Books To Read...

I have 63 comic books in my TBR pile. I WILL read them all by Friday. Hmmmm.... Do I have to count the new books that come in on Wednesday? YES! 63 books, plus those that come in on Wednesday will all be read by Friday...

First Update:

Echo # 14 -- I’m really liking this story, but it is not enough! Terry Moore, write faster! I almost think I’d rather read it in the collections, so I get a bigger bite at a time. But I will keep buying the issues because I want Terry to keep writing.

A new nemesis is introduced; the company who created the metal is now out to destroy it, and Julie at the same time!

Outsiders #19, #20 -- These issues finished up the story arc of “The Deep.” Okay, it’s been two months since I read #18, so I was a little confused. Maybe I need to read every month, so I don’t lose track of the story. But it seems that Ra’s a Ghul, Vandal Savage, the rest of Vandal Savage’s tribe, and the Outsiders are all trying to find the remains of the meteor that caused Vandal Savage’s immortality. In the end, no one gets it, and pretty much every one walks away alive. So what was the point? I guess some new characters were introduced. I could really skip this comic without missing it at all.

Batwoman in Detective # 855 -- Is it bad that I’d rather see the Question as the main feature? I have absolutely no interest in this new Batwoman story.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #7 -- Best Batman comic currently in print?

Batman Confidential #31, #32 -- Batman (Bruce Wayne -- none of that Batman Reborn in this comic) meets the Russian Mob and THE BEAR! I didn’t realize how much I’d miss Bruce until he was gone. Batman Confidential is that traditional Batman we all know and love. And since it is purposefully outside the continuity of the DC universe (being a story from the “confidential files”), I don’t have to try to fit my brain around why things are happening here that aren’t referenced in another story where the Bat characters are appearing. I can’t help it, I like my fiction consistent.

Waiting for Mark...

I am not home this weekend, and Mark is supposed to be posting this week's episode of How I Got My Wife To Read Comics. I haven't seen it yet! Hurry Up, Mark.

In the meantime, I have printed our tickets for the Chicago Comic-con. Here is Mark's t-shirt for Comic-con. If you see him, say Hi! Of course, some of our other "fans" will be wearing the shirt, too, but feel free to stop any of us and tell us you listen.

Lois McMaster Bujold

I am way behind on my comic book reading, and I haven't lately read a new book. Instead, I have been rereading the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. Why, you may ask, am I rereading these books? Well, for one, they are very good. They are, for me, a sort of comfort book. Even though I know what is going to happen, I enjoy rereading them pretty regularly. I can pick and choose parts to read, and if I only have ten minutes or so to read, I can pick up my PDA and read just a bit.

And that is really why I am reading these -- they are all on my PDA and easily fit into my purse. With the advent of the Kindle and other ebook devices, a reader might think that ebooks are relatively new. Not so! I have been reading books on my PDA for years. And I have been reading very good books, reasonably priced (or free) in open formats, from Baen Books. I don't think Baen gets enough credit for their ebook options. Check out the books they offer for free, every day.

But back to Lois McMaster Bujold. This woman can write! She has a really elegant writing style, and her characters really come alive. Although these books are science fiction (space opera, one could say), she concentrates on the relationships between her characters and that's what I love about the books. And I do love the Vorkosigan saga, but another fantasy series she wrote, starting with (the especially good) Curse of Chalion.

Really, if you get a chance, read these books.

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

The second book I listened to this week, "The Brass Verdict" is one of the Anthony Award nominees that I have committed to reading before October. I have read Michael Connelly before. This book is in the Mickey Haller series (in spite of Amazon listing it as a Harry Bosch book! Bosch appears, but the book is narrated by and mainly concerns, Mickey Haller, AKA "The Lincoln Lawyer). Mickey is called upon to pick up the law practice of a murdered associate, prompting the biggest case of his career. While trying to get his client off of a murder charge in his first case back after leaving law for a year, Mick is also examining his life as a defense attorney, a father, a husband (ex), and a human being. The reader gets the idea early on that maybe Mick doesn't want to slip back into the role he was playing before his injury; perhaps his encounters with Bosch help to shore up that feeling in him.

This book made me hope for more from Mickey Haller, even if he isn't a defense attorney. Here's hoping that Connelly continues this series (and the Harry Bosch novels) will into the future.

The Sugar Camp Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

Okay, I didn't READ this book. I listened to it. During the summer months, I tend more toward audio books, as I can go outside and water the plants or do other things while I am listening. And this week, I listened to two books.

