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RamsFan1963

RamsFan1963

Joined March 2018

LA Rams Fan, Book Lover, Old School Comics Fan, Hufflepuff and Retail Warrior
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Bombs Away: The Hot War by Harry Turtledove
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The Book of Swords by Gardner Dozois
review
RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

52/100 I love football. Pro football, college football, high school football, Canadian football and the USFL. Heck I'd rather watch the Puppy Bowl than most half time show. The author has Collected 100 moments, players, coaches, and games that makes football such a special sport. However the author doesn't mention one of the things I love about NFL football: the length of the season. Baseball plays 162 games, hockey & basketball plays 82 games ⬇️

RamsFan1963 but pro football only, now, plays 17 games, once a week. Football has an immediacy that the other sports lack. You can lose 10-12 games in baseball or basketball and still make the championship, but drop 12 games in the NFL and you're going to be in the basement of your division and your coach is going to be looking for a new job. That's what makes every game matter, its do or die, it makes or breaks your season, and that's why I love football. 4d
RamsFan1963 5🌟 read but probably only for football fans. #Read2025 #JumpStartSummer 4d
AmyG My husband would love this book. He lives and breathes football. (edited) 4d
See All 8 Comments
RamsFan1963 @AmyG It is a real love letter to the game. Plus, it was a nostalgic trip for me, because I watch many of the games he talks about, and it left a warm feeling thinking back on those amazing games. 4d
Suet624 I‘m a Boston fan and love watching football, baseball, hockey, soccer and basketball. Once Tom Brady left the Patriots I stopped watching for awhile. (sigh) But you‘re right about football. Every week in such a short season holds such meaning. 4d
MemoirsForMe Love your review! 🙌🏻🏈🙌🏻 4d
Lesliereadsalot This sounds great! Thanks for reviewing. 4d
TheSpineView Sounds good! 4d
61 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
RamsFan1963
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Honestly, I'm not much of a cryer, but when they reached the part about Sharkie's child abuse in the foster care system, I had to stop the audiobook and get myself back together. I knew from the Tik Tok series that it was bad, but I never imagined the depth of the abuse. It broke my heart. 💔

BookmarkTavern That was a hard part to read! If I had listened to the audiobook, I would have cried too. Thank you for sharing! 4d
44 likes1 stack add1 comment
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RamsFan1963
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In the moment, the key moment, the winning moment, only one thought raced through the mind of Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay: "Aaron Donald is going to make a play."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Lesliereadsalot Great first line! Made me smile. 6d
51 likes1 comment
review
RamsFan1963
Odyssey | Stephen Fry
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Pickpick

51/100 I know it's an old saying, but honestly, I could listen to Stephen Fry read a phone book, if they still existed. His narration really brings the story of Odessus to life, it's often quite funny when it's not being tragic, as Odessus has one misadventure after another, both helped and hindered by the various gods of Olympus. I know this is the last book of his Greek Mythology series, but I love to see him tackle Norse mythology. 5 🌟 read

dabbe I just started reading MYTHOS. I'm thinking I need to listen to it, instead. I love Stephen Fry! 💚💜💚 6d
RamsFan1963 He has an amazing voice, and I love his characterization of Zeus, the most harassed father in history, always having his children pestering him for favors or to clean up messes they've mad in the mortal world. 6d
See All 7 Comments
CBee I agree!! I LOVED Mythos and gave Troy and Heroes lined up. Might do Odyssey first though! 6d
CBee @dabbe you MUST listen!! 6d
dabbe @CBee 🎯🩵🎯 6d
AlaMich The right narrator makes a good book into an amazing book. (edited) 6d
67 likes1 stack add7 comments
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RamsFan1963
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Since we skipped May for #ClassicLSFBC, it's time to do nominations for June. Nomination from today until the end of the month, then we can vote. I'll get the ball rolling by nominating The Great Time Machine Hoax by Keith Laumer.
@Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView @BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @Readergrrl @Johanna414 @Lizpixie @BookBelle84 @Larkken @julesG @Deblovestoread @majkia @LeticiaToraci @sebrittainclark @kwmg40 @CatLass007

See All 13 Comments
rwmg I'm happy to (re-)read Foundation 1w
KathyWheeler I‘ve never read Foundation, so it‘d be interesting to read. 1w
kwmg40 I too would like to reread Foundation. 1w
swynn Jo Clayton's Diadem from the Stars. 7d
CatLass007 A reread of Foundation, but there‘s an 18 week wait list at my public library and my copy is still packed away. I‘ve never read Diadem from the Stars but it‘s not available at my public library at all. So I‘m gonna go on a limb and nominate one that is considerably longer than these two and of which I already own a copy and can put my hands on. (edited) 6d
Larkken I'm good with foundation but here's one I just recently found on my bookshelf (surprise! Not sure when I got it) : 5d
RamsFan1963 @Larkken Lord of Light is one of my all time favorite novels. I'd love to reread it, it's been several years since I read it the first time 5d
CatLass007 I could agree with Lord of Light. I like the author and the book is available. And I was going to withdraw my nomination of Dune and instead nominate 5d
RamsFan1963 @CatLass007 I've had The Children of Men on my shelf for years, so I wouldn't object to reading it 5d
Larkken @CatLass007 haha, I actually thought Children of Men was this group's buddy read for March! I'm so behind in all things social (I was out-of- country, but still! I made up a buddy read? 🙄) anyway, now I'm counting 3 books I'd happily read with y'all, so that's good at least. 4d
51 likes13 comments
review
RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

50/100 The first of a series, where corporations have their own superheroes, and make contracts to protect people and property. It doesn't really work as a superhero story, but as a work place comedy, it's actually pretty funny. Andrea starts as a fish out of water, but quickly comes to be invaluable to C.U.P. I don't know if I'll listen to more of the series, but I enjoyed this one. 3.75/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

49/100 I will give this short story collection a Pick with an asterisk. Each story is set in the worlds of the author's various novels, so if you haven't read the original novel, the story might be confusing. However if you're a fan, like myself, then each story is a mini sequel to the novels, involving some side characters the author wanted to give more attention to. 3.75/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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blurb
RamsFan1963
Odyssey | Stephen Fry
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Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy! I did not know that Stephen Fry had a 4th book in the Greek Mythology series. I need to finish my current audiobook so I can get to this. I know it's going to be another winner. #SeriesLove2025

TheBookHippie Oooooo 2w
AnnCrystal 🆒📚💫. 2w
53 likes1 stack add2 comments
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RamsFan1963
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1. This might be a bit of a cheat, since she's only written one book, but I really enjoyed Jaysea Lynn's writing.
2. Tagged. If you're into romantasy, I highly recommend this book, it's amazing! Romantasy isn't even my usual reading choice, and I loved it.
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView A high complement. Stacked and thanks for playing 2w
42 likes1 stack add1 comment
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

48/100 You know you're reading a gifted writer, when he/she can take the daftiest idea possible, and turn it into a fun and enjoyable story. While not as funny as say Starter Villain, it made me smile and chuckle often. I enjoyed the various POVs, how the average person was effected by the change in the moon, along with the rich and the powerful people in government. I don't think sweet is the word I'd use but it's more lightly amusing ⬇️

RamsFan1963 than laugh out loud funny. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 #Read2025 3w
Lesliereadsalot I love John Scalzi! 3w
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RamsFan1963
Six Wakes | Mur Lafferty
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Bailedbailed

#unpopularopinion I know a lot of people really enjoyed this book, but it's just not doing it for me. Maybe it's because I've just listened to two mysteries, I'm burnt out on solving murders, or maybe Lafferty isn't an author for me. I also bailed on The Shambling Guide to New York City. I think it's time for something lighter.

BookmarkTavern I loved this one, but I can definitely see how it‘s not for everyone! Hope your next book is better! 3w
RamsFan1963 @BookmarkTavern I'm going to hold on to the book and try it again some other time. I just don't think I was in the mood for another mystery right now. 3w
BookmarkTavern Absolutely fair! Also, if you enjoy audiobooks, that‘s how I read this one and I really enjoyed it! 3w
58 likes4 comments
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RamsFan1963
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Mehso-so

47/100 I've seen a couple of reviews that said they liked the shorter version, more novella than novel, as opposed to the first two longer stories. I disagree, I don't feel the author had the space to adequately flesh out his characters or product a compelling mystery. I am still enjoying the series, and I'll read it if a fourth one is published, but I hope its given more space to develop next time. 3 ⭐⭐⭐💫 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

KathyWheeler I agree with you — I liked the two longer ones better. 3w
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RamsFan1963
Six Wakes | Mur Lafferty
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Sound struggled to make it's way through the thick synth-amneo fluid.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Reggie I love this book! Maria is such a cool character. 4w
41 likes1 comment
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RamsFan1963
Kills Well with Others | Deanna Raybourn
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Pickpick

