I read this from the collection Night Shift but am using this edition to help me with my goodreads goal. This doesn't really work as a short story sinI read this from the collection Night Shift but am using this edition to help me with my goodreads goal. This doesn't really work as a short story since King is trying to cram so much into so few pages. There's a disease that has killed everybody but two people, Bernie and his mates are setting a man on fire, Bernie's relationships and what they've led to, and how much has changed over the course of a handful of years requires more than 10 pages surely. As much as this did send shivers down my spine for how brutal Bernie and the company he keeps are as well as Bernie's fatphobia, which King writes in a way that is hilarious, this story felt like a dead-end despite its potential although a fully-fletched story would have probably been way too cliché....more
Just when I thought the story was over, the main characters decide to go back to deadman wonderland and avenge not only those who'd been wronged but aJust when I thought the story was over, the main characters decide to go back to deadman wonderland and avenge not only those who'd been wronged but also themselves. SPOILERS AHEAD We finally get confirmation that Shiro is wretched egg and she has some sort of split personality disorder. What's even more surprising is the revelation that Ganta's mom is the reason behind this whole ordeal and also probably the reason why Ganta survived this long. We got a lot of backstory which was of course the stem of the suspense I've had this long and much less action. Character development was minimal though we do have a character who possesses most branches of sin and who is hence unbeatable except in a situation whereby Ganta uses his unique ability to counter such a formidable opponent. The whole point of the story now is to destroy wretched egg to prevent any further harm from coming to Nippon. I don't yet quite understand the whole mother goose concept and am still curious about the red man. I'm sure I'll learn all I need to soon enough. 3 volumes to go! Not much unlike how Harry Potter survived Voldemort due to his mom's love however in this case Ganta is both the hero and the villain I suspect and his mom created the plot and is by now ready to get it over and done with....more
As much as I love Logan, he is more than a bit of a one trick pony. Deadpool is way cooler and one could argue that John Wick and Wolverine have a lotAs much as I love Logan, he is more than a bit of a one trick pony. Deadpool is way cooler and one could argue that John Wick and Wolverine have a lot in common but Wolverine is not only a mutant but also an experiment so he's meant to be much more formidable than he is depicted as. He's meant to be overpowered but here he comes across as a simp for Mariko even though he does blue ball Yukio several times. This is basically how he redeems himself and comes across as a sigma for a few panels then he reverts to simping. Although I think of Wolverine as one of the coolest characters marvel has ever produced, the comics I've read so far don't seem to do him justice especially when compared to the movies in my opinion.
He does ultimately get what he yearns for yet loses a friend in the process, is poisoned multiple times, and kills his would be father in law since there's so much going on in the criminal underworld. I feel as though even Hawkeye would have come across as cooler than Wolverine in the case of this volume. Not a massive fan....more
I made a poll on my youtube channel where I asked my subscribers to vote for which series they would most be interested in watching me review next. ThI made a poll on my youtube channel where I asked my subscribers to vote for which series they would most be interested in watching me review next. This one won by a landslide. I will be trying to complete this series by the end of October since I only have 4 volumes left. What I like about this series is that unlike with chainsaw man, instead of getting a page describing the author's life and his interests and accomplishments, we immediately get about 4 full colour images to set the tone.
SPOILERS AHEAD :) This was certainly one of the better volumes since the plot moved forward quite a bit what with deadman wonderland being shut down, the director committing suicide, and us finally learning more about wretched egg. This volume did not focus much on the characters as it did on how human experimentation is disgusting and how the prison was finally seen for what it truly was. What is most relevant about this is how Shiro is said to be dead and how Ganta is finally released and proven innocent. Ganta doesn't seem to be so heartbroken about Shiro's demise which is strange for several reasons. Many issues seem to have revolved themselves however there are several chapters to go and I have no clue what the author has in mind now that the prison is no more. I am rather confused with regard to what actually happened to Shiro and if there ever was a Shiro to begin with. I feel as though that segment is missing a lot of context. If you know anything about it make sure to let me know. One more thing that is also extremely important to note is how the earthquake that got all of this started to begin with was most likely manmade rather than an act of god....more
They don't make them like this anymore. These are characters for which I actually care and I suppose nostalgia plays a massive role too. In this one AThey don't make them like this anymore. These are characters for which I actually care and I suppose nostalgia plays a massive role too. In this one Aunt May figures out that Peter is Spiderman and instead of being the complete nuisance she generally is, here a lot of weight seems to be lifted off her shoulders and her true emotional strength shines through. I was not expecting a doctor strange cameo and certainly didn't think he'd be helping spiderman enter and leave the astral plane to save several kids. Then a few volumes later spidey fights against, and with during certain points, doctor Octavius to prevent Carlyle from stealing Otto's tech. I still firmly believe that Tobey Maguire is the best depiction of this character based on the comics I've read so far.
What's pretty cool about this is how Aunt May tells her nephew that a movie would be made about him one of these days and Spidey himself acknowledges this possibility. I rated it 5 stars because how could I not? It literally has amazing in the title. It came as a surprise to me that Peter and Mary Jane were married and then their relationship needed a break. I feel bad for Peter but it's a fact that he does always heed his uncle's words. the whole great power great responsibility sort of thing. Awesome character overall Peter :) I don't quite like how Mary Jane loves modelling and also gets an opportunity to participate in a movie but solely seems to be there for the purpose of being sexualised and objectified. The sexism doesn't quite bode well with me despite it being the sad truth....more
SEVERAL SPOILERS AHEAD Well, I finally finished part 1! As predicted, Chainsaw Man won against Makima. I'm glad he did but that was honestly rather unSEVERAL SPOILERS AHEAD Well, I finally finished part 1! As predicted, Chainsaw Man won against Makima. I'm glad he did but that was honestly rather underwhelming and although Makima is dead, the control demon has now picked its next victim. Denji decided that it would be a good idea to merge with Makima BY EATING HER and in that way, he'd be able to defeat her if I understood Fujimoto correctly. What I don't understand is how Makima tells us that when the chainsaw devil eats another, the fear of that devil subsides entirely yet when Makima is eaten, the control devil is reborn almost right after. Do people no longer fear control? We finally see Pochita in action and Power's love for Denji finally comes through thanks to a contract of her design. I'm still confused with regard to why Makima never bothered to form part of the political atmosphere since she had such massive influence. I think Fujimoto just woke up one fine morning, came up with a very simple yet goofy idea, didn't predict that it would become so popular, and is now just making it all up on the fly, without any prior planning.
I am not disappointed because the action sequences were cool but I did think that Denji would face more trouble along the way. I suppose that the whole point of this series, this first part at least, is that in life you never truly know what your purpose is or to what extent you're being controlled by others so don't let anyone undervalue you or disrespect you because we're all in the same boat. In this case for instance, Makima definitely underestimated Denji's cleverness and it's later revealed that she never even saw him as a human, just a scent. No wonder control is one of the most powerful devils in this series. It's pretty neat how Denji is so consistent with how he wishes for love and good grub and how he managed to get both in the end. Mission accomplished I suppose despite all the loved ones he lost throughout his journey of trying his best to keep the public safe. I will be waiting for the next box set to be published before continuing with this series. One thing I learned from this experience is that I can definitely wait for more Chainsaw man especially now that the suspense is gone. Overall it's very mid and I don't understand the hype EXCEPT FOR POCHITA OF COURSE HAHA...more
SEVERAL SPOILERS AHEAD. This was honestly one of the better volumes in the series but I'm still not as impressed as Fujimoto probably thought I would SEVERAL SPOILERS AHEAD. This was honestly one of the better volumes in the series but I'm still not as impressed as Fujimoto probably thought I would be at this point. I unfortunately have some people I call friends who are much like Makima in how they're jealous of all that I've accomplished and are manipulative to no extent. This one made me rather sad in how relatable it was in that life seems to treat people the same way Makima treats Denji. It promises a person so much only to suck it all away when that person exhibits optimism for the first time. It also made me rather uncomfortable however I am now certain that Denji will come out on top considering the sort of beast he truly is. We're finally told a lot about Denji and hence we see character development for the first time in about 5 or 6 volumes probably.
