AnnaMatsuyama

I enjoy reading books, reading/talking about books and reading/talking about authors.  

Freesia, tome 1 - Jiro Matsumoto

In alternate history Japan is engaged in protracted war and massive economic recession. Due to massive military spending, many prisons are shut and a Vengeance Act is created instead to allow those who have been hurt by convicted criminals to get revenge. Various Vengeance Proxy Enforcer firms are created to supply the massive demand for these.

Trigger warning: violence, gore, rape. 

The mc is Hiroshi Kano,a mentally unstable ex-soldier who suffers from memory loss and who might have supernatural abilities. He gets a job as a Vengeance Proxy. 


My main complain is that women are portrayed as sex objects or useless bimbos (or both) but it's not worse or better compared with other seinen. 

 

Bleeds My Desire (Blood Bonds) - Nenia Campbell

I would say it was

non-con and not dub-con

(show spoiler)

  what happened between Eve and Adram. And I hope he dies, not only because of that but because how he treats "his" humans. 

Here vampires are ruthless and Eve is intelligent enough to understand that Adram doesn't have a tortured soul/past who just waits for the right woman to save him and turn him into ideal lover. Corbin, it seems, is better (more human friendly) than Adram or others vampires. However there is very little known about him. 

Anyway, I'm shipping Eve/Desiree. 

I liked reading about Eves's life in the village and her family so I hope we're going to see them in the second book too.

天使のハートリズム  - 極楽院 櫻子

DNF

This is not yaoi (male/male), this is shota (young boy/adult male). 

And not just hints of shota like in Black Butler, Vol. 01 or Loveless, Volume 1 - blink and you'll miss it. 

Nope, this is Plot? What Plot? aka Porn!

To be honest, I feel like a dirty criminal just for checking out this tittle. 

Doctor Who: The Forgotten Army - Brian Minchin

No, no Doctor Who: Nuclear Time isn't the worst Doctor Who book I've read, this one is. 

Why the hell these books are so bad? Most of these books are for children and young adults, and it's no wonder that kids doesn't want to read. Hell, even I didn't finish this book. (Read 175 pages out of 248) 

The BBC or whatever who has rights, should have held a writing contest for Doctor Who fanfic authors. I bet, then Doctor Who books would have been much better. 

 

 

 

 

I've another Doctor Who book to read and maybe that one is going to be better.

The Vegetable Bible: The Definitive Guide - Sophie Grigson

The author rants too much. Seriously, Why should cucumbers be straight? My suspicion is that the only reason is that they pack better that way. In other words, it suits big commerce, and somehow they've pursued the buying public that there is honour to be found in ram-rod conformity. Blah, blah and it goes on. About every veggie she has to say something that has nothing to do with how to choose & store or cook it. 

You have to skim text to find the real stuff - advices, tips and instructions. I better use Google, then.

Crazy Sexy Kitchen: 150 Plant-Empowered Recipes to Ignite a Mouthwatering Revolution - Kris Carr

Almost half of this book is a basic nutrition info, how to store/prepare food and what are kitchen essentials. 

Then there are recipes: Juices, Smoothies, Breaking the Fast, Soup and Stews, Sandwiches and Wraps, Sensual Starters, Symphonic Salads, Main Events, Sexy Sides, Dressings, Marinades, and Condiments, Snacks and Munchies, and Sweet Seduction.

Good for these who recently started cooking but these who are experienced chefs are going to find some interesting recipes too. (Maybe?)

I like that Carr included recipes where children can assist.

Doctor Who: Nuclear Time - Olivia Goldsmith

I like Doctor Who but to be honest the books are not good. This book is my first Eleven story and the weakest Doctor book read yet. 

 

What He Wants - Kate Aaron

0.5 stars from the rating because 

 Pets are not gifts. This definitely rubbed me wrong way and this is the main reason why 2.5* and not 3* others listed below not so much. 

 

* The random appearances of John and Guy.

