Fiction of 2022

 This is a list of fiction read in 2022. 

LATE DECEMBER

Marvels: Eye of the Camera, written by Kurt Busiek and Roger Stern, illustrated by Jay Anacleto (2009)

     A follow-up to the 1994 graphic novel Marvels, as Phil Sheldon grapples with the challenges of aging. 

The Daffodils, by Christi Killien (1992)

     A young girl in western Washington State tries to deal with her friends' shifting interests away from softball as puberty looms. 

Total read so far: 2.  

JANUARY

The War Boys, by Naomi Wallace (1993)

     On the Texas-Mexico border, three college-aged guys scan the border for illegal aliens in this minimalist play. 

In the Heart of America, by Naomi Wallace (1994)

     This play grapples with the Gulf War and the way war and militaries in general chews people up and spits them out as hollow, even if they survive. 

One Flea Spare, by Naomi Wallace (1995)

     Four strangers are quarantined together in this play set during a plague in 17th century London. Reading it during a pandemic added to the dramatic heft.

Slaughter City, by Naomi Wallace (1996)

     This is a highly unusual play about the immorality of the meatpacking industry. 

The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, by Naomi Wallace (1998)

     This is set in a small town somewhere in very rural America during the Great Depression; a tale of outcast high schoolers and their unusual friendship.

Civil War: Young Avengers and Runaways, written by Zeb Wells, illustrated by Stefano Caselli (2006)

     One of the spinoffs of the Marvel Civil War storyline, this was fine. 

What I Learned Last Summer, by A.R. Gurney (1983)

      A simplistic-at-surface-level play of summer 1945 for teenagers on the Ontario border. 

Love Letters,  by A.R. Gurney (1989)

     A very unique, heartbreaking tale of lifelong love between childhood friends and the boundaries of class. RSU Theater put this on in spring 2021. 

The Golden Age, by A.R. Gurney (1983)

     A professor seeks a forgotten fragment of The Great Gatsby as an elderly woman who may possess it tries to help ease her troubled granddaughter's future. This play tried hard but didn't quite reach up to its own aspirations, as the author noted in the introduction. 

Total read this month: 9, bringing total to 11. 

FEBRUARY

All Summer Long, by Bob Greene (1993)

     Just because you're a terrific journalist doesn't mean that you'll do well at trying to write a novel, though the premise of three high school best friends reuniting in middle age for a road trip is fascinating. 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan (2010)

     A dual-narrative tale in suburban Chicago about the messiness of high school, LGBT issues, and friendship. 

Sisters Red, by Jackson Pearce (2011)

     A contemporary retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with plenty of Buffy thrown in. Very enjoyable for a random YA read, found at the OKC library book sale. 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 14.

MARCH

The Guardian, by Nicholas Sparks (2003)

     This Sparks novel could be classified as a dog book thanks to Singer the Great Dane, but it wasn't his best. Found at the OKC library book sale.  

Azumanga Daioh Omnibus, written and illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma (1999-2002)

     A slice-of-life sitcom manga series about a group of friends going through high school. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Osborn: Evil Incarcerated, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Emma Rios (2011)

     Norman Osborn is imprisoned following the Siege storyline in this miniseries. 

Satellite Sam, Volume One, written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by Howard Chaykim (2014)

     The first third of a hardboiled mystery set in 1951 NYC among the cast and crew of the star children's TV series of a failing network. While impressively deep, it was unsavory enough that I doubt I'll finish it. 

Alias: Jessica Jones, written by Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by Michael Gaydos (2000)

     The debut of the character and the adult-centric Marvel MAX line that inspired the Krysten Ritter TV series. Found in a resell haul. 

Batman: Black and White, Volume Two, written and illustrated by various writers and artists (2002)

     A collection of Batman-centric short stories, done in black and white. Found in a resell haul. 

The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde (2001)

     The first of the Tuesday Next series; imagine if Flavia De Luce grew up to be a SHIELD agent in Wonderland. It was bonkers and just about perfect. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl?, written by Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming (2000)

     The first volume of the Image crime procedural series about cops dealing with superheroes.

Spider-Girl: Legacy, written by Tom DeFalco, illustrated by Pat Olliffe (1998)

     The launch of the short-lived MC2 Universe of Marvel Comics, this follows Mayday Parker, Peter and Mary Jane's high school daughter, as she takes up her father's mantle of heroism. Deliberately written in a throwback style in opposition to the grim tone most Marvel stuff had at the time, this was a better idea in theory than on actual pages. 

Beware the Batman, written by Ivan Cohen, illustrated by Luciano Vecchio (2015)

     An underwhelming graphic novel tie-in to a Cartoon Network series. Found in a resell haul. 

Batman vs Superman: Their Greatest Battles, written and illustrated by various writers and artists (2015)

     A tie-in to the Batman vs Superman movie, this is a short story collection of times Clark and Bruce got into fistfights. Found in a resell haul. 

No Exit, written by Jean-Paul Sartre, translated by Stuart Gilbert (1944)

     An odd play set in hell as four murderers provoke each other relentlessly. This, and the other Sartre plays following, were found at the OKC library book sale. 

The Flies, written by Jean-Paul Sartre, translated by Stuart Gilbert (1943)

     A retelling of Aeschylus's Orestria trilogy. 

Dirty Hands, written by Jean-Paul Sartre, translated by Lionel Abel (1948)

     This play is a thriller told mostly in flashback during World War II.

The Respectful Prostitute, written by Jean-Paul Sartre, translated by Lionel Abel (1946)

     This one-act play set in America (Washington, DC) points out how insidious white political power can be on women and non-white people. 

Across the Universe: The DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore, written by Alan Moore, illustrated by various artists. (2003)

     A collection of 1980's stories written by British comics writer Alan Moore. As a short story collection, it was interesting. Found in a resell haul. 

Reggie and Me, written by Tom DeFalco, illustrated by Sandy Jarrell (2017)

     A spinoff of the Archie series following its Riverdale reboot, this is a fascinating multilayered look at a terrible person through the eyes of his adoring Dachshund.  

Summer Ball, by Mike Lupica (2007)

     A height-challenged incoming high school freshman gets a reality check during summer basketball camp. I wanted to like this,, but something just doesn't connect with Lupica's fiction. 

Total read this month: 18, bringing total to 31. 

