Rose by Jeff Smith

Books Completed: 70
Completion Date: March, 2009
Pages: 160
Publication Date: March 15, 2002

Reason for Reading: New Author Challenge, Graphic Novel Challenge

The hit comic book mini-series "Rose" now comes to you in a single handsome package with a brand-new cover! Released over a yearlong period to rave reviews (and an Eisner nomination for best painter), the "Bone" prequel by Jeff Smith and Charles Vess can now be read as it was originally intended - as one massive epic. In the old days, when "BONE'S" Gran'ma Ben was a teenager, a terrifying dragon laid siege to the small towns of the Northern Valley. Unknown to Princess Rose (young Gran'ma Ben), the strange dragon is actually the minion of the Ancient Enemy called the Lord of the Locust. Unable to defeat the monster, Rose seeks the advice of her advisor, who tells the young princess how to destroy the dragon - but at a terrible cost.

There were a lot of steps along the path that lead to me reading this book. First, Debi reviewed it and brought it to my attention, then I read about it in Alice in Sunderland, and then I decided I really need to try Jeff Smith and found that I would be number twenty in the waiting list for Bones. I think I will probably end up buying Bones, but this book I could check-out right away. It is actually a prequel to the hit series. Rose in this series goes on to be Gran'ma Ben in the hit series. I am sure that means something, but since I haven't read the 'hit' series yet, I have no idea who she is!

I enjoyed this book. Rose was a very engaging heroine. She is a little bit of a wild child, but she has amazing powers. Most importantly she has the ability to see things in her dreams, which is what foreshadows the adventures that she is about to have. In the book, Rose has to kill a dragon, but at a terrible cost. I have to admit that I rather hated the ending... Not that it wasn't good; just that I didn't want it to end that way! I suppose it is the mark of a good book, though, when you are so engaged in the characters that you don't want to see terrible things happen to them. Also in the story are Rose's two dogs. Rose has the ability to talk with them, which adds to the story. Her advisor is a dragon, which I thought was cool considering she is on a mission to kill another dragon. Then, there is her sister, who is very jealous and not at all what she appears to be. Sibling rivalry makes a good story element, I guess!

Couple the story with the fact that Charles Vess does the artwork and you have a great read ahead of you!

The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess and Others

Books Completed: 9
Date Completed: January 7, 2009
Pages: 192
Publication Date: September 30, 2004

Reason for Reading: Graphic Novel Challenge

Illustrated and presented by one of the leading artists in modern fantasy, here are the great songs and folktales of the English, Irish, and Scottish traditions, re-imagined in sequential-art form, in collaboration with some of today's strongest fantasy writers. Here are New York Times bestseller Neil Gaiman with "The False Knight on the Road"; popular mystery author Sharyn McCrumb's version of "Thomas the Rhymer"; acclaimed children's writer Jane Yolen with "King Henry" and "The Great Selchie of Sule Skerrie"; popular novelist Charles de Lint's contemporary reworking of "Twa Corbies"; Bone creator Jeff Smith with "The Galtee Farmer"; Emma Bull's version of "The Black Fox," and much, much more. Introduced by award-winning editor and writer Terri Windling, and finished with full lyrics and discographies of the classic versions of these songs and tales, The Book of Ballads is an event in the worlds of fantasy and graphic storytelling alike.

Luck was with me when I was at the second-hand bookstore on Tuesday! I have tonnes of credit there, but haven't been having much luck finding books that interest me lately. Tuesday, I brought home quite the pile! When I found this book I almost did a happy dance right in the store! Think about it... This book is illustrated by Charles Vess, who is an amazing artists. The stories included in each comic are retelling ballads, which are something that I love! And, then, there are the authors of each comic. They are some of the best fantasy authors out there. Add in the fact that Terri Windling does the introduction, and you have everything that this folk tale fangirl needs! I mean, the book is second-hand, so it is not as nice as it would be if I had bought it new, but it is hardcover and has a beautiful cover! I hope the rest of 2009 is as wonderful reading-wise as this first week has been!

The book includes stories by Neil Gaiman, Jane Yolen, Sharyn McCrumb, Midori Snyder, Lee Smith, Elaine Lee, Delia Sherman, Charles de Lint, Jeff Smith, Charles Vess, and Emma Bull. Charles Vess is the main illustrator. Jane Yolen and Charles de Lint have two stories included. The best thing is that they not only rewrite these ballads, but the actual ballads are also included. I thought that was a great idea! If that is not enough for you, also included is a discography so you can actually find singers that sing these ballads and hear them for yourself! So, yes, I loved this book! It took so many wonderful things that I love and brought them all together! I am so happy that I went to the bookstore because this is a book that I will be holding onto for years to come. I also intend to spend some time looking up some of the music so I can hear it myself.