Summer Reads

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I recently finished David Benioff’s City of Thieves. I was introduced to Benioff’s work when I liked the Edward Norton 25th Hour, which was adapted by Benioff, from his first novel. Since then he’s moved on to write scripts for Troy, Stay and the recent Kite Runner. He also wrote the screenplay for the X-Men spinoff flick Wolverine. Regardless, this is his second novel (not counting a collection of his short stories called When the Nines Roll Over), and I have to say that this was far superior to The 25th Hour.

This one revolves around two Russian kids during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II. Written like it’s the true story of his grandfather, Lev Beniov the knife fighter, Benioff puts his main characters Kolya (a deserter with aspirations of being a novelist) and his “grandfather,” the looter, on the path to find a dozen eggs for a colonel’s daughter’s wedding, which was given as their assignment in lieu of standard-operating procedure (death by firing squad) for those crimes in Leningrad. I know, sounds like an episode of the East Side Kids, doesn’t it? What could possibly be the motivating factor to get these two to do such a thing? Considering their crimes: death; which is what Benioff deftly maneuvers throughout his book. People would do anything to stay alive in the barren wasteland that was Leningrad in World War II.

What I dug the most in regards to this book, was the very humane story being told throughout the thing including putting two kids, that I could see reflections of myself at 17 years old, in a situation that I’ve never seen first hand. That’s what makes this book a win for me, when the author effectively puts you in the place with people you can relate to as your main characters. A quick read, City of Thieves is only 254 pages, and solidifies me as a Benioff reader for life.

Also just finished, after having the book for almost a year was G. Willow Wilson’s “Cairo,” drawn by The Wall Street Journal’s own M.K. Perker. Literally everything attracted me to this book, but especially the fact that it was done by journalists. Wilson, a Boston University alumnus (and two years younger than me effectively making me feel like a slacker), moved to Cairo, Egypt after graduating college where she converted to Islam and married an Egyptian. She wrote about her experiences for Atlantic Monthly and The New York Times Magazine, as well as the Egyptian opposition weekly Cairo Magazine. Which I vaguely remember reading during my time in Cairo during the first week of June 2003. (Something my little brother is enjoying right at this moment).

What does it for me in regards to this book is a fascination of my own memories while in Cairo, and how someone with a similar background (and with infinitely more talent, and years spent there) reflects her experiences in the City of Victory through the lens of a graphic novel. What came out of the experience was a story from many different angles built around a political base with five completely different character perspectives. I’m not going to get into the plot details of the book, but what did it for me was reflecting back on my college graduation present five years ago, and how my brother, as my friend BT said earlier this week: “is enjoying his Press family Rite of Passage.”

I picked a helluva time to crack open Timothy Callahan’s examination of Grant Morrison’s Early Years, considering what came out two weeks ago. What I enjoyed about Doug Wolk’s Reading Comics, is exactly what I like about this book. A literary examination of comics, which makes me think about the comics I’m reading rather than looking at the surface. It makes me appreciate the macro; rather than the microcosm, but specifically I really enjoy a literary examination of a comic writer who I think is probably the best ever.

I just finished the examination of Morrison’s series that literally put him on the map, “Zenith.” Discussing the foes and discussions of themes in this book makes me look back on them as a reader and appreciate them. Especially considering the levels of fun I’m about to have dissecting “Final Crisis,” with the thoughts coming from this book. Even though, Zenith is exceptionally hard to find in America and is not reprinted anywhere. The book, I have no doubt will get more interesting because the next chapter is an examination of “Arkham Asylum,” which was what initially introduced me to Morrison, and I have the 15th anniversary book that includes Morrison’s script in it. The script detailed the various ideas of the Zodiac in reference to Batman and the crazies in Arkham. Totally fascinating to read what went into the script for that amazing story, so it will be fascinating to read Callahan’s analysis of it.

I met Tim Callahan at the NY Comic Con and came away with the Grant Morrison book and his new soon-to-be published Teenagers from the Future. Which is a book of articles by creators like Matt Fraction on why they appreciate the Legion of Super-Heroes. I think it’ll be something that will bring me some newfound appreciation as well.

Coming up, I’ve got so much on my shelf to read. I’m going to echo Duane Swierczynski’s post on his blog discussing something Charlie Huston wrote about in regards to Charles Bukowski. Duane’s post did the same exact thing for me, and convinced to me to go out and get Bukowski’s work. So, going from someone’s recommendation I got Factotum, even though I hated the movie. Mimi and I have been discussing screen writing quite a bit ever since the Writer’s Strike, and I find myself quite excited to read her memoir that comes out next week, (I’m also the one who saw the person reading her biography on the subway last weekend). Also, considering the Hunter S. Thompson documentary coming out in the near future, I have to get this book before I see the movie.

I think that should pretty much wrap up my summer reading list.

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