Category: Reviews

Suggested Reading

As you may recall, I solicited book suggestions in a previous post. To help me stay on track, and to keep up with new suggestions, I created a list on Goodreads. Please let me know if you have any suggestions to add to the list. You can see and vote on the books anytime by clicking on this link: Ken’s Life Book Suggestions. Let’s see which one rises to the top! You can also follow the list and leave comments.

Feel free to follow me on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/kenslife). It’s kind of lonely over there right now. If you leave your Goodreads handle in the comments, I will follow you, plus other readers on this site can follow you.

Fiction Genres

Have any great book suggestions? What was the last book you read? What are you reading now? Are you on Goodreads? Do you have any books in print? Let me know in the comments, and please remember to like, share, and subscribe!

In a dark, dark wood

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I just finished reading In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves the mystery thriller genre. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

This was the second book I have read by this author, the other one being The Woman in Cabin 10. This one was similar in its ability to build suspense and keep the reader guessing. The pieces didn’t start to fall in place until the end.

I couldn’t quite predict who did it because the motive didn’t make sense. I think that’s the real key to mystery. If the reader can’t figure out a motive, then the whole crime makes no sense. Once you’ve figured out everyone’s motive, you know who the killer probably is. The character is going through this in her own mind as well. It’s probably how most real crimes are solved, come to think of it. Motive creates the criminal in most cases.

The book is written from a more traditional single character point of view, rather than jumping from mind to mind (multicharacter point of view), which is something I have gotten used to in books like Gone Girl and The Paris Apartment. I don’t mind, but I have a growing love for multiple points of view, probably because in real life I’m always trying to figure out what other people are thinking. I’ve been pretty surprised a few times by real people.

Give it a go. I think you will enjoy this book.

Read any books by Ruth Ware? Do you like books written in single character point of view or multicharacter point of view? Have any great book suggestions? Let me know in the comments, and please like, share, and subscribe!

Wired For Story

I recently finished Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron.

I believe this is a good introduction to the craft of story writing for the aspiring author. I think the main thing that I took away from it was that you might want to cut a lot out. You should only include content that is very important to the story. I think the tips in this book would help you create a story that is very easy for the brain to process and understand. Some of the books I’ve read follow this design, but some authors seem to digress somewhat. I don’t know that any of the advice in the book was earth shattering, but I sometimes like to read books just to reinforce things I know, or at least I used to know. I enjoyed this book for that.

Are you an aspiring author? Do you like reading books about writing? Have any book suggestions? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

The Hunting Party

I just finished The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. This is the third novel I have read by her. I believe I am officially hooked on this author.

There is really good character development in this novel. I feel like that’s the strongest part of the novel. You really get to know them, get in their head, fully understand their motives. I found myself sympathizing with them half the time.

I think the first half of my life I viewed people in a very black and white manner. In my later years, I’ve learned that good and evil are very often related to the circumstances in which a person finds themselves. I think that really comes out in her characters. Most of us don’t have to deal with extreme situations like in this book, but we have all had thoughts like those her characters are having. Seeing how all these thoughts in their head come together to weave together the whole situation is very enlightening. It makes you realize we are living something very similar ourselves.

I think seeing inside the character’s mind also tugs on the inner real-world desire I have to know what those around me are really thinking. I’ve definitely been surprised before, by real people. Sometimes I wish we could read each other’s mind. It would be so much better than having to figure everything out by dropped hints and side conversations. I guess reading a novel like this is as close as we will ever come to this ability. I believe the author must have had the same idea, and studied personalities enough in real life to get them perfectly right in her characters.

If you like deep character development and the mystery thriller genre, I believe you will love this book, and other books by this author. She is truly a master of the craft.

Have you read this book or other books by the author? What is your favorite book genre? Do you have any book suggestions? Let me know in the comments, and please remember to like, share, and subscribe!

