Graphic Novel Spotlight: MAUS

NOTE: Usually I post these spotlights on Thursdays, but today is Holocaust Remembrance Day and this seemed like an appropriate way to mark the occasion.
 

MAUS by Art Spiegelman

MAUS was the very first graphic novel I ever read, discovered by chance when I was browsing books about the Holocaust at my high school library. I don't believe it would  be hyperbole to say that that chance discovery changed my life. 

This is the story of Art Spiegelman's father, a Holocuast survivor. Book 1 takes us  from Vladek's life in prewar Germany, through the Nazis' rise to power, to the moment when he arrives at Auschwitz. Book 2 navigates his time in the camps to the end of the war and his eventual emigrationn to the US. For me, MAUS was an entirely singular experience. I'd read a great deal about the Holocaust so none of the abuses Spiegelman describes were entirely surprising. What made it shocking was the visuals (which shy away from nothing) and the close emotional tie to the story. Its not a beautiful book or overly sentimental. Art spends as much time frustrated with his father as he does sympathizing. The drawings have a rough sort of quality, almost like woodcuts, but that harsh style suits the harshness of the story.  

Book review - Only Ever Yours

Title: Only Every Yours
Author: Louise O'Neill
Genre: dystopia
Similar books: Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch
                     Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 
Rating:

Whoa

Summary: Ever since climate change decimated the population girls have not been born naturally. Instead, they are created in a lab, bred for beauty and pleasure, and raised to perfectly please their men. Best friends Freida and Isabel have been dreaming their entire lives of the day when they will become companions. As their final year at school comes to a close, the pressure to be perfect mounts. only a select few girls will become companions. The rest are destined to be concubines or chastities. Will Freida and Isabel achieve their dream or will the pressure become too much.

My opinion: I've read a great deal of dystopian fiction and it all seems to follow a similar path: protagonist recognizes an unjust system, either joins or starts a revolution, and overthrows the government or escapes to freedom. This book certainly bucks that trend with the idea that sometimes there is no way out and an attempt to revolt brings down judgement on your head. This book certainly isn't perfect. I found most of the writing to be kind of annoying. Freida was all over the place emotionally and so needy, constantly seeking even the shallowest of validation. That ending, though, makes me look at the entire thing in a new light.

More information: Only Ever Yours releases May 12.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

I now have the most fun dishes

While browsing the internet for crafting inspiration I came across this tutorial for animal handled cups. If you've been reading my blog for very long you may remember the giraffe serving tray. These cups captured my imagination in a similar manner. In fact, when I went shopping for tumblers for this project, I found a 4 pack that is almost the exact same shade of green. Fortuitous.

The tutorial calls for super glue. I used E6000 instead, which I prefer as it doesn't cloud on plastic the way super glue can. E6000 takes much longer to set though, so if you decide to replicate this project you may want to stick with the super glue. Additionally, the cups in the tutorial are spray painted. I had intended to do the same but when I got the animals onto the cups I decided I liked how they looked in their original state. I might, sometime in the future, add some little embellishments but for now I like this look.

The zebra is my absolute favorite.

You might notice glue spots under the tails of most of the animals. I missed the tip in the tutorial about making sure the tails rest on the table to help counterbalance their excessive weight before you glue. As a result I ended up building what amounts to little stands out of hot glue to give the cup another point of contact with the table. They aren't particularly stable when empty but it doesn't take much water to have them sitting flat on the table again.

Don't you think they'll look awesome with my giraffe tray?

Book review - Denton Little's Deathdate

Title: Denton Little's Deathdate
Author: Lance Rubin
Genre: humor/sci-fi
Similar books: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
                     Noggin by John Corey Whaley
Rating:

hmmm

Summary: In Denton's world, everyone knows the day they will die. For Denton, that day is tomorrow. While his classmates prepare for their prom, Denton is having his funeral and experiencing as much of life as he can. As these last minute experiences bring a lot of complication to his final days, the sudden appearance of a strange rash on his body and government agents asking strange questions add to the drama. As secrets are revealed, Denton has only hours to learn the truth.

My opinion: I rather liked most of this book and its ideas about the way people might behave if they knew what day they would die (though I'm not really sure how that's supposed to work. I can see how a blood test could predict heart disease, cancer, even a pregnancy complication, but a communicable disease or accident?). I liked the quirky, if somewhat shallow, characters. A lot of the final scenes threw me, though. These events were mostly properly foreshadowed, I just thought it went in an odd direction. Some of it felt sort of haphazard and the ending is very abrupt.

More information: Denton Little's Deathdate releases April 14th.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: murder mysteries

The world of fiction is full of mysteries and when those books are aimed at teens, they take on a decidedly murderous bent. Murder mysteries are full of intrigue and danger, making them rather thrilling to read. Here are six murder mysteries for teens published in the last six months.

6 new murder mysteries

1. When by Victoria Laurie

2. The Third Twin by C.J. Omololu

3. Dead to Me by Mary McCoy

4. Enchantment Lake by Margi Preus

5. The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

6. Ask the Dark by Henry Turner

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
Romy thought her date with the sheriff's son, Kellan, would be a dream come true. It turned out to be more of a nightmare. When she told the truth about him, people branded her a liar. She takes refuge in a job outside of town, trying to forget about Kellan. When a girl with ties to Kellan goes missing, Romy isn't sure she can remain silent anymore. No one believed her but can she let her silence harm other girls?

This is a very timely topic and I look forward to seeing how Summers treats such a sensitive issue.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Eden West by Pete Hautman
Jacob has lived in Nodd since he was very small, working the land and waiting with the other Grace for the arrival of the Archangel Zerachiel and the apocalypse. He has always been content in Nodd - until he has a chance encounter with a neighbor, a Worldly girl named Lynna. Soon after a new family arrives in Nodd and a lone wolf begins wreaking havoc on their land. For the first time Jacob's belief in the Grace wavers.

This book is fairly standard for a cult novel, plot-wise. Nothing too revolutionary but it's well written and worth the read.

What do you think you will read next?
Andreo's Race by Pam Withers
A tale of international intrigue, baby trafficking, and family.

Book review - Last of the Sandwalkers

Title: Last of the Sandwalkers
Author: Jay Hosler
Genre: graphic novel/adventure
Similar books: Crogan's Loyalty by Chris Schweizer
                     Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Rating:

sneaky

Summary: For generations the beetles have been satisfied to live quiet lives in their isolated village. Lucy, on the other hand, dreams of discovery. It takes some work but she convinces their leaders to allow her to lead a team of researchers into the desert where they will learn things that change the way they see the entire world.

My opinion: This book is a cool, sneaky way to teach some science. Much less obvious in its teaching than easy reader sci-fi, though also aimed at an older audience as it goes into more detail and brings some more complicated issues into play. I liked the combination of the adventure with message to observe and question. Plus, the art has the perfect combination of detail and cartoony style.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.