I loved this book more than I thought I would. On the surface, the book seems designed for someone like me, an avid word lover, someone who savors worI loved this book more than I thought I would. On the surface, the book seems designed for someone like me, an avid word lover, someone who savors words rather than spit them out recklessly. I had no idea that this book would come just as I wrote about my theme for 2018, the deep dive. This book does just that, dives deep. Although not a strictly academic book, McWhorter dives deeper into several fascinating aspects of linguistics that would easily shake off casual readers but hook the dedicated. I found myself challenged with the vocabulary of the book; a couple times McWhorter uses words that I had absolutely no concept of the meaning, even after consulting the context clues. I love that challenge! I could not engage with this book in my normal manner, skimming with occasional dips into the text. I had to slow down, to read every line, every word, to do justice to a reading of the text.
This has always been my favorite of all of Windle's books that I have read. Windle weaves authenticity derived from years of personal experience into This has always been my favorite of all of Windle's books that I have read. Windle weaves authenticity derived from years of personal experience into a compelling, albeit a bit far-fetched, suspense scenario that captivates the reader and leaves her wanting more when she turns the final page. This book definitely survived round two of the purge from my personal collection....more
Ms. Windle writes with authenticity and excellent narrative skill which keeps me engaged every time I read her novels no matter how many times I have Ms. Windle writes with authenticity and excellent narrative skill which keeps me engaged every time I read her novels no matter how many times I have read them before. Her skill with the narrative enables the reader to suspend disbelief just a little bit more which enhances the experience for the reader. Although Betrayed is my least favorite of the four novels of Ms. Windle's that I own and have read, I still much prefer it over many other novels. This book definitely survived round two of the purge from my personal collection....more
I read this book to my 7th grade students during their extension period so by the end of next week I will have actually read the book four times. WhenI read this book to my 7th grade students during their extension period so by the end of next week I will have actually read the book four times. When compiling book covers for wall decoration in my room, I included this book as an example of Hispanic young adult literature to better match the demographics of my students. Then a colleague of mine found a copy of the book that I could use to have the class participate in the read-aloud. When I finished the book today with them, that was the first time that I had ever finished the book. I truly loved discovering the book with them, meandering through the pages with them, listening as they laughed and gasped collectively at certain moments. This book deals with difficult stuff, stuff that many of even my 7th graders deal with. I highly recommend this book and will be adding it to my collection....more
I had the opportunity to read this book in advance of using this novel to teach my gifted and talented students. I am adding this book to my wish listI had the opportunity to read this book in advance of using this novel to teach my gifted and talented students. I am adding this book to my wish list. Anna Meyers creates a simple yet compelling narrative that deals with gritty, difficult topic that many of my students also deal with. The Tulsa race riots also provide a fantastic yet terrible comparison to current events. I highly recommend this book....more
When I first found this book on the shelf of a thrift store I could not believe my good luck, especially when I started reading and fell in love with When I first found this book on the shelf of a thrift store I could not believe my good luck, especially when I started reading and fell in love with the entire story. I knew when I picked the book up again yesterday the distinct likelihood that the book would not survive reevaluation after 15 years. Grown adult Jen has matured in her reading tastes significantly since 16 year old high school junior Jen found the book on that shelf. Many times this narrative almost reached a level above ordinary, almost. I could not help but feel frustrated at Leota's passively sanctioned racism and also with Annie's nebulous "mission" and maturity far beyond her 18 years. Unfortunately, this book did not survive round two of the purge from my personal collection....more
