Shirley Jackson's The Lottery: The Authorized Graphic Adaptation

Written by: Miles Hyman

First line: Evenin' Joe.

Why you should read this book: If you thought Shirley Jackson's short story about the banality of evil was brutal in text form, just wait until you see it in full color illustration, lovingly transformed into a visual work by the author's grandson. In a small, simple town, people gather for a ritual, one so old that they have more or less lost sight of why they even perform it, although most of the old timers are certain that not repeating the horrific actions in just the way their ancestors performed them will lead to certain ruin. This graphic adaptation drives home the author's ideas about community, individualism, and the tyranny of the group.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You always go with the flow.