Sometimes the truth is funnier than fiction. In 17 essays, David Sedaris covers topics including his obsessive-compulsive tendencies as a child to count and lick everything (including the chalkboard), hitchhiking with a wheel chair-bound companion, coming out at Greek camp and ending with an awkward visit to a nudist colony as a teenager.
Appeals: dark humor, quirkiness
If you like the too-crazy-and-funny-to-believe memoirs of David Sedaris, you might also enjoy Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. Sedaris, David. Naked. 1997. 224 pages.
Darren Shan loves spiders. So when he gets a ticket to a secret freak show in held in the middle of the night, he is of course impressed by the wolf-man and the snake boy, but most of all, he is mesmerized by Madam Octa, the deadly performing spider. But soon Darren's spider obsession gets him stuck in a web of his own making, and before he knows it, he is in for a way more than he had bargained for.
Appeals: Sick of all those sappy vampire love stories? This tale is gross and gruesome, be forewarned. Peppered with humor, this tale will also raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
If you like Darren Shan's horror story, be sure to check out book two: The Vampire's Assistant. Looking for more fun and gruesome horror? Check out books by R.L. Stine.
If you like guy-centered vampire stories, you might also enjoy Thirsty by M.T. Anderson.
Shan, Darren. Cirque du Freak, Book 1: a living nightmare. 2000. 257 pages.
"It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who's just walked in to his band's show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City;and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date"(from Goodreads) Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is a tender, quirky tale of unexpected high school love. In one night, Nick and Norah go all over the city in search of Fluffy, a much loved band, and in the process, discover each other and start to mend their once broken hearts.
Appeals: Quirky characters, witty banter, high school romance, music
A meta-comic, this graphic novel provides a thoughtful, visually-stimulating history of comics as a form of artistic expression and communication.
Appeals: Quick, fun read. Will appeal not only to comic fans but also to anyone interested in visual communication. Provides an effective overview of the medium.
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: the Invisible Art. 1993. 224 pages.
Sometimes the truth is funnier than fiction. In 17 essays, David Sedaris covers topics including his obsessive-compulsive tendencies as a child to count and lick everything (including the chalkboard), hitchhiking with a wheel chair-bound companion, coming out at Greek camp and ending with an awkward visit to a nudist colony as a teenager.
