I'm back again.

Sorry for skipping out for about 2 weeks. I feel a little guilty about shirking my reviewing responsibilities. Not because I think I'm disappointing any readers, mind you (I stopped worrying about that a long time ago.) I just care because if I'm not constantly vigilant, I won't remember all the books I read this year.

So here are the 3 brand new posts I put up today. Graphic Novels, Short Stories, and Nightlight. Please enjoy them!

Nightlight, by The Harvard Lampoon

This book is freakin' hilarious! A complete parody of the Twilight Saga, this thin parody will give you a barrel of laughs with every page turn. Seriously, I dare you to try reading it aloud and NOT feel the urge to giggle. XD

The characters are Belle Goose and Edwart Mullen. (Clever names, are they not?) Belle is waaaay crazy and self-absorbed. She doesn't make any sense with her ramblings and thought-processes, but that doesn't stop her from being funny. When she catches sight of pale, handsome, but terribly geeky Edwart, she is positive that he is a vampire. (Is he? You are certainly left guessing until the very end.)

Since this book was little over a hundred pages, I finished it really quickly. Sometimes I read a few choice passages aloud to my brother and sister, and it never failed to make us l.o.l., or laugh out loud, if you prefer.

Yeah, so definitely check this out. It is as good as (if not better than) any of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books. Trust me. You won't be sorry reading this book. (Unless you die of laughter.)

Short Stories

I am still very much enthralled with short stories. Here are 3 collections that that I've read during my 2 week absence.

"Oddest of All" I read first. Bruce Coville is quite a gifted short story author, I think. I love his characters and his worlds.

"Button Button, Uncanny Stories", by Richard Matheson, was quite interesting. I read this because the story "Button Button" was turned into the movie "The Box", with Cameron Diaz, which was an amazing story! All the other stories were equally interesting. Maybe a little bit disturbing, in a couple of cases...

I actually haven't finished reading "Xanadu" yet, but it is a good book so far. Jane Yolen, someone Bruce Coville has mentioned a few times in his author notes, edits this collection of short stories and poems written by a whole slew of authors I've never heard of. Basically anything goes in these stories. It can be fantasy or Sci-fi or anything. I'm enjoying it so far. I also have Xanadu 2 and Xanadu 3. When I'm done with all 3 of them, I'll let you know.

Now for my review of "Nightlight". (You'll love this. ^_^)

Graphic Novels

Here's a whole bunch of graphic novels that I've read in the last couple weeks. From right to left, these books are in order from least liked to most loved!

"That Salty Air" was just okay. It was a mildly interesting short story about a fisherman and his wife. The art and story of "Luuna" reminded me slightly (only slightly) of the Bone graphic novels. There were 3 small and round cartoony characters you're supposed to laugh at and a young attractive native girl. I wasn't a fan of the rest of the story, though. I read these 2 books while browsing in the library.

I finished the most recently published Cirque Du Freak graphic novel, "The Vampire Prince," as well. Ha, looks like I forgot to mention when I read #5. Well, suffice it to say I did, and that this series is still pretty good so far. But this book sure has a lot of fighting in it. 0,o

On Graham "Chop" Bradley's recommendation, I read "Sons of Liberty", by the Lagos brothers. Definitely a good read. Thanks, Graham. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the next installment. ^_~

My twin sister, Annette, actually turned me on to the next graphic novel, "Japan Ai." This is the manga journal of a real-life woman who goes sight-seeing in Japan with a couple of friends. Her stories are really funny, not to mention that the artwork portraying her antics are adorable and hilarious! Her description of Japanese culture was extremely thorough and complete, so it was as if I myself had traveled to Japan with her. It sounds like SUCH a different place than America, but it also sounds wonderful!

The best graphic novel I've read in these 2 weeks, however, has to be "Phoenix: A Tale of the Future", by Osamu Tezuka (creator of Astro Boy). What an amazing, mind-bending story that was. It takes place waaaay in the future, a few centuries or so from now, and... really, the story is too complicated to relate here, but it's amazing! You must read it!

Alright. I'm done. Now onto the short-stories.