Audible Book Review - The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs

I wasn't planning on getting this any time soon. This wasn't because I didn't like the first book, but rather because I recently finished three books that were all start of their respective trilogies (see last three book reviews). However, there were a number of factors that influenced me to get The Return of Tarzan from Edgar Rice Burroughs. First, two of the trilogies I got from the library and I didn't want to own the audio versions of the later books without having the first book. Second, in regards to the series I listened to Angel already bought the second book (and today the third) so I didn't have to. Third, as I won't make it to the library until Saturday, I wanted to start something right away, but needed to put some space between the last book and the 2nd in the trilogy. Fourth, a good friend recommended that I listen to book two of Tarzan as it wraps up Tarzan's undecided love story with Jane. So, all in all, I got The Return of Tarzan and now am ready to dive back into the other trilogies. Here is the link to the Audible's page for the book. It was narrated by Robert Whitefield and was a much better production then my copy of the first Tarzan.

Plot: Tarzan has left America and is intent on returning first to Paris and then, ultimately to his jungle Africa. While on the boat however, he interferes in the affairs of a man who will come to plague Tarzan. Rokoff, a Russian spy stationed in Paris, is as devious and sinister as Tarzan is noble. In Paris, Tarzan meets and becomes friends with others that help him secure his first job, a special agent for the Ministry of War. His mission takes him to North Africa to ferret out a spy. Next he is sent to Cape Town, but is caught by surprise and is tossed overboard, only to wind up at his original cabin, built by his own father. In a search for weapons to arm himself (there were none left at the cabin and he had none on him when he was thrown overboard), he meets and befriends a wild tribe, the Waziri. Helping to save the village from slavers and cannibals endears him to them and they elect him their king. While with the Waziri Tarzan hears of a land of gold to the south and leads a group of warriors there to try and claim some. Tarzan is captured by the misshapen inhabitants, but is able to escape and with the warriors returns laden with gold ingots. At this same time, Jane Porter, the only woman Tarzan has ever loved is on a cruse around Africa with her fiance and some friends when they are shipwrecked not far from where they originally met Tarzan. But Rokoff is among them and how will they survive without Jane's "Jungle God" to watch over them?  From the journey across the Atlantic to Paris, to North Africa, and ultimately back to his cabin by the sea Tarzan meets this villain and strives to foil his plots both as they threaten others and Tarzan himself.

My personal favorites: This book moved faster than the first Tarzan. There was lots of action and Tarzan was either kicking trash or facing dangerous peril. I was surprised on the occasions that Tarzan made mistakes or was caught off guard. It made him a little more human. Although, like most good adventure stories he rallied and came back stronger for it. I found it entertaining how Burroughs would phrase many of Tarzan's inner thoughts as "Tarzan soliloquized." Tarzan working as a special agent for the war department (in essence a spy) made sense and was a fun twist on his story. The character of Rokoff was suitably despicable and made a good adversary for Tarzan, balancing strength for cunning. Not to say that Tarzan was stupid, but that Rokoff was good at coming at him in ways he didn't expect. It was also interesting to read of Tarzan's comparisons between "civilized man" and the savage jungle.

Consideration: Like the first, this book has some early 20th century opinions and some may find offense with comments made about women or people of color. I didn't think the Burroughs was unfair to women, as a whole, but there were times that a comment made would make me shake my head. Tarzan is just as superhuman as ever and "has the devil's own luck." The whole idea that a man was thrown overboard on one day should land on a beach that two months later should house shipwrecked mariners was rather far fetched, as were some of the things that assisted Tarzan. But again, these troupes are common in the adventure genre and should be taken with a grain of salt.

All in all, I enjoyed the book immensely and found it hard to put down. There is a lot that happens over the course of the book and it had both the surprising and the inevitable. It was a very good distraction. The totol length was nine hours.

Memories from Drivers Ed.

This weekend my family had their monthly get together. We met at my sister's new house by Park City. It's a nice area with great views and they found a very nice house. My wife and I were a little envious, but then we also have more than one grocery store within five minutes. I guess it depends on your needs and where you find work. We're very happy for them and enjoyed seeing everyone.

