Book Review - Comic Book Tattoo

(This post inspired by Tori Amos, but dedicated to Lysdexicuss)

There is an interesting article here about how the cover art was made. 

            Its Tori Amos' 47th birthday today, so I'll be reviewing a book that is pretty much one of my favorite possessions. It is a 500 page graphic novel anthology inspired by her lyrics. If my house were burning down and I could only pick 5 books out of the hundreds in my library to save, this would be among them. I was mildly into comics before this came out, but to be honest it gave me an appreciation for them which I never knew was in me. It likely has something to do with Amos being one of my favorite musicians since I was 11 (although her last few albums haven't really been my cuppa, the first 7 are enough to make my devotion eternal). Also, I'm an art major so obviously visual wonderment has a direct line to my heart. You'll have to forgive me if I start fandoming, comics and Tori Amos together is almost enough to make me orgasm. However since this is a book review, I'll do my best to stay focused.

This is the only image of Amos herself in the book.

             The project was put together by Rantz Hoseley, an old friend Tori wrote (Flying Dutchman) one of her earliest songs for. It starts with an introduction by the increasingly prominent writer Neil Gaiman, another close friend whom she met through Rantz. The book includes 51 stories which correspond to as many songs from across Tori's unimaginably gargantuan repertoire of music. Each story would start with a black page including the song title and lyrics, then the following pages would show the story. There are 80 contributing artists, boasting an assortment of techniques and styles. One of the best things about this book is the variety of visual appeal. It ranges from modern cartoon to detailed illustrations to paintings to collages and everything in between. As an artist, I use this like an inspiration scrap book. I can go back to the stories over and over again to find stimulation to which can help me break through any artistic barriers I might be experiencing in my work. Throughout this post I'll include some single pages from a few of the stories to give you an idea of the diversity in the genres. It might seem like I'm giving away a lot but trust me, this doesn't even begin to scratch at the surface of this iceberg, and I've not included the best ones.

 

             The very best thing about this book is that its not just meant for Amos fans. When the artists were presented with the songs they would be working with, it was made clear that they were not to create comic book "music videos" out of them. They were told to focus their creative energy on making visual representations of how the songs make them feel, rather than designing literal translations of them. Amos asked the artists to present their own interpretations of what the songs mean to them, instead of trying to imagine what they meant for her. Therefore, if her music hasn't been something you've really been into, it wouldn't really effect your enjoyment of the comics themselves. As a fan (or an Ear with Feet, if you're down like that) I really enjoy seeing these alternate realizations of the songs which I've seen in the light of my own thinking for so long. These stories make me see things in the songs I somehow missed before, and I'm always interested in looking at things from a different perspective. 

 

Full list of contributors: David Mack, Josh Hechinger, Matthew Humphreys, Jonathan Tsuei, Eric Canete, Jason Horn, Dean Trippe, Sara Ryan, Jonathan Case, Rantz A. Hoseley, James Stokoe, Tristan Crane, Atticus Wolrab, Kako, Nikki Cook, Drew Bell, Kevin Mellon, Jeff Carroll, Mike May, Jeremy Haun, Amber Stone, Leif Jones, Elizabeth Genco, Carla Speed Mcneil, Kelly Sue Deconnick, Andy Macdonald, Nick Filardi, Cat Mihos, Andre Szymanowicz, Gabe Bautista, C.B. Cebulksi, Ethan Young, Joey Weltjens & Lee Duhig, Omaha Perez, Irma Page, Mark Buckingham, Rantz A. Hoseley, Ming Doyle, Mike Maihack, John Ney Reiber, Ryan Kelly, Alice Hunt, Trudy Cooper, Jonathan Hickman, Matthew S. Armstrong, Neil Kleid, Christopher Mitten, Kristyn Ferretti, Stephanie Leong, Sonia Leong, Peov, Kelly Sue Deconnick, Laurenn Mccubbin, John Bivens, Hope Larson, Emma Vieceli, Faye Yong, Chris Arrant, Star St.Germain, Mike Dringenberg, Paul Maybury, Jim Bricker, Craig Taillefer, Dame Darcy, G. Willow Wilson, Steve Sampson, Neal Shaffer, Daniel Krall, Adisakdi Tantimedh, Ken Meyer Jr., Mark Sable, Salgood Sam, Tom Williams, James Owen, Seth Peck, Daniel Heard, Ivan Brandon, Callum Alexander Watt, Leah Moore, John Reppion, Pia Guerra, Mark Sweeney, Kristyn Ferretti, Jessica Staley, Shane White, Ted Mckeever, Chris Chuckry, Jimmie Robinson, Lea Hernandez Derek Mcculloch, Colleen Doran and Jason Hanley.

"I have been surprised, excited and pleasantly shocked by these comics that are extensions of the songs that I have loved and therefore welcome these amazing stories of pictures and words because they are uncompromisingly inspiring. It shows you thought is a powerful, formidable essence and can have a breathtaking domino effect." - Tori Amos, 2008

Book Review - Inkheart

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke, 2003

This isn't my usual reading material, but occasionally I like to throw back a few YA and stories as breathers, so to speak, between the heavier books. What I think I loved the most about this was that it is a book about a book, and the glorifying of all books in general. If you've seen the movie you know the basic premise, but I promise you the book is very different and a lot better in many ways. I think Dustfinger might be one of the biggest literary crushes I've ever had...is that weird? Cause I totally lust over fictional characters if they're good enough....even though he's kind of an a-hole through much of the story...geez, what does all that say about me? Anyways, so its about a book binder named Mo who can read stories to life. He ends up getting kidnapped by some characters he read out of the book and most of the plot revolves around Mo, his daughter and a bookworm aunt (who for better or worse, reminds me way too much of myself...her home/book sanctuary especially) overcoming obstacles to come out of everything alive and together, acquiring other story-creatures along the way. Meggie, the daughter who is basically the main character, has to find her own ways to outsmart her captors when Mo is no longer there to protect her. 

I thought it was kind of wonderful that this book included quotes from other books at the beginning of every chapter, which kind of encapsulates the driving idea behind that section of the story. The quotes were often so poignant that I'd find myself thinking, "Oh I've got to read that one next!" each time I'd start a chapter. Also, the way she would describe Mo working with the books on his table was enough to have me searching for book-binding classes, which I've had zero luck with by the way. I'm not giving up though, I'm going to look until I find something. It was interesting to learn through an interview that Cornelia Funke actually wrote Mo's character for Brendan Fraser. She sent him the book and told him that he had been her muse. Isn't that neat? That had to have made him feel good, so obviously he took the role for Mo in the movie. I thought he was great in it before I knew about the muse thing or had read the book, although I think his character could've been better had they kept some of the complexities of the book...but eh, it was a kids movie. 

Anyways, all around this was a great YA novel and somewhat of an epic. What I really admire about Inkheart is that it gives you a reason to read another book at every turn, to learn more about this or that character who you get just a glimpse of in this book. I find this is an excellent way to, in a sense, trick kids into wanting to  read more, which I think is fantastic for those who don't just get the urge naturally. I'm excited to read the second book, Inkspell. The only downsides of the book are that there are some continuity issues about the workings and rules of who goes in and out of the books and how, which is probably not noticeable to most readers, and the massive overuse of the phrase "Good Heavens." Although I'm sure the issue with the latter has more to do with it being a translation rather than a fault of the actual author.

Rating: 4 stars

Botany of Desire - Book and Film Review

"The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway." — Michael Pollan

The book is called Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan, which is what the movie (documentary-style) is based on. 


I first encountered this book in a class called Plants and Human Affairs during my second semester in college. When we started reading it I couldn't really imagine getting into a book about plants...it just doesn't sound all that thrilling. I could not have been more wrong. This book gives you a picture of plant evolution from a plant's perspective. It asks not what we are doing to assert control over these plants but how they are actively manipulating us to evolve. We live with the idea that we "domesticate" our plants without considering how they have used us to propagate their species. That idea alone is enough to make you stop right there and wonder.


