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My IUB Spring Reading List

posted by Matt Knicl at 3:48 am.

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Greeting programs!

If you’ve been in the Illini Union Bookstore (not to be confused with the Illinois University Bookstore) this past week, you may have seen a book display of spring leisure titles picked by staff members. I’ve got my own little section! No, 70% of these aren’t comics, but they are good, fun reads. Some are light-hearted, but some will f^$% you up.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman:

The book is like the movie in that there is the story and the real world characters telling it, only in the book, you see Goldman and how he worked to translate and abridge S. Morgenstern’s The Princess Bride. The newer mass market paperback contains the first abridged chapter to the sequel, Buttercup’s Baby, and Goldman’s legal dispute with Stephen King over rights to the book. There is a surprise ending to the book, and it’s not even in the novel. Read the book then research it - it will make the experience much more enjoyable this way.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:

Lewis Carroll is some sort of a genius. Yes, the abstract Wonderland and Looking-Glass Land (from the sequel, usually sold in the same volume) are trippy, but the poetry is so much fun! “Jabberwocky” is my favorite poem, fallowed closely by “The Walrus and the Carpenter.” There are iconic, memorable and downright hilarious characters in these pages, as well as memorable lines and witty turns of phrase. If you can, I also recommend reading “The Hunting of the Snark“, an epic poem in “Eight Fits”, equally as trippy and hilarious as the Alice books.

Bad Beginnings by Lemony Snicket:

Another kids’ book. But, like the two listed above, I secretly believe they are meant for adults - they are complicated messages delivered in brightly colored wrappers. Daniel Handler is Lemony Snicket. What Handler has done is create an experience. You need to read the books, Snicket’s “autobiography“, and see the movie, read the website, and even his introduction to The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily to understand everything. As for the first book, this is the first third of the movie. The Baudelaire orphans go to live with their Count Olaf after their parents perish in an unfortunate fire. Snicket’s narrative tone and poetic speech are reason enough to pick up at least this book, which is now in paperback.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel:

This is a reading pick in many elementary schools. This is not just about a boy trapped on a raft in the middle of the Pacific with a tiger… it’s also about a boy who is Muslim, Christian, and Hindu growing up in India and then trying to find himself in the face of the greatest trauma men can face - the loss of your parents and surviving on your own. I didn’t read this because all the young adult fiction buzz, I picked it up randomly and the premise drew me in. And, like The Princess Bride, prepare for an ending that will blow you away. I recommend reading them as a pair. You’ll see what I mean when you’re done with both.

It by Stephen King:

People, especially academics, need to back off Mr. King. He is a great writer. Yes he churns stuff out, and the premises may be flaky, but the prose is wonderful. He is a master writer. This book, in my mind, is his greatest work ever. Forget the movie - this book is about fear, racism, homosexuality, horror, magic, sex, and human nature. The basic premise revolves around a demonic entity terrorizing a town in the present and past. A group of children, now grown up, relive their dark pasts to prepare for their final confrontation with It, who appears most of the time as a clown. You will not be disappointed with this book if you soldier on to the end. Plus the bit about the snobbishness and stupidity of Creative Writing and English in colleges is witty and brilliant.

House of Leaves by Daniel Danielewski:

While It was creepy, House of Leaves is the single most terrifying thing I’ve ever come across. Danielewski made this book an artifact. This tome is a “collection” of research, essays, papers, film, and notes all about a documentary concerning a house. A closet in the house begins to get bigger, and like Blair Witch, the owners go into the closet with a camera. Soon the closet is a hallway. Then there are stairs in the pitch-black passage. There are noises in the dark. That place begins to destroy the inhabitants through their obsession. The manuscript and research about this house and the family is compiled by a man who dies, leaving disillusioned Johnny Truant to try to make sense of these records in a parallel storyline. It’s really hard to describe, and it took me half a year to read, but I enjoyed and feared every part of it (except Johnny’s narrative, I skimmed over that).

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay:

A serial killer that kills serial killers. In a strange twist, I have to admit I love the TV show better than the books. This first book is okay, don’t get me wrong, but I think the show uses Dexter, especially in the second season, far better than his creator. I say that because for me, Dexter has always been a study of the nature of trauma - how we are affected by horrible events and wear those scars the rest of our life. The show does this by expanding on the secondary characters. I say this book is good insofar as you can see what the first season of Dexter borrowed from and improved upon.

Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile TPB by Bill Willigham:

What can I say about this series that I haven’t already? It’s a comic, and more mature at that. it’s about fairy tale and literary characters who are real and immortal, plus living in New York. Banished from their Homelands, the Fables have to work with each other, for better or worse, to survive. This story is a set up - a locked room murder mystery that shows the world and the characters. The series is not a detective book, however. It soon shifts to epic fantasy and political thriller in the next book. You can read just this one, or keep going, but I’d say if you want to get into comics, Fables is a good place to start.

Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes TPB by Neil Gaiman:

This is a series that begins as a dark journey of the DC Universe. This volume explains the “origin story” of Morbius aka Dream, the King of Dreamƒ. Captured for decades, the Sandman find his kingdom of the Dreaming is in shambles upon excape. In true comic fashion, he interacts with other super heroes - like John Constantine, Martian Manhunter, Mister Miracle, and the old JLA villain, Doctor Destiny. As the series progresses, the books deals less with the DC Universe, though it is still in the background. Instead, a transcendental journey through dreams and human perception follows. This volume is creepy, and the many-lined, gritty artwork may turn off many new readers, but the writing is solid and opens up the door to one of the best series comics is likely to ever see.

Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned TPB by Brian K Vaughan:

It reads like a movie (I think that’s actually a quote on the cover). What are the implications of a world without men? What would happen? Would the world really be a better place? Yes and no. After every man dies on the earth - except English major and escape artist Yorrick Brown and his pet monkey Ampersand - the female world tries to cope with the loss of half the world’s population. This book sets up for the rest of the series, which just ended after 60 issues. It’s a great sociological/gender exploration with action and political intrigue thrown in. Like Fables, a great starting point for new comic readers.

Book covers are copyright their respective publishers

Matt Knicl: My name is Matt Knicl. I'm a U of I alumn and one of those unemployed English majors Garrison Keillor likes to make fun of. I've been reading comics since high school and one day I would like to write them. My goal is to expose readers to what is out there in the world of comics and using my English powers, show what is worth reading or not. I can be reached at buzz.comics@gmail.com.