Maximus

Love Will Wheaton…but…

Revisado: 12-01-23

Will is a great guy. Love his board game videos, his appearance on The Big Bang Theory, and much more. But he isn’t the best narrator for audiobooks.

Did I enjoy it? Yes.

Will I listen to it again? Yes.

Is it as enjoyable as Project Hail Mary and others read by Ray Porter? No.

But to get it on sale…well, it was too good to pass up.

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Meh...

Revisado: 11-15-19

It’s, for the most past, an “ok” semi-feel-good story.

I’ve read and/or listened to nearly 100 books throughout 2019. Everything from Brandon Sanderson fantasy, to Brené Brown self-development, to Pulitzer Prize winning “The Overstory.”

Where the Forest Meets the Stars kept my attention enough to slam through it in just a few days, but it was mostly predictable, and the characters just didn’t have enough depth. It’s not a bad story, but compared to other books I’ve read this year, it wasn’t remarkably enjoyable either. 2.5 stars.

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Depends on what you're looking for...

Revisado: 03-09-19

To offer a full disclosure on the front end, I was offered a free credit for Titanborn from the author/publisher, but was not required to offer a review.

I recently plunged through Titanborn over a 2 day period of time. Being behind the curve in Audiobooks, I hadn't yet listened to a book narrated by R.C. Bray, nor have I read or listened to any of the other works by Rhett Bruno.

WHAT I ENJOYED:
Honestly, I enjoyed the overall state of civilization portrayed in Titanborn. Bruno has done a really thorough job in creating a futuristic world, providing creative insight into the various people groups depending whether they are on Earth, Titan, or elsewhere in the galaxy.

I also really enjoyed the narration by R.C. Bray. I can see why he's popular, especially among Sci-Fi fans.

WHAT I DIDN'T ENJOY:
While the story was easy to follow, it was perhaps, too easy to follow. Not only was the overarching storyline fairly predictable, but I didn't really find myself rooting for the characters. A good story isn't a good story if the reader (or listener) isn't really inclined to root for one or more of the main characters, and by the end of the story, I just didn't really have much of an affinity for any of them.

WOULD I RECOMMEND IT?:
All in all, this depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for decent sci-fi that helps fill the time and offers some level of entertainment, then sure, I'd recommend it. All in all, I was intrigued enough that I would consider listening to another book or two within the series. But for me, it isn't a series I'll put near the top of my wishlist.

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It was...tolerable

Revisado: 03-09-19

On a recent road trip, my family listened to Sovereign by Jeff Hirsch, but only upon completing The Final Empire: Mistborn Book 1 by Brandon Sanderson. To say Sovereign doesn't live up to Mistborn quality would be an understatement. Sure, Hirsch isn't trying to be Sanderson, and I wouldn't want him to. But Sovereign lacks good character development, and the overall story was just...meh.

This won't be a title my family or I return to again. It was tolerable. But not good.

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WOW!

Revisado: 03-09-19

To keep this review short and sweet, I'll begin by saying I've never considered myself a fan of the Fantasy genre. I've read Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and of course, the Harry Potter Series.

But after reading about the Mistborn books and seeing them recommended over and over again on Reddit, I thought I'd give it a try. Wow, such great writing. And Kramer does a fantastic job with the narration. After listening to it on my own, I introduced The Final Empire to my family during a recent extended road trip. We finished The Final Empire (it was a long road trip) and everybody in the family, including my wife, is really looking forward to Book 2.

If you don't consider yourself a fan of the genre, go ahead and give it a try. There's a good chance Brandon Sanderson will draw you in, and do so in the best way possible.

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A Challenging Review to Write

Revisado: 02-19-19

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Let me be clear right at the start - this is probably one of the most difficult books I've ever attempted to review, and the thoughts represented below may evolve as I continue to ponder and meditate on some of the key themes communicated throughout the book.

In a preview video about the book, Jemar Tisby said, "“Christians in America have (by and large, not to a person, but as a group and historically) have cooperated with racism instead of confronting it.”

This quote will almost certainly create an emotional response from those who hear it, and I would caution anybody who would have a negative thought to lean into the discomfort a bit. In other words, when thinking about the target audience, I would say:

(1) Anybody who DOES NOT have much knowledge of enslaved peoples in the United States, from the 1700's through present day. For example, a high-school / college student, or other adult who is unaware of just how much history there is regarding this subject, or...

(2) Those who DO have knowledge of enslaved peoples in the United States, but that knowledge has come from select sources that may not represent the full picture, or...

(3) Anybody who is willing to go into this book with an OPEN mind, who is willing to seriously consider any unconscious thoughts or beliefs they may have regarding racial equality (or inequality) in the United States.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT "The Color of Compromise"? HOW WAS THE CONTENT?

Admittedly, much of the general content was history in which I was familiar. For example, I was familiar with the atrocities of enslaved people in the 1700-1800's, the horrendous Jim Crow laws, and more. However, there are several specific examples as to laws passed or other examples of the church's failures to address the issue, and many of the specific examples are ones I may not have been aware of.

