Holy Bible: English Standard Version, ESV

author: Anonymous

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.71

book published: 2001

rating: 5

read at: 2013/12/31

date added: 2013/12/31

shelves: non-fiction

review:

My annual journey ends. Time to start again tomorrow.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/256740417?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Jinnrise Volume 1

author: Tom Taylor

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.20

book published: 2013

rating: 2

read at: 2013/12/29

date added: 2013/12/29

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

An American student somewhere in the Middle East is caught up in an alien attack by the "Kibrani." The only way to stop the attack seems to be the Jinn. A young boy the student runs into has a Jinn at his disposal, and he finds himself learning more about the world around him as his eyes are opened.



It's an okay book. The art is good, but I think it's geared toward a younger audience. I sometimes had a hard time reading the text from the Kibrani because the lettering was a bit too calligraphic in nature. It's Volume 1, so the story is left in a bit of a cliffhanger.



The main character and his fellow student are kind of jerks to the people they are going to meet and I found that a bit of an overdramatization. Why would they travel and be rude? I realize it's a set up for the character to have his eyes open, but it felt a bit narrow. Overall, I liked it, but I didn't love it.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/689548521?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Dogs of War

author: Sheila Keenan

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.69

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/28

date added: 2013/12/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

In the graphic novel Dogs Of War by Sheila Keenan, three fictionalized stories of dogs and men in war are told. One from World War I, one from World War II and one from the Vietnam War.



In Boots, we learn about Boots a medic dog in the trenches of France with a young handler. This episode includes the Christmas Eve truce, but then shows how war continues on. In Loki, a dog in Greenland helps to pull sleds and save a soldier from the enemy. In Sheba, a young boy learns about his neighbor who is recently back from the Vietnam War. Sheba was the name of the dog that he was partnered with during the war and had to leave behind "with the rest of the equipment." They are all well told stories and show aspects of how soldier dogs are used and cared for.



The book concludes with a great Author's Note telling more about service dogs. There is a further reading section with more books and movies on the subject. Art by Nathan Fox is good. While the subject matter is for younger readers, the seriousness of war is never diminished, including the consequences of being a veteran in a less than popular war. It's all very well written by Sheila Keenan and I enjoyed these stories of brave men and dogs.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Scholastic Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/741278063?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Hopeless, Maine Volume 2: Inheritance

author: Tom Brown

name: Wayne

average rating: 0.0

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/27

date added: 2013/12/27

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

As a disclaimer, I did not read the first volume of Hopeless, Maine, so I found myself foundering at first. All that I needed to understand the series is actually found at the end of the volume where background of the city and it's inhabitants is detailed. I recommend that new readers who are unable to obtain the first volume begin at the end, then dive into this story.



Hopeless, Maine is a town inhabited by the living and dead. The living tend toward the magical side of things. The story concerns a girl named Salamandra who is seeking relatives and answers to mysteries in the town. She is joined by a boy named Owen who just wants to escape town. Can Salamandra find the answers she's looking for and can anyone actually leave Hopeless, Maine?



The story is very Victorian gothic (perhaps earlier, but that's the feel I got from it), the art is dark and moody. I wish I'd read the back of the book first to have a better feel for what I was reading, or perhaps having a short synopsis up front, but that's what I get for diving into Volume 2. There are some nice full page illustrations and creepy characters and monsters.



I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/800898326?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Chip Crockett's Christmas Carol

author: Elizabeth Hand

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.88

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/26

date added: 2013/12/26

shelves:

review:

The death of a barely remembered kid's show host named Chip Crockett starts off the novella Chip Crockett's Christmas Carol. Down on his luck has-been rock star Tony "Maroni" calls his friend Brendan with this news and asking for a place to stay. Brendan is a divorced dad struggling with an autistic son named Peter, and a disdain for Christmas. When Tony shows up, some Christmas magic shows up with him. Songs play on car radios when the cars have no keys in them and Christmas specials show up on television, but Tony seems unaware of this.



The book deals with getting older, distant childhood memories and dealing with the lives we've been dealt. It's a good story and everything is not neatly tied up in the end like those cheesy Hallmark holiday movies, but it's still a hopeful ending.



The afterword by the author is really good. She mentions the things that inspired the novella to be written. It's poignant and heartfelt. I can see how she came to be inspired to write this.



