Classic and so good! I am glad I finally read this.
I am familiar with Sherlock Holmes, but I am not sure I have ever actually read any of the books. TClassic and so good! I am glad I finally read this.
I am familiar with Sherlock Holmes, but I am not sure I have ever actually read any of the books. Throughout my life, I have seen many Holmes movies and various pop culture references, so it is all kind of mashed together in my head. By reading The Hound of the Baskervilles I now know with 100% certainty that I have read a Holmes book.
And . . . it seems like it was a great place to start!
Sometimes when reading classic mysteries, they get kind of muddled and confusing for me. When reading Agatha Christie, I often have to go back over sections to clear things up or when I get to the resolution, I will find I missed something. This has also happened for me when watching the Downey, Jr. Holmes movies. But, thankfully, this was not an issue for me with the Hound of the Baskervilles. The mystery is interesting, easy to follow, and progresses nicely. It has lots of the Holmes tropes that anyone with even a passive interest in Holmes would know about. All in all, a very satisfying experience.
Looking to start your Holmes journey? I think starting here would be "Elementary"!...more
I have had luck with uplifting timely biographies lately. Trebek's biography and Michael J. Fox's most recent memoir have both been recent audiobooks I have had luck with uplifting timely biographies lately. Trebek's biography and Michael J. Fox's most recent memoir have both been recent audiobooks for me. Each of them was released this year and both contain content related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Talk about up to the minute updates before publication! Also, they were both great books as they present uplifting outlooks on life in the face of mortality and illness. I can only dream of having as optimistic an outlook on life as Trebek and Fox.
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This book is half and half - half a background of Trebek's life up until Jeopardy and half Trebek's life during Jeopardy. If you don't have an interest in either Trebek or Jeopardy, you may not find much to get you interested here. But, if you have even a passive interest in either, I think you will find something to entertain you here. I have always liked Trebek for his pop culture relevance and Jeopardy is a show I frequently enjoy watching. Because of both of these things, I enjoyed this book a great deal.
Recently, Trebek passed away after battling pancreatic cancer for a couple of years. In the book he shows his optimism by saying that cancer should not be considered a battle - which indicates that there will be a winner or loser. Which also means if you do not survive you are the "loser". That just does not jive for Trebek and I am humbled to hear what a strong and amazing person he was in the face of adversity.
2020 was a crummy year, and it was the year we lost Trebek, but he left us with some powerful words and awesome wisdom - and some fun background about himself and Jeopardy along the way!
I continue to be very entertained by the Chew graphic novel series!
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Always funny! Slightly irreverent! Maybe not something to read around mealtiI continue to be very entertained by the Chew graphic novel series!
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Always funny! Slightly irreverent! Maybe not something to read around mealtime – it might either make you lose your appetite or get sick to your stomach. But at least you will be laughing while you do!
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While the story is great, the artwork is even better. It is a carnival for your eyes! The goofiness and cartoonishness (is that a word . . . cartoony-ness maybe? ...more
Michael J Fox is the personification of The Giving Tree. Life just keeps taking . . . and taking . . . “With gratitude, optimism becomes sustainable.”
Michael J Fox is the personification of The Giving Tree. Life just keeps taking . . . and taking . . . and taking from him, and all he does is GIVE, GIVE, GIVE! And, through it all, he stays positive! If anyone has the right to be ticked off about life and the hand they have been dealt, it is Fox. But he doesn’t complain. He meets every challenge with compassion and humor. He is truly amazing.
If you feel like life has given you a raw deal, I think hearing this story will help put everything into perspective. I admit that I tend to be a glass half empty type guy with lots of anxiety and crying over spilt milk. In the future, when I am facing adversity and want to lose my mind with frustration and anger, I am going to keep Fox’s story in mind to re-center myself.
The format is several larger stories bookended by some mini anecdotes from throughout his life. It is interesting to hear tales from a young Alex P. Keaton all the way up to very physically sick man approaching his 60s. But I can still hear the boyish charm in his voice as he contemplates mortality, the passing of time, and how every day is a challenge. I was wondering if this would be a book only appreciated by someone with an interest in Michael J. Fox and a history of watching his movies and TV shows, but I think there is a lot to be found here for those who may not be familiar with Fox at all.
I contemplated whether I would give this book 4 stars or 5 stars. The content blew me away, but I was on the fence about whether the delivery moved me all the way to 5 stars. After writing this review and reflecting, I think I will go 5 stars because I am realizing how much this book already has me thinking about it and contemplating how I can use what I have read to improve my approach to adversity. ...more
A very cute and very fun book for the holiday season!
If you are used to the usual run-of-the-mill nativity presentation at your local religious institA very cute and very fun book for the holiday season!
If you are used to the usual run-of-the-mill nativity presentation at your local religious institution and want a fresh take that is a bit out of the ordinary, it is worth giving The Best Christmas Pageant Ever a try! When a church goes to put on the same old nativity, some local ragamuffins are interested in participating (mainly due to the promise of snacks). Over the course of the story, these seemingly uncouth kids help those who have been taking the Christmas Story for granted open their eyes to the true meaning of Christmas.
I read this one out loud with my kids and we had a great time with it. The dialogue was fun and I loved hearing my wife and kids snicker after reading off a humorous line. So, not only was the book great, but it was a fantastic family read along experience. A great way to celebrate the holidays!
Sometimes the whole book is right there in the title. This is a book about a family who bought a zoo, and it is just about what you woul3.5 to 4 Stars
Sometimes the whole book is right there in the title. This is a book about a family who bought a zoo, and it is just about what you would expect! They don’t have a zoo, they decide to buy one, and they do.
Well, there is a bit more to it than that, but generally it is pretty much that straightforward. So, if you want to read the story of an Average Joe deciding to buy a zoo and everything that could potentially be involved in the care of animals, maintenance of the grounds, business models, etc. then this is the book for you. I think the most intriguing overarching theme is how many nuances of running a zoo a guest may not realize from the outside looking in. Every step of the way, Mee is finding out all the roadblocks to running a zoo and shares with the reader his problem-solving techniques. We get to see him grow from interested zoo hobbyist to full-fledged king of the zoo.
Note on my comment that he is an “Average Joe”: While he may not have had a background in zoo ownership and management, he does have some parts of his background that made him more likely to try and buy a zoo than others. So maybe “Above Average Joe” would be a better descriptor!
The main deviation from the story of the zoo involves the health of Mee’s wife. I will avoid saying too much so as not to spoil, but the book does start off right away mentioning she is sick, and her struggles are a major part of the story. Mee’s reflection on her and her struggles may require a box of tissues to be on hand.
Many times, I really get into Non-fiction audiobooks because the author will take a subject I may not know much about or that I have not previously interested in and make it totally enthralling. With We Bought a Zoo, it was very good, and very interesting, but I cannot say that I found myself enthralled at any time. So, it is worth reading, but I cannot give you the expectation that you will be wildly entertained . . . more like mildly entertained. ...more
This was a Goodreads Choice winner but I had never heard of it until it appeared on the nominee list. I saw it was available from the library, so I haThis was a Goodreads Choice winner but I had never heard of it until it appeared on the nominee list. I saw it was available from the library, so I had to see what all the fuss was about. It was very good and very creepy . . . but is is award worthy??? Maybe . . . I am not sure I would always come to the conclusion that it moved me to the point I would shower it with victory statues, but I bet a few discussions about it would end with me heaping accolades on it.
The story was very interesting, very creepy, and very unique. If I had a complaint it would be that it was somewhat predictable with the eventual outcome being telegraphed through the narrative very early on in the story. Because of this, I was not surprised by any of the climatic events. But, that aside, it keep my interest and was a pretty cool story.
