Books of Disinterest: The Teen Titans series by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

I was thinking of reading the Teen Titans comic book series by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo but after looking at all the books in the series, I'm not sure if I want to. Because why did all the other characters (Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire and Robin) get solo books? And not to mention Raven and Beast Boy had another book together. But somehow Cyborg doesn't get a book. It's so disappointing and so is the so-called excuse that Kami Garcia gave for not wanting to write a book for him. She claimed he should be written by a person of color. That's such a cop out. Did she not feel like writing a book for him since she's not Black or doesn't share his culture/background.

So if that's the case, does that mean she's an alien from Tamaran like Starfire? Or is she a demon like Raven? Or a mutant or can change into various animals like Beast Boy? Or is she an orphaned circus performer who was adopted by a billionaire like Robin? Or was she raised and trained by an assassin whose father is also that same billionaire like Damian? Yet, she has no problem writing about these characters. And not to mention, she found their point of view but couldn't for Cyborg. Apparently, he will be featured in the final book with all the Titans together. A quick update, surprisingly Cyborg is in the Starfire book as a supporting character. Which again begs the question, why couldn't he have had his own book?

So, if she had no problem writing about him in both the Starfire book and the final book, why couldn't she have written a book for him? It just felt like she gave a poor excuse for not wanting to write for him. And it's a really bad look from both her and DC Comics that Cyborg is the only one who didn't get a book. If I do read this series, I'm going see if I can find the books used or at a thrift store.

Update to add: I kept thinking about this and I just don't get why she couldn't write a book for Cyborg. Like the others, he's a teen hero and due to an accident was given cybernetics that allowed him to be a living weapon. Cyborg is a pretty interesting character, and his race and ethnicity is only one aspect to who he is, it's just so disappointing that he didn't get a comic book in this series.

Reader Questions: Book series I stop reading

I was checking the blogs e-mail and found this reader question:


fictionalfluff asked: Are there any book series you stop reading and why?

Answer:

Thank you for asking this question.

Yes, the book series I stopped reading is the Hannah Swensen Mystery series by Joanne Fluke. Even though I thought book #16, Red Velvet Cupcake Murder was really predictable and a little boring I was still interested in reading the next book Blackberry Pie Murder. However, that's where the series lost the plot. There was barely a mystery in that book and all the characters were like caricatures and by then I was no longer interested in reading any more from this series. And book #18 is out right now and I have absolutely no desire to pick it up.

This series had started out good but those last few books started to go downhill real fast. Something that may surprise you is that I'm going to watch the Hallmark channel movie adaption of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (book #1) premiering May 10th on the Hallmark Movies and Mystery channel.

So, the movie I'll watch but I'm so through with the book series.


If you have a question you would like to ask me, please e-mail me at: BookGirlLoveofReading@gmail.com.

Book of Disinterest: Batman/Superman comic book series

Initially, I was a little apprehensive about a the new Batman/Superman series but I picked up issue #1 and it was okay. The artwork was better than the story. However, when I read issue two I decided to stop reading this series because not only have they decided to incorporate the Superman/Wonder Woman fauxmance they also had Wonder Woman killing Lois Lane. It's so blatantly obvious that they just want to get rid of Lois.

After that stupid stunt I will be taking this series off of my pull list. I don't understand DC Comics. What do they have against Lois Lane and for that matter Wonder Woman? I'm tired of the Lois Lane bashing and I won't be buying anymore issues from this series.

Book of Disinterest: The new Superman/Wonder Woman comic book series

A book that won't be on my pull list will be the upcoming Superman/Wonder Woman series. DC Comics is still trying to promote that fauxmance and I chose not to buy it. These are two amazing characters and the only thing DC can think of doing with them is making them date. That's pretty much the whole premise of this series. Wow, really sounds entertaining (sarcasm).

DC Comics your gimmicks are getting really boring.

Book Series I Gave Up On: The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel

Book Series: The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

I had read the first two books "The Alchemyst" and "The Magician" but I could not finish the third book "The Sorceress". I gave up on this six book series because it started to feel redundant with the same thing seeming to happen and nothing really changing. I have to admit, I thought the first book was quite good (I gave it 3 stars) and it made me interested in wanting to read the remainder of the series. The second book was good (I gave it 2 1/2 stars) but it started to drag on quit a lot. The third book I would say was the worst, it was extremely slow and boring. I just couldn't continue on with this series.

There was also nothing remotely likeable about a majority of the characters. The characters I did like were Perenelle Flamel, Scathach, Joan of Arc and Comte de Saint-Germain. The author kept having several characters state how untrustworthy Nicholas Flamel was as well as how powerful he was. However, there was never anything shown to prove untrustworthiness, all of his action within those few books showed other wise. But what the books did show was how practically useless Nicholas Flamel was. This was supposed to be a man who has been around for centuries and studied various things about science and magic yet he could hardly do anything. I found that hard to believe.

The twins Sophie and Josh who are supposed to be these powerful twins of myth, have absolutely no personality. There is nothing that makes you want to root for them as they go through all these trials and adventures. They had no character development and they were exactly the same from book one to book three. I found nothing intriguing or likeable about Sophie and Josh.

I would say this series suffered from: too much telling and not enough showing, having way too many characters (who were quite forgettable), poor execution of the plot, an overdose on details and a slow moving pace. The writing style also hindered these books as well. I really thought this series was going to be interesting because it blended history with magic and myth but it turned out to be just another boring tale.

Overall it just felt like a huge letdown.

Book of Disinterest: Fifty Shades of Grey

I have little interest in a book that features a stupid character that has no problem being dominated and controlled. I find that neither empowering nor entertaining. 

I have no problem with sex in books but the book should have a real plot and interesting characters and not to mention be well written.

Everyone likes different types of books and for me, this isn't one of them. This is what annoys me with over hyped books, they get all the press while really good books barely receive any publicity, if at all.

Book of Disinterest: Superman: Earth One

Book: Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski

The more I read about this comic (and from skimming through it at the store) the more I dislike it.

Lois Lane continues to be pushed into the background again but this time so that Jimmy Olsen (who in general I find to be a great character) can become the Big Man On Campus or The Daily Planet. Jimmy has some how taken on Lois' traits of being fearless, smart and tough. And most importantly, Earth One's Lois Lane is so poorly written that she's completely out of character in this book.

So, when has Jimmy Olsen become more important than Lois Lane? Not to mention, Clark Kent/Superman is pretty much useless with his completely emo state of being. When will we see Superman? With an emphasis being on the Man part. Why are all these heroes so angst-ridden all of a sudden?

This is one book I will not be purchasing and I highly doubt I will be buying the second volume as well.

 A great review I found by Kickpuncher on FemPop "Superman: Earth One – Olsen Is Superman’s Bromantic SuperFriend And Lois Wanks From The Sideline" details all the things I find wrong with this book.