Return to the Library of Doom: Dictionary of 1000 Rooms by: Michael Dahl
Fiction: Horror, Children's, Graphic Novel, 63 pages
Book Count: 25
In this book the librarian's assistants are trapped in a giant metal maze that will kill them by noon that day. Also the maze is a book which you can not lie in.
Thursday, July 02, 2015
Wednesday, July 01, 2015
Return to the Library of Doom:Killer App:
Return to the Library of Doom: Killer App by: Michael Dahl
Fiction: Horror, Children's, Graphic Novel, 63 pages
Book Count: 24
In this book a phone app of horror stories bring the story to life.
Fiction: Horror, Children's, Graphic Novel, 63 pages
Book Count: 24
In this book a phone app of horror stories bring the story to life.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Return to the Library of Doom: Ghost Writer:
Return to the Library of Doom: Ghost Writer by: Michael Dahl
Fiction: Horror, Children's, Graphic Novel, 63 pages
Book Count: 23
First, this book is not exactly a graphic novel. The words them self are at times different fonts, sizes, hand underlined, etc. There are also a lot of pictures as well.
Next this series is clearly made to get kids into read and write more. The book series is about the librarian of the Library of Doom, who protects the world from dangerous, magical, books and the people that want to use them for evil. The books also have discussion questions and writing prompts at the end.
This book was about blank books that when written in, make what they write happen.
Fiction: Horror, Children's, Graphic Novel, 63 pages
Book Count: 23
First, this book is not exactly a graphic novel. The words them self are at times different fonts, sizes, hand underlined, etc. There are also a lot of pictures as well.
Next this series is clearly made to get kids into read and write more. The book series is about the librarian of the Library of Doom, who protects the world from dangerous, magical, books and the people that want to use them for evil. The books also have discussion questions and writing prompts at the end.
This book was about blank books that when written in, make what they write happen.
Monday, June 29, 2015
The Fullness of Truth:
The Fullness of Truth by: James M. Seghers
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This is a book on Catholic apologetics. It has some unusual formatting: each section starts out, "The Object of the Exercise: The purpose of the lesson is . . . " and at the end it is summarized with, "WOW!" followed by the main points of the essay. So the intro reads like a text book and the ending is like they are trying to speak to teens in "teen speak". Also there are multiple essays on many of the subjects that use some of the same wording (and not just that they are quoting the same Bible passage.) So things get a little redundant at times. Also, for some reason the e-book says that it was only 88% done, when it was at the end of the book. But, once you get past that there is some good information in it: with lots of Bible passages, notes on the Greek word used in passages, and answers to common arguments that one would get on an issue.
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This is a book on Catholic apologetics. It has some unusual formatting: each section starts out, "The Object of the Exercise: The purpose of the lesson is . . . " and at the end it is summarized with, "WOW!" followed by the main points of the essay. So the intro reads like a text book and the ending is like they are trying to speak to teens in "teen speak". Also there are multiple essays on many of the subjects that use some of the same wording (and not just that they are quoting the same Bible passage.) So things get a little redundant at times. Also, for some reason the e-book says that it was only 88% done, when it was at the end of the book. But, once you get past that there is some good information in it: with lots of Bible passages, notes on the Greek word used in passages, and answers to common arguments that one would get on an issue.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster):
Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster) By: Dave Barry
Non-fiction: Humor 225 pages
Book Count: 22
This book is made up of essays all with the theme of happiness in some way. It includes things ranging from old time cocktail parties to why mustard does not need to be put in the fridge. It also travels from the craziness of Miami traffic, to the craziness of Brazilian soccer fans, to the craziness of Mexican restaurants in Russia.
Non-fiction: Humor 225 pages
Book Count: 22
This book is made up of essays all with the theme of happiness in some way. It includes things ranging from old time cocktail parties to why mustard does not need to be put in the fridge. It also travels from the craziness of Miami traffic, to the craziness of Brazilian soccer fans, to the craziness of Mexican restaurants in Russia.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor:
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor By: Nathan Hale
Non-Fiction: History,Biography, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 128 pages
Book Count: 21
This book is on the life of Harriet Tubman. It dealt with her early life, time working on the underground railroad, and her work during the Civil War. All the people in the novel were drawn as people, but there were some dreams/visions with weird things. There also was half of a mini comic on Frederick Douglass. (He took the second half of it, so you would read one of the three autobiographies he wrote.)
Non-Fiction: History,Biography, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 128 pages
Book Count: 21
This book is on the life of Harriet Tubman. It dealt with her early life, time working on the underground railroad, and her work during the Civil War. All the people in the novel were drawn as people, but there were some dreams/visions with weird things. There also was half of a mini comic on Frederick Douglass. (He took the second half of it, so you would read one of the three autobiographies he wrote.)
Monday, June 15, 2015
Note to Self: The Divine Comedy and Vita Nuova:
The Divine Comedy and Vita Nuova By: Dante Alighieri
Classics, Poetry, Literature
This book I also took since last year to read, but because it was part of a series of classes, and not just because it took me that long to get through it. And that is why it doesn't have a book count connected to it. But after having to do all the work for the classes I wasn't going to not note that, "Hey, I did actually read the whole thing."
Classics, Poetry, Literature
This book I also took since last year to read, but because it was part of a series of classes, and not just because it took me that long to get through it. And that is why it doesn't have a book count connected to it. But after having to do all the work for the classes I wasn't going to not note that, "Hey, I did actually read the whole thing."
Saturday, May 30, 2015
A Body at Book Club:
A Body at Book Club ( Myrtle Clover Mysteries) By: Elizabeth Spann Craig
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
This is another book about the octogenarian detective. This time the bodies are piling up in the front room of a member of the book and gardening clubs in town. Once again she hunts for the killer against her son's wishes. This time she is also looking for her missing cat. (Well the feral cat she feeds.)
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
This is another book about the octogenarian detective. This time the bodies are piling up in the front room of a member of the book and gardening clubs in town. Once again she hunts for the killer against her son's wishes. This time she is also looking for her missing cat. (Well the feral cat she feeds.)
Friday, May 29, 2015
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood:
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood By: Nathan Hale
Non-Fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 128 pages
Book Count: 20
This book goes over the whole of WWI. Due to the hangman's love of animals, all the countries are represented by different animals (with little hats.) This makes it actually easier to read the story, as even not in uniforms you can tell where everyone is from. Most places are their national animal, symbol, or other connected creature. A few are different animals just because their animal was already taken, two are a pun. Austro-Hungary is a griffin, Serbia a wolf, Russia a bear, Germany an eagle, France the Gallic rooster, Belgium a lion, The UK a bulldog, the USA a bunny (because there was already an eagle,) Australia a kangaroo, Canada a beaver, New Zealand a kiwi, India a tiger, France's African colonies were water buffalo, the Ottoman Empire an otter, Italy a cat (maybe a mountain lion,) Greece is a phoenix, Bulgaria a bull, and Japan was a tanuki ( the raccoon dog.)
For being a comic of animals in hats, this book does a better job explaining WWI then any school history book or class that I have ever had. It includes the main causes of the war, details of some of the major battles, as well as more personal stories to give a balanced look at the war.
Non-Fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 128 pages
Book Count: 20
This book goes over the whole of WWI. Due to the hangman's love of animals, all the countries are represented by different animals (with little hats.) This makes it actually easier to read the story, as even not in uniforms you can tell where everyone is from. Most places are their national animal, symbol, or other connected creature. A few are different animals just because their animal was already taken, two are a pun. Austro-Hungary is a griffin, Serbia a wolf, Russia a bear, Germany an eagle, France the Gallic rooster, Belgium a lion, The UK a bulldog, the USA a bunny (because there was already an eagle,) Australia a kangaroo, Canada a beaver, New Zealand a kiwi, India a tiger, France's African colonies were water buffalo, the Ottoman Empire an otter, Italy a cat (maybe a mountain lion,) Greece is a phoenix, Bulgaria a bull, and Japan was a tanuki ( the raccoon dog.)
For being a comic of animals in hats, this book does a better job explaining WWI then any school history book or class that I have ever had. It includes the main causes of the war, details of some of the major battles, as well as more personal stories to give a balanced look at the war.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy:
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy By: Nathan Hale
Non-Fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 127 pages
Book Count: 19
This is the first book in the series and we learn in it how Nathan Hale learned all of American History. He was actually "eaten" by "The Big Huge Book of American History." After this happens he tells the story of how he ended up a spy in the American Revolution. It also has a mini-comic on Crispus Attucks, who was one of the first persons to die in the war. Crispus was an escaped slave who was killed during the Boston Massacre. Because of this he too is in the history book and can tell his own story.
Non-Fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 127 pages
Book Count: 19
This is the first book in the series and we learn in it how Nathan Hale learned all of American History. He was actually "eaten" by "The Big Huge Book of American History." After this happens he tells the story of how he ended up a spy in the American Revolution. It also has a mini-comic on Crispus Attucks, who was one of the first persons to die in the war. Crispus was an escaped slave who was killed during the Boston Massacre. Because of this he too is in the history book and can tell his own story.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Hashtag Faith: A Powerful Gospel in the hands of a Distracted Generation:
Hashtag Faith: A Powerful Gospel in the hands of a Distracted Generation by: Chris Buscher
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This book is mostly on how the Prosperity Gospel is not Biblical.
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This book is mostly on how the Prosperity Gospel is not Biblical.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations by Grumpy Cat:
The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations by Grumpy Cat By: Grumpy Cat
Non-fiction: Humor, 112 pages
Book Count: 18
This book is a collection of demotivational sayings from Grumpy Cat. Many pictures of Grumpy Cat are included as well as a couple of other animals.
Non-fiction: Humor, 112 pages
Book Count: 18
This book is a collection of demotivational sayings from Grumpy Cat. Many pictures of Grumpy Cat are included as well as a couple of other animals.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Trusting God with St. Therese:
Trusting God with St. Therese By: Connie Rossini
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, E-book
Fun fact: today is the 90th anniversary of the canonization of St. Therese of Lisieux. Not that that had anything to do with this book, besides that it states when she was canonized in the timeline at the end of this book, but still she was canonized 90 years ago today.
This book deals with the life of St. Therese, the author's life, psychology, and St. Therese's Little Way. It goes in a mostly chronological order for both St. Therese's and the author's life. It also includes many Bible quotes, parts from the Catechism, other books to read on topics and questions and things to do at the end at each chapter. It does a good job of showing how the saint's life can be used as a example for someone that on the surface lives a very different life. It also deals a lot with how to heal from painful pasts and events.
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, E-book
Fun fact: today is the 90th anniversary of the canonization of St. Therese of Lisieux. Not that that had anything to do with this book, besides that it states when she was canonized in the timeline at the end of this book, but still she was canonized 90 years ago today.
This book deals with the life of St. Therese, the author's life, psychology, and St. Therese's Little Way. It goes in a mostly chronological order for both St. Therese's and the author's life. It also includes many Bible quotes, parts from the Catechism, other books to read on topics and questions and things to do at the end at each chapter. It does a good job of showing how the saint's life can be used as a example for someone that on the surface lives a very different life. It also deals a lot with how to heal from painful pasts and events.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Big Bad Ironclad!:
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Big Bad Ironclad! by: Nathan Hale
Non-Fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 128 pages
Book Count: 16
This book actually comes before the last book we read in the series, but takes place at a later time. This book deals with the navel fighting of the Civil War dealing mostly with the Ironclad ships and William Cushing. As the hangman that Hale is telling the story to loved animals, Gustavus Fox is drawn as a actual fox, per the hangman's request.
Non-Fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Humor, Children's 128 pages
Book Count: 16
This book actually comes before the last book we read in the series, but takes place at a later time. This book deals with the navel fighting of the Civil War dealing mostly with the Ironclad ships and William Cushing. As the hangman that Hale is telling the story to loved animals, Gustavus Fox is drawn as a actual fox, per the hangman's request.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Donner Dinner Party:
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Donner Dinner Party by: Nathan Hale
Non-fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Children's, Humor 126 pages
Book Count: 15
This book series is written by Nathan Hale (not the famous patriot) and is narrated by Nathan Hale (the famous one.) Of course, the Donner Party takes place long after Hale was killed. But the story starts out with the idea that because Nathan Hale is in the history books, he can know all the stories from the history books. So he knows both the past and the future. And he is telling these stories to his executioners as he waits for them to kill him.
This book goes into great details about how the Donner party ended up in the situation that they did. It even includes a chart of everyone in the party: if they died, how, and if they were eaten. It also includes some info on what happened to the survivors after. It tells the story of the group from when the Donner and Reed families started out from Illinois until they end up in California. It uses the memoir of Virginia Reed as a main source. It also cuts to Hale telling the story and interacting with his executioners for comedic effect. It includes unusual facts like: that all 9 of the Breen family survived even though they ranged in age from 51 to 1, and one person died from over eating after being rescued.
Non-fiction: History, Graphic Novel, Children's, Humor 126 pages
Book Count: 15
This book series is written by Nathan Hale (not the famous patriot) and is narrated by Nathan Hale (the famous one.) Of course, the Donner Party takes place long after Hale was killed. But the story starts out with the idea that because Nathan Hale is in the history books, he can know all the stories from the history books. So he knows both the past and the future. And he is telling these stories to his executioners as he waits for them to kill him.
This book goes into great details about how the Donner party ended up in the situation that they did. It even includes a chart of everyone in the party: if they died, how, and if they were eaten. It also includes some info on what happened to the survivors after. It tells the story of the group from when the Donner and Reed families started out from Illinois until they end up in California. It uses the memoir of Virginia Reed as a main source. It also cuts to Hale telling the story and interacting with his executioners for comedic effect. It includes unusual facts like: that all 9 of the Breen family survived even though they ranged in age from 51 to 1, and one person died from over eating after being rescued.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Crap Taxidermy:
Crap Taxidermy by: Kat Su
Non-fiction: Humor, 95 pages
Book Count:14
This book is a collection of pictures of bad taxidermy as well as just odd ones. It also includes a how-to in case you wish to make your own taxidermy mouse. (As it is easy to get a frozen one from a pet store as they sell them for snake food.)
Non-fiction: Humor, 95 pages
Book Count:14
This book is a collection of pictures of bad taxidermy as well as just odd ones. It also includes a how-to in case you wish to make your own taxidermy mouse. (As it is easy to get a frozen one from a pet store as they sell them for snake food.)
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
A New Witch in Town (Maybe Two):
A New Witch in Town (Maybe Two) By Dani Corlee
Fiction: Fantasy, E-Book
Kimberly and her daughter Aurora move to a new town to start life over after she gets a divorce. Meanwhile the witches in that town find out that there is a comet coming that is part of an ancient prophecy for a Queen of the witches. And then we learn that Kim is moving into the house that once belonged to a powerful witch and has been empty since she died. . .
Fiction: Fantasy, E-Book
Kimberly and her daughter Aurora move to a new town to start life over after she gets a divorce. Meanwhile the witches in that town find out that there is a comet coming that is part of an ancient prophecy for a Queen of the witches. And then we learn that Kim is moving into the house that once belonged to a powerful witch and has been empty since she died. . .
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
A Body in the Backyard:
A Body in the Backyard (A Myrtle Clover Mystery) By: Elizabeth Spann Craig
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
Myrtle Clover is a nearly 90 year old, retired school teacher. Her chief of police son, lives across the road. And she has two problems. Problem one: she can not find good help for her yard and housework and two: dead bodies keep showing up in her yard. Like the last mystery I read she uses her part time job at the local paper to help her investigate the crimes. Unlike the last one she gets the killer to go after her on purpose. (But don't worry; she has some pepper spray, her cane, and the help of her slightly less elderly neighbor to help her out.)
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
Myrtle Clover is a nearly 90 year old, retired school teacher. Her chief of police son, lives across the road. And she has two problems. Problem one: she can not find good help for her yard and housework and two: dead bodies keep showing up in her yard. Like the last mystery I read she uses her part time job at the local paper to help her investigate the crimes. Unlike the last one she gets the killer to go after her on purpose. (But don't worry; she has some pepper spray, her cane, and the help of her slightly less elderly neighbor to help her out.)
Monday, May 11, 2015
The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived:
The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: how characters of fiction, myth, legends, television, and movies have shaped our society, changed our behavior, and set the course of history by: Allan Lazar, Dan Karlan & Jeremy Salter
Non-fiction: Humor, History, Lists, Pop Culture 314 pages
Book Count: 13
As the book itself points out there are a number of people in this book who are legendary. Some of them are known to be real people, but most of what we "know" about them can not be proven and some may or may not have existed. But in either case not all of the "fictional" characters in this book are fictional. Also a number of entries include editorializing on what the person represents and how people should feel about this. Besides that the idea behind the book was intriguing. The entrees include info on where the character was from, what their story was, and ways that they influenced the world.
Non-fiction: Humor, History, Lists, Pop Culture 314 pages
Book Count: 13
As the book itself points out there are a number of people in this book who are legendary. Some of them are known to be real people, but most of what we "know" about them can not be proven and some may or may not have existed. But in either case not all of the "fictional" characters in this book are fictional. Also a number of entries include editorializing on what the person represents and how people should feel about this. Besides that the idea behind the book was intriguing. The entrees include info on where the character was from, what their story was, and ways that they influenced the world.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
New Math is Murder:
New Math is Murder (A Jersey Girl Cozy Mystery) By: Jo-Ann Reccoppa
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
Colleen's life is crashing down around her: Neil, her husband, has left her for a younger woman, her part time job in the local paper doesn't pay enough for all the bills, and when she went out jogging she tripped and fell over the body of her daughter's math teacher (who was failing her after she got great grades in last year's math class.) As she already worked at the paper, her bosses think that her covering the case would be good for readership numbers. So, she starts bumbling around trying to find out who the murderer is. After she is almost killed, she is kicked off the story for her own good, but of course that doesn't stop her from looking for the killer. And like a number of mysteries where the main character is not a detective she makes a mess of it, so by the end you are wanting to yell at her like the people in a horror film that run into the creepy basement, because you know who did it.
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
Colleen's life is crashing down around her: Neil, her husband, has left her for a younger woman, her part time job in the local paper doesn't pay enough for all the bills, and when she went out jogging she tripped and fell over the body of her daughter's math teacher (who was failing her after she got great grades in last year's math class.) As she already worked at the paper, her bosses think that her covering the case would be good for readership numbers. So, she starts bumbling around trying to find out who the murderer is. After she is almost killed, she is kicked off the story for her own good, but of course that doesn't stop her from looking for the killer. And like a number of mysteries where the main character is not a detective she makes a mess of it, so by the end you are wanting to yell at her like the people in a horror film that run into the creepy basement, because you know who did it.
Saturday, May 09, 2015
Sex, Violence and the Popes:
Sex, Violence and the Popes by: Pat Muro
Non-fiction: history, e-book
When the intro started out including the statement that most Bible scholars don't believe in the accuracy of chunks of the Gospels I didn't expect much of this book. But as I was expecting it to be about all the horrible popes in history I thought that some one that thought that, wasn't going to sugar coat the truly horrible people that on occasion ended up the pope. But instead the book is largely about the history of popes as political leaders; with a number of ones included just because they were in the tough spot of having two different kings/emperors that were fighting and threatening them to get the upper hand, or just because they might have been murdered. It also included the well disproven theory of "Hitler's Pope." It has 46 popes in the "not great" section and only 5 in the "great" section.
Non-fiction: history, e-book
When the intro started out including the statement that most Bible scholars don't believe in the accuracy of chunks of the Gospels I didn't expect much of this book. But as I was expecting it to be about all the horrible popes in history I thought that some one that thought that, wasn't going to sugar coat the truly horrible people that on occasion ended up the pope. But instead the book is largely about the history of popes as political leaders; with a number of ones included just because they were in the tough spot of having two different kings/emperors that were fighting and threatening them to get the upper hand, or just because they might have been murdered. It also included the well disproven theory of "Hitler's Pope." It has 46 popes in the "not great" section and only 5 in the "great" section.
Friday, May 08, 2015
I Wish I Knew That: U.S. Presidents:
I Wish I Knew That: U.S. Presidents: By: Eds. of Reader's Digest
Non-fiction: Children's, History, E-book
As it is a children's book the unusual facts about the presidents and first ladies are rather well known and tame, but it did cover every president which is more then most U.S. history books do.
Non-fiction: Children's, History, E-book
As it is a children's book the unusual facts about the presidents and first ladies are rather well known and tame, but it did cover every president which is more then most U.S. history books do.
Thursday, May 07, 2015
Unravelling Paleo: Beginners Guide to Paleo & Inerviews with Robb Wolf, Dr. Loren Cordain:
Unravelling Paleo: Beginners Guide to Paleo & Interviews with Robb Wolf, Dr. Loren Cordain by: Ankit Neerav Pandey
Non-fiction: food, e-book
When I first started reading this book I thought that it was just based off the early ideas about the Paleo diet before it studied early man's use of fat. It did have Dr. Cordain as one of the interviews and he is known for this version of the diet. But as it went on it complexly went against what it stated earlier; both for things like the amount of fat that one eats in this diet and other things like pointing out that peanuts are a legume in one part and then later calling it a nut. It goes on and on about how all dairy including butter are "not allowed on the Paleo diet" and then references a website that is fine with using butter or gee for people that do not have a problem with eating it. Also it is written like a poorly thought out school report. Or like it was written in a different language and just sent to google translate for the English version. After a few pages I continued reading it, just to disagree with it. (The BMI chapter was extra fun to yell at.) And because I was interested in the interviews. So as you can guess I will not be putting this on my list of books to read for people that are interested in my diet, as this book is not understandable if you don't already know a lot more about the Paleo diet then the author seams to know.
Non-fiction: food, e-book
When I first started reading this book I thought that it was just based off the early ideas about the Paleo diet before it studied early man's use of fat. It did have Dr. Cordain as one of the interviews and he is known for this version of the diet. But as it went on it complexly went against what it stated earlier; both for things like the amount of fat that one eats in this diet and other things like pointing out that peanuts are a legume in one part and then later calling it a nut. It goes on and on about how all dairy including butter are "not allowed on the Paleo diet" and then references a website that is fine with using butter or gee for people that do not have a problem with eating it. Also it is written like a poorly thought out school report. Or like it was written in a different language and just sent to google translate for the English version. After a few pages I continued reading it, just to disagree with it. (The BMI chapter was extra fun to yell at.) And because I was interested in the interviews. So as you can guess I will not be putting this on my list of books to read for people that are interested in my diet, as this book is not understandable if you don't already know a lot more about the Paleo diet then the author seams to know.
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
The Life and Prayers of Saint Ignatius of Loyola:
The Life and Prayers of Saint Ignatius of Loyola by: Wyatt North
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, E-book
This is a short book on the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola with a couple of his prayers in it and a short explanation of the Spiritual Exercises.
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, E-book
This is a short book on the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola with a couple of his prayers in it and a short explanation of the Spiritual Exercises.
Tuesday, May 05, 2015
Murder On The Ghost Walk:
Murder On The Ghost Walk: (Magnolia Mystery Series) By: Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
As you might have guessed from the title, this book takes place in the South (Atlanta) and has a southern flair to it. Ashley Wilkes (not the one from Gone with the Wind, she was just named after that one,) had just returned home after going to school at Parsons in New York. At her first job of restoring an historic mansion for a demeaning, up and coming, style guru, she finds the old owners, in the walls! From there she works to help the detective on the case solve the case (as she is on a deadline and some bodies in the wall is not stopping the owner from demanding that things get done on time or she will sue.) As the case unravels, most everyone she knows ends up either a suspect or died. She finally finds out who did it, as a hurricane floods the town.
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
As you might have guessed from the title, this book takes place in the South (Atlanta) and has a southern flair to it. Ashley Wilkes (not the one from Gone with the Wind, she was just named after that one,) had just returned home after going to school at Parsons in New York. At her first job of restoring an historic mansion for a demeaning, up and coming, style guru, she finds the old owners, in the walls! From there she works to help the detective on the case solve the case (as she is on a deadline and some bodies in the wall is not stopping the owner from demanding that things get done on time or she will sue.) As the case unravels, most everyone she knows ends up either a suspect or died. She finally finds out who did it, as a hurricane floods the town.
Monday, May 04, 2015
Mommy Had a Little Flask:
Mommy Had a Little Flask (The Tales of Imperfection Series book 2) By: A. K. Turner
Non-fiction: humor, memoir, e-book
This book is a humorous take on the life of a mother of two smallish girls. It mainly centers around her oldest daughter's first year of school and a 3 month trip to Mexico to visit with her in-laws. Included are other common mom issues: weight, cloths, when is too early to start drinking (as in hour for her not age for the kids, toddlers just like playing with the pretty bottles) , embarrassing things the kids do and say, and maintaining the appearance of being a good parent.
