Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time

author: Paul Allor
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/01/01
date added: 2015/12/31
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time' collects 4 issues of the series. Each issue is a different time period, and a different team of writers and artists. I kind of liked it.

Issue one dumps us right in the middle of our turtles runing from Utrom riding dinosaurs (Utrom is the race of aliens that Krang is from). A character I wasn't familiar with named Renet shows up and seems to be responsible for the time displacement, but it seems like she's still having problems. The turtles find themselves in medieval Japan and seeing a chance to change their lives by altering an event from their past. Aboard a sailing ship full of privateers, they help a crew fight off pirates, including one wielding a strange, futuristic weapon. The final issue finds them in a strange future with other anthropomorphic creatures. This strange future may have been caused by one of the guys, so soul searching is required.

My review copy was only 88 pages and the page count is listed as 104, so I'm not sure what I'm missing. There is little extra narrative explaining how this happened or why it's happening, but I don't think that's a problem. The art varies wildly between issues, but I also don't think this is a problem. I thought it was a lot of 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 graphic novel.


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Extinction Point (Extinction Point, #1)

author: Paul Antony Jones
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/31
date added: 2015/12/31
shelves:
review:
'Extinction Point' by Paul Antony Jones is the first book in a series, and it's a pretty good one. I tell you that so you understand that the story does not really stand alone in this volume.

Reporter Emily Baxter is a reporter living in New York. Really early on in the book (so you don't think this is a spoiler), a weird weather phenomenom occurs which bathes the earth in red rain. Emily finds herself unaffected as everyone around her succumbs to the effects of the rain. Emily watches the world around her change rapidly. What begins to happen next proves to Emily that the world no longer belongs to humans. Is she truly alone and what will she do to survive?

It moved along rather quickly and I liked the main character well enough. The book ends with her still on her journey, so I'll definitely read the later books in the series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Amazon Publishing, 47 North, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar, #1)

author: Mercedes Lackey
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1987
rating: 3
read at: 2015/12/31
date added: 2015/12/31
shelves: sword-and-laser, children-s
review:



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Trauma is Really Strange

author: Haines
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/12/31
date added: 2015/12/31
shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction
review:
'Trauma is Really Strange' by Steve Haines, with illustrations by Sophie Standing is the kind of graphic novel, you might overlook, but what is does in it's short 32 pages is pretty amazing.

The book examines what happens to the brain and body when trauma happens. We can go into a disassoiated state where we feel disconnected from our bodies. This happens in PTSD as well as other trauma. Rather than dwell on the causes or the past, the book offers techniques that are used to get patients through it. Using the acronym OMG (for Orient, Move, Ground), we learn how reconnecting with the present and our bodies can help slowly overcome trauma. It's filled with footnotes with related research for those desiring further study.

It's an overly simplified approach to a complex subject, but presented in a very user friendly format. The illustrations are like infographics in nature. They are simple, but help illustrate the topics, like disconnected heads and bodies, or mice curled in fetal positions. The writing is encouraging and frank. I don't think it's overly optimistic, but it would seem to give hope to those suffering trauma and their loved ones. I see this as a very useful resource for those wanting a brief look at the subject and wanting to understand what trauma can do to people.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Singing Dragon, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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ESV Study Bible

author: Anonymous
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.76
book published: 2002
rating: 5
read at: 2015/12/31
date added: 2015/12/31
shelves: non-fiction
review:



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English Wood-Engraving 1900-1950

author: Thomas Balston
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/28
date added: 2015/12/28
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'English Wood-Engraving 1900-1950' by Thomas Balston is a history and sampling of wood engravings from the early twentieth century.

The book tells the history of wood engraving, and talks about how it is different than woodcut drawings. Woodcuts are quite a bit older, wood engraving came into fashion with the invention of the moveable type and the need for finer illustration styles. Early illustrations were used in books and the style picked up when photographic techniques of the time failed to give fine reproductions of certain artists drawings. The history continues through the war years and beyond. Then it's on to some samples of the work, and they are glorious. There are nature prints and abstracts and boats. Works for books and plays and natural histories. They are detailed and worth the small price of the book.

It's a short little work and I quite enjoyed it as a break from my normal reading. It's a reprint from 1951 and I thank Dover for reprinting.

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 fine ebook.


