Reading: LEARN TO DRAW MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE DECADES - Disney Storybook Artists

Far more than just the how-to-draw manual it may first appear, this retrospective of the world's most famous mouse and his friends covers how Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto evolved over the decades from simple line drawings to characters that remain fresh today. Not only are detailed step-by-step illustrations provided, so aspiring artists can learn the subtle differences of drawing each iconic character as he or she traveled from the 20's through WWII, the 60's and 70's to the new century, the book is also filled with entertaining, informative information about what was going on in those times to influence any changes made to each character, as well as vintage illustrations of comics, film posters and other character artwork of the period. Kids will enjoy being able to recreate their favorite Disney characters themselves, but it's the adults who will want to make this gem a permanent addition to their shelves as an anecdotal history of some of the world's most beloved animated characters, and how they came to grow with the times and remain fresh today.  5/5 stars   

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Watching: HOTEL ARTEMIS

(2018) Jodie Foster, in one of her best performances in years, stars in this odd, totally intriguing film as The Nurse, who overseas the Hotel Artemis somewhere near or in downtown Los Angeles. Basically a members-only private hospital occupying the penthouse floor of an otherwise abandoned hotel, the Hotel Artemis caters to stitching up and saving criminals - the film taking place in 2028 on what proves to be the busiest night of the Artemis's 20+-year history. Los Angeles has fallen to riots, see, because water is now available only to those who can pay for it outright, and as the city burns and falls - the rioters making their way to the corporate offices that hold the water rights (a building only blocks away from The Nurse and her establishment) in the dark - not only does The Nurse have to contend with a full house of patients (a couple of whom with questionable motives for being there), she also learns that possibly the most powerful criminal figure in all of Los Angeles is wounded ... and on his way to the hotel to have her save his life.  The film is dark, gritty, set in a near-future dystopian L.A. but feeling more like a contemporary gritty crime drama with occasional touches of humor. Foster is brilliant, Dave Bautista perfect as her one and only nurse/protector, and though for me Charlie Day overacted a bit and became annoying, Sterling K. Brown as a thief trying for one last job with his brother is a standout, as well as the amazing Sofia Boutella as a take-no-prisoners kick-ass assassin who won't stop until her job is done. The Hotel Artemis has but three rules: No guns. No cops. No Killing the Other Patients. For the first time this night all of these will be tested - some broken - in a film that gets under your skin, leaving you days later still thinking about what the heck you watched. (rated R)  8.5/10 stars

Reading: IT'S YOUR PARTY, DIE IF YOU WANT TO - Vickie Fee

Having fallen for the characters and sure-footed writing (especially for a debut novel) of the first adventure of party planner Liv McKay and her best friend Di, part two of this well-plotted, humorous cozy mystery series finds Liv with her hands full not only prepping for a riverboat-themed wedding ... but also the town-wide Halloween fundraiser taking place in her hometown of Dixie, Tennessee, which involves a hayride/bonfire, murder mystery dinner, and keeping the little ones occupied while the adults enjoy themselves, as well. Which is why a local businesswoman's retreat seems the best break from the stress, especially when Liv learns the event is drawing back to town a former Dixie resident who has now made a name for herself on television as a ghost hunter. This special guest, Lucinda Grable, is courtesy of Morgan Robinson, daughter of one of the big-shot families in town who is chairing the event. But even money and power can't change Morgan's man-crazy past - or present, it seems, when the affluent bank executive is poisoned at the event and a local herbalist appears to have been framed for her murder. With her own plate already full - beyond work, Liv is also helping Di play matchmaker for their favorite town deputy, while trying to figure out if she can help with what seems a rocky patch in Di's own relationship with the sheriff - but circumstances and ghost hunter/diva Lucinda somehow keep reeling Liv back into the case, through which readers get even more access to some of Dixie's colorful, quirky yet very real residents, the mystery building to a climax that could potentially turn the fundraising murder mystery dinner into the real thing. It was such a pleasure visiting Liv and Di again, and the book's insights into how party planners operate was informative and fun. But what really sets up a great cozy series are characters you love and well-plotted mysteries, and book two of the adventures of Liv and Di keeps you debating on the killer until the end - with, most importantly, the whole story set in a world that feels refreshingly and comfortably real. Onto book three!  4.5/5 stars

Book-to-Screen: "A Discovery of Witches"

TV series debuting in the UK ... and even if here in the States, this behind-in-his-TBR-Mountain boy can't watch it until I finally get to the book first. But WOW!

