leanasidhe: an avid reader with too many books to read

vaughan's pride of baghdad

2006-11-19T23:46:00.000-05:00

Brian K. Vaughan has been hailed as one of America’s most critically acclaimed graphic novel writers and his talent is clearly evident in this latest venture. Inspired by true events, “Pride of Baghdad” tells the story of a pride of lions that escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during a bombing raid in the spring of 2003. Vaughan has teamed up with artist Niko Henrichon to offer readers a unique and heartbreaking look into what it’s like to live in a warzone. After their escape from the ruined zoo, the lions encounter other animals that offer unique perspectives, such as the tortoise that survived WWI. During the course of the story, the animals begin to question what, exactly, is freedom. Can freedom be achieved without being earned? What’s the price of freedom? What do the lions owe the zookeepers who took care of them at the price of keeping the lions in captivity? Where should they go? What should they eat? The four lions soon realize that a desert city is nothing like the grassy savannas of their memories. The lions’ stories mirror the story of the Iraqi citizens displaced by the war. The story succeeds on both the graphic novel level and as an account of the current crisis. Henrichon’s use of browns and grays evoke the sands of Iraq, while the long brush strokes and careful attention to detail mirror the precise and minimalist dialog that Vaughn uses. A highly allegorical story grounded in compelling and believable characters, “Pride of Baghdad” makes it clear that without self-determination there can be no freedom.

erlbaum's girlbomb: a halfway homeless memoir

2006-07-03T15:40:00.000-04:00

Janice Erlbaum’s childhood was not a pleasant one. Her mom’s string of abusive boyfriends and husbands had left her with no choice; after her mom kicked her last stepfather out, Erlbaum told her, “If you take him back, then I’m leaving.” When she was 15, Erlbaum left her Manhattan home after her mother once again reunited with her stepfather. After spending several weeks in a shelter, Erlbaum eventually ended up in a group home. Her journey didn’t end there – Erlbaum then embarked on a course of self-destruction, having casual, unprotected sex with a string of boys and abusing alcohol and drugs. Just over a year after she moved out, Erlbaum moved back in with her now-single mother, and the book’s title (a play on the author’s last name) begins to make more sense; life as a high school student clashes with the cocaine-fueled club scene of 1980s New York City. Her memoir illustrates the conflicting desires of adolescence – the desire to fit in, the desire to be loved, and the desire to be independent. Erlbaum’s writing is concise and engaging, but most of all, it’s honest. Erlbaum doesn’t try to excuse her behavior; rather, she analyzes why she turned down that self-destructive path, and what made her change her ways. Readers will find solace in the knowledge that, despite the lack of structure in her home life, Erlbaum still managed to pull it all together. She graduated high school, worked at an after school job, starred in a school play, and got into college, showing that, if you try hard enough, you can accomplish anything.

umezu's scary book (volume 1): reflections

2006-07-03T15:39:00.000-04:00

Known as the “Stephen King of Japan,” Umezo Kazuo is the master of horror manga. Several of his stories have already been adapted to film, and fans of Japanese horror movies like “The Ring” and “The Grudge” will recognize the style that Umezo employs in his stories. This first volume of his Scary Book horror anthology contains two of his novellas, “The Mirror,” and “Vengeance Demon.” Umezo doesn’t need to rely on violence or gore to scare his readers; the horror is more primal, more psychological. In “The Mirror,” a pretty girl who has spent too much time in front of her mirror learns just how tenuous a power beauty is when her reflection escapes from the mirror and takes over her life. In “Vengeance Demon,” a warlord seeking revenge for his son’s injuries finds himself the object of revenge. The artwork is black and white; the illustrations are simple yet powerful. What sets this manga apart from others is the starkness of the drawings and the simplicity of the dialogue. No word is wasted. There are no extra words. Like Hemingway, Umezo understands that less is better. Readers looking to understand the influence of Japanese horror will enjoy this collection.

rinno's ju-on: video side

2006-07-03T15:38:00.001-04:00

Ju-On: Video Side is the manga adaptation of the original Japanese horror movie “Ju-On” that was later remade for American audience as “The Grudge.” Although fans of the movies will recognize some similarities – the house is haunted by the spirits of a mother and son who were murdered – the rest of the plot is different. The movies focus more on the house, while most of the action of the novel takes place at the local school. Much more attention is given to the new family in the novel than it was in the movies. The novel opens with the murder of a woman and her son. Their house is soon sold to a new family. Each of the family members sees a creepy little boy and soon after each is attacked by a multitude of cats. The story doesn’t follow a linear timeline, which lets us learn more about the story of the house and the grudge. We see the real estate agent trying to sell the house, despite warnings about the evil in the home. The father of the new family dismisses the warnings as nothing more than a childish prank. The artwork is in black and white, which perfectly conveys the sense that evil is palpable. Since there is no color, we are forced to see the story unfold, for lack of a better phrase, “in black and white.” There is no gray area, just as there is no escaping the grudge. Since this is a novel and not a movie, there can be no audio sound effects, but that doesn’t affect the story in any way. The eeriness and horror are conveyed in the bold strokes of the artwork, especially in the scenes at the school where the mother’s ghost is encountered.

browne's the da vinci mole: a philosophical parody

2006-07-03T15:38:00.000-04:00

Like the book that it parodies, The Da Vinci Mole is full of conspiracy and puzzles. The mysterious Dr. Ian Browne (a well-known figure whose real identity is not revealed) weaves together a suspenseful story that ties together Scientology, Karl Rove, W, aliens, Mars, and Proctor & Gamble. When Eric San Leté (anagram for “Secret Alien”), curator of New York City’s Whitney Museum, is found dead, modern art professor Hank Thomas is called in to figure out the cryptic message hidden inside a reproduction of a Jackson Pollack painting that Leté left next to his body. French exchange student and granddaughter of Leté, Saphie Paradise, joins Hank in his quest to decode the riddles that Leté has left behind. Browne has combined research with fiction (there’s a bibliography at the end of the book), leaving readers to wonder what is fact and what is fiction. Browne pokes fun at The Da Vinci Code, too; at one point, Hank asks, “But what if we spend many days and risk countless dangers tracking down this secret, only to have it turn out to be a secret that your grandfather never wants revealed anyway and so our efforts would be pointless?” Saphie replies, “That would be absurd, Hank. That would make no sense at all.” Black and white line drawings help illustrate the puzzles and add dimension to characters that couldn’t happen otherwise in such a short book.

gaines's digital photo madness! 50 weird & wacky things to do with your digital camera

2006-07-03T15:37:00.000-04:00

Thom Gaines has made an easy-to-use guide to digital photography and photo manipulation that readers of all ages can use. There are 50 tips and tricks in this guide; sections on photo manipulations, light and shadow composition, avoiding camera shake, color combinations, and how to use a digital camera are all clearly explained and accompanied by example photos. Gaines spends time going over basic camera functions; even though readers may not have the same camera that he uses, they will be able to do the same things, because Gaines explains the basic digital camera function symbols that are the same for all digital cameras. Gaines’ guide is much easier to understand than trying to comprehend any user manual that comes with a digital camera. Readers of all ages and skill levels will be able to learn from this guide, and Gaines makes sure that you’ll have fun doing so.