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If you are looking for a good suspenful mystery with a very dark side and a bit of gore, Mexican Gothic should be on your list....more
This was a fantastic book – overall, 100% through and through fantastic!
It was funny. It was heart-wrenching. It was thought provoking. So wel5+ Stars
This was a fantastic book – overall, 100% through and through fantastic!
It was funny. It was heart-wrenching. It was thought provoking. So well written that I was intensely invested the entire time. No mind wandering at all! No filler!
The characters . . . oh, the characters . . . so great – all of them! They all have some good, some bad, some ugly, and some beautiful. Lots of tragedy, but lots of humanity and love as well. And, the fact that the main character is dealing with memory loss makes the dynamic between the characters extremely fascinating. Think about what it would be like if you woke up and thought it was 10 years ago? What relationships have changed? Jobs? Family? Pretty mind blowing all the what-ifs!
If you are looking for a great book with a great story about people and life, you must try this book. Your brain will be triggered by all of the what-if scenarios, your heartstrings will be pulled by the love and loss, and your funny bone will be tickled by the witty dialogue – 100% guaranteed!
Side note: For those familiar with my reviews, you may know that I consider it a sign of a good book if I talk back to it and/or long to interact with the characters (often with the desire to smack some sense into them). That was the case with this book – so a very good sign! ...more
I have been enjoying a lot of non-fiction based or fiction based on non-fiction graphic novels lately. This falls into the first category and is a retI have been enjoying a lot of non-fiction based or fiction based on non-fiction graphic novels lately. This falls into the first category and is a retelling of the life of a Syrian refugee family around the time of the 2016 United States presidential election. This is a good story to read for a white, middle American male like me who was not as fully aware of the plight and worries of refugees in the shadow of an incoming administration very vocally planning to close borders; it led some to villainize and threaten people from other countries and cultures to an extent I was not fully aware of.
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One of the tough things about a story like this is that my anxiety really acts up when I hear true stories of people being awful to each other. It is one of the reasons I have backed away from the news and most social media in 2020 – just too much hate! I don’t understand why it has become more normalized to be mean to each other. I know there are many thoughts and opinions on this, and it is not my intention to begin a political discussion, that will just get my anxiety going even more. But, to willingly read a story taking me out of my comfort zone like this is a pretty big deal in 2020. The fact that it shows normal people trying to lead normal lives being met by hatred and fear is disappointing and, frankly, nauseating.
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All of that being said, while it was a good story that I am glad I am aware of (despite my disappointment in the behavior of my fellow man), I was not quite as captivated by the way the story was told and the accompanying imagery as I had hoped I would be. It was by no means “bad”, it just did not grip me as much as some other non-fiction graphic novels do. Also, some of the dialogue felt forced to make a point – if the delivery does not feel organic, for me it stands out and feels odd. What I am guessing what happened was the author took several real-life scenarios and tried to summarize them on one page which led to a few awkward deliveries.
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I can summarize my overall experience in this way: an interesting and important story with a lackluster delivery. But you may enjoy the delivery more than I did – and I think you should try it!...more
As an issue by itself: 4 stars As an issue continuing the storyline of a series: 2.5 to 3 stars
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I am not really sure what happened to this seriesAs an issue by itself: 4 stars As an issue continuing the storyline of a series: 2.5 to 3 stars
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I am not really sure what happened to this series, but it seems to have gone off the rails from the original plot. What started as an intriguing mystery (which may still be in there somewhere) turned into an action packed revenge story for this issue.
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As mentioned in my star rating at the top, I really did enjoy the action and the revenge. And, if this stood alone I could easily walk away giving it 4 stars. But, trying to reconcile it with the plot I was given 4 issues ago, I am totally lost. I think there is only one issue left so we will see if it comes full circle.
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The art is just okay for me in this series. There are a few really great frames but a lot of the times the faces and expression seem slightly off/incorrectly proportioned. The covers are much better and I wish that had been the art used in the story.
