The Restricted Section

I remember as soon as I could drive, every Wednesday after school I would head to my neighborhood comic book store to check out the newest editions. It was this assault of neon green paint, inside and out, and happened to be right across the street from the best burrito place. Wednesdays were happy days.

During these darker days, I find myself frequently turning to the few graphic novels I have in my collection. These are my faves.

Series

Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Locke & Key by Joe Hill
Batman by Frank Miller
Saga by Brian K. Vaughn
Fables by Bill Willingham

Standalones

Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen
Blossoms & Bones by Kim Krans
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
Guts by Raina Telgemeier

Do you have a favorite graphic novel? Let me know, I’m always on the hunt for a new favorite.

P.S. If you are interested in any of these, do yourself a favor and get a month of Kindle Unlimited – which comes with comiXology for freebs. All of the first editions of the series listed above, and some of the second and thirds, are included. While I’m kind of a stickler for comics in physical form, it’s a great way to sample something out in a world were we can’t easily peruse our favorite local shops every Wednesday.

XOXO

As is about to be evident, when I like something I tend to stick with it to the bitter end. Because I’m a terrible Goodreads user (both late to the party and absolute trash at remembering to mark stuff I’ve read), some of these numbers are probably a lot higher than my current tally.

40+ Club

James Patterson (44) – Fave: Along Came a Spider
William Shakespeare (40) – Fave: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

30+ Club

Janet Evanovich (33) – Fave: The Pursuit

20+ Club

Neil Gaiman (27) – Fave: Stardust
Lauren Blakely (24) – Fave: The Real Deal
Stephen King (22) – Fave: On Writing

10+ Club

C.S. Lewis (18) – Fave: Perelandra
Sarah J. Maas (18) – Fave: A Court of Mist and Fury
Carl Hiaasen (17) – Fave: Nature Girl
J.R.R. Tolkien (12) – Fave: The Fellowship of the Ring

XOXO

I first want to acknowledge how weird it is to just drop a normal blog post. My heart and mind are heavy with the current state of the world. Between pandemic and rampant injustice, it’s a lot to take in. It is pervasive in all aspects of my life right now – as a cornerstone of my day job and its impacts to my family and friends. This blog is and always will be a place for love – not just the kissy books kind – but a equality and inclusion kind of love, too. With that in mind, I’m putting conscience effort into my TBR picks this go around (and from now on).

Culture & Current Events

The Complete Poetry by Maya Angelou
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Talking To Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby

Fun & Fluff

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

XOXO

Today I’ve paired some book titles that would make a killer band name along with a favorite song I think fits the name (and likely has nothing to do with the book itself).

There’s a tricksy theme here, can you guess it? If not look for the bonus clue 😛

New band: The Fever (by Megan Abbott)
Hit track: Honest Mistake (by The Bravery)

New band: Things Fall Apart (by Chinua Achebe)
Hit track: Emerge (by Fischerspooner)

New band: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (by Jesse Andrews)
Hit track: Say So (by Dojo Cat)

New band: Emergency Contact (by Mary H.K. Choi)
Hit track: Only Human (by The Jonas Brothers)

New band: The Andromeda Strain (by Michael Crichton)
Hit track: High Horse (by Kacey Musgraves)

New band: The Death Cure (by James Dashner)
Hit track: Circles (by Post Malone)

New band: Bleak House (by Charles Dickens)
Hit track: Mariners Apartment Complex (by Lana Del Rey)

New band: The Undomestic Goddess (by Sophie Kinsella)
Hit track: Don’t Start Now (by Dua Lipa)

New band: The Pleasure of My Company (by Steve Martin)
Hit track: Dancing with a Stranger (by Sam Smith)

New band: The Slippery Slope (by Lemony Snicket)
Hit track: Bad to Worse (by Ra Ra Riot)

*BONUS CLUE*

New band: Get Well Soon (by Jennifer Wright)
Hit track: It’s the End of the World as We Know It (by R.E.M.)

And the answer is…

XOXO