I really should know better. Review the book right after you read it. I was doing pretty good with the book / paycheck challenge. I read three books back January. I am still stuck on one I started in February. But I wanted to have this perfectly awesome book review, tying together three different books into one nice little essay.
Well, in wanting to write the perfect review, I didn't write a review. Best rectify that. (I wish I was a better writer.)
The Language of God by Francis Collins
Basically says, one can be a world class scientist, and a Christian. There are endnotes for sources sited, which I appreciate. The basic theology is a credited hat tip to CS Lewis. The science is from a world-class geneticist. I don't personally believe that you can prove or disprove the super-natural (God) by use of the natural. At the end there are some discussion questions for one's book club. I wonder, what type of book naturally come with book club ideas. I kinda wanna be in a book club. A nice X-mas gift that I was going to give to my brother, but lost, so I had to buy another copy, then found and quickly read.
Confessions of a Part Time Sorceress by Shelly Mazzanoble
Basically says, girls can have fun playing D&D with the geeky boys. Tells Mazzanoble's story of becoming a fan of D&D. I wonder why more people don't play it. Is it too hard? Is it too time consuming? Is it that it's much easier to plug into a fantasy video game and beat the monsters with a few key joystick moves? Maybe someday, this book will inspire Miss Squeaky (or Mr. Grunty) to play a sorceress in a D&D campaign. (Or hopefully, my childrens will already be playing D&D with their papa.) I like how she mentions that certain phrases from D&D are a great addition to daily vernacular, such as "saving throw" and "+1 pan of baking". I wish I had handed out her commandments for Player Characters before I started being a DM. And I do agree, that the reward for a DM, is having the players talking about a game episode a week later. (I got that a couple of times.) A nice Armistice Day gift from Alecks B. Cix, that I quickly read.
Next by Michael Crichton
A thriller, with industrial espionage, legal drama, ethics,...Crichton is a lot better writer than Baldacci. The frustrating thing for me, was wondering, what is true, what is almost possible, what is impossible? (OK...I know that one chimp experiment was impossible.) Is it true 20% of our genes are "owned" by someone else? There are reference works sited at the end, so I have the means of learning more. I like how he brought up cutting edge genetics, legal and ethical issues in an entertaining way. Also, at the end, there is a list of opinions Crichton has about biotech that he discusses, such as "Stop patenting genes" and "Rescind the Bayh-Dole Act", hmmm...I better go get an PhD, MBA & JD so I can have an educated opinion on that. Hey, that's not a bad idea! A nice X-mas gift that I quickly read from my childrens.
I'll give them all a B .
So how does one become a good writer?
(I'll finish the story tomorrow.)
Posted by joncim at April 2, 2008 11:00 PM