Kireth
Interesting approach to storytelling the history of the human race, but I feel I've walked away with anecdotes and a very opinionated perspective, rather than objective reality and numbers across the world. Also there is a strong atheist view underlying the bookends of this one - no personal issue with it, but it does impact the "universality" of this brief history lesson.
Interesting approach to storytelling the history of the human race, but I feel I've walked away with anecdotes and a very opinionated perspective, rather than objective reality and numbers across the world. Also there is a strong atheist view underlying the bookends of this one - no personal issue with it, but it does impact the "universality" of this brief history lesson.
I should have listened to my friends and read this sooner!
An instant modern classic. One of the most heartwarming and eloquently written books I’ve read yet. We are in the Metropol Hotel with Count Alexander Rostov for the majority of the book’s proceedings, yet through those swinging doors walk in comrades, enemies old and familiar and friends and family of all kinds. The way certain characters and moments are given life by their descriptions makes this plainly one of the most pleasurable reads I’ve had recently. I appreciate how Towles weaves in significant European and especially Russian cultural moments from the 1920s through to 60s. The writing is especially unflinching in the face of some of the socialist country’s darkest moments, yet the writing embraces sorrow and the seasons of life without delving into a depressive read. Life really is captured in this hotel and gentleman’s life, in all its shades from greed to loss and joy. This will stay with me for a while.
I should have listened to my friends and read this sooner!
An instant modern classic. One of the most heartwarming and eloquently written books I’ve read yet. We are in the Metropol Hotel with Count Alexander Rostov for the majority of the book’s proceedings, yet through those swinging doors walk in comrades, enemies old and familiar and friends and family of all kinds. The way certain characters and moments are given life by their descriptions makes this plainly one of the most pleasurable reads I’ve had recently. I appreciate how Towles weaves in significant European and especially Russian cultural moments from the 1920s through to 60s. The writing is especially unflinching in the face of some of the socialist country’s darkest moments, yet the writing embraces sorrow and the seasons of life without delving into a depressive read. Life really is captured in this hotel and gentleman’s life, in all its shades from greed to loss and joy. This will stay with me for a while.
Feels like an overblown mystery surrounded in pessimism and climate change. The third act had twist after twist after twist. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded through the various voices, but I didn’t necessarily enjoy reading every POV. I did love the setting though and all its fauna especially. There were some fantastical descriptions of the flora and skies, alongside the eerie essences sitting at the edge of our POV visions, which I actually really enjoyed. At the core it is a story of parents and children, and the intergenerational trauma of childhood and coming-of-age moments in a world that is burning, drowning or being beaten at every moment.
Feels like an overblown mystery surrounded in pessimism and climate change. The third act had twist after twist after twist. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded through the various voices, but I didn’t necessarily enjoy reading every POV. I did love the setting though and all its fauna especially. There were some fantastical descriptions of the flora and skies, alongside the eerie essences sitting at the edge of our POV visions, which I actually really enjoyed. At the core it is a story of parents and children, and the intergenerational trauma of childhood and coming-of-age moments in a world that is burning, drowning or being beaten at every moment.
My first Andy Weir book and I see why he has appeal in the mainstream reading audience. However, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would, and it has me hesitant to read The Martian (although I loved the movie). The writing style was easy to follow and felt conversational, and I was enlightened by all the proper scientific knowledge used in the book’s events. I did not like a few racial remarks made, but I also loved the simplistic approach taken in describing humanity’s response to the impending cosmic disaster. The double-hander of present day action in deep space and flashbacks to earth’s past was fun at the start but felt unnecessary by the film’s middle - I would have loved to peek more at Earth now. I didn’t get rich descriptions of other worlds or a deep exploration of interspecies relations and moral implications - or even a necessarily worthy hero as the protagonist. What I did enjoy was the relationship at the heart of the book, the science used in the extraterrestrial set-up and interstellar travel, and the snappiness of the novel’s events. The second half, especially the last 15%, was meaningful to me. Overall a fun, light and quick hard sci-fi read. Also a very fast turnaround to a film adaptation. I will be interested to see what they keep and cut for the big screen with Ryan Gosling.
My first Andy Weir book and I see why he has appeal in the mainstream reading audience. However, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would, and it has me hesitant to read The Martian (although I loved the movie). The writing style was easy to follow and felt conversational, and I was enlightened by all the proper scientific knowledge used in the book’s events. I did not like a few racial remarks made, but I also loved the simplistic approach taken in describing humanity’s response to the impending cosmic disaster. The double-hander of present day action in deep space and flashbacks to earth’s past was fun at the start but felt unnecessary by the film’s middle - I would have loved to peek more at Earth now. I didn’t get rich descriptions of other worlds or a deep exploration of interspecies relations and moral implications - or even a necessarily worthy hero as the protagonist. What I did enjoy was the relationship at the heart of the book, the science used in the extraterrestrial set-up and interstellar travel, and the snappiness of the novel’s events. The second half, especially the last 15%, was meaningful to me. Overall a fun, light and quick hard sci-fi read. Also a very fast turnaround to a film adaptation. I will be interested to see what they keep and cut for the big screen with Ryan Gosling.
The best Batman comic I’ve read yet. A gritty noir tale set over a year in Gotham City, which masterfully blends Italian crime influences like The Godfather with the whacky loons in Batman’s rogue gallery. I was impressed with how the holiday dates perfectly fit the comic medium, and while reading I wondered what it would have been like to be part of the comic community when the issues were published monthly.
