Feed

Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy)*

The best horror novels are always about something else. The terror is never really in the monster, because, lets be honest here, they aren't that scary. Not many people wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat worrying about vampires, wolf-men, or zombies. People wake up in a cold sweat worrying about bio-terrorism, a collapsing economy, and losing their homes. Real monsters exist, all we need to do is turn on CNN. This is how Mira Grant (nom de plume for Seanan McGuire) is able to write a lovely political thriller disguised as a book about zombies. She has the ability to weave the two together, and, in the process, creates a heart pounding thriller that had me lugging the book everywhere with me for the past two days. I couldn't put it down.

Feed is a book that juggles knives. It mixes the perfect amount of zombies, a dash or two of campy fun, and heavy doses of chills and thrills together that creates a post apocalyptic world that's familiar and distant at the same time. In the first 50 pages she lays out a world that's either going to be immensely fun or so over the top it falls apart. She walks a razor wire between the two, showing her talent for narrative the whole way though. Her homage to George Romero's zombie movies is lovely. If imitation is a sincerer form of flattery then Grant's final few chapters of Feed should be sending a lovely basket of chocolates to Dawn of the Dead. It's not a ripoff of the movie, it's the reimagining of specific sequences that Hollywood has tried to produce but has utterly failed at creating. She channels Romero like some sort of high end psychic, but uses her own voice to tell her own story. I'd call it a love letter, but that's selling it short. Romero may have helped create the world, but Grant's creativity propels it to an area that's unexplored.

With that being said, Feed is up for a Hugo Award this year, I know I've got four other books to read, but this one is going to be hard to beat. We'll see though, I've been surprised in the past.

Next up is Cryoburn.

* Hey publishers, not that any of you even read this site, (yet) if a book is going to be the first part of a trilogy please put that shit on the COVER. One of my pet peeves is getting 3/4ths of the way though a novel and having the sinking realization that there is no way in hell the author can wrap up the story line in the remaining parts of the book. I had to begrudgingly download the second part to this series and reorder my summer reading because of that. Some of us are on a schedule. *grump*

(Image brought to you by: afeletiix) 

Criticizing Young Adult Fiction

Every few years an article like like this: Darkness Too Visible is written. (Please note the recommended books on the side bar.) It's like book critics run out of ideas, and different versions of this are trodden out to cause an argument. It's tiresome, but as always, a response is needed.

Gurdon spends a great deal of time dispatching Young Adult Fiction as being too dark and violent for young minds. It cites books like Scars as being completely inappropriate for young readers. It also ignores that the arm on the cover is that of the author, but that's a story for a different day. This article ends up being hoisted by it's own petard. The side recommendations end up making it an absolute farce. I'm going to do some reasonable comparisons.

First up, The Marbury Lens. Gurdon goes into great detail about how this is amazingly violent and has a lack of a happy ending. However, on the side bar she recommends Ship Breaker. Ship Breaker is postapocalyptic novel about kids that are forced to dig copper wiring out of ships to earn money, or, if the child decides not to do this, he or she can starve. So a violent book about a kid with glasses and no happy ending: Bad. A violet book about a postapocalyptic future where the options are dig out copper wiring or starve: Good. Lets ignore the fact that Gurdon also says that, " ... one depravity does not justify another."

Next up, Shine by Lauren Myracle. Gurdon goes into great detail about how this violent book about the savage attack on a gay teen is totally inappropriate for young readers. However, her handy dandy side bar recommends Ophelia by Lisa Klein. Where in the play Hamlet is told from the perspective said character. Spoiler Alert: Ophelia commits suicide by drowning after she goes insane.

I believe I've proved my point. Gurdon's lack of honesty about the books she recommends verses the books she criticizes is shameful. Honestly, she would have been better off criticizing the books in the article based on her own personal preference, rather than creating a ridiculous argument she can't win. The fact is, teen books are full of tragedy, darkness, and fear. They are also filled with hope, love, and the very best of images of humanity. What's taken away from them is up to the reader.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a book about zombies to finish 

(Image brought to you by: bookstorecouture) 

Watchmen

Watchmen

Watchmen is a cultural touchstone. One could say that it was the seminal work of the 80s similar to the way Wall Street (1987) and The Bonfire of the Vanities reveal the darkness of that time period. Or, one could say that Watchmen delves into the nuclear arms race and shows the absolute insanity of mutually assured destruction.  Another voice is that it's the marker where comics went from soap operas to actually being literature, Time puts it on it's list of the ALL TIME 100 Novels. Then I could dive into the philosophy of Watchmen and write a PhD dissertation about it, if I was so inclined. Watchmen is a Rorschach Test in and of itself. At it's core, the work is about growth and compromise. Every single character in this comic grows though compromise, save one, and he ends up paying the ultimate price for it.

