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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