Thursday 31 December 2015

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve. Goodbye 2015. Hello 2016, and the opportunities, joys, sorrows, trials, and love it will bring.

If you're going out tonight please take care of yourself, and don't over-do things.

The people who call you boring for not wanting another drink won't remember this conversation in the morning, so it really doesn't matter. What matters is staying safe and healthy.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi! Happy New Year to all of you!

Take care, have fun, make it a good one.

fireworks happy new year
 
Like This Post? Try These:

2016 Bookish Resolutions
Reflecting on 2015


Success! Goodreads Challenge complete

finished 2015 goodreads challenge


Argh! I'm so chuffed! 200 books over and out!

OK, so there was a lot of 'cheating' with the graphic novels, comics, and poetry. But who cares? Goodreads allows it - so I do too!!!

On to 2016!


Like This Post? Try These:

2016 Bookish Resolutions
Reflecting on 2015

Comics Wrap Up - Let's Go

Film Trailers



Christmas day brought us another smack-down slice of the Merc with the Mouth, the insatiable, the incredible, Mr. Wade Wilson himself: Deadpool!

I've only given you the green band (universal-ish) trailer here, because that's enough to be corrupting the innocent with for one day. Deadpool can corrupt pretty much anyone.

To watch the red band, you have to prove to Youtube that you're over 18. Then you get all the inappropriate comments, adult humour, and swearing like a sailor, that Deadpool can give to you. And that's not a small amount.

I love Deadpool. So very much.

Like This Post? Try These:

Deadpool trailer review!
Comics Wrap-Up - She's a Rebel



Wednesday 30 December 2015

Review! (Woohoo!) - The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

the boy in the dress book coverTitle: The Boy in the Dress.

Author: David Walliams .

Genre: Kids, Humour.

A few starting notes:

I saw the BBC adaptation of the Boy in the Dress last year, so took my chance to borrow the eBook from the Welsh libraries service.
 
This is suitable for ages 9 or 10 up, maybe a little younger, or a little older, depending on what kid is actually doing the reading.
 
Premise:

Dennis is your normal 12-year-old boy living a normal, boring, life. Except, inside, Dennis is a bit different. But who's going to accept a 12-year-old boy in a dress?

Best bits:

I'm not entirely sure this could be more British unless the cover featured a bulldog drinking tea. This is just amazingly British - particularly in terms of humour - not surprising, I suppose, when it comes to David Walliams.
 
In the tradition of the legend of children's writing, Roald Dahl, Walliams doesn't speak down to kids and/or readers. He's along for the ride, down to taking a moment to look up details of football (soccer to the Yanks.)
 
The kids are going to love the gross bits - all the snot and the farting is like catnip to 10-year-olds. And Walliams manages to keep the balance and not go too far with the icky stuff.
 
Of course, mention must be made of the fantastic pencil-scratch-style illustrations of Quentin Blake, who was Roald Dahl's primary illustrator for many years.

Not so great bits:

There's very little to argue against with this book - although I can see how more conservative readers may be put off by the premise of a boy in a dress.
 
There's occasional use of the slightly-homophobic slang insult 'woofter,' which may insult some people.
 
Verdict:

I really did love this book; it was fun, entertaining, engaging, and genuinely good-hearted and well-written. I would recommend this to pretty much anyone.


Monday 28 December 2015

Straight James/ Gay James Now Available For Pre-Order

James Franco's poetry chapbook Straight James/Gay James is now available for pre-order in the UK. The book is released on 1st Jan 2016.

You may/may not remember my full review of this book - but I will say that I really loved it.

Full Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, and will receive a small commission if you choose to use any of my links to make purchases.

