Who Broke the Teapot?!

author: Bill Slavin
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/28
date added: 2016/04/28
shelves: children-s
review:
'Who Broke the Teapot?' by Bill Slavin is a hilarious whodunnit that you'll want to read aloud with an ever louder voice.

In a chaotic household, tragedy has occurred. While brother is swinging from a ceiling fan, and the cats and dogs are occupied, and dad sits idly by reading the paper in his underwear, someone has done something terrible. Someone has broken mom's teapot and she is not happy. As mom gets more and more upset, will she be able to determine who broke the teapot?

The pictures are fun and the text of the book even finds itself on the newspaper that father is reading, or trailing down the page. Mom's cries of 'who broke the teapot?' get louder until they are covering two pages of big fonts. The book has a perfect rhyming meter and is the funniest picture book I've read in a while. When you find out who broke the teapot, you'll find it funny too.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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D4ve2

author: Ryan Ferrier
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.05
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/27
date added: 2016/04/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'D4VE2' by Ryan Ferrier with art by Valentin Ramon takes place a year after the first volume of 'D4VE.' I think I liked the first volume better, but this one wasn't bad at all.

D4VE has saved the 34RTH, and now he's in charge of a defense force. He even has a huge statue that's been built in his honor. Despite that, D4VE is still D4VE. His son 5COTTY doesn't respect him. His ex-wife is dating another robot, and D4VE is still going through some kind of mid-life crisis. Now some mysterious looking spacejunk has shown up and threatens to overturn all the work that D4VE has done. Can he save the 34RTH? Can he get his son to respect him? Can he make everything right?

The satire is just great in the book. I'm not as much of a fan of the vulgarity, but the humor is spot on. I also love the art and all the visual jokes happening in the background. I really liked D4VE and I'm glad I got to read more.

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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Hunt the Wolf (SEAL Team Six #1)

author: Don Mann
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2014/08/22
date added: 2016/04/27
shelves:
review:
The first book in the SEAL Team Six, 'Hunt The Wolf' by Don Mann and Ralph Pezzullo is a serviceable enough start to the series. I think the procedures are pretty realistic, but the story seems a bit stereotyped.

When a group of Middle Eastern bad guys starts kidnapping young women, Thomas Crocker and his team inadvertently stumble across it. He butts heads with his local CIA chief, but he has a strange ally with the king of Sweden. The book travels from icy mountains of K2, to an ambush in a French villa, and eventually onto a ship. The main character is battered and beaten and keeps relentlessly moving forward because that's what he's supposed to do. His team is loyal to a fault.

The characters could use a little more of something. The plot seems a bit rehashed, but that's not a complaint. The action is good, but the moments waiting for the action felt a bit long and drawn out. I don't think it needs more action. I think it needed more interesting drama to play into the action. Perhaps future books in the series will flesh the characters out and do more than present cardboard cutout villains. I'm planning on reading more in the series.

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


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Best Poems of the Brontë Sisters

author: Emily Brontë
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1902
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/25
date added: 2016/04/25
shelves: classics
review:
'Best Poems of the Brontë Sisters' introduced me to poems written by the three literary sisters. It's a short collection but was enjoyable to read.

The Brontë's famous for writing were among six siblings. They originally published the poems under the names of Currer, Acton and Ellis Bell, perhaps thinking the poems would sell better if buyers thought the authors were men. Perhaps it's fortuitous that the poems didn't sell well, because the Brontës moved on to writing novels. That's not to say the poems aren't good, but I think their prose is more enduring.

The poems are very much of the century they lived in. There are odes to nature such as places in the woods or windy days. There are also some darker poems written about the loss of their siblings. There is joy here, but much sorrow and darkness too. The poems are not something I would have thought of as something the Brontës would do well, but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.

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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The Shadow: Midnight in Moscow

author: Howard Chaykin
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.39
book published: 2000
rating: 2
read at: 2015/09/30
date added: 2016/04/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Shadow: Midnight in Moscow' is a Story starring the Shadow as written and drawn by Howard Chaykin. While the story warmed up for me at the end, it just took too long for me to recommend it.

It's the early 1950s. The war is over, the world is recovering, and the Shadow is thinking about retiring. While he is enjoying time off, strange things are happening. A huge stack of gold appears to have been stolen by being miniaturized. Also, there are a pair of people up to no good who seem to be showing up everywhere Lamont and Margo seem to be at. The action takes place in New York, London, Paris and finally Moscow, where a catastrophic plot is uncovered. Who can save the day if the Shadow is truly retired?

It's a bit too wordy, and it's sometimes confusing because things are happening offstage. The characters look strange, like they all have mouths full of food. The colors were muddied in my review copy so that the whole thing came across as overly dark. When they get to Moscow, the font used for characters speaking Russian was a bit puz‌zling to figure out. The book includes the original art and in it's uncolored state, it looks so much better. The characters still have a chipmunk cheek look to them, but the lines are cleaner. I really like the character of The Shadow. I just wish this story had been better.

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


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Johnny Boo Book 7: Johnny Boo Goes Like This!

author: James Kochalka
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.20
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2016/04/24
date added: 2016/04/24
shelves: graphic-novels, children-s
review:
'Johnny Boo Book 7: Johnny Boo Goes Like This!' by James Kochalka was my first Johnny Boo book, but I caught on pretty quick to what was going on.

Johnny Boo is a ghost with a cool cowlick. He's got a friend named Squiggle that looks like a comma. When they run across a large pencil, they can't figure out what to do with it. Eventually what they do is figure out how to draw things. They draw a tiger and crazy hair styles and ice cream. When the ice cream monster shows up, he ends up with Johnny Boo's hair. Then he ends up with a lot more than Johnny Boo's hair.

This comic is very creative, and I think it would be great as a read aloud comic to the young ones. Johnny Boo is pretty funny and the colors and drawings are appealing. The whole thing feels like something that the 3 to 5 year old crowd would love.

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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At War with Yourself: A Comic about Post-Traumatic Stress and the Military

author: Samuel Williams
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/24
date added: 2016/04/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'At War with Yourself: A Comic about Post-Traumatic Stress and the Military' by Samuel Williams is a personal story of PTSD told in a comic book form.

When cartoonist Samuel Williams meets Matt through their daughters, he finds that Matt has suffered from PTSD. To shed light on the issue, and with Matt's permission, their conversation is set to panel form. It's enlightening. Matt was a soldier and through the things he saw, he developed PTSD. It manifests in looking for exits when he enters a coffee shop or smells certain things. It's also explained that what triggers one person may or may not trigger someone else who experienced the same thing. The brain science is lightly touched upon.

It's a good recounting of a personal experience. The comic book format is unusual, but makes the story accessible. The art isn't the best I've ever seen, but the story benefits from the style. I'm glad I read Matt's story. It helps me understand more about people around me that have told me they have some form of PTSD.

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


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The Surface, Volume 1

author: Ales Kot
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.11
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/24
date added: 2016/04/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
Up to a point 'The Surface, Volume 1' just wasn't doing it for me. It came across as overly intellectualized to an extent. Then something happened, and it really caught my attention.

There's a lot of satirical content about our world extended out to a near future. People live blog their entire lives by constantly wearing cameras that film everything. A young trio are a kind of hacker in this new world and their explorations lead them to uncovering things about their world. Things that someone would kill for.

It's got a cyberpunk sort of feel to it and I loved the made up newsfeed and articles. There are other things I loved about the book, but I can't say what they are in this review. You'll just have to discover them for yourself.

I've been kind of hot and cold on the work of Ales Kot, but I liked this one. That doesn't mean I fully understand it, but I still liked it. The writing is interesting and so is the art and art design by a host of folks involved in these 4 issues. It's a strange trip reminiscent of Philip K. Dick.

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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An Armadillo in New York

author: Julie Kraulis
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/23
date added: 2016/04/23
shelves: children-s
review:
'An Armadillo in New York' by Julie Kraulis follows an armadillo on a trip and we get to be armchair travellers.

Arlo is an armadillo from Brazil. Following a travel journal from his grandfather, he decides to travel to New York to see Lady Liberty. Along the way, we get sightseeing information for a visit. We see the city from the top of Rockefeller Center and the constellations on the ceiling of Grand Central Plaza. I learned that the lions outside the New York Public Library are named Patience and Fortitude. There is a Yankee game and other adventures. Finally Arlo is off to Liberty Island.

