It's now on this page.

I was riveted during the first portions of the book. There was a turbulent childhood, by dent of Louis' own personality, and the focus that running and becoming an athlete and an Olympian provided him. There was the beginning of the war, a successful mission, and then, following a failed rescue of a different plane, the long, long days at sea. The language was that of a reporter, not a novelist, but one who had delved into the minutest of details so that the scenes came alive.

And then Louis became a prisoner of war. And the clarity that enthralled in the first part of the book became more like shackles as he went from one camp and trial to another. It was horrible. The story, the reality, I mean, not the writing of it.

When the war was over and Louis came home it felt like this was the happy ending that would make the story movie-worthy. But then he suffered from alcoholism and disappointment and PTSD to a cringe-worthy point that put his baby daughter at risk. And I had to wonder how this could be considered "unbroken". How the optimist from the boat and the determined will from the camps could be this man consumed with vengeance.

There was more to come, that I hadn't originally expected. It was the self discovery that occurred during a religious experience that gave him the drive and tools to rise up and find his core self again, to the point he could forgive his captors and in future years build a camp for struggling boys and cultivate personal success in others, among other activities.

And then I could see it again, the core concept behind the title of the book, exhibited in one man's life.

I still don't want to see the movie. I don't want to put into my eyeballs realistic visuals of what the words depicted.

But I do recommend Unbroken as a powerful and well-written read.

The Relationship Edge in Business by Jerry Acuff

The book does have useful detailed tips, if you want a breakdown of ways to foster your business relationships. So it delivers on what it promises with some useful stories of the advice in action. But overall, it was still just ok.

Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern by Todd J. McCaffrey

This book is only worthwhile if you really like Pern. But assuming that's the case, it was great to see the different aspects of authors and fans who had worked with and lived lives influenced by Anne McCaffrey, especially since I recognized many of the names. I was glad for the glimpses I got by reading it.

Centaur of the Crime by Michael Angel

Really enjoyable read. The idea of a scientifically oriented mind in a fantasy world isn't new, but the way it was brought to life was great. The mystery unfolded in ways that surprised me but did have clues in place so it made sense that Dayna solved it.

Along Came a Demon by Linda Welch

Amusing light read with a couple decent twists. Felt more like a romance than a mystery. Won't bother with the sequels.

Science Friction by Michael Shermer

This collection of essays was somewhat uneven, at least to my personal taste. Some I really liked, some I just pushed through, I'm glad I read it though.

Please Don't Tell My Parents I Blew Up the Moon by Richard Roberts

Still so much fun. I love the hurtling pace and the complexity of being heroes and villains at the same time. This book had greater depth to the motivations of the people around the three main characters and they grew too, as they should. It did feel a little odd that the nature of the story changed so much from the intro to the main action, but it was a grand adventure.

An Unlikely Safari Guide by Ella Craine

Detailed and funny bits about experiences as a safari guide. Ella has a clear voice and point of view and by looking at parts of Africa through her eyes I love them as much as she does, at least for a few moments.

A Scream of Angels by Joseph Nassise

I wanted to keep reading to see what happened, to find the answers to the bigger and smaller mysteries raised at the beginning. The religious-themed supernatural elements are well used in creating the story. I could do without some of the weapons detail and such, but I accept that as part of the book leaning more towards the military thriller genre. I appreciate there's a little character development, even in the middle of the adventure, and a sweeping story arc that began in book 1 and is going to continue onward. And I'll be getting that book to read too.

Brothers of the Dragon by Robin Wayne Bailey

Interesting world crossing novel. I liked it well enough to give it three stars but am still deciding if I'll continue the trilogy or not. I found the brothers distinctive and the way they became involved (and were partly already involved) in the new world they'd interested to be well done.

The Wide Lens by Ron Adner

Very good presentation of how to think about the ecosystem outside of an individual company that surrounds making an innovation successful. Clear writing and good illustrative stories.

