W.N.B.N.I.

Ghost College:

2012-01-22T21:38:00.000-05:00

Ghost College (The Ghost Files #1) By: J.R. Rain and Scott Nicholson
Fiction: paranormal, short story, e-book

This series of stories are about a couple that investigate hauntings and remove the ghosts. The wife is very sensitive to the paranormal after talking with her dead father as a child. The husband is very logical and doesn't actually believe in ghosts, even after working in this line of work for some time now. In this case they are investigating a haunting at a small Christian college in California. The school has a long past as a seminary, orphanage, school and college. Before they even finish talking to the school's president a ghost of a Victorian girl manifests, but it's clear that there is something much darker there too.

Cursed!:

2012-01-21T19:30:00.000-05:00

Cursed! By: Scott Nicholson and J.R. Rain
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, E-Book

Albert Shipway is having the worst day of his life. When on his way to lunch a little old lady curses him with his worst fear (and she seams to know about the mouse that killed his best friend as a kid.) When he gets back to work the cops are there because his ex-girlfriend is dead, and it looks like his crazy not quite ex wife killed her and took his child (which he didn't even know about.) From there things get weird.

Earl Lindquist: Accountant and Zombie Killer:

2012-01-21T18:50:00.000-05:00

Earl Lindquist: Accountant and Zombie Killer By: Victor Methos
Fiction: Short Story, Paranormal, E-book

This story starts out as your average person during the zombie outbreak story type. This one with a bit of a humorous take on it. But then half way in the story completely changes in a way that to say anything would give things away. Still a good story, just a bit more touching then I expected, but as a plus Samurai swords!

Zombies at the Door, Planning for the Inevitable:

2012-01-20T18:19:00.000-05:00

Zombies at the Door, Planning for the Inevitable By: Charles M. Pulsipher
Non-fiction: humor 68 pages
Book Count: 4

This short book is a how to guide for what to do when the zombies attack. It includes directions of things that you need to do ahead of time (which are mostly useful emergency information, first aid kits and supplies.) It also has information on what to do once there are zombies. (Hint: no matter what you do, DO NOT go to the mall.) As well as basic information on zombies and why the author feels that it would be the most likely correct ideas, if there were zombies.

THE ACCIDENTAL EXORCIST:

2012-01-20T18:06:00.002-05:00

THE ACCIDENTAL EXORCIST by: Joshua Graham
Fiction: Short Story, E-book, Paranormal

A forensic psychiatrist is haunted by a case of a woman that killed her own children. She clearly isn't sane, but she seams to be more then just insane, like evil itself is inside of her. (Note : title is written as it is on the book.)

The Manga Guide to Electricity:

2012-01-10T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Manga Guide to Electricity By: Kazuhiro Fujitaki Art by: Matsuda
Non-Fiction: Manga, Science 200 page
Book Count: 3

This book teaches high school/beginning college level electrical scienceusing manga. Its storyline is about a girl from an extratresteral land calledElectopia who gets sent to earth to learn about electricity and moves in withan electrical engineer. It covers all the basics about electricity; types,circuits, battery types, generators, AC/DC, conductors, diodes, transistors,currents, waves, volts and the equations connected to them. Most of theinformation is presented as part of the manga but there are also sections afterwith just the science and math.

The Curse of the Holy Pail:

2012-01-09T20:11:00.000-05:00

The Curse of the Holy Pail (The Odelia Grey Mysteries) by: Sue Ann Jaffarian
Fiction: Mystery, Cozy 384 pages
Book Count:2

This is a book about old Westerns, collector lunch boxes, and murder. As the title points out it is part of a series of books that star Odelia Grey; who is a middle aged, curvy, paralegal that is always in the wrong place at the right time.

Desperate Housedogs:

2012-01-03T20:58:00.001-05:00

Desperate Housedogs By: Sparkle Abbey
Fiction: Mystery: cozy, chick lit 202 pages

Book Count: 1

This book is the 1st in a series written by 2 mystery writers about a pet therapist. Their pen name is taken from the name of their pets.
This book deals with the death of the owner of two German Shepherds who Caro Lamont works with. She was also one of the last people to see him alive. Do to an odd fight that she has with a cousin over who inherited their grandmother's broach, she also "breaks" into the dead man's house the day after he died to find the jewelry. Because of this she meets an aging rocker who loves dogs (and her friend), and finds a little black book, filled with all the secrets of the neighborhood (only it's in a code.) From then on she is determined to solve the case.

A Book in Review: Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go

2011-12-31T22:53:00.001-05:00

Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go By: Les Ederton
Non-Fiction: Writing 256 pages
Book Count: 104

This book is all about writing a great beginning to a story. It also deals with the rest of the story too, but it's main point is that a story must "hook" you from the start if you are going to read the rest of the book. It uses a lot of examples from books, short stories, and movies. It also asks agents and editors questions about what they look for as well as hate in stories.

A Book in Review: The Misanthrope's Guide to Life (Go Away!)

2011-12-30T19:42:00.001-05:00

The Misanthrope's Guide to Life (Go Away!) By: Meghan Rowland and Christ Turner-Neal
Non-fiction, humor 224 pages
Book Count: 103

This book is the ultimate guide for people who hate people. It covers diverse topics like travel, work, love, holidays, death and more. It is written by the creators of 2birds1blog.com . It also includes quizzes so you can find out if you are a misanthrope and what kind.

A Book in Review: Twelve Sharp

2011-12-19T21:15:00.001-05:00

Twelve Sharp By: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: Mystery 310 pages
Book Count: 102

The review of the last book is here.

In this book they are hiring more bounty hunters, and a new office worker, named Pickle. Also Ranger is wanted for the kidnapping of his daughter. Not that he did it, it only looks like it was him.

A Book in Review: Me, Myself and Why?

2011-12-14T19:42:00.000-05:00

Me, Myself and Why? AModern Threesome By: Mary Janice Davidson

Fiction: Mystery 302 pages

Book Count: 101

This is the story of three sisters that work for a specialdivision of the F.B.I. Well, actually onlythe oldest sister does, but as they are all in one body the others show up fromtime to time. And what makes the F.B.I.division so special is that they hire people with multiple personality disorderas well as other mental illnesses, so everyone there knows about the three ofthem. Cadence, the main personality, isworking on stopping the ThreeFer serial killer, who always kills in groups ofthree. Her “sister” Shiro pops outwhenever her life requires fighting, and to help put the clues together. The last “sister” Adrienne is just crazy andher parts of the book are written in free form poems. Along with working on this crime that seamsin some way connected to her, Cadence is also trying to date. (Which is hard to do when her one sistercancels dates on her. And they both popup during dates.)

A Book In Review: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

2011-12-10T17:49:00.001-05:00

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming By: Mike Brown

Non-fiction, science 255 pages

Book Count: 100

This book is written by the person whose discovery of anobject larger then Pluto and farther away in this solar system resulted inPluto no longer being called a planet. It tells the story of his quest to find the 10^th planet, andeverything that happened during it. Youlearn a lot about modern astronomy in this book as well as the history of the 9planets that we grew up with.

