Another list! Although, I hope this one will be a bit
more fun to read.
This reading list is going to be a different from last
year. I’ve read more items (yay!) but a lot of them were graphic novels; a good
friend of mine gave me a Sandman comic for my birthday and that sort of got the
ball rolling. (Thanks, friend, for making me spend so much money on something
that never lasts long enough… you jerk)
So to make the list a bit clearer I’ll list only the first number and then how many of the series I have read. Got it? Okay then, let’s go!
So to make the list a bit clearer I’ll list only the first number and then how many of the series I have read. Got it? Okay then, let’s go!
A re-read. I also have the sequel, but it’s nowhere near as brilliant is the first novel. This year I again gave up on the second book about halfway through.
Lies of Locke Lamora is a fantasy book in which you follow the story of a thieves’ guild. It’s not a ‘fantasy hero who grows as a person’ story. Ye be warned: here be blood and lies. Also blood. Lots of blood.
It Chooses You (Miranda July)
This book was recommended by my sister, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. A welcome reminder that all people have a unique story, and it’s always worth listening to.
This book was recommended by my sister, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. A welcome reminder that all people have a unique story, and it’s always worth listening to.
American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
Can’t have a year without reading some Neil Gaiman, can I?
This is, I believe, the novel Gaiman got famous with. It does exactly what it says on the cover: it takes deities and puts them in modern America. Ragnarok ensues. Kinda.
Can’t have a year without reading some Neil Gaiman, can I?
This is, I believe, the novel Gaiman got famous with. It does exactly what it says on the cover: it takes deities and puts them in modern America. Ragnarok ensues. Kinda.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Truman Capote)
This was a re-read that I chose on a whim because I had just recently finished reading American Gods and I wanted something small and easy to take with me to read on the train. It’s a great story.
This was a re-read that I chose on a whim because I had just recently finished reading American Gods and I wanted something small and easy to take with me to read on the train. It’s a great story.
Grief is the Thing with Feathers (Max Porter)
I bought this book when I took my dad book shopping in Ghent. I remember buying more books that day than I thought I would. But this one really drew my attention, which is why I started reading it right away.
This book is a story, but it’s also poetry, but it’s also a fable, but it’s also painful, but it’s also healing. I’ve recommended it to several people so far- colleagues, friends, family. It’s one of those books everyone kinda needs.
I bought this book when I took my dad book shopping in Ghent. I remember buying more books that day than I thought I would. But this one really drew my attention, which is why I started reading it right away.
This book is a story, but it’s also poetry, but it’s also a fable, but it’s also painful, but it’s also healing. I’ve recommended it to several people so far- colleagues, friends, family. It’s one of those books everyone kinda needs.
Everything is Illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer)
I read this to write a review in last year’s Simile, a student magazine I used to write for. It went something like this:
I have many many girls. One dubs me baby, because she attends to me. Another dubs me currency, because I disseminate so much currency around her.
This is how the story begins.
Everything is Illuminated is a story in three parts, with memory and remembering as its core. A part is Alexander Perchov -a Ukranian who had the misfortune of swallowing a thesaurus- telling the story of how he accompanied the exotic Jewish American ‘Jon-fen’ on his search for his ancestors. Another is Jonathan’s account of his ancestors in Ukraine from what he has discovered, and last we have Alexander’s side of the correspondence between our two main characters about their stories, which makes us doubt if what they are writing is what actually happened, or just how they remember it, or how they want their readers to remember it. Because it’s actually three stories condensed into one, it can feel very intense, but I felt like this was part of the charm once you get the hang of what it’s about. The novel in itself is a lesson in critical thinking, but also in appreciating a story for what it is- a story. Maybe Jonathan’s grandfather did fuck the entire female population of his village and the next, and maybe his great⁵ grandmother was born in a river. Are the facts superior to the storytelling? I fear that is a question the author doesn’t answer. Should you read this book? Hell yes. It’s very premium.
I read this to write a review in last year’s Simile, a student magazine I used to write for. It went something like this:
I have many many girls. One dubs me baby, because she attends to me. Another dubs me currency, because I disseminate so much currency around her.
This is how the story begins.
Everything is Illuminated is a story in three parts, with memory and remembering as its core. A part is Alexander Perchov -a Ukranian who had the misfortune of swallowing a thesaurus- telling the story of how he accompanied the exotic Jewish American ‘Jon-fen’ on his search for his ancestors. Another is Jonathan’s account of his ancestors in Ukraine from what he has discovered, and last we have Alexander’s side of the correspondence between our two main characters about their stories, which makes us doubt if what they are writing is what actually happened, or just how they remember it, or how they want their readers to remember it. Because it’s actually three stories condensed into one, it can feel very intense, but I felt like this was part of the charm once you get the hang of what it’s about. The novel in itself is a lesson in critical thinking, but also in appreciating a story for what it is- a story. Maybe Jonathan’s grandfather did fuck the entire female population of his village and the next, and maybe his great⁵ grandmother was born in a river. Are the facts superior to the storytelling? I fear that is a question the author doesn’t answer. Should you read this book? Hell yes. It’s very premium.
Ready Player One (Ernest Cline)
… Another re-read. Jeez, I didn’t realise I re-read so many books this year! Awesome book that has only been winning in popularity since it came out. You’ve probably read it, and if you haven’t, you’ll probably hear about it soon. Reading this might have triggered me to start watching more old eighties movies.
Sourcery (Terry Pratchett)
If you thought wizards could cause a lot of mayhem, wait until you meet a sorcerer.
If you thought wizards could cause a lot of mayhem, wait until you meet a sorcerer.
De Verborgen Universiteit: Erfenis (Natalie Koch)
this was a recommendation by a regular customer in our library. It’s apparently one of the best Dutch fantasy out there. The title translates into ‘the hidden university: heritage’.
It’s about a Dutch girl who goes to study abroad in England and discovers that she’s actually a witch. Not as cliché as you might think, but still with a plot you can see coming from miles away.
this was a recommendation by a regular customer in our library. It’s apparently one of the best Dutch fantasy out there. The title translates into ‘the hidden university: heritage’.
It’s about a Dutch girl who goes to study abroad in England and discovers that she’s actually a witch. Not as cliché as you might think, but still with a plot you can see coming from miles away.
The Story of Kullervo (Tolkien)
This is a Finnish legend about abuse, slavery, revenge, and incest, and the inspiration of some of the lore of Middle-earth. If this sounds confusing to you, you should really read Children of Hùrin- an accessible adaptation of one of the stories in the Silmarillion. In comparison, this was a tough read for me, because it was in verse, and I had to look up a lot of the words. But it did give me some insight in Tolkien’s writing.
This is a Finnish legend about abuse, slavery, revenge, and incest, and the inspiration of some of the lore of Middle-earth. If this sounds confusing to you, you should really read Children of Hùrin- an accessible adaptation of one of the stories in the Silmarillion. In comparison, this was a tough read for me, because it was in verse, and I had to look up a lot of the words. But it did give me some insight in Tolkien’s writing.
The Gathering (Anne Enright)
A bit of a detective book where a family’s past is slowly unravelled. Didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
A bit of a detective book where a family’s past is slowly unravelled. Didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
Death (Neil Gaiman)
… and this was the graphic novel my friend gave me for my birthday. Part of the Sandman comics. More about that further on.
… and this was the graphic novel my friend gave me for my birthday. Part of the Sandman comics. More about that further on.
Armada (Ernest Cline)
This is Cline’s second book, and although I liked the plot and how it twisted at the end (I knew there was something up, but I didn’t know what until the book wanted me to know) I didn’t like it as much as the first novel. It was an enjoyable read though.
Sandman #1 -> #7 (Neil Gaiman)
So… oh gods, where to begin? Describing Sandman is difficult, and not unlike trying to explain Welcome to Night Vale to someone who’s never heard of it: you might just end up sounding crazy.