Reading: LOUCA, VOL. #1: KICKOFF - Bruno Dequier

Louca, a high school student, seemingly has nothing going for him. He's failing his classes, has no real friends, and can't gain the attention of his long-term crush Julie, who seems to have a thing for jocks instead. His only shining light - a younger brother who worships him - is also a source of guilt and shame for Louca, who feels he could never live up to his kid brother's image of him. With upcoming final exams spelling the potential finale for Louca's school career, Louca suddenly meets a handsome, athletic, intelligent, funny and good-natured jock at school named Nathan, who offers to help Louca get over his awkwardness by turning the gangly, clumsy teen into a soccer legend. The only issue? Nathan is a ghost, and neither he nor Louca know why he's there - why Louca is the only one who can see him - or what happened to Nathan in the first place (though a group photo at school seems to hint at possibilities). Volume 1 of this well-written, energetic and sweetly-drawn comic ends with Louca's first game, and while giving away no spoilers all I can say is that I wish I had known the volume ended when it did because I anxiously turned the pages waiting for more ... when there was no more to come. Bruno Dequier, in Louca, has created a lovable, can't-get-out-of-his-own-way nerd whom anyone with an awkward high school life in their background will identify with, and a plotline that ends, cliffhanger-style, with readers wanting more. A charming debut.  4/5 stars

Note: I received a free eARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES - Mark Russell

Having previously read the first graphic novel volume from Mark Russell giving an entirely new (and wonderfully grounded) face to my favorite animated series as a child - "The Flintstones" - I was prepared for anything upon finding out he was tackling another Hanna-Barbera idol from my youth, Snagglepuss. Comprising of volumes 1-6 of the comics, this heavy-in-tone graphic novel re-imagines our stagestruck hero as a Tennessee Williams-ish playwright in the early 1950's, a southern gentleman and closeted gay male with a wife who has become a legitimate Broadway star and mentor ... and what happens when he and his friends are targeted as potential communists during the Blacklist era, when McCarthyism took the American population's fear of Russia and the bomb and used it to silence/destroy anyone they deemed unworthy. Even at his height Snagglepuss was never a laugh-riot on TV, exactly; here he's not only a model for the lives and careers ruined in the name of hate - but thanks to the incredible writing skills of Mr. Russell, also an all-too-familiar reminder of what this country is dangerously close to turning into again. Exit Stage Left, with one foot in today's world as surely as it's grounded in 1950's America, is a touching, heartbreaking, important warning against history's repeating itself. It's also, especially the last half, a damned riveting read, worthy of a tear or two, even.  4.5/5

Note: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: COUNT DRAWCULA'S CARTOON FUN - Frank Rodgers

Frank Rodgers's charming, old-world illustrations drip ghoulish fun for kids wanting to learn not only how to draw their favorite monster (vampire, Frankenstein's monster, mummy, werewolf), but also any other manner of bat, bug or creepy-crawly - with even trolls, witches, goblins and the like getting their due. Illustrations are super-easy for kids to trace or follow, not to mention colorful enough to even make just a read-through fun. And for those of us adults old enough to remember the days or Rankin-Bass and Mad magazine, Rodgers illustrations lends more toward the quirky, messy-edges cartoon characters from Saturday morning TV of yore than the clean, polished-looking computerized characters of today. Nostalgic for adults and spooky (without being scary, even for the young ones) fun for the kids, Count Drawcula's Cartoon Fun is a quick, entertaining introduction to learning to draw your favorite creature of the night.  4/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Watching: DUNKIRK

(2017) Christopher Nolan's epic depiction of the evacuation of Dunkirk - when 400,000 soldiers from England, France, and Belgium were surrounded by the German army during WWII and herded to the open beaches of Dunkirk, France to be picked off - is a curiously bloodless war film that, by far, concentrates more on the war through the eyes of the young, inexperienced soldiers who lived (or didn't live) to tell about it. Fionn Whitehead is ideal in the lead role of Tommy, an idealistic and wide-eyed young British soldier losing more of his innocence every day, but in truth the film's strength lies in its exceptional ensemble cast: from Mark Rylance and Tom Glynn-Carney as a father-son duo hauling their asses - and small civilian cruiser - to Dunkirk to help with the evacuation; to Tom Hardy and Jack Lowden as RAF pilots heading to Dunkirk to keep the German Luftwaffe from picking off Allied soldiers, but find problems of their own on the way; to Kenneth Branagh and James D'Arcy as officers stuck in the middle of it all, having to make impossible decisions that will both save and cost lives - the screen is awash in top-tier talent sharing the screen with equally gifted newcomers who match them stride for stride. Even knowing how things turn out (if you know your history), and a lack of blood and guts normally found in war pictures, doesn't harm the emotional or visual impact of Nolan's vision on the viewer; in fact, quite the contrary. Somehow, again, the one-of-a-kind writer/director has tossed a bunch of balls in the air, juggling them with ease while creating a symphony of sight, sound and story on-screen - and never drops even one. (rated PG-13)  9.5/10 stars

