Books Review - The Beer Thrillers

Book Review: Atomic Habits (James Clear)

B. Kline — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:21:06 +0000

Book Review: Atomic Habits by James Clear

I finally got around to Atomic Habits, but instead of reading it, I went with the audiobook version — which, for a book about systems, structure, and personal rhythm, actually worked pretty well. James Clear has a smooth, steady delivery that makes the material easy to digest during commutes, walks, or while doing absolutely anything else you’re trying to turn into a “habit.”

Overall, I found Atomic Habits to be a genuinely positive, practical, and well-packaged guide to incremental improvement. Clear excels at breaking down why small changes matter, and the principles — identity-based habits, habit stacking, and reducing friction — are solid, intuitive, and broadly applicable. There’s a reason this book sits on so many bestseller lists and gets recommended endlessly: the content is accessible, actionable, and encouraging without being preachy.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Libby

Libby is a wonderful resource. If you have a library card and a smart phone, you can get access to hundreds, if not thousands, of free audiobooks through the app. Even better, is some very large libraries – such as the Philadelphia Library – offer free library cards no matter where in the world you live and therefore you then have access to their full audiobook library via Libby. I cannot recommend this enough for long car rides, chores at home, etc. Its how I’ve gotten up to nearly 200 books read for the year.

Book Review

This is the book blurb via GoodReads:

The instant New York Times bestseller. Over 1 million copies sold!

Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
– make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
– overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
– design your environment to make success easier;
– get back on track when you fall off course;
…and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

–GoodReads Back of the Book Blurb

That said, I did come away with a bit of skepticism. Not in the sense that the book is wrong, but more that it sometimes oversimplifies. Many of the examples feel polished to the point of being almost too neat, too convenient. Real-life change is often messier than the frameworks suggest, and the book occasionally feels like it’s smoothing the edges a little too much. There’s also an element of repetition — the core ideas are strong, but they’re stretched over more chapters than they truly need.

One of the things I did appreciate, though, was how flexible the methods are. Clear doesn’t lock you into a rigid system or a one-size-fits-all routine. Instead, he lays out principles you can adapt to your own life. For someone juggling work, personal projects, parenting, or whatever else life throws at you, having a modular approach is refreshing. It’s less “follow these exact steps” and more “here’s how habits work; now apply the pieces that make sense.”

The storytelling aspect is also one of the book’s strengths. Even when I found some examples a little too smooth, they’re undeniably memorable. Clear has a knack for weaving in psychology, personal anecdotes, sports stories, and business cases in a way that keeps the material from feeling dry. Listening to the audiobook gave these stories a bit more punch, and it helped keep my attention even during moments where the core message repeated itself.

Where the book fell short for me — and why I hover around a 3.5/5 — is in its depth. It gives you a fantastic overview of habit formation and behavior change, but if you’ve read other titles in this space (Duhigg, Fogg, Newport, etc.), a lot of the ideas will feel familiar. Atomic Habits is an excellent entry point, maybe even the best one, but it’s not necessarily the definitive or final word on the topic. It’s more of a gateway book — a spark that gets you thinking, rather than a deep dive that transforms everything on its own.

Still, for what it aims to be — a motivational blueprint for thinking about how habits shape your life — it absolutely succeeds. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a gentle push toward better routines or who wants a mental model for incremental change. Listening to it rather than reading gave it a more conversational, almost coaching style that I found effective.

In the end, I’d land at 3.5 out of 5. Useful, inspiring at times, worth the listen — even if I don’t think it’s the all-encompassing life-changer some people make it out to be. It’s a good tool, not a magic wand.

The GoodReads overall rating is currently sitting at a 4.32 (as of 11.9.25).

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Book Review: A Significant Life (Todd May)

B. Kline — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 01:08:59 +0000

Book Review: A Significant Life – Human Meaning in a Silent Universe (Todd May)

First off, Todd May has quickly become one of my favorite philosophers of the present. I first got acquainted with Todd May via the show “The Good Place”. His first work I read was Death, which helped me a lot with my own understandings, feelings, and thoughts about death. Especially around the time of Bart‘s death, and I remember going for a hike at Governor Dick and reading it. This year through AbeBooks I’ve gone and gotten all of his (affordable anyway, there’s a few ones that are 45$ plus shipping and handling, for used copies) works, and been reading them. Alongside my full read through of William Shakespeare and Kurt Vonnegut this year, I’ve also been doing a (nearly) full read through of Todd May. I am planning on posting reviews of the other works as well.

I feel like this review I leaned a bit more cynic and harsh though, but I think the review stands as it does.

A Significant Life by Todd May

A Significant Life

The following is the back of the book blurb on GoodReads:

What makes for a good life, or a beautiful one, or, perhaps most important, a meaningful one? Throughout history most of us have looked to our faith, our relationships, or our deeds for the answer. But in A Significant Life , philosopher Todd May offers an exhilarating new way of thinking about these questions, one deeply attuned to life as it actually a work in progress, a journey—and often a narrative. Offering moving accounts of his own life and memories alongside rich engagements with philosophers from Aristotle to Heidegger, he shows us where to find the significance of our in the way we live them.

May starts by looking at the fundamental fact that life unfolds over time, and as it does so, it begins to develop certain qualities, certain themes. Our lives can be marked by intensity, curiosity, perseverance, or many other qualities that become guiding narrative values. These values lend meanings to our lives that are distinct from—but also interact with—the universal values we are taught to cultivate, such as goodness or happiness. Offering a fascinating examination of a broad range of figures—from music icon Jimi Hendrix to civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, from cyclist Lance Armstrong to The Portrait of a Lady ’s Ralph Touchett to Claus von Stauffenberg, a German officer who tried to assassinate Hitler—May shows that narrative values offer a rich variety of criteria by which to assess a life, specific to each of us and yet widely available. They offer us a way of reading ourselves, who we are, and who we might like to be.

Clearly and eloquently written, A Significant Life is a recognition and a comfort, a celebration of the deeply human narrative impulse by which we make—even if we don’t realize it—meaning for ourselves. It offers a refreshing way to think of an age-old question, of quite simply, what makes a life worth living.

