Movie Review: The Grandmaster (2013)

Movie Review: The Grandmaster (2013) This Chinese-French co-production is a Wong Kar Wai film loosely based on the real life of Ip Man, Bruce Lee’s instructor in the art of Wing Chun style kung fu.  As the title indicates, however, the true central character is the Northern Grandmaster, Gong Yutian.  As the film begins, Master… Continue reading Movie Review: The Grandmaster (2013)

Book Review: Hen of the Baskervilles

Book Review: Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews Disclaimer:  I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it.  Also, this review is of an Advance Reading Copy, and there may be small changes in the final text. Meg Langslow is a blacksmith in the Virginia city of… Continue reading Book Review: Hen of the Baskervilles

Book Review: Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America’s Radical Right

Book Review: Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America’s Radical Right by Claire Conner Disclaimer:  I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it. This is an autobiography of Claire Conner, daughter of Stillwell J. Conner, one of the first members of the John Birch Society… Continue reading Book Review: Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America’s Radical Right

Book Review: Blind Dates and Broken Hearts: The Tragic Loves of Matthew Murdock

Book Review: Blind Dates and Broken Hearts: The Tragic Loves of Matthew Murdock by Ryan K. Lindsay Disclaimer:  I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it. Matthew Murdock is the Marvel Comics character known as Daredevil, a blind lawyer blessed with a “radar sense” that allows him… Continue reading Book Review: Blind Dates and Broken Hearts: The Tragic Loves of Matthew Murdock

Book Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora

Book Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch Disclaimer:  I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it. Locke Lamora is a con artist and thief living in the city of Camorr, a sort of fantasy version of Venice strongly influenced by Dickens and Machiavelli, and… Continue reading Book Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora

Book Review: Conquering the Chaos

Book Review: Conquering the Chaos by Ravi Venkatesan Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher in a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it. This book is subtitled “win in India, win everywhere” and part of its message is that a multinational company that learns how to compete in India will… Continue reading Book Review: Conquering the Chaos

Anime Review: [C] The Money of Soul and Possibility

Anime Review: [C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Kimimaro Yoga is an impoverished college student, bitter about the suicide of his father, which he sees as abandonment, and working hard to make sure he has a financially stable future.  One day he is approached by a being called Masakaki and offered a deal.  If… Continue reading Anime Review: [C] The Money of Soul and Possibility

Comic Book Review: Jack Kirby’s The Demon

Comic Book Review: Jack Kirby’s The Demon by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer In the 1970s, the Comics Code eased up a bit, and horror comics again became a viable subgenre.  At DC Comics, most of their horror output was in short story anthologies like Ghosts or House of Secrets.  But as DC happened to have comics legend… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Jack Kirby’s The Demon

Book Review: Spur #30 Boise Belle

Book Review: Spur #30 Boise Belle by Dirk Fletcher I’m not sure what this type of book is called in the marketing department, so I’m going to borrow a phrase from the pulps and call it “spicy Western.”   This is a subgenre of the Western, usually in long-running paperback series, in which a tough… Continue reading Book Review: Spur #30 Boise Belle