My initial reaction to the trailer for Here was what in the CGI nightmare factory is THIS?!?!?!?! My second reaction was to go see if it or
My initial reaction to the trailer for Here was what in the CGI nightmare factory is THIS?!?!?!?! My second reaction was to go see if it originated as a book . . . obviously. Of course my fantastic library system had a copy so I checked it out right away. What a fantastic premise this graphic novel is. With mainly imagery and little dialogue this is the story of what happened “here� in a particular location from 500,957,406,073 BC to 2313 AD. A great addition for collectors. ...more
If the name Chas Addams doesn’t immediately ring a bell, it most likely will with the following .gif . . . .
What you may not know is the cIf the name Chas Addams doesn’t immediately ring a bell, it most likely will with the following .gif . . . .
What you may not know is the creator of one of America’s most famous families was also known for his cartoons which appeared in The New Yorker from the 1930s all the way to the late 1980s. Happily Ever After is Addams� macabre take on wedded bliss and it is a collection that I will be purchasing a hard copy of � perhaps to sit next to my own wedding photo ; ) The entire book is chock full of selections that bring a chuckle � a couple of my favorites are featured below . . . .
(The caption reads “For heaven’s sake, can’t you do anything right?�)
(Here the husband is trying to be helpful by planting some “gladiolas�)
Ahhhhh, there’s nothing like a little gallows humor to add some color to my dead, black heart. ...more
Well hello fellow kids! Have you read Heartstopper yet? Really the only thing you need to know from my old ass is that this was . . . .
YayWell hello fellow kids! Have you read Heartstopper yet? Really the only thing you need to know from my old ass is that this was . . . .
Yay that it is being adapted into a Netflix show. Yay for Alice Oseman for a Kickstarter campaign to put this baby on paper so I could check it out from my library. Yay for everyone else who loved it virally and virtually that propelled it into the megahit it has become. I’m a sucker for high school first love types of stories and Nick and Charlie were simply a delight.
I love Wes Anderson. If you know me you know I’m a fan of quirk and his stories deliver that in’s spades. And while I’m not a real movie buff, I am a I love Wes Anderson. If you know me you know I’m a fan of quirk and his stories deliver that in’s spades. And while I’m not a real movie buff, I am a fan of directors with a “signature style� like Anderson and another fave �.
While Tarantino does it with dramatic pauses in the heat of the action, Anderson does it with location, location, location. His signature features dramatic architecture, the bluest skies you’ve ever seen and �70s kitsch. I live for it and when I saw this release I knew I needed to check it out pronto. And now I need to own it, so Santa????
Good news is, despite being full color and thick as a brick, this puppy is less than $20 so it will most definitely be on my coffee table before Christmas.
If you don't get the above, you probably don't like her quite as much as me. This offering contained I like Allie Brosh . . . .
(^^^^a lot)
If you don't get the above, you probably don't like her quite as much as me. This offering contained a couple of *sadface* selections, but all in all it was still 4 Star worthy material that made me laugh out loud more than once. Miles Finch highly recommends the entry about the cat and the toy mouse. He completely relates that one minute black mouse is your bro and the next you just need to drown his ass in your water bowl . . . .
This popped up ..... somewhere???? Give me a second - I’m a Boomer. Oh yeah, this was a recommendation on my hometown library’s Instagram and if you kThis popped up ..... somewhere???? Give me a second - I’m a Boomer. Oh yeah, this was a recommendation on my hometown library’s Instagram and if you know me then you know if the librarian tells me to do something Imma do it.
While I have plenty of hair issues myself, obviously I don’t have the same types of problems black women have to deal with. In all honesty, as someone who becomes more aware each day of the types of privilege I have had allotted to me my entire life, I have to confess thinking about ethnic hair was never even on my radar until
However, once I saw it I couldn’t ever unsee it and really started noticing that, especially in corporate America, it is pretty much still frowned upon for a woman of color to express herself via her hairstyle. Basically, it’s as comedian Paul Mooney once said . . .
So books like these are super important and there should be a lot of them until little girls (and boys, duh, but this features a little girl) realize it’s okay to be whoever they want to be when it comes to their hair. The illustrations here get allllll the stars, but unfortunately the content was a little lacking. In this story Daddy is in charge of Zuri’s hairstyle for the day because Mommy has been away (apparently out of town? she comes back at the end with an overnight bag, but nothing is really explained). It all works out for both Zuri and Daddy, but why can’t Daddy just do her hair sometimes? I’m not a big fan of any responsibility being considered a “Mommy is the one who does that� kind of thing so this is getting 3 Stars simply because childcare should be 50/50....more
As soon as I heard Jorma Taccone had written a book � well, I . . . . .
