Traveling today and two books purchased for my trip

I hope everyone is having a great day. I am traveling today and currently at the airport. Can anyone guess where I am headed? Here is a hint:

While waiting on my flight I decided to purchase a couple of books. I searched through several of the little airport shops and ultimately decided on these two:

(Blind Faith by CJ Lyons)

and 

Past Shelfari Reviews: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

Available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

When I closed the cover to this book upon its completion there was a sadness in my heart as I felt I was leaving friends behind that I would never get to visit again. This feeling has never came to me as I finished a book before. Morgenstern creates a world that is mystical and serene that is unlike any other world that I have read before because it is rooted in our own world, but so many layers are added upon to it. 

This book at times feels like Morgenstern is adding a lot of filler material, but this is one of those books where the filler material actually weaves itself into the story to add details that are needed that you don't even realize until the end of the book. She has so richly woven the tapestry of this book that while it may take awhile to read when you reach those final words you will feel like you are leaving the world of magic forever. 

My only true gripe about this book was her misuse of the character of Isobel. I understand where Morgenstern wanted the lead characters to end up, but I felt that there should have been somewhat of a better ending for this character as she was essentially used, even though in many ways she wanted to be. Everything else in the book was so masterfully done that it is easy to look past this one complaint because essentially it is not even a true sting because to be that invested in a secondary character just shows how Morgenstern is able to make you care about essentially every single character that she decides to place in the story.

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may not be in the same writing style as previous postings due to these being made for friends on Shelfari and not originally intended for the blogging audience. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Random Read: P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern

"Love is a many splendored thing"

P.S. I Love You

by Cecelia Ahern

Available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Half Price Books

"P.S. I Love You" is about dealing with the loss of a loved one, in this a spouse. Imagine thinking you have your whole life stretched out before you with them only to discover they are dying. Upon their death you are not sure how you will go on. Your spouse was your rock and your future. This is what Holly Kennedy is faced with. How does she move on with her life after her great love, Gerry? She just wants to sit around and cry about his death. Gerry had other plans though and wrote ten letters to Holly, extending their relationship and helping Holly down the road to forming a new life without him.

Ahern wrote the character of Holly stunningly. She taps into the emotions of the grieving widow in a shocking way since she is a relatively young writer who has not grieved the death of her spouse, in fact I do not believe she is married. Ahern understands human emotions obviously and because of this she creates this ravishing masterpiece of learning that even after someone we love dies we have to still live. We can't allow ourselves to die simply because they have. It takes Holly awhile to learn this lesson, but she ultimately does. The journey of her getting there is hysterical, sweet, and breathe-taking all at the same time. Each moment culminates together like each stroke of a paintbrush working to create a lavish painting. One moment taken away from this novel would have decreased its worth significantly. 

A particular nice aspect that she adds to the story is the reality of discovering who your friends are upon death. In real life we can discover who is there for us when dark times come rolling in and we all know they will at times. Those people that are there for us are true friends and Ahern showcases that here. She also does a masterful job of showcasing that it isn't always the people we thought it would be and that people we disliked at one point of our lives can prove to be our rock in the storm. I found this added element to be realistic and needed, so Ahern's inclusion strengthened the book beyond what it could have been otherwise.

Yes, there is a point where the reader wants to say, "just get over it already" but this doesn't happen until near the end. To have her grieving for Gerry for the great length of the story and not feel this way long before you arrive there is simply awe-inspiring and shows just how wonderful a tale Ahern has created. It was nice that when you get that feeling she indeed does get over it, as best as can be said when someone is grieving. Outside of this one simple flaw, which is it really?, there isn't much to be upset about. 

I would highly recommend this book to individuals that are looking for a simpler read about an important part of the human experience. Grieving the loss of a loved one is natural and not everyone knows how to deal with it. Ahern captures grieving realistically and shows that everyone has their own time schedule. The time spent reading this is well worth it. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Series Books- Fear Street Seniors: Last Chance by R.L. Stine

"Cheating on a test can be MURDER!!"


