Shoot for the stars! SpiraledStar's 75

Didn't quite make it to 75 last year, but I found lots of great books. I hope to reach my goal this year. Plus, I'm starting in January, not June, so that will probably give me time for - you guessed it - more books!

More books - isn't that what LT is all about? Glad to see you are joining us again!

Welcome back!

1. Stardust by Neil Gaiman -- As with all of Gaiman's work, I really loved this book. It was much darker than I was anticipating, but it was a wonderful story all the same. The bittersweet ending was beautifully handled, and I loved the humour hidden in Gaiman's narration.

What a great start to the year. Aside from Good Omens, I've actually only read Stardust of Gaiman's books, but enjoyed it so much I have several more lined up on my shelves (and still more on the wishlist). Have you seen the film?

Very cool start to the year. I loved the movie, and have been tempted and retempted by the book. Not a fan of his style of writing, though, but the story itself is so magical...

FlossieT: Yes, I actually saw the film a few days before reading the novel. I love both versions. The film did a lot of great things that the novel didn't, and the novel did a lot of great things that the film didn't. The film was definitely more family friendly, while the novel reminded me more of the old, classic fairy tales, so I was able to appreciate both in their own right.

Severn: I would definitely recommend reading the book. It's different enough from the film that you might actually get a new story out of it (but that story is just as good). Also, the book is told like an old fairy tale, so stylistically, it's a departure from Gaiman's usual writing.

2. Nebula Awards Showcase 2008 edited by Ben Bova

The Nebula Awards are given every year to the best sci-fi novel, novella, short story, poetry, etc. The 2008 selection was an interesting read. The novella, Burn didn't hold my attention very well, but I liked the story by Peter S. Beagle, which was a sort-of sequel to The Last Unicorn. Diana Wynne Jones talked about the production process for Howl's Moving Castle from the eyes of the author. Also, the winner for short poetry had a very interesting take on "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." The book was an interesting way to be exposed to new authors, but I found myself only really interested in the authors I already knew of. :)

3. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

I found this to be a quick, enjoyable read, though I was hoping for something a bit more frightening. Yes, it is a novel aimed toward a younger crowd, but almost every blurb quote promised me a dark and terrifying ride. It was dark, and quite wonderfully so, with just enough whimsy to lighten it out, but it lacked the terror I expected. Perhaps I'm just too old to be scared by anything short of absolute horror. ;)
I didn't go into the book looking for a scare, though. I went in hoping for an interesting, ever-changing plot with plenty of strange twist and dark tendencies, and I found it, along with some strange mice (Seriously, those poems they said? Quite odd.), an aloof cat, and a heroine who didn't curl up in a ball and cry every five seconds. She took charge of her future, refusing to wait for rescue, and I admire that a lot in a character.

I thought Coraline was right creepy... but I'm curious to see what they do with the film version. I swear the images from the book haunt my nightmares...

Glad I found your thread as I missed out on it last year.

dk_phoenix: It was creepy, but I think I'm so used to creepy things that it didn't chill me much. I'm looking forward to the film, as I've been following those boxes that have been sent to bloggers. The artistry on the stuff is amazing! Plus, I loved the cat, so I'm looking forward to seeing him on the screen.

suslyn: I'm glad you found it, too. :) Welcome!

Ooh, me too re the Coraline film!

4. Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Read this almost right on the heels of Macbeth, so I was able to compare the two (this may be good, it may not...). I really liked Hamlet, even though the title character was a bit of an over-thinking pansy when it came to getting things done. The plot was easy to follow and lots of fun, what with the sword fights and treachery and all. However, I was disappointed by the lack of strong female characters. In Macbeth, you had Lady Macbeth, Hecuba, and the other witches, all of whom were strong-willed and powerful. Sure, Lady Macbeth became less of a force as the play went on, but she still had a say in her own life. In Hamlet, though, there are only two females: one's a flimflamming strumpet, and the other is a doe-eyed, obedient beauty. The only power either has is to incite the men to deeds of bravery and/or deceit. I was hoping for some more characters like Lady Macbeth, whose self-serving craziness was fun to follow. Shakespeare was definitely negative toward women in Hamlet, what with "Frailty, thy name is woman," and all.
Oh, well, guess you can't have scholarly and feminist opinions thrust together. Despite this issue, I found Hamlet to be a fun read. Recommended.

5. Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I love this poem. It's beautifully lyrical, and the copy I read had fabulous illustrations by Doré. Always love Doré's work.

6. The Traveling Curmudgeon by Jon Winokur

This book is fantastic! Full of hilarious quotes and fascinatingly dismal travel stories, this book proved hard to put down. A quick read, but still great.

7. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones

Another quick read, and another fabulous book. Charmain was an interesting enough main character, but I think Waif the dog stole the show. She was such a lovable little thing, and bright, too. Peter was a bit annoying, but not too much so. Things definitely got interesting once Howl, Sophie, and their family got involved. This book denied my plot expectations and kept me on my toes. I never knew what would come flying at me next!

>7 SpiraledStar: Wasn't this fun?! Everyone has such high expectations after Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Air, and Jones managed to exceed them! I love her books.

One of the things I like most about LT is that I've learned of so many authors I never knew. Thus, I'll give Diana Wynne Jones a try. Your description of House of Many Ways sounds delightful. And, I'm also adding book #6 to the tbr mountain.

Thanks.

Linda, although you can read House of Many Ways on its own and enjoy it, your enjoyment would be enhanced by reading Howl's Moving Castle first. It is a quick read and would be well worth the time.

Thanks for the clarify. I'll read Howl's Moving Castle first.

Sounds like The Traveling Curmudgeon was a lot of fun!

>22 Whisper1:: Just to confuse you further, I think Archer's Goon and Fire and Hemlock are even better than Howl's Moving Castle. *grin*

#24 TadAD - Now I need to add those to the TBR scrolls...another trip to the library is in order!

8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Do you have your towel?
I love this book. It's witty, it's funny, it's compelling. I could barely put it down! I'm almost ashamed to say that this was my first time reading it, since everyone loves it so much, but I'll stick the truth out there, and now I can be one of those people, too! It was an easy read, and now that I've been left hanging a bit, I feel that I should read the other novels in the series. Adams was quite an author. I can't wait to read his other novels (especially The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. One of my friends has spoken quite highly of that one.).

SpiraledStar
I confess that I've never read this book, but like you, I've heard it mentioned a lot. I know there is a copy somewhere on my bookshelves...I simply have to find it...

you should read the rest of the series as well! it gets a bit confusing at some point but then how can travelling through space and time NOT be confusing? (see: LOST) It's definitely worth sticking with it! The first and last of the series were my favorites!

Thanks girlunderglass. Please tell me if The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the first in the series.

Yes, indeed it is :)

The order is as follows:
1) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
2) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
3) Life, the Universe, and Everything
4) So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
5) Mostly Harmless

Enjoy!

Thanks so much for the sequence. Ah, more books to add to the ever growing, explosive, non stop tbr mountain.

glad you enjoyed the Hitchhiker book. Sadly, I tried that one expecting to like it a great deal and never finished it. Oh well, there's a lid for every jar, right?

Oh well, there's a lid for every jar, right?

Not at my house - we can never seem to keep all those things matched up . . .

I read the entire Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy trilogy (a misnomer) and Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul last year and really enjoyed it. I would therefore highly recommend the entire series to anyone who has read any Douglas Adams book and liked it.

Piyush is a great fan of these books and he has good taste. Don't read my non-recommendation as a reason not to try them.

Stasia, the idea was not necessarily that you know which jar fits which lid, but that there exists a lid for each jar. You are merely on a journey to find the right lid for the right jar!!! Think on this, grasshopper!

>35 blackdogbooks:: don't know 'bout jars, but we had that lid problem with plastic boxes and I learned my lesson. Now I keep more lids than boxes.

chiming in on the conversations regarding lids...
One of the challenges for my husband when we combined two houses together..was to gently remind me to put the lids back on the containers...
He requested this after an entire jar of pickle juice landed on his dress shirt.

What color was his dress shirt before the pickle juice?

the previous color was blue and the previous texture was dry....

#35: Mac, I realize I am short, but grasshopper is a bit much :o)

Sorry, TV show "Kung Fu" reference.

#41: Believe it or not, I knew that. I was just pulling your leg.

