Is zombie romance possible?

"They said it couldn't be done," Lori Perkins states in her introduction for Hungry for Your Love: An Anthology of Zombie Romance. Only, didn't S.G. Browne already touched on this subject in his novel, Breathers? Either way, Perkins compiled a collection of short stories from well known writers - such as Francesca Lia Block and Brian Keene - that is worth the read.

The stories range from silly and cute to erotic and weird to are you kidding me?  Because there are so many stories I'd have to review in order to get the full on idea, I'd like to just point out some of my favorites. And not review them. I do a horrible job at reviewing things like this. I'm complaining. Perhaps for filler.

Francesca Lia Block's (The Frenzy, Open Letter to Quiet Light) "Revenants Anonymous" introduces us to Casey, whose eye is set on Ed - both of which are revenants attempting to fight their natural urges of feasting on flesh by going to Revenants Anonymous meetings. At times, it's hard to tell whether these are zombies, or the aftermath of suicides. They're people attempting recreate a humanistic emotion, to feel - well - alive again.

In "Captive Hearts," Brian Keene (Dead Sea, A Gathering of Crows) thrusts us into a devoted marriage, in which the wife stands by her husband no matter the circumstances. Whereas, Stacey Graham gives us a insight to zombie love at first sight with her cutesy story, "Eye of the Beholder." Regina Riley's (Pistons and Pistols, Flirting With Death) "Undying Love," love stands the test of time, death and undeath - mixed in with some old fashion black magic.

I suppose if I had to choose the strangest - probably most disturbing - piece in the anthology, it would be "Julia Brainchild" - get the lame pun of a title? - by Lois H. Gresh (The Science of Supervillains, Eldritch Evolutions) in which an incestuous zombie relationship takes place on a live cooking show.

All in all, cute, depressing or disgusting, Hungry for Your Love is a must for fans of the undead. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Reason for my Absence

I haven't been reading anything lately - a sort of a dry spell. Like I said before I vanished, Monica and I were to book hunt and we did just that. From that book hunt, I picked up a copy of Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime (new), Pronto by Elmore Leonard (used), Somebody to Love? by Grace Slick with Andrea Cagan, FLCL vol. 1, and some book by James Patterson (all used). 

So my dry spell isn't due to not having books. I also started reading Dexter in the Dark, but quickly put it down. Picked up The Ultimated Lovecraft Collection, put it down and then started reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but put it down as well. Then the worst thing that could happen did and I had to call Amazon to report that my Kindle just up and broke on me. It was replaced - which arrived two days later - and all was right with the world.

So I started writing, which consumed most of my time. I playfully called the piece "Zombies in the Outfield," but "The United Undead Baseball League" might be the project's title after I complete the editing process. I also started writing something new, but it's not going so well so I might try to get some reading done so the blog doesn't die - it entered in its third year and the following isn't great, but at least I have readers stumbling in.

During the writing process, I also picked up Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos, Glue, City of the Dead - which I put down when I realized it was a sequel to The Rising, which I hadn't read yet - and The Rising. All of which, I put down. I finally picked up Hollowland - the first book of The Hollows series - by Amanda Hocking. This one might actually survive and pull me out of the dry spell. Here's to hope. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Valentine's Day Gift Idea

I'm not one to get all mushy about the V-Day gift giving, though I do buy Jyg a present every year. But it's a twofer gift, because the beginning of the month is our anniversary. Rather than having to exchange gifts twice, we celebrate both on one day, usually in the middle. This year - and I can say it here because she doesn't read the blog - I'm getting her favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz. I got her the book a few years back, mostly because enclosed was a necklace with the ruby slippers she adored as a child (two Halloweens ago, she dolled herself up with costume and ruby slippers and went as a gothic Dorothy, while I opted for a gothic Scarecrow, which turned out to look more like a dog thanks to the makeup). 

Jyg's not the only person I have to shop for gifts. While the romantic holiday is usually priority for me, I have a plethora of birthdays to think about. Namely, my mother's. For her, I'm going to reedit I photo album CD I made for her a few years back. This time it'll be in DVD format and it'll have music playing in the background (thank goodness for technology, right?). Why I haven't done this in the past is still a mystery to me. No matter, just in case that gift isn't ready by the time her birthday rolls around, I have the Country Music Classic, Pure Country,  film starring the great George Strait in the mail. I would've gotten the soundtrack for her, but I'm so desperately trying to inch my mother toward the MP3 age that purchasing something that wasn't a digital copy was counterproductive. 

But this blog is about helping you, not about what I'm getting people. Stand tall, amigos. There are gifts out there for your lovable book hunters, some rather inexpensive, others not so much.

1. For the zombie lover in your life, there's Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime: A Book of Zombie Love Songs (Kindle, Nook). Now this comes from the same people who brought you the neo-zombie holiday classic, It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Zombies (Kindle, Nook). Not a singer? Why not take a chance with Hungry for Your Love: An Anthology of Zombie Romance, which features writers like Brian Keene. (Kindle, Nook)
2. The Electronic Book Reader. Not an inexpensive gift, but one well worth it for any book hunter. Most book hunters will have a problem turning their backs on the printed word, but true book hunters know that despite the imaginary threat, these little hand held devices won't replace their beloved bound copies. The two most popular e-readers are the Amazon Kindle (free 3G) and the Barnes & Noble Nook (Color). There are, of course, others such as the Sony Reader (touch) and the Borders Kobo. 
3. If your book hunter already has an e-reader, why not try gift cards? Now a lot of people think gift cards are a sign of being impersonal. The stigma of why bother racking your brain about what to get needs to be thrown out. The joy about gift cards, however, is that if your book hunter can do what all book hunters do - hunt for the right book. Amazon has gift card options that can be e-mailed or printed. Barnes & Noble also offers them, but these you can physically buy them in any of their stores. For none-reader owners, there's always Better World Books, which offers books at discount and free shipping worldwide. 
4. Enough about books and book related accessories, right? You want apparel. The truth is, I can't tell who reads this blog more - men or women. Either way, Busted Tees has the t-shirts you're looking for, from Funniest to Inspiring. 
5. Gotta honey with a sweet tooth? Well, is s/he's a Health Nut, check out the yummy goodies made available at NutsOnline. 
6. This one you can't buy anywhere. We all know that Valentine's Day is just another materialistic holiday set up by greeting card corporations to make more money. Truth is, it doesn't have to be. Fresh flowers or something you make yourself are considered more valuable than something you picked up at the store, unless you're dating a gold digger. This year, like years before (except last year), I'm not only giving Jyg a gift, I'm making dinner. The main course hasn't been figured out but the dessert is going to be stuffed strawberry cheesecakes. 

My Erotica, or My Unquenchable Lust for Books

Monday afternoon, I woke up to find my copy of Coming & Crying at my doorstep. This, as you all know, is the book hunter equivalent to finding a baby in a basket. The book was edited by Melissa Gira Grant and Meaghan O'Connell and I only learned of it after the KickStarter for it had ended. If you're like me, you can purchase a copy here. 

Also, in the mail, my copy of Vladimir Nabokov's The Original of Laura arrived. If you recall, I mentioned the book last year when it was announced that Playboy was going to release an excerpt in their December issue.

After that, I got dressed and headed out with Monica and Binx to book hunt because that's what we do whenever we're together. First stop led us to Georgia's Thrift Shop where I picked up a copy of Brian Keene's Urban Gothic. Afterward, we wound up at Books -n- Things where I picked up a copy of The Stand - the unabridged copy, as I already have the original published piece - and William Gibson's Neuromancer.  

Today was another day of book hunting, where I purchased a copy of Brian Lumley's Maze of Worlds - only a $1.50! - and No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. 

I think that concludes - fingers crossed - my book hunting for the rest of the year. My queue is backed up to next December, I believe. Oh well, until next time, keep on huntin'.