Graphic Novels - Things I love in September

When I was growing up, comics were mostly for boys based on image style and story content (nothing that would interest me at all, manga was for a sophisticated nerds,  and graphic novels did not exist.  I have been aware for some time that has all changed.  The graphic novel in particular has emerged as genre that could appeal to all.  I have been intrigued to try one but also hesitant after all I love reading and reading is all about the words.  Still when I think back to my earliest favorite childhood story books the pictures were a big part of that enjoyment even after I could read.

When I saw this book it was the perfect opportunity to try the genre.  First of all,  it is a sequel to The Lunar Chronicle series that I finished earlier this year so I already know the backstory and the characters so it was an easy introduction.   The main detraction for me was the blue/black/orange color scheme but as I got into the story I quickly got over that.  The graphic novel is told from the point of view of Iko, an android with a "flawed" personality chip and one of my favorite characters.  What I liked:  The voices stayed true to the characters as I knew them from the story, the scene breaks were blank pages that looked like starry night sky, and Iko gets her own little storyline exploring what it means to be human or not.  I was excited to see that the story will be continued and I look forward to the next part.  Take aways from the first experience:  I need to consciously slow down and look at the images, not just race through the words. 

This book caught my eye on my next trip to the library, Through the Woods by Emily Carroll.   The illustrations are beautiful but macabre.  They remind me of Edward Gorey except the style is more painterly and the red is a dramatic addition to the black and white color scheme.  The stories are wonderfully creepy and probably would have terrified me as a kid.  This is a book I would own just for the art. 

Overall I enjoyed both of these books and I am looking forward to trying more graphic novels!

What Are You Reading Wednesdays (15)

What Are You Reading Wednesdays #WAYRW is a weekly feature on It’s A Reading Thing. Everyone is welcome to participate. You can answer the questions in the comments section of the weekly #WAYRW post or link back to your #WAYRW post on your blog in the comments section as well. 

How to participate:

Grab the book you are currently reading and answer three questions:
1. What’s the name of your current read?
2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.
3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

"When Scarlett was eight, to keep her from the shore, her father's guards warned her about the sparkling black sand of Del Ojos Beach.  'It's black because it's really the burnt remains of pirate skeletons.' they said. And being eight, and slightly more foolish than now, she believed them."

I am not sure yet; not enough of the world has been revealed at this point to know. The main characters are just now on their way to the island where Caraval takes place. It seems to be some kind of magical game and the winner will receive ' a wish'.  I don't know if the main story is about the game itself or what occurs after the game.

July Library Finds

You never know what you will find at the library these days.  There are always so many cool activities and events not to mention great books and freebies.

Mini Book Haul: Crooked Kingdom is for book club, Caraval is a new release that I have  seen hauled on Booktube.  I love the cover which reminds me of the Night Circus (uh-oh I better lower my expectations).  Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic dystopian that has had great reviews from a wide variety of Booktubers.  This is audio CD and I hope it will be an engaging listen during my daily commute.

Picked up this cool bookmark in the YA section.

Bealeton Library still has a resident cat and every July is Christmas in July for Ernie where patrons are encouraged to donate supplies for him.  They have a Christmas tree and tags and on the back shows what item to bring and of course the cute tag is also a great bookmark.

How awesome is this!  An author is coming to discuss his book about Virginia BBQ and the Ruritans will be serving BBQ lunch (for a fee)!  This is taking meet the author to a whole new level!  If I go, I will post a follow up blog for sure.

What Are You Reading Wednesdays (14)

What Are You Reading Wednesdays #WAYRW is a weekly feature on It’s A Reading Thing. Everyone is welcome to participate. You can answer the questions in the comments section of the weekly #WAYRW post or link back to your #WAYRW post on your blog in the comments section as well. 

How to participate:

Grab the book you are currently reading and answer three questions:
1. What’s the name of your current read?
2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.
3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

"Live in the present, remember the past, and fear not the future, for it doesn't exist and never shall.  There is only now."

