tiedyedude's reviews
1070 reviews

A Christmas Bestiary by John Kenn Mortensen, Benni Bødker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 71%.

 This was unfortunately disappointing. Advertised as a handbook of international winter folklore, it was neither entertaining nor informative. A lot of the entries were very similar, which is a result of cultures borrowing from each other, but the blurbs were too short to provide much information about the differences. The same can be said for the illustrations, which felt too similar to be interesting.

The Bishop's Wife by Robert Nathan

2.25

 I knew not to expect much from the source of one of my favorite Christmas movies, but this was still a strange read. Steeped heavily in Christian theology, yet still unexpectedly horny, with little of the charm and none of the humor of the film adaptation. Also, most of the plot points are completely abandoned by the end. An unsatisfying, but thankfully short, read. 

Hulk: Gray by Jeph Loeb

4.0

 In the conversation printed at the end of the book, it mentions that Loeb and Sale didn't have much of a connection to the Hulk character before starting this book, which is wild because you really can't tell just by reading the comic! A beautifully tragic retelling of the first few days of the Hulk from a seasoned, but still traumatized, Banner to his psychiatrist friend. Not only does it tell a strong story of his past, but the psychiatric evaluation of events are subtle but very powerful. Hulk is drawn with exaggerated proportions, but of course Sale would know how to portray him as both innocent and terrifying. A brilliant entry to the Loeb/Sale Marvel colors series. If only they had ended it here, instead of adding Captain America White... 

The Turnaway Study by Diana Greene Foster

challenging informative medium-paced

4.75

Essential reading for those open to learning real statistics and hearing personal experiences, as opposed to hiding behind blind faith, inflammatory partisanship, or unfounded personal opinions. This country is being forced to conform to the narrow beliefs of a minority who refuse to consider the consequences of their baseless preferences. Read the source, instead of some twisted media interpretation (because of course they have twisted it). 

New Gods by Jack Kirby by Jack Kirby

adventurous slow-paced

3.0

While it was interesting to explore the origins of DC Comics' New Gods, this was a long, slow read. In addition to the general tell-don't-show style of older comics, many of the original issues were oversized 52-page books. I ended up skimming the Hunger Dogs graphic novel because I was just ready to be done.
The cliffhanger of the original series, left by obvious cancellation, is disappointing. Some of the character designs are extremely silly, such as Black Rider's skis and even Orion's harness. Still, the imagination on display is amazing, and there is interesting ground work laid for future DC storylines. It is a shame that Kirby faced so many obstacles from the editors in bringing his vision to fruition. It is obvious at a certain point that he is just treading water as DC apparently didn't want the series to conclude. It is also interesting to read that the Fourth World was originally intended to be used as a storyline in Thor with Marvel.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.

Exhausting to read and not overly interesting. So many commas in the dialogue. I remember now that I watched the film adaptation with Deborah Kerr and was not impressed with the film either.

Holes by Louis Sachar

4.25

 This was a pretty cool little book. A teen accused of a crime he didn't commit is sent to a correctional facility where the kids dig a hole each day. Lots of well-crafted, subtle foreshadowing that comes together nicely as the truth of the area and Stanley's family are slowly revealed. 

Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory: Stories by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

3.75

Most well-known as the creator of Bojack Horseman, Raphael offers up a great variety of themes and styles in this short story collection. It was great as an audiobook listen, read by a variety of actors, including some of my favorite underappreciated, like James Urbaniak and Natalie Morales. The rock band drama "Up-and-Comers" and the marriage tale "Most Blessed and Auspicious Occasion" highlight his ability to insert the absurd into a recognizable narrative to create something special. 

All the Names by José Saramago

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

 I read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy, so it is sometimes jarring to read a book that is so incredibly real and human. Senhor Jose works at the Central Registry, which records citizens birth and death. His side hobby is collecting records of famous people, but one day he finds the record of "an unknown woman" stuck to the back of a famous person's file. And so begins his quest to learn about her and break the mundanity of his bureaucratic existence. 

Primer: Clashing Colors by Thomas Krajewski, Jennifer Muro

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

3.25

Still a lot of fun, but a little less unique. Trying to join a team and messing up, deceased character possibly still alive, friend drama. I'm also not sure why the artist changed mid-book. Still, I hope to see more of this character.