The Last Temptation

20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

 

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Publication date: November 11th, 2014

My rating: 5 of 5

(Graphic novel read on October 19th, from the review copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)

Summary:

Welcome to the world of the Theatre of the Real, where nightmares come to roost and the choice is yours to stay or go - but either way, life will never be the same again. That is what happens to Steven, a boy who is afraid and confused by the hard truth of growing up. One day, Steven happens upon an old theatre boasting its limited engagement grand guignol. Dared to go in, he meets the Showman - a mysterious man who introduces Steven to a world that is derelict and terrifying. The choice is Steven's, but the pleasure belongs to the Showman!

Now fully remastered and newly colored, Dynamite presents The Last Temptation as you've never seen it before! Written by critically acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Coraline, American Gods), and drawn by the Eisner-nominated artist Michael Zulli (The Sandman), this edition includes the original pitch Neil Gaiman sent to Alice Cooper, as well as the original scripts, a cover gallery featuring the art of Dave McKean (Batman: Arkham Asylum, The Sandman), and an afterword by Michael Zulli featuring a brand new, fully painted piece of Last Temptation art created specifically for this 20th anniversary edition.

    

 

My Thoughts on the Graphic Novel:

The Last Temptation is one stunning & perfect Halloween read. I adored every second of it. The story, the art, the characters, the process of the way the story developed, just everything.

The Last Temptation took me on a journey that I wanted to go on again the moment it was over. I was fascinated by the character of the Showman, I loved the way he was inspired by Alice Cooper, and I was fascinated by the story. I didn't expect to be, but I was.

It was mysterious, spooky, entertaining, horrific, and funny, yet soulful. So, yes, I loved it, and definitely an edition that I'd like to add on my shelf to read again & again.

So, I highly recommend this graphic novel to every fan of Neil Gaiman or Alice Cooper, or just fans of supernatural spooky stories. 

 

 

 

Challenges: 

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge 

Holiday Bookish Bingo

Title: MirrorMask

Author: Neil Gaiman

 

Narrator: Stephanie Leonidas

My rating: 5 of 5

(Book listened on March 17th, 2013)

Summary:

Helena is about to embark on a most amazing journey.

Raised in a family of circus performers, she's always dreamed of leading a more ordinary life. But when haunting music draws her into a strange and magical realm, one where anything can happen, her real life is stolen by a runaway from the other side. Helena must rescue the realm from chaos in order to win back her own not-so-ordinary life.

"MirrorMask" is a breathtaking film written by bestselling author Neil Gaiman and brought to life through the vision of acclaimed artist and director Dave McKean. This original novella is Helena's tale in her own voice, a stunning and magical journey.

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

Years ago, when Neil Gaiman became my fav author, I watched the movie MirrorMask because he wrote it & enjoyed it a lot, so of course I wanted to try the graphic novel or the audio book based on the movie, so I decided for the audio book, although I'm usually not a fan of them. I guess what I thought I'd like was that the book is narrated by the actress that played Helena in the movie - Stephanie Leonidas. And I was right - she was amazing & she narrated it perfectly, and really captured the mood of the story, as well as the world the author has created, and I loved every second of it.

As for the story itself, it took me on quite a magical journey, in a world that was fun, quirky & imaginative, and Neil Gaiman has created another brilliant story. I won't go into details, because it's quite a short story, and it isn't possible to talk about it without spoiling it. 

If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman, I highly recommend this audio book, and if you're a fan of modern fantasy, I highly recommend it, also :D MirrorMask is another work that has joined my list of all-time favs, and I know I'll listen to it again & again!  

Also, some thoughts on the movie - I watched it again after I finished the book, and absolutely loved it. Dave McKean did a great job directing it & capturing the world, it actually felt like watching a graphic novel, so once more he has shown what an amazing artist he is, so I highly recommend the movie, too.

Challenges:

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge March 2013

Title: The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gaiman

Summary:

Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade.

Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other.

 

My rating: 5 of 5 

 

My thoughts on the book:

This was a re-read for me! Although I loved this book the first time I read it, I didn't think that it's possible to love it even more, but now I think I do! I loved the story, the characters, the writing, everything about it & although I've read it before, I still couldn't put it down! One of my favorite books & I highly recommend it!

