New Releases ~ week of 06/29/2015

*Links go to Goodreads

A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander (#2 Bakeshop Mystery)
A Duke But No Gentleman by Alexandra Hawkins (#1 Masters of Seduction)

A New Hope by Robyn Carr (#8 Thunder Point)
All Dressed Up and No Place to Haunt by Rose Pressey (#2 Haunted Vintage Mystery)
Artemis Invaded by Jane Lindskold (#2 Artemis Awakening)
Ascendance by John Birmingham (#3 David Hooper)
Bones on Ice: A Novella by Kathy Reichs (#17.6 Temperance Brennan)
Brothers in Valor by H. Paul Honsinger (#3 Man of War)
Burned by Darkness by Alexandra Ivy (#1 Dragons of Eternity)
Can't Fight This Feeling by Christie Ridgway (#3 Cabin Fever)
Charge of the Lightning Bugs by Troy Cummings (#8 Notebook of Doom)
Danger in Ancient Rome by Kate Messner (#2 Ranger in Time)
Death At Tammany Hall by Charles O'Brien (#3 Gilded Age)
Death by Tiara by Laura Levine (#13 Jaine Austen)
Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec (#2 Commissioner Dupin)

Exit Strategy by Lena Diaz (#1 Exit Inc.)
Fighting Shadows by Aly Martinez (#2 On the Ropes)
First Light by Linda Nagata (#1 Red Trilogy)
Goal Line by Bianca Sommerland (#7 The Dartmouth Cobras)
Hard Ride by Opal Carew (#3 Ready To Ride)
Hard to Let Go by Laura Kaye (#4 Hard Ink)
Heat of the Moment by Lori Handeland (#2 Sisters of The Craft)
Her Hometown Hero by Melody Anne (#2 Unexpected Heroes)
How To Marry a Royal Highlander by Vanessa Kelly (#4 Renegade Royals)
In Plain Sight by Fern Michaels (#25 Sisterhood)
Insider by Olivia Cunning (#1 Exodus End)
Kiss Me by Susan Mallery (#17 Fools Gold)
Minutes to Kill by Melinda Leigh (#2 Scarlet Falls)
Murder, D.C. by Neely Tucker (#2 Sully Carter)
Neighbors with Benefits by Marissa Clarke (#2 Anderson Brothers)
Of Enemies and Endings by Shelby Bach (#4 The Ever Afters)
Passion's Pride by Piper Kay (#3 The Passion)
Played by JL Merrow (#2 Shamwell Tales)
Put Up Your Duke by Megan Frampton (#3 Dukes Behaving Badly)
Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne (#2 Snow Angel Cove)
Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley (#3 Chaos)
Run You Down by Julia Dahl (#2 Rebekah Roberts)
Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan (#2 Five-Ingredient Mystery)
SEAL's Code by Sharon Hamilton (#10 SEAL Brotherhood)
Searching for Always by Jennifer Probst (#4 Searching For)
Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis (#1 Cedar Ridge)
Soul Scorched by Donna Grant (#6 Dark Kings)
Storm by Amanda Sun (#3 The Paper Gods)
The Devil Wears Spurs by Soraya Lane (#1 Texas Kings)
The English Spy by Daniel Silva (#15 The Gabriel Allon Series)
The Hollow Queen by Elizabeth Haydon (#8 Symphony of Ages)
The Insider Threat by Brad Taylor (#8 Pike Logan)
The Longest Yard Sale by Sherry Harris (#2 Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery)
The Mask by Taylor Stevens (#5 Vanessa Michael Munroe)
The Philosopher Kings by Jo Walton (#2 Thessaly series)
The Silenced by Heather Graham (#15 Krewe of Hunters)
The Sleepwalking Dead! by Jake Bible (#3 ScareScapes)
The Undying Legion by Clay Griffith (#2 Crown & Key)
Tomorrow War by J L Bourne (#1 Chronicles of Max)
Violent Things by Callie Hart (#1 Chaos & Ruin)
What Doesn't Kill Her by Carla Norton (#2 Reeve LeClaire)
When You're Back by Abbi Glines (#12 Rosemary Beach)
Winter Turning by Tui T Sutherland (#7 Wings of Fire)

What We're Reading

So I finally started The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Finished The Eye of the World this past weekend. While I enjoyed it overall, it is a long book and there were certain spots/chapters that I felt could have just been skipped. I do have a lot of questions still and will be going on to book two to find out more.                                                                  

I also squeezed in Saga Vol. 1 this past weekend. I've heard nothing but great things about this graphic novel series. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Right now I don't love it as much as everyone else seems too. I did think the artwork was better than a lot I've seen but the story didn't really grab me. I'll read the next volume at least to see if it interests me more.







