It's the last day of May 2023. Wow! Here is your midweek music medley to help get you through the rest of the week.
Midweek Music Medley
1. American singer Belinda Carlisle - Big, Big Love (2023).2. English singer Louise - Naked (1996).3. English singer Birdy - Raincatchers (2023).Enjoy the rest of your week.
Back when I first started this Blog I did a number of posts about my history with comics / graphic novels. If you're interested, you can check out the various articles that are linked below.
1. 11 Oct 2010 - My childhood experiences with comics.
2. 7 Nov 2010 - In this post, I talked about comic book heroines.
3. 16 Apr 2011 - In this post, I highlighted the graphic novels of Alan Moore.
4. 9 Mar 2020 -In this post, I talked about graphic novels / comics as they related to Sci-Fi
This link basically provides any posts where I highlighted graphics, either with synopses or reviews. It also will include the 4 links above.
In the past few years I've begun to explore graphic novels once again. There is such wonderful variety in styles and genres. I readily admit to enjoying YA stories, but I've also explored more Sci-Fi and Fantasy and many social - themed graphics. Let's take a look at a few.
Cultural / Social Themes
The basis for this graphic is the crime situation in Winnipeg. A young aboriginal girl wrote a letter to the Winnipeg police chief. She asks him to take the same care solving murders of aboriginal girls, that the Winnipeg police force took solving crimes against white girls. She basically asks him not to forget her if she should go missing. A powerful, short story.
This is a collection of stories about the history of Canada from an aboriginal perspective as told by a collection of aboriginal authors. It's a very powerful, fascinating collection.
Based on true happenings, Kate Beaton tells the story of a small town Nova Scotia girl spending two years trying to earn money for university, by working in the Alberta oil sands. It's a story of misogyny and sexual assault; a gritty, touching story.
Poetry
Graphics using poetry to tell their stories.
Twins, both high school basketball stars, Both trying to please their father, an ex-player with heart problems, and also trying to get scholarships to college. Told in free verse and poetry.
It's a fascinating story of a young man who sees his brother gunned down in the neighborhood. As he takes an elevator down to exact revenge, he is visited by various ghosts, each with a perspective on the incident and William's plan for revenge.
Fantasy / Science Fiction / Horror
I've read one of the books by Bardugo based on her created Grishaverse, that being Six of Crows. It was an exciting, action-filled adventure. Demon in the Wood is a graphic novel, a prequel to the story, introducing some of the characters / creatures you find in Demon in the Wood.
A fascinating horror series about a family, the Lockes. Dealing with the death of their father, they adjust to a new community, one haunted by an evil spirit trying to find the 'keys' to other worlds and powers. It's a six-parter that gets better and better as it moves along, ending with a cataclysmic battle.
I've read the first two Omnibus collections of this series so far. Lots of mystery, especially when it comes to who exactly Space Boy is. It focuses on Amy, a young girl forced to move from a far flung space colony back to Earth and her adjustment to this new life. Part of her new experience is Space Boy, Oliver, a mysterious boy who we find out a bit about each story. Well drawn, well crafted. An excellent story.
A two part YA fantasy about a young girl and a Galdurian on an adventure on a distant planet. Wonderful artwork and a great story.
This is a fun outer space adventure series. A Romeo & Juliet with a twist. A young couple of different races, both of which are at constant war, fall in love, have a child and are now on the run. 60 comics so far. I've read the first two Volumes, the first 12 comics. Most enjoyable. It was easy to get hooked on.
Mythology
An upbeat, modern take on the Greek myths. Fun, sexy, entertaining. I've enjoyed the first two books and have #3 awaiting my attention. There are currently 5 volumes.
Biography / History
In WWII, America and Canada treated all Japanese citizens as potential spies and enemy and basically took their property and sent them to camps. This is George Takei's story of what happened to his family.
Comic artist Art Spiegelman tells the story of his father and mother, both of whom are sent to Nazi concentration camps during WWII. It also deals with the fractious relationship he has with his father after the war. Dark, scary and touching. This book has been banned in some locations. It should be read.
