Lost at Sea

(In this review I'm going to quote the novel. In the quotes there is profanity. I don't know who reads this blog, but if that bothers you... well, that why I'm warning you.)

Title: Lost at Sea

Author: Bryan Lee O'Malley

Publication date: 2003

Book's setting: Modern California. (Possibly Oregon.)

Random facts: I read Lost at Sea in Target because it was quiet and I was turned out of the house due to kitchen renovations.

Plot summary: "Maybe all these desperate clashing feelings I'm feeling are just random brain activity. Maybe I'm just delusional. But there are things that I miss, and things that I feel like I should be seeing and feeling every time I turn around, and I just keep turning and turning and turning, and there's nothing." Raleigh is stuck in a car, on a road trip from California to Vancouver (home) with three kids she never really got to know from high school. She was in California visiting her dad. Except she wasn't- she was there visiting him. Or maybe she was there looking for her soul- the one that her mom sold for success, the one that's locked in a cat somewhere.
It's sort of a coming of age story, but it's also a story about fear and how to break free.

Favorite aspects: I have never (do I need to say that again? NEVER.) read a book that more accurately summed up what it's like to be us. Girls in the highschool/college years in the 21st century. Our worries and emotions and problems and circular thinking and failed romances. One of the most brilliant scenes is when Stephanie wishes she was tall, and Raleigh says she hates being tall and Stephanie says, "Anyway, of course you hate being tall. That's how it works." Also I love how Raleigh's "gifted class" bubble was burst in highschool. Sometimes I think that happens to homeschoolers in college. Basically Bryan Lee O'Malley has an incredibly grasp on reality. Other than maybe Ghost World, it was the most realistic thing I've ever read.

Least favorite aspects: I'd like to know if she ever read the letter. (Also, are her sisters really cats?)

Other works it reminded me of: Ghost World by Daniel Clowes; Scott Pilgrim vs the Universe by Bryan Lee O'Malley.

Sadie's merciless breakdown: It's been a long, long time since I read something that struck me personally like this did. Atonement and Good Omens and Siste Viator were magnificent and cut me to the core, so to speak... but Lost at Sea was for me. I guess it's for every lost, lonely girl, but it does not mean it was not also for me.
I guess I'll just leave this rather offensive but incredible quote. It's incredible because everyone I know had made some version of this speech to me, and I've done it to others too.
"I'm an anti-social monster. I'm suck a fuckup. I'm- I'm a mediocre fuckup, even. I'm not even good at fucking up! He might not love me? That's cause for a fucking breakdown?! What is this? I'm stupid! I feel stupid! I'm horrible! I'm dead, I think I'm dead. Seriously."

Recommendation rate: If you're an old guy or if you're 12 or something then you might not like it or get it. But if you're a girl and you've ever felt a feeling you should read it.

Fables: Animal Farm

Title: Fables: Animal Farm

Author: Bill Willingham

Publication date: 2002

Book's setting: Alternate modern New York City

Random facts: Sequel to Fables: Legends in Exile.

Plot summary: Snow decides that she and Red need some solitary time to patch up their broken relationship, so she and her sister take a sabbatical of sorts on The Farm. The Farm is the upstate NY compound where the less human fairytale characters have been exiled in order to keep their existence a secret. However Snow and Rose find themselves entangled in a political war on The Farm. The creatures have been kept in isolation for hundreds of years... and they're ready for freedom. Of course, their escape could endanger the lives of every fable character in our world.

Favorite aspects: It was just similar enough to the Animal Farm by George Orwell to be amusing, but not so much like it that I was bored. The fact that it literally took place on a farm for the animalistic fables creatures only made it funnier. I was surprised how well-rounded the animal characters were, especially the pigs. It was a bit hard to distinguish them at first, but they actually each had their own personality and had subtle appearance differences. Also Red Rose was hilarious. As the "sexy badass" character I was a bit worried about liking her, but she had a great sense of humor.

Least favorite aspects: The art was sublime, but some page spreads were really hard to follow. I think of myself as being pretty good at reading comics, at least I've never had a problem before, but Animal Farm was so artistic it lead to distraction.

