BOOK REVIEW: The Fifth Ascendant (Joshua Grant)

 

I am amazed by the quality of this comic book and have the privilege of asking the author whether gen-AI was used in its production, and it was not!

I appreciate the human work and effort that are put into making this happen. Page by page, I marvel at the graphic quality and engaging story. I used to be an avid comic reader, graduating from the more static black-and-white to color, realistic, and gorgeous rendering and painting work. This certainly brings up a lot of nostalgic feelings for the art and actions, a visual treat that is matched by a good story.

I like how the book starts by getting readers familiar with the world and characters. Fantasy genre is usually not my preferred cup of tea because it takes a real commitment to understanding the fantastical world, which is something that I am not able to draw from everyday life comparisons. It’s usually a struggle, especially in the beginning, when everything feels foreign, with a plethora of names and magic to understand. So, this is a great introduction, and readers soon embark into the story and learn about intriguing characters (I like the crazy uncle), the setting, the quest, and the possibility of upcoming future adventures.

For readers who like a good story, beautiful graphics, and those who support human work, this is a book for you.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Nuclear Fusion (Klaus Kopecz)

 

I never thought I would pick up a book titled Nuclear Fusion more than three decades after I graduated from high school. I took Science as my main subject, but soon detoured to something else in uni. While some things are familiar to me because I had to learn them, I picked up some other knowledge voluntarily. Still, I have to admit it took me time to understand the content. Maybe the book is not intended to be understood at that level because I can’t imagine someone without some science knowledge would get it.

It’s an interesting book, objectively, of course, because I know many friends and family members would throw something at me if I asked them to read it. Well, many of them don’t even read regular books. The question is simple: why does the sun shine? Just like other science topics, especially physics and chemistry, it takes almost everything to answer a simple question like this, and this book proves it. Why do things move the way they do? How is the Globe of Death motorcycle stunt possible? How does the combination of some dangerous and toxic elements become something lame that makes our food tastier?

I appreciate the diagrams and awesome photos that help to make the book easier to understand. Still, the formatting and the bulk of scientific texts make it difficult to digest for anyone who is not fresh or does not have a good amount of interest in the subjects. Imo, it would be more helpful if there were more relatable, practical examples.

4 out of 5

BOOK REVIEW: The Inconvenient Sister (Jennifer Reinoehl)

 

A classic love story, literally set in the classic past.

This is an easy read, sweet and short enough, although it was quite hard to follow at the beginning because of the plethora of names. It doesn't help that readers are expected to learn characters' names, their aliases, their titles, all in the first chapter, some without 'meeting' the characters first. There were also unfamiliar words, and while they make the era believable, all of these could overwhelm readers like me, who prefer to get familiar with the characters as the story goes.

The descriptions, settings, and mannerisms are well done, teleporting readers to the past and bringing out the nostalgic, time-period classic, like the Gone With the Wind style of love story although this book is set way beyond that.

The characters, Dante and Beatrice (don't ask me about their titles and others), are likable enough, although I think the FMC is underdeveloped and comes across more like a brat, in line with many modern-day protestors who join a cause ‘just because’ without the real background knowledge and research. Having said that, I think the story is fun, and I can picture it as an entertaining miniseries with subtle romance that feels more refreshing than the genre's core. Still, IMO, it's quite hard for this genre to escape predictability. I believe no one would be surprised by where the story goes and how it would end.

4 out of 5

BOOK REVIEW: Smosaythia (Ed Morawski)

 

I have read many alien-encounter and sci-fi books; this one is definitely a different combination.

It explores more on the integration process itself, a delightful read when readers get to see the development. Every time I thought the book had reached its peak, it continued on and revealed more things that many popular stories refuse to go or merely scratch the surface.

The plot follows Sean, an ordinary person who leads an almost mind-numbingly boring life, at least to him. He has a security job and seems to have a knack for finding extraordinary things at work, things that seem ordinary until they aren't, though not everyone takes him seriously. I can't help but think that the author purposely pokes fun at the conspiracy theorists out there, one of the more ridiculous ones: birds aren't real.

I like the slow burn. It's not actually a slow burn because the story moves fast in real time, but it is patient in getting readers there, especially for Sean's 'relationship' with this being, someone readers already know because we are privileged to her point of view as well.

It's an interesting approach, and as the story goes on, it gets even more complex, and we learn about more identical aliens on a mission. From there, the story goes even wilder, and it explores many things that happen in our real world, thought-provoking and intriguing issues that have been plaguing the world forever.

