Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer | Book Review #158

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (Nobrow) in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage

Author: Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

.........................................................

Pages: 184

Published: February 2019

Publisher:  Nobrow

Genre: Nonfiction, Graphic Novel, Biography, Comic

.........................................................

Date Read: March 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The year is 1831. A gifted yet somewhat distracted young man named Charles Darwin has been offered a place aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. The journey will change both his life and the course of modern science…

This is an intelligent and immersive graphic novel from award-winning duo Fabien Grolleau and Jérémie Royer that follows legendary scientist Charles Darwin as he embarks on the voyage that began his career. Join him on a journey of thrilling discovery as he explores remote corners of the natural world and pieces together the very beginnings of his revolutionary theory of evolution.

The Rating:

My Review:

I ended up giving this 3 stars out of five and here are my reasons.

The illustrations/art in this book were incredible. I had the same feelings when I was reading Audubon. And I think I like how the animals were done more than the people but that's just because the animals look beautiful. Nature was also beautiful in this book. The endpapers were cool and the cover with all the animals surrounding Darwin was very beautiful.

These two (the author and illustrator) managed to bring a story I didn't know about come to life through the form of a graphic novel. And it was easy to follow and understand.

I felt something and although it wasn't a good feeling and it left me angry it happened.
And this is all I have to say on that.
In the end, I'm stuck with the same thoughts as I had while reading Audubon. Humans are terrible. And the natives didn't deserve the treatment they were getting. And although Darwin was opposed of the way the natives were treated he didn't do anything. He wasn't a saint despite his contributions to science.

Aside from these three thoughts, I can't seem to feel anything else in regard to this book. Which is why I gave it that rating. So a solid 3 is a good rating with all that in consideration.

Goodreads

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

Yasmina and the Potato Eaters by Wauter Mannaert | Book Review #152

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Yasmina and the Potato Eaters by Wauter Mannaert 

Are there spoilers?

No spoilers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Yasmina and the Potato Eaters 

Author: Wauter Mannaert

.........................................................

Pages: 144

Pub Date: March 20, 2019

Publisher: Europe Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Cooking, Food

.........................................................

Date Read: March 11, 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

Eleven‐year‐old Yasmina and her dad lead a modest life in a small city apartment. Luckily, the food-loving Yasmina can whip up just about anything in the kitchen, with an assist from her edible herb books and her friends from the community garden. That is, until the day the garden disappears, bulldozed and replaced by a field of potatoes that are both experimental... and completely addictive! The only solution is for Yasmina to track down and eradicate the source of the problem. A fun and colorful tale for all ages.

The Rating:

My Review:

Yasmina and the Potato Eaters was a very entertaining story. With Yasmina being so into food and cooking and making elaborate meals for her and her father.

Yasmina was such a fun character to follow and the rest of the characters were all so unique and interesting. They all had their roles and colorful personalities.

And the food in this looked so delicious and colorful. Like I wanted to eat after I finished reading this graphic novel.

In the end, I was left wanting to read more about these characters and see what happens next.

What will Yasmina get up to next? What is going on with the Potatoes? I have so many questions.

Goodreads

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda | Book Review

Book Review:
Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda

Spoilers?

Maybe some.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title - Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening 

By - Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
Publication - July 19th, 2016 by Image Comics
Format - Paperback, 202 pages

Genre - Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Steampunk, Horror, Fiction

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers.

Marjorie M. Liu -  (Author)

New York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop. Ms. Liu's extensive work includes the bestselling "Astonishing X-Men" for Marvel Comics, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Prior to writing full-time, Liu was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.

Sana Takeda - (Artist)

Sana Takeda is an illustrator and comic book artist who was born in Niigata, and now resides in Tokyo, Japan. At age 20 she started out as a 3D CGI designer for SEGA, a Japanese video game company, and became a freelance artist when she was 25. She is still an artist, and has worked on titles such as "X-23" and "Ms. Marvel" for Marvel Comics, and is an illustrator for trading card games in Japan.

The Rating :

My Review:

My review in a gif. Which equals 5 stars.

via GIPHY

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

The cover was what made me pick it up and eventually buy it. I think that if I hadn't seen the really nostalgic looking cover I wouldn't have gotten to see that this really cool graphic novel was there amongst Superman and Batman comics.
By nostalgic, I mean that the cover looked like some of the comics my brother used to have and a little like some of the art out of a Final Fantasy art book.


The Story:
This graphic novel is about a girl named Maika that is being sold as a slave to a group of rich powerful men, but then she gets sent to a scientist lady that is doing experiments on whatever slaves they caught in order to harvest their magical energy. 
I'm not going to say much more than that as to not spoil the story. But after reading the first few pages I was interested in the story and read until the last page.


Overall:
One of the thing that attracted me to this book was the cover and the quote by Neil Gaiman on the cover. And I'm not interested in everything he does but that quote from him and the cover together made me interested and the very next day I went again to walmart and bought it with some money I had saved up. 




via GIPHY


The illustrations in this book gave me some Ghibli feels, specifically from Princess Mononoke. Because of the spirits and the boar monster in the beginning that looks like the monster that is inside of her. 
But aside from the Ghibli vibes, it also gave me some nostalgia. Mostly because when I was younger I played my big brothers Final Fantasy games and stuff. And this story had that feel from the buildings, and the worlds and even the creatures are reminiscent of Final Fantasy creatures. 

