The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First, this book is meaningless without reading the series in order. This could be read alone, but there is so much that bleeds from the last book, 5 books ago, 10 books ago, etc. that this entry will make far less sense.

As I’ve read these in order over the past three years (With hundreds of other books interspersed in between), I’ve wondered when i would wrap it all. Aiming for the 3 year anniversary August 22nd.
In that three years I’ve more and more enjoyed the romps through Pickax than any other series I’ve read. Hope to find another so intriguing and fun.

This next to last entry is more visiting with fictitious friends, felines and families of Pickax. Much has occurred in between novels. Significant alterations in Pickax life is written here.
These books started as a mystery series. As the series as gone on, the series has become more of a 400 Miles North of Everywhere soap opera. A soap opera I don’t mind reading.
Though, there are a few troubles in the book.

As with the last couple books, there is significant repetition of situation in this book.
Also, with the thought others were writing these last few, I noted sentences and paragraphs that are reminiscent of ones found in earlier books. Was this Braun losing new ways to write or ghost writers swiping from other books? Apparently, the publisher is not talking.

Something I also noticed in this book is a significant mark of empathy of Qwilleran. In other books close friends die and he is written as carrying on without a care. In this one he is written to mourn of the four deaths of folks close to him that occur in this book.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 5 out of ten points.

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Kodocha: Sana’s Stage, Vol. 01 by Miho Obana
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Note: As I continue to create comics, I’m trying to slip in comic trade paperback material.

This is such simplistic, poorly rendered, plotted and laid out book, that I wonder how it got produced. Was this originally 3 times the size and reduced to the typical manga trade paperback size? The type is at times so tiny, eye strain should be anticipated.

The plot weaknesses should have been noted to the writer to clean up before publication. The streamlining of a large amount of repetition of dialogue and situations could’ve aided the written problems here.

The artistic problems are, again, the faulty of an editor that should’ve flagged poor story layouts that should’ve been noticed in the thumbnail stage.
The artist did negotiate the repetition well be not drawing the same drawings of repeated scenes.

Characters are stereotypical and the story is much the same.
Drawings of characters are unoriginal. Typical absence of setting is a significant setback.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.

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August 2nd was Watermelon Day and something got me thinking of Tarzan.
Thus, the drawing made up as I drew last week.

Felt marker on sketch paper.
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#Art #Srawing #LiveArt #Watermelons #Cartoons #Cartooning #CartoonArt

In 2013 there was a celebration of, legendary cartoonist, mainstay of MAD magazine & friend, Jack Davis.
I was very fortunate to be invited to be part of the multi-day event that took place on St. Simons Island, Georgia.

The memories of the event, just for me, will last a lifetime. Various public events and then some personal ones. I’ll never forget time at the Davis house with Jack and his wife Dena.

In 2015 I penciled, inked and watercolored this 19″ by 12″ anniversary card.
It was for a Marion County employee who had, at the time, served 30 years. I related well to this, as this would’ve been the same year i would’ve celebrated 30 years if I had stayed with the City of Orlando.
The subject was part of a philosophy discussion group that I was a part of and existed at the time.
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#Caricatures #Cartoon #Art #Artwork #Draw #Drawing #Paint #Painting #Watercolor

Realized I’d forgotten her name. Finally remembered this is Robin Reeves.

10 years ago I was part of a celebration of MAD cartoonist Jack Davis over on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
I was asked to speak to a Boys and Girls Club group, across the bridge, in Brunswick.
Here most of the audience poses with me near the middle.

‘Birding with Bears along the Oklawaha River’.

I had a special sale in 2015 to be able to get watercolor paintings from me for very low prices.
This is one of those.

It’s a 11″ x 14″ watercolor painting on watercolor board.
Today, I can’t remember who ordered the painting.

You can order a watercolor painting by me by sending me a message through this site or calling: (407) 880-1128.
My prices are based upon subject and time.
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#Art #Florida Art #Watercolor #Bears #BearArt #Butterflyt #Butterflies #Drawing #Draw #Paint #Painting

The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

First, this book will only be valued by those who have been reading the entire “Cat Who” series. Anyone else will be lost and bored to sleep. That’s true for most of the series.

This 27th in the series was poorly plotted and written. The narrative and dialogue reads as previous books, but the overall book reads as pieces and parts strung together with an editor not paying attention. A rush to deadline?

This the first I’e noticed stark repetitions of paragraphs from other parts of the book. There are over-long narratives from characters that are unneeded and slow down the novel.
In earlier novels there was typically a murder or two and the main character solved the murder, with aid from his cats.
In this one deaths are alluded to, motives for murder established and a strong narrative of a murderer laid out. In the end, it all added to nothing more than speculation nothing more.

Within a 10% of the book, I knew what was to occur and how. Sadly, that is what occurred. A better writer(s) would have written a better book.
The lowest of the Braun books I’ve read…so far.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.

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