FROM THE SPINE - AUGUST 2023 BOOK REVIEWS

August 2023

We’ve been trying to beat the heat. We had quite a few days over 100 degrees F here in Wichita. Basement finishing is nice. It stays around 65 down there year-round. I’m almost done with the framing and getting ready for electrical work. The kids are back to school. I celebrated 15 years at Textron Aviation. And Aubrey and I took a trip to Gerhart, OR. It was a very good trip to spend time with Aleksandr and Autumn. 

Here are the books I finished and my reviews of them:

Fiction Books

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I snagged this book for free as part of the Included selection on Audible. It is narrated by Scarlett Johansson and is just as crazy as the movie. It is listed on my 100 book bucket list poster so I grabbed it and listened to it with the kids and then we watched the movie. Alice is supposed to be studying, but she follows a white rabbit with a waistcoat and a giant pocket watch down a hole beneath a tree. Alice falls into Wonderland where eating and drinking drastically change her size. The animals and residents of Wonderland are all very nonsensical. Alice bounces from event to event with no decrease in enthusiasm despite the crazy interactions. She takes part in a mad tea party, a rigged game of croquet, and is eventually put on trial by a raging queen of hearts. 

This is for the dreamers, kids with big imaginations, and recreational drug users.

(Rated PG, Score 6/10, audiobook read by Scarlett Johansson, 2:44) 

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

How many times have you laid awake at night and talked to God? That’s the conversation around which this “coming of age” book is framed. Margaret is a teenager who moves from New York to New Jersey. Her Jewish father and Christian mother have decided that she is no religion until she is old enough to make such an important decision, but she chooses to tackle this issue as part of a school project. The story covers her school year, making friends, learning from mistakes, and blazing new paths on her way to adulthood. Margaret learns about making assumptions and judging people based only on appearances or rumors. Circumstances take Margaret to synagogue and church. She ends up in confession but doesn’t know what to say. She sees different pieces of religion, but she fails to “feel God” each time. She experiences how people weaponize religion. She sees scars left over after decades of misunderstandings caused by religion. The other theme running through the book was the crazy hormones, changes, and physical unpleasantries associated with puberty and changing from a child to an adult. Although the stories were awkward and silly, I’m sure they have helped generate interesting conversations that are otherwise avoided. This story is on my 100-book bucket list poster, and it doesn’t fit with the usual books I read, but I found it to be very interesting. It had deep layers under the girly stuff. Margaret is a seeker and seekers are rewarded by finding what others do not. 

This is for young ladies and anyone in danger of having to parent a young lady. 

(Rated PG, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Laura Hamilton, 3:09)

Salvage System by Kevin Steverson (Salvage Title #3)

After defending their home system, Harmon Tomeral and Associates return the Salvage Fleet to an ancient system that will be their new home. Salvage System will soon be back on the list of gates on the net which means it will be open to anyone with the credit to pay the gate fees. It doesn’t take long for a fleet of mercenaries to attack the new system defenders. Harmon relies on many of the leaders under him to execute the defense of his system. By trusting his friends and allies, absorbing new info to adjust tactics, and executing those strategies, the Salvage fleet destroys the invaders. The leader of the invading fleet is an evil, wanted criminal. Using their young AI’s new skill to manipulate the system gate, they set a trap, capture him, and send him back to Earth to stand trial for war crimes. The fleet returns to their work colonizing the planets in their new system. After they have had time to repair their ships, rebuild their ranks, and welcome the first newborn beings to their planets, a Barlat refugee finds his way to their system. Harmon decides to take the Salvage Fleet to war to save the Barlat system from the Gritloth. The Gritloth invaded and enslaved the Barlat seeking Galacuss crystals (super valuable space stuff). Harmon hates bullies. The Salvage fleet takes all their expertise, their friends, tricks, and their just cause to the Barlat system where they fight the Grithloth to the last being. After freeing the system they are rewarded by the Barlat with a treasure in crystals, and they help the Barlat establish a better defense for their system. As Harmon says, “When you see a wrong you do what you can to make it right.” The book introduced me to some fascinating ideas about how to colonize a new planet/system and some of the challenges such an undertaking would involve. The author also uses the story to introduce moral dilemmas about when to use force of arms to attack and who to defend. Like the other books in the series, I enjoyed the characters, the hero, and the fact that the good guys face challenges and overcome them together. 

This is for space explorers and sci-fi fans. 

(Rated PG, Score 8/10, ebook, 289p.)

The Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson (Wingfeather Saga #3)

After they escape from the Gray Fangs in the north, the Jewels of Anniera sail south to the Green Hollows. The Green Hollows were originally home to two of the main characters in the story- Nia Wingfeather (the Jewels’ mother and the Queen of Anniera) and Podo Helmer (the grandfather). The welcome the family receives is not what they expected. The Hollows Folk guard their land fiercely. Their main enemy has been the Fangs of Dang. Now a little Fang (Kalmar) has found his way into their peaceful community. The little Fang is treated with contempt and shame, and only by offering her life as collateral is Nia able to secure Kalmar’s freedom. As the story unfolds in the Green Hollows, the three children deepen their gifts and roles through schooling, squabbling with the Hollow's children, and through their family ties. As winter falls, animals are disappearing from the farms surrounding the Hollows. Eventually, the people of the Hollows, hearts hardened by fear, capture and attempt to execute the little Fang for murder. There are some excellent twists and turns as the end of the book plays out. Who is the Monster? Reading this with Jet, I had to answer questions at each twist. He has running theories that stretch deep into the next book already as well as ideas about the cover art. Fear makes people do strange things; it also provides a trigger to help us think about where our greatest opportunities lie. 

This is for monsters, little boys, and anyone dealing with bullies. 

(Rated PG, Score 9/10, Audiobook read by the author, 9:18)

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Several people told me they were reading this book, so I jumped on the bandwagon. This is one of Sanderson’s earlier novels; you can tell if you look closely. It’s not as polished. It’s not as tight. It’s rougher. Grittier. But those aren’t bad things- I loved it. He built a different magic system based on “burning” metals.  Burning each metal gives access to different powers, for example, burning steel allows a Mistborn to physically push metal objects. Vin is the main character. She’s a skaa (slave class) thief. Her whole 16-year life has been abuse, danger, and scrambling to survive. She’s tough. The hero, Kelsier, finds, recruits, and trains Vin as a Mistborn. He is so different from the others in her life. Kelsier uses trust to build instead of abuse and fear. Kelsier is building a revolution. The fellowship he is building is a crew of different burners who specialize in specific metals. Vin trains with each of them to take her talents to the next level. The crew is working to build an army, destabilize the ruling class, and create a revolution. The evil enemy is the Lord Ruler. Kelsier is betting everything for a chance to kill the Lord Ruler. His motivation is layered but based on revenge. The Lord Ruler is immortal. He defeated a great evil and assumed the throne. He established the Inquisitors- powerful monsters who enforce the law and quell dissidents. Like all good heist stories, this twists and turns. The character development is fantastic. Growth, redemption, and sacrifice- these are built in several of the crew as they come together to create a revolution like nothing the world has ever seen. 

This is for thieves, rebels, and anyone who loves adventure and wonder. 

(Rated PG, Score 9/10, audiobook read by Michael Kramer, 24:39)

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I had this one on hold at the library for a while and it finally kicked loose. It was a bit rough and awkward… just like the teenage boys that make up most of the cast. Thomas wakes up in an elevator shaft being raised into a glade. His memories have been strategically wiped. The teenage boys he finds indoctrinate him into their world which is limited to the glade and the maze. The boys have created their own rules and order. They work each other hard so that they don’t lose hope. Each night the entrances to the maze shut which keeps out the Grievers. No one’s ever survived a night in the maze. But Thomas’s arrival triggers things to change. The next day, Teresa is loaded into the glade with a message that everything is changing. The boys, led by Thomas, start aggressively tackling the maze with a new idea of how to defeat the maze based on patterns the walls of the maze have been showing. Can they defeat the maze? The book feels like a video game, complete with cut scenes, boss fights, and plot twists. It also felt like a mix of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and The Matrix. 

This is for wild young boys. 

(Rated PG-13, Score 6/10, audiobook read by Mark Deakins, 10:50)

