This book pissed me off and left me with an unpleasant taste in my mouth. "The Pines" was one of my favorite books last year. I loved it and have recommended it more times than I can count. I couldn't wait when I saw the sequel was coming out. I should have known. I tried reading several of Crouch's books after "The Pines" and didn't really like them. BUT, I thought he's going back to Wayward Pines. Upcoming spoilers for "The Pines". Consider yourself warned.
The big reveal at the end of the "The Pines", is that our world has been destroyed. It is hundreds of years into the future and the town of Wayward Pines and the outpost in the mountain are the only pockets of humanity left. Ethan Burke, the main character from the previous book has been told the truth and is the new sheriff. He knows it all know. The town is wired. Every aspect of life is under surveillance. Bathrooms, bedrooms, everything is all wired for sight and sound being reviewed up in the mountain. All inhabitants have an imbedded tracker to mark their locations as well. All of this makes you feel uncomfortable and in need of a shower (in the dark). Which is the point I suppose as Ethan is now in charge of upholding the status quo. Out in what's left of the world, the "Abbies" are an ever present threat that the outpost is monitoring under the control of evil mastermind David Pilcher, who is known to the town as their psychiatrist. Crouch spends a lot of time with Pilcher's character. I'm still not sure if we are supposed to understand him or hate him. Whatever, I gave up.
After a very slow opening where Ethan contemplates all that sucks in the world, he finds a dead body. GASP!! How does that happen in this town. Not just any dead body, she's a spy for Pilcher. At this point I did get engaged again. The mystery. The who, what, why of it all. Then we get the end when Ethan figures it all out. Ethan goes for broke, Pilcher throws a tantrum and it ends. Right there, cliffhanger city. Cue the music.
Well no not really, because you know what happened and is happening. Crouch forgot to finish the book. It is to be continued in the third book of the series. My problem is that this book isn't finished. Each book in a series should stand on it's own and this one doesn't. It really, really doesn't. I was so disappointed I would have thrown it across the room, except it was on my Kindle. I realize that I had extremely high expectations for this book and that factored into my reading experience. I can't recommend this book. I really wanted to, but I can't.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
"Wool" ~ Hugh Howey
"Wool" tops my list of must reads for the year. This book is amazing. The book opens with a group of people living in an underground silo. Why? Who are they? Why are they there? "Wool" was initially released as a short stand alone story. Readers demanded more and Mr. Howey obliged. The rest of the story was released over six months. Thankfully I found it after it was finished. Waiting to find out what happens would have driven me crazy.
The worst crime you can commit in the Silo wanting to go outside. The punishment, they let you. In this post apocalypse world, the Silo's inhabitants have one view of the world. The screens on the top most level showing a desolate world of brown. Nobody knows why, they just know they can't survive out there. The story opens with the sheriff stating that he wants to go outside. This means he will be sent outside to clean. The will put him in a self contained suit, strap wool pads to his hands to clean the camera feed sensors and let him go. Nobody makes it very far before their suit disintegrates. And everybody cleans before they die. Every...single...person. Even the ones who swore they wouldn't.
You spend the first part of the book with the sheriff, who's wife was sent to clean three years ago. Then you shift to the mayor and the deputy sheriff as they journey through the silo to hire the next sheriff. Howey's created an amazingly believable world. It makes sense and functions well. You see the how, but again you just can't quite put your finger on the why. The third shift takes you to Juliette, the new sheriff. I love Juliette. As a mechanic and engineer, she's looking for the pieces that don't fit. That don't make sense. She's us, the reader, at this point and actively taking us with her as she tries to figure it out.
And after that? I'm not going to tell you. Go read the book. All I know is that I couldn't put it down. I finished it and bought the next two books in the series. Shift provides the backstory for the Silo as it bounces between the past and present. Dust brings it all together. Did I like them as much as "Wool"? Almost. I had some story issues and some character issues, but over all, I highly recommend the whole series. Why did I like "Wool" better? "Wool" is that magical first experience before you have anything to compare it to. Before there is history, context and explanations. Did I say go read it? Go read it.
The worst crime you can commit in the Silo wanting to go outside. The punishment, they let you. In this post apocalypse world, the Silo's inhabitants have one view of the world. The screens on the top most level showing a desolate world of brown. Nobody knows why, they just know they can't survive out there. The story opens with the sheriff stating that he wants to go outside. This means he will be sent outside to clean. The will put him in a self contained suit, strap wool pads to his hands to clean the camera feed sensors and let him go. Nobody makes it very far before their suit disintegrates. And everybody cleans before they die. Every...single...person. Even the ones who swore they wouldn't.
