The Last Book Club Meeting?!! Perhaps.

Hey All,
So longtime readers (I delude myself that their are a few of them) will recall that I attend The Hard Boiled Book Club at my local bookstore the last tuesday of the month. It's moderated by my old co-worker and fellow writer Zach Sampinos. The focus is on new alternative fiction which means the choices can often be odd but are never boring. Unfortunately my attendance has been a bit sporadic as of late because of life stuff getting in the way. Well tragically it turns out that my work wants me to work Tuesday nights from here on in. This bums me out because it's nice to have an excuse to read something new and meet with cool people every month. But such is life so other than the occasional schedule wrangling I'll have to let it go. Well maybe things will change in the future...we'll wait and see.

So this last Tuesday we sat and discussed Sean Ferrell's novel Numb. In this first novel the main character is a man who suffers from amnesia and a condition where he feels no pain. (This is actually real, read about it here.) Due to both these strange circumstances the main character lives an existence that is completely in the present. As I began this novel I was sure that this novel was going to take a typical path. However Ferrell has another intention entirely. Numb it turns out is a commentary on our insta-celebrity culture. Through very little machinations of his own the main character ends up being a freak oddity on Youtube. In this novel Ferrell uses clear cut satire to comment on what he feels is the difference between art and superficiality. Fame vs. real substance. These are the issues he wants to explore.

As important as these subjects are I was dissapointed when the ending came because I felt that we were finally learning something about the main character. He is a horribly passive character. This is pointed out to him by several characters. He is pushed and pulled by everyone else. It isn't until the very end that he takes initiative. It is a fist-pumping moment. I dearly wish that it had come sooner in the narrative. Otherwise the narrative is full of characters that I highly disliked (Emilia, Mal) or didn't know enough about to become invested in (Hiko).

In the end Numb has great moments in it, but lacks character development. Ferrell needs to decide whether he wants his stories to be commentary on subjects or characters. Some writers do both equally well. I'm willing to give him a chance on his next book to see what happens.

Enjoy! Book Slave.

1b1t? What is this?

Hey folks,
Some of you may have heard about this 1b1t book club that is starting on 5/5. What is this? Well here's some info that I've gleaned from various research around the net.

Let's break it down:
*1b1t stands for 1 book, 1 twitter. This whole idea is based around participation from the twitter community.
*It is the brainchild of Jeff Howe, author/proponent of Crowdsourcing, who is currently a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. He is also a writer/editor at Wired Magazine.
*Crowdsourcing is the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent (usually an employee) and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call. Jeff Howe has written an entire book on this idea and how it can apply outside of business.
*1b1t takes a popular program like One City One Book, seen in Seattle and Chicago, and extends it to a global level.
*Using Twitter as a base, participants pick the book based on popular vote. Then commentary/ideas/thoughts are shared using the twitter hashtag #1b1t.

Ultimately Howe seems interested in whether Twitter, an open source application, can create global social capital. When Nancy Pearl first started the One City One Book program in Seattle it was so those citizens by reading The Sweet Hereafter would all have a commonality. This is not a program that is focused on a humanities based outcome. While in Seattle this program was successful, when a "Big Read" program was created in my city it seemed like an utter waste of time. I was never compelled by the choices of books and never felt there was a forum developed to facilitate community connection. I wasn't surprised when the program was dropped after a few years.

So why is 1B1t any different? I have to agree with Howe's argument that Twitter allows its participants to transcend geography. It's also an open source program so any economic class can participate, as long as you have internet access in your community. Also Howe allowed the internet community/future participants to pick the book which ended up being American Gods by Neil Gaiman. In my opinion this is a good choice. It's sci-fi, well-regarded, and Neil Gaiman. Gaiman has been a major proponent of using the internet to connect with his fanbase. He's had a blog for 15 years which he updates regularly. He communicates regularly on Twitter and firmly knows the balance between sharing his personal and professional life online. By allowing the community to choose the book it then gives them a personal stake in participating. This is always a good rule in book clubs, and fits with Howe's intentions.

