Lots of blood, death, and gore on this week's covers, but none of that bothered Darren because no one was upside down.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
What Would Darren Read, Home Edition (March 28th)
Lots of blood, death, and gore on this week's covers, but none of that bothered Darren because no one was upside down.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Comics Trey Didn't Buy: Prophet and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
Shaun's back with another review of a book Trey has chosen to unfairly ignore. This time: Prophet #23 and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #5!
Hounded Re-read - Week 5
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1. In a moment of anger, Atticus reveals something about himself that he usually keeps very secret, for his own benefit. Has something similar ever happened to you? Have you ever spilled a closely guarded secret in a moment of excitement or anger or absent-mindedness?
I don't really have any crazy secrets, and I don't have much of a temper either, so I've never really been goaded into this kind of situation before. Boring, I know.
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2. Atticus tells Mrs. MacDonagh, "the universe is exactly the size that your soul can encompass. Some people live in extremely small worlds, and some live in a world of infinite possibility." Then he asks her what she is going to do with the new information she has discovered. What would you do if you found out that other beings were among us? Would you deny it or embrace it?
I don't think I could deny it. I'd just have lots of questions. In some stories of this genre, once you know, you can't help but see, and the spooky stuff knows you can see them. That doesn't seem to be an issue in the Hearne-verse, so I would probably be able to stay out of trouble for the most part.
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3. So far, Atticus has revealed a few of his powers and has even shared some power by putting bindings on Granuaile. What do you think has been his coolest or most helpful power so far?
I think his coolest power is shapeshifting. There's just something awesome about being able to change into an animal and experience life in a completely different way. His most useful power is the healing touch of the earth. Hearne does a good job finding ways to (temporarily) keep him away from open earth for story tension, but in real life that would be the power you would get the most use out of.
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4. Atticus gets pretty pissed when he finds out that Aenghus Óg is drawing power from the Earth and, in turn, killing it. That's when Atticus decides he must fight the old Fae for committing such a heinous offense. What is something you would fight for, even if it meant you might die trying?
The easiest answer is family and friends. I think if the US were invaded/usurped by some kind of totalitarian regime (and this isn't some veiled political reference, I mean real bad guys, not just the latest politician from the party you don't like), I would be prepared to go Red Dawn.
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5. What did you think of the final showdown between Atticus and Aenghus Óg? Did it go down the way you expected? Was there anything about their battle that surprised you?
I can't say I expected exactly what happened to Atticus, but it also didn't surprise me. By the time I was that far into Hounded, I knew that Hearne was a pretty clever guy who likes to subvert expectation, so when Atticus went down I thought "of course, this is perfect".
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6. What was your favorite/least favorite part of Hounded? Who was your favorite/least favorite character?
I don't remember having any real issues with the book. The only characters I disliked were the ones I was supposed to hate, like Aenghus. In this first book, I think Oberon is definitely the breakout star, and all of the scenes with Atticus and Oberon on their own are probably the best for making this feel like a real world with real characters you'd like to hang out with.
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7. What do you think is coming up next for Atticus? Will you continue reading this series, and if so, what do you hope to see happen in the next book?
I read the entire opening trilogy as they came out last summer, so I'm not really sure how to answer this. I will say that I'm definitely planning on continuing the series, I've had Tricked pre-ordered on Amazon since it was first posted. I'm also going to one of Kevin's signings for Tricked this summer. I have some thoughts on what's to come for the Iron Druid, but I think I'll keep them to myself to avoid spoiling any new readers in our midst.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
FIGcast - Episode 58 - "The FIG Trinity"
We're all back this week! Huzzah!
Shownotes:
- (0:00:00) Darren is old, and got to see The Colbert Report up close
- (0:01:20) Trey read some comics (gasp!)
- (0:07:00) Tripp did nothing of note, but it wasn't his fault
- (0:10:35) TV Talk: Awake needs to pick it up, and GAME OF THRONES IS BACK SUNDAY!!!
- (0:21:10) Blu Rays: (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)
- (0:21:40) Coming Attractions: (Mirror Mirror...Wrath of the Titans)
- (0:25:00) Box Office: (Katniss wins!!!)
