Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 19
March 9, 2025
Check, Please! - Year Four
Just finished reading "Check Please! - Year Four" by Ngozi Ukazu, published by First Second.
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Check, Please! Is the story of Eric “Bitty” Bittle, a gay, pie-baking, vlogging, figure-skating champion who gets recruited to play college hockey at the fictional Samwell University in Massachusetts. The series is funny and praised for its action-packed hockey sequences and for its LGBTQ themes. Check, Please! is written and drawn by Ukazu, who launched the series as a webcomic before raising nearly $500,000 in 2015-2016 on Kickstarter to fund the publication of the print series.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
Kisses televised on national television have consequences as Jack and Bitty soon find out. Ironically it's Bitty who experiences homophobia not by his parents, friends, and teammates at Samwell University but by students at other universities, while Jack is accepted by professional sports. The attention focuses on Bitty who is elected team captain and who must struggle to lead his team to victory in the regionals and nationals while navigating the issues with being a partner to Jack, who must also face his own inner demons and a relationship prior to his one with Bitty.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.fbmarketplace.org/check-p...
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Check, Please! Is the story of Eric “Bitty” Bittle, a gay, pie-baking, vlogging, figure-skating champion who gets recruited to play college hockey at the fictional Samwell University in Massachusetts. The series is funny and praised for its action-packed hockey sequences and for its LGBTQ themes. Check, Please! is written and drawn by Ukazu, who launched the series as a webcomic before raising nearly $500,000 in 2015-2016 on Kickstarter to fund the publication of the print series.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
Kisses televised on national television have consequences as Jack and Bitty soon find out. Ironically it's Bitty who experiences homophobia not by his parents, friends, and teammates at Samwell University but by students at other universities, while Jack is accepted by professional sports. The attention focuses on Bitty who is elected team captain and who must struggle to lead his team to victory in the regionals and nationals while navigating the issues with being a partner to Jack, who must also face his own inner demons and a relationship prior to his one with Bitty.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.fbmarketplace.org/check-p...
Check, Please! Year Three
Just finished reading "Check Please! - Year Three" by Ngozi Ukazu, published by First Second.
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Ukazu launched Check, Please! as a webcomic in 2013 after writing a screenplay about Eric "Bitty" Bittle, a gay college freshman and champion figure skater who joins a hockey team. She created a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to print the first volume of the comic; the campaign resulted in the highest-funded comics project in Kickstarter's history.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
"Check, Please! - Year Three" picks up several months later following the aftermath of the kiss between Jack and Eric, a.k.a. Bitty. Jack is settling into his rookie season as a professional hockey player and Bitty is into his Junior year at Samwell University. Both Jack and Bitty are still closeted and are being extremely careful among their family, friends, teammates, and to the world at large because neither one knows how to come fully out and be true to themselves, but they do come out to selected people they feel they can trust.
So when Jack leads his team to victory in the Stanley Cup Eric and Bitty decided to throw all caution to the wind and kiss in public on national television, leaving Bitty's mother who sees the kiss on television, heartbroken over the realization that her son was keeping a secret from her.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/355488700939...
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Ukazu launched Check, Please! as a webcomic in 2013 after writing a screenplay about Eric "Bitty" Bittle, a gay college freshman and champion figure skater who joins a hockey team. She created a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to print the first volume of the comic; the campaign resulted in the highest-funded comics project in Kickstarter's history.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
"Check, Please! - Year Three" picks up several months later following the aftermath of the kiss between Jack and Eric, a.k.a. Bitty. Jack is settling into his rookie season as a professional hockey player and Bitty is into his Junior year at Samwell University. Both Jack and Bitty are still closeted and are being extremely careful among their family, friends, teammates, and to the world at large because neither one knows how to come fully out and be true to themselves, but they do come out to selected people they feel they can trust.
So when Jack leads his team to victory in the Stanley Cup Eric and Bitty decided to throw all caution to the wind and kiss in public on national television, leaving Bitty's mother who sees the kiss on television, heartbroken over the realization that her son was keeping a secret from her.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/355488700939...
The Medici Return
Just finished reading "The Medici Return - A Cotton Malone Novel" by Steve Berry, published by Grand Central.
It's been a little over 20 years years ago since I first discovered Steve Berry and his Cotton Malone series with the release of "The Templar Legacy" that was neatly stacked up on the new arrivals table at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore near where I live. Of course, nowadays, I mainly get my books, blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs from either Amazon.com and/or directly from the artist. Let's all admit the dirty little secret we are loathe to admit, but we "do the deed" because Amazon, for the most part is cheaper and offers a better price. Why pay $30.00 or more for a book when you can get it, if not for half price, than at least $10 or more dollars cheaper. Property taxes, utility bills, and groceries are not exactly cheap and I've got nothing against saving money. So stereotype me if you will. I'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Now I noticed something odd about "The Medici Return." There are some throwaway paragraphs where a Catholic Cardinal wonders if he was targeted for his positive stance on gay marriage. It seemed to come completely out of left field. Okay noted, but it seems deliberately added as if to appease the demands of a so-called sensitivity DEI reader. And rather curiously, the write-up for "The Medici Return" does mention that there is a Cotton Malone series being developed for a streaming service - though which one is not mentioned.
DEI, which to me means, Division, Exclusion, and Intolerance, cancel me if you must, but I am a non-White minority who can think for himself thank you very much, has no place in literature and/or any of arts/creative endeavors.
Berry usually follow the path of historical/religious/mystery thrillers that were pioneered by writer Dan Brown, but Berry's novels are more grounded in plausible realism, though a couple times he did venture onto James Rollins Sigma Force territory with his Malone novels.
Basically, "The Medici Return" centers on the modern day political ambitions of one Italian politician who wants to collect on a centuries old "Pledge of Christ" to guarantee his Right Wing party will raise to power. Yet there is a player in the Catholic Church who will go to any lengths possible to prevent the pledge from becoming known and realized since it would bankrupt the church. Cotton Malone is drawn into the foray when as a favor to his old boss, he goes on what was supposed to be a simple recon mission that quickly goes south and plunges him into a deadly race.
Strongly Recommended, but I'm removing a star for unneeded DEI drivel.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Return-...
It's been a little over 20 years years ago since I first discovered Steve Berry and his Cotton Malone series with the release of "The Templar Legacy" that was neatly stacked up on the new arrivals table at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore near where I live. Of course, nowadays, I mainly get my books, blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs from either Amazon.com and/or directly from the artist. Let's all admit the dirty little secret we are loathe to admit, but we "do the deed" because Amazon, for the most part is cheaper and offers a better price. Why pay $30.00 or more for a book when you can get it, if not for half price, than at least $10 or more dollars cheaper. Property taxes, utility bills, and groceries are not exactly cheap and I've got nothing against saving money. So stereotype me if you will. I'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Now I noticed something odd about "The Medici Return." There are some throwaway paragraphs where a Catholic Cardinal wonders if he was targeted for his positive stance on gay marriage. It seemed to come completely out of left field. Okay noted, but it seems deliberately added as if to appease the demands of a so-called sensitivity DEI reader. And rather curiously, the write-up for "The Medici Return" does mention that there is a Cotton Malone series being developed for a streaming service - though which one is not mentioned.
DEI, which to me means, Division, Exclusion, and Intolerance, cancel me if you must, but I am a non-White minority who can think for himself thank you very much, has no place in literature and/or any of arts/creative endeavors.
Berry usually follow the path of historical/religious/mystery thrillers that were pioneered by writer Dan Brown, but Berry's novels are more grounded in plausible realism, though a couple times he did venture onto James Rollins Sigma Force territory with his Malone novels.
Basically, "The Medici Return" centers on the modern day political ambitions of one Italian politician who wants to collect on a centuries old "Pledge of Christ" to guarantee his Right Wing party will raise to power. Yet there is a player in the Catholic Church who will go to any lengths possible to prevent the pledge from becoming known and realized since it would bankrupt the church. Cotton Malone is drawn into the foray when as a favor to his old boss, he goes on what was supposed to be a simple recon mission that quickly goes south and plunges him into a deadly race.
Strongly Recommended, but I'm removing a star for unneeded DEI drivel.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Return-...
Jack Benny - Out And About
Just finished listening to "Jack Benny - Out And About" released by Radio Spirits.
