JihadiConservative
Bellingham Public Library
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JihadiConservative's rating:
Added May 29, 2016
Suitability
Ages 17
Contains Coarse language, Violence, Sexual content, Frightening or intense scenes, Other
The StandThe Stand, BookThe Complete & Uncut Edition
by King, StephenBook - 1990Book, 1990
All copies in useView location availabilityView location availability for The Stand, Book, All copies in use
Holds: 6 on 3 copies
Holds: 6 on 3 copies
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Mar 21, 2016
Comment:
The Stand, in my opinion, marks Stephen King's progression from horror to literature. This is how the world ends: with a human-engineered superflu which escapes containment in the form of a terrified guard who unwittingly spreads death over a wide swath of southwestern America in his bid to escape infection. Captain Trips, they call it - until they die, and people die in droves within a matter of days. In almost no time at all, well over 99% of the American population have suffered an agonizing death. Those that are left all alone begin to dream: comforting visions of an ancient black lady called Mother Abigail in Nebraska rising up alongside nightmares of a faceless man out west. Many find their way to Las Vegas to serve under Randall Flag, the Walking Dude of their night visions, but many others flock to Mother Abigail in Nebraska and eventually Boulder, Colorado. As the citizens of the Boulder Free Zone attempt to reform society and make a new life for themselves, they are forced to come to terms with the fact that they are caught up in a struggle defined by their spiritual leader in religious terms. They must destroy Flagg or be destroyed by him - in a word, they must make their stand. I could not begin to describe the dozens of richly drawn characters King gives life to in these pages. They are ordinary people called to do extraordinary things in a world reeking of death and fear. Some are not up to the challenge, and betrayal has awful consequences in this new reality - to the betrayer as well as the betrayed. These are real human beings, flaws and all; there is good to be found even among those serving the greatest of evils, and at the same time, the good guys don't always behave in ways you think they should. Nick Andros, Nadine Cross, Larry Underwood, Glen Bateman, Stu Redman, Harold Lauder, Mother Abigail, Tom Cullen, Randall Flagg, Trash Can Man - these are characters you will never forget. I must admit the climax of the great struggle just doesn't seem to be all it might be, but the first 1000 pages of this novel are so good that even Stephen King could hardly be expected to top what he had already accomplished in the framing of this ultimate conflict.
I wouldn't call this a scary novel, but it certainly does have its moments - best exemplified by one character's journey through a dark tunnel surrounded by invisible but very dead and decaying bodies caught in an eternal traffic jam. The real horror, of course, is the all-pervasive atmosphere of a world decimated by man's self-imposed destruction. Death is literally everywhere these characters turn - in the silent houses and cars all around them, in the streets upon which they travel, in the terrifying nightmares they have of the Walking Dude, and even in the future they try to avoid thinking about, as no one knows whether the superflu will kill the children yet to be born. I found the sections dealing with the reconstitution of a society of some sort to be the most interesting aspect of the novel - will it be like the old society, will it repeat the mistakes of the last one, etc. This is also a story of personal redemption, as the novels' heroes must overcome their pasts and/or their human weaknesses and handicaps in order to make their stand. When the deaf-mute Nick tells Mother Abigail that he does not believe in God, she tells him that it doesn't matter because God believes in him - that is a truly empowering message.
There is an intriguing philosophical undercurrent to this novel that applies both eloquently and meaningfully to the human condition. The Stand is modern literature, a direct descendant of such epics as The Iliad and The Odyssey, and you will learn something about yourself when you read this masterpiece of contemporary literature. One of my favorite books of all time! Mr. King does a brilliant job at making a thought provoking and powerful book, this novel will stick with you until death.The Stand, in my opinion, marks Stephen King's progression from horror to literature. This is how the world ends: with a human-engineered superflu which escapes containment in the form of a terrified guard who unwittingly spreads death over a wide…
Suitability
Ages 17
Contains Coarse language, Violence, Sexual content, Frightening or intense scenes, Other
FrankensteinFrankenstein, Book
by Shelley, Mary WollstonecraftBook - 2001Book, 2001
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Holds: 3 on 1 copy
Holds: 3 on 1 copy
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jul 16, 2015
Comment:
Mary, Percy her husband, Lord Byron, and John Polidori had a competition to write the scariest story. The rest was history. Mary Shelley or rather Dr. Frankenstein created a monster scarier than Joan Rivers, though it hasn't been proven which atrocity came first.
