A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5338.A_Christmas_Carol_and_Other_Christmas_Writings?from_search=true

My first title for this list was by Dickens and it shouldn't come as a surprise that he will be finishing this list for us as well. Most everyone who celebrates Christmas has seen some film or television version of this classic tale. Many even have a favourite, identified by the actor portraying the all important role of Ebeneezer Scrooge: Patrick Stewart, Jim Carrey, Michael Caine, Tim Curry, maybe even Scrooge McDuck. 

Alastair Sim will always be my favourite Scrooge

As much as these versions may differ, the story at their heart is always the same - a cruel miser is visited by three spirits and is transformed into a generous, caring old man. Tiny Tim is saved and Bob Cratchit's family raised from the depths of poverty. Stories filled with Christmas spirit, generosity, forgiveness are found throughout. Dickens' tale has come to be practically synonymous with the meaning of Christmas. 

No matter how many versions you have seen, it's worth reading the book at least once. It's not very long, but the language and detail are worth the time. It's also one of my favourite titles to read aloud, which can be a fun activity with children. Particularly if you're like me and you like to get (a little too) into character. Though it's a busy time of year, stopping to read a few pages here and there is a great way to slow down and take a moment to appreciate the season. 

Well, that's it for the Christmas Countdown this year. I hope you've enjoyed the recommendations and maybe even found you're interested in. I will be taking a break for the next couple of weeks to enjoy the holidays with my family and will hopefully return in the new year. I'm also going to be taking the next while to think about what I want to accomplish with the blog, including whether it's worth continuing, and may be making some changes. If you have any suggestions (more focused posts, themes that you think I should spend more time on, formatting, or absolutely anything) please feel free to send them my way.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Only 1 day to go!

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15863391-howl-s-moving-castle

This is my personal recommendation and probably my favourite book of all time. If you've seen the Studio Ghibli adaptation, I still recommend reading the book. The feeling of romance and magic is very similar, but the plot is quite different; there are plenty of surprises you won't be expecting.

Howl's Moving Castle tells the story of Sophie Hatter. As the eldest of three sisters she has resigned herself to a dull life with little fortune - until she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and made into a ninety year old woman. Her unexpected quest to break the curse takes her to the moving castle of the Wizard Howl which wanders the hills surrounding her hometown.

While working as Howl's cleaning lady, she finds herself faced with a number of mysteries - the pact between Howl and the fire demon Calcipher, a curious spell given by Howl to his apprentice, the unknown fate of a prince and his loyal wizard - all while investigating her own curse and managing Howl's eccentric mood swings. But to break the curse she will have to first discover and accept her true feelings and abilities.

Howl's Moving Castle is a hilarious and beautiful story of self acceptance, love and confidence. It subtly examines issues of self esteem and resignation, while providing a strong and unique female protagonist. The characters are emotional (or overly emotional as is the case of a certain melodramatic wizard),witty and the individual conflicts between characters are intensely amusing.

Howl's Moving Castle is aimed at young adults, but it is a great read for any age. If you enjoy books like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, and A Wrinkle in Time, this is an incredibly fun and quick read that will keep you smiling and guessing what will come next.

There are also two sequels to the book. Each features different protagonists, and though I still recommend them, I personally don't find these titles as entertaining as the first. They are Castle in the Air and The House of Many Ways.

2 days until Christmas!

Carciphona by Shilin Huang

Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12452434-carciphona-volume-1?from_search=true
Copyright Shilin Huang

Carciphona is an ongoing manga series by an incredibly talented artist from Toronto, Ontario. There are currently four volumes which tell the story of Veloce Visrin, a sorceress living in a kingdom that has prohibited the use of common magic. Magic is believed to be linked to the corruption of human souls with demons, leading to the creation of beings called Carciphonas. When Veloce is suddenly attacked by Blackbird, an assassin  seemingly immune to magic and quite possibly a Carciphona, she finds herself forced from her home and her country. She will have to rely on the kindness of two people she has only just met - Keritzel, the son of a rich merchant and Weirin, his arrogant friend - to help her escape.

Full of fantasy, action and mystery, Carciphona has an engaging story and vibrant artwork. It is hosted on www.carciphona.com as a web comic but is also sold in the site's shop in physical format. If you are interested, I highly recommend picking up a physical copy. Not only is it a beautiful addition to your bookshelf, but it also helps support a self-published artist. 

