tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41949451404944395682024-03-20T06:34:38.074-07:00Bad Dog BlogA book review blog, mostly to get me writing. SgtPepper234http://www.blogger.com/profile/18178430656620316917noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194945140494439568.post-83717542042515025412013-08-27T13:01:00.001-07:002013-08-27T13:01:19.212-07:00Stardust - Neil Gaiman<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me begin by stating that this is not the first (nor
shall it be the last) Neil Gaiman I've read, however it is the first review I'm
writing on one of his books. I am writing this with some trepidation, as I view
Neil Gaiman as something of a god in the world of modern fantasy writers and to
be writing a review on his work seems akin to a 8 year old football enthusiast
writing a critical commentary on his favourite teams' recent performance during
the World Cup. With that caveat out of the way let me say that Stardust is Number
4 in my Top 4 Neil Gaiman (I have read four Neil Gaiman Novels thus far.)</div>
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Stardust is a fairy-tale for adults. No wait, Stardust is a
fairy-tale for adults who still love to indulge that childhood sense of wonder
that they have not quite been able to grow out of. It is an easy read and I
finished it in a few short hours. You are introduced to the small town of Wall,
set in Victorian England, and the curious event that happens there every nine
years. Wall is... well, the wall between our world and the world of Faerie, a
magical place filled with magical creatures. The curious event is a market, and
it with this Market that the tale is set in motion. The young Dunstan Thorn,
restless yet content with his life in the Town of Wall seeks his Heart's Desire,
and through an arrangement with a peddler, comes to attain it through the form
a glass snowflake. </div>
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Without giving too much away let me skip forward a bit to
where we are introduced to Dustan's son, Tristran. He is also a restless lad
like his father, but not quite as content with his life in Wall. Smitten with
the beautiful Victoria Forester he promises to fetch her a falling star in
exchange for anything his heart desires, and so begins his journey into Faerie
where he encounters witches, homicidal royalty, faeries, castles in the sky, a
beautiful fallen star and ultimately his Heart's Desire.</div>
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Stardust is a fantastic, and fantastical novel. The world of Faerie is painted quite
beautifully for the reader and there is always a sense of danger and wonder
implied at the same time. We see the character grow in the way we would expect
from such a story, but I must confess I felt myself wanting more at the end.
The story is wonderful and told as only Neil Gaiman can tell it, with the
brilliant mind of an experienced writer who wants so desperately for people to
see the magic in the world. Yet I found myself wanting more meat in the story. I
wasn't full to bursting as I usually am with his novels and it felt as if the
story was somewhat rushed. It was with a slight feeling of anticlimax that I
finished the book and set it down. This being said I am aware that the story is
a Fairytale, and is written as such: A story for you to fill in the blanks
using your own imagination and wonder. This being said I highly recommend it as
a quick read for escapists everywhere.</div>
SgtPepper234http://www.blogger.com/profile/18178430656620316917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194945140494439568.post-10308051142546415972013-08-15T15:39:00.000-07:002013-08-15T15:39:29.816-07:00Welcome To Bad Dog BlogAs this is my first post, I feel I should use it to tell you what this blog is for, and the context in which my posts should be viewed.<br />
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I am a (relatively) young man with aspirations of becoming a writer one day, and this blog is a means by which I feel I can practice and hone that skill. I have no illusions that my writing is any better or worse than anyone else who has little to no experience. That being said I am going to be posting reviews (books mostly) to this blog. <br />
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These reviews are my opinions and should be read as such. I do not claim to be an authority on writing; At the very least I enjoy a cursory knowledge of the English language and an intense love of books, poetry and all manner of writings. I accept that I have my own personal bias when it comes to certain genres but I will do my best to leave it out in my reviews. I cant promise anything however.<br />
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I will post as often as I remember to, and I welcome all manner of constructive criticism on my reviews. Please try not to be scathing or intentionally post negative comments. Such comments will be deleted.<br />
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Now that I've covered most of my bases I invite you to read the reviews and comment If you would like to. I hope these reviews encourage you read the books I enjoy, and maybe even take a chance on the ones I don't.<br />
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Happy Reading!<br />
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RobertSgtPepper234http://www.blogger.com/profile/18178430656620316917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194945140494439568.post-69907167674193708842013-08-15T15:12:00.000-07:002013-08-15T15:39:41.371-07:00Review: Forgive me, Leonard Peacock. ~ Matthew Quick<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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Let me start by saying I have
not read "The Silver Linings Playbook" and so I had not yet formed an
opinion on Matthew Quick's writing before reading, 'Forgive Me, Leonard
Peacock.' This being said I had heard good things, and so I expected good
things of his newest novel. I was impeccably disappointed.</div>
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Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is
the story of a troubled young man (Leonard Peacock) of 18 years who has decided
life is filled only with misery, inflicted upon the weak by the popular and the
strong and stupid, coming to the conclusion that a murder/suicide is the only
option left to him. Like all misfits Leonard is socially awkward, has no
friends, believes himself to be of superior intellect to all his classmates,
and is generally spurned by the student body and teaching staff alike. </div>
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In a futile attempt at
discovering just what has brought about his drastic decision to shuffle off this
mortal coil in such a violent way, we read on. We must endure this boy's inner
monologue throughout the novel as he says goodbye to four people who he feels
he has built some manner of connection with. We come to the conclusion that
these 'friends' of his, as well as the antagonists, are merely the mud of his
self-pity in which he chooses to wallow. We also see he has suffered through
his parents separation, his dad's drug abuse, and his strained relationship
with his vapid fashion-designer mother. A childhood trauma is constantly
alluded to, involving his once best-friend-now-turned-mortal-enemy Asher Beal,
whom he intends to make the subject of his murder/suicide. Ultimately we
uncover his painful past and feel as though the author really wants us to
sympathise and connect with the boy, but instead he becomes unlikable, and
pitiable. </div>
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One feels at the beginning of
the novel that it really has potential, but realise about a third of the way
through that it just isn't going to get any better. The story is one
dimensional and flat, gradually unfolding with a tedious inevitability. This
book will be loved by angsty teens everywhere all the while, trying very hard
to be a modern day Catcher in the Rye. One
thing I will say for it is, I certainly felt like killing someone after I read
it.</div>
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