Monday, January 30, 2012

It Came from My Mailbox


If you haven't kept up, I started working at the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library late last year. Earlier this month, I was told that we're partaking in an international book discussion and the novel selected is Brian Selznick's Wonderstruck. Not to judge a book by it's weight, but was this supposed to be a brick? It almost makes me wonder why Selznick is anti e-book (Google Brian Selznick and e-book and read whatever results come up). You know, besides the fact that a 600+ hard copy novel might make more money than a 600+ e-book. (I vaguely remember reading how books are priced by paper, but I'm sure this was indie publishing, not publishing house.)

And the price of this book? One cent off the $30 mark. Pretty expensive for a person working a part-time job who's also expecting his first born in a matter months, saving every bit of his money for a car, a place to live, a diamond engagement ring, an iPhone, a camcorder, college, the GRE test, etc., etc., etc. I'm glad that I found a copy on eBay for only $16 - a $14 dollar discount! - thank goodness for free shipping.

Still, this book is quite heavy - I'm a 28-year-old man and this book will probably snap my back in half (but I do carry a considerable amount of weight in my pack), so I can only imagine how a fifth grader feels lugging this around. Seriously, Selznick! E-book this sucker!

Of course, the book is beautifully illustrated and an e-book would take away from it (as the illustrations are two page in length). Still, Selznick, a guy can't always afford a beautifully illustrated copy of your novels.

Purchase Wonderstruck on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Or pick up the Caldecott Medal winning, The Invention of Hugo Cabret at Amazon for only $14.99.


Return to Horror High

via Amazon
So let's get this straight, shall we? Return to Horror High tells the tale of a movie company who is slaughtered one by one while they attempt to reenact a murder spree that happened years prior. To clarify, it's a story of a movie within a movie about a story. Oh wait, was that George Clooney? Yeah, that is George Clooney. And like most of George Clooney's early films, this movie is terrible. But in that way that it's good. You know what I mean?

The film opens at the moment the police arrive at a grisly murder scene. The only survivor is a distraught writer. It's a who-done it type of movie with a twist that is so pathetic, it's almost good.

Once again, it's a terrible movie. Bad. Godawful. It's sinful to even think this movie should be taken seriously. Still, it's filled with that campy, over-the-top B-movie horror stuff that makes things memorable - a cult following.

Return to Horror High is available on DVD at Amazon and B&N. However, I advise streaming it on Netflix or watching it on Amazon Instant Video.

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Skins Returns

via E4

I should say, Skins returned. As in last week. As in, I don't know why I waited a week to write this post. Maybe I'm still digesting the series opener. We're used to this sort of thing from Skins. When Chris died, I was a little disappointed, but I accepted it. The first generation needed a segue into adulthood and what better way to give them that push than the death of a friend? When the psychopathic therapist bludgeoned Freddie, I was pissed. Was this going to be the Skins thing? Was every generation doomed from the get at the beginning of their second year?

As we saw with episode one, Gracie's departure - though not dead - didn't wait for the second to the last episode. But it does create the much needed rift for all the characters to face in their last year. 

We are let down, however. Franky is much more feminine this time around. Her relationship with Matty is on the rocks after a road trip. She's hungry for attention from someone else. Mini's girl crush on Franky may or may not have evaporated, but her boinking Alo makes the group a bit incestuous.

If the first episode is any indication for the rest of the series, the fatal blow may not come to us as a shock. If anything, the greatest twist the writers can deliver is sending off the entire cast happily into the future.

Save an Extra 15% on Contact Lenses

P.S.

via Movie Poster
"They did it backwards," I commented the moment Laura Linney and Topher Grace started having sex on the couch. "He's supposed to be accepted then they have sex." Jyg picked the film - we narrowed our choices down to Babel, Kissing Jessica Stein, and P.S. "What's P.S. about?" Jyg asked. "Something about a college professor or something who starts a relationship with her student." Only that was an over simplification of the film. In fact, it landed to the left of the nail.

