Bookstooge's Reviews On the Road

Monday, April 01, 2024

March '24 Roundup & Ramblings

Raw Data:

Novels – 12 ↓

Short Stories – 0 –

Manga/Graphic Novels – 0 –

Comics – 1 –

Average Rating – 3.50 ↑

Pages – 3259 ↓

Words – 1145K ↓

The Bad:

Notes from Underground – 1Star DNF@10% nonsense

The Good:

The Lives of Christopher Chant – 5Stars of how Middlegrade should be written!

Movie:

Martian Successor Nadesico was an overload of angsty emotions and activity.

Miscellaneous Posts:

Personal:

Great book month! Yes, I read less but boy, did I read some great books. I was looking at my ratings calendar and I kept seeing 4star here, 4star there, it was just wonderful. And did you see that monthly average? 3.50!!!! I nearly blew a happy gasket when I calculated that particular statistic 🙂

Had a stomach bug near the beginning of the month. I also had to get some injections in my eyes because of my diabetes. Couple both of those things with the shenanigans that WordPress.com started pulling and it was no wonder I took a week off from socializing online. I was pretty stressed out. Once I got back things were a bit better. I’m thinking about permanently uninstalling the jetpack app on my phone so that I can only go on wordpress when I have access to my laptop.

At the same time, I wrote more non-review posts and overall really enjoyed it. You can’t see it, but I also journaled a LOT more this month. Almost every single day. So in terms of getting the words out of my system, this was an amazing month. Words, words, words! Plus, the week where I took off from WordPress and didn’t get words out in people’s comment sections, I ended up texting a lot of people who I don’t normally communicate with regularly, so that was good to reconnect with old acquaintances again. Or get more acquainted with the regulars. It is surprising how many people I know that are not texter’s. For some of those people, if I got a response at all, I counted that as a victory 😀

Paid my bleeding, fething, fracking, bleepity bleeping taxes. Second year in a row that we have ended up owing money instead of getting a refund. Huh, almost like our current administration is a spendthrift with other peoples’ money (ie, MINE). I’m going to leave it at that before I say something I shouldn’t, like “I wish all IRS agents would just suddenly drop dead”. That’s the kind of thing you can’t say in the United Soviet States of America any more.

Sadly, real life also sandbagged me right near the end of the month. Something I never saw coming in a million years. Thankfully, it WAS just a sandbag and not a baseball bat, but it did leave me reeling for a couple of days. Got my bearings back but man, realizing the emotions and their fallout, amazing how something little can have a big affect.

Plans for Next Month:

The Usual. I feel like I’ve gotten into a blogging rut and right now, I’m ok with staying right there. I don’t have the “oomph” to try something new, so I won’t.

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Happy Resurrection Day! 2024 Edition

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1st Corinthians 1: 18

Despite a world experiencing increasing lawlessness and chaos, despite whatever issues I am experiencing, the truth is that God is in control. He had a plan for the salvation of mankind before He even created the cosmos. He knew me by name. When I stand before the throne of Judgement on the last day, all of my sins, all of my faults, all of the evil within me, will have been paid for by Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. The proof is His resurrection. And I celebrate that today. And you can too.

You are not perfect. You know this. And God demands perfection. Not because He is a hateful tyrant but because He is perfect and can accept nothing less. He is Perfect Justice. He is also Perfect Mercy. He has shown you that mercy by giving you the chance to accept His Son Jesus as your Savior and your Lord. Jesus was perfect and He will take your sins and imperfection if you give them to Him. For the love of God people, don’t turn away and reject that!!! Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. The least you can do is ASK! It costs you nothing. A mere five seconds of your time.

I know most of the time I deliberately try to be positive and upbeat about what the Resurrection of Jesus means to me personally. But I have that hope and I don’t know that you do. I want you to have that hope and eternal assurance. So please, I beg you, ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you.

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Red War (Mitch Rapp #17) 3Stars

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: Red War
Series: Mitch Rapp #17
Author: Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 316
Words: 96K

On his author page for the book, Kyle Mills shows how his speculation about powerful world leaders and specifically Putin, formed the basis for this book. Published in 2018, it was very prescient of how Russia would act in the coming years. Thankfully for us, Russia chose to invade Ukraine instead of starting World War III by invading some NATO countries. So I consider this book alternate future history.

At the same time, it was very uncomfortable as we know how the conflict actually has turned out and there is no super action hero to save the day. Men like Mitch Rapp are purely fictional, unfortunately. I’d have much preferred a truly fictional story for a truly fictional character. War is only enjoyable to read about if you know what is happening isn’t real, can’t be real and never will be real. Once it takes a turn into the possible, then you are forced to deal with the horrors of real war.

It was a great action story. With the retired assassin Azarov being forced out of retirement and working alongside Rapp, the dynamics were great. I was able to put aside my dislike of Mills’ handling of Rapp as a purely action hero’y kind of guy and just let the story carry me along, like I had just jumped out of an airplane for a HALO insertion.

And I just landed in your back yard. And killed you. With my nuclear bazooka. So I win! Just like I did when I read this book.

★★★☆☆

From Kylemills.com

Synopsis – Click to Open

When Russian president Maxim Krupin discovers that he has inoperable brain cancer, he’s determined to cling to power. His first task is to kill or imprison any of his countrymen who can threaten him. Soon, though, his illness becomes serious enough to require a more dramatic diversion—war with the West.

Upon learning of Krupin’s condition, CIA director Irene Kennedy understands that the US is facing an opponent who has nothing to lose. The only way to avoid a confrontation that could leave millions dead is to send Mitch Rapp to Russia under impossibly dangerous orders. With the Kremlin’s entire security apparatus hunting him, he must find and kill a man many have deemed the most powerful in the world.