Watching: LION

(2016) In a small village in central India, five-year-old Saroo (a remarkable Sunny Pawar) happily lives with his mother and sister, whom he loves, as well as his older brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate), whom he idolizes and wants to be like. Wide-eyed and innocent, Saroo can also be stubborn, pushing his brother to take him along to his overnight job ... and soon Saroo is separated from his brother and lost, trapped on an empty express train traveling thousand of miles across the country. Scared and alone, the boy ends up on the urban streets of Calcutta, surviving hunger and kidnappers and worse, until finally drawing the attention of a kindly female social worker who, when her efforts to find his family fail (illiterate and too young, Saroo doesn't know his mother's real name or family surname, and can only pronounce his village's name phonetically), sets up an adoption - and soon Saroo is whisked off to Tasmania where his new mother Sue (Nicole Kidman) and father John (David Wenham) await. But two decades later, the college-aged Saroo (Dev Patel) is haunted by memories of his home, his mother, and the brother who meant the world to him. Family he knows must still be haunted, as well, wondering what happened to him; if he is still even alive. So what starts as an online search becomes a years-long obsession, the adult Saroo giving up the present to find his past - to see his brother and beloved mother again - at all cost. To go home. Based on a true story, Lion was the best film I saw in 2017; a compassionate, heart-tugging, brilliantly (and beautifully) told story of finding where you belong in this world, no matter the odds. With a universally spot-on cast, A-listers like Kidman and Patel step aside to give young Sunny Pawar the film's spotlight all the way; he is the heart of the film, and one look at that kid's soulful gaze will both mend and break your heart, every time. Have tissues handy, lots of them, for this beautifully-rendered masterpiece. (rated PG-13)  10/10 stars

Watching: LOEV

(2015) Sahil (Dhruv Ganesh) is a gay music producer living with his handsome but immature slacker boyfriend Alex (Siddharth Menon) - whom Sahil treats rather more like his child than his partner - when he gets word that his old friend Jai (Shiv Pandit), now a big-shot Wall Street success living in New York, is coming to Mumbai on business. Dropping everything to spend time with his long-term buddy, Sahil takes Jai out to the country for a relaxing get-back to nature, prior to Jai's meetings, and it soon becomes apparent that, in the time they've been apart, an electricity - an attraction - between the two exists that is hard to ignore (and comes off very palpable on-screen). Jai knows Sahil is gay - has even met and knows Alex - but it's particularly obvious his teasings have turned to flirtations, and as the two spend time hiking and enjoy the beautiful countryside the tension builds with the question many of us have asked ourselves over time: can long-term friends turn that corner and become more? Should they? And if so, what might it cost the friendship? Loev answers the question slowly, building up the relationship of these two long-term best friends who know and care for each other, but also know how to push each other's buttons until an explosive, impetuous act changes things forever. Ganesh (who, tragically, died at age 29 just prior to the film's release) and Pandit are perfectly cast and have brilliant chemistry on-screen, in a love story that depicts "loev" very much as it is in real life: messy, imperfect, unpredictable - sometimes even devastating. (not rated)  8/10 stars

THE UNCANNY EXPRESS (THE UNINTENTIONAL ADVENTURES OF THE BLAND SISTERS BOOK 2) - Kara LaReau (writer) & Jen Hill (illustrator)

Having missed out on the Bland Sisters' first adventure, when they were kidnapped by pirates (though I will be seeking it out and reading it, now), I nevertheless was familiar with author Kara LaReau's work, having read and enjoyed The Infamous Ratsos (as well as have an ARC of the Ratsos sequel I need to finish). Here, LaReau channels a really cool combination of Lemony Snicket-meets-Agatha Christie, as Jaundice and Kale Bland are sent a mysterious letter by their world-traveling parents, asking them to meet their "Aunt Shallot" (whom they didn't even know existed, prior to the letter) at the train station, as she will be staying with them for awhile. Now, the Bland sisters totally live up to their name, spending their days drinking tepid tea and eating tasteless cheese sandwiches while indulging their obsessions (for Kale it's cleaning, while Jaundice loves tying knots). In other words, the last thing the sisters want is another adventure, which is why their lives are thrown out of whack when they meet up with their flamboyant aunt at the train station ... only to be led, instead, onto a departing train instead, with a woman who is actually the famous female magician, Magique! Now stuck on the moving Uncanny Express, things get even more complicated when Magique, disappears, and a flamboyant detective on-board (a terrific homage to Hercule Poirot worth reading the book for alone) offers to lead the girls in finding her. I loved this "kids" book, it's charming and amusing, with a bit of snark for the adults, and a fun story that - even if you see the end coming - is nevertheless a great ride getting there. Jen Hill's illustrations, just like with the Ratsos books, only add to the upbeat, lighthearted tone of the novel - which, naturally, hints of a book three to come by its end, that also seems to promise more development of the sisters as well as secrets (at last) to be revealed!  5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

SUEE AND THE SHADOW - Ginger Ly (writer) & Molly Park (Illustrator)

Suee is a twelve-year-old goth girl-in-training; she dresses in black, has no friends, and seeks to keep it that way even after starting at a new school. A trip to an off-limits room in the school, however, leaves Suee hearing voices - and, eventually, seeing her shadow, which has not only come to life but seems to have truly sinister plans for both Suee and her classmates; perhaps even the entire school! This graphic novel for middle-graders is surprisingly dark and sinister, with a Tim Burton-like tone in the artwork and story, and though said story draws you in, for me I found things stretched out a bit, to the point where at times I found myself checking how many pages I had left to read before The End. That said, Suee is a sympathetic character with a couple lessons to learn whom readers will readily identify with, and for that reason alone is worth the read. A good, if not great, graphic novel with (at least in the ARC I was reading) mostly black-and-white artwork occasionally dappled with color.  3.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

THE DICTIONARY OF DREAMS: EVERY MEANING INTERPRETED - Gustavus Hindman Miller

Have always been fascinated by the subject of dream interpretation - not sure I believe in it, but am up for keeping an open mind - so when I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways I was anxious to take a look through it. The book itself is impressive; a large-format,500+-page "flexibound' and with an elegant cover that makes it a perfect coffee table book. And true to the book's subtitle, "Every Meaning Interpreted" the list of possible people, places, things, or actions you could possibly dream about seem to be covered in this one book.

