Top-Five Reads of 2012: #1 Jeff Lemire's SWEET TOOTH

I love this series so much that it’s not even right. But considering that I’ve already ranted and raved about it, instead of spewing even more fanboy nonsense, I offer a short list of books that barely missed the top five.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

• Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
• I loved, loved, loved the writing in this book. It is simply too beautiful and haunting. This is, most definitely, how someone should build a setting/general location and bring it wholly and fully to life.
• Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
• The film entertained me well enough, but it didn’t blow me away. So I was more than a bit surprised that the novel is nothing short of amazing. The writing is so solid, it moves at a perfect fast-pace, and it’s so full of energy and insight that it’s almost impossible to put the damn thing down.
• Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
• More than anything, the language and writing itself is what made me like this book so much. Story-wise, it works on a basic level and kept me reading, but the writing is so gorgeous that it’s more than a bit enviable.
• League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 & 2 by Alan Moore, Kevin O’Neill (Illustrator)
• Many in the comics’ world consider Moore the God of Comics, and it’s not surprising. So far, everything I’ve read of his is simply mind-blowing. These two books are most excellent reads on so many different levels that I can’t even begin to discuss them in such a short spot. Also, if you want the perfect example of an anti-hero, Moore has done WAY too good a job with his rendition of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde than should have been allowed. (The art, too, is all sorts of joy and joyness.)

• I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly, J. M. Ken Nimura, (Illustrator)

o This is how magical realism should be done. The metaphor works beautifully, and it really ends up being a very heart-wrenching read. One that takes a long time to leave the ol’ noggin.

• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
• There is just enough about this book that bothers me to keep it from the top-five, but it is close. It is super entertaining. And, really, if you’re into MMORPGs, the 80s, or videogames at all, you MUST read this thing. In the end, I think the plot trumps the theme, but it’s such a fun and enjoyable read that it’s hard not to love every page.

Top-Five Reads of 2012: #2 Stephen Graham Jones' DEMON THEORY

This was one of the first books that I read this year, way back in January, yet I’ve continued to think about it from time to time. Anything that lingers that long deserves a high place in my eyes, as too, too much is forgettable.

Even more, this is the first book that I've ever "Not wanted to put down." Part One of this book sucked me in, sank its gargoyle fangs into my neck, and wouldn't let me stop reading until I reached Part Two. Really, I read that whole first chunk (also probably because there are no “official” chapter breaks) in one evening/night. Though, it might’ve been the fact that I couldn’t stop chewing my already nubbins of fingernails down even further.

I loved the tone, right from the get go. It felt like a well-versed tribute to the horror genres of old. It felt like a “thinking man’s” horror story, and that’s what pushes it above and beyond a regular “scary” story—especially with all the film references. I was giddy with all the allusions and footnotes and explanations peppered throughout the novel. Each new note either made me feel smart for already knowing the reference, or if I didn’t know what the hell Jones was talking about, then I liked learning the explanations.

Film nerdiness aside, the fast-pace, playfulness, frightening moments, and the twisting of basic horror-genre tropes dug their claws deeper into my “Don’t put this book down” impulse. The pace helped keep that sensation alive, too. The novel clips along at a wonderful pace but still doesn’t forget to take the time for a few jokes—some darker than others, but always amusing. And Jones pays tribute to and pulls from every film out there, while at the same time builds something very original—and something that I would love to see hit the big screen in the full, trilogy form (though that might take away from that “thinking man” feel.)

Basically, if you’re into horror, you need to read this book. And if you simply like a scary story, then this is just as much for you. I’ll admit, I don’t normally read much by way of horror or scary stories—and I hardly watch many such films anymore—but if more folks wrote like Jones, then I’d be more than willing to wade through all the blood and gore.

Top-Five Reads of 2012: #3 Daniel Handler's WHY WE BROKE UP

Illustrated by Maira Kalman

I can see why some folks have—or will have—an issue with this book, as some of it can be a bit of a stretch in terms of how the events unfold. Even the naïveté of our narrator might need that Mary Poppins’ remedy to swallow. Plus, you know simply from the title where this book is going and what’s going to happen, so there are no surprises for the ending here. It’s definitely more of a story for the journey than a story for the ending. Plus, the writing isn't quite the norm for most YA books. But that's what makes this one so good to me.

The writing is gorgeous. I love Min’s voice. It’s insightful, spiteful, and full of wit. As she paints every scene, we witness a new heartbreak unfold, one more of those “insignificant” moments that when we reflect on them, we see where everything was going wrong, and we can’t help but wonder, “Why in the world did it take me so long to figure this shit out?” To me, that’s what makes this book so real, because of its focus on the power of hindsight and how we tend to assign such meaning to the smallest of things, which are illustrated in simple and wonderful paintings.

