These manga volumes are inflating my numbers... Perhaps a little unfairly but it really doesn't matter.

It was a rough week at work and all I wanted to do was lose myself into something escapist. These two series fit the bill nicely.

Happy Marriage?! is a romantic comedy that was so much fun. It starts with an arranged marriage. Hokotu Mamiya is ( Read more... )

It took me a while to get through the two sequels to The Steel Remains. Each is exponentially longer and more complex. But The Cold Commands and The Dark Defiles are dense, demanding, and extraordinary ( Read more... )

I enjoyed Spell of Desire enough that I picked up Tomu Ohmi's other major manga series, Midnight Secretary. It just wasn't as good or as smart. It picked up near the end and got more complicated, which I enjoyed, but just when things really ramped up they ended, and with a sort of implied "happily ever after" that wasn't satisfying. The art, though ( Read more... )

Recent events, both national/global and personal, remind me of something one of my favorite professors said - Let death be your adviser. He meant that when we are cognizant of the temporariness of life, and all its aspects both harsh and joyous, we make choices that are better in the long run ( Read more... )

I read these manga as a breather from the huge, epic fantasy novel I'm plowing through right now. They are fluff, bordering on trashy, but they were fun and pretty and fit the bill nicely ( Read more... )

I listened to this as an audiobook and it was glorious. A full cast recording beautifully done, the tone and spirit of the book captured perfectly. The paragon Derek Jacobi is the narrator and how can you do any better? The voices were all done well, even the minor characters. Silas is especially smooth and perfect. And just when things couldn't ( Read more... )

The Meaning of Maggie is a young adult novel that I read for work. A student asked me to read it so that always means it's a must read. I had already bought it for my library based on the reviews. It was good, but not spectacular. I see the appeal to students, though, especially girls, and I'm glad to say that the main girl character is worthy and ( Read more... )

I was in a graphic novel mood.

Saga Vol. 5 came out a little while ago and I've had it sitting on my shelf, burning a hole in my brain. I'm surprised I resisted this long. It's so rare to find a series of books that not only consistently delivers on this level but manages to up the ante like this does. I can't give a plot summary - too much has ( Read more... )

The Emperor Far Away was an engrossing look at China's minorities. The author, David Eimer, is an English journalist who lived in China for many years. This book is both a narrative of his travels around China's borders as well as historical exposition about China's treatment of its minorities and the current state of their lives. I learned a lot. ( Read more... )

I listened to this as an audio book. I'm enjoying going slowly through the Dresden Files again. James Marsters does a fantastic job and he's really hit his stride. He is Harry. His inflection and tone are just perfect. The end of this book is when the scope of the series really starts to take off and I'm looking forward to continuing.