9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, with its secrets, changing emotions, and general craziness. Mr. Bennet was one of my favourite characters (hooray for cynicism and dry wit!), while Mr. Collins, as expected, was a complete and utter creeper. Ick. A great read, and I'm glad that I held off reading it until now--I don't know if I would have appreciated it fully when I was younger.

I confess that I've never read Pride and Prejudice...I must give it a try.

SpiraledStar - I love the film version of Pride and Prejudice done by the BBC with Colin Firth...and I literally CRINGE every time Mr. Collins is in a scene!! I think they managed to capture his 'creepiness' very well! Mrs. Bennet could be rather annoying but I usually just laugh at her - I think that's what Austen wanted us to do. :)

The A&E version referred to in message 45 IS excellently well done--the actors are superb in capturing their characters.

In my March TBR stack!!!

#43 Funny, I was thinking about this last night... re reading Pride and Prejudice too early - I think you're quite right, I first read it when I was about 10 and having re-read it many times since then (and it gets even better every time), I now realise that a lot of the humour was completely lost on me! For example, Mr Collins, who I just thought was boring and irritating - which is exactly the point, of course, but I didn't recognise what a fantastic portrayal he is, until I read it again a few years later.

#45 amwmsw04 - completely agreed on David Bamber's portrayal of Mr Collins!

#34 PiyushChourasia - I too am a huge Douglas Adams fan - have you read Salmon of Doubt (or Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency for that matter, which is the other Dirk Gently book)? Salmon of Doubt is the beginning of the very much delayed 3rd Dirk Gently book (he had chronic writers block for most of his writing career), along with many other essays and short stories and was published shortly after his death. I have to admit, I was very close to tears when I read it (mostly due to the sadness of his early death). I'd definitely recommend it.

#29 Whisper & #30 gug - ...a five book series, otherwise known as a trilogy in five parts ;)

#43 Funny, I was thinking about this last night... re reading Pride and Prejudice too early - I think you're quite right, I first read it when I was about 10 and having re-read it many times since then (and it gets even better every time), I now realise that a lot of the humour was completely lost on me! For example, Mr Collins, who I just thought was boring and irritating - which is exactly the point, of course, but I didn't recognise what a fantastic portrayal he is, until I read it again a few years later.

#45 amwmsw04 - completely agreed on David Bamber's portrayal of Mr Collins!

#34 PiyushChourasia - I too am a huge Douglas Adams fan - have you read Salmon of Doubt (or Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency for that matter, which is the other Dirk Gently book)? Salmon of Doubt is the beginning of the very much delayed 3rd Dirk Gently book (he had chronic writers block for most of his writing career), along with many other essays and short stories and was published shortly after his death. I have to admit, I was very close to tears when I read it (mostly due to the sadness of his early death). I'd definitely recommend it.

#29 Whisper & #30 gug - ...a five book series, also known as "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - a trilogy in five parts" ;)

Hi flissp,
I haven't read either Salmon of Doubt or Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency yet, though very much looking forward to it, maybe this summer :)
Have you read anything by Kurt Vonnegut? I have found a very high co-relation (no statistics, just plain discussions among friends) between the people who like Douglas Adams and Kurt Vonnegut.

#50 PiyushChourasia, that's interesting - a couple of years ago, I attempted to read Timequake, and just found it utterly boring - unusually for me, I actually gave up on it half way through and it put me off Kurt Vonnegut in quite a major way.

I've since been told by many people that that particular book is not a very good example of his work, so I will retry him at some point - do you have any recommendations?

#45 & 46 - I do actually have the A&E version of P&P lying around the house, but I've never had the chance to watch it all the way through. Really must make time, with all these fabulous recommendations.

flissp,
Slaughterhouse Five, Cat's Cradle and Breakfast of the Champions are his most read works, I have yet read only Cat's Cradle amongst these and would most definitely put a strong recommendation for the same. Player Piano was I guess his first book, it is Vonnegut's take on a Utopian world, the writing style isn't too great (maybe something to do with the first book), but the story is very engaging. I remember reading Bluebeard and Jailbird too, both of them were decent reads. I haven't read Timequake, but have heard of it being his weakest work...

