Writing about a book on writing is perhaps an odd challenge. On the one hand, I read the book because I wanted to become a better writer. On the other hand, I’m reviewing the book, telling where the author (of a book on writing, if you recall) has succeeded or failed at their attempt. Fortunately, […]
Archives for 2014
Book Review | Guy Stuff in the Scriptures by Mike Winder
2014-07-06 · by ·
And now, something completely different from my typical reviews… Mike Winder is a friend, so when he asked if I would take a look at his newest book (he’s written several, including Presidents & Prophets. The Story of America’s Presidents and the LDS Church and When the White House Comes to Zion), I was more […]
Salt Lake’s Fantasy Con 2014 is a Magical Crowd Pleaser
2014-07-05 · by ·
If Salt Lake’s Fantasy Con is a sign of things to come, than fantasy fans can look forward to good times. In his book Drawing on the Power of Resonance in Writing, David Farland speculates that the fantasy genre sells as much as six times as many books at science fiction. Over the years, especially since the […]
The Wonder of Short Stories: Writers of the Future Volume 30
2014-07-02 · by ·
The thing about I like about short stories is that you don’t have to commit much to get a certain amount of satisfaction. Any novel worth reading will spend a certain portion of time introducing conflict, stringing together a plot, creating characters and relationships, and, if were in science fiction or fantasy, building a […]
The Chronicles of Prydain: For Those Of Us Still Trying To Prove Ourselves
2014-06-22 · by ·
Way back in elementary school, I started to become pretty serious about reading. Somewhere near the beginning of my time with chapter books, my mom recommended The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. I quickly devoured the excitement and adventure, and quickly moved on to other books. While I know I enjoyed the series a lot, […]
Review | Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
2014-06-20 · by ·
Bernadette Fox lives in yuppy Seattle and is surrounded by socialite moms who value image above all else. Her Microsoft big wig husband is somewhat vexed with Bernadette’s behavior. The woman who was once an architectural design wonder, has become a reclusive hermit of sorts. Title: Where'd You Go, Bernadette Author: Maria Semple Genre: Fiction […]
Book Review | Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp, and Camille Kingsolver
2014-06-19 · by ·
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life is a story about a family who chooses to eat local foods (many of them grown and raised by themselves) for one year, for the purpose of minimizing their petroleum foot print. Their story is told from three different perspectives: mother, father, and teenage child. Each perspective […]
Seeds of Rebelion: Brandon Mull and the C.S.Lewis tradition
2014-06-08 · by ·
Brandon Mull doesn’t get enough credit. A few weeks ago, I attended a forum at the Salt Lake CominCon FanXperience for authors Brandon Sanderson and Brandon Mull. Both are a local (to Utah) authors, both are BYU grads, both write fantasy, both are New York Times bestselling authors, and both are at about the same […]
Book Review | All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka
2014-06-02 · by ·
It’s over so fast, I almost flipped back a few pages to see if I had missed a chapter. But no, I hadn’t missed anything. All You Need Is Kill sits you down, straps you in, and ignites a rocket strapped to your chair, and before you know it, you’ve finished, breathless and heart-stopping, palms […]
Review | Brotherhood of the Wolf by David Farland
2014-05-25 · by ·
Raj Ahtan has fled from Gaborn Val Orden, the prophesied and ascendant Earth King. Tricked on the field of battle by a ruse, Ahtan is far from vanquished. Bolstered by the strength, speed, stamina, charisma, and beauty of thousands of men, he moves to strike at where Gaborn is weakest, to tear down the kingdoms […]
