TOO MUCH TBR · November 2015 » The Novel Hermit

TOO MUCH TBR · November 2015

November 6, 2015 Comments : 9

too mch tbr november

Here is another Too Much TBR: November edition!

For those who do not know, Too Much TBR is a way to help me see which books I really need to read and tackle them. Is it effective? Perhaps. It helps a lot seeing a visual of the books on my TBR pile.

November is a chiller month than October, but since I kind of slacked off, it’s major catch-up time! Will I be able to focus and read all my books? Cross our fingers that I can!

Let’s discuss what I read last month, and what I’m reading this month!

BACK IN OCTOBER

October was not my best month. I procrastinated…a lot. I had been busy with book events and a spontaneous trip to Tacoma that I couldn’t find the time to focus and read my review books. (I know, excuses excuses.)

I managed to get halfway through The Martian (with the help of the audiobook). I finished Pretending to Dance, Black Widow: Forever Red (which was terrible so read fanfiction instead), and Tell the Story to Is End (great Middle Grade about storytelling), and wrote reviews for all of them. Yayyyyyyyy. I decided to DNF Future Perfect, and postponed reading Welcome to Night Vale because I thought it would be better to read it along with the audiobook. Not the best, I admit.

Comics

COMIC FIRSTS · The Beauty of Monstress + The Powerful Women In It

November 4, 2015 Comments : 4

Do “steampunk” and “Kaijus” peak your interest? If so, well, you can join me in flailing about an awesome comic that’s out on Wednesday— it’s called Monstress!

When I heard Monstress was announced back in January, I knew this was gonna be a comic I would absolutely love. You have women of color writing and illustrating; gorgeous art; monsters; all types of female characters who are tough and layered; and so much more. I was beyond excited when I saw a solicitation email about it. (Imagine a lot of disbelief gawking of the email and refreshing the page to make sure I wasn’t imagining it.)

Monstress is described as:

[quote]Set in an alternate 1900’s Asia, Monstress tells the story of a teenage girl who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power…a connection that will transform them both, and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers…[/quote]

Your reaction reading that better be, “holy shit, I want to read this.”

Discussion

NANOWRIMO | Revisiting and Revamping An Old Project—Haunted Darlings!

November 1, 2015 Comments : 3

Eureka! In the early morning of November 1st, aka the starting day of NaNoWriMo, I finalized what I want to write about, and I am beyond excited. Let it be known that I will tackle—“Haunted Darlings.”

If you’ve followed me on Twitter, you’ll know that I was extremely underprepared—as in “oh god, what the fuck do I write about? Do I craft up something new that I haven’t really thought about for weeks? Or revisit an old project?” The answer is: I revisit an old and loved project with a new spin to it.

Monthly Recap

MONTHLY RECAP | A Very Wonderful October 2015 w/Book Events, WICDIV, Night Vale, & Tacoma!

October 31, 2015 Comments : 3

october

October is the month where the temperature should drop to reasonable cold Autumn temperature, right? No such luck in California! Despite the warm Spring-like temperatures, October has been one of the best months of 2015. (Probably because lots of money was being spent for the book events I went to; it made me weep at my empty wallet.)

WHAT’S UP?

I went to book events, and saw Leigh Bardugo, Patrick Ness, Jeffery Cranor and Joseph Fink. (Not in the same event, of course.)

IT WAS SUCH A THRILL TO MEET THEM ALL. Leigh Bardugo is a fucking queen; it is such a joy to see her talk because she’s so animated and awesome. (I would’ve done a recap of the event, but I forgot most of what was said; I was just so nervous and ~in my head the entire event. After the event, I did go to the Asian Art Museum because it was free that day. )

I also met the delightful Patrick Ness, who is super sweet and hilarious. I can spout poetry about seeing him talk and meeting him, but I won’t because i’ll devolve into a giggle fest. (You should read my recap of the event, and if you live in the US, you can win the ARC of his recent book and a surprise ARC!)

This past Thursday, I saw Jeffery Cranor and Joseph Fink talk, and just hearing them talk about themselves and Night Vale was an absolutely joy. I had a grin on my face the entire time, absolutely captivated by what they were saying. (There will be a recap, so stay tuned!) It was a great last event of my 2015.

Reviews

REVIEW | You’re Better Off Reading Fanfiction (Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl)

October 30, 2015 Comments : 5

Black Widow Forever Red

Enter the world of the Avengers’ iconic master spy

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments-until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned-and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava’s dreams. . . .[/note]

myreview

First sentence: “Natasha Romanoff hated pierogies—but more than that, she hated lies.”

Natasha, Natasha, where art thou? You’re certainly not in Black Widow: Forever Red (at least, not as much as I had wished you were).

When I heard there was gonna be a novel about Black Widow, I jumped in joy, and I had thought it would be an origins story (of sorts)—like how Natasha became the Black Widow and a bit of her history. The young adult part of Natasha’s life. Imagine my surprise when Black Widow: Forever Red focused on a new character—someone I didn’t particularly care about—and essentially shoved Natasha out of the spotlight.

Comics

FROM PANEL TO PANEL | October Graphic Novel Releases I’m Excited About!

October 29, 2015 Comment : 1

from panel to panel

I love comics and graphic novels, so what do I do with that love? Well, I turn it into a new feature!

From Panel to Panel is a new feature where I talk about the awesome (and perhaps not-so awesome) comic books and graphic novels I’ve read. Basically, this will be me pushing them onto your laps. You’re welcome.

September is the month with lots of interesting (and hopefully kickass) comics/graphic novels! I’ve found so many that I want to add into my shopping cart!

Let’s talk about those September graphic novels I’m excited about (and you should too!). You’ll see ones about a lady killer, a comic book character with her own Netflix series, historical humor, a gay Jamaican cop, people seeking revenge, and so much more!

*BITCH PLANET: VOL. 1 · EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE*

Eisner Award-nominated writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Pretty Deadly, Captain Marvel) and Valentine De Landro (X-Factor) team up to bring you the premiere volume of Bitch Planet, a deliciously vicious riff on women-in-prison sci-fi exploitation.

In a future just a few years down the road in the wrong direction, a woman’s failure to comply with her patriarchal overlords will result in exile to the meanest penal planet in the galaxy. When the newest crop of fresh femmes arrive, can they work together to stay alive or will hidden agendas, crooked guards, and the deadliest sport on (or off!) Earth take them to their maker? — Image Comics

Publication date: October 7, 2015 by Image Comics

Buy: LCBS · Amazon · Barnes & Noble · The Book Depository

Why I’m excited: “The series is a feminist send-up of the exploitation film genre that takes place in a dystopian reality where non-compliant women are sent to an off-planet prison.”¹Can I get a hell fucking yes? Plus, it was also marketed to me as Orange Is The New Black but in space.

Bitch Planet is a comic that is full of ladies—both in writer and content. I love that. It’s a safe bet with Kelly Sue Deconnick at the helm of this comic. Ladies gotta represent, and we get it here.

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