I am also confused with regard to what Makima wishes to accomplish considering that even if she removes the fear of certain devils, the problems associated with such devils would still remain. I feel as though, regardless of how clever the control devil thinks she is, she either hasn't thought the plan completely through or simply doesn't care for humanity which, considering the way her brain functions, is far more likely. I'm hoping that the final volume in the first part of this series does not disappoint since I'm glad that it's finally picking up. There are several characters which are basically forgotten for no reason. I'm not quite sure as to whether or not it has to do with Denji destroying them but that would explain a lot....more
Well, we're finally focussing on the specifics. I kind of understand how demons work now yet am still very confused with how someone could possibly gaWell, we're finally focussing on the specifics. I kind of understand how demons work now yet am still very confused with how someone could possibly gauge what percentage of a demon a country has control over. The gun demon is a prime example of this. Many innocent people died in this volume as the gun demon and chainsaw man threw down. I feel bad for Denji for SPOILER ALERT having to fight one of his closest friends. I have reason to believe that Makima is SPOILER temporarily dead and am not quite sure whether the fact that she's the control demon was meant to be some sort of plot twist or not. I was rather underwhelmed when I found out as I could determine how she can get others to bend to her will myself. I'm not trying to say that all women are like her of course.
I still don't see whether there's a point to this or not but from all that I've read so far, the gun demon seems to be one of the biggest threats to humanity. Denji also has some tricks up his sleeve which he doesn't yet know about apparently. I love how the relationship between Denji and Power developed so much in this volume thanks to the darkness demon. The future demon is also one which I didn't think I'd be worried so much about. This is the sort of series where I'm not particularly invested, even after 9 volumes, yet can't wait to see how it ends. The suspense is eating away at my brain and I look forward to seeing all the loose ends being tied together. I hope it's not a let down. This is, to be very fair, only part 1....more
3.5 stars. This was quite a cute and fun read but I especially liked the second and the fourth stories. This is basically a self-help book under the g3.5 stars. This was quite a cute and fun read but I especially liked the second and the fourth stories. This is basically a self-help book under the guise of fiction and there is some great advice stored within however some of it is either too cheesy or just hit or miss. I enjoyed how in the second story, the protagonist realises that he could do both that which pays him well and that which he enjoys simultaneously. This was rather relatable in my case. In the fourth story, there's great character development as a 30-year-old man still living with his mom finds a job and puts his life in order once more. There is very little continuity except for the fact that the librarian, Komachi, is mentioned in each chapter.
I'm not quite sure whether calling these chapters is appropriate since despite all taking place in the same area, there is truly no real connection save for the library. At parts there was a lot of rambling and talk which to me seemed unnecessary and pretentious for instance when we're given all the context we require and then the characters bring up their situations once more. The way the librarian is described gave me the impression that she's a big hero 6 lookalike which is quite a funny mental picture. Overall, 5 characters who are burdened with some dilemma or other are helped out by the librarian, a huge woman who always seems to recommend a completely unrelated book and hit the nail on the head. Her felting is a cute touch to the story too....more
This one was quite all over the place tbh despite not much particularly happening. Heads were flying all over the place, santa is apparently the most This one was quite all over the place tbh despite not much particularly happening. Heads were flying all over the place, santa is apparently the most horrible thing that's ever happened to the planet, and some deals were made which Denji wasn't much of a fan of. Once again, the fast-paced nature of the story is what kept me going but I am rather confused since there doesn't seem to be much of a point anymore. There are some demons mentioned which are apparently primal much like darkness and other intangible concepts and our protagonists go on a trip to hell. Not quite sure what Fujimoto has in mind but the whole world is apparently going to become santa's puppet and Denji will be in constant danger. CRAZY! I don't know why but everyone wants Pochita and I'm not one to lie, I want Pochita too. This is what happens when too much time is spent focussing on the plot and too little invested in developing the characters and allowing for the audience to build a relationship with them.
