Gunner's Books

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers by Tracy Hogg & Melinda Blau

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:27:58 -0500

When my son was four months old, a friend recommended Tracy’s book The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems for us to learn how to deal with the frustration of his difficult sleeping. Following her technique in that book saved me and my wife from going insane.

Now that my son is two, he’s presenting a whole new set of challenges, particularly that we are not really sure how to properly discipline him so he learns good lessons. I decided this time I needed to dive in and read this book cover-to-cover, and I’m so glad I did. In a very short time I feel like I understand my son so much better, and as a result, I have far more patience with him and handle his outbursts more maturely. As a result, he is better behaved and doesn’t need to be disciplined as often! Talk about a win.

A lot of the advice in this book boils down to recognizing who your child is, respecting his or her personality, setting good boundaries and limits, and teaching self-control. Sounds simple, right? Well, it is, but it’s not always easy to know how to do these things properly, and sometimes the concepts run counter to what any individual parent may be naturally inclined to do.

I recommend all of Tracy’s books for parents of infants or young children.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Cold Days, by Jim Butcher

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:37:18 -0500

What if I told you Changes was only the beginning?

The majority of this series has been slowly building, increasingly exciting individual adventures that hinted at something bigger going on behind the scenes. With each installment, the bigger picture comes more and more into focus. Changes brought us a climax to the story we knew about; Cold Days is our door into the true epic that has been getting set up under our noses for the first 12 books.

There is not much I can say about the content of this novel without spoilers, except to say that from start to finish it’s nearly non-stop action and reveals. Things are very different for Harry and friends by the end, and I can see how this is leading up to the apocalyptic trilogy that Butcher claims will be coming after approximately 6 more books.

Now, to be honest, all this action left a little something to be desired for the first part of the book. I mean, we basically jump right into battle after battle, and it’s one of the first times I’ve wondered how much Butcher thought he could throw at Harry before the suspension of disbelief started to crack. The second he’s out of one mess, he’s into another seemingly unrelated one. Could all these different things be happening all at once, coincidentally, the moment Harry gets back to the real world? All I will say is that after finishing the book, I no longer have those complaints.

So what did I love most? Well the climax, of course, but not just because it was exciting and surprising, but because it, and this whole book really, show how much Butcher has been planning and how much of a master at setting up pieces of a long-term mystery he is. Knowing that his first book was written without the intent of turning it into an epic (not to mention the gold standard of the Urban Fantasy genre), it’s awesome to see how well he’s fit events even from that first book into the greater story. Never let it be said that there isn’t a crapload of skill involved in writing a good adventure series.

My final thought to anyone who has not yet started reading Cold Days: if you haven’t read Changes recently, give it a re-read before diving in. There were enough references to characters and events from that book that I often wished I hadn’t read it last two years ago. And as you read it, rest assured that it only gets better from there!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Amontillado, by Kevin Koperski

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 23:57:00 -0500

For a few years, I was a musician who attained some success, depending on your definition of the word. For those years, music was my entire life and everyone I knew was very aware of exactly what I was up to. After I left that life and pursued a more standard path, my musical history was often just a bit of trivia to my acquaintances, and on the occasions that my new friends would finally hear the music I’d created, or be told of my travels and scattered notoriety, they would express surprise that one of their friends had achieved such things. This reaction would always amuse and flatter me, because I know how skeptical I have often been of other “musician” friends as well, whose creations so often disappointed.

And so I should have known better than to be equally skeptical of a co-worker and friend who revealed to me, many years ago, that he was working on a novel. Maybe it’s because for all my own writing, I could never imagine coming up with an original story idea, let alone actually putting the effort into such a large work. Maybe it’s just because I’d never been friends with someone who wrote a book before. Whatever the reason, I never expected to see the novel finished, and when it was published, I thought I would read the first couple chapters in secret just to see if I could even make it that far; I certainly did not expect to devour the entire thing in two days.

Amontillado is a murder mystery, a romance, and a tragedy, in equal parts. It is the story of Jacob and Bree, whose marriage has withered to nothing under the pressures of life and art; of Marcus, who sets his calculating and malevolent sights on Bree, and of Daniel, whose devotion to his friends gets him tangled up in more danger than he believes possible. The suspense is carefully cultivated as the story is told, with the characters themselves discussing literature in such a way that it caused me to guess at different possibilities, not only within the realm of what might naturally happen, but what tricks an author might employ in diverting the reader from guessing the truth. And most satisfying, the final resolution does not depend on a clever and contrived twist, but on a natural unfolding of events that nonetheless are not easily figured out.