Laura Linney plays divorcee Louise. She's an admission's officer for the Columbia University School of Arts. Her only friend is Peter, her ex-husband, who, later, admits he's a recovery sex addict. Her life is routine, nearly. She's dangerous close to becoming the epitome of old maid. After sending off several letters to potential applicants, she finds one - perhaps overlooked earlier - and the name sends a wave through her. F. Scott Feinstadt, who may or may not be the reincarnation of her teenager lover, but is still a dead ringer for him.

Jyg was left unimpressed by the film. My take was a little better. It's more than I expected - I was expecting a film about a woman suffering through a mid life crisis who attempts to regain her youth by seducing a younger lover. Instead, I received a depressing tale of a woman attempting to garner a second chance with a dead lover - without it getting gross or awkward, anyway. A story of addiction and inability to let go of the past. 

While I still hold my skepticism about taking Topher Grace seriously - let's face it, he'll always be Eric Foreman - the film was decent and worth the watch.

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

P.S. is available on DVD at Amazon and for streaming on Netflix.

Alibris Hard to Find Books Standard

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Zap: A Play by Paul Fleischman

via GoodReads
A murder mystery unfolds in the turn of the century England as a party awaits a war hero...ZAP! A disgruntled writer plots revenge on a fellow word craftsman steals and publishes his life story...ZAP! The classic Shakespearean play, Richard III begins...ZAP! A Russian woman is dragged to live in her...ZAP! A one woman show, performance art...ZAP! A couple sees it as no big deal when they find a corpse...ZAP! An artist plots to run away from his Southern home while his grandmother...ZAP!

So is the play by Paul Fleischman, which seems to stem from a conversation I had with my co-worker one afternoon about how short my attention span has become when watching movies on television. And that's just the idea of the play, isn't it not? How we continually flip channels during commercial breaks or during the most important parts of a movie or TV series just to see what's on the other channel? Theatre is dying and television is the box they'll bury it in.

It's a different high school play and quite the humorous read - reminiscent of Noises Off at some scenes. It starts off with something experimental, a play controlled by the audience. The idea is to give the audience remote controls to "change the channel" at any given time. A computer in the back will tally up the number of times a change is requested and when a sufficient number is hit - ZAP! - the play changes. Cramming seven plays into one single piece, Paul Fleischman not only keeps us entertain but holds a mirror to ourselves, examining how disenchanted and jaded we've become with the arts. 

Zap is a must for every high school aged student and drama teacher. 

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Zap is available at Amazon and B&N.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Sneakpeeq


I did some cleaning up the other day on the side bars - there's only one now and it holds less ads. Today, I added a new banner ad for sneakpeeq, an online store that does things a bit differently. While they do carry items you are familiar with, they also act as a platform for the as-yet-to-be discovered things missing from you life. Everything from chocolate to upcoming fashion, sneakpeeq has what you're seeking at low prices, finding discounts as high as 70% off.

Still not convinced? Well, sneakpeeq has also hidden several badges and price reducing rewards throughout their website. The more you buy, the more incentives you earn in the end. Which can make online shopping a little more of a game, something real-world shopping doesn't do (unless you're a shopaholic). Head over to sneekpeeq now and start saving.

As an added bonus, you don't have to create a new account because the site allows you to use Facebook to log in. Sign up today and start buying and earning.


Sunday, January 22, 2012

X-Men: Magneto Testament by Greg Pak & Carmine Di Giandomenico

via Comic Vine
"Sometimes in this life, you get a moment, a time when everything lines up. When anything is possible. When suddenly you can make things happen. God help us if we take that moment. And God forgive us if we don't."

