My Two-Thirds Book Challenge 2011/12 – Book 26

Paying For It by Chester Brown

I gave this 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads

I enjoyed this graphic novel way more than I expected to. It’s not even that I agree with the author’s point of view — in most cases I just don’t — but he is totally committed to exposing himself with as much honesty and candor as is available. I really appreciate the effort. The story, like the drawing style, is simple but effective even for such complicated subject matter. Though he addresses this in the notes and it makes sense, I am still a little bothered by how one-dimensional the ladies are in the story. I also found I liked the story more before I read the extensive notes that only served as an extended diatribe that I wasn’t really in it for. But, those two things aside, I think anyone would benefit from giving this one a go. If nothing else, it will force you to think about this stuff, and it’s important!

 

My Two-Thirds Book Challenge 2011/12 – Book 25

Shizuko’s Daughter by Kyoko Mori

I gave this 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads

I’m really not sure how to review this book. Everything I write sounds trite. I loved it, and it’s a wonderful story about families in the evolving cultural landscape of Japan. It’s also about being an outsider, being a little different, in a world that doesn’t seem to have a lot of room for that kind of thing, but it has more room than you would expect. It’s about complicated families. It’s a YA novel but it doesn’t feel like one.

 

OkGOREberfest 2012 – Movie 11

Hellraiser (VI): Hellseeker (2002)

Okay, well, it was better than the last one, that is something. It has an actor I like and I’ll take that. And Kirsty is in it, so welcome back Kirsty. Otherwise, I’m unsure what to say about it. I mean, even lighter on actual Hellraiser characters than the last one. One cenobyte like creature, but mostly it’s human halucinations. It begs the question: if Pinhead and the Cenobytes are hardly in it, is it a Hellraiser movie. I would argue no.  But, as far as being a good movie, I wouldn’t say this was bottom of the barrel. It has some intrigue. It has some mind screwy stuff. It feels disorienting. The twist ending was not predicted. So, I wouldn’t watch it again, but I am not filled with regret.