Decided it was time to give Zdarsky's DD another chance.
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I've already reviewed volume 1 (2 stars) & volume 2 (3 stars), and this re-read did notDecided it was time to give Zdarsky's DD another chance.
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I've already reviewed volume 1 (2 stars) & volume 2 (3 stars), and this re-read did nothing to change my mind about either volume. In other words, I still think Matt Murdock is too whiny, too angsty, and his obsession with God and guilt gets on my nerves.
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But I fully realize that all of the things I despise about the character are the very same things that give him depth and relatability to his legion of fans. Proving the adage that there is someone for everyone.
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And even though I still thought he was written using the tears of zealots wearing hairshirts, the second volume was much more interesting plot-wise. Wish me luck as I head onward to the next part of To Heaven Through Hell.
There's actually a story in here with a happy ending! Stop getting my hopes up, Aaron.
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But that one story about the old couple who live all aloneThere's actually a story in here with a happy ending! Stop getting my hopes up, Aaron.
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But that one story about the old couple who live all alone out in the middle of nowhere and it looks like so dire for these two? That's my favorite story in this whole entire Scalped run. But you know me, I love a little something sweet from time to time.
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There are several stories in the beginning of this that go off on their own and look at characters that may or may not be important later on. Shunka's big secret! <--did not see that one coming.
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Carol's pregnancy was the big story arc for me in this one. Will she be able to kick the habit? And even if she does, then what? It tackles really tough subject matter and talks about several abortions that characters had, mothers who wanted to abort but didn't, and how all of these decisions trickled down for good or for bad. There's no black-and-white answer to any of it, and I appreciate that Aaron didn't try to give one.
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Dash might be the main character, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Dino is the character that all of us are following. Watching him walk that razor's edge, hoping he doesn't fall, that's what draws our eyes to the page. It's such a subtle but incredibly powerful vein running through the entire storyline. This was one of my favorite books out of the whole bunch.
Dash and Carol reconnect. Awwww. But instead of helping Carol up from her downward spiral of random sex and drugs, she helps Dash learn how to use heroDash and Carol reconnect. Awwww. But instead of helping Carol up from her downward spiral of random sex and drugs, she helps Dash learn how to use heroin to numb the pain.
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You find out more about FBI agent Baylis and the reasons behind his need for revenge against Lincoln. And in a shocking turn of events, it doesn't make him any more lovable or relatable. Good to know some things never change.
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A con man hits the casino and some unforeseen craziness pulls Dash into a life-and-death situation. And on top of all of that, we find out who killed Dash's mom, Gina.
Lois is a soldier who ends up cuffed to Kal-El when she tries to arrest him. He's not Clark because there are no KentsStill not love-loving it.
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Lois is a soldier who ends up cuffed to Kal-El when she tries to arrest him. He's not Clark because there are no Kents so far other than a panel showing a burned-out farmhouse in the last issue. And there's an unfunny joke that goes on too long as Kal refers to being "chuffed" to Lois and his AI suit keeps correcting him. Also, the suit is made out of something like nanobots that allow it to turn into dust and seal wounds, along with picking locks and swirling around to do various heroic things.
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Lois gets an up close and personal look at Kal being heroic and selfless, soft-spoken and commanding, and just basically perfect in every way. This propels her to forgo the Brainiac AI (that acts like AI and gets everything slightly wrong) that usually helps her write her reports, and write her own report on "the incident" with the Super Man. Ooooh. She likes it. Who knew? <--kinda cute.
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I don't hate it, but I'm still kind of waffling on whether or not this is a cool take on Superman....more
So much happens in this one (view spoiler)[Dash's mother gets scalped, Diesel kills the prostitute and theThings get really hairy. Pun intended.
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So much happens in this one (view spoiler)[Dash's mother gets scalped, Diesel kills the prostitute and then kills her young son, etc. (hide spoiler)] that becomes the catalyst setting off the dominos that eventually lead to so many characters' downfalls.
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We also get more background on what went wrong when Gina Bad Horse and Lincoln were young and idealistic. How did they go from friends to enemies? One of the things that drew me into this series was how complex and entangled the relationships were in this thing. Exceptionally well done for a crime noir.
