Taking the Around the World Reading Challenge

Well, my first month is coming to a close. Posting a book review a week, I now have a reputation to uphold.

In an effort to find inspiration, I signed up for a blog event, Blogging It’s Around the World Reading Challenge, 2015, in which participants agree to read and review a book from each of the six (permanently inhabited) continents in 2015. My take on this challenge is to focus an entire month on each continent.

I started in February with North America, reviewing Nefarious Twit by American Tony McMillen, Through the Woods by Canadian Emily Carroll and Clockwork Angels, a collaboration between American Kevin J. Anderson and Canadian Neil Peart, and Canadian illustrator Hugh Syme.

Next month, I cross the pond. I will review graphic novels by Englishwoman Hannah Berry, Spaniards Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, and Frenchman Jacques Tardi and/or Belgian Edgar P. Jacobs, because what is European-style without ligne claire? I will also include a novel written by a Canadian but illustrated by Croatian Tomislav Torjanac, and on my blog, that counts.

For “Australia month,” which at this point does not have an assigned calendar month, I have a list of 10 authors/illustrators from Australia, New Zealand and Oceania for whose work I am scouring the Internet in the hopes of finding 4.

Things might get a bit interesting after that. I have not yet begun to look into African or South American graphic/illustrated novels, and I am not a fan of manga. I am open to suggestions.

However, for “Asia month” I will suck it up and for the sake of the challenge find something manga to read and review. Hey, I might even find “American manga” and compare it to the original, but that has yet to be decided. What I have decided is to included the graphic novel version of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, an author who was born in Afghanistan and a story which takes place there, even though the script and illustrations were done by Italians.

I look forward to broadening my horizons with new styles as I take this challenge.

Raising Hands In Praise of “Clockwork Angels”

Rush is my all-time favorite band. When I had heard about “Neil Peart’s graphic novel,” I had to read it. While looking for it, which was slowly coming out as 6 serials, I discovered the illustrated novel.

Much to my delight, the graphic novel version, illustrated by Nick Robles, will be available on April 7th. Stay tuned for an update.

Note: I failed to mention in the review that award-winning rock album cover artist Hugh Syme created the cover art and chapter illustrations.

A Chance Encounter “Through the Woods”

Days after getting this book, I had the pleasure of hearing Emily discuss her work as part of a panel discussion at the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE). Talk about coincidence!

What’s your favorite Emily Carroll story?

Nefarious Twit Review

I met Tony at a book fair last fall. “Nefarious Twit” sounded intriguing and turned out to be well-worth the climb.

Where did the ladder lead you?

Introducing Alistair Book

Welcome to my new web series. I am chuffed to be here.