Booklist

As of 11/14/2009:

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer. season eight. vol. 3, Wolves at the Gate by Drew Goddard. Buffy experiments, Dracula makes an appearance. All together satisfying.
• Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. My favorite Dark Hunter novel, this was a re-read
• Hot gimmick. Vol. 12 by Miki Aihara. Manga.
• Love com. 1 by Aya Nakahara. Manga.
• Building a WordPress Blog People Want to Read By Scott McNulty. Highly recommended if you have anything to do with WordPress. I had it on hold for a long time before I got it. Apparently so did someone else because I couldn’t renew it. So I kept it and paid the late fee. It was worth it. It gets into the mechanics of WordPress rather than the best ways to write and publish your blog. I hope to find it electronically to add to my collection.
• A Touch of Dead: Sookie Stackhouse: the Complete Stories by Charlaine Harris
• The Dark-Hunters. Volume 1 by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Graphic novel. I had to put it on hold. It tells the beginning of Kyrian and Amanda’s story which I’ve not read in novel form. Now I don’t have to except I doubt the graphic novel will turn x-rated like the books do. Alas.
• Remember Me to Harold Square by Paula Danziger. I love this author. I read The Pistachio Prescription when I was in junior high. I love this author.
• Picket Fences by Kimberly Cates. Maudlin.
• The Disciples of Trotsky by Cevin Soling. Graphic novel. I found it shoved behind other graphic novels when shelving one day. I don’t think it circulates and will get weeded which is a shame. It should probably not go in Teen, despite its cartoonish style. I found it delightful and subversive.
• Chasing the Bear: a Young Spenser Novel by Robert B. Parker
• The Boxer and the Spy by by Robert B. Parker
• My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent. Teen book. Well plotted, not too contrived for a book about banshees (spelled bean sidhe in the book). Kaylee was a cool teen I’d want in my library.
• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. I didn’t like it as much as The Sugar Queen. Garden Spells was her first book. It’s a good thing I didn’t read them in order or I may not have made it to The Sugar Queen which I did like.
• The Jungle by Peter Kuper. Graphic novelization of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. The artwork was really excellent. It really communicated the despair, hopelessness and filth.

Book List

As of 09/12/2009:

• The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. After the first chapter, I thought maybe I wouldn’t make it through this book. Yet another parallel theme seems to be me picking up books that feature female characters so mealy mouthed (what does that phrase even mean?) that I can’t believe they even got their own stories. OK, so before this book they’ve mainly been manga and the characters are Japanese and everyone knows the Japanese rarely grow ballbusters. But still. So anyway, I loved this book. In fact, there is one little line in there that just kicked me in the solar plexus. Is that a real place or is it like the gullet, not really a body part?
• Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede. Teen. I read it mainly to have another book in the genre to recommend. It was cute and I did like the princess’ gumption. And it was short. I liked that.
• Voodoo Season by Jewell Parker Rhodes. I am reading themes in parallel. Beside zombies, there is New Orleans. This book started strong. I liked the character, the city is a well described character and the magic wasn’t too over-the-top. Then the story crashed off course. I HATE when characters run willy-nilly into situations where you just know they are out-gunned, out-classed, out-magiked. I mean, if I have just learned that I am probably the descendent of Marie Laveau and I inherited her abilities and I go to confront the bad guy, don’t you think I’d learn a few tricks first? Come on.
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance — Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem by Seth Grahame-Smith. How many ways did I love this book? At least three. It’s the same basic story as the original but with an overlay of zombies. Elizabeth and her sisters are also Shoalin-trained zombie warriors. Instead of wanting to cut Mr. Darcy with words, Elizabeth wants to behead him and hold his still-beating heart in her hands. And the book is illustrated! I knew I’d love it when the first illustration caption, helpfully placed just inside the front cover, said, “And the guests unfortunate enough to be too near the window were devoured.”
• Hot Gimmick Vol. 2 by Miki Aihara. Manga. Heroine still meek. Most of sass is inside her own head. Still, it gives me something to read during slow times on the desk.

