City: The Mind in the Machine Volume 1

author: Eric Garcia

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.00

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/30

date added: 2014/10/30

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'City: The Mind in the Machine Volume 1' is a graphic novel that is set in the not too distant future of our surveillance state. It's an action packed story that is a bit creepy. Spoilers will surely follow.



Ben Fischer helped to develop what is billed as the world's greatest surveillance system, but when Homeland Security sees a botched test, it's back to the drawing board. Before further work can be done, Ben is set on a course of action that will change his life and make him something more than human. He is changed and made to be part of the city. With his newfound abilities, he looks into the circumstances around his accident and finds things that send him on the run.



It's a page turning story that adds a sci-fi element to a police state gone crazy. With surveillance everywhere, it's definitely a cautionary tale. Does power corrupt even if it's meant for good? Do the innocent get judged along with the guilty? The message in the graphic novel is not that heavyhanded, but it is pervasive in the plot. I never felt preached at and found it to be a pretty exciting story.



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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Medic Against Bomb: A Doctor's Poetry of War

author: Frederick Foote

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.80

book published:

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/30

date added: 2014/10/30

shelves:

review:

'Medic Against Bomb' is an unusual collection of poetry. The author, Frederick Foote, is a retired U.S. Navy physician and he is the director of the Poetry Project at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.



These are poems from wartime. Mainly written on the hospital ship COMFORT. The harsh nature of war in light of poetry does nothing to diminish it's horror, but it does come through as an interesting expression. From poems about soldiers dying, and enemy combatants that are being saved on the operating table. Poems to lost comrades and about the effects of PTSD. The poems are visceral and pretty raw in some instances.



It's a short volume, and a few poems in the middle of the book were a bit too freeform for me, but overall I really enjoyed the collection. Earlier in the year, I read a book written by a nurse during World War I. This was a good comparison volume from about 100 years later. War is still hell. The death and destruction are still hard on those who practice the art of healing in those circumstances.



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





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Transformers: Windblade

author: Mairghread Scott

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.50

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/29

date added: 2014/10/29

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Transformers: Windblade' takes place after the events in Dark Cybertron. It's more of a mystery story than a straight up action story, but it wasn't too bad.



Uneasy allies now reside on the badly injured Titan Metroplex. Metroplex is damaged to the point of not communicating so Windblade is designated as the speaker for the massive city. Decpticon Starscream is in charge of the city, but Windblade doesn't trust him. When a tragedy strikes the city, Windblade goes in search of answers and to expose the traitor in their midst. Her journey will take her into the heart of Metroplex and she'll have to make some hard decisions before she learns the truth.



It's not a bad story, but the art by Sarah Stone is what kept me turning the pages. The story itself wasn't bad and the Windblade character is interesting, but I think I like the more familiar characters in the lead roles. It's only 4 issues, so it's a bit short, but I still enjoyed reading it. Especially for that art.



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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Minimum Wage Volume 1: Focus on the Strange

author: Bob Fingerman

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.92

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/29

date added: 2014/10/29

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Minimum Wage Volume 1: Focus on the Strange' by Bob Fingerman does indeed focus on the strange. With a plot like a Judd Apatow film, it's definitely an R-Rated comic.



Recently separated, and soon to be divorced, comic book artist Rob Hoffman is looking to restart his life. He's living with his mom and trying to get his life back together with better jobs and a renewed dating life. His friends aren't especially encouraging, and the dating scene is discouraging at best, and pretty strange at worst. Another strange encounter happens with Rob and a childhood idol that is bizarre. Will Rob find happiness, a steady job and someone to love? You'll just have to read for yourself.



It's an underground comic in the spirit of Pekar and Crumb among others, but it's got it's own strange humor. The art kept me turning pages. It's very cartoony, but detailed. It was reminiscent of the cartoon work in Mad Magazine that I remember, and I really liked it. The story is pretty crude and isn't for everyone (me included), but it's still a well made work.



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







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Dear Son: A Father's Advice on Being a Man

author: David Bruskas

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.60

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/26

date added: 2014/10/26

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'Dear Son: A Father's Advice on Being a Man' by Dave Bruskas has the kind of title you might just overlook. When you realize that the author is a sonless father and this is his advice to a son he lost a long time ago, it takes on poignancy. The advice is solid and given over a lifetime of ministry to young men.



