Batman: No Man’s Land by Greg Rucka
Hi,
I’m Keith with Garfield Park Branch library, and I’m here to
talk about Batman: No Man’s Land by Greg Rucka. Since Comic-Con is coming up, I
thought I’d talk about a superhero book, and Batman is one of the long-time
favorites.
This Batman story begins right after an earthquake that hits
and destroys Gotham City. While some buildings are left standing, the repairs
were going to be difficult, and the politicians were not interested. The result
is that the US government orders the city of Gotham abandoned. After evacuating
as many as they can, the government opens the doors to Arkham – the asylum for
the criminally insane, mines the harbor and blows the bridges. The city is cut
off from supply and handed over to gangs and criminals.
No Man’s Land begins at that point in Gotham’s history.
Many of the super villains from Batman’s rogues’ gallery are
in the book as are several of the heroes who have strong ties to Gotham. For
example, sections of the book are introduced with journal entries written by Barbara
Gordon (a former Batgirl) to her father, Jim Gordon, the police commissioner,
to be read in the event of her death. Jim Gordon and other members of the GCPD play
a big role in the book as well.
It is a dark story of determination and a desperate and
savage struggle to survive to just live and go on living in the continuing
aftermath of a natural disaster.
No Man’s Land is a novelization of a story arc in the Batman
comics and graphic novels that spanned several books. It is also available as
an audiobook from Graphic Audio the “movie in your mind” people.
Thanks for your time!
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Also about the statement about only giving book talks on books I love and enjoy: I suspect that would be impractical. It would be ideal, I suppose, for me to have read the books I talk about. However, I know that I won't have enjoyed all the books that patrons ask about. While there is some little variety in what I read, for some audiences there would be little overlap with their tastes in books and mine. One of those audiences would be the typical "book club" that reads literary fiction books. I have read several kids books, fantasy books and science fiction books. I also read computer books. While I might have really enjoyed the fairies with the blasters in Artemis Fowl, and the battle against the vicious, hungry aliens in John Ringo's books, I don't think the ladies in the book club would be convinced in either case. (Their loss.)
I suspect that some of them would secretly enjoy some fantasy, but it might turn the book club into a ten-step program: "Hi, I'm Nancy, and I enjoyed a fantasy novel this week. I didn't mean to, it just sort of happened. It seemed like a nice little story about times gone by, and then the dragon came, and I liked it. I don't know why." It would be interesting to see, but no.
My intent is to find a way to describe what I know of the books, and what people have liked about books. I expect this knowing full well that the patrons and I will frequently disagree on nearly every point as to what makes a book a nice read. Strangely the one thing that the book club ladies and I would agree on would be to prefer novels over graphic novels. (I still have no idea why I don't like comic books more.)
I find myself more able to do reader's advisory for middle school kids in some cases.
As for the book club, my branch is unusual. When the branch was remodeled the community room was remade into the computer room. The number of public PCs grew, and the remodel included a projector and other equipment for computer programs. (This was good, as it was part of the reason they hired a computer lab assistant -- me.) However, the side-effect was that many kinds of programs either meet at one of the tables in the middle of the library or they don't meet in our physical building. This includes book clubs. I know there is one, but I'm not sure where they meet. If I do end up doing reader's advisory or a book club it might be virtual and geared for a different audience than the traditional book club crowd.
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Also about the statement about only giving book talks on books I love and enjoy: I suspect that would be impractical. It would be ideal, I suppose, for me to have read the books I talk about. However, I know that I won't have enjoyed all the books that patrons ask about. While there is some little variety in what I read, for some audiences there would be little overlap with their tastes in books and mine. One of those audiences would be the typical "book club" that reads literary fiction books. I have read several kids books, fantasy books and science fiction books. I also read computer books. While I might have really enjoyed the fairies with the blasters in Artemis Fowl, and the battle against the vicious, hungry aliens in John Ringo's books, I don't think the ladies in the book club would be convinced in either case. (Their loss.)
I suspect that some of them would secretly enjoy some fantasy, but it might turn the book club into a ten-step program: "Hi, I'm Nancy, and I enjoyed a fantasy novel this week. I didn't mean to, it just sort of happened. It seemed like a nice little story about times gone by, and then the dragon came, and I liked it. I don't know why." It would be interesting to see, but no.
My intent is to find a way to describe what I know of the books, and what people have liked about books. I expect this knowing full well that the patrons and I will frequently disagree on nearly every point as to what makes a book a nice read. Strangely the one thing that the book club ladies and I would agree on would be to prefer novels over graphic novels. (I still have no idea why I don't like comic books more.)
I find myself more able to do reader's advisory for middle school kids in some cases.
As for the book club, my branch is unusual. When the branch was remodeled the community room was remade into the computer room. The number of public PCs grew, and the remodel included a projector and other equipment for computer programs. (This was good, as it was part of the reason they hired a computer lab assistant -- me.) However, the side-effect was that many kinds of programs either meet at one of the tables in the middle of the library or they don't meet in our physical building. This includes book clubs. I know there is one, but I'm not sure where they meet. If I do end up doing reader's advisory or a book club it might be virtual and geared for a different audience than the traditional book club crowd.
Keith, your comment about the ten step program book club cracked me up. I agree that it is impractical to only do booktalks on books that you have read and enjoyed but you can not deny that it would be easier. My YA book club met this past Thursday. We read The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I personally did not enjoy the book and had a hard time finding a lot to talk about. I am not sure how well of a booktalk I could do for that book. Luckily, my YA group had a lot to say about it, both good and bad, and kept the discussion going.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in your idea of book clubs as for "ladies." It's funny, that does seem to be true here in Bozeman but in Indianapolis I was in two book clubs with as many if not more men in them. But I knew lots of people who thought of them as for women only and I'm curious as to why. You make good points - I agree our tastes aren't always going to overlap with what we am able to suggest.
ReplyDeleteI have the same issues with graphic novels, despite my love of sci-fi. Olivia Hedlund recommended a book called Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud. I think part of why I don't like them is that I forget that the drawings are part of the story, so I just read the words and then get lost and confused. This book is supposed to explain the semiotics of comics so that you learn to understand what the different visual cues mean. I haven't checked it out yet, but I trust Olivia's judgment for sure!
The book club at Garfield Park has mostly ladies. There was a gentleman who attended one of the sessions, but I'm not sure if he attended others. The book was "Girl of the Limber Lost." He asked for the blandest cover and we joked about his needing a brown paper bag to hide his book habit. I can easily imagine book clubs which others might attend, but ours has been (informally) one for women. I know of several guys (men and teens) who share tastes in graphic novels at our branch. Getting them all in one room would be entertaining. There is also a group who would likely be interested in manga. That one would be largely guys and gals of high school age. For any of the groups the biggest trick would be getting them into one place and prying them away from the electronic devices long enough to talk to each other.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the shorter answer to your original question is that it seems that book club books (literary fiction) is more marketed to women or English teachers. In any case, I know that literary fiction (the "right sort" of book club book) isn't marketed to me. I suspect that several other guys would share that opinion.
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