 |
|||||||
         |
|||||||
              
When even one American - who has done
nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth -
then all Americans are in peril
"My reading of history convinces me that most
bad government results from too much government."
-Thomas Jefferson
Earth First!
|
Book Reviews Cindy and I both love to read. I cant remember the last time one of us wasn't in the middle of some novel. The best part is we both enjoy reading many of the same books. This helps us share our thoughts on the books and be able to talk about the new characters each book introduces us to. Feel free to contact us with suggestions on books you might think interest us, we're always looking for that next page turner. If you're a writer, feel free to send a copy of your work if you'd like us to review any of it. __________________________________________ Turn Me On: 100 Easy Ways to Use Solar Energy by Michelle Kodis - Reviewed by Pat
While currently
living in a climate that has so much sunlight, Cindy and I are trying to
become as energy conscious as possible. We’re in the process of
We've lived off the
grid in our camper for four years, so we thought why not try and
institute all we learned into a regular lifestyle in a stick home.
To Read the Full
Review -
Click Here The Shack, by WM. Paul Young - Reviewed by Pat Being a self-proclaimed 'Recovering Catholic', and coming from a background where I had the Catholic religion shoved down my throat at all times of my childhood, I had my reserves about reading a book recommended to me by my mother which was about God. Needless to say, this book, The Shack, by WM. Paul Young, is probably one of the best books I have ever read in my adult life. To Read the Review - Click Here
__________________________________________ Three Cups of Tea - By Greg Mortenson In a time when the words ‘Middle East’ can bring up such anger, why would you want to read a book about that area? Well for starters this book isn’t about anything to do with the ongoing war you hear about every night on the news. 3 Cups of Tea is a behind the scenes look at many of the areas that never make headlines on any of our news stations. What this book is about is one man, who puts his life on the line to try to end the decades long war, the way it should be ended, with books, not bombs. The Taliban believes that keeping the population ignorant is the best way to keep them following the same ways they’ve been following for the past few hundred years. When the Taliban comes into an area, they burn every book except for the Koran. They know if their population was to become educated, they’d know that war will never solve anything. What Greg Mortenson is doing is simply amazing. Never before have I felt so utterly useless when comparing myself to what he’s done. Never before have I finished reading a book and wanted to do something to make a difference. Why isn’t our government going at it like Greg Mortenson is? To read this book just makes so much sense.
This book should be required reading for
everyone and anyone who thinks they have an opinion on the Middle East.
If there is one book you read this year, make it this one, you won’t be
disappointed. Then make sure you donate to
this charity! __________________________________________
The
Reaper's Line: Life and Death on the Mexican Border
- By Lee Morgan
A must read for anyone who is concerned with our U.S.-Mexico Border situation. Of the numerous people I've recommended this gripping story to, all have came back thanking me for it. To Read the Review - Click Here
__________________________________________
Blue
Highways - A Journey into America A classic travel journal for anyone who is thinking about packing up their bags to see America by blue roads (back roads that used to be blue on older maps).
William Least Heat-Moon has a way of describing his travels like no one else I've read. This is one of the books that got us started on where we are today and has been talked about many times on our travels. To Read the Review - Click Here
__________________________________________
Dumb Things
Sold Just Like That Reviewed by Pat & Cindy Anyone who owns or has owned an RV should read this book. I was amazed at the facts about the industry that we just took for granted. RVing has been around for a lot longer than you think and the way it was started is just as fascinating. As far back as there has been transportation, people have been hooking things up to their vehicles so they could get away from the daily stresses of life. This book brings you back to the start of it all and is loaded with amazing pictures from many of the early Recreational Vehicles that were way before their time. To Read the Review - Click Here __________________________________________
8 Dogs Named Jack and 14 Other Short Stories This little book was perfect for me while traveling. If there is one thing I hate, it's when I get a monster of a book, and we're moving non-stop. With this page turner, the stories are all short and sweet and just long enough to get you hooked, but not keep you up for days on end. It's like each chapter in the book is it's own story. So you can pick it up, read one short story that might take a half hour or so, and be done with it for the day. Perfect for me and just the way I like it. Borri has a great way of describing his characters, and being from Michigan, the scenes and areas he writes into his book were like stomping around on my home turf. To Read the Review - Click Here __________________________________________ The Kite Runner By - Khaled Hosseini Reviewed by Cindy With the United States always in turmoil with the Middle East, I have always struggled with the thought process of the Sunni and the Shi'a. I've never understood why their land is so riddled with violence and their belief is this killing will guarantee their place in Paradise?
