Apostrophe S

This was one of those “man, I’d better read the book before I go see the movie” reads, but really it’s been on my list for a while. It’s a short book, I got through it in 1 1/2 sittings. It’s also a huge book, physically that is. (I’m glad I didn’t try to read it on the recent flight home I took. Not sure it would have fit in my carry-on luggage.)

Frank Miller’s ability to convey violent action and weird nobility is second to none. All of his characters, especially his Sin City characters, are massively flawed, yet adhere to a kind of honor code that guides their actions, even if that honor code is self-serving. The Spartans of “300″ are built purely on honor. They fight for no other reason than because their King orders it. And he orders them to fight to the death mostly because the Spartan laws demand it. But in the end, it turns out the Spartans quasi-victory inspires the entire nation of Greece to beat back the mad king Xerxes. Now, I’m not sure how much of the book is history, but it sure makes a fine story.

This entry is part of the 26 Books project that I’m doing this year.

Next book, “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel.