Seraphina – Rachel Hartman (July 10th)
Publisher’s Summary: “Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty’s anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen’s Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.”

The cover caught my eye initially, but when I went on to read the summary…Well. My must-have-it-now instinct began to shriek in a most irritating fashion considering I can’t have it until July. And so I went to the author’s web site to see if I could find an excerpt, a line or two from the book, anything to tide me over a bit, but…No. Instead, I read a couple of blurbs that bumped this novel even higher on my list of this year’s most anticipated reads. Check them out:

“A book worth hoarding, as glittering and silver-bright as dragon scales, with a heroine who insists on carving herself a place in your mind.” — Naomi Novik

“Seraphina is strong, complex, talented — she makes mistakes and struggles to trust, with good reason, and she fights to survive in a world that would tear her apart. I love this book!” — Tamora Pierce

“Just when you thought there was nothing new to say about dragons, it turns out there is, and plenty! Rachel Hartman’s rich invention never fails to impress — and to convince. It’s smart and funny and original, and has characters I will follow to the ends of the earth.” — Ellen Kushner

Secret Letters – Leah Scheier (June 26th)
Publisher’s Summary: “Inquisitive and observant, Dora dreams of escaping her aristocratic country life to solve mysteries alongside Sherlock Holmes. So when she learns that the legendary detective might be her biological father, Dora jumps on the opportunity to travel to London and enlist his help in solving the mystery of her cousin’s ransomed love letters. But Dora arrives in London to devastating news: Sherlock Holmes is dead. Her dreams dashed, Dora is left to rely on her wits—and the assistance of an attractive yet enigmatic young detective—to save her cousin’s reputation and help rescue a kidnapped heiress along the way.”

Sherlock Holmes? Sold. Even if he is – *sob* – dead before the story has even begun. Knowing how crafty the man is, I’m going to call into doubt the validity of that pronouncement. (I can be intractable even in the face of summaries released by the publisher that allege his no-longer-of-this-world status. *Sniff*) Regardless, a mystery! Ransomed love letters! An attractive yet enigmatic young detective! This book should have a gilt banner arcing across its cover that reads “Chelle, this book is indubitably for you.”

Time Snatchers – Richard Ungar (March 15th)
Publisher’s Summary: “Caleb’s blinders are off. The small group of orphans who were also “adopted” by Uncle used to feel like family, but the competition to be the top time snatcher and the punishment for failure has gotten fierce. Time traveling to steal valuable objects can be a thrill, but with bully Frank trying to steal his snatches, his partner Abbie falling for Frank’s slimy charms, and Uncle’s plans to kidnap innocent kids to grow his business, Caleb starts thinking about getting out. But Uncle’s reach extends to any country in any time period, and runaways get the harshest punishment of all.

Caleb can steal just about anything from the past, but can he steal a family for the future?”

Another case of, Lordy, that cover is sublime in a surreal, sci-fi way. Even if I did mistake Caleb’s goggles for a mask. (I’m living in a perpetual state of superheroes on the brain.) This book may be slanted a bit more towards middle grade readers than YA, but the appeal of science fiction slash petty crime slash Neverland‘s Hook-like agenda may intrigue older readers. Like me. Plus, the cover. That may not be a superhero mask, but those are definitely, probably, knee pads, people. Who knew time-traveling was hard on the knees?

Croak – Gina Damico (March 20th)
Publisher’s Summary: “Fed up with her wild behavior, sixteen-year-old Lex’s parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach Lex the family business.
She quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. But Lex can’t stop her desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she encounters a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. Will she ditch Croak and go rogue with her reaper skills?”

Uncle Mort. I see what you did there, Gina Damico. And I like it. Also, the VOYA review of Croak (written by Taryn Bush) called this a “creepy and hilarious thriller”; three words that are, at the moment, having a catnip like effect on me, which is weird, because dog person. And an additional also, Adam Rex dug it. Which is basically all I needed to hear.

Contemporary Fiction Bonus Round:

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life – Tara Altebrando (July 5th)
Publisher’s Summary: “An all-day scavenger hunt in the name of eternal small-town glory.
With only a week until graduation, there’s one last thing Mary and her friends must do together: participate in the Oyster Point High Official Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt. And Mary is determined to win.

Mary lost her spot at Georgetown to self-professed “it” bully Pete Lembo, and she’s not about to lose again. But everyone is racing for the finish line with complicated motives, and the team’s all-night adventure becomes all-night drama as shifting alliances, flared tempers, and crushing crushes take over. As the items and points pile up, Mary and her team must reinvent their strategy—and themselves—in order to win.”