Non-Fiction Books

Parenting: Getting It Right by Andy & Sandra Stanley

This is a fantastic book on parenting. My favorite aspect of Andy’s (and Sandra’s) writing style is their clarity. They don’t use big, expensive words. They use small, concise words and keep the concepts simple, actionable, and relatable. To start, the Stanleys describe their definition of parenting success: building functional adult children who want to be around them and each other. Their goal is to build strong relationships and teach children how to protect and value people through relationships. The rest of the book supports that goal. They break the parenting journey into four stages: The discipline stage (birth to Pre-K), the teaching stage (Grade school), the coaching stage (Middle and High school), and the friendship stage (College and beyond). To keep things easy they didn’t have a lot of rules. One main rule is: “Honor your mother.” By stressing this rule, the family gains a great, relational perspective. To support this rule, three things are never tolerated- disobedience, disrespect, and dishonesty. The second rule is: “Never tell a lie.” Lying breaks the relationship. The book covers discipline in a way that I have not heard before. The goal of discipline is to teach children how to restore the relationship that they have damaged. This takes confession and restitution. As children get older, the consequences should be very creative, and they should focus on restoring the relationship with the person who was wronged. There are some great examples in the book, like forcing the boys to buy flowers for the babysitter and deliver them to her at work along with handwritten apology notes. The book also includes practical wisdom about schedules, priorities, and communication. One piece of wisdom I am trying to implement: Only raise your voice when there is danger. Not in anger. To round out the book, the Stanleys cover marriage wisdom and spiritual formation. I will probably buy a copy of this book and see if I can convince my wife to work through it with me. The content and approach are simple, yet profound. 

This is for anyone with little people or planning to have little people. 

(Rated G, Score 10/10, audiobook read by the authors, 5:07)

God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis

This is a collection of articles, letters, essays, and talks by C.S. Lewis written across many topics including theology, philosophy, language, pain, government, naturalism, and books. The title implies that the tables have turned in society and instead of man being judged by God, God is on trial (in the dock) and being judged by men. It is interesting how we have come here to this post-Christian society. These shorter bits of text allow the reader to approach some of these ideas in bite-sized chunks for better absorption. In some cases, I wish I had a translation written to me more like I was five years old. There were some ideas that I held on to and have been pondering. In one article, Lewis develops the idea that you can’t have a “Christian” political party, only Christian citizens, so the best approach to healing the country would be to work to convert your neighbors. I was also reminded that reading old books is a great way to get back to basics and get away from some of the more trendy writing that may not be as deep. There was some political discussion in a few different articles where Lewis expressed concern about how the vocabulary used by those in power can be abused to generate even more power and control. For example, if a criminal is deemed to be sick rather than dangerous, it becomes the job of the system to cure him. In the process, they also get to define what the sickness is and how to determine if or when such a person is cured, thus taking all the power to institutionalize anyone they deem sick. I’m sure this is a very old strategy for those in power, but the implications are daunting. 

This is for anyone needing a brain stretch.

(Rated PG, Score 7/10, audiobook read by Ralph Cosham, 10:54)

Preview/Currently Reading-

Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World by Jenn Granneman

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson (Wingfeather Saga #4)

I track my books in a database called Goodreads. You might find it helpful in managing your reading lists. 

Final Thoughts- 

Have you ever been in a situation where the people around you lost their minds (usually collectively), and though you were close to the situation, you could see that they were all acting emotionally? We talk ourselves and each other into doing and saying crazy things sometimes. We say things we regret. We set hard requirements and boundaries where none really exist. We issue ultimatums. We demand perfection from others, forgetting that we are not perfect. We hurt each other. I imagine Margaret’s parents (from the book above) and grandparents doing all these things in the years before the story. I’ve seen religion tear families apart. It’s the perfect weapon to wield in pride, fear, or anger. That’s why that book has power. It gives us words or characters to discuss those types of situations in a safer way. It lets us be ok, not being ok. It lets us remember that we are not alone, and hopefully that we are not always right. 

I’ve wrestled and pondered the idea of what it takes to walk away from faith or to be forced to choose this person or that family or that faith. It’s a messy idea. Life is messy. 

But reading the Parenting book I had a light bulb moment that I want to share. There’s a chapter where Andy talks about spiritual development, and how he wanted to react to his kids walking away from their faith. He said, if they ever walked away from their religion, he would walk away too. The point wasn’t that his faith was weak. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He wanted to have a faith so strong that it could handle him leaving religion to preserve his relationship with his kid if that was going to be what it took. That’s what it is to love no matter what. That’s a huge no matter what: walking away from religion. But it’s what Jesus did. He left the church, the religious people, and centuries of traditions, all to find and to love us. I want to love like that- no matter what. I want my love and my actions to be relational. I want to build relationships based on love and trust, and if a little religion gets in the way, I want to have the courage to walk away from religion (but not away from my faith), lean into the relationship, and love anyway and trust that in the end, I chose well. 

Thanks for adventuring with me. 

Joshua

PS. Instagram: Fromthespine

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FROM THE SPINE - JULY 2023 BOOK REVIEWS

 July 2023

The heat finally showed up. Early July was fairly mild for Kansas, but here at the end of the month, we are in our weeks of over 100-degree days. I broke my lawn mower last week and almost melted a few times while working on it in the garage. Millie and I used popsicles to recover. The kids decided that they wanted to plant some seeds they found so now we are trying to keep some sunflowers and some cantaloup sprouts alive in the heat. It’s funny to see where we accidentally planted some of the seeds in the process. We’ve also been doing lots of work in the basement. The kids taught me Framing 101, Facebook marketplace, and sealant application on cement. Next, we will do insulation and some electrical I think.

