Book blurb: "The Hunting Accident" is the true life story of a Chicago gangster who is blinded during a shootout and is sent to Stateville Prison where he learns to navigate life under the tutelage of real life thrill killer Nathan Leopold.
The True Crime genre has been exploding over the past several years, so it's no surprise that it has spilled over into the comics arena. There are several interesting and intersecting narratives in this one. Charlie Rizzo tells the true story about his father, Matt, to the author, who researches the story and reports back with this book. The black and white artwork by Landis Blair is fantastic, and I could spent hours looking at all that hatching and crosshatching. Simply wonderful, and it's worth picking this up for the art alone.
I didn't know about the sensational and horrible Leopold and Loeb crime, and it was interesting to learn about it, and Matt Rizzo's connection to Nathan Leopold. This is an interesting look at the crimes at the center of this story, the relationships between fathers and sons, and the power of books, stories, and unexpected friendships. Rating: 4 stars.
146. A Different Pond
"A kid at my school said my Dad's English sounds like a thick, dirty river. But to me his English sounds like gentle rain."
The immigrant experience is both universal and unique, and this picture book for kids explores themes of displacement, family, and making sense of the world around you. I'm delighted that there is more diversity in books available for kids this days, and while I appreciated this one, I enjoyed the art more than the actual text. A question I'd ask parents who read this one to their kids: how do you explain that in America people can work one or two jobs and still not have enough money for food? Rating: 3 stars.
147. Japanese Notebooks: A Journey to the Empire of Signs
Book blurb: Part graphic memoir, part cultural meditation—Igort vividly recounts his personal experiences in Japan, creating comics amid the activities of everyday life, and finding inspiration everywhere: in nature, history, custom, art, and encounters with creators including animation visionary Hayao Miyazaki.
This graphic memoir is an ode to Japanese culture, movies, and Manga, and explores much of what fascinates the author, and in this book he takes us along on the ride. The book is divided into sections that each explore a different topic of fascination. Some were more interesting to me than others, but it's always fun to see what people are drawn to. The highlight of this book is the art. It is wonderful and evocative, and captures a sense of time and place in a way that a camera never could. Something to note is that the author is Italian, and there is a certain way that outsiders look at a culture not their own that is a tad disturbing. A glossing over, if you will, that is no fault of the author, as he is not part of that world, even though the believes he was Japanese in a previous life.
With the above caveats, I'd highly recommend this one to armchair travelers, journal keepers, visual artists, readers of Manga, and anyone who has been, or is planning a visit, to Japan. Rating: 4 sars.
148. Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower #5)
At 23.0%: "Wolves on grey horses out of Thunderclap? Ooh. Delighted with the link to 'Salem's Lot."
At this point you are either all in or you are not. There is not middle ground, no sitting on the fence. I'm all in on this long, strange trip that is The Dark Tower series, and this, the fifth installment, does not disappoint. There are many reviewers who did not love it, but you either buckle in and enjoy the ride, or get the hell out.
There's not much I can say without spoilers, so here's what you need to know. Roland Deschain, aka The Gunslinger, and his ka-tet, aka his posse, are minding their own business and heading to the Dark Tower. Their journey takes them near Calla Bryn Sturgis, which looks like a tranquil farm town, but is no happy hamlet. There is a horror that befalls the townsfolk every generation or so, and our travelers might be asked to help.
There is so much I enjoyed with this one, and if you have not read 'Salem's Lot, read that before you read this one. I love how King spins out this yarn, the new people we meet, the women, the local culture, the multiverse jaunts, and the realization that guns alone will not be enough. Like most great stories, the entire book is buildup for action that lasts five minutes or so, and while most readers complained about that, it's the build up that gives the action scene its power in my opinion. After that cliff hanger of an ending I cannot wait to see what happens next on this road trip, and have the rest of the series lined up and ready to go.
I listened to the audiobook, which is wonderfully narrated by George Guidall. I did miss the superb narration by Frank Muller, who read the previous books, and in the afterword King explains the sad reason for this change. I did not know the man, but having spent countless hours with him in my head, he will be missed.
P.S. I watched the new Dark Tower movie the other day, and it's absolute rubbish. Don't waste your time. Read the books instead. Rating: 4 stars.
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