Whereas the rest of Canada might be getting some snow right now, here on the West Coast, we're getting drenched as usual. And I'm not complaining! It's still kind of balmy and most mornings, I've been able to go for a run if I want to... (key words there... If I want to). On Friday I went and got my Covid shot. As I was informed by the pharmacist, this was my 7th, this one by Pfizer. And no charge. I had my flu shot in November, once again no charge. I sincerely worry what will happen if the Conservatives get voted in in British Columbia, as the NDP are hanging on by a thread here, or if there is a Federal election and the Conservatives get voted in nationally. Bye bye health care, I'd say. Scary! We'll see what happens
Anyway, as the year comes to a close, this is my last or maybe last post of the year. Let's look at books.
Finished
Since my last update, I've finished 8 books, although to be fair, I did give up on two. I'll just provide reviews of those I've completed.
1.
Booked by
Kwame Alexander (2022).
"Booked by Kwame Alexander is the 2nd graphic novel I've enjoyed by this talented author and also his illustrator, David Anyabwile. The story follows Nick Hall, a young boy, who loves playing soccer and competing against his best friend Coby. But life isn't a bed of roses for Nicky.
His parents are going through a difficult time; they love each other but are finding it difficult to live together anymore. Nick's mom is heading to Kentucky to help train horses. Nick is finding this a difficult situation with which to cope. Also there are two brothers who bully Nick and others. They steal Nick's bike. His friend Coby tries to stand up for him, gets in a fight and is expelled. This, while Nick, is afraid to help his friend. Nick also likes April, a girl in his class and finds it difficult to express his feelings, even though it's clear she does like him too.
Nick's father is insistent on improving Nick's vocabulary and has published a dictionary of odd words that he wants Nick to read. READ ANYTHING! Of course, Nick rebels. One of his best friends is Mr. MacDonald, an ex-rapper, changed to school librarian. He also keeps giving Nick books. READ! Besides all of this, there are the normal other school situations. Nick doesn't like English class, doesn't like the girl, Winifred, who has all of the answers.
But Nick's overall situation is a tense one. He's developing stomach pains, can't sleep because his mother is away, is angry with her for 'abandoning' him. He refuses to talk with her, all of the pressures of growing up in a family that is drifting apart. All of this will build to a crisis situation. Will it affect Nick's health? Will it affect Nick's ability to attend a big soccer tournament in Dallas? Check it out.
It's a fascinating story. The language is cool and well-paced. Nick and his friends are neat kids. The soccer scenes are so well-drawn and described. And you will learn words you might not have heard before as throughout, these words are interspersed and defined for you. Kind of a neat touch. It's an intelligent, well-written, interesting story about growing up. Check it out. (4.5 stars)"
2.
Wanderers by
Chuck Wendig (2019). It took me awhile to get through this one but I'm glad I stuck with it.
"Wanderers by Chuck Wendig took me awhile to get through, but not because it wasn't interesting. It's more because I usually have a few books on the go at a time and because it's a big old book, a tome as some would say. However, it was an excellent dystopic story that was interesting from beginning to end.
Firstly, I have to say, Wanderers had definite undertones.. or maybe, even, overtones, to Stephen King's The Stand. There is a group of people, getting bigger as their journey progresses across the US, wandering from point to point. Now this group of people is quite unique. The first 'wanderer' is Nessie, older sister of Shanna, and daughter of her divorced dad. She gets up one morning and without so much as a how-do-you-do, opens the front door and starts walking down the road. No matter how much Shanna tries to stop her, or to get her attention, Nessie is oblivious to her and any other distractions. She seems to be asleep.
Quite quickly, other wanderers join her. They are escorted by police and family members. Fairly quickly someone realizes that if you try to stop a wanderer, like by putting her / him in a police car or holding him / her down, they explode. So there you. The main story is now set. Wanderers gathering in a huge flock, ultimately over 1,000, travelling west across the US, escorted by family and others.
Of course, this isn't the only story line. HAH! You wondered didn't you? Let's see what else is going on? Down in Texas, a businessman is about to break ground on an amusement park; one of many. During the ceremony, when the perform a ground breaking explosion, it releases a swarm of bats, living in connected caves. Many of these people will become infected with something. The businessman's body, covered in spores or something, will later be found in Florida. The CDC will investigate. Does this have something to do with the wanderers? Or maybe the comet that sails by Earth has something to do with it?
Right.. the CDC. OK. The CDC is of course called in to investigate the wanderers. Disgraced former employee, Benji is called. It seems that some time ago he released 'fake' info about conditions in pig farms, that besmirched the reputation of CDC. However, Sadie, an old friend, wants him along with the CDC as they follow and try to find out what's going on with the wanderers. Now... Sadie has an interesting 'device'... a machine intelligence called Black Swan that she can 'talk' to on her phone. Black Swan is an integral part of the story. What does it have to do with the wanderers? I don't want to provide too much info as this is a rich, intricate story that you need to be surprised with as you progress.
