Playing Catch Up

First, let me address Hero, albeit in brief. I certainly enjoyed the story, especially the gay aspects of it, and the superhero storyline just adds to the package. Unfortunately, it has been a while since I read it (and I should have blogged about it sooner, I know). I think any gay man can certainly understand Thom's plight (the gay part, not necessarily the superhero part), and Moore makes this story accessible to young adults and older readers alike, primarily by attaching archetypal superheroes with alternate names (you can tell which character is based on Wonder Woman, for example). I wish I had more to say about the book, but I'm not one for explanatory posts, rehashing plot elements (sorry Randy!). I'd rather this not become akin to an essay my students would write, using parenthetical citations or quotes from the novel. Suffice it to say, Hero was a great read for me, and I would certainly read other books by Moore.

Now, on to Soon I Will Be Invincible. First, let me say that I think this novel is creative in its use of two narrators, Fatale (a female cyborg) and Jonathan (aka Doctor Impossible), which certainly adds to the personalizing of the story for the reader. I teach many books with narrative shifts, and they do make the book a more interesting, captivating experience. That said, I enjoyed the novel quite a bit, but I did find it a little predictable, and perhaps that was its intention. Similar to Hero, it's not a dark, complex read like American Gods by Gaiman, but rather an almost tongue-in-cheek look at the quintessential hero/villain story. CoreFire (a Superman character) ultimately fights against Doctor Impossible (a very Lex Luthor-like individual, especially in the past years of Justice League/JLU), but the story is anticlimactic in that it's not CoreFire who takes down his arch foe, but rather Lily, the Lois Lane character who knew both CF and DI before they were CF and DI. Certainly a fun read, especially some of the over-the-top comments made by Jonathan as the "supervillain." Also, Grossman uses archetypal characters who resemble more established heroes (Blackwolf reminds me of Batman) which also connects with readers who can identify someone from another publication.

Both novels were a welcomed change from the literature I read for school and provided me with the necessary distraction from the day-to-day experiences of a teacher on summer break. I look forward to reading books by Moore and Grossman in the future, and I plan on suggesting them both to my students, for the emerging homosexual or archvillain in all of us ;)

Soon I Will Be Invincible

Translating one genre into another is difficult, and more often than not, you end up turning off the fans of genre one while failing to capture genre two. Instead of crossover appeal, you have lost an audience. This is especially true with cult genres like comic books. Comic fans are very protective, and wary of outsiders. Likewise, the general reading public gives little weight to the literary merit of the ‘Funny Papers.’
In the last few years however, comics have attracted the talents of established fiction writers like Brad Meltzer, Greg Rucka, and Jodi Picoult. The comic fans have found their way to sample fiction works by these authors and fiction fans have begun to pick up their comic work.
Austin Grossman has taken this a step further in Soon I Will Be Invincible, his debut novel. A work of fiction with no interior art, the story is none the less a perfect comic caper. Invincible is the story of Dr. Impossible, the world’s greatest villain, and the superhero team known as The Champions. Grossman employs a first person narrative, but from opposing sides; half the novel is told from Dr. Impossible’s perspective, while the other is told from the point of view of Fatale, the newest member of The Champions. Zigzagging back and forth between the two, the plot is tight, and fast paced, sucking the reader in from page one. The action sequences are superb and show Grossman’s command of language.
Grossman’s secret weapons, however, are his characterizations. People with ridiculous names like Damsel and Blackwolf (and crazy outfits to match) are revealed to be all too human, with inner conflict, socialization issues and occasionally a sense of humor. Damsel and Blackwolf come from the Fleetwood Mac School of Relationship Adjustments. Divorced and still fighting on the same team, they try to adjust to working with someone you don’t want to be around anymore. While there aren’t any Top 40 hits penned by them, the duality of their situation does permeate the exchange they have, and create a more realistic portrait of both of them.
Dr. Impossible is exactly what you would imagine a Super Villain to be: Maniacal, Hyper-Intelligent, and Theatrical. Underneath the surface however, he is a grad school flunkie. More intelligent than his instructors, he nevertheless screws up his one chance at his greatest experiment and in the process creates his nemesis: Core Fire. Impossible’s inner monologue is filled with jealousy, rage and a lot of humor. He wants the world to take him seriously, but sometimes he admits the ridiculousness of his occupation. It’s an insight rarely found in a traditional comic book.
These are the things that will appeal to the general reader, a great story told through a fast paced plot and excellent characterization.
Invincible does not abandon its comic roots though. Many comic fans will rejoice in the plot itself (the team is trying to thwart Impossible’s latest scheme to take over the world) and the wry wit comics are becoming known for. Without spoiling a major scene, there is a hilarious exchange between Impossible and his arch-nemesis CoreFire.
A tough balancing act is accomplished as the novel winds to its inevitable conclusion. The reader cannot help but marvel at how completely Grossman has created a new world. It’s kind of jarring to come back to reality when it is all over. That is the hallmark of a great writer. One hopes Soon I Will Be Invincible will usher in a slew of new books by Austin Grossman in the future.

