Wednesday, December 31, 2014

ESV Study Bible

ESV Study Bible

author: Anonymous

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.76

book published: 2007

rating: 5

read at: 2014/12/31

date added: 2014/12/31

shelves:

review:







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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Detroit Graffiti

Detroit Graffiti

author: Chris Freitag

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.83

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/28

date added: 2014/12/28

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'Detroit Graffiti' takes us on a tour of some of the interesting graffiti that has cropped up in Detroit. In an introduction, the idea of artists taking spraycations to the city to practice their art is mentioned along with the rules of not spraying an active building, residence or church. In a city of so many abandoned buildings, this leaves a lot of potentially empty canvas.



The book is divided up by neighborhoods, like Eastern Market, or the Old Packard Automotive Plant. The art is labelled where it can be showing who the artist. Most of the art is stylized names of the artists (Elmer gets around, as he is featured in most sections of the books). There are scattered quotes by some of the artists, but I think I would have like more insight from them than just the scattershot quote here and there. One artist named Malt seems to have parlayed his graffiti skills into commissions as a muralist. Some of the danger of doing this is mentioned in the book. Doing graffiti in some parts of Detroit would seem to be quite hazardous.



The work, since it's mostly stylized names, has a sameness to it, but it's still rather uniquely beautiful, and there are a few artistic murals that are just great to look at. Other than knowing the neighborhoods, it's hard to get context on many of the pictures since they are on concrete walls. There are some shots of whole buildings. I suppose it's better to see something full of color on the side of a building versus a rotting, empty building, and it seems that Detroit has found a potentially new tourism avenue. When it was done, I wasn't sure whether to revel in the art at large, or to mourn for a city that, at least in terms of this book, seems to be dying. I would have liked to have seen more evidence of urban hope, and less pages and pages of tags.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Schiffer Publishing Ltd. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1104559534?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Ciudad

Ciudad

author: Ande Parks

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.88

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/28

date added: 2014/12/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

What do you get when you combine amazing artist Ande Parks with screenwriters Joe and Anthony Russo (Community, Captain America: Winter Soldier)? You get a high velocity story like 'Ciudad.' It rockets from page to page and feels very much like an action movie.



Eva Roche is kidnapped and her father wants her back so badly that he'll hire mercenary Tyler Rake and his team to pull it off. The problems begin with the city of Ciudad that they find themselves in. Tyler is good with an inventive name and improvising when things go bad, but he's not so good when the victim he's rescuing gets under his skin. When things go sideways (more than once), Tyler and Eva find themselves thrown for curveball after curveball. The bullets fly as everyone involved shoots first before asking questions.



My review copy had some pretty low grade art, and I see complaints about it on GoodReads, but some online samples I've seen show a much better resolution than the review copies. That's unfortunate, because the review copy looked like a third generation xeroxed 'zine, and that's no way to treat Ande Parks art. The story is very cinematic and kept me turning pages. I thought it was a pretty good story.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fast-paced graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1018550765?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Sovereign, Volume 1 (Sovereign, #1)

Sovereign, Volume 1 (Sovereign, #1)

author: Chris Roberson

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.33

book published: 2014

rating: 2

read at: 2014/12/28

date added: 2014/12/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Sovereign Volume 1' attempts to tell an epic fantasy story with an interesting world. The problem is that some of the information you might like to have comes late in the book.



The book is comprised of shorter chapters which feature a quote by one of the characters. There are strange characters in masks. There is political intrigue. There are chapters of just exposition with no character dialogue. Strange creatures, explorers, walking dead, and lots of other interesting things going on.



