The Lost Gutenberg: The Astounding Story of One Book's Five-Hundred-Year Odyssey

Today's post is on The Lost Gutenberg: The Astounding Story of One Book's Five-Hundred-Year Odyssey by Margaret Leslie Davis. It is  304 pages long and is published by TarcherPerigee. The cover is half picture of some of the people who owned the book and the bottom half is from the bible itself. The intended reader is someone who is interested in printing history, Gutenberg Bibles, and the people who owned them. There is no foul language, no sex and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The never-before-told story of one extremely rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and its impact on the lives of the fanatical few who were lucky enough to own it.
For rare-book collectors, an original copy of the Gutenberg Bible--of which there are only 48 in existence--is the undisputed gem of any collection. When Estelle Doheny, the eccentric widow of oil tycoon Edward Dohney, finally obtained an original copy, it was the culmination of a forty-year pursuit. Estelle, the first woman and perhaps the most devout owner of the Bible, would be its last private owner as well. After her death, the unique Bible would go on to enable scientist- using the very machine that isolated plutonium for the atomic bomb- to make the most important advance in understanding the first printed book.
In The Lost Gutenberg, Margaret Leslie Davis richly recounts five centuries in the life of this copy of the Bible from its very creation by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany; to its ownership by the British heir to the Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce empire; to its brush with one of the most notorious crimes of the twentieth century, a steel vault in Tokyo. The Lost Gutenberg draws readers into this incredible saga, inviting them into the colorful lives of each of its collectors along the way. Through vivid storytelling and unprecedented access into private records, Davis offers a unique and riveting history for bibliophiles and book lovers alike. Exploring books as objects of desire across centuries, Davis leaves readers not only with a broader understanding of the culture of rare-book collectors, but with a deeper awareness of the importance of books in our world.

Review- This is an interesting account of one books' life and the lives of the people who interacted with it. We start towards the end of the story with Estella Doheny getting her Gutenberg. Then we back-step to the creation of the Bible, why it is important in the history of printing, and its other owners. The story is interesting, if at times a little too detailed, the people we meet inside are interesting as well. The writing is good, the notes are very detailed, and bibliography is excellent so if you wanted to you can track everything down for yourself. If you are interested in printing history or want to know why the Gutenberg Bibles are considered so important then you should read this.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, volume 3

Today's post on Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, volume 3 by Reia and art by Suki Umemiya. It is 160 pages long and published by Seven Seas Entertainment. As it is the third in the series you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. The cover has Iris and her brother Berne on it. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The story is told from third person close of Iris and some other characters to add to the overall narrative. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Business vs. Pleasure
Since becoming acting fief lord, Iris has been working herself ragged to improve the lives of her people. Now that sh's finally got the fiefdom's academy up and running she can't slow down now. But when she meets Dean, a handsome young merchant, Iris starts to realize that maybe there's more to life than work.

Review- Iris' plans are going very well and her fiefdom is getting better for every action she takes. Of course there is more going on than she is aware herself, her brother is now back on the family's side and is reporting whatever Lady Yuri is doing to their father, the prime minster. Dean is more than he seems as he is the eldest prince in disguise, as he traveling around the kingdom to learn about it and its needs. His grandmother is plotting to get them married but that's all we know about that plot thread. The plot is slow but progressing along well with Iris starting to grow in new ways as she realizes that she can be more than she thought. I do recommend this series and I am looking forward to seeing what is going to happen in the next volume.

I give this manga a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Let’s Talk About Love

Today’s post is Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann. It is 277 pages long and is published by Swoon Reads. The cover is white with a beautiful black girl in the center and the title in purple under her. The intended reader is someone who likes YA romances and LBGTA+ novels. There is mild foul language, sex and sexuality, and no violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main character Alice. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Alice had her whole summer planned. Nonstop all-you-can-eat buffets while marathoning her favorite TV shows (best friends totally including) with the smallest dash of adulating- working at the library to pay her share of the rent. The only thing missing from her perfect plan? Her girlfriend (who ending things when Alice confessed she’s asexual). Alice is done with dating- no thank you, do not pass go, stick a fork in her, done.
But then Alice meets Takumi, and she can’t stop thinking about him or the rom com-grade romance feels she did not ask for (uncertainty, butterflies, and swoon, oh my!)
When her blissful summer takes an unexpected turn and Takumi becomes her knight with a shiny library-employee badge (close enough), Alice has to decide if she’s willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated – or understood.