I once had a creative writing professor tell me that all revolutionary works are told in the exact way that they need to be. She went on to say that William Carlos Williams's poem The Red Wheelbarrow:

so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens. 

is the best example of that. There is no other way to generate that mental image, and no other way to create that emotional response. Watchmen has a chapter like that. The story of Jon/ Dr. Manhattan is told in a way only a comic can produce. It's emotional, it makes me cry, and it's beautiful. It also takes the comic from a dark and brooding political statement to something quite different. It rockets the book past being an ordinary  and into a unique space. There's a reason this book is now taught in some mainstream literature classes. It can hold it's own next to the likes of Hemingway and Thoreau.

I couldn't have picked a better comic to end graphic novel month. Throughout the last few weeks I think I've brought to light that comics are not just for super heroes. In 26 days I've read 15 books (that averages out to .57 a day) so you'll pardon me if I'm a tad on the crispy side. Next up, I plan on reading the Hugo nominees for 2011. In July, I plan on not only book blogging, but adding in some commentary. I feel like that has been a missing piece to all of this.

Next book is Feed by Mira Grant.

OH! I almost forgot.... watch this.... :)

(Image brought to you by: sabeth718) 

Link Round Up from 06/18/2011 to 06/25/2011

It's link round up time! I love this part of the week.

A Father-Daughter Reading Streak Lasts Nearly 9 Years. This story made me cry a bit. I love it when parents read to their children.

Pottermore is up and running. It looks like it's a fan world for the Harry Potter books. Also, I understand that Rowling is going to do e-books for the series. This pleases me.

Louisa Thomas discovered her grandfather's World War 2 memoir. It wasn't very good, but it taught her more than she could have ever expected: Sometimes Memoirs, Especially by Our Own Kin, Tell Us More Than They Intend.

NPR's audience picked the 100 Best Beach Books Ever. There is a lot of fun fiction on this list. Great light summer reading.

Boing Boing discovered mean things authors say about each other. Truman Capote's quote made me giggle.

Three Guys One Book published DH’s Ten Cardinal Rules of Book Blogging. I'll do a write up about this over July 4th weekend. Some of this I agree with, some of it I don't.

Free Books For Kids Now Also Available In Braille.

Penguin Books released an On The Road App. If anyone has an iPad and has downloaded it let me know what you think of it. If book sellers are going to do this with classics I may save up for the iPad.

Here's a Literature Map that is a fun time suck.

NPR tells the story of Bedtime Stories, From A Dad In Afghanistan. Another story that makes me a little misty.

Finally, if you miss the smell of newspaper there's a $65 (!) candle for that.

(Image brought to you by: glcc_writer)

Castle Waiting (Vol. 2)

Castle Waiting #02

This, by far, has been the most infuriating experience out of all the books I've read this month. Castle Waiting is such a good series, but something is wrong. The second book starts out much like the first with beautiful illustrations and a wonderful story, but at chapter three the whole damn book changes. The lettering in the thought balloons switches fonts, the layout goes from six panel to four, and the illustrations lost some of their luster. So, dear readers, I put on my investigative hat and got to work.

The cover of the second volume is notably different than the first.  Linda Medley's name was removed. She had it placed on a sticker on the back. Oddly, Medley's website has been down since sometime in 2003, so I've not been able to find a public comment about it.  Then, I found this post on Amazon by the publisher. According to Wikipedia and other comic sources Medley has decided to take a break from the series. I don't know if this was her decision, or she was forced due to a publishing contract. Either way, it's a complete shame. The second installment ends in the middle of a vital story line, and I would, as well as many others, would like to know how things get resolved. I'll put out Google Alert for new installments, but I'm not holding out much hope. The last comic in this series was published in 2001, so it may never happen.

Now, dear readers, I am coming to an end to graphic novel month. Honestly, this has been some of the most intense reading I've done since college. I'm feeling burned out. Don't worry, I'll compose my thoughts in a post once I'm done with Watchmen.

(Image brought to you by: Howard Somerville)

Persepolis

Persepolis

When I reread the biography of Marjane Satrapi I realized, quite by accident, that it was the 2nd anniversary of Sea of Green (If you click that link the image is going to be very VERY graphic.) Two years ago Iran exploded in a new wave of protests against their current presidential election. Citizens took to the streets, and the Iranian regime cracked down. Hard. People were shot, bloggers and journalists were jailed, and yet the people still protested. A Google search will yield more information on this subject that I can put on one small blog, so if this topic piques interest, go read about it.

Circling back around Satrapi's books about her childhood in Iran are genera transcending works of non-fiction. Persepolis gives a perspective on growing up in Iran after 1979 revolution.  Her secular parents initially supported the revolution, but after it became clear that it had be hijacked by religious extremists their world changed. Satrapi was forced to go to school veiled, and her classes were divided by gender. After a while it became clear to her parents that she could no longer live in Iran, so at 14 she was shipped off to live in Vienna. The story continues from there, but I'm not going to spoil it. 


This book also has the rare and notable exception of having a fantastic film adaptation. Most book to film aren't worth the celluloid or the time.

Next up is the second installment of Castle Waiting. After that I'm going to read Watchmen. Then, dear readers, I'm done with graphic novel month.

(Image brought to you by: thealleged) 

July Reading List

I've decided that July will be the month where I read all the novels nominated for a Hugo Award. Past winners include: Ender's Game, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, American Gods, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, and The City & the City. I highly recommend all of these books. In fact, the above list would make a great summer reading list.

Anyway, here are the 2011 Hugo Award Nominees:

Blackout by Connie Willis

Cryoburn by Lois M Bujold

The Dervish House by Ian Mcdonald

Feed by Mira Grant (Mira Grant is a nom de plume, when searching for other books by this author use Seanan McGuire as well.)*

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin

I'm going to start with Feed because it's been sitting on my bookshelf, taunting me, for weeks. It's taken everything in me to avoid reading it. Also, you have absolutely NO idea how excited I am that the Hugo Award nominees are almost entirely women. It makes my smile.

*Feed by Mira Grant is not to be confused with Feed by M. T. Anderson. However, pick up the Anderson novel. It's YA cyberpunk. Very quick and good read.

(Image brought to you by: managements)

In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood

For better or for worse Truman Capote started America's love affair with modern true crime in In Cold Blood. Writing the seminal work in the genera Capote weaves fiction story telling techniques with non-fiction journalism to create a blood chilling story of how two murders were found and executed for their slaughter of the Clutter family. It's a chilling book, Capote humanizes both the murders and the victims. It's less a story of shock and awe and more a story of how the senseless events happened. Though an extensive interview process, most of them conducted by Harper Lee (Yes, that Harper Lee.), a story is told that a tiny Kansas town like Holcomb was never as safe as it seemed.

While doing some background research on Capote and his novel I came across this interview. Capote talks about the book as a way for him to play with a specific literary device, and that the murders were incidental. He goes as far as saying that the murders are the least interesting part of the book. If that's true then Capote is responsible for far more that he's given credit. Non-fiction narratives by authors like Hunter S. Thompson, historical non-fiction by authors like Rick Perlstein and Manning Marable owe this book a debt. Capote primed the American conscious for their lyricism.  Either way, reading this book as straight true crime, or reading it as a way to play with narrative the book is engrossing.

Moving on, I'm back to graphic novels for the rest of the month. Next up is Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I absolutely can not wait to share this one with you.

(Image brought to you by: saporiti)

Link Round Up from 06/11/2011 to 06/18/2011

Time for one of my favorite parts of the week! If any of my dear readers have a link that they would like to see included into these round ups put it in comments.

Discovered this lovely website this week. I've got it bookmarked and will visit often: biblioklept

Judy Blume writes about being a censored author in this article: Place I Never Meant to Be. Go read it, her thoughts on the subject are amazing.

John C. Abell gives 5 Reasons Why E-Books Aren’t There Yet.

Frank Delaney is reading Ulysses one line at a time at Re: Joyce. To be very honest with everyone, this is most likely the ONLY way I'd be able to read Ulysses. I can't get though it, and I KNOW I'm not the only one.