The book is divided into chapters, each focusing on a different characteristic of a young man's life. Titles like Christian, Brother, Provider and Citizen give you an idea of the content. Each chapter begins with a letter from Dave to his son, who died shortly after being born. As someone who has gone through a not unsimilar loss, I can agree that it's the kind of thing that stays with you. The letters are about milestones in the family: graduations, events in his sister's schools, and birthdays. After the letter is some Christian advice for young men. According to Dave, we have a crisis among young men who are not stepping into the roles they should to lead the next generation. There are illustrations from young men that Dave has led and shepherded.



It's a well written book and easy enough to read. I've heard Dave preach on a number of occasions and he has a similar writing style. It's personal, straightforward and sincere. Recommended for young men in their late teens to late 20s.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Tyndale House Publishers, Resurgence and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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The Art of Eating through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook and Culinary Survival Guide

author: Lauren Wilson

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.77

book published: 2014

rating: 5

read at: 2014/10/26

date added: 2014/10/26

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'The Art of Eating through the Zombie Apocalypse' shows that even though the world has ended as we know it, it's no reason that you can't eat well. Blending the current crazes of zombies, doomsday preppers, and foodies, this is an incredibly fun and informative book to read.



The book is divided into sections based on whether you are going to be holed up in your home ('bugging in') or fleeing for your life ('bugging out'). Supply lists for bug out bags and pantries are given. So are so many other things like instructions for snaring and butchering wildlife, canning, growing your own food, building stoves and cooking sources, collecting water and general campcraft. There are the recipes that include things to do with mealworms, MREs and the contents of your pantry. Food safety is discussed with things like which perishable items should be eaten first and how to determine if a plant is safe to eat. The careful reader will find out if dehydrated cheese is edible, what foods will be worth trading for MREs, and when zombies in film started eating brains and who erroneously gets the credit.



Author Lauren Wilson is a professional chef, so the instructions here are legit. Illustrations by Kristian Bauthus are great, ranging from rampaging zombies, to illustrations of cook stoves, edible plant life and so much more. It's probably the most entertaining survival guide I've ever read, but it could be the most deliciously practical. Included within the book are pointers to other books to expand knowledge of things like cooking with natural yeast or butchering, but I kind of wish they were in an appendix. There is an index of the included recipes. At 339 pages, it's a bit hefty, but you can bet it's going in my bug out bag.



I was graciously given a review copy of this book by the nice people at BenBella Books and Smart Pop along with NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this smart, funny book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.





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Meteor Men

author: Jeff Parker

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.62

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/24

date added: 2014/10/24

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Meteor Men' is a perfect story for the graphic novel format. It's mystery and wonder are perfect for this medium. Some slight spoilers follow.



Alden Baker lives on his deceased parent's farm until he's old enough to own it. On the night of the Perseid meteor shower, he and others are out in the pasture to observe it. Along with the shower, meteors crash on Earth, including not far from where he is. A fight ensues over who owns the meteor, but what are they really and why did so many land? The mystery deepens over weeks as mysterious things are seen on the planet, and Alden finds himself in a unique place in the middle of a global crisis.



The art and story work well together, and it's the kind of visual story that works better with sequetial art. It's a good story completely suitable for YA. Alden is a likeable character. There are some strange jumps in the story. Some are possibly because of the story, but some were just a bit strange to me. I liked it well enough and I do recommend it.



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





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The Square of Revenge

author: Pieter Aspe

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.41

book published: 1995

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/24

date added: 2014/10/24

shelves:

review:

'The Square of Revenge' by Pieter Aspe was originally published in Flemish in 1995 and has been recently translated into English. It's no Millenium Trilogy, but it's not a bad procedural mystery and it's an interesting setting.



When a couple night shift cops stumble across a jeweler's store that's been broken into, they think it's a standard smash and grab. What they don't expect to find is that the thieves have liquified all the gold jewelry in acid. Surely this is a crime of revenge, not greed. A strange note with five words only adds to the mystery. Assistant Commissioner Pieter Van In is assigned the case. What he finds is a plot to ruin a wealthy family and some surprising twists and turns. I did kind of figure out the twists and turns, but it's still a good revenge crime.



There's a bit of objectification of women that I haven't seen in mystery novels in a while and it was a bit off-putting to me. Maybe it's the culture, maybe it's because the cops are men or maybe it's because the book is almost 20 years old and also from another culture, so I took that into account. I like the Van In character, although the love interest portion of the book was kind of cloying and annoying by the time the book was done. I liked the setting, and I'd read another book in this series.



I was given a review copy of this ebook by 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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The Best American Infographics 2014

author: Gareth Cook

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.20

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/23

date added: 2014/10/23

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'The Best American Infographics 2014' is a mind-boggling compendium of facts distilled down to image form. This collection represents the best of the past year in this art and data form for America.