Fear Street Seniors: Last Chance (Book 5)

by R.L. Stine

available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. (Not available from Half Price Books)

Coming off of "No Answer" (Book 4) I had a bit more hope, maybe not a lot but some, for the series overall. This didn't live up to that hope. Stine has done the student stealing tests in other books and here it just feels like him trying to fill in part of a twelve book series with something to make his money as a writer and meet his contract deadlines.It just isn't a very good book in my opinion and lacks any real character development, but as I have stated previously about the Fear Street books this seems to be the way Stine writes these characters. He wants to be able to interchange characters as he needs. Characters that didn't seem friendly in previous volumes suddenly are best friends even though someone else was saying they were that person's best friend in the previous volume. It gets a bit overwhelming trying to figure out who really is best friends in this series, but I guess that is sorta like high school where it could change every single day depending on what the person is doing for you. Popularity is a winding road and if you want to stay on it I guess you have to keep the right people around you and change your friends every book.

This book focuses on Mary O'Conner stealing a test from one of her favorite teachers. He starts blackmailing her. That is the entire premise of the book and what is sad is I am not really spoiling anything for the reader here because this happens pretty quickly within. For a 150 pages you wonder why all of this is occurring and if there is even a point to what is happening. When you reach the final conclusion you will probably have the same sour taste left in your mouth that I did. It seems a little silly and stupid. The ending could have been significantly stronger had he let it be a true horror story, but instead he settles for the normal "teenage" read. I wish he would have started to grasp that teens are okay reading horror novels that actually contain some violence and parents will not be upset with mild violence either. They will embrace it as long as it is not gratuitous. Parents allow their children to watch half the crap that is on TV. I recognize these were made several years ago, but even then we had shows like Buffy, The Vampire Slayer that actually showed a significant amount of violence. Children are capable of handing this. This book would have been better with a more impressive ending that adhered to the name of the series FEAR street. Alas it doesn't though and thus it falls rather flat on its face.

To date I would recommend only "No Answer" as the must read book in the Fear Street Seniors series. Considering this is nearing the halfway point of the series (only one more book) I do not hold a lot of hope for it improving. It is sad when a love dies when reading a series when you are an adult, but it does happen. Sometimes it is better to not revisit something and allow the nostalgic feelings that it brings to remain, so you always enjoy whatever the thing is. Be it a book, a tv show, or a toyline we enjoyed as a child. If I had done this I may have still had a deep love for the Fear Street series.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Graphic Novel Reviews: Courtney Crumrin, Volume 1 by Ted Naifeh

"A dark fantasy world spun for children"

Courtney Crumrin Volume 1: The Night Things

by Ted Naifeh

Published by Oni Press

Free Reading Copy from NetGalley

available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

This is not a book I would have normally been drawn to if I came across it on a bookshelf, but felt like it would be interesting to go with something outside of my comfort zone for my first comic book review on the site. I am pleasantly shocked with my feelings of this particular volume based on this. Courtney Crumrin has both horror and fantasy undertones, but is also clearly made for a young audience. It feels like it may draw some influence from similar graphic novels like Neil Gaiman's "Coraline". One difference you need to be made aware of though is Courtney Crumrin is darker, especially when you consider Naifeh had a character eaten within it. This doesn't detract from the fact that this is a pleasant read and one that will make you want to have further adventures with the Crumrin family.

The book starts at Courtney's family moving into what can best be described as a haunted mansion with her father's great-uncle to take care of him. It becomes apparent pretty quickly that the uncle is trying to make himself appear to be normal. The stories contained within primarily involve Courtney getting into trouble in the new home because of her lack of knowledge of the witchcraft that it contains. Each story builds nicely upon each other, but each can also be taken separately without losing any of their charm. This is a rare gem when reading a graphic novel since so many creators are desperate to have the entire volume be a gigantic collected work. Naifeh doesn't do this and as a result he creates a truly unique and memorable experience. As a reader you can feel that you can stop at any moment to return later, but you will find yourself not wanting to put it down. The stories are clever and interesting. They are also easy to read, which is important since this feels like a children's series. 

