Review: The Refrigerator Monologues

The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente is a fantastic tribute to all the women in comic books.  With few exceptions, these are usually the girlfriends or love interests of the superhero.  They are always put in peril.  They are often seen as the damsel in distress.  The archnemesis usually kills them.  It's awful.  The Refrigerator Monologues gives them their own voice to tell their own stories.  The truth behind the superhero fantasy.  You won't see any of these characters in a Marvel or DC comic, but I bet you will recognize an echo of them.  That was kind of fun.  I could read an entire series of these.  In fact, can we have more please?  I feel like there are plenty of characters in Deadtown to discover.

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Review: The Book of Elsewhere

The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley.

The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville is based on the BRZRKR comic books created by Keanu.  I haven't read the comic books, but the story sounded very interesting.  This is weird fiction.  You have to be ok with not knowing exactly what is happening in the very beginning. The story will reveal itself with chapters alternating between "present" time and stories from the past that tell the history of Unute aka B.  Not only does B come back from the dead, he also goes into rage states where he becomes a killing machine.  If you don't do well with violence, you might want to skip this.  Although B is the main character, I wouldn't define him as a hero.  He's not necessarily a villain either.  The first few chapters were very slow going as I puzzled things out.  Once it all started to click, the pace really picked up.  You had me at religious fanaticism and pig-worshipping cults!  If you have read the comic books, definitely pick this up.  If you haven't but are looking for something that is an atypical action thriller, give this a go.

Bonus points for incorporating Babe, the immortal babirusa.  Honestly my favorite character.  I could read a whole series just based on Babe's adventures through history.  

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Review: Cat + Gamer Volume 1

Cat + Gamer Volume 1 by Wataru Nadatani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cat + Gamer, Volume 1 is manga by Wataru Nadatani.  Easy to read in one sitting, Volume 1 introduces the story of a gamer girl who adopts a kitten.  She doesn't know much about cats, so she tries to user gamer logic to comical results.  As a gamer girl and an animal lover, this manga was made for me.  In my experience, cats tend to like video games, so this is a perfect combination.  It's a very cute and fun read.

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Review: Chainmail Bikini: The Anthology of Women Gamers

Chainmail Bikini: The Anthology of Women Gamers by Hazel Newlevant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chainmail Bikini: The Anthology of Women Gamers edited by Hazel Newlevant is a collection of comics celebrating women in gaming.  It also covers the full range of gaming; console, handheld, PC, tabletop, even LARPing.  I can never get enough of stuff like this because these are stories so rarely heard.  I think what I liked most about this is there is no sugar-coating.  Yes, there is joy to be found in this stores, but there is also the confrontation of misogny and condescension.  The more women who share their gamer stories, the more we break that down.   This is perfect for my fellow gamers.   

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Review: Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu

Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu by Junji Ito
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Junju Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu by Junji Ito is a departure from the horror manga he normally produces.  Drawn in the same style, this is really about his own adventures with his cats, Yon and Mu.  It was fun and sweet and sometimes sad.  Junji is a self-described dog lover who has cats thrust upon him by his wife.  Antics ensue.

For anyone who has ever loved a cat, even if reluctantly.  

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Review: The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer by Sydney Padua
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer is a graphic novel by Sydney Padua. My only complaint about this was I couldn't adjust the font size on my Kindle, so the footnotes were very difficult to read.  The rest of this is so much fun.  

I knew nothing about Charles Babbage, but I had heard hints about Ada Lovelace's involvement in creating the first computer.  That she was Lord Byron's daughter makes her all the more fascinating because he is an unusual character.  She took her passion in a very different direction but with no less fervor.  While this graphic novel takes liberties with the history, Sydney Padua is very upfront about what is true and what might be embellishment via footnotes throughout.  A very fun way to explore history!

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Review: Like Mother, Like Daughter

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Cathy Guisewite
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Cathy Guisewite is a short tribute to the bond between mothers and daughters.  It is essentially one panel illustrations each with a quote about some aspect of that bond.  You can read it in minutes, so it is really more of a keepsake item.  

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Review: Bloom County: Best Read on the Throne

Bloom County: Best Read on the Throne by Berkeley Breathed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love that the custodian is the hero and that one character is more rational than I am. Steve Dallas gets called on his bad behavior. The cure for what ails you this year.

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Review: Why My Cat Is More Impressive Than Your Baby

Why My Cat Is More Impressive Than Your Baby by Matthew Inman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Oatmeal has done it again! This book made me laugh so hard because every bit of it was true. If you have a cat or a dog or maybe even a baby, you will find this funny. Ok, maybe not so funny if you have a baby and think that it is the best thing that ever happened to you. In my case, I don't have a baby and while I like them just fine, I love my cats and dogs as much if not more than most people love their children. I think my favorite part was the diary entries from the cat. They were exactly how I would picture a cat writing.

I usually read ebooks, but this is the type of book I recommend buying in hard copy or paperback. It will be much easier to read that way.

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Review: Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day

Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day by Berkeley Breathed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I came because there was a promise of a "brand spanking new day." While there was promise at the end and we already had the new hope, I'm holding out for at least one more.

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Review: Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope

Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope by Berkeley Breathed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bloom County, I missed you!

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