Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations by Michal Walzer
382 pgs (347 reading)

Every now and then, I read a book for class and it takes me away.   Although it is a rare case.  This novel is one of those rare times.  Although published in 1977, which was during the cold war with the big Russian bear staring at the rest of the free world ready to strike it down, the many lessons and thoughts in the book are still relevant.

The book is about warfare.  Simply, what is a legal war, when is it legal to go to war and finally, how does a nation conduct war after they have entered it.  First, he starts off with the four different foundations about warfare.  The Bellicist, Realist, Just War, and finally Pacifist.  After thoroughly explaining that Just War is his main focus, he then dives into Jus an Bellum and Jus in Bello and how they should be thought of as separate but corresponding points to warfare.  Finally, he dives into what is allowed and when it should be allowed.

Like the Lord of the Rings, there is much information within each paragraph.  Every student in the class stated that one paragraph felt like 10 pages of information.  Even keeping notes, it was challenging to recall the information that is presented in the book.

I found the book difficult to put down, however, as a fanatic of history, this book is like eating a dessert that I enjoyed morsel by morsel.

I don’t know if I would recommend this novel to anyone that is not a political theorist or history buff.  Many in my class were not enjoying the material, although it is very important to understand for International Relations majors.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Artemis by Andy Weir
2017      305pgs

A fun story that takes place on the moon.  Also, like The Spy Who Loved Me and Dolores Claiborne, it is told from a female’s view.  More than that, it was like she was writing the story and breaking the 4th wall at various times in the novel.

The story takes place in the future where we have inhabited the moon.  About everyday people just trying to make a living when the protagonist gets an offer she can’t refuse. This starts her on a journey that takes not only her but also those around her on a journey and mystery that has a few delightful twists and turns.

Unlike his previous novel, The Martian, Mr. Weir doesn’t use as much science in this novel.  There a bit added here and there to explain how things work on the moon.  That just adds to the flavor of the story.

A good narrative that is very alluring.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Make Your Bed by Admiral Willaim H McRaven (USN, Retired)
2017    105pgs

To say this is a fast read…I read the book in just about an hour.  This is a simple leadership.  Anyone who has taken any leadership course or read any leadership books, the lessons in this are the same.  The main difference is what McRaven uses as his school that taught him these lessons and how they applied throughout his career.

Navy Seal School.

Each lesson starts with what was ingrained into him at Seal School and how that was still with him later in his career.

A nice book and simple lessons.

Happy Reading

Lopaka

The Martian by Andy Weir
2011 369pgs

This novel is a fast read. A very simple story, an lone Astronaut gets stranded on Mars with equipment that was designed to last only one month. The next mission that could pick him up will not arrive on Mars for 4 years. To make matters better, he can’t talk to NASA on Earth or his fellow Astronauts in the spacecraft leaving mars to let them know he is alive. How will he survive and get back home?

The story is the same for the book and movie. There’s lots and lots of science and many challenges for our protagonist to overcome. The book, unlike the movie, actually goes into more details, however, easy scientific explanations that keep the story moving forward. Many more challenges, and much more mental hurdles, the book really shows more that the movie just simplified.

Not wanting to give away anymore of the plot, the movies does follow the book in the over all story.

Would I recommend the book?

It was an enjoyable book that, as mentioned, is a fast read. Only took me just about a day to read the book, and I’m a slow reader. I enjoyed the movie and would recommend anyone that likes the movie to read the book.

Happy Reading

Lopaka

It by Stephen King
1986 1154pgs

What a page turner. I don’t remember the last time sitting and devouring through a 1,000+ page book and resisting the urge to put it down. This story grips you from the start and doesn’t let go. One of Kings classics, it has everything that you would expect from one of his best horror novels.

The backdrop, Maine.
Youth growing up and experiencing the not-so-fun parts of teenage life.
Friends that come together and drift apart.
Finally, Pennywise the Clown.

If I would have read this when it came out, it would have given me nightmares. And, unless, you haven’t watched a modern movie or read any books…this will not scare you…unless you are 14.

