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Robert Farcett

Robert Farcett

Hey everyone, name's Robert Gear. (Not really my name,just a pen name) Anyways,I was recently shown this site by my librarian and decided to check it out.I find it a convenient place to look at books I've read and check out new ones I should read.The reviews,as I read so far,helped me a bit in choosing.Now a little about me... more »
  • member since October 17 2008

Reviews

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  • Darren Shan (???·???)

    Darren Shan (???·???)

    by Darren O'Shaughnessy
    • Rated 5 stars

    “I've read the manga adaption of the Darren Shan series.And really,it was absolutely awesome.I haven't read the books personally,but I will once I get my hands on them.I suppose the manga was a summary to set me up on what was to actually come.The manga hasn't been released in the states as of now,but will be in 2009.Here's a bit of information from CBR who's interviewed about the manga adaption of the series:

    Thu, July 31st, 2008 at 1:10PM PST
    Updated: Thu, July 31st, 2008 at 11:01PM PST

    Official Press Release

    "Yen Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, today announced that it will publish the first official English-language manga adaptations of the New York Times bestselling young adult series Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan. Jointly acquired from the Christopher Little Agency (UK) and Japanese publisher Shogakukan, the new editions will be adapted into English from the original versions created by Darren Shan and Takahiro Arai which have already sold over 7 million copies in the Japanese manga and prose forms. Brought to life in black and white illustrations, the compelling saga of a young boy's journey into a dark world of vampires will be available at major bookstores and comic book retailers at $10.99 and is rated T (Teen).

    Publication of the first three Cirque du Freak manga volumes will be coordinated around the release of the Cirque du Freak movie in 2009 by Universal Pictures. Directed by Paul Weitz, the film will star John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, and Ken Watanabe. Subsequent manga volumes will release every three months.

    "I absolutely LOVE the manga adaptation of Cirque du Freak!" exclaimed Darren Shan, creator of the twelve original novels published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (sister imprint under Hachette Book Group). "[Takahiro Arai] brings freshness and vitality to the story that sweeps readers along in a happy blur...This is more than a worthy companion piece to the books - it's a great piece of story-telling in its own right. It's Shantastic!"

    "This has been a great opportunity for us to publish a manga edition of Cirque du Freak not only in Japan, but also in the United States," said Takahiro Arai. "We are honored that our manga editions will help readers discover the wonderful story of Cirque du Freak. We put our heart and soul into making this book. Enjoy!"

    Kurt Hassler, Co-Publisher of Yen Press, added, "Yen Press is thrilled to bring Shogakukan's manga adaptation of Darren Shan's bestselling series to North America. Arai's take on the story is sure to attract both manga fans and long-time fans of the novels alike. 2009 is definitely shaping up to be the Year of the Freak!"

    With this in mind,I hope you fellow Darren Shan fans will enjoy this manga.I certainly did and can't wait for the english version to come out.As the author said "It's Shantastic!"”

    Robert Farcett wrote this review Saturday, October 18 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Montmorency's Revenge
    • Rated 3 stars

    “The fourth book "Montmorency's Revenge" was a good read,but I actually was quite disappointed when I read it.Because,even though it had all my favorite characters of course,it just didn't have that magic when I first read the first 3 or 2 books.(I was a bit hazy on book 3 as well).It just through out so many added plots and ideas,I had to reread some chapters just to get the whole point.The ending was quite a heart breaker and cliffhanger as well.(I'm not sure if Updale will make another Montmorency book) Still,it was a good read and it passes time well when you don't have anything particular to do.”

    Robert Farcett wrote this review Saturday, October 18 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Emma Vol. 6

    Emma Vol. 6

    by Kaoru Mori
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Kaoru Mori's "Emma" was a good manga read.As of now I'm in the currently anglophile mood,this manga brought me happiness,anguish,and a new shine to Victorian settings.The artwork and historical detail is so accurate up to the point.Other works by Mori,as of "Shirley",are good read as well.Emma is a sort of love story I personally like.I plan to reread the manga all over again just for the heck of it.Delightful story.”

