Book review - The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray

Title: The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray
Author: E. Latimer
Genre: Horror
Similar books: Cast No Shadow by Nick Tapalansky
                      Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
Rating:

intriguing

Summary (provided by publisher): Bryony Gray is becoming famous as a painter in London art circles. But life isn't so grand. Her uncle keeps her locked in the attic, forcing her to paint for his rich clients . . . and now her paintings are taking on a life of their own, and customers are going missing under mysterious circumstances.
When her newest painting escapes the canvas and rampages through the streets of London, Bryony digs into her family history, discovering some rather scandalous secrets her uncle has been keeping, including a deadly curse she's inherited from her missing father. Bryony has accidentally unleashed the Gray family curse, and it's spreading fast.
With a little help from the strange-but-beautiful girl next door and her paranoid brother, Bryony sets out to break the curse, dodging bloodthirsty paintings, angry mobs and her wicked uncle along the way.

My opinion: In and of itself, this is a decent read. While the historical setting (not to mention the need for familiarity with A Picture of Dorian Gray) may be a bit of a barrier for some readers and character development isn't particularly complex, the plot is largely cohesive and follows an internal logic. It's interesting to compare it to the original novel. This novel is intended to be read like a sequel. It's events hinge on events in the original novel. Yet it achieves different ends. Dorian Gray is a morality tale, destruction by vanity and cruelty. Bryony's story, on the other hand, is more traditional horror. Yes, one can glean from it messages about agency and suffering from the sins of those who came before us, but at heart it's a story about out-smarting a curse.

More information: The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray releases February 13
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Bobble Davros

I have a friend with whom I exchange weird gifts, often from thrift stores. Stuff like squirrel tongs and creepy bobble heads. And it's that last gift that is relevant in this case. Some people might look at a creepy old man bobble head, say "that's weird", and toss it in a box. I thought "this could be something". Bobble man decided to be Davros, one of many villains in the Doctor Who universe. Davros is sort of half-robot, so he needed some cardboard and hot glue assistance before his final paint job.

24 in 48 recap

Today, in a departure from my regular blogging schedule, I thought I would share a brief recap of my experience with the 24 in 48 Readathon. This was my first time participating in this particular readathon. It's an easy entry experience if you're new to the idea of reading non-stop for fun. 

My weekend in stats
Time read: 30 hours 24 minutes
Total books finished: 10
Incomplete: 1 audio book (about 75% complete) and 2 ebooks (20% each)
Favorite read: The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner

In addition to my regular posts this week I'll be posting a few extra reviews of books I read this weekend, so keep an eye out for that.

Checking in

First book down: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Power by Ryan North

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking in

First book down: Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking in

First book down: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking In

First book down: The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking in

First book down: Doctor Who Archives edited by Andrew James

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking In

First book down: Everything Must Go by Jenny Fran Davis

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking in

First book down: Property of the State by Bill Cameron

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking in

First book down: 27 Hours by Tristina Wright

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking in

First book down: Relentless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Checking in

First book down: The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie

FYI: I'll be updating at least some of these posts with reviews after the weekend.

Let's go reading!

Here we go, friends. This is my official starting point for the 24 in 48 Readathon.

Keep an eye out for my updates as I read.

Check out my updates this weekend

Just a heads up, friends. I'll be participating in the 24 in 48 Readathon this weekend. Follow my updates here and on my recently formed Twitter (where my handle is @onlymarfalfa). Should be a lot of fun.

 

Picture books for everyone

Dragon Dancer by Joyce Chng

Picture books are a great way to experience the world through another person's perspective, to better understand some part of another culture. Dragon Dancer deosn't present us with a linear story. Instead we have more of a stream of consciousness. It's impressions, thoughts, motivations. It's an entire experience rather than a story. This makes it less of a selection for very young children but a great choice for elementary school We learn about the cultural motivations and implications of a fairly well known tradition.

