Quote

The things that divide us, are stronger than the things that unite us.

East of West Vol.1: The Promise (Graphic novel) written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Nick Dragotta 

(When a quote is so appropriate to your life when you read it.)

Books I'm currently reading - March'15

I've always have a big pile of books that I've started to read. Currently I'm reading the following ones:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4

1) Horns by Joe Hill. (horror/paranormal novel) I was so excited about this book and the film. I even started to write one blog post that never saw the light of the day. I made post with a quote from it. And then I never pick it up again. I really don't know what happened. (also mentioned in Books I still want to finish to read this year )

2) The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. (espionage/crime) This book happened the same. I was super into it. Really enjoying it. And then one day I never pick it again. [I even made two posts with quotes - a mass of contradictions and on the observer separated from the events ]

3) The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. (horror/vampires novel) You must be completely fed up of seeing talking about this book, so I'll just say that I have to keep remembering me that it's best reading it during day... just to keep me safe from nightmares. (mentioned in New books for February and Graphic Novel - The Strain vol.1)

4) The Killing by David Hewson. (crime/thriller) I've seen the american version of the TV show, also saw a couple of episodes of the original TV show and now  at last I can read it!

5 . 6 . 7

5) Devil May Cry (Dark Hunter Series nº 7) by Sherrilyn Kenyon. (paranormal novel) When I was on my Dark Hunter Series reading marathon I've started to read this book. And never finish it. Must fix that soon.

6) Infinity (Chronicles of Nick nº1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon (paranormal novel) Companion books of the Dark Hunter Series, but more focused on the charather of Nick Gautier

7) Kingdom Series Collection [Her Mad Hatter; Gerard's Beauty; Red and Her Wolf] by Marie Hall I've read Her Mad Hatter (the first part) in one sitting. It's short and sort of re-telling/romance of Alice in Wonderland. I really enjoy it. The other two are Belle and the Best and Red Ridding Hood re-tellings and I'm looking forward to finish them too.

8. 9 . 10

8) Trees Vol.1 by Warren Willis and Jason Howard (Graphic Novel) an interesting and different take on Alien live. There is intelligent life in our solar system, they just don't recognize us as intelligent or alive.

9) Locke & Key Vol.2 Head Games by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (Graphic Novel) I'm not the biggest fan of the art of these Graphic Novel series, but the story is very intriguing and strongly inspired by Lovecraft and Stephen King horror stories.

10) The Fade Out Vol.1 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips (Graphic Novel) Beautiful graphic novel inspired in Noir era! Set in Hollywood during (or after) 2nd World War. To me it's brilliant, but I'm already a fan of this duo's graphic novels!!

11 . 12 . 13 . 14

11) The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures by Dan Roam. (Marketing Book) Another way of think and sell.

12) The Handmade Marketplace:  How to Sell your crafts locally, globally and online by Kari Chapin (Marketing? Book) It's a good resource of information with a lot of collaborations from various sellers and bloggers. It might not be the most up to date book. But is still a good one.

13) Steal like an Artist : 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon it's a fun book about how you can research and be a better artist, without over thinking.

14) An Ilustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers by Danny Gregory It's always fun to sneak peek to other's artist, creators and makers sketchbooks.

15 . 16 . 17 . 18

15) Daily Rituals by Mason Currey. I'm not sure when I will pick this one again. It's interesting seeing the Daily Rituals of other Artists and Creators, but I feel like right now I should focus more on creating my own daily rituals than know the others.

16) Just Enough Research by Erika Hall it's a brilliant book about Research on Design work/projects.

17) On Brand by Wally Olins (work book) it's a great book about how brands work, how they develop to the current stage. I think it's quite appropriate for anyone, but specially for the ones who work with image and brands. I also have The Brand Handbook by the same author. I haven't started to read it yet.

18) Mythologies by Roland Barthes. (work book) This is not the sort of book you read in one sitting. It's something to be read calmly. Roland Barthes was literary theorist, a philosopher and a semiotician.

