Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. - Jorge Luis Borges
I only read two books this last month.
Dark Prince by David Gemmel. This is the sequel to Lion of Macedon. I was skeptical about it to begin with because my brother told me there was an insane amount of magic in this book. Typically, it seems, Gemmel will put magic into a book and it just becomes another fantasy novel. I'm not looking for him to reinvent fantasy novels, but I wish he would do something different. His books have a formulaic feel that I find annoying if I read too many in a row. It was about Alexander's struggle with the demon that inhabited him in the first book. It was a fairly interesting take on the Alexander mythos. I would recommend this short duology to fantasy fans. I would even recommend it to history buffs. 5/5
V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. This book was just as bad as the movie. It's just a shame that I wasted more time reading it than I did watching it. It was short on story and it was short on character development. I thought that by reading the author's note at the end I would get a clearer idea of what the story was all about. I didn't. It just came across as another British isolationist/fear of isolation story. I'm a bit sick of that story line. A complete waste of time. 1/5
Dark Prince by David Gemmel. This is the sequel to Lion of Macedon. I was skeptical about it to begin with because my brother told me there was an insane amount of magic in this book. Typically, it seems, Gemmel will put magic into a book and it just becomes another fantasy novel. I'm not looking for him to reinvent fantasy novels, but I wish he would do something different. His books have a formulaic feel that I find annoying if I read too many in a row. It was about Alexander's struggle with the demon that inhabited him in the first book. It was a fairly interesting take on the Alexander mythos. I would recommend this short duology to fantasy fans. I would even recommend it to history buffs. 5/5
V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. This book was just as bad as the movie. It's just a shame that I wasted more time reading it than I did watching it. It was short on story and it was short on character development. I thought that by reading the author's note at the end I would get a clearer idea of what the story was all about. I didn't. It just came across as another British isolationist/fear of isolation story. I'm a bit sick of that story line. A complete waste of time. 1/5
Come ride with me through the veins of history. I'll show you a god who falls asleep on the job.
I've had many abstract thoughts over the past month but I've been far too lazy to write any of them down. I'm sure some would have made decent blog posts. Ah well. Just know that I do have an active mind...and a lazy hand.
Alexa and I have been watching Dexter. She says it's ok and I love it. Nothing is better than a cop who moonlights as a serial killer of the wrongfully innocent.
Alexa and I have been watching Dexter. She says it's ok and I love it. Nothing is better than a cop who moonlights as a serial killer of the wrongfully innocent.
Piper.
We put my dog down April 6. I still find it hard to bend over and pick food up off the floor. I'm used to a mobile garbage disposal.
The thing that made us finally put her down was that she was having a hard time keeping her balance and her eyes were darting frantically. She was panting heavily. It was just too hard to watch.
I wish I didn't already have another dog (by marriage). I don't know if I can manage putting another loved beast down. Even though Piper was obviously miserable, I can't help but be sad every time I think about her. I just wish she could still be here. I know it's better that she's been put out of her misery and it would be selfish to keep her alive, I can't help but wish she were here. She was uncomfortable but she gave me much comfort. I miss her. Most of what I need to say I have already said in this post.
The thing that made us finally put her down was that she was having a hard time keeping her balance and her eyes were darting frantically. She was panting heavily. It was just too hard to watch.
I wish I didn't already have another dog (by marriage). I don't know if I can manage putting another loved beast down. Even though Piper was obviously miserable, I can't help but be sad every time I think about her. I just wish she could still be here. I know it's better that she's been put out of her misery and it would be selfish to keep her alive, I can't help but wish she were here. She was uncomfortable but she gave me much comfort. I miss her. Most of what I need to say I have already said in this post.
Trouble. Oh trouble set me free. I have seen your face and it's too much, too much for me.
While playing helper ball I broke my talar dome. I'm not too interested in finding a link for a picture right now. I'm feeling despondent and inconsolable. I'm just unhappy. And no, Ashley, I don't hate helper ball; just my luck.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
They took your children and wife. Cut their throats with a knife.
Here's my monthly book recap.
I got a bunch of graphic novels from the library while Alexa was gone. I figured I had a lot of time on my hands and they're a quick read. And I'm a dork.
Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer. This was just dumb. It's apparently a prequel to Michael Moorcock's Elric series. I'm not interested in the books after reading this graphic novel. It was short on story and the art was pretty crappy. 2/5
Batman: Arkham Asylum. On my first read I didn't care for it. But the edition I got from the library has the entire "script" for the comic with notes by the author. This gave the graphic novel so much more clarity. The illustrations were muddy and hard to understand, so the author's explanation was greatly appreciated. The whole thing is about Batman breaking through his weaknesses and becoming an even bigger badass. The Joker takes over Arkham Asylum and tests Batman by making him face many of the do-badders he helped put there. The entire story is linked to the history of Amadeus Arkham, the builder of the Arkham Asylum. Arkham himself was crazy and killed his own mother. The personality of the building and its history is integral to the story. It was an interesting take on Batman. Until the end he is a scared, weak hero. Just interesting if you like that sort of thing. 4/5
Batman: The Killing Joke. I fully expected this to be the story arc where the second Robin, Jason Todd, is killed by the Joker. It wasn't. I was a bit disappointed. Anyway, the story still had a landmark moment in it. Commissioner Gordon's daughter, Barbara, is shot by the Joker and is paralyzed as a result. She later becomes Oracle, a sidekick to Batman who is able to give him information from the Batcave (I think). The story mainly focuses on Joker's origin story and his quest to break the Commissioner. The Joker's sick sense of humor is full blown in this book. I used to think the Joker was kind of lame, but now that I've seen The Dark Knight and I've read these graphic novels my opinion has changed. He's got great potential and it seems like authors aren't afraid to exploit it. The only thing that was lame about this one was the Joker's origin story. I like the idea of not really having a clear picture of why he is the way he is. Oh well. 4/5
The Brave and the Bold Vol. 1: The Lords of Chaos. This was basically a Justice League of America book, but I guess the Brave and the Bold is a different series. The whole idea of the book is that there is something called the Book of Destiny. In it is the past, present and future. Of course, if this book falls into the wrong hands all is lost. There are some interesting concepts involving time travel and destiny if you are inclined to ponder them. Aside from that the action is fairly decent and the story is compelling. I was certainly wondering how the good guys would win once the bad guys got the book (considering the bad guys will know the good guys every move before the good guys know). 4/5
Justice League of America Vol. 1: The Tornado's Path. Does anyone know who Red Tornado is? I didn't. I was really confused for the first 20 pages of this one. I will admit that I've never been a huge fan of the Justice League, so I guess that would put me at a disadvantage in terms of knowing all of the characters. Anyway, the gist of the plot is that Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are reassembling the Justice League after it was disbanded. This was a good way to get to know most of the characters because the three big ones explained their powers and qualities. It's hard to explain the plot but I'll give it a try: Red Tornado (a spirit in a robot's body who can shift his spirit from one robot body to the next) shifts his spirit into a real body. Some bad guys (I don't know who they are and I've never heard of them) are trying to get Red Tornado's body so that another immortal can stop being immortal and...I think I lost everyone. I'm lost now. I really liked it, though. Maybe because the plot was so twisted. I don't know. 5/5
Justice League of America Vol. 2: The Injustice League. This plot is a bit easier to follow. Lex Luthor gets together bunch of villains to take out the Justice League. It's basically like watching an episode of Superfriends. I liked the artwork and the story was good enough. There was a time when I doubted the Justice League would win out. 4/5
I got a bunch of graphic novels from the library while Alexa was gone. I figured I had a lot of time on my hands and they're a quick read. And I'm a dork.
Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer. This was just dumb. It's apparently a prequel to Michael Moorcock's Elric series. I'm not interested in the books after reading this graphic novel. It was short on story and the art was pretty crappy. 2/5
Batman: Arkham Asylum. On my first read I didn't care for it. But the edition I got from the library has the entire "script" for the comic with notes by the author. This gave the graphic novel so much more clarity. The illustrations were muddy and hard to understand, so the author's explanation was greatly appreciated. The whole thing is about Batman breaking through his weaknesses and becoming an even bigger badass. The Joker takes over Arkham Asylum and tests Batman by making him face many of the do-badders he helped put there. The entire story is linked to the history of Amadeus Arkham, the builder of the Arkham Asylum. Arkham himself was crazy and killed his own mother. The personality of the building and its history is integral to the story. It was an interesting take on Batman. Until the end he is a scared, weak hero. Just interesting if you like that sort of thing. 4/5
Batman: The Killing Joke. I fully expected this to be the story arc where the second Robin, Jason Todd, is killed by the Joker. It wasn't. I was a bit disappointed. Anyway, the story still had a landmark moment in it. Commissioner Gordon's daughter, Barbara, is shot by the Joker and is paralyzed as a result. She later becomes Oracle, a sidekick to Batman who is able to give him information from the Batcave (I think). The story mainly focuses on Joker's origin story and his quest to break the Commissioner. The Joker's sick sense of humor is full blown in this book. I used to think the Joker was kind of lame, but now that I've seen The Dark Knight and I've read these graphic novels my opinion has changed. He's got great potential and it seems like authors aren't afraid to exploit it. The only thing that was lame about this one was the Joker's origin story. I like the idea of not really having a clear picture of why he is the way he is. Oh well. 4/5
The Brave and the Bold Vol. 1: The Lords of Chaos. This was basically a Justice League of America book, but I guess the Brave and the Bold is a different series. The whole idea of the book is that there is something called the Book of Destiny. In it is the past, present and future. Of course, if this book falls into the wrong hands all is lost. There are some interesting concepts involving time travel and destiny if you are inclined to ponder them. Aside from that the action is fairly decent and the story is compelling. I was certainly wondering how the good guys would win once the bad guys got the book (considering the bad guys will know the good guys every move before the good guys know). 4/5
Justice League of America Vol. 1: The Tornado's Path. Does anyone know who Red Tornado is? I didn't. I was really confused for the first 20 pages of this one. I will admit that I've never been a huge fan of the Justice League, so I guess that would put me at a disadvantage in terms of knowing all of the characters. Anyway, the gist of the plot is that Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are reassembling the Justice League after it was disbanded. This was a good way to get to know most of the characters because the three big ones explained their powers and qualities. It's hard to explain the plot but I'll give it a try: Red Tornado (a spirit in a robot's body who can shift his spirit from one robot body to the next) shifts his spirit into a real body. Some bad guys (I don't know who they are and I've never heard of them) are trying to get Red Tornado's body so that another immortal can stop being immortal and...I think I lost everyone. I'm lost now. I really liked it, though. Maybe because the plot was so twisted. I don't know. 5/5
Justice League of America Vol. 2: The Injustice League. This plot is a bit easier to follow. Lex Luthor gets together bunch of villains to take out the Justice League. It's basically like watching an episode of Superfriends. I liked the artwork and the story was good enough. There was a time when I doubted the Justice League would win out. 4/5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
