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Review Date: 1/30/2017
This is hilarious. Never have a meeting before noon without donuts! hah.
Review Date: 9/20/2010
Helpful Score: 1
I don't remember how I came to know about this little book, but I'm glad I did. It's a little older fantasy, 1989, and the first book in the Dance of the Gods series.
In a world where Technology has come and been kicked out by the gods, replaced by magic that drains physical strength (body mass) from the caster, Maximilian the Vaguely Disreputable gets dragged into a power play between some powerful gods when he agrees to help his friend Karlini find a way to escape a castle that won't let him leave. The guy (probably a god) responsible for trapping Karlini seems to be throwing his weight around in the city of Roosing Oolvaya. Max's friend Shaa is wandering around fulfilling his destiny by throwing himself into a another adventure, in Roosing Oolvaya. A detective in Roosing Oolvaya is commissioned by a god, against his will, to find out why there is a magical barrier around the city. As you may think, Roosing Oolvaya isn't in for a good time.
One thing I really liked, though it confused me at the beginning making me think it was a sequel, is that all the characters seem to have actually had lives and adventures before this book started. Why is Max called the Vaguely Disreputable, and what dealings has he had with gods and the undead in the past that make him eager to avoid them? How did Shaa come to be cursed and how did he find out he has to go on adventures? Etcetera. Not all these questions are answered, but you learn more about the characters and their past.
I found the writing, and the thoughts and actions of the characters very amusing. I've read some opinions that the author was trying too hard, but I thought it was very well done. The magic is fun, the descriptions pretty wild. They get a little hard to follow, especially near the end with the climax that involves a lot of magic, but I had to skim very little. I liked the characters, the plot was fun if not entirely resolved, but I'm going to hunt down the next book and begin reading!
I recommend you try this book if you're up for a short amusing adventure fantasy.
In a world where Technology has come and been kicked out by the gods, replaced by magic that drains physical strength (body mass) from the caster, Maximilian the Vaguely Disreputable gets dragged into a power play between some powerful gods when he agrees to help his friend Karlini find a way to escape a castle that won't let him leave. The guy (probably a god) responsible for trapping Karlini seems to be throwing his weight around in the city of Roosing Oolvaya. Max's friend Shaa is wandering around fulfilling his destiny by throwing himself into a another adventure, in Roosing Oolvaya. A detective in Roosing Oolvaya is commissioned by a god, against his will, to find out why there is a magical barrier around the city. As you may think, Roosing Oolvaya isn't in for a good time.
One thing I really liked, though it confused me at the beginning making me think it was a sequel, is that all the characters seem to have actually had lives and adventures before this book started. Why is Max called the Vaguely Disreputable, and what dealings has he had with gods and the undead in the past that make him eager to avoid them? How did Shaa come to be cursed and how did he find out he has to go on adventures? Etcetera. Not all these questions are answered, but you learn more about the characters and their past.
I found the writing, and the thoughts and actions of the characters very amusing. I've read some opinions that the author was trying too hard, but I thought it was very well done. The magic is fun, the descriptions pretty wild. They get a little hard to follow, especially near the end with the climax that involves a lot of magic, but I had to skim very little. I liked the characters, the plot was fun if not entirely resolved, but I'm going to hunt down the next book and begin reading!
I recommend you try this book if you're up for a short amusing adventure fantasy.
Review Date: 6/4/2015
This is a super cute manga. Better than your average Shojo boy-meets-girl mangaand a lot shorter, too (only 2 volumes).
Review Date: 10/14/2011
The main character is too painful to read. In an effort to be 'cool' he throws money away on bogus beauty parlor makeovers... and keeps doing it. You may find it entertaining... but I couldn't make it through more than half of the first volume. Rated 16+ for Mature content.
Review Date: 2/24/2011
Much like the first book, The Heavenward Path is enchanting and sweet and set in Heian Japan. If you are looking for an absolute conclusion to the story, this will not fulfill that desire, but will leave you with a little more to wonder about.
It continues the story of the Little Sister, when she's a bit older and trying to find her way to the Heavenward Path by being a Buddhist nun. Her family isn't happy with her decision, neither is her tengu friend because he cannot get close to religious ground or religious scrolls.
As curious and adventure-loving as she is, however, you can't expect her to sit in prayer all day, and once again she goes off on a magical adventure. This time, though, instead of searching for the older sister, she is searching for the path for the Little Sister. I can't say if she finds it or not, I would be happy with a third book, but if you loved the first one you will want to read this one!