One criticism I'll note is that Tisby did not fully cover the differences of slavery / enslaved people in the U.S. in the 1700-1800's vs. how slavery functioned in Ancient Israel (Old Testament) and the Roman Empire (New Testament). There was a short section in which this was mentioned, but it provided very little detail. As such, I think it would've been very helpful for most readers to have more insight that when reading about "slavery" in the Bible, the cultural context was very different than how slavery occurred early in U.S. history.

This criticism aside, I rate the book a solid 4/5 stars. Mostly, I appreciated the final chapter in which Tisby outlines potential solutions for how the church / Christians today can better address the topic of race. His point that evangelicals are concerned about understanding the Scriptures well, and would do well to better educate ourselves on understanding the history of enslaved peoples and the impact it has had on our culture was a good point to make, and worthy of further reflection.

HOW DOES IT STAND OUT AS AN AUDIOBOOK? HOW WAS THE NARRATOR AND/OR THE RECORDING QUALITY?

Tisby does a good job narrating the book, and it was good to hear from the author's voice. I will note that...

(1) The cadence of his voice wasn't always natural or as conversational as it could've been. It wasn't distracting, but didn't quite feel natural, and...

(2) There were 2 or 3 times when a clear recording error was found. For example, on one occasion Tisby read the exact same sentence twice. There were other moments when a word or short phrase may have been repeated as well.

But all in all, I was able to listen at 1.25 or 1.5x and could retain the information well.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS RESOURCE TO OTHERS?

All in all, I would recommend the book to others. While there were some sections that were slightly lacking, and while I believe Tisby could've provided MORE examples as to how the church can better respond to the topic of racial equality today, it was a good listen.

I would likely give it another 1/4 to 1/2 star if there was a short PDF included with questions for discussion added for each chapter. This would be a great book for a church staff or small group to read through and discuss, and having good discussion questions available would've been a big help.

If not a discussion guide, having a "Questions for Individual Reflection" at the end of each chapter would also prove valuable. Providing the reader the opportunity to really dig-in to their own upbringing / experience, to journal and consider perspectives that may differ from their own would make this an even better resource.

Despite these minor shortcomings, it's a good resource. As somebody who lives in a town that is 95% white and grew up in a WASP (white Anglo-Saxon protestant) family, I'll likely listen to it again in the future, as I really would like to better understand the topic, and would like to enter into conversations about race feeling more informed, and more empathetic towards those who may have grown up less privileged than myself.

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Q & A for "Becoming"

Revisado: 02-19-19

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

To be clear on the front end of this review, I didn't vote for Barack for either term in his office. Nevertheless, I wanted to take intentional opportunity to listen to some books from authors who grew up in a much different family environment than my own, and/or those who have a different perspective on life than my own. As such, I found "Becoming" to be a good candidate to meet the requirements I was looking for.

I'd say anybody who would like more insight into the Michelle's upbringing, the Obama Presidency, and more, would enjoy this book. But as noted above, anybody who is open to hearing/reading from those who have a different perspective on life would also find this to be an enjoyable listen.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT "Becoming"? HOW WAS THE CONTENT?

The main quote that stood out to me from "Becoming" was, "I've learned that it's harder to hate up close." I think we've all learned that it's 'easy' to say things through social media, email, texts, or other forms of communication, but that when having conversations with others up close, we're much more aware of our words and actions. As such, "Becoming" provided a great reminder of the value of being open and real with others, even those who may have a different perspective.

As noted in the overall rating, I provide the book a 4/5 stars.

HOW DOES IT STAND OUT AS AN AUDIOBOOK?

Having Michelle narrate the book was an added bonus. Personally, I don't think I would've ever read through the entire Memoir, but I found it to be an enjoyable listen.

HOW WAS THE NARRATOR AND/OR THE RECORDING QUALITY?

Overall, the narrator / recording were very well done.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS RESOURCE TO OTHERS?

All in all, I would recommend the book. It most likely won't be one of my top listens of the year, but it is very well done and has helped me to pause to consider seeing things through a different lens.

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Q & A for "Norse Mythology"

Revisado: 02-19-19

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Anybody who is interested in fun, short stories from Norse Mythology (Thor, Loki, etc.) would enjoy this book. A couple of the stories may use verbiage such as "genitals," "make love," "naked bodies," but is generally done with good taste. My kids are currently ages 13 & 11 so I may skip one or two of the stories for them, but the majority of them are appropriate for low teens and up. For those who may be concerned, I would simply recommend previewing each story first.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT "Norse Mythology"? HOW WAS THE CONTENT?

Honestly, I was very unfamiliar with the actual stories of Norse Mythology, and was only familiar with the characters by how they were represented in the MCU (Marvel Comic Universe). As such, I found the stories not only enlightening, but entertaining.

HOW DO THESE STORIES STAND OUT AS AN AUDIOBOOK?