Sale’s art was excellent, with the emphasised character traits and forced perspective backgrounds really working for my immersion in this world and story. Batman is an impressive masculine figure, his cape swirling and mask snarling when appropriate, but very much a man in the middle of his career as the city transitions from organised to supervillain crime. The writing was also top-notch, as we view three paragons of justice trying to fight the corruption of Gotham without breaking themselves in the process. Jim Gordon, The Batman/ Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent who I did not realise would be such a focal point of the narrative. Whilst I missed the backstory of Bruce and Harvey being friends in their youth (or was that something added later by writers like Snyder?), everything about him from quotes to chiaroscuro art was excellent. The crime families and Catwoman in particular also impressed me in their characterisation and presence on the page. I was left guessing until the end as to various aspects of the story, and I loved watching the city of Gotham go through a year of significant events and holidays, touching upon the psyche of the people and Bruce Wayne.
I see how the graphic novel has influenced films like The Dark Knight and The Batman spinoff Penguin, but I also feel that there is so much more from this left to explore. The Long Halloween stands as my all-time favourite Batman comic now, followed closely by A Court of Owls, Year One and then The Dark Knight Returns.
The best Batman comic I’ve read yet. A gritty noir tale set over a year in Gotham City, which masterfully blends Italian crime influences like The Godfather with the whacky loons in Batman’s rogue gallery. I was impressed with how the holiday dates perfectly fit the comic medium, and while reading I wondered what it would have been like to be part of the comic community when the issues were published monthly.
Sale’s art was excellent, with the emphasised character traits and forced perspective backgrounds really working for my immersion in this world and story. Batman is an impressive masculine figure, his cape swirling and mask snarling when appropriate, but very much a man in the middle of his career as the city transitions from organised to supervillain crime. The writing was also top-notch, as we view three paragons of justice trying to fight the corruption of Gotham without breaking themselves in the process. Jim Gordon, The Batman/ Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent who I did not realise would be such a focal point of the narrative. Whilst I missed the backstory of Bruce and Harvey being friends in their youth (or was that something added later by writers like Snyder?), everything about him from quotes to chiaroscuro art was excellent. The crime families and Catwoman in particular also impressed me in their characterisation and presence on the page. I was left guessing until the end as to various aspects of the story, and I loved watching the city of Gotham go through a year of significant events and holidays, touching upon the psyche of the people and Bruce Wayne.
I see how the graphic novel has influenced films like The Dark Knight and The Batman spinoff Penguin, but I also feel that there is so much more from this left to explore. The Long Halloween stands as my all-time favourite Batman comic now, followed closely by A Court of Owls, Year One and then The Dark Knight Returns.
Brought emotion to me, felt like an important and alternatively-written (to the norm) step to the story. Loved Sophie, the spells, the wordless art panels and Marko.
Brought emotion to me, felt like an important and alternatively-written (to the norm) step to the story. Loved Sophie, the spells, the wordless art panels and Marko.
Awesome sci-fi fantasy adventure through space exploring the psychology of supergirl, whom doesn't change throughout the graphic novel when compared to the pov girl. Gorgeous colours and panels, loved how simple and beautiful the story and art was.
Awesome sci-fi fantasy adventure through space exploring the psychology of supergirl, whom doesn't change throughout the graphic novel when compared to the pov girl. Gorgeous colours and panels, loved how simple and beautiful the story and art was.
Time jump and new cast members fracture the family unit. Drugs, past pains, a new Seeker. I will finish the series but it hasn’t captured me like others.
Time jump and new cast members fracture the family unit. Drugs, past pains, a new Seeker. I will finish the series but it hasn’t captured me like others.
Adventure is sprawling out with the burgeoning cast and new (dangerous) locales. Lots of relationship drama between parents, exes, closeted pairs and more. Looking forward to seeing Sophie grow up.
Adventure is sprawling out with the burgeoning cast and new (dangerous) locales. Lots of relationship drama between parents, exes, closeted pairs and more. Looking forward to seeing Sophie grow up.
Great writing and Australian references but not my kind of story.
Great writing and Australian references but not my kind of story.
Great writing and Australian references but not my kind of story.
Great writing and Australian references but not my kind of story.
science fiction meets smallville as we get a reimagined Kal-El and supporting cast that still retains the core of the character. an immigrant from another world, one who has all the power at his fingertips but can't solve every problem every where, who cares for all equally and respects the very stone/ dirt he fights on.
Superman.
art is spectacular, especially anything with rain/ dust on both Krypton and earth. some of the Lois writing is weak/ exposition but I respect the new direction she's taken in. highly relevant and good representation of AI and writing.
science fiction meets smallville as we get a reimagined Kal-El and supporting cast that still retains the core of the character. an immigrant from another world, one who has all the power at his fingertips but can't solve every problem every where, who cares for all equally and respects the very stone/ dirt he fights on.
Superman.
art is spectacular, especially anything with rain/ dust on both Krypton and earth. some of the Lois writing is weak/ exposition but I respect the new direction she's taken in. highly relevant and good representation of AI and writing.
exciting fresh take on batman
exciting fresh take on batman
solid overall themes and great use of the medium, with the news panels and paranoia in an almost dystopian future. story wavered in parts across the four books, from cool to grunge and a little bit too gruff.
understandable why it's so revered and impactful on the genre. I think year one is slightly stronger
solid overall themes and great use of the medium, with the news panels and paranoia in an almost dystopian future. story wavered in parts across the four books, from cool to grunge and a little bit too gruff.
understandable why it's so revered and impactful on the genre. I think year one is slightly stronger
good atmosphere, interesting pov, dark artwork. exploring the joker and Gotham City rogues with a pretty straightforward conclusion
good atmosphere, interesting pov, dark artwork. exploring the joker and Gotham City rogues with a pretty straightforward conclusion
