BOOK REVIEW: Xenocide by Orson Scott Card

BOOK REVIEW: Xenocide by Orson Scott Card

Sequel to Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead
"On the world Lusitania there are now three sapient races--the pequeniños, who evolved there; Humans, who came to colonize; and a Hive Queen and her children, brought by Ender long years ago. But on Lusitania there is also the descolada, a virus deadly to human beings which would spread like wildfire throughout the Starways Congress should it ever escape the planet.
"The Starways Congress decided that the descolada should be wiped out once and for all, and sent a fleet, armed with a planet-destroying weapon, to do it. A fourth intelligence, loyal to Ender and Lusitania, caused that fleet to disappear.
"On a distant planet called Path alive a people whose culture owes much to that of ancient China on Earth. They have evolved a caste known as the godspoken, people of superior intellectual abilities who pay a terrible price for their gifts. The godspoken of Path have given their loyalty and service to the Starways Congress. Among the godspoken is a young girl named, in the language of her people, Gloriously Bright. It is to her that the Starways Congress turns with the mystery of the disappearance of the Lusitania Fleet. There is no doubt that Gloriously Bright will discover the answer to the puzzle. The question is, what will she do with that information?" (From inside cover.)

Most of Xenocide takes place when Ender is in his 60's. He'd been married to Novinha for 30 years. Her children are all grown, most of them scientists like their mother. Now let me tell you this book was....slow. There's a lot of theory and science and speculation about how their universe works. It's interesting, but can get really thick. I read it because some interesting things happen as well as to get through to the rest of the books (I've had the whole series for years but am finally getting around to reading it) but while I read Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead in one day each, this took me dayzzzz. Rated PG for adult themes. 4 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

BOOK REVIEW: Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

Sequel to Ender's Game.
"In the aftermath of his terrible war, Ender Wiggin disappeared, and a powerful voice arose: the Speaker for the Dead, who told the true story of the Bugger War.
"Now, long years later, a second alien race has been discovered, but again the aliens' ways are strange and frightening...again, humans die. And it is only the Speaker for the Dead, who is also Ender Wiggin the Xenocide, who has the courage to confront the mystery...and the truth." (from back cover)

Novinha, hurt and afraid, calls for a Speaker for the Dead, and though she recalls her request 8 days later, Ender Wiggin shows up on her planet twenty years later--the time it takes to travel from the nearest planet, though to Ender it was only 2 weeks. During his flight, two of Novinha's six children calls for a Speaker, also. Ender is not well recieved on the Catholic planet, but soon earns the hearts of all, even the cold-hearted Novinha. We learn to love and fear the piggies, the alien creatures they share the planet with. They discover that they must decide how they can continue to coexist with a virus that the piggies can't live without but that kills humans.

This is definitely as good as Ender's Game, though in a different way. Ender is a much more peaceful and older person. He's in his 30's in this book so you don't feel sorry for him like before but rejoice as he earns the hearts of a damaged family who, though they don't know it, need him deeply. And he needs them. 415 pages of sheer entertainment. Some tears expected. Rated PG-13 for graphic violence and 4.7 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

BOOK REVIEW: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender Wiggin is a Third, a rare third child born to families on earth. The government asked his parents to have a third child since they were geniuses. They test all children for the military when they are very young. Ender's older brother, Peter, failed only because he was too cruel. Ender's older sister, Valentine, failed because she was too kind. But they think Ender is a perfect mix of both and at the age of six is accepted into the military academy. He is ostracized and set apart from the beginning so that he has to excel in order to make friends. You feel his pain and loneliness. You feel him growing and learning and overcoming the obstacles in front of him. You want to play with him in the zero-gravity training rooms, with their guns and body suits that freeze when shot. You want to shout at those who pick on him because you know how good and pure his heart is.

In the end, after the leaders play a dirty trick on him at 12-years old, you want to weep with him and heal his broken heart.

Card writes from the perspective of the all-knowing narrator, so you know the thoughts of the main characters. The bad thing with it is you're not fully drawn into the character's mind. I think it would be more powerful that way, but even so I found myself sniggering and tearing up here and there. 324 pages of sheer entertainment. Rated PG-13 (though some might argue for PG) for crude language (not BAD language, just a lot of usage of the word fart, etc) and a few graphic fight scenes. 4.7 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

BOOK REVIEW: A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

"When Haven Kimmel was born in 1965, Mooreland, Indiana, was a sleepy little hamlet of three hundred people. Nicknamed "Zippy" for the way she would bolt around the house, this small girl was possessed of big eyes and even bigger ears. In this witty and lovingly told memoir, Kimmel takes readers back to a time when small—town America was caught in the amber of the innocent postwar period—people helped their neighbors, went to church on Sunday, and kept barnyard animals in their backyards.

Laced with fine storytelling, sharp wit, dead-on observations, and moments of sheer joy, Haven Kimmel's straight-shooting portrait of her childhood gives us a heroine who is wonderfully sweet and sly as she navigates the quirky adult world that surrounds Zippy."

This memoir will have you laughing and possibly crying. This little girl has more personality than most people have in their small finger. I loved the relationship she had with her rough-edged father and the friendships she formed. Nothing gets Zippy down, even the meanest girl in school. Even though she didn't usually tell us how old she was and there wasn't any certain flow to the stories, it was overall an enjoyable read. Haven Kimmel is nothing but a wonderful story-teller. It wasn't gripping by any means--I wanted to know how it turned out yet I could put it down for the night and be fine--but still fun. Rated G, 4.2 out of 5 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: Million Dollar Diva by Tristi Pinkston, et al

BOOK REVIEW: Million Dollar Diva by Tristi Pinkston, Brett Kitchen and Ethan Kap

Women have historically been left out of financial decisions. Even today, when women are entering the job market more and more, they still tend to be financially ignorant. This book teaches women how to enjoy financial security, have money to burn, and obtain those dream vacations you've always wanted.

It is an interesting read from the beginning. Tristi begins by recounting a collision she had with a semi and the tough months that followed, physically and financially. Are we prepared for life's semi's? This book helps us to know how to have a good financial cushion and, since money is connected everything we need in life (relationship, emotional, spiritual, health, and social needs), give us true peace of mind.

Kitchen and Kap are very down-to-earth and emphasize the importance of taking responsibility for our financial decisions and not falling into the pitfall of feeling "obligated" as Americans tend to do. They give excellent advice on how to pay off debt more quickly and efficiently and how to grow your income each month (not by asking your boss for a raise). :) I grew very excited about some of the options, especially the idea of a modified cash value life insurance policy. Me getting excited about finances is a big deal.

I appreciated the perspective from a regular gal like myself. She asked questions I would have asked and made sure they used language anyone can understand. :) And the fun part is, you can track her success with the ideas listed in the book at www.milliondollardiva.com. The book is aimed at informing women, but men should definitely read it, too. Way to go, Tristi, Brett and Ethan! It was truly an informative and enjoyable read, especially for a book on FINANCES! (G-rated, no dirty stuff here). 4.6 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: Retirement Quest: Make Better Decisions by John Hauserman, CFP

BOOK REVIEW: Retirement Quest: Make Better Decisions by John Hauserman, CFP

Retirement Quest is a book for those who are reasonably financially secure and responsible as well as those who are in a "wealth building mode". Hauserman takes into account the weakened economy and gives excellent advice on how to choose a financial advisor and make wise decisions that will help you have a financially secure retirement. He discusses everything from life expectancy to risk management to stocks and bonds and the market cycle.

A huge bonus of this book: free websites to help map your retirement goals and make sure they are realistic. The theme throughout the book is that there are no absolutes. A good advisor doesn't try to get you rich quick nor put all your eggs into one basket. Planning and re-planning for your retirement are key, as well as having a GOOD financial advisor. He discusses how to find a good advisor as well as tips on what not to do to grow your investments.

There were a lot of rich terms that were hard to push through. Maybe I'm a less intelligent being, but money and economics and their coinciding terminology baffle me. Near put me to sleep. It could've been dumbed down a little bit. That was the only downside of this book, mainly because I'm a fantasy lover. But for what it is--unbiased advice on how to avoid costly mistakes and find a good financial advisor--it is very useful and well laid out. G-rated, in case you wondered. I give it 3.2 stars. Way to go, John Hauserman!