I began the year reading an Elizabeth Hand novel (Waking The Moon) and I'm closing out the year with one. I have been impressed with both works and look forward to reading more by this author.



I was given a review copy of this book by Open Road Media and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/793018768?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

The Last Christmas

author: Gerry Duggan

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.62

book published: 2006

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/24

date added: 2013/12/24

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

When the writers behind the hit series Deadpool set out to write a Christmas story, you should expect twisted and deranged and that's exactly what you get in The Last Christmas. The cover image should serve as a warning, with Santa standing over dead elves while holding 2 weapons. With prevalent gore and profanity, this is not a tale for the easily offended, and definitely not for children.



It's the near future and the apocalypse has happened. The North Pole has been unscathed and going about their business until one day marauders invade and kill Mrs. Claus. Santa is beside himself and attempts to kill himself, but he can't as long as one child remains who believes in him. Now all Santa wants to do is find that one child and finally rest in peace.



It's darkly funny and very twisted, but I enjoyed it. From the opening poem by Patton Oswalt, to the angry detraction letter from Mrs. Claus, you know exactly what you're in for and Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn deliver. Rick Remender's pencil's and Hilary Barta's inks give the book a Mad Magazine style of art (with a lot more gore, of course). The book finishes with a cover gallery.



I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me read this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/793956893?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Sin Titulo

author: Cameron Stewart

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.86

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/21

date added: 2013/12/21

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

In Cameron Stewart's Sin Titulo, Alex Mackay finds himself in a living nightmare. The kind you might find in a David Lynch movie. Strange and nightmarish events descend on Alex's life and culminate in a surreal ending.



When Alex's grandfather dies, Alex finds a strange picture of a young blonde woman in his grandfather's belongings. When he sees the same woman at the funeral, he pursues and then loses her. The mystery deepens and he finds his life being turned upside down. He makes allies and enemies along the way. A homeless man who is frightening. A man who paints the same scene over and over again. It culminates enigmatically, and perfectly.



Art and story by Cameron Stewart are brilliant. Using only 3 colors for the entire book, the panels have a film noir style. The story is strange and horrifying, and I enjoyed the ride.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this strange and wonderful graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/786867191?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

City of Devils

author: Justin Robinson

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.50

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/18

date added: 2013/12/18

shelves:

review:

City of Devils takes the Los Angeles of the 1940s and 1950s and populates it with monsters. When monsters take over the world, and specifically L.A. it leaves the humans as the hunted. There are mummies, vampires, zombies, werewolves, killer robots, ghouls, shapeshifters, merpeople and the list goes on.



Nick Moss is a human detective in this crazy town. After surviving World War 2, he found himself at war with the monsters. Now he lives among them. A movie star's husband is missing and Nick is on the case to find him. The difference is she's a shapeshifter and the missing husband is a mummy. All that's left is some gauze and sand. The case leads Nick into some dangerous and hilarious territory.



It's a detective noir story crossed with modern urban fantasy. The humor works pretty well too as we see what jobs monsters find themselves in. Shapeshifters are good movie stars, zombies are grunt labor (pun intended), cops are werewolves, etc. The mystery is interesting and sets itself up nicely for a potential series. I really enjoyed this book.



I was given a review copy of this book by Candlemark & Gleam and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/663040677?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Alice in Tumblr-land

author: Tim Manley

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.76

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/17

date added: 2013/12/17

shelves:

review:

Alice In Tumblr Land is a series of fairy tales retold for the jaded internet age where all the characters are kind of like hipsters. Little Red Riding Hood is trying not to meet creepy men. Snow White and Prince Charming are married with difficulties. Rapunzel has cut her hair off and all her friends like her profile picture better. Mulan is having an identity crisis.



Actually most of the characters are suffering an identity crisis or some form of ennui. Since there are a lot of characters and the stories alternate by page, I found it a bit confusing at first, but eventually found that the stories continue. There are illustrations on every alternating page that give the book more of a fairy tale feel. Each page is short, presumably for the attention deprived.



It's all got a dark humor to it that was lost on me at first. It's funny while being depressing. I'm not sure who I know that I'd recommend this too, but I know Tim Manley has a following on the internet.



I was given a review copy of this book by Penguin Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/749234707?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Mind Mgmt Volume Two: The Futurist

author: Matt Kindt

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.53

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/15

date added: 2013/12/15

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Mind MGMT returns us to the world of Meru and Henry Lyme. Joining them this time are more agents of Mind Management, including Duncan, who can seem to see the future.