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So, I cannot say I continue to recommend this title. It had some cool stuff early on, but feels like it is fading away....more
This is a very powerful and important book. It seems like lately a lot of my selections have focused on the dark side of American history - and this oThis is a very powerful and important book. It seems like lately a lot of my selections have focused on the dark side of American history - and this one is particularly dark, sad, and disturbing.
I missed the big rush to read this book a few years ago when the movie came out. But I am finally glad I picked it up. I am not sure if I will follow it up any time soon with the movie. But, I can see how this story would make an equally moving and impactful motion picture.
I think my one issue with the book was several times the narrative got bogged down and my mind started to wander. This may just be a side effect of it being written in the 1800s. Often when I read classic books, even if I enjoy them, the style of the writing makes it difficult to stay focused. So, if you decide to give it a try, just be prepared for the delivery to get a bit stagnant at times.
But, overall another important non-fiction story for all to read and remember. Slavery is definitely a part of history we never should repeat and racism should have no place in our society. Learning and responding accordingly are the best course of action to prevent darkness like this from taking hold again....more
Terrifying, disturbing, twisted, gory, and EXCELLENT!
In fantasy novels you often hear the term "world-building" and many will base part of the5+ stars
Terrifying, disturbing, twisted, gory, and EXCELLENT!
In fantasy novels you often hear the term "world-building" and many will base part of their enjoyment of the book on how well the author does this. For The Sorrows, I am going to use the phrase "Haunted House Building", and Janz does it perfectly. I just love what he has done here is creating a creepy castle on a creepy island and all of the related creepy lore. If you love a good haunted house story, look no further.
There area few things I could be nit-picky about. At times things are coincidental and convenient. Maybe it is a little obvious that something happens just to keep the plot moving. But, at no point did these things distract to the point of lessening my enjoyment.
One plot hole that kind of bugged me (view spoiler)[ one of the main characters inflicts a fairly significant injury to their abdomen while having a sleepwalking nightmare. Later on, other characters see her naked - including a sex scene where someone gets up close and personal with her abdomen. But, no one acknowledges that she has an abdominal injury. It seemed odd - maybe the injury was a figment of her imagination, but I didn't think it was described that way. (hide spoiler)]. Oh well, it was not big enough of a deal to ruin the plot or my enjoyment.
If you like your horror a bit demented, and your suspense intense (this book did not let up AT ALL during the last 1/3) then you have to try The Sorrows. This is my second Janz book and after having great experiences with both I am surprised he is not yet more widely known among horror readers.
Usually the book is better, in this case I think it was the movie.
Shoeless Joe was made into the movie Field of Dreams. While the book w3.5 to 4 Stars
Usually the book is better, in this case I think it was the movie.
Shoeless Joe was made into the movie Field of Dreams. While the book was pretty good, the movie tidied up the narrative quite a bit, streamlined the messy parts, and hit the high emotional moments just right to hit home. In fact, if you remember the movie and all the key tear-jerking moments . . . they are all there in the book, just kind of glossed over.
Also, this is 100% a book about baseball for people who like baseball. If you do not like baseball, there is no point in reading it. Back to the movie; they did a fairly good job at making it accessible to people who do not like baseball even though that is a key plot point. The book, however, is in-your-face baseball lore, baseball statistics, baseball gameplay, etc. I can’t even say give it a try even if you don’t care for baseball. Nope . . . if you don’t have a passion for baseball, do not waste your time.
I do like baseball and overall I enjoyed the book. But now I need to go do a re-watch of the movie because of all the fond memories I now have of it being better than the book. And, I better get my tissues ready!
Peter Pan has never really been one of my favorite classic stories. I know that some people have a lot of nostalgia from childhood for t4 to 4.5 Stars
Peter Pan has never really been one of my favorite classic stories. I know that some people have a lot of nostalgia from childhood for the Disney movie. Also, there have been so many spinoff and retellings of this story and the actual life of the author, that you know that it means a lot to a lot of people. As we are preparing to watch this with our kids for the first time, I figured I ought to check out the original so that I could get a real feel for where the story started.
