YALSA Best of the Best 2012 Challenge Update #1

I also marked the titles that I either can’t get because neither of the two library systems I use have them (and neither allow ILLs of audio/visual materials): Whoogles, How They Croaked, Leverage, Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?, Tripping, Curse of the Wendigo (this one I might break down and buy the audio; I helped give a Printz honor to the first book, so I’d really like to hear this one!). And I marked titles that I do not have any interest in reading (many of them because I haven’t read enough of the others in the series):  Super Human, A Stolen Life, Chain Reaction, Wake of the Lorelei, D.C. Comics:  The Ultimate Character Guide, Ring of Solomon, and Salvage the Bones.

Once I removed the already reads, the don’t wanna reads, and the can’t gets, I was left with 50 books. I picked half of those to start with, though I may read them all eventually. I’m tracking on my Goodreads page. I’ve added all the books I’m planning on reading to that shelf, whether I am “currently reading” them (meaning have them at home or checked out) or I am “to read” them (meaning don’t have right now.)

I can comment on A Bride’s Story vol. 1, since I did a rather quick re-read of it this week in preparation for reviewing vol. 3 for Booklist. What blows me away every time I pick up this series is Mori’s stunningly beautiful art. If you know someone who loves traditional crafts, but isn’t a huge graphic novel reader, recommend this one to them. Mori pays close attention to the tremendous amount of work that went into living along the Silk Road in the 19th century. Volume 1 has a long sequence about woodcarving, volume 2 celebrates needlework, and volume 3 left me hungry after its chapter focusing on food. Mori is truly a master of her craft and it is an honor to get to read her books.

Not for me: Why We Broke Up*

Up next: The Notorious Benedict Arnold

Abby

Number of titles read: 5 (of 25)
Titles read:

• The Lover’s Dictionary (Alex Awards)
• Axe Cop v. 1 (Great Graphic Novels)
• The Bride’s Story v. 1 (Great Graphic Novels)
• Wandering Son v. 1 (Great Graphic Novels)
• Daybreak (Great Graphic Novels)

Comments: I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve read so far.  Lover’s Dictionary had a really interesting set up, with each chapter being explained through a word and in alphabetical order, rather than time order.  It was a little too melancholy overall, but read like a real relationship.

Axe Cop was hilarious.  Not great for a straight read-through, I thought, because it can get a little tiresome in its plot development (or lack thereof), but I couldn’t stop laughing with each bit I read.

Bride’s Story and Wandering Son were really only set up for future volumes and so both started subtle and slow.  Both had lovely artwork and I loved both stories.  I can’t wait to see where they go.

Told as if the reader were actually fighting zombies, Daybreak is just awesome.  I loved the viewpoint, the story, the dark, dingy-looking, post-apocalyptic artwork, and the adorable dog that just keeps randomly showing up throughout.

I’m also keeping track on Goodreads.

Not for me: none so far.

Up next: How They Croaked, The Influencing Machine, A Girl of Fire and Thorns, Over Sea Under Stone

Sarah

Number of titles read: 1 (of 25)
Titles read:

• The Notorious Benedict Arnold (Nonfiction Award)

Comments:

I finished The Notorious Benedict Arnold, which was interesting.  I found myself really liking him and wanting everything to turn out differently (until he turned traitor).  I have some comments on GoodReads, but that’s the gist of it.  I have been getting everything in from the library while I’ve been off at trainings, so I’m off to a slow start.  However, I think everything will pick up soon.

Not for me: none so far.

Up next: Anya’s Ghost

Has anyone given up on a book?

Emma: I have a question though: has anyone else taken a book off their list?  I had Shattered Glass on my list and read the first chapter and realized that this was not the book for me and took it off again.

Snow: In answer to your question, Emma, yes, I have given up on a book. (And, as I mentioned there are some I am just not interested in.) As I am not longer serving on a committee, I am embracing my right to put down a book if I don’t want to read it. I started Why We Broke Up twice. Both times I enjoyed it while I was reading it, liking the paintings and the free-flowing wordplay, but both times as soon as I put the book down I forgot about it. When I’d walk through the living room and pass the coffee table, I’d briefly remember that I should be reading it, but I never seemed to want to pick it back up. Finally, the second time I started it (having to go back to the beginning as I’d forgotten what happened), I gave it the Nancy Pearl Rule of 50 and then gave up. Apparently it’s not for me.

Robin: I haven’t given up on a book yet, just picked one out of the stack over another.  As I said, I started Zahra’s Paradise and then got distracted by Axe Cop.  This is my usual mode of reading, and I’m also usually listening to something as well (hence I will be starting Beauty Queens— which I gave up on reading, but have been assured is engaging on audio.)Abby, I really loved the Chime audio — found it much easier to get into in that format.  I love the book, don’t get me wrong, but the audio was just more engaging somehow.