Holy Bible: ESV Bible

author: Anonymous
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.88
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/31
date added: 2017/12/31
shelves: non-fiction
review:
My annual journey is complete for 2017


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Little Kids and Their Big Dogs

author: Andy Seliverstoff
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/30
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Little Kids and Their Big Dogs' by Andy Seliverstoff is a photography book with amazing and adorable pictures of children and dogs.

The author is a popular photographer from St. Petersburg, Russia. He is know for his work at dog shows. In the introduction to this book, he talks about how this project came about. Each set of photos has a short story about the child in the dog. These stories are whimsical and in them the child and the dog often have dialogue.

I wasn't crazy about the short stories. Maybe the book is meant to be shared with the young. The pictures, however, are breathtaking and beautiful. To see a small child playing with a large dog like a Great Dane or a Bracchi Italiani is to see into the heart of these dogs. The pictures are full of color and action. I enjoyed my trip into the world of this book.

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


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Muchacho, Tome 1 (Muchacho, #1)

author: Emmanuel Lepage
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/30
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Muchacho #1' by Emmanuel Lepage is a pretty interesting comic that takes place in a dark place in history.

It's 1976 and the place is Nicaragua. Somoza rules and oppresses the people with his cruel Guardia. Gabriel is a young priest with a famous last name has an aptitude for art, so he is sent to a small town to paint a mural under the guidance of a priest named Ruben. Ruben deconstructs what Gabriel thinks he knows about art and challenges Gabriel to sketch what is around him. This makes him more alert and caring to those he sees. Of course, in this time and place, cruelty is never far away.

This was not a pleasant read, but it was a good one. I also really enjoyed the art, which seemed a bit more lush than other works. Some time and detail was spent on this work.

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


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George Washington: Frontier Colonel

author: Sterling North
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/30
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves: non-fiction, children-s
review:
'George Washington: Frontier Colonel' by Sterling North is a history book written for young readers. It was originally published in 1957, and the reprint adds some pictures and inset facts.

This book tells the life of George Washington, up to the point that he becomes president. His birth, how we got Mount Vernon, and how he wanted to go to sea as a young man. We learn his first losses and victories in war and how he met Martha. We learn how he got involved in fighting in the Revolutionary War and how he reluctantly became president.

I enjoyed reading this book. I hadn't read much about Washington's wedding, and I learned some things. Some years ago I read 'Rascal' by this same author, and this book reads in a comfortable similar manner. The art included is good. There are famous paintings, but also some lithographs.

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


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Labyrinth: One classic film, fifty-five sonnets

author: Anne Corrigan
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves:
review:
'Labyrinth: One classic film, fifty-five sonnets' by Anne Corrigan was something I almost passed on. The idea has cheesiness all over it, but it is actually quite good and seemingly a true labor of love.

The film and dedication are told in 55 sonnets. I'm no expert on sonnets, so I don't know if these held true to a form of juxtaposing, but the basic form, rhyme and meter felt right.

I wish more of the story of how this came to be were in a preface to this book. The author is a huge fan of the film and felt like the adaptation novel lacked the more poetic feel of the movie. It was written for the film's thirtieth anniversary, but also became a tribute to David Bowie. There are references to Bowie songs woven in and the book is dedicated to him.

If you have a Labyrinth fan in your life, this was a loving tribute and I thought it was executed very well. Bravo!

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


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Lady Mechanika, Volume 1: Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse

author: Joe Benítez
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Lady Mechanika Volume 1: Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse' by Joe Benitez is the type of rip-roaring adventure I like. I'm not much of a fan of the good girl type art, but I can set that aside and recommend this for fans of steampunk.

Lady Mechanika is a sort of construct. You can tell when she takes her goggles off and you see her red glowing eyes. She is fairly smart and an adventurer in this version of a steampunk London in the age of Victoria.

When a similar mechanical lady is found dead, it sets Lady Mechanika in motion. Perhaps if she learns about this young lady, it will lead her to the person who made her. Where it does lead her is to a gypsy circus with some odd characters and to a fancy party aboard an airship.

There are lots of pin up style shots of Lady Mechanika, and she seems to be a bit underdressed for the Victorian era, but maybe not for this alternate machine type one. Regardless of this, the art is quite good in this series, and the story kept me turning pages. I've got volume 2 up to read soon.

