January 2014 – Looking For a Good Book

January 30, 2014

WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS VOLUME 4: THE VAMPIRE MEN OF SATURN – graphic novel

Yesterday I wrote about a graphic novel of The Shadow. Today, I revisit another character with roots in the great days of the science fiction pulp stories! Dejah Thoris from the Edgar Rice Burrough’s Mars series. But unlike yesterday’s book, which seemed to have everything going for it — captivating story and strong, moody art Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews

January 29, 2014

THE SHADOW VOLUME 2: REVOLUTION – graphic novel

Since discovering The Shadow through cassette tapes back in the ’70’s, I’ve considered myself a moderate Shadow fan. I bought some of the old pulps to read more, and really enjoyed that dark, but positive atmosphere of this do-gooder. The art in this graphic novel captures the tone of those old Shadow stories quite well. This Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Mystery, pulp fiction, Reviews

January 28, 2014

HANG WIRE – Adam Christopher

The Goodreads blurb on the book: Ted Hall is worried. He’s been sleepwalking, and his somnambulant travels appear to coincide with murders by the notorious Hang Wire Killer. Meanwhile, the circus has come to town, but the Celtic dancers are taking their pagan act a little too seriously, the manager of the Olde Worlde Funfair Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

January 21, 2014

THE PROFESSOR – Robert Bailey

If the film rights are still available to this legal thriller then let the bidding wars begin — this is bound to be a sure-fire hit! Robert Bailey has written an exciting, action-packed, feel-good novel centered around lawyers, law, and the legal system. WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD — READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! “The Professor,” Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews, Thriller

January 16, 2014

Some Fine Day — a short film for a new book!

I love how our generation has blurred the lines of film-making and book-selling. I recognize that this is out of necessity, and that there have been television ads for books in the past, but, to me anyway, the whole idea of a video trailer for a book is relatively new. And brilliant. Not sure what Continue reading

OTHER, SF/FANTASY, Thoughts

Advertisement, Books, random thoughts, SF/Fantasy, Strange Chemistry, video trailer

January 15, 2014

ME AND MURDER, SHE WROTE – Peter S. Fischer

I enjoy reading ‘behind-the-scenes’ books from the entertainment world. I suspect this comes from my own professional work backstage. This particular book caught my eye because 1) Murder, She Wrote was one of my wife’s favorite television shows (along with Columbo), and 2) I lived and worked in LA at the same as most of Continue reading

ENTERTAINMENT, MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Entertainment, Memoir, non-fiction, Reviews

January 10, 2014

CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES

I’m not sure if this is a published book, or a promotional item from Open Road Media. The ISBN that I had for this book actually belongs to a different title (same publisher). This was an offering through NetGalley. It’s difficult to ‘review’ a book that is really nothing more than a sampler. This offers Continue reading

MYSTERY, OTHER

Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews

January 9, 2014

ETCHED IN CLAY — Andrea Cheng

Yes! I will admit to a small bias against poetry. Despite studying it, writing it, promoting it, I’ve always had a hard time getting excited about reading poetry. So when I flipped this open and saw it was in verse, there was a momentary pause, I put it down and came back to it later. Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, HISTORICAL FICTION, MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized, YA

Art, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Historical Fiction, Memoir, non-fiction, Poetry, Reviews

January 7, 2014

THE TENTH CIRCLE — Jon Land

WARNING — SPOILERS WITHIN THIS REVIEW — DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO BE TOTALLY SURPRISED How do you combine 21st Century terrorism with the centuries-old Roanoke “Lost Colony” mystery? Check out The Tenth Circle by Jon Land to find out the answer. I’m relatively new to the thriller/mystery genre, so it’s no surprise Continue reading

MYSTERY, OTHER

Book Reviews, Books, Memoir, Reviews, Thriller

January 6, 2014

TO EVERYTHING THAT WAS: SELECTED REMASTERED WORKS (CLASSIC SPACE: 1999)

There was an awful lot of hype that hit the airwaves before Space: 1999, the television series, hit local stations. Star Trek, despite having been off the air for six years, was just beginning to reach a great deal of fame. So a new sci-fi series, by someone with a track record (U.F.O and Thuderbirds Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, SF/FANTASY

Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

January 5, 2014

BULLYING UNDER ATTACK — John Meyer, editor

This is a book that every high school sociology or health class should have as required reading. Written by teens, this anthology explores the lives of those who are bullied; those who have sat passively by while others are bullied; those who’ve intervened to defend/stop bullying; and the lives of bullies themselves. While I’m a Continue reading

MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, OTHER, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Memoir, non-fiction, Reviews, Young Adult

January 4, 2014

THE SCOOP ON BREASTS — Dr. Ted Eisenberg & Joyce K. Eisenberg

This was one of those ARC books that I receive periodically, and as I’ve been enjoying a number of non-fiction titles lately (and it’s one of the oldest ARCs I have in my queue) I thought I’d give it a go. I’m not sure what I was expecting … but it wasn’t this. The sub-title Continue reading

NON-FICTION, OTHER

Book Reviews, Books, non-fiction, Reviews