I've always wanted to read American Gods so I'm gonna participate. I also managed to snag a copy from my library, so that's good too. I'm also gonna read Jeff Howe's book on Crowdsourcing to see if I can connect with his ideas. I do believe that the internet can be a great tool to gain social capital on a global scale. It just depends on how it's utilized. Maybe a global book club could be one of those successful experiments. We'll see.

Captive of my own Solipsism: Captive Audience

Hey folks,
I've said it before, and I'll most likely say it again, that Zach Sampinos can be full of surprises. I've known the guy for a few years now and he still can throw me every once and while. As I've mentioned before Zach is the moderator of the Hard Boiled Book Club that I attend once a month. This book club focuses on first-time authors and alternative fiction. Started attending in order to stretch my reading habit and has introduced me to great work from Willy Vlautin, Murakami and Nam Le.

Our book this month was Captive Audience by Dave Reidy and too be honest I wasn't too impressed by it. This short story collection revolves around the themes of performance and fandom. Personally I felt that a lot of these stories felt like parts of much longer stories. And I guess I have a predilection to dislike short stories that are over 30 pages. In short stories I want a set-up, story, and then a "turn" that brings me to the point of it all. Now admittedly not all short stories need to fit this pattern. Literature can be whatever form it wants as long as it's well-written. But I just wasn't captured by the majority of these stories.

The exceptions to that previous statement was the titular story Captive Audience, which centered around a mentally-ill guy who loves stand up comedy. At first he can listen to old comedy records all day, until a comedy club moves in underneath him. Horribly disturbed he is upset at first, but then he finds a way to help a young comedian. This story featured a keen understanding of the subject and methods of stand up. It was great to see the author break down common techniques of a Newhart monologue from the 60's. Just as the main character is held captive by his own limitations, he finds a positive way to break free. His transcendent moment at the end of the story was wonderfully poignant and life-affirming.

I was also drawn to the story Thingless, which features a highschool kid desperate to find something that other kids will identify him with. He decides to learn guitar, and then tries to share it with the troubled girl next door. Her teenage nihilism toward life in general felt very realistic to me since I see it all the time in the teens that I help. Reidy expertly makes it clear that finding an artistic way to create an identity for yourself is as necessary as food. It nourishes your self-worth, even if you're ability is dubious. It's the compulsion to express an emotion in some way that gives these characters a sense of self. Reidy doesn't always take the easy happy ending which I also appreciated.

So despite my feelings of "meh-ness" I went ready to discuss the book. Upon arrival though I discovered that we would be a very small group and that Zach had arranged for Mr. Reidy to call in and answer some questions. He had done the same thing with Willy Vlautin last fall. See these are the kind of things that Mr. Sampinos can pull off with a seeming effortlessness. Slowly Zach, as well as some others, managed to turn me around. By the time Mr. Reidy called I managed to see the merits of the book. You can read Zach's thoughts on Captive Audience here.

In the end it turns out that discussing a book with others can raise your opinion on a book. This is why I think it's important to escape my own solipsism at least once a month. It was very surprising.

Book Club Night = My salvation.

Hello,
I hope you all are enjoying the format change. Last entry ended up being massive! Yeah shorter entries my ass. Well I can't help it that I'm wordy. Well moving on...

Tonight was Book Club Night. For those coming in late: On the last Tuesday of the month I attend The Hard Boiled Book Club @ Sam Weller's Book. More Info is available here. It's run and moderated by former coworker/friend/burgeoning writer Zach Sampinos and focuses on alternative fiction. I started going because it sounded fun and it would force me to read fiction that I normally wouldn't even pick up. It's a fun/insightful group and I urge anyone in the SLC that's interested to come on down. Feel free to sit in even if you haven't read the book.

The pick this month was The Night in Question by Tobias Woolf. I am already a big fan of Woolf's work. His fictional novel Old School was one of my favorite books a few years ago. Yet I still haven't read any of his short story collections. It was a great surprise to see that Woolf is as good at short fiction as he is at a novel/memoir.