Okay. Okay. I’m a cover, well…not whore. That sounds a bit harsh. But I do like them. Have been known to pet the pretty ones from time to time. And I wouldn’t turn one that looks like The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life away if it wound up on my street corner. (And…That was just terrible. My apologies. Moving on.) I had to track down the summary for this one, so at first I really was just going on the cover and its massive, I-can’t-quite-put-my-finger-on-why appeal. It just so happens that the actual story – a scavenger hunt! Bring on the clues! – sounds good too.

Publisher’s Summary:
“Clark Kent is different. He can fly. He can see through walls. Burn objects with his gaze. He is a god among mortals. But he is alone and without a purpose.

Like most 20-year-olds he doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life. He can choose from anything: sports, science, finance or media. The sky is the limit…If he conceals his powers and his true identity from the world.

But when the skies darken with ships from distant planets, and the existence of Earth itself is threatened, Clark must make the most important decision of his life: to reveal himself to the world, sacrificing his chance for a normal life…or let the world die around him.”

What I know about Superman is negligible, little more than a thimbleful of basics, really, and I owe that much to Christopher Reeve and his nerd-adorable tendency to push Clark’s oversize tortoiseshell glasses back into place with one finger. Were those movies faithful representations of Superman’s comic book origin? I have no idea. And, honestly, the character’s appeal was, well, not lost on me, but it was weak enough that I never felt inclined to seek him out in print. Until now, apparently.

Having to read several graphic novels this month, I scoped out various sites to determine which books to request through the library, and my eyes were drawn to Superman: Earth One’s cover time and again. In my opinion – and from what I can recall, which, granted, isn’t a whole lot – Reeve wore Clark Kent’s goofy, bumbling mask so comfortably and so well that when it came time to shrug it off in favor of the Man of Steel’s red cape it proved to be an awkward fit. Oh, his Superman was charming and capable, but I never got a sense of his innate strength, or thought, hey, this is one superhero you just don’t mess with. But the Clark/Superman portrayed on the cover of Earth One? The first two words that came to my mind were hardened and badass. And I kind of wanted to know that Superman.

So, this graphic novel provides basic backstory: Amid the wreckage of what appears to be an alien spacecraft, Jonathan and Martha Kent find and adopt a baby. As the boy gets older, he begins to exhibit abilities – super strength, speed, and, I assume, enhanced healing – and they do their best to instill in him a sense of what’s right and good so that he never abuses his power. Now in his early twenties, Clark ventures into the big city – Metropolis – and that’s the point at which, I believe, Earth One begins to veer into new and current territory.

Clark, determined to take care of his widowed mother, sets out to land a high-paying job. He tries out for a football team, and, oh the power of fiction!, no one questions his ability to carry a 200+ lb player across his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. From there, he dips his toe into chemistry, baseball, architecture, and a handful of other professions before he sets his sights on the Daily Planet. Where he promptly gets turned away…after being schooled on the difference between passive and active voice. Poor guy. He gets a lecture and has to contend with the pesky decision of whether or not to reveal his true nature to the world. The latter half of the graphic novel revolves around the destruction of Superman’s home planet and, while I can’t be certain this is true, I believe that piece of backstory is different in Earth One, which in turn opens the door for a new – again, I think he’s new – adversary (that had an odd – not striking, though – sort of resemblance to the Joker, if favoring black and white spandex over a ratty purple and green suit.)

Earth One is coming of age Clark Kent. He’s negotiating his path in life and he’s about made up his mind when his hand is forced and he becomes Superman, for better or worse. We also meet Lois who, and forgive this likely unpopular opinion, has always grated on my nerves. And we meet Jimmy Olsen who, and this came as something of a surprise, I loved.

Now, quickly, the art: Good stuff. Full color, expressive, and very easy on the eyes.

Superman still doesn’t do for me what Captain America or Iron Man does, but my interest is piqued in a way it never has been before, and I find myself willing to seek him out again, even if that doesn’t actually happen until December when Henry Cavill brings the character back to the big screen.

Publisher’s Summary:
“Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.”

I’ve loved books that have made me laugh, and I’ve loved books that have made me cry, but I cannot recall ever finding one that prompted both responses simultaneously. Now I have; this is it. By the time the last pages of The Fault in Our Stars were in sight, I found myself in possession of a damp, mascara stained Kleenex and wearing a smile so wide it ousted my lopsided dimples. Continuing this line of thought: It’s also been a long time – no, that’s not accurate; I can’t think of another time when this has actually happened – but when I finished the book, I got up, went to grab another tissue, and sat on the lip of the tub, tears falling apace as I tried to bring myself back from the subdued and exultant place where the last ten words had left me stranded. I’m not going for melodrama here; John Green wanted this book to make his readers feel, and, in my case, that’s exactly what it did.

But this is where my thoughts stall. Beyond recounting my emotional state while reading it, which is easy enough to do even if I feel like a surface stripped of its fine varnish, I…have no idea what to say about the book. I keep typing, and I keep hitting the delete key, and I think if I just keep doing that something will come out that won’t sound…lame. Like, okay. Should I take for granted that John Green is widely considered an intelligent and  incredibly talented writer, and therefore not comment on how well-written the novel is, deftly exploring heavy themes in a way that resonates rather than alienates? Should I assume that most people know he is capable of creating characters that seem so unreal and yet completely possible, probable, even, though I’ve never met anyone remotely like any one of them, and altogether avoid talking about how Hazel and Augustus got under my skin and stayed there, not because of or in spite of the cancer and how either one dealt with it, but because they both charmed the pants off of me? Figuratively speaking, of course. Though, that Augustus…

Or, here’s a question: Do I need to say anything at all? Read the first chapter. I doubt you’ll need further convincing to keep at it.

If I had my way – and I do, if only in a limited sense, because: librarian – I’d put this book in the hands of every single person I spoke to in a day (and in days to come). It’s a book that should be read, one that needs to be experienced, and that’s saying something, I think, coming from me, if you consider the fact that I typically cringe at the sight of most realistic fiction like it’s a shark in a tank, flashing its painful-issues-and-angst shaped sharp teeth whenever I get too close. Don’t get me wrong: John Green’s books have teeth. They’re worth risking the bite.

And that is the end of that painful metaphor. Okay. Now it’s done.

Just…Disregard all of this. Read The Fault in Our Stars for yourself. And when you’re done? I hope it will have affected you as greatly as it did me.

Publisher’s Summary:
“In the waning days of World War II, Steve Rogers – Captain America – seemingly sacrifices his life to save his nation. But decades later, he finds himself revived, thrust into a strange new America he barely recognizes. As he meets the heroes his legend inspired, Cap comes to understand what his sacrifice has meant. But it doesn’t change one fact: His partner and friend, Bucky, is dead – and Cap may have the means to return to the past and save him. For the sake of the timestream, the Avengers must do everything in their power to stop him!”

Marvel superheroes have lived long and varied lives. For someone like myself, who fell hard for a few of them after seeing their stories brought to life via the movies, trying to determine the correct place to wade in comics-wise often left me in a state of vague confusion. For instance, my first graphic novel outing with Iron Man – Ultimate Iron Man by Orson Scott Card – was, honestly, something of a disappointment. It was an origin story, but not one that in any way resonated with my perception of the character or what I had pieced together by reading fan fiction and things like Marvel Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide and various Marvel related web sites. Captain America: Man Out of Time, on the other hand, proved to be a fine start, if only for the fact that it cemented my love for Steve Rogers and his super solider alter ego.

This graphic novel opens in 1945; Steve and Bucky are holed-up in the aftermath of a mission, and receive transfer orders that have terrible consequences. Namely, and this isn’t a spoiler because it says so up there in the summary, Bucky seemingly dies in an explosion. Steve, unable to save him, wakes up decades later, surrounded by a handful of costumed strangers, including a man made entirely of something that looks like metal. Basically, this is Mark Waid’s take on Cap’s rebirth and his immersion into the Avengers, and it works as such.

Now, I’ve heard it said (seen it written?) that opinions hold that Steve Rogers/Captain America is one of the least interesting characters in the superhero cabal; that he’s too idealistic, too vanilla, especially when standing shoulder to shoulder with, say, Tony Stark/Iron Man. But that’s just not how I see him. He is, to my mind, one of the more dynamic, sympathetic characters I’ve encountered since digging into comics of this kind. And he about broke my heart in Man Out of Time.

Here’s a man who has, for all intents and purposes, lost himself in order to fight the good fight, if you will, and to his belief in doing the right thing. Early on in this story, Bucky asks Steve what he’ll do once the war is won and over, and Steve doesn’t know how to answer. His identity is completely tied up, at that point, in what he does rather than in whom he once was – Steve Rogers, kid from Brooklyn; his hopes and dreams having been sacrificed to the serum that remade him and the people giving him his orders. And then there’s his grief over losing Bucky and his inability to save him; his confusion upon waking up in an entirely new world; his struggle to determine his place, not based on his own wishes, mind, but where he can best serve his country and its people; and his eventual acceptance and determination to make a go of it with the Avengers. For all of his strength, he has the air of a Lost Boy; I’m not going to lie, that aspect of him plays me like an accomplished master.

But – and this is where frustration kicks in – I know I’m not articulating beyond the obvious why Steve/Cap gets to me. Steve and Tony both tie me up in knots; I can’t seem to untangle myself  to objectively determine just when or how it happened, never mind be able to coherently write about it.