Here are the books I finished and my reviews of them:

Fiction Books

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket 

This little book was listed on my 100 Book Bucket List poster.  I’ve been trying to put a dent in the books it holds, and this one looked like an easy win while I power through Rhythm of War. The more I think about this book though, the more I don’t like it. Maybe I missed the point. The author does give a disclaimer that it doesn’t have a happy ending. The book starts with the three Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sonny at the beach. They are enjoying a little holiday, doing things they love. It’s all downhill from there. Their parent’s friend finds the children at the beach and tells them that their home has burned to the ground with their loving parents in it. The friend and his family provide a miserable home for the three children until their closest relative, Count Olaf, agrees to take them in. Count Olaf is a creepy, evil, stage performer who is after the children’s fortune. He abuses them until his plot is uncovered and then he runs away. The story is sad and gloomy. No redeeming fun. No magic, no (non-human) monsters or wizards, and even the writing style is dark, sad, and dreary. You can probably remove this one from your bucket list and find a much more interesting and positive way to spend your time. 

This is for anyone needing a damper on their day.

(Rated PG, Score 2/10, audiobook read by a full cast, 2:29)

The BFG by Roald Dahl

This book is infinitely more fun than The Bad Beginning. It starts with a young orphan being stolen out of her bed at night by a giant and being galloped off to Giant Country. There, Sophie is introduced to the BFG and nine other man-eating giants. The Big Friendly Giant (BFG) explains a great many things about how he is a good giant who blows wonderful dreams into the windows of the boys and girls of the world, whereas the other giants are always traveling to the countries of the world to eat human beans. Since the BFG never went to school, much of his vocabulary is fantastic and nonsensical. Sophie and the BFG devise a plan to save the humans of the world from being gobbled up by the giants. They mix up a very special dream from the millions of dreams the BFG has stored in his cave, then they deliver that dream to the Queen of England. When the Queen wakes from the nightmare about man-eating giants, she finds Sophie in her bedroom, waiting to explain and introduce her to the BFG. Together, the Queen, the BFG, and Sophie kick off a military mission to arrest the nine bad giants and bring them back to England to be imprisoned for their crimes. This is a very silly story similar to others by Dahl, but there are some prevailing themes, like learning to help each other, listening well, and being kind. The kids got a big kick of how funny the BFG talks, and how he likes whizzpopping even in polite company. 

This is for anyone needing a good chuckle. 

(Rated G, Score 7/10, audiobook read by David Williams, 4:25)

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archives #4)

This is a massive book. It’s like five times longer than my average book. Because it is at the end of the series, Sanderson builds on many existing characters and an entire world of magic, lore, culture, and war. This book, like previous volumes, has three main story arcs. The biggest and most complex takes place in the tower of Urithiru. The second takes place in Shadesmar. The third and least involved is a collection of tangential, scattered chapters taking place in history and around the world of Roshar. The story is set one year after Book 3, and the humans are at war with the Listeners (called Parshendi in previous books). This is a war that has happened over and over in history, but in the past, the Oath Pact controlled how the war would end, causing it to repeat forever. This time the Oath Pact is broken because Honor is dead, bringing in new dynamics, and the potential for the war to be won or lost forever. Odium commands the traitor, Taravangian, to lure Dalinar and his army into a trap/distraction with the main force of the human army, away from the tower fortress Urithiru. Dalinar takes the army and most of the Radiants with him, hoping to win precious territory back from the Listeners. Once away, Taravangian’s army turns against Dalinar, causing his offensive to slow and sowing confusion and doubt in the human leadership strategy. As soon as the Black Thorn is away from Urithiru, Odium’s forces attacked the tower through hidden paths and tunnels into the basement. There they flip the tower’s magical defenses to knock out all the remaining Radiants except for Kaladin and Lift. Without the powerful Radiant defenders, the human army is quickly overwhelmed, and the enemy uses the oath gates to bring in large numbers of reinforcements. The tower’s defenses also cut communication between the tower and Dalinar, allowing the ancient Fused named Raboniel time to try to corrupt the Sibling, who is the spren of the tower. The human Queen, Navani, is taken captive and forced to continue her experiments to understand the properties of three different types of light (Stormlight, Voidlight, Lifelight), and their anti-lights. Together, Navani and Raboniel discover the way to kill spren, Radiants, and Fused forever, opening a way to end the war forever. Kaladin and his band of misfits eventually free the tower, after Kaladin swears the fourth ideal accepting that he cannot save everyone and that the greatest gift we have is the moments we share. Adolin and Shallan lead a mission to Shadesmar to convince the honorspren to join the humans. Without more honorspren to bond, the humans cannot create more Radiants, limiting their ability to continue to fight against the Fused. The mission encounters several challenges and ends with Adolin being tried by the honorspren for the crimes of previous humans. The trial is a farce, intended only to punish and publicly abuse Adolin, but it backfires when Adolin’s shardblade/deadeye Mayalaran is called as a witness in the trial. Miraculously, she speaks and proves that she and her peers chose to sacrifice themselves in the ancient battle, taking away any guilt that could be aimed at the humans. There are chapters devoted to Venli’s story, outlining the history of the Singers before their contact with the humans. The interludes provide interesting color for different secondary characters and events. There are many themes that Sanderson explores in this book. Some that struck me are the psychological casualties of war and how to treat them, ambition and its causes and effects, sacrifice, leadership, delegation, honor and how we perceive it, healing through connection and belonging, the blinding power of fear, the potential those of us who are different to use those differences as gifts rather than curses. Of all the books in this series, this one was the least impactful to me. Maybe it was because the magic got lost in the volume. Maybe I’m not ready for its wisdom yet. I definitely found the story to be challenging and interesting. I particularly found the experiments in light fascinating. They took me back to my optics class in college. Maybe in a few years when Jet is older, we will go through these together and I’ll get more out of it the second time. 

