tapestry100's 75 (or more?) in 2010 - Part the Second

tapestry100's 75 (or more?) in 2010 - Part the First

Stop by my book blog at from my bookshelf and say Hi sometime!

100 Books
59 / 100 books.

1010 Challenge
Category 1: Fiction, General
-- #5 A Single Man by Christopher Yost (audiobook)
-- #7 The 13 Clocks by James Thurber
-- #10 The Life Before Her Eyes by Laura Kasischke
-- #11 Matchless: A Christmas Story by Gregory Maguire
-- #12 Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Ultimate Guide by Rick Riordan
-- #14 The Impulsive Imp by Howard O'Brien
-- #15 The Fur Person by May Sarton
-- #20 Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
-- #21 Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro
-- #24 How to Train Your Dragon, Book 1 by Cressida Cowell
-- #25 The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
-- #29 The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart
-- #30 The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
-- #32 Old Chicago: The Fort, When Chicago was the Wilderness by Mary Hastings Bradley
-- #33 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
-- #35 Tinkers by Paul Harding
-- #38 Psycho by Robert Bloch
-- #39 A Boy Born from Mold and other Delectable Morsels by Lorin Mordan Richards
-- #42 Under the Dome by Stephen King
-- #52 A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Category 2: Mystery
Category 3: Classic, 1800s
Category 4: Classic, early 1900s
-- #28 The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Category 5: Poetry
Category 6: Non-Fiction, General (no specific type)
-- #41 Strange Maine: True Tales from the Pine Tree State by Michelle Souliere
Category 7: Fairy Tale/Folklore
-- #19 Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde
Category 8: Graphic Novel
-- #1 Hatter M, The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor & Liz Cavalier, art by Ben Templesmith
-- #2 Hatter M, Mad with Wonder by Frank Beddor & Liz Cavalier, art by Sami Makkonen
-- #3 Princess Alyss of Wonderland
-- #4 X-Men: Emperor Vulcan by Christopher Yost, art by Paco Diaz Lucque
-- #8 X-Men: Mutant Massacre by Chris Claremont, et al.
-- #9 Bloom County, Vol 1 by Berkeley Breathed
-- #13 Bone: Tall Tales by Jeff Smith, with Tom Sniegoski
-- #16 Bone Handbook by Jeff Smith
-- #18 Amphigorey Also by Edward Gorey
-- #22 The Unwritten, Volume 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey, art by Peter Gross
-- #31 The Eternals by Neil Gaiman, art by John Romita Jr
-- #34 Road to War of Kings by Christopher Yost, et al.
-- #36 Goodnight Opus by Berkeley Breathed
-- #37 The Stuff of Legend, Book 1: the Dark by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III
-- #40 X-Men vs Fantastic Four by Chris Claremont, Stan Lee, et al.
-- #43 X-Men: Messiah Complex
-- #44 X-Force: Angels & Demons
-- #45 Uncanny X-Men: Divided We Stand
-- #46 X-Men: Divided We Stand
-- #47 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
-- #48 X-Men Legacy: Divided He Stands
-- #49 X-Men Legacy: Sins of the Father
-- #50 Cable Vol 1: Messiah War by Duane Swierczynski & illustrated by Ariel Olivetti
-- #51 Uncanny X-Men: Manifest Destiny by Matt Fraction & Ed Brubaker, illustrated by Greg Land & Terry Dodson
-- #53 X-Men: Manifest Destiny
-- #54 Uncanny X-Men: Lovelorn
-- #55 X-Men: Original Sin
-- #56 Uncanny X-Men: Sisterhood
-- #57 X-Men Legacy: Salvage
-- #58 Avengers/X-Men: Utopia
Category 9: SciFi
-- #17 The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Category 10: Steampunk/Urban Fantasy/Fantasy
-- #6 Soulless by Gail Carriger
-- #23 The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
-- #26 His Majesty's Dragon, Temeraire Book 1 by Naomi Novik
-- #27 Changeless by Gail Carriger
-- #59 Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

TIOLI Challenge
JAN. Soulless by Gail Carriger (Author's debut book), The Impulsive Imp by Howard O'Brien (Author's debut book)
FEB. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie (Red Spine Challenge)
MAR. His Majesty's Dragon, Temeraire Book 1 by Naomi Novik (LT Author Challenge)
APR. Old Chicago: the Fort, When Chicago was the Frontier by Mary Hastings Bradley (City Name Challenge), 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill (Short Story Challenge)
MAY. Tinkers by Paul Harding (1 word title - unfinished), Psycho by Robert Bloch (1 word title)
JUN. A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon (Book with a problem in the title), Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (Book about Africa)
JUL.
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.

Favorites of 2010
JAN. Soulless by Gail Carriger
FEB. The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde
MAR. His Majesty's Dragon, Temeraire Book 1 by Naomi Novik
APR. 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
MAY. Under the Dome by Stephen King
JUN. A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
JUL.
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.

Found you again!

checked your blog. I'm always so impressed by the ability to create a blog. I wouldn't know where to begin!

I've got you starred again, and will faithfully follow!

Thanks for stopping by, everyone! =)

And Linda, setting up a blog can seem daunting, but is actually pretty easy. Blogger, the site that I use, has several pre-made templates that you can choose from. That's how I did mine. I know you can go in and muck around with the code in the blog to really personalize it, but that's beyond me. Once you start getting into the html side of things, I'm totally lost. It really is another language all unto itself!

#28

Title: The Phantom of the Opera
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Gaston Leroux
Copyright: 1911 (1987)
Pages: 270
Publisher: Signet Classic
Website: N/A
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 4-2-10
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Classic, Early 1900s category)

I really had no prior knowledge of The Phantom of the Opera beyond the Lon Chaney film version and the Broadway production. The film version always had that wonderful, macabre feel to it and still felt like I was missing something, and I left the Broadway feeling not entirely fulfilled (Honestly, it was the chandelier scene that ruined the whole thing for me. Everybody kept going on and on about how fantastic and unbelievable the chandelier falling was, and all I could think when the scene finally happened was that the chandelier was falling so slowly that my 89 year old grandmother could have gotten out of the way of it. To me, there was nothing spectacular about that scene.) When the film version of the Broadway production was released, I enjoyed that a little more, but I still felt like there needed to be something more to the story. Perhaps I should have read the original a little sooner and I could have had that void filled.

Gaston Leroux's story is filled with all the elements that I felt the story was missing; the mystery and the Gothic flavor that I felt had been lacking in the other versions of this story that I had seen before. And, for something that was written almost 100 years ago, the story held up very well and didn't really feel all that dated to me. The background details of the Opera ghost's early life also helped me to understand his passions better than any other previous version, as well. I don't know really what else to say; I'm sure most are familiar with the story: the Opera ghost, who is horribly disfigured, lives in the sub-levels of the Paris Opera House and has fallen in love with Christine Daaé, whom he has been secretly teaching to sing. Christine is enthralled with him, thinking him to be the Angel of Music, as she has never seen the Opera ghost herself, just heard his voice. She is in love with the Viscount Raoul de Chagny, and when the Opera ghost discovers this, he kidnaps her and takes her to his home underneath the Opera House, but Raoul comes to her rescue. The stage production ends a little more dramatically than the book does, but I think I liked the ending to the book better, actually. It seems to fit the tone of the rest of the book a little better, in my opinion. Overall, an enjoyable read.

#6: I am going to have to revisit that one. It has been quite a while since I read it.

Nice review, David!

Thanks, Stasia! =)

On a side note, I've signed up for Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon tomorrow. I don't know if I'm going to be able to get the full 24 hours in or not, but I'm going to give it a shot! I was going to devote tomorrow to reading anyway, so it seemed the perfect way to spend the day. I want to try to get through all the books that I've got going right now (I think I'm in the middle of 4 right now) and then see where I can go from there.

#8: Are you signed up the read-a-thon here on LT too? or is that the one to which you are referring? Sounds like a lovely plan for a lazy Saturday!

I tried everything I could to keep tomorrow free for Dewey's Read-a-Thon, but the gods were not smiling. I'd like to see sometime if I COULD read for 24 straight hours. I may have to just create my own read-a-thon!

#9 - I'm just Dewey's Read-a-thon today. And I think it's a perfectly delightful idea for a much needed lazy Saturday!!

#10 - I don't even entertain the idea of reading for 24 straight hours, but I figure so long as I read while I'm awake, that will be good enough for me.