Library Haul
I do have several books from the library this week that I'm trying to decide between, I've started Rook

by Sharon Cameron. It's another that hasn't fully grabbed my interest. I find the main character annoying and don't know if I want to invest my time to continue.

I'm also trying to catch back up on some series I started. I have a list going of book 2s that have been out for awhile but I still haven't gotten to. The first I picked up is The Unbound by Victoria Schwab. I grabbed Vicious by this author while I was there.

Some others that I picked up that are more likely to be read are: Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones (will be caught up on this series), The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent, and The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason.



Plenty to choose from, now just to settle in and start reading.

New Releases ~ week of 06/22/2015

A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes (#1 Spirit and Thieves)

A Dangerous Fury by J. S. Scott (#3 The Sentinel Demons)
A Girl Undone by Catherine Linka (#2 Girl Called Fearless)
Bengal's Quest by Lora Leigh (#30 Breeds)
Breakwater by Shannon Mayer (#2 Elemental)
Brutality by Ingrid Thoft (#3 Fina Ludlow)
Curse of the Mummy's Uncle by J Scott Savage (#4 Case File 13)
Dream of You by J Lynn (#4.5 Wait for You)
Dressed To Kill by Lynn Cahoon (#4 A Tourist Trap Mystery)
Dying to Date by Victoria Davies (#2 Fated Match)
Ever After by Jude Deveraux (#3 Nantucket Brides Trilogy)
Fall Deep by Zoe York (#4 SEALs Undone)
Fighting for Forever by J B Salsbury (#6 Fighting)
Finally Found You by Carrie Ann Ryan (#3 Tempting Signs)
His Crime by Debra Kayn (#3 Moroad MC)
Into the Darkness by Jay Allan (#1 Crimson Worlds Refugees)

On My Knees by J. Kenner (#2 Stark International)
Safe at Last by Maya Banks (#3 Slow Burn)
The Devil You Don't Know by Peter Nealen (#4 American Praetorian)
The Forever Man by Eoin Colfer (#3 W.A.R.P.)
Torn  by Avery Hastings (#2 Feuds)
Trailer Park Fae by Lilith Saintcrow (#1 Gallow and Ragged)
Trapped by Scandal by Jane Feather (#2 Trapped)
Up in Smoke by Tessa Bailey (#2 Crossing the Line)
Vixen by Bill Pronzini (#40 Nameless Detective)
Wicked Charms by Janet Evanovich (#3 Wicked Series (Lizzy and Diesel))
Wicked Ride by Rebecca Zanetti (#1 Realm Enforcers)

Stacking the Shelves ~ Armchair BEA

 

Just a quick post to thanks the people that put together Armchair BEA (learn more here) and the publishers/ authors that donated books for the event. I was lucky enough to win three prizes this year. Two were for daily posts and then one during a twitter party.

From Julie Wetzel and Crimson Tree Publishing
On The Accidental Wings of Dragons (Goodreads)

It was dragons and the first book in the series so I couldn't resist choosing this as one of my picks.

From David Stabler (author) & Doogie Horner (Illustrator)
Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends (Goodreads)
published by Quirk Books

Picked this one out for my son. He is a huge sports fan and loves non fiction books. Anything that keeps him reading is good with us.






 
I also was lucky enough to get the Chronicle Books tote pack. Love the fact that the tote has a little pocket at the top. I'm always just throwing my keys into the bottom of totes when we take them places, so it's nice to have someplace to put them.
Came with three Arcs:
*A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz (Goodreads) It's about Fairies!
due out August 2015
*The Chess Queen Enigma by Colleen Gleason (Goodreads) This was the reason I picked this. It is the third book in the Stoker & Holmes series.   due out Sept 2015
House Arrest by K.A. Holt (Goodreads) This is a middle grade, think it is a contemporary which I don't normally read but may give it a try. Hubby is also going to try it. due Oct 2015

NetGalley
Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania Del Rio (netgalley)

I saw this book while looking at the books Quirk had available with Armchair BEA. I was reading Gris Grimely's Frankenstein at the time and this cover reminded my of it for some reason.

