When I want a comfort read, I pick up one of the Mutts volumes. The art is deceptively simple yet has callbacks to Great Masters. The storylines alwayWhen I want a comfort read, I pick up one of the Mutts volumes. The art is deceptively simple yet has callbacks to Great Masters. The storylines always have more profound messages tucked inside the antics of silly cartoon animals....more
I want to know how Tacchan, The Immortal Dragon, met Miku, his wife. I'm hoping that will be explained in another volume. The ferocity of care and dedI want to know how Tacchan, The Immortal Dragon, met Miku, his wife. I'm hoping that will be explained in another volume. The ferocity of care and dedication to his daily cleaning and cooking rituals explains how he rose to the top of the yakuza. No wonder his neighbors find him odd at best and often quite scary.
These stories all share a similar theme which was often quite repetitious. I'm hoping volume 2 has more variety beyond, "I know him! He's the most feared yakuza! No way has he changed and become a househusband! Let's attack him!" ...more
My feelings about this may be deeper than the shallow characters in this book. Best part: watching the "Labyrinth" scene or when the characters pity sMy feelings about this may be deeper than the shallow characters in this book. Best part: watching the "Labyrinth" scene or when the characters pity shopped at the mall (the mall scene took up 2 pages). If the best parts for me were watching one of my favorite movies through the eyes of characters (they were stoned and quite silly) or going shopping at a magical mall ("Taco Spell" or "Claw Locker" anyone?) what does it say about the strength of this book?
An Embarrassment of Witches follows a trend that I have been seeing recently, where the characters are young "adults" who don't know how to do "adulting" and just do NOT want to. There are times and days when I definitely do not want to adult, really, I am thinking about things that no one ever told me about being a grown up, however, these characters take it to the next level! They whine, they mope, and they lie constantly. Not cool. They have ginormous fights. And somehow, magically, in this magical world, they insta-makeup. Also not cool. There should be consequences and healthy boundaries put in place. Sheesh.
Moving on to a tiny criticism after all of these big ones: a boline. I looked it up because I was unfamiliar with the term, and everywhere I looked it said it was a ritual blade with a WHITE handle. Okaaaaay, so you drew it with a BLACK handle? Was this an artistique choice? In your magical artsy world where red buttons aren't red, bolines have black handles? Which would represent the OPPOSITE of what they are supposed to do? Hmmmm.....
All in all, I liked the world building, but none of the people living in it. The familiars were amazing, and seriously, what does it say about a character when their own familiar can't stand them and spends the ENTIRE book dodging them, trying to avoid them, and finally calls them out on their nasty behavior (in a loving way) at the end? Not magical enough for me....more
4 stars for the art and for the premise negative stars for feeling that I was led on and that the whole thing was a waste of my time and because I am s4 stars for the art and for the premise negative stars for feeling that I was led on and that the whole thing was a waste of my time and because I am super head-achy and a ginormous grouch
I kept expecting something super spooky and wonderful and mystical and wild the whole time I was reading this. The illustrations of this couple's time in Japan were like something out of a movie, and I just kept expecting something AMAZING. Maybe this was because our cultures were different and my expectations were too high? Maybe I should have just enjoyed the quiet, unexpected dreamy moments.
NO. I am grouchy. I have a headache. I wanted something spooky, and I feel gypped. There was nothing here. It was not real, and strangely enough, I have the prickle of tears in the corners of my eyes because one more person led me on and lied to me. (I am being too hard on this, yes?) I am full of hurt pride and hurt feelings and disappointment. ...more
This was a tough read for me; I have never read anything with this many F-bombs before, I think. The violence and the utter nihilism of many of the chThis was a tough read for me; I have never read anything with this many F-bombs before, I think. The violence and the utter nihilism of many of the characters was just gut-wrenching. The art was gorgeous and brutal. The love and sacrifice that many of the characters had for each other helped balance the darkness. I took a long time to read this because I could only go at it in small chunks. What helped was my overall belief system and then (view spoiler)[the final confirmation that good/justice does triumph. Love is a greater power than evil. My naivete may hold me back in this world. I do not enjoy books and media of this type in large doses, and politics has no interest for me. "Grownup" and "adult" things with all of their intrigues and dangers are not for me, especially when you can boil this down to the "bad guys" lose and the "good guys" win at great cost. (hide spoiler)]
I am glad that I stretched for a bit and read this. I cautiously recommend it to others, depending on the others.
I am glad to return to the world of Children's and Teen books now....more
Some of the story I knew already; some was entirely new to me; yet the whole book was wrenching and searing. The challenge at the ending in so compellSome of the story I knew already; some was entirely new to me; yet the whole book was wrenching and searing. The challenge at the ending in so compelling that it frustrates me to hear people deny the past or deny what is happening right here and now or maybe even worse be hardened to the very real circumstances of those at our borders right now.
The illustrations are strongly and clearly done; the story is enabled by how they enrich what is often not spoken. Takei tells his story well--nudging the reader along when one might dig in over a point--and gently guides through potentially unfamiliar cultural issues. All the historical, behind-the-scenes, "what led from point a to point b" matters is deftly laid out through the story so that everything flows throughout the book.