There are a lot of great things to be said about this book that pretty much speak for themselves. It is considered one of the first science-fiction books, has been adapted into plays and movies and is a staple in many cultures. What I love about the book is the Gothic themes Shelley employs and how she sneakily makes the reader sympathize with the monster. I had to respect her statement that she was making with the book: there are many flaws with the idea of the industrial movement and man shouldn't play God. You hear that Morgan Freeman?Mary, Percy her husband, Lord Byron, and John Polidori had a competition to write the scariest story. The rest was history. Mary Shelley or rather Dr. Frankenstein created a monster scarier than Joan Rivers, though it hasn't been proven which…
SharknadoSharknado, DVD
DVD - 2013DVD, 2013
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jul 16, 2015
Comment:
The movie deserves half a star because it is by far the worst movie I have ever seen. No joke, it was pathetically bad. Ive never seen anything this despicable and stupid. However, I loved it because of its stupidity. The acting was hilarious because it was so cheesy and lame. The storyline was *clears throat* awful. And the CGI and effects were worse than what I could do. However, do to all of this, the movie was hilarious. My friends and I were laughing so hard. The worst part of the film is the director was totally serious about making it a horror film. What an epic fail! So, watch this movie as a comedy and not a horror film and it is 100% guaranteed that you will crack up!The movie deserves half a star because it is by far the worst movie I have ever seen. No joke, it was pathetically bad. Ive never seen anything this despicable and stupid. However, I loved it because of its stupidity. The acting was hilarious…
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.DAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D, DVDSeason 1
DVDDVD
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jul 16, 2015
Comment:
Huge disappointment! I had high(er) expectations compared to other MARVEL movie/shows. Let me tell you right now that it is a waste of time. The story lines are terrible and don't even get me started on the pathetic acting!
JawsJaws, DVD
DVD - 2005DVD, 2005
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jul 16, 2015
Comment:
Its a classic that my whole family enjoyed! Its a great film and I highly recommend it!
Seventh SonSeventh Son, DVD
DVD - 2015DVD, 2015
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jul 16, 2015
Comment:
Laughably bad. What a terrible movie, I wonder how it even got to theaters.
Added Jul 16, 2015
Comment:
1
A Game of ThronesA Game of Thrones, Book
by Martin, George R. R.Book - 1996Book, 1996
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Holds: 2 on 2 copies
Holds: 2 on 2 copies
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jul 10, 2015
Comment:
Brilliant and amazing! This gorgeous and beautiful book is a must read for all! Martin writes with flair, deftly weaving multiple storylines in a gritty, even brutal, world that consists entirely of gray characters instead of the classic black and white. Martin's world is a vast chess game spanning continents, and the pieces are lords, bastards, knights, wizards, ladies, and children. What really stands out in this series is Martin's penchant for axing the major characters. That's right -- no character is safe from the author's noose. Despite the demise of major characters, the plot lines continue stronger than ever. Tired of protagonists walking through fire without a scratch, falling hundreds of feet without a bruise, and defeating superhuman creatures with the same amount of effort that one puts into scratching an arm? Then this series is your fix. The sheer unpredictability of the series renders it a delectable experience. Dare you to predict the winners and losers? If you haven't read the series yet, read it! I must say its currently my favorite book! Chances are, you're going to be calling in sick the next day so you can keep reading. It's that good. This fantasy that, back in the 90's, broke all the traditional rules about what fantasy should be and instead of a classic tale of heroes versus evil wizards, gave a story about bad men who do good and good men who do bad, and every shade in-between. A story about power, corruption, familial love, honor, endless winter, and dead things coming back to life. Oh and dragons. And much, much more.
It was a fantasy of the like the world had never seen a soap opera on a scale of kingdoms. And it changed the face of fantasy (and apparently, TV now) forever.
Few authors have been able to take villains and transform them over a few thousand words into heroes the way Martin has.
Song of Ice and Fire with the depressing world, gritty aesthetic, cast of morally ambiguous (which in the context of this novel, usually mean good guy usually end up doing bad things, often) characters, unpredictable plot (characters die, often) make this one of the best, most imaginative and startling series of the 21st century!
If you somehow have not yet read this series yet, I both pity and envy you pity because you are missing out one of the best tales ever set to paper and I envy you because you have a buffet of sublime fantasy goodness yet ahead of you.
can't argue how impact Martin has been on the Fantasy genre as a whole; if Tolkien helped shape of fantasy. Martin has left an equally indelible mark.If you haven't yet read Martin though, don't hesitate. Don't think. Just do it. It's seriously compelling and you'll shortly find out why the world has gone mad for Martin.Brilliant and amazing! This gorgeous and beautiful book is a must read for all! Martin writes with flair, deftly weaving multiple storylines in a gritty, even brutal, world that consists entirely of gray characters instead of the classic black and…
Suitability
Ages 16
Contains Coarse language, Violence, Sexual content
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 30, 2015
Comment:
The artwork was great and the story lines were exciting!
The Colour of MagicThe Colour of Magic, Book
by Pratchett, TerryBook - 1983Book, 1983
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Holds: 2 on 2 copies
Holds: 2 on 2 copies
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 30, 2015
Comment:
Discworld, a long running 40 series long sharp biting satire on the human condition couched as fantastical hilarious and downright ridiculous fantasy romp. Pratchett, because his stuff is so different, may not be on the radar of the ordinary fantasy fan. But it's a mistake to ignore his works. This man is great a pillar in the fantasy genre and needs to be read.
I'm putting Pratchett on for his entire series some of his books are fantastic, some outstanding, some merely good, but all make for good reads. Taken as a whole, Pratchett's Discworld series is...transcendent. As a whole the sum is greater than the parts; the books taken together are sharp insights into the foibles of humanity.
Pratchett's series shares a lot in similar with Martin's brutal A Song of Ice and Fire series. While Discworld, ostensibly, is a lighter series wrapped with comedy but at the core both of these series explore the idea of civilization and how it changes over time. The difference of course is the direction. Martin's shows how fragile civilization is and how it can easily descend from peace and order to unfettered chaos and violence.
Pratchett, on the other hand, crafts an extended world, one that morphs from the medieval to the modern through the impetus of technology; Pratchett's statement through his works is that technology and social order are highly connected and to have one you must have the other.
Then again,there is also Prachett's satire on the entire fantasy genre, from Dragons,Drafts, Demons, Witches and Wizards to social issues such as the role of women,feminism, racism, and religious tolerance (or intolerance).
And despite Prachett's use of satire and comedy to elucidate on the human condition and his conversation on how technology can push civilization into more enlightened social reform, the man also is able to tell a pretty damn entertaining tale. Many great humorists who use the tale as a medium to express deep thoughts about the human condition get so caught up in the subtext of what they are trying to say that the narrative itself falls flat.
Not so with Terry Pratchett. The man knows how to ride a rip-roaring read funny and at times dark, but still brimming with hope. And yes, he knows how to tell a dammed good tale; not just a funny tale, but a funny tale with some real substance beneath the humor.
Pratchett is one author where after you read one of his Discworld books, you are a better, more developed person after the reading of it. And that my friends is why Pratchett is one of the best fantasy authors in the genre.Discworld, a long running 40 series long sharp biting satire on the human condition couched as fantastical hilarious and downright ridiculous fantasy romp. Pratchett, because his stuff is so different, may not be on the radar of the ordinary fantasy…
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 30, 2015
Comment:
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow...
The Wheel of Time. Also known as an inflated copy of Lord of the Rings.
I can truthfully say that Jordan (RIP) was a King of Fantasy, if not in epic complexity, then in epic page count. This monstrously big series spans over 13 massive books (each at least 700 pages). Including "A Wheel of Time" on this list invariably riles certain people and it's probably, for some, the most controversial addition to this list. Why? The past several years a new type of fantasy has come to the fore of the genre: gone are the hopefully optimistic village boys wielding magic swords on a quest to defeat the impossible; in their place, a gritty fantasy has arisen; a stark genre where the very conventions of what it means to be a hero are challenged: worlds are made of gray not black and white; heroes may be both villain and savior; love is powerful, but ultimately ephemeral; heroes die and villains live. It's complex stuff that is often genre blending.