This graphic novel series is about Dream, who is one of The Endless (Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Destruction). His story weaves through all of time, and all of space, often mentioning other planes of existence like the land of the fey, and hell.
It’s hard to describe why this series is so brilliant.
I guess it’s because Gaiman took reality and twisted it, and distorted it, mixed it up with ancient legends and fables and fairytales which he twisted as well, and made this, all gnarled and ancient-looking. And poof, out comes this, and it’s this thing you love, and so many others love, but somehow it still feels like a personal thing. Like the gnarled old tree next to my library that no one really notices and it has all these half hidden holes in its trunk. The tree I always feel like saying hi to.
Oh shit, I ended up sounding crazy anyways, didn’t I? Oh well…
This is Cline’s second book, and although I liked the plot and how it twisted at the end (I knew there was something up, but I didn’t know what until the book wanted me to know) I didn’t like it as much as the first novel. It was an enjoyable read though.
Sandman #1 -> #7 (Neil Gaiman)
So… oh gods, where to begin? Describing Sandman is difficult, and not unlike trying to explain Welcome to Night Vale to someone who’s never heard of it: you might just end up sounding crazy.
This graphic novel series is about Dream, who is one of The Endless (Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Destruction). His story weaves through all of time, and all of space, often mentioning other planes of existence like the land of the fey, and hell.
It’s hard to describe why this series is so brilliant.
I guess it’s because Gaiman took reality and twisted it, and distorted it, mixed it up with ancient legends and fables and fairytales which he twisted as well, and made this, all gnarled and ancient-looking. And poof, out comes this, and it’s this thing you love, and so many others love, but somehow it still feels like a personal thing. Like the gnarled old tree next to my library that no one really notices and it has all these half hidden holes in its trunk. The tree I always feel like saying hi to.
Oh shit, I ended up sounding crazy anyways, didn’t I? Oh well…
Savage Wolverine #1 (Frank Cho)
a cheap comic I found on a book sale. Wasn’t particularly good, but not bad either.
a cheap comic I found on a book sale. Wasn’t particularly good, but not bad either.
Planetary #1 -> #3 (Warren Ellis)
These I kinda bought on impulse. Because the world of graphic novels had finally opened to me (cue A Whole New World song), I wanted to buy something to make my collection larger. The planetary series I remembered because my ex had them and I had read them over at his place, and liked it. This time around when I re-read them I didn’t like them all that much. Maybe because I can compare it to better comics now?
These I kinda bought on impulse. Because the world of graphic novels had finally opened to me (cue A Whole New World song), I wanted to buy something to make my collection larger. The planetary series I remembered because my ex had them and I had read them over at his place, and liked it. This time around when I re-read them I didn’t like them all that much. Maybe because I can compare it to better comics now?
On the Road (Jack Kerouac)
I have no idea how I ever managed finishing this book.
I guess this is one of those books which is famous as hell but when you give it a go, it turns out it’s not your cup of tea. In fact, it’s coffee, and it’s a couple days old.
The story is about two guys, Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, who travel across America several times with a loose set of morals. They live lives filled with jazz, women and drugs, always chasing something, some ideal, but never quite getting it or if they do, not for long.
There was no lesson to be learned from this book. No Happily Ever After. It just ended.
Probably won’t read this one again.
I have no idea how I ever managed finishing this book.
I guess this is one of those books which is famous as hell but when you give it a go, it turns out it’s not your cup of tea. In fact, it’s coffee, and it’s a couple days old.
The story is about two guys, Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, who travel across America several times with a loose set of morals. They live lives filled with jazz, women and drugs, always chasing something, some ideal, but never quite getting it or if they do, not for long.
There was no lesson to be learned from this book. No Happily Ever After. It just ended.
Probably won’t read this one again.
Twelfth Night (William Shakespeare)
Sometimes I have a craving for Shakespeare. It’s usually in late spring, for some reason.
Twelfth Night is a comedy, with cross-dressing, crushes, and twins. In other words, everything you expect in a Shakespeare comedy.
Sometimes I have a craving for Shakespeare. It’s usually in late spring, for some reason.
Twelfth Night is a comedy, with cross-dressing, crushes, and twins. In other words, everything you expect in a Shakespeare comedy.
Trigger Warning
More Neil Gaiman! Yay!
Trigger Warning is my second favourite collection of short stories so far, the first being Fragile Things. Big plusses to this collection are that there’s a Doctor Who story and a David Bowie story.
As with Fragile Things, I had a feeling of growing and understanding a tiny bit more (or less) about the world. Every short story in these collections are little gems. Some are all what you expect from a gem: sparkling, attractive keepsakes. Some others are creepy little fuckers with teeth that mess with your dreams, but you love them for it anyways.
More Neil Gaiman! Yay!
Trigger Warning is my second favourite collection of short stories so far, the first being Fragile Things. Big plusses to this collection are that there’s a Doctor Who story and a David Bowie story.
As with Fragile Things, I had a feeling of growing and understanding a tiny bit more (or less) about the world. Every short story in these collections are little gems. Some are all what you expect from a gem: sparkling, attractive keepsakes. Some others are creepy little fuckers with teeth that mess with your dreams, but you love them for it anyways.
Bat (Sarah Withrow)
I bought this book at the same book sale I bought the Savage Wolverine issue, and I think this was the better buy. Bat is about two kids, a boy and a girl. Who is actually a bat. Kind of. Bats are cool. Being a bat makes it easier to deal with some things. More people should be bats.
I bought this book at the same book sale I bought the Savage Wolverine issue, and I think this was the better buy. Bat is about two kids, a boy and a girl. Who is actually a bat. Kind of. Bats are cool. Being a bat makes it easier to deal with some things. More people should be bats.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Jack Thorne &
John Tiffany)
So… this buy came about because I was having a bad day. I don’t remember anything happening to make me feel sad, I just was, and I couldn’t manage to shake it off. So when I heard there was a midnight sale going on at a bookstore, I jumped at the opportunity. It was a nice experience. I didn’t really talk to anyone there, but it was nice to just soak up their excited energy. Plus, there was good music and Potter-themed free drinks; what’s not to love?
Well… the book, kind of.
There is a certain style to J.K. Rowling’s writing. There’s always a focus on a minority or two, to give the story more moral value. Plus, there are rules in Potter’s world; god knows she’s spent a lot of time worldbuilding to make the magic realistic.
This book ignores all of that. No moral-of-the-story, and all that crap about time-turners not actually changing what happened in the past? Pshh! Who needed all that anyways? Also: let’s change the personality of some of the most established characters to suit our needs!
… I might be overreacting a little bit here. I mean, I did enjoy reading a new Harry Potter book in one go, in one day again. And Scorpio (Draco’s son) is a great comic relief in the story. It just makes me wonder how J.K. Rowling would have done it, because this story could have been so much better.
Silmarillion (J.R.R. Tolkien)
In the beginning, there was Eru, the one, who in Arda is called Illúvatar…
I know, I know, this book is pretty well-known as being a difficult and dry. But if you get through the first half you get to the stories of Túrin, and of Beren and Lúthien, and those stories are so good they made a separate book of Túrin’s story, and they are going to do the same with Beren and Lúthien’s story later this year. Plus, lots of epic battles, and you start to understand a great deal more about Middle-Earth. Just don’t try to think too much about the topography. I mean, Tolkien didn’t make any mistakes with continuality, but “certain events” (aka, Morgoth, you dipshit) caused the seas and the coastlines to change several times, and then there was that one time the world was changed from flat to round…
Basically, if you are a Ringer and you want to keep up with the discussions, this is a must-read. Otherwise… just read Children of Húrin, and you’ll be just fine.
