“Emojis don’t always mean what you think they mean. To be safe, steer clear of all fruits and vegetables.”
A silly but humorous book. Quick read with l“Emojis don’t always mean what you think they mean. To be safe, steer clear of all fruits and vegetables.”
A silly but humorous book. Quick read with lots of relatable stuff for a dad of my age. This may have just been an elaborate marketing ploy for Progressive to capitalize on the popularity of their Dr. Rick commercials, but I am okay with that!
“While watching sports, there are people whose job it is to announce what’s happening. You’re not one of those people.”
I had a lot of fun, I laughed out loud, it made my wait at the airport go by quickly. All signs of a quality and worthwhile read!
“Unless you’re planning on skydiving or wearing all your clothes at a water park, there’s no reason to attach all your accessories to your body. Just because you can strap something to your body, doesn’t mean you should.” ...more
I am a fan of Terry Moore. I have been reading his stuff for about 25 years. Strangers in Paradise is fantastic. I really loved the first few issues oI am a fan of Terry Moore. I have been reading his stuff for about 25 years. Strangers in Paradise is fantastic. I really loved the first few issues of Echo. I had been hoping for big things from Rachel Rising
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There may still be big things to come, but volume one was not, for me, a spectacular start - 2.5 to 3 stars. If I was not already a Terry Moore fan, I am not sure that there is enough here to motivate me to move on to volume two. I think I have come to expect that, if I am going to like a series, the first issue or volume should give me a cliffhanger or some serious motivation to continue. I have started several TV shows lately where the first episode has such a bang, I just have to keep going. I did not find that "WOW" with Rachel Rising volume 1.
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The standard character and mystery introductions are here. There are a couple of interesting events that occur. But, I am not connecting to any of the characters yet - they just all kind of blur together for me. I am hoping that when I continue with volume two, what has been flat so far starts to develop some depth.
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The art is great. I love Moore's art and I don't think that will ever change - no matter how well I am connecting with the story. His black and white drawings are always captivating and well detailed. This is probably enough by itself to keep me coming back.
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If you are looking to try Moore, try Strangers in Paradise. If you are already a Moore fan, at least this is some more of his work to read if you are done with SiP!...more
I have had this one on my radar for quite some time. I listened to the first few chapters with my wife several years ago, but I didn’t finish it. I diI have had this one on my radar for quite some time. I listened to the first few chapters with my wife several years ago, but I didn’t finish it. I didn’t give much more thought to it until I saw that a movie version of it was coming out. I figured before I watch the movie, I might as well read the book. So, I chose it for one of my book club’s September 2020 selection.
I was entertained, but it was just okay. It is a bizarre, very quirky story. The format is emails and letters, which I was okay with, but I have seen some complain about. I guess it can be difficult to keep things connected in a coherent steam of thought in this format. While it does improve toward the end with longer sections without breaks, I can easily see how it would be hard to get into in the beginning.
Again, everything about this was quirky. The characters, the story line, the various settings – all so bizarre. It is like Semple wrote the world’s longest Mad Lib and randomly assigned the characters traits, plot points, and locations by pulling them out of a hat. It certainly makes for an interesting and sometimes humorous reading experience, but at times it was a bit disorienting. That, combined with the format of the writing, make for a most unconventional experience.
I also must point out that despite the bizarre and humorous twists and turns there is also a lot of serious content about relationships, mental health, and the daily pressures of life. If you can work your way through the maze, you might find your heart wrenched a little bit as well.
In closing – I am glad I read it and I did enjoy it. Maybe it was the bizarre unconventional-ness of the book, and maybe it wasn’t, but I didn’t really connect to it to the extent I had been hoping . . . the extent that would make me say “YES! I can see why they made this into a movie”. It is worth checking out but be prepared for disorientation. ...more
2020 has been a scary year. For some reason I decided that it would be a good year to read and watch as much as I could about Chernobyl. Maybe not the2020 has been a scary year. For some reason I decided that it would be a good year to read and watch as much as I could about Chernobyl. Maybe not the best idea I have ever had, but at least it has led me to take in some pretty captivating non-fiction content.
Then I watched the Chernobyl series on HBO. While I don’t believe Midnight in Chernobyl was listed as source material, since it is non-fiction it makes sense that they were very similar. And, the show was equally captivating and nerve-wracking
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The last stop on my Chernobyl journey (for now) is Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster. This is very different material from Midnight in Chernobyl and the TV show. Instead of being a play by play of the events as they unfolded, this is a random series of interviews conducted about a decade after the disaster with people affected by Chernobyl. When I say random, I mean that one interview may be with the wife of a firefighter, the next a series of short paragraphs from people who were children at the time of the disaster, followed by an interview with a soldier or liquidator assigned to Chernobyl and what they saw, etc. There is no timeline or flow – it is very stream of consciousness in a way. I think reading and watching more solid narrative on the situation first helped to put this book better into perspective.
