Stephen King Lite: Joyland
Aug20

Stephen King Lite: Joyland

Stephen King Lite: Joyland   These days, you never know what to expect when you pick up a new novel from Stephen King.  Then again, perhaps you never really did. King has always been close to being a one-man industry.  He churns out books—and quite often truly high-quality books– at a rate that many authors could only dream about.  Indeed, it may be the man’s truly breathtaking output and sheer love of the written word that...

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Lovecraft at Large: Returning to HPL by way of The Wrath of Angels, Joyland, Kraken and The Teleportation Accident
Aug20

Lovecraft at Large: Returning to HPL by way of The Wrath of Angels, Joyland, Kraken and The Teleportation Accident

Lovecraft at Large: Returning to HPL by way of The Wrath of Angels, Joyland, Kraken and The Teleportation Accident     When I tentatively wrote the first few articles for this blog last September it was my intention to do several that related to the ‘30s writers H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E.  Howard.  As timing would have it, however, this corresponded with one of those periods that hits even the most rabid fan every so...

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American Splendor: Another Dollar
Aug20

American Splendor: Another Dollar

American Splendor: Another Dollar   The very first copy of Harvey Pekar’s underground comic book American Splendor came out in the States in January of 1976.  Of course it was several years later before I had any inkling that someone was doing something new in what had seemed to be exclusively a world of costumed heroes and stand-up punch-trading.  Back in those days, wherever I was living at least, it was hard enough to get your...

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Company of Liars a novel of the plague
Aug20

Company of Liars a novel of the plague

A Rambling Review of Sorts: Company of Liars a novel of the plague   Coming close to the end of Karen Maitland’s 2008 novel, Company of Liars, I was thinking of what a breeze this book would be to review.  After all, I was thoroughly enjoying it and it seemed only a matter of getting that feeling down on paper. Well, I finished it this morning and then took a long walk, mulling it around in my head.  (The walk was up to Renville...

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Birthing our Future: Cloud Atlas (2012)
Aug20

Birthing our Future: Cloud Atlas (2012)

Birthing our Future: Cloud Atlas (2012)   “A half-finished book is, after all, a half-finished love affair.”   Well, yes.  I’m a little late putting this review up.  I had originally intended to see it on the big screen; but it seemed to be released and gone again before I ever made it.  So: without even checking I’m guessing it hasn’t made much money.  Then a month ago I thought that I’d watch it in the early evening and have a...

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