One thing that has become common at gatherings of people is to share the latest things they've found on line. Most often this is videos from YouTube, or some other site. As we all have our potable media devises this was easily done. In continuation of this social custom, I thought I would pass this one along.

I feel the need to explain my reasoning here. The biggest reason I share this is because this is what my experiences in Drivers Ed was like. I can't remember my teachers name at this point, but that may be a very good thing. Just like the teacher in the video it seemed like the purpose of the classw as to provide a way for teenagers to come to grips with their mortality and the "unnatural" ways of traffic and cars. It seemed that every week we went into class he would have a new story about how a girl killed a young child because she didn't walk around her car before pulling out. Or a group of teenagers who tried to beat a train and how only the driver survived and was haunted by the fact that he killed his three friends. Such stories were common place and it seemed like the teacher went out of his way to find them.

I also remember that all the drivers ed instructors were coaches. My was the tennis coach, but I had friends who had the football coach and he was known for his language. While it was nothing that wouldn't be found in a PG-13 movie now-a-days, it was always seen as somewhat humorous. I don't think I had any friends who would try to make him swear, but I did hear of students that did.

I thought I did pretty well in my drivers ed class. That was up until the test. I had done all of the "hard stuff" on the freeway and was actually just working my way through the blocks on my way back. I had just done the last item on the test and the teacher signed the paper when I noticed that I hadn't stopped for a stop sign. I screeched to a halt in the middle of the intersection and sat there cursing to myself and then pulled through. The teacher looked up, said, "If I hadn't just signed this, that would have failed you" and handed me the paper. My parents required me to drive an extra 500 miles with them before I could ask for the car. I like to think that I'm a fair driver, more defensive than offensive. And I am proud to say that I have never received a ticket and only been pulled over one for speeding.

Granted, that just means I've only been caught for speeding once.

Drive safe!

Audible Book Review - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Again, I affirm that I have very little difficulty embracing books that are generally seen as "chick lit" or otherwise romantic in nature. With that said, Uglies and its corresponding books in the series by Scott Westerfeld is more of a dystopic novel than a romance. I do have to be honest that it would have been unlikely that I would pick up this book if it were not for three things. First, my wife had already grabbed it from audible. Second, it is the favorite series of her brother, Leeroy's, wife. And Third, I had read another series of books by the author and enjoyed them quite a bit. Distopias are not my preferred genre, but I was quite intrigued with Uglies. Like the Leviathan trilogy the writing was good and the plot had some twists and turns. Here is the link to Audible's page for the book. It was narrated by Carine Montebertrand and while I didn't like everything she did it was a good listen.

Plot: Tally is ugly. This is not just what people say about her and it is not even what she says about herself. It is what society has classified her and everyone between the ages of twelve and sixteen. At sixteen uglies become pretty, a plastic surgery designed to align their looks with what the society determines to be ideal beauty. Tally can't wait. She has only a few months before she'll be made pretty and be able to join her best friend, Paris, over in New Pretty Town. Stuck over in Uglyville until then, Tally sneaks out and visits Paris. On the way back she meets Shay, another ugly who is out and up to tricks. The two bond as all their other friends are already pretty and have left the dorms. Shay teaches Tally how to hoverboard and invites her to come visit the Rusty Ruins - the remains of a city from the previous unenlightened society. They enjoy their time together, Tally counting down the days until she'll be pretty and she is excited that Shay will become pretty too. But Shay is not excited. She's almost hostile about the procedure and they get into a couple of fights about it. Four days before their joint birthday Shay tells Tally she's running away and invites her to come along. Tally has to decide. Stay or go. Stay safe or go into danger. Stay ugly or go against her loyalty for her friend. Tally's world spins out of control as she learns that there are more than one kind of pretty, and how ugly some of them can be. And what if the operation isn't just about making you pretty?

My Personal favorites: I enjoyed seeing arguments both for and against the concept of beauty. Tally's arguments on why it was so important to be pretty were well made and the book prompted some good musings. I do not believe that the book is a ham-fisted commentary on our modern obsession of beauty. There were several times I was driven to deeper reflection on the topics being discussed. The book had decent pacing as well. It didn't feel like it bogged down and there were periods of action that were nicely done. Having talked with Leeroy's wife, I knew that the series is more of a distopia then anything else, but it was well covered by the character story being told. I can accept the vast majority of the character motivations and the internal struggles that Tally had were believable. It was a great story about what it means to be a friend.