The Halloween character is unsettling and I'm still not sure why Makima has so many enemies. I absolutely love how determined Denji is to go on a trip with her. Some serious crush goals right there! The Master character is also quite horrible....more
The Morisaki Bookshop will now forever hold a special place in my heart. This was better than the first volume in my opinion for several reasons. The The Morisaki Bookshop will now forever hold a special place in my heart. This was better than the first volume in my opinion for several reasons. The characters were developed further and the emotions could hence be felt and resonated with more. They were more than just abstract. There was a level of tangibility in the way I felt whilst reading this one. I must admit that I didn't give this one 5 stars for the reason that the narrative could have gone in so many directions and Yagisawa decided to take the depressing route. The bookshop itself doesn't seem to be paid much attention here yet the readers, as does the author, all know that without it, none of the plot or the characters would be the same or matter as much. I keep joking that I might be dead inside but this one lit a bit of a spark within me where empathy is concerned.
I think that Satoru, Momoko, and Takako are very well-written characters and through reading the second instalment, I felt as though I started to form part of their family despite all its ups and downs. I love how although this is a fictional piece of work, Yagisawa uses a small cast of characters and the Jimbocho setting to allow for his readers to further appreciate the impact reading has on people and how in some cases, the stories one reads are reflected in real life. There are instances where Takako seems to gently tap the fourth wall as she speaks about writing a book with regard to her days living in the Morisaki bookshop and that made this experience that much more special. Although I'm not a fan of using the theme of sickness to almost force the reader to empathise with the characters and rate the book highly, I feel as though Yagisawa's novel deserves a high rating since he's very knowledgeable about the characters he breathes life into and doesn't hesitate to give us all the info we need while of course relying on certain implications to convey emotions further.
Would highly recommend but don't let the title fool you into thinking it all takes part in the bookshop :)...more
Borrowed this one from the library and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed it despite its simple nature. It has a rather powerful message with regard toBorrowed this one from the library and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed it despite its simple nature. It has a rather powerful message with regard to how you should be careful not to fall into abandoned wells. There are several other relevant points to take into account however I'll be telling you about those in just a sec. This lovely graphic novel is about a girl called Anya who struggles to get along with people, is ashamed of her looks, and feels like an outsider. On her way back home from school she falls into an abandoned well and finds herself seated next to a skeleton. This is where the ghost emerges from. At first, Anya begins to think that she has found herself a friend, which is so ironic since it's literally a ghost mirroring her social life, but then the ghost turns evil. Not unlike Bill Cipher to be totally honest.
I knew the ghost was a red flag when it started to get mad at Anya for not following the orders she gave her to the letter. The main point of this story I suppose is that one should never be afraid to show their true self because otherwise looks tend to be very deceiving. One might never know what a person they are jealous of is going through and passing judgement should not be an option in any situation. I wouldn't say it blew my mind but it will resonate with me for a few days. Emily is finally taken care of by the way. She's a liar, a murderer, and a manipulative character. Anya's ghost is such a perfect title when considering the implications....more
This one had some kick to it and the plot, at the very least, seems to be headed in some sort of direction. Now that Denji's famous, many devil hunterThis one had some kick to it and the plot, at the very least, seems to be headed in some sort of direction. Now that Denji's famous, many devil hunters are after him for Pochita I suppose who is the only reason why he's chainsaw man. There's a Santa puppet master and paedophile, a polyamorous lesbian character who is horny most of the time, and a group of 3 people who can alter the way they look due to a contract with the skin devil. Pretty weird yet since it's action-packed and very fast-paced, and now even seems to have a shred of a plot, I found this volume to be more enjoyable. Power gets on my nerves but at the same time, I can't blame her for the way she behaves since her mind shifts all the time. I'm quite certain that the anime is more enjoyable.