In any event, I’m getting off track.

Regarding the art in this graphic novel, I’m going to take the easy way out: I loved it. Full color, wonderful use of various palettes, and the expressions on Cap’s face conveyed his internal struggle beautifully. I could happily just look through this book without reading a word.

With this under my belt, I’m going to go back and read the graphic novels that will give me a better understanding of Cap’s place in comic book history. I want to know who he fought – beyond Red Skull – and learn more about the Avengers after he was fully on board. Perhaps then I’ll be able to more authoritatively explain why his character works so remarkably well for me.

“An explosive action tale of betrayal and revenge, The Losers centers around an elite Special Forces unit sent to the Bolivian jungle on a search-and-destroy mission. But the team – Clay, Jensen, Roque, Pooch and Cougar – soon find that they have become the target of a deadly double cross instigated by a powerful enemy known only as Max. Making good use of the fact they’re now presumed dead, the group goes deep undercover in a dangerous plot to clear their names and even the score with Max.”

After writing about the graphic novel (and this here MAJOR MOTION PICTURE), I thought: Why not share The Losers love? On Blu-ray, no less. (Which was all I could get my hands on locally. So.) You know the drill: If you’re interested in winning Jensen the movie, leave a comment on this post. U.S. addresses only. Giveaway will close on January 28th.

Publisher’s Summary:
“Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. She’s stuck at JFK, late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s in seat 18C. Hadley’s in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.”

Perhaps you’ve followed this blog long enough to have come to the conclusion that I tend to gravitate towards girls that don’t necessarily fit the standard definition of gutsy or defiant or strong. Because there’s something to be said, I think, for a girl who blurts out a litany of her fears to a stranger without trying to reclaim the words or backpedal to make them sound prettier or less daunting. That? That takes guts. And it shows strength of character that seems to be too often overlooked in favor of the girl who is visibly out there taking on the world. So I’ll go ahead and admit it: Hadley, quietly struggling to reconcile her life in the wake of her father’s exit from their family, won me over from the start. Oliver’s sense of humor, his artful deflection of painful topics, and his comfortable yet still exciting presence was a bonus.

There’s also something to be said, I think, for the enforced intimacy of a long flight. (If, of course, the company you’re forced to keep is palatable.) Hadley and Oliver’s hushed conversations, the occasional shock of an accidental touch, it was all sort of…electric. It was almost like you could see the currents running between them, pulling one closer to the other, and I appreciated the honest warmth and acceptance that marked the start of their…friendship? Relationship? The label doesn’t matter, but that this aspect of the story worked, contentment welling up in me as I experienced it along with them, does.

The one and only thing I’ll say – and it’s not a criticism, really, but I’ll get to that – is that the plot’s progression was predictable. There were only so many ways Hadley could resolve the problems she had with her father, and any one of them would have felt familiar, but that’s not to say it came across as clichéd. Once again, it was made okay – for me, at least – because of Hadley, because the way she dealt with and looked at her issues with her father, the way she gave weight to both the good and the bad, almost without realizing it, made me care enough to overlook the ‘well, that’s been done before’ nature of the resolution. Same goes for the predictable how and why behind Hadley and Oliver reconnecting outside of the airport. If you’re invested in these characters, and if your experience is anything like mine, you’ll just go with it, snuffing the urge to quirk an eyebrow in silent judgment of what might otherwise seem like an easy out.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was the first novel I read in this New Year; if it’s any indication of bookish things to come, the future is bright.

Publisher’s Summary:
“The Agency thought it had closed the book on the Losers. After the team saw a little too much at the wrong place and time, their chopper went down in flames with no survivors and plenty of deniability – and the Losers went down in the records as just another squad of Special Forces foot soldiers tragically lost to one of the C.I.A.’s shadow wars.

But the Losers were just playing dead – and now that they’ve seen what the Agency is really up to, they’re through with games. Now it’s time to take the fight back to its source.”

Selecting this book as a potential elective for the readers’ round table mentioned here? That would be me indulging myself. Two words should suffice for explanatory purposes: Chris Evans. Okay. Maybe that’s not enough. Direct your attention to the top of the book’s cover, then. I assume the thought process behind the design went something like this: “Coy? Coy is for ladies with frilly fans and Schnauzers with those tricky eyebrows. This is The Losers. Hit that caps lock key, baby.” So perhaps you noticed that this comic was made into a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE? And one that actually complimented the source material for being pretty much perfectly cast. Which brings me back to my original point: Chris Evans as Jensen, the team’s tech expert and resident what-the-hell-is-he-talking-about-now guy, is everything that’s right with the world. More on that later. My original original point is this: If not for the oh so quotable joy that is the MAJOR MOTION PICTURE, I wouldn’t have necessarily chosen this graphic novel as an elective.

