Scan barcode
troystory's reviews
199 reviews
Gwenpool, the Unbelievable, Vol. 1: Believe It by Christopher Hastings
5.0
Okay, Gwenpool is my all-time favourite comic character and series, and now the only thing I want is another solo run and a TV show. Gurihiru's art was so cute and amazing, I literally can't see anyone else drawing Gwenpool the way she deserves. The comics have Deadpool's humour, but they also have a lot of heart. Overall, I just really enjoyed Gwenpool. This is my review for all the volumes, just because I don't remember enough of what happened in which volume to write a good review for them. Please pick up Gwenpool!
Black Widow, Vol. 1: The Finely Woven Thread by Nathan Edmondson
5.0
I loved the whole thing. Favourites:
- Liho the cat. The idea of Natasha opening up to a sweet lil' kitten was so great! I hope we get to see more of Liho.
- Natasha helping Ana out. (Secretly, Nat's a good person.)
- The non-sexualizing! Black Widow has been over-sexualized in the past, and I appreciated the practicality of her outfit, and how totally non-sexual it was. Talk about good artistry!
Everything was so great, I don't even have words. If you've never picked up a Black Widow comic, I would definitely start here. This sets the gold standard!
- Liho the cat. The idea of Natasha opening up to a sweet lil' kitten was so great! I hope we get to see more of Liho.
- Natasha helping Ana out. (Secretly, Nat's a good person.)
- The non-sexualizing! Black Widow has been over-sexualized in the past, and I appreciated the practicality of her outfit, and how totally non-sexual it was. Talk about good artistry!
Everything was so great, I don't even have words. If you've never picked up a Black Widow comic, I would definitely start here. This sets the gold standard!
Winter Soldier: The Bitter March by Rick Remender, Roland Boschi
5.0
60s spy Winter Soldier adventure? Um, yes please! I loved the story and the characters, and the art, and I'm really sad there isn't a continuation. I'm still new to Winter Soldier comics, but I liked this enough that I'll probably read some more. A really engaging plot!
The Persian Boy by Mary Renault
5.0
Oh my god. This book was vivid and breathtaking and extraordinary, and I feel like, having finished it, there's an absence in my life. I don't even know where to begin. Mary Renault's writing is beautiful, and it gives everything the grandeur it deserves; she manages to describe cities and clothing and people to such an extent that you can easily imagine it, but not too much that the descriptions drag. The characters and their motivations are believable - I never for once doubted or questioned what someone did because it felt out-of-character. I love, love, love her Alexander with all my heart. This book really breathed some humanity into him, and it made me appreciate and adore him even more. Bagoas, too, was charming and memorable.
There's something to be said about reading about someone through the eyes of those who love them - as with Patroclus about Achilles, having someone who loves the protagonist is the true heart of these stories. It builds the characters, it gives you insight into who they were, it makes you see them as they ought to be remembered. And most importantly, it elevates the emotional impact and draws you in until they are a part of your world, a part of your soul.
To say I cried at the end - no spoilers! - would be an understatement. I did cry, pretty intensely for a good twenty minutes, but then my grief ebbed into a dull, sad sort of mourning. I read a lot, and books don't usually leave me with this kind of impact. I don't usually feel hollow when a character dies. Crying over people who died thousands of years ago is obviously no fun, but it takes a very good and very talented writer to make you do so. And it takes an even more talented writer to make you fall in love with them all over again.
There's something to be said about reading about someone through the eyes of those who love them - as with Patroclus about Achilles, having someone who loves the protagonist is the true heart of these stories. It builds the characters, it gives you insight into who they were, it makes you see them as they ought to be remembered. And most importantly, it elevates the emotional impact and draws you in until they are a part of your world, a part of your soul.
To say I cried at the end - no spoilers! - would be an understatement. I did cry, pretty intensely for a good twenty minutes, but then my grief ebbed into a dull, sad sort of mourning. I read a lot, and books don't usually leave me with this kind of impact. I don't usually feel hollow when a character dies. Crying over people who died thousands of years ago is obviously no fun, but it takes a very good and very talented writer to make you do so. And it takes an even more talented writer to make you fall in love with them all over again.
The Birds, Aristophanes/The Brothers Menaechmus, Plautus by Aristophanes, Plautus, Peter D. Arnott
5.0
I had only read Greek tragedy (The Oresteia and The Bacchae) before, and since I wasn't in the mood for something very serious, I decided to try and read these two comedies. The first is Greek and the second is Roman, but I enjoyed both of them.
I found the Roman comedy to be funnier to me, mostly because it doesn't rely on the political situation in which it was written to gets its humour across. The Brothers Menaechmus is an entertaining, hilarious read from start to finish. It's got great jokes, its witty, and it has a character literally named Sponge, which I think was my favourite thing about it.
I laughed more while reading these plays than I do while watching a mediocre sitcom. I highly recommend these comedies!
I found the Roman comedy to be funnier to me, mostly because it doesn't rely on the political situation in which it was written to gets its humour across. The Brothers Menaechmus is an entertaining, hilarious read from start to finish. It's got great jokes, its witty, and it has a character literally named Sponge, which I think was my favourite thing about it.
I laughed more while reading these plays than I do while watching a mediocre sitcom. I highly recommend these comedies!
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
5.0
This book defied my expectations. I wasn't prepared for it to follow different perspectives about what happened, but I'm very glad it did. What an excellent read! I really enjoyed this play. It was pretty easy to follow, had some beautiful prose, and I, as a novice Classicist, didn't feel like it was a complete betrayal of history (although it is still dramatized, and probably much more theatrical). I'm going to reread this gem as soon as I get through my list!
Spider-Man: Birth of Venom by
5.0
I read Birth of Venom so I'd have a decent understanding of Venom's comic origin before I went to see the movie (and write a review about it), and from there I think I not only fell in love with Venom, but comics in general. The 80s comic art isn't my favourite style, but I loved the characters and the storylines, and it was a great introduction to Spider-Man, too. If you're looking to get into Venom comics, start with this one!