But, wait though. the right wing fanatics, want to use this wandering flock as harbingers of evil. One particular fella, Ozark Stover has been building a 'militia' to take over the US. He uses the services of a disgruntled preacher, Matthew Bird to help sow this distrust of the current US government, of the wanderers, etc. Matthew has his doubts about what he is doing but likes the way people now listen to his radio messages, attend his services..
It's just a fascinating story. Two forces, or maybe even more, on a collision course as the Earth roils with self-destruction as a disease... oh yeah, did I mention, White Mask? I did say it was an intricate, rich story. Where are the wanderers going? What is Black Swan doing? What are Stover's plans. It's fascinating, peopled with so many excellent characters. I've not even mentioned Marcy or Arav or later on, Dove... A race to save the world or to survive against so many forces piled up against them. Just excellent. (4.5 stars)"
3.
If Beale Street Could Talk by
James Baldwin (1974).
"If Beale Street Could Talk was my first exposure to the work of James Baldwin. As I find with most new authors, it took me a bit to get into the flow of the writing style and the writing style.
The story is set in '70s Harlem and the narrator is a young black girl, Tish Rivers. Tish works in a department store dispensing perfume and currently lives at home with her mother, Sharon, her father, Joseph and her sister, Ernestine, who we will gradually discover, is a force with whom to be reckoned. We will quite quickly learn that Tish has just discovered that she is pregnant and also that her baby-daddy, Alfonso 'Fony' Hunt, is in prison, accused of rape.
The crux of the story is Tish's efforts to get Fony out of prison by proving his innocence. In this she is helped by her parents and Fony's father (not so much by his mother and two sisters, who are in their own world). This is where Ernestine shines. She organizes, she controls, she demands. She gets a white lawyer to agree to take the case, even though it puts him in a negative spotlight with a racist DA and his team who seem to be doing everything to hinder the defense's case.
The DA has made the victim incommunicado by sending her to Porto Rico. The DA has arrested Fony's friend and isolated him in a prison upstate and made it almost impossible for Fony's lawyer to talk to him. Etc.
It's a fascinating, powerful story that delves into Tish and Fony's relationship, how it developed and burgeoned. It delves into the family relationships; the tension in Fony's family, between father and wife. That relationship is compared to that of Tish's family, the love of her sister and parents, their strength and support.
It's an beautifully written story and a powerful, passionate tale of life in Harlem, of racism, of love, all bundled into one excellent story. I've never seen the movie but will have to check it out now too. And also check out more of Baldwin's work. (4.0 stars)"
4.
The Seeing Stone by
Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black (Spiderwick Chronicles #2 / 2003)
"The Seeing Stone is the 2nd book in the Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. It follows the Grace kids, older sister Mallory and twins Jared and Simon as they 'help' their mother adjust to a new life in the old Spiderwick mansion after their parents' divorce. It's not an easy adjustment, especially in school where at least Jared is having trouble fitting in. As well, it seems the house and neighboring woods are populated by all sorts of supernatural creatures; goblins, trolls, griffons, elves, etc. Their great-great-great uncle Arthur had a secret room in the mansion with his journal and all sorts of information on the various creatures.
This story finds Simon captured by goblins. (Oh, the kids can't see these supernatural creatures, unless they allow themselves to be seen) One such, helps Jared find the Seeing Stone which is a sort of monocle that permits him to see the goblins and he uses that to lead Mallory into the woods to try and save their brother.
It's a fun, exciting adventure and with excellent drawings to add to the texture. Great characters, fun story, well-paced and leaving you wanting to see what the kids will be involved with in their next adventure. (Oh, the story was sent to DiTerlizzi and Black by the kids and they got it published for them) 😉👍 Lucinda's Secret is next in line (4.0 stars)"
5.
Illegal by
Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin (2017)
"Illegal: A Graphic Novel is a graphic novel by Eoin Colfer; Andrew Donkin. It's the 2nd graphic novel by the two that I've read and enjoyed, the first being [book:Global|86175343]. They've also been involved in the graphicalization of his Artemis Fowl series, of which I've enjoyed one thus far.
Illegal is a powerful story of two brothers, Ebo and Kwame and their friend, Razak, refugees from Nigeria, trying to get to Italy (or Europe in general) so they can be re-united with their sister Sisi. This involves a journey across the Sahara to Libya and then by boat to Italy (if they can raise enough money to pay smugglers to take them.
