The Book Zombie

Review – Tales From The Crypt Volumes 1, 2, 3

On our trips to the local Library, once I’m done browsing it’s time to start searching for the rest of the family, and it’s not unusual to find them in the same place every time – sprawled out in the Graphic Novels aisle. The latest venture into this popular section I was greeted by comments like “wait I just have to find issue #4” and “OMG can you believe they have the newest collection of X-Men” and “just because the lights are off doesn’t mean the library is closing” – and these were just the hubs comments! Anyway, since I was on the lookout for some new comics myself I took a quick peek, and ended up finding 3 collections of Tales From The Crypt Graphic Novels *squeee* I love these. Always having been a fan of the comics, TV show and cartoon show, I grabbed the first 3 volumes to add to my check-out pile.

Each volume contains 4 short tales, including a pun-filled introduction from The Crypt-Keeper, The Old Witch and The Vault-Keeper. At the back of the issue you can also find a sneak preview of the next edition and 2-3 additional articles about Papercutz (the publisher). As always, the stories themselves are in the traditional Tales From The Crypt style where bad things happen to bad people, often in bizarre, unusual or hilarious ways.

Tale From The Crypt #1 – Ghouls Gone Wild

Body Of Work - Neighbours of a famous artist (who happens to specialize in gruesome cemetery portraits) plan an art heist in order to retire to sunny Florida. But of course, their scheme goes horrifically wrong.

For Serious Collectors Only – Thomas Donalley is a collector of action figures, you know the ones you never take out of the box. When he sees a super rare Asian import he is willing to do anything to add it to his collection. But he ends up getting much more than he wanted and losing alot in the process.

The Tenant – This story is a warning for all the bad landlords who neglect the upkeep on their properties. The tenant from this story is determined to get her living conditions up to par.

Runaway Roadkill – A fashion designer diva knows that her new designs are not going to be a hit on the runway this season, but she is determined to stay on this top in the industry. In the end she realizes that some clothes really are ‘to die for’.

Tales From The Crypt #2 – Can You Fear Me Now

A Murderin’ Idol – Everyone wants to be the next PopStar Idol, but not everyone is willing to go as far as Jaysan. With a few tricks Jaysan has all the voters on his side, now he just needs to do something about Slymon Bowell, the toughest, snidest, most evil judge.

Crystal Clear – For this rotten drug dealer, the newest technology in cell phones – an optical implant – is very important for his business dealings. However no technology will save him from his past.

Slabbed – Serious comic collectors know how important it is to keep comics in plastic sleeves for protection. The collector is this story also knows how important it is to protect his comics from thieves. And his security system is the rarest one available.

The Garden – Richard is an unhappy person, unsatisfied with his life and society as a whole. When he is given an offer to live in paradise, he is helpless to turn it down. But in the end he comes to find out you always get what you deserve in the end.

Tales From The Crypt #3 – Zombielicious

Extra Life – The popularity of online gaming and Sim-like environments has become a huge hit with people looking to escape their everyday lives. Andy (known as Evenblade in a World Of Warcraft style game) has been spending more and more time online, ignoring his real life. Only when the two worlds collide, does he realize you don’t get an extra life every time.

The Queen Of The Vampires – Sybil and Tanith are the biggest fans of Victoria Price (author of the worlds most popular vampire books). When the chance to meet this author arises, only one can go. And the winner will finally find out just where the authors ideas come from.

Graveyard Shift At The Twilight Gardens – Thomas Donalley, from Vol #1 makes a return appearance for this tale. Thomas has a new job, working in a nursing home. He is trying hard to give up his bad ways, but temptation is hard to resist. Unbeknownst to him, he is being tested, and he fails miserably, just when he thought he was doing something right for a change. But he does learn that value, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Kid Tested, Mother Approved – Jimmy is the greatest kid in the world, according to his mom. So he can’t figure out why everyone seems to go crazy just because he skips breakfast. Now Jimmy is more than a little suspicious about the ‘Chocolate Stuffed Fruity Grain Balls’ that used to be his all-time favourite cereal.

Check out all the information about Tales From The Crypt Graphic Novels and more at Papercutz

FYI - Review Questionnaire

Just today someone was asking for a copy of Dewey’s review questionnaire, I used this a lot since I’ve been reviewing and had saved a copy. If anyone is looking for it I have uploaded it to my google documents. Feel free to use it, pass it along, or edit for your own use – but please keep in mind that Dewey was the original creator of this questionnaire. Here is the link: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d2xc57b_39f9xss9hm

Review – Passenger by Ronald Damien Malfi

Synopsis
A man wakes up on a Baltimore City bus with no memory of who he is, where he is going, or what has happened to him. His head is recently shaved. His clothes appear new. And written on the palm of one hand is an address… Passenger is a haunting journey of discovery, where the protagonist stumbles through Baltimore’s crumbling streets and a collection of strangely wonderful characters in search of his identity. Yet the more he tries to uncover the mystery of his past, the more he learns it has been hidden from him for a reason.

Review
Ronald Damien Malfi has utilized one of the greatest forms of horror with his novel Passenger, a silent and invisible horror that you can feel sneaking around the edges. The famous Twilight Zone theme would be the perfect accompaniment to this story, as the mysterious Doo-doo-Doo-doo-Doo-doo melody filters through your mind as you subconsciously wait for the final jarring DAH-DAH!

“If you have no memory – no sense of self – then you will not know if you have ever been happy or sad, frightened or content, proud or modest. And you therefore would be unable to experience these things without some hinge, some nexus to the past. If you cannot remember being happy, how will you know what happiness is or when you have found it again?”

The main character of Passenger is a man who has awoken into a world he knows nothing about, mystery both surrounds and haunts him. He seems to know that he should avoid searching out the truth of his identity but he is helpless to ignore the need to know. With only an address to go on, he begins on a journey that may not end the way he hopes, or perhaps it will. Along the way he will come by characters who offer help and guidance, but how does he know who to trust and can he even trust himself.

“When you don’t know who you are, it is hard to tell where you end and where the world begins.”

Passenger takes place in the city of Baltimore, and the author’s descriptions of it bring this city to life in such a way that a reader may feel a part of the story itself. The people that live in this city are an unusual assortment, all very original but also containing a hint of the familiar, as though they could be the people you pass everyday on the street. The writing is especially engaging, both in the realistic dialogue and the darkly alluring descriptions.

“The Middle Eastern sandwich shop slumps halfhearted against the buildings on either side of it. The neon lights behind the grated window reflect in the sidewalk snow. In the daylight, so obvious, it looks embarrassed of its existence, looks like it pulls back from the sidewalk to hide itself among the bigger buildings.”

I loved this quiet horror, this sense that everything around you is a threat, the terrifying feeling of being unable to truly trust your self. How could you, when that self is a stranger. Ronald Damien Malfi presents a character so hopeless, that you can’t tear yourself away from his search for answers. But as he gets closer to the final revelation you cannot help but feel nervous – you know the DAH-DAH is coming, but perhaps you’d be more comfortable with an ongoing loop of Doo-doo-Doo-doo-Doo-doo…

About The Author
Ronald Damien Malfi is a novelist and author of short fiction, primarily mainstream and literary works with occasional speculative themes. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, Malfi's family eventually relocated to Maryland where he spent most of his childhood growing up along the Chesapeake Bay. He professed an interest in the arts at an early age and is also known to be a competent artist and musician. In 1999, he graduated with a degree in English from Towson University. For a number of years, he fronted the Maryland-based alternative rock band Nellie Blide. His most recent fiction deals primarily with characters suffering from some inner turmoil and their strained and often peculiar relationships with others. These latter works tend to focus more on characterization than plot. He currently lives in Maryland with his wife, Debra.

Author Website

Published by Delirium Books 2008

Passenger Trailer from ryan fowler on Vimeo.

✉ Mailbox Monday ✉ 01-12-09

It’s Mailbox Monday again! I’ve been neglecting this over the holidays, but I’m back and determined to continue on with the fun.

Thanks again to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting this awesome weekly event!

I’m starting fresh here folks, so today I will be showing the books that I welcomed home since the New Year. It’s not that bad really :P

ARC Arrivals

Random Books I Found At Post-Xmas Sales

Cool Series Found At Used Bookshop

Ultimate Fan-Friggin-Tastic Find!

Review – Conan Doyle’s Wallet: The Secrets Within

Synopsis
British Psychic-Medium, Patrick McNamara, attended an auction at Christie’s in London with the sole purpose of bidding on items belonging to the famous author and spiritualist, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Primarily, Patrick was after Conan Doyle’s wallet, untouched since his death in 1930. Through the fascinating contents in the wallet, Patrick began to spiritually communicate with Sir Arthur providing insight to Conan Doyle’s life on earth and his current life in the spirit world. Based on Sir Arthur’s revelations, the unique book helps readers understand that how we live our lives on earth determines our path in the afterlife. Through Patrick McNamara, Conan Doyle’s messages will bring comfort and understanding to those who fear death, or have lost someone dear to them.

