Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do: Jeet Kune Do Techniques and Fighting Strategy

Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do: Jeet Kune Do Techniques and Fighting Strategy by Sam Fury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recived a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection to Sam Fury or Diana Mangoba.

I really enjoyed this book and it very concentrated and informative. I the Sam Fury and Diana Mangoba have down really well in this book is Bruce Lee's idea about making the Martial art its own. I have read other book by Bruce's student that held the man in such high regards that they saw Jeet Kune Do as Bruce Lee's art (which it 100% is), but everything had to be done the way Bruce did it. This to me actually goes against the whole principle of JKD, as it is about personalising the Martial art and it's techniques to yourself. There are very few people as physically and mentally gifted as Bruce Lee, and he made based this art and his personal fighting style on what worked and highlighted what he was best at. So if something worjs better for me why unlearn what I am good at to copy another person's style which does not play to my strengths. Bruce himself said

"Take what is useful, disguard what is not"

The authors of this simple put it as
"What works for you, might not work for me".

The other one of Bruce's principle that this books gets over very well is to keep things simple. JKD is based on fewer techniques but doing them well another Bruce quote (not in this book), is

"I do not fear a man who knows 1000 kicks, but the man who has practiced a kick 1000 times".

To this end the book keeps shows a few simple techniques, with easy to follow instructions and illustration. The book does also have a few simple drills. I also like the way that different techniques from different martial arts are blended together.

This is a short, simple, but informative and I think true to Bruce Lee's original principles in creating JKD as well as adding the authors own ideas and experiences. A very enjoyable and practical book.

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20 Diamond Rules for Ultimate Well-being

20 Diamond Rules for Ultimate Well-being by Ashraf Haggag
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I have no connection to Ashraf Haggag.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a short but straight to the point. I might be biased as many of the points in this book, are very much in line with my own way of thinking. It was great to have many of them reaffirmed and made me look at things in a slightly different way.

The message of each of the 20 rules might be simple, but that is why they are so effective. I also like the fact the Ashraf discusses a practical method of how to achieve each rule. Then at the end of every chapter he add famous quotes for each rules.

This is a great book, with a great message. It is simple and effective. Short but straight to the point. It reminds me of SMART targets. Specific, Measurable, Agreeded upon, Realisable, Time bases. Everyone of these rules falls into these categories which makes them so effective.

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Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing by Moses Guru
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy if this book in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection to Moses Guru.

I really liked this book. Moses Guru presents facts in a great conversational manner making the easy to remember. The only one thing I did not like is I think the book was too biased in one direction. This was the vegan point of view. As a meat eater I would have like someone to show all thing in moderation would have been a better way to go.

What was brought up is even vegans do need certain supplements in their diet. I did like the that exercise in conjunctor with diet is needed to maintain a healthy life style, but I don't think enough was made of this point.

A good book full of useful facts, with great conversations and easy flow writing. This my personal opinion I prefer people to write the way they speak. Maybe that makes me weird but I like it. Another thing that I was a little disappointed about was I did not get more insight into who Moses Guru (The character) actually is, especially from the last chapter of the last book. However a very good read.

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The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman

The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman by Liam Sharp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Was a bit disappointed in this book. There were good parts to it but I think it could have been a out better. The art work is good, it actually grew on me the more as the book went on. The story is ok. I did like the Irish fairy tale feel of the story, and I liked. I do like when an author brings their cultural background into a story, though many of the characters did look more Scottish to me then Irish.

The part I think did let the story down us that it was pretty slow then rushed to the point that I felt things were left out. I was also very disappointed by the final battle. The thing a few more pages on these parts were needed.

All in all an ok story and possible a start/setup for more to come. Good artwork. Though I would have liked to have slightly smaller panels if it freed up more pages to fill up gaps in the story.

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The Man of Steel

The Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Wow, what did Superman do to upset Bendis. Ok I will admit I am not a Superman fan, but I got hooked by the hype of Michael Bendis writing Superman. Unfortunately this book just reinforced my opinion of Sups, but even I felt sorry for the "Man of Steel". Short of what the Joker did to him in Injustice this total dismemberment of every aspect of Superman's life is pretty much all he need for a villain turn.

3 major event are happening devouring Metropolis and especially Superman. His life professional and personal is wrecked. There is a mysterious arsonist on the loose, and the main villain with a goal to destroy the whole Kryptonian race. This is another thing I did not like this guy had Superman at his mercy a number of times but just left him there. I also did not like the way the stories were drawn out all of this could have been done in half the number of issues.

I don't think I will be back to see where this run goes. Very disappointing after all the hype.

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Vortex Control Self-Defense: Hand to Hand Combat Training Manual

Vortex Control Self-Defense: Hand to Hand Combat Training Manual by Sam Fury
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I have no connection to Sam Fury.

This is a good and easy to read book, with good illustrations to help with illustrate the techniques.

The problem I had with the book is the whole thing us based very much on Wing Chun. This for people who have some experience of this art form. It might be too complicated for people without that experience simply looking for self defence techniques. My other problem is especially towards the end of the book there are a lot of lock and even a choke. Now as good as any book is locks should never be practices straight out of a book, also I do not think that are the most efficient method of self defence as they only work 50% of the time anyway. Chokes should never be practices without an experienced instructor present. This is because you could practice them just the position and they will not be effect if used, or you can squeeze too hard and injure your partner. Also all the illustrations show the attacker coming from a Wing Chun starting position. This is not likely in an attack format.

I wish more of the book was like the first chapter I though that was the most geared to effective self defence. This is a great into to Wing Chun but I don't think it is the most efficient yo self defence.

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Batman: Sins of the Father

Batman: Sins of the Father by Christos Gage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not think I would but I really did like this book. Not the Batman I am used to used to. Actually it pretty much was the Batman and Gotham City I was used to the difference was in the Wayne family. Thomas Wayne was not the pillar of Gotham he was portrayed to be. In this world he was more of a monster then the people Bruce has dedicated his life to taking down.

I did not like the art work, but it grew on me as the story progressed. The story was actually well done. The only think I really did not like was Bruce Wayne could not have made it more obvious that he was Batman. This was on the same level as Clark and his glasses as a disguise as Superman. That is the only reason I took away a star.

In this story Batman was done spot on. His planning, precision and his dedication to justice. I even liked the way Bruce was continually trying to make amends for his father. Now he is faced with his dark reflection.

An awesome story of breaking the cycle. With a couple of silly mistakes otherwise it would have been perfect.

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Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha!

Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha! by Akira Toriyama
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a lot better then I thought a bit shorter then I thought as well. I would you have given this 3.5 stars, but I thought it deserved a round up rather then down. Except for one thing.

A Dragonball super-fan finds himself in the body of his faverite but underwhelming character. He know Yamcha's potential is limited, and not with a memorable ending. Can he change things?

All in all a good "What If" style story. A bit on the short side, but the actual thing that annoyed me the most about this was they rushed and forwarded through the fights. That is the only reason I had to take an extra star off. A pretty good idea thought.

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A Flight of Broken Wings

A Flight of Broken Wings by Nupur Chowdhury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I have no connection to Nupur Chowdhury.

I very good book. An excellent story, it started a bit slow but this changed in the second half of the book. I wish there was a bit more action in the book, but I do see that Nupur chose story over action and I believe this was the correct choice.

The main character Ruban is not so much likable but I do like his development through out the book. I think giving characters their own issues to deal with and overcome makes the more of a hero.

The side characters are there for support and do their jobs, but do not add a great deal to the story. One thing I did really like about Nupur's writing was the way she added her own cultural references to the book. I always like when an author does this, it adds a bit authenticity to the book.

The story. 600 years ago humanity defeated an immortal race called the Aeriels. Now to them the only good Aeriel is a dead Aeriel. However the Aeriels have not been idle, and with their immortality they are in for the long haul. Though are all the Aeriels the same?

This is a great story, a little slow to begin with, but that is more to do with empire building. I would be interested to see what happens next or more of Nupur's writings.

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Hunt for Wolverine

Hunt for Wolverine by Charles Soule
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An ok comic collection. Working towards the Return of Wolverine.

The story begins with an attempt to steal Wolverine's body. However the X-Men have a secret, yet even they are in for a surprise.

So what has happened was his body taken for nefarious purposes? Or did he just get up and walk away? This is Woverine after all, and in any case how. That is what 4 different teams set out to find out.

The first team is lead by Daredevil. This is a part I really did not understand. Out of all the chacters in the book this team has the least to do with Wolverine. Daredevil himself is not know as an investigator. He does the smart thing and and gets a couple. However only one person on this team has anything of a connection to the man himself. Ok story 3 stars.

The the second team are Logan's former colleagues in the New Avengers, who made a promise of him. A good but sort of long winded story. Probably because the characters involved my faverite of the four.

The next team are the people who hate Wolverine/Logan the most they are looking to bury him. Yet are they falling into a trap themselves. I found this story a bit of a waste and dull really. 2 Stars.

The X-Women are traveling to the Island of adventure to find any clue to Wolverine but run into their own trouble. 3 Stars.

Then the wrap up and extracts of Marvel Legecy 1. I left the book more confused then I started it. Never a good sign. What worries me is they have 400 pages to get the setup done the actual return issues is 5 issues, they are going that to rush through the what's and how's plush deal with the return in a much smaller issue. I would say unless you are a huge X fan go straight for the return. Possible the New Avengers story but I would not recommend it to people looking for answers.

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Batman: The Dark Prince Charming

Batman: The Dark Prince Charming by Enrico Marini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great story and art work, more of an adult Batman story. Which I think is great and I this there were more like this.

The only thing I did not really love about this was I think in the story Batman was written a bit too sloppy. This could be explained because he is angry so he makes mistakes. I also do not like how obvious the make the similarities better Bruce and Batman.

This is a great Batman story with much more adult theme and artwork. All this fits the story perfectly. I would give this 4.5 if the characters were a bit close to there cores this would have been perfect. Though this an international take on Batman so even thst I can understend. Definitely worth a read.

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Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7)

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had impossibly high hopes for this book. I make no secret that this is my faverite book series. Yet somehow every book just seemed to get better then the last. Could SJM possible do it again. Yes she can, and she did. Wow what an epic finale.

The book is a perfect length, though close to a thousand pages not a single line is wasted. Every possible loose end is tied up. Every hint or hidden story leads to this masterpiece.

The story is awesome, the character development and use is unreal. Every characters' moderation and reasoning is spot on. Every character has something to contribute. However we still know who the hero of the series is.

Action, adventure, suspense, and such intense emotion evoking writing. This could not have been done better. As made as o was for having to wait a extra couple of years for this book to come out it was worth the wait. I cannot find a single negative thing to say about thus book. Except the series is over. Though I think almost any surviving characters are good enough to have their own book (hint/begging).

Aelin/Celaena is my faverite female character of all time. Strong, deadly, intelligent and most of all she "will not yield". I love that quote and I honestly do not think it can be applied better to any other character.

This is an awesome finale to the most awesome series, after reading that all other game of thrones are secondary. "The Queen that was promised" delivers big time.

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