A silly little book from a silly little Twitter feed that I've been enjoying. It uses maps to make bad puns and/or poke fun at the way we use maps in A silly little book from a silly little Twitter feed that I've been enjoying. It uses maps to make bad puns and/or poke fun at the way we use maps in our society. I definitely recommend it if you want to have a bit of silly in your life....more
In volume 11, Mma Ramotswe is called upon to find an heir, uncover evidence of a philandering husband, and figure out a way to help a man who was scamIn volume 11, Mma Ramotswe is called upon to find an heir, uncover evidence of a philandering husband, and figure out a way to help a man who was scammed to give away his house. Complicating life is a serious accident suffered by Phuti Radiphuti which threatens his upcoming marriage to Grace Makutsi. Like the other books in this series, it's a fun, light read with likable characters. ...more
In the third collection of Spacetrawler a band of liberated eebs are running amuck, seeking revenge against the galaxy that enslaved them by torching In the third collection of Spacetrawler a band of liberated eebs are running amuck, seeking revenge against the galaxy that enslaved them by torching entire planets with their powerful telekinesis. The six humans who were instrumental in freeing the eebs are faced with the choice of hiding out or trying to stop the genocidal rampage. Of course, with these humans, neither choice will go as planned......more
The fourth volume of The Chronicles of St. Mary's is rather dark. Like the previous books, the characters travel to various time periods and historicaThe fourth volume of The Chronicles of St. Mary's is rather dark. Like the previous books, the characters travel to various time periods and historical events. These jaunts are still narrated with a liberal dose of humor and snark. Ms. Taylor does her usual good job of spinning the tale. But this time, Max is not leading teams of historians to research the past. Instead she's on the run from the bad guys, which makes for a lot more pain and bloodshed. Philosophically, I can appreciate the reframing of a typical St. Mary's novel. But, alas, it wasn't as fun to read. ...more
In this volume, Mr. Abrams takes the unprecedented step of splitting up Riff and Torg. Riff has been transported to another dimension where he is trapIn this volume, Mr. Abrams takes the unprecedented step of splitting up Riff and Torg. Riff has been transported to another dimension where he is trapped in 4U City, a futuristic metropolis where everyone is happy. Said happiness is mandated by law and achieved by a combination of pharmaceuticals and weeding out of the sad. Riff, of course, begins to make his plans for escape. Meanwhile, back home, Torg gathers with Sasha, Bun-bun, Kiki, Sam, and Zombie Head on a Stick to work for the Minion Master. Together they work to eliminate the competing, super scientific, criminal organizations.
While I wasn't fond of the character split when the strips first came out, I do think it gave a kick in quality to the strip. The humor in the Minion Master strips evoke the spirit of the earlier strips in the series. And the unraveling plot in both storylines is enticing. I'll have to splurge on the next collection the next time I get an influx of cash. ...more
It's been a minute... This installment of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency features two mysteries. The official one is that Mma Ramotswe is hired by It's been a minute... This installment of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency features two mysteries. The official one is that Mma Ramotswe is hired by the owner of the local football club to figure out who in the organization has betrayed him and caused the team to lose more matches. The unofficial one is where Mma Makutsi, assistant detective, tries to figure out how her nemesis, Violet Sephotho, sales associate, is able to sell so many beds. The latter may not seem like a challenging mystery, but it's hard for Mma Makutsi to think straight when the store is owned by her fiance and she's sure Violet is making a play for him. All in all, it's not great literature, but it is an enjoyable read. ...more
Randall Munroe takes a second turn of giving mostly scientific answers to ridiculous questions. The scenarios explored seem less destructive than thosRandall Munroe takes a second turn of giving mostly scientific answers to ridiculous questions. The scenarios explored seem less destructive than those in the first What If? book. (At least to my recollection.) But the explanations and illustrative are just as amusing and entertaining....more
