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"Urban evolution is seriously reshaping our ecosystems." This book expertly explores how human civilizations, cities, suburbs and the like shape the way species survive, thrive, or fail and ultimately how our influence can force species to rapidly adapt and evolve. With such fascinating tales of subway mosquitoes and nut-cracking crows, as well as a fresh look at the well known case of the peppered moth, Menno Schilthuizen entices the reader with his witty writing. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in science and evolution.

This book tells the story of Circe, an immortal, nymph, lesser goddess, witch, and daughter of the Titan, Helios. Circe is iconic in Greek mythology as the witch Odysseus encounters in Homer’s The Odyssey. But it was delightful to see Odysseus as a fleeting character and portrayed less as a hero and more as a man exhausted from war. The chronicle of Circe begins with her birth. “When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.” First of her siblings, Circe is spurned by her family for her “lesser” beauty and harsh, mortal voice. In fact, Circe could be seen as a victim of her circumstances, as an immortal she cannot die, so she suffers at the hands of the gods as the mortals do, but without being able to escape through death. However, Circe stands against the cruelty of the gods and men alike and she defies the gods with her power, strength, and sheer will to not allow them to break her. Madeline Miller’s prose is engaging and beautiful. This is a wonderful exploration and tale of a character in Greek mythology that is so easily overlooked.

I didn't really know what to expect with this book when I picked it up, but found it to be quite enjoyable. A tale of jazz during war time told from the perspective of one character, the book takes you on a journey from the days leading up to the start of World War II. A band of jazz musicians, desperate to meet and play with Louis Armstrong, have to cross borders with forged papers and cower in closets during raids. A documentary film is released about one of those musicians, lost during the war, and our narrator takes us on this journey as he recounts the past.

This season was really short and felt sort of like a closure season. Maybe that was a way for Gage to step aside as lead writer of the series and allow Whedon to return for the 12th season that will start this year. However, it sounds like the 12th will be even shorter than this last season, but I am still super excited to have Joss Whedon writing it again.

I don't think Buffy will ever return to television, but having a continuation of the series in comic book form is almost as good (if not better). There is a lot Whedon can explore with the characters and storytelling in comics than he would be able to do on television. Like turning Dawn into a giant and have her battle a giant mechanized Dawn. The series is a lot of fun and nice to return to the Buffyverse.

I wanted to like this more, but the writing style was a bit disjointed and frustrating. It seems like it was set up to make the reader feel like they were watching a movie but it distracted from the overall narrative in my humble opinion. Still a fun read though, especially for a fan of Scooby Doo and Lovecraftian stories.

Gaiman successfully retells various Norse myths in his own witty and humorous style. It was delightful to come upon some myths I had not read before. But also to revisit those I have long knew, through the eye and words of someone who so clearly loves and has been influenced by the myths.

I feel like I waited for this book for decades, and I was not disappointed. Filled with fantasy, excitement, and intrigue, Pullman's first installment in the The Book Of Dust is fast-paced and brutal. Can't wait for the next installments!

Like the mermaids or sirens who terrorize the humans within these pages, I devoured this book. And I am hungry for more! I was very excited to hear that Seanan McGuire (under the pseudonym Mira Grant) was continuing the saga from her short story, "Rolling in the Deep." When I first read that short, I wanted more and was so wonderfully rewarded with this full novel (and a full series?!). Like the books in the Newsflesh series and the books in the Parasitology series, this book is a fun and thrilling read. Grant knows how to build tension and excitement, cover to cover this read does not relent. I also really enjoyed her take on the mermaid myth. You can almost believe that the "lovely ladies of the sea" are terrifying creatures in the deep and dark reaches of the sea, waiting for their next meal.

Lauren Markham expertly narrates the story of the twin Flores brothers' journey to becoming Americans. We follow their tale from when they depart El Salvador to when they enter the US and are shortly thereafter caught by border patrol. The story of the Flores brothers is not unlike what many immigrants experience and calls attention to the social and economic problems many face in Central America. Well researched, the Far Away Brothers is interlaces with Markham's travels to Mexico and Central America, seeing the gang violence and crises that drive whole families to leaver their homes to fight for their lives. Immigration reform and policy are contentious topics in the US, maybe even more so now, and I think this book gives a good perspective that some may choose to ignore.

I've read a few other Asano titles and have really enjoyed them. I thought this one might be a bit more lighthearted than some of the others, and it was, but still had an uncomfortableness I've come to expect from his manga. Sort of a teen romance but not the kind you find in a lot of Western young adult novels. The art was beautiful and story was very comprehensive and as much heartwarming as it was heart-wrenching. Asano knows how to tell an engaging story with so much emotion through images and knows when silence in the panels can be just as or more impactful than dialogue boxes.

This is one of the best books I have read in my lifetime. "The strongest man is he who stands alone..." Independent People is an enchanting and tragic epic story of a stubborn man striving for independence. Laxness crafts the characters in this story with such skill. Bjartur of Summerhouses is a complex yet simple and frustrating character. A deeply proud and flawed protagonist but a character a reader can love and root for all the same. I loved the journey of emotions this book took me on, from laughter and joy to sorrow and anger. This is a must read for all bibliophiles!

