So, I can't remember the last time I went on vacation. It was last year some time. So, the bad news is: it's been a long time since I've taken vacation. The good news? I'm at the same job and my PTO (paid time off) has continued to accrue and I have, so far, three weeks of vacation saved up.
At the end of May my wife and son and I are going to Kentucky to visit the in-laws (which by some weird twist of fate, like me, and I like them). It'll be a nice break to have a week away from work. It pays the bills, but its annoying, and I'll be glad when my wife finishes nursing school and I can find something else to do with my time. Hopefully write full-time. If not, maybe I can get a job in a book store. I think that would be fun, even if it didn't pay as well. Better to do what you like for less money, than what you don't for more.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Dresden Files, books 1-3
Okay, I was going to review these books separately, but they're so good, I couldn't stop. The Dresden Files are a collection of urban fantasy/mystery/detective novels written by Jim Butcher. Butcher actually lives in Independence, MO, which is cool because that's where I live. But that's besides the point.
The first three novels in the Dresden series are Storm Front, Fool Moon, and Grave Peril. Unlike most detective novels, the main character, Harry Dresden, grows. Things he does have consequences. Things that happen in each book carry over. You don't get to the end of the book and hit the reset button. But at the same time, I think you can follow each book without reading them in order. Butcher does take the time to tell us what's going on. That's good for new readers, and also for devoted readers that may have to wait a year for the next volume to come out.
Storm Front is the introductory novel. It features Harry Dresden as the only wizard listed in the phone book. He tries to solve supernatural crimes for people, and make money doing it. Though, because most people don't believe in that sort of thing, and because Harry won't resort to cheap magic like love potions or fortune telling, he doesn't make a lot of money. The rent is always late, and his situation is always desperate. In Storm Front, Harry is faced against a rival wizard, one who uses the dark arts and is trying to kill him. We are introduced to Harry's world, set in Chicago. At the beginning, Harry is brought in on a very gruesome murder. Detective Karrin Murphy, who is the head of Chicago's paranormal investigations team, otherwise called "Special Investigations", calls on Harry to help investigate. I won't spoil the novel, except to say that it is intriguing, interesting, and packed with action. The characters are cool and engaging.
Fool Moon is the second book in the series and focuses on werewolves. It was an interesting read because it deals with different kinds of werewolves. Harry has to struggle to decide who to trust and who to fear. Facing all of these problems, he also has to deal with the city's mafia kingpin, John Marcone. If that weren't enough, even his friend, Detective Murphy thinks he's in on the trouble, and tries to arrest him. So now, on the run from the police, the mob, and differing werewolf factions, he has to try to save the day, and his skin at the same time.
Grave Peril deals with ghosts and vampires. We are also introduced to Michael, a sword-wielding knight of the cross and ally to Harry. This one was the most engaging read to date. When I read this book, the ninth Harry Dresden novel had already come out, but I still feared for Harry's life. This guy gets himself into a lot of trouble. It seems everyone is out to get him. But Harry isn't weak. In fact, the strength he sometimes exhibits can get a little scary. We know from the first novel that Harry was apprenticed to a dark wizard that tried to convert him to the dark side, and later tried to kill him. Harry overcame that, but he sometimes fears that he might just be falling to the dark side. And it sometimes seems to tilt that way. With all the crap Harry goes through, and his lack of allies at times, he has to take the help he can get.
I'm now on the fourth Dresden novel, Summer Knight. It has started well, and we finally get to meet the White Council of Wizards. Very cool stuff. I probably won't review the rest of the books, except to say, from what I've heard they only get better. Jim Butcher has said he will probably take the series into the late teens or early twenties in terms of how many books he will write. I can only hope so. Dresden's world is filled with interesting magic, cool characters, and compelling story-lines. There's even romance and heartache. Harry is a real guy, with real emotions, who goes through a lot of pain. As do his friends and loved ones that have cast their lot with him.
The first three novels in the Dresden series are Storm Front, Fool Moon, and Grave Peril. Unlike most detective novels, the main character, Harry Dresden, grows. Things he does have consequences. Things that happen in each book carry over. You don't get to the end of the book and hit the reset button. But at the same time, I think you can follow each book without reading them in order. Butcher does take the time to tell us what's going on. That's good for new readers, and also for devoted readers that may have to wait a year for the next volume to come out.
