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Showing posts from December, 2014

AlphaSmart Dana - Review

AlphaSmart Dana is a battery-operated keyboard with screen word processor manufactured by NEO Direct, Inc. (formerly Alphasmart, Inc.). It weighs a hefty 2 lbs. and features a full-sized keyboard. When it was first released in 2002, the Dana was a pioneering device in its category. It featured a Palm OS operating system, a a back-lit (can be switched on and off) touchscreen with stylus, 8 megabytes of internal storage (plus 2 SD card slots). It could sync with personal computers and laptops. And it could connect directly to printers. Today, these specs may seem frivolous. The production of the Dana has, in fact, been discontinued by its manufacturers. However, demand for this, and other similar devices, has experienced a revival as budding and professional writers search for new avenues toward writing without distractions. I discovered the AlphaSmart Dana during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Participants from the Philippines were discussing what devices t

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami - Book Review

In Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage , protagonist  Tsukuru Tazaki is a young man, traumatized by a great loss. When he was 20, Tsukuru was abruptly—and without reason given him—ejected from his group of five friends, composed of three boys and two girls.  Four members of the group had names that mean colors: ‘red,’ ‘blue,’ ‘white,’ and ‘black.’ But Tsukuru’s name means ‘colorless.’ He is aware of this distinction, and sees himself as someone who contributes no value to the group, and to the world. No wonder his friends abandoned him. Preoccupied with thoughts about dying and death, Tsukuru is depressed for months after his abandonment. But he is made of stern stuff, and manages to pull himself together. He now manages railroad stations, which has been his dream job ever since he was a child. Still, he is unable to find true meaning and happiness in life, as his troubled past continues haunting him. When Tsukuru’s girlfriend gives him an ultimatum—to talk to his

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie - Book Review

Finally, some action! No, correct that. Plenty of action! Before They Are Hanged, book two of The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is filled with plenty of wars and battles, more than making up for what the first book lacked. I imagine the wait would have been truly worth it, but I already had a copy on hand and was able to continue with the story immediately. I usually don't read book series in succession, but I don't regret making an exception for The First Law trilogy, so far.       Book two begins where book one left off, with the Union preparing for war on two fronts: attacking Bethod and his legions in the north and defending against the Gurkhish Empire and their Eaters in the south. Colonel West is assistant commander of the northern army, while Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta is given the impossible task of defending Dagoska, the Union's only remaining land in the south.  Meanwhile, a party of unlikely companions embark on a jou

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie - Book Review

Reading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie is like playing the first few hours of a role playing video game like the Final Fantasy and Dragon Age series . The novel has a 'gathering your party' feel to it as key characters are introduced. These characters find themselves working together in three separate groups, by the end of the novel. Nobleman Captain Jezal dan Luthar is an excellent fencer training for an upcoming tournament. Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta is a cripple and torturer, a shadow of the fencing champion and decorated soldier he once was. Logen Ninefingers, one of the fiercest barbarians of the north, finds himself defeated and alone he and his friends are ambushed by the humanoid Shanka. These are only three of many characters whose lives will change as the Union faces war on two fronts--from Bethod's army in the north and the Gurkish Empire in the south--and as their fates intertwine for better or for worse. What I liked: Inquis

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson - Book Review

Elantris is not your typical Brandon Sanderson novel. It's a short stand-alone work, around the length of Neil Gaiman's Stardust . In fact, it was purposely envisioned it as a stand-alone story, though a sequel may be released in the near future. Sanderson talks more about this on his website page  FAQ: Will There Be a Sequel to Elantris . Elantris proves that Sanderson can write short fiction filled with both action and depth.  My previous attempt at writing a synopsis for this review ended up as four long, tedious paragraphs that barely touched the surface of this complex story.  Elantris was the capital city of Arleon. It was populated by demigods with magical powers. It was considered an honor for ordinary citizens of Arleon to transform into these demigods, until the magic failed, and the people of Elantris devolved into leper-like beings. Now, the citizens of Arleon fear being afflicted with the taint. The novel focuses on the story of