I have become accustomed to setting low expectations before I reread these books. That way, not only do I avoid having my expectations dashed, I also I have become accustomed to setting low expectations before I reread these books. That way, not only do I avoid having my expectations dashed, I also sometimes am pleasantly surprised. Thankfully, this book fulfilled the later. I loved the way that Hunt wove the story of Moses through the stories of the three influential women in his life. Obviously, some artistic liberty has been taken as is common for works of historical and/or Biblical fiction. Although Miryam's character persisted in stubbornness much longer than I preferred, this portrayal reflects the stories of many people today. This book survives round two of the purge from my personal collection....more
I could reiterate what I said in my last review of one of Hunt's books, "The Canopy," but I will refrain. This book disappointed severely. Only occasiI could reiterate what I said in my last review of one of Hunt's books, "The Canopy," but I will refrain. This book disappointed severely. Only occasionally did Hunt's protagonist become remotely approachable. I simply could not connect with her. That distance severely damages the experience. The plot itself drew near the absurd. I do not recommend this book. This book did not survive the purge from my personal collection....more
I barely finished the book, although I'm glad that I did. The book finally became worth reading in the last thirty pages of the 292 page book. The othI barely finished the book, although I'm glad that I did. The book finally became worth reading in the last thirty pages of the 292 page book. The other 162 pages fell into the cliche tradition of Christian fiction. I could barely stomach some of it. Hunt also used a trope that she never explained. At certain points in the book, Hunt would include a comment from one of the people that the protagonist interviewed. My assumption is that these comments were written as if they were comments to be added to a bio or some other written work to be published about the protagonist. This book did not survive round two of the purge from my personal collection....more
Hunt explores an interesting topic with this book, a topic with enormous potential yet falls far short of that potential. The obsession with the end tHunt explores an interesting topic with this book, a topic with enormous potential yet falls far short of that potential. The obsession with the end times and the anti-Christ always makes me wary after the abominable travesty that was the Left Behind series. Hunt avoids sinking even near that level but the whiffs of eschatology are enough to turn me off the book. Some events in the book fall in too convenient lines for me to really engage with the book. This book does not survive round two of the purge from my personal collection....more
For about half the book, I thought this book might actually survive the purge. Hunt created an intriguing premise on which to begin the book and serieFor about half the book, I thought this book might actually survive the purge. Hunt created an intriguing premise on which to begin the book and series and then delved into a compelling narrative with a dynamic protagonist.
That lasted until just after the halfway point. From here until nearly the end of the book, the narrative becomes bogged down in the trial of Hus, a minor character until this point. While history confirms the story of Hus and his martyrdom, the fictional characters of Hunt's narrative have no basis in history. In fact, their story nearly disappears in the political machinations that I do not believe Hunt actually understood, at least not to a level at which she could communicate clearly to her readers.
This book, and the remaining books in the series, do not survive the purge from my personal collection....more
I read this book many years ago as either a middle schooler or underclassman in high school. I adored the book and entire series then. This rememberedI read this book many years ago as either a middle schooler or underclassman in high school. I adored the book and entire series then. This remembered adoration helped me make the decision to skip these books when reading through my collection four years ago. I read many books by both of these authors since then and gradually became aware of the glaringly obvious shortcomings of their authorship. These shortcomings infected every book I read by them. I had no hope that these books would survive a second read. As I supposed, they did not. This book was absolutely terrible, overladen with gratuitous historical details (this means a great deal coming from someone as obsessed with history as I am) and absolutely paper-thin flat characters. I think it took me 30 minutes to read this book, not long at all....more
This used to be one of my all time favorite books. I've read it more than three or four times, although none of those times lately. I hoped that the aThis used to be one of my all time favorite books. I've read it more than three or four times, although none of those times lately. I hoped that the appeal would still hold but whatever drew me to the book initially no longer remained. Everything seemed simplistic, including the characters. Orcutt failed to create dynamic, round characters that the reader invests in and care to discover the ultimate outcome.