The problem is that you are kind of dumped into the middle of it all and left to founder around to figure out how the world works. Since each chapter at first is another part of the story, these short fragments don't give you much to grasp onto. The book ends with some pages of text relating to the inhabitants of this world and maybe this is where someone should start, but it's dry and uninteresting, and by the time I got to these pages, I was done and ready to move on. The art at times was gorgeous and I loved it, and at other times seemed uneven and I didn't love it. I appreciate the scope of the story being told, and I might try volume 2 if I get a chance, but I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped to be with this one.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics 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/1143838219?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Saturday, December 27, 2014

White Like She

White Like She

author: Bob Fingerman

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.88

book published: 1998

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/27

date added: 2014/12/27

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Bob Fingerman's 'White Like She' is a comic from another time. Specifically the 1990s and that shows a litte in the zany, over the top story.



I'm not sure how to give a synopsis without wrecking this, so bare with me and my slight spoilers. When middle-aged black man Luther Joyce finds himself in a workplace accident that leaves him deformed, his job just wants to do away with him and cover up his death. Luther wants to explore other options, so he finds a way to transfer his brain into a Jewish teenage white girl's body. I think that's all you get, which is about what the publisher's synopsis might give.



The humor and violence are over the top. I liked the garish and ugly art, but I had a hard time seeing the remade Luther as a teenage girl. The character looked quite a bit older, but I think that's the style of the art. Maybe it's a reflection of the original character or her lifestyle. Poor Luther finds himself in a strange new world trying to figure out how best to survive. The humor at times is pretty juvenile, and the story is absurdly strange. It's at least an R-rated story, so definitely not for everyone. I enjoyed Bob Fingerman's 'Minimum Wage' last month and liked seeing another early work by him here. The extras show the early evolution of the story with some different story elements. I liked this glimpse of the creative process. I liked it, but it's definitely kind of a weird B-movie sort of ride.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics 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/1122315354?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Monday, December 22, 2014

Wildfire Volume 1

Wildfire Volume 1

author: Matt Hawkins

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.15

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/22

date added: 2014/12/22

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

If disaster movie mogul Irwin Allen were alive today, he might be telling an over the top story like 'Wildfire Volume 1.' It's the kind of mega-scale disaster and character motivation I remember.



Dan Miller is a plant biologist with seemingly good intentions: to accelerate plant growth so that food crops can feed an overpopulated world. When he is forced to change his experiment under corporate pressure, things go awry. The city of Los Angeles finds itself under siege. As newscasters fight to compete for the story, Dan just wants to find his younger sister. The government wants to find Dan because he may hold the key. Meanwhile, the city continues to find itself in a strange new world.



As I said, it's quite overboard, but fun. Every issues starts with quotes about genetically modifying food. At first there are pro and con arguments, but these eventually give way to just con. Matt Hawkins gives pages of articles at the end of the graphic novel. He states that he's approaching this story from a neutral stance, but that's not how it appears. The story itself is not preachy, but some of the supplemental material feels that way. I was less impressed with the art. It's not a style I'm particularly fond of. Overall, destruction good, preachy documentation less good, art only so-so.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.







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Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Notebooks

Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Notebooks

author: Justin Richards

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.83

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/22

date added: 2014/12/22

shelves:

review:

'Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Notebooks' is not so much a book as a series of fragments. Some of it works better than others.



The Doctor (of Doctor Who) fame, has visited Shakespeare during the course of the TV series, and maybe at other times not documented. This book takes some famous Shakespeare works and shows how the Doctor and his companions might have interfered. We get snippets from Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. There are parts of sonnets and unwritten plays. Throughout there is the strange Doctor interjecting strange things. The volume ends with a short story with the tenth Doctor and Donna Noble involving a bed owned by Shakespeare.



Some of the gags are more clever than others. Sometimes it's easy to tell which Doctor it is, and sometimes less so, but that's not a problem. It's more a book to dip into than to read straight through. Since I'm a Doctor Whoo fan, I enjoyed it for the most part, but I'm not sure if I'd recommend it.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House UK, Ebury Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Data Runner (Data Runner #1)

Data Runner (Data Runner #1)

author: Sam A. Patel

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.66

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/22

date added: 2014/12/22

shelves: young-adult

review:

'Data Runner' takes the old computing concept of sneakernet and updates it into a pretty good futuristic YA novel.