Non-fiction: humor, memoir, e-book
This book is a humorous take on the life of a mother of two smallish girls. It mainly centers around her oldest daughter's first year of school and a 3 month trip to Mexico to visit with her in-laws. Included are other common mom issues: weight, cloths, when is too early to start drinking (as in hour for her not age for the kids, toddlers just like playing with the pretty bottles) , embarrassing things the kids do and say, and maintaining the appearance of being a good parent.
Sunday, May 03, 2015
The Manna Principle:
The Manna Principle by: Mark Kellner
Non-Fiction: Religion, E-book
This book is about how God provides for His people, with the title based off the story from Exodus, and the story about the real life of the author. The story itself is interesting and inspiring, but there are a few points where the author tries to add in theology on other things (like about how Jesus is the bread of life from a Baptist theology, complete with non literal translations of Bible even though everywhere else they are all about the literal translation,) where I just wanted to throw the book across the room, (but as it was an e-book didn't so I didn't break the e-reader.)
Non-Fiction: Religion, E-book
This book is about how God provides for His people, with the title based off the story from Exodus, and the story about the real life of the author. The story itself is interesting and inspiring, but there are a few points where the author tries to add in theology on other things (like about how Jesus is the bread of life from a Baptist theology, complete with non literal translations of Bible even though everywhere else they are all about the literal translation,) where I just wanted to throw the book across the room, (but as it was an e-book didn't so I didn't break the e-reader.)
Saturday, May 02, 2015
Dear Luke, We need to Talk. Darth:
Dear Luke, We need to Talk. Darth: and other Pop Culture Correspondences By: John Moe
Non-fiction: Humor, Pop Culture, 290 pages
Book Count:12
This book is a series of letters, e-mails, texts, web reviews, notes, journals and correspondences on movies, TV, songs and other pop culture references. It starts with a letter on the dangers of Bon Jovi, who is wanted dead or alive for the crime of rocking every face he has seen and ends with rejected Superbowl Halftime shows (XLVI- XLVIII). In between is a selection of things ranging from the 99 problems that Jay-Z does have, ( oddly tiny rhinos, toothpaste bling, and Argentina all rate high on the number of problems they cause.) to Captain James T. Kirk's lost log entries where he questions things like: why does ever alien speak perfect English, look humanoid, and live on a planet with breathable air for humans?
Non-fiction: Humor, Pop Culture, 290 pages
Book Count:12
This book is a series of letters, e-mails, texts, web reviews, notes, journals and correspondences on movies, TV, songs and other pop culture references. It starts with a letter on the dangers of Bon Jovi, who is wanted dead or alive for the crime of rocking every face he has seen and ends with rejected Superbowl Halftime shows (XLVI- XLVIII). In between is a selection of things ranging from the 99 problems that Jay-Z does have, ( oddly tiny rhinos, toothpaste bling, and Argentina all rate high on the number of problems they cause.) to Captain James T. Kirk's lost log entries where he questions things like: why does ever alien speak perfect English, look humanoid, and live on a planet with breathable air for humans?
Friday, May 01, 2015
A Friendship Like No Other:
A Friendship Like No Other: Experiencing God's Amazing Embrace By: William A. Barry, SJ
Non-fiction: Religion, 194 pages
Book Count: 11
As you might be able to tell from the first line of this post with the book's title and author's information; this book is about friendship with God and based off of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. (I know the last part is a bit of a stretch as there are some religious books by Jesuits that only mention the Spiritual Exercises, or tell only a few stories on St. Ignatius's life, but still. . . )
The book is divided up into 3 parts. Part 1 is "Experiencing God's Desire for Friendship," and is about what friendship is, friendship with God as seen in the Bible, and how to grow in friendship with God. Part 2 is "Understanding Ourselves and God," and deals with questions people have about this friendship. Questions like: why would God want our friendship, how it relates to salvation, and the question of why God allows evil in the world. Part 3 is " Experiencing God," and deals with prayer and the discernment of spirits. There are notes and a bibliography at the end.
Non-fiction: Religion, 194 pages
Book Count: 11
As you might be able to tell from the first line of this post with the book's title and author's information; this book is about friendship with God and based off of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. (I know the last part is a bit of a stretch as there are some religious books by Jesuits that only mention the Spiritual Exercises, or tell only a few stories on St. Ignatius's life, but still. . . )
The book is divided up into 3 parts. Part 1 is "Experiencing God's Desire for Friendship," and is about what friendship is, friendship with God as seen in the Bible, and how to grow in friendship with God. Part 2 is "Understanding Ourselves and God," and deals with questions people have about this friendship. Questions like: why would God want our friendship, how it relates to salvation, and the question of why God allows evil in the world. Part 3 is " Experiencing God," and deals with prayer and the discernment of spirits. There are notes and a bibliography at the end.
Friday, April 17, 2015
My Wish List:
My Wish List by: Gregoire Delacourt
Fiction: 163 pages
Book Count: 10
This book is an international bestseller from France. As such, if you like foreign films you might like this book. It is the story of a working class, average looking, middle-aged women who runs a small shop and wins the lotto. After that she makes lists of what she wants to do with the money as her life falls apart.
Fiction: 163 pages
Book Count: 10
This book is an international bestseller from France. As such, if you like foreign films you might like this book. It is the story of a working class, average looking, middle-aged women who runs a small shop and wins the lotto. After that she makes lists of what she wants to do with the money as her life falls apart.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
He Chose the Cross:
He Chose the Cross by: Adam Houge
Fiction: religion, short story, e-book
This short story is a fictional account of the Crucifixion from Jesus's point of view with flash backs to related Biblical events and with Bible quotes. It is a very quick read. The writer also ends the book with a kind of meditation/alter call/call to action/Bible study on God's love (all in one chapter.)
Fiction: religion, short story, e-book
This short story is a fictional account of the Crucifixion from Jesus's point of view with flash backs to related Biblical events and with Bible quotes. It is a very quick read. The writer also ends the book with a kind of meditation/alter call/call to action/Bible study on God's love (all in one chapter.)
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
The Last American Vampire:
The Last American Vampire by: Seth Grahame-Smith
Fiction: History, Paranormal, 398 pages
Book Count: 9
This book is the sequel to "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" link here. This book tells the story of what happened after the end of the first book, but also tells about events that happened before the first book as it tells the story of Henry from when he was a human, up to modern times. It weaves many important historical events and people into the narrative even with footnotes: some that are real little known facts and some that are made up vampire ones.
Fiction: History, Paranormal, 398 pages
Book Count: 9
This book is the sequel to "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" link here. This book tells the story of what happened after the end of the first book, but also tells about events that happened before the first book as it tells the story of Henry from when he was a human, up to modern times. It weaves many important historical events and people into the narrative even with footnotes: some that are real little known facts and some that are made up vampire ones.
Monday, March 30, 2015
The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic:
The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic By: Matthew Kelly
Non-Fiction: Religion 217 pages
First, this book does not have a book count as it took me over a year to read it. (Because just borrowing a copy of the book would have been much more boring then reading a few pages at a time.) So having looked back to the front of the book the four signs were: Prayer, Study, Generosity, and Evangalization. Each sign had it's own section with more information on the subject, data from the survey of the top 7% most active parishioners from various parishes where he got the data of what things Dynamic Catholics had in common and things to do to add it into one's life.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Becoming A Parish of Intentional Disciples:
Becoming A Parish of Intentional Disciples Ed. By: Sherry A. Weddell
Non-Fiction: Religion, Essays 143 pages
Book Count: 8
This book is a follow up to "Forming Intentional Disciples" which we are not linking to because it is about two posts down. This book is a series of essays about how different people did things to make their parish one of intentional disciples. They also have a list of questions for each essay at the end of the book.
Non-Fiction: Religion, Essays 143 pages
Book Count: 8
This book is a follow up to "Forming Intentional Disciples" which we are not linking to because it is about two posts down. This book is a series of essays about how different people did things to make their parish one of intentional disciples. They also have a list of questions for each essay at the end of the book.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Hollow City:
Hollow City: The Second novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children By: Ransom Riggs
Fiction: Fantasy, History/Past 396 pages
Book Count: 7
The WNBNI review of the first book in the series is here. This book picks up right where the first book ended, like if I had both books in front of me the book could just be the next sentence. In this book Jacob and the peculiar children are trying to find a time loop that hasn't been attacked to help Miss Peregrine who is stuck in bird form. They travel around England on the way to London, using there book of peculiar fairy tales and Jacob's growing powers to find others like them and to fight the hollows.
Fiction: Fantasy, History/Past 396 pages
Book Count: 7
The WNBNI review of the first book in the series is here. This book picks up right where the first book ended, like if I had both books in front of me the book could just be the next sentence. In this book Jacob and the peculiar children are trying to find a time loop that hasn't been attacked to help Miss Peregrine who is stuck in bird form. They travel around England on the way to London, using there book of peculiar fairy tales and Jacob's growing powers to find others like them and to fight the hollows.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Forming Intentional Disciples:
Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus By: Sherry A. Weddell
Non-Fiction: Religion 255 pages
Book Count: 6
This book deals a lot with the statistics about religion in America and the author's belief on why they are changing the way that they are. With the main points being that continuing doing things the way that worked decades ago will not work, and that if we want people to join or stay in the church then they need to become intentional disciples and be in an environment where that is the norm. It then goes into the levels/thresholds of conversion and how to help bring people/a parish to a life of discipleship. The five thresholds are: initial trust (a trust or positive connection with something or someone relating to Christianity), spiritual curiosity (wanting to know more), spiritual openness ( being open to the possibility of change), spiritual seeking (an active seeking), and lastly intentional discipleship (an intentional commitment to follow Jesus.) The book uses a lot of personal stories to highlight how things look in real life as well.
Non-Fiction: Religion 255 pages
Book Count: 6
This book deals a lot with the statistics about religion in America and the author's belief on why they are changing the way that they are. With the main points being that continuing doing things the way that worked decades ago will not work, and that if we want people to join or stay in the church then they need to become intentional disciples and be in an environment where that is the norm. It then goes into the levels/thresholds of conversion and how to help bring people/a parish to a life of discipleship. The five thresholds are: initial trust (a trust or positive connection with something or someone relating to Christianity), spiritual curiosity (wanting to know more), spiritual openness ( being open to the possibility of change), spiritual seeking (an active seeking), and lastly intentional discipleship (an intentional commitment to follow Jesus.) The book uses a lot of personal stories to highlight how things look in real life as well.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Note to Self - Odd Thomas:
Odd Thomas By: Dean Koontz
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, Religion 399 pages
Book Count: 5
As this is a book from a popular book series that has been out for a long time, I am not going to bother summarizing what happened in the book. I'm just noting that I read it for my own record of the books that I have read.
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, Religion 399 pages
Book Count: 5
As this is a book from a popular book series that has been out for a long time, I am not going to bother summarizing what happened in the book. I'm just noting that I read it for my own record of the books that I have read.
Monday, February 02, 2015
Daily Wisdom for Women 2015 Devotional Collection:
Daily Wisdom for Women 2015 Devotional Collection - January Compiled by: Barbour Staff
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This book is a quick (about 5 minutes a day) devotional. It starts with a Bible quote, then has a page or two of thoughts relating to the quote in some way, then ends with a line or two long prayer. It is written by a collection of different women, and so there are 6 different versions of the Bible that are used for quotes in it, but it is noted what version that they are using each time.
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This book is a quick (about 5 minutes a day) devotional. It starts with a Bible quote, then has a page or two of thoughts relating to the quote in some way, then ends with a line or two long prayer. It is written by a collection of different women, and so there are 6 different versions of the Bible that are used for quotes in it, but it is noted what version that they are using each time.
Sunday, February 01, 2015
Stewarding Life:
Stewarding Life: One Lifetime, Limited Resources, Eternal Priorities By: Paul Chappell
Non-Fiction: Religion, E-book
First, this book was written by a Baptist minister, so all of the normal things you would expect from a book by a Baptist minister are in it. Even thought it is clearly a religious book (on a subject that you would not expect someone that wasn't religious to read), there is a section for getting Saved including a version of "The Sinner's Prayer". This is referred/hyper-linked to in multiple places later in the book as well, just in case. All bible quotes are also in the King James Version, (as we all know that God only speaks in Elizabethan English.)
Besides those things the main idea of the book is about being a good steward of all the things that God has given you. With the main emphasizes being on non-money parts of stewardship. This book was written from notes that the author made when on a forced vacation after almost working himself to death, so includes notes both on the importance of doing things and not over doing things. And it also uses many examples from the author's personal life, the Bible, and well known historic people.