Challenges:

• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010
• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Defence Against the Dark Arts)
• 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge 
• Stand Alone Book Challenge 2010
• Speculative Fiction Challenge 2010
• The 2010 YA Reading Challenge
• The Four Month Challenge, Part 5!

 

Although I love this blue cover of the book, I have to post the cover of the limited edition by Subterranean Press! It's simply amazing & it really fits the story! So, here it is:

 

 

Title: Neverwhere

Author: Neil Gaiman

Summary:

Under the streets of London there is a world of which most people could never dream. When Richard Mayhew accidentally stumbles on this hidden city of monsters, saints, murderers and angels, he is catapulted from a safe and predictable world into one that is eerily familiar yet utterly bizarre.

My rating: 4 of 5

My thoughts on the book:

I enjoyed this book a lot! Although at the beginning it was a little hard for me to get into it, after that I loved it. It was just so typically Neil Gaiman story and I love his books! The London Below he created was really interesting, of course a little bizarre, but yet fun & funny, with really fun, interesting & different characters & of course funny situations! I think that if I've read this book before I read Anansi Boys or Good Omens, I would've really loved it, but although it's really good, it's just not as good as those two, but I still like it a lot & I'll definitely watch the BBC tv mini series, too. After all, it was first tv series, than book! I highly recommend it!

Challenges:

• Fall Into Reading Challenge 2010
• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010
• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Muggle Studies)
• 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge 
• 451 Challenge
• Steampunk Challenge
• Stand Alone Book Challenge 2010
• Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge 2010
• 2010 TBR Challenge
• Fall Into Reading 2010
• Speculative Fiction Challenge 2010

Title: The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch

Authors: Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean

Summary:

In his grandfather's seaside arcade, a young boy encounters a mysterious Punch & Judy man with a dark past and a woman who makes her living playing a mermaid. As their stories unfold, the boy must confront family secrets, strange puppets and a nightmarish world of violence and betrayal.

My rating: 5 of 5

 

My thoughts on the novel:

Although this wasn't the first work by Neil Gaiman I've read, it was my first graphic novel. I can't actually express how I feel about it. All I can say is that it leaves you thinking about it again & again. The graphics were really good, a little creepy & really weird, but they fit the story! Dave McKean is great illustrator! I have to mention that when I first watched the movie Mirrormask, which is based on a story by both Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean, I thought it was the weirdest & at the same brilliant movie I've ever seen & the same goes for this graphic novel!

Challenges:

• Fall Into Reading Challenge 2010
• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010

Title: Odd and the Frost Giants

Author: Neil Gaiman

Summary:

In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back.

In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy.

Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.

Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined - a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.

It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter.

Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever . . .

Someone just like Odd . 

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5

 

My thoughts on the book:

As always with Neil Gaiman's books, I loved it! I guess I should just say: Neil Gaiman = Amazing book! I actually can't choose which one of his books I love the most, because I love all of them & this one is now one of my favorites also! I highly recommend it!

Challenges:

• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010
• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Transfiguration)

Summary:

When Coraline explores her new home, she steps through a door and into another house just like her own - except that things aren't quite as they seem. There's another mother and another father in this house and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. Coraline must use all of her wits and every ounce of courage in order to save herself and return home... but will she escape and will life ever be the same again?

My rating: 5 of 5

My thoughts on the book:

I loved it! Another great story by Neil Gaiman! It's fun & creepy & with interesting characters & storyline & you can't help it, but be wrapped-up in the world Neil Gaiman again has created! I highly recommend it!

Challenges:

• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge
• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Defence Against the Dark Arts) 
• Stand Alone Book Challenge 2010

Summary:

According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter -the world's only "totally reliable" guide to the future - the world will end on a Saturday.

Next Saturday, in fact.
Just after tea.
Which means that Armageddon will happen on a Saturday night.
There will be seas of fire, rains of fish, the moon turning to blood and the massed armies of Heaven and Hell will sort it outonce and for all.

Which is a major problem for Crowley, Hell's most approachable demon and former serpent, and his opposite number and old friend Aziraphale, genuine angel and Soho bookshop owner. They like it down here (or, in Crowley's case, up here).

