Birthday Wish List of Books


I'm a list fiend. Making lists for me is therapeutic. Grocery lists, To-do lists, Favorites lists, Christmas lists, Lists of lists. Now that my birthday is in three days from now, excluding today, I thought it's a perfect excuse for me to make a birthday wish list! 


Image from Goodreads
Image from Goodreads

1. The Arrival and/or Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan


Shaun Tan has been known to create stunning drawings, surreal and dream-like, which is my kind of thing. Go and check out the reviews made at Gathering Books for The Arrival  and Tales from Outer Suburbia. It's going to make you want this book too.

Image from Goodreads
Image from Suzy Lee's site

2. Wave and/or Shadow by Suzy Lee


Both Wave and Shadow has amazing charcoal drawings by Suzy Lee and I just fell in love with the protagonist, a little girl. Wave reminds me of our yearly trip to the beach when I was a kid. Shadow has a surreal quality, which I have previously mentioned, that I am a sucker for. Again check out the reviews for both Wave and Shadow at Gathering Books. 

Image from Goodreads

This book contains 14 unrelated striking black and white images accompanied with titles or captions. The images are mysterious, eerie, and haunting, it's awesome. See the review of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick at Gathering Books!

Image from Goodreads

F.E. Higgins  has been considered as the female Neil Gaiman by Fats of Gathering books and I am a huge Gaiman fan. See The Black Book of Secrets review at Gathering Books.

Image from Goodreads

After loving The Book Thief, I am no longer daunted by Holocaust themed books and I think you can't go wrong with this Pulitzer Price winning comic book from Art Spiegelman one of the big names in the comic book world. 

Image From Goodreads


This is another graphic novel that caught my attention with illustrations that seem geometric, very modern. The theme seems interesting, a man and his spiritual, philosophical, and moral struggles. Check out the review made by Andrea on Asterios Polyp. 

Image from Goodreads

Yes, I seem to be on a graphic novel kick. Anyhow, I was taken in by the premise of this book, about characters from fairy tales and fables making their way into New York and establishing their own community called Fabletown.

Image from Goodreads

8. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

I am a fan of Patrick Ness after reading The Knife of Never Letting Go, the first in a trilogy. Even though I have not gotten around reading the rest of the trilogy, I can't help but want this book. I came across this book in Tina from One More Page's In My Mailbox (15) blog entry. And the review by at Coffeespoons made me itch for it more.
Image from Goodreads


I am a huge Tim Burton fan. From Edward Scissorhands, his Batman movies, Mars Attack!, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to his animated features like The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Corpse Bride. So I bet his book is as deliciously dark and creepy as his films.


Image from Goodreads

Edward Gorey's style also seems very Tim Burtonesque. Dark, gothic, surreal, macabre and he also creates phrases/rhymes akin to Lewis Caroll's poems which I love.
 
Image from Goodreads

11. The Adventures of Tintin by Herge (any title from the series really)

Who doesn't know and love Tintin? No explanations are really needed for this book. Besides I want to remove the regret I still feel after foregoing buying one in The Tintin Shop in Singapore. Sob!

That ends my birthday book wish list! Phew! But I had to exercise restraint and keep this list to a minimum. It could have gone much much longer, I had to do a lot of trimming. I hope next time I see these books, it'll be in a nicely gift wrapped box with my name on it! :) 


  

Comments

  1. Gathering BooksJune 29, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Hi Tin,
    I've been meaning to say Welcome to the Blogsphere! for some time now. I am unfortunately caught up in real world chaos hence the delay in visiting and dropping a note.
    I love love love your birthday wishlist. I don't own any of the books in your list and I'm also dreaming of owning my own Shaun Tan and the Gorey Book. Oh well. I should make my own list when my birthday comes.

    Advance Happy Birthday!

    -Iphigene

    ReplyDelete
  2. TinJune 29, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    @Gathering Books Hey Iphigene! No worries, you weren't late at all. I am so happy you dropped by! I know, Shaun Tan and Gorey books are amazing. *sigh* You really should make a wish list on your birthday, it's so much fun. Haha :)

    Congratulations on the overwhelming response you guys received for your book drive!

    And oh, I love your poem: Trick of Light. And Fats' A Girl Name Alice. They're awesome. :)

    Thanks for the birthday greeting. Much appreciated! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. dementedchrisJune 30, 2011 at 2:58 AM

    Hi, Tin! Have you seen the animated short done for Shaun Tan's The Lost Thing? There are videos on YouTube that might tide you over until you get a copy of his other books. Happy birthday in advance!

    ReplyDelete
  4. TinJune 30, 2011 at 5:26 AM

    @dementedchris Hi Chris! I just watched it on You Tube! The visuals are stunning! I don't know how or what style they used to make this film but it would be awesome if they could make a full length feature film just like how they made this one, more so if they're adaptation of Shaun Tan's books. I'm so happy you pointed me to this direction, I totally forgot about The Lost Thing having an Oscar Award winning animated short.

    Thanks for the birthday greeting! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. dementedchrisJuly 2, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    @Tin
    It was absolutely amazing and inspiring. I'd love to see The Arrival done this way, too :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. GatheringBooksAugust 11, 2011 at 3:19 AM

    Happy Happy Happy Birthday Tin! I know its extremely late, but it's the thought that counts. Haha. Thanks for the link-back on our posts.

    Fats gave me a copy of The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy for Christmas, and I'm so telling you it's a riveting read. You have great titles here. I lovelovelove Tales from Outer Suburbia. It's the kind of book you can not put down even at 2 in the morning. MAUS is likewise a classic - you should get both Books 1 and 2 at one go.

    I'm interested in Amphigorey. As I'm sure you've noted, I heart Edward Gorey as well. Just reserved it right now in our library, I'm sure I can pick it up before Sunday. Sweet!!!! Haha. Currently I am in love with Frank MUIR! I am planning on doing a 3-in-1 for our Fractured Fairy tale special, but Jack and the Beanstalk is out on loan.

    Update us if you get at least half of your wish list for your birthday. =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. TinAugust 11, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    @Myra Garces-Bacsal from GatheringBooks
    Thanks Myra! Yup, better late than never!:)

    See how much of a pushover I am when it comes to books of you guys at Gathering Books! Haha! :P

    Now, I'm more excited about Oyster Boy and Maus. And I wish we had a library like the one there in Singapore! I failed to pay a visit when I went there. Maybe next time. I hope there will be a next time. Haha. "Sweet!!!!" is right (drools) Let me know how you liked Amphigorey. :)

    I haven't heard of Frank Muir. I'll be on the look out for your post about it on Gathering Books. :)

    Well, I got totally different books (because most of the ones in my list are graphic novels or picture books which are expensive! So, I understand my family and friends for not getting them. Haha!) with a mixture of clothes and other stuff. But I'm pretty happy with my birthday loot! :P

    ReplyDelete

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