This is a light hearted look at the accents of the American midwest--which Mr. McClelland defines as "west of Exit 41 on the New York State Thruway, eThis is a light hearted look at the accents of the American midwest--which Mr. McClelland defines as "west of Exit 41 on the New York State Thruway, east of the Missouri River, and north of the Ohio River." There are three accents in this region: the North Central, the Midland, and the Inland North. (Which, of course, isn't an accent. Just ask all the people in my hometown.) The book mixes history, linguistics, and anecdotes from the region, along with a glossary of important local slang. It was a delight to read. All youse from the midwest oughta check it out....more
When putting Doonesbury Deluxe away, I happened to pick this one off the shelf. It's a collection of comics from the late Cornerstone magazine from abWhen putting Doonesbury Deluxe away, I happened to pick this one off the shelf. It's a collection of comics from the late Cornerstone magazine from about 1985 to 1992. The strip features Oboe, an apartment building manager, and the people in his life. Most the characters are born-again Christians with a Baptist-flavored theology, so the book is a humorous peek into the life of folks in that sub-culture at that time. (As a Lutheran, I get most of the jokes, even if they don't always hit deep.) While many aspects of the strip have become dated, the humor and stories still work and the characters are appealing. Definitely a keeper for me....more
In this collection, the Walden crowd has graduated and moved on to begin their careers. Mike and JJ relocate to New York where Mike works at an ad ageIn this collection, the Walden crowd has graduated and moved on to begin their careers. Mike and JJ relocate to New York where Mike works at an ad agency and JJ tries to make a place for herself in the NY art scene. BD and Boopsie are on the other coast, where Boopsie is an actress and spiritual channeler and BD is third string quarterback for the LA Rams. Mark is now working for National Public Radio, and Zonker enters medical school. Well, at least that's what his Uncle Duke calls it. In the background are the events of the mid-1980s: homelessness, musical artists raising funds for Africa, the Star Wars defense, Iran-Contra, and the AIDS epidemic. ...more
Okay, I've read a Ronald Reagan biography, so it's time to dig into the next Doonesbury collection on my shelf. This one covers 1980 through 1984. In Okay, I've read a Ronald Reagan biography, so it's time to dig into the next Doonesbury collection on my shelf. This one covers 1980 through 1984. In addition to the 1980 election and the first Reagan administration, the collection covers: Zonker's stint on the professional tanning circuit, Mike's campaigning for John Anderson (and meeting J.J.), Honey's testifying against the Gang of Four, Joanie and Rick's marriage and the birth of their son, Mark's father's business adventures under the Reagan administration, and Duke's problems as an ex-hostage and attempt to start a charter boat business....more
Book 18 of Sluggy Freelance. I think this one is my least favorite to date. The main storyline is pretty much just the gang sharing quarters in an apaBook 18 of Sluggy Freelance. I think this one is my least favorite to date. The main storyline is pretty much just the gang sharing quarters in an apartment with an excursion to a spirit dimension. There are plenty of interruptions: another Torg Potter parody ("The Giblets with Fiber"), Stick Figures in Space, Torg's "Gunman Stan McKurt" comics, and a variety of full page gags "from the Art Desk of Torg". (Hmmm, 'tis a very Torgy volume.) There's also a collection of Clay Yount's weekend strips. The best part, methinks, is the Years of Yarncraft story which tells of the gang's addiction to a MMORPG. It plays out with both strips within the game world and strips out in "reality". Anyway, the book has some laughs, but it definitely was not the best work Mr. Abrams has done. Still, it's worth checking out....more
This Doonesbury collection features some strips from 1975-1978. Ongoing storylines include Duke's stints as governor of American Samoa and U.S. ambassThis Doonesbury collection features some strips from 1975-1978. Ongoing storylines include Duke's stints as governor of American Samoa and U.S. ambassador to China, adoptee Kim's new life in America, bicentennial recollections of minuteman Nate Harris, Ginny's congressional campaign, as well as various jabs at the Ford and Carter administrations. Having read biographies of both Presidents in the past year, I could better appreciate the political jokes. It makes me wonder if I should move on to the next Doonesbury collection I have or wait until after I read a biography of Ronald Reagan....more
