February Reading Wrap-Up

Yes, I am fully aware that it is 5 whole days into March and that I've already completed 2 March reads. I could say that I wanted enough time to muse over my February book choices in order to write a moving and philosophical essay on reading during this month of Single's Awareness. Or I could say that between two trips to the dentist, a therapy visit, and a pediatrician visit that I've been doing quite a bit of waiting-room reading!

Anyways, onto the reads:

Sir Francis Drake: The Queen's Pirate by Harry Kelsey -- Kelsey writes an incredibly balanced view of "the Queen's Pirate." Kelsey gives Drake credit for his wily cunning and daring expeditions, but indicates that Drake wasn't the only bad ass on the ocean plaguing the Spanish. He also highlights more of the unsavory aspects of Drake's life which includes beheading one of his friends for a trivial matter, knocking-up a negro slave and leaving her on an island, terrorizing his crew, and being prone to rage at the drop of the hat. I don't care. I still think Drake is hot stuff.

Fables: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham -- This is the third book in the Fables series. In it, Goldilocks makes a menacing reappearance, we learn something new about Bluebeard, and Bigby Wolf and Snow White finally hookup (sort-of). Excellent!

The Persistance of Objects by Richard Garcia -- I love the variety in Garcia's poems; he can write about a surreal dream, his mother, a forgotten lover, an enigmatic woman in a blue dress, etc... and all the while his tone is fresh and lyrical.

Best New Poets 2006 edited by Eric Pankey -- Really great poetry by terrific new writers that simply turn me green with envy. I wish I could write half as good as these emerging voices in poetry.

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir -- I loved, loved, loved, this book. It is a thoroughly researched novel about the short life of Jane Grey -- the nine-day queen -- by one of my favorite history writers. Weir's new novel, Lady Elizabeth, is due out in April and I can hardly wait!!!

Lucifer: Children and Monsters by Mike Carey -- What happens when you have a fallen angel, a demonic baby-thing that has been miscarried by a Chaldean priestess for thousands of years, murderous angels on a rampage, a half angel seer girl, and chic who has been invaded by a demonic tarot pack? What you get is the second installment of the Lucifer comic book series and by golly it is awesome.

House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski -- Creepy. That's really all I can say. This book creeped me out in a Blair Witch-ish kind of way. Yes, I got all of the academic satire, but it wasn't enough to make me able to read it when I was alone at night. Good stuff, but creepy, very creepy. Don't read it if you have an upstairs hallway in your apartment that is narrow, always cold, and has a flickering light bulb and it is the only path to the one bathroom in the apartment. Your bladder will not be able to handle the agony.

Sandman: Preludes and Noctures by Neil Gaiman -- This is the first series in Gaiman's Sandman series. In it we are introduced to the Sandman, Death, Cain and Abel, and Constantine. I especially was psyched about all the Batman references and a Justice League shout-outs.