This thing is...dense. The art is absolutely beautiful, and I think the story is interesting, but the way it's told is pretty confusing and there are This thing is...dense. The art is absolutely beautiful, and I think the story is interesting, but the way it's told is pretty confusing and there are all these cat info-dumps at the end of each chapter that just...made my eyes glaze over. I guess I'll probably read the next volume when it comes out, but I didn't really find this one super enjoyable, so, in the end, this series may just not be for me.
Merged review:
This thing is...dense. The art is absolutely beautiful, and I think the story is interesting, but the way it's told is pretty confusing and there are all these cat info-dumps at the end of each chapter that just...made my eyes glaze over. I guess I'll probably read the next volume when it comes out, but I didn't really find this one super enjoyable, so, in the end, this series may just not be for me....more
Sighhhhhh, what a great series. There were a couple things in this book that didn't totally work for me (mainly there is some dumbness that happens), Sighhhhhh, what a great series. There were a couple things in this book that didn't totally work for me (mainly there is some dumbness that happens), but I really love these characters, pretty much all of them, and I found the ending really darn satisfying (although I knew that (view spoiler)[Jonathan Cole (hide spoiler)] was up to no good!
One note though--I like this series so much that I couldn't wait for the third book to come out here, so I ordered a paperback from Australia. And boy, oh boy, were there a lot of things that I had no idea what they were! I looked a lot of stuff up, and now I know that a doona is like a quilt or a blanket, and a Coonara is a brand of free-standing wood heater, and a hot Milo is sort of like a malted hot chocolate? Anyway, not sure if this book just had way more things than the others that I'd never heard of, or if I just didn't notice those things as much in the first two, or if the editions published here change things to words and phrases we're more likely to be familiar with in America...but whatever the case, I actually really liked it--it's fun to learn new words and phrases, and sort of experience a different set of vocabulary.
Anyway, super fun, sexy, dark, adventuresome series that I will for sure be reading again! -------------- Second read and oh, who am I even kidding? I'm five-starring this thing. This entire series has become such a comfort thing for me, and I love it wholeheartedly despite it's minor imperfections. Will read again (and again, and again, and again)!...more
I did not really expect much from this book, even though I really liked the first one, because the premise sounOh, man! Suddenly, I LOVE THIS SERIES!
I did not really expect much from this book, even though I really liked the first one, because the premise sounded...eh. But holy shit, this was good! I love Mycroft and Watts and I love them together, and I love how hard and real their relationship seems. And things get daaaaaark, and sexy without being smutty or awkward, and the Australian accents and British accents are totally fun to read in my head. I kind of knew (view spoiler)[where the folio was pretty early on (hide spoiler)], but lots of surprises in this book, and the ending, arghhhhhh, I want the next one NOW!
And of course it's not out yet in the States. Sooooooo I just bought an Australian copy--booyah! I mean...
So, basically, I dunno, Becca, maybe you'll like this series more than you did A Study in Charlotte? I think you should try it. Mostly so I have someone to talk about it with--ha! _____
I heard from someone that this book is a better modern not-quite-Holmes romance book than A Study in Charlotte so I decided to give it a try while I'mI heard from someone that this book is a better modern not-quite-Holmes romance book than A Study in Charlotte so I decided to give it a try while I'm waiting in line for that one. And...I really liked it! But with reservations. Love the relationship between Mycroft and Watts and their friendship with Mai and Gus, love the dialogue. Love the family dynamics. Love the romance. But the mystery? Eh...there's a lot of ridiculous in the mystery and a lot of unbelievable. And I felt the villain was completely obvious from first mention, although it comes as a complete surprise to Mycroft and Watts until, of course, (view spoiler)[they're in his evil lair and forced to listen to a bunch of boring "here's why I did it" blah-dee-blah and almost get killed themselves (hide spoiler)]
This is the first book in a series, and I guess I'm interested enough to pick up the second book, just for fun. __________
On second read:
Who even cares if the mystery aspects are a little unbelievable??? Watts and Mycroft are super addictive and are basically my happy place at the moment. I love them so much and I stayed up late to finish this even though I've already read it before. So I'm upping my rating to a full five stars now that I know that the rereads are even better than the first reads!
Hmmmm...I guess over all I liked this. I like how everyone becomes friends and actually try to talk to and listen to each other. I like that Ishida's Hmmmm...I guess over all I liked this. I like how everyone becomes friends and actually try to talk to and listen to each other. I like that Ishida's and Nishiyama's moms work stuff out. I like that at the end nothing's really tied up perfectly neatly. But somehow I still feel like I wanted more depth or something. Still, I read the entire series in one sitting, so there's that for sure!...more
Whoa, craziness! The truth about Ishida's former bullying ways comes out and everybody totally freaks out. THE DRAMA!Whoa, craziness! The truth about Ishida's former bullying ways comes out and everybody totally freaks out. THE DRAMA!...more
So, for awhile the story seemed kind of contrived and...just, somehow awkward, even though there were still things I liked about it. OMG I CAN'T STOP!
So, for awhile the story seemed kind of contrived and...just, somehow awkward, even though there were still things I liked about it. But I feel like as Ishida brings more and more of his and Nishimiya's past into the present it's getting more complex and more interesting and more...real, I guess. It also kind of cracks me up that Ueno still has a big X drawn over her face every time she appears, though I kind of think maybe Kawai deserves it more than Ueno does......more
I don't really like these voice-over-announcement type things at the beginning and end of every chapter. Were those always there and I just didn't notI don't really like these voice-over-announcement type things at the beginning and end of every chapter. Were those always there and I just didn't notice them until this volume, or did they just now appear? They make everything seem cheesy somehow.
Anyway, I dunno, I guess I'm kinda hooked now? ...more
He's a little ridiculous at times, but I kind of like Ishida's new self-appointed best friend! And I love the relationship between Nishimiya and her yHe's a little ridiculous at times, but I kind of like Ishida's new self-appointed best friend! And I love the relationship between Nishimiya and her younger brother (view spoiler)[er....I mean, sister! (hide spoiler)]. And I like the moments when Ishida actually reflects on what Nishimiya might have been feeling back in elementary school--he's definitely finally learning some empathy!...more
I liked this one a lot--the Hell dimensions are pretty hilarious, and I love the talks between Buffy and Spike and Andrew and Clive. Also, brief DracuI liked this one a lot--the Hell dimensions are pretty hilarious, and I love the talks between Buffy and Spike and Andrew and Clive. Also, brief Dracula! I look forward to seeing more of him, ha!...more
Okay, so, I'm not a baseball fan (or, you know, sports of any kind really), but everyone in my family is, and so I absorbed quite a bit about it durinOkay, so, I'm not a baseball fan (or, you know, sports of any kind really), but everyone in my family is, and so I absorbed quite a bit about it during the time Dwight Gooden was at his peak. That's to say, I knew of him, remember him being good, and that he played for the Mets, but that's about it. I think this was an audible daily deal at some point awhile back, and I like biographies, so that's why I read this, although I put it off for a couple of years because ugh, baseball.
But I was pleasantly surprised! I mean, this is mostly about him dealing with cocaine and not baseball, but Gooden tells his story really well, and it's an action-packed, interesting, sad, hopeful, and kind of beautiful one so far. I found him really likable (except for the chapter near the end where he basically details all the ways Daryl Strawberry has wronged him over the years despite all the ways Gooden's been a good friend to him--that all may be true, but it felt totally unnecessary and like the airing of dirty laundry, you know? I mean, Strawberry might be a self-absorbed jerk, but I didn't feel like that really had a place in the story Gooden was telling) and I certainly hope he remains clean and sober and a good dad to his kids and stuff.