The only gripe I have actually turns out not to be such a gripe. The artwork is done wonderfully, but the way that he draws his people feels a bit rushed. When we compare this to the time spent on backgrounds we can understand that this is a conscious choice made by Naifeh. It makes you focus instead on the content of the story instead of worrying about the character's look. I commend him for this excellent decision that adds a much needed distraction from the normal trappings of other lesser graphic novels. We are able here to focus entirely on Courtney's world and become entrenched in the dark fantasy aspects. We are able to escape and find ourselves wondering what will happen next.

As I mentioned, I am not normally a person that enjoys books, especially comics, with a dark element to them, but this was a fun read. If you want a children's series that has a nice element that isn't dumbed down this, in context of having read only the first book, appears to be a worthwhile series. One that I feel that I might enjoy reading the second volume of in the near future myself. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Mystery Read: Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konroth

"Death... on the rocks"

Whiskey Sour: A Jack Daniels Mystery

by J.A. Konrath

Published by Hyperion

available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Half Price Books

"Whiskey Sour" is the first novel in the Jack Daniels Mystery series. Konrath creates an engaging novel  that takes you on a roller-coaster. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels has given her entire life over to her job and as a result she has worked her way up to a Lieutenant in her local precinct.  It has caused her to sacrifice most of her relationships, including romantic ones. The girl is a mess. Then enters the "The Gingerbread Man", who has an unhealthy appetite for Jack. Will she survive his wicked games? Only one way to find out... Read the book.

Konrath is able to foreshadow the aspects of the mystery without revealing to the reader that they are the pieces that they should be looking for, which is only something a true mystery genius would be capable of doing. When you reach the end of the novel you slap your forehead and go, "Duh, all the pieces fit together. He told us everything that we needed to know." We just don't realize he gave us all the components for understanding why "The Gingerbread Man" is killing the women he chooses. This makes it an exciting read. 

One complaint about Konrath is that he sometimes tries to be too technical in his writing. He wants to explain out things for the reader, but he fails to recognize that in most instances the reader isn't looking for this. Most mystery readers are not looking for high-brow explanations, so trying to explain procedures is lost on the intended audience. Most mystery enthusiasts are simply seeking a thrill, which this book does do. Konrath is very graphic about what the killer does to his victims and you will squirm in places, but it just adds to the fun of the book overall. This makes up for his over-explanations. 

The other interesting component of this book is the chapter that you would think that it would end with isn't the ending. I thought as Jack read the Ed McBain novel would have been a rather clever ending to the first book, but Konrath pulls us for a loop. He sets up nicely for a continuing series of books, which I had forgotten that most mystery writers want to do with a title character, especially one as awesome as Jack Daniels. 

I want to reiterated before closing that there is some rather graphic content contained within this book. Most mystery lovers will be able to handle these scenes, since they will be used to them. The typical reader may find themselves uncomfortable with these descriptions though, so go into this book knowing that there may be content that is upsetting. Do not go into it thinking that it is a fluffy little piece of literature that you will walk away from feeling happy about, instead go into it expecting your pulse to race and your heart to reach critical mass. If you go in with this you will LOVE Whiskey Sour.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Past Shelfari Reviews: Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

Equal Rites

by Terry Pratchett

*Note- Past Shelfari Reviews may not be in the same language as other daily content as not originally written for the blog audience, but for friends on Shelfari.

My partner recommended this book to me because he loves this author, so I finally decided to give it a read. While this book didn't have a lot of shocking moments in it it was one of those great books that kept me interested in it the entire time. This was a wonderful book.

It was interesting to see these characters develop from the first moment to the end of the book in ways that I hadn't expected. I had never read Terry Pratchett before this, but if this is what he does I am very interested in reading more of the Discworld series. His humor is very much on par with what I want to read as well. He took all the things that I expected to happen in a fantasy book and said nope that isn't going to happen but THIS IS and as a result I fell in love with this book. 

