December Graphic Novel Review

Hawkeye: All New Hawkeye

Lemire took this new series over from Fraction. I like where Lemire is going. Still enjoying my favorite Avenger graphic novels.

November Graphic Novel Review

Saga vol 5

Still loving this series.

The Sleeper and The Spindle

Neil Gaiman does fairy tales. Just delightful. A little Sleeping Beauty, a little Snow White but all one gorgeously dark tale.

Gotham Academy vol 1
A little like Scooby Doo set in the DC universe. Not sure how it ties into Batman but cute story. 

Get Jiro! by Anthony Bourdain

I picked up Get Jiro! because a graphic novel written Bourdain sounded to interesting to pass up. I really enjoyed this very bloody romp.

Yes, this is the Jiro from Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Jiro has a small sushi bar in Los Angeles. Los Angles has become split by two rival food ideologies, the purists and the locavore. I loved how Bourdain skewers food culture.  People are waiting years to dine at some restaurants, Getting into fist fights to get into restaurants. The two heads of each faction acting like mafia bosses. It's all very funny and tongue in cheek. But it's also very bloody. It is like a mafia movie. Lots of feeding people to the pigs. It is very bloody and violent, definitely not for the squeamish.

I found the story interesting but the characters were a little flat. I need to read more by Bourdian. He;s funny. Others who shared their thoughts on Get Jiro!:Well Preserved, Kei's Kitchen, and iFanboy.
This is my eighth read of the Foodies Read Challenge.

October Book Tally

American Catch by Paul Greenberg
When Good Earls Go Bad by Megan Frampton
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simison
Unprocessed by Megan Kimble
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitch Smith
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Fables vol 5 by Bill Willingham
Alex + Ada vol 3 by Jonathan Luna

Such a low number read. I was hoping to have reached 150 by now. I didn't read that much during the October Read a thon. This house hunting has taken more time than I thought it would. It's cutting into my reading time. Maybe I'll finish it next month.


Stats:

What's In A Name Challenge: this month: 0 (challenge complete) YTD: 6

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge: this month: 3 (Nimona, Fables vol 5, Alex + Ada vol 3)
YTD :47

Historical Reading Challenge: this month: 1 ( When Good Earls Go Bad) YTD: 18

Foodies Read Challenge this month: 2 (American Catch & Unprocessed) YTD: 6

Total: 134

October Graphic Novel Review

Nimona

Really glad I finally picked this one up. Great characters, interesting story. Very much enjoyed it.

Alex + Ada vol 3

Good conclusion to the series. I had a problem with how one thing played out but overall I enjoyed it.

Fables vol 5

I just keep enjoying this series.

September Book Tally

The Duke's Guide to Correct Behavior by Megan Frampton
First There Was Forever by Juilana Romano
Tampa by Alissa Nutting
The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan
RIPD vol 1 by Peter Lenkov
Hawkeye vol 4 by Matt Fraction
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth vol 1 by Victor Gischler


A decent month. Still closing in on 150. Almost there! There some winners (The Boy Most Likely To and The Duke's Guide To Correct Behavior) and some losers (First There Was Forever) this month. But a good month.

Stats:

What's In A Name Challenge: this month: 0 (challenge complete) YTD: 6

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge: this month: 3 (RIPD vol 1, Hawkeye vol 4, Deadpool vol 1) YTD :4

Historical Reading Challenge: this month: 4 ( The Duke's Guide to Correct Behavior, The Suffragette Scandal, Julie of The Wolves, Whitney, My Love) YTD: 17

Foodies Read Challenge this month: 0 (none this month) YTD: 4

Total: 125

September Graphic Novel Review

RIPD vol 1

I liked the movie version but thought it could have been more. The graphic novel was better than the movie. I'm going to try to get the second volume since the library doesn't have it.

Hawkeye vol 4
I've been enjoying this series. This one was confusing at first but got better. It looks like this is Matt Fraction's last volume as author on Hawkeye.

Deadpool: Head Trip

In preparation for the Deadpool movie, I've decided to learn more about Wade Wilson. Good story, funny. I look forward to more Deadpool.

August Book Tally

The Beekeeper's Daughter by Santa Montefiore

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Knit Two by Kate Jacobs

Transposes by Dylan Edwards

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

Pregnant Butch by AK Summers

Gregor The Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Sex Criminals vol 2 by Matt Fraction

The Martian  by Andy Weir

The Fill -In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Not a bad month but certainly didn't read a whole lot. Did read some good books this month. My graphic novel numbers have gone way down since I met my goal for that challenge. I also finished the What's In A Name Challenge!

Stats:

What's In A Name Challenge: this month: 1 (The Beekeeper's Daughter) YTD: 6

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge: this month: 3 (Transposes, Pregnant Butch, Sex Criminals vol 2) YTD :41

Historical Reading Challenge: this month: 1 ( The Countess Conspiracy and Unveiled) YTD: 13

Foodies Read Challenge this month: 0 (none this month) YTD: 4

Total: 115

August Graphic Novel Review

Transposes

A fantastic graphic novel about 6 transgender men. Very honest and beautiful. I can't recommend it enough.

