Romance in the age of technology and gaming

The Resonance Mage's Harem: A slow-burn LitRPG men's fantasy where love fuels magic and emotional bonds unlock world-shaping power by Marko Duskborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the LitRPG genre I have read, and I must say I am quite pleased with the theme, plot, and characters. The short novel is quite fast paced and can be finished in one sitting of few hours – a lazy Sunday afternoon. The story builds well right from the start with a description of Danny Walsh, a software support professional and a recluse in real life. He confesses to the fact that he is more comfortable with computers than people and the most intense moments of life are when he is navigating virtual worlds on his gaming computer.
The characters are built well, focusing on their core beliefs, fears, insecurities, etc. The romance aspect of the story is presented in a delicate manner. The relationship between Danny and Kira seems organic, natural, and with an emotional depth that intensifies the adventure. This story is not just about conversing with demons, transgressing worlds, but about building genuine connections, and real bonds.
I particularly liked the writing style, it is chatty, easy to read, and at the same time relies heavily on technology while depicting human emotions. “Danny crept closer to the mouth of the alley, his heart hammering against his ribs like an overclocked CPU fan,” writes Duskborn, a brilliantly enmeshed emotion and tech together.
On the downside the book could have been extended with some more adventure and romantic interludes. It would have made more interesting to read and attracted young people.

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Stories to Engage, and Educate Third Graders

Amazing Stories for Third Graders: An Adventure-Filled 3rd Grade Reading Book with Brain-Boosting Comprehension Activities by Mateo Sommer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Engaging third graders in any kind of activity is tough, their young minds are full of curiosity and they have a constant need to be on the go. Hence story telling/ reading can be tough as making them sit in one place and read/ listen is often difficult. Over the years teachers and educators have come up with ideas, tricks, methods, and content aimed at this age group to keep them engaged and involved in reading/ listening to stories.
Joining this list of content for third graders is the latest book by Mateo Sommer titled “Amazing Stories for Third Graders,” a 112-page volume featuring over a dozen interesting and engaging stories with quizzes at the end of each chapter. Each story is written to appeal to third graders and engage them with the characters deeply. Each chapter has several unique illustrations to provide relief from blocks of text and appeal to the readers.
I read some of the stories in this book to my 12-yr old niece and she was enamored by the illustrations and the stories. The story titled ‘The Crying Diosaur’ was a big hit with my niece as also the story about plundering pirates, and the crystal cave. Overall I think this book will be a big hit among third graders who like stories and will entice them to read more.

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March into the Armed Forces

ASVAB STUDY GUIDE: ASVAB Test Prep with 5 Full-Length Practice Tests, Diagnostic Test, and Proven Tactics to Ace Your AFQT Exam on Your First Try by Nolan Vexley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ASVAB Study Guide by Nolan Vexley; 288pp

In my opinion serving one’s nation by joining the defense or armed forces is the greatest way to show gratitude to the country that has given everything. It is an honor and privilege to be part of this elite group of people who are willing to sacrifice everything for the country. Not everyone who wishes to serve is accepted into the United States armed forces, it takes a certain amount of intelligence, education, and aptitude to qualify to for this honor.
To qualify to serve in the US armed forces one has to successfully attempt and succeed in the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and particularly in the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT). This exam places aspirants on tenterhooks as a first attempt passing is a great plus for entering the forces. One can find several guides that claim to help in the prepping for this unique test but not all books are the same. I came across Nolan Vexley’s ASVAB Study Guide, a 288-page volume featuring 5 full-length practice tests, a diagnostic, and several proven strategies to help you succeed in this important exam.
Vexley, a passionate tutor and test-prep expert has spent several years of his career helping students study and succeed in different competitive examinations including the ASVAB. He believes that given the right training each student will excel. This is the kind of person who should be working with students, coaching and encouraging them to succeed in the exams. The ASVAB Study Guide is organized into 11 units/ chapters followed by five full length practice ASVAB exams.
The first unit appropriately titled “Mission Briefing” comprehensively describes the ASVAB exam with information on scoring mechanisms, military career tips, goal-setting for studying, etc. The primary purpose of ASVAB is to evaluate the skills, knowledge, and abilities of individuals wishing to join the U.S. Armed Forces. “The ASVAB has two primary purposes: first, to assess a person's eligibility for military service, and second, to assist military recruiters in assigning recruits to suitable roles that match their skills and aptitudes,” writes Vexley. The chapter further delves into the types ASVAB such as the computerized adaptive test, paper and pencil ASVAB etc. while also detailing the differences between the types of ASVAB.
Unit 2 is crucial for all those intending on taking this test, it is a diagnostic exam which will help students find their place, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses so they know the areas to focus on while studying for the ASVAB. The following units deal with verbal ability, reading comprehension, general science, arithmetic, electronics, shop and automobiles, and assembly lines etc.
Overall I feel this book is a very comprehensive guide for preparing for the ASVAB exam. The final five units contain full length practice tests which will drive home the most important message of taking tests slowly and with patience. These tests provide important insights to the student about their preparedness for the actual ASVAB.

