Favorite Reads of '05: Part II
I know that the suspense has been killing all of you, so I'm just going to get right into it. This is a list of my favorite works of fiction that I read in 2005. Keep in mind that it's just stuff I read in 2005, not that came out in 2005 (I'm not sure that I made that clear last time). Anyhow, I've also split 'em into subcategories this time. It should be self-explanatory. Enjoy.
Favorite Fiction of 2005
Favorite Novel
Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel - Jonathan Safran Foer
This one sorta wins by default, as I think that it was the only novel that I read this year. Which is not to say that it isn't any good, because it is, it's just it didn't really have any competition. This book is hard to describe, but I'll do my best. The novel basically centers around a fictional character named Jonathan Safran Foer and his search in the Ukraine for a "lost" Jewish shtetl and a woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. This story unfolds in the form of letters written to Jonathan from the tour guide who helped him on his search. The letters are written in broken english and are often hilarious. The letter portions of the novel are interspersed with portions of a novel that Jonathan was writing about the shtetl before the Nazis. I know this may sound disjointed, but it actually works most of the time, especially as both story threads build to their own respective climaxes. When Foer the author, is on, he's great. Parts of the book are brilliant. It's touching, and funny, and even at times horrifying. There are some missteps along the way, but in all it's an engrossing and imaginative read.
Favorite Collected Edition
Bone: One Volume Edition - Jeff Smith
This edition collects the entire 13 years worth of the comic series Bone into one volume. It's truly 1300 pages of joy. The best way to describe it is "Lord of The Rings as seen through the eyes of Carl Barks." I know most of you have no idea what that means, but trust me it's a good thing. Obviously influenced by the work of Tolkien, Smith brings out an emotional resonance with his characters that Tolkien never could. This is no mean feat, especially considering the main characters, the Bone Cousins, are rather silly looking cartoon characters. Speaking of which, it's a hell of a lot funnier than The Lord of The Rings, too.
Favorite Comic Book Series
Daredevil - Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
I love Daredevil. I have for a long time, ever since I had the chicken pox in 5th grade as a matter of fact. Because before my parents shipped me and brother off to the farm to be looked after by our grandparents, my dad got me a collected edition of Daredevil: Born Again. It was one of the best comic stories I've read up until then, and one of the best I've read since. I was hooked. Born Again was written by Frank Miller and drawn by Dave Mazzucchelli, and unfortunately has pretty much cast a shadow over Daredevil ever since. Don't get me wrong, there were some great Daredevil stories, but by and large everybody just seemed to end up doing Born Again... again. Well, finally, two creators stepped out from under the shadow, and lo and behold, they did something new. They've been on the book together for several years now, and it's always been compelling reading, but this past year, they really kicked it up a notch. They finished their run on the title about 2 months ago, and I'm sure that someday some kid with chicken pox will read their run on the title and get hooked on Daredevil just like me. Hopefully, unlike me, they never see the movie, though...
Best Reprint
Watchmen (Absolute Edition) - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Hands down the greatest example of visual storytelling I have ever read. I bought the original 12 issue mini-series back in the early 90s and have read it at least 20 times since. Every time I read it I notice something new, some little detail in a panel on page 4 that relates to something on page 364. For those of you that don't believe superheroes and literature can go hand in hand, read this and see if it doesn't change your mind. This particular edition is nice, because you have the entire series in one volume. Plus it's been enlarged and digitally recolored. It simply looks amazing. Not only does in come in a slipcase, but at 464 pages and weighing in at 5.5 lbs, you won't be embarrassed to have it displayed on your bookshelf. Finally, the treatment that a work of it's quality deserves.
Best Original Graphic Novel
Goldenboy - Max Riffner
Sorry, but this one has a special place in my heart. It is the first time that I have ever seen a graphic novel's creation from start to finish. I can still remember when it was just an idea that Max was kicking around. I remember him showing me his first few pages and asking for suggestions. I gave him some and he kept plugging away. He kept plugging away and he stopped asking for suggestions, and that's when I knew he had it. He had hit his stride, and once he hit it, he didn't need anybody else. That confidence really shows in the pages of Goldenboy, as does all the hard work Max put into it. Again, I might not be the best person to judge, since we've been "Best Man" in each other's respective weddings, so don't take my word for it. Read it yourself. See why Phil Hester is raving about it and why Markosia Comics signed Max because of it. But mostly, read it because it's good and you'll like it. I mean, come one, that's why you read books in the first place, right?
