A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) by Diana Gabaldon – 3 of 5 stars
This is another good work of fiction/fantasy/romance/historical fiction by Gabaldon. Characters that had been fairly ancillary in the past are slowly becoming more prominent, which seems to be a good way to prepare for Claire and Jamie (who are getting on in years) to die and still allow for additional books.
The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic by Michael Medved – 2 of 5 stars
I was very disappointed with this book. Medved sticks by his premise that America could never have existed without God’s direct influence. He didn’t dispel any of the arguments critics have made against that premise. I found his reasoning flawed and his hypothesis unproven, despite his very biased attempts at pointing only to facts that could support his position. That being said, there were some interesting bits of American history included, so as a history lover, I enjoyed those.
How to Get Started as a Technical Writer by James Gill – 3 of 5 stars
Gill created a nice little handbook for aspiring technical writers. He provided a lot of good advice and some great resources. Many things he discussed could apply to anyone trying to create their own freelance businesses.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling – 5 of 5 stars
It could be that I’m just sentimental, but I love this series every time I read it just as much as I did the first time. You’re a winner, Rowling.
In the Shade of Spring Leaves by Higuchi Ichiyo – 4 of 5 stars
This collection of stories is fantastic. Higuchi Ichiyo made an enormous impact on Japanese literature, and you can see why by reading this collection. She managed to create lively, well-developed characters in just a few pages in a way that many authors can’t achieve in full-length novels.