Alex C. Telander's Blog, page 34
March 17, 2015
Book News: Terry Pratchett Remembered, Bookstore Porn, New Yorkers Do It (Read) Anywhere & More!
Remembering Terry Pratchett
Neil Gaiman on remembering the great fantasy author. BBC’s obituary. Pratchett’s last tweet.
More Game of Thrones
HBO wants the series to continue beyond the books.
Feminist Young Readers��
A selection of great young reader books featuring some great female protagonists.
March 14, 2015
���Pretty Deadly Volume 1��� by Kelly Sue Deconnick, Emma Rios, Jordie Bellaire, and Clayton Cowles (Image Comics, 2014)
The key to a good story is that it is compelling and immediately sucks you in. When it comes to a graphic novel, the same rule applies, both to the story and the artwork. In the case of Pretty Deadly volume 1, a new series from Image Comics that feels like a combination of Sandman and Preacher, the story and artwork does exactly this.
A young girl named Sissy is traveling with her guardian, blind Fox, learning from the stories he tells. The most surprising tale is of the death-faced Ginny who is looking for Fox with vengeance. As Sissy hears and learns of the entire tale (as does the reader), it sparks off a series of events that will eventually lead to Sissy���s destiny.
Told through the lens of the old west with plenty of mythology and magic thrown in, Pretty Deadly is a great new series with some vibrant, colorful artwork that makes it feel like a dark fairytale. Fans of Gaiman will want to get their hands on it as soon as possible.
Originally written on July 27, 2014 ��Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of Pretty Deadly Volume 1 from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
March 12, 2015
���The Wake��� by Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy (Vertigo, 2014)
Scott Snyder of American Vampire, Batman and Swamp Thing teams up with Sean Murphy of Punk Rock Jesus and Joe the Barbarian��to create a standalone complete story about a doomed future in a cool world. The Wake embodies every possible meaning of the word and with some spectacular artwork and great storytelling, it���s a full��graphic novel story that will suck you in and keep you going to the last inked page.
Lee Archer is a marine biologist who is contacted and brought in by the Department of Homeland Security to participate in a top secret project. She is taken to��distant Alaska, beneath the waves in a hidden underwater laboratory where she meets an assembled science team, some members she knows, and one in particular she hates. After everything is in place, they are eventually shown the reason for all the secrecy: a new creature has been discovered from the vast ocean depths. The creature is not friendly and is deadly. Then things go horribly wrong when the team realizes this creature is one of a huge army and the rest have now been summoned.
We then cut to a future time where the creatures have overrun the Earth and people are doing their best to survive. We meet a host of new and interesting characters and one in particular who believes there is still hope for humanity, and when she hears a distant radio message from a scientist from the past, she knows she is on to something.
The Wake has a great pacing, setting up the start of the story and guiding you along to the doomed future, but still instilling you with hope and possibility. The artwork is impressive and colorful, though at times can be a little complicated and hard to understand what���s going on. The ending feels a little rushed, but overall the graphic novel is a fun riveting tale that shows you what great things can happen when you put a writer and an artist together to create something new.
Originally written on January 13, 2015 ��Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of Wake from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
March 10, 2015
Book News: Print Books Are Back, Eli Roth’s Short Story, Jim Butcher’s Newest & More!
E-books go Out of Style
An interesting article on the declining popularity of e-book sales, though it’s failing may be in looking at e-reader sales as opposed to the more accurate e-book sales.
Aeronaut’s Windlass
The latest details on Jim Butcher’s forthcoming new urban fantasy series.
Little Free Libraries
They’re starting to crop up anywhere and everywhere; I’ve seen at least three in Sebastopol.
[read more . . .]
March 7, 2015
���The Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome: A Brief History��� by Jack L. Schwartzwald (McFarland & Company, Inc. (2014)
When it comes to reading text books, or primers on particular subjects, the key really is that the writing keep the reader���s interest, otherwise their mind is likely to wander and/or become bored with the subject matter they are reading about. Thankfully, Jack L. Schwartzwald���s brief history on the ancient Near East, Greece and Rome has an interesting and engaging voice that grabs the reader���s attention right from the beginning and keeps them going for the whole book.
This ���brief history��� is still a good 190-odd pages of informational text, along with an extensive bibliography and thorough index, giving the reader quick references at their fingertips. For those readers looking to read it cover to cover, the book is divided into three chapters: ���The Cradle of Civilization: The Ancient Near East,��� ���The Cradle of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece,��� and ���The Cradle of the Nation-State: Ancient Rome.��� While it seems like heavy reading to digest the entire book with just three chapter breaks, especially on this none too easy subject, each chapter is subdivided into sections with titles to allow for breaks and digestion of the material. The shortest chapter is the first one at 30 pages, which is sad since it is such an import period in history that led to the foundation and creation of so much that came after, nevertheless it is clear that while Schwartzwald knows plenty about the ancient Near East, it is ancient Greece and Rome where he dedicates his true knowledge.
The history telling is straightforward, with lots of names and dates throughout the text, as the author lays out the history and events and happenings in succinct paragraphs. There is not a lot of discussion or synthesis here, as this is a ���brief history��� after all and nothing more. Schwartzwald is giving you the quick history of these times and places so that you can speedily digest and understand it. If you are looking for further, deeper material, that is what the bibliography is for. But in this way the book also serves as an excellent reference tool, along with the index, so that if the reader is tackling something in depth but wants a quick refresher on a specific period in the ancient Near East, Greece or Rome, this book does the job well.