* Christo's reaction to learning that Damien is a heir to millions. (For fox sake, the man told you how he lost his family and you worry that he is sooo much richer than you.) 

(show spoiler)

 

 

 

It was good read but not perfect. 

I couldn't connect with Christo and he is the main character. Damien was a bit more likeable but it doesn't say much when I'm comparing him with Christo. But this time it's not a bad thing, because both men seemed real enough and no one is without faults. 

Murder at Mansfield Park - Lynn Shepherd

Mansfield Park is my favourite Austen's novel and I might have read this book but it's not gonna happen mainly because there's so many other books out there that are surely more stimulating for grown-up minds.

How much more of a creep can you be?? (reblog from Shelby)

Uncaged - Joe Gazzam

For Joe Gazzam that question has no bounds. Once his sock puppetry had been exposed he resorts to name calling. 

 

He responded to my friend Cameron's UTube video under one of his socks:

 

 

Then my friend Gavin tries to clear his name by posting on his blog this:

http://abyssalsanctuaryofficial.booklikes.com/

 

So he ends up being tweeted this:

 

Joe Gazzam. You are a snake. The lowest of the low. 

Locked and Loaded  - Nenia Campbell

I still don't like Micheal and I don't see how Michael is supposed to be super cool assassin, he doesn't spend his time sweating in a gym or/and practicing some martial art, he drinks and eats unhealthy food and yet he is fit. 

Christine is much more real and more likeable, though she sometimes has her annoying moments but they are rare now compared with previous books. 

What I really like, is how Christine and Michael's relationships are progressing, they are becoming more equal and now at last, I can see that they both care about each other. Especially Michael. However, and that's my opinion, while they are fine at the moment, I don't see how they could be right for each for a long term. 

Ah, but there is going to be another book and I might change my mind. 


BTW, Nenia and I are friends on GR but it has nothing to do with how I rated this book.

The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain. Simon Baron-Cohen - Simon Baron-Cohen

This book is written by well-respected and influential Professor Simon Baron-Cohen :/ And this is just another Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus "science" type of book. It's not like I'm surprised but I didn't expect it to be so poorly written. 

 

Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat - Philip Lymbery, Isabel Oakeshott

Lymbery doesn't ask the world to go vegan what he asks is that the farm animals are raised (and eventually slaughtered) with care and compassion.

 

He also speaks about environmental, economic, ethical and health problems that conventional farming causes.

 


I wonder why the authors or the publisher didn't add some pictures of modern factory farms and animals. Could it be because often these pictures are distressing to view? Then it's really dumb move as one picture is worth a thousand words.

 

Here's a link to one of the many videos about the meat industry on YouTube.

A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of The Smiths - Tony Fletcher

Morrissey and Joyce refused to give interview(s) for this book, and because of that the story can't be complete. Not that author wasn't trying. At times, methinks, he was trying too much. :/


The Smiths were a beautiful thing and Johnny left it, and Mike has destroyed it. 
Morrissey

 

 

 

Diplomacy - Zahra Owens

Boring story and average writing. DNF

 

The Back Passage  - James Lear

Oh my, what a pile of rubbish. 

Mystery? Crime? Thriller? You wish! *ignore my shelving* 

Sex? A lot of it. Was it well written? Nope.

Is it historical? It says yes, but it isn't. Just like author isn't next Christie. 

As if all mentioned above, wasn't bad enough, we've rape culture poop going on too. Whoopee! 

 

Currently reading

The Mammoth Book of Victorian and Edwardian Ghost Stories
Charles Dickens, Henry James, Robert Hugh Benson, Tom Gallon, Clive Pemberton, Allen Upward, Alice Perrin, Lettice Galbraith, J.E.P. Muddock, Theo Gift, Frank Cowper, J.B. Harwood, Grant Allen, Alexandre Chatrian, Émile Erckmann, Erckmann-Chatrian, Rhoda Broughton, Dinah