A Book in Review: America’s Hidden History

2011-12-03T18:50:00.000-05:00

America’s Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims,Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation By: Kenneth C. Davis

Non-fiction: history 234 pages

Book Count: 99

This book deals with stories of things that happened in Americafrom the first Europeans the visit it to the early days of the USA that we don’tlearn about in history class. Eachsection has a timeline, quotes from people involved, the story of the event andthen an afterwards. Some of the events are things that mostpeople have never heard about and some are detailed accounts of things that arementioned in history classes, but not in great detail.

An Audiobook in Review: The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs

2011-12-02T18:20:00.001-05:00

The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs By: Alexander McCall Smith

Fiction: Humour

This book starts out when a German professor of language (or more exactlyirregular Portuguese verbs) takes a trip to America to do a talk, where theywere expecting a similarly named German professor of veterinary science. (Whois an expert in the sausage dog and dead.) From there things take many turnsfor the weird. A number of times it is clear what the twist is before ithappens, but that does little to stop it from being funny, (although, it ismore of a groaning at the event then laugh out loud funny.) In the end thestory ends where it starts, with a sausage dog.

4Cds 4 hours

An Audiobook in Review: From Hell wih Love

2011-12-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

From Hell wih Love By: Simon R. Green
Fiction, fantasy, paranormal

This book is part of the Secret Histories novels; however,it can be read alone. In this bookEddie Drood is chasing after the mysterious Apocalypse Door, when hisgrandmother, the family matriarch is killed and he and his girlfriend are theprime suspects. Also they learn about afamily as old as the Droods that want to destroy them. The Bride of Frankenstein also shows up inthis book as do many other one of a kind characters.

10 CDs, 12 hours

A Holiday Book In Review: Joe Sixpack's Philly Beer Guide

2011-11-30T21:05:00.001-05:00

Joe Sixpack's Philly Beer Guide By: Don Russell
Non-fiction: Food and Drink 211 pages
Book Count: 98

This book is on all things beer in Philly and the surounding area. It includes information on local bars, brewpubs, breweries, stores, homewbrew suplies and most anything else beer related in the area. It is part travel guide and part book on beer types, brands etc.

Holidays

2011-11-27T21:54:00.001-05:00

You may have noiced the lack of super holidayness. Afte like 5 years of this we have run out of ideas for the time. So we are giving it a rest. Maybe next year. And now back to the books.

Happy Advent

2011-11-27T21:53:00.001-05:00

A Book in Review: The Stardust Kid

2011-11-19T20:52:00.001-05:00

The Stardust Kid By: J.M. De Matteis & Mike Ploog with Nick Bell & Dave Lanphear
Non-Fiction: Graphic Novel, Children, Fantasy 128 Pages
Book Count: 97

This is a fantasy adventure book for kids around age 8-12. It's the story of a boy named Cody who is friends with an ancient being from before time and outside of time (which makes the storyline quite unusual.) His mirror (like a soul mate only more so) has turned against the world of humans and tries destroying it. So Cody, his human best friend and their little siblings must try and save the world.

A Note to Self: How They Croaked

2011-11-15T19:10:00.005-05:00

How They Croaked - The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous
Non-Fiction: children's, history 161 pages
Book Count: 96

Long time readers of this blog will know that when we read a non-fiction book that has "facts" in it that we know are incorrect (without some supporting information showing new research etc.) we wonder about the truth of all the new to us information in it. This book had multiple cases of this. It also was written in a way that clearly showed the author's opinion on many things(religion, politics, etc). As these two things colored my thoughts on the book sooo much, I'm not going the review it.

Holidays of Yesterday:

2011-11-12T18:51:00.000-05:00

With sooooo many holidays that happened yesterday (some that we may never see again) we forgot about another one. Yesterday was Pocky Day/ Pretz Day in Japan. Yes, that’s right Japan has a whole holiday to celebrate stick shaped snack food. Now we don’t know how big of a thing it is there, but it is big enough that it has stayed up on Wikipedia for at least a month now. (So it’s most likely not just a prank.) Has anyone else heard more about this day, and what they do for it besides the eating of stick shaped snacks?

This is Spinal Tap quotes:

2011-11-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

“In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, an ancient race of people... the Druids. No one knows who they were or what they were doing...”
“I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem *may* have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being *crushed* by a *dwarf*. Alright? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object.”
“Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported.”
“It's like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black.”
“You can't really dust for vomit.”
“We're very lucky in the band in that we have two visionaries, David and Nigel, they're like poets, like Shelley and Byron. They're two distinct types of visionaries, it's like fire and ice, basically. I feel my role in the band is to be somewhere in the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water.”

And of course the reason for the whole holiday:

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
Marty DiBergi: I don't know.
Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

Happy: Binary Day, Nigel Tufnel Day, Veteran’s Day

2011-11-11T09:03:00.001-05:00

(In Alphabetical order)

A Book in Review: Eleven on Top

2011-11-10T19:20:00.002-05:00

Eleven on Top By: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: mystery 405 pages
Book Count: 95

The post on book ten can be seen here.

In this book Stephanie gives up on being a bounty hunter all together. But that doesn't stop her cars from blowing up, or anything else as it looks like one of her past cases has come back for revenge. She tries setting the record for the most jobs in the shortest amount of time between explosions. And speaking of explosions her sister's wedding it just days away.

Do Not Let Mr.Bean Near Your Turkey

2011-11-09T00:05:00.000-05:00

A Turkey By Any Other Name. . .

2011-11-08T22:23:00.000-05:00

Turkeys have many odd names from around the world, showing that no one had any idea what this American bird was. Here are what some of them translate into in English.

- Roman Rooster
- Ethiopian Bird
- Egypt
- Greek Bird
- French Chicken
- Peru
- Dutch Chicken
- Indian Bird
- Calicut (India)
- Chicken from India
- Rooster of India
- Native Fowl
- Western Chicken
- Elephant Chicken
- Big Chicken
- Cough up a Brocade Chicken
- Cough up a Ribbon Chicken
- Fire Chicken
- Peafowl
- The Great Duck
- Big Bird
- Seven-faced Bird
In short the turkey is a large chicken from some country (possibly India) that you should stay away from if it is coughing.

Marie Curie's Birthday

2011-11-07T19:21:00.002-05:00

Today is Marie Currie's 144th birthday. She is best known as the Nobel prizes winning scientist that single handedly disproved 1/2 of all comic book heroes origin stories. . . so remember kids radiation kills.

A Holiday E-Book in Review: Beer Is Proof God Loves Us

2011-11-06T13:00:00.001-05:00

Beer Is Proof God Loves Us Reaching for the Soul of Beer and Brewing By:Charles W. Bamforth
Non-fiction: Memoir, Food

This book is a combination of a memoir and a history of modern brewing. It was written by an English man and so has British words in it, but it includes a lot of information on the US, German, Belgium and other big brewing countries. As it was as much about the author as about beer it does include a lot of personal opinions about beer, politics and religion. Also, he did work for Anheuser-Busch, and sees no problem with "bland lagers" as he himself calls them. Although, much of the praise that he gives them are based on their consistency. But I have issues with someone that thinks its just a matter of personal taste if you like the yellow water that passes for American Lager, but then decries against Alcopops (Flavored Malt Liquor)because many brewers (and from the context that includes him)think that "their very existence jeopardizes the long-term existence of beers as they know and love them for the simple reason that younger drinkers who are challenged by bitter products will not gravitate from these sweeter and easier-to-drink alcoholic products." Also, 1/2 of this book is the notes on the end, but many of the notes are just more personal stories.