Considerations: I would often find myself getting annoyed with some of the characters, but it was because they were acting like typical, or at least believable teenagers. As the main characters are between 15 and 18, you will have some angst, and a fair number of decisions based on hormones and not thinking too clearly. But again, that fit the characters of the book. I related to my wife that the book felt juvenile and sophisticated all at the same time but that was because they were juvenile characters in a sophisticated story. There is some alcohol references and a couple of very brief references to pretties hanging out in "pleasure gardens" which appear to be just want they sound like. There is no graphic violence or any sexuality despite the adventure and romance in the story. It does have a hefty romance element, but that becomes overshadowed by the distopic element. Last, the narration wasn't bad, but one of the voices irked me and occasionally she would narrate with a character's voice or use the same voice with a coupe of characters.

I did enjoy it and am glad that Angel has already secured the second book Pretties so I can start on that at my leisure. The total length was just over twelve hours.

Book Review - Time of the Twins by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

About seven years ago I decided that it was time to actually try reading Dragonlance. I didn't intend to read all of the books that use the world, but I figured if I was going to claim to be a reader of high fantasy, I needed to at least try them. Dragonlance has been a well know name in the role-playing gaming community ever since the 1980s and was Tracey Hickman's initial success in the industry and as an author. I read the original Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy and enjoyed them. I didn't pursue more, I can't remember why, but I decided that I might pick them up again. I read up a bit on which one I should read next (there are many, many, many Dragonlance books) and found the Dragonlance Legends trilogy which starts with Time of the Twins. These books revolve around two of the more interesting characters from the first trilogy. There are certainly parts of this first book that I was glad to have read the first trilogy. I think you could start them without the first trilogy, but you would may be confused on several things. The first trilogy is well worth the read regardless, so start there anyway.

Plot: Caramon and Raistlin are very different. Caramon: a huge, hulking giant of a man, known for loyalty to his friends, ferocity in battle, devoted to his brother, and not adapting well to the end of the war that made him famous. Raislin: a cold-hearted, sickly, ploting, scheming, evil mage who could take the world, if he wanted it. How do these guys relate to each other? You saw it coming - they're twins. The war is over, balance has been restored, and the Heroes of the Lance (which include Caramon and Raistlin) are revered and honored. That is, except Caramon. For as long as he had been self aware, Caramon had cared for Raistlin, but Raistlin had never cared about Caramon. With his last letter returned without being opened Caramon falls into drunkenness and despair. However, while Caramon is weakening, Raistlin is growing stronger and stronger in his magic. Two years past and Crysania, a cleric of the growing church of Paladine feels that it is her duty to turn Raistlin from his evil ways and so arranges a meeting. Surprisingly Raistlin accepts, and what's more invites her to his tower to continue the conversation. When she leaves his tower, she is set on reaching the mages who put Raistlin to the test all those years ago in an attempt to help him. Caramon ends up following her as does his old companion Tasslehoff Burrfoot, a kender (who is basically like an adult sized child) goes along to keep an eye on things. But whether they travel to help Raistlin turn from his evil ways, or to help him fulfill his mad plan, no one really knows. Their quest takes them back to a time when the world was changed forever - and they happen to know the date that it will occur. And what's worse is that Crysania seems to have fallen in love with Raistlin and will it help her turn him, or will it turn her?

Personal Favorites: The world is incredibly developed. That is one thing that Dragonlance is known for and one way they influenced the genre. Tasslehoff is a great character who is written so well. As a childish, kleptomaniac who sees the world as one big adventure, you can't help but like him. His thoughts explain his actions and provide a depth he might not have otherwise. I mentioned earlier that the twins are two of the more interesting characters of the first trilogy, and I mean it. Their interactions, their flaws and their strengths, how they could be related and yet be so different all feeds the story and adds tension, emotion and everything else. The characters are very clearly flawed and their flaws make them human. The action was good, the pacing was nice, and the story had some twists and turns that were captivating.