Top Recommendation for the Month: As You Wish by Cary Elwes

The details were delightful and the pace stayed light and fun throughout this focused biography. I enjoyed the side comments from the other actors and team members as well. They enriched the book. And next time I watch The Princess Bride I will have a much deeper appreciation for that already amazing sword fight and will be looking for that accidentally "elegant way of sitting" caused by the broken toe...

Little Platinum Book of Cha-Ching by Jeffrey Gitomer

It's a great sales success book with a similar format to his other work - readable, digestible, useful. What made it stand out was that it's grounded in the work of Patterson, who popularized the cash register. I enjoyed the reaching back to an older philosophy of sales success and making it relevant.

Stuff by Ivan Amato

I enjoyed it, mostly because the subject matter of materials science is dear to my heart and I love reading the stories surrounding it. It's not as accessible to the non-enthusiast as some other popular science books I've read, but whether that's a flaw depends on your point of view. I learned some new things and understood others better than I had before.

The Practice of Practice by Jonathan Harnum

Very accessible and with great information. I enjoyed the stories, how he brought in different theories, and suggested ways they could apply to an individual. I'm looking forward to rereading the book and translating the ideas into the kinds of things I practice - as I am most definitely not a musician.

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

I enjoyed the final book, and was very happy with a couple elements. Sadly, my overall response was more of the "whew, that's finally over." and less of either satisfaction or wishing for more.

What I Like in Poetry by William Lyon Phelps

I found a copy of this book at a library book sale, with a dark green cloth cover. I hadn't read poetry for awhile and thought this would be a nice mish mash. It was. And I enjoyed it, although I did wonder why he would have had published such a thing. He was apparently a well regarded literature professor at Yale.

Just Draw It by Sam Piyasena and Beverly Philp

Very pretty collection of drawing exercises. It's not book for the sketcher just getting started, but rather for the one with some idea of the mechanics who wants some ideas for fun practice to get better.

Onward to 2015!

I loved this book. It was familiar in some ways, as I've been in R&D, and in some ways new because it included such great stories from someone who knew how to tell them.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The foundation of this story was a delightful setting of Cinderella in a science fiction world where she is cyborg, the prince is a person in his own right, and there's a lot of intrigue going on. The story doesn't fully wrap up in this book - no happy ending yet - but revelations and the beginning of a quest.

Bug Music by David Rothenberg

I would have never imagined this book could exist if I hadn't seen it. It's a whole text on the sounds that cicadas and crickets and such make, and how they are rhythmic and, in a way, music in their own right. Also how some musicians create music inspired by insects, based on manipulating their soundforms, and one memorable story of how the author once played alto sax while covered in cicadas.

You Just Don't Understand by Deborah Tannen

She goes over details and broad sweeps of how men and women are different in conversation. One of the biggest was report talk versus rapport talked. And yet, in some ways my husband and I are backwards from the typical, but it was still very interesting to reread and pull closer to the front of my mind.

The Box by Marc Levinson

Amazing concept - that the development of container shipping changed business, manufacturing, and the geographic distribution of wealth across the world. The book itself is a series of historical stories that describe parts of how this happened and the actions of the main players in the shift. I enjoyed it very much.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock and Watson were my companions at lunch time for a couple months as I read through the whole collection story by story. I've been watching the BBC tv series so it was interesting to notice some of the parts they picked up and some of the parts that they changed.

Five Minds for the Future by Howard Gardner

The book described a nice model for facing the future. I can see why it resonates with some people. I just wasn't one of them.

Fangs for the Mammaries edited by Esther Friesner

Amusing short stories of vampires in suburbia.

I enjoyed this mind-stretching book, although it was a little like stretching in that I didn't really remember it afterwards. People do some weird things.

Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

The book took the interesting stories of Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics and pulled lessons from them, to make it easier to look for other counterintuitive elements and think differently. I enjoyed it but it didn't stand out in my memory.

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

This book and its approach to the philosophy of success impressed me. I definitely want to read the book. I'm also now interested in reading some of the classic stoic texts.