And, I've finished my first book of the day:

#29

Title: The Heart is Not a Size
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Beth Kephart
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 244
Publisher: Harper Teen
Website: N/A
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Finished: 4-10-10
Challenge: 100 Books 10, Beth Kephart Reading Challenge, Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

The Heart is Not a Size is a quick read, but one that is filled with amazing imagery and prose. It is something that I am constantly impressed with by Beth Kephart, how she can capture so much beauty in her writing with just a handful of simple words.

The story follows two best friends, Georgia and Riley, as they travel to Anapra with a group of fellow students and chaperone's to help build a bathroom for the small squatter village. While there, their friendship is tested as a result of keeping too many secrets. Beth Kephart says it best in her Acknowledgments, "we need truth tellers as our friends."

Recommended.

#30

Title: The Underneath
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Kathi Appelt
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 311
Publisher: Athenuem
Website: N/A
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 4-10-10
Challenge: 100 Books 10, Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

The Underneath is a powerfully written story about family, whether it is your family that you are born to or the the family that you choose for yourself. It is a story about promises. It is a story about anger and revenge. It is a story about redemption. It is a story filled with too many chapter breaks.

Did that last sentence feel a little out of place? That's how I felt about the frequent chapter breaks in the book. The book is 311 pages, with 124 chapters. Some chapters are as little as one paragraph. It seemed very unnecessary in many cases, and became very distracting, breaking up the story too many times.

However, the story itself is still very powerful and touching. You know you're reading a good book when the villain does something extraordinarily evil and you just want to hit him yourself. Several times over. The message about keeping your family close, whoever that family ends up being, and about keeping your promises, is told very well, the two messages intermingling throughout the story.

Highly recommended.

I liked The underneath. I'm on a quest to read all Newbery medal and honor books. Stasia recommended this one and while the subject matter is dark, I thought the love the animals had for each other was a wonderful thing!

I completely agree with you, Linda. I was surprised by how much I got wrapped up into the story.

#31

Title: The Eternals
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Neil Gaiman, art by John Romita Jr
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 256
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Website: www.marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 4-10-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Neil Gaiman did a really admirable job of updating the history of the Eternals, but still remaining faithful to the already existing mythology that Marvel built around them. If you are a new reader to the Eternals, you wouldn't feel lost, and if you are an old fan, you won't feel that the story has been changed all that much. John Romita Jr's art is spot on, as always, and his dynamic style fits the tone of the story perfectly.

Recommended. (More so if you're a fan of the Eternals than anything else.)

OK, so I didn't actually get as much read today as I'd hoped to, but 3 books and 2 short stories isn't all that bad. Off to bed I go. I'm hoping I can get up in time in the morning to finish the Agatha Christie that I've started before I head off to an antiquarian book show with some friends and then to meet Kelly O'Connor McNees, author of The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott.

#17: 3 books and 2 short stories sounds like a pretty good reading day to me!

I hope you enjoyed The Underneath. It was one of my favorite juvenile reads last year. I thought the prose was just beautiful.

#18 - I really did enjoy The Underneath! There was so much emotional pull throughout the story, I was amazed by that!

I'm hijacking my own thread for a moment!

If you have a few minutes, go watch this video. It was posted up last night on Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon, and I just had to share it everywhere!

Somehow, that was incredibly heart-warming.

I know! I think I watched it three times in a row the first time I saw it.

I haven't read The Underneath yet but I am reading Kathi Appelt's new book, Keeper. She does the same thing with little chapters, sometimes just a paragraph long. I don't mind that when an author is trying to make a specific point, but sometimes they just seem to be pretty random. Overall, a good read, though.

#20: That is so cool! I loved him dancing with the kids in Madagascar. Thanks for posting that one, David. Maybe post it to the Kitchen thread too?

Loved the video - thanks for finding and sharing it with us!

#24 - Skips over to the Kitchen to post up the video. =)

What a perfectly, loverly day. Sarah (beserene), my roomie Brad and I went to an antiquarian book show today. I picked up Agatha Christie's The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, At Bertram's Hotel, A Murder is Announced, The Mystery of The Blue Train and The Golden Ball and Other Stories, all for $1 each. I also picked up a set of 4 volumes about Chicago published in 1933 by Mary Hastings Bradley: Old Chicago, The Fort: When Chicago was the Frontier, Old Chicago, The Duel: When Chicago Was a Town, Old Chicago, Debt of Honor: When Chicago Became a City and Old Chicago, Metropolis: Chicago in the Eyes of the World. Then we went to a book signing to meet Kelly O'Connor McNees, author of The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott. Then we sat outside at one of our favorite restaurants, had a loverly lunch, and then wandered around one of our favorite shopping districts for awhile. If only every day could be this nice. =)

Look at you, Mr. Fancy-Two-Thread LTer! And it has been quite a lovely day indeed! :)

#26: Sounds like a perfectly lovely day, David. I am glad you enjoyed it!

>17 tapestry100: I'm curious, David. How much of the day did you actually spend reading? ( I swear, some day I'm going to try it!)

#29 - Hi Terri- I must have read for about 10 hours out of the day? Maybe more. I really didn't keep track the whole day through but that seems about right.

And does anybody on here watch Glee? I thought the Sue Sylvester "Vogue" video was going to make me pee myself, just a little!

My students have been asking me about Glee. I really don't watch any TV (hockey playoffs excepted) which pretty much cements my reputation as the lamest person ever. Perhaps I should give it a look.

I came by to tell you that I received The Fur Person as a book mooch this week, and I have Oscar Wilde's Book of Fairy Stories on hold for me at the library -- both are your recommendations. So nice to have those to look forward to, and I thank you!

#30 Yes to Glee! But in the UK the next episode (the one after sectionals) isn't going to be shown until the 19th so shhhh! For me, Sue Sylvester is the best thing about Glee - she steals every scene she's in.

Ditto about Glee and Sue!

#31 - Anne, I can't wait to hear what you think of both books!

#32 - I promise I shall keep my lips sealed as to what's been going on!!

#32, 33 - And I think that Sue Sylvester may just be my favorite character as well. =) She's just so deliciously evil.

#32

Title: Old Chicago: the Fort, When Chicago was the Frontier
Related Series: Old Chicago
Author(s): Mary Hastings Bradley
Copyright: 1933
Pages: 96
Publisher: D. Appleton and Company
Website: N/A
Rating: 3/5 stars
Finished: 4-19-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, TIOLI (Book with a city name in the title)

This was quite a find for me; at our biannual antiquarian book show this year, I stumbled upon a 4-volume set of historical fiction novels by Mary Hastings Bradley about the city of Chicago. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a love affair with the city of Chicago. I'm usually down there about every other month or sooner, and can never get enough of it. I try to find what books I can about literary Chicago, too, so this was a real treat for me.

I haven't gotten around to reading the other 3 in the series yet so I don't know if they follow the same format, but I felt that we are more or less dropped into the middle of the story in The Fort, where we meet Barry John at Fort Dearborn, a mere few days before the Fort Dearborn Massacre of 1812. The evacuation has been announced and the soldiers and their families are getting ready to leave the Fort. Barry John is not an American soldier, but rather an English soldier who is helping the Americans. He is being courted by a squaw of one of the local Indian tribes, who is trying to get him to marry her and escape the battle. This is where, for one quick moment, I was afraid the story was roaming in romance territory. I was wrong. He decides to hold his ground with the Americans and evacuates with them, only to be ambushed with the others, just barely surviving the attack, when he is rescued by the squaw.

Mary Hastings Bradley actually does an admirable job of describing the ambush and subsequent massacre, not really holding back at all in the bloody descriptions of the battle and the treatment by the Indians of the survivors of the attack. I'm not entirely familiar with all of the historical facts surrounding the Fort Dearborn Massacre, but it would seem that Bradley did her research before writing this short novel, and I'm interested to see how well the other three volumes hold up.

Recommended if you're interested in the history of Chicago; otherwise, it may not hold much interest for you.

Hi there David. I'm glad you are having sunny, wonderful days!

Thanks for sharing the video and your great reviews!

Glad that the show find turned out to be intriguing, at least. Do you think there were more volumes in that series?

PS: I started reading Changeless. I already think you are right about it, but I am having fun reading it anyway.

Simply stopping by to wave hi.

Sarah - No, there are just the 4 volumes that I picked up.

Linda - **waves** Hi! =) I love the graphic! Thanks.

And FYI, in case anyone is wondering, at 4:15am, insomnia sucks.

There are some rather amazing people here on LT. You know who you are. And a HUGE thank you to each of you. =)

David
When I cannot sleep I take 1/2 of an Advil PM. It does the trick.

Two plain aspirin for me - I don't know and I don't care if it psychosomatic or not - they work every time.

As a fellow insomniac, I can commiserate!

2 Tylenol PM and a mug of warm milk seems to have helped the last couple of nights.

And what is it about shopping for books, even when you know there's no way that you're going to get around to reading them anytime soon, that helps a person feel better? I've got a box from Book Closeouts, from Amazon and from several Amazon sellers all coming in the mail right now. And I'm going book shopping tomorrow, too.

#45: And what is it about shopping for books, even when you know there's no way that you're going to get around to reading them anytime soon, that helps a person feel better?

It is the feeling that your money is safe and secure - in someone else's wallet :)

God bless retail therapy. ;)

$85 at Amazon, $18 at Book Closeouts and $6 at Target for books. I think it was a good book shopping day. =)

What books did you buy? I'm impressed that you only spent $18 at bookcloseouts.com. I've never purchased books at Target, but Ollies is wonderful for books at a great price.

At Target, I picked up a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. It was totally an impulse buy. I've never read, I saw it on the shelf and into the cart it went.

My bookcloseouts.com order consisted of Spirit Gate, Shadow Gate and Traitors' Gate, all by Kate Elliott and Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge.

The Amazon order was a little more of a guilty pleasure buying spree. I purchased Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, Blood Rites by Jim Butcher (all part of the 4-for-3 sale) and then this is where the *real* guilty pleasure part comes in - I ordered all the X-Men graphic novels that I needed to get caught up currently: X-Men: Original Sin, Uncanny X-Men: Sisterhood, X-Men: Manifest Destiny, Uncanny X-Men: Lovelorn and X-Men Legacy: Salvage.

And then today... I stopped over at one of our favorite independent bookstores and picked up Mortal Coils by Eric Nylund and The Indigo King by James A Owen.

So, yeah - there's no way I'm going to be able to read all of this anytime soon, especially with the stack of books next to my bed that is threatening to collapse on me in a literary avalanche at any moment, but it helped my mood significantly.

#50: Move To Kill a Mockingbird up to the top of the stack, David. You will not be sorry!

I am glad the literary avalanche has helped lift the mood. Aren't books just wonderful things?

I envy you being able to read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time. It's my all-time favorite book.

To Kill a Mockingbird is my #1 book of all time.

No pressure or anything for you to read To Kill a Mockingbird, David :)

Apparently, I now know what I'm going to be reading next!

**Begins to notice the dust bunnies are starting to form a revolution in the corners of the thread. Perhaps I should post up something sometime soon. Of course, that would require having read something to post about something...**

Not at all. You're well within your rights to enter your own thread and open the windows to let in fresh air. Of course, I do love your reviews, but I'll be back whether you've read one or not :)

I had never read Mockingbird until lately either. You are in for a treat. I started reading it when I was shanghied into supervising detention in middle school. As I started reading I was overwhelmed with the desire to hear it out loud. The kids were respectfully listening until I stopped. One of them asked the best question, "Why is it called 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?" I answered that I didn't know but it surely was explained somewhere in the book. When I came to that part I read aloud again. I can only hope that they were inspired to read the rest of the book at another time.

My mother read it aloud to my brother and me. That's how my kids will experience it for the first time, too.

I hope I don't get lambasted, but... when I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school (oh the joys of English classes...), I didn't like it at all... *cringe*

Maybe it was just the age that I read the book at, but I didn't like it and never plan to read it again. I still fail to see what it is that everyone loves about it! But, that's just me... to each their own, I guess :)

Anyway, I'll be interested to hear what you thought of it.

**gasp** What is this? I read something? Amazing.

And for those wondering, yes, I am still going to be reading To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm trying to get through Tinkers, which seems to not be an easy task for me, and as soon as I finish that, I'm jumping right into Mockingbird.

And yes, I'm simply feeding my inner-geek with this next read, but it's about all I can seem to wrap my mind around right now...

#34



Title: Road to War of Kings
Related Series: War of Kings
Author(s): Christopher Yost, et al.
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 176
Publisher: Marvel
Website: www.marvel.com
Rating: 3/5 stars
Finished: 5-6-10
Challenge: 100 Books 10

Not much to say about this other than it bridges the story from where it left off as a mostly X-Men related story to a much more broad storyline that ties into several of Marvel's cosmic titles.

Recommended only if you're interested in these titles and have been keeping up with the Marvel storylines.

Faith, You might want to give To Kill A Mockingbird another chance. I admit to bias! It is my #1 all-time favorite book and has remained so since reading it in highschool English class.

Some of you more eagle-eyed readers may have noticed I skipped a number, and actually I just realized that I never posted Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts, which I read last month for the TIOLI short story challenge. Oops! That was book #33. I haven't actually written my thoughts on that one yet, so as soon as I do, I'll post that one here.

I finished The 13 Clocks during the wee hours. Thanks for the reminder of that one. I enjoyed it!

I read The 13 Clocks back in 2008. Flissip recommended it.

>63 Whisper1:: I probably should! I think maybe it was just the wrong time in my life to read it.

OK, so how should I be counting this? I didn't finish it, but I read a good portion of it. I'm confused.

#35



Title: Tinkers
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Paul Harding
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 192 (only read 70)
Publisher: Bellevue Literary Press
Website: N/A
Rating: -/5 stars
Finished: 5-9-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, TIOLI

I thought I'd try reading Paul Harding's Tinkers for May's TIOLI challenge (read a book with a 1 word title) and also because it just won the Pulitzer Prize, and I thought I'd try expanding my reading a little, as I've been mostly focusing on Fantasy and graphic novels lately.

George is dieing and the book opens eight days before his death, as he begins to hallucinate about his house falling about around him and onto him. He is beginning to see his life flash before his eyes, but as disjointed memories and thoughts that keep coming to him. The story also seems to run concurrently following the early life of George's father, Howard, as we learn about his experiences selling goods to the country people from his traveling wagon. At some point, George begins to think of his father and how he would like to have another chance to get to know him a little better. At least, I think that's where the story was going.

Unfortunately, all I can say is that I just don't think this is the right time for me to be reading this book. It's beautifully written and the imagery is gorgeous, but I simply can't get into the stream of consciousness writing. I read one complete chapter (70 pages, a little longer than my usual Rule of 50, but I was really trying to get into this book) and at the end of that chapter I really had not much of an idea of where the story was either going from or going to. I'd like to try to revisit this book some day, but I just think at this time of my life, it may prove to be a little too deep for me.

Either that, or it just isn't a very well written book after all, but I'm trying to keep an open mind about it because it did win the Pulitzer for a reason.

Post and count all you want!

And, one of the things I love about LT is that we agree to disagree on our personal tastes/likes/dislikes of books.

Thanks for your comments.

I hope you are well. Take care of yourself my friend!

I am with Linda - it is up to you whether you count the book or not, David. We are not the book police :)

Don't let the prize influence you. While I haven't read this one yet, last years winner, Olive Kitteridge, was IMHO blech. I know I'm in the minority, but I couldn't believe everyone was reading the same book as me and loving it. Different strokes...

Linda and Stasia - Thanks for the input. I'm going to count it, as I put forth the effort to read the book, even if I wasn't able to actually finish it.

And Susan, this brings up the point that Linda made about us being able to agree on disagreeing, because I was one of those that loved Olive Kitteridge, but I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone.

And on a completely different note, after weeks of trying to figure out my random sleep patterns, I have an appt with my doctor on Wednesday morning to talk to him about it. Only 2-3 hours of sleep a night is beginning to catch up to me!

Good luck with your doctor appointment. Please keep us posted.

#72: I can empathize with that, David. I hope the doctor visit helps!

Edited because I cannot spell

Thanks for the kind words, Linda and Stasia. The doc has put me on some sleep meds, and they seem to be doing the trick. I've been getting some really good sleep the last couple of nights and am feeling really good right now! =)

#36



Title: Goodnight Opus
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Berkeley Breathed
Copyright: 1993
Pages: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Website: www.berkeleybreathed.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
Finished: 5-14-10
Challenge: 100 Books 10

I adore this book! Both charming and mesmerizing, Berkeley Breathed has created an endearing bedtime story for his greatest creation, Opus. Even at 35 years old, I can still sit down on any given night, and take 10 minutes out of my evening to be swept away to the marvelous Milky Way and remind myself that sometimes, it is perfectly normal and quite a bit of fun to depart from the text, even if just for awhile.

Hooray for Opus! And for sleep! :)

#76: It sounds like I need to get acquainted with Opus!

I am glad you are getting some sleep these days, David.

#77 - I couldn't have said it better myself! =D

#78 - Stasia, I'd recommend just about anything that Berkeley Breathed has written. Opus came from his daily comic strip, Bloom County, and more or less became the most popular character in the strip, eventually starring in his own strip, Opus. Breathed has made the switch to kids books such as this over the years, but I think he writes them just as much for adults as he does kids. If you are interested in the original strips, there are some lovely collected editions being published by IDW right now. Bloom County volume 1 and 2 have been released so far, with 3 more volumes planned, eventually collected all the strips in chronological order.

And yes, sleep is a truly beautiful thing right now!

I have read some of the Bloom County strips through the years. I did not realize that Opus had gotten his own strip, though.

#37



Title: The Stuff of Legend, Book 1: The Dark
Related Series: The Stuff of Legend
Author(s): Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 128
Publisher: Villard
Website: www.th3rdworld.com
Rating: 5/5 star
Finished: 5-15-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic Novel Category)

What a fantastic find this was! Sarah, Brad and I were out having our usual Friday night, and we stopped at one of our local bookstores, and there, sitting on the shelf in the graphic novel section, was The Stuff of Legend, and one look at the cover told me this was something I needed to take home, and I'm not sorry at all that I bought it.

The writers waste no time in getting into the story, as the boy (who I think remained nameless throughout the book) is kidnapped by the Boogeyman within the first 4 pages of the story. Eight of his toys decide to rescue him, as they feel this is their duty to him. The boy's dog, Scout, accompanies them into the Dark, where the toys undergo an amazing transformation, becoming the real, "living" counterparts to their toy selves (for instance, the boy's teddy bear Max because a fierce grizzly bear). The toys are victorious against the Boogeyman's army in their first battle, but suffer a grave loss afterward in the form of a possible traitor in their midst.

The story does move along a little quickly, but it doesn't detract from the actual storytelling at all. There is real emotion in this book. It is a dark tale, but ultimately one that has a redemptive value that I think is rarely seen in this type of story. The only unfortunate aspect of the story is that it is being published in periodical form (this is a collected edition of the first two issues of the comic books), so there is going to be some wait until the next edition is released.

The art is beautiful as well, rendered in duotone pencil illustrations and presented to look like the pages of an old scrapbook or photo album. the transformation of the toys into their new selves is impressive, and I loved how the Boogeyman is drawn. He's both beautiful and horrible, all at the same time. It is simply an overall gorgeous presentation, and I am quite delighted that I stumbled on this in the bookstore. Now, just to wait for the next volume to be released so we can find out what happens next!

Highly recommended.

#81: I will have to find that one. It looks cool. Thanks for the recommendation, David!

#82 - I think it is something that you would enjoy!

#38



Title: Psycho
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Robert Bloch
Copyright: 1959
Pages: 175
Publisher: The Overlook Press
Website: N/A
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 5-16-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 1o, TIOLI (May - book with a 1-word title)

I'm not really go to go into the story of Psycho, as I'm sure most everyone is at least marginally familiar with the story. What I will say, though, is that I was wishing while I read the book, that I didn't know what was going to happen. Robert Bloch's story is so creepy and his characterization of Norman Bates so unnerving, that I could only imagine how disturbing this book probably was to read originally before Alfred Hitchcock made it into a film. Then finding out that it was partially based on a true story (Bloch used Ed Gein as his inspiration) made it that much more unsettling.

The film Psycho is one of my favorite Hitchcock movies, and I have never read the book before. My local bookstore is having a screening of the film for it's 50th anniversary and then a discussion about the book and film afterward, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it a read. I'm impressed with how faithful Hitchcock remained to the book, but I found myself enjoying the book so much more than the movie, as Bloch really goes into detail with what is going on in Bates' head, detail that wouldn't really translate well onto the big screen. And really, getting into Bates' head just shows just how bizarre his relationship with his mother really is, something that just didn't make it into the movie. I didn't realize that I was missing these details until I've read the book, but now that I have, the movie may or may not hold up as well.

Guardedly recommended if you are a fan of the movie, but read with caution if you're unsettled easily. It isn't overly graphic, but little is left to the imagination.

#39



Title: A Boy Born from Mold and other Delectable Morsels
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Lorin Morgan Richards
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 75
Publisher: A Raven Above Press
Website: www.lorinrichards.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
Finished: 5-16-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10

I was quite delighted to find in my mailbox the other day another beautiful edition from Lorin Morgan Richards, author of Simon Snootle and OTHER small stories, which I received last year for review. Again, fans of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton will love these seven short tales. I also believe that Morgan Richards has really developed his storytelling technique with this volume, as the stories seem to have a little bit more heart and soul than his previous volume. I think my favorite would be the title story, "A Boy Born from Mold." It may sound a little bizarre (which it is, but that's rather the point), but it also tells a story of discovering your family and becoming who you are.

As with Simon Snootle, this volume is 100% handmade by the author; it is a beautiful presentation. With each volume being handmade there is a certain amount of imperfection to each one, but it fits so well with the tone of the book itself that the entire package, story and all, becomes a unique whole.

Recommended for fans of Burton and Gorey and anyone who appreciates a true work of art from an artist who obviously loves his work.

And... here's my missing entry on 20th Century Ghosts

#33



Title: 20th Century Ghosts
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Joe Hill
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 336
Publisher: William Morrow
Website: www.joehillfiction.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 4-30-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, TIOLI (April - Short story collection)

I think it's a rare thing to be able to find a collection of ghost stories that have true heart and soul behind them, but that's exactly what you'll find with Joe Hill's collection, 20th Century Ghosts. Don't get me wrong, you'll find your typical, run-of-the-mill ghost story here, but there still seems to be something in the background of each story that makes it more than just that typical ghost story.

My favorite of the lot would have to be the title story, "20th Century Ghost". It is such a unique and honestly touching ghost story, that I actually went back and reread that particular story a couple of times over as I read through the other stories.

Joe Hill has proven himself as a solid writer who doesn't have to use his father's celebrity at all to propel himself (his father is a writer a few of you may have heard of before, Stephen King). I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.

#85: Another one I will have to look out for. Once again, I thank you for the recommendation, David.

>81 tapestry100: - David - I don't recall ever reading a graphic novel, but your review of The Stuff of Legend caught my eye. The cover is quite striking too - I can see how it would jump off the bookstore shelf at you. This one is going on my TBR list.

I've had 20th Century Ghosts on the shelf just waiting to be read for quite a while now so I'm really happy to see that you liked it. I have read Joe Hill's other two books and they were both very good so I don't know what I'm waiting for. Have you read his others?

#87 Stasia, you might have a hard time finding Mold Boy, as it's a limited run, but it's a fun little read if you can find it.

#88 porch_reader If you never read a graphic novel before, The Stuff of Legend would be a good start off. Just don't expect a finished story, as there will be another volume released eventually. This edition is just the first 2 chapters of the story.

#89 coppers, I've read the first volume of his Locke and Key collected editions, but haven't read Heart Shaped Box or Horne yet, although after reading 20th Century Ghosts, I don't think I'll be disappointed.

And right now, I'm sitting in O'Hare airport waiting to leave for Boston for a weeks vacation in Maine visiting my sister. I'm also going to get to go see Brunonia Barry while I'm out there. Today, I'll be meeting up with Gail (irisheyz) and we're going to go to Salem. And for a little "light" reading, I brought Stephen King's Under the Dome. Seriously, I think I could weight lift with this thing!! =)

#87: Thanks for the heads up, David. I will see if I can purchase it off the 'net since it is highly unlikely to show up around here anywhere.

Sounds like a fun trip. Have a good time!

David

You are visiting two of my favorite places, Maine and Salem, MA! I hope you have a wonderful time.

Safe travels, David.

Fun! I hope you have a wonderful time!

Hi everybody!! Thanks for stopping by while I was away. I had a FANTASTIC vacation, and totally feel refreshed and recharged. As opposed to the saying, "It was just what the doctor ordered", I can honestly say it was BETTER than what the doctor ordered!!

Salem was it's usual quirky, fun self (LOVE visiting there) and Maine was absolutely gorgeous! My sister took me to some places that I have never visited before (Boothbay Harbor, for instance) and one place was just as beautiful as the next. The weather was great, the food was great (yay for fresh seafood!) and getting to visit some friends out that way was great (I met up with Gail - Irisheyz - in Salem while I was there). Overall, probably one of the most relaxing vacations I've had in ages.

