Hades Lord of The Dead Meets Diary of A Wimpy Kid!!!!

Hi all you groovy travelers through the world of blog, I have come across some really out of sight reads that I just need to share. Remember, you to can also contribute to the cause through commenting on something you read and liked and I will get it posted. Far out man!!!!! Well on to good reads eh?

The Olympians, Hades Lord of The Dead by George O'Connor - This Graphic Novel focuses on Zeus's brother Hades who gets , unfairly, a bad rap most of the time. If you have yet to read any of the Graphic Novels in the Olymians' Series that have come out so far (click on the titles to check out my reviews of Athena, Grey-Eyed Goddess,  Hera, The Goddess and Her Glory and one done by Iron Carl for The Boys Rule, Boys Read Blog. Zeus,King of The Gods) by George O'Connor get ahold of them as soon as you can. In this well written and drawn Graphic Novel we learn more about Hades (also known by such names such as "Pluton - The Wealthy One," "Zeus Cythonios - Zeus of The Underworld" and many more as people do not like to use the name Hades in fear of attracting his attention) and the Underworld he rules. Of course the Underworld is populated by many known and not so familiar denizens as Cerberus - the giant three headed dog that guards the Underworld, Charon -the ferryman who will take the recently departed across the river Styx (for a cost), Shades of The Dead, The Mortal Half of Heracles who did not ascend to Olympus upon his death to become a god, The Titans who ruled all of existence before the Olympians defeated them among many, many more famous and not quite as famous. The story of the abduction of Kore, the daughter of Demeter (Goddess of Agriculture), is featured prominently in this Graphic Novel (GN) for without giving to much away she marries Hades and become Persephone (Goddess of The Underworld and Spring Growth). Without Persephone we would not have the changing of the seasons --- read the GN. Much more is included in this GN and Mr. O'Connor has done his homework well to put together a terrific read!!! As with the other Olypians' books included with the story are Author's Notes, Bios on key individuals and other beings in the story, Greek Notes about certain sections of the book to give more clarity, Discussion Questions, a wonderful Bibliography of books and web sites where the author obtained the information to tell the story and a further Recommended Reading List about the story he has spun. This is really a great GN and I can't wait to see what Greek Myth Mr. O'Connor will provide to us next!!!!!! Recommended for those ages 9 and up. 

I know I'm late on the next one and probably everybody except me has already read it, but here goes:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney - What can I say about this book that I have not already said about the previous books in this series? They are too funny and every guy out there has a little (or allot of Greg Heffeley) in them. What really impresses me about this book and the series is they continue to be topnotch in comedic value and maintain an originality that all the other books inspired by the series can't come close to matching. Examples of comic genius from this book:

1) Greg and his brother Roderick picking up an elderly woman walking to the grocery store she knows is nearby, but deciding she is confused and taking her to one miles away. Only to find out a new grocery store had opened right around the corner she lives at; rushing back to get her only to have her refuse to ride with them and having a news report come on television that night about teens kidnapping elderly people and dropping them off at strange locations.

2) Greg and Rowley setting up a dunking both to make money and not realizing the person being dunked should be protected from the baseballs being thrown at the cage (ouch).

3) Read and laugh! The book ends way to fast because of the pace you will be reading and laughing.

Let's hope there is a knew one out soon. Recommended for those ages 9 and up. 

Well that's all I got for now guys.

Later,

Library Ninja Bill
  

Raptors Vs. Hercules Vs. Hera

Hello all in the "Land o Blog."  Again the everwondering, always searching Library Ninja Bill brings you news of good reads. The first book I present to you today is a real killer!!!!! I mean this quite literally as when dinosaur and humans come together, usually the results are far from great! So here goes:



