Shannon's Review - Ghosties by Gerald Hawksley

Title: Ghosties
Series: Not at the moment
Author: Gerald Hawksley
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Gerald Hawksley
Genre: Fiction, Childrens, Picturebook, Fantasy, Halloween
Publisher: Gerald Hawksley
Received: Bought
Release Date: October 2012
Pages: 33
Rating:



Author Gerald Hawksley Official Websites:



Website:
None found

Blog:
None found

Facebook:
None found

Twitter:
None found

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/geraldhawksley



Shannon’s Thoughts:

A rhyming story full of fun with different ghosts. On one night of the year, a ghost town appears and those that are living are looking for a little scare.

This is a fun one for the kids. Not really scary ghosts they are more looking for fun and cheer not looking to scare. I liked the rhyming, the words flowed nicely and the art is a little goofy like the ghosts. This version had some cute kids jokes about ghosts at the end and a preview of another story by the author.

I had no real faults with the book it was cute and silly which was the point I am sure.

I would definitely read something else by this author and I think it is a good Halloween book for kids 7 and under.

Shannon's Review - The Canterville Ghost By Oscar Wilde

Title: The Canterville Ghost

Series: N/A

Author: Oscar Wilde

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Ghosts

Publisher: Walker Books

Received: Bought

Release Date: May 1887

Pages: 126

Rating:

Author Oscar Wilde’s Official Websites:

Website:

https://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/

Blog:

N/A

Facebook:

N/A

Twitter:

N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

An overly confident and not easily scared American family moves into a haunted British castle. The British caretakers know to fear the ghost that has caused as much chaos in life as he does death.  The American children do not fear the nasty spirit that is running out of scare tactics to frighten the family. The American’s daughter finds a connection to the ghost that may bring him peace.

I read this after I read The Picture Of Dorian Grey and I have never seen the movies based on this short story so my mind had no real thoughts on the story except that I knew it was supposed to be humorous.  Again the author, Oscar Wilde, bring description like an artist brings paint to a canvas. The details are lovely and even in slow parts there is beauty in them

Something is missing in this compared to TPODG.  I knew this was supposed to be funny and thought there would be some laugh out loud moments. For me there wasn’t I could not fully connect maybe because this story was a commentary on British nobility.  I just felt more a disconnect reading TCG then I did TPODG.  

There are very few classic authors I like. Even though I thought The Canterville Ghost was okay a not great I will still try to read more Oscar Wilde at this point.  His writing is a treasure.

Shannon's Review - Rowan's Ruin by Mike Carey

Title: Rowan’s Ruin

Series: N/A

Author: Mike Carey

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy,

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Received: Borrowed

Release Date: December 2016

Pages: 112

Rating:

Mike Carey’s Official Websites:

Website

www.http://mikeandpeter.com/

Blog

N/A

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/MRCareyAuthor/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/michaelcarey191

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Our heroine Katie is looking for a place to relax and somewhere new to rejuvenate herself.  She finds a young woman in England is looking to house swap.  Katie soon finds the home she has found herself in has hidden skeletons. Spirits began to show themselves to Katie. Whether they are there to help or to hurt is something she must figure out and hopefully not too late.

There is a mixture of realism and mysticism which makes this graphic novel thrilling to read. The main character, Katie, finds out things about herself that she thought was bad but is just really a part of herself others don’t understand.  For example she is empathic and a medium of sorts as she sees ghosts.  When in previously in her life when mysterious things would happen her family made her take a trip to a psychiatrist who would then put in her on medication.

The story ends with sadness but also with hope as Katie learns that she is a strong woman with special abilities that can help herself and others once she learns to use those abilities.  I had hoped that there was going to be a series after this graphic novel.  I really liked Katie’s and the characters around her. The story moved quickly and was exciting.  I wanted more and I am sad to say that as of now Rowan’s Ruin is a stand alone.  

Author Mike Carey is known more for writing other comics like Lucifer, Neverwhere,
Unwritten and some X-men. Rowan’s Ruin is a hidden gem with art that may not be spectacular but fitting for the story.  

Shannon's Review - Cemetery Girl Book One: The Pretenders by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden

Title:  Cemetery Girl - Book One: The Pretenders

Series:  Cemetery Girl Vol. 1

Authors: Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Fiction

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Received:  Borrowed

Release Date: January 2014

Pages: 120

Rating:

Shannon’s Thoughts:

A young woman finds herself left for dead in a cemetery without memory of who she was or where she lives.  Afraid of those that tried to kill her, she takes refuge in the cemetery and even taking her new name from a tomb stone.  The girl, now known as Calexa,  visits local houses to “borrow” food.  She also finds a new power within herself that scares her.

I found that this graphic novel’s story grabbed from previous characters in the fantasy genre, like Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Joss Whedon’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  Since the authors’ took certain traits from those popular books and t.v. series it made me only like it more. In fact even though this volume #1 was a pretty big graphic novel I need more.  I am eager to find out where the story goes after this introduction.

I find it a little surprising that so many people disliked it because it was a graphic novel.  I am a avid reader and I find graphic novels to sometimes be more relaxing because my brain does not have to visualize as much with a graphic novel. I also find that graphic novel can be great for those who do not read as often.  I really don’t understand not liking any graphic novel just for … being a graphic novel.

Authors Official Websites:

Charlaine Harris

Website

http://charlaineharris.com/

Christopher Golden

Website

http://www.christophergolden.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/christophergoldenauthor

Twitter

https://twitter.com/ChristophGolden

Blog

http://christophergolden.blogspot.com/