Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant / The Kings Shilling

Delilah Dirk is one of the funnest graphic novels I've read in a long time. Full of action, awesome characters, and beautiful illustrations, Delilah Dirk is a brilliant adventure. 

I love Delilah. She is a witty thief/adventurer who can do amazing feats and always gets out of trouble. On a chance encounter in a Turkish prison, Mr. Selim finds out her backstory and tells the Sultan he works for. But the Sultan comes to think that they are in on her theft together and orders him executed. After escaping from her cell, she finds Mr. Selim and rescues him in her flying ship. Thus their adventures start. There is much more to this story that is fantastic and must be seen.

The second book, starts out with Mr. Selim and Delilah in Portugal where they find one Major Merrick. He sets Delilah up as a spy for the French, who are at war with the English at this time, and sullies Miss Dirk's good name. She can't have this and is forced to follow the Major back to England. Mr. Selim is all too happy to see England which he has only heard the best of. But he is poorly disappointed when England isn't all it was brought up to be.

I had to read more. These were fantastic books and Delilah reminded me of a character one of my friends created. So it hit home.

Anyone who loves Indiana Jones or swashbuckling Jane Austen will love these books. They are good for all ages, boys or girls.

Check out Tony Cliff's website because there are short stories and little featurettes for Delilah that are just as amazing.

Under A Painted Sky

Under A Painted Sky is a nominee for the Beehive Award and for a reason. It is about a Chinese girl, Samantha, in Missouri in 1849. Tragedy strikes and she quickly finds herself an outlaw and on the run with a runaway slave, Annamae (*cough cough* close to Anime much? Anyway... ).They head west to California under the disguise of boys off to the Gold Fields. One night two they find themselves in the much needed company (for survival as criminals and in the wild west) of three cowboys.

This is a YA book, so, of course, the law of attraction takes a big role in this story. Girls like boys though trying their best to act like boys, boys are confused.

It's language was beautiful. The dialogue was "ingenious." There were a lot of characters that came from different places and had many different accents. Mrs. Lee tried her best to imitate the accents with how she wrote it, which I haven't seen very often, though I've tried to replicate. The metaphors and similes were masterfully done and well thought out. If I was trying to teach a Creative Writing class about good metaphors, I would suggest this book. For plot and setting, however, I would not. This is an extremely character driven book where the need and development of the characters took precedence in the author's mind. I think the story was set up well in the development of the characters, use getting to know them and their backgrounds. This is super important and, as I said, was well done.

There is also a lot of witty bantering back and forth between the characters that made me laugh. I enjoyed that immensely.

It had great little morals to the story throughout the book. Little perks of ancient Chinese/Biblical wisdom. My favorite one was, "Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you." (I think she took this sentence to heart though when she resented setting and plot.) And the overlaying idea that race shouldn't stop love. Asian, hispanic, black, white, it doesn't matter. I like that.

There is some cursing scattered throughout the book, but I was surprised that they said "Dang" more often than not. One of the cowboys tended to get around with the ladies, though he gets pummeled for it. There isn't anything graphic in the book even though there end up being a handful of dead guys scattered like the curse words.

I did have a huge question: if she is Chinese from a Chinese father and mother, why is her name Samantha Young? Young I could see. But Samantha? For such an English name for a Chinese girl? There was no reason given as to why she wasn't given a Chinese name. Her father didn't hate China and taught her a lot about China and the culture. So why Samantha? o.O?

I also felt like the plot was lacking. The story is based greatly on the love connections between the characters. But the slowly progress towards California takes a massive back seat where it is almost forgotten. Something as important as the "quest" of a story shouldn't be as much of a shadow as it was.

But the biggest downside to me was the setting. It was minimal. I will give the author a little bit of sway what with them walking through prairie lands with grass and rocks being the only landscape around them. However, there are many poets and songs written about the prairie and surrounding lands. The rock formations that are out there are magnificent. Also, while the characters are in town we get no description of the town or the rooms that they are in.

At the beginning, Samantha is in a hotel room (I think) where the only description we really get is a bathtub and a bed. Not the colors of the sheets or type of tub, not the color of the wall paper or any other furniture in the room. I know of some readers who skim through setting descriptions (You know who you are. *wink wink*). That is okay. There can be sometimes when you can get bogged down with description, but there was such a lack of it that I felt left out.

We should be good readers and be able to fill in the blanks as needed, but this seemed almost like a lack of research. These names that Mrs. Lee gives as landmarks, aside from Independance Rock and the Forts they pass, I had a hard time finding online. How made up are they? If she is going to make up cities/landmarks, which she has every right too mind you, couldn't she give us images of what it looked like. Make us see more than the tree she is sitting under. More than just a river that had fish in it.

It's ironic that the title is Under A Painted Sky when the beauty of the landscape around is left out of the book for the most part.

Over all, I would recommend this to particular people, but not to everyone.

Rebel of the Sands

Rebel of the Sands is  one that I would recommend and is part of the Rebel of the Sands Series. It is one that got me out of a funk of not wanting
to read. It was a book I finished in four days, which can be quite a feat some weeks.

I ended up describing this book to my husband as a mixture between the Wild West and Aladdin. It takes place in a fantasy world that is supposed to resemble Saudi Arabia or an equivalent (which was nice considering most of fantasy novels take place in northern Europe/Britain). But it's not only a time of scimitars and horses, though there are a few of them, there are also guns and magical beings.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about Rebel of the Sands was the religions and mythology in the story. It plays a vital role in the story as the plot moves forward and I think Alwyn Hamilton does a good job in presenting it to the reader. I also think she's gutzy because I've read a bunch of books who keep away from religion because they think it would be a turnoff for many readers. But Alwyn Hamilton didn't and made it vital the story. I thank her for it.

I also enjoyed the mythical creatures that come to life out of the sands. There are moments when Amani, the main character, recalls moments in the past to better understand these creatures that attack in the night. It gives us Amani's background, her spunky personality, and the world in which we are being brought to. There were many different types of creatures that roam the dark here. From Nightmares that kill you in your sleep, to Demdji--half human half Djinni--who are often killed for being an abomination, to the majestic Buraqi--immortal horses--that are faster than anything but a train. The world building was very well done in this book.

Amani and Jin were interesting characters. They were well developed. They ended up fighting, of course, and their fight and make up was believable.

The only thing I that I didn't really care for was the predictability. It is a YA book, and they have their own kind of predictability. But there were some things I didn't see coming. It is presented well, so if you were to pay close attention you probably could get it. Still I found it very enjoyable.

The next book is Traitor to the Throne. 

Les Miserables (Manga)

 Les Miserables but for now I recommend this wonderful Manga. The pictures inside are marvelous!
I am working my way up to the true

This book is based off the original, unabridged novel by Victor Hugo (not the musical), but because it is a single manga and not fifty or so it did have to get edited down.

I was happily surprised by the additions that weren't in the musical (the only other way I've seen this story presented) though I feel like some of the artistry in the people and scenes was influenced by the movie with Hugh Jackman from 2012. Like how Eponine and Marius meet and her family's little influences (though end up being big) progress the story.

Again the artist's work here was amazing and breathtaking. For those who need a quick read of this for school *wink wink* or those who are intimidated by the approximate 1100 page unabridged book, this is a good one to start out with.

I thoroughly enjoyed this manga.

The Emperor's Soul

The Emperor's Soul is a novella written by Brandon Sanderson and is one of my favorite books that he's written.

This book is so very different and so very new that the first time I read it, I couldn't put it down even while I was at work. (Thankfully I worked in the evening when the library was slow and no one came into the children's area which I was supposed to be supervising. :D )

The story takes place in 101 days of Shai being imprisoned for trying to steal The Moon Scepter with her own Forgery. But when she is caught, she is persuaded (ordered more like it) to assist the Empire by Forging their Emperor's soul--just a few days previous to her attempted thievery he was almost assassinated, they were able to heal his body but his mind was gone. Shai is put to the task of refilling his mind with her Forgery and to have this copy of their Emperor be perfect enough to fool everyone. But, of course, she has to also find a way to escape and get her own Essence Marks back from  her captors before they kill her, faking that they would let her go once her task was done.

This is a short book, only 167 pages, but it is enveloping and fast pace. Yet, amazingly, it gives enough background and character development for all the characters named that we care for them and are super sad when it's over. I think the characters are the reason I wanted to reread the book again. Yes, the story and the way of this world, the Soul Stamps, are amazing and and keep the story rolling, but this is very much a character driven novel that I have fallen in love with.

Then as a bonus, my favorite underlying message that everyone (especially now) needs to realize, is that there are so many things that go into a person. There are emotions on top of emotions, logics and counter one another while enhance others. People are all so complicated and it is only through careful examination, time, and the love that comes from being with them that we can even look through the window into who they really are.

ALSO, I love the cover art. It is beautiful!

Anya's Ghost

Anya's Ghost is a graphic novel with beautiful illustrations. It dives into the peculiarities of being a teeanger in high school. We have crushes. We have body issues. We have problems with friends. We have weird things that we've had to overcome in order to be "normal." Anya, however, has found another thing that has made her peculiar: a ghost.

After missing the bus, she decides to walk home through the park that is thick with woods. Anya accidentally falls into an old, uncovered well. After lighting one of her cigarette matches, she finds a skeleton and the 90 year old ghost of the girl that's attached to it. Anya gets out after staying in the well for a day with the help of a passing stranger. While picking up her things she accidently picks up one of Emily's pinky fingers and the ghost follows Anya home.

Emily follows her to school and experiences what modern day high school is like. Boys. Gym. Politics of girls. Friends. Family. Tests. There are many things that Emily ends up helping Anya out with. Or is she really helping? Something is strange with Emily. Wanting Enya to go out with a boy who is obviously bad news? What is this about new outfits? And how is Emily suddenly changing?

I liked this book because it was a light read. I was in need of a break and this was a good one for that. It was quick and had beautiful illustrations.