Thanksgiving Songs:

2011-11-05T10:44:00.003-05:00

Look. look at all the songs we have for this major holiday. . . some one really needs to work on this. Why is it that Christmas has a ton of songs about everything from what the holiday is actualy about to the weirdest Christmas gifts ever, but many of the other ones get stuck with a handfull of songs that were only written in the last 60 years that somewhat have to do with some part of the day? Anyway enjoy.

OK, there are a few more Thanksgiving Day songs out there, but name 3. Unless you are a kid singing silly songs about turkey and mashed potatoes in school, or you have a favorite artist that happenes to like Thanksgiving a lot, or you looked it up on youtube I doubt that you can. Maybe later this month if I have a day that I don't have anything for, I'll share some of the youtube ones as well, but it's slow right now, and their are only so many songs about eating turkey you can lissen to before lunch.

A Holiday Book in Review: Yetis, Sasquatch & Hairy Giants

2011-11-04T17:37:00.003-05:00

Yetis, Sasquatch & Hairy Giants By: David Hatcher Childress
Non-fiction: Paranormal 378 pages
Book Count: 94

This book is odd, like most on the subject it seams to be written to show people the legitimacy of Bigfoot research and that they exist. However, it uses Wikipedia as a source more then a professor would allow on a school paper. Also it includes random pictures of the cover of the "Weekly World News". It starts by talking about giants in history and legends as if the next step from really tall people is a Sasquatch. Much of the book is just quotes of people's stories of seeing a yeti, Bigfoot, grassman or any of the other names for the same or similar animals. It talks more about cases that seam to be faked then the most reliable Bigfoot information. It does have a bibliography in the back and notes where each story is from, but that is the extent of scholarlyness in the book.

(Also, this ends the Halloween books that I didn't finish before the holiday.)

A Holiday Book in Review: The Book of Pirates

2011-11-03T13:40:00.003-05:00

The Book of Pirates By: Jamaica Rose and Captain Michael Macleod
Non-fiction: Children's, activities, history, 219 pages
Book Count: 93

(Yes, I was a little off in the book reading timing for the holidays.)

As we read a book on ninjas it is only fair to read a pirates one too. (given that they are natural enemies of each other.)

This is a book for kids all about pirates. It includes information on real pirates, pirates in books and movies, and pirate activities that kids could do. (some with a little adult help.) It has a good mix of information on pirates: including female ones, Chinese pirates, modern ones and other things that often get overlooked in books. It also names websites that have more information or where you can get supplies for the activities in the book.

Quotes on Death by Dead People

2011-11-02T11:15:00.001-05:00

~ Nothing can happen more beautiful than death. - Walt Whitman
~ First our pleasures die - and then Our hopes, and then our fears - and when These are dead, the debt is due, Dust claims dust - and we die too. - Percy Shelley
~ Death lies on her, like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. - William Shakespeare
~ Is death the last sleep? No, it is the last final awakening. – Sir Walter Scott
~ Call no man happy till he is dead. – Aeschylus
~ Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. - George Bernard Shaw
~ One can survive everything, nowadays, except death, and live down everything except a good reputation. - Oscar Wilde
~ Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - Mahatma Gandhi
~ Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered -- either by themselves or by others. - Mark Twain
~ Thank Heaven! the crisis --The danger, is past, and the lingering illness, is over at last --, and the fever called ''Living'' is conquered at last. - Edgar Allan Poe
~ The hour of departure has arrived and we go our ways; I to die, and you to live. Which is better? Only God knows. – Socrates
~ Death and love are the two wings that bear the good man to heaven. – Michelangelo
~ As a day well spent brings blessed sleep, so a life well spent brings a blessed death. - Leonardo da Vinci
~ Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. - J.R.R. Tolkien
~ I'm not afraid of dying. To me dying is like getting out of one car and into another. - John Lennon
~ Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not? - Epicurus

Holidays in November

2011-11-01T01:57:00.001-05:00

1 All Saints Day
Day of the Innocents – 1st Day of the Dead
2 All Souls Day
Day of the Dead
9 World Freedom Day
11 Armistice Day/Remembrance Day/Veterans Day
Pocky Day
Metal Day
13 World Kindness Day
14 World Diabetes Day
15 Winter Lent
16 International Day for Tolerance
17 International Students’ Day
19 International Men’s Day
World Toilet Day
20 Universal Children’s Day
21 National Adoption Day
World Hello Day
World TV Day
24 Thanksgiving
25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Black Friday
27 Start of Advent
28 Cyber Monday
30 Cities for Life Day

Happy Halloween!!!

2011-10-31T13:33:00.001-05:00

A Holiday Book in Review: Be Afraid Be Very Afraid

2011-10-29T21:18:00.002-05:00

Be Afraid Be Very Afraid By: Jan Harold Brunvand
Non-fiction: folklore, horror 256 pages
Book Count: 92

This is a book of urban legends. It includes multiple entries for some stories to show how they change by time and location. It also includes stores from over 100 years ago to Internet legends. It also points out the key points that make up an urban legend, which is important as it talks about some stories that either because of copying or chance also had actual events that were very similar.

A Holiday Book in Review: Corpses, Coffins and Crypts

2011-10-27T12:30:00.005-05:00

Corpses, Coffins and Crypts - A History of Burial By: Penny Colman
Non-fiction: children's, science, history 192 pages
Book Count: 91

This book is for older kids/pre-teens. It deals with death and ways people deal with dead bodies. It combines personal experiences with scientific facts and historical information in a way that works well for younger readers (i.e. it isn't just a cold and clinical look at the subject, nor is it overly emotional.) It deals with how we know someone is dead, including ways people in a past made sure the weren't buried alive. How people understand death. Both in how your understanding changes as you age and how people in different cultures/religions understand it. What physically happens to a body after death, including the basics of what happens at an autopsy or embalming. What people do with the body after death. This includes cremation, burial and other methods used in different areas and religions. Cemeteries, urns, mausoleums, columbariums and other places to put the body/ashes are also talked about. And also rituals connected with death, again going over how things were done at different times and by different religions/cultures. It also deals with death in art. After all this is information on requests that different people had for after they died, epitaphs, meaning of symbols on graves and a list of where some famous (dead) people are at.