The biggest compliment I can pay, however, is that this story got me thinking about my own marriage, about choices I’ve made and what effect they might have had that I was never aware of. There is some great insight tucked away in this story, the kind not concocted on behalf of the characters, but wisdom that the author has learned himself and deftly worked into the story for his readers’ benefit.

I have but one complaint about the book, and that is the careful use of language which is quite welcome in the narration, but leaves some of the dialog feeling too scripted. Even with characters who are highly educated lovers of literature, their perfect turns of phrase do not always accurately represent the way most people speak. I wondered for some time whether the setting was modern or historic, but certain references did confirm it to be current. This may simply be the author’s style, and it did not bother me much as I got further along, but it was a little off-putting at first, and I’m glad I forgave long enough to give the story itself a chance. I will admit that however unrealistic the voices can be at times, they are awfully fun to listen to.

I cannot remember the last book I read so fervently, and I am proud of my friend for creating such an engaging tale. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or drama.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkein

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:45:15 -0500

I first tried to read the Hobbit in high school, but found it too childish and abandoned it. I decided to pick it up again in preparation for the film that’s about to be released.

I dare say this may be the worst book I’ve ever read. To write a review would be to justify to all the fanboys why I think it is complete garbage, and I want to be done with thinking about this book too much to bother going through it and describing all of my complaints in detail, so I will simply say this: It is poorly plotted, poorly written, there is not a single likable character, and deus ex machina is employed to such a degree that I would have never believed possible. Even the one single real triumph in the book is made by a character that no one cares about, and never have I seen such literal use of the term “a little birdie told me”, particularly in such a way that ruins what little excitement this terrible book offered.

The only three reasons I can imagine for its popularity are:

1) Nostalgia (how many Saturday morning cartoons have been proven to be truly awful when viewed again through adult eyes?)

2) Because most people reading it have very little experience with High Fantasy, and so the worldbuilding, races, magic, etc. are interesting enough to counteract the awful story.

3) Because of its relation to Lord of the Rings, which I’ve heard is far better, but I’m not exactly excited to ever read another word Tolkein wrote at this point.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Night Shift, by Stephen King

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:06:33 -0500

King’s first collection of short stories is, nearly without exception, divided neatly into two halves. The first half is chock full of cheesy, lame stories that are mediocre at best and pointless or awful at worst; only “The Boogeyman” stands out, a traditional but well-done story about a monster in a child’s closet. I wonder how many people have abandoned this book based on the weakness of the first half, to never find all the seriously spooky and engaging stories in the second half.

“The Ledge”, “Quitters, Inc.”, “I Know What You Need”, “Children of the Corn”, “The Man Who Loved Flowers”, and “One for the Road” all help make this collection shine, some being the typical supernatural horror you’d expect from King, and some more like short thrillers.

Interestingly, the standout story in this book is “The Last Rung on the Ladder”, which is not a horror story at all, but is instead a tragic drama the likes of which King has been writing more of in the later years of his career.

As a collection, this book is disappointing, but the individual stories mentioned here make it worth checking out.

In the Tall Grass, by Stephen King and Joe Hill

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:49:25 -0500

The premise of the story is simple and classic King: two siblings, driving across the country, hear a lost child calling for help from within a field of tall grass. They decide to investigate, but there’s something supernatural and malicious going on in this particular field. It’s a nasty story, suspenseful and gruesome, and though not the most offensive stuff King’s ever written, it’s close. Of course, that’s exactly the kind of story most people would hope for from these two authors. It’s definitely worth the read, just not over lunch.

Now, you know who Stephen King is, but you might not already know that his son, Joe Hill, is following in dad’s footsteps and is already an accomplished horror author. It’s my personal opinion that Hill has already shown the potential to overtake his father very soon, in skill if not in notoriety. In addition to two fantastic novels, a book of chilling short stories, and arguably the best graphic novel series in existence, he has also been credited with providing King with a superior ending to his recent time-travel book, 11/22/63. King fans know that his books tend to be long and engaging, but his endings are very hit-or-miss, so Hill’s contributions are incredibly valuable in this regard, and father-and-son collaborations like this one can only help both authors hone their craft further.

