When a manga’s back cover features the lines “She's a hot robot in high school! What's the worst that could happen?” one might be forgiven for expecting some sort of titillating romp to ensue. In reality, Karakuri Odette is about as far from that as it’s possible to get. Odette is the crowning achievement of her creator, the genius roboticist Professor Yoshizawa, and when she … [Read more...] about Karakuri Odette 4-5 by Julietta Suzuki: A-
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit: A
From the back cover: When Father goes away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their happy life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. But the mystery remains: where is Father, and will he ever … [Read more...] about The Railway Children by E. Nesbit: A
One Piece 32-45 by Eiichiro Oda: A
Tired of tackling the epic One Piece in three-volume chunks, I decided to do something new and review the entirety of the Water Seven arc—comprising volumes 32 through 45—at once. If you've never read the series, this isn't the place to start, but man, is it ever worth waiting for! Typically, the drama in One Piece comes from some sort of ongoing conflict the crew discovers … [Read more...] about One Piece 32-45 by Eiichiro Oda: A
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight 5 by Jane Espenson, et al.: C+
From the back cover: When Buffy's former classmate-turned-vampire Harmony Kendall lands her own reality TV show, vampires are bolstered into the mainstream. Humans fall in line; they want a piece of the glitz, glam, and eternal youth bestowed upon these mysterious creatures of the night. What's a Slayer to do when vampires are the trendiest thing in the world? While humans … [Read more...] about Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight 5 by Jane Espenson, et al.: C+
Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham: A
Book description: When war broke out in 1914, Somerset Maugham was dispatched by the British Secret Service to Switzerland under the guise of completing a play. Multilingual, knowledgeable about many European countries and a celebrated writer, Maugham had the perfect cover, and the assignment appealed to his love of romance, and of the ridiculous. The stories collected in … [Read more...] about Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham: A