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Like all of the books about the world’s response to previous outbreaks/pandemics, I think this book, along with the others about Chernobyl and the aftermath, are importing reads for everyone. It may not be the easiest content to swallow, but by educating ourselves, learning from our mistakes, and seeing how people who thought they were safe and could trust their government were affected, we can hopefully avoid history repeating itself.
I recently listened to The Diary of Anne Frank. A co-worker suggested to me, since she knew I also like graphic novels, that I also try out thi[image]
I recently listened to The Diary of Anne Frank. A co-worker suggested to me, since she knew I also like graphic novels, that I also try out this version of the story. I am glad that I decided to read it so soon after listening so I was easily able to compare the two.
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While I would always recommend the original material first, I think this version did a great job using the graphic novel format. Also, maybe someone who would never take the time to read the diary directly in Anne's words might be willing to try it out as a graphic novel. I think this is a great thing as it means a wider audience will learn this important story.
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Story wise, it is very close to the original diary. If you know it in Anne's words, you will not find it too much different. The main thing is some entries in the diary might be summarized in one page/one image. Other parts might have been edited out to promote the flow of the graphic novel. But, I don't feel like any content or meaning was lost. Also, sometimes something described by Anne without much detail may have been reimagined by the artist with a new, creative twist (example: at one point the Nazis are depicted as Egyptians watching over Jewish slaves building pyramids - Anne never said anything like this specifically in her Diary)
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Speaking of artwork - I think the artist did a great job of creating eye catching images while remaining respectful to the source material. A lot of dialogue from the diary was kept in tact and integrated well with the imagery. In fact, if you frequently read graphic novels, you will find a lot more words within the art than normal.
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This is an important story and everyone should read it. If the full diary is not for you, but this sounds interesting, give it a go. If you enjoyed the diary and gave thought about revisiting it, this is not a bad way to do so....more
Cycle of the Werewolf is touted as a novel in many places. But this really isn’t even long enough to be considered a novella. It’4 stars – 5 in places
Cycle of the Werewolf is touted as a novel in many places. But this really isn’t even long enough to be considered a novella. It’s a short story; I paced myself but could probably have read this whole thing in under an hour. This observation is not a complaint, I just want to make sure anyone reading this based on my review know exactly what they will be seeing.
Also, every chapter includes artwork by Bernie Wrightson. These pictures are very cool and add a lot to the story, however, they are sometimes a spoiler and depict a scene coming up in the next few pages. Since they are large and colorful it is hard for your eye not to be drawn to them. So, proceed with caution if you want to learn the story from the words and not the pictures!
Here is one that is not too spoilerish!
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I have been working my way through King’s works chronologically and I have to get a shout out to Dichotomy Girl for getting my mind right in the comments on her review of The Gunslinger so that I did not forget this one! I put The Talisman on hold about a month ago and just got in my mind that is what I would read next after Pet Sematary. If it wasn’t for her, I would have started The Talisman before Cycle of the Werewolf and it would have ruined the whole thing! I would have had to start over! (Well, maybe not, but it makes the save sound so much more dramatic!)
Thank you, Dichotomy Girl!
If you want a very good but quick scare, pick this one up to read under the covers one night. It is a good sampling of Stephen King if you really don’t have a lot of time to try him out. Or, maybe you just need a quick fix and don’t have time for It or The Stand!
Side note: This is the book the 80s movie Silver Bullet was based on. ...more
I read A Passage To India for my Completist Book Club on Goodreads. This is a book that I may have never even heard of if it was not for that group. FI read A Passage To India for my Completist Book Club on Goodreads. This is a book that I may have never even heard of if it was not for that group. For those who are curious, it is a club that chooses books from must read lists to read each month. Because of this club, I have been able to find some interesting, some challenging, and, sadly, even some boring books that I cannot figure out why they are must reads. But, whatever the case, I am always glad to be a part of the group because it has really expanded my reading horizons.
In the case of A Passage To India, I can see why it is a classic. It is a tale of British Imperial rule in India and how people on both sides - British and Indian - handle all the tensions and issues this causes. Also, the main Indian character is not Hindu but Muslim and there is a lot about being Muslim in a country where that is not the main religion. It is all very relatable to modern day issues.
