false 21 891 826 true 5624472 read 2 true 4559884 currently-reading 55 true 4559883 to-read 7 true 4709986 mum 1 true 5141145 audio-drama 224 false 4574909 graphic-novels 170 false 4637202 fantasy 99 false 4574910 science-fiction 91 false 4637181 doctor-who 69 false 4574911 mystery 52 false 5596303 2009 51 false 4637300 for-children 38 false 4872625 fiction 33 false 4574916 horror 25 false 5789582 linguistics 18 false 4730376 science-fantasy 15 false 6594899 vampire 12 false 5062938 super-hero 12 false 5994941 birds-nature 9 false 5535276 star-wars 7 false 5219766 historical-fiction 6 false 6594862 ghost-story 6 false 5300868 poetry 4 false 4689310 biography 3 false 5027410 first-read 3 false 6371781 lancashire 3 false 5521718 debbie 2 false 5436792 play 2 false 6401188 historical-non-fiction http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78777026 to: Best of Battle (Vol 1) by John Wagner
bookshelves: graphic-novels
This book showcases many of the more popular strips that ran in the British war comic that was published weekly during the late 70s and early 80s. Even though this was during an era that I bought and read comics voraciously, it was quite rare that I'd actually buy this one. The only times it would cross my path is if it was bought as an after tea treat on holiday or as a sweetener whenever I had some hospital time to get through. Whenever I did read them I think I was turned off by the tone and the darkness of the scripts due to the fatality of the violence portrayed. It wasn't what I was looking for. The problem I had with this collection is it just shows you the first 4 or five parts of the 3 or 4 page episodes of each title. A pretty rigid format that doesn't budge even to add an episode or two that would have completed the run. It is very frustrating to start each story knowing that ultimately you are going to be left hanging. Many of the titles are also very formulaic. For example; there are a number of stories from German perspectives. Nearly all feature honourable Germans who spend more time fighting the SS than their designated enemies. Many of the better stories are ones that feature other conflicts than WW2. Fighting Man, set in Viet Nam is one of the stand outs. By far the greatest strip thought is Pat Mills' brilliant Charley's War, which follows the under aged exploits of a 16 year old boy's experience of fighting in the trenches on the Western Front during WW1. Superbly researched, touching, funny, dark, it does everything that a great comic series can achieve when facing something as vast, powerful and tragic as futile total war can be. The horror and stupidity of the war stands back to back with the bravery and humanity of the men forced to fight each other. Don't buy this collection though, just pick up the dedicated Charley's War collections. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78376207 to: Rogue Angel: Teller of Tall Tales (Paperback) by Barbara Kesel
bookshelves: graphic-novels
Take a dash of Tomb Raider, add a sprinkle of Witchblade and a light glaze of Highlander and what do you get? A book that 'rots like bad pulp'. Well maybe not that bad but it is pretty bland and the plot is a bare MacGuffin of the month for bad guys and good girls to chase after. Maybe it would get better but this seems very lazy to me. The art doesn't really lend much of a hand to the production either. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53107759 Relics of the Dead (Mistress of the Art of Death, #3) by Ariana Franklin
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75717148 to: Ethan of Athos (Vorkosigan Saga, #6) by Lois McMaster Bujold
bookshelves: 2009, science-fiction
Don't start this one thinking Miles is in it. You'll only be disappointed. The little guy is mentioned quite a bit though and one of the major characters is Elli Quinn, some might remember her from The Warrior's Apprentice. The main protagonist is this chap Ethan. He lives on a male only planet inhabited by blokes who live in superstitious dread of women (otherwise known as uterine replicators with legs). The fun starts when he has to leave his home planet in search or a replacement supply of ovarian cultures to replace the failing existing cultures, without which his society can't reproduce. Due to massive culture shock (women everywhere) Ethan soon gets up to his neck in trouble. It's all quite light hearted but very amusing. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57086106 The Merrybegot (Paperback) by Julie Hearn
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75172433 to: Wildlife SOS: True Stories from Britain's Favourite Animal Rescue Centre (Hardcover) by Simon and Lou Cowell
bookshelves: birds-nature
The one star here is for any of the proceeds from the sale of this book that go to charity. I love animals and organisations like Wildlife Aid do brilliant work but these stories were pretty mind numbing. Essentially each story is the same, told over and over again. Animal gets into trouble, naive Joe Public reports it, rescue man rescues it, nurses it back to health (pause for cooing at funny antics), release to wild. Add some factoids and a cute ahhhh-worthy posed picture and repeat 20 or so times. This was fine for about three stories but even reading them at intervals couldn't blunt the tedium. James Herriot this isn't. Apologies to lovers of the show for my harshness. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77739954 to: Batman: Absolute Hush (Batman) by Jeph Loeb
bookshelves: graphic-novels
Surprisingly bland Batman book from Mister Loeb. The problem with Batman is every writer wants to to do the Batman tour and include all the Batman icons. Then they retroactively shoe-horn an old friend into the mix to provide that extra spin to the pitch. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/13170.The_Plantagenets Michael joined the The Plantagenets group. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77369107 to: Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2: The Snare (Paperback) by Chuck Dixon
bookshelves: graphic-novels
Not great. I do worry about comics that tell you who everybody is every single issue. Yes I sorta noticed that was Batman - he doesn't need any extra labeling. Yeah I know Chris Claremont does the same thing but that's because he seems to create and kill ten new characters per issue - so he needs a cannon fodder roll call. ]]>