Neil Gaiman does such a great job with the Narration that many of these stories are probably BETTER in audiobook format than in print. Each story is only 20-40 minutes in length, and his re-telling of each story is done very, very well.

HOW WAS THE NARRATOR AND/OR THE RECORDING QUALITY?

As noted above, the author did an excellent job with the narration, providing different voices for each character.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS RESOURCE TO OTHERS?

I literally knew next to nothing about Norse Mythology before listening to this, and found myself getting through the book in just a couple of days so I could listen to the whole thing. It was quite an enjoyable experience. As such, I would definitely recommend it to anybody who may be interested in the subject.

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Q & A for "Satan's Plea"

Revisado: 02-07-19

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

It's challenging to pinpoint a specific audience for Satan's Plea, but I think anybody who is looking for a heavily fictional account from the perspective of Lucifer/Satan as to how and why he was removed from the heavens would find it intriguing. It may not be the most entertaining short story, but does offer a little intrigue.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SATAN'S PLEA? HOW WAS THE STORY / CONTENT?

While the story is somewhat intriguing, there's not much new with the subject matter. For decades, authors have written books from an alternative perspective. Children have "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" from the perspective of the wolf. Looney Tunes cartoons are also full of differing perspectives. In other words, while the theme initially seems unique, it has a good bit in common with some other works available today. All in all, I can say I liked the story and thought it was well done, but it isn't something I'll repeatedly listen to.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT ON LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, OR OTHER ADULT THEMES?

With the main character being Satan himself, there is some adult language that comes in here and there.

HOW WAS THE NARRATOR AND/OR VOICE ACTORS?

The voice actor did a great job with the voice of Lucifer, as well as other characters throughout.

WILL YOU LISTEN TO IT AGAIN?

It's doubtful I will listen to it again. As I noted above, I found it somewhat intriguing. But there isn't anything here worth giving serious mental energy to, nor is it something that's laugh out loud entertaining that would make me want to return to it. It's certainly not poor writing or a poor performance. It's just not something I would return to on a regular basis.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

In full disclosure, the author offered me a free copy of the book for a fair and honest and review. I believe the 4 star rating for story, narration, and overall, is fair.

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Q & A for "The Love Dare Day by Day"

Revisado: 02-07-19

Updated: The initial review I published on Audible was edited, but the edited version didn't get published. This is the most recent update of my review.

Admittedly, reviewing "The Love Dare Day by Day" presents a few challenges, each of which will be addressed in the questions and answers provided below.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Married or Engaged couples with a Christian background will be right at home with "The Love Dare Day by Day." The Love Dare was made popular among evangelical churches across the country, and this devotional provides engaging, succinct devotionals for couples to listen to and practice on a regular basis. Those who do not come from a Christian background ought to know that there is a great amount of Biblical Scripture included.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT "The Love Dare Day by Day"? HOW WAS THE CONTENT?

As noted above, the content is on par with other devotionals that have been created for married couples. My wife and I regularly "coach" or mentor other couples, and our experience has led us to recognize which resources we have on hand will best compliment the couple we're working with. To be clear, "The Love Dare" and/or "The Love Dare Day by Day" are resources we would recommend to couples we work with on a regular basis.

HOW DOES THIS DEVOTIONAL STAND OUT AS AN AUDIOBOOK?

This devotional, in my opinion, would be much more accessible and easier to go through in paper or kindle form. I've been listening to the devotionals each day, and while I enjoy the content, it's just odd (at least for me) to listen to a 2-3 minute devotional and then follow through on the questions at the end of each daily reading. As such, I would recommend those who would like to go through this devotional to do so with a printed or kindle copy and also have a journal handy.

HOW WAS THE NARRATOR AND/OR THE RECORDING QUALITY?

The narrator for this devotional does a fine job. With each daily reading only being a few minutes in length, there's not much time to become really engaged or disengaged by his voice. His readings are on point, which is a plus.

However, the audio quality of this particular Audible book is not of the same quality as other recordings in my library. In full disclosure, I not only coach other couples, but I have also spent a lot of time as a stage musician, and over the past 20 years I've become accustomed to quality audio equipment. If I were to listen to "The Love Dare Day by Day" with standard iPhone earbuds, it would be OK. But I regularly listen to Audiobook and/or music through decent earbuds, and sometimes professional IEM's (in ear monitors). While using more refined audio equipment, there's a little bit of high pitch static on the recording that would make it hard for me to listen to on a regular basis.

But for the majority of users/listeners, this will not be noticeable.


ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS RESOURCE TO OTHERS?

In full disclosure, I received a free copy of this book for a fair and honest review. While it pains me to leave negative marks regarding the audio quality, I believe I'm being fair to note the criticisms outlined above.

All in all, I WILL recommend this resource to some of the couples I meet with, but I'll be much more likely to encourage them to purchase the print edition as it will be easier to navigate, and will provide better opportunities to dwell on and journal through each of the daily readings.

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