Jack Nill lives with his father in what used to be part of New York. Things have been been better for the two of them and they've had to move into a poorer neighborhood to make things meet. Jack's dad is pretty clever with technology, but he's got a gambling debt. Jack runs in a parkour club with friends. This brings him to the attention of a group of data runners. Data runners use humans to transport data, usually embedded in their arms. This could be Jack's way out, except for the strange person going around disrupting data by cutting off data runner's arms.



It's an exciting read, with Jack being chased and jumping over things through most of the building. There's a larger story involved, and it's not bad. It's also part of a series, and while there is no huge cliffhanger, it does leave threads open for the next book. I found it a quick, enjoyable read.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Diversion Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun ebook.





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Friday, December 19, 2014

Red City

Red City

author: Daniel Corey

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.50

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/19

date added: 2014/12/19

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Red City' combines SF with noir/cop genre and does it quite well, unlike the hybrid science fiction/fantasy story I read that not long ago. It's got lots of familiar tropes that work pretty well.



Ex-Mars cop, Cal Talmage, is given a simple job to find a missing girl. Of course, if it were that simple, it would be a pretty short story, wouldn't it. Things go awry as Cal runs into old informants who seem to have agendas. Along the way, he gets framed for a murder, finds himself in the midst of a potential war between alien races, and meets up with an old partner who may have her own agenda. Can he find the girl and maybe stop an interstellar war?



The book has a good introduction by James Cotten of Dark Highway Films. The book works well as a kind of B-movie cop film. Think Red Heat meets Total Recall. I'm not sure why different alien races would inhabit the planets of our solar system, I'll go with it for the sake of the story. It's fun. The artist changes from issues 1 and 2 to issues 3 and 4. I prefer the artist in the first half and found the change mildly jarring. If I'd read it as individual issues, I likely wouldn't have noticed. Still, it was a fun read.



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





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It Shouldn't Happen -

It Shouldn't Happen -

author: Don Freeman

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.67

book published: 1945

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/19

date added: 2014/12/19

shelves:

review:

'It Shouldn't Happen (to a Dog)' by Don Freeman is an interesting book from another age. The art is okay. The story behind the art makes it worth looking at.



If you have something you want to say, but are not able to, how do you go about saying it? For Don Freeman, a black cartoonist in the military, he saw inequality based on his skin color, but couldn't say anything openly about it. Instead, he tells the story of a soldier who joins the military and gets turned into a dog. We follow the dog as he goes through training and daily army life. We see him go on leave and tries to ride in the front of a city bus. It's not comical, but it is sharp social commentary for a time when this might have been the only way to talk about these things.



I found it to be of historical interest. The introduction is very good, and you get to learn about the artist, Don Freeman. I knew of Don from the children's book Corduroy, but I was unfamiliar with this side of his work. I'm glad I got to read this.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Krampus!

Krampus!

author: Brian Jones

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.55

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/18

date added: 2014/12/18

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Krampus' is the kind of over the top graphic novel satire of Christmas that I don't mind reading this time of year. I thought this one was a bit better than some I've read.



The Secret Society of Santa Clauses has a problem. Someone has stolen the bones of St. Nicholas and taken their magic. As reindeer plummet through the North Pole workshop, they know they have to take desperate measures, so they decide to enlist Krampus to help them. Krampus has been locked up for years for his usual brand of holday hijinks, so the Santas put some safeguards on him by strapping a bomb to his chest and sending him out in the snow with his wolfhound to solve the mystery. He finds his share of obstacles along the way. Can he find the bones and save Christmas?



The Santas are all the santas from around the world, and there is a nice identifier at the end of the book. The guest stars are fun. There is one that is so groan worthy, but I loved the addition, and I won't spoil that here.