Review ~ Fables Vol. 18; Cubs in Toyland

Fables Vol. 18; Cubs in Toyland

by Bill Willingham
Illustrated by Mark Buckingham, Gene Ha, Steve Leialoha
Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling

Summary (Goodreads): The most harrowing epic since the inception of the series starts when Snow and Bigby's cub Therese receives a Christmas gift from an unknown admirer. This red plastic boat may hold the key to a deep, disturbing secret that will incite a series of soul-crushing events for the denizens of Fabletown. Plus, a backup feature that shows how Bigby received his fate, drawn by artist Gene Ha.

My Thoughts: This may be my favorite volume. Not necessarily because of the story but I loved the graphics in this one.
It features the spoiled daughter of Snow and Bigby, Therese. Somehow she receives a plastic toy boat for Christmas. Therese ends up going on an adventure with said boat and ends up in Toyland. Unfortunately, being crowned the Queen of Toyland isn't everything Therese was hoping for. Everything is plastic or make believe which doesn't help a human cub survive. Through some eye opening experiences and great sacrifices by others Therese starts to grow up and finds away to not only save herself but the rest of the toys on this desolate place.
There is also a bit about the Fables moving back into the new Fabletown. I'm not sure where they are going with Spratt but she is not a favorite for me.
As I said, while the story was great, the graphics for this were some of my favorite in the series. There was something stark and creepy about the island and it's inhabitants. I cannot really say more than that but for me it worked.
The story and artwork of Bigby's fate was a nice addition/break from the main part of this volume.

Rating: 4.5-5

Some Thursday Randomness

Another moving we are looking forward to. I'm loving the animation, hoping the rest of the movie is just as good.

Art
Going back to Disney fan art. Focused mostly on the bad guys this time around.

A Friendly Game of Cards
by Kyoki3 (DeviantArt)

Maleficent
by BigChrisGallery (DeviantArt)

Evil Tango
by Steampunk Girl (DeviantArt)

Summer Quiz
Epic Reads has a book quiz (website) on what your next summer read should be. Mine was Talker 25 by Joshua McCune. I've never heard of it but it sounds interesting.

Here's the blurb: Chilling, epic, and wholly original, this debut novel imagines a North America where dragons are kept on reservations, where strict blackout rules are obeyed no matter the cost, where the highly weaponized military operates in secret, and where a gruesome television show called Kissing Dragons unites the population.

New Releases ~ week of 06/15/2015

Arrow's Hell by Chantal Fernando (#2 Wind Dragons MC)

Becca and the Prisoner's Cross by Tony Abbott (#2 Copernicus Archives)
Blood Will Tell by April Henry (#2 Point Last Seen)
Chilling Effect by Melissa F. Miller (#2 Aroostine Higgins)
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan (#2 Crazy Rich)
Deadfall by Anna Carey (#2 Blackbird Duology)
Death in Salem by Eleanor Kuhns (#4 Will Rees)
Dressed to Frill by Chloe Taylor (#12 Sew Zoey)
Escape to the World's Fair by Wendy McClure (#3 Wanderville)
Extinction Age by Nicholas Sansbury Smith (#3 Extinction Cycle)
Fixed in Blood by T. E. Woods (#4 The Justice Series)
Get Dirty by Gretchen McNeil (#2 Don't Get Mad)
Glittering Shadows by Jaclyn Dolamore (#2 Dark Metropolis)
Harder Than Words by Carrie Ann Ryan (#3 Montgomery Ink)

Loving Dallas by Caisey Quinn (#2 Neon Dreams)
Opening Up by Lauren Dane (#1 Ink & Chrome)
President's Shadow by Brad Meltzer (#3 Beecher White)
Pure Blooded by Amanda Carlson (#5 Jessica McClain)
Sheltered by HelenKay Dimon (#7 Corcoran Team)
Spacejackers by Huw Powell (#1 Spacejackers Trilogy)
Surrendering to The Sheriff by Delores Fossen (#7 Sweetwater Ranch)
The Devil's Game by Sean Chercover (#2 Daniel Byrne Trilogy)
The Devil's Only Friend by Dan Wells (#4 John Cleaver)
The Disappearing Magician by Kate Egan (#4 Magic Shop)
The Evil We Love by Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman (#5 Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy)
The Girl Next Door by Amy Jo Cousins (#3 Bend or Break)
The Nanny's New Family by Margaret Daley (#4 Caring Canines)
The Precipice by Paul Doiron (#6 Mike Bowditch Mystery)
The Ultimatum by Dick Wolf (#3 Jeremy Fisk)
Thunderstruck by Vicki Lewis Thompson (#2 Thunder Mountain Brotherhood)
Under Fire by Grant Blackwood (#8 Jack Ryan, Jr.)