As fellow club member Chris pointed out Woolf uses a great elevated diction that is not stylistic at all. His word choice can be beautiful and horribly specific. This is true in my favorite stories of this collection. Specifically "Bullet to the Brain" is a tour-de-force of short story writing. It starts off with a man annoyed while standing in line at the bank, and takes a crazy left turn. Woolf's ability to start a story with something mundane and then raise the stakes took my breath away. I felt the same way about the titular story "The Night in Question" which also takes it's characters down an unexpected direction. A brother and sister, both brutally abused as children, try to make sense of what can be a cruel world. The brother tries to relate a story that points to a faith in god, whereas his sister turns it another way. Woolf does an excellent job establishing the complicated relationship that exists for those who are physically abused. Their love for each other is a bond fused by that shared horrible childhood. As an adult how do you make sense of such cruelty? Woolf is wonderfully ambiguous. He refuses to offer an easy answer.

This brings me to what I think is the thru-line of this collection: Since death is inevitable, life should be about finding happiness. Whether it be the pleasure that can be brought by a 100 dollar bill in "Smorgasbord" or a lonely teacher who can't stop falling in love in "Life and Death of the Body". Woolf's characters are either living fully or their soul's are dying depending on their choices. In "The Chain" the main characters begin a cycle of violence that can only bring death. As in "Casualty" war brings two men together only to be ripped apart by a meaningless death. Again and again Woolf shows the importance of his character's choices. In the end I look toward the optimism of the story "Powder". A father and son both enjoy the fact that they are good at something. Happiness can be the acceleration of moving a barricade and expertly driving through a snowstorm.

Other Reviews: Entertainment Weekly, scottwilliamfoley, Red Room

Have a great night! Book Slave.

Just waiting for the Fall

Hello to you all,
I sit this week looking at the end of summer a bit stunned. Where did the summer go? Time is such a fluid thing. And now we are staring right into my favorite season the fall. Where I reside we have a very pretty fall season, which is damn surprising since it's a desert. But I ramble on. Just can't wait for the fall leaves. Sigh.

This was a book club Tuesday. Although I enjoyed the book gun with occasional music (review below) immensely and it's quite provocative, as a subject the book proved dissapointing. The discussion was either scattered or devolved into "this book is really good" platitudes. It's too bad because I think this book is very interesting and thought provoking. Oh well. Moderator/Head of Club/Secret superhero Zach Sampinos let me know that The Sun Also Rises will be next months book. This filled me with joy, I enjoy Hemingway. And hopefully it will draw some more people. That would be cool.

Well Onward!

Reviews
Hellboy Library Edition Vol. 1
I finally picked this up and enjoyed it a lot. Hellboy, like BPRD, is a unique mix of horror, mythology, and humor. It hits the sweet spot in combining these different aspects. But really the book is powered by the amazing art from Mignola. This library edition is a great showcase for Mignola's universe. In this world the colors are dark and moody, the only vibrant color being red. The demons are scary and formidable, and Mignola makes the action scenes crazy. I am often surprised by how epic Mignola's art is on the page. Also Byrne & Mignola never talk down to their audience. There is a fair amount of history, written text, and occult talk. The characters are very smart and engaging as well. Hellboy, as a character, is written here much more intelligent than his portrayal in the films. While he is a demon, Mignola allows for his humanity to come through. He's a unique fun character. I can't wait to read more.

Bio Info: Hellboy

BPRD vol. 7
More BPRD goodness: This time we learn more about Abe Sapien and his crazy past. I would have liked some more with the rest of the BPRD gang, but this was Abe's showcase. Some very creepy stuff.

Past Reviews: Homing Instinct of Books, City on Fire, A Serious Obsession

gun, with occasional music
I enjoyed this crazy mix of Chandler and Phillip K. Dick, as seen through the eyes of Jonathan Lethem. In this detective yarn we are dropped into an Orwellian future where everyone is controlled by either individualized drugs or The Office. Private Inquisitior Conrad Metcalf finds himself stuck in the middle of a murder when one of his former employers ends up dead. Lethem blends a good brew of noir and futurist prose like right out of Spillane. I found myself enveloped in the hard language Lethem employs. This book is also ripe with social commentary that is becoming more and more a reality. The world imagined in gun is one where existence is made trivial and superficial. Metcalf's tragedy is not unlike Orwell's Winston Smith; he can't stop asking questions. Very interesting stuff.

Other Reviews
sff | 12frogs | The Guardian

The Reading List
Books
Queen and Country Vol. 1
Superman For Tomorrow Vol. 1

Mags
Four Four Two

Comics
Green Arrow & Black Canary

Comics Pull List: Batman And Robin #3, Dark Wolverine #77, Deadpool #14, Detective Comics #856, Flash Rebirth #4, Gotham City Sirens #3, Green Lantern #45, New Avengers #56, Runaways 3 #13, Superman #691, Wednesday Comics #8, Wonder Woman #35

Check Out Count: Musical.

Have a great week!

It's not a comeback, it's a return.

Hello to All,
Fear not. I may have disappeared for awhile, but I have not forgotten you all. Trust me the end of July was full of insanity, especially of the reading kind. But I am back now. I'm intent on attacking August full force. Hopefully the cyberworld will follow me unto the breach.

As usual my book club meeting was highly enjoyable. We discussed the book Citizen Vince by Jess Walter (review is forthcoming). We even got the chance to talk to the author via speaker phone. He was very nice and answered our questions thoroughly. I give thanks again to Zach Sampinos, leader and moderator, for pulling our little book club together each month. It's always a good time.

I also had the pleasure of co-hosting a discussion of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows (review is forthcoming) for the Mainly Reading Book Club. Becci Webb, fellow librarian, has built a great group that meets every month. I am reminded that one of my first reviews posted on this blog was for The Jane Austen Book Club, a book I read for the same reasons as Guernsey. It's odd that the books themselves and the circumstances under which I read them are so similiar. Eh or maybe it's just coincidence. Well I digress. Onward!

Reviews
Harley and Ivy
I've already spread my love for comics writer Paul Dini all over this blog. He is a great Batman writer, but he's most well known for the series he created called Batman: The Animated Series. I picked up this collection because it showcases the relationship between the femme fatales Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. This is a fun collection, although it's really strictly for the kids. Harley Quinn is a fun character, although she is haplessly dumb. In this team up with Poison Ivy they play like vaudeville. Admittedly I was hoping for something a little more sophisticated and smart, but this did make me laugh.

Here's a clip from Batman: the Animated Series that features these characters. Enjoy.



Into the Wild
In 1992 Chris McCandless was found dead in the wilds of Alaska. He had starved to death after living in an abandoned bus for 4 months. In this book author Jon Krakauer examines the 2 year odyssey that led McCandless across the US and ended in his death. I had been meaning to read this book for some time. Krakauer does a great job of not only telling us McCandless's story but also interweaving in similiar stories of crazy adventurers. Krakauer even includes his own story of nearly dying in Alaska. This is an interesting account of this young man's tragedy. What drove him? is the question at the center of the book. Really only Chris McCandless knows for sure, but from the accounts left behind it seems that McCandless felt the need to test himself. Man vs. Nature is one of the eternal conflicts. McCandless lost due to his own inexperience. Unfortunately it his family and friends who live with the loss. Well worth checking out.

Bio Info: Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild

The Reading List
Books
BPRD: The Black Flame
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Mags
Four Four Two

Comics
Deadpool #12

Check Out Count: Could be better.

Comic Pull List: Amazing Spider-Man #601, Buffy The Vampire Slayer #27, Doom Patrol #1, Dynamo 5 #23, Justice League Cry For Justice #2, Secret Six #12, Superman World Of New Krypton #6, Terry Moores Echo #14, Wednesday Comics #5

Have a great week! Book Slave.

This Book Slave is on fire!

Hello Readers,
I don't know what's in the air but this month I have been putting the books away. Unfortunately although I've been reading like crazy it barely makes a dent in the TBR pile. But then again I never want to see the day when I have nothing to read. How sad will that be. May it never come to pass!

Be prepared for a long entry tonight gentle readers.

Tonight I had book club and it was a good time. This month's book was the direct opposite of last month's Northline. Being a part of this club continues to stretch my reading experience. I don't know where Zach, moderator extraordinaire, finds these crazy titles. Now I don't like all the books, still hate Dangerous Laughter, but they are at least off the beaten path. Now I'm not judgey but I really don't understand why reader's are afraid of books that are experimental. Why only read one type of book? Why put limits on yourself? I'm glad I take the time once a month to try something that I would never pick up on my own. If you are looking for something different I'd recommend coming down to The Hard Boiled Book Club, details found here. I'll be there.