I have been going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. Some of the parts were very riveting, but others left me wanting. I think it was about 50/50. But, I am going to go with 4 stars because the message and the historical significance of this story solidify it as a classic.
Funny thing, I was planning to go 3 stars when I started writing this review, but I talked myself into 4 stars!...more
Cute and fluffy. Just like curling up inside a pumpkin spice latte. If your local fall farm festival transformed itself into a graphic novel, this is Cute and fluffy. Just like curling up inside a pumpkin spice latte. If your local fall farm festival transformed itself into a graphic novel, this is what it would look like.
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If you need a feel-good read that does not require a lot of thought and effort, this is the perfect book. I suppose that last sentence could easily be construed as negative, but it is not. Sometimes we just need to get away for a while from all the craziness that gnaws at our brain. Pumpkinheads will be happy to assist!
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The artwork is also very cute and enjoyable. The story is broken up into several smaller anecdotes within the overall story which gives it a Sunday comics feel. No complaints from me on the visual presentation here!
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Side note: (view spoiler)[Do you remember the 80’s classic film (would we call it a classic?) Some Kind of Wonderful? If you do, this is the same story, but set at a farm. (hide spoiler)]
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Conclusion: This graphic novel is worth your time if you need a happy escape this fall – and I think I can safely say in fall 2020, we all do! ...more
This is the issue of the graphic novel series where we join the events of the original book series at the beginning of the first book. While the quoteThis is the issue of the graphic novel series where we join the events of the original book series at the beginning of the first book. While the quote didn’t make an appearance, here is a reminder:
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”
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For those who have not read the series . . . you probably should before reading the graphic novels. Or, at least start at the beginning of the graphic novels. It has been my opinion as I have gone along that these graphic novels are best read after you have already gathered everything from the books. But, honestly, they do a pretty job at sharing the story, so you will get everything if you just read these
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The art continues to be great! It does a fantastic job at graphically presenting the essence of the Gunslinger’s world. A world on its way out. A world in decay. A world of darkness and mystery. A world lacking in beauty and rich in death. A world where the choice to head off across the barren desert with no idea of what is on the other side is actually the best choice. All of these things are represented in every line and every brushstroke.
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I hope that this series continues strong. I have heard rumors that it doesn’t hold up the farther that it gets into the story line from the book series. Also, it appears that they published the last volume back in 2017 with the series unfinished and, at this time, there is no information as to whether it will ever continue. I kind of hate knowing this early on that I may get to the end and it will be unfinished – even knowing what happens from the book series. We shall see!
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Regardless of any concerns for the future, this series has been great so far – very enjoyable! I highly recommend it to any King and/or graphic novel fan. ...more
Note: to avoid confusion, I wrote the above on May 14, 2019. It is now released and I am reading it. AlsoJust announced! Another Holly Gibney mystery!
Note: to avoid confusion, I wrote the above on May 14, 2019. It is now released and I am reading it. Also, at the time I was not aware it was another four novella book....more
This guy below looks familiar doesn’t he? Darth Vader without a hat? Nope – it is ancient Sith Lord Darth Malgus. I am guessing they made him look thiThis guy below looks familiar doesn’t he? Darth Vader without a hat? Nope – it is ancient Sith Lord Darth Malgus. I am guessing they made him look this way as an indication that the Empire has a specific format for the life support outfits they give their Dark Lords when they are critically injured:
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Deceived introduces us to Malgus and one of the major early attempts of the Sith to destroy the Jedi. And, based on what I read, the universe of Star Wars was only a few swings of a lightsaber away from having no Jedi left way before we got to the more recent canon stories!
3.5 Stars
I liked it, but I was not particularly riveted by it. I think it was a very interesting history of the Sith, Jedi, and the planet Coruscant. Because of this I am very glad I read it. It also feels like it is setting up some future events, and that is pretty cool as well. Seems like it may be more of a book for the Star Wars completest (which is what I am going for) and not necessarily the casual fan.
So, hardcore Star Wars fans – go for it! People who have seen a couple of movies but think it might be cool to check out some Star Wars literature – proceed with caution.
And, as some of you may have seen – I read this on Kindle and it finished at 66%! So, if you are reading Star Wars books on Kindle, be prepared for a lot of extras at the end that are not part of the book! ...more
If you gave me this book and asked me what author wrote it, I would have said without a doubt that it was Robin Cook. While crNot bad! Not bad at all!