A Significant Life by Todd May – GoodReads

Book Review: A Significant Life by Todd May

Todd May sets out to offer an answer—rather than the answer—to the question of life’s meaning, a topic he notes is surprisingly underdeveloped in philosophy. Unfortunately, I found the book largely unsatisfying, and often emblematic of what I think of as “classic philosopher pitfalls.”

For one, May devotes a great deal of time summarizing what long-dead philosophers believed about meaning. But if their ideas were wrong—and May clearly thinks they were—why spend so much of the book rehearsing them? When we teach calculus, we don’t trace every mistaken detour taken before Newton and Leibniz; we teach the useful parts. May also shows little interest in what contemporary science—biology, psychology, evolutionary theory—might contribute to the discussion. That blind spot becomes increasingly glaring.

More puzzling still, May defers the most important chapter—the actual core of his argument—until the very end. The result is a reading experience filled with “But what about…?” questions the book refuses to address until it’s nearly over.

He begins by quickly clearing some expected ground: neither the universe nor God can provide meaning. Fair enough, and it’s well-trodden territory, so I appreciated his brevity. But then nearly a fifth of the book is spent recounting what Aristotle (wrong), Bentham (wrong), and Mill (wrong) thought about meaning. Only one-third of the way in does the book finally begin in earnest, when May turns to Susan Wolf’s 2010 work Meaning in Life and Why It Matters. Everything before this feels like padding.

Wolf proposes a now-influential approach to meaningfulness—note: “meaningfulness,” not “the meaning of life”—summed up in her well-known formula:

Meaning arises when subjective attraction meets objective attractiveness.

It’s an intriguing idea, but I never felt May convincingly defended it. I’ll need to read Wolf directly. In May’s gloss, something is meaningful only when you value it (subjective attraction) and others also see its worth (objective attractiveness). He identifies this social dimension with what he calls “narrative values.”

But is this really “objective attractiveness”? It sounds far more like “whatever our society currently approves of.” And societies are often mistaken. What sense does it make to say, “Her life wasn’t meaningful to her contemporaries, but people centuries later think it was”? Meaning becomes historically and geographically contingent in a way that strains the framework.

May insists that meaningfulness and moral goodness are distinct. One can lead a meaningful life that isn’t morally good—and vice versa. Yet his handling of this distinction is unconvincing. At times, the framework produces absurd results:

A devoted Nazi officer could, by this account, have led a meaningful life—steadfastly committing himself to values his society (however horrifically) deemed admirable.

What does “meaningful life” even mean in that context?

Even May seems aware that his theory struggles to deliver the existential weight he wants it to have. He writes loftily that meaningfulness can

“…give heft to our projects… redeem the arc of our lives…”

and that it might

“…address the haunting fear that there is nothing more to our days than being born, dying, and the land increasing.”

He claims it could spare us from looking back on our lives with “desolation.” Yet why should embodying a narrative value like steadfastness produce any of these effects? Why would it add to the world, or redeem anything? The connection is asserted, not demonstrated.

Eventually May even concedes that meaningfulness isn’t necessary:

People whose lives are not meaningful… have not failed in any duty to themselves or others.

And further:

If someone says, “Not interested,” I would have no complaint… I have no argument for why he should feel obliged to express some narrative value.

If meaningfulness is unnecessary and carries no normative force, then what, exactly, is the point of defining it?

Despite all this, there is a small, compelling thread in May’s reflections. He observes:

We find our meaning not beneath or beyond our lives, but within them.

That seems right. Perhaps the problem is that May tries too hard to make “meaning” conduct more philosophical weight than it can bear. The concept raises deeper questions he never touches: What would it mean for a dog or chimp to lead a meaningful life? When in human evolution would “meaningfulness” have begun to apply? If it emerged gradually, doesn’t that suggest a biologically rooted craving rather than a metaphysical condition? And would a non-tribal species ever agree that “objective attractiveness” — i.e., the approval of the group — is essential to meaning?

These questions linger long after May’s framework has exhausted itself, and they are more thought-provoking than anything his own thesis ultimately puts forward.

My rating on GoodReads is *** out of 5. And on LibraryThing it is a 3.5 out of 5.

The overall average rating on GoodReads is a 3.70 as of 10.27.25.

Todd May

As I said earlier, stay tuned for the other books and works of his to be reviewed. I will interlink them all here.

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Book Review: Siddhartha’s Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment (James Kingsland)

B. Kline — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:52:23 +0000

Book Review: Siddhartha’s Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment (James Kingsland)

In a world increasingly captivated by the promises of mindfulness and meditation, Siddhartha’s Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment by James Kingsland offers a timely and illuminating exploration of the intersection between ancient Buddhist wisdom and cutting-edge neuroscience. Blending the life and teachings of the Buddha with contemporary findings on how meditation reshapes the brain, Kingsland crafts a compelling narrative that speaks to both the spiritually curious and the scientifically inclined. This review dives into the book’s key insights, evaluates its accessibility and depth, and recommends similar titles for readers eager to continue the journey inward.

Siddhartha’s Brain by James Kingsland

Book Review: Siddhartha’s Brain

In Siddhartha’s Brain, science journalist James Kingsland embarks on an ambitious journey: to trace the roots of mindfulness and meditation practices back to the Buddha himself, while weaving in modern neuroscience to explain their enduring power. The result is a thoughtful, well-researched, and accessible book that connects ancient wisdom with contemporary science.

Kingsland draws from both the life of Siddhartha Gautama—the man who became the Buddha—and from the latest discoveries in brain science. Through this dual lens, he explores how mindfulness, meditation, and other contemplative practices can rewire the brain, reduce stress, and foster well-being. What sets the book apart is its balance; Kingsland never strays too far into mysticism nor loses himself in technical jargon. Instead, he bridges the two worlds with clarity and care.

The narrative benefits from Kingsland’s journalistic instincts. He grounds the science in real-world stories and anecdotes, making complex ideas feel tangible and relevant. Whether discussing how focused attention strengthens the prefrontal cortex, or how letting go of the “self” concept changes our neural patterns, Kingsland makes a compelling case for why ancient meditative traditions remain so vital in the 21st century.

If there’s any drawback, it might be that readers looking for a deep dive into either Buddhist philosophy or hardcore neuroscience might find it somewhat introductory. However, for those seeking a thoughtful, integrated perspective—one that respects the spiritual while valuing the scientific—Siddhartha’s Brain delivers.

