Batman: The Long Halloween is a graphic novel by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale is set out as a murder mystery where the caped Crusader and the authorities attempt to unravel the identity of a mysterious killer who strikes on public holidays. It introduces a more younger and idealistic Bruce Wayne early on in his crime fighting career as the novel describes his transition from a more idealistic crime fighter who puts his faith in the system and other individuals to something that is darker. What makes the Novel different is its primary focus being on the activities of organized crime element of Gotham and the socio-political machinations that takes place behind the scene.The portrayal of the Falcone family, its familial relations headed by its patriarch Carmine "The Roman" family is a very clear homage to Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather". In retrospect, Knowledge of the film and the power structure of the characters offers some clues to the ending of the Novel. The novel is one of the source material for Christopher Nolan's interpretation of the Batman Franchise and many of the elements relating to the role of organized crime, the evolution of Harvey Dents character, unexpected plot twists as well as some clear visual tropes are inspired by the novel The novel also features the usual cast of characters drawn from Batmans villain gallery including the Joker, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Solomnon Grundy. But they play more of a secondary role and are mainly there to add colour to the Novel. They also offer a contrast in terms of the order brought about albeit grudgingly by Organized crime syndicate as opposed to the chaos brought on by "super" villains. The novel and the Dark Knight film makes it clear that the mixing of the two worlds never ends well. A bigger focus of the Novel is the evolution of Harvey Dent and was one of the source material for the story arc featured in Christopher Nolan's Harvey Dent ( I believe in Harvey Dent is a common refrain echoed throughout the Novel by Batman). Also the Riddler who is typically sidelined in many tales of the Dark Knight is featured prominently and plays an interesting role. The artwork by Tim Sale compliments the tone of the novel, where for the most of the novel the artist has used limited colour tones while in the case of the actual murders that take place they are rendered in black and white except for some trinket that is left behind by the killer signifying the particular holiday on which the killer has struck. The artist also makes use of shadows very effectively where many characters faces are rendered in half black and half light signifying the dual natures and motives of many of the characters. The ending itself is quite unexpected and makes a lot of sense in retrospect and is quite satisfying. The title fully deserves to be ranked in lists of the top #10 Batman comics of all time. Book details - Good reads A Homage to Francis Ford Coppola's "The God father" The gallery of villains featured in the novel The graphic novel was one of the source material for Christoper Nolan's interpretation of the Dark Knight Similar themes particualrly with regard to the evolution of Harvey Dent are also explored in the novel Tim Sale's artwork fits into the mystery aspect surrounding the identity of the killer
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![]() "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" - The opening lines of The Hobbit or There and back again I remember this edition of the Hobbit quite fondly as this was what first introduced me to Tolkien's Legendarium at an early age and sparked my interested in the high fantasy genre. The text, dialog and even the songs featured in this version is lifted straight from the text and makes the book quite dense for a graphic novel. As a result, the lyrical quality of the novel that makes the novel so enjoyable has been preserved in this version. "I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills and my path led through the air. i am he that walks unseen. I am ringwinner and Luckwearer and barrel-rider!" - Bilbo's introduction to Smaug "My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail; a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath DEATH!" - Smaug introduction to Bilbo In addition, the story is enhanced by the gorgeous illustrations and the art style which complements the text very well. The depiction of the landscapes was particualrly good which brought to life iconic locations such as The pleasant hobbit holes of the Shire, The dark forests of Mirkwood and the Misty Mountains that have been marked by the desolation of Smaug. Some scenes such as the Riddle game played between Bilbo and Gollum is particularly rendered very effectively by the illustrations. One shortcoming I feel with respect to the illustrations is the portrayal of Smaug where it's awesome strength and the sheer terror it is supposed to inspires is somewhat muted in the novel. I also quite recommend the 1977 animated film of the Hobbit which keeps with the spirit of the novel and the animation style resonates with this illustrated edition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_JMOPCo31M Favourite Quotes “Adventures only make you late for dinner.” - Bilbo Baggins “I don't think I know your name.' 