SpiraledStar - you will love it! It's long, though, so you have to be a true fan to really enjoy it. My father was a bit impatient when we watched it...he said "Can't they just get married already???"

10. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

A very interesting and absorbing read, even if it did start out slow and lag a few times. I didn't find the novel as engaging as some of Gaiman's others, but it was still highly enjoyable and kept me occupied for most of an eight or nine-hour ride.
Also, I realized how completely oblivious I am, as I didn't realize the (quite obvious) connection between a character and a god. Whoops. I really should actually pay attention to what I read instead of just allowing myself to be swept up in the story...

Thanks PC - shall investigate!

#55 re American Gods, what I found with this book is that I just kept thinking about it - it's probably one of my favourites now! ...may have to reread it soon...

American Gods is good, but Anansi Boys is even better ( the book Neil Gaiman wrote after American Gods--the touchstone usually doesn't work for some reason)!

on the TBR pile goes American Gods

#57 ronincats: I read Anansi Boys last year, and you are right, I liked that one more! I was pleasantly surprised to find Mr. Nancy in American Gods (which really shouldn't have been much of a surprise, given the subject and all).

I think Mr. Nancy will always have his finger in EVERYTHING! It's his nature.

11. Mort by Terry Pratchett

I absolutely loved this book. Death is one of my favourite Discworld characters (topped only by the sapient pearwood Chest), so reading a book that focused on him was fantastic. Poor Death, always so alone. All he wants to do is have fun and work with cats! :) An enjoyable read. Now I'll go off and find the next book in the Death cycle.

That would be Reaper Man, even better than Mort.

#62 ronincats: Oh, good, I own Reaper Man. That means I don't need to make a trip to the library. And it's better than Mort, you say? Fantastic!

12. Amphigorey Again by Edward Gorey

Another fabulous, whimsical trip through the world of Edward Gorey. His art was just as intricate and amazing as in his other works.

13. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Wow. This book is phenomenal. I figured that it would take me a few days to read this, given my current workload. Nope--less than 24 hours. Completely riveting. McCarthy did an excellent job capturing the desolation and despair of post-apocalyptic America.

I've got The Road on my TBR pile. I better bump it up!

#62/63 Yep, I'd agree that Reaper Man is even better than Mort too!

#64 I also love Edward Gorey - I saw an adaptation of The Doubtful Guest a little while again - it was wonderful, but I'm guessing that if you'd never seen the books it could be a bit confusing!

14. Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman

Took an afternoon off of reading Anna Karenina to unwind with an easy, entertaining read. I wasn't disappointed. I loved Antsy's character--reminded me of the uncertain fourteen-year-old I once was, with all the weird family stuff and crazy school life (though I can't say mine was quite as insane as his). Even though it's not very hard to follow (in fact, I could pick out a few plot points way before they showed up), but it was a fun read, and I'd recommend it.

We've missed you! Did you ever get to Reaper Man?

Death is brilliant. Can't wait to hear what you think of Reaper Man.

15. The Scientists! In an Adventure with Ahab by Gideon Defoe

An alright book, but not something I'd rush to read again. I enjoyed it enough, but there were a couple of awkward spots, and the humour was hit-and-miss. I'll still read the next one (The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists), but I won't rush it to the top of the stack.

16. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Required reading for a lit class. I'm not sure that I would have finished this on my own, and I was surprised at how much this book disappointed me--I'd only ever heard good things about it before I picked it up.
I tried to give Anna a chance, I really did. She grew tiresome, though, with her selfishness and craziness. I couldn't understand how she could willfully live the life she did. The book wasn't bad, it was just...there. It was bland, long, and too wordy. Guess I like my classics with a little more action.

#69 & 70: I'm working on Reaper Man now and loving it! My copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies arrived in the mail, though, so I'm flipping between the two books.

We're eagerly awaiting your reactions!

Wow! Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Sounds like it could be either very funny or very lame. I'll be keeping an eye out for it, and for your review.

#71 I think The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists was much better. The first two (Ahab & Scientists) didn't seem as tightly written, mind you I enjoy absurd silly humour.

Another enthusiastic vote for Reaper Man.

Still working on Reaper Man and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I'm really enjoying Reaper Man--I've startled quite a few people with sudden outbursts of laughter! I hope to finish it soon, and since classes just got out for the summer, I should be able to!

17. Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez

An interesting read, mostly entertaining. I really should stop picking up books based solely on the titles, though. They never really measure up.
The premise is good: a vampire and a werewolf travel together and happen upon a run-down diner with paranormal activity. I liked the beginning of the book, but the plot just kind of spiraled away after a while. It was quite humourous, just not what I was expecting. I'll probably look for more books by Martinez.

For now, onto finishing Reaper Man! (and the slew of books I picked up at the library...)

>79 SpiraledStar:: The Automatic Detective was my favorite of his books so far. There is clearly a sequel and I hope he gets around to writing it soon.

Martinez has a new one out called Monster that looks pretty good.

>81 drneutron:: It does look fun. I'll give it a try.

I will give Monster a try, too. I thought Gil's was a hoot!

Almost done with Reaper Man! Fifty pages left!

18. Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories edited by James Thomas, Denise Thomas, and Tom Hakuza

A great read. I found a couple really great authors and recognized some I knew. I've always loved flash fiction; it's amazing how much of a story one can fit into 750 words--or less. The standout stories were "A Continuity of Parks," "What Happened During the Ice Storm," and "A Chronicler's Sin." Each one was powerful and thought-provoking. I especially loved the cyclical quality of "Parks" and the societal commentary of "Chronicler's." Recommended!

19. Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett

Wow! This book totally surpassed my expectations. It started out silly, quickly bumped into the funny zone, then zoomed around utter hilarity for the remaining 300 pages. I loved every bit of the book, which surprised me; usually, there's one character arc I can do without. Windle Poons, Death, and the wizards all kept my complete attention. Death's stint as a reaper-for-hire was one of my favourite section (although his actions at the end were great, too--ESPECIALLY the very last scene of the novel). The scenes with the wizards worked well, and I loved the swear words given life. And the carts! Oh, those carts. I howled with laughter many a time, startling those around me. Always a good thing. :) I've got Soul Music on loan from a friend, so once the stack of library books is done, it's onward in the Death saga!

Find this book! Read it! You won't regret it.

Hi, just discovered your thread s-star. Added many more books to my wish list thanks for doing the leg work for me.

I haven't yet read anything by Terry Pratchett, but your review has convinced me to try Reaper Man. Thanks!

Reaper Man is just................the best of the best. As is Mort. I think Death is one of the most inspired creations I have ever come across.

Agreed, Reaper Man is definitely one of my all time favourite Pratchetts in the Discworld series. Probably joint top with Pyramids.

#89

Yay, someone else who loves Pyramids, I've never come across someone else who considers it one of their favourites!!!!

>87 loriephillips:: I'm not sure I'd start with Reaper Man. I think Pratchett's Discworld stuff works best when you start at the beginning of one of the mini-series. But, others may disagree. :-)

Start with The Truth!!! It's hilarious, and a good example of his work and the Discworld 'world'. I don't think it starts a 'series' either, but I could be remembering incorrectly. I always tell people to start with The Truth... so do with that advice what you will! :)

#90 lunacat, me either! ...I think we may have had this conversation before... ;)

#87 actually, I'll agree with TadAD - probably best to read Mort before Reaper Man - while they will all stand alone, you'll probably enjoy the latter more, having read the former...

#93

....................We did? Are you sure? Oh.........

I expect we'll have it again in another few months when I've forgotten again and Terry Pratchett comes up on the topics!

lunacat, either we did, or there's someone else out there who loves Pyramids! ;) I've an absolutely terrible memory... I'm happy to extol the virtues of Pyramids every time Terry Pratchett comes up!

I may have to look for Pyramids as well, with all this positive talk. The TBR Tower can stand to be a bit taller. :)

Oooh yes, do! It's a stand-alone Discworld book, so it would only increase the Tower by one ;)

I love Pyramids but don't think I've ever said so on LT. So here you go. Lorie, definitely Mort before Reaper Man!

20. Boomsday by Christopher Buckley

A fun read. I understood a lot of the political terms and such because of the American Government and Politics course I took, and that helped with my appreciation of the book. Buckley's writing really drew me in--his characters are funny and engaging. Things took a surprising (and scandalous) turn about 2/3 of the way through, and I loved it. Recommended.