Storm Front is the introductory novel. It features Harry Dresden as the only wizard listed in the phone book. He tries to solve supernatural crimes for people, and make money doing it. Though, because most people don't believe in that sort of thing, and because Harry won't resort to cheap magic like love potions or fortune telling, he doesn't make a lot of money. The rent is always late, and his situation is always desperate. In Storm Front, Harry is faced against a rival wizard, one who uses the dark arts and is trying to kill him. We are introduced to Harry's world, set in Chicago. At the beginning, Harry is brought in on a very gruesome murder. Detective Karrin Murphy, who is the head of Chicago's paranormal investigations team, otherwise called "Special Investigations", calls on Harry to help investigate. I won't spoil the novel, except to say that it is intriguing, interesting, and packed with action. The characters are cool and engaging.
Fool Moon is the second book in the series and focuses on werewolves. It was an interesting read because it deals with different kinds of werewolves. Harry has to struggle to decide who to trust and who to fear. Facing all of these problems, he also has to deal with the city's mafia kingpin, John Marcone. If that weren't enough, even his friend, Detective Murphy thinks he's in on the trouble, and tries to arrest him. So now, on the run from the police, the mob, and differing werewolf factions, he has to try to save the day, and his skin at the same time.
Grave Peril deals with ghosts and vampires. We are also introduced to Michael, a sword-wielding knight of the cross and ally to Harry. This one was the most engaging read to date. When I read this book, the ninth Harry Dresden novel had already come out, but I still feared for Harry's life. This guy gets himself into a lot of trouble. It seems everyone is out to get him. But Harry isn't weak. In fact, the strength he sometimes exhibits can get a little scary. We know from the first novel that Harry was apprenticed to a dark wizard that tried to convert him to the dark side, and later tried to kill him. Harry overcame that, but he sometimes fears that he might just be falling to the dark side. And it sometimes seems to tilt that way. With all the crap Harry goes through, and his lack of allies at times, he has to take the help he can get.
I'm now on the fourth Dresden novel, Summer Knight. It has started well, and we finally get to meet the White Council of Wizards. Very cool stuff. I probably won't review the rest of the books, except to say, from what I've heard they only get better. Jim Butcher has said he will probably take the series into the late teens or early twenties in terms of how many books he will write. I can only hope so. Dresden's world is filled with interesting magic, cool characters, and compelling story-lines. There's even romance and heartache. Harry is a real guy, with real emotions, who goes through a lot of pain. As do his friends and loved ones that have cast their lot with him.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
A 'Getting to Know You' Thing
1. What is your occupation? Hospital Admitting
2. What color are your socks right now? Tan
3. What are you listening to right now? Channel 4 News
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Cold Cut Combo from Subway
5. Can you drive a stick shift? No...tried and failed.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Sister
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? sure
9. How old are you today? 25
10. Favorite drink? Root Beer
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? NFL
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? No
13. Pets? Roxy, my black lab
14. Favorite food? Many and Varied
15. Last movie you watched? Elizabethtown (Don't tease me!)
17. What do you do to vent anger? Complain to others
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Lincoln Logs
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Cherry
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Not sending it out.
23. Who is most likely to respond? Ditto
24. Who is least likely to respond? Ditto
25. Living arrangements? Homeowner
26. When was the last time you cried? When Dumbledore died.
27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this
to? See above
29. Favorite smell? Smell?
30. What inspires you? Music and books
31. What are you afraid of ? The dark
32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese
33. Favorite car? Acura MDX
34. Favorite dog breed? Meh, don't know.
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 10
36. Years at your current job? 1.5
37. Favorite day of the week? Hmm. Maybe Wednesday or Thursday, I get the most done.
39. How many states have you lived in? 4-Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri, Utah
40. Favorite holiday? Halloween
2. What color are your socks right now? Tan
3. What are you listening to right now? Channel 4 News
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Cold Cut Combo from Subway
5. Can you drive a stick shift? No...tried and failed.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Sister
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? sure
9. How old are you today? 25
10. Favorite drink? Root Beer
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? NFL
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? No
13. Pets? Roxy, my black lab
14. Favorite food? Many and Varied
15. Last movie you watched? Elizabethtown (Don't tease me!)
17. What do you do to vent anger? Complain to others
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Lincoln Logs
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Cherry
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Not sending it out.
