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Cather Steincamp

Member Since 2005

240
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 67 reviews
  • 108 ratings
  • 404 titles in library
  • 22 purchased in 2013
FOLLOWING
0
FOLLOWERS
3

  • Dexter in the Dark

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 36 mins)
    • By Jeff Lindsay
    • Narrated By Nick Landrum
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1306)
    Performance
    (474)
    Story
    (472)

    A blood spatter analyst for the Miami police, Dexter has seen his share of gruesome deeds - and committed a few himself. But when he investigates a particularly terrible crime scene at a local university, everything changes.

    James says: "Different Direction"
    "Dexter; Drastically Different"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    This latest in the Dexter books does something I did not expect-- it veers into the supernatural. I was really upset that the series so abruptly changed genres, but then I was enjoying the book and got over it.

    I should mention that the reader ROCKS.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Jumper

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 49 mins)
    • By Steven Gould
    • Narrated By Macleod Andrews
    Overall
    (201)
    Performance
    (174)
    Story
    (179)

    What if you could go anywhere in the world, in the blink of an eye? Where would you go? What would you do?Davy can teleport. To survive, Davy must learn to use and control his power in a world that is more violent and complex than he ever imagined. But mere survival is not enough for him. Davy wants to find others like himself, others who can Jump.

    Katherine says: "Lot's of fun"
    "A nice descent into fantasy..."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    (Disclaimer: If you saw the movie, then you still know practically nothing about this book. They do not share the same plot, or really even the characters. "Griffin's Story" is actually set in the MOVIE universe, not this one.)

    What would you do if you could teleport?

    This wasn't high-sci-fi or high-fantasy. The world is more or less our world, except for this one kid who can teleport. He's got real problems with his abusive dad, his girlfriend, the cop downstairs who beats his wife.... oh, yeah, and the NSA.

    Definitely worth reading. Will inspire a lot of fantasies and daydreams.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 31 mins)
    • By Rachel Maddow
    • Narrated By Rachel Maddow
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1120)
    Performance
    (1025)
    Story
    (1018)

    Rachel Maddow's Drift argues that we've drifted away from America's original ideals and become a nation weirdly at peace with perpetual war, with all the financial and human costs that entails. Sensible yet provocative, dead serious yet seriously funny, Drift will reinvigorate a "loud and jangly" political debate about how, when, and where to apply America's strength and power - and who gets to make those decisions.

    Dolf says: "Half the National Debt?"
    "NOT the Rachel Maddow Show"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    If you watch her show, you're expecting this to be about how the Republicans are whizzing all over the Constitution. And it is. But it's also about how Clinton-- and yes, Obama-- are doing the same thing. And about how, in her opinion, it's damaging the country. I don't necessarily agree with every conclusion she draws, but her research is impeccable.

    It was a little bit of a surprise to realise that, since Ms. Maddow was not on camera, she was free to use a wider variety of language, but I was very pleased to see that she didn't over do it. The only two times I remember offhand that she used obscenities were situations where a lesser word either wouldn't have gotten the job done, or would have been nowhere near as clever (specificially the crack about the s**t processing plant).

    Rachel Maddow is one of my heroes, and I'm sooooo glad she read this herself.

    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 28 mins)
    • By Mary Roach
    • Narrated By Sandra Burr
    Overall
    (1373)
    Performance
    (650)
    Story
    (640)

    Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? Have sex? Smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour?

    Kathy says: "Terrific!"
    "Mary Roach does it again...."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    If Mary Roach releases a book, I buy it. I hadn't realised that until I had purchased this one before finishing reading the TITLE.

    She did not disappoint. The book is fascinating, honest, entertaining, and FUN. And the reader does a fantastic job as well. If you liked her other stuff, get this. If you haven't read her other stuff, get this, then that. :D

    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
  • Assassination Vacation

    • ABRIDGED (7 hrs and 24 mins)
    • By Sarah Vowell
    • Narrated By Conan O'Brien, Stephen King, Dave Eggers, and others
    Overall
    (1843)
    Performance
    (344)
    Story
    (338)

    Sarah Vowell exposes the glorious conundrums of American history and culture with wit, probity, and an irreverent sense of humor. With Assassination Vacation, she takes us on a road trip like no other, a journey to the pit stops of American political murder and through the myriad ways they have been used for fun and profit, for political and cultural advantage.

    Michael says: "Quirky and Enchanting"
    "Nutty, Witty. A little disturbing. But great"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Seriously, the author's obsession is a little disturbing, but the history is fascinating and the humour with which it's presented is great.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Street Magic: The Circle Opens

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 14 mins)
    • By Tamora Pierce
    • Narrated By Bruce Coville, the Full Cast Family
    Overall
    (169)
    Performance
    (69)
    Story
    (70)

    Briar and Rosethorn are in ancient Chammur, where Briar gets involved in a war between street gangs at the same time that he ends up trying to train a young stone mage he has discovered. Intrigue, adventure, humor, nastiness, all set against a fascinating culture, this is classic Tamora Pierce.

    Richard says: "Disappointed"
    "Excellent bit of diversion..."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I listened to this independently of the series-- I actually thought it was the first of them-- and as soon as it was done I started the series.

