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andrew pestotnik

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I loved this book

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-07-23

Plot:
In a more light hearted book by Heinlein, we follow the trials and tribulations of one Valentine Michael Smith as he, a Martian finds himself on Earth and in bad shape, unable to communicate with anyone. Early on, only Jill helps him unconditionally as everyone looks to milk a story out of him.

Jills finds herself helping Ben try to do just that as he is captured against her knowledge. Eventually she brings Michael home and exposes him to Jubil, my favorite character. An old school, no nonsense religious man who teaches him all he needs to know about how to survive in society.

Eventually Michael and Jill move out and they try several odd jobs before settling on starting a religion based around Mike's abilities.

Review:
I throughly enjoyed the entire book. Its full of high browed humor that made me giggle at work while reading it (I'm sure my coworkers think I'm nuts). In typical Heinlein fashion, it covers deep subjects like politics and religion and how they're all utterly ridiculous. Jubil does an amazing job of exposition in the book and helps the reader truly understand what the people are thinking. Solid 4/5

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That was a Rough Read

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-03-23

First, I must say, the narration was excellent. There was no issue with that. The rest of the book was an absolute pain. Everything just felt like it was only intended for a very small group of people. I love SciFi but man this was a tough read that I did not enjoy. I don't have the list positive views on humanity being a history nerd but I look like a happy hippie compared to Kline's heavy handed the politics were portrayed in this book. Does that mean he views the world that way? no. Was it still over the top? yes.

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An Origin Story to John Clark

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-15-23

Having read many Tom Clancy novels, I enjoyed the book as it gave a lot of context to the character of John Clark.

Plot:
John Kelly is a veteran who is struggling to get over what he's seen in Vietnam. While in the Hospital he befriends a recovering addict named Pam and falls for her. Unfortunately, he leads her into danger which costs her life. This causes him to snap and Kelly takes it upon himself to avenge her death, eventually discovering everything about the dark world she came from. In Vietnam, a young American pilot sits in captivity and is tortured for information before a KGB agent intervenes. Over the course of time, The Young pilot reveals certain things he shouldn't. After Kelly kills several people involved in Pam's death, he is called upon for a secret mission to save American POW's. As he attempts to fulfill this, the mission goes awry but Kelly captures the Russian agent. This is where Douglas Ritter makes his appearance and subtlety tells the KGB to hand over all POW's that they're illegally interrogating and trades back the Russian Agent. After Kelly returns, he destroys the gang that had held Pam. The CIA, impressed with the brutal efficiency with which he destroyed the gang, recruits him.

Overall:
I enjoyed the book but I did feel that there were too many stories going on. They all played their part but there were times where things felt a bit overexplained. It is a Tom Clancy novel after all. It is a great origin story for one of Jack Ryan's most important advisors/agents.

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End of the Empire, Begginning of the New Republic

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-22-22

In the final installment of the series, Thrawn attempts to start a New, efficient Empire with Clones from Wayland. The group of Luke, Mara, Leia and Han Solo make their way to Wayland as Thrawn attacks Corosaunt in an attempt to shake the New Republic into fear. Undaunted, the group continues to Wayland. Jade asks Luke flat out what happened to the Emperor and he tells her, abruptly changing her whole perspective on him, though still not convinced of her path. After making their way into Sa'b'oth's chamber, she finally sees the Empire for the hollow shadow that it really is. Fighting together, Jade and Luke defeat Sa'b'oth. At the critical moment, Thrawn is betrayed and the battle ends. Jade then accompanies Luke and the Crew back to Corosaunt.

Overall, I very much enjoyed the series. I just wish Thrawn got a cooler end than he did. He's such an awesome character across the 9 or 10 books he makes appearances in.

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An honest man's perspective

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-15-22

Dakota Meyer is a simple man who did extraordinary things. He has the honor and humility that everyone should look up to. The story focuses on his involvement in Ganjgal in 2009. With his men cut off, the TOC not responding and shit hitting the fan. Meyer launched himself into action to save as many lives as possible, going in 5 times despite causing lifelong injuries to himself both physically and mentally, he saved the lives of several Marines and Afghans. Never calling himself a hero, even believing himself a failure for not saving everyone. This is a truly powerful story from a guy who just wants to better himself.

