Danielle
As with all classics, the style of writing can sometimes take a bit to get used too. I found my first foray into Jules Verne a very factual adventure, which is something I'm not used to, since most of what I read is very fantastical in nature and there is quite a bit less of a lay down of the facts, or they are smoothly incorporated into the story. Jules Verne enjoys giving facts on just about everything. From how fast a ship or train travels to its weight and dimensions. Every place we visit on the journey is described in a very almost travel book style, with facts on history and culture. He's more of a tell not show writer. Today's writing is very discouraged from doing that unless you're writing a non-fiction book, therefore it took a while to actual get into the ‘story' and characters between all the ‘facts'. I can see this being off putting for some, as it can be a bit of a slog to get through at first, until you realize that it's kind of part of the charm of the story. Phileas Fogg is a very factual and punctual man and how he sees the world is through that lense. Passepartout, his servant, is actual the heart of the story and the one I was most keen to follow. He is the ‘feeler' and the most moved by the experiences he has on the journey. Once I got past the initial reaction to the writing style, I quite enjoyed the journey and especially the culmination of it all in the end. Certainly a classic well worth giving a go, especially if you like a good adventure, you really can't go wrong!
This is definitely much more aimed at teenagers and as an adult I found it a bit too much so to really enjoy it. I wanted to like it much more than I actually did. I really like Tomorrow x Together's lore and I guess I expected more of the earlier stuff from their albums than a story about magical K-Pop idols. I found the dialogue clunky and wasn't a huge fan of artwork either. It was hard to tell characters apart and seemed simple through a lot of it. The story wasn't gripping either and felt lacklustre considering the premise invited a lot more could be done with it. I think teenagers will like this though and maybe that's more the target, although I think really well done storytelling can appeal to both. Not sure I'll keep reading the series, just didn't really do it for me. I much preferred BTS' Chakho to this for sure.
Confession: I didn't read all the beauty tips, as I'm not really big on make up. I really enjoyed the history and cultural significance of makeup and skin care that this this book covered. It was really interesting to see how it played a role all around the world and throughout time. It also makes you realize how silly it is that guys are ostracized or made fun of if they wear make up. This book really is a champion for being yourself through style, even if that doesn't follow cultural norms and showcasing many others who have done the same through history. The only Thing I wasn't a fan of and this was a personal opinion, is the opinion that how we ‘look', our visual representation is what gives us worth. Don't get me wrong, I love to sport the things I'm passionate about in clothes and accessories,etc., but it doesn't define me as a person and I just feel our society puts much too much emphasis on the fact that the way we look defines us and that can lead to some pretty toxic and unhealthy avenues. I suppose that wasn't the aim of this book, but I found it curious that the BTS portion (which is why I read it as part of a BTS book club) was about what made them special were mostly NOT their looks, but what they have achieved through meaningful songs, a positive message and hard work. That's what defines them! I wish there had been more of that in the other areas that were covered, even while addressing the issue of men doing what is typically seen as the realm of women only and how that's not only okay, but really needs more acceptance in our own time in history. Overall it's a positive look at an issue rarely discussed with a lot of research to back it up, which is a good thing, but personally I wished it was balanced out with more than just visuals.
A slow paced, but endearing story about a cat and his human and their bond while traveling around Japan for reasons that will break your heart, but also make you appreciate the things that really matter. The story isn't super profound, but I did find it heartwarming and thoughtful. Nana the cat is definitely the star of the story and most of it is from his perspective. How he views humans, their relationships and the world is the best part and an interesting take on viewing things. The book is short and sweet and will touch animal lovers the most, but still worthwhile for anybody in the mood for a sweet heart warming tale.
I really enjoyed this book! A spunky and likeable main character, whose tumultuous relationship with an interesting ghost at her new job, leads her down a rabbit hole mystery that doesn't let up from start to finish and made the story quite the ride. It was fast-paced and surprisingly funny in parts. Light on the supernatural side, but that added element gave it an interesting twist and also a surprisingly emotional core. Having the story take place in Edmonton was refreshing, especially since I live just outside the city and enjoyed being able to really picture the locations. There were a few qualms I had, mostly with some repeated storytelling tactics that felt a bit over used sometimes and James, almost Mary-Sue like personality grated a bit, but that might be a personal thing I disliked. Overall though I was really impressed with my random book purchase at the Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo - one of the best local novels I think I've read. Highly recommended!