This is a crime story set on a Native American reservation. So right off the bat, that's a bit different. I definitely think you should keep in mind thThis is a crime story set on a Native American reservation. So right off the bat, that's a bit different. I definitely think you should keep in mind that this is noir and it's automatically going to showcase the seedy underbelly of the setting, so I don't think anyone should look at this and think that this is what Native American culture is like.
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I didn't think I'd like this very much but I got sucked into the story fairly quickly, and by the end of the book, I found myself downloading the next one because I wanted to see what happened next. You've got a main character who is angry and flawed and rolls into town with a lot of issues that don't make sense until a spoiler is revealed. And then you get a load of side characters that are multi-dimensional enough to make the whole thing feel very real.
This isn't anything that I'd urge you to go out and buy due to its ingenious awesomeness. But if you are actively looking foGood second volume.
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This isn't anything that I'd urge you to go out and buy due to its ingenious awesomeness. But if you are actively looking for something along the lines of a horror/comedy, this fits the bill. Set in the 80s, a group of door to door salesmen (salespeople) have become somewhat reluctant monster hunters as they enter each town and find some sort of creepy-crawly has infested it. Turns out, monsters are a case of once you see it, you can't unsee it and now they feel obligated to root out evil wherever they go.
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It's a fun, if unnecessary, series. And if this sounds like something you might like, you could do a whole lot worse....more
A whole new take on Elseworlds-y take on Superman. Ok, Aaron. Let's see what you got.
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I'm reading these digitally on DC Infinite, btw. And to be A whole new take on Elseworlds-y take on Superman. Ok, Aaron. Let's see what you got.
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I'm reading these digitally on DC Infinite, btw. And to be quite honest, this first issue didn't blow me away. I've never been a fan of stories about Krypton and this is heavy on Jor-El and Lara, with Kal-El/Clark being a small child, not an infant, when they find out Krypton is gonna 'splode. Krypton, instead of being a utopia, is a class-based world. And due to both of his parents being outspoken against social and environmental issues, even though they are both intelligent, they are now worker bees in the lower class. This is where the iconic S comes from, not some family crest.
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Again, this is only the first issue, so we aren't to the part where Supes gets jettisoned to whatever Earth he eventually lands on. But he does eventually land on an Earth. He's got what seems to be a sentient AI suit that talks to him all sassy-like, much like some of Iron Man's AI. So that could either be fun or draining, depending on how the rest of these issues go.
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There's some evil corporation on this Earth that's sucking out the natural resources and there's a spoilery character who is working for the military side of it. So. Nice little cliffhanger at the end that made me kind of want to keep going. We'll see....more
I'm married. Like, old married. If he ghosts me it means that I've probably killed him.
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I just wanted to see if the dating advice has gotten anyI'm married. Like, old married. If he ghosts me it means that I've probably killed him.
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I just wanted to see if the dating advice has gotten any better over the past few decades. The short answer is no. No, it has not. But. The ugly truth is that this advice would probably work for women who don't want to be single. As in, the main goal is to get married to a man. And you will most certainly be able to catch and keep a man if you do what he says.
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But you might do it at the expense of your dignity. Because there's no guarantee you'll be any happier married than you will be single, so why stress yourself out trying to be the kind of woman that men find attractive and unthreatening? And that's basically the advice in here. Tone it down, especially if you're older and you aren't afraid to speak your mind about things. In fact, he actually says that powerful "masculine" women might want to look for guys who aren't (lol) alphas, suggesting that these women would be more comfortable with men who are meeker, as they won't have to adjust their personalities. Successful, powerful men do not want bossy women. Well, I hate to burst the bubble here, but no one wants to be with someone who is bossy - unless that's just your kink.
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Men, according to Bryans, get set in their ways when they get older, and if you want to seem desirable to them, you should give them the space to do the things they were doing before you came along. <--I actually agree with that because I promise you that I would not rearrange my schedule or life to accommodate a man at this point in my life, either. Just not going to do it. If my dear husband passes away, he can rest in eternal sleep knowing that I will never-no-never go out of my way to fit some other man into my day. I simply can't see having to "work on a relationship" at this point in my life. Then again, life has made most women my age a bit surly, so youngsters may need to take my attitude with a grain of salt. And if you are my age and you're listening to this odious little turd tell you how to keep a man on the hook, I'd like to shake the shit out of you. You should know better by now. There are wonderful men out there, and if you find one who thinks you're great, you won't have to play weird mind games with him. But you're just better off on your own than having to cater to the whims of someone who thinks you need them.
