Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire takes the story of Cinderella and tells it from one of the stepsister's point of view. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella so, in a sense, I already knew how the story would end but I found it entertaining to delve into the motivations of the characters. What made the evil stepmother evil? How ugly were the stepsisters? How did Cinderella end up in the ashes.
There's no fairy godmother in this story. No mice and birds to help the girl get to the ball. It's historical fiction, set in Holland, and trying to stay as close to the story as possible. I liked Iris, the ugly stepsister, and I wanted her to end up with her "happily ever after".
The only complaint I have is that it's written in present tense. Novels that do that always confuse me a little. It doesn't have the sense of immediacy that I expect it's supposed to have. In third person present form it doesn't flow very well for me.
I'm giving it a 4.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Naruto Volume 1
This is the second super-popular manga I decided to start. It's currently on volume 35 or something. I don't know if I'll stick with it that long but I enjoyed the first one.
Naruto is about a young, incompetent ninja who wants to be one of the greats. He's brash, a prankster and not that talented but I think that's mostly him holding himself back. He's much more sympathetic than I thought he would be.
Naruto is also the world of an evolving artist. It was never intended to be a long running manga, and there are indications of that in the writing. Sometimes it feels like Kishimoto is just making stuff up as he goes along. Still, I liked it enough that I want to keep reading. I'm giving it a 4.
Naruto is about a young, incompetent ninja who wants to be one of the greats. He's brash, a prankster and not that talented but I think that's mostly him holding himself back. He's much more sympathetic than I thought he would be.
Naruto is also the world of an evolving artist. It was never intended to be a long running manga, and there are indications of that in the writing. Sometimes it feels like Kishimoto is just making stuff up as he goes along. Still, I liked it enough that I want to keep reading. I'm giving it a 4.
Bleach Volume 2
In Bleach Volume 2 Kubo continues to expand his world. The Parakeet story was a little harder to follow but still kept me interested. The character list is growing and I worry that there might soon be too many to keep track of. I'm still giving it a 5.
Bleach Volume 1
I admit it. I've fallen to the dark side and started not one, but two, of the most popular and longest running manga series. The first step is admitting the problem...
Bleach is about a boy, who can see ghosts and is then conscripted as a Soul Reaper. The world is rich and Kubo is doing a good job so far about drawing the reader into the culture that he's created. I like both Ichigo and Rukia and I want to find out more about what happens to them.
I'll give it a 5.
Bleach is about a boy, who can see ghosts and is then conscripted as a Soul Reaper. The world is rich and Kubo is doing a good job so far about drawing the reader into the culture that he's created. I like both Ichigo and Rukia and I want to find out more about what happens to them.
I'll give it a 5.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Chibi Vampire Volume 13
So that's why Karen is the way she is. I have a couple of ideas of where the story could end up in the final volume. I didn't really see the events of volume so I could be completely wrong. I like that this can surprise me. I keep expecting certain things of this fluff and it keeps proving me wrong. I'm giving it a 4.
Hedge Knight II Sworn Sword
There's so much background in this story that it's almost like it's not about Dunk at all. Hedge Knight II Sworn Sword is as much about the world and it's history as it is about the main character and the primary story that is being told. It makes the story feel real.
There's something about Dunk that really makes me want to root for him. He's not the smartest man. Any decision he does come to is after a long an labourious process. He's not the most eloquent man. He often doesn't know what words to say. What he is is noble. Not in the sense of the man he's sworn his sword to, or in the sense of his rival Ser Lucas. Dunk has a sense of what it is to be loyal and how to do the right thing. Even when he doesn't have all the tools to follow his sense through.
I'm giving it a 4.
There's something about Dunk that really makes me want to root for him. He's not the smartest man. Any decision he does come to is after a long an labourious process. He's not the most eloquent man. He often doesn't know what words to say. What he is is noble. Not in the sense of the man he's sworn his sword to, or in the sense of his rival Ser Lucas. Dunk has a sense of what it is to be loyal and how to do the right thing. Even when he doesn't have all the tools to follow his sense through.
I'm giving it a 4.