Non-Fiction: Religion, E-book
First, this book was written by a Baptist minister, so all of the normal things you would expect from a book by a Baptist minister are in it. Even thought it is clearly a religious book (on a subject that you would not expect someone that wasn't religious to read), there is a section for getting Saved including a version of "The Sinner's Prayer". This is referred/hyper-linked to in multiple places later in the book as well, just in case. All bible quotes are also in the King James Version, (as we all know that God only speaks in Elizabethan English.)
Besides those things the main idea of the book is about being a good steward of all the things that God has given you. With the main emphasizes being on non-money parts of stewardship. This book was written from notes that the author made when on a forced vacation after almost working himself to death, so includes notes both on the importance of doing things and not over doing things. And it also uses many examples from the author's personal life, the Bible, and well known historic people.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
The Big Fat Surprise:
The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat & Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet By: Nina Teicholz
Non-Fiction: Science,History, Food/Cooking, 337 pages
Book Count: 4
This book, like many food science books on this list over the last year, is about the history of how we got the Standard American Diet, and how the science of nutrition does not back that as a good diet. As it is newer it includes a lot more information on scientific tests done over the last decade, and the newest info on cholesterol, including the newest particle types found in it and how each effects or doesn't effect one's risk of heart disease. It also goes into how the things that people replaced saturated fat with maybe or is worst than what they replaced. This sections actually deal less with the sugar/starch that most books of this type spend much of their time on, and more on the polyunsaturated fats, trans fats, and the newer fats that are being created to replace trans fats.
Non-Fiction: Science,History, Food/Cooking, 337 pages
Book Count: 4
This book, like many food science books on this list over the last year, is about the history of how we got the Standard American Diet, and how the science of nutrition does not back that as a good diet. As it is newer it includes a lot more information on scientific tests done over the last decade, and the newest info on cholesterol, including the newest particle types found in it and how each effects or doesn't effect one's risk of heart disease. It also goes into how the things that people replaced saturated fat with maybe or is worst than what they replaced. This sections actually deal less with the sugar/starch that most books of this type spend much of their time on, and more on the polyunsaturated fats, trans fats, and the newer fats that are being created to replace trans fats.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Take the Monkeys and Run:
Take the Monkeys and Run: (A Barbara Marr Murder Mystery #1) By: Karen Cantwell
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
Barbara Marr's life has gone down hill fast: her husband has moved out, she is turning 45, and there is a tree full of monkeys in her yard, possibly from the creepy, empty, house near her, dubbed "The House of Bones." From there things just get weird. The story has many twists and turns, some that were fairly easy to see coming, but that did not diminish the story too much.
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
Barbara Marr's life has gone down hill fast: her husband has moved out, she is turning 45, and there is a tree full of monkeys in her yard, possibly from the creepy, empty, house near her, dubbed "The House of Bones." From there things just get weird. The story has many twists and turns, some that were fairly easy to see coming, but that did not diminish the story too much.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
I Knead My Mommy:
I Knead My Mommy: and Other Poems by Kittens By: Francesco Marciuliano
Non-fiction: Poetry, Humor, 111 pages
Book Count: 3
This is a collection of poems as written by kittens. Each poem is divided by topic and there are many cute kitten pictures. Some of the poems include; "Ode to a Lizard I didn't Know Is Also a Pet in This House," "Over Here!," "Your Legs," and "While You're Typing." In it you learn important things about cats like they do not know how to count (numbers included Q and &), and those drapes that they just destroyed were hideous and they were only trying to do you a favor by clawing them to shreds.
Non-fiction: Poetry, Humor, 111 pages
Book Count: 3
This is a collection of poems as written by kittens. Each poem is divided by topic and there are many cute kitten pictures. Some of the poems include; "Ode to a Lizard I didn't Know Is Also a Pet in This House," "Over Here!," "Your Legs," and "While You're Typing." In it you learn important things about cats like they do not know how to count (numbers included Q and &), and those drapes that they just destroyed were hideous and they were only trying to do you a favor by clawing them to shreds.
Friday, January 16, 2015
50 Easy Everyday Grain-free Recipes Without Almond Flour:
50 Easy Everyday Grain-free Recipes Without Almond Flour: Gluten-free Paleo Friendly By: Lori Morris and Michelle Corso
Non-Fiction: Cooking, E-book
First this book was poorly titled, not only with the long title, but with the fact that there are recipes that may contain grains, there is one with almond flour, and the main theme to all the recipes are that they are made using plantains and are gluten-free. They may contain grains because a number of the recipes just call for gluten-free flour, which is often just made up of non-gluten grains like rice. So it really should be called something like "50 gluten-free plantain recipes." That being said, there are a number of recipes in this book that look good, I just wasn't expecting every single one in the book to be about plantains.
Non-Fiction: Cooking, E-book
First this book was poorly titled, not only with the long title, but with the fact that there are recipes that may contain grains, there is one with almond flour, and the main theme to all the recipes are that they are made using plantains and are gluten-free. They may contain grains because a number of the recipes just call for gluten-free flour, which is often just made up of non-gluten grains like rice. So it really should be called something like "50 gluten-free plantain recipes." That being said, there are a number of recipes in this book that look good, I just wasn't expecting every single one in the book to be about plantains.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Unmuted:
Unmuted: Restoring Your Church's Voice By: Jim Wall
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This is a book on being a better church from one of the leaders of the Acts 2 Network, a group that works to plant new churches and grow people's faith off the ideas from the book of Acts chapter 2 in the Bible. It uses 6 things that they see as the main points of the Acts 2 church for how to do this. They are: be unified around a God-given vision, be empowered by the Holy Spirit, preach a relevant, simple truth, be hungry to know God, genuinely care for one another, and unselfishly care for the community around you. He then uses examples from his life and the lives of people he knows to show how it works in real life.
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This is a book on being a better church from one of the leaders of the Acts 2 Network, a group that works to plant new churches and grow people's faith off the ideas from the book of Acts chapter 2 in the Bible. It uses 6 things that they see as the main points of the Acts 2 church for how to do this. They are: be unified around a God-given vision, be empowered by the Holy Spirit, preach a relevant, simple truth, be hungry to know God, genuinely care for one another, and unselfishly care for the community around you. He then uses examples from his life and the lives of people he knows to show how it works in real life.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Evil Librarian:
Evil Librarian By: Michelle Knudsen
Fiction: YA, Paranormal, 343 pages
Book Count: 2
First, I would suggest that everyone check this book out of your local library, just to hear what the person checking you out says about them being or not being an evil librarian.
As far as the book itself goes it is very much a young adult novel and according to the quote on the back a beloved book of Stephenie Meyer, so there's that. . . But the story itself is interesting enough to make up for the love-sick female lead and the impossibly perfect love interest. Cynthia's best friend Annie falls in love with the new school librarian, who Cynthia can tell there is something wrong with. After snooping around the school, she finds out that the new librarian is a demon who is sucking the life out of the student body. She with the help of Ryan (her crush) then try to stop the demon before opening night of the school play that they are both part of. (As they are doing "Sweeney Todd" which all demons love, so he isn't going to kill all of the people in the school until after seeing the play.)
Fiction: YA, Paranormal, 343 pages
Book Count: 2
First, I would suggest that everyone check this book out of your local library, just to hear what the person checking you out says about them being or not being an evil librarian.
As far as the book itself goes it is very much a young adult novel and according to the quote on the back a beloved book of Stephenie Meyer, so there's that. . . But the story itself is interesting enough to make up for the love-sick female lead and the impossibly perfect love interest. Cynthia's best friend Annie falls in love with the new school librarian, who Cynthia can tell there is something wrong with. After snooping around the school, she finds out that the new librarian is a demon who is sucking the life out of the student body. She with the help of Ryan (her crush) then try to stop the demon before opening night of the school play that they are both part of. (As they are doing "Sweeney Todd" which all demons love, so he isn't going to kill all of the people in the school until after seeing the play.)
Monday, January 05, 2015
Dr. Mutter's Marvels:
Dr. Mutter's Marvels By: Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
Non-fiction: Biography, History 305 pages
Book Count: 1
This book is both a biography of Dr. Thomas Dent Mutter, a history of medicine in the first half of the 1800's, and the story of how the Mutter Museum came into being. It is rather interesting and includes the story of early plastic surgery, the start of using ether in surgery, early ideas on germ theory and how the Civil War effected medicine. It also has small bits of the writings of Dr. Mutter and much on the early history of Jefferson Medical College where he was the head of surgery for over a decade.
Non-fiction: Biography, History 305 pages
Book Count: 1
This book is both a biography of Dr. Thomas Dent Mutter, a history of medicine in the first half of the 1800's, and the story of how the Mutter Museum came into being. It is rather interesting and includes the story of early plastic surgery, the start of using ether in surgery, early ideas on germ theory and how the Civil War effected medicine. It also has small bits of the writings of Dr. Mutter and much on the early history of Jefferson Medical College where he was the head of surgery for over a decade.
Saturday, January 03, 2015
My Daily Bread:
My Daily Bread: A Summary of The Spiritual Life Simplified and Arranged for Daily Reading, Reflection and Prayer By: Anthony J. Paone, S.J.
Non-fiction: Religion, 437 pages
Yes, this book was one of the ones that I was hoping to finish last year. And no I didn't not finish it in time because I miss counted the 197 chapters in it and started it too late to read a chapter a day like it was designed for. No, I thought to myself in October, that what I needed to do right before attempting to write a novel and deal with all of the holidays was start reading a 400+ page book.
Non-fiction: Religion, 437 pages
Yes, this book was one of the ones that I was hoping to finish last year. And no I didn't not finish it in time because I miss counted the 197 chapters in it and started it too late to read a chapter a day like it was designed for. No, I thought to myself in October, that what I needed to do right before attempting to write a novel and deal with all of the holidays was start reading a 400+ page book.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Night of the Living Dead Christian:
Night of the Living Dead Christian: One Man's Ferociously Funny Quest to Discover What It Means to Be Truly Transformed by Matt Mikalatos
Fiction: Religion, Humor,Paranormal, E-book
Like the author's other book that we read, (link to review here,) this book has the author as one of the main characters in this book. In this book he is not the main character of the story, but a helper and guide to the main character. (Who is named Luther Ann Martin, a Lutheran that insists that he is not a Christian, and is a werewolf.) Besides the werewolf, there are a large collection of unusual characters including: a mad scientist, an android, a former vampire, a whole church of zombies, and a monster hunter complete with an Eastern European accent. As you could can guess from the title and the genres of the book, the story is ultimately on the transformative power of Christ, but along the way they have tons of humorist mishaps including: trying to make silver bullets on a home stove, going to therapy to stop being a werewolf, getting advice from a robot Jesus, and accidentally setting a church on fire. At the end there is also a set of questions about the book for people that want to use it to reflect on the ideas of the book or as a part of a book group, as well as alternate titles and subtitles, and a self-diagnosis guide to finding out what type of monster you might be.
Fiction: Religion, Humor,Paranormal, E-book
Like the author's other book that we read, (link to review here,) this book has the author as one of the main characters in this book. In this book he is not the main character of the story, but a helper and guide to the main character. (Who is named Luther Ann Martin, a Lutheran that insists that he is not a Christian, and is a werewolf.) Besides the werewolf, there are a large collection of unusual characters including: a mad scientist, an android, a former vampire, a whole church of zombies, and a monster hunter complete with an Eastern European accent. As you could can guess from the title and the genres of the book, the story is ultimately on the transformative power of Christ, but along the way they have tons of humorist mishaps including: trying to make silver bullets on a home stove, going to therapy to stop being a werewolf, getting advice from a robot Jesus, and accidentally setting a church on fire. At the end there is also a set of questions about the book for people that want to use it to reflect on the ideas of the book or as a part of a book group, as well as alternate titles and subtitles, and a self-diagnosis guide to finding out what type of monster you might be.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Relish:
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen By: Lucy Knisley
Non-fiction: Memoir, Food, Graphic novel 173 pages
Book Count: 67
A story of a person's life told with comics and food. The chapters end with a recipe also told with comics.
Non-fiction: Memoir, Food, Graphic novel 173 pages
Book Count: 67
A story of a person's life told with comics and food. The chapters end with a recipe also told with comics.