Considerations: This book is a classic fantasy which means you have violence and adventure. The style is not a graphic one and I can't remember any reference to gore. There is what might be called brief sensuality, but again there is no graphic images or details, explicit or otherwise. I have known of many young adults who have read the Dragonlance books. Be aware, the book ends with a large cliff hanger so be prepared by having the second or access to it.

All in all I enjoyed the book and was glad to be back in the setting. It didn't take as long to read as I thought as the pacing was good and the writing diverting. The total length was 421 pages.

Music

I've listened to more music this week than I have other weeks. I mentioned that my iPod touch is broken, so I cannot chose what I listen to. But if I plug in my headphones I can hit the play button on the inline remote and it will start playing my music library in alphabetical order. Even with skipping a few songs, I was surprised when I didn't even make it through the bs when mowing the lawn. In addition, my wife and I sang in the choir at church today. An arrangement by Mack Wilberg, one of the big names with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It had some wonderful harmonies and moving lines in it. We have a wonderful choir director that I also work with in Cub Scouts. It is the most relaxed choir I've ever sung in (which is a grand total of about 4), but we seem to do a good job and I feel more empowered in my singing.

I've always loved singing but have had very little formal training. I did take lessons in a youth choir from one of my friend's mom's who was doing her Ph.D. in music (and was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir), but that was more to support her son then because I really wanted to sing better. I did play piano for about 6 years and then baritone/euphonium for another 6, so I know how to read music (particularly the bass cleft). My family has also been rather musically inclined, but I never had any ambition with it. I still don't, not really, but I did feel honored when our choir director asked me to be in a men's quartet for a special musical number. The song is one that her husband wrote and re-worked for four male voices. Today we met after church to practice. I felt grossly aware of my deficiencies, but was so glad to be singing with group. I wish I could sing better and am grateful for the opportunity to improve.

I guess I do have one ambition when it comes to music. I would like to learn how to play the piano again. I told my wife that after I finish my Master's program that piano lessons would be my next education experiences. My mother only took lessons as an adult, so I have no difficulties in my age and questioning if an old dog can (re)learn new tricks. I want my children to be able to listen to a song and feel the emotions because they have a love of music. I hope to instill that in them.

Book Review - Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett

Another excellent that my mother has recommended to me that has taken me over 10 years to read. I will confess that the list of books that fit that description is rather long. It doesn't help that she keeps recommending and I keep playing catch up. The list doesn't get bigger, but it doesn't get smaller either. Terry Pratchett is a personal favorite of mine. I haven't read one of his books that I didn't like and he has written dozens. Known for the Discworld, Only You Can Save Mankind is the first in a primary world trilogy. It takes place during Operation Desert Storm, the original Gulf War. In the introduction to the 2004 edition Pratchett points out that with the televised war and computer games getting more and more realistic (still nothing by 2004 standards let alone 2013) the line between game and reality could be blurred. This idea has been propagated for years having a special audience in young adult and middle grade fiction, so it is by no means original. But as usual Pratchett does a wonderful job in telling a fun story with a kernel of of idea that he plants into your mind. For those that worry about Pratchett pushing an agenda, I feel that he does this just to make you think.

Plot: Johnny Maxwell is 12 and going through "Trying Times." He is not a bad kid, nor even a misguided kid. He is just floating, living each day at a time and is one of those that just isn't noticed. He is not full of angst, or courage. In fact he could be described as very normal. One think he enjoys is playing computer video games. His current favorite is Only You Can Save Mankind, a space fighter game where you eliminate the foul aliens who are invading. He's gotten pretty good, not the best, but quite decent, and has reached level 7 when suddenly something happens. The aliens surrender. He now finds himself as their sole protector against the players that find them. As he falls asleep he finds himself at the controls of the space fighter. When he dies he wakes up sitting at his computer which is shut down. His friends thinks he's kind of crazy (but are okay with that). But it appears that the aliens have disappeared from every copy of the game everywhere. As he watches the war on TV and flies his game fighter at night he starts to wonder what is game and what is reality.

Personal Favorites: I remember seeing some of the footage of Desert Storm when I was a kid, and I also happened to be playing computer games, so I was able to relate to Johnny pretty well, even if I was a little younger than he is. Per the usual Pratchett style, the book was entertaining and thought provoking and I enjoyed the characters.. They were well done satires which provided fun perspectives. It was interesting to watch Johnny grow and and felt like the transition was logical and believable, even for a twelve year old.