Meru was more of a main character in the first book and she comes across as more of a mysterious character here, and since the first book introduced so much of the world, the book didn't have quite the paranoid feel of the first one. Good points include an easier to follow storyline (or maybe I'm just used to the world), and an interesting extra story at the end of each chapter about an agent named Hulk.



Matt Kindt's art still reminds me a bit of storyboards with it's sketched quality, and there are words running around the edges of the page that add to the existing story, but that adds to the dossier feel of the story. It's another good story, but just not quite as good as the first volume.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.







via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/689548320?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Lazarus, Vol. 1: Family

author: Greg Rucka

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.14

book published: 2013

rating: 5

read at: 2013/12/14

date added: 2013/12/14

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Greg Rucka has created an ambitious and interesting world with Lazarus. It's a time in the future when resources are owned by corporations, or Families. Those who help foster the resources are known as Serfs. Those who offer nothing are known as Waste. Each family has a cyborg protector, known as a Lazarus.



Forever is the Lazarus for the Carlyle family. The story opens on her corpse, shortly after she's been mortally wounded. Shortly after this happens, she heals and takes out the 3 men who thought they had killed her. It's a pretty cool opening scene.



There are some secrets that Forever doesn't know, and we barely begin to understand before the end of the graphic novel. One thing that we do know is that she is not liked by everyone in her family, and she may be used as a pawn to start a war with a rival Family.



It's a great story, and a really great set up for an interesting series. Forever is a great character and I see an interesting road ahead for her and this series. Art by Michael Lark is perfect for the series. Greg Rucka's story is superb. Highly recommended.



I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this top notch graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/733505977?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 14

author: Troy Brownfield

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.12

book published: 2013

rating: 2

read at: 2013/12/13

date added: 2013/12/13

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

This collects issues 82-84 and 86-87 from the comic Grimm Fairy Tales. It continues a storyline that has to do with Sela and Melena and has a twist to it.



The second story has to do with Sela being summoned to a school that has had a bullying death. The school's Lacrosse team seem to be involved and Sela soon finds herself toe to toe with Jack Frost.



The book finishes with the Dark Horde and their attempts to resurrect the Dark Queen. The art in this segment is pretty gruesome, unlike the good girl art in the rest of the book. The volume concludes with a cover gallery of pin-ups, er, alternate covers.



It is volume 14, so that should be a tip off that this might not be the place to start. New readers to the series should start elsewhere as the first story is a continuation and the last story arc is left on a bit of a cliffhanger. The art falls into the "good girl" school, so women are beautiful and scantily clad throughout the book. There are also beautiful men, but they stay clothed for the most part. The cover should be a tip off to what you are in for with this series.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/784183338?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Courtney Crumrin's Monstrous Holiday (Courtney Crumrin, #4)

author: Ted Naifeh

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.06

book published: 2008

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/12

date added: 2013/12/12

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Volume 4 of Courtney Crumrin collects 2 stories, The Fire Thief's Tale and The Prince of Nowhere. For the uninitiated (as I was), Courtney is a young girl who is sent to live with her uncle, a great wizard. As it turns out, Courtney has an aptitude like her uncle. She also has a boundless sense of curiosity that lands her in dangerous situations more often than not.



In the first story, Courtney finds herself amid two star-crossed lovers in Romania. She is a town girl and he is a gypsy. The problem is he is also a werewolf. In the second story, Courtney makes friends with a vampire who wants Courtney to join him. Courtney seriously considers this.



The way these stories are handled makes them more interesting than the way they are typically handled. Courtney is a spunky, likable heroine with the proper air of teenage weariness. Courtney's uncle comes across as dour and disapproving, possibly from constantly having to save his niece. While the stories feel like they are from an older era, they are set in the modern age. Possibly because he is constantly having to care for his wandering niece. Story and art by Ted Naifeh are wonderful and I will be revisiting this world.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/780442696?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Cozy Classics: Jane Eyre

author: Jack Wang

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.25

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/11

date added: 2013/12/11

shelves:

review:

Cozy Classics is a series of board books for very young children that attempts to introduce them to classic works of literature. The books are illustrated with handmade felt dolls.