21. Soul Music by Terry Pratchett

Another fantastic book in the Death cycle. This one started out funny and stayed that way. I loved all of the music puns and references, but I think my favourite element of the book was Susan. She was a strong, level-headed heroine who didn't want to turn out like all the other girls of fantasy. She knew logic and addressed the world with it. I look forward to seeing her again in Thief of Time.

Don't forget to look for Susan in Hogfather as well, where she has an essential role! It comes between Soul Music and Thief of Time.

I have a friend (named Susan) who has long complained of the tendency of characters in literature named Susan to be in some way disappointing: too sensible (Swallows and Amazons), too interested in lipstick (The Chronicles of Narnia), too girly-girly (many books)... etc. I must remember to mention Pratchett's Susan to her....

I'll have to read Hogfather next, then, ronincats! I've heard great reviews, so I look forward to it.
And I think your friend will appreciate this Susan, Flossie. :)

22. The Absolute Sandman, Volume One by Neil Gaiman

I'm in love. This series is absolutely amazing. I hadn't dipped into Gaiman's comics before (shame on me, since I own both of his Batman comics and have read all his books). Now, I'm furiously hoping that the library will have the second volume when I take this one back. The characters are haunting, and they stick with you. It's an amazing concept, with the Dreamworld, and the Dreaming, and the King of Dreams (and his siblings). As always, Gaiman's writing is fantastic, and the art is vibrant and catches the essence of the story. I strongly encourage everyone to run out and pick this up.
(Although, I say this with caution: some of the stories within the series are a bit mature.)

I've only read a couple of the Sandman comics and enjoyed them immensely. Vol 2:The Doll'shouse is one of the recommended ones to read. I should read more of them.

Yay! Another convert!

...I'm seriously tempted by the Absolute Sandman volumes, despite the fact I do own all the volumes independently already - is there much additional stuff beyond the actual story?

There are a few extra things. A nice foreword, cool art to separate each issue (though I don't know what the covers originally looked like, so they may just be those--I'm pretty sure the work was by Dave McKean, though my memory may be at fault), and a collection of afterwords. Also, there's a really awesome section where Gaiman presents his original proposal for the series, and we get to see the concept art and early sketches. There's a sketch version of the "Midsummer Night's Dream" story, with the accompanying script and a few comments.
Depending on your love for the series, it might be worth it. I'm definitely considering picking them up as my budget allows.

I haven't finished hamet but it is actually pretty good

23. Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger's by John Elder Robison

This is the first memoir I've read, and I really enjoyed it. One of my friends continually shared anecdotes from the book, so when he told me the title, I picked it up at the bookstore. It's an eye-opening and completely engaging story of Robison as he grew up with a twisted family life, a major involvement in the music industry, and a heated interest in machines, especially cars. Robison is a wonderful storyteller; his tales flow and gracefully lead the reader through the story. My favourite scene by far was the flaming washtub. Gasoline, magnesium, and firefighters don't mix!

Highly recommended (as in, pick this up soon--you'll be glad you did)!

#109: Looks like a good one! I will see if I can locate a copy. Thanks for the recommendation.

#109 I'm fairly sure that John Elder Robison is the brother of Running with Scissors writer Augustin Burroughs whose work I'm not fond of. I haven't read this book though I've had it out from the library before, I think I'll put it back on my reading list.

avatiakh, you are correct that Robison is Burroughs's brother, but having not read Running with Scissors, I can't attest to their similarity. Robison made a couple remarks about how different he and his brother were, and from what I could tell, they had completely different life/family experiences. I hope you find Look Me in the Eye to be a better read!

24. The Arrival by Shaun Tan

The Arrival tells the story of a migrant worker hoping to reunite his family, but with a catch: there are no words. The story is entirely illustrations, and any writing is shown as a strange hieroglyphic system. The surreal landscape, lack of writing, and strange creatures that abound in this book highlight the dilemma of any migrant unfamiliar with his or her new surroundings. The illustrations were gorgeous--each scene, no matter how small, was presented in detailed pencil, blending realistic people with adorable but surreal creatures. I loved how easy it was to pick up on the story; it felt like watching a silent movie that didn't move. Tan is a magnificent illustrator, and his use of simple gestures to show complicated feelings amazed me--some writers would take pages to show what he could in a small square!
A short read, but a definite must-find.

25. Bone by Jeff Smith

It seems I've been going on a graphic novel kick recently. I didn't mean to read this book in one day (it's over 1300 pages!) but...I just couldn't stop. :) The story--with all of its dragons, dreams, and long-lost royalty coming into power--manages to tread that thin line between plausible fantasy and pure silliness. It was chock full of humour--the red dragon and the bumbling rat creatures come to mind--but had plenty of moments for introspection. I enjoyed the series a lot, so if you have a day or two to fill with a long-but-quick read, I suggest Bone.

#113: I have seen that one recommended numerous times, but have not yet gotten a chance to 'read' it. I wish my local library would get a copy!

#114: I will give that one a try. Thanks for the recommendation.

26. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke

This was my first dip into Clarke's work; a close friend keeps recommending Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and she handed me this book to test the waters with. I love Clarke's writing--it flows and glides through the stories, and each one was hauntingly familiar yet completely new. I'm looking forward to reading the heftier tome!

I hope you enjoy Jonathan Strange as well. I liked both it and The Ladies of Grace Adieu.

I enjoyed both too, I had to be in the right frame of mind to read Jonathon Strange it has a gentle pace and I needed to be patient with it.

Jonathan Strange was a very good Christmas holiday read for me - you definitely need time!

I've been thinking about getting out my Bone comics again recently - I went through a bit of a phase with them just before University - but, because I bought them as they came out and finally getting distracted by, well, University, I'm pretty sure I'm missing great chunks of story. I do remember enjoying them very much though. Hmmm. Time to root them out I think!

27. The Absolute Sandman, Volume Two by Neil Gaiman

Can't really amend my review of the first volume except to say that this one was just as exceptional. Once again, I found myself with a gigantic tome that I could NOT put down. I loved the renderings of Dream by different artists at the end; Morpheus on a lobster? Awesome!

One note: I didn't see The Doll's House in this volume. Did I miss it, or is it in a different book?

28. The 13 Crimes of Science Fiction edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin Harry Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh

I love science fiction, and these 13 scifi detective/crime stories were wonderful to read. A few that stuck with me were "How-2," with its free-thinking robots and their similar-to-slavery predicament, "The Ipswich Phial" (absolutely brilliant and memorable), "War Game" (Cold War fears cleverly disguised in toys--an amazing and slightly haunting story!), and "Time in Advance" (serving voluntary prison sentences to commit one free act of murder). I liked reading this book and finding new authors to search for.

#120 Hi SpiraledStar - I imagine that The Doll's House will be in volume one of The Absolute Sandman as it's the second collection... ;)

Ooooooooh, thank you, flissp! Now that I look at the reviews, I do remember reading it. I just glazed over the fact that it was The Doll's House. Whoops.

29. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

A light, quick read, picked up on a friend's recommendation. I found the story fairly enjoyable, though I thought it hard to believe that the mortal protagonists didn't bat an eyelash at the names Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite...
A fun book, but nothing life-changing or profound.

#123 If I'm honest, I can mostly never remember which is which as I always read them in succession, so see it as one continuous story rather than ten. Strangely, The Doll's House is one I do remember. Along with The Wake, for obvious reasons!

#124 Maybe they'd been watching Battlestar Galactica?

125 @124: Aaah flissp, I can only hope that to be the case. ;)

30. The Absolute Sandman, Volume Three by Neil Gaiman

After much grief and hand-wringing, I finally managed to procure this volume from the library. I had placed a hold on this book and volume two since both were out, and while I received the expected phone call for two, I heard NOTHING about this one. I thought it was two weeks overdue, and concern crept in. Finally, I checked the library's website and...it was in. Argh.

Anyway, I enjoyed this volume just as much as the other two, perhaps almost more-so. I loved meeting the final, missing member of the Endless, and Sandman #50 (Ramadan) is so beautiful! The art astounded me, and the tale itself was wonderful.

Apparently, DC released shirts and figures and such featuring Morpheus as he appeared in this story...perhaps I'll be able to find some of this, even though the products were released about 15 years ago.

