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Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated House of M in Books

Nov 30, 2020  
House of M
House of M
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
*** <i>Read the entire story while listening to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' score to GONE GIRL. Not saying it would be for everyone, but it definitely worked for my re-reading.</i>

I have mentioned this in my graphic novel reviews of late, that I have been doing a fair amount of re-reads since making the transition to digital. It's such a delight to be able to read the comics again without fear of ruining the pages if I am eating or drinking! And best of all? The graphic novels (and books) read take up zero space, helping me to continue to maintain a minimalist lifestyle.

Okay, on to the review..

I originally read the HOUSE OF M about a year or so after it was published in trade paperback. At that time, I recall liking it well enough, thinking that Bendis did a good job. It was not good enough, at that time, to leave a lasting impression on me, unlike other Marvel events before it. With the move to digital, and with a price I could not refuse, I felt it was time to revisit the series and see how it would fare with my not-as-cluttered mental state.

First, let me just <b>"WOW!"</b>. No, seriously! For a re-read, it felt decidely fresh and much more engaging that it was for me first time out. The story was quite good, helping fulfill my Daily Minimum Requuirement of Angst Bendis wrote everyone in character, and he made it was easy to empathize with the characters, as they dealt with effects of the world presented in HOUSE OF M.

One thing that really made HOUSE OF M stand out, besides the story, was the art. Oliver Coipel's pencils were perfecting, offering clear expressions, helping to capture the mood(s) needed throughout! Coipel's was given some solid inkers to finish it: Tim Townsend, Rick Magyar, Scott Hanna, and John Dell. And let us not forget to mention the final icing on the cake: that super awesome coloring from Frank D'Armata. Seriously, a big hand goes out to all of this top notch collaborative effort!

I won't try to tell anyone how to read this, or anything for that matter. However, I will say that for my re-reading, I would stop every so often and reflect, to imagine what it must have been like for Wanda (Scarlet Witch) to have to live going forward after being told your children were just fabrications! And then, even further, to learn what she did at the end of HOUSE OF M! Seriously, regardless of whether you love or hate Bendis, this was heavy stuff to swallow! Sadly, it seems to been retconned by Marvel!

If you are tired of the current events "daisy chaining" that Marvel feels compelled to continue churning out, you could do a whole lot worse than HOUSE OF M. Bendis puts forward some interesting ideas, and seeing them play out is a hell of a good read! It is probably one of his best Marvel contributions, next to his DAREDEVIL! I urge you to give it a shot! You, like me, may need a second reading, but I think you will enjoy it!

Now, I am off to read the post-HOUSE OF M stuff, as well as AVENGERS: DISASSEMBLED, which leads into HOUSE OF M, and which I did not read when HOUSE OF M first came out.
  
CK
Cat Killer (Mirage Mysteries #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When a car bomb explodes killing Cat DuBois, Phoenix police detective Joe Rodriguez has his list of suspects, including Cat’s boss, traveling evangelist Persis Magen. However, a second incident makes him question who is the killer and who are potential targets. Can he figure it out before someone else dies?

I first read this mystery 20 plus years ago, and it was fun to revisit these characters. I did remember the killer, but reading it now, the villain’s identity does seem a little obvious early on. The characters are strong, and I enjoyed getting to meet them again. By the end, I was easily able to remember who they all were, even given the large number we meet early on. This is a Christian mystery, which adds to the book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-cat-killer-by-sandy-dengler.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Sonofdel (6291 KP) rated Savage in Books

May 2, 2022  
Savage
Savage
Richard Laymon | 1993 | Crime, Horror
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
excellent story, good characters, interesting plot (0 more)
ending too predictable (0 more)
Great take on an Urban Myth
A really excellent read. Being a fan of King, Herbert, Masterton, Barker etc, I do like a good horror and this almost ticks all the boxes for me. The idea behind the story is genius and sets its basis on the Jack the Ripper myth. Now imagine that a boy witnessed him murder, followed him, got caught by him, kidnapped by him and taken to America, with me so far? Now also imagine said boy decides to track down this killer and that is basically what the book is about. With it being set in the eighteen hundreds it makes clever use of the fact that there were no computers to help him, no internet to search, no mobile telephone to aid him. This is one boy (at the start) and his quest to track down and kill a killer. The book has more than this to offer though. The best way i can describe it is The Hardy Boys meets Around the World in 80 days :) Worth a read and definitely a different take on the whole Jack the Ripper myth :)
  
One Last Chance
One Last Chance
Kat Sinclair | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
took a path I didn't see coming!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Dayton is an omega with a slightly sour smell. Very uncommon. It means his dating life is almost non-existant and his mothers keep setting him for blind dates. Rowland is an alpha with a condition that makes his smell overpowering to most omegas, and indeed, betas. The latest blind was the last one, he was adamant. But when Dayton and Rowland meet, sparks really do fly. But there are those who are against Rowland being happy.

What I liked about this, was it went a way I did not see coming, and I really enjoyed being kept on my toes.

AND! It wasn't until I was tagging it, that I realised something: first person, present tense and multi point of view. If you follow my reviews, you'll know this is not a fav of mine, and I WILL dump books written as such if they don't grab me. I won't apologise for that either. But this book grabbed me and didn't let go, so much so, I did not notice the way it was written!

Now, there is a bit in the beginning about the way this world works. I read it, I really did, but much went over my head about the intricate explanations about the venusverse and how it all works. I don't think I missed much by not comprehending it all, to be honest. Just needed to mention it!

I've not read anything by this author, and it says this book is set in the venusverse world she created. I can't find any, so I'm assuming this is the first, please correct me if I'm wrong though! I will read them, as and when. Kat Sinclair is now firmly in my crosshairs!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated Introductions in Books

Mar 14, 2020 (Updated Mar 14, 2020)  
Introductions
Introductions
C. L. Stone | 2002 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
North... (0 more)
Beautiful story about a sheltered young girl and her life changing friends!
Contains spoilers, click to show
This was the first RH book I read and I was hooked! I am completely invested in Sangs life as well as all the guys! North is of course the best... I've read all of them up till now, 13 maybe? And CL is writing more as I type!

It's a very sweet story about a sheltered young girl who is scared of her own shadow. She wants to prove her mother wrong and sneaks out only to meet Kota. The first of 9 guys who will slowly change her world. In order of meeting, Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Gabriel, Luke, North, Dr Green, and Mr Blackbourne. Very heartwarming and you fall in love with all the characters a little more each time. I reread each book whenever a new one is released so I've read it quite a lot :) well worth the read as a starter to the reverse harem sub genre.
  
Hyde and Seek (Hyde #1)
Hyde and Seek (Hyde #1)
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I dunno how I feel. 2.5...3 stars? Either way I liked the start, up until about the half way point, it was bad boy biker/mechanic and young, innocent baker coming together with an instant combustible attraction and I liked it quite a lot, though Jake's growling and controlling ways were annoying after a while.

It was the second half of the story I wasn't so keen on. The sort of rush to their relationship--the engagement--and the stalker. Now I know that we need some sort of dilemma in a story but it didn't work for me in this. And then who it actually turned out to be was a shock. I certainly didn't see it coming.

I liked Kase so I may have to read the second book in this series at some point.
  
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Emma Watson recommended The Handmaid's Tale in Books (curated)

 
The Handmaid&#039;s Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood | 1998 | Essays
8.3 (112 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaid’s Tale over thirty years ago now, but it is a book that has never stopped fascinating readers because it articulates so vividly what it feels like for a woman to lose power over her own body. Like George Orwell’s 1984 (a novel that Atwood was inspired by) its title alone summons up a whole set of ideas, even for those who haven’t read it…Atwood has called it ‘speculative fiction’, but also says that all the practises described in the novel are ‘drawn from the historical record’ – i.e. are things that have actually taken place in the past. Could any of Atwood’s speculations take place again, or are some of them taking place already? Are the women in the book powerless in their oppression or could they be doing more to fight it?"

Source
  
Finally Letting Go (Infinity #2)
Finally Letting Go (Infinity #2)
C.J. Lynne | 2017 | Erotica, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
much MUCH better read than book one!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book two in the Infinity series. I would recommend that you read book one, Worth The Risk, if only to know just how Brandon wrecked Tyler 3 years ago. Not totally necessary, though.

Brandon is so far in the closet, he doesn't even know WHERE he is anymore! Facing up to his father, and NOT going to law school, Brandon now comes face to face with Tyler, and he has to own up to what he did. And he does. Tyler's best friend, Simon, though, won't let Brandon get away with it. But Simon's reaction to meeting Brandon properly again for the first time is MASSIVE and INSTANT, and oh so unexpected. Simon won't, though, be anyone dirty little secret. Brandon has to own up WHO he is before Simon will go down that road.

And my gosh! What a great read! I love characters who, for one reason or another cannot own up to who they really are, who they really want, and Brandon, bless his heart, he fights. He FIGHTS so darn HARD, but Simon will not let up!

And let me tell ya, once Brandon admits to HIMSELF who he is and WHO he wants, that man is all in! And it is spectacular watching both these men fall and fall hard for each other. It is, really, quite beautiful watching these two, it really is.

And I did NOT see that coming at me, no ma'am I did not expect that!! Way to go Brandon!

I said in my review for Worth The Risk that there was some repetition of a couple of phases, and I was worried here, but there was none of that!

I loved that Tyler and Jax play a huge part here, and that Ben, the owner of Infinity plays a part, and his book is laid out, sorta. There is a little bit of a preview for Ben's book, Breaking The Rules, and his book is told in the first person. Now those who follow my reviews will know that's not a great favourite of mine, but because I KNOW this now, it won't be a problem. Can't wait to read it!

A much MUCH better read than book one so...

5 full stars.

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
The Greatest Showman (2017)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
2017 | Drama, Musical
The music, the dancing, the bearded lady (0 more)
A couple of plots in the movies story that could have been followed through more but nothing that really spoils it. (0 more)
The Greatest Showman
I loved this film, I was nearly put off by some of the reviews I had read but I'm so glad I decided to make my own mind up about it. Did I say I loved it, well I did, it was great, at one point in the film I wanted to get up and clap the only thing that stopped me is my daughter and grand-daughter would have killed me.
I will watch this film again and again and it is now one of my favourite films. A real feel good film with some deep underlying messages too.
  
The Summer Children
The Summer Children
Dot Hutchison | 2018 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
So I somehow got it in my head that Summer Children came after The Butterfly Garden, and I didn't realize until I was already 1/3 of the way through that I was wrong. By then I was too far gone into the story to truly care, so I just kept reading. It was interesting, sad, heart breaking. It had a completely different feel to The Butterfly Garden, but of course, if I had read the correct book in the correct order, it might not have felt so discombobulated. Either way, I was held captive by the story. The dynamic between Mercedes, Vic, Eddison, and now Sterling, makes me smile so big. They are goals. I don't know if there will be another book, but if there is, I'll be reading it!