Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Review: The Murder at the Vicarage


The Murder at the Vicarage
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was much more enjoyable than the Hercule Poirot book I read a bit ago.
Part of that might have to do with the fact that Miss Marple is not the main character. A Vicar is. A laid back, keep the peace kind of guy. Easy to get along with and to read about.

Miss Marple is just a side character pointing out clues throughout the story. She isn't overbearing, arrogant and pushy.

Of course, Christie does seem fond of her villains trying to get caught to prove their innocence to cover their guilt. We'll see if that continues in other books.



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Monday, September 17, 2012

Review: Cerberus: A Wolf in the Fold


Cerberus: A Wolf in the Fold
Cerberus: A Wolf in the Fold by Jack L. Chalker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



*cue music*
Transformers...
...Robots in disguise
*end music*

That actually pretty much sums up this whole book. Ok, maybe not QUITE, but where Lilith dealt with 'magic', Cerberus deals with mind switching. And we get some pretty cool ideas and actions that come from that ability.

And the Agent is being affected by his clones, which makes him more than just a mouthpiece for the story to be told through. Which is good :)



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Sunday, September 16, 2012

Review: King Rat King Rat


King Rat King Rat
King Rat King Rat by James Clavell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The story about a military POW camp during WWII.

Centers around one man who makes it successfully through the camp and then collapses when they are freed due to his having made the camp his world. He can't deal with starting from scratch again and climbing up again out in the real world.

Not as enjoyable as [b:Shōgun|402093|Shōgun|James Clavell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320426001s/402093.jpg|1755568] or [b:Gai-Jin|42929|Gai-Jin|James Clavell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333578456s/42929.jpg|658129] however...



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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Review: xxxHolic, Vol. 02


xxxHolic, Vol. 02
xxxHolic, Vol. 02 by CLAMP

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Watanuki finds out some more about Yuuko. Also finds out that Domeki and he are tied together, and Watanuki can't stand that idea.



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Monday, September 10, 2012

Review: ¡Yotsuba! Vol. 11


¡Yotsuba! Vol. 11
¡Yotsuba! Vol. 11 by Kiyohiko Azuma

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Yotsuba never fails to amuse. While some volumes have definitely been funnier than this one, this was just as cute and full of energy as all the previous volumes.

A much needed slice of light & fluffy...



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Sunday, September 09, 2012

Review: Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Vol. 11


Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Vol. 11
Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Vol. 11 by CLAMP

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Sadly, the whole book was taken up with the Piffle race and the fact that "someone" is breaking rules, for unknown reasons.

Not a big fan of Tomoyo-chan in the Tsubasa incarnation...



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Saturday, September 08, 2012

Review: Elric of Melniboné


Elric of Melniboné
Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Dark, melancholic, but just enough hope to keep things from spiraling into hopeless horror.

Man, I ate this stuff up when I was a teen and young 20 something, reveling in hopeless despair.

Reading it now, it is just good writing. Very lyrical, sparse yet telling a wonderfully tragic tale. Sometimes sad can be ok.



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Friday, September 07, 2012

Review: The Dragon and the Djinn


The Dragon and the Djinn
The Dragon and the Djinn by Gordon R. Dickson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Dragon-wizard dude goes to the middle east, and inexplicably is an accomplished magician. Lots of eye-rolling and complete and utter dis-belief went on on my part as the reader, but I still had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Maybe because Carolinus wasn't along?



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Thursday, September 06, 2012

Review: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe


The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Probably the best known book of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Lewis doesn't make any bones about his theology in this novel and yet still tells a tale that can enthrall any child and most adults [those who are not too jaded anyway].



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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Review: Monstrous Regiment


Monstrous Regiment
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



It was amusing in some parts, extremely heavy handed in others. A good light read for one time. No plans on ever re-reading though, not like some of the first Discworld books...



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