Review
Taking a look into a person’s wallet or purse is like taking a quick peek into their lives. We all carry around things that mean something to us, or say something about us. Wouldn’t you love the opportunity to see what your favourite author carried with them every day? And what if those scraps of their daily lives could provide you with a connection to that person, a connection that goes beyond the grave? Patrick McNamara had this chance when he obtained a wallet that belonged to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of The Lost World chronicles and creator of the famous literary detective Sherlock Holmes.

Conan Doyle’s Wallet: The Secrets Within, contained much more information than I expected. Along with learning the how’s and why’s of McNamara obtaining this valuable wallet, we also get a more personal glimpse of just who Doyle was. Descriptions of the items within illustrate more of who Doyle was as a man. This aspect of the book is a perfect introduction to the history of this famous author.

Other writings in this book focus on Patrick McNamara’s own beliefs involving the afterlife, and how he is able to connect with spirits. Never overbearing or pushy, McNamara presents his theories, with evidence and loads of pertinent information in a very open-minded and respectful way. It was especially interesting to see the way in which science, modern electronics and faith come together in an effort to explain paranormal activities.

I enjoyed Conan Doyle’s Wallet: The Secrets Within very much, both as a short biography of Doyle and as a look into the paranormal aspects of this world. Patrick McNamara is an author who views I enjoyed reading about, as they were extremely interesting and very well presented. Being a person who loves facts, the Appendix, titled Famous People Who Believed In Spirits and the Afterlife, was very entertaining. It contained small blurbs about such famous people as: Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Carl Jung, Dr. Sigmund Freud, Hillary Clinton, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Lewis Carroll, Henry Ford and General George Patton. And those are just my favourites, there are lots more!

About The Author
Patrick McNamara has received spirit contact since he was a small child and has been a psychic medium all his life. Through his mediumship abilities, Patrick;s aim is to prove to others that we do live on after this life in a spiritual dimensions. There is no death.
A long-standing member of The Society For Psychical Research (SPR), Patrick tries to provide objective scientific proof of supernatural phenomena by capturing spirit evidence on camera. The group and website, ghostcircle.com was created to share his evidence.
Since leaving school, Patrick has been a serial entrepreneur, investing in different business areas. He has also worked in the entertainment industry. Patrick’s main interests are history, art, antiques, and reading but his passion is the paranormal, especially investigating old and haunted houses. Today he spends his time as a psychic-medium advisor and consultant. He resides in England.

Author Website

Published by Garev Publishing International

TSS – CanadaReads 2009

In the upcoming weeks I am going to be using my Sunday Salon posts to write about an amazing Canadian literary event that is happening right now – Canada Reads 2009 presented by CBC Radio

Today I’m going to try to give you an idea of just what Canada Reads 2009 is about and how it works.

Canada Reads is a literary debate that takes place from March 2 to March 6, 2009, but since it is about books people need time to read them. The chosen titles were revealed to all on November 25, 2008 during an official kick-off presentation. (A video of the kick-off is below)

Okay, so there’s a debate about books, but who’s presenting the arguments and how were the books picked? What happens is every year the people over at CBC look all over the country for 5 interesting, unique and bookish Canucks to participate as Panelists. Once they find the perfect group, these Panelists must then each choose one Canadian book and prepare to defend it’s place as the best of the best. The Panelists are free to choose any book they please, as long as it’s a work of Canadian fiction. Over the course of 5 days there will be 5 half-hour debates, at the end of each discussion one book will be voted out (think literary Survivor). And the last book standing is crowned the Canada Reads 2009 Winner.

What makes this event so amazing is that it combines so many different forms of media. Books, Radio, Internet, Satellite Radio, Podcasts and online audio/video. Right now, if you head over to CBC.ca where the CanadaReads website is hopping with action. There are lots of audio and video clips featuring information on Canada Reads 2009 and past events, the Panelists, the books and the authors.

Since the debates won’t be happening until March, you have lots of time to check out the 5 books chosen this year. Believe me, reading the books and then listening to the debates is awesome. You get so much more from your reading after hearing people discussing the pros and cons of a book. Plus, it’s fun to see such heated and passionate defence of literature.

This event isn’t solely for entertainment though, it also benefits many different people and organizations. The Panelists all donate copies of their chosen books to libraries across Canada, as well as extra copies of the winning novel. To increase and support literacy Canada Reads works together with the publishers of the 5 novels. Additionally, the publisher of the Canada Reads 2009 winning novel will make a donation to a national Canadian literacy organization – this year they are supporting the National Indigenous Literacy Association. And finally, Canadian authors, publishers, librarians and teachers have all spoken up and pronounced that this event greatly increases interest in Canadian Fiction.

