A Brief History of Seven Killings

A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James  704 pp.

One amateur reviewer described this Man Booker prize winner as well rendered and difficult. I have to agree. There are so many characters it needs a list to explain who they are. The story is told by several different characters, often using Jamaican slang that can be difficult to decipher. As for the seven killings of the title, there are many more than that. The story takes place in the political and social unrest in Jamaica in the 1960s and 70s, centered around the 1976 assassination attempt on Bob Marley. On the political side there are two main parties, one funded by the CIA and the other supported by Castro's Cuban regime. It's a gritty view of the race and class conflicts throughout that time period. The Medellin Drug Cartel, crooked politicians, racist and violent police, opportunists, criminals, and victims combine in story that is extremely violent and frequently hard to stomach. This isn't an easy book to read.

The Intern's Handbook by Shane Kuhn

The Intern's Handbook by Shane Kuhn, 276 pages

Christa told me that I had to read this book, and I can now see why. The Intern's Handbook is very similar in tone, pacing, and in its disregard for nicety in language and behavior to one of the staff favs of a couple of years ago, Beat the Reaper.
This one is also told from the point of view of a trained assassin, but "John," our protagonist / narrator, has an organization, Human Resources, Inc., behind him, with a large cadre of capable young professionals at its disposal. HR Inc., trains young, bright, violent orphans in all manner of subtle (and not so subtle) mayhem. Their specialty seems to be corporate murder, since their young assassins usually  pose as interns in order to gain access to their intended targets.
There are some big-old plot holes, but disbelief is willingly suspended during this rapid and violent roller coaster of a thriller.
Check our catalog.

Neonomicon

Neonomicon by Alan Moore  174 pp.

This is an interesting, if gory, graphic novel that uses the mythology created by H.P. Lovecraft as an underlying theme. A strange collection of serial murders/mutilations are being investigated by the FBI after one of their star agents goes from being investigator to murderer. What they find is an underworld of sex, drugs, violence, and otherworldly creatures all connected to the writings of Lovecraft. It is creepy and extremely violent and the artwork by Jacen Burrows enhances the darkness of the story. This is not a book for the squeamish. The only problem I had with it is that I haven't read Lovecraft in about thirty years and I feel the need to go back and re-read his stories to really understand the connections.

Freakangels volume 5 by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield

Freakangels volume 5 Ellis, Warren and Paul Duffield 144 pages.

In which the powerful young people who accidentally ruined the world discover their possible immortatlity. While this was a big deal, this volume still had a placeholder-between-the-action sort of feel. Great art. I look forward to volume 6.

Check our catalog.

A Clash of Kings/George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin high fantasy, conflict, war, faction violence, adult content, greatest books ever 784 pages

This is going to be an extremely hard book to blog about only because I don't want to reveal any plot details to those of you unenlightened enough to not take my advice and start reading the greatest series ever written-- "A Song of Ice & Fire" by George R.R. Martin. A Clash of Kings, the second installment after the absolute thrillride that was Martin's premiere novel "A Game of Thrones" continued Martin's stellar literary trend and even improved upon it. As one can tell from the title, the basic premise deals with the political unrest that occurs when a unified ruler dies unexpectedly and multiple potential heirs to the throne with varying levels of support all vie for power.

Any of Martin's characters who were lucky enough to survive the first book are back for the second and we even get to meet a few new ones such as the iron-willed and adamantly religious Stannis Baratheon or the smuggler-turned-privateer Davos Seaworth. Martin's characters have the ability to make you love them and loathe them at different points in the story, but they will doubtlessly elicit some form of emotion from you. Another thing that makes this book so great is that the faction ambiguity is even more present. While there are some 100% evil characters, it is impossible to hate all of the characters within one faction because you'll find yourself with favorites in each.

I won't say much more about this book other than read it yourself because you will not be disappointed

Locke & Key Volume 3: Crown of Shadows/ Joe Hill

Locke & Key Volume 3: Crown of Shadows graphic literature, adult content, graphic violence, horror, compelling storyline, supernatural 152 pages

Before I begin reviewing this title, I feel that I must address something that both my mom and co-workers brought up in critique of my last post concerning this series. When I said that I managed to read the whole book during a shift at work, this DID NOT MEAN THAT I WAS NOT WORKING. I should have more accurately stated that when I finished a book at work, this was during my breaks during an eight hour shift. I apologize to any and all staff members/ parents who raised me better than that who read my post and assumed I was giving it anything less than 100% during work hours...That being said, this next volume was one that was certainly on my mind, even when I was working.