Full Review - Buy Now - GoodreadsAuthor's Facebook

Like This Post? Try These:

Review Time! (Oh Yeah!) - Straight James/Gay James by James Franco
My Picks of 2015

Sunday 27 December 2015

2016 Bookish Resolutions


 Reading Resolutions
    new year fireworks
  1. To read 200 books (Goodreads Challenge) - I've decided to use the same target number as my 2015 Challenge because it seems to be just right for the speed I read. I can always revise it up or down as needed. I started 2015 with a target of 50, and moved it from there.
  2. To read at least 20 books for the Charity Reading Challenge 2016.
  3. To read widely - neither genre, nor popularity, nor age range shall limit my reading! Huzzah! (Ok, I may have had some coffee... Reading Addicts like coffee *nods sagely, grins maniacally*)
  4. To read at least 5 books in Welsh - I learn languages best by reading (not that much of a surprise) and I'm always looking for ways to improve my Welsh (it is not an easy language to learn,) so I figure reading at least five kids' books in Welsh, from beginning to end, will give me a helping hand.
  5. To never, ever, stop reading in print - I have an eReader now, but that does not  mean I'm going to let myself get carried away and abandon the magic of actual, physical books. I will always prefer print and paper, and this resolution is there to remind me of that.

Blogging Resolutions
  1. To blog regularly.
  2. To always be open, honest, and genuine in my blogging and my reviewing.
  3. To never lose sight of why I started this blog - which was to have fun, feel a bit more like a person again, enjoy reading, and encourage others to do the same.
  4. Try to find ways to promote reading - sometimes I feel like blogging involves a lot of preaching to the converted, I want to make readers of non-readers.
  5. To not get stressed! - If I don't finish a post by a certain time, it doesn't matter! This is my blog, and I shouldn't be stressing about it.

Like this post? Try these:

Reflecting on 2015
Charity Reading Challenge 2016
Goodreads Challenge 2015 - One Month Left

Saturday 26 December 2015

Changes To Mobile Version

Hi! Just to let you all know, I've been encountering a few problems with the mobile version of 'Diary of a Reading Addict.'

To make sure all posts are readable, and to serve my mobile readers the best that I can, I have converted my mobile site to a simpler template. This should mean that my posts are readable, as well as being mobile compatible.

If you want the full effect of my blog design, I recommend you view the desktop version, which has an awesome star background that, try as I might, just doesn't work well on mobile.

Review Time! - Shirley Link & The Safe Case by Ben Zackheim

Shirley Link & The Safe Case book coverTitle: Shirley Link & The Safe Case. (US.)

Author: Ben Zackheim.

Genre: Kids, Crime.

Series: Shirley Link (#1)

A few starting notes:

I grabbed this on special offer to read on my new Kobo, on a fairly random whim.
 
I'd say this was suitable for anyone over nine or ten, and possibly even younger. The protagonists are about 14, but the content and style definitely feels more suited to a slightly younger audience.

Premise:

Shirley Link, kid detective and expert at deduction, is called in by the principal of her school to solve a crime which may put his job on the line.

Best bits:

Shirley is pretty much Sherlock Holmes in 14-year-old girl form. This actually works pretty well - clearly teenage girls lend themselves to sociopathic character traits very easily. I actually really enjoyed Shirley's snarky attitude - though she's not a 'nice' person exactly.
 
This book was generally nice and light and fairly entertaining. Which was perfect for my Christmas dinner induced chill out in front of the TV with Kobo in hand.

Not so great bits:

I think that the mystery itself could have done with some beefing out - a few more clues, maybe some more involving red herrings, and just a smidge less 1960s style Scooby Doo, (not that I don't totally love Scooby,) and it would've been so much better.

Verdict:

Light-hearted and very entertaining, this was a decent start to the series. I can imagine 11-year-old mystery hunters loving it.


Thursday 24 December 2015

Merry Christmas!

Have an awesome Christmas everyone! Hope it's good for you and yours.

Nadolig Llawen i chi! Merry Christmas to all of you!

I shall see you after all the mince pies and goodies (no turkey or other meats for me - vegetarian!)

So, I've just got some last minute wrapping to do, and some cards and pressies to deliver.

Comics Wrap-Up - She's a Rebel

Graphic Novels

This week, my graphic novel reads have been all about girls who kick butt.

Rat Queens Deluxe Edition Volume 1 follows the not-suitable-for-kids adventures of Violet, Hannah, Dee and Betty - four adventurers who make up the 'Rat Queens' gang. It's very fantasy-based, so includes elves, mages, orcs, and the like. It's pretty awesome, and in no way afraid of gore and full-frontal nudity.