Also? I’m really glad to have seen the movie prior to tackling the book; a half a dozen pages in and, without that reference, I would have been all kinds of ‘whaaat?’ with a little bit of ‘huuuh?’ thrown in for good measure. Turns out, I’m not fluent in guns. Or bombs. Or chopper-jacking. And the foreign language that is black-ops speak? Without physical props and actors making helpful pointing gestures, it turns out my translation skills are also up for debate. (It takes time to learn military-ese. To coax enjoyment out of it without the benefit of being predisposed to the genre. I’m not going to turn into a ‘Give me everything W.E.B. Griffin has ever written!’ girl overnight, people.) Additionally, the movie offers up a prefatory scene that only slowly unfolds throughout the course of action in the graphic novel, which means you work a little harder for the pieces of the puzzle. But, whatever! The Losers offers up some good times. Mostly thanks to Jensen. More on that later.

If you were to ask me what single element of The Losers pushed my oh-yeah button, my answer would be unhesitating: the team dynamic. I thoroughly enjoy stories in which disparate individuals in possession of highly specialized and honed skills come together, even moreso when said people form an unflinching bond, as is the case here; add in the quintet’s determination to right a wrong done to them in the most badass ways possible and, well, let’s just call it what it is…Sexy. The explosions? The crack-shot sniping? The persuasive, come-to-Jensen hacking? Gets the adrenaline flowing, even on paper (and nevermind the fact that my brain helpfully supplied images of these guys doing what needs doing). The Losers is action-fueled, filthy-mouthed intrigue peppered with moments of snort-worthy humor courtesy of, you guessed it, Jensen. You have to love a guy who hacks unhackable systems in heart boxers, a pirate hat and boots, right?

Speaking of Jensen, I promised you a couple of more later’s. Both can be addressed by pointing your attention to the scene on the right. (My apologies for the glare and the blur; click on the image to make both worse for being bigger.) I was ridiculously pleased – like, stupid grin plastered on my face pleased – when I turned the page to find Jensen’s finger-guns locked and loaded. And I am so very, very bothered by the fact that I can’t embed the corresponding scene from the movie in this post, because…Oh, it is…it is…Perfection. Chris Evans is Corporal Jake Jensen, and he owned this scene. (Go here. Really.) Jensen – on both page and screen – is a larger than life, layered character; he has cultivated a personality meant to lull those who don’t know him into thinking he’s something he’s not – scatterbrained, harmless – before he takes them apart. He is, in a word, irresistible.

All of this isn’t to say that the graphic novel is perfect. These boys must have hundreds of chock-full swear jars stashed across the world, and if you find that sort of language offensive, this may not be right for you.The language works in the context of the story, managing to, in my opinion, stay on the right side of gratuitous. And then there’s the lone female, Aisha. She’s competent, dangerous, and can hold her own in what might typically be considered a man’s world, but she still manages to be a peripheral, flat character, especially when standing next to Clay, Pooch, Cougar (my second love in the group) and Jensen. And, finally, the plot is somewhat stilted, owing to the fits and starts way information is revealed. Some of that can be chocked up to the reader having to catch up alongside of the Losers, and the rest to the they-were-there-now-they’re-where? nature of the puzzle coming together. Oh, and you should keep in mind, in case you’re curious about this one, that nothing is resolved in this first book.

So. My suggestion? Treat this as a pair: Get both the book(s) and the MAJOR MOTION PICTURE. Roll your shoulders, settle in, and give my regards to Jensen.

Publisher’s Summary:
“Inspired by Charles Dickens’ immortal classic A Christmas Carol, BATMAN: NOEL features different interpretations of The Dark Knight, along with his enemies and allies, in different eras.

Along the way, Batman must come to terms with his past, present and future as he battles villains from the campy 1960s to dark and brooding menaces of today, while exploring what it means to be the hero that he is.”

There is no other place to start than with this: The art in this graphic novel is magnificent. Other words and phrases apply, of course, like atmospheric, and nuanced, and fraught with honest-to-goodness, palpable emotion. And that’s not to mention the color palette, which feeds the story’s tension, the mood, the underlying drama of its main themes. If you were to pick up a copy of Batman: Noel for no other reason than to trip your fingers over rooftops and window panes, to draw a nail along the rigid lines of Bruce’s revealed face, or to catch a bit of snow on the pad of your index finger, that’s all right; that’s all the reason you’d need.