Great narration too! I'm glad I finally got around to reading this--I had no idea Gooden had such a great story to tell....more
Totally liked this weird, sarcastic, over-the-top, and sometimes frighteningly accurate comic about the ridiculousness of politics in our culture. Or Totally liked this weird, sarcastic, over-the-top, and sometimes frighteningly accurate comic about the ridiculousness of politics in our culture. Or just the ridiculousness of our culture. I'd read more if there were more, for sure! Uhhhh, what? Sorry. I don't know, I'm shutting up now....more
I'm really struggling with this one. It's a YA book that reads more like a book for elementary school kids, and I'm finding the world really hard to gI'm really struggling with this one. It's a YA book that reads more like a book for elementary school kids, and I'm finding the world really hard to grasp--so much just seems like it's weird for the sake of being weird, and I'm just constantly wanting to know how and why and not being told anything. I love the idea of it, and I really enjoyed Binti by this author despite a similar immaturity in writing style at times, but this one is just not what I was hoping for. I think I'm going to move on for now, though maybe I'll come back to it another time and have more success....more
I think I liked this second book in the series more than the first, and I liked the narrator a little better as well, but I still think I'll read the I think I liked this second book in the series more than the first, and I liked the narrator a little better as well, but I still think I'll read the rest of these in print instead of doing any more audio versions....more
Whaaaaat? Crunchy Roll has manga too??? I've been meaning to ask Kelly to order this one because we don't have it at the library. I still will, if it'Whaaaaat? Crunchy Roll has manga too??? I've been meaning to ask Kelly to order this one because we don't have it at the library. I still will, if it's good, but it's nice that now I don't have to wait!
Anyway, interesting start to a series. Ishida was a total oblivious, self-absorbed jerk as a kid, like many of us are (I definitely had my moments), but I'm looking forward to seeing what he's like now that he's spent years tasting his own medicine. I definitely experienced some bullying in school, but nothing like these two have. :(...more
I put off reading this one for a loooong time, because I started watching the anime between the previous volume and this one and so I already knew whaI put off reading this one for a loooong time, because I started watching the anime between the previous volume and this one and so I already knew what would happen in this one. And...it's a weird one. I do really love Nana's relationship with his little sister, but other than that the stories in this volume are just so ridiculous and over the top. I guess I just prefer the series when it's a little more based in reality (if this series ever actually is)....more
There were definitely several things that made me laugh in this one (view spoiler)[Bald Cape! Tank Top Vegetarian! (hide spoiler)], but so much of it There were definitely several things that made me laugh in this one (view spoiler)[Bald Cape! Tank Top Vegetarian! (hide spoiler)], but so much of it is devoted to this fight between some super villain dude and all the Tank Top heroes and I had a hard time even making sense of it. And Sonic is back, but I'm kind of bored with him now. I dunno, it was fine, I guess, but I'm hoping the next volume is a little more my scene....more
Picked this up from the new fiction table on a whim, as I really like The Last Unicorn and hadn't seen Beagle's name in awhile. A new book by him? SurPicked this up from the new fiction table on a whim, as I really like The Last Unicorn and hadn't seen Beagle's name in awhile. A new book by him? Sure!
But I'm still not totally sure what to make of it. I feel like the idea is an interesting one, and I liked Joanna, but she ended up being pretty much the only person in the book I could really sympathize with (well, and (view spoiler)[Hades (hide spoiler)]). I always have trouble with books where everyone is just obsessed with a character that I find boring, and it keeps me from getting sucked into the story. Lioness is like that here. She's beautiful, and nice, and...um...huh. That's about it, and yet everyone just immediately falls in love with her and stumbles all over themselves for her and...why, exactly? The answer given at the end is (view spoiler)[well, she's a goddess, so what else could they do? (hide spoiler)], but that just wasn't enough for me.
I like Beagle's writing style, and I never got bored enough to abandon this book, but there was just a real lack of depth in this one that kept me from really falling into it and caring, you know? That said, I do still want to go back and try a few of his other earlier books in hopes they're a little more my thing....more
There's a lot that I liked about this one, but there's also a real lack of emotional depth that made it hard for me to fully invest in what was happenThere's a lot that I liked about this one, but there's also a real lack of emotional depth that made it hard for me to fully invest in what was happening to the characters. I found the magic kind of convoluted and difficult to picture and understand as well. Still, I enjoyed it enough that I will probably read the next book in the series when it comes out, because this one ends right when it's getting good!...more
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