Regarding the narration of the audiobook by Stephen Lang, it’s tolerable at best. He’s not a very good actor, nor does he pull off female or child voices at all, and every bit of dialog is read in the same slow and plodding manner that he reads the narration; no emotion, no urgency, just reading words on a page rather than trying to bring a story to life. Luckily the story itself is good enough to let this slide.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:48:47 -0500

I had some problems with this book, mainly that it seems overly simple and shallow, but maybe that is the point. I did begin to enjoy it near the end, and think that the biography of his life which closes the book would better serve as the opening, to allow the reader to know what kind of life the author led before reading the miscellaneous letters and sayings he wrote.

Bill Hybels wrote just today that he reads this annually, and that today was the 40th time he did so. I may have to return to it myself in a year’s time and see if my opinion of it improves.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Christian Atheist: Believing in God But Living as If He Doesn't Exist, by Craig Groeschel

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:48:12 -0500

A good book, with chapters laid out to describe the different areas in one’s life that should be affected by faith in Christ and what each should look like. I certainly would have fallen under the title of Christian Atheist in previous years, but reading this book helped confirm for me that that is no longer the case. As such, i didn’t connect with or learn from this book as much as I had hoped, but it’s still a good read, and might be of great help to someone struggling to understand the fruit that faith should be producing in his own life.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Dragon Reborn, by Robert Jordan

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:47:14 -0500

The first two books in the Wheel of Time series did not impress me much. They were good enough to keep reading the series (my primary goal is to read everything Brandon Sanderson writes, and so I must read these 11 books to get to his), but I was not terribly invested in the characters and the story seemed to drag.

This book really picked up the interest level for nearly all of the main characters. Rand, ostensibly the primary character (and the one the book is named after, oddly enough) is nearly absent, but I didn’t mind one bit. The rest of the characters really bloomed in this book and all of their storylines were exciting and unique.

For the first time, I am quite looking forward to diving into the next book in the series.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Getting to No: How to Break a Stubborn Habit, by Erwin Lutzer

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:46:36 -0500

This is now part of my short list of “must-read” books on Christian living.

Let’s face it, everybody sins. And for most of us, that doesn’t just mean those innocuous little sins, if there really is any such thing; it’s hardly uncommon for a well-meaning, God-fearing Christian to have secret sin habits that they are terrified their fellow church members might find out about. For some it might be something overt like sexual immorality, for others it might be pride. Whatever your sin habit is, it’s holding you back from experiencing the freedom you have available in Christ. Sadly, as long as we all want to pretend we’re not really “that bad” and are afraid to confess our sin, nothing is going to change.

Getting to No is an incredible book which clearly details how so many of us fall into sinful habits, why we keep them, and how to overcome them. Through practical application of basic Biblical truths, we are taught what thoughts and attitudes need to change and what steps we need to take in order to overcome these habits. To some of us, much of this information may be new and groundbreaking, but really it is just a matter of understanding what Christ’s sacrifice did for us, and how God created us to have relationship with himself and our fellow believers.

We are never going to be free of temptation, that is simply part of being human, but overcoming it is possible as long as we are willing to trust in more than just our own willpower. If you let him, God will use those temptations to strengthen you, to build your faith and your testimony, and turn you into a new creation. This book will help you get started.

Rating: 5 out of 5

SIDE NOTE: My copy of this book is called “Winning the Inner War: How to Say No to a Stubborn Habit” and differs slightly from the title given here, but they are essentially the same book.

Moon Called, by Patricia Briggs

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:44:35 -0500

Well, at least it broke my stereotype that all urban fantasy written by women would be better labeled as paranormal romance. There was no romance to speak of here, which is good, but there was also way too much talk and way too little of interest going on to be an engaging story. Werewolf pack politics don’t interest me, and when the book finally got going near the end, it was a very quick rendition of a mediocre mystery novel, muddled up with way too many newly-introduced characters that were hard to keep track of.

Mercedes doesn’t interest me much, though by the end of the book it’s at least good to hear that shapeshifting into a coyote isn’t the extent of her abilities; I didn’t see how a book series could be based on such a character.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Fit to Be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime, by Bill & Lynne Hybels

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:43:44 -0500

This is a unique and unusual Christian marriage book. It’s a very personal look at the Hybels’ marriage, with far more disclosure and transparency than you usually get from a book like this; their marriage has been a rocky one with all sorts of struggles that resulted from conflicting personalities and the pressures of a demanding ministry. As a result, their book does not seek to teach about all aspects of marriage, but about specific lessons that they had to learn over the years, hurdles they have surpassed, and can now teach about from a position of hard-earned experience.

The first section of the book focuses on courtship, and I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is in a serious relationship and considering marriage, or even anyone who hopes to get married one day and wants wise counsel about how to build a good connection and avoid getting committed to someone who may be totally wrong for them.

The rest of the book is about dealing with the inevitable problems that will come in marriage, and how to resolve those conflicts in a healthy, Godly way. Again, this is a great book for people who are going through difficulties in their marriage, or just want to learn about how to handle issues when they arise.

A strong marriage always takes a lot of work, and the Hybels have opened up about much of the work they’ve had to do, as well as many of their mistakes along the way. As a member of Willow Creek Community Church, I appreciate being able to learn about the life of my pastor in more detail, and to know that even being a great church leader does not exclude a person from the refining fire of marriage.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Emperor's Soul, by Brandon Sanderson

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:42:53 -0500

This is a great novella that feels like a full novel. As usual with Sanderson, the characters feel real, the magic system is intricate and well-thought-out, and most importantly everything works together to form a rich world and an interesting plot that could only exist in that world; everything is a piece of a puzzle and none could be transplanted elsewhere.

I think this may be the perfect introduction to Sanderson’s work for those who have not read him, as the story contains pretty much everything that characterizes his writing in a much shorter form. It can be hard to expect a new (or skeptical) reader to dive into a long novel like Mistborn or The Way of Kings, but a 6 hour read is an easy sell, and sure to hook anyone who might like the rest of his work. I may purchase a second copy just to lend out.

Well done, Mr. Sanderson, I am continually impressed by your masterful creativity.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:42:08 -0500

Better than the first, but most of it was very slow and plodding with little of interest in its events.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Disciplines of a Godly Man, by R. Kent Hughes

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:41:36 -0500

What an incredibly wisdom-filled book! I have been in desperate need of discipline, particularly spiritual discipline, and the sixteen disciplines outlined here are all great reminders and challenges. Each chapter describes the discipline, why it’s important, and lays out a handful of specific ways to implement that discipline. In each chapter, even the ones I thought I had a good handle on, there was something new for me to learn.

I will be recommending this book to every man I know who wants their relationship with God to grow and his life to further reflect the faith he claims to have.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Sandman Slim, by Richard Kadrey

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:40:53 -0500

Finally, I’ve found a fun and gritty urban fantasy series that populates the same space as The Dresden Files: snarky, gritty, and action-packed. Urban Fantasy for men. I have read a few other authors who attempt this, but so far there aren’t many who pull it off.

The main character Stark/Sandman Slim is not terribly likable; he’s a selfish prick with little respect for human life, but he’s just barely good enough, and his opponents are so much worse, that by comparison he is enough of a hero to root for.

I also like that the mythology of this story is centered around the Jewish/Christian religious history with just enough ideas twisted around to make it unique. As a Christian myself, it’s a bit more irreverent than I would like, but I can clearly see the line between fictitious worldbuilding and mockery of God. Besides, in this world, God is quite fallible, so it’s not too hard to separate fantasy from theology.

I don’t like this as much as The Dresden Files, mainly because I don’t like Stark as much as Harry Dresden, but compared to Storm Front, the first book of that series, I’d say they’re equally enjoyable stories. I might not run out and buy book 2 immediately, but I’ll definitely give it a read when I’m in the mood.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Legion, by Brandon Sanderson

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:40:05 -0500

Quite an enjoyable story, however brief.

I’m happy to have received it as an early birthday present, though I do hope that one day the author makes it available in a collection of other short stories and novellas that he has been publishing on and off. The price of this 88 page book was $20, $45 for the limited edition, and while I do think that is a fair price tag for a collector’s item to a huge Sanderson fan like myself, the promised ebook priced at a couple of bucks makes far more sense for most people who simply want to read the story.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:38:55 -0500

People say this series gets slow around book 6 or 7. After reading book 1, I wonder how much slower it can move. The story was good, but there were no great surprises and the exciting parts were few and far between. I suspect that because this book is so influential, much of it feels cliche by today’s standards.

Still, it was a good book, and I will continue the series happily, now that I have finally mustered up the motivation to begin the journey.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Stories: All-New Tales, edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:37:44 -0500

Short story collections are always going to be hit-or-miss, and this one is no exception. There are some incredibly good stories here, and some real duds. I’m sure there are readers who will think that my duds were the winners and my winners were the duds, and that’s fine. In the introduction to the book, Gaiman says that he was looking for stories which make the reader ask, “… and then what happened?” Most of these stories do that; sadly, the answer to that question in many of these stories is, “Nothing.”