Review- A cute love story with a strong side of Asexual explanation. Alice is an interesting character, she is a young woman trying to discover herself and what she really wants out of life. Her family has plans for her like law school; her friends are going to be married; her girlfriend just does not understand that Alice can be in love with her but not want to have sex with her and she feels like she is being left behind. Enter Takumi, who just gets her and does not push her away or into uncomfortable places. He just wants to hang out and be happy with Alice. Alice feels very real with her concerns, her ace-ness, and just her growing up. It is very positive for asexuals and LBGTA+ in general with terms being explained but not talked down to. The ending was a little too perfect but that is my only complaint and it did not ruin the rest of the novel for me. I would recommend this book for older teens and adults.

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

Serial Killers

Today's post is on Serial Killers by Time Life Books. It is 192 long with notes, bibliography, credits and is published by Time Life Books. The cover is half picture of Ted Bundy and half the killers profiled inside. There is foul language, talk of rape, sex, and sexuality, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From amazon- Recounts the cases of Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Dennis Nilsen, and David Berkowitz, and briefly surveys earlier celebrated killers, including Jack the Ripper and the Boston Strangler.

Review- This is a general look into four different serial killers. Who they were, when they killed, their victims, and some into how policing changed in their wakes. This is not a book for the faint of heart, the crimes are described, there are pictures of the crimes, and the reader gets an inside look into the minds of these murderers. But if you are a true crime junkie and want to know more about these four killers then you should look at this book. The middle section is a series of vignettes of fourteen other serial killers from the past like the 15th century Gilles de Rais to Richard Ramirez the Night Stalker. If you are looking for a every single fact about any one this these murderers then you need to get a book just about them.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book a gift by a friend.

Skip Beat!, vol. 15

Today's post is on Skip Beat!, vol. 15 by Yoshilo Nakamura. It is 210 pages long and is published  by Shojo Beat. The cover has Sho dressed has a white knight. As it is the fifteenth volume in this long running series you need to have read the first fourteen. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Kyoko and some parts others characters to add to the overall narrative. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- She decides to take the high road rather than confront Vei Ghoul about their theft of his song. But VG front-man Reino doesn't take kindly to being ignored and devises a devious plan a get Sho's attention- he's going to after Kyoko! Normally, Kyoko's not the type of girl that needs recuing. But for some reason, Reino's presence petrifies her. Will Reino's evil scheme work better than anyone imagined?!

Review- So this Reino dude is really creepy, he's a totally stalking Kyoko, and I do not blame her for being scared of him. This volume is about Sho and Kyoko dealing with him and then at the end we add in Ren, who is on edge because he knows something is going on with Kyoko but she doesn't want to make trouble for Ren. Well I do not like Reino, on the other hand I feel a little bad for him because he has no idea about Ren and what Ren is willing to do for Kyoko. I like in general this new story arc and I am looking forward to seeing more Kyoko.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my money.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 7: I've Been Waiting for a Squirrel Like You

Today's post is on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 7: I've Been Waiting for a Squirrel Like You by by Ryan North (Text),  Erica Henderson (Illustrations). The cover is Coreen, Nancy, and Kraven the Hunter in the Savage Lands. The intended reader is someone who has read some Squirrel Girl comics so you have some idea about characters and how Squirrel Girl comics work. There is no foul language, no sex or sexuality, and mild violence in this comic. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Squirrel Girl goes savage! When Doreen Green and Nancy Whitehead enter a mysterious programming competition, they don't suspect that the prize for winners will be an all-expenses-paid trip to...the Savage Land! Will Squirrel Girl fight a dinosaur? Will Squirrel Girl fight two dinosaurs?! Will we come up with really excellent reasons why these fights would take place, reasons that both justify the fights while also telling the story of what lead to this dinosaur-punching smashup: a story which, even though it stars dinosaurs and Squirrel Girls, contains within it the chance for us to recognize, perhaps for the first time, our most personal and secret selves? Of course! Plus, jokes and a super villain who's causing major problems - it's the complete package!