46/100 While I don't think this was as good as the first novel, it was still a fun adventure, with enough mystery and hijinks to keep me involved and interested in the final outcome. I liked all the characters, especially Billy, so I hope we do see a third novel in the future. 4.25/5 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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RamsFan1963
Retief! | Keith Laumer
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

45/100 Keith Laumer has always been one of my favorite sci-fi writers, and Jami Retief is his greatest creation. Retief is a member of the CDT (Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne) who look out for Terrestrial interests in the universe. Sadly, Retief is surrounded by incompetent diplomats, more interested in promotions and commendations, than doing the right thing for the planets they watch over. Retief is cynical, clever and totally irreverent ⬇️

RamsFan1963 it comes to listening to authority figures. This is definitely comic science fiction, but Retief makes for a solid hero, always doing what he thinks is right. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 1mo
13 likes1 comment
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RamsFan1963
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Holy Crap!! Did I forget about May?!? I really dropped the ball guys, I'm sorry that I forgot about doing the #ClassicLSFBC selection for May. The new job has taken most of my time, and April just slipped through my fingers.
I didn't realize, until I saw @swynn review of The Weapon Shops of Isher, that I'd forgotten. I apologize. I'll leave it up to everyone else, we can skip May and make a selection for June instead, or we can do some ⬇️

CatLass007 I‘ll just go along with the majority. 1mo
See All 15 Comments
KathyWheeler I‘m fine with whatever others want. 1mo
The_Literary_Jedi I‘m good with a short break 1mo
Ruthiella I‘m okay with taking May off! 1mo
rwmg I'm another one happy to go ahead with what the majority wants - or are we the majority? 1mo
julesG Hope you're settling into the new job. I'm fine with skipping May, I haven't been in the mood for the classics these past months anyways. 🫣 All those shiny new books out there, you know how it is. 1mo
CSeydel A new job really takes it out of you! Thanks for all you do! 1mo
swynn I'm fine either way. If we skip May, I'll probably go back and pick up a title the group has already read but that I missed while life was hectic.

Whenever the next read is, I'll nominate Jo Clayton's debut novel, “Diadem From the Stars“
1mo
PaperbackPirate That‘s ok with me! Take care of yourself. 1mo
TheSpineView I'm fine to do either. H 1mo
kwmg40 I‘m good with a short break. 1mo
Larkken I‘m good with a short break. I‘m very behind on buddy reads lately ! 1mo
RamsFan1963 @Larkken A break seems to be the consensus for May 1mo
44 likes15 comments
review
RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

44/100 I've always enjoyed Chris Hayes' TV show, and this book is very relevant to today's information overload society. Our attention is divided by many sources fighting for our views, twits, posts and likes. As readers, we all know the struggle to maintain our attention, when the cellphone, the internet, and the TV is trying to lure away our attention. Donald Trump is the first president of the "Attention Age", someone pathetically unqualified⬇️

RamsFan1963 in every category except one, he is a master at drawing people's attention to him. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 1mo
DogMomIrene Is this the guy who hosted The Talking Dead? 1mo
RamsFan1963 @DogMomIrene No that's Chris Hardwick. Chris Hayes hosts All In on MSNBC 1mo
DogMomIrene @RamsFan1963 🤦🏻‍♀️ Yes! I should know that🤣 He‘s one of the anchors there who‘s hit or miss for me. 1mo
52 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
RamsFan1963
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I like it when life syncs up with what I'm reading. Yesterday a storm knocked out the power from 7pm until 10am this morning. No TV, no wi-fi, no internet, and once my phone ran down, no ebooks or audiobooks. No distractions at all, just the printed book to read. Is there something wrong with me when I say that I found no distractions very distracting? I tried to concentration on the book, but I found my mind wandering. It's not the book's ⬇️

RamsFan1963 fault, its very entertaining and Keith Laumer is one of my favorite writers, but I found reading without any background noise, of fans and the fridge, harder than normal. 1mo
AnnCrystal Yikes! The unnerving part is not knowing how long it will last for 🙏💫. 1mo
RamsFan1963 @AnnCrystal I suppose that's what was making it hard to concentrate, I kept expecting the power to come back on. Since I've lived in this apt, we've had occasional power outages, but never for very long, a couple of hours. According to the news, the storm knocked down several trees which took power lines with them, so they were up all night fixing things. 1mo
AnnCrystal @RamsFan1963 my apologies, been away from the web. That's was terrible! I hope they were able to fix your neighborhood outage quickly 🥺👍🏼...poor trees. 1mo
59 likes4 comments
review
RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

