On November 12, 2018, we lost Stan Lee. I think it was one of those things many (such as myself) did not think would happen for a long time, even though the man was 95 years old and had lived a full, successful life. It was a friend of mine (shout out to K. Hogan) who mentioned Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and how it followed events in the lives of many of the great comic book creators, Stan Lee being one of them. And although I had never ventured out into a Chabon book before, after hearing the description, I figured now was as good a time as any.
The Situation: Josef "Joe" Kavalier is a magician, and a master escape artist. At only 19 years-old, he has pulled off the impossible and managed to escape his Nazi-occupied home of Prague, Czechoslovakia. Once he reaches his final destination of New York City, if he makes it, the plan is to then arrange for the his father, mother, and little brother Thomas to join him. His cousin, 17 year-old Sammy Klayman, has different goals. And after meeting his cousin for the first time when he finally arrives at his home in Brooklyn, and after seeing that Joe has some real talent when it comes to drawing, he understands how he is going to make a life, as well as a name for himself. With the creation of a caped superhero called Superman taking the country by storm, Sammy is ready to get in on not quite the ground floor, but it is still pretty close. Joe may not be entirely convinced - he cannot even speak English all that well yet - but he goes along anyway. And neither of them has any idea how their creations will shape their future.
The Problem: Joe and Sammy are talented, there is no doubt about that. And they have plenty of ideas, and some of them are even good. But of course, if they want to get their work and their names out there, they have to play the publishing game, which means they cannot be their own editors (something that Sammy feels is a slap in his face), and they may have to tone down the one theme Joe wants to hold onto, and that is the theme of fighting Nazis. Negotiations are made, and The Escapist is born, as are a few other characters created by Kavalier & Clay. But the boys' success in comic books is only part of their story. What will follow is actual conflict with real Nazis, both in the country and out, as Joe eventually enlists in the military, only to be stationed in Antarctica. And having his family perform the same escape act out of Europe that he did proves more difficult than he thought. There is even a love story, for both men, though Sammy's will be complicated, more because of the conflict he is having within himself. It seems that while the boys put heroes and adventures on paper, there is plenty that is also happening around them, and they must decide what kind of heroes they would like to be.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction book set during and after World War II. Superman has just been created, and now everyone wants their own piece of the comic book pie and is scrambling to create their own superhero. Most people see comic books as frivolous, not worth the time, and the scourge of the literary scene, but that does not stop their popularity, and their creators and publishers manage to make plenty of money off of them. The first superhero created by Kavalier & Clay is the Escapist, a man who can work his way out of any situation, particularly one that involves locks and chains, any situation where he would be tied or bound up. This is of course a reference to Joe's background in escapology, but it will also serve as a later reference to Sammy as he struggles to come to terms with his sexuality. Throughout the book, the boys will continue to attempt, often successfully, to escape one situation or another, even though it would have sometimes proved better to simply face what they were dealing with. But there was a war going on, in more ways then one, and each of them find themselves fighting their own private battles. As I mentioned before, Chabon based the events in the book on real ones that happened to actual comic book creators. The book is even dedicated to the late Jack Kirby, creator of one of my favorites, Captain America. It is a thorough exploration of a time when one man attempted to take over the world, and men (as well as some women) in capes and tights became the heroes we were looking for.
My Verdict: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay may be a long one, but not like War and Peace long. At 600+ pages, I would say it is about as long as it needs to be. In fact, it probably could have gone on for another 50 pages or so, if only to provide closure on a few things, or follow-up on some of the more minor characters the reader had come to love. The book starts out as somewhat silly, even given the background of Nazi-occupied Prague and Joe's incredible escape from his home country. It is the banter between the cousins, and then the dialogue between Sammy and the publishers (since Joe does not speak much in the beginning) that gives the book an overall feel of a long comic book, but without the pictures and over the top action scenes. The title is incredibly apt, as the reader does follow Joe and Sammy on their adventures, many of them worthy of being drawn and colored in. And like many comic books, the book goes to some dark and serious places, because fighting crime and playing the vigilante is often a dark and serious thing. If Chabon's goal was to honor the greats, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby among them, then I believe he did a great job.
Favorite Moment: When Joe is able to successfully take down a Nazi sympathizer, while also foiling his plot to potentially harm a large crowd at a Bar Mitzvah.
Favorite Character: George Deasey is Chief Editor at Empire Comics, and also a ridiculous human being. He may be antagonistic, especially towards Sammy, but he ends up helping the boys out of more than one tough situation.