Z. Raptor by Stephen Cole - Wow, this book is a real page turner that not only involves genetically engineered super intelligent dinosaurs, but spotlights my favorite dinosaurs Velociraptors. This is the second book in a series written by Mr. Cole on scientifically modified dinosaurs, the first being Z. Rex which I have not read yet (but you can bet as soon as I can I will be). This book revolves around 13 year-old Adam Adlar whose father has come up with some pretty advanced gaming technology, based on Adam's thought patterns, that allows a not so nice corporation named Geneflow to use in combination with their ability to bring dinosaurs back to life to make new super advanced and extremely intelligent dinosaurs. In an attempt to find out what Geneflow is up to Adam and his father are kidnapped by an FBI Special Agent named John Chen and set sail to a tiny island in which two conflicting species of evolved Velociraptors are at war.. These dinos are also keeping human hostages for unknown reasons that have somehow been transported to the island..Todd and his father are separated when the ship Todd is on with Chen is sunk near the island by mysterious sea monsters.Todd's father and the ship he is own escape and the survivors of the wrecked ship find themselves stranded on this strange island. The survivors of the wreck meet an unlikely ally in a Velocirapator that has been cast out of his tribe named Loner (It is Loner by the way that has alerted Agent Chen in the beginning of the book what is happening on this island by video transmission and yes the dinos can talk. I did say they had been advanced drastically and I meant it.). Todd and the survivors with the help of Loner must figure out the secrets of the island along with a way to survive the two warring tribes of Velociraptors and Geneflow whom is hidden on the island. This book is full of action and twist and turns that will make your head spin. Highly recommended for readers ages 10 and up!!!!!! 

Some cool pics I found of Velocipraptors to wet your appetite!!!!!

Moving right along how about a great Graphic Novel on the Goddess Hera of Greek Myth? Here we go!!!!!

Olympians: Hera - The Goddess and Her Glory by George O'Connor - This Graphic Novel focuses on the Goddess of Marriage, Childbirth, Air, Sky, and the Heavens among other things. Oh yea, she is also the wife of Zues and about the only thing or person that scares the crap out of him! This GN focuses on the relationship between these two Greek Gods and in particular her relatioship with one of Zues' greatest children....Hercules!!!! The 12 Labors of Hercules are due to Hera in a major way. So the story of Hercules also known to many as "The Glory of Hera" is told in this GN. This is really a great GN that is really fun to read and the art is awesome. Also included in this GN are Author's Notes telling why Hera is one of his favorite Greek Goddess, Fact Sheets on Hera and Hercules, Greek Notes on parts of the story not told in detail in the GN, a Discussion Page with some very interesting questions that make you think about the story presented, a kick-butt Biblography on where the author got much of his information to tell the story and a Recommended Reading List for those who want to read more about these Greek Icons. As I said, this GN is a definite winner. Recommended for readers 9 years and older.   

Well that's all for now my fellow wanders of good literature. Peace and good reading,

Library Ninja Bill

Good Graphic Novel Reads!

Hello again residence of the "Land of Blog." Sorry it has been awhile since my last post but a Library Ninjas Job can be very time consuming. Here are some of the things I have been up to since my last post for example:

Defending myself from "The Evil Squirrel League of Ninja Assassins." Let me tell you something, these guys may be small but their vicious!!!!!!

You would be surprised about how upset some people become when they can't find the book they want at the library!!!!

And finally finding a new hobby while not being an ultra violent Library Ninja.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well enough about my daily trials and tribulations, let's talk about some cool Graphic Novels I have read lately:

 

 

Olympians: Athena, Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O'Connor - If you like Greek Myths and the Greek Gods and Heroes, this GN is definitely for you. This is the second GN in The Olympians series (the first being Zeus - King of The Gods). This is a wonderfully illustrated and well-spun tale about Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, War, Strategy, Crafts and Cities. It tells of how she was born and came into the world by bursting out of her father's head (that would be Zeus), helped save Mount Olympus and the Gods by battling and defeating Pallas, leader of a race of Stone Giants called the Gigantomachy, helping Peruses (along with Hermes) in defeating Medusa and much more. I really learned a great deal about Athena that I did not know and enjoyed this GN very much!!!!!!!




For older readers (13 an up) you may want to check out this really great GN:

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson - At first glance Burden Hill looks like an idyllic community and area, but underneath the surface evil abounds. With the human residences being blissfully unaware, its up to a brave crew of dogs and a cat to deal with what is wrong in and around Burden Hill. Pugs, Ace, Jack, Whitey, Red and the Orphan (the cat) are just some of the crew that are fighting the good fight against such things as witch covens, animal zombies, demonic frogs, evil mystical rats, the undead, werewolves and more. This is really an original concept that is extremely well written along with being graced with the awesome art of Jill Thompson. Highly recommended!!!!!!





Well that's all for now all. Being talking at you again soon,

Bill