Ohikkoshi: Takiteasy Comics Complete Works

by Hiroaki Samura, 246 pages

In the main story, "Ohikkoshi," a group of oddball college friends navigate the bumpy road of attachments with music, drinking parties, and silly, sweet awkwardness.  Tono's long been in love with Akagi, whose boyfriend has recently gone to volunteer overseas.  Will this be Tono's chance?  Will fiery little Kobarukawa ever admit that she's been in love with him for years?  Unrequited love and laughs make the rounds.

In "Luncheon of Tears Diary," a young struggling manga-ka's life takes a (more) surreal turn when she follows her masked editor's advice and changes the direction of her story--and gets dropped from the magazine.  As she goes about remaking herself again and again to pay the bills, the lines between fact and fiction get crazily, hilariously, darkly blurred.

The subtitle of this volume is a very silly pun / pseudonym for creator Samura (best known for the dark historical action series Blade of the Immortal), who pretends to hide behind the not very likely name "Takei Teashi" (sounds like "Take it easy"?  *pft*).

One of the goofy ads included for the first story lists the characters with these dramatic descriptions: "In a romantic comedy, the lead must (of course) be a virgin." "The hero's longed-for, nicotine-breathed woman with moles." "The mole woman's former roommate, the puny blonde." "The puny blonde's boyfriend." "The foreigner."  This is probably the safest Samura tale I've ever read.  The humor's silly and mostly harmless, even when there are guns and stalkers involved.  And most everybody's happy and / or well-adjusted at the end (with the exception of the ill-fated foreigner *snort*).  Woo hoo!

The second tale includes a little more of Samura's usual darkness, although it's still pretty funny.  It's just that the guns and other violence are a little more effective (yeek!).  Lose your job as a creator of serial comics?  But of course, you could wind up playing killer mahjong in smoky rooms and going after those who owe you money without mercy.  And that's just one of the many progressively darker possibilities.  Ha ha!  This one's a bit of a shocker, but I still enjoyed it.

Summer Knight: Book 4 of the Dresden Files

by Jim Butcher, 371 pages

Harry Dresden can't catch a break. He's broke, bereft and under surveillance by the White Council. While he searches for a cure for vampirism, he loses himself in the pursuit. One of his werewolf friends drags him out of his pit, and soon Butcher finds himself in a murder mystery. A murder that could bring the Fey Courts of Summer and Winter to a catastrophic war. When Harry tries to alert the White Council to the danger, no one listens to him, of course. So it's up to Harry and his few allies to solve the case and stop Fairy-geddon from happening.

What I like about the Dresden books is Harry's sarcastic and self-deprecating narration. They are steeped in geek references, yet the plot and action flows seamlessly along. One of these days Harry is probably going to get himself killed, but I think he will somehow manage to cheat death itself. Another Chicago setting too. Interesting.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

296/2012

Greg has figured out how to navigate the high school social scene. Be friendly enough with every social circle and you'll get by. He has his friend Earl and they make movies after school, but then show them to no one. When Greg's mom suggests he befriend Rachel, a girl he knew in Hebrew school, because she has cancer, Greg is not pleased. Now he hidden social status is blown. And it gets worse when Greg and Earl decide to make a video about Rachel-and the whole school has to watch it.

The Dresden Files

by Jim Butcher, total pages 1,201

I started reading the Dresden Files with Changes, the 12th in the series, then went back to the beginning with Storm Front. Because I knew "spoilers" from the most recent titles, some of the suspense was missing. However, I still found the earlier books interesting because I was seeing the beginning of relationships that span the series. Butcher writes urban fantasy (or as I call it fantasy noir) and the streets of his Chicago are dark indeed. Still, Harry Dresden, wizard for hire, has a smart mouth and a penchant for doing "the right thing" even if he knows he's going to be in big trouble. So far the series has had bad sorcerers, werewolves and vampires, not to mention the titular creatures from Ghost Story. I enjoy the fantasy universe that Butcher has created since he's twisted dark legends into new menacing shapes that haunt you even in broad daylight. And any book that references Star Trek, the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and The Princess Bride all in the same chapter is right up my geeky alley. I'd put Butcher and Laurell K Hamilton at the top of my list of dark fantasy writers.

"The Adventure of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed" by Patrick Rothfuss, illustrated by Nate Taylor

72 pages

This looks just like a kid's picture book, but it is not! It's got cute illustrations and the main characters are a little girl and her teddy bear, but do not be fooled by these appearances.

The Princess lives in her castle with only her best friend, Mr. Whiffle the teddy bear. There are no grown-ups to ruin her fun and tell her what to do, so she gets to spend all day exploring, digging for "treasure," and generally having a blast with Mr. Whiffle. The only problem is the Thing Beneath the Bed. There are three endings to the story: a happy one, a scary one, and the real one, which is creepy, unexpected, and hilarious.

This story cracked me up! I loved the contrast between the cute drawings and the disturbing stuff going on in the castle. I enjoyed this dark-humor spin on a classic fairy tale storyline.

The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed by Pat Rothfuss, illustrated by Nate Taylor

2010/68 pgs

About the Book: The story of a princess, told in three parts.

Andy's Thoughts: This book was weird but I really enjoyed it. Very funny, very original, and very true the Mr. Rothfuss's style that I have seen in the KingKiller Chronicles. I would give it a 6 out of 10, because it is definitely not a book that would appeal to everyone.

The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed by Pat Rothfuss, illustrated by Nate Taylor

2010/68 pgs

About the Book: The Princess lives in a marzipan castle and plays with her teddy bear Mr. Whiffle. Life is wonderful-except for the thing beneath the bed.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Patrick Rothfuss, of The Kingkiller Chronicle Fame, tries his hand at a picture for adults-the key words here being for adults. This is not a picture book for children, even if it does look sweet and fairy tale-esque. This is a book for adults with a dark sense of humor and I found it hysterical (not sure what that says about me!) The first review on Amazon states that this would be a book that would make Voldemort giggle-and I have to agree.

There are three endings-one happy, one horrible and one true ending. You can stop at whatever ending you please, but the fun is, of course, in reading all three and watching the story progress. I've already recommended this to friends and I plan on purchasing this for my own library collection. It will be a book I pull out when friends are over that I just have to share!

The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle

This book would make Voldemort giggle.

The Princess and her teddy bear live alone in a Marzipan castle and spend their days engaging in a variety of adventures that define what it means to be a kid. Pirate battles, riding ponies and even freaking out about the "thing" underneath the bed can fool the reader into believing this is a children's book. Trust me, it isn't. There are three endings depending on the mood of the reader.

This graphic novel was a surprise read on lunch break a few days ago and it still makes me chuckle in reflection. It has sweet moments and moments that make you cover your mouth and go, "oh no" as you giggle in dark delight.  My advice? Just go with it and enjoy!  2010, 68 pages.