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


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Sloppy Wants a Hug

author: Sean Julian
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.32
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves: children-s
review:
'Sloppy Wants a Hug' by Sean Julian is the cutest picture book I've read in a while. It made me smile and laugh out loud.

Sloppy, the tree dragon, wants a hug, but Dewdrop, the sprite, isn't about to give him one for good reason. Sloppy tries to get Dewdrop to hug him by acting sad, or bringing her gifts like sticks, rocks, and small woodland creatures. Dewdrop won't relent, but she will hug the woodland creatures. Will Sloppy find a way to get a hug and will Dewdrop forget the reason why she doesn't want to hug Sloppy?

This story is just adorable. The punchline is hilarious and the illustrations are just so cute. I think little readers will love this story of friendship and laugh like I did.

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


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Mrs. White Rabbit

author: Gilles Bachelet
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves: children-s
review:
'Mrs. White Rabbit' by Giles Bachelet is a wonderful kids book about the wife of the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. While he is out running around, what does she do all day?

For one thing, she keeps a diary. She talks about her children. One wants to be a fashion model, the twins seem well behaved, one of the younger ones has brought home a cat that can become invisible, and so on. There really is a lot to do to keep such a large household running, and Mrs. Rabbit feels underappreciated by a husband that is always running away because he is late. Will he even remember her birthday?

The story is cute, but the real winner here are the illustrations. For fans of Alice in Wonderland, there are all kinds of details, like a window for a sporting goods store featuring flamingos and hedgehogs. The classroom illustration is my favorite. There are some weird moments in the illustrations like the twins playing with chamber pots and holding what looks like rabbit scat, but little readers probably don't know what these things are, so call it odd humor.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Thing at the Foot of the Bed and Other Scary Tales

author: Maria Leach
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2017/12/30
shelves:
review:
'The Thing at the Foot of the Bed and Other Scary Tales' by Maria Leach with illustrations by Kurt Werth reminded me of camping and telling ghost stories around the fire. Do people still do that?

Here is a book from the middle of the last century. There are quite a few ghost stories organized by type. There are funny ones, scary ones, "real" ones, ghost games, witch stories, and do's and don't's about ghosts. None of the stories is particularly scary, and most are quaint and somewhat funny. There are lone hitchhikers who disappear and talking cats and people who mistakenly shoot their foot thinking it's a ghost. All of the stories are quite short.

I don't know if kids today would even care about a collection like this. I read lots of Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock collections and loved the Universal monsters. I remember being scared of the hook-handed man and the girl with the ribbon tied around her neck. These are more like folklore. The footnotes tell where the stories are told, and this was of more interest to me. The illustrations break up the stories and are a bit on the rough side, but I liked them. There is a bibliography for further reading. I enjoyed this not so scary collection of ghost stories.

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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Secret Weapons

author: Eric Heisserer
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.84
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/29
date added: 2017/12/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Secret Weapons' by Eric Heisserer with art by Raul Allen is a story about the people who get the reject powers when superpowers are doled out.

This story takes place after Harada has been defeated. The psiots who had been rejected have escaped from a place called the Willows, but someone is out to kill them or use them. There is a pretty powerful psiot named Amanda McKee who is looking out for them.

This is pretty ragtag bunch. One guy can turn to stone, but he can't move once he is stone. A woman can talk to birds, which means she has a flock of birds at her disposal. The third member can conjure up random items that seem useless or unrelated. Together, with Amanda, they are a pretty interesting team.

The story of oddball superheroes was good. The art by Raul Allen was superb. I really liked his style and it seemed to be such a good fit for this story of folks who have been gifted with seemingly worthless powers.

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


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Valentine Tome 1 (Valentine, #1)

author: Vanyda
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/29
date added: 2017/12/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Valentine book 1' by Vanyda follows a teenager as she navigates through school and life. Not a lot happens, but I think that's ok.

Valentine lives with her mother. She goes to school. She likes boys. She plays on the edges of bad choices and sees what some of those choices do to her friends. In her group of friends, she's the shy one, which means that Felix, the boy she likes, may never know she exists.

Throughout the book, it feels like Valentine is more of a voyeur to the life around her. The story moves slowly through her daily life and we get a sense that she's not really alive. Her friends seem to pull her along and she seems to blindly follow them. Perhaps this changes in later volumes. I was reminded of manga by the story and the art, which I really liked.

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


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Vice Squad - Volume 1 (La Mondaine)

author: Zidrou
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.25
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/29
date added: 2017/12/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Vice Squad Volume 1' by Zidrou with art by Jordi Lafebre is about a fish out of water who joins a new department in his police squad.

The book is framed by it's present which is taking place in the shelters underneath Paris as the Germans are bombing the city. Aime Louzeau is reminded of his time working in the Vice Squad. He didn't want to join the department, and he gets coerced into it. He is so straitlaced and his fellow officers, as he finds out, are corrupted by the crimes they are supposed to be stopping. Will Aime stay vigilant and uncorrupted?

The story is probably not going to be for everyone, and I'm not sure I'm that fond of it, but the art and story work very well together. I'm reminded of the Philippe Noiret film, My New Partner in tone.

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


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The Folies Bergère (Les Folies Bergère)

author: Zidrou
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.75
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/29
date added: 2017/12/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Folies Bergère' by Zidrou with art by Francis Porcel takes place in the trenches of World War I. That should tell you all you need to know about the irony of the title.

A group of soldiers name their regiment after Les Folies Bergère. They plan on going there after the war and it stands in stark contrast to the horrors of the war around them. As soldiers mutiny and are executed, one man seems to be unkillable. His bullet wounds bleed like stigmata. The other soldiers just want to see an end to the madness, even overlooking the weird miracle that is happening around them.

The art is fabulous with slashing lines. The choice of muted browns for coloring works when color is suddenly added for blood or paint. I liked the addition of Monet and his lilypads, but I'm still not sure what that all meant. I'm glad I got a chance to read this interesting take on the bleakness of war.

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


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Funeral Platter: Stories

author: Greg Ames
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/29
date added: 2017/12/29
shelves:
review:
'Funeral Platter: Stories' by Greg Ames is a collection of odd and provocative short stories. The stories all feature weird plot devices and seem to be about how darkly humorous relationships can be.

From the first story, Chemistry, I was thrown off. A woman meets a blind date in a coffee shop and over the course of a short conversation, their relationship runs the gamut from raw lust to fierce hatred. From there, we meet a young girl who uses a piece of charred wood as a ventriloquist dummy and a group of men who gather in the restroom for a ritual dance. A new puppy joins a family and a husband sees it as a threat. A man sponsors an odd artist to make his life more complete.

At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the stories. They are contentious and often uncomfortable. They are also unusual and sometimes humorous. The stories are unpredictable and avant-garde and I enjoyed this collection immensely.

I received a review copy of this book from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much for allowing me to review this book.


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The Boy Who Lived in Pudding Lane: Being a True Account, If Only You Believe It, of the Life and Ways of Santa, Oldest Son of Mr. and Mrs. Claus

author: Sarah Addington
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1922
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/28
date added: 2017/12/28
shelves: children-s
review:
'The Boy Who Lived in Pudding Lane: Being a True Account, If Only You Believe It, of the Life and Ways of Santa, Oldest Son of Mr. and Mrs. Claus' by Sarah Addington with illustrations by Gertrude Kay was originally published in Ladies Home Journal in 1921. It's a fun story to read with a Christmas theme.

Little Santa lives with his mother, the baker and his father, the carpenter, in Pudding Lane with all kinds of fairy tale neighbors. Little Santa has some fun adventures, but what he really likes is making things and giving them to his friends. His parents are concerned that he won't be able to buy a house or food, but it's just possible that there is someone in this fairy tale land who can make it happen for him. Along the way, we find out how he met Mrs. Claus, too.

It's a sweet story that feels a bit dated, but in a nostalgic way that makes it perfect for a winter's night. The illustrations are full color and my only complaint is that I wished there had been more of them. I loved

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


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The Beginning begins (FRNK, #1)

author: Olivier Bocquet
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.44
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/28
date added: 2017/12/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'FRNK: The Beginning Begins' by Olivier Bocquet with art by Brice Cossu is a book that would be fun for young readers, but there is one 4 letter word that, while it is hilarious in the context of the book, may offend some parents.

Frank is an orphan who can't stay in any foster home. When his latest "parents" show up, Frank decides to run away. With the help of a friendly gardener, he is given a lead to where his real parents might actually be. He finds himself transported to a weird prehistoric world where everyone wants to eat him or use him for bait. Frank can't understand them because they don't use vowels in their speech (they haven't been invented yet).

It races right along and Frank's clumsiness keeps getting him in and out of trouble. It's all perfectly fine, but parents might have problems with that 4 letter word for excrement. If you can see your way past that, it's a pretty fun adventure.

