Iris Apfel

author: Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/09/30
date added: 2021/09/30
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Iris Apfel' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Kristen Barnhart is book 64 in the Little People, Big Dreams series.

Fashion icon Iris Apfel was the lone child at family gatherings. To entertain young Iris, her grandmother would let her play with her bag of fabric, and the rest is kind of history. She found a husband, overcame being called an ugly duckling and became a unique person.

I do love this series, especially when it brings me someone I knew nothing about. The illustrations are always fun and different and the ones here by Kristen Barnhart are brightly colored.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/39RDjbx

Loopholes: Microfiction

author: Susan McCreery
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2021/09/30
date added: 2021/09/30
shelves:
review:
'Loopholes' by Susan McCreery is a collection of microfiction with over 60 stories in around 90 pages.

Microfiction is concisely written fiction that still needs to convey a story and characters. There are all manner of stories and characters in this collection.

Where it sort of fell apart for me is they all feel like well written story prompts. I think all of them are open ended, which could lead to discussion, but I was hoping for a twist or some closure on some of them. I enjoyed the writing and the setups. I just felt like I wanted some closure here and there.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/3AZkGP0

Xena: Penance

author: Meredith Finch
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2021/09/25
date added: 2021/09/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Xena: Penance' by Meredith Finch with art by Vicente Cifuentes is a graphic novel based on the hit television show.

In short, this is the story (or a story) of when Xena met Gabrielle. In this version, Gabrielle is a country girl travelling to the big city of Athens when she gets harassed by some soldiers. Xena steps in to help and then it's reciprocated back. A familiar villain of the show makes an appearance.

There is a version of Xena here that I wished had been explored just a bit more: the world-weary mercenary who now wants peace and forgiveness. Maybe that gets touched on more in the next volume. The art is really very good and I enjoyed reading it for the art more than the story.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/39AiAZU

The Book of Onions: Comics to Make You Cry Laughing and Cry Crying

author: Jake Thompson
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2021/09/25
date added: 2021/09/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Book of Onions' by Jake Thompson is a collection of cartoons with dark and funny twists.

Jake Thompson has a bizarre sense of humor as seen here in these four-panel comics. The humor is on clever and wry side, just like I like it and I enjoyed this collection of weirdly funny comics.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/3i7o9Un

Needle and Thread

author: David Pinckney
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2021/09/23
date added: 2021/09/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Needle and Thread' by David Pinckney with art by Ennun Ana Iurov is a graphic novel about living the life you want instead of the one you are supposed to have.

Noah is not much like his parents, including liking sports. They want him to become a medical professional and help people like they do. Noah's dream is to sew costumes for movies. Azarie is socially about as different from Noah as can be. Or at least that's what it seems like. Azarie's dreams are also different from the ones her family wants. Can these two different people help each other.

I really liked this story and the message it has. These are likeable characters. I didn't like the art as much but it grew on me over the course of the story. This would be a good read for younger readers who feel like they don't fit in.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/3ENS39B

Big Nate: Aloha!

author: Lincoln Peirce
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2021/09/16
date added: 2021/09/16
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Big Nate: Aloha!' by Lincoln Peirce is another volume in the Big Nate series for middle grade readers.

This time around, Nate wants a new girlfriend, but she wants to take things slowly and that isn't like the Big Nate we know. Nate gets called in to pitch and unexpected things happen. Nate and Teddy come up with a plan to spend Nate's haircut money with hilarious results.

This is a consistently funny series. Lincoln Peirce knows how to time jokes and wait for payoffs. It's no wonder this series is so popular with younger readers.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/3nHqn0k

Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost, Vol. 1

author: Kaori Yuki
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/09/16
date added: 2021/09/16
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost 1' with story and art by Kaori Yuki is a manga twist on a famous fairy tale.

Belle goes out to the woods with her mother to gather red flowers that will go with the unusual color of her hair. When she comes home alone, her dad locks her away for years in an act of cruelty. One day, years later, Belle escapes and flees to the woods. She is captured by the Beast and taken to his castle, but the humans that were enchanted there may be trying to kill their Prince in an act of vengeance.

This is a good dark take on the Beauty and the Beast story. I liked the twists along the way as well as the cruelty Belle learns to overcome along her journey. The art is pretty great too. The Beast design is really good.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/3tLjkV6