In this book Pollan explains the history of plant evolution, how co-evolution works, and how the desires and needs of humans have driven plant evolution. He takes the story of four plants - apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. He matches these plants with four human desires - sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control, and wrote four captivating chapters filled with history, trivia, and science. You will never look at any of these plants in the same way again. He warns us against the dangers of mono-culture and the loss of variety in biological organisms that results from it.

You do not need to be a botanist or even an avid gardener to enjoy this book. Anyone who has ever been in the produce section of a grocery store will appreciate what Pollan has to say. This is a fantastic read for the non-scientist. Pollan doesn't put on heirs. He lays out his thoughts as if you were a friend sitting with him in the backyard, drinking some iced tea, watching the bees diligently making love to all their flowers, and considering what we might have in common with them.

Well since I just told you what the book is about, which is also what the documentary is about, there isn't a whole lot left to say. I can tell you that this film was one of the most enjoyable documentaries I have ever seen and watching it was simply a pleasure. It is much less in-depth while still covering the major points of discussion. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is unsure about reading the book (prepare to have your mind changed for you) and as supplementary material to the book itself. I have groups of people over every now and then and if a documentary can command the attention of a room of 20-somethings for over an hour (without even weighing the fascinating material itself) it definitely has my vote. Every time I show this movie people ask me, "Now where do I find the book???"

Review for the Book and Film Combo: A+

If you'd like to purchase the book or movie visit the link included in the title of this post. If you'd just like to check out the movie without purchasing its available on Netflix.  

"How did these organs of plant sex manage to get themselves cross-wired with human ideas of value and status and Eros? And what might our ancient attraction for flowers have to teach us about the deeper mysteries of beauty - what one poet has called "this grace wholly gratuitous"? Is that what it is? Or does beauty have a purpose? (64)" 

— Michael Pollan (The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World)

Book Review - Nice Girls Finish Last

Its been a long time since I've read a book cover to cover in under 2 days. In a handful of hours I pretty much gobbled this book up. At first I was weary, how good could a book by someone named Sparkle Hayter really be? I envisioned a shallow book told from the perspective of a 13 year old boy-crazy, glitter heavy brat. So much for judging a book by its cover. I was delightfully surprised with this comic mystery about a Special Reports newswoman in her late 30s. Her name is Robin Hudson, with an attitude as red hot as her hair. She lives in an apartment on a rather sketchy street in New York, armed with poison ivy plants and a hot glue gun for protection. Her only room mate is her cat, Louise Bryant, whose claim to fame is larger than her own. She has to keep her sharp tongue and quick wit in check when dealing with the yuppies she must impress in the workplace. Will she discover the connection between the murder of her almost gynecologist and a ring of S&M fetishists before Aunt Maureen holds a exorcism in her honor?

Overall Grade: C+ (extremely rooted in the 90s which dates it, and nothing overtly spectacular, but definitely not a disappointment)

 Would I Recommend? Yes. A fast paced, rather easy read with humor. Excellent summer reading. Will be keeping in my personal library for the time being.

Book Review - Lady with a Laptop

           

            A second-rate novelist facilitates a beginners' creative writing workshop over the summer at a New Age center on an island off the coast of Greece. The center offers courses ranging from orgasmic consciousness,  gastric dancing, colonic massages, and shamanism. It is quite farcical with a continuous undercurrent of murder mystery. While the content is often interesting, one is put off by the subplots which are injected frequently throughout the book and then left completely open ended. The characters you want to hear more about are often under developed and the most boring ones have whole chapters dedicated to them. My biggest issue with the book was the main character. He appears to be an alter ego of the writer himself, and unfortunately there is hardly a redeeming quality about his created persona. The man has a pretentious air about him to all of his students, then spends the rest of his time lamenting his lack of recognition in the literary world or reducing every woman in the program to nothing more than sexual objects whose worth is based on the likelihood of his shagging them. He comes off as shallow and spoiled, which is not all that attractive on a middle-aged balding Englishman. If the idea is to make a dirty old man the centerpiece of the novel, he would need to be much more likable to generate any sympathy for his fate. 

Grade: D + (there are some good ideas buried in there beneath all the droning...somewhere)

Would I recommend it? Not Really. Its more of a snoozefest hidden in the guise of a greek holiday novel.