    Robert Farcett wrote this review Friday, October 17 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • No Graves As Yet: A Novel
    • Rated 4 stars

    “I've always loved Anne Perry's novels and this is one of them. "No Graves As Yet",introduces a possible start of World War I.Personally,I love how the plot carried out and intertwined all the characters to this situation.Joseph Reavley, along with his younger brother Matthew and some help from his youngest sister.The twists and turns of this book kept me guessing and I absolutely loved the emotions being heavily described.As well as the conflict between some of the characters.

    On a bit of a downside,it took me a while to get who was what and what was exactly happening at some key points in the story.Who was doing what and such.But it didn't deprive my enjoyment out of this book,I recommend it to all Anne Perry lovers,as well as new readers who would love a mystery thriller.”

    Robert Farcett wrote this review Friday, October 17 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Qwan, Vol. 1

    Qwan, Vol. 1

    by Aki Shimizu
    • Rated 5 stars

    “The story of Qwan is set in China during the Han dynasty (which ended in 206 B.C.) where prophecies are predicting the end of the Emperor’s reign. Unknowingly in possession of the Essential Arts of Peace Scroll, a scripture which would allow him to save himself from his fate, the Emperor fails to notice its existence and he continues toward his now inevitable demise. Realising that time is short and that the scroll is going to waste where it is, Spiritual Astronomer Kuko leaves with the intention of finding one who will be able to take the scroll and use it to its full potential. Sounds like a simple plot? Well this is just a side story at the moment which is bubbling away in the background. Placed in-between scenes of the main narrative, these parts seem totally unrelated to anything else even though it will most likely come into the spotlight later down the line.

    Our actual main character is Qwan who is a strange individual of unknown origins. While human in appearance and speech, he has enormous strength and fighting skills as well as the ability to consume supernatural demons and monsters whole. He attacks monsters on sight and doesn’t flinch when destroying them (actually, he seems to enjoy it more than anything). The only reason I can see that he doesn’t kill humans constantly is that he’s so much stronger than them that they’re barely worth taking seriously. He’s also quite young, impatient and naïve to the workings of the adult world. He certainly proves to be an intriguing main character.

    As the story progresses, Qwan learns of and turns his attention toward obtaining the Essential Arts of Peace Scroll (remember that?) so he can discover his true purpose. Also after the power of the scroll is Lord Yuushi for his own potentially perverse desires. It’s all gotten quite involved now and I had to flick backwards and forwards through the book a fair bit to piece all of this together. It’s not that the story is particularly complicated, it’s just easy to get so involved with what’s happening that you forget references to things that happened 70-odd pages ago.

    You’ve probably already guessed that Qwan isn’t exactly the easiest character to identify with, so it’s handy that we get someone a bit more normal to help us through. Enter Chikei, a bit of a lowlife who sees the boy in action and pretends to recruit him in the hopes of having an easy ride. His back story is still under wraps but I’ve got the feeling that his real role, like many of the other characters in this series, will eventually prove to be much more significant as time goes on. These allusions to all kinds of mysteries and secrets are all foreplay and seem to have really worked on me. This first volume is a little too chatty for my liking and I share Qwan’s dissatisfaction that there haven’t been enough monsters to sate my hunger. I find myself fidgeting as I read and I really want to sink my teeth into meatier action as well as finding out just where this story’s going to end up.

    The artwork is very accomplished and done in a more realistic manner to other manga. It’s portrayal of China, the characters and the monsters are very convincing and help draw you into the world that has been made. You get the feeling that Shimizu knows exactly what to do and you never get the feeling that a panel is out of place or that a person looks disproportionate. The best sign work is that nothing stands out as being odd while reading and it all fits together very nicely. Only when you go back for closer inspection do you appreciate things like the clothing and the confident use of perspective.

    I’m hoping that this will be an epic series in terms of scope and length as the ingredients are there to really make it go the distance. If it ends up being rushed or cut short then I’m going to be pretty disappointed as I want it to last. In other hands this series would feel overly ambitious, but I have the confidence in the storytelling skills displayed in this volume that my expectations will be met.”

    Robert Farcett wrote this review Friday, October 17 2008. ( reply | permalink )

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