To read the Review - Click Here __________________________________________ Plum Island - By Nelson DeMille Reviewed by Pat This is the first in the John Corey series of books by this amazing author. DeMille has a way of describing his characters so well, that you can picture the entire scene play out like you're watching it on the big screen. Plum Island has a mix of action, romance, drugs, pirates, and conspiracy to get you hooked in from the first chapter and keep you biting your nails till the last page. The main character John Corey is hilarious and has a way of making you frown while thinking of him snapping back with his smart assed comments. To Read the Review - Click Here __________________________________________
The Lovely Bones This is a tragic, moving story of Susie Salmon, a 14 year old girl who is murdered. The story is about what happens after her death as Susie narrates while looking down from heaven. This being Sebold's first novel of love, loss and recovery, I was amazed how fast it grabbed ahold of me and kept me turning the pages. I couldn't put it down and found myself laughing and crying through the entire book. The families struggle to find out how, why and by who Susie was killed by; opened my eyes to the personalities of all who loved and missed her. I have recommended this book to many people, and all have commented on how much they loved it. __________________________________________
Walk Across America I remember the first time I read this book (I've read it 3 times) and how much it changed me. Some people have trouble imagining what Cindy and I are doing when we have all the comforts of home, it's just a small home. In 1970, a confused young man set out to walk across America. This is the book he wrote about that journey. What he found was so amazing, that it made me think how foolish I was to be living a conventional lifestyle. To Read the Review - Click Here
__________________________________________
Running With Scissors: A Memoir This is a true story of growing up in an exceptionally dysfunctional family. The authors mother is a delusional poet, his father is an alcoholic who abandons him at an early age and his make shift family, which he finds with his mothers shrink is enough to shock anyone who reads this memoir. Out of 352 pages of this book, 50% were spent with my jaw hung open in disbelief and disgust. The rest of the time I was laughing my butt off. I cant say that this is at the top of my list of recommendations, but I am sure glad I read it. I used to think that my family was a tad whacky. But after reading Running with Scissors, I now think I'm almost normal. Oh, and the movie was nothing like the book, so I wouldn't even compare the two. __________________________________________
The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey Reviewed by Pat Probably my least favorite travel book, which really disappointed me because it had been so highly recommended by so many fellow travelers. Maybe I'm missing something or maybe I just couldn't get into the fact that this wasn't all that exciting for me, or maybe I had been told so many good things about the book, it just didn't live up to my expectations? What ever it was, this isn't a book that I liked all too much.
__________________________________________
Memoirs of a Geisha Reviewed by Cindy Memoirs of a Geisha is an incredibly vivid recollection of Nitta Sayuri's life. From here childhood as a poor fisherman's daughter through the challenges she faces to become a world famous Geisha. The story told through Sayuri's eyes is so breathtaking and rich with detail, that I felt like I have visited these far away places when I closed the book. I could almost hear her soothing voice as her words crept into me from the paper pages I clung to. A story of hardships, triumph and freedom and a must read! __________________________________________
The Digital Photography Book This is a must have for anyone who is familiar with photography and wants to move up to the next level. Scott has a great way of explaining things in a straight forward matter and making you understand the more technical side of this sometimes confusing field. I think I have bought this book 5 times for friends who are getting into the field and I would recommend it to anyone. I have read it myself a few dozen times and keep it handy to flip through on a daily basis. Make Sure to Check out Scott Kelby's Website for tons of info __________________________________________
The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers In this age of digital photography, Photoshop is a must have program. It is well worth the money and once you learn the basics, this book is the next step to move you up to that next level where you start to learn the tricks the pros use. I know that CS3 has already come out, but I haven't used Scott's book on that program to comment on it. I still use Photoshop CS2 and this book was a great help with teaching me many new tricks. Many of the photos you see on our site have been adjusted in Photoshop to bring out some shadows or punch up the colors. You'd be amazed at how much you can do with this must have program. It's well worth the high cost if you're really into photography. __________________________________________
The Photoshop CS3
Book for Digital Photographers Once I moved up to CS3, I got this book right away so I could learn the new tricks of the brand new program. CS3 is light years ahead of CS2 and the program is way worth the upgrade. Once you upgrade, get this book right away! I also listed a few other books I own that have really helped with the computer workflow.
__________________________________________
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers Adobe Lightroom is an amazing program that will improve your photography as soon as you figure out how to use the program. It's not that magic button that can turn bad photos into cover shots, but if you can take a decent photo with the correct exposure, Adobe Lightroom will make that shot pop out and be noticed. Scott Kelby's book taught me how to use the program and understand the many different options. Like many of his other books I own, this is a must have if you really want to learn the ins and outs of the great program from Adobe.
__________________________________________ Make Sure to Check out 2007 Year in Review and our newly updated 2008 Year in Review
Need Unlimited photo storage- FREE Trial of Smugmug |
||||||
|
|||||||
getting
bids to have solar panels installed on our motel and home so we can try
and cut our utility bill and save some of our hard earned money by
harnessing some of the Sun’s power it gives off each and every day.