A Holiday Book in Review: Halloween

2011-10-26T07:35:00.001-05:00

Halloween An American Holiday, An American History By: Lesley Pratt Bannatyne
Non-Fiction: holidays, history, religion 158 pages
Book Count: 90

This book deals with the history of Halloween in America. It does start off with a short history of how the holiday started out including Samhain, Pomona and early Christianization of the day. Then it deals with the holiday in America from colonial times up until the 1980's. (The book was published in 1990.) Unlike other things on this subject it deals both with how the holiday changed in time and how it was celebrated by people from different countries (including not only the Irish, Scottish, British and Mexicans but also African Americans, Germans, Swedes, Dutch and others) and in different areas of the country (even braking it down by each of the original colonies.) The one thing that would make this book better is if it was newer so it could deal with more current ways of celebrating the holiday. It does have a couple of paragraphs about the rise of Neo-Paganism, but no where as much information on different ways that they may celebrate the holiday as newer sources have. Also it just touches on the rise of adult Halloween parties, dressing up, etc. Besides the age of the book (with the lack of newer information that can be easily found in other places) this book is the most in dept book on the subject that I have ever read. And it is also a quick and easy read, but it does include notes, a bibliography and other information that you would expect in a more scholarly work.

A Holiday E-Book in Review: Violent Ends: Horror Stories

2011-10-25T23:26:00.000-05:00

Violent Ends: Horror Stories By: Aaron Polson
fiction: horror, paranormal

This is a collection of 11 short stories with violent endings. It also has a sample of another of the author's works at the end. Each story is very differnt then the others with the charaters ranging from serial killers to aliens.

A Holiday Book in Review: The Psychology of Harry Potter

2011-10-25T13:42:00.006-05:00

The Psychology of Harry Potter An Unauthorized Examination of the Boy Who Lived Edited by: Neil Mulholland, Ph.D.
Non-fiction psychology, pop culture 324 pages
Book Count: 89

This book is made up of a collection of essays on Harry Potter and the world of wizards and how it relates to psychology. The essays are all from 2006 and so were written before the series was finished. The book is divided into 6 main ideas with 3-6 essays in each section. The sections are on Hogwarts, Harry's future psychological well being, magic, the world of wizards, the world of muggles and using Harry Potter in actual therapy.

A Holiday Book in Review:Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains

2011-10-22T21:40:00.002-05:00

Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains By: Catriona McPherson
Fiction: mystery, historical 291 pages
Book Count: 88

This story takes place between the world wars in England. It starts with Dandy receiving a letter from a woman saying that her husband is trying to kill her. She then works on investigating it by pretending to be a servant at the house. The only problem is that the husband is killed on her second day there. So then she has to solve the mystery of who killed him.

A Holiday E-Book in Review: Zombies Eat Lawyers

2011-10-19T08:22:00.000-05:00

Zombies Eat Lawyers By: Kevin Michael & Lacy Maran
Fiction: horror, Sci-fi

This is a short story about zombies eating lawyers and politicians. It doesn't have that much a complex storyline, but it has many funny lines and zombies eating some people that almost make you cheer for the zombies. Also it has excerpts from three novels at the end.

A Holiday Book in Review: True Ghost Stories

2011-10-18T19:47:00.002-05:00

True Ghost Stories By: Dowswell & Allan
Non-fiction: paranormal, children's 122 pages
Book Count: 87

This book has a nice collection of the basic information on a number of true life ghost stories. It includes mostly well known stories like: the Bell Witch, the restless tomb, faces in the floor, UB-65 and the Winchester house. It has the main story of what happened told in 5-10 pages and then a couple paragraphs of an afterwards with more information on the events. It is written in an informative way and not as scary stories.

A Holiday Book in Review: Earth (The Book)

2011-10-15T08:48:00.003-05:00

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Present: Earth (The Book) A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by: Stewart, Javerbaum, Albanese, Bodlow, Lieb, et al
Non-Fiction: humor, history, pop culture 238 pages
Book Count: 86

This is a book all about humans for when the aliens land on our planet after we all die. (Having watched "Life After People" I know it will not in all likelyhood last long enough for the aliens to read it, even in it's hardcover form.) But anyway this book deals with the whole human life: the earth, lifeforms, mankind, society, commerce, religion, science, and culture. All writen for aliens that know nothing about human life, but still get popular cultureal reffrences of the 21st century. In short it reads much like watching The Daily Show.

A Holiday Book in Review: My Life as a White Trash Zombie

2011-10-13T14:32:00.001-05:00

My Life as a White Trash Zombie By: Diana Rowland
Fiction: Fantasy, mystery 310 pages
Book Count: 85

I read this book after a friend recommended it, so here is a link to her review of it.

This is a fun book. It is a zombie story as told by the zombie, but not a zombie like you think about zombies as, it's more like with modern vampire tales. She needs brains to live, but otherwise she is mostly a normal person.

Angel was a 21 year old high school drop out who lived with her alcoholic father in a trashy trailer. Then one day she wakes up in the hospital after she ODed on pills, but she remembers being in a car crash. When she leaves she is given a bag with a change of clothes, some odd looking bottles of goo, and a note explaining to drink a bottle ever other day and that she has a job driving the van for the Coroner's Office. And as you can guess she was now a zombie, but didn't know it. Making a job at a morgue both a great way to get brains and a horrible temptation to eat all the brains. Also as no one told her she was a zombie she has to learn for herself what to do and try to solve the mystery of who turned her.

An Audio Book in Review: Squirrel seeks Chipmunk

2011-10-12T20:23:00.002-05:00

Squirrel seeks Chipmunk By: David Sedaris
Non-fiction: humor

This is a selection of short stories about if animals were like people, but for adults. The stories range from a frank talk about Jazz to flies discussing foods. They are a mix between stories that are based in the real world, just from animals point of view and if animals lived like people ones.

3 CDs 3 hours

A Holiday Book in Review: The Action Heroine's Handbook

2011-10-10T17:20:00.003-05:00

The Action Heroine's Handbook By: Jennifer Worick and Joe Borgenicht
Non-fiction 185 pages
Book Count: 84

This book explains how to do many of the things you see heroines do in TV and movies. It is divided into 5 chapters: tough chick skills, beauty skills, brain skills, brawn skills and escape skills. Each chapter has a mixture of skills that might be useful in your life and ones you would never need to know. Some of the skills taught are drinking someone under the table, giving birth outside a hospital/birthing center or other place one normally does it, eavesdrop, go undercover, be a mob wife, win a catfight, choke someone with your thighs, fight the undead, outrun a tornado and have a rooftop chase. It also has appendixes on what to have in your handbag and how to style your hair like famous action heroines.

Happy Ada Lovelace Day!!!

2011-10-07T20:46:00.000-05:00

A Holiday Book in Review: The Ninja Handbook

2011-10-07T19:41:00.003-05:00

Ask A Ninja Presents: The Ninja Handbook - This Book Looks Forward to Killing You Soon By: The International Order of Ninjas (Douglas Sarine and Kent Nichols)
Non-fiction: humor 325 pages
Book Count: 83

This book is for non-ninjas who want to become ninjas. It includes many pictures, charts and quotes on all things ninja. A number of the quotes are actualy real quotes from songs, movies etc that are used in a differnt way then origionaly. If you like the ask a ninja, ninja on-line then you will most likly like this book.

A Note on E-book Reviews:

2011-10-06T20:00:00.003-05:00

Yes, just one year ago I said that I hated e-books, and I still hate the whole paying as much as a paper book for the ability to read a book on a set device thing. But for the holidays I will be reviewing a few e-books of short stories or that are otherwise not in a tangible book format that I have picked up for free (legally). And as they are mainly done as a way for the authors to get new readers and to advertise the book it is logical that they are e-books and free. (As I have to agree that this is a perfect medium for expanding your readership. And I don't feel bad downloading a book for free that is realy a cleaver ad for their main books.) So if a review notes it is for an e-book I will not put it in my book count and it will be for some short stories or a novella that you can pick up on-line most likely for free. (Some times the price gets bumped up to .99 after a while.)

A Holiday E-Book in Review: Wicked Science

2011-10-06T19:29:00.006-05:00

Wicked Science by: Joshua Scribner
fiction: horror, Sci-fi, short stories

This set of 5 short stories are all about the brain doing things that we think it isn't able to do. Most of the stories have to do with physic abilities. Two of them were very similar in that they were about government tests on soldiers to find people with abilities. They were between 3 and 6 pages long each. The whole book can be read in 15-30 minutes.

A Book in Review: Ten Big Ones

2011-10-05T11:03:00.002-05:00

Ten Big Ones By: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: mystery 421 pages
Book Count: 82

Review of book nine can be found here.

In this book Stephanie accidental witnesses a store robbery, sees the face of the thief and because of that has a gang hit man after her. Also her sister is getting married and Sally the cross dressing rocker (and now bus driver) is the wedding planner. She's on the outs with Morelli again and so she goes looking for the Batcave and ends up in Ranger's bed. Car count: 6? Merry Men down: 1 (it was he's fault)

Happy National Taco Day!!

2011-10-04T19:37:00.001-05:00

A Holiday Book in Review: Ghost Radio

2011-10-03T17:33:00.002-05:00

Ghost Radio by: Leopoldo Gout
Fiction: Horror, mystery, paranormal 353 pages
Book Count: 81

This is an unusual book, it starts out as the story of a man named Joaquin who hosts a late night call in radio program where people tell about their encounters with the paranormal. Then as we learn about his tragic past and about his best friend Gabriel the lines between the living and the dead, dreams and reality, past and present begin to fade and change. (I don't want to say any more about the story as it will give things away.) It is a perfect book to read late at night in a spooky place.

Holidays in October:

2011-09-30T09:30:00.002-05:00

1. International Day of Older Persons, Feast of St. Thérèse de Lisieux, Feast of Protection/Patronage of the Theotokos
2. International Day of Non-Violence, Gandhi’s Birthday
4. World Animal Day, Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
5. World Teachers' Day
6. German-American Day
7. Start of Yom Kippur (Sunset)
9. Leif Erikson Day
10. World Mental Health Day, World Day Against Death Penalty, Columbus Day
12. Freethought Day
13. Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
14. World Standards Day
15. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, White Cane Safety Day, Global Handwashing Day, Sweetest Day, Feast of St. Teresa of Avila
16. World Food Day
17. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
19. Mother Teresa Day
20. Birth of the Báb
21. International Day of the Nacho
22. International Stuttering Awareness Day
23. Mole Day
24. United Nations Day
27. Navy Day
30. Devil's Night/Mischief Night
31. Halloween, Samhain (northern hemisphere), Beltane (southern hemisphere)

A Book in Review: Stupid History

2011-09-29T13:33:00.002-05:00

Stupid History By: Leland Gregory
Non-fiction: History 267 page
Book Count:80

This is a book of one page or shorter entries about things that you think you know about history but don't, as well as odd facts, and weird events. It is over all interesting. Many of the entries were things I already knew. A couple were not quite right for example; although it is true that Lizzie Borden was acquitted by a jury of the murder of her parents it doesn't mean that she was innocent(as the author states), experts are still arguing over if she did it or was involved in some way. Also, St. Patrick's day is the 17th of March not because people weren't sure if he was born on the 8th or 9th so they added them together, but because they thought that he died on the 17th. As like with most saints days its the day he died that they base the feast day on (With is logical when you think about it as it would be the day they became a saint in the sense of the word they are using.) And the last issue I had with an entry was that it stated that the Bible never says that angels have wings like we see them in art, as although the way people draw angels isn't from a Bible passage describing angels there were a couple times when angels in the Bible were said to have wings (some times multiple sets.) But, besides these three times when the "fact" wasn't quite right or at least might not be, the facts were fun and told in a interesting way.

A Book in Review: To The Nines

2011-09-28T13:19:00.005-05:00

To The Nines By: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: mystery 406 pages
Book Count: 79

The review of book eight is here.

In this book Vinnie posted a highly publicized visa bond on an immigrant, who of course goes missing shortly befor he is the leave the country. This leads Stephanie right into the middle of a deadly game, and causes her to break Ranger's Merry Men faster then she blows up cars. Also, her sister is 9 months pregnant from Kloughn and still living with her parents. And to top it all off, Vegas!

A Book in Review: Hard Eight

2011-09-24T20:08:00.001-05:00

Hard Eight by: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: mystery 326 pages
Book Count:78

The review of book seven can be seen here.

In this book Stephanie is helping an old neighbor find her granddaughter and her seven year old girl. As usual this isn't just the custody case she thought she was getting into. It turns into much more including ending up in a war game with a psychopath . Also, while apart from Morelli thing heat up with Ranger. And after failing at turning gay, Valerie is after any man who is single and has at least 2 bathrooms, even a lawyer who's a real Kloughn.

A Book in Review: Never Hit a Jellyfish with a Spade

2011-09-23T13:20:00.001-05:00

Never Hit a Jellyfish with a Spade: How to Survive Life's Smaller Challenges BY: Guy Browning
Non-Fiction: Essays, humour, 278 pages
Book Count: 77

This author also writes a how to column in a magazine and this book is written in the same format, so each entry is about 2 pages long making it a quick read. It deals with normal everyday topics with a touch of humor in it.

A Book in Review: Cats are Weird and More Observations

2011-09-22T23:16:00.000-05:00

Cats are Weird and More Observations by: Jeffrey Brown
Non-fiction: comics
Book Count: 76

This is a short book of comics about cats acting like cats.

A Book in Review: My Korean Deli

2011-09-22T12:58:00.002-05:00

My Korean Deli By: Ben Ryder Howe
Non-Fiction: memoir 301 pages
Book Count: 75

This is a fish out of water story with an unusual cast of characters. It is the story of a guy whose family is the definition of WASP who ends up opening a deli/convenience store with his wife and immigrant Korean mother-in-law. Also, he lives with his in-laws and their revolving door of family members new to the country who don't knock while his wife wants to start their family. He works days as an editor of a literary magazine with a one of a kind boss. And there are all the problems with starting a new business, especially when the owners all aren't on the same page an what they want to do.

A Book in Review: The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook

2011-09-21T12:18:00.003-05:00

The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook By:Matt Dunn
Fiction: Chick Lit, 354 pages
Book Count: 74

This book is a Chick Lit book as told by the guy. Edward comes home one day to find his girlfriend Jane gone, along with everything she owned (Which was most everything.) She left a note saying she was going to Tibet for 3 months to sort things out, and that in fact it was him and not her, because he let himself go. Ed spends the next 3 months with the help of his best friend (and womanizing local celebrity) Dan, Wendy (the barmaid of their local), and Sam his new and female personal trainer working on all the areas of his life that he could improve to impress Jane (well most, he draws the line at hiring a prostitute to test his lovemaking skills. [Which was Dan's idea.])

Note: this book was clearly writing in the UK with related spellings, words etc.

A Book in Review: Seven Up

2011-09-13T20:06:00.002-05:00

Seven Up By: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: Mystery 337 pages
Book Count: 73

The review of book six in the series can be found here.

In this book Stephanie is trying to bring in an elderly man, who her grandmother dated, for smuggling in cigarettes. As always this is 1000 times harder then it sounds. He may be old, half blind, hard of hearing, need to pee a lot and have other problems that she learns from her grandmother's over sharing, but he has a gun and a Caddie and isn't afraid to use either of them. Also her sister moves back home after her marriage falls apart and decides to become a lesbian. The mob keeps breaking into her home (and do her dishes). And her stoner friends go missing. Not to mention her wedding to Morelli, that she didn't exactly agree to, but that isn't stopping her family from dress shopping and renting halls.

A Book in Review: Pirattitude! So You Wanna Be a Pirate? Here's How!

2011-09-12T11:51:00.002-05:00

Pirattitude! So You Wanna Be a Pirate? Here's How! By: John "Ol' Chumbucket" Baur and Mark " Cap'n Slappy" Summers
Non-fiction: humor, history, talking pirate, 221 pages
Book Count: 72

This is about about being pirate like by the people who started International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is September 19th. It included the story of how they made the holiday, why it is the day it is, definitions to piratey words, info on famous pirates, info on how the be a little bit of a pirate (without all the sea travel and illegal activities), and more. It is done in a very conversational voice and included a foreword by Blackbeard and an intro by Dave Barry. It has all you need to know to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day as well as a bit of things you might like to actually know about real pirates.

A Book in Review: Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 5)

2011-09-11T19:44:00.003-05:00

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 5) By; Matsuri Akino
Non-fiction: Manga, horror 224 pages
Book Count: 71

In this volume Count D has to deal with a pastry shortage, magic eggs, a health check up, ghost stories, a bird/angel cult (or maybe not), the Bon Holiday (where the dead visit family), and many mysteries.

A Book in Review: Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 4)

2011-09-10T19:08:00.005-05:00

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 4) By: Matsuri Akino
Non-fiction: manga, horror 224 pages
Book Count: 70

This volume has a Romeo and Juliet story with the Yakuza, ghosts, side shows, and an actor that is too good with their job. We learn more about what Count D does at day instead of working in his shop.

A Book in Review: Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 3)

2011-09-09T18:48:00.004-05:00

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 3) By: Matsuri Akino
Non-fiction: manga, horror 208 Pages
Book Count: 69

This volume deals with the bird flu, a black widow and one that isn't, water and the sphynx cat in Egypt. It also has a number of weird dreams with questions on what was really a dream and what was real.

A Book in Review: Barrel Fever

2011-09-08T18:27:00.003-05:00

Barrel Fever By: David Sedaris
Non-fiction: essays, short stories humor 196 pages
Book Count: 68

This book is mostly short, fiction stories with only a few of the humorous essays that David Sedaris is most known for. Each story stands alone and is written from many different points of view; men and women, young and old, gay and straight. The one thing that they by in large have in common is that they would be depressing if told by another writer. The essays are on line with what you would expect from the author. The main one is the story of the year that he worked as a Christmas elf at Macy's.

A Book in Review: Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 2)

2011-09-07T23:10:00.005-05:00

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 2) By: Matsuri Akino
non-fiction: manga, horror, 216 pages
Book Count: 67

In this book Count D and his landlord Woo-Fei still are playing their game of cat and mouse. Also, having read this far in the series unless things change soon, I have to say that horror isn't really the correct genre for this book, no matter what the book says, it is more like "The Twilight Show" with a twist ending at times.

A Book in Review: Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 1)

2011-09-07T04:15:00.003-05:00

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (vol 1) By: Matsuri Akino
non-fiction: manga, horror, 192 pages
Book Count: 66

This series is about a pet shop owner in a Chinatown in Tokyo. The pets are mostly magical and mythical beings that are often disguised as normal pets and grant their owners their greatest wish. The owner (Count D) is also not a normal person. Also because the "pets" can change into humans the owner of the property is after the Count thinking that he is selling slaves or prostitutes. This volume includes a twist ending story, a love story, one about gangs and one from the past involving Eva Braun.

A Book in Review:there's a (slight) chance i might be going to hell

2011-09-06T16:03:00.002-05:00

there's a (slight) chance i might be going to hell a novel of sewer pipes, pageant queens, and big trouble By: Laurie Notaro
fiction: humor, mystery, chick lit 302 pages
Book Count: 65

This is a fish out of water story of a big city gal who moves to a small town where everyone is crazy, most not legally crazy just I'm glad I don't have these people for neighbors level crazy. I don't want to say too much about what happens and ruin the story for anyone. It has some great twists and turn and very memorable characters. It also deals with a mystery in the town that was unsolved for 1/2 a century.

A Book in Review: 101 Things You Didn't Know About Irish History

2011-09-05T15:46:00.002-05:00

101 Things You Didn't Know About Irish History By Ryan Hackney and Amy Hackney Blackwell with Technical Review by Garland Kimmer, Ph.D.
Non-Fiction: History 236 Pages
Book Count: 64

This is a book all about Ireland. It is divided into areas and then goes in a mostly chronological order for each area. It covers a wide range of information most of it quite well. I would say that I was expecting more detailed knowledge in the area of religion and brewing in this book (given the subject), for example it says that stout is not a lager or an ale; however, it is a type of ale.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (vol 8)

2011-08-31T20:07:00.002-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (vol 8) Allies of the Night By: Darren Shan Art by: Takahiro Arai
Non-Fiction: Manga 188 pages
Book Count: 63

In this volume they travel back to the old hometown of Mr. Crepsley. Some one enrolled Darren into high school and so he goes, where his English teacher turned out to be Debbie his old love. He also runs into his old friend, Steve Leonard, the whole reason he became a vampire. This leads to their 2nd run in with the Vampaneze Lord.

A Book in Review: The New Vampire's Handbook

2011-08-30T19:37:00.003-05:00

The New Vampire's Handbook A Guide for the Recently Turned Creature of the Night Edited by: The Vampire Mile Proctor (by: Joe Garden, Janet Ginsburg, Chris Pauls, Anita Serwacki, & Scott Sherman)
Non-Fiction: Humor, paranormal 211 pages
Book Count: 62

As you could tell by the title, this is a how to book for new vampires as written by a vampire. It uses mostly traditional ideas about vampires i.e. sun light kills, no reflection, OCD counting, changing into bats, controlling animals etc. But it does put some twists on it as well as writing in a modern humorous style. It includes some interesting pseudoscience reasons for some of the things, like lack of reflections and vampire sexuality. It also deals with issues of being a vampire that at not normally addressed like: how to plan finances, why you should avoid people that are into vampires, how to act the age you look, and the pros and cons of different forms of travel. Over all this book would work well as a handbook for vampires, making it a good read for people who like humor and vampire stories.