It's a great picture book filled with whimsical drawings that show the wonder of a city from a child's eye viewpoint. There are facts about the city, and I think it would be a wonderful gift for a child travelling to New York City or a child who likes to travel.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House of Canada Limited, Tundra Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Warp Zone #1 (Warp Zone)

author: Ted Lange IV
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.88
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2016/04/23
date added: 2016/04/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Warp Zone #1' is just a first issue in a series by Ted Lange IV, but it's loopy enough that I kind of liked it even though I had no idea what was happening.

According to the synopsis, a warp zone is a way to travel and the only one who can do this is a character named Jack Elsewhere. I think we meet him, but I had no idea what his name was supposed to be. The book just kind of flies around everywhere and makes sudden abrupt turns. It seems to expect you to understand what is happening, even though there is no way you could possible know.

And I kinda liked it. The art is just as dashed together, but it's different from a lot of other comics I read so it kept me intrigued. The story, like I mentioned, is kind of all over the map. I'm not sure why I liked it. Maybe at only 24 pages, it was over before I could feel like it had overstayed it's welcome. A strange little comic.

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


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Octopus Pie: Volume 1

author: Meredith Gran
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.51
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2016/04/23
date added: 2016/04/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Octopus Pie: Volume 1' by Meredith Gran is a comic about mismatched roommates and their friends living in Brooklyn. The comics range from humorous to light drama.

Eve is in need of a roommate and she finds one in Hannah, someone she knew as a child. The problem is that they have very different personalities, including Hannah's pot smoking. Throughout the comics, we follow these twenty-somethings and their various friends. Eve works at an organic food store run by Olly, who is a bit tyranncal and cheap. In one sequence, she designs a new logo for the store which ends up getting her boss fired. There are new boyfriends and old boyfriends and trips to a renaissance fair that go all strange.

I like the pacing and I think the art is pretty good. It's not the best thing I've ever read, but I'm curious how it will evolve. Early comic runs can feel a bit rough until the writer/artist gets a handle on how the characters look and act, but these characters feel pretty well formed. The situations could have felt more maudlin or overdramatic, but the tone stays light. I enjoyed it and I'll be back for the next volume.

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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Water Wow!

author: Paula Ayer
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/23
date added: 2016/04/23
shelves: children-s, non-fiction
review:
'Water Wow!' is a nonfiction book about water for kids written in an accessible infographic format. My review copy was about the first third of the book, but it was enough to give me a sense of the book.

Through illustrations and facts in the book, we learn why ice floats, and why water is blue in lakes, but not in a water glass. We see how much water we actually have on the Earth, and how little is drinkable. We see the theories of where our water came from, and how it cycles in our atmosphere.

The facts seem good, and even though they talk about how limited the water is, I don't think it's overly scary. The illustrations are bright and interesting and terms are brought down to a level that a school age child would understand. I always like non-fiction books when I was young, and this one would have appealed to my younger self.

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


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Sock Monster

author: Stacey R. Campbell
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/23
date added: 2016/04/23
shelves: children-s
review:
'Sock Monster' written by Stacey R. Campbell and illustrated by Elizabeth Thieme is a really fun read aloud kids book. It gives a lesson but so gently that the listener won't even mind.

Billy is a typical little boy with a messy room. When his mother asks him to clean up for the night, he does. Sort of. Things are out of sight, but not necessarily put where they need to be, so Billy's mom tells him a bedtime story about a creature that builds itself out of the laundry that doesn't make it into the hamper. When Billy finds a Sock Monster of his own living in his room, he does battle with it by finally doing what his mom asked him to do.

Billy has an active imagination, but he's a brave little guy. We see this in the opening page where he is battling an imaginary bear. The lesson about cleaning up is clear, but given in a fun way. The sock monster is hardly scary (except to Billy), but he gets the hint on how to defeat it.

The writing is cute and the illustrations are even more so. It's a book that kids will probably love and parents will too.

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


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Little Red

author: Bethan Woollvin
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/21
date added: 2016/04/21
shelves: children-s
review:
'Little Red' by Bethan Woollvin takes the story you think you know and twists it a bit. With sharp visuals and a sharper main character, this is no brainless waif in the wood. Neither is the wolf dumbed down in this version. He's just as menacing as usual, but this time, he might have met his match.