For me, disappointment came in the meanings themselves. I know the book would be three times as large if it went into great detail on each meaning, but even when a few or more potential meanings are listed under one category, each is still nothing more than a short blurb that gives you the briefest of idea of - again, potentially - what that component of your dream could mean.  I guess I was hoping for something more in-depth or detailed, and while the book is fine for what it is, and contains a ton of info, the short TV Guide-like blurbs were, for me, a letdown.

Again, a great-looking book that covers a ton of material, just maybe in too briefest of details for this reader! It just feels like a smaller font and a more effective use of all that white space, and the book could have included - been - so much more.  3/5 stars

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways, in exchange for an honest review.

PERFECT PETS ORIGAMI - John Montroll

Not having had any experience working with origami in probably two decades or more, I wasn't familiar with Mr. Montroll's other work when discovering Perfect Pets Origami via a Goodreads Giveaway. Was surprised to win the book, and when it arrived I loved the large format, even if the book seemed on the thin side.

But then I opened it, and for a thin book could not believe the variety of intricate, beautifully-constructed origami animals the resided inside!  Pigs, snails, turtles, a huge variety of fish so you can even create your own aquarium - even when some of the extremely-detailed illustrations seemed almost in a foreign language to me (I have since tried a few designs - my favorite so far is the snail - and with focus the illustrations are actually a perfect guide, making things in fact pretty easy) I was getting more and more excited with each page I turned. Colorful, fun, and even illustrated with photos of what the finished product should look like, Perfect Pets Origami brought back some warm, terrific memories of childhood - and opened up a whole new world, for me, of a new hobby that is relaxing, satisfying, and in its way genuinely fascinating. Highly recommended.  5/5 stars

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways, in exchange for an honest review.

THE INFAMOUS RATSOS - Kara LaReau (writer) & Matt Myers (illustrator)

A fun, funny, and beautifully illustrated (as well as written) children's book, The Infamous Ratsos is a  (deservedly) 2017 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book about a pair of brothers who want nothing more than to prove to their father, Big Lou, that they are just as tough - even as their ages - as he is.  To that end, when left on their own while Big Lou works, the boys contrive to get into as much trouble as possible, causing havoc and showing off to the neighbors how bad they are ... yet somehow, with every naughty deed older brother Louie comes up with, aided by younger brother Ralphie, somehow the boys end up doing quite good deeds instead, proving nothing to their neighbors but what fine, upstanding young boys they are!  Fearful that Big Lou will hear of this, Louis and Ralphie plot each scheme bigger than the last to prove their toughness ... in what, in the end, is an extremely well-done and very endearing charmer of a chapter-book, again beautifully-illustrated, that even adults can enjoy.  4.5/5 stars

CLARENCE: CHICKEN PHANTOM - Derek Fridolfs (writer) & JJ Harrison (illustrator)

Cartoon Network's popular good-guy hero Clarence goes away to camp with best friends Jeff and Sumo in this graphic novel, and immediately finds himself obsessed with excelling as a Chicken Scout, earning enough badges to be the first to go from Egg to Chicken Hawk even as Jeff and Sumo struggle in their own endeavors at group leadership.  Add to the mix a search for a buried treasure and the devious Chicken Phantom, who terrorizes the young campers, and you have a silly but affectionate tribute to childhood sleepaway camp ... that, unfortunately, never really comes together.  Reading the book, I could easily see a young reader growing bored with both the static, crudely-drawn illustrations (which, though very like the original animated characters, never leap off the page like the characters do on-screen) and unoriginal storyline quite quickly; as an adult, for me the story seemed a collection of cliches from many books that even I read as a child (many - okay, many - years ago).  Just "okay" and maybe for stalwart fans of the series; otherwise best to find Clarence and company on TV, instead.  2/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

SUIT YOUR SELFIE: A PEARLS BEFORE SWINE COLLECTION - Stephan T. Pastis

Long a Pearls Before Swine fan (love Rat, Goat, Pig, Zebra, and the befuddled Crocodiles, especially when any of them interact with author Pastis's hand-drawn version of himself!), it was with eager anticipation that I started this super-sized (176 pages) collection of the sarcastic, punny, even quite witty comic (even politically aware) strip.  That said, as opposed to trying to breeze through the book in one marathon run - like ice cream, sometimes too much a good thing for me - Suit Your Selfie is the kind of collection you want to keep by your bedside, every night forgetting the more negative events of the day before going to bed by laughing (often out loud) at Rat's snarkasm, Pig's naivete, or the never-ending battle of Mr. Crocodile to catch and eat Mr. "Zeeba".  Like visiting old friends again, even the less-funny entries here will keep you entertained between the punches of laugh-out loud liberally interspersed throughout, and any fan of the original strip will be happily reminded, over and over, of the artwork, characterizations and humorous cynicism that made you a fan in the first place.  4/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

