What I’ve been reading – Hopcross Jilly by Patricia Briggs

Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I preferred this graphic novel short story to some of the regular installments in text-format of the Mercy Thompson story. The artwork was beautiful, the colour-scheme was perfect – moody and Gothic – and Adam in particular was beautifully drawn. He looked almost as young as he’s actually supposed to appear. (Although Mercy looked rather younger, TBH.)

It’s nice to have a Jesse-centric story, as she’s one of my favourite characters and I love her interactions with Mercy. And a genuinely unnerving old-wives’-tale Big Bad, too! Four stars all round.

ETA – must also add, as always – where the heck is the contemporary Bran-centric story, with a real romance for him? Where? WHERE? It must surely be in the works? Surely? Please?

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What I’ve been reading – Signal to Noise by Neil Gaiman

Signal to Noise by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very sombre book. The delusions of the scriptwriter/main character initially when he became sick were very sad, certain that he was getting better. The whole book seems packed with metaphor and meaning, but how you choose to interpret it is another thing. The story that will never be told, never seen onscreen, but the writer labours at it anyhow. The oncoming apocalypse within his story, that fizzles like a damp squib. What does it mean, eh? The reader is left to decide. Much like life.

I found it an enjoyable read, in a melancholy way. But I think there are probably better places to begin exploring Gaiman’s work.

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What I’ve been reading – Watership Down by Richard Adams

Watership Down by Richard Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve loved this book for years. My favourite parts are mostly about the Black Rabbit of Inle and El-Ahrairah, and Fiver’s visions. Also adore Bigwig’s fight with Woundwort. This book is so emotionally involving, I found it almost draining and too much to process as a kid. Probably easier for an adult to handle.

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let’s talk about boys and kissing

Yeah!  Let’s!  Admittedly, these chicks may be talking about the adorable joey.  What a cutie!  But I like to think they’re obediently conforming to the dominant paradigm and submitting to externally imposed peer-group  demands, just the same.

Anyway, I’ve got into a new writer! Isn’t it always so terrific to discover somebody new-to-you, and plunge into their work, to experience a whole new way of looking at the world?

Yeah. It’s Alison Bechdel. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF HER. I’m always a little late to the party, every time.

Really, this is the point where I ought to play at being Cooler out of Flaked. “Dennis! Your little pop-up off-licence is called Dennis Wines! Like you! Isn’t that amazing!”

Eh lol. Shoulda done that. “Hey, Ms Bechdel! There’s this thing called the Bechdel test – and I understand you’ve actually discussed it quite often!  And you’re called Bechdel! Synchronicity, wow!”

Well, I haven’t read much of her work so far – really only her section in Best American Comics 2008, and nothing else in it either. But that’s the best time with a new artist: when they have a massive (throbbing?) body of work, and you’ve barely dipped your toes in the water.

Now, just to make sure: BOYS! KISSING! BOYS! KISSING!

Never wanted to pass a test that wouldn’t have me, anyway.

 

Image – State Library of New South Wales, no known copyright restrictions.

Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly by Patricia Briggs – Goodreads book review

Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I preferred this graphic novel short story to some of the regular installments in text-format of the Mercy Thompson story. The artwork was beautiful, the colour-scheme was perfect – moody and Gothic – and Adam in particular was beautifully drawn. He looked almost as young as he’s actually supposed to appear. (Although Mercy looked rather younger, TBH.)

It’s nice to have a Jesse-centric story, as she’s one of my favourite characters and I love her interactions with Mercy. And a genuinely unnerving old-wives’-tale Big Bad, too! Four stars all round.

ETA – must also add, as always – where the heck is the contemporary Bran-centric story, with a real romance for him? Where? WHERE? It must surely be in the works? Surely? Please?

View all my reviews

Image – Mathias Appel on Flickr, public domain.

Review: Signal to Noise by Neil Gaiman

Signal to Noise by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very sombre book. The delusions of the scriptwriter/main character initially when he became sick were very sad, certain that he was getting better. The whole book seems packed with metaphor and meaning, but how you choose to interpret it is another thing. The story that will never be told, never seen onscreen, but the writer labours at it anyhow. The oncoming apocalypse within his story, that fizzles like a damp squib. What does it mean, eh? The reader is left to decide. Much like life.

I found it an enjoyable read, in a melancholy way. But I think there are probably better places to begin exploring Gaiman’s work.

View all my reviews