READING NOTES
Just a couple of notes on a few things I've read recently.

I took a summer vacation last week, and what better to read than a mystery! I read Dead Days of Summer by Carolyn G Hart -- a Death on Demand mystery. I started reading Death on Demand mysteries way back when Hart started writing them, and I've been enjoying them ever since. I'm a little behind on the series, but that's OK. The series centers around a mystery bookstore on an island, and the owner-turned-sometime-sleuth, Annie Darling (though she doesn't start out as darling). There's mystery, death, books, and a bit of romance in these enjoyable mysteries; I definitely recommend them!

Next on my vacation reading list was Moonheart by Charles de Lint -- a fine modern fantasy combining the world of Ottawa, Canada with the Otherworld and time travel, and including wonderful interpretations of myth and legend. The perfect reading-in-the-woods-while-camping book, this is truly a magical title superbly written. An excellent advanced fantasy.

And last night I finished off by reading the newest Minx book, Water Baby. Up until now I have liked the Minx books for the most part, but this one didn't thrill me. It's a realistic fiction piece about a girl who gets her leg bitten off by a shark and is learning to cope with the adjustment. It's also about friendship and relationships. I was hoping to like it, but it left me feeling dull and empty.

Labels: book review, booklists, fantasy books, good books, graphic novels, mysteries

~emily - 1:18 PM~
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BEING A FAN OF COURTNEY
I don't know which Courtney you're thinking of, but the Courtney I mean is Courtney Crumrin of the graphic novels by Ted Naifeh. We just received Courtney Crumrin and the Fire Thief's Tale, and I had the pleasure of reading through it over lunch on the lawn. A delightful tale of werewolves, magic, faith, and love. It's a simple story told in black & white, but full of things to make you think just a little, if you want to.
I'll take more Courtney Crumrin any day of the week.

Labels: book review, fantasy books, good books, graphic novels

~emily - 1:56 PM~
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CORALINE ON THE BIG SCREEN
If you're on my Facebook, you've seen today's posts from ICV2 about Coraline, that fantastic book by Neil Gaiman, going big screen early next year. I think I reported the news about Coraline some time ago, but now it's really on it's way. And on top of that, there's a graphic novel of it coming out this summer (be looking for it on our shelves in a little while -- I have it on order). I decided I'd link to Variety's article on the upcoming movie and the other projects Laika Studios are planning on doing in the near future -- they look pretty good.
Here's the link. Enjoy. I'm totally looking forward to this stuff -- I loved reading Coraline.
(PS -- Coraline is on the Middle School Summer Reading Long List.)

Labels: book news, fantasy books, good books, graphic novels, movies, summer reading

~emily - 11:36 AM~
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COMIC BOOK READING
With the Iron Man movie just out and the upcoming Batman and Hellboy and Incredible Hulk films, superhero comic books and graphic novels have suddenly taken over much of my reading again. I worked my way through the three Birds of Prey GNs we have, thoroughly enjoying them (for the most part) -- they combine a multitude of DC comics characters, centralizing on Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl, aka Oracle, and the female superhero group she puts together. In the middle of one of the titles, there was a year-long break, during which the Infinite Crisis happened. OK, so I'll admit that I was a little annoyed to see that break in the middle of one of the books I was reading, but I came to the library the next day and picked up The OMAC Project: Countdown to Infinite Crisis, and now I'm waiting for Infinite Crisis, which happens to be checked out.
Anyway, all this to tell you that there are some fabulous superhero comic books out there, and I hope you're finding what you want at the library -- and if you're not, please recommend some. (But if you want to read Iron Man, you're going to need to put in a request, because he's super popular right now!) Be looking for more coming to the shelves soon!

