To Hold Her Hands

To hold her hands, the way you did the day you met her, and the way you do since you promised that you'll be together forever, soul for soul, body for body.

To hold her hands, so that you can together traverse the pathways of life, to smile together and together to taste some of the bitter fruits of being, to try new flavors, to meet different people, to travel.

To hold her hands, when she's ill and when she's sad, when she's happy and full of optimism, when she needs you and does not, and thus, together continue to venture through the shadow lands of space and time, through sunny valleys, rivers wild and emotional peaks and bottoms. To hold her hands…

The photo was taken in Pai, Thailand

My (Previous) Year in Reading: 121 to 130

…in chronological order.

2015 has been a great year when it comes to reading books for me. During it, according to Goodreads, I have gulped down 212 volumes that were not only novels for adults but also volumes that belonged in many other genres: YA, graphic novels, poetry, children's stories, short stories and books in translation. This has also been a year that I stopped writing reviews since I had much else occupying my mind and time, so below I'll give you no more than a few words about the books I have read. I hope some of my choices echo yours and I look forward to an exciting new year of reading.

So here it goes:

121) Small Wars by Lee Child. This is one of those Jack Reacher ebook shorts that now tend to appear before every new novel released by the author. What we have here is one of the same and which yet we enjoy just the same. Reacher is asked to investigate a crime, and surely soon enough he finds who the killer is, though that discovery comes as a bit of a surprise to the unsuspecting reader. A job well done once again.

122) The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz. When I found out that an author was hired to write a sequel to Stieg Larsson's Millennium series I didn't quite know what to expect. The good thing is that the new author doesn't disappoint. He delivers the goods in a masterful way and since he's a better writer than the late Larsson this new book reads more smoothly than the first three in the series. I look forward to the next one.

123) Judge Surra by Andrea Camilleri. This is not a Montalbano story. It takes place in 1862 in Montelusa, Sicily, where the judge of the title arrives to take over the local court. Most people think that he won't last long there, but the good judge is much more canny than they give him credit for. A very good short story by a great writer.

124) Red Rosa: A Graphic Biography of Rosa Luxemburg by Kate Evans. This graphic novel could have been a masterpiece, but doesn't quite reach that status for one simple reason: it's overly chatty. If that doesn't bother you much then start reading and be prepared for an exciting ride into the muddled waters of history and a heroine that will stay with you for a long time to come.

125) Ragnarok Volume 1: Last God Standing by Walter Simonson. Whenever I read the word Ragnarok in a title I get myself ready to enjoy a great adventure. Sometimes I do others I don't. With the graphic novel at hand I feel a bit conflicted because, though the premise is great, it doesn't quite deliver the goods. I would hope that the best is still to come.

126) Junction True by Ray Fawkes and Vince Locke. This is a futuristic tale about a man and the boundaries he's willing to cross for the woman he loves; a tale of extremes. This is a great concept which could do with some improvements in both the script and art departments. The story works but not as well as it could and should.

127) Alex + Ada Volume 3 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn. Here we also have a love story of sorts, taking place in the future. Alex, the man, comes to have feelings for Ada, the robot and decides to set her free in order to explore the world in humanly fashion. But things don't quite work out the way they want them to. I loved this story. Good work all around.

128) Edward Scissorhands Volume 2: Whole Again by Kate Leth and DrewRausch. I've enjoyed the second volume of this graphic novel just as much as the first. This Tim Burton creature took a new life on the page and I look forward to reading whatever comes next in the series. Thumbs up.

129) Chew Volume 10: Blood Puddin' by John Layman and Rob Guillory. This series of graphic novels is one of the best out there at the moment. The good scripts and pinpoint accurate art, the heroes and villains, and most of all the action make it one to look out for. A real joy to read.

130) Black Science Volume 3: Vanishing Point by Rick Remender, MatteoScalera and Moreno Dinisio. Yet another series that seems to grow better and better. For me it was enough to read that its heroes are the members of The Anarchist League of Scientists to be sold on the premise. Inter-dimensional travel, intrigue and lots of adventure are the cornerstones of the story. Bring me more.

To be continued.