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I don't know how old Bruce Bryans is, but he sounds like he may be older just going off of a bit of the more fringe things he said. I could be wrong, but he said that he "ghosted" a woman when he found out she had slept with a guy who was tangentially related to his friend group after one of his dude friends let him know that these two were sneaky links. And while they weren't close friends, it kind of grossed him out that he knew a guy that she'd had sex with. It was at that point I started picturing him as one of those old pompous guys who have always given me the ick. The ones who would refer to women as all used up, as though vaginas have a limited number of times a penis can be inserted into it. And while you should certainly able to speak your truth about turn-offs, that one just seemed incredibly 1950s to me. You do you, though.
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I had to keep reminding myself that I needed to be fair to the author. This is a book for women who are actually trying to figure out why guys are (apparently en masse) never calling them back. And the reasons he gives are somewhat valid, even if the way he puts it makes me shudder. For example, he says that women are the gatekeepers of sex and men are the gatekeepers of commitment.
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BUT! If you're a woman reading this book, then apparently you aren't the gatekeeper of commitment in your relationships. On the flip side, there's a lot of commitment-free sex that you can be having. wink, wink. And here's my free advice on that one for what it's worth - who cares? If some guy doesn't call you back, so what? He's a story in your book. If your boyfriend starts distancing himself and you feel like he's thinking of breaking up with you, let him go, and don't look back. The vast majority of what I felt was good advice in this book, dealt with not chasing a dead end. Or chasing period.
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But Bryans's advice is not to chase men at any point in the relationship. If they're getting distant, don't chase them around and try to get more of a commitment out of them. That's kind of fair. I wouldn't want anyone chasing me or trying to pin me down, either. He says if you want them to come back, you just give them the space to decide that they miss you. And it pains me to say this, but if you actually want the guy that bad, the advice is solid. But do you want the guy that bad? Seriously? My knee-jerk reaction is to tell you that if a guy starts pulling away and stops returning your calls, you should pack up your emotional (or real) shit and go out dancing with your friends. Then if he decides that he really does want you and comes crawling back? You tell him that you'll try to work him into your schedule, however, this cute guy you met at the bar is taking you out tonight and you're going to Vegas this weekend on a girls' trip. But you'll text as soon as you get a free minute. Promise.
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Instead of worrying that you'll never find "the one", make your own happiness and dream fulfillment the top priority. Do what you want to do and make your life what you want it to be. That's my advice for anyone, not just women. If you feel lonely, take a cooking class, or art class, join a gardening group, learn how to refinish old furniture, work on cars, belly dance - whatever floats your boat. You'll feel more satisfied if you are more satisfied. And you'll be far less likely to allow someone into your life who shouldn't be there if you're already happy with what your life looks like without them. You'll also be far less likely to fall the fuck apart should they decide to go their own way. No one can complete you. That's your job. The best you can hope for is someone who can complement the life you already have....more
Cute. If you can distance yourself from the super weird premise.
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Jane is strange, no two ways about it. She apparently considers every guy she eCute. If you can distance yourself from the super weird premise.
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Jane is strange, no two ways about it. She apparently considers every guy she ever went on a date with (and one guy who just asked about her dog while they were getting mail) her ex-boyfriends. She has tumbled through life jumping the gun on emotions, creating marriage scenarios out of wishes, and treating each new man as the one in her mind. That's some real yikes! behavior right there.
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The root cause of this is her obsession with the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. And like so many women, she fell in love with Firth's Mr. Darcy. Now in her early 30s, she feels constantly let down by real-life romance and secretly longs for a Mr. Darcy of her own.
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At this point, I just had to chalk up her pathetic personality as a metaphor for all of us who love Pride And Prejudice and have found ourselves being a bit silly over Firth with the wet shirt... Why? It was such a humungous ugly shirt - he looked like he was wearing a 10-year-old girl's nightgown with some pants! And we all just lost our fucking minds. That's talent.
