Rick Gualtieri

Rating: 2.5* of five, all for "Ajax"

The Publisher Says: What do umbrellas, mutants, dead plumbers, and of course Pop-Tarts have to do with each other? Nothing really. However, they're all things that the author thinks about...A LOT. Take a journey down this path and see how all of the above, plus a bunch of other topics, make their twisted sense to the author.

The Poptart Manifesto is 13 short stories of weird thoughts coupled with slightly out of the ordinary events that are sure to make you show more think. Or not. But they might, just might, give you a chuckle or two.

RECOMMENDED BY A FRIEND. I WANT THAT 99¢ BACK.

My Review: Tediously adolescent humor. Maybe I'm just an old picklepuss now, but I really expect more from someone whose SF series, The Tome of Bill, is best-selling and much beloved.

"The Poptart Manifesto," the title story, is just tiresome as this weedy dweeb waxes lyrical about the Pop-Tart to his girlfriend. "Cork Quest" reminded me, as the narrator searches for a corkscrew across the whole of Manhattan, that straight guys were never weaned.

Seriously...breasts are there to feed babies (whether they're ever used that way or not). That's what they do. "Wedding Belles" was where I realized that, if things didn't turn around soon, I was gonna have to bail...guy shares room with hot girl, brags all over a wedding about it, and her boyfriend takes umbrage. Ha ha ha. "Ajax: Slayer of Trojans, Destroyer of Grease Stains" was better, a little redemption for the modest and the overlooked is always welcome. "The Epic Adventure of the Mighty Adventurers," however, swung the sledgehammer onto the last inch of the collection's coffin nail: Ready Player One meets Catcher in the Rye if written by P.J. O'Rourke. Tries for witty, achieves snarky.

I might've been less irked by the mismatch of my taste and the author's if he'd used a style sheet and hired a proofreader. "Then" ≠ "Than" ever. show less

Is there anything that's more fun than reading about unconventional vampires? Well, maybe there is. But this was good fun, too. Don't expect sparkles when you read about Bill and his coven, but do expect to laugh out loud. This is the second book of The Tome of Bill series and it was just as entertaining as the first. Possibly even more so, because by now, I was invested in some of the characters and was able to make bets with myself about what would happen next. Of course, I was often show more wrong, because Bill is anything but predictable. I will continue this series, even though it isn't my usual fare. Why? It's fun. I recommend it.. show less

This is not a book that I would typically choose. I am not much of a fan of Vampire reads...
I overindulged years ago with a series of books by a different author. So, why did I pay actual
money to read a book that I wouldn't choose?

Twitter.

This book was hilarious. It was a good fun read for a nice stormy afternoon. ( who knew it
was accompanied by ambiance. The interwebs are fabulous, don't you think?) Anyway. I
downloaded the book and rather doggedly proceeded to the first few sentences. The show more feeling
was more determination than anticipation, you know? Anyway.. onward. I wanted to read it
and move on to other things. But something strange happened. I found myself trying to read
while I ate, and while I was on the phone. I didn't want to put it down. Determination was long
gone, I just wanted to see what happened next.

Bill, ( the Vampire) cracked me up. He did remind me of someone, and that might have been
what kept me going through the first chapter, and it definitely added to my reading pleasure as
tore through the rest of the book. I always like to thank an author who has provided me with a
good read, so hey.. Bill! I mean Rick! This was fun. Thank you !

I will have to read the next one. Resistance is futile, that is clear... show less

Night Razor, Dr. Death and Dusk Reaper walk in to a bar...
I picked up this book because it was offered at 99 cents. And because of the review that said this book is a good "brain-scrub" after reading a less good book. It worked. This book was easy to get into and it was a very quick read. It was fun to read many of the pop culture references, reminding me that I'm a geek and a movie buff too.
What does my 3-star rating mean then? It means I really enjoyed the book, but it'll fade from my show more mind relatively fast. The characters are quite one-sided and seem to have a similar personality. They all have fast come-backs, sharp sarcasm and smugness. A little more difference between characters would be appreciated.
That said, I've already picked up the next book in the series and I'm about to start reading more about what Bi.. sorry, Dr. Death gets up to. show less