Review of Brain Damage, a Graphic Story Collection

 

I was first drawn by the cover of Brain Damage because of its simplicity. It depicts a young woman, likely a student, who is struggling to touch her face. Part of her face is removed and the human elements left on that half are only her eyeball and her teeth; underneath, debris is filling her. Is that why she looks confused and shocked? So I applied for an ARC and was excited when I got the notification that I'd gotten one.

The ARc of Brain Damage was provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

The collection is made up of four stories with twists, gore, and a yuck factor that made me keep reading. Overall, I liked the book, although I was not a fan of how the author depicted many teenage girls as sexual props, rather than characters. The horror and mystery? Well done. Artwork? Really good. Characterization? Not so much.

I read the book in one sitting. I literally finished my dinner and went to the couch to open the book. I read and read, and next thing I knew, it was past one in the morning and I had too many thoughts about the stories that I had just finished. Some of the stories made me wish that they were full length graphic novels, not only short stories in a collection. The layout of the panels gave me a scare, because the stories had a jump-scare factor, but without relying on that (like some movies do).

What made me duck a "star"is the fact that when a story seemed stuck, sexual assault was the plot twist; I'm sure there could've been something else to surprise readers, but having that as the surprise element was distasteful. Twice, I was thinking, "was this really necessary?"

Overall. do I recommend it? If you enjoy horror without wanting to read for deeper meaning, yes. This is fun as a popcorn book. But if you prefer to read with discernment and tend to avoid sexual assault in books, then this might not be the book for you.

Let's Talk: Finds From Library Book Sales

Do you want to purchase physical content and actually own it? During these times, money may be tight, but we still want access to media. What can we do about it? Go to a local library book sale! Not only will you find cheap books (usually with discounts added) but there are also DVDs, CDs, and much more. 

I like attending Friends of the Library book sales. I have gotten some amazing deals like filling a bag for only $5, and sometimes there are 50% off sales for the entire month. When I go to a book sale I especially like to keep an eye on the classics and old books, since a lot of them are lost in history or out of print (not the popular ones, we know those are getting a new special edition every week). If I find a contemporary book that I want to read (e.g. Salt Kiss, by Sierra Simone) I grab it too, because there is a difference between $17.99 and $2.

Today I want to share some good finds from my trips to the library book sales. I don't remember the prices of each item, but I have never paid more than $3 per item. As a college student on a fixed income, this last part is crucial if I want to own physical media in my home (another blog post coming out about that soon). Not only do I like having physical media such as books, textbooks, my favorite CDs, and comfort TV shows and movies on DVD, but when I hear someone tell me that they are looking to build their physical media corner at home, I give them a little blessing.

Let me start off with classics, textbooks, and English student books. As an Creative Writing major, these are always handy. Professors are constantly referencing them, readings are informally assigned from anthologies, and I just like to stay updated and educated on the lore and tools of the craft.

         

                               

                                    

I've also found novels, like mysteries and romance. Books that I like to read for the simple pleasure of reading are a joy to find at the library's book sale. I recently read one of the books in this section (finished it less than a week ago), Once in a Lifetime. It was a great find and I'm so glad I brought it home! 

                            

                             

                        

As for movies and CDs. I've bought the first season of Maude (I love 80s sitcoms; sans the fatphobic jokes and the bigotry), Nacho Libre, Spiderwick, and Industria del Amor's album "Reencuentro". I might buy more movies later on, because I plan to cut down on streaming services. As for music, I'm building my CD and vinyl collection; I love playing music while I work on my novel or clean my house.

What about you? Have you been going to your local library book sales? Any good finds? I'd love to know!!

I Read Sense & Sensibility and Have Some Thoughts About It

 

Recently I finished reading Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen. I liked it, although I didn't quite love it. Maybe because the characters were more realistic and unlikable that those in Pride and Prejudice. While I love picking up books and analyzing them under my microscope for the themes and what each detail means I also like to read for entertainment that does not have "nutritional value." As with any other book that I have enjoyed, I got to thinking and decided that it deserved some memes.

Here you go, loves. Enjoy my low-quality, 2am caffeine-induced creations.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Did I feel bad for Mr. Willoughby in this scene? A little. While I understood his struggle, I couldn't forgive his ghosting of Marianne despite being in the position to openly say that they were not engaged. Better than leading the poor girl on for hundreds of pages.

I had been expecting this moment but also dreading it. It was so embarrassing when Ms. Lucy Steele was plotting to earn the good side of her potentially future mother-in-law, and finding out that she has no good side. Priceless.

Her temper was quite entertaining. I'm not mad about it. 

She doesn't even go here. Where is Miss Morton and why should we care about her? Huh?

She wants crumbs. She demands crumbs. Self-respect has left the chat.

That lady was living the life. She got hate for being imprudent and nosy, but she was the ride-or-die throughout the entire novel. I'd love a friend like Mrs. Jennings.

Talk about unwanted visitors. I bet Elinor would've liked having a door camera to see who was at the door. 

Holding someone like a hostage to tell her to back off your man, while claiming to be friendly and trusting her with your secret? Distasteful.

Colonel Brandon was too classy to tell him off. He respected Marianne's decision to have the trash young man inside the cottage. Honestly, I wouldn't want Mr. Willoughby in my house, either. He might try to steal my dog and gamble him away.

As long as I live, Ms. Lucy will have a hater. She wasn't simply an antagonist; her behavior was despicable.

Did I say that I hated Mr. Willoughby? Yes, of course I said that. But I didn't like Mr. Ferrars either. His behavior was not that of a respectable man. It's like being engaged and still going around picking up other women for personal entertainment. Oh wait. That's what he did.

That's it (for now) on my thoughts regarding Sense and Sensibility. I will continue reading the works of Miss Jane Austen and check back with you with memes and ramblings.