Book Reviews: Copper Sun, The Social Animal, The Geography of Bliss
Book: Copper Sun Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: While the book’s depiction of slave capturing in Africa seems realistic, the book’s historical realism declines when the main character Amari reaches America. The story powerfully shows the cruelty of slavery, but too many scenes seem contrived merely to keep readers interested, rather than educated about [...]
Book Review: War
Book: War Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: As a journalist embedded among American soldiers in Afghanistan, Junger sees up close dangerous, dirty, and boring frontline conditions. He reports on men he comes to know and on the physical and psychological challenges faced. He weaves research into the story and delivers a complete account of [...]
Book Review: My Reading Life
Book: My Reading Life Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: Conroy reflects on authors and others who have shaped him as a writer. His high school English teacher, him mother, Tolstoy, and Thomas Wolfe played a huge role in his development. The book is an example of great story telling and his discussion of important [...]
Book Review: Extraordinary, Ordinary People
Book: Extraordinary, Ordinary People Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: Supported by ambitious and immensely dedicated parents from Birmigham, Alabama, Condi Rice capitalized on natural abilities and went on to serve two presidents and become a Stanford professor and provost. She experienced the divided South and learned about overcoming adversity and excelling from a network [...]
Book Review: Griftopia
Book: Griftopia Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: Loaded with sarcasm, colorful language, and point-blank attacks on the likes of Alan Greenspan and the leaders of Goldman Sachs, this book is immensely entertaining and also a pretty informative business history book. The chapters kind of stand individually from one another and the first two are [...]
Book Review: Unwind
Book: Unwind Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: It’s understandable why this book is a 2011 NH Flume Award nominee and it wouldn’t be surprising if it were to win. In a future where delinquent, troubled, and unwanted teens are removed from society and unwound (killed for parts), three very different teens end up joining [...]
Book Review: The Other Half of My Heart
Book: The Other Half of My Heart Reviewer: Joanne Palin, Sunapee Central Elementary School Rating & Comments: The Other Half of My Heart, by Sundee Frazier, was a wonderfully moving story about 11-year-old twin sisters, Keisha and Minni. From a bi-racial couple, Minni is light-skinned and has red hair, like her dad. Keisha is dark-skinned [...]
Book Review: Game Change
November 12, 2010
Filed under Opinion
Book: Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: A behind-the-scenes look at the candidates as they run for the presidency in 2008. On the one hand the book is gossipy, while on the other it’s a sophisticated look at history and [...]
Book Review: In the Path of Falling Objects
November 1, 2010
Filed under Opinion
Book: In the Path of Falling Objects Reviewer: Mr. Palin Rating & Comments: Abandoned by their mom, two brothers leave their home in hopes of finding their dad, who’s getting out of prison. They get picked up while hitchhiking and then the nightmare starts. The brothers have to deal with the desert, a creep named [...]
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