Stephen King's The Stand: American Nightmares

Finally, I got it. I wish that I would have gotten it sooner because I would have blown through this book when it came for me three weeks ago. If you recall, I was slightly disappointed with the first in this series of graphic novels. It didn't feel right. I'm not sure what changed. Part of it, I think, is that I started watching the movie which is very different than the book and that made the graphic novel seem much more like the book.

This is how reading a graphic novel should be. While I was waiting for the computer at work to get on with something, I opened the book and read. In just a few moments I would be sucked into the story. In all fairness, the author does spend more time with each character instead of bouncing around every other page as in the first one. Also, I think that Flagg starts to look like I've always seen him: A sinister Chuck Noris.

I'm glad I gave the second book a chance. I've already ordered the third.

Stephen King's The Stand: Captain Trips by Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa

Due to my latest Stephen King craze, I decided one day to click around on his website and find a list of books by publication date. What I discovered was that there is a whole world of Stephen King that I didn't know about. That's how I found these graphic versions of the classic, which I read earlier this summer, The Stand.

Honestly, I'm not impressed.

Alright, so, The Stand. Well, I read the actual novel first. I read the original, not the uncut, version. I loved it. It took a while to get through because of its size but I loved it. Then I picked up the first graphic novel and it felt, well, wrong. I don't know if it was the story (which had to have been different from the original book and understandably) or the artwork. It just didn't feel right. Then I started the movie. I'm over halfway through and it seems better.

I ordered the second book just to see. As always, I'll let you know what I think.

Castle Waiting Volume II by Linda Medley

I just finished this book less than five minutes ago and my first reaction up shutting it was, "Oh no! Castle Waiting III isn't out! What am I going to do?"

These are possibly my new favorite books. They are just so light hearted. They are funny and detailed and just generally well done.

In Volume II we learn more about the characters. There are more love stories and the main character, Jain, is explored a little more. We get closer to discovering what the baby is and the Hammerlings come to visit. The stories in this volume are not as involved as the last one where the Sister's story took up a number of chapters, even hundreds of pages. Instead, we get short snapshots of the past. The jokes seem a little my bawdy in this volume too.

Again, I just enjoy reading these. I love the characters. I love laughing out loud at the jokes. It is so easy to get sucked into this world and once I'm there I don't want to leave.

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

When I was little, I was writing a book. It was a wonderful book. It was about princesses and witches and there was romance and adventure. I told myself the story over and over again. When I was older I tried to actually write it down but by then some magical thread had been lost.

This book was everything that I ever wanted to write. The moment I opened it, I was sucked it. It begins with a very familiar story and leads into a world that is so wonderful and enchanting that it makes the book difficult to put down.

When Sleeping Beauty wakes from her slumber and finds herself in the arms of a charming prince, she decides that she must leave and live in his kingdom immediately, despite the fact that her kingdom will be without a ruler. The castle becomes a safe house for people who need it. We are moved on to Jain, a pregnant woman who is heading for the castle to have her baby. When she arrives, she is greeted by a cast of vivid, lovely, amusing characters who are more than happy to help deliver the baby. When the baby comes, it is green and has a tail and everybody loves him, even the house sprites who have mostly overrun the castle.

I give up. I cannot do this story justice. It has everything that I have ever wanted in a story: sprites, witches, romance, humor, and bearded ladies. I want to buy it so that I can read it over and over and over again.

March 2011

Books Read:
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
Hector and the Search for Happiness by Fancois Lelord
When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne
Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby
Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne
The Alchemist: Graphic Novel by Paulo Coelho

You caught me...

I have been mixing in some childrens books just to boost my numbers. Well, not just to boost my numbers. I've enjoyed reading them and all. I've been meaning to read them. Actually, the big debate this month came when Matt told me that I couldn't count a book of poetry as a book read. I totally count it if I've read it cover to cover. I read the final three Winne the Pooh books cover to cover. Most of the poetry was even read aloud, as it should be and much to the cats' delight. I also slipped in a graphic novel but it was The Alchemist and it was very deep and well worth it.

I spent a lot of time on Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres and part of the problem was that it was too close to home. The actual content of the story wasn't but he vast farms and the pretty much the entire setting reminded me of my hometown, which I have never left. It was easy to get caught up in the descriptions of farm life because they were the same things that I heard every day in class. Basically, it was the kind of book that I get caught up in and take, thus, take my time with. However, it was a bit predictable. It's literature, after all. It was easy for me to guess what was going on, or what had gone on as it were.

The shining star of this month, for sure, was Hector and the Search for Happiness. I read reviews of this book and then I came across it in Target and it was the perfect little paperback. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I ordered it through the library and there is was! The same little paperback, perfectly shaped! It was worth the effort. I could not put this book down. Hector is a psychiatrist and he notices that more and more people who should be happy aren't. He decides to travel the world and learn about happiness. He goes to China, a violent African country, and The Country of More. (That's us! We have more psychiatrists AND we are more unhappy!) Hector learns a lot about happiness and I really enjoyed the ride.

I was impressed with all of the reading I got done this month until I started writing this. Now I feel a bit deflated. Next month doesn't look like it's going to be much better. I've joined a book club and the first selection isn't something that I am really looking forward to. I'll try it but I will invoke my reader's rights if I have to: The right not to read.