My full review of Rat Queens can be found here.

Red Sonja: The Black Tower, is another graphic novel which features a warrior woman. I love Sonja, and enjoyed this truly random adventure that felt more than a little bit cracked - but I totally understand that this won't be to everyone's taste.

You can find my full review of Red Sonja: The Black Tower here.

Single Issues

The Amazing Spider-Man #611 is a bit lacking in terms of plot, but awesome in terms of Deadpool. I love Deadpool; he rocks, so much - and I totally love the randomness and pure insanity that he brings to everything he touches.

Plus, the combination of Spidey and Deadpool is sacred to fan circles - what with the shipping of Spideypool and everything (this is where people who make fanfiction and fanart etc. have decided that Spiderman and Deadpool are romantically involved, sometimes to quite graphic effect. Fangirls and boys have very vivid imaginations. I've seen some things folks, I've seen some things.)


Liked This Post? Try These:

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) Red Sonja: The Black Tower by Frank Tieri
Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) Rat Queens Deluxe Edition Volume 1
Comics Wrap Up - We Could Be Immortals

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) Red Sonja: The Black Tower by Frank Tieri

Red Sonja The Black Tower graphic novel coverTitle: Red Sonja: The Black Tower. (US link.)

Author: Frank Tieri.
 
Contributor: Cezar Razek

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy.

Series: Red Sonja.
 
Release Date: 29 Dec 2015

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.
 
For any of you who have not heard of Red Sonja, think Conan the Barbarian in female form with incredible red hair and, if possible, even less clothing.

Premise:

A threat comes to the mythical land of Hyboria - one that Sonja has never seen the likes of before. Prepare for The Black Tower, and the day the door opens.

Best bits:

OK, this was mad as a box of frogs. A lot of people won't like the whole 'screw it, let's just blow up this sh**' attitude that this storyline seems to have. It's like an adventure story on crack. And I actually kind of liked that - but I guess it appealed to my bizarre sense of humour.
 
Undeniably, the art is good - and the cover-work is stunning. And it turns out that Sonja can pull off white highlights very well, who knew?
 
Of course, Sonja kicks butt and takes no sh** - as per usual.

Not so great bits:

Like I said earlier, a lot of people will be completely bemused and/or irritated by the amount of random cr*p thrown into this story with very little regard for things like sense or...plot. It's not going to appeal to everyone, and those who take Red Sonja very seriously aren't going to like it.
 
OK, onto the other galumphing elephant in the room: Sonja is one of the most over-sexualised female characters I have ever come across in comics and graphic novels. That is no small achievement, but it's not one to be proud of.
 
It continues to annoy me that a character that could be so freaking awesome, complex, and admirable, is degraded in terms of (lack of) clothing, non-ending emphasis on breasts, and physically questionable/impossible poses.
 
There's also a bunch of swearing, violence, and some pretty damned shocking gory moments.
 
Verdict:

It's a bit 'out there,' and there are some issues that it's a little difficult to skirt around, but overall it's a quick and enjoyable read - just don't go trying to take it too seriously.


Tuesday 22 December 2015

Allowing Yourself To Be Selfish

Sometimes, you have to allow yourself to be selfish.

Yes, I know how bad that sounds. All our lives we're told it's 'Bad' with a capital 'B' to be selfish. And it can be. But you want to know what I've found out recently? There's different types of selfish.

See, there's such a thing as 'Healthy Selfishness' - that means that you can do things like, allow yourself a piece of chocolate or to buy a magazine as a treat, you can take a nice long shower or bath with all the pampering lotions and potions, and you don't have to feel guilty about it.

That doesn't mean it's ok to take advantage of people, to disregard others' feelings, or to be cruel. No, it just means you're allowed to put yourself first sometimes.

If you don't take care of you, then you can't take care of anyone else. You can't slay the dragon if your sword arm's broken, and you can't save the world on an empty tank. Take care of yourself, and the rest will follow (and I mean both physically and mentally.)

As someone who's been a carer, and as someone who has been through the mill and back again with depression, I can tell you that there is no shame in being vulnerable, or hurt, or ill, and there is no shame in putting yourself first.


