Friday, July 25, 2014

Let’s Booktalk: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame Smith



Elizabeth Bennet is a typical English lady. She is the second oldest of five daughters, and during a time when women do not inherit their father’s fortune, she must rely on finding a husband. This does pose a problem, for one her family lives in the country where there are few eligible men to choose from, and secondly most of England is overrun with the unmentionable creature, the zombie.

Hacking off zombie heads is hardly a way to find true love, then again you won’t meet anyone quite like Mr. Darcy. He is a man of good fortune, handsome features, zombie killing skills, and proud. Can Lizzy find love, a good marriage, and remain the strong zombie killing woman she enjoys being so much? Or, will prejudice and a few zombie attacks keep romance out of her grasp?



Let’s Booktalk: Spanking Shakespeare by Jake Wizner



Growing up can be tough. Graduating high school can seem like the perfect escape. But, there is no real escape when your name is Shakespeare.

“It’s hard to imagine what my parents were thinking when they decided to name me Shakespeare. They were probably drunk…”

Shakespeare is a senior in high school, and like most high school seniors he is marking off the days until graduation. “Even though we don’t graduate until the middle of June, the sense of impending freedom has begun to sweep through the ranks of the senior class.” Between his parents, who are arguing with one another or criticizing his life choices, his violent younger brother Ghandi, and navigating the social scene that is high school; Shakespeare finds escape in his writing, much like his namesake.

So, you tell me, what’s in a name?

Let’s Booktalk: The Eye of the World : The Wheel of Time Vol. One, a graphic novel by Robert Jordan






In a land between the future and past. Where magic, dragons, queens and kings wage a war. Four young friends will find their destinies and have to wage battle in a war that was not theirs to begin with.

Rand al’Thor is a son of a farmer, but after his family’s farm is attacked by the creatures, Trollocs, he along with his friends Matrim Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, and Egwene al’Vere. This will only be the beginning of these four young friends’ journey within the Eye of the World.


Let’s Booktalk: Saint Vidicon to the Rescue by Christopher Stasheff



Father Vidicon may have been unorthodox for a priest in the Catholic Church. Vidicon was technologically savy, and his skills were put to good use in a time of crisis for the church. Sadly Vidicon was struck down working his tech-savy magic during a broadcast. Since his death whenever anything that could go wrong with technology, does go wrong people have prayed to Saint Vidicon for rescuing. Yet, some jobs need more earthly help.

Enter, Tony Ricci, a techy with skills, and Saint Vidicon’s earthly conduit. Ricci must navigate the world of evil tech issues, if the world is to remain safe from the powers of darkness using technology against us.

Let’s Booktalk: Mexican Whiteboy by Matt De La Peña



Trying to figure out your life is tough when you’re a teenager. Even tougher when you stand out, because of the color of your skin.

Danny is 16, standing at about six foot, with a passion to play baseball. But, he finds himself turning inward as you sees the world through color of his skin. Danny is a Mexican White boy, and the only half-Mexican who attends a private prep school in Leucadia.

Uno is a 17, over six foot tall black teen, who has a pitching arm that is well known in his neighborhood. He hustles who he can, where he can, to prove he is the best. His mother and stepfather tell him he won’t be any better than he is, and his father tells him he won’t change unless he tries.

Can two teens from different backgrounds find their escape in National City over the summer break? Or, will they only be what is expected of them because of the color of their skin?
 

Let’s Booktalk: Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams



Uni- latin for “one”.

Multi- latin for “many”

A singular universe no longer exist. In his 1,500 years of conscience life computer scientist, sorcerer, and swordsman Aristride has only known the multiverse.

The multiverse consists of Eleven platforms, created by artificial intelligence to sustain the existence of humans in their many forms. But, there is a plot to bring about the end of human existence, the “Existential Crisis”. One of the multiverses is creating new wormholes through the central sun threatening to extinguish life by absorbing what energy is left. 

Now, Aristride will have to travel the multiverse, face zombie attacks, biometric formed machines, and fight to save the multiverse before it is too late.