The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (G. P. Putnam’s Sons). 457 pages. I try to always learn something new whenever I read a book. The biggest lesson I learned in reading The 5th Wave is that a big-name publisher and lots of awards and positive reviews on the back cover does not necessarily guarantee a … More Review: “The 5th Wave” by Rick Yancey
I’ll admit it. I have a finite amount of space in my brain. I have learned that over the years when I have tried to cram too much into it at one time. Either stuff starts spilling out the other side–I forget things–or I have my version of a nervous breakdown. Most of the time, … More Emptying the Closet
I’m back in my office after a totally different kind of day for me. I cancelled my classes this morning because I had been asked by the president’s office to serve as faculty observer for the University board of trustees meeting. I am to serve in this capacity for the next two years, which means … More Movers and Shakers
When I got up this morning, my wife Shelly was watching a new episode of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” in which Hugh Jackman of Wolverine and Les Miserables fame was being interviewed. At the end, as always, the audience got to ask questions. One woman asked what lessons he learned in his early acting years. … More Freedom to Fail
Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans, T. R. Fehrenbach, Collier Books. 761 pp. I’ve had a fascination with Texas history ever since we moved into the state 15 years ago. Buying this book, which at 761 pages is quite intimidating, helped me really understand the state, its people and its history a … More Review: “Lone Star” by T. R. Fehrenbach
This is the second book in The Hunger Games Trilogy. I had read The Hunger Games a year or two ago, before the movie came out. And I liked it. But the back cover copy for the second book convinced me that I wouldn’t like it. Marketers (I assume it was the marketers) targeted the … More Review: “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins
I chose the title today because it seems relevant to my life since school started about a month ago. August and September are always busy for me, because the University opens and I have to hustle to prepare for classes and keep ahead of my students. This year was more so because (1) I had … More Life on the Screen
I will have to admit, there have been many times when I have cut corners with my own writing. I would have a flow of consciousness that I was following in my story, only to hit a speed bump when I got to a certain word that I wanted–but couldn’t think of. And that is … More Master of the Word
One of the things that many of my students don’t know about me is that I have a strong background in music. “You? Sing?” I heard one of them say a few years ago, as if youth has a monopoly on making a joyful noise. Yes, Virginia, I did sing once upon a time, and … More The Performance
As someone who grew up going to church, I have heard all kinds of stuff blamed on Satan. When I was young, I remember Flip Wilson’s famous line, “The Devil made me do it,” and even though we might not say it, sometimes we have that attitude. We think that if Satan tempts us, we … More Give the Devil His Due