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Big Nate: Welcome to My World

author: Lincoln Peirce
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/26
date added: 2015/12/26
shelves: graphic-novels, children-s
review:
'Big Nate: Welcome to My World' by Lincoln Peirce is another laugh out loud collection featuring Big Nate and his friends and teachers.

Featured this time are strips about grandparent's day at P.S. 38 when Nate brings his grandparent's to school. Also Nate's attempts to get his dad to hand out candy at Halloween instead of tofu, and to make him fun lunches so that he can trade other kids for things. Nate works on becoming a lifeguard. He even gets a tutor to try to get 100% on his social studies test.

I'm a fan of these collections. I recommend them to friends of mine with younger readers, and they seem to be a big hit.

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 ebook.


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Dad's Not All There Any More: A comic about dementia

author: Alex Demetris
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/12/25
date added: 2015/12/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Dad's Not All There Anymore' is a personal comic by Alex Demetris documenting dementia. It's a raw tale, but I think it has the power to be helpful to others in the same circumstances.

The story follows John on a visit to see his father Peter who is living in a care facility. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Peter has Parkinsons and a condition called lewy body dementia. This causes him to have hallucinations. We also see his condition as it deteriorated to the point where he is now in this place.

The tone of the book is sad, but not in a overwhelming or hopeless way. It's the way family deal with long term illnesses. There are funny moments in Pete's story as he sees things or forgets his Parkinsons medicine when he goes to the pub. I was drawn in by the subject and the cover art and I was really impressed by this work. The art style is good and the story is thoughtful and moving.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Singing Dragon, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.



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The Little Red Fish (#2)

author: James Moffitt
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/25
date added: 2015/12/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Little Red Fish #2' is the second book of this series by James Moffitt with art by Bizhan Khodabandeh. The story told is an allegory of the Iranian Revolution of 1979. While I liked this volume, I was overall a bit more impressed with the first issue.

The story continues with a wounded Meluchere, who was injured protecting the fish. As he recovers, some younger fish swim a bit too close to the surface where tragedy hits. As Meluchere is well, the rumors begin to swirl that he might have been responsible. He has to decide what to do to protect the fish.

The art is again very well done. I love the style and setting of this book. The story advances and I look forward to what is next. It's certainly made me more curious about events that I was less informed about, and I find it an interesting way to tell the story. Kudos to the artist and author for a beautifully told story.

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


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Ex-Con

author: Duane Swierczynski
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.27
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/25
date added: 2015/12/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Ex-Con'by Duane Swerczynski and art by Keith Burns is a noir graphic novel that takes place in LA in the late 1980s. It's an interesting story with an odd sort of supernatural/superpower twist.

Cody Pomeroy can see the seven deadly sins on people as different color shades, so he knows when they are lying or greedy, etc. He uses this ability as a crook until he finds himself in prison. While in prison, he ends up owing a favor to a guy inside to be completed when he gets out. That favor is not an easy one and ends up getting further complicated by other favors along the way. The only problem is that his ability to see the truth about people seems to be on the fritz so he doesn't know who to trust.

The setting is the 1980s, but it's that of films like To Live and Die in LA and Less Than Zero. I like the setting and it feels right. I like the noir style. I found the art to be a bit lacking, but the story helped propel things along nicely. I like the kind of noir story where our hero/antihero just keeps finding himself getting pulled in deeper, and this one totally fits that. A fun read.

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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Mayhem in Margaux (The Winemaker Detective Series Book 6)

author: Jean-Pierre Alaux
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/25
date added: 2015/12/25
shelves:
review:
'Mayhem in Margaux' is book six in the Winemaker Detective series. There is a bit less sleuthing this time around, but I still found it an enjoyable read.

It's summer in Bordeaux and a heatwave is threatening the vineyards. Benjamin Cooker is on a holiday and wants to assess the vines. He also has his daughter visiting for a vacation. When she is involved in an accident, it becomes a personal case for Cooker and his young assistan Virgile. Between rivalries and bad feelings, it's hard to know what the motive behind the accident was. As if that's not enough to worry about, there might be something happening between Cooker's daughter and Virgile.

The mystery is there, but it seems to take a back seat to other things, but I was okay with that. I love the relationship between Cooker and his daughter. I like that the winegrowers aren't all enamored with Cooker and his wine reviews. It's a series of short books that are well translated from the original French, and they make nice, light reading.