The Silent Patient

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I recently finished The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Thanks for the suggestion! I really enjoyed this book. It incorporated two of my favorite subjects, art and psychology. The characters were very interesting as well. They change dramatically from what you see in the beginning. Similar to Gone Girl, you get into their head and see what really drove them to do what they did. I really like this style of writing. Similar to real life, you rarely have clearly defined heroes and villains. Most people are driven by motives that seem right to them, though the outcome is very dangerous to bystanders. This is basically what C.S. Lewis was meaning when he said “wickedness, when you examine it, turns out to be the pursuit of some good in the wrong way” (Mere Christianity). It’s all in pursuit of that terrible thing called happiness. I will also say that the ending did throw me for a curve. I think he pulled off some trickery with the timeline to make everything line up for an unexpected ending. If you haven’t read this book yet, I suggest you give it a try.

Do you like psychological thrillers? Read any good books lately? Let me know in the comments, and please remember to like, share, and subscribe!

I’m reading books.

The prompt for today is about what book I’m reading, which seems well timed. I started gathering reader suggestions a little while ago, and I’m working my way through that list right now. Feel free to add to it by suggesting books in the comments of that post. Maybe you would also like to read along with me if you see one that interests you.

The main book I’m working on at the moment is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I’m not very far into it yet. The book is interesting, but it brought back a few unpleasant childhood memories. I witnessed the same hyper competitiveness and bullying that is being depicted in the book back in school. I wasn’t overly competitive growing up, so I avoided most of that myself, but I definitely saw it around me. I wrote something about it in a previous post about the first fight I ever witnessed.

Fighting and bullying is really the ugly side of humanity. Most people grow out of the violence when they reach an age where they can get in trouble with the law for assault and battery, but some people don’t learn their lesson until they experience jail time. Unfortunately, those who manage to quell their need to hit others, often end up channeling their hatred into other negative pursuits, like office politics instance.

Unfortunately, I have had to deal with office politics half my adult life, and quite frankly, it disgusts me. It seems like there’s always at least one person who spends most of their time criticizing and bringing people down because of extreme envy. To be honest, I’d just like to do my job and go home. I’m not there to beat anyone. I’m honestly one of those people who hope we all win. Work should be about completing the tasks you are assigned, not a childish game for egomaniacs. That’s my opinion anyway.

From what I’ve read so far, Ender’s Game sort of reminds me of another book I read called Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Both books describe a group of boys in a highly competitive environment. I’m not sure how Ender’s Game will turn out, but hopefully not like Lord of the Flies. Things got really out of hand in that book. I would say it’s a pretty good book if you want to know how a group of unsupervised boys would turn out on a deserted island. It’s a classic tale, and probably pretty accurate.

Lord of the Flies

At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate. This far from civilization they can do anything they want. Anything. But as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far removed from reality as the hope of being rescued.

What books are you currently reading? Have you read Ender’s Game or Lord of the Flies? What’s your favorite book? Did you witness bullying in your school? How do you cope with office politics? Have you ever been around someone who constantly spues negativity? Do you know someone who bad mouths everyone who gets in their way? Let’s start a conversation, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come

A few posts back, I mentioned that I am trying to get a feel for different book genres and started collecting suggestions from you. I am going to reblog that post below for reference. Please feel free to add to the list by commenting on the post. I am still processing through one book at a time, and I hope to read all of your suggestions. Please feel free to read along and add your own thoughts in the comments.

The book I just finished is called Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was once a shy introvert just like Jessica describes in this book. I managed to overcome most of my shyness gradually over the years, but she takes a different approach. She just throws caution to the wind and dives headlong into an introvert’s hell all at once. I found her journey to be entertaining and insightful. I really do believe we were meant to continue to make friends throughout our whole lives, not just during our younger years. Making new friends is also an objective I strive for daily. If you are also a shy person, I think you will equally enjoy reading this book. Five stars!

On a side note, I found Jessica’s relationship with her husband to be very interesting. She’s literally connecting with everyone under the sun, traveling abroad by herself and everything. It was kind of refreshing to see how trusting they were in their relationship. I guess I’ve witnessed too many relationships where jealousy binds the couple up in such a way that they are afraid to venture out very far, which is really sad to me.

Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes

Rating: 5 out of 5.

An introvert spends a year trying to live like an extrovert with hilarious results and advice for readers along the way.

