Book Bind ~ Ghouls just Haunt to have Fun

I took into consideration how long it took me to read (and give up on) the last book I read. So with that I wanted something that was familiar and I enjoyed once before, so first I thought to read a Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich, but I’d have to dig through my pile (and I was too tired from the past two nights as I couldn’t sleep) So I thought to choose something that was on my to-read shelf.  I had a few choices but this book I thought would be the one I could most likely Hopefully finish in a week or less.

 

pages  310 (not including an excerpt from next book)

Started- April 1st

Finished- April 7

I’m not sure if I mentioned it in the previous book of this series I read but I do love that Victoria Laurie mentions what inspired her or gave her the idea for the story.

This story not only covers a living mystery (or 2) but a paranormal one, and the two are connected! One deals with the death of a resident guest,  another is the appearance of a dagger and the spirit attached to it.

M.J.’s partner Gilley has set up a gig without speaking with her first (a running gag and very bad flaw of his). So M.J. and her team go to San Fransico for a ‘Haunted possessions’ show, that she was heavily against figuring it would exploit her abilities even though she’s the real deal.   There are three other mediums that will be on the show, sadly not all are real. There is Heath Whitefeather and 2 others. Of all places, they have to do it in the VERY haunted Duke hotel.

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Streams of Silver

Forgotten Realms   Book 2 of The Icewind Dale Trilogy

by R.A. Salvatore

 

Fantasy Adventure

342 pages

below is a poem on the first page

started February 23rd

STAtUS: DNF

 

Only on chapter 2, I’m not sure if I exactly know what is going on, nor is it easy to remember everything.

There’s an assassin looking for I think a key. The Dwarves or some mixed bunch are on a Fellowship of the ring type adventure only to find some place they may not really exist. If you look on the cover, just above the axe, there’s a character that looks like a hobbit, maybe sort of like Bilbo.

Characters     Catti-Brie female Dwarf (or elf)         Entreri- Assassin     Drizzt Do’Urden a renegade drow elf       Wulfgar- Barbarian who was Captured and raised by    Bruenor Battlehammer the rowdy leader of the Dwarven clan        Fender Mallot     Regis- ‘uncharacteristic disappearance’

Places     Luskan   Ten Towns   Icewind Dale   Mithril Hall

 

started this February 23rd

So the objective of the book is one of the characters is trying to get to his ancestors’ hall (sort of like the Dwarves in the Hobbit going back to their mountain) THere’s an assassin after them and the daughter of one of them is taken hostage by the assassin. They travel through this town and battling orc and having to deal with those prejudiced against the drow elf. They find one place of amusement (as far as I go) which was the pace of some wizards. There were interesting things in there and so on.

Ready Player One (2018)

From reading the book alone I thought Disney should have a RP1 world like Avatar and have Harry Potter (which I hear is already getting rid of one of the rides. I think it’s the Dragon ride at Gringotts).

Ready Player one is based on the 2011 Ernest Cline novel of the same name… I have previously posted the book review. I believe I read it in 2016 even though I was already really sick of the dystopian future stories, but this one I very much enjoyed. I was a child in the 80s and lived through most of this. I did have to look up some of the video games and other pop culture items referenced within, as they either sounded familiar and I couldn’t recall or just had no idea at all.

It’s a great story of many elements, not just a nostalgic anchor but a scavenger/treasure hunt.  Not only that but, shows just because you are in a contest doesn’t mean you can’t work as a team with fellow contestants, but also make friends from the adventure. I didn’t want to put the book down and that is a rare treat. I was so enthralled in the book that it was as if I WAS a character in the book.

The main plot of the 2045 set polluted dystopian future where Waded Watts lives in the Stacks is that the Jobs/Wonka like billionaire Halliday who made the Oasis, sets up a very complex game within his Virtual Reality world. If you find the 3 keys (Copper, Jade and Crystal) you become the owner of the Oasis. Those who hunt for the keys are called ‘Gunters’ who hate the Global Conglomerate  IOI who wants to charge everyone for the use of the Oasis. Every IOI   employee’s Oasis screen name starts with a six and so the Gunters call them ‘Sixers’, which Sorrento is the head of them. Everything you get as a Sixer,  becomes the rightful property of the IOI.   My book review