Other works it reminded me of: Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack by Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale; Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

Sadie's merciless breakdown: Mostly I am just sad now because my library doesn't have anything past this volume... nice. Way to go BPL. Way to go. (I know, I should be counting my blessings that I don't live in Hicktown, Unpopulated State, USA. Still.)
I really enjoy reading graphic novels. The more I read the more I appreciate the art form. It's different, it's an entire different media than a book or even a picture book. It's an art form that my brain loves to glut on. It's interactive and gorgeous and incredibly lush. They are fun to read undisturbed; just let your eyes run over the pages and glean the information at the pace of television. Then go back and take your time inspecting each panel with diligent care. Notice the little things. The only comics series I own is Scott Pilgrim, but they are probably the most fun I can possibly have reading. If I want an ~experience, something tactile and exciting, I pick one up for the thousandth time. Basically, I think that the art of the graphic novel is under-appreciated. Of course geeks/nerds adore them, but as mainstream as we've become it's still very common to get grief for being a "comics reader." The Fables series is dense and dark and very majestic. I look forward to reading the next volumes at Barnes and Nobles, huddled in the sci-fi corner, sitting on my coat. It's the best way to read them anyway. (Until a sales associate stares you down and forces you to buy a coffee you don't want.)

Recommendation rate: Same advice as before. Good comics, especially if you find superheros boring.

Fables: Legends in Exile

Title: Fables: Legends in Exile

Author: Bill Willingham

Publication date: 2002

Book's setting: Alternate modern New York City

Random facts: Issues 1-5 out of a grand total of 106.

Plot summary: All our favorite fairytale characters were living happily in their sprawling fairytale land when then were invaded. A few of them including the iconic Snow White, Beast, Little Boy Blue, and King Cole, escaped to modern day New York City. (Think Narnia, Ingary, etc.) Here they must learn to live and get along while waiting till it is safe to return to their beloved lands. There is tension, anger, and jealousy between the characters from Fabletown, but they need to stick together, or they'll be found out. This volume holds the first five issues and first story arc from the every popular and ongoing comics series. This story focuses on the disappearance of Rose Red and her villainous fiancee, Blue Beard.

Favorite aspects: The characters were just so well done. Visually they were stunning. However, more importantly, their characterization was really good. I think my absolute favorite part was how Cinderella and Snow White had been married to the same Prince Charming. In a graphic novel or comic series there is very little room for explanation or exposition, but I didn't have any questions about the authors universe, and there were basically no holes in the plot that I wanted filled. My biggest qualm with graphic novels is that very often they are just hard to follow. Too many characters, too many dead end plot lines. Fables had none of these problems. It was a tight-knit, well told, interesting, fun, beautiful story.

Least favorite aspects: Red Rose being Snow White's sister, who was obviously the same Snow White from the more popular fairytale of the same name, confused me a bit at first. This is really my fault for having an inadequate knowledge of fairytale characters before starting. I had to google Red Rose to find her fable... it's a lesser known German one. This isn't really a fault of the author or anything, but if you meet any character you don't immediately recognize from your childhood story books or Disney films just stick with it. Also Wolf was not at all what I would have expected... not sure if I like him or approve of his noble personality.

Other works it reminded me of: Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack by Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale; Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

Sadie's merciless break-down: I love television. I might be a serious reader but I can not deny the love I feel for my tv. Every now and then I get this uncontrollable urge to watch television EVERY SINGLE DAY. I just want to pull out my X-Files and Doctor Who dvds and flop on the couch and never think an original thought ever again. It's at times like this when a graphic novel comes in handy. This makes me sad because I should read graphic novels for their own individual beauty, not because I feel stupid and want pretty pictures. But my motives aside, I can not deny the quality of Fables.
Above I compared it to Watchmen... which is really only true as far as the illustrations and page setups go. Really it was more comparable to a sexed-up and grown-up Rapunzel's Revenge. (Okay, not that sexed-up, lest you think me a perv.) Basically it was everything I like in a graphic novel. Of course, out of the fourteen sequential volumes that have been published... the BPL only has two.
Being a comics fan when your sole source of literature is the BPL is hard. The BPL is lazy when it comes to comics and graphic novels and orders copies really late or not at all. Or even worse, they've got volumes missing from a series so it's impossible to read them in the correct order. Basically I'm screwed. I've got three options as a comics fan. First of all, I can just not read any. Or I can buy them all from Amazon.com and go broke in the process. The third option is my favorite option and one I use all too often. I can skulk into Barnes and Nobles and read the next thirteen volumes in the store, hiding in a corner, where no one can find me. Then I just wipe the guilt off my face and saunter out. Of course, this is why book stores are going extinct, and I'm not helping any, but I'm running out of viable options.
How does one afford to be a true comic book fan? How does one keep up with the constant flow of issues and volumes and spin-offs? I'm not cut out for it.

Recommendation rate: If you love comic and graphic novels but aren't really a superhero fan then you should try these.