Books Read, November and December 2012

I got a Paperwhite for Hanukkah! So I have been tearing through some ebooks recently.

Books

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – This was a standout recent read. I am kicking myself for not reading this earlier. Who knew that a book about teens with cancer could be so intelligently quirky and hilarious and epic at the same time.
The Dark Highlander (Highlander, #5) by Karen Marie Moning
The Immortal Highlander (Highlander, #6) by Karen Marie Moning
Iced by Karen Marie Moning
A Kiss For Midwinter (Brothers Sinister, #1.5) by Courtney Milan
The Duchess War (Brothers Sinister, #1) by Courtney Milan
Season for Surrender (Seasons, #2) by Theresa Romain
A Week to Be Wicked (Spindle Cove, #2) by Tessa Dare
A Lady by Midnight (Spindle Cove, #3) by Tessa Dare
When You Give a Duke a Diamond (Jewels of the Ton, #1) by Shana Galen
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (Pink Carnation, #6) by Lauren Willig
The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2) by Richelle Mead – There was just way too much exposition in this book for the second volume of a continuing series. It bogged the book down for me quite a bit.
The English Witch by Loretta Chase
Knave’s Wager by Loretta Chase
Viscount Vagabond by Loretta Chase

Manga and Graphic Novels

Recently I’ve been working my way through some volumes of Kekkaishi due to the current Viz Digital Sale. I’ll have to pick up a few more volumes before the sale ends on the 8th.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan – Nice to see that the hype about this series was justified!
Captain America and Bucky: Old Wounds
Kamisama Kiss 11
A Devil and Her Love Song 6
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon 5
?07 Ghost 1
Strobe Edge 1
Oresama Teacher 11 and 12
Kimi ni Todoke: From me to You 15
Story of Saiunkoku 8
Give My Regards to Black Jack 1-4

Manga Report Updates 1/1/2013

Digest powered by RSS Digest

Yarny Pursuits

I’ve been meaning to post more about knitting projects here, but I tend to be so busy that I rarely remember to document what I’ve done. But here is some holiday related knitting!

What we have here are a couple simple mistake rib scarves for my kids, the orange and blue objects. This is yarn that they picked out at my LYS when they announced that they wanted to knit. I figured they would try it out a little bit and lose interest and I would just end up making something for them with the yarn that they chose, and that is exactly what happened. Unfortunately I wasn’t paying attention to the yarn they were grabbing and they ended up picking out a wool mohair blend. I’m slightly allergic to mohair, but I managed to tough it out and make the scarves.

There’s also a grey slouchy hat that is a gift for someone in a Secret Santa exchange. The red wrap in the background is a project that I’m trying to finish in the next few days.

My husband was nice and took me yarn shopping on the last day of Hanukkah to Fine Points here in Ohio. There is a bunch of yarn crammed into a small space in the store. There were some novelty yarns, but also habu kits, Rowan, Jo Sharp, Noro, Madelinetosh, Debbie Bliss, Alchemy, and a ton of Claudia Hand Painted yarn. This is what I got:

A couple skeins of Tosh Chunky in Black Current. I have some sort of problem with Madelinetosh and purples, in that I have a hard time not buying it. One Zauberball in a mix of greens and black. Also, a couple skeins of Koigu. Overall a very nice unexpected last day of Hanukkah present!

Manga Report Updates 11/29/2012

Digest powered by RSS Digest

Recent Amethyst Reading

Showcase Presents: Amethyst Princess of Gemworld

I did buy and read the Showcase Presents: Amethyst Princess of Gemworld collected volume last month. It was fun to revisit the series even though it was a bit jarring to be reading the issues in black and white instead of color. After a little bit though, I was able to settle in and I picked up on some new details here and there that I hadn’t seen before in the color issues, particularly the way Ernie Colon drew different kingdoms of the Gemworld that were distinguished with varied architecture and setting, in addition to color palette. I’d forgotten what a good deal this was. In addition to the 12 issue maxiseries, it also has a good portion of the second series, and the first appearance of Amethyst as a back-up story in Legion of Superheroes, and the fun DC Comics Presents story where Amethyst teams up with Superman. This really is a great value, although I’d still recommend that people try to track down some of the color issues as well.

Sword of Sorcery Issues 1 and 2

I’ve been reading Sword of Sorcery on Comixology, more from a sense of duty as someone who has dedicated a bunch of time to the Amethyst character than from any meaningful enjoyment. The art continues to be very nice as new houses of this version of the Gemworld are introduced. Citrine is a loyal Amethyst ally and filled with warrior women. Diamond has shifted from priests to a noble house filled with brawling sons. House Onyx is filled with shaven-headed ninjas. There are also some good character-based moments of humor where modern girl Amy encounters the quasi medieval/mystical culture of the Gemworld. However, while many of the aspects of the comic are well-executed, I’m not seeing much to convince me that this particular reboot was very necessary. Also, in the second issue the Diamond Prince Hadran shows himself to be a good guy by preventing his older brother from raping the new wife of one of their soldiers. So that’s two attempted rapes used to establish character traits in three issues. I’m expecting that the next issue will skip with the raping, and then perhaps there will be a new character introduced in issue four who will be presented as sympathetic to the reader by preventing yet another rape. Seriously, there weren’t any puppies to save or Gemworld street urchins to rescue?

Books Read, September and October

I can’t believe I skipped my reading update in September! I’ve been a bit busier than usual lately. I’ve not been great about logging what I’ve been reading in Goodreads either, so I think I’m missing some titles.

Books

Shiver, Linger and Forever by Maggie Stiefvater – I remember deciding not to read these when they came out because I had werewolf fatigue due to Twilight. I did love the Scorpio Races so much, I figured that I would finally try this series. While not as great stylistically as the Scorpio Races, this trilogy was much better than than the average YA paranormal romance book, with unique and clearly delineated characters.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – this was one of the October selections for my YA book club along with Vampire Academy #1, which I reread.
Dragon Actually by GA Aiken
Against the Wind by Kat Martin

Manga and Graphic Novels

Full Moon O Sagashite #1-7
Gentlemen’s Alliance #1-6 – I need to pick up the last couple books and finish this series
Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden #10
Kamisama Kiss #10
Paradise Kiss #1
Limit #1
Record of a Fallen Vampire #1-3
Jiu Jiu #2
Showcase Presents: Amethyst Princess of Gemworld