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


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Any Other Name (The Split Worlds, #2)

author: Emma Newman
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2015/12/24
date added: 2015/12/24
shelves:
review:
'Any Other Name' by Emma Newman is the second book in the Split Worlds series. I first found out about this series in a series of weekly short stories that got sent out by the author. This book takes place after the first full volume, not the stories.

The series takes place between our world and the world of the fae. In that world, there are warring factions and families. This story has lots of characters and story threads that continue on from the last time.

This time Catherine has been forced into an arranged marriage and the circumstances are stranger and more binding than a normal human wedding, including her strange wedding ring. Based on the rules, she just wants out. Meanwhile, Max is looking in to the Agency and Sam is finding odd things out over in Mundanus. The main characters are ok, but the book really starts to be interesting when Lord Iris and Lord Poppy get involved. They are probably the more interesting characters.

You really shouldn't begin with this book. You should start with Between Two Thorns or you will founder in the early part of this book. There isn't a recap to get you caught up.

I like Emma Newman's writing and her worldbuilding. I found some of the men characters to be a bit interchangeable and (no pun intended) mundane. I'd like to read more in the series. Book Three is out and Book Four is on the way. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it.

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


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The Four Freedoms: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Evolution of an American Idea

author: Jeffrey A Engel
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/12/21
date added: 2015/12/21
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'The Four Freedoms: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Evolution of an American Idea' by editor Jeffrey A. Engel is a series of essays examining one of the most popular presidential speeches of the twentieth century. I found it compelling and interesting reading.

In 1941, in order to get the US engaged in the war in Europe, President Franklin Roosevelt designed a speech to spur the American people into understanding what was at stake. With fascists in Europe making different definitions of freedom, FDR simplified freedom into four definitions: 1) Freedom of Speech, 2) Freedom of Religion, 3) Freedom from Want, and 4) Freedom from Fear. The speech was so popular that artistic representations were made, the most famous being those by Norman Rockwell.

The essays in the book each highlight one of the four freedoms, as well as setting a tone for why the speech was given, and where we are now in relation to them. Context is fully given as well as thoughtful explorations of where we've fallen short, or where the ideas fell a bit on the overly broad side. Most interesting might the essay on free speech which does a good job of looking at where speech was before and after the speech, but I also appreciated the one which set the tone for the era and times that prompted it.

It's a powerful speech and really powerful ideas. The writers represented have done a very good job of being mostly fair-minded in their approach to how history has treated these four freedoms. I really enjoyed the chance to read this.

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


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Five Ghosts Vol. 3: Monsters & Men

author: Frank Barbiere
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2015/12/19
date added: 2015/12/19
shelves: graphic-novels
review:



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Whistling Past the Graveyard

author: Susan Crandall
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/16
date added: 2015/12/16
shelves:
review:
'Whistling Past the Graveyard' by Susan Crandall tells of a young girl's journey to reunite with her mom. I like the feel and the book tells a pretty good story.

Young Starla lives in Mississippi, which is a different place in 1963. She lives with her dad and her strict gramdmother. She dreams of the day she and her dad can reunite with her mother in Nashville. When she gets in trouble around the Fourth of July, she becomes afraid and runs away to find her mother. Along the way, she makes an unlikely friend in a black woman named Eula. Eula has a young white baby boy with her and quite a story to tell. The story unwinds in a segregated South where the two become more like family.

I loved the writing style and how Starla and Eula keep helping each other out. The book felt a little like an updated Huckleberry Finn to me in the nature of some of the adventure and the relationship. I mean that as praise, and I really enjoyed reading this one.

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


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Invisible Republic, Vol. 1

author: Gabriel Hardman
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/13
date added: 2015/12/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Invisible Republic Volume 1' by Gabriel Hardman and Corrinna Bechko tells a mysterious story that takes place in a far away place.

On a distant terraformed planet, a down and out reporter is looking for redemption. He stumbles across the pages of a journal that leads him to a story that took place over 40 years ago. A young girl escapes an indentured life and gets involved with a man that wants to lead a revolution. What happened to that man and the people around him remains a mystery in the reporter's era, but even more myserious is how the young girl seems to have been removed from the story of this rebel.

