Holy Bible: English Standard Version, ESV

author: Anonymous

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.71

book published: 2001

rating: 5

read at: 2013/12/31

date added: 2013/12/31

shelves: non-fiction

review:

My annual journey ends. Time to start again tomorrow.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/256740417?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Jinnrise Volume 1

author: Tom Taylor

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.20

book published: 2013

rating: 2

read at: 2013/12/29

date added: 2013/12/29

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

An American student somewhere in the Middle East is caught up in an alien attack by the "Kibrani." The only way to stop the attack seems to be the Jinn. A young boy the student runs into has a Jinn at his disposal, and he finds himself learning more about the world around him as his eyes are opened.



It's an okay book. The art is good, but I think it's geared toward a younger audience. I sometimes had a hard time reading the text from the Kibrani because the lettering was a bit too calligraphic in nature. It's Volume 1, so the story is left in a bit of a cliffhanger.



The main character and his fellow student are kind of jerks to the people they are going to meet and I found that a bit of an overdramatization. Why would they travel and be rude? I realize it's a set up for the character to have his eyes open, but it felt a bit narrow. Overall, I liked it, but I didn't love it.



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





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/689548521?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Dogs of War

author: Sheila Keenan

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.69

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/28

date added: 2013/12/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

In the graphic novel Dogs Of War by Sheila Keenan, three fictionalized stories of dogs and men in war are told. One from World War I, one from World War II and one from the Vietnam War.



In Boots, we learn about Boots a medic dog in the trenches of France with a young handler. This episode includes the Christmas Eve truce, but then shows how war continues on. In Loki, a dog in Greenland helps to pull sleds and save a soldier from the enemy. In Sheba, a young boy learns about his neighbor who is recently back from the Vietnam War. Sheba was the name of the dog that he was partnered with during the war and had to leave behind "with the rest of the equipment." They are all well told stories and show aspects of how soldier dogs are used and cared for.



The book concludes with a great Author's Note telling more about service dogs. There is a further reading section with more books and movies on the subject. Art by Nathan Fox is good. While the subject matter is for younger readers, the seriousness of war is never diminished, including the consequences of being a veteran in a less than popular war. It's all very well written by Sheila Keenan and I enjoyed these stories of brave men and dogs.



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





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/741278063?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Hopeless, Maine Volume 2: Inheritance

author: Tom Brown

name: Wayne

average rating: 0.0

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/27

date added: 2013/12/27

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

As a disclaimer, I did not read the first volume of Hopeless, Maine, so I found myself foundering at first. All that I needed to understand the series is actually found at the end of the volume where background of the city and it's inhabitants is detailed. I recommend that new readers who are unable to obtain the first volume begin at the end, then dive into this story.



Hopeless, Maine is a town inhabited by the living and dead. The living tend toward the magical side of things. The story concerns a girl named Salamandra who is seeking relatives and answers to mysteries in the town. She is joined by a boy named Owen who just wants to escape town. Can Salamandra find the answers she's looking for and can anyone actually leave Hopeless, Maine?



The story is very Victorian gothic (perhaps earlier, but that's the feel I got from it), the art is dark and moody. I wish I'd read the back of the book first to have a better feel for what I was reading, or perhaps having a short synopsis up front, but that's what I get for diving into Volume 2. There are some nice full page illustrations and creepy characters and monsters.



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





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/800898326?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Chip Crockett's Christmas Carol

author: Elizabeth Hand

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.88

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/26

date added: 2013/12/26

shelves:

review:

The death of a barely remembered kid's show host named Chip Crockett starts off the novella Chip Crockett's Christmas Carol. Down on his luck has-been rock star Tony "Maroni" calls his friend Brendan with this news and asking for a place to stay. Brendan is a divorced dad struggling with an autistic son named Peter, and a disdain for Christmas. When Tony shows up, some Christmas magic shows up with him. Songs play on car radios when the cars have no keys in them and Christmas specials show up on television, but Tony seems unaware of this.



The book deals with getting older, distant childhood memories and dealing with the lives we've been dealt. It's a good story and everything is not neatly tied up in the end like those cheesy Hallmark holiday movies, but it's still a hopeful ending.



The afterword by the author is really good. She mentions the things that inspired the novella to be written. It's poignant and heartfelt. I can see how she came to be inspired to write this.



I began the year reading an Elizabeth Hand novel (Waking The Moon) and I'm closing out the year with one. I have been impressed with both works and look forward to reading more by this author.



I was given a review copy of this book by Open Road Media and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/793018768?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

The Last Christmas

author: Gerry Duggan

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.62

book published: 2006

rating: 3

read at: 2013/12/24

date added: 2013/12/24

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

When the writers behind the hit series Deadpool set out to write a Christmas story, you should expect twisted and deranged and that's exactly what you get in The Last Christmas. The cover image should serve as a warning, with Santa standing over dead elves while holding 2 weapons. With prevalent gore and profanity, this is not a tale for the easily offended, and definitely not for children.



It's the near future and the apocalypse has happened. The North Pole has been unscathed and going about their business until one day marauders invade and kill Mrs. Claus. Santa is beside himself and attempts to kill himself, but he can't as long as one child remains who believes in him. Now all Santa wants to do is find that one child and finally rest in peace.



It's darkly funny and very twisted, but I enjoyed it. From the opening poem by Patton Oswalt, to the angry detraction letter from Mrs. Claus, you know exactly what you're in for and Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn deliver. Rick Remender's pencil's and Hilary Barta's inks give the book a Mad Magazine style of art (with a lot more gore, of course). The book finishes with a cover gallery.



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





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/793956893?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss

Sin Titulo

author: Cameron Stewart

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.86

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2013/12/21

date added: 2013/12/21

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

In Cameron Stewart's Sin Titulo, Alex Mackay finds himself in a living nightmare. The kind you might find in a David Lynch movie. Strange and nightmarish events descend on Alex's life and culminate in a surreal ending.



When Alex's grandfather dies, Alex finds a strange picture of a young blonde woman in his grandfather's belongings. When he sees the same woman at the funeral, he pursues and then loses her. The mystery deepens and he finds his life being turned upside down. He makes allies and enemies along the way. A homeless man who is frightening. A man who paints the same scene over and over again. It culminates enigmatically, and perfectly.



Art and story by Cameron Stewart are brilliant. Using only 3 colors for the entire book, the panels have a film noir style. The story is strange and horrifying, and I enjoyed the ride.



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





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/786867191?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss