I went into Broken Monsters expecting to be horrified by the serial killer who kills people (including a young child) and fuses their various body parts to dead animals but honestly I thought that was one of the "tamer" parts. More horrifying was social media's role in the major conflicts in this novel, especially that of teenager Layla who gets involved in some really scary (and REAL) stuff.

The supernatural elements of this story didn't really play out for me like I'd hoped, and I definitely prefer The Shining Girls. That said, still a great offering.

The best sort of non-fiction - readable, witty, and well-researched. Rudder does an amazing job breaking down very complicated stats and methodology and also illuminates some thought-provoking questions about what we are all doing while "online." A perfect book to ready slowly, chapter by chapter while on breaks at work.

Finally, a novel that lives up to the hype I've heard about it. A simply haunting, poetic, and dare I say gentle dystopian story that weaves between before and after a horrible flu hits the entire world. Various players, including a famous actor, his child, his ex-wives, a former paparazzo now EMT, and a child actress share narratives throughout as we follow a troupe of musicians and Shakespearean actors in their caravan of busted down vehicles pulled by horses.

Lovely. Nice to see that a dystopian future may include Shakespeare, music, and humanity (along with the other scarier aspects). Highly recommend.

The Traveling Symphony, because survival isn't enough.

A very late-comer to the series, I really loved the dialect, setting, and characters, but also had some quibbles about some plot points that took me out of the story. SPOILERS AHEAD, reader beware.

The Good:
The writing swept me away into the world of 18th century Scotland and England. Sometimes written accents are intelligible or I can't hear them in my head, but not so here.
I really felt the connection between Jamie and Claire and it made me root for them throughout the book and their trials.
History! Yeah!
Hot sexy times
Just enough time travel to whet my appetite, but not too much to make me think about it too hard.


The Questionable
LOTS of time spent discussing the merits of beatings, whuppings, torture, etc.
Very episodic, lots of rising and falling tension that will serve the TV show well, but made the overall story-line a bit muddled.
Massive spoiler here -

Jamie's rape and torture by Captain Randall was very dark, which while completely awful served the storyline, but then to have Captain Randall randomly killed by a pack of cows was a big let down. I wanted REVENGE. Also, Claire's method of opium taking plus reenacting said rape to get Jamie back from the brink of death was utterly shocking, weird, and not what I would have thought would be a good idea. I'm assuming there will be further ramifications of the rape in future novels, but from where we ended here Jamie seemed to have made a pretty miraculous psychological recovery.

The quibbles aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this and will continue reading. The first episode of the show as also super awesome, so here here!

2nd Read - 06/03/2014
Still amazing. I'm going to purchase this for myself. I have a mad crush on both Jon and Suzie - and I can't wait to see what happens with the Sex Police. My favorite comic series out there right now along with Saga. Way to go Image.

Review based off of a free copy received from Netgalley...Thank you!

I haven't had as much fun reading a graphic novel volume since Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan. Witty and humorous dialog, fun characters that are so alive, and so irreverent, and a concept that is as unique as it is fascinating. Let's just say I too will now be thinking of hymens when I see those terrible Humane Society commercials (In the arms of an angel)...

Our heroine Suzie is adorable, and Matt Fraction did an awesome job of not turning her into a over-sexualized female stereo-type (ironic isn't it). She looks like a real woman, has a job, and a great heart. Suzie frankly discusses how she discovered her ability to stop time with her orgasms, and her frustration as a young child in not having enough information or help in understanding any of it. I must say, I had never heard of any of the sex positions Susie's middle school friend draws for her in that bathroom stall. Naughty!

These flashbacks interspersed with the flash-forwards to the main action of this volume were well done and had great pacing. Suzie's "partner in crime" and boyfriend, Jon, who she discovers has the same power is also completely adorkable and totally not your typical comic book dude.

I also loved how the only real "crime" Suzie is inspired to commit with her "power" is to pull a Robin Hood and steal money from the bank trying to foreclose the library she works with. Go girl! Of course, there is a huge cliffhanger, so I can't wait for more.

One thing I did learn, about myself, is that I do not really enjoy reading Graphic Novels on my computer. I MUCH prefer the real volume, so will eagerly await it when the copy I ordered for my library comes in.

Theo Decker loses his mother to a bomb explosion during a visit to NYC art museum. Theo survives, but at the behest of a dying old man he steals a small but hugely important painting, The Goldfinch. His mother's death and this theft shapes and moves Theo's life as he is shuttled around adult caretakers and into his adult life.

Gloriously written, with imagery and sentences that are simply glowing, Donna Tartt subsumes you into Theo's life with each page. While this books starts with a bomb blast, the remaining 800+ pages ebb and flow with events, like the tide. Theo is not always a likeable person, and his drug habits are simply enormous, but his life, and the people in his life are so well drawn you simply lose yourself in the story.

All I really have to say is wait until you meet Boris. He is one of the best characters in modern literature I have ever met. I held my breath whenever he was absent from the narrative, and smiled with glee each time he returned.

Spooky sequel to The Shining finds the now grown Daniel Torrance, a recovering alcoholic who uses his gift to help his wards at a hospice pass on when their time comes, finally living a somewhat peaceful life. But, when a band of creepy immortals tries to kidnap a young girl with a gift ten times more powerful then his own, Danny is once again brought into a battle between the dark and the light.

While I definitely was not a spooked by Dr. Sleep as I was by It or the original Shining, I am almost 15 years older so this is not surprising. However, this is a classic King horror tale and does a remarkable job of making you think twice before assuming those oldsters in RVs are just simple nice folks. Yikes.

Volume 2 keeps the action going as Marko and Alana try to escape the various mercenaries trying to kill them and take their hybrid baby. Snappy dialouge from Brian K Vaughan and intricate and beautiful illustrations transport you to this ethereal galaxy. Damn cliff hanger again though :)

Star-crossed lovers (literally) have a baby and try to escape an ancient civil war. Beautiful artwork, great dialogue (yay Brian K Vaughan), and fabulous world-building. I really enjoyed the baby's first "baby-sitter." Don't worry, no spoilers here. Read it yourself. Can't wait for more volumes!

Epic, impressive, and thrilling. What a ride this trilogy has been. Marchetta's work still revolves around themes of nationality, family, and honor, and she makes her characters go to hell and back to find their true meaning and purpose in her violent world. She makes you fall in love with each of them, despite their obvious flaws and prejudices.

Seeing as I finished this quite late last night - I will leave this review brief and spoiler free. Read this trilogy!