Gone With the Wind is celebrating it's 75th anniversary  so I guess we should have 7 reasons we still give a damn about "Gone With the Wind".

Samuel L. Jackson Narrates Go the Fuck to Sleep. It's hysterical. Go listen to it. 

The website for the National Book Festival is up. I have to make it to that one day.

Library E-Book Checkouts Get a Major Boost. This is going to make my life easier. If I can download books from the library with ease it's going to be easier on my pocket book, and better for the library.

Timothy McSweeney has updated opening lines from novels. Some made me laugh so hard I snorted.

For the Harry Potter fans that read this blog this is an interesting development from J.K. Rowling: Pottermore. Could this mean that she's writing more in the Potter universe? Lets hope. That was one of the most well developed fantasy worlds since The Chronicles of Narnia.

NPR did a wonderful story on Walter Dean Myers and his relationship with his son. A Writer And His Father, And 'A Barrier Between Us'. Also, please pick up some of Myer's books. I'll post a list of his best hits at the end of this blog.

Finally, How to Drink Like Your Favorite Authors. I wouldn't recommend drinking as MUCH as a favorite author, but I would recommend F. Scott Fitzgerald's Gin Ricky. Lovely drink. Perfect for summer.

A short list of Walter Dean Myers books that should be added to the To Read List: Monster, Scorpions, and Hoops.

(I have no idea who gets photo credit for this. If, one day, I find out I'll post it.)                                  

Maus

Maus

A verbatim conversation I had about this book. Co-Worker, "Whatcha reading now?"

Me, "A comic book about the Holocaust. See, the Jews are drawn as mice, and the Germans as cats and....."

Co-worker's exact expression:         

I had no idea how concerning those words could be. To an extent Maus is a comic book about the Holocaust, but it belongs on the same literary shelf as The Diary of Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel's Night. It transcends it's genera. art spiegelman's work is so bold and innovative when it was awarded it's Pulitzer Prize the board found it intensely difficult to classify. 

As much as this comic is about the Holocaust it's far more than that. It's also a story of a son coming to terms with the fact that his father is dying, and that the difficult relationship that the two of them have had is going to end. It's part love letter and part exorcism. The demons of a difficult childhood being constantly compared to a dead brother runs though the entire work.  As tragic as this may sound it's also just as uplifting. Hope and resourcefulness, the love of spiegleman's mother and father, and their will to survive are difficult to put into words.  Words fall short in this area. I can't describe this book beyond the words I typed. The only thing I can do is beg and plead for my dear readers to buy it and experience it on their own. It's a work that creeps into the subconscious so much so, that every time I read it I find myself dreaming of mice. 

I'm going to move onto my Required Reading Revisited selection for July, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. Don't worry, I'll be back to graphic novel month once I'm done. I'm going to need a light read once this is all done. Perhaps I'll read some Astro Boy. 

(Image brought to you by: T.N.H.) 

The Mice Templar

The Mice Templar

Ever go out to a really nice restaurant, pick out the best item on the menu, take the first bite, and then a profound wave of disappointment washes over? That aptly describes my experience with The Mice Templar. The comic had everything I could ever want: epic story line, swords, betrayal, other worldly experiences, and a fantastic structure. It just fell short. I can't pinpoint where, exactly, it fell off the rails, but when I found myself yelling at the main character to stop complaining and grow a pair, I realized it wasn't going well. Imagine Luke in the first Star Wars movie, annoying, right? Now imagine him for 100 pages. Now imagine him as a mouse.

Even though the story fell flat with me, the illustrations are fantastic. The book took the classic comic style of Stan Lee and kicked it up a notch. The mice are a cross between looking cute and sweet and deadly serious. Overall, it carries the story in places where the plot can't (or won't) go. 

My next comic is Maus. This will be the last books in the rodent theme. After that I'm going to take a brief pause from graphic novels to read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. It's my duty as a book club member. 

(Image brought to you by: wonky knee) 

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

In 2008 this comic won an Eisner Award as the best book for children. After zipping though it in less than an hour I can see why. It's a combination of wonderful illustrations and an epic story line. Think of this comic like a mix between The Hobbit and  Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The two of those books, respectively, are a wonderful choice for summer reading for a child. The two combined together should make an adult map out a path to the local comic shop. This comic is still in production, and comes out on a bi-monthly basis. Most local shops will place it on a pull list if requested. I enjoyed it enough to order some more of the back issues, so I believe I'll be writing up the second book in this series by the end of next week.