If you gave me this book and asked me what author wrote it, I would have said without a doubt that it was Robin Cook. While creepy and mysterious like the other John Saul I have read, it is so hard to ignore how much like Cook this book is. Medical thriller to the max and I loved every minute of it!
You might notice how long it took me to read this and doubt how much I enjoyed it. It is merely the format I chose to read it in that caused the delay. Whenever I have a book on Kindle, for whatever reason, I frequently go days between reading sessions. But, trust me, I was always glad to get back to this one.
The God Project is creepy, mysterious fun. Any fan of horror/suspense/mystery should find something to enjoy here!
Trigger warning: Bad stuff happens to kids. Approach with caution....more
- Classic hard-boiled detective fiction at it's finest. Every stereotype, every cliched phrase, it's all there and it is gReflections on The Big Sleep
- Classic hard-boiled detective fiction at it's finest. Every stereotype, every cliched phrase, it's all there and it is glorious. If you are looking for dames and gumshoes and sawbucks and swapping lead then look no further. Almost every page had a quotable line that had me smirking.
- This book is set in a different time. If you do not remember this, you may be upset or offended by the content. These characters are uncouth and indelicate. Several times during the book I said to myself "Dang, he can't say that!". But, he did . . . and that's just how it was.
- It's a bit convoluted. I am not going to lie - several times during the book I was not quite sure what was going on or where things were going. I am not even sure I fully understand the resolution. I reflect on this as a genre period peice and I enjoyed it for that, not necessarily a mind-blowing plot.
- Do I recommend this book? Really, only if you want to add some classic hard-boiled to your collection. If you only think you should read it because it is considered a must-read classic, I am not sure you will enjoy it all that much.
So, I want to read all the Star Wars books. I have also tried some of the graphic novels. Legends, Canon, YA, movie tie-in, etc. - I want to read themSo, I want to read all the Star Wars books. I have also tried some of the graphic novels. Legends, Canon, YA, movie tie-in, etc. - I want to read them all! If you have ever looked up a list of all the books released so far for Star Wars you realize this is easier said than done for a few reasons:
• There are a lot – and, they span from tens of thousands of years before the movies to about 40 years after the first Star Wars movie. Getting a chronological breakdown is a good place to start. • They overlap each other – When you look at a chronological list you see that sometimes a stand-alone book will take place in the middle of a series. Some of the series overlap, too. • Referencing – This has proven to be one of the biggest issues for me. Several times I think I am all caught up and then the book I am in starts referencing events I am unfamiliar with. This issue will be discussed more below. • Graphic Novels vs Novels – This adds a whole other level or overlapping and referencing. I have read a few of the graphic novels and they were okay. I reached a point where it became difficult to track the next ones down – and I was not super inspired to do so, so I am not sure if I will continue with them or not. • Canon vs Non-Canon – I am overcoming this by reading them all in chronological order whether they are Canon or not. Any discrepancies be damned!
I have been waiting to read Revan for a while because I wanted to make sure I had tied in all the stories from the graphic novels, but went ahead with it (for the reasons mentioned above). When I did, I discovered a different level of referencing that I don’t think I will be able to overcome – this part of the Star Wars series is based a lot on a video game. I suppose I could go back and get a copy of the game, but I just want to read! Then, the referencing got even more difficult because it appears that in between Part 1 and Part 2 of this book another whole story took place and I only got a couple page description of that story plus a several year time jump! To me, this was the part of this book I liked least, but if I was a super hard core Star Wars fan and had been keeping up with the releases as the games came out, graphic novels were released, etc., it would not have been as much of an issue.
Despite the complaints above, I really did enjoy this story and I am a fan of the Star Wars universe, legends, battle sequences, force theory, etc. I think that despite the stumbling blocks of the tie-in to the video game and graphic novels, this book was well done and I was engaged with the story throughout. I do feel like maybe the casual sci-fi fan will not enjoy this because it is trying so hard to be part of a massive Star Wars universe outside of the book. But, anyone with a more than by passing interest in Star Wars, who may not have knowledge of every little aspect, but doesn’t mind the gaps being filled in with quick summaries, will enjoy this one.
I plan to continue with this series and my hope is that the disconnects from the graphic novels and video games will prove to be not that much of an issue in the future. ...more
No matter how this book described the zoo where this entire story took place, I could not stop picturing my local zoo. I am not sure if I have ever reNo matter how this book described the zoo where this entire story took place, I could not stop picturing my local zoo. I am not sure if I have ever read a book where a location was so automatically ingrained in how I picture something. The author could have said the zoo was on top of a mountain, but I still would have pictured our flat-land zoo here in Indianapolis.
But I digress . . .
