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Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Above the Timberline in Books
May 22, 2019
I'm calling this a graphic novel because that's really what it is - it's not a comic, though. Each spread of pages is a mixture of text and oil painting - sometimes just a painting.
If it was just the text, it would be a very lackluster book. There are aspects of the story that are unexplained, and aspects that are explained only by the accompanying paintings. It's really the paintings that make this book unique. It's almost like - an adult picture book, I suppose. It actually reads more like someone found the series of paintings and constructed a story to support what they imagined was happening in the pictures.
Regardless, it's a unique experience. Manchess is a remarkable artist. The paintings are gorgeous, and the book does that thing where the text and art play around each other on the page, creating unique formatting that helps tell the story on its own, like when a full two-page spread of a painting has two lines of text to emphasize them.
Fascinating, beautiful book.
If it was just the text, it would be a very lackluster book. There are aspects of the story that are unexplained, and aspects that are explained only by the accompanying paintings. It's really the paintings that make this book unique. It's almost like - an adult picture book, I suppose. It actually reads more like someone found the series of paintings and constructed a story to support what they imagined was happening in the pictures.
Regardless, it's a unique experience. Manchess is a remarkable artist. The paintings are gorgeous, and the book does that thing where the text and art play around each other on the page, creating unique formatting that helps tell the story on its own, like when a full two-page spread of a painting has two lines of text to emphasize them.
Fascinating, beautiful book.
Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated After The Cure in Books
Feb 1, 2018
A non-traditional zombie book that stays with you.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I loved this book. It had such a unique take on the zombie genre, rivaled perhaps only by M.R. Carey's The Girl with all the Gifts . Even compared to Carey's book, it's still in a league of its own. Just read the title. After the Cure.
Can you imagine what that would be like for the 'zombies'? To be cured, but have memories of all the horrible things they did while they were infected? To try to pick up again, to reintegrate into life? How positively horrifying.
Then there's the research to build a case against the jerks that started it all. There's intrigue, twists, horror, and discoveries, all told from the viewpoint of after the world almost ended, but humanity managed to save itself just in the nick of time. ...Right?
I haven't read the rest of this series, so I can't speak for it all...but I can speak for this book. This was, is, an awesome book that I highly recommend for zombie fans!
Can you imagine what that would be like for the 'zombies'? To be cured, but have memories of all the horrible things they did while they were infected? To try to pick up again, to reintegrate into life? How positively horrifying.
Then there's the research to build a case against the jerks that started it all. There's intrigue, twists, horror, and discoveries, all told from the viewpoint of after the world almost ended, but humanity managed to save itself just in the nick of time. ...Right?
I haven't read the rest of this series, so I can't speak for it all...but I can speak for this book. This was, is, an awesome book that I highly recommend for zombie fans!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2275 KP) rated Fogged Inn (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
It’s the off-season in Maine, and Julia and her boyfriend Chris are operating a dinner restaurant in the building where their friend Gus has his breakfast and lunch restaurant. When Gus comes in one morning to open, he finds a dead body in the refrigerator. The victim had come in for dinner the night before, but he is a stranger in town. Who was he? And why was he murdered in the restaurant?
This book opens with the murder right away, and the pace never slacks. I did miss a few of the usual supporting characters who are reduced to cameos here, but the new characters more than make up for it. The book builds to a sobering climax that adds some nice depth to the book and even a couple of our characters. I love this series, and this is another great entry.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-fogged-inn-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book opens with the murder right away, and the pace never slacks. I did miss a few of the usual supporting characters who are reduced to cameos here, but the new characters more than make up for it. The book builds to a sobering climax that adds some nice depth to the book and even a couple of our characters. I love this series, and this is another great entry.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-fogged-inn-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2275 KP) rated Stone Cold Case (A Rock Shop Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
In an effort to learn more about local rocks and minerals, Morgan has been taking a class from the local college. While one a class field trip, she gets separated from everyone else and finds a mountain man guarding a skeleton. The discovery reopens an unsolved disappearance in this small Colorado town. But what happened all those years ago?
It had been a while since I read the first book in this series, but it didn’t take long before I was back on board with the characters again. They are wonderful, and I enjoyed seeing the growth in them. The book had too many sub-plots, which crowded out the mystery a little at the beginning, but as the book when on the mystery took over and came to a very strong climax that kept me turning the pages.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-stone-cold-case-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
It had been a while since I read the first book in this series, but it didn’t take long before I was back on board with the characters again. They are wonderful, and I enjoyed seeing the growth in them. The book had too many sub-plots, which crowded out the mystery a little at the beginning, but as the book when on the mystery took over and came to a very strong climax that kept me turning the pages.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-stone-cold-case-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2275 KP) rated The Abominable Snowman (Choose Your Own Adventure, #13) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
In this book, you are the star and the choices you make determine the outcome. You are a mountain climber out to capture proof that the Yeti exists. When you arrive, your friend Carlos is already in the field, but you can’t reach him by radio. What do you do? Think carefully because your choices could make your career or lead to certain doom.
I read some of these as a kid and enjoyed them, and it was fun to revisit the series with this book. The story is fun, although some of the choices get pretty wild. When I allowed myself to enjoy that, I really got in to seeing what would happen to me next. Kids today will be just as delighted with this book as I was when I was a kid.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-abominable-snowman-by-r.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I read some of these as a kid and enjoyed them, and it was fun to revisit the series with this book. The story is fun, although some of the choices get pretty wild. When I allowed myself to enjoy that, I really got in to seeing what would happen to me next. Kids today will be just as delighted with this book as I was when I was a kid.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-abominable-snowman-by-r.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
ashezbookz (32 KP) rated The Girl in the Rain (Deep Waters, #1) in Books
Jul 5, 2018
I jumped between giving this book a 3 and 4 stars, it started off quite exciting, it stayed quite engaging throughout the book, and it ended quite exciting, for that I'd say it's a 4 star book, however, I had a bit trouble with the MC and her interaction with her brother.
The whole concept of this book was great - coming from someone who lived with a brother who both abused drugs and alcohol for quite a while, I can see where she was coming from, however, there was a lot of the "woe is me" syndrome that I HATED. I get the feelings of burden and guilt but - as someone who has been there done that, but I think this was taken way to the point of excess.
I know it was meant to build suspense, but it had me kind of hating the MC a lot, hating the whole mid part of the book, which was frustrating. The end highly made up for it though and now I do want to continue with the series because, cliffhangers amirite?
The whole concept of this book was great - coming from someone who lived with a brother who both abused drugs and alcohol for quite a while, I can see where she was coming from, however, there was a lot of the "woe is me" syndrome that I HATED. I get the feelings of burden and guilt but - as someone who has been there done that, but I think this was taken way to the point of excess.
I know it was meant to build suspense, but it had me kind of hating the MC a lot, hating the whole mid part of the book, which was frustrating. The end highly made up for it though and now I do want to continue with the series because, cliffhangers amirite?
Tom Turner (388 KP) rated Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz in Books
Apr 30, 2021
This was my least favourite Oz book so far. As with the previous book, it took a long time - almost the whole book in this case! - to actually read Oz, and so the only character (other than Dorothy) we know from before to feature significantly was the Wizard. Who is arguably the fullest of all characters, as anyone else familiar with the original Wizard of Oz understands.
From doing some research, the reason for this is because Baum has resigned himself to writing the series, so he was trying to have his cake and eat it by writing a Oz book without actually writing an Oz book. It's a shame he felt this way, because the moment we got into Oz all the magic for me returned. Sure there were some good ideas in the lead up, but I would have much preferred them to hammer occurred in Oz abs not this subterranean world. It felt more Jules Verne than Baum. Let's just hope this is the low point.
From doing some research, the reason for this is because Baum has resigned himself to writing the series, so he was trying to have his cake and eat it by writing a Oz book without actually writing an Oz book. It's a shame he felt this way, because the moment we got into Oz all the magic for me returned. Sure there were some good ideas in the lead up, but I would have much preferred them to hammer occurred in Oz abs not this subterranean world. It felt more Jules Verne than Baum. Let's just hope this is the low point.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Sep 4, 2020
Doctor Who: A Celebration: Two Decades Through Time and Space
6.0
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Doctor Who A Celebration Two Decades Through Time And Space Large Hardback Book by Peter Haining....
Merissa (12374 KP) rated Flame Kissed (Phoenix Rising #1) in Books
Nov 2, 2023
FLAME KISSED is the first book in the Phoenix Rising series. It is a fast-paced and action-packed story involving Wraiths and Phoenixes.
There is a whole new world here, just waiting to be explored. Where you have Oracles and Seers, Soldiers and Scholars. Where torture is not unknown and you can be bonded to someone against your will. From a heartbreaking start to a climactic finish, this book will hit pretty much every emotion as you read it. You will laugh at Aurelia and her sassy, take no prisoners, attitude. And then there is the banter between her and Evan, Rhys, West, and the rest of the crew.
I get the feeling that this book has only just scratched the surface of what is to come, and I for one, am looking forward to learning more! Definitely recommended.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 2, 2023
There is a whole new world here, just waiting to be explored. Where you have Oracles and Seers, Soldiers and Scholars. Where torture is not unknown and you can be bonded to someone against your will. From a heartbreaking start to a climactic finish, this book will hit pretty much every emotion as you read it. You will laugh at Aurelia and her sassy, take no prisoners, attitude. And then there is the banter between her and Evan, Rhys, West, and the rest of the crew.
I get the feeling that this book has only just scratched the surface of what is to come, and I for one, am looking forward to learning more! Definitely recommended.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 2, 2023