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

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

Brittany wrote: "That is so frustrating Gord"

Hopefully a nice helpful librarian can help me out and I don't get one of the "I don't know" crew. I'm dealing with the ILL side and they have been super helpful in the past so I'm feeling lucky.

Well, that was an "interesting" start to the day. I was nearly at work or the start of detour for Starbucks, when I got to witness a car accident in front of me. I was maybe at best a quarter of a block away from an intersection when the light turned yellow. One car going straight through and one truck turning left through the intersection both figure they could make it through and just committed to it. The truck nearly got through before the car smashed into it. The truck was popped into the air and turned 90 degrees but still able to move. The car was just toast. The passenger front end was just gone and that car was only moving with the help of a tow truck. Everyone seemed fine, the driver of the truck was out and checking out the driver of the car immediately. The intersection was just a debris field of car parts.

Just need to rant about the library for a second and the publisher a bit as well.

I have been working through the Yu-Gi-Oh series this year reading the omnibus editions because that is what my library had. I never really paid to much attention to what they actually had on hand. I got to the second last volume and this where the weirdness started. They had the second last volume and when I requested the hold there was only one hold on it but somehow the book was not going to be available for 3ish months. I suspect that this was something done behind the scenes because they couldn't find the book or whatever. Not the first time I've seen it and regardless I finally got the second last volume. I figured I'd request the final volume once I started reading the book and it would be all good. It was not, it was far from being good. My library doesn't have the final volume. I then hit the interlibrary searches and nothing. I then turn to the stand alone volumes instead of the omnibus and this is where the publisher is going to catch some flak. The original run was simply Yu-Gi-Oh and had 38 volumes. Viz, for some stupid reason, decided to create separate series name for each story arc in the series. So instead of searching for volume 38 of Yu-Gi-Oh I'm now searching for volume 7 of Yu-Gi-Oh: The Millennium World or what ever they call it. So the final omnibus contains volume 37 and 38 (or 6 and 7 depending on the naming scheme). I can find volume 37 but again not the final volume. It's like the entire library system doesn't want to spoil the ending of the series. What is making the search even harder is that each library has a different naming scheme for manga. I've tried searching by author name, title, ISBN, you name it and just nothing. I've never been this frustrated by a library search before. After 30-45 minutes of searching I finally gave up and sent my library a request asking for them to either find the final omnibus edition or the final stand alone volume. I just gave them the ISBN number and hopefully they can find it for me.

I just never thought walking would build this much muscle. It's only walking but I am carrying all my weight so that adds to it I guess.

I think it's time to start figuring out my food intake again. I'm not sure if it's all the walking, my diet, or both but my new clothes just don't fit well. My thighs feel like tree trunks that someone is trying stretch a hair tie around and lets not get started on my butt. The thing is I don't think it's fat. Most of my fat sits on my torso, in particular around my stomach. I think all this stuff with my legs and my butt is from simply walking 100's of KM's/miles in the last couple years. It's just messing with my head a bit.

*stretches*

It feels like I finally reset my sleep schedule after that stupid DST change. I normally get up early but because of the change I was getting up even earlier. Combine that with just a poor sleep Tuesday night and I was just wiped. I got home last night and just crashed for a couple hours. I was then awake until 11:30 before going back to sleep. I then slept until nearly 4 in the morning.

Just to be clear it's not backing up into the bathroom or anything. There is a drainage system in our truck bay that sits a little lower then everything else, because drains, and the sewer backs up into that. The smell though fills the area around it though.

It backs up every few months or so. I think the city was in here this summer cleaning out the main lines but apparently that never helped or maybe it only bought us some more time. Bathrooms aren't shut down yet but I know in the past they get shut down. As for how do you work in a workplace with no bathrooms well two things happen. The stupid and lazy people just use the bathroom as is and not flush (yes, it's fucking disgusting). The rest of who are stupid and lazy go out for coffee or lunch and use the bathroom there.

And the sewer is backing up into the building again giving everything a lovely funk. Bathrooms aren't closed yet but I expect it to happen. Why did I come to work today?