Review- Another great story from Squirrel Girl and Co. Doreen and Nancy get to travel to the Savage Lands and play with the dinosaurs and Dino-Ultron. Doreen has to save them because they are the last dinos on the planet and dinosaurs are the coolest! The main plot is dealing with Dino-Ultron who's memory was wiped from the last battle with Thor. There is some humor with Kraven the Hunter and he is fighting a different guy in some side comics called the the Poachmaster General. Of course Doreen saves the day and she does not kill Dino-Ultron but gives him a chance to be reborn in maybe a better version of himself. This comic continues to be a joy to read and I recommend it highly.

I give this volume a a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this comic from my local library.

Living with the Gods: On Beliefs and Peoples

Today’s post is on Living with the Gods: On Beliefs and Peoples by Neil MacGregor. It is 488 pages long including notes and is published by Alfred A. Knopf. The cover is gold with a picture of a statue fragment on it. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the history of religion. There is no foul language, no sex, and only discussion of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- One of the central facts of human existence is that every known society shares a set of beliefs and assumptions- a faith, an ideology, a religion- that goes far beyond the life of the individual. These beliefs are an essential part of a shared identity. They have a unique power to define- and to divide- us and are a driving force in the politics of much of the world today. Throughout history they have most often been, in the widest, religious.
Yet this book is a not history of religion not an argument in favor of faith. It is about the stories that give shape to our lives, and the different ways in which societies imagine their place in this world. Looking across history and around the globe, Living with the Gods interrogates objects, places, and human activities to try to understand what shared beliefs can mean in the public life of a community or a nation, how they shape the relationship between the individual and the state, and how they help give us our sense of who we are.
In deciding how we live with our gods, we also decide how to live with one another.

Review- This is a fascinating and thought-provoking look into humans, religion, and how they both have grown over the millennia. MacGregor takes the reader from around 33,000 years ago to the present day with religious artifacts and how we still interact with them. MacGregor, via the British Natural History Museum, travels the world, viewing the cultures and peoples from their religion. Beautiful full color pictures with descriptions of the objects then a deep dive into the object itself with its meaning in its place in time and what it means in the present day. MacGregor interviews experts from the different areas and religions to give insight into the objects and their meanings. If you are curious about religion and how it has changed over the course of human history then you need to read this book. I highly recommend this book.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 18: Bride b

Today's post is on Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 18: Bride by Yu Watase. It is 193 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover is Miaka and Take with Suzaku behind them. It is the eighteenth in her long running series and you need to have to have read the rest of the series to understand what is going on. There is no foul language, mild sexuality and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character Miaka. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Bride: Miaka has been fighting a battle across two different worlds to keep Taka, the human incarnation of her true love Tamahome, from vanishing. But what could it mean when Tamahome himself returns to confront Miaka and Taka? The answer to this riddle leads Miaka and the Seven Celestial Warriors to the stunning finale of the best-selling Fushigi Yûgi series.

Review- What an ending to an incredible series. Miaka and Taka are the only ones who can summon Suzaku to save both worlds. Their true love stops the bad guy from winning and they get to live happily ever after. This series has everything in it from betrayal, true love, kung-fu fighting, gods, different worlds, and everything else I cannot think to list. The characters were so interesting, the plot was very intense and you just never knew what was going to happen next, and the art was just Five star by itself. I know that some readers have some problems with some of the plot or characters but in general I have enjoyed every moment of this series. There is a reason this series is a classic of the shojo genre and I would recommend this series.