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles deLint

Really sweet modern, yet timeless, fairytale that is beautifully illustrated by Charles Vess. And I got the book because I met the author, one of my favorites, and the artist at a Fairy Festival at Sproutwood near to home.

Pitch Perfect by Bill McGowan and Alisa Bowman

A good selection of perspectives on how to communicate more effectively. 

How to Think on Your Feet by Cherie Kerr

The book was worth a read, but I won't be keeping it and think I got more out of Pitch Perfect.

Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work edited by Jack Canfield and others

Like all the others in this series, it was full of inspirational little stories.

Stupid Science by Leland Gregory

Funny, itty bitty science related stories. Amusing.

The Next Level by Scott Eblin

The book is intended more for the manager rising to an executive position, so the advice isn't currently relevant. But I still enjoyed seeing the presence and people skills I'd like to reach at some point.

Taekwondo by Bill and Katie Pottle

After earning my white belt black stripe I wanted to start learning more about the martial art and sport and this was the most accessible book to me. It was a solid introduction and I was glad to read it.

This was impressive, somewhat along the same lines of Abundance, but more focused on the base energy and material building blocks and how new technologies that enable us to keep developing the future will also cause a lot of change.

Ink Mage by Victor Gischler

I really enjoyed this fantasy novel as it wove back and forth between a handful of primary characters. The tattoo magic gave it just enough of a twist to not feel like a standard setting. I'm disappointed there's not a sequel yet.

Queen Mab by Kate Danley

This retelling of Romeo and Juliet was very satisfying, and there was actually a valid reason for the expected conversion to a happy ending. It was the focus on Mab and Mercutio that brought heart to the story.

The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher

Episode 5 in iambic pentameter. Still enjoying this and waiting for The Jedi Doth Return.

Brick Shakespeare: The Tragedies

Abridged Shakespeare illustrated with Lego minifigures amuses me. I'd never read any of Julius Caesar before - and I can't say I ever feel like reading the full play.

One Dot, Two Dots, Get Some New Dots by David Silverstein

Very short little book focused on the idea of getting pieces of information and thoughts in common and uncommon places to have the fodder for discovering new insights.

Be the Cat by Blaine Parker and Honey Parker

Another short little book mapping the idea of a "brand" to the idea of a "cat", and especially to the Great Cat, and what you can learn about marketing as a result.

That's Not What I Meant by Deborah Tannen

Descriptive of differences in typical conversation styles between men and women, although I wished that the suggestions of things to do to bridge those differences had taken up more than one short chapter at the end.

But I Don't See You as Asian by Bruce Reyes-Chow

Real-life stories of how events can be influenced by race, ethnicity, or skin color for the purpose of thinking about these "hard things". It was a good viewpoint enhancer, easy to read with interesting stories, and I did think.

In January it was:

The Line by J. D. Horn

I really enjoyed this supernatural mystery. The main character was fully realized and the location was distinctive. There was a touch of romance, but it wasn't the point. The point was the tangled relationships of family.

In February it was:

Gilded by Christina Farley

This was a great Korean oriented fantasy novel, tying in modern sensibilities, years of history, and a teenage girl at once brash and scared and determined.

I picked up one of March's, but none of them excited me, so I haven't read it yet.

I also enjoyed some other fiction...

Fiction River: Hex in the City edited by Kerrie L. Hugh

I read Kris Rusch's blog and had been meaning to pick up one of these short story collections her company publishes. It was fantastic! The story I most enjoyed was the one about an entrepreneurial taxi peddlar in ?? who encountered a fox spirit as a client. I want to get some of the others, even the ones in genres I don't normally read.

Spark by Anthea Sharp

Just as fun as the first trilogy about a video game that is a gateway to the realm of Faerie and a successful shift to a different character.

Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

Good story and I want to know what happens next in the trilogy. It's a familiar world, on purpose, since the author didn't want to have to establish the ground rules. And yet there are some different politics and complications that could be very interesting.

In the House of the Five Dragons by Erica Lindquist and Aron Christensen

I enjoyed the unexpected world of this novel and the development of the storyline. I figured out a key element a bit before the end, but it was worthwhile. There was a moment of utter despair where I had to check the back to make sure I was going to like the ending. And I did.

Elementary edited by Mercedes Lackey

Enjoyable stories in Lackey's Elemental Masters world, but nothing particularly stood out.

The Woodcutter by Kate Danley

An enjoyable mash-up of fairy tales into a consistent world where Woodcutter is the bridge and the protector of the covenant between the fey and the humans. It's written in a plain and somewhat choppy style but it has the lilt of a fairy tale to it, so the style fits the story. I enjoyed and am going to pick up something else she's written.

and non-fiction...

Lego Architecture Studio

It feels like a book and it reads like a book, but it kind of isn't. This is the book that came with my Lego Architecture Studio kit. Yum. It's beautiful. I never really thought about what else is going on with Architecture.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

I don't think I'd want to hang out with or work for this guy, but wow he can write well about one of the worlds that can exist behind the restaurant kitchen doors. My favorite parts were the section where he talked about what kind of food to look for when and where if you're eating out and the one where, after story and story and story, he admitted that not all kitchens are like the world he lives in and provide a calmer contrasting example.

Why Great Leaders Don't Take Yes for an Answer by Michael Roberto

Fantastic book on collaborative decision making and how to make it work better. I don't know when I'll be in a position to use some of these techniques, but I'll be keeping the book on hand (electronically) for a refresher course when I can.

The Hidden Europe by Francis Tapon

This book was long and rambling but an amazing journey through Eastern Europe, which mostly includes countries that don't think they are part of Eastern Europe. It was personal in that it was primarily based on an individual's experience, but not in that it was full of emotion. I especially loved the twists of how he summarized and described the history needed to understand the cultural background of the countries involved.

To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink

The book was good, a nice focus on the word sell and what it can mean that isn't quite so awful. Overall, though, it was a little disappointing to me. It felt like a lighter touch of too much I'd heard before than I was hoping for, but I have read extensively enough in this field that ideas overlap so I don't think that should dissuade anyone else.

Lego Rebrick held a "Be the Special" contest in honor of the Lego movie where the characters rebuilt their vehicles into ways to fight the micro-managers. The point was to take a Lego set and make something new and different out of just that Lego set.

This kit, a dragon and a small vehicle from the Ninjago series, was my source material.

I decided to build a spaceship so I started with a one-person flier. I used a dragon claw and the vehicle's wheels as part of the engine.

I was pleased with myself when I finished that, but realized there were many many more pieces remaining and it didn't seem quite enough. So I started messing around again. After a while I came up with three small ships that, if there were in the same scale as the first ship, needed to be remote controlled. (The second ship is shown from two different angles.)

There's still leftover pieces, but I've used everything I can imagine as being part of a spaceship, so I decided to be done.

I don't expect to win the challenge, or even make the finalists, with this set, although I'm proud of having done it. Some of the other pieces I've seen are marvelous. I especially love Imagine Rigney's entry - he used Lord Business' lair to make a humongous pair of robot pants for Lord Business. It's just so appropriate for the movie.

I read fewer books than usual, but that's because I spent nearly two solid weeks on one book that I checked out from the library.

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

I'd been interested in this one when it was first advertised and it lived up to my expectations. I loved this comprehensive portrait of Thomas Jefferson with philosophical complexities and daily details. It was well worth the time.

I also read:

Affliction by Laurel Hamilton

This one had a little bit of everything that is good about this series and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, it also had some of everything that has made me very tired of this series and moved me from buying them to borrowing them a single time.

Feyland: The Dark Realm, The Bright Court, and The Twilight Kingdom by Anthea Sharp

The first one is free on the Kindle strikes again. I was fascinated by the novel in which the world of Faerie was using a virtual reality game to access the mortal world again. And the entrance was through a couple of complex characters, playing on both stereotypes and individual experiences to create Jennet and Tam. The story was good enough I bought the next two in the trilogy.