"The Sugar Camp Quilt" is technically a part of the Elm Creek Quilts series, although it is not in the primary time-line of the Elm Creek Quilters. This book is set in pre-Civil War Pennsylvania, and revolves around Dorothea Granger, a young schoolmistress who lives with her uncle, father and mother on her uncle's farm. Her uncle, much older than her mother, has taken the family in after they lost their own farm; Dorothea's family lives in hope that the old uncle will die and leave his farm to Dorothea's brother. Unknown to the family, though, the uncle has been a conductor on the underground railroad. His death leaves the family in a precarious situation.

The book touches on the use of quilts in the Underground Railroad, through the "Delectable Mountains" quilt that Uncle Jacob had Dorothea make. This would be an interesting introduction to the history and lore of quilting and pattern meaning and lore.

This is only the second of the Elm Creek Quilt series that I have read. The first, "The Quilter's Apprentice," I read when published. I like that the author has gone into some historical periods, as well as continuing on with the timeline of the first book. I have the second in the series "Round Robin" on my TBR pile now, and will probably start it tomorrow. It is a print copy, not an audio! Back to reading.

Heralds of Valdemar/Mercedes Lackey

This is more of a "classic" entry for me. Sometimes I am just not in the mood to read a new book, and pick up an old one. This past week, after cleaning off some of my bookshelves, I found my Mercedes Lackey books tempting me.

Currently, I am thoroughly enjoying the podcast series "The Secret World Chronicle" by Ms. Lackey and Steve Libbey. Although sporadically posted, the episodes are great. For the most part, they are well-recorded and edited, and the reader does a really great job (Veronica Giguere does most of the narration).

But my introduction to Ms. Lackey's writing came through her Valdemar books, starting with the "Heralds of Valdemar" series, including "Arrows of the Queen," "Arrows Flight" and "Arrows Fall". Now, I'd probably classify this as YA fantasy. Some of the other Valdemar books, not so much YA. This series (which I have in a single volume from SFBC) is one I reread every few years. It is a really great coming-of-age story about Talia, a young girl from the back country who is Chosen to be a Herald, and learns how to deal with the trials, tribulations and politics of her new world.

So, once I reread this last week, I had to continue on to "By The Sword," which is a sort-of sequel. The first part of this book follows the story of another young girl, in a neigboring kingdom, who choses to follow the career path of mercenary fighter, and how her decisions ultimately bring her to Valdemar, and into the sphere of the heralds (and the reader gets to see an older Talia, too).

I won't go on and reread the next books. I admit that they didn't grab me as much as these first ones did. But other of Ms. Lackey's books are also well worth a read. But since I haven't reread them lately, I won't comment on them now.

Stalking Susan

This is another book off the Anthony Award nominee list. I think this is the third one I've finished (after the two Hard Case crime novels), and it was a change from the two more noir-ish books.

I didn't actually read this one. I listened to the audio book. And really enjoyed it. The heroine in this book is Riley Spartz, a television reporter returning to work after a personal tragedy. Her comeback story about a possible series of serial murders is the primary "mystery" of the novel, but the setting of the TV station newsroom, with the conflicts of management/reporters and reporters/reporters makes for added tension. As an investigative reporter, it makes sense that Riley would become involved in an investigation; I like this better than "suburban mom" mysteries!

Julie Kramer has a second book coming out in July. It is on my "really want to read" list, based on this book.

Bird Spikes

We have a problem. Our front door has a decorative thing on it that apparently makes a perfect nesting place for robins.

Now, I hate birds. Or I am afraid of birds. In any case, I don't want birds on my front porch. I couldn't use the front door until the eggs had hatched and the birds had flown off.

You might see a little speck of red next to the bird nest. That was a fake bird that was supposed to keep the real birds away. You can see how well that worked!

So, once the bird was gone, I put up bird spikes. These little plastic strips of spikes get glued on where you don't want birds to nest. They were easy to put up, and -- for the last three weeks or so, have kept the birds away. The real test will be next nesting season for robins.

Since I have put these up, I have noticed similar spikes in other places. Like on the tops of the letters on the sign at the local Kroger store. They don't appear to have birds nests on them, so I am very hopeful.

Umbrella Academy: Dallas

I read all six issues of this story arc today. For anyone who doesn't know, the story is written by Gerard Way, of the band "My Chemical Romance." The first story arc won an Eisner award in 2008.

I have to say that it really makes a difference reading the stories in one sitting. The first arc I read pretty much as the issues came out, and I was so confused. I couldn't remember what happened from one issue to the next (and since Mark bags and boards what I've read fairly regularly, it is hard to go back). So, this series, I held on to the issues until they were all out.

Anyway, the story of the special children of the Umbrella Academy filled in a lot of question marks about what happened to Number 5 when he disappeared. We continue to learn more about each sibling, and what they can do. The story refers to events in the first series, so readers should start with Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite.

It is a very satisfying story, and I would read future releases; but I guess I'd much rather wait for the graphic novel collection than read individual issues.

DVD Reviews

I've been lazy on my postings, so today I am doing a round up of the some DVD's I have purchased at Amazon over the past few years.

The Big Bang Theory, Season One

I love this show. I didn't watch it when it first came on, because I did not like Kaley Cucco on Charmed. I started watching the series with our friend Andy, and ended up laughing hysterically over the antics of Leonard and Sheldon, and the interactions with "normal" Penny.

The scene in one of the first episodes where Penny asks "There was more than one Superman movie?", which led to a discussion of the physics of Superman's abilities is eerily similar to conversations I have heard and HAD with my dear husband and some of his cohorts.

This is a short season, due to the writers' strike, so I would not recommend paying full retail for this set, in spite of all of it's geeky gloryessness. Instead, watch for a deal at Amazon or Target. Amazon has had this for at least half-off, so they probably will again.

Wall-E

This Pixar flick is about what you'd expect from a Pixar movie. It was a good story, the animation was excellent. The three-disk set with the digital copy (which we did get) seemed like a good deal on sale, but we had to wonder why the packaging said the digital copy was included, when we had to download it from iTunes. Doesn't make a lot of sense, Disney!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog

Absolutely, utterly, completely hilarious. Even if you saw this on iTunes, or in the original downloads, the DVD is an excellent addition to your collection -- if only for the musical commentary that accompanies it. I would pay for a soundtrack of that commentary! The Whedon factory really can put together a package.

If you are unsure about what the story is, you can check out Hulu, where the "blog" can be heard in it's original form.

Looking for Alaska

I took KT's copy of this book. Maybe she will comment on the review. I really liked this book. It is a great YA read. It is the story of Miles "Pudge" Halter, and his experiences in, as he calls it, the "Great Perhaps" of boarding school. Having been a fairly unpopular student with few friends at his local high school, Miles asks to attend his father's alma mater, Culver Creek Boarding School. Miles, almost immediately christened "Pudge," makes friends and experiences life as he never did at home. And this is mostly due to Alaska the "gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy....fascinating Alaska." The author does a great job of introducing us to, and making us like, the main characters. Even though this is written in the first-person, one of my least favorite POVs, Miles tells the reader everything we need to know, and this reader, at least, was very satisfied with the entire book.

What I Didn't Read

Here are the comics Mark read in the past few weeks, that I skipped:

The Spirit 28
Ex Machina #42
Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen
Simpsons Comics #154
Futurama #43

What do you think? Should I read these?

&$&$(#&&@%#!!!!!

Drat and double drat. If you are having problems downloading the podcast on Sunday afternoon, don't fret. It should be fixed as soon as I downgrade my RapidWeaver software AGAIN! Hopefully, they will have the bug fixed in the NEXT release. I won't hold my breath.

How I Read Comics

Mark generally picks up the comics on Wednesday or Thursday. Sometimes even on Friday. Mark reads the comics first, and he has a particular order. Usually it is DC comics first, then Vertigo, then the independents. When he gets done with a comic, he puts it in the pile for me to read.

I end up reading in a haphazard order, depending upon what day it is, and what Mark wants to talk about on How I Got My Wife To Read Comics. I generally skip any of the Simpsons/Futurama comics, and the horrible Army@Love (is that still going on?), and a couple others. And generally the shorter series (less than six issues) collect in my pile until the series is complete. Right now, The second series of Umbrella Academy is waiting at the bottom of my pile...

So I have comics as new as this week, and as old as six months, in my TBR pile. This can drive Mark mad; and when I go to the comic book store, I never know for sure what we have gotten the previous week!

Maybe I can get into the habit of being caught up this summer.

Secret Si

One of our Facebook member posted that Secret Six was rapidly becoming one of his favorite comics. After this latest issue, I am tending to agree with this. Issue 9, a tie-in to "Battle for the Cowl" features the three of the Secret Six thwarting a kidnapping in Gotham. Ragdoll dressed as Robin and trying to quip like the '60s TV version of same was simply priceless. At the same time, Bane and Catman striving to be more like Batman, in spite of their more lethal tendencies, shows that these "villians" are not the typical one-dimensional Gotham villain.