A Book in Review: World of Geekcraft

2011-08-24T10:43:00.001-05:00

World of Geekcraft by: Susan Beal
Non-fiction: crafts 145 pages
Book Count: 61

This book has instructions for 25 geek craft projects that are at various skill levels and for many different areas of Geekdom. There are templates at the end of the books and withing the sections there are also some ideas for how to change some of the crafts to fit with different areas of geekiness. Some projects are simple enough for a child to do and some require a lot more. The list of materials for each project is most to all easy to find things at a craft store, or around the house.

A Book in Review: Retail Hell

2011-08-23T18:25:00.003-05:00

Retail Hell By: Freeman Hall
Non-fiction, memoir 258 pages
Book Count: 60

This is the true story of what its like to work at a big department store, anyone that has ever worked retail understands the title, but remember when it happens to someone else its comedy. It deals with pointless store regulations, useless employee moral boosters, co-workers, crazy customers, and all the other hells of stores. Also because, the author got stuck working the handbag (NOT purse) department because he is a "free-spirit" (gay) there is the fun of knowing nothing about what you are selling and having no training before you start as well as the general distrust of the people your commission is from. (Or as its known business as usual.)

A Book in Review: Daniel X (Vol 1)

2011-08-16T19:42:00.000-05:00

Daniel X (Vol 1) By: James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge Art by: Seunghui Kye
Fiction: Graphic novel, sci-fi, 244 pages
Book Count: 59

Daniel is a teenage alien hunter. He's family, who also hunted alien outlaws on Earth, were killed when he was young. Luckily he has the ability to create things and people out of thin air, including his family and a group of friends. He uses these abilities to help him hunt aliens. In this volume he hunts number 6 on his father's list of outlaws (numbered from the most dangerous down) he also learns more about his family and home.

A Book in Review: regretsy

2011-08-15T19:25:00.002-05:00

regretsy Where DIY Meets WTF by: April Winchell
non-fiction: crafts, 143 pages
Book Count: 58

This book of WTF arts and crafts found on the web-site Etsy has it all: ugly jewelry, chicken ponchos, sock monkeys in labor, tampon cozies, serial killer pillowcases, embroidered TP, and much more. Each page includes the information on the actual Etsy page, as well as the regretsy additional thoughts. It also has more info from and about the "artists" featured.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (vol 7)

2011-08-12T15:57:00.001-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (vol 7) Hunters of The Dusk By: Darren Shan art by: Takahiro Aria
Fiction: Manga, paranormal 191 pages
Book Count: 57

In this book we learn that there are 3 vampire who might be able to stop the Vampaneze Lord and they will have 4 chances to do so. Of course Darren is one of the 3. So he and his friends set out from vampire mountain to hunt the Vampaneze Lord as well as to find Lady Evanna (who you should never call a witch.) She is able to see the furture somewhat as she was made by Mr. Tiny using vampire DNA and as such has some of his abilities as well as maybe being the only one who can have a vampire baby. They also run into the 3rd vampire who can kill the Vampaneze Lord and head back to the Cirque Du Freak. They learn about the changes in their friend's lives and have their first chance to kill the Vampaneze Lord.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (vol 6)

2011-08-12T13:43:00.002-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (vol 6)The Vampire Prince By: Darren Shan art by: Takahiro Arai
fiction: manga, paranormal 188 pages
Book Count: 56

Darren washes down the mountain in the river. Almost dead he is saved by the wolves that he befriended earlier. After being nursed back to health he figures out the plot of Kurda and the vampaneze. With more help from the wolves he gets back into the mountain in time to try and stop them if he isn't killed for failing the trials before he can get the princes to hear his story.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (vol 5)

2011-08-11T08:25:00.002-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (vol 5) Trials of Death by: Darren Shan art by: Takhiro Arai
fiction: Manga, paranormal 195 pages
Book Count: 55

Darren is continuing his trails, but after his friend Harkat helps him out in one he is sentenced to death. His friend the soon to be prince Kurda works on helping him escape the Vampire Mountain, but as they are leaving the find a group of vampaneze and Darren learns the truth about Kurda when he kills Gavner and goes after Darren with the vampaneze. He has to escape using the river that they use to float dead vampires down.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (Vol 4)

2011-08-10T20:15:00.002-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (Vol 4) Vampire Mountain By: Darren Shan art by: Takahiro Arai
fiction: Manga, paranormal 187 pages
Book Count: 54

In this book the vampires journey to Vampire Mountain for the meeting of vampires. While there Darren meets vampire generals and princes as well as learns more about being a vampire. He is also made to go thought a series of tests to prove that he is worthy to be a vampire.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (vol 3)

2011-08-10T09:02:00.002-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (vol 3) Tunnels of Blood By Darren Shan art by: Takahiro Arai
Fiction: manga, paranormal 191 pages
Book Count: 53

In this book we learn about the vampaneze a rival group of vampires that kill their human victims. Also Darren has his first girlfriend, Debbie a normal girl who just moved to the city that Mr. Crepsley, Darren and Evra are staying in.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (vol 2)

2011-08-10T07:43:00.004-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (vol 2)The Vampire's Assistant By: Darren Shan art by: takahiro arai
Fiction: Manga, Paranormal 191 pages
Book Count: 52

Darren the half-vampire and Mr. Crepsley move back into the Cirque. Darren makes friends with Evra, the snake boy and a normal boy named Sam. They work together around the cirque and Darren learns to help out in the act. He is still working on dealing with what it means to be a half-vampire and refuses to drink human blood, even though he knows that it will kill him. Then the wolfman is let loose and attacks Sam. Once again Darren must make a hard choice, drink Sam's blood so that a part of him can live in him, or keep his promise to himself not to drink humans.

A Book in Review: Cirque Du Freak (vol 1)

2011-08-09T20:30:00.002-05:00

Cirque Du Freak (vol 1) By: Darren Shan Art by:Takahiro Arai
Fiction: Manga, paranormal 207 pages
Book Count: 51

First, as you can tell from the info above this is the manga version of the story (verses the novel, movie etc.). This is the story of two boys who are best friends. One loves spiders and one is obsessed with monsters. The both go to a mysterious late night Cirque Du Freak. Steve, the one who likes monsters, guesses that one of the freaks, Mr. Crepsley, is really a vampire. After the show he tries to get him to turn him, but he is told that he has bad blood and would be an evil vampire. Darren, the spider loving friend, later steals the spider that Mr. Crepsley uses in his act. It bits Steve and Darren goes to Mr. Crepsley for the antidote. He is told that he can have it, but only if he will become the vampire's assistance and a half-vampire himself.

A Book in Review: F in Exams

2011-08-09T08:24:00.002-05:00

F in Exams The Very Best Totally Wrong Rest Answers by: Richard Benson
Non-Fiction: humor, pop culture 127 pages
Book Count: 50

This is a collection of funny wrong answeres to tests. It is like the one's that you see at verious internet sites. It is divided up by supject matter.

An Audiobook in Review: If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)

2011-08-08T20:12:00.004-05:00

If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) by: Betty White
Non-fiction, Memoir, Pop Culture
Book Count: 49

This book is about the last few of years in the author's life. It inclues what it's like getting old, how she ended up on Saturday Night Live, and how her lack of will power landed her some of the best jobs. It is short, at times funny and at times touching.

