{Book Review} Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

“A Bit Much for a Newbie”

To be honest I have never been much of a reader of fantasy books. I read a little bit of science fiction here and there, but typically my interests lie in other fields. I was interested to read this book because first, from what I have heard and read Sanderson is a fairly well respected new author on the fantasy scene. And secondly I was interested in this book in particular because it was being released in drafts on the web for free before its final publication. Knowing that I was reading a relatively unfinished product interested me, to see if it affected the author’s process knowing that rather than keeping his work isolated from the public until completion, instead we have more of an open progression.

In saying all that I am happy to say I was pleased with, and did enjoy reading this book, even though it got to be tough by the end. Many have called Sanderson Tolkien-esque, in that he created whole new worlds full of new physics, myths, legends and laws. I have to admit any author I see do that deserves some credit, because it takes a very creative mind to do that, and then to be able to articulate that word on the page, I have to give Sanderson credit he does his job here.

Without getting into the plot (I mean you can read the book online) Sanderson does a great job of creating this magical new world and all of the things that make an interesting canvas on to which paint his story. But there is just so much to explain that half way through the story you are taking some things for granted even though you don’t really know how or why they work. The plot is decent, and kept me interested, but it all just got to be a bit much by the end. I would think if you are a fantasy fan you could really find a lot in here to enjoy, but as for me it was just a bit too laborious to really allow me to really love it, but I did enjoy the book, and hoe you will too.

{Music Review} Ingrid Lucia, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Take Billie Holiday’s voice, add some New Orleans vocal charm, mix in a great collection of musical standards and finish with some great native New Orleans musicians and you have the latest from Ingrid Lucia, “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” Most likely you have never heard of Ingrid before, which is a shame because she has a marvelously unique voice that she knows how to use very well. The story of her growing up, is alone an amazingly interesting tale for which I don’t have time to address her, but you can research yourself online. As far as her current album,
I can say that it is a true joy to listen to.


Interestingly this album was financed by her fans. Since you will be hard pressed to find a major music label that supports vocal jazz artists who retain dedication to jazz standards and pieces from the great American songbook, I suppose this is one of the few ways an album like this could get produced.


The “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” features fourteen songs, with “Le Vie en Rose” getting a double billing as a Latin style arrangement with her full band on track six, and then a ballad arrangement with piano accompaniment on track twelve. Other songs included are “We’ll Meet Again”, “I Cover the Waterfront” and others. Despite what I am sure was a tight budget, each recording comes to life with the crisp clear vocals Ingrid is known; and as far as the band goes, not enough could be said about the quality musicianship that backs her on every track. Suffice to say if you enjoy Vocal Jazz with a New Orleans flair, you would love this album.

{Book Review} The Hole in Our Gospel

The Hole in Our Response to the Gospel

The Hole in Our Gospel By Richard Stearns

You probably will not be surprised by anything you read in this book. While it may not be a story you read in the newspaper every morning or hear every evening on the nightly news you have to admit you have some knowledge of the how poor much of the world. You know a little bit about how AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in Africa. Well, Richard Stearns knows a whole lot more about all of these subjects and more, as the president of Word Vision U.S. This book gives an account of his calling from being a CEO of a luxury goods company to president of an organization who make sit their purpose to help and reach out to the “Least of these.”

This was not an easy transition for the author; it was an internal struggle over the comfort and security of his current life and the uncertainty and discomfort that his new job would place him in. Not only does Stearns give his an account of his own story but he accounts how the world and even more the Christian church has turned its eye from “really” taking care of our fellow man. He does not champion the fact that feeding, clothing and caring for people is the same as sharing the gospel with them, but rather that feeding, clothing and caring for those less fortunate then us should be our response to the gospel we now have in us.

The last part of the book is spent by Stearns addressing the reader with what they can do. How they can get involved, contribute or help repair this hole that has developed in our gospel. Like I said before you will not really be surprised by much you read in this book. I think if you are honest with yourself you would admit you knew things like this happened, but you probably never really did anything about it. I am almost certain you will be moved by the stories in this book and be motivated to start doing something, I know I was.

{Book Review} Safe at Home: Confessions of a Baseball Fanatic

Alyssa Milano probably knows more about baseball then you, and as much as it hurts to say it, me too. In her book “Safe at Home” Miss Milano crafts a book that is one part autobiography, one part baseball analysis, and one part baseball anecdotes, and she does it in a very readable and well informed way. Let me be clear as much as it appears to be, this is not a celebrity cashing in on a book deal, this is person who is a really big baseball nut writing about their love affair with America’s Pastime.

The unique thing being the author happens to be a popular actress who gets access that the normal fan doesn’t. However she still respects the game, understands the game, and gets goosebumps just like the rest of us when someone hits for the cycle or a pitcher flirts with a no-hitter.

The book is a fun read with some interesting stories; I did enjoy reading it, but I am just a little unsure as to who her audience is? She does try to make the book accessible to her non-baseball fans by not getting too “Inside Baseball” and including a glossary in the back for all the baseball terms she uses. She covers many a baseball topic and gives her opinion on them, but nothing earth shattering or revolutionary.

I guess the book is just for baseball fans that are curious to hear another baseball fan’s opinions and anecdotes. I agree with much of what she says in regards to baseball and some of her stories were actually quite interesting. So if that is something you think you would enjoy or maybe you would like to show your girlfriend that it is okay for them to like baseball then this may be a book for you.

{Book Review} In The River They Swim

Fresh Ideas On Fighting Poverty Around The Globe


“In The River They Swim” is exactly what is claims to be on its cover, a collection of “Essays from around the world on enterprise solutions to poverty.” This the book is a collection of 29 essays, with some authors contributing more than one essay, with the topics ranging from visions for future entrepreneurship in war torn countries to integrating differing cultures ideas into successful business models. The authors range from the President of the republic of Rwanda to a vice-president of American Express to Rick Warren.


Even though Rick Warren composed the forward to the book, the book itself is does not contain any religious overtones or convictions. Instead we are treated the experiences and ideas of people committed to doing away with poverty in the world and doing it not by just providing monetary aide but by promoting local economies within these impoverished regions. As one essayist mentioned the idea is to revolutionize the economies in those areas to the point where people will want to work in the private sector more than wanting a government job because private business will be thriving and generating prosperity for the people.


I enjoyed reading this book. Some stories were funny; many sad, but even more were deeply inspirational. Using the essay format was a good idea as it allowed for a varied amount of authors to cover a varied amount of topics, so suffice to say the variety of information and perspective in the book is great. I believe this to be a must read for anyone even the least bit interested in the latest ideas in battling poverty around the world. This would make a good textbook in a college class I think too.