I give this this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

Today's post is on The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White. It is 287 pages long and is published by Delacorte Press. The cover is beige like skin with the title as snitch work. The intended reader is someone who likes horror novels, retelling stories, and dark young adult novels. There is some mild foul language, no sex or sexuality, and some violence in this novel. The story is told from first person perspective of the main character Elizabeth. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend.
Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.
But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

Review- An interesting and engaging retelling of Frankenstein that keeps the horror of the original novel with more insight into Elizabeth and the life she had to life. Elizabeth Lavenza is sold to the Frankensteins' as a young child on the promise that she is nobility. She has no real memory of her life before the beatings but she is never going back to that life, no matter what takes. We travel the whole of the original novel but from Elizabeth's perspective and her personal motivation of surviving at all costs. She is an interesting character, dark in a different way from Victor but she grows over the course of the story as she learns what Victor truly is. I liked traveling with her and seeing her discover for herself who is monster truly is. I recommend this novel if you wanted more define ending than what Frankenstein gave.

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this novel as a gift.

That Wolf-Boy is Mine!, volume 2

Today's post is on That Wolf-Boy is Mine!, volume 2 by Yoko Nogiri. It is 160 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover is blue with Rin, the fox, on it. It is the second volume in this series and you need to have read the first volume to understand what is going on. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga volume. The story is told from third person close of the main character Komugi. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Komugi, the new girl at school, has sworn to protect the secret of Yu lupine identity. But in the midst of their growing friendship, she blurts out a startling confession- one that could upset her relationship with Yu, his crew, and even the delicate balance between humans and spirits. Meanwhile, Yu sharp, sly friend Rin takes matters into how own hands and tries to speak some sense into Komugi. It's not long before he realizes that this strange human girl just might be growing on him, too!

Review- Teen drama abounds in this volume. Komugi and Yu deal with her confession by just trying to pretend it never happened. Of course that is not going to work at all. Lots of plot movement in this volume with Komugi doing her best to handle her feelings but Yu is not helping. He wants to be close to her and does not think about how that might be hurting her. Rin sees all that and he does not know what to do, he wants to protect himself and his friends but he does not want to see Komugi struggle with her feelings. We may have a love triangle in this future but as this is a shirt series with only two more volumes, it will be interesting to see what happens next.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

The Kiss Collector

Today’s post is on The Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins. It is 307 pages long and is published by Harper Teen. The cover is white with different boys’ pictures on with kiss marks on them and on with a heart. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character Zae. The intended reader is someone who likes young adult novels and more complex plots than the back lets on.  There is some foul language, talk of sex and sexuality, and no violence in this novel. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Can a kiss ever be just a kiss?
Seventeen-year-old Zae Monroe is over relationships. After getting cheated on by the only guy she’s ever loved and watching her parents’ marriage crumble, she decides to turn the tables and go after what she wants, and what she wants are kisses. Athletes, musicians, poets, bad boys- their lips are all on her agenda, and it’s time to collect.
Zaa proposes a contest with her friends to see who can kiss the most boys during spring break. But what starts as a harmless competition leads to a downward spiral of drama. Zae is forced to face the reason behind her boy angst, and starts to wonder is maybe she was wrong about the make race… or at least some of them.

Review- This story sounds real cute and light but it really is not. Zae is trying to deal with some heavy issues like divorce, sexuality, and making the right choices for her future. Her long-time boyfriend wants to get more sexual than Zae is ready for, her friends have boy troubles, and then her father moves out to live with another woman. Zae has had it with men. So she wants a little fun with no strings, just like the boys. But of course it is never that simple. I liked that the plot was so much thicker than just a girl having some fun and maybe finding a boyfriend. It is really about Zae becoming a young adult. She has to make hard choices and live with them. Zae makes mistakes and has to learn how to fix them or not. Zae is a good character, very likable, understandable, and just enough of a trouble maker to be interesting. I would recommend this novel.  

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.