Random Read: For Colored Girls who have considered suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange

For Color Girls who have considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf

by Ntozake Shange

I am a huge fan of the movie "For Colored Girls" that is based off of this book and I thought that I should finally look to see if my University Library had a copy of it. Indeed they did have a copy of it. This book is done in poetry form, which makes it a unique reading experience. Also it gives a unique voice to the characters contained within as a result of this chosen form by Shange.

I devoured the pages within an hour because Shange's prose is interesting, engaging, and insightful. This book is riveting and really showcases well the voice of an African-American woman. We can learn from this book about their struggles and experiences. I would recommend this to anyone that is in a field that works with a variety of individuals, such as a social worker. The book tells you how women, not just African-american, struggle with the choices they have to make. If you understand Shange's words you will come away changed for the better for having read it. 

My favorite part of the book is "He nearly walked away with all my stuff". This is about giving someone else the power over your life. Not recognizing your own individual self-worth.Truly letting someone else walk away with everything you have and could ever desire. It is hurtful, but there is power in recognizing that you got out of that bad relationship and didn't go back to it. Shange embodies the emotions that someone feels when they come from this dark place. Only someone that has either been there or truly understands the human emotional spectrum can write as Shange does.

This will give you some great insights and will also move you to tears by the end. It is a highly recommended read for another wanting to step outside of their world. Be willing to explore worlds that you might not be a part of, but will learn a great deal from if you simply examine it. Reading a book is a good way to start that journey.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Series Books- Fear Street Seniors Book 4: No Answer by R.L. Stine

"The phone line is DEAD!!"


Fear Street Seniors: No Answer (Book 4)

by R.L. Stine

Most of the plots and stories in the Fear Street Seniors series to date have felt contrived or just played out in other Fear Street books that I had read in the past. This one though felt fresh and interesting. This book focuses on one of the girls in the senior class that has recently been released from a mental health institution after the death of her sister. There is a part of the book where you understand that the main character, Clarisse, had a bond with her sister which doesn't happen frequently with Stine's books. Many of them simply are devoid of human emotion. You could literally change the name of any character and fit them into another role without taking something away from the book. This isn't true with "No Answer". The main characters are not interchangeable. Each has a personality and serves the purpose of the plot to discover who killed the person in the book. 

The book continues with the cliched surprising chapter endings with a not so shocking reveal of what really is happening at the beginning of the next chapter, but some of that has dwindled in this volume. There is actual payoff with some of the chapter endings. We see that horrible things are really happening to Clarisse, which makes this by far a better book than the three previous volumes of the Senior series. To date if you only wanted to read a single book in this series this would be the one to read. This story is quick to read, interesting, and leaves you gasping at the ending. I wish more of the series was like this one, but alas most to date have just been fun trips down a street that used to be entertaining for a young high schooler. It is ceasing to be as entertaining to a 31-year old adult who wants a little bit more thoughtful plot development. I still plan on finishing out this series, but Fear Street may be a road I don't find myself going down as often in the future.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Mystery Books: Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman

Dance Hall of the Dead

by Tony Hillerman

available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

"Learning about culture has never been so deadly..."

This is the second book I have read in the "Joe Leaphorn" book series. The first being The Blessing Way. Neither book was all that exciting for me to read (they were group reads on a facebook group I partake in). I do have to say that Hillerman develops though from his first book. He grasps how to make a plot a little more interesting on the mystery angle, but it takes away from the thing that was enjoyable from the first book. In the first book his description of the various areas is richer than what is contained within this volume.

Hillerman's ability to write the mystery aspect of a book felt a bit stilted in "The Blessing Way". He gave you all the pieces of the puzzle far too early and as a result you were left wondering why you were even reading the book, but the same cannot be said for Dance Hall of the Dead. You are left questioning up until almost the final ten pages who killed the victim and why. There have been plenty of hints along the way so you have an idea of who it may have been, but you can't be fully sure until it is revealed. (Just so you know I pretty much had guessed it by the end of the book, but it was more of an OH MY GOODNESS I was right moment instead of knowing in the first chapter) This added a nice layer that wasn't available in that first book. 