LittleFind all of my reviews at:
As soon as I heard Jorma Taccone had written a book � well, I . . . . .
Little did I know it was a CHILDREN’S book! Whoops ; )
This thing was stinking adorable. It’s the story of a little fox who had a rough day on the playground so his dad decides to help take his mind off of his worries by playing an epic game of pretend. It also warns parents of the dangers of sugar-loading their offspring in an attempt to turn their frown upside down . . . .
Anyway, it’s super cute and so is Jorma Taccone (not to mention the artwork is fantabulous). ...more
Full disclosure: I received a ginormo box of goodies from this publisher in exchange for my honest reviews.
So honestly????
I mean, doesn't Full disclosure: I received a ginormo box of goodies from this publisher in exchange for my honest reviews.
So honestly????
I mean, doesn't everyone kind of wish they lived in Pennsylvania after this weekend?
To be serious, though, I love little books like these. I put them out on the coffee table or in a basket for guests to look through if they so choose. I'm sure some people *cough my husband cough* would like it if I allowed them to be placed in the bathroom, but uh no that is not happening. This was great quality with full color glossies throughout and little info bits provided alongside the photos describing them. The price point is reasonable too, so as far as I'm concerned it gets nearly all the Stars....more
I’m not going to waste much time on this review because it was simply a case of this justFind all of my reviews at:
I’m not going to waste much time on this review because it was simply a case of this just wasn’t for me. I’m not a huge graphic novel reader to begin with and when I do pick one up they aren’t often superhero/save the world types of stories. Buuuuuuuuuuut my kid totally geeked out and binge watched the new season of this when it debuted awhile back to the point where I thought he might get a bedsore, so I decided to give it a whirl. And also, that one illustration. You know what I’m talking about . . . .
It was my misunderstanding due to being completely unfamiliar with the plot that had the title leading me to believe the story would center around these sorts of characters . . . .
Little did I know that only about 12 seconds would be spent providing an “origin story� regarding 47 women simultaneously giving birth like some sort of awful TLC program where none of them even knew they were knocked up. Seven get adopted by a Daddy Warbucks and that’s pretty much all you ever get to know about that. Then they save the world . . . . twice and rather than ever experiencing life in any sort of “Academy� like I was hoping for, the children I was so looking forward to getting to know are all instantly groweds up and look like this instead . . . .
I was able to download this from the library real quick last week for . . . .
Find all of my reviews at:
I was able to download this from the library real quick last week for . . . .
But per usual I didn’t ever post anything. To briefly sum things up, this is a little picture book that goes over the basics of what you might see at a Gay Pride Parade. At the end it features a “glossary� of sorts explaining in more detail the historical markers or symbolism contained on each page for parents who aren’t educated on the subject. I’m sure it was challenged due to the fact that . . . .
Strange Planet snips had been all over my Instagram so Find all of my reviews at:
Welcome to 2020 . . . .
Strange Planet snips had been all over my Instagram so I decided it was high time to check out the entire book out from the library. It was delightful. If you are looking to turn your frown upside down, this may just be the ticket . . .
I can’t remember where I originally saw this book a couple of weeks ago, but I knew if thFind all of my reviews at:
I can’t remember where I originally saw this book a couple of weeks ago, but I knew if the library had a copy I definitely had to check it out. I mean just the idea that Annie Freakin� Hall could become addicted to Pinterest like me was a mindblower. I love a catchy title and coffee table books full of pretty pictures so this was an absolute win for me. That being said, we certainly do not share the same design aesthetic. Really, the only thing I have in common with Diane Keaton is . . . .
She’s just too cool for school and I am one step removed from the average Pinterest addict which features the most basic of white girls who are into things like . . . .
And . . . .
The true Star generator for this book was the tiny little quotes section at the end . . . . .
That brought the lolz because they were all the same things I was thinking while flipping through the pages. Kudos to Keaton for at least being self-aware. ...more
When I heard rumors over the weekend of the library potentially shutting down due to COVIFind all of my reviews at:
When I heard rumors over the weekend of the library potentially shutting down due to COVID-19 I did what any crazy normal bibliophile would do � instantly drove from the ‘burbs to downtown in order to check out allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the physical books I could hold � and I brought a kid with so we could double-down if necessary. (Speaking of double-down, I’m doing a twofer of Reza Farazmand comics here rather than separate reviews because even if the world is ending I will remain lazy.) I actually was seeking Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet when I went to the “OneNorth Collections� location of the Central Branch. Alas, that popular little new release was not to be found � but both of these were. And how could I resist “Comics For A Strange World?� I mean hell, no better time than the present for that title, right?