APRIL

Girl Comics, written and illustrated by various writers and artists (2011)

     A collection of flashfiction and history of IRL Marvel women from an all-female writing, artistic and editorial team. Very interesting. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Pet Sematary, by Stephen King (1984)

      If I remember right, this was written at the peak of his drug addiction, to the point where he has no memory of writing it. Middle of the road King, though the ruminations on death and behavior of cats are interesting. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

The Fall, by Albert Camus, translated by Justin O'Brien (1957)

     A sleazy French lawyer brags endlessly in a days-long monologue to the reader in a run-down bar in Amsterdam. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

The Book of Fate, by Brad Meltzer (2006)

     A presidential aide uncovers a bizarre National Treasure-type plot behind a botched assassination attempt in this thriller, which was better than most. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

The Running Man, by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) (1982)

     There's usually a point to dystopian stories, but this overly-long gruesome action story lacked any moral to make it worthwhile, leaving it an empty mess of a dated future-2025.  Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

DC Secret Hero Society: Study Hall of Justice, written by Derek Fridolfs, illustrated by Dustin Nguyen (2016)

     What if Bruce Wayne met Clark Kent and Diana Prince in middle school? This clever MG graphic novel explores that question, with lots of fun Easter eggs. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Across the River and Into the Trees, by Ernest Hemingway (1948)

     During or shortly after WWII, a middle-aged colonel recalls his time in Italy during the Great War and reflects on his current relationship with his teenage girlfriend. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Maniac McGee, by Jerry Spinelli (1990)

     A very peculiar, but thoughtful, middle-grade look at racism in the 1970s. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

That Was Then, This Is Now, by S.E. Hinton (1971)

     A loose sequel to The Outsiders, this book follows adopted brothers as their paths diverge due to drugs in mid-1960s Tulsa. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

The Trading Game, by Alfred Slote (1990)

     A boy learns about his fractured family while involved in a baseball card dispute with a friend in late-1980s Michigan. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 41.

MAY

Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka (2010)

     A collection of humorous short stories designed to get more boys interested in reading. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

The Voice on the Radio, by Caroline B. Cooney (1996)

     A strange novel about the power of using media responsibilities irresponsibly, and coping with family trauma. The middle of a five-book YA series about a girl who was kidnapped and only realized it as a teen. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, by Billie Letts (1997)

     In small-town 1985 eastern Oklahoma, a ragtag international group of outcasts find a chosen family while operating a restaurant. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Magic, by William Goldman (1976)

     A ventriloquist loses his sanity in this Goldman thriller, which is better example of his work. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Dogland, by Will Shetterly (1998)

     This is a peculiarly subtle novel about racism in the early 1960s in rural north Florida, where the adult narrator lived as a boy on a canine-centric zoo. 

Mudville, by Kurtis Scaletta (2009)

     A weird MG novel about baseball and the complexity of the prison and foster systems.  

Batman: Arkham Knight, Volume Three, written by Peter J. Tomasi and Tim Seeley, illustrated by various artists (2011)

     Set in between the events of the Batman: Arkham video game trilogy, this graphic novel wraps up a prequel to the final game. From a resell haul. 

Forever Evil: Arkham War, written by Peter J. Tomasi, illustrated by Scot Eaton and Jaime Mendoza (2013)

     After Batman disappears, various villains scheme to stop Bane from taking over Gotham City. From a resell haul. 

Age of Ultron, written by Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by various artists (2011)

     The few remaining heroes and villains try to stop Ultron from annihilating humanity in this timey-wimey adventure. From a resell haul. 

All-New, All-Different Avengers: The Magnificent Seven, written by Mark Waid, illustrated by adam Kubert and Mahmud Asara (2015)

     Following a large revamp of the Marvel Universe, a ragtag group of new-ish heroes (including Sam Wilson's Captain America, Jane Foster's Thor and Kamala Khan's Ms. Marvel) seek to re-establish the Avengers as they try to foil one of Kang the Conqueror's schemes. From a resell haul. 

Uncanny X-Men: Poptopia, written by Joe Casey, illustrated by Ian Churchill (2001)

     A British pop superstar starts dating a mutant for publicity purposes while some of the main team investigate a Morlock-like clan living in the London sewers. From a resell haul. 

Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer, Volume One, written by Greg Rucka, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano (2002)

     This peculiar text-based graphic novel features Elektra seeking to take out a target, while Logan aims to protect the target in question. From a resell haul. 

Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer, Volume Two, written by Greg Rucka, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano (2002)

     The lines of professionalism get very tangled as both Logan and Elektra begin to care about the welfare of the teenage girl in the middle of shady doings of her parents' making. From a resell haul. 

X-Treme X-Men: Storm - The Arena, written by Chris Claremont, illustrated by Igor Kordey (2003)

     Storm infiltrates an underground mutant fighting ring in Tokyo. From a resell haul. 

X-Men Unlimited: Hated and Feared, written and illustrated by various writers and artists (2003)

     A series of flashfiction about the mundane details of mutants' lives. From a resell haul. 

Ms. Marvel: No Normal, written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Adrian Alphona (2014)

     Jersey City resident Kamala Khan discovers she has shapeshifting powers, which don't exactly work well when contrasted with her strict Muslim family. 

Ms. Marvel: Generation Why, written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Jacob Wyatt and Adrian Alphona (2015)

     In this second volume, Kamala gains allies in Wolverine, Loki and Lockjaw the teleporting Bulldog.

Ms. Marvel: Crushed, written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Elmo Bondoc and Takeshi Miyazawa (2015)

    Kamala discovers that her hoped-for-boyfriend is actually a fellow Inhuman...but he doesn't see eye to eye with her on the heroic front. 

Ms. Marvel: Last Days, written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Adrian Alphona (2016)

     Kamala finally gets to team up with Carol Danvers as a calamity strikes nearby New York City. 

S.H.I.E.L.D.: Perfect Bullets, written by Mark Waid, illustrated by various artists (2015)

     Inspired by Agents of SHIELD, this first half of the short-lived series doesn't work quite as well, but was somewhat interesting. 

Superman: Shadows Linger, written by Kurt Busiek, illustrated by Peter Vale and Jesus Moreno (2008)

     Superman rescues Lana Lang after she's captured by alien insects. 

Total read this month: 21, bringing total to 62. 

JUNE

Firestarter, by Stephen King (1980)

     Government agents seek a man and his daughter in this thriller, one of King's better works. 

The Princess Diaries, by Meg Cabot (2000)

     Mia Thermopolis is a very talkative and oblivious 14-year-old who learns that she's the princess of a small European country. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

The Princess Diaries, Volume II: Princess in the Spotlight, by Meg Cabot (2001)

     Picking up about two weeks after the first book ends, Mia faces her first interview after Grandmere badgers her into it, while dealing with her mother's elopement with Mr. Gianini the algebra teacher. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

The Princess Diaries, Volume III: Princess in Love, by Meg Cabot (2002)

     This book takes place from Thanksgiving to near Christmas of her freshman year as Mia tries to break up with her boyfriend Kenny. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Victoria and the Rogue, by Meg Cabot (2003)

     A weak imitation of Jane Austen found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

1-800-WHERE-R-YOU: When Lightning Strikes, by Meg Cabot (2001)

     A fun thriller after a high school delinquent is chased by the government after gaining psychic powers. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Darwin's Radio, by Greg Bear (1999)

     A dreary scientific thriller about a pandemic. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

The Cat Who Went Bananas, by Lilian Jackson Braun (2004)

     Even for a cozy mystery, this was pretty unbearably saccharine. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Total read this month: 8, bringing total to 70. 