This book did not survive round two of the purge from my personal collection....more
While this book contained many of the tropes that have endeared previous Heitzmann novels to me, I never really engaged with the narrative or either oWhile this book contained many of the tropes that have endeared previous Heitzmann novels to me, I never really engaged with the narrative or either of the main characters. For some reason the characters felt like Heitzmann held them at arms length. This lack of engagement with the main characters peals away anything that might have obscured the one dimensional nature of Heitzmann's villains. I think Heitzmann pours too much effort into making her main characters multidimensional and real that she has no effort left over for the villains/antagonists. This book did not survive round two of the "purge" of my personal collection....more
I read through this book quickly, not necessarily a good sign. In the case of this book, it was not. So much of this book I read before. Technically, I read through this book quickly, not necessarily a good sign. In the case of this book, it was not. So much of this book I read before. Technically, this is the second book that Tatlock wrote so the subsequent books borrowed similar story lines. I read those books first. Tatlock improved with experience, somewhat. Nothing in this book captured my attention. Even though the book lasted 281 pages, the narrative sped through revelation after revelation with so much bein discussed that it nearly gave the reader whiplash.
This book did not survive round two of the "purge."...more
I had to read a few chapters from this book for a grad class. Of course, in my typical OCD fashion, I had to finish the book as well. As to the book itI had to read a few chapters from this book for a grad class. Of course, in my typical OCD fashion, I had to finish the book as well. As to the book itself, it gave off haphazard vibes. Davis filled the first few chapters with thick academic verbiage which I actually looked forward to reading. Finally, I had a text that I could sink my teeth into a glean significant nutrition otherwise known as techniques and insights which I could apply to my own teaching practice. Somewhere after chapter six, the tone shifted. I first noticed the shift in a chapter that includes a section on legal issues. After each bulleted example, Davis added editorial comments along the lines of adding an eye-rolling emoji to a text. I could hardly believe what I read. After this appalling section, the text deviated into discussions of enhancing creative thinking and other such things without strong connected to the nature and needs of gifted students, the purported purpose of this text. My professor raved about this book. I do not see the same merits. Thankfully, this book belongs to the program; I did not have to purchase it....more
I am amazed that I actually made it through the book. That's how gag-worthy it became after about a quarter of the way in. Since most of Lewis' work cI am amazed that I actually made it through the book. That's how gag-worthy it became after about a quarter of the way in. Since most of Lewis' work consists of fluff, not gag, I believe that the gag-worthy portions were written by her husband, the co-author of this book. At first I was slightly interested in the book because of the suspenseful nature. However, the suspense/thriller aspect quickly fell prey to the typical tropes of Christian authors' usual attempts to write this kind of literature. The bad guy is stereotypically bad. In this book, one small portion is narrated from his point of view and in it, he mentions that he was thankful that he has no conscience. Really? Also, information comes in fits and spurts. Good suspense holds the information hostage and releases only what is necessary. Sometimes, a good author will not release all of the information which leaves the reader wanting more and sparks her imagination. When I finish a book like this and am laughing through the ending, I know that I need to donate it as soon as possible. Reading this book felt very much like a waste of time....more
I find it difficult to write a review for this book. Unlike others that I have recently reread of Lewis' work, nothing about this book was truly terriI find it difficult to write a review for this book. Unlike others that I have recently reread of Lewis' work, nothing about this book was truly terrible. However, nothing was exceptional either. I briefly considered keeping the book in my collection but by the time I reached the end of the book, I knew that I wouldn't. Lewis seems unable to really delve into the heart issues of the characters. She bounces from character to character, never spending enough time in one character's point of view to create any empathy for the character with the reader. ...more
I read this book only because the first book in the series avoided being terrible enough for me to place this one in the donate pile without rereadingI read this book only because the first book in the series avoided being terrible enough for me to place this one in the donate pile without rereading it. Unfortunately, this book continues to be plagued with Lewis' inability to dig deep and explore what true character development actually means. On top of that, the epilogue that concludes each book wraps everything up with a sickeningly sweet deus ex machina turn of events. I will admit that I definitely skimmed this one. I believe that by skimming the book, I got about as much out of the book as was present, that's how much depth it lacks....more
It is hard for me to review the books that I read in Spanish due to the pace at which I read them (8 pages a day) and the fact that I am reading in m It is hard for me to review the books that I read in Spanish due to the pace at which I read them (8 pages a day) and the fact that I am reading in my second language rather than the first. As far as I can tell, the book was translated well. As to the content of the book, see my review of the English edition....more
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