2 C.D.s 2 hours 17 minutes

Edible Secrets

2011-07-30T21:17:00.001-05:00

Edible Secrets A Food Tour of Classified US History by: Michael Hoerger & Ma Partlow
Non-fiction, history food 123 pages
Book Count: 48

This is a book about the role of food in un-classified US documents. It includes the role of Jell-o in the trial of Ethel and Juilus Rosenberg, how a movie theator owner trying to increase popcorn sales ended up with the CIA using LSD on people without their knowedge, and how Coke's All American image got them government help in dealing with the fighting in the Middle East. It includes copies of the actual documents and then the authors discusing it's importants and role in history.

A Book in Review: Dixie

2011-07-29T20:45:00.002-05:00

Dixie A Personal Odyssey Through Events That Shaped the Modern South By:Curtis Wilkie
Non-Fiction: history, Memoir 336 pages
Book Count: 48

This is the life story of a journalist who grew up in the south and was around during many of the key points in the Civil Rights Movement. He grew up in a family that was against the racism of the South, but still didn't actively oppose the unwritten rules of behavior regarding races in the South until after the movement started. As he was a journalist who covered southern news, political campaigns and the Middle East, it includes lots of stories and thoughts that you will not get in a history book.

A Book in Review: Horns

2011-07-11T18:08:00.003-05:00

Horns By: Joe Hill
Fiction: fantasy, horror, mystery 368 pages
Book Count: 47

Ig's life for the last year has been a living hell. His girlfriend was brutally murdered a year ago and everyone thinks he did it. He gets blackout drunk and wakes up with horns and powers to go with them. Now everyone tells him all their dark secrets and he can make them do all the evil things that they want to do, but wouldn't normally. Will he become a devil on earth or use his powers to stop the demon that killed his love?

A Book in Review: Frogs & French Kisses

2011-07-07T16:54:00.001-05:00

Frogs & French Kisses By: Sarah Mlynowski
fiction: YA, fantasy 277 pages
Book Count: 46

Rachel is a high school freshman; her dad just got re-married, she lost her boyfriend, the cool kids hate her, her mom & sister are vegetarians (she isn't) and she is the only non-witch in her household. So, normal end of the world teen problems. She tries getting her little sister to use her magic to help with her problems at school, but junior high kids that are just starting to learn magic aren't the best at complex magic. This book is a funny, lighthearted teenager story that deals with normal issues with the added problems of magic abilities (or lack of them).

A Book in Review: Save Karyn

2011-07-06T21:44:00.003-05:00

Save Karyn One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back By: Karyn Bosnak
Non-Fiction: economics 444 pages
Book Count: 45

This is a non-fiction, autobiography by a woman that racked up tons of debt within a few months and then used the Internet to get out of it. She was one of the first people that made a website asking people to send her money. She tells the story of how she got into the debt and then what she did to fix the problem.

A Book in Review: If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground

2011-06-27T08:24:00.002-05:00

If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground By: Lewis Grizzard
Non-fiction: biography 305 pages
Book Count: 44

I read this book expecting it to be a humorist's essays like all of his other books that I have read. This book has too many deaths, alcholism, ruined relationships and other depressing things to be counted as a humor book. It is however, a indepht look at the way a newspaper was made from the 60's to the 80's as well as a bio of the author. And it has sport.

A Book in Review: Vamps

2011-06-26T20:15:00.003-05:00

Vamps: Blood-chilling Tales of Lady Vampires Compiled By: Martin H. Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh
Fiction: classics, paranormal 252 pages
Book Count: 43

This book is a collection of popular stories with female vampires in them. They all seam to be previously published, many of them in a book I reviewed earlier here. As you know that there is a female vamp in each story if you didn't read a story before it would give away part of the story in many of these ones. It does have a nice mix of types of vampires as well as tone of the story.

A Book in Review: From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain

2011-06-22T09:33:00.002-05:00

From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain By Minister Faust
Fiction: sci-fi 385 pages
Book Count: 42

This was an odd book. It is the story of a group of superheroes who are part of a superhero organization that made them get therapy. It is a complex storyline with many twists and turns. However, it is written from the point of view of their therapist who talks in constant physco-babble and things like this: "For me, Mr. Piltdown remained a fascination figure, an omelet of a man, rife with green onions of bitterness yet held together by the tangy Velveeta of integrity." The characters in the book are a good mix of superheroes including ones that looked somewhat like superman, batman, and spiderman. This storyline deals both with their interpersonal and personal issues as well as an larger "outside" threats to the group.

A Book in Review: How to Read A Word

2011-06-21T21:28:00.002-05:00

How to Read A Word By: Elizabeth Knowles
Non-fiction: writing 155 pages
Book Count: 41

This is a book on how the words of the English language has changed meaning, use, and popularity, and how to find the history of words you find interesting. It deals a lot with dictionaries and the Internet as tools in this search. It also includes a few case studies of words that the author had looked into.

A Book in Review: The Allegra Biscotti Collection

2011-06-13T17:47:00.002-05:00

The Allegra Biscotti Collection by: Olivia Bennett
Fiction: children's 256 Pages
Book Count: 40

Emma is just a normal 14 year old girl with normal high school problems; a new cute boy in class, her best friend making friends with a group she doesn't like, school work, and her designs being mistaken as being from the hot new New York fashion designer. OK, the last one isn't normal, but if she was too normal you wouldn't want to read the book.

A Book in Review: 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover

2011-06-11T17:38:00.003-05:00

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover By: Linda Wisdom
Fiction: Paranormal, romance 360 pages
Book Count: 39

1st the title of the book is the title of a book within the book itself,. . . Bookception! Next most of the book was a fun read. Its the story of a 700 year old witch that has an on-again/off-again relationship with a vampire. They tend to get into trouble together, and then not see each other for a few decades. This time they meet up in modern times and have to find out what/who is making vampires disappear and then stop it. Jazz (as the witch calls herself) also works at removing curses, with a 99% removal rate. That 1% failure would be Irma, the ghost cursed to be in the passenger seat of her classic car. Irma is an unusual sidekick that adds fun to the story line.

A Book in Review: Wicked Girls

2011-06-03T08:58:00.001-05:00

Wicked Girls A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials By: Stephanie Hemphill
Fiction: YA, historic, poetry 406 pages
Book Count: 38

This book is unusual, as it is written as a series of poems from all of the main characters, who were all real people (although a couple of names were changed.) It tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials from the point of view of the girls who accused others of witchcraft. It is based off of the most popular ideas of why it happened and also deals with underlining social issues of that time. At the end it includes historic information on the people involved and a list of books and websites for more information.

A Book in Review: Death's Excellent Vacation

2011-06-02T17:46:00.002-05:00

Death's Excellent Vacation Edited by: Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner
Fiction: paranormal, short stories 339 pages
Book Count: 37

Each story in this anthology is about some type of paranormal being going on a vacation. It has vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons, faeries, and others. Some are characters found in the author's other works (but still are written as stand alone stories.) All of the stories are good, some are even excellent.