It’s easy to think that this book could’ve worked just as well without the illustrations. I honestly don’t think I would’ve liked it any less, but the visual anchors work quite well, too. Besides, can you really argue with some beautiful artwork?

The last thing I loved about this book was all of the film references. They were so obscure and bizarre that even the film nerd in me had to google more than a few of them. And that’s saying something, seeing as I not only have a film degree, but I also have watched a crapton of films in my life—including many “oldies” and foreign films. So it’s nice to know that there are folks out there with even more film-nerdom within them than even I have. I tip my “useless knowledge” hat to you, Daniel.

Even taking his writings as Lemony Snickett on their own, Mr. Handler is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and this book's original voice and success in telling a love story that's doomed from the beginning but still keeps a reader invested lifts his rank even higher in my world of Christopher.

Like Ida B., this one won't be for everyone, but I loved it. A lot. It hit all the right “quirk” notes that I need in a story, and it hit them as cleanly as a shot from either Katniss or Merida’s bows.

Top-Five Reads of 2012: #4 Mark Haskell Smith's HEART OF DANKNESS

It’s true: I studied writing under this man; however, this isn’t simply lip service to the guy that helped out my own writing exponentially. It wouldn’t be on this list if I didn’t feel like it should be there. This book more than earns its place in my top five.

I'll admit, too, that I'm a fan of Smith's novels. What that says about me and my sense of humor, well, I'll let you be the judge... But the biggest thing a reader might wonder about this book is how an author that primarily writes fiction would do in the non-fiction realm. For Smith, he's made the transition phenomenally well.

This book has his trademark, no-holds-barred sense of humor, which most likely will offend the general populous in some form or another. Meanwhile, he not only presents us with some wonderful and colorful folk, but he also provides a ton of current information on the Cannibus Cup, the legalization movement, and even manages to slip in some philosophical ideas on what it means to be "Dank."

The best part is simply how “human” he paints this culture and subculture. Too many in the general populous think of drugs and still have that back-alley, shady/skeevy dealer that comes to mind. Or maybe they simply imagine Hollywoodized drug lords. But Smith manages to bring this down to the realistic level that many never see, how those people that choose to be in this industry believe in what they’re doing, so much so that it moves into passion, if not obsession, for providing a quality product and producing something truly amazing. Most of these folks aren’t out to nab that quick buck or live that “high” life (pun intended) which so many films paint; they grow because they love their work, and can we really begrudge someone for following a passion?

Seriously, I can't recommend this book enough. And, no, it's definitely not just for "stoners." It's a thoughtful and insightful book that's written for the intelligent reader that has a sense of humor and wants to know a bit more about Cannibus culture. Sure, stoners will like it, too, but to mistake this book as one for pot heads is doing yourself a disservice. 

Top Five Reads of 2012: #5 Katherine Hannigan's IDA B

For those of you that follow my Goodreads, much of this will already be known to you, but for the next few posts, I’m going to breakdown my Top-Five Reads. These are simply books that I read this past year. While a few came out here in 2012, they can have been released anytime in the past. All that matters is that I read them. This year. Enjoy.

I don't think I'm the demographic for this book. At all. But holy crap... I loved this book so much.

On the cover of my copy, there’s a blurb from Kate DiCamillo: "I feel a deep gratitude that Ida B. exists." On first read, I thought that was a rather odd thing to say about a book. Definitely not the traditional blurb that I'm used to (“I couldn’t put it down!” or “I was spellbound!” or some other such nonsense). Yet, after having read the book, I see what she means. 

This isn't simply a story to be told and entertained by and forgotten. This is a story that shoots straight to your core and simply makes you FEEL: happiness, sadness, anger, and everything in between. My emotions rollercoastered right along with Ida B's, and I couldn't have been happier about it—mostly because of the narrator’s way of seeing the world.

The voice in this book is nothing short of amazing. Any author and would-be author has constantly heard about voice, about what your narrator sounds like. It's a concept drilled into you. Yet it's still such a rarity to see and hear and feel such a well-developed voice as Hannigan creates in this book. You can HEAR Ida B the whole way through, and it's a voice that you want to listen to. Despite often used images, Hannigan still manages to make Ida's outlook so unique that you can't help but love the way the story is told. And by the end, you want more, to follow this wonderful character around a bit longer, if only to keep hearing this voice.

I'm not saying that anyone and everyone should run out and buy this book, as I don't feel like it's one for everyone, and there will be many that it simply won't resonate with. But, like DiCamillo, I'm just glad that this book exists. To me, this is why I write, in hopes I can create something that will click so strongly with even a single person.

P.S. Much as I wanted to 8-bit the covers for these, I simply don't have the time, as my top albums and films of the year will follow.