Ultimately, this is a book that not only informs but invites personal reflection. Whether you’re a seasoned meditator, a neuroscience enthusiast, or simply curious about how the mind works, Siddhartha’s Brain offers both insight and inspiration.

Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Neuroscience

Kingsland takes readers on a skillful journey into the ancient teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, while artfully weaving in contemporary neuroscience. Through lucid prose, he explores how meditation and mindfulness restructure neural pathways—enhancing focus, emotional regulation, and even resilience against stress. He connects, for example, focused-attention practices to strengthening prefrontal circuits and discusses how “pain versus suffering” is reframed through a neurological lens. In doing so, Kingsland honors both the spiritual tradition and scientific progress.

Clear, Engaging Storytelling

True to his background as a Guardian science journalist, Kingsland brings anecdotal richness—from clinical studies to real-life meditators. These stories make dense topics like neuroplasticity, the default mode network, and concentration meditation intuitive and relatable. His journalism rigor ensures the science is credible, yet he never sacrifices readability—making the book accessible to novices and intriguing to seasoned practitioners alike .

Balanced Appeal: Spirituality Meets Science

What makes this book stand out is its balanced voice. Kingsland doesn’t lean too heavily into spiritual idealism, nor does he reduce Buddhist insight to mere brain scans. Instead, he holds both perspectives with respect, showing how secular mindfulness and traditional Buddhist concepts like impermanence and non-self complement one another. He explores how these teachings can mitigate conditions ranging from addiction to cognitive decline .

Depth Without Overload

While not a technical neuroscience textbook nor a deep Buddhist treatise, Siddhartha’s Brain finds a sweet spot. Though some readers seeking exhaustive academic detail may feel it’s introductory, that same clarity makes it ideal for anyone curious about the intersection of mind and brain.

Critics Agree—It’s Worth Reading

Critics across mainstream outlets echo this praise:

Publishers Weekly praises its “neurological picture of the mind without devaluing Buddhism’s spiritual image”
Kirkus calls it “brain science and Buddhist lore combine[d] in a compelling treatise”
Library Journal gives it a starred review, citing its readability and integration of science and practice .

GoodReads Rating

My GoodReads Rating: ***
Global GoodReads Rating: 4.10 (out of 1,200 ratings) (as of 2.27.25)

GoodReads “Back of Book Blurb”

The back of the book blurb, according to GoodReads:

By the longtime Guardian science journalist, a groundbreaking exploration of the science of enlightenment and mental wellness, illuminated by twin perspectives, ancient and the spiritual wisdom of Siddhartha Gautama and the revelations of today’s scientists, who are confirming the Buddha’s profound insights into the human mind In the fifth century BCE, in northern India, Siddhartha, the wandering sage who became the Buddha, developed a program, rooted in meditation and mindfulness, for mastering the mind and achieving lasting peace and contentment. Twenty-five centuries later, humans have transformed everything about our world—except our brains, which remain the same powerful yet flawed instruments possessed by our ancestors. What if the solution we seek to the psychological problems of life in the digital age—distraction, anxiety, addiction, loss of deep meaning—had already been worked out by the Buddha in ancient India? Appealing to readers of Eastern wisdom and Jon Kabat-Zinn, as well as to fans of bestsellers by Oliver Sacks and Malcolm Gladwell, acclaimed science writer and practicing Buddhist James Kingsland reveals how scientists are now unlocking the remarkable secrets of Siddhartha’s brain. Moving effortlessly between science and scripture, Kingsland charts Siddhartha’s spiritual journey and explains how new research by leading neuroscientists and clinical psychologists—many of whom are interviewed in these pages—suggests that mindfulness practice reconfigures our brains to make us sharper, smarter, healthier, and happier, and that it can help treat stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, hypertension, and substance abuse. There have even been hints that meditation can enhance immune function, slow cellular aging, and keep dementia at bay. Featuring six guided meditations, Siddhartha’s Brain is a practical and inspiring odyssey of mind and spirit. “Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.”—Siddhartha
Siddhartha’s Brain – James Kingsland (GoodReads)

Similar & Recommended Reads

If you enjoyed Siddhartha’s Brain, these titles explore related themes of mindfulness, neuroscience, and the self:

The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh (Goodreads avg 4.42): Gentle wisdom on mindfulness in daily life
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh (4.32): A clear guide to Buddhist teachings and how they foster compassion
Zen and the Brain by James H. Austin: A classic that blends Zen practice with in-depth neuroscience
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman: A compelling exploration of unconscious brain activity, praised for its lucid, engaging style
The Tell-Tale Brain by V.S. Ramachandran: Investigates consciousness, creativity, and neurological disorders through fascinating case studies
The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist: An illuminating dive into how left and right brain hemispheres influence culture and perception
The Idiot Brain by Dean Burnett: A humorous, entertaining and insightful look at cognitive quirks and brain science

🧘 Final Thoughts

Siddhartha’s Brain shines as a bridge—offering enough neuroscience to engage your curiosity, while retaining the heart and purity of Buddhist wisdom. It invites readers not just to learn, but to experiment with mindfulness in their own lives. With strong reviews, solid science, and spiritual depth, it’s a meaningful addition to anyone’s library on consciousness, meditation, or the mind.

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Book Review: Revenge of She – Punks (Vivien Goldman)

paulrkan — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:26:24 +0000

Revenge of She – Punks by Vivien Goldman

She Punks

Paul R. Kan is back today, giving us a review of ‘Revenge of She – Punks‘ by Vivien Goldman. We want to thank Paul for his book reviews, travel reviews, interviews, and other articles he writes for us. (If you want to find more articles written by Paul R. Kan, check out the bottom of this article.)

Book Review – Revenge of the She Punks

Trying to define she-punk, Vivien Goldman tell us, is like “walk[ing] on a rope bridge slung between melting icebergs in high wind.” But taking us across this bridge is what Goldman, the author of Revenge of the She-Punks, does skillfully. In a book where each chapter begins with a playlist that includes artists as varied as The Slits, Delta-5, Blondie, Chrissie Hynde and Grace Jones, we can see why understanding she-punk is a dizzying, exhilarating and, at times, terrifying journey.

Revenge of She Punks

Goldman avoids defining she-punk as sharing common acoustic notes, rhythmic beats or lyrical styles. Instead, she interviewed band members of over forty she-punk groups from the chapters’ playlists to find common themes in their struggles as women and as artists. Challenges of identity, money, love and protest form the core of she-punk and the heart of the book. Female musicians living day-to-day on the margins, then expressing them in music are what the author sees as distinctly “she-punk.”

She-punk songs can “slap as well as stroke.” Acoustics mirror abuse; beats mimic beatings; lyrics echo lust. For example, “The Boiler.” a song by Rhoda Dakar with the Special AKA, recounts a woman’s perspective of her sexual assault. It’s a song that you “have to hear and fear for yourself.”

Bands like The Clash, The Sex Pistols and Green Day couldn’t write—much less perform—she- punk songs like “The Boiler.” Because these bands’ members are men, their experiences were and are different. As Margaret Atwood, author The Handmaid’s Tale, put it: “A woman’s greatest fear is being killed by a man. A man’s greatest fear is being laughed at by a woman.” She-punks show how a man having his greatest fear realized can turn into a woman’s greatest fear.

Fear can be sparked, but moderated, by satire, sarcasm and snark. She-punk songs can work on the lighter side and still make a point. Tribe 8’s “Check Out Your Babe” about lesbian band members stealing men’s girlfriends at the band’s concert was made as much for laughs as protest. When it’s dangerous to be gay in many communities, in the United States and in other countries,
a satirical song about sexual relations is still political.

Fighting against political inequality, sexism and racism is part of the ethos of she-punk musicians. For Goldman, “these women all have their frontlines—global, national or domestic—and use punk as their weapon. Barrier-busting is their default mode; had they not created their own channels, in most cases, they would never have been heard.” Bursting through society’s frontlines and being heard are the goals of punk music in general. But for she-punk, the lyrics to Tanya Stephens “Welcome to the Rebelution” are a rhythmic reminder of what going
backwards looks like for women:

Came to past in the days of glorifying everything wrong
That the standard for girls became a bra and a thong
Wholesome values like curling up with a good book and a bong
Went out the window along with making a good song

The book is neither a manifesto nor filled with a series of scoldings. The author’s agenda is the same as the artists who she writes about—let women express their lives in their own ways. Read this book even if you don’t know, or like, punk music. You’ll be able to connect with the themes. If you like music of any kind, poetry or social history, this book will resonate with you as well. Reading this book is like walking across a rope bridge between two melting icebergs in high wind—you definitely won’t be bored.

Paul R. Kan

Paul R. Kan is the author of Hawai’i Beer: A History of Brewing in Paradise which was a North American Guild of Beer Writers’ award winner and a #1 new release on Amazon’s Books on Beer. He has written for Good Beer Hunting and is Editor-at-Large at The Beer Thrillers. Along with beer reviews, book reviews and interviews, he also writes about the interesting ways beer intersects with people and society. His current book project is Red, White and Brew: The Beers and Battles that Shaped America. He lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

ʻOi kau ka lā, e hana i ola honua (While the sun yet shines, do all you can).

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The following are articles that Paul R. Kan has written here for The Beer Thrillers:

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Book Review: Star Wars – Most Wanted (Rae Carson)

B. Kline — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 02:01:50 +0000

Star Wars Most Wanted by Rae Carlson

Star Wars: Most Wanted by Rae Carson offers fans of the galaxy far, far away a thrilling prelude to the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Set on the gritty streets of Corellia, the novel delves into the early lives of Han Solo and Qi’ra, two characters whose destinies are intricately linked.

Good Reads Back Cover

The back cover synopsis on GoodReads:

Set before the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story! Han and Qi’ra don’t have a lot in common other than not having a lot. They’re street kids on the industrial planet Corellia, doing whatever it takes to get by, dreaming of something more. They each jump at a chance to prove themselves in the perilous world of Corellia’s criminal underbelly, only to discover they are on the same mission for the same unscrupulous boss. When the job goes disastrously wrong, Han and Qi’ra are on the run–from pirates, a droid crime syndicate, the Empire, and their boss–and will have to learn to trust each other if they are going to survive.

GoodReads – Star Wars: Most Wanted

Book Review: Star Wars – Most Wanted by Rae Carlson

(I listened to this on audiobook via Libby. I also then read the in print version as well for comparison’s sake.)

Plot Overview

The story centers on Han and Qi’ra before they became the figures we know from the Star Wars saga. They are both “scrumrats,” orphans who must rely on their wits and street smarts to survive in the criminal underworld of Corellia. Their ultimate goal is to escape their oppressive circumstances and find freedom beyond the stars. But when a heist goes wrong, the two must team up to survive against the odds, racing against time to outmaneuver rival gangs, corrupt officials, and the ever-looming presence of the Empire.

Character Development

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of Han and Qi’ra as complex, multifaceted characters. Han is the scrappy, reckless dreamer we’ve come to expect, but Carson gives him layers of vulnerability and determination that make his journey all the more compelling. Qi’ra, on the other hand, is cunning and ambitious, yet haunted by the harsh realities of her world. The dynamic between them is electric, filled with tension, camaraderie, and a touch of romance.

Themes and Setting

Rae Carson does a masterful job of immersing readers in the seedy underbelly of Corellia. The city is portrayed as a living, breathing entity—grimy, dangerous, and full of opportunities for those daring enough to seize them. Themes of survival, loyalty, and the quest for freedom resonate throughout the novel, making it more than just a simple adventure tale. It’s a story about the choices we make, the people we trust, and the lengths we’ll go to achieve our dreams.

Writing Style

Carson’s writing is brisk and engaging, perfectly suited to the fast-paced nature of the story. She captures the voice of the Star Wars universe with ease, balancing action, character moments, and world-building in a way that feels true to the franchise. Her ability to convey the inner thoughts and emotions of Han and Qi’ra adds depth to the narrative, making their journey not just one of survival, but of self-discovery.

Final Thoughts

Star Wars: Most Wanted is a must-read for fans of the Star Wars saga, particularly those interested in the backstory of Han Solo and Qi’ra. Rae Carson has crafted a tale that is both exciting and emotionally resonant, providing new insights into these beloved characters while staying true to the spirit of the franchise. Whether you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan or just looking for a gripping adventure, this book delivers on all fronts.