The story of civil rights icon John Lewis and his efforts to bring the vote, equality, education to black citizens in the US. A very powerful story, another must read.
In the same vein as the Anne Frank story, White Bird tells the story of a French Jewish girl trying to survive and keep free from the Nazis and French collaborators with the help of friends.
Mysteries
and finally...
Nancy Springer wrote the Enola Holmes books which were also turned into a TV series. French artist Serena Blasco picked up the first six books in the series and turned them into two collections of graphic novels. Wonderful artwork and fun stories. I've enjoyed both and now will take on the novels.
This is a collection of pulp detective stories featuring PI Ms. Tree and her company. Gritty, noirish and action-packed. Interesting stories and artwork to boot.
I have read the first two collections, One Mean Mother and Skeleton in the Closet and have The Cold Dish awaiting my attention.
So there you go. Interested in checking out some comics / graphic novels? I hope these and my other threads might have given you some ideas. Enjoy.
Just Finished
I've finished 4 books since my last reading update, three of them graphic novels.
"I think I've said this before but, if I have or haven't, Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman isn't my normal reading fare. I'm no longer a teenager, not gay, yada yada, but I have to say that it's an easy series to delve into and get hooked on. So there you go.
The first to Volumes dealt mainly with the budding relationship between Nick and Charlie, two teenage high school students. Charlie had previously come out as gay and spent a year at his school being harassed by other students. Coming to terms with it, he then found out he had a crush on a boy, Nick, who was a year older and a year higher in the school. Nick slowly discovers that he is bi and he also falls for Charlie. The first two volumes deal with this. In Volume three, we go on an end of year school trip to Paris.
We continue to follow the growing relationship between Nick and Charlie, whether they should come out to their friends (some people, including parents and family already know). As well we learn about some of Charlie's personal / mental struggles, the stresses in his life and how he tried to deal with them; self-harming, not eating, and Nicks efforts to discuss with Charlie and help him. The story also delves into relationships of their friends, letting them grow as characters (even amongst teachers...).
It's an excellent story, a look into the lives of these students and their relationships. I can't say I can relate to it; I think my teenage life was a bit more sheltered, or just different, I guess. But Alice Oseman presents the story in an engaging fashion. We see the characters' humanity, their emotions, their day-to-day actions with their friends and classmates. I may have to find Vol 4 at my local... (4.5 stars)" (Ed Note: I did get Vol 4)
"Over the past 20 or so years, I've enjoyed a few series that are set in the faerie, supernatural worlds, or more appropriately, set in the normal world, but peopled with vampires, faeries, weres, etc. You can see this in Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake and also her Merri Gentry books, Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse and Midnight, Texas books, or Mike Carey's Felix Castor series... to name a few. I've enjoyed them all. Added to this list is Jim Butcher 's Harry Dresden series. Of course this list isn't all inclusive, just provides some ideas. Butcher has written 15+ books in the Dresden Files series.
So far I've read 4 books in the series, not in any particular order (although I am trying to rectify that). Summer Knight is the 4th book in the series and the 5th that I've enjoyed. As I look through those books, I seem to grab one every three or four years. I will say it doesn't seem to matter how much time it takes between books as when I pick up a Dresden book, I find myself right back into his world and just enjoying the characters, the world Butcher has created and the story itself.
Let's see. In this story, we find the Wizard's Council in a battle with the vampires, due to an incident in a previous story in which Harry played a key role. Harry is struggling with the loss of his fiancé, who has been touched by the vamps and is now away, trying to sort her life out. The Wizard's council is being attacked by vamps and they want Harry. Part of the council is in favor of giving Harry up, but if he takes on a mission for them and succeeds, Harry will be freed from this obligation.
Harry is hired by the Winter Queen to find out who murdered her right hand man, the Summer Knight and she will free him from a debt he owes her. Harry reluctantly agrees and this is the basis of this story. With help from my favorite character Lt Murphy of a special police squad that investigates supernatural happenings and a group of Alphas (young werewolves), Harry tries to straighten out his life and stop a war between the two branches of the faerie world, the Winter Sidhe and the Summer Sidhe.
