text
stringlengths 149
7.21M
| dataset
stringclasses 39
values |
|---|---|
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Tupelo Honey; City: Franklin, TN; Review: They have a very nice selection of choices. The staff is extremely friendly. Tables are a little too close together though. Prices are a little bit high for what you expect I requested a gluten-free bread and I was given what appeared to be sandwich bread.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of India; City: Franklin, TN; Review: We enjoyed our meal at this restaurant. The staff is very attentive. The portions are large. We went around 7 p.m. and it was very busy. The decor could use a little bit of updating but the food is excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loveless Cafe; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Really only one word comes to mind wow. They're homemade biscuits are just ridiculously good. The pic cooked pork is just like eating candy. I feel really fat leaving here now ate way too much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Franklin Soul; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Food is ridiculously good period from the biggest and grits to the mashed potatoes to the baked beans all just mouth-wateringly good. Really fun and friendly staff as well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AutoFix; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Seems Very honest and trustworthy Auto Service Repair. Very friendly staff . Had a warning light on the dash. Was told it was a simple repair so I agree to the repair . the next day warning light is back. Hmmmm. I received a text message regarding my experience. I replied that I was still having the same problem and their repair did not work. Still waiting for an answer back. I am also still waiting for a quote that they said they would provide regarding another repair they said was necessary. No one ever called me back so I finally contacted them back out of a courtesy. Unfortunately they gave me prices that were 25 to 30% higher than all of the other quotes I received.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Two Rivers Ford; City: Mount Juliet, TN; Review: Wow they are completely intent on ripping you off at this dealership. I knew my trade-in value going into it as I checked on both Kelley Blue Book and NADA guides. It was between 13 + 1/2 + $16,000. These guys tried to offer me $10,000 well below the trade-in value. When I called them on it and even sent them a screenshot of the trade-in value from Kelley Blue Book they try to entice me by saying they give me $11,000. These guys want to make Top Dollar on both the front and the back end. That's not the kind of dealership I do business with and I wouldn't recommend that anybody does. You can't possibly expect a customer to / Finance their new vehicle already putting them below market value.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Carter House; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Couldn't have been a better experience. An extremely detailed hour spent listening to the history of the Carter family and their participation in the Battle of Franklin. It's really a great eye-opener to what the experience must have been like.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IHOP; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Tried to go for breakfast here this morning. We were told it was a 10 minute wait. Not sure why there was any wait there were plenty of empty tables. After 30 minutes we went to McDonald's. Won't ever come back.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Davis Auto Service; City: Franklin, TN; Review: I was calling around for brake service on my vehicle. This shop quoted me double the price that everyone else was quoting me. When I asked why the price was double everyone else's he tried to convince me that they use better Parts than everyone else. Of course this is untrue as everyone I spoke to use the exact same brake pads. I'm not sure where you buy knock off brake pads maybe Amazon or Ebay? I'm pretty sure I've never heard of a garage that gets their parts from any place other than a reputable Auto Supply Warehouse or chain; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: NMK Mobile Service; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Couldn't be happier with the service. He showed up on time and did the work extremely quickly and professionally. I will definitely be using him again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oscar's Taco Shop; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Tasty, but food should be served hotter, great hot sauce hope its home made. Friendly staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brentwood Skate Center; City: Brentwood, TN; Review: This is a great place for family fun. It's great for little kids to teenagers and adults who want to relive their youth pretending that they can skate around the rink as fast as they used too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ford Lincoln of Franklin; City: Franklin, TN; Review: The Good The Bad and The Ugly. I recently purchased an F-150 from Ford Franklin. It definitely had its ups and downs but in the end they made it right. I have to take some responsibility myself as I didn't test drive the vehicle because it was pouring rain. However I would have figured that anything significantly wrong with the vehicle would have been repaired. I worked with Justin on the purchase we didn't have to go back and forth and play a lot of games he offered One Price I told him my bottom line and we agreed to it. When I discovered there was a significant problem with the vehicle Jason the used car director stepped in and made sure the issues were handled. When the issue became even more serious one of their top Executives Chris stepped in and authorized the substantial repairs that needed to be made to the vehicle. As a gesture of Goodwill they even put on some aftermarket parts for me that I had purchased. That's the kind of customer service. Winds return service in my mind.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bar-B-Cutie; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Combo portions are extremely small. The pulled pork was moderately dry. Not much flavor all I could really taste was barbecue sauce that I added. Ordered a couple of extra side switch never came because they gave us the wrong stuff didn't bother asking for the correction.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Econo Lodge Near Reno-Sparks Convention Center; City: Reno, NV; Review: I'm giving this 5 stars as the ratings that you see on here are skewed or what I'm not sure. Does this hotel need a little bit of work like paint and so forth yes it does. Is the carpet dirty yes it is. However the rooms are clean the beds are comfortable and the Linens were clean. There were plenty of fresh towels and they were all clean as well. I didn't see any evidence of unsavory characters lingering around the hotel other than the occasional homeless person which is just common practice everywhere; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: St. Louis Parking Company; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I call to ask what lot RVs are allowed. The receptionist acted like this was the craziest question and no one had ever asked it before. She said she didn't know the answer kept asking me what stadium I was talking about. Said there was only one guy to ask and he wasn't there. How can parking lots near sports stadiums not allow trailers or RVs; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: St Louis Parking Co Corporate Office; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I call to ask what parking lot RVs we're able to use if you were attending St Louis Cardinals baseball game. The receptionist acted like this was the craziest question and no one had ever ask it before. She said there's only one person who would know the answer and they weren't even there; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ballpark Village; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: This place doesn't make any sense to me they have a security person outside checking all bags including backpacks. Once your backpack is checked and you go through the security scanner your then told that backpacks are not allowed purses coolers other things are but backpacks aren't. I have a teenage son who question the policy as he saw a girl walking with the backpack and was told she worked here. As a young man he tried to explain that he didn't think that was fair a security officer named Sarah begin to scream and yell and berate a child. That is Despicable Behavior.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: St Louis Cardinals; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Absolutely the worst baseball experience we have ever had. It's hard to know where to even begin. We weren't allowed to take a backpack in that only had baseball gloves in it. There's no parking anywhere around the stadium so we were forced to throw the backpack away. Then we tried to get into the no bag line. However we were told that the glove constitutes a bag and it would have to be checked for alcohol and knives. When my son questioned these rules he was spoken to abusively by staff members. I immediately stepped in and scolded them for speaking to a child in that manner. I've been to a few rainouts and I've never had a team call a rainout after an hour and 15 minutes. Seriously the Yankees and the Red Sox had over a three-hour rain delay just a couple days ago. We left the stadium and it's not even raining. Cardinal nation is a joke; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: City Cafe; City: Brentwood, TN; Review: I would give this restaurant one star solely based on the manager / owners terrible attitude but that wouldn't be fair to the rest of the staff there. The food is excellent. The staff other than the manager / owner are extremely nice and very thoughtful. Over the weekend we had an early lunch there my son accidentally wrapped up his brand new retainers in a napkin and it got thrown in the trash. We discovered the problem about 10 minutes later and call them back and they had said they already taken out their trash. To me that means it's in the trash can outside but it wasn't. We went into the restaurant and asked if we could look through the trash. The manager an owner as he claimed absolutely refuse to let us look through the trash he said we could get injured and he'd be liable if we looked through the trash inside the restaurant. I said I understand please just put the trash outside your back door or put it in your big trash can and we'll go through it. He again refused. I asked him when they would be done and we'll be putting the trash outside he again refused to tell me. You told me that the retainers weren't in the trash and then he had already looked through it all by himself twice. Either he didn't look through it and he was just being insolent I can't say. But while I was basically begging him to go through his garbage one of his staff members lo and behold found the retainers. I want to thank the staff for their diligence and helping us find their retainers but shame on the manager owner for just being pompous.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Yats; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Very simple restaurant. Food was absolutely amazing we all share dishes from Caribbean chicken, to drunk chicken, to beans and sausage everything was delicious. The bread that comes with is a little bit on The Buttery side but seriously food was amazingly good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Geno's Steaks; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: So usually is obviously everyone's heard of Geno's and Pat's right across the street from each other in Philadelphia. We got a sandwich from each. There is a night and day difference in the sandwich the line and the staff. Geno's has a much shorter line about half the size but its employees are tremendously nice and courteous. The sandwich wasn't as good nor did it have the same amount of meat and cheese as Pat's. The Pat's line is much longer than Geno's and it moves really slowly while Gino's lines moves really quickly they have someone doing each job. The staff are just rude I guess I could say that's kind of typical for Philadelphia a place that throws snowballs and boo Santa and their sports teams constantly. The sandwich however was definitely Superior for more meat a lot more cheese and tons of nicely grilled peppers and onions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pat's King of Steaks; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: So usually is obviously everyone's heard of Geno's and Pat's right across the street from each other in Philadelphia. We got a sandwich from each. There is a night and day difference in the sandwich the line and the staff. Geno's has a much shorter line about half the size but its employees are tremendously nice and courteous. The sandwich wasn't as good nor did it have the same amount of meat and cheese as Pat's. The Pat's line is much longer than Geno's and it moves really slowly while Gino's lines moves really quickly they have someone doing each job. The staff are just rude I guess I could say that's kind of typical for Philadelphia a place that throws snowballs and boo Santa and their sports teams constantly. The sandwich however was definitely Superior for more meat a lot more cheese and tons of nicely grilled peppers and onions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Grilled Cheeserie; City: Franklin, TN; Review: There was a long line which is fine. Their was a haze of smoke which was not ok. There is no seating for groups over 4. We ordered food and it literally came out per person. In the end we didn't even get everything we ordered and I had to go and ask for the items we were missing. Definitely a lack of organization; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Winchester Antique Mall; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Tons of great antiques. Really nice of them to stay late so I can pick something up that was bought online; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Le Skewer; City: Brentwood, TN; Review: Very friendly staff. Good size portions definitely some value meals. Everything is tasted yummy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mojo's Tacos; City: Franklin, TN; Review: They had a really long line so its definitely popular. Had the old school tacos. Way to greasey. Fluid was literaiily dripping out. Salsa served with chips is really bland. Chips aren't very good at all. Had a small piece of kids chicken tender it was extremely salty. Ketchup also tasted odd. Corn side was interesting. Jalapeno sauce was nice and Spicey. All the sodas taste weird. We will go back but no chips are soda.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CoolSprings Galleria; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Food court is filthy and disgusting. Tables are dirty food on the floor. If this was a restaurant it would get shut down. Seems like there's no air conditioning over there roasting hot.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Cheesecake Factory - Cool Springs; City: Franklin, TN; Review: One of the worst attempts at customer service I've ever seen at any restaurant including the several cheese factories that we've been to. There was three girls working at the front desk they seemed in complete chaos. We received notice on their device that our table was ready . When we walked back to the restaurant we were told to hold on as they needed to make sure the table was ready .After we were seated we proceeded to wait 20 minutes and did not receive any service whatsoever. Not even a glass of water. I saw at least eight servers walk by our table no one even said hi or smiled. If front desk is this chaotic you can't get served I'd really hate to think what's going on in this kitchen. Can we say food poisoning? I called the manager right after we walked out and informed her of the situation. if that was my business I would have immediately offered that customer to come back immediately and find me at the front desk. I don't even understand how they have three stars.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint; City: Nolensville, TN; Review: The staff here is extremely friendly and helpful. The food is well cooked and enjoyable. However the sides are extremely small. I also believe it's a little expensive at $7 for a pretty small sandwich. Definitely need to work on the size of the sandwich and besides for the prices they're charging; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brick's Cafe; City: Brentwood, TN; Review: Food was good we had variety of items. A little pricey. Service is prompt to get your order. Never got a refill on drinks. I like my water. Didn't ask how I would like my burger cooked.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: FedEx Office Print & Ship Center; City: Franklin, TN; Review: Various supplies and services available make copies didn't have to talk to anyone just insert your card into the machine $0.13 per copy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O'Charley's; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Extremely friendly and attentive staff. Meals were out super quick. Amazing prices for an airport they could certainly be ripping people off like a lot of other restaurants here but they're not; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soulshine Pizza; City: Franklin, TN; Review: we went to this restaurant over the weekend. While I expect restaurants to be busy on the weekend I found this particular establishment to be overwhelmingly loud. It was actually difficult to enjoy the meal and have a conversation with all of the noise. The portions of food compared to the prices are really out of line with my expectations not only in this area but in general. While the staff was polite and kind no one offered us a refill of our beverages. Most of my family drinks water so it shouldn't even be related to a cost issue. I had the chili and honestly it tasted like it came out of a can.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: SideKicks Cafe; City: Madison, TN; Review: You would almost miss the place. Very friendly staff. Tasty food. Small omelette though. Biscuits are great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bridge Street Antiques; City: Lambertville, NJ; Review: Extremely difficult to deal with. Very poor manners. Tells you one thing one day and something else the next day. Communication skills need a huge Improvement.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Whiteland, IN; Review: Dmanager presumably owner operator of this establishment is one of the rudest nastiest people I have ever come across in my life. We are a family owned transporting team we use McDonald's quite a bit with their buy one get one free promo. I sent my 12 year old son in to get our order. Individual at the counter refuse to use the coupon saying it was out of state. I never had a McDonald's refused the promo and we've been to every single state in the country and used one except Hawaii and Alaska. Not only was this man not wearing his name tag but he refused to give us his name or the store number. His state is also under a mask mandate and he was not wearing his mask properly clearly he could have been infecting every customer and employee that he came in contact with. Look at all the reviews on this McDonald's there clearly true.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Governor's Lady; Author: Robert Inman; Review: This novel flowed well with twists and turns and was well written. Loved the plot! Would recommend it if you like Dorothy Benton Frank.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane Sisters: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dorothea Benton Frank Page; Review: Very entertaining beach read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Orphan Train: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Baker Kline Page; Review: A well written slice of history I was not aware of!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goodnight Moon Board Book & Baby Socks; Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Wise Brown Page; Review: Sweet book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Picture Puffins); Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Carle Page; Review: Fun teaching book! Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pout-Pout Fish (A Pout-Pout Fish Adventure); Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah Diesen Page; Review: Fun teaching book! Let very it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; Author: Bill Martin Jr.; Review: Fun teaching book! Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Colors, Shapes & Counting Book of Rhymes Board Book by Rock 'N Learn; Author: Rock 'N Learn; Review: Fun teaching book. Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Fotasy N3517 35MM F1.7 TV Movie Lens and Adapter Kit for Sony NEX E-Mount Cameras; Brand: Fotasy; Review: Its pretty nice. Feel solid. BUT my particular lens has some wobble to it and it kills me!!! I wish it was more compact than it is.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, Desktop or Laptop Webcam; Brand: Logitech; Review: Worth the price now.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: OAproda 2 Pack NP-FW50 Battery and Rapid Micro USB Charger for Sony Alpha a7, a7 II, a7R, a7R II,; Brand: OAproda; Review: One battery died after a week of use. Very displeased.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Movo Photo MTP1000 Panaromic 360°/ 60-Minute Time Lapse Tripod Head for Cameras, DSLR's, GoPro's and Smartphones; Brand: Movo; Review: Not worth the price. I didn't realize it was mechanical.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera (Pink) (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Fujifilm; Review: It's sooo damn dark, damn. What do I know though I'm just a millennial; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 60 Inch Compact Camera Travel Tripod 360 Degree Swivel Ball Head 1/4 Quick Release Plate Carry Bag 5 Section Height; Brand: AW; Review: Not very long lasting. Be gentle with leg twisting.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: RIOTORO CR500 Tempered Glass ATX Mid Tower Gaming Case RED LEDs 2 x 120mm Fans pre-insalled, Black (CR500); Brand: RIOTORO; Review: This is the illest, realest, most bitchen case for all Mobo sizes. Would highly recommends! 10/10; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Imperial Hotel; City: Great Yarmouth Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: I was here on business holding focus groups and stayed the night. What stood out for me was the genuinely friendly service from all the staff - reception, waitresses and the owner Nick. I didn't know Nick was the owner until I was leaving but he couldn't have done more to help me with a video camera that I was struggling to get to work. The food in the Terrace restaurant was lovely and there was a good choice at breakfast including freshly squeezed orange juice. The room was fine with an excellent wi-fi connection. I have already recommended the hotel to one of my colleagues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Torbraeu; City: Munich Upper Bavaria Bavaria; Review: My elderly mother and I stayed 4 nights at the hotel. The staff really made the place. They couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. Nothing seemed too much trouble. The buffet breakfast was good and the two meals we had in the Schapeau restaurant were lovely. We took advantage of the Happy Hour cocktails after a hard day's sightseeing. The location is excellent for the Altstadt and the S Bahn is about 100 yards away (line to the airport). All in all a great place to stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alpbacherhof Hotel; City: Alpbach Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: I was on an Inghams skiing holiday with friends. We all really enjoyed our stay principally because of the wonderful food, the spa and the friendly/helpful staff. There is an excellent buffet breakfast with delicious bread, a mid-afternoon snack of cakes or soup which is great after skiing and a five/six course evening meal - starter, soup, salad bar, main course (choice of meat, fish or veggie), dessert and, if you still have room, cheese. The drinks in the bar are excellent value. I usually ski in France and the prices in a dingy local bar are far more than in this hotel - a glass of wine about 3 euros, same for a beer and cocktails 6 or 7 euros. The spa facility has a gym, indoor and outdoor pools (not large enough for serious swimming but lovely for relaxing) and a series of steam rooms and saunas. The relaxation room with water beds is guaranteed to make you drop off to sleep after a hard day's skiing! The only downsides are: patchy Wi-fi coverage, the single room I had was a bit on the dark side and could do with an update, but the newly refurbished rooms are lovely and the fact that smoking is permitted in the bar (but you can go in the lounge if you don't like it).The staff were all very helpful and friendly, especially on reception. The good service can be summed up by the fact that when our pick-up time was 4.15am Emma, one of the waitresses, was there at 3.45am onwards to provide coffee and breakfast. I would love to go back in the summer for the walking and to enjoy the food and the spa. The village itself is very pretty but doesn't have a lot in the way of shops or bars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greycroft; City: Alnwick Northumberland England; Review: There was nothing to fault at this lovely B&B. Admittedly we had the best room (the Yellow Room) in the house but everything was perfect and spotlessly clean. It is in a very good location with everything in Alnwick in walking distance. There was a great choice for breakfast, freshly prepared by Tom who would come out and ask if everything was OK and whether you wanted any more. Audrey, the owner, was very warm, friendly and helpful. We had a wonderful three nights there and would love to go back next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Le 1er Etage Opera; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Great location. The Ier etage is close to several metro stations and the RER. It's a couple of minutes walk from the Roissy bus stop at Opera which brings you in from Charles de Gaulle. You can walk up to Montmartre or down to the Seine in 20 minutes. We stayed in Room 1 which was nicely decorated and had everything you could want, e.g. flat screen smart TV, great shower, separate loo, lovely toiletries, etc. The room was spotlessly clean. There are some nice touches like floor level lighting which comes on at night when the room lights are off. Breakfast was simple but excellent quality and again nice touches like homemade granola. Nothing cooked but that's not the French way. Having a small kitchen where you could make a drink and sample the free biscuits and nougat was a real bonus, as was the complimentary water and juice. The owners were helpful and friendly. Don't be put off by the entrance - it's a big wooden gate leading into a small courtyard and then another keypad to get you into the building itself. It's very typically Parisien but not smart, whereas when you use the third keypad you enter the property itself with its chic décor. Not cheap but then what is in Paris, except the metro, and the weak pound doesn't help but worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MTP TM 31; Brand: MTP-Quick Release; Review: Does not fit my porter brand multi tool; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: LED Lenser - Tac Torch Flashlight, Black; Brand: Ledlenser; Review: Great light. Very bright; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leviton TBL03-10W Tabletop Slide Control Lamp Dimmer, 300-Watt, White; Brand: Leviton; Review: Top quality. No risk of fire with this one. Love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: (6 Pack) Homelek 3W LED Light Bulbs, Equivalent to 25W, E26 Base, G45/G14 Bulb, 300 Lumens, Warm White 3000; Brand: Homelek; Review: Nice but seem to be brighter than my 7 watt LED bulbs. Soft white not warm white.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CMYK Vintage Edison LED Bulb, Dimmable 4W ST64 Antique LED Bulb Squirrel Cage Filament Light For Decorate Home, E26,; Brand: CMYK; Review: Beautiful bulbs. Great warm light. Love that they are dimmable. Slightly larger than most bulbs so know that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Incredibles (Mandarin Chinese Edition); Brand: Brad Bird; Review: I always go to watch a Pixar movie with my eyes squinted. They have all been so good that I am waiting for one to be a stinker. This movie is not that movie. I'll admit that I thought it drug a little bit in the middle, but by the end of the movie, I was absolutely thrilled. When the family finally started using their super powers, it became a whole new movie and I really enjoyed it. My favorite scenes were the ones where the Mom was using her powers. They were the most creative and technically amazing. A great movie that sucks you in and makes you enjoy it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kung Fu Panda (Mandarin Chinese Edition); Brand: John Stevenson; Review: I had not seen this in theaters so the Blu-Ray was my first time viewing this movie. I liked the trailers and knew that it would look great so I snagged it up and gave it a whirl. It met and then exceeded my expectations. They did a wonderful job with everything about this movie. I've been a long time animation fan and have appreciated what Dreamworks has done with their animated movies, CGI and the handrawn stuff before that. They have all seemed a little more pop culture like and, while fun to watch once, not really much for repeat viewing. I can watch Pixar movies over and over again, but never went back to Shrek, Madagascar, Shark Tale or any other Dreamworks movie more than once or twice. Kung Fu Panda is a new level for them though. It has a good story, comedy, heart, action and style. I love the look of this movie. The fight scenes made me feel the same way I do watching live action Jackie Chan or Jet Li movies. I really got into them. The character design is stylish without being distracting, but I would have liked to know more about The Furious Five. I was upset that the DVD came with a 20 minute DVD about them, but it was not included on the Blu-Ray. Bottom line, Dreamworks got it right with this movie and it is worth a buy. It is a world that I would like to re-visit again. I already want to watch it again just to see the fight sequences and I hope they make a sequel that is just as good. Kung Fu Panda [Blu-ray]; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: So Smart!: Shapes; Brand: ; Review: I had expected that I would like this movie because of the cast and the source material. I loved the original Get Smart and thought Steve Carrell was a perfect choice for Max. Turns out the only character I liked was Anne Hathaway as Agent 99. The rest of it was poorly written and just not enjoyable. I was glad when it was over. A real shame.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Get Smart; Brand: ; Review: I had expected that I would like this movie because of the cast and the source material. I loved the original Get Smart and thought Steve Carrell was a perfect choice for Max. Turns out the only character I liked was Anne Hathaway as Agent 99. The rest of it was poorly written and just not enjoyable. I was glad when it was over. A real shame.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Get Smart; Brand: Steve Carell; Review: I had expected that I would like this movie because of the cast and the source material. I loved the original Get Smart and thought Steve Carrell was a perfect choice for Max. Turns out the only character I liked was Anne Hathaway as Agent 99. The rest of it was poorly written and just not enjoyable. I was glad when it was over. A real shame.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tropic Thunder; Brand: Ben Stiller; Review: This movie certainly is not for everyone. It starts out very promising with some very funny "fake" trailers. Then the squirming begins. This movie funny, but it isn't a laugh out loud, tears streaming down your face funny. It's more of a "Oh my gosh, I can't believe they just did that" snicker. You almost feel bad for watching it because you will find things humorous that you somehow feel you shouldn't, but you will smile anyways. I personally found it to be entertaining and I bought the Blu-Ray even after seeing it in theaters so it wasn't a blind buy. It's one of those movies that I will enjoy watching with others just to see how they react. For most people, I would say this is a rental unless you catch a good deal, but you should make the effort to see it. The performances are great and this has become only the second movie that I have enjoyed Robert Downey Jr in, with Iron Man being the first. Jack Black was the only character that I really didn't like for most of the movie. I just wanted to watch him in "The Fatties" which is his characters money maker. Anyways, again, it's a solid rental, but if your thing is comedy, action and a lot of uncomfortableness, then go ahead and buy it. It looks and sounds great on Blu-Ray and you might end up liking it like me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Knight Theatrical Release; Brand: ; Review: There was a moment, right before settling in to watch The Dark Knight, where I felt dread that it could not possibly live up to it's hype. I was intrigued when it started and was totally absorbed into it in less than 5 minutes. I never looked back. This movie clicked from beginning to end and never lets you go. It builds on what made Batman Begins so great and totally meets all expectations. The Dark Knight has a strong theme that runs through the whole movie about what it takes to make someone do the evil that we do. Every character is faced with darkness and how they deal with it. The choices we make do have consequences. The only fault I have with The Dark Knight is the Harvey Dent story. It was integral to the story, but I do not like how it was resolved. I guess in the grand scale of the story, it makes sense, but the character was basically dismissed once that plot point was over. Overall, as many have said, this movie was all about The Joker. Heath Ledger made this movie special and proves why The Joker is Batman's best villian.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Here Comes the Boom; Brand: Salma Hayek; Review: Good family movie that has a lot of heart. You are not going to be surprised by anything that happens, but you will smile, laugh and maybe even shed a tear.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Parental Guidance; Brand: Marisa Tomei; Review: I like Billy Crystal and had hopes for this movie, but it was awful. I didn't like any of the characters outside of the kids and they couldn't get any quality screen time over Crystal's horrendous jokes. Avoid.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Turbo; Brand: Ryan Reynolds; Review: Turbo kind of surprised me. With so many of the animated movies they tend to go for the cheap laughs that kids will enjoy, but is groan enducing for adults. You just can't wait for it to end. Turbo offers up no surprises, but it ends up being a decent movie that you can enjoy as a family. By the end, my 7 year old was standing up cheering for Turbo. Honestly, I was cheering inside too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man of Steel; Brand: Henry Cavill; Review: I've never seen a movie about Superman be so devisive as this one. Yes, I'm partial to the Christopher Reeve films, but I also understand that times change. Superman has been attempted to be rebooted in the comics multiple times and they always end up going back to the basics. This is the first reboot attempt on film and it does some things right, but many things wrong. What worked? - Krypton. The beginning of this film is gold. The worst parts of the Reeve film was the silly Krypton parts. This movie does that right and it is perfectly cast and executed. I want to see more of this Krypton and Crowe as Jor-El. - Henry Cavill. At times I saw Reeve and Tom Welling from Smallville in Cavill. He has the look and build and I had no problems with his portrayal. - Zod. Michael Shannon did a great job as Zod. He felt more like the Zod from the past several years in the comics. A soldier that loves Krypton and wants to protect it at all costs. What didn't work? Amy Adams. I just didn't like her as Lois. My opinion softened a little after watching it a second time, but Lois needs more bite than I think Adams can deliver. Secret identity. He did nothing to protect it in this movie. Lois figured it out in no time and it wouldn't be hard for anyone else to either. Jonathan Kent. Costner did fine in the role, but he just doesn't act like any Jonathan we've seen before. He protects his son, that much is true, but the way he teaches him is all wrong. The ending. I can't discuss without spoiling, but I hated the ending. Many defend Superman's decision as being necessary, but that choice goes against 75 years of history about the character. Yes, the same decision has been made in comics, but it has always been retconned. Superman does what he does to protect a single family. This is true to the character, but that same character does nothing to avoid the destruction of building after building in the city. Buildings that fall on top of people and that could be full of people. Why would he care so much about one family, but not seem to care about the potential deaths of hundreds of other people? It's a first step in a revamp. I'm hoping that the events in this movie shape the character into more of what Superman traditionally has been. If that is the case, then I will see this movie in a different light. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman filled sequel will allow the character to develop. Time will tell.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: HERCULES; Brand: ; Review: I didn't hear much positive about this movie when it was in theaters so I didn't think much about it. Thankfully, I watched it on Amazon Prime and ended up really enjoying it. It's a perfect Saturday afternoon movie. No, it's not something I will probably watch again, but I enjoyed the different take on Hercules and the cast was overall really good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Days Inn by Wyndham Jacksonville Airport; City: Jacksonville Florida; Review: BEDBUGS! We discovered them crawling on a pillow just after we had ordered a movie about 30 mins. after checking in. We expected surprise or at least embarassment when we called the front desk - no such thing -The front desk offered to change our room (no thanks - we wanted out), but they insisted on charging us for the movie because they didn't want to be out the $18.00. When I naively assumed they must not believe us (how else to make sense of the absence of horror), I offered to show them. The person at the desk declined and said she knew already! Yuck!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Arroyo Pinion Hotel an Ascend Hotel Collection Member; City: Sedona Arizona; Review: We loved our "suite". It felt really spacious for a one room "suite" because it had a sitting area with a desk, however, it was not the "suite" they described. Nevertheless, we would definitely return and hope to stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Lion Hotel High Point; City: High Point North Carolina; Review: Unfortunately we didn't stay, so I can't evaluate the hotel. We took one look at the area, which was surrounded by blight and boarded-up storefronts and decided to move on, canceling our reservation. Very depressing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza; City: Cincinnati Ohio; Review: Lovely hotel in the classic Art Deco style - beautifully restored. Everywhere you look there is style and comfort, from the updated rooms and down bedding to the service. A bonus is the location; in the heart of downtown and close to shops and restaurants.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Can U Canoe Riverview Cabins; City: Eureka Springs Arkansas; Review: This 3 bedroom, 2 ba cabin is just beautiful! And the view is spectacular! It has virtually two separate living spaces with master, dr, and lr up, and two bedrooms and sitting room down. The location is west of town, which was really appreciated because for a small town things can get pretty congested. It was quiet and peaceful, and a great place for family to play games, read, and just spend quality time together. The caretakers are a very nice couple who were super accommodating and helpful with advice about fishing guides and other things to do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: CleverTraveler - Luggage Name Tag / Key Ring - Waterproof and Weatherproof Stainless Steel Wire - 5 pack; Brand: CleverTraveler; Review: These are VERY well made and have lots of uses. They work great for keys... makes for a very flexible key system ;) Also you can attach a few together. Good price and good quality am very happy with this purchase!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SANDALUP Elastic Ankle Strap Flat Sandals for Women; Brand: SANDALUP; Review: These sandals are very cool! They look great on and are simple and lightweight. And Ive only worn them once so far but they seem really well made. Overall Im extremely happy with this purchase and they come in all kinds of colors!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DREAM PAIRS Women's Cute Open Toes One Band Ankle Strap Flexible Summer Flat Sandals New; Brand: DREAM PAIRS; Review: Awesome awesome awesome fits great is comfortable and looks oh so cute ! Need I say more ? ... I have two pairs!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aleader Women's Quick Drying Aqua Water Shoes; Brand: ALEADER; Review: Awesome lightweight and fit great. They are very comfortable. Great shoes!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gloria Vanderbilt Women's Amanda Classic Tapered Jean; Brand: ; Review: The pants were a perfect fit! I love them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda Colored Straight Leg Denim Jeans; Brand: ; Review: The pants were a perfect fit! I love them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Stainless Steel Sparkling Black Cubic Zirconia CZ Stud Earring 3mm 4mm 5mm 6mm 7mm 5 Pair Set; Brand: Silverline Jewelry; Review: One had the stem come off the setting when I went to put it on. And the color is not semi-clear as the picture shows. The ones I received are dark black just like spinel with no transparency.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: blackbox Jewelry Cross Necklace for Men with Large Pendant 24 Inch Curb Chain (Color : Silver/Gold / Black); Brand: blackbox Jewelry; Review: Got this for my son. It is large, but not in a flashy way. He really likes it and wears it every day. The chain is long, so the cross hangs mid-chest. It also has a bit of heft to it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Relic Erica Flap Cross-Body Bag; Brand: Relic; Review: I purchased a brown version March 2015. It lasted less than a year before the loop connector for the strap broke. I did not carry this purse everyday, but at most three times a week for a few hours. I was really disappointed, but on the other hand, I love the design and have not been able to find anything else like it. That is the reason I purchased another one. Hopefully, it will last longer. The dimensions are perfect for crossbody carry, and holds all my essentials, while being light. The rest of the purse held up really well. I"m not harsh on them, so I was really surprised when the strap came off.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CharmSStory Soccer Ball Football Charms Classic World Cup Beads Charm for Bracelets; Brand: CharmSStory; Review: Was really nice when first received it, but after 6 months of wear (no showers in it, just when going out) it is almost completely "tarnished" and the black will rub off with your finger. When it says cheap, they really mean cheap.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: NinaQueen"Treasure Chest" 925 Sterling Silver Blue Enamel AAAAA Cubic Zirconia Charms for Bracelets Necklaces Jewelry Accessories Wrist Ornaments; Brand: NINAQUEEN; Review: even more beautiful in person.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DecoBros Kitchen Wrap Organizer Rack,White (Small / Standard, 2-1/2" BOX); Brand: Deco Brothers; Review: Everyone tends to sling the wrap boxes of aluminimum foil, baggies, etc. into the pantry. This organizer is perfect and keeps everything together. This is also good to hold the boxes of sandwich or quart bags.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hem Incense-Patchouli, 120 Sitcks; Brand: HEM; Review: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this patchouli! I received this yesterday when I got off work. I burned incense until I went to bed. This stuff is heavenly! I will continue to purchase this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mop Cleaning Towels - (16 by 19 inches) Pure Cotton White Kitchen Towels, Restaurant Cleaning; Brand: Utopia Towels; Review: I received these a few days ago and have already used several. The purpose was to keep from using so many paper towels. We have a house full of dogs and these all-purpose towels are good for absolutely everything !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Utopia Towels Cotton Washcloths, 24 - Pack, White; Brand: Utopia Towels; Review: These are great! We are always running out of washcloths and now we will always have some available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oster Jelly Bean 2-Slice Toaster, Purple (TSSTTRJBP1); Brand: Oster; Review: Toaster sure have changed since my last one. This is AWESOME. I can put in frozen and get a great toast. It has a cancel, which I have used a few times already.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: hito Modern Silent Wall Clock Non Ticking 10 inch Excellent Accurate Sweep Movement Silver Aluminum Frame Glass; Brand: hito; Review: This little clock is a beauty and everone says "wow, and it shows temperature and humidity too"! Very pleased with this purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers - Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief Pillow - Best for Pregnancy, Hip, Leg,; Brand: Cushy Form; Review: Bought for sciatica leg and back pain. Much relief and glad I purchased; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Chemical Guys AIR_300 Car Scent and Leather Scent Combo Pack (16 oz) (2 Items); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: Best auto freshener I have purchased. Once a week I use the new car spray in the vents and the leather spray on the carpet and seats. Everyone always tells me how great my car smells. As a hint: spray the vents that are under the hood and replace your cabin air filter at least once a year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OEM QUALITY 28" + 20" AERO Premium All-Season Windshield Wiper Blades (Set of 2); Brand: Aero; Review: OEM like - cleans nice and so far it's lasting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hopkins FloTool OP-1 Heavy Duty Oil Lube and Drain Pan; Brand: Hopkins; Review: Exactly what I need for my golf cart oil changes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honda Accord Sedan Lip Spoiler Painted in the Factory Paint Code of Your Choice 280 700M with 3M tape included; Brand: SPOILER AND WING KING; Review: Installation Tips Below: I was a bit hesitant on buying it because I thought you have to be "perfect" with installing these but this kit makes it error (idiot) proof and is really easy to do it yourself. It took me about 25 minutes, most of the time was spent on trying to figure out how to get the template location tabs to stay put. It's one of those things you just need to do to figure out while doing and I hope my tips below will help you speed up the process. TIPS: The kit comes with location tabs that seat inside the lips screw holes for exact drill placement. The idea is you put the tabs in the screw hole and then place the Lip on the trunk and when you have the exact placement you tape down the tabs and lift up the Lip and you drill in the tab hole template and you will drill EXACTLY where the screw hole is. It's idiot proof. Now the trick to this is keeping those tabs in place as they fall out when you try and place it on the trunk. After several tries I decided to lightly tape the tabs in place with painters tape (a small piece on each will do) which will keep them in place for placement on the trunk. Then when you have the lip placed exactly where it should be, tape the spoiler lip in place to the trunk (look at my photos) to hold it there. Once the Lip is taped in place then tape both ends of the tabs with tape to the trunk. (looks at my photos) Remove the tape holding the spoiler and slowly lift up and the tabs will be in perfect drill placement. Drill your pilot hole in the location tab template and then cover with tape for your final hole drilling (this is protect your trunk in case you misplace your drill) I suggest you drill the hole a bit larger to allow for easier screwing in. After you're done with the holes paint it with touch up paint, nail polish or coat with WD-40. Color doesn't matter because it will be covered. For the gasket tape: You apply it to the underside outer edge along the whole lip. You will see where it belongs. I applied the gasket tape without cutting it going slowly around the curves. I did not peel the gasket tape first, instead I sliced the peel in the top middle and bottom middle and peeled about 3 inches for each side (4 in total) and folded it over to create a tab so that you can peel it off after you screw the spoiler on. This allows you to not have to worry about getting the placement right after you drill the holes on the first try. When you are ready to install the Lip screws I found it was easier to start with the left and right screw and the middle last. The middle is tricky, this is where drilling a larger; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maxima 27901 Scooter Pro 2-Stroke Synthetic Premix/Injector Oil - 1 Liter Bottle; Brand: Maxima; Review: I enjoy the smokeless formula.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Disney's Star Wars, "Being Darth Vader" Adult Comfy Throw Blanket with Sleeves, 48" x 71", Multi Color; Brand: Star Wars; Review: ok; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chunky Infinity Scarf Soft Warm Cozy Scarfs for Women Circle Knit Winter Scarves; Brand: Petal Rose; Review: not what I thought; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CHOP MALL Jewelry Fashion Silver Color Infinity Cross Shape Pendant Necklace for Women Lady; Brand: CHOP MALL; Review: nice; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bob Siemon Pewter Faith-Hope-Love and 1 Cor. 13:13 Pendant Necklace, 24"; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: very nice; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FITTIN Racerback Sports Bras - Padded Seamless High Impact Support for Yoga Gym Workout Fitness; Brand: ; Review: love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Boris Johnson Has a Brexit Deal. Now He Needs Parliament's Support.; Abstract: Britain and the European Union on Thursday agreed on the draft text of a Brexit deal, setting up a fateful showdown in the British Parliament on Saturday, where it was not clear that Prime Minister Boris Johnson could marshal the votes to nail down his plan after three anguished and politically damaging years of debate.; Category: news
Title: Why the Patriots made a very un-Patriots trade for Mohamed Sanu; Abstract: The Patriots haven't traded a second-round pick for an age 30 player since ... Corey Dillon.; Category: sports
Title: Kevin Spacey Won't Be Charged in Sexual Assault Case After Accuser Dies; Abstract: The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has formally dropped a case against actor Kevin Spacey, after the accuser died.; Category: movies
Title: Keystone oil pipeline leaks 383,000 gallons in North Dakota; Abstract: TC Energy's Keystone pipeline has leaked an estimated 383,000 gallons (1.4 million liters) of oil in northeastern North Dakota, marking the second significant spill in two years along the line that carries Canadian tar sands oil through seven states, regulators said Thursday. Crews on Tuesday shut down the pipeline after the leak was discovered, said Karl Rockeman, North Dakota's water quality division director.; Category: news
Title: Roger Stone Lied to Congress After Helping Trump Win, Prosecutor Says; Abstract: Roger Stone wasn't lying to Congress about his contact with WikiLeaks over stolen emails that helped Donald Trump win the presidency, his lawyer told a jury at the start of the longtime Republican operative's criminal trial.; Category: news
Title: 25 bathrooms? Former Clinton labor secretary says Bezos' mansion helps make case for soaking the rich; Abstract: Robert Reich served as labor secretary in the Clinton administration, where he was named by Time Magazine as one of the 10 most effective cabinet secretaries of the 20th century. He's a Rhodes scholar, a best-selling author, a documentarian and a professor of public policy at UC Berkeley. What he's not, apparently, is a fan of billionaires clinging to their riches.; Category: finance
Title: Kendall Jenner Wore the Tiniest Dress to Go Jewelry Shopping; Abstract: No fall layers to see here.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Warren's wealth tax could drive billionaires to funds she hates; Abstract: Sen. Elizabeth Warren's proposed wealth tax could be a gift to an industry she has accused of looting Americans -- private equity.; Category: finance
Title: Selena Gomez Opens Up About Being Body Shamed for Gaining Weight Amidst Lupus Battle; Abstract: The singer and actress is opening up feeling "attacked" while battling life-threatening health issues.; Category: health | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Tequila Sunrise (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nemesis Game (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lilo and Stitch (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo Meets Batman (1972); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fantasia 2000 (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Newsies (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping Beauty: Special Edition (1959); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pocahontas (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cinderella II (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wizard of Oz: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tarzan and Jane (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rescuers (1977); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rookie (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rugrats Movie (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Country Bears (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hamlet (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Oliver & Company (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sound of Music (1965); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rudolf Nureyev/ Margot Fonteyn: Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (1966); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alice in Wonderland (1951); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ransom (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fantasia (1940); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Maverick (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking Now (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Peter Pan (1953); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Le Corsaire (American Ballet Theatre) (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales Classics: Where's God When I'm Scared? (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Explosive Dance (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: Esther (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Ballad of Little Joe (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Star of Christmas (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales Classics: Josh and the Big Wall! (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: Lyle the Kindly Viking (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stitch! The Movie (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Toy That Saved Christmas (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo! Winter Wonder Dog (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swan Lake: Tchaikovsky (Matthew Bourne) (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo Meets the Harlem Globetrotters (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hamlet (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prince of Egypt (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hercules: Warrior Princess / Gauntlet / Unchained Heart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Knight (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mickey's House of Villains (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: Season 2 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Musketeers (Animated) (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: Season 3 (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Camelot (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Andromeda: Season 1 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Young Hercules (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: Dave and the Giant Pickle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Great Mouse Detective (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: King George and the Ducky (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Andromeda: Season 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Andromeda: Season 3 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Wonderful World of Auto-tainment (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brother Bear (Theatrical Widescreen Version) (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Andromeda: Season 4 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: Season 5 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Apart at the Seams (Cobbled Court Quilts); Author: Visit Amazon's Marie Bostwick Page; Review: Haven't read it but expect it to be of Marie Bostwick interest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl from Krakow: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Rosenberg Page; Review: I found it interesting but not compelling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's S. J. Watson Page; Review: Minimal sex and violence but great suspense. Had trouble putting the book down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daughter of Sand and Stone; Author: Visit Amazon's Libbie Hawker Page; Review: Great historical fiction!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Whistler; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: I am usually hooked after the first paragraph with Grisham books but this one took a little longer. I enjoyed it - can't beat Grisham!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Storey Page; Review: It was an enjoyable novel about Florence and the arts. Lighter than The Agony and the Ecstasy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Small Great Things: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jodi Picoult Page; Review: JP always picks the hard issues and is the great story teller with a mission. Parts of the book were difficult to read because she used the language that her characters did - words that should be deleted from all of our minds.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Neon Lawyer; Author: Visit Amazon's Victor Methos Page; Review: I rarely read the same author back to back but after reading the Invisible Client I was ready for more and enjoyed The Neon Lawyer as much. The characters are interesting and well developed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Piano: From Maos Labor Camps to Bachs Goldberg Variations; Author: Visit Amazon's Zhu Xiao-Mei Page; Review: I found the book interesting but not compelling. I do enjoy her music now on Youtube so that is a plus and also learned some new insights on Chinese customs.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Camino Island: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Classic Grisham!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Working Fire; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Bleeker Page; Review: I am currently reading on my Kindle and there are several pages that are out of sequence so I have to guess how the sentence or paragraph ends. So far a disappointment. I expected something interesting like 'Wreckage' .; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hidden Village; Author: Visit Amazon's Imogen Matthews Page; Review: I read 2 other books while getting through the Village. It was slow moving and repetitive.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rooster Bar; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Interesting view on rogue non lawyers, some new ideas for beating the system. Just a little less compelling than usual Grisham but still interesting.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Love the four books in this series. They are timeless and so worth the read. The adventure within the pages and the description of the land. So good!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Love the four books in this series. They are timeless and so worth the read. The adventure within the pages and the description of the land. So good!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy - (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Return of the Ring, The Two; Author: Visit Amazon's J.R.R Tolkien Page; Review: Love the four books in this series. They are timeless and so worth the read. The adventure within the pages and the description of the land. So good!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Boxed Set of 4 Books; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Love the four books in this series. They are timeless and so worth the read. The adventure within the pages and the description of the land. So good!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings Part 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Love the four books in this series. They are timeless and so worth the read. The adventure within the pages and the description of the land. So good!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanging by a Thread: Book Three in the Black Widow Trainer Series (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Odanovich Page; Review: Do not suggest this for my LDS friends. I did enjoy this book and its concluding story to the series the most. There was a lot of action and the characters have really grown and developed. This book starts right where book two left off. Misty and Miguel have really grown over the course of the books and it has been fun to see their development.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wicked Sense; Author: Visit Amazon's Fabio Bueno Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. I loved the interaction of the characters. I also really enjoyed the description of Seattle and the high school life. Skye and Drake play off each other well and the side characters add the perfect amount of humour and development of the story. It was a fun story about witches.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Halt's Peril: Book Nine (Ranger's Apprentice); Author: Visit Amazon's John Flanagan Page; Review: I loved this series. I loved how it kept you involved and wanting more. I enjoyed the mixture of humor and suspense and that it was set in an old world. I read this entire series with my 11-year old niece. Neither of us could get enough. We wanted to just keep going. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good adventure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rangers Apprentice Bundle: Books 1-8; Author: ; Review: This is a great series. Totally suggest that anyone who loves a good, well written adventure, that they should read these. It kept myself and my 11-year old niece intrigued from page one. We couldn't read them fast enough. And when we had to wait for the next one to become available - that was a lot of work. Suggest that someone should read book 7 before book 5 as there is a time of a flash back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monsters of Men: Chaos Walking: Book Three; Author: Visit Amazon's Patrick Ness Page; Review: Good finish to a completely enjoyable series. Have to say that there were a few things that seemed to drag, but overall I'm very glad I read it. I would suggest anyone who enjoys a story set in space that they should read the entire series. Another great story by Ness. Good read. I enjoyed this books setting of a "new world". I enjoyed the way the author wrote this book alternating between voices of the characters. Seeing the different perspectives of the characters. The choices that are put to such young characters and watching them handle those choices. Seeing them grow and truly learn from their choices. I enjoy a character that has flaws and grows from those flaws. My sister says life is about the choices that we make and dealing with the consequences of those choices. This book ultimately uses that as the premise. It uses those choices to help the characters find out who they are and what they will do when they realize their true potential.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Frog Prince; Author: Visit Amazon's Elle Lothlorien Page; Review: I highly enjoyed this book. I loved the humor and the tender moments. I even had moments where I was feeling for Leigh so much that I wasn't sure how I was feeling about Roman! This book was enjoyable and I'm glad I read it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking: Book One; Author: Visit Amazon's Patrick Ness Page; Review: I enjoyed this book and its unusual storyline. I liked that it was set in space. I liked that it was following the first settlers and their struggles. l became very involved with the characters. Not just the main ones but even the supporting characters. I would suggest this book for anyone that enjoys a good space story with interesting characters and an even better plot!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Agenda 21; Author: Visit Amazon's Glenn Beck Page; Review: I enjoyed this read. Right up my alley of dystopian reads. I liked how it used the discovery process. I really liked how it got me thinking. There are things in here that I'd say were hard to believe except I see them going that way now. Riveting read and a high recommended one from me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Erak's Ransom: Book 7 (Ranger's Apprentice); Author: Visit Amazon's John Flanagan Page; Review: Totally enjoyed this read. It engaged me as a reader. I suggest this read for young and old. The action and humor will draw anyone in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Blood of Mine: Book One of the Overworld Chronicles (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's John Corwin Page; Review: I enjoyed this romantic fantasy. The characters were fun and relatable. I can't wait to see where the next book takes me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Program; Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Young Page; Review: I don't know what it was about this book to have me so weirdly engrossed, but I was. I started reading this book Friday evening and with a few necessary breaks (like sleep) I finished it this AM. I enjoyed the story and the development of the characters. The storyline was intense and it was an interesting take on a big issue. It has some adult scenes and language that I do not want my tween or young teen reading, but suggest this book to older teens and young adults.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Extinction Point; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Antony Jones Page; Review: I enjoyed this read. It kept me mostly engaged and rooting for the main character, Emily. The descriptions of all the things Emily went through had me asking myself how I would handle the situation if I were her. I'm excited to see where book 2 will take us. I gave this book 4 stars because there was a lot of language. I would suggest this book to the people out there that enjoy some fascinating scyfy and strong female character.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Force is Middling in this One: And Other Ruminations from the Outskirts of the Empire; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Kroese Page; Review: Love the thoughts behind it. I enjoy reading peoples blogs and their opinions. The reason is I enjoy either agreeing or disagreeing and not getting into a discussion over it. I enjoy hearing peoples opinions and then deciding if they are worth my time or not. I liked this one because it was funny and I really thought it matched me. Thanks for the fun read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dinner at Deadman's; Author: C. J. West; Review: I greatly enjoy CJ West's writings. I love that he keeps you guessing until the very end. The way he weaves the story to have a lot of surprises at every corner. I loved this insight into his life and family. I would suggest this book to anyone that enjoys a little mystery, some interesting insight into peoples lives, and some humor. Anyone who doesn't want to be able to guess the answer to the mystery before the meat of the story will love this book or any book written by CJ West.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sketchy (The Bea Catcher Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Olivia Samms Page; Review: I enjoyed this story a lot. The idea was unique and well paced. The story had a good mixture of mystery, humor, and intrigue. I would suggest this book to those that enjoy a unique storyline. I would suggest this book be read by older teens, young adults, and adults.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders); Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Mull Page; Review: Loved this series. I thought this was a great ending to the series. Had a great combo of action, humor, and adventure I liked how the book answered many questions, but still left a lot of room for the imagination. This adventure was great for myself as an adult, but was equly enjoyed by my tween niece We laughed, we cried, and we were very excited how the story unfolded. My only warning is that this book is told from the perspective of several characters including Jason and Rachel Our favorite chapters were told from Jason's perspective. Rachel's chapters were a lot more reflective and a little deeper to get through Dont let those chapters stop you from reading the book because it all works well together. Enjoy this read and love the adventure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rithmatist; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: Loved it! Such a fun story. Who knew that chalklings could be scary? Who knew that circles and math could be fun, interesting, and totally worth the read? Obviously the answer to these questions is author Brandon Sanderson. This book, although full of a lot of background information, was fun and engaging. It had everything a good book should have. It had mystery. It had twists. It had magic in all the words. It also had a great friendship without overloading the book. One word is fantabulous. Even my 8-year old niece wanted to keep reading way past bedtime. I would suggest this book to all Sanderson fans out there. I would suggest this to anyone that loves fantasy with some great mystery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments); Author: Visit Amazon's Cassandra Clare Page; Review: Nothing is as it seems. Cassandra Clare is fantastic with the foreshadowing in this book. I like her use of descriptions and how those play into the imagery of this story. Clare uses a setting that she knows and understands very well by utilizing NY in her story. I liked this story and how it all came together while still leaving questions. I would suggest this book for the fantasy reader. Anyone who would enjoy a story of love, lose, demon hunters, and a world filled with magic; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Creatures. by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl; Author: Visit Amazon's Kami Garcia Page; Review: I enjoyed this story and the idea of the witch and mortal working together to save each others lives. I enjoyed the character interaction. I also like the fact that when I picked up the book I wanted to keep reading. What I struggled with is the picking up the book when I wanted to read. I liked the characters, but I didn't feel a great connection to them. By the time I finished reading I had developed a like for the characters that does make me curious about their futures, but it did take some time. The relationship between the two main characters was very well developed and I did enjoy the interaction when it was just the two of them. I did wish that some of the supporting characters were further developed. I gave it a 3 star rating because it didn't wrap me in the magic of the story. But with that being said it also had a sneak peek at book 2 and it already had me super excited to read. For the reader that loves magic and witches.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blast of the Dragon's Fury (Andy Smithson Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's L. R. W. Lee Page; Review: I was asked to review this book by the author She asked that I review it based on how I thought a middle-aged reader would enjoy the book. It just so happens that I read with a couple of middle-aged readers. I did enjoy the book and I do think that the younger middle-aged readers will enjoy it. There is a little bit of a ton difference when the author is teaching the lesson. The higher middle-aged reader may find the story a bit young. The younger reader may find it a little scary because of some of the fight scenes. This story would be best if read adult and child together to learn and discuss the important issues. It would also be good to be read together so that the parents can reassure the love for the child. This is a good fantasy story for a middle-aged reader.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Inventors Secret (Cragbridge Hall); Author: Visit Amazon's Chad Morris Page; Review: My niece and I absolutely loved this book. It had everything that is needed for a great book. It has action, mystery, humor, and great character development. This story also did a great job teaching history without really teaching it. My niece asked me questions and wanted to know more. This is a great book for the middle-aged reader. The character development is fantastic especially with the female characters. My niece absolutely adored Carol. I liked how the female characters were not cliches. I loved how they had true internal struggles, but they learned how to handle them. I loved the family theme. Such a great story and so well developed. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I cannot say enough good stuff or recommend it to enough people. Suggest for the middle-aged reader and highly suggest for the middle-aged girl.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Replacing Gentry; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie N. Ford Page; Review: I enjoyed this read because it was not a normal romance/mystery combo. It had a nice touch of paranormal that in the end added to the story. I thought the author did a great job of incorporating all of the elements that were introduced in the story and bringing them to a nice conclusion. The ending was well written and made me super happy. I gave this a four star rating because there were a few places that I was a little confused, but the author did eventually bring me around. I really do enjoy this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm, Book 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Buckley Page; Review: Once I finally say down and read this story I really enjoyed the story. It had a lot of fun twist and turns that I was not expecting. There was some fun humor along with some more serious growing up pieces that were a nice turn in this serious. I like how the author took some beloved fairytales and made them part of modern tales and have the Sisters Grimm working on solving the "true tales" of the fairytale characters. I like the way the author is leading into bigger and more complex issues of growing up. These books can be a get your tween reading and may even lead to some fun discussions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Disappeared (Short Story) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Irving Belateche Page; Review: This story got me thinking a lot about observing, acknowledging, and participating in life and your surroundings. It is easy to feel lost in the crowd, to not be part of the world if you are not a participant. This book had me wondering a lot if I am an open participant in my life a d work. Do I acknowledge those around me that I don't know well or are not on my team? Do I ever feel that my work is a waste or do I make others feel that theirs is a waste? This book is not an all answering life type book, but it did make me think. Because this book left me pondering and wondering I am giving it 4 stars. To me the best point is be a participant in the world, but don't be of the world.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Exodus (Extinction Point); Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Antony Jones Page; Review: This story left my mind reeling. What kind of person would I be if I was faced with the same challenge as Emily? Would I be able to endure and handle the stress? I liked this story a lot. I liked where it went in this sequel to Extinction Point. I cannot wait to see how it wraps up. There were a few things that made me wonder about the main character Emily, but she always redeemed herself. I cared a lot about these characters and almost cried several times with them. Dystopian fans may like this story, but I think the real fans will be the sci-do lovers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Janitors, Book 3: Curse of the Broomstaff; Author: Visit Amazon's Tyler Whitesides Page; Review: I've enjoyed all of the Janitor series books, but this one was fantastic. it had so many twists and turns that it was like riding a fantastic rollercoaster. My oldest niece read it and said she loved it. Then I read it with my second niece who said as we finished, ah man it can't be over already. I cannot wait another year to see what Tyler Whitesides has in store for us. Loved the magic and the great use of everyday cleaning supplies. Such a fun read. Suggest for any lover of fantasy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toward Yesterday; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Antony Jones Page; Review: This book really made me think. What of any of these ideas were truly possible? How would I react to such a change if I knew the future and the past. Or is it really a future if you have lived it and were thrust back to the past with all the memories? The characters were well developed and believable. The emotions and stress that each character portrayed was well described and made me as the reader feel and join the characters. Each character got a very well developed and thought out ending to their story. I'd suggest this book for the adult reader that likes a good twist in their reads. It is an interesting fascinating story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Eye of Minds (The Mortality Doctrine, Book One); Author: Visit Amazon's James Dashner Page; Review: I really liked this book. This is my first encounter with this author, but he had me right from the start of the story. I love the idea of the gaming world being so deep and dark. How the idea of people becoming so involved in the gaming world that you literally game for days at a time. The idea of feeling every emotion and pain in a virtual world is an idea that intrigues and scares me because I do think we are headed that way. I gave this story such a high rating because I was completely involved in the story. When the characters were hurt, tired, hungry, struggling, etc I felt for them. I was emotionally involved in the characters which makes me enjoy a book to the fullest. I think this book will be enjoyed by the gamers and book lovers of the world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Witch World; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Pike Page; Review: I believe that this is my first experience with Christopher Pike. I enjoyed the story, but I had a hard time really loving the main character. Don't get me wrong I did have to like her to a certain degree or I wouldn't have finished reading, but some choices and decisions made me want to slap her. The storyline was a bit confusing, but I eventually came to wrap my head around the story and I quite enjoyed the complexity. I'm not sure who I would suggest to read this story. I am not disappointed that I read it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unlikely Allies; Author: Visit Amazon's Tiffany King Page; Review: I am a love story sap especially those stories that have some downtrodden people that come out on top. I enjoyed the interaction of the characters and how they grew and developed. I also like the time frame of the story. I don't like to give a synopsis of the story since you get that from the description. I just like to explain my feelings after reading the book. I think that fans of Lurlene McDaniel will enjoy this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Gray Ship; Author: Russell F Moran; Review: The story was fun with a steady stream of action. I enjoyed the history of the book. It did have some fun side stories and wrapped up very well. History buffs may not appreciate the story as it does re imagine the whole Civil War, but if the reader likes a well imagined idea then they will like this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Chimera Vector (The Fifth Column); Author: Visit Amazon's Nathan M Farrugia Page; Review: An action packed adventure that I would recommend to anyone that likes a swift moving story with massive amounts of bang. Page one starts out with a explosion, literally, while the final page says - where are we going from here. There were some great twists and turns and one that really caught me off guard. Go team Sophia!! This story had a lot of language, but for once that did not deter me from the story. It was the language of the character. The main character was strong, unpredictable, and impressive. I liked the strength that she showed from beginning to end and how she really showed that she was there for her team. Loved all of the action. It kept me sitting on the edge of my seat and wanting more!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ender's Game Boxed Set II: Ender's Game, Ender in Exile, Speak for the Dead (The Ender Quintet); Author: Visit Amazon's Orson Scott Card Page; Review: I love Enders Game. Orson Scott Card has brought to life an incredible world. The way the characters grow, adapt, and learn. I love the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dragonlord's Heir (The Ascalon Trilogy) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Kenway Page; Review: I would like to thank the author for giving me a chance to review her book through a free Kindle ebook. This was a fun adventure that I really enjoyed reading. The Dragonlord was a nice twist on middle reader fantasy that is a great way to introduce new readers to this genre. The action was continual and there were some fun ideas and adventures in this story. I would read this with my kids and look forward to reading more of Logan's adventures.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sky Raiders (Five Kingdoms); Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Mull Page; Review: I have really loved everything Brandon Mull writes, but I think this one has officially taken the top spot of all of his books. I know I am a kid at heart, so I love these adventures where kids are the heroes! The thing that made me like this one probably the very best is that Mull brought in the feelings of the kids a lot. He described their fears, their weaknesses, and how they either handled them or ran from them. This was a fantastic read and I suggest it for the middle reader on up specifically if the reader already loves or wants to read a great fantasy book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Seraphim Sequence; Author: Visit Amazon's Nathan M Farrugia Page; Review: I enjoyed this action packed thrillingly book. The story moved quickly and very explosively. I believe that anyone who enjoys an action packed story along with something that will open your mind up to some interesting theories will enjoy this read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cragbridge Hall, Book 2: The Avatar Battle; Author: Visit Amazon's Chad Morris Page; Review: My niece and I seriously loved this book. In her words, awesomely epic". I loved how the book had some awesome history intermingled with fantasy. So cool and it lead my niece to ask some really great and insightful questions about the history items. We also used the readers questions to have some really good and thoughtful discussions. I loved the fact that this book wasn't just reading, but a really good bonding and learning experience for both of us. We also love how well developed the characters are even the side characters. For example, Carol, not a main character, but she really helps move the story and is the epitome of a 12/13 year old girl. She does also happen to be my nieces favorite character. I highly recommend this book especially if you love to learn and laugh.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Six Seconds; Author: mofina-rick; Review: I loved the way this story was written. Plenty of foreshadowing, but still a lot of mystery. A lot of the story is told from different perspectives which was nice in this case. I really liked the way the story wrapped up. For the thrill read lover!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Upload; Author: Visit Amazon's Collin Tobin Page; Review: Hacking, medical jargon with an intriguing twist is how I would describe Upload. It was an interesting storyline that kept me intrigued from page one. I enjoyed the way that the story was told from multiple perspectives. That really added to the intrigue and suspense of the story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Happens At Christmas; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Alexander Page; Review: I was really enjoying this book, and had recommended it to several people. Then I got to chapter 21 and I was so disappointed. It was filthy and I would not recommend this book.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Spirit Animals: Book 2: Hunted; Author: Visit Amazon's Maggie Stiefvater Page; Review: The length of time it took me to finish this is no indication of how I enjoyed the book. It is on the other hand an indication that I had way too many books going on at once and adding another job into the mix of my already busy life did not help me to continue to read all of the fun stories this past year. On the other hand, I did not enjoy this one nearly as much as I enjoyed the first. I am excited to see where the story is going and I think this story helped to progress that desire. I liked the amount of action this story had and I was excited by the progress of Finn. He seems like an awesome character and I cannot wait to see where it will take him. Those that love adventure and fantasy will most likely love this story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trick Question (Tubby Dubonnet Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Dunbar Page; Review: This book was a little hard to get into and left me slightly confused. It had a good plot, but didn't complete all thoughts.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: STRINGS OF GLASS (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #4) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Kimelman Page; Review: This book took some time to get into. Well written and intense. Language was offensive! Would not recommend for that reason.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cold Lake (David Wolf) (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Carson Page; Review: This book is well written and intense! I found out hard to put down. The plot took some interesting twists and turns!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No More Mulberries; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Smith Page; Review: This book was interesting, entertaining, and educational. It opened my eyes up to the vast cultural differences in our countries.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outcry: Holocaust Memoirs; Author: Visit Amazon's Manny Steinberg Page; Review: I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the holocaust. It is written with the deep emotions that can only come from a holocaust survivor. Even after reading it, it is difficult to imagine the atrocities and hardships they endured.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secrets of Hallstead House; Author: Visit Amazon's Amy M. Reade Page; Review: This book is well written and holds the readers attention. The plot is not solved until very near the end, so the reader is kept totally immersed. The language was clean and appropriate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder in Nice (The Maggie Newberry Mystery Series) (Volume 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Kiernan-Lewis Page; Review: If you like a good mystery, this book is full of twists to keep you captivated! Well written and tasteful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Impossible Race (Cragbridge Hall series, Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Chad Morris Page; Review: Finished book 3 of the Cragbridge Hall series by Chad Morris. The only words I can use to describe it are awesome. Fun read and full of twists and turns that keep a reader going from pages one all the way to the end. Perfect read for the reluctant tween reader and those that like a fun fast paced story. Enjoyed this story with my 10-year old and she couldn't wait to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Main Street Murder (A Jake and Emma Mystery) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Crowder Page; Review: This is one of those books you just can't put down. The reader becomes invested in the characters early on as they are likable and interesting. The mystery is intense and engaging. My only question is, where was the editor? There were way too many grammatical errors!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Search of A Revolution; Author: Visit Amazon's Christoph Fischer Page; Review: This book was extremely long, therefore making it hard to stay focused. The editing was also something to be desired. The book was interesting, although not intense.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend); Author: Visit Amazon's Kody Keplinger Page; Review: I don't know what it was about this book, but I absolutely loved it. Now, it is significantly different than the movie, so that at first caught me off guard and I was a little unhappy. But, in the long run I liked that a lot as it could reach a different audience. The book, to me, is meant for a little older high school/young adult crowd as it has a lot of more adult type language and situations. Although, I know that what is being said and discussed probably happens more than I realize in high school. But, I still laughed, cried, and really just adored the characters. Wesley was just genuine. What the author wrote is what you got and it was perfect. The main character Bianca was going through things that made me so sad for her, but were also very true as they happen as we grow. The best friends were the perfect balance for the cynical Bianca. I loved the interaction of all the characters and I even adored the side characters. Again, this book is not for everyone and if language is a factor then I would suggest not reading it. But, for a good read that will cause some good laughs a few tears and even some ah, that is what I was dealing with moments then give this book a read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lake House Secret: A Jenessa Jones Mystery, Book 1 (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Debra Burroughs Page; Review: This book captivated my interest. There is very tasteful romance and a reporter with a lot of integrity! Well worth the read! Some editing problems, but minimal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thorns of Rosewood (Rosewood Series) (Volume 1); Author: Gina M. Barlean; Review: I absolutely loved this book! It was interesting, exciting, and kept me totally captivated! I adored the characters. What a fascinating and completely surprise ending! Couldn't have been better!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Trifle Dead (Cafe La Femme Mysteries Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Livia Day Page; Review: This book had some really good parts, but was too long. Contains some inappropriate language. Too involved with food. It gets a little confusing with so many characters.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Death of a Dapper Snowman (Stormy Day Mystery) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Angela Pepper Page; Review: Loved the book! Full of humor and twists to make it more interesting. Stormy Day is a fun character that is immediately likable!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heroes of the Dustbin (Janitors); Author: Visit Amazon's Tyler Whitesides Page; Review: Tyler Whitesides does it again. He is a master storyteller and the characters he develops don't leave you at the last page. This series has everything including emotion and intrigue. I suggest this not just for the tween, but for anyone that loves a well written fantasy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Patrick Rothfuss Page; Review: This was an interesting read. I liked the story and how it flowed. I liked how the story was told. I liked how it was a flashback, but that there was a current story that was also being told. I am excited to see where book 2 will take the story as this book covered a lot of ground, but didn't give too much away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cranberry Bluff; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah Garner Page; Review: This story was cute, easy to follow, and interesting. The plot had a fun and unanticipated twist. I would highly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Are My Sunshine; Author: Visit Amazon's Roberta Kagan Page; Review: I looked forward to reading this book because historical fiction is my favorite genre. It didn't disappoint me! However, the sex was too explicit for my taste and there were a lot of errors. Otherwise, the book was fabulous!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sign Off (Caught Dead in Wyoming); Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia McLinn Page; Review: This book is excellent! Good beginning, great plot, and unexpected ending. It is well written and clean. There were few editing errors. I would highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rosemary's Gravy (A We Sisters Three Mystery) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa F. Miller Page; Review: This was a good book with an interesting plot and likable characters. It was a little too focused on cooking and romance.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fakers; Author: Visit Amazon's Meg Collett Page; Review: This book is full of filth and foul language! The characters are likable enough, but they're really isn't much of a story line.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Apple of My Eye; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Ellen Bramwell Page; Review: Characters are interesting and believable. The reader can relate to the tragedy and to the characters. Intriguing plot that makes it hard to put down. Loved the book and would highly recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Henry Wood Detective Agency; Author: Mr. Brian D. Meeks; Review: This was a fascinating book full of suspense and intrigue! Each chapter had a new twist. It was clean, well written, and a great read for anybody that likes a good mystery!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death of a Crafty Knitter (Stormy Day Mystery) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Angela Pepper Page; Review: Love, love, love this book! The characters are easy to relate to, are believable, and interesting. I loved the relationship between Stormy and her father. The plot had a great twist that made it impossible for me to put the book down. I loved that there was no bad language, violence, or sex!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Bone Dry; Author: Visit Amazon's Bette Golden Lamb Page; Review: I enjoyed book 1 of this series. I had the dream of becoming a doctor when I was younger (learned my mind wasn't made for science, but that's okay) and this was a fun story that made me relive some of my dreams. I liked the setting of the story and the pace of it. I liked that the case was kept within one floor of the hospital because otherwise the story would have gotten much to big. I liked the characters and their development. I felt the pains and sorrows of the characters and the drive behind each of them. The antagonist was well written and it was interesting to get the story told from all the different perspectives. I did mark this book down as I was not a fan of some of the language, sex, and the graphic descriptions of abuse. I would recommend the book, but with a warning that it is fairly graphic, so reader beware.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death by Pink Flamingo: A Pink Flamingo Hotel Mystery (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Crabtree Page; Review: This book is full of twists and turns. It is totally captivating. I couldn't put it down! I would definitely recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sin & Bone; Author: Visit Amazon's Bette Golden Lamb Page; Review: I enjoyed the medical side of this book a lot. I liked how the story played out and how the main character does not rest on her laurels. She is willing to fight and stand up for what she believes. I am not sure that I enjoyed it as much as I did the first one as there was less going on with the medical side of the story and that is what I enjoyed. I also find it interesting how much abuse the characters in these books seem to endure. I would read more of this author and more in this series, but I am glad I am able to borrow them from the library. There is a lot to take in on these books.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Investment: A Fitzjohn Mystery (Volume 5); Author: Ms Jill Paterson; Review: This is the only book I have read in this series, and I would love to read them all. Inspector Fitzjohn is brilliant, patient, and very likable. Esme Timmons is also a very likable character that adds interest to the plot. I would love to read more of Jill Paterson's books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Longshot in Missouri; Author: Visit Amazon's Keith R. Baker Page; Review: This book easily earned five stars +. I couldn't put it down! It is hard to imagine the harsh realities of war, and the decisions made before, during, and after a war.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spying in High Heels; Author: Visit Amazon's Gemma Halliday Page; Review: If you want to read a mystery about food and sex, this one is for you. It could have been an excellent book if the author hadn't been so obsessed with those two things. It took away from the plot!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Paul Evans Page; Review: Such a fun story. This book kept us turning pages as far as we could. The action was fantastic and the characters were very well developed. Canon wait to start book 5.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator; Author: Visit Amazon's Roald Dahl Page; Review: As I have not been a Roald Dahl fan before Charlie and The Chocolate Factory I didn't know what to expect from Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Overall the story was cute and kept the nephew hooked. It had some sort funny lines and the interaction of the characters was fun. The book is perfect for a new to chapter books and tween readers as there are some lessons to be learned. If you have a reluctant trade this may tickle their fancy all because there are adventures, mystery, and most importantly humor.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wild Raspberries; Author: Visit Amazon's Connie Chappell Page; Review: The characters were well developed and likable, but the story was weak. I almost quit reading it several times, but eventually did read it all. It seemed to me that it was all about justifying adultery.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Brailling For Wile; Author: James Zerndt; Review: There is no meat to this book until you get to the very end. There are too many undeveloped characters, too many errors, and too much bad language. With all the good books there are to read, don't waste your time on this one.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The New Savants: Surge of the Red Plague (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Flanagan Page; Review: Straight up fun with a side of adventure. I highly enjoyed the read and am glad I was offered the chance to read and review by Tim Flanagan. I enjoyed it a lot because it had a hint of the steampunk feel which I am just getting into. I mostly gave it four stars because it opened up a world that I can't seem to get into fast enough. The author is straightforward in his writing and his adventure, but doesn't allow you to make the call for the entire story too early. Can't wait to see where he will go next with Louis! I would suggest this read for tweens, teens, and young adult. It has a perfect combo of adventure and fantasy for any reader.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Words of Radiance: The Stormlight Archive Book Two; Author: ; Review: Just pure greatness as always that Sanderson has accomplished with this book. I loved the story, the interaction of the characters, and how this story is told. I like it coming from multiple people, seeing different sides of the story and always getting just enough. This book for me says anyone that's liked fantasy is gonna like this series. So much going forward and so many worlds to explore in the Cosmere!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nine Women, One Dress; Author: Visit Amazon's Jane L. Rosen Page; Review: This was a sweet and classy Story. The premise of the little black dress and how it affects the life of the person that wears it. I felt that the story being about the little black dress and getting the perspective of so many different characters really added to this story. I liked how they interacted. I also really liked how the story was moved forward through the eyes of the sales people of Bloomingdales. I loved that the story was a quick read and that the story was real with real characters. I liked that the story was told not just from a woman's perspective, but from some of the men as well. Cute read and well worth the time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Voyage: A Historical Novel set during the Holocaust, Inspired by real events; Author: Visit Amazon's Roberta Kagan Page; Review: Historical fiction is my favorite genre. This book was interesting and I was caught up in the feelings and distress of the characters. However, the book did tend to run on, the editing was poor, and I'm not interested in all the sex.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Michael Vey 5: Storm of Lightning; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Paul Evans Page; Review: Wow, just wow! My niece, nephew, and I just loved this book. The cliff hanger at the end was perfect for this book. We cannot wait to see how the next book goes. Fun Read. The action was great and the different perspectives of how the story was told made this story come together so well. The build up seems to be coming to a head!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holt McDougal Library, High School with Connections: Individual Reader 1984; Author: RINEHART AND WINSTON HOLT; Review: "WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH." As always this book has a lot of things that should serve as a warning to us. No, all the things that are discussed in the book did not happen and specifically they did not happen by 1984, but there are pieces of this book that are well ahead of its time. They are coming or have slipped in ever so slightly and are working to become even bigger. So, much to think about and to learn from this book. If nothing else, there is something to be said about humans and their innate ability to "follow like sheep" and not even realize it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Paul Evans Page; Review: We love this book. This is the second time this year that we read it. There is action and friendship and the main characters just keep growing. We love seeing the different powers of the characters and how they utilize them for good. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Plotting Shed (Sam Trowel: Special Patrol Youth) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Flanagan Page; Review: *This read was given to me as a result of giving an honest review. Fun cute read that was enjoyed by myself and my 9-year old. The humor was clean and fun and it was interesting to see the main character "talk" to his audience. I enjoyed the dialogue the character had with his audience and with himself. I enjoyed the adventure. I would have liked to see the book last a little longer as I felt like it was getting exciting and then it all came together too fast. Although the 9-year old loved the amount of reading and adventure involved. I would recommend this book because the author is just fun in his descriptions and the book has a great twist in it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wreckage; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Bleeker Page; Review: This book was interesting. It was told from two perspectives and it two different time frames. It intrigued me and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I am glad that I just "borrowed" the book rather than buying this book. I liked the details that were given and the explanations that were pulled together between the multiple perspectives and time frames. There is some sweet and tender moments. There were some scary times. But, the love that is described in the story is amazing. The tie together was impressive and I am glad I read the book. If you like a little romance and a well written story then you will enjoy this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Michael Vey 6: Fall of Hades; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Paul Evans Page; Review: What an adventure this book took us on. So much action. So many feels were touched. Perfect read for me to enjoy with kids. My 9-year old totally got into it and loved it so much that he actually asked to read it. For kids that enjoy action, but don't love reading this series may change their minds.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mistletoe at Moonglow; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah Garner Page; Review: This book has the absolutely best descriptions I have ever read. They pull you right into this sweet tender Christmas story! Quick read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Curse (Blur Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Steven James Page; Review: I devoured books 1 & 2 in this trilogy. This story was no less the same. I liked the riddles and the action in this book. I liked how every character meant something and added to the story. I really like the diversity in the characters. James wrote the teens and adults very well. Because of the action, the mystery, and how the story was written I really got involved. I would suggest this book for anyone that enjoys a to-mystery with some supernatural elements.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Behind Her Eyes: The Sunday Times #1 Best Selling Psychological Thriller; Author: SARAH PINBOROUGH; Review: This book was given as an ARC for an honest opinion. The unpleasant part for me. There was way too much language. The language is a big reason for the three star rating. The book kept me interested. It was one that kept me turning pages and up late into the night. It had me invested in the characters regardless of how "terrible" they may have been. This story wasn't just a single love triangle because there were some varied layers. The end had me a bit surprised and I did like that. Looking back I realize that the author gave clues if you were looking. This book is for people who enjoy an entertaining Psychological thriller, but beware of the language. Along with some sexual content.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: For Every Solution, A Problem; Author: Visit Amazon's Kerstin Gier Page; Review: So, I'm only giving this book three stars. But, I really did enjoy the book. I thought it was funny. I thought it dealt with the matter of suicide and mental health very well for the type of book. I gave it three stars because although I read this book and enjoyed it a lot and was touched right in the feels I would not read it again. It had some language. I'm not sure reading this at another time in my life if it would be different. I do know I'd like to read more of this author's writing. This book was translated from German to English. It made me realize how similar a single girls life can be regardless of where each of us lives. It was fun to listen to how she "handled" the problem. How her plans were changed at the last minute. It was a fun storyline and worth the read. Delightful read. Allows the reader into the story. Tactfully written and good entertainment. Because of the suicide I would suggest the reader to be more mature because of the languages.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elantris; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: I absolutely love Sanderson. And after reading his first published story I know why. He is amazing. He gets single life and totally wrote an almost perfect love story. I was caught hook, line, ad sinker. Wonderful story. Great introduction to Sanderson' s world. I would suggest this story for the fantasy lover. It has some great action and some fantastic quotes. It keeps you guessing who is good, who is bad, and will all love or will all die? Just cannot say enough about Brandon Sanderson and his great, clean, pic fantasy writing. Keep them coming.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Driving Heat (Nikki Heat); Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Castle Page; Review: The book could have been very good if the language and sex had been eliminated. To many characters and the intensity was also lacking.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bone Pit (Gina Mazzio, RN) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Bette Golden Lamb Page; Review: I enjoyed this different take on Gina's world. The traveling nurse. The medical experiment. I always love the interaction between Gina and Harry. I like how they work together and play off of each other. It is a very cute relationship. This is the third in the series. It is beginning to feel a little formulaic, so I may need to put Gina aside for a while and then come back to read more. If you like a thriller, a medical mystery, and a little bit of humor/love story than you will enjoy this series. There is language and some sex. The language is more than I normally like, but the sex is done very tastefully.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bundle of Trouble (A Maternal Instincts Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Orgain Page; Review: I would never have thought a murder mystery and having a baby could go together, but this was a fun book to read! It was well written, humorous, and a great mystery!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sweet Taste of Murder: An Angel Lake Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's CeeCee James Page; Review: Great romance and mystery mix. The characters were well developed and the plot kept me guessing. I definitely recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sourdough Wars (A Rebecca Schwartz Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Julie Smith Page; Review: Another book that could have been really good, but the juvenile remarks destroyed that. The characters were well developed, and the story was pretty good. I wish authors and film makers would realize that we are not all interested in juvenile obsessions!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jilo (Witching Savannah); Author: Visit Amazon's J.D. Horn Page; Review: I liked this story. I liked the knowledge of how Mama Jilo came to be. I liked learning how how all the witches were connected. I thought it was a good "after" prequel, since it came after the other books. I would reread the book and I did like the many variety of characters. There were a few relationships I couldn't understand, so had a hard time giving it 5 stars because of that. I know it is life and that there are people that have those types of relationships, but it makes me sad for them. Really liked all the layers and generations in this story. Would suggest for the reader who enjoys magic and witches!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Final Empire: Mistborn Book One; Author: sanderson-brandon; Review: As always, wow. I just get my mind blown every time I read a Brandon Sanderson book. The book builds and grows and that last 100-pages just flies with so much action and detail. So, I love the characters in this book. They are so dimensional and they just keep growing. These characters, to me, were so much more than were written, but you could feel them growing and changing. I can't even say for sure who was my favorite. I liked this book for the action, the story, and the politics. Yes, I said it, this book had politics. But, the politics in it were so much more than one would expect. Fantasy lovers and those that enjoy a great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motherhood is Murder (A Maternal Instincts Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Orgain Page; Review: I loved this book, and had a hard time putting it down. I read the first book in the series. It was well written with a good development of the characters and the plot. I intend to read the series, and I would highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Time I Said Goodbye; Author: ; Review: This book seemed a little slow moving in the beginning. As I got into it further, it was impossible to put down. The characters are well developed and likable. Great love story that I would recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Formula for Murder (A Maternal Instincts Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Orgain Page; Review: This book was very good, but I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first two. Probably just a personal preference. The characters are well developed and it is a good story. I would recommend this and all of her books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nursing A Grudge; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Orgain Page; Review: I have so far loved all of Diana Orgain's books! She does a great job developing characters and the plots. I would recommend her books to anyone that loves reading cozy mysteries!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Only Witness; Author: Visit Amazon's Pamela Beason Page; Review: This book is very well written. The descriptions were easy to picture, and I almost felt like I was there. The language, although realistic, could have been tamed down some without losing anything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Better Off Wed: An Annabelle Archer Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Durham Page; Review: This book adds a nice touch of humor to the well developed characters. It held my interest and was hard to put down. I would definitely read more from this author and would recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raspberry Truffle Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Wendy Meadows Page; Review: This was an excellent cozy mystery. It was a quick read, but packed with mystery. I would read more and would highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merciless Charity: A Charity Styles Novel (Caribbean Thriller Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Wayne Stinnett Page; Review: This book is full of suspense, and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters are well developed. The setting was so will described it was easy to picture. I would definitely recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sky Below: A True Story of Summits, Space, and Speed; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Parazynski Page; Review: I'm not a huge lover of memoirs, journals, biographies, or autobiographies mostly because they get to bogged down by facts and dates. This book did not, it had dates and it stayed very chronological, but it didn't get so heavy into them that I felt like I was reading a history book or just a book of facts. I really liked how introspective the story was and how it followed his dreams and plans. It is a book worth reading especially if you are a person who loves adventure. Someone who loves the crazy terrains of the world and his stories about his time in space were WOW! I also liked how he admitted his weaknesses and did not just discuss his success stories. He admitted faults and struggles. This book is good for the dreamer and the explorer. It is good for the land lover and the space lover.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dieting Can Be Murder (A Carol and Jim Andrews Baby Boomer Mystery) (Volume 7); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Santangelo Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters were delightful, the plot was interesting with plenty of twists and turns, and the humor was an added bonus. I loved that it was a quick clean read. I couldn't put it down!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder at Feathers & Flair: a cozy historical mystery (A Ginger Gold Mystery) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Strauss Page; Review: Although I didn't read any other books from the series, this one was still easy to follow. Loved the British writing and characters!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder at Merisham Lodge: Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate: Book 1 (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Celina Grace Page; Review: This book took me a while to get into, but soon became hard to put down. Well written and kept me guessing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Sons (Booker and Cash); Author: Visit Amazon's Oliver Tidy Page; Review: This book is well written and well developed as far as characters and plot. There were lots of twists and turns, impossible to predict the ending. Editing was also well done. I do not like the f-word. Although it was only used a few times, it was enough for me to lower my rating. Out was totally unnecessary!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bitter Roots; Author: Visit Amazon's C. J. Carmichael Page; Review: After reading the first book in this series,I am excited to read the other two. The book is very well written, the characters are interesting and relatable, and the story itself keeps the reader in suspense.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Garment Maker's Daughter; Author: Visit Amazon's Hillary Adrienne Stern Page; Review: This is a story of immigrants coming to the United States and their struggles, heartbreaks, and accomplishments. For the most part, it was clean and well written. I would recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Puzzle Plush Squeaking Toys Dogs; Brand: Outward Hound; Review: feels soft and lovely (for person); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KONG Duck Dog Toy; Brand: KONG; Review: my dog's favorite toy so far (out of 10+); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Food Dispenser; Brand: Aspen Pet; Review: Poor quality. My dogs chew it apart the very first day and ate half of the tank. very shaky and easy to disassemble by the dog. the timing part functions allright.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: KONG Active Feather Teaser Catnip Toy, Assorted, 1 Piece; Brand: KONG; Review: absolute funny and my dog loves it. So much fun; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IRIS Pet Training Pad Floor Tray; Brand: IRIS USA, Inc.; Review: who knows, my dog still doesn't use it...too difficult to train. maybe not the product's problem; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bone Dry DII Microfiber Pet Bath Towel, Ultra-Absorbent & Machine Washable for Small, Medium, Large Dogs and Cats; Brand: Bone Dry; Review: it's sooo good! very quick absorbing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Happycare Textiles Pets Bed; Brand: HappyCare Textiles; Review: he loves it. sturdy, pretty and comfortable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Medium Adult Dry Dog Food; Brand: Royal Canin; Review: This is a terrible product, the food is so hard and strong that my dog could not eat it, his tooth almost got damaged, terrible and terrible; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 6-PACK Kitty Kaviar (1.5 oz); Brand: Kitty Kaviar; Review: My cats go absolutely nuts over Kitty Kaviar. They will beg for it and harass us for it throughout the day. It is a bit expensive, but I believe it is worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PLATO Dog Treats - Farmers Market Chicken and Vegetables Real Strips; Brand: PLATO; Review: These treats are fantastic. Made in the USA, grain free, wonderful ingredients. My dogs absolutely adore these treats, and all Plato treats I've bought for them. They are worth the extra money to ensure I'm feeding my dogs healthy, SAFE, nutritious treats.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stella & Chewy'S Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties Grain-Free Dog Food; Brand: Stella & Chewy's; Review: I've been feeding these to my 17 year old German Shorthair Pointer mix who has gotten very picky in his old age. He goes absolutely nuts for these. I use them to supplement his meal to help ensure he is getting as much nutrition as possible. He prefers them dry, but you can also add water to them if your dog prefers wet food. It can also be crumbled over the dogs usual meal to make it more enticing. If your dog is finicky it's definitely worth a try!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stella & Chewy'S Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties Grain-Free Dog Food; Brand: Stella & Chewy's; Review: I've been feeding these to my 17 year old German Shorthair Pointer mix who has gotten very picky in his old age. He goes absolutely nuts for these. I use them to supplement his meal to help ensure he is getting as much nutrition as possible. He prefers them dry, but you can also add water to them if your dog prefers wet food. It can also be crumbled over the dogs usual meal to make it more enticing. If your dog is finicky it's definitely worth a try!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bellyrubs Chicken Strips Dog Jerky Treats; Brand: Bellyrubs Organic; Review: I've been buying these for the last couple of months for my 17 year old dog who has become very picky in his old age. These things are fantastic!!! They ARE made in the USA FYI. They are a completely natural dog treat that doesn't have all the extra fillers that too many treats have and my dogs (the 17 year old German Shorthair Pointer mix and a 14 1/2 year old Lab/Shepherd mix) LOVE them!! Even my cat comes running up for a little piece when I give the treats to my dogs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bellyrubs Organic All Natural 5-Ounce Freeze-Dried Dog Treats, Beef And Liver Flavor; Brand: Bellyrubs; Review: These are fantastic dog treats!! You get a good amount of quality treats for the price. I give them sparingly to my dogs. They absolutely love them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stella & Chewy's 860094 Carnivore Kisses 100% Angus Beef Treats for Dogs,; Brand: Stella & Chewy's; Review: My dogs love these treats, but I feel it's too expensive for the size of the container. There are several other quality American-made freeze dried treats out there for a much more reasonable price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Poop Bag Shop 700-Count Dog Pet Waste Poop Bags, 35 Refill Rolls with Poop Bag Dispenser; Brand: Poop Bag Shop; Review: How much can you really say about poop bags? The dispenser is easy to fill, the bags are big enough for my dogs' poop, and they are biodegradable to a certain extent. I've had a couple of dud-bags on one roll, but otherwise have had no problems. They don't really contain or disguise the smell, but I really don't want any sort of scent that I will always associate with dog poop so I'm okay with that. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PharmaPet Pill Dispenser; Brand: PharmaPet; Review: My 15 year old Lab/Shepherd mix has suddenly started examining every treat or piece of food for disguised medication. I purchased this pill gun so I would be able to give her necessary medication. Once I figured out how to easily get her jaw open, and how to properly load the pill gun, it works perfectly!! The key to loading the pill gun is to push the plunger all the way in - the tip will actually be outside of the pill gun. Place the pill at the tip of the plunger, pull the plunger in and slide the pill into the cross-cut area at the tip of the "barrel" of the pill gun. You can put in a surprisingly large pill because of the cross-cut tip. Just keep the plunger close to where the pill sits and once you get the pill gun to the back of the dogs (or cats) throat, push the plunger. It may take a few attempts, but once you get it figured out it's very easy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Cat Recipes Surf And Turf - 24 Pack; Brand: Merrick; Review: My kitten adores this food. Merrick makes high quality food and made in the USA. Definitely will continue to purchase this, and other flavors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrick Tripe & Liver Steak Patties For Dogs (1 Pack Of 5); Brand: Merrick; Review: Made in the USA and my dogs love them. Only issue is they are a bit too expensive for what you get. Definitely a wonderful treat though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GigaBite Odor-Free Bully Sticks – USDA & FDA Certified All Natural, Free Range Beef Pizzle Dog Treat; Brand: Best Pet Supplies, Inc.; Review: Not quite as thick as I would have liked, but an excellent price and absolutely odor free!! My dogs LOVE them!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Farmina Natural And Delicious Wild Boar Grain-Free Formula Dry Cat Food, 22-Pound; Brand: Farmina; Review: Excellent quality food and my cats absolutely love it!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IPRIMIO Cat Litter Scooper with Deep Shovel - Non Stick Plated Aluminum Scoop - Designed by Cat Owners; Brand: iPrimio; Review: How on earth can I be so thrilled with a pooper-scooper? They made this one 100% right. You don't have to shake the scoop to get the clean litter to sift through the slots. NO CLUMPS BREAKING APART!!!! And with the non-stick coating - nothing sticks to the scoop! And I imagine if some very messy and fresh poo were to stick - it looks like it would clean very easily. I would buy this again in a heartbeat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste Dog Poultry Flavor; Brand: Petrodex; Review: Finally a toothpaste my dog likes!!! Can't comment on it's effectiveness yet, but my dog actually allows me to brush her teeth without acting like I'm abusing her.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ruffwear Front Range Harness - Twilight Gray; Brand: Ruffwear; Review: Excellent harness, but I think it's too heavy for hot weather. I'll break it out again in the fall.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vastar Adjustable Pet Dog Cat Safety Leads Car Vehicle Seat Belt Harness Seatbelt, Made from Nylon Fabric; Brand: Vastar; Review: This seatbelt is great because you don't attach it to the seatbelt itself like most others. Instead it buckles into the seatbelt post so it's much more secure. Just be sure to use it with a harness rather than a collar.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pet Republique Professional Dog Nail Clippers and Dog Nail Grinder Series- Optional Filer – Suits Pets; Small,; Brand: Pet Republique; Review: These are sharp and easy to use on cat toenails. Definitely not for tough dog toenails.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pet Industries Metal Buckle LED Dog Collar, USB Rechargeable, Available in 7 Colors & 4 Sizes; Brand: Pet Industries; Review: This collar is very bright and absolutely beautiful!! The dogs are very visible and I feel they are much safer at night. I walk my dog with several friends and their dogs and every time we walk at night we get tons of compliments and questions on these collars. A little boy told us he liked our "light up dogs!"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pet Dentist - Pet Toothbrush for Dogs and Cats with Bamboo Charcoal; Brand: Petdentist; Review: It's a good toothbrush, but too large for my beagles mouth.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Baymont by Wyndham Fulton; City: Fulton Missouri; Review: This is a convenient location for a short trip to Fulton, MO. Compared to other hotels in Fulton, this hotel is better. It's on the highway, a short drive from I-70 and very close to the main part of Fulton. Room was clean and the staff was very courteous. The breakfast was excellent for this size of a hotel. Also, wi-fi worked very well with no problems. Definitely a good place for a short visit to Fulton.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Morrison a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: Excellent hotel for exploring Dublin. I arrived from the US at 9:00 AM, so room was not ready. I stored my luggage with the VERY helpful front desk staff and went shopping in a nearby area. The front desk called me within the hour to notify me that my hotel room was ready. The room was very comfortable and the size was typical US standard size. Also, the wifi in the room and other areas of the hotel was amazing! The Morrison is also very centrally located. Temple Bar is across the river and everything is within walking distance. Guinness Warehouse (20 minute walk) and Aviva Stadium (40 minute walk) are examples that you can get everywhere in Dublin by walking. If you want to take the light rail, the LUAS is a block away and very easy to use. Taxis are also available in front of the hotel. I recommend eating the Irish breakfast in the hotel restaurant. It was very well done and very tasty!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Shin Osaka Station; City: Osaka Osaka Prefecture Kinki; Review: I stayed at the Courtyard Shin-Osaka twice during a business trip to Osaka in August. The hotel is very convenient for travelers as it is next to the Shin-Osaka train station. A main subway line stops at the Shin-Osaka station as well as Japanese rail lines to various places throughout the country. I took a day trip to Kyoto and took the train to Hiroshima from the Shin-Osaka station. Also, the express train from Osaka airport (Haruka Limited Express) stops at the Shin-Osaka station. So, if you are traveling around Japan, the Courtyard is a very convenient location. As for the hotel, I used the restaurant for breakfast every day. The service and the food was outstanding. I recommend getting breakfast included in the rate, because I found it to be cheaper than buying the breakfast buffet directly. The room was comfortable and a good size for international hotels. Wi-fi was excellent in my room. The front desk staff was excellent with providing me directions and assistance. The entire staff was very friendly. I did have some difficulty finding the hotel upon arrival. I used a GPS on my phone to lead me through the train station and shopping center. The Courtyard is just outside the facility across a short bridge (hint: look for the McDonald's).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inn of the Turquoise Bear; City: Santa Fe New Mexico; Review: I have always wanted to stay at the Inn of the Turquoise Bear so when I came to Santa Fe for Indian Market I made sure I got a reservation (hint: reserve early!). My room was the Ansel Adams room which is perfect for 1-2 people. The room has a private bathroom with shower. The room is very quiet and very comfortable. The owners have an amazing breakfast spread that can't be missed! In the afternoon they have a wine happy hour that is a great opportunity to meet and chat with the other guests. I got some great dinner recommendations this way! Also, it's an easy walk to the Santa Fe Plaza from the B&B. I've stayed at several hotels in Santa Fe and I definitely recommend the Inn of the Turquoise Bear.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Newberg Inn; City: Newberg Oregon; Review: The Best Western Newberg was a very convenient location for a couple day wine tour through the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The hotel is very easy to find on Highway 99w from Portland and the highway provides easy access to the numerous wineries. The hotel provides a nice breakfast each morning (cereals, breads, fruit, eggs, bacon, waffle iron, etc.). The room was very comfortable and the wi-fi was excellent. A very comfortable hotel and I would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: The Bungalow Tampa; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Some of the best service in Tampa. Amazing drinks, great guacamole. Get the fish tacos and sit outside.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amalthea Cellars Farm Winery; City: Atco, NJ; Review: One of the best wine tasting experiences in my life. Sally was an amazing host, we tried several types of wine and she was the best wine guide. Every single wine we tried was fantastic. We had a living social package and ended up buying 6 bottles of wine. I recommend this place to everyone. The facility is so nice, it's old school, quiet and so clean. I cannot wait to go back!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carrabba's Italian Grill; City: Tampa, FL; Review: This place is DOG FRIENDLY... Ok had dinner here on 10/11/2019 and it was delicious. Sat outside with my family and my dog, yes my dog. 2 other dogs were there as well. I had the chicken Bryan and it was so good, along with a Caesar salad and a filthy martini. Classic. The food was out there quickly and perfectly done. Martini well, was as filthy as I hoped it would be. I typically avoid chain restaurants but I won't avoid this one. Our server Erica was great and the experience for humans and pups was on point. Thank you!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 81Bay Brewing; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Dogs welcome.. indoors!!! I love this atmosphere and the beer is so good. Everyone is really friendly and outgoing. There is so much to do in here. I love the games, artwork and TVs. Plus anything I can do with my dog, makes any experience better. Come here ASAP.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pawlins Total Pet Care; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: My pup just spent 5 days and 4 nights at this resort. What I loved most about this facility, was everything. I loved being able to book a royal suite, that had a webcam in her room, allowing me to check on her whenever I wanted to. I also used the menu to change up different treats for my pupper each day. My favorite part of it all, was the daily report cards. The employees take their time to capture amazing pictures of your pup having fun with their furpals as well as writing cute notes describing your pups day. This place is top notch, my little girl had a blast and I hope we get to go back again when in town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rivershack Tavern; City: Jefferson, LA; Review: This place is amazing. I went here for lunch before picking my dog up from her vacation, and had some of the tastiest food on my trip. The atmosphere was fantastic, beer/drink selection was great and the menu was unbelievable. We got the BBQ shrimp and Tex-Mex burger, both were delicious. The service was what made our experience, the bartender was awesome. She was so attentive, caring and knowledgeable. Next time I'm in town, I will be sure to go here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Space Cowboys (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All the Pretty Horses (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Thin Red Line (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Birdcage (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Art of War (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crossfire Trail (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Gift (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vertical Limit (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mexican (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Cider House Rules (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best of the Chris Rock Show: Vol. 2 (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tigerland (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Driven (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Knight's Tale (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Exit Wounds (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen Days (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under Suspicion (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Styx / REO Speedwagon: Arch Allies: Live at Riverport (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Once in the Life (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Autumn in New York (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: R.E.M.: Pop Screen (1990); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Evolution (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Behind Enemy Lines (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hearts in Atlantis (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gosford Park (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eagles: Hell Freezes Over (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Knight (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Changing Lanes (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blood Work (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Others (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man: IMAX (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: One Hour Photo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Another Day (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Basic (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dolphins: IMAX (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Knockaround Guys (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Michael Jordan to the Max: IMAX (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Brasco (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Narc (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 24: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pitch Black (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cooler (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chris Rock: Never Scared (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Alabama student who called in bomb threat to LSU-Florida game faces up to 20 years in prison; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Body of missing Alabama girl found; 2 being charged; Abstract: Investigators searching through garbage found the body of a 3-year-old girl who was missing more than a week, and authorities are charging two people with murder, police said Tuesday.; Category: news
Title: How Tua Tagovailoa's ankle injury affects Alabama, LSU and the college football landscape; Abstract: We look at the six potential ripple effects of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's ankle injury, ranging from this week to the College Football Playoff.; Category: sports
Title: Narcissists may be bad friends and partners, but they're likely happier than you; Abstract: Narcissists tend to get over disappointment and rejection more easily because they don't blame themselves for what went wrong.; Category: lifestyle
Title: The Average Retirement Age in Every State; Abstract: See how your state stacks up in the retirement race; Category: finance