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


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How to Be a Ninja

author: Chris Conti
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.00
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/28
date added: 2017/12/28
shelves: classics
review:
'How to Be a Ninja' by Chris Conti and Nickelodeon Publishing is a fun book for younger readers that ties in to the universe of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Each character talks about a quality of being a ninja, like tradition or teamwork or discipline. Michaelangelo has to have his say in the margins of the pages. Next up, the major villains of the series are talked about along with the particular technique that a true ninja should use to defeat them. If you want to know how to defeat Kraang or the Rat King, this book will tell you. Finally the book ends with a couple ninja missions, like sneaking up on a family member without them knowing you are there.

The book is full of fun illustrations. If you've got a 3rd grader who doesn't like to read, but who likes the Ninja Turtles, this is your book. I had a fun time reading this ebook.

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


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Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel

author: Mariah Marsden
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/26
date added: 2017/12/26
shelves: classics, children-s, graphic-novels
review:
'Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel' is an adaptation of the novel by L.M. Montgomery adapted by Mariah Marsden with illustrations by Brenna Thummler. It's a very fine retelling of this story.

When brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert struggle to keep their farm running, they decide to send for an orphan to help out. They hope for a boy, but what they get is Anne. She brings joy and a little chaos into their lives with her ever running imagination and exuberance. Over time, she wins them over and Green Gables becomes Anne's home. Anne's mishaps are hilarious and her remorse over them is sweet.

I've read the book and seen a movie or two. I also gave this the true test and let my great niece read it. She loved it. I asked her what I should rate it, and she gave it four stars. I can't argue with that. This is a fine adaptation.

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


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The Kingdom Vol.1: Anne

author: Benoît Feroumont
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.50
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2017/12/26
date added: 2017/12/26
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Kingdom Vol. 1: Anne' by Benoît Feroumont is the first graphic novel in a series about the various characters that live in a fictional kingdom. I wasn't crazy about this entry in the series.

Anne works in the castle. She is afraid of spiders, so she hides in the king's bed. The queen isn't happy about this, so Anne must leave the castle. The king sets her up with an old crumbling building that she can turn into a tavern. She has encounters with blacksmiths, soldiers, neighbors and even members of the royal family. There is one mishap after another.

Anne is a good character and I did feel sympathy for this character who finds herself in the crossfires from different parties. I just didn't find it very funny. The drawing style kind of looks like animation, but the story with it's double entendre humor would seem not aimed at children. It's a title that has been translated and comes from another country. I suspect that there are some cultural mismatches that just missed for me.

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


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Ordinary Victories (Ordinary Victories, #1)

author: Manu Larcenet
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/24
date added: 2017/12/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:



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Memento (Harmony, #1)

author: Mathieu Reynès
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/24
date added: 2017/12/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Harmony #1: Memento' with story and art by Mathieu Reynes starts out weird, and then gets weirder. It also gets more comprehensible, which is a good thing.

After a prologue in ancient history, we meet up with a family having dinner. The father is interrupted by a phone call. The story that follows makes a bit more sense.

Harmony wakes up in a basement, and she doesn't know how she got there. She seems to be the prisoner of a strange man who lives in a remote house in the woods. Her mistrust includes pretending to take the pills he is giving her and only pretending to be asleep. As she starts to remember things, and odd things start to happen, she has to decide if she should trust this man to help her.

I went back after I read this and started over and the first 9 pages made a lot more sense. I'm glad I stuck it out because the story about Harmony was pretty good. I also really liked the art.

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


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The Clancys of Queens: A Memoir

author: Tara Clancy
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/21
date added: 2017/12/21
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'The Clancys of Queens: A Memoir' by Tara Clancy is a feisty look at growing up in multiple houses by an original voice.

Tara "Scooter" Clancy tells all kinds of stories in this book. She talks about hanging around her foul-mouthed and harsh Italian grandmother. She hangs out with her mother and her mother's new husband in the Hamptons. She spends time with her dad and his oddly named friends in his favorite local bar. Through it all there are fights and friendships and finding out who you really are.

The stories are feisty, funny and full of life. Tara has a knack for bringing her personal stories to life in a way that makes the reader feel like they are sitting across the table from her drinking a beer or eating one of her grandmother's zeppoles. I really enjoyed reading this one.