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Guide to Owning a Red-Eared Slider
After I'd read Turtles and Tortoises I was pretty sure that I wanted to get him a Red-Eared Slider. They're fairly common, not extremely fussy and still a nice turtle.
The Guide to Owning a Red-eared Slider is exactly what it says it is. It's well-laid out, provides simple, yet good, information. I feel that I can not only make an informed choice of turtle but that we'll be able to take care of it. It gets a 4 from me. Only because I would have liked a little less information on breeding and a little more information on tank set-up.
The Guide to Owning a Red-eared Slider is exactly what it says it is. It's well-laid out, provides simple, yet good, information. I feel that I can not only make an informed choice of turtle but that we'll be able to take care of it. It gets a 4 from me. Only because I would have liked a little less information on breeding and a little more information on tank set-up.
Turtles and Tortoises
My 5 year old will soon be turning 6 and would like a pet of his own. He's fascinated with turtles and they seem like a pet that he'll be able to look after without too much help from his parents. However, it's still going to be a living creature and I think that if one is undertaking the responsibility of a pet that one should be as prepared as possible. I don't want to just throw a turtle in a tank and hope for the best.
Turtles and Tortoises is a great little book. It's easy to read and packed full of useful information for the beginner. It not only helps with setting up a turtle habitat, but helps in choosing the species and tips for down the road with turtle maintenance. It's a 5.
Turtles and Tortoises is a great little book. It's easy to read and packed full of useful information for the beginner. It not only helps with setting up a turtle habitat, but helps in choosing the species and tips for down the road with turtle maintenance. It's a 5.
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 21 War of the Symbiotes
Another Ultimate Spider-Man, another story about clones. Ho hum. I liked War of the Symbiotes but there seemed to be something missing. Or maybe there was just too much plot stuffed into too small a package. I absolutely loved the bits with Eddie talking to people on the park bench. You knew where it was going but the anticipation was built up fabulously. The inner monologue of Peter when he was swallowed by the Venom suit was also fantastic. It gave a great sense that he wasn't in control.
Unfortunately, I think the Gwen Stacy moments and the Ultimates and Carnage were just a bit too much to cram into the one volume. The story didn't really seem developed and felt like it was in a rush to get somewhere. I'm also not that fond of Silver Sable and her Syndicate. They were almost as unnecessary as the Beetle. This volume suffered from too many villains syndrome so I can only give it a 3.
Unfortunately, I think the Gwen Stacy moments and the Ultimates and Carnage were just a bit too much to cram into the one volume. The story didn't really seem developed and felt like it was in a rush to get somewhere. I'm also not that fond of Silver Sable and her Syndicate. They were almost as unnecessary as the Beetle. This volume suffered from too many villains syndrome so I can only give it a 3.
Hordes: Primal
My husband had been trying to get me into Privateer Press' Warmachine for a while. We play miniature war games together but mostly just those from Games Workshop. I have no interest in giant robots. I just don't like them, they're in the same category as power armour. Monsters on the other hand... As soon as I saw the Warpwolf I was hooked.
Hordes: Primal is the first book released for Hordes. There's been two more at this point but I think Primal still has some of the best stuff for the game. It details the four factions: Skorne, Trollbloods, Circle Orboros and Legion of Everblight. My faction is Circle. I just like the druid background and all the models.
It's a great game. Most of the time you can get a game finished in about an hour or two, sometimes even faster. The rules are fast and brutal and reward those willing to take a chance. The background is deep and interesting. I find myself reading the rule book and wondering what's going to happen next.
I'll give this one a 5.
Hordes: Primal is the first book released for Hordes. There's been two more at this point but I think Primal still has some of the best stuff for the game. It details the four factions: Skorne, Trollbloods, Circle Orboros and Legion of Everblight. My faction is Circle. I just like the druid background and all the models.
It's a great game. Most of the time you can get a game finished in about an hour or two, sometimes even faster. The rules are fast and brutal and reward those willing to take a chance. The background is deep and interesting. I find myself reading the rule book and wondering what's going to happen next.
I'll give this one a 5.
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