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Must Read for All Americans

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-11-22

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book. A collection of 85 papers written by John Jay, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton over the course of about 10 months, every aspect of the Consitution was debated. The Articles of Confederation had failed. Their values, though valiant, failed to allow the government to govern the people. For several months in 1787-88 the Founding Fathers racked that minds fixing this great issue. Everything from the forming of the 3 branches of our present government, to taxes, the Army, the Electoral College, the rights of the individual citizens, and the rights of the government are covered in heavy detail. I think every American should read this to understand what our founding fathers really meant by their words printed into the constitution.

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Very Well Written

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-29-22

f you're reading this book, you've most likely read the first book so I went go into too many spoilers.

Plot:
All the characters from the Hier to the Empire return. Mara is still searching for who she is after her shared experience with Luke in the Forrest. As this is happening, the New Republic seeks to find a way to help people still under the the Empire's grip and Leia is sent in a mission, using her ancestry to get close to the Empire to figure out what they're up to, what she finds out shakes her to her core. Luke continues to learn under a strange Grey Jedi. Mara eventually finds herself in the odd situation of needing Luke's help to save her ally. Thereby putting herself in debt to him, again pushing out her attempts to kill him. Thrawn finds out the New Republic is attempt to help the Isa'L'Mari and goes from 0 to warcrimes in about 2 pages. A battle is fought and a potentially Galaxy shattering secret is revealed.

Overall: This is clearly a trilogy and this is only the 2nd book in the series. Therefore, don't expect any conclusions to the story. You'll need to read the 3rd book for that. This is definitely one of Zahn's better works. The characters have great development and the story is fluid so far. I will read the final book, "The Last Command" soon.

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You need to read on if you've gotten here

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-12-22

We rejoin Holden, Naomi, Amos and Alex in their journey through the First truly Galactic total war. There is no turning back from what they did in the previous book. The group continues to work for the OPA and begin resenting Holden for it. Along the way, they pick up a Prax Mung who is looking for his daughter. After falling out with the OPA, Holden chooses to grow as a leader and help Prax find his daughter. We are then introduced to Avasaral, a high up Earth Official who has no time for BS. Along with a former Martian Marine named Roberta Draper, she finds her way to Holden and sees first hand what happens on the Frontline. I will not drop any more spoilers than that. You'll need to read on if you want to know.

My biggest issue with the book was Avasarala. I'm all for a character being badmouthed and rough around the edges, that's how I am in real life for those of you who have talked to me. However, Avasarala has way more in common with Tony Soprano than Captain Bartlett from Ace Combat 5 or John Sheridan from Babylon 5. She acts like and her actions speak more like a Hutt from Tatooine than a politician from most fiction. Maybe my standards are a bit off. She's not a bad character or one that just gets whatever she wants. She just is more comical than a character I take seriously.

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Inside the Mind of a Madman

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-18-22

I've always heard of this book, but never took the time to read it. Its a short story that delves into the mind of a man gone mad with the duality of humanity itself. One moment he's Dr. Jekyll and he other he's Mr. Hyde. Though short, it shows what might have been going on inside Stevenson's mind in his latter years. Though his health was in decline, and potentially dying of Tuberculosis, he continued to produce pieces like this. Worth a read in my opinion

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Clancy's best work

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-17-22

As I've seen in other places, I'd agree that this is the best Tom Clancy novel I've read so far. Every bit of it grabs the educated mind and has you on the edge of your seat. The very thing every Cold War person woke up fearing comes to pass as Russian oil production takes a tumble. They're forced (at least in their minds) to finally take on NATO in an attempt to gain oil rich areas in the Middle East; engaging in a lengthy conflict in every facet of Warfare. Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen on all sides are wrapped into this massive battle for supremacy of resources.

Overall, I won't get into many spoilers because you should definitely read this book. That's how highly I think of it. The plot is pretty thick so set aside time to read this one. The characters are intriguing and well thought out, even the minor ones. Mystery, Suspense, Action and Drama all wrapped into one long book.

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