mccullough's the essential book of presidential trivia

2006-07-03T15:35:00.001-04:00

Ten-year-old Noah McCullough wants “everyone to know about the history of the United States and about important political events and issues and how they work.” A future presidential hopeful and one of the country’s youngest historians, McCullough has compiled a book of presidential trivia sure to please the most reluctant reader. Every chapter of the book contains a brief bio about one of the presidents along with a section of facts that ask “did you know?” The fun doesn’t stop there – McCullough has added a quiz at the end of the book to test your smarts (don’t worry – there is an answer key included). The book is easy to read and very approachable; students will relate to the fact that McCullough is a child. Perhaps the best part of the book is the fact that you can pick it up and read a chapter in a matter of minutes, making the book perfect for browsing as well as research. There are whimsical drawings of the presidents that preface each chapter, providing a visual aid for the curious. McCullough caps the book with a well-rounded bibliography.

powell and hotz's billy the kid's old-timey oddities

2006-07-03T15:35:00.000-04:00

Eric Powell begins the book with a newspaper account of Billy the Kid’s capture and death, then asks what if Billy the Kid had faked his own death? Billy’s free to roam, or so he thinks; Fineas Spoule, the Human Spider, approaches Billy and tells him that he’s discovered Billy’s secret. He offers Billy a deal: help him retrieve a precious jewel from Dr. Victor Frankenstein and he’ll keep Billy’s secret. If Billy doesn’t help, then Spoule’s contacts will release Billy’s information and whereabouts to the authorities. All Billy wants to do is retire in anonymity, so he agrees to the plan, and soon finds himself in the service of a caravan of carnival sideshow performers who have their own unfinished business with Frankenstein. It’s not until the end of the story that Spoule reveals the real reason for their trip to see Frankenstein; one of their performers had been kidnapped. In the sideshow business, your fellow travelers become your family, and that’s not something that Billy can fully appreciate when we first meet him in the story. The story is fast-paced and the artwork reminiscent of both spaghetti westerns and B-movie horror. The illustrations are in full color, but have a dark tone to them that provides the right blend of quirky and macabre. The treatment of the “freaks” (as Billy calls them) is an accurate portrayal of the time period and, as Billy grows as a character, his attitude changes.

robotham's lost

2006-07-03T15:34:00.000-04:00

Robotham’s second mystery brings some of the cast from his debut, Suspect, including Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz and clinical psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin. The novel’s fast-paced action opens with a half-dead Ruiz being fished out of the Thames. When Ruiz awakens from his coma, he discovers that he has no memory of why he was in the river, almost dead from blood loss as a result of a bullet wound to his leg, nor can he remember anything from the week leading up to his injury. With the help of O’Loughlin, Ruiz begins piecing together details that show he was following up on the disappearance of 8-year-old Mickey Carlyle. Ruiz was on the Thames to make a kidnapping payoff. The only problem? Mickey disappeared 3 years ago and a sexual predator has been convicted of her murder. As Ruiz retraces his steps, he relives several incidents from his past that are linked to his need to investigate a closed case. Readers looking for a fast-paced thriller will find plenty of adventure here; Ruiz’s hunt for answers takes him deep into the sewers below London and into the cold waters of the Thames. Robotham has expertly created complex characters; Ruiz, the son of a Gypsy woman raped by German soldiers in World War II, is haunted by the childhood drowning of his half-brother, even though he’s estranged from his own children. Robotham understands that some quests are worth any sacrifice no matter how long the odds of success may be. The result is a subtle and taut thriller, with convincing characters and strong psychological components.

forbeck's blood bowl: dead bowl

2006-07-03T15:33:00.000-04:00

In Matt Forbeck’s fantasy kingdom where the most popular sport – Blood Bowl – is a violent form of gridiron football, anything goes. Dunk Hoffnung is a thrower for the Blood Bay Hackers and was the most valuable player his rookie year. Now it’s his second season and the gridiron football is more bloody and violent than ever. This time, though, the stakes are even higher, as he has to battle not only opposing players, but also his own teammates as well! Dunk’s coach, a retired sea captain named Pegleg, has vowed that his team will no longer be losers. To become winners, Pegleg decides that the team needs to find the Far Albion Cup, a trophy that’s said to make whoever owns it a winner. The only problem? The cup has been missing the last 500 years. That doesn’t stop Pegleg, though; after a grueling game where the Blood Bay Hackers lose 11 of their teammates, the team heads over to Albion and meets up with Olsen Merlin, a wizard who just might know where to find the cup. Along the way, the team picks up a treeman and a cast of undead players, and the coach becomes possessed by an evil spirit that inhabits the cup. The moral of the story? Don’t try to cheat to win. Readers looking for humorous fantasy along the lines of Robert Aspirin’s M.Y.T.H. Inc series will love the offbeat characters and game. Even better – you don’t need to be a football fan or know much about the sport to be able to understand the game.

cox's storyteller's club: the picture-writing women of the arctic

2006-07-03T15:32:00.000-04:00

Hailed as the Joy Luck Club of the Arctic, Loretta Outwater Cox’s book captures the world of the Inupiaq of Alaska. Interwoven into the story of her great-grandmother’s daily activities are the oral stories of her ancestors. These stories have been kept alive by a group of late-middle-aged women who have decided to meet regularly during the dark months to share stories. The storyteller weaves the story while the other women carefully draw on a piece of brown paper symbols, lines, or shapes that help the women to be able to remember the story. The book is set in the 1920s, but the stories told are from the women’s youth, around the late 1800s. The stories range from the everyday – favorite recipes – to legends of giants and spiders that live amongst the people. Each story describes the culture, history, and geography of the people and region; a recipe about fish soup, for example, describes how the fish were caught, tells what the people were doing and saying, and records the weather that day. The stories are a lesson in history, both because these are women who never learned to read and write, but because the stories record the history of the Alaskan Indians. The power of the stories is not that these are the oral history of a group of people, but that they are stories that contain universal themes: family unity, respect for others, welcoming strangers, building up the weak, overcoming difficulty, and wrestling with grief. Readers will learn about the federal government’s plan to bring education to the people of Alaska and how the Indians responded. In the end, readers will appreciate how difficult life is in the far North.

choron's planet dog: a doglopedia

2006-07-03T15:31:00.000-04:00

A powerhouse of an encyclopedia, Planet Dog: A Doglopedia will appeal to dog lovers, trivia seekers, and those looking for more dog information before buying a puppy. The husband-wife authors of this book have compiled over 300 lists about man’s best friend. Some of the lists contain information that will be difficult to find in another source (the top 10 Russian dogs sent into space, for example), while others compile practical information (“20 Tips for Preparing Your Dog for a New Baby”), but all focus on Fido. The book addresses not only the care of dogs, but also their characteristics, competitions, and culture. Both Sandra and Harry Choron’s graphic design skills are evident in the layout of the book; the pages are visually appealing. The book is a comprehensive and easily accessible resource that every dog and animal lover should own.

lack of updates

2006-07-03T15:29:00.000-04:00

I apologize for the lack of updates. There have been a lot of things going on in my life over the last 6 months that have taken my full attention. In the meantime, I've been reviewing books and am preparing to create a website for others to review as well.

