Reading List, July 2006

Books

Lying Low by Diane Johnson – This was an emotionally charged novel about an unconventional household filled with secrets.
Anybody Out There by Marion Keyes – If you’ve read other Marion Keyes books, this is the latest book about one of the Walsh sisters.
Misfortune by Westly Stace – This long novel featured plenty of Dickens flavored cross-dressing and gender confusion.
Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson – This novel had a story within a story within a story, which sounds a little more complicated than it turned out.
The Sibyl in Her Grave by Sarah Caudwell – This was a charming mystery that I think I’ve read before, but I didn’t remember the ending so it wasn’t spoiled. Cauldwell has a distinctive writing style with plenty of dry humor that I really enjoyed. It had a nice Edward Gorey cover too.
A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison – This series about a witch and her vampire buddies seems like a good one to switch to if you find the Anita Blake books too porny.

Manga and Graphic Novels

From Far Away #8, #9, #10, #11 – I’m liking the later volumes of this series more than the earlier volumes. This is still a bookstore read for me though.
Basara #18 – My favorite action adventure shojo series.
Chikyu Misaki #2 – This series about a girl and her relationship with a transforming lake monster is so cute. I’m looking forward to reading the final volume.
Cantarella #3 – My favorite You Higuri series. I love the Borgias, what can I say?!
Read or Die #2 – I didn’t like the first volume of this series all that much, but this book had a few nice moments featuring the love of reading and plenty of book-related action.
Ruroni Kenshin #28 – I’d given up picking up every volume of this series, but I was glad I picked up the last volume to see how everything wrapped up for Kenshin.
Ouran High School Host Club #2 – I still like the anime more than the manga, but the manga is cute.
Naruto #2, #3 – More ninja action!
Kodocha #1, #2 – This whimsical series about a girl actress, her manager, and her wacky mother is simple and heartwarming.
Sgt Frog #1 – I enjoyed the first volume of this series about an alien who looks like a frog, his ambitions to invade the earth, and the Japanese family who takes him in.