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nevinslibrary · 18 hours
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Weird & Wonderful Wednesday
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I generally have to simultaneous reactions to time travel books (and movies/tv shows too) Yay!! Owww!!
On the one hand, the twisty awesomeness of time travel can get really cool and interesting, on the other hand, when it does get cool and interesting it also makes my head throb on occasion (example: I read The Time Traveler’s Wife once, I definitely do not feel the need to do that to myself ever again, it was good, and on occasion I had to read a chapter more than twice…)
So, I was excited for this novel where recreational time travel is not just done here and there, it’s an entire industry. This trip is supposed to be a simple one to a mall. Except, a woman who isn’t recorded in history to go missing has gone missing. That does not bode well for timelines (althoughhhhhh…. Technically, it’s only a bad thing if you are of the belief that there is only one timeline, not that with each of our actions new timelines are made, in which case there’d now be a timeline where she’s missing and the world changes and one where she isn’t…. Yep yep, I think that I’ve gone way to far into this, so…).
I’ll leave you with a ‘definitely read this’ recommendation. Or *scratches head* Have you already read it, but I need to read it?? Ugh, Time Travel. Hello for now.
You may like this book If you Liked: The Gone World by Thomas Sweterlitsch, Change Agent by Daniel Suarez, or Chronospace by Allen M. Steele
The Tourist by Robert Dickinson
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nevinslibrary · 2 days
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A lot of the same problems are in the Encounter at Farpoint novelization. I think it too was written right around the time that they were actually filming the beginning of the series.
Both books crack me up.
When tie-in novels pre-date the shows they're based on #1
Star Trek novels can be weird, but once in awhile there will be one that feels like a totally different show. Sometimes it's poor writing, but sometimes there's a good reason.
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Ghost Ship exists because Pocket Books wanted to launch TNG novels as close to the show's launch as possible. Yes, that's the Battlestar Galactica on the cover, upside down but that's an unrelated weird thing. But because they wanted it out ASAP, author Diane Carey had the season 1 series bible to go on and nothing else. Not even photos of the crew, since not all parts had been cast yet. Thus you have an indecisive Picard who goes as far as to go into a sensory deprivation tank in order to help him make a choice. You have "Bill" Riker be a complete asshole to Data, going as far as pinning him against a wall, because of a plot point from the series bible that never made it to air. Oh and since it was the late '80, you have the Soviet Union lasting until 1995. I love this book, it's like a bizarre elseworld version of The Next Generation
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nevinslibrary · 2 days
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Weird & Wonderful Wednesday
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Lydia is a translator, but, not in the usual way. She translates for the alien Fitz who is telepathic. And, when she does it, she has no memory of doing it, not to mention, the Logisi language has the side effect of intoxicating humans. So, while it’s not surprising that she has no memory of the night that Fitz is murdered. And, that also means that she becomes the prime suspect because it appears that she was the only one who could do it.
I mean, this book had me at getting drunk on words. The world building of who and how the aliens is awesome, as well as the Logisi language and its side effects on humans. It’s a really cool locked room sort of mystery as well as an awesome science fiction novel. Just so many things that kept me reading.
You may like this book If you Liked: Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada, The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester, or Translation State by Ann Leckie
Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson
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nevinslibrary · 3 days
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Totally Youthful Tuesday
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I’m not sure that I’ve ever read a kids book quite like this. Cardell is a coyote pup. His Mama and Dad live in different parts of the desert, but, his life is good (well, I mean, I can understand not liking the sand fleas or the burrs, ick). Then Otis appears. Cardell doesn’t like Otis, but, his Mama does, and doesn’t make Otis leave like she has the other suitors. What is Cardell to do? And, maybe is Otis not as bad as Cardell thinks he is, just different?