alexander's the $64 tomato

2006-01-23T11:50:00.000-05:00

William Alexander had always dreamed of having his own garden, where he can grow his own organic, healthy fruit and vegetables. When his family moves to the Hudson Valley, he gets his dream – there’s more than enough land for his vegetable garden, his apple orchard, his wife’s flower garden, and a swimming pool for the family. Alexander’s done his research; he knows what crops to plant and when, what type of fencing he’ll need, and how to defend his garden against predators. What he hasn’t counted on were the problems that would crop up – that planting sod around the swimming pool would kill his corn, or that planting rosebushes would kill the sod. On top of the organic problems, there’s also landscaping contractors who are always behind schedule, a gardener who is a dead ringer for Christopher Walken, a groundhog that’s figured out how to get through a 10,000 electric volt fence, and the deer that think his garden is a feast for them. After years of fighting pests, Alexander realizes that there is no such thing as an organic garden in the Northeast and that, for each tomato he’s taken from his garden, he’s spent $64; ultimately, what was once his hobby has become a second full-time job. Throughout it all, Alexander manages to maintain a sense of humor, riffing on everything from the ugliness of garden ornaments to the politics of giving away vegetables to friends. The hilarious horticultural memoir manages to impart an existential lesson on the interconnectedness of nature and the fine line between nurturing and killing.

knoll's creating the worlds of star wars: 365 days

2006-01-12T11:40:00.000-05:00

Star Wars Visual effects supervisor-in-charge, John Knoll, serves as a tour guide on a behind-the-scenes journey into the worlds of Star Wars. This addition to the 365 Days series is the only Star Wars book that covers all six films in the series. The book is a comprehensive visual effects resource that includes breathtaking 360-degree panoramic shots of sets and models, as well as concept art, props, film stills, and memorabilia. Knoll includes first hand descriptions of both the shots and techniques that made the movies a success. In addition to never before seen images, the book contains enough trivia to make any fan happy. The format is easy to read; each day includes one full-page photo on a facing page and a half a page narrative that explains the techniques in a way that even non-techies can understand. The size of the book lends itself to easy readability – it’s not a large book (6.5 by 9.5 inches and is 2.25 inches thick), which makes it easy to hold. Included with the book is a CD-ROM that contains over 100 QuickTime VR 360-degree panoramas. An extensive index allows for quick access to any photo.

meltzer's identity crisis

2006-01-12T11:38:00.000-05:00

After the tragic death of Sue Debny, the wife of the Elongated Man, the members of the Justice League of America and most of the DC superheroes are brought together to investigate. Sue’s murder is unsettling for a couple of reasons: she was a friend and whoever committed the murder knew enough personal information to be able to sneak past JLA security. Even more troubling are the letters that the family members of other heroes receive, indicating that they are the next targets. The superheroes split into teams to follow the leads that they are most suited (pun not intended) to solve. While the script contains strong elements, it is writer Brad Meltzer’s ability to manipulate the reader with the heroes and villains’ characterization that makes him capture our imagination. Meltzer’s novel asks: how far do you go to protect your loved ones? What if everything you stand for goes against your need to protect your family? The story moves quickly and the full-color artwork is splendid. Illustrator Rags Morales captures human emotion in such a way that he breathes life and authenticity to the characters. Alex Sinclair did a superb job with the coloring; the dark somber tones perfectly set the mood of the story. Some of the action occurs off-screen – the flashback to Sue’s rape – which makes what happens even more dramatic and powerful. Featuring a good mystery, great fight scenes, and good writing, Identity Crisis is a good read for most fans of the DC universe.

foster's the light-years beneath my feet

2005-11-17T14:55:00.000-05:00

Former Chicago commodities broker turned gourmet chef Marcus Walker and his alien companions – George the talking dog, Braouk the poetic Tuuqalian, and Sequi the intelligent K’eremu – just want to go home, but they don’t know how to get there. They escaped from the slave-trading alien race, Vilenjjii, only to find themselves on another alien planet; no matter how peaceful Sessrimathe is, it’s not home. Walker’s increasing expertise in the kitchen nets him a job offer by a star-crossing race much further out on the Milky Way’s spiral arm. Even though none of them know if it’s the right arm of the galaxy, at least they’ve found a way to leave Sessrimathe. The four set off to a world where warfare is a game, played by traditional rules that restrict military technology to a medieval level, but simultaneously give newscasters sophisticated broadcast equipment to beam live action to every city. Reluctant readers seeking an engaging science fiction novel will gravitate toward this book. Although this is book two in “The Taken” trilogy, it’s not necessary to read the previous book in the series. Alan Dean Foster’s trademark dry wit, colorful characters, and talented retelling of the traditional fish-out-of water story will keep the attention of even the most reluctant of readers.

gilson's avigon

2005-10-16T14:53:00.000-04:00

Avigon has to escape. A beautiful clockwork given sentience by her creator, Avigon has begun questioning who she is and whether she is human. Everything around her is mechanical; robots – clockworks – are designed to act as bodyguards, servants, mechanics, and there’s more than a few “pleasure” clockworks roaming the streets. Each day Avigon winds herself with a specially programmed key and each day she feels as if her soul is dying. There’s no challenge or future in being a clockwork. She realizes that there is only one thing she can do – run away. But can she hide in a surreal world of machines where she herself is one? Along her journey, Avigon falls in love, but she also learns that there is truth to her creator’s statement that a clockwork can never be human. Several years ago, Ché Gilson released a graphic novel called Avigon, which told the story of a robot girl who runs away from her master to the outside world and the painful lesson she learns there. In this updated version, Gilson and illustrator Jimmie Robinson give the background of Avigon and provide us with what happens when Avigon returns home. The duo work well together. Gilson’s style of writing may be minimalistic, but it is not bare of emotion. Robinson’s use of black and white and greyscale adds to the somber tone. The drawings are simple, yet dramatic, similar in style to Tim Burton.

elster's what in the word?

2005-10-16T14:51:00.000-04:00

For the fan of random thoughts and word play, this book has it all. Every chapter features original brainteasers, challenging puzzles, and a trove of literary trivia. Want to know the meaning behind “pushing the envelope”? Would you have guessed that most people mispronounce Brontë (it rhymes with Monty). Did you know that the phrase “happy as a clam” is really an abbreviated form of the simile “happy as a clam at high tide”? Perhaps you’re looking for that perfect word to describe something very unique. Charles Harrington Elster has it all. Elster uses a lively question-and-answer format to cover a variety of topics, word and phrase origins, slang, style, usage, punctuation, and pronunciation. While the book is enjoyable as a browsing book, it would’ve benefited from having an index. As it is, the book is fun for casual reading, but not for those coming to the book with a serious question. Although it’s not an ideal reference book, it’ll benefit those who are curious and those looking for some brainteasers.

lundberg's olympic wandering: time travel through greece

2005-10-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

Part travelogue, part mythological tale, David Lundberg’s book takes the reader on a journey through time to prove that the Greek people are the modern day equivalents of the characters in the Iliad and the Odyssey. The first part of the book follows the seldom-told tale of Ulysses’s life as a young king in Greece and the events leading up to and after the Trojan War. The second half of the book focuses on Lundberg’s travels to the various Greek Islands and other parts of Greece, weaving together travel narrative, history, and culture. Lundberg masterfully utilizes historic references as a framework for introducing the reader to modern day Greece and Greek culture. The first half of the book reads as both a novella and a history book. There’s plenty of adventure, from Ulysses’s quest to find Achilles to his 10-year perilous trip home after the war. Lundberg places the reader alongside Ulysses. Readers need not know much about Greek history or Greece before they pick up this book, as everything is explained in an easy to understand manner. In the second half of the book, the reader follows Lundberg in his travels across Greece and her many islands. By using this approach to history and culture, Lundberg shows that the people of Greece embody everything that existed in Ulysses’s time. Although the few illustrations in the book serve mainly as decoration, Lundberg’s descriptions of the scenery and people provide more than enough information to paint a vivid portrait of Greece.