Like this post? Try these:

Nerd Church! - Leave the Christmas Stress Behind
Reflecting on 2015

My Picks of 2015

Feel like reading my picks of the books I've read and reviewed (so far) this year? Well, my cheeky little monkeys, I've got you covered.

(This post may have been at least partially coffee-fuelled. I regret nothing.)
2015 book picks

Death Vigil Volume 1 by Stjepan Šejić

death vigil graphic novel coverI hark on about this one quite a bit (guilty as charged!) But this book really does deserve it. It's like the perfect storm of originality, beautiful artwork, and complex characters.

The Death Vigil are a group of demon-hunting people, snatched in the moments before death by their leader, Bernadette - who is a bad-ass.

I read a lot of graphic novels, and amongst all of them, this really did stand out to me this year. It also held me captive 'til the last page, and made me forget about the coffee I was drinking at the time - my coffee went cold. If you know me, you know that that's significant.



NOS4R2 (NOS4A2) by Joe Hill

NOS4R2 Joe Hill cover I'm a big, ginormous, Joe Hill fan. And I absolutely positively loved all of this behemoth of a book.

The concept of worlds within the imagination was simply inspired, and Hill weaves his words like delicate silk (check me out being all poetical and sh**!)

Vic McQueen is one of the people who can use her imagination for real-world purposes. But when she comes across The Wraith, aka Charlie Manx, things are going to get very bad in Manx's world - Christmasland.

I wouldn't read this around Christmastime if I were you... unless you want to be traumatised of course, in which case, go right ahead.



Straight James/Gay James by James Franco

This may be a slight cheat - the book isn't out until early 2016, but I read it in 2015. So once again, I regret nothing.

This is one of my picks because I have to promote good poetry - it's like a compulsion, so sue me.

And this is good poetry - honest and heartfelt, like good poetry should be. (And yes, it's written by that James Franco.)

World Gone By Dennis Lehane book coverYou want a stunning historically-set gangster novel? Read this book.

Joe Coughlin is a gangster - he's been in the business a long time. But he makes everyone money. So no-one would want him dead... right?

Basically, I cannot explain to you how much I love Joe in a way that doesn't make me sound a few stages on from completely delusional. Read my review. Then read the book. Then you'll know, because hopefully I'm not the only one who feels like this...



Under the Never Sky Veronica Rossi book coverUnder the Never Sky and Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

These are the first two books in the 'Under the Never Sky' series by Veronica Rossi (not to be confused with Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent series.)

This is a YA dystopian series that hooks its claws in with compelling plot, and complex characters. If you like dystopia and/or YA where the heroine does more than sit and whine all day, then I highly recommend this series.

Monday 21 December 2015

Review! (Woo!) - World Gone By by Dennis Lehane

World Gone By Dennis Lehane book coverTitle: World Gone By. (US link.)

Author: Dennis Lehane .

Genre: Crime, Historical Fiction, Gangster.

Series: Coughlin (#3.)

A few starting notes:

I'm a Dennis Lehane junkie. Pure. Simple. True. So when I saw World Gone By (US link) at the library, I really couldn't help myself.

This is #3 in the Coughlin series - following Danny Coughlin (in The Given Day, (US link,)) and later baby brother Joe Coughlin (in Live By Night (US link) and World Gone By (US link).)

It can definitely be read as stand-alone, though there are spoilers for Live By Night (US link) in particular. To be honest, you'll get much more out of this book if you read Live By Night (US link) first - just for the character history if nothing else.

My sequel-reviewing rules apply here. No spoilerage for the series beyond what's in the book blurb here.

Premise:

Tampa and Ybor City, Florida, the 1940s. Joe Coughlin is a gangster from back in the days of prohibition.

Joe knows how to get money made; and its mutually beneficial for all of his... associates. So no-one would want him dead... right?

Is his lifestyle - his years of sin - about to catch up with him?

Best bits:

Lehane, what are you doing to me? A gangster on the young side of 40, a bad boy with a dangerous past, who treats women right and is a loving and sensitive single father? I should not be in love with Joe right now, damn you! He's a gangster! He kills people!

But I totally am, and it's all your fault Lehane.