I'd say that if you like the more fantasy side of Ghibli, old school Final Fantasy, and even Saga then you'll like this graphic novel.

via GIPHY

Most of the pages are filled with illustrations that are detailed and some that are gruesome. The colors go from dark/blueish to lighter pages that have yellows and oranges; like golden even. But the entire book gives off this 'rainy day' tone to it.


I'd say that even if this is full of dark and gruesome bits and it even goes to 'f*cked up' levels, I would love to continue to read the rest of this series.

The illustrations are awesome, the characters are well created and it's so strange and different from what I've been reading recently that it is easily one of my favorite reads of the year. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda are awesome and kickass creators.

Get a copy at:
Barnes&Noble  |  Amazon US

Or get it here using my affiliate link. Please:
Book Depository

______________________________________

 Blog | Tumblr | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Audubon, On The Wings of The World by Fabian Grolleau and Jeremie Royer | Book Review

Book Review:
Audubon, On The Wings Of The World by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

Spoilers?

Maybe.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title - Audubon, On The Wings Of The World
By - Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer
Publication -  April 4th, 2017 by Nobrow Press
Format - Hardcover, 174 pages

Genre - Children's Book, Mythical, Picture Book, Fantasy, Graphic Novel

At the start of the nineteenth century, John James Audubon embarked upon an epic ornithological quest across America with nothing but his artist’ s materials, an assistant, a gun and an all-consuming passion for birds...

This beautiful volume tells the story of an incredible artist and adventurer: one who encapsulates the spirit of early America, when the wilderness felt limitless and was still greatly unexplored. Based on Audubon's own retellings, this embellished version of his travels captures the wild and adventurous spirit of a truly exceptional naturalist and painter.

Fabien Grolleau has written and created several comics for Vide Cocagne (which he co-founded) as well as the graphic novel, Jaques a Dit.

Jérémie Royer is an illustrator and designer. After studying art for two years in Nice, he specialized in comic book art and illustration in Brussels. 

The Rating:

My Review:

via GIPHY

I want to say that this was sent to me for review from publisher and that, as all my reviews, this one is full of my honest opinions.

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

The cover filled with birds is what attracted me to the book. They are beautiful and colorful. And with a cream colored background, it makes the birds stand out more.


The Story:
Based on Audubon's own retellings. The tells of his travels capture the wild and adventurous spirit of a truly exceptional naturalist and painter. Who along the way catalogs America's birds.


Illustrations:
The illustrations are beautiful birds and people. But I liked the bird illustrations more. They were so much moe appealing to me. With pretty colors and realistic lines.

Overall:
At first, I was surprised to see this book when it came in the mail for me. But after I finished reading it I was a bit disappointed. Yes, the illustrations were beautiful but the story kinda didn't sit right with me. I just couldn't either understand it or whatever but I just didn't like it.

Get a copy at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon US

Get a copy here using my affiliate link. Please:
Book Depository

______________________________________

 Blog | Tumblr | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Paper Girls Vol 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, and Matthew Wilson | Book Review

Book Review:
Paper Girls Vol 1 by by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, and Matthew Wilson

Of course I read Paper Girls, since I loved Saga.

Spoilers?

No.

Saga Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples | Book Review

Review of:
 Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

I had some money in my pocket and a desire to spend it. Thus I got myself my very first graphic novel.

--------------------

Title: Saga Volume 1

Author: Brian K. Vaughan (writer) & Fiona Staples (artist)

Publication: October 2012 by Image Comics 

Format: Paperback, 160 pages

Source: I bought it

Genres: Adult, Graphic Novel, Sy-Fy, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. 
From New York Times bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, North 40), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults. 

Thoughts:

When I saw this on the displays at Walmart I was in shock. I grabbed it and just held it for a minute before eyeing the cover; back than front. I looked up again and I saw that there was Volume 2 and 3 up there where volume one was. Sadly the only volume 1 they had was a little bend in the top but, I grabbed it and ran.

When I got home I immediately opened this bad boy up and I started to lose sight of reality. The world, the characters, the plot everything sucked me into the world of Saga. By the time I finished reading the last page, I felt immediate sadness. I'm definitely getting volume 2.

It really did spike my curiosity. I wanted to know why the baby, Hazel, was narrating the story. I wanted to know if the Prince and/or the Freelancer were bad guys or good-bad guys. So many things went tough my head when I was reading this. I wanted to know more about the ghost girl too. She seems like a cool chic.

Most of all I think I was in love with the art. You don't know this but, when I was younger I wanted to be an artist. So this made me remember that dream of mine.
Though Fiona Staples art is amazing. I loved the colors and the characters. The way she did this was amazing.

Okay, I might be throwing a lot of compliments and good words but I really do mean what I wrote 100%. I hope someone else feels that way.

PS. Of the characters my favorite was Isabelle.
PPS. She was pretty cool. I also liked the fact that ghost in this is red in color and not the typical white, grey, transparent or even blue.

Add it on Goodreads...

 Blog | Tumblr | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads