2014 Book stats

Several years ago my mother sent me a list of the books she had read for the year. Each entry included a brief (one to two sentence) description, as well as if she listened to it or read it. It was six pages long, front and back. As part of my reflections on 2014 I thought I would list the stats for books I reviewed this last year. Out of the It appears that I've read about 46 books that ended up being reviewed. I'm pretty good about writing my reviews (although I need to write one for my latest ebook), so I consider this a pretty good list of my years reading. It ranges in genre and time period, but I can honestly say I enjoyed the vast majority of them.

Books reviewed:
The Chestnut King by Nathan D. Wilson
Closer, Spiral, and Terminal by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
Middleworld by J and P Voelkel
Sands of Nezza by M.L. Forsman
On Basilisk Station and The Honor of the Queen by David Weber
The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
Cress by Marissa Meyer
Dead Six and Swords of Exodus by Mike Kupari and Larry Corriea
City of the Saints by D.J. Butler
Words of Radiance and The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
Three Parts Dead by Max Gladston
Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett
Black Out by Robison Wells
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George
Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Lockwood and Co.: The Screaming Staircase, and The Whispering Skull, by Jonathan Stoud
William Shakespeare's Star wars: Verily and New Hope, and The Empire Striketh Back, by Ian Doescher
Monster Hunter Nemesis, Hard Magic, Into the Storm, Spellbound, and two short stories by Larry Correia,
Storm Front, and Fool Moon, by Jim Butcher
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman
The Hollow City by Dan Wells
The Mouments Men by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter
The Royal Ranger (Ranger's Apprentice book 11) by John Flanagan
Hounded, Hexed, Hammered, and Tricked, by Kevin Hearne
The Legend of Drizzt: The Collected Stories, and Homeland by R.A. Salvatore
1632 and In the Heart of Darkness by Eric Flint
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Garriger

Favorite book of the year: A toss up between Words of Radiance and Monster Hunter Nemesis. WoR was impressive, engrossing, engaging, and spectacular. However, I've listened to MHN three times in the six months I've had it. Which is higher praise? Hard to tell. WoR is the thickest book Tor publishing CAN publish based on their current book making equipment. That translates to over 45 hours worth of listening. I will re-listen to it in preparation to getting the next book and I look forward to that. However, MHN is my go to book when I'm looking for something fun to keep my occupied between credits. That same could be said of all of Larry's (and Mike Kupari's) books, but MHN was just the one that hit three times repeated.

Next years reading goals: I've got a non-fiction on Stonewall Jackson that I'm looking forward to. I also will be continuing the Honor Harrington and 1632 series, but I don't know how long. I will also be restarting (and finishing) my masters program, so I'll get a big dose of academic and professional reading in. Who knows? I've never reviewed a Monograph collection before. I'd like to get a bit more non-fiction in - which will most likely be histories or biographies, but I'd like to grab a science book or two.

Christmas gifts and reading

Christmas was good and the kids still enjoy their toys. In fact yesterday Kanga threw a birthday party for the doll she received. Tigger got TWO remote controlled cars (and they both use the same frequency so they can't be at the same time) and Angel has worn the wrap I gave her several times in the last week. I got some airsoft stuff (including a new automatic electronic gun) and while I haven't gotten out yet, I have been able to adjust my new gear and role play in the basement while everybody was asleep. Yes, I put on my camo and practiced changing mags, moving, and aiming. Dorky, I know, but I've learned that it pays to practice. I've also started reading two books that my mother got me: The Read-aloud Handbook, and Lyle's Law by Lyle Feisel. Mom told me that The Read-aloud Handbook was a big influence on her parenting. I can see it.

Mom read aloud to us a lot growing up. When I was younger I found it hard to sit still and pay attention for many of the books. I have vivid memories of two scenes from Fellowship of the Ring when she read that to us, but I know that I liked to move around and play on the floor while she read. Mom confessed that she was worried about me a couple of times and my apparent lack of commitment to reading. She stopped worrying when I discovered that you could get books about animals, planes, and guns. It was just a matter of finding my interests. She made efforts to find books that I liked and read them to me. The Belgariad and the other Eddings books were the start of many successful read alouds. Books were always a big part of our family, and still our. I'm glad that my daughter is an avid reader and I hope I can encourage my sons to the same.

Audible Book Review - Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

This delightful book popped up in my recommended list. When Angel said she wasn't sure what to get with her credit, I mentioned it to her. Needless to say she got it and I listened to it after finishing my yearly listen to A Christmas Carol. Interesting that both books should take place in the 1800s. However, Etiquette & Espionage has a steam punk / paranormal feel to it. The finishing school our characters attend is on a dirigible and has both a vampire and a werewolf on the faculty. Here is the Audible page for the book. Moira Quirk narrated and did a great job of giving each of the characters their own voice and providing fun accents as appropriate.

Plot: Sophronia is just one of many of the Temminnick children, a family of country gentry, but she is her mother's most trying child. She makes mess, causes problems, and can't curtsy. She is in need of finishing. Sophronia has no interest or intention of being sent off to school where she will learn how to walk, talk, and act like a "gentlewoman." Regardless she obeys her mother and leaves for finishing school with the headmistress. But Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is not what she was expecting. Even before she arrived at the school she was accosted by flyway men (like highway men, but in balloons as opposed to horseback) demanding the "prototype." She soon learns that the purpose of this finishing school is to teach young ladies how to finish anything and anyone. And it turns out that she was recruited on purpose.

My personal favorites: Since reading the web comic Girl Genius by the Foglios and  Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan I've come to enjoy steam punk and the fun alternate history elements it holds. Etiquette & Espionage provided a great feeling world that didn't dwell on the mechanical aspects but delivered a great story of intrigue and adventure. The characters were a lot of fun, which is saying something for fourteen year old girls. Maybe it says something about my outlook on life when I say that it wasn't hard to imagine a school where teenage girls learn subterfuge and are naturally good at it for the most part. The pacing was good and I enjoyed their adventures. I also found way that they utilized common "womanly" items, such as sewing scissors, hair ribbons, and petty coats in covert operations.

Considerations: This book is considered Young Adult and it fits the description well. There was no swearing that I recall. And there was no sensuality or graphic descriptions. References to where a lady of quality keeps her spare handkerchief and such were all tastefully done without any vulgarity. The characters might not have always acted their age, but it didn't pull me out of the story. Despite what the girls are learning at the school I didn't feel like the story would ever take a violent angle or would become grisly or visceral. Overall, I don't see any reason to withhold the book to any young teen.

I've already put books two and three from this series on the wishlist and I don't doubt that Angel will pick them up in the next couple months and I look forward to listening to them. The total length was just under 9 hours.

Audible Book Review - Murder on the Orient Elite and Tokyo Raider by Larry Correia

I debated whether I should review these two short stories, but I figured it couldn't hurt. Both of these stories take place in the Grimnoir Chronicles world after the final book in the series. I learned about both of these from Larry's blog and quickly went to scoop them up. Murder on the Orient Elite was available for free the day I picked it up and Tokyo Raider was on sale. They were both narrated by Bronson Pinchot, who narrated the original series, and were very well done. Here are the Audible pages for Murder on the Orient Elite and Tokyo Raider.

Murder on the Orient Elite features Jake Sullivan four years after Warbound playing private eye on the newest luxury blimp which just happens to include Imperium, Soviet, and Mafia leaders and thugs. Such a guest list is only to be suspected when the owner of this wonder is Dr. Wells, former psychiatrist and current Shanghai mob boss. But why does a massive crime lord feel the need to recruit the top Grimnoir trouble shooter.


Tokyo Raider takes place in the 1950s after years of magical acceptance. Lt. Joseph Sullivan of the US Marines, son of the infamous Jake Sullivan, has been detailed to Tokyo to help the very people he was trained to fight. However, that's what happens when one of your Dad's former co-workers asks for you specifically.