My GoodReads Rating: ****
Global GoodReads Rating: 3.76 (as of 7.25.24)
My LibraryThing Rating: ***.5

Other Book Reviews

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Heroes of Barcadia:

Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Philadelphia Eagles:

The Philadelphia Eagles Running Back – D’Andre Swift – Visits Bald Bird Brewing Company

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

The Muppets:

Other:

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

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You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Book Review: Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders

B. Kline — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:16:39 +0000

Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders

Book Review: Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders

The other day we reviewed the first book of the series – Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland.

Star Wars: Pirate’s Price is the second installment in the Flight of the Falcon series and is written by Lou Anders. It’s a rollicking, swashbuckling adventure set in the galaxy far, far away, with a particular focus on one of the most notorious scoundrels in Star Wars lore: Hondo Ohnaka, the space pirate with charm, wit, and no shortage of tall tales.

GoodReads Back Blurb

All-new adventures starring Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Hondo Ohnaka aboard the Millennium Falcon!

Hello, my friends! It is I, Hondo Ohnaka, greatest pirate in the galaxy, hero of the Rebellion, and if you believe that Obi-Wan Kenobii guy, a villain, too. But what did he know?

I am here to tell you stories of that most amazing ship, the Millennium Falcon, including my very first time on board and a few occasions when I actually flew the Falcon myself! And I did a great job of it, too. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

Oh, there might be a familiar Wookie in the stories. And that Han Solo guy. He had a way of popping up. And some other people you may know. And some you may not.

So hang on tight, because this adventure is traveling at lightspeed and it’s going to be a wild ride!

Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders – GoodReads

Book Review

Plot Summary: The novel revolves around Hondo’s adventures with the iconic Millennium Falcon. Hondo recounts his wild escapades to Bazine Netal, a spy who is seeking to learn more about the Falcon’s whereabouts. Through a series of flashbacks, readers are taken on a ride through time, revisiting different points in the galaxy’s history where Hondo, in true pirate fashion, becomes embroiled in various schemes that involve the famous ship.

Character Focus: Hondo Ohnaka is undoubtedly the star of the show. His humor, opportunism, and rogue-like charm shine throughout the book. Anders nails Hondo’s voice, capturing his eccentricities perfectly—whether he’s boasting about outwitting Imperial forces or narrowly escaping danger through clever trickery. Fans of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels will be delighted by how the character leaps off the page, maintaining the essence that made him a fan favorite.

Although Hondo takes center stage, Pirate’s Price also gives us glimpses of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Falcon herself, which is portrayed as a kind of mystical, legendary ship that has lived through countless escapades. There’s even a brief cameo by Rey, linking the story to the sequel trilogy’s timeline, which adds a layer of continuity.

Writing and Pacing: Lou Anders crafts a fun and fast-paced narrative. The story moves quickly from one escapade to the next, almost like a series of mini-adventures tied together by Hondo’s storytelling. The pacing is energetic, which makes the novel hard to put down—perfect for younger readers or anyone looking for a lighthearted romp through the galaxy. Anders’ writing is accessible and full of humor, especially in Hondo’s voice, which is both comical and engaging.

The dialogue is a highlight, with Hondo’s quips and self-serving bravado creating a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. The story structure—being told through Hondo’s unreliable narration—adds a layer of charm, as you’re never quite sure if Hondo is telling the whole truth or embellishing his exploits for dramatic effect.

Appeal for Star Wars Fans: For fans of Star Wars lore, Pirate’s Price serves as a fun side story that enriches the universe’s vast narrative. It doesn’t delve into deep, galaxy-altering events, but it does offer a more intimate look at the everyday chaos of the galaxy, focusing on the smaller, personal adventures of its characters. If you’re familiar with Hondo from the animated series, this book will feel like an extension of his character, and fans of the Millennium Falcon will enjoy seeing the ship woven into another set of stories.

Conclusion: Star Wars: Pirate’s Price is an enjoyable, lighthearted adventure that’s perfect for younger readers and die-hard fans of Hondo Ohnaka. It’s a story packed with humor, charm, and classic Star Wars adventure, though it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re looking for a fun read that celebrates one of the franchise’s most entertaining characters, this book will certainly deliver.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
Global GoodReads Rating: 4.02 (as of 7.16.24)
My LibraryThing Rating: ***.5

Hondo’s larger-than-life personality and the fast-paced storytelling make Pirate’s Price a delightful addition to the Flight of the Falcon series.

Other Book Reviews

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Heroes of Barcadia:

Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Philadelphia Eagles:

The Philadelphia Eagles Running Back – D’Andre Swift – Visits Bald Bird Brewing Company

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

The Muppets:

Other:

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Book Review: Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland

B. Kline — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:50:01 +0000

Book Review: Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland is the first of two installments on the Flight of the Falcon series. (Look for the book review for the second installment in a bit.)

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck, the first book in the Flight of the Falcon series, brings us on an exciting adventure with none other than the galaxy’s most charming gambler, Lando Calrissian. Written by Justina Ireland, this middle-grade novel is a fast-paced, action-packed story that explores Lando’s life as a rogue pilot, highlighting his wit, cleverness, and occasional brushes with morality.

As the inaugural book in the Flight of the Falcon series, it sets the tone for what readers can expect: engaging characters, high-stakes missions, and the legendary Millennium Falcon at the center of it all.

GoodReads Back Blurb

An all-new adventure starring Lando Calrissian and L3-37 onboard the Millennium Falcon. When Lando Calrissian gets caught smuggling on the planet Hynestia, the queen agrees to let him go if he delivers something called the Solstice Globe to the Empire on her behalf. Lando is relieved that his punishment is a simple delivery mission — but things are not as simple as they seem. The queen’s daughter, Princess Rinetta, has stowed away on the Millennium Falcon and demands that Lando and L3-37 take the globe back to its home planet, which needs the globe to survive. Now Lando has to choose: do what’s right or do what’s best for Lando? If he’s lucky enough, he just might be able to do both…

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland – GoodReads

Plot Overview:

The story kicks off when Lando, piloting the Millennium Falcon long before Han Solo won it from him, gets roped into a royal mission on the planet Hynestia. His job? Transport a priceless, sacred artifact known as the Solstice Globe to the Empire. However, Lando being Lando, nothing goes quite according to plan. Enter Princess Rinetta, the young, determined heir to Hynestia’s throne, who becomes Lando’s unexpected ally as they work to avoid the Empire and save her people from oppression.

