I have been a fan of Gargoyles from the first time an episode aired on TV way back in 1994. Bad Guys has a lot of the over-the-topness of the cartoon,I have been a fan of Gargoyles from the first time an episode aired on TV way back in 1994. Bad Guys has a lot of the over-the-topness of the cartoon, so there were moments that I just found a little silly, but those are coupled with moments that would NEVER have aired in a children's cartoon--in particular, an on-screen murder and an off-screen suicide.
Definitely worth the read, though the ending feels more like the ending to a pilot episode of a series, than a conclusion in and of itself....more
This is a very opinionated book, and although the author is very much aware that he is opinionated, it is something the reader should be aware of whenThis is a very opinionated book, and although the author is very much aware that he is opinionated, it is something the reader should be aware of when picking up this book. I was curious, as a writer, to have certain incorrect phrases pointed out (like "centers around" vs. "centers on", or double prepositions and weasel words). But the author's reasonings behind his gripes were often nonsensical and, I think, a little too restrictive. If he doesn't like "ginormous" on the grounds that it's a portmanteau word, how does he feel about "chortle," which is also a portmanteau that made its way into general usage? Or any other neologism, for that matter? His test for whether a word is a "real word" or not means going to the oldest dictionary he has (from the 1950s) and seeing if the word exists in that edition. He is also not a fan of old cliches but doesn't seem to have the linguistic flair to create new ones.
Admitting that one is a grammar snob, and writing this book from that standpoint, does not make grammar snobbery any more palatable.
Personally, I would recommend this book for people who already have a firm grasp of grammar and who can approach this book with a grain of salt....more
Another solid story from Mr. Gaiman--with some very interesting twists on typical "horror" creatures. Couldn't help but hear Silas speak with the voicAnother solid story from Mr. Gaiman--with some very interesting twists on typical "horror" creatures. Couldn't help but hear Silas speak with the voice of Allen Rickman :)...more
This was a really good book, I'm so glad my book club chose it because it would've otherwise flown beneath my radar. All the different stories are wovThis was a really good book, I'm so glad my book club chose it because it would've otherwise flown beneath my radar. All the different stories are woven together in an unusual way, chronologically-speaking, but in a way that strangely makes sense. I especially liked how many of the stories were versions of familiar fairy tales, altered so much as to be almost unrecognizable.
Only possible complaints are that the translation felt slightly clunky in some places, and that the end left some plot questions unanswered. Is there a sequel, anyone?...more
A good book by Dahl. It didn't quite blow me out of the water, and having seen the movie so many times I wasn't really surprised by anything in the stA good book by Dahl. It didn't quite blow me out of the water, and having seen the movie so many times I wasn't really surprised by anything in the story. But a solid read, all the same....more
This book really wants us to feel sympathy for the main character, Howie, and all of his pent-up angers and frustrations at being a crippled, mute, miThis book really wants us to feel sympathy for the main character, Howie, and all of his pent-up angers and frustrations at being a crippled, mute, middle-aged veteran in a world full of young, beautiful, talking people. This book really wants us to feel for his struggling attempts to connect with the young boy foisted off into his care by his passive-aggressive, drug-addicted ex-girlfriend who is forced into rehab by her sister.
But we can't all get what we want, and despite the book's valiant attempts to make Howie into some kind of relatable hero, I just couldn't bring myself to sympathize with or even like him. Despite years of living an independent and mature (though admittedly sterile) lifestyle, the moment his life is shaken up, he regresses into a child-man who makes decisions based on pride and impulse and who throws destructive (and even violent) temper tantrums. And how many times do we need to hear about what's happening in his pants, really?
I had to force myself through the second half, mainly skimming, and that only because it had been lent to me by a friend and I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt.
The minor characters were slightly more likeable, but there was far too much time spent on Howie's ex-girlfriend Sylvia, whose presence in any scene was the equivalent of nails on chalkboard. I could not at all sympathize with Howie during moments when he actually fantasized about building a life with this poisonous emotional train-wreck.
On top of that, the story moved very slowly and the first 70 pages felt twice as long as they actually were. I tend to prefer stories with a more active plot, though your mileage may vary.
I have never been a fan of what my husband calls "broken vase" stories--where all the characters are emotionally stunted, maladjusted and/or immature and the story is all about their failed attempts to relate to one another in any meaningful way. This book reminded me why....more
Despite the fact that the legend of King Arthur is so well-known and so ingrained in the popular zeitgeist, this book still managed to surprise me. I Despite the fact that the legend of King Arthur is so well-known and so ingrained in the popular zeitgeist, this book still managed to surprise me. I could enjoy it both on its own terms and through a modern, more ironic lens. There were times I just had to roll my eyes at some of the knights; but at other times I was genuinely moved. I can see why it is such an important story, even to this day.
And I still think Sir Gareth is an under-appreciated knight. He is not a household name like Lancelot or Gawain or Galahad, but he is one of the best knights of the Round Table and is arguably vital (through no fault of his own) to the tragedy that undoes Arthur's kingdom.
I particularly liked this version of the story, which updated spelling, punctuation and paragraphing while keeping the medieval syntax intact. The presentation and layout were also attractive, and Lumianski's choice to use both the Winchester and Caxton divisions made the text very approachable and user-friendly....more
Books like this make me wish there was more variance in the Shelfari rating system. This was a high-end 3, light and amusing and charming and clever. Books like this make me wish there was more variance in the Shelfari rating system. This was a high-end 3, light and amusing and charming and clever. However, it is a bit of a novelty book and it didn't exceptionally blow me away with anything. It was exactly as I expected it to be--surprising :)...more
A well-written book. It didn't quite draw me in as well as "Deep Secret" or other of Jones's books, but there was some great world-building going on iA well-written book. It didn't quite draw me in as well as "Deep Secret" or other of Jones's books, but there was some great world-building going on in here. And the Ultimate Conga Line made the whole book worth it :)...more
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