The book is divided into four categories: You, Us, Material World and Interactive. The infographics range all over the place. A circular graph shows various cheeses based on source and hardness or softness. The same circle is used to show how long a song takes to reach the charts in various categories of music. There is an underground map with stations named after the flavors a man with synesthesia associates with them. There are charts for baseball and animal droppings and wine pairings and Justin Bieber. It just goes on and each one is beautiful and intersting.



I spent lots of time soaking this book in. The ability to distill large data into something easier to digest and elegant is truly an interesting modern artform. There are infographics from major publications, but also from blogs. I really enjoyed this book.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley in exchange for and honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this beautiful ebook.





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Southern Bastards, Vol. 1: Here Was a Man

author: Jason Aaron

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.27

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/22

date added: 2014/10/22

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Southern Bastards, Vol. 1: Here Was a Man' delivers on it's title. Serving up a whole town full of unsavory folks. Along the way, the typical stereotypes are served up. The writer and artist are both from the South, but after this, they might not be welcome back.



When Earl Tubb goes back to clean out his daddy's house after many, many years away. His father's grave stands in the front yard with a tree growing out of it. His dad was tough, and Earl seems to have gotten that from his father. A trip into town for some BBQ lands him in the middle of something, but not before he is recognized as that long ago football hero. The town is in bad shape, and Earl wants to just leave it to rot, but that would make for a short story, wouldn't it?



It's not that there aren't any nice people in the town, they're just sheep being surrounded by nasty wolves. Earl is a great character with his towering figure and his ability to take a beating. What we get of his backstory is pretty good too. I liked the writing and art, and I'll be interested to see where they go next with this series.



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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Angry Birds Comics Volume 1: Welcome to the Flock

author: Jeff Parker

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.56

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/21

date added: 2014/10/21

shelves: children-s, graphic-novels

review:

'Angry Birds Comics Volume 1: Welcome to the Flock' proved two things to me. First, you can make a decent comic out of characters from an app, and second, that Paul Tobin can write anything, and he does it well.



The birds are trying to protect their eggs. The pigs are trying to steal the eggs. The birds fly over to the pigs village to keep the pigs from having time to steal the eggs. That's pretty much the premise of the game. The pigs are pretty dumb, but some of the birds are too. When Bomb Bird gets the hiccups, he keeps blowing up anything around himself. Another story has the pigs trying to brainwash the birds with candy and propaganda to make them doubt each other. My favorite might have been the pigs building a theme park that had a lot in common with a certain California based theme park. There are other stories. There is even, I think, a flip comic that runs along the bottom pages of the book, but in a review electronic copy, it's a bit hard to flip the pages fast enough.



It's all perfectly great fun for kids, which is great, since I learned how to play the game from my, then, 4 year old niece. Rather than being one-note like the game, it felt more like the old Coyote/Roadrunner cartoons. I hope there are more. This was fun.



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 fun graphic novel.





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Nailbiter Volume 1: There Will Be Blood

author: Joshua Williamson

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.13

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/20

date added: 2014/10/20

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Nailbiter Volume 1: There Will Be Blood' is a trippy and gruesome graphic novel. It's also a story that continues, so just know that going in.



The series is named after a character that likes biting the nails of his victims, but he's only one of 16 that all seem to come from a small town in Oregon. When an NSA agent gets a call from a friend stating that he's found a link, he travels to the town. He finds a strange town obsessed, but not obsessed with it's legacy. He finds a young deputy trying to keep the peace. He finds a killer he thought he put away running loose after the jury cut them loose. What he doesn't find is his friend. As he gets more and more involved, things get more and more gruesome.



There is humor here, although it is decidedly dark in nature. The killers and the way they operate are gruesome, but humorous. The art is pretty good too. It's an ongoing series, so this volume doesn't complete the current story arc. I'll just have to wait for the rest. With the lights on.



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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The Mutts Diaries

author: Patrick McDonnell

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.52

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/20

date added: 2014/10/20

shelves: children-s

review:

'The Mutts Diaries' by Patrick McDonnell is a great collection of comic strips for kids. I found myself liking it quite a bit as well.



Every character gets a chapter, but the characters are featured throughout. Cat Mooch and his best friend Earl. Bip and Bop are two squirrels that like pelting people on the head with nuts (among other things). Guard Dog, Crabby, Shtinky Puddin' and Chickpea and Chickpea's brother are also featured. Comic strip themes include vacations, life in the pound, having an owner, what each character would teach in school. The strips are silly and sometimes poignant.



