en-US Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:31:49 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7507108262 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:31:49 -0700 /review/show/7507108262 Joshua gave 1 star to The God Delusion (Hardcover) by Richard Dawkins
I finally finished “The God Delusion� by Richard Dawkins. As a Christian and a human, I do not recommend this book. Dawkins’s work is touted as the ultimate defense for atheism, and it’s just as negative and meaningless as you’d imagine. We read it together as a mutual challenge for our podcast (Campfire Theology), and it makes for great discussion, but ultimately it will leave you apathetic at best and spiteful at worst. The amount of hate being spewed here cannot be overstated. ]]> Review7476607695 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:33:21 -0700 /review/show/7476607695 Joshua gave 4 stars to On the Road (Paperback) by Jack Kerouac
Earlier today I finished “On the Road� by Jack Kerouac. I didn’t love it or hate it, but it made me think about a lot of things. I appreciated the zest for life that Sal and Dean had, and how they just loved all the little details of the world. Conversely, I thought Dean was a narcissistic womanizer and a debased liar, and Sal was just too blind to see how Dean dragged him down. Or maybe Sal’s love for Dean went beyond those things. Obviously, there’s much to sort out in my own mind about this book, and I’d love to talk about it with someone else who has read it.

Here’s a quote: “I realized these were all the snapshots which our children would look at someday with wonder, thinking their parents had lived smooth, well-ordered lives and got up in the morning to walk proudly on the sidewalks of life, never dreaming the raggedy madness and riot of our actual lives, our actual night, the hell of it, the senseless emptiness.� ]]> Review7437416392 Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:27:26 -0700 /review/show/7437416392 Joshua gave 5 stars to The Revenant (Hardcover) by Michael Punke
bookshelves: 5-star-fiction
I just finished “The Revenant� by Michael Punke. This was a short, but excellent adventure story about life in the Rocky Mountain area during the fur trade of the early 1800s. I really enjoyed the mostly historically true tale of Hugh Glass, who epitomized human perseverance.

Here’s a quote: “Lots of loose ends don’t ever get tied up. Play the hand you’re dealt. Move on.� ]]> Review7408528623 Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:28:08 -0700 /review/show/7408528623 Joshua gave 4 stars to The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss
Moments ago I finished “The Name of the Wind� by Patrick Rothfuss. This book came up so many times when I searched around for my next read (specifically fantasy stories), so I gave it a shot. I rooted for Kvothe, the protagonist, as he struggled through his childhood and began unraveling the mysteries in his world. I hated his love interest, but that may be how the author intended. Overall, a solid and well-written character study for those interested in this genre.

Here’s a quote: “We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.� ]]> Recommendation38627719 Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:27:58 -0700 Review7408528623 Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:27:55 -0700 /review/show/7408528623 Joshua gave 4 stars to The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss
Moments ago I finished “The Name of the Wind� by Patrick Rothfuss. This book came up so many times when I searched around for my next read (specifically fantasy stories), so I gave it a shot. I rooted for Kvothe, the protagonist, as he struggled through his childhood and began unraveling the mysteries in his world. I hated his love interest, but that may be how the author intended. Overall, a solid and well-written character study for those interested in this genre.

Here’s a quote: “We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.� ]]> Review7327099134 Sun, 16 Feb 2025 13:41:28 -0800 /review/show/7327099134 Joshua gave 4 stars to God's Chosen Fast (Paperback) by Arthur Wallis
Today I finished “God’s Chosen Fast� by Arthur Wallis (thanks Will). I enjoyed the comprehensive yet brief approach to the spiritual and physical benefits of fasting. I’d like to start fasting more, though I’ve had a hard time with it in the past. There’s lot I’m still digesting about this book (pun intended). We’ll be talking about this on the Campfire Theology podcast soon.

Here’s a quote: “When a man is willing to set aside the legitimate appetites of the body to concentrate on the work of praying, he is demonstrating that he means business, that he is seeking with all his heart, and will not let God go unless He answers.� ]]> Review7226573103 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:36:59 -0800 /review/show/7226573103 Joshua gave 4 stars to Hearts in Atlantis (Paperback) by Stephen King
I just finished “Hearts in Atlantis� by Stephen King, my first novel of 2025. I really enjoyed this one, not quite 5 stars but pretty close. The book was several stories, two long and three short, that all share characters and themes. King talks a lot about the 60s (i.e, hippies, politics, Vietnam war, etc), and although I wasn’t around then, I think he captures its spirit. It doesn’t hurt that the story also crosses over into Dark Tower territory.

Really love this quote about literature: “Read sometimes for the story, Bobby. Don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. Read sometimes for the words - the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers that won't do that. But when you find a book that has both good story and good words, treasure that book.� ]]> Review7113355788 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:01:19 -0800 /review/show/7113355788 Joshua gave 5 stars to You Like It Darker (Hardcover) by Stephen King
bookshelves: 5-star-fiction
A moment ago I finished “You Like It Darker� by Stephen King. Holy smokes that was good! Might be the best short story collection from King since Four Seasons, and that’s saying a lot. He has redeemed himself in my eyes, not that he cares about me in particular. Hard to pick a favorite story here, but the one I thought about the most was “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,� with “The Answer Man� in a very close second. Here’s a quote: “…lack of belief is the curse of intelligence.� ]]> Review7037718702 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 05:34:52 -0800 /review/show/7037718702 Joshua gave 4 stars to Judgment Of The Nephilim (Kindle Edition) by Ryan Pitterson
Yesterday I finished “Judgment of the Nephilim� by Ryan Pitterson (thanks @will). This was a deep dive research into the possible history of the Nephilim throughout biblical and extra- biblical history. If you’re a student and lover of the Bible, and all things mysterious and legendary, you’ll likely enjoy this one. So much to talk about here! I’ll need to read it again and take notes before we discuss it on the Campfire Theology podcast. ]]>