This is for anyone with a few weeks of free time they need to fill. 

(Rated PG, Score 7/10, audiobook read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, 57:26, Hardcover, 1230p.)

North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (The Wingfeather Saga #2)

Book 2 of the WingFeather Saga picks right up where Book 1 (On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness) ends. The adventures of the Igiby family continue as they flee from the Fangs of Dang over the Mighty Blapp River and into the Ice Prairies. Stranders, a Fork Factory, toothy cows, Gray Fangs, Bomnubbles, and Snickbuzzards are just a few of the dangers the Jewels of Anniera must face in this tale. Can the Throne Warden protect the King as his duty and honor dictate? Can an old man be forgiven for his long-ago sins against the dragons? Listening to this with Jet, I had to deal with so many questions. The action and danger keep him nervous and trying to figure out what happens next. Jet got the box set for Christmas so we are reading along and enjoying the illustrations. Up next - Book 3, The Monster In the Hollows.

This is for adventurers, protectors, and rebels. 

(Rated PG, Score 8/10, audiobook read by the author, 12:01, hardcover, 330p.)

Only the Dead by Jack Carr (Terminal List #6)

Only the dead have seen the end of war. We seem determined to pour all of our resources and energy into war. James Reese has been arrested by the FBI for conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States. He spends three months buried in solitary confinement in a super-max prison while the authorities prove his innocence. During that time in the dark, Reese’s internal dialog stretches his psyche to its limits. His friends come to his aid when he is released, ready to take the fight to the people responsible. Reese is searching for a safe deposit box that holds secrets collected by his father. These secrets are so dangerous that The Collective is willing to kill a standing president in an attempt to remove Reese from the picture. The secrets incriminate The Collective for manipulating markets, events, and wars going all the way back to World War II. These people are obsessed with power, and Reese threatens them all. The Collective is planning a Black Swan event (an event that changes the course of history, like the Kennedy assassination). They are planning a nuclear strike against Israel using nuclear materials with Iranian signatures. This will draw the US into a war in the middle east and allow Russia to take over Ukraine and allow China to invade Taiwan, changing the world’s dynamics forever. Like in his other previous adventures, Reese starts killing his way up the food chain to find those responsible for these atrocities. He finds old friends and uses their influence and resources to find the package of data left by his father. Throughout the book, Reese battles the thoughts and doubts that would have him quit, leave his path, and disappear in fear. The internal struggle was an interesting reminder that we all have thoughts and doubts that don’t originate with us. They could come from our friends, our enemies, the devil, or our past, but we do not have to be controlled by them. As the story progresses, Reese’s demons afflict him less and less but never go completely away. This book makes me want to retire to Montana, set up a self-sufficient ranch, and leave the world and its chaos behind. Carr is deeply distrustful of politicians and global leaders. He is highly critical of them to the point of being a modern prophet. I think I would benefit greatly from a wiser, older perspective on these threats and accusations. Let me know if you are up for that sort of discussion. Thanks, Aleksandr for sending me this story and for your insight into the stories and lessons it holds. 