Using minimal colors (black, white, grey and a vibrant red) and some great graphics, I really enjoyed this version. Even though it doesn't credit the source, it's an update that pays complete homage to its original while providing a bit of a modern twist on things.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC, Peachtree Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger Happier Braver and More Resilient -Powered by the Science of Games

author: Jane McGonigal
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/21
date added: 2016/04/21
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'SuperBetter' by Jane McGonigal is a self-help book unlike a lot of the other ones I've read. With it's gamification approach and completely upbeat message, it encourages change with every page.

After Jane McGonigal got in a serious accident and suffered some brain injury, she tried to find a way to heal. With her studies on how video games are beneficial, she found ways to create little wins every day. Using the seven ways we think and act when we play games, she devised a game called Superbetter. Things it includes are adapting a challenge mindset and striving for psychological flexibility and cultivating connectedness. A day with superbetter involves activating things like power-ups or beating bad guys or completing quests. Unlike what you might think, a power up might be something like connecting with a friend, and a bad guy to beat might be eating a healthy snack or avoiding a negative mindset. A quest might be something like taking a bike ride around a lake after a bad bicycle accident.

The book is filled with success stories, and tons of quests to challenge the reader. The end of the book features three fully fleshed out quests and some of the scientific papers behind the work. There is also a pretty comprehensive list of the work behind the theorys.

It's a fun read and I enjoyed getting the chance to read it. I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Miasma (Star Trek: The Original Series)

author: Greg Cox
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2016/04/20
date added: 2016/04/20
shelves:
review:
'Miasma (Star Trek: The Original Series)' by Greg Cox is a short adventure taking place sometime after the 3rd Star Trek movie. It's not bad for what it is.

When the Enterprise receives a distress signal while transporting diplomats, Kirk is forced to stay on board, but that doesn't mean the crew can't investigate. Spock, McCoy, Chekov and a few other security folks take a shuttle down to the planet's surface. What they find puts them in peril and with no way to use their technology to fight or even communicate with the Enterprise. A strange link between two crew members might be their only hope.

I liked it ok. At 90 pages, it's over before too long, and at that length only a bit longer than a standard episode. The characters of McCoy and Spock seemed good enough, but Chekov seemed to get short shrift. I didn't expect any stereotypical dialogue from him, but he's along for a ride and seems to just be set dressing. It was interesting to have the character of Saavik in this book and I don't know that I've read a lot of books that include her. At less than three bucks, it's not bad, but there are probably better Star Trek books out there.

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


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The Garden of Stones (Echoes of Empire #1)

author: Mark T. Barnes
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/20
date added: 2016/04/20
shelves:
review:
'The Garden of Stones' by Mark T. Barnes is the first book in a series, but the way it throws you right in the middle of things, you might think, like I did, that there is another series leading up to this.

The book starts at the end of a battle. One side is in defeat, another in triumph. The races in this world are rich and varied. Before you can take a breath, more treachery has taken place. Now a ruler named Corajidin, who was rumored to be dying, is not. Opposing him and trying to bring peace is a curious warrior named Indris who carries a sword that seeks to draw blood. At his side are a strange company comprised of races that don't typically get along. Time is of the essence to stop Corajidin and stop his plans.

It's a dense fantasy, and I should have consulted the glossary more as I read it, but I did really like it. The world building is solid and the story is a good one. I hope future books fill in some backstory on some of the characters. I will definitely be reading on.

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


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Garbage Pail Kids

author: Jeff Zapata
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2016
rating: 1
read at: 2016/04/18
date added: 2016/04/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
With 'Garbage Pail Kids' by various artists, I should have known what I was stepping in to, but the cast of guest artists like Peter Bagge and Shannon Wheeler and others drew me in to the trap.

I was a little old when the Garbage Pail Kids phenomenon hit, but I understand it's appeal. I collected Odd Rods and Wacky Packages, (and dearly wish I'd hung on to some of them after seeing what some of them go for now), but I digress. The Garbage Pail Kids appeal to a certain gross out humor. The problem with 4 volumes of it, is eventually the body fluid jokes threaten to become a stinking flood. There are only so many rivers of snot and other things a person can put up with. At least this person.

The art can't be faulted. The characters stay true to their trading card selves. It seems like certain characters are more popular than others, maybe for their ability to ooze more or something.

