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justinlife's reviews
850 reviews
After Lambana: Myth and Magic in Manila: A Graphic Novel by Mervin Malonzo, Eliza Victoria
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a really cool graphic novel that created a magical world in Manila. The art was gorgeous and noir like while the urban fantasy of a world where magical beings exist but are policed.
I would love to read more of this. If there was a book two or even three, I'd love it. The art created a mood that matched a story of people living with decisions that changed the circumstances.
I would love to read more of this. If there was a book two or even three, I'd love it. The art created a mood that matched a story of people living with decisions that changed the circumstances.
Luda by Grant Morrison
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Ugh, this is a case of expectations not being met. I like Grant Morrison's comic book writing, but this did not work for me.
The story is told in first person narrative and the main character, Luci, is recounting the dramas and terrors of the panto play that she stars in as well as her obsession with Luda, the enegenue who showed up out of nowhere and is stealing the spotlight.
This book was about 150 pages too long and so much didn't work for me. It was a thriller that didn't thrill. A horror that didn't scare.
While I can appreciate the prose, I feel that it would have been better served if it wasn't first person narration. I think I needed that separation. Without it, it felt like listening to an self centered egoist take up valuable time telling a story that's not that interesting.
The story is told in first person narrative and the main character, Luci, is recounting the dramas and terrors of the panto play that she stars in as well as her obsession with Luda, the enegenue who showed up out of nowhere and is stealing the spotlight.
This book was about 150 pages too long and so much didn't work for me. It was a thriller that didn't thrill. A horror that didn't scare.
While I can appreciate the prose, I feel that it would have been better served if it wasn't first person narration. I think I needed that separation. Without it, it felt like listening to an self centered egoist take up valuable time telling a story that's not that interesting.
Sins of the Black Flamingo by Andrew Wheeler, Travis Moore
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Black Flamingo is a thief that has mystical powers to see the world as it is, or rather, the worst of it. He's unabashedly queer and lives a life that's self involved. The series follows him as he uncovers a Nazi plot to use an angel to control the world or something like that.
The art is gorgeous and the story is interesting. I like it when authors play with Christian mythology. I would love to read more of this series. There seems to be a lot of different directions this series could go if given the opportunity.
The art is gorgeous and the story is interesting. I like it when authors play with Christian mythology. I would love to read more of this series. There seems to be a lot of different directions this series could go if given the opportunity.
Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 1 by Sina Grace
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Sina Grace is a fun author. I loved his run on the Iceman series and he gave that character so much life.
Here he starts his series Ghosted in LA which centers on a young woman who moves to LA to follow her boyfriend to college only to get dumped. She moves into a haunted apartment complex where each ghost a special power. They welcome her and she helps them when she can.
It's an interesting set up that could lead to a fun, longer series. I'm intrigued by some of the directions that were taken.
Here he starts his series Ghosted in LA which centers on a young woman who moves to LA to follow her boyfriend to college only to get dumped. She moves into a haunted apartment complex where each ghost a special power. They welcome her and she helps them when she can.
It's an interesting set up that could lead to a fun, longer series. I'm intrigued by some of the directions that were taken.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Oy, this was heartbreaking. I really only got this b/c Michelle Williams was reading it and I love her. I don't typically read memoirs, much less celebrity ones.
Britney Spears is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. She's lived a life in the public eye and most people could tell you her story. She's never really told her story though. Here in this book she gets into it.
You get a sense of the type of sweet soul Britney is. Not really dumb, but maybe naive and innocent and thinks in a way that others don't. She talks about her life and all the drama that's happened in a way that makes it hard to feel anything but sympathy for her. The conservatorship, her relationships, and her family are all on the table and she paints a picture that's believable and makes you want to fight for her.
I did appreciate that she owns her mistakes, clarifies some of her odd behaviors, and seems like a genuinely sweet soul. By the end of the book, you'll end up rooting for her too. Michelle Williams does a sensational job narrating. It's worth a listen, but be prepared to be heartbroken.
Britney Spears is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. She's lived a life in the public eye and most people could tell you her story. She's never really told her story though. Here in this book she gets into it.
You get a sense of the type of sweet soul Britney is. Not really dumb, but maybe naive and innocent and thinks in a way that others don't. She talks about her life and all the drama that's happened in a way that makes it hard to feel anything but sympathy for her. The conservatorship, her relationships, and her family are all on the table and she paints a picture that's believable and makes you want to fight for her.
I did appreciate that she owns her mistakes, clarifies some of her odd behaviors, and seems like a genuinely sweet soul. By the end of the book, you'll end up rooting for her too. Michelle Williams does a sensational job narrating. It's worth a listen, but be prepared to be heartbroken.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Boy is this book a doozy. It took a bit longer than I expected to get through. It is dense and at times unforgiving. The Name of the Rose offers a fictional glimpse of a monastery in the 1300s where people are dying right before a meeting between the Pope's entourage and the Emperor's where they discuss Christian theology. It's up to the monk, William, to solve the mystery.
At times the novel is intense and interesting, and at times it gets weighed down by it's own prose. It's fascinating, but man, it's dense. I never thought I would read a book that contained so many philosophical questions like "did jesus laugh?" or "was Jesus poor?" These concepts seem like something we all know and could discuss but it adds to a greater conversation about Christian thought. I think about this now as there are traditionalists that seem to pass off Christian teaching as set in stone when it's always been changing; it's always been morphing into something. This was really interesting to me. I never considered that St. Francis' teachings could have posed a threat to the church.