I highly recommend this, not only because of the rich historical story but because of Takei's spirit as he tells this for future generations. It is this spirit, the pride he takes in the power of liberty and democracy and forging on despite others' evil and the wrong-doing done to him and countless others, that makes the telling of the story so valuable today....more
Stunning art, but holy rushed story, Batman! I wanted to linger and dwell on the art, but the story just SHOVED me along. Why? This was so gorgeous anStunning art, but holy rushed story, Batman! I wanted to linger and dwell on the art, but the story just SHOVED me along. Why? This was so gorgeous and begged for further development....more
Wow. I cried and I learned and I ached for Knisley and what she had to ... cannot find strong enough word here *vexation!* Endure is not a strong enouWow. I cried and I learned and I ached for Knisley and what she had to ... cannot find strong enough word here *vexation!* Endure is not a strong enough word for what she went through because of the stupidity, ignorance, galling male pride of some of her doctors that "no, everything is all right, that's perfectly normal."
ARRRGGGHHHHH.
So proud of Lucy, and her family, friends, and the ones who helped bring her and Pal through. Congrats. Thank you to Lucy for telling this story. Thank you to all the warriors who have had rainbow babies and continue on. Thank you for your love. ...more
I was assigned to read the classic in 9th grade. No one in 9th grade appreciated having to read To Kill a Mockingbird. And then, slowly and subtly, thI was assigned to read the classic in 9th grade. No one in 9th grade appreciated having to read To Kill a Mockingbird. And then, slowly and subtly, the story started to work on me. Some others started to open up to it too. We groaned amongst ourselves while others in the class mocked and moaned at having to read "this stupid old book." Later, we watched the movie after finishing the book, and Gregory Peck WAS Atticus. Even the kids who didn't get the book said the movie was "all right...for a black and white movie." (There's a hidden meaning in that, you know.)
Now I have read this graphic novel, and wanted to cry all over again, and my 9th grade self remembers injustice and the immediacy of EVERYTHING, and I wonder if Madam would be ready for this? For this strong, powerful, amazing, ugly, beautiful book? She's already growing up so fast; how fast do I want her to grow up?
Read this because it was up for the Best of 2018 Goodreads Award. This made me laugh out loud SO MANY times on my lunch break (apologies to my co-workRead this because it was up for the Best of 2018 Goodreads Award. This made me laugh out loud SO MANY times on my lunch break (apologies to my co-workers). No prior knowledge of D&D or of the podcast is necessary; I had no problem understanding this.
Heads up: swearing, cartoon-style violence, and questionable choices throughout--these guys are pretty much COMPLETE idiots, and everyone they meet keep questioning how in the world they have ever made it this far?! Ha! The friends do (reluctantly at times) stick up for each other, and even risk their lives for each other. ...more
I want this for a gig--someone to let me live in a castle for a year; and to do all of the research for me about said castle; and to let me wander allI want this for a gig--someone to let me live in a castle for a year; and to do all of the research for me about said castle; and to let me wander all about the holloways (what a delicious word!) and byways of the area; and to feed me; and to do genealogical listings of the family for me; and then I will write up 4 stories about all of this; and someone else (4 someone elses) will illustrate them for me! It would be amazing!
This however, isn't. Strictly my opinion. I didn't enjoy all of the illustrators, and the stories were oddly disjointed and didn't flow together (not enough continuity between the years, events, family members) for me. ...more
AT FIRST, I liked where this was going with African-American superheroes saving the day! BUT, then I was really vexed to realize that the Dad was "WroAT FIRST, I liked where this was going with African-American superheroes saving the day! BUT, then I was really vexed to realize that the Dad was "Wrong Man" and could do no right. Yes, it's been done before--throughout literature and television and theatre--isn't this trope worn out by now? Can't poor Dad catch a break and get some respect?
By the end of the book, I was just crazy mad at everything going on. Zero love sir for this book....more
Every time I think I can't love her more, she writes a new book. *Extremely Happy Sigh* And then she tops herself with the "Making Stuff in the ModernEvery time I think I can't love her more, she writes a new book. *Extremely Happy Sigh* And then she tops herself with the "Making Stuff in the Modern Era" Section at the End. THANK YOU, SARAH!...more
Made it halfway through and gave up on. Life is too short for depressing reading right now. So much of this made my heart just break for her. ParentalMade it halfway through and gave up on. Life is too short for depressing reading right now. So much of this made my heart just break for her. Parental issues; gay issues; bullying; striving for perfection in an imperfect, uncaring world; and all of that on top of trying to figure out who you are while growing up and being a teen...YIKES.
Maybe I will come back to this book someday? However, right now I have FOUR books that came in for me ALL AT ONCE (!!!) at the library that have been on my to-reads-list FOR-EV-ER. I have been WAITING and LONGING for these books to come in, so I literally let out a yell of joy when I saw them and scared the circulation workers (haha!) a bit. Just a wee bit, you know, a kitten's worth. On to happier reading!...more
To quote Dorothy Parker or Groucho Marx or someone rather witty: "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great forceTo quote Dorothy Parker or Groucho Marx or someone rather witty: "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."
People who read Jackson's "The Lottery" usually remember it and have strong feelings toward the story; now couple visual images with the whole experience and POW! You will have to experience this for yourself. This is not to be taken lightly, and at the end, you may feel like throwing it with great force...but consider the ending of the story. Exercise caution, please. Remember what the townspeople were doing to one another....more
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