As you can tell, this really wasn't for me, but there is probably a fan out there who will love the retro characters in adventures where they have to use their "special" powers.

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


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Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

author: Troy Little
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/16
date added: 2016/04/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' is a graphic novel by Troy Little based on the book. In many ways, this seems like the perfect form for such a bonkers piece of literature.

I've read the original book, and I've seen the movie based on the book. Now I've read the graphic novel adaptation, and I found myself nodding my head and realizing this version is a darn near perfect adaptation.

For those not familiar, the book is about a trip to Las Vegas in the post 1960s by a journalist and his attorney friend to report on a motorcycle race. A large quantity of illegal substances are consumed and not much sleep is had and the book feels like the fever dream of a lunatic. There are hallucinations of reptiles, the trashing of hotel rooms, and the paranoia of being caught and thrown in prison for multiple infractions. Along the way, there is a thread woven of post-idealism in a world where we are still in the Vietnam War and the dreams of the young seem like fading memories.

There is quite a bit of text, and I love that it's done in a typewriter font. The art is cartoonish, which is absolutely perfect for this story. The hallucinations pop off the pages and the art warps and bends depending on the abused drug. It's a crazy trip and the art is perfect for the whole thing.

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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Malice in Ovenland #4

author: Micheline Hess
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/15
date added: 2016/04/15
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Malice in Ovenland #4' by Micheline Hess would seem to be bringing the series to a close. I've only read the last two issues, but I like what I've seen and I hope there will be more.

Lilly, stranded surface girl, has been lost in the land of Chief Gristle and his Royal Rangers. She's made allies along the way like Crumb and Max and found a magical cookbook. This time around, her wanderings may lead her home, but not before one or all of them will be in danger with the arena fight known as the Fry-Day Night Frite Fights. Can Lilly find the resources and courage to save her friends and find her way home?

If one of the points of this series has been to inspire readers to eat healthier, then count me in. After reading about grease monsters and fried foods, I was ready for a veggie smoothie. As I've said before, Lilly is the kind of courageous character I like to see in books for younger readers. She seems nonplussed by her surroundings and willing to do what is necessary to get the job done. I like this character and this series.

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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Paracuellos, Volume 1

author: Carlos Giménez
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1975
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/15
date added: 2016/04/15
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Paracuellos, Volume 1' by Carlos Giménez is a staggeringly difficult graphic novel to read. The stories are tough to fathom. The fact that they are true makes this an extraordinarily powerful work.

The stories take place during Franco's reign in Spain. With a grown up population fallen in battle or executed or imprisoned, the children are left in the "care" of Church-run "homes" like Paracuellos. One of the children in the stories is young Carlos Giménez. Given little to eat or drink, the children rely on the rules of savagery in a place where punishment is strict and sometimes given out unmercifully. The adults are garish cartoons as they spout religion and political propaganda. Some of the kids are lucky enough to have family that occasionally can visit and bring food. The rest of the children are left to beg for scraps.

Granted, there are moments of humor in this grim place. That would be one of the only ways to survive such a thing. We see bullies get payback when they move to other schools, and a young boy saving to buy his favorite comic book series.

Each chapter takes place over 1 or 2 pages. Some of the stories and characters are linked. There are other schools besides Paracuellos featured. All seem pretty horrible.

This is a testament of survival in the face of pretty horrible circumstances. I'm glad I finally got to read this award winning comic in a reprint format.

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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The Little Red Fish (#3)

author: James Moffitt
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.80
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/15
date added: 2016/04/15
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Little Red Fish #3' by James Moffitt and with art by Bizhan Khodabandeh is a series I've enjoyed from the beginning. I recommend it to anyone who likes a well told story done in an unusual way.

When I first started this series, I was told it was an allegory. That was less apparent early on, but it's very apparent now. The events of the last issue have left a power vacuum, and the fish need to act before the eels and herons press their advantage. When a new ruler rises, it will be interesting to see what happens next.

The art is just as stunning as it has been all along. The story feels a little blunter three issues in, but I think it needs to be to tell the tale it is telling. I am reading this issue by issue, and they are packing a lot into each page. I recommend this series to those interested in Middle Eastern history. It's got an interesting way of telling a 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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Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits For Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead

author: Marcus Warner
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/13
date added: 2016/04/13
shelves: non-fiction-business
review:
'Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits For Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead' by Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder is primarily written for religious leaders, but there is enough solid information in it for the layperson.