The writing is pretty funny. The art isn't bad. The story is definitely not for kids, but was a lot of fun to read. I liked it.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun holiday parody.





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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Star Mage. The First Series

Star Mage. The First Series

author: Jc De La Torre

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.46

book published: 2014

rating: 2

read at: 2014/12/17

date added: 2014/12/17

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Star Mage, The First Series' combines science fiction with fantasy. This is something that rarely works, and it doesn't really work here either.



Poor Darien Connors. When we meet him, bullies have tied him from the flagpole at his school. His father is an astronaut on his way to Mars, and no one has heard from him. But lucky Darien. He's about to find out some crazy unusual things about himself. He's from another planet and his parents are named Dalidor and Kaela, and he has two brothers. Except most of them are gone and one of his brothers (who looks old enough to be his dad) has gone evil. Good thing he's got innate wizard powers that never manifested to him while he was on Earth. Hmmm.



It's a story that's been done before, and, unfortunately, better. Also, made up names and spells are okay and part of speculative fiction, but the names for things in this were so weird that they sounded more made up than usual to me ("Isatumi!", "Girru" and "Dingergisbar" for example) and that becomes a problem because it kept pulling me from the story. Then there are all the plot twists that eventually became laughable. It was a quick enough read, but there are much better things you could be reading.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Alias Hook

Alias Hook

author: Lisa Jensen

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.50

book published: 2013

rating: 5

read at: 2014/12/17

date added: 2014/12/17

shelves:

review:

'Alias Hook' takes a familiar story and spins it on its head. We've seen it before and sometimes it doesn't work so well, but I kind of loved this book.



The story begins in Neverland with Captain Hook falling in the water about to be eaten by a crocodile. Only he isn't. He alone is spared of his crew, and this is his cruel existence. To get a new crew and watch them be murdered by Peter Pan and his boys. It's been happening for a couple centuries, and Hook is in agony.



But something new has happened that Pan doesn't know about. In a world where he knows and controls all, something unexpected has happened. Will this be what Hook needs to escape?



This in not a fairytale for children by any means, but it is a sort of fairytale for adults. We find out about Hook's past as James Benjamin Hookbridge and the actions that got him where he is. We learn that fairytales and flying are fine for children, but there are finer things for grownups. I've loved the story of Peter Pan since I was a child, and I loved this interesting perspective on it with a pirate weary of fighting and death and just wanting a way to escape.



I received a review copy of this ebook from St. Martin's Press, Thomas Dunne Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this great book.





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Monday, December 15, 2014

The Fourth Secret

The Fourth Secret

author: Andrea Camilleri

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.35

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/15

date added: 2014/12/15

shelves:

review:

'The Fourth Secret' is a novella featuring Inspector Montalbano. It was my introduction to this series, and I felt a little lost, but still enjoyed it well enough.



When a construction worker falls from a scaffold, it all appears to be just an on the job accident. Things don't seem to add up, including the fact that the dead worker had a pedicure. Also, there have been a few more of these sort of "accidents." Inspector Montalbano doesn't want to get in trouble investigating outside his jurisdiction, but eventually he finds himself working with an inspector from the carabinieri. Add to that the comedy of errors by the people working for Montalbano, and you end up with a pretty good book.



It's a police procedural with some humor mixed in. Office politics and crazy co-workers, but it doesn't detract from the mystery. Apparently there is a television series based on this series. I think I'll have to go look it up now. Not bad.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun ebook.





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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Bad Machinery Volume 3: The Case of the Simple Soul

Bad Machinery Volume 3: The Case of the Simple Soul

author: John Allison

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.92

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/14

date added: 2014/12/14

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Bad Machinery Volume 3: The Case of the Simple Soul' is another in the series about youth in Tackleford trying to solve mysterious doings in their town. This series makes me laugh out loud, and I can't explain why.