Read also: 1 to 10, 11 to 20, 21 to 30, 31 to 40, 41 to 50, 51 to 60, 61 to 70, 71 to 80, 81 to 90, 91 to 100, 101 to 110, 111 to 120.

 

My (Previous) Year in Reading: 111 to 120

…in chronological order.

2015 has been a great year when it comes to reading books for me. During it, according to Goodreads, I have gulped down 212 volumes that were not only novels for adults but also volumes that belonged in many other genres: YA, graphic novels, poetry, children's stories, short stories and books in translation. This has also been a year that I stopped writing reviews since I had much else occupying my mind and time, so below I'll give you no more than a few words about the books I have read. I hope some of my choices echo yours and I look forward to an exciting new year of reading.

So here it goes:

111) The Art of Flying by Antonio Altarriba and Kim. This is one of those great graphic novels that make you feel blessed for having read them. It's a story about poverty and despair, revolution and war. The setting is Spain in turbulent times, in the era of Franco and the story is as human as they come as it recounts the adventures of a humble man whom history has not treated quite well. Excellent script, based on true facts, and great art.

112) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I came late to this novel and I guess one of the reasons for that is that I always tend to read books when there's not much buzz about them. Of course it's been ages since Plath died but more or less she's as popular as ever, so I thought that perhaps if I was to read this novel I'd be disappointed in the end. Thank Buddha that wasn't the case. I really enjoyed reading this story of a young woman whose life, though filled with joy, then takes a turn for the worse and leads her almost to the point of no return. I think the story hasn't aged at all. It's still relevant today in many ways.

113) Blue Horses by Mary Oliver. I am new to the work of this poet and as the first book of hers I've read this volume has left a bittersweet taste on my lips. Some of the poems I've loved, some not so much. Here and there I caught glimpses of great things yet to come. I'll read more of her work for sure, though, to be honest, when it comes to poetry I'm a harsher judge than when I'm reading fiction.

114) Four Eyes Volume 1: Forged in Flames by Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara. This story takes place in an alternate past, and it has to do with fighting dragons. The setting is convincing and the concept is quite good but the truth is that when I've read the synopsis I've expected something more. Well, perhaps the best is yet to come.

115) Ashes by Mario Candelaria. I liked this graphic novel more than most other reviewers and I guess that's simply because I tend to pay more attention to the story than the art. And this story of a firefighter who lost a leg and is now trying to build his life anew is a very good one. Perhaps it is a bit melodramatic but that doesn't take away any of the reading pleasure.

116) Pawn Shop by Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman. Things didn't seem quite to work for me in this one, though others found it quite good. I found it good alright, but just that. I thought it could be better both script-wise and art-wise. The concept though is very promising.

117) The Shadow: Midnight in Moscow by Howard Chaykin. Here we follow the life of The Shadow, a hero who feels warn out and gets ready to retire at the dawn of the 1950's. However the world seems to be in imminent danger yet again, so perhaps this is not the best time to do that. A look back in comic book time that sometimes works great and sometimes not so well.

118) All That You've Seen Here Is God: New Versions of Four GreekTragedies by Sophocles, Aeschylus and Bryan Doerries. Well, the ancient Greek civilization and especially its literary branch, doesn't ever seem to go out of fashion. Here the title says it all. Though it's been ages since I've read any of the tragedies included in this volume I feel that the translator did a very good job in adapting them for a modern audience.

119) Supreme: Blue Rose by Warren Ellis and Tula Lotay. Sometimes you can't tell what's an illusion and what's real in this story, but that is a bonus. This is a very good graphic novel with great art and an unforgettable heroine. I am certain that if you are a fan of Warren Ellis' work you're going to love this volume.

120) The Autumnlands Volume 1: Tooth and Claw by Kurt Busiek andBenjamin Dewy. This is an epic adventure with quite a few twists and turns and lovely art that will leave the lovers of fantasy fiction well-pleased. Hard times call for desperate measures, thus some wizards try to recall a hero from the past to help their fight, but the one who shows up is not the one they expected. Good work.

 

To be continued.

Real also: 1 to 10, 11 to 20, 21 to 30, 31 to 40, 41 to 50, 51 to 60, 61 to 70, 71 to 80, 81 to 90, 91 to 100, 101 to 110