It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

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Have a question, a recommendation, or just want to talk books? Those messages are welcome, too.

I've never been a huge fan of comic books or graphic novels. I've watched and enjoyed many superhero movies, but I've never read any of the books that they are based on. I recently decided to delve into the genre. The Joker has always been one of my favorite characters, so I decided to read a book that featured him. The Killing Joke, written by Alan Moore of Watchmen and V for Vendetta fame, is one of the most iconic stories to feature the villain. It offers a rare glimpse at the Joker's back story.

The book opens with Batman visiting the Arkham Asylum to meet with the Joker. In a rare act of diplomacy, Batman is there to put an end to his rivalry with the villain. He has come to the conclusion that their feud can only end in the death of one or both of them. In an attempt to avoid this undesirable outcome, Batman seeks to peacefully end the continuous cycle of hostility. But there is no reasoning with a psychopath.

Batman is a man of reason, a keeper of peace and justice, a warrior against evil who sees right and wrong as black and white. The Joker knows that the world is not that simple. Flashbacks show the Joker when he was just an everyday citizen. At the time, he was an amateur comic, struggling to make ends meet. He and his wife were expecting a child, and he was willing to do whatever it took to support his family. Despite the hardships, the Joker was happy with his life. One bad day changed all of that. Now the Joker is on a mission to prove that, given the right circumstances, anyone can turn evil and crazy. . . even a man of integrity.

This book focuses largely on the Joker. Batman appears more as a supporting character, mostly to be the hero and save the day. Brian Bolland's art is incredible, and each frame dazzles with intricate detail. The writing is equally appealing, but fails to live up to the intricacy of the images. The Joker is bad, Batman is good, and good wins out in the end. This is a little disappointing, especially given the complex ideas that Moore hints at. The story questions the boundary of sanity and madness and how a person reaches either point. What makes the man who dresses like a clown crazy but the man who dresses like a bat a hero? The plot never allows these ideas to reach their full potential, opting instead for a typical conclusion. I can certainly respect this book for what it is, but I don't think it lives up to the hype surrounds it.

For more information, visit Amazon and GoodReads.

(2015, 21)

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Olivia's CatastropheAugust 14, 2015 at 3:01 PM
A shame about it not being as good as the hype. And again, it's sort of disappointing that it sticks to the black and white of good being good and bad just being plain bad. I do like the movies and have been embarking on trying the comics out a bit more as well!

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

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