Book List

As of 09/12/2009:

• Hot Gimmick Vol. 1 by Miki Aihara – Not the most original art style. Good story but the heroine is so meek I want to slap her and kick the bully in the nuts.
• Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton – Less sex than the last several books. I can remember being annoyed by Anita’s prudishness in the beginning of the series. Lately I’ve been wishing that Anita didn’t go from one extreme to the other. This ardeur business is getting way past tiresome and seems just an excuse to have sex with random vampire and were strippers. Some of this book was repetitive. Could have done without the single sex scene. This book could have simply concentrated on the case. I mean, a vampire serial killer sends you the head of the previous vampire hunter and you’re off having sex with characters from six books back because they are there and one of them can fly? Still, I keep reading these books because I can’t help but like them. And I waited since May for this book to come off hold.
• Breathers: a zombie’s lament by S. G. Browne – I’m on a zombie reading spree right now. This book is extremely dark and twisted. Excellent.
• Escape from “special” by Melissa Lasko-Gross – The best graphic novels are like this one. I loved the childish confusion. Mine was the same. Luckily for my mom I was a different type of child. There were some laugh-out-loud moments.
• Nana. Vol. 4 by Ai Yazawa – The library skips volumes. Luckily our teen volunteer told me about mangafox.com. I can read the volumes in order. Yes!

Book List

As of 08/28/2009

• Inubaka 4 by Yukiya Sakuragi. Valuable dog training tips in manga form.
• Stuck on Murder by Lucy Lawrence. My good friend and colleague at the library wrote this. Whether you like cozy mysteries or not, read it. The woman has a way with words.
• White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison. A little tired of Rachel continuing to be such a dillhole and yet I keep reading.
• Strange Haven – Brotherhood by Gary Millidge
• Inubaka 3 by Yukiya Sakuragi
• About Face by Donna Leon
• Highway to Hell by Rosemary Clement- Moore
• Bundori by Laura Joh Rowland
• Grand Finale by Janet Evanovich
• Lullaby Town by Robert Crais
• Stalking the Angel by Robert Crais
• Talk Nerdy to Me by Vickie Lewis Thompson
• Inubaka 1 by Yukiya Sakuragi
• Shirly by Kauru Mori
• Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
• Tart by Jody Gehrman
• Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris – I enjoy every single Sookie book. This one was still good because I really like the charactor. And I liked that Eric is taking more of a role in her life.
• The Beast of Chicago by Rick Geary – Like “Devil in the White City” in graphic format and without all the detail of the building of the World’s Fair.
• Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton – Reread and yet still can’t remember what the story was about. But I’m sure there was lots of sex.
• Love, Cajun Style by Diane Les Becquets – Teen book. Stupid title for a very compelling story with believable and likeable charactors.
• Boy Girl Boy by Ron Koertge – Teen
• Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King – Couldn’t put it down.
• Ellie + the Bunheads by Sally Warner

Book List

As of 07/05/2009

• American Thighs: The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Preserving your Assets by Jill Conner Browne – Can’t wait for the audio.
• Patty Jane’s House of Curl by Lorna Landvik – The story really sucked me in. I liked tone.
• Shimura Trouble by Sujata Massey – The last of the Rei Shimura books. Filling but not satisfying.
• Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts: A History of Burial by Penny Colman – Fascinating in the way of “Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers” by Mary Roach or any visit to an old graveyard.
• If I Was Your Girl by Ni-Ni Simone
• Mistakes Men Make by Daniel Billett – Truly hilarious. No truly, as in everything the author tells men not to do (grow a mullet or back hair, stuff a sock in your jock or sport a Shel Silverstein beard) are true.
• X-Rated Blood Suckers by Mario Acevedo
• Buffy Omnibus
• Girl in a Box by Sujata Massey – Yah! She’s back. All the elements from the first books. When she left Japan I left her. Rei seemed so humorless. Hugh seemed sexy but a real douche. She shines in Japan.
• Shortie Like Mine by Ni-Ni Smone
• Between Mom and Joe by Julie Anne Peters – Loved.
• Wolfsbane and Mistletoe
• Simple Italian Snacks

My First Fan Letter

I’m so excited. I wrote my first fan letter. * And I heard back! It was to HRH Jill Conner Brown of Sweet Potato Queen fame. She’s the author, actually. My giddines is similar to that which I described someplace else on this blog were I ever to encounter one of the Palomar-Hernandez brothers. I had to write this particular letter for two reasons. First, because I enjoyed the latest book, American Thighs, and can’t wait for the audio. I listen to the other audio I have when I’m in a crabby mood. The second reason, I noticed the publisher used the same artwork as another favorite book, Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Cruisie. I got my copy, which I still have, on Oxford Street in London ona visit to Darah in about 2002. Also, the charactors make a porn movie and one title is “Fleshy Thighs”. It’s a good book, I recommend it. I’m probably a nudge for pointing it out but I don’t care.

* So it was an email. What’s your point?