mcgough's bat boy

2005-09-28T14:05:00.000-04:00

McGough was 16 years old when he wrote a letter to the New York Yankees and asked for a position as a bat boy. After persistently calling the Yankees switchboard over a period of weeks, McGough was finally granted an interview with the clubhouse manager. He got the job and spent two years, 1992 and 1993, as a bat boy. McGough focuses on the positives and tells his story without turning the players into gods. While he got to meet famous ballplayers and cute girls, he also had to deal with outsiders who sought to gain an “in” with players like Don Mattingly and bigwigs like George Steinbrenner by cozying up to peripheral personnel like McGough and other clubhouse workers. McGough conveys the beauty of the game with such humor and heart that readers will feel they are actually a part of the story. This memoir is much more than an all access pass to Yankee Stadium and baseball – it is an exquisitely written and observed book about growing up. McGough is honest and self-effacing in his recounting – he almost failed high school when he placed his job before his studying – and he later mentions that being a bat boy gave him confidence as he fulfilled his childhood dream. The book is a quick, fast read, full of humorous anecdotes involving spring training, bat stretchers, a pyramid scheme, and 50 illegal CDs.

kirkpatrick's lost

2005-08-18T12:02:00.000-04:00

Freelance wildlife photographer Stephen Kirkpatrick makes a trip to the Peruvian Amazon in 1995 with the hope of snapping an image worthy of National Geographic. This need to find good material is so paramount it pushes Kirkpatrick’s expedition to start out with hand-drawn maps of an area virtually unvisited by man, and with only a general idea of the route that will lead them to the planned pick-up point. Their hastily put together plans fall apart very quickly, and it’s not long before the group realizes that they are lost in the rainforest. The book is more than just a retelling of what happened to the expedition – there’s plenty of drama, comedy, suspense, fast-paced action, and nature to satisfy any reader. Kirkpatrick takes comfort in thinking about his three sons, who he does not see as often as he’d like since his divorce. His other sense of comfort comes from his daily prayers to God. As a Christian, Kirkpatrick believes that God will answer every prayer, so he keeps asking God to help him make it through this journey. Kirkpatrick’s narrative is not particularly liturgical, doctrinal or objective; his is an experiential faith that wavers, struggles, and is almost lost completely at times, but like Kirkpatrick himself, it somehow holds on. At one point he journals, "I still have faith. I'm praying and putting my trust in God. But I have to be realistic. Christians die just like everyone else." Kirkpatrick eventually realizes that faith is what sustains him, but there is no guarantee as to the outcome of the journey. Readers will not only feel like a member of the expedition, but will also discover some hidden truths about life, love, and faith.

(This book is currently nominated as a "Best of 2005")

bolks' the good, the bad, and the ugly men i've dated

2005-08-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

Rory Egglehoff has always been a geek. She has built her life around her Star Wars addiction, relating all of life’s triumphs and travails to what she’s learned from watching the movies. Rory’s clumsy, smart, and a hopeless romantic. When her childhood crush walks into her office, Rory decides that’s she had enough with dating Wookies and sets out to snag a Jedi Knight of her own. With the help of her best friend, Allison, Rory undertakes a four-phase plan to get Hunter Chase to notice her and invite her to their high school reunion. The plan actually works, but Rory is still so in awe of Hunter, and still believes herself to be the geeky outsider, that she loses a bit of herself as she wrongs her current boyfriend, neglects her family, and denies the very essence of herself. Rory’s so scared of rejection that she can’t bring herself to tell him she already has a boyfriend, that she’s vegetarian and has a hippie mother, or that she’s obsessed with Star Wars. Once Hunter realizes that Rory hasn’t been entirely truthful to him, he breaks off their relationship, and it looks like Rory will once again be alone. In the end, though, Rory learns an important lesson about being true to who you are. Bolks manages to put high school relationships and experiences into perspective. Fans of Star Wars will enjoy the movie and character references and details, but they are weaved in so subtly, anyone can enjoy the story.

siana's go ask ogre

2005-08-18T11:58:00.000-04:00

When she was 17, Jolene Siana wrote a series of letters to punk rocker Ogre, the front man of the 80s band Skinny Puppy. Jolene’s letters speak of depression and cutting, drug abuse and sex, music and poetry. At one concert, Ogre told Jolene that he saved all her letters and one day would return them. True to his word, two boxes arrive at Jolene’s door nine years later; inside are illustrated letters and journals filled with Jolene's most intimate thoughts and fears. Like most "cutters," those that injure themselves as a physical manifestation of their inner pain, Jolene feels powerless as her life spins out of control. The letters that she writes to Ogre are her only therapy; rereading them years later, Jolene realizes that expressing herself through these letters had saved her life. The letters share what it's like to grow up "weird" and how one girl could rise above her background and grow. Almost every page of the book is filled with Jolene's heartbreaking artwork and photos, which brilliantly link the journal entries and letters together, allowing the reader to get a look inside the mind of a very creative but disturbed young woman. The artwork tends toward the dark -- black and white photos, ink sketches and drawings -- with black being the dominant color. At the end of the book is a letter from Jolene’s therapist and a list of resources for teenagers who may be experiencing the same problems and emotions that Jolene wrote about.

kline's white house nannies

2005-07-18T09:53:00.000-04:00

After struggling to find good childcare in the Washington, D.C., area, Barbara Kline decided to open her own nanny business, White House Nannies. White House Nannies caters to the nation’s most influential people – those that run the country and still find the time to have a family. Over the twenty years that her agency has been in business, Kline has managed to garner a collection of anecdotes and stories that are not only funny, but also serve as a lesson to anyone with a baby, considering having a baby, or taking care of a baby. Even those considering opening their own small business can benefit from this book, as they can read the trials and tribulations that Kline herself has endured in running her nanny agency. Over the years, Kline has become an expert on the state of the childcare crisis in America and how difficult – and important – it is to find quality childcare. Not only does she give vignettes of good and bad childcare experiences, Kline also offers a practical guide on looking for childcare, from giving advice about how to get along with your nanny to how to deal tactfully with outrageously demanding customers. Kline delves into the childcare crisis that came to the nation’s attention after the "Nannygate" scandal in the 80s and explains that many parents view their nannies as "somewhere between a pet and an invisible life form,"” all the while seeming to forget that this is a person that they have entrusted to take care of their child for 10 or 12 hours a day. The book’s pace takes a little getting used to, but it’s still an overall good and fast read.

barlow's star wars visionaries

2005-07-18T09:48:00.000-04:00

J. W. Rinzler writes in the introduction to this collection about the weekly Friday meetings with George Lucas and the concept artists of the movie The Revenge of the Sith. In those preproduction meetings, Lucas would toss around ideas and the artists would come up with visual representations. Although Lucas liked many of the ideas, he did not believe that all of them fit into his movie, so ten of the movie’s artists use these pages to show off their own artistic styles and imaginative Star Wars scenarios, providing readers with “intimate views by some of the key creators of a galaxy far, far away.” The artists were given free reign to explore all aspects of the Star Wars universe; each tale in the collection offers a glimpse or a new twist into that galaxy. The emphasis is on art and character origins, not on stories leading into The Revenge of the Sith. The artwork ranges from dark and gothic looking watercolors to bright and dazzling paintings. The collection is in full color, but there is a tendency toward dark, muddy colors and bright red highlights. Not just for fans of the movies, this compilation is an excellent resource for readers interested in how ideas, artwork, and printed material come together to create a movie through shared narrative connections.

