher, with some absolutely spectacular battle scenes that rival any in adult literature (Tolkein, I'm looking at you here.) And in the end, it is about what all epics are about: friendship, honor, family, love. Which really does conquer all.
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Potentially objectionable content: The aforementioned deaths and battle scenes
The final chapter of this story is of a country at war, and while necessarily darker than previous volumes, brings it to a satisfying and even heartbreaking conclusion. In a last, furious attempt to destroy the evil Arawn, the characters must give (though it's a mathematical impossibility) more than their all. Thus the death toll is higher, with some absolutely spectacular battle scenes that rival any in adult literature (Tolkein, I'm looking at you here.) And in the end, it is about what all epics are about: friendship, honor, family, love. Which really does conquer all.
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Potentially objectionable content: The aforementioned deaths and battle scenes
Book #18: "Taran Wanderer"
This may be my favorite book in the series, though it's hard to choose. Longing to prove himself of noble birth (and so prove himself worthy of a certain princess) Taran sets out to discover his parentage. Bringing back some old friends-as well as Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch, who can't really be described as friends or indeed at all-and introducing some new ones, this book is the most introspective of the lot. Though there's plenty of action (including a couple of memorable battle scenes), this story is really about finding out who you are-virtues, faults and all-and coming to terms with it. In short, it's about becoming an adult.
All truly great stories lead you to invest in the characters, to weep for their losses and cheer for their victories-to become a silent but loving friend. Taran tends to chastise himself for his failures more than rejoice in his successes, and while I cringe every time he beats himself up, I also recognize myself in him.
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Potentially objectionable content: Some intense battle scenes and the series' scariest villain
All truly great stories lead you to invest in the characters, to weep for their losses and cheer for their victories-to become a silent but loving friend. Taran tends to chastise himself for his failures more than rejoice in his successes, and while I cringe every time he beats himself up, I also recognize myself in him.
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Potentially objectionable content: Some intense battle scenes and the series' scariest villain
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