So they've got no alternative but to stop the Four Motorcyclists of the Apocalypse, defeat the marching ranks of the Witchfinder's army* and - somehow - stop it all happening.

Above all (or, in Aziraphale's case, below all) they need to find and kill the Antichrist, currently the most powerful creature on Earth.

This is a shame.
Because he's eleven years old, loves his dog even though it's really a Satanic hellhound under all that hair, really cares about the environment and is the sort of boy anyone would be proud to have as a son. He's also totally invulnerable, and a nice kid.

And if that isn't enough, they've still got Sunday to deal with. . .

* All two of them.

 

My rating: 5/5 

My thoughts on the book:

I have one word for it: hilarious!!! I'm already big fan of Neil Gaiman's books, but I hadn't read this one until now. I've wanted to start Terry Pratchett's Discworld series for a long time, but hadn't got around to it, so this is his first book I've read, and all I can say is, can't wait to read more of him! It's really fun & humorous book! If you love british humour and you still haven't read Good Omens, I highly recommend it!

 

Challenges:

• Stand Alone Reading Challenge 2010 
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Divination)  
• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010  
• New Authors Challenge 2010 
• Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge 2010 
• 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge
• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010

Summary:

Joey Harker isn't a hero.
In fact, he's the kind of guy who gets lost in his own house.
But then one day, Joey gets really lost. He walks straight out of his world and into another dimension.
Joey's walk between the worlds makes him prey to two terrible forces - armies of magic and science who will do anything to harness his power to travel between dimensions.
When he sees the evil those forces are capable of, Joey makes the only possible choice: to join an army of his own, an army of versions of himself from different dimensions who all share his amazing power and who are all determined to fight to save the worlds.
Master storyteller Neil Gaiman and Emmy Award-winning science-fiction writer Michael Reaves team up to create a dazzling tale of magic, science, honor, and the destiny of one very special boy - and all the others like him. 

My thoughts on the book:

I enjoyed the book a lot! It's really fun & interesting story! Also, the movie rights about it are bought, so although it'll probably take a few years for the movie, I'll be looking forward seeing it, 'cause the story has lots of potential for great movie :)

My rating: 3/5

Challenges:

• Stand Alone Reading Challenge 2010
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Astronomy)
• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010
• New Authors Challenge 2010 (Michael Reaves)
• The 2010 YA Reading Challenge
• Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge 2010
• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• Summer Reading Challenge 2010

Summary:

God is dead. Meet the kids.

When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts his father bestowed - before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is to day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun...just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.

Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion -- he is able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil.

Exciting, scary, and deeply funny, Anansi Boys is a kaleidoscope journey deep into myth, a wild adventure, and a fierce and unstoppable farce, as Neil Gaiman shows us where gods come from, and how to survive your family. 

My rating: 5/5

My thoughts on the book:

I loved it! The last sentence of the summary above describes the book really well! It was really fun & hilarious book and now it's one of my favorites! I just love Neil Gaiman's books! I loved the characters, too! I highly recommend it! It's definitely a must-read!

Challenges:

• The Four Month Challenge, Part 3!
• Fantasy Reading Challenge 2010
• Read Your Name Challenge 2010
• 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge
• Stand Alone Reading Challenge 2010
• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• The Countdown Challenge
• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010
• Monthly Mixer Mele
• The Summer Reading Challenge 2010
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Care of Magical Creatures)

Summary:

In the tranquil fields and meadows of long-ago England, there is a small hamlet that has stood on a jut of granite for 600 years. Just to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here, in the hamlet of Wall, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. And here, one crisp October eve, Tristran makes his love a promise -- an impetuous vow that will send him through the only breach in the wall, across the pasture... and into the most exhilarating adventure of his life. 

My thoughts on the book:

I love this book! It was a re-read & it's one of my favorite fairy tales!  If you still haven't read it, you should! Neil Gaiman is also one of my favorite authors!

My rating: 5/5

Finished: 13 April 2010

Challenges:

• Typically British Reading Challenge 2010 
• 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge 
• Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge 2010
• Fantasy Reading Challenge 2010 
• Stand Alone Reading Challenge 2010
• The Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2010 (Astronomy) 
• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• The 2010 YA Reading Challenge