Another super-fun thing to participate in (and we know bloggers love a challenge) is the Canada Reads 2009 Reading Challenge presented by Roughing It In The Books where participants can take on the challenge of reading all 5 books.

In the next few weeks, I will be featuring lots more on Canada Reads 2009, such as author bio’s, information on the panelists, and of course more about the books themselves including sneak peeks, reviews and much more! I will also be hosting a giveaway after the wrap up. So be sure to follow along, pick the book you think will win and discover some great new Canadian Literature.

Now that you know what Canada Reads is all about, here is where you can find the books. As an added bonus, if you purchase the books through the CBC CanadaReads Boutique you will receive an official Canada Reads tote-bag free!

Geekalicious !

geekalicious
- Someone who is a geek to the extreme but still has social skills.
example: My friend Lilac is geekalicious. you should really ask her out.
UrbanDictionary.Com

As the definition above proves, being Geekalicious is actually a great thing – so who’s ready to get geeky?

Check out WeeklyGeeks.Com for the return of the Weekly Geeks Event! Grab a button for your blog while your there to show off just how geekalicious you really are!

Zombies Don’t Cry …

Okay, I’m a really bad blog award nominee – Why you ask? Well because it takes me three months from next Thursday to actually acknowledge them :P
So here I be, embarrassed and speechless that all these awesome bloggers thought of me. I may be really late, but let me assure you, receiving these means the world to me – as does this community! Now let’s move on before all this awesomeness makes me teary (a sappy zombie is not a pretty zombie!)

Premio Dardos Award

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.

This was awarded to me by J.Kaye from J.Kaye's Book Blog

Butterfly Award

Love grammatically incorrect tagline: “For The Coolest Blog I Ever Know”

This came from Jill of Fizzy Thoughts & Rebecca of Just One More Page

Lemonade Award

This award is given for showing great attitude and gratitude.

Award to me by Rachel at American Bibliophile

Kreativ Blogger Award

Passed along to me by Naida of The BookWorm

6 Values That Are Important To Me – Honesty, Respect, Sense of Humour, Kindness, Creativity, Individuality
6 Things I Don’t Support – Discrimination, Lies, Judging, Self-Righteousness, Ignorance, Cruelty To Animals

Since I’ve taken so long to acknowledge all these wonderful awards, and they’ve likely been passed all around the blogosphere I’m going to break the rules – instead of passing these on to others I am going to award a brand new Blog Award to some of my favourite bloggers.

I decided to get creative and incorporate a photo of my brand spanking new Poppets into an award which I call “The Well Worth Watching Blog Award”. This is for all those blogs you cannot wait to read every day, that you look forward to seeing updates on and that have inspired you in your own blogging. There are no rules for this one, but feel free to pass it on to whomever you feel deserves it!

Seeing that my GoogleReader contains around 200 blogs and I love them all, I’m going to present this award to 10 blogs that really inspired me to blog, and whose authors I have the utmost respect for.

Kathy at bermudaonion
J.Kaye of J.Kaye's Book Blog
Lenore of Presenting Lenore
Nymeth at Things Mean A Lot
Naida of The BookWorm
Chris at Stuff As Dreams Are Made On
Jill at Fizzy Thoughts
Chartroose of Bloody Hell, It's A Book Barrage!
Maree at Just Add Books
Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?

V.C. Andrews “Read The Good-Trash” Movement

What – V.C. Andrews "Read The Good-Trash" Movement
Who – Hosted by The Chick Manifesto and Reviewer X
When – 2009
How – Read 1 book a month for 11 months of 2009
Why – Everyone has a trashy-guilty pleasure - V.C. is mine!

Click here for all the details.
And make sure to check out both of the hosts blogs for some awesome V.C. Andrews posts.

For this challenge I have decided to read the following books:

♦ ~~Dollanganger~~ Casteel Family Series
Had to change this after reading Taren’s primers reminded me how much I LOVE the Casteel :D

Heaven Dark Angel Fallen Hearts Gates Of Paradise Web Of Dreams

♦ Landry Family Series
Ruby was always my favorite Andrews girl and I enjoyed the Cajun/Bayou setting.

Ruby Pearl In The Mist All That Glitters Hidden Jewel Tarnished Gold

♦ My Sweet Audrina (V.C. Andrews single stand-alone story)