Then yesterday I found myself in a situation I never would have imagined possible . . . .
Work from home? With my Funko girl squad? What?!?!?!?! Now don’t get it twisted that I don’t believe WFH to be a thing that should be encouraged/required at this moment in time. I just so happen to work in an industry that has historically been led by old white men who are allergic to technological development. The idea of staff not being in the office or that projects could be completed efficiently not in a cube-farm is something that was simply unfathomable. However, times have changed and project requests have evolved and whether the powers-that-be are on board or not, they were forced to comply so there I was clacking away in a “pants optional� environment. But what to do about a lunch hour? I mean, I was already at home so there was no need to escape. Instead I pulled these two little selections from the leaning tower o’library stack and had a chuckle or twelve.
Ernesto and Kev have, at minimum, a new fan and there’s about an 82% chance Kev and I were separated at birth (just waiting on that 23 and Me confirmation) . . . .
There’s nothing I enjoy more than a darkly humorous take on the world and these deliver in spades. As one of the blurbs states in the form of a grandfather explaining the internet to his grandchild . . . . .
“A vast network of millions of idiots. Together, the idiots created endless shitty ideas. It was a true renaissance of shit.�
If you find yourself tired of wading through the shit, I highly recommend picking up something funny as a tiny break from reality. Now is a time where it is more important than ever to take care of yourself . . . .
Keep your heads up. We’ll get through this. ...more
When I heard rumors over the weekend of the library potentially shutting down due to COVIFind all of my reviews at:
When I heard rumors over the weekend of the library potentially shutting down due to COVID-19 I did what any crazy normal bibliophile would do � instantly drove from the ‘burbs to downtown in order to check out allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the physical books I could hold � and I brought a kid with so we could double-down if necessary. (Speaking of double-down, I’m doing a twofer of Reza Farazmand comics here rather than separate reviews because even if the world is ending I will remain lazy.) I actually was seeking Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet when I went to the “OneNorth Collections� location of the Central Branch. Alas, that popular little new release was not to be found � but both of these were. And how could I resist “Comics For A Strange World?� I mean hell, no better time than the present for that title, right?
Then yesterday I found myself in a situation I never would have imagined possible . . . .
Work from home? With my Funko girl squad? What?!?!?!?! Now don’t get it twisted that I don’t believe WFH to be a thing that should be encouraged/required at this moment in time. I just so happen to work in an industry that has historically been led by old white men who are allergic to technological development. The idea of staff not being in the office or that projects could be completed efficiently not in a cube-farm is something that was simply unfathomable. However, times have changed and project requests have evolved and whether the powers-that-be are on board or not, they were forced to comply so there I was clacking away in a “pants optional� environment. But what to do about a lunch hour? I mean, I was already at home so there was no need to escape. Instead I pulled these two little selections from the leaning tower o’library stack and had a chuckle or twelve.
Ernesto and Kev have, at minimum, a new fan and there’s about an 82% chance Kev and I were separated at birth (just waiting on that 23 and Me confirmation) . . . .
There’s nothing I enjoy more than a darkly humorous take on the world and these deliver in spades. As one of the blurbs states in the form of a grandfather explaining the internet to his grandchild . . . . .
“A vast network of millions of idiots. Together, the idiots created endless shitty ideas. It was a true renaissance of shit.�
If you find yourself tired of wading through the shit, I highly recommend picking up something funny as a tiny break from reality. Now is a time where it is more important than ever to take care of yourself . . . .
Keep your heads up. We’ll get through this. ...more
The fact that this is a PICTURE BOOK and hardly any narrative is included at all is what Find all of my reviews at:
The fact that this is a PICTURE BOOK and hardly any narrative is included at all is what makes it brilliant. Well, that and the artwork. Those watercolors are 5 Stars. Because so much is left unsaid, Julian Is A Mermaid can be about whatever anyone wants it to be. Mermaids, imagination, expressing yourself, acceptance, all bodies are beautiful bodies, etc., etc., etc.
Of course since only children are amazing and adults are buttholes, this has made the far right’s hit list in order to challenge and/or ban it as well as the hit list of the far left arguing that “this is not Jessica Love’s story to tell.� Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . . .
Good grief. Don’t buy the book or leave it on the library bookshelf if it’s not your cup of tea. But STFU about it so everyone else who isn’t offended by everything can enjoy it.
Really the only thing anyone should be bringing up about this story as far as I’m concerned? Who in the world has a Grandma that would let you rip down her fancy lace sheer curtains to play dress up and not whoop yo ass? I could have used one of those kinds of grannies when I was a kid! ...more
If you know me, you know I was raised to believe that you don’t talk about politics or reFind all of my reviews at:
If you know me, you know I was raised to believe that you don’t talk about politics or religion outside the family home if you want to maintain relationships. That being made clear, if you feel the need to defriend/unfollow me for posting something up about this book, I’ll have zero problem with it.
I will fully admit I have wanted to get my hands on a copy of Shade ever since I heard about it. I will also do something I never thought I’d do and disclose to you that I did not vote for Obama. Either time. (Just in case people were starting to gather their pitchforks and torches to tell me what a “Libtard� I am.) Not that it’s really anyone’s business, but I’ll even give you the reason. The first time was simply due to the fact that I’m from Illinois � born and bred and there has been nothing but corruption in that state my entire life. I wasn’t about to vote for a Junior Senator who may have been as phony as a three dollar bill just because he knocked my socks off with one speech and Oprah told me to. The next time was for the simple fact that I consider myself socially liberal and fiscally conservative and so does Mitt Romney. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. (Nice knowing some of you.)
If you know anything about Pete Souza you know he’s not necessarily just another “snowflake� either. Before photographing the Obama White House he did the same for Reagan. Now, Souza most certainly was an Obama fan, but that doesn’t negate the near necessity of releasing his little slice of history. This book shows the complete mockery electing a narcissistic, mentally unstable reality star has made of the Presidency. While I may not have agreed with all of Obama’s ideas and/or policies, I never doubted that he knew just how important his role as President was. Trump??? Well . . . I think this image says just about everything . . . . .
This book is full of examples � both in the form of Tweets and “fake� news � demonstrating just how out of touch with the pulse of the nation the current President is. No matter your politics, it should serve as a reminder that the next time you go to the polls (whether it’s to pull red, blue or other) you should try to vote for someone who at least attempts to . . . .
A reviewer copy was provided by Little Brown in exchange for this review. I have thumbed through this enough times at the local bookstore to know that it would receive 5 Stars so the freebie had zero bearing on my rating....more
Let’s play a little bit of catch-up. I mean, not the type that I actually need tFind all of my reviews at:
2.5 Stars
Let’s play a little bit of catch-up. I mean, not the type that I actually need to do which are the 40 other books I have yet to review ranging all the way back to the beginning of the year, but the type where I half-ass talk about a graphic novel I read last week for . . . .
Basically, This One Summer is about just that � one summer. The summer in question is the final one where the balance between remaining a kid and becoming a grown-up begins to shift. While at the beach, this is the year where Rose wants to spend less time digging holes with her pal Windy and more time noticing the local boys and wondering if her boobs are ever going to come in. It’s also the year after something terrible happened to her parents causing constant arguments and uncomfortable silences.
This story was challenged basically for being a coming of age story, proving once again that this country is full of people who make me say . . . . .
The big shock and awe factor this time around? Teen pregnancy. The horror. I’m giving this 2.5 Stars because there wasn’t anything wrong with it � it just wasn’t my idea of a great time. I’m rounding up because the artwork was excellent . . . .
This was also the first time I’ve ever read a graphic novel on the ol� Kindle. I have to say, while paper will always be my medium of choice when it comes to “pitcherbooks� � reading this electronically wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it would be.
Celadon Books was kind enough to send me a review copy of this just in time for Find all of my reviews at:
3.5 Stars
Celadon Books was kind enough to send me a review copy of this just in time for Mother’s Day. Now, if you know me, you know I’m an easy sell for books like this. My desk at home features a shrine selection for my former cats and dogs who made their way over the Rainbow Bridge and you’re all aware of my other hobby. Pretty much there’s a book for everything and I think these are great little bits of fun to give either solo or in addition to the ever-present “scented candle� . . . .
For the woman who pretty much already has everything but will publicly shame you for life if you forget to bring her a present (a/k/a your mother).
They also would make a great filler for those of you with questionable morals who have items like the following in your lives . . . .
Why Don’t You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It was exactly what it was supposed to be . . . .
But I’m telling you the Introduction was gold. Patricia Marx should write a full length comedic memoir if she hasn’t already done so.
Copy provided by Celadon Books in exchange for an honest review....more
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