My personal favorites: These short stories both had fun action and some good humor. There was a difference in voice between Jake and Joe which was nice. It's clear that Joe is not his father. Both stories also gave potential insights to future events in the Grimnoir world.

Considerations: Like the other Grimnoir books there is some language, but I don't remember it being very much. There is no sensuality.

Both of these stories were a lot of fun to listen to and I look forward to listening (and reading) more from the Grimnoir. They were each just over an hour long.

Audible Book Review - Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester Horation Hornblower book 1

Two week ago my father and I were talking books (as usual) and he showed me his 25th anniversary edition of On Basilisk Station by David Weber and discussed how much we enjoyed the Honor Harrington books. Dad brought up that Weber was influenced by the Horatio Hornblower books that he read sections of to me as a kid. In fact the dedication to On Basilisk Station is, "To C.S. Forester, With thanks for hours of enjoyment, years of inspiration, and a lifetime of admiration." I didn't think to check if Audible had any of the Hornblower books available but while perusing one of the sales on Audible they had this first book available for $5. Since I was picking up another story on Audible I grabbed it as well. Here is the link to the Audible page for the book. It was narrated by Christian Rodska who did a good job of providing different voices for characters and an enjoyable experience. I can see where Weber was inspired but as the stories are such completely different times and technologies I had no difficulty in enjoying them both for where they are. Forester uses the nautical terminology through the book, but context and limited explanation are sufficient for understanding.

Plot: Horatio Hornblower is a young lowly midshipman (junior naval officer) in the British Royal Navel. In his late teens our story begins with his first assignment and carries us through his adventures as a midshipman. Beginning his career on a worn down battleship at the mercy of a cruel man, bitter with ineligibility for promotion Hornblower finds miserable. So miserable in fact that when given the opportunity he challenges his tormentor to a duel because he figures his suffering will end either way. Luckily, his career does not end there and a transfer to a frigate presents him a multitude of opportunities to prove his worth. From leading a prize crew bringing a captured merchant man to friendly port to directing swivel gun fire on enemy ships Hornblower is able to show competence and quick thinking on every adventure. Unfortunately, he is not infallible and he pays the price for his mistakes and misfortunes. But in the end his honor, skill, and wit help him to carry the day.

My personal favorites: It was fun to read a sailing adventure. There are things that sailing ships have to be mindful of in order to be successful. Modern stories of ships (such as Red Storm Rising and Hunt for Red October) don't have to worry about wind and waves. There was a real skill to piloting a sailing vessel and the elements where unconquerable. Hornblower was also a fantastic character as he was clearly the best man for the job, but he was never perfect. I loved the many adventures and the pacing of the book and found the collection of vignettes of stories of his adventures very fun.

Considerations: There was no graphic language of any kind: not in violence, gore, sensuality or course language. Despite the theme, swearing was kept to an extreme minimal. The only reason I might hold of on reading this to my children would be that the language is rather elaborate and the nautical terms used. In many ways it reminds me of King Solomon's Mines in the way it was written. Perhaps that is not surprising considering the era Forester was writing about.

I look forward to picking up the other books in the series. It was a great listen and gives me a new era of story, both in when it was written and about which it is written. With all my fantasy, sci-fi, and contemporary fiction some good old-fashion naval battles and adventures are a great palate cleanser and are always an enjoyable experience. The total length was just under 8 and a half hours.

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

With only four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas the season feels a little rushed. Granted, most years it feels rushed because of trying to coordinate parties, gifts, time off, etc. But this year in particular feels like there isn't as much time. I'm just glad that there should be enough time to listen to the music, sign the songs, watch the movies, and read the stories that make the season special.

Once tradition that I started last year was listening to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. While I can usually remember all the important bits when it comes to plot and character, I forget the subtle tidbits that really bring the story alive. I find my eyes filling with tears as Scrooge witnesses the grief of Tiny Tim's family and I cheer at his transformation from wretched miser to loving caretaker. It is a great reminder that "mankind is our business" and we are to mind it as carefully as we would any financial undertaking which would bring us gain. We've already watched one version of the movie together as a family (the Muppet Christmas Carol) and it was fun to watch Kanga as she began to realize what the story was about. As we explained a few things we could see the wheels turning. She
might be ready to watch the George C. Scott version soon (my personal favorite version).

Something else I'm looking forward to is watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert from 2004 with Frederica von Stade and Bryn Terfel. My grandmother gave us the DVD of the concert the for Christmas in 2006 and I look forward every year to watching it. The music is so wonderful and it's a fun performance to watch. None the least because of Bryn Terfel's Welsh flag. The whole production is fantastic.

I also enjoy the music. Most of the stuff on the radio is okay. I do hate the song "Christmas Shoes." What I really like is Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Josh Groban, and The Piano Guys. I realize that all of those groups have non-Christmas albums and I like those too, but I really like their Christmas stuff. Particularly The Piano Guys. There is something about sitting on the couch with the tree lit reading a book while soft piano (and cello) plays. Such are treasured moments.

I really love the Christmas season and am glad that I can spend it with my family.

Notes from kids

Last night as we were working on dinner Kanga was doing homework. After she finished her allotment for the night she wrote a note and displayed it in the hall way. "Daddy, come look at my note!" I did. It read: Dad, I hate you sometimes. I was a little shocked as I looked between her note and her face. She didn't look like she hated me sometimes. She looked rather pleased with herself. It occurred to me that she probably didn't realize what she had written. So I asked, "Do you know what it means to hate?" She looked puzzled. What followed was a brief, simple description of what it means to hate something. I then asked, "Do you really hate me sometimes?" She looked a little unsure and then Angel called me to help her with something. I figured I didn't need to wait for an answer. Two minutes late Kanga told me she had put up a new note. This one read:

Daddy,

I'm sorry.
I rily love you so much.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Of all the holidays out there Thanksgiving has to be one of the all time favorites. It's because of the family I get to see and, of course, the yummy food. This year we visited with my parents, EA and Jate, my Mom's parents, and a trio of graduates from a high school in Cairo, also known as three of my cousins. It was a grand affair and very tasty. The conversation was lively and my kids actually behaved pretty well.

Two of the three trouble-makers (aka cousins).

I was worried because my maternal grandmother always seemed like a very stern lady when it came to table manners growing up. We always worried about making a mess on the lace table cloth or using the wrong fork. As we got older we came to appreciate the corrections she gave us and learned that she wasn't as formidable as we thought. Regardless, I was anxious that my kids would do some of the things that they try to get away with at home. I shouldn't have been worried. Other than Kanga eating a little as possible (until she got her hands on a slice of pie) they were quite well behaved. Speaking of pie, my sister EA made a caramel apple, a pumpkin, and a chocolate peanut butter. Kanga had the pumpkin and downed it like a pro. I had the caramel apple and enjoyed every bite, particularly the ones with the homemade caramel on them. Angel and I signed up for a wellness initiative where we try not to gain any weight during the holidays. It took a bit of a blow over the weekend, but I'm don't regret the pie in the least.

Friday, because it was after Thanksgiving, we got all of the Christmas stuff put up. We decorated the tree, I hung lights, and we pulled out the Christmas music and movies. Some people may call me Scrooge because of how much I'm against Christmas before Thanksgiving, but once it's the season I totally love the music, movies, stories, and traditions. I love sitting by the tree and reading or just listening to music. Carol of the Bells and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen are two of my favorite Christmas songs and The Piano Guys did a version of the two together, which puts me on cloud nine. Angel hung the star on the tree this year, mostly because the kids were fighting over it, but otherwise the kids did a great job of getting the tree all decorated. My mom gave us some fun glasses last year that create a hologram around the lights that changes between "Jingle Jingle" and a set of jingle bells. The kids love them and I just hope they last for next season. Friday night we had some friends over and were up way to late playing games. Good times overall.