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


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Goodnight, Mr. Clutterbuck

author: Mauri Kunnas
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.40
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/20
date added: 2017/12/20
shelves: children-s
review:
'Goodnight, Mr. Clutterbuck' by Mauri Kunnas with translation by Jill Timbers is a story about a poor creature who can't understand why he is so tired during the day, but the reader will know why.

Every night, Mr. Clutterbuck has a routine so that he could get a good night's sleep. It includes brushing his teeth, drinking a glass of warm milk, and tucking his guinea pig Gus in for the night. But every night, Mr. Clutterbuck is the busiest, noisiest sleepwalker in his town. Poor Gus has his hands full keeping Mr. Clutterbuck safe. Along the way, he manages to solve mysteries in his town, but what about all those missing spoons?

It's a really funny story which is only funnier with the great illustrations. I feel so bad for little Gus who is fully aware of all the close calls that Mr. Clutterbuck gets in to. I think this would be fa fun book to read aloud with kids.

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


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Little Carp (Marzi, #1)

author: Marzena Sowa
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/20
date added: 2017/12/20
shelves: children-s, graphic-novels
review:
'Little Carp (Marzi #1)' by Marzena Sowa with art by Sylvain Savola came to me through a new publisher on NetGalley called Europe Comics. I was immediately intrigued by the idea of reading comics from another continent, and Marzi has been a fun find.

This graphic novel is a series of short stories about Marzi growing up in Poland in the early 1980s. The character is drawn with large blue eyes. She tells stories about food rationing, and getting a live carp to eat for Christmas. There are stories about the group of kids in her apartment that cause mischief by running among the floors and pushing the elevator buttons. There are visits to relatives in the country.

It's certainly a different childhood than I had, but the mischievousness and wonder of a child are very familiar. The friendships and make believe are too. I really enjoyed this book and it's art.

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


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A Letter to My Mom

author: Lisa Erspamer
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/18
date added: 2017/12/18
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'A Letter to My Mom' compiled by Lisa Erspamer is a collection of letters and photos to celebrate mothers.

The letters are from celebrities, like Melissa Rivers and Shania Twain, and non-celebrities. The mothers celebrated are alive and only alive in memory. There are conventional and non-conventional mothers. The families seem to vary. What doesn't seem to vary is the affection and admiration of the writers. Words like sacrifice and protection and support are among the many found.
Also included with most of the letters are photos of mothers and children, then and now.

It's a beautiful and inspiring collection of letters. Some letters made me laugh and quite few brought a tear to my eye. I enjoyed reading this collection.

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


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London: Orbital (The Change #1)

author: Guy Adams
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/16
date added: 2017/12/16
shelves: young-adult
review:
'The Change #1-London: Orbital' by Guy Adams is the first in a 6 part series of novellas written for young adults.

The story dumps you right in the middle of the action with Howard, who finds himself waking up on the streets of London to a very changed world. We see things through his eyes as he is attacked by strange creatures, and we feel his confusion. He is rescued by a guy named Hubcap and joins a group of survivors, where he (and we) learn a little about what happened. It seems that Howard has a sort of amnesia about months of time.
The story is very action packed with lots of surprising twists. The short chapters keep the reader turning pages. I liked the nature of this book, and even though I'm still not sure what's going on, I look forward to finding out what happened. Future books take place in other world series, so I suspect the next books will introduce more characters.

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


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Paradise Lost

author: John Milton
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.78
book published: 1667
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/12/16
shelves: classics
review:



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Ben Franklin: Inventing America

author: Thomas Fleming
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/13
date added: 2017/12/13
shelves: children-s, non-fiction
review:
'Ben Franklin: Inventing America' by Thomas Fleming is a biography for young readers now with illustrations.

The book tells the story of Benjamin Franklin's life. Every chapter features a role he had in his life. Chapters are titled The Apprentice, Father, The Joker, and Extraordinary Diplomat among others. He was a very interesting man and his contributions to the birth of America are on full display, as are the conflicts he had with his son who sided with the British. At the end of the book, there is a cast of characters as well as a timeline.

Growing up, I loved to read history books like this. The Revolutionary War was my favorite subject. I would have loved to have run across this book then. It was originally published in 1973, but the writing feels as fresh as if it were just written.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Young Voyageur, Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Purple and Gold (Murena #1)

author: Jean Dufaux
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.70
book published: 1997
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/13
date added: 2017/12/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Murena #1: Purple and Gold' by Jean Dufaux with art by Philippe Delaby is the start of a series about emperor Nero.

The story starts in the reign of Claudius. The brutality of the games, the debauchery of the people, and the machinations of the political wheel are all on display here. Claudius' wife Agrippina is tired of him and wants to make sure her son Nero makes it to the throne. Claudius seems more interested in another woman, so Agrippina takes her violent action.

The art is more of an illustration style like you'd see in book rather than a graphic novel. The coloring is a bit softer, and the illustrations are really nice. They are pretty gratuitous though, showing that this book originated in Europe where there is less sensitivity to this sort of thing. I liked the book and it's art.

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


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Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly Graphic Novel #2)

author: Charlaine Harris
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/12
date added: 2017/12/12
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Grave Surprise' by Charlaine Harris and Royal McGraw with art by Ilias Kyriazis is an adapation of the second book in the Harper Connelly series. I wasn't familiar with the series, but I found it easy enough to pick this up and read.

Harper Connelly gained strange powers when she was struck by lightning. She has the ability to find the dead and ascertain their last thoughts. There are skeptics, so when a professor invites her out to a graveyard in memphis, she only expects to find the grave of a man buried for centuries. Along with the man, she finds the body of a girl from a missing persons case she wasn't able to solve in a distant city. How did the body get here, and why do so many people seem to have a motive for her death.

I enjoyed the story well enough. It's a weird psychic power, but it serves the story ok. There is a more than friendly relationship between Harper and her best friend, who acts as her helper and sidekick. The art for the story was not too bad. I'm not familiar with the series, but these are interesting characters, and I wouldn't mind reading more of their adventures.

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


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Batman: Detective Comics, Vol. 3: League of Shadows

author: James Tynion IV
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.71
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/10
date added: 2017/12/10
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batman: Detective Comics, Vol. 3: League of Shadows' by James Tynion IV with a host of artists focuses on team member Orphan and unleashes a crazy set of attacks of Batman's team and Gotham.

The new Batman team features Clayface, Batwoman, Batwing, Azrael and Orphan. Cassandra Cain, Orphan, doesn't want to talk. In this volume, which collects Detective Comics #950-956, we find out who her mother is. Her mother is Lady Shiva and she may be involved in the mythical League of Shadows. Before things are done, Batman's team will have to rely on Orphan's skill to save them, and when that skill is unleashed, it's a pretty amazing thing.

I read the Rise of the Batmen arc, and while I liked it, I felt a bit lost. I love Clayface being part of this team, but at the time, I wasn't familiar with the Cass character, but she has some great, weighty dramatic moments here. Her arc feels a bit different from similar "dark" characters and I appreciated it. I really liked this story. It's smart and action packed. The art pulls everything together.

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


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4 Kids Walk Into A Bank

author: Matthew Rosenberg
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/10
date added: 2017/12/10
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
If Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino wrote a caper movie, it might look something like '4 Kids Walk Into A Bank' by Matthew Rosenberg with art by Tyler Boss.

Paige lives with her widowed father. She has three oddball friends. Paige and her friends like to play D&D and use their imaginations. When Paige's father is visited by a group of bumbling idiot criminals, she wants to know what her father has to do with any of them. When the kids find out they are going to rob a bank, they decide to foil the bad guys with their own plan, which you can guess by the title of the book.

These characters are ones I would have loved to hang out with when I was that age, with the bullying they receive and their weird play and banter. I loved the names of the streets and other background things. The art was so fitting for the vibe of this book. I absolutely loved it!

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


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Doomsday Book

author: Connie Willis
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1992
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/09
date added: 2017/12/09
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'Doomsday Book' by Connie Willis was a book that had been on my TBR pile for a while. When my book club picked it, I was happy to finally have an excuse to get to it.

It's a story about time travel, the perils of time travel, and other dire things. The story is set in two timeframes, the world of the Middle Ages, and the modern age of the book, which is sometime in our future, but feels like the late 1980s. I liked the story in the middle ages, but the modern one left me a bit cold at times. There was a lot of tedious minutiae and bureaucracy that seemed overly repetitive.

The book takes a bit to get going, but once it finally does, it's a very good read to the end. This is not a happy book, but it's one I'm glad I read.


