Book Review/Rebuttal: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

November 13, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fiction, Philosophy

It's not that I don't recommend this book or that it doesn't offer a philosophical perspective that warrants review. It is worth reading but it fails to persuade as it offers only a simplified and narrow perspective of human behavior. It requires a wholesale acceptance of its premises and provides little in the way of relevant counterarguments. Ishmael by Daniel Quinn is written well and is narrated masterfully by Anthony Heald in the Audible version I listened to. When engaging with this book I recommend being aware of its rhetorical tactics and remaining skeptical of its biased perspective.

New Book Review YouTube Channel!

September 29, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review

I decided to start posting video book reviews on YouTube! The channel’s name is Fictional Fracas because I like alliteration and I’m clever. Use the links below to check it out and if you like it make sure to like and subscribe and share and love and comment and click stuff and tell people!

Book Review: Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

August 21, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fantasy, Fiction, Reviews

This beautifully grotesque accounting of an epic journey rivals those of The Odyssey and Lord of the Rings, with less fluff and more French words. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a nightmare-inducing ride down an ecclesiastic rollercoaster. Super fun!

Book Review: Treasure Mountain by Louis L'Amour

July 15, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fiction, Reviews, Western

To get closure about his last days Tell and Orrin start their journey in New Orleans but when Orrin goes missing Tell starts to piece together the clues to finding out where their father went and what might have happened. It turns out that the men who went up with their father back then are involved in Orrin’s disappearance. It’s up to Tell to free his brother before they both end up missing.

Book Review: Prison of Hope by Steve McHugh

January 15, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fantasy, Fiction

All in all, this was a very fun book to read, and while it has a lot of moving parts and I didn’t keep up with everything the characters made it enjoyable and easy to keep going. As always, the books in this series have very climactic and satisfying endings. Nate is a very likable character with his humor, charm, and noble morality. His friends are all very likable as well and it is fun to route for the good guys in these stories. I recommend this book to those who enjoyed the previous series especially if you want to learn more about Nate and the world he belongs to.

Book Review: Jubal Sackett by Louis L' Amour

October 31, 2023 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fiction, Reccomendations, Reviews, Western

Jubal Sackett is a badass and this book was awesome. It is exactly what I want out of a Western genre book. It is about survival in the harsh forests of America. Jubal starts out as a lone wolf and ends up as a leader of a tribe. The value of working together is exemplified as Jubal and his tribe defend against a myriad of aggressors. He is from the white man’s world but is so attuned to nature and the ways of Native Americans that he is able to give and get respect from almost everyone. His strong will and desire for peace create the ultimate good guy. One who doesn’t seek a fight but will defend himself and those he loves to the death. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Westerns or Native American stories.