You spend the first part of the book with the sheriff, who's wife was sent to clean three years ago. Then you shift to the mayor and the deputy sheriff as they journey through the silo to hire the next sheriff. Howey's created an amazingly believable world. It makes sense and functions well. You see the how, but again you just can't quite put your finger on the why. The third shift takes you to Juliette, the new sheriff. I love Juliette. As a mechanic and engineer, she's looking for the pieces that don't fit. That don't make sense. She's us, the reader, at this point and actively taking us with her as she tries to figure it out.
And after that? I'm not going to tell you. Go read the book. All I know is that I couldn't put it down. I finished it and bought the next two books in the series. Shift provides the backstory for the Silo as it bounces between the past and present. Dust brings it all together. Did I like them as much as "Wool"? Almost. I had some story issues and some character issues, but over all, I highly recommend the whole series. Why did I like "Wool" better? "Wool" is that magical first experience before you have anything to compare it to. Before there is history, context and explanations. Did I say go read it? Go read it.
Monday, September 30, 2013
"The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error" - Sidney Dekker
This is an odd book for me to review, because it's a book about accident investigation. I'm on the Safety Committee at work and they sent me to a big conference. One of the presenters is the head of the safety program at 3M. When he recommended this book, I thought we should check it out. I never thought I would enjoy it. I certainly never thought I'd be so passionate about it that I would walk around quoting it or talking about on the phone in a casual conversation. Yet that's what happened. I spent 20 minutes straight talking about this book to a friend while we were shopping. WHO does that with a book about accident investigation? Me, apparently.
Mr. Dekker's premise is how do you investigate accidents without blaming the employees. He asks, "Is human error the cause or a symptom of trouble?" To him, "human error" is the starting point not the end. This was intriguing to me because he does not believe that complex systems are inherently safe and everything would be fine if we could just get rid of those "bad apples" who mess it up. My brain immediately started jibbering "but, but, but...that's WRONG"! There are bad apples! If we just got rid of them, forced them to follow the rules, invented new rules, etc. life would be wonderful and we could live in our shiny, happy perfect world. Mr. Dekker has a strong background in aviation accident investigation. He also writes in a clear, easy to follow style that makes sense to me. He makes two statements that resonate with me and he makes them both in the first chapter.
The first statement got me thinking. Nobody goes to work and thinks I'm going to crash this car, or give wrong medication or electrocute myself. Most of us show up and try to get through the day.
The second statement is even more crucial to me. If it made sense to one person, odds are good it will make sense to someone else. Chapter three is called "The Hindsight Bias". You've heard that saying hindsight is 20/20? Well, not in Mr. Dekker's world. Hindsight is the wrong place to be. You need to follow the events from inside with the knowledge that was available at the time.
So what do you do? How do you change your thinking and patterns. Not easily. This book is full of so much information, but I found something in every chapter that translated to my work environment. He isn't saying that people do not bear any responsibility for their actions or don't make mistakes. I have to say this was one of the most compelling books I read this year. If non fiction is your thing, or understanding systems, I highly recommend this book.
Mr. Dekker's premise is how do you investigate accidents without blaming the employees. He asks, "Is human error the cause or a symptom of trouble?" To him, "human error" is the starting point not the end. This was intriguing to me because he does not believe that complex systems are inherently safe and everything would be fine if we could just get rid of those "bad apples" who mess it up. My brain immediately started jibbering "but, but, but...that's WRONG"! There are bad apples! If we just got rid of them, forced them to follow the rules, invented new rules, etc. life would be wonderful and we could live in our shiny, happy perfect world. Mr. Dekker has a strong background in aviation accident investigation. He also writes in a clear, easy to follow style that makes sense to me. He makes two statements that resonate with me and he makes them both in the first chapter.
- "You have to assume that nobody comes to work to do a bad job."
- "You have to understand why what people did made sense to them at the time."
The first statement got me thinking. Nobody goes to work and thinks I'm going to crash this car, or give wrong medication or electrocute myself. Most of us show up and try to get through the day.
"People are doing reasonable things given their point of view and focus of attention; their knowledge of the situation; their objectives and the objectives of the lager organization they work for. In normal work that goes on in normal organizations, safety is never the only concern, or even the primary concern. Systems do not exist to be safe, the exist to make money; to render a service; provide a product. Besides safety there are multiple other objectives: pressures to produce; to not cost an organization unnecessary money; to be on time; to get results; to keep customers happy. People's sensitivity to these objectives, and their ability to juggle them in parallel with demands for safety, is one reason they were chosen for the jobs, and why they are allowed to keep them."
