The Age of Missing Information by Bill McKibben

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book has been on my TBR list for a long time, but I only now picked it up. McKibben, an environmental writer who grew up with television, examines what "information" television truly provides us, and what it does not. The book owes a debt to Marshall McLuhan whose phrase "the medium is the message" brings a lot of McKibben's points home. TV narrows our focus, placing us as consumers in the center of everything, which is contributing to our environmental destruction. The book was written in the early 90's and some of its references are dated (although it's amazing how often Trump comes up), but its message is vital and interesting.



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Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Someone is killing off adventuring parties and the Rat Queens, being a group of intrepid adventurers, find themselves in the crosshairs. This is a fun series, full of humor, old school role-playing game references, four-letter words, mayhem, and twists. This volume ends on a cliffhanger and I'm excited for Volume 2.



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Bookhunter by Jason Shiga

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In Oakland California in 1973, Special Agent Bay of the Library Police is a tough as nails detective, taking down book thieves. This graphic novel captures the feel of a gritty 70's cop show with a library theme and it's amusing for some of its references to older library technologies (e.g., magnetic tape and card catalogs).



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You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams And Other Stories by Alan Cumming

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Alan Cumming shares stories and photos he's gathered over his years as a celebrity. It's a bit like having him tell tales over drinks at a party. A lot of name-dropping here, and his takes on American culture as a Scot are amusing.



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Just Add Water by Hunter Shea

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A fun, fast-paced, gruesome homage to 50's horror with child heroes and comic book references. When David and Patrick order Amazing Sea Serpents from the back of a comic book, they are at first disappointed, tossing the black blobs down the sewer. The creatures thrive to become merciless killing and eating machines and soon the whole suburban neighborhood is under attack. There's not any character development or literary pretension, just action, gore, and amusement.



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Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In Castle Rock, Maine in the early 1970's, young Gwendy runs the Suicide Stairs to lose weight. There, she meets Mr. Farris, who gives her a box adorned with buttons and levers. The levers provide treats and coins, while the button, Mr. Farris says, should not be pushed. A fun, fast-paced novella with a very Twilight Zone feel.



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The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Set in an alternate version of Ireland, this story follows Nessa, a young girl suffering from the effects of polio. She is in survival school as during adolescence, all children will be Called, suddenly forced to fight for their lives in the grey land against the Sidhe, whose touch can bend and shape the human body like it was clay. This YA novel is grim and gruesome at times, but also entertaining, engaging, and fast-paced.



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Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions by Valeria Luiselli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Luiselli volunteers as a translator, asking questions of undocumented Latin American children facing deportation. She follows the 40 questions she asks to tell the powerful story of these children, the horrors they face in their countries of origin as well as the nightmares they confront coming to and living in this country. An important, poignant essay in the age of Trump. Highly recommended.



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Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The second Sarah's Scribbles collection finds similar themes to the first. Not quite as strong, but still very funny and entertaining.



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Ivar, Timewalker, Volume 3: Ending History by Fred Van Lente

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A fitting, satisfying ending to this time travel/alternate universe adventure series.



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