Yes.  Its a world with dragons, dwarves, elves, and magic.  Oh yeah there is an evil king with some pretty scary minions but magic, elves, dwarves and dragons!

May Wrap Up

Ok so it has been a slow reading month and for my Goodreads 2017 reading challenge I have only completed 16 out of 50 books (32%).

The Lantern is a YA Halloween story I got for free on my Kindle.  This is a cute story about a young man who is trapped inside a lantern; appropriate for tweens.

Another winner from Hugh Howey.  Character driven yet reads like a fast paced action story.  The main character is very likable guy with a lot of emotional baggage from and a wicked sense of humor.  Science fiction for readers who think they don't like science fiction.  4 stars.

What Are You Reading Wednesdays (13)

What Are You Reading Wednesdays #WAYRW is a weekly feature on It’s A Reading Thing. Everyone is welcome to participate. You can answer the questions in the comments section of the weekly #WAYRW post or link back to your #WAYRW post on your blog in the comments section as well. 

How to participate:

Grab the book you are currently reading and answer three questions:
1. What’s the name of your current read?
2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.
3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

"You...are more dangerous than daybreak."

"I bet you were a good girl back home, a good girl all your life until you finally met the trouble that you want to get into."

I would be lying if I didn't say, YES.  In case you didn't guess from the first quote, this is a vampire story.  This world is darker than the one in Twilight but not a brutal as Justin Cronin's series (I would never survive in that world).

March/April Reading Wrap Up

It's been two months since my last wrap up when I only had two books and now there are too many!

Library of Souls is the final book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Trilogy 4 Stars.  It had all the action and intensity of the first book that was very much lacking in the second.  If you liked the first book then be sure to read the third and final piece of the story.

If you are an old style Dean Koontz fan, this book may not be for you.  However, since I don't have a deep history with the author, I enjoyed this book.  The story is coherent and the main character is engaging.  My only issue is that the big reveal comes about 3/4 of the way through and it completely ruined the story for me.  From that point, I no longer cared what happened although I did read it to the end.  Also the last paragraph ends on a very jarring note which is probably supposed to make the reader go 'oooh' but really just feels like he forgot to write the next sentence.  3 Stars  Note - I listened to the audio book so that possibly made me more tolerant and I didn't really have to concentrate on the story the whole time.

This book was for the Central Library book club and the author came to our discussion group.  The book is somewhat a retelling of Dante's Inferno.  While I never quite connected with the main character or his quest, as soon as the supporting characters made their way into the scene, I was hooked.  I loved their individual voices and sense of humor with occasional bits of wisdom thrown in.    I gave this book 4 stars with a caution that it won't be for everyone; a tolerance for gore is definitely needed.

This was my February blind date with a book and yes it really did take me through April to finish.  I gave it 2 Stars because the story just never came to life for me and I was bothered some jarring notes through out which did not feel authentic to the time period.  This is the second Amanda Quick book I have read and I did not care for this one any more than the first one.  They sound good but they just aren't my style.

March Book for Dogwood Belles Book Club 2 Stars This wasn't Spark's best story.  It was very cliche and I think he was out of touch with two of his main characters.  They were written too mature and experienced for the age they were represent.  It didn't feel true.  Ira's story was the best part but even that was very predictable down to the big 'surprise' ending.  

April book for the Central Library book club.  Fantasy genre, 3 Stars.  My first Heinlein and he is a good writer.   There are a lot of great sentences that stand out but the overall story is lack luster and feels very very dated to me.

April Book for Dogwood Belles Book Club, 4 stars.  Very well written and complex but very character driven so it was slow in places.  I prefer plot driven stories but I wouldn't be averse to reading the next one in the Dublin Murder Squad series.

YA, dystopian and not necessarily original but very well done.  I really connected with the main characters and can't wait to see what happens next.  I listened to the audio book and the narrator was pitch perfect for the tone I imagine goes with the words. 4 Stars

Summary:  The Perfect Poison was the worst book of these 2 months with The Longest Ride a close second.  The Red Queen was the best book with In the Woods a close second.

Happy Reading Y'all