The Verdict on Percy Jackson

I’ve had the Percy Jackson books thrust at me by random people because they know I’m a big Harry Potter fan, and people who really know me can tell them that the more people foist a book on me the less likely I am to pick it up. Hence, it’s taken me a while to pick up the Percy Jackson books.

I originally read the first book because I was planning on seeing the movie, but changed my mind about the movie when I heard it was a long way away from the book.  So I ended up reading on in the series instead. I finished all five books in the space of one week in February: the first two books in one night, and the next three books (borrowed from my cousin Chickoy) in one sitting.

Here goes my verdict post.

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About Alice

I just saw Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland today, and much like the Sherlock Holmes movie some months ago, it’s not part of the canon, although it does borrow much of Lewis Carroll’s  Alice is 19, doesn’t remember any of her “Wonderland” adventures, and falls down the rabbit hole again as she flees from a marriage proposal from the foppish Hamish. Alice must fulfill the prophecy in the oraculum and slay the Jabberwocky to save Underland from the evil Red Queen.

Like all Tim Burton Films, it’s a visual spectacle, and I credit him that. I liked the Cheshire Cat, the Blue Caterpillar (Alan Rickman!), and the Red Queen, not so much the jaded Alice, the depressing Mad Hatter (as much as I love Johnny Depp, I don’t like his Wonka and his Mad Hatter and they both seem like the same eerie caricatures on crack), or the  hammed up White Queen.  With this grown up version of Alice, I missed the heart and whimsicality of the original Alice, and I wouldn’t trade that for all the visual effects in the world.

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Another Eisner: Mom’s Cancer

Shortly after reading Fables, I read another Eisner award-winning graphic novel: Mom’s Cancer by Brian Fies.

In case you’re not into graphic novels, Eisner awards are like the Oscars of graphic novels. More formally known as the Will Eisner Comic Industry award, these awards are given in honor of comic artist and writer William Eisner to recognize exemplary works in the comics industry.I’ve recently finished some Eisner-award winning graphic novels — Eisner awards are like, the Oscars of graphic novels. More formally known as the Will Eisner Comic Industry award, these awards are given in honor of comic artist and writer William Eisner to recognize exemplary works in the comics industry.

Mom’s Cancer, originally published online, won the Eisner for Best Digital Comic in 2005, the first ever awardee for that category.

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They walk among us (Fables)

 

Spot the not -- could she be a fable?

I was doing my rounds of local blogs today (part of my daily work routine) and came across the strangest thing: a mysterious ghostly sighting that’s been popping up all over the city all week!  It was on both Chuvaness and Byahilo, and I managed to catch Enrico (Mr. Byahilo himself!) online to ask about it — and he sent me this photo (thanks, Eric)!

That’s kind of freaky — imagine riding a train to work, partly drifting in and out of sleep, and being jolted out of your early morning stupor to find this ghastly woman in a period costume right in front of you, her cold, clammy hands gripping the handrail! She looks as if she stepped out of the pages of Noli Me Tangere, or maybe even Snow White!

This “ghost” sighting comes just in time — I was about to publish this review of the Fables Deluxe Edition by Bill Willingham, et al, so I hurriedly had to edit this entry to add this photo!

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Very Short Stories for Harried Readers

I must admit that I’m not a big fan of short story anthologies. When reading fiction, I like full-length novels I can really sink my teeth into, because I like the reprieve they provide from the real world.

Sometimes, though, practicality does get in the way. When you don’t have the luxury of time (which is generally how I’ve been ever since 2010 kicked off), it’s difficult to squeeze some reading in. For me, the general problem is that when I start reading I can’t stop, and I end up putting off the work I was supposed to be doing, or worse — forgoing precious sleep. Hence I’m reading thinner books and more anthologies this year.

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