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Has plot elements encountered in the television show - strange technology, sensor glitches, a technologically superior being (or deity?), the threat of destruction. This is a lot to cover in one "episode" (or 150 page book).

The characters are well written here. Also like the episodes, one of the characters gets a focus - this time it is Uhura. Things that happen with the ship are believable, and the encounters with the Klingons a nice addition.

That said, the Klingon subplot wasn't completely resolved, nor was the Thomas Clayton affair. I firmly believe there are better restraints on the Enterprise, and his escapades were only there to clumsily move the plot along. On television, our main cast would have mused about the Strangers before fading to credits - that was missing in this book.

The pocketbook version of this travelled with me to three countries - Canada, Finland, and Estonia. I ended up spending more time on an e-reader than with this, which is perhaps telling. 3 of 5 stars.

A very thorough history of John Marshall - soldier, diplomat, secretary of state, then the chief justice who defined the early supreme court. This is a big book, but a relatively easy read.

His full biography is given, mostly contrasted with cousin (and antagonist) Thomas Jefferson. Marshall's time as a revolutionary war soldier is not often mentioned, but I enjoyed reading about his easy comradery and the leadership of the men he served with. This book also pulls no punches with the issues of slavery and the treatment of indigenous peoples, divisive topics from the initial Declaration all the way through the civil war.

The politics of Jefferson and the Federalists are also a major focus, and TJ is painted as a pretty serious villain here. I did appreciate the distinctions of court cases, how Marshall chose to build bridges with his majority (and often unanimous) opinions, even with occasionally dubious legal precedents. Marshall's time as Secretary of State was brief, but the section dealing with that time feels even shorter here.

Overall, an extremely interesting and readable biography about one of America's less well known founding fathers - definitely recommended.

A lot of interesting anecdotes and life lessons from this musician, actor, son and father - and a fair amount of ego.

This is a big book, covering a lot of territory. Stories of Will as a kid, how he adapted within his family then his school then his neighborhood are interesting and insightful. Meeting DJ Jazzy Jeff and all the terms around rap and break were good also. I feel like a lot was smoothed over with becoming an actor, but you can see that Will is a hard working guy and found some of the secrets to success.

As many other reviewers have pointed out, his ego makes this rough reading at times. Some of the stories are disjointed and disconnected - some just end unexpectedly. I listened to this as an audiobook, read by Will Smith, with occasional song and verse. This brings the rating up a star. Not sure where Mark Manson fits in - he didn't get a mention anywhere that I heard.

Overall rating, 4 stars. I learned a thing or two and had a fun time doing it.

Moyer's main characters touch on the "are we living in a simulation" discussions, but the overly emotional AI is a bit unbelievable - and the ending is unsatisfying.

I enjoyed the idea of a novel told from "inside" and "outside" perspectives. Could totally work for a film. Laura is a well written character, and her banter with Gray was fun.

... and then he was replaced by a cat. This is exemplar of the dumb decisions made by Adler, the main character on the outside. It feels like the author wants to redeem him, but the effort doesn't resonate. The cat made the cover, but isn't the glitch. I am used to a glitch being a software problem, not a human error (or in this case, intentional mis-step). I really wanted to see Gray come back somehow, and I think Laura wanted this also.

In the end, this ambitious story ended up short of the expectations.

A decent werewolf book that became a Canadian tv show; more romance novel than I expected and 2d characters make for tougher reading.

This was on my to-read pile, but I don't remember why or who recommended. The friends I expect to have read it haven't. I didn't read any blurbs, just dove right in on a transatlantic flight.

I really liked the werewolf aspects - the changing, the healing, the pack vs outsider mutts, and scent tracking. I get the idea that there are two forms - dog like and big powerful monsters. Emotions play a strong part in controlling the abilities. A partial change is mentioned, but not in great detail. This is a series, so maybe more is revealed later. That goes also for some of the aspects that seem a little goofy - pancakes and ham steaks?

Of course the series could go away from the werewolf aspect and towards the romance. Not a regular reader, I find it hard to judge this form, but the characters irritated me. They say each others name frequently and they seem fairly flat. Elena professes her love for her human boyfriend in Canada, but her ex- in New York is too tempting. Maybe this is all trope.

For a series book, this one does come to a definitive end. Unfortunately, that ending is very quick. Head and shoulders over the last werewolf book I read ( [b:Rage of Lions|11253988|Rage of Lions (Wereworld, #2)|Curtis Jobling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327901006l/11253988.SY75.jpg|16180613] ), this far more adult book is likeable, but not loveable (or amazing). 3½ stars.

Really enjoyed the first book; this one not as much. Very crowded with 2d characters and villains - more action than plot.

The main character has to come to grips with his future, which is the primary plot conflict. This is returned to regularly, but not quite resolved - though a few pages at the end provide some direction.

The other plot here is the action, with major forces attacking other major forces - many introduced in this novel too briefly. It was very difficult to keep track of who was who, and my concern from the first book (so many weres, so few normals) was exacerbated. At one point, a were rides through with "pelts on his saddle" - pelts of what? There seem to be were creatures for every single mammal and many others.

Our main character weaves in and out of the battles. It feels like these are more side adventures than the main plot - very disjointed. Maybe this cinematic approach would work for a film, but it really drags down the novel.

Finally, the cardinal sin of a series book - this is only the middle of the story. For a 432 page book, it really should come to some ending. Overall result: 2 stars, the goodreads rating for "it was okay". Not sure I want to read any further in the series.

Solid book about a regiment of Maryland continental soldiers who fought in a large portion of the American revolutionary war. Through this group, the "Maryland 400", the author tells the story of the war, finishing with a "where are they now" of the major figures.

After covering for the retreat of the army in New York, George Washington said "Good God! What brave fellows I must this day lose." From that point forward, the reformed unit seems to have been the one Washington and other generals trusted most for critical jobs. These sorts of tough scrapes give the author a vehicle to tell the history.

Many of these fellows ended up in the Society of Cincinnatus, commemorating their selfless service to save the Republic. Like the author, I hope that archaeologists can soon find their New York mass grave and better honor the brave sacrifice of these citizen soldiers.

This book is heartily recommended.

Part biography, part science, part description of the upcoming Psyche mission. Knew I wanted to read this as soon as I could get ahold of it - and preferably before the launch, which was then scrubbed.

The description of the NASA and/or JPL vetting program was fascinating. The science behind solid cores and the early solar system was interesting, and fairly well presented. The author had to overcome a lot in life, and this gives a clear window into that. The entire book lives up to the title.

And yet... I thought the story could flow better. Instead it jumps around, trying unsuccessfully to touch on all the topics. The timeline was roughly chronological, but that also was hard to follow. A better book about the science and process would be four stars, and a better structured biography would be the same. For me, the average of the two brings down the rating.

The worst part, not at all the author's fault - is that the mission isn't finished yet. Will there be a sequel, or a revision? I'll be watching for it.