Those are the words we deserved to hear on the big screen, instead we got X-Men: First Class. Not that I'm comparing standing up against the S.S. men during the holocaust to a mediocre movie. It's nothing like that. As a fan of the X-Men franchise, I feel we deserved something better. Something that helped us understand Magneto's anger. After reading Greg Pak's story in X-Men: Magneto Testament, I say that we finally have it. However, the miniseries was overlooked. It still deserves a adaptation of its own. Maybe not for the big screen, but for the small screen. A direct-to-DVD animated film. Something to think about. 

The five-part miniseries that chronicles Max Esienhardt's life during the most horrific time in human history. From being mistreated because he was a Jew in an all Aryan school to witnessing the murder of his family to finally taking a stand against the monsters who stole his childhood away from him. Di Giandomenico's art work captures emotions - though, at some points, it's hard to decipher one character from the next, even Max's love interest, Magda, looks similar to Max. 

That aside, the story and art play off each other when it comes to the emotions. Even in the happier panels in the first chapter are dreary and dark. There is little room for happiness in this story. And the grains that we received are treasured. 

The graphic novel also includes historical notes and pointers, even adding a section to use the story as a text book. It's more than just a comic book, I should say. It allows us to see the monstrous side of humanity by using something familiar to us.

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

You can purchase X-Men: Magneto Testament at [[Amazon]] or [[B&N]]


The Hole

via IMDB
Teen screams are something of the past, am I right? That's why Scream 4 didn't keep me on edge like Scream did. Teenagers killing teenagers just feels too, well, real.

The psychological thriller, The Hole, starring Thora Birch and Dexter's Desmond Harrington, is a two way street. Do we believe main character Liz's story, or semi-geeky Martin's tale. You don't have to wait long to figure out the truth. And that's where it kills the story. psychological thrillers are supposed to mess with your head, finally giving you the answers at the end of the tale. Imagine if the writers of Saw gave you the twist ending by telling you Jigsaw was there the whole time. You the movie have lasted so long? Would you have even cared to finish it. 

No, the writers of The Hole gave us something that was well worth the watch, but damned us by killing it early on. There was no twist ending because it was given to us in the middle. We weren't left in awe, slapping hands to our heads by not seeing all the pieces, because they were given to us directly. 

No. Instead, we're gypped into accepting the ending. An ending, by the way, that would not hold up in court.

The film, which also stars a young Keira Knightley, is available on Amazon and Netflix Instant Steam (which I recommend).

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

iTunes, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store

Erotic Romance for Couples


As I've mentioned before, I started following writer/editor/cupcake blogger Rachel Kramer Bussel on Twitter and Tumblr. Friday, I received my third book from her. Oh happy day!

A little about the book:

Irresistible features loving couples who turn their deepest fantasies into reality - resulting in uninhibited, imaginative sex they can only enjoy together. Engage in a little sexting in A.M. Hartnett's sizzling "Safe for Work" office tryst, and follow kinky candidate for public office - and his lusty wife - in Alyssa Turner's intriguing "Hypocrites." Cole Riley's moving "Save As It Ever Was" shows that make up sex can be worth fighting for. As editor Rachel Kramer Bussel notes, the lovers in this daringly romantic anthology are "able to open up in the way they do precisely because they have another person to rely on i...We get to see how the layers of trust that have been built up get used to stoke the fire that burns between them."
Bussel states that with this anthology she "wanted to explore what happens after" "two people discover there's intense chemistry between them." 

I'm cracking open this baby the moment I hit publish. Which is now. So yeah. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Irresistible is available for pre-order on Amazon. It hits shelves on Valentine's Day.

Double Feature

via Wikipedia
There's one thing I left out earlier when I went post crazy. Not only have I acquired a new television to replace the one I owned for the last 20 years of my life and purchased a Blu Ray player, I've also opened a Netflix account which I access from said Blu Ray player - goody!

I Love Your Phillip Morris


Jyg and I cozied up to watch the romantic comedy starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, each known for their brilliant performances in the past - save the Star Wars prequels, of course. It's a different sort of take on the romantic comedy, by the way. In fact, it's refreshing to see something different in the genre that stars mainstream actors and doesn't have an underlining theme of prejudice.