The gripe about this book is that Hillerman painted a very vivid picture of the area in The Blessing Way.He can't seem to recapture that description and beauty that was present there here. It may simply be because he is learning how to write an engaging mystery book, but he hasn't found the proper balance between his individualistic style and the genre he is in. I recognize that an author can progress as they find who they are as an author and what charms they bring to the table of a genre. I hope that in subsequent novels that he is able to pull that out of himself because it just isn't apparent here. 

Is the book worth reading? If you want to know more about Native American culture than it is. If you want an engaging mystery novel I would state find another one that might be a little more modern in nature and also more engaging. This will be educational though for those interested in understanding a vastly different culture other than your own. This is one of the truly redeeming qualities of the book series thus far. You will walk away from it knowing something you didn't know. That is always something worthwhile in reading. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Tuesday and Thursday Blog Content Update

Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this blog I just need to say I am a bit under the weather, so if something doesn't make sense please bring it to my attention. I will correct it as soon as I am able. With that being said without further ado the point of this blog posting:

Starting on the week of Tuesday, March 23 there will be two additional blog postings during the week. The first new blog posting will arrive on that Tuesday in the form of "Shelfari Past Reviews". There are numerous reviews not posted here from my reading shelf. These reviews from these books will be posted on Tuesday to add additional content to the site. When they are completely added to the site then Tuesdays will change to another blog content category, until then thought that is what Tuesdays will be. It is important to note that these past reviews may not reflect the same style of writing as they were not written for this blog site in their original context, but I think they will show a different side to the reviewer.

The second additional blog posting will happen on Thursdays. The first being posted on Thursday, March 25. This additional content will be in the form of a review of a comic book graphic novel. While my love for the genre has waned in the last year I feel that this is a worthwhile addition to my content on the site. Many of my friends are comic-book lovers, so this will allow them to have content that is geared towards their distinctive reading habits.

Both of these additional postings will add a daily (except weekends) posting to the site and will partner nicely for a wide range of interesting content. The blog now feels like an eclectic mix of different genres, which fits for me since I read a wide variety. This keeps the blog geared towards my unique personality with reading, but allows interested readers to find the day that best suits their own unique reading habits.

Blog Content Update: Pictures for Faerie Points

You may have noticed that the faerie point system now is done in pictures. This is a minor thing, but it adds a nice element to the blog. These pictures were all done by me using the GIMP system that is available for free downloading here. It is an easy to use program and adds a nice little touch doesn't it?

Until next time...Stay Optimistic!!!

Random Reads: Doctor Who- The Story of Martha by Dan Abnett ft. various writers

Doctor Who: The Story of Martha

by Dan Abnett

with David Roden, Steve Lockley, Paul Lewis, Robert Shearman, and Simon Jowett

"Let me tell you a story..."

Anyone who has ever met me knows that I love the series "Doctor Who". I am not normally a Sci-Fi geek, but this series while sci-fi has heart and is grounded in the real world often. This made me willing and ready to read one of the novels based on the series. The Story of Martha felt like a good first book based on it being the only book that I am aware of that is in continuity with the television series. This book examines one year in the life of Martha Jones. This year takes place during Series 3 of the Doctor Who reboot. If you have watched the series you will know where this year fits into that story, which makes it a very interesting book to read because it adds a layer to the show. 

This book is done in several parts. We have the chapters of "The Story of Martha" by Dan Abnett and then between every few chapters is another story featuring Martha and the Doctor written by another author. This makes for a wide arrangement of stories contained within the cover of the book. Each serves its own individual purpose but adds significantly to the overall theme of the book. The theme is that the Doctor does amazing things and helps people when they are in dire situations. The world is in chaos in this particular book, so it feels right that she is sharing these stories. In this world of chaos these people need someone they can believe in, so Martha Jones tells people about her adventures with him. This brings hope to the world. 

