Welcome to my first ever book-recording blog post!
This was the month that got it all started. Probably in reaction to the amount of books purchased and received around Christmastime, January is usually the month that involves the most reading consumption of the year. Thankfully this past January was no exception!
Although I always have a pile of unfinished, half-read books waiting to be completed, I always find myself picking up the freshest, newest, most untouched book in my room. I was surprised then, when reflecting back on my readings, to discover that most of the books I read this month were ones that had been lying around for quite some time. If I keep this up then maybe, just maybe, I'll get through my whole collection one day.
P.S. I don't believe in libraries.
*****
(In photo order, not reading order)
1. Y The Last Man Deluxe Edition Volume 1 -- Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
2. Y The Last Man Deluxe Edition Volume 2 -- Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
3. Yakitate! Japan Volume 5 -- Takashi Hashiguchi
4. The Wealthy Barber -- David Chilton
5. Watchmen -- Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
6. The Female Brain -- Louann Brizendine M. D.
7. The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga -- Ilya
8. Stuff White People Like -- Christian Lander
9. The History of Lucy's Love Life in Ten and a Half Chapters -- Deborah Wright
*****
1. & 2. These two volumes are the compilation omnibuses (omnibi?) of the graphic novel Y The Last Man. The writer eventually got chosen to write for the television series Lost, which I still can't define as good or horribly, horribly wrong, but I digress. This is an AMAZING series, for any of you graphic novel/comic nuts. The storyline is engaging and believable, and the art is detailed and clean. A mustmustMUST not miss. P.S. It is much cheaper to buy the big volumes for $20 on amazon.ca then to buy each individual book at $10 each.
8.5/10
3. Again part of a comic series (this time Japanese manga), this is a boy's manga about a kid who has "Gauntlets of the Sun" for hands, meaning the temperature of his hands is perfect for kneading and baking dough. Yes this is a manga about FOOD and bread.
Although the first few books were gripping and filled with detailed illustrations of perfectly shaped food, this volume was slightly underwhelming. It could be because I had sort of lost the thread of the series, not having read it for at least eight months. Only warning I have if you're willing to start this one: it's a long fuckin' ride. There are at least 23 volumes, so if you're not ready to commit, I say leave this series for now. There's also an anime of it, so I'll probably just watch that.
6.5/10
4. The Wealthy Barber! Aha, a book I actually felt smart after reading. This little book I got for free months ago at VanCity. In an attempt to sort out my finances, I decided I might as well read it. I recommend this to many people, mainly because it is written in an extremely simple way. In regards to the relativity of the information... well, it's no longer 1989, and anyone with half a brain knows it costs a helluva lot more to buy property in Vancouver in the 21st century than it did back in the 80's in Toronto. Also, mutual funds, as my financial-genius father has brought to my attention, are no longer wise investments unless you are looking at an extremely lengthy stay. Read this book! It's probably free at your bank, and makes you sound smart when your friends start whining to you about how they're flat broke.
8/10
5. Do I even have to state the obvious? Really. It took me way too long to finally get my hands on this, but it was beyond worth it. What I thought might be hype was in fact all legit. And you know what? The movie wasn't half bad either, although I don't know how anyone who hadn't read the book managed to sit through it.
9/10
6. Ya! I read a psychology book during my free time! This one's cool because it explains away all the psychotic tendencies of females. The writer/doctor also blames absolutely everything from bitchy moods to postpartum on HORMONES. I knew we had no control over this!
I'm assuming the sources of the book are backed up, due to the half-book index and bibliography at the end. This is a quick, knowledgeable and relatively easy read that you should buy for your boyfriends and fathers.
7.5/10
7. Big comic book collections are always cool since they feature an array of different authors and styles and stories. This one was decent, but a few years ago I stumbled upon one that was way more diverse. Still, if you're looking to get started on some manga, pick this guy up and start researching.
6/10
8. Of course. The blog turned book. Oh I hate you and am deeply jealous. I originally bought this book in Portland (har har, inside book joke) for my boyfriend (who incidentally, doesn't read AT ALL. I'm still choked, but trying to get over this fact), but realizing he would never read it, started it myself. It's very witty, fast-paced and TRUE. Sometimes the truth in it is hysterical. And although I wouldn't associate every one of his postings to an actual white person (and see, I can be minorly objective as I'm only half, and thus a minority and not WHITE per se), I can definitely associate them with all hipsters of the world.
In my half "white" person defense - Portland, Oregon and rock climbing can be enjoyed by people of any race!
7/10
9. Oh geez, chick lit. I honestly bought this book because it was on the $5 table at Chapters on my way out. It looked cheesy and cliche and total crap, but I bought it anyway because it was fucking five bucks and had the words "Time machine" and "dating life" on it. And yes, the protagonist finds a time machine, goes back in time, and bones as many literary, artistic and social masters of the past. Including Lord Byron, Casanova, etc. etc.
This book was GENIUS. I tell you. For chick lit (and unfortunately I've read a fair amount), the writing is impressive, the story is slick and very original, and there are minute sex scenes that are wicked. Not Pam Anderson's "Star" wicked, but no one can quite beat that.
I recommend this little known, CHEAPLY priced (at Chapters) book to any girl who wants a five hour beach read and a giggly boy discussion afterward. My only qualms of this novel was the ending, which was a little rushed and slightly far-fetched. But a time machine is involved, so I guess that's expected.
9/10 (Yea, it gets as much as Watchmen! I'm a chick, stfu.)
