Anansi Boys

This was one hell of a story (pardon the language). The fact that Gaimen is the writer of "Coraline" as well only makes sense, for both possess a deep and rich plot line with a story that stems deeper than most I've read before. At first, I have to admit, this story didn't sit well with me, and it took a while for me to get into it, however, by the end I was completely enthralled. The story follows Charlie Nancy, an accountant tossed into a hidden and legendary world whose existence was entirely unknown previous to the death of his father, an ancient god from an ancient world of animal spirits. This book was entirely unpredictable to me, only adding to its appeal, on top of the story line that sucked me in at the first mention of unknown magical history. This followed the typical story of an underdog coming of age in a way, with some sort of unexpected event kick starting the flood of truth, the great reveal of an entire world previously a mystery. Much like Coraline, this book reveals a history of good and evil, and a destiny that the character simply cannot avoid. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the way Gaimen portrayed the Gods of this world. They are unlike anything from modern religion, apart from perhaps certain African belief systems, and for this reason truly gained my affection. Overall, the book was a really amazing read, flowing well from scene to scene and holding my interest throughout most of it. The ending seemed fitting, and wrapped around nicely with a believable and happy ending to a story that seemed to be heading down a dark path from the beginning. 

Labyrinth

Oh boy, was this a blast from the past. Being that most of the students in this class are 90's children, I am almost positive that I'm not the only one who found this movie to be extremely nostalgic. I grew up with this film, so being able to refresh my mind with its fantastic and original story and imagery was really amazing. The film is a coming of age story set in a world hugely different from our own. We follow Sarah, a young girl left to watch over her baby half-brother, as she makes her way through a series of tests and obstacles within a labyrinth created by the Goblin King Jareth. Seeking to recover her brother, whom she wished away in anger and frustration, Sarah meets a wide cast of characters and learns a bit about herself and life in the process. This film is nothing compared to the CG and animation of present day, but in its own way captures the magic it portrays in a way films of today just don't. Under harder scrutiny though, Labyrinth possess a plethora of common themes and lessons found in fantasy films of the era, and this one focuses on coming of age. Through the trials and obstacles Sarah encounters, she is forced into adulthood. The strange thing I can say I noticed, is the fact that she seems to be so absorbed in a fantasy world from the beginning, which in a way is something that you can say held her back, and yet it is a world of magic and fantasy that ended up being the catalyst she needed to kick start her maturity. We started the film with her reading a book, lines from which she recites throughout the movie, a book about goblins and such not much unlike what the movie seems to be about. It is here that we see the reflection of the world of the labyrinth, the world that provided her the reason and lessons to grow up, to become an adult and leave her childhood behind. All together, an amazing movie, just as good as I remember it being.

The Magicians

Fantasy novels wisp readers away to another world, a world of magic and wonder that can sometimes make the world we actually live in seem dull and colorless. They brighten our childhood and gull us into a sense of wonderment and awe, and provide for memories and ideas that we carry with us well into adulthood. The Magicians is a surprisingly good novel that pays homage to the magical and fantastic stories of so many fantasy writers before him, and provides a haven to those seeking another outlet after the epic conclusion of Harry Potter. The book follows Quentin Coldwater, a young man rejected from the college of his choice and cast into the world of magic and sorcery he seems to be so obsessed with since reading "Fillory and Further." He has lost all sense of wonder in his life and in the world around him, and that passion is reignited with his induction into Brakebills, a college for magic extremely reminiscent of Hogwarts. Grossman's piece has been labelled "Harry Potter for adults," and in so many ways this is true. I love the fact that he takes a childish and popular theme, magic and sorcery, and ties in adult and mature elements, injecting stories of sex, drugs, and apathy among other things into this daring book. This story takes the reader into a world that is a bit more believable, introducing real world problems and themes into this fantasy realm of life and magic. I have always had trouble getting into the genre of fantasy, as far as reading goes, mainly because everything associated with it seems immature in so many ways, and I find it difficult to relate. The Magicians broke that barrier, providing a healthy does of reality with each drop of magic and fantasy, breaking the barriers of what I thought this genre was about, and working to appeal to some of our most basic desires to bring enchantment and wonder to a world that has become dull and oppressive in so many ways.

The Hobbit

As far as epic adventures go, the Hobbit is by far the best epic tale I have had the pleasure of reading. I read it for the first time in fifth grade, and it instantly made my list of top five, so I was eager and excited to read it again after so many years. Tolkein's narrative style kept me glued, and I found myself unable to simply put the book down. The depth of the characters and development of the world in which the story takes place rivals anything I've ever experienced. Every single detail seems to have been thought out and there is this very apparent common history that seems to influence and drive the events of the book while remaining somewhat invisible, not at the forethought of the reader but providing a base around which this tale is written. The story follows Bilbo Baggins, an interesting little hobbit that is tricked into undertaking an adventure of epic proportions, a life changing experience that serves to only fuel his urge to travel and explore in the end. I feel that in the beginning, no one really knew how profound this escapade would be and how hard it would impact his character, but it is something that he obviously would not change by the end of the story. This serves as the prequel to the infamous film trilogy (based off books of the same name and plot), yet it is truly surprising how different the story is from the rest, focusing on Bilbo and his adventure more than the ring of power. It takes place in the same universe, the same middle earth, yet it depicts a story much more different than the tale of Bilbo's cousin and adopted heir, Frodo. It's truly interesting reflecting on the future of the characters and the future middle-earth in respect to the trilogy while making your way through the Hobbit, and I feel that it provides a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the elements of the story. This was a truly eye opening experience for me, and I feel as though reading this book a second time so many years later, I hold a renewed love and understanding for the narrative, being able to understand it on a level I was unable to achieve when i was in fifth grade. Overall, this book is one of my favorites, a beautiful piece comparable to few others.

Interview with a Vampire

I've never seen the film adaptation of this story, but I have seen Queen of the Dammed, the adaptation of the sequel. The book was interesting, a unique tale (for its time) challenging the dark and horrific image of the vampire up until that point in time. This was no Dracula, no Blade, no Underworld, instead it introduced this romanticized image of what a vampire is. To my knowledge and experience, this story ushered in the age of romantic vampires, giving birth to Twilight and other vampire stories alike. This isn't really my kind of story, I feel that in only certain situations does the romanticized image of the vampire really work, and this is not one of them. It opens up this vulnerability and makes the character almost entirely about that weakness. I guess I am somewhat old school in saying that I like my vampires vicious, blood thirsty, and powerful. This is completely opposite of the image painted by Anne Rice in this novel, and where as I enjoy the fresh perspective, my bias wins out in the end. I do however enjoy the fact that she highlights the aspect that whereas a vampires body may be dead, but their minds are still very much human, and that the power and responsibility of the new state and what it takes to maintain are aspects that will ruin and drive that human component to madness and misery.

World War Z

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. This was by far one of my favorite books ever, so easy to get into and truly spine tingling. I took the opportunity this week to read something other than the required reading because I have heard so many good things about Max Brooks and his zombie novels, and I have to admit, he delivered. This was a Q&A style book, broken up into chapters with multiple interviews in each chapter. The novel takes place in a world recovering from a near apocalypse, featuring detailed interviews with survivors of the zombie plague, survivors from all walks of life, with radically different stories to tell, from all across the world. You learn so much about the history, timeline and horror of the zombie invasion through in depth, brilliantly written interviews, personal interviews with a huge cast of characters. There is so much emotion conveyed through Brooks' writing, sending surges of fear throughout your entire body as you cling to every word this person, this completely real and detailed fictional character, has to say. The true horror of this book lies in this hyperrealistic painting it creates in your mind as you make your way through each dark and terrifying page. The book pays homage to the horror genre, only further perfecting the iconic zombie theme. This book was so unique in the way it presented the narrative, and it kept me interested the whole way through. Each interview was like a new short story, and in all honesty, they could all stand as just that, their own short stories. They were completely different from each other and shed light on a completely different aspect of the zombie war than the previous one, yet they all tied together and built up this almost invisible basis which connected every story on this deeper, almost hidden level. All that is left to do after reading this book, is to read it again.

Monster Island

Monster Island is a pretty good zombie novel, again a new take on an old and well established theme. Zombies are difficult to write about, holding an aural and visual appeal that is tough to recreate through narrative. They hold a special place in the heart of the public and the fact that zombie films have played host to a renaissance of sorts in the past few years, it appears as though there is an overall cultural understanding that plays host to exactly what a zombie is and what makes up the character of a zombie, and it is this all encompassing understanding that is worked well in this book. The image of this post apocalyptic world is rendered very well and is in many cases very realistic in depicting the nature and state of the world following the zed scourge. 

The novel takes place many months after the wave of undead began their assault on humanity, which has almost entirely been obliterated. The story is told from varied perspectives around the actions of Dekalb, a man pulling into New York City Harbor, hoping to find AIDS medicine in order to save his daughter, being held as a sort of ransom for the medicine. It is when they encounter an intelligent and free thinking zombie that the plot truly thickens and gets interesting, and it is this element that separates the book from any zombie narrative I've encountered. This novel goes beyond the image of an undead plague and delves into an alternate reality of self awareness as a zombie, and what it's like to live among the zed while maintaining complete conscience and intelligence. For me, that is the true horror of this novel, the tale of a man who must cope with a hunger he cannot truly control, trapped within a cruel and torturous existence.