Ebo's older brother leaves by himself and leaves a note for Ebo telling him that once he finds Sisi and can raise money, he will send for Ebo. But Ebo can't wait and makes his own journey to find Kwame. They do meet up finally and continue their journey together. It's a journey fraught with danger; the heat of the desert, the abuse by smugglers, the dangers in Tripoli (disease, gangs, police, militias) and then, especially the dangers of braving an inflatable raft to cross the Mediterranean... a raft filled to over flowing, with insufficient water and food for the migrants... a raft that springs a leak.
It's a terrifying ordeal for these young men but they are determined to persevere and find their sister. The story moves from the present, when the two brothers and Razak are floundering in their inflatable raft and the past, with Ebo's journey to try and find Kwame. It's beautifully drawn and inked by Giovanni Rigano and touchingly told by Colfer and Donkin.
The story starts with these words, a quote from Elie Wiesel...
"You, who are so-called illegal aliens, must know that no human being is illegal. That is a contradiction in terms. Human beings can be beautiful or more beautiful, the can be fat or skinny, they can be right or wrong, but illegal? how can a human being be illegal?"
Words to think on. It's a subject matter that brings out many feelings, positive and negative but it's a subject that needs to be discussed and that solutions that promote the dignity and safety of every human (no matter from where they come) be worked out. Excellent, touching, powerful story. (4.0 stars)"
6.
The Wild Robot Escapes by
Peter Brown (Wild Robot #2 / 2018)
"The Wild Robot Escapes is the 2nd book of three in Peter Brown's story about Roz the Wild Robot. In the 1st book, Roz crashes on an island in the ocean when the ship on which she was being carried sank during a storm. Roz adapted to her new life and became friends with the animals on the island, even adopting an orphan goose, Brightbill. But at the end, Roz was captured by other robots and taken back to civilization.
In The Wild Robot Escapes, Roz has been refurbished and reprogrammed and sent to work on a farm with the Shareef family. As Roz adjusts to this new life, making friends with the cattle and the Shareef children and fixing all the machinery and getting the farm running smoothly again, she still pines for her island, her old friends and especially her son, Brightbill.
As the story progresses, Roz will come once again into contact with her beloved son and will, with the assistance of the Shareef children and many others, try to find her way across the continent and hopefully once again to her old friends.
It's a lovely, tender story. Roz is a kind, caring robot who everybody eventually begins to love. The other characters are well-developed and empathetic. It's just a kind, lovely adventure and you hope that it will end with Roz once again back home. But to do that she must avoid the Reco robots who are once again searching for her. And what will the Designer do if and when she gets her hands on Roz?
If you liked the 1st book, you will enjoy this one just as much. Cheer for Roz!! (4.0 stars)"
Currently Reading
I'm down to 4 books and won't start any more until I finish them. But they are fairly short so I might be able to squeeze one or two more in if time permits.
1.
The Boggart by
Susan Cooper (Boggart #1 / 1993). I'm enjoying Cooper's The Dark Rises series and have been looking forward to checking this one out.
""Centuries old and thousands of miles from home". When Emily and Jess Volnik's family inherits a remote, crumbling Scottish castle, they also inherit the Boggart - an invisible, mischievous spirit who's been playing tricks on residents of Castle Keep for generations. Then the Boggart is trapped in a rolltop desk and inadvertently shipped to the Volniks' home in Toronto, where nothing will ever be the same - for the Volniks or the Boggart.
In a world that doesn't believe in magic, the Boggart's pranks wreak havoc. And even the newfound joys of peanut butter and pizza and fudge sauce eventually wear thin for the Boggart. He wants to go home - but his only hope lies in a risky and daring blend of modern technology and ancient magic."
2. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #4 / 1908). I'm finding this one a bit sillier than the previous ones, but still enjoyable.
"In this edition, Dorothy and the Wizard are sucked into the center of the Earth. Together they make their way back to Oz, dodging grim perils on a hazard-filled journey."
3. Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel (2023). This is the graphic novel version of the original story.
"A small bat blown off course makes the perilous journey home with new friends in Oppel's story that is now available in graphic novel format!
Shade the young silverwing bat may be the runt of his colony, but he’s determined to prove himself on the long, dangerous winter migration to Hibernaculum—millions of wingbeats to the south. Too soon, his hopes are dashed when a fierce storm catches Shade in its grasp. Driven far from the others by the unforgiving winds, Shade is left alone.
On his journey back to his family, Shade meets other winged loners. Marina is a Brightwing bat with a strange metal band on her leg, Zephyr the mystical albino bat has an unusual gift, and Goth the carnivorous vampire bat is the largest bat Shade has ever seen. Shade will need all the help he can get if he hopes to reunite with his colony, but with a long and perilous flight ahead, how will he know who to trust?"