After a series of barn fires in their town, the kids try to figure out what is the cause. When Lottie and Mildred meet a man living under the bridge, they mistake him for a troll. The boys think he is behind the fires, but the girls want to clean him up and set him up for romance. Meanwhile, the Tackleford fire department is a little too enthusiastic about fire, and eventually there are mobs with pitchforks. In other words, a typical adventure in Tackleford.



The art is okay, but I love the dialogue with the characters. It's a great level of snark. The book concludes with a glossary of unfamiliar British terms as well as a gallery of potential husband types from Lottie and Mildred. It's all great fun and I loved it as much as the last volume I read. I look forward to the next mysterious adventure.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this hilarious graphic novel.





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Friday, December 12, 2014

Black Bat Omnibus

Black Bat Omnibus

author: Brian Buccellato

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.22

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/12

date added: 2014/12/12

shelves: graphic-novels

review:







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Sorako

Sorako

author: Takayuki Fujimura

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.32

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/12

date added: 2014/12/12

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Sorako' is part of the GEN Manga series. This was made to give fans a look at indie manga which is pretty hard to come by. I've read a few of these and this one is my favorite so far.



Sorako's story starts with a missing dog, but there is more missing in Sorako's life. She's apathetic about her job, and directionless in her life. Her father is in the hospital, but she doesn't seem to want to spend much time with him. She wants to go overseas and study or get a job, but she makes no move towards it. Simple everyday life makes up this story, and I found it interesting.



The art is what really kept me moving along in this. I loved the art. The story was good, but I had trouble being sympathetic for characters that were so apathetic about where they were in life. There are a series of stories, and not much story arc, but I'm still glad I read it.



I received a review copy of this manga from Diamond Book Distributors, Gen Manga Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.





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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Orphan Blade

Orphan Blade

author: M. Nicholas Almand

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.07

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/10

date added: 2014/12/10

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Orphan Blade' is a graphic novel that looks like it's for younger readers, but it's got a level of violence that makes it not for the Avatar audience.



A world attacked by kaiju finds a way to defeat them by creating a set of weapons from their bones. Hadashi is a young boy who wants to be a warrior. When an accident maims his hand, he finds himself set on a different course. Fate has a role to play, and he finds himself the target of strange kaiju and a group of assassins. Will he be able to become the warrior he always wanted and to make the sacrifices he needs to?



I was not expecting the story in this book based on the cover. The cover looks like an animated cartoon, but contains a story that is quite dark at times. It's very violent, but I did like the use of finishing moves (like in Mortal Kombat). Art by Jake Myler is good. The book is dedicated to writer M. Nicholas Almand, who died in 2013. Overall, I liked it.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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The Future of Architecture in 100 Buildings

The Future of Architecture in 100 Buildings

author: Marc Kushner

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.00

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/10

date added: 2014/12/10

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'The Future of Architecture in 100 Buildings' shows us the cutting edge of buildings from around the globe. My preview copy was only 14 pages long, but it was a tantalizing look at what this book contains.



The text of the book asks a series of questions like 'Can we live in the harshest place on earth?' or 'Can a skyscraper be built in a day?' The book then gives a photo and location of a building answering these particular questions. Not only are the buildings I saw in my preview copy functional, but they were very beautiful as well. The buildings and ideas are innovative and imaginative.



I wish the publishing company had let me view a table of contents, if there is one available. Regardless, it's a gorgeous book. I'd like to see the entire book. Striking and bold.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Simon & Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Soppy: A Love Story

Soppy: A Love Story

author: Philippa Rice

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.20

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/09

date added: 2014/12/09

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Soppy: A Love Story' is the illustrated love story of author Philippa Rice and her real-life boyfriend. It's more a series of vignettes, most of it without words, but I was quite taken with it.



Through a series of panels we see boy and girl living their separate lives, and slowly coming together. Panels show them living together, having milkshakes together and cuddling on the couch. True love isn't always about the big things. It's the small moments that make up a life. The odd sleeping habits, or sharing a living space. Everyday things like grocery shopping or watching television or deciding to garden or not garden are the activities that make up a life.