The story of the Locke family and the mysterious supernatural circumstances surrounding their past and their mysterious estate, the Keyhouse. In the third installment of this gripping tale, we weren't introduced to as many connections between characters as we had in the past two volumes, but this doesn't mean there wasn't a fair share of awesome story. We were introduced to some new characters who befriended rebellious middle-child Kinsey, who were especially humorous.

In terms of new supernatural keys that were introduced in this volume, I would have to say this may have been the most disappointing aspect. One key had the ability to control shadows, but such a wide use made it seem pretty uninteresting, and I kind of hope it doesn't come into use again. The other key appearing in this volume, the giant key, made for one interesting fight, but also a key that I hope doesn't resurface too often.

Perhaps the most awesome part about volume 3 was the resurfacing of psychotic murderer Sam Lesser. Although Lesser was "killed" in the first volume, he has resurfaced as a ghost (who has taken on a cool green color, if I may add) who is actually now aligning himself against Luke/Zach/Dodge/Woman from the Wellhouse. I'm having trouble naming this major villain of the series, but from what I've read online, i'm not alone. That being said, I definitely hope the 4th volume will come out sooner rather than later, but that may just be me being optimistic.

Locke & Key Volume 2: Head Games/ Joe Hill

Locke & Key Volume 2: Head Games by Joe Hill graphic literature, horror, supernatural, adult content 160 pages

Even though this book is a graphic novel and an 160 page graphic novel at that, I still find it quite an accomplishment that I finished this book in one shift at the library. Maybe this is a testament to my speed reading skills, maybe this is a revelation that I don't actually do any work at the library and just read all day. While these are both possibilities, I think the best possibility is that Joe Hill knows how to right one compelling story.

I'll admit, this whole "haunted mansion with doors that manipulate the people who unlock them" storyline is STILL lame, but Hill manages to still make me want to know what happens next regardless of this weak premise. The one thing that I have to comment on that kind of bothers me story-wise is that Hill is ADDICTED to foreshadowing. Everything that is going to happen later in the book is foreshadowed either through an image or through exposition. It seems super predictable, but also, since I read it all in a short period, it may have been easier for me to make some of the less-than-obvious predictions.

The artwork is still amazing, and the unnamed party who recommended this series to me made sure to tell me that I failed to name the artist responsible in my last post. His name is Gabriel Rodriguez. My failure to mention his name last time does not mean that I think Hill drew every frame himself, I just tend to give a lot more credit to the writer/creator (i'm an English major, give me a break here...)

The last thing I really want to praise is that Hill manages to make even his most minor characters connect with every other character in the series. To some, these coincidences may be annoying and unrealistic, but it's a freaking comic book, people...get over it. I actually like these connections and can't wait to see more of them.

Annie...you will never be cool, no matter how good this series gets

Locke & Key Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft/Joe Hill

Locke & Key Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill graphic novel, supernatural, horror, adult themes 163 pages

I am really torn on this graphic novel, because although I loved it, it was recommended to me by a less-than-reliable party and admitting that they-who-will-not-be-named was right is difficult for me. If I were to momentarily cast my pride aside for this blog entry, however, I would have nothing but good things to say about Joe Hill's horrifying first entry in his Locke & Key series.

First of all, this ain't your little brother's comic book. There are multiple scenes in this story with content not suitable for younger audiences. The violence is extremely graphic and even the jokes tend to lean towards an adult audience....and that may be what I like about it. Granted, I wouldn't want to read one of these in public, because a look at any one of Hill's vividly drawn spreads of graphic violence is enough to scare away even the bravest onlooker, but let's be honest here...most people who read graphic novels do so privately to avoid become some sort of social pariah.

The idea of a house that has a bunch of supernaturally powered doors with special powers may seem totally lame, but bear with it, because the story actually draws even the most skeptical reader in. The end certainly leaves enough to look forward to, which is why i'm hoping volume 2 comes in for me soon.

Finally, I need to comment on the fact that the detailed, glossy, full-colored drawings are amazing!!! Even when it's a picture of a corpse or a demented killer beating someone with a brick, the drawings are absolutely beautiful and failing to comment on them would be criminal.