43/100 Sadly, the concluding volume of Rat Queens is not as satisfying as I had hoped. They didn't stick the landing, but it wasn't a thud either. Hannah has her final confrontation with Evil Hannah, but the ending is ambiguous as to which one really won. The most jarring thing was the change of art style, again!, to a much more cartoonish style. I little manga like at times. I'll give it a low pick, but its disappointing to see ⬇️

RamsFan1963 a series with so much potential, end in such a downbeat way. 3 ⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 1mo
47 likes1 comment
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

42/100 I hate to sound like an old foggy, but I miss the days when comic creative teams stayed on a title more than 2 or 3 issues, not that I expect anyone to do 102 issues like Lee & Kirby did on Fantastic Four, but I appreciate continuity in writing and art. That said, I miss Kurtis Wiebe's writing style. This issues humor seemed forced, as if every other word being a cuss word was funny. I didn't mind the art style change, it was close ⬇️

RamsFan1963 enough to the previous artists style, so it wasn't a jarring change. One last volume of the Rat Queens to go. I hope there's a satisfying conclusion. A low pick. 3 ⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 1mo
55 likes1 comment
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RamsFan1963
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1. The tagged book made me laugh, made me cry, and had me blushing from the spice. I plan a relisten to the audiobook soon.
2. The Zero Stone by Andre Norton & Aristoi by Walter Jon Williams

#wonderouswednesday @Eggs

RamsFan1963 By the way, I might have forgotten to mention this, but after 3 months, I'm back in the work force with a new job. I'm selling shoes, but don't call me Al Bundy 🤣🤣 1mo
Eggs Congratulations 🎉 1mo
RamsFan1963 @Eggs Thanks! 1mo
Lesliereadsalot That‘s great! I worked as a shoe model for awhile once upon a time. 1mo
34 likes4 comments
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RamsFan1963
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41/100 There is a killer lose in Gotham, named Midnight, who takes the heart of their victims. Working with some of Batman's most notorious foes, Joker, Scarecrow, Clayface, they wreak terror on the city. The story is kind of clunky, exposition heavy, and Midnight's true identity is pretty obvious. What saves this from a so-so rating, is the amazing artwork by Kelly Jones. Jones truly captures Batman as a creature of the night, and since this ⬇️

RamsFan1963 is more a horror comic than a superhero one, the designs of Batman, Midnight, and Gotham itself, brings the story up a notch or two. Jones reminds me a lot of Bernie Wrightson, who was a master of horror comics. 3 ⭐⭐⭐💫 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 1mo
AnnCrystal 💫💫🦇💫💫. 1mo
TheSpineView 👍📖📚 1mo
42 likes3 comments
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RamsFan1963
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40/100 For those of you unfamiliar with the excellent Tik Tok series, Hell's Belles, this is the prequel novel. You don't have to have watched the series to enjoy the book, but it does hit different if you have. Romantasy isn't my usual chosen genre, but this book was a rollercoaster ride, one minute laughing, the next crying, then blushing from the spice. Wow, and what spice 🌶🌶🌶 The author has a very vivid imagination, and her sex scenes ⬇️

RamsFan1963 are hot, graphic, explicit, but also funny and romantic. I don't think I can hype this up enough. If you enjoy romance, adventure, found family, smoking hot sex, demons and sharks, then you need to get this. 5 Big Fat Stars 🌟 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 TW: graphic sex, child abuse, cancer, warfare, physical injury 1mo
Reggie Funny enough out of all that you had me at demons and sharks. Stacked. lol 1mo
53 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

39/100 Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Norris, Van Damme, Willis, Seagal, and Chan, all the giants of 80s action movies. I grew up with these movies, especially the ones by Stallone and Schwarzenegger. I never cared for Steven Seagal, his acting was horrible and his "martial arts" always seemed faked and staged. The nostalgia is strong, plus there's plenty of behind the scene gossip. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐?

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Seagal is 100% a hack and a fraud. 😅 But I love most old action films and many of the stars. I‘ll have to check this one out, for sure. 2mo
MemoirsForMe Loved all these action films too and lately have been happily binge-watching all the Charlie Chan movies. So true about Seagal.😁💤 What about Bruce Lee? 2mo
RamsFan1963 @MemoirsForMe The book covered movies of the 80s and early 90s, after Bruce Lee's time. They do mention Lee when discussing Chuck Norris, who fought Lee in Enter The Dragon, and Jackie Chan, who got his start in the same film. 2mo
See All 6 Comments
The_Book_Ninja You know what, everyone hates on Seagal now and rightly so, he‘s a bonafide douche…but if you grew up watching action flicks, his early films were bangers: lots of bad guys getting smacked up, awesome knife fights and the same no-nonsense heroics and street justice that makes Jack Reacher so popular. And you can‘t hate Above the Law because it‘s got the most beautiful and underrated actress in Hollywood in it: Pam Grier. 2mo
RamsFan1963 @The_Book_Ninja I liked his first 3 movies, I even liked Under Siege, but after that they got repetitive and generic. I forgot he also directed On Deadly Ground, which was a bloated, preachy disaster. Seagal isn't painted in a good light in this book, his rampant egomania, his abuse of stuntmen and costars, and his distasteful attitude towards women. Not to mention he once said he was a greater martial artist than Bruce Lee. 2mo
The_Book_Ninja @RamsFan1963 I agree with all of this👏🏼 2mo
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RamsFan1963
Police Patrol: 2000 A.D. | Mack Reynolds
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38/100 I love books like this, written in 1977, envisioning the world of 2000, but looking back from 2025 and seeing how off the author's vision came to be. Sadly, no hovercars or helio-jets for the police, no Universal Credit Cards to replace money, no instant purchases delivered to your home by vaccum tube. It's still a fun read, although too short for any character development. 3 ⭐⭐⭐💫 #Read2025

CSeydel I mean … we kind of have instant purchases with Amazon same day delivery. (Imagine how cumbersome a network of vacuum tubes all over the country would be! 🤣) And ApplePay or Venmo are kind of like “universal credit cards” 2mo
Ruthiella Still no flying cars! 😂 2mo
RamsFan1963 @CSeydel Yes those are close, but in the book, the Universal Credit Card is issued to everyone, so it's like a government supported welfare for everyone. If you had a job, you had more on your card, but even the unemployed got what was called Inalienable Basic, so no one went homeless or starved. They also had universal health care, another thing we can't seem to get right. 2mo
CSeydel Oh yeah, that‘s a very different thing! 2mo
58 likes4 comments
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RamsFan1963
Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula | Loren D. Estleman
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Mehso-so

37/100 This series of "Further Adventures" of Sherlock Holmes are very hit or miss. I deem this one a definite miss. While the author does a good job mimicking the writing style of Conan Doyle, the story is kind of flat and the ending is seriously anticlimactic. Other SH stories, like The Hounds of the Baskervilles, had supernatural elements, but they were all explained in logical, reality based solution. I was hoping it wouldn't really be the ⬇️

RamsFan1963 mythical monster, but something more human hiding behind the legend. I wonder why Dracula is never portrayed in the movies with a mustache, since I understand he has one in the original novel. 3 ⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 2mo
AnnCrystal I'm the wacky kind, who becomes very disappointed when the supernatural gets debunked 😜😂🧐🧛📚💫. 2mo
TheSpineView 🤩📖📚 2mo
63 likes3 comments
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RamsFan1963
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Hey everybody!! I'm sorry I'm so late with this, March was not a good month for me, hopefully April will be better. I also hope everyone enjoyed Childhood's End. It's not my favorite Clarke novel, but different strokes for different folks. A reminder, April's selection is The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. Van Vogt. Hope everyone enjoys. #ClassicLSFBC
@Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView @BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @Readergrrl

44 likes4 comments
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RamsFan1963
Once in a Blue Moon | Simon R. Green
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Pickpick

36/100 I loved this book, I've loved every book I've read by this author, but Hawk & Fisher were the first and have always remained my favorites. Once again the Forest Kingdom is threatened by the Demon Prince and his minions, so Hawk & Fisher (once Prince Rupert & Princess Julia) return to save the day and met out some bloody, gory justice. I'm sorry this is the fifth and final book in the Forest Kingdom series, but it went out with a bang! 5 🌟

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RamsFan1963
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Mehso-so

35/100 Thankfully this was fairly short, I think I would have bailed if it was longer. I liked the idea of an AI hologram agent, but it seemed used mostly for comedic effect. 3 ⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025

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RamsFan1963
The Fade Out Vol. 3 | Ed Brubaker
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Pickpick

34/100 This wasn't the conclusion that I wanted, but I guess it is the ending that best suits the story. In the end, there's no justice, for anyone, people die, the studio covers more scandals, and everyone shrugs and goes about their business as if it's all supposed to be this way. 3.75/5 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

TieDyeDude Yeah, it had kind of a Chinatown ending, which was fitting, IMO. 2mo
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RamsFan1963
The Fade Out Vol. 2 | Ed Brubaker
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33/100 The mystery deepens as our writer "hero" foolishly falls in love with the actress hired to replace the other actress. Plenty of secrets come out, dirty tricks, sexual assaults, perversions, scandals the studio is willing to kill to keep quiet. Charlie, the writer, is too drunk most of the time to realize the real danger he is involved in. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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RamsFan1963
The Fade Out Vol. 1 | Ed Brubaker
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32/100 A very dark and gritty story of late 1940s Hollywood. A young starlet is found dead, and the studio rushes to cover up the scandal. A screenwriter, with writer's block, becomes involved because he knows the studio's story isn't true. It's very dark, there aren't any really likeable characters, even the MMC is a coward you folds under studio pressure to keep quiet. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

IMASLOWREADER ohhh you had me at old hollywood setting 🤩 2mo
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RamsFan1963
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31/100 This is more like it, much better than the last volume. The story was a straight forward adventure, plenty of action and gory violence, plenty of the snarky humor that I enjoy so much. Not to spoil the ending, but I love Orc David and Violet's love story. Also, is it weird that I found the half owl woman kind of sexy? 3.75/5 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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RamsFan1963
Once in a Blue Moon | Simon R. Green
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The Dutchy of Lancre's greatest pride, problem, and most profitable tourist attraction is the Hawk and Fisher Memorial Academy.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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RamsFan1963
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Mehso-so

30/100 This is my least favorite volume so far. I've finally got used to the change in artwork, Gieni's art grows on you, but the story was so confusing. Flashbacks, flashforward, alternate realities, alternate futures, alternate pasts, all jumbled together so by the end I wasn't sure who was who, who died and who replaced them. 2 ⭐⭐💫 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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RamsFan1963
What I Ate in One Year | STANLEY. TUCCI
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29/100 I think I enjoyed his other book, Taste, more, but this is still a very fine book for those that love food and fine dining. Obviously Tucci's palate is much more refined than my own meat and potatoes appetite, but his loving descriptions of foods makes me want to venture out to try new dishes. I'm curious how Tucci keeps his slim shape, while he does eat very healthy, lots of fresh veggies, he also consumes a lot of pasta, potatoes ⬇️

RamsFan1963 bread and rice. If I consumed that amount of carbs, you'd have to roll me from place to place. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 2mo
IMASLOWREADER its on my list…loved taste and his show 2mo
kspenmoll Happy Litsyversary!!!! 2mo
RamsFan1963 @kspenmoll Thanks! I missed seeing the announcement. I can't believe it's been 7 years. 2mo
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RamsFan1963
Muddle Earth | John Brunner
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Panpan

28/100 The only reason I didn't DNF this after 50 pages is my respect for the author's writing. If you've read any Brunner, you know he writes serious, thought provoking science-fiction, so I don't know what possessed him to write this comic farce. Sadly it's not funny, there are quite a few painful stereotypes, the gay guards at the Vatican called the Swish Guards 🙄. The only amusing part was how many famous sci-fi writers names ⬇️

RamsFan1963 he could drop into the story. A surgeon named Theodor (Theodore Sturgeon), administrator Wrong Ghoulart (Ron Goulart), a world building company called Clifford & Simak (Clifford Simak) and a world wrecking crew called E. Hamliton & Co. (Edward Hamlton). The in jokes do produce a smile, but otherwise it's a hot mess. 2 ⭐⭐ #Read2025 2mo
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

27/100 I bailed on Schreiber's other Star Wars book, Red Harvest, but I really enjoyed this one. All I know about Darth Maul is what I got from Episode 1, but he's a very interesting character, brutal, viscous, and very good at fighting. For some reason, I like the Star Wars books dealing with the bad guys, more than the heroes. Schreiber's writing is dark, violent, gory and intense, definitely showing the dark ⬇️

RamsFan1963 underbelly of the Star Wars Universe. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 3mo
eclectic-reader Do you read graphic novels? If so, I highly recommend Gillen's Darth Vader run. The focus is very much on the villains. Pretty awesome. 3mo
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

26/2025 Cannibalism. It brings up horrible images, Hannibal Lector and his fava beans, but humans and animals have a long history of cannibalism, for survival, for medicinal reasons, for rituals, for conquest, and sadly for pleasure in some. Fortunately, the author sticks to the scientific reasons, and isn't lured into the sensational aspect with serial killers like Jeffery Dahmer and Ed Gein.
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025

IMASLOWREADER ohhh this sounds interesting 3mo
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

25/100 While I still enjoy the characters and the world building, this is my least favorite volume for one reason: The Artwork. I really liked Roc Upchurch's more realistic art in Volumes 1 & 2, the art by Owen Gieni was much more cartoony, especially the facial expressions. It's still a pick, but on the low end, hopefully things will improve in the next volume. 3.25/5 #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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RamsFan1963
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Mehso-so

24/100 I don't believe that I have ever listened to a less interesting book involving dinosaurs and paleontology, two subjects that I'm very interested in. IMO the book spends too much time discussing religious leaders, and how they tried to align fossils with the teachings of the bible. Even when discussing Darwin and evolution, it was more about the affect on the religious community than on the validity of the theories. 3 ⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025

inkilea Good to know, thank you! (This was on my as-yet-unpurchased tbr) 3mo
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RamsFan1963
Childhood's End | Arthur Charles Clarke
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With the majority of votes, Childhood's End will be #ClassicLSFBC selection for March. The other three books were tied for 2nd, so I threw the names in a hat to pick April's selection. April's selection is The Weapon Shops of Ishtar by A.E. van Vogt. Childhood's End should be available at most libraries, and I've seen it on Ebay for as little as 5 dollars. Good luck and happy reading. #ClassicLSFBC
@Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView

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RamsFan1963
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You would think, since I'm not working, that my numbers for February would be higher, but the stress of not having a job has reeked havoc on my level of concentration. I've got some good interviews lined up this week, so I think March will be a much better month for me.

TieDyeDude I totally get that. Good luck on the interviews! 3mo
Deblovestoread Wishing you all the luck 🍀 3mo
Lesliereadsalot 🤞🤞🤞 3mo
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cjk Good luck! 🤞🏽 3mo
xicanti Good luck! 3mo
Susanita Break a leg! 3mo
mhillis Sending positive vibes!! 3mo
KadaGul @RamsFan1963, be kind to yourself, and do not lose hope. I totally understand what you‘re going through. Some days, I love to decompress with a good book or an audiobook, and other days, I find it tough to even listen. I wish you all the luck. I know some of my friends are in the same boat as you are. 3mo
rwmg Hope everything sorts itself out satisfactorily. Good luck! 3mo
CarolynM Hope those interviews go well for you🍀 3mo
inkilea Good luck for the interviews! 🍀🍀🍀 3mo
AnnCrystal Wishing you all the best with your interviews, hope you find employment that both pays well and fuels your spirit 🙏🏼☺️🤞🏼💫. 3mo
Reggie Good luck on the job hunt! 🍀 3mo
kwmg40 Good luck with the interviews! 3mo
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RamsFan1963
The Cyberiad | Stanislaw Lem
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I decided to go with just writing in the name of the book, as I found trying to line up the picture of the book very frustrating. There was no 5 🌟 book for February, but The Cyberiad came close at 4.5. If it had been a bit shorter and a little less repetitive, it would have hit 5 for sure. Looking forward to the new Scalzi book for March.

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RamsFan1963
The Zero Stone | Andre Norton
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Bailedbailed

Sadly, my first DNF for 2025 is also #ClassicLSFBC selection for February. I tried to get into it, but it just wasn't for me. I've read and enjoyed several of Andre Norton's novels & short stories, but this one I'll have to bail on.