Title: Reports: LSU LB Michael Divinity removed from team days before Alabama game; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Before his execution, a death row inmate told his victim's family he forgives them; Abstract: Charles Rhines, who was convicted of murder in the brutal stabbing of a 22-year-old man in 1992, was executed in South Dakota Monday, the state's attorney general said, after the Supreme Court denied a last-ditch appeal of his case.; Category: news
Title: Wild & wonderful treasures of SEMA 2019 US edition; Abstract: The best customs, restorations and radical builds from the world's largest custom car show; Category: autos
Title: These Are America's Favorite Liquor Brands; Abstract: According to a new report published by Wine & Spirits Daily, the fastest-growing liquor brand in America is yet again Texas-made Tito's vodka. Launched by Bert "Tito" Beveridge (yes, that's his real name) in 1997 and financed with $90,000 he borrowed from some 19 credit cards, the brand got its big break in […]; Category: foodanddrink | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Meguiar's Wheel Brightener Clear-Coated, Factoy Painted and Chrome Wheel Cleaner D14001, 1 gal; Brand: Meguiar's; Review: I'm a Detailer of 16 years. I love Meguiars products. Saw this and wanted to try it. It works amazing..cleans wheels in 30 Seconds with no rubbing at all. It's strong so be careful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEDpartsNow Interior LED Lights Replacement for 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra Accessories Package Kit (15 Bulbs), WHITE; Brand: LEDpartsNow; Review: Love it! Looks like the new cars now Makes my originals look old dim and yellow.. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meguiar's D10101 Detailer All Purpose Cleaner; Brand: Meguiar's; Review: Fast works on everything; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meguiar's X2000 Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel; Brand: Meguiar's; Review: Soaks up a lot of water, softer than chamois. Big size ...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LemonBest Professional Car Washing Foam Cannon Lance High Pressure Adjustable Snow Foamer Car Wash Gun With Heavy Duty Bottle 34; Brand: LemonBest; Review: Works fine but I dropped it and the bottle broke off... But got lucky and found that typical water bottles work as a replacement and they don't break!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meguiars Mirror Glaze Show Car Glaze Exceptional Polish Restores a Deep Wet Shine M0716, 16 oz; Brand: Meguiar's; Review: Just like everyone said.. I'm an auto Detailer used it on a black Benz came out amazing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Optimum (NR2010Q) No Rinse Wash & Shine - 32 oz.; Brand: Optimum; Review: I'm an auto Detailer and I love this stuff. Works great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE RAG COMPANY (10-Pack) 16 in. x 16; Brand: THE RAG COMPANY; Review: Very thick like them my favorite.. I'm an auto Detailer 16 years; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Car Wash Mitt - Premium Chenille Microfiber Wash Mitt - Wash Glove - Lint Free - Scratch Free; Brand: Relentless Drive; Review: Not that large. Chemical guys green one is bigger. But it seems to work fine; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Microfiber Car Duster, 24 Inch For Car Exterior Interior Cleaning, SimpleSweet Dust Meister, Model; Brand: SimpleSweet; Review: It's not as thick as my ca car duster is and seems to just push the dust around.. If its a real light layer of dust its ok but I like the original calif duster much better sorry; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: AIR LIFT 52210 AirCell Kit; Brand: Air Lift; Review: It worked! I couldn't believe it! I have an 2002 tundra v8 and had to carry a 250 gallon water tank almost full of water so my truck was dragging bottoming out really bad (1600 lbs) Totally dangerous to drive so I wanted air shocks but couldn't find em so I took a chance with these and it frikin worked! I was so surprised. But with no load it is way too bouncy omg to drive around town bouncing all over the place. So I pulled out the plastic pieces . And figure I'll just pop em back in when I need them.. These were also easy enough to install. It did not lift my truck I'm not so sure how safe it'd be for a long time driving a lot w a big load. Or off-road. The plastic part just rest on the axle in between the frame and looks like it could slide off The frame where it holds it up. I took corners easy needless to say; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mothers 06110 Back-to-Black Trim & Plastic Restorer Aerosol, 10 oz, 10. Fluid_Ounces; Brand: Mothers; Review: It's ok. I've used some other similar products that seem to work a little better so it's ok but not my fav. I'm a detailer 18 yrs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ABN Clay Bar Wipe 6” Medium Grade DA Polisher Pad for Cars; Brand: ABN; Review: This thing g worked like a champ today. I was skeptical cause of the price but I detailed a big dark blue mini van today and it came out beautiful in no time and no effort. Love it! Doesn't work if it gets hot or dry. I soap ed the whole van w a foam gun and went to town; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HD Speed All in One Polish/Wax - 16 oz. | Clear Coat Car Polish and Wax in One; Brand: HD High Definition Car Care; Review: I've been detailing for 18 yrs and this is my new favorite product ! Just awesome results in one pass. Fixes many issues scratches, spots, dull; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: California Car Duster 62442 Standard Car Duster with Wooden Handle; Brand: California Car Duster; Review: it seems smaller and less mop to it than what they used to be.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rueesh Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover, Anti-slip Matte Finish, Soft Padding, Universal 15 Inch Car Steering Cover, Embossing Pattern; Brand: Rueesh; Review: Feels nice; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Nautica Little Boys' Toddler Helm Bubble with Storm Cuffs; Brand: ; Review: I loved this coat...its warm and the colors are perfect. only thing it runs small I had to exchange for a bigger size. other than that its perfect for the cold weather.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palladium Boots Mens Baggy Canvas Boots , Black/Black; Brand: Palladium; Review: Looks and feels great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TIONEER Sterling Silver Footprint in the Sand Band; Brand: Tioneer; Review: Beautiful saying; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palladium Boots Mens Baggy Canvas Boots , Black/Black; Brand: Palladium; Review: Looks and feels great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UDTEE New/Fashion Handmade Original Tribe 2-pack Leather Black & Brown Bracelets; Brand: UDTEE; Review: Bought these bracelets twice that's how much I love it. Goes with every style; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honolulu Jewelry Company Sterling Silver 1mm Cable Chain, 14" - 36"; Brand: Honolulu Jewelry Company; Review: Beautiful chain; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honey Amber Sterling Silver Small Grapevine Pendant; Brand: Ian and Valeri Co.; Review: I love amber..this pendant was a lil too small for my taste. Nevertheless still a beautiful stone; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crocs Women's Kadee Flat Casual Dress Shoe with All Day Comfort for Work or Play; Brand: ; Review: Very comfortable..wore everyday during the summer; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harley-Davidson Women's Jammie Strap And Buckle 10" Black Mid Cut Boot; Brand: Harley-Davidson; Review: I love these boots! The fit is perfect. The style is awesome, definitely to buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lock and Love LL Womens Quilted Biker Jacket; Brand: Lock and Love; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Beausite; City: Beatenberg Canton of Bern; Review: We had the very comfortable family room with two en suite bathrooms, the Swiss chalet decor made for a cozy atmosphere, all the more so as there was stormy snowy weather outside! Rita and Kaspar made us extremely welcome with warm Swiss hospitality and excellent cuisine. The New Year's Eve dinner and entertainment was also much enjoyed. It felt like a home away from home. One of the most relaxing hotel stays we've had.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: As it says on the Aashiyan website, this was a "true Indian home experience." The room and bathroom were very comfortable with plenty of space and there was even a little balony to sit out overlooking the park next door. Kiran, her husband and all the staff made me very welcome, and were so helpful with lots of information and tips about Delhi, transport options and sites of interest. Breakfast was simply delicious with plenty of choices from Indian and European cuisine. Every morning I was looking forward to seeing what nice new dish I would be offered today. An excellent experience in every way!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: This was my second stay with Kiran and her family and like before this was again a 100% happy experience, wonderful hospitality, a very comfortable and spacious room, cable TV, very fast internet access, delicious breakfasts and such a warm and friendly atmosphere - perfectly looked after. I had the special pleasure to spend Divali with everyone at Aashiyan - many great memories!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: I just completed a long stay at Aashiyan after having visited twice before over the last year. As always, the comfort and hospitality offered by Kiran, JP and staff was exceptional - i can only say *superlative quality* in every regard. I give it 10 out of 5!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: Back again for another fantastic stay at Aashiyan! Kiran's staff anticipated my every need and wish as always, and treated me to many special seasonal delicacies and the most delicious food all round. I can only say "dhanyavad" to all and see you again soon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: This has been my fifth stay at Aashiyan and I could not think of a happier place to arrive at, after a long flight, train journey, or a day of sight-seeing or business meetings in the city. Kiran, her husband JP and all her staff welcome you very warmly and see to your perfect comfort with complete professionalism and long experience in hospitality. And they are always there for you when needed, with ideas, suggestions and advice from their rich knowledge of life in Delhi. It was a proud moment for the hostess Kiran when her "Travellers’ Choice" award arrived from Tripadvisor and I and my friend Jicca were there to share her joy! Very warm congratulations! The rooms and en suite bathrooms are spacious, very well appointed and immaculately clean. The beds are extremely comfortable for restful sleep and recharged batteries the next day. There is premium quality bed linen with pretty designs, and colourful duvets are provided for the cooler months. In the bathroom you will find thick cotton towels and a refreshing shower. The temperature is very comfortable throughout the whole house which has beautiful and cooling marble floors, fans, and in the bedrooms air conditioning in summer and radiators for the winter. Breakfast is hugely generous and tasty with a wide range of Western-style and Indian choices which are freshly prepared for you to your preference. Aashiyan is an oasis of peace. This B&B is located in a quiet and safe, gated community in one of the best residential localities in South Delhi. As an independent female traveller I feel entirely comfortable stepping out of the house for a walk at 11pm or midnight! The house is surrounded by green, and without any noise from traffic. There are flowers and palm trees that greet you at the gate. A park in front of the house and a larger green space nearby are a great option for exercise or relaxation during the cooler hours of the morning or evening. There is an international-style coffee shop five minutes from the house which serves a great iced latte as a perfect pick-me up on a hot day. At the same time, Aashiyan is close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport for international and domestic flight connections. Its location is also ideal for visiting many top tourist attractions and enjoying easy access to much else the traveller may need or desire. The nearest station of the Metro transport network of Delhi is about a 7min walk away and connects you to the whole of the city. The underground trains are state-of-the-art and fully air-conditioned. Amenities like 24-hour ATMs, banks, pharmacy and a range of shops for daily needs are a short walk from the house. Restaurants with best standards of food hygiene, South Delhi art galleries exhibiting contemporary and classical Indian art, colourful markets, movie theatres and some of the top shopping malls of South Asia are within a short cab or autorickshaw ride. Some of my favourite regular haunts nearby are Qutb Minar Monument and the Garden of Five Senses, Hauz; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: Again, I had the great pleasure of staying at Aashiyan Bed and Breakfast on my most recent trip to Delhi. As always, it was the perfect homebase to venture forth from in the morning and return home to in the evening. And one can also be completely assured that the gated community where Aashiyan is located is a safe haven, so a walk in the cool air before bedtime - in the park right in front of the house - is a wholly relaxing experience. There was not a single need or wish that was not catered for so generously by Kiran, JP and the staff. And the well chilled glass of beer that waited for me at the end of a hot day was truly something to look forward to! I also specially enjoyed learning so much about regional cuisine from Kiran who is extremely knowledgeable about North Indian cooking and eager to share her wonderful knowledge, and her enjoyment, of the ingredients and cooking methods that result in the most delicious dishes. I was very fascinated to learn about the fruit, herb and vegetable recipes that help us keep cool and healthy in the summer heat. These are true treasures of local knowledge. The green mango drink ‘Mango Panna’ was a delight! This time, I was in Delhi later in the year, from end of April to mid-May, which of course brought higher temperatures. I really appreciated how pleasantly cool and well ventilated the house is, both during the day and at night. Desert coolers are marvelous inventions, that is for sure, blowing a cool gentle breeze throughout the house, and the air conditioners and fans did the rest. A wonderfully comfortable indoor climate was maintained as the temperature outside started to touch 40 degrees Celsius and more. Thank you for everything!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: I had an absolutely delightful and comfortable stay at Aashiyan this September which still brought rain showers and thunderstorms in the longest monsoon for 70 years! Whether the sun was beating down outside and the days were hot, or a monsoon downpour turned the air humid and close, Kiran and JP's beautiful house was perfectly climate-controlled all round the clock. My room was just perfect for very comfortable and relaxing sleep. I was also extremely lucky to taste some of the delicious seasonal vegetables and fruits and learnt so much from Kiran about their many uses for delicious 'monsoon dishes'. I had a very happy stay in every way. Kiran and JP were always there for suggestions or advice, sharing their knowledge of Delhi. Many thanks also to the staff who are so professional, caring and always happy to help. Thanks a million!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: I stayed at Aashiyan for 2 weeks again in January. My Blue Orchid room as always was most comfortable and in peak winter cosy and warm with the lovely duvet and oil radiators provided. And the shower was steaming hot and sumptuous! So even when it was really cold outside, I was perfectly snug and happy. The free high-speed WiFi connection all through the house also really adds to the sense of enjoying all the home comforts as one can effortlessly stay in touch with family and friends via email, Skype and Facebook. Breakfast is something to look forward to every day, always freshly prepared, delicious and plentiful. My firm favourites are the different egg dishes one can choose from, the eggs are so fresh and tasty, so I enjoy the Indian omelettes with tomato and herbs, or cheese omelette, or sunny-side-up fried eggs or poached eggs, all are a feast, and on the side fresh fruit of the season, mouthwatering aloo paranthas, homemade yoghurt and mango pickles. I also very much enjoyed the delicious evening meals, all of Kiran's wonderful and healthy recipes, and sharing conversation and camaraderie with other guests, and yet having my privacy and a very quit room for a great night's sleep. After a long day of being out in the city, it was heavenly to return to the comforts of this 5 star Homestay, welcomed with a smile at any hour. Thank you Kiran and Jp, all the staff and the friendly Spitz 'Cuddles' for making me feel at home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: It is such a joy to be arriving at Aashiyan! The smiles of welcome, the lush green of Kiran's entrance garden, the palm trees, and the beautiful, lovingly designed family home, immediately one feels entirely relaxed and at home on arrival. The truly Indian hospitality offered by Kiran and her husband Jp, and the wonderfully kind and helpful staff, create an unforgettable homestay experience. The hosts speak excellent English. Everything one can wish for in a Bed and Breakfast accommodation is provided at international first-class standard and with a warm personal touch, so relaxation is complete and one can recharge batteries in complete comfort, for adventures in the city or onward travel. There is absolutely no traffic noise, which is a marvellous plus in Delhi, and the home looks out over a very nice park with easy access. The food is simply superb, offering a wonderful experience of North Indian home-cooking. Aashiyan is in an excellent location in South Delhi, with landmarks, tourist attractions, museums, shopping, and both Indian and Western-style restaurants at quite short distance in this megacity. My favourite experience was a visit at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib! So absolutely top marks and a big thank you to the Singh family!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aashiyan Bed Breakfast; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: I very happily returned to stay at Aashiyan as I had stayed before and had always been superbly comfortable. Again, everything was perfect, and the food as always simply wonderfully delicious. I also enjoyed the fast internet! As the weather started to get warmer, the whole house was very well climate-controlled, and my room was cool for a great night's sleep. Another absolute highlight is the green environment all around Aashiyan. The park just behind the house is very well kept, and in April there were cascades of flowers everywhere. It is a great place for joining the locals on a morning walk! Thank you so very warmly Kiran, Jp and all the staff!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: NOW Foods Malted Milk, 1 lb; Brand: NOW Foods; Review: I bought this to make chocolate malt milkshakes and it was just what I wanted. Sends me back in time to those old fashion malts I got when I was little :D; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crispy Wonton Strips Toppers Assorted Packs (pack of 6 bags); Brand: Harvest2000; Review: I thought these would be puffy and light like in the Chinese restaurants, not. I too crazy about the flavor I tried, I have not opened the other 5 packs, don't know if I will. I wanted it for egg drop soup and it just was not working for me.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense Dark Bar, Midnight Reverie 86% Cacao Bar, 3.17-Ounce Bars (Pack of 6); Brand: Ghirardelli; Review: Wonderfully smooth chocolate and very addictive. I do not miss the added sugar. The first bite of course you miss it but by the second it has won you over to eating healthy chocolate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amoretti Premium Syrup, Cinnamon, 25.4 Ounce; Brand: Amoretti; Review: I really like the look of the bottle so it can stay out on the counter at the coffee station. The pump is excellent and makes it very easy to dispense. It mixes easy and has a wonderful subtle flavor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Truffle Oil Selection by TruffleHunter - Contains White Truffle Oil, English Truffle Oil, Black Truffle Oil (3 x 3.38; Brand: TruffleHunter; Review: I have only tried one of the oils so far and it was wonderful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TruffleHunter White Truffle Oil (3.38 Oz); Brand: TruffleHunter; Review: Have not found one that taste better!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ANCIENT ORGANICS 100% Organic Ghee from Grass-fed Cows, 32oz; Brand: Ancient Organics; Review: The flavor is extraordinary! I use it on and in anything I would use butter for and feel good about it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ANCIENT ORGANICS 100% Organic Ghee from Grass-fed Cows, 16oz; Brand: Ancient Organics; Review: Best ghee I have tried, tasty eating straight from jar for keto folks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening; Author: Visit Amazon's Louise Riotte Page; Review: This book is filled with the old fashioned information that our grandparents shared with us. I recommend this book for the many bits of history and time tested knowledge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Downing Page; Review: The discussion that takes place in this book is at times as confusing as the concept of Daylight Saving Time. Michael Downing attempts to illustrate the history and debunks several myths that are associate with the time change. The history is far from clear as to "why" we change our clocks, but the author makes it clear that is an extremely political measure with many hands changing the clocks. If you want to know more about the history, I recommend this book, for without the authors work you will be climbing back into time attempting to solve a very difficult riddle.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Learn Me Gooder; Author: Visit Amazon's John Pearson Page; Review: This book is so funny and perfectly explains today's classroom environment, I laughed out loud knowing these kids are in every school and teachers everywhere are experiencing the same!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Potter's Kitchen: Handmade Pots for Home-cooked Recipes; Author: Sumi von Dassow; Review: I purchased this book with the expectation that it would give lots of great information on how to make stovetop, flame ware pieces since that is what the cover shows. Sadly it does not and in essence says it is hard to make those pieces stand up to the thermal shock and hard to find clay providers that will even make the necessary clay and all in about one short paragraph. I was disappointed. The rest of the books shows how to make different items for kitchen use and has good multi staged photos but in the long run everything the book shows is pretty obvious and any potter should be able to make those items. Good recipes I will say and if you are looking for a cookbook go for it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes: Glazing and Firing at Cones 4-7 (Lark Ceramics Books); Author: Visit Amazon's John Britt Page; Review: Thank you! Finally a glaze book that shows each glaze made, does not use lead, and has great information detailing the glaze process. Mr. Britt has organize a fabulous book for mid-range glazes. What I really like about this is Mr. Britts attempt to teach how to learn the basics and then begin to develop new glazes on your own! This should be on the shelf of ever potter. I eager to start trying out the many of the hundreds of glaze options and see what I can do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (The Oatmeal); Author: Visit Amazon's The Oatmeal Page; Review: Funny book with lots of illustrations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zen Page-A-Day Calendar 2018; Author: Visit Amazon's David Schiller Page; Review: But this yearly and it is worth stopping to consider each day!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Private Label - Little Boys Fleece Camouflage Robe; Brand: Private Label; Review: Soft and well made. Bought my ten year old a 14/16, he normally wears a 12 but it wanted it a little big.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Novawo Women's Knit Lace Trim Cute Leg Warmers Nice Boots socks (with nice pouch); Brand: Novawo; Review: Soft and cute and fit as expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deer Stags Mak2 Thinsulate Waterproof Comfort Workboot (Toddler/Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: ; Review: Well made and my son loves them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deer Stags Mak2 Thinsulate Waterproof Comfort Workboot (Toddler/Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: ; Review: Well made and my son loves them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NYDJ Women's Petite Size Marilyn Straight Leg Jeans; Brand: ; Review: Fits perfectly, great price; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pleasantville (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Behind Enemy Lines (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The First Wives Club (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Firm (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bear in the Big Blue House: Everybody's Special (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The American President (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sesame Street: Elmopalooza! (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 25th Hour (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When We Were Kings (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clifford: Clifford Saves the Day! / Clifford's Fluffiest Friend Cleo (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Majestic (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bear in the Big Blue House: Dance Party! (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Fish Called Wanda (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jumanji (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: City by the Sea (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mask: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 8 Mile (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: White Oleander (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: View from the Top (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cinderella (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ice Storm (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brother Bear (Home Viewing Version) (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Led Zeppelin (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping Beauty: Special Edition (1959); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cinderella II (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sting (1973); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A Bug's Life (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cocktail (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Truman Show (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Notting Hill (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wonderland (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: State of Grace (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winged Migration (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whale Rider (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scarface: 20th Anniversary Edition (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cider House Rules (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dumbo (1941); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Baby Einstein: Baby Da Vinci (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Teletubbies: Baby Animals (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood (Disney) (1973); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Aristocats (1970); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alice in Wonderland (1951); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hurlyburly (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Emperor (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Killing Fields (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Doors (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chinatown (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dazed and Confused (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dora the Explorer: Meet Diego! (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pianist (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Out of Africa (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbie: Fairytopia (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wizard of Oz: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: North by Northwest (1959); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Temptation of Christ (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Color of Money (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Catch a Thief (1955); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bambi: Platinum Edition (1942); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kundun (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kinsey (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fox and the Hound (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Africa: The Serengeti: IMAX (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter (1970); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fog of War (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Il Postino (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Empire of the Sun (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cinema Paradiso: Director's Cut (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clerks: First Cut (Not Theatrical Version) (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tarzan 2 (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Unicorn (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Baby Einstein: Baby MacDonald: A Day on the Farm (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dave Matthews Band: The Central Park Concert (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disney Princess Sing-Along Songs: Enchanted Tea Party (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shipping News (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Godolphin Arabian (The Derrydale Press Foxhunters' Library); Author: Eugene Sue; Review: I received my order of this book within a few days in great condition. It is a lovely little book to hold in your hands. The story is said to be based in research and I could imagine much of it to be true. How different the Arabian was from the other British horses of the time. And the devotion of the horse and his groom is a story played out every day in every stable though some of the stories may be exaggerated for the effect. I would recommend this book if your are at all curious about how the Founding Stallions of the Thoroughbred found their way to England.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butterflies of the North Woods, 2nd Edition (Naturalist Series); Author: Larry Weber; Review: Excellent reference guide to the butterflies that visit your yard if you live in southeastern Wisconsin, as I do. I have been adding Butterfliy Habitat plants to my yard the last 3 years and this year for the first time I was able to identify the female Black Swallowtail who came to sun herself one day. Also, the first year I saw the Common Buckeye in my yard. A must have for Butterfly lovers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Horses: In Living Color; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara D Livingston Page; Review: Barbara Livingston has such a great body of work photographing of Racehorses for so many years that when I saw this subject matter I assumed it would be really good. However money was very tight so I resisted for months even after seeing some of the photos on HRTV. But then received money for Christmas and...... I now have this wonderful collection of very patterned, colorful and not so colorful horses. But all are very striking photographs. If you love horses, you will love this!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, The Horse That Inspired a Nation; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Letts Page; Review: I have been reading this book and am having a hard time to put it down long enough to write a review. What an incredible story! What a horse, what a horseman! I fear I may just not have the right words so go out and buy this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dancer's Image:: The Forgotten Story of the 1968 Kentucky Derby; Author: Visit Amazon's Milton C. Toby Page; Review: I found this book to be very informative. While some of the story is a bit dry, it does let you know that the Kentucky Derby winner of 1968 was not recognised for his efforts. The mix up and sloppy recording of the drug tests in that year on Dancer's Image did not prove beyond a shadow of doubt that in fact the Derby winner was running un the effects of 'Bute'. The physical reaction Dancer's Image had after getting bute on the previous Sunday (liquid stools) did not occur any other time that week or the next to Dancer's Image. The fact that the chemist took a black and white photograph when color film was available and when the color of the reaction on paper really mattered should have let the race results stand. The good result at the very end of much discussion is that all horses are now tested after they race and that the initial sample is divided into 2 parts: one to use and one to save in case a question comes up later on. Belated congratulations to Team Dancer's Image and Milton Toby.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Licorice Daughter: My Year with Ruffian; Author: Visit Amazon's Lyn Lifshin Page; Review: I received this book for Christmas and I found that I was drenched in the memory of a gallant three year old filly within the first poem. It is easy to just sit and read straight through but there are many poems you can read and then bask in the image presented for some time. We are all busy people these days. This is a book you can pick up time and time again for just precious seconds and recall Ruffian. New converts to horse racing have been spoiled with the riches of Goldikova, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, Peppers Pride, Havre De Grace and now Black Caviar within the span of four years. But in the mid 1970's we were not so fortunate. We only had Ruffian. For 2 brief Seasons of Racing she captivated us. Then our hearts were broken with one bad step. Within these pages Ruffian lives and races and never dies.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Carle Page; Review: A lovely book with exquisite color choices for all of the different animals written about. I also love that it is in memory of an artist who lost his life to WWI. It was given as a gift and is still being read today by the family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story (Paula Wiseman Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Kelly Page; Review: I had this book sent to a great nephew for his birthday. He was thrilled to hear the book and it continues to be one of his favorites. Maybe he will like science in the future as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Birds of Pennsylvania Field Guide (Book & Audio CD); Author: Visit Amazon's Stan Tekiela Page; Review: The book and CD combo arrived in very quick order even though I did not ask for any speedy delivery. The set was a gift since I live in Wisconsin and have that set. My sister has yet to listen to the CD but the book was quite helpful. I did not realize that Red Wing Black birds could be found in a suburban setting in PA rather than rural in WI.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Molly the Pony: A True Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Pam Kaster Page; Review: The story of Molly is one of pluck and determination of not only the hosre herself but of those who made it their mission to save her adn give her a good life after the horrors of Katrina and it's aftermath. I gave it to my great nephews to help them learn that sometimes life will take you through many hard experiences but that love of life and good friends will bring you on to a good life. Plus she is just an amazing horse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SHAM: In the Shadow of a Superhorse - Revised; Author: Mary Walsh; Review: It has been a couple of years since I read this book but it is very well researched and well written. Sometimes books about racehorses are written without much thought to giving the story momentum and color. They can be dry record upon dry record. But this book tells the story of the second best thoroughbred in the 1973 Kentucky Derby. As the saying goes,if Sham had been born in a different year from Secretariat ...... The horse and all of his connections and races are well documented and provide a full account of this wonderful thoroughbred life and career. This is 'the rest of the story' for 1973.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moths & Caterpillars of the North Woods (Naturalist Series); Author: Jim Sogaard; Review: I use this book if and when I spot an interesting caterpillar in my yard. Since I provide larval plant for some butterflies, I can find a few here and there. This book is very easy to use.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Noor:: A Champion Thoroughbred's Unlikely Journey From California to Kentucky; Author: Milton Toby; Review: This is the story of the 1950 champion racehorse Noor who raced under the famous Charles Howard silks, beat the great Citation 3 times, set world records and never received the proper credit. Here we get to relieve this magnificent period of horse racing history and learn about a remarkable horse and trainer. Unfortunately and surprisingly the breeders at the time did not want to pursue Noor as a stallion and so he went to a much humbler location in his retirement. In an era where the racetracks and training tracks are closing for the lack of income we can all lose sight of the equine athletes who have gone before our time. One person who did not lose sight of the great Noor is Charlotte Farmer, herself part of a thoroughbred racing stable capable of campaigning champions. She fought to be able to locate the remains of this wonderful horse and find a burial site worthy of his accomplishments. Thank you Milton Toby. Both Noor and Charlotte Farmer are champions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 100 Plants to Feed the Bees: Provide a Healthy Habitat to Help Pollinators Thrive; Author: Visit Amazon's The Xerces Society Page; Review: I asked for and received this as a gift. It lists many native plants favorable to our native bee populations as well as Honey Bees. Look for natives in your area to help our bees live, thrive and pollinate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Boy Who Made Dragonfly: A Zuni Myth; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Hillerman Page; Review: I happened to get a First Edition Hardcover, with original drawings, when I purchased it. Was thrilled that I could give it as a gift to my sister who introduced me to Tony Hillerman.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nasrullah: Forgotten Patriarch of the American Thoroughbred (Sports); Author: Visit Amazon's Melanie Greene Page; Review: If you love the history of Horse racing meet the sire who greatly influenced American Thoroughbred Racing. Well researched.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Peppermill Wendover Hotel Casino; City: West Wendover Nevada; Review: If you're looking for 1st class accomodations and service, then keep on driving I-80. Employees act like they don't like their jobs, restaurant service slow, even buffet service is horrible. Rooms are very nice, however, and beds are so good I wish I could buy one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Luxury Inn Suites; City: Silverthorne Colorado; Review: Probably the cheapest place in town to store your stuff and lay your head down, Old, worn out furniture, lumpy beds, small T.V., tiny bathroom. On the plus side, nice little breakfast fare, spa and pool. Paid $79.00 last week for 2 people, one night. (2 queens), paid $89.00 single (1 queen) this week (Spring Break rate). Property is nestled among several other hotels/motels and close to Keystone, A-Basin ski resorts, about 20 minutes from Breckenridge and 30 from Vail. Close to good restaurants, shopping.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk; City: Black Hawk Colorado; Review: Although the place is starting to show a little age, the Isle hotel is still a very comfortable and clean hotel to visit and relax in. The casino offers a good variety of slots and table games, tho, we were disappointed to find out they took out 'pai gao', one of our favorites. The buffet ranks second to The Lodge hotel/Casino in town, but very tasty and comes with a wide variety of choices. Hotel has valet parking available. All hotel and casino staff and employees are very friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Green River; City: Green River Utah; Review: Between Grand Junction Colorado and Salina Utah along I-70 is a whole lot of nothing...except some really grand scenery. Stuck in the middle is a little place in the road called Green River, appropriately named because it sits smack dab on the Green River. You can stay at cheaper hotels/motels there, but the Comfort Inn is priced about right, and is reasonably clean. Front desk personnel will reluctantly give you a room and act as if it's a personal favor. They recommend a restaurant close by with a similar attitude. We settled for a subway sandwich and coke. I guess if I lived there, I'd have a bad attitude also.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Moss Point; City: Moss Point Mississippi; Review: Nice stopping place at the end of Mississippi. Had to take a 3rd floor room, but that's because we never plan ahead. Just drive until we don't want to drive anymore and take what we can. Inn was very crowded, but modern, clean and comfortable. Excellent breakfast fare. Front desk not manned when checking in. Had to make some noise to get someone, but friendly enough.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Sallisaw; City: Sallisaw Oklahoma; Review: I normally have no high expectations when I see that I'm going to stay at a Super 8 motel, and this one neither exceeded nor fell below said expectations. Fair price for a reasonably comfortable and clean room, and I think there was a casino across the street, but too tired to explore. Decent coffee in the A.M.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sea Shells Beach Club; City: Daytona Beach Florida; Review: Wife got a "deal" from Living Social. $53.00 and change per night, (We stayed two nights) plus $20.00 up front upon arrival for various fees and taxes, so that makes it about $63.00 per night, which is still pretty good. We were greeted by a reasonably friendly front desk person, made even more pleasant by displaying a box of Krispy Kreeme donuts for consumption. The rest of the staff we encountered were very friendly. We were supposed to go to some room to get information about vacation club membership. No one was there, which was o.k. with us. Both days on the beach we were accosted by these travel club hawkers. The hotel itself was clean and fairly well stocked with coffee machine, fridge, micro-wave, etc. Easy access to the beach and pool. The pool area is large with a 'first come - first serve' grill available. The pool, while slightly undersized was 8' 6" deep in the deep end, which we liked. The hotel is showing signs of aging and while the bed was fairly comfortable, the pillows were not. If we could stay there again for the same price, we would in a heartbeat, but any more and we'd upgrade elsewhere.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grand Palms Hotel Spa and Golf Resort; City: Pembroke Pines Broward County Florida; Review: Golf Course is great. T.V. didn't work, Roaches, Paper Thin Towells, Lumpy mattress, to name but a few inconveniences. Free cont. breakfast was decent. Parking situation goofy. If they charged $25-$35 per night, I wouldn't complain, but for $100.00, outrageous. No early check-in unless you "habla espanol" ... love the golf course, but will stay at the Hampton or wherever next time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Crossroads Inn; City: DeFuniak Springs Florida; Review: Reasonable, clean and friendly staff. Country cooking. Free breakfast, Convenient location off I-10. One door had big gaps and A/C a little noisy, but beds were comfortable. "Sleep function" on remote didn't work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Metairie; City: Metairie Louisiana; Review: Unless you know your way around Metaire/New Orleans....avoid this place. Difficult in-out, run down rooms, towels are paper thin. Breakfast not bad. Staff could care less.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn by Wyndham Monticello; City: Monticello Minnesota; Review: Comfortable, clean, extremely friendly and helpful front desk clerk. Reasonably priced. Rancho grande restaurant recommended and well worth the 5 minute drive. Room was clean with comfortable beds. A/C noisy but kept room temperature at a comfortable level.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ramada by Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport Cruise Port; City: Fort Lauderdale Broward County Flo; Review: Difficulty opening the door to our room. Bed very comfortable. TV had sleep button on remote. Shower head offers free massage capability. Good selection of breakfast fare. Hazardous entry to property off I-95. Extreme caution required. Pool and Pool area is filthy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Port St Lucie; City: Port Saint Lucie Florida; Review: Friendly and helpful staff. All the amenities: pool, kitchen, microwave Refrigerator, exercise room, laundry room, and many more. T.V. Channel availability and housekeeping could be improved. Property is convenient to shops, restaurants, movie theater, ballpark and golf courses.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Deadly Politics (A Molly Malone Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Maggie Sefton Page; Review: At times, I wandered - a first for Maggie's books. Maybe it was because it wasn't yarn based. I've read it twice but still wandered.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dropped Dead Stitch (A Knitting Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Maggie Sefton Page; Review: This is the Maggie Sefton I have grown to enjoy. The plot builds quickly, with little twists and turns, then explodes with a surprise ending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Wool and Testament: A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Molly MacRae Page; Review: I enjoyed this read with a "can't wait to see who did it" fervor. The ending was an enjoyable surprise.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dying To Sell (Five Star First Edition Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Maggie Sefton Page; Review: I missed the "thread" in this book but enjoyed reading it. Read it twice to make sure I didn't miss anything. Again, Maggie gives an excellent surprise ending although I sort of figured out the "who done it" before being affirmed at the end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Knit, Purl, Die (A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Canadeo Page; Review: This is one of those "one more chapter" books. I enjoyed how the author tied all the characters together, played their emotions, doubts, etc. coming to a "OOOO, I didn't think about that." ending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: While My Pretty One Knits (A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Canadeo Page; Review: Once I find an author who can grab me, hold me, and lead me to a great ending, I keep on reading their work. Cozy mysteries have become my #1 reads. This one kept me held to each twist and turn. I love the author centering the action around a varied group of women who have a common love - knitting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Stitch Before Dying (A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Canadeo Page; Review: Curiosity drew me to this one. And, it proved to be more than I expected. I usually can figure out the "who done it" mid-book. This time, I was stumped. Keep up the good work, Anne!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Corpse Reader; Author: Visit Amazon's Antonio Garrido Page; Review: This was a first for me. I was dubious but was really intrigued by the accuracy of the history in a fiction. I didn't want to put it down and stayed up very late to finish chapters. Sometimes a little gross (descriptions of the corpses), but all tied in to how the "father of forensics" came to be very well. Mr. Garrido has a great way with detail in his words. A very good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bury Your Dead (Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Louise Penny Page; Review: I really enjoyed how the multiple plots took hold and developed together coming to a good end. A definite read if you like a plot within a plot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Novel Way to Die (A Black Cat Bookshop Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Ali Brandon Page; Review: This is truly a cozy mystery. I liked the easy reading of it ending well. I'm going to look out for more of this author's works in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Stakes; Author: Visit Amazon's J.A. Jance Page; Review: I enjoy anything J. A. Jance. The plot really held my attention and had enough twists to keep me guessing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Her Dying Breath (A Slaughter Creek Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Rita Herron Page; Review: I'm not a big fan of works with S&M as part of the plot. I didn't like the way the 2 main characters ended up in a sordid affair while the investigation continued. The ending wasn't much of a surprise to me. I did like this work but, had I known what the plot of really about, then I wouldn't have purchased it. It just wasn't my "cup of tea".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Murder Comes Unraveled: A Flock and Fiber Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Veryl Ann Grace Page; Review: I almost knew what was going to happen next and figured the ending and "who done it" 2/3s of the way through.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sisterhood; Author: Visit Amazon's Helen Bryan Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. It entwines history into fiction with personal insight. Delving into a time when the Inquisition treated women poorly, it gives one an understanding what was happening in the Old World and New World and how the Church functioned. A good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring; Author: Tracy Chevlier; Review: You always wonder about the "behind" of any fabulous painting. Although this is a work of fiction, I was wrapped into the story because it felt so real. Definitely a must read for those who love art.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orphan Train: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Baker Kline Page; Review: Ms. Kline weaves a wonderful tale of two very different but very much the same women: both survivors, both strong-willed, both able to defeat harsh odds. I stayed up all night to finish it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ring In the Dead: A J. P. Beaumont Novella; Author: Visit Amazon's J. A Jance Page; Review: I really enjoy J. A. Jance but this was just too short! It made the flow a bit choppy and I kept searching for more "meat". I love her Beaumont series but this was way too short.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 11th Hour (Women's Murder Club); Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: As a huge fan of James Patterson, I found this 100% in every way. You become one of the Women's Murder Club as you try to solve the mystery as you entwine yourself in these women's lives. Enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fountain of Secrets (The Relic Seekers); Author: Visit Amazon's Anita Clenney Page; Review: I enjoyed this but wish I had the opportunity to read the first book. There are references to the first book that I couldn't link to this book. I enjoyed the plot and how it flowed through to a good, but somewhat predictable ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gods of the Steppe; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrei Gelasimov Page; Review: I found it jumbled in content without really going anywhere. I couldn't figure out a plot, if there was suppose to be one. Could be a translation problem?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Quarry; Author: Iain Banks; Review: As the parent of a child with Asperger's Syndrome, I understood the extreme detail in the description of even the smallest events occurring through the book. It gives others insight into the world of autism, OCD, etc. as described by Kit. However, it was constant and I wanted to move forward instead of dwelling in one subject for pages and pages. It is a good read despite the continued circling around a subject that detracts from the plot of the novel. Try it. You may just gain knowledge on what it's like to has Asperger's.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harrowgate; Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Maruyama Page; Review: This is a look into the haunting of a loved one and the guilt of not being there when the one you love greatly dies unexpectedly. A little confusing at first, you empathize with the main character as he struggles with his loss and guilt. Good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wilderness: A Short Work Tie-In to Innocence; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: It was a very intriguing read. You kept wondering what was going to happen next as this young boy/child survived in the "Wilderness".; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Old Willyama Motor Inn; City: Broken Hill New South Wales; Review: We stayed in a family room and were very pleasantly surprised when we checked in here. Very clean rooms, friendly staff, a pool for the kids and only a few mins walk to the centre of town. Don't be put off by the relatively low price, this motel is excellent value!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort; City: Merimbula New South Wales; Review: We stayed with our kids (8,7,3) in a cabin overlooking the pool and it was worth every cent. Very clean and comfortable and had everything we needed for a selfcatering family holiday. The kids rented the pedal carts most days, enjoyed time down on the beach (5 mins walk, went whale watching and cooked fresh fish. It's a bit of a drive from Sydney but if you take your time and plan your stops along the way it only adds to the experience. There is always a good local bakery to be found and 3 cheese factories (Bodalla the standout!).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Morvern Valley Guesthouses; City: Bundanoon Southern Highlands New South Wales; Review: The kids (8,7,4) absolutely loved the animals and open space. It was a wonderful place to explore - the animals are very friendly and although you need to keep an eye on the kids, you don't have to worry too much, just don't take food into the paddock. It's a true host-free experience although it would have been great for the kids to talk to the farmer and help feed the animals with them. We stayed in Braedon which is comfortable (but cluttered for us). It has everything that you need although it is showing its age and needs a bit of TLC and a big spring clean. There is a detailed history and old photos of the farm along with a good DVD and music collection. Don't hesitate to book this place if you're after a safe farm experience for the kids only a short and easy drive from Sydney. We explored the local villages, swam in the river at Kangaroo Valley, got ice cream at Berry and went for a drive to Goulburn, so it's a very central base for a few days. 5 stars from the kids and 3.5 from mum and dad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lakeview Luxury Retreat; City: Orange New South Wales; Review: Stop looking for a place to stay and just book here! These ''cabins" are actually luxury 1-bedroom freestanding villas that could be found in anywhere in the world. The attention to detail and quality of fittings is uncompromised. Think New York apartment overlooking Central Park, but this one is in a paddock overlooking a lake! Don't bring a thing - your hosts provide more than enough LOCAL food and produce for a short stay. Our high expectations were exceeded, and we have never been able to say that before...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quality Hotel Mildura Grand; City: Mildura Victoria; Review: The rooms we saw all looked like they've been recently updated (not renovated) and ours was clean with enough room for two and a comfy bed. The rate included a great buffet breakfast, all staff were friendly and helpful and the location is perfect. There was a bit of noise from the restaurants but that is to be expected in a location such as this. We will stay again when we're in the area again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iluka Motel; City: Iluka New South Wales; Review: In a quiet town like Iluka it's wonderful to find such an awesome motel. Les and Margaret are welcoming and engaging hosts, and truly set the standard for what a country motel should be. We could not have asked for better quality and value. If this could be replicated across the country, Australian tourism would be the winner!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melview Greens Garden Apartments; City: Orange New South Wales; Review: Stayed for 3 nights with 3 kids visiting the region and Orange show. Apartment was very clean, great linen and towels, hot shower with pressure, separate second toilet is good when 5 people are in the apartment. Kitchen had everything we needed to prepare and cook family meals. Good sized living and dining area with comfortable sofa and table for 6, and the bedrooms had built in wardrobes to swallow our stuff. Carport housed our large 4WD. Very quiet only a few minutes from town. A great place to stay if you're looking for value without compromising cleanliness or standards of finish and fit out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ramada by Wyndham Phuket Southsea; City: Karon Phuket; Review: Actually I and my wife had been there for three nights as our honeymoon, actually I have informed them we are going as honeymoon and when we arrived we were surprised by Hotel when we saw so many red flowers on our bed, Ramada is located in very beautiful and quiet beach which is Karon, the services and breakfast are normal but the restaurant view is very good, but there was some issues such as non-free Internet and no water in the toilet, BTW you can use very nice pool and ignore all issues, it's very good for relaxation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AC Hotel Genova; City: Genoa Italian Riviera Liguria; Review: Actually very bad hotel with poor breakfast and too much lazy staffs, I was there for 5 nights, there is no tooth brush and toothpaste also no slippers, I asked them to provide slippers but up to end day, they told me ok but didn't provide. Also I put my clothes for laundry but they don't take them from your room and you should call them a few times to take it. Finally I don't recommend this hotel to you.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Media; City: Tehran Tehran Province; Review: I have been there for three days for a business meeting, very small apartment Hotel near to Jordan Street, very clean with good and polite staff, the lunch was so so, there is no any fun instruments and is good just for short stay .; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Continental; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: It's located in good location near city center and some famous museums and many Bar and restaurants but very small room, we had reserved one 6 beds room for one night, it's just suitable for sleeping and nothing else, room and beds were ok but bathroom door was dirty. Very small and dangerous stairs and can make trouble for emergency cases.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel De La Poste; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: We were there for two nights, good access to metro, supermarket and some restaurants, no free wifi and breakfast but you can eat good breakfast and just pay 6€ per person. The building is very old and small and there is no elevator but it's renewed and clean, there is some concerns like hotel has no toothpaste and toothbrush also no hairdryer but towel and tissue is available, also one small flat TV in small room which you cannot walk easily. It's far from famous places but as there is close to metro so you can get there in a few minutes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Matinabad Desert Eco Camp; City: Isfahan Isfahan Province; Review: We have been there for two days and one night in the tents, it was so exciting as it was the first time I slept in a tent in desert, there is a beautiful place with many activists like camel and bicycle riding, also watching the beautiful sky with many shiny stars at midnight, also we have visited one palace near there which was belongs to around 700 years ago, there is a good and traditional restaurant with delicious meals, very warm staffs, one nice coffee shop which give you gift or discount when you smile. I really recommend this very nice Eco-Camp to everybody.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homa Hotel; City: Shiraz Fars Province; Review: I have been in Shiraz Homa Hotel from 1-May till 4-May, I can say there is lovely staffs, very beautiful garden, very delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner, good location and nice environment but my room's stuff was old specially bathroom which is not matched with the price, I hope hotel manager considers it and try to fix it because this hotel can be one of the most amazing hotel in Iran.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ASICS Men's GEL-Sendai 2 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Great fit and comfort; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NIKE Men's Air Max Tailwind 6 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3 to 5 Pairs Mens Thick Pile Sports Golf No Show Low Cut Liner Fake Socks Non Slip; Brand: FITEXTREME; Review: Not thick kinda small; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dickies EDS Signature Unisex Scrubs Set (Top & Pant); Brand: ; Review: Snug; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DEBRA WEITZNER Men's Leather Gloves Black Driving Gloves Thinsulate, Fur, Cashmere Lined Leather Touchscreeen Gloves; Brand: Debra Weitzner; Review: Ordered 2 by mistake and still a win!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UROKAZ - Silicone Fashion Rings, The Only Ring That Fits Your Lifestyles - Whether You are Single; Brand: UROKAZ; Review: get one or 2 you won't be sorry.your wife won't go insane like when i lost a diamond off my wedding band going beast mode at gym!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router (WNR1000-100NAS (G54/N150)); Brand: NETGEAR; Review: After dealing with dropping WiFi connection on my macbook pro using a ubee modem provided my TWC I bought this router. Great value for the price. My connection has not dropped since I installed it. Setup was easy and I was able to get online quickly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SROCKER T3 Ultra-thin 2.4GHz Wireless Silent Click Optical Mouse/Mice 3 Adjustable DPI Levels with 4 Buttons and Nano USB Receiver; Brand: Srocker; Review: The mouse feels like a piece of junk. You have to smack it all the time to turn it back on.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Owlee Clawsome Wireless Bluetooth Shower Speaker - Waterproof IPX4-Rated - 3W - Powerful Bass - Handsfree Calling -; Brand: Owlee; Review: Broken on arrival. Turns on and connects to devices but no sound comes out. Returned.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link TL-ANT2405C 2.4GHz 5dBi Indoor Desktop Omni-directional Antenna, 802.11n/b/g, 1.3m/4ft cable; Brand: TP-LINK; Review: Works exactly as advertised; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link TL-WN722N N150 High Gain USB Wireless WiFi network Adapter for PC; Brand: TP-LINK; Review: Works excellent in monitor mode!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link Wireless High Gain USB Network Adapter; Brand: TP-LINK; Review: Works excellent in monitor mode!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spigen C10MS Micro USB Cable - Five Pack individually packaged 3.3ft; Brand: Spigen; Review: Well constrcuted and work excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kinivo BTC450 Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit for Cars with Aux Input Jack (3.5 mm) - Supports AptX; Brand: Kinivo; Review: Broke after a few months; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Timbuk2 Q Laptop Backpack; Brand: Timbuk2; Review: I love this backpack but a serious design improvement could be made by allowing the accessory area to unzip along the top side, middle and bottom side instead of just top and middle.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: BLACKHAWK! CQC Carbon Fiber Dual Rail Accessory Belt Loop; Brand: BLACKHAWK!; Review: I just love the modularity and solid construction of this equipment. I have Blackhawk! products for both my duty and carry pistols, they are just that well-constructed. Nice product, I just don't like the rail... but it comes of w/2 screws so... eh. If thats my worst complaint... its awesome.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SOG Specialty Knives and Tools F06T-K FastHawk Tactical Tomahawk with Molded Nylon Sheath, Black Finish; Brand: SOG; Review: SOG makes great stuff, and this is light, balanced, and sturdy. The construction is such where either holster is fine, though I prefer the holster made of kydex.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outdoor Research Men's Foray Jacket; Brand: Outdoor Research; Review: I purchased these to be able to show up to work in my suit and tie, DRY. It works wonderfully. As well, I can wear them when out in the mountains. The way this designed, I can access my cargo pockets with a minimum of exposure to the elements. Great buy with the matching named bottom, and some gaiters. Then you're set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SureFire MN03 Lamp Assembly; Brand: SureFire; Review: Dropped right in. Perfect. No complaints. Factory part that works as it should. I wish it was so tiny though, as I'm a clutz, and it took awhile to get in into the light. Be that as it may, it works VERY well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SureFire Slip On Red Filter for SureFire Flashlights with 1.125-Inch Diameter Bezels; Brand: SureFire; Review: This adapter I put over my old E2D, to cover the scalloped bezel. It does an excellent job of filtering to red, and protecting my pants from fraying from the bezel. I would recommend that anyone with and E2D that happens to fray their pockets/pants purchase one to protect their clothing, #1, and then provide great Red-Light condition when needed. If the E2D needs to be used to strike, a flick of the finger pops the Filter off. I love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BLACKHAWK! Carbon-Fiber Pistol CQC M-3 Light Carrier; Brand: BLACKHAWK!; Review: This is a well-engineered device with one exception: it can sometimes be a bit slow to release the light when needed in a tac situation. Other than that, very nice, sturdy product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CONDOR Rip-Away EMT Pouch; Brand: CONDOR; Review: I bought this to replace a IFAK with slightly larger pack. When I received the bag, it was more than I expected, both in capacity and versatility. I would recommend this to anyone who needs to treat various surprise trauma/emergency injuries "On-The-Fly," both self-treatment and for treating others. I'm able to fit: -2 QuikClots -6 rolls gauze -6 packs sutures -1 bottle Lydocaine -Many 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 gauze pads, and 4x9 Abd Pads -Finger bandages (dozens) -Nitrile Gloves (dozens) -more and more I ran some red 550 through the top to ID the pull tab and the clip assembly for visibility, and it's perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Surefire SC1 Spares Carrier; Brand: SureFire; Review: As Expected - It does the job. I have a few others, and needed another. Just the right product. It keeps my batteries and my bulb(s) dry and intact throughout rough outdoors conditions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BLACKHAWK! Red Cross ID Patch - Black; Brand: BLACKHAWK!; Review: It's just the right size for an IFAK, and I made several IFAKs for my team. This was the first time I put a BlackHawk! patch on it, but I'll be ordering more for the other guys. Nice size, you can't miss it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Above All Else: A World Champion Skydiver's Story of Survival and What It Taught Him About Fear,; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld Page; Review: Very fast read with the finest message possible. Having been at many of the events in the book it was incredible to find the "rest of the story" even more inspiring than witnessing many of the things Dan talks about. Everyone should read this book. From a mom feeling like the world is just too much because the man just walked out to leave her alone to raise all those children all the way up to a politician who needs to rethink his wicked ways. Scott Keeler said Dan was the first class act ever to walk and he was right. Living up to the standard is probably impossible but Dan gives you the courage to try. If it were required reading in the public school system the country would get back in shape, everyone would be skydiving and fearless, grades would be up, the national debt would be paid down and World Peace would be established. Seriously. Just read the book, start fighting a little harder for yourself and those around you as this book will inspire you to do. Then write a review agreeing with me! packncathy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fabulous Flowers: Create Pretty Paper Blossoms; Author: Anne Akers-Johnson; Review: Klutz (The people who make this one) is a company that takes paper and other simple things and turns them into hours of educational and fun activity. I love this company and have yet to purchase anything from them that did not exceed expectation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Essential Jack Reacher 10-Book Bundle: Persuader, The Enemy, One Shot, The Hard Way, Bad Luck and; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Tom Cruise is the only guy that I will ever see as the main character...even with slight deviations in the description of the main character in the book. I loved the movie so much and raved about it so much my children bought me 3 of his novels for Christmas. Without blinking after reading the first 3 I bought the other books so I could keep reading...they are on my ipad. Reacher is who we all need to be. With the downsizing of America can you live with just your toothbrush? The books did inspire me to start traveling with only my ipad and no suitcases! To Alaska in January! If we can all just become this guy the government will have nothing left to tax and they will have to balance the budget. With no things and no compromise this is who we all want to be. From a girl who lives among people who are the real deal and very much like this guy- just because he is a character in a book does not mean that people just like him are not out there. Most of them are US Army Rangers. Nonstop-all night long reading! I love these books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tripwire (Jack Reacher, No. 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Love this author, love the Characters, love the ideology. Cannot wait to read the next one. Four more words needed...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Wanted Man: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: I love this series. This guy is the answer to everything. No, not Reacher, Child. Reacher is the person we all wish we could be but the author and the ideology is what we are all hungry for. I really need to get baqck to reality where I am fighting a Father and Son that the Navy has backed in taking a Federally Funded asset and made it their own. Child could not possibly put that level of corruption in one of these books. He does come close...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (AUDIO CD); Author: Visit Amazon's John Berendt Page; Review: Georgian's will laugh at the truth in this book! Outsiders won't believe it. There is a reason GA has the population density it does and this book tells you why...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; Author: John Berendt; Review: Georgian's will laugh at the truth in this book! Outsiders won't believe it. There is a reason GA has the population density it does and this book tells you why...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Never Go Back: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: It took me a very long time to understand why Reacher is the hero we are in need of right now. We have military men who are supposed to be protecting us who are more politicians that warriors. The last time I was in a room with a Rear Admiral all I could think was, "you and me dude push ups, right now and your tail is mine." The slovenly officers that are the villains in these books bear a striking resemblance to Navy Officers I have met. Our politicians continue paying themselves while not doing their job. We need a guy like Reacher. I know guys like Reacher. US Army Rangers who defend our way of life and then come home to go to medical school. Then they become missionaries. Guys who don't need a house but do need a standard of excellence that comes from the core of who they are. You probably can find people around you with the standard of Reacher. Bet they need very little and would never run for political office. Only a lawyer would be able to create the twists and cull de sacs that are so close to reality. Love the character, love the tempo, love the words. These books have inspired me to continue in my own quest for what is good and right in the world. Isn't that what literature is supposed to do? Cause us to think about our world and how we can all make it better?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inherit The Dead (Thorndike Press Large Print Mystery); Author: John Santlofer; Review: How did they do this? Best value ever. I found myself looking for our novels by the authors whose style I found most satisfying. Brilliant!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Problem from Hell : America and the Age of Genocide; Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Power Page; Review: Unbelievable, Painful. Should be required reading. For a little old American lady with 5 children this book was extremely difficult to read. The corruption and the behavior of the individuals who are genuinely evil in this book are documentation of how the US cannot place key families in charge of community assets. Not abroad and not on US soil. Especially on US soil and especially when the military and the police are involved in targeting key families that the US. Military is sworn to protect. But what can you do when they take away your home, your business and your ability to feed your children? In America we simply move 2 hours north. I like many in America, used to think it was crazy to learn to shoot a gun and to prepare for when our government imploded and made us vulnerable to outside attack. The worse attack from 9/11 has been the attack form within on our currency and our liberty. From those sworn to protect us. The military should intervene not for personally financial gain but only when needed for safety of people unable to defend themselves. Those who are "prepping" are also working within the system to try to take it back. Just because they are growing crops does not mean they are not acting town hall meetings and voting. This is going to be the quietest revolution ever. We will simply choose sustenance farming and the government will run out of money because we will not have any economy that the government can Tax. Feed your family and buy less Chinese plastic. Perhaps if we held our politicians and our military poltiicans personally accountable for their actions and their placement of madmen like Hussein things like the atrocities in this book would not ever happen. The knowledge that you can be held personally accountable seemed very distant for those who would visit such violence on women and children, Only with personal accountability can we take back our global morality. Appalling book, I cannot believe I read every word...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sugar Alpha: The Life and Times of Senor Huevos Grandes; Author: Roger and Melissa Nelson; Review: Missy may not recall that she allowed my best friend Brenda and I to stay in her trailer at the DZ. Lots of wickedly cool candles every where in Missy's trailer. Roger was every bit the character portrayed in this book. When I met him at a seminar in a hotel room at The Parachute Industry Symposium - his exploits were legend. I did not want to like him. He was after all a "drug smuggler", even if it was just pot. I had children. I had no desire to hang with someone who brought drugs to America. But dang this guy was charismatic. He remembered everyone. He genuinely cared about the success of everyone around him. Positively encouraged younger skydivers to become better by letting us know how good we were to begin with. If you were a parachute packer who wanted to work to provide for your children and wanted absolutely nothing to do with drugs he respected that. He found work for everyone. Not welfare, but a way to make an honest living by giving a piece of your labor in exchange for money to feed and cloth your children. His wife, forever the woman portrayed in the book. Simply beautiful. His children very much a product of two beautiful people who worked very hard for those around them. Knowing (or pretty sure I have encountered) a few of the characters in this book I am certain it is an autobiography with very little deviation from the truth. Missy you are brilliant. (Pretty sure you already knew that.) Thank you for allowing us a few more moments with your father...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rain Dragon Rescue (The Imaginary Veterinary); Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Selfors Page; Review: Hard to find AR books that my son reads. This series is perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lonely Lake Monster (The Imaginary Veterinary); Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Selfors Page; Review: Best series ever!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Griffin's Riddle (The Imaginary Veterinary); Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Selfors Page; Review: Hard to find AR books that my son reads. This series is perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Order of the Unicorn (The Imaginary Veterinary); Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Selfors Page; Review: Hard to find AR books that my son reads. This series is perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: George's Secret Key to the Universe; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Hawking Page; Review: My 11 year old started reading this in class and he needed me to order a copy online so he could read it at home!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Violence of Action: The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror; Author: Visit Amazon's Marty Skovlund Jr. Page; Review: These guys are the guys who can save those unable to defend themselves. Who'd have thought they could write well as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian (Fifty Shades of Grey Series); Author: Visit Amazon's E L James Page; Review: Looking forward to Christian finishing his "side of the story." Loved it! Need more words to publish so filler was needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drums of Autumn; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: I have spent more time investigating words and their meanings and origins, I have learned so much while being drawn into these literary works of art. Words well formed and formulated change people's perceptions and our lives. These books beg that the reader question our world, how power is sought after and retained, what is ultimately good and evil. Not to mention just flat out a rip roaring good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Breath Of Snow And Ashes; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: But for today I will devour all of Diana Gabaldon's words. Thank you Katie for introducing me to this incredible person. Yes, someday I will need to get back to my own life with 5 children, flying airplanes, skydiving, fighting corrupt government, running marathons, snow boarding, scuba diving, working toward world peace, etc. etc. However, in this moment all I hunger for is Diana Gabaldron's next story. This woman is brilliant. (No really, her credentials look nothing like standard for any single career. Those credentials give a minor insight into Diana Gabaldron's ability to organize thoughts and concepts beyond mere mortals capability to understand. Diane Galbadron organizes and conveys those thoughts and concepts to others.) It would appear that she is as diverse and unusual as the stories she draws us into. Encore! Please!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cross Stitch; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: The mood changes and Diana Gabaldron draws you into her story in a manner that I have never felt with any other author. I love to read, devour books with a hunger that few gan imagine. If I could have read faster and inhaled Diana Gabaldron's words and ideas I would have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Written in My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander); Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: My words cannot do justice to Diana Gabaldon's ability. Multiple levels of intrigue and offering the reader an ability to see things from perspectives completely alien to our own personal experience. She tackles everything from injustice to how political machines control people's lives. She invites you into the minds of people that you would not otherwise being to understand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin with Related Readings (Glencoe Literature Library); Author: Benjamin Franklin; Review: What a life! What a temperament! An example we can all work to emulate. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the reasoning behind those who worked to shape our ideals of what is meant when we say American.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Twain Page; Review: Mr. Twain covered centuries of political unrest. He covered concepts of how men are governed and why some capture and hang onto power over other men. Timeless. Ageless. Contemporary. A work that survives centuries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew; Author: Visit Amazon's Annejet van der Zijl Page; Review: An amazing attitude toward life and the trials and tribulations of life. An amazing person. The writer gave us a perspective that can help each of us as we work through life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MacBook Old Non Retina Pro 13; Brand: GMYLE; Review: This is a great case! It fits perfectly and the keyboard cover works great. The other reviews aren't talking about the product, but instead are talking about the seller! The cover is exactly as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adonit Jot Pro Fine Point Precision Stylus for iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle, Samsung, and Windows Tablets - Gun Metal; Brand: Adonit; Review: I want to marry this stylus. It doesn't scratch the iPad like other reviewers have stated. I do wipe down the disc before I use it on occasion though. Like any device, it requires maintenance, but I almost wish I had waited to purchase the Ice Stylus, since that stylus has both a rubber and precision tip like this pen. I have also dropped this numerous times, and the tip has never broken off (although, I did have to get on my hands and knees to find that little disc).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cdyle Headphone Adapter to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Compatible Audio Earphone Headset Aux Dongle Accessorie Charge Connection Converter Audio Adapter,Audio; Brand: Cdyle; Review: Fits my Kindle Keyboard beautifully without interfering with buttons. It's protective, and it's extremely well made. I really like the look. It looks very expensive and neat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Expo Aluminum Framed 18 in x 24 in Black Dry Erase Board; Brand: DYMO; Review: The construction is really good on this dry erase board. It arrived in very good packaging, and the board wipes clean. I got special markers for it. I like it much better than a traditional white board.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 17399 Mini Display Port to DVI 6-Feet Male Adapter Cable for Apple Laptops; Brand: C&E; Review: Fits perfectly with MacBook Pro. I got this to fit to my external monitor, which is a Dell. It's wonderful and works great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Wired Keyboard and Wired Mouse Bundle Pack; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: This keyboard looks great and works even better. The keys are spaced comfortably, and it really does just plug in and go. However, typing on it is super loud. I'm not sure who thought it was quiet, but I am fairly certain people in China can hear me typing. That might be an exaggerating, but it seriously is not the quiet that they advertise. The mouse is great, too. Both are an excellent buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AT&T Jive Music + Calls Stereo Headphones - Purple (EBM01); Brand: AT&T; Review: Work great with iPhone and Android. There is a little button on the microphone for controlling the music. The sound quality is great, and the mic works beautifully with Skype and Ventrilo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: C2G 03130 18 AWG Universal Power Cord - NEMA 5-15P to IEC320C13, TAA Compliant, Black (6 Feet, 1.82 Meters); Brand: C2G; Review: It works! It works so well. Fit my old Dell monitor just fine. Provides electricity like a champion. Fits into the outlet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tripp Lite HDMI to DVI Cable Adapter, DVI-D Connector, 1920x1080 (1080p), F/M (P130-000); Brand: Tripp Lite; Review: It's an adapter that adapts. It works great for what it's designed for. 10/10 would buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SANOXY® New Purple 360 Degrees Rotating Leather Case Smart Cover with Stand and Sleep/Wake Function for Apple iPad 2/3/3 Built-in; Brand: Gedun; Review: Protects the iPad, but the stand portion stopped working properly after a while. I recommend getting something else.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics High-Speed Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable - 3.3 Feet (1 Meter) - Supports Ethernet, 3D, and Audio Return; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: It's a cord that goes from HDMI to micro HDMI and is 3 ft long. Would be great for someone looking for those specifications. Came in a package that didn't make me want to kick a puppy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LE 20.0 M Pixel USB 6 LED Webcam Mic PC Laptop Camera; Brand: TOOGOO; Review: Cheaply made and feels like it will fall apart instantly. Too expensive to send it back, so I will keep it. The LEDs are too bright and hurt your eyes.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Discus 40, Black; Brand: CD3 Storage Systems, Inc; Review: Want to store all of your games in one place without taking up a bunch of room? Do it in this thing! Comfortably stores 40 CDs without bulk. You can write on the top of each partition so you know exacly where each disc is supposed to be.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memorex Mini DVD Starter Kit (32028203); Brand: Memorex; Review: Bought this to store my favorite gamecube games when not in use. Works like a charm. Marker sucks though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Warrantech SmartGuard 3-Year Furniture Protection Plan ($1-$199 Items); Brand: Warrantech; Review: It's a furniture protection plan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TUPEYA Card Reader; Brand: TUPEYA; Review: It stores things. Up to 32gb of things.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yurbuds (CE) Inspire 100 In-Ear Earphones; Brand: Yurbuds; Review: Great for running. Don't fall out and still allow outside noises. I love that these don't have a mic so no one can bother me on runs or while I am at the gym.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gold Plated HDMI to HDMI Mini cable, 1.83 meters, 6 feet; Brand: C&E; Review: It connects what I need it to connect. YAY!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GLCON G-01 Wireless Bluetooth Headset with Mic, Voice Control Earpiece, Caller Number; Brand: GLCON; Review: Now I won't kill my TV when I decide that monsters are not dying fast enough. Also perfect for strapping your phone to your hand when you have had to much to drink. Great for ensuring you don't drop your camera over the side of a cliff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HP 11.6 Spectrum Stream Monarch Blue Sleeve; Brand: HP; Review: Matches my computer perfectly and keeps it protected. Much more padded than anticipated. Great buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung EVO 64GB 48/MB/s Micro SDXC Memory Card with Adapter up to (MB-MP64DA/AM); Brand: Samsung; Review: Works! Will store data.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics 3.5mm Male to Male Stereo Audio Aux Cable - 2 Feet (0.6 Meters); Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Perfect for preventing me from listening to the radio in my car. Doesn't snap like those lightening cables.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Princess (Contemporary Romance); Author: Visit Amazon's Lori Wick Page; Review: Lori Wick is at the top of my list for authors. I can not put her books down once I start.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Unexpected Mother (The Colorado Brides Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Carré White Page; Review: First time I choose Carre White. I loved the book An Unexpected Mother. She had me spell bounded. I will choose her again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Brides of Chance Collection: The Chance Brothers Journey into Romance in Six Historical Novels; Author: Kelly Eileen Hake; Review: This book is a delight to read and I would recommend this book to all my friends. It might be addictve so you so you will want to read the other bride books. Mail Order Mistletoe Brides, A Bride for Noa,and The Christmas Mail Order Bride.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Union Belle (The House of Winslow #11); Author: Visit Amazon's Gilbert Morris Page; Review: I chose this book and the series by Gilbert Morris "House of Winslow" because I think he is an excellent author. I hope to read the intire series. I feel like I know the Winslow family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Bright Tomorrow (Originally A Time to be Born) (American Century Series #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Gilbert Morris Page; Review: This book was very good, I count not put it down until the end. As I have said before Gilbert Morris one of my favorite authors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Avery Address Labels with Sure Feed for Laser Printers, 1" x 4", 500 Labels, Permanent Adhesive (5261); Brand: Avery; Review: Great labels. Exactly as advertised. I always order labels from Amazon now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery Printable Cards, Laser & Inkjet Printers, 150 Cards, 3 x 5, Index Card Size (5388); Brand: Avery; Review: I love these things! Avery's template is perfect. I will never buy these in a brick 'n mortar store again. Amazon's price is always so much better!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rolodex 23420 Wood Tones Desktop Sorter, Mahogany; Brand: Rolodex; Review: Very nice stand. It's very difficult to find printer stands anymore. Needed to create some storage space in a cramped office corner. This stand does the trick. Very nicely made. Holds the weight of my medium-sized laser printer very well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery Heavy-Duty View Binder with 1.5-Inch One Touch EZD Ring, Navy Blue (79805); Brand: Avery; Review: Excellent binder at a great price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Laminationers 6277641 3 Mil Clear Letter Size Thermal Laminating Pouches 9 X 11.5 100 Hot Glossy Thermal Lamination Sheet Laminator; Brand: Laminationers; Review: Great lamination for home laminators. Twice as thick as school laminators. Wish I could find a thinner weight lamination as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cimo [FLEX GEL] HTC One M8 Case Premium TPU Ultra Slim Fit Cover for The All New HTC One; Brand: Cimo; Review: Great case! Its been a while, but I'm seeing some cloudiness on the clear plastic part. Still good for the money though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KAYSCASE Slim Hard Shell Cover Case for the HTC One M8 Smart Phone 2014 Version (Clear); Brand: KaysCase; Review: Slim, hard, and protective. Great deal for the price. Fits nice and snug too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HTC One M8 Case, SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Premium Hybrid Protective Case for All New HTC One M8 2014 Release; Brand: SUPCASE; Review: Probably the best looking case I have, and the most durable. A little bulky though, but its good if you want to take it out for a night and don't want anything to happen to your beautiful M8!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: amFilm HTC One M8 Screen Protector 2014 (Verizon/AT&T/Sprint) Premium HD Clear (3-Pack); Brand: amFilm; Review: A great screen cover for the price. Protects from keys in my pocket and all that junk. And it came with 3!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wireless Charger,Yootech Qi Certified Wireless Charging Pad Compatible iPhone Xs MAX/XR/XS/X/iPhone 8/8; Brand: yootech; Review: Sometimes its hard to find the sweet spot, but once you do, it works exactly as described. Be careful if you have metal in your case for any magnetic vent holders, because the metal will block the Qi from charging.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Roku 2 XS 1080p Streaming Player (Old Model); Brand: Roku; Review: We have two of these, and really like them. Slightly faster than XBMC running on a RasPi B, but the Roku is much more out-of-the-box. Plug it in, connect it to your WiFi or wired LAN and sign in with any paid services you subscribe to. YouTube for Roku is great, and Plex allows you a very slick interface to access and beautifully organize your personal media collection. Plex also allows access to the Unsupported App Store, a collection of channels and streaming torrents that will be familiar to many XBMC users. The Roku smartphone app is very slick, you can easily replace your remote with your phone or tablet (and its nice keyboard) and more. I am tempted to upgrade to a newer model just for the headphone jack on the remote.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung UN60J6200 60-Inch 1080p Smart LED TV (2015 Model); Brand: Samsung; Review: The 'Smart' part of this TV is painfully slow, even moreso than other slow Smart TVs. You will want to refuse to accept all of the Opt-in garbage or the television you paid for will start delivering advertisements. The obvious fix for the poor performance and invasive advertising is to use this just as a video screen and OTA TV, and use external sources like STBs for streaming and cable. Roku, Apple TV, Kodi etc.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alfa AWUS036NHA Wireless B/G/N USB Adaptor - 802.11n - 150 Mbps - 2.4 GHz - 5 dBi Antenna; Brand: ALFA; Review: Bad.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: FiiO A1 Silver Portable Headphone Amp A1; Brand: FiiO; Review: I wanted an intro level amp to put between my Android and a set of mid-level (Sennheiser HD280Pro) headphones. I am running Viper4Android, as should anyone wanting high quality sound from a smartphone. The Droid does a surprisingly good job of driving the headphones, but it distorts at higher volumes. Without the amp, noise overtakes sound at lower volumes, whereas with the amp on, the sound is more full and clean. I am not an audiophile, but I wanted to see for myself whether a small inline amp could make a difference, and now for less than $30, I can say firsthand that yes, they can, an appreciable one. I cannot describe the 3 sound settings accurately because there was no documentation about them. Pressing the power button cycles through them, and they significantly change the bass and treble mix. I'm sold. Now a DAC and a better amp, maybe something I can put dual Telefunken tubes into.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk 64GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card SDSDUNC-064G-GN6IN; Brand: SanDisk; Review: Good card, quick and low cost. This is a good value.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anker SoundBuds Wireless Headphones - Bluetooth Black Water Resist Built in Mic; Brand: Anker; Review: OK so you have used their phone power products and loved them, but how about their audio gear? It is as good a value as you expect. I do not expect vacuum tube audiophile quality from a very comfortable set of Bluetooth earbuds on a cell phone, but these are as close as it gets. Combined with Viper4Android, these will stay in place during long bike rides and treadmill walks. The battery life is great, 4-6 hours for me. Good telephone quality also. This is a very good value for anyone looking for a reliable Bluetooth set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Slammed; Author: Visit Amazon's Colleen Hoover Page; Review: I bought this book on my Kindle because I was looking for something new to read. It was only $2.99 and had over 4 stars. I didn't even read the description. Literally from the first sentence, I couldn't put this one down. I loved it. I finished it in just one day. Definitely read this!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Selection. by Kiera Cass; Author: Visit Amazon's Kiera Cass Page; Review: I loved this book. I can't wait for the sequel, "The Elite" to come out in April. If you don't like shows like the Bachelor, though, you probably won't like this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Siren; Author: Visit Amazon's Kiera Cass Page; Review: I went out on a limb and ordered this ebook after reading "The Selection" and enjoying it. This book was pleasantly surprising. I really enjoyed it. It was unlike any other book I have read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Casual Vacancy; Author: Visit Amazon's J.K. Rowling Page; Review: Such an amazing story full of real and captivating characters. Can the story get a little disturbing? Yes. This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you want a real, well-written look at small-town life - this book is a must-read! Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J.K. Rowling Page; Review: Such an amazing story full of real and captivating characters. Can the story get a little disturbing? Yes. This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you want a real, well-written look at small-town life - this book is a must-read! Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Casual Vacancy 1st (first) Edition by Rowling, J.K. published by Little, Brown and Company (2012) Hardcover; Author: Visit Amazon's J.K. Rowling Page; Review: Such an amazing story full of real and captivating characters. Can the story get a little disturbing? Yes. This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you want a real, well-written look at small-town life - this book is a must-read! Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, parts one and two. [Based on the original new story by J.J.; Author: J K; Tiffany, John & Thorne, Jack Rowling; Review: A great screenplay! No - it's not a novel. Don't go into expecting that or you WILL be disappointed. This made me want to see the play. I loved a look into my beloved characters' future!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Llama Llama Nighty-Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Anna Dewdney Page; Review: My 15 month old daughter LOVES this book. She finds it every night to have me read it before bed. It's her new favorite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Nativity in Black: Tribute to Black Sabbath; Brand: Type O Negative; Review: I found out about this CD roughly 10 years ago and it still gets regular play and is a necessary addition to anyone who is a fan of hard rock and/or Black Sabbath. I really enjoyed some of the spins put on some of the songs and the creativity added that enhanced some of the originals. Some of these songs actually sound better than the originals and most of them tend to hit harder. This is how I have them rated in iTunes and on my iPod based on the 5 star system: After Forever (4) - Great opening song, excellent guitar work. Children of the Grave (4) - Hit it dead on with the update to the original, standout vocals. Paranoid (4) - Sped up considerably from the original, and works very well. Supernaut (4) - Good job on the intro and music, just seems a bit long, but hardcore industrial fans will appreciate it maybe a bit more than I do. Probably a 5 if it was condensed a bit, at 6:42 it just drags by the end. Iron Man (2) - One of Sabbath's classics, just didn't buy this remake with Ozzy. Doesn't really do anything to improve upon the original, but considering the song itself, it's not going to drop too low. Not terrible. Lord of This World (1) - Didn't care for the original much, nor this one. CoC did a good job of not butchering it, I just think it's a weak song to begin with, would have rather seen them do some other songs, as they're a solid band that got their talent wasted with this one. Symptom of the Universe (4) - I really enjoyed this one, it's getting criticism from people on here, the guitar part at the end is vintage and brings it back down, thought it was overall good creative spin put to the song. I generally don't dig the whole death metal voice thing, either. The Wizard (5) - Favorite cut on the album, driving, and i'd say better than the original. The vocals are phenomenal, couldn't have been done any better. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (5) - Probably a close second to the Wizard, this one is amazing as well, and probably another upgrade to the original song. N.I.B. (4) - Classic bassline, vocals could have been a little cleaner and maybe mixed a little better, but not bad at all. War Pigs (Live) (4) - There's another cover of War Pigs on a Faith No More studio album that is worth catching if you enjoyed this one. I like both, it's a hard song to pull off. Black Sabbath (3) - Very well done, a good closer to the album, does justice to the original. Overall, the album gets a strong 4 stars, and i'd recommend it to even casual Sabbath fans. You won't be disappointed, and the price is probably fairly low by now. Rated By Song: 5 Stars: 2 4 Stars: 7 3 Stars: 1 2 Stars: 1 1 Star: 1 Overall: Very Good - 3.7 /; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barenaked Ladies Are Me; Brand: Barenaked Ladies; Review: I rarely write reviews, but this album truly warranted one. This, and Barenaked Ladies Are Men which is the other 14 tracks being released in the second CD next year, could be their best total piece of work, and that's saying a lot considering how amazing this band is. I had the pleasure of seeing BNL in concert a few years back when Everything to Everyone was new, and it remains one of my favorite concerts of all time. I can't wait to see this album added to the live show. This album seems a lot more complete if you listen to the other 14 tracks (and two bonus tracks if you preordered on iTunes) in Barenaked Ladies Are Men along with this, but Barenaked Ladies Are Me stands alone as a great disc. I would liken the second disc to be slightly superior to this one, but this is outstanding nonetheless. The writing is superb, and there's plenty of depth to the lyrics. It's not exactly the same BNL, but I think that's a strength. I've got all the other releases, if I want One Week, i'll just pop the CD in or fire up the iPod. They've matured greatly it seems since their first release and have kept improving. The musicianship is stunning, and Maybe You're Right with the quiet yelling at the end is some of the best i've ever heard from these guys, and i'd rank it up there as one of their best songs, ever. The acoustic version of this CD, All New Revue - Live at the Glenn Gould Studio, is possibly even better, especially if you're a fan of this, and should be picked up for sure. Maybe You're Right might be a little less powerful on the acoustic disc, but the vocalization at the end is worth the price alone. Other strong songs on the album are the opener, Adrift, which has a nice, dreamy quality to it; Bank Job, with plenty of allusions that can be drawn to a story about a bank robbery and fault; Easy with its easy acoustic strumming; Bull in a China Shop, with some good writing and pop quality and horns; Everything Had Changed for its plucking; Take It Back, if not on its merits, at least because it utters the line "Think of all the lives saved by plastic knives"; Rule the World with Love, commenting accurately if not ambiguously on America's epic failures in international policy since 2001; and finally Wind It Up, which is a straight up rock song, or at least about as much of a rock song as you'll get from these guys. It's extremely catchy and well done. I'd put this as a strong buy, it's my favorite release of 2006 without a doubt. And if you do become a fan, the second part to it is going to blow you away, as it's even better. Barenaked Ladies Are Me: 5 Star Songs: 6 4 Star Songs: 4 3 Star Songs: 3 Overall: Very Good - 4.2 / 5; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maroon; Brand: Barenaked Ladies; Review: This may be the least diverse album that BNL has released to date, but that probably is not a bad quality to have considering how broad a stroke they can sometimes paint. This album is chock full of hits and features many great tunes. I especially like Too Little Too Late, Never Do Anything, Pinch Me, Go Home, Falling for the First Time, Sell, Sell, Sell, Humor of the Situation, Off the Hook and Helicopters. Those are all first rate, 5-star songs in my opinion, and for those scoring at home, that also includes the first 5 songs on the album in succession. The rest of the album is just dandy as well, the only remaining song I have rated below a 4 is Baby Seat, which I have at a 3. Sell, Sell, Sell and Helicopters seem infinitely more relevant today than when this CD was released, which is quite sad. I'm pleased to report that the Ladies haven't backed away from its subtle mocking of the despicable Bush regime in later albums; if anything, it's increased, and possibly become even more subtle (see: Shopping on Everything to Everyone). The only complaint I have about the album is that it does seem highly produced, and the sound doesn't seem as crisp as some of their other work. The quality of music itself doesn't really suffer from it, but it just seems muddy at times. There is a lot going on a lot of times in a lot of times, and songs like Pinch Me are a nice change of pace. The rhythms in a lot of songs remain pretty straightforward, but the melodies and harmonies get intricate at times, which may add to the muddiness I described. In closing, this is a great CD, and a great addition to anyone's collection, and for new fans to the band, this is definitely one of the first albums i'd recommend picking up. Longtime fans certainly won't be disappointed, though this is possibly one of the most "pop"ish albums the band has. The writing, as always with BNL is terrific, and the vocals are top notch. Rated by song: 5 Stars: 5 4 Stars: 4 3 Stars: 2 2 Stars: 1 Overall: 4.1 / 5 Very Good "A world that loves its irony must hate the protest singer"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maybe You Should Drive; Brand: Barenaked Ladies; Review: The second album from the Ladies had a few very strong songs on it, but seemed to lack the strength that their later efforts have shown. It may be an unfair standard to put the band against itself when rating it, as this may be a better than average album for most bands, or maybe even great, but BNL has released much stronger albums since making this, with the exception of Born on a Pirate Ship. This is still worth buying, especially for fans of any of their non-radio stuff, but I wouldn't recommend it as the first album you pick up by them if you're new to the band. I don't see an album by BNL that isn't worth buying eventually. Even the Xmas album is worth buying, if only for its sheer amusement factor. Highlights of Maybe You Should Drive include three very strong songs: These Apples, A, and Life, in a Nutshell. Other enjoyable songs on the album are Jane, Intermittently, You Will Be Waiting, Everything Old is New Again, and Alternative Girlfriend. Rating by Song: 5 Stars: 3 4 Stars: 2 3 Stars: 4 2 Stars: 2 1 Star: 1 Overall: Good - 3.33 / 5; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Barenaked Ladies Are Men; Brand: Barenaked Ladies; Review: I bought this album bundled with the first leg ('Barenaked Ladies Are Me') when it was released in the fall off of iTunes and have had the pleasure of listening to both consecutively for many months now. That being said, I feel this is the stronger of the two if a comparison were to be made, though both are fine releases. This album ranges from catchy to sweet to funny to political to thoughtful to downright clever. This is one of the band's most complete albums, and when put together with the fall release, is by far the most enjoyable set i've heard. I would highly recommend this to either new fans or longtime fans of the band, as it seems to have a little bit of everything. Serendipity is a good start to the album and sets it up nicely, as Adrift did on 'Barenaked Ladies Are Me'. When it comes to individual tracks, it's hard to pick out ones to highlight or mention because they're almost all strong in some regard, but my favorites are the aforementioned Serendipity with its calm rhythm, great vocals, and relaxing harmony and guitar work; Angry People, because of the great "doo"s that the Ladies pull off, it's upbeat spirit, good writing, and megaphone action; Running Out of Ink, just because it's fun; Maybe Not, which has quickly become one of my favorite BNL songs of all time with terrific guitars, musical delivery allowing the vocals to shine, and retro clapping (we need more of that from today's music!); Fun & Games, though not as subtle a political statement (think Shopping very subtly ridiculing the Bush administration's downright laughable reaction to 9/11 before the truly tragic reaction began) does have some terrific nut-shelling of the Iraq debacle as well as how obscene the last congress' session was; Quality, just a downright well built song with some interesting writing and catchy hooks; and finally Another Spin, which has a great guitar work but really shines in its vocal display. I am truly pleased with this album and again would highly recommend it to anyone. The band did not put any filler on here, as they don't with most of their albums. I do recommend buying both this and the already released Barenaked Ladies Are Me for maximum enjoyment and to get the full effect. Enjoy! Barenaked Ladies Are Men (2007): 5 Star Songs: 8 4 Star Songs: 3 3 Star Songs: 5 Overall: Very Good - 4.2 / 5; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Battle Born; Brand: The Killers; Review: I enjoyed this album from start to finish as I have with all of the band's previous works. Despite some changes from album to album they maintain a certain kind of sound that I really dig and I always look forward to hearing anything new from them. I found this album to be stronger in the front 9 of the course as opposed to the back 9; Flesh and Bone is a strong opening track and is followed by my favorite song on the album, Runaways. The Way It Was and Here with Me are two more really good songs and the rest of the album isn't bad but seems to tail off a bit. It's not my favorite Killers album, but a worthwhile addition to the rest of their releases and definitely worth picking up if you're already a fan or just are looking for something new for your library. Rated by song: 5 Star: 1 4 Star: 3 3 Star: 5 2 Star: 3 Overall: 3.2 / 5 (Good); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_CDs_and_Vinyl |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Carnation Home Fashions Hang Ease C Type Plastic Shower Curtain Hooks, Black; Brand: Carnation Home Fashions; Review: cheap and they work. actually, considering how cheap, they're great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oster CECOMINOD000402 Replacement Blender Jar Bottom Base; Brand: Oster; Review: Much better quality than the original that came with the blender. Much thicker plastic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Update International BO-7F Stainless Steel Hand-Held Flat Bottle Opener, 7-Inch,Pack of 12; Brand: Update International; Review: Inexpensive, Ok craftsmanship, but took weeks to arrive.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elite Cuisine EHB-1000X Electric Immersion Hand Blender, Mixer, Chopper, 1-Touch Soups, Sauces, Baby Food, Compact Storage, Easy Clean, 150; Brand: Elite Cuisine; Review: UPDATE: I'm in my fourth year of using the SAME hand blender (bought in 2014). I make 3 to 4 smoothies ever week blending frozen berries and bananas, absolutely no problem. Still works like new!! PREVIOUS: I own two of these and have used them to make smoothies for over TWO YEARS!! Both work amazing for the price. Both are still working.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zinus Sculpted Faux Leather Upholstered Platform Bed with Footboard and Wooden Slats, Full, Espresso; Brand: Zinus; Review: Easy to assemble. Great quality for the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cool Ossuary Skull Beer Stein Tankard Skulls; Brand: Things2Die4; Review: Heavy mug. Good finish. Would recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Instant Read Thermometer Innoo Tech; Brand: Innoo Tech; Review: Reads quickly. I like the auto shutoff when you close it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bev Rite Beer Faucet and 4-Inch Shank Kit with Black Handle (2 Pack); Brand: Bev Rite; Review: Worked perfect for my application. Arrived quickly and nicely packaged. Seems to be solid construction. I have not had the leaking or sticking issues others have wrote about. It is still working perfect after about ten gallons thru it. Will be buying another. Update: just purchased my second one of these. First one has had about 25 gallons through it and is still working perfectly after 2.5 months. Good product!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sonic Alert Loud Alarm Clock SBS550ss, Silver and Black; Brand: Sonic Alert; Review: My son is almost impossible to wake up. He sleeps through all the other alarms we have tried. This one does the trick. Very loud and the vibrating puck is super annoying.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kwik-Tek AHP-120 Airhead Air Pump; Brand: Airhead; Review: I bought this for our camper. It works great for inflating and deflating floaties for the pond. Getting to dang old to be blowing up four floaties with just lung power. It is holding up well and is a good value for the money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel des Alpes; City: Champery Portes du Soleil Canton of Valais Swiss Alps; Review: Very welcoming and friendly hotel. The owners Therese and Gustave have succeeded in making guests feel thoroughly at home. My bedroom was small and basic. - but had all essentials apart from a bedside table or shelf. The heating thermostat was turned down for the evening so I was given a portable heater. Generally the hotel was very warm.The bed was comfortable. Shower water hot. Downstairs the bar lounge is very cosy. There is a log fire where I read a book, drank pinot noir and had a snack supper. The bar staff, Marc and Dani were ultra friendly yet professional. Breakfast in the dining room with a mountain view included cheese, fruit, some sort of meat(didn't notice as I"m vegetarian) boiled eggs, yoghurt, wonderful bread,little jams and butters, coffee and tea. I didn't book an evening meal as I don't like eating on my own but diners seemed happy. When I left with rather a heavy suitcase Gustave offered me a lift to the station which is about one minutes walk away. This hotel would not be suitable for people who have difficulty with stairs. Ask for a mountain view if possible. the ski bus stops opposite the hotel and is free.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Falken Wengen; City: Wengen Jungfrau Region Bernese Oberland Canton of Bern; Review: I had a very relaxing stay here. Wiliam B's review is spot on. Was made to feel very welcome by Sina and all the staff as soon as I arrived. We had a welcome drink and then shown bedrooms. Mine was small, delightful,very simply furnished on the fourth floor with a wooden atticy ceiling and wonderous view of the floodlt nursery slopes, ice rink and chalet village below. The shower and loo were compact. The bed very comfortable with crisp white cotton sheets. Downstairs is relaxed with an almost 1940's feel where you can meet with other guests( I had a really interesting chat with the Rep. from the Ski Club of Great Britain who was pouring over weather charts), have a drink,read a book etc. Sometimes a pianist plays in the evenings. There's quite a ski atmosphere with (when I was there) guests from the DHO Club. who are fascinating to talk with. I never really knew what the DHO Club was. The Cova family and all the staff couldn't have been more helpful. I was quite demanding, wanting to use their electrical socket most evenings to charge my mobile. The European one I had wouldn't work in Switzerland. The icing on the cake was Jules emailing after I left to say I had left my ballet flats behind and arranging for a friend of theirs to bring them back to me in England. Food good. I loved the huge buffet breakfast, especially delicious warm bread, which sets you up for the day. In the evening I had a vegetarian meal and felt able to say what I would like. The other diners spoke enthusiastically of their food and the puddings were beautifully presented. We had a fantastic buffet meal on the Friday night.I liked eating by candlelight in the conservatory part of the dining room with a view of the mountains and soon made friends with other guests to chat about ski-ing exploits. In Summary this is a lovely family run hotel with a unique atmosphere where you will feel well cared for. Tips - as the hotel is up a slope wear snow boots in the ski season. Buy a Swiss adaptor for your mobile. The European ones don't seem to work in this part of Switzerland; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Left Bank Saint Germain; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Stayed here for one night and was very happy with the good night's sleep. I had requested a quiet room. It was clean, small, with a very comfortable bed that had crisp white cotton sheets. Delighted to find a proper bath in the tiny bathroom. This is rare in a single room. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful. I ordered the croissant breakfast which was taken in a pleasant dining room. The hotel is wonderfully situated being a second from one metro (St. Placide) and a minute from another, Rennes There were lively restaurants on the corner and a little grocery/fruit shop behind the metro. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Well Country Inn; City: Kinross Perth and Kinross Scotland; Review: Stayed here for one night. The inn has a cosy ambience with a roaring open fire. Bedroom in the modern annexe was very simple, bed comfortable. no wi-fi but there is wi-fi in the inn and you can sit there having a drink or a meal. Very good Scottish breakfast with wonderful porridge. Staff friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alpenhotel Kramerwirt; City: Mayrhofen Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: stayed here for a ski/alpine holiday and loved every moment of our stay. The Kroll family are very friendly and hands on. Their son Mathias, was serving in the dining room. The reception and other staff couldn't have been more helpful. I was particularly grateful to Christina and Josef who helped me with i Pad problem. The hotel has a cosy vibe and is historic with lots of nooks and crannies with comfortable seating. Our 'Junior suite' was spacious and homely. Bathroom had underfloor heating. Food good. Vegetarian options. When I wanted to invite a glutton intolerant friend round for tea the hotel provided delicious home baked glutton free cakes. I had to order these at breakfast time. I liked the the relaxing rooftop spa with mountain views. Although there is a no children, no swimsuit policy( common in Austria and Germany ) the manager of the spa, Lars, provided fluffy white towels you can drape round yourself until you enter the jacuzzi or sauna type areas. There are recliners and a bar for bottled juices and other drinks. Maryhofen is a lively small town, lots of shops. My son said the skiing on The Penken was good. He discovered some new runs. The ski bus leaves from outside the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Larco Hotel; City: Larnaca Larnaka District; Review: Overall enjoyed stay. Ground floor reception area and swimming pool impressive. Bedrooms basic with a few dangling ( but safe) cables and one room with only one working lightbulb. Beds hard but I slept well. rather pokey bathrooms. Staff fairly friendly. The breakfast though adequate didn't look appealing so we ate at a little place nearby on sea front. Our rooms were quiet and it was lovely to have a swimming pool with terrace . Its about a 20 minute walk into town.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Berghaus; City: Wengen Jungfrau Region Bernese Oberland Canton of Bern; Review: I was with a Naturetrek group and found this hotel to be wonderful for our stay. Martina, a co owner with her father, couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. Food excellent. I enjoyed my vegetarian option. We all appreciated getting back to the hotel after a day on the mountains. Comfortable bedrooms. Mine was at the back and had a view of green hillside and grazing cows. No doubt the rooms at the front with snow capped mountain views would have been superb but I was happy to see this from the terrace where dining tables were set out for warm evenings. There is a large well furnished reception room with fireplace, a library of books, pictures and doors onto the terrace. The walk down to Wengen village and the railway station is only a couple of minutes walk; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aretousa Hotel; City: Skiathos Town Skiathos Sporades; Review: Quiet location. close to town centre and only about 8 minute walk to sea. Pleasant looking hotel in a narrow quiet street. Bedroom was good size, bed comfortable, very small fridge. WC bowl a bit stained. Hot efficient shower. there is an agreeable looking patio garden at the back with small tables and chairs. Breakfast room is in the basement. I had a look but decided to eat out at at a sunny cafe in Skiathos Town. Staff friendly and helpful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ARIAT WOMEN Women's Western Cowboy Boot; Brand: ARIAT WOMEN; Review: Seems well made but way too chunky looing and stiff for me. And they seemed to run large. I returned.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Saucony Men's Excursion TR7 Trail Running Shoe; Brand: Saucony; Review: Fits just right. Not too heavy nor weirdly light.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saucony Men's Progrid Kinvara TR Trail Running Shoe; Brand: Saucony; Review: I should have paid heed to other's complaints that the shoe is too tight. I am a woman and I buy Saucony men's because they are slightly wider and more substantial. Not this one! This one fits tighter than the comparable women's sizes. Maybe if you can order it in wide and a half to a whole size larger than usual you will be ok. The shoe is attractive and light, those are the good points (if you like a really light, whispy shoe).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blundstone M Men's BL1316 Winter Boot; Brand: Ralph Libonati Co/Blundstone M; Review: Runs a little small, kind of heavy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Modern Kiwi Solid Sheer Chiffon Caftan Poncho Tunic Top; Brand: Modern Kiwi; Review: I wanted something long and classy that will cover my butt and crotch. I should have paid heed to the pics and another post about same thing! Otherwise, nice material and well made. I so wish I could get same thing but longer!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jessica Simpson Women's Inna Boot; Brand: ; Review: These are akin to authenic motorcycle girl boots, very cool, substantial!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jessica Simpson Karina Satchel; Brand: ; Review: This is a beautiful purse, even better than pic! So impressed by the Simpson line!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Polo Kids Socks for Boys Quarter High with Polo Player (2-12 Years); Brand: Polo Ralph Lauren; Review: Love these! Not too thin and not too hot (FL). Very cushy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leisureland Women's Kimono Satin Robe, Solid Dressing Gown, Knee Length Robe; Brand: Leisureland; Review: Great robe, no complaints!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saucony Cohesion 4 H&L Running Shoe (Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: Saucony; Review: Saucony is completely awesome and worth every penny.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modern Kiwi Helena Printed Chiffon Scarf Caftan Top; Brand: Modern Kiwi; Review: I am giving it one star off because I wanted it to cover my crotch and it does not. I am 5'8", plus sized and with large breasts. Note the model is very thin and small breasted. So if you are as well it may cover your crotch but it doesn't look like by much. Enough room otherwise on my shape, just wish it was longer by 3 or 4 inches. I wear a longer fitted black Tshirt underneath. This top is eye catching and does get LOTS of compliments.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saucony Men's Excursion TR8 Trail Running Shoe; Brand: Saucony; Review: I love these. I'm a woman with wider feet and I always buy the men's saucony. Been religiously purchasing the brand since about 1986 and whenever I have ventured to try another brand I am always disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: "JAI MATA DI" COPPER HEALING BRACELET ~ 3 Metals Formula For Balance & Healing ~ Mother Goddess Mantra Bracelet; Brand: Hands Of Tibet; Review: Very unique and sturdy. Easy to squeeze to tighten and to open back up. Nice, small details. Seems handmade.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SK Hat shop Cute USA Flag Jewel Rhinestone Bling Studs Baseball Ball Cap Hat Adjustable; Brand: SK Hat shop; Review: Great hat. Comfy. Substantial.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: California Costumes Women's Marilyn Costume; Brand: California Costumes; Review: My daughter, who will be MM for Halloween (instead of Elvis, lol) is six years old, is around 4 ft tall and weighs 60 lbs in 1st grade and this fit fine. Albeit we will be hemming it about 2 inches but the waist/top part are most important anyway. By nature of a tie it in the back neckline the upper portion is easily adjustable. Nice, light, and silky smooth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Women's 1 Pack Mini Skirt Leggings; Brand: Javel; Review: Runs way too small. I saw a lot of these in Korea. Maybe they are sized for Asian women??; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: JJF Shoes Fabulous Angel-37K Little Girls Bling Rhinestone Platform Dress Heels Sandals; Brand: JJF Shoes; Review: Beautiful shoes but taking off two stars because there is ZERO give to these shoes. The base is an acrylic-like material, which you cannot tell from pic. It does not bend at all, like wooden heels/clogs that we've all tried to walk in. That makes them not so easy-breezy to wear. Be careful for the little ones.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Cali Women's Rumblers-Hope Float Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Relief!!! A Skechers that actually fits! Great heavens! True love does exist.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women's Rumblers 2 Strap Slide Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I loved the look of these and how they are lightweight. Besides these I also got the Skechers Rumblers - Young at heart ones too (very similar) and this review applies to both unfortunately. Straight up - they run 2 sizes too small! That's the biggest discrepancy I've found in shoe sizing yet. I had to keep looking at the size on the bottom to be sure. Yep, I ordered correctly and it says my size on the shoe. But they fit my neighbor well who is 2 sizes smaller than myself. So I need to give them only one star as they are useless to me. I returned. Their very similar Rumblers Hop Float Skechers fit perfectly though. So strange.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women's Rumblers-Rock Solid; Brand: ; Review: Part of it is too large- the strap in the front hovers above your foot. Believe these reviews. I thought, well I don't have dainty, delicate feet so it will fit just right. Plus, the picture looks normal. Wrong. Your toes will feel sweetly & strangely angelic with a communal licorice halo above. Please get it together on sizing Skechers!! I just returned two other Skechers wedges for running two sizes too small. I'm tired of running to UPS so I'll keep these because at least I can still walk and my toes are not strangled but I'm through with you, Skechy SkeckSkech!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women's Rumblers Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I loved the look of these and how they are lightweight. Besides these I also got the Skechers Two Strap slide ones too (very similar) and this review applies to both unfortunately. Straight up - they run 2 sizes too small! That's the biggest discrepancy I've found in shoe sizing yet. I had to keep looking at the size on the bottom to be sure. Yep, I ordered correctly and it says my size on the shoe. But they fit my neighbor well who is 2 sizes smaller than myself. So I need to give them only one star as they are useless to me. I returned. Their very similar Rumblers Hop Float Skechers fit perfectly though. So strange.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women's Rumblers Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I loved the look of these and how they are lightweight. Besides these I also got the Skechers Two Strap slide ones too (very similar) and this review applies to both unfortunately. Straight up - they run 2 sizes too small! That's the biggest discrepancy I've found in shoe sizing yet. I had to keep looking at the size on the bottom to be sure. Yep, I ordered correctly and it says my size on the shoe. But they fit my neighbor well who is 2 sizes smaller than myself. So I need to give them only one star as they are useless to me. I returned. Their very similar Rumblers Hop Float Skechers fit perfectly though. So strange.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Twinkle Toes: Chit Chat-Prolifics Light-Up Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: We keep buying as she grows and they never disappoint!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Kids Twinkle Toes Heart and Sole Light Up Sneaker (Little Kid/Big Kid/Toddler); Brand: ; Review: We love these!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Twinkle Toes: Chit Chat-Prolifics Light-Up Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: We keep buying as she grows and they never disappoint!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Twinkle Toes: Chit Chat-Prolifics Light-Up Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: We keep buying as she grows and they never disappoint!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Twinkle Toes: Chit Chat-Prolifics Light-Up Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: We keep buying as she grows and they never disappoint!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CowCow Womes Stretchy Tights Red Happy Valentines Day Heart Love Couple Sweet Leggings, XS-5XL; Brand: CowCow; Review: I get so many compliments! These are soft and silky and don't ride up or down. I got the larger one and it fit perfectly (I believe there are only two sizes). I am a muscular and curvy 5'8", 195lbs but the have the feel that I could lose or gain weight and they'd still be good! Recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Twinkle Toes: Chit Chat-Prolifics Light-Up Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: We keep buying as she grows and they never disappoint!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Twinkle Toes: Chit Chat-Prolifics Light-Up Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: We keep buying as she grows and they never disappoint!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JanKuo Jewelry Two Tone Antique Style Round Cocktail Ring; Brand: JanKuo Jewelry; Review: Gorgeous. Looks Art show purchased. Someone wrote that it is crazy big. It's not a small ring but it is certainly NOT hideously large. It is akin to s 50 cent piece in width and I like that but wouldn't have cared if it was even larger, which I was expecting based on that comment. Not cheap looking at all. True to size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VIV Collection Popular Printed Brushed Buttery Soft Leggings Regular Plus 40+ Designs List 2; Brand: ; Review: Love them, nice and soft, do not ride up or down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Cali Women's Parallel Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I really like these. They are substantial, attractive, and a bit funky. They are comfortable other than being just a bit tight. It is my belief that they run a half size smaller than stated so keep that in mind when ordering! That is why I docked a star. I have ordered two other colors though even though they don't sell half sizes and I'm a comfortable size 11 and that's what I ordered. Feels like 10.5 but maybe with time they will loosen up a bit. Even if they don't the tighter fit is not intolerable. I wore them all day yesterday. It's better than being too loose, especially with how high they are. The incline is so comfortable and sure-footed, though. I just can't do flat anymore.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vera Bradley Tote, Classic Black; Brand: ; Review: Top quality. Love how bag will stand up if set down, does not collapse. It would be spectacularly perfect if BOTH interior sides had pockets, but alas, only one side does - 3 generous ones. I wish I could give a half star for this instead of docking a whole star. There is no magnet fixture to help it sta; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MyGift Plus Size Black Crochet V-Neck Kimono Swimwear Tunic, Mesh Short Beach Dress; Brand: MyGift; Review: Above is explanation for the missing star... Other than that this is a cool top with a luxurious feel. Maybe it should cost less though due to the defect. I paid nearly $30. The thick black lines run along bottom, neck line, and through the center (both front and back). They are very silky. The rest in kind of like a fish net style. Nice bathing suit cover up. I'll get out my sewing kit eventually.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bow Dream Ivory Off White Lace Vintage Flower Girl's Dress; Brand: Bow Dream; Review: Adoreable, well made!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VNOX Womens Stainless Steel Huge Domed Round White CZ Rhinestone Crystal Ring,Gold Plated; Brand: VNOX; Review: Love the ring! You CAN see some white beyond the diamonds, see pic, but that's ok with me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VIV Collection Print Brushed Ultra Soft Cropped Capri Leggings Regular and Plus (Sizes XS - 2XL) Listing 1; Brand: ; Review: These are the bomb! AWESOME! So smooth and comfy! That privately sold brand that they are similar to do not have capris, so here's your chance!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kids Dress Sandals Rhinestone Glitter Cutout High Heel Pageant Shoes; Brand: ; Review: They're great, super cute!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CVERRE lace flower rustic Burlap girl baby country wedding flower dress; Brand: CVERRE; Review: Order 2 or 3 sizes up and you're set, this the missing star. Used for a photo shoot, LOVE!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trendsmax Mens Ring 316L Stainless Steel Roaring Lion King Engraved Carved Vintage Party Ring; Brand: Trendsmax; Review: Substantial thing.... purchased as sort of a gag gift for the principal of a school whose mascot is a lion. Looks just like pic. It is a very nice gold color like that of real gold.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MEALGUET Stainless Steel Gold Plated Rectangle Glass Women's Fashion Ring, Black/Green/White/Blue; Brand: Mealguet; Review: Great ring, just as pictured, comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JANE STONE Fashion Costume Jewelry Tree Branch Necklace Choker Collar Necklaces for Women(Fn0738); Brand: JANE STONE; Review: I get lots of compliments. Liked so much I got black, green, and silver. It stays in one place and does not shift around, which I love!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Laundry by Chinese Laundry Women's Beka Thong Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Giving two stars because they are so cute BUT, so tight I could barely slip them on. Strange, because I have the same pair in another print -also same size- and those fit fine. Returning!; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Mountain and the Fathers: Growing Up on The Big Dry; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Wilkins Page; Review: The Mountains and the Fathers is much like the landscape in which it takes place. Like Montana's Big Dry region, this book is big and wide and encompasses a world from horizon to horizon. And that view includes images of a dry and barren landscape, coming of age in a place that doesn't feel your own, the sadness of losing a father, the strength of community, and the harshness of surviving in a place that breaks even the strongest. Not only does Joe Wilkins bring to life Melstone, Montana and its hardened people, but he does it in a lyrical and poetic way. We don't just read of these people and this place. We feel it in the songs he sings with his words. This books feels as much a collection of poems (like his collection "Killing the Murnion Dogs") as it does a memoir. And that is high praise. This is a book to read on a mountainside. A book to read on a front porch. A book to read while driving across the great belly of America. A book to read to your lover. For comparisons, this book sings like James Galvin's "The Meadow." And it looks at ranching similar to Ivan Doig's This Earth House of Sky" or Judy Blunt's "Breaking Clean." Joe has the honesty of Mary Clearman Blew and the lyricalness of Kim Barnes. And his essays end with a punch just like a James Wright poem. Buy this book. You'll love it. You will.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Run: The Murder of a Lawman and the Greatest Manhunt of the Modern American West; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Schultz Page; Review: Lots of great research here, but the story, I found, was only solid. It was enjoyable but at times seemed to lack depth in the narrative. I wanted to live not just in the research and speculation, but in the story. Still, a fine book on a interesting time in the Desert Southwest.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: If Only You People Could Follow Directions: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Hendry Nelson Page; Review: If Only People Could Follow Directions is a short book with short chapters, and those two things help make it a wonderful debut memoir for Hendry Nelson. The quickness of the chapters allows the readers to dive right into a book, to swim right through it. But the power of the book comes from the stunning and powerful personal narrative about a family falling apart due to addiction and mental illness. These ideas hold the reader in its current for hours at a time, pulling us through the chapters until, sadly, we're to the final chapter even though we want to narrative to continue. This book reminds me of another Counterpoint Press book. Joe Wilkins's The Mountain and the Fathers and Hendry Nelson's If Only People Could Follow Directions both possess broken and disjointed narratives where we're always moving forward, always progressing toward some conclusion, but rather than moving in a straight line it's like a coiled snake. There are vertical parts touching and linear parts touching all at the same time, so that even if all the scenes are not linearly connected they are thematically all driving toward a single goal. This technique works so well in both books. Also both books also focus on the loss of the father. And both books have that beautiful, elevated language. A great first memoir by Vermont writer, Jessica Hendry Nelson.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dead Wrestler Elegies; Author: Visit Amazon's W. Todd Kaneko Page; Review: Dead Wrestler Elegies is the book of poetry for anyone who loves professional wrestling or pop culture. But it is also for those who don't love the world of body slams and head butts, those who don't love men and women strutting around the wrestling ring in spandex and war paint. So even if you've never watched a single wrestling match, give this book a read. This is a book for poets. This book was written for those who love the beauty of words on a page as much as the sight of a man flying of the top turnbuckle. For those who want to fall not just into the story of wrestlers dying young (or old), but also into beautiful prose, into thematically connected stories about a son who first loses his mother to divorce and later his father to death and searches for meaning in the ghost of their lives, pro wrestling. A beautiful book by a wonderful poet. We'll be reading much more from W. Todd Kaneko in the coming years. A great debut!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stella Rose: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tammy Flanders Hetrick Page; Review: I am normally a reader of creative nonfiction and poetry. I rarely delve into fiction. But I am glad I made an exception with this book. It had me wanting to read every morning and evening. Each chapter was fast paced and draws the reader in. And the characters all are complex, real, and relate-able. The whole world is well developed. And as a Vermonter, I loved the setting. A great new novel by a great writer. I'm excited to read her next book. Wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Daddy's In Jail; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Curcio Page; Review: A great book, a needed book, a powerful book. Too often we read children's books only about the fun and the pure. But this book talks about an honest and important part of society. The more we can make criminals and former criminals human, the more we can help the kids understand that criminals are still human, still important, still fathers, still vital to families.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On the Burning Edge: A Fateful Fire and the Men Who Fought It; Author: Visit Amazon's Kyle Dickman Page; Review: What a great read. I flew through this book in five days. I loved the tension Dickman built up. I loved the characters he sketched based only on research. I loved the chapters that kept us focused on the tension of each moment. Just a really powerful book. And I was so impressed with how Dickman took a subject I knew just a little about (wildland firefighting) and brought me knowledge and made me understand. And, finally, as a writer, I loved thinking about how Dickman wrote this. I think there is one spot in the entire book where Dickman write something like, "So-and-so maybe did this." All the other spots we see characters in action even while realizing that all this information must be second hand or researched in some other way. And even though Dickman don't repeatedly tell us, "He might have done this," or "Perhaps," or anything like that, still we trust Dickman, trust his voice, trust, most importantly, we trust his deep amount of research. I just loved thinking about how difficult this book must have been to construct but how on the surface the book reads so smoothly and easily.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cat Dancer - Cat Charmer Wand Teaser Toy; Brand: Cat Dancer; Review: This is one of the best cat toys available today. All of my cats love it when I bring out this item. Well constructed with a strong attachment to the felt tail.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good Buddy USA Rawhide Braided Sticks for Dogs, 7 to 8-Inch, 2 Count (Pack of 1); Brand: Good Buddy; Review: My two Shetland Sheepdogs love these rawhide sticks. They are long lasting and flavorful according to the actions of the dogs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pet Factory 72059 Usa Beef Hide Banded Natural Braided Stick, Large/12"; Brand: Pet Factory; Review: Dogs won't touch this rawhide chew. It is smaller than the stated length... more like 10 inches. The braids are not wrapped as tightly as the photo shows and appear to be dehydrated and shrunken. The quality is poor compared to other rawhide chews made in the USA and not nearly as nice as the Good Buddy brand which I buy from Amazon.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate | iCrate Single Door & Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crates; Brand: MidWest Homes for Pets; Review: Good kennel for the money but does have sharp corners which can cut.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Milk-Bone MaroSnacks, 40 oz.; Brand: Milk-Bone; Review: Great treat, the dogs love these snacks.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Purina Fancy Feast Classic Feast Wet Cat Food - (24) 3 oz. Cans; Brand: Purina Fancy Feast; Review: Well boxed and no dented or broken cans! Good job. My three Burmese cats love this chicken dinner entree.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purina Fancy Feast Classic Feast Wet Cat Food - (24) 3 oz. Cans; Brand: Purina Fancy Feast; Review: Well boxed and no dented or broken cans! Good job. My three Burmese cats love this chicken dinner entree.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree; Brand: Catit; Review: Poor design and tips over easily. Kittens were not interested in this device.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Purina Fancy Feast Medleys Adult Wet Cat Food Variety Pack; Brand: Purina Fancy Feast; Review: Cats refused to eat this food. Gave case to local shelter.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: FURminator deShedding Tool for Dogs - Short, Medium or Long Hair; Brand: Furminator; Review: Item returned; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pet Dematting Comb Grooming Undercoat Rake, TPE + PP, 11 Teeth Wide By MIU COLOR; Brand: MIU COLOR; Review: Item returned.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Eva Mendes Just Got Her Hair Done at Supercuts and Documented It on Social Media; Abstract: Eva Mendes Got Hair Done at Supercuts; Category: movies