Book List

As of 06/17/2009

• The Boy and the Ghost by Robert Sans Souci – Children’s picture book. Loved the illustration. The story is an old fable.
• Cribs by MTV – I had to see a picture of Tommy Lee’s Starbucks in his house.
• House of Java by Mark Murphy – Graphic novel.
• The Bearskin Rug by Jennifer Stevenson – Not hot. You’ve got to do more than use the word cock to be hot.
• Date Like a Grown Up: Everything You Need, blah, blah, blah by Lisa Daily – Like any diet book on the market. Always a “new take” but really says the same thing; exercise and eat healthy. In other words, nothing new to add. Would probably be good for a less internet-savvy reader.
• Water Baby by Ross Campbell – Good art work, really tells the story, crappy as it was.
• Burnout by Rebecca Donner illustrated by Inaki Miranda – Graphic novel. About a girl who falls for her step brother who is an ecoterrorist.

Booklist

Another whopper for you. I’ve been reading a bunch but posting very little. Happily, my little web business is picking up, leaving little time for my blog.

As of 05/31/2009:

• Hard Time by Steve Gerber – Graphic novel. Just noticed he’s the same guy that did Nevada (later in list). This was much, much better. Better story. Better art work. It’s about a boy involved in a Columbine-style school shooting and follows him to prison.
• Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling. Impulse check out after a rare hour on the children’s desk.
• Watchmen by Alan Moore – Graphic novel. I thought I’d enjoy it more, since all my library people raved about it. I want to like it more than I did.
• Tomo: I Was an Eight-Grade Ninja by Andrew Simmons. Manga. Easy to read at the desk, which is what I did.
• Nevada by Steve Gerber – Pretty good graphic novel. The eponymous main character is a show girl with an ostrich as a pet. She goes on a trippy trip which was interesting before I lost interest. I did finish it, though. It’ll be interesting to see if they do more with Nevada as a warrior for other dimensions. Or whatever they are calling it. I can’t remember and I already turned in the book so I can’t look.
• Foul Play by Janet Evanovich – One of the nine or so re-releases of some trashy romance novels she wrote before the Plum books. I’m so glad she got this crap out of her system. Like the early trashies of Jennifer Crusie (another favorite) there are definite signs of good things to come but overall disappointing. This book should have been called "Fowl Play". A red rooster features prominently and, in my opinion, was not given nearly enough to do.
• Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry – The second book in a series the author didn’t expect to write. I like this one better than the first. And, you’ll recall, I did like the first book.
• Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry – This book is an interesting take on zombies. You just don’t often see a zombie as the protagonist. Probably because of the limited diet (braaaiiinnnsss) and necrotic skin. Some of the reviews of the book mention a limited plot, which is true. But it doesn’t matter because you just want to see how Amanda (aforementioned protagonist zombie) handles her new life.
• Hopeless Savages: Ground Zero by Jen Van Meter – Graphic novel. I liked it because it was drawn by Brian Lee O’Malley of my beloved Scott Pilgrim. I found the teen slang created just for the character a bit hard to follow at first. But then I got used to it and it was cute when her love interest Ginger says, “You called me smart. You called me hoosky.” That cracked me up. You’ll have to read it to see what "hoosky" means.
• Ghost World by Daniel Clowes – Graphic novel. I didn’t like it, probably for the same reason I’m not an existentialist. When I had delusions of minoring in philosophy I went to see a French film, the title I can’t even remember. Not that it matters, I didn’t get it any way. It was very French; the main character committed suicide at the end. A friend in class the next day asked me about it. His dad was one of the philosophy professors at school and had raved about the film. I didn’t want to admit I didn’t get it. There are other Ghost World titles but I think I’ll leave them be.
• Palomar by Gilbert Hernandez – Fantastic graphic novel. I’d like to write an ode to the Hernandez brothers. I love them so much I might abandon my innate dignity and giggle like a 15-year-old girl with her friends if I ever met Gilbert Hernandez. I might even go to Comicon just to meet them. I might actually ask for an autograph copy. I might actually buy all the titles for my very own library.
• The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo – Good, flat ending. I will keep reading but I’m starting to be afraid the titles are better than the actual book. The next one is called X-Rated Bloodsuckers.
• In Odd We Trust by Dean Koontz Illustrated by Queenie Chan – Graphic novel. I hope they do more. Really pretty good.
• You Wouldn’t Want to Live in a Medieval Castle by Jaqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram – Another impulse check out after a rare hour on the children’s desk. It was cute, actually. If follows a young girl, the daughter of the bailiff at a castle, through a siege by Prince Jon.
• No choice but Seduction by Johanna Lindsay – Although I grew up loving Johanna Lindsay and this book was pretty entertaining, most of her recent books are disappointing. After 30 plus years of writing trashy historical romance novels, original plots must be hard to come by.
• Ceremony by Robert B. Parker
• Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker
• Looking for Rachel Wallace by Robert B. Parker
• The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene – Another score from Savers.
• The Sign of the Twisted Candle by Carolyn Keene – Found two Nancy Drews at Savers for $1.49. SCORE!
• La Perdida by Jessica Abel – Graphic novel, OK but the main character is a self-involved douche bag.
• The Perfect Match by Kimberly Cates. Can’t remember much about it but it had dogs and a single father with two kids that made me cry.
• Walking Shadow – Robert Parker
• Dead and Dog Gone – I like these types of books. They invite you into another world. The dead guy is always someone we the reader is not invested in.
• The Monkey’s Raincoat by Robert Crais – First Elvis Cole. I like how getting info from the cops was easier and how he banged two women (the only women) in the case and then they went away but didn’t die. Not like David Hasselhoff’s lady friends on Baywatch.
• LA Requiem by Robert Crais
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by? – Graphic novel
• My Heart May Be Broken But My Hair Looks Great by Dixie Cash
• The Mitfords: Letterts Between Six Sisters edited by Charlotte Mosley. Didn’t read every word. The thing is almost 800 pages. Not a Harry Potter. But I read enough.

