WEEKEND LIBRARY READING is a feature of Reading In Winter! If YOU make use of your local library, feel free to participate. I work in a library that has a HUGE selection of awesome books, and even when I’m not working I seem to come home with a TON of them, so it only makes sense to showcase some of the beauties I plan to read from my local library over a weekend.
Since Lucas and I visit our local library once a week for their baby programs, I’ve been trying to get in the habit of getting some new books — this is especially good, since I’m on a roll for not buying books this year and have only bought 2 for myself so far! (I’ve also bought two for Lucas — he doesn’t count in the book ban. :))
Here’s what I got last week:
My thoughts:
Penguins Hate Stuff by Greg Stones
When I saw this book in the library I thought, “Penguins! I love penguins and all that penguins do!” Really. I get very excited about penguins. And when I finished this book I thought, “Huh. What a strange little book.” Because it really is. It reminds me of a book called T-Rex Trying which is basically an illustrated book of a T-Rex trying to do things, like paint a house or dunk a basket. But this book is about penguins (who are also awesome, just like T-Rex) and a lot of it really doesn’t make sense, but its saving grace is that the pictures are cute.
My favourites were:
- Penguins hate clowns
- Penguins really like butt warmers
- Penguins really like getting even, and
- Penguins really hate extreme temperatures
Probably not a book to buy, but very cute nonetheless. I like that it wasn’t just a book on what penguins hate, but also what they like, really like, and really hate. It wasn’t really laugh out loud funny to me, but it was really fast and you could flip through it easily in the library or the bookstore.
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
This is a graphic novel that has been on my radar for quite some time. EVERYONE was talking about it, so I knew I had to read it and finally, FINALLY I got the push I needed by seeing it mentioned one last time and I got it from the library. It also helped that I was told it would be a really quick read, possibly one I could finish at the library.
I took it home instead and managed to read it during one of my little guy’s naps. At first I thought it was just okay, just a story about a girl who’s from Russia who falls down a hole and befriends a ghost. But then it takes a very Neil Gaiman-y twist! I knew I shouldn’t have doubted a book that quotes Neil Gaiman on the cover because the story was perfectly creepy and fantastic.
The graphics are nothing to write home about, but it’s not one of those stories where you’re looking for top-notch graphics. It’s just a fun story from start to finish, something a little bit on the dark side, and one that made me want to check out more graphic novels. I always seem to overlook them, but I should try and make an effort to read more!
—
I also flipped through the Mug Cake book and bookmarked a few cakes I’d love to try. A few days later, I made one of them and promptly decided the book had to be returned to the library since the cake was THAT GOOD. So, if you need a little sweetness in your life in the form of a cake, I’d recommend that one! As for The Disappeared, I couldn’t get into the writing and made it only a few chapters in before deciding to stop. Since I’m not reading as many books this year, I didn’t want to waste time on something I just can’t get into.
NOW … onto this week’s books!
1. The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a book I had never even heard about until I saw it on someone’s blog — I can’t remember where, but I remember them saying it was that good. What interests me about this one is that it’s a memoir, non-ficiton book in graphic novel form about the author growing up during the Islamic Revolution. I’ve never really been one for history (really, I was a total failure at social studies!) but this one definitely intrigues me.
2. Blankets by Craig Thompson is another graphic novel that I have heard many, many good things about. I’m a little daunted by the size of the book, but the story about two brothers sounds pretty epic and I’m sure it’ll be a quicker read than I’m thinking it will be.
3. The Doctor’s Lives and Times by James Goss and Steve Tribe is another one I got because it’s Doctor Who. I mean, do I need another reason?
Other than reading these books, the husband is home this weekend, so I’m sure we’ll spend lots of time cuddling our little guy, plus we have plans to visit friends and family. If only it were a little warmer outside and the snow was gone, it would be a perfect weekend!
Have you read these books? What are your weekend plans?
