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My fundraising efforts for STAGE; The Production have been on full-force this month. It is keeping me out of trouble and totally distracted from things like properly covering the TRC, applying for scholarships and reading more books. Despite all that, it feels good being a voice for Mental Health Awareness in 2 different ways this month. (via Mad Pride & STAGE)
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August/ September | October | November | December/ January / February 2016
April, where did you go?
I’ve been really busy with University applications and trying to find myself a job. I didn’t read or write as much as I wanted to this month, but I am being productive. Yippie!
I picked up a small collection of H.P. Lovecraft’s work and I just need to say this right now, I am enamored. Blown away by the way he uses words. The way his stories aren’t in-your-face freaky, but totally elegant and classy. So far I’ve read Rats in the Walls, the Picture in the House and the Outsider. I missed my bus stop because I was SO INTO THE BOOK (first thing for everything, right?). Now, I have to read aloud because it is too incredible to keep in my head; I need to experience it with more of my senses. Don’t worry, I don’t read aloud on transit… just in parks.
» April 7.
EERIE Archives Vol 1 by Dark Horse Comics.
The first 5 EERIE! horror comics compiled from their release in 1966. Colour and content are all fantastic quality. I especially enjoyed reading advertisements from the original comics.
Keep an eye out, if you’ve ever wanted to have your own pet monkey for $20! :}
»April 13.
Tank Girl: The Odyssey by Peter Milligan and Jamie Hewlett.
A tribute to Homer’s the Odyssey. Booga is plagued by Hollywood producers while Tank Girl is away. Their son, Telemakeus tries to contact her, and chaos ensues. The writers are clever and witty, but I’ve never read the original story by Homer, so I can’t tell you if they stayed true to the original.
» April 18.
QU33R complied by Rob Kirby.
Artists included are: Amanda Verwey, Carlo Quispe, Carrie McNinch, Christine Smith, Craig Bostick, David Kelly, Dylan “NDR” Edwards, Edie Fake, Eric Kostiuk Williams, Ivan Velez Jr., Jennifer Camper, Jose-Luis Olivares, Justin Hall, Kris Dresen , L. Nichols, Marian Runk, Michael Fahy, Rick Worley, Rob Kirby, Sasha Steinberg, Sina Sparrow, Steve MacIsaac, Terrance Griep, and Tyler Cohen.
» April 27.
The Sweeter Side of R.Crumb.
A collection of Robert Crumb’s drawings. The intro says that he is trying to get more females to like his work… now I can’t tell if this book is one big joke or if he is sincerely generalizing women by thinking we’re going to want pictures of cats and children, landscapes and clothing. I know that he is trying to show his ‘sweeter side’, but I like his normal work WAY better than what is in this book. – Female Opinion.
January | February | March | April |May | June | July | August/ September | October | November | December/ January / February 2016
I’m still having a Graphic Book-Binge.
» Feb 2. 2015
Tank Girl: Apocalypse by Alan Grant.
I HAVE A HUGE CRUSH ON HER! If she was real, I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself. She is just too cool. Attitude, confidence, style, the way she talks – Tank Girl is everything. Maybe not the BEST role model in terms of her alcohol/drug consumption, but her free thinking and fix-shit-up philosophy is something to aspire to. IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE STOP READING THIS AND GO WATCH TANK GIRL!!!
In Apocalypse, Tank Girl gets knocked up by a mutant kangaroo and the world is coming to an end. Grant did a good job satirizing different apocalyptic world views that are still relative. Its pretty much a huge joke about the coming of the END and I was really enjoying the way he poked fun at it. Keep an eye out for the one-legged “messiah”.
She’s pretty groovy!
» Feb 4.
Sloth by Gilbert Hernandez. Interesting concept with nicely drawn illustrations. I got really confused at the end with the goat … but if I tell you anymore, I’ll ruin it.
» Feb 5.
Orochi:Blood by Kazuo Umezu. Interesting story about two sisters and a time-drifter who tries to make their lives better. Think jealousy, violence, trickery and abuse. I started the book loving a character but felt like I had betrayed her at the end as my feelings began to change. I finished feeling kind-of confused, but I think it may be the last book in a series… Let me know if you read this! Lets talk about it :]
» Feb 11. 12. 22. 27.
The Drifting Classroom Vol 1, 2, 3 & 4 by Kazuo Umezu. The series reminds me of a sci-fi universe where Lord of the Flies meets Battle Royale (the original Hunger Games) and insane desert hallucinations. An elementary school suddenly vanishes from a city in Japan and is teleported to what seems to be a different universe. The teachers all die and the children grades 1-6 are left to fend for themselves, establish a government, and kill a giant sand-millipede(?). This book is crazy. Cool illustrations, psychotic children… but a bit sexist at times. Most of the girls are always downplayed for their roles, shoved aside or are told “you can’t do that, you’re a girl!” I think he is just narrating their society. Who knows?
After I finish reading this series, I will have read all Umezu books in the Toronto Public Library. laaame.
» Feb 26.
How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran
Best book ever! If Dolly Wilde was real I would throw a rock at her window and blast Bikini Kill’s Rebel Girl out of a radio, begging her to be my best friend. This book is full of movie/book references, sex, feminism, poverty and british humour in the best way possible. I was laughing and well, I only cried once. The rest of the time I was in happy fits of laughter. :] People need to read this book especially if you are into 90s rock/punk/alternative music. This book was such a great escape from the awful February I’ve been having that I refused to put it down and finished it in 2 weeks. Seriously, though. I think girls especially should read this book. This book is REAL.
» Feb 27.
Bajan Love by Arnold F. Ward
Reuben took this collection of short stories from the discard pile at his university’s library. He thought I’d be interested to read it. It was published in 1992 and I had no idea what Bajan was until I saw the advertisements printed in the back of the book. It’s another word for Barbadian! The main themes are universal, but the way the book is written is so rich in culture. The stories are narrated in Barbadian slang and the descriptions of clubs and home environments are like nothing I have experienced. The story Gran Gran really got me.
» Feb 27.
Prevention Food Lover’s Issue. I had nothing to do while Reuben was studying and read this special edition he picked up last year. Its full of good, healthy food products and information about the situations facing the farming industry.
ARISETOTRASH 