Monthly Archives: January 2009

Understanding Comics

Posted on January 28, 2009 by joshuamneff

I want to start my reviews and recommendations off with what I think is the most important book regarding comics ever published: Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. Although I remain a huge fan of superhero and adventure comics, I’ll be … Continue reading →

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The Amazing True Story of a Teenage Single Mom by Katherine Arnoldi

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Helen Hokanson

Told in drawings, comic book style, this book chronicles the period of Arnoldi’s life between the birth of her daughter and her enrollment in college. Arnoldi’s purpose was simply “to help single moms feel worthy to pursue their rights to … Continue reading →

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Icarus at the Edge of Time by Brian Greene

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Helen Hokanson

Think you aren’t smart enough to read a book about black holes? Think again. After astronomers pick up a faint radio signal, they send a starship out to find its source. Because it will take five generations to complete the … Continue reading →

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Secret Origin

Posted on January 27, 2009 by joshuamneff

Hi there! My name is Josh, and I’ve been reading superhero comics as long as I can remember. Eventually, I wanted to read the stories that influenced superheroes, which led to my discovery of pulp magazines and other thrilling adventure … Continue reading →

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Typical American by Gish Jen

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Helen Hokanson

Despite setbacks of his own making, Ralph Chang is ultimately successful in achieving his goal of a PhD in engineering. He marries Helen, a woman his family would have approved of, and despite some odd ideas about love and marriage, … Continue reading →

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A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All by Luke Dempsey

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Helen Hokanson

In this remarkable story, Dempsey takes birdwatching (which, in his words, serves the social use of “keeping those nerdy kids who have no chance of ever making a real friend out of already overcrowded bars”) and makes it cool. While … Continue reading →

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Enlightenment for Idiots by Anne Cushman

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Helen Hokanson

When Amanda, an up and coming yogini and Idiot guide writer, is sent to India by her publisher to study enlightenment and how to get it, it’s like a dream come true. But after chasing enlightenment from Ashram to Ashram, … Continue reading →

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The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Helen Hokanson

“Normally, I do not associate the words “happiness” and “database,” but this is different”. Thus Eric Weiner begins his journey with a visit to The World Database of Happiness in the Netherlands. Upon being told that he may not like … Continue reading →

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