Book 19 - Stardust by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess

Stardust: Being A Romance Within the Realms of Faerie

981 books to go!

This book is worth the read, it's so very good I recommend owning it for your personal collection.

I stayed up really late to finish this book, I was so enchanted and captivated by the story that it was one of those books that I felt I NEEDED to stay up for in order to finish, this hasn't happened to me in quite some time, I'm constantly reading and it's very rare that I have to finish a story so bad that I stay up incredibly late to finish it.

This is a plot thickening, captivating, enchanting story with an ending bought together and wrapped up extremely well. The plot starts when Tristan (a half fairy, half man) travels into the land of Faerie to retrieve a fallen star at the request of a very nasty village girl he thinks he loves. From there as you read you learn so much more, the plot increases, the book gets so exciting and captivating that you must finish it. The romance and love story part of it was the best for me as it reminded me of my love story with my boyfriend, I won't tell you any more about that so the novel might not be spoiled should you wish to read it.

This story pleased me, I have been reading many books but have not been blown away by a magical story in awhile, this is one of the superb stories that I shall remember forever, although it will never take the place of my phantom. I can't wait to see the movie version very soon, perhaps I shall watch it with Shawn during a movie night or on my own that shall be determined.

Book 18 - The winter of our disconnect by Susan Maushart

The Winter of Our Disconnect: How Three Totally Wired Teenagers (and a Mother Who Slept with Her iPhone)Pulled the Plug on Their Technology and Lived to Tell the Tale

982 books to go!

I found this book shortly after I decided to try a tech black out day. Shawn messaged me on facebook with an article about this woman who cut herself and her kids off from technology for 6 months. While reading the article I found out about this book and checked it out of the library.

This book is part blog about disconnecting from technology for six months, part statistical reports about some negative effects of technology spanning over the course of 265 pages. Some it's very amusing, the author uses internet acronyms (like LOL) in text. I liked the effect, cutting off technology had on her son, it was pretty amazing to see what he put his time and effort into during the six month tech break, it makes you think what everyone could do if they took the hours they spent on facebook and put it into a project, reading a book, studying, etc. It's also amazing to see how her family reconnects with each other face to face, person to person during the break.

I would definitely recommend this book, it's worth the read and can perhaps inspire short tech breaks for all of us tech addicts.

Book 17 - The books of magic by Neil Gaiman

The Books of Magic

983 books to go!

This graphic novel written by Neil Gaiman, features four different sections. In each section a young boy named Timothy is taken on a magic tour by four gentlemen at the end he is presented with a choice to have magic in his life or not. His tours are quite adventurous and will have you turning the pages quickly to find out what happens next. Yet another impressive work by Neil Gaiman.

Book 16 - The Sandman Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman

The Sandman: Endless Nights

984 books to go!

This Sandman graphic novel was a pretty easy read. The purpose was to give you a closer glimpse of Dream and his family. Artwork was pretty nice, I enjoyed the 15 portraits of despair the most, although one of them was very sad and creepy.

Book 15 - Death the high cost of living by Neil Gaiman

Death: The High Cost of Living

985 books to go!

While reading this book I learned that there are more extra sandman graphic novels that are available, I will be purchasing them soon to read.

This was another short graphic novel featuring death, at the beginning the main character was getting ready to commit suicide, he was hastily pushed out of the house by his mother, while out of the house he meets Death for quite the adventure.

It's a pretty nice little graphic novel, very good if you can't get enough of Sandman, at the time it was written AIDs was pretty prevalent so there's an interesting, kind of humorous 6 page strip at the end about safe sex and condoms.

Book 14 - Death the time of your life by Neil Gaiman

Death: The Time of Your Life

986 books to go!

This is a brief graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, supplemental to the Sandman series. To my knowledge there are four graphic novels supplementing to his Sandman series, this is the second one I've read.

In this one Death ends up gathering Foxglove and Hazel (two lovers), Hazel's son Alvie, as well as Vito the underwear model and Boris, one of Foxglove's employees. Hazel and Death ended up striking a deal to save her son Alvie, and now Death wants one of these five in return for saving Alvie's life.

Even though this is a short one there was powerful meaning behind it as well as life lessons and a sort of a happy ending....just not so much happy for one of the characters. Worth the read if you can't get enough of the sandman series.

Book 13 - The furies by Mike Carey and John Bolton

Sandman Presents, The: The Furies

987 books to go!

The furies is a supplemental issue to part of the Sandman graphic novel series by Neil Gaiman. This graphic novel features Lyta Hall. Lyta goes to Greece to help heal from the death of her son, instead she is lost in Hades and involved in a mythological battle between ancient Greek Gods.

I loved John Bolton's artwork, every panel resembled a photograph. This is yet another graphic novel I am pleased with.

Book 12 - Neverwhere the graphic novel - Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere

988 books to go!

Originally I read Neverwhere as a novel by Neil Gaiman. While reading the original novel, I learned it was also a graphic novel and a television series produced by the BBC as well. I finally got a chance to sit down and borrow the graphic novel from Shawn to read.

I liked this adaptation of the story. I felt it was very faithful to Gaiman's novel, and it was interesting to see a visual portrayal of each character according to the artist. I found the artwork to be amazing. I also love the story of Neverwhere, it's full of fantasy, action and betrayal.

Book 11 - Shaken by J.A. Konrath

Shaken (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mysteries) (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Series)
Shaken (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mysteries) [Plus Bonus Content] (this is the kindle edition)

989 books to go!

This book is the next installment of a mystery series I have been absolutely thrilled with. I love reading works by J.A. Konrath (A.K.A. Jack Kilborn) and another author he works with Blake Crouch. This was one of the first books I purchased for the kindle when Shawn gave it to me but I recently started to read it on the trains while traveling.

As with all the books in the Jack Daniels series I absolutely loved it. Unknowingly when I purchased the version for the kindle it came with bonus content and two ways to read this book. (E-books are great- and they're only going to get better!) If you purchase the kindle edition you can read the book the way it was intended (in it's non linear format) or you could read the book in a linear format. Of course I chose to read the non linear format that's the way J.A. Konrath wrote it and the way I wanted to read it and I felt it was a great way to make the story work.

The story goes through three different time lines of Jack Daniel's life alternately. One of her first cases, her hunt for the elusive Mr.K and the present. As you read you learn all three of these timelines are tied together to bring Jack to the place she is in now. It turns out to be a suspenseful, edge of your seat read with a wonderfully satisfying ending.

Book 10 - The Crow by J. O'Barr

The Crow

990 books to go!

When I went out last week I learned that The Crow was actually a graphic novel, eager to read it upon learning it's existence I looked it up on Amazon. I found it and decided to order it and have it sent to Shawn so we both could read it. I got my hands on it before he did, just like Fable's #14 LOL.

I was extremely impressed with the graphic novel of the crow. There are some differences between the book and the movie, that's always the case with stories. Oddly enough I felt like I had gleaned more information from the movie version of the story, which is rare because in most cases when you read a book and see the movie, the book is what gives you more detail and more information.

The artwork and writing is just wonderful. Some of the sentences are darkly poetic and will hit you very deeply emotion wise. I wish to pore back over the novel and possibly use some quotes for my face book status updates because the words reach out to me. The love scenes from his flashbacks are incredible as well as sad because you know what has happened to him and Shelly.

This book is definitely worth the read, even if you aren't into graphic novels, you will love it simply because the story is that good. The book was apparently out of print for awhile but it is now available on amazon, check your local libraries too it might be available there as well.

Book 9 - Fables #14 Witches by Bill Willingham

Fables Vol. 14: Witches

991 books to go!

This was a pretty interesting volume for the fable series. The reader will learn more about the dark creature who has taken over fabletown, Beauty and the Beast are surprised with good news....or maybe it's bad, and things finally heat up between two members of the haven. Can't wait until #15 arrives (I pre-ordered) but I have to wait until it's release.

Book 8 - Fables #13 The Great Fables Crossover by Bill Willingham

Fables Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover

992 books to go!

Almost all updated on the fables series. This volume was pretty interesting. The literals were introduced in this volume (they were pretty bad ass), and a fight to save the fables ensued when a powerful literal threatened to end the fables and the universe all together by writing it into existence. Jack Horner also caused somewhat of a ruckus.

This was a funny, exciting action filled read :)