4. The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed (Cloud Migration #1 / 2021)
"In post-climate disaster Alberta, a woman infected with a mysterious parasite must choose whether to pursue a rare opportunity far from home or stay and help rebuild her community.
The world is nothing like it once was: climate disasters have wracked the continent, causing food shortages, ending industry, and leaving little behind. Then came Cad, mysterious mind-altering fungi that invade the bodies of the now scattered citizenry. Reid, a young woman who carries this parasite, has been given a chance to get away - to move to one of the last remnants of pre-disaster society - but she can't bring herself to abandon her mother and the community that relies on her.
When she's offered a coveted place on a dangerous and profitable mission, she jumps at the opportunity to set her family up for life, but how can Reid ask people to put their trust in her when she can't even trust her own mind?"
New Books
Six new books / graphics acquired since my last update.
1. Pearl by Sherri L. Smith (2024).
"In a beautifully crafted and captivating graphic novel from award-winning writer Sherri L. Smith and Eisner-nominated artist Christine Norrie, a Japanese-American girl must survive years of uncertainty and questions of loyalty in Hiroshima during World War II. Amy is a thirteen-year-old Japanese-American girl who lives in Hawaii. When her great-grandmother falls ill, Amy travels to visit family in Hiroshima for the first time. But this is 1941. When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating English radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with questions of loyalty and fears about her family amidst rumors of internment camps in America -- even as she makes a new best friend and, over the years, Japan starts to feel something like home. Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of unthinkable tragedy, find hope in the rubble of a changed world."
2. God Flare by David A. Robertson (Reckoner Rises #3 / 2024). I enjoyed the 1st to books in this graphic novel series.
"Cole and Eva are reunited once more. A new terror looms as Mihko Laboratories latest human experiments are about to be unleashed. Cole is on the long road to recovery, but he’s still struggling with survivor’s guilt. He must stay focused as he, Eva, and their friends prepare for the final showdown with Mihko.
After the events of Version Control, Brady’s mind is fractured, and he can’t distinguish between what really happened and what Mikho made him believe. Eva and Cole may have to face this terrifying threat without him. It’s a grim prospect, but a new discovery might just change God Flare.
Will Brady recover enough to join the fight? Can Cole come to terms with his abilities in spite of his PTSD? And will God Flare help even the odds against Mihko?"
3. Something is Killing the Children, Volume Two by James Tynion IV (#2 / 2020). Vol 1 was scary and creepy.
"Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but now she sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children.
EVIL NEVER DIES...UNLESS ERICA SLAUGHTER KILLS IT.
Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but the horror is far from over. As her mysterious handler arrives in town to clean up her mess and quarantine the townsfolk, Erica sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children."
4. Devil's Food by Kerry Greenwood (Corinna Chapman #3 / 2006). The first book in this Australian mystery series was excellent and also had great food.
"If there's one thing Corinna Chapman, baker extraordinaire and proprietor of the Earthly Delights Bakery, can't abide, it's people not eating well--particularly when there are delights like her just-baked, freshly buttered sourdough bread to enjoy. So when a strange cult which denies the flesh and eats only famine bread turns up and a malnourished corpse is found in a park, Corinna is very disturbed indeed.
But she doesn't only have that to contend with. Her hippie mother, Starshine, has turned up out of the blue, hysterical that Sunlight, Corinna's father, has absconded to Melbourne with all their money and a desire for a new young lover. Meanwhile, someone is also poisoning people with weight loss herbal teas. And odd things are happening at the nearby Cafe Vlad Tepes, which attracts a very strange clientele."
5. Brzrkr Volume 2 by Keanu Reeves (2021)
"WHAT PRICE WOULD YOU PAY FOR TRUE FREEDOM?
Half-mortal and half-god, cursed and compelled to violence, the man known only as B. begins wandering the world anew. After enduring a series of experiments and missions, B.’s memories of his origins will be finally restored. But what does this revelation mean for his future? Has B. finally found true freedom? Perhaps, but when has the U.S. government ever let their best asset go?"
6. Brzrkr Volume 3 by Keanu Reeves (2023)
"In the final volume of the record-shattering series, uncover the ancient mysteries of our anti-hero’s origins and his final fate! As B.’s full fury is unleashed, a new discovery promises to bring the answers he’s been seeking for centuries. But as the team travels to finally uncover the mysteries of B.’s birth, is he finally near the end of his fatal goal, or will his violent efforts be in vain?"
So there you go. Some final gift ideas for Xmas maybe? I hope to do one more update before year's end but if I don't manage to write one before Xmas, have a great holiday!