Some Thursday Randomness

Movies
I haven't actually watched this trailer. Still working myself up to read the final book in this trilogy.


Dinosaurs are always a big hit in our house since my son has wanted to be a paleontologist since he was 5. Also, we are big fans of Pixar films. This scores on two fronts with us.


Fan Art
Have been really enjoying Ghost Story by Jim Butcher. Forgot how much I loved this series. Decided to search out some fan art and found that I really need to read the comics for this series...

Dresden Files TPB cover
by DrewDown1976 (deviantart)

Molly Carpenter
by  KafiraSky (deviantArt)

Fool Moon I3 cover
by Chase Conley (deviantArt)

Bookish Stuff (really just some cover love)

I like the blues on this and it fits with the rest of the series.

I mostly like this cover. My initial reaction was positive but now I'm not sure. Almost wish there weren't people on it.

So, I love blue which means the background is a yes. Some of the character poses for this series are just weird but I like this one better than the last 2 covers.

New Releases ~ week of 06/08/2015

Amber Smoke by Kristin Cast (#1 Escaped)

Brand of the Pack by Tera Shanley (#3 Silver Wolf Clan)
Crazy Mountain Kiss by Keith McCafferty (#4 Martha Ettinger & Sean Stranahan Mysteries)
Dead Ice  by Laurell K. Hamilton (#23 Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter)
Deal With The Devil by Cynthia Eden (#4 Purgatory)
Forgotten by Ednah Walters (#4 Guardian Legacy)
I am the Traitor by Allen Zadoff (#3 The Unknown Assassin)
I Text Dead People by Rose Cooper (#1 Dead Serious)
In The Mouth of the Wolf by Nicole Maggi (#2 Twin Willows)
Married 'til Monday by Denise Hunter (#4 Chapel Springs)
Michel/ Striker by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright (#15 Bayou Heat)
Mindwalker by A. J. Steiger (#1 Mindwalker)

Mountain Rampage by Scott Graham (#2 National Park Mystery)
No Place to Die by Clare Donoghue (#2 Mike Lockyer)
Oathkeeper by J F Lewis (#2 The Grudgebearer Trilogy)
Only A Promise by Mary Balogh (#5 Survivor's Club)
Signwave by Andrew Vachss (#3 Aftershock)
Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn (#22 Daisy Dalrymple)
The Breaking Point by Jefferson Bass (#9 Body Farm)
The Clockwork Crown by Beth Cato (#2 Clockwork Dagger)
The Consequence of Revenge by Rachel Van Dyken (#2 Consequence)
The Darkling Child by Terry Brooks (#2 Defenders of Shannara)
The Dragon Lantern by Alan Gratz (#2 League of Seven)

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (#2 The Queen of the Tearling)
The Red Sea by Edward W. Robertson (#1 Cycle of Galand)
The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross (#1 Morgon World)
Zack by Sawyer Bennett (#3 Cold Fury Hockey)

mini Reviews ~ Night Shift

Night Shift

by Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Lisa Shearin, Milla Vane
published by Berkley
Genre: Adult, Anthology, UF, PNR, Supernatural, Shifters

Summary (Goodreads): New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh delivers a smoldering story with Secrets at Midnight , as the scent of Bastien Smith’s elusive lover ignites a possessiveness in him that’s as feral as it is ecstatic. And now that he’s found his mate, he’ll do anything to keep her.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews’ novella, Magic Steals , when people start going missing, shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau and jaguar shifter Jim Shrapshire must uncover the truth about the mysterious creatures responsible.

