Title: Dune, the Graphic Novel Author: Frank Herbert Genre: Science Fiction Format: Hard Cover Pages: 552 Reason Read: Just Because Rating:
My Thoughts
DUNE is my all-time favorite book and I was very excited when I found out graphic novels were being written for it. I enjoyed reading all three graphic novels as I enjoyed seeing my favorite story come to life in a different way than the movies. The artwork was awesome, but I missed the detail and richness of the world and character building of Herbert’s masterpiece. I missed being in each of the characters’ heads or reading Herbert’s beautiful descriptions. Still, I think the graphic novels have their place and can give more insight into the story.
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Title: They Called Us Enemy Author: George Takei Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction Format: Kindle Pages: 212 Reason Read: Book Club Rating:
My Thoughts
I’ve only ever read one other book about the Japanese Internment Camps during World War II. I don’t remember what it was called but I know it was fiction. I was in middle school when I read it and it was how my teacher taught our class about this part of U.S. history. Reading about Takei and his family’s experience in THEY CALLED US ENEMY was very eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Even with what I was “taught” or read about, I didn’t know most of what Japanese Americans went through in these camps. It’s so disheartening that humans are capable of treating other humans like this simply because of their race and nationality.
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Title: The Walking Dead, Volumes 1-5 Author: Robert Kirkman Series: Walking Dead #1-5 Genre: Horror Format: Paperback Pages: 688 Reason Read: Just Because Rating:
My Thoughts
Since I love The Walking Dead TV show so much, I decided to give the graphic novels a try even though I haven’t really enjoyed the other graphic novels I’ve read. Surprisingly, it was a lot of fun to read volume 1. It was just like watching the show with a few differences in the story.
I’m surprised at how quickly the group found the prison. That didn’t happen until Season 3 of the TV show and volume 2 only goes up to issue 12. They didn’t stay at Hershel’s farm very long in the novel and it felt interminable on the TV show. It also didn’t quite go down like it did on the show, which I was expecting, but now it’s got me really curious how certain things are going to happen. I really like that even though I know the story, I’m still being kept on my toes.
Volume 3 was the most different from the TV show. There are characters that I didn’t know existed. And, many of the same characters are different from their TV show counterparts. It’s interesting to see the differences. I’m still enjoying reading these and I look forward to the next volume. However, I’ve decided that I do like TV show Maggie and Glenn better than graphic novel Maggie and Glenn. Maybe, they’ll grow on me.
So much happened in volume 4 and so much of it was different from the TV show. It was so weird to see things that happened in the TV show happen to different characters. Even though the graphic novels came first, I like the characterization of the TV show better. It’s probably because I’m used to them. I also love the actors because they bring so much emotion to the story. I don’t really like graphic novel Carol or Michonne, but I love TV show Carol and Michonne. Graphic novel Maggie and Glenn are growing on me, so that’s something.
I was so looking forward to continuing with this series, but volume 5 did me in. It was too graphic, too vivid, and too disturbing. I knew going into the graphic novels that they would be violent and graphic, but there are some things I just don’t need to see in detail, like a someone being brutally raped and beaten over and over again. That imagery won’t be leaving my mind any time soon. It was so graphic and lasted several pages. I’m done.
I rated the first four volumes 3 stars and the fifth volume 1 star. The average rating is 2.6 stars so that’s why I’ve posted it as 2.5 stars.
Title: One Dead Spy Author: Nathan Hale Series: Hazardous Tales #1 Genre: Informative, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction Format: Kindle Pages: 127 Reason Read: Book Club Rating:
My Thoughts
I didn’t really realize what ONE DEAD SPY was about until after I started to read it. It’s basically American History in graphic novel form peppered with jokes to make the history more fun. Personally, I thought the jokes were stupid and juvenile. I also hated the execution of the story, but it’s middle grade so I think young kids would enjoy them and learn something from them in the process. In that sense, I thought the story was successful. However, while I enjoyed the history, learning, and even the pictures, I would’ve rather read something like this in a historical fiction novel or watch a TV show / movie about it.
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Title: Smile Author: Raina Telgemeier Series: Smile #1 Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction Format: Hard Cover Pages: 213 Reason Read: Book Club Rating:
My Thoughts
I thought SMILE is a cute coming-of-age story. I didn’t realize it was non-fiction going in. Now that I do, I think it was a fun way to tell Telgemeier’s story. I especially liked the walk down memory lane as she’s only a year older than I am. I did want a little more depth. (I struggle with graphic novels for this reason.) And, I couldn’t relate to her completely since I never had braces.
Title: They Called Us Enemy 
Title: One Dead Spy 
Title: Smile