When I first saw the trailer after it premiered at Comic-Con, I nearly fell off the computer chair. The imagery matched if not exactly, then quite close to what I had pictured.  Total Geekgasm! With references to Freddy Kreuger, the Delorean of Back to the Future, the Tron Light Cycle and I’m trying to remember and figure out if that orc/troll thing is from Warcraft or likely something else. I’ve included 2 trailers below but a new one was released in December for the March 30th release and I nearly had tears in my eyes. If they have it in 3D in the theaters I am so there for that! Now I know not all movies should be made in 3D, and some are not able to watch them for medical reasons (like my aunt) but if you can I’d highly advise it even if you can’t stand the 3D movies ‘fad’  this is the one to definitely see as such. (being there is a virtual reality world involved)

or if you’d prefer, I love that an 8-bit version was made

Cat of the Century

Cat of the Century by Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown 

The blue looking part of this cover is actually purple. I love the way Purple and green look together. Plus that silhouette of a cat at the top could be my black cat, it would just need a pink nose.

I forget how many books in this mystery series I’ve read so far. I know I started reading them because mom had read one of them (I think the first but not sure) and she said the animals ‘talked’.

Not to the people silly! They talk to eat other and I love how that sass each other. They ‘help’ solve the crime or try to at least get the humans to pay attention.

In this, there’s a big centennial celebration for one of Willams Woods University’s Alum. During which when everyone has shown up.  Mariah, one of the board members has not shown, Tucker smells something in the manure pile (not a joke on that one).

Book Bind- Dragon Flight by Anne McCaffrey

Dragon Flight by Anne McCaffrey

Volume 1 of the  Dragonriders of Pern

 

Original copyright 1969

The ‘Dragondex’ in the back came in 1978.

(Thank goodness for finding that, I just wish it were in the front of the book)

There are still a few terms I’m still trying to figure out and the same goes for who some of the named Riders are and what dragon breed (and its name) they ride.

The dragon riders are supposed to, from my understanding uphold traditions in the land. I guess sort of like religious cops. They also protect Pern from ‘Threads’ these come every so often when the ‘red star passes’  (no it’s not the sun) these things if they are not seared in the air, they burrow in the ground, multiply and destroy the land.

There are 4 or 5 holds and one person has conquered and owns them all and that is against traditions. (I’m still trying to figure out if it’s a religious thing or what. I do like each chapter has a short poem (instead of a number or a title) this one should basically be on the back where the plot goes.

By the Golden Egg of Faranth

by the Weyrwomen, wise and true,

Breed a flight of bronze and brown wings,

Breeds a Flight of Green and Blue.

Breed rider, strong and daring,

Dragon-loving, born as hatched

Flight of hundreds soaring skyward,

Man and Dragon fully matched

My favorite thing is monsters by Emil Ferris

It’s supposed to be a graphic novel, but none like I’ve ever seen before!  I have the Crow Graphic novel, I’ve read Nikki Sixx’s autobiography (which I had said looks like one but it was better than that) This is like a hybrid of journal and Graphic Novel, though ‘Graphic’ I would consider being more art than just comic strips like some of these ‘Graphic Novels’ are.

I treated myself fr Halloween with some birthday money found from years past (when I hide something, I really hide it!) it’s an ongoing story but at the same time there are in a sense individual stories, which is accompanied by magazine/comic book style cover art.  There’s a mystery that starts in the first story and I am hoping will be solved by the end.

The girl that is drawing this journal is a werewolf . Here brother taught her how to draw before she was even walking. I love the work that went into this and would most definitely if any way would love to meet the artist.

I will have to make a video to look through there’s so much I can’t do a traditional review of this. I am enjoying it so far and am only reading 1 or 2 of the stories each night .

 

I guess the image on the left is an early cover for Volume 1 as this is the one you see the most. I also advise if you are interested in reading this book, get it from amazon as it’s the cheapest there. Here’s an image search  so you can see some of the art and such.(Barnes and Noble is still selling it for cover price and the book came out I think February of 2017…

keep in mind Volume 2 out October 27 2017. So usually stores have a sale which hooks consumers  buying the older one at half (price) and while they are there or maybe after buying that they’ll buy the new book at regular price. Even one of the stores Goodreads has listed called ‘Half Price’ or something like that SO do not even have it at half price! They are still selling it for the highest if at all maybe just a couple dollars less than cover price.

Volume 2 ‘s cover is a bit funny looking. There’s a werewolf (Karen) on the cover which looks like its wearing a kilt.

 

or better yet SAVE BIG and get both at the same time! 

 

 

The World of Vikings (Book Bind)

The Coffee Table Book of the Vikings TV series

I had been coveting this book on Amazon for a  year or so, hoping someone would buy it as a gift. As it’s a hardcover and buying it new I sort of don’t blame them for not getting me a copy, but I wouldn’t have minded a used one. I bought mine used …I think (with birthday money)  and so it only cost me $7 plus whatever shipping. (A big difference from the 30-50 dollar price for a new one and it was still like new anyway  (thankfully).

The book is full of full color glossy pages, with many pictures. Many of the characters are covered as well as places, set pieces, and other areas pertaining to the show up to the end of season 3 actually I think even some of the first half of season 4 is included.

I have been slowly reading it between books, or while I’m reading another book for a break. It seems to finish off with what was covered up to the end of the first half of season 4. (as aside from Bjorn, the Sons of Ragnar are not included so I hope there will be a 2nd book maybe when the series concludes.

Order via Amazon

The contents

Would be best for me to list some rather than just using the sort of blurry photo of it.

Part 1 Scandinavia,

Viking Scandinavia, Chapters 1-7 which consist of Home, Family,People, Gods, Legends the law and the Sea with their own topics under each.  The stories of each character, designing the village and Dressing Ragnar are other samples of things this book covers.

part 2  England- chapters 8-10 Christian England, Christians, Kings, Rivals and finally part 3- Frankia who has the last 2 chapters.  Creator and writer of Vikings Michael Hirst wrote the Forward and afterword

(if you would like me to detail the contents a little more drop me a line)

There’s also a section of sources if you’d like to read the sags, myths and legends yourself. After all the show is part history part fiction. So Hirst did take some creative liberties like making Ragnar and Rollo brothers. I watched a Youtube video that said the sons on the show are not really in the order of the historical figures being born (one in which Ivar is the first born of Aslug)

In the Forward and I do quote… Creator Michael Hirst Explains

“The First thing I need to say about my own work on the vikings is that it is a drama and not a documentary. The second, and equally important, thing to note is that drama is based on historical research and historical record. These two ideas are not, as some might think, contradictory.

Long before I start to write, I spend weeks, even months, rummaging about in account of Viking life, society, and culture, teasing out story lines and watching as various characters eging to emerge from the material and claim my attention. In this process I’m helped by our historical adviser, Justin Pollard, an expert on the Dark Ages. Justin carefully guides me though the labyrinth of Vikings myth, legend and historical account so that I know my narrative is as credible and as authentic as I can make it.

 

There are some seriously epic pictures in here as well (I took mine with my kindle as its easier to upload them)

They explain the Blood Eagle with a short interview with ‘Jarl Borg’ and the director of the season 2 episode 7 titled Blood Eagle  as well as the Director of Photography.  Designing the boats, there’s a section on the different tongues of the series and ‘swearing’ in old Norse. Which is more insults than what one would consider swearing. For instance some sound more like someone was playing with a Shakespearean insults kit…. just a lot less poetic, and sounds more childish.

“You have ugly sticking-out teeth, bug eyes and a wide mouth”

I hope they will make another book when the series ends (or after another 3-4 seasons) this way then I’ll have Ragnar’s sons stories as well. Which as much as I love Travis Fimmel and absolutely dreaded the death of Ragnar (which was originally going to be the end of season 1) The sons especially Ivar and Ubbe , have made the loss of Travis on the show much less.

This is a great look into the Tv series for any fan. As I re-read this to add any other comments I’m thinking they didn’t mention anything on Hedmund played by Kevin Durand, and am now looking through the book to see if my hunch is correct (I’ve looked through it a bunch of times before I even started to read it, so I don’t think I can even call it a hunch that it’s not in there.) Nope No Kevin Durand. Yes his character was a minor one, which had an impact on Sigurd as well as Aslug and the women of Kattegat

Oh I left off to read on Jarl Borg and the Blood Eagle. I don’t know about how other ‘coffee table’ books are but the way this one is written I don’t think you have to read more than a page or 2 plus you have the beautiful photography to break things up besides the character spotlight and behind the scenes explanations.

I’m wondering if I should do a video flip through of the book to add to this post; now that I have a laptop.

 

If this book doesn’t interest you as a fan of the show… Rollo says you are Berserk!