We don't find out what happens in this volume, but the last pages promise a more interesting second volume. It's a deliberately paced story, which might not suit readers who like their stories paced a bit faster, but I like the reflective nature of the story. The art is a bit more sketchy looking rather than more finished, but I quite like the look of the book. While I don't feel that I completely understand all the struggles going on in the book, I would like to see what happens next.

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 Tithe, Vol. 1

author: Matt Hawkins
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/13
date added: 2015/12/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Tithe, Vol. 1' by Matt Hawkins with art by Rahsan Ekedal takes a stab at organized religion, but I appreciate that it's approach has some balance to it for those of us who believe.

A hacker group, not unlike Anonymous, called Samaritan is going after corrupt megachurches. They don't wear Guy Fawkes masks but those of a Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. The FBI wants to stop them, but seems to be a few steps behind. The book opens with their latest target which features a vault full of money and an expose video of the pastor shown to church members during a Sunday sermon. They seem to be modern day Robin Hoods, but there are problems among the group. Can they finish the latest group of churches on their target list before they are caught?

There is much that is wrong with some megachurches in whatever way the abuse of power takes it's form. With some, it's greed, others it's sexual sin, still others it's just a power hunger, all of which are counter to biblical teaching and sinful. Rather than just make a mockery of all religion with the broad stereotyping that I've seen in other mediums, I appreciate that one of the FBI agents on the case is a man of faith that balances the stereotypes. I especially appreciate this based on the after material in the book which states the authors belief system. I like the storyline and it seems like something that could definitely happen in our day and age. The art is quite good, and I enjoyed reading this.

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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C.O.W.L. Vol. 2: The Greater Good

author: Kyle Higgins
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/12
date added: 2015/12/12
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
I liked the first volume of 'C.O.W.L.' and I like the second one a little bit more. The story is serious enough and the art is really stylish and great to look at.

The members of C.O.W.L. (Chicago Organized Workers Lead) have gone out on strike on the go ahead of their boss Warner. They want better contract with the city and police department. Some people want to cross the lines, and one of them ends up dead with the word "scab" etched in his forehead. Also, in order to force the mayor's hand in the contract talks, there may be some shady dealings going on with the city's villains. When one of the city's leaders is taken hostage, things come to a boil and decisions are made that will change things forever. Thus ends the series.

Which is kind of sad because I was really enjoying this one finally. The story takes place in Chicago in the 1960ss and the art by Rod Reis is just stunning. I wish some storylines were a bit more rounded out. It sometimes gets bogged in the procedural end of things, but I like what they did this time around. It's like they finally were able to figure out what direction to head into with the various plots and they turned out something that feels like what would happen if superheroes really walked among us.

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 allowine me to review this graphic novel.


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Sky Lantern

author: Matt Mikalatos
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/12/11
date added: 2015/12/11
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Sky Lantern' by Matt Mikalatos is a non-fiction story about a father's love for his daughter, and one father's attempt to pass on that message to someone hurting.

When Matt found a sky lantern in his driveway with a simple, sad message written on it, he didn't think much of it at first. As he thought about what he'd like to happen to his daughters if he were gone, he decided to track down whoever sent this sky lantern and pass along a message from a dad to his daughter. The journey takes him a bit farther than he expects, and he also manages to touch lots of people along the way with his message. We also learn a bit about Matt as a father and his three unique daughters.

This is a touching book and I really enjoyed reading about Matt's journey to meet Steph. I think Steph is fortunate that her sky lantern landed in Matt's yard, and that Matt's daughters are fortunate to have such a caring man for their father. I love true stories like this, and this was well written.

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


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Thumbprint

author: Jason Ciaramella
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.14
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2013/12/01
date added: 2015/12/10
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
Mallory Grennan returns from Iraq and tries to pick up the pieces of her broken life. Someone from her past starts sending her thumbprints and she needs to find out who. The truth she finds is gruesome and revealing of who she really might be.

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

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

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


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The Baker Street Phantom (Singleton & Trelawney Case)

author: Fabrice Bourland
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.04
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2015/12/09
date added: 2015/12/09
shelves:
review:
'The Baker Street Phantom' by Fabrice Bourland and translated by Morag Young is the first in the Singleton and Trelawney mystery series. The mystery is an interesting one, but doesn't live up to the name it's using as a title.

