Review: King Philip's War 1675-76: America's Deadliest Colonial Conflict

King Philip's War 1675-76: America's Deadliest Colonial Conflict by Gabriele Esposito
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am fairly familiar with Osprey Publishing; they publish several illustrated 'army' books that are a huge help for table top strategy gamers who like to assemble and paint their own models (so I have several books from this publisher). Sadly the kindle version of this book jumbles the illustration layouts making it difficult to fully enjoy them. This seems to be a common problem with preview mobi files; the pdf version looks fine.

The book itself breaks down each of the factors that contributed to the war. Each section picks up a specific theme, such as who the players were (profiles of peoples and their leaders), how each side was organized, what weapons and equipment were utilized and how the war itself was prosecuted. Over all, each section was clear and concise. The author doesn't try to explore the causes of the war very deeply, it does come across as something of a colonial apologetic. Even without looking at what motivated the war, you can infer a lot just from how everybody reacted to what was happening and the book does a good job laying that out. I was a little surprised by the lack of support (even some antipathy) from the British Crown for the New England Puritans. In the end, I think it provides an excellent foundation to exploring how the war influenced the evolution of the English colonies and perhaps why New England became the Revolutionary powder keg by which England lost control of her colonies.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Review: Collects for Our Cultural Moment

Collects for Our Cultural Moment by Terry Jonathan Stokes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am not sure that I am the intended audience for this book of prayers as there are specific [younger] generational and cultural references that I had trouble understanding.  I was looking for something that could enhance my own public ministry, but I had trouble identifying with many of the references to [what I presume are] millennial memes, or specific issues within minority communities where it felt presumptuous for me to even try to appropriate, even as an ally.  That said, it is certainly useful in identifying concerns within those communities, even if I felt awkward with the provided language.  So too with the idea that you can [and should] bring everything to God, the author was perhaps a bit too literal in execution, even though this is a great idea in theory.  This is how you get mundane items like, "For when one clogs the toilet" or "For before third-wheeling" alongside more profound prayers, such as "For a protest" and "For letting go of toxic relationships."  Perhaps it is just me, but I don't believe that I would actually use more than a handful of the prayers provided.  In addition to the topics that I mostly likely won't encounter at this stage in my life, the mix of formal thee, thy and thou ... with more current "hip" language, just didn't seem to work that well.  Fortunately, the author does include a basic [6 step] formula to enable you to create prayers more relevant to your own specific situation and/or communities and it is pretty good.

I: Friendship

II: Singleness and Romance

III: Family and Home.

IV: The Self

V: Community and Society

VI: Work and Vocation

VII: Recreation

VIII: Music

IX: Church Life

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Review: Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items

Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items by J.W. Ocker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narration: Mr. Campbell does an awesome job here; reminds me of narrators from similar unexplained mysteries TV shows and was quite enjoyable to listen to. The tone and cadence are perfect for this topic. Of course, he doesn't have to do a cast of characters (which would be the only reason he doesn't get a 5* performance).

The book was a fun survey of some famous cursed objects (Hope diamond, Tuts Tomb, et. al) and many of the fantastic stories that come with them (and where they are now in case you want to live life dangerously) ... all delivered with an irreverent sense of humor that made it extremely entertaining. After looking 'under glass' (museums), he heads into the crypt for some ghoulish fun before continuing on to grandma's attic for some more modern curses. He also covers how some of these things 'become' cursed (or at least how they get their reputation). The closest he gets to any scientific inquiry was when he picked up a 'cursed object' on eBay for a year long experiment ... which is to say that None of this is very scientific ... so check your skepticism at the door and just enjoy the trip ... which finishes up talking about weird objects that should be cursed ... but aren't.

Oh ... and don't steal this book ... it's cursed :-)

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Review: The Tower of Fools

The Tower of Fools by Andrzej Sapkowski
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an historical fantasy set in central Europe circa 15th century where the magic and myth unfold against a backdrop of a Church struggling to suppress growing heresies. The majority of people and place names are transliterated from Polish, so they tend to have an over abundance of consonants that make it a little difficult for this native English speaker to read quickly. Hidden within this forest of letters are quite a few obscure [archaic] English words that I had never encountered before ... and which reading on the Kindle app made them fun little Easter Eggs that I could easily look them up. All of this reinforces the 'Twilight Zone' feeling that the world where all of this happens is in another time and place, vaguely familiar and at the same time weirdly different. The dialog was also held nuance and euphemisms to beat the band and the verbal sparring just as amusing as the rest. I don't think that I have had as much fun with the English language in quite sometime.

The MC is one Reinmar of Bielawa, a young physician caught in a rather indelicate position and force to flee for his life. Being a well educated man, he quickly comes to the attention of the wrong people (aka inquisition) as such are know to cavort with heretics and sorcerers (There are so few of them and they must stick together). Perhaps even he dabbles in the forbidden arts. As the cast of characters quickly expands, it becomes ever more difficult to figure out who the good guys are ... and Andrzej skillfully weaves in references to historical events that would make a punmeister blush (and had me laughing out loud) ... because Gutenberg's innovation would never be allowed to succeed and Luther is the name of 'cheeky cat' who likes to spread out on tables. Of course Reynevan is a young fool ... worthy of the Tower of Fools if not for his companions. It is precisely because of his brash naivete that gives the reader one misadventure after another, slowing introducing more of the hidden mystery of the world (where maybe there are not so few of them after all). Alas ... at the end we have not resolved much else out three main characters are still living and ready for part 2. I would have preferred some closure on something; but it was not to be.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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