Recommended Reading: While a very different book, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller also tows the line between silly and extremely dark when dealing with WWII.
It's here! And I am so happy! I am certainly not alone in being excited for the arrival on On the Come Up, the second novel from Angie Thomas, the writer of the 2017 phenomenon The Hate U Give. Fans have been waiting to see what Thomas would come up with next, and our chance has finally come.
The Situation: Brianna "Bri" Jackson (aka Li'l Law, or Li'l Bit) wants nothing more than to be a rapper, and her chance has come in the form of an opportunity to battle in the Ring. If she wins her freestyle battle against her unknown opponent, it will be the first step towards Bri's massive dream. She already has the pedigree, as nearly everyone in Garden Heights knows. Bri is the daughter of underground rap legend Lawless, who was gunned down when she was only a child, sending her mother, Jay, into a downward spiral of grief and drug abuse. Now Jay is eight years clean, but struggling to keep the gas and lights on for herself, Bri, and Bri's older brother, Trey. Right now, Jay wants Bri's primary focus to be on school and preparing for college entrance exams. But if it is not her future rap career she is thinking about, it is her best friends Sonny and Malik; or her Aunt Pooh (not her real name) and her affiliation with a local gang; or the nonsense that is high school and the security guards that seem to only target the brown kids.
The Problem: With the help of Aunt Pooh as her manager, Bri scores some time in a studio to record her own track. Not only does she manage to basically come up with a new song on the fly, but she has everyone in the studio bobbin' their heads and telling her it's fire. The song is catchy, it is honest, and almost everyone loves it, except of course the gang members who feel as if they have been called out. There is also the concerned parents of some of Bri's fellow students who feel the song is aggressive and incites violent behavior. All Bri wants is to take care of her family, and also be recognized for her talent, and not as the ratchet hoodlum everyone wants to believe she is, which is also how her father's former manager wants to market her. It is one thing when strangers do not understand her, but it becomes something different when those closest to Bri do not seem to understand what she is trying to do either. Ultimately, it will be up to Bri to decide who she wants to be.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel that is placed in the same universe (and I love that Thomas officially has her own universe) as The Hate U Give. The murder, as well as the ensuing riots, that occurred in Thomas' first novel are referenced several times throughout this one. The result has been increased security at Bri's school, making the place feel more like a prison than a place of learning. And while complaints have been made against the school security guards, nothing has been done, even after an incident that ends with Bri being held against the ground at the front entrance. This seems to be the launching point for a number of issues Bri will have to tackle in 400+ pages. If it was not enough to deal with high school, college preparations, and everyone looking at you like you are a drug dealer, Bri must also face the reality of choosing between the gas bill or groceries - rent or the electricity bill. Of course, those are not really her worries, and Jay tells her so, but Bri would love for her mother to not have to worry about that stuff either, as well as for her Aunt to no longer be a Garden Disciple. Not being judged by her lyrics would also be nice, but those who are not in love with them are insisting they mean something they do not, at least not for Bri. Rap music being blamed for social issues is nothing new, and neither is painting a black kid as a hoodlum or gangster, and Bri is tired of it.
My Verdict: This is a story. Yeah, it is good. In fact, it is better than good: It is amazing. Personally, I like it even better than The Hate U Give, but that is not even the point. People are naturally going to hold it up against its predecessor, but this book stands on its own. It is complex, there is a lot going on, it is honest, it is upfront, and it is real. And Bri...oh my Bri. Teenage girls (and boys) can be a trial, and Bri is certainly that for pretty much anyone who has to deal with her. But even though she has a mouth on her, and it frequently keeps her in trouble, I loved it when she spoke up, most of the time. Stories like hers are the kind of stories people need to hear, but are most often ignored. And I am not necessarily talking about the dreams of becoming a rapper, but the kind of everyday nonsense she has to face at school and in her own neighborhood. I said this with The Hate U Give, and people tend to roll their eyes when I do (the first being my own mother), but everyone should read it.
Favorite Moment: When Jay and Bri are having an argument and Jay claps. Out. Every. Word. Thomas manages to write it in such a way that the scene is easy to picture, so much so that I found myself leaning away from the book.
Favorite Character: I wish that Granddaddy (Bri's father's father) was in the book more. Bri's grandmother was hard to take, but her grandfather was delightful, while also being supportive, funny, and incredibly helpful.