(This book is currently nominated as a "Best of 2005")

noel's faking 19

2005-06-27T23:26:00.000-04:00

By the time 17-year-old Alex is in her senior year of high school, she is in danger of not graduating, something that no one could have foreseen just a couple years ago. Her father is gone, her best friend M. dabbles in drugs, and Alex wonders why she should care about anything. It’s not like she’s not smart enough, or pretty enough, or popular enough. Every weekend, M. and Alex head down to L.A. in order to party at all the hip clubs, where they pretend to be 19 in order to fit in. It’s more about forgetting than fitting in, though, and the initial fun soon wears off for Alex when she realizes that she can’t escape who she is. She must take a step back and reevaluate her friendship with M. as well as figure out what she wants to do after high school; after all, clothes, music, and hanging out – her top three “what I’m good at” choices – aren’t going to provide her with a real future. Writing, the one thing that she’s exceptionally good at, has always been her outlet and escape, but is it enough for her to start her future? Does she have the power to control her own life? Noel’s debut novel is realistic and convincing. Alex and M. are fresh and endearing; Noel gives us two girls who are anything but superficial. First person narration and situations dealing with sex, drugs, and alcohol make this a compelling look at one teenager’s broken life and how she fixes it. Readers will relate to both girls and their lives.

martinez's gil's all fright diner

2005-06-21T21:44:00.000-04:00

Two friends – Earl (as in the Earl of Vampires) and Duke (as in the Duke of Werewolves) – are driving along one evening when their truck runs out of gas. They wind up at an all-night diner in Rockwood, a small desert town, which has a bit of a zombie problem. The pair help Loretta, the diner’s owner/cook, fend off the zombies that are drawn to her diner. Impressed, Loretta asks the two to stay on and help her take care of some other supernatural problems going on in the town and to learn who is raising the ghouls. Duke and Earl discover that Tammy (also known as Mistress Lilith, Queen of the Night) and her loyal but dumb boyfriend, Chad, are plotting to end the world in order to resurrect the old gods. Similar in style and humor to Douglas Adams, Joe R. Lansdale, and “Shaun of the Dead,” this comic horror-fantasy novel is packed with warped humor and action. The characters are likeable, three-dimensional, and quirky. The story is fast, interesting, and unpredictable. Martinez carves out a nice little bit of entertainment with surprising depth.

wise's bitter road to dachau

2005-06-21T21:42:00.000-04:00

Christian Reger was one of the founding members of the Confessing Church, a church that protested against Adolf Hitler and National Socialism. He was imprisoned three times before being sentenced to the Dachau concentration camp, where he was forced to live in the Pastor’s Barracks with hundreds of other men of the cloth. There, all boundaries are erased amongst the different religious sects as each man struggles to live his faith and trust in God. It’s been estimated that at least 10 percent of the inmates at Dachau were clergy. Although a fictional account of Reger’s imprisonment, the novel reads much like a biography; each chapter recounts one year of his imprisonment. Reger, as a Christian, not only survived the Nazis’ dehumanization tactics, but he also had to accept that his imprisonment was God’s will. His struggle to endure under such harsh conditions forces readers to ask themselves the same tough questions about God, suffering, and life itself. The epilogue fills in the gaps that time has given us in what we know and don’t know about the concentration camps. Wise’s account of Reger’s imprisonment would make an excellent addition to classrooms wishing to expand their knowledge of the Holocaust. The book can be read as a standalone novel or excerpted chapters; either way, students will gain a better understanding of the horrors that awaited any enemy of the Nazi party.

wilson's big hair and flying cows

2005-06-21T21:40:00.000-04:00

Roberta Byrd – better known as Bertie – drives a tow truck for her father’s auto shop in the small town of Sweet Meadow, Georgia. All Bertie wants is to live a normal life, to find the man of her dreams, settle down, and escape the wrath of the Garden Club members of her church. That’s no easy thing to accomplish when the residents in your town view your wrecker service as a taxi service and will do anything to get a ride. It’s not easy when an airplane rolls over your hand, breaking it, and your brother moves in with you while he’s estranged from his wife. And it’s definitely not easy when the owner and previous resident of her house, elderly Pete Forney, constantly sneaks out of the nursing home to visit. If she’s lucky, he’s in his pajamas; if she’s not, he’s wearing nothing more than his birthday suit. After an accident with a mattress makes the national news, Bertie begins receiving threatening letters full of wacky tips from her stalker, “Jack.” Readers will laugh as Bertie heads downtown to file for a permit to park her wrecker at her house, only to discover that the official notices forbidding her to park her wrecker in her driveway were signed by dead man. Although Wilson’s debut novel can sometimes seem over the top with the nonstop craziness, it’s still a wonderful read. Bertie is a true Southern woman, able to survive at any cost, and to do it with style. Readers will relate to Bertie as she muddles through life and ultimately finds that commitment, love, support, and trust are closer than she thought.

smith's my brother's passion

2005-05-16T14:24:00.000-04:00

A twelve-year-old boy struggles to make sense of the evil that is going on within his small town and within his own family after his older brother goes off to Vietnam. Dave adores his brother Glen, and when Glen leaves, Dave spends his time watching and observing his town “like God,” he says. He’s looking for something, anything, that will bring him closer to his brother while Glen is gone. Dave watches his father lead a strike at the local factory, observes the racism surrounding “that Jew,” and watches his brother’s “passion.” This woman, although never directly labeled as a prostitute, maintains relationships with many of the local men. Dave sees her being raped by his uncle, the man who owns the local factory. Not sure what to do (after all, he is just a kid), Dave keeps silent, but maintains his watch over her. Shortly thereafter, Glen returns from Vietnam, wounded, distant, and inconsolable. Dave cannot understand why visits to his brother’s “passion” can’t seem to bring Glen out of his depression. Smith has written a beautiful and lyrical coming-of-age story. The words paint a soft and subtle landscape around the plot and parallel the internal turmoil that Dave faces. Although the novella is set during the Vietnam War, the book could easily be set in today’s time. The tragedies that Dave faces are timeless.