31. The Absolute Sandman, Volume Four by Neil Gaiman

This volume had the most impact on me, partially because it was the end of a series that I had grown attached to, and partially because of how it ended. It was beautiful, touching...and I will admit, I cried a little--just a little :) .

The change in artists for "The Kindly Ones" was a bit of a shock--I'm not as fond of overly simple drawings like the ones used, so it took me a bit of time to get used to it. "The Wake," though, that was something else. Michael Zulli's art was beautiful--the detailed sketches, the muted colours, the realistic figures. Simply amazing. It captured the mood of this arc brilliantly.

I'll miss reading a new volume of the Sandman series, but I do hope to reread it again soon. The story was too amazing not to.

32. Letters to eBay by Art Farkas

Hilarious. "Art Farkas" (the authour's screenname) sends outrageous messages to eBay auctioneers, cooking up wild stories--and almost all of them believe him. Their reactions to his messages range from funny to frightening. A short read, but still fun.

#128 SpiraledStar, The Wake is also probably my favourite part of the Sandman story. If you're having withdrawal symptoms, do you also know about Sandman: Endless Nights and the two Death comics? I also love Harlequin Valentine, which isn't Sandman related, but is also Neil Gaiman

Sandman: Endless Nights looks like a fabulous read, and I will definitely look for it at the library, as well as the Death comics.
Glad to find someone else who enjoys Harlequin Valentine! I've never been able to get my hands on the comic, but I have it in my hard-copy and audiobook-copy of Fragile Things. It's a frequent revisit for me.

Just a quick note to say that I'm still here! I can't believe it's taken me almost a month and half to read my current book (Bridge of Birds), but with the start of classes, I lost almost all of my reading time. I will, however, finish this soon, as I want to get the The Time Machine as quickly as possible!

We've missed you, Jenny, but glad to hear you are still here. If that is Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds you are reading, at least it was fairly light and fun!

And a very good book, to boot!

Whew! Classes have really picked up, leaving me with not a lot of reading time. However, I've managed to squeeze in a few books.

33. Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
Oooh, was this gorgeous! The story was fun to follow, the mythology was amazing, and the characters were wonderfully believable. I loved Hughart's writing style--it flowed so well, I found it hard to stop between chapters!

34. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
I must admit that I do not remember if I read this book as a child/young adult. I thought I had, but as I read, less of it became familiar. I loved the book, though. The pacing kept me going through, even with my subconscious analysis running. It made me want to run out and read more Victorian science fiction--always a good thing!

35. Blankets by Craig Thompson
An illustrated novel. I loved the art--beautiful ink work, lots of patterns and intricate designs in otherwise simple spaces. The story was enjoyable to follow, with its arcs of love, religion (and religious questioning), and self-acceptance. I thought I would take a few hours to read this, since it's hefty and I like to slow down and study the drawings, but even then I finished it in an hour and a half. A great work. Recommended!

36. Eternals by Neil Gaiman
Not sure what I was expecting when I picked this up, but I enjoyed it. Having never read the original comic/storyline by Jack Kirby, I cannot compare the two, but I liked Gaiman's plot. I also liked John Romita, Jr's redesigns of the characters--I found a section in the book that showed old and new designs, and I liked how sleek Romita's characters were.

#135: I loved Bridge of Birds when I read it last year. An LT discovery for me if ever there was one. I am so glad to see it has found another fan!

I went to put Bridge of Birds onto my wishlist, only to discover it was already there. Guess I was right the first time, I do want to read it, and your recommendation confirms it!

By the way, there are a couple of sequels to Bridge of Birds. Bridge is the best, but the others are good too!

Yes, Bridge of Birds is exceptional. The sequels are not, but they are still entertaining.

Hey all, just a quick check-in. Classes kept me quite busy up until this week, but I am diving right in to a few new books! I know I won't be meeting my goal of 75 this year, but each book has been completely worth it. :) See you soon!

Welcome back. Glad classes are over for the time being. Don't forget to check out the 2010 group--only a couple of weeks away, if you can believe it!!

Oh goodness! Class started back up, and I realized I hadn't started my new reading log! I'm still working on compiling all that I read over Christmas vacation, but I'm looking forward to the many books I'll find this year.
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