JULY

War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo (1982)

     This fantastic MG book about WWI is one of those shining examples of forgotten British gems. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Bandbox, by Thomas Mallon (2003)

     While very modern in how content is handled, this look at the 1920s magazine industry runs at a thousand miles per hour in dazzling screwball glory, juggling at least a dozen plot threads. Found at the OKC library book sale.  

Fire from the Rock, by Sharon M. Draper (2007)

     This MG/YA bridge account of the 1958 Little Rock school integration had good intentions, but was extremely heavy-handed and 21st century in dialogue. From the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Guitar Girl, by Sarra Manning (2003)

     This British YA novel looks at a garage punk rock group's rocky rise to stardom. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Lemonade Mouth, by Mark Peter Hughes (2007)

     While not as good as its DCOM adaptation, this YA book about a bunch of misfits who form a band is fun. 

Lemonade Mouth Puckers Up, by Mark Peter Hughes (2012)

     The more somber second half of this duology is a little sweeter and tasty, with a more somber tone. 

Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Olympic Team, by Elise Hooper (2020)

     A well-researched account of female track and field athletes in the late 1920s/early 1930s; would go well in tandem with The Boys in the Boat and Unbreakable.    

Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 77.

AUGUST

Confessions of a Shopaholic, by Sophie Kinsella (2001)

     A fun, lighthearted look at a British woman's attempts to balance her messy love and financial lives. 

Shoeless Joe, by W.P. Kinsella (1982) 

     This novel that inspired Field of Dreams is even more insane, and a good deal creepier. Like the Natural novel, this baseball book really struck out.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky (1999)

     In the early 1990s Pittsburgh suburbs, an emotional high school freshman is adopted by a group of senior stoners. 

Uncanny X-Men: Hope, written by Chuck Austen, illustrated by Ron Garney, Mark Morales and Sean Phillips (2002)

     The beginning of this X-Men series takes a broad look at what Xavier's school, and being a mutant, means to the wider world. 

The Wire-Cutters, by Mollie E. Moore Davis (1899)

     This Western found at the OKC library book sale was a bridge between the sentimental novels of the late 19th century and the Western as we know it today. 

Bitch Planet: Extraordinary Machine, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Valentine De Landro (2016)

     A brutal sci-fi tale of feminism in a future dystopia. 

The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot, written by Marc Guggenheim, illustrated by Adriana Melo (2010)

     Set in the wake of One More Day, this side story looks at the dilemmas and ethics of having a low-key set of powers, and the guilt that may come from using or not using them. 

Cyrano De Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand (1899)

     This famous French play was fine, but I could have just watched the Wishbone episode on it instead. Set in the early 1600s in the same universe as The Three Musketeers. 

Total read this month: 8, bringing total to 85.

SEPTEMBER

The Hucksters, by Frederic Wakeman (1946)

     A rip-roaring tale of advertising during World War II, mentioned in the radio history read last winter. 

James and the Giant Peach, written by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Lane Smith (1961)

     Even for Dahl, this was strange. It also felt pretty hollow, though Smith's illustrations highly influenced the animation style for the movie. 

Coyote vs. Acme, by Ian Frazier (1995)

     A series of thoroughly odd short stories, that were overall unsatisfying besides the title one. 

Such Foolish Affected Ladies, by Moliere (1659)

     The first of a series of plays by a French playwright mentioned in The Breakfast Club. 

Tartuffe, by Moliere (1669)

     This tale of religious hypocrosy was well worth reading. 

The Misanthrope, by Moliere (1666)

     Possibly the most famous of his plays, this was fine. 

The Doctor Despite Himself, by Moliere (1666)

     This goofy play about mistaken identity was written to ease the sting of audiences not enjoying the philosophy of The Misanthrope several months earlier. 

The Would-Be Gentleman, by Moliere (1670)

     This satirizes exalted self-importance. 

Those Learned Ladies, by Moliere (1672)

     This play satirizes pretentious people.

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe (1959)

     This British novel about colonialism in Nigeria is odd and difficult to wade through, but worthwhile. 

  

Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 95.

OCTOBER

The Future Homemakers of America, by Laurie Graham (2002)

     A group of military wives navigates the complexities of life over three decades, from 1952 England to 1980s Dallas. 

Bitch Planet: President Bitch, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Valentine De Landro (2016)

     The second half of a brutal, though effective, sci-fi tale. 

V for Vendetta, written by Alan Moore, illustrated by David Lloyd (1989)

     This is one of the centerpieces of graphic novels as a genre, but the movie is better. Moore can be a little rambly sometimes. 

The Comeback Season, by Jessica E. Smith (2008)

     This YA romance combined the emotional punch of John Green with the awkward sincerity of a DCOM. It somehow works, though not well. In terms of story, a baseball-obsessed wallflower falls for the cute new guy who has cancer. 

Total read this month: 4, bringing total to 99.

NOVEMBER

Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader, by Erika J. Kendrick (2007)

     This was the shallowest, most materialistic MC I've ever come across. Thankfully, I didn't pay for this, as I had a free Thriftbooks credit and needed one more book to get free shipping. 

The Little Old Lady who Broke All the Rules, by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg, translated by Rod Bradbury (2012)

     This Swedish novel that became a Canadain bestseller was a hilarious tale of retirement-home residents who become career criminals out of boredom. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

A Long Fatal Love Chase, written by Louisa May Alcott, edited by Kent Bicknell (written 1866, published 1995)

     This is a melodramatic tale of a doomed romance with a narcissist. She couldn't find a publisher who would accept the tale, and so it lingered in obscurity for over a century before a historian came across it. From the Oklmulgee library. 

 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 102.

DECEMBER

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams (1980)

     This British sci-fi classic really lived up to the hype. 

Batman: Last Knight on Earth, written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Greg Capullo (2019)

     A future-set DC dystopian tale. Not a huge Batman fan, but this was pretty good. From the Okmulgee library. 

The Flash: Year One, written by Joshua Williamson, illustrated by Howard Porter (2019)

     The beginning of Barry Allen's time as The Flash, somewhat influenced by the TV show. From the Okmulgee library. 

1872, written by Gerry Duggan, illustrated by Nik Virella (2015)

     Part of the Second Secret Wars storyline, this Marvel tale is set in the Old West town of Timely. Very imaginative and fun. From the Okmulgee library. 

The Autobiography of Foundini M. Cat, by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer (1997)

     A professor wrote this novel of one of her cats; while a little too academic in tone for a novel, there are truly beautiful moments throughout. 

Total read this month: 5, bringing total for year to 107. When added to the 80 nonfiction books read this year, that brings a total of 187 books read in 2022. 

Nonfiction of 2022

 This is a list of nonfiction read in 2022. 

LATE DECEMBER 

Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America, by Chris Arnade (2019)

      A wealthy man quits his job and roams the forgotten places across the country to get a better understanding of what makes us human. 

Souvenir of Canada, by Douglas Coupland (2002)

     A coffee table examining what makes life in Canada so peculiar compared to somewhere like the States, England or Australia. 

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States, by Sarah Vowell (2015)

      An entertaining, breezy look at one of the forgotten Founding Fathers.

Flying High: The Complete Book of Flyball, by Joan Payne (1996)

      An introduction to the dog sport of flyball from an enthusiast perspective.  

Total read: 4.

JANUARY

Flyball Racing: The Dog Sport for Everyone, by Lonnie Olson (1997)

     An introduction to the dog sport of flyball from a coaching perspective. 

Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism, by Andrei S. Markovits and Steven L. Hellerman (2001)

     An interesting academic look at why soccer didn't really ever develop as a major sport in the United States. 

Cheer! Three Teams of a Quest for College Cheerleading's Ultimate Prize, (also titled Cheer! Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleading) by Kate Torgovnick (2009)

     Friday Night Lights for competitive cheer, following the Stephen F Austin Large Coed, Memphis All-Girl and Southern Varsity teams through the 2006-07 school year. This was fantastic.  

Selling Radio: The Commercialization of American Broadcasting 1920-1934, by Susan Smulyan (1994)

     An academic history of how the medium of radio became so commercialized. 

Doggerel: Great Poets on Remarkable Dogs, compiled and illustrated by Martha Paulos (1990)

     A short collection of canine-centric poetry. 

Baseball When the Grass was Real: Baseball from the Twenties to the Forties, Told by the Men who Played It, compiled by Donald Honig (1976)

     A series of interviews with baseball players from the in-between-the-wars years. 

The Art of Space Jam, edited by Charles Carney and Allen Helbig (1996)

      A behind-the-scenes look at the art that went into the making of Space Jam. Though an awkward size, it was fantastic. 

 Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 11. 

FEBRUARY

Take the Cannoli, by Sarah Vowell (2000)

     An autobiographical collection of essays by historian Sarah Vowell about the Trail of Tears, gun culture, band geekery, and much more. 

Home Game: Hockey and Life in Canada, by Ken Dryden and Roy MacGregor (1989)

    A fascinating look at how the game of hockey infiltrates life in Canada from the local level to the superpowers of the National Hockey League. 

So You Want to Be a Sportscaster: The Techniques and Skills of Sports Announcing by One of the Country's Most Experienced Broadcasters, by Ken Coleman (1973)

      While very outdated, this introductory look behind the microphone of Boston Red Sox radio voice Ken Coleman was mildly interesting. 

Steve and Me, by Terri Irwin (2007)

     A perfect memoir of Steve and Terri Irwin's life together. 

Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story, written and illustrated by Brian Michael Bendis (2000)

     A nonfiction graphic novel about the failed process of adapting a graphic novel into a film during the late 1990s. 

The Land, Always the Land, by Mel Ellis (written 1977, published 1997)

     This book of essays by Milwaukee Journal nature writer was amazing, with very Wendell Berry, Noel Perrin, Thornton Burgess vibes. 

American Idol: The Untold Story, by Richard Rushfield (2011)

     An LA Times journalist delivers a very readable and thorough accounting of the first decade of the hit TV series. 

Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter, by Tom Bissell (2011)

     A stoner journalist/fanboy examines video games of the PS2/PS3/Xbox 360 era and how they kind of defy categorization amongst other forms of media and narratives. 

Look Back with Love, by Dodie Smith (1974)

     The playwright's memoir about her childhood in late-Victorian England. Borrowed from Mrs. Graham. 

Bartending for Dummies, by Ray Foley (2010)

     A Dummies book explaining the basics of bartending, with a lot of cocktail recipes. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 21. 

MARCH

Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects, written by Amy Stewart, illustrated by Briony Morrow-Cribbs (2011)

     Found at the OKC library book sale, this book is a breezy history of gross bugs. 

The Complete Book of Scriptwriting, by J. Michael Stracynski (written 1981, revised 1996)

     An easy-to-read textbook that is fairly outdated, though the conceptual areas were still helpful. 

Awkward Family Pet Photos, compiled by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack (2011)

     A photo book of awkward family pet photos. 

Radio On: A Listener's Diary, by Sarah Vowell (1996)

     Kind of a mid-90's Twitter feed, Vowell kept a diary of pop culture as she tried to listen to the radio every day while in grad school, which led to becoming an NPR contributor and historian. 

Newspaper Blackout, by Austin Kleon (2010)

     This poetry anthology was created by blacking out words in newspaper clippings, arranging them into a blank verse. 

Parallel Worlds: An Anthropologist and a Writer Encounter Africa, by Alma and Phillip Gregory (1993)

     An anthropologist and her novelist husband move to Ivory Coast for about a year. Rather dense, but interesting. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Tales of an African Vet, by Roy Aronson (2011)

     A veterinarian in South Africa shares some of his adventures. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Absinthe and Flamethrowers: Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously, by William Gurstelle (2009)

     At best, this is a guidebook for being scarily eccentric. At worst, this could lead to major property damage (think Jan 6 riots). Found at the OKC library book sale by the author of Backyard Ballistics, the Vision Forum people would love it. 

Total read this month: 8, bringing total to 29. 

APRIL

Do's and Taboos of Using English Around the World, by Roger Axtell (1995)

     This is a nonfiction work on language written for international businesspeople that is fairly dated in its lingo. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Vic Braden's Mental Tennis: How to Psych Yourself to a Better Game, by Vic Braden and Robert Wool (1993)

      A guide for mentally improving your tennis tenacity, and thus your game. 

Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, by Robert D. Putnam (2000)

     A very dense but fascinating sociological look at why community collapsed during the second half of the twentieth century. Would be interesting to see how those trends changed over the first quarter of the 21st century. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

The Calculus Wars: Newton, Leibniz, and the Greatest Mathematical Clash of All Time, by Jason Socrates Bardi (2006)

      An extremely thorough account of the late seventeenth-century feud over who invented calculus. I don't understand math well enough to be very interested. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren (2016)

     A terrific memoir about botany, like if Jemma Simmons wrote a book. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Canadian Sayings 3, by Bill Casselman (2004)

     A collection of Canadian folk sayings. Found at the OKC library book sale.

Fishing for Dummies, by Peter Kaminsky (1997)

     A thorough overview of all things fishing (or technically, "angling"). Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 36. 

MAY

All the President's Men, by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (1974)

     A third-person account of the Watergate investigation, written by the primary reporters on the story. Fascinating as journalism history, but a dense read. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis - Lessons from a Master, by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison (1993)

     This was mainly interesting because Brad Gilbert was Andre Agassi's coach. 

Wallace: The Underdog who Conquered a Sport, Saved a Marriage, and Championed Pit Bulls - One Flying Disc at a Time, by Jim Gorant (2012)

     An oddly distant look at how American Ninja Warrior's Roo Yori got into dog rescue and canine sports. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 39.

JUNE

Harvest for Hope:, by Jane Goodall, Gary McAvoy and Gail Hudson (2005)

     This book advocating for vegetarianism and organic growing practices was very thought-provoking.

How to Tell Stories to Children (and Everyone Else, Too), by Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy (2019)

     This primer on storytelling from New Mexico kindergarten teachers was very much worth reading.  

More Holy Humor, collected by Cal and Rose Samra (1997)

     A collection of church-related jokes and one-liners. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Accidental Presidents: Eight Men who Changed America, by Jared Cohen (2019)

     A very thoroughly-researched history of vice presidents who became president unexpectedly. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, by Richard Rohr (2011)

     Like Chesterton and Flannery O'Connor, about half of what this Catholic priest said seemed very right, and the other half was puzzling and confusing. 

Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 44. 

JULY

The Entertainment Weekly Guide to the Greatest Movies Ever Made (1994)

     A good thumbnail review look at their 100 best picks in a variety of genres. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

The Freedom Writers Diary, by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers (1999)

     A slightly-anonymized account of how a teacher inspired a diverse group of inner-city kids at Long Beach Wilson High School to reach for the sky throughout the late 90s. 

Consuming Passions: A Food-Obsessed Life, by Michael Lee West (1999)

     A food-obsessed boomer shares stories about growing up in the South. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Cinematherapy: The Girl's Guide to Movies for Every Mood, by Nancy K. and Beverly (1999)

     Two movie-buff cousins teamed up to write this entertaining guide to movie selections. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

Instant Analysis: How You Can Understand - and Change - the 100 Most Common, Puzzling, Annoying, Self-Defeating Behaviors and Habits, by David Lieberthal (1997)

     A surface-level self-help guide by a psychologist. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

The Unemployed College Graduate's Survival Guide: How to Get Your Life Together, Deal with Debt, and Find a Job After College, by Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder (2012)

     With a very condescending tone, this wasn't very helpful. Found at the OKC library book sale. 

Dear Cary: My Life with Cary Grant, by Dyan Cannon (2011)

     A memoir by one of Cary Grant's wives about their marriage in the mid-1960s. 

Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 51. 

AUGUST

October Sky/Rocket Boys, by Homer H. Hickam Jr (1998)

     Published under both titles, this memoir tells how a group of high schoolers in rural West Virginia taught themselves rocketry for fun during the Space Race. Found at the Helmerich library book sale. 

How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day, by Michael J. Gelb (1998)

     A pretentious academic love letter to Leonardo disguised as a self-help book. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life, by Mark Manson (2016)

     Jessica recommended this oddly inspirational self-help book.

Party of One: Truth, Longing, and the Subtle Art of Singleness, by Joy Beth Smith (2017)

     While mainly written with women in mind, a well-written acknowledgement of the struggles of being single as a Christian. Found at the OKC library book sale.   

Movie Nights: 25 Movies to Spark Spiritual Discussions with Your Teen, edited by Bob Smithouser (2002)

     This PluggedIn work wasn't as unhinged as Focus on the Family eventually became, but it's still....not great. 

The Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort (1972)

     This was a kind of dictionary. 

She Comes First, by Ian Kerner (2004)

     A guide for how men ought to treat women. 

Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain, by Peter Shankman (2017)

    A less-than-helpful guide to living with ADHD. Found at the Helmerich library book sale.  

The Final Call: Hockey Stories from a Legend in Stripes, by Kerry (2010)

     A referee looks back on his three decades of officiating experience in the NHL. While writing obviously isn't his primary skill, this was done pretty well. 

The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth, by Leigh Montville (2006)

     A solid biography of Babe Ruth. 

The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created, by Jane Leavy (2017)

     This biography had a peculiar structure that made it difficult to read. 

 

Total read this month: 11, bringing total to 62. 

SEPTEMBER

My Life in Dog Years, by Gary Paulsen (1998)

     A memoir of questionable truth of Paulsen's Jack London-ish life and some of the important dogs that took part in it. Found at the Sapulpa library book sale. 

Whedonistas: A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon by the Women who Love Them, edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Deborah Stanish (2011)

     This collection of essays was very interesting, coming from a feminine perspective. 

The Men We Need: God's Purpose for the Manly Man, the Avid Indoorsman, or Any Man Willing to Show Up, by Brant Hansen (2022)

     This was actually pretty good for being a book on masculinity, especially Christian masculinity. 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 65. 

OCTOBER

Bad Trips, edited by Keath Fraser (1991)

     A mostly British/Canadian collection of travel writing about unpleasant journeys. 

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, by A.J. Jacobs (2007)

     This humorous memoir was entertaining and thought-provoking in about equal measure. 

Ol' Boyd: Just Plain Good Readin', by Bill Boyd (1984)

     A collection of columns from the Macon Telegraph and News from the late 70s/early 80s. Found at the Okmulgee library book sale. 

A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee, by Danny Fingeroth (2019)

     This was a very good biography of Stanley Martin Lieber. 

Golf for Dummies, by Gary McCord and John Huggan (1996)

     A very thorough overview of the basics of the mysterious and pretentious game of golf. 

Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 70.

NOVEMBER

Citizen Hearst: A Biography of William Randolph Hearst, by W.R. Swanberg (1961)

     This exhaustive and well-written biography was fascinating; the newspaper tycoon was essentially a combination of Teddy Roosevelt and Donald Trump, and he was probably bi. 

A Backward Glance, by Edith Wharton (1933)

     This autobiography/memoir drags on in the second half, but it was a worthwhile read. 

Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 72. 

DECEMBER

Glory Days Indiana: Legends of Indiana High School Basketball, by Dick Denny (2006)

     Reminisces of an elderly Indianapolis sports reporter with high school and college legends of the recent and far past. 

Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul: 101 Stories to Sow Seeds of Love, Hope and Laughter, edited by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Cynthia Bryan, Cindy Buck, Marion Owen, Pat Stone and Carol Sturgulewski (2000)

     A collection of stories and poems about the joys and miracles of gardening. It seems like a nice hobby to have. 

He Comes Next/Passionista, by Ian Kerner (2008)

     Published under both titles, the sequel/companion to She Comes First, about how women should treat men.  

The Complete How to Kazoo: User's Guide and Practicioner's Manual, by Barbara Stewart (written 1983, revised 2006)

     A tongue-in-cheek guide to playing the kazoo, which feels like it should have been a Klutz book.

Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, by Daniel Okrent (2010)

     A very thorough and interesting history of the curiously awful experiment known as Prohibition. From the Okmulgee library. 