The story runs in the epic fantasy realm, sentient mice battle one another to take control of a strong hold. Betrayal happens along with sword fighting, battles with large predators, and an unsolved mystery or two.  The world that the mice inhabit feels very real. The terror of being so small in a world so large extends out in every facet of the book.  The illustrations are a wonderful blend of pen and ink and watercolor. It's not a classic comic by any stretch of the imagination, it's more like reading a highly colorized novel.

The next comic, and remember dear readers we still have a rodent theme going, is The Mice Templar.

(Image brought to you by: sungazing) 

Link Round Up from 06/04/2011 to 06/11/2011

A physical archive of books is being created. Once a book is digitized libraries are throwing them out, so the lovely people at archive.org are putting the cast outs in shipping containers. Read about it here: Why Preserve Books? The New Physical Archive of the Internet Archive. 

Plausible-Seeming But Tonally Inappropriate Book Covers. Thought this was cute, my favorite is Animal Farm. 

Tea Obreht just won the Orange Prize for her novel The Tiger's Wife. She's 25. I'm going to go cry quietly in a corner. 

Playwright Albee Defends 'Gay Writer' Remarks. He wrote Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. 

I think I found the starting point for Western comics: Illustrated Police News: sensationalist 19th century crime newspaper. 

American Library Association Appeals To U.S. Senate. Please write your Senator to keep the federal funding of libraries at it's current level. Here's a link to the US Senate.  

I discovered a wonderful blog this week called MotherReader. Check it out. 

 Three Rapid Reads For The Impatient Intellectual

Amazon has it's list of the Best Books of June 

Here's the Periodic Table of Storytelling. 

Looking for summer reads? Well The Unshelved Book Club has that covered. 

Mark Siegel is using social media to raise funds for his webcomic. If you enjoy his illustrations donate on Kickstarter page: Sailor Twain, or the Mermaid in the Hudson.  

(Image brought to you by: Sunsurfer) 

Flight

Flight, Volume One

Flight, and it's subsequent volumes, of which there are now seven, are intended to be a showcase for up and coming young artists. It's an amazing anthology of short stories that are expertly edited. The art style ranges anywhere from classic comic to an amazingly beautiful collage of kites done from origami paper and other textiles. What I love about books like Flight is that it is a wonderful introduction to new authors. Vera Brosgol (She just published Anya's Ghost. It's on your to buy list, right?), Jake Parker, and Erika Moen all have short works in this book. Each have comics and illustrations that show off their amazing talents.

The comic is a quick read overall, I was able to finish it on a ten hour shift at work. It's also family friendly (Err.. to an extent. There's a sequence where a woman gives birth. She's topless. I'm not sure who gives birth with all their clothes ON, but that's beside the point.). I found myself lingering on some of the comics wishing they were expanded. I'm tempted to track down a few of the artists and demand it.

Next, I'm going to delve into the world of rodent themed comics. Yes, in the large universe of comic books there is an entire genera dedicated to mice. My first will be Mouse Guard: Fall 1152.

(Image brought to you by: scissorsandthread) 

Cowboys & Aliens

Cowboys & Aliens

Comic books have a wonderful privilege. They entertain in a very unique fashion, but also have the ability to craft story lines that are political in nature. To cut to the chase, comics can often be read two ways, the first, only for entertainment. The second, is how the story fits in to the events of the day. Cowboys & Aliens straddles these two worlds.

First, entertainment, the title alone pulls a punch. Yes, this comic has cowboys and aliens. I hearken it back to Snakes on a Plane, it's not going to pull any punches. The art style is classic 80s superhero, the characters are black hat bad guys vs white hat good guys, and the aliens really have a lot of green goo. These are the foundations of most comic book series, and the foundation of most action adventure films. It's easy entertainment, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Second, this comic fits in to the events of the day. At it's base Cowboys & Aliens is an anti-occupation force story. Aliens invade planet Earth and attempt to take over the Old West. The cowboys are forced to team up with Native Americans to force out the aliens. Comparisons can be drawn to the Iraq war all the way though to the events of the Arab Spring. It is, of course, up to the reader to draw them.