Throughout the book, readers are treated to a series of twists, betrayals, and daring escapes as Lando and Princess Rinetta face peril and moral dilemmas, all while piloting the iconic Millennium Falcon across the stars.

Lando Calrissian: Scoundrel with a Heart

What makes Lando’s Luck shine is the characterization of Lando himself. Justina Ireland captures his charisma and smooth-talking ways perfectly, balancing his opportunistic nature with a deeper sense of loyalty and justice that only emerges when he’s pushed into a corner. He may be motivated by self-interest, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that even Lando can’t resist doing the right thing when it really matters.

The banter between Lando and L3-37, his co-pilot droid, adds humor and depth to the story. L3’s sharp wit and rebellious spirit are great counterpoints to Lando’s smooth charm, making their dynamic one of the book’s highlights. If you enjoyed their relationship in Solo: A Star Wars Story, you’ll love how it’s further developed in this book.

Princess Rinetta also plays a pivotal role. Her growth throughout the novel is subtle but important, as she learns to navigate the complexities of leadership, diplomacy, and sacrifice. Together, she and Lando form an unlikely but effective team, and their dynamic is one of the book’s core strengths.

Accessible and Action-Packed

As a middle-grade novel, Lando’s Luck is written in an accessible style that will appeal to younger readers and casual Star Wars fans. The plot moves quickly, with plenty of action sequences, from blaster shootouts to high-speed chases in the Falcon. Justina Ireland keeps the story tight and focused, making sure there’s never a dull moment. The stakes are high, but the tone remains lighthearted and adventurous, perfect for readers looking for a fun, fast read.

At the same time, seasoned Star Wars fans will appreciate the way Ireland weaves in familiar elements of the galaxy without bogging down the story in heavy lore. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the saga, you’ll find plenty to enjoy, especially when it comes to Lando’s swashbuckling style of problem-solving.

Themes of Choice and Consequence

Though it’s a fun and light adventure, Lando’s Luck subtly explores deeper themes of choice, responsibility, and morality. Lando’s constant tug-of-war between doing what’s easy and doing what’s right serves as a relatable moral compass for younger readers. The narrative doesn’t preach, but it does present tough decisions that the characters must face, making it a story not just about adventure, but also about growth and integrity.

Princess Rinetta’s struggle to save her people and find her own voice as a leader parallels Lando’s journey of self-reflection, showing that even the galaxy’s most charismatic scoundrel is capable of change. This exploration of moral choices elevates the book from simple adventure fare into something with a bit more weight, especially for young readers learning about ethics and personal responsibility.

Verdict: A Fun and Engaging Star Wars Adventure

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck is a fun, fast-paced adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of its titular hero. Justina Ireland does a fantastic job of bringing Lando Calrissian to life, complete with all his wit, charm, and mischief. Whether you’re a young reader or a long-time Star Wars fan, this book offers an enjoyable look into the galaxy’s seedier side, with plenty of heart and humor to balance the action.

If you’re looking for a quick, enjoyable read filled with adventure, moral dilemmas, and a dash of roguish charm, Lando’s Luck is worth adding to your reading list.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
Global GoodReads Rating: 3.47 (as of 7.10.24)
My LibraryThing Rating: ***.5

Lando’s daring escapades, paired with Justina Ireland’s snappy storytelling, make this an absolute must-read for fans of the galaxy’s smoothest gambler.

Other Book Reviews

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Heroes of Barcadia:

Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Philadelphia Eagles:

The Philadelphia Eagles Running Back – D’Andre Swift – Visits Bald Bird Brewing Company

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

The Muppets:

Other:

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

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You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Book Review: The Donnie Darko Book (Richard Kelly)

B. Kline — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 14:04:36 +0000

The Donnie Darko Book by Richard Kelly

Donnie Darko

A cult classic, Donnie Darko has been on the radar for mostly teens ever since it came out in 2001. I remember watching it roughly 2001 or 2002 on DVD (Director’s Cut), and I remember getting this book soon afterwards from a nearby library book sale (either Hershey’s or Hummelstown’s or Middletown’s), because I was – as a typical high school teen – very intrigued by all the pseudo thought and intellectualism that I thought was in the movie. Similarly Matrix captivated me around that time for how it felt so much deeper than it was.

Rereading it now, as a 38 year old, I feel like I might be due for a re-watch of the movie… but at the same time, the screenplay didn’t exactly fill me with much joy at the idea of it. It vastly feels like it shoots above its mark, and it has that fake ‘deeper than it is’ symbolism we all view a lot of movies with as teenagers. This was an era where I was watching The Matrix, Fight Club, Donnie Darko, Star Wars, and lots of other ‘cult classic’ style movies that felt deeper and darker and more intriguing that I now suspect many aren’t.

GoodReads Blurb

‘Extraordinary . . . Film of the year.’ Sleazenation
‘Magnificently bizarre . . . Wonderful.’ Empire
‘Unlike anything you’ll have seen before . . . Honestly mind-blowing.’ BBC Radio 1
‘Stunning . . . Totally original.’ Time Out
‘Dazzling . . . Demands a second viewing.’ Total Film

The critical and audience response made Donnie Darko the cult film of the year – one whose dark ambiguities caused audiences to go back to the film again and again trying to fathom its mysteries.

This book brings its readers further into the world of Donnie Darko and its creator Richard Kelly. Contained within these pages are an in-depth interview with Richard Kelly who recounts the gestation of the film; the screenplay; photos and drawings from the film and artwork inspired by it.

Donnie Darko will never surrender up all its mysteries, but this book will be an indispensable guide into its intriguing world.

The Donnie Darko Book (by Richard Kelly) – GoodReads

Book Review

In the vast landscape of film companion books, “The Donnie Darko Book” by Richard Kelly, the director and writer of the cult-classic film “Donnie Darko,” stands out as a compelling deep dive into one of the most enigmatic movies of the early 2000s. For fans of the film—a dark, twisting tale of teenage angst interwoven with elements of psychological thriller and science fiction—this book offers an invaluable behind-the-scenes look and enriches the viewing experience with profound insights and intriguing details.