A lot can be learned from bad leaders, but healthy leaders is what we really need. Using brain science and some leadership models, the authors show how leaders can lead with joy and act like themselves. They encourage remaining relational and modeling what it's like to endure hardship. They also talk about a sliding maturity scale that all leaders can measure themselves against.

Many good and bad examples of leaders are given. Both as leaders the authors have served under and some of their own mistakes. If we are going to have healthy churches, we need to have the kind of healthy leadership that grows and doesn't rely on using emotions to browbeat others into obedience. This holds true in the business world.

The authors use a curious quirk of using parentheses to denote who is writing. I understand why they chose to do this, but I found it a bit odd. Other than that, the book reads well, the science seems solid, and the guidelines seem positive and encouraging to follow. I appreciated the advice given and I will definitely take some things away from reading this book.

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


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The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman

author: Glenn Yeffeth
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2016/04/07
date added: 2016/04/07
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman' edited by Glenn Yeffeth is a series of essays about Superman. Most of them are pretty good, but the collection is about 10 years old, so there are probably things that could be updated.

Essays include everything from examinations of all the actors who have portrayed Superman as actors and voice actors. There is an examination of closed communities and how those might relate in to Smallville and the show Smallville. There is an essay by Larry Niven about the impossibility of Superman and Lois Lane ever being very intimate. There is an essay wondering why Superman never just stopped Hitler, and giving an excellent explanation of why.

The book was written while Smallville was still on the air. Lois and Clark wasn't too distant. Brandon Routh was about to play him on the big screen (and we all know how that turned out).

It's interesting viewing a long-lived character like this over the lens of time. Superman has changed because he's had to to stay relevant. In the current incarnation of the Man of Steel, he is a dark, brooding character. Some of the essays feel a bit dated and I'd love to see a revised version that includes something about the Henry Cavill version of Superman.

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


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Far Out Fairy Tales

author: Louise Simonson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/07
date added: 2016/04/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Far Out Fairy Tales' is a collection of graphic novel stories for younger readers. The stories take strange twists on familiar fairy tales, so you get stories like Ninja-rella or Snow White and the Seven Robots or Hansel & Gretel & Zombies.

Ninja-rella doesn't want to marry the prince, she wants to become his awesome bodyguard. Red Riding Hood is a superhero who gets power from her hood. The Billy Goats Gruff have to go through a video game to find something to eat. You get the picture.

My favorite part of all of this is there is a summary page giving the history of the original tale, like when it was written or when famous variants got added to the story (the pumpkin carriage in Cinderella, for example). There is also a nice comparison on some stories of the original characters and their 'Far Out' personas.

The creators are all really good. From Louise Simonson (Power Pack) to Otis Frampton (Oddly Normal) and many others, these are writers familiar with writing good comics for kids. They deliver and it's even fun for grown ups like me to read.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Capstone, Stone Arch Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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All the Birds in the Sky

author: Charlie Jane Anders
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2016/04/04
date added: 2016/04/04
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'All The Birds In The Sky' by Charlie Jane Anders gives us two quirky protagonists, one on the fantasy side and one on the science fiction side. The book follows them through their lives as the meet and part and meet again.

Surviving a rough childhood can help you make friends. In this case, Patricia, who has a talent for magic, meets Laurence, who leans towards science. Their circumstances bring them together, then as they go to different schools, we expect that they won't see each other again.

That all sounds fairly normal, but the writing has a sort of self-aware quality that comes across as light. This would have been pretty good except for the things happening in the background. Things are dire and bleak, but they are still light and frothy in the foreground. Add in the fact that I felt like sometimes the really interesting stuff was happening outside of the confines of written story, and I felt torn on how to feel about this book. I alternated between really liking it, and not liking it. When it was all said and done, I thought it was just ok.


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Skinshaper (Rend the Dark #2)

author: Mark Gelineau
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/04
date added: 2016/04/04
shelves:
review:
'Skinshaper' by Mark Gelineau and Joe King is book 2 in the Rend the Dark novella series. It's the 5th book I've read in this world and they are building an interesting world, but not one I'd necessarily want to live in.