Good Advice From Bad People:
Good Advice From Bad People Selected Wisdom from Murderers, Stock Swindlers, and Lance Armstrong
Non-Fiction: Biography, 192 pages
Book Count: 66
After our last book of people that started out bad and turned good, we thought we would read this book of good advice that the creator of didn't follow. This book is filled with a quote from some one and then a short 1-2 page biography of them that points out how they did the exact opposite of their advice. It includes info on self help book writers that: went bankrupt, got divorced, ended up in jail or otherwise were the last person you would want to take advice from on a subject if they did what they said to do. There are also entries on politicians, sport stars, and televangelists. In short a who's who of people who said, "Do what I say, not what I do."
Non-Fiction: Biography, 192 pages
Book Count: 66
After our last book of people that started out bad and turned good, we thought we would read this book of good advice that the creator of didn't follow. This book is filled with a quote from some one and then a short 1-2 page biography of them that points out how they did the exact opposite of their advice. It includes info on self help book writers that: went bankrupt, got divorced, ended up in jail or otherwise were the last person you would want to take advice from on a subject if they did what they said to do. There are also entries on politicians, sport stars, and televangelists. In short a who's who of people who said, "Do what I say, not what I do."
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Saints Behaving Badly:
Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil Worshippers Who Became Saints By: Thomas J. Craughwell
Non-Fiction: Religion, Biography 186 pages
Book Count: 65
This book is a collection of short biographies of saints, blessed, and venerable men and women, who at some point in their lives were anything but saintly. The book is arraigned in chronological order and each chapter is the name of the saint and their sin. With some of the earlier saints there are notes on how the rules for how people officially became saints has changed, as some of the conversions were not as extreme as others. With all the stories the author tries to note what things in their life there is reliable proof of and what things are stories that can not be proven, but were popular stories about the saint.
Non-Fiction: Religion, Biography 186 pages
Book Count: 65
This book is a collection of short biographies of saints, blessed, and venerable men and women, who at some point in their lives were anything but saintly. The book is arraigned in chronological order and each chapter is the name of the saint and their sin. With some of the earlier saints there are notes on how the rules for how people officially became saints has changed, as some of the conversions were not as extreme as others. With all the stories the author tries to note what things in their life there is reliable proof of and what things are stories that can not be proven, but were popular stories about the saint.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Old Year's Resolutions:
With about a week and a half left in the year and dozen or so holiday parties to attend, we are giving up on making 2014's reading new year's resolution. And have decided to work on making up 2015's goals.
2015 ish Goals:
1. Keep off the weight loss of 2014 (not a reading related goal, but this year I'm writing all my goals down to remember them, and so my friends can keep me on task.)
2. Edit story I finished this year. (screaming about how there is nothing useful and deleting everything is editing, right?)
3. Add 12 books to the list of books on the FB page for our church's chapter of the Council of Catholic Women, before the new 3rd vice-president takes over. (this will happen in spring 2016, so the ish on the goals. Also I picked 12 books as that will bring the number of books up to 52, or enough to read one a week.) These books must follow the current rules that I use for putting books on the list: they must rate at least 4 out of 5 stars, and be something reasonable to appear on a church group's FB page. (Not that I might throw one or two odder books on this list, just because. But still within the criteria. So sorry friends "Lamb" will not be added to the list.[side note who here thinks it's for not being a 4 star book and who for it being not appropriate?])
4. Win Nanowrimo in November. (Maybe do a camp too.)
5. Write down story ideas and crazy real life things that with a few changes could be useful in stories. (I'm not adding a note about them here because you wouldn't believe me anyway. . . )
2015 ish Goals:
1. Keep off the weight loss of 2014 (not a reading related goal, but this year I'm writing all my goals down to remember them, and so my friends can keep me on task.)
2. Edit story I finished this year. (screaming about how there is nothing useful and deleting everything is editing, right?)
3. Add 12 books to the list of books on the FB page for our church's chapter of the Council of Catholic Women, before the new 3rd vice-president takes over. (this will happen in spring 2016, so the ish on the goals. Also I picked 12 books as that will bring the number of books up to 52, or enough to read one a week.) These books must follow the current rules that I use for putting books on the list: they must rate at least 4 out of 5 stars, and be something reasonable to appear on a church group's FB page. (Not that I might throw one or two odder books on this list, just because. But still within the criteria. So sorry friends "Lamb" will not be added to the list.[side note who here thinks it's for not being a 4 star book and who for it being not appropriate?])
4. Win Nanowrimo in November. (Maybe do a camp too.)
5. Write down story ideas and crazy real life things that with a few changes could be useful in stories. (I'm not adding a note about them here because you wouldn't believe me anyway. . . )
Friday, December 19, 2014
Wheat Belly Total Health:
Wheat Belly Total Health By: William Davis, MD
Non-fiction: Food, Science 349 pages
Book Count: 64
This book adds to the author's earlier work "Wheat Belly" by getting into the reasons that all modern grains are problematic for human consumption, and not just wheat. It also gets into how to transition into a grain free diet and things that one can do to help undo damage caused by eating grains, and/or modern diets and lifestyles. (For example, many people need more vitamin D, due to living indoors and covering up when they go outside more then from any issues from diet.) It also deals a lot with how to have beneficial gut flora, and eating lower carbs to prevent spikes in insulin.
Non-fiction: Food, Science 349 pages
Book Count: 64
This book adds to the author's earlier work "Wheat Belly" by getting into the reasons that all modern grains are problematic for human consumption, and not just wheat. It also gets into how to transition into a grain free diet and things that one can do to help undo damage caused by eating grains, and/or modern diets and lifestyles. (For example, many people need more vitamin D, due to living indoors and covering up when they go outside more then from any issues from diet.) It also deals a lot with how to have beneficial gut flora, and eating lower carbs to prevent spikes in insulin.
Saturday, December 06, 2014
Libriomancer:
Libriomancer (Magic Ex Libris: Book One) By: Jim C. Hines
Fiction: Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, NYR, 305 pages
Book Count: 63
One more book down, only 6 more to read. . .
Isaac Vainio is a librarian in a small town in Northern Michigan, who also works to catalog items that might have magical importance for an organization of Libriomancers, people who can pull objects out of books. He use to work as a field agent for them but after a mess up involving zombie horses, he is strictly research only. That is until a group of sparkly vampires show up (having been created from a recent popular book series) and his fire spider, Smudge, almost burns down the library. He destroys the vamps with help from a dryad, Lena Greenwood, who shows up just at the right time. He then learns that vampires are being killed and blame the Porters (the Libriomancer organization Die Zwelf Portenaere) and Johannes Gutenberg is missing. (Who is the head of the Porters and immortal after pulling the Holy Grail from a book, before locking the magic to stop everyone from doing that.) Also Gutenberg's dozen killer robots are also gone, and no one seams to know what is really going on.
Fiction: Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, NYR, 305 pages
Book Count: 63
One more book down, only 6 more to read. . .
Isaac Vainio is a librarian in a small town in Northern Michigan, who also works to catalog items that might have magical importance for an organization of Libriomancers, people who can pull objects out of books. He use to work as a field agent for them but after a mess up involving zombie horses, he is strictly research only. That is until a group of sparkly vampires show up (having been created from a recent popular book series) and his fire spider, Smudge, almost burns down the library. He destroys the vamps with help from a dryad, Lena Greenwood, who shows up just at the right time. He then learns that vampires are being killed and blame the Porters (the Libriomancer organization Die Zwelf Portenaere) and Johannes Gutenberg is missing. (Who is the head of the Porters and immortal after pulling the Holy Grail from a book, before locking the magic to stop everyone from doing that.) Also Gutenberg's dozen killer robots are also gone, and no one seams to know what is really going on.
Thursday, December 04, 2014
My Drunk Kitchen:
My Drunk Kitchen: a Guide to Eating, Drinking & Going with Your Gut By: Hannah Hart
Non-Fiction: Cooking, Humor 217 pages
Book Count: 62
You might have seen the web show "My Drunk Kitchen", this book is by the same person and is a lot like the show. It includes cooking tips (with special notes on drunk cooking tips), some actual recipes, drinks to have with each thing, life lessons and more. Although there are some recipes in this book, calling it a cook book is a stretch, as it is more about being creative with food.
Non-Fiction: Cooking, Humor 217 pages
Book Count: 62
You might have seen the web show "My Drunk Kitchen", this book is by the same person and is a lot like the show. It includes cooking tips (with special notes on drunk cooking tips), some actual recipes, drinks to have with each thing, life lessons and more. Although there are some recipes in this book, calling it a cook book is a stretch, as it is more about being creative with food.
Undead and Unemployed:
Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy Book #2) by: Mary Janice Davidson
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, Audio Book
This is book two in the series. In this book Betsy is more use to her unique vampire abilities, but there is still bills to pay, so after failing to get unemployment do to the never ending bureaucracy of government programs, she ends up getting her dream job of selling shoes at Macy's. Which only infuriates Sinclair, as the job is below a queen, but that is only the least of her problems. There is a group out killing vampires, there are vampires that resent her being queen, there are vampires that don't think she is queen, there are termites in her house so Jessica rents out a mansion for them, and there is a little girl that is always hiding in her bedroom. Also, working around shoes puts a serious dent in her paycheck.
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, Audio Book
This is book two in the series. In this book Betsy is more use to her unique vampire abilities, but there is still bills to pay, so after failing to get unemployment do to the never ending bureaucracy of government programs, she ends up getting her dream job of selling shoes at Macy's. Which only infuriates Sinclair, as the job is below a queen, but that is only the least of her problems. There is a group out killing vampires, there are vampires that resent her being queen, there are vampires that don't think she is queen, there are termites in her house so Jessica rents out a mansion for them, and there is a little girl that is always hiding in her bedroom. Also, working around shoes puts a serious dent in her paycheck.
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
NYR: Update
For those of you that have been keeping track of my NYR (new year's resolution) count you might see that I have read 7 of 12 books that I physically own. Meaning that I only need to read 5 books this month, as well as the 3 library books that I have checked out, and the 1 book that I have just borrowed from a friend. I have started 4 of the 5 books; however, I don't know if I shall ever get around to finishing 1 of them leaving 2 whole books to read and 3 partial. So a completely doable amount of reading: if there wasn't a major holiday this month (with its 4 family get togethers, friend/organizational get togethers, shopping, gift wrapping, baking, decorating, etc.), as well as a cookie walk (that I think I might have been drafted into), normal meetings, classes and events, and the fact that the next time Pat asks when you are free to do something, I really need to point out that I can help out on some of the dates, not every last time I don't have something else making it impossible for me to help out.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
The Book of Kells:
The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College Dublin by: Bernard Meehan
Non-fiction: History, Art, 89 pages
Book Count: 61
This book is a short introduction on the Book of Kells, a well know group of manuscripts from Ireland containing parts of the Bible, art and other religious text. This book has a lot of pictures to show all of the art that they discuss in this book. It also includes what history we know about it and things that scholars think might be true about it and why they thing that.
Non-fiction: History, Art, 89 pages
Book Count: 61
This book is a short introduction on the Book of Kells, a well know group of manuscripts from Ireland containing parts of the Bible, art and other religious text. This book has a lot of pictures to show all of the art that they discuss in this book. It also includes what history we know about it and things that scholars think might be true about it and why they thing that.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Salt Sugar Fat:
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us By: Michael Moss
Non-Fiction: Food, Science 347 pages
Book Count: 60
You might wonder why I read a book against Fat and Salt when they are two of the things that I make sure that I get enough to eat in my diet, it was because some one on one of my diet/ WOE (way of eating) groups recommended it. Having read the book I have to say they must have been one of the clean eating people that also hang out in the Paleo groups and do a low fat diet. This book does a good job of showing how processes foods have tons of added salt, sugar and fat and how that makes you want to eat more or makes your body not understand how much you are really taking in. But it lacks much in the science of how foods make you fat, using mainly the government guidelines and the guidelines of a couple of organizations for the bench marks of how much of each thing you should have. It is also very not self aware of it's blind following of these guidelines. In the fat section it notes a study that found that you can eat over a pound of red meat a week with no increase in the cancer they were studying, but any processed meat increased the cancer risk, and there answer was because of the saturated fat in processed meat (as if the un-processed red meat didn't also have saturated fat.) They also talked to many people that are in or were in the food industry and note that they are healthy because they avoid processed foods, but not that their diets besides that are diverse, and not necessarily following the guidelines that the author was using for what you should eat. So over all it was an interesting look into the ways that processed foods are made and the science that the food engineers use to make it so additive, but as far as health it has noting new to say, just the well known fact that these foods aren't good for you.