And, of course, there was time for reading...

#40



Title: X-Men vs. Fantastic Four
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Chris Claremont, Stan Lee, et al.
Copyright: 2010 (1965, 1987)
Pages: 136
Publisher: Marvel
Website: www.marvel.com
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Finished: 5/20/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10

Not a whole lot to tell here. This was basically an excuse to put out another miniseries to try to make some more money and also to heal Shadowcat from her injuries. It all feels a little dated and forced, but it keeps the story moving along from the Mutant Massacre.

Only recommended for diehard X-Men fans. Like me. I'm such a geek sometimes.

#41



Title: Strange Maine: True Tales from the Pine Tree State
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Michelle Souliere
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 128
Publisher: The History Press
Website: strangemaine.blogspot.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
Finished: 5/31/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10

My sister is friend's with Michelle, who runs a blog (strangemaine.blogspot.com) and publishes the Strange Maine Gazette, and telling strange but true stories from the state of Maine. When I heard that she had published a book and was having a release party while I was out vacationing in Maine at her store, The Green Hand, I knew I wanted to stop by to pick up a copy.

What a perfectly fun little book! You can tell that Michelle has really done her homework and has thoroughly researched her subjects. Filled with all sorts of stories about the people and places of Maine that make up it's unique and strange history, little stories that you won't find in your generic history books, Michelle has created a one-of-a-kind travelogue to the more interesting aspects of Maine. I'm looking forward to future books and her continued publication of the Strange Maine Gazette.

#42



Title: Under the Dome
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Stephen King
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 1074
Publisher: Scribner (Simon and Schuster)
Website: www.stephenking.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
Finished: 5/31/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10

"Wow," was more or less my singular thought as I read Stephen King's Under the Dome. I was concerned at first that such an ambitious novel (1074 pages!) was going to loose it's steam either under the shear number of characters inhabiting it or just by it's own bulk of story, but I was wrong on both counts. King navigates his characters through the ten days that the novel spans with both an ease and sense of purpose and urgency that makes the novel at the same time easy to follow and keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspenseful!

King doesn't waste any time getting into the meat of his story; the Dome that traps Chester's Mill, a small town in Maine, falls into place about three pages into the story. Anyone unfortunate enough to be on the threshold of the Dome falls victim immediately (for instance, one woman was just reaching out far enough into her garden to lose a hand). Birds fly into the invisible barrier, cars drive into it, people walk into it; one minute the Chester's Mill is going along its day, minding its own small-town business, the next it is cut off, totally and entirely, from the outside world by an impenetrable, invisible barrier that defies all explanation. What follows is a story more of psychological exploration and exploitation than King's more "horror"-based stories.

I really don't want to give away anymore about the story, because I think that it's important for the story to unfold for the reader without much prior knowledge of what's going to happen. But believe me, the story will pick you up and carry you in its tide, sometimes barely leaving you a chance to catch your breath. A lot happens in this story, so there is little time for King to let you calm down before he's throwing the residents of the town and the reader into the next set of problems.

One of the things that did detract from the story for me was the reactions of some of the town's inhabitants. Some of their reactions just seemed so unbelievable (never mind the fact that the town is totally engulfed in an invisible Dome... apparently I have no trouble believing that aspect of the story). The reactions of both those inside and outside the Dome seemed just too extreme at times, but of course, I also think that's the point of the story; how far can people be pushed before they absolutely and totally snap from this reality? And of course, it's also Stephen King we're talking about here. Of course, he is going to take his readers on a wild and strange ride that is just this side of believability, making it just that little bit possible. It's what he does.

To be honest, the ending did leave me a little perplexed. It almost seems to me that King had written this amazing story, and then couldn't himself explain how it all happened. I'm not saying that the ending is a cop out, not at all. It just seemed a little abrupt and didn't really feel like it fit in with the overall presence of the rest of the book. However, it is so overshadowed by the shear grandness of the entire story leading up to it, including the moments leading directly up to the ending that practically left me breathless, that I am able to easily forgive it.

Under the Dome is big, there's no question about that. The story is big, the characters are big, their problem is big, the Dome is big; hell, the actual book is physically big! But don't let that dissuade you from reading it. King has created one hell of a story and once you get lost in Chester's Mill, much like the inhabitants that find themselves trapped under the Dome, you'll find that there isn't much hope of escaping until the very end.

Strange Maine looks wonderful. I love Maine, but haven't been in years. Need to get back there. I'm so glad you had such a nice vacation!

Glad to see you back, David!

#100 - Anne, Strange Maine is wonderful. It's well researched and written and if you enjoy the "unexplained" like I do, you'll really enjoy it!

#101 - Stasia, it's good to be back, but I was really sad to say goodbye to vacation this time around. It was just so darned relaxing!

#102: Ah, well, maybe you can go back again soon.

I'm listening to the audio of Under the Dome and am about half way. You have totally summed up my feelings so far... WOW.. I already know I'm giving this book 5 stars. Stephen King is amazing.

#104 - sydamy, I hope you're continuing to enjoy the book!

I've got my thoughts on Under the Dome posted a few posts up in #99 now.

I just this evening bought Under the Dome as my first ebook on the new iPad. I needed a long, good book for our vacation/family reunion next week and i think it'll fill the bill nicely!

Strange Maine sounds very interesting and I have had Under the Dome just waiting for me on the shelf. It is just so huge! Maybe I'll start it after vacation. So happy to see you give it 5/5!

Every time I visit here I end up adding more books to the pile. Thanks for recommending Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. I finished the book yesterday and loved it.

I'm glad you had such a great vacation. In my dreams I would like to retire to Maine, but I think the cold weather might be too difficult..Still..................

I'm adding Strange Maine to the tbr pile.

Welcome Back!

#106 - drneutron, I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the book. And on a side note, how do you like your iPad? I want to buy one, but I think I want to hold off until the next generation model is released.

#107 - coppers, it is a daunting sized book and I was just as hesitant for the same reason, but like I said, once I got into the story, it moved along quite easily.

#108 - Linda, my sister keeps trying to get me to come out to Maine to visit her in the winter, but I have told her my visiting time will be from spring to autumn. I have a hard enough time dealing with winter in Michigan, I don't want to be willingly heading off to that much more snow! It is a beautiful place though, and I completely understand why my sister loves living there so much. Enjoy Strange Maine! =)

Bear with me... I was feeding my inner-geek this weekend. =)

#43



Title: X-Men: Messiah Complex
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Ed Brubaker, et al.
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 352
Publisher: Marvel
Website: www.marvel.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
Finished: 6/5/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic Novel Category)

OK, so my interest in the X-Men mythos had been dwindling for some time now, and this collection is about where I began to quit buying the monthly comics. The stories had been lackluster, and even though there seemed to be some potential, it just hadn't quite come through for me. And then came Messiah Complex.

The writers of Messiah Complex finally brought all of the wandering plot threads that had been hanging around for awhile and started to weave them back together into a cohesive and well constructed story. In other words, they sucked me right back in again.

After the events of House of M, there hadn't been a single mutant birth. That changed, however, with the birth of a mutant so powerful that she registered immediately at birth, instead of when her powers would have manifested themselves at puberty. Her birth brought together the Marauders, the Purifiers and the X-Men in a war over her very existence. Almost every X-Team out there joined in for the search for the child, hoping that she is a sign for the continued existence of mutants; the Purifiers consider her the Antichrist and are trying to kill her outright; and Sinister's interest in the child remains a mystery. Overall, a really great story and one that helped to get me interested again in the X-Men mythos.

Highly recommended, but only for X-Men fans.

#44



Title: X-Force: Angels & Demons
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost & illustrated by Clayton Crain
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 144
Publisher: Marvel
Website: www.marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6/5/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic Novel Category)

A series spin-off from the events of Messiah Complex, X-Force is the group of X-Men that will cross the lines that the X-Men themselves won't cross. Made up of the best trackers and killers that the X-Men have, X-Force's first mission is to take down the head of the Purifiers, a mission that proves much more difficult than they expect, especially with the unexpected return of Bastion.

A dramatically darker storyline than your normal X-Men story, this volume deserves its "Mature" rating. The themes dealt with in this volume, including the over-the-top body count, definitely makes this a more "adult" X-Men title. Even so, it is a decent spin off from the Messiah Complex storyline and I'm interested to see where this story goes from here.

