Update: Blame it on the alcohol. No Really.

Hey folks,
Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm not dead. Still here, still alive. Just too busy to really read or write about it. It's a good excuse I think. The workshop that I run is starting up so I've been busy putting that together. Add that to the library load. There's only so much awesome me to go around. Here's some highlights bullet-style:
*Met my library-idol Scott Douglass. Still embarassed by my fan-girlish behavior.
*Loved X-Men: First Class. Marvel, bring on the Erik Lensherr: Nazi Hunter prequel series.
*Never thought Woody Allen would be on top of a literary sci-fi trend.
*Participating in 1book1twitter again by reading Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Yay!
*Dropped out of my other book club, because I don't have time for it. Which is sad, but it had to happen.
*Put together a fantastic event with local artist Jess Smiley which restored my faith in humanity.

That's all I got for you folks, Have a great week! Book Slave.

Reading List 3/1/2011

Hey folks,
Yep I'm still alive. Don't worry. Between the new job, and the continuous piling on at my other job, it leaves very little time for this. However I'm not a quitter. The Reading List will go on! Even if it's just for me.

Here's a list of books I did finish last month. Trust me I still read.
The Outfit by Darwyn Cooke
Brightest Day Vol. 1
Unbearable Lightness
Short Cuts
Nightly News


Of these titles the best book I read this past month was The Outfit. For those who do not know, this is a sequel to Cooke's The Hunter last year. These graphic novel adaptations of Richard Stark's Parker novels continue to impress. If you are not reading these books then you are missing out on something special. They are Darwyn Cooke at the top of his game.

So here's the plan this week.

Reading List 3/1/2011
Books
Superman: Secret Origins
Shopgirl

Magazines
Vanity Fair-Still digging on that Hollywood Issue for March.

Have a great week! Book (and work) Slave.

Reading List 9/21-9/28

Hey guys,
Has it really been two weeks? Woah. Sometimes it gets away from you.

Here's the plan:
Reading List 9/21-9/28
Books
Accidental Billionaires
The Town (formerly known as Prince of Thieves)

Mags
Rollingstone -Do you see that Mad Men cover? Gorgeous.

Comics
Some Amazing Spider-Man on tap along with some more comic goodness.

Look for some upcoming posts to fulfill your literary commentary needs for the rest of the month. Enjoy, Book Slave.

Don't call it a Comeback & Never Let Me Go

Hey folks,
Yes I am back. I’ve been horribly absent from this blog but trust me it was because of a worthy cause. When I’m not lost in the written word I like to find ways that I can keep myself busy. So that’s where I was. But now I’ve returned like that cat that came back. Thank you those who’ve stuck around to read my literary rantings. I’ll try not to stay away so long.

Never Let Me Go: Go Get the Tissues.

Never Let Me Go by Kazou Ishiguro has been sitting on my TBR pile for a long time. I was motivated when I saw the trailer for the new movie adaptation. That trailer pushed me to the point where I finally picked it up and entered the world of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy. These three friends are all students of Hailsham, a boarding school for those who are “special.” The story is told in flashback thru the eyes of Kathy who works as a “carer.” I am being purposely vague because I don’t want to lessen the emotional impact of this story. He is subtle in such a way that may lose readers who seek out melodrama. There are neither bombs that explode nor people held at gunfire. The stakes, however, remain just as crucial to our metaphysical existence. What does it mean to have a soul? What does it mean to be human?

Ishiguro uses a limited narration that keeps the readers at a distance. At first Hailsham seems like any other boarding school but slowly the reader gains a feeling of something more sinister. This underlying feeling that there is something “different” about the world in which these characters exist drove me forward. Even though I knew that Kathy’s tone of melancholy meant that there would be no happy endings. Kathy’s acceptance of this makes Ishiguro’s indictment of this society even more tragic. Tears welled up in my eyes upon the devastating climax because it was all so inevitable.

This book hurt my soul. I’ve talked before about books that I can’t read in public because I’ll end up making an emotional mess of myself. Well add another book to the list.

Oh by the way here’s that trailer I was talking about:



It’s good to be back. Have a great summer night, Book Slave.

A little Ranting & Reading List 7/27-8/3

Hey Folks,
Don't worry I'm still alive! This summer is a very busy thing for your humble reader/blogger. This week I had the chance to sit back and dive back into the wonderful magical world of the reading experience. That respite was a moment of sweet salvation from a very hectic time. It was a great reminder that no matter how crazy the world can get (and it can get crazy), there's a place that you can escape to. Reading is not about just "getting thru it." It's not about getting the slate clean. Even when you have "homework" if what you are reading is well-written then it's not "work." Literature, books, the written word, whatever you want to call it, should be a joy. Let's not forget.

Alright, stepping down from my personal pillory, here's the plan this week.

Reading List 7/27-8/3
Books
Battle of the Labyrinth
Batwoman: Elegy

Comics
A gorgeous stack of goodness.

Magazine
Four Four Two-World Cup Wrap Up.

Google Reader Catch Up Continues. It's at the point where it's not 1000+ which constitutes a lot of hard work folks.

Have a great week! Book Slave.

Reading List 7/13-7/20

Hey folks,
So I'm much less busy now that certain Alt Press Festivals are over. Hopefully posting here will become more regular. The Alt Press Festival was a massive success with good music, art and sock puppetry. In fact if you look on certain social networks (such as the Facebook) you'll actually find a decent picture of yours truly, as well as the other committee members. So you'd think that I would just take it slow after such a massive undertaking but no you'd be wrong. Well wasn't it Frances McDormand who said "Be Bold and Mighty Forces will come to your aid" ? So here's the plan this week:

Reading List 7/13-7/20
Books
Powers Definitive Hardcover Vol. 1
With the Old Breed

Comics
A wonderful stack of comic goodness.

Gotta catch up on the Google Reader. It's overflowing.

And that's it folks. Seriously. Have a great week! Book Slave

Reading List 7-6-2010 to 7-13-2010

Hey,
Oh poor neglected blog. Don't worry I'll be back to posting regularly, I know that you believe in me.

Here it is:
Reading List 7-6-2010 to 7/13/2010
Comics
Batman #866, Amazing Spider-Man 632-635, Fables 96, New Avengers 1, Captain America 606, Walking Dead 73, Fantastic Four 580

I'll also try to attack the Google Reader Inbox. It's overflowing.

And that's all folks. Seriously I may squeeze in a short book, but otherwise I don't have time this week. I'm very busy.

Have a great week, Book Slave. (Well really just Slave this week.)