A fun historical novel about a serial killer stalking the seedier side of 1890s New York. The book, while a bit overlong, does a good job showing the early development of profiling and forensics. Characters include Theodore Roosevelt and Jacob Riis; featuring real people in fiction somtimes rubs me the wrong way.
Books: 15/52

But The Alienist [...]

A terrific historical take on the appalling acts of a French serial killer of the 1890s and the development of modern forensic sciences. The sections about the murderer are interesting, but the book soars in the scientific history and the uncovering of small details that make 1890s France seem like another planet.
Books: 14/52
But The Killer [...]

I have a weird relationship with Morrison’s work. About half strikes me as brilliant the first time (The Invisibles, Animal Man), the other requires re-reads (this, Seven Soldiers of Victory). But on this re-read I get it. Morrison’s heavily dada/Burroughs-inspired superheroes are lots of fun, even if they still don’t connect emotionally.
Books: 10-13/52

52/52: An ongoing [...]

I feel for Archie Goodwin. He had to write five, 8-page stories for each issue of this series, to be drawn by a cast of different artists. As someone in that same boat, I know how challenging that can be. And I only have to write one story ever month or two.
Book: 9/52

Buy Eerie Archives [...]

These volumes dive into the 14-years-later jump from vol. 5, revealing some of what happened in between. The most interesting decision was spending 1.5 books on Bloody New Year’s Eve, which the first four volumes built to and then skipped to head to 2014. Only in manga—and that’s a good thing.
Books: 5-8/52

Buy 20th Century Boys [...]

A masterful work for anyone who likes hip hop (especially those who also like history). Reveals Rick Rubin as brilliant jerk, Russell Simmons as visionary doofus, and that hip hop was multicultural from day 1. Would have liked more on impact of the Internet, but at 600+ pages, something needs leaving out.

Book: 4/52
Buy the Big [...]

Auster’s been interested in writing about writing recently. That made Travels in the Scriptorium boring and insular. Man in the Dark is about creating stories and the needs they serve in us. It’s much more engaging and emotionally resonant. Part modern civil war fantasy, part Iraq war meditation, it’s a solid book.

Book: 3/52

Buy Man in [...]

Stevens’ art continues to break my heart and blow my mind with its incredible detail and photo-realism, as well as its ability to convey deep emotion and the best sense of place I’ve ever seen in comics. This book feels more like collection than coherent narrative, though; the plot never pays off.
Book: 2/52
52/52: An ongoing [...]

Another of the terrific 33 1/3 series of tiny books on major albums, though this disappointed. It contextualizes the history of some samples, and elucidates the Bomb Squad’s technique, but didn’t help me understand Public Enemy as much as I’d have liked. Better than some 33 1/3 books, but not the best.
Book: 1/52

Buy It Takes [...]

For the third straight year, in 2010 I dedicated myself to the goal of reading 52 books in 52 weeks. Just like the last two years, I beat the goal. Also just like the last two years, my total number of books read went down compared to last year (from 83 to 71 to this [...]