What I've Been Reading: Pretty Monsters

Things about Pretty Monsters that are awesome--

1. Short stories that pull you into their strange magical world so that you are utterly absorbed, yet are over before you can fall asleep in bed with the book smooshed against your face.

2. Author Kelly Link is local! She is also probably a genius.

3. Art work by the great Shaun Tan, with whom I am mildly obsessed.

4. Great cover.

5. The story "Magic for Beginners" is all about a weird (possibly magical) television show called The Library. I want this show to exist! At very least, I want other people to read this story so we can all talk about how cool it would be if this show DID exist. Seriously, if you take the whole book out to only read this story, you will still have gotten your money's worth.

6. If you love fiction where things are a little strange, a little off, but still seem like they could actually happen to you then this is perfect.

7. If you love wizards but aren't into Harry Potter, if you like your monsters pretty, and if you have ever tried to dig up your dead girlfriend to get back the only copy of the poems you wrote and buried with her (I kind of hope none of you have) then this is the book for you!