It should come as no surprise, then, when I tell you that during the entire first week of having the book in my possession, I did nothing more than open to a page, it didn’t matter which one, and look. Reading the thing was a distraction I wanted to put off, and, beyond that, the art tells the story so completely on its own. If you have even the slightest notion of what Dickens’ Christmas Carol entails, it’s all there, in this book, in line and shadow, visitor after visitor.

At this point, I should probably fess up: I’m not a fan of Dickens, per se, and was subjected to perhaps one too many viewings of A Christmas Carol as a child to take any measure of enjoyment from it as an adult. And still? The story, as reimagined here – draping the miserly mantel of Scrooge on Batman’s broad shoulders – works. Little Tim will break your heart; moreso, even, as Tim’s hero worship of Batman is so apparent, and so painfully at odds with Bruce’s own inner struggle: is what he’s doing still right? Is he becoming the very thing, the type of person – monster – he’s vowed to take down? And the visitors…I don’t want to give too much away, but one of them is another iconic superhero, and he stole the scene, my complete and utter attention, when he was on the page, because of the way he was drawn, yes, and because of the expressions etched on his face. Bermejo pulled off his homage to Dickens beautifully and entirely in keeping with, as I’ve come to understand him, who Batman is, what he stands for.

One last thing about this graphic novel that I enjoyed was that it provided me with an opportunity to learn a bit more about Batman’s history. For instance, I was unaware, prior to this, that Batman had multiple Robins, and that not all survived partnering him. Honestly, I’ve come to comics of this ilk late; I have a lot to catch up on before I can consider myself even slightly versed in the world of superheroes. But I’m trying, and I find myself loving each new piece that opens up to me. That said: you do not need to have a thorough comprehension of Batman’s background and history to understand or enjoy this book. It stands on its own merits.

In my humble opinion, Batman: Noel is an impressive piece of work.

• Captain America. Vol. 1, Winter Soldier
• Fables. 12, The Dark Ages
• Superman : Earth One
• Captain America : Man Out of Time
• Iron Man Noir
• Ultimate Iron Man. Vol. 1
• The Last Dragon
• A Flight of Angels
• Captain Swing, Vol 1
• Morning Glories, Vol 1
• The Avengers, Vol 1 (Marvel Masterworks)

An abbreviated list, then, and one that betrays a few of my current hardcore interests. (In case you you haven’t seen my Tumblr blog recently, that would be Captain America and Iron Man.)

I’m working my way through the following now:

• The Losers, Book 1
• Anya’s Ghost
• Pride of Baghdad
• American Vampire, Vol 1
• Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life

As for what I’ve read recently: Expect a review of Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Noel soonish, and below you’ll see one of the reasons why I think I’m going to love reading Avengers stuff (a panel from Brian Michael Bendis’ The Avengers, Vol 1). Heh.

If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! I’m open to anything (superhero, literature-gone-graphic, you name it).

In the immortal words of Disney’s Peter Pan, “Here we gooooo.”

THE BEST OF THE BOOKS:

Thus ends the year of The Reading Slump That Would Not End. Good riddance! (Please don’t carry over to 2012, okay?) I’m a born and bred New England girl; I know what it’s like to trudge through thigh-high, hard-packed snow. Believe me when I say, that’s exactly how it felt while reading too many books this year. And the blame lies with me, not the books. My mind, craving more visual and immediate distractions, just wouldn’t allow me to be when it came to reading. And I’m subjecting you to this ridiculously long explanation because the list below feels woefully inadequate, like I’m doing a disservice, somehow, to books I might have LOVED any other year, but had the misfortune of finding me in my ‘everything is meh’ state this year. That out of the way, here are a handful of titles that managed to climb over – or forcibly bust through – the wall.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making – Catherynne M. Valente
This is one of a handful of books that really stuck with me this past year. My review accurately portrayed how I felt: I loved every. single. thing about the story that unfolded in these pages. This book is, I’m convinced, made of pure and tangible magic.

The October Daye series (So far: Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses, One Salt Sea) – Seanan McGuire
It was the year of Toby Daye; long may she reign! After reading Rosemary and Rue, this urban fantasy series shot to the top of my what-would-I-do-without-these-books? list. Each book in this series is better than the one that came before it; I kid you not. If you’re wanting amazing characterization, excellent, top-notch world-building, and Tybalt! (take my word for it), your search is over, my friend. (Thanks again, Janice!)
You can read my reviews here, here, here, here, and here.