Title: Eddie Van Halen thinks he developed cancer from sucking on metal guitar picks; a doctor disagrees; Abstract: The guitarist lost a third of his tongue due to mouth cancer in 2000, and is reportedly receiving treatment for cancerous cells in his throat.; Category: health
Title: The new Joy Of Cooking keeps it in the family; Abstract: It's not entirely fair to say that Joy of Cooking is responsible for John Becker and Megan Scott's entire relationship. But it's also not entirely fair to say that it's not.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: San Francisco Bay Area rattled by 4.5 earthquake; Abstract: A magnitude 4.5 earthquake was felt widely in the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday evening at 10:33 p.m., with the epicenter in the Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill areas.; Category: weather
Title: Amy Schumer's Adorable 5-Month-Old Son Gene Gets 'a Million Kisses' During Set Visit; Abstract: Amy Schumer's Son Gets 'a Million Kisses' During Set Visit; Category: movies
Title: First new cheeses in 40 years for trailblazing cheese company; Abstract: Nearly 40 years ago, Marjorie Susman and Marian Pollack began milking eight cows and growing organic vegetables on a small farm in western Vermont. Orb Weaver Farm sparked an artisan cheese movement that's come to define the state's food culture. Now, a new generation is carrying the torch.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Winners, losers from Packers' controversial win over Lions on 'Monday Night Football'; Abstract: The Lions did enough to win in the second half. But in the end, the Packers eked out a 23-22 victory thanks in large part to some of the worst officiating we've seen in a long, long time.; Category: sports
Title: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 14-18, 2019; Abstract: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 14-18, 2019; Category: entertainment
Title: How the Boston cream pie became a beloved dessert; Abstract: A product of the longest continually operating hotel in the United States, the Boston cream pie combines sponge cake, vanilla custard and chocolate icing to form a beloved American dessert.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson Get New Tattoos Hers of a Dagger Through a Bleeding Heart; Abstract: Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson Get New Tattoos; Category: music
Title: Charlize Theron & Margot Robbie Have Some Face Time in L.A., Plus Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Will Smith & More; Abstract: Star Tracks: Tuesday, October 15, 2019; Category: entertainment
Title: Felicity Huffman Is Scheduled to Be Released from Prison on October 27 After Serving 13 Days; Abstract: Felicity Huffman's Release from Prison Set for Oct. 27; Category: news
Title: 50 Delicious Dutch Oven Recipes; Abstract: Put your favorite pot to work with these Dutch oven recipes. The post 50 Delicious Dutch Oven Recipes appeared first on Taste of Home.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Mad About You Star Helen Hunt Taken to Hospital After Car Is T-Boned and Rolls Over in Accident; Abstract: Helen Hunt Rushed to Hospital After Car Gets T-Boned in Accident; Category: tv
Title: 20 Funny Things People in the 1970s Were Totally Guilty of Doing; Abstract: Here are 25 things that we all thought were perfectly acceptable back in the 70s that most of us wouldn't even dream of doing today.; Category: lifestyle
Title: All the details on Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney's wedding, plus more news; Abstract: Get the scoop on Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney's wedding, plus more celebrity news for Oct. 17, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: Pitchman Anthony Sullivan Opens Hemp Farm to Grow CBD for Daughter with Rare Disease; Abstract: He needed to find a replacement for the powerful drugs his 8-year-old daughter had been taking.; Category: health
Title: Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo arrested, facing assault charges; Abstract: Chickillo has been charged with simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. A source told WTAE that the incident involved Chickillo's girlfriend, so it's a domestic violence issue.; Category: sports
Title: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 14-18, 2019; Abstract: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 14-18, 2019; Category: entertainment
Title: 20 Super Successful Musicians Who Got Their Start on Reality Shows; Abstract: Some of the biggest musicians of today got their start on a reality show, like "American Idol," "Star Search," and "The X Factor."; Category: music
Title: Stars who've debuted shocking hair colors or styles; Abstract: See some of Hollywood's wildest and weirdest hair transformations.; Category: entertainment
Title: These One-Pot Pasta Recipes Are the Answer to Quick and Easy Dinner; Abstract: Does dinner get any easier than one-pot pasta?; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Ugly Christmas Sweater Pop-Tarts Add Some Style to Your Breakfast; Abstract: Who invited that llama in a sweater to the party?; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are bringing Archie on his first trip to the US over Thanksgiving; Abstract: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will take a six-week sabbatical with their son amidst an onslaught of media attention.; Category: lifestyle
Title: What Happens to Your Body When You Give Up Alcohol; Abstract: Physically and mentally, you basically become a whole new person.; Category: health
Title: Charlize Theron Says Playing Megyn Kelly Was 'Harder' Than Portraying a Serial Killer; Abstract: Charlize Theron: Playing Megyn Kelly Was 'Harder' Than Playing a Serial Killer; Category: movies
Title: Quiet Riot Drummer Reveals Stage-Four Cancer Diagnosis; Abstract: Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali has revealed that he has been battling stage-four pancreatic cancer since this past April. Since the 2007 death of singer Kevin DuBrow, Banali has been the only member of the band's classic lineup to continue to play with the band. He's also been the group's most consistent band member since 1982. "The original prognosis was very scary," he said in a statement posted to podcast host Mitch Lafon's Facebook page....; Category: music
Title: Former President Jimmy Carter suffers pelvic fracture after falling in Georgia home; Abstract: Former President Jimmy Carter was taken to the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center for "observation and treatment," according to the Carter Center; Category: news
Title: Thanksgiving dishes you can make ahead and freeze; Abstract: You can prepare numerous dishes ahead of time and freeze them for Thanksgiving, easing the stress and making you feel less like a turkey.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Channing Tatum, Jessie J look smitten in Pacific Park date selfies, plus more news; Abstract: Channing Tatum poses for selfies with Jessie J after filing to bifurcate his divorce from Jenna Dewan. Plus, more celebrity news for Oct. 22, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: Kylie Jenner and her bestie get surgery together, plus more news; Abstract: What kind of surgery did Kylie Jenner and her BFF just get together? Plus, more celebrity news for Oct. 23, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: Kate Beckinsale is a knockout in corset dress adorned with white feathers at 'Farming' premiere; Abstract: Kate Beckinsale isn't too chicken to wear head-to-toe feathers.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Here's Every Soup Recipe You'll Ever Need; Abstract: If you're craving a cozy bowl of soup, chili or chowder, you're in the right place. We rounded up all of our favorite recipes. Now, pass the crackers, please!; Category: foodanddrink
Title: We Hope the Ford Bronco Has Taken Notes on the Suzuki Jimny; Abstract: Small but mighty off-road kei-car has us jealous in Tokyo; Category: autos
Title: Chrissy Teigen Gushes Over John Legend After He Misses His Flight to be With Her; Abstract: Grab the tissues! This is a story straight out of a romantic comedy.; Category: music
Title: Unexpected ingredients that go great with eggs; Abstract: Scrambled eggs are one of the simplest ways to use an egg, but there's no better way to demonstrate its versatility than by mixing in these add-ins.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Celebs celebrate Halloween 2019; Abstract: Here's how the stars dressed up while celebrating Halloween this year!; Category: entertainment
Title: Which Royal Wore It Best?; Abstract: Consider this classiest version of "who wore it best?" you've ever read.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Ben Affleck Visits Ex Jennifer Garner's House After Relapse: 'He Owned His Mistake,' Source Says; Abstract: Ben Affleck Visits Jennifer Garner's House After Sobriety Setback; Category: movies
Title: J.J. Watt has sobering quote after season-ending injury; Abstract: The Houston Texans lost the rock of their team for the season during Sunday's win over the Oakland Raiders. Stud pass rusher and future Hall of Famer J.J.; Category: sports
Title: 'Rich Kids' Stars Morgan Stewart and Brendan Fitzpatrick to Divorce After 3 Years of Marriage; Abstract: ET confirmed earlier this month that Fitzpatrick is now dating 'Bachelor' alum Amanda Stanton.; Category: tv
Title: Cranes remove bus partially swallowed by Pittsburgh sinkhole; Abstract: A bus that was partially swallowed when a sinkhole opened during morning rush hour in downtown Pittsburgh has been removed from the hole. Authorities said earlier Monday that two cranes arrived to remove the city bus.; Category: news
Title: These 15+ Recipes Will Take Your Thanksgiving Turkey To The Next Level; Abstract: Bird is the word.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2019; Abstract: See what the stars were up to during the last week of October.; Category: entertainment
Title: Family wins Halloween with Fyre Festival-themed costumes; Abstract: Since 2016, Rachel and Matt have been dolling up their 5-year-old daughter, Jada, as different pop culture figures, which have taken the internet by storm due to the spot-on costume design and clever photo editing by Rachel, who runs RaeTay Photography. Matt Taylor and his daughter Jada in their Narcos-inspired Halloween costumes.; Category: lifestyle
Title: NFL Week 9 Power Rankings: More ammo for Belichick as greatest coach ever; Abstract: Doug Farrar offers up myriad surprises in Touchdown Wire's Week 9 NFL Power Rankings.; Category: sports
Title: Celebrity Halloween costume fails; Abstract: Check out the stars' biggest Halloween costume fails.; Category: entertainment
Title: Classic Recipes Your Grandmother Always Had on the Table; Abstract: If there's one thing we've learned, it's that you never leave Meemaw's house hungry or empty handed.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Where have Cape Town's great whites gone?; Abstract: Shark spotters say Cape Town's world-famous great whites have disappeared. So where have they gone?; Category: video
Title: Heidi Klum Gushes About Husband Tom Kaulitz: 'For the First Time I Feel Like I Have a Real Partner'; Abstract: Heidi Klum Gushes About Husband Tom Kaulitz and Newlywed Life; Category: entertainment
Title: 15+ Easy Ideas For Christmas Pork Roasts; Abstract: You can't serve the same thing you did last year.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 30 Comforting 13x9 Casserole Recipes for Christmas Breakfast; Abstract: For a comforting start to your holiday, try one of these Christmas breakfast casserole recipes. The post 30 Christmas Breakfast Casseroles Made in a 13×9 Pan appeared first on Taste of Home.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Ellen Scares Halsey Into Confirming Relationship With Evan Peters: Watch; Abstract: It's official: Halsey and Evan Peters are dating, as the singer confirmed once Ellen DeGeneres gave her a good scare.; Category: music
Title: Latest Australia shark attack sparks tourism concerns; Abstract: Tourism operators want aerial shark patrols to be introduced in Australia's Whitsunday Islands as they try to stem falling visitor numbers following a spate of attacks along the Great Barrier Reef.; Category: travel
Title: Best celeb Halloween makeup; Abstract: Check out the stars' best Halloween makeup over the years!; Category: entertainment
Title: Adele Has Been 'Incredibly Dedicated' to Her New Workout Routine: Source; Abstract: Adele Is 'Incredibly Dedicated' to Her New Workouts: Source; Category: music
Title: The 50 Best One-Hit Wonders of All Time; Abstract: Not every successful artist stays successful. Here are the best one-hit wonders from the 1950s all the way through the 2000s.; Category: music
Title: Have a little piece of extra skin? Everything you need to know about skin tags; Abstract: Are skin tags dangerous? How do you get rid of them? Doctors explain what you need to know.; Category: health
Title: Amelia Bambridge: Body of missing backpacker found in sea; Abstract: The body of a 21-year-old British backpacker who went missing after a beach party on a Cambodian island has been found, according to the charity assisting her family.; Category: news
Title: Grey's Recap: Till Death Do Us Part; Abstract: Warning: The following contains frightful quantities of spoilers for Thursday's Halloweenderful Grey's Anatomy.; Category: tv
Title: Why President Trump's kids are probably celebrating his move to Florida; Abstract: The No. 1 reason billionaires decide to move.; Category: finance
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Stars turning 50 in 2019; Abstract: Find out which celebrities are celebrating the big 5-0 in 2019!; Category: entertainment
Title: 24 Throwback Photos of Kendall Jenner That Prove She Was Destined to Model; Abstract: She's walked the runway for countless designers and is a regular on the pages of Vogue clearly, it was fate; Category: tv
Title: 50 Thanksgiving Appetizer & Dip Recipes That Won't Spoil Your Appetite; Abstract: Great! You're all done making Thanksgiving dinner. Oh wait, the appetizers…; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Our 41 Favorite Fall Cakes; Abstract: Sure, there will be pie. But first, let's make cake.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 24 Throwback Photos of Kendall Jenner That Prove She Was Destined to Model; Abstract: She's walked the runway for countless designers and is a regular on the pages of Vogue clearly, it was fate; Category: tv
Title: Thanksgiving map shows each state's most-searched recipe; Abstract: Wait, nobody said "wine"?; Category: foodanddrink
Title: The 15 Best Hairstyles With Bangs to Try Right Now; Abstract: Take a cue from some of your favorite celebs.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Here's What to Cook This Week (November 4 to November 10); Abstract: Variety is the spice of life. That's why this week we're looking to create culinary magic with at all the amazing ingredients beyond our go-to favorites. We'll be swapping swordfish for salmon, havarti for cheddar, and tempeh for tofu here's everything you need to cook dinner this week.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Kate Hudson and Brother Oliver Share Sweet Tributes to Each Other as They Launch Their Podcast; Abstract: Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson Announce Sibling Revelry Podcast; Category: tv
Title: Felicity Huffman Smiles as She Begins Community Service Following Prison Release; Abstract: The 56-year-old actress was released from prison last month.; Category: news
Title: Kaitlynn Carter Recalls Falling in Love With Miley Cyrus in Candid Essay; Abstract: The reality TV star reflects on their romance in a piece for Elle. She also writes, ''I still don't feel like I'm in a place to label my sexuality one way or another, but I'm okay with that.''; Category: tv
Title: What Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson Told Each Other After Patriots-Ravens; Abstract: Tom Brady offered credit where it was due Sunday night in Baltimore. The Ravens handed Brady and the Patriots their first loss of the season in Week at M amp T Bank Stadium. The primetime; Category: sports
Title: The 3 Things Ina Garten Always Has in Her Freezer; Abstract: And one of those things is vodka.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Lululemon Is Having a Quiet Pre-Black Friday Sale Right Now; Abstract: The ever-popular leggings are nearly 60% off.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Celebrity PDA of 2019; Abstract: See the stars kissing and hugging on the red carpet and out and about!; Category: entertainment
Title: 10 Facts About Your Favorite Thanksgiving Foods; Abstract: From sides to desserts, here are some facts you should know about the dishes on your Thanksgiving table.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Christopher Dennis Dies: 'Hollywood Superman' And Frequent 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Guest Was 52; Abstract: Hollywood Boulevard is in mourning for a lost superhero following the death of the man known as Hollywood Superman, who frequented the Walk of Fame tourist attraction.; Category: entertainment
Title: Easy Christmas Cocktails to Impress Your Guests; Abstract: Cue the cozy fire and fuzzy slippers.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 81 Bean Recipes You'll Be Making All Year Long; Abstract: What's for dinner tonight? These 55 great recipes for beans.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Andy Cohen Says He Lost 12 Pounds in 3 Months By Simply Cutting Out Booze; Abstract: Andy Cohen revealed that he lost 12 pounds in three months while co-hosting "Today" with Hoda Kotb. "This summer, I had a moment where I was like, I really felt like my suits were getting tight," he said.; Category: health
Title: Celebrity mug shots; Abstract: Check out the best celebrity mug shots of all time!; Category: entertainment
Title: All the details on Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney's honeymoon, plus more news; Abstract: Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney honeymoon in Indonesia, plus more celebrity news for Nov. 7, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: Henry Golding assumed costar Matthew McConaughey 'hated' him the first time they met on set: 'My world just imploded'; Abstract: During an appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," the "Last Christmas" actor spoke about filming an upcoming Guy Ritchie movie.; Category: movies
Title: It's Not Your Imagination, Brussels Sprouts Really Do Taste Better Now; Abstract: Years of good, old-fashioned plant breeding have helped make this unfairly-disliked veggie tastier.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Chrissy Teigen Apologizes for Her 'Tone Deaf' Joke About Her Mom; Abstract: "I'm sorry and I will do better to not be such an a------."; Category: tv
Title: Stella McCartney Deleted a Meghan Markle Instagram Post After Followers Called Her Out; Abstract: Stella McCartney deleted a photo of Meghan Markle on Remembrance Day following backlash from Instagram followers.; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Chezmoi Collection Gitano Jacquard Patchwork 7-Piece Bedding Set, California King, Multi Color; Brand: Chezmoi Collection; Review: This bedding is beautiful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chezmoi Collection Gitano Jacquard Patchwork 4-Piece Window Curtain/Drape Set with Sheer Backing, Multi Color; Brand: Chezmoi Collection; Review: We painted our room grey and burgundy, but needed a bit of color. These accent the room perfectly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Laura Daybed Set; Brand: Karin Maki; Review: This is a very high quality bed set. It fits perfectly into her room. And it goes with her vintage feel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Household Essentials C26512-1 Glidez Under Sink Sliding Organizer | Pull Out Cabinet Shelf | Chrome | 12.5 Inches Wide; Brand: Household Essentials; Review: This is one of the best under cabinet products I've ever bought! LOVE IT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WhiteClassic Luxury Washcloths for Bathroom-Hotel-Spa-Kitchen - Circlet Egyptian Cotton - Highly Absorbent Hotel Quality Face Towels; Brand: White classic; Review: very nice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Luxury Hotel & Spa Bath Towels, 100% Cotton, Extra Large, 30x56 Inches, Set of 2, White,; Brand: White classic; Review: very nice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Luxury Hand Towels for Bathroom-Hotel-Spa-Kitchen-Set - Circlet Egyptian Cotton - 16x30 Inches - Set of 6 (White); Brand: White classic; Review: Great quality; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyzrz Cute Fashion Cotton Flirty Red Aprons for Women Girls Vintage Cooking Retro Apron with Pockets for; Brand: Hyzrz; Review: She loves it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hamilton Beach 49980A Coffee Maker, Single Serve, Black/Stainless Steel; Brand: Hamilton Beach; Review: The best coffee maker I've ever owned!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mermaid Blanket Knitted Mermaid Sleeping Bag Warm Cozy Soft Mermaid Tail Blanket Pattern Women Fashion Crochet Sleeping Blanket Tail Blanket; Brand: Kpblis; Review: My sister loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bicycle Pizza Cutter - Original PIZZA WHEELIE - Dual Stainless Steel Bike Wheels- Includes Kitchen Display Stand; Brand: Digs Things; Review: Great surprise for my hubby; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh Airport; City: Moon Township Pennsylvania; Review: This hotel needs an overhaul! The room furnishings were tired, the cleanliness was suspect and the wine I was served in the bar tasted like vinegar. That said, at least the cookie was warm and the front desk staff pleasant, but overall a bad experience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Seneca Clemson Area; City: Seneca South Carolina; Review: This hotel is very new and as a result, extremely clean and in good working order. The fitness facility is well equipped and the complimentary breakfast provided an array of choices all of which were fresh and well-presented; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton DuBois; City: DuBois Pennsylvania; Review: The DuBois Homewood Suites is a very new facility and as such is in very good condition. The suite was clean and everything in good working order. The fitness center is spacious and well equipped. The only disappointing element of my stay was the breakfast. The food service area was a total mess and many of the food items needed to be replenished but no one was around to fill them. I ended up eating dry granola and coffee. Blah!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmericInn Lodge Suites Beaver Dam; City: Beaver Dam Wisconsin; Review: We were very pleased with the AmericInn in Beaver Dam. The facility was very clean and everything in our room was in good working order with the exception of the hair dryer. When we reported the problem to the front desk, the maintenance technician came within minutes and replaced it. The staff was very pleasant. The breakfast area was clean and well-presented and the fitness center equipment was well maintained. Excellent value for the money. We will certainly stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Cincinnati NE Red Bank Road; City: Cincinnati Ohio; Review: My husband and I were in Cincinnati for one night and stayed at this brand new and nicely appointed facility. Given the recent construction, all of the new conveniences were available (e.g., multiple USB ports throughout the room, dimmable lighting, etc.) And of course all of the fitness center equipment was in good working order and the overall appearance of the facility was fresh and up to date. My only complaint was the front desk service. The woman appeared very disinterested in helping us and was never at the front when we came or went, causing us to have to wait for any assistance when needed. A more attentive front desk assistant would have made this a perfect visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Burlington; City: Burlington Ontario; Review: The facility is well maintained and staffed by friendly and attentive personnel. I stayed for almost a full week and to the person, every staff member I encountered was pleasant and helpful. My room was clean, the restaurant was enjoyable and the fitness center was fully operational. (Which in most hotels is not the case!) I definitely recommend this facility.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Shaker Mill Inn; City: West Stockbridge Massachusetts; Review: A group of six college friends/sorority sisters stayed at the Shaker Mill Inn for two nights. Some of us have not seen each other for almost 50 years! Bob and Mary are terrific inn keepers. They're available when needed with helpful advice and delightful attitudes. Everything one would ever want or need is provided at Shaker Mill Inn. My room had two wide steps going up to bathroom and kitchenette, which would not be good for people with vision or balance problems. The breakfast was placed in the room's refrigerator and consisted of orange juice, quiche, which can be heated in the microwave, muffins and pastries, cofee, tea and hot chocolate. Also microwave popcorn for watching tv or movies. There is no central dining room, guests eat in their rooms or patios/balconies. Inn Keeper Bob told us that he would deduct $7 per day from our room fee if we did not want to eat the provided breakfast, but he needed advanced notice so that he did not stock the refrigerator. We had a wonderful reunion and look forward to a repeat visit to Bob and Mary at the Shaker Mil Inn; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inn on the Square; City: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts; Review: We read reviews that this inn could be noisy, so we requested a quiet room and was given one in the cottage, not the main inn. The room was very quiet, the toiletries top quality, and the beds/bedding very, very comfortable. We had breakfast at Percy's, which is right in the main building and the breakfast selection and quality was excellent. We will return to this inn when our travels take us back to the cape. Special kudos to the hospitality of manager Brenden. Btw, we booked via name-your-price at Priceline and feel that we won the lottery by being placed at the inn on the Square.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Denver Highlands Ranch; City: Highlands Ranch Colorado; Review: We had a 2-bedroom suite which was perfect for two friends. Our suite was very clean, comfortable and well taken care of by the cleaning staff. The breakfast buffet offered a wonderful variety of cold and hot foods and it was staffed by two very gracious and helpful people. The staff at the front desk was very helpful and friendly. Lastly, the location of the hotel was perfect for us as it was within 5 miles of our friend's home, the light rail station, shopping for necessities, and restaurants. If I return to the area I plan to schedule my trip around the hotel's availability.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wellington Resort; City: Newport Rhode Island; Review: My husband and I stay at the Wellington every year. Often we have company stay overnight for a couple of nights. The staff is very helpful and friendly, the 2 bedroom apartment is huge and spotless and even includes a clothes washer and dryer. The location of the Wellington is wonderful, within walking distance to everything (we're walkers), and yet it's on the quiet end of Thames St. And although there is no stove, there are small appliances and full size fridge. Most days we eat out once a day and prepare the rest of our meals in the apartment. The rate is $350 per night in the fall and when you consider all that you get for that fee, it's a very moderate price to pay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Cobleskill NY; City: Cobleskill New York; Review: My husband and I stayed at the Super 8 in Cobleskil, NY and were glad we chose that motel. We had a king size room, which was quite large and had a nice sitting area. The room was clean and quiet but the bed was a bit hard. The front desk staff was efficient and friendly. If we're ever in the area again, we would return to this motel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Cortland; City: Cortland Finger Lakes New York; Review: My husband and I stayed here for a recent SUNY Cortland Alumni Reunion and was very pleased with the hotel. I've stayed at several other properties for previous alumni reunions and this is the best so far. The rooms were clean, beds and pillows VERY comfortable, staff very accommodating and the breakfast had a good variety of items. Other reviews mention snacks, but I did not see any served. Tess took my reservations and we spoke several times on the phone for adjustments to the reservation and room requests. She is very, very efficient and pleasant to work with and she remembered my name.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Newport Middletown; City: Middletown Rhode Island; Review: The Hampton Inn in Middletown is well located for all activities in the Newport area. We stayed there last weekend and had an excellent experience. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the rooms and public areas very clean, and the breakfast offerings were beyond expectation. We will stay at this hotel in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarion Inn; City: Seekonk Massachusetts; Review: My husband and I stayed many nights at the Clarion during the past two months while we were on a death vigil for a family member. The staff were wonderfully sympathetic and empathetic to us and our needs. We had a favorite room that we reserved whenever we could get it and our "extra 3 pillows" were usually in the room when we checked in. The room(s) are comfortable and clean, beds are very comfortable, and, when in the room, you can't hear sounds from other rooms or in the hallway. The breakfast choices are more than ample with hot and cold choices. It is a "complimentary" breakfast, not a "continental" breakfast. The breakfast room is clean and well hosted by the 3 women who work there. Silvia is the general manager and she and her staff are very efficient, tending to every request in a timely fashion. We look forward to returning to the Clarion under happier circumstances.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Mystic; City: Mystic Connecticut; Review: Room was very large with a sitting area including microwave, coffee maker and fridge. Bathroom had spacious vanity and all the amenities one could desire. Room seemed to be sound proof since I didn't hear anyone in hallway or adjoining rooms. Breakfast had something for everyone and was very ample in pleasant surroundings. The only reason I didn't give a rating of 5 is because my room did not have a clock and when I requested one, I did not get it nor did I get a message not to expect it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Providence Seekonk Inn; City: Seekonk Massachusetts; Review: The hotel is well kept, clean and very friendly staff, clean. The room was well appointed with furnishings (desk/chair, sitting chair) microwave and fridge. There are hot and cold choices at breakfast and the breakfast room is well maintained.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gorges Grant Hotel; City: Ogunquit Maine; Review: I've stayed in many different lodging venues between Kennebunkport and Ogunquit and Gorges Grant is the best yet. The staff is very friendly, welcoming, and efficient; the property is spotless (public rooms and bedroom), and location is great. The beds and pillows are very comfortable and the sound proofing is excellent. I could not hear anything from nearby rooms. I intend to make this my "go to" hotel for the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Eagle View Mara Naboisho; City: Maasai Mara National Reserve Rift Valley Province; Review: Basecamp's Eagle View provides the most perfect safari experience possible in the Mara Naboisho conservancy. The entire setting is spectacular with the main lodge area and all of the tents situated on an escarpment looking over a valley and watering hole teeming with wildlife. The tents are extremely beautiful and comfortable with all of the comforts that one could want. They are private and relaxing and the entire camp is built on eco-friendly, sustainable principles. The family tents have an annex down a pathway that sleeps two, with it's own viewing platform and another private bathroom. They are very much like a treehouse- fantastic! The staff is kind, warm and very accommodating. They were extremely solicitous of my elderly mother and took great care of her on our visit a few weeks ago. They were equally kind and welcoming to our young daughter. This was our second visit to Eagle View in the past 7 months and the reason for our return aside from the lovely tents and setting is the guiding staff. They are amazing. We had the most incredible experiences with our guide, Derrick. He is thoroughly kind, smart and giving and loved nothing more than sharing his deep knowledge of the Mara with us. We also had a wonderful experience with Big Moses on our prior trip and have the utmost respect for him as a guide as well. The Basecamp staff in Nairobi organized our flights and transfers and made the entire trip so easy. They are highly competent and extremely reliable. The askari guards were kind and helpful and kept us safe. The wait staff was very solicitous and supportive and work long hours to satisfy the guests. Eagle View really couldn't be more perfect. We have also stayed several nights at Basecamps' nearby Wilderness camp which is more rustic and remote. It provides a different experience that is equally captivating with songs and dancing by the fire, wonderful food, and lovely tents. You cannot go wrong in either of these amazing places.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ngong House; City: Nairobi; Review: Ngong House is a serene oasis with lovely, comfortable and interesting rooms- in various shapes and sizes. The treehouses are fun and unique; the suite is easy and convenient; the log cabin is beautiful and spacious with room to play (bar, pool table) and our favorite- the cottage is pretty, relaxing and private. The attentive, kind and welcoming staff take great care of the guests, while the owner, Paul, is a gracious host, welcoming all to a fireside cocktail each evening. The delicious food is plentiful and artful-- served in various locations on the grounds at your own private table. The drivers took great care of us from the moment we arrived and drove us all over Nairobi and Karen at various hours. We can't say enough about the kind and helpful staff. They were equally comfortable helping my elderly mother and our young daughter. The on-site Penny Winter boutique is not to be missed with amazing jewelry and lovely clothing. We've stayed here twice in the past 7 months and hope to return many more times. There really is nothing quite like it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Scots Hotel; City: Tiberias Galilee Northern District; Review: The hotel's setting on the Sea of Galilee is very beautiful and the grounds are lovely. The antique buildings' rooms are pretty and spacious. Unfortunately, our rooms in the new building were quite disappointing. Our 2 "deluxe" rooms were dark and minimally comfortable, with several things breaking (safe, door key, etc). There are lights in the bathroom that can't be turned off. And there are a number of signs in the room about things you shouldn't do. Seemed odd and off-putting. The hotel wifi is not up to the task when hotel is nearly full. Waited over 24 hours for a connection- and felt lucky to connect at all. That may sound demanding- but when you are traveling for weeks, hotel wifi is your lifeline to home and your connection to the outside world. Restaurant food and service was very nice. Room service food was not nearly as good. The hotel staff overall was very nice and responsive- with exception of bartender for some reason. Gorgeous hotel overall- but be sure to get a room in the antique buildings.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The American Colony Hotel; City: Jerusalem Jerusalem District; Review: An incredible hotel in one of the most interesting and beautiful cities in the world. We felt welcome and valued as guests from the moment we arrived. The rooms are gorgeous, spacious and bright. Our group of 4 had 3 rooms in the Palm House. The 2 classic Pasha rooms were lovely and the Deluxe Pasha room was spectacular with an outdoor space as well. The service from staff including bellmen, room service, front desk, and maintenance was excellent. The food was excellent and the bar snacks and cocktails divine. Would have preferred to never leave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kuychi Rumi; City: Urubamba Sacred Valley Cusco Region; Review: This lodge is quiet and beautiful in the most incredible setting near Urubamba. It's not really possible to describe how beautiful it is from the landscaping- trees, flowers, the mountain towering over it, and the casitas themselves tucked away each with enough space and privacy. It's an amazing place. Adding to the feeling of tranquility is Johan, the manager, who is constantly thinking ahead and anticipating your every need. He was instrumental in planning our trip- with informed advice at any point we needed it. He is kind and welcoming- as is the other staff who came to light a fire for us, served us breakfast, and fulfilled many other needs of our family. Johan provided perfect restaurant recommendations (Urubamba has some lovely restaurants), helped us with transportation to and from town (even jumping on his motorcycle to help us out in a jam!) and kept track of us well enough that we always felt we had someone looking out for us. He truly made our experience in the Sacred Valley much more personal and enjoyable. We would return in a heartbeat and can't recommend Kuychi Rumi highly enough.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel B; City: Lima Lima Region; Review: The Hotel B is small and elegant, in a gorgeous old building that has been restored and filled with the most amazing art. It really is incredible. The staff is extremely kind and attentive. The bar, restaurant and extravagant breakfast were wonderful. We loved the food and the Pisco Sours in particular. The location is perfect for walking around the interesting area of Barranco. The rooms are comfortable with everything you need for a home away from home. We were very sorry to leave after 3 days and would love to return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel; City: Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu Sacred Valley Cusco Re; Review: We loved this hotel so much- we really didn't want to leave. We had 2 rooms- one suite with plunge pool and outdoor living room (amazing!) and one jr. suite that was also comfortable and pretty. Our room was extremely spacious and so comfortable. We had the best night sleep while in Peru right here at Inkaterra. The bathrooms are luxurious, and the setting is extremely beautiful in the cloud forest. It is laid out so the rooms have a level of privacy that is very pleasing. The service was wonderful, the staff very kind and the little boutique is lovely. We thought the food was excellent and the restaurant staff were very attentive and kind. We also enjoyed our visit to the Spectacled Bears and watching the incredible variety of birds everywhere. We can't recommend this hotel highly enough. It was a true delight and we would be thrilled to return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belmond Palacio Nazarenas; City: Cusco Cusco Region; Review: The Palacio Nazarenas location is perfect- on a quiet and pretty square near the center of town. The hotel is extraordinarily beautiful and quiet. The historic details are woven in to the environment in the most lovely way. The staff was extremely kind and the accommodations were incredibly comfortable and lovely. The hotel was so beautiful and our rooms were perfection. We were upgraded to the Palacio Suite with connecting rooms so my elderly mother and our daughter would be with us. We had booked an Inca Studio Suite and a Deluxe Studio Suite, so we were very surprised to find ourselves in the Palacio Suite with a shared living room. It was wonderful in every way. The oxygen-enhanced room helped us to sleep well. The restaurant and bar served delicious food and drinks. The bathrooms are extremely luxurious. We appreciated the attentiveness of the staff and we felt very sorry to leave after only 2 nights. We also had dinner at the sister property, The Belmond Monasterio (right next door) and the staff there were easily able to charge it to our room. They were equally kind and solicitous and we appreciated their welcome. The Palacio Nazarenas must quite literally be one of the loveliest hotels in the world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Casa del Arzobispado; City: Cartagena Cartagena District Bolivar Department; Review: The Casa del Arzobispado is a lovely, peaceful haven from the heat of Cartagena. The staff are kind and helpful and the hotel is beautiful. Our rooms were lovely- beautifully decorated with period decor and all the modern comforts. The pool is very pretty and the attached cafe was great for breakfast, lunch, dinner and lots of drinks. We will be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Casa Obrapia; City: Havana Ciudad de la Habana Province Cuba; Review: We did a two week tour of Cuba staying at homestays. Casa Obrapia was one of the best we stayed at. It is in an excellent location for exploring the old town, was clean, had a comfortable bed in a large room and had hot water. Highley recommend this homestay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airport Palms Motel; City: Christchurch Canterbury Region South Island; Review: We were pleasantly surprised with our stay at the Airport Palms Motel. The decor was very modern and the room had everything we needed to make the stay very enjoyable. It also had the extras such as a plunger with a nice selection of teas and coffee's plus full cream and skinny milk, electric blankets and bath salts in the bathroom to use in the exceptionally large spa bath. Management have got it right at the airport palms!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Peppers Bluewater Resort; City: Lake Tekapo Mackenzie District Canterbury Region South Island; Review: We checked into the standard room which we expected to be small after reading the reviews. It definitely was. We moved the bed so that we could put our one large suitcase beside the bed. We could then do everything we needed from sitting on the bed. Turn off the lights, get to the fridge, close the blinds. Very convenient. The room was very modern and had very good heating. The big disappointment was the tiny window. It made the room very dark. The Wifi was not working during our stay. We would not have paid the astronomical rates anyway. Overall the room was worth the money; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Tieti Poindimie; City: Poindimie Grand Terre; Review: After a challenging check in as we do not speak French (our downfall) we were taken to our beautiful bungalow. At first glance it was perfect. We then tried to turn on the air con, but it seems someone had stolen the remote. We tried to call reception, but it seems someone had stolen the phone. We borrowed a remote from a friends room and got it started, but we noticed we didn't have a ceiling fan either. On our balcony overlooking the beautiful garden my husband relaxed on the sunbed, but it seems someone had stolen the second chair. Also stolen was the freezer door and the hair dryer. Overall a great resort with very friendly staff who mostly speak only French. A beautiful location. The restaurant was nice and quite well priced. The near by scuba diving was great. Recommend, but avoid room 35, because everything has been stolen. (Note: resort is wheelchair friendly).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pita Maha Resort and Spa; City: Ubud Gianyar Regency Bali; Review: This was my 4th visit to Ubud and the first at Pita Maha. We (my husband and 9 month old son) enjoyed our 5 nights at the villa. We loved our private plunge pool over the river and also the main pool. The gardens were also beautiful. We found that the service was excellent although not very personal. There was a lot of stairs so not suitable for prams and wheelchairs. We enjoyed our breakfast and the afternoon tea but did not find the other meals were worth the money being charged. As we were stuck with room service due to our son sleeping we tried a lot of the menu and couldn't find anything we enjoyed. We also had trouble booking a transfer. I kept being told that "someone would call me back". No one ever did. On another occasion I had to call another number. Then the person on that number told me to call the other number. We finally did get a transfer but that was $60 worth of calls to arrange. My fault for using my mobile. Overall we did enjoy our stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Naruto; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Beck; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: DearS; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Shuffle!; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Green Green; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Hunter x Hunter; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Wolf's Rain; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Elfen Lied; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Romance, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Konjiki no Gash Bell!!; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Magic, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ikkitousen; Genres: Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Law of Ueki; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Duel Monsters; Genres: Adventure, Game, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: MÄR; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kiba; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Air Gear; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Savers; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Tamers; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni; Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Frontier; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Erementar Gerad; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Super Power; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure 02; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kaze no Stigma; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Ikkitousen: Dragon Destiny; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha; Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Clannad; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure: Bokura no War Game!; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Kids, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure 02: Diablomon no Gyakushuu; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Kids, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Savers the Movie: Kyuukyoku Power! Burst Mode Hatsudou!!; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure Movie; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Kids, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure 02 Movies; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Kids, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ookami to Koushinryou; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Romance; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Rosario to Vampire; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Shounen, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Frontier: Ornismon Fukkatsu!!; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Tamers: Boukensha-tachi no Tatakai; Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Tamers: Bousou Digimon Tokkyuu; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kanokon; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Shounen, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Soul Eater; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sekirei; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Clannad: After Story; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Rosario to Vampire Capu2; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Toradora!; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ga-Rei: Zero; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kuroshitsuji; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Historical, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Needless; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Princess Lover!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Angel Beats!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fairy Tail; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kuroshitsuji II; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Durarara!!; Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Deadman Wonderland; Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, School, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kiss x Sis (TV); Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Seinen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Highschool of the Dead; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Horror, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Samurai, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: MM!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Savers 3D: Digital World Kiki Ippatsu!; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Kids, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Xros Wars; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hidan no Aria; Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Seitokai Yakuindomo; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: IS: Infinite Stratos; Genres: Action, Comedy, Harem, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Steins;Gate; Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu: Matsuri; Genres: Comedy, School, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ao no Exorcist; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Toriko; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai II; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mayo Chiki!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dog Days; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Martial Arts, Romance, School, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Xros Wars: Aku no Death General to Nanatsu no Oukoku; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Mirai Nikki (TV); Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? of the Dead; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Another; Genres: Horror, Mystery, School, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Xros Wars: Toki wo Kakeru Shounen Hunter-tachi; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD; Genres: Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Blood Lad; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Seinen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ao no Exorcist Movie; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Accel World; Genres: Action, Game, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Medaka Box; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai!; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Sports; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Dog Days'; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kokoro Connect; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shinsekai yori; Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Psycho-Pass; Genres: Action, Police, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Accel World EX; Genres: Action, Game, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Relay Shousetsu wa Ketsumatsu ga Hanpanai; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Sukitte Ii na yo.; Genres: Romance, School, Shoujo; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Btooom!; Genres: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: K; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Medaka Box Abnormal; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (TV); Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Next; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko.; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Bride; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Samurai, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD New; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Date A Live; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Mecha, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Hataraku Maou-sama!; Genres: Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Nagi no Asukara; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shingeki no Kyojin; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami-hen; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket 2nd Season; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket: Tip Off; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Magi: The Kingdom of Magic; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kyoukai no Kanata; Genres: Fantasy, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Comedy wo Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Outbreak Company; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Harem, Parody; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: No Game No Life; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Game, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Haikyuu!!; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stardust Crusaders; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket: Mou Ikkai Yarimasen ka; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Tokyo Ghoul; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Durarara!!x2 Shou; Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Psycho-Pass 2; Genres: Action, Police, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Zankyou no Terror; Genres: Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: DRAMAtical Murder; Genres: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kekkai Sensen; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD BorN; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gakkougurashi!; Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Trinity Seven; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stardust Crusaders 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Durarara!!x2 Ten; Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shokugeki no Souma; Genres: Ecchi, School, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Haikyuu!! Second Season; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Denpa Kyoushi (TV); Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Overlord; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: One Punch Man; Genres: Action, Comedy, Parody, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Shoujo Ai; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dimension W; Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 8.0/10.0 | anime |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Face N Face Women's Crossover V-Neck Cap Sleeve Pleated Chiffon Dress; Brand: Allegra K; Review: Loved the dress but the sizing is way off. I purcashed an XL and could not even get it over my head. I normally wear a 12 -14 so an XL should have been fine. Very disappointed.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Men's M870v3 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: my husband's favorite running shoes. his were getting old so we ordered these and he is so happy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O'Neill Women's Premium Skins Upf 50+ Long Sleeve Rash Guard; Brand: O'Neill Wetsuits; Review: worked great with my sleeveless wetsuit to help mobility and keeping my arms warm.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Izumi Women's Elite Inrcool Tri Crop; Brand: Pearl iZUMi; Review: used it for one of my tris. looking forward to the big test on 9/7 for Olympic distant try.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Vixen Women's Leopard Colorblock Schoolgirl Dress; Brand: Star Vixen; Review: really comfortable and great for a work dress.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women's Keepsakes-Freezing Temps faux fur-Lined Boot; Brand: ; Review: Love the comfort and warmth. Normally wear a size 8 so I bought 8.5. Boots just fit. I would go with a 9 next time. Would get 5 stars if the boots didn't run a little small.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: alpine swiss Beck Mens Genuine Suede Chukka Boots; Brand: ; Review: The shoes are beautiful and I bought a size up based on prior reviews and the shoes are too big and I will need to return them. Hopefully they will have the correct size still!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Men's Loose-Fit Cargo Work Pant Stain & Wrinkle Resistant Cotton/Poly; Brand: ; Review: My son noted that the waste and crotch area was too "fitted" for being loose fit and the length was too long for being a 34 inch inseam. All of his work pants are 34 inseam and fit fine.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Men's Loose-Fit Cargo Work Pant Stain & Wrinkle Resistant Cotton/Poly; Brand: ; Review: My son noted that the waste and crotch area was too "fitted" for being loose fit and the length was too long for being a 34 inch inseam. All of his work pants are 34 inseam and fit fine.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Men's Loose-Fit Cargo Work Pant Stain & Wrinkle Resistant Cotton/Poly; Brand: ; Review: My son noted that the waste and crotch area was too "fitted" for being loose fit and the length was too long for being a 34 inch inseam. All of his work pants are 34 inseam and fit fine.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Cali Women's Vinyasa-Dharma Flip-Flop; Brand: ; Review: I loved the shoes and I am on my second pair. The first pair fell apart bit they are so comfortable, I had to bye another. I would give 5 stars if the first pair hadn't broken prematurely.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Sport Women's D'Lites Slip-On Mule Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: I ordered a size 8 and my toes were at the very tip. i normally wear a 7.5 but always go a size bigger. glad i did. i should have gone up to an 8.5 if they had it. they are very comfortable. I wore them to an NFL game from 10 in the morning to 11:30 at night. they were perfect for my team colors too!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Smily Women's Casual Loose Fit Lace Splicing Chiffon Baby Doll Dress; Brand: Little Smily; Review: Can't wait to wear the dress on my vacation this week to Jamaica. Tried it on and it fits great. Not sure what I'm going to do about an undergarment....; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Thai Tamarind Candy - 3.5 oz box; Brand: ImportFood; Review: I like it; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Heavenly Tea Leaves Tea Sampler, Green Tea, 4 Count; Brand: Heavenly Tea Leaves; Review: Very yummy it nice; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Loose-Leaf Green Tea, 2oz; Brand: Teavana; Review: Yummy nice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NESTLE COFFEE-MATE Coffee Creamer, Hazelnut, liquid creamer singles, Pack of 180; Brand: Nestle Coffee Mate; Review: It,S bad sorry; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pride Of India - Organic Indian Chai Tea,0.5 LBS(227 GM); Brand: Pride Of India; Review: Nice; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tamarind Balls. 100% natural. 8 oz; Brand: El Gustazo; Review: I like it; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: India's Original Masala Chai Tea Loose Leaf - 50 cups, 100gm - Perfect Blend of Black Tea, Cinnamon, Cardamom,Cloves; Brand: VAHDAM; Review: Good; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pearl Earrings 10-11mm Button Freshwater Cultured Pearls 925 Sterling Silver Stud Earrings- VIKI LYNN; Brand: VIKI LYNN; Review: I absolutely love this size of pearl earring; they can go dressy or casual. Very sophisticated.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crocheted Beads Bling Scarf with Fringe; Brand: White Deer; Review: I am loving the look of a scarf which enhances the neckline and even feels in for jewelry. Love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Franato Women's Shapewear Camisole Seamless Basic Smoothing Tank Top; Brand: Franato; Review: I had a problem with itching where the label is sewn in with the zig zag stitch. I did remove the label and am now quite happy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maidenform Flexees Women's Shapewear Lace Cami; Brand: Flexees; Review: the thread itches me. I usually have to remove the thread and resew it. Otherwise I would give it 5 stars.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Chuvora 925 Sterling Silver Blue Turquoise Gemstone Oval Rope Braided Edge Vintage Band Ring Size 6, 7, 8; Brand: ; Review: A great bargain. I am enjoying this ring greatly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 925 Sterling Silver Natural Gemstone Indian Inspired Vintage Oval Dangle Hook Earrings 1.5"; Brand: ; Review: gorgeous earrings; great value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: Good quality stitching and fabric. Comfortable and a very reasonable price. Some leotards of poor quality pull and stretch out of shape. This one held its shape and fit very well. The Capezio brand is still solid quality!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bundle Monster Mens Tuxedo Adjustable Neck Bowtie Bow Tie 5pc Mixed Lot; Brand: Bundle Monster; Review: I guess you never know when you will need a bow tie....and what style. I used these for my dog when we were taking photos for a rescue fundaiser. The price was extremely reasonable and much better than buying specialty pet items of poor quality. Great colors and quality fabrics were used for each bow tie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sperry Top-Sider Women's Winsor Loafer; Brand: ; Review: Love this rubber soled penny loafer! The chunky sole keeps me out of puddles and looks great with jean. It is sturdy and of high quality. However, the sizes do run a bit small. If you have wide feet, you may want to go up a size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterling Silver Created Ruby, and Created White Sapphire Leverback Earrings; Brand: Amour; Review: I haven't seen the product in person, but I sent them as a gift. The recipient said she loved them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: Bought these pearls as a gift & my mother-in-law was delighted. The packaging was lovely, and made foe a nice peesentation. The pearls had a nice luster and nice weight to them. I might buy a strand for myself!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HUAN XUN Compass Best Friend Relationship Necklaces - Cut Out Disc Charm Necklaces Stainless Steel Jewelry 16"; Brand: HUAN XUN; Review: This is a petite, tastefully subtle piece of jewelry. I also came with an extender. I bought it as a gift and arrived in a gift box! I think I will buy one for me, too! There was a slight issue in shipping which was handled quickly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: chelseachicNYC Handmade Brush Metal Cut Out Compass Necklace; Brand: chelseachicNYC; Review: Good price and it's a lovely, small pendant. The gold overlay wears off, but that is to be expected--I would still recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Women's New Boyfriend Jean; Brand: ; Review: I ordered the white jeans. The small percentage of stretch give these pants a nice fit and are comfortable. They are designed to be closer to capri pants--take that into account when ordering. I am a bit on the short side and they fit as regular pants should. Also, they are tighter in the seat and thighs. I also ordered the Bronze Green. The fabric is thinner, but it still has some give.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HOMEYEE Women's Celebrity Turn Down Collar Business Bodycon Dresses; Brand: ; Review: Good simple dress for the office during warmer months. The dress fit as expected based on other reviews--the dress run small, so order a size or two larger.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HOMEYEE Women's Celebrity Turn Down Collar Business Bodycon Dresses; Brand: ; Review: Good simple dress for the office during warmer months. The dress fit as expected based on other reviews--the dress run small, so order a size or two larger.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rampage Women's Idaho Riding Boot; Brand: ; Review: I buy a pair every winter. A basic boot that you can wear like a rainboot, but still look stylish. I wear them with a skirt and tights. Overall, Rampage shoe patterns seem to fit small. I always buy a half-size smaller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ToBeInStyle Women's Cotton-Blend Crew-Neck Staple Top with Long Sleeves; Brand: ToBeInStyle; Review: Thin material and cut oddly on the bias, so the shirt pulls in odd places. I only wear it around the house, but I can't complain too much. You get what you pay for, so I gave it two stars instead of one.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: CLARKS Men's Pitney Walk Oxfords Shoes; Brand: ; Review: I bought these for my husband. He loves them. They are a bit more stylish than a regular brogues. He walks all over the city in them and his feet are comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Thermos Foogo Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel 10-Ounce Food Jar, Pink/Purple; Brand: Thermos; Review: good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pure Komachi 2 Series Citrus Knife; Brand: Kai Pure Komachi 2; Review: good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Personal Blender Portable, Powerful 300W(24,000RMP) 4 Sharp Blades, Smoothie Fruit Blender Single Serve with 20 oz Sport Bottle, Black; Brand: CUSIBOX; Review: good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thermos Foogo Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel 10-Ounce Straw Bottle, Pink/Purple; Brand: Thermos; Review: good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Le Creuset Silicone Prep Bowls, Set of 4, Multi-colored; Brand: Le Creuset; Review: Very good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thermos Foogo Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel 7-Ounce Soft Spout Sippy Cup with Handles, Blue/Yellow; Brand: Thermos; Review: good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mattel The Sing-A-Ma-Jigs - Mint Green; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: ALL Singamajigs are great! And a little bit addicting.... They should be educational, musically. You can play with the rhythms of the song--by recreation or experimentation. And these are FAR less annoying (and far more interactive) than toys that simply sing inanely whether a child is paying attention to them or not. They are adorable; did I mention that they have teeth? This little minty green one has one of the lower voices, and sings "It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring." Adorable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Barbie A Fashion Fairytale Transforming Fashion Doll; Brand: Barbie; Review: Want me to explain my review title? First, as others have mentioned, she has a battery compartment in her bum, so she isn't a normal "human" shape. What this means for your daughter is that not all of her Barbie clothes will work on this doll. And this one won't be going in the Barbie tub! The real reason I am reviewing is because of handedness issue. My niece, age 5, is a south paw. She was having trouble pressing the Barbie belt that lights up the doll, and she handed her to me saying, "She must need batteries." The box said she HAD batteries (she does), so I tried. When you (naturally) press the little button straight "in" it doesn't work. But if you press ever so slightly to one side, it does. But, here's the trick, if you press it with your left hand, you are naturally pushing it in a direction where it doesn't work. If you press with the right, it does seem to naturally tip it on. Even I had some trouble lighting her up at first, and when I discovered the leftie issue, I switched hands and discovered I had awkwardness issues lighting her up with my left hand. Very uncool. Toys should be ambidextrous.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Playskool Weebles Home Playset; Brand: Playskool; Review: Sounds can be turned off (isn't that always a plus?). The little characters are a nice size and shape for little hands. Appealing and safely rounded corners, bright colors. Dynamic shape with little pass thrus and the little car is really cute. Sweet little baby toddler toy for immaginative play.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Zig The Big Rig; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: I kind of want to play with this myself! I'm actually reviewing this before it arrives, lol. But I have "met this toy in person" and already know I want it for my nephew! I kind of want to play with it myself!!!!! It's sooo cute! It really reminds me of the "Cars" toys, although I don't think it's related at all. And I'm a big fan of the Wheelies in general. They are so appropriate for small hands, and little boys in particular seem to be wired for toys that are dynamic and move. And this is nice because it moves itself and it causes the little Wheelies inside to move when it's opened up. Recommened for girls or boys. It's a nice place to store the Wheelies inside, and don't forget that it lights up and talks, so it really engages children on multiple levels. A+.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elefun & Friends Elefun Snackin' Safari Game; Brand: Hasbro; Review: I borrowed my niece and nephew (ages 7 and 2--almost 3) to "test" this game, and the results are in: five stars! The kids love the game. It is challenging (even for adults) but even the 2year old (almost 3)can do it. Rules are clear and simple and there are many ways to play the game so it should keep them busy for awhile. Add this, those hand-held elephant faces are very durable. Two year old (almost 3) has hit them over everything, fell on them and even pulled the spring out as far as he could and they still work like new. Recommend!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Stride-to-Ride Puppy; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is sooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't begin totell you how adorable this puppy is. I also LOVE this because it's entertaining in so many ways---even fun for pre-walkers. It's delightfully interactive. Mucical, bright. The shape sorters are great. And I love the ears. Great hit with little ones. I do recommend. I also love that it's usable longer than a traditional "walker." It's a riding toy, too. The one negative would be that some assembly is required. Wish that wasn't so.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lauri Tall-Stackers Mighty Monkey Playset; Brand: Patch Products Inc.; Review: Okay, first of all, this IS an adorable, fun little toy. The monkeys are detailed and expressive. The colors are bright. The rubber mat base (by far the sturdiest part of this) is secure. Encourages immaginative play, very, very versatile in the number of ways it can be assembled. Educational: it is both a building toy and a toy for play. But, there are some negatives that caused me to give this less than five stars. This is marked for "ages 3 and up," but some of the pieces are too small for that, I think. The little monkeys (not the building monkeys, but the other little ones) are very small--about two inches. The little cart is about the size of a matchbox car. These seemed like choking hazards for some just-turned-three three year olds. There seemed to be some sort of film on the slide. Pieces were not all as opaque as pictured. Also, some of the pieces were thin and flimsy (esp the yellow pieces for some reasons). It's really cute, and will be fun, but probably won't survive to be passed to a younger sibling. Watch younger ones with small pieces.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Twistables Colored Pencils, 30Count, Stocking Stuffer, Gift; Brand: Crayola; Review: I included these as part of my precious 8 year old niece's birthday present, and I was informed that she loved them. Since these twist up, they are more fun than regular pencils. They also have a little more pigment (a fault of typical child's quality art pencils is too little pigment). And the twist up "sharpening" also means greater ease of use, especially for small ones. I paid about 5 dollars for this set of 30, which felt like a good value to me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Angels Pet Lovers Fashion Full Size Sketch Portfolio, Style may vary; Brand: Fashion Angels; Review: Another hit with my eight year old niece. I chose these because they are a creative and interactive alternative to coloring books. A good transition from coloring books to creating your own art, yet in a creative guided manner. The templates are original and allow children to express themselves freeling---and yet be impressived by what they can accomplished in terms of finished product. And I like the creativity that flows out of such confidences (and onto blank pages turned into pages brimming with art).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hearts For Hearts Girls - Lilian from Belarus; Brand: Hearts for Hearts Girls; Review: This doll is so wonderfully unique. I love that they each have a story based on a real child, and that they surround a real issue and something that's being done to combat it. I love that they open up the world to children by sharing other cultures with them. The clothing and doll are both well made, and the added piece of jewelry is nice, too. The dolls are lovely. My niece LOVED hers! I was a little disappointed that they included book was more of a booklet. The book was the only disappointment, though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maisto R/C 1:24 Scale Ferrari 458 Italia Radio Control Vehicle (Colors May Vary); Brand: Maisto; Review: Pretty little car! Very sleek and responsive---I think I want a real one now. The toy has been a total hit with all ages. So, be warned, Mom or Dad may want to take over the controls from the kids! Zippy, with easy to use controls. Quality product for the price. So far, battery life seems good. Buy two AA batteries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Angels Wrist Twists Bracelet Maker; Brand: Fashion Angels; Review: I feel like almost every little girl I know goes through a "bracelet making stage." For some of them, this develops into jewelry arts that last a lifetime; for others it's something fun to do for a while. This wonderfully simply-to-use kit allows them to start off making bracelets that look pretty and borderline professional. A pretty result will something for them to be proud of! The bracelet maker is easy to use and reminds me of my old "Twist and Curl Barbie's" hair twister. (Anyone remember that?) It comes with an ample supply of BRIGHTLY colored string. Makes 14. Though intended for the string, I've found that Yarn or Ribbon, even scraps of fabric can be substituted (may I suggest scraps of "team colors" of fabric to make game day jewelry?). Instructional DVD is included, but it's not difficult to figure out (if you, like me, are "instruction resistant). I do think the age recommendations of 8+ is accurate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Flying Attack Board Game; Brand: Nickelodeon; Review: Super fun, action packed game is a hit with me and my five year old nephew! We love that the action cards are packed with excitement. Also, the turtles themselves are drawn in cool action poses. Colors are true "turtle green." I will say that I'm a little disappointed in construction quality. It's not horrible, but it is a bit flimsy. The platforms are not plastic; they are a sturdy cardboard instead. I wonder how well they will hold up to repeated play, especially as the action cards invite a bit of rough or dramatic play.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disney Princess Dazzling Princess Game; Brand: Wonder Forge; Review: I found this to be a fun little Princess game; I thought it might simply be a Princess version of the Pretty, Pretty, Princess game. However, though their are similarities, it's unique as well. Every player gets crown, bracelet, and ring at the beginning and you play to win the jewels for them. Play is made by guessing the princess that matches a clue on the card. Clues are age appropriate (ages 4+), but familiarity with the Disney Princess movies will be necessary. To confirm a correct answer, you must hold the large crown jewel over the card to reveal the princess's image. The revealed image is clear but not bold. I don't think this would be suitable for little ones with any vision issues; they might find it frustrating, as they likely would not be able to see the image. Parents should plan to play along and be the de-coder for them. Definitely a choking hazard for little ones! (The "jewels" are attached and detached as part of the game; these loose pieces are temptingly shiny and very small.) Also, the smallest ones may need some assistance popping jewels in and out. All-in-all, it's a sweet little game, that should stand up to repeated play by most little ones. Should be supervised play for smallest ones due to small parts and the possible need of assistance.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jake and The Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook Adventure Board Game; Brand: Wonder Forge; Review: This is an adorable 3D type board game. Set up is actually fun, because you are building a Pirate World. And once assembled it's incredibly inviting. Play is fun, art is wonderful (it's Disney, people). Recommended for girls or boys; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Color Wonder Disney Princess Glitter Paper and Markers; Brand: Crayola; Review: LOVE the glitter!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, there is a non-messy source for glitter! Glitter is typically a disaster, and it is typically adored by little girls. Now they can have the fun and the house can survive! I'm delighted with the images and the markers. Really adorable. And Mess free.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SmartLab Toys Demolition Lab Triple Blast Warehouse; Brand: SmartLab Toys; Review: I did not find this toy to be visually appealing at all. However, it was great fun to play with. It can be a bit challenging to assemble, but in a good way, as it should maintain interest in and challenge upper elementary students. (And the ugliness of it might actually appeal to older children who want to assert that they are not babies.) Destroying it is, of course, where the real fun is had! I think the adults like this as much as kids! Withstands the beating of play pretty well, thusfar.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Forge Princess Sofia Royal Prep Academy Board Game; Brand: Wonder Forge; Review: This is an adorable and fun little game, and the building is so like a dollhouse that little girls seem to love it. I also love that Princess Sophia is getting a game of her own. However, given the games age target, I think the pieces are rather small. Some assembly required.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: World of Disney Eye Found It Board Game; Brand: Wonder Forge; Review: It's huge!!! It's huge! It's a great big board game with all kinds of fun to be had. Who doesn't want to look for Mickey? Or look with Mickey? Really quality construction and engaging art work, you won't be bored with it too soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Fairies Fly and Go Seek Game; Brand: Wonder Forge; Review: I'm loving this one!!! It's simple and fun, it's a board game and yet it's ACTIVE (you "fly" about searching for cards). I also love that it's really creativity boosting as well as there are multiple ways to play the game and you can also create new games with what's inside. The case is super cute (lunchbox type quality, it's pretty nice) and little girls will likely want to use it for other things as well (so perhaps the Fly and Go Seek game will need to be stored in a box afterall). I completely recommend this for girls 3 through 10. (Added bonus: little brothers seem to enjoy playing, too.); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Jewelry Boutique Neon; Brand: Crayola; Review: It's Crayola beads, so what I imagined was a massive pile of repurposed crayons. If your thoughts are going there let me put you at ease with two kind words: model magic. It's going to be okay. Kids will have fun and your carpet will survive. And it really is fun. Pretty easy to use, instructions might require adult assistance for younger ones, and the results are bright and cheery. LOVE the neon colors. So "now."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crayola DigiTools Photo Mix & Mash; Brand: Crayola; Review: I'm just going to say it as it is: this can get slightly addictive, even for adults! I really wish Crayola or someone would introduce "real" photo editing software that is This Fun to use! Prepare to have fun distorting and reinventing all the faces in your family! So easy! And so fun!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Create 2 Destroy Dino Destruction Stomping Mall; Brand: Crayola; Review: I think this is a great little toy for getting some energy out while sitting "still." The dino is adorable but not "too cute" so you won't mind smashing into your creations. Sometimes a kid just needs to smoosh something. This toy is for that moment. Proved big fun with the 4 year old.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Doodle Magic Color Mat; Brand: Crayola; Review: Fun times! The good (brilliant) people at Crayola have really kicked up their game this year. So many fun toys to be had. This one is nice. It's like an easel without the space commitment. You can hang it anywhere, and you have an art center. But if you want to take it to the floor, it does that, too. Travels well. Erases well. Colors pop. Extra nice that the markers and erasers attach to the surface. Small and light enough for little ones to move on their own. Large enough for big fun. Let me say that it's going to be tempting and easy and almost inevitable that your child will use the wrong markers or other writing implement on this. It's going to happen, eventually. So, make the attempt to explain the special-markers-only rule.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Bead Studio; Brand: Crayola; Review: It's Crayola beads, so what I imagined was a massive pile of melted-by-children repurposed crayons. If your thoughts are going there let me put you at ease, that's not what's happening. It's going to be okay. Kids will have fun and your carpet will survive. And it really is fun. Pretty easy to use, instructions might require adult assistance for younger ones, and the results are bright and cheery. Do plan on "wearing" some of these creations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crayola See Thru Light Designer (74-7051); Brand: Crayola; Review: I feel like this is the "light brite" for the 21st century (only, I still love the light bright). This also, conveniently, had fewer small parts. It just has that classic long-term-play quality. If a light brite and a chalk board had a child, this would be it. And it would be cool. The glow feature really glows, the markers are Crayola, so of course they are excellent quality. It's small, low profile, would be an excellent take-along for car rides. Don't forget the batteries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ravensburger Aquarelle World Cities Arts and Crafts Kit; Brand: Ravensburger; Review: These are solid quality student art supplies, with guided instructions for creating childhood masterpieces. Encourage children to be confident in their abilities with these impossible to mess up art sets! Still, every child's rendition will be unique. And, hopefully, it will also inspire them to create new and original works. (You will have paint leftover).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Princess Puzzle in a Suitcase Box, 24-Piece; Brand: Ravensburger; Review: Super cute, sturdy floor puzzle. Will stand up to play. And quite doable for three! I am really fond of the image on this puzzle, the little girl is as pictured and looks rather curious and sassy, yet kind. The colors are bright and appealing but far from garish primary colors. The carry handle for small ones is a nice touch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ALEX Toys DIY Wear Duct Tape Party; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: I tackled this kit with my niece (a precocious and creative nine-year-old). We found it to be great fun. The projects are easy (and easy to make your own) and can be completed quickly. Encourages creativity and special thinking. Really great fun!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pictionary Frame Game; Brand: Mattel Games; Review: We tackled this one as a family (adults down to my nephew, age four). The game was fun for all ages, and the four year old nephew was able to handle it just fine (with minimal help). Lots of laughs. Nice twist on the Pictionary classic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nerf Super Soaker Tri Strike Crossbow Soaker; Brand: SUPERSOAKER; Review: This toy is officially declared a SUCCESS. Fun for big kids and bigger kids (aka: adults). Do to weight when filled and size, recommended for not-tiny kids. Doesn't hold TONS of water, this is a mid sized soaker, but the shape makes it extra fun to shoot. Would buy again. I might even get an extra.... Game on!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Build & Imagine: Draw & Build Dollhouse (magnetic write-on/wipe-off building set); Brand: Build & Imagine; Review: 3D art! What's not to love! These are grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat. I love that they encourage art and building, and they are so creative! The pink and purple edge trim gives it a little extra cuteness, and the shapes really invite creating buildings with these, however the possibilities are so much more! So, I do sort of wish more "other" examples were shown on the container. I've found this to be really nice to encourage creativity in group work, as children can decorate their portion this work together to put them together in creative ways. Also can be used as a simple marker board, so this is a nice item for when traveling. (Something to do in the car, with an additional use once you arrive.) I wish more markers came with them as this is a good toy for sharing, however its pretty easy to find and add markers to your set. And having two sets (which I recommend!) increase the fun!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stages Learning Materials Lang-O-Learn ESL Food Vocabulary Photo Cards Flashcards for English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Korean +More; Brand: Stages Learning; Review: Wonderful selection of image for vocabulary reviews of all kinds, whether the child is working on a new language or merely speech and general.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Arendelle Palace Doll House; Brand: Disney; Review: I shipped this ahead for Christmas, to prevent needing to haul it in the car, and I am so glad I did. This thing was heavy! So glad I only had to haul it one way to move it home! The colors and bright and kids LOVE it. It's super cute and so much more fun than Barbie houses. The only negative I would find would be when you look at how flat the furniture pieces are. Otherwise this is a nice dollhouse, and I would recommend. (It was easy to construct!); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Your Endowment; Author: Mark a Shields; Review: this book explained answers to questions that I have had for years and had yet to find the answers to. It was very hard to stop reading. It great to have now as a guide.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Another Big Book of Sacrament Time Activities; Author: Jenna Mitchell; Review: We have a very "active" 6 year old who has a difficult time making it through an entire sacrament meeting. This activity book was helpful in that it kept him entertained all the while keeping him reverent at the same time. Should have bought several at one time!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mastering Photography Series; Author: David Jones; Review: I've never had the opportunity to go to photography school like I have wanted to. Although I still have my own business I have been self taught along the way. This series has been the most beneficial purchase to date. I don't know how I got along with out it! Thank you for putting them in a bundle!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life (Citizens of Logan Pond) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Belliston Page; Review: Rebecca has done it again!! Talent flows through her veins. More please :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Augustina (Sadie, Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Belliston Page; Review: Rebecca Belliston sure knows how to keep a reader engrossed. If you haven't read Sadie first which is book 1 of the series, you can still follow along. I suggest reading Sadie first. It makes Agustina that much more enjoyable. Great job Rebecca!!! I can't wait for more :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sadie; Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Belliston Page; Review: Great Read! Easily devoured. Hard to put down :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Convert's Guide to Mormon; Author: Clark L. Kidd; Review: Arrived faster then expected. It was exactly how they described it. Thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 13 Free Baby Crochet Patterns eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Prime Publishing Page; Review: really thought there was going to be more; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Marshals (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pelican Brief (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Tide (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Windtalkers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spy Game (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Behind Enemy Lines (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Client (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Boy Scout (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Dragon (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Commitments (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matchmaker (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waking Ned Devine (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sophie's Choice (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All the Real Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Narc (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Highway (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All About My Mother (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Day of the Wacko (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Cowboy (1969); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alias: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Color of Money (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gandhi (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange County (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Unbreakable (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heavenly Creatures (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Psycho (1960); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quiz Show (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Magnificent Seven (1960); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Good Girl (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Basic Instinct (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tootsie (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Il Postino (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Like Water for Chocolate (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cool Hand Luke (1967); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alias: Season 3 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Stories (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Crime of Padre Amaro (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Jerk (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Far from Heaven (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Run Lola Run (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pleasantville (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heathers (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Full Monty (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Late Marriage (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Man From Elysian Fields (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Billy Elliot (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Real Women Have Curves (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lovely & Amazing (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comedian (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roger Dodger (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret of Roan Inish (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tears of the Sun (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Legend of 1900 (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The American President (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goldfinger (1964); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flatliners (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secrets & Lies (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Red Violin (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Extreme Edition (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost World (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A League of Their Own (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shining (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Animal House (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X-Men (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wall Street (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City Slickers (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cape Fear (1962); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Michael Collins (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Indochine (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Passion Fish (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kolya (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Banquet (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Malena (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Color of Paradise (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Limbo (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angela's Ashes (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queen Margot (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quills (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In America (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Femme Nikita (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Castle (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Third Wheel (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Is Spinal Tap (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Escape (1963); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Knife in the Water (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Evelyn (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Pretty Things (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Lain #2: Knights (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unbreakable (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kiss of the Dragon (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titan A.E. (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gundam Wing (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lain #3: Deus (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Haunting (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Princess Mononoke (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cowboy Bebop Remix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Legend of Shaolin (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chicken Run (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lain #4: Reset (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yojimbo (1961); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metropolis (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rashomon (1950); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Akira (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ran (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seven Samurai (1954); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dungeons & Dragons (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Better Tomorrow II (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Legend 2 (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Who: The Robots of Death (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Transporter (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Truman Show (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iron Monkey (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chungking Express (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Altered States (1980); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sanjuro (1962); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waiting for Guffman (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Maltese Falcon (1941); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Plains Drifter (1973); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: Monk's Hood (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Sanctuary Sparrow (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: End of Days (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Momma's House (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: High Noon (1952); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modern Times (1936); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Papillon (1973); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Virgin in the Ice (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: A Morbid Taste for Bones (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Devil's Novice (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Rose Rent (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: St. Peter's Fair (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Raven in the Foregate (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Potter's Field (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Holy Thief (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadfael: The Pilgrim of Hate (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Intacto (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Longitude (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poirot (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Baraka (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twin Peaks: Season 1 (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Millennium Actress (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Revolution OS (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Changeling (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Apostle (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Impromptu (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brother (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Touch of Evil (1958); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Groove (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Chinese Ghost Story (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On the Waterfront (1954); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Golden Child (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Jewel of the Nile (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Trouble in Little China (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Have and Have Not (1944); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Submarine 6 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duplex (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Deer Hunter (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pianist (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cronos (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost in the Shell (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Others (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (1962); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Rookie (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prisoner (1967); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panic Room (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Is Spinal Tap (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Underworld (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gremlins (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The City of Lost Children (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Chinese Ghost Story 2 (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Berkeley in the Sixties (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Traffik (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fog of War (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: North by Northwest (1959); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bottle Rocket (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Triplets of Belleville (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Fish Called Wanda (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ichi the Killer (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brother Bear (Theatrical Widescreen Version) (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Magnum P.I.: Season 1 (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2 (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guns and Talks (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Big Sleep (1946); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Run Lola Run (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 24: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hero (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Strangelove (1964); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spies Like Us (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Key Largo (1948); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Airplane! (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shining (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blazing Saddles (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mulholland Drive (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days of Wine and Roses (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Scream VHS; Brand: Neve Campbell; Review: Love it, has a twist at the end and I love that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burlesque; Brand: Cher; Review: It was a good plot; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy; Brand: ; Review: Super good and funny; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guardians Of The Galaxy Region Free; Brand: Chris Pratt; Review: Super good and funny; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy [Blu-ray]; Brand: ; Review: Super good and funny; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ebuddy Fashion Wet Suit Neoprene Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear(FBA); Brand: ebuddy; Review: to difficult to determine your size -skip purchase; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ebuddy Fashion Wet Suit Neoprene Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear(FBA); Brand: ebuddy; Review: to difficult to determine your size -skip purchase; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Premium Polarized Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses w/Flash Mirror Lens; Brand: WearMe Pro; Review: Not for me...and its my fault. I thought all polarized Sunglasses had UV, nope. These are attractive for less bank.. gold frame and blue lenses will rock your looks. Company offered me refund so I could find similar with UV elsewhere. Happy customer 4 stars - 1 for no UV.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cherokee Women's Workwear Scrub Warm-Up Jacket; Brand: ; Review: Quality check Fit is on point check Color solid black check; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DUCO Shades Classic Oversized Polarized Sunglasses for Women 100% UV Protection 1220; Brand: DUCO; Review: Look good, sized well and I have a smaller face ..; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DADAWEN Women's Suede High Heel Side Zipper Ankle Booties; Brand: DADAWEN; Review: They look a little cheaper than I expected. Red color is very very bright & some of the buttons aren't on quite straight. Good for costume shoes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: KMystic Sexy Faux Leather Designs Leggings; Brand: KMystic; Review: I've gotten lots of compliments wearing these; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anna-Kaci Renaissance Peasant Maiden Boho Inspired Cap Sleeve Lace Trim Dress; Brand: Anna-Kaci; Review: This dress is perfect for any gypsy costume or bohemian look. I'm 5'7" looked like it would come down to mid-calf. I had to return it because it clashed with the style on the rest of my costume that I ordered it for, but saw no problems with the dress itself that I could tell without having worn it. Would be cute on someone who wears that style clothing!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Charades Women's Pirate Vixen Jacket; Brand: Charades; Review: It's a fun jacket and I've gotten compliments in it. The buttons are great (skull stamped) but are precariously sewn on...one fell off as I was unbuttoning it to try on when it arrived (then I re-sewed the rest on too just in case). Sleeves are too short on me but look OK if you have ruffled sleeve shirt poking out. Pockets are sadly false. Jacket is lightweight and good for indoor wear where you won't get too hot (but won't keep you warm if outside in chilly weather).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VOCHIC PU Leather Belt High Waist Cincher Belt Corsets for Waist Training Wide Belt; Brand: VOCHIC; Review: It's too big on me and I'm not sure what to do about that yet, but once I figure that out it's going to look great on my costume.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forever Womens Long Sleeves Plain Spikes Shoulder Peplum Button Blazer; Brand: Forever; Review: good fit & a little bit stretchy. spikes are sewn on; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Kasbah Ait Ben Moro; City: Ouarzazate Souss Massa Draa Region; Review: Awesome job transforming a traditional Kashbah into a lovely hotel. The terrace with the swimming pool is simply amazing considering the location. The dinner was superb too. The rooms are nice, specially the ones on top the towers with a very charming fire place. The attention we received was superb and the dinner was delicious. Out only mistake was not staying another night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kenzi Azghor; City: Ouarzazate Souss Massa Draa Region; Review: Simple and rudimentary hotel. Ok for single night, but nothing special. It seems like the typical tour group hotel. A couple of comments regarding the hotel publicity and other point worth mentioning: Internet is only available on the hall' despite on the claim of full coverage. The breakfast could be better. Very simple for a hotel dealing with groups of tourists. The carpet of the corridors has a thick layer of dust that could really benefit of a gentile vacuum A 3 star European hotel on the middle of morocco.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Riad Palais des Princesses; City: Marrakech Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: The hotel itself is a beautiful Moroccan building inside the medina. Rooms are quite small but cozy, unless you get one of the suites. It is quite difficult to find the first time but on the other hand it is extremely well located within 5m walk from the main square. They are planning to add a hamman and a swimming pool so expect a quite complete experience starting 2014.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riad Ain Khadra; City: Taroudant Souss Massa Draa Region; Review: This small hotel is located on the outskirts of Taroudant. The U shaped two level patio, contains a fantastic garden with a beautiful swimming pool. On the third level there is a solarium with a jacuzzi and perfect view of the whole complex. The rooms are huge, at least the second floor ones we got, with a decent bathroom and comfortable bed. The service was wonderful which indeed contributed to a more than pleasant stay. Be warned that it is easy to miss the sign of the hotel when on the Main Street entering or leaving the city. BTW, maybe it was a coincidence but we spotted twice the cops with the speed radar a couple of hundred meters away from the intersection leading to the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dar El Janoub; City: Merzouga Meknes Tafilalet Region; Review: The location is perfect and the hotel magnificent. The dinning place has a great view of the dessert and the pool is terrific. The rooms are clean, comfortable and cosy. If we have to pinpoint something, I would certainly like to show gratitude to the staff that helped us beyond their duty.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Tomboctou; City: Tinerhir Souss Massa Draa Region; Review: A must. The hotel is well located and has everything you need, the extra comes from the owner: Roger. This Kashbah is owned by one of the most peculiar persons we found on our trip: Author of many books, maps and articles of the culture, tribes and local history you can find in him a source of information for exploring the area. You must spend some time chating with Roger and taking his advice before preparing your local moves. Don't leave without passing through the old mosque that roger has helped restored on the palm tree oasis of Tinenhir. My advice, forget about luxury and focus on the real experience. You won't be disappointed if you are a real traveller. If a place is as worth as its people, this is place is a diamond mine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barcelo Casablanca; City: Casablanca Grand Casablanca Region; Review: The hotel is well located but it needs an urgent renovation. Rooms are ok, well sized, well distributed and with all the common amenities, the problem is that the floor, furniture and specially the bathroom are and look old. Probably the room is not that old but some furniture and carpets just seem to age worse than others...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tourmaline Hotel; City: Kandy Kandy District Central Province; Review: The pros: Really good location, nice views, not far from Kandy. The cons: Even though it is top of a hill, it is far from silent as the noise from the bar and the hotel personnel in the bobby can be heard nice and clear from the rooms. This is supposed to be a 4* hotel worn in European standards it is a old 3* . This is the second time this happens during this trip, good reviews for an extremely old hotel, I am starting to question the scoring in general. I included some pictures to illustrate the complete mismatch between the grade in TA and the reality.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Amaya Beach; City: Kalkudah Eastern Province; Review: Modern hotel with spacious rooms and really nice facilities. We found the food to be quite good when it came to local and more elaborate dishes but very normal for "western" plates. Overall the food is one of the best we had in terms of quality in Sri Lanka. Small buffet but with better quality than others with more options. There are two things to consider, the beach just in front of the hotel has too many rocks (but the one 100m away is just OK) and the internet connection available for the guests is close to inexistent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heritage Hotel Anuradhapura; City: Anuradhapura North Central Province; Review: The hotel seems quite old and in really bad shape, Stains can be found everywhere and the bathroom needs quite some work to say the least. The whole hotel shows apparent decay and is in urgent need of a renovation.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ritz Carlton Riyadh; City: Riyadh Riyadh Province; Review: The hotel is impressive, from the building itself (huge) to the decoration. The rooms are big and include all the necessary. The level of cleanness is beyond words. The only drawback is the food, it is overpriced and quite bad for a Hotel of this type.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Colombo; City: Colombo Western Province; Review: It seems to be a constant but I tend to find all Hiltons as good hotels but quite old. The one in Colombo is no exception. The lobby is fantastic, with a magnificent entrance, a nice restaurants and a beautiful lake. The rooms are clean and have everything you would expect but you can sense a change of furniture and make over would definitely help.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Patara Prince Hotel Resort; City: Kalkan Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: Just got back from 2 weeks here. I rented the apartment through Villarenters but was rather disappointed with the standard of accommodation on arrival. It seems that the resort is a combo of timeshare, privately owned villas and accommodation paid through the hotel. Our apartment was very dated (can laugh about it now!) but very dark and dreary at all times . However, the resort itself is LOVELY! It is very hilly and in the heat, the shuttle bus is a god send! As we were staying at the back, we had a short walk to the TEMPA supermarket for our provisions. We also loved the infinity pool at the top (check out the sunsets!) The view alone made up for the tired living accommodation. Kalkan is a lovely town and there are so many places to eat. We liked Ayse's kitchen for fantastic home made, cheap food(next to the dolmus station), Alternatif for the best steak we have EVER had and Adam's Place. A trip to Sakkilkent is a must ... we went twice . First time we went to the gorge and second time we went to do the fun rafting down the river which was superb fun! We also hired a scooter for a week from Pars Motors in Kalkan (he speaks excellent English by the way) and had so much fun. We took it to the villages in the mountains and used it as a shuttle into Kalkan form Patara Prince. If you are about to go there, you will have a great time. Note that there is a local minibus that runs from the back of the resort (by the supermarket) into Kalkan. It runs at ten past the hour into Kalkan and cost 1.5 TYL. My advice to anybody thinking of going here is that the resort is excellent; however the accommodation varies considerably depending on who owns it and what work they have done on it........and finally say hello to the tortoises!We saw three while we were there; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Carpenters Arms; City: Stanton Wick Somerset England; Review: Just had an overnight stay here with our teenage daughter. Had dinner bed and breakfast. The meal was great...my husband rating the steak as the best he's ever had..and he's had a few in his time. Rooms were very comfortable and beds very cosy. Breakfast was fab -even though we could only manage the bacon sandwich after the huge meal the night before. So glad we chose this place over the souless alternative chain hotels in Bristol. Would come back!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The City Warehouse Apartment Hotel; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: We stayed here with our teenage daughters for 2 nights. When we arrived (earlier than the check in) the partment wasn't quite ready so they stored our bags and we returned about 30 minutes later to a very clean and tidy apartment, which,despite being close to a busy road was very quiet. It is a few minutes walk from Piccadilly gardens and shops and restaurants galore. The staff couldn't have been more helpful. They were friendly and keen to please. They even phoned up a day before we left to cjheck our arrival time and check we knew how to find them etc. I would definitely stay there again. Excellent vfm in a handy spot for everything.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Villa Porro Pirelli; City: Induno Olona Province of Varese Lombardy; Review: I have just spent three days at this hotel at the end of a break to Lake Como. We were unsure of what to expect, but we were very happy with what we saw. The hotel is a former villa owned by the Pirelli family and it is beautiful. The rooms were of luxury standards for the cost of the hotel, except for the slightly naff toiletries. The grounds were lovely and the furnishings inside the hotel were of Asian origin and beautiful. The local area had lots to offer and it was an easy trip to surrounding lakes in Varese and Lugano. Definitely worth a visit!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Condado Hotel Barcelona; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: I stayed here with my husband for four nights and were not disappointed. The hotel is clean and offers all you need for a stay. I was slightly disapponted that they didnt have a bar where we could relax with a drink before venturing out for dinner, but the supermarket across the road offered an ample selection of pre-dinner drinks to enjoy in your room. The front of house staff were efficient and helpful. The hotel is about a ten to fifteen minute walk from the nearest metro, but it was great to be staying away from the hustle of La Ramblas. There are many bars and restaurants in an easy walk from the restaurant, including a cheap and cheerful bar across the road where you can buy a large beer and glass of wine for 3 Euros! Not bad for Barcelona!! I would definitely recommend this place as long as you dont mind a walk to the nearest metro/ bus; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Las Moradas Del Temple; City: Mirambel Province of Teruel Aragon; Review: Can't find ways to describe the beauty, tranquillity and welcome we had. The owners are a delightful couple. The food was outstanding and the whole place is a joy. Beautiful attention to detail everywhere. The medieval village is very quiet and the atmosphere here is calm. Well worth a visit as the area too is stunning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Son Sant Jordi; City: Pollenca Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: I am spending the last few hours in this lovely boutique hotel before returning home. I cannot speak more highly of the friendly welcome that this family run hotel gave us. Everybody who works here is helpful, friendly and nothing is too much trouble. Their logo of 'feels like home' is true. They are a family run hotel in a quiet part of Pollensa. The gardens and pool are a haven for relaxation, along with the beautiful outdoor living space where you can relax with a drink from their honesty bar. We had a room in their recently completed Boutique town house. It was clean and Mallorcan in style , with a fridge to store any drinks for your own consumption plus a microwave. As we were celebrating our anniversary whilst here, we were given a complimentary bottle of Cava and two heart shaped lollipops to enjoy. Breakfast was included and there was plenty of choice and different items on offer daily. All very tasty. Ana on reception was always smiling and happy to help. The owner was affectionately nick named Dr Doolittle as he has a dog that he adores called Mica, a parrot called Petra and a cockatoo. He has a pond with a turtle and he lovingly looks after them all daily. I spent quite a lot of time deciding where we could stay but I am delighted that we chose this boutique hotel as it was lovely. I would recommend it to anybody. A little reminder too that if you book directly with them, they offer a discount and a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport. I would definitely return!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Buddha Land; City: Kathmandu Kathmandu Valley Bagmati Zone Central Region; Review: Great place to stay. the staff was very friendly. nice sized room, had a little balcony inside which when sitting out there the wifi was perfect. Still get it in your room but it a lower signal. The building is set on a back street so it was pretty quiet at night. good location. it was a very good deal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Buddha; City: Varanasi Varanasi District Uttar Pradesh; Review: Hotel buddha was a wonderful experience from the time we walked in the door. the young lady at the front desk was very nice and helpful. out room was very nice, just a standard and we saw a larger room that was a little more expensive and a lot bigger(one bed we needed 2). is was nice and peaceful with a garden area right in front. food was good as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DS67 Suites; City: Bangkok; Review: Stayed at the ds67 2 different times on my trip to Thailand. The first was with another person so we needed 2 beds. the room was on the third floor. everything was clean, good wifi and nice sized room. the second time everything was the same except i had one bed and was on the top floor. there is an elevator so dont worry about the stairs. really friendly staff. great in room massage. and close to the sky train; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort; City: Bangkok; Review: The staff was very nice. the general manager was in the lobby when we checked in and greeted us. very nice lady. room was nice with a river view. shutle boat is a nice ride and brings you right to the river ferry or skytrain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Napa Valley Railway Inn; City: Yountville Napa Valley California; Review: This place was very cool. They made railway cars into hotel rooms. Nice location in town. Very large rooms with plenty of space. Outside seating in front of rooms to hang out. Close to many wineries. Would recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: LaPlaya Beach Golf Resort A Noble House Resort; City: Naples Florida; Review: The hotel was great. We stayed in the building accross the small road, but that was actually a very good choice. We still had a great view of the sunset and a big balcony. Service was great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Parkhotel Sonnenhof; City: Vaduz; Review: I've stayed on business a few times already at this lovely hotel and it was always great. Outside of the quality of the hotel overall (food is great, rooms and location as well), I especially appreciate the personal attention and the friendliness of all staff. If you are going to Liechtenstein, this is a must.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Les Jardins de Sophie; City: Xonrupt Longemer Vosges Grand Est; Review: We staid here for a long weekend and the hotel is as advertised: a good quality for both rooms and restaurant. 4 star-quality. Restaurant is definitely worth a 4-star hotel, rooms are just OK, but maybe we were just unlucky with a bit of noise and smell from the kitchen as we were just above it. As we love hiking, it was a great location where you can go for multiple great hikes immediately from the hotel grounds and only this is worth the trip.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forte Village Resort Le Dune; City: Santa Margherita di Pula Pula Province of Cagliari Sardini; Review: We were lucky to be upgraded to a bungalow in the Dune hotel and enjoyed some perfect days there. The staff is always there to help and, although we planned to visit the rest of South Sardinia from here, we were so satisfied with the overall resort that we never left it. Really recommend this hotel and resort for a family vacation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CitizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel; City: Tremblay En France Seine Saint Denis Il; Review: Frist time in a CitizenM and the concept is quite original and nice. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful as well. The technology in the room is great although the rooms are small, of course. One of the first times i actually go to the living room area to get my work done as the setup is reallly inviting, compared to typical hotel lobbies.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Robots (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Marshals (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys II (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Batman Begins (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park III (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cannonball Run (1981); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Great Outdoors (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fever Pitch (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunt for Red October (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Momma's House (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Nine Yards (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blade (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hoosiers (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Turner and Hooch (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fifth Element (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road Trip (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Animal House (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters 2 (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lean on Me (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bull Durham (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman Forever (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Heart Huckabees (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hannibal (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lilo and Stitch 2 (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Extended Edition (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ransom (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Dragon (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kindergarten Cop (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Varsity Blues (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Ten Yards (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Deliverance (1972); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Revolutions (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe Option, Chrome; Brand: Mr. Coffee; Review: Consumer Reports rated this the best coffee maker out there and they are right! Got one for me and for a friend as well and we are both extremely happy. Makes a great cup of coffee!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 8 Pieces Black White Grey Luxury Stripe Comforter (104"x92") Bed-in-a-bag Set California-cal King Size Bedding; Brand: Grand Linen; Review: Even nicer than the picture! The quality, especially for the price is amazing. The colors are rich and it is very well made.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: niceeshop(TM) Ornamental Home Nautical Wall Marine Decor Wood Pirate Ship Helm Wheel, Random Color; Brand: niceeshop; Review: This was actually much nicer than I had hoped for! The quality and the detail are amazing. So well done and perfect for the new theme in my grandsons new bedroom!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gibson Home 100142.16RM Soho Lounge 16-Piece Square Reactive Glaze Dinnerware Set, Celadon; Brand: Gibson; Review: Beautiful well made set at a great price! Very Very happy with them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pink Blessings to the Teacher "Big Heart" Mug - 1 Corinthians 16:14; Brand: Christian Art Gifts; Review: Really good quality and very pretty. I got two for gifts and they exceeded my expectations!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PURGGO Natural Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bag, Deodorizer, Odor Eliminator - Air Freshener, Purifier, Smell Absorber, For Shoe, Closet,; Brand: PURGGO; Review: These really do work! I ordered and tried and even before they arrived I had received an email from PURGGO with recommendations on how to maximize the effectiveness of them. I followed those and place them in the sun and then placed in work shoes and let them sit for the weekend. By Monday morning there was NO smell/odor in my shoes at all! Very please with these as well as the company. I am ordering more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: In Treatment: Season 1; Brand: Gabriel Byrne; Review: Excellent series which gives insight into, not only the patients but the therapist.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Adams; Brand: Paul Giamatti; Review: Absorbing and historically correct. Well acted. Very good story of our country's beginnings. Enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos - The Complete Third Season VHS; Brand: James Gandolfini; Review: Season 3 continues the tale of the fictitious Jersey mafia family with Tony Soprano as its boss. The acting is consistently excellent as is the storyline. Along with heinous thoughts and acts are the realities of daily life, with clever humour slid in at the most unexpected places. Normally not a fan of on-screen :violence, this series is compelling for the simple reason that is among the best programming on television.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 1; Brand: Jason Alexander; Review: I found this a bit tiresome and not funny.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Experience: Klansville U.S.A.; Brand: .; Review: I learned about the Klan due to this book, it's times of strength and times of weakness, it's times on the rise, and it's times on the wane. When LBJ began to put his civil rights legislation into practice, people could eat in places previously closed to them and attend school regardless of their race. When the sky did not fall in, Klanspeople took a look at their leadership. The head honchos were discovered with their hands in the till. Disillusioned, the membership withdrew their support, and burning cross incidents decreased sharply. And on it goes, the Klan's existence dependent on cultural changes. It bears watching.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 4; Brand: James Gandolfini; Review: The saga continues to zero in on Tony Soprano etal. The deeds of the characters etch them in ever greater relief against the ground of their place in time. The story moves the characters, and the characters move the story inexorably toward its conclusion. Brilliant writing and a top-notch cast combine to make for a fascinating look at human nature at its best and worst.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train, 2013; Brand: Henry Ian Cusick; Review: This film, on the surface, is about a documentary maker who is recording a holocaust survivor. The protagonist chances to meet a girl on the train. The plots twist and wind. The characters were believable duty th, the acting top notch. At times I wondered if the action was real, a dream, or imagination. Others have said they didn't get it. There were parts I didn't get. I watched The Girl on the Train twice and am happy I can watch it as many times as I want. I will introduce others to the film. Absorbing. Superbly done all the way around. Interactions were interesting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Gravois Glass; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: arrived on time, professional and the price was as quoted sight unseen. No funny business.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Martin-Jetco Heating & Air Conditioning; City: Fenton, MO; Review: Martin-Jetco installed an HVAC system in our house in 2010 with Ecobee thermostats. No issues until today. I wanted to update these 2 smart thermostats and went looking for replacements. Ameren has great deals on eco-friendly technology so I opted to purchase through them. Turns out the shipping time was too long (however after rebates the two Ecobee3 Lite units would have cost $138). I canceled my Ameren order and I asked MJ for a labor and materials quote and $1100+ was what I was told. I don't know their cost per hour. I do know that this is outright gouging.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fuzzy's Taco Shop; City: Manchester, MO; Review: Tired of this store getting my orders effed up. Last 3 three trips have been wrong once i arrived home. Food is ok. fulfillment sucks; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Martin-Jetco Heating & Air Conditioning; City: Fenton, MO; Review: Follow up to an earlier post. I had another local (Ameren Platinum) HVAC vendor come in to install my new thermostats.. After buying my thermostats from Ameren, these folks installed the two units for $135. I paid Ameren $140 for the 2 units. All in - a quarter of charge that Martin Jetco quoted. Buyer beware.