Interesting concept and world, excellent artwork and fun characters make this first volume an engaging beginning with lots of future potential. I can see why Netflix is making it into an anime, it's not too cliche and has a really exciting and fun premise. Steampunk mixed with dragons and almost a Ghibli-like aesthetic make for a winning combination. Though the story itself isn't really too deep, there is a potential for it to explore the characters and world in a way that would keep it interesting. Definitely one to keep an eye on!
Enjoyable, with a few tantalizing revelations concerning Dresden's family, this volume isn't among my favourites, but was a still a good read.
The subject matter of this book is what drew me to it, as well as really enjoying Maier's previous novel A Skeleton in God's Closet. I am still fascinated with the subject matter and it is interesting to think on, but I did have a hard time with the rather awkward dialogue, the fact that Jon's terms of endearment for his wife get tiresome after a while and that the trouble the characters do get into is quickly resolved. It could have used a bit of fleshing out in a lot of areas. Other than that, I appreciate what Maier was trying to do and his endless knowledge on the subject of Christian and Biblical history never ceases to amaze me. If you can get past the sometimes clunky writing, it is worth reading, even if just for a bit of food for thought.
Things moved a little too quickly in this one. We didn't even have a chance to care for characters that bit the dust and even though there is potential for it to get better, I found it a little too rushed. The artwork is good, but the premise feels a bit cliché. It was an okay read.
If I could give this 10 stars I would. WOW! What an amazing series. One of the best stories (in any medium) I have had the pleasure to be immersed in, in a LONG time. Characters that I fell in love with despite their flaws. Darkness that was balanced out with humor and heart. Action, thoughtful themes and an ending that was satisfying, fitting and tear-worthy. The page at the end with the ‘family' picture had me blubbering. I would recommend this to manga fans and non-fans alike. Now onto the anime series - can't wait to see it all come to life. Oh and thank you Hiromu Arakawa, your artwork, storytelling and characters are bar-none, thank you for such a wonderful story.
This wonderful love letter to the imagination and creativity behind movies is great mix of words and images that is really quite charming. I fell in love with the movie, but had not read the book up until now. The movie is certainly a wonderful adaptation, but it was nice to see Selznick's drawings and the words and thoughts of Hugo throughout the story. Check out if you're like me and enjoy visuals and stories in a neat package, with a wonderful story to boot.
Update on 3rd re-read: I first read this in 2014 and now ten years later it remains one of my all-time favourite series. I seem to find something different each time that speaks to me, and re-visit those things that touched me so deeply on that first read. Nothing beats that Sanderslide at the end, as I cried, cheered, and felt a great upheaval in the story leading into the next book. 10 years later I still love these characters, the world, this book, and this series.
Wow! What can you say about Brandon Sanderson's epic that hasn't been said already. From the world-building, to the magic system to the characters I was hooked right from the beginning all the way through and it never felt tired to tedious to read despite its length. Although it is the trend to be gritty and have the anti-hero for a main character, it was super refreshing to have an overall hopeful outlook and characters that are still flawed and human. I really, really LOVED this book. It has been a while since I've felt inspired by characters in an epic fantasy and feel their struggles and fears and emotions as my own. This series may top my all time favourites - well done Mr. Sanderson and thank you for writing such an amazing, and unique book.
You can't be into manga and not have heard about Akira, and I am no exception. It is on just about every ‘best of' list ever and certainly has been on my radar since my early days getting into manga. However, I never seemed to get around to reading it - until now. Recently I was craving some cyberpunk and while looking for recommendations, of course Akira tops a lot of the lists. So I finally picked it up and I realize now what I've been missing. I see why this is considered top-tier manga. The artwork is amazing, the world gritty, the characters grey and the story highly intriguing, fast-paced and mysterious. Adding supernatural powers, and shady government experiments into the mix adds a little something extra giving me a bit of Stranger Things vibes, even though this pre-dates that by nearly 30 years, so it would actually be Stranger Things that borrowed from it, not the other way around. All the artwork and world-building would be for not if it didn't have a solid story and I think that is where Akira shines. I was pulled in almost immediately and I'm still invested 3 volumes in, even when the characters are frustrating or make stupid decisions, I'm still on board with them and eager to know what comes next. It is certainly action-packed and Otomo's artwork fluidly portrays the action in a realistic way, lending to it being very cinematic. So far it hasn't fallen into many of the pitfalls that manga can be infamous for, truly being it's own work of art and storytelling and I can't wait to get through the whole series!