The Winter Sea – Susanna Kearsley
I loved this book so, so much, I couldn’t write a coherent review about it. Oh, I tried, but I was entirely unsuccessful in conveying how the story, the characters, squeezed my heart. It became an instant comfort read, an it’s-a-cold-and-dreary-day read, an I-need-to-sigh read. I read a trio of Kearsley’s books this year, including this one, and though I didn’t love Mariana or The Rose Garden quite as much, they also easily slipped into the aforementioned categories. That type of writing and atmosphere is just what Kearsley excels at.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone – Laini Taylor
You may have heard me sing Laini Taylor’s praises many times before, but there’s no stopping me from belting out a full-on opera now. I’m so glad Daughter of Smoke and Bone came along, exposing the world at large to the wonder and beauty of Taylor’s writing, which will, I hope, prompt readers to go back and discover her other work. (My review)

Forbidden – Tabitha Suzuma
This one makes the list simply because it was a gut-puncher of a novel. I can’t recall ever finding myself so stricken by a story’s ending as I was here, with this book. I’m not sure, actually, that I’ll ever fully get over that ending, which is in direct opposition to how completely positive I am that I’ll never forget Lochan and Maya and the tempest that whirled within me while reading about them. (My review)

There were others I enjoyed, which I discussed here and here. You could go there and there if you’re not cross-eyed by the time you finish this post.

THE BEST OF FAN FICTION:

Let me be as upfront about this as I can be: The majority of the fan fiction I’ve read and loved this year was/is slash. In fact, the only exceptions you’ll find in the list below come courtesy of my Sookie/Eric shipping heart. Also? The distraction sensor in my brain seemed to like things that came with a, well, a decidedly adult rating. Just so you know.

Sherlock Holmes (all BBC Sherlock inspired)

• “The Blog of Eugenia Watson” and “Performance in a Leading Role” – Mad_Lori
  I’ve already posted about both: here and here.
• The Paradox Series – wordstrings
  We all know that Sherlock needs John. This fic shows us how much, and why, and what he wants to do with him, what he won’t let himself even mention he wants to do to with him, and it nails all of it.
• “The Road Less Traveled” and “The Heart in the Whole” – verityburns
  There is no saying how awesome and emotional and can’t-stop-reading these fics are.

True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse series

• “All In” – kjwrit
  Basically? This fic is crack. (Not that I know what it’s like – taking crack, being on crack, whatever – which is obvious, because I just spent a full five minutes wondering if I needed to capitalize the word. [I'm still not sure.] But maybe that’s arguing against my point?) “All In” and I got off on the wrong foot; I almost didn’t read beyond the first few chapters. Eric’s a right jerk at the start, and that wasn’t what I was looking for, but when he comes around…that man, as written by kjwrit, is funny. And a movie star (who may or may not play a vampire on TV).
• “Pretty Kitty” – ficlit78
  More crack! (I must have a nose for it when it comes to the True Blood fandom – pun intended. [...You do snort crack, right?] [I know what you did just then. You shook your head, didn't you? Well, so did I. Good grief, I'll just...stop now.])

The Avengers (or Steve Rogers/Tony Stark)

• “Mr. July” – jibrailis
  I have never in my life wanted to shout OMG, but OMG THOR! (I may have just cringed, actually, seeing it in print, but I’m not taking it back.) Yes, “Mr. July” is a Steve Rogers/Tony Stark fic. Yes, Thor completely stole the shield out from under Captain America, the repulsor thingies from Iron Man, making me burst out with laughter so loud, so raucous, I would have made that big, blond Asgardian proud had he heard it. (And if he were real. There’s that.)
• “Indecent Proposal” – gyzym, Siria
  Well, because there’s this:
  “Tony, undeterred, presses on, ticking things off on his fingers. “First there was Paris, because you know—Paris! It’s Paris, that’s totally how you convey the, the romance! And the things, and then the Eiffel Tower tried to blow us up, which is entirely unfair, I should still lodge a complaint with the French embassy. And then! Picnic, because they’re simple and like, I don’t know, honest, Pepper said it was good, I do not know because my track record argues against me knowing what the hell I’m doing, and the universe couldn’t even throw me a bone, it threw me Mrs Rosso and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with her. And then third, third, you hated Vegas, of course you hated Vegas, I don’t even know what the hell I was thinking, it’s not like you even know who Elvis is.”
• “What Lies Inside” – Penumbren
  Because Steve is Tony’s mate. (Tony, here, is a werewolf. As if the armor and the genius and the whole playboy philanthropist thing weren’t enough to cement his badassness.)

THE BOOKS OF 2012:

Pile together all of the 2012 books that I’m looking forward to or am curious about and you’d have quite the mountain. Going over this list, I’m positive I’ve forgotten some, which limits the results to what immediately sprang to mind.

Ashes of Honor – Seanan McGuire (and Discount Armageddon)
This book! I need this book! One Salt Sea was…it…the ending. What’s going to happen next? Tybaaaalllt!