From Milla Vane—a warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. But she quickly discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

It’s seer Makenna Frazier's first day on the job at Supernatural Protection and Investigations, and her first assignment is more than she bargained for when bodyguard duty for a leprechaun prince’s bachelor party goes every which way but right in national bestselling author Lisa Shearin’s Lucky Charms

My Thoughts: 
Secrets at Midnight / Nalini Singh (Psy-Changling 12.5): I have only read 1 of the books from this series. I remember liking it so not sure why I haven't read more. This is a definite PNR story. It's all about Bastien finding his mate Kirby. Once he's found her it moves right into HEA territory. I did like what we got of Kirby's backstory and why she was repressing her other half. I didn't hate or love this story. It was cute.
Magic Steals / Ilona Andrewa (Kate Daniels 6.5): This is another series that I've only read short stories from even though I own the first couple of books. I didn't like this as a PNR story. I was ok with Dali being insecure and not feeling she is as good as other bad ass women in this series. What I didn't like was how immature she was. Things like hiding Jim in her closest because her mother showed up at her place. I was reading it going "Really". I did like mystery/story that took place. This was where Dali shined and she became more likable.
The Beast of Blackmoor / Milla Vane: Not Read, ran out of time before had to return to library.
Lucky Charms / Lisa Shearin (SPI Files 0.5): This was my favorite of the bunch. The author did a good job of introducing her new world and characters in a short amount of time. We find out about SPI, meet some crazy leprechauns, and learn Makenna's new dream job may not be as great as she thinks, even with the health benefits. There is something for everyone if you like the supernatural. From the Russian werewolf to the boss lady who's a real dragon.
Having read book 1 right after this, I will say I hope the author gets back to the things that were set up in this story. Other groups trying to get their hands on the Seer so they have the advantage, etc.

Rating: 4 This is an overall rating for the anthology as a whole.

New Releases ~ week of 06/01/2015

**First Tuesday of the month equals a long list. Links go to Goodreads

A Buckhorn Summer by Lori Foster (#8 Buckhorn Brothers)

A Fatal Chapter by Lorna Barrett (#9 Booktown Mystery)
A Sorceress of His Own by Dianne Duvall (#1 Gifted Ones)
Beyond the Cut by Sarah Castille (#2 Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club)
Blood of the Cosmos by Kevin J Anderson (#2 Saga of Shadows)
Bodice of Evidence by Nancy J Parra (#2 Perfect Proposals Mystery)
Carrying a King's Child by Katherine Garbera (#2 Dynasties : The Montoros)
Cash Landing by James Grippando (#12 Jack Swyteck)
Children of the Earth by Anna Schumacher (#2 End Times)
Collared for Murder by Annie Knox (#3 Pet Boutique Mystery)
Courtship of the Cake by Jessica Topper (#2 Much 'I Do' About Nothing)

Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton (#23 Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter)
Death of a Chocolate Cheater by Penny Pike (#2 Food Festival Mysteries)
Don't Lose Her by Jonathon King (#7 Max Freeman)
Dragon in Exile by Sharon Lee, Steve Miller (#18 Liaden Universe)
Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge (#1 Helen Grace)
Exit Strategy by Shirlee McCoy (#3 Mission: Rescue)
Fandemic by Jennifer Estep (#5 Bigtime)
Fat Cat Spreads Out by Janet Cantrell (#2 Fat Cat Mystery)
Finders Keepers by Stephen King (#2 Mr. Mercedes Trilogy)
From a Drood to a Kill by Simon R Green (#9 Secret Histories)
From a High Tower by Mercedes Lackey (#11 Elemental Masters)
Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund (#2 Beacons of Hope)

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen (#2 The Malediction Trilogy)
Hungry Ghosts by Stephen Blackmoore (#3 Eric Carter)
I'll Stand By You by Sharon Sala (#2 Blessings, Georgia)
Midnight Captive by Elle Kennedy (#6 Killer Instincts)
Moonlight on Nightingale Way by Samantha Young (#6 On Dublin Street)
Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano (#2 Nearly Gone)
Nemesis Games by James S A Corey (#5 Expanse)
Never Resist a Rake by Mia Marlowe (#2 Somerfield Park)
One Night With a Billionaire by Jessica Clare (#6 The Billionaire Boys Club)
Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs (#1 Hero Agenda)
Privy to the Dead by Sheila Connolly (#6 Museum Mysteries)
Purl Up and Die by Maggie Sefton (#13 Knitting Mystery)