In this one, Ferran and Mireia and their young protege Riffolk find themselves on a rescue mission. There is something happening in a nearby mine. Something horrid dwells beneath and it must be stopped. The problem is stopping it may cost more than they can willingly pay. Before the end, they have to rescue some trapped villagers, find a missing sister and even try to outrun and outsmart something that is vicious and fast.

It's a short book and I dare not say much else, except that I'm enjoying this series. The characters are interesting, the horrible creatures are truly horrible and the friendships and bonds are interesting. It's a book two, so do yourself the favor of picking up the first novella, Rend The Dark, before you read this one.

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


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The Private Eye: The Cloudburst Edition

author: Brian K. Vaughan
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/04
date added: 2016/04/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Private Eye: Deluxe Edition' by Brian K. Vaughn with goregous art by Marcos Martin is a collection of the digital comic from PanelSyndicate.com. I wasn't aware of the title, but it hit all the same buttons as I miss from cyberpunk type things.

It's the near future, and everything is ablaze in eye-popping color (thanks to Munsta Vicente's eye popping colors). The internet has died in a spectacular cloudburst. Global warming means there is a giant sea wall in Santa Monica to keep LA dry. Anonymity is kept behind garish masks that everyone wears. Strangest of all, the press is now the police, and private investigators are known as paparazzi. Intrigued yet?

In this world, we meet our protagonist, wearing a strange camouflage coat, and going by the initials P.I. (among other things). P.I. finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation that may lead to seats of power and a strange plot to overthrow things. He'll make new allies and endanger old ones along the way.

It was originally a digital comic and the aspect is horizontal pages instead of vertical. This collection maintains that ratio and I thought it was an interesting change. The story is great and the visuals are colorful and interesting, with all kinds of weird details tucked into the frames. This collects all 10 issues, and I'm glad I got a chance to read it.

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


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Fatale Vol. 2: Deluxe Edition

author: Ed Brubaker
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/02
date added: 2016/04/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
In 'Fatale Vol. 2: Deluxe Edition' Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips do what they do best. I can not say enough good things about how good their stories are.

Fatale is a horror story about Josephine, a woman that seems to be immortal and no man can refuse. Whether she wants to or not, the men around her are influenced by her to the point where they will even kill themselves at her command. A mysterious man known as the Bishop is after her for his own purposes. Josephine's stories in this volume are mostly told at different periods during the Twentieth Century, but there are a few earlier stories. She finds allies along the way with mysterious librarians and people who can give themselves tattoos or symbols to make themselves immune to her. There are also her hapless victims. A flailing alternative band in 1990s Seattle, a group of soldiers in Nazi Germany. Her attempts to be rid of the curse of herself seems destined to fail.

Collecting Fatale volumes 3 through 5 and weighing in at over 400 pages, this is a really good collector's edition with lots of the process of creating comics included. There are also reprints of some of the columns included in the single issues that were written by Jess Nevins. His history essays are very good and talk about Aleister Crowley and the H.P. Lovecraft, two big influences on the work here.

Previously, I had read volume 4, and hadn't read previous work in the series. This helped make that volume make sense. Some have said they didn't like how the series ended, but I like it quite fine. As I mentioned, the writing and art is as good as you get in comics these days and the creators make a nod to colorist Elizabeth Breitweiser. Here work here lends itself really well.

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 fine graphic novel.


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Copperhead, Vol 2

author: Jay Faerber
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/02
date added: 2016/04/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Copperhead, Vol. 2' by Jay Faerber continues the adventures of Sheriff Clara Bronson on the remote space outpost town of Copperhead. I liked it just as much as the first volume.

The story seems like it's going to start slow with a drama to get to know the characters better, but that's just to lull you into a false sense of security. Clara and Boo attempt a little downtime since things are slow. Clara goes on a date that goes completely wrong. Boo has it worse, as his night ends up in a situation involving snipers and a posse. Perhaps the lesson here is not to take a night off.

Along the way, we do get to know the characters better. From Clara's past to a bit more about Boo and also the mysterious stranger who lives out in the desert away from everyone else. It's such a good book, and I love the space western combination. It works well here. The aliens are interesting and alien. The bad guys are driven by greed or revenge. There are unexpected motivations and heroes.

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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