Posts Tagged ‘ Graphic Novels ’

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

This weekend seemed like a small sampler of how buy my June is going to be. Not only is it one of the busiest months for me at work, but I already seem to have plans piled up around my ears. Lots of it will be fun just not as laid back as these past couple months have been. Saturday I got to see Olympic hopefuls for the U.S.A. Equestrian Team compete at a course in Devon, PA. Today, went to a christening for the son of close friends that took up almost the entire day. While it’s great to see friends and enjoy the beautiful weather, I also thrive on my alone time to write, read, and relax. 🙂

I can’t complain too much as I have been reading a lot lately. Here’s what’s new:

  Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs – I’ve been on a Reichs kick lately and have devoured her last three books. She’s a perfect summer on the porch read. Her books are filled with detailed mysteries, heart pounding plot twists, and great characters. Also perfect for a day at the beach!

  Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – This is another book that I should have read a long time ago, but for some reason never had. I appreciated this book, but felt as though it would have been more profound if I had read it when I was younger. I remember reading 1984 when I was young and it just blew me away. This one, not so much. It’s a thought provoking concept of the future and playing with the idea of a utopia (kind of) society. If you haven’t read it, it’s definitely one that should be on your TBR list.

  Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail by Cheryl Strayed – When a colleague of mine saw this book she exclaimed, “Oh, that sounds like a horrible story!” I was confused as I had read the blurbs on this memoir and thought the idea of a woman hiking to find herself again sounded like a great story. But what she thought when she read the title was that this woman got lost literally and then was found literally. I could see how the tagline would be a little confusing without any prior point of reference. Regardless, I’ve been listening to this one on CD and loving it. I love memoirs to begin with, but combine one with soul-searching and the outdoors and it doesn’t take much to win me over.

  Jubilee by Robert Kirkman – I picked up this graphic novel because it was penned by Robert Kirkman and I’m a huge fan of his Walking Dead series. So far though I’ve been a bit disappointed by the lack of wow factor. While the story progresses, it’s not very exciting and definitely not what I would consider a good representation of Kirkman’s work. Still, it is a fun, fast read.

Hope you have a great week! Happy reading! 🙂

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

We had a beautiful, albeit windy, weekend here in NJ so I spent as much time as I could outside. There was a town wide garage sale that was a lot of fun to walk around, although I didn’t find anything I really wanted/needed and only spent $1 on a little kids lemonade and cookie stand – totally worth it! 🙂 Went to my first baseball game of the season this weekend as well which is always a great time. It’s one of those local baseball teams with tickets for $10 and anywhere is a great seat to watch the game. I love it because it gives me a chance to be outside while supporting a family-friendly baseball team.

As for reading, I’ve been doing much of that as well. I ripped through one book, Grave Mercy, in a couple of days it was that good. It’s hard for me to find a book that captures my attention so fully these days, so it was very enjoyable. I’m already excited for the second in the series, although it’s not being released until Spring 2013. Bummer! Also, my good friend and author extraordinaire, Alissa Grosso, has her second book coming out on May 12. I not only get to attend her release party (YAY!), but she’s doing a blog tour and will be stopping by to guest post on my blog sometime mid-May. Stay tuned! Giveaways ahead! (Her first book Popular was amazing, if you haven’t read it you should, and her second Ferocity Summer is bound to be just as awesome.)

Here’s what I’ve been reading:

  His Fair Assassin: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers -I couldn’t put this YA book down. That rarely, and sadly, happens anymore. I saw it come through the library and after reading the inside jacket flap decided to check it out for myself. Usually, I find books through buzz or recommendations posted by other bloggers or readers, but I must’ve been under a rock because I didn’t hear anything about this book until it was right under my nose. I love how the heroine is snatched away at a young age from a horrible marriage and taken to a convent where she is trained to be an assassin for Death. But on a mission she begins to realize that not everything is what it seems. Also, there’s a great love story that slowly unfolds without that being the main emphasis of the story. Nor is the heroine so wrapped up in the guy that she loses sight of her mission and who she is as a woman. My favorite kind of story. A must read!

 

  I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga -This is an intense YA book. Very dark. Actually, I’m more surprised that a book like this, don’t get me wrong, I really love this book, isn’t under fire because of its dark content. I guess sex attracts more red flags than murder. The protagonist, Jasper, is a teenager whose father was a notorious serial killer who, although now caught and in prison, raised his son in the art of killing. While Jasper doesn’t want to be like his father he’s also intrigued with death and killing more than a normal teenager should be. So when a young woman is found murdered in his home town with all the markings of a serial killer’s handiwork, Jasper is drawn to find out who is killing and why. All this is heightened by Jasper’s conflicting desire to not become his father and as he thinks, if you had a gift of running really fast, wouldn’t you be a runner? Some days it’s all he can do not to use the gifts his father taught him.

 

  Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne – I’m sad to say that I haven’t read many of the great sci-fi classics. Verne is a writer I’ve always admired and know the stories of, but haven’t actually read his original versions. So I’m listening to this great novel on CD and want to continue listening to more of the sci-fi classics after this one.

 

 

 

  Everlast by Chad Michael Murray – I wouldn’t necessarily pick out a book written by an actor, unless it were a memoir, but this graphic novel by the star of the TV series One Tree Hill caught my attention. The illustrations are dark and gritty, matching the tone of the book perfectly. What if (and this made a great unintentional reading parallel), someone discovered that the center of the earth was actually hollow? What if the Eden of the Bible were a place of peace and happiness and the chosen few could escape Earth and travel to its secret core? Thus, Everlast and others are bound to seek the people destined for this “heaven” before the end of the world as they know it. A great premise for a novel and I’m loving it already.

 

I hope you’re reading week is just as enjoyable as mine is! Happy reading! 🙂

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

I’m happy to report that the Pitchapalooza event that my library hosted was a huge success! After months of planning, it’s a relief to not have to think about making sure all the details are covered and that the event goes off without a hitch. We had more than 80 people present, which is about room capacity, the weather was amazing for March, and no last-minute disasters occurred. It was wonderful. Even Arielle and David, the Book Doctors, said how there were many great pitches, more than usual even! People are already clamoring for them to come back for another Pitchapalooza, but I’m happy to take a break for a little while. 🙂 The winner of the event was actually the leader of the NJ Children’s Writer’s Guild with her pitch on a bi-lingual picture book she’s been working on. Very cool!

As always, I’m filling in my free moments with lots of writing and reading. Here’s what I’ve been reading:

   Feynman by Ottaviani & Myrick – Despite not understanding much of physics, I’ve always been fascinated by the sciences, especially areas like physics and quantum mechanics. When I saw the shiny new copy on the amazing Richard Feynman come into the library, I snatched it up. Not only was Feynman a leader in the world of theoretical physics, but he worked on the controversial Manhattan Project, a secret atomic bomb making project sanctioned by the U.S. As I’m reading this biography in graphic novel form, I’m learning a lot more about the great man and liking him even more than before!

 

 

 

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball – Can you imagine living a hipster life in a rent-controlled apartment in NYC one minute then packing all your worldly possessions into your hatchback and moving to a farm? Thus begins Kimball’s memoir, taking her readers from supermarkets, heels, and a vegetarian existence to a run-down farm, work boots, and eating every (EVERY) part of a slaughtered farm animal. Funny and eye-opening, this is a wonderful book on CD. While some parts are cringe-worthy, it is amazing how a life calling can yield such bountiful results. Although not an easy road, Kimball shows her readers what it’s like to learn farm-life from scratch and learn to love every minute!

 

 

 

Slow week for me because of all my running around, but hoping to add some more titles before the week is out! Happy reading! 🙂

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

I officially signed up for Book Expo America this June in NYC. Yay! It’s like a mini vacation for me as I get to meet new people in the world of books, pick up some fun ARCs, and listen to great speakers about the craft of writing. If you love books and have never been, definitely check it out! And this week is the big Pitchapalooza event. I’ve been working on making this event a great experience for the community, so as excited as I am I’m also looking forward to it being finished after all the work and planning! 🙂

I’ve been reading some great books as well:

  Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury – I’m listening to this book on CD and the narrator does a great job of bringing Bradbury’s classic tale to life. The descriptive language alone makes Something Wicked a wonderful book to listen to.

 

 

  Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder – I just started this graphic novel and so far, so good. The illustrations are classic superhero with their bold colors and ideal figures. It begins with Dick Grayson as Batman after he took over the cape and cowl when the original Batman was supposedly dead. But Batman has returned as well as a fun litany of evil villians – a recipe for excitement!

