Meg’s Book Nook

http://flickriver.com

This Week’s Pick: The Walking Dead: Book 3 by Robert Kirkman 

Dear Readers,

I have a confession to make. I’m kind of a nerd. I have an obsession with anything sic-fi related, and have a weakness for comic books. In fact, one of my prized possessions is an autographed copy of a Stargate comic. But lately, my favorite graphic novels are The Walking Dead series by Robert Kirkman, the inspiration for TV show of the same name. Now, some of you might be wondering why I’m suggesting book three. Well, that’s because if you follow the TV show, this is where season three picks up. However, I highly recommend reading all of them, particularly to get the back-story we don’t see in the show. But don’t worry! I’ve read the whole book in a day, so if you start now you’ll be ready to pick up with survivors on Sunday when it picks up on AMC with the second episode of the season.

While the book does make for a great read, it is not for the faint of heart or children. While many graphic novels are associated as being children’s books, The Walking Dead, no matter which book you read, deals with adult themes such as death, murder, the after life, and darker topics. In The Talking Dead, the counter part to the AMC series, the cast talks about the show, book, and characters they portray. In one episode, Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl (a character not in the book), says season three of the show is not so much about zombies and people, but “people versus people,” the same of which can be said about the graphic novel.

Meg’s Book Nook

http://flickriver.com

Hello lovely readers!

I hope you had a wonderful week! This week’s pick is a book I saw on the Today Show a few weeks ago, Bringing In Finn by Sara Connell. The book’s controversial subject matter has caused quite a stir not only among readers, but on news stations, religious groups, and the medical community as well.

Just like last week’s author, Sara is also a Chicago native, an element which made her writing that much more attractive to me. While she did spend a few years abroad, most of the story takes place in the Windy City. While the story beings on a tragic note, the reader knows there will be a happy ending based on the title (and the book jacket).

Meg’s Book Nook

http://flickriver.com

Hello Lovelies!

Sorry for the delayed posting. But if you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, why not check out this week’s pick, Dark World by Zak Bagans?

I know it’s a little early, but I always get excited for Halloween—it’s my favorite holiday! And since stores everywhere are starting to display decorations and costumes, I couldn’t help but celebrate the release of a new season of Ghost Adventures picking up one of my favorite spooky themed book, written by none other than the lead investigator, Zak Bagans.

Born in Florida, Bagans moved to Chicago his senior year of high school, where he graduated from Glenbard West, and still visits family here—as well as coming back to film an episode of his show, which airs tonight! After bouncing from college to college for a few years, he moved to Michigan, where he experienced his first paranormal encounter in his Trenton apartment. The rest is history. Shortly after his move to Nevada to start film school and meeting Nick Groff is where his book picks up.

Meg’s Book Nook

http://flickriver.com

This week’s pick: Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

We all know how the story ends—but do you know how it starts? The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is one of the most horrific events in our nation’s history, and one students are taught about from an early age. But as much I thought I knew about that time in history, O’Reilly’s gripping thriller kept me turning pages to learn more about the disturbing events that lead up to that bloody day.

Written more in the style of a suspense novel than a non-fiction book, Killing Lincoln is sure to attract readers both already interested in reading non-fiction and those new to the genre. If you enjoy movies like The Conspirator you’re sure to enjoy this book. While he wasn’t a vampire hunter, Abraham Lincoln’s life from the time the Confederacy began to fall to his last night is filled with tension, made even more thrilling by O’Reilly’s writing style.

Expertly written in a way that keeps the reader hooked, his gripping prose connects the reader viscerally not only to Lincoln, but to his troops, General Lee, and the Confederate soldiers struggling to keep fighting a war they know they cannot win. The more I read, the more empathy I felt for the men whose names I’ve heard growing up that now I could envision as flesh and blood human beings. Whether you’re a history buff or simply looking for an engaging read, this book needs to be on your list.

— Meg Schlegel, Assistant Blog Editor

Editor’s Notes: Meg Schlegel is in her senior year, and is a double major in Theology and English with a minor in Spanish. An avid reader, she loves the classics like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, andDracula, historical fiction and non-fiction.