Oh, CARL. The way he can connect rich people destroying Florida, single mothers, cops with messy lives, at least five people who could be called "FlorOh, CARL. The way he can connect rich people destroying Florida, single mothers, cops with messy lives, at least five people who could be called "Florida Man," politicians, and other assorted kooks . . . I just love it! ...more
This is a very fun new magical adventure for middle grade readers featuring a wonderful cast of characters both human and otherwise. There are familiaThis is a very fun new magical adventure for middle grade readers featuring a wonderful cast of characters both human and otherwise. There are familiar creatures like dragons and unicorns, and unfamiliar ones like trigers and a Leaping (teleporting) Lemur, plus a ton of action and a very solid mystery at its heart. I loved the worldbuilding: both Majestica itself and the hints of the larger world around it. I hope there's more books!...more
Picked this up because of the cover and the description, got a little ways in and was like, Wait, wait, is this the Jupiter's Legacy guy? (It is.) ThePicked this up because of the cover and the description, got a little ways in and was like, Wait, wait, is this the Jupiter's Legacy guy? (It is.) The art's the same, the basic story is the same, except with magic instead of superheroes. And there's extreme violence and gratuitous sex while people talk about stuff that happened before the story started, making the reader wonder if they've missed something. Also, the most interesting characters got done dirty (in my opinion), while the character Millar is clearly in love with got too much screen time, and for no reason. (People are dying, do we need to see this goes nowhere flashback? Or this person naked?) I also wish the all the women hadn't been traced from Golden Age Lois Lane, so that they could be told apart.
I did actually like the ending, and I don't regret reading it. I just . . . I wanted something more from a book called The Magic Order with such a great cover, you know?...more
I was just sort of aware of this book's existence, but didn't realize until a couple of weeks ago when I listened to Dear Mr. Henshaw that it was a seI was just sort of aware of this book's existence, but didn't realize until a couple of weeks ago when I listened to Dear Mr. Henshaw that it was a sequel! I love Leigh, and I love Dear Mr. Henshaw! And I love listening to Pedro Pascal read these books! This was fun, but I also really like getting see Leigh a little more grown, finding himself, working through his complicated feelings with his dad. Cleary is such a wonder at capturing exactly the way children look at the world and interact with it. ...more
Stop alluding to things that happened before (Civil war on the moon! The great Pola Cola battle of 1932!) and just show me those things, instead of stStop alluding to things that happened before (Civil war on the moon! The great Pola Cola battle of 1932!) and just show me those things, instead of stories about people going, "Watch out, it's KLAUS!" And then he beats them up. I mean, it's honestly pretty great, the art is especially gorgeous. But the big tease about other, steampunk type adventures? Not fair, man! ...more
If "Santa Claus fighting Surtr on Jupiter's moon, Titan," isn't a phrase that gets you going, this is not the book for you.
I just have to point out thIf "Santa Claus fighting Surtr on Jupiter's moon, Titan," isn't a phrase that gets you going, this is not the book for you.
I just have to point out that clowns are sometimes scary, like Pennywise, sure. But snowmen and scarecrows are WAY more terrifying than the average clown! If a clown started talking to you, you'd be like, "Hey, a clown! Can I have a balloon animal?" If a half melted snowman started talking to you, you would wet yourself, and don't try to claim otherwise! ...more
I love Bill Bryson and his dry wit and his need to find out every little thing about every little thing. This book was long and not as funny as some oI love Bill Bryson and his dry wit and his need to find out every little thing about every little thing. This book was long and not as funny as some of his other ones, but it was still very worth it. The beginning, especially, had me reading long passages aloud to my family because the evolution of place names and slang terms that have been around for hundreds of years was really fascinating. Towards the end of the book it was more of a history of the 20th century, which was fine but not as like, "Hey, WHAT?"...more
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. That was . . . such a weird thing to discover looking at the auTHIS GUY WROTE AND SANG THE PIÑA COLADA SONG.
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. That was . . . such a weird thing to discover looking at the author bio.