 

  Wonder by R.J. Palacio – This juvenile fiction book is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. August is a typical 10-year-old boy starting his first year of middle school. Except August was born with severe facial defects that, countless surgeries later, have made breathing and eating better but haven’t changed the aesthetics of his face. Told through several people surrounding August, Palacio’s story paints a wonderful picture of being different and how it’s the love and kindness that makes all the difference.

  Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson – The first book in the Mistborn series, Sanderson, who I was first introduced to through his collaboration with the late Robert Jordan in finishing his Wheel of Time series, has written a high fantasy book where evil reigns and there has been no salvation in sight for the past thousand years. This series has been recommended to me several times, so I’m excited to finally be reading it!

 

I hope you’re reading week is just as enjoyable as mine is! Happy reading! 🙂

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

Happy (Almost) Valentine’s Day! I hope everyone gets shown – and shows – a little extra love this week. Although I do fall in the “I want to show my loved ones that I love them every day, not just Valentine’s Day” I still think the holiday is fun. 🙂 I had off from work today which has afforded me the opportunity to catch up on my To Do list. I’ve gotten a chance to do some writing on my novel, which is progressing nicely, and watch the most recent Downton Abbey – yay! Love days off! 😀

I’m reading and listening to some wonderful books right now. Here’s what I’m enjoying this week:

  Born to Run by Christopher McDougall – I’m really enjoying this book on CD. The narrator is wonderful and it doesn’t hurt that the topic is interesting too. McDougall seems to have done a thorough job in his research on running and, more specifically, why some runners are faster, healthier, and seemingly indefatigable. I’m not quite finished, but I believe the argument and conclusions that follow are on the merits of barefoot running and going back to the days before the running shoe revolution. Stories about the featured runners and the history behind some of the longest, most challenging races are really interesting. Makes me wish I were reading it so I didn’t have to stop when my drive was finished! The only aspect I don’t like is how McDougall writes like he has a bone to pick with Dean Karnazes, another, very well known, ultrarunner. I don’t know if Dean turned him down for something, but McDougall comes across as being petty. It’s strange when the rest of the book is so positive and really detracts from the story McDougall is trying to tell.

 

  Legacy by Molly Cochran – I’m not very far into this YA paranormal book, but I’m already in love! Cochran has a wonderful way with storytelling. It has everything I look for in an engrossing paranormal read – mystery, attractive love interest, protagonist with unrealized powers, delightful setting and side characters. I have a feeling I’m going to rip through this one quickly! 🙂

 

 

 

 

  100 Bullets written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso – What would you do if a stranger offered you the chance to get away with murder? Thus begins the graphic novel series 100 Bullets. With a premise like that, how could I not read it? The illustrations are classic and keep in tune with the integrity of the plot. There are actually, as the title suggests, a hundred untraceable bullets, one gun and a promise that no repercussions will take place against the person who decides to use the gun and the bullets. Although I’m only on the first one, I’m already intrigued and am looking forward to reading the others (there are 12 in the series).

 

 

 

Happy reading! 🙂

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature! And if you are a lover of YA and children’s books like I am check out Teach Mentor Texts for more fun reads!

I’ve been busy making progress on my next YA novel as you can see by the word count widget on my sidebar. In between actual writing, I’m researching and planning Pitchapalooza (more on this soon!), so my life seems to be encompassed by writing of late. I love it! Yesterday, I ran the inaugural Super Sunday 4-Miler in Morristown, NJ. In conjunction with other Super Hero runs, it helped to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The course was hilly but gorgeous with lots of music and fun at the end (including free beer at a nearby bar in honor of the Super Bowl, but I didn’t stick around for that). A great way to kick off Super Bowl Sunday – not to mention the Giants won!!! So it was a great, great weekend. 🙂

  Frost by Marianna Baer – A purportedly haunted house, a group of friends who decide to live there, and a blanket of mysteries surrounding it all. Sounds like the recipe for a good book. The cover caught my eye and that couple with the premise of the story and I was hooked. To be honest the protagonist wasn’t someone I connected with, nor did I connect with the guy who was her love interest. While I appreciate that the author worked to craft a tale of mystery and intrigue it went a bit too far with the way the guy was kind of creepily obsessed with his sister. Even if it did add an extra layer of complexity to the novel, I could have done without it. Especially since, in the end, it was really just that and not tied into the mystery behind the house.

  The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick – I was terribly overdue in reading this highly touted, Caldecott medal winning by Brian Selznick. Not only did I love the book, and it’s delicious illustrations, but it managed to live up to all the hype. Part graphic novel, part written and all brilliant, readers are taken into the world of Hugo while he endeavors to find his way to what he thinks will bring him peace. In the end, what we want and what we get are often two separate things, but, as in life, the ending is even better than our stinted imaginations. A must read!

  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – Another YA book that lives up to the hype, TFIOS is one of the best books I’ve read recently. Green always seems to capture the awkward yet joyous moments that make up teenaged existence and this latest is no exception. While I don’t know much about the ins and outs of having cancer, I didn’t feel out of place while reading this book. Not overly maudlin or depressing, Green manages to take the good and the bad and the ugly and smoosh them all together in one amazing, must-read novel.

  Amnesia by Dwayne Harris – I have to admit I wasn’t a big fan of this graphic novel. Recommended to me by a colleague, it is the story of a man who wakes up with amnesia that has not only affected him but seemingly everyone else on the planet too. It felt as though there was too much crammed into a thin book – a team of subversive military agents who want something the main character has, but doesn’t realize he has, zombie-esque people who try to attack him and his family, and solutions that come too easily to help the protagonist out. And, I’m sorry, but I expect excellence when a graphic novel is published. Not only were the illustrations overdone and flat, but the writer/illustrator spelled the guy’s name one way in certain panels and then another way in others! Shame on him.

 

Happy reading! 🙂

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

I had a wonderful weekend. Went to a baby shower, watched football, read, and did some hiking. The temps here were warmer than in Florida (!) and we took full advantage. Even took the dog to the very muddy dog park. He loved it of course. 🙂

As for reading, I started a new slew of books this week. Yay!

  Brewmaster’s Art by Charles Bamforth – This is one of the Modern’s Scholars books on CD and the first I’ve ever tried. The series features lectures of a variety of topics taught by learned people in those respective fields and are taken out often from my library. With Brewmaster’s Art not only is the topic interesting to me, as you may have gathered from my post yesterday, but Bamforth is very knowledgeable and makes his lectures very engrossing. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about beer and the art of brewing, check out this book on CD!

  Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa – The illustrations struck me first with their sharp contrast and dreamlike quality. This beautiful little graphic novel begins with a happy family living a happy life in the countryside when three horsemen appear on the horizon. The story becomes about the quest of a parent’s love for their child and what they are willing to do to save the ones they love.

  Death and the Lit Chick by G.M. Malliet – This is the second in the St. Just mystery series. I really enjoyed the first in the series and had to grab the second right away. When the “wildly successful darling” of the chick lit world winds up dead at a writer’s conference, suspects are around every corner as the darling wasn’t quite so darling after all…Oooohhhh! I’m already hooked! 🙂

 

I just found out about an awesome shoot off of Book Journey’s Monday Reading meme for YA and children’s books. Check it out!

Happy reading! 😀

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

Tis the season for some great books! Despite my busy schedule, I’ve been reading some amazing books. It’s a great variety right now too, so they’ve been keeping me entertained. 🙂 Hope you’ve been reading some great books and enjoying this season of giving.

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley – If you haven’t read any of Bradley’s marvelous books yet, you must pick them up! His protagonist is eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, poison aficionado and amateur sleuth. It’s remarkable to capture the innocence and perfect tone of an eleven-year-old and still make her seem sharp and savvy so the targeted adult audience won’t lose interest. Not only are the English mysteries divine, but Flavia’s character is so unique that I’m sure you’ll devour these books as I have.

Habibi by Craig Thompson – The illustrious author of the autobiographical graphic novel Blankets has given the world another gem. Six years in the making, this tome was illustrated and written by Thompson and captures many stories at once: love, Christianity, Islam, history, action, suspense, and depth of character. I don’t know much about Islam, so the story that Thompson weaves is both magnificent and informative. Beautiful.

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane – I’m listening to this on CD and it’s a lot of fun. The narrator is British, but does a wonderful American accent in addition to his array of British ones. This novel is about a young Sherlock Holmes which Lane successfully captures. Sherlock has a strong group of mentors that guide him in his early deductive skills and a web of mystery that captures his curious mind. Definitely worth reading!

One Sweet Cookie edited by Tracey Zabar – My library was fortunate enough to host a cookie program featuring Tracey Zabar as well as Tina Casacelli who owns the bakery Milk & Cookies and recently penned a cookie book of the same name. It was a fun program plus there were cookies for everyone in attendance which were amazing! Today I tried two of these recipes and my fiance tried two separate ones for our annual Christmas cookie day o’ fun. While two turned out great (the Thumbprint cookies and the macaroons), two absolutely flopped! These recipes were sent in by renown bakers and pastry chefs and supposed to be home baker friendly, but although we each followed our recipes to a T they flopped. The Snickerdoodles were too solid and the Flourless Chocolate Cookies were too runny. Blech! While I’m sure there may be other good recipes, I think I’ll switch to a different cookie book for my next batches.

Happy reading!

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

It was another beautiful day here on the East Coast. My half marathon is fast approaching (Philadelphia Half Marathon, Nov. 20) and I’ve been working to get those runs in so I’m ready for the big day. Today I ran 8 miles on a trail close to my house. It was like running through a postcard it was that picturesque. Absolutely beautiful. It definitely didn’t feel like 8 miles with that scenery all around me! 🙂

I’ve been reading some great, great books, hope you have too!

  A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny – I love, love Louise Penny. Even her name is perfect for a mystery author – Louise Penny. Perfect. I’ve been reading Penny since she wrote her first book and I was amazed by both her great writing skills and her skillful gift at telling a good mystery story. Now, she’s getting well known and, as it is with every famed author, her name is beginning to dwarf the title of her book. 🙂 But good for her! I think everyone should read her novels, starting with the first Still Life as they build on one another, and am happy that she’s gotten so much acclaim. Her latest in the Three Pines series deals with the art world which is my background and previous life so I enjoyed all the art references. The only disappointment is finishing as I will have to wait again for her next brilliant novel.

 

 

  The Clockwork Girl by Sean O’Reilly and Kevin Hanna – A great little graphic novel filled with beautiful illustrations and a great story about love and acceptance.

 

 

 

 

  The Marriage Plot by Jeffery Eugenides – I’ve never read Eugenides before, but picked this book on CD up based on his previous popularity. So far the story is interesting and the narrator does a good job as well. The story follows a girl through college in 1982 as she majors in English and researches the role of marriage in literature. The primary thrust of the story however deals more with her pursuit of men and how those relationships both bud and wither. Eugenides paints a great picture in regards to the multiple layers that relationships hold and how these in turn affect one’s life. It’s a little too narrated though, but maybe once I understand where Eugenides is taking his readers, I’ll appreciate the story more.

 

 

Happy reading! 🙂

Comic Con!

 This past Friday I attended the New York Comic Con. It was insane! And a little overwhelming… I loved it, being the nerd that I am, and found every minute of my time there packed with exciting things to do and see.

Having never gone to a comic con before, I had only the Internet and word of mouth to go on for what to expect. MTV had a helpful website filled with a bunch of posts on “Top 10” lists on how to navigate the unfamiliar territory. Despite the whirlwind of events, here are the things that stuck with me the most:

1. The welcome packet mentions: You can’t bring swords or other weaponry into the event and showers help make for a fun event. Just the fact that those things need to be mentioned showed me early on what I was in for.

2. Wall to wall people in costumes. Most are happy to pose for pictures as they get to imagine they are the heroes they dressed as if only for the day.

3. Panels rock! I got to sit in on several great, great panels including: It Gets Better Through Comics, a screening of a TV adaptation of Locke & Key (looks good, but creepy), and a discussion with the writers and cast of the SyFy series Haven (a favorite of mine….I may have actually drooled just a little when they came out on stage.)

4. Writer & Arists & Agents, oh my! One of my favorite parts of the experience was being able to talk to people. Everyone I met, even if you didn’t buy something, was super friendly, kind and more than willing to chat about their work, their philosophies and their upcoming projects. They get to publicize and you get to chat with some amazing, talented individuals.

5. Meeting one of my graphic novel heroes, Terry Moore. He wrote Strangers in Paradise, Echo, and, currently, Rachel Rising. If you ever want to read a phenomal story with equally wonderful illustrations, he illustrates his graphic novels too, read Terry Moore. With strong female characters who can kick butt one minute and show a sensitive side the next, it’s impossible not to be drawn to these tales.

6. Artist Alley. While some artists will charge a buck or two for a sketch, most will make a sketch for you because they are so nice. I brought a small sketchbook that is now dotted with great illustrations from some of the best artists in the business. If I were to go again, I would bring dollar bills and also something to trade as artists seem to work on a barter system as well.

Definitely check out Comic Con if you can, it’s worth experiencing at least once. 🙂