About Parka Blogs

July 6, 2009 by Parka

Where did Parka Blogs come from?
Parka's my online alias. And "blogs" is to actually to represent writing.

Is this your full time job?
Nope. I work as an artist for a newspaper.

Why do you do art book reviews?
I'm just trying to help people like me, people who want to buy art books but have no idea what's inside.

Most of the my local bookshops here have their books wrapped. There are even shop assistants who refuse to unwrap for a preview when asked. That's just ridiculous.

My goal is not just to introduce good art books to everyone, but also to let people know which bad ones to keep away from.

Do you own all the books you review?
Most of the books are bought. I also borrow a lot of books from friends. These books are expensive. It's quite impossible to own them all, although every time when I'm at the bookshop, I think to myself, "I must own them all".

Sometimes there are publishers and artists who mail me their books.

What's your art book preference?
Mostly art books relating to animation, movie and comics.

How much have you spent on the books?
Let's just say "lots".

I've published an art book. Can you review it for me?
First of all, your book must be art related, preferably to animation, movies or comics.

If you're willing to mail a complimentary copy to me, I can review and promote it on the blog for free. No promises on a positive review though. I've actually given a very negative review for a book someone mailed me. Sorry, I can't help it if it's really bad.

Can you review a particular art book for me?
I'll try but no promises there. Alternatively, you can ask at the forums and see if any readers pick up your request.

Are the reviews biased?
I spend real money on the books. If they are not worth the money, you'll know. Besides, I've posted enough pictures to show.

I noticed you give a lot of 5-stars to books on Amazon. Seriously? Are they all that good?
Well, the books are that good, but only for a particular group of readers. Just because I like a particular book doesn't mean it will appeal to everyone. I normally state the group of readers who will enjoy it most.

Can you scan the pages of a particular art book for me?
No. It violates the Copyright law.

I always try to keep the number of pages featured around 5% of the total number of pages. If you notice, most of the time, the pages are cropped off, same as the video.

The authors and artists have spent great effort for the books. It is cool to support them if you like their work.

Hey! I bought a book through your Amazon links. Did you get the commission?
I sure did, or at least I think I did. Thanks for the support! I use the money to fund the blog and organize contests.

What are the other ways to support Parka Blogs?
You can contribute by submitting your own art book reviews, and even win prizes for that.

The other way is to link to Parka Blogs from your website. With more readers, I can organize more contests.

How can I contact you?
Just email me at

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