TRINITY (2016-) VOL. 1: BETTER TOGETHER (REBIRTH) - Francis Manapul

Though by no means an expert on graphic novels or comics - my interest in them (other than childhood) has only, in fact, developed within the last couple years - I've been reviewing a number of both on this blog and elsewhere in recent months ... and have to say, Trinity Vol. 1: Better Together puts even the best of them to shame.  Part of DC's Rebirth series, writer/artist/genius Francis Manapul (working with other incredible artists) is behind the six issues compiled here of the Trinity storyline, in which Batman and Wonder Woman, along with an older and wiser Superman, must learn to trust each other and come together as a team if they are to defeat one of their most unique foes - one who burrows into the deepest secrets of their souls in order to utilize both their fears and weaknesses.  Everything about this series is stellar: the artwork, writing, characters, story arcs - engaging from first page to last, and first-class work worthy of arguably the three most iconic characters in comic history.  Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman are all given equal star-status time here, each shown in his or her best light and with backstories that flesh them out as human - and humane - more than ever.  Add to all this a deeply satisfying and surprisingly poignant ending, and it all only serves to remind the reader of just how well-crafted this series is; afterward you're left with the sensation of not wanting to leave the characters, but instead follow them to their next adventure - something I'd only before experienced in my most favorite of novels.  Truly brilliant, and a must-read for fans of any of the characters involved - this is the kind of graphic novel that can turn a non-fan, one whose never even read a comic book, into a certified addict of the genre.  Kudos, DC and Mr. Manapul!  5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

SHAUN THE SHEEP: BLAST TO THE PAST (TALES FROM MOSSY BOTTOM FARM) - Martin Howard

Though I am on the other side of the pond (in America), I admit to both a love and fascination with the British animated antics of Shaun the Sheep since seeing the feature film a couple years ago.  This illustrated (beautifully, by Andy Janes) kid's book - my first time reading about the Flock and Bitzer and the Farmer, instead of watching them - is like visiting the characters on-screen all over again.  The story is simple: Shaun, rebuffed in his attempts to play with the cranky, tired Farmer, instead comes up with the idea of building a go-kart, The Mossy Bottom Flyer, that he and Bitzer and the Flock will blast down Roly-Poly Hill for an fun.  As expected, the kart's landing isn't smooth, and when Shaun and his mates dust themselves off, they look about to find that - ??! - their trip down the hill sent them back in time!  The dirty, stained tractor gleams like new ... a baby chick stands trying to crow on the gatepost, where only the rooster once stood ... and, the biggest shock of all, from around the corner of the house comes the Farmer - now a young man with a full head of red hair and a beard, carrying a book of instructions on farming!  Even the nasty pigs over in the sty are suddenly wearing baby bonnets and sucking on pacifiers!  When it becomes obvious the young, newbie Farmer is totally inept at his chosen vocation, Shaun and Bitzer - while the rest of the Flock works 'round the clock to fix the go-kart, so they can all go back to the future - find themselves doing everything they can to help the Farmer's inept efforts work, lest he give up and sell the farm, potentially erasing Shaun and company from the future!  It's a wonderful, funny story that actually had me (someone way above the targeted age group) chuckling out loud in several places, and even reading it on my Kindle all I wanted to do was color the wonderful cartoon illustrations that appear frequently throughout.  A charming, funny, kid-friendly tale with a positive message about friendship/helping others, all woven into a story that will keep kids entertained and still loving the characters.  5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

ÉCLAIR AND PRESENT DANGER - Laura Bradford

Though the cozy mystery genre is overrun with them (including some pretty awful ones), I love a good pun for a title - one of the biggest reasons why, when I spotted this first-in-a-series mystery, I wanted to give it a try.  The theme of a young female protagonist who loses her bakery but then inherits an old-fashioned ambulance she turns into an "Emergency Desert Squad" vehicle was pretty appealing, too.  Enter Winnie Johnson, a single midwestern suburbanite who, one morning, discovers the body of her friend and elderly neighbor, Bart Wagner, dead on his kitchen floor, smothered with a pillow just weeks after the death of his beloved wife.  With no confidence in the local police, Winnie - along with another pair of elderly neighbors she counts as her best friends - becomes determined to, along with building up her business, also put away a killer ... all while trying to deal with her ga-ga attraction to a local college professor.  Overall, this book was a huge disappointment that I sort of had to push myself to finish; it reads more like a romance with a secondary mystery side plot that, at times, feels almost forgotten.  There is virtually no police presence in the novel at all, making the book feel unrealistic, and Winnie's constant fluttering breath or sighs or racing heart whenever she thinks of or comes across the professor she meets makes her seem more like a middle-school student than a grown woman.  It's a point that's pushed way too hard in the book - how nervous and giddy the man's attention makes her - but the same can be said about the fact that Winnie lives on Serenity Lane, a street mostly inhabited by senior citizens, who also tend to be Winnie's best friends (it really seemed like the author felt the need to remind us, every so often, that Winnie hangs with seniors).  Also, the idea of building a business out of one ambulance driving one desert at a time across town comes across as an unbelievable business, as well.  When the dots are finally connected and the true motive/killer revealed, I sort of felt that - had all the panting and pining over the love interest and his potential competition been removed - the mystery would have been something Winnie could have solved a hundred pages earlier.  I almost feel guilty being so critical on so many points, but in reading this book it seemed like I was constantly coming across something that seemed silly or contrived, and it's definitely the most non-mystery-feeling mystery I've read in some time.  Sad, because I really, truly wanted to like it.  2/5 stars

SUPER SIKH #1 - Eileen Kaur Alden & Supreet Singh Manchanda

Requested this soon as I saw it on NetGalley, stoked about the idea - especially in the climate of intolerance festering in the U.S. today - of a Sikh secret agent.  Upon starting the short (26 pages) first issue of the very well-made comic (Amit Tayal's artwork is crisp and sleek; it's a beautiful book), it was easy to immediately like Deep Singh; he busts his butt fighting for the little guy, is obsessed with Elvis, has made enemies in the Taliban, and still has a mom and dad who take care of/dote on him when he comes home exhausted and sore after a successful mission.  Issue One is barely an introduction to the character, with little plotline as Deep gets approval for a much-needed vacation (to Graceland, no less!) ... but ends up on a flight that - surprise! - also ends up being highjacked by terrorists mid-air.  From here the comic lost me a bit, taking the much-lauded opportunity to become a sounding board for exactly how vocal the bigots in this country have become (Singh ends up saving the day, but by passengers and crew alike is presumed to be one of the terrorists - even though they're Mexican).  It's a message I am in total agreement with, I myself have never been more ashamed to be an American than I have been since January, but stereotypes are distasteful to me across the board - and while I agreed with the comic's message, I wasn't too comfortable with every white character on the plane, and in any form of airline or law enforcement that Singh comes across afterward, coming across as some brain-dead trailer-trash rube who automatically sees dark skin and a turban and cries terrorist.  Still a good enough book to warrant a look at number two; hopefully there will just be some good white people in that one.  3/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

BREAKDOWN - Jonathan Kellerman

Breakdown, though 31st in the Alex Delaware series, was my first time finally reading Jonathan Kellerman - one of those authors we all have on our list, whom we've wanted to try but never yet got around to.  I was intrigued by the synopsis of this one - Los Angeles psychologist Alex Delaware trying to track down the whereabouts of a child he once interviewed whose mother, a minor Hollywood starlet, has lost her grip on reality and ends up alone and on the streets - but found the book very, very slow-going in the beginning, with nothing much happening until a death (an accident, or murder?) occurs, and the plot not only picks up but gets pleasantly complex by comparison.  Delaware is a likable fellow, very conscientious and moral (if a bit dull), but many of the minor and supporting characters here feel a little out of Central Casting, not coming off particularly real or likable themselves.  While I totally understood the need for background to establish the starlet Zelda's character and issues with her worsening mental condition, the book's first third or so feels overly ponderous with information and exposition compared to the rest of the novel's actual storyline, where the mysterious goings-on finally come to light and Alex and his cop buddy Milo's investigations kick into gear.  Not bad but not great, though I am glad Breakdown picked way up with its second half especially; just wish the first third or so had been nearly as compelling.  3/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

THE LONE RANGER/GREEN HORNET: CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE - Michael Uslan & Giovanni Timpano

Though never a huge fan of "The Lone Ranger" on TV, growing up, I was ga-ga over "The Green Hornet" series with Van Williams and Bruce Lee - and the idea of a mash-up of these two such different and diverse "champions of justice" in a graphic novel was intriguing.  Combining the first several issues of the comic book series, we learn here that the Lone Ranger is actually the great uncle of the Green Hornet!  Known as "Uncle Joe" to Britt Reid, the storyline here - set mostly in late-1930's America on the eve of WWII, but with so many flashbacks and flash-forwards things become a bit jumbled (even annoying) - really kicks off when Elliot Ness (yes, that Elliot Ness) comes to Chicago to ask for the help of the Ranger, Reid and the Daily Sentinel to dismantle Hitler sympathizers and their plot to build the atom bomb already in place in the U.S., even as Uncle Joe pushes Britt to pick up the mantle of justice by becoming a modern-day Lone Ranger.  The book is packed with historical events of the various time periods covered, some of it fairly fascinating (I had no idea about the Jesse Owens/Olympics/Hitler story) and perfectly furthering the plot, though I admit the book also feels almost overstuffed with a bevy of cameo appearances by what feels like more historical figures (on both sides of the law) than your average middle school social studies class covers in a year.  I also found Giovanni Timpano's artwork, while extremely good overall, sometimes distracting - when some faces in a crowded scene, for example, were indiscernible from each other.  The negatives of this book are actually minor, however, when compared to its forward-moving storyline that - though a bit slow-going early on - more than makes up for things with a rousing finale.  And in these days, when the U.S. has put an orange devil into power who seems to think of himself more as fuhrer than world leader, this Lone Ranger/Green Hornet crossover is at heart a rousing example of how hate, bigotry, and evil against humanity itself can be squashed in the name of truth, justice and the truly American way.  3.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

