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Frankenstein: Prodigal Son (book review)

Frankenstein: Prodigal Son (book review)

Prodigal Son by Dean Koontz My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It has been a couple of decades since I read Dean Koontz’s books, I don’t even remember what the last book was (so that is closer to 30 years when I was in high school). I am glad I picked up this book.

I originally picked it up as a lark, it was on sale on Amazon and it seemed like an easy listen while I do some computer work. It was a fairly…

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The Spies that Bind (book review)

The Spies that Bind (book review)

The Spies That Bind by Ally Carter My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is not a bad book at all. I do like young adult books and wanted to try a new series but it didn’t just click for me. I think the age demographic is just a little lower then I am comfortable with. It is a good audio book though and I recommend it to younger listeners and I do recommend it as very positive with female empowerment.…

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Damnation (tv show)

Damnation

DETAILS:

Created By:  Tony Tost Stars:  Logan Marshall-Green, Killian Scott, Sarah Jones  Original Network: USA Network, Netflix First episode date: November 07, 2017 Number of Episodes: 10 Number of Seasons: 1

OVERALL: An epic saga about the secret history of the 1930s American heartland, centering on the mythic conflict and bloody struggle between big money and the downtrodden.

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Christmas Eve, 1914 (book review)

Christmas Eve, 1914 (book review)

Christmas Eve, 1914 by Charles Olivier My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An engrossing hour of audio.

This is one of the free books provided by Audible to their members and it was the first one that I actually liked. A fictional account of the Christmas Miracle of 1914 with the Germans and Allies declaring a truce for Christmas.

The real facts behind this are just as amazing, so impactful was the troop…

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Egyptian Mythology: A concise guide to the Gods, Heroes, Sagas, Rituals and Beliefs of Egyptian Myths (book review)

Egyptian Mythology: A concise guide to the Gods, Heroes, Sagas, Rituals and Beliefs of Egyptian Myths (book review)

Egyptian Mythology: A Concise Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Sagas, Rituals and Beliefs of Egyptian Myths by Bernard Hayes My rating: 1 of 5 stars

A waste of time.

The book felt like the author took a student’s research paper and issued the details in a point by point basis. In fact it kept jumping around, giving no reference or background on the myths. The “facts” spit out at a rapid pace, with a…

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Lullaby (book review)

Lullaby by Jonathan Maberry My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A ghostly camp fire story at its finest.

I have seen a lot of reviews talk about how they were disappointed it was so short, or that it was incomplete. This isn’t a trilogy novel, this is at its core, a ghost story to be told around the campfire, or after the lights have gone out.

The short story builds in tension, never quiet explaining…

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All Quiet on the Western Front (book review)

All Quiet on the Western Front (book review)

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I should have read this a long time ago.

There isn’t a lot more I can say that isn’t already covered by better and more prolific reviewers. I can say the story is intense and makes you feel like you are with the young German soldier as hell falls around him.

It is a very dark story though, one that I don’t recommend if…

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1066: The Year That Changed Everything (book review)

1066: The Year That Changed Everything (book review)

1066: The Year That Changed Everything by Jennifer Paxton My rating: 3 of 5 stars An excellent starter guide to 1066. 1066, a year that changed England and by default changed Europe and on top America. It doesn’t get covered much in classes here in the United States, all I ever really knew was about the battle itself and that it changed things. These short lectures go in detail on the cultures of…

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30 Days of Night, Vol. 1 (book review)

30 Days of Night, Vol. 1 (book review)

30 Days of Night, Vol. 1 by Steve Niles My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think it would have been better if it stayed just a graphic novel.

I never have read the comic/graphic novel version of this. I listened to the audiobook and I thought it couldn’t make a difference, but I think in the end it does. It seems like this story relies on visual imagery that can’t really be placed in audio.

The story…

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History of Ancient Egypt (book review)

History of Ancient Egypt (book review)

The History of Ancient Egypt by Bob Brier My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The absolute best resource on ancient Egypt I have seen.

Bob Brier is probably the best presenting college professor I have had the pleasure of listening or watching. His absolute knowledge of the subject, the fact he is an Egyptologist himself and the only person to recreate creating a mummy I have heard of just underlines his…

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Dauntless (book review)

Dauntless by Jack Campbell My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nothing too new, but enough little things to make it interesting.

I wasn’t expecting to like this book very much. The last several military sci-fi or even just military fiction books have been disappointing. Maybe that makes me more open to this book, I couldn’t tell you.

What I can tell you is that while the character is by default a gary stu,…

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Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation (book review)

Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation (book review)

Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation by Mark W. Muesse My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It adds some detail to mindfulness, but isn’t a breakout.

I have understood the importance of meditation, mindfulness and especially in the Buddhist outlook and this definitely helps underscore that tradition of thought.

I firmly believe this is a good resource to those new with mindfulness and might…

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Great Mythologies of the World (book review)

Great Mythologies of the World (book review)

Great Mythologies of the World by Grant L. Voth My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Type: Audible Length: 31 hours 36 minutes

An incredibly brief but informative journey around the world!

This was a great series of lectures of mythology from around the world. I wouldn’t say it is the most in depth, but it covers so many cultures that it surprised and entertained me.

As someone who has read a lot of Greek,…

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Alien (movie review)

ALIEN (1979)

DETAILS:

Director: Ridley Scott Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes Categories: horror, sci-fi, space, action, franchise Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes Release Date: June 22, 1979

OVERALL: Slower then many think it will be due to the sequel Aliens, but an incredibly rich horror story in space.

STORYLINE

In deep space, the crew of the commercial…

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The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (tv show)

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (tv show)

THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA

DETAILS:

Created By: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Stars:  Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis Based on: Sabrina Comics (1962) Original Network: Netflix First episode date: October 26, 2018 Number of Episodes: 10 Number of Seasons: 1

OVERALL: A darker reimagining of the original tv series, and more closely following the original comic follows Sabrina as she approaches her…

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Marching with Caesar: Birth of the 10th Legion (book review)

Marching with Caesar: Birth of the 10th Legion (book review)

Marching with Caesar: Birth of the 10th Legion by R.W. Peake My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great historical fiction novel based around two men entering the 10th Roman Legion!

To be honest I was very surprised. When I first heard of the book I thought it would be a mid-grade pulp novel at best and that was what I was prepared for. Fortunately that wasn’t the case and I was happy with the surprise.

The…

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Venom (movie review)

DETAILS:

Director: Ruben Fleischer Stars: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams,Riz Ahmed Runtime: 90 minutes Categories: comicbook, superhero,  action, franchise Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes Release Date: October 5, 2018

OVERALL: It is a lot better than I expected. It was enjoyable, more so then even some of the Avenger movies. Just don’t have huge expectations.

STORYLINE

Journalist Eddie Brock is trying to…