Trelawney and Singleton move to London to start their detective business. The book takes place in the 1930s and one of their first clients is the widow of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Weird things are happening at 221b Baker Street. When a seance reveals a visitor who really shouldn't be there, the detectives are skeptical. When a series of brutal murders starts happening around London and they seem to mimic ones in literary fiction, they know something really bizarre is going on. With some unusual help, will they be able to stop what is happening?

It's not remotely like a Sherlock Holmes story, even though it takes place in the same areas. It has a bit of history around the creation of the character and the life of it's creator. It has footnotes to show that the author did seem to do some interesting research along the way. It feels more like a cross between historical fiction, a supernatural thriller, and a mystery, but the mystery feels like the most pasted on element of the story. I liked the historical fiction parts the best and could have done without the supernatural elements.

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


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National Treasure: Nicolas Cage

author: Lindsay Gibb
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/09
date added: 2015/12/09
shelves: non-fiction
review:
In 'National Treasure: Nicolas Cage,' Lindsay Gibb makes the argument that Nicolas Cage is an actor of genius who has made deliberate choices to pursue his art.

Nicolas Cage and his acting roles can inspire great debates among film fans. Some are fans of certain films he has made, and some of others. With a wildly diverse range of roles and characters that act out of the normal range, people can be put off by the way Nicolas Cage portrays them. He's been a leading man, and deliberately picked supporting parts. He has played Elvis and cops and lowlifes and drunks. Just when you think you know what he's going to do next, he jumps to another form, or stays with what he's been doing. His acting style has ranged from realism to Western Kabuki.

As a fan of Nicolas Cage, I have sometimes found myself defending that, but Lindsay Gibb is a true fan. Her arguments are backed up with quotes and notes. She even held a Nicolas Cage film festival to help research for this book.

I love the Pop Classics series by ECW Press and this is another in a series that has talked about Elvis Costello, Showgirls, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They are fun, short books to read and I've enjoyed the few I've gotten to review.

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


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RunLoveKill, Vol. 1

author: Jonathan Tsuei
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.16
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/12/07
date added: 2015/12/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'RunLoveKill, Vol. 1' by Jonathan Tsuei and Eric Canete is a pretty book to look at, but it seems to be all style over substance.

The Origami are a military group that runs the city of Prygat in some unknown future. Their former assassin, Rain Oshiro, is on the run from them. She's trying to get off-planet, but her escape routes keep getting blocked, or people near to her keep dying. The Origami are on the trail, and Rain thinks back to how she was first recruited by them. Sure, they have cool weapons and vehicles that look like folded origami, but they are also pretty vicious.

I just didn't care. It was a super quick read because lots of it doesn't have dialogue, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily easy to figure out what's going on. The first issue seems to have flashback panels for every other panel. By the time it ended, I barely understood what was going on, and didn't really feel for the protagonist. The digital covers are really cool, but that's not a reason to buy this.

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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Spiral-Bound: Top Secret Summer

author: Aaron Renier
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/07
date added: 2015/12/07
shelves: graphic-novels, children-s
review:
'Spiral-Bound: Top Secret Summer' by Aaron Renier follows around an adorable cast of animal characters as they follow different pursuits.

In a town full of all kinds of animals (including whales that roll around in giant aquariums), we meet a series of younger animals that are looking for things to do for the summer. Little elephant Turnip wants to go to art school to create a sculpture based on Viola, the girl he's got a crush on. His friend Stucky, a dog, wants to finish up a submarine he's making. A little bunny named Carrot Flower may have a chance to join and underground newspaper. There are also concerts and town conspiracies.

The story was a bit confusing at times, but the black and white drawings are what kept me turning the pages. Every frame is filled with details, and the animals that inhabit the pages are cute beyond measure. It's a perfectly appropriate graphic novel for kids, and I enjoyed it.

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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The Far Time Incident (The Incident Series, #1)

author: Neve Maslakovic
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2015/12/07
date added: 2015/12/07
shelves:
review:
'The Far Time Incident' by Neve Masla is a run romp through time combined with a clever whodunnit.

A time-travel lab on a campus is the scene of an accident and Julia Olsen is assigned to the case. She's got an interest as assistant to the dean of science. Campus Security Chief Nate Kirkland is also sent along. Together they want this to quietly go away. As part of their investigation, they take what they think will be a short jaunt back in time with a few students, but someone has something else in mind and the machine is set to send them to ancient Pompeii. They have to save themselves, not get involved in the past and solve the mystery, all before the volcano erupts.