It's a quick read, but the kind of thing I loved as a kid. I remember reading Nancy and Sluggo, Peanuts, Garfield and Bloom County. The drawings are simple but pretty adorable. The only character that seems a bit out of place in a kids collection is Crabby, who can't seem to make a sentence without a cuss word in it. Words are substituted by characters (#$%!*), but I still found it less funny for a kid's book. Other than that, I enjoyed this collection a lot.



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





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Never Let Me Go

author: Kazuo Ishiguro

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.79

book published: 2005

rating: 5

read at:

date added: 2014/10/20

shelves: favorites

review:







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Disney after Dark (Kingdom Keepers, #1)

author: Ridley Pearson

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.91

book published: 2005

rating: 3

read at:

date added: 2014/10/20

shelves: children-s

review:







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Battlefield Earth

author: L. Ron Hubbard

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.39

book published: 1982

rating: 3

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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Flowers for Algernon

author: Daniel Keyes

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.97

book published: 1959

rating: 4

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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The Giver (The Giver, #1)

author: Lois Lowry

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.11

book published: 1993

rating: 5

read at:

date added: 2014/10/20

shelves: young-adult

review:







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The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)

author: Stephen King

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.76

book published: 1982

rating: 4

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers (Red Dwarf, #1)

author: Grant Naylor

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.99

book published: 1989

rating: 4

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet, #1)

author: Orson Scott Card

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.28

book published: 1985

rating: 5

read at:

date added: 2014/10/20

shelves: young-adult, favorites

review:







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The Caves of Steel (Robot, #1)

author: Isaac Asimov

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.11

book published: 1954

rating: 4

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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A Princess of Mars (Barsoom, #1)

author: Edgar Rice Burroughs

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.78

book published: 1917

rating: 3

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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The Handmaid's Tale

author: Margaret Atwood

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.98

book published: 1985

rating: 4

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington, #1)

author: David Weber

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.10

book published: 1992

rating: 3

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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The Martian Chronicles

author: Ray Bradbury

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.09

book published: 1950

rating: 5

read at:

date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

author: Philip K. Dick

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.06

book published: 1968

rating: 4

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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Snow Crash

author: Neal Stephenson

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.97

book published: 1992

rating: 4

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date added: 2014/10/20

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review:







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Fahrenheit 451

author: Ray Bradbury

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.98

book published: 1953

rating: 0

read at:

date added: 2014/10/20

shelves: favorites

review:







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I Remember Beirut

author: Zeina Abirached

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.55

book published:

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/19

date added: 2014/10/19

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'I Remember Beirut' by Zeina Abirached is her memoir of growing up in Beirut during the Christian and Muslim war in the 1980s. The art is fantastic, but I kind of wanted something more.



Then again, she was just a child, so perhaps my expectations were a bit high. She talks about living in what the school thought was the neutral zone, so they had to be driven out of their neighborhood to a bus stop. Her brother collected shrapnel. There were blackouts and fuel shortages. Along the way, the family got to do normal family kinds of things. Life in a warzone isn't much fun and that's mostly the feeling you get here.



But the artwork is stunning, and really why anyone should read this. It's black and white with clean lines and beautiful patterns. I love young Zeina's wavy hair, and the map with fish where water should be. It's really great and I'd like to see more graphic work by this author.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lerner Publishing Group, Graphic Universe and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this beautiful graphic novel.





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Incredible Change-Bots Two Point Something Something

author: Jeffrey Brown

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.00

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/19

date added: 2014/10/19

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Incredible Change-Bots Two Point Something Something' by Jeffrey Brown isn't so much a cohesive story as a collection of short stories, gallery art, and other ephemera.



I wasn't as familiar with the Change-Bots, but they are robots that transform into everyday objects like cars, microwaves, and cassette tapes. One of the robots is a golf cart. It's all a take off on another famous series with changing robots. Some of it's funny, some less so. This volume includes some toy and video game prototypes and interviews with most (?) of the Change-Bots. There is also some information about fan clubs and special editions of the comic that came out.



I would have liked something more complete, but I didn't have much description going into it for review. I've liked other work by Jeffrey Brown and I liked this too. Just not as much as other things he's done that I've read. I'm thinking I need to hunt down some earlier Change-Bots stuff and give that a try.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by 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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Doomboy

author: Tony Sandoval

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.64

book published: 2011

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/18

date added: 2014/10/18

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Doomboy' by Tony Sandoval tells the story of how loss can propel our creativity. It's a harder edged story, but the art is kind of a strange juxtaposition to it, but I ended liking it.