Jane Eyre contains just 12 words. Words that will be somewhat key to those familiar with the story. To those not familiar, I'm not sure they would mean anything. It would be interesting to see if these words could embed a love for the stories for these children later in life. The pictures suit the Gothic nature of the story, and tend towards earthy, darker tones.



The series is cute, original and works on more than one level. I think many adult literature lovers will be picking these up for a smile. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books and I love how it was presented here.



I was given a review copy of this book by Smith Publicity and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this adorable entry in the series.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/785548275?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Cozy Classics: Emma

author: Jack Wang

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.00

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/11

date added: 2013/12/11

shelves:

review:

Cozy Classics is a series of board books for very young children that attempts to introduce them to classic works of literature. The books are illustrated with handmade felt dolls.



Emma contains just 12 words. Words that will be somewhat key to those familiar with the story. To those not familiar, I'm not sure they would mean anything. It would be interesting to see if these words could embed a love pictures for the stories for these children later in life. I think the pictures in Emma were my favorite of the three books I chose to review. They are bright and colorful and I think they would really appeal to young children.



The series is cute, original and works on more than one level. I think many adult literature lovers will be picking these up for a smile.



I was given a review copy of this book by Smith Publicity and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this adorable entry in the series.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/785548283?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

The Cozy Classics: Oliver Twist

author: Jack Wang

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.50

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/11

date added: 2013/12/11

shelves:

review:

Cozy Classics is a series of board books for very young children that attempts to introduce them to classic works of literature. The books are illustrated with handmade felt dolls.



Oliver Twist contains just 12 words. Words that will be somewhat key to those familiar with the story. To those not familiar, I'm not sure they would mean anything. It would be interesting to see if these words could embed a love for the stories for these children later in life. The pictures that illustrate Oliver Twist tend toward the darker and I'm not sure how a young child would interpret these.



The series is cute, original and works on more than one level. I think many adult literature lovers will be picking these up for a smile.



I was given a review copy of this book by Smith Publicity and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this adorable entry in the series.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/785548263?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Attack on Area 51

author: Mack Maloney

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.25

book published: 2013

rating: 2

read at: 2013/12/10

date added: 2013/12/10

shelves:

review:

The Wingman series of books started in the late 1980s with a premise of a war started with the Soviet Union and only a handful of survivors. The series falls squarely in with other men's fiction series like The Destroyer or The Executioner. The hero is a man's man as well as a ladies man. These kind of pulp adventures are always fun for a quick read. This is the 17th book in the series and what looks like an attempt to restart the series.



When a wrecked space shuttle is investigated, a body is found. When the body is found to still be alive and revived, it turns out to be Hawk Hunter. Hawk was last known to be travelling into space to battle his nemesis and feared lost. After a pretty brief recovery, Hawk is out to find out what might have happened to him. He thinks the answers lie at Area 51. Getting there means battling lots of nameless, faceless bad guys, but Hawk can seemingly fly any sort of plane, so this is no problem.



It's best not to take this type of story that seriously. There are ludicrous displays of action and plot holes abound. The novella ends with enough open questions that there could easily be more in the series.



I was given a review copy of this book by Open Road Media and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/645242639?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Colder

author: Paul Tobin

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.03

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/09

date added: 2013/12/09

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

When the asylum Declan Smith was in burned down in 1941, he managed to survive in a catatonic state where he never ages, but with a very low body temperature. In our time, a nurse named Reese has taken him home to observe him and to keep her company in her lonely life. What she doesn't know is that he is tied in with a supernatural character known as Nimble Jack who feeds of the insanity of people.



When Declan awakens, the battle with Nimble Jack is on. Declan can help cure those with mental issues, but at the cost of his own dwindling body heat. When Nimble Jack threatens Reese, Declan attempts to save her, but it may cost him the rest of his body heat.



Nimble Jack is a great character, kind of similar to the Joker. Art by Juan Ferreyra is truly gruesome. The striking cover should clue you in to how gruesome the book is. Story by Paul Tobin is engaging and interesting. We don't find out why Declan is in a mental hospital in 1941, but perhaps that is for future issues.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distriburs and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/715402371?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

The Black Beetle in No Way Out

author: Francesco Francavilla

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.06

book published: 2013

rating: 5

read at: 2013/12/07

date added: 2013/12/07

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

In a great homage to pulp heroes, Francesco Francavilla's Black Beetle is a cinematic hero in a graphic novel filled with eye popping art. Panels careen around the page. Action swirls amongst sheet music. You can almost envision it as animated.



