Norma_Cenva_Productions: December 2017

Sunday, 31 December 2017

Review: Homegoing

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is truly a very fitting last book of the year. It is not for the faint-hearted. And if you enjoy a challenging read, this book might be just right for you. I very much appreciate all of the historical research that went into this novel. The effort is marvellous. Very immersive and complex. Great voice-work too in the audiobook version! Adds an additional dimension to the story.

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Saturday, 30 December 2017

Review: Warrior Goddess Meditations: Ten Guided Practices for Claiming Your Authentic Wisdom and Power

Warrior Goddess Meditations: Ten Guided Practices for Claiming Your Authentic Wisdom and Power by HeatherAsh Amara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A good companion to the main book.

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Review: Death and Transfiguration: A Tragic Drama in Five Acts

Death and Transfiguration: A Tragic Drama in Five Acts by Istvan Hornyak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I need to be honest with you all. I applied for this book on Goodreads Givaways by mistake. Thinking that it was a post-apocalyptic. Yes, yes, I know, I should've have had read the description. But I sometimes do not, and only drudge a book by it's cover, literally.

I avoid poetry, deliberately and meticulously, so this book is something I would've never read if I would've payed attention. And it would be a loss!

This is a very unique book. Written entirely as a play it really stand's out from all of the others that I have read this year. It draws you in, and I just kept reading. Is it a usual story, - no. Is it worth your time? Depends. If you are not into plays and their specific construction, you might skip this one. But if you would like to read something different, give this book a chance, it might well surprise you.

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On the Character of Karl Marx

Destroyed love | WGTOW

Thursday, 28 December 2017

Review: Something Coming Through

Something Coming Through by Paul McAuley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Actual Rating 4,5 Stars

It was great to read a book that is set in a place that I know well. The references and humor were great. The world-building was enjoyable and the story suspenseful. I already have book 2 lined up, so lets see what the rest of the tale will bring!

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Tuesday, 26 December 2017

Review: Exiled: Void Wraith Prequel Story

Exiled: Void Wraith Prequel Story by Chris Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Got me interested in the rest of the trilogy, for sure!
Great writing as always by this Author.

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Review: With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial

With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial by Kathryn Mannix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is needed in our today's society. The avoidance of death is a tragic mishap of our present time. I enjoyed how the subject was approached. And the topics covered here are diverse and work well together. My copy will go to a friend who had just recently lost a loved one. I will most definitely be buying a second copy for my personal library.

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Review: Embassytown

Embassytown by China Miéville
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Actual Rating 3,5 Stars

I could not connect to the story. It is beautifully woven and very melodically written. But I couldn't stay with the story long enough to truly appreciate the worldbuilding and the characters. It might be that the timing was just wrong, I might give the story a second try later. We will see!

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Review: Downside Up

Downside Up by Ron Prehn Palmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A greatly researched story, but very overwritten. Interesting for someone who was never at that side of the world, but not enough smooth to allow true immersion into the story. Very impressive size, yes, but ultimately a letdown as you keep getting yanked from the story due to reader fatigue due to over explanations, and an overabundance of telling and a lack of showing.

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Review: Scourge

Scourge by Gail Z. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The wait has been worth it! I always give an extra point to books that do not shy away from purposeful swearing. The "oh, they are orphans" plot device did not make me happy (to overused nowadays) but it served a purpose and wasn't just thrown into for convinience. A very interesting world, and great descriptives. Time well spent. I dunno if I will check out other books in the series (not really my genre) but the first one was good, and I am happy I got the chance to read it.

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Review: Hunting Nora Stone

Hunting Nora Stone by Colin Weldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great dialogue, interesting story, a complex protagonist and immersive worldbuilding are just some of the points that keep you reading and reading, and reading. Happy to be able to get a copy. Plus, the cover design is even better on the paperback, the detailing is beautiful!

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Review: The Changed

The Changed by A. Michael Marsh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a really well-written teenage aimed read. Too many books for youngster now are too preoccupied by trivial and unimportant matters of false insta-love and popularity contests, teaching nothing, showing nothing of importance. This book is different. It respects the intelligence of it's reader and does not shy away from difficult topics. Interesting characters are another bonus. And it's good suspenseful story is a great escape.

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Review: Experience on Demand: What Virtual Reality Is, How It Works, and What It Can Do

Experience on Demand: What Virtual Reality Is, How It Works, and What It Can Do by Jeremy Bailenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Most of the books that I read bet donated afterwards. This one will stay in my personal library, no questions asked. It is a very useful overview of many matters relating to ever-expanding VR. Both practical and fantastical matters are explored, and many useful examples are shared. Future is VR and this book is a great read for anyone interested in what can be our reality very, very soon!

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Review: Iron Dragoons

Iron Dragoons by Richard Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was great! Am already gearing up for the next 2 books in the series.

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Sunday, 24 December 2017

Review: Bonfire

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would never even thought that an Author with such an unconventional background can write such multi-dimensional characters. This book kept surprising me. And I am amazed that I would've never even considered it, if not for a giveaway!

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Review: The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Re-reading this is NEVER boring!

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Review: Dauntless

Dauntless by Jack Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good solid read. Enjoyable and well written.
Will consider picking up the rest of the series.

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Review: Mindswap

Mindswap by Robert Sheckley
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Actual Rating 0,5 Stars

I am really sorry, but I just couldn't.
Perhaps it is written in a style I cannot identify with.
I had no choice but to DNF it in the end!

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Conflict in Ukraine is not an organic civil war. Russia is the source of...

Review: The Remnant

The Remnant by William Michael Davidson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a Pagan, I am not really into Christian fiction, but this book was very entertaining and interesting story-wise. Happy I stumbled on it, was not expecting it to be so immersive and well-written.

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Review: The Queen of the Tearling

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, very well realised, and great characters to boot!

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Review: Pirate

Pirate by Eve Langlais
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The sense of humour in this one was amazing!

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Review: Cold Welcome

Cold Welcome by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I did not read any of the previous ones in the series, but it did not hinder me at all, just added to the intrigue. The next ones will be on my priority reading list no doubt!

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Review: Year One

Year One by Nora Roberts
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Actual Rating 2,5 Stars

I really wanted to like this book more as I am an avid post-apocalyptic genre reader. But it was extremely confusing than the supernational elements were introduced. It muddled the amazing beginning to no end. So disappointing, sad really.

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