77.
Title: [The Perfect Gentleman: the Pursuit of Timeless Elegance and Style in London]
Author: James Sherwood
Genre: Fashion History
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: August something, 2016
Rating: ****

The introduction to The Perfect Gentleman develops a personal narrative which clearly situates the subject of the volume with the author's own experiences and romanticization of his subject (which is not, I should clarify, a criticism of the author or his text, but rather a recognition of a personal investment which often seems to drive fashion historians). Recognizing the role of materiality and commercialization in the establishment and maintenance of the identity of a British gentleman, Sherwod offers in his volume a series of brief histories of accouterments now closely aligned with the social role, so as to be indistinguishable from the signified. Though Sherwood asserts that the text is academic - and no doubt his research itself was an academic endeavor - the volume produced is much more of a fleshy coffee-table book - a collection of stories and histories interesting to fashion enthusiasts, but not deeply academic or useful for true research. Thus, it illustrates, but does not advance, the field.  I loved the trivia it offers, such as the origins of the expression "mad hatter," but theses stories are more delightful quips than actually useful to the project at hand. Still, if you're interested in gloves and hats and tobacco, and just why certain brands are associated with high class gender construction, this is a fun book to pour over. Recommended for pleasure, but not research.

78.
Title: [Suicide Squad: The Nighshade Odyssey]
Author: John Ostrander, Luke McDonnell, Bob Lewis
Genre: Comic
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: September 2, 2016
Rating: **

The Suicide Squad is built on the premise, as Amanda Waller is so fond of repeating, that its members are expendable; criminals are sent on dangerous missions of questionable integrity by a manipulative government, upon which relies their freedom and their lives. Literally sent to die in some cases, they fight not for integrity or a sense of right and wrong (despite the assertions of their "leader," who is given a cheap form of guilt morality), but for a chance to escape confinement, or to win aid in unfortunate personal trials. The premise itself remains intriguing, as it brings into question the assertion of villainous identities - who is named a villain, who names villains, and who can really determine what is "right" - but the second volume clearly believes its characters are just as expendable as Waller asserts. Without characterization, without any level of humanity, without any interest these blank humanoid figures are sent out and recalled, fight and share horrible snippets of melodramatic dialog, perhaps with a moment of personal angst from a figure or two. They are, nearly to a one, nothing, and there is very little to engage the reader. I'm actually glad now that the series has caught popular attention, because it means DC will take the property more seriously, and therefore produce stronger books with a great idea.