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The Aeronaut's Windlass
The Aeronaut's Windlass
Jim Butcher | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.6 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
The first book in Jim Butcher's new series: Cinder Spires series, if I'm honest I was a little unsure what to make of this at the start: it's not 'traditional' fantasy (that would be his 'Codex Alera' series); nor is it the urban fantasy (his - still ongoing - 'Dresden Files' series).

Rather, this is probably best described as Steampunk, which is a genre I previously had little exploration in, and which Google defines as:

"...a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.".

Reading that description, this definitely fits right into that bracket!

To my mind, it also falls more towards the fantasy aspect of Steampunk: after all, we have a new magic system, airships, the ability to communicate with animals (cats), and monsters from the ground all within the pages of this story even if (for my money), it never quite gripped me as much as a Harry Dresden book.
  
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ClareR (6106 KP) rated Confessions in Books

Sep 10, 2025  
Confessions
Confessions
Catherine Airey | 2025 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Catherine Airey’s book Confessions didn’t end up on some prize lists this year. It’s so well written, engaging, unputdownable (I read it in a day - I was ill!), and it has a lot to say about loss, purpose, family, secrets and women’s experiences.

I love a multi-generational story, and this starts with Cora Brady, the Twin Towers disaster and how she wanders the streets of New York afterwards. Her estranged aunt comes to her rescue in a letter, offering Cora a home with her in Ireland.

Some parts of the book are about Cora’s mother, an artist, her aunt and her own daughter.

I was pretty much transfixed by this book; I was completely immersed in the lives of these women. Sometimes it was heartbreaking, and at other times there was a real hope for the future.

It’s a great read, and I’d highly recommend it.
  
The Mind
The Mind
2018 | Card Game, Kids Game
What IS a game? That’s a question that had never crossed my stream of consciousness until The Mind was released. And even then, I just sat idly by, snacking on my popcorn, watching all definitions and sides emerge in the great debate. So what’s the verdict? That’s ultimately up to you.

The Mind is a card game in which the players are trying to play their cards in ascending numerical order. That’s it. No, seriously. The ONLY catch is that players are not allowed to communicate in any way which cards they hold in their hands. No talking, no noises, and no gesturing of any kind. That’s how they getcha. Here’s how it works – at Level 1 (start of the game), each player is dealt one card. When the level officially begins, you must decide when is the right time to play your card. If the cards are played in order, then you move to Level 2 and receive 2 cards to start the round. Level 3 gives you 3 cards, and so on. Players win the game if they successfully complete a certain number of Levels.

I’m not here to comment on the “Is The Mind a game or not” debate, I’m just here to let you know our thoughts! The Mind is definitely an interesting experience, to say the least. A game that often begins timidly usually turns into a high-energy (and sometimes high-stress) atmosphere of fun. Although it might feel like pure luck, or even hidden telepathic connections, The Mind is ultimately a game of timing. The subtitle says it all – “Let’s become one…” Can you and your friends synchronize your timing well enough to make progress? Or will there be someone amongst the group who inadvertently throws off the groove?

Is The Mind my favorite game? No. But it’s one that I enjoy playing. I think it’s a unique game that keeps everyone on their toes, despite its appearance of simplicity. One thing I really enjoy is playing The Mind several times with the same group of people. It’s neat to see how the group learns the nuances of how everyone plays, and keeping that flow going between games and sessions. I also enjoy playing The Mind with a totally new group of people too for the same reason – everyone has a different play style and you’ve got to be able to learn and adapt to any given player.

The hardest rule is perhaps the one that makes the game most interesting, and that is the no communication rule. Admittedly, I do sometimes accidentally throw up a gesture or two to signal to other players, but even those are sometimes hilariously misunderstood and lead to some close calls or devastating defeats.

Overall, I think The Mind is a pretty neat game. It’s not one that I play too often, but it’s one that is simple enough to teach and play that I like playing it with newer gamers. The Mind plays fairly quickly too, so that makes it a good filler between some heavier games. Purple Phoenix Games (with input from guest score Tony) gives The Mind a thoughtful 14 / 24.
  
Pocket Library
Pocket Library
Book, Catalogs
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
App Rating
No longer have to wonder "do I have this one already?" When buying new books, you've got your library in your pocket! (0 more)
Web search lag sometimes. (0 more)
I love this app. There are a few things that I feel may need a little tweaking (like the web search lag and the fact that there isn't a wish list option yet), but the app developer is very responsive and eager to make this a successful option for everyone.

This app allows you to scan barcodes for easy uploading, type in ISBNs, web search, and add manually if all else fails. It counts how many books you have in your collection, as well as how many you have read or not read. You can mark each finished book with the red bookmark to indicate that you've read it and you also have the ability to keep track of who you lent your books out to, which comes in very handy for me because I don't want to lose track of my babies!

You can search through your shelf by the easy access search bar at the very top of the app. Allows for origination by A-Z title or A-Z author, and even most recently added. You have the ability to search with a filter selection of either the author, language, read status, lent to, and favorites.

After adding your books to your virtual shelf, there is an edit tab that lets users customize the added information, even allowing for image change of the book covers by adding your own photos or downloaded images. I love that idea because sometimes after you have added a book by the web search action, it uploads a cover that may not be the same as the one that you have on your shelf, so, for me, having the ability to change it out is a must.

There is, for those who worry about something going wrong, a backup and restore option in the left side menu.

So what are you waiting for? Check out "Pocket Library: Book Organizer"
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ajaxmobiletech.pocketlibrary