Top Ten Tuesdays
Top 10 Favourite Scientist Characters
Christopher Lloyd recently appeared at Toronto's Fan Expo 2012 late last week. This week's Top Ten Tuesdays list is dedicated in his honour!
10. Dr. Walter Bishop(Fringe)He’s possibly one of the strangest scientists on TV at the
moment. He’s quite unintentionally funny and feels alienated amongst society,
which is what makes him so quirky. Walter Bishop is caring and loveable, but
his crazy, albeit important and effectual experiments are one of the big
reasons he makes my list. The man also created a way to travel to another
universe. Not many people can top that.
9. Dr. Octopus(The Spider-Man Franchise)Doc Ock is a criminal mastermind who has tried to kill Spider-Man many, many times, although he was unsuccessful. He has four mechanical limbs attached to his spine that make him especially deadly. The evil Otto Octavius even married Peter Parker’s Aunt May. Talk about weird… Dr. Octopus has proven to be a threat to Spider-Man since the beginning.
8. Dr. Zoidberg(Futurama)Possibly the strangest character on the list, Dr. Zoidberg has connected to Futurama’s audience since it started in 2000. He is incredibly weird looking and strange to listen to. His methods are odd, even in the year 3000. Did I mention the fact that he’s also hilarious.
7. Dexter(Dexter's Lab)Any kid who lived in the late 90’s and early 2000’s pretty much LOVED Dexter’s Lab. It was a cartoon about a boy genius who had a secret lab, which his sister(DEE DEE!), despite his distain, was also able to get into. He would create starnge contraptions and set up fun experiments and we ate it up.
6. The Brain(Pinky And The Brain)I’ve never been a fan of Will Ferrell but every now and again he will surprsise me ad come out with something like this. Ferrell and co-star John C. Reilly play grown up step brothers who still live with the parents and don’t get along. As much as I thought the white dog poo scene was disgusting it was utterly hilarious.
5. Dr. Emmett Brown(Back To The Future Series)Back To The Future’s Dr. Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, is eccentric. He and Marty McFly develop a real bromance over the course of the films. Doc’s behavior is perhaps summarized best in the opening sequence of the film, which displays a bunch of his inventions making a rather huge mess.
4. Dr. Alan Grant(Jurassic Park Series)Alan Grant is the first father-figure kind of character to make this list. He displays that despite his lack of interest in kids he sure can take care of them, even in the worst of situations. The paleontologist, is brought to Isla Nublar to take a tour of an amusement park, which features real live Dinosaurs. Then everything goes to hell. Perhaps Dr. Grant displays more than anyone else on this list that knowledge truly is power.
3. Agent(Dr.) Dana Scully(The X-Files)In my opinion this is the best of the Judd Apatow comedy features.The film stars Jonah Hill and Michael Sarah who are awesome in their respective roles as Seth and Evan. I think what makes this movie so awesome is it probably reminds me more of my high school experience than any other movie. It is so much about who’s cool and who’s not but focuses a little more on a bunch of social clicks that are welcoming to eachother. In most other movies the nerds wouldn’t be invited to the party. Christopher Mintz-Plasse also does a fantastic job in this movie as Fogul A.K.A. McLovin.
2. Bunsen And Beaker(The Muppets)I seriously think I don’t need to justify this one.
1. Peter Parker/ Spider-ManPeter Parker was always interested in science. He created his own web shooters, helped to develop different serums and potions to varying degrees. And always used his knowledge of chemistry to his advantage. He is one of the more relatable scientist characters and for this I think he deserves to be at the top of the list. Everyone wants to be as smart and as kind as Spider-Man and looks up to him as a hero.
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Wes Craven And Steve Niles To Collaberate On Coming Of Rage
Wes Craven has been pretty quiet since the release and poor box office performance of Scream 4 but the horror icon is back to work and his new project is called Coming Of Rage. He will be working with comic book author Steve Niles. The film will also receive a comic book treatment.
Welcome back Wes! Make it a good one!
Posted by Jon Franz
Comment away on the Blog page
08/01/12
Welcome back Wes! Make it a good one!
Posted by Jon Franz
Comment away on the Blog page
08/01/12
Top Ten Tuesdays
Top 10 Favourite Superhero/Supervillain Emblems
With just three days remaining until the final chapter in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy I decided to take a look at all the superhero and supervillain logos. Then I thought, let's make that the Top Ten Tuesdays list.... so here... we... go!
10. X-MenThis is one of the few superhero logos that I think there is not much to say about. For some reason it's just awesome. Perhaps it's the fact that it kind of stands for peace and tolerance, as that is what the X-Men kind of stand for.
9. RobinThe boy wonder's logo is just awesomely slick in my opinion and yet still child-like and fun. It's less terrifying than seeing the bat symbol in the sky but you know when you see this one Batman probably isn't far behind.
8. The Flash This is one of the classic ones. I've always believed The Flash to be one of DC's best characters and the emblem just sums the character up wonderfully.
