Rapid Fire Book Reviews
Out of Translation by Aubrie Cox: 5 of 5 Stars
Aubrie Cox’s collection of poetry evokes a very clear comparison to Ernest Hemingway’s infamous (and probably misattributed) “Baby shoes, never worn” short story. Her haikus pack a heck of an evocative wallop, and many deftly introduce an unexpected turn or contrast to an initial emotion or image with the latter part of the limited syllables. Quite a feat for working with such a limited economy of words.
Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1 (Star Wars (Marvel)): 4 of 5 Stars
My daughter and I’s first foray into the new official canon Star Wars Expanded universe. I’m really playing the long game with preventing unwanted teen pregnancy here folks. Both of us dug it – the story arc covers after Episode IV, when the Emporer loses faith in Vader and entertains supplanting the Sith lord and putting him on the B team.
Naturally, Vader finds a way to not only overpower, but outwit everyone. I thought was a nice unexpected turn for the character. The arc ends with the moment Vader realizes that the presence he felt in the trench run is Luke, his son. Nice.
Blood Song by Michael Schmeltzer: 4 of 5 Stars
Schmeltzers debut collection of poetry is threaded together with not only the titular themes of blood and song (both literal and lyrical), but also with an undercurrent of the longing for the past. In his unflinching way, he dredges up moments of trauma and stress. Yet he also finds a way to make peace in the lines of Blood Song, but also with the reader’s own past traumas that Schmeltzer’s poems evoke.
Star Wars: Kanan: The Last Padawan Vol. 1 (Star Wars (Marvel)): 3 of 5 Stars
Our second expanded universe trade paperback takes us back to the aftermath of Order 66, one of the few moments in the “new” trilogy that actually managed to make me feel something other than loathing.
It’s an origin story of sorts, with a new (to us, anyway) character. The verdict from my daughter and I – we liked it. Rather than continuing with the comic, I want to delve into the Star Wars Rebels TV series. Though, not because of anything I read in the comic. Maybe it didn’t do it’s job? Or maybe it did, and I’m just not realizing it.