Author: Neal Stephenson
Genre: Cyberpunk
I am incredibly grateful to my friend and training partner Sofie who loaned me this novel. I was in China on a mountainside studying martial arts at the time, and books were a little hard to come by.
This was a good book. Interesting when the hero of the book (Hiro Protagonist, what a name) is actually a failed pizza delivery guy. Okay, the pizza did get there on time, but he ruined his car to get it there!
Is That It
Author: Bob Geldof
Genre: Autobiography
Bob Geldof, an Irishman, talks about growing up, his band (The Boomtown Rats) and his charity work, especially his work in helping organize Live Aid.
Genre: Autobiography
Bob Geldof, an Irishman, talks about growing up, his band (The Boomtown Rats) and his charity work, especially his work in helping organize Live Aid.
Changing Destiny: A Commentary On Liaofan’s Four Lessons
Author: Master Chin Kung
Genre: Buddhist
Read this book at the Wu Wei Si Monastery near Dali in China. It's a view on how Pureland Buddhism believes that destiny only controls us if we don't work to change it. We are bound by our kharma unless we accumulate merit through good deeds enabling us to alter the destiny we were born with.
Genre: Buddhist
Read this book at the Wu Wei Si Monastery near Dali in China. It's a view on how Pureland Buddhism believes that destiny only controls us if we don't work to change it. We are bound by our kharma unless we accumulate merit through good deeds enabling us to alter the destiny we were born with.
Without Mercy
Author: Jack Higgins
Published: 2005
Genre: Adventure
Date Finished: October 3, 2006
It was a long train ride from Beijing to Yunnan province, and this book, along with it's prequel, kept me entertained for much of the trip.
The Superintendant is murdered in her hospital bed as the Russians attempt to eliminate Brigedier Ferguson's entire unofficial force. Sean is particularily hard hit by Hannah's death, and seems to be loosing a bit of his taste for the game. Billy Salter (mobster) is promoted onto the team, his criminal slate wiped clean.
Published: 2005
Genre: Adventure
Date Finished: October 3, 2006
It was a long train ride from Beijing to Yunnan province, and this book, along with it's prequel, kept me entertained for much of the trip.
The Superintendant is murdered in her hospital bed as the Russians attempt to eliminate Brigedier Ferguson's entire unofficial force. Sean is particularily hard hit by Hannah's death, and seems to be loosing a bit of his taste for the game. Billy Salter (mobster) is promoted onto the team, his criminal slate wiped clean.
Dark Justice
Author: Jack Higgins
Published: 2004
Genre: Adventure
Sean Dillon is back again. I actually forget what this one was about. Guess I'll have to read it again. That's okay, because the book situation in China is awful. No second hand bookstores, and when you can find a hotel with a few books to trade, they are more expensive used than they are new.
Published: 2004
Genre: Adventure
Sean Dillon is back again. I actually forget what this one was about. Guess I'll have to read it again. That's okay, because the book situation in China is awful. No second hand bookstores, and when you can find a hotel with a few books to trade, they are more expensive used than they are new.
The Shelters of Stone
Author: Jean M. Auel
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Historical Fiction?
Date Read: October 1, 2006
I read Valley of the Horses, and The Mamoth Hunters when I was in high school. This one was on the shelf at The Bookworm English lending library here in Beijing, so I thought, hey, I wonder how things turned out.
Well, Jondolar finally arrived back home after his 5 year journey, Ayal, two horses and a wolf safely in tow.
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Historical Fiction?
Date Read: October 1, 2006
I read Valley of the Horses, and The Mamoth Hunters when I was in high school. This one was on the shelf at The Bookworm English lending library here in Beijing, so I thought, hey, I wonder how things turned out.
Well, Jondolar finally arrived back home after his 5 year journey, Ayal, two horses and a wolf safely in tow.
Inca Gold
Author: Clive Cussler
Genre: Adventure Fiction
Date Finished: September 27, 2006
I borrowed this book from the English lending library here in Beijing, The Bookworm. Strange, when I first went there, I thought it was a second hand bookstore, and was confused when my attempts to trade books were met with confusion.
So, I bought a half year membership and borrowed a couple of books. Val is now reading Surely You Must Be Joking Mr. Feynman and I just polished off this one.
Dirk Pitt discovers an Inca treasure lost 500 years earlier, an underground river through the southwest, brings down a crime family and saves everyone in the process.
Just another day at the office. As usual, Clive makes a cameo in his own book.
Genre: Adventure Fiction
Date Finished: September 27, 2006
I borrowed this book from the English lending library here in Beijing, The Bookworm. Strange, when I first went there, I thought it was a second hand bookstore, and was confused when my attempts to trade books were met with confusion.
So, I bought a half year membership and borrowed a couple of books. Val is now reading Surely You Must Be Joking Mr. Feynman and I just polished off this one.
Dirk Pitt discovers an Inca treasure lost 500 years earlier, an underground river through the southwest, brings down a crime family and saves everyone in the process.
Just another day at the office. As usual, Clive makes a cameo in his own book.
Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World
Author: Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman
Genre: Travel
Date Finished: September 25, 2006
This pair decided to ride around the world, through the northern hemisphere. Not a journey on the scale documented in 10 Years on 2 Wheels, but a nice read. How fortunate for them that they are extemely famous and recognizable, thereby enabling them to convince BMW to give them a few R1150GS Adventures and money for the trip.
Genre: Travel
Date Finished: September 25, 2006
This pair decided to ride around the world, through the northern hemisphere. Not a journey on the scale documented in 10 Years on 2 Wheels, but a nice read. How fortunate for them that they are extemely famous and recognizable, thereby enabling them to convince BMW to give them a few R1150GS Adventures and money for the trip.
Surely You Must Be Joking Mr. Feynman
Author: Richard Feynman
Genre: Autobiography
Date Finished: September 24, 2006
This is an extremely enteraining book, written by a very funny guy. It is a series of annecdotes from his life describing growing up, going to school at MIT and Princeton, how he almost learned Portugese instead of Spanish, just because of the cute blond in the Portugese class. Drumming lessons in Brazil, how unsafely the atomic secrets of Los Almos were stored.
Genre: Autobiography
Date Finished: September 24, 2006
This is an extremely enteraining book, written by a very funny guy. It is a series of annecdotes from his life describing growing up, going to school at MIT and Princeton, how he almost learned Portugese instead of Spanish, just because of the cute blond in the Portugese class. Drumming lessons in Brazil, how unsafely the atomic secrets of Los Almos were stored.
Family Matters
Author: Rohinton Mistry
Genre: Indian Family Drama?
Date Completed: September 19, 2006
An interesting story about the interactions of an Indian family in Bombay as the eldest member ages, developes Parkinson's disease and places and increasing strain on his family.
Genre: Indian Family Drama?
Date Completed: September 19, 2006
An interesting story about the interactions of an Indian family in Bombay as the eldest member ages, developes Parkinson's disease and places and increasing strain on his family.
Infinity's Shore
Author: David Brin
Genre: Science Fiction
Date Finished: Aug 30, 2006
I'm really not sure what to make of the Uplift series. Entertaining, for sure. A different perspective on evolution. But he hardly talks about the society that exists between the stars. He too stuck on this ship, The Streaker, that never gets home, never gets away, and never solves any of the mysteries that put it in trouble in the first place. And he keeps talking about events that happened to the crew, don't seem to have happened in any of the novels. Okay, well, I'm going to read the last book of the second series and see if any of the mysteries he hints at are revealed.
Genre: Science Fiction
Date Finished: Aug 30, 2006
I'm really not sure what to make of the Uplift series. Entertaining, for sure. A different perspective on evolution. But he hardly talks about the society that exists between the stars. He too stuck on this ship, The Streaker, that never gets home, never gets away, and never solves any of the mysteries that put it in trouble in the first place. And he keeps talking about events that happened to the crew, don't seem to have happened in any of the novels. Okay, well, I'm going to read the last book of the second series and see if any of the mysteries he hints at are revealed.
Illusions
Author: Richard Bach
Genre: Introspective
Date Finished: Sunday, August 20, 2006
What if a messaih was born in our times? What if you met him? What if he was a mechanic? What would he teach?
Genre: Introspective
Date Finished: Sunday, August 20, 2006
What if a messaih was born in our times? What if you met him? What if he was a mechanic? What would he teach?
King's Sacrifice
Author: Margaret Weis
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: August 2006
Oh, that's what the prophecy meant.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: August 2006
Oh, that's what the prophecy meant.
King's Test
Author: Margaret Weis
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: August 2006
Well, we know who Dion is. Who is on his side, and who isn't? Why? Why not? The saga continues.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: August 2006
Well, we know who Dion is. Who is on his side, and who isn't? Why? Why not? The saga continues.
The Lost King
Author: Margaret Weis
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: August 2006
Who is Dion? Why are people trying to kill him and capture him. What is with these energy swords? Was anyone else constantly reminded of Star Wars?
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: August 2006
Who is Dion? Why are people trying to kill him and capture him. What is with these energy swords? Was anyone else constantly reminded of Star Wars?
Sword-Breaker
Author: Jennifer Roberson
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Friday, August 4, 2006
Del and Tiger are back, again. Didn't he kill her? I guess not. But now the magical sword he never wanted is possessed.
About halfway through the book I realized I was still waiting for the story to begin. What was the story?
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Friday, August 4, 2006
Del and Tiger are back, again. Didn't he kill her? I guess not. But now the magical sword he never wanted is possessed.
About halfway through the book I realized I was still waiting for the story to begin. What was the story?
Phantom
Author: Terry Goodkind
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Val had this book shipped to Thailand especially for me.
I started this book at lunch time and polished it off before midnight. He should write larger books.
It was good, as most of his books are, but I'm kind of getting tired of the unendingness of the whole thing. There is rumored to be only one more book due to be released, and that seems appropriate to me.