Neil deGrasse Tyson blends in anecdotes and humor to succinctly describe the history and interest in the world of astrophysics. It is a good short introduction to the various ways the science of astrophysics has and continues to pique the human mind and imagination. From the big bang, to dark matter, to exobiology, to climate science this book provides a plethora of brief introduction and information for so much science! Overall a good read and makes me want to pick up some other Tyson books as well as research more about the different aspects and history of astrophysics.

As reasonably intelligent adults we should all know the story of Laika, the first dog in space. So it is no spoiler to say that the dog dies at the end. That being said, Abadzis did a wonderful job weaving the well-researched history behind Laika's fateful trip with a fictional tale of the world famous dog. Along the way, Abadzis also tells the stories of the people that had contact with Laika before and how the small, charming dog touched their lives in different ways. Yes, it is manipulative and plays with your emotions, but that is what makes it so good.

Tolly is a wonderful creative story about imagination and bravery. I've been a fan of Portland artist Maryanna Hoggatt for a long time and am amazed at how stunning the art is in this book. I gave this book to my niece and she loves it and my other nieces and nephews will be receiving copies for the holidays.

Bakke has certainly done her research on the behemoth that is our electrical grid in the US. She perfectly highlights the issues, the hopes for solutions that researchers and industries are trying to find, and how people are already breaking from the unreliability of our grid (with microgrids and other solutions). This book is well written and researched. It was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone looking to understand a little bit about our electrical system.

Gloeckner's tales of childhood and the loss of innocence is told in graphic images and detail. The art is stunning. The narrative bleak but hard to tear yourself away from. An exploration of a young girl's loss of innocence through sex, rape, and drugs. Definitely worth a read, but be warned that it is not as light of subject matter as the title implies.

Hillbilly Elegy is a good memoir of a dysfunctional family and culture in crisis as the title suggests. He identifies the "forgotten" white working class of America, but he also presents his views on the issue being internal as much as it is external. Without those within trying to get out of the "us vs. them," mentality, they only become poorer and more marginalized in such a divided society. A good read that is ultimately one person's story but thought-provoking.

This is my second time reading through this comic and it still is as wonderful as the first read. Bone tells an epic story of good vs evil, family bonding, and friendship. It is humorous and at times violent. Jeff Smith's art style is beautiful and his storytelling grand. I will likely read it again, but maybe not wait another ten years to do so.

Bernd Heinrich shares his personal experience studying and living with ravens with great enthusiasm. This book is not only an exploration of the intelligence and consciousness of these fascinating birds, but an exploration of our connection to the natural world, or lack thereof. Heinrich is a wonderful scientist but also a great storyteller.

When I traveled to Japan this summer I discovered this little known (in the Western world) gem and absolutely love it. Shigeru Mizuki is well-known throughout Japan as sort of being the father of 'yokai'. Yokai, even though it doesn't translate well into English, are essentially spirits or ghosts in Japanese folklore and Mizuki has created a wonderful world centering around Kitaro of the Graveyard. His popular stories, originally started in 1965, sparked an anime that debuted in 1968, numerous toys and merchandise, and even a live action version of Kitaro. This compilation published by Drawn & Quarterly only has a snippet of the vast universe of Kitaro but I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did!

The third in Ruiz Zafon's Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, and even though it states in the introduction that you could read them out of order, I am not sure I would have enjoyed it as thoroughly. Regardless, it is a good read and a nice but shorter installment in the overall narrative. It leads the reader on an incredible journey of mystery and betrayal, of love and death. It has a major nod to classic books, namely Dumas's "The Count of Monte Cristo." Worth a read, but I personally suggest reading the first, "The Shadow of the Wind" before delving into this one.

I read about this series through an NPR news story. I was compelled to see how classic and epic literature would be interpreted into a visual or comic form and was not disappointed. From religious texts to the "The Tale of Genji" and even to the political and satirical essay from Benjamin Franklin ("Fart Proudly"), all sorts of different pieces have been chosen for this collection. I would recommend it to anyone who likes comic books as well as those that enjoy classic literature.

It has been a long time since I have found a fantasy book I so thoroughly enjoyed that I found myself feeling the same emotions as the characters. Rothfuss' story-telling is compelling and exciting. The development of Kvothe's character is at times sad, deep and joyous. The structure of stories-within-stories of the novel is never dull or confusing. Rothfuss paints a world of dangers and wonders that is definitely worth the read. I look forward to picking up the second and third of this series!

One biologist's curiosity and obsession, brings this well researched book about the extraordinary uniqueness and diversity of feathers. I first heard about this book on NPR, and myself being a budding ornithologist, knew it was a must read. Thor Hanson's writing style is humorous and informative without being dull. He uses hard science in theory but presents it simply and passionately. His anecdotes throughout the book, spark a connection with the reader. Who isn't fascinated by a bird's flight and has wondered how it is possible? If that is you, you need to read this book.

A fun and interesting read. The pictures are weaved seamlessly into the story in a very unique and engaging way. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a little mystery with a bit of "lost" history.