What is perhaps surprising about the book is that it is all text, with not a single picture, table, graphic or depiction of a graphic source. While again it is a ���brief history��� and meant for a quick and thorough reading of the time period, one would expect maybe a photo or two, a Roman statue or Greek piece of architecture, or even Hammurabi���s code of laws; something to break up the text and help make it all the more real for the reader. Nevertheless, the book does its job of providing a ���brief history��� of the ancient Near East, Greece and Rome, where the reader will not become lost and overwhelmed by too much, but able to digest everything in titled sections. It is an ideal book for someone taking an ancient history class and looking to get a feel for the history they are about to learn about, or for the average reader wanting to learn more about the period, but not having to absorb a heavy and overwhelming tome. The people, dates and events in the book are all laid out in chronological order, allowing the reader to take it all in swiftly and comprehensively.
Originally written on September 11, 2014 ��Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of The Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click��HERE.
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March 5, 2015
���Who Invented the Bicycle Kick: Soccer���s Greatest Legends and Lore��� by Paul Simpson and Uli Hesse (William Morrow, 2014)
There are some books you need to have on your shelf, or coffee table, or at least near at hand for when you need those split-second answers to questions that can quickly lead to shouting matches and the end of friendships. Who Invented the Bicycle Kick is one of those books; in fact once you���re done with this review you should just go get yourself a copy.
Whether you���re an occasional soccer watcher, or a full-on football fanatic, you often wonder when goalkeepers started wearing gloves, who has the weirdest superstitions before a game, why matches last 90 minutes, or who invented the bicycle kick? Paul Simpson, the launch editor for Four Four Two and Uli Hesse, a prevalent writer for ESPN FC, provide the answers and their research. In some cases ��� such as the eponymous question to the book ��� there isn���t a definitive answer, so the authors present the most likely candidates and theories.
Whether you intend on reading the book cover to cover, or using the excellent table of contents or thorough index, your questions and wonderings on the subject of soccer will be quickly answered.
Originally written on August 5, 2014 ��Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of Who Invented the Bicycle Kick from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click��HERE.
March 3, 2015
Book News: Sherlock Holmes Lost Story Unearthed, Angelou Forever, Romance For Beginners & More!
Oscar Bookish Winners��
A look at which books won the big Oscars this year.
World’s Most Interesting Bookstores��
In case you need another reason to travel the world and visit some truly amazing bookstores.
Romance Newbie Reads��
For those looking to try reading some romance for the first time, here’s where you should start.
[read more . . .]
February 28, 2015
���The Empty Throne��� by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins, 2015)
In the eighth installment of Bernard Cornwell���s Saxon Tales, with King Alfred now gone and buried, readers might think the series would be winding down, but it is quite the opposite. ��thelred, the current ruler of Mercia, lies on his deathbed with no legitimate heir, and an empty throne sits awaiting a new ruler.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg was thought mortally wounded at the end of The Pagan Lord, and now he is still alive, but not necessarily well. His grievous wound is very slowly healing, meanwhile he has to work with his son and men to make sure the church and those in power don���t elect who they want to rule. Uhtred has a powerful leader, ��thelflaed, in mind not just because she is a lover, but also because she is well liked by Mercia and is sister to King Edward of Wessex.
In addition to elect new rulers, Uhtred is also on the hunt for his sword that was taken from him and is purported to be in the hands of Bishop Asser who is somewhere deep in the heart of Wales. And then at some point he���s going to end up in a big battle with some Vikings.
In true Cornwell fashion, The Empty Throne has it all for a gripping historical fiction novel and fans will rejoice while new readers will have no problem getting hooked as the author keeps them clued in to everything going on.
Originally written on January 28, 2015 ��Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of The Empty Throne from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
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February 24, 2015
Book News: Far Too Serious Writers, Dr. Seuss Returns, A History of Young Adult Lit & More!
Hope For Borderlands��
The popular independent bookstore has a plan that just might keep their doors open.
10 “Serious” Writers��
Ten writers who took their job a little too seriously.
39 killer literary-related roller derby names.
Low-Reading Self Esteem��
When you’re not feeling particularly proud of your readings habits and how to change that.
February 20, 2015
���The Sculptor��� by Scott McCloud (First Second, 2015)
Scott McCloud���s new graphic novel door-stopper has a little bit of something for everyone, especially if you���re the creative type. It���s about a relationship . . . and about art and creating . . . and what it means to be successful and remembered . . . and what it means when you die and are forgotten . . . and why we all exist on this little planet in a giant universe and what���s the point of it all. The story is real and emotional and moving; you simply won���t be able to put it down.
David Smith is an artist, a sculptor, who loses himself in his work and really feels he���s going to make it one of these days, but he���s out of money and losing hope pretty fast. After having a conversation with a deceased family member he strikes up a deal with death and is able to create art with his bare hands. Now he feels he can create the art he has wanted to for so long, with no inhibitions, and will finally become the renowned artist he has always wanted to be. But because this is real life, even with a supernatural slant, things still don���t always go his way.
Then there is Meg, a pretty girl who has helped David along when he was destitute and who he is quickly falling in love with, but isn���t sure if she is interested in him. He has also made a promise not to tell her he loves her until she can do the same to him.
McCloud is clearly pulling a lot from past real-life experiences with The Sculptor to create a story that any reader and follow and related to and be moved by. It is art in many forms that whisks you away and never lets you go.
Originally written on January 10, 2015 ��Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of The Sculptor from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