The characters look really young with the style of art, so it was a bit strange to see them cussing, drinking and hanging out in clubs. I got used to the style and moved on to the story. Young D (or ID, it's hard to tell with the stylized way his name is spelled) has recently lost his girlfriend and finds himself with a hole where his heart was. A literal hole. Along with this, he's also not getting along with his band. He decides to take his music into a visceral space and try to broadcast it to his lost love. What ends up as an isolated project might end up reaching farther than he thinks. This doesn't solve all the problems, but gets him to move on with his life.



The art is unusual and, at times, completely beautiful. There are skyscapes that kept me glued to some pages. The story and art end up working, and I ended up liking this quite a bit. It is a bit rougher with language and drinking which might make the cover art deceiving for those thinking it's a lighter book, but it's a good read.



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





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Alive

author: Hajime Taguchi

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.93

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/18

date added: 2014/10/18

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Alive' is a manga comprised of Short stories, all of a normal nature, but most have a twist. This book is from Gen Manga which is an indie manga publisher printing manga from the Tokyo underground.



Themes of depression, violence, fear of love, isolation and aging all run through the book. There is a story about a girl who gets a new pair of glasses that obfuscate things she doesn't like to look at, which makes math class and homework a bit hard to do. There's the girl who's decided to drop out of society and live in a shelter on the roof of her building, which works well until a storm comes. There is the man with the life-sized doll who doesn't want real relationships, or does he? There are themes of loneliness and isolation. Some stories are funny, many are poignant.



Some stories do tend to trail off, so it was a bit tough to figure out where one ended and another began. Sure, the characters changed, but it was hard to tell if it was a story change, or a scene change. Some stories have titles, but many don't so this added to the confusion. Overall I liked it. The nice thing about a collection like this is if a story isn't working for you, there's a new one in a few pages.



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





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Personal (Jack Reacher, #19)

author: Lee Child

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.77

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/17

date added: 2014/10/17

shelves:

review:

'Personal' is number 19 in the Jack Reacher series. The good thing about this series, is that it remains pretty consistent, even after 19 books. It's also pretty good modern noir fiction.



Jack is minding his business in Seattle when he gets a message in the paper from someone he owes a favor to. Before he knows it, he's on a jet to the East coast where he finds out a sniper has tried to kill the French president with a nearly impossible shot. Only a small handful of people could have made the shot at that distance, and one of them has a link to Jack. Before long, Jack finds himself on another jet to Europe. In typical Jack style, he finds himself in one mess after another and then finds his way out again.



Lee Child has a writing style I've liked. It's sort of a hard-boiled prose that's fun to read. For Reacher being such a serious person, he's kind of funny. I loved the description of kicking a door down being compared to baseball. Actually, baseball was mentioned quite a bit in this book. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell, Delacorte Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Blackwater Lights

author: Michael M. Hughes

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.41

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/17

date added: 2014/10/17

shelves:

review:

'Blackwater Lights' is the kind of building horror story that kept me turning the pages. It's a guilty pleasure, like a good B movie.



When Ray receives a strange phone call from his friend Kevin, begging him to visit Blackwater, he decides to see his friend. He finds himself in a weird adventure that seems to connect to him. There are sinister cults, strange preachers, a lovely waitress and her precocious child, and Ray, stuck in the middle. As the story progresses, the noose tightens until Ray is forced to fight or flee.



It's a well written book and I look forward to the sequel. I've read better and many worse supernatural thrillers. The premise is interesting enough to make me come back for more.



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





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Undertow Volume 1: Boatman's Call

author: Steve Orlando

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.88

book published: 2014

rating: 2

read at: 2014/10/16

date added: 2014/10/16

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Undertow Volume 1: Boatman's Call' is a story about Atlantis. It seems like it should be high adventure, but strange art and a confusing story bogs it down.



The story jumps around, but color choices in the art sort of help to keep that straight. There is a spaceship that needs to be investigated and a strange amphibian humanoid that must be hunted and found. This leads a group of explorers to the surface. They make an odd sight with their helmets full of water so they can survive. There are political machinations and powerful beings capable of violent actions. But there are too many plot points and eventually it just kind of sinks into the mud. By the end, I just didn't care and that's no way to end a graphic novel.



It has all the right ingredients, but probably just too many of them. The art is confusing and muddled and I didn't care for it. I did like some of the character and costume designs, but the art doesn't help clarify the story. I'm having a hard time recommending 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.





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Cosmocopia

author: Paul DiFilippo

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.00

book published: 2010

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/16

date added: 2014/10/16

shelves:

review:

'Cosmocopia' falls squarely into the genre of weird SF. Strange like Philip Jose Farmer, which is a compliment in this case.