'Yes, yes my dear sir and I do know your name Mr. Bilbo Baggins. And you do know my name, though you don't remember that I belong to it. I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me.” - The Introduction of Gandalf the Grey “What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?" "All of them at once," said Bilbo. "And a very fine morning for a pipe of tobacco out of doors, into the bargain.” Farewell! O Gandalf! May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected! - the Eleven king's parting words to Gandalf. Pretty much sums up the character of Gandalf "if more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. farewell! - Thorin's parting words to Bilbo Book details - Good reads ![]() "Mr Peters would rise on stepping-stones of his dead self to higher things, and while never soaring into the class which devours curried lobster and smiles after it, might yet prove himself a devil of a fellow among the mutton cutlets." - Ashe Marson pleased about how his employer has taken to his exercise regime Something Fresh is P.G Wodeouses's first foray into the world of Blandings Castle. Anyone thats familiar with the authors other work such as Jeeves and Wooster would immediately recognise the wordplay, colourful descriptions and ridiculous scenarios the reader finds the colourful and endearing characters to be in. Something fresh does not disappoint with a cast of memorable characters such as Lord Emsworth, The Hon. Freddie Threepwood, The Efficient Baxter and Beach the Butler. The charm of P.G Wodehouse books lies in his description of a vanishing (and exotic world to most readers) world where the reader has the reassaurance that the worst thing that can happen to a character is getting entangled in breach of promise cases, insufferable sons and Stolen Scarabs from the Cheops 4th Dynasty. It's incredible how the author managed to juggle so many characters in a convoluted plot that like Ashe's The adventure of Gridle Quayle the detective is resolved most satisfactorily. The mix of colourful characters, ridiculous plots and beautiful wordplay is what makes the world of Blandings an excellent choice for some light bed time reading. Favourite Quotes "The scared cat proceeded on her journey upstairs, while Freddie, touching the stairs at intervals, went on down" - Freddie falling down the stairs "It is the saddest spectacle in the world, that of the crowd collected by a "Wanted" advertisement.. they are so palatably not wanted by any purpose whatsoever" - Ashe dismayed by the crowd that has responded to Mr. peter's advertisement for a "Capable man" "Perhaps the greatest hardship in being an invalid is the fact that people come to see you and keep your spirits up. The Hon. Freddie Threepwood suffered extremely from this." "Freddie, swelling himself out like an embarassed frog and gulping had uttered that memorable speech beginning "I say, you know, its like this, don't you know,' and ending, 'What I mean is, will you marry me, what?' - Freddie's eloquent proposal to Aline Peter's Book details Something Fresh - Goodreads World of Blandings - Goodreads ![]() "Maybrick was entirely within his rights to say it was Mabel layton, and that it would have been highly macabre for him to have nominated himself, even though he was the last person, and will remain so as there is no more room" Like the small churchyard in pankot which could no longer accomodate any bodies, so too was the attitude towards the British who decided to stay on after the Raj had faded away. This was Paul Scott's last novel and is chronologically set after the events of the Raj Quartet and covers the post colonial period and the experience of a retired colonel and his wife who decided to "stay on" after independence. The characters in question were featured in the Raj Quartet and intersect with the Laytons and the event that took place in Pankot. While the book is more of a short story compared with the main novel, but it in no way has diminished Paul Scott's evocative prose. "I thought perhaps after all the sun would come out again, between us but it didn't.. except once - and that paradoxically was after sunset" - The tenderness Tusker showed towards Lucy at the ceremony for the transfer of power We mainly see the story from Lucy Smalley; the military wife of an unambitious colonial officer in the British Raj. The daughter of a parson and a poor relation of a minor aristocrat who had to "suffer the indignity" of having to work a regular job, Lucy's first impression of India is that it would be an escape from the rigid hierarchical class structures at home only to subsequently find that these constraints had followed her across the seas. "I'd been brought