Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

(Graphic Novel) Fiction

My wife gave this to me as a gift and I have been reading it off and on for the last couple months. Watchmen was made into a movie a few years ago and I had interest in reading the series. The layout of the book is mostly what you would expect from a comic book, but each chapter has a few pages written out to further tell the story.

The story is set in the mid eighties, but covers an alternate timeline to our own, that changes with the emergence of superheroes in the 1940's. During the 1960's superheroes help in the Vietnam war and win because of it. The series starts with the death of The Comedian. A large part of the series follows another character Rorschach. He is convinced that a number of masked heroes are being hunted down by the killer and with the death of The Comedian determines to find out who it is. Dr. Manhattan is the only character in the series that actually has any superpowers. Through the result of a scientific experiment gone awry he has developed god-like powers. He experiences time all at once, can teleport and can manipulate objects at will. Other characters include Nite Owl, the famous Ozymandias and Silk Spectre.

What sets this apart from other comic books is the characters, with the exception of Dr. Manhattan, are just normal people. They have a sense of strength and will above that of normal people, but can't fly or do extraordinary things. The story weaves around starting in modern times of the 80's. It jumps to the 1940's to see the beginnings of the superhero era. It shows the effect the superheroes have on the 1960's and intermixes it all with the ongoing timeline.

It seems to be a comment on world affairs of the 80's, but intermixes it with the plot and stories of the characters. It was easy to get into and the artwork was well done. It stands up 30 years later as a groundbreaking work of art and storytelling.

3 Emotional/Intellectual - I found both Dr. Manhattan and Rorschach's stories interesting and was drawn into the plot through them.

3 Style/Readability - I have read a few comics in my day, but this was the most well told of all of them. The artwork seems to get better as the series goes on especially the last chapter.

5 Long Term Impact - Watchmen has already had a huge impact on comic books as a whole and I imagine it has influenced many writers as well. With the release of a blockbuster movie as well as the influence it already has in comics it has already proven its long term impact.

11 out of 13. If you haven't ever read a comic series this is a good starting point. It is dirty, realistic and well worth your time.

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Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

312 pages (Trade Paperback) Realistic Fiction

Cry, The Beloved Country is set in South Africa in the middle of the 1940's. A old native parson, or pastor Stephen Kumalo, lives in the countryside called Ndotsheni. Here the land is dying as no one knows how to care for it and each person goes about trying to raise crops their own way. The lack of rain has made it almost impossible. Since none can live off the land many go to Johannesburg to work. Kumalo's son, sister and brother have all gone to Johannesburg and have not returned. There have been no letters from his family in some time. Upon receiving a letter from another pastor saying that his sister is ill he must go to the city. He is determined to find his family and restore the tribe.

He travels by train to the large city and sees that it is grander and more amazing then anyone could think possible. He finds the church from which the pastor wrote and soon finds his family members have fallen prey to the vices of Johannesburg.

My feelings towards this book changed as I read it. At first I was annoyed with Paton's tendency to repeat his writings. Especially when the characters are talking they seem to say the same things over and over again within a couple pages of each other. As the book went on I got used to and saw it more a way of conveying the simple way these people live and communicate.

The book is very powerful. By following the tale of a man trying to bring his family together we get to see a picture of South Africa right before apartheid became an official way of the land. It was unexpected that the black people in the book looked down upon themselves. They looked at themselves as a lesser people. When talking about a crime it was considered a "worse" thing that it happened to a white person rather then a colored one.

This type of thinking pervades the book and you can see how after the events of the book it wouldn't take much for apartheid to take over. The relationships within the book are strong and eventually it shows how the people could work together if they stopped and saw each other as equals.

5 Emotional/Intellectual - This book is extremely emotional. Occasionally, you read from the point of view of a non-main character and many times it is heartbreaking. Overall, the book is very sad, but there is a tinge of hope as well.

2 Style/Readability - Although it is very simply written I found that sometimes the writing was not enjoyable. It was the most bare bones of writing and there was an abundance of repetition at times this made it difficult to bear

3 Long Term Impact - On the back cover of the book is claims it is "The most famous and important novel in South Africa's history." It is sixty years past its original printing so it obviously has stood the test of time. I just feel like something with better writing would better represent South Africa.

10 out of 13. The book is worth reading and I would encourage any avid read to pick it up. That said enjoy it for its emotional impact not its writing style.

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Stranger than Fiction by Chuck Palahnuik

233 pages (Trade paperback) Non-Fiction Essays

Palahnuik is one of the oddest writers I have ever read. In general his books seem to focus on a person with some mental issues and how they interact with the world. I wouldn't say that his books are depressing, but I wouldn't say they are all that uplifting either. Stranger than Fiction is a collection of true stories. Many are presented as if they are articles you might read in a newspaper. Many of them couldn't be published in a newspaper. The topics range from people that build castles to live in, amateur wrestlers, combine demolition derbies to Marilyn Manson giving himself a tarot reading.

