Stonefly

author: Scott J. Holliday

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.14

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/03/31

date added: 2014/03/31

shelves:

review:

Stonefly is a supernatural story that feels familiar, but has a wholly original concept. Jacob Duke has to grant wishes. If you wish for something sincerely and Jacob can't grant it in seven days, you die. This makes Jacob a bit frantic, especially as the clock ticks down. So frantic, that he once spent time in a mental hospital, and became deaf as a result.



Jacob Duke comes back to the town of Braketon where he spent time in the aforementioned mental hospital. This time, he is just looking for a little rest and relaxation when he runs across a young boy who wishes that his father was dead. Jacob wants nothing to do with this, but after meeting the boy's abusive, violent father, thinks it might not be a bad idea.



Jacob is a very likeable hero in the vein of Odd Thomas (high praise from me, indeed). There's a good setup for a series with some good recurring characters, like Jacob's mysterious father, his mother and the sheriff who just wants her to notice him, and Lori Nelson, who Jacob helped and has strong feelings about. It's a very well told tale, and I definitely would read more about this character. Well done!



I was given a review copy of this ebook by Haley Road Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this book.





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Scatter, Adapt, and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction

author: Annalee Newitz

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.40

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/03/31

date added: 2014/03/31

shelves: non-fiction

review:

Scatter, Adapt, and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction tackles a very huge subject. It's a big ambitious subject. I'm not sure the entire subject can be covered adequately in a single 320 page book, but author Annalee Newitz gives it a good shot.



The book is about the history of mass extinctions on our planet over a 4.5 billion year history. There have been dust storms, ice, gas clouds and volcanoes that have attempted to eradicate life on earth. This is the setup for the book. Author Newitz is proposing how humanity could go about surviving the next mass extinction event. From underground cities to the Jewish diaspora, there are solutions that could work well. Covering biohazards and asteroid strikes, there are many potential hazards, but they are covered in a positive easygoing fashion. The book finishes with what our eventual move out into the stars might look like.



As stated, it's a huge subject and at times it feels a little glossed over, but it's a good jumping off point for further study. The work reminded me a bit of the work of Mary Roach, and that's a compliment. I like accessibly written science works and this one succeeds in that area quite well. I liked the book when it was all said and done.



I was given a review copy of this book by Netgalley and Doubleday Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this fascinating book.





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Evil Ernie Volume 1: Origin of Evil Tp

author: Jesse Snyder

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.33

book published: 2013

rating: 2

read at: 2014/03/30

date added: 2014/03/30

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Evil Ernie Volume 1: Origin of Evil tells the origin story of Evil Ernie, a violent, horror comic where it's kind of hard to pick who you should be rooting for due to it's moral ambiguity. The violence is so excessive, dark and pervasive and the main protagonist is almost as evil as his enemy.



Ernie suffered a great loss on the day he was born. His father caused an accident that killed his brother and the mother who was carrying him. In the care of a stepfamily that seems to abuse or neglect him, he gets to the point where he does an unspeakable act. Now he is on death row and facing execution. What happens next sets off a series of violence where Ernie tries to kill his pyschotic father to complete a pact with evil.



It's a dark, dark series. Possibly the darkest I've read. I'm not sure I like this character, but I'm not sure he's supposed to be liked. Excessive evil and violence that may appeal to some, but not to me.



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 allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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The Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman TP

author: Keith Champagne

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.00

book published: 2013

rating: 2

read at: 2014/03/30

date added: 2014/03/30

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

The Bionic Man Vs. The Bionic Woman and it's great cover seem to promise one of those epic battles that you used to find in comics in the 1970s in giant sized comics (anyone remember Muhammad Ali Vs. Superman?). In those stories, 2 heroes were pitted against each other, and through some sort of misunderstanding found themselves fighting against each other. There is a little of that here, but it might have been better to advertise the book for what it really is.



Trench, a hulking bionic villain, must survive on harvesting live organs from victims. This puts him on a killing spree where his victims are left with body cavities open and their hearts missing. When Steve Austin, aka The Bionic Man, is sent in, the cops with him are killed and he goes missing. Enter, Jaime Sommers, the Bionic Woman, who is on the trail. It turns out Trench, besides being cruel, is also radioactive. Steve and Jaime are forced to fight each other to save their lives.



Art by Jose Luis was good, but I just didn't care about the story. Bionic limbs are ripped off and replaced so easily, that I wonder why there aren't a whole army of Bionic people in this iteration of the story. If so, why are there only 2 to fight this hulking menace. That was another problem. Trench is so huge and oversized while everyone else isn't. He just doesn't fit in with the rest of this world. He moves around a lot, but it seems like a vehicle large enough for him to travel in would be awfully conspicuous. I know I'm being petty, and that probably tells you how uninterested I was in the story.



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 allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Lord of the Jungle Volume 2 TP

author: Robert Castro

name: Wayne

average rating: 0.0

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2014/03/28

date added: 2014/03/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Lord Of The Jungle Volume 2 finds Tarzan in Paris. Jane is engaged to Lord Greystoke, but it's not Tarzan. He thwarts an attempt on a young countess, but is brushed off by gentry. The local police want his help in tracking the attacker.



The trail leads him back to the heart of Africa. Along the way, Tarzan makes new allies and finds the fabled lost city of gold. Now if only he can save Jane in time.



It's a great story by Arvid Nelson and the art by Roberto Castro is so reminiscent of the old book covers I remember. Lots of great adventure, and all the variant covers are included.





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Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, Vol. 2

author: David Petersen

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.93

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/03/28

date added: 2014/03/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, Volume 2, is a great concept that works beautifully. Guest writers and artists were invited to tell tales within the world of Mouseguard. Instead of having stories and art that would seem strange in the context of the story arc, an unusual framing story is set up.



It seems that many of the mouseguard have been accruing debt in June Alley Inn, so an interesting story contest is proposed. The winner who tells the best tale will have their debt forgiven. This launches into a series of stories told by guest writers and artists. The art varies, but the stories all seem to fit within the world of Mouseguard and it's medieval world of mice, foxes and badgers. There are stories of bravery and fairytales, and even one song.



It's a delightful package and one of the better story collaborations I've ever seen. The art and stories are all top notch. Contributors include Stan Sakai and Bill Willingham among a whole host of others. Very recommended.



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 allowing me to review this beautiful graphic novel.





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I Am #11: Walt Disney

author: Grace Norwich

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.70

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/03/26

date added: 2014/03/26

shelves: non-fiction, young-adult

review:

I Am #11: Walt Disney is a young reader's history of Walt Disney. It tells the story of Walt Disney in 128 pages from his birth to his death. There are illustrations and pictures.



I used to read a series of early readers called Step Up Books from Random House in which different historical figures were featured (my favorite was Meet George Washington). This series seems to be in the same vein, but for a slightly older group of readers. It reminds me of that earlier series, and I really enjoyed it.



The book features a list of people who are key to the story you are about to read. It ends with a list of 10 things you should know about Walt Disney, then a second list of 10 more thanks that are pretty cool to know. There is a glossary and a list of places to visit. In this case places to visit include theme parks, but also the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco (which is an excellent museum) and Walt's home town of Marceline, Missouri.



It's told in a kid friendly way, but harsh facts are not held back. You learn Walt's father was not a pleasant man, and that he lost his early creation, Oswald The Lucky Rabbit. It's well told and engaging.



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





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