Catman's line "One saves a terrorist, one kills a terrorist. Who did more for the world in the end?" strikes a note that Mark and I have talked about before. Wouldn't Gotham be better off it the Joker was killed? But that crosses a line. In the DC Universe, maybe that is the line that separates the hero from the villian.

What Have You Read Lately?

This week, I only read the comics Mark gave me for the podcast. Well, not entirely true. Early this week, I caught up on Trinity. There are only three issues left, due in the next three weeks. I won’t be sad when this is over. I imagine it will be like most other limited series (even though it had 53 issues), and it will wrap everything up in the last five pages of issue 52. In a series this long, I think that the whole last issue should just be tying up loose ends -- resolution should have be done by issue 51. Just my opinion. What do you think of Trinity? Discuss on our Facebook page!

Lax, Lazy, Lethargic

I haven’t posted anything for a while. I was in the last two weeks of a class I was taking, along with working LOTS of days. Those are my excuses for only reading the comic books that Mark wanted to talk about for each week’s podcast. Not very good ones, since I have been reading a lot of other stuff!

Mark is really excited about the Blackest Night Green Lantern event coming up. Me, not so much. I find I am usually disappointed in the “event” comics. So it was quite a refreshing experience to see Geoff John’s column in the Free Comic Book Day GL that he didn’t think it would happen with this one. He will really try to make it stay on track, and not be late. One can only hope.

The following is a list from Wikipedia on all the titles in the event:

Prelude to Blackest Night

* Blackest Night #0 (June 2009)
* "Agent Orange" - Green Lantern vol. 4, #39-42 (May - July 2009)
* "Emerald Eclipse" - Green Lantern Corps vol. 2, #33-37 (April - August 2009)

Blackest Night

* Blackest Night #1-8 (September 2009 - April 2010)
* Green Lantern vol. 4, #43-47 (September - December 2009)
* Green Lantern Corps vol. 2, #38-41 (September - December 2009)
* The Titans vol. 2, #15 (September 2009)
* Blackest Night: Tales Of The Corps #1-3 (September 2009)
* Blackest Night: Batman #1-3 (October - December 2009)
* Blackest Night: Superman #1-3 (October - December 2009)
* Blackest Night: Titans #1-3 (October - December 2009)
* Blackest Night: Wonder Woman

I’m not sure how accurate this is, but with that many titles, I wonder if the writers will really be able to maintain the continuity. If I had my way, I would wait and read all of them at once, but Mark would NOT like that! I expect we’ll be talking about this AT LENGTH in the podcast.

On another note, I am really looking forward to the Wednesday Comics, as well as The Unwritten.

And finally, here’s another recommendation for getting your wife to read comics. I am rereading (yes, even though I still have new ones to read!) Y: The Last Man. The entire series was very good, but the first few story arcs were excellent. No superheros, no special powers. Just a world of women, and one man...

Home Again

Boy, it’s been a while since I posted. I was away for Easter (without Mark -- he had to stay home), and I still haven’t figured out how to do my blog on the road. That is one of the first things I am going to work on when I am out of school this summer!

So, I went to visit the family for Easter. I was talking to my nephew, Ben. He was saying how he was looking for a new copy of Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns, the same printing his mom had spilled coffee on way back when. Way back when I had given him a copy, apparently when he was about 10.

I remember reading it back then. I wasn’t a regular comics reader by any stretch of the imagination, but for some reason, I got this book.

Coincidentally, shortly after Ben and I were talking about this (and I was thinking about how totally inappropriate this would have been for a 10 year old), Mark and I watched this week’s episode of the Big Bang Theory. Penny goes with the guys to the comic book store to pick out something for her nephew. The store owner recommends Hellblazer. So, I don’t feel so bad about my choice. Isn’t any Batman better than a smoking, drinking, hanging out with demons magician?

Technical Difficulties Resolved?

I promised you commenting on the podcasts, and I can’t deliver. For some reason, the software update that allowed us to add commenting to the blogs also messed up our ability to post podcasts. So, for now, no commenting. But you can always visit us on Facebook.

Technical Difficulties

Yes, we know there are problems! We can’t quite figure out where the error lies -- with our blogging software, with our host or with the iTunes store. But we are working on getting the latest episode to you!