I decided to read this anthology for the stories by Jeffery Deaver and Joe Hill, but was surprised by Lawrence Block, Carolyn Parkhurst, and others. Here are my individual reviews:

“Blood” by Roddy Doyle - 3 stars - Just your average suburbanite becoming a vampire.

“Fossil-Figures” by Joyce Carol Oates - 4 stars - Odd and creepy, as promised.

“Wildfire in Manhattan” by Joanne Harris - 4 stars - Reminiscent of American Gods, but without the pretense of a full plot and more enjoyable for it.

“The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains” by Neil Gaiman - 3 stars - Started off too slow but had a satisfying enough ending.

“Unbelief” by Michael Marshall Smith - 3 stars - Best story so far, until the end, which did not make any sense to me. Maybe if someone can explain it satisfactorily I would give it a 4.

“The Stars Are Falling” by Joe R. Lansdale - 2 stars - Possibly the most predictable well-written story ever.

“Juvenal Nyx” by Walter Mosley - 4 stars - Can’t tell if this vampire story is actually good or if my standards have just been lowered by the previous stories.

“The Knife” by Richard Adams - 3 stars - Very short but satisfying enough.

“Weights and Measures” by Jodi Picoult - 2 stars - This may mean something profound to someone, but it’s both nonsensical and a bit offensive to me.

“Goblin Lake” by Michael Swanwick - 4 stars - There was the novel and unique story I was looking for. Not mindblowing, but enjoyable.

“Mallon the Guru” by Peter Straub - 1 star - Why write a story at all if you are not going to give it a point?

“Catch and Release” by Lawrence Block - 5 stars - Now that one was intense. Finally a story that really kept me asking, “… and then what happened?”

“Polka Dots and Moonbeams” by Jeffrey Ford - 1 star - Never been fond of stories that only make sense in the mind of the author.

“Loser” by Chuck Palahniuk - 4 stars - Good old Chuck always comes through with the stuff nobody else could ever think of.

“Samantha’s Diary” by Diana Wynne Jones - 1 star - Getting very tired of long-winded stories that end abruptly in confusion.

“Land of the Lost” by Stewart O’Nan - 2 stars - I’m starting to think these are stories that can only appeal to other quirky writers.

“Leif in the Wind” by Gene Wolfe - 4 stars - Because it’s by Wolfe, I expect there’s something going on in this story that I am not aware of. Thankfully it’s a good story anyway.

“Unwell” by Carolyn Parkhurst - 5 stars - Now that’s a story! What an evil, nasty character, and an actual story to go with her; best short story I’ve read in a while.

“A Life in Fictions” by Kat Howard - 5 stars - Unique and satisfying.

“Let the Past Begin” by Jonathan Carroll - 3 stars - Enjoyable but once again lacking a point.

“The Therapist” by Jeffery Deaver - 6 stars! - Absolutely perfect writing, a great example of why he’s my favorite thriller writer, and the genre of the story is exactly right for this anthology. This story made reading all the others worth it.

“Parallel Lines” by Tim Powers - 4 stars

“The Cult of the Nose” by Al Sarrantonio - 4 stars - Can’t say why I liked this one without ruining it.

“Human Intelligence” by Kurt Andersen - 3 stars - Cute.

“Stories” by Michael Moorcock - 1 star - Um, what?

“The Maiden Flight of McCauley’s Bellerophon” by Elizabeth Hand - 3 stars - Enjoyable read but another unsatisfying ending.

“The Devil on the Staircase” by Joe Hill - 5 stars - The story I was looking forward to most did not disappoint.

Midnight Riot, by Ben Aaronovitch

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:32:32 -0500

I don’t understand all the love this book is getting. I was excited to potentially find another series that could even come close to The Dresden Files, but this doesn’t seem to be it. I spent most of the time just wishing it would be over so I could move on to something better. There’s nothing especially bad about the book, just that there’s nothing good worth mentioning. The characters, the plot, the magic, it’s all just… there. The only reason I finished it is because it takes a LOT to get me to quit a book in the middle, and Midnight Riot is not nearly so memorably bad as that. Not memorably anything.

Rating: 2 out of 5