So… this buy came about because I was having a bad day. I don’t remember anything happening to make me feel sad, I just was, and I couldn’t manage to shake it off. So when I heard there was a midnight sale going on at a bookstore, I jumped at the opportunity. It was a nice experience. I didn’t really talk to anyone there, but it was nice to just soak up their excited energy. Plus, there was good music and Potter-themed free drinks; what’s not to love?
Well… the book, kind of.
There is a certain style to J.K. Rowling’s writing. There’s always a focus on a minority or two, to give the story more moral value. Plus, there are rules in Potter’s world; god knows she’s spent a lot of time worldbuilding to make the magic realistic.
This book ignores all of that. No moral-of-the-story, and all that crap about time-turners not actually changing what happened in the past? Pshh! Who needed all that anyways? Also: let’s change the personality of some of the most established characters to suit our needs!
… I might be overreacting a little bit here. I mean, I did enjoy reading a new Harry Potter book in one go, in one day again. And Scorpio (Draco’s son) is a great comic relief in the story. It just makes me wonder how J.K. Rowling would have done it, because this story could have been so much better.
Silmarillion (J.R.R. Tolkien)
In the beginning, there was Eru, the one, who in Arda is called Illúvatar…
I know, I know, this book is pretty well-known as being a difficult and dry. But if you get through the first half you get to the stories of Túrin, and of Beren and Lúthien, and those stories are so good they made a separate book of Túrin’s story, and they are going to do the same with Beren and Lúthien’s story later this year. Plus, lots of epic battles, and you start to understand a great deal more about Middle-Earth. Just don’t try to think too much about the topography. I mean, Tolkien didn’t make any mistakes with continuality, but “certain events” (aka, Morgoth, you dipshit) caused the seas and the coastlines to change several times, and then there was that one time the world was changed from flat to round…
Basically, if you are a Ringer and you want to keep up with the discussions, this is a must-read. Otherwise… just read Children of Húrin, and you’ll be just fine.
Kinderen van Húrin (J.R.R. Tolkien)
SPEAKING OF WHICH.
Kinderen van Húrin, aka Children of Húrin, aka Narn I chîn Húrin if you’re showing off, is one of my favourite Tolkien books. It has a lot of drama, but it is simply overflowing with strong characters- and at least four of them are female, just off the top of my head.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but even if you aren’t a Tolkien fan, I really recommend this book. Especially if Shakespearean drama is more your thing.
SPEAKING OF WHICH.
Kinderen van Húrin, aka Children of Húrin, aka Narn I chîn Húrin if you’re showing off, is one of my favourite Tolkien books. It has a lot of drama, but it is simply overflowing with strong characters- and at least four of them are female, just off the top of my head.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but even if you aren’t a Tolkien fan, I really recommend this book. Especially if Shakespearean drama is more your thing.
Jungle Book (Rudyard Kipling)
I’ve been meaning to get to this book for a while, so I was glad I did.
Last year, I had a problem with wanting to go on a holiday, but never actually going. I was going to Scotland, but then I wasn’t sure, then I thought about the Santiago de Compostella, or maybe just France, or Eastern Europe? Eventually somewhere in July I finally made the decision to go to Oxford. It was a hurdle for me, to force myself out of my comfort zone without a hobbitcon, or a Hobbit party as an incentive. But I did it anyway, and it was glorious. (Why am I telling you all this here? I wrote an entire blog post about my adventures in Oxford. Go read that instead!)
ANYWAYS. I bought a lot of books on my trip, and this was one of them. Small and handy to stow in my bag so I can read in corners to pass the time or rest my feet. Also, not that much like the Disney movie. Actually a lot better than the Disney movie.
I’ve been meaning to get to this book for a while, so I was glad I did.
