51. Americus, MK Reed and Jonathan Hill
I read this (and The Chosen One) for my youth advocacy class. It's a deceptively simple story about a kid growing up in small-town America who loves to read more than he likes interacting with other people, and loves one fantasy series in particular. His best friend comes from an extremely religious family, the mother of whom finds him reading the newest installment and organizes a crusade against the library to get the books banned. Superficially, all the characters are caricatures, with the shy bookworm, the militant librarian, and the religious zealot. Hill's art, though, goes huge lengths to show the emotional conflict in each character, and reveals more depth than the writing might initially suggest. (Which is not to say the writing is lacking, simply that the art and writing work in concert to provide a fuller picture of the story. You know, the way a graphic novel is designed.)
52. The Chosen One, Carol Lynch Williams
Uggh, my heart. This is another one I read for my advocacy class, and it was a lot like getting kicked in the teeth. Kyra, the main character, is a14-year-old daughter to a polygamist family in a religious compound, and she's told that the Prophet has had a vision about her getting married...to her 60-year-old uncle. The book is about her emotional turmoil and ultimate rebellion, but it's also about her family and the way they love and protect each other. It is rough, but Williams treats these people in a very human way, and doesn't just vilify the adults in the compound (well, not MOST of them. Kyra's mothers and father are never vilified. The Prophet and her uncle, however...). It's sensitive, and astonishing, and an incredibly fast read.
53. Iron Warriors Omnibus, Graham McNeill
This is actually comprised of, I think, two complete novels and some short fiction, but I'm counting it as one because I read them bound together and because I do what I want on my blog. McNeill is fun to read as always, but I confess, reading this much fiction where the bad guys win every single time was bad for my morale. It gets exhausting after a while, especially when the front-and-center characters are as loathsome as these Chaos Space Marines. I just...I just need to read about some good guy victories, ok?
I hit my goal this week! I have read 52 books in WAY less than 52 weeks. Now to see how many books I can finish before 2013!
I read this (and The Chosen One) for my youth advocacy class. It's a deceptively simple story about a kid growing up in small-town America who loves to read more than he likes interacting with other people, and loves one fantasy series in particular. His best friend comes from an extremely religious family, the mother of whom finds him reading the newest installment and organizes a crusade against the library to get the books banned. Superficially, all the characters are caricatures, with the shy bookworm, the militant librarian, and the religious zealot. Hill's art, though, goes huge lengths to show the emotional conflict in each character, and reveals more depth than the writing might initially suggest. (Which is not to say the writing is lacking, simply that the art and writing work in concert to provide a fuller picture of the story. You know, the way a graphic novel is designed.)
52. The Chosen One, Carol Lynch Williams
Uggh, my heart. This is another one I read for my advocacy class, and it was a lot like getting kicked in the teeth. Kyra, the main character, is a14-year-old daughter to a polygamist family in a religious compound, and she's told that the Prophet has had a vision about her getting married...to her 60-year-old uncle. The book is about her emotional turmoil and ultimate rebellion, but it's also about her family and the way they love and protect each other. It is rough, but Williams treats these people in a very human way, and doesn't just vilify the adults in the compound (well, not MOST of them. Kyra's mothers and father are never vilified. The Prophet and her uncle, however...). It's sensitive, and astonishing, and an incredibly fast read.
53. Iron Warriors Omnibus, Graham McNeill
This is actually comprised of, I think, two complete novels and some short fiction, but I'm counting it as one because I read them bound together and because I do what I want on my blog. McNeill is fun to read as always, but I confess, reading this much fiction where the bad guys win every single time was bad for my morale. It gets exhausting after a while, especially when the front-and-center characters are as loathsome as these Chaos Space Marines. I just...I just need to read about some good guy victories, ok?
I hit my goal this week! I have read 52 books in WAY less than 52 weeks. Now to see how many books I can finish before 2013!
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