What made Jack Benny's radio show so popular among listeners for its 33-year run over the airwaves is that Benny and his writers successfully mixed details of his personal and professional lives into a surrealistic comedy fantasy where if it could happen to everyman Jack Benny and go completely sideways in the process, it did to great comedic results.
"Jack Benny - Out And About" is a collection of shows from the last three years of the Jack Benny show, of which the final episode of the show aired in 1955, and while there was every indication that it would return for a new season, the promise of "see you next season" never materialized. At the point, the Golden Age of Radio was nearing it's end.
Now one note about Radio Spirits' release of "Jack Benny - Out And About" along with their newest collection releases. The collections are getting smaller, while remaining around the same price. Beggars can't be choosers and Radio Spirits currently is the only major company that does release physical medium of old time radio shows here in the United States. So while I hope they soon return to releasing collections with 10 audio CDs, smaller collections from Radio Spirits may continue for some time into the future.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "Dennis Imitates People on the Phone to Jack," "Missing Heir," "At the Beach," "Jack Hasn't Received His New Contract," "Ed and the Vault," and "Gossip Article on Jack."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/jack-b...
What made Jack Benny's radio show so popular among listeners for its 33-year run over the airwaves is that Benny and his writers successfully mixed details of his personal and professional lives into a surrealistic comedy fantasy where if it could happen to everyman Jack Benny and go completely sideways in the process, it did to great comedic results.
"Jack Benny - Out And About" is a collection of shows from the last three years of the Jack Benny show, of which the final episode of the show aired in 1955, and while there was every indication that it would return for a new season, the promise of "see you next season" never materialized. At the point, the Golden Age of Radio was nearing it's end.
Now one note about Radio Spirits' release of "Jack Benny - Out And About" along with their newest collection releases. The collections are getting smaller, while remaining around the same price. Beggars can't be choosers and Radio Spirits currently is the only major company that does release physical medium of old time radio shows here in the United States. So while I hope they soon return to releasing collections with 10 audio CDs, smaller collections from Radio Spirits may continue for some time into the future.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "Dennis Imitates People on the Phone to Jack," "Missing Heir," "At the Beach," "Jack Hasn't Received His New Contract," "Ed and the Vault," and "Gossip Article on Jack."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/jack-b...
High Tide
Just finished watching "High Tide" released by Strand Releasing.
Written and directed by Marco Calvani, who just happens to be be the partner of lead actor Marco Pigossi, "High Tide" is an independently produced movie that has made the rounds at multiple film festivals and has garnered a slew of awards, especially the Provincetown film festival, not surprising since it was filmed in Provincetown.
Stylistically, it is a well crafted arthouse film that seeks to be type of Woody Allen movie about people, in this case, Laurenco, who is on a tourist visa and is blindsided by the boyfriend who left and abandoned him in Provincetown where he is numbly going through the motions of life as the clock winds down on his tourist visa and he struggles as a house cleaner while trying to figure out his next step.
"High Tide" is a slice of life movie that explores one summer week in Laurenco's life and the realizations he must struggle to accept. Not groundbreaking, not cringeworthy.
Two-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/High-TIde-DVD-...
Written and directed by Marco Calvani, who just happens to be be the partner of lead actor Marco Pigossi, "High Tide" is an independently produced movie that has made the rounds at multiple film festivals and has garnered a slew of awards, especially the Provincetown film festival, not surprising since it was filmed in Provincetown.
Stylistically, it is a well crafted arthouse film that seeks to be type of Woody Allen movie about people, in this case, Laurenco, who is on a tourist visa and is blindsided by the boyfriend who left and abandoned him in Provincetown where he is numbly going through the motions of life as the clock winds down on his tourist visa and he struggles as a house cleaner while trying to figure out his next step.
"High Tide" is a slice of life movie that explores one summer week in Laurenco's life and the realizations he must struggle to accept. Not groundbreaking, not cringeworthy.
Two-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/High-TIde-DVD-...
Attack on Titan - Final Season - The Final Chapters
Just finished watching "Attack on Titan - Final Season - The Final Chapters" released by Crunchyroll.
