Saga, Vol. 1 (Saga #1) by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Fiona Staples (Artist)

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When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. 

From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults. 

Wow! I have heard a lot of reviewers talking about this graphic novel and how much they loved it. When I read the synopsis I'll admit that I was intrigued but I have read so many books that have to do with star crossed love so I wasn't sure if I wanted to add another one to the list. I saw that it wasn't very long and that combined with all of the great reviews swayed me into reading it. 

I could not have been more excited while reading this! It starts off with a literal bang with a baby being born and soldiers coming to arrest/maim the two main characters. It was action packed from start to finish and I loved how Brian Vaughan outlined the beginning of the story. The world building was done beautifully and the characters were developed really well for a first installment. I also thought that it was brilliant to have Hazel telling the story along side of her parents in a way. It made for an interesting take on the story and a bit of foreshadowing in a different way. I loved the artwork! It was so colorful and detailed. It had an interesting look to it and I was intrigued by the different races shown throughout the novel. 

WARNING: I feel the need to talk about the violence and sexuality of this book because I know that it will make a lot of people uncomfortable. This graphic novel does not shy away from either of these areas and it shows in the language and artwork. There are quite a few times when certain body parts are shown in all their glory due to one of the characters going to a type of brothel and other sex scenes. I already talked about the action before in this review which should lead readers to assume that there is bloodshed but there are also times when characters that we meet are disemboweled.  If none of that bothers you then this graphic novel is a good choice for you. 

Falling Up by Shel Silverstein

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Millie McDeevit screamed a scream
So loud it made her eyebrows steam.
She screamed so loud
Her jawbone broke,
Her tongue caught fire,
Her nostrils smoked...

Poor Screamin' Millie is just one of the unforgettable characters in this wondrous new book of poems and drawings by the creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. Here you will also meet Allison Beals and her twenty-five eels; Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear; the Human Balloon; and Headphone Harold.

So come, wander through the Nose Garden, ride the Little Hoarse, eat in the Strange Restaurant, and let the magic of Shel Silverstein open your eyes and tickle your mind.

While I was reading Falling Up it brought back the memories and nostalgia from reading Where the Sidewalk Ends. It helped me to remember all of the reasons that I loved it in the first place. All of the poems are so clever, quirky, and funny. There were a few poems scattered throughout the book that had me in stitches. Falling Up is not only a fun read but a quick one that can be enjoyed no matter what age you are. I don't think that I will ever stop enjoying Shel Silverstein's work. He is a master of cute, funny poems! 

4:50 from Paddington (Miss Marple #8) by Agatha Christie

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Elspeth McGillicuddy is not given to hallucinations. Until she witnesses a murder at Paddington Station. But did she? No victim, no suspect, no other witnesses. In fact no one believes it really happened at all. Except her friend Miss Jane Marple, and she's returning to the scene of the crime to discover just exactly what Mrs. McGillicuddy saw.

Also published as: What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw

I didn't end up enjoying this book as much as the other Agatha Christie novels that I have read. I think that the characters in 4:50 From Paddington left something to be desired. I found them to be less exciting than past characters from her stories. This made the story harder to pay attention to and to enjoy. I also thought that the actual story was a bit bland as well. It was well written and a good murder mystery but it was just lackluster. 

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse #2) by Charlaine Harris

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Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is having a streak of bad luck. First her co-worker is killed, and no one seems to care. Then she comes face to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it).

The point is: they saved her life. So when one of the bloodsuckers asks for a favor, she obliges - and soon Sookie's in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved, but she makes one condition: the vampires must promise to behave and let the humans go unharmed. But that's easier said than done, and all it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly....

I am loving this series so far! This story was just as good as the last book with the exception of the author separating the book into two story-lines to follow. I thought that was interesting way to go about it. It was interesting to be able to see the vampires issues and the human issues separated out. I enjoyed getting to see the differences in interactions with Sookie in each because on the one hand she was respected for her abilities/help and in the other arena she was criticized and belittled when she provided aid to others. 

I am hoping that there will be more of Eric in the next book because he interests me. I want to learn more about his past and how he came to be a vampire. I'm not going to lie...I'm shipping Sookie and Eric. I find Bill to be boring and he doesn't seem to really care about her. I know that Eric has his own secrets and motivations but he is a more exciting character. I feel like there is good in him. 

Bridge To Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

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Bridge to teribithia, best book ever talked about Terebithia was a magical land which took shape after Leslie Burke moved to yet another school where she didn't fit in. Prettier than the popular cheerleaders, but too different to be accepted, she'd had to live in a fantasy world all ehr own as no one had ever had the time to listen. She was harassed by the nasty girls who would turn into people like the agitator at the last movie. She observed that her neighbor was treated badly by the bullies on the playground and on their school bus. She sat beside him so they'd leave him alone.

I wasn't a huge fan of this book. The characters all seem bland and uninteresting. I couldn't get into it and I was glad that it was such a short book. Not my cup of tea. I thought that when I didn't like the movie that the book would be better but this was a case of hating both of them. I didn't really care about anything that was happening with any of the characters with the exception of wanting Jess's dad to interact with him more and the ending. I'm not heartless. I thought that the ending was sad but I don't feel that the book was long enough for me to have forged enough of a connection to be as brokenhearted as I probably should have been. Otherwise, I didn't really see the point to the book. I didn't understand why it got awards when I had to fight to get through reading it. 

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

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Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you? 

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neurone disease - Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final 'class': lessons in how to live.

I wish I could put into words exactly what this book meant to me but I don't know if I can. I loved this book for so many reasons. It was not always beautiful and I didn't always like Mitch throughout the book but it was real. The emotions that it displayed and the lessons that Morrie taught struck a cord with me. He seems like he was such a beautiful person. I wish that I could encounter more people with the same ideals as him who believe in loving others and living a full and meaningful life through service and relationships. I feel like the type of person that Morrie was are a rare breed and if they come into your life than you have truly been blessed to have known them. I felt as if I got to know Morrie on a personal level as the book progressed almost as if he became my teacher as well. When the book ended, I felt such a sense of loss. If you are thinking of reading this book please don't hesitate to do so. It is a wonderful book! I'm so happy that I read it and I hope that Morrie's words will stick with me so that I don't forget what is really important. 

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost

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Flirting with the Grave...

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father - the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner - are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

This book has been recommended to me over and over again but I didn't get around to reading it until now. I've heard it compared to both Buffy and Blade and I know enough about each of these movies/TV show to know that is accurate. Cat kicks some serious butt in this book on her own but after she meets up with some of the other characters the action becomes even more intense. I'm talking about bloody carnage! It was one of my favorite things about the book! I also really loved the characters, especially Bones because how could anyone not?! I have to say that I hated Cat's mother though. She didn't seem like she really cared about people including her own daughter but rather tried to guilt them into what she felt was right. She has some issues...I think that she is there to represent the prejudice between vampires and humans. There are other characters that come along that hate all vampires based on limited to no experience with them. Readers get to see both sides of the issue within the book and how Cat is affected by it all. 

There were certain points in the story that I have seen before in other vamp books making things a touch predictable. That didn't stop me from loving the crap out of this book though! I can't wait to read the next installment in the Night Huntress series. I have a feeling it will be just as good as Halfway to the Grave if not better!