Last year, I had a problem with wanting to go on a holiday, but never actually going. I was going to Scotland, but then I wasn’t sure, then I thought about the Santiago de Compostella, or maybe just France, or Eastern Europe? Eventually somewhere in July I finally made the decision to go to Oxford. It was a hurdle for me, to force myself out of my comfort zone without a hobbitcon, or a Hobbit party as an incentive. But I did it anyway, and it was glorious. (Why am I telling you all this here? I wrote an entire blog post about my adventures in Oxford. Go read that instead!)
ANYWAYS. I bought a lot of books on my trip, and this was one of them. Small and handy to stow in my bag so I can read in corners to pass the time or rest my feet. Also, not that much like the Disney movie. Actually a lot better than the Disney movie.
Boy, Snow, Bird (Helen Oyeyemi)
Another book I bought on the trip. About a young lady called Boy, and her struggle to make a life for herself. It’s dramatic stuff, but not dramatically told, which I liked very much. I loved devouring this book.
Another book I bought on the trip. About a young lady called Boy, and her struggle to make a life for herself. It’s dramatic stuff, but not dramatically told, which I liked very much. I loved devouring this book.
Public Libraries (Ali Smith)
… And another book I bought on the trip. Really, about a fourth of the weight of my luggage was books. At least, when I came back.
Didn’t like this book as much though. I bought it because I thought she’d written It Chooses You but turns out that’s a totally different author and their names aren’t alike at all. Instead I got weird short stories punctuated by quotes about why public libraries are important. I guess this author just isn’t my thing, but I can see how she could be very popular.
… And another book I bought on the trip. Really, about a fourth of the weight of my luggage was books. At least, when I came back.
Didn’t like this book as much though. I bought it because I thought she’d written It Chooses You but turns out that’s a totally different author and their names aren’t alike at all. Instead I got weird short stories punctuated by quotes about why public libraries are important. I guess this author just isn’t my thing, but I can see how she could be very popular.
The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
um… Should I do this again? You know what, I’m pretty sure you know what I think about this book.
um… Should I do this again? You know what, I’m pretty sure you know what I think about this book.
Hawkeye #1 -> #6 (2012 – ongoing) (Matt Fraction)
I bought the first issue of this series because I’d heard it was good and funny, so I thought I’d give it a go. And boy did I get hooked…
Meet Clint Barton. He lives in a crappy apartment block, likes pizza, dogs, and often needs to get his ass kicked into gear by Kate Bishop, whose hero pseudonym also happens to be Hawkeye. He might be fighting with the avengers from time to time, but apart from his knack for using weapons from the Palaeolithic era, he’s still very much human.
If you haven’t read Marvel comics before, this comic is a great start, because it requires almost no knowledge about the Marvel universe, but it does hint at the bigger picture. Also great if you like purple.
I bought the first issue of this series because I’d heard it was good and funny, so I thought I’d give it a go. And boy did I get hooked…
Meet Clint Barton. He lives in a crappy apartment block, likes pizza, dogs, and often needs to get his ass kicked into gear by Kate Bishop, whose hero pseudonym also happens to be Hawkeye. He might be fighting with the avengers from time to time, but apart from his knack for using weapons from the Palaeolithic era, he’s still very much human.
If you haven’t read Marvel comics before, this comic is a great start, because it requires almost no knowledge about the Marvel universe, but it does hint at the bigger picture. Also great if you like purple.
The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Yeah… same as Fellowship of the Ring.
Yeah… same as Fellowship of the Ring.
Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Yep. Still the same.
Yep. Still the same.
Deathnote #1 (tsugumi ohba)
I’ve been meaning to read this for years, and since I’d started to make a habit of buying comics monthly, this was bound to end up in my l00t bag at some point. It was okay, but it’s a bit overhyped. It’s so well-known I don’t think I need to tell you about the plot.
I’ve been meaning to read this for years, and since I’d started to make a habit of buying comics monthly, this was bound to end up in my l00t bag at some point. It was okay, but it’s a bit overhyped. It’s so well-known I don’t think I need to tell you about the plot.
Peace Fire (Amber Bird)
Because everyone needs a healthy dose of dystopian sci-fi every once in a while. Seriously though, this is a good book, and I’m not just saying it because I know the author behind the book is a kick-ass person in real life. (Did I mention she’s a rock star?)
This is a story about a tight-knit group of friends becoming tangled into a nasty business with an evil corporation. Good thing they have wicked hacking skills, because they’re going to need it.
Really looking forward to the sequel! (Did I mention she’s a sci-fi geek?)
Because everyone needs a healthy dose of dystopian sci-fi every once in a while. Seriously though, this is a good book, and I’m not just saying it because I know the author behind the book is a kick-ass person in real life. (Did I mention she’s a rock star?)
This is a story about a tight-knit group of friends becoming tangled into a nasty business with an evil corporation. Good thing they have wicked hacking skills, because they’re going to need it.
Really looking forward to the sequel! (Did I mention she’s a sci-fi geek?)
Hawkeye vs. Deadpool (Gerry Duggan)
Bought this at a convention. Has some great gags with two of my favourite superheroes. (Well, “hero” is not really correct for Deadpool, but he tries. When he can be bothered.)
Bought this at a convention. Has some great gags with two of my favourite superheroes. (Well, “hero” is not really correct for Deadpool, but he tries. When he can be bothered.)
Ms Marvel #3 (Sana Amanat)
My flatmate has a friend who borrowed his comics to him. I would read them too, after he was done. Then the friend stopped buying the series just as it was about to feature Loki. Couldn’t let that pass me by, so bought this issue. Turns out Loki isn’t even featured in it for that long. Ah well.
My flatmate has a friend who borrowed his comics to him. I would read them too, after he was done. Then the friend stopped buying the series just as it was about to feature Loki. Couldn’t let that pass me by, so bought this issue. Turns out Loki isn’t even featured in it for that long. Ah well.
Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton)
Really. A girl can never have enough dystopian sci-fi, although, dystopian? When it has friggin dinosaurs??
Oh yes. Hell yes. Reason numero uno why I’m unreasonably hesitant about ever going to Costa Rica.
This was the second time I read this book (because apparently 2016 was all about re-reading books without me noticing), and it’s still great. I shall continue my mission to spread the word that dude, it’s not just a movie but also a badass book. Anyways, I wrote a review about this book in Simile years ago, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how great this is??
Really. A girl can never have enough dystopian sci-fi, although, dystopian? When it has friggin dinosaurs??
Oh yes. Hell yes. Reason numero uno why I’m unreasonably hesitant about ever going to Costa Rica.
This was the second time I read this book (because apparently 2016 was all about re-reading books without me noticing), and it’s still great. I shall continue my mission to spread the word that dude, it’s not just a movie but also a badass book. Anyways, I wrote a review about this book in Simile years ago, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how great this is??
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rea(be)rran(com)gi(e)ngly
,cummings;
(also, lots of mentions of sexual intercourse)
(also, lots of mentions of sexual intercourse)
Wizard of Oz (Frank Baum)
I brought this one on my second trip, about which I still need to write a review… I will get to it, okay?
Anyways, great book. A bit different from what I remembered from the movie, but I think the last time I saw that was at least ten years ago. But it has a lot in common with Alice in Wonderland, which is one of my favourites. Hmm… maybe I should re-read that one too…
I brought this one on my second trip, about which I still need to write a review… I will get to it, okay?
Anyways, great book. A bit different from what I remembered from the movie, but I think the last time I saw that was at least ten years ago. But it has a lot in common with Alice in Wonderland, which is one of my favourites. Hmm… maybe I should re-read that one too…
The Uncommon Reader (Alan Bennett)
So, on this trip I mentioned I got a craving for books, so I went to the nearest Waterstones and bought two novellas. This was the first: it’s about the Queen becoming an avid reader and because of that causing a lot of trouble. Honestly, could have been a lot funnier, but I fear this is one of those books that will end up in a lot of second-hand stores.
So, on this trip I mentioned I got a craving for books, so I went to the nearest Waterstones and bought two novellas. This was the first: it’s about the Queen becoming an avid reader and because of that causing a lot of trouble. Honestly, could have been a lot funnier, but I fear this is one of those books that will end up in a lot of second-hand stores.
Smoke and Mirrors (Neil Gaiman)
Another collection of his Short stories. To be honest, I enjoyed these less that the other two collections, but it was still pretty damn good. This book was kind of like a Lovecraftian one-night stand; and that’s the best way of describing this book, honestly.
Another collection of his Short stories. To be honest, I enjoyed these less that the other two collections, but it was still pretty damn good. This book was kind of like a Lovecraftian one-night stand; and that’s the best way of describing this book, honestly.
Black Widow #1
So after buying all those Hawkeye comics, I wanted to see if the Black Widow comics were any good. And this first issue was pretty decent; lots of plot development… but not really starting something. Plus, I missed the (mostly grim) humour that I’d gotten used to. And since the first issue is usually the best, I’m afraid it’s going to stay with this one issue.
So after buying all those Hawkeye comics, I wanted to see if the Black Widow comics were any good. And this first issue was pretty decent; lots of plot development… but not really starting something. Plus, I missed the (mostly grim) humour that I’d gotten used to. And since the first issue is usually the best, I’m afraid it’s going to stay with this one issue.
Wind in the Willows
Sometimes, I want to get back in touch with the child inside me by reading some children’s books. In this case, the child responded with “how the hell can mister Toad own and ride a horse-drawn wagon, with a bird in a cage in the wagon?”
So yeah. I had a bit of difficulty with the logistics of the animals. Apart from that it was an amusing read.
Sometimes, I want to get back in touch with the child inside me by reading some children’s books. In this case, the child responded with “how the hell can mister Toad own and ride a horse-drawn wagon, with a bird in a cage in the wagon?”
So yeah. I had a bit of difficulty with the logistics of the animals. Apart from that it was an amusing read.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1
You got Hawkeye, who kinda questions the whole superhero thing, and then you got Deadpool, who is a bit of a parody and fourth-wall breaking.
And then there was the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.
She can beat any villain. Really. And she usually does it with the power of friendship.
This comic is so great and so hilarious I got a lot of questioning looks from my flatmate. But it’s brilliant- I’m pretty sure it was co-written with the Bloggess. That would make too much sense for it not to be true.
You got Hawkeye, who kinda questions the whole superhero thing, and then you got Deadpool, who is a bit of a parody and fourth-wall breaking.
And then there was the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.
She can beat any villain. Really. And she usually does it with the power of friendship.
This comic is so great and so hilarious I got a lot of questioning looks from my flatmate. But it’s brilliant- I’m pretty sure it was co-written with the Bloggess. That would make too much sense for it not to be true.
The Wicked and the Divine #1
This was a graphic novel I had seen on the bookshelf of a friend with great taste in graphic novels (he recommended Sandman to me), so when I saw it in London I decided to give it a go. It’s a comic about twelve gods who incarnate as humans every ninety years. The first comic is about a teenage girl who gets tangled with them, and tries to restore order while not trying to fangirl too hard.
I liked where this was going, so I might buy the second novel if I stumble on it.
This was a graphic novel I had seen on the bookshelf of a friend with great taste in graphic novels (he recommended Sandman to me), so when I saw it in London I decided to give it a go. It’s a comic about twelve gods who incarnate as humans every ninety years. The first comic is about a teenage girl who gets tangled with them, and tries to restore order while not trying to fangirl too hard.
I liked where this was going, so I might buy the second novel if I stumble on it.
phew! so that was all of it.
So in total I read 56 items, of which there were 32 books. Not bad, 2016-me.
Onwards to another year!
Until next time,
Bejoes
Bejoes
Wow. I'm thinking of setting a New Year's resolution to read half as many books as you this year. Also: "It’s very premium." made me chuckle, because I saw the movie :)
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