Wraith

Wraith by Joe Hill & Charles Paul Wilson III, 204 pages

I was excited about the release of this graphic novel, as I really enjoyed NOS4A2, which the Wraith is from. FYI, the Wraith is an old Rolls Royce, featured on the cover.
This gave a good back story on Charlie Manx and how he became the loathsome creature he is. His chauffeur outfit is very reminiscent of Nazi uniforms, in my opinion. I didn't like the artwork in this as much as the Locke & Key graphic novels, however, the Christmasland scenes were very detailed and fun to pore over. The back of the book features an art gallery and there's a cool diagram of Christmasland and the various attractions within.

Locke & Key 6: Alpha & Omega

Locke & Key 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez, 191 pages.

Oh man, it gets crazy in the final book in this series!! I can't say too much cause I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but lives are lost and lives are saved, and chaos reigns!!
This was an awesome series!

Locke & Key 4: Keys to the Kingdom

Locke & Key 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez, 146 pages

Things are getting really crazy in Lovecraft and the s*** is about to hit the fan. Several new keys appear in this installment and many injuries are sustained. The truth about Zack is revealed and now it's just a matter of destroying him. Easier said than done. This part of the series included a good amount about Coach Whedon's son, who is supposed to be mentally retarded but is also very smart, observant and intuitive. Also thrown in is a little bit about racism and prejudice. Friendships are created and destroyed. Blood is everywhere. Can't wait to start number 5.

Blood, Bones, & Butter

Blood, bones, & butter : the inadvertent education of a reluctant chef. Gabrielle Hamilton.
291 pages

        For anyone who has ever worked in the restaurant business, sometimes reading or watching shows about people who work in kitchens can feel a little too close to home. It can be like working an extra shift for the week.  Normally, I shy away from these types of memoirs because of this, (most definitely away from Hell's Kitchen or the like) but Gabrielle Hamilton does a fantastic job here. 
         The road for Hamilton begins in her childhood, in the kitchen of her mother- and then moves towards owning her own restaurant in New York many years later.  Her descriptions of the often soul sucking environment of kitchens both near and far are honest, as well as the joy one can also find in these places.  I found myself both rooting for her, laughing, and even disliking her in some parts- especially when she talks about cooks who burn themselves just not being careful enough.  Her descriptions of the food are by far some of my favorite parts as the flavors shift with the rhythms of her life.  Riveting, in a take no prisoners kind of way, which is how you have to be if you want to survive as a chef.