The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes

My husband read this first and described it to me as Ocean's Eleven in fantasy. And it was. And there were a few great plot twists, some very prosaic moments contrasted against an epic "good vs evil deciding the fate of the world battle" that wasn't exactly supposed to happen right then. I recommend this one.

Simple: Conquering the Crisis of Complexity by Alan Siegel and Irene Etzkorn

Not bad. It's a case for simplicity in business and government and three steps to achieve it - empathize, distill, and clarify. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend the book, it's definitely would get me talking to the author's consultancies if I needed this kind of work done.

The Image - My New Kindle Paperwhite

Due to returning the library books and mostly reading ebooks - this month's picture has only one item - my new Kindle Paperwhite. My parents gave it to me for Christmas and I adore it.

I love how much smaller it is than my three-year-old keyboard based Kindle, partly because of the electronics and partly because the case can be so much tighter because the Kindle is backlit instead of needing a built-in overhead light. I love the way it looks and interacts and how pleasant it makes the reading experience. It's a little more difficult to eat with my right hand and turn pages with my left, but that's a minor detail.

Non-fiction:

Focus by Daniel Goleman

Unfortunately, this book was less than I expected. It discusses what others have before with less verve and focus than when Gladwell does it. And without any real discussion of application.

Did Monkeys Invent the Monkey Wrench? by Vince Staten

A personal memoir, with the memories tied to tools and a childhood growing up in a hardware store. I enjoyed my visit. 

Age of Context by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel

An interesting exploration into how some current trends might create our possible futures.

The Difference Maker by John Maxwell

The subtitle pretty much sums this one up - making your attitude your greatest asset. And like everything I've read of Maxwell's it's logically laid out, filled with stories, and inspires me to better in my own life.

Every Day is an Atheist Holiday by Penn Jillette

Hilarious and an interestingly offbeat perspective. 

The Hard Thing about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

Interesting enough read with stories and experiential learning from a successful internet entrepreneur. Not particularly relevant to my own path but a worthwhile window on a particular slice of the business world. Pre-publication copy provided as part of my subscription to Knowledge Blocks.

Customer Satisfaction is Worthless by Jeffrey Gitomer

The book was good, with a lot of positive and useful thoughts regarding gaining customer loyalty, but I didn't think it was his best.

Fiction:

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold

I'd never really had much regard for Ivan in the Vorkosigan saga, which was somewhat intentional on the author's part, so I'd originally resisted reading this book, but I was glad when I finally picked it up. Ivan bumbles through the adventure, after a fashion, then he wins through by his heart, not his wit, which is just as valuable as the work of his cousin.

The Sixth Discipline by Carmen Webster Buxton

Interesting exploration of cultures in a sci-fi story that is more about finding one's place and one's self than the romance that sets the structure of the story.

Snow White and Rose Red by Lilly Fang

A nice fairy tale world twist. I'd be interested in seeing more in this version of a storyworld-verse.

Mr. Darcy's Bite by Mary Simonsen

I have a weakness for Pride and Prejudice variations and this one was definitely amusing - what if he was a werewolf... and what that secret changes.

The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo

A good novel for the mystery and a good novel for the supernatural integration. I liked the main character and his complicated emotional landscape.

Non-Fiction: 

Made in America by Michael Shulman

Nice journey into the center of four manufacturing companies succeeding in the USA, all creating something specialized and as far away from a commodity as you're going to get. Michael writes creatively and tells the stories well, ones that belong in the world of manufacturing as I know it.

Secrets of Six-figure Women by Barbara Stanny

I really liked the concrete nature of the twist to this success book - and that it was based on a multitude of interviews with women who'd reached the goal. It's ten years old, but doesn't feel dated at all. The attitude and the options are still the same. 