Overall this is a fun book to read because you feel like you are watching an actual episode. While I was reading I kept using the real voice of Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones). This made me able to imagine the things happening even when the situations where otherworldly. Often times in a book that has this element it is hard to imagine the various settings/conflicts/stories because they are so out of our understanding, but due to the connection of the series it helps you to see everything they are creating. 

The gripe I have about the book is that the first two side stories had a bit too many similarities in parts. Also having seen subsequent series of the show one of the stories felt like it had been ripped off in the show. I am assuming whomever wrote that episode was not aware of the story that was contained in this book, as it did come before the episode that I am thinking of. It contains clones, which happens in series 6 of the show. This took away from the book because I felt like I was just rehashing something I had seen on the show, which was done better in my opinion. This is the main reason for 4 points instead of 5. In a collected volume of stories two subsequent stories should not feel as similar as two of them in this volume, however everything else contained within really is fresh, interesting, and adds so much to a true fan of "Doctor Who".

Blog content update...

I, the review of the site, have a busy life just like every other person. This is why I have decided to make new content available on the following days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This is when new reviews will be posted of books that have been read. This keeps the site going with new content, since postings can be scheduled in advance and allows for me to still have a life when school starts next month. This is a win-win situation for everyone.

Also I have decided that each of the days will have a predominate theme. What this means is that each update will serve a particular purpose or fill a particular genre that I am interested in. These themes will be as followed:

Monday- Random read:  These will be an eclectic mix of books that do not fit into any one particular genre that I am reviewing on the other two days. As I am a reader that tends to be a little all over the map this permits me to review those books that may simply not fit anywhere else.

Wednesday- Mystery Reads: Within the last year I have discovered one of my favorite passions is reading a good mystery book and trying to discover just whodunit. This is why this feels like a natural extension of what I currently read and a nice addition to the site.

Friday- Series Book Reads: I tend to read a lot of series books. I will be reviewing a particular series until it is finished and then I will move onto another. This doesn't mean that the Monday or Wednesday reviews may not be part of a different series. I am sticking with the "Fear Street Seniors" series to begin with and will decide on the next series upon its completion.

At some point there will also be additional content added for Tuesday and Thursday as well but it will be focused on some other aspect of writing outside of book reviews. If a reader has a suggestion feel free to e-mail me at optimisticreader@gmail.com. You may also contact me via twitter @ Optimistic_Read or on facebook where I am also Optimistic Reader.

Fear Street Friday- "Fear Street Seniors: The Thirst" by R.L. Stine

Fear Street Seniors #3: The Thirst

by R.L. Stine

3 Faerie Points

These books can get a little mundane as an adult reading them because of Stine's chosen style to be shocking at the ending of every single chapter. Chapter Ends: "Becky shrieks" Next Chapter Opens: "Becky saw a spider is why she was shrieking". Sometimes this makes you want to yawn very hardcore. This book does pick-up some of the steam for the series overall though. We finally have a real death and we can see where things might be going for the rest of the series. Trisha Conrad, a girl in the senior class that had a psychic vision about all the seniors dying, is obviously going to be an important character throughout the series since she has been mentioned in every single book to date, while many other characters haven't made even the first appearance. 

This book focuses on the horror stereotype of the vampire. It is funny to read this particular book now because of "Twilight" being so huge still, but this follows some of the cliched things we immediately associate with vampires, though the ones here can indeed step into the sunlight (no they do not sparkle jeeze). In this book you are trying to figure out who the vampire is that is draining the blood of people, but it is pretty apparent if you follow the formula of the first two books or if you have read any other Fear Street book. By the end you go "Okay, so (insert character name) is the vampire thanks captain obvious". *Not giving you any spoilers since you know you should actually read these things I post about hehe*

The main reason that this volume gets 3 points instead of 2 is it picks up the pace a bit, as previously mentioned. Characters actually die in this book, which makes you start to believe the series will have a bigger pay off at the end. This is still in the first 1/3 of the 12 book series, so I wasn't expecting these first few books to be all that great. They have to build to something, but the nice thing is that they are not direct continuations of each other. They all to this point have independent stories that can be read singularly, so anyone can pick up one in the series that sounds interesting to them without having to read all of them. 

