Nate Shepherd

Amazing and crazy things are afoot in Foo. This the Third part of this Story finds for most of the telling that Leven and Clover are separated from Geth and Winter as he meets the mysteries "Want" and learns something that changes Foo and possibly reality. We also meet Azure the follow up to Sabine who is also trying to merge Foo with Reality. Ezra (my wife’s favorite character) is also brought to the fore front in his attempt to return to Foo and get Geth. One of my favorite parts to these books is how Obert Skye begins many of his chapters with quirky thoughts and feelings. If you haven’t had read this series I very much enjoy it and recommend it to anyone looking for a quick fun fantasy to read. So feel free to check out more of Leven Thumps and the Eye of The Want. Ezra, The Dearth and Azure seem to be rising in power and strength as the fight for Foo continues. The Wrath of Ezra starts to build up for the final confrontation that will occur in the last book. We foll...

The first book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is an amazing fantasy adventure where you are drawn into Jordan's world and Characters. You follow an unlikely gathering of Characters through a journey across the kingdom of Andor. As they try to find safety and to figure why they are sought by some creatures of the dark one. We learn of the different types of beings and some minor information of what the wheel of time is and about the past. I loved this story and can see where other books have gotten some of their inspiration (like Eragon). I recommend this book and will continue to update as I progress through the series.

This is the follow up to the book Three Cups of Tea.  It is a continuation of the amazing story of Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute.  This book focuses on the building of Schools for Girls in Afghanistan and all the hundreds of obstacles and complications that arouse in his work in that country.   We also learn a great deal about individuals that Greg has built relationships with.  I love Greg's story and highly recommend both books.  The highlight comes when he tells of building the school in Kara Jirga among the Kirghiz people.  This is one of the most remote and also one of the poorest places on earth.  This finally occurred a decade after Greg has promised a group of horsemen sent by Abdul Rashid Khan (leader of that area and also man who is passionate about education and helping his people) that he would build a school in their remote area. We also learn about the work of th...

Sarah Palin is an interesting women to learn about. For anyone wanting to understand this women that burst on to the national political scene in 2009, this is a great read. I enjoyed 2 things about the book; 1. Learning about life day to day in Alaska. (which is actually pretty cool) 2. Getting clarification on many false ideas about Sarah that were spread. Many things I thought were true about Sarah were very misconstrued. Things like what really went on with the Katie Couric interview. What we saw was not how it went. Also the media made it look like the little baby she was with was her daughters when in fact it was Sarah Palin's child. For the most part the story is just about her and what has helped her through her life. The very last chapter is really the only one that starts getting very political. I find her way of thinking in this book very refreshing and honest and I did enjoy the read. Did she persuade me to her arguments not really but it was a very interesting ...

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fun filled film about the adventures of a reformed chicken thief who goes through a midlife crisis. He is a family man now but wants to return to the good old days of thieving. so with the help of an odd array of characters he puts the entire area in jeopardy by ticking off the meanest business men in the area. With a fun combination of puppetry and claymation we enter a world created by Rohl Dahl and you just find it an enjoyable film to relax no real thought provoking parts it’s just a fun film for the family with some witty and strange characters. I do recommend this wonderful movie and book.

Wow this movie leaves you breathless and amazed at where technology and movies can take you. The world of Pandora is one that will captivate your imagination and really grabs you. The story is one that is pretty good but it is the visual experience that draws you in. I need to mention the funny irony of the movie is that there were three adds before the movie started for the Marines and National Guard (which I respect a great deal), but a large part of the story casts military people in a very bad light. The bad guy is a Military leader who typifies how we think of officers in the military. Now back to the actual movie. Jake Sully our main character is a crippled ex-marine who is scientifically given the ability to create a mental link with the body of the locals called Na’vi on the planet of Pandora and he comes to discover the beauty of their beliefs and simple but by no means easy lives. He learns to appreciate the beauty of nature and why it is worth protecting. For anybody w...

Three Cups of Tea is a story of a man driven to make a difference and help a people that are often overlooked by the rest of the world. The story of Greg Mortenson is one that needs to be read by everyone. His ideals and love for the people of Pakistan will move you to want to make a difference in the world around you. This is the best story I have read this year. You will follow a mountain climber who ends up becoming and honorary member of a small village near the base of the second highest mountain in the world K2. He is then inspired to promise that he will return to try to build a school for these people and he keeps that promise even if it will almost killed him. He then discovers the need for schools and places of learning all over Pakistan. So he works to first raise funds that come from many sources and then to build the relationships within Pakistan to make this all happen. Doctor Greg as he is called in Pakistan is fighting and winning a war that is far more important a...