Author: Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder

The Red – Book 2: The Trials – By Linda Nagata

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Hey Jared,

Finally going to try and get this trilogy finished! The first book was just a strong start, I just don’t want to leave it hanging for long.

the_trials.jpgTitle: The Trials
Series: The Red; Book 2
Author: Linda Nagata
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Scifi
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern/Near-Future,
Synopsis: Lieutenant James Shelley and his squad of US Army soldiers were on a quest for justice when they carried out the unauthorized mission known as First Light. They returned home to America to face a court-martial, determined to expose the corruption in the chain of command that compelled their actions. But in a country still reeling from the nuclear terrorism of Coma Day, the courtroom is only one battlefield. A new cycle of violence ignites when rumors of the elusive, rogue AI known as the Red go public—and Shelley is, once again, pulled into the fray. Challenged by his enemies, driven by ideals, Shelley feels compelled to act—but are the harrowing choices he makes really his own, or are they made for him, by the Red? With millions of lives at stake in a game of nuclear cat-and-mouse, does it even matter? (Hazard Notice: contains military grade profanity.)
Recommendation: Highly recommended! For mature readers. Graphic violence and explicit sex scenes.

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The Red – Book 2: The Trials – By Linda Nagata

Lord of the Flies – By William Golding

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

With the recent discussions about the possibility of an all-female movie based on this book, I figured I should actually read it. Other than a couple of excerpts I somehow managed to make it through school without sampling this little bit of twisted horror.

lotf2.pngTitle: Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
Genre: Fiction, Survival,
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: Deserted island, Survival, Social Commentary
Synopsis: When a plane crashes on a remote island, a small group of schoolboys are the sole survivors. From the prophetic Simon and virtuous Ralph to the lovable Piggy and brutish Jack, each of the boys attempts to establish control as the reality – and brutal savagery – of their situation sets in. The boys’ struggle to find a way of existing in a community with no fixed boundaries invites readers to evaluate the concepts involved in social and political constructs and moral frameworks. Ideas of community, leadership, and the rule of law are called into question as the reader has to consider who has a right to power, why, and what the consequences of the acquisition of power may be.
Recommendation: Recommended for teens. Violence and murder. Reader discretion is advised.

–  – Spoilers – –

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Lord of the Flies – By William Golding

Foreigner Universe – Book 2: Invader – By C. J. Cherryh

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Nadi Jared,

I’m continuing my very slow wade into this huge series and very glad that I did. This book confirmed a lot of different things for me, both good and not so good.

invaderTitle: Invader
Series: Foreigner Universe; Book 2
Author: C. J. Cherryh
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Distant-Future, Colonization, FTL, Aliens
Synopsis: Nearly two centuries after the starship Phoenix disappeared, leaving an isolated colony of humans on the world of the atevi, it unexpectedly returns, threatening the stability of both atevi and human governments. With the situation fast becoming critical, Bren Cameron, the brilliant, young paidhi to the court of the atevi is recalled from Mospheira where he has just undergone surgery. Upon his return to the mainland, he Cameron finds that his government has sent in his paidhi-successor, Deana Hanks—representative of a dangerous faction on Mospheira who hate the atevi. Haunted by the threat of assassination, Bren realizes his only hope may be to communicate with the Phoenix as the spokesman of the atevi—an action which may cut him off for good from his own species. Yet if he doesn’t take this desperate action, he may be forced to witness the destruction of the already precarious balance of world power.
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

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Foreigner Universe – Book 2: Invader – By C. J. Cherryh

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hey Jared,

As promised, this is a bit late in getting posted but I still got it out today. I decided to make this a series review and just include what I’d said of the first book.

Series: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern/Contemporary, Magical Creatures, Faeries, Giants, Nixies
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas only thinks his life has been turned upside down after his developer father remarries and moves his new wife and daughter into the soon-to-be completed Mangrove Hollow. But an “expedition” to a nearby lake turns up a little nixie with a giant problem – the huge, lumbering, fire-breathing variety – and it’s up to Nick; his stepsister, Laurie; and his big brother, Julian (plus a familiar face from the original Spiderwick Chronicles) to figure out the best way to stop a host of rampaging giants before all of Florida goes up in smoke.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for younger readers.

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Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Bookshelf Blitz 2017/Aug – Report

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BBAug2017Report

I think this has been fairly successful. From the huge stack of books I started with, only five were left unread. My goal was to read as many books as possible from off my shelves. I think the 15 books below makes that a success. An ulterior motive was to make room on said shelves by not putting back the ones I have no intention of reading again. A few of these might remain for the short term to give Lisa a chance at them.

Total Books Read: 15
Books Removed: 8

  • The Crossing by Gary Paulsen
  • We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
  • The Roar by Emma Clayton
  • Thad Damous and the Intergalactic Conspiracy by Luke Samson (Thad Damous #1)
  • Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park #1)
  • The Message by K.A. Applegate (Animorphs #4)
  • The Predator by K.A. Applegate  (Animorphs #5)
  • A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin (Earthsea #1)
  • The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black (Spiderwick #1)
  • The Seeing Stone by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black (Spiderwick #2)
  • Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Obert Skye (Leven Thumps #1)
  • The Mayflower Project by K.A. Applegate (Remnants #1)
  • Destination Unknown by K.A. Applegate (Remnants #2)
  • His Majesty’s Dragon by Noami Novik (Temeraire #1)
  • The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicles #1)

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Bookshelf Blitz 2017/Aug – Report

Reply: Temeraire Series – Book 1: His Majesty’s Dragon – By Naomi Novik

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Jared,

I have seen the light and it is good! I was blind but now I see!! I’m so glad that you recommended this series and even more so now that I’ve finally read it.

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Reply: Temeraire Series – Book 1: His Majesty’s Dragon – By Naomi Novik

Remnants Series – Book 2: Destination Unknown – By K. A. Applegate

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 2 Comments

Hello Jared,

This series has take a drastic turn and I’m glad that I was able to read both the first and second books at the same time. I would suggest that everyone else does too.

destinationunknownTitle: Destination Unknown
Series: Remnants; Book 2
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Apocalyptic, Space Travel, Aliens
Synopsis: When the world ended, there was the Eighty. Eighty people given the chance for survival. Given the chance to board a revamped space shuttle programmed to find them a new place to live. Somewhere to start over after an asteroid had destroyed the entire human race. Now, after a five-hundred-year “nap,” the Eighty have landed—but not everyone survived the trip. And some of those who did aren’t quite right. Actually, there are a lot of things that aren’t quite right—especially about the place the Eighty land. Half the terrain looks as if it’s been made of bright, crazy brush-strokes, the other is like a haunting black-and-white photograph. Jobs, 2Face, Mo’Steel, and the others don’t know if they’re on another planet. If they’re dreaming. Or if they are alive at all. But if they are alive, can they survive on this strange, new world…?
Recommendation: This book and series are In Dispute. Meaning there are equal reasons for and against recommending it. I would also say that this may be targeting a slight older audience that it may appear.

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Remnants Series – Book 2: Destination Unknown – By K. A. Applegate