When aging artist Frank Lazorg is sent a new ingredient to use as pigment, it leads to strange new things when he starts ingesting it as a drug. This leads him to commit an unforgiveable act and he ends up accidentally escaping to another world. The inhabitants of this new world are unusual, but Frank finds himself able to understand them. He is taken in and learns their ways, but he is not content to just exist, and he yearns to create again, but can his notion of art be accepted in a world so strange?



It's strange and reminded me of the psychedelic era of SF in the early 1970s. I like the way Paul DiFilippo spins a story. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, but I liked it overall.



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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The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures

author: Sebastian Gregory

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.10

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/07/10

date added: 2014/10/15

shelves:

review:

'The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures' is a creepy asylum in the woods for woe-begotten folks and creatures that are the products of fairy tales. Taking the darkness of the Brothers Grimm and taking it even darker, this was an interesting look at known fairy tales.



Blood Red Riding Hood sees a wolf where her grandmother should be. Thumbeana is a doll and it's not her fault, but she should still be locked away because of the way she was made. Thread Bear is a stuffed toy that has seen sadness. There are others. All locked away so their madness can't infect the world. There are snapshot looks at Rapunzel, Beauty and Cinderella.



I wasn't sure what I was going to be reading when I requested this, but I hoped for something creepy and gothic. Sebastian Gregory's style in writing this is spot on. It's horrific, but still has the feel of classic fairy tales. I really enjoyed it.



I was given a review copy of this ebook by Carina UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this delightfully creepy ebook.





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Rocky and Bullwinkle: Moose on the Loose

author: Mark Evanier

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.00

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/15

date added: 2014/10/15

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Rocky and Bullwinkle: Moose on the Loose' is a hilarious graphic novel by Mark Evanier and Roger Langridge.



The graphic novel has 4 issues. Each issue has a Rocky and Bullwinkle story split in half with a Dudley Do-Right story. I have to confess to not liking the Dudley stories quite as strongly, but I was always a Mr. Peabody and Sherman fan. The Bullwinkle stories are fun and full of groan-inducing puns, which I loved. There are even some inside puns for folks who loved the original show. Boris and Natasha show up with their plans to rid the world of Moose and Squirrel. Will they be successful or will they be foiled?



I loved the writing and the art, and it's a perfect homage to the original series. I think it's just right for kids and kids at heart. While kids may not be as familiar with these characters, this might be a good introduction. Really fun stuff.



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 hilarious graphic novel.





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Journeyman: Eric Clapton -- A Photographic Narrative

author: Gene Shaw

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.25

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/12

date added: 2014/10/12

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'Journeyman: Eric Clapton -- A Photographic Narrative' is Gene Shaw's record of photographing and documenting concerts by and with Eric Clapton from 1982 to 2013. It's a glimpse into the life of a concert photographer and fan, but it kind of stays at the glimpse level, and I would have preferred more depth for particular concerts.



After a foreward and introduction by others, we learn how Gene Shaw came to be interested in Eric Clapton. Then we get into the concerts. Every concert starts with how Gene was able to get in. Sometimes it was by a hair, but with the help of friends, he was usually taken care of. He briefly describes the concert, what Clapton looked like, and any guests that were on stage with him. There is a set list and band roster for each concert and then photos. Sometimes there are only a very few photos. Sometimes there is travelogue for gigs that were in Europe or elsewhere in the States. Some of the photos are pretty good, and were even used in CDs or liner notes, some of them seem only a bit okay.



I'm impressed by his level of fandom, and the number of concerts he's been too, but after looking at pictures of 30 concerts, it all kind of runs together. I suppose for fans of Eric Clapton who want a record of concerts for this time period it will be of interest, but for those less specifically interested, it soon became a bit tedious.



I was given a review copy of this ebook by Dover Publications, Calla Editions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Kamen Volume 1

author: Gunya Mihara

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.47

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/12

date added: 2014/10/12

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Kamen Volume 1' by Gunya Mihara is an interesting manga and the first part of a larger story. Fortunately the first part is a pretty interesting story.



When a mysterious masked man shows up among a group of prisoners in a fortress, there is a bit of confusion and fear of him. The fact that he can't talk doesn't help him with his captors or fellow prisoners. General Simba has her own ideas of what to do with the prisoners, but has to fight her uncle and some of the other soldiers. When the strange masked man exhibits some interesting skills, things get even more complicated. Add in an advancing army, and we get a good setup for the next volume.



