THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY by Marian Keyes

THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY by Marian Keyes Review (4.5 out of 5 Stars)

The Brightest Star in the Sky
by Marian Keyes
Release Date: January 21, 2010
Publisher: Viking Adult
Pages: 480
Source: Purchased
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I always look forward to a new book from Marian Keyes and her latest, The Brightest Star in the Sky, was no different. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the book, which tells the story of the residents of 66 Star Street in Dublin. Uncharacteristically for Keyes, there’s a supernatural twist as the story is narrated by a mysterious being that can see into each apartment. On the ground floor we have Matt and Maeve, a young married couple who are in love but seem to be hiding a big secret. Jemima, a wise old woman with a huge dog, lives on the second floor. Next are Andrei and Jan, two [...]

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER by Seth Grahame-Smith

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER by Seth Grahame-Smith Review (4.5 out of 5 Stars)

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
by Seth Grahame-Smith
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher
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When I first heard that Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (see our review here), had a new book coming out I wasn’t too interested because the whole horror/classic lit mashup genre never really appealed to me. That changed when I found out that the book’s title was Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. My curiosity piqued, I immersed myself in Grahame-Smith’s prose and found it to be one of the best books I have read in recent history, as it expertly blends biographical, fantasy, horror, and action genres into one amazing read.
The key to the success of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is Grahame-Smith’s telling the story using a biographical style, which is as good as Goodwin’s Team [...]

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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8 ISSUE 32 by Joss Whedon

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8, ISSUE 32, TWILIGHT – CHAPTER ONE: BUFFY HAS F#@$ING SUPERPOWERS by Joss Whedon Review (5 out of 5 Stars)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #32
by Joss Whedon
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Georges Jeanty
Inks: Andy Owens
Colors: Michelle Madsen
Release Date: February 2, 2010
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Pages: 40
Source: Purchased
I haven’t reviewed a graphic novel for Daemon’s Books before, but issue 32 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is just so awesome that I couldn’t resist. It’s the first issue written by Brad Meltzer and the first in the Twilight arc, a four-issue arc in which we will finally learn the identity of the mysterious big bad of Season 8. The big reveal will take place in the next issue, though it’s been nearly impossible to avoid the spoilers so I think most of us already know who it is. For now though it’s still a secret [...]

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Last Words: A Memoir by George Carlin and Tony Hendra

LAST WORDS: A MEMOIR by George Carlin and Tony Hendra (4 out of 5 Stars) Review

Last Words: A Memoir by George Carlin
and Tony Hendra
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Publisher: Free Press
Pages: 320
Source:Purchased
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The darkest part of 2008 in my opinion was the passing of George Carlin. Few comedians from his era could make me laugh like Carlin could, and few knew how to deliver fantastically offensive and socially important bits like he did for decades. Luckily enough, Carlin along with the help of his friend Tony Hendra, was able to complete his autobiography shortly before his passing.
What I love about Last Words, is how Carlin cleverly articulates the details of his birth, childhood and career in such a way that you feel as if you are watching him on stage acting it out. Here is a quote from Carlin on his birth:
“Sliding headfirst down a vagina with [...]

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THE PARIS VENDETTA by Steve Berry

THE PARIS VENDETTA by Steve Berry Review (3.5 out of 5 Stars)

The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
Release Date: December 1, 2009
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 432
Source: Library
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The Paris Vendetta is Steve Berry’s fifth book featuring bookshop owner and ex-Justice Department field agent, Cotton Malone. Fresh off his recent case involving his father, Malone gets roped into helping his good friend Henrik Thorvaldsen seek revenge on the man who killed his son. As you may remember, Malone killed the gunmen who shot diplomat Cai Thorvaldsen in Mexico City, but Henrik is after the man who hired them, Lord Ashby. Besides being responsible for Cai’s death, Ashby is a busy guy: he’s part of a group trying to manipulate the world economy for profit, he has ties to a terrorist planning to bomb Paris, and he’s on a quest to find Napoleon’s alleged hidden treasure. Whew! [...]

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LIVE FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE by David Sedaris

LIVE FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE by David Sedaris Review (5 out of 5 Stars)

Live For Your Listening Pleasure by David Sedaris
Release Date: November 24, 2009
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Format: Audio CD
Source: Purchased
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When David Sedaris goes on a book tour he can fill huge auditoriums with fans eager to hear his humorous observations and stories. His new CD, Live For Your Listening Pleasure, was recorded last year at various stops on his tour. It’s a new standalone album (there’s no corresponding book), but if you’ve had the opportunity to attend one of his events, you might have heard a few of the stories before. Here’s a list of the contents and my thoughts on each:
Cat and Baboon – This fable consists of a conversation between a cat and a baboon and I thought it was a cute way to begin the album.
Author, Author – When I saw [...]

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IN DEFENSE OF FOOD: AN EATER’S MANIFESTO by Michael Pollan

IN DEFENSE OF FOOD: AN EATER’S MANIFESTO by Michael Pollan Review (5 out of 5 Stars)

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto
by Michael Pollan
Release Date: April 28, 2009
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 256
Source: Purchased
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I’ve been wanting to read In Defense of Food for a while now, but it wasn’t until I saw Michael Pollan’s recent appearance on Oprah that I finally picked up the book. His premise sounds simple: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” When I first heard that, all I could think was “well, duh.” But where his argument starts to get interesting is Pollan’s claim that most of the heavily processed food in the supermarket is not food at all, but “edible foodlike substances.” I think we’ve all heard the warning that processed food probably isn’t good for us, but it’s the kind of thing that goes in one ear and [...]

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PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan

PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan Review (4 out of 5 Stars)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Release Date: 2005
Publisher: Miramax Books /
Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 400
Source: Purchased
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What if the gods and monsters of Greek Mythology were not myth but reality? The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan creates a world where this question is answered and the consequences of the Gods’ actions on the mortal world are explored. The novel’s main character, Percy Jackson, finds out that he is a demigod, son of one of the Greek gods. Unfortunately, it also marks him as a target for the different monsters of mythology to come after him. When he makes it to Camp Half-Blood, a haven for other demigods, Percy learns that he has to take on a vital quest and succeed or the entire world will be [...]

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ALTAR OF EDEN by James Rollins

ALTAR OF EDEN by James Rollins Review (4 out of 5 Stars)

Altar of Eden by James Rollins
Release Date: December 29, 2009
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 416
Source: Library
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When I found out that James Rollins’ latest book, Altar of Eden, isn’t a Sigma Force novel, I admit I was disappointed. Then I reminded myself that prior to the Sigma Force series, Rollins wrote some exceptional standalone books like Subterranean and Amazonia (which, by the way, has more than a few similarities to the movie Avatar). Altar of Eden is Rollins’ first book to feature a veterinarian, but it’s reminiscent of some of his earlier books. The story takes place in Louisiana where US Border Patrol Agent Jack Menard has discovered a shipwrecked boat full of exotic animals. He brings in veterinarian Lorna Polk to examine them because they have odd abnormalities and seemingly heightened intelligence. Lorna suspects [...]

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MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE by Wil Wheaton

MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE by Wil Wheaton Review (4 out of 5 Stars)

Memories of the Future by Wil Wheaton
Release Date: December 21, 2009
Publisher: Monolith Press
Pages: 138
Source: Purchased

Star Trek: The Next Generation was one of my favorite shows to watch in high school, and I still catch the occasional rerun every once in a while. Although he wasn’t one of my favorites while on the show, Wil Wheaton has been one of my favorite tech personalities to follow over the last few years. He usually provides a good perspective on tech trends with a little bit of snark and pop culture thrown in there. When I found out he was writing a book about Star Trek: The Next Generation, I was instantly curious to see what he would have to say about the show and his experiences during the filming and being connected to the Star Trek Franchise. [...]

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