One imperfect letter, one missing page

35. Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen
Reading the summary, I imagined I would be reading something similar to Redwall, and while there are some things in common, this series is quite different. The conflict stems from differences between mice, instead of a larger and greater threat, as found in Redwall. Not that there aren't greater threats, but they will be found in later volumes, I imagine. Instead, we're given some of the most extraordinary artwork I've seen in a graphic novel. Petersen's drawings are fantastic and quite beautiful. My only problem is that some of the text is hard to read due to font choices, but it's not hard enough to stop me from reading. The concepts might be a little tough for younger children, there is violence and torture, after the book is about war. But, really, I loved it.

36. The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation by Philip Shenon
Nonfiction! I know, I was surprised too. It took me just over four weeks to read this, not necessarily that it was long, but I often found myself reading things extremely carefully. Shenon proved that he is a great storyteller as well as investigative journalist. The book, as the title states, is about the commission that set out to investigate the events of, as well as before and after, 9/11. I highly recommend this book because it gives quite a view into what happened as well as the people who worked for the commission, and of course, our government. Shenon grabs you from the first chapter and drags you down a path you aren't sure you want to go. Somehow he makes this story into more than just a story. My only issue is that Shenon treats certain issues as though the reader should already have known about them when perhaps they were only well-known to people in the DC political scene or those who follow such things closely. Overall I can't say that I enjoyed it, because it was depressing and disappointing (though not unexpected) to read about our failings, but it was an extremely good book.

37. Last Rituals: An Icelandic Novel of Secret Symbols, Medieval Witchcraft, and Modern Murder by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
I've read a couple of reviews comparing Last Rituals with Helene Tursten's The Torso and The Glass Devil that say that Sigurdardottir has nothing new to add to the genre. And that the books are too similar (not plagiarism or anything) and that Tursten's works are the better books. While I don't disagree that Tursten's books good, Last Rituals is not the same. The plots are similar, but the books are very different. I don't think that the comparison is fair and not just because the tones of the books are different. Irene Huss and Thóra Gudmundsdôttir are different, not only because Huss is the police and Gudmundsdôttir is a lawyer, but also because there are parts of Last Rituals that are light hearted and amusing.

I will admit that I completely fell in love with this book and the characters. I hope that Sigurdardottir writes more about Thóra Gudmundsdôttir. I did not find her book to be lacking and perhaps there is nothing new to be added to the genre, but if that's true, I didn't find it at all off-putting.

37 / 80 new reads. 46% read!



Currently reading: Ophelia by Lisa Klein