Alright folks onward!

Reviews
Birds of Prey: Old Friends, New Enemies
I have become fascinated by the character of Barbara Gordon. For those who don't know Barbara Gordon used to be Batgirl. During the day she was a mild-mannered librarian, at night she fought alongside Batman & Robin. Then in Alan Moore's The Killing Joke she is shot by the Joker. She doesn't die but the bullet severs her spine and she's paralyzed. After dealing with severe depression, she trains herself to become a computer hacker and adopts the moniker Oracle. As Oracle she recruits fellow female superhero Black Canary and forms a new team titled "Birds of Prey." Now Oracle continues to be the only handicapped superhero in the DC universe. In this volume we have a mixed bag of issues. I really loved the issues which focused on the relationship between Black Canary & Oracle. Canary is the muscle, while Oracle is working cyber angle. Dixon writes some great banter between the two of them. Black Canary kicks ass as well. There are some great splash pages that are very cool. Unfortunately some of the issues suffer from crossover-itus. I can appreciate that Dixon was also writing GI Joe but frankly I don't care about The Ravens. And where did the dinosaurs come from? Just bizarre and out of place. I want more of the "Birds of Prey" in my book. So a mixed reaction but fun enough that I'll keep reading.

Comic Info: Barbara Gordon, Birds of Prey

Huntress: Year One
It's fun to read books from the "Year One" line if you want to approach a character fresh. I was not familiar with Huntress beyond her involvement with Birds of Prey. So I decided to give this a try even though I don't know anything about the writer or artist. Like Long Halloween, this is a mafia story that takes place in the Batman Universe. In this series Helena Bertinelli returns to Gotham to avenge the death of her family, get back her money, and take down the mafia. She's intent on kicking ass & taking names. I'll admit that the first few issues were pretty snoozy. A lot of exposition and talk. I never bought the star-crossed lovers story between her and Tony Angelo. However in the last 3 issues once the action moves to Gotham this series becomes great. Writer Ivory Madison brings in great characterizations of Barbara Gordon (whom she would later join with to create the Birds of Prey) and Catwoman. Catwoman is so much fun, very much like in Selina's Big Score. In the end this turns out to be surprising violent but very empowering. Ended up enjoying it so I'll be checking out any new work from writer Ivory Madison.

Other Reviews
Extremely Graphic | The Weekly Crisis | Graphic Novel Reporter

Clumsy
This book was simple, raw, and heartbreaking. Writer Jeffrey Brown depicts his romance with a woman named Theresa with honest emotion. The childlike art style reflects the relationship depicted as it blooms and then falls apart. Brown leaves his heart on the page and is literally naked to the reader. I was surprised by the amount of sex in this book, definitely not for kids, but then again to a man in his early 20s of course that's what he would remember. This book is a must-read. Highly enjoyable.

Other Reviews
Metapsychology | Cinegeek

Thoreau at Walden
This is a great Cliff Notes version of H.D. Thoreau's Walden. Having read Walden I desperately wish that I had this book at my disposal. Writer/Artist John Porcellino uses a simple art style which matches Thoreau's message of simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. Highly enjoyable. Great for high school students.

Other Reviews
School Library Journal | madinkbeard | Watermark Books & Cafe

You Must Be This Happy to Enter
After reading this book I feel as if I can hear the voice of Elizabeth Crane. Now I've never heard her voice in an interview, but her writing in this collection is all about tone. Her extensive use of one voice narration will make or break the reader. I really enjoyed how crazy her satire is in stories such as "Betty the Zombie" and "Emmanuel." Crane pushes the reader into the most absurd hilarious commentary. For me most of the time it worked. I don't think that Crane could maintain this kind of writing for any longer than 10 pages. These stories are exactly the right length. I was also surprised by the immense optimism that is present throughout these stories. It was completely unexpected and welcomed. What is wrong with being happy? Crane is not afraid to defend that position while pointing out that the world isn't perfect. Definitely worth reading for someone looking for a challenge.

