bookish odds 'n ends

*Is there anyone out there who hasn't yet discovered J. Kaye's Book Blog? I recently discovered it because J. Kaye is hosting the Suspense and Thriller Reading Challenge. If you haven't checked it out yet, you really should. Why? Well...
a.) J. Kaye is just one incredibly nice person,
b.) she and her family write book reviews on an incredibly varied bunch of books (seriously, in the past couple of weeks, I've written down books that I thought my husband would like, books that I thought Gray would like, and of course, books that interested me), and
c.) she holds book raffles every Sunday where she gives away many of the books she reviews.
I was the lucky recipient of Easy Scrapbook Embellishment by Heidi Schueller this week! Thanks again, J. Kaye!

*I joined the Twisted Fairy Tales Reading Challenge last night. No rationalizations. No excuses. I've just decided that I'm tired of being tortured by these damn challenges. If I want to join one, I will. Even if I never actually complete another one as long as I live.

*I finished up another book for Dewey's Graphic Novels Challenge. And since it's a challenge book, I feel like I should write a review. But frankly, I don't really know how. It's not that I'm being self-deprecating, or that the book had any kind of profound effect on me. It's just that I'm really out of my league here. The Books of Faerie by Bronwyn Carlton. Let me just post what it says on the back cover:

Do you believe...

...in a mystical land beyond the boundaries of the mundane world...

...ruled by a beautiful queen who was once a mortal like you and me...

...who may have sired the most powerful sorcerer of our world?

In this finest high fantasy tradition, this companion volume to Vertigo's ongoing BOOKS OF MAGIC series collects for the first time the acclaimed BOOKS OF FAERIE miniseries, featuring the story of Titania, Queen of Faerie. Also included is the much sought-after ARCANA ANNUAL, featuring an early tale of young mage Timothy Hunter and his journeys in the magical realms.

I joined the Graphic Novels Challenge to expand my horizons, and thus far, I have not been disappointed. I have to say that I really enjoyed the first part of this book very much. It's the story of how a young mortal girl, Maryrose, is lured to faerie and how she ultimately becomes Titania, Queen of Faerie, and gives birth to a son. It held me thoroughly entranced throughout.

The second part, Long Walks in Dancing Shoes, by John Ney Rieber was also enjoyable, but, I'm guessing, a little harder to appreciate by someone like me who is not familiar with The Books of Magic. I can say it has awakened my curiosity, however, and I can certainly see myself seeking out more about Timothy Hunter in the future.

So, to wrap up, I realize that this is less than helpful as a review. But I must say, I am so glad I joined Dewey's challenge. The world of graphic novels is such a varied world. I'm continuing to be delighted and surprised with each new venture.