Book Lust – Anita Blake Graphic Novels

Today at the library Jenn requested that our library purchase the Anita Blake graphic novel series. I’m so excited. I am in book lust for these graphic novels. Since I have her complete written oevre I may have to purchase these for myself. But I know these will circulate so it’s not totally self-serving.

Booklist

This list’s a whopper!
As of 04/17/2009:

• Freddie & Me: A Coming-of-Age (Bohemian) Rhapsody by Mike Dawson – Well drawn autobiographical graphic novel. Especially liked the memories matched to Queen’s music bits.
• Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell – More of what her early books used to be like. It moved fast for a book that large.
• Fashion High – More coming of age stuff. Remember enjoying it but now it blends in to all the rest. Still, I’d recommend it.
• The Girl of His Dreams by Donna Leon – The thing I love about her books is the moral ambiguity of Brunetti. It isn’t like an American police novel. There are no spectacular shoot outs with deranged mad men at the end. There are not thrilling chase scenes through the streets of Venice. But Venice is a character and a damn good one. It’s the reason I started reading in the first place. Leon’s characterization of Brunetti, his family and friends is the reason I keep reading.
• 47 by Walter Mosley – How many ways can I say I love this book? There is a dream sequence that threatened to derail my utter devotion. It made sense for the story but I still liked the first part better.
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future for You – Amy, if you are reading this, you need to pick up these graphic novels. They take place after the end of the series. Anyone who knows me knows how much I still heart Buffy.
• Clubbing by Andi Watson – graphic novel, self-absorbed spoiled little bitch gets sent to the Lakes District with her grandparrnts for the summer. And yet I kept reading. Liked the drawing, goth clothes.
• Red Hot Cajun by Sandra Hill – Whoo, boy!
• Look Beyond the Dream by Noelle Berry McCue – Crappity crap. Crappy McCrapperson. I finally came up with the outline for the dude in my very own trashy romance novel. So I’m at Savers one fine Saturday and I happen upon a Silhouette Desire book. Thinking to research by reading books that actually got published I bought this. Mainly because the main character is from Idaho. That’s $.50 that I’ll never get back. After reading this creamed crap she could have been from anywhere. Still good research in what not to do.
• Miles Walker, You’re Dead – Couldn’t finish. Don’t check out again.
• French Quarter by Stella Cameron – Couldn’t finish. Don’t check out again. There are trashy romance novels even I can’t read.
• Spud: The Madness Continues by John Van de Ruitt – Not as good as the first, a bit of a retread with some disturbing bits but still enjoyable.
• Hip Hop High School by Alan Lawrence Sitomer – It wasn’t Rock and Roll High School but at least it gives me a book to recommend.
• Backstage Pass by Gaby Triana – Daydream in book form.
• Spud by John Van de Ruitt – Read slowly so it will last. I’m still pissed I didn’t buy this book when I had the chance when I was in SA.
• 100 Girls – Graphicallly violent and not in a pleasing Buffy way.
• Regifters by Mark Carey, Sonny Liew and Marc Hempel – Shy teen love, hapkido style
• Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld – The moral of the story is, put puree in everything. Apparently her life is pitch perfect but the mac n cheese recipe is good.
• Janes In Love by Cecil Castellucci – Angsty teen love graphic novel. Recommend
• Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez – Shy gay teen love. These boys could grow up to be my gay boyfriends.
• The War at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks. Graphic novel. It was OK. I liked some bits of dialogue and the artwork. It fell apart at the end.
• Love is a many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison
• Stop in the name of Pants by Louise Rennison
• Mates, Dates and Diamond Destiny by Cathy Hopkins – Shy teen crap.