Other Reviews
Bookslut | January magazine | Quarterly Conversation

The Reading List
Books
Amazing Adventures of the Escapist Vol. 1
Batman Private Casebook

Magazines
Vanity Fair

Comics
Streets of Gotham #1

Comic Pull List:Batman And Robin #2, Buffy The Vampire Slayer #26, Justice League Cry For Justice #1, Secret Six #11, Terry Moores Echo #13

Check Out Count: Stuck in a rut.

Have a great week! Book Slave.

Joker, Manga, and Girls on Fridges

Hello,
Howse it hanging cyberworld? I hope you've all had a great week. I was consumed all weekend by movies (I am a cinemaniac) but I did still manage to get some reading in. I enjoyed the Oscar ceremony, all though there sure was a lot of singing and dancing. But I loved Hugh, we're on a first name basis, and his enthusiasm.

Tonight I went to my Book Club. This month we moved upstairs and sat in our own high back chairs at a table. It was a nice change. We were somewhat secluded and literally surrounded by books. Unfortunately there is one guy who came tonight who likes to dominate the group. He kinda looks and talks like Seth Rogen, so I'll refer to him as Seth. Seth likes to talk, tell personal stories, and compare everything to David Foster Wallace. Seth gets a bit on my nerves, but then again maybe I get on other people's nerves. I don't know. Anyway this is the second time he's appeared in 6 months, so I guess we'll see him next in August. Otherwise it was a good time. I invite y'all to come down, all the info can be found here. There's a review of the Book Club book The Girl on the Fridge below.

Reviews
The Joker
This original graphic novel came out last fall but I haven't picked it up until now. Cynical folk would say that DC is trying to capitalize on the popularity of the Joker post-Dark Knight. However I highly doubt that writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo care at all about making any commercial product. This book is as dirty, grimy, and sick as Gotham City itself. The art/writing style is wonderfully noir as we follow how small time crook Jonny Frost latches onto The Joker. See Joker just got out of Arkham and now he wants to reclaim his crime kingdom. I really enjoyed this book. Azzarello is the perfect choice to write this noir/psychological examination. This reminded me of a controversial issue of Batman that also focused on the crazy mindset of Joker. Joker is a man who sees himself as death, so he's not afraid of dying. His unpredictability makes him the craziest supervillian in comics. Check this out.

Other Reviews
Comics Bulletin | ICv2 | Comic Book Resources

Death Note Vol. 1
After last week's Monster I thought I'd try another manga. While Death Note does have some fantasy elements, I was struck again by the realistic story-telling. The fantastical elements include a notebook where if you write someone's name in it and picture there face they'll die. A teenage student named Light finds a Death Note, as the notebook is called, and decides to kill all the criminals. In his mind he'll create a Utopia of which he'll take over as ruler. Again there is strong questions of morality like I saw in Monster. I was impressed by the discussion of whether Light's intentions are really righteous or self-serving. Also there's a strong chase element as Light eludes the NPG, Japanese FBI, and master detective L. Det. L is a mysterious figure whom we never see their face, just literally the letter L from a computer. This was very enjoyable and smart, I think I'll read some more.

Other Reviews
Pop Culture Shock | IGN | about.com

Girl on the Fridge
I highly enjoyed this collection of short stories from Etgar Keret. He is an Israeli author who focuses on very short vignettes and character portraits. The book reads very quickly as the longest story is 6 pages, and most stories average 2 pages. Keret's stories contain a mix of humor, poignancy, and fantastical elements. In fact they are so short that I lost track of some of the stories in the middle. It is admirable how lean Keret's writing is, he doesn't spare a word. In 600 words he can say more than some author's do in 600 pages. So check this out, I'll definitely be trying some of his other collections.

Other Reviews
New York Times | Pop Matters | Book Forum

The Reading List
Books
Doubt
Poems of Robert Graves

Magazine
Vanity Fair

Comic
Captain Britain and the M13

Check Out Count: Eh.