up to know my place, but when I married Tusker and came out that all that was over... but he was only taking me back to the Vicarage" - Lucy Smalley The novel also deals with the social changes that took place post independence and the realization that some legacies of colonialism such as the rigid class structure left behind continued to endure albeit in a native form. "I don't mean this India...I sometimes don't see a great difference between theirs and the one in which I was a Memsahib, but our India, British India, which kept me in my place, ...brain-washed me into believing that nothing was more improtant than doing everything my place required me to do" - Lucy Smalley A surprising aspect of the the novel was that it felt more lighthearted than the Raj Quartet novels particularly as a result of the larger than life Villain like character of Mrs. Bhoolabhoy and the farcical relationship with "management". but it does not shy away from the societal issues and prejudices and difficulties touched on in the colonial and post colonial world. It was also a pleasant surprise to learn about the fate of some of the key characters in the Raj Quartet such as the Laytons after the event of the novel. Overall a great send off to this simply brilliant series. Favourite Quotes "Another example of how you have deprived me, of the fullness of my life in order to support and sustain the smallness of your own" - Lucy berating to Tusker on him not giving permission for her to act in a drama out of fear that she might outshine the wives of the higher ranking officials "I was always on this committee and that committee I was on it but not of it" - Lucy on the social hierachies that continued to be maintained even in India "at the end of one's life all that was left was one's dignity and one was damned lucky to have the chance to show it." - Lucy when Tusker had a heart attack at the party "It was different for the new generations of English and Indians who met and made friends with one another; ..the generation that had experienced all the passions and prejudices, there was somehow in that relationship a distant and diinishing but not yet dead echo of the sound of the tocsin" - Lucy reflecting on Mrs. Desai's welcome at their Holi party "Suddenly the powers that be say, Right, Smalley, we’re not wanted here any more, we’ve all got to bugger off, too bad you’re not ten years younger or ten years older. I thought about this a lot at the time and it seemed to me I’d invested in India, not money which I’ve never had, not talent (Ha!) which I’ve only had a limited amount of, nothing India needed or needs or has been one jot the better for, but was all I had to invest in anything. Me." - Tusker reflecting on his life in a letter to Lucy Book Details - Goodreads ![]() "John calls you Light, the book of kings call you Lord, The creation calls you God, man calls you father; but Solomon calls you compassion, and that is the most beautiful of all names" The Theme of compassion and redemption permeates throughout this amazing book where merely reading it is an experience unto itself. While there is no denying that some segments of the book are tedious, (Particularly the digressions which run for several chapters which describe diverse topics from philosophy, gardening to the history of the French Sewer is a testament to the sheer breadth of the authors interests") the are unforgettable. The whole novel has a strong poetic quality to it where the prose is meant to be savored slowly and deliberately. With regard to the characters, I was quite surprised to learn how tightly knit the characters of the novel were compared with the musical and the film and how they were interrelated with even minor characters such as Gavroche and colonel Pontmercy. It was also intriguing to see how much more complex and nuanced the motives of the characters are. Ie: Jean valjean and his relationship with Cosette and his opposition to Marius is testatment to the fact that even he struggled with his human nature. The death of Eponine, Jean Valjean deciding to reveal his identity in court, Javert giving Jean Valjean his liberty and the bittersweet final meeting of Cosette and Jean Valjean are particularly poignant and moving scenes. Favourite quotes "The beautiful is as useful as the useful" He added after a pause, more so perhaps" - Bishop Myril on why they are growing flowers instead of something more useful like Salads. "To be a saint is the exception; to be an upright man is the rule" - Bishop Myriel "It is very easy to be kind; the difficulty lies in being just" - Javert to Jean Valjean at their first meeting "Let us never fear robbers nor murderers, those are dangers without, petty dangers. let us fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers" - Bishop Myriel "And by the easy, Monsieur Marius, I believe that I was a little bit in love with you" - Eponine's final words "It is nothing to die, it is dreadful not to live" - Jean Valjean's final words Book details -Goodreads ![]() "she looked at her