- (0:27:35) We all saw The Hunger Games in the theater, so we share our reactions
- (1:33:35) What Would Darren Read
- (1:40:00) Trey's Pullbox: (All Star Western...Aquaman...Daredevil...The Flash...The New Guardians...Justice League Dark...I, Vampire...Legion: Secret Origins...Spaceman)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Comic Mini-Reviews Week of March 21st, 2012
This week: Wonder Woman wows, Batman ka-pows, and Justice League grows.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Weekly Round Up, Saturday March 25th, 2012
Trailers:
New Trailer - Prometheus
GoT Trailer - "Price For Our Sins"
GoT S2 Preview - "You Win Or You Die"
Trailer - Snow White & the Huntsman
100 Books in 2012:
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #9
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #10
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #11
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #12
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #13
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #14
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #15
Houded Re-read:
Hounded Re-read - Week 4
Comics:
Comic Mini-Reviews Week of March 14th, 2012
New 52 Third Wave Pitch: Prometheus
FIGcast:
FIGcast - Episode 57 - "The End of Flannel"
What Would Darren Read, Home Edition (March 21st)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #15
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Do I even have to review this? Take Twilight, remove the vamps, keep the werewolves. Voila! Not enough? OK, Fine!
Grace is a girl who has been in love with a wolf (yeah....a wolf) ever since she was attacked by a pack when she was little. Then she meets Sam, an elusive guy who just so happens to have the same yellow eyes as the wolf she's been ogling forever. It's love at first sight, y'all!
Look, I don't like this book (maybe you couldn't tell). The only redeeming quality is the explanation of the werewolves (they only change in winter, but after being a wolf for a few years they never change back). This is the first in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and it's the first time I've ever read the beginning of a trilogy and not cared if I read the rest.
Friday, March 23, 2012
GoT S2 Preview - "You Win Or You Die"
HBO has released a great 22 minute featurette that recaps season 1 and leads into season 2. If you want to get excited for the return of Game of Thrones, this is the most effective video we've seen to date.
What Would Darren Read, Home Edition (March 21st)
This week we recorded "What Would Darren Read" without Darren...it wasn't quite the same.
Hounded Re-read - Week 4
Here are the links to date: intro, week 1, week 2, and week 3. This weeks entries are being hosted by InTheClosetBibliophile here. Read on!
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1. Just after Atticus is shot, Oberon has to "ninja" his way out of the shop and into Hal's Beamer (with the icky air freshener). Have you ever been in a situation where you had to "ninja" your way out and try not to be discovered? If so, what happened?
I'm pretty sneaky, so I've probably done something like this before, but that's not what comes immediately to mind. When I was about 17, I was coming back into the house at about 2am (no worries, it was the summer). I wasn't "sneaking" in, per se, but I didn't turn on any of the lights b/c I'd lived in the house for a decade, I could get around in the dark. Unfortunately, I wasn't taking into account my sister's brand new toy poodle puppy. As I was walking through the living room in the gap between the couch and the coffee table, I suddenly hear this horrible "Uuuuuuurk, uuuuuuurk, uuuuuuurk, uuuuuurk!!!". I remembered the dog, and I was certain I had shattered its spine or something equally horrific. Luckily, when I turned the light on I caught just a tiny flash of him sprinting around the corner back to my sister's bed room, so in the end I guess I must have stubbed his toe.
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2. Atticus's main goal through a large portion of the book is not only protecting Oberon, but also protecting the sword. You are now living in a paranormal world and you need a weapon! What weapon do you choose and what can it do?
OK, I'm going to cheat a bit again on this one and give two alternatives. If my goal is survival in the kinds of situations Atticus constantly finds himself in, the answer is obviously the Golden Gun. Sure, in the movie it's just a gun that fires poison-coated bullets, but in the video game it's a one-shot, one-kill weapon. I would find some dwarf to make a supernatural version of the Golden Gun, where as long as the bullets hit any part of any creature (including pesky, grudge-holding deities), they die. However, if my goal is to look awesome, then again there is only one answer: lightsaber. Next question.
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3. To recharge and heal after being shot, Atticus sleeps naked, tattoos to the earth, in a patch of grass near the Civic Center in downtown Scottsdale. Where is the weirdest place you have ever slept?
