The Raven -- Edgar Allan Poe, illustrations by Ryan Price

Okay.  Everyone has at least one grown-up friend who was over the moon about Tony DiTerlizzi's unbelievably fantastic illustrations for The Spider and the Fly, right?*

Well, I just did you a favor and found them the perfect gift.

Ryan Price's illustrations are dark and creepy and Gothic and FUNNY.  Framed pictures of shovels and holes hang on the wall.  Skulls abound. 

Visually, Ryan Price suggests that the narrator was somehow responsible for Lenore's death.  His limbs are elongated and his shadow is distinctly bird-like.  The collar-and-tie-wearing, umbrella-carrying raven is a manifestation of his own guilt.

Brilliant.  Fab.  Love it so much I've emailed people about it.  I've been showing it to patrons, who always want to check it out and are sad and disappointed (and probably somewhat taken aback) when I cackle wildly and say, "NO. It's MINE."

*If not, you need a few more friends.  Work on that.