#45



Title: Uncanny X-Men: Divided We Stand
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Ed Brubaker & illustrated by Mike Choi & Sonia Oback
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 120
Publisher: Marvel
Website: www.marvel.com
Rating: 3/5 stars
Finished: 6/6/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic Novel Category)

Well, needless to say, the very first follow up story to Messiah Complex didn't quite live up to the appeal of its predecessor. Cyclops has decided to disband the X-Men after the events of Messiah Complex, or has he? Why is he sending some of the X-Men remaining on Earth to San Francisco? And more importantly, why is San Francisco reverting back to the 1960s? And how is this a decent continuation of the great story that was told in Messiah Complex? And what's the point of the story following Wolverine, Colossus and Nightcrawler in Russia?

Unfortunately, after such a great comeback (at least in my eyes) that happened with Messiah Complex, this collection falls short. Hopefully it's just staging the groundwork for some better stories in a new location (San Fran).

#46



Title: X-Men: Divided We Stand
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Mike Carey, et al.
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 136
Publisher: Marvel
Website: www.marvel.com
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Finished: 6/6/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic Novel Category)

Just a collection of short stories that don't seem to have any real bearing on the overall story being told. These stories follow up on some of the lesser characters in the X-Titles right now, I guess telling why we won't be seeing most of them in the upcoming collections. If you're following the current X-Men stories and skip this collection, I don't think that you'll be missing a thing.

Your inner geeks looks like it had a good time this weekend, David!

He did. It's such a guilty pleasure. And I went on a shopping spree, and picked up the volumes that I needed to get caught up with (I was about 2 years behind...), so my inner-geek is going to be having a lot more fun in the coming months. =)

Hooray for inner geeks everywhere!

I totally forgot to post this one!

#47



Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and illustrated by Skottie Young
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 192
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 5/23/2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

OK, so I'm not going to go into the story here, as I think most everyone is a least marginally familiar with Dorothy and her adventures in Oz. What I will say is that Eric Shanower did a fairly decent job adapting L. Frank Baum's story for the sequential art medium, but it's really the art of Skottie Young that makes this book worthwhile. Young's art is fresh and whimsical and just a little creepy and I think he really captures the essence of Oz and its quirky inhabitants perfectly. I don't know that Oz purists will appreciate this volume very much, but as a fan of the original book, I can say that I really enjoyed it.

Recommended.

#48



Title: X-Men Legacy: Divided He Stands
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Mike Carey & illustrated by Scot Eaton, John Romita Jr & Billy Tan
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 120
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6/12/10
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

Spoiler Alert!
After the events of Messiah Complex, Professor X is trying to piece his life back together, literally. After being shot in the head by Bishop, Xavier's body is taken by the Acolytes and Exodus repairs the damage to his brain, but isn't able to reconstruct all the memories in his head, so Xavier then goes on a mission to meet up with people from his past so that he can read their memories of him and try to reconstruct his life, even though he doesn't necessarily like the person that he was.

Overall, not a bad story. I actually enjoyed this Messiah Complex follow up story a little more than the story running concurrently over in Uncanny X-Men. The use of different artists when they were jumping back and forth between flashbacks and now was a nice touch.

#49



Title: X-Men Legacy: Sins of the Father
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Mike Carey & illustrated by Scot Eaton
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 168
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Finished: 6/13/10
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

Alas, we go right from one story that is decent to one that is mediocre, more or less. I'm not exactly sure what the point of the story was other than to bring Sinister back into the story for the umpteenth time (and people complain about Jean Grey coming back...). Anyway, I'm sure there is going to be a point to the "shocking" reveal at the end of the volume, but for right now, it left me wanting something more. The art was decent, and really, the story wasn't bad (although a little disjointed in sections) but I'm really hoping it's leading up to something better. And for anybody interested, I think you can safely skip the follow up stories. I think these were placed here just to fill up space.

Honest, I'll get back to reading something a little more challenging (I'm actually working on A Spot of Bother right now and am really enjoying it) but I need some brain candy this summer. Consider yourselves warned. Lots and lots of brain candy over the coming months. =)

Brain candy is good for you! I have A Spot of Bother in my TBR pile, so I look forward to reading your thoughts on it.

Yay brain candy! Can mine be chocolate? :)

Your inner geek is celebrating again, I can see, David.

#122 - Anne, I should have it finished up by the end of the weekend and will post up my thoughts first of next week.

#123 - Sarah, only if you're sharing!

#124 - Stasia, I'm blushing guiltily. It's true.

And here's a loverly thought for the day:

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~ John Lubbock

#125: I will mention your quote to my husband when he asks me what I did for the day and I say 'nothing.' lol

#50



Title: Cable, Volume 1: Messiah War
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Duane Swierczynski & illustrated by Ariel Olivetti
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 128
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 3/5 stars
Finished: 6-17-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

So, I can imagine that quite a few people will give me crap about reading comics and graphic novels. I'm sure every time one of these posts rolls across on my FB wall or even on my LT thread, there are going to be some that roll their eyes, mumbling something under their breath about comics being for kid and move on. And, you know what? I'm OK with that, because they are missing out on some just plain fun reading.

Like any story-telling medium, there are going to be highs and lows in the story, but when you're working with 40+ years of history behind you, it's just bound to happen. The X-Men have been around since 1963, so there is quite a bit of history and back story that each new creative team needs to try to stay true too, while infusing their own particular brand of creativity into the characters. In most cases, this is what keeps the story and characters fresh. In the case of the stories going on right now within the X-Men titles, there has been a fairly significant event (if you frequent this blog, it's the oft-mentioned Messiah Complex), and even in that one event, you can get highs and lows in the story and its spin off series. However, in some cases, even the lows need to be read and appreciated because they may have repercussions on the overall story that may make their worth more significant in the long run than what the immediate story provides.

This new Cable series is one of those cases. I didn't feel like the story really had any merit other than setting up a larger arena for the story to play out in later. I'm a little behind on some of these side series, but am still somewhat familiar with what is happening in the current stories, so I know that what is happening here may not seem all that interesting, but farther down the road, these stories may mean more.

Cable escapes into the future with the mutant child born during Messiah Complex, to keep her alive since Bishop seems hell bent on killing her, as he sees her as the cause of his alternate reality, while Cable and the rest of the X-Men see her as the beginning of the future for them. Bishop follows Cable, and through some rather too convenient circumstances, tracks Cable and the child to the New Jersey of 2043, and confronts them, trying to kill both. Cable, after several issues of trying to travel back in time even though he seems unable to, finally figures out that he can still forward in time, and jumps just in the nick of time, leaving Bishop behind and having to start his search all over again. So basically, I felt that we arrived right back at the beginning of the story again, just with Cable and the child farther into the future. Did this seem worth it right now? Not really. Will there be some significance to the events in this volume that will be important in later stories? Possibly. And that's why I'm willing to give it a chance into the next volume. It's like putting the pieces of a puzzle together, and you don't always know when one piece that has been eluding you is finally going to come together with the larger picture.

Aha, I am ahead of you. Pthbbt! :P

#127: I can imagine that quite a few people will give me crap about reading comics and graphic novels.

Not me - and we rarely pass those kind of judgments along in this group. You have obviously been hanging around the wrong sorts of people :)

I'm all for reading more comics and graphic novels! I attend a huge sci-fi/comic con here in Toronto every year, and my brother and I trade off comics when we visit each other (though his wife would be a 'roll the eyes' kind of person, haha). He's a huge, huge Marvel fan -- Iron Man & Deadpool in particular -- where I love just about everything published by Aspen Comics (the late Michael Turner's company). Gimme Fathom and Soulfire and I'm in heaven.

I also have the entire line of Tomb Raider comics & every crossover & signed editions, but... uh... maybe that's a little too much information... *runs away*

I think this is one of the best groups for welcoming all sorts of books--which, of course, is one reason why it's so popular! I can't remember ever seeing a negative comment about someone's reading tastes here.

For Disney/Pixar/Toy Story fans, if you haven't seen Toy Story 3 yet, go! You won't regret it.

No complaints about reading graphic novels from me!

I've seen the X-Men films but not read any of their graphic novels/comics - where would be a good place to jump in?

#132 It's released in the UK next month. I just wish the 3D cinema tickets didn't cost quite so much (I'm still going though)

>132 tapestry100: - My son and I went to see Toy Story 3 today. I agree - we really enjoyed it! The "short" film at the beginning (Day & Night) was cute too.

#129, #131 - I can't agree more with both of you about this group. I'm so glad I finally moved over here this year!