7. Captain AmericaCaptain America's emblem is perfect because it symbolizes everything that he stands for: freedom, liberty, and patriotism. Also, it makes this list simply because it looks BADASS with the rest of winghead's suit. The emblem also appears on the front of his shield which makes it even more kickass!
6. NightwingDick Gracin may have displayed an awesome emblem as Bruce Wayne's young ward, but it gets better when he branches off on his own. This newer emblem says "Criminals, here's another name you should fear". Like Captain America's emblem, it looks BADASS on his costume as well.
5. SupermanDespite the fact that I DESPISE Superman himself, his logo is awesome! It says POWER! It also says HERO! and STRENGTH! Not to mention it also reminds you of innocence and humanity.
4. Spider-ManSpider-Man's emblem is awesome because it features a truly predatorial creature that is also very scientific. It's very symbolic of Peter Parker's life even outside of his Spider-Man outfit. It's all about the webs he weaves in his everyday life not just the ones he catches criminals in. Finally, the emblem just says "I'm gonna catch you, bad guys".
3. VenomSeemingly a more POISONOUS version of Spider-Man's emblem. This emblem announces that Venom is not to be f***ed with. It's also quite terrifying to look at but cool at the same time.
2. BatmanThe symbol that says "watch out! I'm coming for you", "I am a creature of the night". It's symbolic because Batman is a master detective. The analogy is that Batman may not be a part of your criminal world but at night he uses his detective skills like a bat uses echo location to find it's prey. He strikes fear into the hearts of criminals. But the bat symbol is also a beacon of light in the night sky to those who need protection.
1. The PunisherThe Punisher's emblem is one of the most iconic symbols in comics. It puts the man's hunger for vengeance on display for everyone he seeks it on. This symbol basically makes the statement "The mob killed my family, and now they're all going to die". The skull is very grim, which is cathartic in it's portrayal of The Punisher's attitude.
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Storm Front by Jim Butcher Review
The Dresden Files is the series of which, Storm Front is the first book. It was recommended to me by a friend as Harry Potter for adults and contains some wonderful things in common with the beloved childhood series including wizardry, mystery and a protagonist named Harry. Harry Potter and Harry Dresden, however live in two very different universes. As the only wizard in Chicago, Harry Dresden uses his powers to aid him in his detective agency, occasionally consulting for the Chicago police department. In Storm Front, an unknown dark mage is killing people, in a horrible way, and people seem to think it’s Harry’s doing. If Harry can’t figure out who it is, he’s the next victim. This book is quick paced and well written, a combination that will keep the pages turning.
Posted by Meagan
Commet on the blog page /blog.html
05/08/12
Posted by Meagan
Commet on the blog page /blog.html
05/08/12
An interview with Blake Northcott author of Vs. Reality
Here is an interview with author Blake Northcott. As you have all read in my review on this site, I loved her book and I can't recommend it highly enough. Enjoy the interview.
Question and Answers with Author Blake Northcott
Q: Where did the idea of Vs. Reality come from? What were some of your influences while writing the book?
A: The idea came from wanting to put regular people into extraordinary circumstances, and find out how they would react when given super powers. No one in my story goes out and buys a costume, but people figure out selfish things they can do with their abilities.
Since I didn’t think that was enough of a twist on the superhero genre, I decided to make their powers conditional on a ‘trigger’, which means altering their brain chemistry with an experimental drug to manifest their abilities.
My influences are all over the place: The Matrix, Alice in Wonderland, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mark Millar comics...I can’t name just one source.
Q: What can we look forward to reading in book 2? I know you probably don’t want to give away any spoilers but what can fans expect with this new book?
A: More of the same, but a focus on additional character development. I wanted to dig into the main players and show what’s making them tick, and reveal some of their motivations and darker secrets.
Of course there is action, violence, and a couple twists and turns. I hope the ending catches everyone off guard!
Q: It is a proposed trilogy so did you have the ending already set before starting the first book?
A: More or less. I have an outline for all three parts of the story arc, but that’s just a guideline – there is always room to maneuver.
Q: I have also heard that Vs. Reality is being turned into a movie. If you can tell me what your ‘dream cast’ would be for each of the characters if money were no object at all.
A: Wow...well the budget just got increased to $40M, which is not mind-blowing when you consider that most superhero movies have $250M price tags these days, but I’m pretty sure we’ll get some amazing talent within our price range! All the details are over at IMDB.com
I would love to see Olivia Wilde as Dia, but I’m also a huge fan of Emma Roberts and Michelle Trachtenberg. They would all do an amazing job I’m sure! For Cole? Who knows...maybe Channing Tatum will become available. He definitely looks the part.
Q: Anything else coming along the pipeline book-wise or screenplay-wise?
A: My first attempt at the horror genre is coming in 2012 with ‘Luna’, a werewolf-themed book that I’m co-writing with Kiri Callaghan. Luna is in pre-production as a television series from Retribution Studios.
Q: If you were to suggest a must-read Graphic Novel, which would it be?
A: Kind of hard to argue with The Watchmen as the best of all time. But that’s not for everyone, so if people want a more traditional superhero book, I’d recommend Superman: Red Son or All-Star Superman, which are both fantastic.
I’m also a big fan of the Fables series, Kick-Ass, Chew...see, I can’t just name one. It’s not fair!
Q: If you were to suggest a much-watch television show, which would it be?
A: All-time? Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. No doubt about it. Airing right now? HBO’s Game of Thrones or True Blood. Both are too awesome for words. I also just finished Homeland with Claire Danes, which was an amazing first season.
Q: Do you believe Social Media can help up and coming authors?
A: Absolutely. If it wasn’t for my friends on social media I wouldn’t be anywhere today!
Q: What author would you most like to be compared to? And if it were Stephanie Meyers would you give up writing and move to your cottage full-time and become an old maid?
A: I don’t really want to be compared to anyone...I’d rather be the first ‘Blake Northcott’ than the next ‘insert author here’. Although any comparisons to great authors are very much appreciated, and very flattering!
Q: Where can the readers of jon.com purchase an eBook copy of Vs. Reality, and the soon to be Vs. Reality 2? I am a huge fan of this book and would love for others to read it, not only because it is awesome but because I want people to talk about it with.
A: If you want to chat about Vs. Reality you can do it on my Facebook wall, and both books are available on Amazon Kindle. Vs. Reality is also available for the Nook, Kobo, and on Smashwords in every format.
Physical print versions are coming in late 2012 or early 2013, but right now it’s digital download only.
Thank you so much for the interview! That was fun.
Posted by Jason Revington
If you would like to leave a comment do so on the Blog
06/07/12
Interview with author Rachel Olson
Interview with author Rachel Olson
As I enjoy doing interviews or Question and Answers with a variety of different people from various walks of life, today it is my pleasure to bring to you an interview I conducted with up and coming author Rachel Olson.
Question- Can you give me a brief Biography about yourself and where your desire to be a writer came from?
I was born and raised in Nebraska, though we moved frequently in my toddler years. After my parent’s divorce, my mother decided to go back to school and we landed in Chadron. For the most part, I’ve been here ever since. I wouldn’t call it home, it never really has been. But it’s comfortable and that’s all I need right now.
When I was in fourth grade, my school had this storybook project. Every child in the elementary school created a storybook, whether it was based on a well-known story or one we made up on our own. We were helped with the writing and illustrated the book on our own. When all books were finished, they were sent off to the local college, where a group of college students read through them and scored them based on several points, including penmanship, grammar, artistic ability, and overall originality. When all scores had been tallied and returned, the entire school had a “family day,” where the parents and siblings of the elementary students were invited to come to the gymnasium and spend a day sharing storybooks. Awards were given under several categories, and one top prize was given for the best written, best illustrated, and overall most original storybook out of all the students, kindergarten through fourth grade. I won that award, to my astonishment. It was the first time I’d ever known that I was good at something aside from pestering my brother and sister.
Question- Can you tell us what you are currently writing right now?
I’ve taken on the challenge of writing two books at once. I have a bit of help on one, with my dear friend Jessica Humphrey co-writing alongside me. Love During Death is our collaboration, our baby. My own personal lovechild is called The Seventh Layer.
Question- Are you self publishing or do you have a publisher?
Self publishing all the way! Though a lack of finances initially persuaded me to seek options outside of a traditional publisher, my personal experiences with others in the Indie (self-publishing) Network have given me the knowledge and motivation to continue on my path of self publication. There is so much freedom! I could never dream of living by the standards and regulations a publishing house would hold.
Question- Do you usually set a limit for minimum words/pages you want to write every day?
I’ve set very few limitations for myself. Some days I write in a frenzy, pouring everything out all at once. There are other times that I go several days without writing. Some things have to fester and grow so they can reach their ripest peak for plucking.
Question- What are your books about?
Love During Death is a paranormal romance about a college student named Fia who meets her most untimely demise and gets stuck in the realm between life and death as a ghost. Through certain afterlife trials, she finds herself falling in love with a man who is very much alive. It’s fairly lighthearted considering the overall doom-laced storyline.
The Seventh Layer is science fiction built solely on bits and pieces of Greek mythology and ancient Greek religion. It contains a bit of a scientific twist in hopes of bringing a bit more modern day reality into an ancient way of life. There is suspense and violence, camaraderie and romance (hey, I’m a chick!).
Question- What authors influence you?
I honestly can’t think of any one specific author that has stood out among the lot. Even the most sleep worthy stories have added something to my own writing experiences. If speaking about a general group, however, my friends in the Indie Network have had the most substantial influences. They have been both willing and eager to help others succeed, and have offered a wealth of knowledge that I can’t begin to express my gratitude for.
Question- What is your favourite genre of book? Which genre do you like the least?
My all time favorite genre is paranormal romance, including erotic paranormal romance. I’m not afraid of an explicit affair now and again. If it’s paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi then I’ll enjoy it! I can’t seem to get into nonfiction, historical, geographic books. They’re too close to school textbooks for me. Unless I’m researching information for my own book, I avoid them.
Question- Do you think spell check is a hindrance for society in general? Do you think it makes us lazier? Now what do you think of spell check as an author?
Spell check can be a tricky little thing. In my own personal experiences, I’ve come to appreciate it more than not. Sometimes I get so carried away I don’t even pay attention to my spelling or even my keystrokes. Having that annoying little red line underline a word doesn’t necessarily inform me that I can’t spell, but it does draw my attention enough to make a quick review of my work.
In a general sense, I don’t doubt that it makes us a bit lazier, although if we constantly have to backtrack and review all the red squiggly lines, then we’re initially doubling our work. I don’t think it was ever intended to vegetate us, but simply make our lives a bit more productive.
Question- When writing a character do you visualize what they look like or base their physical traits on someone you know?
I’ve discovered over the years that is my protagonist is female, I can associate with her much better than a male. Being female myself, it’s easier to imagine myself in another body. My female protagonists always carry a bit of my own personality. Male characters however, whether they be the protagonist or not, are a bit trickier. I like hot men, therefore I like my characters to have a wafting sex appeal. But I don’t really know any hot men; not that drop dead gorgeous every woman wants him kind anyway. So I find one on the internet; actor, model, porn star, wherever! Just as long as they physically fit my character. Most male characters’ personalities are built off of people I know or have known. When you’re working with ideas that you’re more intimately familiar with, it helps create someone who seems real that the reader can associate with.
Question- What is your least favourite aspect of writing a book?
So far my biggest struggle is what I consider my form of writer’s block. I don’t so much get blocked on what to write, but how to write it. For instance, I’m attempting my very first battle scene. I’m really unsure how to go about it since I’ve never written one before. Baby steps.
Question- Last but not least, when is your book going to be coming out?
I hope to have at least one of my books out before the end of the year, if not both of them. If all goes well, The Seventh Layer should be in editing by the end of August, which will give me just under four months to finalize changes, send to beta readers, and be ready for publication. I have frequent updates on my Facebook author page, and will have a clearer idea of release dates the closer to the end I get.
If you have any comments please go to the Blog
If you would like to join the Rachel Olson author page go here
Posted by Jason Revington
05/06/12
Divergent Book Review
I will start off by saying I have never heard of Veronica Roth before I bought this book. This book definitely was more enjoyable to read than I was expecting.
Divergent is the first in the trilogy. it is a story written in the near-future Chicago. Society has divided into five distinct factions, each dedicated to the development of a specific human virtue. Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Everyone must chose a faction and on the 16th year of every teenagers life they must chose which faction to devote themselves to. The protagonist, Beatrice, must chose between staying in her faction where she feels she doesn't belong or being who she really is. Beatrice makes a decision that surprises everyone, even herself.
I liked the idea of humans trying to divide themselves into different factions to try and maintain peace. It is a nice idea, but throughout the novel you can begin to see the cracks in this design. The protagonist Beatrice, kicks ass and definitely isn't a helpless heroine. She faces many challenges and is awesome doing it.
All of the characters are flawed in their own way, but they have believable flaws that help the reader to connect and keep the story fresh and exciting. The story is easy to follow and full of plot twists and mysteries that will keep you intrigued as you read through Beatrice's incredible journey. I read this book is almost one sitting and if you're into these books you will have a hard time putting it down. I recommend this book to anyone who has a interest in utopian novels or enjoyed reading fun action packed novels.
Posted by Kyle 06/04/12
Divergent is the first in the trilogy. it is a story written in the near-future Chicago. Society has divided into five distinct factions, each dedicated to the development of a specific human virtue. Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Everyone must chose a faction and on the 16th year of every teenagers life they must chose which faction to devote themselves to. The protagonist, Beatrice, must chose between staying in her faction where she feels she doesn't belong or being who she really is. Beatrice makes a decision that surprises everyone, even herself.
I liked the idea of humans trying to divide themselves into different factions to try and maintain peace. It is a nice idea, but throughout the novel you can begin to see the cracks in this design. The protagonist Beatrice, kicks ass and definitely isn't a helpless heroine. She faces many challenges and is awesome doing it.
All of the characters are flawed in their own way, but they have believable flaws that help the reader to connect and keep the story fresh and exciting. The story is easy to follow and full of plot twists and mysteries that will keep you intrigued as you read through Beatrice's incredible journey. I read this book is almost one sitting and if you're into these books you will have a hard time putting it down. I recommend this book to anyone who has a interest in utopian novels or enjoyed reading fun action packed novels.
Posted by Kyle 06/04/12
Jason's review of Vs. Reality the first part of the Trilogy written by Blake Northcott
Blake Northcott is an internet phenomenon. If you do not know who she is, you will soon. She has a large following on Twitter and Facebook. She knows how to crack the wise, and pop culture is essentially her bitch to use whenever she sees fit. I got a Kobo eReader for Christmas and swore the first book I would purchase on it would be Blake Northcott’s Vs. Reality. I am a self professed avid follower of Blakes Facebook and Twitter posts and I have really wanted to read the book since its release. All of the reviews I had read for this book were extremely positive. I was beginning to wonder if this book could possibly be as good as these people were saying it was. Or was it that the Fan Boys of the world were just saying this because they wanted to impress Blake because let’s face it she is a hottie and looks amazing in a Super Hero t-Shirt. So the skeptic in me had to find out. Let’s just say that the skeptic died the day I first started to read it. I found it hard to put the Kobo down. I loved this world that Blake had painted. It is a version of our own world that is slightly altered. I do not want to give too many spoilers away because I do want people to read this book. It grabbed a hold of my like a drug, which in this books case is rather fitting.
The story takes place in New York City. The main protagonist of the story is Donovan Cole, a small time MMA fighter on the downward turn of his career. He is like a Rocky Balboa prior to fighting Apollo Creed. A guy down on his luck and on a losing skid that he can’t turn around. This struck a chord with me right away. I enjoy MMA and am a HUGE Rocky fan. The scene in the gym was reminiscent of Mickey kicking Rock out of the gym. And as Pauly was to Rocky, Jens is to Donovan. Jens is Donovan’s watering hole pal, but he also happens to be a dick. But without Jens we would not have met our heroine of the tale. Dia is the other main lead in this fantastic tale. She comes across as a pretty seductive lady. Dia has her own band of merry men (one is a woman but being politically correct and calling them merry people doesn’t jive as much), who once you read the book you will be introduced to and also enjoy them. The Big Bad’s are also very well written, and I can’t wait to see where their story goes in the sequels.
As a comic book fan I loved this story and could not wait to continue reading to see where the story goes. I am glad that it is a trilogy because I want more of this world. I want to see where the story goes. The story also has elements that are Matrixesque. The good Matrix of course, not the last two crappy movies. Blake is a talented writer and knows how to blend humour, action and drama, all while keeping the story current and fun. It is never bogged down at any point. Plus her usage of pop culture is right up my alley.
In closing I would recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of Comic Books, Fantasy or Science Fiction. You won’t be disappointed and you will be craving the second book as much as her characters crave Muse. (Read the book you will get the reference). This book is part of a Trilogy, the second book should be coming out any week now. The book is also being turned into a Major Motion Picture.
You can add Blake Northcott on Twitter @ComicBookGrrl and on Facebook just look up Blake Northcott
Posted by Jason
If you would like to Comment please go to The Blog page
05/30/12
The story takes place in New York City. The main protagonist of the story is Donovan Cole, a small time MMA fighter on the downward turn of his career. He is like a Rocky Balboa prior to fighting Apollo Creed. A guy down on his luck and on a losing skid that he can’t turn around. This struck a chord with me right away. I enjoy MMA and am a HUGE Rocky fan. The scene in the gym was reminiscent of Mickey kicking Rock out of the gym. And as Pauly was to Rocky, Jens is to Donovan. Jens is Donovan’s watering hole pal, but he also happens to be a dick. But without Jens we would not have met our heroine of the tale. Dia is the other main lead in this fantastic tale. She comes across as a pretty seductive lady. Dia has her own band of merry men (one is a woman but being politically correct and calling them merry people doesn’t jive as much), who once you read the book you will be introduced to and also enjoy them. The Big Bad’s are also very well written, and I can’t wait to see where their story goes in the sequels.
As a comic book fan I loved this story and could not wait to continue reading to see where the story goes. I am glad that it is a trilogy because I want more of this world. I want to see where the story goes. The story also has elements that are Matrixesque. The good Matrix of course, not the last two crappy movies. Blake is a talented writer and knows how to blend humour, action and drama, all while keeping the story current and fun. It is never bogged down at any point. Plus her usage of pop culture is right up my alley.
In closing I would recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of Comic Books, Fantasy or Science Fiction. You won’t be disappointed and you will be craving the second book as much as her characters crave Muse. (Read the book you will get the reference). This book is part of a Trilogy, the second book should be coming out any week now. The book is also being turned into a Major Motion Picture.
You can add Blake Northcott on Twitter @ComicBookGrrl and on Facebook just look up Blake Northcott
Posted by Jason
If you would like to Comment please go to The Blog page
05/30/12
Top Ten Tuesdays
Top 10 Favourite Books
10. "Feeling Sorry for Celia" by Jaclyn Moriarty
The plot of this book isn’t anything special, but the format in which is was written was something completely new to me. It is written as a series of letters, to and from the main characters pen pal, post it notes between her and her mother, and letters she has written to herself from “the society of high school runners who would be good if they would just train” or the “best friends society” etc. The combination of this wacky format and the very quirky characters that put this book on my top ten list.
9. "Geography Club" by Brent Hartinger
This book is about a group of kids at a school who form a secret gay/lesbian/bi support club at their school under the name of the geography club. it deals with teen issues about being in the closet, homophobia and bullying. This was the first book I read about these issues when I was coming out in my teens and has earned a special place in my heart.
