Crucial Listens: The Best Audiobook Experiences

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I’ve had an Audible membership for a few years now, and although I’d enjoyed audiobooks before I started my membership, it wasn’t until I started listening regularly and widely to audiobooks that I began to understand how much difference a great audio production can make when it comes to reading. I’d argue that some books … Read more

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: Fan for Life

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Published: September 10th, 2013 Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Genre(s): Young Adult, Coming of Age Format: eBook Length: 445 pages Fangirl tells the story of twin sisters Cath and Wren from the start of their freshman year in college. Even though they are going to attend the same school, Wren unexpectedly decides not to room with … Read more

Ancillary Justice: I Am Beside Myself and Myself

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Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie Published: October 1, 2013 Publisher: Orbit Genre(s): Science Fiction, Space Opera Format: Paperback/eBook Length: 410 pages Ancillary Justice is science fiction crammed full to the brim with wild ideas. The main character, Breq, is an “ancillary soldier” cut off from her ship for almost twenty years, but she isn’t exactly … Read more

When is it time to give up on finishing a book?

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People who read for fun (or read at all) each have their own individual way of dealing with a book they can’t quite manage to finish. Some folks stubbornly insist on finishing every book they start, even if it’s a grueling death march towards an unsatisfying end. It’s possible I am biased against this methodology, … Read more

He’ll Clean Up This Planet: Version 43 by Philip Palmer

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Published: October 28, 2010 Publisher: Orbit Genre(s): Science Fiction Format: Paperback Length: 560 pages Version 43 is a weird book. If the reviews on Goodreads and elsewhere are any indication, it’s the sort of book that inspires polarizing reactions. It’s long at over 500 pages. It’s gory, vulgar and occasionally squick-inducing even though it isn’t … Read more

Episodic Fascism: Judge Dredd Volume 1 by Duane Swierczynski and Paul Gulacy

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Published: April 23, 2013 Publisher: IDW Publishing Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Science Fiction Format: Paperback Length: 120 pages My only exposure to Judge Dredd is the 2012 movie starring Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby, which I understand stays true to the comic while telling a pretty badass little crime story. I only watched it a week … Read more

Birth of a Real Boy: The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and The Ship That Sank Twice by Mike Carey and Peter Gross

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Published: September 24, 2013 Publisher: Vertigo Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Fantasy Format: Hardcover Length: 160 pages The Unwritten tells the story of Tom Taylor and his late father’s series of bestselling fantasy novels that revolve around a boy named Tommy Taylor inspired by his real-life counterpart… or was it the other way around? I’ve only read two … Read more

An Anthology of Hilarity With a Side of Murdermen: The Thrilling Adventure Hour by Acker & Blacker

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Published: August 20th, 2013 Publisher: Archaia Entertainment, LLC Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Comedy Format: Hardcover Length: 136 pages The Thrilling Adventure Hour is a long-running stage-show and podcast with an old-fashioned radio-drama sensibility. Every episode features recurring characters and serial adventures acted out by actors and comedians in front of a live audience. Although some familiarity … Read more

Ugliness All Around: Todd, The Ugliest Kid on Earth Volume 1 by Ken Kristensen and M. K. Perker

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Published: August 20, 2013 Publisher: Image Comics Genre(s): Graphic Novel Format: Trade Paperback Length: 96 pages Todd, The Ugliest Kid on Earth is an odd little series about a kid named Todd surrounded by terrible human beings. It’s not exactly surreal, but it is nonsensical in a way that is clearly meant as darkly comedic … Read more

Memory Comes in Waves: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

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Published: June 18th 2013 Publisher: William Morrow Books Genre(s): Fantasy Format: eBook Length: 178 pages Neil Gaiman’s most recent novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, is a study in contrasts. It’s his first book written “for adults” in many years, but the main character is a seven-year-old boy and the writing style … Read more

Stealing Hearts and Paintings: Heist Society by Ally Carter

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Published: February 9th, 2010 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Genre(s): Young Adult, Crime, Thriller Format: Audiobook Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins First, a confession: I was mostly inspired to pick up this book thanks to an incredible cover re-design done for Maureen Johnson’s #coverflip challenge a few months ago. I’d seen Ally Carter’s books on the … Read more

Memories of a Ghost: The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

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Published: February 26th, 2013 Publisher: Brilliance Audio, Inc. Genre(s): Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy Format: Audiobook Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins The Name of The Star, the first book in Maureen Johnson’s Shades of London series, ends with the main character, Rory Devereaux, discovering new powers that may change everything about her relationship to the … Read more