The second statement is even more crucial to me. If it made sense to one person, odds are good it will make sense to someone else. Chapter three is called "The Hindsight Bias". You've heard that saying hindsight is 20/20? Well, not in Mr. Dekker's world. Hindsight is the wrong place to be. You need to follow the events from inside with the knowledge that was available at the time.
"Hindsight changes how we look at past decision making. It turns real convoluted complexity into a simple linear story; a binary decision to err or not to err."As he also states, to these people, in these situations, the outcome was not known or they would have done something different.
So what do you do? How do you change your thinking and patterns. Not easily. This book is full of so much information, but I found something in every chapter that translated to my work environment. He isn't saying that people do not bear any responsibility for their actions or don't make mistakes. I have to say this was one of the most compelling books I read this year. If non fiction is your thing, or understanding systems, I highly recommend this book.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking ~ Susan Cain
So it's been a while since I posted here, 8 months, but whose counting right? Introvert that I am, I was so excited to read this book and am glad I did. I actually read it last summer, which will be a good thing because I won't bore you with minutia, just the stuff that stuck with me.
First this book is not a casual read. It's dense, well researched and full of studies and statistics. They are all interesting studies and you learn a lot. One I found interesting is how our society has shifted to a cult of personality, something that heavily favors the extroverts. How many moons ago the personality traits we prized most highly were things like honesty, loyalty, working hard. That shifted around the time of Andrew Carnegie, with his "How To Win Friends and Influence People" mentality, to things such as likability, presentation, and charm. Several dealt with being able to scientifically measure the differences between an introvert and an extroverts brains. I thought it was pretty cool information. The second thing all this information did, was layout some solid information on why introverts and extroverts and can have such different physical, emotional, and behavioral responses to the same situations. Again, cool! There are reasons I march to the off beat of the weird drummer over in left field. There were some odd bits the seemed off. The section about the Asian students comes to mind. Overall, though I did enjoy the book, with one drawback.
I never did find the "Power" mentioned in the title. Unless it's know and owning your introvertedness. (Yes, my spellcheck is telling me that is not a word, but I don't care.) If it is, that didn't really help me. I know I'm an introvert. I was looking for a "how-to" of sorts. Coping strategies and concrete actions. I didn't find that in this book and I really wanted too. I found this book interesting and contemplate reading it again. I probably wont, but it will stay on the bookshelf.
Final thought, Years ago my mom gave me a book called "The Introvert Advantage" by Marti Olsen Laney. If your looking for book that helps you cope as an introvert, that is the book for you.
First this book is not a casual read. It's dense, well researched and full of studies and statistics. They are all interesting studies and you learn a lot. One I found interesting is how our society has shifted to a cult of personality, something that heavily favors the extroverts. How many moons ago the personality traits we prized most highly were things like honesty, loyalty, working hard. That shifted around the time of Andrew Carnegie, with his "How To Win Friends and Influence People" mentality, to things such as likability, presentation, and charm. Several dealt with being able to scientifically measure the differences between an introvert and an extroverts brains. I thought it was pretty cool information. The second thing all this information did, was layout some solid information on why introverts and extroverts and can have such different physical, emotional, and behavioral responses to the same situations. Again, cool! There are reasons I march to the off beat of the weird drummer over in left field. There were some odd bits the seemed off. The section about the Asian students comes to mind. Overall, though I did enjoy the book, with one drawback.
I never did find the "Power" mentioned in the title. Unless it's know and owning your introvertedness. (Yes, my spellcheck is telling me that is not a word, but I don't care.) If it is, that didn't really help me. I know I'm an introvert. I was looking for a "how-to" of sorts. Coping strategies and concrete actions. I didn't find that in this book and I really wanted too. I found this book interesting and contemplate reading it again. I probably wont, but it will stay on the bookshelf.
Final thought, Years ago my mom gave me a book called "The Introvert Advantage" by Marti Olsen Laney. If your looking for book that helps you cope as an introvert, that is the book for you.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
"Miracle and Other Christmas Stories" ~ Connie Willis
"Miracle and Other Christmas Stories" is one of my favorite books of all time. I reread it every December. Connie Willis is a multiple Hugo and Nebula award winning author of science fiction. I'd say science fantasy, if that's a category, which I say yes, it is because it's my blog. There are so many things I love about the Christmas season. Trees and lights and cookies and fresh snow on the trees. Christmas songs I know all the words to and can bellow at the top of my lungs. Watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "A Christmas Story".