It was sweet, as you might gather from the cover illustration. While it may lack the arc of a story or any tension, it's not a bad valentine to true love. Yes, it's quite soppy and sappy, but there's nothing wrong with that occasionally, is there?



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this sweet graphic novel.





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Evil Dark (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation, #2)

Evil Dark (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation, #2)

author: Justin Gustainis

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.86

book published: 2012

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/09

date added: 2014/12/09

shelves:

review:

'Evil Dark' brings back Stan Markowski and his newly made vampire partner Karl. I like the blend of police procedural and urban fantasy, and Justin Gustainis creates a plausible world where men and monsters live together.



This time around, a sickening type of snuff film is discovered, along with a series of witch killings. It's all leading up to a race war that may be fueled by a hate group. The FBI is called in to investigate, and Stan and Karl are less than happy about this. When both detectives are targets of death threats, it all gets a little too personal. Can Stan and Karl solve this one before they get taken out?



I like the world. Some of the puns and humor are groan inducing, but I don't see that as a bad thing. It's a fun little series so far.





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Monday, December 8, 2014

Life Change: Finding a New Way to Hope, Think, and Live

Life Change: Finding a New Way to Hope, Think, and Live

author: Jordan Easley

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.83

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/08

date added: 2014/12/08

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'Life Change: Finding a New Way to Hope, Think, and Live' by Jordan Easley is a guide for those wanting to change and stuck in their old ways. It's an easy enough read.



Using the book of Mark, and primarily seven miracles performed by Jesus, Jordan uses his light, humorous style to show a path out of bad habits and guides the reader toward transformation. With chapters on positioning your life for change and change that leads to freedom, the reader is guided to evaluate and let go of sin and the burdens that hold us back. There are warnings on the forces that would fight those changes in us. we see, in a new light perhaps, the paralytic lowered through the roof, a father with a dying daughter, and a demon-possessed man, all having the faith to ask God for help.



Christian self-help books hit me in a strange way. Much of what I've been taught as a christian is that we can't help ourselves, but we must rely on God for those changes. Jordan Easley balances the fine line between self-help and divine help, and I think he's successful with it. While at times the humor was a bit too much, it did help lighten what could have been a heavy subject.



I received a review copy of this ebook from B&H Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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24: Underground

24: Underground

author: Ed Brisson

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.78

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/08

date added: 2014/12/08

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'24: Underground' follows Jack Bauer after the final season into his life as a fugitive. It's not a bad story, but I found the art choices to be murky and sometimes unclear.



Borys Melnchuk is living in the Ukraine with his girlfriend Sofyia, the sister of his boss Petro. When Petro's brother Roman falls afoul of the local Russian Mafia, they come to Petro for him to make good on it. Suddenly Borys in involved, and we learn he is not actually Borys, but Jack Bauer. Soon after, some of his old coworkers at the CTU become aware that he has surfaced. To complicate things further Sofyia is kidnapped by the mob thugs. So, we have Jack looking for Sofyia, while trying to elude capture by the CTU.



It does miss the time element of the series, so while the tension is there, it's not as marked. Colors used in the panels might have been better served to show time passage. Also, the characters are meant to be drawn to look like their characters on the show. This worked somewhat, but I had a hard time distinguishing characters and even action in some panels.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Sunday, December 7, 2014

Charlemagne and the Paladins

Charlemagne and the Paladins

author: Julia Cresswell

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.62

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/07

date added: 2014/12/07

shelves:

review:

'Charlemagne and the Paladins' is another great entry in the Osprey Myths and Legends collection. This time around a subject is tackled that seems to have fallen out of favor.



I was always more of a King Arthur and Robin Hood fan, so was much less familiar with the tales of Charlemagne. The reasons for that are explained, but it's not because the stories aren't as fantastical. Charlemagne was a historical figure, but there are many fictional stories about Charlemagne and his paladins. The most famous of these is Roland (and I have read The Song of Roland), but we do meet Guy of Burgundy and Ogier the Dane. We learn the names of their swords and horses and battle trumpets. We also see how these stories look in the Italian versions and in Robert Browning's poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, which served as a sort of inspiration for Stephen King's character of Roland Deschain in his Dark Tower series.



As well as text, there are plenty of illustrations, photographs and woodcuts to go along with the text. I continue to love this series for it's ability to be so concise in nature. There is a lot of information packed in here as well as the illustrations. The bibliography was a bit briefer this time around, but that is likely due to the briefer amount of modern work about the subject.



I was given a review copy of this ebook by Osprey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Kill Shakespeare Volume 4: The Mask of Night

Kill Shakespeare Volume 4: The Mask of Night

author: Anthony Del Col

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.54

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/07

date added: 2014/12/07

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Kill Shakespeare Volume 4: The Mask of Night' takes place at sea. Our main story has moved off the crazy island. As usual, the art and story are good.



The story starts aboard masked Captain Cesario's ship. He and his first mate Viola find something stowed aboard their ship. It's not treasure, but it may prove of value. It's stowaways in the form on Juliet, Hamlet, Shakespeare and a crazed Othello. Surprises abound, especially when they run into Titus Andronicus' war ship The Lavinia. Viola makes some tough choices, and sets up the story for the next chapters.



The story, as usual was pretty good, but it did feel a bit like a middle story. The art was as good as it's been for this series. I liked this volume of the story. It's definitely graphic and a bit rough, so know that going into the story.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Thursday, December 4, 2014

Princess Ugg Volume 1

Princess Ugg Volume 1

author: Ted Naifeh

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.75

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/04

date added: 2014/12/04

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Princess Ugg Volume 1' tells the story of a charming misfit trying to make the best of a situation she finds herself in. I liked it quite a bit, but it's probably not for really young readers.



Princess Ulga of Grimmeria is a berserker princess, complete with battle axe and a war mammoth to ride on. To appease her mother and learn to be a better ruler one day, she decides to attend princess academy in the kingdom of Atraesca. She is a decidedly square peg trying to fit into a round hole. She ends up rooming with someone who is a complete opposite of her. Will Ulga learn to get along or will she take an axe to her roommate while she sleeps?



Princess Ulga is a great character and totally identifiable for those who can't or won't fit in. I love the situations she gets in and the frustrations she feels. Ted Naifeh's story is great and Warren Wucinich does a great job on illustrating. The story has a couple dark fantasies that make it maybe a bit tough to recommend to younger readers, but for those readers who don't fit the Disney Princess mold, I think this is a perfect story. I can't wait to read more about this strong, independent protagonist.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this very fun graphic novel.





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The Red Magician

The Red Magician

author: Lisa Goldstein

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.68

book published: 1982

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/04

date added: 2014/12/04

shelves:

review:

'The Red Magician' by Lisa Goldstein is a pretty good story of magical realism. I thought the setting worked better than some stories I've read in the same setting.



Kicsi is a young Jewish girl living in a small village in Europe before the beginning of World War II. A strange magician named Voros comes to town and Kicsi is quite taken with him. He claims to be quite old, but he doesn't look like he is. He takes up residence outside the village and has dire warnings for the villagers. One man stands in his way, the local rabbi. The two men begin a battle of wills that is largely internal as far as I can tell. With danger looming, Kicsi knows who she wants to side with, but will it be too late?



I liked the story. It's not straight up fantasy, but it's not a strict drama. Voros has magic, but he's not all powerful. He's also not all knowing and seems fallible. Kicsi grows quite a bit during the story due to circumstances. I quite liked it.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Kamen Volume 2

Kamen Volume 2

author: Gunya Mihara

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.71

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/12/03

date added: 2014/12/03

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Kamen Volume 2' picks up the story from volume 1, but ends on a cliffhanger again. If you want to whole story, you'll have to wait. This volume is mainly a castle siege, which I liked.