The writing sweeps you along - as is typical of Lehane books. There's something about his prose which is almost lyrical; and which I totally love.

It also puts your feels (or, in non-fangirlian: emotions,) through the wringer. (Damn you Lehane!) but it's like: I love you book. You just ripped out my heart and handed it to me, and that is why I love you. (*Maniacal laughter.*)

Not so great bits:
As seems to be true for most of the books I read, this sure as hell ain't for the faint of heart. There's loads of swearing, violence, blood and guts.

There's also some racial slurs - including repeated use of the 'n' word. While that's in-keeping with a) the historical setting, and b) the fact that gangsters, as a rule, aren't particularly politically correct, it's still not OK.

This isn't a happy book. This is pretty grim. If you've read any books by Lehane before, you'll know what I mean - if not, well, just trust me.

Verdict:

I loved this book. A slick gangster novel that's firmly rooted in character and nuance rather than mindless shootings in every paragraph. This is subtle, absorbing, and quite simply excellent.

Sunday 20 December 2015

Nerd Church! - Leave the Christmas Stress Behind

I hope wherever you are, and whatever you're doing, you have a wonderful time over the next week or so.

Christmas tree starRegardless of your beliefs I hope you enjoy any holiday you may be celebrating - and just enjoy the week in general if you're not celebrating anything.

Christmas can be stressful though - family is stressful enough on its own: add the duty to buy everyone presents, the pressure to create precious memories, and the worry that you've over-spent, over-eaten, and have been drinking too much wine, and you have a potential recipe for disaster.

Try to remember a few golden rules to stop the stress:



Christmas doesn't have to be perfect.

The most perfect Christmases, paradoxically, are the ones which aren't perfect. The Christmases you'll remember in years to come are the ones where something got burnt, someone forgot to buy a present, or there was a problem with the lights - and you'll have still had fun, still enjoyed, and still made it special.

Enjoy your Christmas - the little things matter more than anything else.

Enjoy what you have - whatever you have.

Didn't get that must-have gadget, handbag, or piece of jewellery? The world goes on. Enjoy what you did get - even if it was just a box of chocolates, a totally random and inappropriate kitchen item, or a slightly beaten-up card.

I'm sure whoever gave you whatever unwanted gift was doing their very best. Smile and make do, and enjoy the fact that someone thought of you. (Buying yourself a little something is also worth a smile - you care about you, goddammit!)

Try not to take out holiday stress on other people.

You know all the reasons you get stressy and p**sy at Christmas? Everyone else has them too.

Try to be understanding and not take your stress out on others - even if they're acting unreasonably; they're probably stressed out too.

Nerd Church will be back on Sunday, 10th January.

Saturday 19 December 2015

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) Rat Queens Deluxe Edition Volume 1

Title: Rat Queens Deluxe Edition Volume 1.

US Title Link.

Author: Kurtis J Wiebe.
 
Contributors: Stjepan Šejić, Tess Fowler, Roc Upchurch.

Genre: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, High Fantasy.

Series: Rat Queens (#1-10.)

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.
 
I'd heard Rat Queens talked about on various sites as being worth the read, so when the chance to review the Deluxe Edition (US link) of Volume 1 came up, I decided to give it a shot.

Premise:

Palisade is a city filled with adventurer gangs - the toughest being the Rat Queens. The Queens are made up of Violet the dwarf, Hannah the elven mage, Dee the apostate (ex) cult priestess, and Betty, the smidgen (kind of like a small elf.)
 
Unfortunately, the girls are soon going to have something more on their minds than just the normal bar-brawls and quest-type cash jobs.

Best bits:

This has a fab style, bright but with a real gothic-fantasy-art kind of vibe. It's not unlike the style of artwork in Death Vigil Volume 1 (you can see my review of that here,) and when I saw that Stjepan Å ejić was a contributor, that kind of made sense.
 
What I really loved was that here were female characters who, yes, are beautiful, and yes, enjoy their sex lives, but also have wobbly bits and (relatively) realistic curves. They're shaped like actual people - which is a little odd considering most of them aren't human, but meh, c'est la vie.
 
