Joe's Notes

Welcome!

This is my blog and I do whatever I want here. I write my thoughts about things and short stories, I take photos, and have lots of book reviews. Make sure to check out the PRODUCTS page to order your edgy t-shirts or the PRINTS page to get prints of my photography! Use the search bar at the bottom of this page to discover more posts. Use the ARCHIVE page to see all my posts. Categorical searches will also yield good results for those who want more of a specific group of posts such as “Photo Journal” or “Book Review”. Check out the OLD BLOG for over 270 posts that go back to 2010 and get your PRINTS at the Prints Store!

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Top 5 Books of 2025

December 28, 2025 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fantasy, Fiction, Reccomendations, Reviews, Top Five, Western

I read some books this year. Here are my favorites!

Book Review: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

November 03, 2025 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fiction

I would recommend Anansi Boys to younger readers who are interested in a fun adventure through a world of mythology placed in a modern setting. I would also recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Neil Gaiman’s other titles.

Book Review: Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman

October 02, 2025 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fiction, Reccomendations, Sci-Fi, Gaming

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario was a ton of fun, and if you liked Dungeon Crawler Carl, you will want to continue to series. I feel like there is no turning back on this fun story, and I will have to continue reading the series to find out what happens next. The characters continue to develop, and my attachment to them continues to evolve. I highly recommend these books, and I’m excited to get into the next one soon.

Book Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

December 13, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fiction, Sci-Fi, Reviews, Reccomendations

Hijinks ensue and mysteries abound in this exciting and witty adventure in the high space seas. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a must-read for anyone who enjoys quirky characters, sci-fi shenanigans, and humorous turns of phrases.

Book Review/Rebuttal: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

November 13, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review, Fiction, Philosophy

It's not that I don't recommend this book or that it doesn't offer a philosophical perspective that warrants review. It is worth reading but it fails to persuade as it offers only a simplified and narrow perspective of human behavior. It requires a wholesale acceptance of its premises and provides little in the way of relevant counterarguments. Ishmael by Daniel Quinn is written well and is narrated masterfully by Anthony Heald in the Audible version I listened to. When engaging with this book I recommend being aware of its rhetorical tactics and remaining skeptical of its biased perspective.

New Book Review YouTube Channel!

September 29, 2024 by Joe Gray in Book Review

I decided to start posting video book reviews on YouTube! The channel’s name is Fictional Fracas because I like alliteration and I’m clever. Use the links below to check it out and if you like it make sure to like and subscribe and share and love and comment and click stuff and tell people!