Read Books This will provide a list of the books I've read with a brief review. Users are blocked, contact me for access. I welcome discussions, but I'm tired of spam.

February 11, 2025

Klingon Hamlet by Wil’yam Shex’pir

Filed under: Literature — Tags: — Randolph @ 7:42 am

Hamlet, in the original Klingon, actually a dual-language book. Most of the book, and all of the play’s text are in two languages on side-by-side pages.

The book is from The Restored Klingon Version provided by the Klingon Language Institute, Flourtown, Pennsylvania, by Nick Nicholas and Andrew Strader.

My favorite part of this book is the Introduction which discusses detail of the behavior of the characters and explains the unusual odd behavior for Klingons.

The book includes four appendices. The first explains some passages in terms of Klingon interpretations. The second discusses the scansion use of Hamlet in the Klingon language. The third talks about Klingon literature and its philosophies. The fourth adds a (very) few new Klingon vocabulary words.

The very end of the book includes an old-style library page and a withdrawn stamp.

It also suggests the Klingon language has come a long way from the original Klingon dictionary that came out in 1985. That dictionary provided very little beyond what was actually used on screen.

The English portion, as best I can remember, is straight Shakespeare. It seems that someone took some liberties when translating it from its Klingon form.

For instance, “maj. Qapla’, which I believe is “Good, We’re done.” is translated into the rather wordy “God be wi’ you, fare you well.” (Act II Scene 1).

There are several other passages of questionable translation that I will have to take time to translate. These include:

jImenjneS ‘e’ yIchaw’
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord (Act I, Scene III)

Ha’, mlywDaj neH ‘oH Hu’tegh! Ha’.
Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to. (Act I Scene III)
This would seem an insult to a Klingon.

February 9, 2025

Hemlock at Vespers: Fifteen Sister Fidelma Mysteries by Peter Tremayne

Filed under: Mystery — Tags: — Randolph @ 10:07 am

December 24, 2024

The Daily Show and Philosophy: Moments of Zen in the Art of Fake News Edited by Jason Holt

Filed under: Philosophy — Tags: — Randolph @ 7:51 am

This book discusses philosophy of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report with a focus on fake news and how we know the difference. This is the best of the pop philosophy books that I’ve read, considering the Blackwell Philosophy series and the Pop Culture series.

It compares the two shows as satirical programs and Fox News, how they present information and what the viewers can get out of them. The book goes into how the two shows use humor and satire as entertainment to shape public opinion and its affect on our culture.

December 14, 2024

A Cast-Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell

Filed under: Humor,Mystery,Series — Tags: — Randolph @ 6:12 pm

This is the second in Juliet Blackwell’s WItchcraft Mystery series. The protagonist, lily Ivory, is a witch and owner of a vintage clothing store and a has a potbellied pig, Oscar – a goblin in disguise, as her familiar, having been tricked by a warlock into taking it in the first book.

Although billed as a mystery, it’s really more of a low-fantasy adventure novel. This story Lily is investigating the death of man and students believe a ghost is living in a closet containing vintage clothing at the San Francisco School of Fine Arts. Her investigation suggests a demonic involvement and some odd nuns from France.

Although not quite as fun as the first book, it does have its zany characters and funny situations.

December 1, 2024

Mad Menagerie by Sergio Aragones

Filed under: Uncategorized — Randolph @ 1:17 pm

I was a fan of Mad Magazine growing up and his cartoons and humor were a big favorite.

November 15, 2024

Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O’Connor

Filed under: Mystery — Tags: — Randolph @ 9:54 pm

This is the second book in the Irish Village series by Carlene O’Connor.

Siobán’s café, Noami’s Bistro, is catering a wedding of a friend of Macdara at Kilbane Castle when someone in the wedding party is murdered. When Macdara’s cap is found at the scene, he becomes a suspect and isn’t able to continue his own investigation and encourages Siobán to assist, though not as much as she does.

This book doesn’t quite have the charm of the first, although it is a decent mystery. It doesn’t seem to display as much of the Irish culture.

October 20, 2024

Rio Cyborg by Carol Baker and Terry Willey

Filed under: Adventure,Science Fiction,Western — Tags: , , — Randolph @ 12:12 pm

This story is a western set on a distant planet, Blanken 9, at Zestrum Doniphon backwater area of the planet with limited access to technology. The story revolves around a range war for water rights, the protagonist, is new in town and gets caught in the middle, he is a cyborg with several enhancements. He also has a reputation.

The story reads as a light western with some oddities thrown in, it has its cowboys and cowborgs, gunfights and love interests. Many of the minor characters have names taken out of old western movies and tv shows, although that is as far as the similarity goes.

The book is a light and enjoyable read.

August 31, 2024

Even Though I Knew The End by C L Polk

Filed under: Fantasy,Mystery — Tags: — Randolph @ 5:39 pm

This is a noir mystery set in the 1930s and involves a lesbian detective with some interesting magical skills. This book won both the Hugo and Nebula awards.

Helen made a Faustian deal and has lost her soul, as a result she has been kicked out of the magic order she and her brother were members of and is not on speaking terms with her brother.

Now her time is running out, she wants to spend it with her love, but an investigation turns into something bigger, with an unusual payoff.

This is well-written and an easy read, worth the time.

June 30, 2024

A Great Reckoning: A Novel by Louise Penny

Filed under: Mystery — Tags: , — Randolph @ 1:28 pm

In this, the 12th book in Louise Penny’s series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, Gamache has taken the position of the commander of the Sûreté Academy.

Things can’t go peacefully, one of his political opponents is murdered on the campus. Students trained to investigate crime could be good at murder, he is also a suspect and must tread carefully.

This is one of the better books in the series, the mystery is good and well-told, the denouement is clean, things were not as they seemed.

Even though told in first person, I felt a bit much was hidden from the reader, but the story is very good.

June 11, 2024

The Ninja by Eric Van Lustbader

Filed under: Adventure — Randolph @ 2:53 pm

This book looks promising, and the story would be good if written by another author. This author doesn’t understand the basics of writing.

He frequently describes events and character feelings rather than showing the reader. His characters are poorly developed and overreact to situations and statements. They also talk to the reader instead of each other.
He further goes to reinforce stereotypes and uses gratuitous sex in scenes that are more of a hindrance to the plot – if you can find it.

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress