Gord’s Comments (group member since Apr 06, 2017)

Gord’s comments from the Vampires, Weres and Fae! group.

This is going to feel like such a weird week for me. I just had back to back three day long weekends resulting in a three day work week last week. It was definitely nice and I got a lot of reading done in the last week but now I'm back to a five day week. On top of that we are looking at a heat wave this week meaning everything is going to be hot and gross. Oh and my coworker is gone most of the week on vacation as well. It's going to be a long, hot week basically by myself. I guess the only real upside is that things should be rather quiet this week. That and work has working AC which is going to be a blessing.

Time for my weekly update and I'm feeling pretty good this week. I've been dealing with a heavy pile of stuff from the library for several months now and I finally feel like I'm getting into a spot where I'm getting caught up on things. I still have things checked out but it's not two giant stack of books sitting on my table where I'm juggling due dates and constantly chasing the next due date. Any way, time for the books.

Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again -3 Stars
This was an interesting read that confirmed one thing for me. I'd much rather watch a giant monster stomp through a city than read about it. Reading about it just isn't as satisfying in my opinion. Back to the book at hand, this book can basically be divided into three parts. The first novel, Godzilla, the second novel, Godzilla Raids Again, and then the afterword. The first novel was a solid entry with some of the essential giant monster movie tropes baked into it. The second one was alright, definitely less of a protest movie and more of the action flick that the Godzilla movies became. Then there is the afterword. Normally this is the section of the book that I might skim over at best but here it was something that sucked me in and I couldn't stop reading. The afterword gave us some history on the author and the movie itself. What I really loved about this afterword though is how it put everything into context. Where Japan was at after the war, what was happening in the country between the end of the war and 1954, the events in 1954 with regards to Bikini Atoll. It was a movie that dropped at just the right moment and resonated with people. Overall an interesting read and an important classic that is not in the normal discussion of classics.

Deadbeat Druid -3 Stars
I have some pretty conflicted feelings about this book. Overall I'd say that it maintains its solid three star rating that the rest of the trilogy had. I would say that this was probably the weakest book of the series for me though. I loved the journey through the underworld and the lore that was set up there. There was a lot of interesting creatures and just overall lore. I had a couple of big issues with the book though. The start of the book kind of plodded along and I was getting a bit annoyed with the constant reminders of what happened in previous books. I don't mind a quick summary but this felt like a constant beating over the head. Combined with a general lack of anything going on and it just added to the plodding feeling of things. Then we get to the ending of the book. I appreciate the message that the book was putting forth and I get where it's trying to do but that feel good Care Bear ending just didn't work for me. You spend three books building up this villain to basically give him a hug and send him on his way at the end of it all. I'm not against a feel good ending, or even some of the feel good stuff in the ending of this book but everything about the bad guys resolution just felt off for me. Not a bad book and not a bad series but not super outstanding either.

Now for the manga and comics

Predator versus Wolverine -3 Stars
You get what is advertised in the title. This is just a small series about all the various fights between Wolverine and one of the Predators over the decades that Wolverine has been alive. It's not horrible but it's not mind blowing either.

The Apothecary Diaries Manga, Vol. 11 -5 Stars
What can I really say that I haven't already said about this series before? I love the MC, I love many of the side characters, and I love how the author sets up his mysteries. Just another fun entry in this series.

Tomb Raider King, Vol. 6 -4 Stars
I'm once again caught up on this series and waiting for the library to get some more. Another solid entry into this popcorn action series. Not a lot more to really about this one either.

xxxHOLiC Omnibus 7 -5 Stars
We've arrived at the end of the original series and what a beautiful send off to things. The latter half of this series really had a different tone to it and it made me emotional more than a few times. Maybe it was just what I had going on in my personal life but things really hit me hard. I still love this series and I'm very curious about the next two series that follow this. There is Rou that is a side story set in the previous events and Rei which is a continuation of the story. I'll have to see what my library has.

As for what is next...

Before the Coffee Gets Cold
This is my next audiobook and I've been waiting a while for this one. This sounds like a really great read and I'm looking forward to it.