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pan-Asia Supermarket; City: Manchester, MO; Review: Arrived later on a Saturday afternoon and ordered a roast duck combo (#11) I was really looking forward to this but arrived home to find 3 meager pieces (a leg portion and entrails) of duck, some bok choy and a pound of rice for just under $10. Very poor value. Disappointed. I got the scraps of what was left for a premium price.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hunan Star; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Ping, Susan and family have fed me for 15+ years The food has been consistently good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Renner Garage Door of St Louis; City: Valley Park, MO; Review: Keith from Renner came to our house to replace single and double garage doors. He was courteous and did a great job in sweltering conditions. Excellent customer service! I highly recommend Renner (and Keith!); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: T-Mobile; City: Manchester, MO; Review: This rating goes directly to Marc/Mark at the store. I called Mark before coming into the store as i wanted to port a family member onto my plan. He told me exactly what I needed to provide to make it happen. When I got there, Mark was standing by and made the transition flawless. Great customer service!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maplewood Plumbing & Sewer; City: St Louis, MO; Review: Had a main floor leak that was making into (of all things) a lighting fixture in the basement. Fliiped the breaker and called Maplewood. James showed up and was the model for fast friendly and efficient. Would recommend these folks anytime!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Izakaya Ren; City: Valley Park, MO; Review: NIce tasting food. Portions are tiny. Not great if you're hungry. Poor value; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Their Virgin Princess: Masters of Ménage, Book 4 (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Shayla Black Page; Review: I AM ADDICTED TO THE SHAYLA BLACK/LEXI BLAKE MASTERS OF MENAGE SERIES AND CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO BE RELEASED. THEY NEVER DISAPPOINT AND THIS ONE DOESN'T EITHER! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED ALEA, DANE, COOPER AND LANDON AND THEIR STORY DREW ME IN FROM THE FIRST WORD! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ONE!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Voluptuous Vindication (The Endurers) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Rose Wynters Page; Review: I absolutely LOVE this story!! I've read the others in the series, and had started out reading her Wolf Town Guardian Series (which is great too!) and I love that these immortal, strong, gorgeous men are falling for voluptuous women. I fell in love with Ian in Curvaceous Condemnation and he didn't disappoint here. I have to admit, at first he was a bit of a jerk and he seems to have a bad case of foot-in-mouth syndrome and there were a couple of times that I wanted to be able to reach into the book and smack him on the head but I still love him! The chemistry/sex between Ian and Sara was explosive, and I loved that Sara, even though she's an angel, still had self-esteem issues about her body. It made her so much more real to me. I literally could not put this book down. I got mad, I laughed and I cried; to me those are all the things that make a great book. I can't wait for this one to come out in print because I'm snatching it up for my library. Now I can't wait for the others, especially Arch! I HIGHLY recommend this book; you won't be disappointed!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loving Her (Keeping Her) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Kelly Lucille Page; Review: I first read Kelly Lucille with Keeping Her and I laughed my head off through the entire book. I literally could not put it down and I did the same with this book. I was hoping she would follow up with Ben and Mac and she didn't disappoint. The chemistry between all three of these characters was so steamy and hot and again, it was absolutely hilarious!! Where can I find these guys? I'm absolutely getting this one in print when it comes out! This is one to read again and again!! I hope Ms. Lucille keeps coming with the characters from this series because I'm absolutely hooked! I highly recommend this series; you WON'T be disappointed!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murphy (The Skulls Book 2) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Sam Crescent Page; Review: I'm having a hard time with this one. Let me say that I didn't start with Lash because of the other reviews and people saying what an absolute jerk he was. So I thought I'd go with this one and if I really liked it, I'd go back and read the first one. I like the idea of the biker whose so protective of his woman, and I get that Tate isn't someone that can be walked on, but seriously, the woman was a b&*%h and a brat! I have no clue why Murphy even wanted her. I understand about their past and how they "fell in love" but I just don't buy the rest of it. And then when I thought things could be redeemed when I read the epilogue about Nash, I knew I wasn't going back or further with this one. **SPOILER** I have absolutely nothing against what people do on their own, but with Nash going down the drug path, I knew it wasn't going to be good. But the thing that got me? When he found out who the guy was that had had sex with Sophia, he went out and killed him and his "brothers" helped him hide the body. WTF?!?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: If Only (Masters of the Shadowlands); Author: Visit Amazon's Cherise Sinclair Page; Review: I absolutely love Cherise Sinclair and am always on the lookout for anything she writes. Personally, I think she just gets better and better. I have to admit, there are a couple of scenes in this book that gave me pause to give the 5 star rating, but that's just based on my own personal quirks. I've waited a long time to read the story for these 3 people and it absolutely did not disappoint! Another great read by Cherise Sinclair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unwound (The Mastered Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Lorelei James Page; Review: I WASN'T SURE ABOUT THIS SERIES, BUT AFTER READING THE FIRST BOOK I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THIS ONE TO BE RELEASED! I LOVE EVERYTHING LORELEI JAMES WRITES AND THIS JUST ADDED TO THE LIST OF MUST HAVES FOR ME! THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN AMERY AND RONIN WAS EXPLOSIVE AND THE BONDAGE SCENES WERE TASTEFUL, YET SEXY! I HOPE THERE'S MORE TO THIS SERIES BECAUSE THIS WAS AWESOME!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edge of the Enforcer; Author: Visit Amazon's Cherise Sinclair Page; Review: After what seems like waiting FOREVER, we finally got deVries and Lindsey's story and it was so worth the wait! Their chemistry was explosive and the softer scenes were so touching that I actually cried! Cherise Sinclair does it again!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE, AMAZING STORY AND I WOULD SO RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twice the Growl (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance): A BBW in need of a date; Author: Visit Amazon's Milly Taiden Page; Review: I absolutely loved this book!! Actually I love anything by Milly Taiden but to me she just gets better and better!!! This book was sweet, sexy and funny and OMG do I love the characters! If you haven't read it yet, you're in for a treat!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Show Me, Baby: A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella (1001 Dark Nights); Author: Visit Amazon's Cherise Sinclair Page; Review: As always, Cherise Sinclair stuns in Show Me, Baby. I love, love, love the fact that Raine is described as a BBW, and still Jake can't get enough. I LOVED IT!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Affliction: Knights Rebels MC (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's River Savage Page; Review: INCREDIBLE!!! I've just finished reading Affliction, by the amazing River Savage, and I've literally run the gamut of emotions on this roller coaster of a ride. I laughed, was p****d, cried my eyes out and felt such incredible joy with this story! Sy and Holly are two incredibly broken people for different reasons, but together, somehow they're whole and their characters, their chemistry, their angst and their love literally come to life as you share in their heartbreak, loss and love. Ms. Savage captivated me with Incandescent and I will always love Nix and kadence but Affliction blew me away. This book is absolutely amazing and this author is a 1 - click for me, hands down! You won't regret reading this one, but trust me, keep the tissue box handy!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keeping Her Close (Landcaster Brothers) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Rayne O'Gara Page; Review: ***SPOILER ALERT*** I actually really liked some parts of this story, but I felt there was could've been more to a couple of parts in the middle. I LOVE that the heroine stands up for herself and tells the hero off time and time again. There were times that I REALLY wanted to slap the s#$% out of the hero for being a jerk. But I really wanted to get his point of view from when the heroine was kidnapped. She was gone for 3 weeks and we don't have anything from him whatsoever about how he found out, what he felt, nothing. That's another thing. We know she was rescued and they told us he's dead, but they never said how she was rescued, who found her, who shot him, anything. Oh, and when the hero talks about his brother? I would N-E-V-E-R forgive my sibling if they slept with my fiancee just to show me what a bad person they were. I don't give a F@*! what place their heart was in!! I may give this series another try, but it WILL NOT be to read the story of that brother!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Masterful; Author: Visit Amazon's Jesse Joren Page; Review: I'm not one to write negative reviews, but in this case, I feel like I had to. Do NOT waste your time or money!!! TOTALLY MISLEADING!!!***SPOILER'S AHEAD*** This book is advertised as BBW, and that's fine, because that's the kind of book I was looking for, but the more I read, the more P@#$%D I got. Not just because I wasted money on this, but because instead of the BBW dark erotic romance I thought I was getting, I got a story of a man who's "saving" a woman by making her lose weight, while constantly telling her how beautiful she is. I'm sorry, but if someone is trying to convince you you're beautiful regardless of your size, they're also NOT trying to make you lose weight to "save" you. I seriously don't get all the 5 star reviews. Wondering if everyone else read the same book I did. Either way, refund demanded and this is all I need to read of this author to know I don't want to read more!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Assigned a Mate; Author: Visit Amazon's Grace Goodwin Page; Review: When I read the blurb for this book and immediately downloaded it, I hoped it was as good as it sounded. I was SO NOT DISAPPOINTED!! The tangible chemistry between Tark and Eva was so amazing and I LOVED how he loved her for what SHE looked like, not the body type she thought he should be attracted to because of how HE looked. This was a fast moving story, but once I started reading, I couldn't put it down!! And the HEA is just icing on the cake! I can't wait to read more from this author in the future, because if those books are anything like this one, SIGN ME UP!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mated to the Warriors; Author: Visit Amazon's Grace Goodwin Page; Review: I'M SO LOVING GRACE GOODWIN!!! This is the 2nd book of the Interstellar Bride Program and I have to say that this series is AWESOME!! This book we meet Zane, Harrah and Dare and again, the chemistry is super H-O-T!! If you love hot menages with amazing characters you'll love to cheer for, by all means, this story is for you!! If you haven't read this series, starting with Assigned a Mate, YOU'RE TOTALLY MISSING OUT!! THIS AUTHOR HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME A ONE-CLICK FOR ME!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hetch (Men Of S.W.A.T.) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's River Savage Page; Review: I'm not sure I can do this book justice with a simple review, but I'll give it a try. I began reading River Savage with Incandescent and every book just got better and better, but Hetch is in a league all its own. This book is a roller coaster of emotion in the best possible way. You can read the blurb and find out what the book is about but when you read it, you experience Hetch, Liberty, their family and friends with all of your emotions. EVERY.SINGLE.ONE. You've laughed, you've cried, you've been p!@#$d, you've felt angst and you've fallen in love. Not just along with Hetch and Liberty but with everyone(maybe not EVERYONE but you'll understand when you read it). Some parts are so epic that's they'll stand out(the spider scene-PRICELESS!!) but some are more subtle. *** POSSIBLE SPOILER*** For me, my favorite scenes are the ones where Hetch talks to Liberty through the bedroom wall later in the book. So touching you can literally feel his pain. In fact, this story touched me in ways I never would've imagined(mental illness, suicide, bullying and peer pressure-almost everyone knows someone in their circle affected by at least one of these) and hit a very personal note with me, leaving me thinking about this book long after I'd finished it, which is, to me, one of the earmarks of an amazing book. If you want to EXPERIENCE a book, you'll never regret taking the ride with Hetch, Liberty and River Savage and if you're like me, you won't want to wait to see what this incredible author comes out with next!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Barbarian's Captive; Author: Visit Amazon's Maddie Taylor Page; Review: This is the first book I've read by Maddie Taylor and it definitely won't be my last! I had read the blurb for The Barbarian's Captive and from the moment I did, I couldn't wait for this book to be released. I absolutely loved the story line and the chemistry between Kerr and Eva was so explosive! From the time I downloaded the story to the time I finished, I literally couldn't put it down!! From everything they go through, to the HEA, I loved it from start to finish!! I've added Ms. Taylor to my one-click authors and am eagerly, if a little impatiently, awaiting the next book in the series!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Handling Susannah; Author: Visit Amazon's Amelia Smarts Page; Review: This is the 3rd book I've read by Amelia Smarts, and it won't be my last! She's once again created this Western romance with domestic discipline and this this time we're introduced to Adam and Susannah. After a unusual start, they slowly find their way, with her son Caleb along for the ride. I have to admit, there were a couple of times when I REALLY wanted to slap Susannah upside the head, but she redeemed herself! I've provided this honest review for an ARC.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mountain Man Daddy; Author: Visit Amazon's Kara Kelley Page; Review: I absolutely LOVE Kara Kelley's newest release!!! Mike and Avery have a bit of a rocky road from the start, and I have to admit, there were a couple of times that I really wanted to smack Avery upside the head, but she straightened out, with Mike's help and his heavy hand. Their chemistry is off the charts and every time he refers to himself as "Daddy" I swear I got goosebumps!! Mountain Man Daddy is another winner for Kara Kelley and you'll love it from start to finish! Oh, and be on the lookout for Rocky; he's sure to steal your heart too!!! I was provided an ARC for an honest opinion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Surprise Daddy; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicole Snow Page; Review: This is actually one of my favorite books ever by Nicole Snow. OMG, I LOVE MARSHAL & SADIE!!! Marshal is SERIOUSLY disliked and misunderstood in his small Iowa town, but he doesn't care because the only thing that's important to him is his adorable daughter Mia. He leaves a less than good first impression on Sadie, but she, needing extra money and really wanting to "crack the case" of Marshal, answers his ad for a nanny. When he half-heartedly agrees, neither one of them expects to fall in love. There are some serious issues that come between them and I swear to God I wanted to slap the crap out of Sadie a couple of times for caving to her family, but like all good couples, they work their way to a HEA. I love this couple and I have to admit, their chemistry is amazing and I LOVE little Mia!! GREAT READ!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Survival (Stronger Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Jay Marie Page; Review: This is the 2nd book of the Stronger series and it picks up exactly where Stolen left off.and OMG is this book amazing!! I'm just amazed at the resilience and fight in Jaden as the next part of her ordeal begins and I know that I've NEVER read a heroine this strong before!!! She's reeling from the discovery that she's been sold and she's not about to make things easy for her new owner. This journey she's on is filled with pain and revelations and her instinct to survive is so strong. BEWARE, IT DOES HAVE SOME PARTS THAT ARE DISTURBING. Jay Marie is giving us an emotional roller coaster ride with Jaden, and I'm not getting off this ride until I know how things will end!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spark (Stronger Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Jay Marie Page; Review: I've been sucked in by this series and I can't even tell you all the emotions it makes me feel. Still following Jaden's life as it is since she was kidnapped and sold, she's been subjected to some things that are unspeakable,and the 3rd book in the series just delves deeper into her new existence. I've found myself horrified at times, but I believe Jay Marie is giving us a true to life view of human trafficking and it's not pretty. But with Jaden, she's trying to find a way to keep her indomitable spirit and remnants of herself, even when it feels like everything is lost. OMG, this book!!! Believe me, EVERYTHING I AM was sucked into this series and I couldn't stop reading until the end, which, in my opinion, is the mark of an incredible author. Now I can't wait for the rest of the series because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Torin; Author: Visit Amazon's K Webster Page; Review: HOLY OMG, THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE!!! This is the latest book I've read by K Webster and she never ceases to amaze me. Once again, this story has pulled me in and I could not stop reading until the very end!! Beware, your emotions are going to feel beat up and wrung out by the time you finish this book, but in a good way. I felt so much while reading this book and it kept me glued to the pages but in the end, I really felt like I had been touched by these characters and they stayed with me long after I stopped reading, which, in my opinion, constitutes an amazing book and an incredible author; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Defying Him; Author: Visit Amazon's Zoe Blake Page; Review: OMG, LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! Defying him is the latest book by Zoe Blake and I'm SO in love with this book!! Michael and Phoebe are phenomenal characters and the chemistry between these two is so explosive I was worried about the state of my kindle. Add in 2 murders that need to be solved and there's a race against the clock for these two to get their HEA, but when they get it, it's even better!! ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT FROM START TO FINISH!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snow & the Seven Huntsmen (Dark Fantasy) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Zoe Blake Page; Review: This new series by Zoe Blake and Alta Hensley is based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs but this is most definitely not your average fairy tale!! Its dark and delicious and an awesome start to what I hope will be the first of many new books by this great duo!! VERY VERY HOT!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: The Passion of the Christ (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jackass: The Movie (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Fisher-Price Disney's Jake and The Never Land Pirates Hook's Jolly Roger Pirate Ship; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: My five-year-old grandson asked for this. He loves it. He has learning problems but playing with this has helped him with his imagination a little.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This was a gift for my 1-1/2-year-old granddaughter. It's sturdy and the wheel placement makes it stable for her. She loves it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Wheelies Disney Pixar Cars 2 Speed 'n Sounds Race Track; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: My 5-year-old grandson chose this and we purchased it for a Christmas gift. He loves Cars and he really enjoys playing with this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Jake and The Never Land Pirates - Jake's Musical Pirate Ship Bucky; Brand: ; Review: This was a gift for my 5-year-old grandson. He loves anything that is Jake and the Neverland Pirates and he enjoys playing with this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jake and the Never Land Pirates Matching Game; Brand: Wonder Forge; Review: This was another item my 5-year-old grandson picked out so we got it for him for Christmas. He is autistic and this is a great tool for our daughter-in-law to use when she is homeschooling him.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hilton Liverpool City Centre; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: We were attending a wedding reception in Liverpool one, we booked the Hilton on an advance pay basis, when we arrived we were up-graded to a superb room. The staff dealt with any enquiry/request with incredible ease. Fantstic experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Manchester Deansgate; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: We were attending a 40th birthday in Manchester, my pregnant wife arrived a couple of hours before me, As soon as the porter realised he took such fantastic care of her. The rooms, service, breakfast were superb.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de la Baie de Morlaix; City: Carantec Finistere Brittany; Review: We were looking for somewhere close to Roscoff to stay for a couple of nights on our way home from southern France, we booked a family suite for around 100 euros a night. The hotel was imaculate, really well looked after, the couple that run the hotel we really helpfull & very friendly. We would 100% stay at this hotel in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: London Hilton on Park Lane; City: London England; Review: We arrived early but were dealt with so well & made to feel very welcome, the staff were really attentive & nothing was to much trouble. We were given a fantastic room on the 26th floor with far reaching views accros London.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Elms Hotel Spa; City: Abberley Malvern Hills Worcestershire England; Review: I honestly didnt get the Elms when we first arrived but as time passed i got it. There is no doubt the Elms is an impressive hotel in superb grounds but it is a little jaded in parts & the service wasnt fantastic but we really enojed ourselves, the kids didnt want to leave & they want to know when we are going back. Would we stay again? Without doubt.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Center Parcs Longleat Forest; City: Warminster Wiltshire England; Review: We stayed in 98 the Pines, the lodge was well equipped, very clean & in a great spot. The park is massive, really well laid out & plenty of free activities for the kids. We ate at the Indian which was really good, the service was also very good, in particular "Fernando" who went out of his way to look after our two boys. All in all a great break.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Hotel Wiesbaden City; City: Wiesbaden Hesse; Review: Second time we have stayed, spent 3 nights earlier this month & have to say how friendly the staff were, the hotel has been recently refurbished & has been done really well, really good choice for breakfast. great hotel, great value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lodore Falls Hotel Spa; City: Borrowdale Keswick Lake District Cumbria England; Review: We booked a family room that looked as it had recently been refurbished, everything we needed. The hotel is in a spectacular spot right on the lake, some people have complained about the B road in front but i dont think this detracts from the hotel in the slightest. The service from check in to check out was first class, in particular a Dutch chap who seamed to be everywhere, he went above & beyond to make sure we were being looked after. We had dinner in the lake view restaurant & it was superb. I would highly recommend this hotel for a family break.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: First of all, a fantastic hotel, the problem was the heat, you can have a fan no problem but they only have a certain amount of portable AC units. Not a massive problem but when you are spending the thick end of £200 a night you don't expect to be sweaty. They did show us a room on the floor below but was just as hot but smaller. That said the service was outstanding from the check in to the porter (Garry I think) went above & beyond his duties, the breakfast staff were amazing in fact every member of staff we came across were very professional. Would we stay again? 100% but not in the summer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TUI SENSATORI Resort Barut Sorgun; City: Sorgun Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: Amazing resort, we had a swim up pool & the kids loved it. Not cheap but worth every penny, the kids went to the kids club most days & really enjoyed it, every member of staff we met from the manager to the maids were fantastic, really well run hotel, the only negative for us was the way the restaurants were booked, we didnt mange to book any of them apart from the ones you had to pay for, this needs sorting out, overall a great holiday..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tontine Hotel; City: Greenock Inverclyde Scotland; Review: We have stayed a couple of times before & nothing is to much trouble, its close enough to town so you can walk to the bars and restaurants. the room, service & breakfast we excellent. would 100% stay again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel 41; City: London England; Review: Simply amazing, a real gem, from the minute you arrive you know its going to be special, we were greeted like old friends & offered a glass of champagne whilst we checked in, nothing was to much trouble, the staff were superb, really was a fantastic experience. Would we stay again? You bet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crieff Hydro Hotel and Resort; City: Crieff Perth and Kinross Scotland; Review: First of all this is a first class hotel/resort, the setting, the service & facilities are second to none. So what was wrong? We were given a room with no windows, just 3 roof lights, one of the most beautiful settings and all we could see was a wall! We spent nearly £700 on 2 nights & this is not acceptable. Would we stay again? Not without seeing photos of the room.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manchester Marriott Victoria Albert Hotel; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: We stayed last Saturday night as we were attending a concert in Manchester. Its a really nice converted mill with original features. Check in really quick & pleasant, the room was large & immaculate, very comfortable, all the staff we came in contact with were fantastic, we really enjoyed our stay. The one slight negative was the £16 car parking charge, i feel this was to much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club Site; City: Staveley Kendal Lake District Cumbria Eng; Review: We could not have picked a better campsite for our maiden voyage, on arrival we were shown to our pitch by a very helpful chap who helped my to reverse on to our pitch, he even fixed an issue we had with our jockey wheel, he went above & beyond, a real asset to the camp site. Once sorted we really enjoyed the site, toilets & showers were very clean, as was the whole campsite. We ate at the pub which had a realy good atmosphere. We will 100% go back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: Stayed in Manchester for the Fleetwood Mac concert (cancelled) couldnt have picked a better hotel, the service was first class, the room was fantastic, we had dinner at Opus which was very good. Overall a fantastic stay,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plassey Holiday Park; City: Wrexham Wrexham County North Wales Wales; Review: We have stayed in around 20 caravan park & this is the very best, really good facilities, spotless showers & toilets, the reception staff were really helpful & very nice. the only gripe we had was when we went for lunch, we sat outside the restaurant whilst the kids played in the most fantastic playground but there was a road separating the two & cars were coming through far to fast to get to the car park at the rear. We stayed on pitch 19 which faced a field, really quiet & peaceful. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brisbane House Hotel; City: Largs North Ayrshire Ayrshire Scotland; Review: On arrival all looked fine, once past reception a different story, we were staying in the Glen room, once we had found it in a dark corner we thought it was the door to a cupboard ( see picture) once in we were shocked, it looked as if had been furnished from a second hand shop, everything was warn, the wardrobe had a handle missing dreadful but worse was to come, we looked out of the window to see massive industrial vents a metre away from our window, the next morning they were switched on early waking everyone up, the other side looked over the empty bottle and cask storage. We went for breakfast on the first morning, it was dreadful, the cheapest nastiest sausages I have ever tasted, we didn't eat we just left, we were going to eat in the restaurant that night but after the breakfast we thought better of it. On a positive the staff were really good and attentive. The rooms need some serious up dating.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Wild Rose Park; City: Appleby in Westmorland Eden District Lake District Cumbria England; Review: We were allocated the worst pitch on the site, right opposite the chemical waste toilet which is next to a derelict drying area close to overfilled bins, I don't understand why they would allocate such a pitch when there were much better ones available the whole time we were there. The site it's self is fine and the clubhouse was really good, the staff were excellent, one thing that surprised us that there was no Wi Fi in the bar, as I have to take emails from work I have to have access, surely this would bring business into the bar. Shower blocks were a joke. Only two showers in the gents meaning there were queues everyday. Not much fun with a 4 year old. We came home a day early.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Park Plaza London Riverbank; City: London England; Review: Really nice hotel, good location and superb staff we stayed in a one bedroom suite and it was really nice. Only issue is major construction going on above and at both sides spoilt our stay. I don't think they made this clear on their website. We would 100% stay again after the work is finished.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Hotel Wiesbaden City; City: Wiesbaden Hesse; Review: Really nice hotel, the staff were really professional and very helpful, room was on the small side but nicely furnished and clean, the breakfast was very good with a good choice. The only thing that ruined my stay was the ridiculous car park charge €72 for 3 nights, just a complete rip off. Other than that very good all round.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carden Park Hotel; City: Broxton Chester Cheshire England; Review: We booked dinner bed & breakfast to celebrate my wifes birthday, not a great start as we had to wait 20 minutes to check in, the room we were given wasn't in the main hotel it was in the courtyard, there was no mention of any help with our bags we were just left to find the room. the room was dated but very large & comfortable, the bathroom looked as if it had been updated since the 80s, not acceptable in a £200 a night room. We went for a massage in the spa which was excellent. Dinner was laughable, we arrived at the Vines at 9.15, we were asked to wait as the table was not ready, after 15 minutes we asked when the table would be ready, it had been ready for a while & they had forgotten to inform us. I think it was one of the managers that took our order, he brought the wine & opened it without asking, once I had tasted it I informed him it was the wrong wine, he just shuffled off & got somebody to serve the correct one, my wife enjoyed her dinner mine was burnt & over cooked but was replaced quickly & it was really nice. Breakfast was really nice, unfortunately it was the same checking out, took around 30 minutes. Would we stay again? Not sure, there are plenty of hotels at this price level & I feel Carden Park need to try a little harder.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Belfry Hotel Resort; City: Wishaw Warwickshire England; Review: The place is amazing, the facilities fantastic, the staff were incredible, really helpful and couldn't do enough for us. The only let down was the rooms, very small and hot, basic double bed, even premier inns have king size beds, one chair round a table for 2 people? We were really disappointed with the room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Burnham Beeches Hotel; City: Burnham Buckinghamshire England; Review: Really nice setting, old hotel but well maintained. Rooms were nothing special family room was just an average D/B with a sofa bed, really cramped, the service was fantastic, especially Marku in the bar, couldn't do enough for you. All in all a very pleasant stay and would recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Manchester Deansgate; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: Really busy & took a while to check in, the room was really small & just a D/B, it was very clean and well furnished, amazing views from the 14th floor, very expensive WIFI, I thought all hotels had free WIFI now days, all the staff we came into contact with were very friendly & efficient, would we stay again? Probably.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As Cascatas Golf Resort Spa; City: Vilamoura Quarteira Faro District Algarve; Review: We stayed in a 2 bed apartment, superbly furnished and decorated, very clean and spacious. Check in was quick and efficient, every member of staff were very friendly and helpful, the only negative for us was the prices in the restaurant, 140 euros 2 adults and 2 kids!Really nice resort and would 100% book again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blythswood Square Hotel; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: We stayed to attend a friends 40th birthday party, from check in to check out the service was amazing especially Paige on the front desk, the party was fantastic again the service was immaculate, really well organised & the dinner was really good. Cannot fault the place & would 100% stay next time we visit Glasgow. l; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton London Metropole; City: London England; Review: Quite possibly the worst hotel I have ever stayed in, booked the Hilton as I stupidly thought the standard would be high, first room (518) looked onto a grey concrete wall with the busiest dual carriageway behind, moved to 2106, much better view but the room was appalling, not been refurbished in 10/15 years, small grubby & worn, paint peeling, stains on the carpet, opened the mini bar to put my medication in, it was hot & smelled like something had died in it. The TV was ancient, just 4 English channels, I thought all these TVs had been sent to the tip! All this for the best part of £200! didn't go for breakfast so I cant comment, the parking was £35 for one night. I wouldn't recommend & I certainly wouldn't stay again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cedar Court Hotel; City: Harrogate North Yorkshire England; Review: Stayed at this hotel as we were attending a conference, checked in was swift & efficient, i stayed on the 3 rd floor, the rooms have not been updated for at least 20 years apart from a flat screen TV, that said it was very clean but not worth £85.15. All the staff i came in contact with were really nice & helpful, breakfast was really good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guildford Harbour Hotel; City: Guildford Surrey England; Review: Arrived & the hotel looked really nice, quick check in all good, got to the room & discovered the windows were frosted??? I have never come across this before in any hotel, the room was fairly small & the windows made it feel really claustrophobic, anyway had no time to waste as we were meeting people for dinner, got back to the hotel & had a night cap, really nice bar/service. Went back to the room at around 11.30 went to sleep only to be woken by loud revellers from 12.30 until 3.00, apparently it was an in house awards ceremony, surely with a bit of planning we could have been allocated a room to avoid this? On check out the receptionist tried to charge us for dinner even though they had made a reservation for us. Possibly the worst sleep, hotel experience i have ever had.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Aphrodite Hills Golf Spa Resort Residences; City: Kouklia Paphos District; Review: This was our second time to Aphrodite hills, we were disappointed with the villa allocated to us, it was tatty, badly furnished and in need of a re-fit, we spoke to Katie who is the rep for James Villas who very kindly showed us a couple of other options but as we had in packed we decided to stay, the bath and shower needed fixing but once that was done it wasn't to bad. I have to mention how fantastic Katie was, she is incredibly efficient and professional as we're all the Aphrodite staff we came in contact. Would we stay again? Not sure.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Future Inn Plymouth; City: Plymouth Devon England; Review: Difficult to find due to road works, arrived to find only one person at reception had to wait a while, the receptionist was super efficient and friendly, got to my room, very clean but a little dated. Went to the bar to meet my colleagues to find only one bar person, waited 10 minutes for a drink. Slept well and breakfast was fine. Just let down by the waiting.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Greenacres Holiday Park Haven; City: Morfa Bychan Porthmadog Gwynedd North Wales Wales; Review: This was the 4th or 5th time we have visited, this will be the last. First caravan was ancient and the smell when I opened the door was overwhelming, returned back to reception and they came up with a newer caravan but mentioned it was a little smaller, arrived to find it in a filthy condition, there was even ants in the fridge, there was no way it had been cleaned, when the cleaners turned up they said we would have been better with an owners caravan and not one that the park owned, she was 100% correct, being half term we could not find anywhere else so we stayed for 3 of the 4 nights we booked.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Belmont Hotel; City: Banbridge County Down Northern Ireland; Review: Got to be the best value hotel I have ever stayed at, it's a beautiful hotel situated in parkland yet still close to town, it's had a recent refurbishment and it has been done really well, really comfortable beds and immaculate. All the staff I came into contact with were fantastic, the bar managers knowledge of gin was second to none. Just 2 small negatives, the hotel signs are terrible, they are enough to put you off visiting and a small fan in each room would make a difference. Fantastic experience, can't wait to stay again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel; City: Birmingham West Midlands England; Review: Attended the Autumn fair at the NEC & stayed at the Metropole, its massive & the downstairs area really nice & impressive, checked in, all the staff were in yellow polo shirts, more like Butlins than a 4 star hotel, got to the room & was really disappointed, really old & run down, i wasn't prepared to stay in this room for 5 nights, went back to reception & paid extra to stay in an executive room which was fine. Everything else as you would expect, staff were really nice & efficient.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Sussex Place; City: Belfast Northern Ireland; Review: Easy to find in a regenerated part of the city, jus 10 minute walk to the bars and restaurants. Really nice conversion apartment, we stayed in the penthouse which had a lift (albeit a slow one) The apartment has 2 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms, plenty of space, the only negatives were the lack of bedside lights & the really cheap blinds that let light in other than this we really enjoyed our stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: RYKA Women's Vida RZX Cross-Training Shoe; Brand: Ryka; Review: No arch support; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Casual Nights Women's Satin Lightweight Nightgown Embroidered Lace Cap Sleeve; Brand: ; Review: Silky and comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Women's Purealign Athletic Thong; Brand: ; Review: Need to wear off and on. Arch supportive and hasn't broken down yet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sanita Women's Baja Slide Pump; Brand: Sanita; Review: Hard heel sole than typical Sanita but I love these shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saucony Ride 8 Sneaker (Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: Saucony; Review: Fit is larger than sketches but this is a great shoe!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Celebrity PDA of 2019; Abstract: See the stars kissing and hugging on the red carpet and out and about!; Category: entertainment
Title: 'Rich Kids' Stars Morgan Stewart and Brendan Fitzpatrick to Divorce After 3 Years of Marriage; Abstract: ET confirmed earlier this month that Fitzpatrick is now dating 'Bachelor' alum Amanda Stanton.; Category: tv
Title: Evan Rachel Wood Calls Out Paris Hilton for Calling Millie Bobby Brown 'Hot'; Abstract: Evan Rachel Wood Calls Out Paris Hilton for Calling Millie Bobby Brown 'Hot'; Category: tv
Title: A man dies in Hawaii after falling into a lava tube in his yard; Abstract: An elderly man died after falling into a lava tube on his property in Hilo, Hawaii, police announced on Wednesday.; Category: news
Title: Meghan McCain confronts Trump Jr.: 'You and your family have hurt a lot of people'; Abstract: Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, defended his family after "View" co-host Meghan McCain suggested they were responsible for the lack of "character" in American politics.; Category: news
Title: Far-reaching snowstorm may take shape over US; Abstract: A winterlike pattern will continue to unfold across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation into next week as a brutal one-two punch of bitterly cold air plunging into the United States will set the stage for another major storm.; Category: weather
Title: Seahawks knock 49ers from unbeaten ranks with 27-24 OT win; Abstract: Jason Myers kicked a 42-yard field goal after Chase McLaughlin missed a kick earlier in overtime, and the Seattle Seahawks handed the San Francisco 49ers their first loss of the season with a 27-24 victory on Monday night.; Category: sports | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Arctix Men's Premium Snowboard Cargo Pants; Brand: Arctix; Review: These are like board shorts. Don't go by the size of pants you wear. I am normally a 32-34 depending on the company and i needed a 36 in these; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bowflex BodyTower; Brand: Bowflex; Review: Love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marcy Adjustable Olympic Weight Bench with Leg Developer and Squat Rack MD-879; Brand: Marcy; Review: It is good for the price however there is almost no padding on the bench so be aware of that. Also, I am 6' 0' and when using the leg extension my feet drag on thr ground. When using hamstring curl it hits me just below the calf, however it is perfect size for my wife who is 5'4". However the preacher curl attachment fit me just right and is too tall for her. Everything else works well for both of us. So for the price, its good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wilson A200 Series 10-inch Tee Ball Glove (Right Hand Throw); Brand: Wilson; Review: Fits like a kid glove.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eurosocks Ski Zone Snow Skiing Socks -1112; Brand: Eurosocks; Review: Great product. Kept me warm.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: General Tools MM1E Moisture Meter, Pin Type, LED Bar Graph; Brand: General Tools; Review: it works well, it seems to be accurate. At least I don't have to guess anymore, I use it on drywall and soft woods.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 7W 300LM Mini CREE LED Flashlight with Adjustable Focus Zoom Lamp; Brand: ePathDirect; Review: This flashlight is f'ing amazing, much brighter than my 20 bucks Terralux. I'm a contractor and I was looking for something I can use for inspections small enough to fit in my pocket. This was it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Energizer Ultimate Lithium Flashlight; Brand: Energizer-Eveready; Review: flashlight was ok, but I work in construction and cannot show up at the job site with something that looks like a dildo.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors ProSensor 710 Precision Stud Finder Yellow; Brand: Prosensor; Review: Ron here from phcontractors.com. This is the only stud finder we use in our company, we tried every type, every brand and every price... nothing compares to prosensor Franklin, all other brands fall short, I'm looking at you Bosh scanner; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KNIPEX 87 01 125 Cobra Pliers; Brand: KNIPEX Tools; Review: Contractor approved, you will not be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winbag 15730 Air Wedge Alignment Tool, Inflatable Shim; Brand: WINBAG; Review: I bought one for the fun of it. It ended up being one of my favorite tools. I love this freaking bag!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Apocalyptic Empire: The Hatchery Compound; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Blake Page; Review: Alright, I was given this story to review in a book swap. Ive never read one of these apocalyptic zombie novels before, so it was a nice experience and I will try to go as in depth on this review as possible. I would also like to say that this is my very first review, so Im new to this but will certainly try my best! STORY The story behind this book is compelling and has truly great potential. I don't have a lot to say about it here, as I expand upon the problems I encountered within it below. WRITING In the beginning of this novel, the writing seems somewhat bumpy and disjointed. Looking through other reviews, I saw Chris had mentioned hed hired a professional editor for the job, and after discovering that . . . well, I would honestly suggest he finds a new editor. That said, the writing in this is not terrible by any means and it clearly improves as the story moves along. I won't lie, though; it could certainly use some work and I would definitely suggest putting it by several beta readers before entering the final editing process this may have been done, but I can't be certain. Anyhow, as I learned recently, beta readers can be extremely helpful. My beta readers helped to improve my book in wonderful ways. CHARACTER While a few of the characters are quite interesting, many of them are lacking a bit in development especially with the women in the story. Ill also say that I personally did not have much of a problem with the protagonists age, however I would have imagined him being older considering his level of maturity. (Then again, some 24-year-olds are surprisingly mature these days.) He was quite a good character, though; I liked him. COVER Most people don't share their opinions on the cover of a book in the reviews, but being an artist my self, I shall because I feel it is quite important to the success of any book. While not all people will judge a book by its cover, there are still quite a number of us who feel that a poor cover equals poor story content. My opinion of the cover designed by Sharon Watkins is that its off-putting. If I had come across the book myself, I would have looked the other way. This is mainly due to the color scheme and the lettering. I feel that the silhouettes should have been black, and that a monotone color scheme would have suited it much better than the bright greens and reds. Please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion. Chris may be happy with the cover, other people may love it as well but I just dont. I am an extremely picky person about color and design and proper execution, which is why I strive to improve my own work each and ever day. ___________________________________________ Overall, I think this book deserves three stars for an enjoyable, well-thought-out story and pretty decent writing! I would give a; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sasha's Story: How to Find a Mate the Hard Way (Alien Erotica) (Welcome to the Program Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Andromeda Bliss Page; Review: What a lovely little story this was! It was well-written, and not just packed full of sex for the sake of it. The fact that the characters seemed to genuinely feel for each other was nice, and the chemistry between them was wonderful. Ocen has got to be one of my favourite fictional aliens to date. Absolutely loved his personality. As I was reading I imagined him looking somewhat like the Argonians from The Elder Scrolls series. The one thing that disappoints me was how short it was! When I reached the end, I found myself wanting more. I would have liked to find out more about the kidnappers and the experiments they were running, what the purpose was behind them. So yeah, great read! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys alien/human couples, and I'll personally recommend it to some of my friends who loved the cross-species pairings in the Mass Effect video games.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seeking Dr. Magic; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Spotson Page; Review: I have to say, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. From the first page to the very last, it held my interest and sucked me in. The story was intriguing and unique and made for many late nights, as I had trouble putting the book down (but life intervening made the journey getting through this book longer than I would have liked!). Really my only issue with the story is that, while some of the characters were fantastic and well-developed, a few of the others seemed to be lacking a little. All in all, a great read! I will most definitely read it again in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unseen Face; Author: Mr Joannes Rhino; Review: Let me start this review off by saying: what a unique and well written piece of fiction! Joannes Rhino has incredible talent. His writing style is almost poetic and each sentence flows wonderfully across the page, making for an easy and enjoyable read that had me hooked from the beginning. At no point does the book feel rushed or sluggish, the characters are well-developed and relatable . . . and that ending! It left me hungering for more, just as all books should do! I urge you to pick this up. Even if you're not usually a thriller/suspense fan, give it a read! You will not be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Unseen Face; Author: Mr Joannes Rhino; Review: Let me start this review off by saying: what a unique and well written piece of fiction! Joannes Rhino has incredible talent. His writing style is almost poetic and each sentence flows wonderfully across the page, making for an easy and enjoyable read that had me hooked from the beginning. At no point does the book feel rushed or sluggish, the characters are well-developed and relatable . . . and that ending! It left me hungering for more, just as all books should do! I urge you to pick this up. Even if you're not usually a thriller/suspense fan, give it a read! You will not be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shadows Breathe; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Marentes Page; Review: As horse-related books go, this is probably one of the best! Kathleen Marentes has woven an absolutely fantastic story. The characters are realistic and well-developed, the plot is solid and very easy to follow, and the writing style is wonderful. One of the other things I liked about the book was the dialogue. It is very well written, and that seems to be something that a lot of others slip up on. Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was entertaining from beginning to end, and I adored it! I'll definitely be recommending this one to my friends and family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orbs (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sansbury Smith Page; Review: I'm a sucker for anything in the science fiction genre that includes aliens. Especially if those aliens are blue, bioluminescent monsters with unique designs and an even more unique method of harvesting the water from our little blue planet. I've seen many sci-fi movies where extraterrestrial beings come down seeking to steal humanity's most important resource, but the way these "Organics" go about it is much more terrifying and gut-wrenching than anything I've seen, or rather read, before. ORBS, while it does have a few faults here and there as many books do, is a wonderfully written piece of fiction that provides a reasonably fast-paced, easy read that will grip you from the very start. There was even a few changes in point-of-view and tense during one characters time in the spotlight -- from third-person past-tense to first-person present-tense -- and it did not yank me out of the story even a little bit. It fit surprisingly well considering the change, and I give props to Nicholas for being able to pull that off flawlessly. Speaking of characters, Nicholas' cast are enjoyable and well-developed bunch, though perhaps not as diverse as I would have liked. However, I was glad to see their individuality starting to show much more near the end of the book. And if I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be Sophie. She reminds me very much of one of my own characters -- Headstrong, doesn't take s*** from anybody, and is very confident in her talents. Coming close in second would be Ash Overton. Admittedly, when he first appeared I was worried he would become one of these stereo-typical soldiers you see often encounter in science fiction, but he quickly erased all of my worries. To round off my review, I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie -- even more so after being given the chance by Nicholas to create some illustrations related to it. I really do hope to see it on the big screen some day, because I'm confident it would be a massive hit!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jake West - 'The Keeper of the Stones'; Author: Visit Amazon's M J Webb Page; Review: I absolutely adored this story. Loved it from start to finished. M.J. Webb's characters are wonderful and realistic, they're loveable and relatable. The writing is reasonably smooth and makes for a pretty easy and enjoyable read, however I did find some areas in which descriptions were a little heavy. I wish I could say which areas to be a little more helpful, but, unfortunately, I can't recall whereabouts in the book they were. Anyhow, this booked earned a recommendation to my friends and family. It's amazing, and you won't be disappointed! And curse that cliffhanger ending! Gah, I want more of this story and I want to find out what happens next. Thanks to M.J. Webb for exchanging books with me and giving me the opportunity to read this story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nightcrawler; Author: Visit Amazon's John Reinhard Dizon Page; Review: Nightcrawler is a fast-paced and very well written superhero story. I really connected to the characters and became emotionally attached to many of them throughout the book. I liked the hint of romance in the book, it was a nice change to the in-your-face romantic relationships Ive come across a lot lately in these self-published stories. Sometimes it works, but most times it is just way too over the top. I think thats one of the things I really loved about this story, as Im not really a fan of romance to begin with. Overall, I enjoyed the read, the characters, and the writing style was wonderful. Highly recommended!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eye of the Draco: Darkfall (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kadin Seton Page; Review: Eye of the Draco: Darkfall has to be one of the best science fiction novels I have read in an incredibly long time. Kadin Seton is a highly talented writer who knows how to handle a cast of young characters properly, and without making them seem like a bunch of goofy kids. The situation feels serious, it feels real. So many books lack that nowadays and I find it's a very important quality, because if the story doesn't feel real, I start to lose interest. Overall, this book was just a breath of fresh air. A somewhat different take on an alien invasions I'm used to reading about, an absolutely wonderful cast of characters you get attached to super fast. good pacing, and easy to read with just the right amount of science-y goodness. Eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment of the series!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orbs II: Stranded: A Science Fiction Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sansbury Smith Page; Review: Oh, words. What can I say that hasn't already been said before? Orbs II takes off running immediately where the first book left off, and the story is growing darker as more revelations come to light. With a fast-paced narrative, Nicholas keeps tensions running high and has you wondering where our heroes are going to end up. It's getting harder and harder to guess at who is going to make it out of this alive--especially after the death of one of my favourites (who you can be sure did not go down without a fight)! Nicholas' writing has certainly improved since the first installment in this thrilling series. The pacing is better, the descriptions are vivid and just excellent. The cast is more fleshed out now, which is a personal joy for me as the characters are what draw me into a story, and a new group has even come onto the scene! I loved reading about the crew of the submarine. It was a nice change of scenery, and the new characters are wonderful. Overall, this is a fantastic follow-up to another great book and I'll be looking forward to reading the third! I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a little horror with their science fiction.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Earth Alone: Earthrise Book 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Arenson Page; Review: I received a copy of this book as a gift from a friend, and I am so so happy I did. Daniel has woven an intricate science fiction world with unique aliens and an excellent cast of characters who will grab you by the heart and refuse to let go. The best way I can think to describe his writing style is silky. It flows like water across the page -- flawless, crystal clear. I love it. And though I found the dialogue a bit silly at times, it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I was completely engrossed in Earth Alone from the first page to the last, and I cannot wait to read the next one! Major props to you, Daniel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rim War: Subversion (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kadin Seton Page; Review: I was given a free review copy of this book. Man, I love Kadin's stories. After reading Eye of the Draco: Darkfall a couple of years back, I could not wait to see what she might cook up next, and I was not disappointed! I do have a few gripes, but let's start with the good stuff. The worldbuilding was excellent. Explanations of medical and technological elements were clean and don't leave you feeling overwhelmed, as is the pit many scifi authors often fall in to. I loved the concept of reverse aging technology, and following these old folks as they transformed into spry younger versions of themselves was certainly a ride (and a cringe-worthy one at that. Let's just say . . . the process is not pretty). I also fell hard for the cast. All were unique and came from various walks of life (including life of the alien variety). My favorite character, aside from Millie, has got to be Dr. Cennu Andar Ulehta Valorian doctor aboard the SpaceLion. You throw an interesting alien into your cast, and you bet your butt I'm gonna be all over them. Now, on to my gripes. - Personally, I would've liked a little more description of the various species' physical appearances (for example, facial and body structure. Most were simply described with regard to their hair and skin color). Mind you, I seem to stand out from he crowd that way. Many prefer vague descriptions that allow them to build the character's image themselves. - Romance felt a smidge out of place, as did cussing. Although the language fit some characters perfectly, it felt forced from others. - The story felt somewhat disjointed to me. The characters didn't seem to be shooting towards a clear goal, and the book seemed to end before it was ready to. Gripes aside, I really enjoyed RIM WAR: SUBVERSION, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series. I'm excited to see where it goes!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beyond the Red (Beyond the Red Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Ava Jae Page; Review: Oh, I adored this story! Excellent world building, descriptions that paint the settings beautifully, and a lovable cast of characters all with their own complexities. Though, there were a couple of issues I had with the writing. I found the use of red and white a little repetitive, and there was an abundance of "kind of/kinduvs" and "sort of/sortuvs". However, that may simply have been a preference thing. I'll definitely be buying the sequel when it comes out. Can't wait to see where this story goes!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hilton Dubai Creek; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: The hotel is very close to the airport. We landed at 11:30pm and after clearing customs we arrived at the hotel about 1am. They were ready and had our package ready to go. We received a great room with a beautiful view. I am a Hilton Honors member and was greeted as such. All the staff we encountered with friendly and very helpful. Much more than I expected, we greatly impressed. We would definitely stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Seneca Clemson Area; City: Seneca South Carolina; Review: I'm not sure when this hotel was built, but either it is very new or just went through a great renovation. The halls are bright and walls look new. The rooms are clean and with updated furniture. If you need to be in the area, this is the place to stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Lebanon; City: Lebanon Tennessee; Review: We normally stay at Hilton or Hilton Family properties. So I found this Hampton Inn on the east side of Nashville. It is a newer property or recently renovated. The lobby is nice and rooms are what you would expect for a Hampton. I would recommend you stay here. The price was reasonable and it was quiet. We would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville Airport; City: Jacksonville Florida; Review: The hotel is in a great location, it is clean and the rooms and lobby are new and well designed. As I find with many hotels they need more luggage carts. When we came down for breakfast in the lobby. The hostess made the best efforts possible but the cook is very understaffed. I would stay here again but hope they would fix the needed areas.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maya Villa Condo Hotel Beach Club; City: Playa del Carmen Yucatan Peninsula; Review: After being dropped off by the transfer drive. The staff took over and helped get all of our bags to the room. The place was clean and very quiet. We got maid service almost every day. They did a great job. We would go back there in a second. The restaurants that they are associated with are also excellent. The breakfasts are good, but the dinners are amazing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon; City: Miami Florida; Review: I remember this property in the mid the late '90's, it was the place to be. It was the high end around the airport and North of Coral Gables. It seems that it has been stuck in time. Many of the updates and upgrades you would expect from a top property in a Hot City like Miami do not seem to have happened. There is still time for this property, but the time is now to update and upgrade. The location is great, but other details need to be worked out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: just-shoot-it; Brand: Guerrilla Tees; Review: Fits like expected, washes well and a great gift idea!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Goozler Best. Dad. Ever. Funny Father's Day Unisex T-Shirt; Brand: The Goozler; Review: Good gift for Dad & fits perfect!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Luvable Friends Baby Zipper Sleep N Play,; Brand: ; Review: Adorable!!! Not too hot but keeps baby cozy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hudson Baby Bamboo Layette Set; Brand: ; Review: I will order this again! Got it for a gift and it is precious! So super soft too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spasilk Baby Girls' 3 Pack 100 Percent Cotton Scratch Mittens; Brand: Spasilk; Review: Super cute & soft. Fits perfect too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cute n' Country Shirt: I Know How To Load More Than A Washer And Dryer; Brand: Cute n' Country; Review: Love! Fits as expected, washes well :) will be getting others! Delivery is quick.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kung Fu Smith Auto Open Transparent Bubble Shape Flower Print POE Umbrella; Brand: Kung Fu Smith; Review: Love the look but mine broke after the 2nd use.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Birth of the Nyxian: The Immortal choice Series (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Amanda R. Browning Page; Review: This book kept me captivated with every word that I read. I am looking forward to seeing if any more books are published. Seems to me could be a series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6); Author: ; Review: Great book, couldn't put it down. Read it in 1 sitting. Love this entire series. Hope to see more books in this series along with other books by this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Swimming Drill Book; Author: Ruben Guzman; Review: this book was very helpful to me on helping swimmers who ust aren't etting what they are suppose to do. awesome graphics so swimmers no exactly what they are suppose to do. Use on a daily basis.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Destined (Wings); Author: Visit Amazon's Aprilynne Pike Page; Review: YET ANOTHER GREAT BOOK BY PIKE.... LOVE IT, CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE BOOKS BY HER. KEPT ME ENCHANTED SOME MUCH COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hollow City; Author: Visit Amazon's Ransom Riggs Page; Review: Awesome book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special; Author: Visit Amazon's Faith Blakeney Page; Review: Visuals and easy directions; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 101 Tees: Restyle + Refashion + Revamp; Author: Visit Amazon's Cathie Filian Page; Review: Great visuals and instructions.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Generation T 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt; Author: ; Review: Great ideas great visuals and easy instructions; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort; City: Playa Blanca Lanzarote Canary Islands; Review: We had originally booked to visit Tunisia, however due to the riots we were forced to cancel. Our tour operator (Thomson) kindly offered to relocate us from a choice of their late deals hotels, Egypt was an option (thankfully we didn't go!) and Lanzarote was our next choice. After a couple of hours of searching between various hotels and resorts, we picked the Papagayo Arena. Admittedly not our first choice, and after reading a couple of reviews elsewhere regarding the hotels location, we were a little worried we'd be dropped off in the middle of nowhere, infact the First Choice brochure stated that it was "off the beaten track". Thankfully, this is not the case and by far the complete opposite. The coach pulled up to a rather grand looking hotel, not thinking this was our hotel but as it turned out, it was. We were greeted with a very posh reception, lots of wood, marble and well lit, check in was a breeze, the staff were excellent, friendly and efficient and explained everything we needed to know. Safety Deposit boxes can be rented for €3 a night with a €20 refundable deposit. We took it for a whole week totalling €41, of which we got €20 back upon check-out. We were presented with a map of the complex, nope, no lie, a map. We were expecting the complex to stretch out for miles, but no, it is a large complex as other reviews have stated but it's nothing too extreme. We were located in Block E, which is at the very southern end of the hotel, quite a distance away we thought, and as it had rained during our arrival we didn't fancy getting wet however the receptionist told us of a very nifty shortcut to our room, which proved to be handy thanks to a couple of days of wet weather! Transfer from reception to room only took a couple of minutes, all covered and warm. The rooms are literally huge, when you open the door you are greeted by lots of tiles and wooden furniture, the next thing we noticed is the sheer size of the bed, I swear it is the biggest bed we have ever seen. Albeit not the most comfortable, it was slightly hard but still it was acceptable for a weeks stay. The room itself was incredible, if slightly dated but at the end of the day you'll only spend a few hours in the room, and even then you'll be asleep! All spotlessly clean, air conditioned and have a small minibar (empty) however a large bottle of water is left in the room for you upon arrival. Maid service is daily, towels are changed if requested daily and everyday the rooms are left spotless for you, they even leave small touches such as folding the toilet paper to make it look a bit more "attractive". The food was split up into 4 restaurants and a snack bar. The restaurants consisted of a standard buffet style restaurant, Italian themed, Oriental themed and a French themed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pontins Southport Holiday Park; City: Southport Merseyside England; Review: After reading many of the reviews here, we left home expecting the worse, and as we drove through the gates, worse is exactly what we got. Upon first impressions of the complex is that we some how ended up in a 1970's council estate. Kids were running riot around the roads, bike things which can only be described as chuckle brothers bikes took priority so it seemed. After eventually finding a parking spot (serious lack of), we made our way to reception to check in. The reception area is shared with a Nisa local shop, a chippy and an arcade. The first thing that hit us was the foul stench of chip fat, Capn Cod looked, and smelled like it hadn't been cleaned in years, but more on that shortly. After a 15 minute wait in a queue that never seemed to end, we were told that check in would be done outside. Why outside is plainly obvious, the reception area is far too small for the hundreds of people that wanted to check in at the rediculous time of 4pm. Outside there was a huge congregation of people waiting to check in, with a bluecoat on a megaphone attempting to tell people where to queue, but he was so quiet, even with megaphone, that no one understood him. There should have been 4 queues, with check in done in alphabetical order, quite frankly the worst idea in the world. We were told by said bluecoat with quiet voice that there were 3 queues, hilarity ensued and people ended up in altercations with staff over where they should queue. It should be noted that we had to wait 75 minutes, in various queues, to check in. We eventually got a room, which was on the far western side of the complex, and again, after finding a parking space we climbed the stairs to our upper floor room. First impressions is the single glazed windows which let every bit of noise through, the door that didn't fit the frame properly, the smell of mould and just how much of a greenhouse it felt. The room had apparently been refurbished, but as a member of staff put it "we're skint so this is the best we could do"... Room stank, the beds were tiny (I'm 6ft and I was hanging off the end of the bed, as was my 5"2 partner...) the only decent bed was the sofa bed, which my 6 year old said was "sticky". Cooker was dangerous, filthy and smoke poured from the dirty hobs, you can only use the cooker or water heater, not both. Fridge was great if you set it to maximum, anything lower and it'd basically cook whatever was in there. Work tops and windows were dirty, the roof in the kitchen area had mould painted over in white paint, and the bathroom was pathetic, barely enough room to utilise it properly. Oh, and it wasn't clean either. Stains on the bath panel and up the walls where someone obviously couldn't hit the target, if you get; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Green Lodge Hotel; City: Hoylake Wirral Merseyside England; Review: My partner booked this as a last minute thing as we were visiting nearby West Kirby. I was a bit dubious as she'd booked us into a pub (ha!) and was worried about the potential noise being generated and possibly disturbing our sleep. The hotel/pub is only a pleasant 10 minute walk from Hoylake station, and first impressions were positive! Despite the big "Two For One" sign outside, it's not your typical "twofer" establishment. The downstairs restaurant area was very cosy and the staff were extremely friendly. Check in was a breeze, we were led upstairs to our room, (Room 6). The room was beautiful, very stylish, tastefully furnished and totally not what we expected from a pub hotel. Bed was very comfortable, plenty of amenities available to us and the added bonus of having a pub downstairs! The noise was also none existent, even for a saturday night we did not here one peep from downstairs or any other guests. Two downsides, the lock to the room was obviously dying and took a few attempts to lock and gain access, not much of a downside but those of us who may be of a paranoid nature may see this as an issue. Secondly the bathroom light was out of service, however the mirror light more than sufficed. Would we recommend this hotel? Definitely! Would we return? Definitely!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton by Hilton Liverpool City Centre; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: Excellent hotel in the Albert Dock area of Liverpool, not exactly central and quite a trek from Lime Street station but it's pleasant enough! First impressions were fantastic, very smart looking lobby area, extremely modern and very clean. Reception was quiet busy and could have had a couple more staff members available. Was refreshing to see a manager out on the front desk, even more impressive was the fact he was able to translate to foreign guests, don't see this often! The room was on the 6th floor, room 606. An accessible room (only one available, with it being a friday night!), room was absolutely beautiful, tasteful furniture and nicely coloured green! With it being an accessible room it was larger than average, and the bathroom obviously didn't have a bath, but was a wet room. This suits us down to the ground as we prefer showers. Plenty of complimentary amenities available too. One thing to note is despite the noise outside we did not hear so much as a peep from anyone once the windows were closed. The only downside to the room is that the air conditioning was rather asthmatic at best and did nothing to cool the room down in what was a rather humid night. Bed was comfortable too! Didn't take advantage of the complimentary breakfast as we decided to sleep, but used the bar the night before and found it to be well stocked but overpriced, which I guess is the norm for hotels! One poor soul on his own manning the bar and several rather drunken males making his life difficult, having worked in a hotel before, I would have stopped serving them a long while back but each to their own judgement! All in all, no serious negative points, plenty of excellent reasons to stay here, more so for the fantastic location!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Occidental Lanzarote Mar; City: Costa Teguise Lanzarote Canary Islands; Review: As you can see from my past reviews, that I can go into detail and kind of rave on a little about the little details. You'll also notice this review is a lot shorter, which should say something about this hotel. Booked direct with Barcelo for a short 4 night stay, upgraded to a superior room, booked a safe, booked a full minibar and also purchased a late check out. I had heard rave reviews about this hotel and the pictures of the superior room got me in the spirit. Arrival at the hotel, so far so good, looks clean, reception staff were friendly enough. No safe key was handed to me (didn't know we needed one till we got to the room) no All Inclusive wristband was given (didn't know we needed one till we were embarassingly told we couldn't enter the dining hall) and we were given the wrong directions to our block - which resulted in us spending 30 minutes in various blocks and floors trying to find our superior room. The room was nothing like the pictures led us to believe. They were very dated, dark and not the bright modern rooms which are advertised. Makes me laugh that someone else had the same issue too, as I overheard at reception one evening. The only way you could really tell that it was a "superior" room was the coffee machine which wasn't even plugged in, nor were any coffee cups provided so pretty pointless. We paid an extra 20 Euro to have the minibar filled on arrival, even this wasn't done for us. After a 4.5 hour flight, arriving in the late evening, all you want is a bottle of water to cool you down and these aren't even provided in the rooms. I've been in 2 star hotels that do this... Once reception were notified, the minibar was filled with water, beer and soft drinks. Bathroom was clean enough, few chipped tiles and the water pressure was poor but hot water was consistent. The bed however was sublime and the most comfortable I've ever had in a hotel! All in all, quite disappointed with the room and a little miffed that we were misled with the superior product. Grounds were clean, pool areas extremely busy even out of school holidays so god knows how bad it'd get during the holidays! If you want a Sun lounger then think again. We woke up at 6am one morning and I'd hazard a guess that 90% of the loungers were already reserved - which apparently is banned but nothing is done about it. I would highly recommend the adult only pool area which is well hidden but peaceful and relaxing. Just be wary as drinks here are not all inclusive so take cash. Well worth it though for a lounger and relaxation. Food was average, nothing great, some items cold but not for long as it didn't last long, drink options fantastic though! Premium brands are chargeable but cheap for AI guests. All in all, a let down for the; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton by Hilton Gdansk Airport; City: Gdansk Pomerania Province Northern Poland; Review: Arrived here in the late hours of the 31st January for a lads "Spotting" trip to Gdansk. Picture the scene, you land in Poland, the snow is pouring down (proper snow, none of that British rubbish) and it's -3c. The last thing you want to do is wait for some public transport into the town and you just want to get into your hotel as soon as possible. That is exactly what happened. The hotel was a shining beacon just outside the airport and from airport arrivals to hotel entrance took 5 minutes, perfect when you didn't brace yourself for the Polish winter climate! My friend and I, covered in snow and probably looking a little chilled, approached a lady behind reception who warmly greeted us with a big smile and a cheery welcome to Hampton, asked us if it was snowing outside. Got to love the sense of humour! I am not sure if it was just because it was so late in the evening but check in took literally 2 minutes, the receptionists English was spot on and we both could converse perfectly. Payment was made, 620PLN (110GBP) for 2 nights including breakfast!! Key card made and off we go to our room. I had specifically requested an airport facing room (being the plane spotting geek that I am) and this to my surprise was honoured, great views of the airport and the parked aircraft, so I was instantly won over. The room was of a great size, even with the large double bed and also the double sofa-bed fully made, my friend and I could easily navigate our room without bumping into each other. The room was beautifully furnished, extremely comfortable and modern. Bed was extremely comfortable and came with 4 pillows... FOUR!! My friend reports the sofa-bed was comfortable too, backed up by the fact I had to shout at him to wake up. Flat screen TV worked, tea and coffee facilities available in the room, safe also provided in the room which is free and a welcome bonus! Two bottles of mineral water are provided in each room on arrival also, I'm not 100% sure if the water is safe to drink in Poland but best to be on the safe side. Most outstanding feature of the room was the bathroom. Just stunning. Lots of polished chrome, marble and stainless steel, very plush. The shower (no bath) was fantastic, great water pressure and lots of hot water which was consistent, shampoo, conditioner and body gel are all provided in the bathroom too, as well as hand wash and moisturizer are provided by the sink. Towels are replenished every day, as are the bed linens on request. Air conditioning worked a treat, oh and absolutely zero noise from the airport, planes or even fellow guests made for a peaceful nights sleep. Breakfast was provided with my room rate, not sure if this is standard however no one checked room numbers before we dined, this pleased me as we could just stumble out of bed and fill our faces; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: It's always been a goal of mine to finally stay in the Radisson Blu at Manchester Airport, and my time came in the form of celebrating mine and my partners anniversary in March. We booked direct through the Radisson website and splashed out on a Business Class room, secured for £177 per night. It seems a little steep to pay such a price for one night but you're paying for the convenience of being in the centre of Manchester Airport, accessible via the covered Skywalk connecting T1, T2, the Rail station and Radisson. Before arrival we were in contact with the Business Class Manager, Ali, who was an absolute gentleman and an asset to the brand. Noting our anniversary, he provided us with a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine! Even while at the hotel, his attention to detail and helpfulness was second to none, an absolute pleasure to speak to and always took the time to approach you to ensure your stay was as perfect as you could hope. Even when we messed up and got the canape serving time in the lounge wrong, he quickly sorted out a small selection of what was left for us, above and beyond is not even the case, Ali, you are amazing! We stayed in room 948, Business Class suite, complete with dedicated check in on the 9th floor. The room was beautifully designed, decorated and finished. Was spotlessly clean, the bed was huge and extremely comfortable, bathroom was to die for. As part of the Business Class experience, pay per view movies are complimentary and there was a huge choice available. Not to mention the views out of the window which was for lack of better words, breath taking. Aviation geeks would have a field day here! Also, absolutely zero noise was experienced at all. The Business Class Lounge was a fantastic feature too, overlooking the apron, seeing all the aircraft come in and out really sets you up for your travels. We sat back with as much Coke we could handle, there was also Peroni beer, spirits and snacks available. The atmosphere was really laid back, again with Ali checking in to make sure we were being looked after. We also used the gym/spa down on the ground floor, which was so good we actually signed up to use it full time. Food wise, we didn't eat in the on site restaurant, however the breakfast on offer was fantastic and very high quality. All in all, this is a fantastic hotel, amazing even. The staff are absolutely amazing and I'd happily stay here again, and plan on doing so very soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Tikida Dunas; City: Agadir Souss Massa Draa Region; Review: Bit of a late review this one, but it certainly deserves a mention. Booked with Thomson for a week towards the end of September. The late night arrival got us into Agadir after midnight and it wasn't till approximately 1am we arrived at the hotel. Whilst in the transfer coach we were handed some paperwork to fill in (take a pen!) which is to make the check in process much easier. Which it did! Quite a few of our coach were dropped off at the Riu but we were checked in in less than 15 minutes from walking in to having our wristbands attached. If you were feeling peckish, the hotel opened up the Moroccan A-La-Carte for us late arrivals to grab some food, and this set us up nicely for the week ahead as the food was lovely. We were sent on our merry way to our room, 3017, suitcases were already waiting in the room. The room itself was beautifully designed and decorated, very bright and modern, big TV and a fridge with bottled water provided. Water is replenished as often as you consume it so you're never without. The beds were comfortable but maybe rather stiff for some, but this is due to them being brand new apparently, and the hotel were able to provide a mattress topper if you didn't like it the way it was, very thoughtful and a testament to how much thought is put into the running of this establishment. Air conditioning worked a treat, a ceiling fan was also available if you fancied it. Needless to say we were kept very cool and we slept very well! Bathroom was immaculate, toiletries are provided but they are your usual hotel standard so do take your own. Plenty of towels are available and these are again replenished as often as you like... Safety deposit box is free too! Breakfast time, and we tried to find the restaurant. As it turned out, breakfast and lunch isn't held in the main dinner hall inside the lobby, but instead is held in the restaurant by the beach, offering beautiful views over the beach out to sea. The choice was incredible. Offering your typical British fare of 'full English' (including Bacon!!!) as well as various pastries, breads, spreads and freshly made pancakes and omelettes. We never got bored of the food, there was something new every day and there were a couple of theme nights thrown in for a bit of extra variety. The two A-La-Carte restaurants, Moroccan and Asian, are bookable and can be done on the day. These are well worth a try as the food is amazing. Fantastic Tagines and Hummus in the Moroccan and some quite authentic Teriyaki and Satay in the Asian. Needless to say we ate very well. Branded spirits on tap, a half decent beer and branded soft drinks are available whenever you like and all self service apart from at the bars. The staff are wonderful people, very energetic, very friendly and will always go out of their way to ask how; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Hotel Liverpool; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: Normally an avid fan of Radisson hotels, and a loyal Business Class customer, I am rather disappointed in the Radisson in Liverpool. I booked only a couple of days in advance, for a random, spontaneous treat for myself and my partner. I noticed that this particular Radisson offers a "Romantic Package", which offered a complimentary upgrade to a Business Class room and all the perks it comes with, a 3 course meal for two in the Filini Restaurant (more on this shortly), complimentary breakfast and a bottle of prosecco and strawberries in the room. All this for £154! So really, from a price point of view, very good value. I checked initially through the Radisson website, which stated £164 for the package, as I went to complete the reservation, a message popped up on screen informing me that the rate was no longer available on this date. Okay? Refresh, reload, retry... £216... on the same night... for the same package... only £52 more expensive through clicking a button. Not having any of it, and not willing to ruin a surprise for the missus, I called the hotel direct and spoke to a friendly and polite lady on the phone, who confirmed that the rate for the package on my dates was indeed £164... So, it does pay to call the hotel direct for their best prices it seems! Don't always believe what you see on the internet... Could cost you a fortune! Roll on the day itself, got to the Radisson quite early for check in, was advised that our room was not ready yet but could be moved into another room which offered a lesser view of the Mersey, as we had plans in the city, we left our case at reception with the lovely lady and headed out for the afternoon. Arriving back in the early evening, we checked in, to be told we were now to pay £154... Not one to complain at an unexpected discount, I paid there and then, was given room 907, a Business Class room, and off we went. The room was not what we'd expected from other Radisson Blu Business Class rooms, very tired, dated and rather... meh. Our prosecco and strawberries were present and very delicious, and the room was clean and presentable. A personal perk for us with a Business Class room is the complimentary on demand movies, so we were disappointed when the TV didn't work, and as our night was all about relaxing, we asked at reception if we could move rooms to one with a working TV. We were now given room 812, another Business Class room, which, oddly enough, is a Standard room with a Business Class label on the door and a new TV inside. Honestly, check the internet pictures. Very misleading! Strange that we appreciated the decor of the Standard Room over the Business Class room, but seeing as they're both Business Class rooms (confused yet?) we don't really know exactly what we got... Either way, the beds were extremely comfortable, but both rooms needed some; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Emma Hostel; City: Warsaw Mazovia Province Central Poland; Review: £20 a night, absolute rip off in my opinion. We'll start with the location, approximately 15/20 minutes walking distance from Warsaw Central station, surrounded by shops and bars, as well as housing for some rather undesirable types. The hostel is located down a busy side street, isn't particularly easy to find. If you come across a chicken takeaway, look over the road, it's there. There is a sign hanging off the building but isn't easily recognizable. First impressions, ever been to prison before? Me neither, but this is what it looked, and felt like. There was no clue as to how to get in, and if it wasn't for the owner (I assume Emma?) popping over the road i'm fairly sure we'd be out there for quite some time. All the while, we had what seemed to be the local alcoholic community eyeing us up which wasn't very pleasant. We were shown inside, provided with our room key which was for a room named Angela, and sent on our merry way upstairs to the top floor (no lift), sound in the knowledge the promised WIFI wasn't working in the hostel, but it was in the communal area, ie, the kitchen. Our room, Angela, was a disgrace. It resembled something you'd find at your grandparents house that time had forgotten. Quick pointer, the photos you seen on the internet are blatantly nothing to do with this property, apart from the one of the two sinks, that's actually there. Two single beds, made from the finest wood, had the thinnest mattresses on, and were so well made that if you dared to turn over or even so much as breathe, the frame would creak and shake around violently, I genuinely believed I would awaken the next morning on the floor in a pile of wood and dust. That would be if I actually got any sleep, of course. In room amenities were plentyful. Two wall mounted lamps, one broken, a wardrobe fresh from the Narnia films and a window that barely opened, and did so, straight out onto a courtyard with said resident drunks. The noise was unbearable and little sleep was had, which was sad as we had a full day of travelling the next day. The communal area/kitchen was tiny, not particularly clean, and I'm sure was shared with someone who lived there. My friend and I were happily tucking into our Subway sandwiches (round the corner from the hostel) when a family of four barged in and began frying up eggs. The tables and chairs provided quite frankly had seen better days and again, fully anticipated finishing my nutritious meal on the floor with the resident dog. Who enjoyed trying to sit on your lap, Only while you were eating though, every other time, you were just another guest. Poor customer service from the dog there... Bathrooms were a giggle, a folding wooden door with a handily placed crease in the middle which you could see straight into, so no privacy there whilst going about your business. Refused to use the; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Stags Head; City: Bowness on Windermere Lake District Cumbria England; Review: Upon arrival a very rude guy at reception told us that we were to park in a pay and display car park like everyone else, we then couldn't get into our room until 2pm meaning we had to leave all our belonging in the car and go about our day until the "hotel" felt they were ready for us to check in. We walked into the bar where we had to check in and were greeted by a guy that showed us to our room. My immediate opinion on this bar was, working men's club style bar, this can't be right!! We were told that there would be music until 12pm and then the night club would begin!! I'm sorry what!?! A NIGHT CLUB!! Last time I checked the Lake District was not the party capital of the the UK!!!! The room was ok needs a bit of an update but ok for one night! In the evening we chose to have a couple of drinks in the pub which was disorganized and quite frankly disgusting! The bar staff were rude and were heard talking about punters and how they drink before they work to "get through" the music was dreadful and sounded like someone was torturing the poor guy! Once back in our room we discovered how badly sound proofed this building actually was! Our room was situated directly above the bar and we may as well have been back in the bar it was so loud! Honestly dreadful even the furniture was vibrating because of the noise!! After complaining we were refunded our money and told we can try somewhere up the road if we wanted!!!! I'm sorry but how about don't run a pub, hotel and a nigh club all in the same building!!!! Probably one of the worst experiences in a hotel and such a shame as this has to be one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen!! DON'T STAY HERE!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Melia Salinas Adults recommended; City: Costa Teguise Lanzarote Canary Islands; Review: Me and my partner had a 5 day long weekend spare in June, so thought we would look around to find a good deal on a short break somewhere warm, which is when we came across flights to Lanzarote for next to nothing. Next up comes sifting through the many hotels on offer in Lanzarote. I have visited the island many times, staying in various resorts. Not being a huge fan of Playa Blanca or Puerto Del Carmen, we opted for Costa Teguise. Admittedly we did not initially book for the Melia Salinas, but we later found the hotel tucked away in the depths of Trip Advisor, and instantly cancelled our original booking and booked to stay here. Yes, it was more expensive than what we had originally booked, but the adult only tag is what sold the property to us. So we booked a Premium Sea View Room, which is Bed and Breakfast as standard. We had wanted to book the Level service, but once we arrived we realised that the entire Level area was under refurbishment. A few reviews prior to our arrival stated that the Premium Sea View rooms were being refurbished too, with some already completed, so naturally I requested this too. Check in should be around 2pm, but our flight arrived at 1030am, and we made our way straight to the hotel. Once we arrived we were expecting to wait around for a few hours, but once we checked in, we were greeted by a very friendly receptionist and bell boy, who took our luggage and checked us in nice and early! Our room, a refurbished Premium room as requested, wasn't ready for another hour, but this was okay as we could go and grab some food and a drink for breakfast, also allowed us to go outside the resort to the supermarket, located just over the road from the hotel. Before we left, we were given a glass of cool sparkling wine, much appreciated given the heat! But still, a very nice touch! An hour later, we returned to the hotel to be told our room is ready! We had been able to check in 2 hours early, at no extra charge! We were also given the opportunity to upgrade our food and drink package to all inclusive, which was remarkably cheaper than booking it in advance, so a top tip there for you, upgrade at the hotel and save yourselves a fortune! We were given room 327, a newly refurbished room, which was evident in how spotless and perfect it was. Air conditioning worked a treat, bed was super comfortable, bathroom was excellently appointed, with hot water and great water pressure. The rain shower was a nice feature! The rooms do feature a minibar, and is stocked, however it is NOT included in the price, even as all inclusive, and is rather expensive. Take yourselves to the supermarket over the road, or even head to the bar for all the drinks you could need. I simply couldn't fault the room at all. The food is; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BLOC Hotel Gatwick; City: Crawley West Sussex England; Review: When it comes to hotel options when either flying in, or out of Gatwick Airport, to say you're spoilt for choice is an understatement. The area is practically saturated with rooms to get your head down for some sleep, but, as I found out to my pleasure, the only place you need ever look at, is Bloc Gatwick. Bloc not only offers the ultimate location (slap bang in the middle of the South Terminal) - but offers considerably the best value for money, rates are very reasonable, even for last minute guests, and the rooms are amazing. We opted for an 'Aspire Double', and requested a runway facing room. If you like watching planes taking off and landing, there is no better place to be other than on the plane itself, this room certainly will bring out the big kid in anyone. We arrived late into the afternoon, and was given a room which overlooked the Railway Station as opposed to the requested runway, however this was quickly resolved by the front desk staff (sorry I can't remember names!) - moved into room 844, which had a stunning vista overlooking the entire airfield, amazing views all round. The room was beautiful throughout, spotlessly clean and all the functions worked perfectly. Couldn't have asked for a better room if we'd tried. The air conditioning worked perfectly and the bed was sublime, a brilliant nights sleep just before our departure the next morning. There is no catering facilities in the hotel itself, however in the room, we were provided with a booklet which contained vouchers for discounts in the restaurants and bars located within Gatwick. Now this shouldn't be expected but it is an amazing touch to enhance your stay with Bloc, the attention to detail is astounding! I can not fault this hotel, nor it's staff, whom are an absolute pleasure to deal with at every opportunity, and I would have no hesitation to recommend it to anyone and everyone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pop Secret Jumbo Popping Corn, 30-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6); Brand: Pop Secret; Review: Best popcorn on earth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grenadine Teisseire French Syrup Grenadine concentrate 600ml (20.3 fl oz), Grenadine; Brand: Teisseire; Review: Yuk. Flavor is weak and at the same time poor.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: JOLLY RANCHER Stix Candy (Cherry, 0.65 Ounce Package, 36 Count)(Pack of 3); Brand: Jolly Rancher; Review: Love these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CHIQUILIN Smoked Paprika, 75 GR; Brand: Chiquilin; Review: Best paprika!!! Yum.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bob's Red Mill Wheat Bran, 20 Ounce (Pack of 4); Brand: Bob's Red Mill; Review: Used for meal worm farm. Worked ok.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pop Secret Popcorn 100% Natural Premium Jumbo Popping Corn (2 Pack) Large 30 oz Bottles; Brand: Pop Secret; Review: doesn't seem as good as it used to be; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legend of the Red Dragon (1994); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Stuart Little (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chicken Run (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Gift (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ride with the Devil (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Reign of Fire (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Knight's Tale (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wizard of Oz: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pollyanna (1960); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Kid (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rookie (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mighty Joe Young (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Neverending Story 3: Escape From Fantasia (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Big Trouble (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pokemon: The Movie 2000 (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Parent Trap (1961); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Tigger Movie (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 3-2-1 Penguins: Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Undercover Brother (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Windtalkers (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Behind Enemy Lines (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Big Fat Liar (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A Walk to Remember (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jason X (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Air Jaws 1 and 2: Sharks of South Africa (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: XXX: Special Edition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Country Bears (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Joe Somebody (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Follow the Stars Home (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Four Feathers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cat's Meow (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Cider House Rules (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: It Had to Be You (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Thin Red Line (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Stuart Little 2 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Spy (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Hour Photo (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Walk with Lions (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: City by the Sea (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Garden (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Knockaround Guys (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Where the Heart Is (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tuck Everlasting (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lone Star State of Mind (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Truth About Charlie / Charade (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blood Work (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Places in the Heart (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snow White (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Evelyn (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Biggest Lil' Star in Hollywood (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tigerland (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: White Oleander (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: White Squall (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Recruit (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 12 Angry Men (1957); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bugsy (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Tuxedo (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Abandon (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fox and the Hound (1981); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Frequency (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Die Another Day (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: Nemesis (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's Club (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Security (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tears of the Sun (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trading Spaces (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Knights (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gods and Generals (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Conan the Barbarian (1981); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Basic (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man's Walk (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Trading Spaces: Viewer's Choice (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 1 (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Quick and the Dead (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Core (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The In-Laws (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nowhere in Africa (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Taken (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stand and Deliver (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Smallville: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Incredible Hulk: Original TV Series: Pilot / Married (1977); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sam (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Awakenings (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Forrester (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Natural (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Titanic (Documentary) (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Whales: An Unforgettable Journey: IMAX (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hollywood Homicide (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hulk (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Ballad of Little Joe (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Out of Time (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Boss's Daughter (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Wonderful World of Auto-tainment (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Missing (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roswell: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lonesome Dove (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rundown (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dawson's Creek: Season 1 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Field of Dreams (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment: Season 1 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: An Easter Carol (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Peter Pan (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Timeline (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: A Snoodles Tale (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Smallville: Season 2 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Johnny Lingo (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: From the Earth to the Moon: The Signature Edition (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hometown Legend (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: CSI: Miami: Season 1 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Little House on the Prairie: Season 2 (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ella Enchanted (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roswell: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Survivor: Season 2: The Australian Outback (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tales from Avonlea (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cops: Shots Fired (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales Classics: Where's God When I'm Scared? (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: Bible Heroes: Stand Up! Stand Tall! Stand Strong! (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Smallville: Season 3 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holes (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Secret of Roan Inish (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wildflower (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Volcano (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Around the World in 80 Days (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Girl (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Envy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Cinderella Story (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Open Water (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Two Brothers (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost Breakers (1940); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment: Season 2 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales Classics: Josh and the Big Wall! (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: Lyle the Kindly Viking (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: First Daughter (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crazy/Beautiful (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Family Guy: Freakin' Sweet Collection (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dawson's Creek: Season 2 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alias: Season 3 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shield: Season 3 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Family Guy: Vol. 2: Season 3 (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 7 (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Season 5 (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Man in the Moon (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Black Book (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lilo and Stitch (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Sandlot (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Road to El Dorado (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Luther (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Frontier House (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: Duke and the Great Pie War (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 61* (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Geographic: Inside the Vatican (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Where the Red Fern Grows (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swiss Family Robinson (1960); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Primal Fear (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raise Your Voice (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gracie's Choice (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: She's Too Young (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All I Wanna Do (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (1974); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Karate Kid (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coach Carter (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where the Red Fern Grows (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 24: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Smallville: Season 4 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Frozen; Author: Jay Bonansinga; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Dull, disappointing, and anything but thrilling.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Night Work; Author: Steve Hamilton; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Nearly a five-star read, though the solution and closing pages started to veer toward the ridiculous. Might be my favorite of all his books, including all the Alex McKnight novels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blonde Faith (Easy Rawlins #11); Author: Walter Mosley; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Easy Rawlins goes out on a high note, though I surely do wish we might see him again someday.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flawless (Nathaniel McCormick #2); Author: Joshua Spanogle; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: An excellent sequel to an outstanding debut and one of my favorite books of the year so far. Looking forward to book #3 in this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Polar Star (Arkady Renko, #2); Author: Martin Cruz Smith; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Pretty good, though got a bit confusing the more the story went on.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rebel Island (Tres Navarre, #7); Author: Rick Riordan; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The Tres Navarre series has one of the most disappointing drop-offs in quality over the past few entries, and this one continues the trend. It's like Riordan's heart isn't in it anymore.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wheel of Darkness (Pendergast, #8); Author: Douglas Preston; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: They can do better, though I have to admit I was kept glued to the page and read this as fast as I could turn the pages.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thunder Bay (Cork O'Connor, #7); Author: William Kent Krueger; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: One of the best in an outstanding series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Nail Through the Heart; Author: Timothy Hallinan; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: One of the best books I've read this year; looking forward to a sequel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silence (Jack Till, #1); Author: Thomas Perry; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Good idea that gets a bit long-winded (Perry could have easily cut about 150 pages).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Overlook (Harry Bosch, #13; Harry Bosch Universe, #16); Author: Michael Connelly; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Rather minor Connelly; still, that's better than no Connelly at all!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Good and Happy Child; Author: Justin Evans; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Though it suffers from some first novel jitters, I thought this was an excellent book and it kept me riveted.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blaze; Author: Richard Bachman; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Can see why this was never published before, though there's one chapter here (where Blaze works a summer on a farm) that's as good as anything King has ever written.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fledgling; Author: Octavia E. Butler; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Outstanding mix of a look at racism, coupled with revisionist take on vampirism. Butler's early death was a tragic loss.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whack A Mole (John Ceepak Mystery, #3); Author: Chris Grabenstein; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: These books keep getting better, though still a bit too jokey for my taste. I'm warming to the characters, though, and will keep reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pig Island; Author: Mo Hayder; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Just a bit too doom-laden, even by Hayder's standards.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Free Fire (Joe Pickett, #7); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: One of the best in an outstanding series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Up in Honey's Room; Author: Elmore Leonard; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Excellent sequel to one of my favorite Leonard books, The Hot Kid.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Color of Blood (Ed Loy, #2); Author: Declan Hughes; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Excellent follow-up to a solid debut. Looking forward to his next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Don't Scare Me; Author: John Farris; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: One of Farris' best scary novels in some time, though he's just a bit too hard on his characters for my taste.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film; Author: Mikel J. Koven; Genres: non-fiction; Review: One of the few nonfiction books I read all year; one of my favorite genres of film and a pretty good survey, though at times a bit too jargon-laden and technical.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vinnie's Head; Author: Marc Lecard; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction; Review: Ugh! A serial killer played for laughs? One of the worst books of the year.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Society of S (Ethical Vampire, #1); Author: Susan Hubbard; Genres: young-adult, thriller, poetry, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Intriguing mix of coming-of-age and vampire novel. Would love a sequel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scavenger (Frank Balenger, #2); Author: David Morrell; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: One of the most awful sequels to a great book (Creepers) I've ever read.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mr Clarinet (Max Mingus, #1); Author: Nick Stone; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: One of the best of 2007!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bottomfeeder; Author: Bob Fingerman; Genres: paranormal, romance, fantasy, fiction; Review: One of the best books I've read all year. Really hope there's a sequel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Damnation Street (Weiss & Bishop, #3); Author: Andrew Klavan; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Not as good as the previous books in this series; a bit of a disappointment.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Night Gardener; Author: George P. Pelecanos; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Could be his best book yet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cottonwood; Author: Scott Phillips; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: One of the best books I've read in the past few years; wish he would write another. Reminiscent of Deadwood.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Walkaway; Author: Scott Phillips; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Excellent book; excellent writer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Immoral (Jonathan Stride, #1); Author: Brian Freeman; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Read it for the local color, but I don't believe he's ever been to Minnesota.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ice Harvest; Author: Scott Phillips; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Read it in preparation for the movie (which isn't bad) and got turned on to Phillips' writing. The Walkaway and Cottonwood are even better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Creepers (Frank Balenger, #1); Author: David Morrell; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Very intriguing idea that could have been a great outright horror novel, though Morrell keeps it firmly in thriller territory.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #17); Author: Michael Connelly; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: One of Connelly's best books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold Granite (Logan McRae, #1); Author: Stuart MacBride; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Like Ian Rankin but with some humor.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anansi Boys; Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good, but disappointing as a follow-up to American Gods.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mercy Falls (Cork O'Connor, #5); Author: William Kent Krueger; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Series is about to go off the rails for a couple of books. Krueger recovers with Thunder Bay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission Road (Tres Navarre, #6); Author: Rick Riordan; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Riordan's heart just isn't in it anymore; the last good Tres Navarre was The Devil Went Down to Austin.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cutter and Bone; Author: Newton Thornburg; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Great, great book with a disappointing film made from it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Singularity Sky (Eschaton, #1); Author: Charles Stross; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting, but I don't want to have to work so hard when I'm leisure reading.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Carpet Makers; Author: Andreas Eschbach; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: A brilliant, brilliant novel that really consists more of a succession of interlinked short stories, building to a powerful, heart-breaking conclusion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Locked Doors (Andrew Z. Thomas/Luther Kite #2); Author: Blake Crouch; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This series has grown increasingly ridiculous over time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hot Kid (Carl Webster, #1); Author: Elmore Leonard; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Outstanding--one of Leonard's best from a long, long career.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Woods; Author: Jay Kumar; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Surprisingly intelligent handling of bigfoot in a speculative horror novel. Answers the question, "What if bigfoot really does exist?" and all the ramifications a "yes" would mean to the government and environmental activists.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hard truth (Anna Pigeon, #13); Author: Nevada Barr; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The hardest-edged and (possibly) the best of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life Expectancy; Author: Dean Koontz; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Does a great job of balancing the whimsical with the serious.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Half the Blood of Brooklyn (Joe Pitt, #3); Author: Charlie Huston; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This series just gets better and better. Joe has pretty much burned all his bridges and things continue to get more serious as the various vampire clans vie for territory in the New York City area. Can hardly wait for the next book in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Redbreast (Harry Hole book 3); Author: Jo Nesbo; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: A long and difficult slog to get through. Jumping back and forth between WWII and the present day (in this case, 1999-2000), the book was far too leisurely in the way it developed its central mystery. I'd read a lot of good things about Jo Nesbo and had high hopes for this book, but now I'm wondering if I should read any more of the Harry Hole books or not. It will probably be a while before I give them another chance.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Let Me In; Author: John Ajvide Lindqvist; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Thoroughly repulsive book, with not a single likeable character. Not recommended. Though it was turned into one of the best movies I've seen so far in 2008!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Winter Study (Anna Pigeon, #14); Author: Nevada Barr; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Outstanding--this might be the best of Barr's Anna Pigeon mysteries yet. This and her previous, Hard Truth, seem to mark a turn toward more serious explorations of the nature of evil, but she's still got her skills as a describer and chronicler of the natural world. This time, Pigeon is called back to Isle Royale (also featured in A Superior Death), to take part in the winter wolf study. Something ominous seems to be hanging about and it isn't long before one member of the group is dead and the rest are socked in by bad weather that means outside help will be days in coming. A good, scary mystery that looks at the group dynamics of people in a pressure situation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swan Peak (Dave Robicheaux, #17); Author: James Lee Burke; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This was a real struggle to get through--don't know why. Almost as if everything Burke has thrown into his last few books was here and overdone. The book could have easily been about 100 pages shorter with some careful editing. I've always liked Burke, even though he keeps writing the same book over and over, but this one was a chore.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Turnaround; Author: George P. Pelecanos; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: An excellent book by Pelecanos, as usual. Still, I can't help but feel I've read this one before--he's starting to show signs of repeating himself. I wish he'd strike out and do something really different, but I guess that might be asking too much. He does what he does, and no one does it better. Very good, up to the conclusion, which seemed just a bit too false and rushed to me. I could see things eventually going that way, but he hasn't given us enough time to believe it. Resolution is just a bit too pat.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Occupational Hazards; Author: Jonathan Segura; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Should have given up on this one halfway through, but I didn't. Main character is a foul-mouthed jerk who is constantly swearing and putting other people down--very hard to identify with. This was a truly grungy, awful book, but I stuck with it to the end.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Domino Men; Author: Jonathan Barnes; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: More of a 3 1/2 star than a full four-star book. Good, page-turning fantasy that was just a bit convoluted and not always easy to follow. Still, I'll look for other books by Barnes and will have to read his debut, The Somnambulist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Weeks To Say Goodbye; Author: C.J. Box; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Probably Box's worst book, with unbelievable characters doing all sorts of improbable things. I can't believe he thought this goofy plot would make for a good story. Please go back to focusing on Joe Pickett and leave the standalones to other writers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Palos Verdes Blue (Jack Liffey, #11); Author: John Shannon; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Apart from a disappointing ending--things just stop mid-scene, with no wrap up or solution to the overall mystery--this was a great book and would have been a 5-star book. Just very poor ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Borderline (Anna Pigeon, #15); Author: Nevada Barr; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Very predictable plot--I saw the end coming from a mile away--which is a bit surprising for Barr. She's usually much more subtle and doesn't telegraph things this way. Otherwise, another enjoyable entry in the Anna Pigeon series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow! This was some excellent storytelling. Especially loved the story of the last castle and those heroes fighting for the last boatload of escaping fables. I love this series and I love that I've been able to get it from my local public library, too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 10: The Good Prince; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: romance, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm a sucker for sentimental movies--always get a lump in my throat, etc. But that's never happened to me before with a comic. A comic! For crying out loud! But it did with this story arc. Simply one of the most beautiful things I've ever read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 11: War and Pieces; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Excellent stuff--I loved the strategic use of Sleeping Beauty. Love this comic as a whole--it's better than The Sandman, IMHO.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Luna Park; Author: Kevin Baker; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: A major league disappointment. Story was very confusing and circular in nature. The art was great, but too bad it came in combination with such a poorly-constructed story. I hate it when people who are really good at another genre come into a popular one like graphic novels (or mystery or science fiction) and think they're going to write the "great American novel" or whatever (they're going to revolutionize or "transcend" the genre). It generally means that what they've actually written is a poor imitation of stories that have already been done to death a million times over by people who know the genre intimately. That's what we've got here. Baker, a respected historical novelist, should stick to his novels and let those who know how to write and tell a story graphically do their thing. I do not recommend this (luckily, I was able to get it through my library and not have to pay for it).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Kindly Ones (The Sandman, #9); Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some of these volumes have been better than others, but this is the ultimate, epic Sandman story that I've been looking for. I would expect no less from Mr. Gaiman.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack Kirby's OMAC: One Man Army Corps; Author: Jack Kirby; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Very strange comic--no idea where this might have been heading. Very dynamic artwork from Kirby at the height of his powers in the 1970s. Story reads like something he might have thought up under the influence of some powerful medication.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Volume One; Author: Jack Kirby; Genres: comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The New Gods and The Forever People are pretty good. Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olson is really weird, stuffed with far too much for one comic. And Mister Miracle needs something more--maybe just need some time for it to grow on me?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 2; Author: Jack Kirby; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The New Gods are still the highlight. Superman's Pal Jimmy Olson is just plain embarrassing (I'm amazed that Walt Simonson calls that comic one of his inspirations in his foreword). Lots of fun to be had reading these old stories.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 12: The Dark Ages; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The death of Boy Blue sure was sad and it's nice to see that there's still life left in this storyline, as it's discovered that there may be worse things than Gepetto out there in the former homelands.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Astounding Wolf-Man, Volume 2; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Might rate this a bit higher if it didn't seem so similar to Invincible, down to the plot construction and artwork.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nine Dragons (Harry Bosch, #15; Mickey Haller, #3; Harry Bosch Universe, #20); Author: Michael Connelly; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Not one of Connelly's better books. The best Bosch novels all seem to work because the plot grows out of believable characters acting according to believable motivations, etc. This one had all sorts of awkward, implausible things happening more because the author was imposing them from the outside, and this isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened in a Connelly book. Disappointed in this one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 1: The Apocalypse Suite; Author: Gerard Way; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very Mignola-esque. Loved the art in this. Story was sufficiently strange and whimsical to be a lot of fun. Sickening that Gerard Way has so much talent--both a rock star and inspired comics writer, too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Third Person; Author: Steve Mosby; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Gave up about two-thirds in--too many competing ideas--lose track of the overarching plot--a bit of a mess.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: X-Factor: Secret Invasion; Author: Peter David; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some truly ugly artwork courtesy of Larry Stroman, and a dull story necessitated by the tie-in to Marvel's Secret Wars crossover. This was a pretty poor collection on the whole.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pixu; Author: Gabriel Ba; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Huh? Couldn't really make heads or tails out of what was going on in this book. Still pretty creepy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starman, Vol. 9: Grand Guignol; Author: James Robinson; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Wow!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Irredeemable, Vol. 2; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting ideas, but rather incoherent presentation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Astro City, Vol. 4: The Tarnished Angel; Author: Kurt Busiek; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I just haven't been too excited about what I've read of Astro City so far, but this one was pretty good. More like 3 1/2 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Astro City, Vol. 6: The Dark Age - 1: Brothers & Other Strangers; Author: Kurt Busiek; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Again, after reading several volumes of Astro City and thinking, primarily, "meh," this is a very good collection. Looking forward to volume 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Dark Matter; Author: Peter Straub; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: More like 3 and 1/2 stars. Good book, but not up to par with In the Night Room or Lost Boy Lost Girl. I love Peter Straub, but this just wasn't the gripping, scary, sad story that I was hoping for and expecting. Still, not all bad.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The House on the Borderland; Author: Richard Corben; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I like Corben's artwork and was looking forward to this, but the storytelling was largely incoherent. I hope the Hodgson book is clearer than this (if I ever get around to reading it some day).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bloodletting; Author: Michael McBride; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Pretty good book. The ideas and the science are really strong, though the characters are a bit stereotypical. If McBride could develop better characters and more believable interactions between them, he'd really have something.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Enemy (The Enemy, #1); Author: Charlie Higson; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: A bit too much of the lovey-dovey crap that seems so endemic to young adult fiction, but this is a really fast-moving and pretty grim story. In fact, the descriptions are gruesome enough that I'm not really sure who the audience is. Too old for anyone younger than about 13-14 and too young for anyone older than about 17. Good story about kids trying to survive in a world where all the adults are victims of a disease that has turned them into mindless, zombie-like creatures who only want to eat anything they can get their hands on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mysterius the Unfathomable; Author: Jeff Parker; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This started out really well, but then got way too silly (too much time taken up with a Dr. Seuss-like character whose silly rhymes were really magic spells). Like the artwork and the vibe, but the story kind of lost my interest after a while.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Winter Men; Author: Brett Lewis; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Good, though could have been great. Just a bit too complicated and far too much exposition. The storyline is unique, but they just don't quite pull it off.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pariah; Author: Bob Fingerman; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I liked it, though not as much as his first novel, Bottomfeeder, a satirical take on vampires. This one's about zombies and how the various residents of a New York apartment house handle the end of the world. It gets pretty grim for awhile there, before one day they notice a young girl walking through the hordes of undead, untouched and actually seeming to drive them back. She becomes their savior. I liked it but there just seems to be something missing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty depressing book, but a very creative and original approach to the topic. I would have liked this to be about twice as long and more fully-developed, but it's not bad as is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story; Author: Mat Johnson; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Not very original (there's a movie called Hard Rain, with Christian Slater, that has almost the exact same plot), but enjoyable nonetheless.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Error (Repairman Jack, #14); Author: F. Paul Wilson; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I had to consciously will myself to slow down as I read. Events are picking up steam and getting ever more serious as the countdown to the end arrives. Hard to believe there's only one more book in the Repairman Jack series on the way, before the revised Nightworld. Wilson is at the top of his form here as he brings together strands and events from the past 3-4 books and escalates the significance of the challenges facing Jack and his small band of allies as they prepare to attempt to slow or halt the Change as the Otherness returns to ascendancy over our reality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fogtown; Author: Andersen Gabrych; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, non-fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Yech--poor artwork, a truly sordid story. Vertigo Crime has been a really poor imprint on the whole, but this is easily the worst of the bunch.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cthulhu Tales, Volume 1; Author: Andrew Cosby; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty disappointing--lots of fragments that don't make much sense. Not very scary or very well-written. Glad I got it from the library and didn't drop money on this.