seed as if she had never seen one before, and suddenly she knew that it was not the planet above that governed her life: It was this miniscule orb - at once bountiful and all devouring, merciful and destructive, sustaining and vengeful. This was her Shani, her Saturn." - Deeti reflecting on the poppy seed and its implications "Opium is what has made the industrial age possible; without it the streets of London would be thronged with coughing, sleepless incontinent multitudes. .. Is it not apposite to ask if the Manchu tyrant to deprive his subjects of the advantages of progress?" - Mr. Burnham extolling the virtues of the Opium trade As a fan of James Clavell's Asian saga, Amitav Ghosh's Ibis trilogy which deals with the poppy trade in 19th Century India and the transport of economic migrants to Mauritius seemed like a natural fit. The sweeping nature of the novel which relates the experiences of both European and Asian protagonists of different backgrounds instantly draws you in and keeps you firmly engrossed. The author seamlessly blends the various languages and dialects in a way that is reminiscent of Rushdie while at the same time being comprehensible to an average reader. The use of different voices for the characters which reflects their backgrounds and past experiences makes the novel feel particularly authentic. At the same time the novel deals with a critical period in history which is often neglected and continues to influence us today. The introduction of mono culture by the colonists and the propagation of "Economically useful plants" of which the repercussions were ecological devastation and creation of a sub group of economic migrants who went far afield to escape poverty resonates with the experience of South Asian experiences even today. Favourite quotes "We are no different from the pharaohs or the Mongols; the difference is only that when we kill people we feel compelled to pretend that ts for some higher cause". Captain Chillingsworth on the announcement that there is to be war with china "Are not all appearances deceptive, in the end? Whatever that is within us - whether good, bad or neither - its existence will continue uninterrupted, will it not, no matter what the drape of our clothes, or the colour of our skin?, What if it is the world that is a Duperie, mr. Reid and we are the exceptions to its lies?" - Paulette aftwr finding out Neels true origin Book details - Goodreads ![]() The title of the book refers to the Zoroastrian tradition that is followed by the Parsee's where the dead are not buried but are rather placed on elevated platforms to be picked clean by vultures. It is an apt title that foreshadows the end of an era and the impending end of the British Raj. From the stone that is thrown at Teddie Bingham's car on the day of the wedding, it foeshadows the fates of the characters which coincides with the decline of the Raj which culminates with the death of Teddie Bingham in the defense of an ideal, the empty chair left by Mabel Layton at the reception. The novel also raises the point as to whether in the whole business of empire, whether there were any values to start with. Quote "There went the Raj, supported by unassailable criteria of necessity, devoutness, even of self-sacrifice... but what was being perpetrated was an act of callousness: the sin of collectively not caring a damn about a desire or an expectation or the fulfillment of a promise so long as personal dignity was preserved and at a cost that could be borne without too great an effort.. and so it will be in regard to our experience here. And when we are gone let them colour the sky as they will. We shall not care. It has never truly been our desire or intention to colour it permanently but only to make it as cloudless for ourselves as we can." - Barbie reflecting on Mabel's funeral In the novel we are also introduced to the character of the missionary school teacher Barbie Bachelor which adds a new dimension to the story of Pankot which has mostly been told from the perspective of the varied members of the Layton family. Her connection to Edwina Crane also neatly connects the events in Mayapore with the developments in Pankot. A key technique that is used in the novel is to juxtapose the developments in Pankot with the incidents in Mayapore. For instance, the month that Susan and Teddie's engagement is announced in the papers is also the month that the death of Daphne Manners is announced in the papers. Further the arrival of Merrick on the scene further compounds the sense of impending doom. This is underscored by the fact that after his wedding when Teddie is transferred to Mirat he is billeted with Merrick who for various circumstances he is unable to meet for days on end. It is almost as if Teddie had so many opportunities to avoid the encounter but once it is done, his fate would seal his fate. Despite this it is also interesting that the painting of the Jewel in the Crown which Barbie inherits from Edwina Crane is presented to Merrick. Probably because