The whole book has a vivacious blend of humour and seriousness, which keeps the plot positively zipping along.
 
And you have to laugh at Betty - she's a weird mix of adorable and terrifying: what's not to love?
 
The extras (cover gallery, shorts, and special 'Braga' story,) are a nice addition.
 
Not so great bits:

This isn't a book for the easily offended (man, I end up saying that a lot - is it just the type of thing I read?) There's a bunch of violence and drugs and swearing, some sexual content, and some full-frontal nudity. So, yeah, just a day at the office really.
 
It did take me a while to get into this book - I don't know why, it just didn't grab me straight off. Once I got into it though, I was hooked.
 
The only other thing I would really mention in terms of down-sides is that some of the details of the Rat Queens' lives pre-Queens feels a little stuffed in. I don't think that that level of detail was actually needed for all four of them at this point. An off-hand comment here and there would've cut whole pages with very little disadvantage to the story as a whole. But, as complaints go, it's a very minor one.

Verdict:

A fun and bold graphic novel where the ladies take centre stage without losing the complexity of their characters. These chicks kick butt, with plenty of sh**s and giggles along the way.

Friday 18 December 2015

Reflecting on 2015

2015. What a year.

I started this blog at the end of 2014. At the beginning of 2015, there wasn't a single review post on here - just a bunch of randomness. (I beg you not to look at my first posts - the embarrassment!)

book and bedside tableThe look of my blog was completely different. I didn't have a profile picture (and now I have a hand-drawn mythological bird avatar to bring me luck and/or help me communicate with the dead - yay!)

Basically, at the beginning of 2015 I was one hell of a newbie as a blogger.

I hope that my posts, my reviews, my randomness, have helped to make this blog something you want to actually read (please! O.O) - I certainly think that I've grown as a blogger and a writer and what-have-you (but then, if I didn't I wouldn't be writing this post.)

I certainly post more frequently now - and I think I'm starting to get the hang of reviewing, as well as being open and hopefully entertaining.

Some things don't change though - I still love books, and I still drink far too much coffee. And I still try to be honest and genuine in everything that I post here!

Friday Fics Fix - Christmas-y Fics!!!

Friday Fics Fix fanfictionChristmas is coming! We all know what that means... silly Christmas fan-fiction!!! Wooo!!!!

How Loki Stole Christmas by kel25 is amazing.

It's an Avengers-themed Loki-centric parody of How the Grinch Stole Christmas... what could be better, I mean really?

A Hogwarts Christmas by Car Car is a fic from wa-a-ay back in 2001.

It's another parody (yay, parodies! (I think I need less coffee, or maybe I'm just excited about Christmas)) of a well-known Christmas poem: 'A Visit From St Nicholas' perhaps better-known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.'

This is Harry Potter themed with Dumbledore and the Weasleys - just great.

In a similar vein is Twas The Night Before Christmas by awakened-earth a Sherlock fanfic (as in, BBC's Sherlock.)

It's barmy, and made me smile like a fool when I read it. Which is what I want from my ridiculous Christmas fan-fiction goddammit!!!

Friday Fics Fix is going to take a little break over Christmas - it'll be back on Friday, 8th January, assuming I'm able to face reading more fanfiction again by that point :)

Thursday 17 December 2015

Comics Wrap Up - The End of the World

Film Trailers

X-Men: Apocalypse trailer time! This looks ultimately awesome.

For those who don't know, Apocalypse is one of the main storylines in the X-men world - and as the movies have, by now, covered most of the other big storylines, it's time to bring out the big guns.

And yes, that is the chick (Sophie Turner) who plays Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones - here she's Jean Grey. Make of that what you will; I'm personally neither a Jean or a Sansa fan, but they're fairly similar characters at the end of the day, so the casting is accurate if nothing else.

AND DOES NO-ONE ELSE SEE NIGHTCRAWLER IN THERE?!?!?! Sorry, I really love Nightcrawler. Like... so much!

Of course, it'll take a lot to make me forget Floop (civilian name - Alan Cumming,) as Nightcrawler in X-men 2.

Apparently we'll also see how Prof X (James McAvoy - returning to the part he played in X-Men: First Class, and X-Men: Days of Future Past) becomes bald. Good times.

Graphic Novels
The Private Eye graphic novel cover
In terms of graphic novels, this week I read The Private Eye: Deluxe Edition, a dystopian-type tale told in pop-art bright artwork, with a lot of blood slashed through for good measure. It was enjoyable and intriguing, but certainly isn't for everyone. You can see my full review here.

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Hitler's Germany Through My Letterbox

Received another fab-looking book today in the post from UK publishers Headline (in exchange for a fair and honest review, ofc.)

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman is a YA novel about a girl who was once a member of Hitler's inner-circle, and now must return to Germany in order to save the boy she loves, journalist Daniel Cohen.

Looks like there's some conspiracy, some stuff that's all action-y, and some historical stuff. Good stuff all round then. You know I'm a sucker for an intriguing premise.

This is a sequel to Blankman's previous book, Prisoner of Night and Fog. I haven't read that book, so am hoping this can be read stand-alone (and I don't see why it shouldn't be! Goddammit!)

So, expect a review in the (hopefully) near-future.

Buy Now UK - Buy Now USA - Goodreads - Author's Site

The Writer Diaries (or, Blogging is a Fickle Mistress)

You may have noticed... I tend to blog. Quite a bit more recently, in fact.

notebook and laptop
NaBloPoMo 2015 kind of sparked a dormant blogging demon that I didn't notice I had. I suppose it's not that big a surprise, a blogging demon is just a type of writing demon, and I have plenty of those.

But blogging can be fickle. I have absolutely no bl**dy clue whether a post is going to be popular before it's out there, in the big wide world, for everyone to see (and for quite a few people not to see I suspect.)

I can spend ages planning out and writing a post, for it to get a handful of views. But my most popular post to date, The Bookish Rebel, is a post that I wrote all-at-once in the space of about quarter of an hour, basically just about me being me.

Don't get me wrong - I'm mightily proud of that post! Neither will I let myself get sloppy and just throw posts up willy-nilly (pride comes before a fall and all that jazz.)

I guess this post is just me having a think about blogging in general - and writing - and all of that. I may be rambling, it wouldn't be the first time! :)

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Teaser Trailer


Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

It looks awesome - just from the teaser trailer here, doesn't it?

Eddie Redmayne - and magic - and a period setting. Yes, we have a Harry Potter spin-off people! I just wish it was in readable form. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

Happy reading! :)

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - The Private Eye Deluxe Edition by Vaughan, Martin, and Vicente

Title: The Private Eye Deluxe Edition. (US link.)
The Private Eye graphic novel cover
Author: Brian K Vaughan, Marcos Martin, Muntsa Vicente.

Genre: Graphic Novel, Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Crime.

Series: The Private Eye.

Release Date: 15th Dec 2015.

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.
 
I didn't have a clue what this would be like - I was sort of vaguely aware that Brian K Vaughan had written the Saga series (US link); but then, I haven't read that either! 

This collects The Private Eye #1-#10.
 
Premise:

In a world where the Internet is gone, and privacy is so sacred that people acquire aliases and wear complex and bizarre masks just to hide their identity, P. I. - a private investigator - has stumbled onto something serious.

Best bits:

The art here pops. I know that people say that a lot - but I mean it. The bright colours give this a pop-art does-the-apocalypse kind of feel, and the in-silhouette panels are beautiful. Some of the artwork here also reminds me a little of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's Umbrella Academy series (US link) (though I have to say that I much prefer Way and Ba's series.)

I like the Big Brother (1984) kind of feel-y to the plot and the world here - with the teevees etc.

I also love the way the press and the police are the same thing here - that made me giggle for reasons I don't totally understand.

Not so great bits:

This is not your book if you're squeamish about bright blood slashed across the page, or violence and swearing in general.

There's also some sexual content that really did feel that it was just there for the shock value rather than anything else - it didn't bother me, but it just felt superfluous.

I did find that sometimes the lettering was a bit squished together, which made it difficult to read occasionally.

Verdict:

An enjoyable read, which whizzes along and has a distinct style and bright in-your-face edge. If you're a fan of quirky graphic novels, then you'll enjoy this book.