That is a massive savings. Congrats!

Oh man, I didn't even register the typo. My brain just translated that automatically.

Well my vacation for the rest of the year has been approved. I'm off next Tuesday giving me a four day weekend. After that I am off starting Dec/09, returning on Dec/27th where I work 2.5 days, and then I off again until Jan/08. Almost an entire month off basically.

Daylight savings time

Alright, lets get into what I read this week. While there are a couple of three star books in this line up this was a pretty solid week of reading.

Vampire Hunter D -3 Stars
This franchise holds a special place in my memories. Back when I was first started getting into anime way back in the early 2000's the 1985 movie was one of those things that hooked me in and I'll explain why here in a bit. I was strong armed (I had noodle arms so it wasn't hard) into a reread of this book and my opinion really hasn't changed in the years since I last read this. I'm going to get my criticism out of the way early so that I can properly gush about what I love. The pacing in this book can be a bit rough. Now I can't really say if this was a problem with the original or if it was a translation issue. Maybe something got lost in the localization/translation process but there were times where things felt clunky or just straight up dragged. Now for all the good. I love, love, love the world building for this series. On the surface you have what looks like a medieval fantasy/horror type of setting. Werewolves, vampires, men on horseback dealing with the scary things in the night with swords. Before long though you realize that the MC is riding a cyborg horse, that some characters have laser rifles, that there are force fields, the vampires have created monsters through gene manipulation, and more. That's right this is technically a sci-fi novel as it's set some 10,000 years in the future. I love the way this series blends all these various genres together into something new and ahead of its time for when it came out. Then there is the main character who is simply known as D. He is a Dhampir which is someone who is half vampire and half human. As someone who grew up on the action stars of the 80's D was so incredibly different. He wasn't a hulking behemoth spitting out one liners left and right. D is tall, beautiful, with long flowing hair and very little to say at all. For a much younger me this series was just so different and it just clicked with me. Some 20+ years later and I still enjoy things and I see myself departing on a journey of trying to read all the books that are available in English.

Confessions -4 Stars
I was not prepared for the journey that this book took me on. I can't remember how this popped up on my list but it was something horror related. After reading this book I don't think that this is a horror but it is definitely a dark psychological thriller and a master class in the art of revenge. This book centers around the tragic death of a four year old girl who is the daughter of one of the teachers in the school. Each chapter is from a different POV as it explores each of the characters and their motivations behind the tragic event. Now I will echo a criticism I saw a lot of for this book which is it gets a bit slow in the middle. There are about four chapters in a row focusing on one student, from different POV's, and it gets a little tedious. Since this is all about one event it feels like there is a lot of retreading of the same material. Now the author does try to gloss over stuff we already know but because we are getting the inner thoughts of different people there is a lot of going over the same material. It's not a deal breaker but it does drag a little. Once you get past that though you head into the explosive ending that left me flabbergasted and with my jaw on the floor. I haven't experienced an ending that left me just that messed up. I'm really glad I picked up this book and gave it a try.

The Darkest Thread -3 Stars
This book left me feeling pretty conflicted by the end. On one hand there is a real sold mystery here involving sniffer dogs that kept me guessing up until the very end. The author was really good about dropping red herrings and leading the reader astray. There are some issues with the book though. For whatever reason there is a paranormal element in the book. The MC and her son can see and hear ghosts. It was used effectively a few times but it still just felt kind of out of place. Then there was a romance subplot. Nothing against romance in books but this really did not belong in this book at all. They are searching for a missing girl who's sister has been brutally murdered. The MC's son has been kidnapped and his release is hinging upon that missing girl being found in a certain time. Trying to pry a romantic subplot into the book just felt... icky. For instance there is a scene where the FMC is trapped underground with the MMC. It's about 12 hours until the deadline and they still haven't found the missing girl. Both characters are fatigued and injured. So lets have them flirt and try to create this romantic tension between the two. It just felt weird. Then there is my biggest criticism. Now I know I am reading a fictional book and things are not going to be 100% accurate to real life but the actions of the FBI in this book was just immersion breaking. Police officers in a Scooby Doo movie would probably be more effective then these characters. Why seal a crime scene when you can everyone just wander through doing what they want. Lets give our gun to the MC so that the brave agent can wander off into the dark looking for killer completely unarmed. In the start it wasn't that bad but the closer we got the end the worse it got and more often it happened. I was thinking about continuing this series but the whole FBI thing was just to much by the end and I'm done with things.

Shock Shop -3 Stars
*ssssssssssssssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*
There is a much younger version of me that would have loved this comic but current me was just bored. This was one of that horror comics that relied really heavily on the classic tropes. It had a horror host who introduced each chapter, the story was just the same old horror cliches. If you have ever seen an episode of Crypt Keeper or read the comics then you know exactly what you are getting here and that's what my issue is with this. I've read so many comics and short story collections that follow this exact same formula to the letter that it just doesn't have an impact on me anymore. It just feels like something that has been recycled and I want something new.

Beauty and the Feast 08 -3 Stars
Speaking of more of the same. There is still a part of me that enjoys this series but it's a lot of the same. Tons of food related stuff, sports stuff, and that weird tension. That tension where the story tries to be super wholesome but then it has super sexy splash pages. That weird tension where the author really wants there to be something between these two characters but backs off at the last minute.

Isabellae Volume 1 -4 Stars
This is a Spanish comic that takes place in medieval Japan and is a combination of Irish and Japanese mythology. Confused yet? This was such a random comic but it was entertaining. A lot of action scenes and a lot of set up for the big finale. I feel like this comic has a ton of potential and it will either succeed in the second book or completely fall flat on its face. I don't see there being much middle ground for this one.

Another Kind -5 Stars
This was a random snag from the library and I didn't have a lot of expectations for this one. I figured I'd get some middle grade horror novel that was just alright. I was not prepared for all the emotions this book made me feel. This was a found family book about six monster children who are in government protection. Things happen and they find themselves on their own and out in the real world. They have to learn how to trust each other while overcoming hurdles and finding their way in the world. It was just a wonderful read and one I highly recommend.

Now for what is next.

Domestication
I had a choice this week between a challenge audiobook or a "just because" audiobook and the "just because" book won out. I'm about 25% of the way into this book and I'm having fun so far.

Kiss of Frost
Finally getting around to me reread of this book and enjoying it so far. It's a bit frustrating early on as the MC is displaying some hard TSTL traits.

After that I have yet more manga I need to get done and back to the library.

I don't want to go shopping today but I don't remember the last time I bought pants and parts of my pants are starting to become see through when held up to the light. That and I really notice the cold wind as it blows through the holes that are starting to form in them.

Well, it's hovering around freezing and I'm keeping my windows open. Good luck cold blooded creature.

I have no issues with snakes but now I am feeling very uncomfortable and worried about what is in the walls.

In the middle of the night?

Regardless, he has sort of gone quiet now. A couple moments of banging and thumping but it's pretty quiet. Maybe he went to sleep in preparation for tonight.

My upstairs neighbor is not the quietest person around and moves around at all hours of the night but this morning it sounds like I am in the middle of a construction zone. It's been going now since about 4 and I'm not sure if he is trying to smash his way through the floor or if I'm in a never ending earthquake.

I'm reading The Darkest Thread and it's alright but man the FBI's reaction to things just breaks my immersion. I understand that books aren't 100% realistic but the FBI in this are essentially useless. Witness a crazy prepper kidnap two children, meh, let him go we'll sort it out later. Witness two people get murdered right in front of them, collect the bodies and leave the murderer be as they retreat. Finally find the missing victim, why not have everyone on the crime scene. Family members, serial killer still in his shackles (where in the hell did the marshals go that were guarding him?), anyone who could be a suspect in the case. Who isn't there, medical staff, rescuers, everyone that could actually possibly help the girl.

Oh, oh, oh and my favorite. The FBI agent who takes his service pistol, hands it off to a civilian, then wanders off into some tunnels that may or may not have a killer them. Yup, that sounds like a logical decision.