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Lords of the Jungle

author: Corinna Sara Bechko
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.89
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2017/12/09
date added: 2017/12/09
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Lords of the Jungle' by Corinna Sara Bechko with art by Roberto Castro is a team up between Sheena Queen of the Jungle and Tarzan Lord of the Apes. I like both properties, but this story just didn't do it for me.d

Sheena and Tarzan are from two different times, so some magical time travel has to occur. Sheena's jungle is in trouble and in her pursuit of the bad guys, she finds herself in Tarzan's jungle, but Tarzan isn't there. She meets up and befriends Cheetah and an elephant. She gets transport on a ship to London with a circus where she finally meets Tarzan.

Through this whole adventure, Sheena where's a skimpy outfit, and yet, no one in the 1930s world of Tarzan thinks it is strange or even stares at her. There is also an environmental message that fell a bit flat for me. It takes a while for the team up to finally happen, and it just felt underwhelming to me. The story and art were just not impressive. I wanted something better with these two characters meeting.

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


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Blue Beetle #1 (Blue Beetle 2016, #1)

author: Keith Giffen
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2016/10/12
date added: 2017/12/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Blue Beetle #1' by Keith Giffen & Scott Kolins find Jaime Reyes back home and being haunted in his dreams by Dr. Fate.

Jaime just wants to get back to normal, but he's having these dreams where Dr. Fate is trying to warn him about the power he now has. Meanwhile, Ted Kord has shown up at career day. Ted also seems to be in cahoots with a street gang, which makes Jaime on edge. Will this posse turn out to be as bad as Jaime thinks?

I like Jaime's relationship with Ted. He's obviously annoyed by him, which is an interesting place for Ted to be in. At the same time, I think Jaime could use what Ted can give him. Ted is all about fun, and Jaime seems to miss that some times. Of course, he is the one getting targeted. I've only read a couple issues of this series, but it seems like a fun one.

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


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The Hellblazer #2

author: Simon Oliver
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.43
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/09
date added: 2017/12/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Hellblazer #2' by Simon Oliver with art by Moritat continues John Constantine's return to England. I liked the first issue, and this one builds a bit more.

The Swamp Thing is looking for Abigail Arcane, and he still believes in John. Meanwhile John seems to only be looking out for himself (which is per usual). He weasels Chas for a ride and for Chas to place a bet for him. He then begins to look into a new underworld kingpin, but ends up picking up a tail with a couple strange human looking creatures he refers to as muppets.

At this point, I don't know how the Swamp Thing story and the John Constantine story connect, but they are certainly a study in contrasts. The Swamp Thing is quiet and powerful, and John is chaotic and frenzied.

I like the art by Moritat. It has a cartoonish look to it, so John's expressions tend to squash and stretch. The color is good and panels have nice background details. I like this book so far.

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


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Things We Lost in the Fire

author: Mariana Enríquez
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/04
date added: 2017/12/04
shelves:
review:
'Things We Lost in the Fire' by Mariana Enriquez with translation by Megan McDowell is a collection of 12 stories that all start fairly normally, then twist to the dark side of things.

Since the author is from Argentina, the book is a look at the kinds of things the author must see around her. The stories deal with inequality, brutal violence, disappearing citizens, and bands of men out to do evil. There are blackouts and black magic. There are frightened and confused people, and people who act to never be victims again.

I enjoyed the stories. Think of them more as dark literary fiction, and not straight horror. The horror just seems to be a part of these stories, and that makes it more unsettling. I found the collection one of the more unusual things I've read recently.

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


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Deathstroke #1

author: Christopher J. Priest
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2016/08/27
date added: 2017/12/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Deathstroke #1' by Christopher Priest with art by Carlo Pagulyan is not be confused with 'Deathstroke: Rebirth #1' by the same team, but having two number 1 issues debut so close together with pretty much the same title is a bit on the confusing side.

This issue does closely follow after teh other one, but it feels like we missed something in the meantime. Slade was finishing a mission and starting another one. Now it's and one of his friends has shown up. Also, the word Kenilworth shows up along with some more flashbacks. The back story begins to make a bit more sense, but the forward momentum seems disjointed.

I like the art. I want to like the story. I think I need a bigger picture. More importantly, I'd like a less fragmented story. In a story arc, this all might begin to make sense. Here it's just confusing so far.

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


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Justice League of America Vol. 1: The Extremists

author: Steve Orlando
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2017
rating: 1
read at: 2017/10/07
date added: 2017/12/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Justice League of America Vol. 1: The Extremists' by Steve Orlando finds Batman putting together another super team, but the book is just kind of a mess.

Batman wants to create a super team that has "normal" superheroes on it and not gods. But the presence of Lobo doesn't seem to make sense to me. Then there are the two story arcs in which super powered beings take over a country or a city and it's up to this newly formed team (at least one of which is new to the superhero business) to sort things out.

I like Batman with a team of Outsiders, so I had hopes for this one, but it just didn't work for me. The team is a weird hybrid that all seem to suddenly be fine working together. The back to back dictator stories seemed like political fodder (and why do the normal humans just bow down and accept these tyrants?). The art and color is overkill to the point of being blah. When it was all over, I just didn't care about any of it.

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


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Titans #3

author: Dan Abnett
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/11
date added: 2017/12/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
I read 'Titans #3' by Dan Abnett with art by Brett Booth, and I confess that I was a little lost, not having read the last issue. I liked what I read though, but my review might be confused.

The story seems to center around Kid Flash/Flash/Wally West and his multiverse versions. The villain Kedavra has been playing off of that, and it seems to be collapsing on him. The Titans have just finished a fight with their younger selves. It appears that Wally West is back, even though Kedavra has done his best to wipe him from people's memories.

I like the alternate versions of these characters, and I should probably read the back issues leading up to this (like maybe the whole 52 run). The art is good and I like the fractured panel structures on some pages. They lend themselves well to the story.

I received a review copy of this issue from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing em to review this issue.


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Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #2

author: Robert Venditti
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2016/08/14
date added: 2017/11/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #2' by Robert Venditti with art by Rafa Sandoval feels like a huge story, and I really liked it.

Something has happened to the Green Lantern Corps and their numbers are rapidly dwindling. Sinestro is trying to gain control. Guy Gardner gets sent out on a mission to face potential pain and suffering, but he's crazy enough to do it (I've always kind of liked Guy Gardner). Hal Jordan is still alive and word of this gets to Sinestro and his daughter Soranik.

I love the feel of this book. An overrun Green Lantern Corps putting up what looks like a final stand against incredible odds. A big story that almost feels like the page can't hold it. I loved the story and the art. Hal Jordan especially looks completely up to the task of fighting this alone if he has to.

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


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Things We Lost in the Fire

author: Mariana Enríquez
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/04
date added: 2017/12/04
shelves:
review:
'Things We Lost in the Fire' by Mariana Enriquez with translation by Megan McDowell is a collection of 12 stories that all start fairly normally, then twist to the dark side of things.

Since the author is from Argentina, the book is a look at the kinds of things the author must see around her. The stories deal with inequality, brutal violence, disappearing citizens, and bands of men out to do evil. There are blackouts and black magic. There are frightened and confused people, and people who act to never be victims again.

I enjoyed the stories. Think of them more as dark literary fiction, and not straight horror. The horror just seems to be a part of these stories, and that makes it more unsettling. I found the collection one of the more unusual things I've read recently.

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


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Deathstroke #1

author: Christopher J. Priest
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2016/08/27
date added: 2017/12/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Deathstroke #1' by Christopher Priest with art by Carlo Pagulyan is not be confused with 'Deathstroke: Rebirth #1' by the same team, but having two number 1 issues debut so close together with pretty much the same title is a bit on the confusing side.

This issue does closely follow after teh other one, but it feels like we missed something in the meantime. Slade was finishing a mission and starting another one. Now it's and one of his friends has shown up. Also, the word Kenilworth shows up along with some more flashbacks. The back story begins to make a bit more sense, but the forward momentum seems disjointed.

I like the art. I want to like the story. I think I need a bigger picture. More importantly, I'd like a less fragmented story. In a story arc, this all might begin to make sense. Here it's just confusing so far.

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


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Titans (2016-) #3

author: Dan Abnett
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/11
date added: 2017/12/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
I read 'Titans #3' by Dan Abnett with art by Brett Booth, and I confess that I was a little lost, not having read the last issue. I liked what I read though, but my review might be confused.

The story seems to center around Kid Flash/Flash/Wally West and his multiverse versions. The villain Kedavra has been playing off of that, and it seems to be collapsing on him. The Titans have just finished a fight with their younger selves. It appears that Wally West is back, even though Kedavra has done his best to wipe him from people's memories.

I like the alternate versions of these characters, and I should probably read the back issues leading up to this (like maybe the whole 52 run). The art is good and I like the fractured panel structures on some pages. They lend themselves well to the story.

I received a review copy of this issue from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing em to review this issue.


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