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Anyway. My point is that I decided to pretend that Jane wasn't icky and just roll with this story. And it turned out to be a lot better than I thought it would be, especially when you consider that she goes on a vacation (paid for by an aunt) to a place where they have re-created a version of Pemberly. Some of the people there are guests, and some are actors. But everyone dresses in period clothes, speaks like they're from the 1800s, follows the social customs of that period, and plays out different romantic storylines of Austen's books. Austenland. Yes, that does sound creepy. Again, I decided to roll with it because a tiny part of me is a creep, too.
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Ok, so while she's at Austenland she tries to live out her fantasy with the hopes that when it's over, she'll be cured of her fake obsession and open to meeting someone real. So what happens? <--not telling you I will say, it's a bit far-fetched. But cute.
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There's also a chance you might need to be not only a big fan of P&P the book, but of the miniseries as well, in order to not be completely skeeved out by the heroine and the plot. And now I've got to go watch the movie they made of this book.
An angel shows Mary what will happen to baby Jesus when he grows up and then gives her the option to let the angeThe ending made it worthwhile.
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An angel shows Mary what will happen to baby Jesus when he grows up and then gives her the option to let the angel take him to Heaven right then. Each vision she gets is only a snippet without any context, and by the end of it, she's understandably upset.
Of course, this is The Virgin Mary we're talking about here, so she reasons out that God must know what He is doing and opts to keep Jesus. <--I don't think that's exactly a spoiler BUT! (view spoiler)[As the angel turns away to leave he discusses with his minion how he will still have another chance to derail Jesus in the desert when he gets older, and we learn that the angel was actually...LUCIFER!
The Audible Original for The Great Courses is a somewhat abbreviated version of this book and well worth it if you're looking for something a bit moreThe Audible Original for The Great Courses is a somewhat abbreviated version of this book and well worth it if you're looking for something a bit more bite-sized. <--but still delicious!
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The conspiracies covered are interesting. And I loved the way he peeled apart the difference between the "evidence" we've heard via pop culture that has propagated some of these theories into large-scale societal beliefs vs the facts that we should be looking at. Sometimes we subconsciously assume things to be true or probably true without even realizing why or how we came to that conclusion. The conspiracies are just out there in the ether with believableish sounding talking points. The first line of defense against gullibility is to take a rational look around and try to shake our ingrained reaction toward confirmation bias. For example, the CIA has done shady and illegal things in the past does not equal JFK was killed by the CIA, but an overwhelming number of people still believe this to be at least somewhat true.
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The biggest difference I noticed between this and The Great Courses version, was that at the end of this book, it discusses how to talk to people who hold both fringe and mainstream conspiracy theories without it turning into a heated argument. Or losing relationships over the disagreements. I really like the way Shermer is open to criticizing both sides of the political fence over their pet conspiracies. Also, that we should all be not only talking to but actively listening to people with ideas we disagree with. That's really the only way we can find the underlying causes to help us untangle the reasons behind what seems like vast gulfs of belief between family, friends, and neighbors.
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Some of the more prevalent and disproven conspiracy theories tell us a lot about not only ourselves but our cultural and societal worries. We are creatures who are hardwired to need answers. Conspiracies happen, so it's not at all crazy to stop and take a look at them. But it is important to take a look at the actual evidence and make an informed, rational, neutral decision on which ones to believe. And it is also VERY important to look in the mirror and realize that what you would like to believe is going to make you biased. I try hard to untangle myself from my emotions when I listen to new information but I usually fail and end up with some kind of biased gut-reaction takeover of my mouth.
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So that's my (belated) New Year's resolution. Shut up and listen. Take a step back. Then take a deep breath and attempt some unbiased research. Go into conversations with an open mind, and the idea that what I believe may be wrong. I'm not, of course. Pffft. <--damn, that's a hard habit to break. At the very least, my hope is that I'll end up with a broader understanding of the people around me, and I think this book will go a long way to helping me reach that goal.
James is getting remarried. But as Agatha & Co. begin to alight on the wedding venue, it appears that not all is well in Laceyland. And when the bride-James is getting remarried. But as Agatha & Co. begin to alight on the wedding venue, it appears that not all is well in Laceyland. And when the bride-to-be turns up dead, instead of at the altar, the police hone in on James and Agatha as the main suspects.