Favorite Quote: "High school ain't the end or the beginning. It ain't even in the middle." - Aunt Pooh
Recommended Reading: It feels like a cheat to recommend The Hate U Give, especially as most readers who are picking up On the Come Up have already read it. So instead, I will recommend Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X, as well as Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson.
As always, I was humbled as well as grateful to be asked to review a book, as opposed to choosing one on my own, which is what I usually do. Today I will discuss Saving Washington: The Forgotten Story of the Maryland 400 and The Battle of Brooklyn by Chris Formant, whose rock music mystery novel, Bright Midnight, I reviewed in 2016. When it comes to historical fiction set around wars, I usually end up reading about World War II, so it was an interesting change to instead read about a little known battle that took place during the American Revolution.
The Situation: It is 1776 in Baltimore, Maryland, and 19 year-old Josh Bolton spends most of his days learning the merchant trade under his father. When he is not working hard, he is hanging out with his best friend Ben, a free black man. While the two young men would rather spend their free time simply hanging out at the local bar, The Cat's Eye, spotting young women and enjoying their remaining years of not yet being fully responsible adults, the atmosphere in and around Baltimore is full of tension towards the British. It seems that every day brings a new tax, or news of the seemingly imminent war that is about to break out between the colonists and their British rulers. The city of Boston is already in full-on revolution mode, and it is clear that Baltimore is not far behind.
The Problem: Though Josh and Ben are only 19, they believe it is their responsibility as colonists and men to fight for the freedoms the British continue to attempt to strip away. The danger is real, and the British have the numbers, the ships, the weapons, the training, and every other advantage you could name. Even so, despite the objections of his mother, Josh joins up, and is grateful to have Ben by his side. The training is difficult, but the actual combat proves to be worse. As the group from Baltimore, which will come to be known as the Maryland 400, make their way towards New York City in order to head off their opponents, it becomes clear that the men may be marching into an impossible situation. The British are simply too many and too well-trained, and there will need to be a group to help hold them off while everyone else escapes. Josh and Ben knew the dangers when they signed up, and Ben knew not everyone would be okay with serving alongside a man of color. While neither relishes the idea of not making it home alive, they both believe in the cause of the Continental Army. Amid spies, beautiful women who are not what they seem, commanding officers who are not as respectable as they appear, and an enemy that has nearly every advantage, the two young men commit to the fight and the American Revolution.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in 1776, during the American Revolution. Beginning in early May of that year, the book begins after the unrest in Boston, and before it has truly reached Maryland, though it is not far behind. The book ends just after the little known Battle of Brooklyn, where the Maryland 400 managed the impossible and held off British forces just long enough for the city to be evacuated. While many of the events and locations are real, as are many of the historical figures, some of the main characters - such as Josh, Ben, the westerner Paddy, and the barmaid Tessa - are fictional. The author also admitted to taking a few liberties with the timeline, as the Battle of Brooklyn went on for longer than a mere 36 hours. Ultimately, the book brings to light a turning point in the war that not many people know about. Also, Formant was interested in the reasons why young men (one of them black), who were still teenagers, would see the need to enlist in an army that had the odds stacked against them from the beginning. Fundamentally, freedom was the goal, and it was something that the British had no interest in giving them.
My Verdict: My fear was that this book was going to be boring, and that certainly was not the case. My second fear was that it was going to be riddled with historical inaccuracies. The thing with that fear is that I would have to know a reasonable amount about the events in order to be able to spot those inaccuracies, and I do not. So with that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. And while Bright Midnight was a fun book, this one is more developed story wise. It is evident that Formant took a real interest in the events leading up to and around the Battle of Brooklyn. I think history buffs will enjoy it, if only because it sheds light on an event in American history that few know much about.
Favorite Moment: When a general stands up for Ben, a free black man, when another soldier attempts to deny him a brand new gun due to his skin color.
Favorite Character: Paddy is a westerner who joined the war effort almost as a matter of principle. Plus, if the British win in the colonies, then he reasons it would only be a matter of time before they continued into the continent and attempted to rule over people like him as well. He is big, he is friendly, he is a skilled hunter and fighter, and he watches out for Josh and Ben as if they were his own.
Recommended Reading: I usually do not make a point to read books that deal with actual battle during a war, so when it comes to the themes of espionage and the role women have played in wars, I recommend Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, and The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.