#130 - Faith, to be honest, I've often wondered if your screen name was in anyway related to the Marvel character, Dark Phoenix. And I love Soulfire too! Michael Turner's passing was a great loss to the comics community. At least his company seems to be still going strong.

#133 - Heather, I honestly wouldn't begin to know where to "jump in" at the point and have a good starting off point. There is just so much history with the characters, that I think you'd have just as much luck jumping in anywhere along the line. Of course, there are the classic stories that are great reads from years ago (The Dark Phoenix Saga, Mutant Massacre, The Fall of the Mutants, Inferno, X-Tinction Agenda), but if you were interested in jumping in with the more current stories, I'd say start with Deadly Genesis, and then move on to Rise and Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire and Supernovas, and then work your way from there. These collected editions that I've been posting are clearly marked on the back of the cover what issues they cover, and if you go to my blog (from-my-bookshelf.blogspot.com), you can back track the last several issues and follow my reading order. I'm not saying it's perfect, but I've been blogging my reading starting from Deadly Genesis, and I think I've been able to keep up with what's been going on in the series. The bigger problem is you'd also get a better understanding of what is happening by reading some of the other volumes being released that deal with other characters from the Marvel universe, staring with House of M. My roomie and I agree, he watches General Hospital, and I read X-Men. They are both soap operas when you get right down to it, and it actually doesn't take too long to get wrapped up in the story, even if you're not really familiar with what's been going on before. (Long winded answer, I know. Sorry about that!)

#134 - porch_reader, I forgot to mention "Day & Night"! That was great too! I seriously don't think I've been disappointed in a Pixar animated feature or short yet. They are geniuses!! In fact, I'm probably going to go see TS3 again tomorrow with some friends.

#51



Title: Uncanny X-Men: Manifest Destiny
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Matt Fraction & Ed Brubaker, illustrated by Greg Land & Terry Dodson
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 208
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6-17-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

This was a great kick off to a new chapter in the X-Men story. After basing their operations out of NYC almost exclusively for decades, the X-Men are moving to the west coast after the destruction of the mansion, and are setting up shop in San Francisco. They build themselves a new home there in abandoned military outposts around the city, and open their doors to all mutants, both active and former, who seek refuge there. Magneto shows up, mysteriously re-powered, and helps the High Evolutionary collect technology from the Dreaming Celestial, to a purpose that as yet seems to be a mystery.

Greg Land and Terry Dodson's art is amazing; both artists have such a dynamic style each to their own, and their storytelling is really good. Sometimes it's hard to follow what an artist is trying to illustrate, but not with these two. They are two of the best artists working on the X-Men in a while. I'm anxious to see where Matt Fraction is going to take these characters in the future.

#52



Title: A Spot of Bother
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Mark Haddon
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 354
Publisher: Doubleday
Website: N/A
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Finished: 6-21-2010
Challenge: 100 Books, 1010 Challenge (Fiction category), TIOLI (June - A book with a problem in the title)

I think Mark Haddon may be becoming one of my favorite authors. I read TCIOTDITNT a couple of years ago and just loved it. Shortly thereafter, I found a copy of A Spot of Bother at a library sale and picked it up, and regret to say that it has taken it this long for me to take if off my bookshelf to read it, but that's to the TIOLI Challenge, I finally worked my way around to it. And loved it. And can't wait to read more Mark Haddon.

Haddon's way of taking something that would probably be either ignored or looked upon uneasily because it should be a subject best left alone is amazing (in TCIOTDITNT, it is Christopher and his Asperger syndrome, in ASOB, it's George and his insanity). What's more amazing to me is how he can create a story that is both unsettling-ly funny and deceptively touching out of something that by all rights should be uncomfortable. To me, this speaks volumes about his ability as an author.

George's slow yet steady fall into madness is the base ingredient for the story, but it's the cast of characters and situations that surround George that really add the spice to the story. His wife, Jean, who is having an affair with his ex-coworker David. His daughter Katie, and her on-again-off-again fiancé Ray and her son from her first marriage, Jacob. His son Jaimie, and his boyfriend, Tony. All these characters come and go through the pages of George's story, all trying to deal with their own lives and issues while all are slowly piecing together the possibility that George may in fact be losing his mind.

It's a darkly comic story that I couldn't put down. Haddon seems to have a way with this stories like this, because the same thing happened with TCIOTDITNT; once I let the story pick me up, it wasn't going to let me go until I'd finished the book. Recommended, especially if you enjoyed TCIOTDITNT.

#137: I will be reading that one in the next couple of days for the TIOLI challenge too. Glad to know that you enjoyed it, David!

#53



Title: X-Men: Manifest Destiny
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Mike Carey et al.
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 200
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Finished: 6-26-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

This is a collection of non-related stories that deal with the X-Men moving to San Francisco, and how some of them are adjusting to the move. I don't think there is anything in this volume that would be missed if it was to be skipped if you are reading through the current story lines. Not a necessary volume at all, in my eyes. This may sound harsh, but the best part for me about this volume is the Michael Turner cover.

#138 - I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on it, Stasia!

I will let you know once I have it read. It will definitely be before Wednesday though.

#54



Title: Uncanny X-Men: Lovelorn
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Matt Fraction, illustrated by Terry Dodson, Mitch Breitweiser & Danial Acuña
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 136
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6-26-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

I've seen a lot of varying reviews on this particular volume. Some love it, some hate it, many are "Meh" over it. The reason is, there isn't much in this volume that can stand up as a stand alone volume. This is a "middle-of-the-story" volume, but you can't get from the beginning to the end of a story without something, in the middle right? There is lots going on in the X-Men universe by this time, and in Matt Fraction's stories, this is one of the main tie ins to what's to come. We see more of Madeleine Pryor as the Red Queen; Beast is recruiting his own version of the X-Club to try to figure out the secret to unlocking the X-gene; Colossus is off rescuing kidnaps Russians; and footage of the massacre in Alaska is leaked. But that's all there is in this volume, glimpses of the events leading up to things yet to come and the beginnings of lots and lots of secrets.

The inclusion of Annual #2 is a tie in to the Dark Reign story line moving throughout the rest of the Marvel Universe at this time. It seems to be a bit revisionist (but what isn't, these days?) and it seems a little out of place in the grand scheme of this story, but it does solve one mystery from the early issues in the volume: what was going on with Sebastian Shaw?

#55



Title: X-Men: Original Sin
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Mike Carey & Daniel Way, illustrated by Scot Eaton & Mike Deodato
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 144
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Finished: 6-26-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)
OK, could there be anything more tiresome than yet another revision to Wolverine's history? Yes, there can be. Yet another Wolverine ripoff character. There have been many attempts at writing/rewriting his history and several attempts at creating characters that can be used to make more Wolverine-ish stories (X-23!), so now Wolverine apparently has a son with the seemingly same powers and seemingly same memory problems and seemingly same berserker rage - but wait! There's a difference! Now, he's a bad guy! to me, this is just a little lazy. It's basically Wolverine all over again. In fact, Wolverine goes to Professor X to try to do the same brainwashing on Daken that Professor X did on Wolverine back in the day, in yet another revision to his past.

The only reason I'm giving this lazy story anything more than 1 star is because the parts around the story are well written and the ending actually didn't go where I thought it was going to go, even though it still ended up paralleling Wolverine's own story a little bit too much.

#56



Title: Uncanny X-Men: Sisterhood
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Matt Fraction, illustrated by Greg Land, Terry Dodson & Yanick Paquette
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 144
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6-26-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

I'm becoming more and more impressed with Matt Fraction as the current writer on Uncanny. His writing reminds me of Joss Whedon's work on Astonishing, where the story seems more character-driven, with the big action happening, but more in the background. Yet the plot doesn't ever seem to suffer at the expense of the characters. It's all the a realy great balance of storytelling.

We finally find out what Madeleine Pryor, the Red Queen, has been up to these last couple of issues, but we don't find out why. It seems that she can bring people back from the grave with the help of her Sisterhood, a group of female villains that she brought together to help her achieve her means. When her ultimate objective is finally revealed, I felt a little lost, because there is no real explanation as to its cause, but maybe that's a story for another time.

I particularly enjoyed the X-Club's jaunt into the past, a past that seems to be heavily steampunk influenced, in search of possible answers to the reactivation of the X-gene. We even get our first glimpse at the first (steampunk) Sentinel!

A nice little addition to the current story, tying up several threads and leaving just enough to whet the appetite for the upcoming Utopia event.

