Book Round Up!
I've been putting off this round of book reviews. Not intentionally, by any means - I just happen to have all the titles written down here at work and keep forgetting to take them home, and consequently not being able to do them. Now should work, except that there are ten titles and I'm trying to figure out how to organize them. Let's go with this: Graphic Novels, Real Life (ish), Fantasy, and Steampunky.
Graphic Novels:
* Twilight: The Graphic Novel, vol. 1 - art by Young Kim: So the best I can say about this title is that I didn't hate it. In fact, it was actually somewhat not a bad read, every so often. The art is very anime-esque, which actually kind of fits the extremely dramatic style of the story. And Bella is kinda pretty. Edward glittering still looks supremely stupid, but I don't blame the artist for that. There's just no good way to make a vampire sparkle. Twihards will love it, but if you're looking for a way to break into the novels without having to dredge through page after page of Bella whining to herself, this is a not bad way to do it.
* House of Mystery vol. 3: The Space Between by Matthew Sturgis and Bill Willingham: I actually forgot this was volume 3 and not volume 2, so I was a little confused for a bit trying to find the exact title of it. I think this is because all the volumes kind of blend together. Not a lot big happens, in my opinion, to distinguish one volume from another. That aside, though, I still like the story, and I'll still read volume 4 when I can get my hands on it. This isn't my favorite series, but it's not a bad filler while I'm waiting for more Fables to come out.
* Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan: Oh, this is a fun little graphic novel. It's full of uber short stories, but they're just neat little snippets of awesome. It's kind of like reading Harris Burdick, except if the stories were a page instead of one line. You still don't quite know what's going on with everything, but you've gotten to peer through the window instead of just looking through the crack, and that's just fine. I'm a Shaun Tan fan anyway, and this book definitely delivers!
Realistic-ish:
* Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen: This was a recommendation from one of my regular HHC kids, Osci. She had to read it for class and it's the only book she has ever told me she enjoyed reading, so I figured it'd better check it out. I got the book on CD and spent a few months listening to it during my commute. (I get bored of books on CD easily so will do two or three days of the books, then switch back to music for a week, and so on.) It's not my usual style of book at all. It's just this kid with an anger problem in the city, then in prison, then on an island, then in prison, then on an island again. But it is very very good! The guy reading did a great job, for the most part. One of his Indian voices was a little fruity and his girls weren't very good, but luckily there aren't too many girls in the book, and the way he did what I consider the two main characters - Cole and Garvey - was excellent. Garvey in particular I really came to like. A lot of interesting lessons about anger and choices and behavior in this book. I'm glad they're reading it in schools. Some of it shocked me - he eats a mouse at one point, and I had to turn down the volume until I thought it was over because it was grossing me out too much. But overall it is very excellent. I'd recommend this, on CD or the book, to reluctant readers, kids with an attitude, and people who like survival stories.
* Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan: There are two narrators in this book. They are both named Will Grayson. One is written by John Green and the other is written by David Levithan. It is very obvious which is which, and I found myself completely unsurprised that while I enjoyed Green's Grayson, I really disliked Levithan's Grayson. Will Grayson One is not a perfect person, but has an interesting voice and a good narrative and some fine things to say about friendship and love and acceptance and living. Will Grayson Two...well, I mostly just found him to be annoying and whiny and overly dramatic. I disliked the parts he was in. The ending was a little cheesy but I think it worked, especially given the overall tone and arc of the story. Some people will love this book. I found it mediocre. But it's not the worst book I've read, and I don't feel like I wasted my time on it. I just kind of hurried up with the reading so that it was over faster, haha, which is unusual for me and a John Green book. *shakes fist at Levithan*
* This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer: The third, and I presume final, in her uber depressing YA post-apoc end of the world series. Dang. What can I say about this book? It's not quite rocks fall everyone dies...but it's not too far off. The whole thing is just woe woe woe and despair. Also it made me paranoid about this volcano stuff in Iceland. Thanks a lot, Susan Beth Pfeffer. No, it's not badly written, and I'll probably buy it to round out the series on my bookshelf. Only read this book if you want a downer mood, though. There is no happiness here.
Fantasy:
* Going Postal by Terry Pratchett: I have read this book maybe three times and listened to the book on CD of it maybe twice. I love this book. This is my favorite Discworld book (except maybe for Night Watch) and Moist von Lipwig is unequivocally my favorite Discworld character. I am very excited that there is a BBC miniseries at some point based on this book. And I've rambled about this one before, so that's all I have to say about that. :)
* Lord Sunday by Garth Nix: The seventh in the Keys to the Kingdom series. This has been one gosh-darned long series! It's only seven books but it feels like it's been a long time between them, and the plot just keeps getting more and more complicated. I really liked this series in the first two or three books, kinda tolerated it for the next few, and really just couldn't wait for this one to be over. It ended well, for what it was, but seemed to unfortunately be another victim of a plot arc that is just too big to stand. It collapsed, for me, under the weight of its own mythos and became annoying. I will always have a special place in my heart for Susie Blue and the Lieutenant Door Keeper. There are a lot of fun things about this world, too, that I really appreciate, like the paper wings and the umbrellas and everything. It just...got too big, unfortunately.
Steampunky:
* Incarceron by Catherine Fisher: There is a maze that is alive. There are prisoners who are not who they think they are. There are mysteries that never get solved. There is some amazingly cool steampunky technology. There is a great story line and fast paced action that never stops. There is obviously a sequel coming. I've been recommending this book to everyone I see, basically, so I'll recommend it to y'all, too. It's a fast read, it's a really gritty ride (in a good way!) and I kinda want to read it again. Fantastic. Wouldn't be surprised if it's a Printz contender this year. Will be disappointed if it's not.
* Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve: Yes, this is the same Philip Reeve who wrote the awesome Starcross series that I love so much. Like that series, Mortal Engines is also British steampunk. There are a few differences, however: this one does not involve space travel, it's third person narrative instead of first person, and the tone is incredibly darker. Lots of people die. You have been warned. I read this book in about two days and I'm excited to get the rest of the series. Cities that move around and eat other cities? You better believe I'm going to be into that! Excellent.
Graphic Novels:
* Twilight: The Graphic Novel, vol. 1 - art by Young Kim: So the best I can say about this title is that I didn't hate it. In fact, it was actually somewhat not a bad read, every so often. The art is very anime-esque, which actually kind of fits the extremely dramatic style of the story. And Bella is kinda pretty. Edward glittering still looks supremely stupid, but I don't blame the artist for that. There's just no good way to make a vampire sparkle. Twihards will love it, but if you're looking for a way to break into the novels without having to dredge through page after page of Bella whining to herself, this is a not bad way to do it.
* House of Mystery vol. 3: The Space Between by Matthew Sturgis and Bill Willingham: I actually forgot this was volume 3 and not volume 2, so I was a little confused for a bit trying to find the exact title of it. I think this is because all the volumes kind of blend together. Not a lot big happens, in my opinion, to distinguish one volume from another. That aside, though, I still like the story, and I'll still read volume 4 when I can get my hands on it. This isn't my favorite series, but it's not a bad filler while I'm waiting for more Fables to come out.
* Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan: Oh, this is a fun little graphic novel. It's full of uber short stories, but they're just neat little snippets of awesome. It's kind of like reading Harris Burdick, except if the stories were a page instead of one line. You still don't quite know what's going on with everything, but you've gotten to peer through the window instead of just looking through the crack, and that's just fine. I'm a Shaun Tan fan anyway, and this book definitely delivers!
