Moving!

After a lot of thought, I've decided to change my whole blogging focus and location.  My new blog, Holy Terrors, will address topics about genre fiction and religion.

I hope you all will consider paying me a visit!

Book Review B-I-N-G-O!

Have you had your fill of cliched book reviews?  Then give this a try...

The brain child of Book Examiner, Michelle Kerns, Book Review Bingo is an game every bibliophile ought to try.  Here's how to play:

- Begin with the top 20 most annoying book review cliches 

- Print off the Bingo cards (below)

- Mark off a square every time you run across one in book review

So why is Kerns promoting this new game?  She sees it as kind of a wake-up call.  "...unless book reviewers quit with the knee-jerk reviewerspeak, we will lose the hearts and minds of everyone who is even remotely partial to the Great Literary Discussion"

Enjoy!

WonderCon, The National Enquirer and Jonestown

It's a Wonder

Comic book enthusiasts who flock to Comic-Con International in San Diego might want to consider going north to WonderCon in San Francisco.  Last year's attendance at Wondercon topped out at 34,000, and this year is expected to met or exceed that number.  Many attendees appreciate the smaller convention and think that the San Fran convention hasn't been overrun by Hollywood.  (Publisher's Weekly).

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Truth is Stranger than the National Enquirer

In a story so outlandish that even the National Enquirer might not have printed it, the grocery store tabloid was nominated for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize earlier this year for uncovering the John Edwards sex scandal.  But, according to an article by Shelley Ross, a one-time editor for the paper, this isn't the first time the tabloid has had a shot at the coveted prize.  Back in 1978, a reporter came to the paper eager to write a story on, "a cult of Americans in Central America, many brainwashed, being put through mass suicide drills."  Yes, it was Jonestown.  And, no, the Enquirer didn't carry the story.

Welch, Salinger in the Limelight

Raquel Welch Tells It Like It Was

Rebecca Dana, blogging for the Daily Beast, reports that at age 69, former sex symbol Raquel Welch is telling her story in her new autobiography Beyond the Clevage.  Among other things, the actress's book uncovers is Ms. Welch's feelings against feminism.  Says Welch, "We are not like men. We don't want to be like men, not really."

J.D. Salinger Okay by FBI

Although many famous writers of the 20th century including Hemingway and Alan Gingsberg attracted the attention of the FBI, Catcher and the Rye author, J. D. Salinger did not.  Though that may not be the final word on the matter since the request to cross-reference is still pending.  (The Huffington Post)

Vook, The Girl, and Preppies Run Amok

This is a new look and format for my blog.  I hope that all of you find the publishing news interesting and informative!

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Watch Out for New-style e-readers

First there was Kindle, then Nook, now meet Vook.  According to Publisher's Weekly, book publisher Vook is releasing a unique line of media  (Think Video + Book = Vook).  According to the publisher, their new blend of words and video is a perfect match for Apple's new toy - the iPad.

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Waiting for The Girl?  Well, keep waiting

National Public Radio reports that fans the final book in Stieg Larsson's Millennium popular trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the Girl who Played with Fire) may have to wait a little longer to read The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.  Even buying the book online may be problematic because any US sales violates the publishing agreement, says The Girl series publisher, Knopf.

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Gag Me with a Spoon...Again

Remember that old classic from the 1980's - The Official Preppy Handbook?  Well, it's about to get a face lift.    The New York Times reports that True Prep is hoping to gain a whole new audience of preppy aficionados.  While some things remain the same, True Prep is going multi-cultural by adding a section on African-American preppies and adding information on what technology defines a prep.

Review - "How to Train Your Dragon"

Once again, my good friend the FilmNut let me blog on his site. Today's review is How to Train Your Dragon.

Under the Dome

Under the Dome by Stephen King


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
One fine day in early October, the little New England town of Chester's Mill is suddenly encapsulated in a mysterious dome. For the next fives days, the residents struggle to survive an ever-deteriorating environment as the outside world looks helplessly on.

For the past several years, Stephen King has been offering his readers tepid versions of his earlier, far more frightening stories. The plots have been full of holes, the scares have been weak, and the books have been, well, boring.

But no more.

At 1,1000 pages, 'The Dome' can be an arduous read (the cast of characters tops out at about thirty), but it is well worth the trouble. Classic King, this novel is full of those wonderfully, horrible moments that will give nearly any reader nightmares. Or at least the heebie-jeebies.

Additionally, the book is a marvelous allegory of our time. It reflects the reality of our blame-happy society, letting us know that we all play a part in our demise.

Read this book!

If you dare.

View all my reviews >>