Quirky, but forgetable.

This is a non-fiction book I recently read that is interesting if you care at all about what happens to one's remains after they are dead. Some of the snippets about Einstein are interesting, but the narrator himself is a bit of a bore.  It is not a road novel in the grand tradition of Henry or Jack, so really you would be better off reading them, anyway. 

The Worst Comic Ever Written

Dear Really Good Writers of Novels and Poetry: YOU CAN'T WRITE COMICS! EVER! This is so horrible I can't believe Dark Horse signed off on it. Oh my god, Catula (vampire cat) really? This is so clichéd it almost like Atwood tried to write utter garbage. You are sucked into Atwood's introduction thinking she might have some legitimate reason to write a comic...and then this train wreck happens. Read this dreck at your peril. 

North Korea is a Surrealistic Nightmare

Although I am not a fan of Guy Delisle's cartooning, his work here is significant as he provides a view of North Korea that almost no one every sees. Images of complete darkness, aside from lit portraits or statues of the Great Leader, are the norm. The idea that Kim Il Sung is not dead pervades North Korea. AND THE PROPAGNADA alone makes this worth reading. Poor North Korea, they have no idea how bleak their lives really are. Somewhere George Orwell is saying...I told you so, why didn't you listen.  

Agnes Quill--An Anthology of Mystery

The graphics were either muddy or juvenile, and I never really took to the main character. Part Ghost Hunter/Helper, Detective, and Teenage Girl, Agnes is a character that should be more interesting, alas, not so  much.  

Maisonneuve--A Great Canadian Magazine

This is one of the best magazines out there...and it's Canadian. There is a very interesting photo essay called "Dead America"--essentially the landmarks found on the side of the road in desolate post-apocalyptic USA, well I mean if that came to pass. The essay "Burning Bush" is an interesting critique of Canada's forest fire management system (which may be inherently flawed). The essay "A River Runs Through It" is a similar critique of our flood plain management system. Basically, it's hubris to believe humankind can control Mother Nature. Oh yeah, and Margaret Atwood has written a comic book. And I want to read that and Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden.

Billy Collins...A Beginning

Ok, I thought I would provide insight on just the first two parts of this collection of poetry for now, as poetry takes a little more care to discuss than novels and comic books. The first set of collected poems comes from his 1988 book The Apple that Astonished Paris. The best title, and maybe the best poem, is "Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House". Think: incessantly barking dog. As you read the rest it becomes apparent that he is a poet that likes to write about writing. His poems here range from "blah" to "trite". He also likes to write about teaching writing. These are some of his better poems. In the poem "Books" I found this passage that seemed right, "I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves". His book From Questions About Angels might be awful based on the poems selected here. However, "Candle Hat" about Goya is GREAT. As is "First Reader" (re: Dick and Jane books) and this clever turn of phrase regarding school, "We were forgetting how to look, learning how to read."

A Cheat I Know...but these are the books currently being studied in Room 8

So sometime I make brilliant choices and start three novels simultaneously in three classes. Animal Farm is History 20, and I notice something new every time I read it. Squealer and his propaganda is the most interesting aspect right now. Locked in Time was a gut choice. Students hated Shoeless Joe and I think I did it because I like the idea of it. However, baseball magic is lost on 21st Century kids. Locked in Time has been a success as three boys, yes boys, finished the novel long before it was due. And here I thought it was a "girl" book. Clearly, I know nothing. The Outsiders...really, do I need explain that Pony Boy's voice is timeless and that his plight will resonate with teenagers until the end of time? Of course not, it remains a classic. 

Naked Satan Goes to Heaven

Mary Wept at the Feet of Jesus is written by renowned cartoonist Chester Brown. Some will recognize his name as the author of the awesome comic Louis Riel. It turns out that Brown is somewhat of a theologian (if that's the word he would use I don't know). His research (as always) is brilliantly laid out at the back of the book, My favourite stories/interpretations here include "Cain and Abel", "Bathsheba", "The Talents", and "Job". For a non-religious person, I am still impressed by the simple lessons the Bible can teach us. And I like the spin on these stories that Brown presents. Also, naked Satan in Heaven reminds me of the crude drawings on Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast album. 

Creepy Susie...OK the other creeps in here are creepier.

The drawing here reminds me of the totally underrated Patrick: The Wolf Boy comics. However, the content is just silly and gross and funny and there is poo. A lot of poo. Stupid Betsy the Vampire bites poo, Bean the dog poos a poo that looks like him, the drunk mom steps in poo, and once Tommy put poo in Patty's burger. Yup, silly but much of it is hilarious. 

Mutant Fun...well sort of.

This was probably a book I thought I read in high school. Yeah, nope, It's a little dated now, but the science fiction aspect of it remains cool. It's very subtle in its message, but overall totally readable.  Petra remains my favourite character. I would expect 21st century students to have trouble with the language, but some may like it.