August Reviews: The Nonfiction

I'm a long way from finishing the two books I'm working on now, so it looks like an even dozen for August. I wish I could read 12 consistently. Actually, I wish I could read 20. Since I've saved all my reviews for the end of the month, I decided to split them into 2 posts -- Nonfiction and fiction. As usual, fiction triumphed, but not by much. The final score is 7-5.

1. American Splendor: Another Dollar - Harvey Pekar. Harvey and his wife, Joyce Brabner feel like old friends by now; I've been a fan of American Splendor for about 6 years. When I saw the latest AS at What The Book? I pounced on it. The storytelling seems more low-key than usual, but just as enjoyable. I was pleased to see Anne Elizabeth Moore, (the editor of a comics anthology that I rocked this month) in a cameo when Harvey spends a few days in Chicago. The usual band of excellent artists are all present and accounted for, including Rick Geary, who I'm going to talk about quite a bit while reviewing this month's reads. Minor gripe: I hate the way John Lucas draws Harvey and Joyce. Harvey looks like the missing link and Joyce's head is shaped like a huge radish. One character is conspicuously missing from Another Dollar: Where is Danielle, Harvey and Joyce's foster daughter?

2. Shaking The Nickel Bush - Ralph Moody. This is one of the later books in the Little Britches series. Ralph, who is around 20 in this volume, falls ill and is diagnosed with diabetes. His doctor advises him to go west, soak up lots of sunshine and follow a careful diet. Ralph goes west, but has trouble getting a job since there are many WWI veterans also looking for work. The bulk of the book consists of him getting by on his wits and talent, worrying about money and going through some elaborate machinations to find proper food and trying to keep his mother from finding out that things have gone pear-shaped. He's also taken up with Lonnie, a good-natured ne'er-do-well who is devoted to a "flivver" named Shiftless that he and Ralph co-own, and who is much more hindrance than help as Ralph struggles to make their way. I like Moody's distinctive voice. Reading him was like spending a pleasant Sunday afternoon drinking lemon iced tea on the porch with a favorite great-uncle who always tells the most entertaining stories.

3. Clay - Suzanne Staubach. Book 2/4 for the Eco Reading Challenge. Many interesting facts about the history of clay and the evolution of how we've come to use it, but sometimes it feels as if there's too much information to wade through. Although Staubach, (who is also a potter) is enthusiastic about her subject, her tone can be a little dry. I felt as if I was back in school listening to an overlong lecture.

4. The Fatal Bullet - Rick Geary. Part of Geary's magnificent Treasury of Victorian Murders. In this graphic novel, he does a parallel examination of the life and death of President James A. Garfield and his assassin, Charles Guiteau. As always, the storyline is crisp and full of dramatic tension, and his scrupulous research shows up in the detailed artwork, particularly the scene of the crime. I can't imagine anyone not being impressed by The Fatal Bullet or Geary's other work in this series.

5. Book Crush - Nancy Pearl. The woman I adore (and who is also an action figure) compiled a list of reading recommendations for three groups: "Youngest" readers, middle grade readers 8-12, and teen readers 13-18. Seeing some of my old favorite books mentioned (like the Betsy, Tacy and Tib series) was great fun and it was just as much fun to add (and add and add) several new juvenile reads to my wishlist. While I was reading and jotting, I wondered if Peter from Collecting Children's Books has looked at Nancy Pearl's picks.
.
Coming up next: Fiction reviews!