At first, it started slow. I am wondering if this was due to my tendency to go into things with pre-conceived expectations. Since I have had only a passive interest in the story before, I wonder if my brain was like “Hey! Why are you wasting your time on this!” I know, I know . . . this is very bad of me! So, I soldiered on, and I am very glad I did.
As the story progressed, I really got into it and the world of Neverland. The characters were fun and the fantastical plot very silly. The emotions and personalities of all the characters can be summed up by a line about Tinkerbell that said basically she could either be all mean or all nice, but never both things at once. Because of this, you pretty much know what you are going to get with each character.
The progression through to the end was melancholy, but satisfyingly sweet. It is true that we are all going to grow up someday, but the stories from our childhood never do.
Be sure check this book out - especially if you are a fan of Peter Pan, Hook, Wendy, etc. or have dreams of someday traveling off to Neverland....more
Are you a fan of head shaking, cringing, and yelling at characters in books? Well, then let me introduce you to Evan Hansen.
He is the personification Are you a fan of head shaking, cringing, and yelling at characters in books? Well, then let me introduce you to Evan Hansen.
He is the personification of: - Open mouth, insert foot - Out of the frying pan and into the fire - Being your own worst enemy
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I cannot say that Evan Hansen is a tragic “hero”, but he is tragic and can’t stop digging himself into the biggest hole ever. He is not a bad guy; he just makes very bad decisions (or no decision at all when he really should be). It is so painful that you just cannot look away. That makes for a great book!
The characters and the story are interesting. The writing is great. I enjoyed the audiobook presentation. I understand that this is a stage play as well, so I hope to see it someday. It was an all-around good reading experience.
I thought this book had some unusual and unconventional moments.
But, since Josh Hanagarne ha3.5 to 4 stars
I thought this book had many great moments.
I thought this book had some unusual and unconventional moments.
But, since Josh Hanagarne has lived a great but also unusual/unconventional life, this should come as no surprise.
I love finding memoirs to listen to from people who might be your next-door neighbor. Nothing famous, flashy, or particularly earth shattering about their life; no major awards won, disasters survived, etc. But by just being themselves and sharing their day to day they make you realize that your ordinary can easily become extraordinary.
The key points about Hanagarne that drive his story: • He is a librarian • He is really into working out with kettlebells • He is Mormon • He has Tourette’s Syndrome
As you can probably tell, being a muscle-bound librarian in Utah who tends to make unusual sounds and have uncontrollable tics leads to the unusual and unconventional mentioned above. My first thought was, “how can a person who might be making noises outside of their control work in an environment where you are supposed to stay quiet?” You will have to read to find out!
Hanagarne’s adventures though faith found, faith lost, faith found again, love found, love lost, love found again, losing control of his body, regaining control, losing control again are quite a roller coaster ride to bring the reader along. Even if his life is nothing like yours, I think you will learn something about yourself along the way. I know I did....more
This is another book I read to my kids at bedtime. They have been very into Minecraft lately. I cannot say that I understand it and I definitely wouldThis is another book I read to my kids at bedtime. They have been very into Minecraft lately. I cannot say that I understand it and I definitely would not have chosen this book to read on my own. I will comment on my thoughts on the book, but I should probably rate it based on the target audience: my kids . . . and they loved it!
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I am not sure the publishing history of this book and other books in the series. The cover says unofficial, so definitely not endorsed by the game’s creators. The quality of the grammar of spelling tells me that it likely was never reviewed by an editor. The story is interesting enough despite being quite repetitive. In the end, lessons were learned about how being different does not mean that we have to be enemies and fighting is not always the answer – so at least it had some positive vibes going for it. I am glad that my kids are into having me read books to them and having material they are into helps . . . even if I couldn’t wait for it to be over!