Pregnant Butch

An interesting memoir of a lesbian who gets pregnant while identifying as butch. Great look at how health care and society looks at non-gender conforming people. Thought provoking and funny.

Sex Criminals vol 2

I love this series. Such great characters and an interesting premise.

July Book Tally

Birthday Gift by Courtney Milan
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
Glory: The Complete Saga by Joe Keatinge
Alex + Ada vol 2 by Jonathan Luna
Bento Box In The Heartland by Linda Furiya
Stella by Starlight by Sharon M Draper
Thor's Serpents by KL Armstrong and MA Marr
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Fables vol 4 by Bill Willingham
Armada by Ernest Cline

Not a bad month. I hit #100. Cruising right along to my goal of 150. July was a busy month so I didn't read as much. August looks just as busy so I expect to read about the same in August.

Stats:

What's In A Name Challenge: this month: 1 (Lost Lake ) YTD: 5

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge: this month: 3 (Glory, Alex + Ada vol 2, Fables vol 4) YTD :38

Historical Reading Challenge: this month: 1 ( Birthday Gift) YTD: 11

Foodies Read Challenge this month: 1 (Bento Box In The Heartland) YTD: 4

Total: 104

July Graphic Novel Reviews

Glory: The Complete Saga

I read the first volume of Glory last year. I enjoyed it and hoped to finish the series. I was lucky to find the entire story on the library shelf so I could complete it in one fell swoop. I liked the beginning of Glory but it got off the rails and ended somewhere else. The ending was good. I liked how Glory's backstory developed but it certainly didn't end I thought it would. 

Ada + Alex vol 2

I enjoyed the second one just as much as the first. Really looking forward to the next volume.

Mara

The story of a young woman who suddenly acquires supernatural powers. Interesting story, good characters. It's brief but maybe that's all it needed to be.

Fables vol 4
I was starting to lose interest in Fables but the second half of this volume renewed my interest.

Mid Year Book Review

So let's talk about how I'm doing in my challenges since I have less than 6 months to wrap up my challenges.

What's In A Name Challenge:

I have 2 categories left to finish: body of water and family relationship. Doing well and I think I'll finish this one soon.

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge:

I've aleady surpassed my goal on this one. I said I'd read and review 24 and I've read and reviewed 35 so far. I'm going to try to ease off the graphic novels and read the ones I'm most interested in.

Foodies Read Challenge:

I've read three books for this challenge and I said I'd read 14-18. I have my work cut out for me!

Historical Reading Challenge:

Usually this is the challenge I finish the first but I've only read 10 for the year so far. I need to read five more to make it to my goal.

And how am I doing on my Goodreads challenge to read 150 books this year? According to Goodreads I'm ahead 17 books with 93 read for the year. Yeah, I think I'll make it.

How are you doing on your goals and challenges this year?

June Book Tally

Unexpectedly Eighty by Judith Viorst
In A World Just Right by Jen Brooks
Fables vol 2 by Bill Willingham
Fables vol 3 by Bill Willingham
The Unexpected Duchess by Valerie Bowman
The Accidental Countess by Valerie Bowman
The Unlikely Lady by Valerie Bowman
I am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore
The Last Unicorn by Peter Gillis
The Heartbreak Diet by Thorina Rose
This Song Will Save Your Life by Lelia Sales
Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
 PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner

Not a bad month. I read some good books but I was slumping hard. Especially at the end of the month. Life was getting in the way of my reading.

Stats:

What's In A Name Challenge: this month: 0 (None this month ) YTD: 4

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge: this month: 4 (Fables vol 2, Fables vol 3, The Last Unicorn, and The Heartbreak Diet) YTD :35

Historical Reading Challenge: this month: 3 ( The Unexpected Duchess, The Accidental Countess, and The Unlikely Lady) YTD: 10

Foodies Read Challenge this month: 0 (none this month) YTD: 3

Total: 93

June Graphic Novel Review

Fables vol 2 & 3

Still enjoying Fables. Looking forward to seeing how the Snow & Bigby storyline works out.

The Heartbreak Diet

The story of a woman as her marriage is ending. Well done but sad.

The Last Unicorn 

A childhood favorite. I enjoyed the graphic novel but want to see the movie again.

May Book Tally

Picking Bones From Ash by Marie Mutsuki Mockett
Charlotte Somtimes by Penelope Farmer
Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins
A + E 4ever by i merey
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
Rat Queens vol 2 by Kurtis J Wiebe
Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff
One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakruni
God Loves Hair by Vivek Shraya
Women of The Harlem Renaissance by Lisa Beringer McKissack
The Dark by Lemony Snicket
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Tam Lin by Jane Yolen
I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
The Heir by Kiera Cass
How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch
How Mirka Met A Meterorite by Barry Deutsch
Fables vol 1  by Bill Willingham
Birth of A Nation by Aaron McGruder
The Intrepids by Kurtis J Wiebe

May was an amazing month. I read a lot of books and I read a lot of great books. You know when you hit a stride and it seems like nothing will stand in your way? Yeah that was me this month. I also reviewed a ton. And I passed the halfway mark to 150!