Pursued by the Rich Rancher by Catherine Mann (#2 Diamonds in The Rough)
Resistance by John Birmingham (#2 David Hooper)
Ripped from the Pages by Kate Carlisle (#9 Bibliophile Mystery)
Risk It by Jennifer Chance (#4 Rule Breakers)
Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot (#11 Princess Diaries)
Seduced by the CEO by Barbara Dunlop (#2 Chicago Sons)
Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh (#14 Psy-Changelings)
Sharp Shootin Cowboy by Victoria Vane (#3 Hot Cowboy Nights)
Shattered Duty by Katie Reus (#3 Deadly Ops)
Siren's Fury by Mary Weber (#2 Storm Siren)
Spiraled by Kendra Elliot (#3 Mason Callahan)

Suddenly One Summer by Julie James (#6 FBI / US Attorney)
Sweet Ache by K. Bromberg (#6 Driven Trilogy)
The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below by Martha Wells (#2 Stories of the Raksura)
The Demon Curse by Simon Nicholson (#2 Young Houdini)
The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss by Krista Davis (#9 Domestic Diva)
The Good Girls by Sara Shepard (#2 Perfectionists)
The Hidden Prince by Jodi Meadows (#0.5 Orphan Queen)
The Janson Equation by Robert Ludlum, Douglas Corleone (#4 Paul Janson)
The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter (#1 True Vampire)
The Liar's Key by Mark Lawrence (#2 Red Queen's War)
The Perfect Gift by Kathleen Brooks (#3 Bluegrass Singles)

The Player by Denise Grover Swank (#2 The Wedding Pact)
The Rescued by Marta Perry (#2 Keepers of The Promise)
The Seer by Brenda Huber (#2 Chronicles of the Fallen)
The Shadow Revolution by Clay Griffith (#1 Crown & Key)
The Spring Bride by Anne Gracie (#3 Chance Sisters)
The Undercover Scoundrel by Jessica Peterson (#3 Hope Diamond Trilogy)
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker (#1 The Witch Hunter)
Time of Death by Mark Billingham (#13 Tom Thorne)
Truffled to Death by Kathy Aarons (#2 Chocolate Covered Mystery)
Two Roads Home by Deborah Raney (#2 Chicory Inn)
Tying the Knot by Elizabeth Craig (#5 Southern Quilting Mystery)
Unidentified Woman by David Housewright (#12 Mac McKenzie)
What the Prince Wants by Jules Bennett (#58 Billionaires and Babies)

Book Review ~ Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

 Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

by Alison Bechdel
published by Houghton Mifflin Co.
genre: adult, Autobiography, Graphic Novel,

Summary (Goodreads): A fresh and brilliantly told memoir from a cult favorite comic artist, marked by gothic twists, a family funeral home, sexual angst, and great books.
This breakout book by Alison Bechdel is a darkly funny family tale, pitch-perfectly illustrated with Bechdel's sweetly gothic drawings. Like Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, it's a story exhilaratingly suited to graphic memoir form.
Meet Alison's father, a historic preservation expert and obsessive restorer of the family's Victorian home, a third-generation funeral home director, a high school English teacher, an icily distant parent, and a closeted homosexual who, as it turns out, is involved with his male students and a family babysitter. Through narrative that is alternately heartbreaking and fiercely funny, we are drawn into a daughter's complex yearning for her father. And yet, apart from assigned stints dusting caskets at the family-owned "fun home," as Alison and her brothers call it, the relationship achieves its most intimate expression through the shared code of books.
When Alison comes out as homosexual herself in late adolescence, the denouement is swift, graphic — and redemptive.

My Thoughts: I will start by saying that Memoirs/Autobiographies are not something that I read on a normal basis. I have picked up a few in graphic novel form and enjoyed them more. I kept seeing this one around on everyone's list of must reads and decided to give it a try.
Unfortunately, it did not work for me. I found it to be very boring and had to force myself to finish it. There was nothing really here that made me care about the author's story. Everything was a reference to something else. A classic book (I skipped the inserted passages after the first couple) to dictionary words. I just didn't find it engaging. I kept waiting for whatever it was that everyone else loved about this book and it didn't happen for me.
Overall, this was just not for me. Whether it was the genre, the art, the way the author told her story none of it worked.

Rating: 3