Sometime in the 1940s in Colt City, a masked hero with bulging red goggles and an array of cool gadgets fights crime. His real identity remains a secret, even from the reader. His true face is never seen.



As I mentioned, the art is the real star here. Colors are minimal, but used to maximum contrasting effect. Panel layouts and full pages are phenomenal. In notes at the end of the book, you find out that one of the key fight scenes was actually choreographed by a Hollywood fight choreographer. The whole book feels like it's in motion and would make an incredible animated feature. Recommended for the art alone.



I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/733506007?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Hellboy: The Midnight Circus

author: Mike Mignola

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.12

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/05

date added: 2013/12/05

shelves: graphic-novels

review:







via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/778624841?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Judge Dredd: Year One

author: Matt Smith

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.62

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/04

date added: 2013/12/04

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

When juveniles start developing strange psychic abilities, it's up to a rookie Judge Dredd to figure out what's going on. The problem is the youth are extraordinarily violent, often without fully understanding what they are doing.



Dredd is teamed up with Riorden from Psi-Division to try to figure out how to stop these strange outbreaks. What they discover along the way is stranger than they could even imagine, including a possible future where these powerful kids overthrow society.



The one quibble I have is that as a newer judge, Dredd is nearly as competent as he is in later stories. There are a few miscues on his part, but not nearly as many as in other stories of this type. But it's a capable story by Matt Smith and the illustration work by Simon Coleby reminded me of all those great 2000AD stories from the 1980s that I devoured.



I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/779387477?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Red Thread Thinking: Weaving Together Connections for Brilliant Ideas and Profitable Innovations

author: Debra Kaye

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.05

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/03

date added: 2013/12/03

shelves: non-fiction-business

review:

Red Thread Thinking by Debra Kaye is one of the better books on innovation that I've read lately. Rather than talk about innovation and creativity as abstract concepts, there are concrete approaches here that seem to be of some benefit for business innovation.



With chapters on how to stimulate and channel creativity for best business uses, to getting out and seeing how customers are really using your products, to packaging and selling your ideas.



The overall book seems to be focused more on marketing and product research, and there is a lengthy appendix the author offers as a sample for research, but there is better quality here than in many recent books I've read and I will be recommending this book to colleagues.



I was given a review copy of this book by McGraw-Hill Professional and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/509352667?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

HeadTrash: Cleaning Out the Junk that Stands Between You and Success

author: Tish Squillaro

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.40

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/02

date added: 2013/12/02

shelves: non-fiction-business

review:

Headtrash by Tish Squillaro and Timothy I. Thomas takes a look at the things that hamper leaders from leading well. Each chapter is brief, but includes checklists, examples, and lots of encouragement for change.



Chapters cover topics like control (as in control freak), insecurity, anger, etc. Each chapter is laid out basically the same. The authors tell anecdotes about clients they've worked with that have had the particular issue. There are testimonials from business leaders, and simple guidelines to check if you are experiencing this type of headtrash and ways to dig your way out.



It's a short, somewhat simplistic book, but that doesn't mean it's not of value. If it can help someone to clear out the garbage that keeps someone from success, then it has it's merits.



I was given a review copy of this book by Greenleaf Book Group and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/583795628?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Thumbprint

author: Joe Hill

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.94

book published: 2012

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/01

date added: 2013/12/01

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Mallory Grennan returns from Iraq and tries to pick up the pieces of her broken life. Someone from her past starts sending her thumbprints and she needs to find out who. The truth she finds is gruesome and revealing of who she really might be.



This is based on a short story by Joe Hill, and, while it's not as horrific as some of his other work, it has an inward darkness to it. From Mallory's confession of her past in Iraq, which she seems to have no qualms about, to the constant pressure from her boss John Petty at the VFW bar she works at, there is not a lot of hope or happiness here. The characters exist in a sort of moral ambiguity that they have justified for themselves, so the progression of the story seems like a natural finale.



Story by Joe Hill and Jason Ciaramella is dark and only gets darker. Art by Vic Malhotra is simple with vague shapes that fit the ambiguous moral nature of the story being told. I enjoyed it.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/733505971?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss