Nic - Farmville, VA (584 books)

Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Flawless (Pretty Little Liars, #2)
by Sara Shepard (Goodreads Author)

read in May, 2013

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Well, that was unexpected.

Several unexpecteds here, actually. For one thing, despite the gaping differences between the book series and the show, which I confess I like much better, I really kind of enjoyed this book in a guilty-pleasure way. I guess...more

Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars

A Storm of Swords: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Three
by George R.R. Martin

read in April, 2013

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I feel like I should have more to say about this book than I do. It's the big one: the one that fans of the series get really intense about, the one with scenes that scandalize and deaths that traumatize. And hereafter, there be spoilers, so be warne...more

Nic rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice.
by Momota Inoue

read in May, 2013

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Is it silly that part of me loves how unfailingly positive the Pokemon stories are? :P I'll link to my NFNT review once it's up.

Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Pandora Hearts, #15
by Jun Mochizuki

read in May, 2013

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Nic rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Beautiful Creatures: The Graphic Novel
by Kami Garcia (Goodreads Author)

read in May, 2013

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I'll link to my NFNT review once it's up.

Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars

#08 a Match Made in Heaven
by Trina Robbins

read in April, 2013

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My NFNT review is up here. This genuinely made me sniffle. I like it a lot. I might have even given it five stars if it had gone for the cheesy happy ending that I always desperately want rather than bittersweet optimism.

Nic rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Little Brother
by Cory Doctorow

read in May, 2013

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I feel like this is a book most readers will find either fascinating or annoying. Or, I suppose, like me, they might find it a bit of both.

The story follows Marcus, who lives in a San Francisco of what seems to be the very near future - almost the pr...more I feel like this is a book most readers will find either fascinating or annoying. Or, I suppose, like me, they might find it a bit of both.

The story follows Marcus, who lives in a San Francisco of what seems to be the very near future - almost the present. After a terrorist attack destroys the Bay Bridge, two things happen that set the events of the book into motion:

1. Marcus and his friends are arrested and interrogated for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, kept in a secret prison, and treated very badly by Homeland Security

2. Homeland Security cracks down and enforces crazy surveillance all over the city

Marcus and his friends were already given toward hacking technology for the fun of it - they were mischievous, but not criminal. After his release, furious with the Department of Homeland Security and the way so many people submit to it, Marcus begins finding ways to rebel - and ends up the accidental hero of a massive underground movement.

The only reason I find any of this annoying - while at the same time fascinating - is that Doctorow has a clear, earnest desire to educate readers about the nitty-gritty of how hacking, peaceful rebellion and demonstrations, and civil disobedience works. This all certainly comes from an admirable place of wanting to inform the populace - especially the young populace - about their rights and ways to defend and ensure those rights. Still, the result is that Marcus - and indeed almost all of the characters - seem to have a kind of explanation Tourette's, wherein they compulsively tell you how everything they do works, explain the history of social movements, and so on. It's all interesting and well laid out, but it does sometimes slow the story.

I do feel like I learned a lot from this book, info about everything from cryptography to the Yippies. And I like the frequent shout-outs to real, specific technology and how it can be used (for example, the plug for GIMP, the free, open-source drawing program that I use myself). But I didn't love some elements of the plot and characters, and the writing could be a tad clunky sometimes.

Also, I'm not a big fan of Marcus' girlfriend, Ange. I don't have a problem with characters who are romantically aggressive, but I think there's a difference between that and being pushy. And I'm not a fan of lines like, "Shut up and kiss me, you idiot." I, for one, don't kiss idiots. :P(less)

Nic made a comment on their review of Little Brother

"Mary wrote: "Reviewer is getting better and better. This review not only accomplished the main task of letting me know if the book might be of interes...more "

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Lone Survivors: How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth
by Chris Stringer

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Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars Flawless (Pretty Little Liars, #2) by Sara Shepard (Goodreads Author) read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
31 minutes ago · see review
Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars A Storm of Swords: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Three by George R.R. Martin read in April, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I feel like I should have more to say about this book than I do. It's the big one: the one that fans of the series get really intense about, the one with scenes that scandalize and deaths that traumatize. And hereafter, there be spoilers, so be warne...more
8 hours, 0 min ago · see review
Nic rated a book 3 of 5 stars Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice. by Momota Inoue read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Is it silly that part of me loves how unfailingly positive the Pokemon stories are? :P I'll link to my NFNT review once it's up.
8 hours, 5 min ago · see review
Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars Pandora Hearts, #15 by Jun Mochizuki read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
May 12, 2013 07:43pm · see review
Nic rated a book 3 of 5 stars Beautiful Creatures: The Graphic Novel by Kami Garcia (Goodreads Author) read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'll link to my NFNT review once it's up.
May 11, 2013 05:45pm · see review
Nic rated a book 4 of 5 stars #08 a Match Made in Heaven by Trina Robbins read in April, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
My NFNT review is up here. This genuinely made me sniffle. I like it a lot. I might have even given it five stars if it had gone for the cheesy happy ending that I always desperately want rather than bittersweet optimism.
May 11, 2013 05:27pm · see review
Nic rated a book 3 of 5 stars Little Brother by Cory Doctorow read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
May 10, 2013 05:00am · see review
Nic made a comment on their review of Little Brother "Mary wrote: "Reviewer is getting better and better. This review not only accomplished the main task of letting me know if the book might be of interes...more "
May 10, 2013 04:57am · see review
Nic wants to read Lone Survivors: How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth by Chris Stringer	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 07, 2013 07:56pm

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