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’’
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”
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! : )
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
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
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
From the author of 2010’s biggest-selling thriller debut, an ingenious, exciting adventure In the tradition of Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth and Raymond Khoury’s The Last Templar
London, 1953. Classics scholar August Woodthorpe, son of a prominent American politician, has stumbled upon an extraordinary artefact: an ancient book – a chronicle – that once belonged to an infamous alchemist burned at the stake in 1646. Within the ancient text is a map – an intricate, ingeniously designed labyrinth that will lead August on a spectacular journey to three mazes secreted within France, Spain, and Germany. And at the heart of one of these mazes is hidden the elixir of eternal life. But Western Europe is still reeling from the shock of war, and if he’s to survive his perilous quest, August must translate ancient codes, decipher deadly riddles, and expose a mystical secret three hundred years old – even as he outwits Spanish militants and German spies.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Sphere
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Nopirku to ‘’Latvijas grāmatu izstādē 2015’’
Vērtējums/Rating: 5/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Augusts pēc kariem(visvairāk ticis ietekmēts Spānijas pilsoņu karā, cīnījies zaudētāju pusē)[darbība vispār noris 1953.gadā] mierīgajā dzīvē šķiet pazaudējis sevi un tai neder, tad nu negaidīta biedra un drauga Džimija van Pītera uzrašanās pie durvīm pamudina viņu atgriezties Spānijā un atrast sevi, kā arī tikt galā ar traumatiskajām atmiņām. Augustam lemts iet pa pēdām Shimon Ruiz de Luna pa dažādām Eiropas pilsētām un lauku rajoniem. Reti kas ir pateikts burtiski un gandrīz viss miklās; simboliskas nozīmes ne mazums.
Lai, kur Augusts dotos senā manuskripta vadīts, šķiet nāve ilgi nav jādaida. Viņš nav vienīgais, kurš ir ieinteresēts atšķetināt noslēpumu un atrast/iegūt iespējamās bagātības. No tiem Taisons ir gatavs iet pāri līķiem, pats tos radot, lai panāktu mērķi; Olīvija toties pielieto atšķirīgākas, raganiskākas metodes, turklāt viņas saistība ar manuskriptu un tās autoru ir stipri senāka, kā varētu domāt.
Patika, kā vienlaicīgi grāmatas sižetam, iepīts vēsturiskais par Spāniju un tās pilsoņu karu. Augusts cīnās ar atmiņām – gan sliktām, gan pozitīvām. Viņš nav ideāls, kas palīdz ticamībai. Ceļojumā palīdz Izarra, motivēta atriebt māsu, kas noder, kad maz ir tādu, kuriem pilnībā var uzticēties.
Vēsturiskie flashback ar Shimon šoreiz pat traucēja, bet tomēr palīdz gūt ieskatu tieši viņa motivācijā, veidojot tik mistiskus, grūti saprotamus pavedienus – arī izmēros ne mazos, jo tie ir labirintu veidolā. Neparasti arī tas, ka pat pēc tik ilga laika visi joprojām saglabājušies neskarti. Paši dārgumi dažam varbūt tādi nemaz nešķistu, un varbūt drīzāk nosauktu tos par lāstu.
Šīs grāmatas noslēgums šķita pieņemams, bet par spīti grāmatas ievērojamajam apjomam prasījās vēl :D. Tā teikt, kas notiek tālāk. Kopumā pat ļoti interesants, nenoliedzami, pateicoties arī galvenajiem tēliem. Savā ziņā atgādināja nesen lasīto ‘’The Columbus Affair’’, bet tikai tādā ziņā, kā par dārgumiem.
August after all wars (including Spanish civil war where fought on the defeated side)[present for story is 1953] isn’t made for peaceful life and has lost himself, also the traumatic memories and guilt of lost friends and comrades doesn’t help. So when Jimmy van Peters (friend from the good old days) shows up on his doorstep with a mission he reluctantly agrees to fulfill it and goes back to Spain + it’s a good reason to face the past.
No matter where August would go it seems that death as Damien Tyson isn’t far behind, someone who is willing to do anything to have his way and the manuscript of Shimon Ruiz de Luna. Other pursuer is Olivia Henries and she uses far more different methods, more magical (witch). Also hers connection to Shimon and manuscript is a bit earlier than you might think.
What I liked about this book was that besides the main story there was intertwined history of Spain and the civil war. In this world you have to be really careful when to whom to trust.
Flashbacks about Shimon Ruiz de Luna where little distracting but at the same time it helped to understand his motivation to make those labyrinths and leave behind such mysterious clues. Somewhat amazing that they managed to remain mostly undamaged.
Some possibly might the big treasure (and not something really materially valuable) a curse.
The ending was more or less acceptable and despite the big amount of pages I wanted more, to know what happens next :D Without August (also Izarra – motivated to revenge sister) this story certainly would something else. Reminded little of lately read ‘’The Columbus Affair’’.
Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon
Pirmdienas teikums ir mana versija par Bonespark~ “Sunday Sentence”, kurā tiek izcelts teikums no tā, kas iepriekš izlasīts.
Or do we all evaporate into time, forgotten, like air itself?
T.S. Learner ‘’The Map’’
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
It’s America in 1962. Slavery is legal once again. The few Jews who still survive hide under assumed names. In San Francisco the I Ching is as common as the Yellow Pages. All because some 20 years earlier the United States lost a war, and is now occupied jointly by Nazi Germany and Japan.
This harrowing, Hugo Award-winning novel is the work that established Philip K. Dick as an innovator in science fiction while breaking the barrier between science fiction and the serious novel of ideas. In it Dick offers a haunting vision of history as a nightmare from which it may just be possible to awake.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio
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
Mana recenzija/My review
Alternatīvā vēsture par Otrā pasaules kara iznākumu, kur panākumus gūst nevis sabiedrotie, bet gan Vācija un Japāna. Ar zinātniskās fantastikas piesitienu tādā ziņā, ka abas valstis aktīvi pēcāk pievērsušās plašajām Visumam.
Netrūkst dažādu tēlu gan amizanti kā pārdevēji, tie kas iet no vienām durvīm uz citām, gan to, kas cenšas izmainīt/saprast esošo kārtību, un, vai būtu varējis būt citādāk. Turklāt ASV teritorija sadalīta vairākās kontroles zonās un nav vienota.
Vīrs augstajā pilī līdz pat noslēgumam ir noslēpumains autors grāmatai, kura pati šajā pasaulē ir liekama alternatīvās vēstures kastītē, vēstot tieši par sabiedroto uzvaru, Vācijas un Japānas sakāvi. Loģiski rodas jautājums, kur viņš radis tādus faktus un ideju vispār, kuri minēti viņa stāstā, kas izrādās, saistās ar pārdabisko un orākulu.
Alternate history about the Second World War and the outcome in which Germany and Japan are victorious and not the allies. With just some sci-fi as both countries after that sets their attention to Universe.
There are many different characters in this world like amusing salesmen or those who try to understand the world they are in. Plus the USA is divided in zones and isn’t one whole country.
The man in the High Castle throughout there is some mysterious writer whose book itself could classified as alternative history in their world but not in ours. Logically you would have questions about how he got the facts and idea mentioned in his book. To this there is a very supernatural explanation related to oracle.
Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon
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.
Patrik Skene Catling, Margot Apple ”The Chocolate Touch” (John Midas)
Eloise Jarvis McGraw ”The Golden Goblet”
Neil Gaiman ”Odd and the Frost Giants”
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
A Fire upon the Deep is the big, breakout book that fulfills the promise of Vinge’s career to date: a gripping tale of galactic war told on a cosmic scale.
Thousands of years hence, many races inhabit a universe where a mind’s potential is determined by its location in space, from superintelligent entities in the Transcend, to the limited minds of the Unthinking Depths, where only simple creatures and technology can function. Nobody knows what strange force partitioned space into these “regions of thought,” but when the warring Straumli realm use an ancient Transcendent artifact as a weapon, they unwittingly unleash an awesome power that destroys thousands of worlds and enslaves all natural and artificial intelligence.
Fleeing the threat, a family of scientists, including two children, are taken captive by the Tines, an alien race with a harsh medieval culture, and used as pawns in a ruthless power struggle. A rescue mission, not entirely composed of humans, must rescue the children-and a secret that may save the rest of interstellar civilization.
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju no torenta. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.
Vērtējums/Rating: 1.75/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Laba ideja par Visumu sadalītu zonās, kas būtiski ietekmē tajās esošo civilizāciju spēju attīstīties ne vien uz savas planētas, bet arī galaktiski. Gandrīz vai vienīgais grāmatas pluss. Ja nu vienīgi dažas citplanētiešu rases.
Sākums šķita daudzsološs ar kāda mistika un šķietami ļoti spēcīga spēka atbrīvošanos, bet nejutu, ka pilnībā būtu izmantots šis stāsta virziens.
Toties sižeta līnija ar zinātnieku ģimeni un bērniem vispār vairāk haotisks kā kaut kas cits. Kā arī tēlu skaits drusku par daudz.
The idea about Universe being divided into zones that have major impact on civilisations and their development not only on their own planet but also galactically. If not some cool alien races then it would be almost the only pluses to this book.
The beginning seemed to be promising with some mysterious and powerful force being released but I didn’t felt that this part of the story would be exploited enough.
In addition the story line with family of scientists and their kids was a bit chaotic than anything else. Also he amount of characters were a bit too much.
Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon
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