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Thursday, April 25, 2019

Review: Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files

Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having starting the Dresden files series books after buying graphic novels based on them made me read till 14th book and there's still 15th book but I went ahead with this collection of short stories set in the world of Dresden Files set after Changes but contains many short stories based between different books. We have the very first short story with Harry which is mentioned many times and now I finally know the story. Also there are many interesting short stories showing story from the perspective by other character like Harry's vampire half-brother Thomas and his friend Murphy both were good in fact Murphy's short story novella picks right after Changes to it was nice.

I hadn't read any short stories from Dresden Files because I just started the series this year after meaning to read it for a long time. If you haven't read any short short set in the world of Dresden Files then do give this one a chance and you shall not be disappointed.

There are many short stories and I mostly liked them all, and the good thing is that before every short story there is notes by Mr. Butcher about the reason behind the short story and that sets up the story perfectly.

So just go ahead give it a chance but only once you have finished Changes and always remember to just Keep on Reading.


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Saturday, April 20, 2019

Review: Cold Days

Cold Days Cold Days by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Productive day, this was third book which I was able to complete today, Almost completed the series, only the 15th part is remaining and after that it would the short stories collections and the Codex books. So bragging and future plan over now let's come back to this book, which sees Harry come back to life after the last book 'Ghost Story'. Though I liked the last book all fine but that was one book which you may skip too or rather Jim Butcher might have skipped it. But we did get it and I liked it. And I am glad to see that even though we are in the 14th book of the series the more the things remains the same they have also changed lot. I mean Changes was different and then Ghost Story and Cold Days both have been totally different books too.

So nice to see the freshness in the story which Mr. Butcher is able to bring to the Dresden Files. Harry is now the Winter Knight and so he gets his very first assignment and then all the things go to hell like they tend to do around Harry Dresden. This is so far the longest book series I have read after the Jack Reacher series and I love this series too just like that one from Lee Child. This one had a nice little mystery going on and poor Harry has to fight alone and sometimes with his friends before the city he loves and lives in goes kaboom.

Now these books and Harry and his friends almost feel like my own friends as I enjoy their adventures and although it was fun starting the series with 15 books in the bank but now soon they would be over and I would be in the same boat as the long time readers who are following this series for a long time and they had to wait for each and every book to release so that they can enjoy the latest tale. This is kinda like binging the series on the streaming platforms. I missed all these wonderful books as they were not available or I was aware about them but as I come to know about new books and I buy more and more books It allows me binge read eh books in those series.

Let's come back to the book and yes as far as my recommendation for this book go, yeah do pick this book but remember to read the first 13 books in the series and then just Keep on Reading.

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Review: Never Say Die

Never Say Die Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After the 9th book in the series ended and the 10th book of the series turned out to be a prequel, I never thought that Alex Rider will ride on for a new adventure but it's difficult to keep a winning horse down so as soon as I came to know about this book obviously I had to read this after all after reading 10 books already in the series it was a given that I shall be reading the next one and next one in the series too.

This book starts with a time gap of six months after the fact that the first 9 books took place in slightly over a one year gap. We find Alex in San Francisco living with Pleasures and trying to move on with the life. And then suddenly Alex gets an incomplete and cryptic email of just 3 words which somehow convinces Alex that his friend and caretaker Jack Starbright didn't die but somehow is alive. And there he goes traveling around the World trying to retrace his steps and trying to find Jack alive and well.

This book works beautifully to ensure that it would be only way where Alex would leave his new home and get in to the action once again and how nicely it was done. This time Alex doesn't have help from MI6 well little bit may be and in the final act nobody even knows where the bad guys and Alex are and Alex has to save himself and others with his quick wit and his training.

This was just the kind of adventure which would have been possible and it was full of action and Alex finds himself from one perilous situation to another and it was glorious fun to read. So yes do go right on ahead pick this one of course this goes without saying that you should try to read the earlier books in the series and then come to this book in an orderly fashion and then just Keep on Reading.

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Friday, April 19, 2019

Review: Rumi: A New Translation

Rumi: A New Translation Rumi: A New Translation by Rumi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To be honest, I have never been a reader of poetry and this was my very first full poetry collection which I finished. Just to remedy this I have ordered 4 other poetry collections and will try to read them sooner than later. Though my next poetry collection is surely going to be Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, I borrowed a copy from my friend.

So like most readers of this book I have just read or heard few couplets by Rumi here and there. And I loved the fact that Mr. Dhondy in the translation paid special attention to rhyme and flow. Because I like my poems to rhyme and make sense that was one of the reasons that I hadn't picked up any english poetry books because most of english poems I read were more like stories told in a poem form and rarely rhyme.

But this was just fine and loved reading the couplets and full length poems by Rumi and after the poems there is also notes by the Mr. Dhondy and interview too which I also liked but poems being by the virtue of being poems just flew by whenever I picked to read it.

So if you are on the fence about this one or poetry in general then sure give it chance it's a short quick read and the book is cute to boot. I am happy, i hope you would be too and just don't to Keep on Reading.

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Review: The Sworn Sword

The Sworn Sword The Sworn Sword by Ben Avery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am following a kind of schedule where I try to read the original text before I see or read the adaptation. So I had just finished the Knight of Seven Kingdoms few days ago so the story is still fresh in my mind and to boot the book was heavily illustrated so many scenes looked like already seen. This was in full color though and it was a welcome change. Illustrations were again good and the adaptation was faithful in fact all the dialogues were the same. I am just glad that I got to read the graphic novelization too and soon would try to read the graphic novel of the third story and then the graphic novelization of the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series.

So yeah if you have read the original novella then it would be a nice change and if you haven't read it then still it's a nice read so give it a chance and then just Keep on Reading.

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Sunday, April 14, 2019

Review: Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow like I said in my review of the first book of this set. I had seen the movie way way back and wanted to read this since then and now I can safely remove it from the list of my unread books hopefully I shall be able to reduce by TBR pile a little bit before this year is through. This book tells us Marjane's story of her life in Vienna and her ultimate return to Tehran, Iran and how she copes up with all this. This was an honest and heartbreaking memoir and to boot the illustrations are killer.

This was wonderful, having read the memoir I can only say that there are lot of similarities in the Iranian thought and Indian society. Like Not answering elders disrespectfully, Family values etc. Though rightly so Iran was far more westernized before the revolution.

This gave us a sneak peek behind the memories of a graphic artist who lived through the war and sometimes saw the war for the smokescreen it is and sometimes not. Sometimes she was the rebel other times she struggled.

But like all the great heroes it's also a story where our protagonist was able to grow beyond the norms and can afford to live the way she wanted to, granted it was possible only because of her family which was pretty liberal and had money too. But then again if her family was poor then her thoughts and life would have been completely different.

Yes everyone lives their own lives and despite wishing it no one has go ahead and live someone else's life. So yeah now I shall go ahead and try to watch the movie again to see the similarities with the book which would be plenty considering the movie adopted the graphic style of the book itself. Yeah do pick it either in this two parter set or the single issue one but do give it chance if somehow you missed it so far and then just Keep on Reading.

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Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Review: Changes

Changes Changes by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wanted to read this series for a very long time and I came to know about the series after the TV series was announced. And then I bought some Graphic Novels based on first two books of the series and that prompted me to finally started reading this amazing series and now that I am done with the 12th book in the series, I can't say enough good words to convey that I dream of writing books like these which feel fresh and wonderful despite being 12th in the series and this one definitely changes lot of things just like the title said.

The book starts with Harry getting a call from Susan that their daughter has been missing. Harry has a daughter about whom he never knew anything about. And soon he comes to know that his daughter has been kidnapped by the Red Court vampires and they plan on doing something nasty and thus begins Harry's journey with his friends to get his girl back.

We meet powerful beings, Gods, Demigods, Wizards, Fairies, Other netherworld characters and all is wonderful, all changes and all was fun. Oh and don't forget the first cliffhanger ending.

I would recommend this book with complete confidence that you would like it but remember to read the first 11 books to get the proper perspective of the changes done here. So go ahead and read the series pick the first book then second and then just Keep on Reading.

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