(This book is currently nominated as a "Best of 2005")

cann's california holiday

2005-05-16T14:22:00.000-04:00

On many levels, Rowan’s your typical British teenage girl, just finishing her exams, about to head off to university. She’s sick of her younger brother and tired of the way that her life has been going. What separates her from other girls her age is what she chooses as her summer job; Rowan decides to go to America and be a nanny. Nevermind the fact that she has no nannying experience or that she’s never been to America…Rowan just wants to escape England. She flies to Seattle, where she works as a nanny for a horrible couple and hates every minute. Her only friend is the pet iguana that is kept locked in a cage on the roof. When things get out of control, Rowan enlists the help of her charge’s grandmother and runs away with Iggy, the iguana. She sets off toward San Francisco, but when her bus stops in Sacramento, she meets Landon, who talks her into following him to Truckee. The first half of the story is rather sluggish, but once Rowan meets Landon, the story picks up. Landon’s not the greatest of guys (he’s actually more of a jerk), but he does manage to show Rowan that you can’t run from life. Kate Cann will appeal to readers of Meg Cabot and the first person narration will have readers eagerly turning the pages.

2005-05-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

I'll have some new book reviews to post after this weekend, but I wanted to mention that you could pick up the latest copy of "School Library Journal" and find six of my reviews in the new graphic novel column.

As Paris Hilton would say, "That's hot."

evanovich's metro girl

2005-05-09T09:49:00.000-04:00

A comic misadventure from the start, this mystery is a good combination of light thriller and fast-paced action. Alex Barnaby – Barney – receives a late night call from her brother, Wild Bill, which ends in mid-sentence with a woman screaming in the background. Being the dependable sister that she is, Alex catches the next flight down to Miami to find out what happened to her brother. She soon discovers that her brother has gone missing with a recent Cuban immigrant who may or may not know the location of a warhead and a fortune in gold. Along the way she bumps into your token gay guy, a sexy NASCAR driver, a crazy old lady, and a curvy woman with attitude. Then there are the inept bad guys, of course. Barney cuts them down with her wit and a few well-placed accidental kicks and moves. Sherlock Watson, she’s not. She’s just a concerned sister looking for her big brother. For fans of Evanovich’s well-written Stephanie Plum series, the book is a let-down, as there are moments when one has to suspend disbelief and accept contrived plot twists. Evanovich is better at dialogue than description, which may frustrate some seasoned readers, but the dialogue is what keeps the story moving and what is, ultimately, the book’s saving grace.

ricketts' lazarus jack

2005-05-09T09:48:00.000-04:00

Lazarus Jack was an acclaimed Houdini-like escape artist in the 1920s, but he’s now a bedridden nursing home inhabitant plagued by the memories of a black magic incident that cost him his family. When a mysterious stranger approaches Jack with an offer to give Jack his youth back, so that he may search for the members of his missing family, Jack accepts. Of course, Mr. Nemo’s offer comes with a price: Jack embarks on an adventure that sends him time-traveling and brings him into conflict with his family at different points in time. On this journey through fantastic worlds both seduced and devastated by black magic, Jack undergoes disturbing transformations, falls prey to an insane sorcerer, defies zero gravity, and ultimately confronts the demons from his past. Once Jack begins his quest, the action is non-stop and full of adventures that twist and turn. Illustrator Domingues’s panels resemble cartoon cels, with a slickly animated look, and the fresh coloring gives the art life. Ricketts attempts too much in one story – reuniting his hero with long-lost family members, exploring an alternate dimension, fighting treachery – without any one element having the resonance it should. Characters come and go without sufficient explanation or characterization. There are a lot of unexplained elements, but they don’t detract from the story. It doesn’t really seem important to know why there’s an alien lizard-dog that reverses Jack’s age. The suspension of disbelief happens easily enough, as one would expect when reading a tale of black magic and time-traveling. Readers looking for an entertaining action tale will find enough to satisfy them despite the flaws.

moore's lone

2005-05-08T09:48:00.000-04:00

Ravenous zombies have overrun the post-apocalyptic town of Desolation. Sharpshooter Lucy – Luke – and her older brother, Mark, are desperate. Their only hope is to track down and enlist the help of a gunman legendary in the western wasteland, a man known only as Lone. But if they find him, can they trust him? After all, Lone lives by himself in a portion of what used to be Texas that is now a nuclear wasteland. No one else can survive in the wasteland without heavy bio-hazard suits. Luke and Mark run into Cletus, who claims to know Lone, and seems to know more than he’s saying – especially after Luke mentions how the zombies are being controlled by a strange figure that bleeds yellow. And what are “Gunfathers,” anyway? After fighting off radiation-twisted mutants for two weeks, Luke and Mark are ready for answers. Combination science fiction and old-time western, the graphic novel incorporates the best of both worlds. There are genetic mutations that have gone out of control, hi-tech weapons that don’t belong in this world, and a gunslinger spurred by a vigilante sense of justice, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Clint Eastwood. Moore’s story-telling is smooth and his characters well developed. Opeña’s illustrations are full of action and the fresh coloring gives the art life. It would be easy to imagine this story appearing on the Saturday morning line-up of cartoons.

cabot's every boy's got one

2005-05-08T09:47:00.000-04:00

Jane’s best friend is eloping in Italy, so Jane buys a travel journal with the intention of documenting the trip so she can give it to her best friend as a wedding present. After writing a few pages, however, Jane realizes that the trip to Italy is about more than just the elopement of her best friend. It’s a chance for her to discover that every boy has one. A heart, that is. Using her own marriage elopement to Italy as a basis for this novel, Cabot presents a charming urban fairytale that pits maid of honor Jane, famous for her Wondercat cartoons, against best man Cal, an international journalist who has never heard of Wonder Cat. As the best-selling author of the young adult series, The Princess Diaries, Cabot is a talented romance writer; her personal epilogue about her own elopement in the Italian countryside adds to the romance of the novel. Cabot captures the rustic charm of Castelfidardo, a small Italian town in the region of Le Marche, which happens to be the accordion-making capital of the world and is full of unpredictable electricity, dubious public restrooms, and bureaucratic snafus that nearly derail the wedding plans. Along the way, we get to meet a diehard Wondercat fan, an ex-Nazi grandmother, and anxious parents. As is typical in a Cabot novel, the story cleverly takes place via email, text messaging, PDA journal entries, travel journals, and weblogs. We experience everything as the characters do, something that teenagers will be able to appreciate in today’s simplicity driven world. Readers looking for a fast read, enriching details about Italy, and a good laugh, will not be disappointed.

hall's crush

2005-05-07T09:47:00.000-04:00

"There are many different types of monsters in the world…and today I have changed into the worst kind of all…an adult." So begins the morning of Liz Mason’s 18th birthday. In a world of subtle and not so subtle horrors (her dad’s abusive and her mom dresses as a prostitute), Liz is about to meet one monster she never counted on -- herself. Liz’s problems are a bit different than that of the normal outcast; she learns that her parents aren’t really her parents and that she seems to be something, well, not quite human. And it appears that, every time she bleeds, she transforms into a brutal monster named Crush. Her savage side swiftly sets about obtaining bone-crunching vengeance against anyone who has ever made Liz’s life miserable. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Liz soon has to deal with a mysterious, deadly, ruthless agent tailing her...with a pack of teenage werewolves. With all of these obstacles in the way, how is Liz ever going to celebrate her birthday? How will she ever learn who, or what, she is? At least she has her best friend, Jen Tanaka, to help her through the process. What at first seems to be a curse may be the one thing that leads her to understand who she truly is. The polished, fresh artwork complements the fast-moving story. Astute readers will notice that, while Liz’s character is drawn more angular and hard in the beginning of the story, as she learns to accept herself, her character appears more soft and rounded.

suzuki's spiral (vol. 3)