Okay, the first 2/3 of this volume was a bit frustrating and had it ended there, I may have only given it 3 stars, BUT the last 1/3 was AMAZING! A few things I disliked about the beginning was that the use of ‘Deus ex Machina' was WAY overdone. Kaneda and Kei get out of so many things inexplicably that I was almost at eye-rolling by the 2/3 mark, not to mention the constant changing hands of the ‘prize' in ways that just seemed mind-boggling and then happened way too many times to the point that the plot lost all story and it was just a game of hot potato between all the different factions. We almost completely lose all storytelling in favor of action for the sake of action, which the previous volumes seemed to balance much better. Kaneda's immaturity, which I get is part of his character and is present for sure in other volumes, becomes rather annoying in this one, even childish at times with some of the dialogue really being dumbed down. But why did I give this 5 stars in the end? Because the end blows all that out of the water with a stunning conclusion that I didn't see coming and was phenomenally drawn. There was one gut punch after another and everything on the board is wiped out in one fell swoop, leaving a cliff-hanger ending that made me curse not having the next volume along with me. I can only hope that the issues at the beginning of this volume don't continue to show up with the change that happened toward the end, and that the story is given new vitality and direction in the coming volumes. So my advice is to push through the first part and you'll be rewarded at the end!
Although I thought this volume was a bit more uneven than the first, it does still propel the story forward by leaps and bounds, the artwork continues to be amazing and the world-building continues to grow in some interesting ways I hadn't anticipated, so I ate this one up pretty quickly. Maybe I have a different outlook because I had the next volume ready to go right after, so I wasn't looking at this volume as a piece on its own and so I maybe was more forgiving overall, but I still think this is a truly solid manga that deserves it's ‘best of' status and this volume didn't make me think otherwise.
Nice to finally be getting some background on the boys, their life before the military and what started them on the path to where they are.
EXCELLENT! The resolution to the last volume's cliffhanger is a doozy and the revelation of a few very important tidbits make this installment a really good one.
Short stories get a bad rap for not being ‘enough', but Ursula K. Le Guin proves how powerful they can be in this one. Beautifully and hauntingly written, it will follow you long after you've read it and will give you so much to think on in respect to the story that you'd truly think you had read a novel. In a strange way I see a parallel with one of my favourite anime series Kino's Journey, which also explores uncomfortable truths about people, societies and morality. Truly an artful masterpiece.
At first it seems like The Book of Lost Things is going to be the usual type of ‘portal' fantasy, as I like to call it. Someone from our world being whisked away to another by various means and going on an adventure, like the Narnia books, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Inkheart, etc. I like those types of fantasy, so The Book of Lost Things sounded right up my alley. What's different about it though, is how dark it is. It's not meant for kids. Not only in the fact of the gore, that although not over the top, is still very present, but also in the tone and themes. This is not a fun adventure, but a true coming-of-age story and all that that entails with the struggles and the uncertain decision making. The realization that the world is not a fair or very pleasant place, but what you do in the world can make all the difference in how you survive and live in it. It is actually quite poignant in its telling.
I didn't fall in love with the characters and that's the reason for the 4 stars. I liked the story, the world-building and the overall message it conveyed, but I had trouble really caring for the characters. The main character was fine, just not a very great or memorable one.
The Book of Lost Things is a really good book, not great, but well worth reading if you like portal fantasy with a dark twist and meaningful things to say.
This second volume cemented my commitment to make it through this whole series and hopefully eventually watch the anime series its based off of.
It is just such an interesting premise with emotional undertones and action, alchemy and humor wrapped up in a really excellent story.
Again, I'm not sure I got the emotional punch that I did from the second volume, but nonetheless it is an enjoyable read and certainly expands and continues the story satisfactorily. Winry was an awesome new character and the brothers relationship continues to grow in the eyes of the audience. All around enjoyable.
For my first foray into reading Manga, this was EXCELLENT!
Refreshing, interesting premise and an underlying emotional vein that has me wanting to learn more. Can't wait to continue the series!
I picked this one up because so many people said that if you like the Dresden Files, then you'll like the Peter Grant series as well. Now having read through it I certainly see the parallels, but I think I still enjoy the Dresden Files much more. Not to say I disliked this one in any way, I appreciated the London setting, the viewpoint from a coppers standpoint and the creative magic system that includes ghosts, vampires and magical beings in a new light. Though there is some humor, it isn't as prevalent as the Dresden series, and I found Peter Grant likable, but I didn't fall quite as in love with him as I did with Harry. Both series unfortunately tend to talk way too much about women's boobs and hips, something I could do with a little less of, but at least it isn't the focus. This first volume was interesting enough to keep me reading the series, I just hope you get to see a little more of Peter Grant's character come out in further volumes, I'd like to know more about him and less about just what he's thinking in the situation. Still well worth a read, but hoping for more in future volumes.