I don’t really think, ‘oh, coyotes would be a good way to help kiddos learn about divorce and blended families’. But, then again, I don’t write children’s books, so… And, this book definitely works as a learning tool, but, it’s also a really fun story too. Although, I’d definitely pass on the jalapeño flapjacks…
You may like this book If you Liked: Oh, Brother! by Nikki Grimes, Little Burro by Jim Arnosky, or Just Like Daddy by Lucy Freegard
When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt
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nevinslibrary · 4 days
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Mystery/Thriller Monday
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Abbie is a miracle. She can’t remember anything, but, apparently, she’s been in a coma for five years. She’s a Mom, a Wife to the man that is at her bedside, not to mention an artist and surfer. She slowly starts to put back together her life, but, as she does, she realizes that maybe not everything is exactly as it's been told to her. Not to mention, maybe she isn’t exactly who her husband is telling her she is too.
I don’t want to spoil too much because it was an incredibly twisty thriller, but, it takes on some very modern and current issues in its pages. Just, as a warning, it's also dark. Super, super dark. But, as I said, I was kept guessing at a lot of points too. What makes us truly human, and, can something that isn’t technically human still be human?
You may like this book If you Liked: Someone We Know by Shari Lapena, The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware, or Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney
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nevinslibrary · 6 days
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NML Haiku
Two families, fashion
The Logans and the Forresters
Bold and Beautiful
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nevinslibrary · 6 days
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Comic Book Saturday
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Watson and Sherlock are hired by the king of Bohemia to prevent Irene Adler, who happens to be the ex-lover of said king, from ruining his engagement. Not surprising, it’s not smooth sailing for anyone involved.
I sort of went into this thinking that this would be just a simple translation of the story into graphic format. And, on the one hand, it is that. But, it’s also more. It’s the author’s take on the Sherlock world, combining more than one story, not to mention, the cameos. Oh the cameos were so darn awesome! C’mon now, Frankenstein monster, so awesome. Such a fun read.
A Scandal in Bohemia by Petr Kopl
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nevinslibrary · 6 days
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Oh yeah.... and we're having a Book Sale here at the Nevins Library in Methuen, MA if you're in the Merrimack Valley/North of Boston area!
Saturday starting at 9am, rain or shine (or sleet or snow)!
Check it out if you dare..... mwhahahahaha......
Us: *walking out of a bookstore or Library with an armful of books*
Them: Don’t you have, like, 30 books at your house you haven’t read?
Us:
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nevinslibrary · 6 days
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30..... heh.... 30..... sure.... 30.....
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Us: *walking out of a bookstore or Library with an armful of books*
Them: Don’t you have, like, 30 books at your house you haven’t read?
Us:
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nevinslibrary · 7 days
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Not a Book Friday
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This animated movie was such a cool way to have the two original TV Bat family actors play their roles again. And, boy oh boy did it not shy away from the 1960s version of Batman and Robin at all.
Gotham City is threatened by the big four villains of that series, Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler, and the Joker. And, their plan has a wicked way that it’s going to change Batman himself.
It was hilarious, and all the characters were spot on. Not all the characters were voiced by the same actors as in the original of course, but, it was cool to hear Adam West and Burt Ward again though. And then there was the Aunt Harriet running gag. Every time it had me cracking up so hard. Hilarious!
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
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nevinslibrary · 8 days
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Comic Book Saturday
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This graphic novel doesn’t break the wheel when it comes to the original story of A Study in Scarlet. It stays true to it, but, it also adds amazing art, and, even if you’ve read the original classic novel, I heartily recommend giving this a try as well.
You may like this book If you Liked: Ruse by Mark Waid
A Study in Scarlet: Graphic Novel by Ian Edginton
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nevinslibrary · 9 days
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Weird & Wonderful Wednesday
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Oh… okay, Wooly Mammoths and… uploading a dead scientist’s consciousness into the leader of the mammoth herd? Basically, Dr. Damira Khismatullina was (I keep wanting to type is… oops…) an expert on elephant behaviour, and so, her consciousness has been digitized and put into the mind of the matriarch of the mammoth herd so that she can teach the mammoths to be mammoths. Of course, it’s not that easy or straightforward. Why did Moscow really bring back the mammoth, not to mention, there are poachers for these grand animals too.
It was a short story, but, whew, it packed a lot into itself for sure. The characters were great, and, it was definitely an eco-thriller. And, I don’t know if this was entirely the point or not, but, through the fact that the mammoths have been brought back in physical form, but don’t seem to have been fully brought back in mental form, it sort of sideways seemed to approach the question of mind vs. body just a little.