Hero by Perry Moore

It’s been recounted in almost every conversation about gays and comics; that we relate to the duality of the super hero; having to keep a secret from the rest of the world, finding camaraderie in others with ‘special’ abilities, wearing stylish outfits after dark, etc. As obvious as it is, we still have to read between the lines to put our experiences into a heterosexual context. As hunky as Kyle Rayner is with his spandex and the accessory with unlimited power, he still has a girlfriend to talk to about the change in his life when he becomes a Green Lantern (or Ion, or Parallax, or whatever he is this week).
Perry Moore’s debut novel Hero seeks to address this. Written for the young adult crowd, ‘Hero’ tells the story of Thom Creed, a 2nd generation Super who discovers he has powers about the same time he discovers boys. Moore does an exceptional job of winding a gay coming of age story in with a great Silver Age feeling comic action story.
Thom is living with his father, the former Major Might, a disgraced former hero who doesn’t like to talk about his past. Thom’s mother disappeared years ago, and no one has seen her for a very long time. Thom is playing a basketball game when an opposing player is injured. Thom runs over to help, and that’s when he discovers he has the ability to heal people at an accelerated rate. It’s at the same game that a player winks at him and stirs emotions Thom had never felt before.
Through a series of events, Thom ends up having to use his powers in front of The League (an impressive Justice League/Avengers pastiche). The leader, Justice, asks for Thom to try out for a League membership. Thom makes probationary status, and now he has 2 secrets to keep from his dad.
Thom’s probationary teammates are so D List, they make Kathy Griffin look like Black Canary: Typhoid Larry (can induce sickness), Scarlett (control of fire, but with dire consequences), Golden Boy (a speedster in the Kid Flash-as-an-asshole mold) and Ruth, a senior citizen with minor precog abilities (think Raven of the Teen Titans collecting Social Security). Training together, all the members of this ragtag team have their own secrets, but even here, Thom feels like an outsider.
Like many of us, Thom often sits outside the local gay bar daring himself to go in. Finally he meets a guy and shares his first kiss in the parking lot outside the bar. Just as in real life, it ends up costing him in ways he could never imagine.
Through all of this, Thom is followed by Dark Hero, a vigilante on the outskirts of the hero community. Dark Hero’s identity is easily figured out, but hey, this was written for teens so what do you expect?
Moore’s writing is crisp and fluid, never sacrificing character for plot, or vice versa. His action sequences flow in such a way you can almost see them in a panel to panel in your mind. Thom’s anguish at his dishonesty with his father is real but it adds to the story without overpowering it. It’s a tough balancing act, but Moore pulls it off with panache.
I would have given anything to have a book like this given to me at the age of 15; it would have really made a difference in my life. I can only hope it finds its way into the hands of those who need it now.

Fool by Christopher Moore

Well, we are onto our next book, Fool by Christopher Moore. You will note that this book is not on our to read list. However, I spotted it on Amazon a few days ago. I am a big fan of Mr. Moore. I think Lamb is one of my all time favorite books. In Fool, Moore takes his singular wit and sarcasm and aims it squarely at The Bard. I knew this would be a book David and I could both sink our teeth into.
Check back as we post our progress...

I'm finished...

reading the novel, American Gods. I have always been fascinated by the many pantheons of deities in the world, mostly Greco-Roman gods, but this novel brought back knowledge from my childhood when I read about Egyptian gods as well as the Norse. I found myself thankful to my high school teachers for perpetuating my desire, nay... passion... for reading through things like Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythologies.

In one scene in the novel, I found myself smiling about a particular reference to a character needing a mistletoe stick in order to kill another character who, apparently, is a son of Odin, the king of the Norse gods. I smiled because I knew the reference was to Balder, Odin's son, who is paralleled with someone in the book. It just reinforces the idea of what I tell my students that they need to know "things", like mythology, because you never know when you'll need to be "in" on the joke or understand the obscure reference.

In any event, novel exceeded my expectations, namely because of the complexities of the plot development. The main character, Shadow, has his life redirected so many times, it's a wonder that he didn't lose his mind with everything he had to do for Mr. Wednesday. Another interesting fact is that "Wednesday" comes from "Woden's Day," and Woden is a name used by Odin... so, I guess you can figure out who represents the king of the Æsir (one of the principal groups of the Norse pantheon). I remain fascinated by Gaiman's personification of various gods and goddesses, namely Thoth, Ibis, and Easter (which is more of a festival than a true divine figure, unless you consider her personified as Ishtar, a goddess of fertility, love, and sex).

More to come!

Done.