Outside of that I have some more manga to get through but that pile is getting ever smaller.

I've read two of them but I am notorious for not really being on top of anything new.

Just to make sure I don't forget I went and borrowed the book and loaded it into my queue.

It's on my radar for this month. I've just got a couple other audiobooks to get through this month.

I'm planning to take tomorrow off for another three day weekend. No real plans, just some reading and the new Powerwash DLC.

In June I saved $616.30 bringing my yearly total to $3,555.02 (plus one book from July, I don't feel like doing math right now)

I know I'm a day late but Canada Day long weekend here and all that.

The Two Towers -5 Stars
I finally got around to to this book and it was just as much fun as the first one was to listen to. It's also interesting coming into this book a bit older and a bit wiser than I was the last time I read it. You could say that this book was a shining example of middlebookitis but if you know the history of this book it actually makes sense. This was supposed to be all one one book originally and was later divided by the publisher. Meaning this middle book was quite literally the middle of the book. The book picks up immediately following the events of the last book and just kind of ends. Don't get me wrong, the publisher picked great parts for the break but yeah. My reread of this series also highlights the brain rot I have from the movies even though I've never really watched them. I remember the battle at Helms Deep and Isengard as these massive events but in the book they were just things that happened. The battle at Isengard wasn't really a battle and it happened off page. We show up afterwards and everything is pretty much done. Gandalf deals with Saruman, passes on some instructions to Treebeard, and then everyone rides off to the third book. That is a gross simplification but essentially that is what happens.

As I mentioned in my ramble about the first book this series is just an experience. The world building, the characters, etc. It's just an experience and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Now for the manga

xxxHOLiC Omnibus 6 -5 Stars
Where do I even start with this one and not get into massive spoilers. After the tragic events of the last volume we get a time skip and that is where we join in. I don't feel like I can talk about much as there would be a lot of spoiler. What I will say is that while reading this book there is just this sense of sadness. When you find out what has been sacrificed, what the characters have been through, what people are doing to keep promises. By the end I just wanted to cry. I've taken longer to get through these last few books as the tonal change was unexpected but I'm very curious about how this will end and where it goes next.

Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 2 -5 Stars
Another series that made me want to cry this week. It has been a week shall we say. Much like LotR this series is just a treat to reread and I'm having so much fun, and emotional damage, while going through it.

A Cat from Our World and the Forgotten Witch Vol. 2 -4 Stars
This book introduces a lot of new characters as it starts to expand into the greater world from the witches remote house. Still a great series but it just doesn't have the emotional gut punch of the first one. It's still great and I can't wait for the next volume.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 3—Stardust Crusaders, Vol. 5 -4 Stars
This series is just wild. The fights are probably some of the most creative I have seen in a good long while. One of the fights in this book was against an eleven month, yes, month, old child that used a dream stand. Just, what, where do you even come up with these ideas? Now that being said there was a comment someone said and I just can't stop thinking about it. The story itself, and in particular the fights, are some top tier writing but this series JoJo is not really all that impressive. Maybe it's because of the larger cast of characters but this JoJo just kind of fades in the back ground. The last two JoJo's were these large charismatic characters that grabbed the spotlight. Meanwhile this JoJo just kind of moodily stands in the background not saying or doing much. Still loving things and I can't wait for the next one.

-3 stars
Not a lot to really say about this one. It was a whole lot of fighting and set up for the next book. Still a fun mindless popcorn series.

I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 1 -4 Stars
I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 2 -4 Stars
This is a manga series that has been floating around on my radar for a bit now and I finally decided to give it a try. This series, so far, is just so sweet and wholesome. Basically it's about a mom finding out that her son is gay and basically being there supporting him. He hasn't come out but he isn't exactly subtle about things and has some serious slip ups. Hence how mom was able to figure it out. There is a small part of me that is concerned about the dad in the situation. He is kind of a stereotypical male but not in a bad way. Some of his comments are things I've heard more than a few times in my life and it's not malicious but in this context it makes his son uncomfortable and confused. I suspect, or at least I hope, that dad will be fully supportive if/when his son comes out.

