Review: Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is familiar to all Americans. But never has his most famous speech--his 271 indelible words--been presented in such a visual and accessible format.

Graphic artist and Civil War aficionado C. M. Butzer deftly uses a detailed, comic-book style to depict the Battle of Gettysburg; the national movement to create a memorial there; and the quiet day in 1863 when Lincoln delivered his galvanizing speech. Butzer uses only primary sources for the text, drawing from first-person letters and diaries, speeches, and Lincoln's own writing to unpack this series of historical events. The address itself is played out over eighteen pages, with every phrase given a visual interpretation that will resonate with young readers. (Goodreads)

I've been on a Civil war kick recently. No wonder with the new Lincoln movie out with the fabulous Daniel Day Lewis. This is on my list to see in January. I've been listening to Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin on my MP3 player, watching the documentary The Civil War by Ken Burns, surprisingly LOVED the movie Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (i know, it's not really historical) AND got a honk out of the Magic Treehouse chapter book, Abe At Last! (I'm reading the series with my son, in case  you were wondering why I was seeking out my history lessons from children's chapter books)

I stumbled across this graphic novel, new on display at my library and scooped it up. It was a quick read that outlined the people and the politics involved in the Battle of Gettysburg. Geared towards a younger reader, this summed it up quite nicely with some pretty serious pictures along the way.

For someone like me who likes to learn about different points in history but doesn't always know where to start, this is a nice simple intro to a much larger topic.

Rating: Recommend
Purchase: Indie Bound

Any Civil War buffs out there? Any great recommends for me, either non-fiction or historical fiction?

Happy reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Crown

Format: ARC

Source: Bookstore

Challenge: A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

Purchase: Indie Bound (due out June 2012)

I can not tell you how many emotions I went through while reading this book. Talk about psychological thriller. Holy cats! This book was right up my alley. I've had this author on my radar for years now, ever since I picked up a used copy of her first book, Sharp Objects.

Still haven't read that one, of course. I snagged this ARC at work while on break and thought I'd give it a go. It is quite marvelously put together. How intricate of a plot she has created. I find myself getting a very quick opinion of a character from early on in most stories. This one, however, I thought I knew them, but they changed so many times, I did not know what was real and what was not.

Check out this synopsis from Goodreads:

"'What are you thinking, Amy? The question I've asked most often during our marriage, if not out loud, if not to the person who could answer. I suppose these questions stormcloud over every marriage: What are you thinking? How are you feeling? Who are you? What have we done to each other? What will we do?'"

Just how well can you ever know the person you love? This is the question that Nick Dunne must ask himself on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they aren't his. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone. So what did really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife? And what was left in that half-wrapped box left so casually on their marital bed? In this novel, marriage truly is the art of war...

In the beginning, you get the feeling that they are a happy couple or atleast trying to make a good go of it. But then as the back and forth in time chapters roll out, you get a much different picture of both of them. I honestly did not care for either one of them and thought they were just extremely dysfunctional people who can not communicate with each other at all.

Then Amy "disappears" and this whole other side to the story comes up and you are falling fast down a hill full of lies, manipulation and just plain ol' immaturity and self absorption. Like I said previously, I did not really like these characters but they had a train wreck of a story that I could not stop reading. Each chapter will surprise you and the ending will leave you with a resounding, "WTF?"

All in all, impressive read from Gillian Flynn. I will have to get to her first thriller sooner than later.

Rating: Recommend

This is not a wam, bam simple cut and dry case. No. It is a full on psychological thriller you might see on a 20/20 episode. You never know who the good OR the bad guys are. You can't stop reading though and wanting to know how the heck it's going to end. Kudos to Gillian Flynn for creating this dare I say, "edge of your seat" thriller.

Check out her website too. She has a pretty impressive resume!

Author Website:

Gillian Flynn

Happy reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

The Year of Mysterious Giveaways: January 2012

Are you all ready for year 2 of The Year of Mysterious Giveaways?!

(I'm imaging crowds screaming...whoooooooo!)

Well, alrighty then!

I'm going to give it a go and deliver up a variety of mysteries to give away;

from cozy to thriller.

This month I wanted to start out with a little cozy.

The White House Chef Mysteries are really fun reads! I've only read one, Buffalo West Wing, and had a lot of fun with it. My mom has read all of them and just wants to borrow this before I give it away!

Click here for a full description!

I did not feel like I missed out on much not having read the first three books.

Contest Rules:

Contest runs from January 5-January 31

Please reside in the United States

Please be a follower

Please leave an email address

Thanks to Dana Kaye @ Kaye Publicity for sending me a copy to give away!

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

2012 A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

Welcome to the 2nd Annual A-Z Mystery Author Challenge!

My purpose of creating this challenge was to read more of one of my favorite genres while also discovering new authors. Because I did not "complete" any part of the challenge last year as I outlined in the rules, I've decided to change it this year.

This year I am leaving it opened for you, dear participants, to create your own levels.

Read all "A" authors. Read "A-G" authors.

Read "M-Z" Authors. Or continue from last year and try to complete more letters and get the whole alphabet.

You choose. :)

My plan is to continue to seek out those mystery authors I've always wanted to read and discover new ones as well. I will record on my sidebar what I read for this year and post my reviews and links on my challenge sidebar.

One thing I noticed in myself tin 2011 is that I have a ton of authors in the same letters that I really want to read. For example, "G". Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerristen, Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes.

I found myself not wanting to read other letters, just to fulfill it, because my interest was in the a few letters I had already "completed".

So stress be gone. I'll read whatever mystery I want and record as such. It will be a continuing challenge that might take me a few years to complete the whole alphabet. I'm confident it will happen in time. :)

RULES:

• Challenge runs from January 1 - December 31, 2012. Sign up ends February 1, 2012.
• Each letter represents the last name of the mystery author. G= for Sue Grafton.
• You decide your level.
• Mystery genre can include Cozy, Suspense, Thriller, or Noir. All Adult novels please.
• Sign up on Mr. Linky.
• Write a post about this challenge and what letters you want to read. You can list the authors you choose or do it as you go.
• When you post your reviews, mention this challenge and link back to this sign up post.
• New button will be available that will have my new blog address on it. Feel free to grab this one for now!

I look forward to following all of you on your mystery reading adventures in 2012.

Thank you to all of you who participated in 2011 and congrats to those that completed it!

Marce @ Tea Time with Marce

Bev @ My Reader's Block

These ladies read a wonderful selection within the mystery genre.

If you haven't checked them out, please do so!

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child