Realistic-ish:
* Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen: This was a recommendation from one of my regular HHC kids, Osci. She had to read it for class and it's the only book she has ever told me she enjoyed reading, so I figured it'd better check it out. I got the book on CD and spent a few months listening to it during my commute. (I get bored of books on CD easily so will do two or three days of the books, then switch back to music for a week, and so on.) It's not my usual style of book at all. It's just this kid with an anger problem in the city, then in prison, then on an island, then in prison, then on an island again. But it is very very good! The guy reading did a great job, for the most part. One of his Indian voices was a little fruity and his girls weren't very good, but luckily there aren't too many girls in the book, and the way he did what I consider the two main characters - Cole and Garvey - was excellent. Garvey in particular I really came to like. A lot of interesting lessons about anger and choices and behavior in this book. I'm glad they're reading it in schools. Some of it shocked me - he eats a mouse at one point, and I had to turn down the volume until I thought it was over because it was grossing me out too much. But overall it is very excellent. I'd recommend this, on CD or the book, to reluctant readers, kids with an attitude, and people who like survival stories.
* Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan: There are two narrators in this book. They are both named Will Grayson. One is written by John Green and the other is written by David Levithan. It is very obvious which is which, and I found myself completely unsurprised that while I enjoyed Green's Grayson, I really disliked Levithan's Grayson. Will Grayson One is not a perfect person, but has an interesting voice and a good narrative and some fine things to say about friendship and love and acceptance and living. Will Grayson Two...well, I mostly just found him to be annoying and whiny and overly dramatic. I disliked the parts he was in. The ending was a little cheesy but I think it worked, especially given the overall tone and arc of the story. Some people will love this book. I found it mediocre. But it's not the worst book I've read, and I don't feel like I wasted my time on it. I just kind of hurried up with the reading so that it was over faster, haha, which is unusual for me and a John Green book. *shakes fist at Levithan*
* This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer: The third, and I presume final, in her uber depressing YA post-apoc end of the world series. Dang. What can I say about this book? It's not quite rocks fall everyone dies...but it's not too far off. The whole thing is just woe woe woe and despair. Also it made me paranoid about this volcano stuff in Iceland. Thanks a lot, Susan Beth Pfeffer. No, it's not badly written, and I'll probably buy it to round out the series on my bookshelf. Only read this book if you want a downer mood, though. There is no happiness here.
Fantasy:
* Going Postal by Terry Pratchett: I have read this book maybe three times and listened to the book on CD of it maybe twice. I love this book. This is my favorite Discworld book (except maybe for Night Watch) and Moist von Lipwig is unequivocally my favorite Discworld character. I am very excited that there is a BBC miniseries at some point based on this book. And I've rambled about this one before, so that's all I have to say about that. :)
* Lord Sunday by Garth Nix: The seventh in the Keys to the Kingdom series. This has been one gosh-darned long series! It's only seven books but it feels like it's been a long time between them, and the plot just keeps getting more and more complicated. I really liked this series in the first two or three books, kinda tolerated it for the next few, and really just couldn't wait for this one to be over. It ended well, for what it was, but seemed to unfortunately be another victim of a plot arc that is just too big to stand. It collapsed, for me, under the weight of its own mythos and became annoying. I will always have a special place in my heart for Susie Blue and the Lieutenant Door Keeper. There are a lot of fun things about this world, too, that I really appreciate, like the paper wings and the umbrellas and everything. It just...got too big, unfortunately.
Steampunky:
* Incarceron by Catherine Fisher: There is a maze that is alive. There are prisoners who are not who they think they are. There are mysteries that never get solved. There is some amazingly cool steampunky technology. There is a great story line and fast paced action that never stops. There is obviously a sequel coming. I've been recommending this book to everyone I see, basically, so I'll recommend it to y'all, too. It's a fast read, it's a really gritty ride (in a good way!) and I kinda want to read it again. Fantastic. Wouldn't be surprised if it's a Printz contender this year. Will be disappointed if it's not.
* Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve: Yes, this is the same Philip Reeve who wrote the awesome Starcross series that I love so much. Like that series, Mortal Engines is also British steampunk. There are a few differences, however: this one does not involve space travel, it's third person narrative instead of first person, and the tone is incredibly darker. Lots of people die. You have been warned. I read this book in about two days and I'm excited to get the rest of the series. Cities that move around and eat other cities? You better believe I'm going to be into that! Excellent.