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spookynorvegan's reviews
588 reviews
Adulthood Is a Myth by Sarah Andersen
4.0
Hilarious as usual, and a great addition to a graphic library collection.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
1.0
Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been one of my personal heroes for many years, and will always be. I have read and been moved by his own writings, both translated and in their original German. When this biography was released, I purchased it right away, with great expectations. This review is in no way indicative nor reflective of the titular subject.
While this book overflows with information and straight facts relating to Mr. Bonhoeffer, not to mention his family, the geographical area, and general historical context, among other areas, it most unfortunately falls flat in nearly every other way. It manages to reduce the life of a brilliant, incredible human being to the stuff of textbook dryness. The reader is made to trudge through a bevy of information and manages to come away from the experience feeling relieved to be finished with such a large tome, a feeling that completely overwhelms and drowns the possibility of inspiration as a result of the life of Bonhoeffer himself.
Utterly disappointing, and completely baffling how such an extraordinary person can be made so tragically uninteresting.
While this book overflows with information and straight facts relating to Mr. Bonhoeffer, not to mention his family, the geographical area, and general historical context, among other areas, it most unfortunately falls flat in nearly every other way. It manages to reduce the life of a brilliant, incredible human being to the stuff of textbook dryness. The reader is made to trudge through a bevy of information and manages to come away from the experience feeling relieved to be finished with such a large tome, a feeling that completely overwhelms and drowns the possibility of inspiration as a result of the life of Bonhoeffer himself.
Utterly disappointing, and completely baffling how such an extraordinary person can be made so tragically uninteresting.
The Electric Pencil: Drawings from Inside State Hospital No. 3 by James Edward Deeds Jr
5.0
Amazing. I have never seen anything like these haunting, gently beautiful drawings. Despite the fresh print of the book, I found myself reaching out to touch the pencil and crayon strokes on the page. What an extraordinary story and how honored the reader should feel when leafing through this collection of cathartic art.
The Vorrh by Brian Catling
3.0
Oh where to begin reviewing this book...first, this was easily the most severe 'slow burn' read I have ever personally come across. It wasn't until I was closing in on 200 pages (of 500) that I got swept up and was enjoying and understanding the narrative.
The language is lovely and even a bit old fashioned; with some passages reading like they were penned in the 19th century instead of the 21st. The characters were diverse, and intriguing, and I loved any and all physical descriptions of the Vorrh itself. The choice to carry on so many simultaneous characters and their respective parallel story lines was at times, a bit frustrating; especially as by the conclusion of the novel, there were still multiple 'floater' characters that never joined their experiences and narratives with that of the others.
Any short comings for me as a reader were not in the concept itself, it was very original and interesting. But it could have been a bit better explained. I'm sure that the author was fully aware of how convoluted aspects of the storyline were explained, and especially the progression of the narrative from the beginning of the novel (hence the 'slow burn' comment). One can infer from the quality of the story telling, and also from some of the sources of the reviews featured on the cover of the book itself that making this tome into a seriously complicated and bizarre journey, was very intentional.
This is fantasy written by an intellectual, and not an easy read by any means. An ultimately interesting, and very unique read, but one that makes you work to unravel character traits/ambitions and plot progression on your own.
If you're up for a challenge, and appreciate weird, then jump in.
The language is lovely and even a bit old fashioned; with some passages reading like they were penned in the 19th century instead of the 21st. The characters were diverse, and intriguing, and I loved any and all physical descriptions of the Vorrh itself. The choice to carry on so many simultaneous characters and their respective parallel story lines was at times, a bit frustrating; especially as by the conclusion of the novel, there were still multiple 'floater' characters that never joined their experiences and narratives with that of the others.
Any short comings for me as a reader were not in the concept itself, it was very original and interesting. But it could have been a bit better explained. I'm sure that the author was fully aware of how convoluted aspects of the storyline were explained, and especially the progression of the narrative from the beginning of the novel (hence the 'slow burn' comment). One can infer from the quality of the story telling, and also from some of the sources of the reviews featured on the cover of the book itself that making this tome into a seriously complicated and bizarre journey, was very intentional.
This is fantasy written by an intellectual, and not an easy read by any means. An ultimately interesting, and very unique read, but one that makes you work to unravel character traits/ambitions and plot progression on your own.
If you're up for a challenge, and appreciate weird, then jump in.
Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes
3.0
A decent collection of contemporary short stories with original characters and conflicts. The conclusion of a few of the stories fell a bit flat, endings are not -yet- this author's strong point. But still an entertaining read with witty, laugh out loud narrative.
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
4.0
Bi-linear timelines, family tragedy shrouded in mystery, sideshow performers and a dash of magic by the sea? I'm hooked.
I will say that I wasn't completely convinced throughout the story by the male voices leading the narrative. When an author tries to write a first person narrative from the point of view of the opposite sex, it can often read wrong, or a little sparse. This novel being no exception to that concept.
This did not, however affect the quality of my review, as I enjoyed the story very much.
I will say that I wasn't completely convinced throughout the story by the male voices leading the narrative. When an author tries to write a first person narrative from the point of view of the opposite sex, it can often read wrong, or a little sparse. This novel being no exception to that concept.
This did not, however affect the quality of my review, as I enjoyed the story very much.
The Mermaid Girl: A Story by Erika Swyler
4.0
And accompanying short story that preludes 'The Book of Speculation'. A lovely little filler that breathes life into characters that were deceased and not directly in the narrative of the original novel.
Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones
4.0
While this account of the life of the late, great Jim Henson doesn't completely escape the inevitable tedious details and excessive too-thorough ramblings of a standard biography, it is definitely something to be experienced by his fans and admirers. I especially loved reading about how specific shots were created for his films and the origins of some of his characters. Reading the conclusion of the piece had me hopelessly in tears, mourning anew the sudden, tragic passing of the man who imagined and created my favorite childhood characters.
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
5.0
At times laugh-out-loud funny, magical, and dark, with main characters that are both drawn to and repelled by each other like magnets. It manages to sew together an ecological admonition, a warning really, with a pair of star-crossed, bullied teens to create a veritable masterpiece of the genre.
I truly loved it.
I truly loved it.