October 2016 – Looking For a Good Book

October 31, 2016

DEMON, VOLUME 2 – graphic novel

**WARNING — POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!** I shouldn’t like this graphic novel. The very idea of it just seems wrong somehow, and even the art is barely a step above stick figures, but I DO like this book. I reviewed Vol.1 not too long back (read that review here). What I wrote about the style of Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews

October 29, 2016

NORSE MYTHOLOGY – Neil Gaiman

I have no doubt in my mind that Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology will become the go-to resource for anyone interested in Norse myths because 1) it’s Neil Gaiman and he seems to have a Midas touch with his books, 2) the next closest thing is Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda from the 12th Century so it’s Continue reading

MYTHOLOGY, SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mythology/Legend, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

October 28, 2016

MARVEL’S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: CASTAWAYS – David McDonald

I have enjoyed a lot of novels based on comic book characters – I’ve definitely enjoyed more than I haven’t – and so I look forward to books like this, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Castaways, which tie in to comics and movies. Add the fact that it is targeted toward younger readers and I Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

October 27, 2016

AN ACCIDENT OF STARS – Foz Meadows

** WARNING — POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD ** I discovered a new term (to me) for a more specific genre than simply “fantasy” which describes this book. This is a ‘portal fantasy’ – one in which someone from today goes through a portal into another dimension or another world (either accidentally or knowingly). I don’t have Continue reading

SF/FANTASY

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

October 26, 2016

BLOGGING FOR AUTHORS – Barb Drozdowich

I feel as though I’m generally pretty proficient when it comes to technology and social media, and after a few books promising ‘help’ to writers that I’ve found to be less than actually helpful, I was just a tad hesitant to go into this book (even though I had requested it). But I’m glad I Continue reading

NON-FICTION, OTHER

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, non-fiction, Reviews

October 25, 2016

GOODNIGHT BATCAVE – Dave Croatto

Only MAD® Magazine can parody a classic and get away with it. Here MAD® takes on the children’s book classic, Goodnight Moon and mashes it up with Batman. It’s a short book (about 30 pages), just as the original Goodnight Moon is short. The art is quite typical of what you would see in one Continue reading

HUMOR, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Humor, Reviews

October 24, 2016

MAGRUDER’S CURIOSITY CABINET – H. P. Wood

So many people seem to be falling in love with this book, but I can’t help but wonder if it is due in part to a great publicity campaign, of if I’m just really missing out on something. I was not enthralled with this book. The biggest problem that I have with this book is that Continue reading

HISTORICAL FICTION, OTHER, Uncategorized

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Historical Fiction, Literature, Reviews

October 22, 2016

THE CONCLAVE OF SHADOW – Alyc Helms

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book in this series (see review here) but I found it intriguing and compelling enough to give it another shot. I do think that The Conclave of Shadow steps it up a notch, but is plagued by the same problems that I had with book one. I Continue reading

SF/FANTASY

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

October 21, 2016

THE FOUNDRY’S EDGE – Cam Baity & Benny Zelkowicz

On the surface, this book sounds like it should be a run-away best-seller. Set slightly in the future, or perhaps in an alternate universe, Phoebe Plumm and Micah Tanner live in Meridian. Phoebe’s father, Dr. Jules Plumm is the Chief Surveyor for The Foundry – a major corporation that has a monopoly on technology. But Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

October 20, 2016

SUMMERLONG – Peter S. Beagle

Some authors have a lot of pressure placed on them, usually due to a giant success at some point. Peter S. Beagle is one of those authors, thanks to his book The Last Unicorn (which was first published back in 1968!). Any book published by Beagle will always be much-anticipated and compared to Unicorn. As Continue reading

SF/FANTASY

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

October 19, 2016

THE ACCIDENTAL TIME TRAVELLER – Janis Mackay

The Accidental Time Traveller, by Janis Mackay, is a simple, often fun, sometimes educational, sometimes slow story for younger readers. Saul is a young boy from the present, in Great Britain. One day he meets a young girl who is quite different. Her name is Agatha. Agatha Black is from 1813 and is somehow (we Continue reading

Uncategorized, YA

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

October 18, 2016

SAVING HAMLET – Molly Booth

Reading books and writing reviews is a passion, a hobby, but by profession I work in the theatre (and have for about thirty years) and so it should come as no surprise that I have a special affinity for books with a theatre theme. And as a member of the Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Continue reading

YA

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, Young Adult