My Father and Atticus Finch: A Lawyer's Fight for Justice in 1930s Alabama, by Joseph Madison Beck (2016)

     An elederly lawyer retells the story of one of his father's cases that may have indirectly inspired Harper Lee's plot for To Kill a Mockingbird. From the Okmulgee library.  

The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex, by Barbara Keesling (2001)

     While aimed at women, this was interesting from a psychology perspective, may be useful as a reference work for fiction. 

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka, by Jon Scieszka (2008)

     A fun memoir of Jon Scieszka's childhood years in Flint, Michigan, in the 1960s/70s. From the Okmulgee library. 

 

Total read this month: 8, bringing total for year to 80. When added to 107 fiction books read, that means I87 read books for 2022. 

Nonfiction of 2021

 A list of nonfiction read in 2021.

JANUARY

America on the Rerun: TV Shows that Never Die, by David Story (1993)
     This look at 1960s sitcoms was very well researched, but horribly written. If it came about 15 years later it would have made good BuzzFeed content, but as a book it's almost unreadable.

Walt Disney: An American Original, by Bob Thomas (1976)

     This was a fascinating look at Walt Disney, though so soon after his death that it's a bit overwhelmingly positive. 

Means of Transit: A Slightly Embellished Memoir, by Teresa Miller (2008)
     This author hosted the OETA show Writing Out Loud, and taught English at NSU and RSU after growing up in Tahlequah. It was a decent memoir, though all the local connections made it more worthwhile. 

Total read this month: 3.

FEBRUARY

Writing to Learn, by William Zinsser (198)
     A guide to how to write nonfiction as a way of educating yourself about different topics. 

One More Croissant for the Road, by Felicity Cloake (2019)

     A London food writer takes a work trip/vacation biking around France. Since I don't know French, it was a bit tedious, but not bad as a travel book. 

Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 5. 

MARCH 

Comedy Writing Secrets: How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny and Get Paid for It, by Melvin Helitzer (1987)

     A decent primer at writing comedy, first a look at styles of humor and then some markets and styles. A lot of humor has changed in thirty years. 

Total read this month: 1, bringing total to 6. 

APRIL

Google Analytics, written by Mary Tyler and Jerri Ledford (2006)

     A primer for understanding Google Analytics, written shortly after it was introduced to the public. 

French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Happy, Healthy Eaters, by Karen Le Bilion (2012)

     A Canadian professor moves with her family to her husband's childhood hometown in France, where she encounters massive culture shock. An interesting memoir/food history/social history.

The Book of Eleven, by Amy Krause Rosenthal (1997)

     An entertaining book of lists about city living in the mid-1990s.

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 11. 

MAY

Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow (2004)

   A punishingly intricate though incredible biography of a rather obscure founding father, and deep dive into colonial America and the messy early years of the United States.

What the Great Ate: A Curious History of Food and Fame, by Mark Jacob and Matthew Jacob (2010)

     Kind of scattershot round-up of mildly-interesting food-related facts through history. 

Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, by Mickey Rapkin (2008)

     Follows three a cappella groups throughout the 2006-07 season; a dorky, wonderful world that would have been great to be part of. This is a fantastic work of creative nonfiction. 

How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization, by Franklin Foer (2004)

     This was an interesting look at the ways soccer illustrates and magnifies social issues around the world. As an ignorant American, most of these countries I was somewhat unaware of, and the issues I was wholly unaware of. Also, the author is the brother of vegan author and novelist Jonathan Safron Foer. 

Total read this month: 4, bringing total to 15. 

JUNE

Has the Mail Run Yet? 12 Years as a Rural Oklahoma Mail Carrier, by L.A. Corey (1976)

     A collection of columns from the Nowata newspaper about the life of a mailman in the 1960s/1970s. Mildly interesting, but not that well-written. 

Bowled Over: A Roll Down Memory Lane, by Gideon Bosker and Bianca Bosker (2002)

     An interesting art book about the knickknacks and accessories of bowling through the years.  

The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr (2021)

     An well-researched look at the alarming and disgusting treatment of  how the church has discarded women throughout history, especially the 20th century.  

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, by Kristin Kobes Du Mez (2020)

     A fantastic, though anger-inducing, read at how Christianity and "America is awesome!!!" nationalism became almost indistinguishable. 

Open, by Andre Agassi and J.R. Moehringer (2009)

     A fantastic biography of a very complicated public figure of the sports landscape. 

Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 20.

 JULY

The Boys of Winter: The Unlikely Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, by Wayne Coffey (2005)

     A slightly tedious history of the Miracle on Ice, with snapshots of players' lives ever since.  

Ice Time: A Tale of Fathers, Sons and Hometown Heroes, by Jay Atkinson (2001)

     Sort of a wannabe Friday Night Lights for hockey, a novelist volunteers as an assistant coach during the 1999-2000 high school hockey season in Methuen, Massachusetts. It was a bit egocentric and distant. 

Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels, by Scott McCloud (2006)

     A breakdown of what goes into the writing process of comic books. 

Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 22.

AUGUST

When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough: A Shooting Survivor's Journey into the Realities of Gun Violence, by Taylor Schumann (2021)

     A shooting survivor's plea for gun reform. Very much worth reading. 

Foreign Correspondence: A Pen Pal's Journey from Down Under to All Over, by Geraldine Brooks (1998)

     An interesting travel book about an Australian girl who became a foreign correspondent as an adult who decides to track down her pen pals from the 1960s/1970s.  

Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 24.

SEPTEMBER

Those Wonderful Old Automobiles, by Floyd Clymer (1952)

     A coffee table book on the earliest automobiles.

How to Divorce a Narcissist and Win, by Marie Sarantakis (2021)

     A how-to book Mom was reading. Extremely helpful. 

Now I Remember: Autobiography of an Amateur Naturalist, by Thornton Burgess (1962)

     The children's author and naturalist reflects on his life in a rambling way. 

 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 27.

OCTOBER

Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale, by Dan Dye, Mark Beckloff and Richard Simon (2000)

     A memoir about the founding of Three Dog Bakery, and the deaf Great Dane who was the chief taste tester. Reviewed for Dog O'Day. 

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk (2014)

     A very dense but interesting look at the neuroscience of how trauma affects our daily life on a cellual level. 

The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American's Church's Complicity in Racism, by Jemar Tisby (2019)

     .This book was very helpful in understanding how the church has been purposely blind to racism. 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 30. 

NOVEMBER 

Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible, by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien (2012)

     A little oversimplification of some of its topics, but a solid reminder that the world of the Bible was very, very different from 21st century America. 

Two Guys Read the Obituaries, by Steve Chandler and Terrence N. Hill (2006)

Two friends who have been friends for fifty years share emails throughout a year, commenting on the lives of famous and ordinary people's obituaries that they've read. More than death, this is a book about friendship. 

Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres of Wilderness, and the Dogged Determination that Brought Her Home, by Theresa J. Rhyne (2020)

     A memoir of how a foster Beagle was found after getting lost in a wilderness area in her new Southern California home. Reviewed for Dog O'Day.

 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 33.

DECEMBER

Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created Sunday in the Park with George, by James Lapine (2021)

     This was a Christmas present for my friend Susan, an oral history of how the modern classic Broadway musical came together. 

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomedy, written and illustrated by Alison Bechdel (2006)

     A graphic novel memoir of a girl growing up queer in in an abusive household in rural Pennsylvania in the 1960s/1970s. 

Total read this month: 2, bringing total for year to 35. When added to 64 fiction books read, that makes 99 books in total read for 2021. 

Fiction of 2021

 A list of fiction read in 2021.

LATE DECEMBER/JANUARY

So Brave, Young and Handsome, by Leif Enger (2008)
An frustrated author accompanies a friend on a cross-country road trip in the early twentieth century in this strange, thoughtful novel.

Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous, written by Joss Whedon, illustrated by John Cassaday (2004)
The X-Men deal with a sentient form of the Danger Room while discovering that Professor X is capable of dubious morals as well. The second section of Whedon's four-book run.

Superman: What Price Tomorrow? written by George Perez, illustrated by Jesus Merino and Nicola Scott (2011)
Following the New 52 reboot of the DC Comics universe, Superman adjusts to the new Metropolis he finds himself in, while Clark grapples with the changing state of the media industry. 

Total read this month: 3.

FEBRUARY

Astonishing X-Men: Ghost Box, written by Warren Ellis, illustrated by Alan Davis (2007)
     Following the events of M Day in House of M, the X-Men move to San Francisco and discover a mysterious teleporting device. 

Avengers: West Coast Avengers Assemble, written by Roger Stern, Bob Harris and Roy Thomas, illustrated by Bob Hall, Al Milgrom, Don Hudson and Luke McDonnell (1985)
     Mid-1980s comics were not well written at all. Hawkeye and Mockingbird start up a new Avengers team. 

Captain Marvel: Higher, Further, Faster, More, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by David Lopez (2014)
     Carol Danvers gets involved in a diplomatic entanglement in space (with assists from the Guardians of the Galaxy) while trying to sort out her new relationship with Rhodey. 

Captain Marvel: Down, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Christopher Sabela, illustrated by Dexter Soy and Felipe Andrade (2012)
     Carol learns that she has a brain tumor keeping her from flying as a mysterious someone targets her neighbors. 

Total read this month: 4, bringing total to 7. 

MARCH

Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid, illustrated by Alex Ross (1996)

     Superman and Wonder Woman nearly bring about the apocalypse due to their lack of hope in humanity leading to chaos and destruction. 

The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt (2007)

     A Long Island middle-schooler bonds with his sister, finds first love and discovers how amazing Shakespeare and the theater as the Vietnam War goes on through 1967-68. A Newbery Honor book, this was fantastic, and borrowed from Megan Graham. 

Bitsy's Bait & BBQ, by Patricia Morsi (2007)

     Two sisters unexpectedly find themselves managing a barbecue restaurant and bait shop in the Missouri Ozarks. Better than expected for a totally random women's fiction read. 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 10. 

APRIL

Nation X, written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by Greg Land and Terry Dodson (2010)

     The X-Men attempt to create a homeland for themselves on an island nation off the coast of San Francisco. A little rambling in scope, but well worth reading about the difficulties quarantining can bring and the fragility of relationships between friends, siblings, classmates, coworkers, enemies and lovers. 

The Dog who Thought He was Santa, by Bill Wallace (2007)

     Set in 1950s-era Hartshorne, Oklahoma, this pleasant read alternates between human and dog perspectives. 

Astonishing X-Men: Unstoppable, written by Joss Whedon, illustrated by John Cassaday (2006)

     The final part of Whedon's X-Men run that ties everything into a satisfying conclusion. 

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire (1995)

     The novel the megahit musical was loosely based on, I didn't enjoy reading this novel because I don't like the source material in the first place, but I was impressed and intrigued by it. 

Total read this month: 4, bringing total read to 14.

MAY

Batman: The Killing Joke, written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Brian Bolland and Tim Sale (1987)

     One of the most famous graphic novels in history; I was unimpressed. 

Those Left Behind, written by Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews, illustrated by Will Conrad (2005)

     The first graphic novel bridging the gap between the show and the movie, this tone feels just like the show. 

Spider-Man: One More Day, written by J. Michael Straczynski, illustrated by Joel Quesada (2008)

     After Civil War, Aunt May is shot and dying in a hospital, leading Pete and Mary Jane to make a deal with Mephisto to unwrite their marriage in order to save her. 

Siege, written by Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by Olivier Coipel, Tom Raney and Francis Yu (2009)

     Norman Osborn leads an assault on the city of Asgard, which has been moved to western Oklahoma following Ragnarok. This leads to the overturn of the Superhero Registration Act. Not the greatest graphic novel ever written, as character development is jettisoned for lots of big explosions.

The Cider House Rules, by John Irving (1987)

     A thoughtful novel about an orphanage in rural Maine during the early part of the 20th century. 

Suicide Squad: Kicked in the Teeth, written by Adam Glass, illustrated by Frederico Dallocchio and Clayton Henry (2012)

     The Suicide Squad is assembled following DC Comics' New 52 reboot of their universe.

Captain Marvel: Stay Fly, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Marico Tanaka and David Lopez (2014)

     Carol discovers that her cat Chewie is actually an alien octopus-type creature called a Flerken, and helps rescue a planet ruled by matriarchal rule that doesn't allow men to choose who they wish to marry. She also meets her favorite rock star.

Captain Marvel: Alis Volat Propriis, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Warren Ellis, illustrated by David Lopez (2015)

     Carol returns to Earth after a year away, discovering that while her friends have missed her dearly, there's a lot that's changed.   

Total read this month: 8, bringing total to 22.

JUNE

Suicide Squad: Basilisk Rising, written by Adam Glass, illustrated by Frederico Dallocchio (2012)

     Picking up following the recapture of Harley Quinn, the Suicide Squad deals with a mole as they battle the Basilisk terrorist organization. 

Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories, written by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, illustrated by Timm and others (1992)

     A collection of short stories based on the 1990s cartoon series, including Harley's comics origin story.  

Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 24. 

JULY

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1990)

     An odd, Britishly hilarious and thoughtful tale of impending Armageddon.

Suicide Squad: Death is for Suckers, written by Adam Glass, illustrated by Henrik Jonsson and Sandu Florea (2013)

     The Suicide Squad embarks on another mission as a spy is in their midst. Also, Harley begins to think of how to leave the Joker behind for good. 

Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog: The Book, by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen and Zack Whedon (2011)

     The script of Dr Horrible, with some insights from the cast. 

Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 27. 

 

AUGUST

Dr Horrible and Other Horrible Stories, written by Zack Whedon and Joss Whedon, illustrated by (2019)

     A variety of short stories, mostly prequels, set in the Dr Horrible corner of the Whedonverse. 

Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers, edited by Nat Gertler (2002)

     A variety of comic book scripts, including one by Neil Gaiman.

The Natural, by Bernard Malamud (1952)

     A cynical look at an aging baseball player who finally makes it into the big leagues. The movie is much better, as the hero doesn't casually rape or indirectly murder people. 

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, written and illustrated by Bryan James O'Malley (2004)

     The first volume of the Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels, an anime-influenced tale about poor people in downtown Toronto. Quirky and highly interesting.  

The Ultimates: Super-Human, written by Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by Bryan Hitch (2002)

     A well-written tale of the founding of the Ultimates, the Marvel Ultimate Universe's version of the Avengers (which greatly influenced the MCU). 

Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 32.

SEPTEMBER

DC Bombshells: Enlisted, written by Marguerite Bennett, illustrated by Marguerite Sauvage (2016)

     An interesting Elseworlds idea exploring what would happen if most of the heroines debuted during World War II, but the concept is much better (multiple threads done in a variety of genres popular at the time) than the book was. Probably won't finish the series. 

Suicide Squad: Discipline and Punish, written by Ales Kot and Matt Kindt, illustrated by Patrick Zircher and others (2014)

     The Suicide Squad accomplishes their final mission and go their separate ways. 

Suicide Squad: Walled In, written by Matt Kindt, Jim Zub and Sean Ryan, illustrated by Patrick Zircher and others (2014)

     After supervillains dismantle Belle Reeve, the newly-freed Suicide Squad has to reunite one last (?) time to rescue Amanda Waller. 

Gotham City Garage, Volume One, written by Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, illustrated by Brian Ching and Aneke (2017)

     In a future dystopian wasteland, Kara Gordon escapes into the desert and fights community in a biker gang. 

Gotham City Garage, Volume Two, written by Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, illustrated by Brian Ching and Aneke (2017)

     Kara becomes Supergirl as the Garage and their allies take on Lex's forces. 

Justice League: Origin, written by Geoff Johns, illustrated by Jim Lee (2011)

      The beginnings of the Justice League following the New 52 reset of the timeline. Banter gets high marks, but the illustration style was very chaotic. 

Paper Towns, by John Green (2008)

     A thought-provoking and emotional novel about a nerdy high school senior and his mysterious next door neighbor.

Batman: Hush, written by Jeph Loeb, illustrated by Jim Lee (2002)

      Bruce Wayne reconnects with a childhood friend, starts to fall for Selina Kyle and deals with a conspiracy where villains act very out of character. 

Total read this month: 8, bringing total to 40.

OCTOBER

Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Deserted Island Diary, written and illustrated by Kokonasu Rumba, translated by Caleb Cook (2021)

     An introduction to manga (Japanese comics) through a goofy MG story. 

The Ultimates: Homeland Security, written by Mark Millar, illustrated by Bryan Hinch (2003)

     The second half of the forming of the Avengers in the Ultimate Marvel Universe, much of which was later adapted into the MCU.

Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection, written by Gail Simone, illustrated by Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes (2011)

     Set in the New 52, Barbara Gordon slowly gets back into the hang of being Batgirl.

Secret War, written by Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by Gabriele Dell'otto (2006)

     Nick Fury leads a handful of heroes on a secret mission in Latveria. Gorgeously painted, story told in an odd mix of comic panels and dialogue transcripts. The basis of the video game Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. 

Red Kayak, by Priscilla Cummings (2007)

    Winner of a Sequoyah Award, this MG novel deals with an inadvertent murder in rural Maryland.   

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan (2005)

    The start of an MG fantasy series about Greek demigods in the modern world; surprisingly good. Riordan and Neil Gaiman would get along well, I think.  

Batgirl: Knightfall Descends, written by Gail Simone, illustrated by Ardian Syaf, Ed Benes and Vicente Cifuentes (2012)

     The second Batgirl New 52 volume, Barbara continues to get her feet back under her while encountering a wealthy and cruel heiress. 

X-Men Origins II (2011)

     Short stories following the origin stories of Nightcrawler, Emma Frost, Deadpool, Cyclops and others. 

Uncanny X-Men: Lovelorn, written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by Mitch Breitwiser, Daniel Acuna and Terry Dodson (2008)

     Colussus tries to get over the disappearance of Kitty Pryde while Emma Frost attempts to help Scott Summers get over his mental anguish. 

Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon, written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by David Aja and Javier Pulido (2013)

     Adventures of Clint Barton and Kate Bishop when they're not saving the world with the Avengers. 

Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 50.

NOVEMBER

An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green (2006)

     A Chicago math prodigy falls in love and learns how to accept failure while on a road trip in rural Kentucky.

Under the Baseball Moon, by John H. Ritter (2006)

     A jazz trumpeter falls in love with a softball pitcher in this tale of magical realism in suburban San Diego in this odd YA novel.  

Hawkeye: Rio Bravo, written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by David Aja and Chris Eliopoulos (2014)

     The conclusion of the Fraction Hawkeye stories, as the apartment dwellers defend their home from an invasion by the Tracksuit Draculas. Clint also deals with the return of his brother Barney.

The Desperado who Stole Baseball, by John H. Ritter (2009)

     A tall tale of a middle grade Western exploring how the professional baseball color line was set. 

Total read this month: 4, bringing total to 54.

DECEMBER

Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson (2004)

     This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is like if Father Tim Kaanaugh lived in Port William, Kentucky. An elderly dying pastor writes his life story in a letter to his seven-year-old son in 1956 Iowa. 

Riverdale, Volume One, written and illustrated by various writers and artists (2015)

     A prequel graphic novel setting up the events of the TV series, which confirmed that it's not my thing. 

Sunday in the Park with George, written by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim (1984)

     An odd, but beautiful, musical script of a modern classic. 

Runaways: Pride and Joy, written by Brian Vaughn, illustrated by Adrian Alphona (2005)

     The first volume of the Runaways series, which was solid but the concept has become less impactful with time. 

The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan (2006)

     Percy, his Cyclops brother Tyson and Annabeth travel to the Bermuda Triangle to rescue Grover the satyr in the second book of the series. 

The Titan's Curse, by Rick Riordan (2007)

     Percy, Thalia, Annabeth and Grover go on a road trip to save two of Hades' children. 

The Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan (2008)

     Luke's forces attack Camp Half-Blood and the Labyrinth in the fourth book of the series. 

The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan (2009)

     The Titans finally attack New York City and Olympus in this final novel of the series. 

Ultimate Fantastic Four: The Fantastic, written by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar (2002)

     The first volume of the Ultimate Fantastic Four series. 

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Total read this month: 9, bringing total for year to 63.