Rating: 5/5 stars - must read! As time marches on, human beings adapt—but that isn’t always a good thing. According to Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start by Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey, the rapid acceleration of technology in the past few decades has exacerbated a fight or flight coping … Continue reading My Review of Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start
Reviews
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey: A Lesson on Writing Satire and Humour
Sometimes, the best writing tips of all come from simply reading books, which is one of the main reasons why I'm launching this under-appreciated classics series. Some of my all-time favourite books are ones that have mostly been lost to obscurity - but I think they have so much for us to learn. (Not to … Continue reading Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey: A Lesson on Writing Satire and Humour
The Pros of Small-Scale Fantasy
When we think of fantasy, we often think of huge, epic quests to save the world. Defeat the dark lord, restore the light, and bring peace to the entire land. But sometimes, fantasy can - and should - be small-scale. While reading The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson after my fiction fast, I was … Continue reading The Pros of Small-Scale Fantasy
Why Wicked Works: Behind the Musical that Captivates the World
If you've never heard of Wicked the musical, I'm sorry to tell you that you've been living under a rock. Though you probably won't hear your average Joe belting "Defying Gravity" out of nowhere anymore like you could a decade ago, Wicked is far from being forgotten. Just take my recent experience as an example. … Continue reading Why Wicked Works: Behind the Musical that Captivates the World
Review: The Incredible Adventures of Chana in Judea by Emil Buchman
Rating: 2/5 stars - not for me Chana Buchman is an average thirteen-year-old girl. She loves her family, but they also get on her nerves, which is why she’s less than thrilled when she finds herself on a “trip of a lifetime” to Israel with her parents and four siblings. But when Chana peeks through … Continue reading Review: The Incredible Adventures of Chana in Judea by Emil Buchman
The Thrawn Trilogy: The Importance of Story “Cleanup”
There are good endings, the ones that leave us crying or make us smile, blessing us with a feeling of wonderful satisfaction. There are bad endings, the ones that make us yell and throw our books against the wall. Why do we never talk about the "meh" endings? Because they, perhaps, are the worst kind … Continue reading The Thrawn Trilogy: The Importance of Story “Cleanup”
Review: The Questions of Jesus by John Avery
Rating: 5/5 stars - must read! The Questions of Jesus by John Avery is filled with several small, devotional-like lessons that take a close look at both the questions Jesus asked people and the questions people asked him. The short sections and Avery’s easy-to-read style make each lesson a breeze to get through and simple … Continue reading Review: The Questions of Jesus by John Avery
Mistborn Era 1: Trope Subversion at Its Finest
As some of you know, I've become a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson in the past year. His Stormlight Archive series blew me away and I eagerly devoured more, this time the first Mistborn series. I plan on buying the rest of his Cosmere books with Christmas money and reading them this year. Why? Because … Continue reading Mistborn Era 1: Trope Subversion at Its Finest
Fixing the Story: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
In this new series, I'm doing something a little different than my usual reviews. Rather than just talking about the good and bad in a story, I'll be going a step further to present possible ways to fix a story that's lacking. My goal? To help us practise how to pinpoint issues in a story … Continue reading Fixing the Story: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Why The Muppet Christmas Carol Is the Best Christmas Movie Ever
I usually try not to say that something is "the best" since we all have different tastes, but when it comes to Muppet Christmas...it's the best. Still, I know we all have our favourite Christmas movies. I used to watch The Santa Clause and Home Alone all the time when I was younger, and The … Continue reading Why The Muppet Christmas Carol Is the Best Christmas Movie Ever
E.J. Robison 