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Once again, Agatha is pulled into a murder mystery in order to save her own skin. And it's a fun plot! (view spoiler)[The best part of the book is when we learn that James' fianc茅e had a lower than average IQ, but James never noticed because she was beautiful and pretended to hang on his every word. He has long deserved a mighty slap upside the head, and that was just about the perfect thump. (hide spoiler)]
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I will say that after the main mystery gets solved the ending seems to wander around and around with a seemingly endless wrap-up of multiple plots. Agatha waffling back and forth as to whether or not she wants to quit the detective biz and go out to pasture, a spoilery character keeps trying to kill her over and over, and finally, an engagement that seems bizarrely seems to come out of nowhere. I've heard that Beaton had ghostwriters on her later books, and after seeing how character progression stops, starts, reverses, and then runs off the road, I'm inclined to believe it. For example (view spoiler)[I thought it was odd that the end of the last book saw Agatha being petty and driving Toni to start her own detective agency with Harry. But in this book, Toni's agency falls apart and she ends up coming back to work for Agatha. Only to almost quit due to Agatha (once again) getting jealous, then being put in charge, and then being glad when Agatha came back. (hide spoiler)] Needless whiplash.
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I still love this world, though. On to the next book!...more
The more it makes sense, the more confusing it gets. I mean that in a good way.
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This one is somewhat of a transitional issue that deals with MaThe more it makes sense, the more confusing it gets. I mean that in a good way.
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This one is somewhat of a transitional issue that deals with Max, Walter, and Norah's backstory. Meanwhile, Oliver is in real trouble with his housemates by the Sea, who are in no way as nice as the ones by the Lake.
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This is a good issue, but I tend to forget so much that I'm really looking forward to reading the entire thing (Lake & Sea) in one big sitting. <--at some point Recommended....more
This was my first graphic audio comic, but it won't be my last. I knew sci-fi and fantasy translated well into graphic audio, but it dSo cool.
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This was my first graphic audio comic, but it won't be my last. I knew sci-fi and fantasy translated well into graphic audio, but it didn't occur to me how well a comic book would work. FANTASTIC. Can you call something with this level of pervert-superhero gore, fantastic? Well, I just did.
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Ok, so this is a dramatized version of The Boys, Volume 1: The Name of the Game. If you've read the comics or watched the television show, I think you'll enjoy this. You have music, sound effects, a full cast reading the parts, and a narrator describing what's happening. And while it may sound like a clusterfuck to try and adapt a completely visual medium like a comic into a dramatized audio adaptation, it is extremely well done and a lot of fun to listen to. I immediately started searching out the rest of this series and can't wait to grab them.
Venetia is quite the free spirit. And while Damerel isn't perfect, I think they make a good pair. I was also qFor those who love a good scandal.
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Venetia is quite the free spirit. And while Damerel isn't perfect, I think they make a good pair. I was also quite shocked at the twist that allowed them to get their HEA! Didn't see that one coming but I liked it.
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Venetia has her own money and doesn't need to marry, nor does she necessarily want to, until she meets her match in Lord Damerel. Unfortunately, his scandalous past makes him a non-option to eligible young ladies like herself. It appears that he ran off with a married woman, lived in sin for a bit, and has spent his remaining time in one rakish escapade after another. So. He's had a bit of fun over the years, yeah? And has now come back to his family's seat - right next to Veneita's. Where they soon become fast friends. I love that they genuinely like each other, and that's probably the main reason I rooted for these two to get their HEA.
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But there are several things in the book that are products of its time, and that might make it less enjoyable for some readers. For example, in the scene where Venetia meets Lord Jasper Damerel, he mistakes her for a servant and proceeds to forcibly kiss her. Ew. For several reasons. That didn't exactly endear him to me, but I can still remember thinking this sort of behavior was fun in a fantasy sort of way when I was younger. Authors had to write scenes around the values that were drummed into us as young women, so "forcibly" being kissed or touched (which allowed you to go with the fantasy and still see the girls as good) was pretty much the only avenue available to if you were marketing to the mainstream and wanted to add a bit of spice. Looking back, I try not to dock the book for social issues like that, and this was published in 1958, so...yeah.