2005-05-07T09:46:00.000-04:00

After the 2002 release of the American movie "The Ring," a remake of Hideo Nakata’s "Ringu," fans became interested both in the original film and in the novel on which it’s based. Although "Spiral" is volume 3 in "The Ring" series, this psychological, scientific thriller can be read as a standalone book. Much of the plot is similar to the films. Doctor Mitsuo Andoh discovers an encoded message in the autopsy of his old college friend, Ryuji, a philosophy professor who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Andoh must decipher the code if he hopes to understand a strange virus that kills people after watching a video tape. Andoh discovers that there were other, similar deaths that occurred the same night, at approximately the same time. Each autopsy reveals that the cause of death was sudden heart failure. The victims were all young and healthy. What’s more, everyone that died had watched a videotape containing a message that those who watch the video will die in a week. Andoh ends up watching the video, partly out of curiosity, and partly because he knows he shouldn’t. During the course of his research, Andoh traces the video to a smallpox patient and her daughter, Sadako, both of whom died a horrible death after the mother was raped. Andoh discovers that the ring itself is a virus, the product of Sadako’s quest for revenge, with the ability to mutate and be transferred in different ways…even by simply reading about the ring. The story itself is intense and scary. "Spiral" features the masterfully smooth art of Sakura Mizuki, who translates the emotional expressions and tense moments without falling into the pitfall of in-your-face horror.

wood's M.A.R.S. Patrol

2005-05-06T12:37:00.000-04:00

In this volume, Dark Horse has gathered the first three issues of “M.A.R.S. Patrol: Total War,” a Gold Key science fiction comic book series from 1965; the three issues are legendary Wally Wood’s total contribution to the series. Known as one of the greatest artists to ever illustrate science fiction comics, Wood did “M.A.R.S. Patrol” in between redesigning Daredevil at Marvel and creating “T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents” for Tower. The plot is simple; invaders of unknown origin appear and attack nearly every country. While we learn that several places on Earth are attacked, most of the action takes place on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. The invaders are swift and brutal, murdering everyone in the way of their total conquest. It’s up to the M.A.R.S. (Marine Attack Rescue Service) Patrol, an elite team of specialists, to stem the tide of invaders and win the day. Pilot Cy Adams is the leader, Russ Stacey is one of the best weapon designers in the country, Joe Stryker is a demolitions expert, and Ken Hiro is a frogman and skilled martial artist. Although created in the 1960s, “M.A.R.S. Patrol: Total War” easily fits into today’s market, in an era where we are constantly aware of the threat of stateless ideologues. The illustrations are well drawn, the action is intense and non-stop. Gold Key’s coloring process wasn’t too spectacular, but even so, the stories and action remain a top-notch testament to the genius of Wally Wood.

vance's the crow: flesh & blood

2005-05-06T09:45:00.000-04:00

Federal conservation officer Iris Shaw is murdered in a bombing by a bunch of right-wing extremists in the midst of a rural land-rights struggle. At the time of her death, Iris was pregnant and her killers have no idea that, when they killed Iris, they also killed her unborn child. Although Iris wasn’t sure if she was going to keep the child, she still mourns the fact that she never got to make that decision before she died. With the help of the Crow, Iris returns from the dead in order to avenge not only her own death, but that of her unborn child. Armed with nothing but her anger and a few weapons, Iris hunts down her killers one by one and teaches them what it’s like to suffer and lose your family. Iris also begins to wonder: If exacting ultimate pain is the goal, when does vengeance cross the line to brutality? Once she has killed her killers, what happens next? What is the price to the soul? The graphic novel lacks the original bizarre and captivating artwork of James O'Barr, but Alex Maleev manages to capture the horror and brutality of the original Crow with minimal effort. The story is a trifle predictable, but if you’re a Crow fan, you’ll not want to miss this version.

alden's star wars empire (vol. 3)

2005-05-06T09:44:00.000-04:00

Included in this volume are four tales told from the point of view of one of the major villains in “Star Wars.” Longtime fans will gain a new perspective as they read about the trials, fears, and sacrifices that a loyal Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, a young Imperial lieutenant, and a group of captured slaves must face. The first story in the volume features a Stormtrooper -- a clone -- who struggles to come to terms with his background and how it affects his understanding of the war going on around him. The Stormtrooper struggles to track down a Rebel saboteur on board the Death Star before the fateful Rebel attack. On his deathbed, his commander explains that the Imperial Empire may not be all that it appears. In the next story, Darth Vader, the sole survivor of the Death Star explosion, crash lands on a primitive world where savagery is the key to survival. Vader is attacked by a pack of wild animals; in the ensuing chaos, he assumes the role of pack leader after killing the leader of the pack. Vader discovers that being a true leader means taking care of those serving under you. The third story features a young Imperial lieutenant who learns that all service comes at a price when his small company of Stormtroopers is attacked by thousands of angry aliens. In the last story, a group of captured slaves vow revenge on the man responsible for killing their families -- Darth Vader. Ultimately, we come to realize the “bad guys” on the big screen aren’t that different from us; they are no strangers to loyalty, honor, and sacrifice. The artwork has a slick animated look, and the fresh coloring gives the art life.

milligan's jack fish

2005-05-05T12:35:00.000-04:00

A comedic sci-fi satirical look into New York City, Milligan’s first novel brings an operative of the Elders of Atlantis to the “Topworld” to find their enemy and spear him. It’s Jack Fish’s first mission to the topside and he is given three objectives: Learn to Breathe; Find Victor Sargasso; Kill him. Washing ashore at Coney Island, he starts hacking as he realizes that breathing smog is a whole lot different than breathing water. Jack must remain on this webbed toes as the Maltese, the enemies of the Atlanteans, are aware of Jack’s presence topside and will do anything they can with a harpoon to stop him. The only problem? Jack’s not exactly the smartest fish in the sea. As if that weren’t enough, Jack flounders into one mess after another; it’s by pure luck that he stumbles across the truth. Every detail is specific, and everything has a reason, down to the “monthly bulletin” that is printed on the back of a pack of Trident chewing gum. Milligan weaves together a zany, hip, and funny story. New York has never seemed more alive, crazy, and grimy.

carey's john constantine

2005-05-05T12:34:00.000-04:00

John Constantine, the trench coat clad sorcerer, is called in by his best friend, Chas, when Chas’s granddaughter, Tricia, falls inexplicably into a coma. To save her, the two men travel from London to Los Angeles, where reports of other comatose children have made the headlines. In their search of the city, Constantine discovers that several demons have decided to create hell on earth by using the children’s souls to provide them with energy. Constnatine learns that one particularly disgusting demon has trapped Tricia inside his the chambers of his heart; if Constantine kills the demon, he also kills the little girl. Readers are given breaks from the demon butt-kicking and running around to learn about Constantine’s personal history. Carey delivers a horrifying glimpse into ancient religions while Manco’s use of dark, bold colors and gritty, grisly details is a perfect complement to any horror novel. Longtime fans and those that have seen the movie “Constantine” will enjoy this read.