    This was a nice well-written piece of fantasy, with an intelligent plot and good characters. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Book of Lies

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 27 mins)
    • By Brad Meltzer
    • Narrated By Scott Brick
    Overall
    (623)
    Performance
    (105)
    Story
    (105)

    What does Cain, history's greatest villain, have to do with Superman, the world's greatest hero? And what do two murders, committed thousands of years apart, have in common? This is the mystery at the heart of Brad Meltzer's riveting and utterly intriguing new thriller.

    Jeremy says: "Don't Bother."
    "Not bad."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I can definitely see why everyone keeps comparing this to the DaVinci's Code. There are some similarities... several of them. I'm glad I didn't know that, because I hated DaVinci code.

    This was not exactly great literature... a lot of stuff was kind of weak. But it was very entertaining, and unlike DaVinci Code, I didn't have the urge to hunt down the author and explain to him his literary sins using a golf club, a chain saw, and a bottle of lemon juice.

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • Vicious Circle

    • UNABRIDGED (16 hrs and 22 mins)
    • By Mike Carey
    • Narrated By Michael Kramer
    Overall
    (411)
    Performance
    (160)
    Story
    (160)

    Felix Castor has reluctantly returned to exorcism after the case of the Bonnington Archive ghost convinced him that he really can do some good with his abilities ("good," of course, being a relative term when dealing with the undead). But his friend, Rafi, is still possessed; the succubus Ajulutsikael (Juliet to her friends) still technically has a contract on him; and he's still dirt poor.

    Cather Steincamp says: "A worthy sequel"
    "A worthy sequel"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I had been waiting for this book when I learned that there was a sequel to _The Devil You Know_, and I was not disappointed.

    It loses a single star because there are a couple of points where the plot is just a little too contrived, but the depth of the characters and the skill of the storytelling more than make up for it.

    Eagerly awaiting book three.

    5 of 5 people found this review helpful
  • Pretties: Uglies, Book 2

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 10 mins)
    • By Scott Westerfeld
    • Narrated By Carine Montbertrand
    Overall
    (336)
    Performance
    (174)
    Story
    (176)

    Tally Youngblood never felt like the other Pretties - she almost didn't become one. But Tally isn't the only one who feels like she's missing a part of herself. After uncovering sinister clues about the Pretty surgery, she stumbles upon a possible cure for Pretty-mindedness and a possible escape from the city. But the cure could have deadly consequences.

    Martha says: "Split Decision"
    "A decent second book...."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I've been impressed with this series so far. The concept isn't very original, but it's handled extremely well. The world of the Pretties is well thought-out.

    That being said, this book was not as good as Uglies. The character of Shay, in particular, is annoying, and not quite consistent with how she was in the first book. Also, while the first book was a self-contained story that ended with a cliffhanger to set this book up, this one seems to be only half the story.

    I do, however, really like the mythology within the world that is being established... I will be reading the third book next.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Uglies: Uglies, Book 1

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 19 mins)
    • By Scott Westerfeld
    • Narrated By Carine Montbertrand
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (514)
    Performance
    (302)
    Story
    (302)

    Tally Youngblood is quickly approaching her 16th birthday and the mandatory pretty-making surgery that accompanies it. But Tally isn't sure if she wants to be a placidly happy Pretty. When a top secret organization threatens her with remaining Ugly forever, she reluctantly spies on the rebels who have refused the surgery. They think it changes more than just looks and are working on a cure. But they need someone to become Pretty to test it out.

    Cather Steincamp says: "Unexpectedly enjoyable"
    "Unexpectedly enjoyable"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I know, I know, you read the description and you can already cut the metaphors with a chainsaw. And, yeah, the symbolism is obvious, but surprisingly not as heavy handed as you'd think.

    More to the point, it's extremely well done. The universe is well developed without having to have characters stop and explain the history to each other every five minutes. You actually care about the people in the story, and the author succeeds in writing for young adults and about young adults without forgetting that young adults aren't eight years old. Furthermore, the science fiction aspects aren't rammed down your throat, and aren't spread thickly. Lastly, the characters are utterly believable in the culture they inhabit, and the culture is really thought out.

    I accidentally had one detail of the book spoiled for me-- a big aspect of the ending-- but I found that I had forgotten about it by the time that it happened.

    The reader is talented, although some of the voices can be a little annoying until you get used to them, then you like them. You can HEAR the characters' facial expressions at times.

    I was very upset that I finished the first book while 30 minutes from home, then I had to wait while the second downloaded, and now I have to go to bed. I am considering buying the third already so that doesn't happen again.

    13 of 13 people found this review helpful
  • Soon I Will Be Invincible: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 17 mins)
    • By Austin Grossman
    • Narrated By Coleen Marlo, Paul Boehmer
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (798)
    Performance
    (314)
    Story
    (317)

    Doctor Impossible, evil genius and diabolical scientist, has tried to take over the world in every way imaginable, but this time is going to be different. He'll have to contend with Fatale, however, a rookie superhero on her first day with the Champions, the world's most famous superteam. She's a patchwork woman of skin and chrome, a gleaming technological marvel built for the next generation of warfare.

    Brad says: "Now that I have you at my mercy. . ."
    "So much more than I expected"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Okay, we live in an age where Superhero movies are taken seriously, so it's no surprise that superhero novels-- other than the ones based on the movies, or based on the comics-- can exist now.

    But what's really great is that there is a real story here, with, y'know, plot, character, backstory, suspense, and whatnot.... while at the same time there's a lot of great jabs at the clich?s of superhero stories.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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