This is not for the faint of heart. It is for warriors, protectors, and conspiracy theorists. 

(Rated R, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Ray Porter, 15:17, Hardcover special first edition, 564p.) 

Non-Fiction Books

For the first time in three years, I didn’t finish a non-fiction book this month. :( 

Preview/Currently Reading-

Parenting: Getting It Right by Andy & Sandra Stanley

God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis

Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World by Jenn Granneman

Salvage System by Kevin Steverson (Salvage Title #3) 

I track my books in a database called Goodreads. You might find it helpful in managing your reading lists. 

Final Thoughts- 

Always be a student. Ask good questions and then actually listen to the answers. I constantly encourage my children to ask good questions. When Millie and I were working on the mower she asked me so many good questions. I love these discussions. They give me a chance to teach, and coach, and learn how to communicate better. I am a better human when I’m curious. That’s a Ted Lasso truth. This darts scene is one of my favorite scenes, probably ever. Be curious and be kind to people. 

Thanks for adventuring with me. 

Joshua

PS. Instagram: Fromthespine

PPS. Please feel free to forward this to your reading friends. If they want to be on my email list, let me know. 

PPPS. Send me book ideas, brand ideas, or questions. I love the feedback.

FROM THE SPINE - JUNE 2023 BOOK REVIEWS

June 2023

Summer is finally here. The weather heated up. The pools are open and the kids have only told me a couple hundred times “I’m bored!” We’ve done some fun things like bonfires and s’mores, a cookout and movie night, and mini-golf. What are your go-to summer fun things? We also spent the month trying to sort out a new family vehicle, which has not been my favorite adult responsibility. I also discovered a minor miracle of modern medicine: waterproof casts. Jet crashed himself doing a ninja warrior obstacle course in the basement. He earned himself a radial arm fracture. I thought his water fun for the summer was toast, but they made him a waterproof cast from the middle of his hand to the middle of his upper arm. They use a water-repellent material (possibly gore-tex) as the base layer so the water just pours out of it. He has to get it wet at least every other day. I neglected to ask what will happen if he doesn’t, but I’m sure it’s atrocious. 

Here are the books I finished and my short reviews of them:

Fiction Books

Salvage Fleet by Kevin Steverson (Salvage Title #2)

After saving their home system from destruction in Book 1, the crew of the Salvage Title set out to recruit help to defend it against the retaliation force that they know is coming. The Squilla is amassing a fleet of ships to destroy life in the Tretrayon System, after being soundly beaten by Captain Tomeral and his friends in book 1. The crew goes back to Salvage System where they found Jayneen (their AI) and their ship, Salvage Title. There they restore Jayneen to a new computer housing and round up several more of the abandoned ancient ships. Tomeral leads the crew and growing fleet to other systems where they hire mercenary ships to help defend their home system. But not all is well at home. A group of political activists kidnaps two people very special to Tomeral and his crew. They try to blackmail Tomeral into backing their candidate for the next election. Captain Tomeral hates bullies. He reacts with force of arms and violent action to rescue his kidnapped friends and uncover the depth of the political conspiracy. Tomeral leverages the strengths of his crew and his developing leadership skills to win the battle, uncover his enemies, and expose treachery all the way to the top of the Tretrayon Defense Fleet command structure. Finally, Tomeral and his Salvage Fleet set a trap for the Squilla fleet. The defense of the Tretrayon System is executed with amazing precision and effectiveness. Tomeral is a great example of a strong leader who trusts his people and empowers them to act decisively. Because he listens well and learns from many different advisors, he gains their trust and loyalty. I like these books because they have solid moral footing and sci-fi action blended well together. I like that the good guys win. 

 

This is for growing leaders, strategists, and young sci-fi fans.

(Rated PG, Score 8/10, ebook, Kindle Unlimited 332p.)

The Record Keeper by Charles Martin (Murphy Shepherd #3)