Lord Simba has a much smaller attacking force, but superior tactics and strategy, including the tactical and important high ground. The opposing Zoh army is not going to give up easily. This takes up much of the book, until Kamen finally comes in. We don't learn much more about this masked man, so that part of the story doesn't advance much. Kamen remains as mysterious as he was in the first book. I wanted more of that story.



To be honest, much of this book felt drawn out and a little like filler, but I do like Gunya Mihara's art and story. The war story aspect and drawings were good. I was just hoping for a conclusion and not a continuation after almost 500 pages. Still it's interesting, but you might want to wait and read the whole story arc once it's completed.



I received a review copy of this manga from Gen Manga Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.





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The Hunter and Other Stories

The Hunter and Other Stories

author: Dashiell Hammett

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.63

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/03

date added: 2014/12/03

shelves:

review:

'The Hunter and Other Stories' collects 17 short stories and 3 screenplays by Dashiell Hammett. Most have never been published, but they are not unknown among Hammett scholars.



The stories come from various times in Mr. Hammett's career and are grouped into four categories: Crime, Men, Men and Women and Screenplays. Each section begins with a commentary giving origins and any publishing (or attempted publishing) history. You won't find the type of stories that he is known for, but you will find the type of characters he loved to write about. There are detectives and confidence men, blue collar workers and society women



My favorites included 'Sign of the Potent Pills' about a bumbling young detective in love. The story 'Magic' shows an interesting side of Hammett writing about a mystical and strange story about a magician invoking and conjuring. 'An Inch and a Half of Glory' about Earl Parish and the strange turns his life makes after he saves a young child from a burning building. Hammett's screen story 'On The Make' which became the movie Mister Dynamite is a particular favorite because it features a shady detective out to scam money. The collection closes out on a bittersweet note with an unfinished Sam Spade story called 'A Knife Will Cut for Anybody.'



I've always loved the writing of Dashiell Hammett and this writing is just as good as anything else he wrote. He could have written any number of things, but got stereotyped in his writing career. Great stuff for fans of his.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Grove/Atlantic, Mysterious Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Monday, December 1, 2014

Strong Female Protagonist Book One

Strong Female Protagonist Book One

author: Brennan Lee Mulligan

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.14

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/12/01

date added: 2014/12/01

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Strong Female Protagonist Book One' started out kind of irritating the heck out of me, but I kept reading and it kind of grew on me. That's not much of a glowing endorsement, but it is what it is.



Alison Green is an ex-superhero. She still has all the powers and is recognized wherever she goes, but it's just not what she does anymore. She has friends that were superheroes with her, including one named Feral who can regenerate and heal, and another who can shrink down to microscopic size. She used to want to change the world, and realized that the way she was doing it wasn't working.



She has run ins with old villains and tries to help them cope with the strangeness that they are. Unlike many other superheroes, she has family, so that plays into things as well.



It's all part of an online webcomic and it's done in black and white art, but that didn't really bother me. What did bother me was the constant author comments at the bottom of the page. They reminded me of that annoying guy at the movie who always has to make a comment about everything. All they did was keep pulling me out of the story. I wanted to stay in the story. Hopefully those go away in volume 2.



Also, the story starts with Alison already retired, and I kind of felt like I was missing something. Like any sense of joy at having immense power. The thrill of flight, or punching something really hard. Instead, we are left with the aftermath, which is probably the point, but it still felt lacking to me.



I do like some of the emotional punches it packs, and while it took me quite a while to get into it, it finally hooked me. The art is about as good as you'll get from a webcomic and so's the story, but that's not a bad thing. This book was the result of a Kickstarter campaign, so it does have it's fans.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Top Shelf Productions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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