Book Reviews
- A timeless classic of storytelling, interwoven with faith, duty, and adventureAuthor(s): J.R.R. TolkienStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
The Two Towers is the second book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. After more than 15 years since I last read it, I found it amazing to pick up on more details and themes—and to appreciate just how well-written this series truly is. The narrative splits into three interwoven storylines: (1) Aragorn, Legolas, and …
Read More - Good for Spiritual Reading, Prayer, and Quiet ReflectionAuthor(s): Hailey Kathleen HallStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
Passion Flowers in Bloom is a beautiful collection of art and poetry centered on the Gospels and the Christian spiritual life. The book contains 51 poems, each well-suited for contemplation and prayer. The poems serve as meditations—focused on the truths and mysteries of the faith—and reflections on creation, personal …
Read More - Very engaging, fun read with our heroesAuthor(s): Bryan DavisStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
Megan says, “I’m always troubled when I hear about people dying.” This is one of the reasons I love this book—and the Astral Alliance series—so much. At the Speed of Mind takes on the evil of child trafficking with love, mercy, and resolve. Megan is determined to fight for the kids without compromising her moral …
Read More - Excellent textbook on engineering design with an industry perspective for senior capstoneAuthor(s): Cory J. MettlerStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
Engineering Design: A Survival Guide to Senior Capstone contains a wealth of information about the engineering design process. One of the goals of this textbook is to bridge the gap between academia and industry. To that end, it draws on project management resources and provides extensive insights from an industry …
Read More - Action-packed, heroic, and morally groundedAuthor(s): Bryan DavisStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
This is another good book and a very enjoyable read! I must say, I’m perhaps even more hooked on this series now than when I first started it. The story is pretty action-packed. You know that saying about real-life events where all you can say is “You can’t make this stuff up!”? Well, that’s exactly how this series …
Read More - Moral Struggles, Survival, and the Rescue of the OppressedAuthor(s): Bryan DavisStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
This story takes place in space and weaves an intriguing narrative around the main character, Megan, who is branded a pirate. She fights for survival and strives to do what is right, especially after learning about child trafficking and making it her mission to free the enslaved children. Although still a child …
Read More - Reread and picked up on new detailsAuthor(s): J.R.R. TolkienStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
It has been over a decade since I last read The Lord of the Rings, so I decided to pick it up again. It is amazing how many details stand out upon rereading, even though I am already very familiar with the story. I chose to revisit this book as a way to relax—what could be better than a great novel? This story is …
Read More - An Excellent Read That Brings Greater Awareness to the Modern-Day Battle Against EvilAuthor(s): Stephen J. RossettiStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
This is an excellent spiritual read! Msgr. Rossetti, an exorcist, and his prayer team regularly perform exorcisms to drive out demons from people and places. Nothing is done by his own power but only through Jesus, the sacraments, and the intercession of the saints. An exorcist has a special authority given to him to …
Read More - An intensely packed novel contrasting Christianity, Humanism, and the AntichristAuthor(s): Robert Hugh BensonStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
Lord of the World was written by Robert Hugh Benson, a Catholic priest, and published in 1907. Benson himself was a convert to the Catholic faith. He wrote this novel about a dystopian society centered around an anti-Christ figure, Julian Felsenburgh. This is a very packed and well-written novel! It shows one way that …
Read More - A well-written textbook for teaching and learning computer architectureAuthor(s): Sarah L. Harris and David HarrisStar Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
I am an instructor, and we use this textbook to teach Computer Architecture. I enjoyed reading it and thought the authors wrote in a simple and understandable style. They introduced and built on concepts throughout the book, providing detailed explanations and a wealth of information. The book can be read …
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