The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook by Alan Lee

"A beautifully illustrated and also fun and informative look behind the scenes of Lee's artistic process while he helped bring Middle-earth to life. Covering Peter Jackson's films and an illustrated edition of Tolkiens' novels, every single page in this book was stunning."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pros: The artwork, obviously/Lee’s narrative is educational and fun/The memories he shares show just how much work everyone put into these monumental films.

Cons: Non-Fiction can get a little dry at times but honestly, Lees' writing flowed pretty well overall/There were parts of the books that he mentioned that I wasn't familiar with so I had trouble picturing them but that just gives me more reason to go back and read the series again 🙌.

Full Review:

The look into the mind of an artist was a very unique and fun way to explore Middle-earth. Lee explained his process. How instead of lists, he sketches out little thumbnails of what he'll draw first. And thus began our adventure in the Shire, of course, concerning Hobbits.

We get to watch the evolution of a Hobbit and then, in the footsteps of Frodo, we follow the path of the Fellowship. Every location, from Bree to Rivendell, all the way to the Black Gate of Mordor, is drawn in intricate, all-encompassing, beautiful detail. Lee made every single place mesmerizing and unique. Even his barest sketches were jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Comments

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end." ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific. Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd. Full Review: Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...

The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore

"Though dark, disturbing and at times, truly disgusting, Blakemore has created an unforgettable character in Tarare and his sad, sordid tale. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for many different reasons and to me, that's a sign of a great read." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Tarare wasn't a monster, it just seemed that the world was against him/I liked Lozeau and his strange band of misfits/Dr. Dupuis seemed like a genuinely good person, or at least, he had his moments. Cons: Some of the timeline/people of the French Revolution were just white noise to me/Courville was a despicable man. Full Review: The Bottomless man, the Glutton of Lyon, Tarare the Terrible. The man who has many titles but who's name is simply, Tarare, is dying in a hospital in Versailles. Citizen Doctor Tissier has written to his friend, Dupuis, in hopes that he'll be able to cure this mysterious illness that plagues Tarare. For now though, he lays, chained to his bed and waits for...

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars. Pros: Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place. Cons: The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact. Full Review: When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...

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