it’s a crazy week for me — a few days in colorado for an event at group publishing, and a few days in the san bernardino mountains with my family and another family. so, i think it’s time to post a week of 2 sentence book reviews!
i’ve got 44 lines for 22 books. the first sentence of each review is a summary, and the second sentence is my opinion. hope you appreciate the brevity!
part 1: five general fiction books
part 2: three general non-fiction and two young adult fiction books
part 3: four illustrated books or graphic novels and one humor book
part 4: four christian living books and three theology and ministry books
Illustrated Books and Graphic Novels
The Griff: A Graphic Novel, by Christopher Moore and Ian Corson
2 stars
Chris Moore’s attempt at a graphic novel about giant birds that invade earth and a motley collection of humans who attempt to stop the carnage. Occasionally funny, often confusing (as if plot points were left out), and mostly worth skipping.
Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama, by Alison Bechdel
5 stars
An autobiographical graphic attempt to understand the author’s complex relationship with her mother. A bit self-absorbed at times, but brilliantly drawn, and ultimately, a wonderful story of reconciliation with one’s own story.
Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History, by Art Spiegelman
5 stars
The holocaust biography of the author’s father, told in graphic form, with animals (in human personification) as the characters. Compelling, moving, and an important creative contribution to Holocaust stories.
Britten and Brülightly, by Hannah Berry
3 stars
Graphic novel murder mystery, told from the perspective of a depressed private investigator. Absolutely stunning illustration technique almost, but doesn’t quite make up for a story that’s confusing at times, and, ultimately, a real downer.
Humor
This Is a Book, by Demetri Martin
5 stars
A perfectly strange collection of stories, jokes, comedic drawings, and bits refusing categorization. Dave Barry with more cynicism; Chris Moore without a storyline; John Stewart and Stephen Colbert without politics or cameras; I’ll read anything Demetri Martin writes from here on out.