Books in September, 2010

I read a lot of books this month. LIKE SO MANY. I don't even know how I did this.
Lots of books means long post. I apologize in advance.


1. The Children of Green Knowe, LM Boston
An awesome, creepy children fantasy. Straight up bizarre. But of course it still had that cosy, rainy, warm aura most, if not all, British children's books have.


2. Decline and Fall, Evelyn Waugh
Elegant, spiritual, heavy-handed, hysterical satire. One part Fitzgerald, one part Wodehouse and one part Theologian.


3. Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, Bryan Lee O'Malley
I've never read a book, a graphic novel or watched a movie until Scott Pilgrim that pegged the dialogue of the modern era. It's absolutely gorgeous to read, hysterical, I could spend hours picking apart a page.


4. Something Wicked this way Comes, Ray Bradbury
There is a lack of modern fantasy in the world. You know, no magical creatures, no scientific explanation, just magic and terror running amok in the modern age. This book is a gem.


5. Home, Marilynne Robinson
The astounding sequel to Gilead. I actually cried; it's one of the best books I've ever read. Also I read it during four sitting of this song which I feel is relevant.


6. The Sorrows of Young Werther, Goethe
Werther was the original mopey hipster boy. I don't know if I actually enjoyed this book, but it was humbling to see how little youth culture has developed in the last 400 years.


7. The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley
She has the wonderful ability of establishing a world before bothering with too much action. I've never read an author who could suck me into a life-style quite like her. Also, anything Robin Hood related is automatically perfect in my mind.


8. The Blue Bedroom, Rosamunde Pilcher
I am a short story junkie... These reminded me of All Creatures a bit, that seriously comforting British feeling. I wonder if England really does feel that way.


9. The Philosophy of the X-Files, Dean A Kowalski
I love my fandom. The essays were soo awesome! William James and The X-Files, The X-Files' Unsung Hero and Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose were my favorite. And I loved how Kowalski tied "Daemonicus" and "Empedocles" into I Want to Believe, paralleling William, Luke and Christian. Did I mention I love my fandom?


10. Mrs. Mike, Benedict Freedman
A Canadian book filled with pioneer spirit, so I automatically liked it. But the romance just didn't do it for me. 16 year olds should just not be getting married.


11. Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Bryan Lee O'Malley
These graphic novels are honestly the funniest and most sincere books I've ever read.


12. Love in the Ruins, Walker Percy
During the late 20th century a Bad Catholic attempts to resist a spiritual apocalypse. This was a delicious book. The plot did not make much sense- the beauty of the book lay in the amazing dialogues about religion, politics, family...


13. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Honestly, I was disappointed. I wanted more creepy, Gothic drama. Not Shakespearean soliloquies about what it means to be human. But I didn't dislike it persay.


14. Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness, Bryan Lee O'Malley
"Tell it to the cleaning lady on Monday. Because you'll be dust by Monday. Because you'll be pulverized in three second. And the cleaning lady dusts. She dusts." OH TODD YOU SEXY VEGAN YOU.


15. Alchemy and Meggy Swann, Karen Cushman
One of my favorite things about Cushman's books is that they are never romantic or full of romance. They are plain, gritty, real and completely lovely because of that. Her Medieval lit is especially magnificent and this was no exception.


16. The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx
As someone living in the 21st century I figure it's an important read. How Modern Day Europe And Stuff was born from this 40-something page whine-fest, I have no idea.


17. A Jury of her Peers, Susan Glaspell
Although this was a very extreme story, it brought out my feminist side. It was gloomy and Americana and all girl-power and snowy, so all the things I like.


18. A Tall Dark Stranger, Joan Smith
A mystery novel wrapped in a ridiculous Regency romance. Rather short and fuffy but terribly enjoyable.


19. Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together, Byan Lee O'Malley
The characters are so real and dynamic and lovely even though they're cute and tiny and basically these are masterpieces. Also, never punch a girl in the boob.


20. The Loved One, Evelyn Waugh
This is a book about people who work at funeral homes. How such a ridiculous, witty, depraved book can be so morally judgmental... Evelyn is amazing at slipping God into everything.

It is Tuesday. Only Tuesday??? In honor of TumblrTuesday... here is a link to Purpleboots because I've got such a girlcrush on her.