One of the appeals of both the "Attack on Titan" magna and anime series is that it holds up a mirror in the best of Gothic traditions of humanity under siege by seemingly soulless monsters who resemble humanity on a gigantic scale . It's only as the mystery unfolds that you realize that the real monsters are the humans who have been guiding the Titans all along. Just like "Fullmetal Alchemist," "Attack on Titan" is an allegory of World War Two, and how hate and way are a cyclic part of human nature.
Now you are going to have to be a fan of the anime series and you will have to have watched the entire series from beginning to these final episodes to appreciate and understand Eren's complete raise to being a hero, to the ultimate villain who succeeds in destroying nearly all of humanity because he is disillusioned over his fate, which is preordained and something he can not change, even despite his best efforts to rewrite the past where he might have a narrow window for happiness, even though it is at the expense of his friends and world.
Now with that said, Spoilers Ahead:
The final chapters/episodes in this anime series beginsright at the start of the final battle between Eren and Armin's resistance group consisting of Levi, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Reiner and Piek. At first, the battle seems all but impossible to win as the Founding Titan calls upon the assistance of every Titan in history to protect Eren and allow the Rumbling to continue. Armin is even consumed whole by Ymir, and all hope already seems lost.
Just when things seem most dire though, the group is joined by Annie, Gabbi, and Falco who has sprouted wings as the Beast Titan. Meanwhile, Armin finds himself within the Paths where he meets Zeke and – after convincing the latter of his mistaken perspective – the two join forces to convince the spirits of the other Titans to assist them in stopping Eren. With the assistance of the other Titans from throughout the ages, Armin and the others finally gain the upper hand for just long enough to allow Jean to detonate explosives which sever The Attack Titan's head from its body.
With the Attack Titan's head severed, the giant centipede-like creature that lies at the source of the Titan's power makes a desperate attempt to reunite with the Attack Titan's head, but Reiner, Annie and the others give everything they have to prevent it from reconnecting. Amidst the chaos, Mikasa has a sudden vision of her life with Eren – living in peace in a cabin in the woods. In the vision, Eren tells Mikasa to forget about him when everything is over, and the two embrace each other one last time. This final happy memory with Eren gives Mikasa the resolve she needs to do what's necessary, and with the help of Levi and the others, she's able to break through into the mouth of the Attack Titan and kill Eren. At this moment, Armin suddenly remembers a meeting he had with Eren just before the fighting started, which Eren purposely made him forget until the fight was over. In it, Eren admits the truth of his plans to Armin, and the two are able to reconcile despite their ideological differences. After witnessing Mikasa's ability to let go of Eren, Ymir is finally able to let go of her own love for King Fritz, and thus she disappears along with the power of the Titans. From then on, all the Titans are returned to their human forms, and Armin and the others with the power to transform become fully human once again.
The story then moves ahead three years, to a time when Eldia, under the control of the Yaegerists, has begun to rebuild a military force to defend themselves from the threat of the outside world. Historia builds up her own forces with knowledge of this in mind, and sends Armin, Annie, and the others to Paradis as a peace envoy in hopes that they can work out a treaty. Levi, Gabi, and Falco are all shown working to rebuild and assist their communities following the destruction caused by the Rumbling, while Mikasa reminisces of Eren as she sits by his grave at the foot of his favorite tree. As the credits roll, that same tree which houses Eren's remains is shown growing increasingly larger, while the civilization of Paradis is slowly built up and then destroyed by war in the background. The post-credits scene shows a young boy and his dog making a pilgrimage to the tree which has now grown to a titanic size, and the two walk toward a large opening at the tree's base.
From what I read online, these final chapters/episodes of the anime series have split the Attack on Titan fandom. Hint: adaptations almost never make fans of the original source material happy. [Sidenote: Alan Dean Foster garnered universal praise for his novelizations of Star Wars, Star Trek - The Animated Series, and The Black Hole.]
Attack on Titan is a cautionary tale of humanity's ability to overlook basic truths when blinded by the dual fragilities of love and friendship.
A fitting and resounding end to an engrossing anime adaptation that was extremely horrific and daring when it was first released on broadcast television here in the United States. [And by broadcast television, I do mean cable and streaming services.]
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Attack-Titan-F...
