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June 5, 2010

Omnivoracious Daily Digest

Filed under: Books — Tags: Omnivoracious — tbg @ 1:50 am

Check out these Updates from Omnivoracious for June 4, 2010.

Graphic Novel Friday: The Stuff of Legend

June 4, 2010

The Stuff of Legend by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III, takes familiar elements, juxtaposes them with the surreal, and manages to be original and darkly fascinating. As the jacket copy states, “The year is 1944. As Allied forces fight the enemy on Europe’s war-torn beaches, another battle begins in a child’s bedroom in Brooklyn. When the nightmarish Boogeyman snatches a boy and takes him to the realm of the Dark, the child’s playthings, led by the toy soldier known as the Colonel, band together to stage a daring rescue. On their perilous mission they will confront the boy’s bitter and forgotten toys, as well as betrayal in their own ranks.”

Well, there’s the familiar, spelled out for you: fantasy world extending out of boy’s bedroom, the boogeyman, and anthropomorphic toys. The reason The Stuff of Legend works is that it commits so fully to the concept–there’s no wink-wink to the reader, there’s nothing twee, and the humor is fairly dark. The sepia hues and clear but nuanced style of the artwork helps as well–allowing for the surreal but coating it all in the mood of the real. Talking pigs and bears, things wearing frog masks, and weird jesters have more to do with the visions of Bosch or a dangerous version of Alice in Wonderland than with whimsy.

The World War II context also grounds this graphic novel, making the stakes more complex and more involving. Actions have consequences. Nothing comes easy.

That said, I’m stressing the serious elements mostly to make sure you don’t turn away from a book with a teddy bear on the cover. This is good, entertaining stuff, not dour, drab stuff. I’m looking forward to book two.

Omni Daily News

June 4, 2010

“Vanity” No More: The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the growing business of self-publishing . Self-Publishing, Part II: Slate ’s Nathan Heller talks about his love for one of self-publishing’s greatest success stories , William P. Young’s The Shack : “If you happen to be seeking proof of divine intervention… read more

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April 26, 2010

Grisham Sneak Peek, Worst Book of the New Decade? & Books for the Big House

Filed under: Books — Tags: Family Room — tbg @ 11:02 am

Grisham Sneak Peek:
John Grisham fans (young and old) can dip into the first chapter of Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, the author’s soon-to-be-released new series. The book hits shelves and backpacks on May 25.

Worst Book of the New Decade?: Yann Martel,
Yann martel 2007 10 25 Seattle WA USA author of the internationally acclaimed bestseller and Booker Prize-winning novel, The Life of Pi, is rolling with the punches these days according to the National Post. His latest work, Beatrice and Virgil is getting hammered by top-flight critics including Edward Champion, who has cast it–perhaps prematurely–as a contender for worst book of the decade. At last check, the book’s Amazon ranking was #218–not bad, considering all the bad press. Martel, who is currently on his North American book tour, has maintained a healthy philosophical attitude about the thrash: “The only unhelpful reaction is the non-reaction, the shrug,” he says. “You either want something to be positive or negative. You don’t want indifference, because that means you haven’t stirred them in any way.”

Books for the Big House: New York Public library intern, Jamie Niehof blogs about her experiences working the book cart at the Rikers Island correctional facility in New York. She describes the “correctional services program” which fulfills the diverse reading requests of detainees in solitary confinement and other cell blocks. Niehof notes that James Patterson
thrillers, among others, are especially popular.

John Grisham on The Innocent Man

Interview with beloved crime writer John Grisham, author of bestsellers like The Firm and The Pelican Brief. Grisham appeared before our camera to discuss his first non-fiction book, The Innocent Man.

Comments :
I love this book it’s of the best crime novels I’ve ever read, it’s right up their In Cold Blood, and I think a lot of people think this would make a great film. Personally, I think this would make a much better mini-series, I’d watch every episode.

This is Phoenix Wright that happened in real life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just cant get enuf of dis guy’s buks! am totally addicted! The testament, street Lawyer, The Client, The broker, a time to kill, now reading The last juror n aint done yet! Best author ever, Period!!!!

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