Mother Panic volume 1: A Work in Progress by Jody Houser and Tommy Lee Edwards

Reviewed by: Dave Gibbons, Library Volunteer

Genre: Graphic Novel, Super Hero

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Gotham City has long been the home to gritty super heroes and psychopathic villains; what happens when the line between the two gets blurred to the point that you can’t see it anymore? Violet Page (alter ego of title character) has all the things you need to become a rampaging super-vigilante: ultra-rich…check, futuristic technology… check, all-consuming dark origin story that makes Batman’s seem idyllic… check. However Violet is not Bruce Wayne. Sporting a bright white techno suit rather than the dark tones you might expect, Mother Panic wants the attention of evil-doers. Perhaps this is a character flaw, but Mother Panic isn’t an ordinary hero. Supporting a mother who is suffering from a particularly psychedelic version of dementia, Violet has to find time to fight outlandish and gore filled crimes that might even be too much for Batman. Through it all she is desperately seeking revenge, but but who does she want revenge on and how far will she go to get it?

My Review: This is a comic that seeks to double down on the concept of “Batman as a psychotic,” with a main character who is unrepentant and seemingly unredeemable and very difficult to sympathize with. Part of the Young Animals imprint for DC comics, Mother Panic is a lone title that is completely original (with cameos from several familiar super heroes). Written as a sort of commentary on the concept of celebrity, this comic asks “what if Paris Hilton became Batman” but without any of the levity that that question implies. While the art is amazingly expressionist the story is dark and gets darker and darker, to a point where is starts to feel very uncomfortable. Leaning on ideas such as “orphanage of evil” that we have seen ad nauseum in the Bat titles, Mother Panic tries to turn it up a notch by adding a layer of filth to everything. But that filth could be just a contrast to the stark white judgement of the protagonist, a character who’s trustworthiness as a narrator is questionable at best. 

Three Words That Describe This Book: Dark, Stylistic, Graphic

Give This a Try if You Like… Black Mirror (television), Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison, Books of Blood by Clive Barker

Rating: 3/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

The Joy of Bird Feeding: The Essential Guide to Attracting and Feeding Our Backyard Birds by Jim Carpenter

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Anderson, Communications

Genre: Non-fiction, Wildlife

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: This book provides bird feeding tips, information about 180 different birds that visit feeders, and solutions for common dilemmas, such as squirrels and starlings. Learn about different types of bird feeders, favored foods, and more in this handy and comprehensive reference guide.

My Review: Carpenter provides a solid foundation for getting started with feeding backyard birds. A person who has never set up a bird feeder before will be able to create a feeding station that maximizes enjoyment and minimizes the mess and frustration after reading this book. It’s packed with beautiful photos and interesting facts about birds. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of species that live in or pass through Illinois at different times of the year. Following the tips and guidelines in this book has helped me to set up a fantastic bird feeding station that provides hours upon hours of enjoyment. I think my avian friends would agree that this book is a worthwhile read for the beginner birding hobbyist.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Informative, Practical, Straightforward

Give This a Try if You Like… For the Birds by Anne & Mary Schmauss, field guides

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

Genre: Science Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Oryx and Crake is a dystopian novel told from the perspective of Snowman, who may be the last man left on Earth to survive a deadly epidemic or “Waterless Flood.”  We see how Snowman survives by scavenging for food and finding temporary shelter in abandoned buildings.  The narrative shifts back and forth from past to present so that the reader gets some background about Snowman, formerly known as Jimmy, and what happened before the outbreak. In the 2020s, corporations controlled the world and genetic engineering had run rampant.  Genetic hybrids such as pigoons, rakunks, and liobams have been created in labs and now run free in the empty cities. Joining them are new humanoid creatures known as the Crakers.  These were created to be superior to humans. Devoid of emotions such as jealousy and greed, the Crakers are physically flawless and look to Snowman as a godlike leader and teacher.  Snowman spends his days in the post-apocalyptic city trying to survive and thinking about his once girlfriend, the beautiful Oryx as well as his best friend, Crake.

My Review: Oryx and Crake has been on my reading list for several years.  After reading The Handmaid’s Tale in my early twenties, I knew I had to try more of Margaret Atwood’s novels.   There has actually been quite a resurgence of interest in her books due to the popularity that accompanied the Hulu adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale last year.  This novel’s writing style is at times grim, mournful, as well as darkly humorous.  In the post-apocalyptic timeline, Snowman seems somewhat like distant character and it was hard for me to like him. But, the flashbacks work to provide more characterization which I appreciated.  It would have been nice to get the perspective of other characters, but Atwood actually provides this with the second novel in this series called The Year of the Flood.  When I began reading I thought I would not be able to easily visualize such a strange landscape, but Atwood does an excellent job with description and visualization.  Though the idea of Oryx and Crake seemed very strange and alien at first, I realized that it could be our not too distant future.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Weird, Futuristic, Disturbing