Book review - The Silence of Our Friends

Title: The Silence of Our Friends
Author: Mark Long and Jim Demonakos
Genre: historical fiction/graphic novel
Similar books: March by John Lewis
                      In Real Life by Cory Doctorow
Rating:

one to think about

Summary (provided by publisher): This semi-autobiographical tale is set in 1967. A white family from a notoriously racist neighborhood in the suburbs and a black family from its poorest ward cross Houston's color line, overcoming humiliation, degradation, and violence to win the freedom of five black college students unjustly charged with the murder of a policeman.
The Silence of Our Friends follows events through the point of view of young Mark Long, whose father is a reporter covering the story. Semi-fictionalized, this story has its roots solidly in very real events. With art from the brilliant Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole) bringing the tale to heart-wrenching life, The Silence of Our Friends is a new and important entry in the body of civil rights literature.

My opinion: While this book presents a complete plot, it feels almost like a vignette. We see character development, the influence of each event on the next. It's not all clear cut, though. Not 100% good guys fighting bad guys. We see various types and degrees of prejudice. Some plots are never fully explored and some characters are flat. It's beautifully rendered, though, and leaves the reader with plenty to consider.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Embroidery doodle

I had grand crafting intentions this week. Intentions that were in NO WAY achieved. Instead, I dragged out a spool of rainbow polyester floss and a chunk of a worn out polo shirt and stitched a doodle of a t-rex.

Book review - Ellie, Engineer

Title: Ellie, Engineer
Author: Jackson Pearce
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Secret Coders series by Gene Luen Yang
                      The Amazing Crafty Cat by Charise Mericle Harper
Rating:

way to go, Pearce

Summary (provided by publisher): Ellie is an engineer. With a tool belt strapped over her favorite skirt (who says you can't wear a dress and have two kinds of screwdrivers handy, just in case?), she invents and builds amazing creations in her backyard workshop. Together with her best friend Kit, Ellie can make anything. As Kit's birthday nears, Ellie doesn't know what gift to make until the girls overhear Kit's mom talking about her present--the dog Kit always wanted! Ellie plans to make an amazing doghouse, but her plans grow so elaborate that she has to enlist help from the neighbor boys and crafty girls, even though the two groups don't get along. Will Ellie be able to pull off her biggest project yet, all while keeping a secret from Kit?
Illustrated with Ellie's sketches and plans, and including backmatter with a fun how-to guide to tools, this is a STEM- and friendship-powered story full of fun!

My opinion: This is a book with a clear agenda, but it's one I can fully support. It's a book about engineering, as one might imagine. We see Ellie's full process, from concept to  design, to the actual construction and accompanying troubleshooting. More important is the depiction of gender roles. Ellie loves to build things. She also loves pink, dresses, ballet, and glitter body wash. She can be an engineer and still be traditionally girly. Kit, on the other hand, love all things feminine. She doesn't like to be dirty and participates in beauty pageants. Neither is depicted as "right". We meet a neighborhood boy who loves bugs, soccer, pretty much all things traditionally masculine, but also adores tea parties. All of this along with messages about friendship, secrets, and control. A solid story for young readers.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Books on screen

Matilda

Readers know, the difference between the book and the movie can be startling. It is delightful, then, to come across a film that remains true to the events and intent of the novel. And that's the case here. There are, of course, differences. It has been somewhat modernized and some changes were needed for the story to work in an American setting. Most of these changes, though, are superficial. The heart of the story, an extraordinary child finding ways to win out over despicable adults, remains. The real key to this movie is the casting. Mara Wilson is wonderful as Matilda of course, but who doesn't love DeVito and Perlman as the Wormwood parents and Pam Ferris blows us away as the Trunchbull. While I will always love the book, I can help but rewatch this underappreciated movie a couple of times a year.