So . . . if I was rating it just for myself, I would probably give it 2 Stars
I am sure my kids would give it 5 stars
In the end, I will give it 4 stars and will be thankful for material that gets kids into reading. Also, I have watched them play Minecraft and the strategy and building aspects are pretty cool and educational. So, I am also thankful that they are into a game with a constructive and educational aspect.
I will just be over here playing Borderlands 3 or Red Dead Redemption . . . ...more
Over the course of the movie series I know there has been much swooning over James Bond and his body. I recall that Daniel Craig coming out of the watOver the course of the movie series I know there has been much swooning over James Bond and his body. I recall that Daniel Craig coming out of the water in blue bathing trunks in Casino Royale caused the temperature to rise for many. So, it goes without saying that The Body is an important part of James Bond lore, and there is now a series of graphic novels which take one story and focus on specific parts of the it in each issue.
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I thought this was a pretty creative approach to a well-known series. Since there have been so many books and movies, I am sure it can be difficult to come up with new and creative ideas. While the over-arching story is typical bond, giving a very specific focus to a part of the body in each adds some depth that makes what might normally be ordinary more extraordinary.
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The story has one author, but each issue has a different illustrator. Sometimes this bugs me, but in this case, it worked to give several artists a piece of the story and let them run with it. While some of the illustrations I enjoyed more than others, overall it was a visually satisfying adventure.
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If you have thought about trying the James Bond graphic novel series, this is one worth checking out. You get some of the typical bond tropes you know and love with and interesting and creative twist on presentation. ...more
I was born almost a decade after most of the chaos surrounding the Vietnam War in the late 60s/early 70s. I can oPowerful and moving - 5+ Stars
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I was born almost a decade after most of the chaos surrounding the Vietnam War in the late 60s/early 70s. I can only imagine what it was like to grow up with the threat of being drafted and the chaos of military action on our home soil. Unfortunately, 2020 has shown that maybe we have not come quite as far from the events of Kent State as we hoped.
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Backderf does a great job with all of his research and sharing this important story using the graphic novel medium. It may not seem like a topic for a "comic book", but it really does a great job in making a complicated and difficult subject relatable. As the story is told, he makes you want the visuals and then he gives them to you instantly. I looked up a few of the backgrounds on Google Maps and he did a great job in accurately recreating the setting. Just amazing all around.
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Speaking further about the visuals, I enjoy Backderf's style. It is a bit cartoonish and sometimes reminds me of old Mad Magazine art, but that does not get in the way of telling a serious story. It is enjoyable to look at and very precise so that there is not a lot of "extra" to get in the way of the main focus of each panel. Again, really great stuff here!
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I have read non-fiction recently about 9/11 and mention in that review that the story might be a difficult one for some, but sometimes the truths are hard and we still need to learn about them. That is the case with Backderf's Kent State, and I think anyone would benefit by reading this, learning, and remembering what happened 50 years ago in northeast Ohio as Americans attacked other Americans in a conflict that could have been avoided. Again, it is a lesson I think that some still need to learn....more
Maybe the Gaiman curse is over for me because I loved this book.
As those who follow my reviews may know, I have been trying Gaiman for years w5+ Stars
Maybe the Gaiman curse is over for me because I loved this book.
As those who follow my reviews may know, I have been trying Gaiman for years without much luck. I could never really put my finger on it except for two things:
- Sometimes it felt like it was being artsy and weird in order to be cool and trendy - Often the magic and supernatural happenings felt contrived and convenient. Fantasy is made up, but it should not feel like it is made up.
However, I did not encounter that at all with The Graveyard Book. The fantastical story was unique, flowed organically, and was super fun. While it was a bit dark in places, it was not scary - a light-hearted ghost story most of the time. The characters were excellent and I enjoyed my journey with them - I did not want it to end and I hated saying goodbye.
I highly recommend this one and will more than likely be pointing fellow readers to this one if they want to try Gaiman.
So . . . the curse is broken . . . will I have additional success if I try others or do I end my pursuit on top?...more
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