fiction

Graphic Novel Review: In Real Life

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In Real Life
In Real Life by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Anda loves Coarsegold Online, the massively-multiplayer role-playing game where she spends most of her free time. It’s a place where she can be a leader, a fighter, a hero. It’s a place where she can meet people from all over the world, and make friends.

But things become a lot more complicated when Anda befriends a gold farmer–a poor Chinese kid whose avatar in the game illegally collects valuable objects and then sells them to players from developed countries with money to burn. This behavior is strictly against the rules in Coarsegold, but Anda soon comes to realize that questions of right and wrong are a lot less straightforward when a real person’s real livelihood is at stake.”  – GoodReads

 

I love this story! The artwork is so gorgeous, and I love how the colors subtly change between the real and virtual worlds. The story is really compelling and interesting, and I like that in the beginning Anda is a newb in the game, so that we get to discover the virtual reality along with her and learn about the Coarsegold world. Continue reading →

Book Review: A Sherlock Holmes Devotional

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A Sherlock Holmes Devotional: Uncovering the Mysteries of God
A Sherlock Holmes Devotional: Uncovering the Mysteries of God by Trisha White Priebe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I adore this devotional based on lessons from the works of Sherlock Holmes! Each chapter focuses on a particular quote, or a quality of Holmes and Watson, or one of their adventures, and weaves a similarity between that concept and the Christian life. Although Conan Doyle was not a notable Christian and Holmes is somewhat ambiguous about his beliefs, there are still lessons to be learned from the stories! Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Reviews: 2048 and Echoes of Eden

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2048
2048 by Marvin Olasky
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this futuristic graphic novel about half-human genetically-engineered “bumans”. The story centers around one Christian senator who is struggling to find the truth about bumans, whether they have souls or are just animals, and whether they have the ability to function in society. Then he has to make decisions about how his stand for freedom and mercy will affect his political career.

I loved that it’s not just a story about politics, but there is a personal side as Continue reading →

Book Trilogy Review: Giants in the Land

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The Way of Things
The Way of Things by Clark Rich Burbidge
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I liked this book pretty well! In this story, the friendly giants who have always helped the townspeople suddenly disappear, and only one man has the courage to journey into the wilds to locate the giants and find out why they left. The main character, Thomas, grabbed my attention right away, and I liked seeing him deal with each crisis as it comes up in the story, gathering courage and wisdom as he journeys along. He’s a good character!

The writing is blatantly preachy, but still inspiring. I liked how the spiritual message is gradually unfolded, but I wish Continue reading →

Book Review: The Wide Road

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The Wide Road by Kim Balogh
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I was disappointed in this book. I was excited to read a Pilgrim’s Progress type of story told from the sinner’s POV, but there are so many problems with the writing that the story doesn’t come through. It desperately needs an editor. I only read the first 20 pages, and I just couldn’t continue.

The writing is extremely verbose and redundant. There are multiple problems with sentence structure, punctuation, and even word usage. For example, the word “self-perseverance” is used, when I’m pretty sure the author meant “self-preservation”. The word “nowhere” is written as two separate words “no where”. There’s a sentence that talks about the “faucets” on jewels instead of the “facets”, and another says how beautiful the “pedals” on flowers are. I even saw the words “their selves” instead of “themselves.”

I like the idea of retelling Pilgrim’s Progress from another viewpoint, but this book needs some help before it is reader-ready.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a free and honest review. The opinions here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

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Graphic Novel Review: 2048 by Marvin Olasky

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2048
2048 by Marvin Olasky
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this futuristic graphic novel about half-human genetically-engineered “bumans”. The story centers around one Christian senator who is struggling to find the truth about bumans, whether they have souls or are just animals, and whether they have the ability to function in society. Then he has to make decisions about how his stand for freedom and mercy will affect his political career. Continue reading →

Book Review: Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me

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Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me: What My Favorite Book Taught Me about Grace, Belonging, and the Orphan in Us All by Lorilee Craker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book weaves together the stories of several orphans, both fictional and real. Lucy Maud Montgomery was abandoned by her father, left with her grandparents, and grew up feeling orphaned, which inspired her to write her famous Anne stories, one of the most beloved orphan girls of all time. The author, Lorilee Craker, was also an orphan, given up for adoption and raised by her adopted Mennonite family. Lorilee went on to adopt a daughter of her own from Korea. Four orphan stories from widely different times and circumstances, but all with one central message- The Love of God heals us, chooses us, delights in us, and adopts us into a heavenly family. Continue reading →

Book Review: An Uncertain Choice

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An Uncertain Choice
An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fairy tale castles, court intrigue, jousting tournaments, Ancient Vows to be broken, mysterious plagues and murder, knights walking around looking hot, and of course, a princess who must fall in love before the proverbial stroke of midnight… What’s not to love?! I devoured this book, and adored every second!

I immediately connected Continue reading →

Trilogy Review: So Close To You by Rachel Carter

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This is my review of the entire “So Close To You” trilogy by Rachel Carter. These books are a YA time travel story with adventure, intrigue, secret government conspiracies, romance, and of course time travel!  I gave them all 4 out of 5 stars. So much love!

So Close To You by Rachel Carter

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the strange things that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and people who’ve disappeared over the years.
Alongside a darkly mysterious boy she is wary to trust, she discovers that all the stories she’s heard about the Montauk Project are true, and that she’s in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.
-Goodreads Description

 

So Close to You
So Close to You by Rachel Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this book! I was hooked from the first page, and the suspense pulled me in. I love time-travel stories, and this one is fantastic.
Lydia is a great character, full of curiosity and spunk, but also Continue reading →