But this book! So fun! Very dark humor, but so twisty and sort of . . . madcap. Yes, let's use the word "madcap" here. The school, the faculty, the three students we follow in their quest to complete their "theses." Madcap! At first I was like, Well, the cover's great, but what is happening? And also, THIS GUY WROTE THE PIÑA COLADA SONG?! Sorry. Sorry! Anyway. I was soon gripped, GRIPPED I SAY! And I'm very excited for the second one, Murder Your Mate! ...more
I, for one, was pleased to get a longer Murderbot story, which finally gave the story room to breathe, for Murderbot to explore its feelings (no, grosI, for one, was pleased to get a longer Murderbot story, which finally gave the story room to breathe, for Murderbot to explore its feelings (no, gross) and to get to know its family (shut up, they are not). ...more
I know that Elspeth is supposed to be in love with the city life and blah blah blah, and that we seem to be supposed to root for Claire now, but no. II know that Elspeth is supposed to be in love with the city life and blah blah blah, and that we seem to be supposed to root for Claire now, but no. I want what I have always wanted: Elspeth and Hamish together. There's no reason she couldn't be on the scene of big stories, and still have a life with Hamish. Especially after what happened in this one, I feel like they should be the end game. I also feel, even more now, that Green should really wrap this up. I love this series, and I know he's trying to do justice to them, and he's doing a fine job but . . . I would like a happy ending. ...more
Not sure what to rate this, so maybe I won't? I mean, I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it a LOT. I picked it up because I want to watch the movie (Philippa SooNot sure what to rate this, so maybe I won't? I mean, I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it a LOT. I picked it up because I want to watch the movie (Philippa Soo and Simu Liu! What's not to love?!) and because I've loved, I mean LOVED, all of Reid's other books that I've read, but hadn't heard of this one. I was also startled by how sort of soapy and fluffy this looked, especially when compared to something like Malibu Rising or Daisy Jones and the Six. But don't be deceived: despite the quirky premise, there is a LOT going on here, and it's a lot deeper than you suspect at the beginning. This book has a lot to say about the nature of love, not just romantic love. It also deals with grief and loss, depression, recovery, all kinds of big topics. There's a lot about growing up, becoming the person you were meant to be vs. who you thought you would be or who you used to be.
There is also a lot of sex. And I mean, uncomfortable on hardwood floor sex. KITCHEN COUNTER WHERE FOOD IS PREPARED SEX. I was unprepared for that. I kept whispering, "Please take a shower now." Not to mention, "Please sanitize the surfaces." I feel like a lot of it was . . . unnecessary. Or at least, unnecessarily graphic. Or frequent? I don't know, some of it was real weird to me. I also kept whispering, "Now is not the time for this!"
But anyway. The other day someone pointed out on social media that it's not really a love triangle unless all the sides connect, it's really a love "angle" where it's usually the woman backed into the corner, and that was definitely true here. And I really liked how Reid pointed out the impossible situation that Emma is placed in, and the levels of understanding/not understanding that are happening with family and friends. And yes, there's a satisfying ending, although I was really worried for most of the book that I wouldn't get that.
This book had me worried for a little while toward the end. I noticed there was something on the flap copy about a "tragedy" and I was like, HOW MUCH This book had me worried for a little while toward the end. I noticed there was something on the flap copy about a "tragedy" and I was like, HOW MUCH MORE CAN HAMISH (I) TAKE?!
But it turned out all right! WHEW! And is clearly carrying on with a new level of complexity and a different kind of crime which, while I get, I don't necessarily need. I kind of feel like maybe Green should just use the last few notes from Beaton to give Hamish a nice happy ending and leave it at that? Maybe Hamish could retire and become a sheep farmer, marry a nice lady? (NOT Priscilla, becasue WTH, Priscilla?) I mean, there's only so many "murder of the week" books you can do, but also a quirky village with a lot of murder is what we're looking for in a Hamish MacBeth novel, and not so much a Jason Bourne situation?
Anyway, yes, I already have Death of a Spy out from the library and waiting for me, but I'm not quite as excited about that as I would have been a few books ago.
But I still have the utmost love for Hamish, and his crazy crew, from the Currie sisters to the revolving door of constables. I like that the Constable of the Month in this one didn't question Hamish's love for his pets and was very sweet about them, despite being a total player. And I always love a little check in with Dick and Anka, and a visit from Elspeth on a hot news story. (If Hamish and Elspeth ended up together, I wouldn't be mad.)...more
I've read one Lord Peter Whimsy short story, a Christmas story that was quite delightful, and I know that Connie Willis absolutely loves her mysteriesI've read one Lord Peter Whimsy short story, a Christmas story that was quite delightful, and I know that Connie Willis absolutely loves her mysteries. But it was my sister this last week who made me listen to a big of this book because "it's like Jeeves and Wooster solves murders!" and now I am hooked! HOOKED I SAY!
Lord Peter singing about "We've got a body!" is hilarious! And that he has shellshock from the Great War is also very fascinating and makes him a very complex and intriguing character. ...more
Loading...