Give This a Try if You Like… Dystopian novels, Octavia Butler, Ursula Le Guin 

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

Death Warmed Over: Dan Shamble, Zombie PI by Kevin J. Anderson (audio)

Reviewed by: Sarah Baker, Circulation Assistant

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Dan Chambeaux (though everyone keeps calling him Shamble now) is a private investigator who also happens to be a zombie. Ten years ago there was an event called “The Big Uneasy” that made monsters a reality. Well, sort of. It brought the monsters out of the darkness but it also started affecting humans. People could be changed into vampires and werewolves; they could come back from death as ghosts or zombies. Murder and suicide drastically up the odds of the last two. He was already working cases for other Unnaturals when he was killed. Now he’s trying to solve his own murder in his spare time. And the murder of his girlfriend-turned-ghost, Cheyenne. Could they be related? Could his current cases shed light on his murder? And will he find answers before someone tries to kill him again?

My Review: I really enjoyed the this book. Dan’s approach with detective works a whole lot more realistic – he’s working multiple cases at a time. Some are from before he died, some are from after, but he takes them all seriously and follows what leads he can. We got a good idea of the cross-section of what’s out there – werewolves, trolls, goblins, ghouls, ghosts, witches, mummies, and zombies. The unnatural community feels authentic; the hate groups seem real; and even the business feel was true to life. At no point does Anderson veer off into tastelessness. Descriptors are clear without being graphic, and as Dan is something of a gentleman, no one and nothing is over-sexualized or over emphasized. A refreshing detail after some of the other urban fantasy I’ve read.

The audio version of this book was really well done and helped give this an immersive feeling. Phil Gigante breathes life (or unlife) into all of his characters, and the man has some impressive range! I’m looking forward to trying more books in this series!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Fun, Ghoulish, Enjoyable

Give This a Try if You Like… Noir, Zombies, Urban Fantasy

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

Reviewed by: Jonathan Richardson, Reference Assistant

Genre: Science Fiction, Murder Mystery

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: In the future, a starship travels from Earth to a distant star.  A small crew of only six people pilot the ship on its centuries-long journey.  They are clones, destined to repeatedly download their consciousness into new bodies.  They are also convicts, their only hope of redemption to successfully transport 2500 travelers to a new world.  Suddenly, the entire crew awakens from cloning at once, surrounded by the corpses of their former selves, with no memories of the past twenty-five years.

My Review: I really liked the concept of this book, a sci-fi take on the locked-room murder mystery genre.  Using the clones’ histories of their former lives (before they joined the ship’s crew) the reader is able to start piecing together possible suspects and motives.  The author gives insight into each of the characters’ minds rather than only having the story unfold through the eyes of a single crewmember, so the reader is allowed to see more of the whole picture.  I wish the author would have given more description of the spaceship or the technologies involved, but that’s a personal preference, and the reader doesn’t miss anything from the main story arc by not getting to see those details.  There were some nice surprises and interesting characters; an overall good read!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Interwoven, Suspenseful, Hidden

Give This a Try if You Like… Clue, Murder on the Orient Express, Sherlock Holmes

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

Murder in an English Village by Jessica Ellicott

Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, Library Volunteer

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Shortly after the end of The Great War, famous American adventurer Beryl Helliwell descends on the English countryside to visit her longtime friend, Edwina Davenport. Beryl has been seeking peace and quiet and just by luck, she sees an advertisement placed in a newspaper indicating that Edwina is seeking a lodger. Beryl finds her friend on the brink of poverty and embarrassed by her current financial situation. In an effort to quash rumors about Edwina’s need for a lodger, Beryl plants a rumor of her own:  She and Edwina have been and are still in the employ of His Majesty as secret agents. The rumor quickly spreads through the small town and sets in motion a chain of mystery and murder that begin with an attack on Edwina’s life.

My Review: The post-War time period, English small town setting, and cast of unique characters all make this cozy mystery a good read. Beryl and Edwina, the two protagonists, contrast strongly with each other:  Beryl the fearless, rather flighty adventurer, Edwina the staid, reliable pillar of the community. Because it is a “cozy” mystery, there isn’t a lot of blood and violence, but there are enough well-developed secondary characters with troubling pasts to keep you guessing about who is the murderer. A satisfying read, indeed, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it is published!

Three Words That Describe This Book: cozy, historically accurate

Give This a Try if You Like… historical fiction, cozy mysteries, Maisie Dobbs series (by Jacqueline Winspear, set in a similar time period) or Agatha Raisin series (cozy, contemporary mystery series set in a small town in England, by M.C. Beaton)

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!