book reviews

Watchmen – Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons review on Goodreads

Here is my review for Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons on Goodreads:

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It’s nice to read a graphic novel that is just a story in its own right. An actual graphic novel that starts and ends, like a novel. Let alone how it also has a consistent artist (Dave Gibbons) throughout the whole series, which is what also makes Watchmen superior to its peers.

A look into ‘superhero realism’ is what this story is. What would superheroes/vigilantes really be like if they were importantly present in society? Would they be the loveable heroes we normally read about, or would they be psychopathic, rapist, deluded, impassive monsters? Probably the latter. And that is why Watchmen is so incredibly readable. Unlike most comics I have read, I actually felt like I was in a realistic (but definitely not idealistic) universe, where people are as complex and twisted as they are in real life.

Unlike most writers of graphic novels, Alan Moore does not hold back on the brutality that vigilantism would have to stoop down to for success at combating the criminal underworld. This psycho-thriller is a definite must-read.

Characterisation is great, and you get a feel of each character through each chapter, seemingly showing the importance each character plays in the world. There’s also a great twist (better than the movie’s version), made poignant by its profound profanity and harrowing truth.

There are annoying bits, such as the pirate comic’s non-sequitur (I found myself sighing every time it interrupted the bloody tense bits), but I also understand why it was included, serving an important message for a development later on that makes the event, when it arrives, even more meaningful. By providing us with moments such as the pirate comic, and also the monologues of the news vendor, we are given even more realism, but most importantly a reflection of public opinion and mood.

The graphic novel delivers many poignant messages and digs deep into the misdemeanours of cold war society, yet still stays relevant to modern day. I found myself bursting through page and page of beautiful artwork, passionate dialogue, and carefully and cleverly-crafted letters/extracts/articles that add context to the thrill. The ending is also brilliant, but I didn’t quite understand why until I saw the film, which I also loved, but that’s just my lack of perception, rather than poor craft.

You can view all of my Goodreads review here.

Anger Management for Beginners: A Self-Help Course in 70 Lessons – Giles Coren review on Goodreads

Here is my review of Anger Management for Beginners: A Self-Help Course in 70 Lessons by Giles Coren on Gooreads.

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I love Giles Coren. Not because he’s one of my favourite journalists, not because I’m a little suck-up who writes overambitious and untrue reviews about writers’ books (who I find interesting) just to make their day with my wonderful words, not because I’m deluded, but instead because what Coren writes is scripture. Now I’m not saying I agree with everything he writes (I’m lactose intolerant and it gives me absolute hell that I can’t eat ice cream without ejecting barbs from my face like a porcupine), but do Christians agree with everything in the Bible? No, because they would all be even more deluded than they are already by succumbing to the evil of creationism. I don’t get up every morning, kissing the photo I have of Giles by my bed, under a pile of used socks, touching his chiseled face with my gloved-hand full of vaseline, singing my praises to ye gods: ‘will today be the day I meet my arsehole hero?’ Because let’s be honest, Giles Coren is a massive arsehole. But that is what makes him so amazing.

His sarcasm and dry-dark humour is so relatable. He finds a way to express our truest, rawest versions of emotions and provocative thoughts on paper. And makes it sound clever. Which, when you’ve visited Twitter at least once in your life, or 90% of the blogs on the internet, you will find out that such a circumstance is rare in these modern times.

This book I will dub ‘The Rant Bible’, and although it is basically just a collection of columns, they’re Giles’ columns, which is what makes the book so successful. There were many laugh out loud (that’s LOL for you sophisticated fellows from Eton) moments, where I found myself clutching my groin profusely to try and prevent the life process of urination all over the saucepan I was currently having my mid-morning bath in. The fact that they are columns allows the reader to dip in and out of the book; this is an ideal process for reading on public transport, when you’re out and about and have a spare 5-hour shit break and have already wiped your arse with this morning’s paper, or even if you’re plunging into the luxury of a mid-morning bath in a saucepan.

Whether you’re a neek, or a geek, this book is guaranteed to make you laugh at yourself, stick your middle finger up at Giles with grinning complacency, and possibly send an angry email in complaint to whoever you think will actually care. And if you’re Polish you may be joining the following Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/82085710304/

It’s still so worth it though, yeah??? Right???

You can view all of my Goodreads review here.

Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck review on Goodreads

Here is my review of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck on Goodreads:

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This play-novelette is Steinbeck’s first real attempt at writing a book for the sake of literature, and not due to pressure from publishers or financial demand.

The story finds George and Lennie, two itinerant workers, starting at a new ranch after some trouble at the one they had previously worked at. They have a dream of one day escaping the inconsistent work ranches provide, and instead lust for a little piece of land to themselves. And also the property of a few rabbits (who doesn’t want a few nibblers to brighten up their life?).

This harrowing portrayal of 1930s working-class Americans during the era of the Great Depression is incredibly poignant historically, as it shows a realistic insight into the difficulties these itinerants faced. It also provides a profound comment on the complexity of dreams and dreaming: the necessity for such escapism, and also the tragic, proleptic futility of it. Steinbeck characterises with magical professionalism; the contrast between George and Lennie is so realistically developed, that further consequences in the novella become even more powerful.

With lovely phrases of description at the beginning of each section, you as a reader enter the world Steinbeck has not just created, but the world he actually lived in.

I believe that’s something rather wonderful.

You can view all of my Goodreads review here.

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BR3AKTHRU’s MadCon Book Corner – June

BR3AKTHRU’s MadCon Book Corner – June

Here is the link for June’s edition of BR3AKTHRU Magazine’s MadCon Book Corner, including reviews of Bark: Stories by Lorrie Moore and Under The Skin by Michel Faber. 

Details of July’s books will feature on the Poetic Rage Facebook page later this month, along with other exclusives linked to both blog and BR3AKTHRU developments.