Would I recommend this book? I couldn’t stop talking about it while I was reading it. I would recommend it. Also, just a forewarning….be ready.

Mr King, with his white cartoon gloves that are razor sharp and draw blood, will grab you in the beginning and not let go!

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Armada by Ernest Cline

2015. 349 pgs

First, this is no Ready Player One. In all honesty, if it was, I would have been very disappointed. For those that are fans of Ready Player One, the 1980’s references are still used throughout the book. This one still uses video games as it’s main association and refers to many SiFi classics for a different take on why video games are designed…

Aliens!

Ok. That is all I’m going to tell about the book. It is a fantastic read. Starts off a little slow and the picks up. Right about the point that many young men that play video games and role-playing games wish would happen sometimes, this includes the younger version of myself, is when the hook is set and the fisherman pulls the line!

Once it started to pick up, I didn’t want to let go (just like RPO) and just read through it and enjoyed every little morsel on each page.

Happy Reading!

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien
1954    398pgs

Book one and two of the Lord of the Rings.  No, for those that have not read the books, it’s not an error on my half.  The book was originally written as six books, two books for each novel.

This novel is a monster!  The details in each page are amazing.   After I had read just a 2 to 3 pages, I felt that I complete 10.  It is mind-blowing.  Not for the skimming reader.  Although the first book starts slow, it does start to pick up until the end of the novel.  It does make one want to start reading The Two Towers, however, for me, I’m taking a break from Tolkien for at least one book.

The movies were great.  Naturally, like many, I was blown away when I saw the movies and told myself that I needed to read the books.   While reading the novel, I thought to myself, is this in the movie?  Was that scene in the movie?  Going back and watching the movie, I realized the spirit of the scene was in the movie.  After finishing The Fellowship, I actually prefer what happened with Boromir in the movie then how the book portrays the breaking of the fellowship.  It was a better flow.

The book is still a great read.  Like some previous novels that I read, you could miss a lot of details if you are trying to bear through it.  If one were to take in all the essence of the novel, it a great story.

Happy reading!

Lopaka

The Lord Of The Rings
I The Fellowship of the Ring
II The Two Towers
III The Return of the King

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
1937    187pgs

Along with The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men is considered one of the best books by John Steinbeck.  A very short story, one could finish this book in a few hours.  The story is simple and to the point.  Also, in classic Steinbeck, it takes place near his hometown of Salinas, California during the Great Depression.

It deals deeply with what people felt and were desired at that time which he was very familiar with since John Steinbeck was also one of those individuals trying to survive and looking for work where ever it was available.

Isolation and loneliness are the main themes.   The dreams of better days in the future that for millions in the United States would never come true until after the New Deal and World War II would bring America out of the Great Depression.

Naturally, being a Steinbeck fan, I would recommend this novel for an easy and quick read.

Lopaka

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
2001 pgs. 465

A very different take on old gods from the old world and how they got to America.  The story focuses on a prisoner that gets released from prison early to bury his recently deceased wife.  While on the way to his hometown, he meets an individual that turns out to be an old world god stuck on earth.  From their, the journey takes the former prisoner into the world of the gods, including the new ones, and a very fascinating conclusion.

Naturally, I don’t want to give too much of the plot away.  I really enjoyed reading this novel and once the story really started to move along, it was very difficult to put the book down.  The dynamics that Mr. Gaiman brought with discussions with the various gods really make someone who enjoys mythology smile.

I would recommend this book for a nice sit back and take me away read.

Lopaka

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck
1935 207 pages

Tortilla Flat is a classic novella that takes place just after the first world war in Monterey, California.  The main cast is Danny and his gang of friends that eventually live in Danny’s house.

This is a very easy and enjoyable book to read.  Steinbeck tried to write about people that he knew and even wrote with dialect as spoken by them.  It was very entertaining reading how individuals would do behavior that many of us would state is wrong, however, in their thoughts, it is justified.

The stories are simple everyday matters that the gang goes through every day and the central character in the stories is the house that Danny owns.  This is the simple object that the entire book flows around like a river around a rock.

It is an easy read that doesn’t take long to finish.

Happy reading.

Lopaka