Halbs – Page 28 – Cannonball Read 17

An Engaging and Expansive Look at “A Paradoxical People”

Russia: A 1000-Year Chronicle of the Wild East by Martin Sixsmith

February 23, 2020 by Halbs 3 Comments

My wife and I recently watched the fantastic adaptation of War & Peace starring Lily James and Paul Dano (and Little Women’s James Norton, if you’ve seen it. That was my final straw – I had to learn more about Russian history. Everything I knew was from writers Tolstoy and Dostoevsky; as well as Doctor Zhivago and other movies. My usual search for history book advice on the internet wasn’t fruitful – any recommended book would be shot down by others as incorrectly biased or […]

Robo Boogey

Happiness for Humans by P.Z. Reizin

February 5, 2020 by Halbs Leave a Comment

Jen is a struggling writer (aren’t we all). She doesn’t have much direction in life (who does). To make things even worse, her smarmy lawyer boyfriend has not only decided that he doesn’t want to have kids with Jen, but that he doesn’t even want to be with Jen. She takes a writing assignment about a tech company, and later comes on full-time for the company for a year in order to become a conversation partner with an AI named Aiden (get it). The idea is […]

“The estranged is striving for reunion.”

Love, Power, and Justice: Ontological Analyses and Ethical Applications by Paul Tillich

January 28, 2020 by Halbs 4 Comments

I think all of us are pretty interested in the relationship between power and justice these days. We also want to understand how to transcend our divisions. Being the nerd that I am, I thought this seventy-year-old work from philosopher-theologian Paul Tillich could provide me with some insight on power, justice, and love. This book from the 1950s is more of a collection of lectures than a piece of prose. That’s a pro more than a con, as it encourages the writing to be relatively […]

Art and Love Everywhere

Coming to My Senses: The Making of a Counterculture Cook by Alice Waters

January 23, 2020 by Halbs 1 Comment

A family friend gifted me a year-long membership to Master Class, the website containing video courses from experts in all kinds of fields. My favorite thus far has been Herbie Hancock on music and Gary Kasparov on chess. I’ve learned so much about being open to life and taking risks from both. One class my spouse and I have enjoyed watching together is about cooking. The class is taught by Alice Waters. Waters teaches in what appears to be her own home kitchen. It’s got […]

Siths Have More Fun

Dynasty of Evil (Star Wars: Darth Bane, Book 3) by Drew Karpyshyn

January 21, 2020 by Halbs Leave a Comment

This is the final installment in Drew Karpyshyn’s fun and sometimes surprisingly dark Darth Bane trilogy. I’ve reviewed the first two books in the series, as well, so if this sounds interesting you may want to go back and check those out. Since it’s the end of the trilogy this review will have to be the most vague. I won’t include spoilers not included on the back cover or on the cover art! I’m only a casual fan of Star Wars, but even I am […]

Please get the audiobook version

Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid

January 12, 2020 by Halbs 2 Comments

I know I’m late to the game on this one and there’s nothing left to add, reviewwise. The book is entertaining and overflowing with life. It’s gloriously human. It’s going to be a 12-part limited series in the next year or so. We all know and we all love it. Nonetheless, I feel the need to hold up my lighter as Graham Dunne strums the intro chords and Daisy saunters up the mic and Karen Karen hits those atmospheric keys. Also, Warren is there! Oh, […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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