Labels: comics, good books, graphic novels

~emily - 12:52 PM~
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TAG CLOUD
For the next few days (or weeks!), you may see a few changes and messes at the bottom of this blog page -- I'm working on a tag cloud for books I've either bookended on this blog, or books in lists posted on the FPL Teen Reading Page, or just random books I want to add to the list. The tag cloud will help you find books that I've talked about that may be of interest to you, based on keywords from the book description. (The tag cloud isn't for blog posts in general.) The disarray comes from my not being sure of which bookmarking tool I want to use -- there are lots of great ones out there with different functionalities, appearances, and alliances. I'm currently looking at del.icio.us, Blinklist, and Furl, but there may be others as well. Eventually I'll just pick one and deal with the quirks, but in the meantime, have patience -- and give the tag cloud a try! Let me know what you think!

Labels: book news, booklists, books for boys, books for girls, graphic novels, links

~emily - 10:22 AM~
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FEBRUARY
Happy February to you! I realize that this past week has been a little weak on the posting front, and I apologize for that. I've had odd hours in Reference and in between times have been trying to organize for an office move. I feel like I'm completely scattered around the library.

I did finish reading Tangent Comics; after a slow beginning with action but too much background plot, the stories finally started to take off about halfway through, and I enjoyed the tales of the superheroes.
Now I'm reading Taken by Bloor; Unshelved Comics did a Sunday strip on the book, which made me interested -- you can see the Unshelved strip at the library in the YA area or by clicking on that link above.

Labels: comics, graphic novels, new books

~emily - 9:20 AM~
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SUPER ANIME DAY

Labels: anime, calendar, graphic novels, manga, movies, programs, television

~emily - 9:52 AM~
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DRAGON BALL & PERSEPOLIS
I know we have a load of manga fans out and about -- and some of you enjoy (or have enjoyed) the Dragon Ball series. Well, you'll be glad to know, if you don't already, about the movie that's being made based on the manga. Emily Rossum, one of the cast, talks about the film on her MySpace blog. Get ready!

And while we're on the subject of comics to movies, Satrapi's Persepolis, which has been very popular was turned into a film -- and here's the link to an interview about Satrapi and her film.

Labels: graphic novels, movies

~emily - 7:55 PM~
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VERONICA MARS COMIC
Is currently in talks -- but because of the writers strike, it's slow going. You can read about it at ICv2 News. This could be good news if you've been a fan of the show -- the graphic novel is supposed to continue where the last season ended off.
Veronica Mars read-alikes? Try some Alias books or the It Girl novels or the Private series or Vesper Holly books.... None of them are exactly the same, but they all seem to have a little bit of something similar.

Labels: graphic novels, television

~emily - 9:24 AM~
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JUST IN!
A number of books are being put on the various new shelves today. I thought I'd give you a preview:
In fiction today, we have Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, Wyvernhail by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and Kissing the Bee by Kathe Koja.

In nonfiction, we have Vera Wang, Interracial Relationships, and Confessions by a Teenage Witch by Gwinevere Rain.

In graphic novels, we have Naruto vols 19-21, Confessions of a Blabbermouth (minx), and Ultimate Spider-man vol 18.

There's lots of great stuff -- come get it!

Labels: fantasy books, graphic novels, manga, new books

~emily - 11:28 AM~
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BOOKENDS: White Tiger
White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion by Tamora Pierce, et al
After her FBI partner is murdered, after her superhero uncle is killed, after she is compelled to leave the job she loved, and after her mentor is jailed, Angela del Toro feels lost -- but she is still determined to bring law and order to her new neighbourhood. When she mysteriously receives the mystical amulets that made her uncle the powerful White Tiger, she discovers that she has new strengths and prowess. With a new costume and a new investigation, Angela soon becomes the new White Tiger, set to bring down a powerful criminal
I picked this up mostly because I'm a fan of Tamora Pierce, but it wasn't anything like what I was expecting -- mostly because of the heavy tie-ins with many Marvel characters (DareDevil, Spider-Man, Cobra, and others) and Marvel storylines. I wasn't convinced at the start that I would like it, but as the plot moved on and the story developed, I started enjoying it more and more. I didn't get a strong flavour of Pierce from the writing, except for the personality of a strong female character who defies the odds to put good over evil and take down the bad guys. Overall, I liked it -- it was a good reminder that I enjoy a good superhero comic/gn.
Parental Advisory on the back cover; there's definitely violence.
Y GRAPHIC NOVEL Pierce