"Barthes's many monthly contributions that were collected in his Mythologies (1957) frequently interrogated specific cultural materials in order to expose how bourgeois society asserted its values through them. (...) He found semiotics, the study of signs, useful in these interrogations.(...)However, the bourgeoisie relate it to a new signified: the idea of healthy, robust, relaxing experience. Motivations for such manipulations vary, from a desire to sell products to a simple desire to maintain the status quo. " Quote from Wikipedia.

I might have a few more books that I'm currently reading for a long time. But these ones are the ones I kept track on Goodreads. And at least part of them I wish finish reading this year, or at least as soon as possible.

Happy Readings!!

EDIT: do you thing I have a thing for blue books? I know it's my favourite colour but six blue covers out of eighteen are a lot of blue covers!!

Reading for pleasure | Quote

"I read for pleasure and that is the moment I learn the most."

 -  Margaret Atwood

Books I still want to finish to read this year (To be read)

This is a list of books I wanted to finish before 2014 end. It didn't work. But I still wanted to share it. Some of them I've already read, or shared about them recently.

Classics and Work (things related with Design and Images)

1) The Pearl by John Steinbeck (book - pt) It's a Classic and such short book that I don't understand why I haven't finish it yet (yes I've tried to read it at least twice)
2) Mythologies by Roland Barthes (book-pt) [More about it in Books I'm Currently Reading].
3) Just Enough Research by Erika Hall (ebook-en) Another book I've started to read and haven't finish yet. It was also the first ebook I've bought.

Horror and Thriller Novels (all of these three red books are also available in movie format)

4) Horns by Joe Hill (ebook)  [More about it in Books I'm Currently Reading]
5) Red Dragon by Thomas Harris (ebook) Since I've found out that the Hannibal Lecter moives are based in novels that I've been really looking forward to read the actuals books.
6) Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (ebook) it happen the same as the previous book. I hope I manage to read these two this year.

Fantasy (Continue to read two series I've already started)

7) Forever Odd (Odd Thomas Series) by Dean Koontz (ebook) I've only read the first book of this series. I really liked it. It's a little bit different, I don't usually read books about people who can see ghosts or death people. I really liked how the first one was written. Looking forward to keep reading the series.
8) Blood Rites (Dresden Files Series) by Jim Butcher (audiobook) This is the 6th book of the series. I've already read it. I really love this series. The next one is Dead Beat.

Graphic Novels and Comics

9) Habibi by Craig Thompson. I love Craig artwork. So I'm interest in getting into this book. The only "down" is that I like to read comics in one sitting and usually his comics are big a fully packed with details.
10/11)  The Strain vol. 1 and The Strain vol. 2 written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, adapted for comic format by David Lapham, Mike Hudoleston and Dan Jackson [More about it in Books I've Read so far this year, New Books for February and Graphic Novel - The Strain vol. 1]

Thriller/Spy and Historic Book (Books I've been a long time to Read and that also are trilogies)

12) The Bourne Identity (Bourne Trilogy) by Robert Ludlum (ebook)  [More about it in Books I'm Currently Reading].
13) Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy) by Ken Follett (book - pt) I'm not sure if this will be the year I will pick up this book. Besides being a HUGE book, I'm not sure if I will be in the mood for historical fiction. Lately I've been more up to fantasy, adventure and thrillers (as you can see by my list of New Books for February).

Happy Readings!!

Anya's Ghost - Graphic Novel Review

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved it! (And I thought I wasn't going to like it.)
I was surprised by the amazing artwork and the monochromatic tones used during the whole graphic novel.

With that said I didn't think it was a very dark graphic novel. At least not to me.
To me this ended up to be a story about self discovery and self acceptance. Acceptance by Anya of herself and her roots, and also her own acceptance as a singular and peculiar individual. I specially like one of the last words of the book

 "You may look normal like everyone else, but you're not. Not on the inside". 

The ghost part is fun and entertaining, and also how she spends time trying to discover more things about the ghost. But to me, the most important part how Anya's grow up by realising one or two life lessons during the story.

Totally recommend to anyone, either if you're starting reading comics or if already read a ton.