It continues the story of the Little Sister, when she's a bit older and trying to find her way to the Heavenward Path by being a Buddhist nun. Her family isn't happy with her decision, neither is her tengu friend because he cannot get close to religious ground or religious scrolls.
As curious and adventure-loving as she is, however, you can't expect her to sit in prayer all day, and once again she goes off on a magical adventure. This time, though, instead of searching for the older sister, she is searching for the path for the Little Sister. I can't say if she finds it or not, I would be happy with a third book, but if you loved the first one you will want to read this one!
Review Date: 2/3/2012
Sweet - Honey and Clover - a cute struggle of love, life, and graduating art college to get a real job.
The main character of the story, which takes place over about 4 years, is Takemoto, a 'starving college student' with little confidence and no idea what to do with his life. When Hagumi, an adorable young art student, joins the school, Takemoto falls right in love with her. However, so does Morita, the eccentric money-loving never-graduating student who picks on both Takemoto and Hagu because they let him.
Then we have: Mayama, the one who actually graduates and gets a job, he's in love with Rika, a woman he sometimes works with; Yamada, a beautiful much loved young woman who is obsessively in love with Mayama as much as he is obsessively in love with Rika; Hanamoto-sensei, an old friend of Rika, he is Hagu's caretaker to whom she is absolutely devoted; and a full cast of supporting characters.
Still, the main character is Takemoto. He is the one who grows the most and gets the most out of the entire experience. He takes a random bicycle trip to 'find himself' (no, says Mayama, don't say that, it's embarrassing!)... and he really does.
The series is 10 volumes long, the art is lovely, the story is sweet, there's a lot of humor, some sad stuff (everyone has a tragic past or present or whatever), each panel is full of information. You can learn a lot about Japan culture through the series and the translation notes... And you may learn some about the unstable Tower of Youth.
If I were trying to compare it to another manga series I would probably say Fruits Basket, or Kare Kano, but I honestly like Honey and Clover better, and it is more innocent.
Fun fact: the name of the series comes from music the author likes, and those bands (Spitz and Suga Shikao) actually did music for the anime.
The main character of the story, which takes place over about 4 years, is Takemoto, a 'starving college student' with little confidence and no idea what to do with his life. When Hagumi, an adorable young art student, joins the school, Takemoto falls right in love with her. However, so does Morita, the eccentric money-loving never-graduating student who picks on both Takemoto and Hagu because they let him.
Then we have: Mayama, the one who actually graduates and gets a job, he's in love with Rika, a woman he sometimes works with; Yamada, a beautiful much loved young woman who is obsessively in love with Mayama as much as he is obsessively in love with Rika; Hanamoto-sensei, an old friend of Rika, he is Hagu's caretaker to whom she is absolutely devoted; and a full cast of supporting characters.
Still, the main character is Takemoto. He is the one who grows the most and gets the most out of the entire experience. He takes a random bicycle trip to 'find himself' (no, says Mayama, don't say that, it's embarrassing!)... and he really does.
The series is 10 volumes long, the art is lovely, the story is sweet, there's a lot of humor, some sad stuff (everyone has a tragic past or present or whatever), each panel is full of information. You can learn a lot about Japan culture through the series and the translation notes... And you may learn some about the unstable Tower of Youth.
If I were trying to compare it to another manga series I would probably say Fruits Basket, or Kare Kano, but I honestly like Honey and Clover better, and it is more innocent.
Fun fact: the name of the series comes from music the author likes, and those bands (Spitz and Suga Shikao) actually did music for the anime.
Review Date: 2/3/2012
Hey, I agree with the other reviewer. Really, the horrible images got to me. It's true - one page, cute tanuki, characters squabble like 5-year-olds, the next page, floor covered in bodies, or some other such shocking but ridiculous situation (or maybe half the people in this world are born evil and insane?).
Itsuwaribito - one who lies. Utsuho was betrayed, all the people he's known are killed, thus he decides he hates itsuwaribito... and decides to be one himself in order to help people hurt by itsuwaribito. Sure. Gotta be evil to catch evil, I guess. And he does a decent job of it, too. He always out-lies his opponent.
To give you an example, Utsuho says 'I will kill you with one finger' and the goons go 'yeah right', he says 'wait, I lied, 2 fingers' 'yeah right' 'I lied, 3 fingers' 'sure' '5 fingers' 'ok' - then he says 'no, I lied about lying, 1 finger will do' and he tips over a candle that burns down the house. (Or something along those lines.) I found those exchanges pretty entertaining...
However, they could not make up for the brutal situations mixed with immature dialogue.