One of the appeals of both the "Attack on Titan" magna and anime series is that it holds up a mirror in the best of Gothic traditions of humanity under siege by seemingly soulless monsters who resemble humanity on a gigantic scale . It's only as the mystery unfolds that you realize that the real monsters are the humans who have been guiding the Titans all along. Just like "Fullmetal Alchemist," "Attack on Titan" is an allegory of World War Two, and how hate and way are a cyclic part of human nature.
Now you are going to have to be a fan of the anime series and you will have to have watched the entire series from beginning to these final episodes to appreciate and understand Eren's complete raise to being a hero, to the ultimate villain who succeeds in destroying nearly all of humanity because he is disillusioned over his fate, which is preordained and something he can not change, even despite his best efforts to rewrite the past where he might have a narrow window for happiness, even though it is at the expense of his friends and world.
Now with that said, Spoilers Ahead:
The final chapters/episodes in this anime series beginsright at the start of the final battle between Eren and Armin's resistance group consisting of Levi, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Reiner and Piek. At first, the battle seems all but impossible to win as the Founding Titan calls upon the assistance of every Titan in history to protect Eren and allow the Rumbling to continue. Armin is even consumed whole by Ymir, and all hope already seems lost.
Just when things seem most dire though, the group is joined by Annie, Gabbi, and Falco who has sprouted wings as the Beast Titan. Meanwhile, Armin finds himself within the Paths where he meets Zeke and – after convincing the latter of his mistaken perspective – the two join forces to convince the spirits of the other Titans to assist them in stopping Eren. With the assistance of the other Titans from throughout the ages, Armin and the others finally gain the upper hand for just long enough to allow Jean to detonate explosives which sever The Attack Titan's head from its body.
With the Attack Titan's head severed, the giant centipede-like creature that lies at the source of the Titan's power makes a desperate attempt to reunite with the Attack Titan's head, but Reiner, Annie and the others give everything they have to prevent it from reconnecting. Amidst the chaos, Mikasa has a sudden vision of her life with Eren – living in peace in a cabin in the woods. In the vision, Eren tells Mikasa to forget about him when everything is over, and the two embrace each other one last time. This final happy memory with Eren gives Mikasa the resolve she needs to do what's necessary, and with the help of Levi and the others, she's able to break through into the mouth of the Attack Titan and kill Eren. At this moment, Armin suddenly remembers a meeting he had with Eren just before the fighting started, which Eren purposely made him forget until the fight was over. In it, Eren admits the truth of his plans to Armin, and the two are able to reconcile despite their ideological differences. After witnessing Mikasa's ability to let go of Eren, Ymir is finally able to let go of her own love for King Fritz, and thus she disappears along with the power of the Titans. From then on, all the Titans are returned to their human forms, and Armin and the others with the power to transform become fully human once again.
The story then moves ahead three years, to a time when Eldia, under the control of the Yaegerists, has begun to rebuild a military force to defend themselves from the threat of the outside world. Historia builds up her own forces with knowledge of this in mind, and sends Armin, Annie, and the others to Paradis as a peace envoy in hopes that they can work out a treaty. Levi, Gabi, and Falco are all shown working to rebuild and assist their communities following the destruction caused by the Rumbling, while Mikasa reminisces of Eren as she sits by his grave at the foot of his favorite tree. As the credits roll, that same tree which houses Eren's remains is shown growing increasingly larger, while the civilization of Paradis is slowly built up and then destroyed by war in the background. The post-credits scene shows a young boy and his dog making a pilgrimage to the tree which has now grown to a titanic size, and the two walk toward a large opening at the tree's base.
From what I read online, these final chapters/episodes of the anime series have split the Attack on Titan fandom. Hint: adaptations almost never make fans of the original source material happy. [Sidenote: Alan Dean Foster garnered universal praise for his novelizations of Star Wars, Star Trek - The Animated Series, and The Black Hole.]
Attack on Titan is a cautionary tale of humanity's ability to overlook basic truths when blinded by the dual fragilities of love and friendship.
A fitting and resounding end to an engrossing anime adaptation that was extremely horrific and daring when it was first released on broadcast television here in the United States. [And by broadcast television, I do mean cable and streaming services.]
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Attack-Titan-F...