View all my reviews

Books I've read so far this year (16)

For the second year I'm setting a reading goal through my Goodreads.
Last year I've setted a certain goal and when I reach it I change it for more. It happened a couple of times. I ended up to read 57 books last year.
This year I'm starting with 50 books goal. I've already read 16 books, but that's only because I've re-read a few books and read a lot of comics. I've been noticing that my reading pattern changed a lot through out the years. At the moment I feel that I rarely have time to read. So I started to listen to audio books. This way I can preform certain tasks or just draw while listening to any book I want.

With that in mind I've started three different book series.

1) His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman that I've started many years ago, but never finished. The first book is The Golden Compass. I have to confess that I've really liked it much more this time than the first time I've read it. You can read my full review here. [I haven't seen it yet, but there is a film inspired in the first book, with the actors Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. I don't think I will see the film, at least until I've finished the series.]

2) I started to read the long A Series of Unfortunate Events back in the days they we're launch in Portugal. Probably one decade ago. I've read the two first books and then was never able to find them all available. They are in total 13 books. The first one is The Bad beginning. It was just as I remembered it. I've started the second one two which is called The Reptile Room, but haven't finished it yet. It's written by Lemony Snicket. [there is also a film inspired by these series with the actor Jim Carrie on the role of Count Olaf. I have mixed feelings about the book. This time when I was reading/listening to this book I kept going for the film imagery and I wasn't happy with it. I like to imagine the details and all the quirks by my own head. It was a struggle to forget all about the film]

3) I've delayed starting to read this series for years. Mainly because I thought I wouldn't like it. Which is very weird, because I love thrillers and cops/detectives shows/books, and strong female characters, besides sassy romance. And these books have it all! Besides they are written by one of my favourite romance novels Norah Roberts. These books are set in the future and follow NY detective Eve Dallas. Of course there are few clichés, like the ongoing romance with one of the most mysterious and richest men of (at least) NY. But I really enjoyed the mystery part of the police work. This one is the first book, it's the Naked in Death. There are almost 40 books in this series, and the series it's called In Death... How can someone write 40 books and have in death in all tittles? I don't know how the author does, but it works. I'm looking forward to keep reading these books.

4) The first Graphic Novel/Comic that I've read was The Psycho. What really caught my eye was the amazing art it as. I love it! The story is right up my alley, though it's kind of hard to explain it. You can know more about it in Goodreads.

5) Willow Wonderland, if you're recognizing it from Buffy the vampire slayer TV show, then you're right. I was never a big fan of the Buffy show. I watched it sometimes though. My favourite characters were Willow and Spike. I was very curious about these comics inspired by the show. I wasn't disappointed with the story and with the artwork either.

6) Another comic inspired by another TV show Dollhouse. These comics happen after the events of the TV show, that's why it's called Dollhouse Epitaphs.  I liked the story, but the artwork was a little bit disappointing sometimes. Other than that it would had helped me if remembered a little bit more about the characters and the show, which I didn't. There was no back story, the authors simply assumed that you knew all about Dollhouse.

7) Rat Queens! Oh my GOD, where do I begin? It's worth all the hype I've seen. Awesome artwork! Loved the characters, they quirky personalities. The story! And even the cliffhanger in the end. Can't wait to either pick the next single issues or wait for volume two.

8) Locke & Key - Welcome to Lovecraft. I don't like the first book. At all. I love the concept. The whole story. But I'm not fan of the first book. I have mixed feelings about the inside artwork too. Will see it's a working in progress I guess. (I've read another one from the Locke & Key series, and I had a very different opinion, that's why I think I don't like this one because it's the first book, and there is a of things being build (story, world, background story, characters and so on).

9) The Strain. You already know that I've been obsessing over this book. I'm waiting for the originals to arrive. You can read more about the comics here, and how I'm waiting for the books here.

10) Locke & Key - Guide to the Known Keys - I absolutely LOVED this one. From artwork to the side story. Probably it wasn't suppose to be read before you go further in the series, because in the final part of book there is glossary of the keys with some minor spoilers (but I'm okay with that).

