It worries me that I sense a pattern here, and it’s only book 2. Open with adventure, something bad happens, but not too bad. Second, bigger, adventure during which Max suffers a personal crisis, probably involving Leon. Third major adventure during which crisis one is either solved or rendered unimportant. End on quasi-hopeful/positive note with promise of more trouble next time. I don’t have a problem with the plot or the pacing in A Symphony of Echoes, but I worry that when a general pattern […]
An Unclear Circus Farewell
I have to admit, the timing here is almost ironic. I finish this book just when Ringling Brothers announces their closure. Anyways, Night Circus has a lot going for it. An interesting premise, mystery, magic, and a great cast of characters in an intriguing setting. The language is also unusually detailed, which matches well with the mysterious artsy tone. I should have loved this, but I only liked it. I had 3 main problems with Night Circus. First and foremost, I hate present tense narrative, […]
Venturing into Marvel Comics for the First Time
I have to admit I’ve never really followed Marvel comics much (or DC for that matter), but I picked up Patsy Walker aka Hellcat! Hooked on a Feline on the recommendation of a friend. This was a fun introduction to a character I didn’t know and a world I barely know. The story follows Patsy trying to find a job and normal life in NYC. She also does some standard superhero villain busting on the side (mostly on her own). She has a hard time […]
Half Splash, Twice
First, some shameless self-congratulations: Cannonball! I was originally thinking I could only do a half, which I signed up for, but here I am with a full 52! Yay me 🙂 OK, moving on. Steampunk Tea Party is probably the best Christmas present I’ve gotten in a long while. Long Live Book Exchange! It’s part cookbook, part photo book, and part short story collection. Each of the six chapters has a theme with recipes, excerpts from character voices, pictures of characters in elaborate costumes, pictures […]
Forward but in Reverse
So The Lazarus Gate is the predecessor of The Iscariot Sanction. These 2 books as it turns out are nearly stand-alones. If I’d read them in the correct order, I’m not sure I would have liked book 2. The Lazarus Gate takes place in the better of the two alternates; for the details of the bad one, you’ll need to read Iscariot Sanction. When the bad universe that’s falling apart with demons etc is described in The Lazarus Gate, there isn’t much detail, so it’s […]
Superfun Times, Vegan Style
I like cookbooks, and I particularly like those by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. So naturally, I picked up her latest, The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook. I am not vegan, but I lean in that direction, and I like cookbooks that A) don’t preach, and B) don’t use a lot of obscure ingredients or equipment. So far, I have read through the whole book, and worked my way through the Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes. The recipes themselves are up to Isa Chandra’s usual standard of yummy, […]
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