8."To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
I first read this book in a high school English class and have loved it ever since.
7."White Oleander' by Janet Fitch
This is an unforgettable book about a girl in the foster system. It was hopeful and heartbreaking and I love it.
6."The Fionavar Tapestry" by Guy G. Kay
This was originally a trilogy, but i read it in a omnibus so i consider it one book. This book made me fall in love with the fantasy genre.
5."Tough Shit: Life advice from a fat lazy slob who did good" by Kevin Smith
This book was too entertaining not to love.
4."A Storm of Swords" by George R.R. Martin
This is the Third instillment of Martin’s, A Song of Ice and Fire series. It is one of my Favorites because this, above all his other book in the series, inspired such shock and awe. It includes one of the most famous parts of the series, the red wedding.
3."Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" by J.K. Rowling
This is the First Novel in Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the series, it was a struggle not to make this a list of all seven books plus three others but I had to make myself cut it down to three book of this amazing series.
2."Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling
I loved this book particularly in the Harry Potter series because in this one Harry is really starting to grow up. It also introduces one of my most hated characters in the series and includes some epic pranks.
1."Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
This the completely amazing end novel to the Harry Potter series.
Posted by Meagan
Comment away on the blog page /blog.html
05/22/12
The plot of this book isn’t anything special, but the format in which is was written was something completely new to me. It is written as a series of letters, to and from the main characters pen pal, post it notes between her and her mother, and letters she has written to herself from “the society of high school runners who would be good if they would just train” or the “best friends society” etc. The combination of this wacky format and the very quirky characters that put this book on my top ten list.
9. "Geography Club" by Brent Hartinger
This book is about a group of kids at a school who form a secret gay/lesbian/bi support club at their school under the name of the geography club. it deals with teen issues about being in the closet, homophobia and bullying. This was the first book I read about these issues when I was coming out in my teens and has earned a special place in my heart.
8."To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
I first read this book in a high school English class and have loved it ever since.
7."White Oleander' by Janet Fitch
This is an unforgettable book about a girl in the foster system. It was hopeful and heartbreaking and I love it.
6."The Fionavar Tapestry" by Guy G. Kay
This was originally a trilogy, but i read it in a omnibus so i consider it one book. This book made me fall in love with the fantasy genre.
5."Tough Shit: Life advice from a fat lazy slob who did good" by Kevin Smith
This book was too entertaining not to love.
4."A Storm of Swords" by George R.R. Martin
This is the Third instillment of Martin’s, A Song of Ice and Fire series. It is one of my Favorites because this, above all his other book in the series, inspired such shock and awe. It includes one of the most famous parts of the series, the red wedding.
3."Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" by J.K. Rowling
This is the First Novel in Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the series, it was a struggle not to make this a list of all seven books plus three others but I had to make myself cut it down to three book of this amazing series.
2."Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling
I loved this book particularly in the Harry Potter series because in this one Harry is really starting to grow up. It also introduces one of my most hated characters in the series and includes some epic pranks.
1."Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
This the completely amazing end novel to the Harry Potter series.
Posted by Meagan
Comment away on the blog page /blog.html
05/22/12
Captain America Omnibus Volume 1
I love Omnibuses. They are large collections of reprinted material. But for me they mean many comic stories in one big kick ass hardcover book. The first Omnibus I ever read was Captain America. It covers Volume 5 from books 1 to 25 all written by Ed Brubaker. The artists for this include Steve Epting, Michael Lark and a few others. The story follows the epic Winter Soldier story, The Assassination of the Red Skull and ends with The Death of Captain America. It was a great read and solidified my love for Captain America. The stories were full of espionage and if you are a Bond or Bourne fan you would also enjoy these.
If you would like to purchase this, go to where I got mine Things From Another World http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Captain-America-Omnibus-Vol-1___281595
Posted by Jason
04/24/12
If you would like to purchase this, go to where I got mine Things From Another World http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Captain-America-Omnibus-Vol-1___281595
Posted by Jason
04/24/12
Interview with a Listener- Tammy Mailloux the Book Interview
Interview with a Listener
Q and A with Tammy Mailloux Part 1
Tammy is one our very vocal listeners and also just happens to be my sister. She is a fan of television, movies, books and music. I will be interviewing her on all of these subjects. This is the first part of the interview. It is the Book Interview. Tammy loves reading and it is evident in her answers. Enjoy this great interview.
The Book Interview.
Favourite Book Series and why?
A To date, my favourite book series has been Kelley Armstrongs "Darkest Powers". This series drew me in before I was done chapter one. A young girl sees dead people and is dropped off at a home for "disturbed" youth?! I was hooked! The characters were brilliantly written, with just the right amount of flaws, and this series will get your blood pumping and at points leave you thinking; "Did I just read that?".
Who is your favorite Antagonist in a book?
A My favourite Antagonist in a book hands down is "Pennywise the Dancing Clown" aka "Bob Gray" from Stephen King's "It". And I'm pretty sure my phobia began with this book. Yes people may argue that the Antagonist in "It" is actually fears and phobias of the victims but theses fears and phobias appear more often than not in the form of Pennywise.
