hazmat | Entries tagged with comics

I recently finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. It's a sweet-natured story, kind of like if Twin Peaks had been made by the Hallmark Channel. A nice small town, a bit of magical realism, some social tension (social awkwardness is the thing most likely to make me squirm in stories) but a happy ending nonetheless.

This was a selection from our book club and a good example as to why I like the book club that Kevin organized last year; since we've got a variety of reading tastes, I've ending up reading a lot of novels I never would have touched otherwise, and most have been good, or at least entertaining.

We also have a short story bonus round in case someone's had a hectic month and hasn't gotten to reading the book selection. This month's bonus was "Troll Bridge" by Terry Pratchett. Kevin picked it in hopes that the next time I suggest a Discworld novel (the person whose turn it is usually picks 2-3 books and people vote on which to read) folks will go for it.

Pratchett is kind of a hard sell if you haven't read him before, and sadly I am a terrible salesperson.

Though speaking of Pratchett, I'm in the middle of re-reading The Color of Magic, which I know I've read before, though long enough ago that I don't remember a lot of the details.

And in kind of a COMPLETE tonal 180, I'm also reading a lot of early issues of the comic Spawn since they're available via Comixology Unlimited (and also on heavy sale as that series is nearing it's 300th issue). I admit to having a taste for over-the-top grimdark sometimes, though it has to be really ridiculously over-the-top, and Spawn definitely qualifies. Bonus if it's ridiculously over-the-top grimdark from the 1990s.

And now we know why I've spent so many years playing World of Darkness games, I guess.

Completed book count for 2019: 17

Finished the current Bookaneers book in record time, I guess. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is a fast read, though of course not a light one, considering the subject matter.

It's a well-told story and made me think of Art Spiegelman's Maus, which I first read sometime between ages sixteen and eighteen, I don't remember exactly. There are similarities, of course, but that's to be expected.

I might re-read Maus, though since it's a graphic novel, I don't think I'll include it in my 2019 book count. It's no trouble for me to read comics, even heavy, serious comics like that. It takes more effort for me to sit down and read novels, even though they used to be my primary source of entertainment.

I guess I have a lot more to distract myself with these days.

Completed book count for 2019: 11

I know this is a huge longshot, since Will Eisner's "The Spirit" is, like George Herriman's "Krazy Kat," one of the best comics that almost nobody knows about, but I'm wondering if there are any fans of Eisner's Spirit who have read the new Spirit comics being published by DC. I'm hoping for some opinions, in other words. The art style doesn't thrill me (it's good, but to me it lacks a lot of the character of Eisner's work) and I haven't bought 'em to read, so can't judge the writing.

Any thoughts? Anyone?