Moving on, the next comic on my long (and growing) list is Flight. Flight is an anthology series that's done by young and up and coming artists. Very excited about this.

Oh, and it took me over two hours to compose this blog post...

Anya's Ghost

Anya's Ghost

I had every intention of picking up this book, reading the first few pages, and then getting some chores done around the apartment. 45 minutes later, the chores were not done, but the book was. This comic is positively lovely.

Anya, a high school girl, falls down a well and in the process befriends a ghost. The story after that is surprising, sweet, and feels very real. The awkwardness of high school, the desire to fit in, and the ever present boy chase are all themes that Vera Brosgol tackles with ease. Brosgol's art style is refreshing. She creates characters that are beautiful and simple. The only problem I had with this book was that it was so short. It left me wanting to know more about Anya, and I wanted to linger in her world much longer.

Brosgol's website can be found here: verabee. I'm tempted to drop her an email. The more comics she draws the better this world will be. Here is an example of her work:

(Image brought to you by: Verabee) 

A really good companion book to this would be Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis both have an ever present reality that is tragic and beautiful at the same time.

My next comic will be Cowboys & Aliens. I've read this comic in the past and LOVED it. Can't wait to share it with everyone.

(Image brought to you by: linniekin) 

Hack/Slash Omnibus

Hack/Slash Omnibus

Horror comics have a long and amazing history in the world of literature. In 1954 Dr. Fredric Wertham wrote a now famous book called Seduction of the Innocent. This book blamed horror comics for everything from kids sleeping late (GASP!) to juvenile delinquency (We've moved on from 1954, now we blame juvenile delinquency on video games. Every generation needs a scapegoat.). Because of Dr Wertham's pseudo scientific work the Comics Code Authority was created.

With glee, I'd like to announce that Hack/Slash would curl Dr Wertham's hair. He'd panic. Run though the streets. Yell loudly. Throw a proverbial hissy fit. Hack/Slash is a B horror movie version of a horror comic. It has lots of gore, blood, boobs, zombies, murder, mayhem, and even Chucky from the Child's Play movies makes an appearance. Cassie Hack, the (anti?) heroine, is a mix of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dexter. She dispatches slashers with knives, guns, and a lovely baseball bat that has Kiss It endearingly burned into it.  Ms Hack wears next to nothing, swears like a sailor during Fleet Week, and has a companion named Vlad who, and I'm not kidding, was raised by a butcher.

Now, dear readers, if any of the above description caused discomfort, please do NOT buy this comic. Horror comics have a very specific audience. I love them. I also love no good, very bad, flat out terrible horror movies. My husband and I go at least once a month to Terror Tuesdays on dates. The two of us enjoy our time in a dark theater watching horror films from the 70s and 80s on 35mm. Also, please don't buy this for a child. It's put in the dark and musty adult section of the comic shop for a reason.

Next up is Anya's Ghost. This comic is far more accessible than Hack/Slash. It's less horror comic and more a coming of age story.

(Image brought to you by: a lover's discourse)

Scary Godmother

Scary Godmother

My first two installments of the month were black and white pen and ink comics. Jill Thompson's Scary Godmother is a fully colorized world. It was like overdosing on candy, but in the best way possible. Thompson's illustrations are beautiful watercolors that create a fantastic world where monsters and a little girl team up to create the best Halloween ever. 

(Image brought to you by Jill Thompson)

Part Monsters, Inc and part Nightmare Before Christmas this story drew me in and made me fall in love with it. This comic is perfect for little girls, and perfect for parents of little girls who love to read to them. This book will be anywhere from the graphic novel section of the book store, or (if a wild and crazy staffer decides to have one too many cookies) perhaps it could even make it's way into the children's section. Both are appropriate places for this wonderful book.

Now, here's a bit of caution. I love giving out recommendations for parents. It makes me happy to see parents reading with their children, and it makes me smile when I see a parent instill the love of books into a child. However, not all of Thompson's work is for children. Prior to this book being published she did work on the The Sandman series. Sandman is a great series of comics (I'll read some next year for graphic novel month), but it's geared towards adults.

Speaking of comics not for kids, my next read is Hack/Slash. I'm moving away from fairy tales and moving into the world of horror comics. My love for no good, very bad, absolutely horrible B horror movies runs deep. Hack/Slash is an homage to them. I can't wait to see how many cheerleaders get murdered.