It reminded me of a samurai film or a spaghetti Western. Lots of characters with their own motivations and a potentially silent hero to show a different path. With the exception of the masked character, it plays out along the lines it seems to be meant to. I'm looking forward to volume 2 to see if that changes. The art is pretty good and there are a ton of characters. Sometimes, it's a bit hard to figure out who's who, but there is a character list at the back of the volume.



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





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Meka

author: Jean-David Morvan

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.25

book published:

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/10

date added: 2014/10/10

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Meka' is the new graphic novel by Jean-David Morvan is one I've been looking forward to reading. As a fan of his writing on 'Naja' and 'Zaya' I was hoping for another interesting story. 'Meka' is a still good story, but not as good as others I've read by him.



The book opens with giant robots fighting over a city. When one of them crashes, we find out there are people piloting them. These people miss out on their rescue and must make their way through a hostile city. One of the reasons the city is hostile is due to the collateral damage caused by the flying robots. The pilots must work to save each other even though one is supposedly a less seasoned soldier.



About at the point the story is heading in an interesting direction, it just ends. Right at 96 pages. I'm hoping this is volume 1 because it felt like there was more potential story. The art by Bengal is good, though I liked the work in Naja a bit more. Some of the panels are a little hard to decipher, but the art is clean and crisp and interesting to look at.



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





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The Box People (Book One of the Ersatz Trilogy)

author: Kenny Peavy

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.00

book published: 2013

rating: 2

read at: 2014/10/10

date added: 2014/10/10

shelves: children-s

review:

'The Box People' is a children's book with a heavy handed message and only fair prose and pictures. It's got a message of non-conformity, but seems to be more about overthrowing conventional norms in a sort of violent way.



People live in boxes. Surrounded by boxes, watching boxes, washing in boxes. You get the picture. One guy is so uptight about this that he goes to live in a park and everything is suddenly stress-free. He convinces all the box people to blow up their boxes and live in whatever way they'd like, as long as it's not in a box.



I'm not opposed to anarchy or unconventional ways of thinking in any literature, even children's literature. Where I had a problem here is with the peaceful, idyllic back-to-nature message being disrupted by destroying the city. For the type of book this is, that was a bit jarring.



The pictures are ok, but nothing that would engage a child. They book is written in a rhyming meter, but it's certainly no Dr. Seuss. While it seeks to have a rhythm in some paragraphs, it abandons it outright in others. And while the message about non-conformity is good, it's just too heavyhanded when it's all said and done.



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





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D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy, 1944

author: Rick Atkinson

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.56

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/09

date added: 2014/10/09

shelves: children-s, non-fiction

review:

'D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy, 1944' by Rick Atkinson is an attempt to create an interesting and informative work for younger readers. For the most part, I think it works.



Pulitzer priae winner Atkinson is best known for his Liberation Trilogy, an exhaustive and excellent history of the Americans in the European theater of war during WWII. This book takes material from the final volume, 'The Guns At Last Light,' to focus just on D-Day. From a brief overview of the war to this point, and the planning meetings by commanders to the invasion and aftermath, the book covers a whole lot of ground very well in a short amount of pages. Additionally, there are lots of photos and maps showing famous generals and soldiers on the ground. The book also pulls few punches with some rough language and brief descriptions of combat wounds suffered by soldiers.



When I was 11, I would have loved this book, but I was 11 a long time ago, and I'm not sure what most kids would think of this book. Still, I think it's important that we don't forget the past, and books like this are great ways to introduce a new generation to the past. Perhaps this would be best shared among generations to connect the history to the family tree. A very good book on a very serious subject.



I was given a review copy of this ebook by Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances

author: Matthew Inman

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.38

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/06

date added: 2014/10/06

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances' by Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal is a funny and heartfelt collection of humor about why he runs long distance.



He began running for a number of reasons and receives a series of benefits from it. He talks about the challenges of eating the wrong things, and why running outside is better than other exercise. He tells why he doesn't run at 5 AM. Stomach crunches, treadmills and tanning beds are out, while running up mountains being chased by killer bees is in. Included with the physical book are some Blerch stickers. The Blerch is what tells runners to slow down or quit.



All in all, it's a good argument and encouragement for those who are thinking about running. It doesn't make light of the pain and side effects of long distance running, but argues for why they are beneficial. It's filled with The Oatmeal's trademark humor, and I found myself laughing and reading it aloud.



I received a review copy of this ebook by Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this hilarious and heartwarming ebook.





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Alabaster: Pale Horse

author: Caitlín R. Kiernan

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.02

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/05

date added: 2014/10/05

shelves:

review:

'Alabaster: Pale Horse' by Caitlin Kiernan collects a series of stories about her character Dancy Flammarion. There are illustrations throughout the book by Ted Naifeh.



