en-US Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:43:35 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9516822865 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:43:35 -0700 /review/show/7633432069 Mr. R is currently reading Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust
]]> Review7599497526 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:23:53 -0700 /review/show/7599497526 Mr. R gave 3 stars to The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco (The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco #1) by Michelle Chouinard
Buckle up as we begin our journey through what initially looks like a 5-star destination. Just 50 pages in, and I was ready to stamp my 2025 passport with a full set of glowing stars. Our guide, Capri, is a delight--charming, clever, and effortlessly funny. The premise? Intriguing. The prose? Sharp as ever. You'll cruise smoothly through the early chapters, captivated by the scenery of smart storytelling and engaging banter. But hold on, travelers--around the halfway mark, we hit a few bumps. The scenic route turns into a confusing detour of stretched-out hypotheticals. The pace slows to a crawl, and the momentum sputters like a tour bus low on fuel. As for the mystery, you might spot the killer from a mile away, but the motive? Let's just say it's a bit off the beaten path. Thankfully, the ending pulls us back on course with a satisfying final stop. Would I take another ride with this author? Likely. The writing itself is a pleasure, even if this particular leg of the journey hit some potholes. Here's hoping that book two avoids the scenic slowdown and keeps us rolling full speed ahead.

Grade: C+ ]]> Review7608754319 Sun, 01 Jun 2025 20:32:26 -0700 /review/show/7608754319 Mr. R gave 4 stars to Spider-Boy, Vol. 1: The Web-Less Wonder (Paperback) by Dan Slott
Spider-Boy could have been just another Spider-Man cash grab, but it's a surprisingly fun read. Bailey Briggs is a charming, distinct addition to the Spider-Verse, and Dan Slott's writing strikes a great balance of humor, heart, and kid-friendly peril, with some silly, yet appropriate, villains. The main drawback is the inconsistent art--Bailey's and Christina's appearances vary noticeably between issues, which hurts the overall polished cohesion. Still, the story captures the spirit of classic comics without feeling too juvenile. I'm definitely going to pick up Vol. 2.

Grade: B ]]> ReadStatus9468345864 Sun, 25 May 2025 18:06:11 -0700 /review/show/7599497526 Mr. R is currently reading The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard
]]> Review7581902271 Sun, 25 May 2025 18:03:16 -0700 /review/show/7581902271 Mr. R gave 3 stars to Tender Is the Flesh (Paperback) by Agustina Bazterrica
Disturbing and brutal--intentionally so. I'd like the believe humanity would never descend to consuming each other for meat, but given how American culture twists in the winds of tribalism, nothing feels impossible anymore. Bazterrica presents compelling themes, but most subplots are introduced and then abandoned, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete. The protagonist's detachment and indifference, while meant to reflect numbness and despair, make him difficult to engage with; his story ultimately feels flat despite the powerful subject matter. The writing is strong, and the concept is morbidly fascinating, but the book needs another hundred pages to fully develop its social commentary beyond its shock factor. I wanted more from it. Yet, it's thought-provoking at a basic level, and the ending lingered with me long after I finished.

Grade: C+ ]]> Review7536878990 Mon, 19 May 2025 10:53:26 -0700 /review/show/7536878990 Mr. R gave 4 stars to Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up (Kindle Edition) by Selma Blair
Although some of the content is downright tragic, I enjoyed this memoir. It's important that supporting actors share their struggles, and I enjoyed reading about Blair's life, since I've been a fan since Cruel Intentions. The writing is strong, reflective, and her personality naturally comes through. I love memoirs where I not only root for the person, but I feel like a person in their periphery, and this book was no exception. If I may provide two critiques that kept me from loving this (5 stars): first, the time jumps were confusing at times. I understand that a reflection of one's life isn't linear, but I needed more grounding as to what time period of Blair's life I was in. For instance, an important figure in her life dies, is alive, is dead again--is alive; it was confusing to follow their impact with the unclear flashbacks. Second, although some, very, personal situations are given, it felt like she was holding back in other areas, especially with her mother. Some topics that, I think impacted her greatly, didn't have as much depth as others. Nevertheless, I recommend this memoir if you're a fan, or if you enjoy reading about actresses.

Grade: B ]]> ReadStatus9443165909 Mon, 19 May 2025 08:45:55 -0700 /review/show/7581902271 Mr. R is currently reading Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
]]> ReadStatus9443165087 Mon, 19 May 2025 08:45:42 -0700 /review/show/7536878990 Mr. R finished reading Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up by Selma Blair
]]> Review7456519558 Fri, 02 May 2025 08:34:52 -0700 /review/show/7456519558 Mr. R gave 4 stars to Gleanings (Arc of a Scythe, #3.5) by Neal Shusterman
Disappointed by the way The Toll ended, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue this series or even felt it was necessary to have a book with random stories from an ended series. However, very early in the reading, I realized how much I missed Shusterman's rich world of (dis)utopian sci-fi. Gleanings brings back everything that I loved in Scythe and Thunderhead. Although it had been some time since last reading the series, so I had to Google different characters to remind me of their placement in the Arc of a Scythe series, I was still engaged with the creativity of these side stories.

My top three stories in the collection are "A Martian Minute," "The Mortal Canvas," and "The Persistence of Memory," with "Anastasia's Shadow" earning an honorable mention. The only story that I found a chore to read was "Perchance to Glean." I didn't enjoy the writing style, which felt completely different than the rest of the book, and there was too much randomness to ground me and focus on enjoying the story.

Grade: B+ ]]> ReadStatus9378247053 Fri, 02 May 2025 08:34:50 -0700 /review/show/7536878990 Mr. R is currently reading Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up by Selma Blair
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