Bones is the Record Keeper and this is his story. Bones tells the story of his youth, being an orphan with his brother Frank and being continually abused by the priests who took them in. Demonstrating how we all handle trauma and our circumstances differently, Bones and his brother recover in opposite directions. Bones becomes a rescuer. Frank becomes a slaver, dealing in death, flesh, and blackmail. Bones and Bishop want to hunt Frank, who is the head of a massive human trafficking organization. They want to cut off the head of the snake and destroy the supply side of the equation, hoping to rescue thousands of victims. But Frank is Mensa smart, with a photographic and encyclopedic memory and a penchant for all things tech- he’s a super hacker. To hunt Frank, Bones and Bishop devise a recruiting strategy and test to hire some of the brightest young tech talents. Think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They invite the best of the best hackers to a job interview, then use tests and tricks to weed out the selfish, and corrupt, finally finding the few that can help them hunt the hunter.  They go to work trying to track down Frank by focusing on his data, but along the way, Frank kills Bishop’s literary agent and kidnaps Bones. Normally, Bones leads Bishop on his missions to rescue the lost, but without Bones, Bishop gets stuck. Eventually, Bishop finds a package that Bones left behind in case of his capture. The package leads Bishop and Gunner to Hell Squared, which is the prison Bones and Frank lived in as boys. Bishop and Gunner make their way into the fortress using directions only Bones could have left. Once inside they confront Frank. Frank has demanded that Bishop find Frank’s birth certificate. Frank thinks that knowing his true name from the birth certificate will heal him and complete him. He’s wrong. Eventually, Frank is destroyed by the knowledge that Bones learned how to escape from their childhood prison and could have left at any time, but he stayed and endured unspeakable abuse, loneliness, and pain because he could not abandon Frank. This book is filled with big ideas- rescue vs revenge, how to heal trauma, redemption, sacrifice, the power of shame, the extent of the human trafficking problem, and leaving the 99 to save the one. Any one of these could fill books and books, but woven together in a narrative they are more tangible. I still think Gunner is the best character in these books.

This is for healers, rescuers, and those in need of hope. 

(Rated PG-13, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Jonathan K. Riggs, 10:06)

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the epic conclusion of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. In the first part, Tolkien tells the story of the defense of Gondor. Gandalf and the men of Gondor hold the city walls in the face of the mighty army of Sauron, led by the king of the Nazgul- the Witch King of Angmar. The evil orc army crosses the river and burns the fields outside the city walls before assaulting the great white gate with a giant battering ram. Before the evil army can take the city's lower ring, Rohan's great horsed army turns the tide of the battle. King Theoden leads the cavalry in his great redemption, though he is finally killed by the Nazgul. But, Eowen and Merry defeat the Witch King, throwing the evil army into terror and allowing Eomer to rally the horsemen and remaining men. Finally, Aragorn and his army of the dead sail into the harbor and finish the route of the evil army. Aragorn is the rightful king of Gondor, but he does not take the throne. Instead, he leads all the soldiers he can muster and marches against The Black Gate of Sauron, hoping to draw the sleepless eye away from Frodo and Sam. In the second part, Frodo and Sam escape from the orcs in the evil tower of Minas Morgul. Dressed as little orcs, they struggle through Mordor toward Mount Doom. Gollum still torments them. Eventually, they find the chamber of fire where the One Ring was made. There Frodo fails to cast it into the fire and destroy it, but Gollum bites it off his hand (with a finger) and is so happy to have the precious that he forgets his surroundings and falls into the lava, destroying the ring and the dark tower and Sauron forever. Gandalf rescues Frodo and Sam with the help of the eagles, and everyone heads back to Gondor where they regroup, crown Aragorn king, and marry him to Elrond’s daughter. The rest is sometimes forgotten (like in the movie), but the four hobbits head home only to find that the Shire has been razed and polluted by evil men and a nasty, vengeful Saruman. Using their power and cunning learned over a year of travel and war, the returning heroes unite the hobbits, drive out the evil men, and rid the shire of their evil. Then they work to heal the evil wounds. Thus ends the third age of Middle Earth. There is so much more to the story, but you’ll have to experience it for yourself. I really enjoyed listening to these books with Jet and answering 1000 questions about what was going to happen next. His little imagination and understanding of the story always impress me. His friend bought him a box set that includes The Hobbit and the Lord of The Rings and he’s already started rereading The Hobbit. He’s hooked. We need to finish watching the movies. Thanks for lending those to us Joe. 

This is for everyone, young and old, who needs to know that good will overcome evil.

(Rated PG, Score 10/10, audiobook read by Rob Inglis, 18:19)

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson (Wingfeather Saga #1)

My mom bought the four-book box set of the Wingfeather Saga for Jet for Christmas, and after finishing The Lord of the Rings, he decided to start on this series. The Igiby children- Janner, Tink, and Leeli live in the Glipwood township, which is occupied by the Fangs of Dang. The evil Fangs oppress the citizens. On Dragon Day, the Igibys end up in a scuffle with the Fangs, which escalates over the course of the book. Their mother Nia bails the Igiby children out of the Fang jail, and they try to keep to themselves, but a final showdown is inevitable. The Igiby children’s grandfather, Podo, leads the clan to Anklejelly Manor, where they take shelter in a secret weapon stash while the Fangs battle the deadly creatures from Glipwood Forest. In the morning after the battle, all the Fangs are dead, which buys the Igibys some time to prepare for their journey to the cold north and discover old secrets of who they really are - the Jewels of Anniera. Being a fantastic work of fiction, in a totally made-up world, this little book is so fun and creative. The characters are colorful and memorable and there are many lessons woven into the narrative. 