Okay, that's it, the last of my lists for last year. I hope you all enjoyed them. By the way, I love hearing movie/book/music recommendations, so if anyone else wants to make any suggestions, I'm all ears.
Favorite Fiction of 2005
Favorite Novel
Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel - Jonathan Safran Foer
This one sorta wins by default, as I think that it was the only novel that I read this year. Which is not to say that it isn't any good, because it is, it's just it didn't really have any competition. This book is hard to describe, but I'll do my best. The novel basically centers around a fictional character named Jonathan Safran Foer and his search in the Ukraine for a "lost" Jewish shtetl and a woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. This story unfolds in the form of letters written to Jonathan from the tour guide who helped him on his search. The letters are written in broken english and are often hilarious. The letter portions of the novel are interspersed with portions of a novel that Jonathan was writing about the shtetl before the Nazis. I know this may sound disjointed, but it actually works most of the time, especially as both story threads build to their own respective climaxes. When Foer the author, is on, he's great. Parts of the book are brilliant. It's touching, and funny, and even at times horrifying. There are some missteps along the way, but in all it's an engrossing and imaginative read.
Favorite Collected Edition
Bone: One Volume Edition - Jeff Smith
This edition collects the entire 13 years worth of the comic series Bone into one volume. It's truly 1300 pages of joy. The best way to describe it is "Lord of The Rings as seen through the eyes of Carl Barks." I know most of you have no idea what that means, but trust me it's a good thing. Obviously influenced by the work of Tolkien, Smith brings out an emotional resonance with his characters that Tolkien never could. This is no mean feat, especially considering the main characters, the Bone Cousins, are rather silly looking cartoon characters. Speaking of which, it's a hell of a lot funnier than The Lord of The Rings, too.
Favorite Comic Book Series
Daredevil - Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
I love Daredevil. I have for a long time, ever since I had the chicken pox in 5th grade as a matter of fact. Because before my parents shipped me and brother off to the farm to be looked after by our grandparents, my dad got me a collected edition of Daredevil: Born Again. It was one of the best comic stories I've read up until then, and one of the best I've read since. I was hooked. Born Again was written by Frank Miller and drawn by Dave Mazzucchelli, and unfortunately has pretty much cast a shadow over Daredevil ever since. Don't get me wrong, there were some great Daredevil stories, but by and large everybody just seemed to end up doing Born Again... again. Well, finally, two creators stepped out from under the shadow, and lo and behold, they did something new. They've been on the book together for several years now, and it's always been compelling reading, but this past year, they really kicked it up a notch. They finished their run on the title about 2 months ago, and I'm sure that someday some kid with chicken pox will read their run on the title and get hooked on Daredevil just like me. Hopefully, unlike me, they never see the movie, though...
Best Reprint
Watchmen (Absolute Edition) - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Hands down the greatest example of visual storytelling I have ever read. I bought the original 12 issue mini-series back in the early 90s and have read it at least 20 times since. Every time I read it I notice something new, some little detail in a panel on page 4 that relates to something on page 364. For those of you that don't believe superheroes and literature can go hand in hand, read this and see if it doesn't change your mind. This particular edition is nice, because you have the entire series in one volume. Plus it's been enlarged and digitally recolored. It simply looks amazing. Not only does in come in a slipcase, but at 464 pages and weighing in at 5.5 lbs, you won't be embarrassed to have it displayed on your bookshelf. Finally, the treatment that a work of it's quality deserves.
Best Original Graphic Novel
Goldenboy - Max Riffner
Sorry, but this one has a special place in my heart. It is the first time that I have ever seen a graphic novel's creation from start to finish. I can still remember when it was just an idea that Max was kicking around. I remember him showing me his first few pages and asking for suggestions. I gave him some and he kept plugging away. He kept plugging away and he stopped asking for suggestions, and that's when I knew he had it. He had hit his stride, and once he hit it, he didn't need anybody else. That confidence really shows in the pages of Goldenboy, as does all the hard work Max put into it. Again, I might not be the best person to judge, since we've been "Best Man" in each other's respective weddings, so don't take my word for it. Read it yourself. See why Phil Hester is raving about it and why Markosia Comics signed Max because of it. But mostly, read it because it's good and you'll like it. I mean, come one, that's why you read books in the first place, right?
Okay, that's it, the last of my lists for last year. I hope you all enjoyed them. By the way, I love hearing movie/book/music recommendations, so if anyone else wants to make any suggestions, I'm all ears.
posted by Christian at 9:23 PM
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