Books - Boyd's Bar (Page 3)

Sign in Subscribe

Books

Book Reviews

Elantris

I have never had a book so plainly and overtly tell you the end of the book so early in the book. Brandon Sanderson tells a great political story with characters that are full of life, but lack a non-cliched constant direction.

The Alchemist

This book was raved as a favorite from Will Smith (Which is why I picked it up to begin with) and Colin O'Brady (The Impossible First) and I could not get through it. Legit it took probably 6 months of struggling to read it just to finish it

How to Die in Space

How to Die in Space

The science of what you will see in space if you were traveling via a spaceship. A spaceship that would need science and engineering that doesn't exist. From Black Holes and other astrophysics phenomena that are striking to look at, but would kill you without thought.

Prince of Thorns

Prince of Thorns

This book is interesting, but the amount of narration from the main character is almost confusing and makes it interesting, but damn is he whiny and arrogant. There is a really interesting blend of lost technology and mysticism.

The Old Ways

This book is a compilation of stories from the author as he walks through the old road in the English countryside. Some of the stories are interesting, while others fall flat on deaf ears. The book description has lot of metaphor that I didn't pick up

Cult of the Dead Cow

Cult of the Dead Cow

Joseph Menn spent so much time talking all about the different prominent members of CdC in both their technical and humanitarian efforts that you really can feel the impact they have left in the world. The end of the book is completely devoted to a hero-worship political puff piece.

Range

Reading this book was such a inspiration about not being one of the kids/adults that has been on "The perfect path" since 1st grade to do X. Presenting evidence about studies that show that is a quicker "catch up" to those tiger kids/adults.

The Bourne Trilogy - A comparison between the books and movies

The Bourne Trilogy - A comparison between the books and movies

The themes do not change, assassin who lost his memory meets a woman who helps him and they fall in love. The second book there is a massive change in the story as far as location, but someone claiming to be him still is there. Then in book three it comes back to being basically the same theme.

The N Word

Jabari Asim does a masterful job of walking the reader through the history of the word as well as just the differences and evolution of the racism that the word became. This is a history book ... and other evidence of the ever changing and venom that the word has become.

Game of Thrones (TV and Books)

Game of Thrones (TV and Books)

The story is wonderful. Very full, rich, and deep of background. The descriptions of the politics and the back and forth is so twisty and turning that some of the scenes are still talked about as the biggest surprises around, for instance: The Red Wedding, Death of Sean Bean, and others.

Dead Fall

Brad Thor does a fantastic job of taking something currently culturally relevant and applying some shade to those events, but uses enough fiction to make it not completely true story. The gun fights, story structure, and overall entertainment are well done enough.

Artemis

Andy Weird admittedly missed the mark on this book. The overall story is well told, but the characters just constantly make stupid decisions and never make an effort to correct their thinking even after they say they are going to make changes. The book also feels just a little too long.

Crack99

In this book you follow the investigation from David Hall and his team as they navigate the first real case of cyber theft. David does a great job of taking what could be a VERY technical and legalese filled book and breaking down each portion to make it digestible to the everyday reader.

Operation Paperclip

Operation Paperclip

Hear the story of the inevitable desire and need to take on the worst of human beings to support the "Continued security of United States."

Power Moves

Adam Grant has some great interviews that tell of really interesting changes in the dynamics of power. This short book is a great quick listen that will at least provide you with some insight into your own motivations and how to support and grow yourself.

Transformed

Remy provides a well craft story of his growth as a person that makes you reconsider your own history. He made some bad choices as a kid and even a young adult that are crazy to think about, but I believe that his choices afterward have balanced the scales of his life.

Rise and Kill First

Rise and Kill First

I know Israel has done some shady shit over the years, the amount of innocent blood on their hands might put the Crusades to shame. Bergman does a wonderful job of presenting decades of “preemptive” strikes against some legitimate threats and some people who were definitely not.

The Great Unmaking

The Great Unmaking

When I wrote the review for [[Five Tribes]], I specifically said that I felt the book was a stop gap for the third book. I was 100% right. The book created a problem half way through the book and that took a higher threat than the original threat which was already very large.

Tribe

This book provides an interesting idea, but honestly fails to deliver what could be an awesome universe. There are consistent moments in the book that should be serious, that are under cut by silly writing and a silly character.

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography

Neil Patrick Harris is a fantastic story teller. This witty premise for a choose your own story is fantastic change to a normally very direct and forced story presentation. His reading of his own book via Audible is the only way to experience it.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

A sleeper of a book. A read that keeps you entertained with vivid imagery and great science. Paolini does a great job of expanding on true theoretical physics. He does a fantastic job of take what should be an inanimate parasite and giving it life. Pun intended when you read the book.

The End of Life as We Know It

The End of Life as We Know It

Dr. Guillen’s fact based presentation of the wins and woes of technology present a clear and direct path to the absolute destruction of our world if we are not careful. We will have to be careful about the way we move forward or every science fiction movie will be right.

Children of Ruin

Children of Ruin

These books start off the worst book of all time. Full of confusion, inconsistent voice issues, as well as straight up poor story construction makes it very hard to jump into the book. This is all saved by the end where all the bits make sense, that frustratingly makes you look forward to more.

Witcher Series: Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, and Blood Elves

Witcher Series: Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, and Blood Elves

A great continuation of the Witcher series. Expanding on the relationships, settings, and politics. From assassin's, mages, and kings, it will for sure feel like a season of Game of Thrones. This book is worth the read if you have played the games or watched the show.

Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent

Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent

This was a superb book with stories of our fight with terror groups from the 80s to just before/after 9/11 from a Counter Terrorism Agent. Frank does a immaculate job putting stories in front of you highly the thought process of each step without putting you to sleep.