I have already mentioned the Literary Lethargy that has gripped me, but to truly understand how I feel about 'American Gods' I have to expand on it a little. For 12 years I worked in the book industry, working my way from part-time bookseller all the way to buyer and event coordinator. Books are in my blood, it was not uncommon for me to read 2 or 3 in a week.
In January 2008, I left the book world for a job in the entertainment industry. It was a tough transition, and one that was not entirely in my hands. Because of that, I had a very difficult time reading. I would read in fits and starts, in many cases, abandoning books halfway through(which is something I had never done). It was incredibly depressing, and a barometer for how I perceived the rest of my life.
About a month ago, David and I were talking on the phone about the fact that we liked to read but had no one to discuss the books with. David suggested this book club and we chose 'American Gods' as the first book. I was extremely excited and picked up my copy about a week later.
I had read 'American Gods' when it was first released in 2001, but had not committed very much of it to memory. Diving into it was like reading it for the first time. 'Gods' tells the story of Shadow, who after serving a stint in prison is employed my the mysterious Mr. Wednesday. Wednesday has this otherworldly quality from the moment he appears (literally...literally, ha!) and it soon becomes apparent that Wednesday is the human manifestation of a Norse god. Shadow becomes his errand boy as they travel the country recruiting other Old World gods to wage war against the New Gods (Media, Technology, Industry) in a battle that promises to dictate the future of religion.
The above description of the plot is deceptively simple. The story is so much more than that. Gaiman's writing is intricate without being inaccessible. Threads and asides are introduced seemingly at random, only to pop up later as very important aspects of the story. For a while, I wondered if Gaiman was actually responsible for the tv show 'Lost,' not JJ Abrams. The Queen of Sheba is now a prostitute in LA? How's that for clever?
Characters are one important aspect of the story: without someone to sympathize with, it's tough for the reader to care about the story. Gaiman gives us that in spades. However, another very important aspect is the setting. Wednesday and Shadow travel the length and breadth of the United States, but never have I been so enchanted with the locales: The House on the Rock, in Wisconsin; Rock City, Georgia; an undertaker's home in Chicago; The geographical center of the USA near Lebanon, Kansas. I found myself shutting the book and googling these places. Many of them are actual places. I feel a road trip coming on!!!
Between the story, the characters and the setting, I was completely immersed, in ways I hadn't been in so long. It felt so good to be totally taken in like that, it seriously warmed my heart.
There were only a couple of problems I had: I would like to have seen the Greek Pantheon represented in the story. Almost everyone else was. I suppose Gaiman did that intentionally, as the public is most familiar with them. It did give other cultures a chance to shine. Still a throwaway mention of Athena would have been nice.
Another issue was the epilogue and the afterword. The one problem most people had with the film adaptation of 'The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King' was the endless procession of endings. 'Gods' started to feel like that. I am sure there could have been a better way to integrate the endings into the actual story wrap up.

I am already looking forward to the next book. Thank you David and Neil Gaiman for bringing me back to Literary Life.

While we're waiting for David to catch up

Check out the story project David and I participated in and be sure to leave feedback.

http://epasp2009.blogspot.com/

It was alot of fun and we are anxious to hear what others think!!

So far...

While David is off to New York Comic Con, watching the new Wonder Woman animated film, meeting other comic geeks, rubbing shoulders with Comic Giants, and other things that couldn't possible interest me in the least, I have conquered the first 120 pages of the book.
What I like about Neil Gaiman is that he is able to set the tone for the book within the first page. Shadow, our protagonist, is about to be let out of prison for an unnamed crime. From the second you learn this, you already get a sense of foreboding...a feeling that Shadow would do well to stay on the inside. This colors every conversation, every gesture and every moment you spend with Shadow. I don't want to spoil things, but soon this proves to be true.
Quickly, Gaiman introduces Mr. Wednesday...and otherworldly sort of character who becomes Shadow's employer, and possibley benefactor. What kind of job does he require of Shadow? Not a very upstanding one.
When David gets back, we will discuss more...

This is exciting!!

I am so excited about our first book David. As much as I read...and I read a lot...I have been uninspired lately. The last few books I picked up just didn't grip me like a good book should. I am happy to be able to read some excellent literature, and share the experience with you.
To anyone out there following along, welcome to the journey!

Book 1: American Gods

So, it seems this will be our first book, and Randy has to get a copy. I am almost done with Anansi Boys (another book by Neil Gaiman), so I am anxious to start this next book. My understanding is that similar characters appear in both books, but the stories are not related (allegedly).

His style tends to be a bit like Leslie Marmon Silko (Ceremony) with magical realism and ideas which one would accept as truth, despite the fact that they are surreal, or even preternatural. I'm excited to be reading again which is an ironic statement considering I teach English literature. :)

DB

Books We'll Be Reading

Here's our first list:

1. Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
   
2. Hero by Perry Moore
   
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
   
4. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
   
5. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
   

We'll be posting comments and reviews of these books as we read them.