The implications that certain devils create are extremely strange. I also don't get what Makima is there for or how she's meant to be pushing the plot forward....more
Not particularly interesting yet the suspense gets to me every time when King is the one writing. It's not frightening and certainly didn't send shiveNot particularly interesting yet the suspense gets to me every time when King is the one writing. It's not frightening and certainly didn't send shivers down my spine but it did make me uncomfortable since rats tend to be quite disgusting. Bats too of course but perhaps less so. This story revolves around a mission to clean a part of the mill the protagonist works in that hasn't been taken care of for over a decade. In having a bully of a boss, the protagonist Hall seeks revenge and succeeds at a cost others would not be willing to pay. We are not told what happens after. The dots are ours to join. This one certainly escalated quickly....more
I read this in one sitting during one of my youtube livestreams.
If the story wasn't so fast-paced, it would be worthless. This is basically just more I read this in one sitting during one of my youtube livestreams.
If the story wasn't so fast-paced, it would be worthless. This is basically just more of the same with Denji being seduced and killed multiple times apparently by the bomb devil. Denji has a kind heart and soul and yet is living in a world where this is unacceptable since his life is at risk all the time! He learns how to swim and even merges with the shark devil to eliminate Reze. There's so much going on yet so little point to it all that I'm not sure whether there's anything to like or appreciate about the story. I was told that it would get better but to me it still seems as though it's all over the place and using explosions for cheap entertainment is not hitting the spot for me. I wouldn't mind something rubbing me the right way as does Denji doubtlessly. I need more of Power and Pochita because Denji's kind-heartedness is getting on my nerves. He should certainly be less naïve by now....more
I must admit that I did miss him however at no point did I volunteer any blood to the pages of this book. I'm so glad that the fanbase is being reigniI must admit that I did miss him however at no point did I volunteer any blood to the pages of this book. I'm so glad that the fanbase is being reignited after so many years and it almost feels as though Hirsch is single-handedly giving me my childhood, most of which I missed, back. Thanks Alex! This was a fantastic read filled with so much wordplay and told from Bill's perspective, it's hard not to sympathise with him. After all, we're all doing our best to survive. It's rather crazy to me how any illustration or depiction of Bill will give him more power though then again it's hard to know what to trust. I am completely immersed into Hirsch's imagination and wish to see more. It was a lovely touch to allow us to read missing pages from journal 3 and for Dipper, Mabel, and Stanley to all get a page to speak directly to Bill.
I do believe that there are many more easter eggs in the exclusive versions of this book but this one did explain a lot about Bill and how long he's been trying to connect his dimension to our own. The axolotl ended up recommending him for therapy. It was lovely to read about so many characters I've missed and to learn that much more about them. It's basically great to know that they're all still alive except for the infinite amount of characters who weren't so lucky. Some of the illustrations were extremely hyper realistic, like none I've ever seen in a book before, and I did kill an elf just to read on without thinking much about it. I had to read an entire page using a mirror. Who knows what might have happened? This book did get me questioning my sanity and morality and I've come to the conclusion that nothing really matters because whatever dreams we might have have already happened, and anything we might be embarrassed would happen has too, and hence there's no point in pursuing or worrying about anything. Ain't that a sweet thought?
Several SPOILERS ahead. Quite a brilliant conclusion to this series in my opinion although I think that the kids were very lucky towards the end. I'm Several SPOILERS ahead. Quite a brilliant conclusion to this series in my opinion although I think that the kids were very lucky towards the end. I'm not quite sure as to whether or not they deserved to win against Mulgarath. The one thing I really appreciated about this series is how knowledge is paid so much importance. Mulgarath perhaps deserved to die due to his stupidity but then again, the kids weren't as perceptive as they should have been either. They could have very easily been killed. As a matter of fact, it's strange to me that they all survived. In this one the mother is kidnapped and the kids try to rescue her. To my knowledge, their mother doesn't much care about them, she worries and doesn't act. I'm not sure why the kids went out of their way to rescue her when she basically thought they were all going crazy because their father no longer formed part of the picture.
I don't understand why the dragons were nerfed so much and how Mulgarath didn't win when he had an entire army at his disposal. I understand that this is a series meant for children and perhaps the authors weren't allowed many pages to fill however this seems to come across as a plot hole. The field guide is basically rendered useless due to the plot armour the children seem to have and hence the entire point of having an antagonist and the foundation upon which conflict is birthed becomes null. I suppose that the main message is that knowledge is power and Black and DiTerlizzi did quite a great job at conveying that....more
I either didn't quite understand the point of the story or it's simply pointless. This was recommended to me by one of my subscribers and I am honestlI either didn't quite understand the point of the story or it's simply pointless. This was recommended to me by one of my subscribers and I am honestly rather disappointed because I expected more quality suggestions. Nothing much happened in this story and the suspense was all for nought. It's about a man called Homer who tells Dave a story about a woman called Ophelia who was obsessed with finding shortcuts. There are of course some paranormal troubles along the way and eventually, SPOILER ALERT Ophelia goes missing and perhaps dies. Mrs. Todd is probably one of the most boring characters I've ever read about however Homer has a way of making an underwhelming story sound interesting and his accent made this story that much better. I would say that it's not imaginative and hence extremely realistic. I would also describe this as plausible since Ophelia seems to experience split personality disorder and some psychosis but hey, she ultimately manages to save five minutes of time! WELL DONE!...more
Very quick read that posed several questions with regard to morals. Didn't blow my mind but I still found it to be thought-provoking and enjoyed it ovVery quick read that posed several questions with regard to morals. Didn't blow my mind but I still found it to be thought-provoking and enjoyed it overall. I of course felt bad for Alan throughout but at the same time understood his perspective too. Although his love for his mother is massive, I feel as though it would have been a waste for him to give his life away in exchange for hers when she smokes and doesn't care much about her health. She would have felt the same way and given her life away for that of her son. I've almost no doubt.
I wouldn't say that this short story particularly freaked me out but the ghost story segment was pretty cool and I love how the whole thing is shrouded in irony. Riding the bullet, I suppose, is a metaphor for passing away. Alan wanted to but didn't because he changed his mind towards the very end. His mother was willing to go with her son but didn't either. Alan ended up riding it in a different way whilst hitchhiking and gave over his mom's life to death itself.
This reminded me slightly of A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness for the reason that it has a lot to do with regret, acceptance, and difficult decisions to be made by people not mature enough to make them. This didn't blow my mind but it did get me thinking about what I would have done in a similar situation. I will not be sharing my thoughts here....more
3 and a half stars. This was quite an enjoyable read however I feel as though the first 2 volumes in this trilogy are better. Once again I'm not quite3 and a half stars. This was quite an enjoyable read however I feel as though the first 2 volumes in this trilogy are better. Once again I'm not quite sure whether the title glory days makes much sense or not for the simple reason that Santiago, although being the recipient of many awards, fails to help Spain make it through to the World Cup Final. I love how his friends and family members are all supportive and how he reciprocates at every turn. Although it's about a guy turned millionaire famous all over the world, the theme of humility still seems to resonate.
I haven't yet watched the movies however I now wish to. I've never been the biggest of football fans but Rigby managed to design a world that's extremely enjoyable. This is perhaps due to its fast-paced nature, its relatable aura, and how well developed the characters are. I feel as though this one focussed more on Enrique than on Santiago and now am wishing that there are more volumes in this series. Would highly recommend for fans of sports and people who aren't alike. One thing that put me off especially was how many typos there were. I expected better....more
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