Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" the Authorized Graphic Adaptation by Shirley Jackson and Miles Hyman, 139 pages.
The classic short story in graphic form with art by (probably) acclaimed artist Miles Hyman. Hyman's realistic style with dark colors and grim detail conveys the mood of this story well. You remember the story, right? Every adult in town must participate in the lottery, as they have every year. The story ends with the revelation of the "winner's" prize.

Mooncop

Mooncop by Tom Gauld, 96 pages.
Gauld's spare, minimal drawings adequately convey the loneliness of the moon colony he has created. The colony is slowly being depopulated with only the mooncop and one or two others left. The mooncop (pretty sure he is unnamed) is there to make sure that crime is under control, though it's been a long time sincde that has been a problem more serious than a lost dog or a wandering robot.
Sad, somewhat bittersweet, and interesting.

The Bob's Burger Burger Book

The Bob's Burgers Burger book / Loren Bouchard, 126 pgs.

Every episode of Bob's Burgers features a "special burger" on the chalkboard in the restaurant.  The burgers are mostly funny puns from the writers.  But what if these jokes had legs?  or if they weren't just jokes but real burgers?  It turns out, a dedicated fan of the show has MADE them real.  Cole Bowden started his blog The Bob's Burgers Experiment wherein he actually creates the burgers from the chalk board and posts photos and details.  A true match made in heaven that led to this book with fun comments, great recipes, and featuring all of the characters from the show.

If you like burgers or the show, check out this book.

Drama

Drama / Raina Telgemeier, 233 pgs.

Callie is a dedicated drama nerd who is dedicated to making the school play a grand success this year by focusing on the sets she is designing and the ever important cannon that will be shot during the show.  As a teenager, there is a lot more drama in her life.  She likes Greg but Greg likes Bonnie, then she likes Jesse and his twin brother Justin but they turn out to be gay. She has a fight with her best friend but they soon make up and continue on.

I love that the title "Drama" is about the school play but also about the lives of every one of the characters.  Loved the art and way the characters don't find big personal confessions a big deal at all.

IQ

IQ / Joe Ide, 321 pgs.

Isaiah Quintabe is a Sherlock-like private detective who works with his brain, not his brawn.  He solves crimes in his hood as a service and way to make things better.  He is still, many years later, smarting from the hit and run killing of his brother Marcus who raised him and made him a better person.  After Marcus dies, Isaiah is at loose ends.  He is still a kid and trying to finish school and live on his own.  He takes in a room mate, fast talking drug dealer Juanell Dodson and they somehow make it work.  Years later, Dodson is still around, still trying to figure out how to get rich off Isaiah's big brain.  They take a job to figure out who is trying to kill Cal, a popular recording artist.

This book told in flash-back and present day follows Isaiah as a young adult and through to becoming an actual adult.  There are a few unbelievable parts to the story but the characters and the writing will make it easy to leave that behind.  Great debut from the author.  Hope he is working on a second for what could be a great series.

A Portrait of Emily Price

A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay, 355 pages

Art conservationist Emily Price is in Atlanta for a project when she meets and rapidly falls in love with Italian chef Benito, who is visiting the States to help reinvigorate his aunt and uncle's restaurant. Pretty soon, Emily finds herself whisked away to Italy, dealing with Ben's grouchy mother and gravely ill father.

This isn't exactly the type of book I'd usually pick up. It's a little too frothy and chick lit for my tastes. However, when you're sick or have mental overload, this is perfect. While the characters weren't quite as developed as I'd prefer, I enjoyed the look at art conservation, as well as the idyllic Italian setting. It made me crave a trip to the art museum and a hearty pasta dinner.

Mister Monkey

Mister Monkey / Francine Prose, 285 pgs.

Mister Monkey is a kids book written years ago by a Vietnam vet who originally intended his work to be for an adult audience.  The book has endured and been made into several, mostly poorly done, musicals.  The current version is directed by Roger and includes a young boy gymnast playing the title role, a "hobbyist" actress who is a nurse, and several other professionals who are trying to make a go as actors.  Written in a style similar to "The Imperfectionists," each chapter in the book focuses on someone touched by the play. We get to read their inner thoughts and dialog.  Often they interact with other characters who get their own chapter.  An interesting book that touches on many global and personal issues.  I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

Angel Catbird

Angel Catbird: vol. 1 by Margaret Atwood, art by Johnnie Christmas, 116 pages

Genetic engineer Strig Feleedus is working on a top-secret solution when a freak accident splices his genes with his cat and a passing owl. Suddenly, Feleedus finds himself in a world of half-cats and a nefarious plot by a rat-man to take over the world. It's an odd story, and fans of Atwood's novels probably wouldn't expect her to create a comic book that mixes elements of Blacksad and X-Men. But that's exactly what she's done here. While it's not exactly my cup of tea (more for the superhero-esque tropes that involve a large amount of skimming over facts than the animal-human hybrid stuff), it was an interesting story. Check it out if you're a fan of Blacksad or if you want to see Atwood's range.

Paradise Lodge

Paradise Lodge / Nina Stibbe 274 pgs.

Lizzy Vogel needs some cash for a higher quality of shampoo than her mother buys for the family.  She takes a job as a nurses aid at the local nursing home / senior residence.  Lizzy is 15 but soon makes herself one of the dependable staff.  As Paradise Lodge goes through some financial and management trouble, Lizzy works more hours and seems to have given up a bit on attending school.  In addition to her job, she has an unrequited love affair with a friend's boyfriend, sibling issues, and a mom who is about to get remarried.

I feel like this is a poor summary of the book because as I read, each page brought some absolutely delightful interaction, comment or thought from Lizzy.  This is one of those books that I didn't want to end and those don't come around very often.  Lizzy is a fantastic character and her very ordinary life becomes extraordinary at the hands of the author.  Bravo!

Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life

Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life by George Brescia, 279 pages

Whether we like it or not, what we wear says a lot about who we are, and Brescia uses his book to argue for making every outfit a statement, and one that makes a good impression on those who see us (including ourselves, as we look in the mirror). He outlines several rules about fit and color, as well as making sure that every piece of clothing flatters us (because why wear something that doesn't?), but the bit that really stuck out to me was his insistence on every outfit being a Perfect 10: an outfit that makes the wearer look and feel her* very best. Seems like solid advice to me, if only for the internal mental health effect.

Will I take all of Brescia's recommendations to heart? Probably not. (Heels and silk blouses are not exactly conducive to my lifestyle.) But on the whole, this stylist-to-the-stars offers up some good style rules to live by.

*I say "her" because Brescia is talking exclusively to women about women's fashion through all but one chapter of this book.