I'd been reading Connie Willis for a while when "Miracle" was published in 1999. The idea was just so intriguing, a book of Christmas themed short stories that also had a sci fi / fantasy slant. As she says in the introduction.
How could I NOT buy this book?
There are eight short stories and each has it's own style and feel. "Miracle" is about an office worker who wants nothing so much as to go the office Christmas party, where this year she hopes to catch the attention of her handsome co-worker. Her cards are addressed, the dress is bought, the presents are wrapped and along comes Chris, to give her heart's desire. This story makes me laugh and smile every year.
"Inn" takes place during a Christmas Eve choir rehearsal as one member tries to help a homeless man and his pregnant wife.
"Adaptation" takes on Dickens's "A Christmas Carol"
"Newsletter" makes me smile and want to try writing my own.
Do I love all the stories? No, there are a couple I don't get, but that's ok, because I get so much enjoyment out of the others. I'm not usually a fan of short stories. I'm a long haul epic series kind of reader. Willis's writing draws you in and makes you care, which is amazing given the format . A wonderful addition to your Christmas traditions.
I'd been reading Connie Willis for a while when "Miracle" was published in 1999. The idea was just so intriguing, a book of Christmas themed short stories that also had a sci fi / fantasy slant. As she says in the introduction.
"Here they are-an assortment of stories about church choirs and Christmas presents and pod people from outer space, about wishes that come true in ways you don't expect and wishes that don't come true and wishes you didn't know you had."
There are eight short stories and each has it's own style and feel. "Miracle" is about an office worker who wants nothing so much as to go the office Christmas party, where this year she hopes to catch the attention of her handsome co-worker. Her cards are addressed, the dress is bought, the presents are wrapped and along comes Chris, to give her heart's desire. This story makes me laugh and smile every year.
"Inn" takes place during a Christmas Eve choir rehearsal as one member tries to help a homeless man and his pregnant wife.
"Adaptation" takes on Dickens's "A Christmas Carol"
"Newsletter" makes me smile and want to try writing my own.
Do I love all the stories? No, there are a couple I don't get, but that's ok, because I get so much enjoyment out of the others. I'm not usually a fan of short stories. I'm a long haul epic series kind of reader. Willis's writing draws you in and makes you care, which is amazing given the format . A wonderful addition to your Christmas traditions.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
"Talisman Trilogy" ~ Brenda Pandos
I read the "Talisman Trilogy" over the last week and I'm really not sure why. The series consists of "The Emerald Talisman", "The Sapphire Talisman" and "The Onyx Talisman". The first one was free and the others were $2.99 so that might explain why I finished the series. So two disclaimers: first this is a young adult series, second it was recommended by a person with a young adult daughter. I am not however a young adult woman and parts of this series just pissed me off. Other parts just bored me.
The main character is 16 year old Julia Parker who is an empath, who can sense what others are feeling. The first part of the book sets up Julia, her friends, her school, her classes, etc. Being a long way from high school I just skimmed these parts. Then one night on her way home, Julia is attacked and rescued by Nicholas, cute alpha male with a capital "A". Soon Julia meets cute beta male Phil and our triangle is complete. Turns out Nick is a half vampire vampire hunter, who's been watching over Julia for most of her life. Then throw in the prediction that Julia is the key to stopping the vamps and there is basis for the series. The twist is that as a vampire sires a new vampire his bloodline is tied to that vamp and any that they sire. So if you kill the head of the blood line every vamp attached to it will *poof* die. So Julie needs to kill the father of all vampires to destroy this curse. I actually like that part of the series. It was interesting and what actually kept me reading.
What I did NOT like was the characterization of the female characters. It's the same thing that bugged me Twilight, but at least with that I didn't notice until after I was done with the series. With this series, it pissed me off all the way through. Julia spends so much of time caught up in this storm of dramatic emotion, it just made me tired. Julia goes from I just met you to I'll die without you over the course of about one date. Later when Julia and her friend talk about sex, Julia says she not ready and that she wants to wait until she is married. Later on Julia and her friend again have this conversation and the friends says she wants to marry her boyfriend and again wait to have sex until after she is married. I have no problem with waiting for the right person, I have no problem with being committed to a person, and I have no problem with marriage. The thing is, if you asked a group of teenage girls what they were going to do after high school, I don't think get married immediately would be the top answer. None of the female characters express any desire to be anything but part of a couple. No mention of future goals or career plans. Even Julia's aunt does nothing but be a surrogate mother to Julia and have a baby. Where is the girl power? Where is the strength and confidence that you yourself are enough.
