Greg’s Top Reads of 2018 December 12, 2018
Posted by gregoryhatch in Adventure, Book Discussion, Book List, Book Review, eBooks, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Horror, Non-Fiction, Reviews, Science Fiction, Top Ten, Uncategorized.Tags: Book List, book reviews, chaos magic, Clive Barker, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, fiber art, folktale, Grant Morrison, Graphic Novels, Horror, Lovecraft, magic, magick, Science Fiction, witchcraft, witches
add a comment
The Elements of Spellcrafting : 21 Keys to Successful Sorcery
by Jason Miller
A great read for any practitioner or follower of any path. Gives some very practical tips for spellwork and working with spirits.
The Chaos Protocols:Magical Techniques for Navigating the New Economic Reality
by Gordon White
A practical guide that is based in chaos magic but has some great tips for all. Looking about how one can use your individual spiritual/occult practice to deal with the practical concerns of life.
The Invisibles
by Grant Morrison
Though this comic has been out for decades, it was only this year that I got to it. An absorbing graphic novel that explores themes of oppression, control, and the various prices of bucking the status quo.
The Ballad of Black Tom
by Victor D. LaValle
A great example of not only building on top of but expanding the source material. This book starts with the framework of Lovecraft and addresses historical and contemporary issues.
Sheila Hicks : Lifelines
edited by Michel Gauthier
A wonderful visual retrospective of the artist’s work, this volume explores every stage of the artist’s career. Hick’s is a master of color and form and her work is carefully reproduced here.
Promethea
by Alan Moore
Again another graphic novel that had been on my radar but I hadn’t gotten to. Promethea is a story that not only explores mythology and the the last 100 years of occultism but seem to reflect many of the author’s own beliefs.
The Power
by Naomi Alderman
Alderman’s work explores the dynamics of power and gender and how old patterns can reemerge when the world is made new again.
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
by Daniel Mallory Ortberg
A collection of stories about stories, archetypes, and culturally created gender. These tales are filled with horror or uncanniness as Ortberg picks apart the very idea of a fairy tale and our own “norms”.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Book one, The Crucible
by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Read the graphic novel that the Netflix show is based on. There are many differences from the show and this source material and it guaranteed to help tide fans over as they wait for season two.
Clive Barker’s next testament. Volume On
by Clive Barker
A truly terrifying look at what it would be like if our creator came back. An engrossing story, but Barker definitely maintains his horror aesthetic throughout.
Top 7 of 2017 December 13, 2017
Posted by brubakerb in eBooks, Graphic Novel, Movies, Non-Fiction, Top Ten.Tags: History, Movies, Superhero
add a comment
Let me introduce myself since I’m the newest sub at the Reference Desk. You might also see me around the library shelving for the Circulation Department. I’m Byron. I’ve written movie reviews online for Flixster (now Rotten Tomatoes) and published a collection of 365 of those reviews in my book 100+ Years of Movies. Through some entrepreneurial struggles and not having as much leisure time to read I’ve unfortunately fallen short of my reading goal this year. It seemed silly to me to recommend my top 10 when I only read 22 books all year. Therefore, listed in the order I read them, I present my Top 7!
Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert by Roger Ebert • I regularly read about the art of cinema. As the cover says this contains some of the best of Ebert’s writing throughout forty years of his career. If you are only familiar with his reviews, you can sample his essays and unique interviews here too.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates • Journalist Coates has such important things to say about race relations in America. It is not to be dismissed, but will likely require careful repeat reading of passages to fully grasp everything. Glancing at my co-workers’ posts earlier this week I’ve noticed that at least two others have also recommended this work.
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 5: Super Famous by G. Willow Wilson • Marvel has had certain writers reimagining classic heroes to introduce more diversity. Volume 5 in the series about Muslim American teen Kamala Khan is a return to the excitement of the beginning of the series considering I thought Volumes 3 and 4 went a little off track.
March: Books One, Two, and Three by John Lewis • During 2017 I read all three parts of this graphic novel autobiographical series by Congressman John Lewis. Book One is slightly weaker in structure with so much exposition compared to Book Two and Book Three, however taken together they are all very strong. This period of history comes alive in graphic format.
American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard • I’ve been intrigued by this title for quite awhile. I had to wait several months to check out the ebook on OverDrive. I’ve been struggling to understand recent National election results and have felt the country is more divided than united. America is more complicated than two political parties, red states, and blue states. This book dives into North America’s history and uncovers eleven cultural nations that have been vying for power since the beginning.
There’s always a good reason to read… September 18, 2015
Posted by stacey in Book List, eAudio, eBooks.Tags: Book List, eAudio, eBooks
add a comment
But today there’s a special reason to read -eBooks! Did you know September 18th is officially Read an eBook Day? Well -it is! Why not check out (pun intended) an eBook from the Rocky River Public Library’s digital collection. There are plenty of eBooks, eAudio, and magazines to keep you entertained 24/7/365 -and yest, that’s actually, literally possible because it’s the one part of the library that never closes… true fact!
Why not share your love for eBooks with us? Tell us what you’re eReading in the comments below, on our Facebook page, or @RRPL!
enjoy!
Stacey