Now that I am through all that it's time to talk about what is next.

Deadbeat Druid
I was meaning to read this in June but I never got to it. Better late then never as they say. I'm interested to see how this series ends but slightly concerned with several of the mixed reviews I've seen.

Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again
I stumbled across this when browsing through the new section at my library and to say that I am hyped is a bit of an understatement. Reading through the first part of the original Godzilla has been fun so far.

Outside of that, more manga, as usual.

I really want to take some time off this month. Hopefully work plays nice and I get to make that happen.

Once again the sewer is backing up and coming up through the drains but this time everyone seems oddly happy. Something about getting sent home early and game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals...

Time for another weekly wrap up and lets just say, in advance, that I as kind of on a Korean manhwa kick this week. Not planned or anything, just how the library books fall.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory -3 Stars
This was an odd one for me. I have been following this author on YouTube now for a long while, probably even while she was working on this book, and I've rather enjoyed her content. I snagged up this book because it helped with a couple of different challenges with one book. Heading into this I was expecting, well, a memoir and that is partially what I got. This book also had a fair bit of history in it as well. Going into cultural practices of various groups throughout the world and the history of the funeral business in the USA. This was about the author getting into the funeral business and her upbringing in Hawaii. It was an interesting listen and I enjoyed both aspects of the book but I was just never really blown out of the water either. I can't really explain why but for me the book was just alright.

Now for the comics/manga/manhwa

Summer Vamp -5 Stars
After the meh feelings I had for Ghost Station last week this was the perfect follow up book for me. It's about a young girl who ends up going to summer camp, the wrong one. She was supposed to be going to a culinary camp since she loves to cook but got on the wrong bus and ends up at a summer camp for vampires. What follows is the usual middle grade fare for a book of this nature. She makes friends, discovers who she is, comes out of her shell, etc, etc, etc. This was just a feel good sweet book and I loved every minute of reading it.

The Boxer, Vol. 6 -5 Stars
This was my other rebound book and about as far away from sweet and feel good as you can get. I'm not a sports fan and I don't really care for combat sports, outside of Sumo, so I am really confused why I am so invested in this series. There is just something about the writing and the presentation that just sucks me into the book. I start out with the idea of getting through a few pages. Next thing I know an hour or so has passed and I've devoured the entire book. I can't explain it. I'm now, once again, caught up on everything available and I'm once again waiting for the next volume to come out. Especially as I really want to see the next opponent get beaten so bad.

Spy x Family, Vol. 5 -4 Stars
More Anya shenanigans and I love it. The big thing I like about this series is that it doesn't fall into the same pitfall that a lot of gag manga do. It's not just a series of gags with little to no story. There is an ongoing story with plot progress and what not while still having all the funny bits. It's not a super deep story or anything but there is enough there to feel like things are progressing.

Beauty and the Beast Girl -4 Stars
This was a stand alone manga that follows a very simple trope but man was it just a wholesome sweet read. On one hand you have a monster girl with a tragic past hiding in the woods away from humanity. On the other hand you have a blind human girl. The monster girl gets to experience love because the blind girl can't see what she looks like. It's a story we all know and I don't really care if I know how it all plays out. This was just a sweet manga and I loved every minute of it.

Tomb Raider King, Vol. 2 -4 Stars
Tomb Raider King, Vol. 3 -4 Stars
Tomb Raider King, Vol. 4 -4 Stars
Tomb Raider King, Vol. 5 -4 Stars
This is what I have spent the last couple of days working on and man it has been a fun weekend of reading. I read the first volume of this Korean manhwa earlier this year and enjoyed it for what it is. It's a treasure hunting power fantasy with a broody male MC who was wronged by a powerful individual. After that first book my library had no more so I just shelved it for a later thing. Next thing I know my library brought in the next five books and here I am. It's more of the first book and I am not complaining. More treasure hunting, more broody MC, more power fantasy. It's just fun popcorn read and after the week I had it was what I needed.

Now, what is next
The Two Towers
This is my next audiobook and I'm just a wee bit excited and by wee bit I mean a lot. I loved the first book and I can't wait to continue my audiobook experience with this one.

Outside of that I have my never ending pile of manga from the library

I found a new realm of expensive books. I've been reading a bunch of Korean manhwa this week and just noticed the price of these brand new. Each one of the books I read this week has been $26 a book for a paperback. Now, they are colored but still, that seems a bit steep for a comic book. Considering a manga is in the $13-$19 range

My foot is feeling a lot better this morning so I am going to try to walking to work. I walk the same route as my bus so if I have to bail it will be pretty easy. Taking the bus yesterday was a harsh reminder why I'm glad I don't rely on the bus much anymore. The morning ride wasn't bad but that evening bus was a sensory overload. To start out the bus was nearly 30 minutes late. It showed up at the same time as the second bus which was also a few minutes late. I get on the bus and there are a lot of people. Not the worst bus I've ever been on but that was a lot of people. People talking on speaker phone, people watching videos with no headphones, general talking, and then there are the smells. Some of it was the usual people smells but there was at least one person who smelled like they bathed in a vat of perfume. The horrid fake floral smell. My nose wanted to jump off my face and run out the door.

Things are definitely getting better. Initially my walk to the bus stop made me question every decision in my life but after a bit things stabilized and wasn't so bad. Don't get me wrong, jarring my foot is not fun at all but the pain is still manageable.

Also, after looking at bruised toes all morning because I can't stop wondering if I broke it I've come to to the realization that my toe isn't that bad.

I was worried that I might have broke it but I don't think so any more. It's been getting better in the last 24 hours, I can flex my toes, I can poke and squeeze it with no issues. Since it's my little toe it just has more surface space to get squeezed by my boot when I'm wearing it. Best case scenario I'd take the rest of the week off to just relax but things have gotten really busy so I'm just going to do what I can to minimize trauma to it. Instead of walking I'll take the bus for instance.

Well today was a thing. I started off the day by smashing my baby toe into the faucet in the shower when I was getting in. To say that it hurt would be a mild understatement. Got out and besides being swollen it didn't look to bad. I then spend a day with my foot rammed into a pair of boots and yeah. Got home and my toe is a nice shade of purple.

Uhhhhh... we got a frost warning for the overnight period tonight

Congrats!

I know I'm a little late but I was working on finishing up a novel. This will be a short one as I want to get back to my reading and relaxing before the weekend comes to an end.

The Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent (Light Novel) Vol. 4 -4 Stars
Not a lot to really say about this one that I haven't said before. It's more of Sei figuring out her powers, a slow budding romance, fighting of the plague that is infecting the kingdom, etc. This is just a fun and feel good series.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone -4 Stars
I know there are a lot of issues with the author and the series but this series will always have a special place in my memories. Rereading this was just a fun time and it was my first time listening to this as an audiobook. The narrator was Jim Dale and I felt that he did a great job.

Ghost Station -2 Star
Spicy and hot take time. I didn't like this book. I didn't think it was a bad book, in fact there were several interesting ideas in the book. My biggest problem with this book is that it was just super boring. There was some cool initial setup and then it just settled into this plodding pace with a MC that I just didn't like and the book just turned into this giant slog to get through. There was a big shocking reveal about half way through that was telegraphed from about a mile away. When it finally was revealed it just wasn't that shocking. Maybe if the ending was interesting it might have been better but it just kind of happened and nothing was really explained. I kind of feel let down as I was a bit hype for this book.

Now for the manga
Dragon Ball (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 4: Includes vols. 10, 11 & 12 -4 Stars
More Dragon Ball. This one covered another tournament and the introduction of Picollo which had a bit more of a mature tone. Not a lot but some characters die but you know they will be coming back to life at some point.

Dinosaur Sanctuary Vol. 4 -3 Stars
More dino facts. That's about it.

As for what it is next.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
My next audiobook

Outside of that I have a giant stack of manga/comics/manhwa to get through this week so I can get them back to the library. Now, back to my reading.

With all the rain and wind we are getting we are lucky if we break 20c/68f right now. Can't complain to much about that I guess. I could do with a little less humidity though.