Considerations: The book is a middle grade novel, and as I mentioned in my last review sometimes I have difficulty believing that the character is acting like an actual 12-year-old. Johnny seemed like a real kid most of the time. Over the course of the book Johnny comes face to face with death and destruction. This is painted in a "kid friendly" kind of way that is not graphic, yet is impressive and thought provoking. The characters are parodies of themselves and so may seem stereotypical, but I felt that it was clear that they were their own people.

All in all it was a good book and quite thought provoking, like most Pratchett books. It's certainly dated, but with the conflicts nowadays, it is still very applicable. I'll be reading the rest of the trilogy and report on those when the time comes. I'm locking for it.

The total length of the book was 201 pages.

Book Review - Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews

I was glad that I made it to the library this week as my iPod starting having problems and I can't finish my Audible book. I grabbed three books, two of which I was familiar with the author and the story. But then I did something I haven't done for a couple of years. I grabbed a book off the shelf based on its cover and jacket description. I've gotten lucky the few times I've done this, meaning I grabbed books that I ended up likely the vast majority of. The particular book in question I grabbed was the debut novel of Patrick Matthews entitled Dragon Run. The book is a middle grade high fantasy setting and while having a world which is quite different from ours is able to show it quite easily. I wouldn't mind seeing more of this world.

Plot: Dragons rule unquestionably. Rarely seen, but undeniably there they created the five races and now supervise them. Created of the five elements (life, fire, air, earth, and water) the people of the world go about their tasks with the understanding that their lives will be directed by the rank they receive in their twelfth year. The level of their potential, a rank of 1-7, is tattooed onto the back of their neck. A level 7 can become anything and is often chosen by the dragons to train in the use of potentia, the power of magic which is based on the elements. Level 1 can't hold jobs and aren't even allowed to marry or have children. Al Pilgrommor walks out of his testing stunned. He expected to be a level 4 like his parents, maybe a level 3 like his disappointment of a sister. Instead, he has learned that he is a level zero. Al's life goes from potential to problem. Hunted by the government, disowned by his family, protected by a secret organization whose mark is a red feather, Al has to survive and in the process he finds out what the ranks really mean...

Personal favorites: The action moved along, and the pacing was good. The first day I read it on the bus I didn't realize I was nearing my stop because I was engrossed in the book. The world is interesting and the magic was simple, yet elegant. For a middle grade book our hero was faced with some difficult situations and some peril and destruction, but it was well done and described appropriately for the age group. I would recommend the book for young readers who want to get into fantasy and are looking for a stand-a-lone novel to do it. The lore around the dragons was one I hadn't heard before and the story felt original in many of its aspects. The action felt realistic and the characters were fun. Al has to fight a number of times, giving and receiving wounds. I personally thought that it was well done in terms of pacing, action, description, and mentality, Al responding in many ways like a real twelve year old with only three months training.

Considerations: As usual, I mention these things out of consideration for others, not as negative reviews of the book. I would happily purchase this book for either of my children when they are a little older than their current 5 and 3. One of the biggest things that can pull me out of a story, particularly in young adult or middle grade fiction is when the character acts older then they are. Al and his friends are twelve but don't seem to act like it sometimes. One way I reconciled moments of this was to remind myself that in this kind of society children don't get much chance to be children. They are raised on hard work and many of them "grow up" at a younger age. This was easy to do in this book by using the descriptions of the society. However, I can't say I was one hundred percent convinced of Al being twelve all the time in the book. Something else to consider is that quite a few people die in this book, the vast majority being killed en mass via dragon fire. Those deaths that do occur are not described in any graphic terms (other then to mention the body), but I think it worth mentioning. The last thing I'll mention is that there are some things that are not explained and the book leaves off at a satisfying, yet unfinished time. I would like to know more about some of the things that happened, but until then I am happy to speculate.

I thought this was a well written middle grade book that has great potential for future events in the world. I particularly liked how Al responded during conflicts and how he worked with his sword. The book was compelling and straight forward while entertaining a couple of fun twists.

The book was a total of 325 pages.