Do you have a favorite author?
A I don't have a favourite author per say, but I'm very fond of Kelley Armstrongs writing.
If you could meet any fictional character from a book who would it be and why?
A If I could meet any fictional character from a book it would be Dr Pellinore Warthrop from "The Monstrumologist" book series. This character is absolutely fascinating. I would have no questions for him however, I would just love to observe this man. This brilliant, mysterious, and often IMO batshit crazy monster hunter. What i mean by crazy is, this man with the pools of black in his eyes will not let anything including his own sanity or life get in his way of his duties as an expert monstrumologist. He will hunt, find, and dissect all creatures that are born out of the darkest evil.
What is your favorite genre of book?
A My favourite book genre is Horror. I love a good book that leaves me sleeping with the hall light on.
If you can think of one what is your favorite quote from a book you have read recently?
A A favourite quote from a book I read recently is "What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction." From "Mockingjay".
I love this line in the book, and it made me see certain characters in a different light.
What are you reading now?
A Right now I'm reading book three in the "Monstrumologist" series by Rick Yancey titled "The Isle of Blood". This is a great series, and book three has become my favourite in the series to date.
Do you like lending books out?
A Everyone knows how anal I am about my books. That being said I do have 2 people that I trade off books with, but if one should come back with so much as a paper crease, well lets just say at one point I had 4 people on my lending list. Lol
If you were to meet any author and ask them one question, who would you meet and what would that question be?
A If I were to meet any author and ask them just one question, I'd choose to meet the mother/daughter duo P.C and Kristin Cast. My question would be; "Is it really that hard to let go of a character? I mean really EVERYONE you kill in the "House of Night" series comes back for at least a second appearance. Could you have maybe left one dead and gone?"
This was a series that started out with some sort of promise but fell completely flat, missed the mark entirely. Do not waste your time on this series, it will only leave you frustrated as I am.
If any supporting character were to get a spin off book series who do you think should get it?
A I would love to see Jack Kearns from "The Monstrumologist" books get his own series. I'd like to dive deeper into his character and see if my suspicions of his character being based of an actual person are correct. The dates and places all point to Dr "Jack/John Kearns possibly being Jack the Ripper!! But again that's just IMHO.
Interview and posted by Jason Revington
If you would like to comment go to the Blog
04/10/12
Q and A with Tammy Mailloux Part 1
Tammy is one our very vocal listeners and also just happens to be my sister. She is a fan of television, movies, books and music. I will be interviewing her on all of these subjects. This is the first part of the interview. It is the Book Interview. Tammy loves reading and it is evident in her answers. Enjoy this great interview.
The Book Interview.
Favourite Book Series and why?
A To date, my favourite book series has been Kelley Armstrongs "Darkest Powers". This series drew me in before I was done chapter one. A young girl sees dead people and is dropped off at a home for "disturbed" youth?! I was hooked! The characters were brilliantly written, with just the right amount of flaws, and this series will get your blood pumping and at points leave you thinking; "Did I just read that?".
Who is your favorite Antagonist in a book?
A My favourite Antagonist in a book hands down is "Pennywise the Dancing Clown" aka "Bob Gray" from Stephen King's "It". And I'm pretty sure my phobia began with this book. Yes people may argue that the Antagonist in "It" is actually fears and phobias of the victims but theses fears and phobias appear more often than not in the form of Pennywise.
Do you have a favorite author?
A I don't have a favourite author per say, but I'm very fond of Kelley Armstrongs writing.
If you could meet any fictional character from a book who would it be and why?
A If I could meet any fictional character from a book it would be Dr Pellinore Warthrop from "The Monstrumologist" book series. This character is absolutely fascinating. I would have no questions for him however, I would just love to observe this man. This brilliant, mysterious, and often IMO batshit crazy monster hunter. What i mean by crazy is, this man with the pools of black in his eyes will not let anything including his own sanity or life get in his way of his duties as an expert monstrumologist. He will hunt, find, and dissect all creatures that are born out of the darkest evil.
What is your favorite genre of book?
A My favourite book genre is Horror. I love a good book that leaves me sleeping with the hall light on.
If you can think of one what is your favorite quote from a book you have read recently?
A A favourite quote from a book I read recently is "What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction." From "Mockingjay".
I love this line in the book, and it made me see certain characters in a different light.
What are you reading now?
A Right now I'm reading book three in the "Monstrumologist" series by Rick Yancey titled "The Isle of Blood". This is a great series, and book three has become my favourite in the series to date.
Do you like lending books out?
A Everyone knows how anal I am about my books. That being said I do have 2 people that I trade off books with, but if one should come back with so much as a paper crease, well lets just say at one point I had 4 people on my lending list. Lol
If you were to meet any author and ask them one question, who would you meet and what would that question be?