Since the happier days of Jordan in the 90's, fantasy has all grown up. Postmodernism is in. Antiheroes are vogue. Happy Heroes on a quest are most definitely not in fashion. Indeed, classic fantasy with callow village boys and dark wizards are often viewed with contempt by the modern fantasy aficionado who's standards in plotting, storytelling, and characterization have evolved.
Robert Jordan hearkens back to the old school days where village boys and dark lords chase each other endlessly across a landscape. However, I (still) strongly feel that Jordan still (even in 2014) deserves a place amongst the top of the genre for, if nothing more, the enormous contribution the man has made to the fantasy genre itself. You can call the WOT pulp fantasy or not, you can spend hours debating whether Jordan's efforts fell to pieces part way through the series, you can moan about how typecast some of the characters become. It's all moot! Jordan, whether you like him or not, had a profound impact on fantasy. Is he as impacting as Martin? No. But you can bet your shoes that the man has inspired several generation of writers who went on to take the classic trappings and turned them into something darker, something newer, something with the face of classic fantasy but more mature, more edgy.
Jordan takes the classic fantasy trappings laid out by Tolkien, and weaves together a massively complex tapestry of politics, kingdoms, and magic. Besides, Tolkien, you won't find another author that breathes as much depth into a fictional world. In many ways, Jordan, like Tolkien, has defined (for better or worse) one aspect of the modern fantasy tale. And he's perhaps was one of the most popular fantasy writers of his generation. Love him or hate him, you owe it to yourself to at least read the first book. Overall, I thought "Eye of the World" was a good start and Im excited to continue the story!The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time…
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 30, 2015
Comment:
Honestly I don't know what is all the hype about Patterson. Everyone tells me how he is the greatest writer in America currently. This is BS. To be honest I haven't read a book this bad in a while. Ive read some other Patterson and they were okay if you could get past the sheer awful writing. I have a feeling that Patterson has ghost writers though. Seriously, how many books can a man publish in one year?! My first complain for not just "Witch & Wizard" but all of his books is the terrible character development. I personally like books that have good stories and characters. Also, I have five siblings all of which are younger than me (ages ranging from 2 to 13) and they all write better than Patterson! Do me a favor and do not pick up any book from this author no matter how much you want to.Honestly I don't know what is all the hype about Patterson. Everyone tells me how he is the greatest writer in America currently. This is BS. To be honest I haven't read a book this bad in a while. Ive read some other Patterson and they were okay if…
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 29, 2015
Comment:
Hmm. I wasn't too impressed with this YA fantasy book. I don't think I will continue the series. Yes, there is some great action and fun scenes. But, the characters were bland and the story was sorta lame.
AshfallAshfall, Book
by Mullin, MikeBook - 2011Book, 2011
All copies in useView location availabilityView location availability for Ashfall, Book, All copies in use
Holds: 2 on 2 copies
Holds: 2 on 2 copies
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2015
Comment:
Wow. This is one of the worst YA novels I have ever read. I didn't have high expectations for it but Ashfall managed to be far worse than I imagined. It was vulgar and had gratuitous sex left and right.It is rare that I do not finish a book, especially a disaster story. I have always loved a good disaster! However, this book gets a one-star rating. At 220 pages, I'd had enough. I should have thrown in the towel sooner but I hate giving up on books.
While his family is away for the weekend, Alex is home alone as a super volcano erupts. Enduring the terror, Alex determines to seek out his family. On his journey, he sees the best and worst in people.
I found that the graphic violence was unnecessarily gory. I understand that starvation can bring the worst out in people. I also understand that there are individuals who are pure evil. However, when a gun goes off you can leave some of the details to my imagination. I don't have to have a blow-by-blow of someone bleeding out. I usually don't mind heavy violence. In fact, most of the books I read have strong descriptions of gore. But this was unnecessary for a YA novel.
The story includes graphic violence, rape, excessive vulgarity, and repeated profane references to Diety. Additionally, I've learned from other reviews that it includes cannibalism, homesexuality, and teenage sexuality. I disagree with this book being marketed to teens. It would be more appropriate for a mature, adult audience.Wow. This is one of the worst YA novels I have ever read. I didn't have high expectations for it but Ashfall managed to be far worse than I imagined. It was vulgar and had gratuitous sex left and right.It is rare that I do not finish a book,…
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2015
Comment:
Very poor cast of characters. Like most YA books, the writing was junk and had very little story. Keep "Among the Hidden" hidden in the library and do not read it!
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 22, 2015
Comment:
A disaster of a movie. Its so bad Im not going to waste my time writing a comment more than two sentences on it.
Game of ThronesGame of Thrones, Music CD[Season 1] Music From the HBO Series
by Djawadi, RaminMusic CD - 2011Music CD, 2011
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 22, 2015
Comment:
However, I love instrumental music and this is just downright awesome. Its epic. Whenever I hear it I can totally picture battles, councils, ect...
I love it! Cant wait to read the books!
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 18, 2015
Comment:
I'm really starting to hate YA novels. The writing is not very good and the plot is just the same as the first book. I am hugely disappointed and stopped with thirty pages to go...
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 18, 2015
Comment:
Very hard to get through! However, I am glad I did it. The story is brilliant (Its Shakespeare, Duh) The writing is top notch! Worth the read, and Im really excited to see the movie! I also had to do an essay and test on this.
Tell No OneTell No One, BookA Novel
by Coben, HarlanBook - 2009Book, 2009
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Holds: 0 on 3 copies
Holds: 0 on 3 copies
Added Jun 16, 2015
Comment:
I am not going to give this a rating because, sadly, I didn't finish it. I have mixed feelings about whether or not I liked this book. Here is what I liked. The book was crazy suspense. I could hardly stand it! The plot was intriguing and fun. Here is what I hated: First, the writing sucked really bad. It was just terrible. For example, Coben uses a lot of two word sentences. Here is what you will find in the book. John said. "Whats up?" Mary said. "Nothing" John Walked. Mary walked.
Really Coben!?! You're an adult author! This isn't frigging Dick and Jane! Another thing a hated was the whole lesbian thing. I hate it when books like this have agendas. Let me say this, I hate reading about lesbians. I have better things to do than reading about two woman doing things. And these woman are not side characters, these are major characters! If it were not for this issue and the fifth grade writing, then this book is worthy of a 4.5 rating.I am not going to give this a rating because, sadly, I didn't finish it. I have mixed feelings about whether or not I liked this book. Here is what I liked. The book was crazy suspense. I could hardly stand it! The plot was intriguing and fun. Here…
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 15, 2015
Comment:
Terrible plot + Bad writing + Really bad characters = A book that is not worth reading!
Adventures in OdysseyAdventures in Odyssey, Audiobook CDClanging Cymbals ...and the Meaning of God's Love
Audiobook CD - 2011Audiobook CD, 2011
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 15, 2015
Comment:
Fun audio for the whole family. Its like watching a movie! Keeps you entertained for long car trips. Not to mention, its pretty dang funny!
InterstellarInterstellar, DVD
DVD - 2015DVD, 2015
All copies in useView location availabilityView location availability for Interstellar, DVD, All copies in use
Holds: 1 on 4 copies
Holds: 1 on 4 copies
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 15, 2015
Comment:
A very good film. It was long and talky but I really enjoyed it! The end plays with your mind and is just downright trippy! Very good twist in the end. Christopher Nolan is a genius!
JihadiConservative's rating:
Added Jun 15, 2015
Comment:
Not his best. Its very good and exciting. However, I just read "Relic" by the same author and this one is nowhere near as good as that masterpiece. This one is Lincoln's single book. "Relic" is apart of an excellent series called "The Agent Pendergast series" Those are WAY better and I highly recommend them for a fun, summer read!Not his best. Its very good and exciting. However, I just read "Relic" by the same author and this one is nowhere near as good as that masterpiece. This one is Lincoln's single book. "Relic" is apart of an excellent series called "The Agent…
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