Bookends: Coraline

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by P. Craig Russel
Many of you have read Coraline -- it's a standard on the Middle School Summer Reading Long List. However, this one is a little different -- it's done up as a graphic novel. The gist of the story is this: Coraline goes through a door in her family's new home and finds on the other side a home that is practically a mirror image of her own -- and includes another mother and another father who love her and want to make her their own -- they want to change her and never let her go, as they've already done with other children in the past. ...
I was not convinced from the cover that I would like the graphic version of this story, having thoroughly enjoyed the novel. I thought that the illustration style might not hold up to the story. But it surprised me, working especially well with all the characters that had buttons for eyes. :-) So if you're a fan of Coraline, or if you've never read it before, give it a look. It's ALWAYS worth the read. (Be forewarned, it's a little creepy.)

Reading Notes

Just a couple of notes on a few things I've read recently.

I took a summer vacation last week, and what better to read than a mystery! I read Dead Days of Summer by Carolyn G Hart -- a Death on Demand mystery. I started reading Death on Demand mysteries way back when Hart started writing them, and I've been enjoying them ever since. I'm a little behind on the series, but that's OK. The series centers around a mystery bookstore on an island, and the owner-turned-sometime-sleuth, Annie Darling (though she doesn't start out as darling). There's mystery, death, books, and a bit of romance in these enjoyable mysteries; I definitely recommend them!

Next on my vacation reading list was Moonheart by Charles de Lint -- a fine modern fantasy combining the world of Ottawa, Canada with the Otherworld and time travel, and including wonderful interpretations of myth and legend. The perfect reading-in-the-woods-while-camping book, this is truly a magical title superbly written. An excellent advanced fantasy.

And last night I finished off by reading the newest Minx book, Water Baby. Up until now I have liked the Minx books for the most part, but this one didn't thrill me. It's a realistic fiction piece about a girl who gets her leg bitten off by a shark and is learning to cope with the adjustment. It's also about friendship and relationships. I was hoping to like it, but it left me feeling dull and empty.

Books in the Banner

I'm back from my vacation and thought I'd just put up a quick post to answer: What are those books in the banner at the top of the page?
Sparrow
How to be Bad
Ultimate Spider-man, vol 10: Hollywood
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Monster
Keturah and Lord Death
Lemonade Mouth
Twilight
Now, I haven't read all of these books, but I can say that I've read many of them and they are fabulous! My faves? Keturah & Lord Death, Monster, Twilight. Grab one for yourself!

(And a reminder -- you earn a chance at a prize for every 10 hours you read this summer -- and prizes, which I'm about to go out and buy, are gift cards at Newbury Comics and at Best Buy.)