Book review - Wolfie and Fly: Band on the Run

Title: Wolfie and Fly: Band on the Run
Author: Cary Fagan
Genre: early chapter book
Similar books: Captain Pug by Laura James
                      My Vida Loca by Jacqueline Jules
Rating:

cute

Summary (provided by publisher): A classic story of imagination, friendship, rock bands and high-speed helicopter chases. For fans of Ivy & Bean, Judy Moody or Nate the Great.
Everyone's favorite odd couple is back. Our heroine, Renata Wolfman (Wolfie) does everything by herself. Friends just get in the way, and she only has time for facts and reading. But friendship finds her in the form of Livingston Flott (Fly), the slightly weird and wordy boy from next door. This time, Fly has convinced Wolfie to join him in his one-man band. Before they know it, they're playing live onstage in front of a stadium of screaming fans. But these fans are about to get out of control--and Wolfie and Fly have to make a daring escape!
Even though Wolfie thinks she'd rather be at home reading by herself, playing the drums in a rock band is actually pretty fun. Maybe there is something to this friend thing...

My opinion: Band on the Run is a sequel, a fact I did not realize until I was nearly finished with the book. Characterization is a bit sparse, but I had attributed that to the age of the intended audience. Even with the short length of this novel, we get a pretty clear picture of the motivations and base personalities of these kids. It's a fun story of imagination and doing things outside your comfort zone.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Avengers canvas kit

Sometimes the house can feel a little bleak in the post-Christmas weeks, when all of the decorations have come down and the weather is still cold and snowy. Its the perfect excuse to craft new posters and other home decor.  

This Marvel canvas kit had stickers for the details, but I decided to do the whole thing with paint. You'll also notice that Captain America's face was an unsettling shade of pink, originally, so I altered that as well.

 

Graphic novel spotlight - The Thrilling Adventure Hour

The Thrilling Adventure Hour by Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, et al.

Anyone who's ever listened to the Thrilling Adventure Hour podcast can attest to it's brilliance and sharp humor. Given that the show is designed to mimic old radio shows, one might not expect it to work as well in comic book form. Not only does the book maintain the tongue-in-cheek humor of the show (and includes the most popular characters) it takes on elements of classic comics. Namely, the inherent humor of the ads (in this case, psuedo ads for fake sponsors of the show). If you're a fan of spoofs and radio plays, give this book a try.

Non-fiction book review - Victor Dowd and the World War II Ghost Army

Spy on History: Victor Dowd and the World War II Ghost Army by Enigma Alberti

With all the books about World War II out there, you might think there's nothing left to learn. But how many of us have ever heard of the ghost army? The reader will learn about the origins of espionage, camouflage, code-breaking, and more. Framed as a narrative, this book is as readable as it is informative. And make no mistake: there's loads of information here.The language is fairly straightforward, making it accessible to even young readers.

More information: Victor Dowd and the World War II Ghost Army releases January 23.

Book review - As You Wish

Title: As You Wish
Author: Chelsea Sedoti
Genre: magical realism
Similar books: Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda
                      The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osborne
Rating:

thought provoking

Summary (provided by publisher): What if you could ask for anything- and get it?
In the sandy Mojave Desert, Madison is a small town on the road between nothing and nowhere. But Eldon wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, because in Madison, everyone gets one wish—and that wish always comes true.
Some people wish for money, some people wish for love, but Eldon has seen how wishes have broken the people around him. And with the lives of his family and friends in chaos, he’s left with more questions than answers. Can he make their lives better? How can he be happy if the people around him aren’t? And what hope is there for any of them if happiness isn’t an achievable dream? Doubts build, leading Eldon to a more outlandish and scary thought: maybe you can’t wish for happiness…maybe, just maybe, you have to make it for yourself.

My opinion: A town with strict rules of wishing is a unique, if somewhat hard-to-sell, concept for a novel. Personally, I found the plot a bit hard to swallow, mostly because of all of the unknowns. There are very strict but arbitrary rules for the wishes, no reason given. Nobody really questions the rules or tests them for validity. And while Eldon and his friends do wonder about the system, their exploration of it's bounds is fairly tame and limited. There were a number of missed opportunities to explore their town's whole construction. There are a number of themes that come into play, though none of them ever get the novel's full focus. This results in plenty of topics for discussion but no clear takeaway.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Comic book collage

I have a number of comics among my possessions that I don't exactly love. I've kept them for the purpose of crafting. I thought I'd start with a collage, adding some interest with paint.