March 5, 2025
Check Please! Year Two
Just finished reading "Check Please! - Year Two" by Ngozi Ukazu, published by First Second.
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Ukazu launched Check, Please! as a webcomic in 2013 after writing a screenplay about Eric "Bitty" Bittle, a gay college freshman and champion figure skater who joins a hockey team. She created a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to print the first volume of the comic; the campaign resulted in the highest-funded comics project in Kickstarter's history.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
"Check, Please! - Year Two" starts off with Eric, "Bitty," still struggling with his continuing issues with the "physicality" of hockey, which is a highly contact sport and with Jack's final year as he makes realizations about himself as a hockey player going into the major leagues and his true feelings about Bitty about who he has grown to love and realizes his true feelings for. It is Jack's father who urges him to tell Bitty his true feelings and act on them in a highly believable manner.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325754523052...
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Ukazu launched Check, Please! as a webcomic in 2013 after writing a screenplay about Eric "Bitty" Bittle, a gay college freshman and champion figure skater who joins a hockey team. She created a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to print the first volume of the comic; the campaign resulted in the highest-funded comics project in Kickstarter's history.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
"Check, Please! - Year Two" starts off with Eric, "Bitty," still struggling with his continuing issues with the "physicality" of hockey, which is a highly contact sport and with Jack's final year as he makes realizations about himself as a hockey player going into the major leagues and his true feelings about Bitty about who he has grown to love and realizes his true feelings for. It is Jack's father who urges him to tell Bitty his true feelings and act on them in a highly believable manner.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325754523052...
March 3, 2025
Check Please! - Year One
Just finished reading "Check Please! - Year One" by Ngozi Ukazu, published by First Second.
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Ukazu launched Check, Please! as a webcomic in 2013 after writing a screenplay about Eric "Bitty" Bittle, a gay college freshman and champion figure skater who joins a hockey team. She created a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to print the first volume of the comic; the campaign resulted in the highest-funded comics project in Kickstarter's history.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
Eric Bittle is an openly gay college Freshman on the Samwell University hockey team. He's a former junior figure skating champion and a vlogger who loves to bake; and who finds himself falling in love with the captain of his hockey team.
Ukazu did an amazing job of showing Bitty's growth as he works through some of his insecurities and finds his place amongst a strange and wonderful collection of characters that make up the hockey team.
I am looking forward to reading the remaining the three volumes in this series.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325510040156...
Now a reminder about reviews: I have absolutely NO problem reading, watching, and/or listening to LGBTQ content. I draw the line at x-rated material. If that bothers you, please feel free to stop reading this review now and do whatever you have to do, even if that means you must unfriend me, just don't feel like you have to send me a nasty email about how "pure" of a Christian you are. Hint: I'm the Jewish boy who read Science Fiction novels when it was frowned upon in elementary and high school and since I didn't give a flying fig then, I'm not going to give a flying fig now - especially when you're not following the tenants of your faith which you profess to follow to the letter.
Ukazu launched Check, Please! as a webcomic in 2013 after writing a screenplay about Eric "Bitty" Bittle, a gay college freshman and champion figure skater who joins a hockey team. She created a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to print the first volume of the comic; the campaign resulted in the highest-funded comics project in Kickstarter's history.
"Check, Please!" is similar to Japanese boys love magna with an "American" style and twist.
Eric Bittle is an openly gay college Freshman on the Samwell University hockey team. He's a former junior figure skating champion and a vlogger who loves to bake; and who finds himself falling in love with the captain of his hockey team.
Ukazu did an amazing job of showing Bitty's growth as he works through some of his insecurities and finds his place amongst a strange and wonderful collection of characters that make up the hockey team.
I am looking forward to reading the remaining the three volumes in this series.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325510040156...
The River - Anniversary Edition
Just finished listening to "The River - Anniversary Edition" by Nigel Shaw, released by Seventh Wave Music.
I discovered Nigel Shaw, Carolyn Hillyer, and Seventh Wave Music over 20 years ago when Seventh Wave Music came up in an internet search for new age music. I listened to some samples and ordered a few albums. Fast forward to about a month ago when I purchased additional CDs from Nigel Shaw, and the anniversary edition of "The River" was one of those CDs.