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Stories to Motivate Young Men!

Unbreakable Young Men: 15 Inspirational Stories: How Teen Boys Can Build Mental Strength, Find Purpose & Own Their Future by Northstar Stories
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Unbreakable Young Men – 15 inspirational stories;Northstar Stories; 221 pp.

Teenagers, particularly young men in any society are under constant pressure from family, peers, and society. There is an inbuilt judgement from society, expectation from family, and immense pressure in the workforce and academia to excel and conform to the norms. This often leads young men to feel anxious, lack confidence, and demoralized. It is important for young men to feel secure of their place in society at large, so they can succeed and transform into productive and contributing members of the community.

In this scenario Northstar Stories brings a compilation of 15 real-life inspired tales aimed at young boys between 13-18 yrs of age in the form of a concise 221-page easy-to-read book. The goal of this volume is to help boys build mental strength, overcome anxiety, develop confidence, find purpose in life, and own their future. Spread across 15 chapters, Unbreakable Young Men starts off with a one-page guide on how to use this book which provides a birds-eye-view of the content of the rest of the pages. There is a small note to parents and educators in which the authors detail that this an independent self-learning tool and there are reflection questions at the end of each chapter which serve as discussion prompts to discuss and resolve complex issues.

The introduction makes it clear this book is NOT a lesson-plan to become a “perfect teenager,” rather it is a supportive treatise aimed at helping teen boys navigate a complex world. “You're navigating a world that's changing faster than anyone can keep up with. You're expected to figure out who you are while algorithms try to decide that for you,” writes the authors explaining the complexities of modern life.

 
The authors also attempt to take pressure off the readers by stating that “Becoming unbreakable isn’t about being perfect, fearless, or motivated every day. It is about learning what strengthens you, what guides you, and what helps you grow – even when life is messy or confusing.”

Each chapter presents 2500-3000-word story which explains a particular quandary or dilemma facing the protagonist. The stories include human, down-to-earth, characters who struggle with the challenges of daily life and how they overcome it or just accept it and live their lives. The best part of the chapter in my opinion is the reflection section at the end. This section mainly addresses the reader to think back upon incidents in their life and relate to the events of the story. This provides an insight into life that is difficult to arrive at without story telling.

I liked all the stories in this book and found them to be very inspirational and full of important life lessons. I feel that this would be great reading material for teenaged boys and young men who are just setting out in life. Written in a chatty conversational style, it is an easy read and will capture the attention of teenagers. Lessons are ingrained into readers effortlessly. I would definitely recommend this book be placed in school and public libraries for the benefit of community.

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Novel Science of Observing the Similar

Isonomics: Hidden in Plain Sight by Matias Monteagudo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Isonomics – Hidden in Plain Sight by Matias Monteagudo; 120pp