The film is based on the book and real life account of con man, Steven Jay Russell. The story follows the many faces of Russell - from learning that he was adopted as a child to marrying a religious woman and working as a police officer to learning of the identity of his real mother to deciding to living his life as a openly gay man to starting his con business to finally meeting the love of his life, Phillip Morris.

I Love You Phillip Morris is filled with humor, love, and the right amount of drama. At times, it seems a little over the top, but it's to be expected from a Jim Carrey flick, right? While Jyg felt it was a bit odd too see Jim Carrey playing a homosexual, I found it fitting in his more serious comedic roles of late. His acting was superb, as was costar Ewan McGregor's.

You can purchase the film on Blu Ray or DVD on Amazon, or view it now on Netflix or Amazon Instant Video.

WaxWork


via Wikipedia
Every now and then, you discover a horror film so terrible, it's good. Sometimes the film intends to be terrible, other times it takes itself too seriously. I'm hoping the forces behind the film Waxwork falls into the latter.

Four college - or possibly high school, or maybe it wasn't planned out very well - students take a tour of a waxwork that appears seemingly over night. While touring the museum of waxed horror films, two of them walk into different displays only to become apart of them. Our hero, Mark is determined to prove that the owner of the waxwork is responsible for the disappearance of his friends and several other people in the city. His suspicions become real when he learns that the owner has made a deal with the devil and is using his wax museum to release hell on earth...or something like that.

The acting is as terrible as the plot. However, it is still a fun film to watch, especially when you're looking for something a little goofy. Jyg fell asleep during this one. What a critic!

Waxwork is available in a in a combo set with its sequel which is available on Amazon. It is also available on Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

Until next time, keep on huntin'.


Saturday, January 21, 2012

The Baby's Room

via Benevolent Street
Ghost stories rarely give me the creeps anymore. With all the hype of the Paranormal Activity franchise - which I still believe that no self-respecting horror movie buff would defend and call it good - it's no surprise that Alex de la Iglesia's 2006 film, La Habitación del Niño - better known to us by the Films to Keep You Awake title, The Baby's Room - came across my Nexflix suggestions.

Despite coming out a year before the whole Paranormal Activity franchise was introduce, people will probably mesh this film and those together, rather than noticing the actual difference. Where those behind the horrible films were just adding to the useless amount of movies that are categorized as "found tapes," de la Igelsia gives us a film with actual substance, and something new. Before you question my judgement, I will state the film was dull for the most part, obvious in others and the "twist" ending was seen from miles away. However, the film does get bonus points for attempting to use Quantum Physics in its plot and the fresh new spin on the haunting genre is well received.

A new family moves into a house with a sordid past, and on the first night begins to hear something over the baby monitor. Writing it off as static, the husband purchases a new, state-of-the-art baby monitor which uses video rather than just sound.  What he sees disturbs him. Attempting to put the whole haunting into a rational sense, fails him. When it seems that the obsession is making him harmful to his family, he is left alone in the house to investigate the truth behind the hauntings. However, he learns that some hauntings aren't ghost related. In fact, the murder he witnesses on video may not have even happened yet.

The short film - which, if I understood correctly, is actually an episode for the Spanish series Películas para no dormir - seemed to drag at times. The beginning serves little to the story's purpose, except explaining the origin of the elderly lady later seen in the film, and even she serves no real purpose to the plot. Leonor Watling graces viewers with her beauty and acting ability, while Javier Guiterrez kept reminding me of the Spanish version of Dave Matthews. All in all, if you're a looking for a new kind of haunting tale, then give the film a chance. Otherwise, please move on.

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Purchase the 6 Films to Keep You Awake set on Amazon, or watch The Baby's Room on Amazon Instant Video.