I like it because the story is told from an academic perspective. I could see a university quietly funding a project like this and the rivalries between departments are sharply defined. I like the collection of characters along on the journey and if you believe that this is a time when time travel is possible, it makes for a fun read. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Amazon Publishing, 47North, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Time and Again (Time, #1)

author: Jack Finney
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1970
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/06
date added: 2015/12/06
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:



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Our Expanding Universe

author: Alex Robinson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/05
date added: 2015/12/05
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Our Expanding Universe' by Alex Robinson is a slice of life graphic novel about growing up, changing and making room in your life for what's important.

The book follows three men named Scotty, Billy and Brownie. Billy is our main character and he's got trepidations about having a child with his wife. Scotty is about to have his second kid, but he's got some other secrets that he's keeping, even from his friends. Brownie is divorced without kids and happy in his life of video games and pot smoking. We get to know the women also, and the stories evolve and change. Throughout the comics are themes of cosmic events which show how how small our lives are and how life goes on. There is a sequence in a planetarium that I just loved.

It's a slow moving story, and I wasn't sure aboutit at first, but as the story progressed, it hooked me in. It's probably not that original, but Alex Robinson's cartoon style was really great. It's probably not for everyone, but I found myself really liking it.

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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Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive

author: Scott Tipton
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/04
date added: 2015/12/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:



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Reynard the Fox and Other Fables

author: W. T. Larned
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/04
date added: 2015/12/04
shelves:
review:
'Reynard the Fox and Other Fables' is a collection of fables from a collection originally published in 1925. This book is a straight reprint, so the stories haven't been modernized. There are also many charming illustrations in this collection.

There are thirteen tales, and many are likely familiar. I was less familiar to Reynard the Fox, but he's a trickster who usually manages to get his way. You'll also find the tortoise and the hare, a dog who gets a "ducking" in a pond, Jocko the Monkey and Mouser the Cat, and others. The animals represent people, so they talk. They also have lessons that we can all still learn.

The stories are easy enough to read, but the style is a bit old-fashioned. I remember a lot of these stories from when I was a kid, but there were quite a few I either don't remember or never knew about. Not all of the outcomes are pleasant. Some are fatal, and the book doesn't shy around those. The stories were adapted by William Trowbridge Larned from early stories by Jean de La Fontaine. The illustrations by John Rae are wonderful on their own.

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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Loki's Wolves (The Blackwell Pages, #1)

author: K.L. Armstrong
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2015/12/03
date added: 2015/12/03
shelves: children-s
review:
'Loki's Wolves' by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr is the first book in a younger readers series set in the world of Norse mythology.

Young Matt Thorsen (say that last name slowly and you'll get it) knows all about Norse myths because, his family are of the lineage of the Norse gods. There are a few kids around him who have a similar lineage. When the kids learn that Ragnarok is coming, they do what they can to try to prevent the end of the world. Traditional enemies must band together if they have any hope.

It's not a bad story, but it never really caught me with the characters. The chapters alternate between the three leads, and the problem is, I never felt like any of them had a particularly unique voice in the narrative. It's probaly a fine stand in for fans of another popular series of books about another type of mythology. I found it to be about average.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Little, Brown Books for Younger Readers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The World of Poo (Discworld, #39.5)

author: Terry Pratchett
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2015/12/03
date added: 2015/12/03
shelves:
review:
'The World of Poo' combines the wit of Terry Pratchett and Discworld with young children's fascination for all things scatological to tell a pretty funny story.

When young Geoffrey goes to live with his grandmother for a while, he develops a new hobby. It starts when a bird poops on his shoulder and he's told it's lucky. Thus begins his idea to collect various specimens from various creatures. There are any number to collect, and this being Discworld, the animals are on the exotic side. He also meets various friends of his grandmother who have made their fortunes in similar professions, from gardening, to tending animals in a zoo, to being a sanitation engineer.

It's kind of a disgusting subject, but it's still pretty funny. It's also filled with fun pictures, but fortunately not illustrations of fecal matter. The pictures remind me of ones in old books from the early part of the last century. It's a quick little read and probably more for the Discworld completist than for someone looking for a good kid's book or a way to get into the series.

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


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