Book reviews written by jballreno

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Displaying 1-10 of 11 reviews

Full Dark, No Stars

by Stephen King
- Rated 4 stars
“Solid effort from a maturing King. The opening story, "1922" is probably the best of the bunch. ”

jballreno wrote this review Monday, November 29, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
Tsar

by Peter Kurth, Peter Christopher
- Rated 5 stars
“Captivating pictures of a long, lost era. Unlike many coffee table books, it has a solid, quality narrative to back it up. Highly recommended companion piece to Robert K. Massie's wonderful "Nicholas and Alexandra" or any number of Rasputin bios. ”

jballreno wrote this review Wednesday, July 28, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
Horns

by Joe Hill
- Rated 4 stars
“It's the best Stephen King book you'll read all year ;)

But no, seriously, Joe Hill is a terrific storyteller and with Horns he expands his fascination with dark, but ultimately good, characters (see Judas Coyne in Heart Shaped Box). He can also plot a story nicely; something his dad hasn't always done every time.

Bottom line: a well-executed revenge plot with some devilish fantasy mixed in. A quick read, highly recommended. ”

jballreno wrote this review Thursday, May 6, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
The Given Day

by Dennis Lehane
- Rated 4 stars
“My quick take: A departure for Lehane. An imperfect and occasionally challenging story, but the characters are so well developed they linger in my head a full eight months after finishing this book. The sketches of a young Babe Ruth are a particularly nice diversion for fans of the early days of the game. ”

jballreno wrote this review Wednesday, August 5, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
The Stand

by Stephen King
- Rated 5 stars
“Pitch-perfect King, and not much I could add that hasn't been said already, but make sure you've got the uncut edition, which was released around 1990 or so. ”

jballreno wrote this review Wednesday, August 5, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
The Art of Racing in the Rain

by Garth Stein
- Rated 5 stars
“Probably my favorite piece of fiction for 2008. Sad, yes, but still very hopeful and poignant. Stein doesn't toy with your emotions. From the start, you have a sense of how things will end, but that doesn't stop you from being pulled into this meditation on the meaning of life from a dog's point of view. ”

jballreno wrote this review Thursday, July 31, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Ayrton Senna, the whole story

by Christopher Hilton
- Rated 5 stars
“A mostly technical look at Formula One's greatest (and often most controversial) driver. Packed with stats. As we near the inevitably tragic end, however, the tone turns more somber, and we get a real sense of what made this mystery of a man tick. ”

jballreno wrote this review Thursday, July 31, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
iWoz

by Steve Wozniak, Gina Smith
- Rated 4 stars
“Yeah, Woz likes to brag, but it's all very good-natured. Not to mention, he really does have a lot to brag about. Not a tell-all, just a straight-forward account of the life of a true innovator.”

jballreno wrote this review Monday, November 26, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Zen and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye

by Brad Warner
- Rated 5 stars
“A solid look at Zazen practice told in everyday language. One of those books that inspires you to get on the cushion and stay there. ”

jballreno wrote this review Wednesday, September 19, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
Manhunt

by James L. Swanson
- Rated 5 stars
“Gripping from page one, this accurate-to-the-letter account of Lincoln's assassination and the subsequent manhunt serves as a decent Booth biography, as a bonus. Twists, turns...Swanson approaches his subject with the eye of a suspense novelist. Yet every amazing word is true.”

jballreno wrote this review Monday, June 2, 2008. ( reply | permalink )