Kahlan begins to discover more and more of who she is, though she still can't remember. Richard, once again without actual knowledge or education, manages to prove Ann, Nathan and Zedd (who together possess about 2 millenium of accumulated experience and study) completely wrong. Yawn. Getting old with this one.
Okay, about another year to go and I can read the last book in the series. Then I'll be done. After 10 years of reading and waiting, and reading and waiting ...
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Val had this book shipped to Thailand especially for me.
I started this book at lunch time and polished it off before midnight. He should write larger books.
It was good, as most of his books are, but I'm kind of getting tired of the unendingness of the whole thing. There is rumored to be only one more book due to be released, and that seems appropriate to me.
Kahlan begins to discover more and more of who she is, though she still can't remember. Richard, once again without actual knowledge or education, manages to prove Ann, Nathan and Zedd (who together possess about 2 millenium of accumulated experience and study) completely wrong. Yawn. Getting old with this one.
Okay, about another year to go and I can read the last book in the series. Then I'll be done. After 10 years of reading and waiting, and reading and waiting ...
Fire Sea
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Haplo, travels through the Death Gate again, this time in the company of Alfred, one of the ancient enemy the Sartan, into the earth world. There they finds that all the mensch, the lower races of humans, dwarves and elves, have all died off and only the Sartan are left, but in their efforts to survive in this hostile environment the Sartan have forgotten their orgins and lost themselves in the forbidden art of necromancy.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Haplo, travels through the Death Gate again, this time in the company of Alfred, one of the ancient enemy the Sartan, into the earth world. There they finds that all the mensch, the lower races of humans, dwarves and elves, have all died off and only the Sartan are left, but in their efforts to survive in this hostile environment the Sartan have forgotten their orgins and lost themselves in the forbidden art of necromancy.
Elven Star
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Haplo, still in the service of his mysterious lord though we begin to see that his lord doesn't really trust him, travels through the Death Gate again, in his efforts to unravel the mysteries of how the world is now, and where the ancient enemy, the Sartan, have all gone.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Haplo, still in the service of his mysterious lord though we begin to see that his lord doesn't really trust him, travels through the Death Gate again, in his efforts to unravel the mysteries of how the world is now, and where the ancient enemy, the Sartan, have all gone.
Dragon Wing
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Strangely I thought I'd read this series about 13 - 14 years ago in high school, but now that I've started reading, I realize I only read the last couple books in the series.
Haplo, in the service of his mysterious lord, crashes after his journey through the Death Gate.
Genre: Fantasy
Strangely I thought I'd read this series about 13 - 14 years ago in high school, but now that I've started reading, I realize I only read the last couple books in the series.
Haplo, in the service of his mysterious lord, crashes after his journey through the Death Gate.
The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity
Author: Daniel Reid
Genre: Non-fiction, Health
This is a book that deals a gentle, easily read, but extremely informative introduction to Taoist medicine, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Good read, valuable information.
Genre: Non-fiction, Health
This is a book that deals a gentle, easily read, but extremely informative introduction to Taoist medicine, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Good read, valuable information.
Forest Recollections: Wandering Monks in the Twentieth-century Thailand
Author: Kamala Tiyavanich
Genre: non-fiction
Date Finished: July 2006
It seems that in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia there was a tradition of forest monks, practicing Buddhists who believed that they needed to wander through the deep, dangerous, uncharted forests of south east Asia, facing their fears and meditating to gain enlightenment. This book documents the ending of this tradition which coincided with the deforestization of Thailand in the mid-1950s, through the use of memoirs and other primary sources.
Genre: non-fiction
Date Finished: July 2006
It seems that in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia there was a tradition of forest monks, practicing Buddhists who believed that they needed to wander through the deep, dangerous, uncharted forests of south east Asia, facing their fears and meditating to gain enlightenment. This book documents the ending of this tradition which coincided with the deforestization of Thailand in the mid-1950s, through the use of memoirs and other primary sources.
How to Learn Any Language: Quickly, Easily, Inexpensively, Enjoyably and on Your Own
Author: Barry Farber
Genre: Non-Fiction - Language Learning
Date Finished: May, 2006
A book of strategies for assisting in language studies. A very worthwhile read if you are attempting to learn a language. There is probably at least one suggestion in this book you can turn to your advantage, possibly many.
Genre: Non-Fiction - Language Learning
Date Finished: May, 2006
A book of strategies for assisting in language studies. A very worthwhile read if you are attempting to learn a language. There is probably at least one suggestion in this book you can turn to your advantage, possibly many.
The Artists Way
Author: Julia Cameron
Genre: Self-Help
Date Finished: May, 2006
Julia Cameron offers methods for allowing your inner, repressed artist out. I thought this was a wonderful book. I especially like the Morning Pages and endeavor to write my three pages every morning.
Genre: Self-Help
Date Finished: May, 2006
Julia Cameron offers methods for allowing your inner, repressed artist out. I thought this was a wonderful book. I especially like the Morning Pages and endeavor to write my three pages every morning.
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