she understands the fact that Merrick sees the true face of what the business of empire entails and is not blinded by all the pomp and circumstance that is used to cover up their own inadequacies and fears Quote "That represents one of the unfulfilled ones. Oh, not the gold and scarlet unifroms, not the pomp, not the Obeisance. We've had all of that and plenty. We've had everything in the picture except what got left out. .. I'll call it the Unknown Indian". - Barbie Bachelor on whats missing from the painting While the novel is a bit short on historical details such as the Indian National Army, Subhas Chandra Bose, The Japanese attempted invasion at Imphal which the novel is interwined with, it is overall a beautiful written book about the human condition and all its flaws. The aftermath of the end of the era which is marked by this novel reaches fruition in the final novel of the Raj Quartet; The Division of the spoils Favourite Quotes "The reality of this shabbiness, this evidence of Detritus behind the screens of Imperial power and magnificence. The feeling she was not of glory departing or departed but of its original and continuing irrelevance to the business of being in India" - Barbie in Mr. Maybricks house "What Teddie tried to do was worth the whole bloody war put together... she had gone straight to the heart of the matter, cutting through such irrelevancies as divisional annoyance, the cost of a jeep, the loss of a prisoner and Merricks arm, leaving one with Teddies blameless death, his praiseworthy sacrifice for a principle the world no longer had time or inclination to uphold. - Mildred on teddie's death "You are now native roses,.. The garden is a native garden. We are only visitors. That has been our mistake. That is why God has not followed us here. - Mabel Layton "there is no God. Even on the road from Dibrapur" - Merrick reporting to Barbie on what was in Edwina Crane's suicide note Book details - Goodreads ![]() The approach adopted by GRRM is that of wearing the hat ( or the chains of a Maester of the Citadel to be more precise) of a chronicler recording the key events in contrast to the POV approach readers are familiar with in the ASOIAF and dunk and egg series. The opening lines which describe the dance of the dragons as the "Most Tragic Bloodletting" is most definitely not and understatement and makes the war of the five kings comparable to a scuffle. While the details of the confrontations between the two factions: the greens and the blacks are quite frequently and predictably violent they at times lack the emotional impact of the ASOIAF series as the focus shifts from one battlefield to the next giving the reader no time to reflect. While I think that this has been done deliberately keeping to the character of a maester writing a ponderous tome, GRRM's genious shines through by interlacing it with a few tender moments such as the battle between Aemond & Daemon and the parting of Aemon with his wife who he will never see again. This style of writing to my mind resonates with Homer's Iliad and Tolkiens Children of Hurin. I was also pleased with the treatment of the dragon seed; bastard and low born offspring who possess Targeryen blood. GRRM is not naive to think that characters will not inhabit there stereo types. Ie; dragon seed such as Hugh Hammer and Ulf the white behaving in a treacherous manner while in contrast others such as Addam of Hull act valorously. Also I like the fact that GRRM acknowledges the destructive power of dragons and the pivotal role they play in reversing the tide of battle as witnessed at the disaster of the Honeywine. Fans of dragons would be excited by the uninhibited portrayal of them as pure engines of destruction and chaos while the romanticized view of knights as dragon slayers seem to be less true as the most successful instances of dragon slaying in the novel seems to be done by other dragons and the mob of flea bottom. Reading some of the passages seem like a role call for all the noble houses of Westeros where an appendix containing the timeline of the events and the principal characters would have been very welcome. This problem is further compounded by the similarity of names of the Targeryens such as Daeron, Daemon, Aemond which makes it very difficult to keep track of. But in hindsight this was a precursor to fleshing out the characters more fully in the world of Ice and fire novels. I was also expecting a deeper insight into the motivations of Ser Criston Cole :the kingmaker given Jaimie's interest in the ASOIAF series. Apart from pursuing supporting Queen Alicent to crown her Aegon son over his elder sister Rhaenyra, I Was quite surprised that the kingmaker played a less pivotal role than I had expected with regard to the events which led up to the dance with dragons. Overall a great addition to the Westeros Canon. Book details - Goodreads ![]() The concluding novel to Manfredi's Alexander Trilogy is the biggest in the series which reflects Alexander's growing ambition as he turns his sights