TACO EL GATO #2 - Cathy Briones

Continuing the story of the adopted feline with the soul of a dog, Taco El Gato #2 seems to have backed off on the promise of issue one to get deeper into the lead cat's story.  The Fritz the Cat lewdness and rudeness feels tapered down as well, the story here coming out of the blue (pun intended) as Fluffy enlists the aid of the fluffy-headed Furr-ball to help him find the One-Headed, Blue-Assed Monkey (Fluffy is now an exterminator of all creatures annoying, putting flyers up all over town, and this is his first conquest).  The trail leads them to a park late at night, as in another part of town Fluffy's real father has arrived in Ditz City in search of his son - and all parties come together, along with two inept cops, in a tangle of mistaken identities and general silliness.  The artwork is still kitschy 1970's, and in some ways I almost enjoyed this overly-simple story better than the first ... though it doesn't fulfill what felt like the promise of the first book in giving us something a bit more, particularly with the majority of the supporting characters from the first book gone MIA.  2.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

THE FLINTSTONES (2016-) VOL. 1 - Mark Russell & Steve Pugh

As a child (as an adult, for that matter), I lived for two cartoons (sorry, that's what us dinosaurs called "animated series" when I was a mere baby brontosaurus): "Speed Racer" and "The Flintstones".  Both have remained rabid favorites as an adult, the residents of Bedrock so familiar and familial to me by now, even cover of this graphic novel (comprised of the first six comics of the series) alone had me worried about what modern day might wrought on the world's (and my) most beloved prehistoric family.  Here, the Flintstones and Rubbles have both grown up - literally, Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm are teenagers now - but the genius of what writer Mark Russell and artist Steve Pugh have created here reveals itself in some brilliant political and social satire, the goings-on of Fred, Barney and their families mirroring our own times.  Whether tackling politics, obsessive consumerism, the right to marry, genocide/war, organized religion, gentrification, or the objectification and abuse of animals, in comic book form Russell and Pugh have cast both satirical and critical eyes on today's society, mirroring the 21st-century in the dinosaur age - up to and including unique and ingeniously creative back stories behind how the Flintstones got Dino and the Rubbles became parents.  Illustrated in just as coarse and "caveman-chic" a style befitting its subjects, the pages reflect the times and draw you that much more into the stories: Fred still trying to get ahead at the quarry (Mr. Slate is, like, three times the douchebag here as in the cartoon), with Barney as his dopey sidekick and Wilma this time showing off an artistic bent as well as her own kind-of-cool backstory (Betty, by comparison, is severely relegated to almost an afterthought of a character here).  Extremely well-crafted with obvious love for the original, this is a new retelling of "The Flintstones" for our times that somehow never loses - at its heart - any respect for the source material.  4.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

SHERLOCK SAM AND THE SINISTER LETTERS IN BRAS BASAH - A.J. Low

The third adventure of ten-year-old Sherlock Sam - "Singapore's Greatest Kid Detective" - and his robot sidekick Watson begins when family friend Officer Siva of the Singapore Police seeks Sam's help in finding out who has been sending sinister letters to his friend Fidel.  Fidel Alvarado is a prominent children's book writer in Singapore, with a son named Luis who attends an international school, and through Luis (who thinks it's all part of a Chain Mail game), someone is sending Fidel vaguely threatening missives implying that if he continues writing, Luis might be in danger - setting up Sherlock and his friends for a one-week, sort of undercover mission to Luis's school, where the kid detective works with his friends to find clues and set a trap for the letter writer.  Every new Sherlock Sam book, for me, is like stepping into a time machine and going back to my childhood days of Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown and the reason I fell in love with reading in the first place.  Always multicultural, in this story young readers will even learn something of Mexican food, customs and culture, as well as the ongoing themes that each book has of friendship and loyalty, embracing and exploring the differences between people instead of fearing or rejecting them (especially important in today's climate), and of course that good guys win and justice is served.  The mystery is actually done quite well here, too, with Sherlock and company logically following one clue to the other to figure out whodunnit.  Add some genuine heart and humor, along with the wonderful Saturday morning cartoon-like illustrations of Andrew "Drewscape" Tan, and all I can say is I hope this series never, ever ends.  As always, a glossary in the back also helps young readers with some of the words and phrases used in the novel, teaching while entertaining perfectly.  4.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

SCREAM STREET: FANG OF THE VAMPIRE (BOOK 1) - Tommy Donbavand

Luke Watson is your average pre-teen kid.  Well, with the exception of the werewolf thing, which he can't control and only happens when he's really angry.  But after one of his lapses almost gets a fellow classmate injured, the Government Housing of Unusual Lifeforms (G.H.O.U.L.) is forced to step in, and before they know it Luke and his parents wake up the newest residents of Scream Street - a gaslit, always-nighttime community of zombies, monsters and creatures of the night ruled over by the dictatorial, cigar-chomping "landlord" Otto Sneer.  Luke makes a couple of friends his age pretty quickly - Resus the vampire with long, pointy nails that can pick locks, and a Hermione Granger-like mummy named Cleo - but when he learns of a book that could help him collect six relics to help him to send his human parents back to the real world, the trio of kids set out to find relic number one.  A fun and well-written book that will appeal more to kids than adults, with good messages about friendship and acceptance - but for me it just felt too short, ending too abruptly; I would have preferred one long book telling the whole story, instead of what feels like the first part of many that will keep you reading ... and goad you into buying the next book.  3/5 stars

BRICKLEBERRY VOLUME 1: ARMOOGEDDON - Waco O'Guin & Roger Black

I fell into Comedy Central's "Brickleberry" by accident, and for the most part loved it from day one.  Lowbrow humor and mature subject matter to say the LEAST, the show still made me laugh out loud and was so insane and bawdy, I've since watched every episode of all three seasons multiple times.  This graphic novel combines the first four issues of the new comic (released since the show left the air) into one long volume that begins exactly where the series finale ended - with Woody's determination to leave the largest carbon footprint on the planet attracting the attention of alien cows, who wipe out nearly all of mankind after taking the opportunity to attack (yes, you read that right).  It's years later now, the cows run earth and humans are almost gone, but the dumbest and most useless Brickleberry ranger ever, Steve, now has a weapon for an arm and is sent on a mission to go back in time to kill Woody just before the cow apocalypse happens, therefore saving the world.  The cows, for their part, send trailer trash human hillbilly Bobby - who's grown to love his new-found life as a sex slave for the cows, and wants to keep them ruling earth - back in time as well, to stop Steve ... and from there on nothing goes as planned, of course.  Series creators O'Guin and Black try to cram in every running gag from the show they can into the narrative here, but with all that I just found the first half of this volume a bit dull and not very funny at all - plus, overall, the artwork felt quite sloppy and amateurish compared to the series.  Things pick up greatly storywise though, especially toward the end, but I still can't help thinking this would have been more enjoyable - definitely funnier - on screen than on paper.  2.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

SHERLOCK SAM AND THE GHOSTLY MOANS IN FORT CANNING - A.J. Low

The second mystery featuring Singapore's greatest kid detective, Samuel Tan Cher Lock - aka Sherlock Sam, never without his trusty robot (and sometimes smart-mouthed) sidekick Watson.  This time, the 10-year-old detective is on a field trip with his school to historic Fort Canning when the gang discovers a previously unknown-of sally port leading underground.  Wanting to investigate the doorway to the mysterious tunnel, the kids are suddenly scared off by a series of creepy, ailing moans emanating from the darkness ... and Sam, a man of science like his father, becomes determined to solve the mystery, and prove to his scared friends that there are no such things as ghosts!  As an adult who was weaned as a kid on Encyclopedia Brown, the Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew, I really wish someone like Sherlock Sam had been around when I was a kid.  Set in Singapore and with a cast of multi-ethnic characters, not only are both characters and story wholly entertaining, but kids reading these books also become aware of another culture's history, food and language, opening their eyes and minds to a world beyond their own.  The characters never come off like stereotypes or cardboard; even Sam's sister and parents, while indulgent - even proud - of Sam's detecting skills, still understand and treat him like the imperfect little boy he is.  Only two books in, and I find myself anxious to jump into number three ... Andrew Tan's comic book-like illustrations only further enhancing, perfectly, these wonderfully written stories.  4.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

EVERY FRENCHMAN HAS ONE - Olivia de Havilland

Back in print again for the first time in decades, the 1962 memoir by Gone With the Wind star/Hollywood legend Olivia de Havilland - who turned 100 in 2016 - is a brief, lighthearted tale of how she fell in love with a Frenchman and came to relocate to Paris.  If you're looking for any recollections of her films, celebrity friends, or experiences making movies in Hollywood, you're going to be hugely disappointed; the book barely even touches on the movies she continued to make once living in France - otherwise the industry is barely even mentioned.  No, this book is more for pure de Havilland fans, or Francophiles who would enjoy reading about the various comparisons she makes between the U.S and France in terms of everything from men to fashion to raising kids, hiring servants, dealing with home remodeling crews ... even the way size and importance of a woman's bust are viewed between the two countries.  Never approaching anything controversial or political, the book reads very much like a Hollywood Movie Star having a sort of fireside chat with her fans, courtesy of an extra-long cover story in a favorite issue of Photoplay; nothing exciting or revealing or deep, the book has its charms but I was looking for something with a little more meat to it.  2.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.