First Shift - Legacy

FIRST SHIFT - LEGACY
Hugh Howey

I was very excited to read this novel after seeing how many great reviews there are, and after having read the Wool Omnibus, which was excellent.  It was good, but for some reason, this one didn't appeal to me like the Wool did.  There was something flat about it. 

The story definitely had it moments, but it dragged in places too.  I will, at some point, read the next in the series, and suspect I will like it better.  3 stars for this one, but I can see how it has set the stage for the next in the series to be a great read.  Here's the Amazon LINK.

Raising The Dead

RAISING THE DEAD
Chauncey Crandall

Really amazing read.  I do believe completely in miracles, and have witnessed some in my life.  I truly believe that God intervenes regularly (sometimes subtly, sometimes dramatically) without it being reported or even known in some cases.  I do know that nothing is impossible when asked through faith and in Jesus Christ's name.

Thought-provoking and riveting book.  I highly recommend it. 4 stars.  Here's the LINK.

2012 Top 10 Best Novels I Read

Below are the ten best novels I have read over the past year in order.  Not the ten best I've ever read (though a couple of them fall into that category), but the ten best I've read in the past year.

KANE AND ABEL

Jeffery Archer

11/22/63

Stephen King

THE PROVIDENCE RIDER

Robert McCammon

THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE

Stephen King

WOOL (Omnibus Edition)

Hugh Howey

MOCKINGJAY (Book 3 The Hunger Games)

Suzanne Collins

GREYHOUND

Steffan Piper

ON THE ISLAND

Tracey Garvis-Graves

LOOKING FOR ALASKA

John Green

THE HUNTER FROM THE WOODS

Robert McCammon

The Art of Racing in the Rain

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN
Garth Stein

An excellent novel! A quick and easy read that was hard to put down. I highly recommend this to any dog lover.  

While sad at times, it is mainly a story about love, perseverance, and strength. There are some really good life lessons here, and I would also highly recommend it for young adults and teenagers.  4 stars.  Here's the LINK.

WOOL (Omnibus 1-5)

WOOL OMNIBUS
Hugh Howey

I took a chance on this novel based on the reviews. The sample that I downloaded was good, and interesting enough for me to purchase the omnibus 1-5.  It went from being a 4 star novel to a 5 star somewhere in volume 4.

Bottom line is I loved this story and am looking forward to the next two volumes. This is outside of the normal genres I read, but it had all the elements I love in a good book. Like most of the others that have read it,  I highly recommend it and give it 5 stars!  Here's the LINK.

11/22/63

11/22/63
Stephen King

11/22/63 is the best and most enjoyable King novel I have read in a long time.  It is one of the two best novels I have read this year.  For those that associate Stephen King with horror, forget that.  This is not a horror novel.  This is a book that I think would appeal to any fiction reader.  It's not a book about the Kennedy assassination as much as it is the fictional attempt to prevent it from happening.  Jake Epping is shown a way to travel back in time to a certain point in time, and since it's before the assassination, a decision is made to live in that time and try to change the course of history.  The book is set in the late fifties and early sixties.  Can't recommend it highly enough.  Here's the Amazon LINK.  5 stars.

Mere Christianity

MERE CHRISTIANITY
C.S. Lewis

So glad I finally read this. C.S. Lewis is brilliant. Very highly recommended for all Christians, and those that are interested in learning more about the Christian faith. One reading is not enough, I will be reading this again very soon.  5 stars.  Here's the LINK.