Fierce Kingdom, even though I took my time reading it, was a pretty quick read. In fact, the book practically takes place in real time – i.e. if you sat down to read it straight through, it might take 4 or 5 hours and the course of the story is over just a few hours. This, plus the entire story taking place inside a zoo, created a very unique setting and feel to the story. These were the best two things about the book for me.
However . . .
I am not sure that any of what I mentioned above was used enough to really heighten the intensity or uniqueness of the story. Since the decision was made for it to be in a zoo, you would think the zoo would serve as another character – i.e. the fact that it is in a zoo becomes extremely integral to key scenes in the story. But the zoo never really matters to the story. It could have taken place anywhere – the author just happened to place it in the zoo. There is occasionally a dead animal, and even a groundhog on the loose (which we have in this area outside of the zoo anyway). Where were the showdowns in the lion’s den or the stampeding elephants on the loose? I think a major opportunity was missed here.
Another thing that I did not feel happened was the perfect fleshing out of the story. And, with the very quick time frame, the plot should have been presented in a very intense, edge of your seat sort of way. Instead, most of the action and intensity is happening far away from where the story is taking place. And, once you find out what is happening, it is all kind of weird – cannot say much more without spoilers. I think if they had either revealed everything or just kept it all mysterious, it would have been better than the partial revelations you end up getting.
In summary – I enjoyed it and it is okay far a quick read, but I would not say that it is mind-blowingly recommendable! ...more
Thank you to the author, N.F. Paupe, for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall feelings - This is a very impressive debut effort. Well writtThank you to the author, N.F. Paupe, for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall feelings - This is a very impressive debut effort. Well written and thrilling; fans of recent suspense releases will find a lot to enjoy here. In fact, I was glad I enjoyed this as it is not usually a genre I have a lot of luck with – it is very hit or miss for me on titles like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. (If Paupe had known this before she provided me a copy, she may not have trusted me quite so much to review it!) Interestingly enough, I am reading Then She Was Gone right now and it reminds me a lot of What Happened to Michael.
Story – Hard to discuss without spoilers. In each chapter, a little more of the mystery and its possible answers are revealed – that mystery of course being what happened to Michael. There is some time jumping to keep you on your toes and you might want to take some notes to help you try and figure out the solution before the author tells you.
Characters – Tragic/faulty heroes throughout this book. The main characters are not dislikeable, but they have faults and vices galore. This is interesting in that you cannot quickly fall in love with them. Instead, you just kind of feel bad for them and keep hoping they will get their s#!t together! In fact, alcohol is so much of a vice in this story, it is almost a character of its own.
Recommendation – If you like any of the recent popular thrillers you cannot go wrong with this book. Seriously – it is very well written and better than several others I have read. Do not let the fact that this is the author’s first effort dissuade you, she has done a great job! If you are a parent of small children, proceed cautiously – it may hit too close to home and be uncomfortable to read. But, it will certainly affect you more than those without kids. As a father of a 6 and 4 year old this one did hit me pretty hard!
Side note: Paupe was fantastic to communicate with. She is so nice and sincere. She was not all business – I think she is really excited to get this in the hands of the readers so that they don’t miss out. Because of this, I want everyone to give this a shot if possible and throw some support her way!...more
As I read this book, there is a part that led me to believe that the picture that They Might Be Giants found to use for their album Apollo 18 had to hAs I read this book, there is a part that led me to believe that the picture that They Might Be Giants found to use for their album Apollo 18 had to have been inspired by this book:
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Sadly, I was expecting more from this book. I had heard lots of good things and seen many positive reviews, but it didn’t strike as much of a key with me as other Clarke novels have. While there was some food for thought and a few cool sci-fi concepts, it was a bit too out there and disjointed for my tastes. I know that sci-fi is supposed to explore the unknown in the universe, but I didn’t really feel like a lot of the story was making any coherent points. In fact, a perfect example is the movie Kubrick made for 2001 where there is somewhat of story that descends into a very long montage of eerie images set to music.
For me, breaking the book up into the smaller vignette stories is what made it better. There are about 6 or 7 smaller stories that tie together to make up the bigger one – and if you take those each on their own they have some really neat things to think about. This including why we are here, perceptions of heaven and hell, the potential issues of space travel, and how we might interact with alien life.
Hardcore sci-fi fans will probably enjoy this. Sci-fi fans who don’t need a coherent story, just the bizarre potential of the cosmos, this is right up your alley. But, casual sci-fi fans who are looking for Star Wars/Star Trek or something of that ilk, this is not it. ...more
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