23. Who is most likely to respond? Ditto
24. Who is least likely to respond? Ditto
25. Living arrangements? Homeowner
26. When was the last time you cried? When Dumbledore died.
27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this
to? See above
29. Favorite smell? Smell?
30. What inspires you? Music and books
31. What are you afraid of ? The dark
32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese
33. Favorite car? Acura MDX
34. Favorite dog breed? Meh, don't know.
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 10
36. Years at your current job? 1.5
37. Favorite day of the week? Hmm. Maybe Wednesday or Thursday, I get the most done.
39. How many states have you lived in? 4-Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri, Utah
40. Favorite holiday? Halloween
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Book Review-Nemesis
Nemesis
by Isaac Asimov
364 pages
Science Fiction
Doubleday Books
I finished reading this book yesterday. It was the first Asimov book I've ever read, and it was okay. Definitely okay. Not great or wonderful, but okay. The plot was intriguing and the story moved fast enough to keep me going. There were a few problems I had with the book, however. I don't know if this is indicative of Asimov's writing, or just a problem with this book, but a lot of what gets said gets repeated. Multiple times. Marlene (Mar-LAY-nuh) is one of the main characters, and we are told that she is plump and not pretty. Asimov seems to need to remind us of this, as if we might fall in love with her personality and think she is attractive. I didn't. To me, her personality is more repulsive than her looks could ever be. She irritates me, and the way the other characters pander to her irritated me even more. Her mother, Eugenia Insigna, tells us all she loves her (which I never really believe-she seems to possess her more than anything), but never treats her well. She seems to get what she wants when she wants it, whether conditions are safe or not. We are often told that she will get her way whether anyone likes it or not. This ends up being true in the end, but no one knows it. Has anyone ever heard of grounding someone? And besides her looks, we are told about her eyes more in this one book than about Harry Potter's in all six Harry Potter books.
Besides Marlene, many concepts seem to be repeated. In fact, I think quite a few conversations repeated, with only a few of the words changed.
Beyond those nits, however, I liked the story. I liked the technology and the problems that the characters faced. I liked the resolution (even if I saw it coming) and how the "bad" guys met their end. Not necessarily bad guys, and not necessarily death, but it was fun nonetheless.
So:
Would I recommend this book to someone else?
If they were a hard-core science fiction fan? Yes.
Would I read another book by Isaac Asimov?
Yes.
by Isaac Asimov
364 pages
Science Fiction
Doubleday Books
I finished reading this book yesterday. It was the first Asimov book I've ever read, and it was okay. Definitely okay. Not great or wonderful, but okay. The plot was intriguing and the story moved fast enough to keep me going. There were a few problems I had with the book, however. I don't know if this is indicative of Asimov's writing, or just a problem with this book, but a lot of what gets said gets repeated. Multiple times. Marlene (Mar-LAY-nuh) is one of the main characters, and we are told that she is plump and not pretty. Asimov seems to need to remind us of this, as if we might fall in love with her personality and think she is attractive. I didn't. To me, her personality is more repulsive than her looks could ever be. She irritates me, and the way the other characters pander to her irritated me even more. Her mother, Eugenia Insigna, tells us all she loves her (which I never really believe-she seems to possess her more than anything), but never treats her well. She seems to get what she wants when she wants it, whether conditions are safe or not. We are often told that she will get her way whether anyone likes it or not. This ends up being true in the end, but no one knows it. Has anyone ever heard of grounding someone? And besides her looks, we are told about her eyes more in this one book than about Harry Potter's in all six Harry Potter books.
Besides Marlene, many concepts seem to be repeated. In fact, I think quite a few conversations repeated, with only a few of the words changed.
Beyond those nits, however, I liked the story. I liked the technology and the problems that the characters faced. I liked the resolution (even if I saw it coming) and how the "bad" guys met their end. Not necessarily bad guys, and not necessarily death, but it was fun nonetheless.
So:
Would I recommend this book to someone else?
If they were a hard-core science fiction fan? Yes.
Would I read another book by Isaac Asimov?
Yes.
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