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hull Zero Three; Author: Greg Bear; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very good take on the whole "damaged generation starship" theme, which is also, at times, very reminiscent of the recent movie Pandorum, which I'm starting to appreciate more and more all the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tiempos Finales: End Times; Author: Samuel Hiti; Genres: graphic, comics; Review: Interesting, but just a bit on the weird side and hard to judge completely, since it's still a work in progress(?). The artwork in unique. Some strange choices with the text--some of the Spanish is translated, some isn't. Quite a few obvious misspellings littered throughout which bring the overall quality down a step (if you're going to self-publish, you'd better take extra care with grammar, etc.).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A God Somewhere; Author: John Arcudi; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good art and interesting story, though why Eric fell so far and so quickly is never really explained or even hinted at. Why he would start killing people after his short career as a hero is not clear. But there's a lot of great scenes of gruesome destruction and people dying horribly at his hands. I just wish the whole thing were a bit more resonant and understandable. In a lot of ways, this isn't really too different from Irredeemable, Mark Waid's comic.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Force - Volume 1; Author: Craig Kyle; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I'm really tired of the whole "persecuted minority" aspect of the X-men, which continues here. But at least they're fighting back. And the artwork is gorgeous.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X-Force/Cable: Messiah War; Author: Craig Kyle; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Once again, they've allowed the atrocious Larry Stroman to unleash his misbegotten pen on the story of Lucas Bishop. Other than these horribly ugly pages, this is pretty good stuff, though it also suffers from the multiple-climax (which never concludes) construction of too many X-Men stories. Anyone else tired of all the time-jumping?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Noche Roja; Author: Simon Oliver; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: One of the best of this series, this would make a good movie if adapted carefully, by the right people.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X-Force, Volume 3: Not Forgotten; Author: Craig Kyle; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: This is some amazing artwork. I really like the hard edge of this series. Wonder what happened to this creative team? Why is X Force now in the hands of Rick Remender? Oh well, gotta catch up...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate X-Men, Volume 1: The Tomorrow People; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Guess I'm not part of the "ultimate" audience, so don't really see the point of re-telling the same old stories in a slightly simpler format like this. Still, the artwork is good and, overall, the volume is fairly well-done. Will give Vol. 2 a try before moving on to other stuff...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman and Robin Vol. 2: Batman vs Robin; Author: Grant Morrison; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Love it--great story, great art. Morrison does to Batman what he did to Marvel's X-Men.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of M; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Getting caught up on my X-Men history. Great art throughout and a pretty good story, too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Astounding Wolf-Man, Volume 4; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, mystery; Review: This series started strong, but finishes in a rather muddled, weak, unsatisfying way with this volume. Far too many plot threads, none fully developed. I guess maybe they could see the writing on the wall, with the book's cancellation at issue #25, but I'd sure have preferred a better wrap-up to things. Kirkman can usually be counted on for much better work.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: House Of M - Volume 4: No More Mutants; Author: David Hine; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Always a bit torn by these "alternate universe" kinds of stories. I mean, most of what happens in this particular volume has no effect whatsoever on current continuity. So why should I care? But some of this is actually pretty good, particularly the Mutopia X series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Savages; Author: Don Winslow; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Very nearly a five-star book, this one started off amazingly-well, much like Winslow's Power of the Dog. But he wasn't quite able to hold it at that high level throughout and the conclusion is nothing you haven't seen before a thousand times. A writer as good as Winslow should be able to come up with something better. Still, this is a very fast read and very well-written and definitely recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 14: Witches; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I want to see more of the witches developing their plan to defend the Farm from Mr. Dark, not a whimsical side trip to a baseball game in the Frog Prince's kingdom!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Necrosha; Author: Craig Kyle; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The X-Force stuff is great; I loved the Kyle/Yost run, with Clayton Crain art. I'd give those parts 4 stars. However, some of the extras leave a little to be desired, thus dragging down the whole. Especially at a cover price of $39.99, you'd expect this to be better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 2: Doom; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Awesome art. I really like this series--teenage versions of the Fantastic Four work better than the X-Men or some of the other characters getting the "ultimate" treatment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 4: Inhuman; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good, but I can't believe they put so little into a bound volume--two comic issues and an annual? That's seriously on the slim side. Also, after the previous two volumes, which featured some great art, this time we've got art by Jae Lee, not one of my favorites. The man can draw, but the characters all look strangely misshapen, etc.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New Mutants, Volume 2: Necrosha; Author: Zeb Wells; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good, but I'd already read most of the material in this volume in the X-Necrosha volume. Some interesting art in the other stories, featuring a run-in with mutates from the Savage Land. Otherwise, a bit 'meh.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 5: Crossover; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Wow, is the art in this volume ever amazing! Story arcs include Reed crossing over to the "zombie" world and bringing back undead versions of the Fantastic Four, and Sue's and Johnny's mother returning, having found the lost continent of Atlantis, which leads to the release of supercriminal Namor. The story is good, but the art is just sensational.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 6: Frightful; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Again, some amazing artwork on hand here. The story gets a bit overly convoluted, but everything does come together in one big climax. Really liking most of what I've read in this series so far.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 7: God War; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Didn't care much for this one. The art was a bit off, and so far, the storylines scripted by Mike Carey just don't measure up to Mark Millar's work. But still interesting and worth the read. I really don't care for all that cosmic stuff, like Thanos (an obvious ripoff of DC's Darkseid), so this was never going to be high on my list anyway.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Godland Volume 1: Hello, Cosmic!; Author: Joe Casey; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I recently o'ded on collections of Jack Kirby's The Fourth World, so this is just like reading more of the same, though with a satirical wit the classics lacked. Joe Casey has the larger-than-life quality of the storytelling down pat and I loved Basil Cronus, the bad guy who's only looking for the "ultimate high." Pretty good stuff and the art is a knockout.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 9: Silver Surfer; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Pretty good story this time, at least the best Carey's done so far. Ultimate Silver Surfer (or Searcher, as he's called here) comes to Earth as the herald of a guy who can brainwash everyone into being happy. Dunno what's happened to Galactus. Also, not sure exactly how the conclusion of this arc came about, but the rest of it was pretty well carried out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jack of Fables, Vol. 8: The Fulminate Blade; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Series doesn't even come close to the regular Fables, but at least it's readable with the focus on Jack Frost instead of his idiot father. That said, this was a weird storyline that didn't really have much point to it. Glad I'm getting these at the library and not wasting my money on them.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 10: Ghosts; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Ever notice how everything bad that happens, happens as a result of Reed Richards' stupidity? How long before someone locks him up in a super-prison and throws away the key? These stories are really starting to become repetitive. I did like the first arc, the trip to Russia and the introduction of the Ultimate Crimson Dynamo. But the return of Thanos and his quest for the power cube just left me cold. Don't care for that kind of cosmic-level storytelling. And the art in that sequence just wasn't up to the usual level of what I'd expect for a comic like this, which should really be a flagship title. Guess I'll keep going, but it's kind of sad how these collected volumes have gone from really neat and cool to sort of 'meh and ho-hum.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ex Machina, Vol. 10: Term Limits (Ex Machina, #10); Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Well, I guess that was a good ending. Not the slam-bang one I was hoping for, but it fits with the rest of the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 11: Salem's Seven; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Art's halfway decent and the story's not that bad. But there still doesn't seem to be much life left in this concept. Maybe if they hadn't driven it into the ground they wouldn't have to be re-starting the ultimates universe.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Galactus, Volume 1: Nightmare; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very cool. Great art and a story about failed experimental Soviet supersoldiers. This is the kind of thing Warren Ellis does better than just about anyone. Also, a showdown between the X-Men and the Ultimates! Looking forward to the next volume...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Galactus, Volume 2: Secret; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not quite up to the level of the first volume, but still interesting. Artwork's not quite as good this time. I liked the introduction of Captain Mar Vehl and the Kree, but it seems like there ought to be more going on here. Kind of like the climax of Independence Day, with a diversion on the ground allowing a spaceship to hit the Kree mothership for intel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ultimates; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Now this is what you'd expect from a comic that dare calls itself "the Ultimates." Awesome artwork and a pair of stories worthy of big-screen treatment. Hopefully, the Avengers movie, when it comes, will be half as entertaining.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimatum; Author: Jeph Loeb; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty good. Some nice artwork and gory superhero violence. Story a bit too dark, though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Killer, Volume One; Author: Matz; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I quite enjoyed this one. The artwork is spare and just the right amount of color. The story is subtle and intriguing. Surprised to find this in my local public library, what with the sex and nudity. Hope I can track down other volumes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Godland, Vol. 2: Another Sunny Delight (v. 2); Author: Joe Casey; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Not quite as good as the first collected volume. Maybe I'm just getting tired of the novelty? The Jack Kirby-inspired art is beautiful, but the stories are too jokey and the whole thing is wearing a bit thin. I'll give the third volume a try but may have to give up after that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics New Ultimates: Thor Reborn; Author: Jeph Loeb; Genres: graphic, comics, young-adult, fiction; Review: Seldom have I read a more pointless story. Only slightly enlivened by multiple superheroines with large breasts...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man: Ultimate Collection Volume 1 TPB; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked a lot of it, especially the burgeoning romance between Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. But the artwork is a bit hit and miss--some of it's great, but some of the closeups of faces, for example, are virtually interchangeable. Just take a look at the sketches in the back at how similar the character designs are for Kong, the Kingpin, and the Ox. Also, the story hasn't really changed all that much--I guess I'd like to see a bit more divergence from the canonical origins of Spider-Man (Ultimate Fantastic Four really changed things around, I thought, as did The Ultimates). Still, I enjoyed this enough to seek out Vol. 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man Ultimate Collection, Book 2; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The story still carries the day, though I'm less enamored of the Bagley artwork with every page I turn. The overly-dynamic hair of the various characters in just plain ridiculous. Too bad they couldn't match this up with a better artist--seems like the other "ultimate" titles all got superstars to work on them; why not this one, the flagship of the line?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man - Volume 2: Chameleons; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Seems strange that they would just pick things up after Ultimatum and soldier onward. I'd kine of hoped the "Ultimate Comics" reboots would do just that: re-boot things. The artwork is overly cartoony for my taste and the stories aren't nearly as good as in the book's previous incarnation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter; Author: Tom Franklin; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Wow! What a book. I don't get tears in my eyes or a lump in my throat very often when reading a book (in fact, almost never), but did this time. Incredibly well-developed, three dimensional characters and a setting as vividly rendered as I can remember. Very, very moving story. This one is really outstanding.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 15: Rose Red; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Story is finally getting back to form after some rather lax entries. I loved the climactic battle between Frau Totenkinder and The Dark Man. This is the kind of compelling plot this series needs, something akin to the battle vs. Gepetto for the Homelands. Looking forward to the next collected edition.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rotters; Author: Daniel Kraus; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Wow, what an amazing book. I haven't been so thoroughly engrossed (in all senses of that word) in a book in some time. This is supposedly a young adult novel, though the sensibility is quite a bit older than that, I'd say. It follows the adventures of young Joey Crouch when he is forced, upon the accidental death of his mother, to move from his safe, comfortable life in Chicago, to live with his estranged father in a small Iowa town. His father is distant and uncomfortable and often gone for days at a stretch and Joey finds himself having a hard time fitting in at his new school. Then one night, Joey follows his father and makes a stunning discovery: his dad is a grave robber. From this point forward, his whole life is changed as he begins to get lessons in grave robbing, in addition to struggling with his school work. The story is horrific, touching, and beautifully written. It reminded me at times of the novel/movie "Holes" and could make an equally gripping movie in its own right, though I can't imagine what director in his right mind might take on this material.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics Doomsday; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wish I liked it more than I did, but the story is just too hectic and fast-paced. Drawings aren't always easy to make out. I got tired of how the old Ultimate Fantastic Four revolved around stories where every bad thing that happened was the result of some stupid thing Reed Richards had done. Well, I guess this kind of takes that idea to its extreme. It was kind of nice to see Ben Grimm evolve beyond his "rock" self into something new, and for him and Sue Storm to fall in love. Otherwise, this was just a case of too much bombast and too little real substance.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Noise; Author: Darin Bradley; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Good idea here that gets a bit bogged down in all the jargon and "newspeak" that the characters adopt for their lives, post-breakdown of society. Every other chapter comes from The Book, a guide to restarting a civilization following an apocalyptic event, and these are very basic and easy to follow rules. The rest gets just a bit overly-hip in the way Bradley paints his characters and their attitudes to the breakdown of society. The ending packs a bit of a wallop and I have to admit I'd like to read more about this group and their new society, but this book left me a bit disappointed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elephantmen, Vol. 1: Wounded Animals; Author: Richard Starkings; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Love the art and the idea behind the series, but I'd like to see a bit more sequential storytelling. This volume is filled with lots of little vignettes that don't really add up to much of a coherent whole. I'll certainly give another volume a try, but hope others are more substantial.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Killer, Volume 2; Author: Matz; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Builds on the promise of the first volume to a satisfying conclusion. The art is serviceable and propels the story along well (that doesn't sound like a very ringing endorsement, does it?). I quite enjoyed this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Killer, Volume 3: Modus Vivendi; Author: Matz; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Liked it, but as others have noted, the politics get to be a bit much in this volume. Sure, we all know the US is the devil, but come on. Matz sounds like a peeved teenager with his rants in this one, plus the killer is supposed to be apart from such mundane concerns. Artwork is outstanding as usual.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 10: Hollywood; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I just don't get the love for Mark Bagley. I mean, couldn't they have found a better artist for such a flagship title as this one? He just does not draw well. People's faces, especially. Story was kind of fluff, too, with the real-life filming of the first Spider-Man movie mixing up with a "real" fight between Spider-Man and an escaped Doctor Octopus. Bendis is capable of better than this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Force, Volume 1: The Apocalypse Solution; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I think I liked the previous incarnation of X-Force better (Warpath? X-23?). Not really a Deadpool fan at all. It will be interesting to see what Fantomex is capable of. The story and art weren't always as clear as I expect from a comic in this one. Some of it was just a bit too far out (like Deadpool feeding parts of himself to Archangel...eww, yuck). I liked the art from the previous books better, too.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chew, Vol. 3: Just Desserts; Author: John Layman; Genres: romance, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Excellent combination of art, humor, and quirky story. Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chew: The Omnivore Edition, Vol. 1; Author: John Layman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Excellent comic book in all particulars. The art is great and the story-telling is a unique mix of over-the-top violence and gross-out humor that works great to advance the story of this man who can pick up psychic vibrations from whatever he eats.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 5 Ronin; Author: Peter Milligan; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very neat idea of transporting 5 of the more iconic Marvel heroes to medieval Japan and re-casting them as masterless samurai, or ronin (although the Psylocke character is a prostitute/concubine). Each issue follows a different character--Wolverine, the Hulk, the Punisher, Psylocke, and Deadpool--as they all move toward a common goal of killing the current local governor who's responsible in some way for their common misery. The characters come and go in the background of each others' stories, and it might have been nice to have them all team up, but this was still very satisfying. Also neat was having each issue drawn by a different artist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Irredeemable, Vol. 6; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It almost seemed like the story had pretty much wrapped-up at the end of volume 5, but apparently there's more to tell. It's all a bit anti-climactic, sort of like the latter half of the second season of Twin Peaks, after Laura Palmer's murderer was revealed. I'm not sure there's really much more of interest to be added to this particular saga, though what was here was at least fitfully interesting.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zeus: King of the Gods (Olympians, #1); Author: George O'Connor; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting--tells the story of the Greek gods as though they were superheroes. Gets a bit silly (the focus seems to be on a younger audience), but all in all, not too bad.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Kill Giants; Author: Joe Kelly; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow. Just wow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 13: Hobgoblin; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good issue--story rebounds from previous episodes that weren't quite as strong. Liked it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grandville Mon Amour (Grandville #2); Author: Bryan Talbot; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Excellent second graphic novel, featuring Detective Inspector Archie LeBrock of Scotland Yard, an English badger who investigates complex crimes in a strange world where England only recently gained its independence from France, after losing the Napoleonic Wars. The world is run by anthropomorphized animals and humans are only occasionally spotted in the background, serving as doormen and cutpurses. As others have said, Talbot invests all of this with a warmth and lovingly-rendered steampunk environs. It all adds up to a truly satisfying mix and I, for one, hope there will be more volumes of Grandville to come.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days; Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not really my thing. Consists entirely of Gaiman's non-Sandman comics writing, including some of his earliest work. There's a pretty good Swamp Thing story and a really good Hellblazer story, but they're overshadowed by a pretty bad Swamp Thing story and an overly-long, rather dull Sandman Mystery Theater story. For Gaiman completists only (and I'd count myself among their number).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pacific Heights; Author: Paul Harper; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Good to have David Lindsay back, even if he can't write under his own name anymore.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killer Move; Author: Michael Marshall; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: After his last book fell a bit short, Marshall is back in fine form with Killer Move, a book that tangentially ties into his "Straw Men" trilogy. This is an excellent book that continually ratchets up the tension as an everyman Florida realtor finds little things in his life going wrong: a book of risque photography he never ordered from Amazon.com shows up and he can't convince his wife he didn't order it; photos of a female colleague show up on his cellphone camera, suggesting he's been stalking her; etc. As these incidents gradually grow more serious, eventually people around him begin to die and what appeared to be an annoying game reveals itself to be something much darker. This would make an excellent movie in the right hands (someone like David Fincher?), but it is also a great book that I'd highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Force, Volume 2: Deathlok Nation; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Don't like this iteration of the X-Force as much as the previous one. The stories just seem so busy and not fully-realized. I'm not a fan of Rick Remender's storytelling so far.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Baltimore, Vol. 1: The Plague Ships (Baltimore, #1); Author: Mike Mignola; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very close to a 5-star rating for me--fungus zombies, submarine graveyards? What's not to like? The story could use a bit more tightening up, but otherwise this is loads of fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Astonishing X-Men, Volume 4: Unstoppable; Author: Joss Whedon; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was really good. Awesome art. Powerful, emotional storytelling. An outstanding collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Locke & Key, Vol. 4: Keys to the Kingdom; Author: Joe Hill; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I love this series and I hate it, too. Excellent storytelling that winds me up in knots (see the conclusion to this volume, in particular). Yet it seems to be unfolding so slowly (the overall story). Yet things happen so quickly (there's so much going on in this particular collection--friendships fracturing, etc.). It's a testament to Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriquez and their loving attention to characterization and detail. I need to know what happens next, and I need to know now!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flashback; Author: Dan Simmons; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Pretty good book, though the longer it went on, the more I realized that it was really a fairly strong, right-wing screed, which surprised me, I guess. The story of a near-future America, which has collapsed politically, financially, etc., is pretty realistic and the way Simmons works in his detective story is interesting and fun, for the most part. But the world-view on display just has me wondering a bit. It seems like this future is a direct result of our current president's policies, combined with the collapse of the welfare state, and so forth and so on. The one bright spot in America is the Free Republic of Texas? And Muslims are involved in covertly undermining societies from within so the Global Caliphate can take over Western Europe and Canada? Israel has been destroyed and no one said or did anything? A lot of this stuff is fairly hard to believe, but if you can suspend your disbelief, there's a good story here about a man re-taking control of his life after several years wasted, wallowing in addiction to a drug called Flashback, that lets its users re-experience any memory from their past. I've always liked Dan Simmons in the past and read most of his books, but this rabid political sub-text has me wondering just a bit if I should keep reading him in the future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Invincible, Vol. 14: The Viltrumite War; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: When you continually go over the top, how can you keep topping yourself? Kirkman runs into that problem here. I'm still enjoying the book, but it's starting to seem as if these characters and this storyline have pretty much run their course. You can only go back to the well so many times...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine: Weapon X, Volume 2: Insane in the Brain; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty creepy story arc, but, um, how did Wolverine land in a psychiatric hospital? Did I miss something? There doesn't seem to be any link from vol. 1 to vol. 2 to show how this came about. Also, the whole patient running the loony bin is a plot we've all seen a thousand times. Jason Aaron's writing on Scalped is a whole lot better than what I've seen of his Wolverine so far.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Punisher: Dark Reign; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some excellent artwork on display in this volume. I also like the idea of the Punisher as a fallible human being, rather than the emotionless super-killer that Garth Ennis developed him into. Here, he welcomes the assistance of a computer hacker who gets him out of tight corners, etc. The story might have used a bit more focus--the villain was supposed to be Norman Osborn, but he's out of the way very quickly and then the Hood takes center stage. Still, this was enjoyable, especially the tricky way Frank gets into the villain's hideout via pizza delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Punisher: Franken-Castle; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Hard to believe a major comics company would let one of their prime books go so far down an obscure rabbit hole like this. This is either complete garbage or some sort of madcap genius. One of the oddest experiments in recent comics history that I can think of...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk; Author: Damon Lindelof; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty near perfect, say 4 1/2 stars. Awesome artwork from Leinil Yu and a pretty good story by Lindelof to boot.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ready Player One; Author: Ernest Cline; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really excellent book, one of those you wish would never end, although the climax and conclusion did seem a bit rushed and flat. Maybe there's a sequel on the horizon?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine: Weapon X, Volume 3: Tomorrow Dies Today; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I'm so tired of all the dystopian futures in Marvel's mutant books. Enough already. Jason Aaron is much better when writing Scalped. His work on Wolverine just isn't my thing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elephantmen Volume 3: Dangerous Liasons; Author: Moritat; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Some incredible artwork on display here. I just wish the storytelling was a bit more "normal," rather than telling things in bits and pieces like this...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jack of Fables, Vol. 9: The End; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ugh...well, I guess they decided to go out with a whimper rather than a bang. This comic shows just how much Fables caught lightning in a bottle, because the same basic premise is on display here. Yet it somehow never worked. Maybe because Jack was an asshole that it was impossible to like? Too bad this one could never quite get going.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 18: Ultimate Knights; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The best part of this was the conversation between Peter and Aunt May about his being Spider-Man. Otherwise, the rest of it wasn't so great.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 19: Death of a Goblin; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Nice art from new series artist Immonen, but this story, which really should have been emotional and dramatic, was just sort of ho-hum...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine, Volume 1: Wolverine Goes to Hell; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: graphic, comics, young-adult, fiction; Review: Bleah! don't know what the point of this was, but I really didn't care for it. Hard for me to believe this is the same guy who writes Scalped, one of my favorite series.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Adjustment; Author: Scott Phillips; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: I liked it, though it was a bit on the episodic side. Not really one connected story so much as vignettes about the main character, who looks worse and worse as the book goes on. Then it just ends--not really a conclusion, but things just tail off. Is this guy coming back in another, more-developed book? I love Phillips' books, and it's great to have him back after too long a stretch, but this one just didn't quite do it for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 22: Ultimatum; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Thoroughly disappointing end to an otherwise pretty good run of comics. Why?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dust & Decay (Rot & Ruin, #2); Author: Jonathan Maberry; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: As good as Rot & Ruin was, this is even better. More fully fleshes out characters who were already pretty three-dimensional to begin with. The only problem I had with the book is that it retreads some of the same ground from the first book--I'd really like to see these characters get started on their trek for the source of the jet and the presumed "civilization" that spawned it already. Still, this was an exciting and very well-written (and sad) book and I'll be looking forward to the next one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 16: Deadpool; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I read this out of sequence, but even so, these stories seemed of very little consequence to the overall larger story being told in the series. It's like Bendis feels he has to throw Deadpool in--not so much that he has a good story to tell involving Deadpool, but since he's the hot character right now, there's got to be a way to involve him with Spider-Man. And the whole introduction of Morbius and Blade is even less compelling--blink, and they're gone. Poof! The clone saga, the goblin/hobgoblin sequence, the symbiotes--it seems like a compelling story is only possible every 6 or 7 issues and then you've got to have a bunch of filler in-between. This volume read like nothing so much as filler...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Punisher: Dead End; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Ugly art, ugly story--I stopped reading about halfway through. Some of the worst Punisher stuff I've ever read.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Cut; Author: George P. Pelecanos; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: An excellent book by Pelecanos, but then they've all been fairly excellent. I can't help but feel that he's treading some of the same ground over and over again, but I'll be there for each and every book he writes and have no trouble recommending this one highly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Back Of Beyond (A Highway Quartet Novel #1); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I'm a big fan of C. J. Box's Joe Pickett books, but, like several of the other commenters here, find his standalones really hard-going. The first, Blue Heaven, was pretty good, maybe because he actually had a story he wanted to tell. But the one that followed (Three Weeks to Say Goodbye) was filled with flat characters and ludicrous plot twists. And, unfortunately, Back of Beyond continues that trend. I was hoping that the Yellowstone Park setting, site of one of the more memorable Pickett books (Free Fire), might result in a memorable novel here, but it was not to be. Once again, we're treated to characters acting like no real human being would act and goofy plot twists that make you shake your head in disbelief. Sorry to say, but I think Box should focus on the Pickett series and leave the standalones to others.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 14: Warriors; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: One of the better collections in this series. Even though it's one of the ones between major arcs, this one has a bit more going on and doesn't seem so much like filler.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Five; Author: Robert McCammon; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: It was all right, but certainly not McCammon's best novel. I think he was trying to do too many different things here, and they didn't all really gel into one coherent whole.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elephantmen, Vol. 4: Questionable Things; Author: Richard Starkings; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Still not overly excited by the oblique way they have of telling the story, but the artwork in these is some of the best in comics and the gorgeous design work that goes into each graphic collection really makes them stand out. This is one comic where owning the collected volumes really makes sense, I'd say, rather than buying each issue individually.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Very good book, almost a classic, but had a few misjudged sequences that kept it from being a 5-star read for me. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series and very much to the film adaptation being prepared for 2012. Jennifer Lawrence now seems like a great choice to me for Katniss and how perfect is the casting of Woody Harrelson as Haymitch?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Six, Vol. 1: Unhinged; Author: Gail Simone; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: When I first started reading this, I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I didn't think I was going to like it very much. But I'd heard good things about this comic, so I kept reading. By about the 3rd or 4th issue, I was drawn into it. Very well-written and interesting. A mix of humor and serious violence that can't be easy to maintain, but Simone somehow does it. I really enjoyed this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hulk: Gray; Author: Jeph Loeb; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, children, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Great art but only so-so story. I've liked the Loeb/Sale team on their various Batman books, but here they're retelling part of the Hulk's origin story, and I've never really seen the point in that. Also, as others mention, I've never really been a Hulk fan, so maybe that has something to do with it, but the whole package is kind of "Meh..."; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elephantmen, Volume 2: Fatal Diseases; Author: Richard Starkings; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: I love the art in these books and the overall graphic design that goes into them, but continue to find the rather elliptical style of storytelling a bit frustrating. Though I did find, having read volume 2 after volumes 3 and 4, that it didn't really hurt my understanding of events, etc. The way things jump around in time and backtrack and so forth, you can pretty much read these in any order.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hell Is Empty (Walt Longmire, #7); Author: Craig Johnson; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Awesome book. It won't be to everyone's taste, as it basically chronicles a lengthy chase through snowy high country, but this book worked like gangbusters for me. You're there, every step of the way, through freezing winds and blowing snow, as Sheriff Walt Longmire tracks a group of escaped convicts through a winter storm in the Wyoming high country. One of the best books I've read all year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret Six, Vol. 4: Cats in the Cradle; Author: Gail Simone; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: The four Catman issues are really the draw here. The other 2 stories are just minor fluff that really doesn't add much to the volume.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Six, Vol. 5: The Reptile Brain; Author: Gail Simone; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Again, something of a mixed bag. The 4-issue "Reptile Brain" story is pretty good, with one version of the Six facing off against another. But that's marred somewhat by the 2 issues devoted to a Lex Luthor vs. Vandal Savage storyline that comes out of nowhere and doesn't really connect with what happened before. It's kind of unfortunate, as there's a lot of promise in the Secret Six, but that promise is continually undercut by the changes in artist and the strange, non-linear approach to storytelling that is evidenced in these collections. Maybe that's why the series was canceled?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 11/22/63; Author: Stephen King; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really thought King's best books were behind him, yet continued to read every one, in the hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd have the old magic once again. Well, guess what, he managed to hit one out of the park one last time with this book. Outstanding. Sad. Gripping. A page-turner. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: On the whole this series is pretty good, though this last book is really depressing. Katniss has shaped up to be a fairly unlikeable character over the course of things and, despite some major changes to this society, has anything really, really changed for these characters at the core? The first book ought to make a great movie, but I'm not so sure that either Catching Fire or Mockingjay can be made into satisfying films as they are, without someone trying to shape the narratives to be a bit more happy. Still, I think Collins has really come up with something pretty amazing in this three-book series and the thought of precocious teens for years to come reading these books and thinking about their themes and ideas excites me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland, Book 1: Cities in Dust; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Weird, but definitely interesting. The art could use some work--not always easy to tell what's going on or who's who...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty good continuation of the Hunger Games story, though I'd still like to see some more detail filled in. This time around, as I read, I was wondering what the rest of the world was like. Panem is the remnants of the old US; what does Europe look like in this future, or Africa, or South America. The whole idea of the Quarter Quell is an interesting way to pull the characters back into the arena for another round of the "games," but the way things wrap up is a bit confusing (I guess there's a reason for this, as I started right into Mockingjay, which provides more detail about the end of the games). I guess the thing that's bothered me about these books so far is that this future is so awful, so oppressive, that it's hard to believe it's taken the people so long to rise up against the Capitol.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hide Me Among the Graves; Author: Tim Powers; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, poetry, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a very good book, but just doesn't have the same magic as earlier books by Powers. Maybe it's just me? The Stress of Her Regard is my all-time favorite of Powers' novels and this book is a direct sequel to that one, so I was really hoping for more. Don't get me wrong: it's not a bad book. There's just something missing, some spark that the earlier novels had and his later novels have lacked. Powers will continue to be at the top of my list of must-read authors and any new books forthcoming will always be "drop everything and read now" books, but I can't help but feel a bit melancholy...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland Book 2: Shades of God; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Getting better, but the artwork is still a bit hit-and-miss. Hard to make out what's happening and who's who, and so forth. But the story has some forward momentum to it now. I'll keep reading and hope it continues to improve.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland Book 3: Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Starting to wonder if this is going anywhere. A lot of treading over the same ground as in book 2, only from the perspective of the mutant sand-eaters, complete with page after page of dialogue in a weird, guttural dialect that is almost impossible to read and make sense of. All the political infighting is getting to be a bit much, too. The story just doesn't seem to be moving forward. And the artwork continues to leave much to be desired.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland Book 5: Tales of the Uninvited; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really rather pointless collection of one-off issues that fill in the answers to burning questions that really weren't so burning after all. Unbelievably, much of the artwork in this collection is actually worse than that in the series proper.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland Book 4: Dog Tribe; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: A bit of a step up from the last collection, but the dog tribe story doesn't really add much. And the art is really starting to bother me. I don't get why so many authoritative voices in the comics industry have given such strong blurbs to this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man: Blue; Author: Jeph Loeb; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Nice artwork, but the story is a bit too reminiscent of Daredevil: Yellow, basically covering the same ground. I don't care so much for these endless retellings of the hero's origin. Would prefer if they came up with something more original.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Superman: Last Son; Author: Geoff Johns; Genres: young-adult, comics, graphic, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Pretty underwhelming in all facets.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Argh! This is the thanks he gets? Shot in the back by the Punisher? Left to face his worst enemies alone? Where the hell are the Ultimates? Where's Captain America, whose life was saved? Seriously, I just don't see the need for this story, but if it had to be told, I guess this will work as well as anything. Why Norman Osborn wasn't actually killed a long, long time ago is beyond me. He's sort of like the Joker in the Batman books: in reality, if there was someone even half this awful, you'd make sure he was dead, not locked up in some high-tech prison. But then I guess that would sort of limit the stories you could tell. Oh, well, whatever. I guess I'll take a look at the new Spider-Man, but only Peter Parker could ever be worthy of the name. The new guy should be Arachnid-Man or something...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Superman for All Seasons; Author: Jeph Loeb; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Just outstanding. Very good, simple story, with great art and nice coloring. I really enjoyed this. One of the best Loeb/Sale collaborations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Superman: Secret Identity; Author: Kurt Busiek; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty good. Nice story and nice art. Not quite a classic, but close. I liked it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Superman: Birthright; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This started out really strong, with Clark Kent in Africa, interacting with a charismatic rebel leader. If this had been developed further, it might have really turned into something special. As it is, it's yet another re-imagining of Superman's origin and too much time is spent with the egotistical Lex Luthor and his petty attempts to make Superman look bad so he can swoop in and save Metropolis from the imagined threat. How many times has that basic story been re-used? The artwork by Leinil Yu is outstanding, but all in all, this is kind of a mixed bag (and I think I just talked myself down from four stars to three).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Incorruptible, Vol. 4; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Bleah...sophomoric artwork and a sketchy story that wouldn't be worthy of print if the writer didn't own the company. Guess I'll keep reading as long as I'm this far in, but this is really disappointing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Green River Killer; Author: Jeff Jensen; Genres: history, fiction, young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Interesting story. Only when I finished did I realize the writer was "Doc" Jensen, who used to write some of the most stimulating articles about the television series Lost in the pages of Entertainment Weekly! This graphic novel is the story of his father, one of the lead detectives on the Green River serial killer case.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Woman; Author: Peter Straub; Genres: romance, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Eh? Nice artwork in service of a pretty incomprehensible story does not add up to a successful graphic novel.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Incorruptible, Vol. 5; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Quite an improvement in story over the previous volume. The artwork is still pretty hit and miss for me though, and more often just looks sloppy and rushed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Northwest Angle (Cork O'Connor, #11); Author: William Kent Krueger; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Pretty good book, though still some rather wonky stuff going on. In particular, the character of the boyfriend seemed very awkwardly shoe-horned into the story. Also, the whole end, with these bad characters tracking the baby back to Iron Lake seemed a bit goofy and not fully thought-out. By that point, there really wasn't anything to be gained. The best parts were the descriptions of the islands and the Lake of the Woods and it might have been better if more of the book had been devoted to these aspects. Still, an enjoyable read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Taking of Libbie, SD (Mac McKenzie, #7); Author: David Housewright; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: It was a pretty good book, with a unique plot and story, and well done for most of the way. Until the last 3 or 4 chapters, which piled climax on top of climax, coincidence on coincidence, and the mystery was solved in one of the most ridiculous conclusions I can remember. It's too bad really, because to that point, it was a 5-star book...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Low Town (Low Town, #1); Author: Daniel Polansky; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really enjoyed this one. I've tried to read a number of the new breed of "dark, noir-tinged fantasy" novels that seems to have cropped up in the past few years, books by authors like Joe Abercrombie, Richard Morgan, etc., but this is the first one I've been hooked into and kept reading. The book follows a man called the Warden, a former agent of the crown's secret police (or Black House) who now makes his living as a low-level crime lord/drug dealer in the slums (Low Town) of the capital city of Rigus, as he investigates the murders of a number of children. Managing to track down one of the killers, he witnesses first-hand as the man is killed by some sort of supernatural creature, similar to something he'd seen many years before on the battlefield and suggesting a magic user is somehow involved. A very atmospheric and exciting book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daybreak; Author: Brian Ralph; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The whole non-speaking first person thing is interesting, but ultimately little more than a gimmick. I don't know that it really adds anything to the story. Maybe if the artwork were a bit easier to follow, it would all hold together a bit more, but this was something of a disappointment after seeing this book listed in a couple of "best of" lists of 2011 comics/graphic novels.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Enclave (Razorland, #1); Author: Ann Aguirre; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Pretty good book. It's obvious the author has done her homework to make this as post-apocalyptic story as realistic as possible. Story follows a young girl, Deuce, from her naming day as a Huntress for her underground tribe of young people, to her eventual banishment Topside and beyond. Besides these feral groups of youngsters, none older than mid-20s, there are also fearsome Freaks, mutants who hunt human beings and aren't fussy about eating each other, if one of them happens to fall in battle. It's a pretty grim existence, with the various people broken up into the roles of Breeders, Builders, and Hunters, ruled by a small group of elders who may or may not have the best interests of the group at heart, or may just be misinformed. Deuce finds herself having strange feelings for her Hunter partner, Fade, a boy who was discovered living a wild existence in the tunnels, and who claims to have come from Topside, where life is much different than what the elders preach. The book is fairly gruesome, but fast-moving and with strong insights into what life might be like for these survivors.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Drop (Harry Bosch, #17; Harry Bosch Universe, #21); Author: Michael Connelly; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Connelly always seems to pour his best writing into his Harry Bosch books and this one is one of the best in the series...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Astonishing X-Men, Volume 7: Monstrous; Author: Daniel Way; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Yeesh...some truly awful art and a pretty sophomoric story combine into a rather low point for this series.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man Fallout; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: graphic, comics, young-adult, fiction; Review: Too busy to really work as a memorial to Peter Parker. Too many different artists and writers, working more at cross purposes than creating a unified, coherent whole. Peter Parker deserves better.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holy Terror; Author: Frank Miller; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Man, this is an ugly book. Ugly ideas, ugly art, ugly writing. Miller has gone so far over the top here that the artwork is a stylized mess and the action sequences don't make a whole lot of sense. It's the comics equivalent of a Michael Bay movie. Hard to believe this guy was ever an innovator.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland Book 6: The Enemy Within; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Man, this story is crawling along at a snail's pace. Still, this was a definite step up from the previous volume in terms of advancing the story. I didn't really care for the: "6 months earlier" set-up of the story, telling it from the perspective of different characters and then repeating things when moving on to the next character. Unless you really have a lot of important, unknowable detail to include in such a structure, you really run the risk of telling people the same things over and over again. Too much of the time, that's how this volume plays out, yet it is also fairly successful. I just want to know more, but still feel like we're basically where we were at the end of book 4 in terms of forward plot momentum.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 3: Dead Man's Knock; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I used to read this comic in single issues, but finally gave up around issue 11 or 12. Right about the time that things finally kicked into high gear and got interesting... Seriously, this is finally starting to come together and become quite the page-turner. The "choose-your-own-adventure" origin for Lizzie Hexam is something that must be seen to be believed--the complexity involved in putting something like that together for a monthly comic boggles my mind. And Tom finally gets to confront his father and get some idea of the conspiracy arrayed against him.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daybreak Zero (Daybreak, #2); Author: John Barnes; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really enjoyed this book. I like the small snippets and continually changing locales and characters. The main viewpoint is of decent people, the kind we'd like to have rebuilding our country in the face of such a disaster. You want everything to be okay and it looks like it would be, if only we'd trust the good guys. Which makes it all that much more surprising and shocking when things don't turn out the way we'd like them to, the way we think they're going to. Case in point: the ultimate fate of natcon Cam Nguyen-Peters, one of the primary voices of reason in the splinter republic of Georgia, one of two main competing centers to be the new capitol of the United States. Cam has his main antagonist, General Grayson, seemingly talked into a very reasonable solution to their mutual problems, which makes it all the more surprising when Grayson makes an unexpected choice that leaves everything dangling at novel's end. Hopefully there'll be another book in the Daybreak series to resolve things.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harlan Ellison's Phoenix Without Ashes; Author: Harlan Ellison; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not a bad start, but the story is not complete in this book (frustrating). This seems to be a story that could have been told, to completion, in a well-done, four-issue comic.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Everlast (Everlast #1); Author: Chad Michael Murray; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Idea isn't too bad, but the execution is pretty chaotic and the action is almost impossible to follow at times.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy: House of The Living Dead; Author: Mike Mignola; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is good, but a bit "bare bones." Story could use more development. Other than Mignola himself, Richard Corben is probably my favorite Hellboy artist and I'd like to see him doing more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Gun, Vol. 2: Crossroads (The Sixth Gun, #2); Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Just wonderful. This is how to do a weird western right. Great story, great art. Can hardly wait for the next volume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth Omnibus, Vol. 1; Author: Jack Kirby; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked it, though not as much as I might have if I'd read these when I was 9 or 10 years old. It's all just a bit too wacky. If these stories had a bit of a harder edge to them, I'd like them a lot more (something like Marvel's Killraven/War of the Worlds, perhaps). As it is, it's fun to read, but I can't read more than an issue or two without growing a bit weary of the over-the-top Kirby art and story. Still, it's a beautiful collection and gives these comics the kind of respect they're due.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I'd Know You Anywhere; Author: Laura Lippman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This was kind of disappointing. Rather dull, actually. I've gotten used to expecting more from Laura Lippman and I was really hoping for some last-minute, eleventh-hour sort of twist that would have made the book more worthwhile, but it never came. It's well-written, I guess, but just didn't deliver that emotional payoff that I was looking for.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine: The Best There Is: Contagion; Author: Charlie Huston; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I haven't always liked Charlie Huston's forays into comics and this one started out pretty bad. But it actually got better as it went along, until a finish that was almost memorable. I'd say 3 1/2 stars on this one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 4: Leviathan; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Just when this series was really getting good in the previous volume, we're back to "what the heck is going on here?" territory, especially in the last issue in this collection, a return to the foul-mouthed talking animals that made an appearance earlier on. It's interesting, but I want things to move along more clearly. What is really up with that rotten rabbit? I like the journey up the stairs, but what is that all about? And, who was that Scottish guy in the whale's belly? The others were all clarified--Pinocchio, Sinbad, Jonah, Baron Munchhausen--but not that guy. Oh, well, I'm looking forward to the next collection (this is a good comic to read in collected volumes--I'd really be perturbed at the slow pace of the story if I was buying this in single issues).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Echoes Vol. 1; Author: Joshua Hale Fialkov; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: This just didn't work for me. The protagonist's mental illness isn't ever really grounded--we know he's taking pills for something, but not specifically what. We know he had a trying relationship with his father, but not enough detail about what the relationship was. Both these issues really hurt the story that Fialkov is trying to tell here. It could have been a lot better, with just a bit more attention to detail.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 16: Super Team; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Nice to have a new collection of Fables, though I must admit I was a bit underwhelmed by the ease with which Mr. Dark is dealt with. He'd been built up into such an unstoppable force that I was looking for more of a knock-down, drag-out sort of battle. Some weird goings on with Sleeping Beauty (who are those little green people?) and a nice interlude in the land of Ev (next door to Oz), with flying monkey Bufkin. I want more...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Goon, Volume 0: Rough Stuff; Author: Eric Powell; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some early, originally black and white, stories of the Goon. I think the artwork is actually a bit better here than in the later, more streamlined stories, though the plotting and story is just a touch on the goofy side. Enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Irredeemable, Vol. 7; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not sure why this comic is still going. This was a fairly ridiculous plot arc in this volume as a couple of Earth's heroes go looking for the Plutonian (why?) and accidentally give him the means to return to Earth. Kind of stupid, all in all.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Affair (Jack Reacher, #16); Author: Lee Child; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Sort of a meandering, almost boring affair (ha! do you see what I did there?), but it does finally build to a fairly satisfying finish. These Reacher novels tend to be very hit-or-miss and this one seemed like it was going to be the latter for me, but the end saved it. Hopefully the next one will be better all around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 5: On to Genesis; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I've found this to be kind of a hit-and-miss series overall, but when it's hitting, it's pretty darn good, as in this particular volume, which sort of gives us a bit of an origin story for Tom Taylor (or at least I think it does--time will tell). I love the whole "jumping into and out of stories" idea and it has really worked well at times. The art could be a bit better, but it does what it needs to (I just wish it weren't quite so perfunctory). Looking forward to the next collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chew: The Omnivore Edition, Vol. 2; Author: John Layman; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I don't think this was quite as good as the first go-round, as it gets more and more wacky, where the first edition was silly, but grounded more in a serious investigation. I like the characters and the story and will keep reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Force, Volume 3: The Dark Angel Saga, Book 1; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Wow! This was pretty good. I've not always been a fan of Rick Remender--his writing is sometimes too dark, sometimes too complicated. But here, it comes together with great art to create a pretty compelling storyline. Looking forward to Book 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elk's Run; Author: Joshua Hale Fialkov; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, children, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: I liked the idea of it, but the suddenness with which the violence rears its head and how quickly it becomes over-the-top (killing 2 highway patrolmen?), sort of sinks the book for me. Could have been better if a bit more subtle.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Force Of Nature (Joe Pickett, #12); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I love the Joe Pickett books, but this one really focuses more on the backstory of Joe's friend Nate Romanowski, to the extent that Joe almost feels like a secondary character in his own book. Also, it's not really a mystery so much as a book-length series of chase sequences. That said, it really isn't a bad book--not poorly written or anything like that. Just a bit disappointing, really.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crossed, Vol. 2: Family Values; Author: David Lapham; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Can hardly believe I found a copy of this at the local public library--this is some seriously sick stuff...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Tower: Battle of Jericho Hill; Author: Robin Furth; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good art. Fills in some gaps. Not original to Stephen King, if I'm remembering correctly, but it feels like it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Force, Volume 4: The Dark Angel Saga, Book 2; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Another "pretty good" but rather short of great book. Nice artwork through most of this (the final issue in this collection was drawn by someone else and the cartoony style hurts the rest of it). It's got an epic feel, but falls just a bit short of really being something that matters. Still, kudos to Remender and the team on the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Goon, Volume 3: Heaps of Ruination; Author: Eric Powell; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The series started off well enough but just keeps getting dumber and dumber. May read another collected edition before giving up on this entirely, but don't know if I should bother...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman; Author: Brian Azzarello; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, children, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: The Batman story is definitely the highlight. Bruce Wayne was killed instead of his parents, so his father has become Batman and his mother...? The team of Azzarello and Risso is well-suited to this sort of alternate timeline story. The rest of the book really doesn't measure up. The stories are fairly lame and the artwork ranges from quite good to quite bad, sometimes in the range of a few pages. I wasn't aware of the Flashpoint crossover storyline in the DC universe, but based on the evidence here, they really didn't put much effort into it. The Batman story is poignant and well-told; the rest of it could be used to line a birdcage...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen Million Dollar Pop (Frank Behr, #3); Author: David Levien; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Not quite as good as the two previous Frank Behr novels. This one had an overly-complicated mystery and not really much happened for about two-thirds of the book. Then it exploded in some pretty gruesome, vivid violence toward the end. Altogether, it was just a bit too much. Levien's other books were more controlled and more interesting.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Devil All the Time; Author: Donald Ray Pollock; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: I was kind of surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Not really my usual sort of thing. I tend to steer clear of the "literary" in favor of mysteries and science fiction and other genre fiction. But this was a riveting book that was easy to read and held my attention all the way through. At first, it almost seems more like a series of long short stories or even novellas, each focusing on a different set of characters. But then all the separate strands come together at the finale. Very violent and with depraved characters who do some pretty awful things, but ultimately a pretty honest look at people and their hardscrabble lives in the time periods (1940s to 1960s) and places (rural West Virginia and Ohio). I'd recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, by Brian Michael Bendis, Volume 1; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really didn't like what Marvel did with Peter Parker in the Ultimates line, but if this is how they're going to re-launch the character...well, all I can say is "Wow!" What an origin story. Miles Morales is a great character and I love the possible directions his story might go. This first book was just amazing and it has me wanting more, more, more. Really top-notch stuff!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: X-Men, Volume 1; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ugh...well, I'd sure like to see a complete overhaul on the X-Men, but instead we get more of the same. This is really getting tired...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City of Lost Girls (Ed Loy, #5); Author: Declan Hughes; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Another involving mystery from Hughes. He's one of the best current mystery authors out there and the comparisons to Ross Macdonald are particularly apt, as his books tend to revolve around mysteries that have their roots in some traumatic, past incident. Here, it's the troubling disappearance of two female extras on a movie in process in Dublin, echoing the similar disappearance many years ago of a trio of extras from the set of a film by the same director and producing team. Hughes' detective was involved just tangentially in that earlier investigation, so he's very frightened by what these current disappearance seem to suggest. Set in a well-drawn Dublin, reeling from the effects of the world-wide recession and the death of the "Celtic Tiger." Very strong book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics Ultimates, Volume 1: The Republic Is Burning; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: This was okay. The supposedly-great artwork looks awfully cartoonish and third-gradey at times. The story is, as usual with Hickman, overly ambitious. If you can't wrap things up in 6 issues, you've got a problem. Might have rated this higher if the story was complete in this volume, but now I've got to wait until I can get hold of volume 2 to see how things turn out (presuming that events do, indeed, wrap up in vol. 2, that is).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine, by Greg Rucka: Ultimate Collection; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Rucka is a great writer and this is nice, simple, down-to-earth storytelling. A good fit for Woverine, who doesn't need over-the-top situations or violence to be an interesting character.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Guardians (Max Freeman, #6); Author: Jonathon King; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Not as good as previous books in this series. The story was a bit contrived and the way the two plots came together was far too coincidental for me. Early books in this series were standout mysteries, but the last couple haven't been as strong.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sherlock Holmes: Year One; Author: Scott Beatty; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Interesting but not entirely successful look at the early days of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taken (Elvis Cole, #15; Joe Pike, #4); Author: Robert Crais; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I liked it, but didn't "love" it, if you know what I mean. It feels like Crais is staking out the same territory over and over and I'm not so sure that raising Joe Pike to equal-protagonist status with detective Elvis Cole was the right decision. The earlier Cole books had a sense of humor to them that more recent books seem to be missing entirely, and the focus on mercenaries and the way the operate (and excessive detail given to guns and weapons) just isn't as interesting to me as watching Cole interact with the characters he meets during the course of his investigations. This one seems to have a bit of a "ripped from the headlines" plot, focusing on the bajadores, bandits who prey on other bandits around the California-Mexico border, stealing drugs, weapons, and in this case, illegal immigrants from other criminals (generally members of rival drug gangs), with the intent of milking them for ransom, then killing and disposing of them when there's no more money to be had. It's all just so deadly serious that it gets to be a bit much at times. Don't get me wrong--this is a well-written and suspenseful book and it will probably go over big with many readers--it's just that, more and more, it isn't really my cup of tea.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Map of Time (Trilogía Victoriana, #1); Author: Felix J. Palma; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I just could not get into this one (bad translation?); gave it 50 pages and had to reluctantly give up...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris, Volume 1: Colossus of Mars; Author: Arvid Nelson; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The art is decent, but the story is really pretty underwhelming...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Trial of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes Dynamite, #1); Author: Leah Moore; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Story was very strangely-told. Kind of herky-jerky. As another post has mentioned, it almost seems at times like there are pages missing. There's no real resolution or explanation at the end for just what the heck was going on. Still, the period atmosphere was well-captured. The artwork is decent. And the story has the ring of a missing Sherlock Holmes adventure. I just wish the script was up to the same level as the rest of the enterprise.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Force, Volume 5: Otherworld; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really bad art throughout and a story that is ultimately rather pointless. What happened to the urgency of previous volumes dealing with Apocalypse and Archangel? This better get a lot better soon or I'm pulling the plug...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: X-Men: Schism; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I thought it was pretty good, though the specific event that caused the actual break could have been something a bit more significant (rather than something staged to increase arms sales...say what?). I like the idea of 2 competing visions for the future of mutants and that Wolverine is the one who takes on the mantle of Professor Xavier's vision of mutants and humans coexisting--you'd kind of expect the opposite, especially since Logan is the de-facto leader of the X-Force, the mutant dirty work crew. Still, I have to admit again to really growing a bit tired of the overall vision for the X-Men books. The whole "humankind hates us and wants to kill us" bit just seems a bit overdone. Just saying...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Warlord of Mars Volume 1; Author: Arvid Nelson; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not too bad. The story is very well-written. The artwork could use a bit of work here and there. It is quite a bit different from the recent John Carter movie, but I'd guess it hews closer to the original material than the movie did. All in all, it was worth reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers vs. X-Men: It's Coming; Author: Allan Heinberg; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Kind of a disjointed mess. These stories don't seem to have much to do with each other. Maybe the payoff will come when the actual series itself starts showing up in collected volumes?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dark Avengers, Volume 1: Assemble; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not too bad--good art, interesting story. Still, it's really hard to get past the idea that anyone could possibly put Norman Osborne in a position of power under any circumstances.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: StormWatch, Vol. 1; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very good collection. No one writes these grounded science fictional/horror stories better than Warren Ellis and he's in fine form here. The artwork varies from pretty good to cartoonishly over-exaggerated. If it was a bit more controlled, this might be a five-star volume.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Haunt, Volume 3; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, mystery; Review: Starting to wonder if this story is really going anywhere. In this volume, other artists take over the bulk of the work and it really starts getting bad, especially in issue #18. Don't know how much longer I care to stick with a pointless comic with poor artwork.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dark Avengers, Volume 2: Molecule Man; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Nice artwork by Deodato and pretty good story by Bendis, this could still be a lot better...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Avengers, Volume 1: Mission to Mars; Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting. Artwork is strong, as usual. I expected a bit more from an Ed Brubaker-penned story than this, though. Could use a bit more development. We'll see what happens in volume 2.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Avengers, Volume 2: Eyes of the Dragon; Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Now this is a real step up. Some of my disappointment with volume 1 is paid off here in volume 2, which continues to develop and expand on threads left hanging. Great artwork and a nice, twisty story. Bring on volume 3.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, by Brian Michael Bendis, Volume 2; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Still liking the story, though the artwork in this volume is quite variable. Two pretty crummy issues, by Chris Samnee, followed by 1 issue by original artist Sara Pachelli, and 2 by David Marquez. I hoped Marvel would pick a superstar artist for this title and do their best to keep the same person on it as long as possible (like Mark Bagley the first go-around), but if they're already playing musical chairs with the artwork on this flagship title, that doesn't bode well. Thankfully, it's balanced by a very strong story from Bendis that continues to explore this very different character and his background and family. It's great so far and I hope it can continue at this high level.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Siege; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: A very impressive, thick volume of comics. I think the whole idea of the city of Asgard floating 12 feet above the Oklahoma plains is just a bit ridiculous, but if you'll accept that, the rest of the story isn't bad. Norman Osborn, head of H.A.M.M.E.R. (did they ever come up with a name to justify the initials?), which has succeeded S.H.I.E.L.D., and his "dark" Avengers invade Asgard in a misguided attempt to protect the U.S. The "real" Avengers, having lived underground as fugitives ever since the superhuman registration act, band together to stop them. That's basically the story, covered from multiple angles through several miniseries and sequences of established titles like New Avengers and Dark Avengers. Most of the art is outstanding, though some of it is a bit muddy by comparison and doesn't really stand up too well. It's rather amazing how tightly written this all is, seeing as how it played out over so many different venues. I really quite liked it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret Avengers: Run the Mission, Don't Get Seen, Save the World; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some more really excellent, self-contained, single issue stories from Warren Ellis. Six issues, six stories, six different artists (why?). The standout for me was a mind-twisting story in which Black Widow uses time travel to save the team from a mission gone wrong.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirate Queen of Mars (Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris Volume 2); Author: Arvid Nelson; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty dull story. Not much to recommend the book unless you like looking at the scantily clad Dejah Thoris throughout.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Secret Avengers: Fear Itself; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: This was really pretty bad--one of the side effects of trying to shoehorn a title into a company-wide crossover event without really coming up with a good story or compelling reason to include it. The art is decent throughout most of this, but it was a real step down from what came before and even what comes after (the 6-issue Warren Ellis run). Just really, really pointless...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Breach (Travis Chase, #1); Author: Patrick Lee; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting premise--that a physics experiment accidentally ripped a whole in reality, connecting us with an alternate universe and, periodically, strange and often dangerous devices are dropped from the other universe into ours, with a special, secret branch of the government tasked with keeping it all under wraps. Unfortunately, this just got sillier and sillier the more it went on. When one device turns much of the populace of Zurich, Switzerland, into vengeance-seeking zombies, who are killed by the hundreds with no consequence (I'd expect some mention of this in the papers the next day at least), I was about ready to give up. But I stuck it out to the end. Don't know if I'll bother with the other books in this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower #8); Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Excellent, excellent book, with King at the top of his storytelling powers. Roland tells a pair of intermeshing stories here, while the ka-tet waits out a "starkblast," a sudden, powerful storm that includes temperature drops so sharp and severe that trees explode as a result. One story involves a "skin man" who has the ability to shapeshift into many different animals and has been preying on a frontier settlement. The other involves a young boy who must figure out the mystery of his father's death in a small settlement near a deep forest. The two stories are quite simple, yet King manages to imbue them with mystery and suspense and it was very hard to put this one down. It helps to have read previous books in the Dark Tower series, but it's not necessary.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1); Author: George R.R. Martin; Genres: history, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm coming to this after having watched the first two seasons of the HBO television series. It's really amazing how true to the book the writers of the series were able to be. The book is a more fleshed-out version of what showed up on the small screen, but that was already a memorable story. Here in the book, it's all the more rich and detailed. This is really good stuff, though I'm a bit worried that Martin may have bit off more than he can chew with this grand story and may not live to tell all of it...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rise of the Governor (The Walking Dead #1); Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Much of this is yet another, run-of-the-mill, end of the world, zombie story. How many times, how many ways can this basic story be told? I'm much more interested in the "after the apocalypse" versions of the story, than the end of the world part. Still, it really surprised me with a last-second switcheroo as to who "the governor" really was. I'll probably read others in this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Burning Soul (Charlie Parker, #10); Author: John Connolly; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good, but not as good as some of the Charlie Parker mysteries. This one is just a bit on the formulaic side in its treatment of a kidnapped young girl, mobsters on the run, and a reformed child killer who might be hiding a secret. There's just a bit of the Fulci brothers and Angel and Louis, Parker's assassin friends, but most of the focus is on Parker as he tries to help the child killer, who has paid his debt and is trying to eke out an existence as an accountant in a small, coastal Maine town. Someone appears to know his secret and is sending him letters and photographs--as a prelude to blackmail? It's not bad, but Connolly has written much better books (the previous one, The Whisperers, was a standout) and the supernatural really has little part in this mystery.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead of Night (Dead of Night, #1); Author: Jonathan Maberry; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Another end-of-the-world, zombie novel. There gets to be a sameness to these books as they trod the same ground, over and over. Yet this one is at least fast-moving, with interesting characters and an interesting attempt at creating a scientific explanation for the zombie virus. In this case, it was a bio-weapon that was developed and honed by a doctor who defected from the Soviet Union and was placed as a prison doctor, where he continued to develop his weapon, electing to run a trial on a recently-executed serial killer. The concoction is supposed to mimic death, but keep the condemned man alive and aware in his coffin as he's consumed by bodily parasites. But at the last minute, his body is released to a distant relative for burial in the family plot and as a result, all hell breaks loose. I enjoyed this, though I've found Maberry's young adult zombie novels to be much more enjoyable and imaginatively-plotted.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Edge of Dark Water; Author: Joe R. Lansdale; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very good coming of age tale from Lansdale, though it doesn't quite live up to his book The Bottoms. A trio of youngsters in Texas, around the 1940s or 50s, decide to dig up the body of one of their friends, recently deceased, and take her ashes (after burning up her body) to Hollywood, where she was planning to go. They also dig up some money from a bank robbery and soon there are a number of shady characters on their trail as they float down the Sabine River on a raft. Lansdale almost consciously tries to ape Mark Twain with the whole raft thing, plus he even has a character mention how one sequence of the novel is sort of a "lotus-eaters" thing, echoing a sequence from The Odyssey. Yet the book never really comes to life as its own entity. It certainly isn't bad--I've never read an outright bad book yet from Lansdale--but it doesn't quite live up to what it's attempting, either.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Defending Jacob; Author: William Landay; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Pretty good book, about a lawyer father, who comes from a background marred by violence, who has developed a blind eye to some of his own son's faults, so that when said son is accused of the murder of a classmate, his father simply can't see the possibility that perhaps his son had some part in the crime. There's mystery here, but it's also a very detailed portrait of a trial, as well as a chronicle of a family pulling itself apart at the seams. Very effective conclusion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FF, Volume 1; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Great combination of fantastic-looking art and cosmic, yet down-to-earth story. Too many times, Hickman's writing just doesn't work for me, but he's done a great job of clearly developing his rather far-out ideas in this collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FF, Volume 2; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Things are starting to get a bit more complicated here. Still dig the art, but the story isn't as clean and easy to follow as in the last volume. Hickman has this tendency to get far too convoluted in his storytelling and it looks like this book may be headed in that direction. I hope it doesn't.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nightly News; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: One of the blurbs likens this to "Fight Club meets Network." That's a better fit than the author's own "Reservoir Dogs meets Network." Amazing introduction to the comics world by superstar writer Jonathan Hickman. I haven't liked everything he's done since, but he is undeniably a cerebral, aim-for-the-head kind of writer and I think comics needs more of those. This is a great indictment of the whole global political-industrial-corporate nexus under which we currently live and there's a lot of very thought-provoking stuff here. There is more that could be done with this whole concept, but the graphic-design meets traditional comic artwork is very ground-breaking as a storytelling medium. I liked it. I've also really liked Hickman's Pax Romana and The Red Wing. He can be a bit too much at times, though (witness Marvel Comics' S.H.I.E.L.D.).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FF, Volume 3; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Art is a bit variable from one issue to the next. Story isn't quite so pleasing as in previous volumes (it's almost a bit, dare I say it, simpleminded). Still, this is a comic that is well worth reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Warriors, Volume 2: God of Fear, God of War; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Story and art are still a pretty good combination here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 17: Inherit the Wind; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I loved the whole story about finding the new north wind, interspersed with goings-on in Oz involving Buffkin and company. And then there are two issues that totally go off the rails into other things: one is a Christmas issue and the other is some sort of compilation issue. These are also good, but I don't care for how they disrupt the ongoing story that is at the heart of the series. This is one of the best comics out there, but they've got to find a way to accommodate an ongoing story and interludes at the same time. Perhaps a spinoff book, something akin to Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Drop of the Hard Stuff (Matthew Scudder, #17); Author: Lawrence Block; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: A rather quiet and subdued mystery, though none the less effective for that. Matt Scudder recounts a story from his early days in Alcoholic Anonymous, where he is pulled into solving the murder of another AA member he once knew as a child, who was apparently killed as a result of attempting to "make amends" (one of the 12 steps). Matt doesn't so much solve the mystery as set up a Mexican standoff of mutually-assured destruction with the culprit, who gets away with a series of murders designed to look like accidents and suicides. Block is one of the best writers out there and his portrait of New York is always affecting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spiral; Author: Paul McEuen; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: An excellent debut novel and the rare example of a truly thrilling thriller. McEuen does a great job of clarifying the advanced science behind his story of a Japanese bioweapon from World War II--an unstoppable, fungus-based illness that causes insanity and violent outbursts in its victims. The race is on when the Uzumaki (or "spiral") appears to have resurfaced and there's a threat of it being released via nano-robots throughout the United States.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Riot (Peter Grant, #1); Author: Ben Aaronovitch; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really enjoyed this one. Reminded me a lot of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, as novice policeman Peter Grant gets involved a pair of rather strange cases. Grant has been accepted as an apprentice wizard in a little-known, though frequently quite necessary, division of Scotland Yard. In one case, he's tasked with helping broker a truce between the male and female avatars of the Thames River, Mama and Papa Thames (Papa controls the upper part of the river, while Mama holds sway over the part running through London). In the other, he has to help figure out what's going on when random people start getting drawn into live re-enactments of the Punch and Judy show--something that children laugh at, but which is, in actuality, incredibly violent and gruesome (peoples' heads are knocked off, babies are thrown out windows, etc.). The writing is often quite funny, with pop-culture references and plenty of mythology and history of London and its environs, and the story moves quickly. Looking forward to other books in this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Little Dead Things; Author: Gary McMahon; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This one started out well--the story of a "psychic" detective, if you will, who can see the dead and use that power to his advantage in the cases he takes on--and progressively got worse and worse as it went on. More and more surreal, less and less coherent, until it came to a real mess of a conclusion. This idea had (and has) potential, but McMahon really needs to work on his story structure and try to keep things grounded. At times, it was reminiscent of Ramsey Campbell for the focus on urban horror, amidst crumbling infrastructure, but by the conclusion, there was just so much awfulness (in terms of horror and, by that point, in terms of bad writing), that the whole thing just didn't work.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Secret Warriors, Vol. 3: Wake the Beast; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Still liking this series a lot. We get some glimpses at the inner workings of Hydra this time out, including the origin of the Cthulhu-like creature that is one of the leaders of the group, and who infects the dead Viper, creating a new Madame Hydra who is part human and part crustacean (yuck!). Now, Leviathan is on the scene and things only get more complicated as the pieces are moved into position for the next collection.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Locke & Key, Vol. 5: Clockworks; Author: Joe Hill; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow! Is this series good and just keeps getting better. It will be a sad day when it ends. An amazing combination of humor, romance, horror, tragedy, all coupled with some of the best artwork currently on display in American comics. Cant' wait for volume 6 (or wait, maybe I can, if that's the last one)!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics Ultimates, Volume 2: Two Cities. Two Worlds.; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Big, grandiose visions. Almost too much is going on here to really be plausible (I know, I know--it's a comic book, who needs plausibility?). The destruction of Washington, D.C., was just a step too far. Though it was nice to see Reed Richards finally get his (interesting how Richards is a villain here and also has villainous doubles in Hickman's Future Foundation). I think I need to see this come back down to earth just a bit more, though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cape; Author: Joe Hill; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, poetry, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Story is well-told. It's not a happy one, but I would have liked a bit more explanation or even justification for why our lead character is such an ass. Other than that, this is a very nice adaptation all-around. I just don't think there's enough there to show us how/why Eric turned into such a creep.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Croning; Author: Laird Barron; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Probably more like 2 1/2 stars. This was a real trial to get through. I read some great reviews of the book and it sounded like something I would enjoy. But it was never scary. It was interesting at times, but the prose is very labored. Barron sounds like a very educated guy trying to show us just how smart he is. I was, needless to say, very disappointed in this novel. Normally, I would give up on something this dull partway through, but I stuck with this to the bitter end. It never really got better. A number of critics have said it reads like a bunch of short stories or vignettes loosely strung together, and it does have that feel at times. Whatever it is, it's not a very good novel. Now I'm not sure whether I should give Barron the benefit of the doubt and read his short fiction or not. I'm not going to be rushing into it, that's for sure.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Secret Warriors, Volume 5: Night; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Some pretty sketchy artwork in some of these, but the story more than makes up for it. Marvel really needs an ongoing title that can present this sort of cutting-edge, high tech espionage on a continuing basis.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Warriors, Volume 6: Wheels Within Wheels; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Excellent conclusion to what was a pretty top-notch series all the way through. Now that we're at the end, it is much clearer how carefully scripted the whole thing was. Kudos to Hickman. Nice artwork this time, too--not the rather slapdash effort on display in some of the earlier volumes. This was really quite good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: X-Men, Volume 2; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Yet more of the same. Please, please, please...someone do something different with mutants in the Marvel universe?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Genius, Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth; Author: Dean Mullaney; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: Pretty amazing book. Only tangentially aware of Alex Toth before this. This is a huge, very well-made book, filled with black and white and color artwork and biographical information on Toth. I was amazed when I got to the end and discovered it ended in the mid-1960s--this is only the first book of a three-volume set on Toth! Someone really put some love and effort into this project.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fantastic Four, Volume 1; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, children, fiction; Review: Really good storyline. I love the mix of domestic drama with cosmic science fiction. Reminds me of what the Fantastic Four used to be like.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It was just all right. Not really much happens in this collection. The art is okay. It all ties into the larger goings-on in the Ultimates universe, but it pretty unfulfilling as a standalone story.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fantastic Four, Volume 4; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Really liked this one. While the art wasn't so great in the final issue, the story was really good (Spider Man and Franklin Storm talking about their dead uncles and trying to come to terms with their grief over the Human Torch's death).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fantastic Four, Volume 5; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Whoa! Wow! Amazing! I just had my mind blown by a comic book for the first time in, like, forever. This was a truly awesome collection and amazing conclusion to the storyline that Hickman set up so carefully throughout his run on the title. The "war of the four cities" comes to a conclusion that's not quite what you might have expected, but much more significant. This is cosmic storytelling done right (and I'm usually not a fan of the cosmic books from either Marvel or DC). Great storytelling and great artwork combined to create a truly special moment in recent comic book history. This has got to be Jonathan Hickman's finest hour.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flesh & Bone (Rot & Ruin, #3); Author: Jonathan Maberry; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really love this series and the books just keep getting better and better. After a couple of books that covered a lot of the same ground, there's some real forward movement this time as Benny and his friends make some considerable progress in their quest to locate the source of the jet they saw flying overhead many months ago. Unfortunately, as we've seen time and again, all is not well out in the great "rot & ruin" and there are dangers much worse than the zombies or "gray people." Such as the Night Church, the followers of Thanatos, the "reapers" whose mission it is to cleanse the world of the remnants of humanity. Led by the frightening Saint John and Mother Rose, these fanatics are bent on freeing the souls of any heretics they come by and sending them to the darkness. Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong have their work cut out for them and it might prove to be just a bit too much...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trickster's Point (Cork O'Connor, #12); Author: William Kent Krueger; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: One of the better books in this series. I really liked the flashbacks to Cork's and Jubal's early years and the development of their friendship (of course, we've never heard of Jubal before in this series--so where was he?) and how it soured over the years. I had the mystery figured out very early in this one, which is something I almost never do, but Krueger really stresses a couple of clues over and over to the point where it's pretty obvious who's responsible. Still, the northern Minnesota locations can't be beat (and it helps to actually be reading it IN northern Minnesota at the time, which I was). Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scowler; Author: Daniel Kraus; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Oh, my...Daniel Kraus is an amazing author, but this was one of the hardest books I've ever read. One of the most gruesome and grisly, too. I'm not really sure this is appropriate for young adults/teens, who appear to be the target audience. The sensibility seems much more adult than that. The story follows young Ry Burke, who lives with his mother and young sister on a dying farm in Iowa, in 1981. Nine years previously, Ry was grievously injured by his father, Marvin, an abusive and possibly mentally ill man who'd been terrorizing his family for years. Ry also managed to hurt his father, who was arrested and put in jail. Now, a meteorite has hit the prison where Marvin was housed, allowing him to escape, while another has landed on the Burke farm. When Marvin makes his way home, the stage is set for another grim father-son conflict. The explorations of frayed mental states is impressive, with Ry continually worried that he might be turning into his father, yet also, perversely, looking to him for some sort of approval. He's allowed himself to define his whole life by that earlier event and hasn't moved on, stuck on the decaying farm while his classmates make plans for college and lives beyond their rural home. As with his previous novels, Kraus has written a strong coming-of-age story, couched in horror tropes, though this time, the extremity of the horror threatens to overwhelm things. This is a tense book, with little to release that tension. This is not a feel-good story; there is no happy ending. It's a very sad, very compelling story and one I'd recommend, though only to those with the stomach for it. With Rotters and now this, Daniel Kraus has become an author to watch out for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Wanted Man (Jack Reacher, #17); Author: Lee Child; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The Reacher books are up and down affairs. Child will write a good one and then follow it up with one less spectacular. A Wanted Man is a pretty good novel, though it does drag on a bit, covering some of the same ground over and over (one of the problems with this series). But it ultimately delivers what most readers of this series want. It might be nice to have Jack move out of the midwest, though--too many books set in Nebraska, Kansas, etc., and I'm really not sure how well he's researched these (for example, he keeps mentioning Texaco stations on the freeway when there haven't been any Texaco stations around for years--they were bought out by Shell!). Anyway, it was fast-moving and kept my interest.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dead Path; Author: Stephen M. Irwin; Genres: thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very good, very creepy book that did take awhile to get going. I almost gave up reading during the first 80 or so pages, which were rather dull and overly-filled with flowery writing. But once the story got moving, it quickly became a riveting, page-turning nightmare that I really enjoyed. I don't think I've read a horror novel this scary in quite some time and would strongly recommend it. Looking forward to the author's other books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Curse of the Jade Lily (Mac McKenzie, #9); Author: David Housewright; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Housewright is one of the best Minnesota mystery writers. Might even be better than William Kent Krueger. Here, he does his best to write an old-timey, Philo Vance sort of mystery, complete with an art museum boardroom facedown with several of the guilty parties (there is a very, very complex solution to this mystery--good luck guessing all the twists and turns Housewright has in store for you). Great feeling for the Twin Cities and the people who call it home. Looking forward to his next book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Invincible, Vol. 16: Family Ties; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Just can't trust a Viltrumite...poor Dinosaurus.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Twelve (The Passage, #2); Author: Justin Cronin; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very good follow-up to the initial novel. This was the kind of book that had me riveted and I didn't want to put it down. I was reading it every time I had a few minutes and everywhere I went. Cronin does a great job of creating characters you care about in a few quick, broad strokes, and then putting them in situations where you want to see them succeed, you don't want to see them hurt. His portrait of an America fundamentally changed in the aftermath of the vampire apocalypse is a memorable one. If you like post-apocalyptic stories, this one works really well. I'm just not sure where things can possibly go in a third novel, though I'm certainly looking forward to it. Hope he gets the next one done more quickly, with less time between this one and it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Breed; Author: Chase Novak; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I'd call this one a 3 and a half star book. It started out really well and I had high hopes it really was going to be the revelatory, original horror novel that all the cover blurbs suggest it is. It's really hard to come up with something completely new, and for a while, it seems like Novak has. But then it sort of devolves into an extended chase sequence. And, as other reviewers have noted, it's rather hard to care about characters that the author doesn't seem to like (plus the essential nature of the story makes it hard to care about characters who are degenerating mentally, when there's a skip forward of 10 years). There are a lot of good things in the story--the social commentary on monied society in New York, all the stuff about people so desperate to have a baby that they'll submit themselves to anything in the quest--but, ultimately, the book is a bit disjointed and there are a few too many hanging threads (like, whatever happened to Leslie's sister, Cynthia? or the fate of Bernard and his mother) for this to be the classic novel it is touted as. Still, it's definitely worth a read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The City of Mirrors (The Passage, #3); Author: Justin Cronin; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. I loved Cronin's first book in this series, The Passage, which had truly frightening passages about the end of the world as we know it and then a jump to a hundred years or so in the future, to a new society that grew up in the face of the virals' takeover. And The Twelve was pretty good, too. In fact, it really seems like Cronin got most of his story out with that second book and there really wasn't much left. City of Mirrors seems almost like an afterthought, or like a publisher-mandated third book for a trilogy that really didn't need it. Sure, there were plot threads left hanging after the second book, like the continued existence of Zero, the uber-viral that started the whole thing, but that seemed secondary to the climactic confrontation with the Twelve. In City of Mirrors, mankind has begun to claw its way back and people are even starting to move out beyond the Kerrville city walls, establishing settlements miles away. Virals haven't been seen in years and life is less about survival and more about a search for happiness. Amy and Anthony, last of the twelve, have been hidden away, just in case they should ever be needed. Then, weird things start to happen: pets disappear, giant ant mounds appear and disappear, and so forth. Could it be that things aren't as safe as they appear? For a book about the final battle between good and evil, things never seem as serious as they should. There's never a sense that evil might get the upper hand. The book reads like it was carefully plotted out and then written to a road map, rather than organically growing out of the situation, which is something the other books had in spades. There are a number of fairly large setpieces of violence and horror, but they don't ever seem truly threatening. In fact, the best moments are the quiet ones, as families go about their everyday lives and former soldiers try to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives. The background story on Fanning/Zero, and how he came to be the initial vector for the viral infection is one of the best sections in the book, jumping back in time to chart the course of a young man who goes off to school on the east coast and his relationships and gradual rise in scientific circles. Also, a brief segment at the end, as scientists gather in Australia at a conference on the history of the viral conflict (this happens a thousand years in the future) and one researcher in particular discovers he may yet have a chance at happiness is much better than the innumerable sections of minor characters battling the viral hordes. I wanted to like this book. I really did. But for all its size (this is a doorstop of a book) it just feels rushed and it's often hard to keep track of who's who (part; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Broken Ones; Author: Stephen M. Irwin; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Another really good book from Irwin. Well-written combination of horror, police procedural, and near-future science fiction. It reminded me at times of Charlie Huston's novel Sleepless in its look at a future in which much of society as we know it has broken down and people are stuck in a fairly miserable existence, yet continuing to soldier on anyway. In The Broken Ones, the sad state of affairs is caused by an inexplicable event called "Grey Wednesday," when, suddenly, everyone becomes haunted by their own personal ghost--one only they can see. This has caused society to fracture and fall apart as large numbers of people go slowly mad because of the situation. In this atmosphere, policeman Oscar Mariani is part of a special police department tasked with investigating crimes (murders, usually) involving the influence of ghosts. The squad, consisting of Mariani and his partner, Neve, has reached the end of its rope when the badly mutilated body of a young girl is discovered in the machinery of a local water sewage plant and Mariani decides he's going to hold on to this one and not hand it off to the regular police. This decision leads to a complex investigation involving corruption at the highest levels of society and the police department and ancient, ghastly religious rites. And Oscar is put through the wringer himself, withstanding more physical abuse than any character this side of Bruce Willis in Die Hard. It's an excellent book, though a bit exhausting, to be honest.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 1: The Court of Owls; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This is good, closer to 3 and a half stars than 3. But it could use a bit more clarity. The story is a bit too hallucinatory and there seem to be jumps or holes in it. Writer Snyder does a good job of creating a mythic group of shadowy characters who've apparently always been there in the background, controlling Gotham City from the beginning, and running into the occasional conflict with the Wayne family over the years. Bruce Wayne is certain the group is nothing more than a fiction, but as he goes about looking into the stories, he becomes less certain of this. The artwork is dynamic, but I just wish the whole thing were just a bit more fully fleshed-out, overall.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Morning Glories, Vol. 1: For a Better Future; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very strange and mysterious--no idea where this is going, but I want to know more. A group of six young people, all born on the same day, are recruited to a mysterious private prep school where the "lessons" involve being attacked in your bed by knife-wielding maniacs and being nearly drowned while in detention. I don't know if the school is designed to develop supercriminals or find people who can save the world from an alien attack, but I really enjoyed this first volume and want to read the next one right away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Morning Glories, Vol. 2: All Will Be Free; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Still liking it, though the weird mysteriousness is starting to get just a bit annoying. Time to start filling in some of the details.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Leviathan; Author: Ian Edginton; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Interesting idea, though a bit underdone in the execution.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Live by Night (Coughlin, #2); Author: Dennis Lehane; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: Really enjoyed this one. It's a historical novel, following the life of the youngest Coughlin brother, Joe (from Lehane's The Given Day) as he makes his way through the criminal underworld in the 1920s and 1930s. Ratted out for a bank robbery and sent to prison, Joe falls under the sway/protection of Boston crime godfather Maso Pescatore. When he's released, Joe is sent to Tampa to take over the gang's interests there, including rum-running, gambling, and prostitution. He also meets and falls for the love of his life, Graciela, while pining for his lost love, Emma Gould, believed killed in the aftermath of the robbery. Lehane does a great job of showing how the soft-hearted Coughlin builds an empire and deals with the various problems that rear their heads: the Ku Klux Klan (portrayed here as more of a rival gang), rival moonshiners, and a young woman, daughter of a local police officer, who becomes a figurehead for religion/temperance in the area and proves to be his most serious adversary. A most enjoyable book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch; Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Meh...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Astro City, Vol. 8: Shining Stars; Author: Kurt Busiek; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some of these collections have been better than others. This one takes a step back again in overall worth. Several unconnected stories, a couple played out over two issues. The first, about the Samaritan and his arch foe, the Infidel, is perhaps the strongest. It is followed by a forgettable story about a life-sized "Beautie" (read: Barbie) doll who fights crime and doesn't understand what it means to be human. Then there is the two-issue piece about Astra Furst's graduation. She's a member of the "First Family" which is so obviously meant to be the Fantastic Four that it's almost embarrassing how similar they are. Astra is famous and her every move is tracked by gossip magazines and websites and that's really about all there is to the story. And then there is a two-issue story dealing with the Silver Agent that covers much of the same ground as every other Silver Agent story I've read in other collections of Astro City. In the introduction, Mark Waid talks about how he used to view these stories as little more than pastiche, but had come to understand they were much more than that. Well, I'm not so sure this time around--my experience reading this volume was that these stories were pastiches and little else. Unfortunate, because I know they can be more, based on my past reading of this title.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elephantmen Volume 5: Devilish Functions; Author: Richard Starkings; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Another stellar collection. The quality of workmanship that goes into these books, quite aside from the artwork and the storytelling, is nothing less than amazing. This really is one of the more underrated comics titles out there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Morning Glories, Vol. 3: P.E.; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This is still a very interesting comic, but the narrative confusion is starting to wear a bit. This is like Lost taken to the nth degree, with mystery on top of mystery on top of mystery. There need to be some answers soon or people are going to start losing interest. I'll keep reading because, as others have said, I've already invested myself this far. But the story needs to start making some sense soon.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 6: Tommy Taylor and the War of Words; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is one of the best-written comic books out there. This sure seems like a conclusive volume, but I really hope there's more...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadpool MAX, Volume 1: Nutjob; Author: David Lapham; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Not really sure I get the attraction of Deadpool and this "adult" series was seriously underwhelming...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Deadpool MAX, Volume 2: Involuntary Armageddon; Author: David Lapham; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Blech...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good to see I'm not alone in thinking this one had a very rushed, slapdash nature to it, from the story to the very rudimentary art. It seems like a cash-grab all around, with none of the magic you'd expect from a Fables-related title (though that also is true of some of the latter volumes of Jack of Fables as well). Luckily, I got mine from the public library (wonder if anyone there ever took a look at all the nudity in this one--penises galore!) and didn't waste my hard-earned money on it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1; Wool, #1-5); Author: Hugh Howey; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Wow! was this ever a good book. I didn't know what to expect when this first came my way through a Goodreads recommendation. I haven't read a lot of "self-published" fiction and the little I've seen has been, honestly, junk: riddled with grammatical mistakes, full of cliches, etc. But Wool is as good as anything I've ever read. There must be some major publisher out there who would have been interested in taking this on. Anyway, the story: basically, the book is a series of interconnected novellas (novelettes?) that deal with the people living in a silo after some sort of apocalyptic event. The people know where they are and, basically, why--this isn't one of those books where everyone's forgotten and thinks that this is all there is of the world. They live under some very harsh rules, rules designed to keep everyone in their place, discourage individuality and free thought, and keep the peace. Whenever someone does step out of line or has an original thought or even, sometimes, asks to go "outside," they are sent to "cleaning," which involves putting on a sort of hazmat suit and being pushed outside the airlock, where they are expected to clean off the dirt and grime that periodically collect on the sensors and cameras that the silo uses to see outside. So far, no one has ever failed to clean, even though it is essentially a death sentence, since the air outside is apparently so toxic that these suits fall to pieces within a short time. Howey does such a great job of describing the place, giving us just enough detail to imagine most of it for ourselves. And he's even better with the characters, creating one of the more memorable of science fiction heroines in Juliette, a Mechanical worker who replaces the sheriff recently lost to a cleaning and finds herself at the center of much of the story's intrigue and events. Wool is very highly recommended and one of the best books I've read in a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ship Breaker (Ship Breaker, #1); Author: Paolo Bacigalupi; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I liked it. I liked the straightforward, no-proselytizing look at a near future in which the coastal areas of the world (in this case, the gulf coast of the U.S.) have changed radically, due to global warming. The story of Nailer, a ship breaker who works on a crew that pulls wiring and other items of worth out of the wreckage of old oil tankers, is one of hardship and a certain kind of tough beauty. It isn't an easy life, but it's the only one Nailer and his crew know and so long as they have his back and he has theirs, it is possible to get by, dreaming of a Lucky Strike (finding something valuable on a ship, such as a pocket of undiscovered oil, that would allow you to retire). When Nailer and his friend Pima discover the wreckage of a fancy ship following a "city killer" storm, he thinks that maybe, just maybe, he's found his lucky strike. That is, until his father, a mean, dangerous, often drugged-up man arrives with his crew (which includes Tool, a "half-man" created from the combination of canine and human DNA) to take charge of the salvage. A very imaginative and detailed look at a future that seems to be barreling toward us...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairest, Volume 1: Wide Awake; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is an improvement on Jack of Fables, though not quite up to the level of the two Cinderella miniseries. The story in this first volume was a bit on the "meh" side, but the artwork by Phil Jimenez is pretty amazing. I'll read the next volume when it comes out, but I hope it's got more of that Fables magic.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Men; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This is pretty darn good. About the only criticism I could have is that I wish it was longer...I'd like more interaction between the two spider-men, more time for Peter Parker and alternate Aunt May. And what the heck happened with Mary Jane? No meeting, no conversation, no nothing! The artwork is great and the story is pretty good, too, though when did Mysterio develop such high-level abilities? He can somehow open portals into alternate universes? This guy is, according to the story, a former stuntman/special effects guy. He's not Walter Bishop, for crying out loud. I continue to be impressed by Miles Morales as a character--if anyone can carry on the mantle of Ultimate Spider-Man, it's this kid.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Peter Panzerfaust, Vol. 1: The Great Escape; Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Hmm...well, I guess I just don't know what to think or say about this. I read it and it was interesting, but it certainly wasn't magical in any sense. I didn't have my mind blown by this original take on Peter Pan or whatever. It was okay. The artwork is a bit off--fine lines on one page and fat and chunky on another. All the characters are tall and skinny and have triangle-shaped heads. It could use a bit more variety. And the story in this first volume is just sort of "meh." Nothing much happens--they escape Calais and get to Paris. End of story. I don't know if it's worth picking up volume two or not. If it shows up at the library, maybe I'll give it a try.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine and the X-Men, Volume 1; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked it, but didn't really "love" it if you get me. There's a lot of potential in the idea of Wolverine as the headmaster at a newly-rebuilt Westchester academy for young mutants, but this first four-issue arc was a bit on the busy side, with fairly chaotic, incoherent art and yet another attack on those "poor, misunderstood" mutants by the evil outside world. Maybe I just shouldn't be reading any X-Men comics anymore, but I really get tired sometimes of this old fall-back to mutants as an oppressed minority, constantly under attack and being threatened with genocide. It all gets a bit old sometimes. I like the mix of students and instructors--couldn't we get just a couple of issues showing a relatively peaceful few days at the school?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine and the X-Men, Volume 2; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Liked this one quite a bit more than the first volume. This was just what I was looking for in that one--more of a self-contained story about the school and its students and less of the usual "whoa is me," mutants-are-forever-being-crapped-on stuff that so much of the X-books are limited to these days. I liked the story about the Brood infesting the school and one Kitty Pryde, and the Quentin Quire/Wolverine gambling team-up a whole lot better than the reborn Hellfire Club story from the first volume, which made the return of Sabretooth and Kade Kilgore a bit of a let-down in issue 8. Also, I think I prefer the Bradshaw art to the chaotic mess that is the Bachalo artwork, which is cartoonish and hard to follow. You can't always tell just what's going on in those panels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Shift: Legacy (Shift, #1); Author: Hugh Howey; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very good. First part of a prequel trilogy to Howey's Silo series, this one basically shows how the silos came into being and how the first people were installed in them. Chapters alternate point of view between a young congressman pressed into designing the living spaces of the silos and that of a silo administrator, just awakened from suspended animation for his "first shift." Howey has envisioned a scary future and the story is especially effective because he's so good at delving into the characters' emotions and motivations. Looking forward to the next two parts of this story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Iron Man II; Author: Orson Scott Card; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Kind of dull. Card seems to be struggling to tell a coherent story here. And the art is good in some places and a mess in others--quite variable.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Men of War, Vol. 1: Uneasy Company; Author: Ivan Brandon; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Not very good. The main story isn't very well-developed or very clearly defined. Seems like there's a lot of stuff missing, between the lines. And the artwork is just pretty blah, for the most part. The interesting stuff is in the one-shots that feature a wide variety of different characters, writers, and artists. There's a pretty good story about a knife fight by Matt Kindt, and I liked the Civil War re-enactment story, with Richard Corben artwork. But it's hard to see where this might have gone and why, exactly, anyone thought this title was a good idea from the get-go.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Moon Knight, Volume 2: Midnight Sun; Author: Charlie Huston; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really like the character of Moon Knight and I love Charlie Huston's novels. But the two of them just don't go together. I get the sense that Huston just doesn't understand comics and how they work and how to write them. And his expletive-filled dialogue just looks funny with "####" filling in for the four-letter words. That said, this volume was at least a step up from the first one. And the art by David Finch is pretty good--lots of intricate detail, though it looks better in the first couple of issues, with spare inking, and gets blocky and less clean in the later issues of the collection.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stumptown, Vol. 1; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Really liked it. There was a lived-in feel to the characters and the locations. The mystery might have been a bit more mysterious and I'm not sure I buy the finale (to say more would be a spoiler), but it was a lot of fun and I'd definitely like to see further volumes featuring detective Dex Parios.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deathlok: The Living Nightmare of Michael Collins (Deathlok, #1-4); Author: Dwayne McDuffie; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: What a complete and utter mess. I can't believe someone thought this was worth collecting in hardcover, let alone publishing it in the first place. The story is utter nonsense, without a trace of subtlety. Every character broadcasts what they're thinking and feeling at every point. The artwork changes from one issue to the next and the coloring is some of the most godawful, garish, neon reds, oranges, and yellows I've ever seen. I have a headache just from looking at some of these pages. I think the Deathlok character has a lot of potential, but I'm amazed he survived this mess.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: SilverFin: The Graphic Novel; Author: Charlie Higson; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, comics, children, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really liked it. I would have loved this when I was a kid--beats the Hardy Boys by a mile. Excellent combination of story and artwork. Want to read more of these...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It was good, but a bit less than great, especially since I came to this after reading Hickman's later efforts with the Fantastic Four and the Future Foundation. Still, as others have mentioned, we get to see him laying some of the groundwork here for what was to come. Reed's work with the Bridge is interesting stuff. The other team members tumbling through time? Not so much (it happens so quickly, they don't really get to do much other than look around quizzically before it's off to the next era).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grifter, Vol. 1: Most Wanted; Author: Nathan Edmondson; Genres: paranormal, graphic, comics, fantasy; Review: Picked it up when I saw it on the shelf at my library. I didn't know who the Grifter was, but the "New 52" grabbed my interest. Eight issues later, I still don't know who the Grifter is and I'm not sure I really care to know more. This was one of the duller collections of comics I've read recently. The art is nice, but the story is pretty run-of-the-mill, nonstop action, with very little in the way of character development. If you read some of the other one- and two-star reviews here, they'll give you a pretty good idea of why this book is such a failure. Coming so soon on the heels of reading DC's New 52 title Men of War, I can't help but wonder who ever greenlighted some of these titles in the first place. Who was supposed to be the audience for this?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Batman: Streets of Gotham - Leviathan; Author: Paul Dini; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Very good. Grimm and gritty. Explores the relationship between Dick Grayson/Nightwing, who is filling in for a missing Batman, and Damian, Bruce Wayne's son, and the most recent Robin. This whole "Batman goes missing" storyline was one of the best things DC has done in recent years and this volume is some of the best stuff within that arc that I've seen, even on par with Grant Morrison's efforts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gun Machine; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Pretty good book that actually could have used some more development, some further fleshing-out. It got to be just a little too fast-moving towards the end and I really would have liked to see the plot slow down just a bit. I enjoyed it and am glad I read it, but can't help feeling a bit cheated, which I know sounds a bit weird. Ellis is a writer with some amazingly great ideas and I just wish he had expanded on this one a bit more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, by Brian Michael Bendis, Volume 3; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: I still really enjoy this series and the first half of this collection was more stellar material, as Miles battles his uncle, The Prowler. The art continues at a high level, though we've lost original artist Sara Pichelli. New artist David Marquez is more than up to the task of carrying on one of the flagship Marvel Ultimates titles. What I didn't care for was the whole, stupid Divided We Fall/United We Stand crap. What is it with Brian Michael Bendis and these big crossover events? Why, oh why does a comic as nuanced as this one can be have to be dragged into something like that? I can buy Miles as a young kid, struggling to control his powers and figure out his way in life, but it's really stretching things to have him join the Ultimates and go to war (eventually saving the life of "President" Steve Rogers--and, no, as stupid as that sounds, I'm not making it up). Please, please, please bring this thing back to earth and let Miles go back to some semblance of a normal life...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chew, Vol. 5: Major League; Author: John Layman; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This is some seriously twisted, yet still hilarious, stuff. Tony's girlfriend's ex kidnaps him to assist in writing a book about the sexual secrets of major league baseball players. And since Tony is a cibopath (meaning he can get psychic impressions from what he eats), just guess how that research is to be conducted? Eww... At the same time, Tony's daughter is kidnapped by his former partner and mentor and commences her own training as a cibopath with an extra level of talent: not only can she pick up psychic impressions from food, she can actually pick up physical talents from what she eats. This is a great series and it hasn't slowed down a bit. It's true that we seem to be making rather slow progress towards solving the larger, behind-the-scenes mystery that's been hanging around in the background from the beginning, but if the series as a whole can continue to be this entertaining and offbeat, I'm not in any great hurry to have the larger mystery revealed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 7: The Wound; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Electronic ARC provided via NetGalley. This series has finally become one of my favorites, after a rather slow start. I used to buy this in single issues, but finally gave up after realizing I didn't have a clue as to what was happening or where the story was going. A couple of years later, I came back to it via the collected volumes available through my local library and suddenly the impenetrable story became a must-read. This volume follows on the events surrounding the downfall of Pullman and the seeming end of the secret society that was at odds with Wilson Taylor and his son, Tommy. This collection follows a woman detective in Australia, investigating a series of unexplained disappearances that seem to revolve around the "Church of Tommy," lead by a Pastor Filby, who has an interesting tie-in to Tommy's story (and to Pauly the rabbit, who has an issue devoted to his ongoing adventures in the story world with the endless staircase). Leviathan, wounded in the previous volume, has only gotten worse--it seems something is only prolonging and worsening the wound, threatening the very fabric of reality. And that something seems to be tied to Tommy's lecture tour, scheduled to hit Brisbane, Australia, very soon. This is a great series--inscrutable though it may be--and this collection shows that Carey has much more story to tell, to the delight of this reader and I'm sure many others.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man in the Empty Suit; Author: Sean Ferrell; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This started off very promisingly, but quickly became a real slog to try to read and, ultimately, to finish.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Gun, Vol. 4: A Town Called Penance (The Sixth Gun, #4); Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This series continues to impress. This is the best weird western I've ever read and would be fertile ground for a television series or film version. I loved all the stuff in the underground city of the Knights of Solomon. That would make for a heck of a film set someday if someone wanted to attempt a movie of this series. I, for one, would be there at the head of the line.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 2: The City of Owls; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really like the way Snyder's story builds on the history of Gotham City and its founding fathers. The whole Court of Owls thing is one of the more imaginative additions to bat-lore over the years. This volume includes a number of things: a brief reconstruction of the backstory of Victor Fries, aka Dr. Freeze. The culmination of Batman's investigation of the Court of Owls. An issue devoted to Alfred's father, Jarvis Pennyworth, and a letter he wrote, urging Alfred to stay away from Gotham and the Waynes. And an issue devoted to a brother and sister who come under the protection of the Batman, with the sister prompted to want to pay him back, in her job as an electrical engineer for the city. Snyder has a way of focusing on the darkness inherent in Gotham City that brings out the horrific elements in the historical elements that surround Bruce Wayne and his family. But there's also a focus on Bruce Wayne, citizen of Gotham City, that is often ignored in other Batman titles, as well as a focus on the Bruce Wayne-Alfred Pennyworth friendship/partnership that really grounds the book. Greg Capullo's artwork is more than up to the task of the historic elements as well as the horrific elements inherent in the Owls and their Talons and the dark figure behind the entire scheme. Looking forward to the next volume. **ARC provided by Net Galley.