(Image brought to you by: RobSog) 

Castle Waiting

Castle Waiting

For the second installment of Graphic Novel  month I decided to read Castle Waiting by Linda Medley. This comic is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. Sweet, simple, feminist, and wonderful it strikes back at the heart of the stereotypical male audience of comics.

Medley's illustrations are flat out amazing. Her attention to detail is so meticulous that I found myself reading a page and then staring at it for a while after I was done. She goes to great lengths to create a world that is far far away and familiar at the same time.

(Image brought to you by: Kelly Thompson. Also, this is a great write up of Castle Waiting, so go read it.)

Castle Waiting concentrates on lessor known characters in fairy tales. The setting is the castle that Sleeping Beauty abandoned after she met Prince Charming. It's turned into a refuge for wayward characters who don't have anywhere else to go. I met familiar faces, and found myself running to Google to research the ones I didn't know. To me, this comic belongs in the same genera as Wicked and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs it gives a different perspective on fairy tales, and what happily ever after can mean.

 The next book I'm reading is Scary Godmother. I'm though the first chapter, and will most likely finish the  book today. I'll say this, if you've got a daughter between the ages of 5-7 you really, really, REALLY need to buy this book. Today. Right now. Scoot.

(Image brought to you by: voluumes) 

Link Round Up from 05/23/2011 to 06/04/2011

Aldous Huxley who wrote Brave New World also wrote a children's book.
NPR has the story: The Return Of 'Crows,' Huxley's Children's Tale.

Do you like Stieg Larsson's books? The Daily Beast has discovered a new author who may fill your desire for Scandinavian thrillers: Scandinavian Thriller Obsession.

Salon asks: Does reading great books make you a better person? My answer is no. Having sat though many literature classes with raging assholes, reading great literature doesn't make better people. In fact, most of the authors of great literature were assholes themselves. Ernest Hemingway was a sexist ass.

PBS has started its summer reading series. If you know a parent (or are one yourself) and would like some help with summer reading, this website is a great place to start: Summer Reading Community Challenge.

NPR did a wonderful story about how Kurt Vonnegut is still relevant today: Kurt Vonnegut: Still Speaking To The War Weary.

Thinking of picking up a memoir? Here are three that aren't depressing: 3 Memoirs That Won't Make You Slit Your Wrists.

Here's a great site that will help build an ebook library: Booki.sh

Need help figuring out what to read next? Well there's a website for that: Book Seer.

Esquire complied a list of 75 Books Every Man Should Read. Ladies, read them too. There's a lot of good stuff on this list.

The Guardian is compiling a list of the best Science Fiction books ever written. The rough draft can be found here: The best science fiction books. It will get more interactive as time goes on.

Finally, NPR asks Can Literature Make A Better Doctor?. My answer is a resounding yes. My father is a doctor, and literature has helped him understand the pathology of death and life.

(Image brought to you by: Lisa Pisa. This is the George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins University) 

Bone

Bone

The best fairy tales are steeped in darkness. Don't believe me? Well, remember when you were watching Snow White as a kid and this gave you nightmares? No. Well, how about this in Sleeping Beauty.  The Lord of Locusts is just as evil as the two linked  images, he's just as dark and scary, and he makes for a wonderful evil villain in the fairy tale called Bone.

This comic clocks in at an astonishing 1,332 pages, the book weighs more than a toddler, and carrying it around requires a second bag. Is it worth it? An absolute, unequivocal, 100% YES. BUY THIS COMIC. This is my second time though, and I thought I was projecting my emotions onto this story. I thought that I was romanticizing how good it was. I'm not. It's not only as good as I remember, it's better.

Not only, dear readers, is this a wonderful story, it's also a fantastic way to get the reluctant readers in our lives to participate. Giving a 12 year old who doesn't enjoy reading a 1,332 page novel and asking him or her to read it is a recipe for failure. Giving a 12 year old who doesn't like reading but, who does like Pixar and Disney movies this comic is a a great way to pique interest. Also, it would give an amazing sense of accomplishment. Please give this a chance. I'm begging.

My next comic is Castle Waiting. I'll let you know how it goes.

(Image brought to you by: Afton_Halloran)