You may like this book If you Liked: The Many Selves of Katherine North by Emma Geen, Extinction by Douglas J. Preston, or The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler
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nevinslibrary · 10 days
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Totally Random Non-Fiction Tuesday
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This was an interesting look at just how interconnected we are with all sorts of insects. Of course, most people know all about how the planet and honey bees need each other. But, this book had other interesting bugs, like the midge that makes chocolate possible. Or that ink was once made from an insect too.
I definitely learned some new stuff that I hadn’t know about some of the rarer insects. Although, some of the insects and where they live… oof… eww… yikes… I’m not even going to type it here. Nope… But, other than that, heh, it was a really awesome read.
You may like this book If you Liked: Sex on Six Legs by M. Zuk, The Mosquito by Timothy C. Winegard, or Insectopedia by Hugh Raffles
Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
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nevinslibrary · 11 days
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Mystery/Thriller Monday
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Elizabeth is a reporter, the only female reporter at her paper. And, well, she sorta stumbles onto a dead body that’s wrapped like a mummy. Even though it’s Manhattan, it’s still 1880, and so her editor tells her to stick with her society beat. Of course, Elizabeth does in fact --not-- do that. Instead she investigates the case, and as more bodies turn up, suddenly it may be her that’s in the crosshairs of this killer. A possible serial killer.
It was a fun mystery, and, the characters were interesting, but what pulled me in and kept me reading was definitely the setting. Needless to say I’ve never been to New York in the late 19th century, so, reading about it in this book was awesome. And, add to that the Egyptian angle to the book, it was a very fun read.
You may like this book If you Liked: Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell, The Nightingale Affair by Timothy Mason, or A June of Ordinary Murders by Conor Brady
Cleopatra's Dagger by Carole Lawrence
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nevinslibrary · 13 days
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NML Haiku
Ooh, the Gumby Show
Who remembers the green guy?
Who was so bendy!
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nevinslibrary · 13 days
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Comic Book Saturday
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Well, that was different. Also, sort of has a very good message of ‘don’t make big decisions when you’re tipsy or drunk’ (although maybe that wasn’t the main point of the book). Three mermaids do a spell so that they can masquerade as humans on land and get some more wine (they’re out of shipwreck wine). They have fun, that is until the next morning when they realize that they don’t know how to turn themselves back (another lesson, always learn how to stop before you learn how to go). And so they try to figure out how to live on land, while they also try to figure out how to return to the sea too.
This was so awesomely hilarious. While I have pointed out the lessons that sorta came up in the story, that was definitely not the point of this book. It was just a fun fun read, awesome.
You may like this book If you Liked: Overlord by Kugane Maruyama, J & K by John Pham, or Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle
Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh
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nevinslibrary · 14 days
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Make It So Friday
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James T. Kirk is facing retirement… again… The Enterprise-B is about to be launched and, this time he’s definitely not going to be its Captain. So, when a mysterious hybrid woman approaches him with quite the adventure (as well as some more than G or PG rated convincing going on), he decides to leave Starfleet and help this woman and her plant. Except, of course, not everything is as it seems, and, that might mean the death of not just Kirk, but his old crewmates too.
This was a really fun and interesting take “written” by William Shatner, as well as written by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. It was a look at what happened before Kirk is on the Enterprise-B in the movie Generations (and the whole Nexus thing, etc. happens). Except, at the end of this book there’s a slightly different ending to that too. That makes sense because this is the start of a series that stars Kirk, which, ya know, requires him to be alive post-Generations.
I usually wouldn’t put something so sorta negative in a recommendation, but, while, this book is amazing and I really liked most of it. Starting with The Return (the next novel in the ‘Shatnerverse’ series), well, it goes off the rails a little. The Borg aren’t really the Borg in the second book, the Romulans doesn’t seem very Romulan, and, the TNG cast has… different characterizations for them. So, read the second in this series being fairly warned that if you’re a fan of the main Star Trek Novels, your milage may vary when it comes to the other ‘Shatnerverse’ novels.
You may like this book If you Liked: The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack, Fire with Fire by Bernd Perplies, or Revenant by Alex White
The Ashes of Eden by William Shatner & Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
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