What would happen if a shy introvert lived like a gregarious extrovert for one year? If she knowingly and willingly put herself in perilous social situations that she’d normally avoid at all costs? Writer Jessica Pan intends to find out. With the help of various extrovert mentors, Jessica sets up a series of personal challenges (talk to strangers, perform stand-up comedy, host a dinner party, travel alone, make friends on the road, and much, much worse) to explore whether living like an extrovert can teach her lessons that might improve the quality of her life. Chronicling the author’s hilarious and painful year of misadventures, this book explores what happens when one introvert fights her natural tendencies, takes the plunge, and tries (and sometimes fails) to be a little bit braver.

Fiction Genres

Are you an introvert or extrovert? Have you ever tried to overcome your fears by facing off against them? Would you ever do standup comedy? Have you ever traveled abroad by yourself? Do you think jealousy ruins a relationship? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and remember to like, share, and subscribe!

My experience with podcasts.

I’ve honestly had very little experience with podcasts. I know there are a lot of great podcasts out there, and sometimes someone will suggest one to me, but I rarely have time to fit it in. I do consume audio content, but it is mainly in the form of Audible audiobooks. I’ve actually been an Audible fan for many years now and I have listened to countless audiobooks while commuting to work. I don’t commute as much as I used to, but I still listen while walking around. I guess the reason I haven’t heard many podcasts is because the audiobooks are competing for my time, and the books always win.

One podcast I was considering was the Freakonomics podcast. I became interested in the podcast because I had read both the Freakonomics books by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. I found these books very interesting because I love exploring human behavior. If you are into that, I think you would enjoy reading these books. They aren’t really about economics exactly. I think it’s more an exploration of the psychology behind economics. I highly recommend!

Freakonomics

Freakonomics

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? How did the legalization of abortion affect the rate of violent crime? These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a much-heralded scholar who studies the riddles of everyday life from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing and whose conclusions turn conventional wisdom on its head.

Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They usually begin with a mountain of data and a simple question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: Freakonomics.

Super Freakonomics

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance

Freakonomics lived on the New York Times bestseller list for an astonishing two years. Now authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return with more iconoclastic insights and observations in Super Freakonomics—the long-awaited follow-up to their New York Times Notable blockbuster. Based on revolutionary research and original studies Super Freakonomics promises to once again challenge our view of the way the world really works.

I have had an Audible account for many years now, and I still use it almost every day. It’s a great way to educate and entertain yourself. If you walk, run, or commute, I highly recommend a subscription. If you don’t have one already, you can start a free trial by clicking below. Of course, it also helps to keep this site up by providing affiliate income. Thank you!

Do you listen to audiobooks or podcasts? What are your favorite podcasts? Have you ever created a podcast yourself? Have you read Freakonomics and Super Freakonomics? Do you find odd human behavior interesting? Let me know in the comments, and remember to like, share, and subscribe!

Mexican Gothic

A few days ago, I mentioned that I am trying to get a feel for different book genres and started collecting suggestions. I am still processing through those, and I hope to read all of your suggestions. I just finished one of the first books I saw mentioned. Please feel free to add to the list by commenting on the previous post, or this post.

The book I read was called Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. As the title suggests, it is very gothic and would fall under the category of horror. I enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged all the way through it. I would say the book is very dark and somewhat disturbing. I did find that the author has a good sense of how to tug at a reader’s deep rooted desires and emotions. The book is also somewhat erotic, but it definitely isn’t a smut novel. If you enjoy gothic horror, I would suggest you check out this book, but expect to sleep with the lights on the next few days.

Mexican Gothic

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

If you decide to read this one, or already have, please let me know what you think in the comments. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

New Expresso Machine

I recently bought a new expresso machine for the house, and it just arrived. I tried it out for the first time today, and I’m very pleased with it! It makes perfect expresso shots for my morning lattes. The milk frother steam wand also works flawlessly, and you can use it to get hot water too. It also has a large tank on the back that I can fill with purified water from my new reverse osmosis water filter. A full tank will give me lots of expresso shots before I have to refill. I’m very impressed with it, and it looks great too! I give it five stars! What would I do without coffee? Probably be very unhappy.

CASABREWS Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Professional Espresso Maker with Milk Frother Steam Wand, Compact Espresso Coffee Machine with 34oz Removable Water Tank for Cappuccino, Latte

Rating: 5 out of 5.
Photo of my new expresso maker

Have you ever used an expresso machine before? Do you love lattes as much as I do? Tell me what you think about it in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe?