Ernest Khoo
Started off a little annoying with all those terms used by the Pretties. Got better when the story developed and there were quite a number of surprises which I totally did not expect. Quite impressed by some of the tech mentioned in the story, like the hoverboard and the wall that can spit out any wearables you want.
The whole premise of the book is interesting. So is the world that Westerfeld created. Those woukd make the book worth a try. The story, however, seems a bit too simplistic. Going on to the second book to see how the story progresses.
Less satisfying than the 2nd book, but still manages to have a sense of imagination. Overall, the trilogy is not at the level of Hunger Games, but a pretty good and easy read, with enough ideas thrown in to make it a unique teenage dystopian story..
Really wanted to like this book. It is certainly not an easy book to read. The many characters and the way the book is structured (together with the footnotes) makes reading this book hard work. Which in a sense diminished my enjoyment of the book. However, there are many passages and sections that I adore here. Overall, I'd say it's a love and hate relationship with this book for me. Maybe I need to read it again, but that's for another time.
Took a while for the connections between different characters to fall into place. And the story doesn't end when you think it does. Overall, a page-turner.
Alien invasion acting through an infection. Not for the faint-hearted as the blood and gore ramps up pretty high.
A surreal romp through Wonderland. Instead of a typical Alice story, this graphic novel centers on Mary Ann, a housemaid whom Alice wad mistaken for in the original story. The story jumps all over the place, perhaps as it should given the mad nature of Wonderland. Standout is the beautiful artwork and you can certainly see the cute ‘manga' styling of Mary Ann in many of the panels. A delightful read.
Written as a series of letters, there is a sort of innocence and naivety to the main character. Probably makes a good read for someone growing up. Some poignant lines but not a classic.
Watched the movie before I read this. After reading it, I find that this is a much better Wolverine origin story. This story paints Logan's past in a more tragic manner, and the contrast between his past and what he becomes is very much a drastic difference.
Average side story set in the Halo universe. There's an interesting twist in the plot but overall, it's not great.
Took me a little while to get into, but once you get past the rather unusual alternate universe, the story takes over. What I like about it is the South East Asian ecological dystopian future setting. Coming from this part of the world, I find the setting to be futuristic, yet immediately identifiable. There's also a military coup which makes the story quite intriguing, especially when you consider Thailand's history. The wind-up girl as a work of genetic tech is interesting. A worthy Nebula winner and a totally absorbing book.
A must-read for gamers, parents, and especially journalists who plan to write about violence in games. It is an especially well written and sensible look at the overblown concerns of violence in games and the way this issue has been used for the purpose of politicians. Just wish that this book is more widely available.
Interesting spy fiction that doesn't focus on action, but more on down-to-earth situations. The stylistic differences between the artwork in the different stories can be jarring, but the stories are still enjoyable.
Old man vs fish, then fish gets eaten by sharks. That's basically it, man fights nature. But the sentences conveys a terse, tense feel despite the simple tale.
Focus is heavy on the interference of the gods in the matters of men in the Trojan War.
This book jumps between the crusade and the cloister. I particularly enjoy the crusade parts and the insight into how the Christian forces, including the Templars and the Hospitallers, lost the Holy Land to Saladin. Now on to the final book and follow Arn home.
Well researched novel that is familiar and yet foreign. Covering Singapore from its colonial days to just before independence, it reads easily as a piece of historical fiction, and keeps me interested enough to keep going to the Internet to research on the incidents mentioned in the book. For those who think that Singapore history is dreary, this is a good way to bring it to life. As for the story and characters, somehow it seems that the historical backdrop overwhelms the characters, and they appear as bit players to the story of an emerging nation. Still, that's probably not a failure of the book. Thumbs up.
More of the Song of Fire and Ice universe, and the adventures of Dunk and Egg. For GRR Martin fans, this is a must-read, although there's not a whole lot of action until near the end.
Three different stories with charm. My fave would have to be ‘Urgent Request', where an office girl finds romance with a Nigerian prince through an email. Through the episode, she finds courage. The artwork on this story is also gorgeous.
Touching tale of the Invisible Man as a drifter appearing in a small town. It is also about a girl who discovers herself from the encounter. Lemire's style has a calming quality to it and that perfectly blends the desolate small town and the sad story of a man who has become a Nobody.
Slayer story set in the future. The same kind of ass-kickery that you get from a Buffy tale, just with different characters.