Shortcuts to Mindfulness: 100 Ways to Personal and Spiritual Growth by Catherine Auman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


At first I wasn't sure about the short chapter format but it grew on me and I think it ended up working very well. You can take each story almost as a parable and there is enough information provided that you can look up more information if it is desired. Auman is very easy to read and she brings a wide range of experiences to her narrative. I think this book would be a very good starting point for people looking for answers, even if they aren't sure what their questions are yet.

This review is based on a copy obtained from GoodReads First Reads.



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The Knife's Edge by Matthew Wolf

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


My feelings about this book went back and forth quite a few times as I was reading. The story was interesting but a bit slow on explanations, making it confusing in more parts than seemed necessary. This book could use a bit more editing, with liberal use of a thesaurus as I really wish Mr. Wolf would find some satisfactory synonyms for "rogue." I did enjoy the concept though and am looking forward to reading book 2 in the near future.

This review is based on a free e-edition received from netgalley.com.



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Enduring Courage:Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed by John F. Ross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have to admit, I didn't know anything about Eddie Rickenbacker before I picked up this book. I don't remember learning anything about him in school and his name seemed only vaguely familiar. It was only as I started toting the book around, and people would comment on it, that I realized how well-known he was and still is. While reading his story, it put me in mind of Louis Zamperini and everything he went through. There is little wonder their ilk was nicknamed "the greatest generation." This was a very fast read for fiction and I would recommend it to anyone. I have already passed my copy on for someone else to enjoy.

This review is based on an ARC received from the publisher.



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A Delightful Arrangement

A Delightful Arrangement by Cecilia Gray

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I didn't notice how short this story was until I was reading it for the first time and got through a quarter of it in a few minutes of pre-bed reading. This would have been a very fun and enjoyable story if it had been fleshed out into full-length. As it stands, it just feels like a bit of a tease. If you do like your stories to be bite-size this would be perfect for you. It's very good, I just felt it was incomplete.

This review is based on a free e-edition from NetGalley.com.



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The Oversight by Charlie Fletcher

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Kind of hard to give this story an honest review as it's book 1, the story is not complete. It was compelling at times, rambling at other times. Seems like this might be a book that would do well with the young adult audience. It was fun having a supernatural (supranatural) story combined with a period piece, it seems like those are usually more modern tales now-a-days. This is a unique story so if you're looking for something different, this might satisfy your craving. I would almost rather wait until the whole series is out and read them all together. I definitely would like to read the next book to see where this goes.

This review is based on a free e-edition from NetGalley.com.



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Dreams Gone Mad With Hope by S.A. Griffin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was worrying a backhanded scab, flicking between new stories. Pick me. Pick me. The stories called out to me but the words didn't reach. I choose these words instead.
Okay. Poor attempt at a poetic review for this book.
Read this man's words. Drink in and absorb his ideas. If you can't find this book, find another. Just read him. I was born in California and have visited a few times. I don't really like what I've been exposed to but I would go back if only to coordinate it with seeing S.A. Griffin read some of his work. And it is good S.A. does a lot of spoken word engagements as most of his poetry really needs to be read by people who walk around with their eyes closed.
"Unfuck yourself" and read some of this man's genius.

Thank you for the book, sir.



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Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I think I would have liked this book more if it weren't so easy to compare it to The Fault in Our Stars. It almost seemed like a fan fiction. That said, it was very well written on its own, despite being pretty predictable. Unfortunately, there's not much else to be said about it.

This review is based on a free copy received from the publisher.



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City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Wow. Actually a new idea for once. At least a new one to me. I really loved all the imagination that went into this story. I was worried it was going to be a bit too much like American Gods but it was very different. A darker, more edgy version of what happens to Gods that aren't worshiped anymore, what's more, what happens when those Gods are killed. Do humans create gods or do gods create their people? These are questions that everyone thinks about in some point in their life, I think. This was a very interesting, intelligent, and somewhat action-packed, attempt to answer those questions. It's a fun read. I almost wish this was going to be a trilogy, just so there'd be more, but that would probably ruin the tale.

This review is based on a free edition received from Bloggingforbooks.com.



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