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hit Me (Keller, #5); Author: Lawrence Block; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: What a great book. At all times, I was keenly aware I was in the presence of a master. Block's writing is just masterly throughout this latest Keller novel. Keller is a very down-to-earth guy who just happens to moonlight as a hitman. The rest of the time, he's a husband and father, trying to weather the downturn in the construction business in post-Katrina New Orleans. Also, he's a keen philatelist, keeping lists of stamps he wants marked in his catalogs. There's a lot of pretty wry humor on display in the novel, particularly in the conversations he has with his handler, Dot. At times, I almost felt like I was reading a Donald E. Westlake novel, particularly one of his Dortmunder books. Keller treats his hits as problems to solve and often works in one or more side trips to stamp shows or auctions. When he sets himself up as a stamp dealer, to provide a cover job to explain his income, he finds himself actually so successful that he really doesn't need to pursue his other jobs anymore. Just a sheer pleasure from start to finish. I hope there will be more Keller books to come.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dial H, Vol. 1: Into You; Author: China Mieville; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a pretty complicated comic and writer China Mieville just sort of throws his audience in the deep end without much by way of explanation, piling weirdness on weirdness. Just about the point where I couldn't take it any more, things slowed down a bit, got just a bit less weird, and some explanation was proffered, at which point, I decided, "Hey, I kind of like this!" The closest comparison I have is to the series Xombi, which had a couple of short-lived runs under the DC mantle, and was similarly weird and similarly short on explanations for its weirdness--and I loved that title. Basically, the story follows a young, out-of-shape guy who stumbles across an H-Dial (basically the dial off an old rotary telephone), which, when a certain number is dialed, grants the user the temporary use of the powers of some random superhero. Some of the heroes that make appearances include: Kid Chimney, the Iron Snail, Captain Lachrymose, and Bumper Carla. Nelson, our main character, decides to use these powers to help out a friend of his, in debt to a local hood, and inadvertently stumbles onto something much larger than the local criminal underground. The book is very strange and, at times, quite funny, with a standalone issue that flashes back to the ancient world to show us that these dials have been present in one form or another (in this case, it's basically a giant stone sundial). I really enjoyed this quite a bit and will definitely look for further volumes in the series. **ARC provided by Net Galley.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MIND MGMT, Volume One: The Manager; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really enjoyed this one. It combines some of the spy theatrics of Kindt's earlier Super Spy with a conspiracy story revolving around a secret government agency, responsible for psychic warfare. Meru, the main character, is a young woman true crime writer who sees a televised report about the tenth anniversary of Flight 815, the so-called "amnesia flight," because everyone on-board mysteriously lost their memories--everyone that is, but a seven-year-old boy and the missing, 121st passenger, Henry Lyme. Excited, she calls her agent and proposes a new book to explore the mystery of the flight and is confused when he tells her she's had this idea before. Events conspire to send her off to Mexico to investigate a small town where the citizens all starved to death, while making distinctive clay pots, an incident that is reminiscent of the amnesia flight. From there, she's drawn inexorably into a deeper mystery involving talking dolphins, a group of assassins knows as "Immortals," and the elusive Henry Lyme. Kindt has a very spare illustration style and his lettering is sometimes hard to read, but it all combines with his very heady plot to create something truly memorable. There are echoes of Lost in the story (and a foreword by Lost co-creator, Damon Lindelof) and it would make an effective movie or television series itself, in the right hands. The mystery isn't completely solved by book's end, suggesting there's more to the story, and I'm looking forward to further volumes. **ARC provided by NetGalley.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harbinger, Volume 1: Omega Rising; Author: Joshua Dysart; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The book certainly has potential, but this first collected volume was just a bit underwhelming. I mean, we've seen this all before--kids with powers they can't control, coming under the protection of a seemingly-benevolent, older person with the same powers. It's the basic premise of the X-Men (or, in this case, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants). The artwork is decent throughout and the brief flashbacks to other times are well-done and intriguing. But there just isn't enough there, storywise, to really make me want to come back to this again. I mean, I'll probably read the second volume when it comes out, if I can find it at my local library, but there's really nothing about this storyline that is compelling enough to make me look forward to it with great anticipation. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence; Author: Tom Taylor; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Meh...well, it wasn't a complete waste of time. Some good stuff in this, particularly the moral choices that must be considered. Ja'Boag, a mining tycoon, has taken over the planet Moorjhone with his own private army, and exiled the native people to the planet's surface, with just a few days to go before the "dawn of the three moons," a day when the combined heat of three moons rising at the same time will burn anything on the planet's surface. Darth Maul and his brother, Savage Oppress (where'd they come up with that ridiculous name?), have target Ja'Boag, after a bounty was placed on their heads. With Savage captured and encased in carbonite within the mine, an injured Maul raises a makeshift army of the indigenous population to retake the mines and rescue his brother. And that's basically it. There's some pretty good artwork on display throughout and quite a few battle scenes, as well as the eleventh-hour arrival of Obi-Wan Kenobi and a team of clone warriors, but not really a whole lot more to this story. It's quick and dirty and over before you know it. I guess I would have appreciated a bit more development (such as, how exactly did Darth Maul survive his original, apparent "death" at the hands of Obi-Wan?) and detail. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good to see this comic back to form. This one is right up there with the best volumes in this amazing series, as we get a couple of story arcs. One deals with the cub Therese, stolen away to become Queen of Toyland, and her brother, Darrian, come to rescue her. This is a very moving story of redemption and coming of age. The other is a two-issue story that details how Bigby wolf came by his fate. The artwork by Mark Buckingham continues to be a delight, with the two issue story illustrated by guest artist Gene Ha, who's work is very Buckingham-esque. This is a nice return to form after the disappointment that was Werewolves of the Heartland.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: Divided We Fall, United We Stand; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I loved Siege, but this follow-up is just plain awful all around. Can't believe that the new Spider-Man, who is just a kid after all, got mixed up in this crapfest (or that this volume basically reprints everything from Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 3--talk about double-dipping by Marvel!). Hopefully things can rebound from here, or else the Ultimate line should just be discontinued.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Monster Variations; Author: Daniel Kraus; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Excellent coming of age novel, that follows three 12-year-old boys, best friends, during one eventful summer. The three come from different backgrounds: James is an overachiever, with parents constantly pushing him to succeed, to keep his eye "on the donut, not the hole." Reggie is the largest and the least book-smart of the three, the son of a single mother who works as a waitress in a diner and doesn't give him much attention. And Willie, the smallest and clumsiest, has just lost his left arm in a hit and run accident, the first of two (another boy is killed) which mar the summer and lead to a curfew being enacted. As the three go about their summer activities and push their boundaries, things start to happen and they begin to grow apart, even as their awareness of the adult world begins to sharpen. Add in the peripherally-related story of the local bully, a boy who is artistically-gifted, yet misunderstood, and you've got all the makings of a truly incisive, memorable novel about the challenges and dangers involved in growing up. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pandemonium; Author: Warren Fahy; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Though not nearly as good as Fahy's debut novel, Fragment, this follow-up still has its moments. It's a bit clunkier and takes much longer to get to the good stuff (weirdly-evolved life forms munching on the story's cast) and a lot of the novelty has worn off. But it's great to see the hendros back in action again and this ultimately turns into a book that lives up to its title.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Before Watchmen: Nite Owl/Dr. Manhattan; Author: J. Michael Straczynski; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: When I first read about DC's plan to create these Before Watchmen series, I (like I'm sure a lot of comics fans) wasn't real sure what the point of it was. Why take a chance on sullying the good name of one of the classics in the field? Of course, I realize Alan Moore and DC parted on anything but good terms, but still, why do this? There's really nothing there that audiences needed to know to better understand the Watchmen. Everything you need is in the series--hinted at, in the backgrounds, in the Tales of the Black Freighter. I can't think there were too many people dying to know about the early days of Nite Owl or Rorschach or Dr. Manhattan. It's kind of like the reviled Star Wars prequels--did it really pay off for us to see the gradual transformation of cute little Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader? I know I'd have much rather seen what happened next, after the end of Return of the Jedi. This first collected volume, with stories about Nite Owl and Dr. Manhattan (as well as an accompanying short that follows the backstory of archvillain Moloch), really is kind of pointless, all around. There's nothing here that really adds anything to my overall enjoyment, understanding, or appreciation of Watchmen. I didn't completely hate any of it, but it just all seemed to be a bit beside the point. The artwork is well done (especially the Moloch story, with art from Eduardo Risso, of 100 Bullets fame). But the stories are just extraneous and really inessential, especially if someone is going to think about buying this in an expensive, hardcover copy. If you must read this, see if you can't find it at your local library. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Little Green: An Easy Rawlins Mystery (Easy Rawlins #12); Author: Walter Mosley; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow! It is so great to have another Easy Rawlins mystery in my hands. I never thought I'd see him again. I don't think there's another character as good, as decent, as fully and vividly imagined as Easy Rawlins in all of American crime fiction and his apparent death at the end of the previous novel was a crime in itself. As this book opens, Easy is just coming out of a near-death coma and feeling pretty horrible. He's feeling all the aches and pains of his 47 years and of the car crash that nearly ended his life. But he can't just sit around and be waited on while he convalesces--no, he's got to get back out there on the streets of Los Angeles, to help find a missing boy named Evander Green, the "Little Green" of the title. Easy's got to be busy and as he goes about his task, we get to follow along with him while he checks back in with nearly all of his memorable characters and friends from previous novels: Jackson Blue, Primo, Mofass, his children, Feather and Jesus and their extended families, as well as Raymond "Mouse" Alexander, Easy's best friend since childhood, and the man who brought Easy in on the search for Levander. The mystery is as convoluted as any in Mosley's canon, but the real pleasure is just following these characters as they wander around town and interact with each other, and with the hippies and counterculture of the late 1960s in Los Angeles. Here's to many more Easy Rawlins mysteries...**ARC provided by NetGalley**; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before Watchmen: Minutemen/Silk Spectre; Author: Darwyn Cooke; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Wasn't too sure about these Before Watchmen series, but this is one volume that really does stand on its own, particularly the Minutemen series. Darwyn Cooke has become one of the best craftsmen in comics, with his Parker adaptations, and he does some of his best work on this. Framed by Hollis Mason writing his memoirs, the book that will ultimately become "Under the Hood," this is a big story that shows how the group got together in the first place, fills in just enough background detail on each individual (although Hooded Justice remains a mystery to the end), and shows the stresses and secrets that ultimately tore the group apart. Hollis is a great narrator and a pretty good guy as a character, assisting Ursula, the Silhouette, in tracking down child pornographers and a serial killer on the side, when not pursuing more media-friendly cases for the group. Toward the end, the four remaining members, Nite Owl, Captain Metropolis, Mothman, and Hooded Justice, have their chance to really do some good, but their big win is swept under the carpet by the government, more interested in keeping the peace and the public unawares. This is a series that truly can stand on its own, alongside Alan Moore's original. The Silk Spectre series, while good, comes off as quite a bit slighter in comparison. The artwork by Amanda Conner is very reminiscent of Howard Chaykin and there are a lot of whimsical asides meant to illustrate the flights of fancy that young Laurel Jupiter has as she kisses a boy for the first time, etc. There's also a very imaginative and extended take on an acid flashback. The book is set primarily in San Francisco in the 60s. Laurie has run away from home with a high school friend, Greg, and is living a happy life, away from the prescribed future her mother, Sally, the original Silk Spectre, had planned for her. When a number of young people begin to experience bad reactions to a new variety of acid making the rounds, Laurie goes into action on her own for the first time, trying to solve the mystery and bring those responsible to justice. It's not a bad story, but just can't compare to the much darker and more serious Minuteman story that it's paired with in this volume.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Breaking Point (Joe Pickett, #13); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Another excellent book by Box that deals with very timely issues concerning the overreach of the EPA in the mountain west. This one's based on an actual case where the government stopped a couple from building their retirement home by suspiciously declaring their parcel of a land a "wetland," and then refused to give any documentation or set a court date for a hearing. At that time, the law did not allow private individuals to sue the government for a hearing date, so these people were stuck, accumulating huge fines on a daily basis until they were able to put the land back in its original state, unable to get any response for why this was happening in the first place. Box has adapted this case to his new novel and in case you're thinking it's one big anti-government screed, you couldn't be more wrong. Instead, it makes for one of the best and most personal of the Joe Pickett mysteries in some time. And the scenes where Joe and a fugitive and one of his hostages escape a massive forest fire by riding a log down a narrow, dangerous river are some of the best-written nature adventure sequences I've ever come across. Throw in one conspiracy angle too many at the end, and the story loses a few marks, but otherwise, this is a compelling, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat thriller and shows why Box is one of the best writers in the business. The Pickett series shows no signs of wearing out its welcome any time soon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: R.I.P.D. Volume 2: City of the Damned; Author: Jeremy Barlow; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The story was rather hard to follow and the artwork was not very clear at times. Now, that might have something to do with the digital presentation (I read this in a publisher's ARC), but it still meant that things weren't nearly as clear as I generally expect them to be and hurt the story overall. This is meant to be a prequel to the upcoming movie. Never having heard of either before I first saw the big screen trailer with Jeff Bridges, I was interested enough to seek this out and give it a try. Basically, the R.I.P.D. polices the afterlife and makes sure that deceased souls go where they're supposed to (I guess there are a number that don't?). This story was kind of a mess and has me hoping the film will be clearer.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Before Watchmen: Comedian/Rorschach; Author: Brian Azzarello; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Again, these stories have me wondering about their need to exist. Both are suitably grim and dark. The Comedian's story especially had me thinking of Garth Ennis' recent Fury: My War Gone By series, as the Comedian interacts with historical figures (Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Richard Nixon, etc.), goes to Vietnam, and brings his jaded sensibilities to race riots in Los Angeles. And Rohrschach is his usual grim self, musing on the rot and cancer eating away at New York as he takes down a Vietnam vet/gangster and his crew and tracks down a serial killer (did I dream it, or did he actually run into Robert DeNiro's taxi driver character midway through?). Unfortunately, neither of these stories is much fun to read and neither of them really gives us any insight into these characters that we didn't already know from Alan Moore's original series. So, ultimately, what's the point? A cynical cash-grab by DC? If you really, really dig these characters, you might get something out of these stories. I didn't mind them, but I really didn't find them very compelling, either and I certainly wouldn't want to shell out big bucks to get these, either in single issues or in these collected editions. If you've got to read these, go to your local public library.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snow White Must Die (Bodenstein & Kirchhoff, #4); Author: Nele Neuhaus; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Kind of a bloated book. It's pretty obvious from almost the beginning that there's some kind of conspiracy going on and when it's all been exposed, it borders on the ridiculous (it's so large and involves so many people over such a long time that it's really hard to believe it could have held up so long). Also, kind of old-fashioned. And there are far too many instances where one of the detectives gets a crucial piece of evidence via a phone call or a letter that isn't shared with us the readers. That's not fair-play when it comes to writing a mystery in my book. And it's ultimately very melodramatic and over-the-top. Not sure why this has been such a global bestseller. It's not really on a par with books like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo or the mysteries of writers like Henning Mankell or Jo Nesbo.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stumptown, Vol. 2; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Another really well-done Dex Parrios mystery by Rucka. One of the things I really like about this series so far is the small-scale, human-sized mysteries. In this one, Dex is hired to find the missing guitar ("Baby") of the lead guitarist for a local band named Tailhook. Things get more complicated from there (don't they always?) and Dex finds herself dealing with homicidal skinheads and a couple of DEA agents who aren't too happy to have her trespassing in their investigation. I've never been to Portland, Oregon, but there's a real sense of local color and a feel for the people and the places in town (it certainly seems like a place I should visit some day). Each issue includes portions of a well-written essay by Rucka on the significance of the detective (or PI) novel in American literature, along with some of his favorite books. And while I know it might be a dealbreaker for some, I appreciated that not all of the mystery's loose ends were neatly tied up by the end, with the suggestion that this isn't completely over. **ARC provided by Netgalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman: The Night of the Owls; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this volume, which collects all of the various issues that dealt with the Night of the Owls crossover. This one, better than most, does a great job of showing what's happening all over Gotham, with the various Batman-related heroes and groups, during the night in particular. I love the whole concept of the Court of the Owls, but if anything, I guess it feels a bit like this is one storyline that's pretty much been used up. There's enough here, that, sprinkled into the various titles a bit at a time, could have kept them going for years. There's just a bit of a feeling of "too much" when reading the stories collected in this volume. Also, it seems a bit odd that a group devoted to secrecy, like the Court, would decide to take such drastic measures and go after all its enemies in one night? Anyway, there's some good stuff here if you're a Batman fan and I'd recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Victories Volume 1: Touched; Author: Michael Avon Oeming; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This first volume was all right, but maybe not the most successful opening storyline ever. I really felt that it was aping Powers at times in the early going, sort of a "Powers lite" almost. It didn't seem like Oeming had his own voice. But things got going and it got better. It ultimately builds to a very satisfying climax and conclusion, but getting there was not all that easy. The artwork was a bit rougher than what I'm used to. I've been with Powers since the beginning and I really like Oeming's style, but some of these panels were really hard to make out and figure out just what was going on. Also, I know the story is advertised as "for adults," but all the swearing got to be a bit much and I'm no prude when it comes to swearing--this just seemed extraneous after a time. Swearing is fine when it means something, when it reveals a character or something, but this was just too much. That said, I would certainly give further volumes in this series a try. This was a total loss--just not everything it could have been. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Gun, Vol. 5: Winter Wolves (The Sixth Gun, #5); Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Love this series. One of my absolute favorites. I don't know why no one else has ever tried this combination of western and supernatural before, because it works, and it works damn well. At least in the hands of Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt. This volume takes a step back from the all-out action of the last volume, as Drake and Becky travel to an isolated fort in the wilderness, looking to hire a tracker who can lead them to the Widow Hume. When they arrive at the fort, everyone is gone and, in the blink of an eye, the weather takes a turn for the worse, as snow and cold magically appear. Gord Cantrell and his crew (including the mummy, Asher) are on their trail, followed closely by agents of the Sword of Abraham. When the three groups finally come together, look out. Things do move at a bit of a quieter pace this time out, but there's still a lot going on and a number of bits and asides set things up for the next arc of this story (which I hope continues for a long time to come). I continue to think that this could be the basis for a great movie or television series, if the right, creative-minded people got interested in it. Strongly recommended. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Death and Cigarettes; Author: Peter Milligan; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Though I was once a steady reader of Hellblazer (I bought it in single issues well into the 150s or so), I kind of fell away from it as it went from one writer to the next, without a lot of real continuity to things. When I had the chance to read this in ARC form, I took it and though it kind of gives a nice, neat sendoff to the character, it still wasn't as good as the comic was once upon a time. There's still a lot of variability in the artwork throughout this volume--some of it is very good, but there's a lot of sketchy, difficult to make out stuff, too. The story branches a bit before Constantine gets set on the track of finding his long-lost nephew. There's some business with a "suicide bridge" and a long missing childhood playmate. Then gears change a bit as a series of bizarre, gruesome ritual murders begin to play out, both in England and Ireland. John thinks it's his nephew who's to blame, reckoning that the Constantine blood is a curse. When Finnbar Brady, the nephew, finally makes his appearance, he's a devoted family man, successful doctor, and runs a couple of successful charities. Is there more to this man than meets the eye? Finally, once that adventure is concluded, John announces that he sees his own death coming in five days' time and there's nothing that can be done to stop it. It was nice to see John married, to Epiphany (Piffy) Greaves, daughter of a local gangster and hard man, and a bit of a mage herself. We also check in with John's surviving mates and relatives and have visits from a few of his more charitable dead friends and supernatural acquaintances. I wasn't totally happy with the storyline that Milligan came up with here, but it does come to something of a conclusion. I guess I wish it could have had just a bit more meaning or a bit more bite to it. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chew, Vol. 6: Space Cakes; Author: John Layman; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This collection focuses primarily on Tony Chu's twin sister, Toni, who has a similar power to his, except that when she eats things (or bites people who are still alive), she can see their future. The comic is still as fun as ever, though I have to admit that it's all starting to wear a bit thin on me: the weird humor, the cartoonish drawings, etc. And there isn't a real strong through-line to the story this time out. These just seem like a bunch of disconnected vignettes, rather than parts of an over-arching plot (as in previous volumes). Hopefully they'll up the ante in the next set.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harlan Ellison's 7 Against Chaos; Author: Harlan Ellison; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is kind of a strange book. Very old-fashioned in its approach, the story is kind of disjointed, as though there are panels missing here and there (and I don't think it was done on purpose--just not the clearest style of storytelling). A mysterious hooded figure puts together a team of seven outcasts from across the various worlds (a terraformed Venus, etc.) of this far future tale, in order to set right a terrible occurrence which seems to be undermining the very fabric of time itself. Why these seven is never entirely clear--they don't seem to have any special importance to the story. Each has his/her own unique abilities, but these play hardly any role in the story or its outcome. It was kind of a weird story overall and I'm not entirely sure what about it appealed to artist Paul Chadwick to spend the time on creating this graphic novel. Just kind of so-so. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Birds of Prey, Volume 1: Trouble in Mind; Author: Duane Swierczynski; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Good art and a fast-moving and unsettling story (the bad guy can turn unsuspecting people into living bombs and his own private army, outfitted with invisible "stealth" suits, merely through psychological suggestion). The only drawback to this volume is that, after 7 issues, the first story arc has not yet been resolved.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before Watchmen: Ozymandias/Crimson Corsair; Author: Len Wein; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Had a hard time with this. The Ozymandias story really benefits from the beautiful artwork by Jae Lee, but besides that, there's nothing going on in the story that we didn't already know. What's the point? I had that thought about most of these "Before Watchmen" collections, and this one was one of the most pointless, it seemed to me. Other than some truly remarkable artwork by the aforementioned Mr. Lee (although even that gets to be a bit ridiculous sometimes--does everyone have to have a cowlick on the order of TinTin?), there's absolutely nothing here that wasn't already on display in the original Watchmen. The Crimson Corsair backup is very similar. In an attempt to ape the original Tales of the Black Freighter, this comic was available in bits and pieces throughout the original run of the Before Watchmen titles. Black Freighter at least worked as a meta-commentary on the original stories, but Crimson Corsair doesn't even come close to that. Weirdly enough, only the very brief story about Dollar Bill even comes close to being an original story that contributes to the whole Watchmen mythos. Really, the only story out of this whole debacle that's even worth your while at all is Darwyn Cooke's Minutemen series. The whole thing really seems to amount to little more than a sad attempt by DC comics to cash in on Alan Moore's original masterpiece. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Danger Girl and the Army of Darkness; Author: Andy Hartnell; Genres: paranormal, graphic, comics, fantasy; Review: Kind of goofy, with quite variable artwork from issue to issue, sometimes page to page. Basically, the Danger Girls team up with Ash from the Evil Dead series to try to prevent the evil Chancellor from getting his hands on the Necronomicon and raising a deadline army in his bid for world domination. If you're a fan of either franchise, you'll probably get a kick out of this book. Frankly, I preferred the Evil Dead when they were played for scares, rather than comedy. Goofy Ash doesn't really fit into this story all that well--it's kind of a weird mash-up, but it's fast moving and doesn't ask too much of its audience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters, Volume 5: The New Ghostbusters; Author: Erik Burnham; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: One thing I liked about this volume is that the continuity is right in line with the original movies. The characters are the same ones we're familiar with: Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz, and Egon Spengler. Also, the bit characters in the backgrounds are the same: Janine Melnitz, the receptionist, and even Walter Peck, the officious guy from city hall that causes so much trouble in the first movie. Unfortunately, the story involves Venkman, Stantz, Spengler, and Winston (the Eddie Hudson character) being abducted by ghosts or spirits or something and taken off to another dimension, which requires the creation of a new team of ghostbusters to be formed to serve as ghost protectors for New York City, as well as fulfilling numerous talk show and licensing requests. These new ghostbusters aren't much fun at all (other than perhaps Janine, bristling at having to wear a uniform of short-shorts to boost the team's sex appeal). One of them is an ex-FBI agent, one is an occult bookstore clerk who's an expert on the supernatural, and the fourth is an ex-member of a competing company. The story involving this makeshift force just isn't all that interesting and they make little headway in figuring out what happened to the originals or how to get them back. The artwork is very cartoony--this looks like it was intended to be a Saturday morning cartoon, actually. And the story isn't complete by volume's end. A bit of a disappointment. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The High Ways; Author: John Byrne; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: For me, the best parts of James Cameron's Avatar were at the very beginning, with the focus on what it's like to live in a spaceship, in deep space, and just the basic acts of moving around, eating, etc. John Byrne's The High Ways starts out in a very similar vein, as a young navigator gets hired on to a cargo vessel headed for deep space. The story deals with him getting his first "hardsuit" and acclimating to an existence where he'll be in hibernation for weeks at a time, being occasionally awakened to pilot the ship on his own for a week or two, then back to the sleep pod. Just these little details make for a fascinating comic on their own, with great attention to detail in the artwork by Byrne. When the voyage proves to be anything but simple, the story expands to include smuggling, bioengineering, and a mad scientist who's on the run from past misdeeds. Yet the careful attention to detail and what it might be like to live in space for long stretches of time continue to be adhered to. Ultimately, the whole mystery aspect proves to be a bit disappointing, but the rest of this graphic novel is really outstanding. This would make for a great movie in the right hands. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comeback; Author: Ed Brisson; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Reconnect is a company that can send its time travelers back to rescue your loved ones from accidents or untimely death. Unfortunately, you'll never get to see them again (because if you do, that will negate the need to send agents back to the past to instigate the rescue) and it is quite expensive (in the millions of dollars). This is an interesting graphic novel, with gritty artwork, though, ultimately, the time travel aspects aren't quite as carefully worked out as they perhaps should be. As another reviewer has noted, it's all a bit "timey-wimey," as Dr. Who might say. The story is kind of confusing, with all its ins and outs, and the moment when time "resets" isn't very clear. When you're working with this sort of material, you really, really have to set it up carefully and make sure it's internally consistent (the movie Looper is a good example). The way the story jumps between the present day and a point 65 (or 66) days earlier, makes this incredibly confusing. I like the spare, noir art, but really wish the writer had spent a bit more time hashing out his plot. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Volume 2: Prisoner of Bogan; Author: John Ostrander; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: A pretty complicated story, with lots of strange character names and backstory, though I did come to realize I was entering into the middle of things with this, the second volume (maybe if I'd read the first, this would all be clearer?). Still, once I was up to speed, this was a lot of fun. Set many, many years before the events in the Star Wars movies, this story is chronicling the roots of the Jedi (or "Je'daii") order, by focusing on the story of Xesh, a "Force hound" or slave to a brutal Rakata named Predor Tul'kar, who finds himself imprisoned on the moon of Bogan with a Je'daii, Daegen Lok, whose interest in the dark side of the force has corrupted him. As I say, a pretty complicated story, but one that quickly comes together and, coupled with some nicely detailed, clean artwork by Jan Duursema, makes for a quick and intriguing read. I definitely want to go back and read that first volume now, and will probably be on the lookout for any further volumes in this series that might be published. **ARC by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saga, Vol. 2 (Saga, #2); Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is such a weird future, but it's grounded in very recognizably human emotion and interactions. I've been hooked by this book since the first issue, though it is rather hard to find (and keep track of what's going on from one issue to the next). Reading a collection like this is a welcome change. Alana and Marko are on the run with their baby, Hazel, and being hunted by various forces and factions who are unhappy about their marriage and the child, who might come to represent some sort of peace between the races of Landfall and Wreath, two planets that have been at war for generations. They are being hunted by Prince Robot IV (an apparently human-looking character with a vid-screen for a head) and a mercenary called The Will. In this collection, Marko's parents catch up to the young family and we get a lot of backstory on Marko's early years, how he and Alana first met, and their escape from prison on the planet of Cleave. All of this is told in a very down to earth style, with some of the most amazing, organic artwork by Fiona Staples that I've ever seen. Her work is just as crucial to this book as the plot/story by Brian K. Vaughan. This complex society has so many possibilities for storytelling. Right now, I've still got no idea where this is heading (it still sometimes feels like the story is marking time a bit and setting the stage), but if it continues at this high level of quality, I'll be along for the ride to the end. **ARC by NetGalley; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Vol. 6: The Return of the Master (B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, #6); Author: Mike Mignola; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The B.P.R.D. series just keeps getting bigger and more complicated. I've been reading it right along and even I'm not always sure just what is going on. Take this story, for example: just who is the "master" that is destined for reincarnation? Much of what happens has us expecting the return of Rasputin (featured in some of the earliest Hellboy stories), but could there be someone else just as bad (or worse) bent on a comeback? The action jumps around all over the globe, with a team of agents laying siege to a castle in Scotland and being attacked by mutant wildlife and the remains of dead giants from some ancient battle. Then there's stuff happening at B.P.R.D. headquarters in the Rocky Mountains as an arrangement is reached with the Zinco Corporation to use its growth-enhancing drugs on a clone that might be used to house the spirit of Johan Krauss, stuck in a containment suit after his physical body was destroyed while his spirit was outside. Then we see some of what's happening in Russia, with the S.S.S., the Russian counterpart to the B.P.R.D., as a new round of giant Ogdru Hem creatures lay siege to the globe. There's so much happening, it's sometimes hard to keep track of it all. The artwork, primarily by Tyler Crook, is very good and very much in keeping with other artists who've contributed so much to the series' look and feel. It all seems to be leading up to some big, apocalyptic event that sometimes has me wishing we were back in the days when the group was dealing with smaller threats. Still, I'm very interested in seeing where this is all going and will continue to go along for the ride. **ARC by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Children and the Wolves; Author: Adam Rapp; Genres: young-adult, thriller, children, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Not too sure about this one. At times, it seems like Rapp is deliberately trying to provoke. At others, he really gets into these characters' (a trio of troubled teenagers) skins. It was a quick and easy read, but doesn't really conclude so much as just stop.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Society; Author: Steve Niles; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I read this mainly to see where Staples, currently the artist of the acclaimed Saga, came from. Her early work is really the only drawing card for this graphic novel, which reads like an inferior imitation of the similar Umbrella Academy. Steve Niles is capable of much better writing than this.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: As The Crow Flies (Walt Longmire, #8); Author: Craig Johnson; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This is an excellent book, one of the standouts of this entire top-notch series. In investigating an apparent suicide on the reservation, Walt Longmire has the opportunity to mentor a young police chief, Lolo Long, who's come back from the Iraq war with a chip on her shoulder. Also, Walt and his good friend, Henry Standing Bear, have numerous encounters with the colorful residents of the Cheyenne Reservation, in a novel that rivals the best of Tony Hillerman for insight into the lives and characters of today's Native Americans (or "Indians" as these prefer to be called, according to Longmire, via Johnson). And all of this is happening while Walt's daughter is preparing for her wedding to the brother-in-law of Walt's deputy, Vic Moretti. This is just one of the most comfortable, laid-back and easy-going books I've read in a long time and spending time in the company of these characters has me looking forward eagerly to Johnson's next book. Very highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Double; Author: George P. Pelecanos; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Another good book from Pelecanos, though we've gotten to the point now where they're starting to blur together (Jamee Lee Burke's David Robichaux novels elicit the same reaction from me). This is the second Spero Lucas novel, about a young Iraq war veteran turned investigator for a local defense attorney. Lucas takes on other jobs, too, including attempting to get back a fairly valuable painting ("the double" of the title) that was stolen from a middle-aged woman who suspects her overgrown beachboy boyfriend was after the painting all the time and never interested in her from the beginning. In between investigating, Lucas spends his time bicycling and kayaking, and he meets and falls for a married woman, coming to realize he's only her distraction from an otherwise happy life and the two of them will never be more than sex partners. It's not a bad novel, full of the insights into music, movies, and books that Pelecanos likes to filter through his stories. But if you've read any Pelecanos, you've already read this before. Instead of alcohol (Nick Stefanos' vice of choice in an earlier Pelacanos series), Spero seems to be addicted to violence and as one character notes, he was very lucky to come back to the "real" world after his wartime experience and find a job that approximates a similar level of excitement and adrenaline. Spero involves several of his veteran friends in his investigation and it all builds, somewhat predictably, to a climactic fight/shootout. As much as I like Pelecanos as a writer and will continue to read everything he writes, I can't help but hope he'll try to mix things up and do something different the next time out. Recommended, though it helps to be a committed Pelecanos fan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Thicket; Author: Joe R. Lansdale; Genres: history, fiction, young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Another fine book from Lansdale. This one reads a lot like True Grit, though moved to the early 1900s and the oil boom in East Texas. When the plague takes Jack Parker's ma and pa, his grandfather, a minister, comes to take Jack and his sister Lula to live with a distant aunt in Kansas. Very quickly, the travelers fall afoul of Cutthroat Bill and his gang, who murder the grandfather and kidnap Lula. Jack is on his own and must figure out a way to get Lula back, eventually putting together a motley crew that includes a midget, an ex-prostitute, a grave-digger named Eustace, and an improbably semi-tame razorback named Hog. This is another of Lansdale's "Americana" books (like The Bottoms or Edge of Dark Water or Sunset and Sawdust), with a distinct echo of True Grit running through the proceedings as Jack and his group track the outlaws and Jack must confront his desire to remain a "good Christian" in the face of some of the truly awful things the bad guys are capable of. It's a good book, though I generally prefer Lansdale when he's being a bit more original in his plotting and imagining. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Morning Glories, Vol. 4: Truants; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Count me among the frustrated. 25 issues in and still not a clue what is going on. This volume promises answers, but fails to deliver, turning the thing into a bit of a joke. There's a lot of Lost in this book, with extensive flashbacks that fail to illuminate present events. When I first started reading this, I was pulled in by the mysterious aspects of what this academy is really all about, but it's wearing thin now. Plus, the art is such that the characters tend to blur together (even with pictures of the main cast at the end and a statement by the author about how careful the artist was to make them distinctive!). I used to think this would be almost impossible to read in individual installments, but it's getting to the point where it is almost impossible to read in collections like this without going back to read what came before, and even then it's about as clear as mud. Guess I'll stick with it for volume 5, but it's hard to imagine that the payoff, if it ever does come, will measure up to readers' expectations (another thing this might have in common with Lost eventually).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane; Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not my favorite Gaiman novel. I really had to stay with this one to see it through. Not sure what this was all about or what the reason/purpose of this novel was. It just didn't click with me the way other of his books have. Would have to say it was kind of a disappointment.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Avengers vs. X-Men; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Yawn...wow, I'm amazed at how bad this was, especially for a big, company-wide crossover event. It's poorly written, the artwork and sequencing is so chaotic it's hard to make out what's happening, and the big moments are strangely anti-climactic (like the death of Professor X). It's a shame that so much talent and energy was poured into this, at the expense of original stories and development in the various books that tie into this one. It just seems like nothing in this collection was really earned, and nothing in this collection is going to have any sort of lasting impact. It's more a case of, "we've gotta get this story done and out of the way to set the stage for the next one" (whatever that is). Glad they had this at the library so I didn't have to blow my hard-earned money on it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Avengers versus X-Men: VS; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Ugh. Even less point to this than the general A vs X crossover series. Each issue consists of a couple of battles. That's it. Nothing more. Each battle plays out for a few pages and then the next one starts. It's like a video game or board game with many-sided dice where various matchups of characters are put together. Who would win in a fight, Iron Man or Magneto? If that sounds interesting to you, you might like this. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine a bigger waste of time, space, and the artistic talents of those involved with this series.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Shining Girls; Author: Lauren Beukes; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: It was an interesting book, good, but not great. The idea of a time-traveling serial killer seems like one with great potential, but it is only partially realized here. The serial killer finds a "house" that allows him to jump through time and kill the shining girls of the title, but there's not a lot of explanation for how the time travel works or why he's doing what he's doing. Who is this guy and who are these shining girls? Lots of Chicago history--this was obviously carefully researched--but it ultimately comes to not much of anything. There needs to be something more, some overriding reason or plot or purpose behind it all, to give it some purpose, some meaning. As it is, it's a diverting read but not much more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wrath of Angels; Author: John Connolly; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Another top-notch outing in the Charlie Parker mystery series, which mixes hardboiled detective and horror elements. A crashed airplane has been discovered in the Maine woods, with a list of those who've sold their souls to the devil onboard. Such a discovery would be of great use to factions both good and bad and it touches off a massive search by groups from both sides. Parker has found himself enmeshed in an ongoing battle between the forces of light and darkness, largely made up of fallen angels in human form and he becomes involved in the search for the list, along with some of his usual entourage: Angel, Louis, etc. Just one thing: apparently Parker's name has been added to the list. Is he compromised or has he been put on the list just to sow confusion? This is a more overtly horrific story than others in this series, though the horror is more of the Gothic, ghost story variety than outright grossout horror. It's a very effective mixture and a very satisfying read. More Parker, please!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostman (Jack White, #1); Author: Roger Hobbs; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: In this great debut novel, Hobbs seems to be trying to create a Parker for the modern age in his protagonist, Jack, the "ghostman" of the title, whose job it is during a heist to change his appearance and disappear into the background. He is called to Atlantic City by a past associate, Marcus, who he feels he owes, due to another operation that went sideways some years in the past. Marcus wants him to find the missing money from a casino heist, but the twist is that this is a federal packet and there's a 48 hour timeframe before the money is lost for good. Lots of good stuff here, information on heists and what each member of a crew is responsible for. Also, the heist that went wrong is detailed in alternating chapters and it comes to have a bearing on what's happening in the present, so there are two gripping narratives occurring simultaneously. A very promising debut--hopefully there will be others in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Monkey; Author: Carl Hiaasen; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: It's not a bad book--vintage Hiaasen--but I still wanted something more. A few years ago, Hiaasen seemed to find his style of writing and he can turn this sort of thing out without much trouble. But I think he used to have more moral outrage, more heart in his earlier novels. Now they just feel a bit like he's "writing by the numbers" sort of. He creates a few memorable, wacky characters, puts them in an unusual situation, and lets things fly. This is a funny book, and things are connected well and everything wraps up so that the bad guys get their just desserts, etc., but there's just something missing from it all. Some heart or something, I dunno. It's kind of like James Lee Burke, who keeps turning out the same book, over and over--they're still well-written, but you can only read the same basic story so many times.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skinner; Author: Charlie Huston; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Although I liked it a lot, I didn't absolutely love it (and I wanted to--I'm a huge Huston fan, from the beginning, and this is poised to be his breakthrough novel). It has a lot going for it--reimagining the espionage novel for the 21st century, hugely original characters in Skinner and his asset Jae, and a story that is so current, so now it's hard to imagine (how he got the Boston marathon bombers in there is beyond me). And there's a great twist at the ending that is hopeful and forward-looking. But there was something about the writing style or the plot that didn't fully grab me, the way other Huston novels have (in retrospect, I'm reconsidering Sleepless, which really is a pretty amazing book). Still, a new Huston novel is reason for celebration and hopefully it won't be so long until his next one hits the shelves.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Watching the Dark (Inspector Banks, #20); Author: Peter Robinson; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The latest Alan Banks novel has the detective investigating the murder of a policeman at a police convalescence center, which may be tied to his investigations of an underground slave labor scheme involving Eastern European immigrants. There might also be a tie to another investigation, six years earlier, of a young English girl who went missing while on a girls-only weekend in Estonia. This is a very satisfying mystery and as the various threads all come together, and we get to spend time with Banks and his team, including his assistant Annie Cabot, and a new character, Joanna Passero, from Professional Standards (the British version of Internal Affairs), as well as a lengthy sequence set in Tallinn, Estonia. Looking forward to the next in this long-running and consistently strong series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last Call for the Living; Author: Peter Farris; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Not a terrible first book, but it just seemed so over-written, with all the shifts between character viewpoints, the switch from regular type to italics and back (again and again and again, for no real reason), and the story was very drawn-out and meandering. The writer could take a lesson from Elmore Leonard or Richard Stark for brevity.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Mind and body-switching is a bad Gilligan's Island routine and there shouldn't be a place for it in one of Marvel's flagship titles. This might be the worst story idea since FrankenCastle over in The Punisher. Still, it was kind of interesting, sometimes entertaining. I wish the artwork were a bit more stable--a switch in issue 3 to a much more cartoonish style was not a step up. Also, having Peter Parker's "shade" trying to talk Dr. Octopus into being a better man is all a bit silly. But there's a surprising level of violence on display (the Massacre storyline). Perhaps I'll take a look at volume 2, but I'll hardly be holding my breath in anticipation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All-New X-Men, Volume 1: Yesterday's X-Men; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Another kind of gimmicky premise (this seems more suited to a miniseries than an ongoing one), but this wasn't a bad first set. Today's Beast decides to bring his youthful self, plus the other original X-Men (Cyclops, Angel, Iceman, and Marvel Girl) from the past to the present, hoping that a confrontation between the two versions of Scott Summers will trigger something that might either prevent Cyclop's becoming a mutant revolutionary or get him to re-think his current arc. The artwork is good and Bendis' writing is up to the task. I enjoyed this first volume and will keep reading this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster on the Hill; Author: Rob Harrell; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Man, this is a strange book. Not sure what the audience for this is, but I'd have to say I enjoyed it. It looks like something that might appeal to kids, but I think much of the humor would fly over their heads. Not sure it really appeals to an adult audience either, or the graphic novel crowd. That it got published at all is something of an amazement to me. Basically, the story is set in an alternate version of "merrie Olde England" where each town has its own monster that occasionally comes out to terrorize the inhabitants. Rather than hunting these beasts down, the townspeople love having these monsters, and deal in all sorts of monster-related merchandise. But one town, Stoker-on-Avon, has begun to despair that its resident monster just won't live up to his responsibilities, leading a disgraced local scientist/inventor and a young street urchin to take it upon themselves to get the creature some lessons in scaring people. This was a pretty funny book and I found myself laughing quite often, though it ultimately became almost too goofy. The artwork is very cartoonish and colorful. The story is pretty silly. Glad I read it, but not sure exactly who I could recommend this to...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thor: God of Thunder, Volume 1: The God Butcher; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This started off promisingly, but very quickly turned into something tedious as Thor continually tracks the God Butcher, fights him, lets him get away, and repeats the cycle. Plus, after five issues, the story isn't resolved and we still have no motivation for what the Butcher is after. The artwork is outstanding and there could still be some potential here, but Aaron had better wrap this story up pretty quickly before he squanders any more of his readers' good will.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All-New X-Men, Volume 2: Here to Stay; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: What first seemed like a gimmick has really started to pay off. I hope Bendis can work with the volume of X-history that exists to continue telling a compelling story. This just keeps getting better and I know when I hit the last page of this volume I was really primed for what's coming next. I wish I had the third volume in my hands right now!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FF, Volume 4; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: This is really good, though the rather strange art style left me wondering sometimes. The stories are great and do a good job of wrapping things up (perhaps too neatly?). One of the best things about Hickman's run on the title has been the expansion of the Richards family and all the assorted kids attending the science academy, and they all get their due in this collection. This is what comics should be.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A+X, Vol. 1: = Awesome; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This actually wasn't bad. After the series Avengers vs. X-Men: Vs., which basically featured individual stories of battles between an X-Man and an Avenger, and which was pretty much uniformly awful, I didn't have a lot of hope for this one. But there's a nice sense of humor playing throughout these stories that doesn't get too goofy, and the artwork is good, for the most part, too. Each issue basically features two team-up stories, with an X-Man and an Avenger (even two supervillains, Loki and Mr. Sinister in one case) and whether they're fighting an alien menace or just playing cards, there's a nice vibe at work throughout. I quite enjoyed it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: London Falling (Shadow Police, #1); Author: Paul Cornell; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I liked it a lot, and there were parts that had me turning the pages as fast as I could in breathless suspense. But, ultimately, there was a lot of repetition (they close in on this witch 3 different times before they finally manage to catch her) and the descriptions of magic were very hard to visualize, quite vague. I'd probably give another volume a shot, but I hope Cornell manages to tighten things up a bit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MIND MGMT, Volume Two: The Futurist; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I still really like this series, though the story here re-treads some of the same ground as in the first collection. I guess that's kind of the point, as protagonist Meru has to have the wool removed from her eyes, but it still feels a bit too repetitive. Basically, Mind Mgmt is a government agency filled with people who have a variety of mind control or mind-altering powers: an advertising executive can make people want or do things via advertisements; another operative has the power to see the weaknesses in buildings (or people) and use that to destroy them; another has the power to read the minds of all those around him, effectively allowing him to see briefly into the future and anticipate threats, etc. Since the organization has been dissolved, all these people are loose in the world, some using their powers for nefarious purposes, and another former operative is trying to put together his own group to fight some of the worst abuses. The artwork is a bit hard to view on a tablet--I'm sure the finished work is much more readable--but it's great, spare, basic stuff that does just what it needs to to advance the story and keep you reading. I'll definitely be looking forward to more collections in this series, but hope they rebound and move the story more definitely forward. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Vol. 3: Death of the Family; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The Joker is really horrific in this story arc, as he manipulates Batman and his circle. He's back after a year or so away from Gotham and looking to pare away at what he sees as Batman's weaknesses, the people who, in his mind, led to his recent troubles with the Court of Owls. The Joker feels like he's the only one who truly understands "Bats," and we come to see that the reverse is also true. This is a story that addresses (not quite successfully, I'd say) the question of why Batman doesn't just kill the Joker and be done with it ("because then he'd win"--tell that to the Joker's victims, including a bunch of police at headquarters). But it's a generally effective story that plays on the extensive history between the two, even throwing in a couple of clues that depend on a fairly strong knowledge of their backstory. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Excellent, very complex book that follows Detective Gould, a modern day "Sherlock Holmes," who always manages to catch the culprit, as he solves a series of very strange (like the woman who steals chairs, or the series of thefts of seemingly unrelated street signs), ultimately interconnected crimes. I love the simple, water color artwork, coupled with a storyline that just gets richer, the more pages you turn. Kindt is one of my favorite graphic artists.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman and Robin, Volume 3: Death of the Family; Author: Peter J. Tomasi; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: This collection was kind of a mess as far as continuity goes. There are a couple of issues with Damian setting up a global scavenger hunt for his father, allowing him to patrol Gotham City by himself while dad's away. Then there's an issue with a callback to Thomas Wayne and the 99 Fiends. And then the tie-in to Scott Snyder's Joker story from the main Batman title. Chronology be damned, I guess. I really liked the quieter moments from the first arc, with Damian finding it difficult to wait for the sun to go down before he can get out and fight the bad guys, along with the puzzles he's set up for Bruce to figure out, all of them to do with Bruce's parents and their courtship. As someone who reads collected editions to get caught up with what's going on in a title, though, I didn't care for the jarring time dislocations, etc., caused by having to shoehorn in a Batman and Robin annual or the tie-in to the whole "death of the family" thing, which included a number of pages reprinted directly from Snyder's title. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy: The Midnight Circus; Author: Mike Mignola; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a good standalone book that follows the young Hellboy as he runs away one night and discovers a strange circus setting up, which advertises that it's only available between midnight and dawn (those kinds of things are never a good idea, but Hellboy's still just a kid, so you have to forgive him). There are a lot of nice moments behind the scenes at the military base where he's being raised, but just enough reminders that he's "too young" and not really human for him to want to run away. The Professor is just busy enough to have to rely on babysitters to care for his ward, who has an interesting dream after reading Pinocchio (the parallels between that story and his own are played up quite heavily--perhaps a bit more subtlety is called for?). Then he runs away and stumbles across the sinister circus, staffed by a couple of figures who discuss Hellboy's future fate and why they mustn't interfere with him now. That doesn't stop the ghosts of a couple of Depression-era child murderers to come after him, though. All of this is presented in Duncan Fegredo's expressive, Mignola-lite artwork, which we're seeing almost as infrequently as Mignola's own work these days. It all makes for a very satisfying tale, and I almost had a hint of a tear in my eye at the closing scenes, which show Professor Bruttenholm tenderly carrying a sleeping Hellboy back to safety. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Standalone graphic novel companion to the series. Here, we get two stories intertwined: that of the "real" Tommy's early days, through his father, Wilson's, diary entries, and the first Tommy Taylor novel, the title story about the ship that sank twice. Even though the Taylor books, as we've come to know them in the comics so far are little more than a pastiche of the Harry Potter books, the story is still a good story, covering all the bases: young protagonist comes into his own with the help of an older, wiser mentor, while battling a grave and terrible danger (the first appearance of Count Ambrosio, the vampire). The artwork differs in the two threads, with that in the "ship" story almost looking like stills from an animated cartoon, while the artwork in the Wilson Taylor diary entries is a bit more "realistic," if that makes any sense. It's a complex story and fills in a lot of the gaps that have been left open ever since this series began. I think that releasing it now makes a lot of sense, now that we're invested in these characters and we've seen the story take shape from the outside. A lot of what's included here are things we already knew, in passing, yet it works to lay it out in more detail and to intermingle the two stories as the "fictional" Tommy Taylor and the "real" Tommy Taylor grow up together. This is an outstanding series and only gets richer as it goes on. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman Incorporated, Volume 2: Gotham's Most Wanted; Author: Grant Morrison; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: The only thing keeping this from 5 stars for me were the series of issues focusing on other members of Batman Inc.: Japan's Batman, the Squire making her way without the Knight, El Gaucho, etc. (even Bat-Cow gets her turn). These really were very anticlimactic, coming on the heels of the epic battle between Batman and Talia. Series probably should have ended with that. Also, I'm more than a little angry with Morrison for what he did with Damian Wayne, easily one of the best (if not the best, period) additions to the Batman universe ever. But that story, and the whole Leviathan angle, made for one of the best Batman stories in years. And I really liked the Chris Burnham art throughout. **ARC provided by NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: S.H.I.E.L.D.: Architects of Forever; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a whole lot better than trying to read the individual issues as they came out on their uncertain schedule. Now, since things are properly sequenced, the story makes a lot more sense. And it's a lot more interesting, too. Almost seems like a dry run for Hickman's work on The Manhattan Projects--the same mad scientists, historical figures, etc. This S.H.I.E.L.D. is a far cry from the one headed by Nick Fury--it's more of an Illuminati sort of group, who wield superscience and even what seems like magic, in defense of our world. Fury's story was always more about espionage and spies, etc. Truly great artwork throughout by Dustin Weaver.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, by Brian Michael Bendis, Volume 4; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: graphic, comics, young-adult, fiction; Review: Now we're back to what I liked about this comic--just Miles and his daily life and trying to come to terms with being the new Spider-Man. I hated the previous volume that turned him into an Ultimate and had him battling in the second Civil War (or whatever the hell that whole stupid storyline was about--the only good thing to come out of it was Captain America as president). It almost seems like that storyline never happened, except for a callback to when Miles' dad was battling Hydra agents and now there's a news crew that wants to get his story. Sara Pichelli is also back on art duties, which was great to see--if Marvel knows what they're doing, they should just lock her in for the series' entire run. The Venom stuff was pretty good, though a bit chaotic, and I'm not sure I like were things will be going after this, as far as Miles' family. I'd hate to see his father turn into a bitter, withdrawn man who doesn't have time for his son, but I'd say that's the likely outcome of what happens here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Sleep; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really wanted to like this book and, for the most part, I did. A sequel to King's best and scariest novel, The Shining, the book follows an adult Dan Torrance as he begins to get a grip on his alcoholism (begun in an effort to dull his psychic talents) and comes to protect a young girl with an even greater level of ability from a group of psychic vampires, the True Knot, who live off the "steam" that children gifted with the shining give off as they are tortured to death. That sounds like the perfect setup to a memorable novel, right? And this was supposed to be King's return to all-out, scare-you-silly horror. But somewhere, something went very wrong. The Knot, as they're described, are a great creation, full of scare potential. And they might have been, many years before the events narrated in this book. But as they're presented here, they're a dying, dwindling bunch, and a disease they've caught from one of children they've recently killed is sweeping through the group, thinning its ranks further. It's hard to buy that these creatures, supposedly thousands of years old, have survived for so long without coming across such challenges before, but they don't seem to know what to do or how to escape their fate. Coupled with the threat posed by the girl that Dan is protecting, young Abra Stone, a psychic with a level of power that Dan calls a "lighthouse" compared to his "flashlight," and the True Knot simply aren't much of a danger at all. And Dan and his small group never seem to be in any particular danger. Plus there are more than one coincidences at work, including one so large it almost throws everything else out the window. Yet King also shows that he's still very skillful at characterization and Dan, his friends Billy and John Dalton, and Abra are all fully three-dimensional, people we care about and want to see safe. The scenes with Dan and his experiences in AA might seem extraneous to the proceedings, but they're important in fleshing out his character and his essential goodness. Abra is shown several times over the years as she's growing up, surrounded by the love of her parents and her Momo, her great-grandmother. These are the kinds of things that kept me reading, hoping things might get serious for our heroes. But they never really face any challenge when dealing with the Knot. None of them is ever threatened or in danger. And the bad guys are ultimately defeated far too easily, without much in the way of sacrifice. If ever there was a time for King to beef up one of his "doorstops" of a novel, this was the time. I'd like to see this story fleshed out and bulked up, and the Knot presented as worthy adversaries for Dan and his friends. Ultimately, though I raced right through this one, I'd chalk it up as a bit of a disappointment.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 19: Snow White; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Even thought the subtitle this time is "Snow White," the first third or so of this volume is devoted to the story of Bufkin the flying monkey and Lily Barleycorn and how they eventually free Oz from the tyranny of the Nome King. Told in very brief, 2 and 3 page chapters, with sumptuous art, this is Fables at its best, telling a story filled with equal amounts of humor, horror, and emotion. I especially liked what happens to the two following their adventures in Oz. Even though they aren't suited for romance, they have their moments, and the story comes to a very nice and fitting close. The rest of the volume charts what happens when Bigby Wolf sets off to search for his missing children, leaving Snow White behind to deal with the pompous Prince Brandish, to whom she once made a childish promise to marry. He plans to hold her to this, despite her marriage to Bigby and their children--if he kills the wolf and the cubs, it will be like it never happened and they can start anew. Figuring a way out of this mess proves difficult. Also, in the background, Beast is involved in negotiations to wed Geppetto to the Blue Fairy. The large battles (the Adversary, Mr. Dark) have given way to smaller conflicts, but they're equally important. The whole thing makes for yet another example of why Fables is one of the best comics currently being published.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lazarus, Vol. 1: Family; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This is a really good crime/espionage/science fiction series set in a near future in which the world has been taken over by corporations and the 1%, who rule their areas under various family names (i.e., Family Carlyle, Family Morray, etc.). The story follows Forever "Eve" Carlyle, her family's "Lazarus," a genetically-engineered super soldier who performs dirty jobs for the family and is herein sent on a diplomatic mission to broker a peace with rival Family Morray after an attack on a Carlyle seed factory. She has a chance to spend some bonding time with her Morray counterpart, Joacquim, before the two of them are attacked by Carlyle forces under the command of Eve's brother, Jonah, who is plotting against his father for control of the family. It's a very well-realized and believable future that follows current trends of wealth distribution to their logical conclusion, with the mass of humanity consigned to the category of "waste." Lark's artwork is perfect for the action and battle sequences, many of them largely wordless. In the original comics, Rucka has carefully worked out the background and historical events leading to the series' reality (these weren't present in the version I read on my tablet, but I imagine they'll be integrated into the published collection). I'm hooked--really interested in seeing where this goes next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thumbprint; Author: Joe Hill; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Pretty underwhelming. I've liked most of what I've read by Joe Hill and his story "The Cape" was turned into a really good graphic series. This one, not so much. It follows the story of a young woman who was stationed at the Abu Graib prison during the Iraq War and how she deals with her experiences once she returns home. Someone starts leaving her anonymous letters with only a thumbprint on them (it's pretty obvious who is doing this, almost from the beginning, so there's not much mystery), which causes her to wonder who might be doing it and why. There are a lot of flashbacks to the prison and the "interrogation" sessions she was involved with, along with two or three other soldiers. The art in this is serviceable, but the story is just "meh." Don't really see why this prompted a graphic novel adaptation as there just isn't enough meat to this particular story. I can't recommend it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last of Us: American Dreams; Author: Neil Druckmann; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: There really isn't much of a story here. If this was designed to draw readers into playing the video game, I'd say it's a bit of a failure. If it was designed as a standalone story to appeal to readers who might never play the video game, then it's a fairly major failure. You've got your standard, apocalyptic zombie story, except here the zombies are people infected by some fungal affliction--we never really know much more than that. There are a couple of very fast fights with the "infected," but the focus is more on a couple of schoolgirls and how they deal with life in a city under siege, with running battles between the authorities and the "Fireflies," some sort of revolutionary group who were never clearly explained. The artwork is kind of a mess, too. Can't recommend.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: White Fire (Pendergast, #13); Author: Douglas Preston; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not one of the better books from this team. Agent Pendergast takes a backseat to Corrie Swanson (from Still Life With Crows), his protege, and a student at John Jay College, majoring in criminology. She has to write a thesis and has stumbled on a series of grizzly bear maulings of miners in a Colorado mining camp, now turned into one of the priciest ski resorts in the country. At the same time, someone is targeting the homes and lives of these one-percenters, burning their houses down with the occupants bound and still alive inside. There's also a tie to Oscar Wilde and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the form of a lost Sherlock Holmes story that Pendergast intuits will be the key to solving the mystery of the bear maulings. It all adds up to a surprisingly dull mystery, with some of the worst characterizations I've read in a Preston/Child novel. Corrie Swanson, our protagonist, is particularly poorly-written and continually does dumb things, merely because the story requires her to. The mystery of who the serial arsonist is could be solved by a third grader. And why the writers felt the need to fictionalize Aspen as "Roaring Fork," is beyond me. Very disappointing novel, possibly the worst in the entire Pendergast series.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Doomsday.1 (Doomsday.1, #1); Author: John Byrne; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I wasn't aware when I went into this that the book involved John Byrne revisiting some of his earliest creations in the comics field, though, in retrospect, that explains a lot. This is very crude, sophomoric stuff and really kind of dull. The story follows a group of astronauts who survive a giant solar flare that wipes out much of the Earth and who return to the ruins, trying to find some semblance of hope or civilization in the remains. There's a very episodic feeling to the book--each issue is a standalone chapter--and it doesn't feel like it's building to anything. Rather, the story re-sets each time and begins anew. As others have pointed out, many of the mini-tales Byrne tells here have already been done to death by others, and nothing really feels fresh.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Essex County; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This was just outstanding. Really, really good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 8: Orpheus in the Underworld; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This continues to be one of my absolute favorites. Some of the most thought-provoking and interesting writing in any comics series since the heyday of Sandman. This time around, Tommy is on a journey to the underworld to rescue Lizzie, if he can. Things aren't quite the way he expects them to be and the King of Hades has been replaced by a certain foul-mouthed rabbit. Meanwhile back in our world, there's a series of unexplained deaths being caused by people with the apparent ability to make their imaginations manifest in reality. I get the sense that things are wrapping up and we're heading into the home stretch, which is a shame since I would gladly read this series for the foreseeable future. **ARC from NetGalley; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Richard Stark's Parker: Slayground; Author: Darwyn Cooke; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Good, but not really up to the same standard as Cooke's previous Stark adaptations. Maybe it's more a function of the story he's working with this time, though I thought the original book had more meat to it than this. But I could be wrong about that; it's been awhile since I read it. Basically, Parker has to hide out in an amusement park that's been closed up for the winter, after his involvement in an armored car robbery goes sour. The only problem is that some crooked cops and local mafia types have witnessed him breaking into the park and they know he's got the loot from the robbery on him. The art is the usual spare, streamlined 60s influenced style Cooke has brought to his other adaptations. But this one just doesn't have quite the same punch. Still recommended, but not as strongly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thor: God of Thunder, Volume 2: Godbomb; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I wasn't too excited by the first volume of this story arc, which featured overly repetitive battles between Thor and Gorr, the God Butcher. But this second volume does a much better job of concluding the epic story. Of particular note is the coming together of three different versions of Thor from various points in the timestream: a young, largely untested version, still unable to pick up Mjolnir; the current Thor, member of the Avengers; and a far future version, Thor, the All-Father, king of a future Asgard in ruins. Some beautiful artwork on display here courtesy of Esad Ribic. Still not entirely sure this story needed to be told at such length or in such detail (Gorr often comes across like a petulant adolescent who just learned there's no Santa Claus), but all in all, I'd say its a satisfying conclusion to Aaron's first narrative arc.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good standalone (prequel?) series that explores the lives of General Hume's "four horsemen" and their attempts to find meaningful lives following the general's apparent death. Each makes a largely failed attempt before Hume's widow arrives on the scene to bring the four under her control. Perhaps the highlight of the book is Silas's story, wherein he attempts to get to the bottom of a strange plague afflicting residents of a small desert town. He at first calls on his almost forgotten skills as a doctor before falling into despair, realizing he can do little more than to put the sick out of their misery. This is a great mixture of weird horror and western and helps to fill in some of the gaps in the ongoing series, especially as it illustrates the power of each of the four guns and why they don't work as well apart as they do together. The artwork is a bit rushed in places and doesn't express the usual careful detail found in some of the series' other collected editions. But the story is typically strong and gives insight into some of the series' rather conflicted villains. Any fan of The Sixth Gun or of weird westerns in general (this series would make for a great tv show or movie in the right hands) is going to want to read this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Morning I'll be Gone (Sean Duffy #3); Author: Adrian McKinty; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Really outstanding novel, the third in a trilogy about Sean Duffy, a policeman in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles." This time out, he's enlisted by MI5 to take part in the search for Dermot McCann, an IRA prisoner who recently escaped as part of a mass prison break from the Maze Prison. Since Duffy knew McCann when they were both younger and at school, the spy agency, grasping at straws, figures he'll be able to track the man down. Duffy has a few rather weak leads to start with and no idea how he might find McCann, but he's a persistent man and not one to give up on even the barest bones of a case. McKinty does his usual great job of drawing in the setting and the environment and the characters ring true. This one builds to an exciting conclusion and is strong enough that one hopes this won't be the end of this character.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland: The Apocalyptic Edition, Volume 3; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Good story, though still a bit hard to follow. The characters all tend to look the same and the action beats are sometimes hard to figure out. I like the relaxed pace of the story, but something's going to have to happen soon to pay back all the time I have invested in this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crossed: Wish You Were Here, Volume 1; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Not too bad. This one's got an actual story, rather than just an excuse to wallow in extreme violence. There's some Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm going on here as a group of survivors attempt to make a go of it on a tiny Scottish island. Much better than some of the volumes and story arcs in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland Book 8: Lost in the Ozone; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: More a three and a half star review. The art isn't so great this time around--too cartoony and it's hard to keep track of the characters, who have a tendency to all look alike. But the story is still very interesting and the secret of A-Ree-Yass-I seems like it's just around the coener.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Locke & Key, Vol. 6: Alpha & Omega; Author: Joe Hill; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very satisfying conclusion to one of the best comics series I've read in the past few years. Hill and Rodriguez have created some of the most fully-realized, three-dimensional characters in this series. Not all of them will survive, not all of them will still be in once piece when things have concluded. But all of them get their moment, their chance to shine. The concluding issue of the series gives some very emotional resolution to a number of stories. Very highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X-Factor, Vol. 18: Breaking Points; Author: Peter David; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really good. Down to earth stories with adult, human interactions and a lot of humor. Polaris sums it up well: "Being a mutant isn't the be-all, end-all of who they are. It's nice, they're nice. They're what I need right now." Truer words... In a world overrun with mutant bashing and mutant vs. mutant story lines, it's a pleasure to have X-Factor to turn to.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X-Men, Volume 1: Primer; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not bad, though a little rough (especially the artwork in issue #4). Also interesting is the juxtaposition with the issue of Uncanny X-Men wherein Jubilee was introduced--yikes, but comics sure have come a long way. Lots of potential in this title.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Tooth, Volume 3: Animal Armies; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This series is really starting to get good. I want the next volume...NOW!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X-Factor, Vol. 19: Short Stories; Author: Peter David; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was really kind of blah. Not much to the story. Seemed to be focused more on getting the pieces into place for the final story arc? It's a bit unfortunate, really, given the high quality of most of Peter David's run on this title.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 3: No Escape; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The Spider Slayer issues were really good, but the artwork in the Hobgoblin arc was too cartoonish. As much as I totally and completely hate the central idea behind this series, I can't deny that it continues to be entertaining and fun to read. I just hope it doesn't drag on too long...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Factor, Vol. 20: Hell on Earth War; Author: Peter David; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Quite disappointing for what's been a really strong comic to this point. This whole Hell on Earth War is just a big letdown, kind of a "Meh-" sort of event. The only good thing to come out of it is in the final few pages, with Guido's transformation (won't say too much more as it's kind of a plot spoiler). But to get there, we have to wade through one repetitive fight scene after another, almost all of them with little to nothing by way of stakes for the main characters. I really liked this comic for its quieter moments and the sense that being mutants wasn't the be-all, end-all for these characters. This whole arc just throws that all out the window. Bleah. A real disappointment.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Avengers, Volume 2: The Last White Event; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some good individual stories, but not much sense of connection and forward movement between them. For instance, when a group of Avengers get inside the bio-dome that used to be Regina, Saskatchewan, things happen, but what they mean and why they happened? Well, no time for that, because it's on to the next thing. Perhaps this will all pay off down the road, but it's a bit frustrating at this point.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Tooth, Volume 6: Wild Game; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very powerful ending to what ultimately turned out to be a very moving story. I wasn't always sure where this was going back when I was still reading it in single issues, but getting these collected volumes has really helped. Won't be for everyone, I guess (I'm surprised at the negative comments about this title), but it really worked for me, especially the conclusion. I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, which just doesn't happen for me generally with comics. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Men, Volume 2: Broken; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Great combination of artwork and storytelling. Nice to see a story that holds out hope that anti-mutant feeling might one day be a thing of the past.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny Avengers, Volume 1: The Red Shadow; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this, in spite of yet another attempt by a villain to inspire humanity to rise up and slay the "mutant menace." I get so tired of that particular storyline, which the X books tend to rehash over and over ad nauseum. It would be nice to see some movement toward Charles Xavier's dream of everyone getting along, but then someone would have to figure out an entirely new threat. So I guess it's just easier to play the same old cards again and again. At least this time, with the inclusion of the Red Skull, there's the rather obvious equating of mutants to the Jews under Hitler and his new scheme is pretty awful in any number of ways. I like the formation of a special Avengers division featuring mutants and superheroes fighting side by side, and this gets off to a nice start, other than the weird jump three months into the future between issues 4 and 5. The art by John Cassaday is just stellar. Looking forward to continuing with this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captain America, Volume 1: Castaway In Dimension Z, Book One; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Shades of the Franken-Castle storyline from the Punisher, this might be just a bit too strange a story to really get behind. I like Remender's work, especially on X-Force, but exiling Steve Rogers to another dimension, one ruled by his arch foe, Arnim Zola, is really out there. And I can't look at John Romita, Jr.'s artwork without constantly being reminded of Kick-Ass. It's just a bit too cartoony for something that is supposed to be taken seriously. Still, I guess I'll see where things go in the next volume. Really liked the first collection of Remender's Uncanny Avengers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Night Film; Author: Marisha Pessl; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting but ultimately disappointing book. It gets drawn out to ridiculous lengths and the seemingly engrossing mystery turns out to be not so mysterious after all. It would have been so much better with some fantastical or even horror elements, but the real mystery is quite humdrum after all the build-up. After a certain point, I'd invested so much time in reading it I had to see it through, but I don't think I'd recommend it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fatale, Book Four: Pray for Rain (Fatale, #4); Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was really good. A more structured look at who and what this woman really is after some of the more fragmented story arcs that have come before. Beset with amnesia, she's free to just be herself for a few weeks, drawing all sorts of unwanted attention, and also acting as the muse to a Seattle rock band (shades of Nirvana), while simultaneously destroying it from the inside. The art does a great job of capturing the constant rain and depressive atmosphere. And the whole thing is very moody and about as noir as noir gets.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers Arena, Volume 1: Kill or Die; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I know this isn't the most original of stories, but something about this series really grabbed me. I loved it! Most of these characters are ones I'd never heard of before, but that didn't really matter--writer Hopeless (is that a Real name? really?) is able to sketch in enough flashback details to show us who they are and understand some of the pre-existing slights and resentments that start to come to the fore once they're all assembled for Arcade's little game of Battle Royale meets the Hunger Games. The art is really good stuff, too. I really hope this doesn't cop-out in the end and turn into some big dream or virtual reality and that these deaths are real, with real, lasting consequences. I guess only time will tell, but I'm definitely onboard for the next volume.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers Arena, Volume 2: Game On; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really don't understand the hatred for this book. Did we all read the same thing? I've been enjoying the hell out of this from the first issue and this second volume has not let up. I know the concept is not the most original--a mash-up of Hunger Games/Battle Royale with teen superheroes--but it works. At least, it does for me. I'd never heard of most of these characters before, outside of X-23 and Nico Minoru, but that hasn't prevented me from getting invested in their stories and their thoughts/feelings/backgrounds. There's a great reveal regarding the villainous character Katy Bashir and we get some explanation about how Arcade suddenly seems so all-powerful and how this Murder World came to be created and how it seems to be off the radar. The art continues to be very strong and the whole package is a lot of fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fear Agent, Volume 6: Out of Step; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Wow! What a truly epic story...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Savage Wolverine, Volume 1: Kill Island; Author: Frank Cho; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Frank Cho's a great artist, but a writer he is not. Who gave this nonsense the greenlight? Some sexy drawings of Shanna the She-Devil fighting dinosaurs alongside Wolverine in the Savage Land? That's really all there is to this, other than some really stupid, fifth-grade level slapstick humor. Sheesh...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lucifer, Book One (Lucifer, #1); Author: Mike Carey; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Based on my experience with The Unwritten and now this collection, I'd guess that Cary books tend to be slow starters. It took quite awhile for Unwritten to really connect, but when it did, it really did. One of the best-written comics I've ever read. After 13 issues of Lucifer, I'm still not quite there. I like it all well enough, but there's still something a bit off-putting about the whole affair. Lucifer himself is a hard character to warm up to. And the stories themselves read like warmed-over Neil Gaiman. I've got Book 2 all ready to go, but might have to take a break with some lighter weight fare before I come back to this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Men: Battle of the Atom; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Kind of a big mess. A big, ultimately pointless mess. Still it had enough standout moments (like adult Shogo) that I couldn't completely write it off. Enough with the time-traveling! Unless you've got a really outstanding story that can be told no other way, this is something that should be retired from the X-books. This story certainly didn't warrant it. One group comes back from the future with vague hints that it's a hellish place (where have we heard that before?), while Magik jumps forward in time to find something quite different. On the whole, the story was really incoherent and much of the action was, too. Many sequences play out across the two-page spread, while others don't and there aren't always enough visual clues to suggest which order we should be reading the panels in. As a way to mark the 50th anniversary of mutants and X-men, this is really below average. I think I just talked my way down from 3 stars to 2...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last President (Daybreak, #3); Author: John Barnes; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really enjoying this series. Things are looking pretty bleak for civilization this time around and the United States is on the ropes. But there are still good people out there, doing what needs to be done. Plus, a glimpse at the likely-extraterrestrial nature of Daybreak itself--has this happened to other civilizations on other planets before? Keep writing 'em, Mr. Barnes, and I'll keep reading...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 4: Necessary Evil; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Still not crazy about the basic idea at the core of this series, but I'm hooked. The artwork here is some of the best in any Marvel title and the story/plot is riveting. I haven't been this interested in Spider-Man in many a moon. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers Arena, Volume 3: Boss Level; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not quite at the same level as previous volumes in this series and not as "thrilling" as it really ought to be to successfully wrap this story up. But I enjoyed it...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Martian; Author: Andy Weir; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Pretty good book, though at times it did read like a science lecture. The plot follows a man stranded on Mars after a huge storm has caused the rest of the landing team to abort and head back to their ship in orbit. They all mistakenly think this guy, Mark Watney, is dead, because he was hit by some debris during the evacuation and his spacesuit life support readout was destroyed. So the rest of the book is filled with the minutiae of surviving on Mars. We get to follow along as Watney faces one obstacle after another, figuring out ways to overcome pretty much anything that comes his way. Eventually, we also have some scenes with NASA people back on Earth as they try to figure out a way to save him and, finally, some scenes from the spaceship Hermes, with the other 5 members of the crew, who all mistakenly thought him dead. It's a very interesting book, with pretty technical ideas all explained very clearly for non-scientists. But it's also, ultimately, kind of a dull book, since there's really little by way of suspense. There's never an obstacle too big that can't be overcome and the characters are never really developed into three dimensional human beings. I'd call this more of a 3 and a 1/2 star book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zero, Vol. 1: An Emergency; Author: Ales Kot; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: This is pretty good stuff. An episodic look at the makings of a super soldier/super spy, each issue is illustrated by a different artist, most of whom are very spare in their work. There are a lot of wordless panels in this collection, with the focus on action, sometimes to the detriment of the story (the fourth issue in particular is a bit hard to follow). But I like it. I like it a lot. We follow along as the titular character, Edward Zero, is brought along, seemingly from birth (or shortly after) to be something of a super spy. He is tasked with taking out an IRA sympathizer as a kid, goes into Israel to retrieve tech from a Palestinian super-soldier, etc. Very reminiscent at times of Warren Ellis' work on Global Frequency.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Vampire, Vol. 6; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This volume was a bit on the disappointing side. It doesn't really progress the story at all. Instead, we're treated to a series of historical vignettes, as vampires come up against Native Americans in colonial times, find their way into silent films, are involved in a massacre in Harlem, and so forth. While stylish and often told with little dialogue, these short little bites of story don't really add a whole lot to the series--we've already seen most of these things in the early going with Pearl's story in Hollywood and elsewhere. It's kind of a place holder of a book. If you're a fan, you'll want to read it, but it's really not a necessity.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny Avengers, Volume 2: The Apocalypse Twins; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Starts rather slow and confusingly--I was wondering if I'd missed an issue or two in continuity. But it gets better. Remender is one of the best long view plotters currently writing comics, and this story does not disappoint, growing out of events which occurred during his run on Uncanny X-Force.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, by Brian Michael Bendis, Volume 5; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: This is about as good as it gets. I love this title and Bendis brings his A game to this collection, which picks things up a year after the accidental death of Miles' mother and his decision to stop being Spider-Man. Some of the best material here is the quiet scenes, the moments between Miles and his dad, between Gwen Stacy and surrogate mother May Parker, between Miles and roommate/best friend Ganke. There are some great action sequences as well, and the introduction of Ultimate Cloak and Dagger and Bombshell. Miles is older and more mature than the kid he used to be and the process by which he finds his way back into the Spider-Man costume provided him by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jessica Drew (aka Spider-Woman) is one of the most satisfying sequences I've read recently. Artist David Marquez contributes some of the best artwork this title has ever seen. Top-notch stuff!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & Sorcery; Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was fun--sort of like drunk Dungeons and Dragons or something. The book follows a quartet of women "adventurers" who fight and swear and drink with the best of them. They aren't the most popular individuals in their town and it seems like someone wants to get rid of them, along with several other groups (I liked the "4 guys named Dave"). The artwork is pretty good and the battle scenes are interesting. There's a lot of potential in this one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Force, Volume 2: Torn and Frayed; Author: Sam Humphries; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: This is just bad. Really, really bad. Coming on the heels of Remender's amazing run does not help things, nor does unfocused writing or bad artwork, both of which plague this title. So unfair to these characters...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Divergent (Divergent, #1); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Interesting, though not really on par with The Hunger Games. Too many unanswered questions about the nature of this society and how/why it got this way (the factions, Lake Michigan is a swamp, etc.). And it doesn't really end so much as stop, mid-scene...I guess I'll eventually have to give book 2 a try, though I'm not rushing to read it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force/The Deep; Author: Rob Williams; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This truly is a mixed bag. As noted in other reviews, there are two separate, unconnected miniseries here, neither of them particularly good, though the X-Force one does have its moments and sets the stage for Rick Remender's run on the title. The Defenders half is pretty bad in most respects. Why the two were put together in one volume is beyond me...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Savage Wolverine, Volume 2: Hands on a Dead Body; Author: Zeb Wells; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a step up from the first volume, but still kind of strange. I guess if the whole point is to tell Wolverine stories out of continuity, sort of like Legends of the Dark Knight did for Batman, then the series sort of makes sense. I forget, though, did the story that Frank Cho started in Vol. 1 ever get resolved? These are sort of strange stories, with the second being firmly sci-fi, sort of in the vein of Image's ongoing Prophet (weird sci-fi). The art is odd, too, especially in the first story, which teams Wolverine with Elektra as they come face-to-face with "The Arbiters," a trio of demonic presences that serve the ninja group The Hand. I wasn't ever really sure what their purpose was, though they did decide that Logan, for all his violence, really is a decent man underneath it all. The other part of this, with the Kingpin's dead wife being revived and sent to attack him, seemed like it belonged in a whole different comic. Kind of a hodgepodge of material.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys; Author: Gerard Way; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: As I was reading, I started to get the feeling I was reading the liner notes for some bizarre concept album, and once I got to the back matter at the end, lo and behold, I was right. This apparently is the follow up to a My Chemical Romance album. It feels intensely juvenile throughout like a grand statement made by a thirteen year old boy who just learned Santa Claus isn't real and the world isn't a happy place filled with puppies and cookies. This is really an underdeveloped little mess of a comic, with the artwork about the only saving grace. And it's too bad, too, because I think Gerard Way showed some real promise with The Umbrella Academy.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lucifer, Book Two (Lucifer, #2); Author: Mike Carey; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is where a lot of the seemingly disconnected stories in the first book really start to come together in a very involving storyline, which largely revolves around Lucifer making his own universe and the varied factions that oppose and support him. The art by Peter Gross is pretty good, though not as sharp as in The Unwritten. Dean Ormston's issues are standouts, usually providing a brief interlude between multi-issue story arcs. A big step forward for this series--has me looking forward to what comes next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2: Angela; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not as good as the first volume. The artwork is all over the place, from the gorgeous work by Sarah Pichelli, to the muddled and ugly mess by Francesco Francavilla. And what's the deal with Angela, anyway? No real reason for her unexplained presence other than mere gimmickry. Not one of the better collections of Bendis' work...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alpha Flight by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente Volume 1; Author: Greg Pak; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty bad...I used to love this series.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: MIND MGMT, Volume Three: The Home Maker; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I love this series, but this volume just didn't work for me. This is the first time a story wasn't wrapped up at the end. In fact, it just suddenly stopped, mid-scene. Hopefully, that wrap-up is coming in Vol. 4, but it leaves this volume ( and this reader) hanging. I was disappointed, the first time this has happened to me with a Matt Kindt project.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 9: The Unwritten Fables; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I was really looking forward to this, a mixture of two of my favorite comics. But it really doesn't work. I'm not sure why, exactly, but the story doesn't help matters, re-booting recent events in the Fables universe to a different outcome (really, the way Mr. Dark was originally written, it was hard to believe he could be so easily beaten in the first place, but why bring him back if you really don't have a satisfying way to resolve this particular storyline a second time around?). This isn't a satisfying story for readers of either series, but The Unwritten really gets short shrift here--this is a Fables story, with a few Unwritten characters shoehorned in. Carey and Willingham should have sat down and worked this out in more detail before foisting this half-written and half-realized nonsense on the reading public. There are so many options, so many better ways this could have gone down. I just hope this isn't the last Unwritten collection, as that series really deserves a better wrap-up. I'd say the same goes for Fables, too. A big disappointment.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick; Author: Matt Fraction; Genres: romance, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: A very entertaining series, like nothing else I've read. It follows the adventures of Suzie and Jon, a new couple who each have the power to stop time with their orgasms. They were each alone with this power most of their lives and never thought they'd find another person with this ability, let alone meet and fall in love. But now they've found each other, they're using this strange gift to rob banks so they can save the library where Suzie works. Along they way, though, they've come under the scrutiny of another group, the "sex police," who apparently wield the same power and are trying to keep things quiet. This is a fun series, with a lot of humor and some great flashbacks to Suzie's and Jon's earlier lives. There's a great sequence in a pool hall, where Suzie jumps up on a table to sing Queen's "Fat-Bottomed Girls," and, because the comic's creators didn't have the rights to the song, all the lyrics are blacked out, with humorous asides printed over the top. The artwork by Zdarsky is just the right combination of cartoony and seedy and this is some of Matt Fraction's best writing (which is saying a lot, since he's currently turning out the acclaimed Hawkeye for Marvel at the same time). I'm hooked and intrigued and want to know more, especially about who these "sex police" are and who they're working for (their leader seems to be a suburban housewife working as a dispatcher for the regular police; another of them is a bus driver) and what their agenda is. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mara; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Kind of dull. This starts out as sort of a "Rollerball" meets volleyball story, as, in the near future, volleyball has become insanely popular on a global scale (yeah, right) and its bona fide star, Mara, is the golden girl that everyone loves. Then she starts to develop superpowers--super speed, flight, impervious to bullets, etc.--and the story becomes sort of a Superman origin sort of thing, before she turns into something more along the lines of Dr. Manhattan of the Watchmen. She's so far beyond human beings and the Earth's petty concerns, etc., etc. Of course, the powers that be fear her (she doesn't really give them a reason--it just seems like, in stories like this, it is up to the government to fear the unknown). It really doesn't all add up to much of anything. The artwork is all right, but nothing spectacular. I don't really understand the raves for this one...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Steel Beach; Author: John Varley; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Bleah...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cable and X-Force, Volume 3: This Won't End Well; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some really topnotch artwork by Larroca in this volume. Too bad the story can't keep up. It's not terrible, but nothing all that special, either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Three; Author: Kieron Gillen; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Kind of the flipside to the rah-rah heroics in Frank Miller's 300, this graphic novel shows the downside of the Spartan empire and way of life. The story follows a group of three Helots, part of a slave class who were treated brutally by their Spartan masters, who escape the aftermath of the massacre of a party of Spartans who had taken refuge in a Helot dwelling for the night. The Spartan leader had taken exception to the story one of the Helots had told around the campfire and ordered his men to slay all of them, only to have that backfire as one of the Helots, an apparent cripple, turned out to be anything but. So the three are on the run from a force of 300 Spartans who aim to make an example of them. Along the way, we get a number of insights into the declining empire and can see that the Spartan approach to life really isn't going to work in the long-term. Some good, spare artwork and a nice, simple story. This was obviously written with some care, as there are numerous footnotes at the end of the volume and even an interview with an expert on Spartan history who lent some of his expertise to the story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy in Hell, Vol. 1: The Descent (Hellboy in Hell, #1); Author: Mike Mignola; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The real draw for this book is the fact that it's the first time Hellboy has been written AND drawn by creator Mignola for quite some time. And the artwork throughout is truly gorgeous. When someone has Mignola's level of talent, it really is a crime to withhold that from the world. The story is kind of meandering, as Hellboy becomes acclimated to his new surroundings, but I think that's a strength, since we the readers need to familiarize ourselves with the place, too. Hell is kind of a mishmash, with parts of it resembling Victorian London and other areas being much more otherworldly and Lovecraftian. Mignola throws in a number of literary allusions, too, suggesting he's drawing on a number of different visualizations of Hell through the ages, particularly John Milton's Paradise Lost. The volume then wraps up with the sort of standalone story that crops up quite often in the earlier volumes, as Hellboy helps a man's soul escape damnation. It appears we (and Hellboy) are going to be here for awhile. Looking forward to the next volume.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thor: God of Thunder, Volume 3: The Accursed; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked the League of Realms story (they're tracking Malekith the Accursed) well enough, but the real standout was issue 18, which deals with the short-lived friendship between Thor and the dragon Skabgagg. Just the right amount of humor and pathos to be moving. The art isn't quite up to the level of previous volumes (Esad Ribic is largely confined to covers this time) but it isn't bad. I guess I'm just a bit less than satisfied by the outcome of the Malekith story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dial H, Vol. 2: Exchange; Author: China Mieville; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is one of the weirdest and perhaps the most brilliant comics I've ever read. The only real drawback to this collection is the inclusion of a semi-related issue of Justice League, with terrible artwork which does little more than defuse the amazing fever-dream storytelling of everything up to that point. Drop that and this volume would be just about perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: She-Hulk by Dan Slott: The Complete Collection Volume 1; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this volume. Dan Slott has to be one of the best comics writers currently active and his run on this title is a great mix of humor, imaginative situations, and pathos all in one. He does a great job of illustrating both sides of Jennifer Walters' character--the fairly buttoned-down lawyer and the more chaotic She-Hulk within. Lots of great stories revolving around a law firm with a branch that specializes in the superheroic and the supervillainous. The artwork varies wildly, but the primary work by Juan Bobillo is a standout. This collection had its ups and downs, but ultimately it was a lot of fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers, Volume 4: Infinity; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: As some have mentioned, this is kind of hard to follow, without having read the separate Infinity series and even New Avengers. A good crossover should be readable as a standalone entity, not so fully dependent on other series as to risk incomprehensibility. This is still fairly easy to follow, but not as good as it could or should be, kind of surprising from a writer of Hickman's caliber. The art is consistently high-level. The other potential drawback to this story is: where can it possibly go from here? How do you top this? Almost seems like something to build up to, not start with right out of the gate. I guess time will tell and maybe Hickman really does have more cards up his sleeve...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New Avengers, Volume 2: Infinity; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not as chopped up as the Infinity volume of the Avengers, but still rather hard to follow, especially in the later issues. I still say that comics involved in a crossover should be readable on a standalone basis. Ultimately, one would be better off waiting for the Infinity omnibus edition that Marvel must surely be planning to put out. Great art throughout by Mike Deodato.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1); Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this one, which is not the usual Stephen King novel. There isn't even a hint of the supernatural at work here and it's more of a detective novel/thriller than a horror novel. The story follows an ex-policeman who never solved his biggest case, that of the titular "Mr. Mercedes," who drove a car into a crowd of job seekers at a job fair, killing eight and injuring several others. Bill Hodges is pondering suicide until, one day, a note arrives from the killer, which reawakens Hodges' detecting instincts and gets him back on the case again, skirting the edges and trying to stay clear of his former colleagues, since it is still an active case. Really good characters and a plot full of twists and turns. One of the better Stephen King novels in a while.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manifest Destiny, Vol. 1: Flora & Fauna; Author: Chris Dingess; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: The version I received from NetGalley proved unreadable on my tablet, despite multiple downloads. Luckily, I'd been buying this title in single issues and had read the first 6, which make up this volume. This is a really fun alternate take on the voyage of Lewis and Clark to map and document the strange sights and species to be found in the Louisiana Purchase. In this reality, a couple of those species turn out to be buffalo-man-minotaurs and a plant hive-mind thingy that gets into people and turns them into vehicles for further spreading its spores. All of this and Sacagawea, too! In this version, she's heavily pregnant, though still capable of kicking the butt of the odd buffalo-minotaur. Some really nice work on the art in this volume. Lots of two-page spreads that are just plain beautiful to look at. And a great start to a story that has me hooked. Hopefully, there will be even stranger things to come around the next bend in the river.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coffin Hill Vol. 1: Forest of the Night; Author: Caitlin Kittredge; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This wasn't outright terrible, though it ultimately wasn't very good. Story seemed to have a lot of cliches and the whole disaffected goth teens as protagonists was really dull. These people really haven't changed much in the ten years or so since things went horribly wrong during a seance in the woods. Main character Eve Coffin starts out promisingly enough, as a Boston homicide detective who tracks down a serial killer. Following an accident, she regresses and returns home to the family home. The Coffins have a dark history tied up in the witchcraft trials of Salem, etc., etc., and Eve is just the latest "Coffin witch," who apparently stirred up some dark forces or something in the woods, leading to the death of one of her friends and another winding up in a mental ward. This could have been the basis for an interesting story, but things jump around in time, with flashbacks to the "terrible night" in question that really don't add much to what's happening in the present day. And it's not really all that clear what's happening in the present. I guess a series of young girls have been kidnapped and disappeared or something? There's an unpleasant sequence with the stepfather of one of the missing girls who kills himself with a ballpoint pen? The art is only so-so and the story just seems like it has a panel or two missing every couple of pages. It's stilted and awkward and just doesn't work as a comic.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Waking Dark; Author: Robin Wasserman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This one took awhile to get going for me, but ultimately resolved itself into a pretty effective mixture of Stephen King's "small-town-paranoia" and Dean Koontz's "evil-organization" thrillers. Just about everyone in a small town in Kansas appears to be slowly going crazy, except for an odd group of teenagers, each of whom had survived a deadly encounter the year before when a series of townspeople all suddenly snapped and went on killing sprees. Now, it looks like the whole town is ready to follow suit, and there are sinister "government" troops ringing the town and preventing anyone from leaving. Pretty memorable young adult horror.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fables, Vol. 20: Camelot; Author: Bill Willingham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: As others have said, this really reads like a return to form for the series, after a few hiccups and missteps (the Fables/Unwritten crossover). The bulk of the storyline concerns Rose Red's efforts in putting together a new Camelot, with a new round table and new knights to pursue quests that involve giving people second chances. On the periphery of this tale, we also see the ongoing efforts to bring Bigby Wolf back to life after he was turned to glass and shattered into a million pieces. Also, brief glimpses into the nefarious doings of several of Fables' continuing villains (Mrs. Sprat, Gepetto, Brandish), all of which reads like table-setting for the final, concluding arc to this series. The art and the storytelling alike are on a par with the series' best volumes and one can only hope the conclusion will be so as well. Simultaneously looking forward to (and dreading) that next (last) collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Force, Volume 3: The Great Corruption; Author: Sam Humphries; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Not as bad as the preceding volume, but a far cry from the Rick Remender days.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hop Alley; Author: Scott Phillips; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: Liked it, but didn't love it the way I did Cottonwood or The Walkaway. This is a direct sequel to Cottonwood, but it doesn't feel like a complete story. Seems like his last few books have been like this--more the set-up for a story than a real follow through. It's as well-written as ever, but feels largely inconsequential. Some stuff happens to our protagonist, then some more stuff, then the book ends. There's no real plot or story to speak of. Kind of disappointing, really.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cable and X-Force, Volume 4: Vendetta; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, mystery; Review: Not terrible, but not too good, either...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 5: The Superior Venom; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The art continues to be crazy good, but the story seems to be slowing down a bit. It's still a must-read for the Spider-Man fan, but not as intricate or emotionally involving as previous volumes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mighty Avengers, Volume 1: No Single Hero; Author: Al Ewing; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was interesting. Not all that great, but there's potential here. I like the idea of a group of second-tier heroes pulling together to defend the Earth while the "big guys" are all busy in outer space (but what's going to happen when the "real" Avengers come home?). I sort of wish the story was more standalone and not so tied to the Infinity crossover. There's a sense of a "blue collar" work ethic among these guys and girls, and a lot of racial diversity (the one exception is the rather dickish Superior Spider-Man, though it looks like he won't be staying around for long). Also interesting to meet the Blue Marvel, an older scientist/superhero I hadn't heard of before, who is off fighting some grade-Z baddies in Germany (W.E.S.P.E.?) in one sequence. I'll definitely want to read the next volume, but hope it's just a bit of a step up from this starting point.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 4: Zero Year: Secret City; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I enjoyed it, though it took me awhile to figure out what was going on, what with the story coming on the heels of the Death of the Family arc from the previous volume. Finally, it hit me that we were jumping back in time to look at the early days of Bruce Wayne and Batman's war on crime (that's one of the drawbacks to Scott Snyder's writing, I've found, in that it's not always all that clear just what the heck is going on). Others have commented on the audacity of recovering all this old ground, which other writers have trod before. I'm not sure that Snyder has really brought anything new to the table. I wish it were a bit more out there, because as it is, it reads a lot like a story that I've already heard before, several times, actually. The artwork is great and the sense of Gotham City as a character in the story is something that I haven't seen developed so much. But beyond that? It's really nothing new. Even Tim Burton's first Batman movie covered much of this territory. Color me disappointed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Astro City, Vol. 9: Through Open Doors; Author: Kurt Busiek; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I've always liked this title, but never really loved it. I like the idea of what Busiek is doing here, but the payout always seems a bit light. Without an ongoing, over-arching story, each volume tends to focus on smaller stories and, as interesting as they can be (I especially liked the "Sideliners" in this volume), they can't help but feel a bit slight. The artwork is good and a lot of time has obviously been put into this, but when you compare it to something like Warren Ellis' Planetary, which is very similar, it can't help but come off looking inferior. Heck, even Bendis' work on Powers tends to overshadow a lot of what I've read in Astro City. That said, it certainly isn't bad, nor is it a waste of time, but for me, it's really second- or even third-tier stuff.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny Avengers, Volume 3: Ragnarok Now; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Well, you don't see that every day in a comic book. Wonder what could possibly be next, now that Remender has effectively crashed everything? I was thinking there must be some competition over there at Marvel to come up with the best cosmic Armageddon and this is certainly taking things a step further than Jonathan Hickman's Infinity story/offshoots. The artwork is kind of variable--I wish they'd stick one superstar artist with one superstar writer and leave it at that. Can't think why there's so much turnover with an amazing title like this one. Steve McNiven is represented here to the largest degree and he's a really good fit with these characters and this plot. Larroca and Acuna aren't bad, but at an issue apiece, it's hard to really judge where they might have taken things. Really interested to see what might happen in the next volume, since the conclusion here is kind of final. How do you re-group from something like that?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pines (Wayward Pines, #1); Author: Blake Crouch; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very Twin Peaksian. The ending was like nothing I expected and there's really no way to talk about it without giving too much away, so I won't. This is one of the most audacious plots I've read in some time and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stone Cold (Joe Pickett, #14); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The book had a bit of a contrived plot, but I enjoyed spending some time with Joe Pickett, Nate Romanowski, and the gang once again. I wish Box would stick with his plots "torn from the headlines," which tend to produce his better books. This was still enjoyable, but not up there with his best output.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wraith; Author: Joe Hill; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a prequel to Hill's novel NOS4A2, in graphic novel form, and it's all right. The artwork is fine--it really captures a kind of creepy, EC-comics sort of vibe. But the story just didn't grab me that much. It really didn't seem all that necessary, basically filling in detail and fleshing out things that were hinted at in the novel, and might have been better left to readers' imaginations. We see how Charlie Manx came to be and how he got ahold of his titular Silver Wraith, the vehicle he uses to transport his victims to "Christmasland," a psychic inscape or somesuch, where he feeds on their psyches (I guess--never really was too sure about all the details, but it appears he's some sort of psychic vampire). The story primarily follows a group of escaped prison inmates and one of their guards who come afoul of Charlie and his car when one of the inmates gives him a call to assist in their escape. This is all very competently written and the art is just fine, but I can't help but wonder at whether this volume really needed to exist or not. I'd much rather read something new and original and more necessary.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Men, Volume 3: The Good, The Bad, The Inhuman; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Continues to be readable, though the revolving door of artists is annoying. I especially found the swirly page layouts of issue #18 to be an annoyance, though the artwork by Marco Rudy is competent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Captain America, Volume 2: Castaway In Dimension Z, Book Two; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: One of the weirdest, yet also most powerful and moving stories I've read in a long time. This is really quite beautiful...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bunker, Vol. 1 (The Bunker #1-4); Author: Joshua Hale Fialkov; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I think there's some promise in this idea--five friends discover a secret bunker filled with detritus from an apocalyptic future, including letters they each wrote to themselves from some point in the future, to warn their younger selves not to repeat (or, in some cases, to be SURE to repeat) certain mistakes, etc., that eventually lead to the end of the world. Very hard to get past the coincidence that these five people hold so much potential sway over the future of the world, but at least some of the stuff that happens in this first story arc is interesting, including the newspaper that warns one of the friends that he has to be available to assist survivors of a terrorist bombing that hasn't happened yet (no real discussion of why he couldn't warn somebody about what was going to happen). The artwork is a bit sketchy, and sometimes hard to make out (even though it appears to be done in watercolor(?)). This first volume ends on a pretty big twist that needs some very careful explanation so that the basic premise of the story doesn't sink in the early going, but I found myself interested enough to want to keep reading. I'll give another volume a try, if and when it becomes available.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Umbral: Vol. 1: Out of the Shadows; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I enjoyed it, though there wasn't a whole lot to this first volume, other than an extended chase scene, that ran through several issues. The story follows a young girl in a fantasy kingdom who stumbles onto the fact that the Umbral, shadow creatures of myth, have returned and have killed the king and queen and taken their place, with the intent of eventually taking over the rest of the world. The girl, Rascal, has in her possession a stone called the Oculus, which has some meaning to the Umbral, and so they try to get it back. And thus commences the story. I liked Johnston and Mitten's Wasteland and it's nice to see Mitten's artwork with some color added to it this time around. I'd like to know more about this kingdom and these people and some of the supporting characters who Rascal comes into contact with, but this initial volume does much of what it sets out to do: commence an exciting story that will have you turning the pages, wanting to know more about what's going on. Hopefully, some of these unanswered questions will be answered soon (that was one of the drawbacks of Wasteland--it took forever for things to happen and for some of the background details of that world to be filled in). I'll be here for volume 2.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Letter 44, Volume 1: Escape Velocity; Author: Charles Soule; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really liked this. Great concept--a new president opens the letter left for him by his predecessor (the "letter 44" of the title), only to discover, that in addition to a failing economy and two unpopular foreign wars, he's also inherited a top secret mission to send a spaceship to investigate unexplained goings on in deep space. It appears that aliens have come to our solar system and are building something in the asteroid belt, but it's not clear whether it's a weapon or something else (a communication device, perhaps?). It's really hard to focus on such mundane matters as the economy with something so potentially earth-shaking happening millions of miles away. Plus, it seems like someone is trying to sabotage his presidency. The story jumps back and forth between events on Earth in the White House and the spaceship Clarke, which is getting nearer to the alien device, nicknamed the Chandelier, which is looking more and more gun-like all the time. This is a great, exciting story, with lots of twists and turns. The artwork is a bit blocky and odd, but passable. This one has me hooked--I'll definitely be continuing to read this one in further volumes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, Volume 1: Getting the Band Back Together; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Loved this one. It focuses on a bunch of Spider-Man's lesser foes, such as Shocker and Boomerang, as they go about their everyday, humdrum lives, trying to put together the next big score. If that sounds dull, well the whole thing is written with a very sarcastic humor that makes it a lot of fun. I was reminded a lot of Donald E. Westlake's Dortmunder novels, about a hapless gang of criminals, while reading this. Who would have thought that Nick Spencer, writer of the impenetrable Morning Glories, had something like this up his sleeve? And the artwork by Lieber is perfect for this down-to-earth exploration of the non-heroic. There's nothing flashy here and it doesn't need to be--he gets these characters and their interactions just right. I really hope this series can sustain this nearly note-perfect level of humor and whimsy as it continues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Town (Wayward Pines, #3); Author: Blake Crouch; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty good conclusion to the Wayward Pines series, though this book is little more than one long chase scene, as the townspeople try (and mostly fail) to escape from an incursion of "abbies." The first book, Pines, was the best, as there was still a mystery behind what was going on in this seemingly idyllic town. Once that mystery was answered, the other two books couldn't quite live up to that same level of promise. I was really annoyed by the megalomaniacal craziness on display by the town's founder, David Pilcher. So much of what happens throughout this series wouldn't have happened or wouldn't happen the same way without this one random variable, who ultimately proved to be just a bit too much for me to believe. Otherwise, the story and the situation and the way things are resolved are pretty good. Too many scenes of random townspeople dying horribly, though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ordinary Grace; Author: William Kent Krueger; Genres: history, fiction, young-adult, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: Wow! So good. I should have read this a long time ago, but something kept me away from it. Krueger's Cork O'Connor series is one of my favorites, but it has kind of entered series "autopilot" stage. I guess I wouldn't have thought he had this level of writing in him still. This is an almost perfect book about a family in small town Minnesota and the terrible summer they all must navigate back in the early 60s. From the setting to the characters, everything is just "right." Beautifully written, with some great insights into people and the things they do. Easily the best book of Mr. Krueger's career and a deserving winner of the Edgar award.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Personal (Jack Reacher, #19); Author: Lee Child; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: A fairly typical Jack Reacher novel. I think, in churning these things out so fast, that Lee Child doesn't have the luxury to invest every one of them with the same level of feeling, urgency, whatever you want to call it, so that every now and then, he turns out a serviceable novel, but not one that's particularly memorable. Every now and then, though, he manages the trick of writing something that transcends the potboiler nature of this series. Unfortunately, Personal is not transcendant. It is a pretty routine book that has an old army general friend of Reacher's call on him to do some digging into the possible identity of a sniper who just took a shot at some dignitaries during a G8 summit in Paris. Luckily, there was some new-fangled bulletproof glass in place that stopped the bullet, but there is some concern that whoever it was might try again, when the group meets in London in a few weeks' time. Only three snipers in the world are capable of the shot, and one of them was a guy that Reacher put in prison some years prior, who has just been released and may or may not be looking for revenge. The other two are in the wind and it appears that some group out there might be "auditioning" the snipers for the next go around. Reacher and a young CIA operative are sent to London where they are officially off the books, yet tasked with finding out who the sniper is and where he might be and try to take him down before the next public gathering of bigwigs. Any guess as to whether Reacher succeeds? This was a page-turning novel and I have to say I enjoyed it, but it isn't one of the better books in this long-running series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Morning Glories, Vol. 7: Honors; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Argh...why am I still reading this crap? Completely impenetrable, yet somehow, for some reason, I keep coming back...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Reframing Academic Leadership; Author: Lee G. Bolman; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Read for leadership institute at Harvard University.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cataclysm: The Ultimates' Last Stand; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: A real mixed bag of stories and artwork. Some of it is pretty good. Some of it is unfortunately really bad. On the whole, it certainly isn't worth the $49.99 cover price on the hardcover collection. The best part of this whole thing was the Ultimate Spider-Man crossover, with script by Brian Michael Bendis and artwork by Mark Bagley. After that, there isn't a whole lot to recommend. Lots of bombast and big explosions, but not a lot of heart or emotion or reasons to care about what's happening. It seems like a lot of these Ultimate crossover events fall into this same area--in going so huge, so over-the-top, everyone (the writers and artists) forgets to include some reason to care about the characters and what's happening to them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vampire Boy; Author: Carlos Trillo; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Amazing artwork by Eduardo Risso. But the story was one of the most inane things I've ever read and kept circling around and around and around and around, making the same points over and over and over and over and over...Risso's artwork throughout is on a level with that of Frank Miller, but it's too bad he couldn't be paired with a writer more deserving of this level of craft. The two stars are ONLY for the artwork. If the story had been just a bit less juvenile, maybe the whole thing might have been worth more than that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Snowpiercer, Vol. 1: The Escape; Author: Jacques Lob; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting graphic novel, but this is a case where the movie version is actually an improvement. The artwork is all black and white and the story is a very political one. The movie pops with color and the story has been simplified and made more universal. I'm glad I had a chance to read this, though, where this is kind of interesting, the movie is one of the best I've seen in years.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Men, Volume 2: Muertas; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very strong collection. The story is a good one and the art is pretty good (though quite variable from issue to issue, and even within issues), too. This title focuses on a loosely-organized group of all-female mutants as they battle with the continuing threat of Arkea, an alien consciousness capable of inhabiting the world's electronics and computer systems, and her team of supervillains, including the psychic imprint of Lady Deathstrike, Typhoid Mary, and the Enchantress (and featuring the return of both Madeline Pryor and Selene, the Black Queen). Hopefully, this book can continue at this high level of quality.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lazarus, Vol. 2: Lift; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: An excellent series continues to maintain its strengths and build its believable future world. Rucka's future is one of the more believable I've read, especially if current trends regarding the 1% vs. the 99% continue to hold true. In this future, the world has been parceled out to a variety of "families," large corporations that have taken on the responsibilities of government, etc. People are divided into two categories: "serfs" (those who serve the family and in return get some basic protections and comforts) and "waste" (basically everyone else). The story follows Forever Carlyle, a genetically-enhanced woman who serves as the Carlyle family's head of security. We see her as a young girl, in battle training, attempting to live up to seemingly-impossible ideals set for her by her "father." And we see her in the present day as she tracks a terrorist cell in the area once known as Los Angeles, as they put together the parts for an IED that will be exploded at the family "lift" fair in Denver. We also follow a struggling family that loses everything to a flood and pins their hopes on their teenage children to possibly get selected at the Lift fair, as they make the long journey by horse and cart to Denver (along with 100,000 others). The artwork for all of this is stark and gorgeous, provided by Michael Lark. An excellent, self-contained arc that manages to build upon what happened in the first volume and to open up this world beyond the Carlyle family. This is one of the best comics series being currently published.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Science, Vol. 1: How to Fall Forever (Black Science, #1); Author: Rick Remender; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Something of a cross between Lost in Space and Sliders, the television show about a group of scientists jumping between alternate Earths. Except here, the group is jumping from one reality (or dimension or whatever) to another. They have no control over where they jump or when they jump (hmmm, maybe throw in some Quantum Leap, too?) and it appears that at least one of their number is actively involved in sabotaging the project. It's not the most original of concepts, but Remender makes it work and the art by Matteo Scalera and the colors by Dean White are amazing. The story begins right in the midst of things, without much explanation, on a planet with talking frogs and fish people. There's a rush to prepare for the next jump and then, suddenly, the group is on a planet embroiled in a war, where the apparently Native American analogues have the technology and are winning. The story follows scientist Grant McKay of the Anarchist League of Scientists and inventor of the Pillar, the machine he and his group uses to jump between dimensions. He and his researchers, as well as his children and family, get sent off on their wild adventure during a celebration of the completion of the work to develop the Pillar when the device malfunctions. It's an interesting series, fast-moving and a bit incoherent at times. Hopefully, we'll see more of the background filled in as things go on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last Days; Author: Adam Nevill; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was a really good book and really scary, too, for most of its running. However, I think the author ran on a bit too long and could have easily scrapped about a 100 pages or so and really made this that much tighter and scarier a book. The story follows a down-on-his-luck documentary filmmaker who suddenly has the film of a lifetime just dropped in his lap (yet he never really questions this stroke of luck): to do the definitive look at the Temple of the Last Days, an apocalyptic cult that ended in a series of murders in the Arizona desert back in the early 70s. Led by the charismatic Sister Katherine, the cult started in London, moved to an isolated farm in the French countryside, and ultimately wound up at an abandoned copper mine in the American southwest. As the filmmaker and his cameraman friend travel from place to place, interviewing some of the last surviving members of the original group, they come face to face with an inexplicable mystery, including some very frightening, unexplained phenomena. Nevill is particularly skilled at turning out of the way places into scary tableaus (see also his novel The Ritual). The abandoned farm is one of the scariest settings in any horror novel I've read recently, and the remnants of the group's final location at the copper mine are pretty memorable, too. Where the novel goes off the rails a bit is in the final stretch, when the original investor in the film and the filmmaker go off to San Diego to mount an assault on an eerie mansion once owned by Sister Katherine--this proved to be one item too many in a book already almost overstuffed with incident. Still, the novel as a whole was memorable and Nevill is clearly one of the strongest British voices working in horror fiction today. I will be very interested to see what he does next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unwritten, Vol. 10: War Stories; Author: Mike Carey; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** I wish this book was better, seeing as how it's the penultimate volume in one of my favorite series (at least that's what the text indicates). The story does seem to be back on track somewhat, following crossovers to the Fables and elsewhere, but I still can't help but see this as rather an underwhelming conclusion to what's come before. Leviathan, the great creature that holds all of the world's stories within its belly, has been mortally wounded, and in the process, Tommy is bouncing from one story to another (this section is pretty well done, with Peter Gross taking great care to replicate the artwork--especially in the section from Alice in Wonderland), before finally finding his way back to his friends and his father. Once they've been reunited, the group find themselves under attack from an army made up of all the armies that have ever been in stories and fiction throughout the centuries. It's neat seeing Lizzie Hexam save herself from execution via her knowledge of Restoration comedies, but that element alone is almost too little, too late. This has turned into one giant battle and, at least in this volume, very little is resolved by the end. The final volume will really have to rise to the occasion.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Abominable; Author: Dan Simmons; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Simmons' The Terror is one of my absolute favorite books, and this one is written very much in that same vein--old fashioned, loads of detail about climbing gear in the nineteen-teens and twenties, and so forth. This won't be to everyone's liking, but it worked for me. I really enjoyed this book. Only wish there'd been more yetis in it...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inhumanity; Author: Matt Fraction; Genres: graphic, comics; Review: This is one of those rare crossover events that's actually pretty good. There's hardly a bad story in this volume (I can think of one) and the artwork and writing are consistently done at a high level. Basically, the stories all follow in the wake of Thanos' attempt at hunting down and killing his Inhuman son, Thane, and the subsequent release of terrigen gas into the general human population, which results in the creation of hundreds (if not thousands) of new Inhumans (since one of their tribes left in prehistoric times and melded with humanity). So we've got stories of new Inhumans coming to grips with their power, nefarious types hoping to gain control of new Inhumans, bad guys trying to get ahold of Inhuman technology, what have you. And for once, it's not that bad. I have to say I was kind of surprised, since Marvel doesn't exactly have an unblemished track record with these kinds of things lately.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iron Man 2.0, Volume 1: Palmer Addley Is Dead; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: paranormal, graphic, comics, fantasy; Review: This starts off well, as an espionage tale and an exploration of who exactly was the "real" Palmer Addley of the title. But around issue 5, it suddenly and unexpectedly jumps into a bunch of martial arts action revolving around a couple of hammers and the opening of a hell-gate into the mystical eight city, or as we know it, hell. I guess this was a tie in to the Fear Itself storyline or something, but there isn't even a basic transition from the one storyline to the other, which isn't remotely as interesting (even though it's got the better artwork--is there anything worse than inspired artwork in service of an uninspired story?). So the whole volume is a bit of a mish-mash. I guess I'll take a look at volume 2, but this first collection doesn't exactly have me champing at the bit or anything.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 6: Goblin Nation; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a really good, though not great or classic, finish to the story that Dan Slott was telling, though it does feel a bit rushed and anti-climactic toward the end. Still, the moment when Peter regained control, I pumped my fist and yelled "Yes!" (leading my wife to wonder what the heck was going on). I must admit I didn't care for the whole mind-switch story at first, but this quickly became a must-read title with some of the best storytelling in any comic in the past two years. Octavius should have gotten a bit more of a send-off (and in the cyclical world of comics, maybe he will one day), and Peter's return might have been a bit more triumphant. But this was a decent way to wrap things up in preparation for the new Spider-Man title that will be an outgrowth of all of this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers A.I. Vol. 2: 12,000 A.D.; Author: Sam Humphries; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Great combination of story and art (although Araujo's cute little button noses on every character were starting to get a bit much). This is one series that ended too soon (or maybe it ended right when it should have, having told the story it set out to tell?). Really enjoyed this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snowpiercer, Vol. 2: The Explorers; Author: Benjamin Legrand; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty bad. Some interesting ideas, but woefully underdeveloped. The art was pretty slapdash. Don't know why someone felt the first volume required a sequel. Honestly, the movie is SO MUCH better than either of these graphic novels.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Avengers Assemble: The Forgeries of Jealousy; Author: Kelly Sue DeConnick; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, graphic, fiction; Review: Turns out I'd already read this as part of the Inhumanity volume, but it was still pretty good a second time around. Great combination of story, witty banter, and first-rate art.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Massive, Vol. 2: Subcontinental; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Still pretty good, though I'm getting as tired as the crew of the fruitless search for The Massive. Hopefully that gets resolved soon. Also, the artwork was quite variable here, from the outstanding to the cartoonishly awful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Venom: The Savage Six; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: This was really good stuff. A good hint at where Remender was going next, this was one of the first comics where his run built and built to a stellar climax. I really enjoyed this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lucifer, Book Four (Lucifer, #4); Author: Mike Carey; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Everything about this book seems to suggest some great, massive conclusion--a battle between the Lilim and Heaven's armies or something of that order. I'm knocking off one star for the pitiable end that this great story actually gives us. Unless--could there be a Book Five in the offing?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wolf in Winter (Charlie Parker, #12); Author: John Connolly; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I love this series. Just the right combination of new mystery and developing mythology. I was reading a couple of other books, but when this became available through Netgalley, I immediately set both of them aside and devoured this book. Prosperous, Maine, is an unusual little town, founded by the descendants of a strange religious cult from England, the Family of Love, about which very little is known or has ever been proven. The original townspeople even went so far as to disassemble an old chapel, piece by piece, and bring it with them to the new world. But word is, the original religion has long since died out and remains little more than an interesting footnote in some of the Maine history books. Yet, for some reason, Prosperous has never lost a single citizen turned soldier in any battle in the past two hundred years. And the townspeople, befitting the name of their town, have managed to ride out the recent financial crisis in much more comfortable fashion than many of their neighboring towns. Connolly's detective, Charlie Parker, becomes involved when he learns of the apparent suicide of a homeless man he'd known in passing and used sometimes as a source of information in his investigations. It appeared that, before the man died, he'd been searching for his daughter, also homeless and a recovering addict, managing to trace her as far as the strange town of Prosperous, where all signs of her existence have vanished. This is one of the stronger books in this series, which has yet to disappoint. And the glimpses we get of Connolly's larger, dark mythology in this book suggest something even worse, something much larger, is yet to come. Something in which Parker seems to have an important role to play. Very highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wake; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very disappointing series that starts off strong and gets worse and worse as it goes on. The first part is primarily a survival horror story involving a group of people stranded on a secret underwater drilling station/base, while mer-men (mer-creatures?) attack. It was fairly effective and had me wondering what was going to happen next. But then (big surprise), the story leaps ahead about two hundred years into a dystopian future, after the mer-creatures have somehow managed to melt the polar ice caps and raise sea levels considerably, flooding coastal cities and changing the world's map entirely. We're introduced to the character Leeward, who kills these creatures and takes their heads, because of the hallucinogenic enzymes contained therein. She's assisted by her dolphin buddy, Dash, and lives in the wreckage of a seaplane, crashed into a tree high above a cliff overlooking the water. All pretty cool, but then the story starts going downhill as she gets her hands on a radio, overhears a broadcast she wasn't meant to hear, and is suddenly thrown into one of the strangest, most disconnected, and incomprehensible plots I've come across in some time. And it only gets worse as the story wears on. The artwork by Sean Murphy is top-notch throughout and really the series' only saving grace. The story ultimately sputters to a "what-the-hell-just-happened?" conclusion that is very disappointing, given what came before.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy/All-New X-Men: The Trial of Jean Grey; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Another dumb Bendis event/crossover. Basically, the idea is to put the young Jean Grey, recently arrived from the past, on trial for the actions of her future self, as the Dark Phoenix. Numerous characters point out the flaw in this logic, but Gladiator of the Shi'ar Empire will not be swayed. Ultimately, this all goes pretty much nowhere. Only the art, by Stuart Immonen, is of note...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crossed: Wish You Were Here, Volume 4; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Really enjoyed this series, if "enjoy" can actually be said about something so downright depressing. Spurrier's protagonist, Shaky, is one of the least likeable main characters I've ever come across, yet I kept reading, wanting to know what was going to happen, both in the present and in the past (numerous flashbacks via his ongoing diary entries). I think the end was kind of a foregone conclusion, but how we finally got there was riveting. Spurrier really never let up with the atmosphere of constant dread under which these characters were living their lives in this post-apocalyptic world (the "crossed" are closer to the "rage zombies" of 28 Days Later than to actual zombies, yet the world that has resulted is pretty similar to those seen in other zombie films, books, comics).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairest, Volume 4: Of Men and Mice; Author: Marc Andreyko; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I've always enjoyed the stories where Cinderella goes off and serves as a spy/secret agent on behalf of Fabletown, and that's what she does again in this story arc. Unfortunately, this one doesn't have even half the magic as the other stories where Cindy is the protagonist (she doesn't even get her own self-title miniseries this time around). The basic plot is interesting: one of the mice who was turned into a coachman for Cinderella's big night at the ball, escaped and stayed a man/mouse and has, over the years, loved his way through a large swath of the population, leaving behind a veritable army of man/mouse hybrids in his wake. Someone has set these creatures to attacking Cinderella, Snow White, and others. Suspicion falls on Prince Brandish, but could it be someone else's hand is at work here? This isn't a particularly inspired story, past the basic foundations of it, and the artwork isn't really up to regular Fables standards, either. It's not terrible, but coming on the heels of much more resonant stories, it's a bit of a let-down.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mercenary Sea, Vol. 1: Top Hat, White Lies, and Tales; Author: Kel Symons; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This was a really enjoyable read. Story follows a ragtag crew of mercenaries onboard a stolen Japanese submarine, as they make their way around the South Seas, looking for treasure and taking on a variety of jobs to keep themselves in diesel fuel and supplies. The artwork is very interesting--lots of shadows and layered compositions. The characters look like they stepped out of Jonny Quest or something. In fact, much of the time, reading this book is like looking at animation stills. This is one of the few collections I've read that probably looks better on an iPad than it did in its original form. The colors are bright and really pop. I also enjoyed the story a lot, too. Set in 1938, before World War II really got going, in an environment where Japan and China are skirmishing, this is just the right mix of Indiana Jones-type adventure and war story. The primary arc follows the crew as they agree to pick-up a spy with vital intelligence about the Japanese war machine, from an area near the Hong Kong shore. There are also hints at a larger, ongoing treasure hunt, for a group of French treasure ships that went off course, before supposedly finding a "lost" island and never being heard from again. I'd actually like to know more about this aspect of the story and hopefully this will developed in future volumes. Highly recommended, this is a nice change from superheroes and space battles.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Captain America, Volume 4: The Iron Nail; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really wanted to like this more than I did. The first issue, wherein the Red Skull tries to tempt Jet Black, was really good and had me looking forward to what comes next. Unfortunately, the rest of this volume was quite the mess, from the artwork, to the characters, to the story. Remender re-activates such minor characters as Dr. Mindbubble, the Iron Nail, and the Shaolin Science Squad to no real effect, in service of a story about America and S.H.I.E.L.D. and their imperialistic tendencies. The artwork by Pascal Alixe for issue #16 is just right; unfortunately, the artwork in the rest of this volume, by Nic Klein, is pretty awful. Remender has become one of my favorite writers for his downbeat, frequently depressing stories, but he also has the "Franken-Castle" side to him, which gets utilized to sometimes ill-effect (as in this collection--I actually really enjoyed the Dimension Z stuff from earlier volumes). This collection is kind of a bummer, all in all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Undertow, Volume 1: Boatman's Call; Author: Steve Orlando; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting story that ultimately has too many competing plots. Also, some of the worst art I've ever seen in a comic released by a major publisher. The story, about a rogue group of Atlanteans searching for "the Amphibian," a mutant who can breathe both on land and in water and just may be the salvation of their race, is promising. But it all gets side-tracked by a bunch of political scheming, characters who aren't distinguished enough from each other to keep clear who is who, and some seriously muddy artwork. This collection was a real struggle to get through.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Brood; Author: Chase Novak; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Liked this one a whole lot more than the first novel, Breed. It's been a couple of years since Alice and Adam, twins whose parents consulted a rather secretive Slovenian fertility specialist whose treatments managed to give them children after every other avenue failed, lost said parents. The treatment had led them to increasingly savage and feral behavior, keeping dogs and cats caged in the basement for food, even attacking a Cuban immigrant. Alice and Adam are just part of a new generation of kids whose parents utilized similar means to birth their children and these kids range from the seemingly normal to the downright wild and untamed, many of them living homeless or in a group in an apartment that one of the stronger of them, Rodolfo, has managed to arrange. Once the kids hit puberty, the pull toward the savage, the animalistic in their natures, is stronger than ever and so Alice and Adam have been starving themselves, trying to stave off the eventual changes. Now their aunt Cynthia has come forth to adopt them and bring them back to the mansion that was the scene of so much horror previously. Will they manage to hold onto their better natures or give in to their instincts? The focus on the kids here really helps. Some of them are truly monstrous, yes, but none of them asked for this and they're doing the best they can. Rodolfo has even latched onto the questionable practice of selling the blood of some of the more "normal" kids, calling it "Zoom," and developing quite the side business among older husbands trying to keep their younger, trophy wives happy. And then there's the pharmaceutical company that is involved in capturing some of the feral kids and experimenting on them in the hopes of discovering their secrets. All in all, this is a real page-turner and much more fully-developed than Breed was, although I'm not sure I totally buy the action the kids' aunt finally takes at book's end. Perhaps Novak is setting the scene for another book? I know I'd be interested in reading more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crossed, Vol. 9; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: First story, which takes up the bulk of the volume, is pretty terrible. The second one isn't bad at all. Average of the two: three stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Severed Streets (Shadow Police, #2); Author: Paul Cornell; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Good second book in this series, about four members of the London police department who have "the Sight," the ability to see under the facade of reality and glimpse some of the magical underpinnings, etc. Cornell does a really good job of showing them learning as they go, not always sure what to make of some of the weird (and often scary) things happening to them and around them. This time out, they're trying to trace the source of an ethereal "Jack the ripper" creature who appears, moves through walls (or closed car doors), kills its prey, and then vanishes. Only this time, its prey seems to consist primarily of wealthy, upper class, white men. The members of the team are all well-drawn and one of them makes a rather foolish (and ultimately, sad) sacrifice to try to get her hands on a magical device that might assist her in resurrecting her father. Really enjoyed this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year: Dark City; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Though the story bore more than a few similarities to the movie The Dark Knight Rises, this is one of the best and strongest Batman stories I've read in years. Here, instead of Bane and Talia Al'Ghul taking over Gotham City, it's the Riddler, with the help of a number of scientists (including the grisly Dr. Death). It's a bit hard to believe that someone like the Riddler could take control of Gotham and somehow keep control, but when we see some of the missile-loaded robots and other devices (including dirigibles filled with deadly toxins), that becomes a bit easier to believe. And some of the vistas of Gotham covered in overgrown weeds and jungle are amazing to behold. This is some of the best artwork in a Batman title in years, too. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fuse, Vol. 1: The Russia Shift; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Not bad for a first outing, though there's a lot more that could be done with the futuristic setting (a giant orbital space station) and characters. We follow a brand new police detective, Dietrich, as he arrives from Earth and is immediately thrust into a mystery involving a pair of dead "cablers" (the space station's version of the homeless, people who live in the crawl spaces and vents, where the "cables" are). Dietrich and his partner Klem Ristovych, one of the original settlers on the station, follow the mystery right to the front door of the mayor and his wife. This is a pretty run-of-the-mill mystery, but it introduces us to the characters and the places. The artwork by Justin Greenwood is reminiscent of his work on Wasteland, where it wasn't always possible to tell characters apart from each other or even to know what exactly was happening in each panel. It helps that this art is colored rather than in black and white, but it still suffers from some slapdash efforts. Being touted as Homicide crossed with Battlestar Galactica, or CSI in space, this series has a lot to live up to and hopefully future volumes will build on this very workmanlike start.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, Volume 2: The Crime of the Century; Author: Nick Spencer; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Not nearly as good as the first volume, plus there are a couple of obvious "fill-in" issues (they're even titled that way, sheesh). The playful humor is largely gone from the first collection. Disappointing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: EGOs, Vol. 1: Quintessence; Author: Stuart Moore; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Interesting but not entirely successful science fiction/superhero comic. The "E.G.O.s" of the title are "Earth Galactic Operatives," a superpowered team that takes on such threats as Masse, the living galaxy. There are some interesting ideas at work here, but the artwork, which is very sketchy and overly indebted to anime (you can almost see the artist slightly improving, panel by panel), does it no favors. Pass.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: V-Wars Volume 1: Crimson Queen; Author: Jonathan Maberry; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was interesting--sort of a more realistic take on the situation that formed the basis for True Blood: vampires exist, they're the result of a virus, and they want their basic human rights. Except for some of the more militant ones, who believe vampires should rule. Also, there's a significant faction among the human population that believes all vampires should be exterminated. Unfortunately, this all leads to a very talky, political comic, where not much really happens, other than lots of arguments back and forth. The author uses this to comment on modern society and our ongoing war on terror and so forth. The artwork is only serviceable, nothing spectacular. I wish there'd been a bit more action (and Jonathan Maberry is very capable of providing that--see his Joe Ledger series or the YA Benny Imura zombie novels). An interesting failure.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Clocks; Author: David Mitchell; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Wow! What a book. This is the first Mitchell book I've read and it's easily the best book I've read all year, maybe the past couple of years. He has a real gift for getting into his characters' minds and presenting everything in such a straightforward and immediately gripping way. This was a real page turner of a novel, even though it's more literary than I usually read. The story follows a girl named Holly Sykes as she grows up, with sections of the novel coming back to her life every 20 years or so, showing the people she interacts with, as well as the world around and how it keeps changing. The last couple of sections are set in the future and Mitchell draws one of the most convincing portraits of a society in decline, affected by global warming, food shortages, the failure of the Internet, etc., that I've ever read, all in a few short pages. Throughout, there is an ongoing battle between the Horologists and the Anchorites, two opposing forces that have learned how to attain a semblance of immortality, and Holly plays an important role in this battle. There's a fantasy element to the novel that never intrudes enough to become unwelcome, but plays enough of a role to really turn this into something magical. I loved the book and would highly recommend it, and seeing as I really enjoyed the film version of Cloud Atlas, I'm thinking that will have to be my next Mitchell novel. Outstanding--I voted this as the best novel of the year in Goodreads.com's annual poll.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Southern Bastards, Vol. 1: Here Was a Man; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: I wasn't too impressed. This is basically the same story outline as Walking Tall. In four issues, we never really learn anything about our "hero," Earl Tubbs, and what prompts him to come back to his hometown (why now? why not years and years ago?) or to get involved with local criminal matters overseen by the high school football coach (really?). The artwork is uniformly ugly and the colors match. There's a lot of casual violence and it all seems to be heading in a very predictable direction--the good townspeople need to be woken up so they can stand up to the corruption in their midst, etc., etc. I'm glad I got a chance to read this early via NetGalley, but I'm not sure I'll have to read much more of this. There's just nothing very compelling here, at all.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Girl with All the Gifts; Author: M.R. Carey; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really good zombie book that is horrifying, sad, and visionary all at the same time. This one takes place some years after the Breakdown, caused when a fungal disease descended on the world, turning most people into "hungries," mindless, fast-moving, infected vectors intent on spreading the fungus through biting and eating others. But some of the surviving scientists have since discovered a secondary variety of "hungry": children who seem to maintain some higher level thinking skills. The novel opens on a classroom within a forward operating station, wherein a succession of teachers are taking their "students" through a variety of fairly simple lessons. These are some of the high-functioning zombies and they are being studied for a possible cure for this disease. One of them, Melanie, operates at almost a genius level of intellect and she's of particular interest to Dr. Caroline Caldwell, a scientist so focused on coming up with a cure that she's lost sight of Melanie as anything but a "thing" to assist her research. On the other hand, there's Miss Justineau, Melanie's favorite teacher, who is starting to realize there's more to Melanie and her classmates than just a group of test subjects. This is a fast-moving, thought-provoking novel with more than a little I Am Legend thrown in for good measure. One of the best horror novels I've read in awhile.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bird Box; Author: Josh Malerman; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This book was a real chore to finish. The set-up was intriguing--something is happening around the world that causes people to suddenly turn suicidal or homicidal or both and this seems to be spreading. It also seems to be caused by something that people see, a "creature," or something. Society falls apart as a result and people huddle together in houses that have the windows covered with blankets or are otherwise blacked-out. That should be the basis for a pretty good book, and there are moments where this one almost delivers (trying to row a boat 20 miles while blindfolded, for example, or attempting to drive a car with the windows painted over). But on the whole, it is one of the most repetitive, boring, and tedious horror novels it's been my misfortune to read lately. Malerman's characters are largely interchangeable and the viewpoint character is impossible to care about. And the horror is virtually nonexistent. Not sure why this was nominated for so many awards.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nailbiter, Vol. 1: There Will Be Blood; Author: Joshua Williamson; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Interesting though flawed story. Follows a disgraced intelligence agent as he looks into the disappearance of an FBI agent friend in an Oregon town that has given the world 16 serial killers, the "Buckaroo Butchers," of which the Nailbiter of the title is the most famous. Somehow, even though this guy was literally caught red-handed (his modus operandi was to chew on the fingernails and fingertips of his victims after killing them, so he's literally caught with blood dripping from his mouth and dead bodies laying all around him), he still gets away with his crimes? How did that happen? There's never any explanation, which is a real weakness, since it cuts down the believability factor to almost nothing. Now, this is necessary, since the Nailbiter will eventually become an unwilling partner in the investigation into the goings-on in this strange town, but some explanation needs to be forthcoming on this particular aspect of the story (and maybe it's still to come, but if it hasn't been presented in this first volume, it's already too late, I'd say). The story isn't too terrible besides this, with a nice interplay between the female sheriff and the NSA agent who isn't entirely forthcoming about what he's doing there. At times, this plays a bit like a Scooby Doo story taken to the extreme (and I don't mean that as a criticism), with gory, gruesome murder added to the mix. It's hard to know where this is going or if the overall mystery will be satisfyingly addressed/solved, but I'm not sure I really care enough to read on into the next volume.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Volume 1: War of the Monsters; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I kind of liked it, just for the sake of all the unexplained weirdness thrown at us in the book. The microscopic SHADEnet headquarters, Father Time in the body of a little girl with a mask, the various creatures, etc. I agree that it would be nice to know a little something more about Frankenstein and his various team members (like why did the fish woman do that to herself?), but not knowing didn't hurt the surface level enjoyment of the giant battle scenes. But there should probably be more to a lasting series than just this anyway.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Royals: Masters of War; Author: Rob Williams; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a very intriguing series. It posits that, basically, "royals" are superhuman beings, so when World War II is ramping up in the Battle for Britain and things seems to be going wrong for the British, young crown prince Henry finally steps up to "do the right thing" and get involved in the fight, which ultimately leads to any number of unforeseen complications. Every country in the war has its own royals, yet they've made a pact to keep out of the battle and let the mortals sort things out. But Henry's action has made this impossible. This is a very imaginative story, with lots of great battle scenes, complete with flying superhumans directing destructor beams from their eyes, etc. We find out what happened to the czar of Russia and look in on the Japanese leaders as well. Henry's younger sister doesn't fare so well and he must come to grips with his own legacy as the younger brother to king-in-waiting Arthur, who only wants to drink as much liquor and bed as many women as possible. I enjoyed this quite a bit and would actually like to have seen more--this series could have been developed a bit further (there are a few moments that aren't fully, clearly explained or embellished--things move pretty quickly). And the artwork is outstanding as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Field; Author: Ed Brisson; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, mystery; Review: What a waste. Very weird, disjointed story that apparently began as a bit of a joke (and probably should have stopped there--I feel bad for the people who may have actually purchased individual issues of this). Strange things happen, it appears to be Groundhog Day-related, the day reboots, the end. Some really ugly artwork in service of a nonsensical story. I cannot in good faith recommend this to anyone.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: All-New X-Men, Volume 5: One Down; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Still enjoying this though I have to wonder what it's all leading up to. Also, I'm starting to think there ought to be a moratorium on any time travel stories in the X-books for a while. But Bendis' story continues to be interesting and it's nice to have some quiet, downtime, between-battle scenes between the various mutants.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kinski; Author: Gabriel Hardman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Pretty good little story. I don't think I'm quite as ga-ga about this as some of the critics I've read recently, but I enjoyed it. This graphic novel follows a traveling salesman's efforts to liberate and then keep a cute puppy that he finds while on a trip to California. Told in a spare, black and white that looks like nothing so much as the storyboards for a movie, this could very easily be turned into a film. It's a bit hard to believe this guy would go to some of the lengths he does to hold onto this dog, but, ultimately, I think the story works. It's certainly not your usual crime noir.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Revival; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Still waiting for King's return to "truly epic horror." This wasn't it...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: C.O.W.L. Volume 1: Principles of Power; Author: Kyle Higgins; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: C.O.W.L. is the "Chicago Organized Workers League," a union of superheroes and like-minded non-supes, banded together to protect the city of Chicago. It's the 1960s and most of the big threats to the city have been taken care of, so why should the city keep supporting this group? In the latest round of bargaining, the city holding fast to some concessions, which may mean the end for the union. These superheroes aren't always the nicest of people, but they do seem to have the safety of Chicago and its citizens at heart. I really enjoyed this one. Reminiscent of Watchmen and other historically-based comics. The artwork, which seems to be a combination of pen and watercolor, is very good and lends this an almost photo-realistic quality at times. This is a title I'll keep reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act; Author: Kieron Gillen; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a very interesting idea for a comic, i.e. the reincarnation of 12 gods every 90 years. They inhabit an avatar for a period of 2 years, during which they're treated like royalty or rock stars, and then the host body dies (epitome of "live fast, die young?"). Too bad that this first volume is largely devoted to setting the stage and introducing the various gods in human form (though I'm not sure now that we actually met all 12?). Lucifer is perhaps the most interesting of the lot, willing to perform a miracle or two on camera, when the entire group has been advised not to do such things by their leader/advisor Ananke. This gets her into some hot water when she kills a couple of would be assassins and finds herself in court, where the presiding judge also dies in similar fashion (head exploding, following a snap of the fingers). Did Luci actually do it, or is she being framed? That's the mystery that drives this first collection, and since it isn't answered by the end of issue #5, it wasn't entirely a success, to my mind. Still the idea is a great one, the artwork is outstanding, and I am really interested in seeing where this goes next, so as far as hooking the reader, consider me hooked.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shutter, Vol. 1: Wanderlost; Author: Joe Keatinge; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this well enough, though I'm not sure it's really one of the "best of the year." Kate Kristopher is a former child adventurer, having gone on any number of amazing trips with her scientist/explorer father (even to the moon once!). But she's been retired from that life for ten years when she's suddenly thrust back into it again, also becoming aware for the first time that she wasn't her father's only child and that her "siblings" may pose a danger. Interesting world building, sort of like that from Saga, with all sorts of weird creatures, talking animals, etc., only this is confined to one place (an alternate Earth?). Kate's talking cat clock robot is a highlight, as is the lion assassin Shaw (former leader of a street gang). At one point, Kate battles a talking fox riding a triceratops! The artwork is all very well done throughout. It's all quite weird, but I'm not really sure where this is all going or I might rate it a little higher. I'm also not sure the series has really hooked me enough to keep reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skink--No Surrender (Skink #7); Author: Carl Hiaasen; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, fiction; Review: Probably the worst Hiassen book I've read. In writing for a younger audience here, he seems to have completely lost the humor and original voice that make his adult books so much fun. This was a real slog of a book to get through. The only saving grace are some of the sections involving the former governor (Skink) turned eco-warrior, who is a memorable character from some of his best books (and who really doesn't belong in this one).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stray Bullets, Vol. 1: Innocence of Nihilism; Author: David Lapham; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: This was interesting...an interconnected series of stories, most of them revolving around one young girl, who witnesses a murder one night, and how her life kind of goes to hell after that. I'm not sure everything here really works, though, and this volume doesn't wrap up neatly. The story about Amy Racecar, world's greatest thief, seems wildly out of place and pretty nonsensical to boot. Lapham's artwork is rather slapdash and kind of hard to follow at times. I'd read another volume if it came my way, though I don't know I'd seek it out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miracleman, Book Two: The Red King Syndrome; Author: Alan Moore; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not as good as the initial volume, with its epic fight between Miracleman and the evil Kid Miracleman, this still has its moments, including the death of Dr. Gargunza and the birth of Miracleman's daughter, Winter (in some of the most graphic illustrations I've ever seen). The volume still seems largely like a cash grab, since about half of it is given over to a gallery of alternate cover art, rough pencil and ink illustrations, and so forth (all with a cover price of $34.99? ouch).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Squidder; Author: Ben Templesmith; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting, though not terribly original comic. In a weird, postapocalyptic future, after the human race has been largely wiped out and the remnants subjugated to flying squid monsters in the service of the "Dark Father," the last of the Squidders, human soldiers who've been bio-engineered to fight back, is tasked with one final mission. Just typing that sentence has me a bit bored already. Jack, the Squidder, is hired to find a former squid mother, a human woman who has been altered to interface with the squids, and return her to her master, the crime boss of a small human settlement. He takes the job and finds the woman, but then decides not to turn her over. Apparently, he's got some sort of immunity to the squids, due to being bathed in some sort of light during a battle (shades of Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow?) and this makes him the champion of humanity or some such. Templesmith is a good artist and the squids and the mangled remnants of humanity are well-rendered in all their horribleness. But this story is about as hackneyed as they come, throwing together bits of this movie and that post-apocalyptic scenario. You can see nods to Mad Max, the Matrix, etc., etc., and unfortunately, it doesn't all gel together as its own entity. Not a complete waste, but not particularly memorable, either.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Vampire, Vol. 7; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good to have this series back again. Things pick up again in 1965. Pearl has returned to her Kansas farm and is posing as her daughter, Henrietta, while she establishes a safehouse for vampires on the run, working to place them with others of their kind. Skinner Sweet is hijacking trucks on the US/Mexico border. But there's something big and dangerous out there--The Grey Trader, one of the original vampires, if not THE original, and it's coming for Pearl and everyone she cares about. This was an effective start to a new storyline, although issue #5, which has large parts presented as diary entries from a worn manuscript, was almost impossible to read on my iPad--that's going to have to be cleaned and sharpened up before it goes to print. Glad to be back onboard and ready to see where this train goes next...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wildfire: Volume 1; Author: Matt Hawkins; Genres: graphic, comics, romance, fiction; Review: Might be more like 2 and a half stars (if I could assign half stars). This graphic novel reads more like a science debate at times and could really stand to be a bit less didactic in its approach. Writer Hawkins says in an afterword that he's developing this story as a potential screenplay and I could see elements of The Andromeda Strain and even the 1970s Earthquake (in SenSurround!) in the story, but it never really grabbed me the way a good comic should. The story follows what happens when a genetically-modified strain of dandelion is accidentally unleashed on Los Angeles and the chaos and disruption that follows. This particular plant has been modified to be fast-growing, a potential solution to the world's hunger problems (if the enzyme or whatever were applied to food plants). But it hasn't been tested and it gets out into the environment, where it proceeds to mutate further and pretty soon, all the plants, even trees and massive underground root systems, are going haywire, leading to the city burning down, the freeways collapsing, etc. And the government solution to all of this? Firebomb everything into oblivion if a solution isn't found by a certain deadline (so there's that old "ticking clock" in the background). Characters are rather dull, little more than mouthpieces for different sides in the debate. The artwork is serviceable, but little more than that. This could use some more work to be really memorable.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1: The Parker Luck; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was kind of disappointing. The return of Peter Parker should be much more triumphant than this. Everyone seems all to eager to accept Peter's story about being mind-switched with Otto Octavius. Peter's got his PhD, he's the CEO of Parker Industries--really, he's got it made. There isn't really any significant hurdle or conflict that he's got to deal with here. And throwing him right back into the action, fighting the team-up of Electro and Black Cat, might have been a mistake. I'd like to see Spider-Man slowly getting his bearings and making amends to those he hurt, but there isn't time for that. Still, the introduction of Silk, aka Cindy Moon, who was bitten by the same spider that granted Peter his powers, is pretty exciting. The whole thing just feels so rushed, however. Can't we take a step back and catch our breath first?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret: Never Get Caught; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Not as satisfying as most of Hickman's other projects. This is a fairly pedestrian piece of spies and Cold War plots bearing fruit in the present day. Unlike others who were put off by the art and coloring, I found this aspect of the series unique. Unfortunately, it was all in service of a rather dull story. Is this finished or will there be another volume? It doesn't really seem to have come to a conclusion...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zero, Vol. 2: At the Heart of It All; Author: Ales Kot; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: I didn't like this nearly as much as the first volume. It's really hard to tell exactly what's going on, between the art and the story that jumps around in time from one issue to the next. A lot of the art this time consists of lots of single panels without a lot of dialogue or description and it really isn't clear just what's happening much of the time. I like the idea of working with a different artist each issue, but this approach worked much better the first time around. This volume is almost impossible to comprehend without some sort of "cast of characters" and even then, would be hard to pin down. Not sure I care to follow this to the next collected edition.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Big Finish (Thorn, #14); Author: James W. Hall; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This was good, but not one of the best in this series. It all seemed a bit rushed. The characters are the usual mix of imaginative bad guys, and the setting, a giant hog farm whose owning family basically runs the small town nearby, was memorable. But I can't help but feel a bit like I've seen it before. This is billed as the last Thorn novel, and that's probably a good thing, since it feels like Thorn has run out of gas.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fire Sermon (The Fire Sermon, #1); Author: Francesca Haig; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I was disappointed by this. The post-apocalyptic setting is really not very well-realized or described. There's really nothing here to compare to the likes of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Also, the basic set-up, that all children are born as twins, an "Alpha" (healthy) and an "Omega" (somehow handicapped), seemed really contrived. The twins are bound to each other so that what happens to one, happens to the other. If one dies, so does the other. This makes it really hard to fathom a society in which the Alphas (the ruling class) ostracize and fear/hate the Omegas (going so far as to brand them with an omega symbol on the forehead), forcing them to live in the worst areas, struggling to support themselves with subsistence farming, etc., while the Alphas beat them up, tax them inordinately, etc. If the society is really such that what happens to one, happens to the other, this just doesn't make any sense (sort of like the basic societal failure at the center of the Divergent series--it doesn't make any sense there that the divergents don't rule the world as they're obviously superior to everyone else), since the lifestyle Haig depicts would lead to shorter life spans, etc., for the Omegas.Cass, the main character in this book, is an Omega, but her disability is largely hidden: she's a "seer," gifted with extrasensory perception. Her brother is a big man in Alpha circles and since it would be easy for his political enemies to kill him off, just by killing his sister, he very early on has her taken into custody and held in a cell for many years. Now this does make some sense (as do the suspended animation tubes Cass finds during her eventual escape, managing to free Kip, her eventual love interest, from one of them). But, the story just isn't that compelling, as Cass and Kip attempt to stay one foot ahead of the forces that are searching for them, while also attempting to find the fabled "Island," where Omegas are free to live their lives the way they choose. It's very repetitive and the stakes never seem to be that high. Ultimately, it's a rather dull book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1: Revival; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I love Miles Morales as a character, but I really wish we could just follow his story. In this volume, it appears that the previous Ultimate Spider-Man, Peter Parker, is alive and well and back from the grave. Along with his nemesis, Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. Really? Do we have to keep re-hashing this stuff over and over? I'd much rather read about Miles' own, original adventures. And there's enough of that in here to warrant a four-star rating. But I want more. I sure hope this stupid Secret War event stuff that's coming down the pike doesn't meant the end of Miles Morales, because that would be a real shame.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outcast, Vol. 1: A Darkness Surrounds Him; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked this first volume in a new horror series by Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead). It's focused on a young man, Kyle Barnes, who has lived through several instances of demonic possession in his life--his mother was possessed when he was a child, his wife was possessed and injured their daughter (for which Kyle has taken the blame), and so forth. When a local preacher seeks Kyle out and asks for his assistance in exorcising a young boy, Kyle wants nothing to do with it at first. But he finds himself taking part and, strangely enough, his blood and his touch seem to be painful to the demon in human form. Kyle and the minister are successful, but all of a sudden, it seems like there are possessed individuals everywhere and Kyle seems to have a larger part to play in a battle between the forces of good and evil. Nice artwork by Paul Azaceta, though it is sometimes hard to make out just what's happening in some of the smaller panels. Also, we don't really learn that much about Kyle or the other characters in this first volume, just enough to whet our appetites for more. I know I'm interested in finding out what happens next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers Undercover, Volume 1: Descent; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I, too, enjoyed Avengers Arena, which prompted me to read a bunch of Runaways and Young Avengers books, so why wouldn't I want to read what happens next to these characters? This first volume isn't as immediately gripping as Arena was, but it's not bad and the artwork is a step up from some of the final issues of that title. I'll keep reading to see where this is going.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Powers: Bureau, Vol. 2: Icons; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: It was okay. I hate that Bendis hardly seems to have any time for this title anymore, the thing that broke him in the first place. The individual issue release schedule is so irregular that trying to collect this in issues just didn't make sense anymore. The story is good, but I swear that Oeming's art seems to be devolving--there are pages here that look like the work of a kindergartner, and not in a good way. I really like Powers, the idea of it, and this used to be something special on the comic racks. Not anymore.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All-New X-Factor, Vol. 1: Not Brand X; Author: Peter David; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not quite as good as David's previous iteration of X-Factor, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. I suppose it's only a matter of time before this corporation proves to have a sinister side or dark motives, but for now, it's an interesting idea to have X-Factor be a team of corporate-sponsored heroes. The artwork throughout is very sparse and clean. Nice graphic design in the covers, etc., showcasing the corporate elements. I miss Madrox, but maybe Polaris will prove to be an inspired choice as leader of the group? Never cared much for Gambit, but as the viewpoint character, he's starting to grow on me. Not sure it was a wise choice to have 2 such similar characters as Danger and Warlock on the same team. Again, perhaps time will tell. I enjoyed this first volume enough that I want to keep reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wasteland Book 10: Last Exit for the Lost; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Only for the really diehard fan of this series. This is little more than a placeholder on the way to the series' conclusion. Over half of this volume is dedicated to short stories and vignettes from the Wasteland world. There are only three short, comics stories in the volume, and none is really essential.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Trees, Vol. 1: In Shadow (Trees, #1); Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting, though rather slow start to what promises to be an intriguing series. Ellis has come up with a very different kind of alien invasion here--some years ago, these giant pipes ("trees") suddenly showed up in various locations around the globe, evidence of an alien civilization that apparently wasn't interested in communicating with us or even recognizing us as intelligent life. Every now and then, the pipes spew out toxic waste, and because some of the pipes are very near (or right smack in the middle of) population centers, the effects can be catastrophic. But humans and the Earth have largely adapted and gone on with their lives (kind of like the South Afrikaners in the film District 9 who just learned to live with a giant spaceship hovering over the city and alien refugees). Ellis tells several different stories, spending a few pages on each before moving to the next. We see characters in Italy, in Somalia, a research station in Norway, and in a special zone set up around a tree in China, where unique and different people are encouraged to live and experiment with their lives (and, hey, if they should be inundated with toxic waste, so be it). The artwork throughout is well-done and presents the characters and their environs. The story focuses on characters just living their lives (although one of the Norwegian researchers appears to have discovered something a bit troubling regarding the "trees" and a new form of plant life that has recently appeared in the area). Not much really happens in this volume, other than setting the stage perhaps for future events, but Ellis has become one of the strongest voices in all of comics and even when we're just listening to characters talking with each other, the story is still riveting. Very interested to see where this goes next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sovereign, Volume 1; Author: Chris Roberson; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy; Review: A real mess of a book, that tries to mix sword and sorcery with Game of Thrones political intrigue and never really accomplishes either. And the artwork is so bad it almost has to be seen to be believed (I've come across a number of collections recently with some amazingly atrocious artwork--guess the major publishers are really relaxing their standards or something?).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Deadly, Vol. 1: The Shrike; Author: Kelly Sue DeConnick; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: The only reason to read this is for the art, which really is "pretty." The story, though, doesn't make much sense and as the second recent book to follow the adventures of Death personified (see also Jonathan Hickman's much better East of West), this just seems to be pretentious and pointless. I'm not familiar with DeConnick's other work, but if it runs along these lines, I'm not sure why she's so praised in the comics world--are there so few women writers that we have to fall over ourselves to cheer them on? Bleah--this is the kind of book I kept reading, thinking "it's got to make sense sometime." When you get four or five issues in and it's still as confusing as all get out, it's time to quit...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: All-New X-Factor, Vol. 2: Change of Decay; Author: Peter David; Genres: graphic, comics, young-adult, fiction; Review: It only took about 6 issues for David to get this title humming along. Excellent art and the usual, very human stories courtesy of Peter David. Eagerly looking forward to the next volume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rot & Ruin, Vol. 1: Warrior Smart; Author: Jonathan Maberry; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I am a huge fan of Maberry's Rot & Ruin young adult series and it was nice to see a comics version, but I'm not really sure this adds a whole lot to the experience. When Benny Imura and his small band of "samurais" stumble across the farm of Farmer John and his "cows," it's apparent that something isn't quite right (I was pretty sure I knew what the "cows" were, several pages before the very early reveal), but the farm and the people seem nice. In fact, they might be the first "nice" adults that the group has come across since leaving the town of Mountainside in search of the jet that they saw some months before. Yeah, right. Farmer John apparently believes in what he's doing and he somehow has his followers onboard with it, too, but Benny and gang know right from wrong and figure they have to step up and set things right. The artwork in this volume is a bit on the cartoony side, but not in a bad way. I would read other stories about this crew, but hope that they were more clearly and carefully developed than this one (the scarecrow is a throwaway bit that just doesn't make much sense).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Captain America, Volume 5: The Tomorrow Soldier; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was good, but rather underwhelming as a conclusion to the events of Dimension Z. Zola's big plan was a bomb? Everyone turns against Jet Black on the spur of the moment? etc. The story had all the requisite beats, but just wasn't developed in anywhere near the level of detail it required for them to really land or make some sort of emotional sense. Disappointing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny Avengers, Volume 5: AXIS Prelude; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is really a mess, from different artists on every issue (and wherever did they find Sanford Greene? worst artist ever), to stories that do little more than move characters into place for the next big Marvel crossover (enough with the crossovers, already!). They had to include 2 issues of Magneto and an Avengers annual to even fill this out to book length.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Black Science, Vol. 2: Welcome, Nowhere; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is really kind of a mess. A very pretty mess--the combination of art and coloring is just amazing--but a mess nonetheless. The story doesn't really make a lot of sense. After taking some months off from the title, Remender and company pick up the story without a clear connection to events from the first volume. Add in a couple of time-traveling alternate versions of Grant McKay, the scientist who got this whole thing rolling with his invention of the "pillar," and it gets even harder to follow just what the heck is going on. The story in the first volume at least fell back on a combination of Lost in Space and Sliders that, while not entirely original, at least wasn't as head-scratchingly confusing as this one. I'm not sure this story can be recovered, but I'll be looking for volume 3 down the line.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All-New Ultimates, Volume 1: Power for Power; Author: Michel Fiffe; Genres: young-adult, comics, graphic, romance, fiction; Review: Yechhhhh....terrible story, terrible art. Absolute, bottom-of-the-barrel garbage.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: X-Men, Vol 3: Bloodline; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Starts out strong, but fizzles out by the end, the victim of a rushed story and too much botched artwork. Why is it so difficult for a comic to hold on to one creative team for more than a couple of issues? When you follow up some really nice art with some really crap art, the whole thing just feels average. This volume deals with the super terrorist known as "The Future" (why? this is never answered), who also happens to be the biological father of Jubilee's adopted son Shogo, and his efforts to get the X-Men to turn over his son. The Future is scary at first, but ultimately kind of ineffectual and is a character that really would have benefited from a bit more development. But this whole story just feels rushed (although there's still time to include a weird, one-issue side-track to the danger room for a group of students at the Jean Grey Academy). And then the departure at the end. Just not very well put together by writer Wood.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Veil, Vol. 1; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some amazing artwork here, though the story takes its time getting started. At the end of issue #5, we still don't know much about what's going on or why...***Update***After further review, I've discovered this is apparently a complete, 5-issue story, with no further issues currently planned. With that information in hand, I have to drop my rating from 4 stars down to about 2 1/2, since the story is really under-developed. The artwork is still a standout, though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Those Across the River; Author: Christopher Buehlman; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really good first novel. Buehlman is great at developing a sense of creeping dread that slowly accumulates until it becomes almost unbearable. This was a real page-turner of a novel, too. I kept wanting to read one more chapter before putting the book away to go to bed, but also felt that if I read too fast, the experience would be over that much more quickly. Written in a sort of "old timey" way, the book follows what happens when Frank Nichols, a failed academic and veteran of World War I, moves to a small town in Georgia near the ruins of a plantation owned and operated by his great-grandfather, a notorious slave owner and Civil War hero that Frank plans to write a book about. As Frank and his fiancee Eudora settle into their home and get to know the townspeople over the course of a hot summer, little things start to happen that suggest all is not right. Eventually, things become clearer and the extent of the forces that Frank and the townspeople are up against become overwhelming. Buehlman does a great job of sketching the Depression-era town and its people, as well as describing the environment and the heat and humidity. His characters are believable as they deal with something beyond their experience and imaginings (we readers come to realize what they're facing well before the characters do). Buehlman has quickly become one of my favorite new authors and I plan to read anything he might put out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue Labyrinth (Pendergast, #14); Author: Douglas Preston; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a return to form for Preston and Child after the disappointing White Fire. The story is back in New York, back in some familiar locales, including the Museum of Natural History. Pendergast faces off against a dangerous foe, who actually manages to get the upper hand with his preternaturally gifted son, Alban, leaving the boy's body on the porch of Pendergast's New York mansion. This leads to a mystery involving yet another colorful member of the Pendergast family tree and a patent medicine that may actually be something more sinister. The story is fast-moving and there are the usual twists and turns we've come to expect from these books. And the focus is firmly back on Pendergast and his friends: Lieutenant D'Agosta, Margo Green, and his ward, Constance. The book might not be as eventful as some of the best in this series, but it is a welcome return to the sort of page-turning fun one expects from these authors.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Copperhead, Vol. 1; Author: Jay Faerber; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really enjoyed this one. The art is little more than serviceable, but the story really carries this. A new sheriff, Clara Bronson, comes to the backwater town of Copperhead, a mining settlement on an out of the way planet. She's got her son in tow and is immediately thrust into a mystery involving a sort of hillbilly family of aliens who are all found dead (except for one son), just a few hours after she and her deputy were called to the same homestead to break up a fight between family members. Great atmosphere and story really works to show us this place and the people (and aliens) who inhabit it: the drunk doctor, the fatcat mine owner, the noble "artie" (artificial humans created for war, now trying to find a purpose) living alone in the wasteland. Then there's the deputy, Budroxifinicus, a giant, furry creature (sort bovine in appearance), who was also up for the sheriff's job and who Clara insists on calling "Boo," to his eternal consternation. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine this town and its inhabitants existing in some far-off corner of the Star Wars universe--the comic has the feel of some of the scenes set on Tattooine and in the cantina. This is a very nice, self-contained start to what could prove to be a really outstanding, fascinating series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fade Out: Act One (The Fade Out, #1); Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: The usual high-quality stuff from Brubaker and Phillips, although the story is little more than a compendium of every film noir cliche in the books. There's the star actress, murdered during a drug and alcohol-fueled bash, her killing disguised as a suicide. There's a failed writer, who discovers her body, doesn't let anyone know about it, and then is surprised later to hear about her suicide. Oh, and this writer, our protagonist, is currently working with a blacklisted hack, who's a struggling alcoholic, passing off the man's work as his own. You've got the studio heavies, the studio boss with his own questionable past, the understudy who gets called up to the big time and begins the process of being groomed for stardom, etc. There's really very little by way of originality here, but the story is still compelling, involving secret societies, undercover FBI agents, and actors informing on each other during the McCarthy era. I enjoyed it, though might ask for a bit more from the next volume in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spread, Vol. 1: No Hope; Author: Justin Jordan; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The earth has been taken over by something akin to The Thing (as envisioned in the John Carpenter film) in its final version, tendrils under everything on the arctic base. This is "the spread," some sort of alien life form that is gradually spreading its hold/control. Small pockets of humanity remain, but they are hardened by the needs of day-to-day survival and life is pretty grim. In this wasteland, there is a warrior called "No," largely because that seems to be the sum of what he says when engaged in conversation. No stumbles upon the wreckage of an airplane and finds a surviving woman who tells him he must find "her." "She" turns out to be a baby, the last thing No wants to care for, but when things look pretty bleak, after he's fought and killed off a band of marauders and the spread is closing in, it turns out the baby's tears (and other bodily fluids--there's a great sequence where spit-up is used as a weapon) can kill the spread. Suddenly, the baby, "Hope," is a valuable commodity, sought after by a variety of damaged men and women. This isn't perhaps the most original story ever told, but it is an interesting alternate take on an apocalyptic dystopia. This isn't the usual zombies or vampires take over the world kind of thing. But it's a fun opening salvo to a story that will hopefully add some more complexity as it continues. The artwork is just the right level of ugly and is pretty gleeful in its depiction of horrendous violence, committed by both the spread and by No, with his pair of hatchets, as well as a variety of other characters. It will be interesting to see where this goes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Low, Vol. 1: The Delirium of Hope; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty interesting view of life in a (very) far future earth. The sun has grown ever larger, threatening all life on earth with cosmic radiation and (eventually) the heat which will come from it going supernova. The remnants of humanity have relocated to the bottom of the oceans, where they live in a number of domed cities, cities which are gradually rusting away, running out of fresh air, while the people have given themselves over to orgies and gladiatorial battles. Millennia ago, a number of probes were sent out, searching for a habitable planet that humanity could relocate to. Stel Caine, the matriarch of an important family in the domed city of Salus, has always maintained a sense of optimism, even in the face of an increasingly dire situation. Even when she loses her young daughters to a group of undersea pirates, in a battle which also claims the life of her husband, she has clung to her optimism. Now, ten years later, readings have just come in that indicate one of the probes has returned and someone has to locate it, on the hostile surface of the earth. She manages to get the leader of the city to give her one of the last remaining subs, and takes along her son, Marik, recently charged with corruption and jailed (and on the brink of suicide), on what appears to be a suicide mission. I thought the world-building here was great and even though it's all a bit overly-complicated, it does set up what could eventually become a truly outstanding series. But there's a lot to overcome in these initial pages and the story isn't always that easy to follow. The artwork is beautiful, but it, too, isn't always that easy to fathom. This is a very different sort of science fiction than that on display in Fear Agent and Black Science and despite the heroine's optimism, there's a lot of despair and outright nihilism pervading this book. Still, I have faith in Mr. Remender and it will be interesting to see what comes next.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jupiter's Legacy, Vol. 1; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a really hard comic to read in its original single issue releases. I think I got about 3 issues in before I basically forgot it existed. Now that the firs 5-issue arc is complete and collected in one volume, it's nice to be able to go back and take a look at how the story was being built up in those early issues and where it went after I lost track of it. The plot isn't horribly original. There are bits and pieces of a dozen other comics in there, from the idea of superheroes saving the world (from The Authority) to the children of the original superheroes being little more than spoiled rock star-type celebrities (see Powers or the Wicked and the Divine or ...), but the whole is more satisfying, especially when you figure in the genius artwork of one Frank Quitely to the mix. The story follows a group of upper class folks back in the 30s who find a mysterious island in the middle of nowhere that somehow grants all of them superpowers. Now, years later, most of the big supervillains are gone, the economy is on the brink of failure, and there's not much a superguy can do anymore to make his name, so many of the children of this first generation of superheroes have taken to partying and chasing endorsement deals. The brother of the world's greatest superhero, the Utopian, is something of a supergenius and believes that he has an ingenious plan for solving all the world's problems, but he need some help getting his idealistic brother out of the way. Once that's take care of, with the assistance of his nephew, Brandon, the Utopian's son, surprise surprise: apparently supergeniuses aren't any better at running the world than anyone else, and things get even worse. The Utopian's other child, daughter Chloe, is living in seclusion in Australia, with husband Hutch, the son of a supervillain, and their son, Jason, and they might just be the only hope the world has left. It sounds a bit ridiculous when I write it out like that, but it's compelling and the artwork only makes it more so, especially the battles between Jason and his parents and the soldiers and superfolk sent to capture them. At volume's end, I was invested in this story and really wanted to know what comes next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil by Mark Waid, Vol. 3; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I thought Waid's run on this title was supposed to be so great, but it seems to be getting worse as it goes on (does the Omega Drive storyline really deserve this much attention?. Does it improve at some point?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cyclops, Vol. 1: Starstruck; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really liked this one. Great combination of story and art. Not a whole lot happens, but that's okay, because this is mainly about father and son bonding, as in Cyclops (though it's the younger, time-jumping version from recent Brian Michael Bendis stories) and Corsair, the space pirate and leader of the Starjammers (not too different from the Guardians of the Galaxy, really). The two of them take off on a trip around the universe, Scott gets to see some sights, they crashland and are marooned on a backwater planet, Scott learns some sword techniques and picks up some pointers on honor, and that's about it. But it was plenty--it's great to see a younger Cyclops just enjoying himself, after all the downbeat and depressing stuff the older version has been through recently. I'm only sad that this will all probably vanish in the mists of time what with the whole Secret Wars-gutting of the Marvel universe that's rolling toward us.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avengers Undercover, Volume 2: Going Native; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Started off well, but got worse and worse as it went on, from the art to the story, which ends very quickly and in such a way as to make very little sense (almost like a television show that gets unexpectedly canceled and then tries to sum up years' worth of stuff in a single episode).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil, Volume 4; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This one is much better. From Ant-Man battling nanobots in Daredevil's brain, to the introduction of Coyote, the story really takes some interesting twists and turns this time. The art could be a bit stronger, but on the whole, this was a much better collection than the previous one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Southern Bastards, Vol. 2: Gridiron; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Still not sure this is a comic meant for me, though out of a bunch of new releases over at NetGalley, this is the one I read first. This volume fills us in on the background of Euless Boss, the football coach and main bad guy from the first volume. Unfortunately, his story isn't that compelling, and it's full of cliches to boot (number one being the "magic Negro" ballboy who teaches him everything there is to know about football, starting with blindfolded fishing). Boss isn't a sympathetic character, but his home life was pretty awful, and we can sort of see how he came to be the person he is, but it's still sketched in pretty broad strokes. I'd like to see a bit more subtlety. The artwork continues to carry the series well, though on my iPad, the black characters aren't very well-delineated. They're little more than silhouettes (and maybe that's the point, though I hope not). I guess I'll be back for the next volume, but I hope it does something new and takes us somewhere unexpected. This hasn't been the most original of series so far.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Class, Vol. 1: Reagan Youth; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This might be the best thing Remender has ever done, and that's saying a lot, coming from one of the most imaginative, creative writers to hit comics in the past 20 years or so. It sounds like this is a very personal story for him, and that really infuses this story of a high school for assassins with extra grit and heart. And the art, the colors, it's a complete package. This is one of the best comics collections I've read in the past couple of years. Very excited for the next volume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caliban; Author: Garth Ennis; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: This is pretty good. Intelligent, sci-fi/horror hybrid that reads a bit like Event Horizon. Basically, two ships suddenly find themselves occupying the same space via a warp accident and the human crew members of the Caliban must figure out how to extricate themselves from their dire circumstances. They're so far out there that they can't expect a rescue, so they're forced to do their best to come up with their own solution. The artwork throughout is very nice and this isn't the over-the-top horror/grossness that is found in many an Avatar title (see the Crossed series, for instance).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil, Volume 5; Author: Mark Waid; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Lots of build-up for a relatively weak payoff in this volume (re: who is the mastermind behind the plot against Daredevil that's been running for several issues now?). I still don't see what all the fuss is about Waid's run on this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Velvet, Vol. 2: The Secret Lives of Dead Men (Velvet, #2); Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Very enjoyable, retro-tinged spy story that has a former "secretary" running for her life as she investigates a mystery with deep roots that stretches many years back. The artwork here, by Steve Epting, is great and the story in never less than interesting, although it is starting to strain a bit at the seams. If ever a book could use a "previously, on Velvet" section to bring readers back up to speed, this is the one. Brubaker is a great writer and really does well with espionage and spy stuff (see his Sleeper series), but I'm starting to lose my grasp on just what is going on and why certain people or incidents are important. If the story keeps getting more complicated, without some basic payoffs, it will be even harder to follow in subsequent volumes. Other than this relatively minor quibble, I'd recommend this collection highly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MPH; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This started off fairly strong, but just kept getting worse and worse, dumber and dumber, as it went along. The hook is that a group of poor street kids in Detroit get ahold of a drug that gives them super speed (not unlike The Flash), and then use their newfound powers to rob banks and get rich. The whole thing reads like a fairly undeveloped movie pitch (which, apparently, isn't too far off the mark, since the film rights to this mess have been picked up). The artwork by Duncan Fegredo is about the only saving grace to this and even that gets rushed and slapdash near the end, as the story culminates in some sloppy time travel nonsense. It seems like Mark Millar cares less and less about these projects he tosses off, barely even investing the time to create characters and a story that readers might care about. Not recommended.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Avengers & X-Men: AXIS; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Complete waste of time for everyone involved, including the time I spent reading it...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Grayson, Volume 1: Agents of Spyral; Author: Tom King; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I didn't hate it, but I wasn't exactly in love with this either. Dick Grayson, former Robin, former Nightwing, had his identity outed to the world (shades of Daredevil/Matt Murdock) and was apparently killed. Except he's not really dead and now he's been recruited as an agent of Spyral, a supersecret spy agency that's not really on the up-and-up. He's there to provide some eyes and ears on the inside and pass info on to his mentor, Batman. The artwork isn't bad in this, and the stories aren't terrible. But they don't compare very favorably with some of the other spy/espionage stories that are currently underway in some other comics titles. The stakes don't seem all that high here--there's no sense that Dick is in imminent danger of being found-out or that anyone we care about is in danger. It's all a bit underdeveloped at this point. But it could still result in something, so I'm not giving up on this entirely.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batgirl, Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside; Author: Cameron Stewart; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really struggled with this one. With all the millenial tech stuff going on (people taking selfies, talking about computer code, using apps, etc., etc.), plus all the social networking, it just didn't feel like this was written for me. It seems like it's aimed at a nerdy, tech-savvy, teenage girl. But I stuck with it and the story started to grow on me. I really liked how this one wrapped up (don't want to say too much to give away some surprises toward the end), with the various versions of Batgirl fighting for supremacy. Artwork is very animated and at times echoes anime/manga stylings. The story is a great combination of light-hearted stuff, coupled with some moments of darkness. I don't know if I'd read another volume of this, but I'm glad I read this and didn't put it down halfway through.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stray Bullets, Vol. 2: Somewhere Out West; Author: David Lapham; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: The first volume had its moments, but this collection is just plain bad. Hard to believe this artwork won Lapham an Eisner as best artist. The interconnected stories are just bleak and depressing and, really, rather pointless. I had to force myself to keep reading and not sure why I bothered.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: World Gone By (Joe Coughlin, #3); Author: Dennis Lehane; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: Excellent, excellent book that I practically flew through. Very reminiscent of Boardwalk Empire at times (i.e., much of the time). This book doesn't cover as much territory or as long a stretch of time as the previous Coughlin books, but this one is much more introspective and nostalgic and works very well to show us some of the main character's regrets and sorrows. A fitting conclusion to this tale.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Scarlet Gospels; Author: Clive Barker; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very disappointing book. This is decidedly NOT the epic horror story we were promised. In fact, it is quite silly and often cartoonish in execution (Harry and the Harrowers?). What happened to Barker the "future of horror"? His writing has been off for awhile now and this certainly doesn't read like the work of the man who wrote the Books of Blood.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2); Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This book is as good as anything King has ever written. The interactions between the characters, the psychological insights into why they do what they do, all of that is just outstanding. The "writer" stuff may not be that strong (i.e., the whole "who owns what a writer produces," etc., etc.), even though reviewers are already comparing this to Misery, but it, too, is very insightful and interesting. The one thing I had some issues with was the final section of the book, where all the characters are thrown together and it's not clear who, if anyone, will come out of this all right. King is still very strong at writing suspense, but sometimes I get the feeling he's playing cat and mouse with his characters (and even his audience) and the twists and turns and delaying tactics get to be a bit annoying at times. But this is a great follow-up to Mr. Mercedes and I'm very much looking forward to the third book in this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Birthdays for the Dead (Ash Henderson, #1); Author: Stuart MacBride; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Man, was this grim. Grim, grim, grim. None of the humor that lightens up the Logan McRae series. It was a bit of a slog to get through this, but I did stick it out to the end. MacBride is a good writer, but I'm not sure what the point of this was.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bodies; Author: Si Spencer; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Bleah. That's about the extent of it. This started off interesting enough, with four different detectives in four different time periods, all investigating a dead body in a version of London. However, this did not proceed in a fashion that clarified or made sense of anything in this story. The best thing about it was the 2014 storyline, with a Muslim policewoman working amid the suspicion of her co-workers. Ultimately, though, what the heck did it all mean? Very little, methinks.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rat Queens, Vol. 2: The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'rygoth; Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really enjoying this book so far. Just the right mix of snarky humor, with violence and serious, world-changing danger lurking around the corner. This time around, the Queens are tasked with nothing less than stopping the complete destruction of the town of Palisade at the hands of a bitter man who is in possession of a dangerous magical relic. Along the way, we get a more in-depth look at the backgrounds of a couple of team members, Violet (love the full-length beard) and Hannah (ah, now I understand that weird hairdo she's been stuck with since the start), in the form of hallucinations under the influence of the weird, tentacled creatures threatening Palisade and the world. The art is just right and the humor and the action keep this from getting too serious. I could do with a bit less swearing, but otherwise, this is a great series and should go on just as long as these creators have something to say.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Justice, Inc.; Author: Michael E. Uslan; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Maybe more 2 1/2 stars. It's tough to write these characters and bring them to life. DC has trotted out all 3 in their own separate adventure and assigned some of the best artists and writers to them, with only fitfully successful results. This collection, written by pulp expert Uslan, isn't the answer, either, as the man is so enamored of these characters (he even includes extensive footnotes about historical allusions, etc.) that they never come to convincing life, either. And the artwork is truly little more than serviceable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Drifter, Vol. 1: Out of the Night; Author: Ivan Brandon; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some very neat artwork on hand in this one, reminiscent of Heavy Metal-style science fiction. But like others have commented, I really can't make heads or tails out of what exactly is going on in this comic. The writing is about as inscrutable as any I've come across in a comic in some time. Maybe it will get clearer in future issues, but if you haven't hooked us in by now, well, that's a problem.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Fuse, Vol. 2: Gridlock; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I've enjoyed this series, which reads like Law and Order in space, but I wish it was a bit more complex than it is. The artwork is serviceable--not great, but it does give a fairly good picture of this somewhat decaying giant space station (I imagine something like the Mall of America as a space station when reading). This time around, the detectives are investigating the murder of a star "gridlocker" (an illegal racing pastime involving magnetic bikes that run on the outer surface of the space station), which ties into the station's drug smuggling culture. The whole mystery is pretty straightforward, with the detectives wandering around, interviewing people, putting clues together (I'll bet a sharp-eyed reader could put them together and solve the mystery for him- or herself), and finally coming to a solution. There does seem to be something more going on--some sort of underground rebel movement--but otherwise, this is a pretty simple, straightforward mystery. Not bad, but not all that great, either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 7: Endgame; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Snyder's vision of The Joker is truly hellish and this time, he's got a pretty terrible plan to destroy Gotham City and bring down Batman. The artwork by Capullo is topnotch, but this is a pretty grim story, almost too much so. Also, this is a fairly definitive conclusion--is Batman due to be re-started by a new creative team soon? Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Make Me (Jack Reacher, #20); Author: Lee Child; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Yes! Now this is a Jack Reacher book. Everything the last book wasn't. It starts with Reacher getting off a train in the small town of Mother's Rest. He's curious about the name and thinks he might spend a day or so there, checking out any local museum, getting the story from the locals, etc. But this simple decision has him stepping into one of the darkest mysteries in this entire series, one that doesn't become entirely clear until 30 or so pages from the end. The book is filled with the minutiae of tracking down some very bad people from only the tiniest of known facts. Some might think it farfetched that Reacher would become involved with something this complex and complicated on such a bare minimum of interest, but this is classic Reacher and the book is a strong one. You might need to steel yourself for those closing chapters, but this is a Reacher to remember and one of the strongest recent books in this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Persuader (Jack Reacher, #7); Author: Lee Child; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This was the first Jack Reacher novel I've read. I'm not really sure whether it's the recent discussion of Child and Reacher on the Dorothyl listserv or the fact that the book was sent to me as an ARC and I felt like I had to read it, but I just never warmed up to the character. Or maybe it's because I'm coming to it mid-series (I'm one of those readers who likes to start at the beginning and read in order). Whatever the case, I can see the point of those who complain that Reacher is something of a superhero. No one could take the constant abuse he does. He swims in the freezing ocean. He beats up steroid-enhanced bad guys. He kills dozens of faceless, cardboard bad guys. The thing I was most bothered by is his cold-bloodedness. Sure, the bad guys in the book are really bad guys, but Reacher could give Richard Stark's Parker a run for his money in the emotionless, steely-determination department. He doesn't seem to care--he's a killing machine--and that got old. I was especially bothered by the way he does away with the main bad guy, who had escaped his wrath ten years previously--with a slowly-inserted, razor-sharp chisel to the head! Yuck! Maybe the guy deserved it (he's drawn as a very, very bad guy in the book), but Reacher shouldn't be enjoying it. At one point in the book, Reacher quotes Nietzsche--"whatever doesn't destroy us, makes us stronger." I think he needs to review the quote (also Nietzsche?) about how, when you're chasing monsters, you'd better be careful not to become one yourself. I guess it was the whole casualness with which the violence is handled that bothered me about the book, and I'm not someone who shies away from violence or from dark books. I don't think I'll be reading more in this series. A disappointment. **UPDATE**:I've actually read several more of Child's Reacher novels and they've become "must-read" books for me. That said, I still think this is one of the weakest books in this series.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Nature of Midnight; Author: Robert Rice; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Robert Rice's The Nature of Midnight, features Postal Inspectors Gillian Loomis and Max Dombrowski and could be the start to a very successful series. When a postal worker and a customer are found dead in a rural Montana post office, the case is given to Loomis, an inspector who travels around the state. Dombrowski, a former pro football player, is flown in from Seattle and is the primary on the case, but he lets Gillian take charge of the investigation. Gillian is a former Seattle policewoman who quit after accidentally killing a young boy while on duty, and, since then, she has refused to carry a weapon, which is a breach of duty for a postal inspector. The deaths appear to have some connection to a cache of old letters, found when an old safe and other equipment was moved from the old post office to a new one. The letters were written by a man named Sharpless Walker, who was lynched way back in 1918, and appear to have something to do with the sinking of the Lusitania. As Max and Gillian investigate, they begin to uncover a conspiracy that at first appears to reach to the highest levels of both the American and British governments. This was a great, old-fashioned page turner. Rice does a great job of creating his conspiracy and then doling out the clues bit by bit, ratcheting up the tension and suspense. Max and Gillian are interesting characters and we come to care about them as they are besieged on all sides, by assassins and by higher-ups in both the Postal Inspection Service and the FBI, who may or may not be trustworthy. Rice also does a good job of drawing the scenery of rural Montana, as the two drive from place to place, pursuing the investigation. This was a riveting book and I for one would like to see another book involving these characters. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Autumnlands, Vol. 1: Tooth and Claw; Author: Kurt Busiek; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I wasn't sure what to make of this when I first picked it up. There seem to be an awful lot of comics on the stands these days that require you to buy into some weird fantasy world with rules that are only very slowly parceled out, and Autumnlands fits this description, too. At first. Slowly, the more I read, the more I realized just how much I was enjoying this and wanted to see the story continue. I was quite disappointed when I reached the end of the sixth issue, which closes out this first volume. Will definitely be looking for more of this. The story follows a group of talking animal-people who rely on magic to keep their city afloat in the clouds. There are native peoples below, tribes of buffalo and bat people, too, who are considered to be "lesser." The magic users are aware that the supply of magic in the world is running out and they attempt a ritual to bring back the historical "Champion," who will renew magic and bring about a golden era. In the process, they use up the magic keeping them aloft, the city crashes to the ground, and the survivors are left to squabble with each other, not knowing quite what to make of the hairless "ape" (a human soldier named Learoyd, equipped with some sort of Google-glasses) who appears when the magic ritual is performed. While the various factions squabble about who should be in charge, the buffalo people are closing in, preparing to wipe out the survivors. A capsule description like this might sound a bit goofy, but Busiek really brings this story to life and the artwork by Ben Dewey is exceptional in bringing the characters to life and imagining the flying cities and other aspects of this fantasy land. This is really well-done and highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairest, Volume 5: The Clamour for Glamour; Author: Mark Buckingham; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I thought this comic was supposed to highlight the women of Fables? This just read like another collection of lesser Fables stories, with no particular focus on much of anything, to be honest. The whole Reynard the fox thing reminded me a lot of the failed Jack of Fables series--if this is what Fairest has come to, it's probably time to retire this series as well (I see this is the concluding volume). Main story basically follows the uproar at the Farm (where non-human Fables live) over the creation of 5 "glamours" that will be shared amongst all the inhabitants and first passed out in a lottery. There are some amusing bits here, but it's all very unfocused and not very essential. Then there's Reynard, who has been given a human glamour, and uses it to romance a human girl, taking her away from her uncle and cousin in a rather dumb story that relies on miscommunication and mistaken motives. This is like Fables lite and probably part of the reason this comic didn't work any better than Jack of Fables. What really propels the original series is its deft combination of light AND dark. There's a lot of sadness and unhappiness in the flagship series and that's what's helped to make it a classic. These spinoffs, much less so.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Supreme: Blue Rose; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I normally like Warren Ellis, but this one didn't do it for me. A very confusing time travel mystery with twists and turns that don't always make sense. Usually Ellis is better at dealing with this sort of material and making it clear. Not recommended.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paradise Sky; Author: Joe R. Lansdale; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: This is such a good book! Perhaps the best Lansdale has yet written and given his catalog, that's a real recommendation. The narrative is loosely based on the story of Nat Love, a real American cowboy, gunslinger, etc., who was also black. The story follows him from eastern Texas to a stint in the Army (as a buffalo soldier) in the west, to a stretch of time in Deadwood (where he befriends Wild Bill Hickok and wins a shooting contest, earning the nickname "Deadwood Dick" as a result), and finally to Kansas and Arkansas. The book is a remarkable thing, filled with humor, emotion, excitement, and real sadness. Lansdale's gift for dialogue is on display throughout and his characters are real, three-dimensional people who step off the page. The book seems to suggest there might be more adventures of Mr. Love in the offing and I know I'd be right at the front of the line to buy any sequel that might appear. Highest recommendation!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal; Author: G. Willow Wilson; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow, was this ever good. I didn't really know what to expect when I finally got around to reading this collection, but I don't think I was expecting something so well-written, so true. As Marvel's first Muslim superhero, Kamala Khan really makes an impression. Transformed by the terrigen mists, she finds herself with shape- and size-changing abilities that allow her to take on the mantle of her favorite superhero: Ms. Marvel. But she's also just a teenage girl, a high school student, daughter of over-protective parents worried about keeping her safe. G. Willow Wilson has got this story down. About the only potentially negative thing the title has going for it is the occasionally cartoonish art of Adrian Alphona, but even that works for the title. This would be an excellent book to give to any outsider, to any girl who likes comics, heck, to anyone, period, who likes comics. Bring on the next volume!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why; Author: G. Willow Wilson; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This continues to be an outstanding title. Maybe not quite so innovative as the first volume, I still really enjoyed Ms. Marvel's team-up with Wolverine. And her battle with the Inventor is pretty good, too. I'm even warming up to the Alphona artwork (anything has got to be better than what was in the 2 Wolverine issues--bleah).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vanishing Games (Jack White, #2); Author: Roger Hobbs; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I liked Ghostman a lot better. This seems to be a drop-off in quality. It's just nonstop action and there are some who'll like that, but I want a bit more introspection, I guess.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chew, Vol. 10: Blood Puddin'; Author: John Layman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It's not as funny or clever as it used to be, but Chew is still one of my favorites and this volume finally sees the resolution of one of the comic's long-running storylines: Tony's showdown with the Collector, a rogue cibopath who's been stockpiling food-related abilities for a long time, and who earlier killed Tony's twin sister, Toni. It does read a bit like the story is treading water, but I was okay with that, as it lead to a number of funny scenes (like the murder of a Jolly Green Giant stand-in) that are Rob Guillory's bread and butter in the art. And Guillory really brings his A-game in the climactic battle scenes. If anything, these could stand to be a bit more epic. The story might be a bit played out, but there's only another 10 issues or so to go and I'll be along for the ride to the end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Science, Vol. 3: Vanishing Point; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is starting to get very repetitive already (seems like it's too early in the series' run to have exhausted so many potential storylines, but there you have it). It's a mix of Lost in Space and Sliders (remember that tv series about a group of adventurers going from one parallel earth to another?) and that's really about it. This time out, the group is stranded in a futuristic Roman world that has been decimated by a plague, which seems to have been caused by a previous group of dimensional travelers. In fact, it appears that, wherever they go, they find worlds that have been destroyed in one way or another by the sort of traveling the Pillar allows them to do. The story is getting kind of muddled, too. Characters who were good are now bad and vice versa, without much rhyme or reason. What exactly in going on with these jumps isn't very clear--when I started this volume, it felt like I'd somehow missed about 10 issues of explanation between this and the previous collection, but no. It just isn't that clear. About the only saving virtue is the artwork, which is getting a bit cartoonish, particularly in the way the male characters are drawn (those noses!). I guess I'll pick up volume 4 when it shows up, but so far, this is kind of disappointing (especially after the heights of Fear Agent).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All-New X-Men, Volume 7: The Utopians; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: There's no real continuity throughout the volume. A couple of stories taken out of context from the Black Vortex event and then a couple of Utopian stories. Plus, the artwork changes from one story to the next, so that 3 different artists are on display in what is essentially 5 single issues combined into this one volume! I really hope that, post-Secret Wars, Marvel can drop these constant and unnecessary crossover events.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Zero, Vol. 4: Who By Fire; Author: Ales Kot; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: I'm sorry, but this is just crap. I'm sure it all means something if I just take the time to puzzle it out, but this series, which started strong, has just continually gotten weirder and weirder to the point where it's about as insular a comic as I've ever read (and I stuck with Alan Moore's Promethea to the end). I can't think this makes sense to anyone but Ales Kot, and even then, I wouldn't be so sure. How can an espionage/spy thriller series that started so strongly peter out like this? How do William S. Burroughs and Alan Ginsberg fit into the story? What is up with the talking mushrooms? WTF? Not recommended at all...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Trollhunters; Author: Guillermo del Toro; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I was really excited to get a copy of this to read via NetGalley. I'm a huge fan of Daniel Kraus, whose books to date have all been winners. He's a "young adult" writer who really goes above and beyond. I'd argue that his most recent book (before this), Scowler, was almost too much for most teen readers. And as co-author, Guillermo del Toro? How could this go wrong? After a decent opening, the book goes downhill very fast, as it trades in the scares and foreboding of the opening chapters/sections, for goofiness and gross humor. This might appeal to a very-young young adult, but I don't think it would appeal to older readers with a more mature sensibility. As a huge fan of Daniel Kraus, I can only hope that this is just a momentary mis-step and that he'll rebound quickly with his next work, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch. Very disappointing.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hawkeye, Volume 4: Rio Bravo; Author: Matt Fraction; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was really good. I even liked the weirdo Christmas Friends issue.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Badlands (A Highway Quartet Novel #3); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Box's non-Joe Pickett books tend to be a mixed bag, but I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit. Set in the North Dakota oilfields, it follows newly-hired Cassie Dewell as she investigates a sequence of events that seem to be related to a war between two drug cartels over who will control the area. A series of disappearances, gruesome murders, and a rollover accident all prove to play a part in the ongoing feud and there's a young kid, a paperboy, who saw something he shouldn't have and picked up something he should have left behind. In a way, it's almost too bad Box didn't bring Joe Pickett to the oilfields, which would have been a good fit with the typical Pickett-environmental mystery. But this is a close second and, for this reader at least, easily the best of Box's non-Pickett novels.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: C.O.W.L., Volume 2: The Greater Good; Author: Kyle Higgins; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really liked this series. The idea of a union of superheroes is a great one. What happens when they go on strike? Couple that with the inner workings of (corrupt) government in Chicago and you've got the basis for a series that should last a good long time. That this series is now kaput is a very sad thing, since this volume doesn't really tie things up (will there be a third?). The artwork is beautiful and the story is sometimes a bit hard to follow (characters tend to blend together a bit), but the overall story is unique and engrossing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Gun, Vol. 8: Hell and High Water (The Sixth Gun, #8); Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow! Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, etc. Just about as perfect a collection as I've ever read. Can't wait for the concluding volume...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tin Stars (Descender, #1); Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some very pretty artwork in this one. It might not be the most original of stories (there's a lot of Stephen Spielberg's A.I. in this one), but the premise hooked me enough to want to know what happens next. Basically, in the far future, a group of giant robots, called Harvesters, has all but destroyed the center of the galactic civilization, and robots have become outlawed. Ten years later, a child companion robot, Tim-21, awakens on the remains of a mining colony world, surrounded by the desiccated remains of all the humans, and suddenly, various factions in the galaxy are alerted, all wanting to get their hands on him. Why? Well, it appears that Tim-21's "codex" (whatever that is) is an almost perfect match to that of the Harvesters, so getting ahold of him and finding out what makes him tick could be the best possible defense against the Harvesters, should they ever return. As I said, I really liked the art in this one, and the story and characters are interesting enough to make me want to see what's next. But unless this really starts to develop more of its own story and becomes less derivative, I may not follow it too far.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Avengers, Volume 2: The Labyrinth; Author: Ales Kot; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was better than the first volume, as the story picks up speed and it becomes apparent that there actually is a plot. But I don't think I'm the right audience for Kot. His writing just comes across as trying too hard. Trying too hard to be funny. Trying too hard to be smart. He likes to show off, especially how smart and well-read he is, which doesn't work for me. Guess I'll have to see this through and read the third volume, too.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Days of American Crime; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: There's a lot of time-wasting going on in this (even though it was only 3 issues long to begin with) and it's not the best work Remender's ever done, but it was a quick, fun read. The basic concept is that the American government has come up with a way to prevent crime by projecting a radio signal that suppresses the urge to do things people know are wrong. In a few weeks, it will be turned on and, hopefully, life can return to some semblance of normal (there's a throwaway comment about several dirty bombs going off in a succession of cities). But before that happens, everyone's taking advantage in a last-minute blowout of crime and our protagonist has a not-very-well-explained heist in the planning stages, requiring that he get into bed with a couple of lowlifes. There's a lot of violence in this as fingers are shot off, people's heads are blown off, etc. It isn't always clear who's who or what exactly is going on and the artwork can get downright ugly, as people's faces appear smushed and nose-free. And the science behind everything is clearly not very well though out--if sociopaths and psychopaths can still continue to do whatever the hell they want because they have no sense of right and wrong, then clearly the government (and by extension, Remender himself) hasn't thought this whole "crime prevention radio wave" thing through clearly enough. At least I didn't have to buy this and I wouldn't recommend you do, either.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Song of Shadows (Charlie Parker, #13); Author: John Connolly; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is one of my favorite series, which manages to hit just the exact right note of supernatural menace combined with detective mystery. Charlie Parker, Connolly's sleuth, is recovering from near-fatal wounds he received in the previous novel/adventure and has moved to a quiet, coastal-Maine town, Boreas, in order to find some peace. But trouble has a way of following Parker, and he soon realizes that his nearest neighbor, a young single mother with a daughter close in age to Parker's own, is on the run from something, though what, Charlie can't figure out and the woman won't share with him. When a body washes up nearby and an entire family is killed and their house burned down, made to appear the work of the lone survivor, their teenage son, the stage is set for an intriguing mystery that ultimately has its roots in a Nazi concentration camp. This is a really good, well-written novel, with just the right touch of brooding menace and atmosphere, along with a few violent setpieces. In the world of Charlie Parker, this is one of the more quiet entries, but that's fitting as he comes to realize that his previous experiences have made him a changed man. Several of Connolly's recurring characters make appearances, including Louis and Angel, as well as some of the darker folks in Parker's orbit. And Parker comes to a dark revelation regarding his own daughter. Can't wait for the next one!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No One Gets Out Alive; Author: Adam Nevill; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Liked it, but really struggled with reading it. Very long and very repetitive. Sometimes the horror, which is really sustained past the breaking point in several scenes, almost became humorous instead. I think the book is overwrought and over-written in many respects. But it was still undeniably creepy and frightening.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bitch Planet, Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine; Author: Kelly Sue DeConnick; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Promising, though a bit hit-and-miss in this first volume. There isn't a lot of narrative momentum--I can't really tell where this story is going or might be going. But the situation has a lot of promise: in the future, "non-compliant" women are sentenced to prison on another planet, the eponymous "Bitch Planet." "Non-compliance" can cover a range of sins, from various small, petty crimes, to such things as being overweight or unattractive. The volume opens with a new shipment of women arriving and being processed, so we get to see the planet from the point of view of a group of newcomers. There's a 1970s exploitation movie feel to the proceedings--this is basically the logical extension of movies like The Big Doll House or any number of women in prison films from the time period. Plus, there's a Logan's Run/Rollerball (in the inclusion of the sport Dumila/Megaton) aesthetic to the science fictional aspects--kind of cheesy, not particularly advanced technology, etc. DeConnick is best at setting the stage and showing us around this patriarchal society, with its "fathers." But the story isn't really clear. Right now, the inmates are putting together a Dumila team and playing the guards in a sequence right out of The Longest Yard, but where the story is going to go next, who knows. The ground seemed to be prepped to put together a prison escape narrative, but that seems to have been stopped in its tracks before it ever really got started. One highlight are the various fake advertisements at the end of each issue. I would read another volume of this, but would hope that it coalesces into something a bit more substantial.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wytches, Volume 1; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really liked this one. Scary, creepy, etc. The art was a bit hard to follow at times, kind of sketchy. But looking forward to volume 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Head Full of Ghosts; Author: Paul Tremblay; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very well-written, but not particularly scary...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex; Author: Sam Humphries; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: As crossovers go, this one wasn't all that bad...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Green Arrow, Volume 4: The Kill Machine; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I really liked this, but then I'm a big fan of the Arrow tv show, too. I'm also a fan of Jeff Lemire's. And the artwork by Andrea Sorrentino is really stellar. All in all, a pretty fine volume. Looking forward to the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Green Arrow, Volume 5: The Outsiders War; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: I still like this, but then I'm also a fan of the tv show (that might be a requirement for buying into Lemire's take on the story). And the art is great, too. Andrea Sorrentino really does some neat things and takes some chances that generally pay off (like action happening in words--the "crash," "bang," "pow" stuff from the fight scenes). All in all, I'm really enjoying this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Green Arrow, Volume 6: Broken; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: This one wasn't so good. The series doesn't end so much as just stop, mid-scene, with no resolution, no conclusion. The artwork by Sorrentino continues to be a standout, but this collection was a disappointment on the story front.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Copperhead, Vol. 2; Author: Jay Faerber; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked this a lot. It's the comics equivalent of a B-movie western, something like 3:10 to Yuma. Not a whole lot happens in this volume, other than a gang of thieves breaking one of their number out of jail, only to be followed by a posse made up of the local sheriff and a number of the locals. But the fact that it's set on a whole other world, complete with any number of alien races, etc., really sets this apart. That said, it might have been nice to get a bit more substance with the plot. When all is said and done, this is a pretty slim plot, stretched to the breaking point over five issues. It's about time this series tackled something a bit more juicy. But I still like the whole "backwater planet in the Star Wars universe" sort of vibe that Faerber and his artist have going here. And it does appear that something larger is brewing in the background, as a desperate criminal takes a journalist/interviewer hostage during his escape from a high security prison planet. Looking forward to the next volume, though hopefully that one will up the stakes a bit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fatale: Deluxe Edition, Volume Two; Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Glad to finally read this since I lost track of this series about midway through. I love the collaborations between Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, from Sleeper to Criminal to Incognito and now The Fade-Out, and Fatale is among the best. The series follows a mysterious woman as she moves through various time periods, always seeming to drive some men crazy with her beauty/allure, while being a target for others. It's never really entirely clear what is going on with this woman, but there's a strong Lovecraftian vibe running through all of this that keeps the stories never less than fascinating. This volume looks at the mystery woman in several past vignettes: medieval France, the old West, etc. Then there's an extended sequence wherein she comes into the orbit of a struggling rock band in Seattle. And then there's the concluding arc. It's all very mysterious, although a few answers are finally provided, and the artwork by Phillips drives things beautifully. If I had one complaint, it would be that the whole thing remains just a bit too unclear and enigmatic at the end. But I guess that's rather fitting, given the subject matter. High recommendation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracleman, Book Three: Olympus; Author: Alan Moore; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: First two volumes were really good, but this one, not so much. Plus, more than half the volume is taken up with scripts and sketches and work in progress. What a cynical move on the part of Marvel Comics to try to justify this being sold as a hardcover volume! Get it from the library if you must.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Batman: The Black Mirror; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Excellent collection. I haven't always cared for what Snyder has done with Batman, but this group of stories, which focus on Dick Grayson as a fill-in Batman, really do a great job of telling a dark story about Gotham and its inhabitants. Great artwork from Jock; lesser work from Francesco Francavilla.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death of Wolverine; Author: Charles Soule; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Great art, but kind of an underwhelming storyline...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sons of the Devil, Vol. 1; Author: Brian Buccellato; Genres: romance, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Interesting idea that isn't helped by the sketchy artwork and plotting that is confusing and hard to follow. Lead character is an orphan who has anger issues and discovers that he's one of several male children fathered by the crazy leader of a cult. Now, each of these "sons of the devil" must be killed in order for the cult leader to gain some power or other. I'm all for horror comics and I like cult stories, but this isn't particularly original, nor is it very well-plotted. It is hard to know what's going on all the time and the artwork isn't particularly helpful in that regard. Kind of sketchy and half-finished. I might read more of this if I could get a copy at the library or via Netgalley, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scalped, Vol. 9: Knuckle Up (Scalped, #9); Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: I might've rated it a bit higher, but there are a lot of art panels here that are hard to follow and sometimes impossible to make out. Otherwise, a strong story reaches its climax and I can hardly wait to read the last collected edition. Someone needs to adapt this as a television series some day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Valiant; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty generic story and characters. The only Valiant characters worth a damn are Bloodshot and X-O Manowar and it doesn't help to shoehorn them into lame "events" like this one. Really quite poor on the whole.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scalped, Vol. 10: Trail's End (Scalped, #10); Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Great series and a pretty good finish, though the artwork was just a bit too chaotic in that final showdown to be able to tell what the heck was going on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Private Eye; Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Wow, was this ever good. Really, really good. In a weird future, after an event called the "Cloudburst" exposed everyone's Internet secrets (search histories, etc.) and ruined lives, there is no more Internet. People live behind masks, excessively concerned about privacy and attempting to keep some level of anonymity, and the police have been replaced by journalists (not sure I really understand that, but hey, it's Brian K. Vaughan's vision). Teevee is a big deal and people actually read books and interact with each other. One man, an unlicensed paparazzo, scratches out a living as a P. I. in this world, digging behind the surface level stories that the fourth estate is content to give to the masses, solving unsolvable crimes, like the mysterious death of a woman whose sister comes to him for help. This is a great, old-time detective story in a really imaginative future that is amazingly detailed and colorful and brought to three dimensional life by artist Marcos Martin, whose work reminds me a lot of that done by Moebius (Jean Giraud). As a web comic, this one really popped on the iPad I was using to read it. An amazing, virtuoso piece of work and I would love to see more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Woman, Agent of S.W.O.R.D.; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The art is really about the only thing this series has going for it. Long, talky sections with little in the way of action. And what story there is is pretty meager. Kind of a disappointment give Bendis' professed love for this character.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grayson, Volume 2: We All Die At Dawn; Author: Tim Seeley; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Kind of run-of-the-mill espionage stuff, despite the presence of Dick Grayson and Helena Bertinelli (aka The Huntress). This reads a bit like Warren Ellis-lite, as Dick and Helena infiltrate the spy organization Spyral in an attempt to bring it down from the inside. There are stories reminiscent of Ellis' Globabl Frequency and Planetary, and the Midnighter even makes a guest appearance (kind of an ersatz fill-in for Dick's more famous partner?). The artwork is all right and the stories are all right, but the whole package is just kind of "Meh."; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 4: Last Days; Author: G. Willow Wilson; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow, was this good. Finally back to uniform artwork throughout (and I wasn't even bothered by Alphona's occasionally cartoony work), and a couple of nice story beats (Ms. Marvel meets Captain Marvel, her hero; Kamala gets a nice emotional moment with most of the people who are important in her life). Really, the only problem here is, WHY COULDN'T THIS BOOK HAVE CONTINUED ON JUST LIKE THIS? But no, events are shaped by the final incursion from the whole Secret Wars mess. Who knows what Ms. Marvel will look like on the other side of all that? We can only hope it's even a shadow of its former self.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Men, Volume 6: Storyville; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not very good on the whole. Very disjointed storytelling, with little gained and little determined. One of these stories was about as slapdash as anything I've ever read--hard to believe coming from a writer like Bendis. The artwork is quite uneven, too. That by Chris Bachalo is polished as ever, but the two issues by Kris Anka qualify as something of a low point for this series. And not sure what to make of the inclusion of issue #600--there really seems to be little point to it, or really to anything in this volume.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1); Author: Amie Kaufman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Wow! What a great book. Neat concept and very imaginative execution. It started a bit slow, but became a real page turner around page 200 or so. About the only thing I could have done without was all the "lovey-dovey" crap, but I guess that has to be there for a certain part of the YA crowd. Definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Class, Vol. 3: The Snake Pit; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I still think this might be Remender's best title, but this one is a bit of a drop-off in quality after the first two volumes. It starts off strong, finishing up story threads from the last volume, but much of the middle section is a pretty interminable look at our main character's depression, paranoia, and drug use. Things pick up again near the end, promising a pretty strong arc for the next volume, but this one was a bit disappointing. Still, highly recommended and I'll be waiting patiently for volume 4 to drop.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: In the wake of Endgame and the disappearance and supposed death of Bruce Wayne, the GCPD has carried on with a new Batman robo-suit (shades of Robocop), piloted by none other than James Gordon. And a new villain, Mr. Bloom, has appeared, who offers "seeds" to a variety of gangland leaders. These seeds are small, implanted, radiation-powered devices that give their user superpowers (like control over silica) and can also be used to kill them should they fall into police hands. But, apparently, Bruce Wayne didn't die at the hands of the Joker after all and he's now working at an inner-city school. He's completely lost all memory of being Batman and is trying to do his best to give back to Gotham the only way he knows how. This wasn't a bad story and I'm not as dissatisfied by it as some readers, but it does seem like Snyder is taking Batman a bit too far off the rails here. The flashback to Zero Year and the origin of Mr. Bloom was not handled very well--just tossed into the middle of things with no transition. I like seeing Bruce Wayne trying to do something else and Jim Gordon as robo-Batman is a neat idea. I just hope it doesn't get pushed too far--it looks like the next volume is poised to continue this arc, but it shouldn't stretch on much beyond that. Strong artwork, as usual (though the flashback scenes weren't so hot).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine: Old Man Logan, Volume 0: Warzones!; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This story was really rather pointless, although the artwork by Sorrentino was pretty gorgeous.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Starve, Vol. 1; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Interesting comic, but kind of weird. Hard to believe a cooking show is as popular as this one. Wood continues to address some of the same environmental concerns as he did in The Massive: the oceans are rising, some food items are growing scarce (bluefin tuna goes for $100,000 a pound!), and the divide between the haves and the have-nots is increasing. In fact, it wouldn't be hard to imagine this as an earlier phase in the future he chronicled in that previous series. Gavin Cruickshank is a celebrity chef who comes out of a self-imposed isolation to take back the television show that made his name, and to reconcile with his teen-aged daughter. Reconciling with his ex-wife, now the majority shareholder in the Starve cooking show, seems a bit out of the question, as she works behind the scenes to make his on-air cooking challenges ever more difficult, even attempting to hire someone to kill him in an on-air "accident." It's all a bit hard to swallow, though it is entertaining. The artwork by Danijel Zezelj is pretty brutish and brutal--Gavin looks like a barely-evolved caveman much of the time--though it does seem fitting for some of the more gruesome cooking challenges (cooking a pig "nose-to-tail" live on air, etc.). I can't imagine there's a huge audience for this one, but it does seem to still be plugging along. If volume 2 shows up, I'd read it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Force Volume 1: Dirty/Tricks; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: X-Force has been on a downward slide ever since Rick Remender left the book, and Simon Spurrier isn't the right person to end that slide. I've like some of Spurrier's work--notably his Crossed: Wish You Were Here--but his work on the X-books has been harder to follow. He likes his crazy characters (see Legion in X-Men: Legacy; Marrow here), but all the internal dialogue gets to be a bit much. His scripts seem to be overstuffed with too much incident and no simple throughline of plot, making them rather hard to follow, even when there are some neat ideas at play (Meme, the electronic mutant). The artwork by Kim is pretty good, though a bit cartoony at times. But, ultimately, it's hard to care about the adventures of a group of characters that you don't have an emotional investment in, and none of the members of this group are people you want to know: Cable, Psylock, Fantomex, and the afore-mentioned Marrow. Still, I kind of liked this volume and so I'm awarding it 3 stars instead of 2. Call me cautiously optimistic about what might be in store for Vol. 2.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Manhattan Projects: Deluxe Edition, Volume Two; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Love this series. The basic premise is that a bunch of the genius scientists who developed the atomic bomb--Oppenheimer, Einstein, Feynman, Fermi, etc.--decided to band together afterwards for the benefit of them all and to become something like the secret rulers of the world ("the illuminati" if you want). Together with some of their counterparts from Nazi Germany (Werhner von Braun) and Communist Russia (Yuri Gagarin, Laika the space dog, etc.), they've set out to conquer the world through science. This is a funny, violent, wildly imaginative story that constantly surprises. There might be one set of twin scientists too many (Albert and Albrecht Einstein, after the early revelation that Oppenheimer was actually his twin brother, Joseph, who had killed and eaten Robert), but I'll forgive that lapse. This is a series I'm hooked on and will be following to the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: She-Hulk, Volume 1: Law and Disorder; Author: Charles Soule; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ugh. This was pretty terrible all around. The artwork by Javier Pulido was all wrong for She-Hulk: too cartoony and goofy. And the artwork by Ron Wimberly is some of the most atrocious I've ever seen in a major comic. The stories themselves aren't strong enough to overcome this. I'd heard that this run was something special because Charles Soule is himself a working lawyer and he brought some of his real-life expertise to bear on the comic. Booooring! This is a real come-down in quality after the excellence of Dan Slott's run on this title.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny Avengers, Volume 1: Counter-Evolutionary; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ultimately rather pointless story, given its place in the shadow of Secret Wars. Lots of effort expended for very little result. A tale full of sound a fury, signifying nothing...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: X-Force Volume 2: Hide/Fear; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Spurrier's plot continues to be a mess and the switch from Rock-He Kim to Tan Eng Huat as lead artist doesn't help things (Huat's artwork seems to be devolving and getting less and less coherent as time goes on). Still, there were some good things here, like the interaction with MI-13 and the origin story of ForgetMeNot, who is sort of like those creatures on the new Dr. Who that you forget about as soon as you turn your back on them. I don't know what's up with Fantomex, but not sure I care for it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps; Author: Kelly Sue DeConnick; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ugh...what a waste of time and everyone's talent (except for that last issue, with art by Laura Braga--that's not talent, that's horrendous). The whole Warzones concept is just wrong. Until Marvel can get there stories back to some semblance of reality, I should probably just stop reading this crap.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 3: Commercial Suicide; Author: Kieron Gillen; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It was a bit of a challenge to get through this volume. Each issue is its own individual story and each is drawn by a completely different artist--apparently the usual artist, Jamie McKelvie, wasn't available for this run of issues, which is a shame because his art is one of the drawing points. The individual stories aren't particularly interesting and don't seem to be pushing the overall story forward in any meaningful way. The second volume ended on quite the cliffhanger and this collection leaves all of that up in the air through seven issues. I'm starting to feel like the story itself has lost its way and not sure if the story was all that significant to begin with. Chalk this one up as a disappointment.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bloody Mary; Author: Garth Ennis; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Not sure what prompted the reprinting of these series, neither of which is Ennis' best work. I can remember reading the first four-issue series back when it came out (1997?) at a time when I was reading anything with Ennis' name on it. I never did get around to reading the second go-around, but didn't miss much. These are goofy, violent, bloody, completely unsubtle stories of a "future" war (in 2012) caused when the European Union basically decides "to hell with immigrants," etc., and the UK and US are the only ones to stand against them. Following some limited nuclear exchanges, the war settles into a high-tech, infantry-based confrontation and continues year after year with no progress in sight. Bloody Mary is a bad-ass female assassin whose modus operandi is to dress up as a nun. Her sidekick, the Major, is a British soldier who's forgotten his name, forgotten everything but how to be a soldier. It's all quite juvenile, on par with the sort of stuff that used to get published in the old 2000 A.D. magazine. Artist Carlos Ezquerra has trouble drawing normal human faces--most of the men have these flat noses and little else to distinguish them. All in all, it makes for some quick reading, but it's really quite disposable, nothing that has any real lasting value. Which again makes me wonder why Image is bothering to reprint it now.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Batgirl, Vol. 2: Family Business; Author: Cameron Stewart; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This wasn't nearly as good as the first volume, which actually featured a pretty gripping story, but it isn't totally without merit. Early on, Batgirl has a run-in with the new Batman, actually her father, Jim Gordon, in a mecha-suit. Barbara knows who he is, but he doesn't know that she is Batgirl. Then it's on to some largely inconsequential adventures with several C-list villains, before wrapping up with a lesbian marriage between two of Barbara's best friends. Even more so than the first volume, this all seems to really be targeted at a young female audience. That first volume had a lot of this, too, but it also had a fairly compelling overall story arc, which this one lacks. I had to force myself to finish this and probably won't be coming back for more.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Rattler; Author: Jason McNamara; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Kind of dumb. It starts off promisingly enough, sort of in the vein of the movie The Vanishing, as a young couple have their car break down on the side of a rural road at night. Along comes a helpful Samaritan who offers to give them a tow to the nearest garage, if the guy will help push the car off the shoulder of the road. Before you know it, the guy giving the tow drives off, pulling the car with the girlfriend still inside, and we're told that the first guy never saw her again. Now, it's ten years later, and our protagonist is a best-selling author and victims' rights advocate. When he accidentally kills an intruder, there's a ghostly voice as the man dies, which seems to be that of his girlfriend. Could she possibly still be alive, held captive somewhere? This is the basic, and rather stupid, premise of this entire comic and from this point on, the number of dead people our hero runs into is a bit hard to believe (though necessary, since each one adds a bit more detail to the possible whereabouts of his girlfriend). The artwork was interesting, largely black and white, though there is more and more red (for blood) as the story continues. Unfortunately, the conclusion to all of this beggars belief and really brings the whole thing to a pretty unsatisfactory end. Not recommended.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A-Force, Volume 0: Warzones!; Author: G. Willow Wilson; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Most of the Warzones tie-ins I've read have been crap, but this one was actually pretty decent...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 30 Days of Night: Night, Again; Author: Joe R. Lansdale; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Surprisingly terrible for something with Lansdale's name on it. The artwork here is on the level of children in kindergarten or daycare.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Beauty, Vol. 1; Author: Jeremy Haun; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This wasn't bad. Seems to be the start of an ongoing series, though the story is largely wrapped-up in these first 6 issues. Basically, the idea is that there's an STD that grants people physical beauty and perfection, but at the cost of a gruesome death. In this world, people actually want to contract this disease, though they don't realize the costs. The government or some shadowy group run by pharmaceutical companies (this part wasn't all that clear) wants to keep it quiet. So when a couple of police officers discover the truth and set out to make it known, they are suddenly running for their lives from a paramilitary force lead by a sadist wearing a skull mask. Story wasn't bad and the artwork was pretty good, too. I guess my main problem was that I don't really see where this is going next. It was pretty self-contained. There doesn't seem to be much story left.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of Knowhere; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not terrible...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tokyo Ghost, Vol. 1: Atomic Garden; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a strange one. It started out in a way I really hate, and which seemed to be very common to comics in the 90s in particular, by tossing us right into the middle of a very complicated situation, without any explanations. There's a future bursting with technology and this guy seems to be something of a Judge Dredd ripoff, a steroids and tech-enhanced policeman who kills as many culprits as he apprehends. He apparently jumped into this because of being beaten and humiliated by a gang that videoed the beating and place it online. The cop and his girlfriend are tasked with traveling to the only non-tech place in the world, neo-Tokyo, and infiltrating it for the powers that be. Once the two of them arrive in the seeming-paradise that is Tokyo, the story completely changes gears as they settle into their new existence and attempt to create new lives for themselves. Unfortunately, a reminder of the past is just waiting to change everything for the worse. Great artwork by Sean Murphy. I know some people don't care for him, but I've liked just about everything I've seen. His art was the best thing about Scott Snyder's The Wake, for instance. Here, his lush visions of a Tokyo overgrown with vegetation and a society of neo-samurai/bushido is really well-realized. And the story, once it switches gears, really gets good. Unfortunately, it takes quite a while to get there. If this had all been clearer out of the box, I think my rating would have gone up significantly. Not sure where the series can go from here as the final issue in this collection seems to wrap things up pretty definitively, but I'd be interested to see what's next.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paper Girls, Vol. 1 (Paper Girls, #1); Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A rare miss from Vaughan who can usually be counted on for gripping stories that make sense, however weird or outlandish their premise. This one starts well, with a group of teenage papergirls delivering their wares in the pre-dawn hours on the day after Thanksgiving, only to come into contact with an increasingly bizarre set of circumstances. First, they see a bunch of weird guys in black, who have scarred faces and speak in some weird, non-translated, alien tongue. Then they discover a spacecraft or a time machine (or something) in the basement of a house under construction. Shortly after an intense blast of light, they find themselves in a post-Rapture (or something) landscape where most of the adults have disappeared (except for the stepmother of one of the girls who takes this opportunity to start drinking and threaten suicide with a handgun) and there are now weird pterodactyl-things flying around in the skies above. This just piles weird on top of more weird, without explanation. You can only stretch that sort of thing out for so long before readers just give up and by the end of the fifth issue here, I was ready to do just that. The artwork is decent, though nothing earth-shattering (I don't know where Chiang got his reputation from), and the coloring is passable. But I could care less about the story and there's really nothing that grabbed me enough to want to see what's next. Vaughan is usually much more dependable (see his The Private Eye, Saga, Ex-Machina, Y: The Last Man, etc., etc.).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Secret Wars; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Early on, I was thinking "Wow!" but as things went on, it started to feel more like "Enough already." on the whole, though a four-star read. I think Hickman could've done more with his setup and didn't really "stick the landing" as they say. Great art throughout from Esad Ribic. I liked this series much more than the spinoff Battleworlds junk I read. But I wish I could have gotten to the end and still felt "Wow!" I didn't.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hatching (The Hatching #1); Author: Ezekiel Boone; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Fast-moving and just enough gore and creep factor ground this pulp story of spiders laying waste to the globe. The story takes place all over the world, largely in the U.S., as researchers race to figure out what's going on and try to mount an effective defense. Things start slowly and gradually get worse and worse. There's a real sense of apocalyptic doom toward the end. And then, rather than come to a conclusion, the story just stops. I don't know if this is the first part of a trilogy or series, but I really didn't care for that ending. Otherwise, this was just enough pulpy fun to warrant 3 stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Magick, Vol. 1: Awakening, Part One; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I'm a big fan of Rucka's writing--Lazarus is a brilliant series--so was really looking forward to this one. It's a very interesting mixture of police procedural with elements of magic and the supernatural. Portsmouth police detective Rowan Black is a practicing witch who slowly becomes involved in a series of weird, seemingly inexplicable events. First, a man takes hostages at a local burger joint, insisting that he'll only talk to Rowan. She agrees to go in and talk to him, if he'll free the hostages, but she has no idea who he is, only that he seems to be under the influence of a spell, a spell which leads him to attempt to set her on fire with kerosene. Later, Rowan and her partner on the force are called in when the body of a rapist/suspected murderer is discovered near the waterfront, missing its left hand. As events continue to unfold, becoming more and more dangerous, it becomes apparent that someone or something has it in for Rowan and is coming after her. This first volume had just enough story to get me hooked and wanting to know more. The artwork by Nicola Scott and coloring by Chiara Arena is also very effective. Much of the book is done in black and white or shades of gray, with sudden bursts of color whenever magic makes an appearance. Not much is resolved in this first collection and things remain very mysterious, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. Thanks to publicists at Image for sending a galley for preview.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chrononauts, Vol. 1; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: history, romance, mystery, thriller, comics, children, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Terrible, just terrible.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: We Stand On Guard; Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty good story of a future war between the U.S. and Canada, from the point of view of a group of Canadian resistance fighters. Very reminiscent of Frank Miller's Martha Washington Goes to War series. Whoever started the whole thing, the U.S. is in it for the long haul, and the real focus isn't on territory so much as it is fresh water. This is a future where global warming has had a big impact on America (though the government still has the money to fund some pretty amazing war machines). Brian K. Vaughan's story might be a bit slight--this could really work on the metaphorical implications of this war, etc.--but it's a clear fight between good guys (the Canadians) and bad (the Americans). The real draw here is the artwork, which is pretty amazing. The level of detail is beautifully rendered, from giant mecha-war machines, to gestures and expressions on characters' faces. Some of it--the war machines, the violence--reminded me of Geoff Darrow. I wasn't familiar with Steve Skroce before this, but after this, he's definitely an artist I will look for in the future. Not an outright classic, but this series is very strong and should hold up well. Thanks to the publicists at Image for a review copy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red She-Hulk, Volume 1: Hell Hath No Fury; Author: Jeff Parker; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Collects issues #58-62? Where are issues #1-57?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manitou Canyon (Cork O'Connor, #15); Author: William Kent Krueger; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Another winner in this series. The book starts in the aftermath of a suspended search for John Harris, a wealthy builder who grew up across the street from Cork O'Connor, the series' lead character. Harris was on a late-season trip into the Boundary Waters with his grandson and granddaughter when he mysteriously disappeared. The police and local rescue workers have exhausted all the possibilities and reluctantly called off the search, when Harris' granddaughter comes to Cork, begging him to take another look. Since it is so late in the year, the looming presence of winter and the first snows of the season are a constant threat. Add in the fact that November has been a troubling time of year for Cork ever since the disappearance of his wife Jo and a number of other circumstances, and O'Connor is reluctant to get involved. But it is in his nature to help people and so he decides to give it a shot--they'll go back to where Harris disappeared, but if nothing is found within a couple of days, that will truly be the end of it. This fairly simple set-up leads into one of Krueger's best books in this series, especially with its descriptions of the north woods and the elements. It's easy to feel the cold winds and the waves lapping at the characters' canoes as the search morphs into something else. Meanwhile back home in Aurora, Cork's daughter Jenny is preparing for her imminent wedding and a figure from the past comes back to re-engage with Henry Meloux, Cork's father figure and spiritual guide. All of this adds up to a very satisfying mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fuse Volume 3: Perihelion; Author: Antony Johnston; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Pretty good police procedural set on a space station. Detectives Ralph Dietrich and Klem Rostoyvich are kept very busy during the annual Perihelion festival, the day when the space station known as The Fuse is closest to the sun. It always seems like people go a little crazy and the crime rate is generally at its highest during these 24 hours. There's a serial killer on the loose, a bomb threat at the "sungazing" festival, a madman whose taken a hospital hostage, a crazed worker at one of the stations food farms, and an unexplained fatality at the festival. Our detectives must deal with all of these mysteries during a particularly long stretch of work, one marked by occasional brownouts caused by damage to the solar grids by a meteor storm. Everything is dealt with in a very workmanlike fashion and there is even a hint at a larger, ongoing mystery involving someone that Dietrich has been looking for. The artwork here is very pedestrian, but it is effective in telling a fairly straightforward mystery narrative. It might be nice to get a few more glimpses into the larger mystery and the ongoing history of the space station, but Johnston and his collaborators continue to deliver an interesting and intriguing mystery series. Thanks to the publicists at Image Comics for the galley preview.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Off The Grid (Joe Pickett, #16); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I love the Joe Pickett series, but this is not one of the best books. It's quite rushed, relies a lot on some very big coincidences, and just doesn't have the overall quality as most of the other books in this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Golem; Author: Lorenzo Ceccotti; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some very pretty, manga-inspired artwork, but the story doesn't make a whole lot of sense...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Low, Vol. 2: Before the Dawn Burns Us; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Lovely artwork, but the preachy tone is very off-putting. Usually a big fan of Remender's work, but this isn't one of his better titles.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dark Matter; Author: Blake Crouch; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Wow! What a book. This is a hard book to describe without spoilers, but it is one of the best speculative science fiction novels I've read in a long time, with some real, honest emotional wallops built in, too. Crouch does a masterful job of fictionalizing some concepts of quantum physics regarding parallel worlds and the possibility of a multiverse and turns it into one of the most amazing love stories I've ever read. There are some elements of the television series Sliders at work here, as well as a more sinister version of the goofy Michael Keaton film Multiplicity, but the whole is something else altogether. Highly, highly recommended!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Underground Airlines; Author: Ben H. Winters; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really good book by Winters (author of the Last Policeman trilogy) set in an alternate version of present-day America where the Civil War was never fought and slavery was never eradicated. There are still several southern states (known as the "Hard Four") where slavery is legal, because of a compromise that was made and accepted in an attempt to head off civil war. Other states have voluntarily given up on slavery, but it is well-established in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Carolina (a state formed by the merger of present-day North and South Carolinas) and there are a whole set of laws in place to regulate it and the commerce that results (for instance, a number of northern states have enacted "clean hands" laws in an effort to block commerce with the south). In this world, the north is much like our own, a decaying, industrial wasteland, and the south is, ironically, prospering (partly because of the fixed cost of labor). In this vividly-imagined setting, the main character, Victor, is introduced, tracking down an escaped slave in the vicinity of Indianapolis. Victor himself was an escaped slave and in exchange for partial freedom, he agreed to become a slave tracker for the US Marshals Service. He's basically an undercover operative and the book reads much like a detective story, as he tracks the whereabouts of Jackdaw, who escaped from a garment factory in Alabama with a set of documents which could "blow the lid" off the situation. The book is very well-done and touches on a lot of the current issues we're facing with respect to racial issues and it manages to be a page-turning detective novel at the same time. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IQ (IQ, #1); Author: Joe Ide; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I.Q. is Isaiah Quintabe, a young black man living in the 'hood in Los Angeles. But IQ is no ordinary young man--he's got a genius-level IQ and was the star of his high school's academic team, until the untimely death of his beloved older brother in a hit and run. Now, he's sort of a local fixer, the guy you come to when your daughter runs away with a gang member or a predatory lender tricks you into signing your house away. He'll take payment in whatever you can afford--a plate of cookies, a chicken, or cash. IQ and his former roommate, Dodson, get involved in a case revolving around an attempt on the life of "Black the Knife," a rap star who might be on his way back down. He's increasingly drug-addicted and erratic and his hangers-on all have potential motives for seeing him dead. The hit man appears to be using a giant dog as his weapon. This was an interesting first novel, though it had a few too many coincidences and unexplained connections for my liking. Apparently, Ide was attempting to create a Sherlock Holmes for the 'hood in the character of IQ, and there are times when this works really well. The story alternates between the present day and a point about ten years previously, when Isaiah was becoming the man he is today. His continued involvement with Dodson, a former gang member and his one-time partner in crime, was never fully explained, which works to the detriment of the story. Still, the story has a lot of promise and IQ is a character I wouldn't mind reading about in further adventures. Hopefully, Ide's writing will only improve in subsequent novels.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: OINK: Heaven's Butcher; Author: John Mueller; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Kind of half-baked and not fully developed. This reminds me of something a juvenile delinquent might have written during study hall (or detention). Not sure where this got its "classic" status from...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Injection, Vol. 2 (Injection, #2); Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I loved this. Ellis is firmly back writing in the vein of Global Frequency and Planetary here, as he follows the exploits of an unusual group of investigators who are trying to track down a rogue AI that was "injected" into the Internet and is beginning to cause all sorts of havoc, its actions often indistinguishable from supernatural occurrences. This volume focuses on Viv Headland, a Sherlock Holmes-type, as he investigates a weird mystery involving a financier, his dead son and mistress, ghost sex, a chunk of human bicep cured like a ham, and an underground alchemical cult trying to lay claim to the Philosopher's Stone. It's all quite strange and I'm not sure I fully understood it all, but it's a much better story than the disjointed first volume of this series. Couple that with the excellent artwork by Declan Shalvey and coloring by Jordie Bellaire, and you've got a series that seems to finally be hitting its stride. Very satisfying. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 9: Bloom; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Fitting and satisfying conclusion to Snyder's arc on this series. Following an epic battle, both Batman and the Joker have forgotten who they used to be and are now trying to make regular lives for themselves. Bruce Wayne is working in a community center and has fallen in love with Julie Madison, a co-worker, even going so far as to propose to her. In Batman's absence, Jim Gordon has taken up the mantle, fighting in a mecha-Batman suit under the auspices of the GCPD, against the likes of Mr. Bloom, the latest menace threatening to destroy the city and its people. When all looks bleak, Bruce must don the mantle of Batman again, even if it means giving up his chance at a normal life. Not everyone has been too crazy about where this story has gone, but at least it comes full circle here, and Greg Capullo proves himself one of the best artists ever to work on a Bat-title. Highly recommended and so is this entire run.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Science, Vol. 4: Godworld; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: After losing patience with the meandering pace of a story that didn't seem to be going anywhere, I was pleasantly surprised to read this latest volume, which turns things around completely. This has become a "must-read" title for me again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Boy on the Bridge; Author: M.R. Carey; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Really enjoyed this one, which acts as both a prequel and a sequel to Carey's earlier The Girl With All the Gifts. If you liked that book, you'll like this one, too. In the earlier days of the "hungry" apocalypse, a crew of soldiers and scientists are aboard an armored, mobile science lab, replicating the journey of an earlier crew that lost contact. They're looking for any possible hope in battling the cordyceps fungus which has proven to be remarkably resilient and resistant to all attempts at coming up with a cure. Along for the ride is a young autistic boy who is responsible for coming up with the e-blocker gel that can mask human scents from the zombiefied masses. The group meet up with some of the first examples of second generation infected, children who, though carrying the fungus, can still think and act for themselves, and who prove to be very dangerous adversaries. This is a great read, maybe not quite up to the level of the previous book, although the epilogue goes a long way toward raising it to that high standard. Recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cry Havoc, Vol. 1: Mything in Action; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Very promising new series. A lesbian werewolf ("barghest," technically) joins a black ops squad made up of other mythical creatures to take down a rogue operative in the Afghanistan desert. This rogue just happens to be another werewolf-type creature trying to create some sort of safe haven for all sorts of creatures. Then there's the black ops organization, In Hand, which has its own secret agenda. And all of it told out of sequence, moving between three different time periods. You certainly can't fault Simon Spurrier for lack of ambition. It's amazing this works as well as it does. The artwork by Ryan Kelly is a standout, most of the time (there are a few sequences that are a bit hard to follow, though that may be a result of Spurrier's reach exceeding his grasp) and this tale of mythic creatures, military operatives, and secret agendas is pretty remarkable. Though the story seems pretty well wrapped up in this first volume, I'll certainly be interested to see where things might go next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Little Sleep (Mark Genevich, #1); Author: Paul Tremblay; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I really wanted to like this, but it just didn't draw me in. I struggled to keep reading, though I did eventually finish. The main character is a detective who is beset with narcolepsy and I think that's a great idea that could have made for a great novel, but unfortunately, this isn't it. When I read the description, I was thinking of something along the lines of the movie Memento, with its main character beset by short-term memory loss and keeping lists of things to remember each time his condition resets. But here, the narcolepsy is a plot convenience and really doesn't add much to the proceedings. Plus, I never really connected with the smartass tone of the narrator.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Past Aways: Facedown in the Timestream; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I guess I like this. Good, though not great. Story a bit reminiscent of Rick Remender's Black Science. There were some hints of the same sort of subversive storytelling as Kindt employed in Mind Mgmt, but just hints. It wasn't as full-blown weird as that series could get at times. The artwork is very interesting and colorful. I really wish I liked it more than I did, but I got to the end and just said, "Meh," and moved on to the next book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Strange, Vol. 1: The Way of the Weird; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I've never been that big a fan of Doctor Strange, but I must have the next volume of this series, right...NOW!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Vol. 1: BFF; Author: Amy Reeder; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It's not Ms. Marvel, but it's not terrible, either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fade Out; Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: The ultimate dark Hollywood noir from the team behind Sleeper, Incognito, Criminal, and Fatale. Brubaker and Sean Phillips are an amazing duo and I'd follow them just about anywhere. This is a dark tale of Hollywood corruption, set during the time of the blacklist and the ongoing search for Communist infiltration. Our main character is a writer, who's been struggling with writer's block since returning from the war, and acting as a front for his blacklisted friend and mentor. After a particularly wild party, he awakens in a studio bungalow, only to find the dead body of one of the studio's stars in the making. Aware that to report the incident is to implicate himself, he stays quiet, only to discover the whole thing hushed up, staged to look like a suicide. He tells his friend and the two of them commence their own haphazard investigation that uncovers child abuse, murder, and other perversions. This is a dark, dark story and would make a heck of a movie. But it is also a standout graphic novel on its own as well. Great, atmospheric artwork from Phillips, and the story by Brubaker has its roots in stories a screenwriter uncle shared with him growing up. Really good stuff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saga, Vol. 6 (Saga, #6); Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Got this in my hot little hands today and had it read within the hour. Loved it. Need more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three - Lady of Shadows; Author: Robin Furth; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not bad, though the artwork varies from poor to rather ugly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Time of Torment (Charlie Parker, #14); Author: John Connolly; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I love this series, enough that I will drop anything I might be reading just to get my hands on the next installment. So why then have I never rated a single book higher than 4 stars? Have I never read one that absolutely knocked me out? That can't be, because I know I have, yet somehow, that's the case. The latest Charlie Parker is just as good, dark, and page-turning as the rest. If anything, I wish it had been longer, that the showdown with the Cut had been drawn-out further. But the book is what it is and if you're a fan of this series, you're definitely going to want to read it. If you haven't yet discovered John Connolly and Charlie Parker, I envy you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Road, Volume 1: The Holy North; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: While I enjoyed it, I still found parts of this rather confusing (the jumps in time and place and some of the artwork). Also, what exactly the big mystery is hasn't even been address just yet. Five issues in and it isn't much clearer than it was from the beginning. Still, the idea of a mystery with a Viking detective has a certain can't-miss quality to it, so here's hoping things improve in the next volume.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Velvet, Vol. 3: The Man Who Stole the World (Velvet, #3); Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I liked it, though not as much perhaps as previous volumes in this series. The whole story got so convoluted, it was a bit hard to remember who was who and what was what (a problem I never ran into in Brubaker's similar Sleeper series). The Watergate break-in is drawn into the story, and Velvet has run-ins with both President Nixon and Vice President Ford in this one. The artwork is, as usual, very good (though I can't help but feel that artist Epting is trying to ape Brubaker's frequent collaborator Sean Phillips more than just a little). The ultimate conclusion was a bit of a let-down, too, after so much build-up. Still, if this team sees fit to send out Agent Templeton on future adventures, I'll be there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Obsidian Chamber (Pendergast #16); Author: Douglas Preston; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm a bit torn. While I really enjoyed the book, at its heart is a narrative ploy that really should have been reconsidered by the authors. I can't say a whole lot without giving away an important plot twist (that is revealed very early on, but still), but the effect is to cheapen some of the earlier volumes in the series a bit, as well leaving the door wide open for it to be picked up again at some future point. Maybe that's all to the better, since Preston and Child do some of their best writing when chronicling the twisted history of the Pendergast family. Still, I felt a bit let-down by this turn of events, even though the book on the whole is right up there with some of the best in this sometimes uneven series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outcast, Vol. 3: This Little Light; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This does seem to be sort of going nowhere. I'm still along for the ride. For now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manifest Destiny, Vol. 3: Chiroptera & Carniformaves; Author: Chris Dingess; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I absolutely love this series...everything about it. Poor Fezrons!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Invincible, Vol. 22: Reboot?; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I still enjoy this comic, but it increasingly feels like just about every possible storyline has already been played out. To send Mark back in time is really just a variation on when he was trapped in another dimension by that mad scientist guy (blanking on the name right now). It is also quite clearly a delaying tactic to keep from getting to the inevitable fight against Thragg. Artwork continues to be topnotch, but I really feel like I'm ready for this title to wrap up.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club 2; Author: Chuck Palahniuk; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I had such high hopes for this, but it is truly terrible. Palahniuk has no idea how to write a comic and the story is just a bunch of garbled nonsense. Yechhhh!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hex; Author: Thomas Olde Heuvelt; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was a good, creepy, horror novel for much of its running time. Heuvelt's basic plot involves a small town in New York that has lived for centuries under a curse. The curse of a witch who was put to death and has been haunting the place ever since. The people have learned to live with her and have a number of edicts they follow: outsiders must never know about the curse, if a native leaves the town of Black Spring for too long, he or she becomes susceptible to a strong urge to commit suicide, etc. In other ways, she's just a nuisance--when she shows up in a person's house, standing in the corner, they'll just throw a towel over her face until she decides to leave. She seems to follow a prescribed path, so much so that a group of teen boys comes up with a great prank, placing a streetlight in her path so that she runs into it and falls on her butt. In the early going, the book is often quite humorous (blackly so) in places and reminded me at times of the revisionist horror movie The Cabin in the Woods. But things gradually get darker and darker, grimmer and grimmer, building to a fairly apocalyptic conclusion--one that seems just a bit over the top (the author even says in his acknowledgments, "sorry for that--I got a bit carried away."). Still, for a good two-thirds or more of the book, I was completely under its spell and will be looking for more books from this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stumptown, Vol. 3: The Case of the King of Clubs; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: I didn't like this one nearly as much as the previous 2 volumes in this series. It's so Portland-centric, that the story really doesn't resonate that well for outsiders. And the mystery isn't really resolved by the end. Artwork isn't bad and the inclusion of color is a step forward. But the previous volumes had actual mysteries that were solved by detective work and were stories that anyone could relate to. Disappointing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Skitter (The Hatching #2); Author: Ezekiel Boone; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: If you read and enjoyed The Hatching, Skitter is just more of the same. Actually, it just reads like an extension of the first book, and nothing much is resolved here. Things just get more bleak for the human race in the face of the carnivorous spider invasion as it sweeps across the U.S. and the world. Boone continues to jump from one brief scene and group of people to another. There are some new dangers this time--spiders with red stripes that appear to be less of a danger, although there are reports that they paralyze and wrap their still living victims in waves of spider silk. And then there are the huge, glowing egg sacs that have appeared in a few places, including Japan. What further horror could they portend? I enjoyed Boone's The Hatching, which was a fast-paced and gruesome horror-thriller. Skitter continues that story and if anything, provides a bit of a lull between the gruesome events of that first book and what is presumably still to come. If the book has a weakness, it's just that Boone could conceivably keep writing little snippets of story like this indefinitely, without ever coming to a conclusion.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tokyo Ghost, Vol. 2: Come Join Us; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: graphic, comics, romance, fiction; Review: Blechhhhh...I actually kind of liked the first volume of this. I'm a fan of Remender's when he's at his best and Sean Murphy is an artist I really like, too. But this is just plain bad. This is Remender at his worst, even worse than his work in Low. This reads like a rip-off of Judge Dredd with some sex and swearing thrown in for equal measure. Did not care for this one bit.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 1: I Am Gotham; Author: Tom King; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was really kind of dull. About the only thing it had going for it was the David Finch artwork.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Quarantine Zone; Author: Daniel H. Wilson; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Good artwork, but the story is really bad. Very basic premise that isn't well thought-out or developed at all.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paper Girls, Vol. 2 (Paper Girls, #2); Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Still very head-scratching and WTF, but I liked this volume better than the first, as 3 of the 4 paper girls jump from 1988 to 2016 and Erin comes into contact with her future, 40 year old self. There's a lot of fun to be had in the girls' perspectives on "the future" and what has changed and what hasn't. And then there's the far future Erin who makes an appearance. And the various microscopic beings which have suddenly enlarged to city-destroying size ("size, like time, is relative"). The best parts of this series are the growing friendships among these girls as they attempt to puzzle out just what the heck is happening. Cliff Chiang's art is very simple, but just right for this tale of time-jumping, dinosaurs, and multiple versions of the same person all meeting themselves. Hopefully, there'll be a few more answers next time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Woman, Volume 1: The Lies; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Interesting. I came to this primarily due to Rucka's involvement, not having read much (any) Wonder Woman before. The primary story involves a cult in Africa attempting to resurrect some sort of plant-god (not too different from Swamp Thing, actually--they look very similar) who also has the ability to turn people into animal-human hybrids, including a friend of Diana's who is now a cheetah-woman trying to fight her hunger for human flesh. The artwork is pretty good, though rather cartoony at times. The story was easy to follow, though there's enough Wonder Woman-insider stuff at the edges that I'm sure there was a lot more going on I wasn't aware of. This was an okay collection, nothing too special.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manifest Destiny, Vol. 4: Sasquatch; Author: Chris Dingess; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I love this series, but this wasn't the greatest collection. It was rather confusingly plotted, jumping back and forth in time between the Lewis and Clark expedition and a previous, doomed expedition three years previously. Both encounter the one-eyed sasquatch, a skull of which was featured on President Thomas Jefferson's desk in a previous issue, and which seems to be one of the primary instigators for the new expedition. The sasquatch seem to be a largely peaceful race, though their size is quite fearsome, and once the white men begin to hunt them for food, they become much more dangerous. Captain Helm, the sole survivor of the previous expedition, has returned with a wild story that makes people doubt his sanity, especially his meeting with Navath, a firebird/god creature found near an arch on the Pacific Ocean. The artwork continues to be a delight and is pretty gruesome at times. Following the story is a bit of a challenge, since there is little keeping the two stories/time periods separate. And, ultimately, I'm not sure that this awkward flashback really adds much to the ongoing story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I guess only time will tell. Though I was a bit disappointed by this volume, I'll still be waiting impatiently for the next one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Animal Man Omnibus; Author: Grant Morrison; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I was sure I'd read this at some point over the years, but turns out I hadn't. This was one of the ground-breaking runs in comics in the late 80s and early 90s and one of the neatest things about it is that once the weird, "meta" things really start happening toward the end, you can go back to the earlier issues and see just how carefully Morrison had it all plotted-out from the very beginning. The artwork is a bit sketchy from our current perspective, but it does the story justice. Glad to finally catch up with this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Rising (Red Rising, #1); Author: Pierce Brown; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Wow, what a book! This started off rather slowly and seemed to be a dim echo of The Hunger Games. But it really started gathering steam and picking up speed. What an intense, visceral, twisty story. There's a lot more of Lord of the Flies here than Hunger Games or Ender and it just builds and builds to a heck of a conclusion. I'd love to jump into the next book right away, but should probably take some time to catch my breath before starting Golden Son. Really enjoyed this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death Follows; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm a big fan of Bunn's work on The Sixth Gun, but this was just too much. Over-the-top in terms of grim and it all happens so fast at the end--should have been more build-up on the way. Nice art from the Zamudio brothers.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Walking Dead, Vol. 26: Call to Arms; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This storyline is really strong and just keeps getting better. Wish the TV series would catch up to what's happening in the comics faster.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Gun, Vol. 9: Boot Hill; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a really great series for most of its running time. This conclusion is all a bit over-the-top, but comes about as close to neatly wrapping things up as any finish I've seen. Still, as others have written, this series was at its best when it was more of a weird western than an apocalyptic epic. Glad to have had the chance to read this, surely the high point of Cullen Bunn's career. Looking forward to the eventual television series that someone has got to be planning at some point.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Strange, Vol. 2: The Last Days of Magic; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The best parts of this were the Chris Bachalo-drawn issues. Not as good as the first volume--as I read on, I started to feel like I'd read this all before. In fact, the storyline is very similar to Aaron's first outing on Thor, with a seemingly unstoppable villain taking down everything out of a misplaced sense of vengeance. It's not exactly the same, but the parallels are certainly there. Really didn't care for the last part of this volume, a weird mix-up of a bunch of Marvel's magical characters dealing with the defeat of magic. Its placement, immediately after Dr. Strange has once again saved the world, seems odd, since we already know the outcome. If you're going to include something like that, put it up front. Hopefully Aaron can bounce back from this in the next story arc (although it looks like that's going to somehow tie-in to the dreadful Civil War II).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman: Night of the Monster Men; Author: Steve Orlando; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: This was pretty bad, but in a fun way (kind of like the ongoing Gotham TV series, which I keep watching, even though it never seems to improve). When I got this collection through NetGalley, I was expecting the second volume of Tom King's Rebirth work on Batman, so was a bit surprised at the presence of characters I'd never heard of before--Orphan and Spoiler--as well as a seemingly-reformed Clayface. They're all part of a "Bat" team, which also includes Nightwing, Batwoman, and Gotham Girl, who are faced with a number of giant monsters attacking Gotham. These monsters are part of a rather underdeveloped scheme by Hugo Strange to defeat and replace Batman (the whole thing is barely explained at all, other than a fleeting image of Strange lifting weights in the nude and then a brief battle scene between Strange, dressed in pseudo-Batman costume, fighting the real thing towards the end). Along the way, we also have scenes set in a giant cave system where much of the population of downtown Gotham has been relocated, supposedly for safety from the oncoming threat of a hurricane, and at risk from some sort of sentient mold spores that turns them homicidal. The monster men are the result of some modified Bane venom and a couple are truly hideous creations, including a spider-creature in a prison. This was all rather ridiculous, but presented in an entertaining fashion. I rather enjoyed it despite all the loose ends and the varying artwork from one issue to the next.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three - Bitter Medicine; Author: Robin Furth; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ugh...what's happening to this series? This used to be a flagship title, with art from some of the top names in the biz. The artwork in this volume is just crap and it's over-colored on top of that. What a mess. The story is much harder to follow than it needs to be. I'd forgotten about the horrible cliche that is Detta Walker--don't think that's going to play very well in a movie version. I hope these things get better or I might have to give up on this series.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: James Bond, Vol. 1: VARGR; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Starts off really well, but unfortunately, doesn't stick the landing. I, too, had high hopes for a Warren Ellis-penned James Bond story and it looks like he'll deliver, with cybernetic bad guys and a weird drug that's flooding the black market in England. Unfortunately, that's about the extent of it. I really wish Ellis could have pushed for something a bit more substantial and perhaps Global Frequency-level in his plotting, but maybe there are limits to what can be done with the property? The artwork was good and I was really enjoying this until I came to the very limp ending. Boo!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Men: Superior, Volume 1: Survival of the Fittest; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is basically X-Force in a new guise, with some carryover from previous iterations in the form of Psylocke and Fantomex. It's a mutant black ops unit, fighting against the threats to mutantkind. The artwork is great. The story, at least in this volume, is rather scattershot. Hopefully this will come together in further volumes. I'm rating it a bit higher than it probably deserves, based on memories and past experience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: House of Penance; Author: Peter J. Tomasi; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: More creepy than outright horrific, this is the engrossing story of the Winchester house and one widow's attempt to keep the spirits of gun victims from robbing her of her soul. Amazingly beautiful artwork throughout. Really well-done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transmetropolitan, Vol. 1: Back on the Street (Transmetropolitan, #1); Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I love Warren Ellis, but somehow, never read this series. Coming back to it now, I can see where some readers might have trouble with it. This isn't (at least so far) really a continuing, consecutive story. Each issue is devoted to a different thing--television, religion, etc.--and allows Ellis to pontificate via his character Spider Jerusalem. I think all of that is much more effective when woven into the sort of mind-bending science fiction that Ellis at his best can conjure--Planetary, Injection, Trees, etc.--rather than in concentrated little bursts like this. Love the artwork by Darick Robertson. I guess I'll keep going, but I don't have to read this back-to-back-to back...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill or Be Killed, Vol. 1; Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: romance, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Compared to their work together on The Fade Out, this is relatively minor work by Brubaker and Phillips, but still, any excuse for the two of them to work together is welcome. I was reminded a lot of Brian Michael Bendis' Scarlet while reading this, since it is a similarly-themed book about vigilantism and "taking out the bad people." Yet I think Brubaker's take is much more interesting. We're never really sure if the "demon" that propels Brubaker's protagonist into his life of crime is real or not (an image toward the end of this first volume seems to pin this down somewhat), but it doesn't really matter, as he begins to develop his skills and spends more time researching his next crime than on his homework as a 28-year-old grad student. And the doomed love triangle involving the protagonist, his female best friend, and his roommate serves to further ground things. The artwork by Sean Phillips is again a standout. The only drawback to this first volume is that it only collects 4 issues of the series, which makes it kind of hard to see where things are going. Count me on wanting to see what happens next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Black Monday Murders, Vol. 1: All Hail, God Mammon; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really enjoyed this. It may not be the most original idea in the world, namely that the world's big banks and richest families all got that way through manipulating black (and blood) magic, but Hickman presents it in such a way that it's all very mysterious and intriguing and I want to know what happens next. I love the graphic design elements that creep in Hickman's Pronea books and this one is no different, especially the magic symbols which seem to belong to a written language that predates human civilization (and are the only thing that one character--a vampire?--ever speaks). The artwork is really good and just the right amount of distancing and chilly to support this story. There's a murder investigation (lead by a detective with some basic skills in voudou) and infighting between the houses and flashbacks and journal entries and it all adds up to a comic that's hooked itself in deep. Looking forward to volume 2...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gemina (The Illuminae Files, #2); Author: Amie Kaufman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This wasn't quite as good as the first book in this series, Illuminae, which was quite inventive. The problem here is that the writers seem to be trying to write the same book much of the time. It's still enjoyable, though not the revelation that the first book was. Not really sure a third book (which seems to be looming) is really needed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Goddamned, Vol. 1: Before the Flood; Author: Jason Aaron; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is basically the same story Darren Aronofsky told in his movie Noah, though flipped around so that the bad guys (sons of Cain and, this time, Cain himself) are the viewpoint characters. 1600 years after Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden, the Earth is a desolate wasteland, defiled by the descendants of Cain, man-beasts, etc. Cain himself is wandering around, trying to find some way to finally die, when he stumbles on a group with superior technology--iron weapons, animals in wheeled cages, nephilim, etc. Turns out this is Noah, busily collecting his animals, but also surrounding himself with a slave army to build his ark, including a young boy named Lodo, whose mother pleads with Cain for his help in rescuing the boy. The world is a pretty dismal place, well-illustrated by R. M. Guera, with brief flashbacks to the way it looked just after the exile from Eden--not paradise, but still pretty nice. In fact, Guera's art is really the series' saving grace, since the story, such as it is, is really rather slight. Though I enjoyed it, this really isn't on par with some of Jason Aaron's better efforts, such as Scalped or Thor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Force Volume 3: Ends/Means; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Normally like Spurrier, but his writing can get very convoluted and overly complex, and such is the case here. Plus, the switchoffs in art from one issue to the next really don't help. This was a disappointment.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Black Science, Vol. 5: True Atonement; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: One of the more straightforward arcs in this entire series. Grant McKay is searching for his daughter Pia, when he accidentally stumbles on the world where she's been living, hailed as the embodiment of a peace-bringing force and right in the middle of a ceremony aimed at ending a thousand-year war. McKay's arrival disrupts things and throws that fragile peace into chaos and all his attempts at fixing things just seem to make it all worse (really, that's kind of the germ of this entire series so far). Scalera's art continues to be one the series' strongest features--very colorful, though somewhat goofy --well in keeping with the storytelling itself. I used to think this story was heading for a dead end, but this volume suggests there's more story to be told. Looking forward to the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moon Knight, Volume 3: In the Night (Moon Knight Vol. V, #3); Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Fairly weak all around, from the storytelling (which mimics Warren Ellis' run) to the art. Definitely a case of the law of diminishing returns...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1.1: Learning to Crawl; Author: Dan Slott; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Heavy dose of industrial-strength cheese...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unfollow, Vol. 1: 140 Characters; Author: Rob Williams; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very nice. Kind of like the new 100 Bullets. I want more!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: James Bond, Vol. 2: Eidolon; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Now this is the book I was hoping for with Ellis' first outing, VARGR. Eidolon has a much better story--SPECTRE has been defeated, but it has left behind small, rogue cells in a number of the world's intelligence services, including MI5, the CIA, and the Turkish service, MIT. These cells have been discovered through the careful auditing of accounts by a British agent housed in the Turkish embassy in Los Angeles and in response, a kill team has been dispatched. Luckily, James Bond gets there just a few minutes faster. From there, we are treated to a fast-paced story where it is never clear just who can be trusted. Along the way, Bond investigates a secret reserve of steam-powered railway engines, set aside just in case of a nuclear war and the accompanying EMP that might wipe out modern engines, and a tense meeting between Bond's superior, M, and his counterpart in MI5 is scheduled at an out-of-the-way country house. The main villain, Hawkwood, is convincingly scary and more than a match for Bond. This is a story that could easily be turned into a very exciting movie, and would make a lot of sense, following on the heels of the most recent Daniel Craig outing, as the remnants of SPECTRE attempt to regroup and find their way. Excellent artwork throughout by Jason Masters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny X-Men: Superior, Volume 2: Apocalypse Wars; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was kind of a mess. I sort of enjoyed the first volume of this series, which reminded me a lot of X-Force, the mutant special ops team. But this story here didn't make a lot of sense--maybe because it was a tie-in to yet another Marvel event? Dunno, but Bunn is someone who can usually be counted upon for better. At least the artwork wasn't a complete bust.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ultimates: Omniversal, Volume 1: Start with the Impossible; Author: Al Ewing; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Seems kind of like Jonathan Hickman-lite...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Beauty, Vol. 2; Author: Jeremy Haun; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Not quite what I was expecting. I figured we'd continue the story from volume 1, but this looks at a new group of characters, as well as jumping back to the past, before people knew that "the beauty" was a death sentence (besides remaking your appearance, etc.). This is a fairly generic story of criminals on the run, double-crosses, and revenge on angry crime bosses, but I really enjoyed it. One of the characters. a Hispanic gangster, six foot tall and 3oo pounds heavy, takes "the beauty" after killing off several members of his gang and making off with their cash, and it turns him into a movie-idol handsome, slim, male model type--the perfect disguise for going on the run. Another character, a trans hitwoman, has also taken the treatment and it has made her even more womanly and beautiful. It's not exactly a new story or particularly groundbreaking, but I enjoyed it a lot. I'd be interested to see where this goes next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Habitat; Author: Simon Roy; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Really liked this. Story takes place on some sort of space craft/space habitat, long after an unknown and almost forgotten cataclysm has taken place. Society has devolved and people are at war with each other. Habsec, the old security class, keep people or "civvies" in feedlots and routinely cannibalize them. Doctors still maintain some memory of the ability to use key cards to create weapons and other items on the station's 3D printers. Engineers keep the place running, including a makeshift patch in an area known as the "dead zone," where there's a breach in the hull. Into all this comes Cho, a young man recently instituted into the ranks of habsec. On his first day, he captures an old man with a strange clay tablet around his neck. In honor of this, Cho's superior allows him to keep the tablet, which is then damaged, revealing a key card underneath. Cho sneaks out of his bunk that night and uses the card to create a phaser (it looks like a variety of particle weapons are available), setting in motion a power struggle between habsec and the engineers. What a great book! The art is stunning and the story is quite powerfully told, through rather minimalistic means. I've always had a soft spot for this subgenre of science fiction--the doomed generation ship where people have devolved into primitive or feudal societies--and Roy's work fits right in there. Not sure if there's more to this story or not, but I'd sure be interested in reading another volume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harrow County, Vol. 3: Snake Doctor; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I keep waiting for this one to break through to the heights of Bunn's work on The Sixth Gun, but it just never quite gets there, at least until the 2-part story arc focused on Emmy's friend Bernice and the witchy-woman Lady Lovey. Wow, was that good, from the folkloric aspects of the story to the lovingly-rendered art by Tyler Crook. Unfortunately, this is book-ended by two very lesser stories, each with a different guest artist. Hannah Christenson's work on the haunted house one-off is definitely not up to the standard set by Crook. So, I guess I'm still waiting for this comic to really take off for me. There are signs here and there, but it hasn't happened yet.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mythic, Volume 1; Author: Phil Hester; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is kind of a mess, story-wise. Never all that clear what's happening or why it's happening. Reads like a BPRD knock-off, with none of the careful attention to story and character. The only saving grace is John McCrea's artwork, which is something of a revelation after seeing his cartoony work on Hitman. Here, it's very controlled and clean.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Transmetropolitan, Vol. 2: Lust for Life (Transmetropolitan, #2); Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Chock-full of cool sci-fi ideas and Darick Robertson's amazing artwork.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Spire; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is great, from the story, to the world-building, to the artwork. "Blade Runner meets The Dark Crystal with a dash of Mad Max." That's as good a description as anything else.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Avengers: A.I.M., Volume 1: Everything is New; Author: Al Ewing; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I keep reading on the Internet about what a great writer Al Ewing is, but I have seen no evidence of this so far. This is pretty much a complete, chaotic mess.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Walking Dead, Vol. 27: The Whisperer War; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm very surprised by some of the low ratings for this book. This was about as exciting as this comic has ever been. After a period of relative peace and security where the people in the various settlements actually got to live a little (they even had a fair!), along comes one of the most serious threats our protagonists have ever faced. Over the course of the last 3-4 collections, the threat of the Whisperers has really built up, to the point of all-out war, as delineated in this volume. Sure, they may live in the woods and walk among the dead, but these people are a threat and this war, which Rick's people think they've won at volume's end, is far from over. This has been one of the best prolonged stretches of storytelling and story development in this title's long history and I, for one, am waiting quite anxiously to see what's next. If only the television show could hurry up and get to this point.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outcast, Vol. 4: Under Devil's Wing; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'd agree that the story is moving at a snail's pace, but at least it still maintains my interest. Even though the Cinemax television series was only 10 episodes long, it has left the comic in the dust, which is a bit annoying. Reading this felt like catch-up to what I'd already seen, especially with a series that follows (or seems to--maybe it will diverge like TWD?) the original comic so closely. I'd really like for the demons or whatever the heck they are to finally be clearly explained, rather than this whole "beating around the bush" approach to storytelling that's been going on. You know, as I write this review, my general rating has been dropping--I started at 4 stars and dropped to 3. If I keep going, I might drop it to 2, so better stop while I'm ahead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Golden Son (Red Rising, #2); Author: Pierce Brown; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Wow! What a conclusion. Must. Have. Next. Book. Now!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Low, Vol. 3: Shore of the Dying Light; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: For a comic all about how you shape your life by your positive outlook, this is one depressing story. It continues to be a little hard to follow at times, due to the generally beautiful, though not always clear, painted (watercolor) artwork by Greg Tocchini. Stel finally gets above the water to the remnants of the dying Earth above, and it is a weird and wonderful place, inhabited by rat people and wasp people, who seem to be at war with each other. Meanwhile, in the dark depths, Stel's daughters continue to deal with their own personal issues, as well as betrayal in the form of their brother's ex-wife, who has come along for the ride. This isn't as strong as some of Remender's other series, but I'm still enjoying it and will be here for the next (final?) volume.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Transmetropolitan, Vol. 3: Year of the Bastard (Transmetropolitan, #3); Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This nearly 20-year-old comic is surprisingly relevant to what's happening in politics today...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All-Star Batman, Volume 1: My Own Worst Enemy; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Glad to see Snyder continue on Batman in one form or another. The main story here is a several-issue story regarding Batman and Two-Face, with Batman tasked with taking the villain to a location where a cure for his condition has been stored. Unfortunately, Two-Face has his own plot underway--if Batman isn't stopped, Gotham's villains will have their darkest secrets outed to the police. This was a lot of fun, not nearly as dark as some of Snyder's run on Batman, but with its own moments. With a new Robin in the form of ward Duke on hand, this is a fast-paced and exciting adventure. About the only drawback for me was the John Romita, Jr. artwork, which kept reminding me of Kick-Ass. Romita definitely has his own style, but I've associated it with cartoonish, over-the-top nonsense for too long now and it hampers this story somewhat. The rest of this volume is given over to an introspective story featuring Duke and his parents, poisoned by the Joker during one of his recent crime sprees, and a crime that features the handiwork of Victor Szasz. This worked a little better for me, with more restrained artwork from Declan Shalvey. Curious to see what Snyder and co. have in store for us next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sheriff of Babylon, Volume 1: Bang. Bang. Bang.; Author: Tom King; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: I was disappointed when I came to the end of this first volume, because I wanted to know what happens next. You can't really give a comic much stronger praise than that, can you? I tried to read a galley of this a while back, but it just didn't keep me going. So when I got my hands on a paperback collection, I wasn't really expecting much. But I enjoyed the story, about an American military contractor looking into the death of one of his Iraqi policeman trainees. The situation in Iraq, post-Gulf War II, is a very complicated one, and to pursue a murder investigation is more than a little quixotic, but King does a great job of investing us in this, showing us the investigation from multiple angles. In addition to the American, Chris, we've also got two other protagonists--Nassir, a former Iraq policeman, and Sofia/Saffiya, an Americanized Iraqi woman who has returned to help in the rebuilding effort and who seems to have people from all walks of life owing her favors. This isn't slam-bang action, but more of a slow burn, and it's starting to look as if the solution to this crime is going to go deep into secret political maneuverings. Loved the artwork by Mitch Gerads, which is both realistic and cinematic. Looking forward to more of this story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Huck, Book 1: All-American; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It isn't a bad little story, but there's really no depth beyond a superficially-cool idea. Seems like the same could be said about a lot of Millar's recent output (I've seen them referred to as "storyboards" and that isn't far off the mark, either). Still, I enjoyed it and the artwork by Rafael Albuquerque is strong.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Morning Star (Red Rising, #3); Author: Pierce Brown; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Excellent end to an excellent trilogy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vicious Circle (Joe Pickett, #17); Author: C.J. Box; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: It's always great to spend some time with Joe Pickett and his family and friends. And this one promises to be an exciting ride: the Cates family, who Joe had a run-in with a couple of books back, has returned to get their revenge. But it's really kind of a dull book, all-in-all. What should have been an epic battle gets resolved all too easily. It almost seems like these last couple of Pickett books have been phoned-in rather than really developed and that's a shame, because Joe Pickett is one of the best mystery novel protagonists ever created. Maybe Box is running out of things to say? Box's diehard fans will want to read this one anyway.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 2: I Am Suicide; Author: Tom King; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This is a big step up from I Am Gotham, King's first arc on the book, but he's still got a ways to go to make Batman a compelling comic. It can't be easy following Scott Snyder's run, but I'm not sure that taking a step back and re-focusing on the realistic, team aspects of Batman is the way to go. I quite liked the pseudo-Suicide Squad that Batman puts together in an effort to rescue the Psycho Pirate from Bane's prison island. The story was interesting and had some nice twists and turns. I wasn't quite so happy with the two-issue story about Batman and Catwoman having a night on the rooftops together--what the heck happened to Mitch Gerads normally painstaking art? But, heck, it's Batman. Of course I'll be back to see what's next. I just hope King can get his act together and start turning out a better ongoing story.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clean Room, Vol. 1: Immaculate Conception (Clean Room, #1); Author: Gail Simone; Genres: mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: There's some great artwork here, but the story is kind of garbled and unintelligible--which is a surprise given Gail Simone's resume. I might give the next volume a shot, but it would have to be a lot clearer than this first one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Midnight of the Soul; Author: Howard Chaykin; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: No one draws like Chaykin. Unfortunately, his writing often leaves something to be desired. This reads like a distaff Sin City, as an alcoholic, struggling writer (and WWII veteran, a liberator of Buchenwald) chases his two-timing wife around New York City one night. There really doesn't seem to be much point to this story other than to draw New York landmarks and jazz clubs and neon signs, etc.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Prophet, Volume 5: Earth War; Author: Brandon Graham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It's pretty, though the art can be incredibly variable from one page to the next. I've appreciated the attempt throughout this series to come up with something truly weird, truly alien. Not sure it's always worked that well, though. Much of Prophet has skirted the edge of the incomprehensible, and I'm not sure this conclusion really sticks the landing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Class, Vol. 5: Carousel; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Hands down the best comic collection I've read in the past couple of years. I really thought Remender had made a huge misstep with the conclusion of his previous arc, killing off some of the series' favorite and best characters, but I should have known better. In the space of just a couple of issues, he creates a new group of freshman students who are every bit as interesting and three-dimensional as our former favorites. And there are still plenty of holdovers from last year, too, with Saya assigned another "pledge" to watch over in the form of the Christian zealot, Zenzele, who we wonder about right through the conclusion: what is she doing at the academy? Wes Craig's artwork continues to amaze and all in all, this is one of my favorite series currently in existence. I want more and I want it now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All-New Wolverine, Volume 1: The Four Sisters; Author: Tom Taylor; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The artwork leaves something to be desired, but I really enjoyed the story in this arc.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seven to Eternity, Vol. 1: The God of Whispers; Author: Rick Remender; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The story is kind of a mess. I've really grown tired of comics that start the story mid-action and then delay filling in the details necessary to understand what the heck is going on. And this comic is a prime example of that tendency. It wasn't until midway through the 3rd issue that I even started to get an inkling of what was happening. Plus, it doesn't help that the characters are so poorly developed. Fantasy is hard to do, but it's even harder when you don't give your readers a reason to buy into it and care about what's happening. The one thing this has going for it is some truly beautiful artwork on the part of Jerome Opena. I hope Remender can get a better handle on this in the next volume--now that things have settled down into a journey narrative, the story should be easier to follow and perhaps enough background can be filled in to make this a worthwhile endeavor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harrow County, Vol. 4: Family Tree; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This series has really improved over the last two volumes. If it keeps getting better, might give The Sixth Gun a run for its money. Still, seems to be moving at a bit of a snail's pace--Crook's art looks like it's very time-intensive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Empress Book One; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Yes! Finally a Millar comic that doesn't read like a mid-level storyboard for a movie. This one actually looks like it might continue past this first volume. Exellent artwork throughout from Stuart Immonen.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X-23: The Complete Collection Vol. 1; Author: Craig Kyle; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Laura's origin story is great. The rest of the stuff in this volume, not so much. And it isn't even complete, turning the title into a lie. There's a lot missing...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ordinary; Author: Rob Williams; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Kind of fun fluff, though the execution is so rushed as to lose a lot of the story's potential. This should have been twice or three times as long.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book 1; Author: Ta-Nehisi Coates; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Just because you're a Macarthur Genius grant holder and National Book Award winning author, does not mean you have clue one about how to write a comic book. Man, what a snooze-fest this was. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, and more talk. Dullsville.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ultimates: Omniversal, Volume 2: Civil War II; Author: Al Ewing; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: It can't be easy to follow a writer like Jonathan Hickman, who makes these galactic storylines seem almost effortless, but Al Ewing seems to be giving it a go. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have an artist dedicated to the book. Kenneth Rocafort's work is pretty great, but I'd hazard a guess that he's a really slow artist, because around issue #9, we've got a mixture of Rocafort and Djibril Morissette, who is one of the worst artists I've ever seen in a comic from a major company--worse than Rob Liefield, worse than Larry Stroman, worse than just about any bad artist you might care to name. The two of them switch off duties in issues 9, 10, and 11, with Morissette's work completely pulling readers out of the story. And then issue #12 rolls around, with art that is almost as bad, courtesy of Christian Ward. The only thing that kept me going was Ewing's story, which was fairly strong this time around (he's not really known for this, even though his work keeps being trumpeted). The Ultimates used to be a flagship title, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: James Bond: Hammerhead; Author: Andy Diggle; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction, mystery; Review: Not quite up to par with Warren Ellis' work on the title, though for most of its running time, Diggle's story isn't terrible. Still, it is a bit needlessly complicated, and ultimately builds to an endgame that just doesn't make a lot of sense: somehow, destroying London will strengthen the British empire? What the what? Nice art from Luca Casalanguida, though it might have been nice to see what Diggle himself could have turned in artwise. Still, this is a fairly strong entry in this series. Interesting to see where Benjamin Percy takes us next.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Transmetropolitan, Vol. 8: Dirge; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: The parallels between this story and our current political situation are eerily prescient. Ellis is some sort of genius.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vacation (Jack Murphy, #1); Author: Matthew J. Costello; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was pretty bad, though it did have some early promise, with people just going about their everyday lives in the midst of what is basically a zombie apocalypse. Never once did Costello or his characters explain the genesis of "Can Head," the moniker given to these mindless, cannibalistic individuals who roam the countryside and have made inroads into various neighborhoods of New York City. The idea of going away for a family vacation along heavily-fortified and fenced-in interstates was also a good one, but Costello really doesn't do anything with it. And the eventual "secret" of the Paterville Camp was groan-worthy. I knew going in that this wasn't great literature, yet I stuck it out, hoping for some glimpse of the same writer who was behind the little-known Wurm and other horror-thrillers from the 80s and 90s, but this isn't it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Saga, Vol. 7 (Saga, #7); Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow! Hard to imagine how this one keeps maintaining such high levels of craft in the storytelling and art, never slacking off. This is a self-contained little story about the battle for Phang, a comet that Wreath and Landfall have been fighting over forever, because of deposits of energy that both sides want and adamantly do not want the other to have. The residents of Phang have been caught in this crossfire and their lives upended. When their treeship starts running low on fuel, Alana and Marko and the gang decide to make a stop on Phang to refuel, which is the basic starting point for a narrative that is, by turns, happy, fun, joyous, bleak, miserable, and downright depressing. Fiona Staples' artwork is a wonder throughout. This is just amazing, amazing work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disappearance at Devil's Rock; Author: Paul Tremblay; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I have yet to be completely knocked out by a Tremblay novel. He's a very good writer and his stories show careful plotting and lots of attention to craft. But they just aren't that scary. So much attention to minutiae and mundane detail make them a chore to read and sometimes a real slog. That was true again of this one, although it did accumulate enough general creepiness and ultimate sadness that I rated it a bit higher than some of the others. I'll keep reading the books, hoping for something more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lazarus, Vol. 5: Cull; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Love this series. One of the best, most carefully-crafted, dystopian futures currently on display anywhere. Rucka's vision of a future world controlled by corporation-families is a logical outgrowth of many currently-developing political threads. This time out, as Forever Carlyle, the Lazarus of family Carlyle, recovers from grievous wounds suffered in the battle of Duluth, the political infighting and maneuvering among the various families continues, with the Rausling family taking over much of the European continent formerly controlled by the Bittner family. The Carlyle coalition moves in to take the continent back, bolstered by the presence of the lazari of the Bittner, Morray, and Armitage families. Back home, the maneuvering within the Carlyle family continues, as daughter Johanna, the acting head-of-family in her father's absence (still recovering from a poison attack), looks to solidify her control by telling Forever the truth about her origins, including the fact that there's another Forever, model 8, currently being trained to eventually take her place. It's a complicated mixture of motives and backbiting, but Rucka does a good job of keeping things pretty clear. And it helps, as always, to have the clear, detailed artwork of Michael Lark. This is one of my favorite series and, as always, I'm excited to see where it goes next. Thanks to the publicists at Image for a galley preview.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Transmetropolitan, Vol. 10: One More Time; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Great, fitting end to an ultimately brilliant series. I don't know why it took me so long to get to this, since Ellis is one of my favorite writers, but I'm glad I did. Amazingly prescient throughout--the story of outlaw journalist Spider Jerusalem vs. "the Smiler," a psychotic president, has some amazing parallels to what's going on around us daily, with each new outrage of the Trump administration. Hopefully, there's someone out there to take on the Spider role in the current battle, too. A couple of the best final pages of any series, too. Really, really good and very highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transmetropolitan, Vol. 0: Tales of Human Waste (Transmetropolitan, #0); Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: For completists only...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jupiter's Circle, Vol. 1; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not very good. Cruddy art and cliche stories.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: All-New Wolverine, Volume 2: Civil War II; Author: Tom Taylor; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I kind of liked it, until all the Civil War II crap got shoehorned in...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Providence Act 1; Author: Alan Moore; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I've really enjoyed Moore's Lovecraft-related works to date, and here, he's going all out, with a series that seems like an intermingling of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (though with a focus on the characters of Lovecraft's stories) with the detailed history of From Hell. Main character, Robert Black, is a struggling journalist in New York who fancies himself a bit of a writer, and as he stumbles upon a series of increasingly strange incidents, he gets drawn deeper and deeper into a creepy mystery with historical roots in New England. Jacen Burrows' artwork is great throughout and the diary entries, etc., add an extra layer of verisimilitude to things (although they do get to be a bit much, at times, getting longer and longer as the story goes on). Moore has obviously invested a lot of time and research into this work and it shows. Looking forward to Act II.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crossed + One Hundred (Crossed +100 #1); Author: Alan Moore; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This one was a bit of a slog to get through, largely because of Moore's dialogue written in a fractured English--hard to believe that language would really degenerate that quickly in only a hundred years or so--but once you get a handle on it, this is a very well-done and tricky story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Invincible, Vol. 23: Full House; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: Why leave someone like Emperor Thragg alive? Why? I'm really getting a bit tired of this series. Time for it to end.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Invincible, Vol. 24: The End of All Things, Part One; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I have to admit that I was starting to get a bit tired of this comic. It really seems like Kirkman and co. have pretty much done and said just about everything they could with these characters. But this first in a two-part conclusion sees things going out with a bang! Just endless, awesome, gruesome alien on alien fighting action from beginning to end (interspersed with some cute vignettes with Tera and her grandmother). It doesn't look like everyone's going to make it to the finish line in one piece. They've really pulled out all the stops and it looks like things are headed for a pretty epic conclusion. The artwork's been stepped-up, too. Really looking forward to the next (last?) volume!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sheriff of Babylon, Volume 2: Pow. Pow. Pow.; Author: Tom King; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Great artwork, though the spare storytelling has left me at something of a loss...not sure exactly what happened.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Vol. 1; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: graphic, comics, young-adult, fiction; Review: Miles is now in the regular Marvel Universe and I guess all the subtlety that Bendis wrote him with in the Ultimates Universe is just out the window. Plus, his mom is still alive(?) and he's got a horrible, cliched grandmother (yech!). Miles Morales was a great character, but this first volume really does nothing to further his story--just a bunch of random incidents, no real story. Plus, it looks like we're going to have to jump into Civil War II in the next volume before this story even gets a chance to get rolling.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nameless; Author: Grant Morrison; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: One star for the pretentious gobbledygook passing as a story. One more for Chris Burnham's gorgeous artwork. It doesn't add up to much...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dept. H, Volume One: Pressure; Author: Matt Kindt; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Love Matt Kindt, but this one's just not quite up to his usual excellence.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Conan, Vol. 14: The Death; Author: Brian Wood; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: A step up from the previous volume, largely due to the artwork. Even though the stories may seem a bit inconsequential, they're a very interesting look at different sides of Conan's life and personality. Hopefully, Declan Shalvey will be onboard for awhile--his art was much better than that of Vasilis Lolos and even improved on the cartoony work of Becky Cloonan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: River of Teeth (River of Teeth #1); Author: Sarah Gailey; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Quirk for quirk's sake, this should have been so much better...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Vol. 2; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: So far, the Ulitmates version of Miles Morales was infinitely superior. This just isn't as good, complete with retconning the death of his mother and the addition of his over-the-top grandmother (yech--she even goes so far as to hire a private detective to follow her own grandson! that's not funny or insightful or anything). And then the events of Civil War II creep in. Miles' story is always better in the little moments between friends in school or the dorm room or in the interactions between him and his father. This isn't terrible, but it isn't the Miles Morales I came to love in the first place, either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Hammer, Vol. 1: Secret Origins; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really liked the first issue of this one--Lemire just draws us in so quickly and his story has a lot of promise. Unfortunately, I think it started to drag a bit after that. It might have been a mistake to start out by giving each character an origin issue, without really building the larger story in more detail. It's basically a mash-up of his indie comics, like Essex County, with more mainstream superhero stuff, and I will definitely be looking forward to the next volume. But some of these origins are so generic, so cliche, that the stories don't really fly (your mileage may vary). It might be nice to have a bit more originality in the characters (for example, Barbalien, the Martian Warlord, is basically Martian Manhunter). Maybe in the next volume, they'll get fleshed-out a bit more and become their own people. Great artwork by Dean Ormston and the lettering and coloring is also first-rate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Uncanny Inhumans, Volume 2: The Quiet Room; Author: Charles Soule; Genres: paranormal, graphic, comics, fantasy; Review: Wow, was this ever bad. Just crap.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Annihilator; Author: Grant Morrison; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Much better than the very similar Nameless. Much more coherent. It was only at the end where Morrison dropped the ball. Nice artwork throughout. I liked it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jupiter's Circle, Vol. 2; Author: Mark Millar; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Completely dull, inessential, unnecessary, etc.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, #1); Author: James S.A. Corey; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Came to this after watching The Expanse on Syfy and I really enjoyed it. This book basically covers the events of the first season of the television show, which is remarkably faithful to the book (though none of the Earth people have shown up in print form yet). It's fun, exciting, mysterious, and even a bit horrific. Great summer reading. Looking forward to other books in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Game of Ghosts (Charlie Parker, #15); Author: John Connolly; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Love this series and this is yet another outstanding installment. I do think it might be time for Connolly's endgame to start being developed, but as long as he writes this this high level, I'm willing to keep reading as long as this series continues.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Only the Dead Know Brooklyn; Author: Chris Vola; Genres: paranormal, fantasy; Review: A bit of a mess, really. Starts off very well, very promising and then loses its way. Then it regroups a bit and starts to shine again before falling off yet again. Vola isn't particularly strong at writing action scenes and it's a bit hard to parse out just what the heck is going on--the overarching scheme that drives everything in the book. But his tale of vampire-like creatures in New York, limited to the boundaries of their boroughs, and the history behind this, is largely entertaining. I just wish the whole package had lived up to the early promise. I might read another book in this universe, but hopefully, Vola will have a stronger hold on things next time around.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Mad Wheel; Author: Josh Malerman; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not sure what prompted me to get this one from the library, as I struggled with the boring Bird Box, but it had its moments. One of the strangest plots I've ever read described drives the action: a rock and roll band, all the members veterans of the US army in WWII, is hired to head to the Namibian desert to seek out the source of a sound that makes people sick and causes weapons to malfunction. This story is told in alternating chapters with another one that charts the horrible injuries sustained by one of the band members (the sole survivor?) and his incredibly fast healing at the hands of doctors in an army hospital, using some sort of experimental drug. This is one weird book and pretty surreal. Events are hard to follow and you're never really sure what's going on in that desert. I think it's a step up from Bird Box, but still a very experimental sort of novel that won't appeal to everyone.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine: Old Man Logan, Volume 1: Berzerker; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty good on the whole. Great artwork from Andrea Sorrentino. Lemire's story is spare and well-told. Even the inclusion of Giant Size Old Man Logan from Mark Millar and Steve McNiven is well done (though rather gory, as Logan gets his revenge on the Banner family).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Invincible Iron Man, Volume 1: Reboot; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm sorry, but I don't think Bendis is the man for Iron Man. He's better at the dark and brooding, the Daredevils, Moon Knights, Jessica Joneses. The humor throughout was far too cutesy for my tastes. The artwork is good, but I don't care for the layouts of David Marquez--you can't follow the story clearly. Sometimes it moves across the page, sometimes not. And this has been a hallmark of his (or maybe it's Bendis who does this) across the titles I've read. Story is okay, but I can't help but feel disappointed with this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Letter 44, Volume 4: Saviors; Author: Charles Soule; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This series is starting to tail off. Not much really happens in this volume, despite all the bluster. The artwork is really getting annoying--restrained one minute and crazed the next, without any apparent rhyme or reason to it. And there still seems to be at least one more volume to go before it all wraps up. I guess I should see it through to the end, but not as excited about that as I once was.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine: Old Man Logan, Volume 3: The Last Ronin; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The artwork continues to be nothing short of amazing, but the story is largely inconsequential...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman, Volume 3: I Am Bane; Author: Tom King; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The art has been great in these volumes so far. The story? Not so much. Everything has been building to some sort of epic fight between Bane and Batman in this volume and nothing much really happens. Tom King's run has been pretty disappointing so far.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jessica Jones, Vol. 1: Uncaged!; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Sadly, kind of dull. No real clear reason why Jessica would destroy her life for some random undercover operation for Captain Marvel--these bad guys really don't seem like they're worth it. This first volume isn't anywhere near the quality of the original Alias series, but maybe it can still get on track.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman: The Master Race (The Dark Knight Saga, #3); Author: Frank Miller; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really enjoyed this one and was a bit surprised by that. I suspect that the inclusion of Brian Azzarello was able to keep Miller from some of his worst impulses and made the story actually readable this time (unlike The Dark Knight Strikes Again). Nice overall combination of writing and artwork (by Andy Kubert, Klaus Janson, and even Miller himself in some of the fill-in issues). The story is fairly strong, as Ray Palmer, the Atom, is duped into finally bringing the survivors of the jar city of Kandor back to full-size, only to discover that they've been overtaken by a religious zealot and his army of followers, who soon pose a threat to the entire Earth. Batman/Bruce Wayne must try to bring all the remaining survivors of the Justice League together to fight off this threat and though it seems insurmountable, the good guys have a lot of believable tricks up their sleeves.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Old Guard, Book One: Opening Fire; Author: Greg Rucka; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not entirely sure what to make of this. The concept is a good one--a group of ageless, seemingly-immortal mercenaries on the run from a powerful billionaire who wants to find out what makes them tick. But I'm not sure there's really a story to tell. This first book pretty much sums up the storytelling possibilities inherent in this concept. I don't know that there's anywhere else for this to go. I suppose there could be any number of flashbacks to historical battles, etc., but there's not a whole lot new that can be added to what we already know from this first story arc. The artwork by Leandro Fernandez took a while to get used to--people's faces are smushed and it isn't always easy to tell what's going on in his panels, or even what the sequence of events is. But he does a good job with the violence and the scenes of apocalyptic firefights (think the lobby sequence in The Matrix). I like Greg Rucka's work a lot and if anyone can make a go of this, he can. Just not sure there's anywhere to go.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All-Star Batman, Volume. 2: Ends of the Earth (All-Star Batman #2); Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I normally like stories told as little vignettes, but for some reason, these just didn't work for me. Nice idea, as Batman goes to remote locations to confront some of the members of his rogues gallery: Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, the Mad Hatter. Each is set up in an isolated locale to perfect some new horror that might be unleashed upon the world (though maybe Ivy is looking for something else). Ultimately, there's one villain behind the scenes, pulling all the strings and his endgame is something different. These are nicely written and imagined, but they don't finally add up to very much. And then there are a few more entries in "The Cursed Wheel," a Riddler-centric story, that ultimately don't do much, either. I quite liked Snyder's first run on All-Star Batman, but if this second volume is anything to go by, maybe he should just retire from the Bat-universe.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crossed + One Hundred, Volume 2 (Crossed +100 #2); Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, mystery; Review: Very strong continuation of Alan Moore's take on the "crossed," who are basically humans infected with a virus that completely lowers all their inhibitions, not unlike the rage virus from the 28 Days and 28 Weeks Later movies. It's a hundred years since the virus first manifested and life should finally be getting back to normal for the survivors. Lacking all impulse control, the crossed have largely died out, except for the odd cell here and there. But in Moore's initial volume, a team of survivors out digging for history and remnants of the old society came across hints that maybe, just maybe, there's a hidden society of super-crossed, who have managed to keep some of their worst impulses in check (murder, cannibalism, incest), just enough to survive and prosper. Here, it's pretty much all-out war as it becomes apparent that an army of the crossed has been making "deals" with a number of isolated settlements: hand over 10 people a year, and the rest can stay alive. The survivors of a number of settlements that refused to give in have descended upon Murfreesboro, and things are about to get even more serious. This comic is a challenge to read, because of the future speak that Moore came up with and that Spurrier refines, but after awhile, you kind of get the hang of it and it isn't all that hard to follow what's going on. Spurrier's Crossed: Wish You Were Here was one of the strongest storylines in this entire universe and what he does here in volume 2 has me very optimistic to see what will come in volume 3. Scary, depressing, yet ultimately hopeful post-apocalyptic storytelling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Vol. 15: Cometh the Hour; Author: Mike Mignola; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger, to the point where the story kind of lost touch with the human characters who drove things and that we really cared about. This climactic volume is actually kind of anticlimactic when all is said and done. Don't know how you possibly follow up a story like this, but apparently Mignola has plans.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crossed + One Hundred, Volume 3 (Crossed +100 #3); Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, graphic, mystery; Review: Kind of a disappointing finale, though I wonder if there might not be another volume still to come? If not, then this ending is even worse, as it doesn't really wrap anything up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The World of Edena; Author: Moebius; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The artwork is great throughout and it's nice to have the over-sized panels throughout. But the story...say what? It didn't make a lot of sense and didn't really conclude at the end, either. It was obvious after a time that he was just making it up as he went and as others have noted, the story gets more and more incoherent as it goes. Still worth it for the art, though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Invincible Iron Man, Volume 3: Civil War II; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: The Iron Man stuff wasn't too bad, although the story just kind of stops midway through issue #12 and pivots over to the Civil War II tie-in. I literally wondered if maybe a page or 2 had been torn out of my volume, because one moment, Tony Stark is talking to Riri Williams and her mother about going out to dinner and the next, Tony is sitting in the ruins of Stark Tower. There's nothing at all connecting these 2 scenes, just, "boom!" and things have changed. Then, after a measly 3 issues of Iron Man, we're treated to 3 old issues of Mighty Avengers that have no connection whatsoever. They only exist to fill out the rest of the pages. Talk about cynical marketing. The first 2 volumes could have featured an extra issue or 2 and there would have been no need for this one at all. Enough with the company-wide crossovers every few weeks Marvel!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three - The Sailor; Author: Robin Furth; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This used to be a premiere title. At this rate, by the time they finish up in 40 or 50 years, they'll have kindergartners drawing this with crayons. Artwork sucks.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart, Volume 1: Riri Williams; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I did like it, though as others have mentioned, there's more than a little Miles Morales in Riri Williams...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A.D.: After Death; Author: Scott Snyder; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ugh. I tried. Really, I did. I tried to read this, but it just didn't hold my interest. Don't care for the long stretches of prose (this was supposed to be a "graphic" novel, right?). I'm a big fan of both Snyder and Lemire, so had high hopes for this. But it just didn't work for me. Disappointing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening (Monstress, #1); Author: Marjorie M. Liu; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A very slow-burning comic. Not much is explained or clarified, but it all does start to make some sense as it goes. Incredible artwork, though I could do without the cute, anime fox girl. The story is really starting to pick up steam as this first volume comes to a close. Looking forward to the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood; Author: Marjorie M. Liu; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Still not the easiest comic to follow, but I'm enjoying it. The story is very complicated and I'm not sure I entirely understand it, but the artwork throughout is great and I have to say that even Kippa is growing on me (wasn't too excited about the cute little fox girl the first time out, but I have a sense she's going to be important to this story). Looking forward to volume 3.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Infamous Iron Man, Volume 1: Infamous; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: comics, children, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: It's not great, but there is potential here...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Men: X-Club; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: graphic, comics, young-adult, fiction; Review: Bleah...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Manifest Destiny, Vol. 5: Mnemophobia & Chronophobia; Author: Chris Dingess; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A strange fog manifests and suddenly, the Corps of Discovery is under attack, by every weird creature they've encountered in their journey so far! This was another great volume of this series, one of my favorites. The story does spin its wheels a bit for several issues, but ultimately, it's well-handled. Great combination of art and storytelling throughout. Impatient for the release of Vol. 6.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The American Way; Author: John Ridley; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Ugh. What a slog. I've often found that acclaimed novelists, when given the chance to write a comic, have no idea what to do. There's a tendency to get very talky, without much action. And that's largely what's on display here in a sub-Watchmen story of "superheroes" run by a government agency during the 1950s and 60s. Poor characterizations--the heroes don't have a lot of individuality--and a pretty dumb story overall. I kept putting this down and coming back to it days later, but I did finally finish. The artwork is little more than serviceable throughout. Don't know why this warranted a special 10th anniversary reprinting. Don't know why this warranted printing in the first place, actually. There's really very little of note in this entire collection.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kill or Be Killed, Vol. 2; Author: Ed Brubaker; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Based on other work by this creative team--Fatale, The Fade-Out, Sleeper, etc.--Kill or Be Killed seems like Brubaker and Phillips are slumming it a bit. This story just doesn't seem like it is up to their usual level. I mean, this is basically a retread of Brian Michael Bendis' Scarlet, except this time the vigilante is a male grad student who may or may not be mentally ill. The artwork is up to Sean Phillips' usual high standard, but this story just isn't that compelling. I guess I'll be back for vol. 3, but I won't be holding my breath or anything.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blood Feud; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked it. Bunn should stick to Southern-gothic type stories.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Force; Author: Don Winslow; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Not up to the high standards of The Cartel or The Power of the Dog. I wish this was a better book, but all I could think about was what a rip-off of The Shield it seemed to be for much of its running time. Overwrought and overwritten at times. It's not terrible, but neither is it the classic that so many critics are making it out to be. Chalk it up as a disappointment overall.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Civil War II; Author: Brian Michael Bendis; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, ad infinitum. Absolute garbage.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Harrow County, Vol. 5: Abandoned; Author: Cullen Bunn; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I still like this a lot, but it just doesn't grab me the same way something like The Sixth Gun did. And now that the monsters are being increasingly humanized, the horror has pretty much disappeared. I'll keep reading, I guess, hoping for something more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine: Old Man Logan, Volume 4: Old Monsters; Author: Jeff Lemire; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The artwork is too good for this rambling, shambling mess of a story. Andrea Sorrentino deserves better.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: East of West, Vol. 7; Author: Jonathan Hickman; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: One of the best volumes yet in this series. Things are starting to happen. Armies are marching and clashing. Heads of state are brought low. The conspirators who were ushering in the apocalypse are starting to turn on one another. This is great stuff. Lots and lots of violence. Blood. Grue. Decapitated heads. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta's vision of a future America descended directly from the cowboys and Indians and the Civil War is a magnificent creation and it looks like we're heading for one heck of conclusion to this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Providence Act 2; Author: Alan Moore; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Some of Moore's recent Lovecraftian stuff has been really creepy and unsettling (Neonomicon and The Courtyard), but Providence just hasn't filled the bill. Other than making constant allusions to Lovecraft's work (here, we have Ronald Pitman, standing in for "Pickman" and Randall Carver taking the place of Lovecraft's Randall "Carter") and the occasional creepy moment, this comic is kind of dull, to say the least. And at least half of it is script, written in a fairly hard to read cursive that goes on and on. I'm sure I'm missing out on at least half the experience when I skip over these sections, but I'm not going to risk a headache trying to parse out the handwriting. The first act of Providence was pretty good, but this second volume is falling into a bit of a rut. I'll read the 3rd act, hoping for more, but have to say I'm a bit disappointed in this right now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wild Storm Vol. 1; Author: Warren Ellis; Genres: non-fiction, graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I really liked this. Great collaboration by a talented artist (Jon Davis-Hunt) at the top of his game and one of comicdom's greatest living writers, Warren Ellis. I wasn't in at the start of the original Wildstorm, so maybe I don't have the inside track on how this is a pale imitation of what came before, but I enjoyed this opening salvo in what I'm sure will only get better in subsequent volumes. We've got a down-on-her-luck engineer who all of a sudden sprouts a robot body and flies up to save the CEO of an Apple-like tech company who has just been pushed out the window, seemingly to his death. This simple action blows the lid off of a covert war between a secret intelligence agency that basically controls the world, and a couple of other organizations trying to keep the first in check. So far, this is Ellis in his espionage, covert action mode, not unlike his work in Red, with lots of fight scenes, lots of violence. Ellis the big thinker hasn't really made an appearance here as yet, but give him some time. I'm sure he'll be along presently. This was a great start to what I hope will be a line that can live up to this original promise. Very excited to see what follows.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Walking Dead, Vol. 28: A Certain Doom; Author: Robert Kirkman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I was all ready to give this 5 stars, but the conclusion of this volume slowly sucked out a lot the good will I'd been feeling up to that point. As with Kirkman's Invincible, this comic is really starting to feel a bit played-out. I mean, what more is there to do with this story? The Whisperers always seemed like a fairly underwhelming threat, but now we find out just how large the herd of undead is they've been following and minding--probably the largest herd anyone's ever seen. That sheer volume of bodies is pretty terrifying and it's not long before the gates of Alexandria fall under the sheer press of undead. Most of the book details the efforts to clear out the herd--several character on horseback riding around, catching the attention of splinter groups that eventually turn the tide of the main herd, while others fight hotspots of undead here and there. Following that, there's the protracted death of a beloved main character, which is drawn out well past the breaking point. Really, what else is there? Where else is there for this story to go? It's over, pretty much and there are several moments that would have made a sensible series-capper. But no, Kirkman pushes onward, into the land of diminishing returns. How much longer can this go on? Unless he can figure out a new, compelling story, and quick, I'm not sure there's much of a point. But I'm sure I'll be here when the next volume rolls out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Numbercruncher; Author: Simon Spurrier; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good stuff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mockingbird, Vol. 2: My Feminist Agenda; Author: Chelsea Cain; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Cain's story was probably a 3 or even 4-star story, but the volume on a whole is a loser. Another cash-grab by Marvel. Why in the world wouldn't they put the 8-issues of Cain's run into one volume? Instead, we get 3 issues here, plus 2 more, completely unconnected issues of the Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis that do have a Mockingbird focus, but nothing else to recommend them.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Doom Patrol, Volume 1: Brick by Brick; Author: Gerard Way; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pretty bad. I actually kind of liked Way's work on The Umbrella Academy, but everything of his I've read since then has not been very good. The Fabulous Killjoys was terrible. His take on Doom Patrol is also pretty bad. Grant Morrison was not above weird stories and weird twists, but at least his work had an internal logic to it, that is sorely missing from Way's take. About the only saving grace here is the artwork by Nick Derington. A big disappointment.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Oster 2-Speed Immersion Blender with Stainless Steel Blade and Bonus Measuring Cup, FPSTHB2615B; Brand: Oster; Review: I tired to use this to make soap but it doesn't blend well! My soap is not the thick and it doesn't move the liquid around it the pot or blend at all! If I could return it I would!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Household Essentials 542 Vision Storage Box with Lid and Handles | Wine and Balloon-Style Glasses; Brand: Household Essentials; Review: works perfectly to store glassware. I stacked some stemless wineglasses 2 per section (with some cardboard in between) and it held all 24 of our party glasses!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MALOUF ST5033BF1 Structures Heavy Duty Adjustable Metal Center Support and Rug Rollers Bed Frame, Queen, Full, XL, Twin, Black; Brand: MALOUF; Review: works great and easy to put together. Our queen mattress hangs off of it quite a ways but that doesn't affect its function.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queen Waterproof Mattress Protector by zProtector - Premium Hypoallergenic Protector - 15 Year Warranty; Brand: zProtector; Review: This mattress protector works well. It did not leak when we tested it with water. I mainly purchased this for the allergen protection. One thing I really like about this mattress protector is how well it wraps around the bottom of the mattress (like a fitted sheet with extra deepness). I do not have to worry about it slipping up on the sides of my mattress as we move around. Also, it doesn't make us sweat, which I was worried about considering its waterproof. My only complaint is that it makes some noise when moving around on it a lot. It makes a slight rustling sound but its only noticeable if I'm moving around a lot. Overall a great mattress protector and I would purchase again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 6 Piece Tabletop Quilted Vinyl Dinnerware Storage Set; Brand: Richards Homewares; Review: For the price these were great. I only wish they were a little more padded; they are very thin.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: The Others (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rat Race (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dracula 2000 (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Man in the Iron Mask (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mothman Prophecies (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frailty (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Summer Catch (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stigmata (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mulholland Drive (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Notting Hill (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rock Star (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Corky Romano (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge: Bonus Material (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dahmer (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Silver Bullet (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Riding in Cars with Boys (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pleasantville (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Panic Room (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Original Sin (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sweetest Thing (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Exit to Eden (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bram Stoker's The Mummy (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: America's Sweethearts (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Undercover Brother (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Live at the El Mocambo 1983 (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cell (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbershop (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gosford Park (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gossip (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Spy (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vampires (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Reign of Fire (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enough (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Evolution (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Tuxedo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fear Dot Com (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Formula 51 (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tuck Everlasting (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: From Hell (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friday After Next (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jackass: The Movie (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Musketeer (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Showtime (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Breed (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waking Up in Reno (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uptown Girls (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brother Bear (Theatrical Widescreen Version) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys II (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Underworld (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Order (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Knights (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dracula II: Ascension (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marci X (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2-D version) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X2: X-Men United (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whale Rider (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hope Floats (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dude (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Interview with the Vampire (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Practical Magic (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Never Been Kissed (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Feast of All Saints (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Little Vampire (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hook (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nine to Five (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop III (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Regarding Henry (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Under Siege (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pocahontas (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet of the Apes (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sleepy Hollow (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: While You Were Sleeping (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Returns (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold Creek Manor (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good Morning (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cocktail (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Broken Arrow (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Collector (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie 3 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible II (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Copycat (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Idle Hands (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of Angels (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Haunting (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kindergarten Cop (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days of Thunder (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Adventures of Priscilla (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Soul Plane (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intolerable Cruelty (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gothika (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ella Enchanted (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Watership Down (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merlin: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Prince and Me (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ed Wood (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don Juan De Marco (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Agent Cody Banks (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Benny and Joon (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What a Girl Wants (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: King Arthur (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty in Pink (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ninth Gate (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral Damage (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Ship (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Scorpion King (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Overboard (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Without a Paddle (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolf's Rain (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hellsing (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romeo + Juliet (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Akira (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Inu-Yasha: The Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kiki's Delivery Service (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Witch Hunter Robin (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inu-Yasha: The Movie: Affections Touching Across Time (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taxi (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Phantom of the Opera: Special Edition (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legends of the Fall (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Open Water (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beyond Borders (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Cinderella Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beauty Shop (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Constantine (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sin City (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Fockers (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Chicks (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eurotrip (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Laws of Attraction (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sahara (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wake Up (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Three Musketeers (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hackers (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ladyhawke (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Willow (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The 13th Warrior (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fifth Element (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster-in-Law (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Peggy Sue Got Married (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Witches of Eastwick (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kate & Leopold (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Extended Edition (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Excalibur (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Highlander (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clueless (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: AROSEA Life Balance Hotel; City: Ultimo Province of South Tyrol Trentino Alto Adige; Review: We spent a Wellness Weekend at this hotel and have been very satisfied. The staff members have been very welcoming and the service in general was very good. We loved the hotel rooms, the open shower and smell of pine wood was fantastic. The breakfast was amazing and so was the menu for dinner. The spa-area is small but nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Villa Nautilus Tamarindo; City: Tamarindo Province of Guanacaste; Review: The Villa Nautilus is a special place. The owners are very welcoming, warm, hospitable and welcoming. If you ever need help in exploring the surrounding area just ask the owners, the have a very good knowledge on the best restaurants or places of interest. The rooms have a great view, have been very clean and spacious. The place is close the the beach, bars and restaurants and yet in a quite area. I especially liked the pool area to relax. Just saying, if you planning on visiting Tamarindo check out this place for your stay, you wont be disappointed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Park Hotel; City: National Park Village Manawatu Wanganui Region North Island; Review: The location of the place is good for doing all the hikes in the area. From the outside the hotel looks like an old barn, the rooms are standard with a tiny toilet/shower. They have a common area with kitchen and TV. On a good note, the staff is very friendly and helpful. It is an OK hotel, so don't expect more. It is good for hiking the area for some days or if you need a shower and nice bed after days of camping.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lunaris Wellnessresort; City: Valle Aurina Province of South Tyrol Trentino Alto Adige; Review: We had a perfect weekend getaway at the Alpenschlössl & Linderhof wellness resort. The staff of the reception of the Alpenschlössl where nice very welcoming and helpful explaining the location of various areas and the services which are offered. Since we arrived shortly before the end of the lunch buffet they made the check in while we where eating. We booked a suite of the newly build Alpenschlössl and what can we say, the suits are excellent. The interior is a combination of traditional wooding and a modern style. The suit is very spacious and had been spotless clean, we especially loved the shower and the infrared cabin. During our stay the housekeeping changed towels every day, made our beds again and refilled soaps and other stuff. the room price also includes a bathing rope, bathing slippers, towels and bathing bag. We had been to the 4th floor spa area which is for adults only. We liked relaxing in the pool and sauna and enjoying the view, the other spa is downstairs and offers a variety of other saunas and steam baths. It is true, you walk quite a bit but hey, you are on holidays. If you are hungry in the afternoon grab some food from the amazing buffet, it was delicious. The table in the evening has lovely prepared, the service staff friendly and accommodating and the dishes from the 4 course menu tasted very good, luckily they don´t have a house wine because the wine list offers a variety of good quality wines for an affordable price. Special thanks to Vladimira from the bar, this lady was highly entertaining and funny and always recommended us great drinks! Also the buffet for breakfast is great they offer everything you desire, we loved that they have a cook for breakfast who makes fried eggs, scrambled eggs, eggs sunny side up just as you like it. On that holiday we had everything, a perfect suit. friendly and helpful staff, good food and drinks and time to relax. We cant tell much about the other complex of the hotel since we only stayed at the newly build Alpenschlössl complex.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CoolRooms Paseo de Gracia; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: We had a great time staying at this newly opened. We had a room with a small balcony facing the street, it was clean, luxury and once the balcony door is closed you don't hear anything from the street. The staff is extremely friendly, forthcoming and pleasantly assisting you on every matter. Our two personal highlights were the comfortable bed and the shower. We slept as good as at home. Another one was the shower. To us, this to are the two most important things when staying in a hotel, and a lot lack in one ore the other. We did not have breakfast in the hotel, but what we saw it looked really good. We would definitely consider staying there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Coleman 24-Can Party Stacker Portable Cooler; Brand: Coleman; Review: very compact. perfect for cans.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Odyssey Metal X Dart Long Putter; Brand: ODYSSEY; Review: Very high quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poker Chip Set for Texas Holdem, Blackjack, Gambling with Carrying Case, Cards, Buttons and 500 Dice Style Casino Chips; Brand: Trademark Poker; Review: very good. the case is a little weak; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schwetty Balls - The Name Says It All (12 count); Brand: Schwetty; Review: excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: INTECH Neon Plastic Putting Cup (Colors May Vary); Brand: Intech; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palm Springs Deluxe 80 Quarts Rattan Portable Rolling Cooler; Brand: Palm Springs; Review: Nice unit. THe drain plug leaks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubbermaid Extreme 5-Day Wheeled Ice Chest Rolling Cooler, 50-Quart, Blue, FG2A9202MODBL; Brand: Rubbermaid; Review: perfect for hauling around; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plano 3-Tray Tackle Box with Dual Top Access, Dark Green Metallic/Off White; Brand: Plano; Review: very nice tackle box with LOTS of compartments.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Goture 60pcs Lot Silver 8kg/10kg/12kg Saltwater Stianless Line Wire Leader Fishing Tools; Brand: Goture; Review: The description leads with "60pcs". However, I only received 24. And, all are the same strength. Not as detailed.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Onyx General Purpose Boating Vest; Brand: Onyx; Review: good cost effective jacket; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mario Strikers Charged; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: GREat; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wario Land: Shake It! - Nintendo Wii; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Generic Headset with Microphone - Xbox 360; Brand: by
Generic; Review: GREAT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nintendo DSi Console - Blue; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: GREAT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - Glossy Black; Brand: Microsoft; Review: NICE; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lego Battles: Ninjago - Nintendo DS; Brand: by
WB Games; Review: GREAT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bejeweled 3 - Nintendo DS; Brand: by
PopCap Games; Review: GREAT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matney 2 Pack Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery + Charging Station Black; Brand: by
Matney; Review: AWESOME; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Official Nintendo Mario Travel Case for Nintendo 3DS, 3DS XL, DS, DSi & DSi XL; Brand: by
PowerA; Review: NICE; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude; Author: Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone; Review: A lot of good common sense.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Energy: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides); Author: Visit Amazon's Vaclav Smil Page; Review: Great overview.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Arctic Homestead: The True Story of One Family's Story of Survival and Courage in the Alaska Wilds; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles W. Sasser Page; Review: A fun read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Keeping the Republic: Saving America by Trusting Americans; Author: Mitch Daniels; Review: It is the most sensible approach to the problems we face.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party; Author: Visit Amazon's Dinesh D'Souza Page; Review: An interesting read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.