Graphic Novels: When is it really just comic books?

So I've been making use of the Ottawa Public Library a lot lately, as I have the time, and it's a nice walk from home. I've discovered that they have a large selection of Graphic Novels, something I always wanted to get into more, and have now had the opportunity to. However, I'm still confused: What's the difference, if any, between a Graphic Novel, and a Comic Book that's just in Hardcover with one storyline (5-10 issues) covered? Because I read a couple, like Watchmen, and one of the Sin City books, but I've also read a bunch of Batman, Daredevil, X-Men, Wolverine, Superman etc.

At what point does it become a novel, and at what point is it still comic books? Either way, I don't think it will stop me, although it's kind of awkward to have to go into the teen fiction section to check some of them out...many thanks to the librarian who actually recommended another one to me instead of look at me like I was a little old for comics...

The Book of Awesome is...not quite.

This afternoon I sat outside in the sunshine and read The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha. Of note, Neil was a writer at Golden Words during a good chunk of my years at Queen's, so it is fairly likely he was already responsible for making me chuckle and smile a few times. Neil's book came from his blog/website: 1000 Awesome Things which features one 'awesome' thing each weekday counting back from 1000 to #1. This site launched in June 2008, and will finish on April 20/2012 if all stays on schedule. The blog has been tremendously popular and won awards for celebrating the little things in life. Examples of these include: finding money in an old jacket, having time on the meter when you pull into a parking spot, the smell of bakeries and so forth. Nothing substantial really, but just a nice solid boost of optimism that people like me can definitely use every so often (I may be accused of pessimism by more than one person, and I think I'd probably be guilty some of the time).

The book is simply a collection of some of those awesome things, and is a very easy read, as I finished the nearly 400 pages in an afternoon. While it's very enjoyable and results in laughs and smiles, it's not quite 'Awesome', but definitely 'Rather Enjoyable' It would make a good bathroom book, to have for guests and yourself, to peruse at your leisure.

I won't claim that it's life changing, but I was at the library the day after the election last week, and I thought I needed something 'awesome' to counter the rather non-awesome results. I recommend it to anyone this summer as a good light beach/cottage/vacation book, or for the pessimist/optimist of your friends.

4 more years...

Well there it is...by the time Steven Harper comes up for review again, I'll be 35 years old.
Congrats to Jack Layton, but the Catch-22 is...you handed him Carte Blanche....
Iggy, you should have had the class to fall on your sword here, instead you're going to make them fire you...not cool.
No more Bloc? I'm OK with that.
Elizabeth May has a seat...that's nice...but what do you do with 1 seat?

I suppose time will tell.