Made in China by Donald N. Sull

A completely different book from the other "made in" I read this month. This one is about what can be learned from successful Chinese entrepreneurs because the changing environment they've faced is similar in many ways to how the business climate overall has evolved to. It wasn't the easiest book to read, but the lessons were uniquely presented and it was definitely worth my time. 

Youtility by Jay Baer

Excellent approach to the soul of content marketing - usefulness and desirableness. I didn't run across anything new to me, but it was all put together in a great package that will reach a different audience than the blogs and other bits. 

How to Talk so Kids will Listen by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

I've started using pieces of this, to some degree of success. It really captured some of the things I'd wanted to do or say but didn't know how to talk about. The whole concept of looking for cooperation, not obedience, really resonates with me, no matter how obvious the other options are.

More Fiction: 

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

This took me a lot longer to push my way through than I thought it would. The ideas were intriguing and I really how the world-building played out, but I don't think the book would have captured me on its own if I hadn't seen the movie and knew where we were headed. 

 Mr. Darcy's Bite by Mary Simonsen

Amusing twist on Pride and Prejudice in which Mr. Darcy is a werewolf and how that changes the plot.

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

The story advances but the book did not particularly thrill on its own. 

Hit List by Laurell Hamilton

I really enjoyed the return to a more mystery style book and seeing more interactions with Edward. I liked the main character's growth from the last books. However, the end felt rushed, which isn't unusual.

Bastion by Mercedes Lackey

Still reading this series. Parts still feel repetitive from previous series. But I really enjoyed seeing where Mags came from and the overall action and story were good. 

Once Upon a Time Machine by Andrew Carl and Chris Stevens

Fantastic graphic novel retellings of various fairy tales. And these are out there and futuristic retellings, but do such an excellent job of capturing the core moment. I highly recommend it, if this is a genre you enjoy.

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Did everyone who wrote negative articles about the content of this book not actually read it? All the premises that I've heard complaints on are covered in the introduction when she describes who her audience is.

It's a very clear and personal approach to things that an individual woman with her sights set on an executive position can actually do and think, many of which are just not covered in gender-neutral books on success. 

Your Artist's Brain by Carl Purcell

Nice in-depth exploration of the elements that you actually see - and need to be drawing or painting for realism - and the kinds of symbols that your brain tries to put in place of what you see. I didn't do the exercises, because I was just browsing at the moment, but they also looked useful. 

First Frost by Liz DeJesus

I met the author at Baltimore Comic-con and thought the premise was interesting - the fairy tales happened in Everafter and Snow White's descendants lived in the normal world. I bought it on Kindle afterwards and did enjoy it, but it definitely felt like a young adult novel, somehow, written for young teens who would look up to the seventeen year old heroine. 

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Delightful and amazing. Wonderful concepts to consider in making decisions and evaluations. Pieces were familiar from my other reason but he does an excellent job of explaining them and did portions of the original research that prompted the concepts. I'll be happily rereading this one again.

42 Rules for 24-Hour Success on LinkedIn (2nd ed) by Chris Muccio and Peggy Murrah

Decent LinkedIn book. I'm on the platform enough that little was of interest but a few subtleties, but worth recommending as a good up-to-date resource to someone not familiar with the network.

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Science Fiction Art Techniques by John Grant and Ron Tines

Amusing for the eye candy and concepts but glad I got it with trade credit.

A Million Little Bricks by Sarah Herman

Enjoyed reading the unofficial history, although not a book I'd recommend to anyone who doesn't really really like Legos. Parts were great and parts where rather dry history of which waves of sets and themes followed others.

The Power of Story by Jim Loehr

Good book on shifting your mindset by changing your story. I can definitely see why many people would find his workshops successful. In the end, it's about energy, challenging assumptions, and developing purpose. 

Where Underpants Come From by Joe Bennett

The idea was intriguing - journalist follows a pair of underpants all the way down to cotton in China. The resulting book was more about culture than manufacturing and it was a nifty journey.

Paid to Think by David Goldsmith

In person, this book is big and heavy. I read it on my Kindle, though, mostly for cost reasons. I'm going to need to read it a few times to really digest it. I'm not sure he said much that others haven't said, but there were some good rearrangements and mental frames in there. The subtitle is A Leader's Toolkit and it qualifies. 

 Beautiful Evidence by Edward Tufte

The intersection of the visual elements with the pure numbers for the understanding and presenting of data was interesting enough. I particularly liked the sparklines idea. But overall I'm not as enamored of Tufte's books as I was some years ago and I'm not really sure why.

 Alice Cooper, Golf Monster by Alice Cooper

Very random read for me, but a great deal of fun. I'd heard Alice on his dj show a couple times I had to travel late at nght, but was not really familiar with his music, show, or life.  I loved the depth of his life, the bits of humor, and how important golf became to him, first as a hobby and then as a substitute for alcohol.

Libriomancer by Jim Hines

I eagerly awaited this book hitting paperback because I loved his fairy tale series so much and this sounded so intriguing - a magic where you're pulling things out of books and making them real. It delivered on my expectations with a complicated character, deep plans, and effective, creative, and natural use of the magical rules build into the world. I am now eagerly awaiting the sequel coming to paperback.

Raw Art Journaling by Quinn McDonald and Tonia Davenport

I love the idea that meaning in life (and art) is made not found but I'm not entirely sure the book followed through. However, it was a nice variation on other journaling books I've read with an intriguing focus on artful, hidden, and otherwise modified words.

 Lichgates and Treason by S.M. Boyce

I really wasn't expecting much of the first book. It sounded reasonably interesting and was free on Kindle so I gave it a try. And I was sucked in. The odd politics caught my attention. Braden was a very interesting character, all twisted up in goals and alliances and possibilities, that kept me reading more than the "normal girl dropped into strange world" main character. She was fine, just not as compelling. I liked Lichgates enough that I immediately purchased Treason and kept reading. I'm interested in seeing how the author continues the story when the next one comes out.

Guiding the Gifted Child by James Webb, Elizabeth Meckstroth, and Stephanie Tolan

I'm trying to be parentally responsible when I read books like this, but there were no surprises here, but then I lived the whole "gifted" label and pull-out programs thing. I still remember being upset that I missed the cupcakes that everyone else had one week and being thrilled I got to dissect a shark a different week. It has good coverage on the topic, though, in understandable language. I most enjoyed the two small case studies at the back.

Top Pick:

 Linchpin by Seth Godin

I'd been avoiding this book because I didn't think anyone was indispensable on a business level but it blew me away instead. The parts that really got me were were those about the gift of emotional labor and art being about passion. 

Business Books: 

Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee

The book was decent but not exceptional. I appreciated the section on self-directed learning and I'm sure others liked the info on implementing organizational change versus personal change. 

Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson

I really enjoyed this natural history of innovation and it had some ideas that really stuck - like the adjacent possible being an innovation area that you can practically move into and exaption, finding new uses for what already exists. Others were familiar to me, like the long slow hunch. I'll be reviewing it again in the future.

True Story by Ty Montague

This book neatly introduced and expanded upon the concept of story"doing" versus storytelling. The concept is simple - backing up your words with actions. The value of the book lies in how he provides a framework for analyzing and changing your actions. 

Other Books:

William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher 

This version of Star Wars written as a Shakespearean play delighted me. The language wasn't as dense as I had hoped for but the asides and such that fit the medium were great. I hope he's able to write Episodes 5 and 6 this way also.

Creative Illustration Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists by Katherine Dunn

Decent enough art book for personal expression, but nothing exceptional.

Word and Breath & Word and Deed by Susannah Noel

A bit of romance and a bit of intrigue in a dystopian future when only a few can read and one girl knows more than she thinks she does. I'm looking forward to the next installment to find out what exactly it is she knows.

The Good Knight, The Uninvited Guest, and The Fourth Horseman by Sarah Woodbury

I really enjoyed this series of mysteries set in medieval Wales. The culture is specific enough that it is both familiar and surprising. Gareth, Gwen, and Hwyel are distinctive characters and the romance between the first two is a very light touch.

I completed the micro-building step of the Lego Master Builder Academy sets. It was difficult figuring out what kind of micro-scale scene I wanted to construct. I was inspired by the arches I'd gotten from the pick-a-brick wall at my last visit to the Lego store, since there's a bridge in Harrisburg that looks just like them. I figured I'd add a building and a boat for scale.

Then my husband saw what I was building and said when I was done he had something to add... And came back to the room with the minifigure of a Lego guy in a lizard suit. Who is now in the perfect scale to be a Godzilla-like creature. I laughed a great deal. 

Below are the three models that I was given instructions for to learn ways to think about micro-scale building. 

The other weekend my husband and I took our daughter to ColorMeMine to try pottery painting, since she liked wood painting craft projects and such. We contemplated whether we were going to paint anything too and then he spotted this! 

Up high on a shelf this big guy - a good 18" tall - appealed to both of us. We had a good time collaborating on the color scheme and patterns. It was a challenge painting around each other, since we were working simultaneously, and we spent more time than we expected, but we love the result. It's really amazing how different the works look before and after they are fired. 

Our daughter painted a dino and a Christmas present for her Nana (added on when we realized we would take more time than she would). She said our monster needed a name. My husband deemed him Evan Young Edwards, initials EYE.

Books Read in June:

The One Thing You Need to Know by Marcus Buckingham

A nice effort on focusing in, acknowledging that no one answer can be correct but providing something insightful, and then expanding back out. Although what caught my attention most was the one briefly described in the intro, the one about making a marriage last - always assume the other person has the best possible intent. 

How Can We Make Manufacturing Sexy? by Karin Lindner

The book was very much a journey through ideas of how to attract people to the industry, a subject I'm certainly interested in. I blogged about the ideas in the book and the one idea that I thought was missing from her proposals.

 Threshold by Sara Douglass

I appreciate this fantasy novel for the magic of both spirit and glass, for the striking images of the malevolent, visionary, purpose that the Great Pyramid was constructed for, but most of all for the winding story that doesn't let go. 

From Alchemy to IPO: The Business of Biotechnology by Cynthia Robbins-Roth

This was written for potential investors, but I found it an interesting bit of context about an industry that I'd never really had a reason to think about. And I learned some science while I was at it, so I was happy.

Secrets of a Strong Mind by LaRae Quy

The author of the book was the first standout here - a female FBI counter intelligence agent - and then she had great stories about grit, approaching what people want, struggling and succeeding, trying things in different ways and so forth. I definitely recommend it and have subscribed to her blog.

Always Eat Left Handed by Rahit Bhargava

This was a very personal success/personal development book focused around fifteen stories, many of them ones he lived through. After each story he delivers three actionable tips. It was lightweight, as I expected with that title, and enjoyably mind-tickling.

Year of the Dragon: Books 1-4 by James Calbraith

Entertaining. The Western side of the world is in some ways reminiscent of Temeraire, but not so much as to be painful. And most of the story takes place in China and Japan. The culture clashes and adventure and struggles of young people to be adults are pretty good and I'll be interested in seeing where he takes the story in the next book.

The First 20 Hours by Josh Kaufman

The actionable part of this book is a small slice of it, more of a manifesto. The bulk of the book is stories about how Josh put the principles into action. Some reviews complain about it, and I'll admit it wasn't what I expected, but I don't think the instructions would have been effective without the personal experience to back him up. And the stories were fun to read and helped me see how I could put the principles into action myself, which I expect was the point.

Graphic Novels - I also read four more of the Birds of Prey graphic novel issue collections - Sensei & Student, Between Dark & Dawn, The Battle Within, and Perfect Pitch. I am still entertained and moving on to some more issues.  I especially like the relationships between the characters and trust/manipulation/friendship/partners. And some of the asides like - "Rain just makes my costume squeak." from Black Canary.