This one's easy. I was once forced to spend the night in the train station in Bratislava, Slovakia. On a bench. With six college girls for whom I was responsible. And then at 3am a very large man in a military uniform started screaming at everyone in the station to get out, and I was faced with the idea of wandering the streets of Slovakia with these girls. Luckily, a lady on the bench next to me spoke enough English to explain that they were kicking out people who didn't have tickets, and luckily we did. That was one of the few "all-nighters" I've pulled in my life that didn't involve anything fun.
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4. We finally find out some very interesting information about Granuaile and I don't know about you, but I certainly wasn't expecting to find that she's sharing her head with someone else. What about you, did you expect anything along those lines? If not, what were you expecting concerning Granuaile?
I assumed from the very beginning that there was more to Granuaile than just "hot bartender for Atticus to ogle over his fish and chips". However, I was not expecting a modified Professor Quirrell situation. I figured she might end up being more than meets the eye, or she might just be a love interest down the road. Can't keep typing without spoilers. :)
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Look, witches be crazy. I feel like we've covered that almost every week. That being said, sometimes you have to make a tactical decision and remember that "the enemy of my enemy will probably help me mess up my enemy". Laksha has no real attachment to the AZ. There's nothing for her there that she can't find in hundreds of other places, and those places don't have the only surviving druid to contend with. My thought was that Atticus can feel relatively safe in dealing with her to neutralize his more immediate concerns. However, never forget the first sentence of this answer.
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #14
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Frankie is a 15-year-old at an elite boarding school who happens to be in a relationship with the school star, a senior named Matthew. She soon finds out that Matthew is a part of the school's secret all-male club called the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Feeling left out, Frankie creates a fake identity to try and infiltrate the Order.
I get wanting to be a part of the boys club. Frankie (and many other girls) feel like boys can get away with so much more than girls, no matter what century we are living in. And that's the whole point of the book: she wants to break out of the mold of what a girl is supposed to do, while also trying to maintain her own identity in a relationship. I admire the character of Frankie, although she wasn't my favorite of the book (that title goes to the elusive Alpha).
I love Young Adult lit, even though I'm a little less Y and way more A these days. This is a great example of great YA lit: no parents, getting to know yourself, and drama. Frankie is such a wonderful example for young girls that the book kind of makes me want to have a daughter and give her this book to read. Or maybe I'll just read it again.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
FIGcast - Episode 57 - "The End of Flannel"
The title refers to Darren, even though he wasn't with us this week :)
Shownotes:
- (0:00:40) Darren isn't with us this week, sad panda
- (0:02:50) Trey tried out Battleground, watched Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, and read some comics
- (0:16:20) Tripp started watching The Hour, and played trivia for big money
- (0:29:30) TV Talk: we talk The Walking Dead finale (spoilers!) and Trey's initiation into Supernatural
- (0:43:10) Blu Rays: (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo...The Muppets...Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy...Battle Royale)
- (0:47:20) Coming Attractions: (The Hunger Games)
- (0:49:45) Box Office: (High School wins!!!)
- (0:53:15) We both saw 21 Jump Street, so we talk about the movie
- (1:13:05) What Would Darren Read
- (1:20:15) Trey's Pullbox: (Batman...Batman Beyond Unlimited...Birds of Prey...Green Lantern Corps...Justice League...Star Trek/Legion...Wonder Woman)
- (1:45:35) We also talk X-Men: Season One, b/c we forgot to talk about it in banter
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #13
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I'll be the first to admit that, if I can help it, I don't watch horror movies. I blame it on my parents for somehow letting me see one of the Chucky movies when I was younger. One of the things I hate in scary movies are scary children (ironic considering my job).
This actually has nothing to do with #15, really. It was a really good book, with spooky pictures. I just happened to read it at night in my mom's guest room that happens to have antique pictures of scary children. I recommend the book, but not the setting where I read it.
Sixteen-year-old Jacob has heard his grandfather's stories about the peculiar children and the monster's who are after them his whole life, but didn't really believe them. After a family tragedy, Jacob goes on a quest to discover if the stories are true.