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I also think some people are thrown by the statement she makes at the end about being ok with the uncertainty that he will be able to remain faithful to her over the coming years. But to me, that just means she's realistic about life. How can you ever be sure someone won't cheat on you? Is there something out there that I'm unaware of that can give you that 100% guarantee when you get married? No. There's no promise that isn't breakable, and if you think there is, you're fooling yourself. I know. I'm such a killjoy.
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If you're a fan of Heyer's romances, I think you'll like this, though. Recommended....more
Not as bad as I FEARed. See what I did there? Eh?Eh?Eh?
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Time travel is so tricky, and I didn't have a lot of faith in Remender to start with ifNot as bad as I FEARed. See what I did there? Eh?Eh?Eh?
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Time travel is so tricky, and I didn't have a lot of faith in Remender to start with if I'm being honest, so the fact that this ended in a way that didn't piss me off took me by complete surprise. Remender will probably never be my jam, as I find his stuff mostly a maudlin look at life, but he pulled it off this time for me. I didn't hate it.
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This was a story of that guy. He's tough and he never gives up, no matter what life throws at him. He doesn't like people and people don't like him. But he does the right thing anyway. Mostly. And he's got an alcohol addiction, but he pushes through. Because you can't stop him. He's a cowboy. IN SPACE! And let's face it, who doesn't want to read a story about that guy?
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There's actually quite a bit of depth here, as Remender uses every trick in the book to show how Heath is a product not just of nature, but of nurture. With the use of time travel, cloning, & mind swaps, you can see how life experiences made him into, well...different people who might lead vastly different lives. Where's our personal line in the sand? That path we take, or maybe the one that takes us, that branches off to a place where we would become unrecognizable to ourselves? A cruel person? A crazy person? An evil person? We all like to think it couldn't happen to us, but that's probably because that last button we have hasn't been pushed. Yet. So, kudos to the subtle and not-so-subtle plot threads running through this thing.
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And yet. I have to say that I was pretty happy to be done with this story by the time I got to the end. Like in the First Volume's Deluxe Editon, I found all of the added issues of Heath's prior adventures boring. But I will freely admit that it was probably just because I wanted to move on and tick this damn thing off of my list. Fans will no doubt appreciate all the extras. Recommended for Space Cowboys....more
Children are dead. At least, the lucky ones are. So what the hell is killing them?
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Well, of course, longtime readers already know. But what we diChildren are dead. At least, the lucky ones are. So what the hell is killing them?
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Well, of course, longtime readers already know. But what we didn't know was that this creepy guy was interviewing a victim that Erica saved prior to the first volume.
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Oooooh, this is nefarious shit. Very nefarious. Read it....more
A mother prays for her son to be normal. Don't we all? In this case, her 13 year old son has the mind of a child much younger and she wants God to heal A mother prays for her son to be normal. Don't we all? In this case, her 13 year old son has the mind of a child much younger and she wants God to heal him. Her husband wants her to accept what they can't change.
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Meanwhile, there has been some kind of a chemical spill or radiation or something that happened a while back. And this boy spends his time naming mutant animals that he finds in their woods. And guess who is helping him? I'll give you a hint: it's not Godzilla.
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Apparently, the mutant lizards and frogbirds are all part of God's plan, and this child is one who can see and understand that God does not live in the church building. There's a new world coming and these strange creatures have a place in it. So, that's nice.
Recommended for Christie completionists like myself....more
Christie writes another religious short, this time about a group of saints that ask to come back to earth to help make a difference. It seems to be setChristie writes another religious short, this time about a group of saints that ask to come back to earth to help make a difference. It seems to be set in the futuristic year 2000, as they talked about some rule that would allow them to do this at the turn of each millennium. The saints didn't feel they had done enough to earn the glories of Heaven and wanted to do more for humanity. Something along those lines. It was too wonky for me, but having read some of Christie's other religious stories, this seemed very on par with how she liked to imagine things.
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I didn't find it particularly interesting but it probably makes sense if you are more familiar with the backstories of the saints. <--I only knew who St. Thomas and St. Peter were and the rest were only ringing very distant bells. I'm trying to be a Christie completionist, so it was nice to tick this one off the list....more