"The River" consists of three tracks: "Upstream * Downstream," "Forest * Moor," and "Live at the Cherry Blossom Festival, Kyoto." Each track incorporates river and birdsong, with Japanese and South American flutes, harps, strings, Tibetan bowls, gongs, bells, shaku, synthesizers, voices, water bowls, cymbals, waterphone, bells, and keyboards.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/pr...
I discovered Nigel Shaw, Carolyn Hillyer, and Seventh Wave Music over 20 years ago when Seventh Wave Music came up in an internet search for new age music. I listened to some samples and ordered a few albums. Fast forward to about a month ago when I purchased additional CDs from Nigel Shaw, and the anniversary edition of "The River" was one of those CDs.
"The River" consists of three tracks: "Upstream * Downstream," "Forest * Moor," and "Live at the Cherry Blossom Festival, Kyoto." Each track incorporates river and birdsong, with Japanese and South American flutes, harps, strings, Tibetan bowls, gongs, bells, shaku, synthesizers, voices, water bowls, cymbals, waterphone, bells, and keyboards.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/pr...
February 25, 2025
Adrift In Currents Clean And Clear
Just finished reading "Adrift In Currents Clean And Clear" by Seanan McGuire, published by TOR Books.
Now you do have to have a reader of McGuire's Wayward Children's portal series, which started with "Every Heart A Doorway," to understand that "Adrift In Currents Clean And Clear" is solely devoted to telling Nadya's story, who is a Drowned Girl.
Nadya was a somewhat peripheral character from earlier books in this wonderful series. This is her story without any diversion to the other series characters. The book takes her from childhood in a Russian orphanage through American adoption to her ‘through the door” experience. It deals with culture, issues of transnational adoption and a fantasy world under water.
Nadya was always aware that she was missing the mother who left her at the hospital just after giving birth in Russia. But she never felt the loss of her right forearm until her adopted parents fitted her with her first prosthetic. It was cumbersome, uncomfortable, and it made the lack clear where Nadya had never before felt it. How could she miss an arm she never had? How could she miss the way people react once she has a fake one?
Unable to articulate all of the ways the prosthetic arm and the expectation that she be grateful for it feel like a betrayal, Nadya does what any child would do. She tries to find ways to be away from home and her parents. Being a certain type of child, she makes her way to the park and the turtles. It was only a matter of time before she found Belyyreka, the Land Beneath the Lake.
It's only after she falls and wakes up as a Drowned Girl that Nadya begins to understand all of the things that were actually missing from her life (her right arm still isn't one of those things). Finding love, acceptance, and a real home are rare gifts for anyone.
Yet as Nadya finds her greatest happiness, she also finds her greatest tragedy.
Recommended for fans of the series.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Adrift-Current...
Now you do have to have a reader of McGuire's Wayward Children's portal series, which started with "Every Heart A Doorway," to understand that "Adrift In Currents Clean And Clear" is solely devoted to telling Nadya's story, who is a Drowned Girl.
Nadya was a somewhat peripheral character from earlier books in this wonderful series. This is her story without any diversion to the other series characters. The book takes her from childhood in a Russian orphanage through American adoption to her ‘through the door” experience. It deals with culture, issues of transnational adoption and a fantasy world under water.
Nadya was always aware that she was missing the mother who left her at the hospital just after giving birth in Russia. But she never felt the loss of her right forearm until her adopted parents fitted her with her first prosthetic. It was cumbersome, uncomfortable, and it made the lack clear where Nadya had never before felt it. How could she miss an arm she never had? How could she miss the way people react once she has a fake one?
Unable to articulate all of the ways the prosthetic arm and the expectation that she be grateful for it feel like a betrayal, Nadya does what any child would do. She tries to find ways to be away from home and her parents. Being a certain type of child, she makes her way to the park and the turtles. It was only a matter of time before she found Belyyreka, the Land Beneath the Lake.
It's only after she falls and wakes up as a Drowned Girl that Nadya begins to understand all of the things that were actually missing from her life (her right arm still isn't one of those things). Finding love, acceptance, and a real home are rare gifts for anyone.
Yet as Nadya finds her greatest happiness, she also finds her greatest tragedy.
Recommended for fans of the series.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Adrift-Current...