Success means averting a war that could consume all of Europe. But if his mission is discovered, Rapp will plunge Russia and America into a conflict that neither will survive.

All My “Mitch Rapp” Reviews

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Spies! (Groo the Wanderer #27) 3.5Stars

Title: Spies!
Series: Groo the Wanderer #27
Author: Sergio Aragones
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Comics
Pages: 23
Words: 2K

I don’t know why I keep “reviewing” these. Mainly to keep track I guess. I mean, these are regularly funny. Every time I read one I enjoy myself. How many ways can I say “I enjoyed this funny comic because Groo is an idiot”. So far, I’ve said it 27 times. I guess that’s enough. I think after this I’ll just start using this “review” place to talk about whatever is on my mind at the time. So be prepared to be wowed and amazed as I pontificate on matters most important.

★★★✬☆

From Bookstooge.blog

The Minstrel and the Sage are captured as spies and they tell a couple of stories about Groo as a spy to fend off their deaths. Groo is in the camp and when everyone starts making fun of him he attacks them. Minstrel and Sage use the chaos to escape and the issue ends with Groo furiously attacking everyone.

All of My “Groo the Wanderer” Reviews

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Marvel Champions: The Acquisitioning

So, somebody had a birthday this month. And somebody requested the First Cycle of Marvel Champions. And what is more, somebody got the cycle too. Somebody is a lucky rat barstard. And he’s obviously devilishly handsome to boot!

I made out like a bandit this year. At this time in my life, gifts are becoming harder and harder as I have most of what I already want. But introducing a new hobby has introduced new things to acquisition (hence the title) and this make it easier to send out lists for the family. I got the Base Game for Christmas and finally got it Sleeved Up earlier this month.

The Green Goblin scenario pack
Wrecking Crew scenario pack
Thor hero pack
Captain America hero pack
Ms Marvel hero pack
Hulk hero pack
Dr Strange hero pack
Black Widow hero pack

Now that I am the proud owner of the first cycle, Let the Playening Begin! Well, maybe next month. Wouldn’t want to rush into anything now, you know? 😉

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Portraits of Murder 4Stars

Title: Portraits of Murder
Series: ———-
Editor: Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Crime Fiction
Pages: 607
Words: 241K

This is the final Alfred Hitchcock collection that I have access to. After this, I have several of the issues of the new magazine. So it seems fitting to end this reading journey, which started in 2021 with “Death Mate”, with a gigantic collection (it is over 600 pages after all) of murder, almost murder and revenge.

Of the 47 stories, I found that only 2 or 3 were repeats and they were good enough that I didn’t mind reading them again. This kept me occupied for almost a week, as I would just dip my toes into its pages each night until I was tired enough to go to sleep. That’s a great way to read a collection of short stories.

The final 10 or so stories dealt with the supernatural. There was a clear demarcation up to that point. Everything up to then had been plain old people doing dirty or being done dirty. Then suddenly things got all supernatural. It was kind of jarring, as it felt like a completely different collection. Murder was still the main dish, but suddenly the menu with all the sides had changed, dramatically. It was like I went from having the option of ordering loaded baked potatoes, cheese sticks or onion rings to carrot sticks, apple slices or plain yoghurt. And that is why this collection was 4stars and not more. It was too much of a change for me to comfortably enjoy.

★★★★☆

Table of Contents:

Click to Open

EDWARD D. HOCH—Shattered Rainbow

DONALD HONIG—Wonderful, Wonderful Violence

LAWRENCE BLOCK—The Most Unusual Snatch

NEDRA TYRE—A Murder Is Arranged

HENRY SLESAR—The Poisoned Pawn

DON TOTHE—The Lifesaver

JACK RITCHIE—What Frightened You, Fred?

HAROLD Q. MASUR—Doctor’s Dilemma

CLARK HOWARD—Money To Burn

BABS H. DEAL—The House Guest

WILLIAM LINK and RICHARD LEVINSON—The Man in the Lobby

LAWRENCE TREAT—Family Code

WILLIAM BANKIER—To Kill an Angel

PAULINE C. SMITH—That Monday Night

CHARLES W. RUNYON—The Waiting Room

CLARK HOWARD—The Keeper

BILL PRONZINI—The Jade Figurine

REYNOLD JUNKER—The Volunteers

EDWARD D. HOCH—Arbiter of Uncertainties

FLETCHER FLORA—Variations on an Episode

ED LACY—Finders-Killers

W. E. DAN ROSS—The Pearls of Li Pong

MICHAEL COLLINS—Who?

STANLEY ABBOTT—A Quiet Backwater

PHIL DAVIS—Murder, Anyone?

WILLIAM JEFFREY—The Island

HAL ELLSON—Room to Let

AL NUSSBAUM—The One Who Got Away

BRYCE WALTON—Unidentified and Dead

EDWIN P. HICKS—The Lure and the Clue

BORDEN DEAL—The Big Bajoor

JACK RITCHIE—The Operator

DONALD OLSON—The Souvenir

NANCY SCHACHTERLE—Speak Well for the Dead

JONATHAN CRAIG—The Girl in Gold

DONALD HONIG—Minutes of Terror

ARTHUR PORGES—Puddle

LAWRENCE BLOCK—When This Man Dies

ELIJAH ELLIS—Public Office

MARGARET B. MARON—The Beast Within

C. B. GILFORD—Murder in Mind

ARTHUR PORGES—The Invisible Tomb

JAMES H. SCHMITZ—Just Curious

HENRY SLESAR—The Girl Who Found Things

CLAYTON MATTHEWS—Death Trance

GEORGE C. CHESBRO—The Healer

PATRICK O’KEEFFE—Murder by Dream

All of My “Alfred Hitchcock” Reviews