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I Hate Fairyland, Vol 2: Fluff My Life
I Hate Fairyland, Vol 2: Fluff My Life
Skottie Young | 2017 | Comics & Graphic Novels, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Picking up directly where the first volume leaves off, this volume of I Hate Fairyland, with Gert now Queen of Fairyland, and that goes about as well as you'd expect. She is eventually ousted from the throne and continues her search for a way home, dragging the unfortunate Larry along the way.

While Scottie Young's writing is still funny and his art is as madcap as ever (and Jean-Francois Beaulieu's eye-popping colors are eye-popping!), this volume was far more episodic than the previous story arc, with each issue more or less playing out the same scenario each time: Gert finds a "new" way home each issue, which of course turns out not to be a way home and then she fights her way out of the situation in the usual bloodbath, end of issue. The final issue of the collection does offer an interesting post-apocalyptic view of Fairyland, but it's actually not made clear whether the series is continuing after this volume (which there will be after a short break until the monthly series picks back up again in March), so the casual reader may be confused about whether this is actually the close of the series.

I'll be picking up the next collection of the series for sure, regardless of the slight disappointment that came with this issue, because I Hate Fairyland is still one of the most original comics that I've read in a long time.
  
Missing Pieces (The White Creek #1)
Missing Pieces (The White Creek #1)
Tori Fox | 2018 | Contemporary, Erotica, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
good start for a first time author
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I'm a bit in two minds about this book, and I can't figure out why but I'll try.

It's a Nice book. I know I hate using that word but it's the best I can come up with! It has drama, passion, love, hate, lots of different emotions with just enough of each to not be overpowering.

I will say this, only Harper has a say. In the first person AND present tense. And it took me til way past halfway to figure out it was present tense, so well done to Fox for making me NOT see something that might have made me dump it!

I did need to hear from Easton though. I think he would have had a lot to say, especially about what he's dealing with, with his sisters and his nutty ex.

And I found out after I'd read this, that this is a first time author! So very well done to Fox for this book, even if it wasn't quite my cuppa tea.

I enjoyed it, it didn't quite push any buttons for me, BUT! I would like to read the next one, just to see how Fox' skill is growing. And Easton's sister really could be an interesting character!

3 GOOD solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Please Send Help (I Hate Everyone But You #2)
Please Send Help (I Hate Everyone But You #2)
Gaby Dunn, Allison Raskin | 2019 | Contemporary, Young Adult (YA)
7
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sequel to I Hate Everyone But You
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

The story of Ava and Gen continues. In I Hate Everyone But You, the friends are in high school. Please Send Help follows the girls and their friendship after they graduate. They move on with their lives but remain committed to always being there for each other.

The authors, Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin, "perfectly capture the voice of young adults looking to find their place in the world, proving no matter how desperate things seem, your best friend is always there to reboot your life and send help." This quote might sound familiar because it is the description used to promote the book. It describes the book perfectly and, if you read my reviews, know I do not like to copy and paste. In this case, it did not make sense to reinvent the wheel.

The format of the book is similar to reading a play. However, there are no stage directions or aside descriptions, The book relies completely on the dialogue and is written as an email conversation between the two friends. I hope to see Ava and Gen's friendship to continue in future books.

FYI, if you listen to the audiobook, the authors are also the narrators.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/01/19.
  
The Miseducation of Evie Epworth
The Miseducation of Evie Epworth
Matson Taylor | 2020 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Miseducation of Evie Epworth came along at just the right time for me. Another lockdown was looming, things weren’t looking wholly optimistic, and along came Evie, hurtling down a country lane in a red MG. Actually, this has to be one of the most laugh-out-loud, followed-by-a-gasp openings I’ve ever read. And it didn’t stop there. Evie is a breath of much needed fresh air. She reminded me of the hope that you have as a young person, embarking on your grown up life as you leave formal education.

The dreaded Christine (soon to be Evie’s stepmother) makes such a good baddie (or a baddie you love to hate!). She’s a pleasure to hate, to be honest - but I’m afraid I did feel sorry for her - she just wanted a way out of the life she’d been given. Mrs Scott-Pam, Evie’s beloved next door neighbour, and her estranged daughter, Caroline, are just the people to help Evie out of her predicament - and the rest of the cast of colourful characters are just perfect.

I’m so glad there will be more of Evie in the future, and I can’t wait to read more.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book, and to Matson Taylor for reading along, commenting, answering our questions and generally talking with us about all things Evie related. I really did have the best time 😊
  
Suicide Squad (2016)
Suicide Squad (2016)
2016 | Action
Margot Robbie and Will Smith are both fine, I guess (0 more)
Everything else, at least, what I can remember (0 more)
A Complete Waste
No movie with a concept and set up like this should be boring. But it was/is. Incomprehensible and dumb I can deal with and still have a good time, But this was impossible to care about enough to even properly hate. I give it two stars just for how committed Margot Robbie is to a character that shouldn't be remotely likable (she is a psychopath murderess, after all, who is in love with the least charming or scary version of the joker ever conceived) and for Will Smith being Will Smith again.
  
Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
1994 | Rock
Production (3 more)
Song Writing
Atmosphere
Storytelling
A self-fulfilling prophecy (1 more)
Not nearly safe for work
Visionary
The Downward Spiral is one of the last great works of art produced in the 20th century.

Moving beyond the abrasive noise of the Broken/Fixed era while making callbacks to the dark pop music of Pretty Hate Machine and showcasing the ambient music that would eventually win Trent Reznor an Oscar; standout tracks on the The Downward Spiral are as varied as the scorching Mr Self-Destruct, the groove of Heresy and Closer or the celestial beauty of A Warm Place and the title track.

The album also features an ambition and aesthetic that still informs Nine Inch Nails over twenty years later.
  
Lie with Me
Lie with Me
Sabine Durrant | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I looooooved this book. BUT - not at first. It took me a while to get into it. I didn't like that it was a male lead, I went into it thinking the lead was female. So, maybe that's my fault. I couldn't connect with him, and I didn't like him. But maybe that's the point? By about 1/2 way through I was HOOKED. I could not stop reading to find out what the heck was going on! And the ending! WOW! SO not what I expected or what I've ever read before. I coulnd't believe it. So clever, and so unexpected - I wanted to hate the ending but in the end I ended up LOVING it! Nice job!