I have read multiple books from this author, and he never ceases to amaze me with his creativity and thought-provoking books. This time, it feels more character-based, which adds more to the story. The world-building details are convincing, although I had to pause on one detail that caught my attention too much because it's been driving me nuts in other popular shows: the idea that humans don't use 100% of our brains. This is a myth that has been going on forever, and there was even a whole movie based on this. Scientific experiments have proven that this is not true. While I don't have much other knowledge mentioned in this book, and I tend to believe the author, this put a bit of damp to question them. The good thing is, although this is an important basis for the alien technology and species, it doesn't affect the overall story as much and is barely mentioned beyond a few sentences and some implications.

For those who seek a thought-provoking alien encounter story, this might be the one for you.

4.5 out of 5

BOOK REVIEW: Woman's History of America (Christa Nonnemaker)

 

I wish my high school history books were this interesting and interactive. The stories are easy to read, with nice pictures/illustration and more interesting bits. They are clear, easy to digest, and informative. Difficult/unusual words/terms are highlighted, and readers can find the meaning when they flip the pages or scroll down the book. 

One of the keys to better learning back then, in my experience, especially for 'drier' subjects with a lot to memorize, was writing it down. It created another set of memories and helped me recall things when I needed them during tests, or helped anchor them in my mind to become fun at parties later. This book has a better approach, it organizes information into tables and diagrams, things I can easily picture being used as self-practice or homework or teamwork, together with critical thinking and essay parts to encourage students to be creative without being restrictive. It also helps to learn by allowing students to relate to the history. 

Overall, I think it's a useful book and more fun (in an educational way) at the same time. I'm not sure how relevant it is to the current international curriculum, because I certainly didn't need to learn this in my high school. I'd recommend this if the subject is indeed relevant for those who want to learn out of necessity or curiosity about Women's History of America.

5 of 5

The Sunrise Outing

 

Every morning, before the sun is even up, there is a group of elders in the water. Same spot, same time, same people with some additions and subtractions. The very first time I encountered them, I didn't see them. I heard them first.

It was one of our regular beaches, known for its beautiful sunrise and golden hour. I was walking with my dog, Locky, when I heard a song coming from the sea's direction. It was not bath day for Locky, so he was on the leash (otherwise he would play in the water). A wide stretch of sandy beach lay between the path we were walking on and the ocean.

I saw a few heads, some with half a torso, floating in the water (this sentence could be easily misunderstood). I needed to squint because the sun was glaring and I was staring in its direction. We walked nearer and parked our butts on the sand. We always took time to enjoy the sunrise, but this was not our usual spot.

The sound continued to echo; it was indeed a song, a live choir! It was sung by a group of older men, who were lounging around in the shallow water between small fishing boats (the water here is calm with barely any waves). Song after song, they sang their heart out.

That was more than a decade ago, and they are still doing that. Some of them use a walking stick; some have an inner tube around their waist to act as a float. There are around three to eight guys, sometimes more. Every morning at dawn, without fail, they would gather at the same spot, sing the same songs, and go about their days. I think it's a friendship forged over time, over the enjoyment of simple daily blessings, to catch the sunrise, to start the new day. Singing is very therapeutic, and what is better than having a killer view to back it up?

I think it's awesome, and I want to be chill like them when I grow up. Take time to enjoy simple things, and welcome the day with positive attitudes. I hope I'll keep seeing them.

As always, thank you for being here.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Captivating Flames of Madness (Jeff Parsons)

The feeling of reading a good book is hard to beat. I picked up this book without having high expectations, and I'm pleasantly surprised.

True to its title, The Captivating Flame of Madness is just that. It's a collection of short stories that are fast-paced, full of wonderfully crafted twists, well-written, with chilling plots.

Each story packs a strong idea, believable characters, and pulls readers into the madness as soon as the words start to flow. It doesn't drag. The stories are easy to read and follow, yet they are deep and carefully constructed.

The second story, The New Law, is one of the most intriguing dystopian short stories I've come across lately. It could easily be expanded into a book or novella. Although I could see the end coming, Control and Nothing Personal were entertaining and captivating throughout. There are many more other original stories that captivate me from start to end. How else can I walk between zombies? Face the bullies? The last story is chilling, although I have seen it done before in different permutations.

Highly recommended read.

5 out of 5 stars