This book is told through the story, but it also has these awesome and real pictures to show the peculiar children. I loved the characters and how they were set in this very peculiar world. Once Jacob goes on his quest, there is this other part of the story that I didn't see coming and its level of detail kind of blew my mind. I think that part is setting things up for a sequel. Really good read, though.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #12
Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress
I've let it be known that I like Southern Lit (I mentioned it in my last review, in fact). I guess I failed to specify that it should also be good.
Georgia Bottoms has a secret that has somehow not gotten around her small, Alabama town- she's dating six men all at the same time (the sheriff, a preacher, and the bank president among them).
I loved the book Crazy in Alabama by Childress, but unfortunately this one wasn't that great. Georgia isn't a character that I would ever like and the southern stereotypes are rampant throughout the book. It's sad, because Childress is from Alabama and should know better. Read Crazy in Alabama and skip this one.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
New 52 Third Wave Pitch: Prometheus
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #11
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
I am proud of being Southern. Am I ashamed of parts of my "Southern heritage?" Yes. Will I ever own anything bearing the Confederate Flag? No. Will I ever attend a race at Talladega? Ummmm... maybe.
I also love Southern literature, with Faulkner being my favorite ( I know, I'm also pretentious). Fried Green Tomatoes isn't just a great Southern novel. At it's heart are amazing stories about people who could live down your street today, or people who lived a long time ago, or people who can never live again, because times have changed that much.
Ninny Threadgoode tells the story of a small town (Whistle Stop, Alabama) and some of its residents, specifically Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison. She weaves her tale to Evelyn Couch, a housewife who is searching for something beyond the house.
I loved this book. I loved it because it reminds me of my grandmothers and grandfathers. I loved it because it reminds of the relatives I am too young to meet, but through stories like these, I have come to know. It makes me want to go have a conversation with some one over the age of 65. I highly recommend #11!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Comic Mini-Reviews Week of March 14th, 2012
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #10
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith
Elizabeth Bennett is a feminist living during the reign of George III. Oh, and she kills zombies because England is infested with the undead.
I had high expectations for this book. I love anything Jan Austen. I love zombies. I love Seth Grahame-Smith's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
I think you know where this is going. I wanted to like it! Really, I did. It's just that there was this kind of lame part about how all the women of that era went to either China or Japan to learn fighting skills. If it was just mentioned a couple of times, that would have been OK. Instead it seemed like this entire additional story line that needed it's own spin off. Apparently I was right, because there's a sequel and a prequel to this book. In my world, Jane Austen comes back as a zombie and seeks revenge for this. Maybe that's harsh, but I know some die-hard Jane Austen fans who probably agree with me.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Laura's 100 Books in 2012 - #9
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Raise your hand if you've ever seen The Notebook. Now raise your hand if you've ever been to the circus. Well, you've pretty much got the drift of this book. Maybe it's my fault, because I watched the movie before I read the book (usually a no-no for me). Most of the time I love, like, or care about at least one character, but I didn't care about any of them in this book (or the movie).
Jacob accidentally joins a circus after a personal tragedy and meets Marlena. They fall in love, but she's married to the main animal trainer. Jacob becomes the vet for the circus and begins a bond that will change his life.
If you want to read the book, check it out from the public library. If you want to watch the movie, borrow it from someone. Just save your money on this story.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Weekly Round Up, Saturday March 17th, 2012
Game of Thrones News:
GoT Trailer - "The More You Love"
GoT Poster - "The King Can Do As He Likes"
Comics:
Comic Mini-Reviews Week of March 7th, 2012
New 52 Third Wave Pitch: Jack Kirby's Fourth World...
Comics Trey Didn't Buy: Prophet 22
Comics Trey Didn't Buy: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
100 Books in 2012:
Liz's 100 Books in 2012 - #9
Hounded Re-read:
Hounded Re-read - Week 3
The FIGcast!
FIGcast - Episode 56 - "Do What Feels Good"
What Would Darren Read, Home Edition (March 14th)
Friday, March 16, 2012
What Would Darren Read, Home Edition (March 14th)
This last week was a really strong week with entries from DC, Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse!
Hounded Re-read - Week 3
Intro post is here, week 1 is here, week is 2 here. SmashAttackReads is hosting this week's answers at this post. Read on!
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1. I love Leif Helgarson, Viking Vampire, Esq. I have to say that combo makes a pretty cool attorney. If you could have a paranormal/mythical beastie (or combo) covering your tuckus in court, what would you choose and why?
I think we all know that the correct answer to this question is Keyrock, the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. He's been around forever, so he knows all the tricks and loopholes. Besides, it's just too much fun.
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2. The police show up to question Atticus about his Irish Wolfhound, Oberon. If you could own any dog breed, what would it be and why? (P.S. Oberon is going on my list of favorite sidekicks!)
Irish Wolfhound has actually been pretty high up on my list, even before I discovered Kevin Hearne. Since it would be boring to just have everyone say they want an Oberon, I'll go with the Do-Khyi, or Tibetan Mastiff.
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3. Malina Sokolowski and the other Sisters of the Three Auroras coven have my antennae up. What is your opinion of them?
Witches=bad, unless they're written by J.K. Rowling, or you've met one who's known universally as "XYZ, the GOOD Witch". Atticus is smart to be wary.
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4. Brighid, goddess of poetry, fire and the forge, gave Atticus the power of Cold Iron, which can be used to fight off that nasty little hellspawn. If you could wield one magical power, what would it be and why?
This is always a really, really tough question. If I'm living in a crazy world like Atticus, I definitely want something to help my survival. Maybe a crazy healing factor like Wolverine? Something like that. However, if this is a power for me to use in my regular old boring life, I would probably want something that could make some money. I'm tempted to say some kind of perfect divination so I could run the stock market, but I think I'd go with teleportation. It would allow me to travel wherever I want, whenever I want. I would instantly be able to save a ton of money, and I'm sure over time I could think of some clever ways to actually make money off of it.
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5. The cops show up at Atticus’ shop to search for poor Oberon, who remains magically hidden throughout the ordeal. What is the one thing you would do if you could remain hidden from sight?
Heh, this is one of those questions where I'm sure people's answers have changed as they've moved through the stages of their lives. Right now, I can't think of anything terribly clever I would do. Sneak into the movie theater? It would be great for corporate espionage, but I'm not really sure how a person transitions into that line of work.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
FIGcast - Episode 56 - "Do What Feels Good"
The title refers to Trey's introduction to RSS Readers. Bet you didn't see that coming.
Shownotes:
- (00:02:55) Darren took a bartending class, and continued his Hunger Games journey
- (00:14:25) Trey watched Archer and more DS9
- (00:18:55) Tripp finally finished The Rook, and bought Saga #1
- (00:23:45) TV Talk: we talk The Walking Dead (spoilers!)
- (00:32:00) And the second ep of Awake (more spoilers!)
- (00:41:00) Blu Rays: (The Adventures of Tintin...The Descendants...Young Adult...The Killing S1)
- (00:48:10) Coming Attractions: (21 Jump Street...Casa De Mi Padre)
- (00:54:30) Box Office: (Dr. Seuss wins again)
- (00:57:15) We all saw John Carter, so we talk the movie, and the reaction to it
- (01:45:05) What Would Darren Read
- (01:58:20) Trey's Pullbox: (Batgirl...Batman and Robin...Batwoman...Demon Knights...Frankenstein...Green Lantern...The Ray...The Shade...Captain America...Wolverine & the X-Men...Thief of Thieves...Conan the Barbarian)
Liz's 100 Books in 2012 - #9
Hounded by Kevin Hearne
I'm a sucker for stories that incorporate different mythical creatures into reality (The Southern Vampire Mysteries, The Lost Gate, Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments, I think you get the picture), but this series takes it to an entirely different level. We're not only talking vampires, demons, werewolves, and fairies; but also all the gods ever thought of or believed in. I loved it!
Atticus is a centuries-old druid living in modern day Arizona. He stays out of trouble by blending in, but an old feud with a Celtic god rocks his mellow life in this first book of The Iron Druid Chronicles. He uses the help of his supernatural lawyers, goddess protector, and other back-up plans to get out of trouble.
The main character is perfect. He's super old, so he knows just about everything, but he's also really funny. AND he has a talking dog. What's not to love??
5 out of 5 chicken apples sausages (in honor of Oberon).
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