A If I were to meet any author and ask them just one question, I'd choose to meet the mother/daughter duo P.C and Kristin Cast. My question would be; "Is it really that hard to let go of a character? I mean really EVERYONE you kill in the "House of Night" series comes back for at least a second appearance. Could you have maybe left one dead and gone?"
This was a series that started out with some sort of promise but fell completely flat, missed the mark entirely. Do not waste your time on this series, it will only leave you frustrated as I am.
If any supporting character were to get a spin off book series who do you think should get it?
A I would love to see Jack Kearns from "The Monstrumologist" books get his own series. I'd like to dive deeper into his character and see if my suspicions of his character being based of an actual person are correct. The dates and places all point to Dr "Jack/John Kearns possibly being Jack the Ripper!! But again that's just IMHO.
Interview and posted by Jason Revington
If you would like to comment go to the Blog
04/10/12
Tough Shit: Life Advice From a Fat, Lazy, Slob Who Did Good. by Kevin Smith Review
Who is Kevin Smith? Kevin Smith is the Wayne Gretzky of Nerd Culture, although he is mostly known as Silent Bob, sidekick to Jay, of the Jay and silent bob duo, I’ve come to think of him as Not-So-Silent bob, I’m sure you’d agree if you read the book. Informative, Heartfelt and very entertaining, Kevin Smiths biography was a compelling read.
Beyond his on screen roll in the Jay and Silent Bob movies, Kevin smith is their creator, along with the cinematic universe in which they exist. His Resume is extensive, just check out his IMDB page http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003620/ When i picked up the book i was familiar with Jay and Silent Bob's universe, which includes the films; Chasing Amy, Mallrats, Jersey Girl, Dogma, Clerks one and two, and Jay and Silent Bob strike back. In his book, he writes about all these movies from a totally new perspective to me: How they got made. Marketing and Politics of the movie making business are subjects that i never really though too hard about before reading Tough Shit, subjects Kevin Smith is an expert in. He writes a lot about the process in his book, especially in regard to the making to one of his latest films, Red State.
Kevin Smith’s movies have always had heart, and in his book he lets us all into his heart. He talks about some of the defining times of his life, including how he has been affected by his fathers death, how he meet his wife and how Wayne Gretzky became his idol.
Though out Tough Shit, Smith keeps up the sense of humor that he has come to be known for. I laughed while out loud reading his book and have repeated some of his views to my friends and family, even my mom was laughing at some of his insights!
In short, Kevin Smith has set the bar for any future biography I read. His pace, hilarity and heart kept the pages turning. Tough Shit has made a true Kevin Smith fan out of me and i recommend it to anyone who likes him, his work or enjoys biographies.
Posted by Meagan
Visit the Blog Page and tell me what you think /blog.html
04/05/12
Beyond his on screen roll in the Jay and Silent Bob movies, Kevin smith is their creator, along with the cinematic universe in which they exist. His Resume is extensive, just check out his IMDB page http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003620/ When i picked up the book i was familiar with Jay and Silent Bob's universe, which includes the films; Chasing Amy, Mallrats, Jersey Girl, Dogma, Clerks one and two, and Jay and Silent Bob strike back. In his book, he writes about all these movies from a totally new perspective to me: How they got made. Marketing and Politics of the movie making business are subjects that i never really though too hard about before reading Tough Shit, subjects Kevin Smith is an expert in. He writes a lot about the process in his book, especially in regard to the making to one of his latest films, Red State.
Kevin Smith’s movies have always had heart, and in his book he lets us all into his heart. He talks about some of the defining times of his life, including how he has been affected by his fathers death, how he meet his wife and how Wayne Gretzky became his idol.
Though out Tough Shit, Smith keeps up the sense of humor that he has come to be known for. I laughed while out loud reading his book and have repeated some of his views to my friends and family, even my mom was laughing at some of his insights!
In short, Kevin Smith has set the bar for any future biography I read. His pace, hilarity and heart kept the pages turning. Tough Shit has made a true Kevin Smith fan out of me and i recommend it to anyone who likes him, his work or enjoys biographies.
Posted by Meagan
Visit the Blog Page and tell me what you think /blog.html
04/05/12
A Storm of Swords, by George R. R. Martin Review
The third installment of the A Song of Ice and Fire series which started with the The Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin, was explosive. Parts of this book literally made my jaw drop, as Martin continues to spin his web of treachery in a world where no character is safe and long forgotten magic is seeping back into consciousness.
This book had me up at all hours, yes I even got up early so I had time to read before school! If you love fantasy, I recommend this series with the conviction of a preacher. I was hooked on the series after A Game of Thrones, addicted after, A Clash of Kings, and completely entranced after A Storm of Swords.
Posted by Meagan
Let me know what you think on the blog page /blog.html
04/03/12
This book had me up at all hours, yes I even got up early so I had time to read before school! If you love fantasy, I recommend this series with the conviction of a preacher. I was hooked on the series after A Game of Thrones, addicted after, A Clash of Kings, and completely entranced after A Storm of Swords.
Posted by Meagan
Let me know what you think on the blog page /blog.html
04/03/12