yoshitomi's ray

2005-05-04T12:34:00.000-04:00

Ray -- named after the Japanese word for “zero” -- was bred and raised to be a living, breathing organ donor. After her own eyes were taken from her, she is rescued by a stranger who gives her a new set of eyes that come with the gift of x-ray vision. Ten years later, Ray is a nurse in a medical clinic where she moonlights as a surgeon performing off-the-book medical procedures on criminals. Ray’s x-ray vision allows her to pinpoint even the most elusive of medical symptoms, and she quickly gains a reputation as being able to save lives when no one else can. Even though she has a gift of “seeing” things that no else can see, Ray is unable to remember much of her childhood and cannot “see” her rescuer in her mind’s eye. She has no hope of remembering anything until a man is brought into the clinic with a deadly form of fungus trapped in his lungs. Ray recognizes the man as a childhood friend, which triggers some of her childhood memories. Ray begins searching for clues to the organization that stole her childhood and her eyes, leading to a confrontation with her old captors. Writer/artist Yoshitomi supplies a well-drawn and fast-paced novel, showing a flair for sharp action sequences and explicit detail in both the surgical scenes and the sex scenes. By the end of volume one, Ray has emerged as an appealing character and the secrets of her past are alluring enough to keep readers hooked and waiting for the next volume. Part crime noir, part child exploitation, and part medical drama, this new series should appeal to both the horror and medical crime/drama fans.

ikezawa's othello (vol. 2)

2005-05-04T09:42:00.000-04:00

What makes this manga -- that focuses on the life and loves of a cute high school girl --different from other teen manga sagas is how quickly the story becomes weird. Ikezawa’s tale of 16-year-old meek Yaya Higuchi is anything but ordinary. In this second volume of the series, Yaya must avoid her backstabbing “friends,” Seri and Moe. It turns out that an accident to her head has caused her alter ego, Nana, to come out and exact justice upon the girls and everyone who has tormented Yaya. As if that weren’t all, Yaya is also involved with a group of cosplay enthusiasts who dress up like their favorite band, Juliet; this allows Yaya to express a more assertive personality. That persona springs to life whenever Yaya bumps her head or looks into a mirror. Yaya develops a crush on Moriyama, the lead singer of a local band. Since Yaya is too shy to deal with her feelings for Moriyama herself, her alter ego, Nana, takes over. Yaya and Moriyama become friends, although Moriyama more than once questions the weird-goings on with Yaya. Nana takes the stage at one of Moriyama’s concerts and Moriyama begins to understand that Yaya has multiple personalities. At the end of the volume, Moriyama’s mysterious adult friend, Shôhei, sets his sights on Nana. He is rumored to have close ties to the music industry, but no one knows what’s really going on in that head of his. Readers are left wondering what Shôhei is going to do, but one thing is for sure -- you can bet that Nana will make sure that no one takes advantage of Yaya! Although the artwork in the manga doesn’t stand out, Ikezawa manages to capture universal teen angst in a very likeable character.

"the five people you meet in heaven"

2004-07-08T15:22:00.000-04:00

you know, the author's name temporarily escapes me, but he's the man that wrote "tuesdays with morrie."

i picked up this book, after it was recommended to me by a couple of my friends. there's nothing like peer pressure when it comes to reading material, ladies and gentlemen.

if you've ever read "who moved my cheese?" then you will prob'ly enjoy this book. it's just as quick a read, too.

at the beginning of the book, eddie dies while trying to save the life of a young girl at the amusement park that he works at. the story doesn't end there, as we're then allowed to meet the five people that eddie must meet in heaven before he's allowed to rest in eternal peace. these five people present interesting concepts...love doesn't disappear when life does...strangers are connected more intimately to us than some family members...a random act that we'd classify as trivial is, in fact, anything but trivial.

every day, we're faced with different people and circumstances that reverbate not only in our lives, but in our friends and families, as well. the same is true of strangers. i'm sure most of us have heard the phrase that "it's not what happens that matters, it's how you deal with it that matters." after reading this book, i was forced to think about the relationships in my life. you will, too.

also, here's a 20$ off coupon for border's.

who is jonah black?

2004-07-02T10:25:00.000-04:00

i recently had the pleasure of reading the 4 book young adult series by jonah black called "black book, diary of a teenage stud."

jonah black is a 17-year-old, forced to repeat his junior year of high school after he was expelled from boarding school. fantasy and the real world have a habit of mixing up in jonah's mind, as he can't separate reality from his fantasies.

jonah was expelled from boarding school due to an incident with another student, sophie. b/c he was expelled a day before he could take his german final, he was unable to complete his junior year, and so he was placed a year behind his peers when he returned to his hometown. the 4 book series focuses on jonah and his friends, as they prepare for the future.

so, if jonah black is the main character, and the author, why are the books shelved under young adult fiction? why aren't they a biography? just who is jonah black?

i decided to do some research online, as i wanted to know who this mysterious author was. i wanted to know if there were other books that i could read by "jonah black." alas, there are only 4 jonah black books. what a bummer, right? maybe, maybe not. one site i found revealed that jonah black is james finney boylan, the author of the book "getting in." i've never heard of this author, so i looked him up. lo, and behold, look at this: "... In Getting In, acclaimed novelist James Finney Boylan takes readers through a rollicking-and moving-rite of passage with four hopeful high-school seniors." sound familiar?

james finney boylan isn't the real author. it seems that, sometime in 2002, boylan had a sex change operation. it would seem that boylan had always recognized that he never really fit in and his books were a reflection of that anguish. after her surgery, CNN had this to say: "As author of three comic novels, including 'The Planets' and 'Getting In,' Boylan realized early on that she was in the midst of a remarkable story that straddled humor and tragedy as it detailed her metamorphosis to womanhood."

i believe that boylan is really jonah black. or that jonah black really is boylan. the details all add up and the writing style is similar.

most information was found here: http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/08/18/wkd.jamestojenny.ap/

boylan's webpage:
http://www.colby.edu/personal/j/jfboylan/index.htm

janet evanovich's "10 big ones"

2004-07-01T16:04:00.000-04:00

i really enjoyed this book, although i am starting to get annoyed that stephanie and joe have not married. it drives me up a wall when characters keep getting close and then keep bounding away...it's like, hook up and shut up already!! lol

i'm not sure if i like the storyline around stephanie's sister and her upcoming marriage. i don't want to get into that, though, so i won't. i love how the series bring in current event stuff w.out going overboard. what do i mean, you ask. quite frankly, i get tired of reading, "because of september 11," blah blah blah. i like it when it's indirectly referred to in books, like, "the airport security is heightened," and we all know why. kudos to evanovich for that.

i'm now reading a romance. i wanted something very quick and funny, and this one was guaranteed to be both. at least it's not full of "he clasped her to his manly chest and thrust his hardness into her warmth. her bosom heaved mightly." do people really read that crap?? i know they do...my mom loves it.

remind me to post about jonah black's "black book" series.

2004-06-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

i finished "the lake" last night. not sure if i would recommend it to anyone but a hardcore fan.

the book is quite obviously one of laymon's earlier works, as the story doesn't have his usual flair for horror. it's too stitled and feels way too much like an erotic novel, not a horror novel. characters are doing things real suddenly and there really is no character development.

however, negativity aside, there are some truly horrifying moments in the novel, which makes the book a must read...but only if you're a hardcore fan. keep an eye out for a ramshackle house.

richard laymon, "the lake"

2004-06-18T12:26:00.000-04:00

i started reading "the lake" by richard laymon and it's ok so far. i can see why it's considered a "trunk novel" now...it's not up to part with his usual stuff.