The book is neatly divided into two main sections: the screenplay of the film, and an interview with Richard Kelly conducted by Kevin Conroy Scott. Accompanied by an introduction by Jake Gyllenhaal (who played Donnie Darko), the book not only provides the screenplay but also delves into the complex layers and artistic vision behind the movie’s creation.

Reading the screenplay is an illuminating experience. It gives fans the opportunity to relive the movie in a raw and unfiltered form. Kelly’s writing reveals the intricacies of each scene and dialogue, shedding light on the enigmatic symbols and themes that the film explores. This part of the book is particularly enjoyable for those who seek to understand how the film was crafted from script to screen, including the subtle cues and visual symbolism that might be missed on first viewing.

The interview section is where the book truly shines. Richard Kelly offers extensive insights into his thought process, the challenges he faced during production, and the philosophical underpinnings of the film. His discussions cover a range of topics from the influences of other media and personal experiences that shaped the narrative, to his interpretations of the film’s ambiguous elements. This conversation is not just an interview; it’s an introspective journey into Kelly’s creative mind, revealing how deeply personal and yet universally resonant “Donnie Darko” is.

What is perhaps most striking about “The Donnie Darko Book” is how it addresses the myriad interpretations and theories that have surrounded the film since its release. Kelly discusses these various perspectives without definitively stating one “correct” interpretation, thereby inviting readers to explore their own meanings in the layered storytelling.

The book is also sprinkled with black and white stills from the movie, which add a visual element that complements the textual content. While these images are a nice addition, readers might find themselves wishing for a bit more—a few more behind-the-scenes photos or sketches might have added an extra layer of depth to the visual storytelling.

In summary, “The Donnie Darko Book” is an essential read for fans of the film. It not only enhances the understanding of the movie’s complex narrative and thematic elements but also serves as a testament to the enduring impact of “Donnie Darko” on contemporary cinema. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or a new fan, this book is a fascinating exploration into one of the most compelling cinematic puzzles of our time.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
My LibraryThing Rating: ***

I ping-ponged back and forth on my rating, debating if I wanted to go with a 2 star rating or a 3 star rating, and a 2.5 rating on LibraryThing (where it lets you do halves unlike GoodReads), but decided I would be generous and keep it at 3 stars. My angsty teenage self had left two rating reviews for the book (but no written review) and they were both 2 stars and 3 stars. And interestingly enough, I feel the same way. Wonder why I felt like 2 and 3 stars was what it deserved back then compared to now… perhaps I even had the same thoughts, not quite sure.

Global Average GoodReads Rating: 4.19 (as of 3.21.24)

Other Book Reviews

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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Book Review: When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? (George Carlin)

B. Kline — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 06:11:55 +0000

When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? by George Carlin

George Carlin

George Carlin in 1975, photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

George Carlin was absolutely one of my favorite comedians. Loved his stand up specials, his books, his CDs, his way of delivering and talking and just his cadence and his tone and topics. He had a relevance and a viewpoint of the world that was both cynical as well as relatable. “A thinking man’s comic” – he was intelligent, and used it to make comedy. This wasn’t stupid comedy (Git R Done) or the like, this was linguistic, philosophic, political, sociological approaches to things with humor as the baseline. He ushered in a wave of “philosopher comedians” in the sense that, this is what Socrates could have been like if he was alive in the 1980s or 1990s.

From Wikipedia:

George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time, he was dubbed “the dean of counterculture comedians”. He was known for his dark comedy and reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and taboo subjects.

Carlin was a frequent performer and guest host on The Tonight Show during the three-decade Johnny Carson era and hosted the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. The first of Carlin’s 14 stand-up comedy specials for HBO was filmed in 1977, broadcast as George Carlin at USC. From the late 1980s onwards, his routines focused on sociocultural criticism of American society. He often commented on American political issues and satirized American culture. His “seven dirty words” routine was central to the 1978 United States Supreme Court case F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation, in which a 5–4 decision affirmed the government’s power to censor indecent material on public airwaves.

Carlin released his first solo album, Take-Offs and Put-Ons, in 1966. He went on to receive five Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, winning for FM & AM (1972), Jammin’ in New York (1992), Brain Droppings (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty (2002), and It’s Bad for Ya (2008). The latter was his final comedy special, which was filmed less than four months before his death from cardiac failure.

Carlin co-created and starred in the Fox sitcom The George Carlin Show (1994–1995). He is also known for his film performances in Car Wash (1976), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991), The Prince of Tides (1991), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Scary Movie 3 (2003), and Jersey Girl (2004). He also had voice roles as Zugor in Tarzan II, Fillmore in Cars (2006), and as Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station, as well as narrating the American dubs of Thomas & Friends.

Carlin was posthumously awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2008. He placed second on Comedy Central‘s list of top 10 American comedians in 2004,^[1] while Rolling Stone magazine ranked him second on its list of the 50 best stand-up comedians of all time in 2017, in both cases behind Richard Pryor.^[2]

George Carlin – Wikipedia

When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? – GoodReads Blurb

From GoodReads, the ‘back of the book’ blurb on When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?:

On the heels of George Carlin’s #1 New York Times bestseller Napalm & Silly Putty comes When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? — infused with Carlin’s trademark irreverent humor and biting cultural observations.

Here we go again . . . George Carlin’s hilarious When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? offers his cutting-edge opinions and observational humor on everything from evasive euphemistic language to politicians to the media to dead people. Nothing and no one is safe!

Despite the current climate of political correctness, Carlin is not afraid to take on controversial

The thinking person’s comic who uses words as weapons, Carlin puts voice to issues that capture the modern imagination. For instance, why are there Ten Commandments? Are UFOs real? What will the future really be like? This brand-new collection tackles all that and more.

In When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? Carlin’s razor-sharp observations demolish everyday values and leave you laughing out loud–delivering exactly what his countless fans have been waiting for.

When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? – GoodReads

Book Review: When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?

George Carlin’s “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?” is a provocative, irreverent, and deeply humorous book that encapsulates the legendary comedian’s unique ability to challenge societal norms while making his audience laugh out loud. This book, which was published in 2004, continues Carlin’s tradition of razor-sharp social commentary, cleverly packaged in a series of essays and observations on American life, language, politics, and the human condition.