The paragraphs are long and the murder mystery is only one part of it. I really enjoyed it, but it did feel at times like a chore to read. It's a well researched novel though.
At times the novel is intense and interesting, and at times it gets weighed down by it's own prose. It's fascinating, but man, it's dense. I never thought I would read a book that contained so many philosophical questions like "did jesus laugh?" or "was Jesus poor?" These concepts seem like something we all know and could discuss but it adds to a greater conversation about Christian thought. I think about this now as there are traditionalists that seem to pass off Christian teaching as set in stone when it's always been changing; it's always been morphing into something. This was really interesting to me. I never considered that St. Francis' teachings could have posed a threat to the church.
The paragraphs are long and the murder mystery is only one part of it. I really enjoyed it, but it did feel at times like a chore to read. It's a well researched novel though.
Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
This is a solid read for those looking to improve their communities outside of the scope of a non-profit. Spade makes solid points about how non-profit organization and government access doesn't cover all the needs and offers Mutual Aid as a way to fill in the gap.
There's a lot to digest for such a small book. Spade's politics and views are very leftist and you can see the world they create. It's interesting and at times challenging b/c it feels as if we are always suffering under an individualist, capitalist system. Spade offers opportunities to show what a society can look like outside of that mode.
The last chapter dragged a little as it was basically giving the dos and don'ts of a mutual aid group. there is a lot to consider and ruminate on. It definitely challenged my politic and helped me see things in a different, less nihilistic way. It's good to think about some of these things and recognize certain aspects of our society.
There's a lot to digest for such a small book. Spade's politics and views are very leftist and you can see the world they create. It's interesting and at times challenging b/c it feels as if we are always suffering under an individualist, capitalist system. Spade offers opportunities to show what a society can look like outside of that mode.
The last chapter dragged a little as it was basically giving the dos and don'ts of a mutual aid group. there is a lot to consider and ruminate on. It definitely challenged my politic and helped me see things in a different, less nihilistic way. It's good to think about some of these things and recognize certain aspects of our society.
A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a fun little read. Based on the cover, I was expecting it to be more New Adult (18-24) rather than Young Adult. Emmett wants to be a big country music star and he's lucky enough to get in a production of a show in what's basically Dollywood. He meets Luke, who is the grandson of some country music legends who fell off the path and their family has fallen on hard times.
What I thought would be a fun read set in Appalachia turned more into the nuances of coming out in an area where you might n0t feel safe and how important that safety is. The story is solid enough and it's fun and cute. I was expecting a little older and less about coming out and the consequences of it. The writing is easy and Kennedy follows the beats of the genre with ease. You do root for the boys who have different dreams, different upbringings, and feels more of an opposites attract rather.
What I thought would be a fun read set in Appalachia turned more into the nuances of coming out in an area where you might n0t feel safe and how important that safety is. The story is solid enough and it's fun and cute. I was expecting a little older and less about coming out and the consequences of it. The writing is easy and Kennedy follows the beats of the genre with ease. You do root for the boys who have different dreams, different upbringings, and feels more of an opposites attract rather.
The Sandman, Vol. 10: The Wake by Neil Gaiman
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a lovely send off to one of the characters that we've grown to love. This type of story we don't get as much anymore- the after effects and ramifications. Here Gaiman explores the impact of the character and it makes up the majority of volume.
After the character Dream dies and gets reborn, we get to see the effect he has had on the Sandman universe. It's an interesting read seeing how you provide funeral rites to a eternal being. The art was great and Gaiman's storytelling holds everything together.
At times, it feels like the The Sandman series feels like the precursor to a lot of his other works. You can see hints of American Gods and some of the other stories in here. It's not a bad thing, but it's definitely something that is noticable if you've read his other works first.
After the character Dream dies and gets reborn, we get to see the effect he has had on the Sandman universe. It's an interesting read seeing how you provide funeral rites to a eternal being. The art was great and Gaiman's storytelling holds everything together.
At times, it feels like the The Sandman series feels like the precursor to a lot of his other works. You can see hints of American Gods and some of the other stories in here. It's not a bad thing, but it's definitely something that is noticable if you've read his other works first.
Jack of Hearts by L.C. Rosen
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is another one of those moments where I vaguely skimmed the back of the book and liked the cover when I purchased it. There's a bookstore up here that puts queer flag bookmarks in books and I saw this one and picked it up.
Jack goes to a private school in NYC. He's promiscuous, loves his life, and has a lot of fun. He doesn't like to cause drama. When his friend asks him to write an advice column anonymously, he starts to help people but also causes some unwanted attention in the form of a stalker.
Rosen does a good job of showing the effects of constant attention from unknown sources can affect your attitude. It felt more Single White Female meets Sex Education than I expected. The characters are fun and the advice that Jack gives is solid. Overall a a fun YA read.
Jack goes to a private school in NYC. He's promiscuous, loves his life, and has a lot of fun. He doesn't like to cause drama. When his friend asks him to write an advice column anonymously, he starts to help people but also causes some unwanted attention in the form of a stalker.
Rosen does a good job of showing the effects of constant attention from unknown sources can affect your attitude. It felt more Single White Female meets Sex Education than I expected. The characters are fun and the advice that Jack gives is solid. Overall a a fun YA read.