Honor & Entropy by J.E. Rainey

Guest review from my husband, Paul. :)

Genre: Epic/Fiction

Synopsis: From Author: Telly Brensen longs for his father, missing since WWII, and despises his mother’s suitors; and when her priceless ring disappears, this ignites his long smoldering rage. He hunts down the ring, maiming the thug who has it; and even though this frees a man wrongfully imprisoned for taking it, he is prosecuted into choosing between the Marines or jail. His choice lands him in Vietnam, where he carries out an act of extraordinary valor. This time, though, a gunfight with a jealous NCO turns a Medal of Honor nomination into a dishonorable discharge. Four years later, with reasons to live fading fast, Telly gets a tip concerning his father. He tracks down old friend Arthur Spevak, solicits him for backup, and sets off alone…for Borneo.

   Unknown to Telly, Spevak is a tormented soul in his own right. Once orphaned, a sense of worthlessness sabotages his every attempt at romance, and in desperation, he, too, joins the Marines. When sent to Vietnam, though, anger at the world for driving him to such measures will not abate, and he becomes a notorious rogue – until the death of a brave friend sends him home with new self-loathing. By the time Telly finds him, he is living on a Chinese mountainside, alone, aimless, and broke. Now since they never crossed paths in the war, each is ignorant of the other’s disgrace, and they make an awkward pact. Then Telly vanishes, and Spevak reluctantly picks up the trail, unaware of how far the journey will one day take him.

Review: I’m not sure why I chose Valentine’s day to review this book as The author sounds more like Vonnegut than Nick Sparks, but since Vonnegut is one of my favorite authors I’ll let it slide. This is the authors attempt at retelling ancient epic adventures in a modern moral dilemma.  I’m not saying Honor and Entropy is a new favorite, but it is  epic. Epic in its length and in its meat. It is not an easy read, nor is it a simple plotline, it will require the reader to sit and properly digest the entire meal before forming a full comprehension of the depth of this novel. Although it may not be so applauded in all literary circles, I love the almost over-use of description. By thoroughly enveloping the reader in the environment the reader can fully envision the leftovers and fill in their own environment to become even more deeply attached to the story. The dialogue at times feels forced but at others flows from the story as if without it the story would end and collapse. In full disclosure there is foul language, but most of the story deals with the Vietnam era and the fall out. Several of the characters are War vets, and I have been around the military long enough to know that foul language is a part of everyday language. I did get drawn into parts of the story line, (the escape of the General), but not so much that I regretted putting the book down for the night. I attribute that more to the fact that I don’t normally read war stories than the skill of the author.

Rating: **** four stars

Continue Reading...

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Guest blogger for today -- my husband. :)

Summary:
To Kill a Mockingbird is the coming of age story of Scout Finch. Along with her brother Jem and Father Atticus, they traverse the tale of Scout's Growing up in the small town of Maycomb. Set during the great depression, Scout finds numerous ways to entertain herself and get into trouble. She has a mystreious neighbor, Boo Radley, who is protrayed as a menacing freak who hides his face from public, but in reality mends pants, leaves gifts in a tree hollow, and manages to save Scout and her brother from an attack. Her father is a court appointed lawyer whose newest defendant is a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of rape.  In order to do his job he has to overcome prejudice, disperse a mob, and pursuade a jury of racist white men that his client is innocent. Unfortunately that last task proves too much and Tom is sentenced to death. Scout, as a young woman must deal with all of this as well as the complicated emotions that come with them. In the end she finds out that her father and Boo Radley, a man she feared, are two of the most honest and brave men in the world.

Why it was banned:
To Kill a Mockingbird was banned by many different libraries and school systems mostly because of the topics it dealt with. Many claim the racism seen in the pages, while some others claim the sexual nature of the crime involved. Others use the profanity that Harper Lee uses. The most far-reaching ban comes from a New York school district where it was challenged as a "trashy, filthy novel".

My Thoughts:
The varied reasons for banning this novel is a stupid attempt by the uneducated masses that took offense to having their ideals questioned. Understanding the most of these bans took place as integration truly began is a slap in the face to this wonderful novel. Harper Lee wrote this as a way to question the then standing beliefs that were being questioned in the late 50's and early 60's. She meant this to be a treatise on relations and the conflict of her observations against those prevailing opinions. The arguments that this novel is profane and racist are inaccurate. The novel uses the then common vernacular and beliefs to illustrate the environment and place the reader in an uncomfortable position. This is because only in discomfort can we truly see ourselves for who we are and what we believe. In other words, to deals with topics that mire in filth, you have to get dirty.

There are stories and there are Stories. Very few novels have ever moved me as much as To Kill a Mockingbird has. This novel was the begining of my philosophy of understanding other viewpoints before dismissing them. While reading this I was placed into uncomfortable discussions that forced me to rise out of immaturity and frankly question viewpoints that society had and whether or not I agreed. I don't mean to say that this novel will change your beliefs but rather that it will make you question them to the point that if you don't change your ideals you will at least understand them, and by extension yourself, better. This novel needs to be a must read for anyone who considers themselves educated and / or enlightened. If you haven't read it yet, get it now. Really, go now. Don't keep reading, go get the book. It is free online for pity's sake. Go get it.

Continue Reading...

The Bone House (Bright Empire Series Bk 2) by Stephen R. Lawhead

Genre: Fantasy-Adventure

Disclaimer: Imagine yourself on the 50 yard line of a football field. You are standing in the center of the field. Before you are four ropes with each end tied to the goalposts at each end of the field. In the center of these ropes is an impossible knot. You have to untie it. You can make out how the knot is shaped and even manipulate it a bit but without obtaining the beginning of each rope you cannot untie it. What are you feeling?

That is how about how I felt as I started this book. Before starting it I didn't know this was a sequel. I was tossed into the middle of an elaborate tale that was not written for the inattentive reader. Booksneeze has since rectified their mistake and sent me a copy of the first book, The Skin Map, which will be reviewed soon.

Review: After finding on part of the Skin map, in the first installment of the series, our traveler Kit Livingstone must quicken the pace if he is to restore the map of the multiverse. Along the way he encounters the dreadful Burley men as well as the astute and resourceful Mina, both of whom are fellow ley travelers. Unsure of where the map leads or the meaning of his quest, he only knows that he can't let the Burley men beat him to it. With flashes into the life of Arthur, The Man Who is Map, and side excursions into the beginnings of Archie Burley, the quest takes the reader to several exotic locations in a breathless attempt to reveal the secret of The Bone House.

Other than not having read the first book, The Skin Map, this book was an exhilarating read. Similar to coming up for air, I found the style of the novel to be so far above the drab novels that are so prevalent right now that it improved my outlook for the future of writing. With a vocabulary the rivals the SAT exam and college level spelling tests, Lawhead paints a vivid picture of not only the characters but also the environments which they visit.

While reading the picture that was painted was both enjoyable and clean. Although the method of time and space travel confused me, my own fault not the author's, I enjoyed the freshness of his vision. I cannot say that this will be enjoyable for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Note: If you do choose to read this book, be sure to read it in a distraction free zone. This novel reads so quickly that if you don't pay attention or reread then you will miss crucial elements.

Author: Lawhead was born in Nebraska in 1950. His childhood was spent around the U.S. and then he later earned his degree in Fine Arts and spent two years in school for theology. He started full time writing in 1981 and has since written many books. He and his wife, Alice, live in Oxford England and he is father of two boys.

Rating:  ***** Five Stars

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Continue Reading...