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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in Books
Oct 24, 2017 (Updated Oct 24, 2017)
Ridiculously amusing
This has been part of my to-read list since forever. And I can now assuredly say that the meaning of life is 42. It's hilariously silly and outright bonkers.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.
Jenny Houle (24 KP) rated Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage in Books
Jan 13, 2018
I received an ARC via FirstToRead for this book, for an unbiased review.
I am, admittedly, not as familiar with Shapiro's writing as many who seem to have chosen to review this book. As an avid memoir reader, and also as a "wannabe writer", I was drawn to the idea of reviewing a memoir. I was not, at all, disappointed with the choice.
Throughout the book, the ideas of "what if", as well as other writing prompts that she had encountered over time, intermingling with the memories of her family and her life, really brought the book together. I can see now, that I need to make time to read more of her work. I found myself bookmarking page after page, trying to remember details from it so that I could, in the future, use them as guides for my own writing.
I am, admittedly, not as familiar with Shapiro's writing as many who seem to have chosen to review this book. As an avid memoir reader, and also as a "wannabe writer", I was drawn to the idea of reviewing a memoir. I was not, at all, disappointed with the choice.
Throughout the book, the ideas of "what if", as well as other writing prompts that she had encountered over time, intermingling with the memories of her family and her life, really brought the book together. I can see now, that I need to make time to read more of her work. I found myself bookmarking page after page, trying to remember details from it so that I could, in the future, use them as guides for my own writing.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power in Books
Feb 15, 2019
So it took me a long time to pick this up, mainly due to the artwork, more like the faces, more specifically the girls' faces are weird and squishy-square. But then I saw the horror show that was Squirrel Girl's debut....
Are you read for this?
There aren't any small children or animals around, right?
You don't have any heart problems? Epilepsy? Minor anxiety?
Okay, but I warned you:
<spoiler><IMG src="http://i66.tinypic.com/9u15cw.jpg"/IMG></spoiler>;
I know, right? Total nightmare fuel. I'm fine(-ish) with the faces now.
In addition, the story and Twitter feeds are totally effing funny. And cute. And perfect in almost every way. Except the squirrel suit. Because that's just weird and creepy.
And oh yeah, where can I get her roommate Nancy's posters because they're awesome:
<img src="http://i64.tinypic.com/29ykt5i.jpg">;
Are you read for this?
There aren't any small children or animals around, right?
You don't have any heart problems? Epilepsy? Minor anxiety?
Okay, but I warned you:
<spoiler><IMG src="http://i66.tinypic.com/9u15cw.jpg"/IMG></spoiler>;
I know, right? Total nightmare fuel. I'm fine(-ish) with the faces now.
In addition, the story and Twitter feeds are totally effing funny. And cute. And perfect in almost every way. Except the squirrel suit. Because that's just weird and creepy.
And oh yeah, where can I get her roommate Nancy's posters because they're awesome:
<img src="http://i64.tinypic.com/29ykt5i.jpg">;
Ande Thomas (69 KP) rated Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art in Books
May 30, 2019
This is a great book that honestly changed how I felt about comics completely. I had never really been exposed to comics outside of the weekly newspaper. Of course I knew the titles that were out there, and I did more than my fair share of watching cartoons and movies based on comic characters, but I didn't "get it." The medium was not mine. McCloud's book gave me the tools I needed to really understand the art of comics. How comics use the blending of art and written word to really present ideas in a unique way that no other art form can really do.
Reading this book opened my mind to a broad range of stories that I never would have read or even known about, some of which are among my most cherished books now.
Reading this book opened my mind to a broad range of stories that I never would have read or even known about, some of which are among my most cherished books now.
Tracy Carr-Harding (4 KP) rated Assassin's Creed in Video Games
Jan 16, 2018
The Good Guys Win Again
I know I am not your conventional gamer, I'm over 50 and a woman, but my son thought I should try this, as I have enjoyed playing other similar format games. I agreed, albeit unwillingly, but was hooked within a short time. I found that time ran away with me, when I was being Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, and I wanted to complete one more mission, find one more treasure, and rescue one more innocent. The story was easy to follow, the maps fairly easy to read, and the graphics made it a very pretty place to venture around. All in all, I am very happy that my son talked me into playing, and am now on game 7 in the series, and still loving them!!!!
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain #4) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
If the third of the series is my favorite, I love this novel infinitely more. I forgot what it was like to read such great literature that each pages inspires you to think and wonder. No body writes literature like this anymore, such thought provoking, enthralling books that bring you so close to the characters that you almost don't want to finish the novel for fear of losing such a friendship. You share their pains, triumphs, frustrations, and joys that it's almost heartbreaking to finish.
Taran Wanderer starts out with Taran setting out to search for his lineage so that he will have no doubts about asking Eilonway to marry him. Instead, he creates one of the greatest tales about finding ones self. If Taran existed here and now, I would demand that we be friends.
Taran Wanderer starts out with Taran setting out to search for his lineage so that he will have no doubts about asking Eilonway to marry him. Instead, he creates one of the greatest tales about finding ones self. If Taran existed here and now, I would demand that we be friends.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated City of Darkness and Light (Molly Murphy, #13) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When a case Daniel is working on turns dangerous, Molly and Liam leave New York to join Sid and Gus in Paris. But when her reception is not what she expected, is Molly in more danger now than she was before?
More than any other book in the series, I felt this one had a large number of real people popping up in Molly's fictional world. The plot was good with some twists I didn't expect and the characters are so real by this point I just love visiting them. All told, it was a great trip back to 1905.
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/2014/03/book-review-city-of-darkness-and-light.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
More than any other book in the series, I felt this one had a large number of real people popping up in Molly's fictional world. The plot was good with some twists I didn't expect and the characters are so real by this point I just love visiting them. All told, it was a great trip back to 1905.
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/2014/03/book-review-city-of-darkness-and-light.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
David McK (3562 KP) rated All Star Superman in Books
Jan 28, 2019
While I initially thought that this was going to be a self-contained story in its own right, upon having read it I now think that this is instead a compilation of a (roughly) 12 issue long comic run.
Some of the episodes, I felt, were far superior to others: in some (perhaps more than I was comfortable with), I didn't really follow what was happening.
There is an over-arching plot throughout the entire series, with Superman 'overpowering' himself with solar radiation in the opening of the first episode, and with his body beginning to fail as a result.
I also found the art-style slightly off-putting: I can understand drawing the man of steel in a square/blocky 'strong' art style, but ma and pa Kent? Really?
Perhaps not the best of introductions for anybody new to Superman comics.
Some of the episodes, I felt, were far superior to others: in some (perhaps more than I was comfortable with), I didn't really follow what was happening.
There is an over-arching plot throughout the entire series, with Superman 'overpowering' himself with solar radiation in the opening of the first episode, and with his body beginning to fail as a result.
I also found the art-style slightly off-putting: I can understand drawing the man of steel in a square/blocky 'strong' art style, but ma and pa Kent? Really?
Perhaps not the best of introductions for anybody new to Superman comics.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Haunted Redemption (The Cascade #1) in Books
Jan 15, 2020
Brilliant
Contains spoilers, click to show
What's more terrifying...
What you can't see,
Or what you can't remember?
Since her divorce, Kendall Madison has been in over her head. Between trying to make ends meet, raising three kids, and hunting ghosts,
Kendall just can't seem to find balance in her life. When she finally lands a job right up her alley, she hopes it’s a sign for better things ...
Brilliant!! So many books write their female leads to be hot single women this was so refreshing to have a female lead with a normal life, the daily struggles as a parent, then she kicks ass in the supernatural world too. It was so well written and such an enjoyable read. I'm definitely rooting for Malcolm in this one and can't wait to discover more now Kendall has her memories back!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
What you can't see,
Or what you can't remember?
Since her divorce, Kendall Madison has been in over her head. Between trying to make ends meet, raising three kids, and hunting ghosts,
Kendall just can't seem to find balance in her life. When she finally lands a job right up her alley, she hopes it’s a sign for better things ...
Brilliant!! So many books write their female leads to be hot single women this was so refreshing to have a female lead with a normal life, the daily struggles as a parent, then she kicks ass in the supernatural world too. It was so well written and such an enjoyable read. I'm definitely rooting for Malcolm in this one and can't wait to discover more now Kendall has her memories back!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
ClareR (5879 KP) rated Midwinter Mysteries in Books
Jan 7, 2020
Tales not just for Christmas!
Midwinter Mysteries is a great, festive collection of crime stories and thrillers - and I loved it. There are some of my favourite characters in this anthology, and some I’m now very interested in finding out more about. Graham Brack brings in another great story from Josef Slonsky (he IS my favourite), Linda Stratmann’s Mina Scarletti is also a great, if ghostly, story, and Charles Dickens makes an appearance thanks to J. C. Briggs (might have to read more of these books). Actually, it’s hard NOT to like any of these stories, and this fabulous collection has just made my wish list even longer - there wasn’t a single story that I didn’t enjoy. The collection left me feeling kind of seasonal in a slightly murderous, criminal way - but these stories don’t have to be confined to December!