Let's just say that the story is a complex, entertaining, action-filled story with just 'neat' stuff going on all the time. Harry and his friends travel between our world and the faerie world as he tries to solve the mystery, battle with all sorts of beings, especially a ghoul of a hit-person, literally a ghoul, and just so on and so on. Pure entertainment and a fantastic, entertaining fantasy. (4.5 stars)"
"I used to read comic books all the time as a young kid. I find myself drawn back to the new form of graphic novels; the stories are so great and the art work is also excellent. Space Boy Omnibus Volume 2 is the 2nd Omnibus collection of this series. It features Books 4 - 6 in the series.
This collection continues to advance Amy's story. In Omnibus 1, Amy and her family have to move from the space station where she grew up when her father's job was cancelled. After a 30 year journey back to Earth, she begins her new life in Kokomo City. In this 2nd Omnibus, Amy now has new friends and is adjusting to school life. A strange new friend is Oliver, a mysterious blonde boy who is in her classes. Slowly, he warms up to Amy (I mean who wouldn't as she's a wonderful character, filled with joy at her new experiences.)
We learn more about her new friends too, their relationships and the difficulties in them. We still don't know much about Oliver (is that his name?) and as Amy gets closer to him, her life is threatened by some mysterious organization that seems to control Oliver's life.
So there is great artwork (even if Amy doesn't have feet.. 😀), the characters getting richer all the time, and this hidden mystery. Teen angst, friendships, school life, neat technology, all form a rich part of this excellent YA graphic novel. But who the heck is Oliver!!!! (4.5 stars)"
"Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian is the first of two books in the Lightfall series by Tim Probert. What a wonderful story, with a great little girl and a fantastic adventure partner.
Bea lives with her adopted grandfather, the Pig Wizard, in Irpa. He runs the Salty Pig's Tonics and Tinctures and Bea helps by gathering herbs and spices. One day while searching for herbs, she climbs a tree and the branch breaks. While hanging from a branch, along comes Cadwaller (Cad), a member of the Galdurians. He catches Bea when she falls and the two head back to Grandfather's house. Cad hopes Grandpa can translate some Galdurian papers. It seems that Cad might be the last of the Galdurians.
Also intermingled throughout the story are a shadowy group who are on the march someplace. 😨
When they arrive back at Grandpa's place, they find him missing and that he left a note. He's gone someplace, he tells Bea to stay home but if she follows, to be safe and finally to protect the jar. Oh yes, Bea carries around a jar that glows. It seems that at some point the light went out on Irpa.... I think.
So Bea and Cad and cat Nimm decide to find Grandpa and thus begins a great adventure. We will see fantastic characters, have exciting adventures and learn more about Bea and Cad. The artwork in this graphic is just wonderful, bright colors, interesting characters and grand vistas... plus scary shadowy 'villains'? Bea and Cad are opposing personalities that work so well together. Bea is cautious, thoughtful, afraid her actions might have consequences. Cad is positive, always charges ahead and loves adventure. They rub off on each other and make a great team. (In some ways they made me think of the Monk and Robot of Becky Chambers fantasy duology.) I can't wait to read Book 2... I guess I'll be heading down to the book store soon. Your kids and you will love this story. (4.0 stars)"
Currently Reading
"This title is from Diamond Dagger winner Sue Grafton - Kinsey Millhone's latest compelling case. In 1960s Santa Teresa, California, a child is kidnapped and never returned...When the case is reopened after twenty years, a man - Michael Sutton - contacts private detective Kinsey Millhone for help. He claims to have recalled a strange and disturbing memory which just might provide the key to the mystery. He may have stumbled across the kidnappers burying Mary Claire Fitzhugh's body...But Michael's account is indistinct - he was only six years old at the time of the kidnapping; and even members of his family try to discredit his evidence. But Kinsey is certain there is something vital within Michael's recollections. And even when what is eventually unearthed isn't what anyone expected, she can't quite let go of the case. As Kinsey gradually brings to light the stories of the protagonists involved in the tragedy, from Country Club parents to their free-living, hippy children, the truth finally begins to emerge. And while stepping back into the past, Kinsey discovers more about her own history too..."