Aims42 You did amazing for making it to the end of February before bailing on a book 👏👏👏 #HailtheBail 🚀 3mo
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RamsFan1963
Hotel Andromeda | Jack L. Chalker
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Pickpick

23/100 First of all, ignore Litsy's description of this book, it's totally wrong. I've given them the correct one but they have never changed it. Anyway, what this book is about is the Hotel Andromeda, a space station located in the hub between many alien and human civilizations. A collection of short stories, mostly humorous, about the employees and the visitors to the station. 3 ⭐⭐⭐💫 #Read2025

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RamsFan1963
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Here are the choices for March's #ClassicLSFBC selection:
A Princess of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs
Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke
The Weapon Shops of Isher - A.E. van Vogt
The Eyes of Heisenberg - Frank Herbert
It's a very unusual and wide ranging selection. Voting is open from today until Sunday, to give people more time to chose. I'll announce the choice on Monday 03/03. As always, the book with the second most votes will be April's choice

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RamsFan1963
Rat Queens Vol. 3 | Kurtis J. Wiebe
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Pickpick

22/100 The change of art was jarring at first, but the style grew on me. It's really the story that keeps me coming back, the Rat Queens are quiet a bunch of fantastic characters. Here we delved into Hannah past, why she was expelled from the mage school and more of her dark past. I didn't like the ending, but I'm sure it will be fixed in future volumes. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

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RamsFan1963
Green Arrow: Quiver | Kevin Smith
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HA!! I knew he was still alive!! After the Crisis Event, Ollie changed his name and moved from Star City to Los Angeles, where he joined a prestigious law firm to continue his fight for justice! It's almost time for Suits: LA (aka The Further Adventures of Oliver Queen) to begin.
#GreenArrow

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RamsFan1963
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Is it just me, or is anyone else distressed at the news that Amazon is taking creative control of the James Bond movie series? Barbara Broccoli & Michael G. Wilson, who have guided the series, will be kept as "consultants" but the real power is Amazon's. The idea of Jeff Bezos and Amazon picking the next actor to play Bond turns my stomach. I don't care if he's black or white, male or female, but he/she should definitely be British!!

RamsFan1963 UGH!! There is an article online about the Amazon take over of James Bond, and they're talking about Amazon's plans to expand the JB "universe" to be similar to the MCU and Star Wars franchise. That has watered down and mediocre movies written all over it!! 3mo
dabbe Bezos is trying to own the world. 😱 3mo
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TheBookgeekFrau Just another reason to loathe Amazon 3mo
RamsFan1963 @Susanita Its Inconceivable!! 🤣🤣🤣 IYKYK 3mo
julesG You forgot Lazenby, who's Australian; and Brosnan is Irish. BUT I totally agree. 3mo
RamsFan1963 @julesG I guess what I should have said was please don't have him played an American actor. I personally want Henry Cavill, but I know the chances of that happening are almost Zero 3mo
DogMomIrene @RamsFan1963 I have mixed feelings about Disney owning Star Wars. That‘s a fandom I was invested in as a kid. MCU and 007 I watch on the side. Disney watering down SW = 1000% I started watching the baby Yoda series and I noped out. But Rogue One may be my favorite SW movie ever. And I don‘t think Lucas would have ever gotten around to telling that story. I do wonder if there‘s another Rogue One quality production in Disney🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo
lauraisntwilder @DogMomIrene Have you watched the Andor series on Disney+? 3mo
lauraisntwilder There was a rumor, years ago, about Idris Elba as Bond. I wish that had happened. Amz taking over just means I'll never see it. 3mo
Kristin_Reads Oh no. 3mo
AnishaInkspill I thought they now owned MGM? If they do maybe it's first of the many 3mo
RamsFan1963 @AnishaInkspill Yes Amazon does own MGM, and MGM has distribution rights to the James Bond series, but now Amazon is about to control how the movies are made, not just as a studio distributing the film. I'm sure the next Bond won't have an evil, bald, billionaire, trying to take over the world as its antagonist. That would be a little too on the nose. It will be evil Union organizers trying to destroy capitalism. 3mo
DogMomIrene @lauraisntwilder I haven‘t, but I‘m over here all 🤔🤓🤩 I actually forgot about it, probably because there is so much SW noise on Disney+. I‘m guessing you mentioned it because it‘s a good one. If it is, I‘ll add it to my Disney+ list for the next time I rotate into that subscription, which is great. I usually like to have 4-6 programs or movies that I know I want to see before I switch subscriptions🙌🏼 3mo
lauraisntwilder @DogMomIrene I think you'd probably like it. My husband loved Rogue One and thought Andor was great. I enjoyed it, too, but it's definitely on the darker/sadder end of the SW spectrum. It's about Cassian Andor from Rogue One (set beforehand, obviously). 3mo
DogMomIrene @lauraisntwilder Ohh thank you! That actually sounds right up my alley👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3mo
MemoirsForMe 😱😱😱 3mo
The_Book_Ninja He needs to look like Hoagy Carmichael 3mo
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