Oh, and Greg Land continues to blow me away with his hyper-realistic art. Stunning.

>137 tapestry100:, nice review, David! I had the same experience as you -- I had read The Curious Incident for my book club, and then came across A Spot of Bother at a library sale. It's been in my pile for at least a year -- possibly two. Looks like I need to dig it out.

#145 - Anne, I'd recommend moving it up the TBR pile. I also think I'm going to be picking up his newest kids book, Boom!, soon.

#57



Title: X-Men Legacy: Salvage
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Mike Carey, illustrated by Phil Briones & Scot Eaton
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 168
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6-26-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

OK, so I don't know exactly where Legacy is going these days. It only seems to be around as a series to revise and sort out all the side stories that have been dangling around in the X-universe for years. Sorting out Professor X. Mr. Sinister. Wolverine and Daken. Now Rogue and Danger. Don't get me wrong, it's good that these plots are finally being dealt with, but it just seems like they are rushing through all of them right now so that they can finally start integrating Legacy back into the mainstream stories. Which is fine. It looks like legacy will be involved with the utopia crossover, which is good, since it will seem like the series actually has some direction again.

I like Caulfield's idea.

Me, too. My daughters are like that. For years I've had to enforce the rule that they may not check out more books than they can carry.

#135 Thanks for the advice - I will add Deadly Genesis to the graphic novels list.

#148: David, I am stealing that to post on my thread. I love it!

Yes, dk_phoenix IS my tribute to Dark Phoenix, but the name was taken when I signed up for LT... *sigh*. I have, er... a number of figurines, and I hope to someday attempt making a Dark Phoenix costume. What can I say, I have a girl crush on the Destroyer of Worlds.... LOL.

I should also say, I met Matt Fraction once at a con... my brother handed me a comic before I went to the con and asked me to get it signed for him. So, I went to Fraction's signing table -- which at the time was EMPTY (!!!) so I just walked right up to him. He looked very excited at the fact that a young woman was approaching his table and enthusiastically took the comic to sign and greeted me... unfortunately I had to be honest when he asked who he should sign it to and say it was for my brother. Oh, his face fell like a pile of bricks... my husband, watching from a few feet away, had a good laugh over that one...

I still feel terrible about it! Hopefully he'll come back another year, I swear I'll get dressed up and bring my own comic next time. LOL.

So delighted to see the kindred spirits gathering. I'm not a Marvel fan -- DC is my playground and Batman is my crush -- but I too have "a number of figurines" (not to mention the action figures, RC cars, playsets, lunchboxes, and of course the comics themselves) so no need to be shy about such things. You are in excellent company here.

I also share your love of Michael Turner's wonderful, vivid series, though I struggle to keep up the love now that the originator has passed -- that man's artwork was AMAZING. It was a jealous god who stole him from the world so early, I swear.

PS: Geeks rule. :)

#149, 150, 151 - It seemed apropos for our little group!

#152 - I knew it! Jean Grey/Phoenix/Dark Phoenix is my FAV X-Men character, and I love anything that has to do with the Phoenix mythos. I have a few of the figures, too. It's good to see some love out there for Jean Grey. =)

#153 - You have Batman figures?!?? I had no idea! lol And yes, geeks rule!

David, you know perfectly well that I was talking to dk_phoenix. Never mind that it's your thread.

;)

*Na na na na naaaa*

>155 beserene:: ...Er... anywho... *twiddles thumbs*... GASP and HORROR, you are a DC fan?!?! BEGONE, VILE SCU... oh, who am I kidding, I enjoy Batman stuff 'n such as well (okay, except the film 'Batman and Robin'... hooo boy... that's several hours of my life I'll NEVER get back...). And Turner did some excellent artwork for DC *and* Marvel. I know what you mean, I still can't believe he's gone... after his death when Aspen MLT was trying to stay alive, they put a number of signed prints up for sale on the website... I grabbed a few and have them in my office, and the artwork STILL amazes me. We should have a Turner's Fans Support Group around here or something... we can all clutch our comics and talk about our favorite covers... (and I'm only half joking).

>152 dk_phoenix:: I know, she's so overlooked! And the films didn't do her any justice... I was quite furious with X-Men 3, but then again, who wasn't? Heh... o_O

Ugh... don't get either one of us started on X-Men 3! That was so crappy... such potential... ruined... *sigh*

Oh, yeah, and we don't talk about that "Batman and Robin" movie either. Just purge that from your mind.

Oh, yeah, and we don't talk about that "Batman and Robin" movie either. Just purge that from your mind.

I've tried... oh, believe me, I've tried... *weeps*

#58



Title: Avengers/X-Men: Utopia
Related Series: X-Men
Author(s): Matt Fraction, illustrated by Marc Silvestri, Terry Dodson, Luke Ross & Mike Deodato
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 368
Publisher: Marvel
Website: marvel.com
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6-30-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, 1010 Challenge (Graphic novel category)

Well, the X-Men's stay in San Francisco is short lived. The Humanity Now! Organization's march through San Francisco in support of their bill to regulate mutant breeding brings about riots on both sides of the struggle. When the situation seems to be escalating out of control, Norman Osborn and his Dark Avengers descend on the city to bring order back to the city. And on top of that, Emma's secrets finally come to the front as she reveals that she has teamed with Osborn as leader of his newly formed team of Dark X-Men. Cyclops finally has decided that he's had enough and sets in motion his secret, which is the raising of the original Asteroid M, which he claims will be a mutant Utopia. He has decided that mutants need to be removed from the general human populace and so has set up Utopia as a sanctuary for all mutants and their families.

I think this story hearkens back to the X-Men stories of the 80s and early 90s, when mutants were treated as second rate citizens and there was prejudice around the entire Marvel universe toward them. This is one of the aspects of the X-Men stories that has always intrigued me, how the mutants are treated by the government and general populace, and is a mirror sometimes to how minorities (such as gays) are treated in real life. Those were some of my favorite stories from back in the day; the X-Men struggling to be accepted by a world they are trying to protect. It seems like we may be seeing a more prevalent return to some of those themes in the current stories.

Overall, a recommended read for X-Men fans.

#156 - X-Men 3 **twitch twitch** Yeah, we don't talk about that movie. And I've lucked out that I have never seen Batman and Robin, and I think it's best left that way.

#59



Title: Who Fears Death
Related Series: N/A
Author(s): Nnedi Okorafor
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 386
Publisher: DAW
Website: N/A
Rating: 4/5 stars
Finished: 6-30-2010
Challenge: 100 Books 10, TIOLI (Book about Africa), 1010 Challenge (Fantasy category)

Nnedi Okorafor's Who Fears Death is really an almost impossible book to categorize. At its core, it is a traditional fantasy hero's journey: there is the apprentice sorcerer in the main character, Onyesonwu, who comes from humble beginnings, hears of a prophecy that there is a savior who can help save her people, and decides to go on a journey to discover her past and to help save her people from the evil sorcerer who lives in his stronghold; the journey is arduous but Onyesonwu doesn't go alone, as her friends join her in her quest. From here, however, the story begins to take on elements of magical realism and alternate history, as it is unclear if the Sudan that the story takes place in is a future of our Sudan, or one from an alternate history. Okorafor steeps her story in elements of what is happening there today, so there is some level of realism to the story.

Onyesonwu's story is one of both tragedy and hope, told from her point of view while she is in jail for the "crimes" that she has committed during the rebellion. We follow her story from her violent conception to her time spent in jail, and it's not an always easy story to read, but one that flows almost organically through to its inevitable ending.

There were some elements of the story that I felt were a little incongruous. For instance, this story takes place in an undisclosed future complete with computers and hand held devices with built in maps that can track your location in the desert, yet to these people, there is no knowledge of anything that lies beyond the desert that they live in, as if there has never been any contact with the outside world. This just seemed a little odd to me. I'm probably just overthinking this, though, and really it doesn't detract from the story at all. The key here, I think, is that there is probably a lot lost on readers, like myself, who are unfamiliar with African legend and lore. Nnedi Okorafor, while born in America, comes from Nigerian descent and has spent much time in Nigeria over her life, so her story is steeped in African myth. I'm sure for those readers who are more versed in African legend, many of the names and environments used in the book would have more meaning. What is also important here is that while I am ignorant of the meaning behind many of the names and legends that Nnedi uses in her story, it absolutely did not feel like I was lost at any point during my time reading the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed Who Fears Death and look forward to reading more by Nnedi Okorafor. Recommended.

New thread started here.