Labels: book review, graphic novels, new books

~emily - 9:08 AM~
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MORE NEW BOOKS
There is a HUGE pile of new books on my shelf, just waiting to be mentioned and put out to be taken out.
For starters, a few weeks ago I had a request for more books from the Charmed television series -- the ones I ordered are now here -- four new ones!
A couple more Degrassi: The Next Generation graphic novels...
Two Victoria Hanleys in paperback...
Gettin' Lucky by Micol Ostow...
The Cirque du Freak Lord of the Shadows...
A new one by TokyoPop -- Chain Mail: Addicted to You...
And I think I'll end it at that. Oh -- except for a new careers book: Cool Careers Without College for People Who Love Video Games.
Be on the lookout for more great titles coming soon!

Labels: books for boys, books for girls, catalog, fantasy books, graphic novels, new books

~emily - 4:06 PM~
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NEW BOOKS
I thought you might be interested to see a few of the new titles that are in as of today. To start it all off, we have 3 new Garfield books, a collection of 5(!) novels by Daniel Pinkwater (should be great funny reading), L8r G8r by Lauren Myracle, Jinx by Meg Cabot, the long-awaited Mouse Guard by David Petersen, and the Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s. And that's not even ALL of them -- you should really come check out the goods!
My picks from the list? I'm looking forward to reading Clubbing and Mouse Guard.... I'll let you know how they go.

Labels: books for boys, books for girls, graphic novels, new books

~emily - 1:49 PM~
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ARRIVAL OF CLONE WARS
This is going to be a short little post, but I wanted to make sure that anyone who enjoys the Star Wars series knows that we just received volumes 5,6,7 & 8 of the Clone Wars series. I had thought for sure that I had already purchased volumes 1-4, but the catalog disputes me on that, so I'll have to soon remedy the situation. In the meantime, enjoy what we've got (two more Astonishing X-Men and another Star Wars).

Labels: catalog, graphic novels, new books

~emily - 1:46 PM~
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MINX
Recently, I mentioned reading the book The PLAIN Janes and loving it. Well, I just finished The Re-Gifters, and enjoyed it, as well. Great stories, real characters. Both books are published by an imprint of DC Comics -- MINX. MINX is setting out to create fun, edgy graphic novels with strong female protagonists and to become the "face of modern fiction" -- and so far, so good -- they'll be enjoyed by graphic novel readers and fiction readers alike. Next to arrive should be Clubbing (you can sample it online or in the back of The Re-Gifters) -- keep a lookout! It's good stuff.
Visit the MINX website now to enter for a chance to star in a webcomic and win a BIG Alloy gift certificate.

Labels: books for girls, graphic novels

~emily - 12:23 PM~
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THE PLAIN JANES
I just wanted to make a couple short comments on this entertaining graphic novel without delving too deeply into the plot or anything. I read this yesterday during lunch -- and it made me laugh and think and want to better the world a little. It's a fun joining of illustration, story, art, angst, and happy teen rebellion.
Art Saves! After a serious catastrophe in Metro City, moving to a new city, and not finding friends to fit in with, Jane decides to decorate her new city with neighbourhood art -- and start the group the P.L.A.I.N. Janes (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods). But soon, people start to think these random works of art are attacks on the safety of the city, the police get involved, new curfews and rules are passed for the teens, and amidst all of her other struggles, Jane has to figure out the answer -- does art really save?
P.L.A.I.N. Janes by Cecil Castellucci
See also the DC Comics page

Labels: book review, books for girls, graphic novels

~emily - 10:14 AM~
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