The world is full of similar phenomena, things, places, etc. but to make observing and learning from these similarities is the science of Isonomics, according to Matias Monteaguado, the author of this 120-page text heavy essay. “Isonomics – from the Greek ἴσος (ísos, "equal") + νόμος (nómos, "law")—is a tree of science I fathered as the world's first isonomist,” explains the author in the very first page of this book clarifying to readers that there is no such stream of study officially recognized till now.
This book is more about investments and success than anything else. It explains how mental frameworks function and how people subconsciously inherit their beliefs and why it is so hard to step out of the borders that define our childhood and upbringing. Isonomics guides readers by offering a refreshingly different and yet practical guidelines to navigate today’s complex markets and most importantly attain success.
In this short book Monteagudo successfully instills the basic concepts of isonomics – a field study he defined and created. The author explains how to focus on risk across diverse assets, achieve long-term gains, avoid pooling of investments, etc. One of the core concepts explained in this book is to develop understanding of our observations – noticing patterns, assigning values, and making sense of the economic and capital markets. His premise is that even things that appear very similar behave in a strikingly different once properly measured.
This resource is a must-read for anyone looking to build a more robust, all-weather portfolio that can thrive across different economic cycles. Written in a chatty style, typeset in fairly large font the book is easy to read for people of all ages and walks of life. Though the beginning with its unusually complex verbiage can make it a slight bit of a challenge for those unfamiliar with English language.
The book makes it obvious the author’s interest in numbers, models, graphs, and of course recounting stories from real life which drives home the message/ concept being explained. Peppered with several interesting, and unusual stories, the message of the book is clear: how to observe for patterns, understand, and use the data obtained to attain success.
I would recommend this book for those interested in capital markets, philosophy, and of course observing patterns and improving decision making.

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Fun, creative and entertaining coloring book for all

Capybara Coloring Book: 50 Fun Facts and Adorable Scenes for Kids by Zoolandia Books
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Capybara Coloring Book by Zoolandia Books; 108 pp.

Coloring books are often dismissed as children’s pastimes but time and again it has come to be noted that even adults can enjoy creating vivid landscapes and find relaxation with these books. I recently came across the Capybara Coloring Book published by Zoolandia Books, a 108-page volume full of fun facts about Capybaras and 50 coloring pages promising pastime and entertainment for everyone.
Published in an easy to wield 8.625 * 8.75-inch size this is one of the fun coloring books I have come across in recent time. Each page contains a fun fact about the elusive rodent species capybara or an image that readers would love to color. One can use imagination to fill up the pages with a riot of color which could translate into a work of art and time well spent in peace and relaxation. Each image represents a theme party, holiday, travel, Christmas, skiing, thanksgiving, all depicted with a capybara as the main character. I am sure many kids and adults alike will find it relaxing, and fun to color these pages.
I got this book for my grandkids who are at that age where they love coloring. The moment they laid hands on this book started off endless fun activities and coloring. This not only helped them channel their energy and creativity, it also helped parents to ensure that they are safe and not getting into trouble or mischief. Hence this book accomplished more than its intended goal.

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Puzzles to improve vocabulary and spelling!

ULTIMATE WORD SEARCH BOOK FOR KIDS: 100+ Word Search Puzzles for Kids Ages 6-10 by Florence Emma
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ultimate Word Search Book for Kids by Florence Emma; 112 pp.

Growing up several decades ago my favorite pastime on the weekend was to solve the wordsearch and other puzzles in the Sunday newspaper. Now with the proliferation of technology and publications there are several online and offline sources for word search puzzles. Unfortunately most of these puzzles are aimed at adults or seniors and few are available for kids. In this realm Florence Emma, a farmer turned author has come up with the Ultimate Word Search Book for Kids, a 112-page volume containing over 100 puzzles to stimulate, and challenge children.
The book starts off with a brief, easy-to-understand introduction to the book for both parents and children. “Inside, you’ll find over 100-word searches across 20 awesome themes that kids ages 6 – 10 love,” writes Emma. The themes include camping, space, farm, safari, dinosaur, food, nature, bugs, etc. Each puzzle is aimed at improving spelling, curiosity, free thinking, and creativity among children. The focus on spelling is undeniable. Each puzzle only has six small 4-5 letter words to find in a 6 x 6 letter grid. The rest of the page is peppered with interesting illustrations and cartoons on the puzzles theme. This makes it easy and attractive for the target age group.
I’d say this book would be ideal for kids play time, car rides, and even during break between homework. If your kid is struggling with reading, spelling, or vocabulary, this would help jumpstart learning.

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