11) Marvel 1602 was a re-read. I love the artwork, it's a different than the usual from Marvel.

12) Van Helsing's Night Off it's hilarious. Little short stories told only in images.

13) Polar Shift by Clive Cussler was a re-read.

14) Murder of the Vicarage (A Miss Marple Mistery) by Agatha Christie was also a re-read

15/16) 20 Ways to Draw a Cat and 20 Ways to Draw a Dress were two cute books with different styles of drawings. They are references for any artist.

Happy Readings!!

New Books for February

So yeah 15 books for 2015 was a fail. We are only in February and I went on a buying spree of books. I blame the bargains on books/authors that I really like.

I recently got really hooked by The Strain comic books. As you might seen a recent post I've made. So I've order the hole triology. The first two books will be second hand (under 4€ each) and the third is new.

The Strain Trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

# The Strain
# The Fall
# The Night Eternal

By curiosity I look for Marion Zimmer Bradley books too, when I was looking for the second hand books. She is one of my favourite authors. Last year I finally purchase my own copies of The Mists of Avalon (yes, here in Portugal it's divided in 4 parts - for some weird reason they like to split big books in various parts... in case you don't know they did it also with the Game of Thrones books too)
I ordered the Lady of Avalon, Priestess of Avalon and Ancestors of Avalon (each book was under 4€). Right now I'm missing just the 7th book.

Avalon Series by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson

#1 The Mists of Avalon - by Marion Zimmer Bradley (already have)

#2 The Forest House - by Marion Zimmer Bradley (already have)

#3 Lady of Avalon  - by Marion Zimmer Bradley

#4 Priestess of Avalon - by Marion Zimmer Bradley

#5 Ancestors of Avalon - by Diana L. Paxson

#6 Ravens of Avalon - by Diana L. Paxson (already have)

#7 Sword of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson

And I thought I wasn't going to suck in to buying more books. And again I've failed (only one day after the 1st fail). Fortunately I'm not sorry at all.
Again these are all 2nd hand books. (and where big bargains).

I'm sucker for Sherrylin Kenyon books, and this year I want to read different series written by her, instead the one that I usually read which is the Dark Hunter series.

I was intrigued with the BAD Agency series, for what I can tell has no paranormal activity, which very different from what I usually read from her. I love some detective, thriller action so I was on it.
I've ordered the four books of these series.

#1 Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon
# 2 Phantom in the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
#3  Whispered Lies by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
#4 Silent Truth by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

I'm big fan of Alex Cross character created by James Patterson. And I was on the hunt of books by him. I found this series called Women's Murder Club (which I actually think was going to be a TV show... I'll be searching for it after I listed the books I bought... And I was right there was a TV show inspired by these books. Between 2007/2008, with only one season, and not that bad actors.Angie Harmon which is main know for the TV show also adapted from books Rizzoli and Isles, Laura Harris, Paula Newsome and Aubrey Dollar).

I come upon a bundle of the first 8 books! in second hand for 1/3 of the price if I bought in full price (even in second hand).

1st to Die by James Patterson
2nd Chance by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
3rd Degree by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
The 8th Confession by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

the grand total of 18 Books! Oh boy!! But if I divide the total between all the books (including shipping costs) each book cost me around 2,97€, so... no regrets!!

Now I just want them to arrive!

EDIT:
So did everyone thought I was done? Yeah me too.
But still I was tempted for a few more books that have been in my wishlist for many years now.

The Killing trilogy by David Hewson. Since the american version of the TV Show The Killing came out that I've been drooling for these books. This time I've ordered the first and the second, but I'm still thinking if I should also get the third... Yeah I've also ordered the third.

I've always liked type/typography but I don't have many books about it. So I'm starting with this one. I've also been on the hunt for this Paul Arden's book. I've seen been recommend by many fellow designers. Looking forward to read it!

The BIG total is of 23 Books! (15 books for 2015 yeah right... 2 months and 38 books... jeez someone is addicted to buying books). [But if I divide the total between all the books (including shipping costs) each book cost me around 3,57€, so... no regrets!!]