Comic Pull List: Dynamo 5 #20, Garth Ennis Battlefields Dear Billy #2, Green Lantern #38, Mouse Guard Winter 1152 #5, New Avengers #50, Runaways 3 #7, Superman #685, Trinity #39, Umbrella Academy Dallas #4, Wonder Woman #29

Have a great week! Book Slave.

Living in Motels

Hello,
Hope you all had an awesome holiday. I did. I cannot believe it is almost 2009. (That's just crazy! Where's the flying cars?) Good times ahead I hope. Cheers to you all. Happy New Years! I enjoyed Book Club tonight where we discussed Motel Life (see review below) and had a good time. If you want to have some fun and read interesting books we meet at Sam Weller's Books on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm. Come on by, it's a good time. Onward!

Reviews
What I Said and How I Lied
I first heard about this book after it won the National Book Award for YA titles. The title and cover were also intriquing. This book takes place in post-war America as Evie, a girl whose 15 going on 16, her mother and stepfather take a trip to Florida and gets caught up in mystery and romance. The first person narration is written in a snappy noir style that enjoyed immensely. It's written in a witty style that only emphasized the noir feel of the story. I was surprised to discover that this is more of a story about lost innocence rather than a clear cut mystery. Evie's slow discovery of the dysfunction in the adult world around her was heartbreaking. This is a great read which I enjoyed and highly reccommend.

Other Reviews
Becky's Book Reviews|YA New York|Ink Splot 26

The Motel Life
I had picked up this title upon the high reccommendation of a co-worker but I have been sitting on it for awhile. When it was announced as the book club choice for December I finally picked it up. Boy am I glad I did. Frank and Jerry Lee Flannigan have had a terrible of run of bad luck all their lives. Drifting along in Reno Nevada, the work lower class jobs in a rootless existence. When Jerry Lee commits a terrible crime it's Frank who is stuck cleaning up the mess. Reading this I noticed strong overtones of Steinbeck, Denis Johnson, and Kerouac. I loved the bond between the two main characters and it was devastating watching the effects of a life marked by failure. Like Of Mice and Men Frank is burdened by his need to take care of his brother. However, rather than become melodramatic Vlautin instead chooses a more detached ending that I don't think quite works. I guess I just wanted a little more story in my story. The main characters really don't change all that much. I think he easily could have delved more into the characters. Although it's a bleak story I did enjoy this story of flawed characters living desperate lives.

Other Reviews
New York Times|KQED|The Independent

The Reading List
Books
The Irregulars
Generation X

Comics
Trinity #29

Magazine
Newsweek

Check Out Count: Continues to Improve.

Comic Pull List: Batman #684, Batman Cacophony #2, Goon #31, Green Lantern #36, Incognito #1, Northlanders #13, Stand Captain Trips #4, Superman #683, Trinity #31, Wolverine #70

Happy New Years! Have a great week! See yeah in 2009! Book Slave.

Opportunity Knocks.

Hello world,
Is it wrong that I love the fact that this morning it was a little nippy? I cannot wait for scarves, gloves, and thick socks. It may shock some but fall here in the City of Salt is actually kind of awesome. Sure by December and January I'll be cursing snow, ice, and frigid cold, but now I am waiting in anticipation. Fall! Onward!

This week some life happened. Some opportunities have come around and I'm pretty stoked. Because of this I had to change some of my reading plans. So no reviews this week but definitely there will be next week.

Announcements
Hey so because of a change in schedule I finally have the chance to join a book club. One of my co-workers the mysterious Zach Sampinos started the Hard Boiled Book Club. You can read about it here. Sampinos is a pretty interesting fellow, here's an interview with him here. Anyway because of scheduling I'm now able to join. It has been awhile since I've been in a book group and I've missed it. So we'll see how this works out.

What's In My Bag
Books
Twilight of the Superheroes
X Saves the World

Magazines
Four Four Two

Comic
Deadpool #1

Checkout Count: 2 steps forward, 3 steps back.

Comic Pull List:Daredevil #111, Deadpool #2, Fables #76, New Avengers #45, Powers #30, Runaways 3 #2, Superman #680, Trinity #17

Have a great week! Peace Out Y'All! Book Slave.