Sacrificial Magic – Stacia Kane
Chess. Terrible. Chess and Terrible. These two look at each other and – boom! – scorch marks, everywhere. This gritty urban fantasy series was a revelation: I never thought I’d fall so hard, so fast, for a brutal gang enforcer, just as I never thought I’d feel such sympathy for a drug addicted witch.

Endgame – Ann Aguirre
I’ve gone and worked myself into a state of complete willful denial over this being the last book in the Sirantha Jax series. That’s right: My fingers are in my ears; I am humming some unnamed but defiant song, loudly. Just because I understand that all good things must come to an end, that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I refuse to say goodbye to you, Vel. *sniff*

Bitterblue – Kristin Cashore
I liked Graceling. I loved Fire. Wanting Bitterblue is a given.

Shadowfell – Juliet Marillier
New Juliet Marillier. That is all.

Under the Light – Laura Whitcomb
I owe Angie for nudging me in the direction of the wondrous A Certain Slant of Light, so it’s only fitting that I also owe her for bringing this sequel to my attention. I’m expecting big, beautiful things from this one.

Once Burned (Night Prince series) – Jeaniene Frost
I can’t be sure, of course, but my sense that I just might lead the Vlad fangirl pack can’t be too far off base. And that may be why trepidation is battling it out with excitement whenever I think of this book, the first in a spin-off series featuring that glorious pyrolicious vampire.

Range of Ghosts – Elizabeth Bear
Look, look over there to the right. Squint if you must. That cover’s pretty nifty, no? Plus, it’s Elizabeth Bear, the writer who brought Sebastien de Ulloa into my life. I’m looking forward to meeting you, Temur, once I get my hands on a copy of this.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There – Catherynne M. Valente
With a title like that, of course this is the sequel to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. Which leaves me with but one thing to say: Gimme. Please?

Isla and the Happily Ever After – Stephanie Perkins
When it comes to Stephanie Perkins’ books, my reviewing skills (oh, that’s a good one!) make themselves scarce. I’ve read and loved and hugged both Anna and Lola, and found myself tongue-tied (finger-tied?) to the point of pain after opening a new post template and typing in each title. What to say? How to say it? How to avoid paragraphs with nothing but Etienne and Cricket typed over and over and over again? Perhaps I’ll manage the impossible with Isla.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Book 2 - Laini Taylor
Could this have been a more obvious choice? I thought not.

House of Shadows – Rachel Neumeier
Rachel Neumeier’s books have never once let me down. She creates compelling characters and worlds, and I’ve no doubt that House of Shadows will follow admirably in the footsteps of The City in the Lake, The Griffin Mage trilogy, and The Floating Islands.

And then there’s Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews, and All Spells Break Loose by Lisa Shearin, and Alien Diplomacy by Gini Koch. In other words, a whole bunch of series books that must be mine.

THE MOVIES OF 2012:

The Hunger Games (March)
Is there anyone out there who is not waiting on tenterhooks for this movie? Or, whatever; soft cushions? I am, obviously, and that despite my initial – and unfortunately lingering – doubts about the principle casting. The first official trailer won me over some, especially with that closing scene (sprint, Peeta, sprint!), but I’m still going to settle into my theater seat cautiously, keeping my expectations to a reasonable level. (You know what? Who am I kidding? When the time comes, I’m going to be bouncing around, beating the sure to be broken springs underneath me into submission with the sheer force of my excitement. Let the Games begin!)

The Avengers (May)

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*crickets*
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Mmm? Oh. Oh! Right! Sorry. It’s just, Captain America up there is so…shiny.

I must admit: I’m working backwards when it comes to getting to know these superheroes. The movies – Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor – made me really want to dig in, go back and read the comics, and find everything I could get my hands on that had anything even remotely to do with or related to one or all of them. So that’s what I’m doing. In between re-watching key scenes from each of their individual movies, of course. (And, yes, that includes those scenes. [I have eyes. And a keen appreciation for beauty. I ♥ this Art, remember? *cough*]) Honestly? Anticipation for this one is thrumming through my veins. Just thinking about it makes me bzzz like a frenzied little bee.

The Hobbit (December)

How to explain this one making my list? I know! How about: Richard Armitage. Martin Freeman. Stephen Fry. Lee Pace. Benedict Cumberbatch. Need I say more? Because I could. You know I could.

That’s my top three, but there are others I’m looking forward to: The Dark Knight Rises (no explanation necessary, I’d say); Brave (ditto, I’m thinking, if the collective anticipation for this one is anything to go by); and, you know, I kind of want to see John Carter (if only to gaze upon Tim Riggins Taylor Kitsch as he attempts to adjust to life on Mars). (Also, because my ‘stop now’ button is broken, these: The Secret World of Arrietty, The Raven, and The Woman in Black.)

So, yeah. There you have it.