Carlin’s style is distinctive and unapologetically blunt. Through his incisive wit, he explores a wide array of topics, from linguistic quirks to political correctness, to the failings of human behaviors and societal structures. Carlin’s criticism is not reserved for any single group; he freely dispenses his scathing insights across the entire spectrum of social and political life.

The book’s title itself is an example of Carlin’s approach, satirically questioning religious sensitivities and cultural taboos. This sets the tone for the entire text, which is a roller coaster ride through Carlin’s irrepressible musings. His ability to link commonplace observations with profound insights is remarkable, making readers laugh while simultaneously prompting them to think critically about the absurdities of everyday life.

However, “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?” may not be for everyone. Carlin’s humor is often dark and involves a heavy dose of cynicism. Those sensitive to criticism of societal norms and values, particularly around religion and politics, might find his jokes too harsh or offensive. Nonetheless, for fans of Carlin’s brand of humor and new readers with an appetite for critical thought and a tolerance for edgy comedy, this book is a treasure trove of laughs and unexpected wisdom.

From a literary standpoint, Carlin’s work in this book is a seamless continuation of his performances on stage. It’s as if one is reading his stand-up routine, with the added benefit of being able to pause, reflect, and dive back in for more. His mastery of language is evident; he plays with words in a way that is both artful and accessible, ensuring that his messages are not lost in the comedy.

In conclusion, “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?” is an excellent example of George Carlin’s enduring legacy as a comedian and social commentator. It is a testament to his brilliant mind and his courage to speak boldly on issues many shy away from. The book is a compelling read for those who appreciate humor that is not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating and provocatively enlightening. For those who enjoy a deep dive into the quirks of human society with no topic off-limits, Carlin’s book is a must-read.

My GoodReads Rating: ****
My LibraryThing Rating: ****
Global Average GoodReads Rating: 3.89 (as of 2.21.24)

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You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Book Review: Obliviously On He Sails: The Bush Administration in Rhyme (Calvin Trillin)

B. Kline — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:37:01 +0000

Obliviously On He Sails: The Bush Administration in Rhyme by Calvin Trillin

Political Satire

Political satire through rhyme, who knew. A look at the time in office of President Bush. Published during his presidency; this doesn’t cover his last year (year and a half or so) of his second term. Calvin Trillin writes about the various aspects of Bush’s presidency, his campaigns, all obviously from a certain slant, a certain bias. So you will have to go into it full well knowing if you are extremely pro-Bush this will most likely come off as bashing or as very negative of his presidency. I think it helps with accountability though and it helps to act as a reminder of a president’s legacy, of a president’s time in office, his achievements or in this case lack of achievements or issues and problems. These accounts, either through satire and humor or through purely historical lenses offer us a valuable insight into what transformed all of our lives who lived through these times.

Back of Cover Blurb

Does the Bush Administration sound any better in rhyme? In this biting array of verse, it at least sounds funnier. Calvin Trillin employs everything from a Gilbert and Sullivan style, for describing George Bush’s rescue in the South Carolina primary by the Christian Right (“I am, when all is said and done, a Robertson Republican”), to a bilingual approach, when commenting on the President’s casual acknowledgment, after months of trying to persuade the nation otherwise, that there was never any evidence of Iraqi involvement in 9/11: “The Web may say, or maybe Lexis-Nexis / If chutzpa is a word they use in Texas.”

Trillin deals not only with George W. Bush but with the people around him—Supreme Commander Karl Rove and Condoleezza (Mushroom Cloud) Rice and Nanny Dick Cheney (“One mystery I’ve tried to / Why Cheney’s head is always at an angle . . .”) The armchair warriors Trillin refers to as the Sissy Hawk Brigade are celebrated in such poems as “Richard Whose Fault Is He?” and “A Sissy Hawk Cheer” (“All-out war is still our druthers— / Fiercely fought, and fought by others.”).

Trillin may never be poet laureate—certainly not while George W. Bush is in office—but his wit and his political insight produce what has been called “doggerel for the ages.”

Obliviously On He Sails: The Bush Administration in Rhyme – GoodReads

Book Review: Obliviously On He Sails: The Bush Administration in Rhyme

“Obliviously On He Sails: The Bush Administration in Rhyme” by Calvin Trillin is a sharp and witty collection of political verses that focus on the tenure of President George W. Bush. Initially published in 2004, the book compiles pieces that Trillin, a renowned journalist and humorist, wrote for “The Nation” among other publications. Known for his incisive humor and political satire, Trillin utilizes his poetic prowess to cast a critical and often humorous light on the policies and personalities of the Bush administration.

The book is structured around a series of poems that encapsulate key events, decisions, and controversies of the Bush presidency, including the Iraq War, the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, and the often polarizing figures within Bush’s cabinet. Trillin’s style is accessible yet biting, employing simple rhyme schemes that lend a sing-song quality to his serious critiques. This juxtaposition of form and content creates a uniquely effective satire, making complex political situations understandable and engaging to a broad audience.

Trillin’s poems are notably brief and pithy, capturing the essence of political figures with sharp characterizations. For example, he famously skewers Donald Rumsfeld’s evasive rhetoric and Dick Cheney’s secretive maneuvering. His ability to distill political complexities into concise, amusing rhymes is a hallmark of his writing style that serves him well throughout this collection.

One of the strengths of “Obliviously On He Sails” is Trillin’s fearless approach to satire. He does not shy away from pointing out what he sees as the follies and failures of the Bush administration. Yet, there’s an underlying playfulness to his critique, which prevents the poems from becoming overly harsh or mean-spirited. This balance is crucial in maintaining the reader’s engagement and fostering a reflective rather than reactive response.

Critics and readers may find that Trillin’s pointed satire reflects partisan perspectives, which could be a drawback for those seeking a more neutral analysis of political events. However, for fans of political satire and poetry, Trillin offers a compelling blend of entertainment and insight. His work not only serves as a historical reflection on the Bush years but also as a reminder of the power of poetry to influence public discourse.

In conclusion, “Obliviously On He Sails: The Bush Administration in Rhyme” is an exemplary piece of political satire. Calvin Trillin’s ability to weave political critique into verse makes this book a delightful and thought-provoking read. It is recommended for those who appreciate a humorous take on serious topics and are keen on exploring political events through the unique lens of poetry.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
My LibraryThing Rating: ***
Global Average GoodReads Rating (as of 2.7.24): 3.83

Other Book Reviews

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.