American Vampire Vol. 1 by Scott Synder, Stephen King & Rafael Albuquerque

via Wikipedia
Very few people are original these days when it comes to old mythos. Rarely do I see any evolution of fantastical creatures of old lore, so it's always refreshing to see a new take on something familiar. We're in the age of the undead - be it zombies returning to pay homage to our society, or vampires representing civil movements. However, if all you're adding to a mythos is talking zombies or vampires who sparkle in the sun, then you're clearly missing the point of evolution. Rather than evolving the creatures, you're simply dumbing them down to fit your homage to nothing. You should've written fanfiction instead. Though, even fanfiction adds to the mythos rather than raping it - yes, even the homoeroticism of every fanfiction adds more to the mythology than Mormon-esque philosophy and horny teenagers.

For most of their existence, vampires have been shrouded in darkness. Very few people have attempted to change that - day-walkers weren't scary enough, or thrilling enough (or sparkly enough, apparently). They are always placed in dank, dark locations because that's how it's always been. With the obvious exception of Anne Rice's existential vampires, who seem to find sunny areas like California and Miami quite alluring, even though they still only come out at night. 

In American Vampire, writers Scott Synder and Stephen King offer us something new for us to sink our fangs in. Blending the old Euro Vampires - you know, the fancy dressed ones who hate the sun - with a "new vampire for a new century." 

Blending the last years of the Wild West with 1920s America, the story follows the origin of the American Vampire and the war brewing between the old and the new. Stephen King focuses on the origin story, following outlaw Skinner Sweet as he descends into the well-lit realms of the American vampire as the Euro Vampires stand in shock of the abomination that is their bloodline. As Skinner Sweet tears through the new the century seeking revenge, he realizes the old west he once knew is coming to an end; meanwhile, lawman James Book is hot on his trail, seeking retribution of his own and hoping to put Sweet in his grave for good. Meanwhile, Scott Synder focuses on the twentieth century vampire and Skinner Sweet creation, Pearl Jones. The ambitious young actress is lured into her grave by her fading hopes of becoming a well-known actress. It's Skinner Sweet who brings her back from the dead in hopes that she will aid him in the destruction of those who made him what he is. Pearl seeks vengeance of her own on the Euro Vampires, killing them one at a time. The war is far from over in the conclusion of the first volume, as figures from Sweet's past return to finish what Book couldn't do.

The first volume is well thought out, and the characters are amazing. The fact that it blends two of my favorite time-periods is just the added bonus. The fact that something so well crafted by Stephen King has actually reached my eyes - let's remember my love/hate relationship with the writer - gives me goosebumps and keeps me wanting more. 

Oh well. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Purchase American Vampire at [[Amazon/Paperback]] [[Kindle]] [[B&N/Hardcover]] [[Nook]]

Barnes & Noble

No Country for Old Men

I've made two mistakes when it comes to the 2007 Academy Awards winner film, No Country for Old Men. The first was reading the book shortly after falling in love with the film. The novel, written by Cormac McCarthy, is just as great as the movie. The only probably is, the film is a true adaptation so while reading the novel, scenes from the film kept playing in my head. Let's face it, even though both were equally great, it pulled me out of the story of the later. I also can't imagine watching the film shortly after reading McCarthy's work. 

The second mistake was watching the film in DVD format. I'm not much of a movie goer, despite my love for films. Theaters only call to me when it involves Batman or something that must be watched. At the time, I didn't think that No Country for Old Men was worth my time.

After twenty - yes, twenty! - long wonderful years with my television set, I departed with the old clunker when it died. And by died, I mean the channel kept playing even after I shut it off. Makes no sense, right? Anyway, I received a more modern TV for X-mas. Of course, with a modern TV comes HDMI connections with makes a great excuse to purchase a Blu Ray player. Thanks to the glorious sale at Best Buy, I purchased a Blu Ray copy of No Country for Old Men. And I must say, I was missing a whole lot. 

