T.S. Learner ”The Map”
Manu recenziju varat izlasīt šeit
Ideju šim ikmēneša rakstam aizguvu no Luna’s Little Library
Month: 2015. gada jūnijs
Kim Stanley Robinson ”Red Mars” (Mars Trilogy book 1)
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
In his most ambitious project to date, award-winning author Kim Stanley Robinson utilizes years of research and cutting-edge science in the first of three novels that will chronicle the colonization of Mars.
For eons, sandstorms have swept the barren desolate landscape of the red planet. For centuries, Mars has beckoned to mankind to come and conquer its hostile climate. Now, in the year 2026, a group of one hundred colonists is about to fulfill that destiny.
John Boone, Maya Toitavna, Frank Chalmers, and Arkady Bogdanov lead a mission whose ultimate goal is the terraforming of Mars. For some, Mars will become a passion driving them to daring acts of courage and madness; for others it offers and opportunity to strip the planet of its riches. And for the genetic “alchemists, ” Mars presents a chance to create a biomedical miracle, a breakthrough that could change all we know about life…and death.
The colonists place giant satellite mirrors in Martian orbit to reflect light to the planets surface. Black dust sprinkled on the polar caps will capture warmth and melt the ice. And massive tunnels, kilometers in depth, will be drilled into the Martian mantle to create stupendous vents of hot gases. Against this backdrop of epic upheaval, rivalries, loves, and friendships will form and fall to pieces–for there are those who will fight to the death to prevent Mars from ever being changed.
Brilliantly imagined, breathtaking in scope and ingenuity, Red Mars is an epic scientific saga, chronicling the next step in human evolution and creating a world in its entirety. Red Mars shows us a future, with both glory and tarnish, that awes with complexity and inspires with vision.
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju no torenta. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.
Vērtējums/Rating: 3.5/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Vajadzība pēc citas/jaunas planētas, kur cilvēcei kaut kad pārcelties, ir gandrīz obligāta, zinot, ka Saule nebūs mūžīga, protams ne jau šogad vai kā. Vien apšaubu, vai Marss ilgtermiņā sevi attaisnotu, būdams vien nedaudz tālāk no zvaigznes, bet priekš sākuma un treniņa gan jau derētu. Interesanti, ka Mars One cilvēku misijas paredzēts palaist tieši 2026.gadā. Papētot vairāk atradu atšķirīgu variantu par Venēru.
Tad nu uz sarkano planētu 2026.gadā tiek nosūtīta 100 cilvēku grupa. Jau visai drīz domas, ko un kā darīt sāk šķelties. Vieni mēģina turēties pie norādījumiem no Zemes, citi grib realizēt savas idejas. Nedaudz pārsteidza, cik ātri pieauga uz Marsa nosūtīto un dzīvojošo cilvēku skaits. Tādā veidā pirmais simts iegūst gan popularitāti, gan autoritāti.
Notikumi tiek pielīdzināti kolonijām un situācijai ar ASV rašanos. Uz Marsa mītošie aizdomājas, kam gan viņiem ņemt vērā pavēles no visai patālās Zemes. Daļai nepatīk, ka Marsa resursi tiek vienkārši sūtīti atpakaļ uz Zemi, bet peļņu un ieguvums kā tāds ir uz Zemes mītošajiem, ne viņiem klātienē. Tas diemžēl ne pārāk veselīgi ietekmē pirmo simtu.
Patika idejas, kā pārcelšanās uz citu planētu prom no mājām, ietekmē iesaistītos cilvēkus. Arī aprakstītās paša Marsa izmaiņas pašu cilvēku ietekmē.
Jāpiebilst, ka darbība noris vairāku desmitgažu laikā, bet triloģija kopumā risinās pāris gadsimtu garumā.
A need for other/new planet where humanity could move is almost inevitable knowing that Sun won’t be shining forever. I just doubt that Mars in the long run is the right choice because it’s still quite close to the star, still a good start. Interestingly that Mars One plans to send humans starting exactly in 2026. Those who don’t like Mars might choose Venus instead.
So in 2026 group of hundred people are sent the red planet. Quite soon thoughts about how and what to do starts to split. Some think that they should do what Earth says, others want their own ideas realized. A bit surprising how fast it was possible to increase population on Mars. Because of that the first hundred gets popular and few become authority.
Events are compared to British colonies on the east coast of North America. Those (not everyone) on the Mars are tired of orders from Earth. Some don’t like that the planets resources are sent back to Earth for profit without much benefit to them on their planet. Unfortunately that have unhealthy consequences to a first hundred.
I liked how people where affected and changed while being on Mars, also planets changes where interesting.
Action covers over many decades but the whole trilogy more than 200 years.
Pirmdienas teikums #51
Pirmdienas teikums ir mana versija par Bonespark~ “Sunday Sentence”, kurā tiek izcelts teikums no tā, kas iepriekš izlasīts.
For the first time I noticed the greens and browns of his uniform, the crest on his shoulder, and recognized him for a Green Eagle, a member of the king’s elite guard.
Aaron Pogue ‘’Taming Fire’’ (The Dragonprince’s Legacy Book 1)
Aaron Pogue ”Taming Fire” (Dragonprince Trilogy book 1)
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
Daven Carrickson grew up as a beggar in the filthy alleys beneath the shadows of the palace. He’s the son of a known thief, disgraced and despised. His only real talent is his ability with a sword, and his only real chance at finding honor or a home is a desperate dream of joining the King’s Guard. Then Daven receives a new future when Master Claighan invites him to study magic at the Academy. The wizard offers to make him into a new kind of soldier: a swordsman equally skilled with forged blades and mystic forces. It only helps that Daven has no home, no family, and nothing left to lose. But when conspiring forces destroy the wizard’s plans, Daven finds himself wanted for treason and murder. Hunted by a great black beast of a dragon, caught between the King’s Guard and a rebel force led by a rogue wizard, Daven’s only hope of surviving is to become more than he’s ever dreamed possible.
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju bez maksas no Amazon. Iespējams arī šobrīd.
Vērtējums/Rating: 2.5/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Karaļvalstij draud briesmas, un, kurš vēl būtu labāks kandidāts glābēja lomai, ja ne bārenis Deivens. Deivens pats ir apveltīts ar labām prasmēm zobenu cīņā, tad nu atliek iemācīt maģiju. Tomēr šajā ziņā, iespējams, traucē viņa pagātne, konkrētāk tēva nodarbošanās. Bet tikai retais uztver Deivenu nopietni, un savā apmācības laikā viņš iemanto nevienu vien ienaidnieku. Maģijas ziņā interesanti iesaistīts pūķis vārdā Vechernyvetr :D
Draudi, kas ‘’duras acī’’ ir no dumpinieku puses, bet šķietami mistiskākos un pat bīstamākos(pūķu atmoda)neviens nemaz nevēlas ņemt vērā, un, dzirdot tos pieminam, vien nosmej. Tomēr šajā pirmajā triloģijas grāmatā pūķiem pievērsta mazāka uzmanība un arī dižu episkumu nesajutu, kas drusku lika vilties.
Sajūsmu par darbu nomāc neliela notikumu paredzamība ar galvenā varoņa panākumiem, kā arī varoņu attīstība samērā neliela, turklāt atlīdzība par paveikto diezgan klišejiska. Varbūt ‘’Taming Fire’’ kalpo kā iesildīšanās un sagatave nākamajām daļām.
Kingdom is on a brink of war with rebels and who could be a better saver and hero than orphan Daven. Daven has good swordsman skills but a lacks magic. In case of magic what possibly distracts him is his past and if to be precise then his dad’s occupation.
The threat from rebels seems to graver but probably the bigger one comes from dragons and their awakening. Although there isn’t much attention to them in this first book, also I didn’t fell epicness. Only few consider Daven seriously and during his learning he gains some enemy and just one true friend.
What drowns excitement is predictability for the outcome which is a bit cliché; also there isn’t big character growth. Maybe ‘’Taming Fire’’ is more like a warm-up for second and third book.
Sarah Waters ”The Little Stranger”
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
One post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, Dr. Faraday is called to a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once impressive and handsome, is now in decline. Its owners-mother, son, and daughter-are struggling to keep pace with a changing society, as well as with conflicts of their own. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr. Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become intimately entwined with his.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Virago Press
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Nopirku to!
Vērtējums/Rating: 4.75/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Siltā vasaras svētdienā Faradejs sava kolēģa vietā tiek izsaukts uz Airesu muižu. Nonācis tur viņš ir šokā par ēkas un arī pārējā īpašuma stāvokli(reiz bijis tajā bērnībā), ir skaidrs, ka tas ir pieredzējis spožākas dienas. Starp citu, iemesls, kāpēc Dr. Faradejs izsaukts – kalpones Betijas vēdera sāpes, lai gan patiesais iemesls, ko viņa atklāj vien Faradejam, ka grib prom, jo viņai šķiet, ka sajūt ko ļaunu mājā.
Šis viens izsaukums ir tikai pirmais, un pēc kāda laika Faradejs saprot, ka viņu doties uz muižu motivē, kas vairāk par raizēm par to dažu iemītnieku – Roderiks(pārvalda īpašumu), māsa Kerolaina, māte misis Airesa un daži strādnieki un kalpotāji – veselību.
Par spīti Kerolainas un Faradeja gadu starpībai un arī atšķirīgajam stāvoklim starp abiem sāk kaut kas veidoties, bet nepamet sajūta, ka galu galā tas veiksmīgi nebeigsies
Jau sākumā ir pāris mājienu par kaut ko pārdabisku saistībā ar pašu māju, bet Faradejs nespēj atkāpties no racionālās domāšanas un katru reizi cenšas atrast loģisku izskaidrojumu notiekošajam, atšķirībā no Kerolainas, viņas mātes, un pat kalpotājās Betijas(vienīgā, kas pastāvīgi dzīvo klāt). Diemžēl gan pašas ēkas un īpašuma, gan ģimenes norietu nekādi centieni nespēj apstādināt, un te pat nevarētu vainot Faradeju.
Grāmatu varētu pārvērst kārtīgā šausmu stāstā, ja tiktu izvērsta vairāk idejas par mājas spēku/tās lāstu, nolemtību. Bet tik un tā netrūkst vairāku baisu brīžu. Tā vēl joprojām nespēju izšķirties vai mājā tiešām un pie nelaimēm vainojams, kas pārdabisks, vai vienkārši apstākļu sakritība.
On a hot summer Dr. Faraday is called to Hundreds Hall instead of his colleague. Arriving there he is in shock about the state of building and whole property because he remembers it from childhood once visiting it, and it’s clear that it has seen better days. And the reason for calling Dr was because Betty (the maid, the only one who stay permanently) has stomach pain but the real reason which is told only to Faraday is that she wants to leave because she senses something evil in the house.
This is only the first of many visits and Faraday realizes that he is motivated by something more than concern of health of Hundreds Hall occupants (Roderick, his sister Caroline and mother Mrs. Ayres, also few others like Betty)
Despite age difference between Dr. Faraday and Caroline some feelings between two of them starts to develop but there’s always a sense that it might not end well.
Even at the beginning there are hints of something supernatural and powerful about the house, but Faraday always uses his rational thinking and logic explanations to contradict others like Caroline, Mrs. Ayres and also Betty who aren’t reluctant to believe in something like that. Unfortunately the Hundreds Hall and families itself downfall seems inevitable, and you couldn’t even blame Dr. Farady who witnesses the last moments.
Book could have been a real horror story if the attention to and ideas about the hunted house would have been used more. Besides that there are enough creepy moments. So even now I can’t choose if the Hundreds Hall really where hunted or you have to blame misfortune and bad luck for all the tragedy.
Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon
Pirmdienas teikums #50
Pirmdienas teikums ir mana versija par Bonespark~ “Sunday Sentence”, kurā tiek izcelts teikums no tā, kas iepriekš izlasīts.
Even though I constantly reassure them that I am not going anywhere, and that if and when I do cancer will not be the cause, they still live their everyday lives aware of the seriousness of my condition and afraid of me.
Eva Blanco ‘’Ohana: Happiness is a Choice’’
Spridzīgie grāmatu vāki #30
Šajā iknedēļas rakstā es ievietošu trīs grāmatu vāku bildes, kuras man šķitušas interesantas un foršas jeb spridzīgas, vai vienkārši neparastas. Ideja radās aplūkojot LE BELLE blogu.
Adam Rex ”The True Meaning of Smekday” (Smek book 1)
Dalton Fury ”Black Site” (Delta Force book 1)
Ray Bradbury ”The Golden Apples of the Sun”
Pirmais gads!
Šodien aprit gads kopš pirmā raksta publicēšanas, ne paša WordPress konta izveidošanas.
Formāts, ja kāds ir pamanījis :D, kā sāku rakstīt un kā to daru tagad atšķiras diezgan krasi. Drīzumā(01.07) būs jauns, visticamāk ikmēneša(varbūt pa diviem) raksts.
Paldies ne tikai tiem, kas seko, bet arī tiem, kuri vienkārši apskatās, un ļoti liels paldies (gandrīz)visiem komentētājiem! : )
Earl Javorsky ”Down Solo”
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
Things haven’t been going well for Charlie Miner. His work as a private investigator involves him with an endless roster of shady characters. His ex-wife is borderline crazy. And he hasn’t been getting to spend anywhere near enough time with his teenage daughter Mindy, the one person in his life who truly matters to him.
When he wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head, though, things get even worse.
Just before the shooting, Charlie was investigating a case involving fraud, gold, religious zealots, and a gorgeous woman who seemed to be at the center of everything. Even with a fatal bullet wound, Charlie can connect the dots from the case to his attack. And when his daughter is abducted by someone involved, the stakes get exponentially higher. Charlie needs to find Mindy before the criminals do the same thing to her that they did to him.
After that, maybe he’ll try to figure out how he’s walking around dead.
Irreverent, circuitous, and surprisingly touching, Down Solo introduces a crisp new voice to suspense fiction.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: The Story Plant
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
E-grāmatas kopija no autora apmaiņā pret recenziju
Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Neparasts veids kā pasniegt mistērijas un drusku krimināla rakstura stāstu, jo galvenais varonis Čārlijs lielāko daļu drīzāk būtu pieskaitāms pie staigājošiem miroņiem nekā dzīvajiem. Tas dod iespēju dažubrīd izmantot pāris joku un humoru, bet ne līdz tādam brīdim, ka nāktos sakoncentrēties, lai varētu turpināt lasīt.
Čārlijam(privātdetektīvs) ir ne vien jāsaprot, kurš viņam palīdzēja nokļūt morgā, bet arī jāatrisina līdz galam pēdējā lieta, kas savā starpā vienotas. Iesaistītas lielas summas, kas ne vienmēr visiem ļauj domāt skaidri un liek rīkoties pat neapdomīgi.
Spriedzīte un apgriezieni drusku palielinās, kad Čārlija meita Mindija tiek nolaupīta, bet ne uz pārāk ilgu laiku.
Sižetiski vienā nozīmīgā brīdī varēja sajust reliģisku piesitienu, kā arī vēl šis tas, kas drusku samazināja vērtējumu. Bet ideja kā tāda par galveno varoni man patika ļoti.
Extraordinary way how to present a mystery and a bit crime story in which the main character Charlie Miner is more (walking) dead than alive. That allows a place for humor and few jokes but not that funny that you would need to stop and concentrate to continue reading.
Charlie is PI and besides finding out who he has to thank for waking up in morgue, he also needs to solve the last case which are related. There are big sums involved so not everyone can think clear and makes some rash decisions.
The tensions rises a little when Charlie’s daughter Mindy gets kidnapped but that doesn’t last for much too long.
There is one moment where I could smell a religious touch and few more things that lowered the rating. But the idea about Charlie I liked a lot.
Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon
Eva Blanco ”Ohana: Happiness is a Choice”
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
Ohana: Happiness is a Choice is a book about one woman’s descent into hell – a hell so pervasive that her very survival was threatened. It is an inspirational story of her strength, will to survive and love of family – pushing her to overcome great obstacles and emerge from the depths of abject poverty, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, and self-sabotage. It tells the powerful story of a woman who refused to allow anything to defeat her – not a man, not drugs or alcohol, and not even her own body.
Born in 1960 in a small village in Spain, author Eva Blanco became a pioneer in her family. At a young age, Blanco knew she needed more than small town life could offer. She left for England to learn English and explore a new life in a different country and culture. Before long, she found herself in the United States – the place where her downward spiral would begin.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Published by Eva Blanco
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Laimēju Goodreads izlozē
Vērtējums/Rating: 2.5/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Evai dzīve noteikti nav bijusi no tām vieglākajām, bet arī pašas rīcība un izvēles nav to atvieglojušas un drīzāk pasliktinājušas situāciju.
Daļēji varētu piekrist priekšvārdā minētajam, ka viņa ir stipra, bet stiprums tiek pielietots tur, kur to varētu pielietot citādi. Viens, kas kaitināja visvairāk(kaut arī šī ir non-fiction grāmata) bija Evas konstanti pieļautās kļūdas + bezmaz tās pašas katru reizi.
Tas, ka par spīti visam, Eva spēj cīnīties ar vēzi, tiešām ir apbrīnojami, kā arī attiecības ar bērniem. Bet nosaukumā minētais vārds Ohana izskaidrots vien pēdējā lapaspusē, kad jau biju paspējis pabrīnīties, kādēļ tas minēts.
Life for Eva hasn’t been from the easy ones but her actions and life choices didn’t make them better.
I could partly agree mentioned in Forward that Eva is strong but she could have used it somewhere and somehow more useful. One thing that irritated me (although this is non-fiction book) was the constant and almost identical mistakes Eva made.
Despite all that Eva manages to fight with cancer which is really amazing, also relationships with her children. But in the title mentioned Ohana is explained only in the last page when I already had a chance to wonder about it.
Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon
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