This is for small adventurers and bigger adventurers who can tag along.

(Rated PG, Score 8/10, Audiobook read by the author, 8:19, hardback, 304p.)

Non-Fiction Books

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

This is a fantastic book aimed at exposing some of the bad science that has been presented by fad nutritionists, big Pharma, and other marketing schemers. The author starts with some fairly basic science. He digs into some of the claims made by sellers of beauty creams. Using a little bit of logic, some basic chemistry, and experimentation he demonstrates how a basic hydrating cream morphs into a crazy expensive and highly sought-after elixir of wonders. Next, the author gets a bit more technical, discussing studies around homeopathy, placeboes, and other medicines. The scientific studies, experiments, results, and reporting are all so bad. But the general public has not objected. In fact, they support these bad practices by purchasing these quack products. Toward the end of the book, the author breaks down the science involved in the MMR vaccination scare that happened in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He is highly critical of the media and the way they handled the facts, studies, and data. This book was much more intellectually stimulating than the fiction I’ve been reading lately. I enjoyed the challenge, I learned quite a bit about the scientific journal/publishing processes and was reminded to do a better job of turning my brain on and examining facts and data with a more critical eye. 

This is for anyone looking for a brush-up on critical thinking and scientific method.

(Rated PG-13, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Jonathan Cowley, 8:51)

Marine Sniper by Charles Henderson

This is the story of Carlos Hathcock. The deadliest sniper in the Vietnam War with 93 confirmed kills. This is his story from his youth, learning to shoot, to his retirement after a devastating attack launched his troop vehicle into the air on fire and burned over 43% of his skin. Carlos was an extremely disciplined and balanced soldier. He was the perfect sniper. He embodied the woodsman, being able to read the fields and valleys with all of his senses. He was calm and collected under threat. He did not kill for vengeance or anger. He killed to protect his men, to thwart the enemy, and to win the war, but he did not kill needlessly or indiscriminately. Carlos was an extremely hard worker, deeply devoted to the Marines and their mission. He was unbelievably talented as a marksman, winning the national championship at 1000 meters, and translating that skill to the war as a sniper. His fieldcraft and military awareness allowed him to become a legend in Vietnam, earning the highest bounty offered by the enemy. Carlos was able to neutralize an enemy sniper who had been terrorizing the Marines when Carlos arrived in country, which won him support from his peers and superiors alike. In his most impressive solo mission, Carlos worm-crawled several thousand meters across open fields to assassinate an enemy General in his own front yard and then escaped without being seen, like a ghost. Another impressive aspect of Carlos’ career is how he behaves when he is shipped back to Vietnam for a second tour of duty after. He is put in command of a platoon of snipers, who have lost their pride and mission focus. Carlos leads them back into shape. He gives them their dignity back, gets them off latrine duty and back in the field, engaging the enemy with their highly specialized weapons and skills. Thanks for recommending this book Dad. I think you would like it. 

This is for shooters and history buffs. 

(Rated R, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Kevin Foley, 10:52)

Preview/Currently Reading-

Parenting: Getting It Right by Andy & Sandra Stanley

North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archives #4) 

I track my books in a database called Goodreads. You might find it helpful in managing your reading lists. 

Final Thoughts- 

Jet and I played a short cooperative game on the switch called Blanc. Jet was a small wolf pup and I was a skinny fawn. We had to help each other through a winter blizzard to find our families. At the end, Jet was so sad that the puppy and fawn were going to go their separate ways and couldn’t be friends anymore. He has a big heart, with big emotions, so that sadness came out in big tears. As I talked it out with him, it occurred to me that I have a lot to learn about friendship and the value of walking together through trials. I want to be able to access those deep feelings in a way that makes me a better friend in the day-to-day troubles I navigate. I learn so much from my kids.  

One lesson I learned this month is that three weeks after finishing a book is too long to best remember the story and the thoughts I had while reading a book. There seems to be a sweet spot for me where I seem to have the best thoughts and memory about a book between two to seven days after I finish it. I also have a lot more success writing if I take notes during the book. Weird. 

I have ten days of vacation ahead of me. Send me your summer fun suggestions so I can try them out. What’s your favorite Nintendo Switch game?

Thanks for adventuring with me. 

Joshua

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