I've had this one on the shelf for a long, long time, but I haven't read it in a while. It's a collection of some of the strips from the first six yeaI've had this one on the shelf for a long, long time, but I haven't read it in a while. It's a collection of some of the strips from the first six years of the comic strip Doonesbury--1970 to 1975. It's been so long, it's kind of like I'm reading it for the first time. The first thing that struck me was echoes of Charles Schulz in the strips. If the early For Better or For Worse was Charlie Brown as an adult, these early Doonesbury strips could be Charlie Brown goes to college. But as I read further, my attention focused less on the art & the gags and more on the historical context. My knowledge of America in the 1960s and 70s has increased and I'm better equipped to appreciate the satire on changing mores, the Vietnam War, and the Nixon era than I was in my younger days. I came for the jokes but I think I'll keep it for the history....more
This one's a sequel to Just One Damned Thing After Another. The first sequel, actually, because there's a whole series of these things. In this very aThis one's a sequel to Just One Damned Thing After Another. The first sequel, actually, because there's a whole series of these things. In this very amusing account, the gang at St. Mary's deal with Jack the Ripper, a kidnapped team member, a suspicious psychiatrist, trespassing in a royal garden, and a criminal who hasn't committed his crime yet. I enjoyed it immensely, though I was a bit troubled to realize I had forgotten a lot of details of the previous book after a mere seven months. Oh, well, I still remember enough about this tome to advise you to check it out....more
I think I'll have to get a copy of this one for my shelf. I own numerous* time travel novels--either tales of time agents who make trip after trip to I think I'll have to get a copy of this one for my shelf. I own numerous* time travel novels--either tales of time agents who make trip after trip to the past to fix the timeline or stories of capers through time where an individual or group work to change history for the better. (Better being a matter of opinion, of course.) Ms. Taylor's story, however, fits neither category. Just One Damned Thing After Another introduces the St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research a group that simply travels to the past to gather data first hand. Well, at least that's the plan. This story follows St. Mary's newest recruit, historian Madeline Maxwell. "Max" seems to be a magnet for trouble and, while she fits in well with the other misfits of St. Mary's, she does seem to be in the center of events that shake things up for the Institute. Hijinks ensue, peppered with humor, adventure, and romance. It's a fun read. ___ *75, according to my LibraryThing tags. But that also includes short story collections and graphic novels....more
This one's a collection of short stories featuring the wizard detective Harry Dresden. They fit into various moments of The Dresden Files' chronology,This one's a collection of short stories featuring the wizard detective Harry Dresden. They fit into various moments of The Dresden Files' chronology, from a tale of Harry Dresden's training as a private investigator to a story set immediately after the events in the novel Changes. The stories are entertaining, skewing more towards the humor than the crises of the novels. (The last story, "Aftermath", being a notable exception.) It's a good tome for a Harry Dresden fan to have on the shelf for whenever they want a quick foray into Mr. Butcher's fantasy world....more
For the 20th Anniversary of the comic strip For Better or For Worse, Lynn Johnston put together this 213 page book that looks at the world of her striFor the 20th Anniversary of the comic strip For Better or For Worse, Lynn Johnston put together this 213 page book that looks at the world of her strip. Part of it is back story on the characters and the settings, part of it tells of the real life inspirations of the same. All of it is liberally illustrated with strips and artwork from the strip's first 20 years. It's a book only a true fan could appreciate. But the non-fan might enjoy skipping the text and just reading the comics....more
This one's a collection of comic strips that Dave Berg did for Mad magazine. As the subtitle says, it spans five decades of work. The collection is noThis one's a collection of comic strips that Dave Berg did for Mad magazine. As the subtitle says, it spans five decades of work. The collection is not complete--I only recognized one set of strips, even though I read numerous issues of Mad back in the day. But it's still worth checking out. Mr. Berg had a great talent in finding humor in everyday life....more
At this stage in the series, Drawn & Quarterly should start naming these reprints Skeezix & Walt. By 1933, the focus of Gasoline Alley had changed froAt this stage in the series, Drawn & Quarterly should start naming these reprints Skeezix & Walt. By 1933, the focus of Gasoline Alley had changed from Walt Wallet and his fellow auto aficionados to the antics of Skeezix and his pals. As such, the road trip storylines from previous years give way to tales of youthful clubs, capers, and investigations. It's still amusing and still offers a peek into another time...more
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