Non-Fiction: Food, Science 347 pages
Book Count: 60
You might wonder why I read a book against Fat and Salt when they are two of the things that I make sure that I get enough to eat in my diet, it was because some one on one of my diet/ WOE (way of eating) groups recommended it. Having read the book I have to say they must have been one of the clean eating people that also hang out in the Paleo groups and do a low fat diet. This book does a good job of showing how processes foods have tons of added salt, sugar and fat and how that makes you want to eat more or makes your body not understand how much you are really taking in. But it lacks much in the science of how foods make you fat, using mainly the government guidelines and the guidelines of a couple of organizations for the bench marks of how much of each thing you should have. It is also very not self aware of it's blind following of these guidelines. In the fat section it notes a study that found that you can eat over a pound of red meat a week with no increase in the cancer they were studying, but any processed meat increased the cancer risk, and there answer was because of the saturated fat in processed meat (as if the un-processed red meat didn't also have saturated fat.) They also talked to many people that are in or were in the food industry and note that they are healthy because they avoid processed foods, but not that their diets besides that are diverse, and not necessarily following the guidelines that the author was using for what you should eat. So over all it was an interesting look into the ways that processed foods are made and the science that the food engineers use to make it so additive, but as far as health it has noting new to say, just the well known fact that these foods aren't good for you.
Tuesday, November 04, 2014
How to Speak Brit:
How to Speak Brit: The Quintessential Guide to the King's English, Cockney Slang, and Other Flummoxing British Phrases By: Christopher J. Moore
Non-Fiction: 116 pages
Book Count: 59
I requested this from the library when looking to see what books they have by a similar named author. (see a couple of days below.) Anyway it looked interesting, and it was OK, but the title greatly over promised. The book was a small selection of words and phrases that are British, with a short entry of the word/phrases origin and how it is used in England, sometimes also where in England the word it from. The majority of the words are known in America but not necessary the history of the word, or that it was British.
Non-Fiction: 116 pages
Book Count: 59
I requested this from the library when looking to see what books they have by a similar named author. (see a couple of days below.) Anyway it looked interesting, and it was OK, but the title greatly over promised. The book was a small selection of words and phrases that are British, with a short entry of the word/phrases origin and how it is used in England, sometimes also where in England the word it from. The majority of the words are known in America but not necessary the history of the word, or that it was British.
Monday, November 03, 2014
Boozy Brunch:
Boozy Brunch By: Peter Joseph
Non-fiction: Food/Cooking 163 pages
Book Count: 58
This book starts with a short introduction to the history of brunch and why there should be more drink options then Bloody Marys and Mimosas for brunch. It then has a collection of drinks that are fruit, coffee, tea, milk, champagne (and other sparkling wine), and tomato based. As well as some brunch food recipes and ideas for which drinks would go well with them. And it also ends with a selection of drinks thought to be hang over cures. Along with the recipes are some histories of drinks and tips.
Non-fiction: Food/Cooking 163 pages
Book Count: 58
This book starts with a short introduction to the history of brunch and why there should be more drink options then Bloody Marys and Mimosas for brunch. It then has a collection of drinks that are fruit, coffee, tea, milk, champagne (and other sparkling wine), and tomato based. As well as some brunch food recipes and ideas for which drinks would go well with them. And it also ends with a selection of drinks thought to be hang over cures. Along with the recipes are some histories of drinks and tips.
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Wreck The Halls:
Wreck The Halls By: Jen Yates
Non-fiction: Humor, Holidays, 220 pages
Book Count: 57
This book is a collection of "festive" cake wrecks, which are cakes for sale, which shouldn't be. This book includes the various misspellings that you would expect, really poorly drawn holiday characters, and indescribable horrors (which might have been accidentally summoned by the Hanukkah pentagrams.) Also there is a chapter of sci-fi cakes, just because.
Non-fiction: Humor, Holidays, 220 pages
Book Count: 57
This book is a collection of "festive" cake wrecks, which are cakes for sale, which shouldn't be. This book includes the various misspellings that you would expect, really poorly drawn holiday characters, and indescribable horrors (which might have been accidentally summoned by the Hanukkah pentagrams.) Also there is a chapter of sci-fi cakes, just because.
Saturday, November 01, 2014
Holidays in November:
(As usual in no particle order beside date.)
Month long:
National Novel Writing Month (Actually international at this
point.)
National Blog Posting Month
Native American Heritage Month
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
American Diabetes Month
Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
No Shave November/Movember
National Adoption Awareness Month
Holidays:
November 1st
All
Saints’ Day
Day of
the Innocents - Day of the Dead
World
Vegan Day
November 2nd
All
Souls’ Day
Day of
the Dead (DÃa de los Muertos)
November 4th
Election
Day
November 5th
Guy
Fawkes Night
November 8th
World
Urbanism Day
November 9th
Dedication
of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
World
Freedom Day
November 11th
Veterans
Day/ Remembrance Day/Armistice Day
St.
Martin's Day
Pocky
Day
November 12th
Birth
of Bahá'u'lláh
November 13th
World
Kindness Day
Feast
of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Feast
of St. John Chrysostom
November 14th
World Diabetes
Day
November 15th
Feast
of Albert the Great
The
beginning of Winter Lent
Shichi-Go-San
November 16th
International
Day for Tolerance
Feast
of St. Gertrude the Great
Feast
of St. Matthew the Evangelist
November 17th
International
Students' Day
Feast
of St. Elisabeth of Hungary (oddly also celebrated tomorrow and the next day as
well depending on which branch of Christianity is celebrating it.)
November 19th
International
Men's Day
Day of
Repentance and Prayer
Discovery
of Puerto Rico
World
Toilet Day
November 20th
Transgender
Day of Remembrance
Universal
Children's Day
November 21st
National
Adoption Day
Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
No
Music Day
World
Hello Day
World
Television Day
November 22nd
National
Survivors of Suicide Day
Saint
George's Day
November 23rd
Feast
of Christ the King
International
Day to End Impunity
November 24th
Feast
of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and other Vietnamese Martyrs
November 25th
International
Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
November 26th
Day of
the Covenant
November 27th
Thanksgiving
Feast
of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
November 28th
Black
Friday
Buy
Nothing Day
November 30th
Start
of Advent
St.
Andrew's Day
Cities
for Life Day
Friday, October 31, 2014
A Book of Horrors:
A Book of Horrors Edited by: Stephen Jones
Fiction: Horror, sci-fi/fantasy, Paranormal 427 pages
Book Count: 56
This book is a collection of horror stories by a number of well known authors. Besides those two things there is no particle theme to tie the stories together.
Fiction: Horror, sci-fi/fantasy, Paranormal 427 pages
Book Count: 56
This book is a collection of horror stories by a number of well known authors. Besides those two things there is no particle theme to tie the stories together.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
The Serpent of Venice:
The Serpent of Venice by: Christopher Moore
Fiction: Humor, Classics, Paranormal 326 pages
Book Count: 55
This book is the follow up to the book Fool. (Review here.) This one being some what based on The Merchant of Venice, Othello and The Cask of Amontillado, which enough King Lear to tie them together. In this book Pocket (the fool) is in Venice with his sidekick Drool and monkey, Jeff. There is a number of characters from the source stories such as: Othello, Portia, Iago, Shylock, Jessica, Salanio and Salarino. As well as some that weren't like the Chorus (who people are constantly breaking the fourth wall with), Marco Polo, a dragon, and a ghost because "there's always a bloody ghost." And like all books by this author crazy things happen, but as it is based on Shakespeare it also includes tons of death and of course both writers agree on the large amount of codpiece jokes in the book.
Fiction: Humor, Classics, Paranormal 326 pages
Book Count: 55
This book is the follow up to the book Fool. (Review here.) This one being some what based on The Merchant of Venice, Othello and The Cask of Amontillado, which enough King Lear to tie them together. In this book Pocket (the fool) is in Venice with his sidekick Drool and monkey, Jeff. There is a number of characters from the source stories such as: Othello, Portia, Iago, Shylock, Jessica, Salanio and Salarino. As well as some that weren't like the Chorus (who people are constantly breaking the fourth wall with), Marco Polo, a dragon, and a ghost because "there's always a bloody ghost." And like all books by this author crazy things happen, but as it is based on Shakespeare it also includes tons of death and of course both writers agree on the large amount of codpiece jokes in the book.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Ghosts of the Deep:
Ghosts of the Deep By Daniel Cohen
Non-fiction: Paranormal, Children's 103 pages
Book Count: 54
This book is a collection of ghost stories relating to shipping and the sea. It includes the common story of Ocean Born Mary, and many stories of sailors who see loved ones at the time that they died.
Non-fiction: Paranormal, Children's 103 pages
Book Count: 54
This book is a collection of ghost stories relating to shipping and the sea. It includes the common story of Ocean Born Mary, and many stories of sailors who see loved ones at the time that they died.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Nosferatu -
Fun Facts:
-The company that made this film couldn't get the rights to Dracula and that's why there are slight changes in the plot and names.
-All but one copy of this film was destroyed due to its copyright infringements.
-Dracula was never copyright protected in the USA.
-This film is the reason why vampires are killed by sun light: in old legends they sometimes didn't come out during the day, but daylight wasn't necessarily going to burn them up, and in the book Dracula is only weaker in the daytime.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Bites:
Bites: Scary Stories to Sink Your Teeth Into Edited By: Lois Metzger
Fiction: Short Story, Paranormal, YA 103 pages
Book Count: 53
This collection of short stories has a good mix of things that go bump in the night; ghosts, werewolves, vampires and Coyote. Some are rather typical and some have some good twists. Also one story does take place in Flint, so bonus.
Fiction: Short Story, Paranormal, YA 103 pages
Book Count: 53
This collection of short stories has a good mix of things that go bump in the night; ghosts, werewolves, vampires and Coyote. Some are rather typical and some have some good twists. Also one story does take place in Flint, so bonus.
Friday, October 24, 2014
John Dies at the End:
John Dies at the End by: David Wong
Fiction: Paranormal, Sci-fi/ Fantasy 375 pages
Book Count: 52
This book is by one of the people from the Cracked website. On one hand it is nothing like what I would expect from someone that writes for the site. Although, it is funny in spots, it is not mainly a humor book. It is not a big list of thing where only half of them truly fit the title. It is fiction.
But on the other hand this book is exactly what I would expect from a Cracked writer. If a fever dream had a fever dream it's fever dream would almost be as odd as this book. This book is like a dozen somewhat connected stories that all can't fit in the same time line, but some how do, strung together with penis jokes in between. It is a story about mind altering drugs, inter-dimensional travel, alternate time lines, shadow people, love, ghosts, and many other things. Also, John may or may not die at some point(s) in the book.
Fiction: Paranormal, Sci-fi/ Fantasy 375 pages
Book Count: 52
This book is by one of the people from the Cracked website. On one hand it is nothing like what I would expect from someone that writes for the site. Although, it is funny in spots, it is not mainly a humor book. It is not a big list of thing where only half of them truly fit the title. It is fiction.
But on the other hand this book is exactly what I would expect from a Cracked writer. If a fever dream had a fever dream it's fever dream would almost be as odd as this book. This book is like a dozen somewhat connected stories that all can't fit in the same time line, but some how do, strung together with penis jokes in between. It is a story about mind altering drugs, inter-dimensional travel, alternate time lines, shadow people, love, ghosts, and many other things. Also, John may or may not die at some point(s) in the book.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
American Chillers #37: The Underground Undead of Utah:
American Chillers #37: The Underground Undead of Utah by: Johnathan Rand
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal, 174 pages
Book Count: 51
ZOMBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAINSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
American Chillers #12: Dangerous Dolls of Delaware:
American Chillers #12: Dangerous Dolls of Delaware Johnathan Rand
Evil dolls come back to life, (because what other types of dolls do you think would be alive in a series like this?)
Also,
" Or, imagine being magically whisked away to... Delaware.
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal, 163 pages
Book Count: 50Evil dolls come back to life, (because what other types of dolls do you think would be alive in a series like this?)
Also,
" Or, imagine being magically whisked away to... Delaware.
[pauses]
Hi. I'm in... Delaware." - Wayne's World
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Michigan Chillers #1: Mayhem on Mackinac Island:
Michigan Chillers #1: Mayhem on Mackinac Island by: Johnathan Rand
I had forgotten how addictive these stories are: a quick, easy to read book, that you know the main formula used to make it, but still enjoyable, a guilty pleasure type of book. They are like the potato crisps of books. . . you can't stop at one. (Although, I'm sure when some one reads this they will remind me that this is the same things I complain about in the reading choices of certain family members, but unlike some people, I don't think that this is a classic or high literature. I don't have a problem with reading about sparkly vampires or Amish women in love, I have a problem with thinking sparkly vampires is great literature. In short, I would like to admit that I like the modern children's version of penny dreadfuls and pulp fiction but I'm not going to be surprised that it isn't nominated for the Noble prize for literature. [And yes I know some great stories came out of penny dreadful and pulp fiction writers, but most are long forgotten now, often for good reasons.])