 

Book review - Pretty Dead Girls

Title: Pretty Dead Girls
Author: Monica Murphy
Genre: mystery
Similar books: Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
                      Bad Call by Stephen Wallenfals
Rating:

a bit disappointing

Summary (provided by publisher): Beautiful. Perfect. Dead.
In the peaceful seaside town of Cape Bonita, wicked secrets and lies are hidden just beneath the surface. But all it takes is one tragedy for them to be exposed.
The most popular girls in school are turning up dead, and Penelope Malone is terrified she's next. All the victims so far have been linked to Penelope—and to a boy from her physics class. The one she's never really noticed before, with the rumored dark past and a brooding stare that cuts right through her.
There's something he isn't telling her. But there's something she's not telling him, either.
Everyone has secrets, and theirs might get them killed.

My opinion: This is not the first time we've read tales of horrible things happening to teen characters, the main suspect being another teen. It's not the best offering in the genre. For one, the suspect is a bit inexplicable. There's a rumor that his mother killed his father. That's it. This is the whole of the initial basis for his potential guilt. No personal enmity. Even if he'd had more motivation, his presentation, as with all of the characters, was fairly simplistic. The book is meant to be a thriller. For that to work we need to care about the character, to be caught up in their stories and concerned for their safety. We should feel the tension in every moment but it's not there. I could accept these failings more easily if it were meant to be more of a commentary on culture and the genre. If done correctly, a plot can be taken to ridiculous extremes and still reach the audience with sincere messages. This book is a bit more mediocre.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: Twins

I've noted before how the characters in teen novels tend to have certain hobbies. They are often talented musicians and artists with a penchant for Converse shoes. Another character type that occurs far more often in novels than in reality is twins. A high percentage of novels have twins or other multiples involved in some way: the protagonist's siblings, friends, neighbors. Fictional worlds are overrun with multiples. Here are six books published in the last six months that include twins or other multiples.

6 new books that include twins:

1. All Things New by Lauren Miller

2. Gian Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill

3. Satellite by Nick Lake

4. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yen Glaser

5. Rules of Rain by Leah Scheier

6. Flower Moon by Gina Linko

Book review - Marley's Ghost

Title: Marley's Ghost
Author: Harvey Kurtzman, Gideon Kendall, Josh O'Neill, and Shannon Wheeler
Genre: graphic novel, retelling
Similar books: Poe by Gareth Hinds
                      Manga Classics: The Jungle Book by Crystal S. Chan
Rating:

a near perfect adaptation

Summary (provided by publisher): Harvey Kurtzman’s Marley’s Ghost will see the posthumous expansion and completion of this legendary creator's adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol. Kurztman's ambitious concept for Marley's Ghost began in the 1950s—as an early "graphic novel"—but was never realized. Now, the talented trio of Shannon Wheeler, Gideon Kendall, and Josh O'Neill will adapt and expand upon Kurtzman's extensive breakdowns and notes to make his long-lost vision a reality.

My opinion: I am an unabashed fan of A Christmas Carol.  Adaptations are unavoidable, given how many major tv shows have made an attempt at the source material. My favorite has always been Muppet's Christmas Carol, a surprisingly faithful adaptation. This book has challenged that preference. For one, this version includes many elements of Dicken's story that most adaptations eliminate. It captures the atmosphere well, equal parts dingy and hopeful. The characters are highly stylized, lending an element of humor. They're remarkably expressive. As with many adaptations, it's best used to support a reading of the original, helping the reader to understand what they have read and highlighting elements you may have missed.

More information: Marley's Ghost is only available in digital form.

Exterminate Winter Cold

We seem to be welcoming 2018 here with more snow and cold temperatures. This after a week of the same. My favorite way to chase away the winter blahs is with new winter hats. I've wanted a Dalek hat for a while but had trouble finding a pattern that I really liked. This hat was the product of a combination of a few different patterns. It may not be my warmest hat but I think a fleece liner will make a difference.

UPDATE: Based on the advice of a friend, I've added a small, battery operated light to the eyestalk. The effect is pretty excellent.