The book has a humorous tone to it. It is a look at the lighter side of people. It demonstrates that ALL of us are a bit strange and maybe that is a good thing. About halfway through the book there is a story about Palahnuik's friends that claim to have super natural powers. One lives with a ghost and one can see the future. He has a party and a couple of psychics start to talk to the dead. At this point the book seems to take a serious tone as Palahnuik reveals some very personal things about his past.

3 Emotional/Intellectual - Looking at the quirky side of people was interesting and more engaging than you might think at first. Palahnuik's ability to reveal more about himself with other's stories shows an unexpected personal side as well.

3 Readability/Style - A few of the stories come off as very generic. Others have the short sentenced, fact filled style that is typical of his writing.

3 Long Term Impact - Palahnuik's already has a strong following. Though this book isn't as well known as  it will be able to ride on the coattails of his other more popular books.

9 out of 13. You might be better off starting with one of his other books like Lullaby, Invisible Monsters or Haunted. If you find you like his writing this book is worthwhile.

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Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson

829 pg (Trade Paperback) Fantasy Fiction

This is the 8^th book in the Malazan series. At this point in the series I am fully mired into the story and have a better understanding of the characters, the world and how they are connected, but I am still lost on some of what is going on.

Toll the Hounds focuses mainly on the city of Darujhistan. In the book we learn more about familiar characters such as Kruppe, Cutter, Ikaral Pust, Picker, Blend, Anomander Rake, Samar Dev, Karsa Orlong and well as others. 

Karsa and Samar Dev head towards Darujhistan with a secretive character known as Traveller. Cutter gets involved with Challice who we last saw in the very first book. Anomander Rake leads in the city of Black Coral. As with all of the books in this series new characters are added and some familiar characters aren't mentioned at all. A side story line follows a young man named Harllo as he works in the mines near the city eventually leading to his escape attempt.We also get to see a lot of what is going on within the sword Dragnipur. Mappo is a shareholder in the Trygalle Trade Guild and we get to see more of what that all entails. The book seems ill-named throughout most of the book because the Hounds of Shadow are barely mentioned in the interactions of Shadowthrone and Cotillion. I'll just let you know that in the end we aren't disappointed.

Erikson is never an easy read. He expects, as a reader, that you work to understand all that is going on. In fact, I would say even the most dedicated of readers couldn't claim to grasp it all on the first read. The general consensus seems to indicate that rereading the books is more rewarding than the first time through. This seems to be more true in Toll the Hounds than in the other books save the first. Following the individuals tales within the book were easy to follow, but it connections to the whole story seem to stem mostly from the first book which I read over two years ago. Where it shines is where all of Erikson's books shine in the small scenes he presents. I enjoy getting a bite of a story that could be a short story all its own.

3 Emotional/Intellectual - The story seems to move forward the most regarding Anomander Rake and the City of Darujhistan the most.

3 Style/Readability - This was a bit harder to get through then previous books in the series, but Erikson is a master storyteller and even though I may not grasp all that is going on I still am enjoying the ride.

3 Long Term Impact - I have said this before. Erikson is a niche within a niche. Fantasy books overall are enjoying popularity beyond what they have ever experienced  Erikson is a difficult read within that genre. I think this will always keep him to the fringe of popularity. That said he deserves more recognition than he is getting.

9 out of 13. I feel like this book was transitional. That it told us a lot to lead us to what happens next. That isn't to say nothing happens, just that it has built up my interest by setting the stage for what will happen next.

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Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

 

394 pg (Paperback) Fiction

Terry Pratchett is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Most of his books are set in the fictional world of Discworld. It is a conglomeration of 18^th century Europe and medieval fantasy books that many of us have grown to love. This is all thrown together with clever writing and a humorous tone to it all. 

Most of the books I have read are centered in the city of Anhk-Morpork. Essentially, this city is the center of the world. Here we meet our hero Moist Von Lipwig. Moist has been “hired” to run the local post office. The post office hasn’t really done work as of late because of a much faster information transfer system known as the Clacks. Moist soon finds himself mired in a fight to see which can better supply the people the post or the clacks. Various stunts and less legal actions work together to make a very entertaining book.

With each book I have read of Pratchett I have grown fonder of his writing. He has a beautiful way of writing that intermixes with humor in a way that is rare. I find myself getting drawn into the books and enjoying them for the lighthearted stories they attempt to be. I think most readers would find his books worthwhile and Going Postal is a good starting place.

3 Intellectual/Emotional – Going Postal’s setting seems thinly veiled as you can see all of its events could be a part of modern life. I came to care for Moist and the other characters and hoped that the post office would come out on top.

5 Readability/Style – Pratchett’s writing is fantastic and although not difficult to read it is immensely pleasurable.

3 Long Term Impact – Many accounts put Going Postal towards the top of Practhett’s best books. I can only see his popularity rising as time passes.

11 out of 13. Looking for a lighthearted book? Wants something that draws you in tells a good tale and makes you laugh? Check this book out. I would also suggest Guards! Guards!, another great book from Pratchett.

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