Dancy is a young albino girl who is tasked by an angel to dispatch evil in the world. Specifically in the Southern U.S. She seems small and unable to perform the tasks. Her relationship with the angel seems vague, burdensome, and almost hallucinatory. Her travels find her on foot, being kidnapped by travelers, and in spooky places like abandoned buildings and dangerous gas stations. Throughout, she is threatened and unhelped, and yet she endures.



I liked the order the stories were presented in. The reader will have to discover that for themselves. Caitlin Kiernan provides some interesting history for where the character came from. The drawings by Ted Naifeh are a bit different from his work on Courtney Crumrin, but not wholly dissimilar. The stories are very much of a place, but I hesitate to use the term Southern Gothic to describe them. The stories are well written and this is a very interesting character. I enjoyed these stories and I'd like to read more by this author.



I was given a review copy of this ebook by Diamond Book Distributors, Dark Horse and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this really good collection of stories.





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Ash and the Army of Darkness

author: Steve Niles

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.52

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/04

date added: 2014/10/04

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Ash and the Army of Darkness' collects the first 8 issues of the comic and it's spot on and hilarious.



From the opening line, 'My name is Ash and I'm an idiot,' you know they got it right. We find Ash back in our world after defeating the Deadites in 1300 A.D. (from the 1992 movie). Due to screwing up an incantation, he finds himself back in the land of the Deadites and everything he thought he fixed has gone badly. With his signature one-liners and his arm-attached chainsaw, he sets out to save things, or screwing them up worse. It might depend on if he's lucky or not.



I think they channeled Bruce Campbell's take on Ash and Sam and Ivan Raimi's script. It's that close. For those of us who always hoped they'd do another movie, this is probably as close as we'll get. The graphic novel includes a script breakdown for issue 1 and a cover gallery. I had a lot of fun reading this.



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





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Maddy Kettle: The Adventure of the Thimblewitch

author: Eric Orchard

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.85

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/04

date added: 2014/10/04

shelves: children-s, graphic-novels

review:

'Maddy Kettle: The Adventure of the Thimblewitch' is a children's story told in graphic novel form. It's my favorite type of children's story because the main character is brave and the story is full of whimsy and wonder.



Maddy works with her parents in their bookstore until they are visited by the Thimblewitch and her parents are changed. Maddy sets out on an adventure to set things right. She meets amazing creatures that help her. She makes friends that help her. She is brave in the face of scary things.



Maddy is a great character. The world she inhabits is also, with talking animals, cloud castles and spider-goblins. The art and story by Eric Orchard are great and I think it would work as a read aloud story or a read alone story for kids between 5 and 7.



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 delightful graphic novel.





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This Is How to Get Your Next Job: An Inside Look at What Employers Really Want

author: Andrea Kay

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.80

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/03

date added: 2014/10/03

shelves: non-fiction-business

review:

'This Is How To Get Your Next Job' by Andrea Kay is a no nonsense guide to landing a job in the times we are in. Andrea Kay writes in an amiable style, and this is a really helpful book.



It's amazing what folks will do and say in an interview and common (and uncommon) errors are shared. There are stories from hiring managers at companies, and lots and lots of tips. There is a great list of things that employers are looking for, as well as lists of things not to do like come into an interview with earbuds on. Resume and cover letter tips are given as well as tips for calming nerves.



Having recently hired someone, I wish I had read this book first. I might have been less nervous as the hiring manager and maybe steered the conversations differently.



I found this to be a very user friendly and highly useful book. Even though much of the information would seem to be common sense, my recent experience would say otherwise. If you're looking for a career, this is a good place to start.



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





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The Crow: Pestilence

author: Frank Bill

name: Wayne

average rating: 2.54

book published: 2014

rating: 2

read at: 2014/10/03

date added: 2014/10/03

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'The Crow: Pestilence' is another chapter in the Crow saga. For those unfamiliar, each story follows another violent death victim as they get revenge. This is a standalone story, but follows that mythos. Some spoilers may follow.



The story follows a group of corrupt coyotes bringing people across the border from Mexico. These aren't nice guys. When a young boxer named Salvador won't take a fall, violent things happen to him and his wife and child. The crow enters shortly afterward to take his revenge, tracking the bad guys down in his own unstoppable way.



It wasn't a bad story, but some of the dialogue seemed a bit stereotypically demeaning. I also wasn't crazy about the art style. It wasn't consistent and at times seemed to lack depth.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by 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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