Stats:

What's In A Name Challenge: this month: 1 (Brooklyn, Burning ) YTD: 4

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge: this month: 8(A +E 4Ever, Rat Queens vol2, Smile, Howe Mirka Got Her Sword, How Mirka Met a Meteroite, Fables vol1, Birth of A Nation, The Intrepids) YTD :31

Historical Reading Challenge: this month: 0 ( none this month) YTD: 7

Foodies Read Challenge this month: 0 (none this month) YTD: 3

Total: 82

May Graphic Novel Reviews

Birth of A Nation

I didn't know what to expect but I throughly enjoyed this graphic novel. Great political commentary.

The Intrepids vol 1

I picked this one up because I'm a huge fan of Wiebe's Rat Queens. The Intrepids is good. I'm looking forward to volume 2.

A + E 4 ever

Great story about Ash and Eulalie, two teens who find each other in high school. Neither are very gender conforming so they help each other make it through the day. A little angsty for me but a solid read.

Rat Queens  vol 2

I'm such a Rat Queens fan girl. Another great volume in this series. I loved all the backstory in this one. Looking forward to the third.

Smile

A great story of a young girl who trips and falls, needing years of dental work. I loved the message of spend time on your insides not your outsides. Great read for teens and adults.

How Mirka Got Her Sword
A great story about a young Orthodox Jewish girl who wants to slay dragons while her family wants her to learn to be a good Jewish woman. Very well told. Good for middle grades and up.

How Mirka Met A Meteorite
Another great story about Mirka. A wonderful tale about being yourself and being brave.

Fables vol 1

Tai's been reading Fables and finally got me to start. Interesting story about fairy tales characters living in New York among regular people. Good story line, interesting characters. I'll be continuing the series.

April Graphic Novels Reviews Part Two

A Right To Be Hostile

I like The Boondocks. This was funny but since it referenced a lot of things from 2000-2002, it wasn't as funny at times. Plus I forgot a lot of stuff that happened back then.

The Sword vol 2 & vol 3

Good. Nice continuation, I really like the story line. I can't wait to get my hands on vol 4.

Alex + Ada vol 1

Wow. I didn't expect to like Alex + Ada so much. I can't wait to get the second volume!

The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam
Based on a movie of the same title, Fleming tries to reconstruct her great-grandfather's life. It was a fascinating story. I'm glad I read it.

Saga vol 4
I'm such a Brian K Vaughn fangirl. I can't think of anything of his I don't like. Anyway, Saga is amazing.

April Graphic Novel Reviews Part One

Ocean

I'm torn on this one. I really liked parts of it but I disliked others. I wanted more at times. It should have been a series rather than one volume.

El Deafo
A fantastic story about a deaf girl navigating school and life. I loved everything about this. Recommended for middle grades and up.

Sisters
It was a likable story but being an only child, I couldn't relate.

Earthlight vol 1

A story about teens and their families living on the moon. Good story, had a good twist at the end that made me put the second volume on my tbr list.

I knew this month I'd have too many graphic novels for one post. So see next week's installment for more!

March Graphic Novel Reviews

 

Rat Queens vol 1

I'd heard good things about Rat Queens so I added it to my holds list. I never expected it to be so funny. I laughed my way through it. Great story, interesting characters, a hint of romance. The humor reminded me a lot of Saga. All in all a great series and I can't wait to read more. 

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

Based on the life and death of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, an eleven year old boy who shot a fourteen year girl and then was himself shot to death in 1994 in Chicago. Neri tries to show the life Yummy had and why he might have joined a gang at 10. Neri does an excellent job of attempting to gather facts (only some fictionalization to help move the story) and showing how tough life can be for a young African American boy with no family and no support. Gave me a lot to think about.

The Sword vol 1
I keep wanting to call Dara an unlikely heroine but I think she's one that most authors wouldn't pick. But I thought she was a great choice for this fantastic graphic novel. Plenty of fantasy elements and mystical beings. I can't wait for the second one.

Trinity: A Graphic History Of The First Atomic Bomb
It's hard to say I liked a book about atomic bombs but Trinty is very well done. Fetter-Vorm does a great job explaining the science of atomic bombs. Appropriate for older teens and adults.

Gear School vol 1
Meh. The first in a series about teens in a school to become fighters in a war with aliens. This volume was very quick and not a lot of character development. I did like the anime-esque drawings. I've heard good things about this series so I will try book 2.

The Best Shot in the West
Great story, but the drawings fell flat to me. I love hearing about the Old West and the McKissacks' did a fantastic job of making history come alive. I'll be looking for more by these authors.