"In a time when secrets and lies were the foundations of life, someone has discovered the truth. And they are going to tell.
Jules knows what her predecessors created. She knows they are the reason life has to be lived in this way.
This is your midweek music medley for Wed 24 May 2023. Some rock today.
Midweek Music Medley
1. Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha - Manhattan Skyline (1987).2. Irish rock band Thin Lizzy - Don't Believe a Word (1976).3. American rock band Steely Dan - Do It Again (1972).Enjoy the rest of your week.
BOOK BANNING
This might be a shorter post that I think but the topic has been on my mind for a few days. Let's start with the simplest idea. What is book banning?
According to the First Amendment Encyclopedia, book banning is defined as
"Book banning, a form of censorship, occurs when private individuals, government officials, or organizations remove books from libraries, school reading lists, or bookstore shelves because the object to their content, ideas, or themes. Those advocating a ban complain typically that the book in question contains graphic violence, expresses disrespect for parents and family, is sexually explicit, exalts evil, lacks literary merit, is unsuitable for a particular age group, or includes offensive language."
This definition finishes with this statement, "Book banning is the widest form of censorship in the United States."
Of course, book banning isn't limited to the US, it's been going on for ages. As long as there have been some form of published thought, it seems.
An article in freedom to read is entitled Bannings and Burnings in History. It highlights notable bannings and / or burnings throughout the centuries. The first one listed is between 259 - 210 BC (yes, mankind existed back then) when the Chinese emperor of the time buried alive a large number of Chinese scholars to control the writing of history of the time (quite drastic in my mind). Looking through the list, here are a few examples. Emperor Caligula banned Homer's Odyssey because it expressed Greek ideas of freedom. In 1559, Pope Paul IV created the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, which for over 400 years was the definitive list of books which Roman Catholics were forbidden to read. In 1597, Queen Elizabeth I ordered a scene removed from Shakespeare's Richard II because it contained a scene in which the monarch was deposed.
Charles Darwin's Origin of Species was published in 1859 and it's been the subject of bannings since then; from Trinity College, Cambridge, through Tennessee (1925) to even Yugoslavia in 1935. The teaching of evolution has been a thorny topic in many places and, in fact, was the subject of both a play (Jerome Lawrence) and a classic movie, starring Spencer Tracy.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes were banned due to 'occultism'. Weren't the Harry Potter books accused of similar ideas; witchcraft, yada yada?
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| Book burnings Nazi Germany |
The lists go on and on. Slaughterhouse-Five and Deliverance were ordered burned by the school board in Drake, North Dakota because of themes of homosexuality.
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| Some banned books |
OK, I knew this would happen when I started writing this. I'd start to ramble and probably go off topic.
Let's see. Why are books banned? According to PEN America, in this article, there is a growing "full-fledged social and political movement, powered by local, state and national groups. The vast majority of books targeted by these groups for removal feature LGBTQ+ characters or characters of color, and / or cover race and racism in American history, LGBTQ+ identities, sex education." How many times have I seen GOP (and they seem to be focused on these themes) say that this or that book should be banned because it might make white students feel uncomfortable, not caring that by banning these books, they are making students of color or of LGBTQ+ identities feel unwanted and threatened.
Books are made to educate, to make you think. Sure they might make you feel uncomfortable, but that's where good teachers (another pilloried group of people) sit down with their students and discuss the ideas. Right wing politicians don't want their citizens to be educated or to learn about history. They want them angry at others, feeling threatened, so that they will vote for politicians who pretend to support their 'beliefs'.
The response to these actions can only be to encourage children to read, to think, to get educated. PEN provides a list of the most banned books in the US of 2021 - 2022 school year. As well, they also list the most banned authors in that same school year.
"Most banned books
Most banned authors