on the Persian empire and beyond. Like the first few books, the novel moves at a brisk pace and deals with the struggles that the army endures both from the environment and every varying foes. The author must be commended for the exhaustive effort that has gone into the background research for this book as well as for depicting the events of the novel in a way that is easy to follow due to his choice to use contemporary language while depicting the events of the novel in as realistic a way as possible. While it is understandable that anyone who goes to such lengths to research and understand a character, should view him or her in a positive light, the author however seems to give Alexander the benfit of the doubt with regard to the burning of Persepolis where it is portrayed as a tactical decision rather than the result of a drunken orgy. While the author himself admits that this is his version of the event and there are no accounts of what the real circumstances were as to what took place, it felt in a way that the actions of Alexander were detached from the rest of his generals and men which may in fact be what the author was trying to convey. Indeed, when Alexander first entered Persepolis he was even embarrassed to sit on Darius's throne but after the burning of Persepolis in quick succession he married Darius's daughter, adopted Persian customs and his ambitions grew with it. By the end of the novel, Alexander went as far as to create a spectacle out of the funeral pyre for Hephaeston which was a clear example of his excesses. One criticism I have of the novel is that it seems to follow the received wisdom that the downfall of Alexander can be attributed to is embracing of the Persian culture which is presented in a way that is characterized by excess. This is quite surprising particularly given the fact that Macedonian culture for all its aspirations of being a martial culture does give way to these same excesses. One of the things I would liked to have seen in the novel would have been to get a glimpse of what the sentiment was back in Macedon and how Alexander's immediate family coped with his absence. It was also quite disappointing that the story involving Aristotle and his quest to find the true culprits behind the murder of Phillip was left in an unsatisfactory manner. However apart from these, the novel is punctured by some great emotional moments.One of my favourite scenes is the scene of Alexander's companions saluting and standing by Alexander's decision which was a throwback to a scene depicted in the first novel. The scene underlies the role reversal that has taken place from when they first gave the Salute to a Young prince Alexander in the first book when they were fugitives from King Phillip to now where they were masters of their own destinies world. The other strength of the novel is the depiction of the changing landscape and the wonderment of the troops as they push the boundaries of the known world and travel towards the "Ends of the Earth". The ending and the epilogue of the book is bittersweet and it seems that this objective of reaching the ends of the earth does prove to be an elusive goal. Overall, well worth the read. ![]() Like the double shadows cast by the twin moons that dawn on the red planet, Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is a novel concerning the dual aspect of technology and its consequences. On the one hand, the novel is a cautionary tale regarding the excesses of technology which if misused can lead to dire consequences. At the same time the novel is one of hope and a wish for a better future as technology enables more enlightened individuals to escape the gravitational pull of Earth to start afresh upon the red planet. Hence looking back, the novel takes place in a dystopian setting where humans come to mars to escape the nuclear horrors of earth. At the same time the novel is also Utopian in that it dreams of a better future. The final two chapters of the book; "There will come soft rain" and "The million year picnic" aptly captures the dual themes of this novel. The prose of the novel is as stark and minimalist as the Martian Landscape, while the author is able to effectively communicate the sense of loneliness and stillness of life on Mars. The fact that the novel was first written as a Serial and then collated into a book means that a reader has the choice to view each chapter as an independent episode or as a coherent story bound by a common theme. Despite the stark themes such as environmental pollution, homogeneity of beliefs, violence, entropy depicted in the novel, Ray Bradbury is an optimist and encourages the reader to never stop pursuing ones dreams to live and to shape a better world. Overall, an excellent novel Favourite Quotes "All down the way the pursued and the pursuing, the dream and the dreamers, the quarry and the hounds." - The Martian Book Details The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury - Good Reads |
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