The main character doesn't have much personality, aside from his cheerful countenance and tendency to lie and unflinching throwing of bombs. The secondary character is completely flat, he's a doctor who proclaims he 'hates itsuwaribito' and that is his entire personality.
If you are ok with the creepy images (like corpses of children), it might be interesting to try book 1, just for the lying-battles. But otherwise the series fails as far as plot, character, life-lessons, and logic.
Itsuwaribito - one who lies. Utsuho was betrayed, all the people he's known are killed, thus he decides he hates itsuwaribito... and decides to be one himself in order to help people hurt by itsuwaribito. Sure. Gotta be evil to catch evil, I guess. And he does a decent job of it, too. He always out-lies his opponent.
To give you an example, Utsuho says 'I will kill you with one finger' and the goons go 'yeah right', he says 'wait, I lied, 2 fingers' 'yeah right' 'I lied, 3 fingers' 'sure' '5 fingers' 'ok' - then he says 'no, I lied about lying, 1 finger will do' and he tips over a candle that burns down the house. (Or something along those lines.) I found those exchanges pretty entertaining...
However, they could not make up for the brutal situations mixed with immature dialogue.
The main character doesn't have much personality, aside from his cheerful countenance and tendency to lie and unflinching throwing of bombs. The secondary character is completely flat, he's a doctor who proclaims he 'hates itsuwaribito' and that is his entire personality.
If you are ok with the creepy images (like corpses of children), it might be interesting to try book 1, just for the lying-battles. But otherwise the series fails as far as plot, character, life-lessons, and logic.
Review Date: 2/24/2011
Little Sister is a fantasy tale set in Heian-period Japan, where the main character is part of a noble family. There is political strife involving the violent monks of Mt. Hiei, and Mitsuko's family is forced to flee their home. During their journey the monks attack, and leave many dead, including the new husband of Mitsuko's older sister. The sister suffers intense shock, and Mitsuko takes it upon herself to care for her and, eventually, figure out how to cure her.
Mitsuko is helped in her journey by tengu (demon birds), and befriends a particular one who helps her search many fantastical places: the underworld, Mt. Fuji, and a cave where they speak to a dragon of the sea.
I had the luck to read Little Sister while in Japan (where I did visit Mt Hiei), which was the best experience, but I recommend the book to anyone. It is charming, fantastical, and filled with Japanese lore and customs. For example, as shown on the cover, Mitsuko often keeps her face covered by her kimono sleeve.
A sweet story.
Mitsuko is helped in her journey by tengu (demon birds), and befriends a particular one who helps her search many fantastical places: the underworld, Mt. Fuji, and a cave where they speak to a dragon of the sea.
I had the luck to read Little Sister while in Japan (where I did visit Mt Hiei), which was the best experience, but I recommend the book to anyone. It is charming, fantastical, and filled with Japanese lore and customs. For example, as shown on the cover, Mitsuko often keeps her face covered by her kimono sleeve.
A sweet story.
Review Date: 2/3/2012
First volume -- kind of funny. Next 6 volumes - couldn't stand it!! It's unbearable! So you have been warned.
Hana Suzuki unwittingly joins the Hockey Club at her school - a school she actually studied to get into so she could sleep an extra 15 minutes. The Hockey Club rarely -- er, never, really -- plays hockey. Instead they travel to places to have matches that never happen. The other members are rich so they pay for the vacations, and Hana is showered with all the wonderful food she can eat. (That's why she stays with the club.)
Other club members: the handsome leader, who starts falling for Hana; the handsome studious megane friend who is harsh on Hana (rightly so), the handsome cute quiet one who turns evil a couple of times (which was quite funny); the handsome identical twins, and... so, yes, it's a reverse-harem, and no that's not bad in itself. What's unbearable is that all the characters were 2D. Hana had a bit more life in her (which is ironic), but the rest were just blah - pretty manga boys. The characters randomly fight bears and befriend monkeys and get into such stupid, impossible situations that are, rather than funny, aggravating.
It reminded me a LOT of Ouran High School Host club, but Ouran is a few hundred times better.
Still, if you like shojo reverse-harem school manga, try out the first volume, it will tell you all you need to know about the series - the next 6 volumes, anyway.
Hana Suzuki unwittingly joins the Hockey Club at her school - a school she actually studied to get into so she could sleep an extra 15 minutes. The Hockey Club rarely -- er, never, really -- plays hockey. Instead they travel to places to have matches that never happen. The other members are rich so they pay for the vacations, and Hana is showered with all the wonderful food she can eat. (That's why she stays with the club.)
Other club members: the handsome leader, who starts falling for Hana; the handsome studious megane friend who is harsh on Hana (rightly so), the handsome cute quiet one who turns evil a couple of times (which was quite funny); the handsome identical twins, and... so, yes, it's a reverse-harem, and no that's not bad in itself. What's unbearable is that all the characters were 2D. Hana had a bit more life in her (which is ironic), but the rest were just blah - pretty manga boys. The characters randomly fight bears and befriend monkeys and get into such stupid, impossible situations that are, rather than funny, aggravating.
It reminded me a LOT of Ouran High School Host club, but Ouran is a few hundred times better.
Still, if you like shojo reverse-harem school manga, try out the first volume, it will tell you all you need to know about the series - the next 6 volumes, anyway.
Once You're over the Hill: You Begin to Pick Up Speed (Peanuts Wisdom)
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Review Date: 1/23/2017
Cute book, not bad for a gift, but it's basically a couple Peanuts strips stretched over a few pages. 2-min read.
Review Date: 3/7/2012
What if the government existed with a single goal in mind: to make people miserable?
On her tour of different countries, to help her learn about becoming a ruler one day, Princess Navina learns that in Malvolia this is so. The Magog, ruler of Malvolia, has devised a perfect system in which his subjects are miserable... but they don't understand why. It bears a striking resemblance to government in the real world.
The Princess Navina books, with large text and illustrations, are highly amusing and well-written satires of modern-day politics. I enjoyed them as a child without understanding the political aspect, now as an adult I enjoy them both as books and very accurate descriptions and blows against the way our government does things to 'help people'.
On her tour of different countries, to help her learn about becoming a ruler one day, Princess Navina learns that in Malvolia this is so. The Magog, ruler of Malvolia, has devised a perfect system in which his subjects are miserable... but they don't understand why. It bears a striking resemblance to government in the real world.
The Princess Navina books, with large text and illustrations, are highly amusing and well-written satires of modern-day politics. I enjoyed them as a child without understanding the political aspect, now as an adult I enjoy them both as books and very accurate descriptions and blows against the way our government does things to 'help people'.
Review Date: 6/14/2012
I found Servant of a Dark God a good epic fantasy. The author has created an interesting world that I enjoyed learning more about. I didn't love any of the characters but I liked them well enough.
I enjoyed the start of the book. You are introduced to the character I guess could be called the main character, Talen, a farm boy destined for great things :)
The first thing you learn about the enemy of the book is through Talen. The 'Seth' as they are called, are 'soul-stealers'. Each person is made up of Soul and Fire (life source?), and these beings steal Soul to make themselves powerful. What they steal from becomes a part of themselves, i.e. stealing from a fish over time may cause the Seth to grow scales.
You learn immediately that this threat comes from a man of Talen's clan, and Talen is very negative towards the whole thing, as his kind of people are already looked down on.
The next step of the story, however, takes you back a day, to the point of view of the 'Seth' in question and his family. It's pretty dramatic and a good indication of the flow of the book.
My main problem is that the whole book seemed kind of like one long chase scene -- there were no breaks, no time to sit back. It kept me reading, on the edge of my seat, but it also made it seem to drag on. The characters were almost going around in circles, trying to get into the right arrangement with the right circumstances.
I thought this book stood well on its own. I can see why there are sequels, of course -- he built a cool world with lots of possibilities, and I would be interested to see how he develops the conflict and the characters. Book 3 isn't released yet, though, so there will be a wait....
I enjoyed the start of the book. You are introduced to the character I guess could be called the main character, Talen, a farm boy destined for great things :)
The first thing you learn about the enemy of the book is through Talen. The 'Seth' as they are called, are 'soul-stealers'. Each person is made up of Soul and Fire (life source?), and these beings steal Soul to make themselves powerful. What they steal from becomes a part of themselves, i.e. stealing from a fish over time may cause the Seth to grow scales.
You learn immediately that this threat comes from a man of Talen's clan, and Talen is very negative towards the whole thing, as his kind of people are already looked down on.
The next step of the story, however, takes you back a day, to the point of view of the 'Seth' in question and his family. It's pretty dramatic and a good indication of the flow of the book.
My main problem is that the whole book seemed kind of like one long chase scene -- there were no breaks, no time to sit back. It kept me reading, on the edge of my seat, but it also made it seem to drag on. The characters were almost going around in circles, trying to get into the right arrangement with the right circumstances.
I thought this book stood well on its own. I can see why there are sequels, of course -- he built a cool world with lots of possibilities, and I would be interested to see how he develops the conflict and the characters. Book 3 isn't released yet, though, so there will be a wait....
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