I should also mention that anyone that enjoys reading about twins this book does feature twin sisters prominently. They go through it, but they are the main characters here, so you will see how they interact with each other. The issue is do not go in expecting a lot of characterization of them as twins because they are pretty much different as night and day. Also Stine tends not to give his characters a very clearly distinct personality for some reason. I think this could be because of the fact that there are 12 books in the series and he isn't sure which characters he will need for what yet, so having them to defined could result in them being unusable in future books. 

The Fear Street books are easy reads. You can read them in the matter of an hour or two, so don't worry about wasting your life away from reading this drivel, but if you like a quick horror story that will tantalize you you can pick these up. There are ones you will enjoy and others you will not. It all depends on what tale Stine is weaving at the time. 

Queer Read: No Straight Lines edited by Justin Hall

No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics

edited by Justin Hall

5 Faerie Points

With announcements coming from big companies like DC and Marvel that they will feature prominent gay stories featured in important books like the gay marriage in Astonishing X-Men 51 it feels like a ripe time to have a collection of comics with a queer focus that paved the way for this. That is what this collection does. While it is obviously not an exhaustive list of the possible queer comics you could pick up that helped make current queer comics possible it is a good starting point. "No Straight Lines" collects shorter works instead of trying to place longer ones like "Stuck Rubber Baby" by Howard Cruse in its pages. In this collection this feels like the right choice because you get exposed to a wider variety of creators as a direct result of Hall's choice. 

There is a nice mixture of content here, as well. There are some stories that are heavily sexual in nature, while others are just about the ordinary life of a queer individual. It is nice to see this contrast because as a community we are very much like this. No one size fits all. We are a wide variety of individuals trying to live our best lives and this books showcases multiple facets of our queer identity. It will be easy to find yourself somewhere contained within the pages. 

As an individual that does not usually want to read sex in my comics (no I am not a prude just have a preference of where I want my smut hehe) I was shocked by how refreshing I felt the sex was dealt with here Yes, there are some graphic scenes of nudity and sex, but it feels right because any member of the queer community can see the truth in what was projected by these various creators. The sexual aspect doesn't take away from the story or dumb them down. In many cases it makes them seem more intelligent about who their audience was at the time they were created. Also the sex keeps them current, since sex will never go out of style.

If you are looking for something outside of your reading comfort this would be an excellent choice, especially if you love comic books. This book shows you that history of a community and how it got to the place where it is now. It is important, in my opinion, to have collections like this so we can recognize that comics did not always allow for the queer community to play in the same sandbox and a result people took to publishing their own stories about themselves. It is in those stories that one finds themselves reflected back not in mainstream books that feel they have to be PG for the wider audience. PG is okay to have (sex does not have to always happen in a Queer book), but the PG must be the choice of the creator of the book and serve the greater purpose. Queer comics sure has come a long way from the days of underground books published in basements and we are still only now coming out into the light. I hope we stay there and make some great comics for the next 40 years that will show how we came together as a community to show our real lives.

Bracken Library Book Review: The Gift by Peter Dickinson

The Gift

by Peter Dickinson

4 Faerie Points

The title and cover of this book are a little misleading because one instantly thinks that the book is going to be a heavily fantasy-based book, but once you get into it you discover it is more about growing up in a time where parents didn't always stick around and you go shoved off on family members (yes this happens today as well, but as I understand it even more frequently because parents would shove kids on grandparents then come back and then do it again.)

When you read this book you discover pretty quickly that it is a children's novel about a boy growing up in a dysfunction family and the boy has a rare gift, the ability to read into people's minds. This ability is described to him by his grandmother as being the cause of grief for his family. The gift doesn't appear as prominent as one would think though. It appears only sporadically throughout the book and the focus tends to be more on the people that he interacts with. 