You can see more of Shilin's artwork (original, League of Legends, Ragnorok Online) at her site, shilinhuang.com. Definitely take a few moments to check out her stunning work.

3 days until Christmas!

A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright

Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23210772-a-short-history-of-progress?from_search=true

When I was accepted into the Arts and Science program at McMaster University, they sent me a book to read over the summer. It wasn't really mandatory reading material, it was just meant to prepare us for the kind of cultural exploration and world-scale problem solving the program was known to tackle. This book was Ronald Wright's CBC Massey Lecture - A Short History of Progress.

As the title implies, it is a quick read that still manages to span the length of human history. Wright examines the adage "history repeats itself," and reveals how the human race ups the ante every time we make the same mistakes. Every empire that falls is larger and more devastating than the one before. Each step towards progress more irrevocable and resource consuming. 

He examines microcosms like the isolated Easter Island, and even colonies of leaf cutter ants, to make projections about humanity's future. It is also an important reflection on society, ecology and technology. I recommend this read for anytime who cares about the fate of our planet and the human race.

4 days until Christmas.

Celluloid by Dave McKean

 

Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10864762-celluloid?from_search=true

Well we've had posts about nonfiction, fantasy, science fiction, drama, romance, classic literature and horror. We've seen books, manga, comics and even a video game.

So it shouldn't be too surprising that I've got an erotica selection too. And no. It's not 50 Shades of Grey. It's just about as far from 50 Shades as you can get, actually.

Celluloid is a loosely narrative collection of erotic artwork by Dave McKean. Known best for his collaborative work with Neil Gaiman and comic books such as Arkham Asylum, McKean's artwork is unique and bizarre - an emotionally raw blend of photography, mixed media and digital art.

Celluloid is sexual fantasy at its height; it is a glimpse into the realms of attraction and pleasure. Moving from each scene, each erotic vision, to the next, McKean's style and colours change. Every style accentuates some new sexual fetish, some new primal desire. The result is a dreamlike journey through the archetypes of human sexuality.

Both tasteful yet pleasantly shocking, McKean's work strikes a delightful balance between male and female pleasure and control. More than simple pornography, it dares to be thought provoking. It speaks to the strangeness of human desire and raises questions about exploration and vulnerability.

If you have an interest in erotica or even just boundary pushing modern art, I definitely recommend giving Celluloid a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised.

5 days until Christmas!

Animal Man by Jeff Lemire

Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13228357-animal-man-vol-1?from_search=true

When DC comics cancelled all of its ongoing super hero comics and relaunched them with the New 52 titles, Animal Man was a surprise hit. It ended up having a short run, but not due to lack of interest - writer Jeff Lemire decided to complete the story arc and move Buddy Baker over to the Justice League. Which means this is a great comic for those who prefer self contained narratives to ongoing series (like myself).

If you don't know anything about Animal Man, all you really need to know is that he is able to borrow the abilities of animals. Speed, flight, strength, etc. This story is intriguing because it's much about his family as it is about him.

The story begins as his daughter shows signs of some bizarre power that allows her to reanimate and communicate with dead animals. Meanwhile, something called the Rot is killing and corrupting everything in its path, and it's coming for Buddy's family. The series also crosses over with the New 52 release of Swamp Thing.

This is a tense and creepy arc that has garnered a lot of interest for a less than well known member of DC's heroes. It has been released in five trade volumes with the last coming out only last month. Even if you've never read a comic in your life, if you have any interest in super heroes I recommend checking this title out.

6 days until Christmas!

A City In Winter by Mark Helprin and Chris Van Allsburg

Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/87986.A_City_in_Winter?from_search=true

Written by the author of A Winter's Tale (recently made into a film starring Colin Farrell) and illustrated by the author/artist of Polar Express and Jumanji, A City In Winter is a beautiful adventure story for children.

A Queen narrates the story of how, as a little girl, she returned to the city of her birth to face the Usurper who killed her royal parents. Under authoritarian rule, the city still clings to its grandeur amid oppression and corruption. She must navigate its streets and people to take back the royal title she deserves. Filled with magic, darkness and beauty, this is a story about her bravery and strength in the face of enemies much stronger than herself.

The book's length is that of a short novel, and its pages are filled with Van Allsburg's illustrations - always stunning and mysterious. The story also has a mysterious quality not unlike Alice in Wonderland. Kids who like adventure, action and fantasy will love this book.

Only a week until Christmas!