Now on to the plot. A brother and sister summer each year on Mackinac Island, but one year they get sucked into the Island of Mayhem, which is Mackinac in some sort of parallel dimension. Now they must find a stone key in Skull Mountain to get back home.
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal, 170 pages
Book Count: 49I had forgotten how addictive these stories are: a quick, easy to read book, that you know the main formula used to make it, but still enjoyable, a guilty pleasure type of book. They are like the potato crisps of books. . . you can't stop at one. (Although, I'm sure when some one reads this they will remind me that this is the same things I complain about in the reading choices of certain family members, but unlike some people, I don't think that this is a classic or high literature. I don't have a problem with reading about sparkly vampires or Amish women in love, I have a problem with thinking sparkly vampires is great literature. In short, I would like to admit that I like the modern children's version of penny dreadfuls and pulp fiction but I'm not going to be surprised that it isn't nominated for the Noble prize for literature. [And yes I know some great stories came out of penny dreadful and pulp fiction writers, but most are long forgotten now, often for good reasons.])
Now on to the plot. A brother and sister summer each year on Mackinac Island, but one year they get sucked into the Island of Mayhem, which is Mackinac in some sort of parallel dimension. Now they must find a stone key in Skull Mountain to get back home.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Michigan Chillers #15: Calumet Copper Creatures:
Michigan Chillers #15: Calumet Copper Creatures by: Johnathan Rand
First, long time readers of this blog might remember that the town of Calumet already has a chilling history.
Second, in this book the author even writes himself into the story, as well as writing in a bit to connect it to another book that he wrote, to hook people into reading it too. (Which they have done in every book, as well as having a couple of chapters of that book in the back.)
Third, as the title gives away this book takes place in Calumet and deals with it's history as a copper mining town.
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal, 177 pages
Book Count: 48First, long time readers of this blog might remember that the town of Calumet already has a chilling history.
Second, in this book the author even writes himself into the story, as well as writing in a bit to connect it to another book that he wrote, to hook people into reading it too. (Which they have done in every book, as well as having a couple of chapters of that book in the back.)
Third, as the title gives away this book takes place in Calumet and deals with it's history as a copper mining town.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Michigan Chillers #11: Great Lakes Ghost Ship:
Michigan Chillers #11: Great Lakes Ghost Ship by: Johnathan Rand
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal, 180 pages
Book Count: 47
I am fairly sure that this book could have been a NYR book, except I have no idea where the books I bought for an author signing at the school went to. . . as it's not like they're being read by anyone.
Anyway this book takes place in Cheboygan, but the kids in it are mostly from Grand Blanc (because what type of scary story would happen in Grand Blanc? The traffic ticket of doom?) This story is about a legendary ghost ship on the Great Lakes. (I didn't bother to look up the see if it might be a real legend or made up like the mummy one, as it's complexly believable in either case.) Anyway the two kids from Grand Blanc and there friend that lives in Cheboygan go to see the US Coast Guard Cutter, the Mackinaw. When they are looking at it the uncle of the local kid who works on the ship invite them on for a tour. When in the middle of the ship he gets called away and tell them to stay there until he gets back. They wait until they see a zombie sailor coming to where they are and they know that the legend of the ghost ship must be true and they need to escape.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Michigan Chillers #10: Mackinaw City Mummies:
Michigan Chillers #10: Mackinaw City Mummies By: Johnathan Rand
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal 169 pages
Book Count: 46
As you can tell from the title this book series is a collection of scary stories that take place around Michigan. In this book a boy finds an ankh when digging for nightcrawlers in Mackinaw City and he and his friend end up on an adventure dealing with ancient Egyptian mummies because Egypt and Mackinaw City are connected by a legendary cave.
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal 169 pages
Book Count: 46
As you can tell from the title this book series is a collection of scary stories that take place around Michigan. In this book a boy finds an ankh when digging for nightcrawlers in Mackinaw City and he and his friend end up on an adventure dealing with ancient Egyptian mummies because Egypt and Mackinaw City are connected by a legendary cave.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Rotten School - Night of the Creepy Things:
Rotten School - Night of the Creepy Things By: R. L. Stine
Fiction: Children's, humor 106 pages
Book Count: 45
This book is book 14 in the series, but as it isn't written anywhere on the book I didn't put it in the title information. This series seams to be written at a 2nd or 3rd grade reading level, and is the type of story where unusual things are seen as normal, but there isn't any blatant supernatural/paranormal activities in the book. In this book a graduate of Rotten School who makes horror films starts a contest where the kid with the best homemade horror film will be an extra in his next film. The main characters try to make many different films with funny results.
Fiction: Children's, humor 106 pages
Book Count: 45
This book is book 14 in the series, but as it isn't written anywhere on the book I didn't put it in the title information. This series seams to be written at a 2nd or 3rd grade reading level, and is the type of story where unusual things are seen as normal, but there isn't any blatant supernatural/paranormal activities in the book. In this book a graduate of Rotten School who makes horror films starts a contest where the kid with the best homemade horror film will be an extra in his next film. The main characters try to make many different films with funny results.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Goosebumps Most Wanted: Planet of the Lawn Gnomes Vol:1:
Goosebumps Most Wanted: Planet of the Lawn Gnomes Vol:1
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal, 125 pages
Book Count: 44
Jay has just moved to a new town after an incident in his old town. His new neighbor is a cranky old man and the town is full of creepy lawn gnomes that always are being moved around when he isn't looking. So it starts much like the original Goosebumps series. And it also ends with an ending much like the one that you would expect. But the middle is more layered then I remember Goosebumps being. The reading level is about the same level as before.
Fiction: Children's, Paranormal, 125 pages
Book Count: 44
Jay has just moved to a new town after an incident in his old town. His new neighbor is a cranky old man and the town is full of creepy lawn gnomes that always are being moved around when he isn't looking. So it starts much like the original Goosebumps series. And it also ends with an ending much like the one that you would expect. But the middle is more layered then I remember Goosebumps being. The reading level is about the same level as before.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Update:
We at WNBNI have noticed many new horror/scary stories series in the children's section of the library while certain unnamed peoples play on the computer or pick out books where normal kids write in journals or diaries. So, having failed in convincing them to read said books, we are reading them our self (not that we wouldn't read them if they checked them out, just that then we would sneak them and not count them as books we read, like how bedtime stories aren't on the list.)
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Zombie-Loan Vol. 1:
Zombie-Loan Vol. 1 By: Peach-Pit
Non-Fiction: Manga, Paranormal, 191 pages
Book Count: 43
Two high school boys survived an accident where everyone died. Now an orphan girl who can see the black ring around the neck of people that are going to die finds out the secret of how they "lived" and gets sucked into their world of zombie loans.
Non-Fiction: Manga, Paranormal, 191 pages
Book Count: 43
Two high school boys survived an accident where everyone died. Now an orphan girl who can see the black ring around the neck of people that are going to die finds out the secret of how they "lived" and gets sucked into their world of zombie loans.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Monster on the Hill:
Monster on the Hill By: Rob Harrell
Non-fiction: Manga/ Graphic novel, humor, Sci-fi
Book Count: 42
In this tale of Victorian England every town has their own monster on the hill. The monster scares the town folk from time to time, helping with tourism and protects the town from Murk. But the monster for Stoker-on-Avon just mopes around refusing to scare anyone. So Dr. Charles Wilkie, a disgraced doctor and scientist who has damaged the town more then the monster with his inventions and experiments and Timothy the town's town crier and stereotypical plucky, orphan, street urchin work to help the monster be more monster like.
Non-fiction: Manga/ Graphic novel, humor, Sci-fi
Book Count: 42
In this tale of Victorian England every town has their own monster on the hill. The monster scares the town folk from time to time, helping with tourism and protects the town from Murk. But the monster for Stoker-on-Avon just mopes around refusing to scare anyone. So Dr. Charles Wilkie, a disgraced doctor and scientist who has damaged the town more then the monster with his inventions and experiments and Timothy the town's town crier and stereotypical plucky, orphan, street urchin work to help the monster be more monster like.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Famous Last Words #3
(Which might contain quotes from earlier Famous Last Words)
- Either that wallpaper goes, or I do. - Oscar Wilde
- I die hard but am not afraid to go. - George Washington
- I have offended God and mankind because my work did not
reach the quality it should have. - Leonardo da Vinci
- I feel here that this time they have succeeded. - Leon
Trotsky
- I've had eighteen straight whiskies, I think that's the
record . . . - Dylan Thomas
- I knew it. I knew it. Born in a hotel room - and God damn
it - died in a hotel room. - Eugene O'Neill
- Too late for fruit, too soon for flowers. - Walter De La Mare, writer
- A King should die standing. - Louis XVIII
- I see black light. - Victor Hugo
- I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the
dark. - Thomas Hobbes
- Turn up the lights, I don't want to go home in the dark. -
O. Henry
- I'd hate to die twice. It's so boring. - Richard Feynman, physicist
- I've never felt better.- Douglas Fairbanks, Sr
- All my possessions for a moment of time. - Elizabeth I
- No, I shall not give in. I shall go on. I shall work to
the end.- Edward VII
- The earth is suffocating . . . Swear to make them cut me
open, so that I won't be buried alive. - Frederic Chopin
- I am dying. I haven't drunk champagne for a long time. - Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
- I am still alive! - Gaius Caligula
- I am about to -- or I am going to -- die: either
expression is correct. - Dominique Bouhours, French grammarian
- I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis. - Humphrey Bogart
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Ghost Under Foot:
Ghost Under Foot: The Spirit of Mary Bell A True Story of One
Family's Haunting By: Kenneth W. Harmon
Non-fiction: Paranormal, 272 pages
Book Count: 41
I quickly picked up this book from the library with only a
few minutes to run in and out, and so with a quick glance at the title, I was
thinking that it was about the famous story of the Bell Witch, forgetting that
the haunted family was named Bell and not the ghost. But this is the story of a former police
officer that becomes fixated on learning more about, and interacting with, the
ghost of a young woman that died in the 1880's near his house. He
spends most every day since he finds that his house was haunted filming, taking
pictures, trying to communicate with and researching the ghost. I felt sorry for his family who all were to varying
levels less enthused about having a ghost.
Also, according to this book once you die you can become a physic, time
traveler, who sneaks into movie theaters.
At the end of the book were some questions that he asked the ghost after
finding out that they have all these abilities.
The ghost of Mary Bell doesn’t believe in the existence of Bigfoot,
Nessie, vampires, the Amityville Horror or evolution. But
she does believe in aliens, Atlantis, Spontaneous Human Combustion, and
God. Also even people that died a century ago think
O.J. did it.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Scooby-Doo and the Night of the Undead!:
Scooby-Doo and the Night of the Undead! By: Paul Kupperberg
Non-fiction: Manga/Graphic Novel, Mystery, Children's 23 pages
After read yesterday's book and this one, I checked the info in both books to see if they were even made by the same company or if there was a vast difference in the ages of the books. While yesterday's book used old story lines and art styles and removed all mystery from a mystery series, this one had a plot line much like an episode of the show, a modern look and added a page of info on a mythic creature after each story. It turns out they were both made by the same company and only a year apart.
This one has a story about zombies and swamp monsters. The zombie story uses the virus reason for zombies and the swamp monster one references hurricane Katrina.
Non-fiction: Manga/Graphic Novel, Mystery, Children's 23 pages
After read yesterday's book and this one, I checked the info in both books to see if they were even made by the same company or if there was a vast difference in the ages of the books. While yesterday's book used old story lines and art styles and removed all mystery from a mystery series, this one had a plot line much like an episode of the show, a modern look and added a page of info on a mythic creature after each story. It turns out they were both made by the same company and only a year apart.
This one has a story about zombies and swamp monsters. The zombie story uses the virus reason for zombies and the swamp monster one references hurricane Katrina.
Thursday, October 09, 2014
Scooby-Doo and Those Meddling Kids:
Scooby-Doo and Those Meddling Kids By: John Rozum
Non-fiction: Manga/Graphic novel, Mystery, Children's 23 pages
This book has two Scooby-Doo story lines in it. One that seams to be taken directly from the old 1970's era show. However, for some reason it is told in such a way that you know who the bad guy is right from the start.
Non-fiction: Manga/Graphic novel, Mystery, Children's 23 pages
This book has two Scooby-Doo story lines in it. One that seams to be taken directly from the old 1970's era show. However, for some reason it is told in such a way that you know who the bad guy is right from the start.
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Vader's Little Princess:
Vader's Little Princess By: Jeffrey Brown
Non-fiction: Manga/Graphic Novel, Humor, Pop Culture 64 pages
Book Count: 40
This is the sequel to Darth Vader and Son and is mostly about Darth with Lei. Instead of just dealing with their relationship as a father and small child, this book starts with her being little as goes up into her teen-aged years. It includes her dating Han and being a "rebel" teen.
Non-fiction: Manga/Graphic Novel, Humor, Pop Culture 64 pages
Book Count: 40
This is the sequel to Darth Vader and Son and is mostly about Darth with Lei. Instead of just dealing with their relationship as a father and small child, this book starts with her being little as goes up into her teen-aged years. It includes her dating Han and being a "rebel" teen.
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
Inherited Magic:
Inherited Magic By: Jennifer Mccullah
Fiction: YA, Paranormal, E-book
From the info at the end of this book it looks like this is book one in a series. It is a story of a girl that on her 16th birthday starts getting weird visions of the future and things that are happening right then, but at other locations. She of course hides this information from her grandmother, who she lives with as her mother is dead and her father is not in her life. But like many YA books there is a ton of foreshadowing so you know that her grandmother already knows more about what is happening to her then she does.
Fiction: YA, Paranormal, E-book
From the info at the end of this book it looks like this is book one in a series. It is a story of a girl that on her 16th birthday starts getting weird visions of the future and things that are happening right then, but at other locations. She of course hides this information from her grandmother, who she lives with as her mother is dead and her father is not in her life. But like many YA books there is a ton of foreshadowing so you know that her grandmother already knows more about what is happening to her then she does.
Monday, October 06, 2014
Seven Ways to Die:
Seven Ways to Die By: William Diehl and Kenneth Atchity
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, E-book
This book has two interesting premises: one a person that can communicate with animals working as a detective in New York City, and two serial killer(s) who are killing people in a different way each time as well as making each murder look like the victim died from something besides the real cause of death. In the actual book it came off as if one of the CSI shows was on HBO, lots of detailed info on forensics and then unnecessary sex talk/scenes that besides reinforcing how big of a perv some characters are, do nothing for the plot.
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, E-book
This book has two interesting premises: one a person that can communicate with animals working as a detective in New York City, and two serial killer(s) who are killing people in a different way each time as well as making each murder look like the victim died from something besides the real cause of death. In the actual book it came off as if one of the CSI shows was on HBO, lots of detailed info on forensics and then unnecessary sex talk/scenes that besides reinforcing how big of a perv some characters are, do nothing for the plot.
Sunday, October 05, 2014
The Basement:
The Basement By: Chad P. Brown
Fiction: Paranormal, Short Story, E-book
This story is your basic short horror story, girl goes into a
haunted house where a murder took place on a dare, scary things happen.
Saturday, October 04, 2014
Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life Inspired:
Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life Inspired By: Wyatt North
Non-fiction: Biography, Religion, E-book
This is a short biography of St. Francis of Assisi with some info on St. Clair as well as how he influenced Pope Francis and others. The parts that are a biography of Sts. Francis and Clair are okay, but very limited. When not recounting the lives of St Francis and his companions the author's voice is overwhelming and preachy. For example, he spends almost more time telling us what he will talk about later then actually talking about a subject.
Non-fiction: Biography, Religion, E-book
This is a short biography of St. Francis of Assisi with some info on St. Clair as well as how he influenced Pope Francis and others. The parts that are a biography of Sts. Francis and Clair are okay, but very limited. When not recounting the lives of St Francis and his companions the author's voice is overwhelming and preachy. For example, he spends almost more time telling us what he will talk about later then actually talking about a subject.
Friday, October 03, 2014
Halloween Is For Lovers:
Halloween Is For Lovers By: Nate Gubin
Fiction: Paranormal, Humor, Holiday, E-book
In a twist on the classic dead bride story, this is the story of a man that died on his wedding day. He got cold feet and was going to run away to the west coast when he decided to turn his car back around and get married. As he was hurrying back to the wedding he crashed his car and dies. Now he is in the land of the dead in a pointless, boring job when he finds out that on Halloween night, as the veil between the living and the dead is weak, he might be able to go back to tell his ex-fiance that he loves her and he was coming back to her when he died.
Fiction: Paranormal, Humor, Holiday, E-book
In a twist on the classic dead bride story, this is the story of a man that died on his wedding day. He got cold feet and was going to run away to the west coast when he decided to turn his car back around and get married. As he was hurrying back to the wedding he crashed his car and dies. Now he is in the land of the dead in a pointless, boring job when he finds out that on Halloween night, as the veil between the living and the dead is weak, he might be able to go back to tell his ex-fiance that he loves her and he was coming back to her when he died.
Thursday, October 02, 2014
Diary of a Fairy Godmother:
Diary of a Fairy Godmother By: Esme Raji Codell
Fiction: Children's, Sci-fi/Fantasy, NYR 170 pages
Book Count: 39
Hunky Dory was going to be the wickedest witch wherever the four winds blow, and then she learned about fairy Godmothers and started wanting to grant wishes instead of give curses. From there she goes on an adventure of self discovery that includes references to many of the fairy tales and stories about witches from around the world. There is also a list of lessens from the school book that witches and fairy Godmothers use at the end of the book, a recipe, and a biography of books dealing with witches and fairy Godmothers.
Fiction: Children's, Sci-fi/Fantasy, NYR 170 pages
Book Count: 39
Hunky Dory was going to be the wickedest witch wherever the four winds blow, and then she learned about fairy Godmothers and started wanting to grant wishes instead of give curses. From there she goes on an adventure of self discovery that includes references to many of the fairy tales and stories about witches from around the world. There is also a list of lessens from the school book that witches and fairy Godmothers use at the end of the book, a recipe, and a biography of books dealing with witches and fairy Godmothers.
Wednesday, October 01, 2014
Holidays in October-
(Not counting Halloween)
*Besides date in no particular order.
Month long:
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Month
National Pork Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Diabetes Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Infertility Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Lupus Erythematosus Awareness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
World Blindness Awareness Month
Polish American Heritage Month
LGBT History Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
Pastor/Clergy Appreciation Month
Week Long:
Mental Illness Awareness Week
National Fire Prevention Week
Holidays:
October 1st
Feast
of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (of Lisieux)
October 2nd
Birthday
of Mahatma Gandhi
International
Day of Non-Violence
National
Poetry Day
Feast
of the Guardia Angels
Start
of Haji
October 4th
Feast
of St. Francis of Assisi
Yom Kipper
Start
of Eid ul Adha
World
Animal Day
October 5th
International
World Teachers' day
October 7th
Feast
of Our Lady of the Rosary
October 9th
Start
of Sukkot
Leif
Erikson Day
October 13th
Columbus
Day
October 15th
Pregnancy
and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Feast
of St. Teresa of Jesus (of Avila)
October 16th
Shemini
Atzeret
World
Food Day
October 17th
Feast
of St. Ignatius of Antioch
Simchat
Torah
October 18th
Feast
of St. Luke
October 23rd
Mole
Day
October 24th
United
Nations Day
October 27th
Navy
Day
October 28th
Feast
of Sts. Simon and Jude
October 29th
National
Frankenstein Day
October 30th
National
Candy Corn Day
October 31st
Samhain
Start
of the Day of the Dead
Happy Month of Halloween!!
We at Weird News B.N.I. have decided that we will once again work on making the last three months of the year one great big Super Special Edition full of Holiday cheer, fear, and something that rhymes with cheer and fear and relates to Thanksgiving. . . beer? Anyway, with Nanowritmo we aren't going to promise too much about Thanksgiving anyway, but for now happy month of Halloween!! (Which some people call October, even though it isn't the 8th month, thanks Caesars!)
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything:
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life By: James Martin, SJ
Non-fiction: religion 406 pages
Book Count: 38
This book is about the spiritual practices of the Jesuits and of course St. Ignatius of Loyola who founded the Jesuits. It includes information on: the six paths to God, the examen, imaginative prayer/contemplation, lectio divina, centering prayer, the colloquy, how the vows that Jesuits (and other religious orders) take can be useful in anyone's' life, decision making methods, and the contemplative in action. Peppered throughout the book are also a lot of stories about the author's life, the lives of people that he knows, and famous Jesuits including a lot of ones about the first members of the society of Jesus. These stories are used as a way of showing how the ideas that he is talking about work in real life, or to give an example of some idea that he is talking about. And of course there are a number of jokes about the Jesuits like every other book by the author that I have read.
Non-fiction: religion 406 pages
Book Count: 38
This book is about the spiritual practices of the Jesuits and of course St. Ignatius of Loyola who founded the Jesuits. It includes information on: the six paths to God, the examen, imaginative prayer/contemplation, lectio divina, centering prayer, the colloquy, how the vows that Jesuits (and other religious orders) take can be useful in anyone's' life, decision making methods, and the contemplative in action. Peppered throughout the book are also a lot of stories about the author's life, the lives of people that he knows, and famous Jesuits including a lot of ones about the first members of the society of Jesus. These stories are used as a way of showing how the ideas that he is talking about work in real life, or to give an example of some idea that he is talking about. And of course there are a number of jokes about the Jesuits like every other book by the author that I have read.
Friday, September 12, 2014
No mid-month books:
FYI: For those of you that know my schedule you will understand that I have not finished any books in the last fortnight so I will have no post until later in the month (hopefully!)
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Death Comes to Town:
Death Comes to Town By: K. J. Emrick
Fiction: Mystery, e- book
First, I have to say, if you can talk with dead people, I would think you wouldn't have such a hard time solving murders. But that is apparently not the case as the main character in this book series can talk to the dead and have visions of what happened to them, but still can not solve the case any faster then non-physic detectives.
Besides her surprisingly unhelpful abilities this story is a normal cozy mystery about a book seller whose friend/ neighbor and ex were killed, and who fears that they are the next on the killers list. And so they decide to find the killer before they find her.
Fiction: Mystery, e- book
First, I have to say, if you can talk with dead people, I would think you wouldn't have such a hard time solving murders. But that is apparently not the case as the main character in this book series can talk to the dead and have visions of what happened to them, but still can not solve the case any faster then non-physic detectives.
Besides her surprisingly unhelpful abilities this story is a normal cozy mystery about a book seller whose friend/ neighbor and ex were killed, and who fears that they are the next on the killers list. And so they decide to find the killer before they find her.
Monday, September 01, 2014
Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War:
Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War By: Hal Vaughan
Non-fiction: Biography 222 pages
Book Count: 37
This book is a biography of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel dealing largely with her life as it related to WWII, a time that many of her other biographies gloss over. Most do this as she actively tried to hide her activities during the war after it and because many of the files and information about that time were lost, destroyed or ended up in the USSR after the war. It turns out that the famous French fashion designer was also a spy for the Nazis during WWII. Although the book points out in many spots that she was an extreme anti-Semite, which they claim is do to her religious upbringing with no reason given why she would be more an anti-Semite then others with similar upbringing, her spying had little to do with her thoughts on the Nazis as a whole. She did try to use the laws of France when under the German control to get control of her perfume business back, but that was due to a bad business deal and not because of the religion of the owners. Largely she was a spy in order to help out her friends and family during the war and because her current lover at the time was a top level German spy. Besides seeing a part of the life of a famous person that you would never expect, this book does a good job of showing how interconnected many of the top people on both sides of the war were with each other.
Non-fiction: Biography 222 pages
Book Count: 37
This book is a biography of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel dealing largely with her life as it related to WWII, a time that many of her other biographies gloss over. Most do this as she actively tried to hide her activities during the war after it and because many of the files and information about that time were lost, destroyed or ended up in the USSR after the war. It turns out that the famous French fashion designer was also a spy for the Nazis during WWII. Although the book points out in many spots that she was an extreme anti-Semite, which they claim is do to her religious upbringing with no reason given why she would be more an anti-Semite then others with similar upbringing, her spying had little to do with her thoughts on the Nazis as a whole. She did try to use the laws of France when under the German control to get control of her perfume business back, but that was due to a bad business deal and not because of the religion of the owners. Largely she was a spy in order to help out her friends and family during the war and because her current lover at the time was a top level German spy. Besides seeing a part of the life of a famous person that you would never expect, this book does a good job of showing how interconnected many of the top people on both sides of the war were with each other.
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