If you are in search of a good, clean, and quick book to you through a few a rough patch in books (or a book that you'd like your teen to read) this is a good choice.

Phantom of the Opera

I've been in a classic kick recently and picked up Phantom of the Opera. There were two reasons why specifically picked up this classic, one of my friends was consumed by the "phantom" character a few years back, and I love the musical that has been on Broadway and on the silver screen. I think the music they put to the story is majestic and the psychology  behind the mesmerizing and control that happens in the story.

For those who don't know the synopsis of the story, there is a ghost in the Paris Opera in the late 1800's. It does strange things and all the ballerinas, dancers, and singers believe that any shoe lace that breaks or pitcher that falls over is because of the Opera Ghost.

Unlike the play, there is a death in the Opera in the very first chapter. Joseph Buquet is found dead in the cellars of the Opera, supposedly hug, but with no rope. Inside the Opera, accusations of the Opera Ghost circulate, but nothing can be done. He is a Ghost after all.

Then, on the night of the gala when managerial positions are transferred to new owners, Christine Daae faints after her first and astounding performance and is rushed to her rooms. Having come to consciousness, she faces her old friend from the sea, Raoul, who has fallen desperately in love with her because her singing touched the hearts of angels. She orders everyone out and Raoul, listening at the door, hears her talking to a strange voice.

A few days later, after another performance, she is abducted and everyone is frantic about where she's gone. But after two weeks she comes back but refuses to sing as she had before. She sends a note to Raoul to meet her at the sea side village where they spent many years together. One night while there, after an argument between them, Raoul follows Christine in the middle of the night to a cemetery. She doesn't realize he is only a few steps behind her and watching because she is in rapture and completely lost to her own thoughts. Once at her father's grave, in the cemetery, the sound of her father's violin floats down from heaven. Raoul can hear it too. Christine leaves and he sees death leaving the cemetery also. Dun-dun-duuuun.

The story jumps back and forth between characters and time that it kind of game me a head ache. We jump between the new managers and their anger at being told they need to pay 20,000 francs or accidents will happen. They also remove Madame Giry from her position, watching over the Opera Ghost's Box #5. After the first month of not receiving a payment a terrible accident does happen. Carlotta, the main singer at the Opera house croaks. She fumbles with her voice badly and sounds like a frog. People in the audience don't know what to do because she is such a beloved singer. Her last time of trying before running off the stage, the chandelier drops from the ceiling of the Opera house, killing one (Madame Giry's replacement) and injures many, many more.

After that night, there is more jumping around of characters. A half-hearted wedding proposal, secrets are revealed about the Opera Ghost (one that I didn't know before was that the Ghost's name is actually Erik), and an a plot to run away. Of course the plot is found out by the Phantom, and Christine becomes abducted again by her "poor Erik."

Then it takes forever to for Raoul and this mysterious Persian, who knows almost everything about the Opera--from the lake underneath it to the rafters, to find a way into the "house by the lake" where the Erik is holding Christine. They find themselves in a torture chamber (not your regular rack and red-hot pokers mind you) and start going insane. They get a little of Christine's help, but she is tied up for most of it, and find barrels and barrels of gun powder. She has a choice it seems, to marry Erik, who looks seriously like death with red embers for eyes and the boniest fingers and frame, or everyone in the Opera about the house by the lake as well as those on the lake are going to be blown up.

She makes her choice, which I will leave you to read to find out.

Over all, I will say koodos to those who complied this story into the play/movie. I've, sadly, only been able to watch the movie (though, not so sadly, Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson did a fantastic job in their roles).   They were able to add so many little parts of the book, though in the wrong order, into the movie. Most adaptions of books aren't at all like the book, but I was pleasantly surprised about how many little things that made mention to the larger scenes and characters that wouldn't make it in.

My favorite little moment between the two would probably be the Persian that is practically left out of the movie. He may not have a character stand in, but the monkey on the music box in Persian robes is supposed to represent him. Like I said, cute little things that represent bigger moments.

However, the biggest part of the book that I didn't like was the way it was presented. It is and older book, written in 1909-1910, and so the writing style is different (not that that is bad). It's the fact that it is so jumpy. It is written, third person and our narrator is...isn't given a name....? but is trying to find out the story behind the disasters that happen. It is second or third hand accounts of what happened that jump back and forth and back and to another place entirely. We are placed in the story, then backgrounds and flashbacks and narrator interruptions happen. It was somewhat disjointed and I found it rather obnoxious.

 The reader doesn't get solid, non-interrupted story until almost the end of the book when the Persian brings us up to speed on Erik's background and what happens with himself and Raoul. Even then there may be one or two parts where he jumps around too.

I think my favorite part all together was the description of the Phantom. Erik is nothing like Gerard Butler or any other renditions I've seen of the Opera Ghost. They don't give the book description justice.

In the end, I'm glad I've read it. I'm glad Christine fought a lot more in the book than she did in the movie, that made me happy, And now I'm more concerned for my friend who found liked the Phantom so much. Still it was a good read and I hope you like it too.