The crisp picture adds to the aesthetic quality of film. It really does bring out the psychotic qualities of Javier Bardem's performance, the age of Tommy Lee Jones's character, and the nature of each setting.

The film was well received by Jyg, I may add. When I first rented the film a few years back, she turned it down. I'm not going to give all the credit to the Blu Ray format, but, hey, I think it helped.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Best Sex Writing 2012 edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel

It's simple math, isn't it? Start off with Rachel Kramer Bussel, add in Susie Bright, mix in the sex and you have yourself Best Sex Writing 2012

Susie Bright selected the best of the best of the year passed, and her ability to read and choose has not waned since her departure from - and the untimely death of - The Best American Erotica. And Rachel Kramer Bussel is equally awesome. 

The collection contains articles, essays, and pieces by Thomas Roche, Amber Dawn, Joan Price, Marty Klein, Susie Bright, and Rachel Kramer Bussel. The wind range of topics extends (no pun intended) the idiocy behind banning circumcision to rape culture to growing up queer in the Meatpacking District. 

In Marty Klein's piece, "Criminalizing Circumcision: Self-Hatred as Public Policy," follows San Francisco's insane idea to outlaw circumcision in infants. It's the first - can I call it pro-circumcision? - positive circumcision piece I've read. It addresses the myths that anti-circumcision "activists" tout, and explains that any "physical" lacking a circumcised man feels is strictly psychological.

In "Losing the Meatpacking District: A Queer History of Leather Culture," Abby Tallmer reminiscences about growing up in the Meatpacking District in the midst of the queer and leather nightclubs, reminding us to never take our presents for granted because they can simply be erased. 

Both Susie Bright and Thomas Roche pieces attack the laughable "news reporting" of major newspapers that fail at fact checking and op-eds how the media fails our sexual society by filling people's minds with the Christian Right-wing agenda.

Greta Christiana, on the other hand, reports how a secular lifestyle might improve your sex life over a religious one. In "Atheists Do It Better: Why Leaving Religion Leads to Better Sex," we learn that secular households tend to do it, well, better. Not only in the bedroom, but with raising children, as well. (You'll have to read the piece.)

"Grief, Resilience, and My 66th Birthday Gift" teaches us the sex life of an older woman and author, Joan Price. From finding someone to spend her life with, to the dynamic of her sex life to the grief she felt when he passed to regaining her sexual self afterward. The piece is possibly the best in the collection - in my humble opinion, anyway. 

All in all, Best Sex Writing 2012 is worth the read and a place on your shelf or e-reader.

Purchase at [[Amazon]] [[Kindle]] [[B&N]] [[Nook]] [[Kobo]]

Friday, January 6, 2012

Breathers: A Zombie Lament by S. G. Browne

Andy has several problems. Months after a fatal car accident that stole his wife from him, he's attempting to put his life back together. His in-laws are refusing him the right to see his own daughter. His father is vocal about the resentment he holds for him. His mother makes a failed attempt to accept him as she once did. Due to his inability to speak, he can't even verbalize how he feels about the whole ordeal. Not that it matters, his overpriced therapist could care less about Andy's troubles. Hell, he can't even take a walk to clear his thoughts without someone threatening his existence or hurling food and drinks at him. See, Andy problems stems from the fact that his life was also taken in that fatal car accident. However, unlike his wife, Andy didn't stay dead. He walks among the living as one of the undead that has plagued humanity for centuries. That is, Andy is a zombie. Decomposing slowly with the help of consuming shampoo among other every day products that contain formaldehyde. 

Living in his parents basement/wine cellar, he passes the time watching cable TV and feeling resentment. The accident not only left him crippled, it also stole his voice. His only form of communication is the dry erase board that he wears around his neck. The only thing going for Andy are the Undead Anonymous meetings he attends. This is where he met Rita, a suicide who just happened to wake up in the morgue. A budding romance leaves Andy wondering what lies in store. Then there's Jerry, who happens to be the closest thing to a best friend in Andy's post-life. When the trio meet Ray and his Resplendent Rapture - jarred venison - things in their zombie life turn for the better. Andy's speech is returning. His left leg is magically healing. Same with Rita's scars and Jerry's skull. It slowly becomes apparent that venison might not be magical in of itself. Because what they're eating is far from it.

Breathers is possibly the funniest book I've read to date. The way S. G. Browne times his jokes make the read marvelous. It leaves me wondering why I put it off for so long. It's not difficult to see the comparison to any civil rights movement - the narrator even brings it up himself. What makes this book great is that it's not your typical zombie book. The world isn't at the brink of apocalypse or even the dawn of the post-apocalyptic era. Zombies haven't overpowered humans. In fact, they've been around for centuries and kept in the shadows. Not until recent decades has their presence been acknowledged. And they're even treated the way people treated African-Americans and homosexuals - with fear and ignorance. 

The whole zombie civil rights idea aside, the book also judges the humanity of, well, humanity. By shining the light on innocence of children - "Is that true? Are zombies really human?" - to the shear hate of adulthood - "Go back to the grave!" - we're given insight on how outside forces mold our views on what is right and wrong, acceptable and what should be abhorred. It stay true with the Romero-philosophy, the sense that zombies should only bring to realization the way we handle social issues - war, racism, materialism, xenophobia, civil rights, etc. 

But Breathers also brings another aspect of the zombie evolution. The creatures aren't mindless. They are exact reflections of the people they once were. And the vampiric rejuvenation is a nice edition to the zombie mythos. 

It's the zombie book that will become canon, if not already. 

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Purchase Breathers: A Zombie Lament by S. G. Browne @ [[Amazon]] [[Kindle]] [[B&N]] [[Nook]] [[Kobo]]


Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Obligatory First Post of 2012


I have been slacking off, I apologize. Work has me, well, working. And working has made me grow tired. And growing tired fills me with ennui. Filled with ennui, I have dropped all my writing/blogging projects - including my personal blog and my Letters to Shaun blog. However, working at the library hasn't hindered my book hunting habits. If anything, working there is exacerbating it. Worse, because now I'm on a budget - a tighter budget than I was before I became a book hunter, I should add. Jyg and me and baby makes three. Babies, I am told, are expensive and writing "ad" blogs and working part time isn't going to cut it unless I execute Project: No Spend. 

Lucky for me, I started to follow Rachel Kramer Bussel whose book, Best Sex Writing 2012, is currently being read for review. If you'd also note, I reviewed Bussel's Best Bondage Erotica 2012 last month. I love sex, what can I say? It's an interesting topic. Best part of it all, these books were free of charge. All I have to do is write an Amazon review. Presto. Life is still grand.

However, you'll also note that the picture above features a copy of The Living Shakespeare. I bought that lovely piece of work for only $2. Even sweeter. Still, I have to tie up my wallet. 

Along side Best Sex Writing 2012, I'm still working through Breathers by S. G. Browne. It's not a tough read, it's the aforementioned ennui that has me dragging. The only reason I muster up the energy to read Bussel's book is the review (well, the fact that it deals with sex doesn't hurt it, either).

This year, however, I do plan to read my 50 books as per the GoodReads Challenge. Because I started working at the children's department at the local library, I've opted to make this the year of the YA book. Not that I'm going to solely read YA novels, but there will be a stress on them. Hopefully, however, this won't turn out like last year's "year of the religion" theme. Heh. Am I right?

Oh well, until next time, keep on huntin'.


 Now that X-mas has come and gone, it's time to look forward to Valentine's Day.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Books of 2011

  1. The Queen of the Damned - Anne Rice
  2. "What is an Agnostic" (essay) - Bertrand Russell (read my thoughts here & here)
  3. God is Not One - Stephen Prothero (read my thoughts here)
  4. Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
  5. Dearly Devoted Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
  6. The Original of Laura - Vladimir Nabokov
  7. Gospel of Judas - Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst (editors)
  8. Vixen - Jillian Larkin
  9. Twin Forks (short story) - Daniel Woodrell
  10. Like a Girl (short story) - Alison Tyler
  11. Doc - Mary Doria Russell
  12. On Finding Jon's Porn (short story) - Alison Tyler
  13. Good Doggy (short story) - Gemma Parkes
  14. Home Visits (short story) - Gemma Parkes
  15. Hungry for Your Love - Lori Perkins (editor)
  16. Dexter in the Dark - Jeff Lindsay
  17. Dexter by Design - Jeff Lindsay
  18. The Crow - J. O'Barr
  19. Wanted - Mark Millar (writer), J.G. Jones (pencils & inks), and Paul Mounts (colors)
  20. Son of M - David Hine (writer) and Roy Allan Martinez (artist)
  21. Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage - Tom DeFalco, J.M. DeMatteis, Terry Kavanagh, David Michelinie (writers)
  22. Marvel Zombies - Robert Kirkman (writer) and Sean Phillips (artist)
  23. X-Men: Age of Apocalypse the Complete Epic Book 1 - Howard Mackie, John Francis Moore, et al (writers), Terry Dodson, Steve Epting, et al (artists)
  24. X-Men: Age of Apocalypse the Complete Epic Book 2 - Fiabian Nicieza, Scott Lobdell, et al (writers), Tony Daniel, Salvador Larroca, et al (artists)
  25. X-Men: Age of Apocalypse the Complete Epic Book 3 - Larry Hama, Terry Kavanagh, et al (writers), Adam Kubert, Chris Bachalo, et al (artists)
  26. X-Men: Age of Apocalypse the Complete Epic Book 4 - Judd Winick, Jeph Loeb, et al (writers), Ben Herrera, Roger Cruz, et al (artists)
  27. DC Versus Marvel Comics - Ron Marz & Peter David (writers), Dan Jurgens, Josef Rubinstein, et al (artists)
  28. The Silent Girl - Tess Gerritsen
  29. Spider-Man: Reign - Kaare Andrews (writer & artist) with Jose Villarrubia (artist)
  30. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
  31. Dexter is Delicious - Jeff Lindsay
  32. HitRECord: RECollections Vol. 1 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt (editor)
  33. Smart Ass - Alison Tyler, Kristina Lloyd, Sommer Marsden, Sophia Valenti & Thomas S. Roche
  34. Darkness Falling - Peter Crowther
  35. Daddy's Lil Devil - Rachel Boleyn
  36. The Death Clock - J. Rock
  37. UR - Stephen King
  38. Crazy Emma - Brandie Buckwine
  39. Mile 81 - Stephen King
  40. Cthulhurotica - Carrie Cuinn (editor)
  41. Weeping Underwater Looks a Lot Like Laughter - Michael J. White
  42. Marvel Zombies 2 - Robert Kirkman (writer) & Sean Phillips (artist)
  43. Less Than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis
  44. Imperial Bedrooms - Bret Easton Ellis
  45. Double Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
  46. The Deportees and Other Stories - Roddy Doyle
  47. The Pillowman - Martin McDonagh
  48. The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye - Robert Kirkman (writer) & Tony Moore (artist)
  49. The Walking Dead Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us - Robert Kirkman (writer) & Charlie Adlard (artist)
  50. Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? - Neil Gaiman (writer) & Andy Kubert (artist)
  51. The Walking Dead Vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars - Robert Kirkman (writer) & Charlie Adlard (artist)
  52. The Martian Child - David Gerrold
  53. The Walking Dead Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire - Robert Kirkman (writer) & Charlie Adlard (artist)
  54. Go the F**k to Sleep - Adam Mansback (writer) Ricardo Cortes (illustrator)
  55. Best Bondage Erotica 2012 - Rachel Kramer Bussel (editor)


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