First things first: No, I have not watched the Netflix series of the same name as today's selection, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. And I only vaguely remember the 1999 movie starring Liam Neeson titled The Haunting. Before diving into the Netflix series, I decided it was time to actually read the book and see where the popular show got its inspiration.
The Situation: Dr. John Montague has decided to look for real evidence of psychic happenings, and after hearing the complicated and troubling history behind Hill House, he believes this is the perfect location to conduct his research. While searching for a team to assist him, he comes up with several names that he finds worthy, but only three actually show up, one of them being a man who stands to one day inherit the property. Theodora was selected because of her storied abilities regarding telekinesis, while Eleanor was selected because of an incident she was a part of as a child living with her mom and sister. Luke may some day be the owner of Hill House, but currently he is mostly known among family and friends to be little more than a thief and a cad. It is this motley crew that takes residence inside the foreboding manor, not knowing what exactly they will find.
The Problem: Even before entering the house, the new residents are greeted by the less than welcoming Mr. Dudley, and later his wife, Mrs. Dudley, who is responsible for cooking all of the guests meals. The older couple refuse to be anywhere near Hill House at night, making sure to leave before dark and return in the morning. With each guest assigned to a room of a different color, they all have strange experiences, mostly at night. And while they mostly got along upon their first meeting, the strange occurrences begin to change how the guests relate to and see each other. Eleanor is specifically affected, especially since many of the events taking place inside the house seem directed at her. But even while words appear on walls, doors and windows shut on their own, and an unknown force bangs on walls and doors at night, all four guests insist on staying, and it is unclear if they could leave even if they wanted to.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a horror story written by Jackson in the late 1950s. She wanted to write a ghost story after reading about psychic researchers who studied a house much in the way Dr. Montague intends to. While the events that take place inside of Hill House after the four guests make themselves comfortable are certainly cause enough for alarm, Jackson makes sure to give the house a very detailed and troubled history, one full of grisly deaths and at least one suicide. There is even contention over who should own the house and how it should be looked after. And when it comes to the surrounding village, the people who live around Hill House do not like to talk about it, and are certainly wary of those on their way to visit it. After giving the house a troubled history, and having it staffed by the cold Mr. and Mrs. Dudley, Jackson goes another step further and makes the point of having the house appear unwelcoming, if not downright ugly. None of the guests remark on its charm or beauty, instead opting to understand why many of those who rent it never stay for the full time. For someone like Eleanor, this all may prove to be too much. Out of the four of them, she seems to be the most affected by what happens at the house. It even shapes how she views and treats the other guests. Sometimes she loves having them around, and then at other times she is suspicious of them all and think they are laughing at her. It is more than a ghost story, and more than a haunted house story, allowing the reader insight into how fear can change how people relate to each other, while also revealing things about them.
My Verdict: Seeing as the book is less than 200 pages long, I was interested to see how Jackson was going to fit her classic tale into such a small amount of pages. What follows is a slow, though quite careful and deliberate, unraveling of events that also serves to unravel at least one of the guests. Like any good horror story, there is a steady build-up, and when something does happen, the real horror is in the aftermath and how the guests choose to respond. Where many ghost stories, or stories about haunted houses, seem to fall apart for me is in the why and how, and the same holds true here. Even with the extensive history that Jackson gives to Hill House, it is still unsatisfactory as for as providing context for what is happening. Simply saying that a house is cursed is not enough for me to completely buy into the strange things going on inside of it. If anything, I was more drawn to what the strange occurrences were revealing to Eleanor about herself, and perhaps that was the point.
Favorite Moment: The arrival of Dr. Montague's wife brings with it the expectation that something big is going to happen, if only because the woman is arrogant and insufferable and you hope whatever horrible thing is about to happen will be happening to her.
Favorite Character: Dr. Montague is a little bit silly; his methods are certainly not the best; and though he is the one in charge, he is kinda useless. Even so, out of the four main characters, he is my favorite, and the least tiresome.
Recommended Reading: When it comes to books about haunted houses, The Shining by Stephen King will probably always be my number one. But another book to consider is The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero.
On November 12, 2018, we lost Stan Lee. I think it was one of those things many (such as myself) did not think would happen for a long time, even though the man was 95 years old and had lived a full, successful life. It was a friend of mine (shout out to K. Hogan) who mentioned Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and how it followed events in the lives of many of the great comic book creators, Stan Lee being one of them. And although I had never ventured out into a Chabon book before, after hearing the description, I figured now was as good a time as any.