One of the largest components of this story is the fact that his dad frequently moves the family and that they all really want to settle down finally, except for perhaps the father which is explained in the book. This causes the father to take part of a rather large plot that is the main story of the book, which I won't go into details as you should pick up the book and give it a chance for yourself. 

For me I enjoyed going in expecting one thing from this story and discovering it was more of a down-home charmed type of book instead. I enjoy when a book doesn't meet my expectations, but at the same time exceeds them because it does something better. Here it definitely fit the better category because I felt like I saw how someone of a different time period would have grown up. It wasn't high-brow literature by any means, but it was interesting to see the dynamics of each family member play out. My favorite relationship has to be between the main character and his grandmother. This relationship seems a bit stilted until you understand the story that she has been holding back. She has a reason to be hard-edged and you understand everything that makes their relationship what it is. Families didn't always look like what we have today with the running around to soccer games, meeting appointments, and etc. This book really reflects that, in my humble opinion. 

Overall I recommend reading "The Gift" by Peter Dickinson and finding a simpler time. It got deducted one Faerie Point because there are times where you will feel like, "Does this story have a point?", but it still keeps a certain bit of charm the entire time thus making it a great read for a lazy afternoon. 

Bracken Library Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault In Our Stars

by John Green

5 Faerie Points

Sometimes you have to use one of the most cliched words in existence to describe a book you have just finished. This is one of those books and the cliched word is definite: BEAUTIFUL. This book captures every human emotion that a young individual dying of cancer would feel. Green captures so much depth and emotion here, but at the same time he doesn't apologize for the fact that this is a fictitious story. He states as such from the very first page. He doesn't want us to try to find the truth, but appreciate the imaginary tale he has created. If you listen to the author you will be taken on a magical journey that will pull on your heart strings. 

The story does revolve around sick kids, so I can understand that many people would not be drawn to it based solely on that premise. If you decline to read it based on this single aspect though you will be missing a book that envelopes so much more about human emotion. You will miss a story about finding love, being true friends, and learning how that sometimes getting what you wish for isn't what you really needed. I can't imagine anyone stepping away from this book not taking something very meaningful from it. Be it from Gus, Hazel, or even the despicable Peter. One character in this book has a lesson for each of us to be taught. Pick it up and learn that lesson for you. Due to the nature of this book I don't want to go on and on about it and I feel that leaving it short and simple is following with Green a bit here. Each reader will take something different from it and isn't that the beauty of a book. The reader gets to decide what they take from their reading. I must say that this is simply a book that must be read! 

Bracken Library Book Review: Surrender by Sonya Hartnett

Surrender

by Sonya Hartnett

4 Faerie Points

There are some books that you read that you don't necessarily like, but that you think really speaks volumes. This is one of those books. This book focuses on Anwell, also known as Gabriel throughout, and his childhood and then his adult life. The book journeys through the friendship he forms with another boy named Finnigan. Through twists and turns in this book you get to the startling revelation at the end of the book. 

Sometimes a book tries to be more high-brow than it should have been. This is one of those books. It was a pleasant book to read, but it also left something to be desired because you are never fully aware of what is really going on within it. This starts to make sense as the mystery in it starts to finally unravel though. It doesn't make it a 5 star book though. There is a basic understanding of life that is missing from this book within the vast majority of its pages. It isn't until that ending that you finally see some humanity in the story, which would have greatly helped this book. 

The biggest reason that this book speaks volumes is that it shows the power of life being the family that you are born into. People have some control over their lives, but a lot of it does come down to whomever your parents are and what their lives are like. While it never directly states this you get this feeling. The reader starts understanding if poor Anwell had just been born into any other family that his life may have been greatly different. 

There are moments in this book that are interesting, which is why that it still gets 4 points. It isn't an easy to read book by any means, but it leaves a taste in your mouth that sometimes you need to have as a reader. This is an award winning book for a reason and everyone should read it at least once, but past that I am not sure it is one of those books you can go back and reread at a later date. The once that you got through it is more than enough. You will however understand the baseline of humanity after reading this book and I think that is something worthwhile here.