Finally, in the third book you really get a look at what Julia's dad does and it is so ridiculous that I could barely keep reading. I honestly don't even know why that part was even included. Generally I try to stay away from writing negative reviews, but I just couldn't do it in this case.
The main character is 16 year old Julia Parker who is an empath, who can sense what others are feeling. The first part of the book sets up Julia, her friends, her school, her classes, etc. Being a long way from high school I just skimmed these parts. Then one night on her way home, Julia is attacked and rescued by Nicholas, cute alpha male with a capital "A". Soon Julia meets cute beta male Phil and our triangle is complete. Turns out Nick is a half vampire vampire hunter, who's been watching over Julia for most of her life. Then throw in the prediction that Julia is the key to stopping the vamps and there is basis for the series. The twist is that as a vampire sires a new vampire his bloodline is tied to that vamp and any that they sire. So if you kill the head of the blood line every vamp attached to it will *poof* die. So Julie needs to kill the father of all vampires to destroy this curse. I actually like that part of the series. It was interesting and what actually kept me reading.
What I did NOT like was the characterization of the female characters. It's the same thing that bugged me Twilight, but at least with that I didn't notice until after I was done with the series. With this series, it pissed me off all the way through. Julia spends so much of time caught up in this storm of dramatic emotion, it just made me tired. Julia goes from I just met you to I'll die without you over the course of about one date. Later when Julia and her friend talk about sex, Julia says she not ready and that she wants to wait until she is married. Later on Julia and her friend again have this conversation and the friends says she wants to marry her boyfriend and again wait to have sex until after she is married. I have no problem with waiting for the right person, I have no problem with being committed to a person, and I have no problem with marriage. The thing is, if you asked a group of teenage girls what they were going to do after high school, I don't think get married immediately would be the top answer. None of the female characters express any desire to be anything but part of a couple. No mention of future goals or career plans. Even Julia's aunt does nothing but be a surrogate mother to Julia and have a baby. Where is the girl power? Where is the strength and confidence that you yourself are enough.
Finally, in the third book you really get a look at what Julia's dad does and it is so ridiculous that I could barely keep reading. I honestly don't even know why that part was even included. Generally I try to stay away from writing negative reviews, but I just couldn't do it in this case.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
"The Chalk Girl" ~ Carol O'Connell
"The Chalk Girl" by Carol O'Connell is the latest in her mystery series featuring Kathy Mallory. I was happy to hear this book was coming out. After the events in "Find Me", I was afraid Mallory's story was done. The amazing thing O'Connell does is make Mallory the main character without ever having her tell the story. It's always told by the characters around her.
It was a good Mallory book. It was good to have her back in New York and back on the job. One of the drawbacks to the series is that you don't spend much time, if any, with Mallory's internal thought process. And I wanted some, just a hint of what happened after the end of "Find Me" and the beginning of "The Chalk Girl". I enjoyed the conflict between Charles and Mallory, who despite his unrequited love for her, stands up to her several times in this book.
This series is not sweet and light, but it is good. It's a love it leave it kind of deal no middle ground. The book starts with a school field trip in Central Park where we are introduced to a young child named Coco right before a rat swarm. Turns out Coco, in a bloody t-shirt, isn't part of the class. She says "The blood fell from the sky while she was looking for her uncle Red who turned into a tree". There starts a complicated story of murder and revenge. As I said I liked it and am waiting paitently for the next installment. Side note ~ I actually read this back in June of this year, but it was summer and summer is short in Minnesota, so you have to take advantage while it's here.
It was a good Mallory book. It was good to have her back in New York and back on the job. One of the drawbacks to the series is that you don't spend much time, if any, with Mallory's internal thought process. And I wanted some, just a hint of what happened after the end of "Find Me" and the beginning of "The Chalk Girl". I enjoyed the conflict between Charles and Mallory, who despite his unrequited love for her, stands up to her several times in this book.
This series is not sweet and light, but it is good. It's a love it leave it kind of deal no middle ground. The book starts with a school field trip in Central Park where we are introduced to a young child named Coco right before a rat swarm. Turns out Coco, in a bloody t-shirt, isn't part of the class. She says "The blood fell from the sky while she was looking for her uncle Red who turned into a tree". There starts a complicated story of murder and revenge. As I said I liked it and am waiting paitently for the next installment. Side note ~ I actually read this back in June of this year, but it was summer and summer is short in Minnesota, so you have to take advantage while it's here.
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