Alex C. Telander's Blog, page 39
October 9, 2014
Book Report: Break Your Reading Slump, Classic, Amazon Faces The Feds, Free Sanderson & More!
Halloween Book Costumes
Still undecided what to dress your kids for Halloween? Here are some great bookish costumes you’ll adore.
An African Reading List
You hear about the books that become bestsellers by African authors, but here are some other recommended reads.
Getting Out of a Long Term Reading Slump
If you haven’t been reading for a while and you’re wanting to get started again here are some great tips to ease you into the wonderful world of reading.
October 7, 2014
“Spectrum” by Alan Jacobson (Open Road Media, 2014)
Karen Vail returns for the sixth installment, in Spectrum, and this time Alan Jacobson gives the readers a look at her past and how she went from being a NYPD rookie to one of the best FBI profiler’s. The book begins with an opening throwing the reader in the middle of a case where Vail has some big decisions to make, and then switching off in every other chapter about a Greek family beginning in the 1970s, and while it seems confusing at first, it all comes together at the end.
It’s 1995 and Vail is on her first day of the job as a rookie New York cop with a tough as nails veteran partner looking to please and do everything by the book, but also learn the way of the streets and do the hard work she needs to succeed. She is pulled into a murder case that, as the years pass, becomes a long drawn-out serial killer case. It remains unsolved for over two decades, and each time a new body is found – a woman with a slashed throat and jagged piece of glass protruding from her neck, cuts blinding her eyes, and a strange X and four letters carved into her – Vail is notified and brought in to investigate, to see if they can get any closer to finding out who the killer is.
The other part of the book focuses on a Greek family whose father is involved in a strange fight that turns bad and leads to them being ostracized from their culture. They have to leave their home and everything seems to be against them. Eventually they end up living on Ellis Island in an abandoned building, struggling to get by. The story seems out of place and not exactly clear to the reader, but halfway through the book the link becomes apparent as the reader is able to put the evidence together and understand what the author is doing.
Jacobson clearly had a lot of fun writing Spectrum and readers familiar with Karen Vail will really enjoy reading her history, not just in how she climbed the ranks of the NYPD, then joined the FBI and eventually became a profiler, but also in her personal life with her husband who became her ex-husband and how she raised a child on her own while advancing her career. Like a gripping case, Spectrum has all the pieces and evidence there, and if the reader does some good detective work, they will put it all together and know who the killer is by the end, or be pleasantly surprised. Spectrum is the best Karen Vail novel yet and whether you’re familiar with the series or this is the first one you’re reading, you’ll be hooked from cover to cover.
Originally written on October 5, 2014 ©Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of Spectrum from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
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October 2, 2014
“Climate Changed: A Personal Journey Through the Science” by Philippe Squarzoni (Abrams Comicarts, 2014)
Except for those who choose not to face reality (and perhaps are ignoring some other realisms staring them in the face), climate change is taking place right now, and as each season and year passes, more signs seem to be made of its build-up to the inevitable that is quickly approaching in our near future. In Climate Changed, French author and artist Philippe Squarzoni seeks to educate not just the reader on the happenings of climate change, but also himself.
Climate Changed is partly a graphic novel of science and partly one of philosophy, as Squarzoni begins his tale with what a beginning really is, exploring the idea as himself in his own story, trying to decide where to begin to talk about climate change. As he gets started in this important story, he combines the facts with understanding and how he deals with them. There’s the juxtaposition of what scientists and experts are saying, as well as what the graphs and charts show to be an ongoing reality with Squarzoni in his own life agreeing to do various jobs and projects and then assessing the climactic affect he alone will have in doing said jobs.
Climate Changed is a sobering read, as it should be. It paints a bleak picture, because the future is now looking pretty bleak. Climate change is a reality and is happening right now and will continue to get worse as the years pass. It’s a fact. Not enough people are doing anything to really change it, and until we start having serious changes, such as water levels rising and forcing millions of people to leave their homes and move to higher ground; then changes will start to be made, but by then it will be too late.
As for the ending, there is no quick fix or easy solution. It’s already too late for that and it’s getting worse by the year. Right now it will take centuries for the world to return to how it was during pre-industrial times. Squarzoni spends the book showing the facts, but also grappling with his own personal demons over this. And at this point, that is what it has become a question of: not what can we do to stop climate change, because it’s already too late, but how do we live with ourselves, and what do we tell our children and grandchildren who are going to experience its effects far worse than us.
Originally written on August 14, 2014 ©Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of Climate Changed from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
October 1, 2014
“These Vampires Still Don’t Sparkle” Out Today!
The anthology These Vampires Still Don’t Sparkle is out today featuring 22 short stories, one of them entitled “My Dark Genesis” written by me, Alex C. Telander. It is my first published story!
Here’s the blurb on the anthology:
Sparkly Vampires? Oh Pluuueeeaasse!
Since when have there been sparkling vampires? Are they a new brand of champagne or what?
Vampires are supposed to be wily, tricky, and even evil. And they never, ever sparkle. In this book, you’ll find stories with some refreshing takes on vampires: vampire heroes, vampire villains, humorous vampires, among others. Check out 22 stories with the most bite by Carol Hightshoe, Lee Pletzers, J.A. Campbell, T. Fox Dunham, Stephanie Ellis, and other exceptional authors. Grab some garlic, wooden stakes, and crucifixes, and get ready to party, because these vampires don’t sparkle.
And it’s priced at just $4.99. You can get your ebook download at Amazon, Kobo or Barnes & Noble.
September 30, 2014
Book Report: Best ‘Doctor Who’ Books, Tracking Your Reading, Abrams Takes on The King & More!
How I Track My Reading
One reader’s impressive and somewhat scary spreadsheet to track her intensive reading.
Genre Kryptonite
Is a time travel story your weakness when deciding what to read?
Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey
Not getting enough Doctor Who? Here’s a great list of Doctor Who-related books.
September 25, 2014
“After the Quake” by Haurki Murakami (Knopf, 2000)
Murakami are, unsurprisingly with the title, set in February 1995 after the devastating Kobe earthquake. The stories don’t deal completely with the after effects of the quake, but in the classic Murakami style, the characters have had their lives altered in various subtle ways by this natural disaster.
All six stories are told from the third person perspective, which is a change for Murakami and his usual first person point of view. The stories each have their own unique feel, presenting an unusual situation that continues to get weirder until the end, when the reader is left deep in contemplation and wonder. There is the story of the man who is an electronics salesman and finds one day that his wife has left him; when he agrees to deliver an enigmatic package, he finds out more about himself and who he really is than he ever thought he knew. A religious man follows the pursuit of another elderly gentleman, believing he might be his long lost father.
The highpoint of the collection is with the wonderfully amusing “Super-Frog Saves Tokyo,” which is about exactly what the title says. A man meets a giant frog who tells him a giant worm beneath the city will destroy everything if they don’t stop it. Taking some time, the man eventually believes the super-frog, but just as they are to venture beneath the city, he has an accident and ends up in the hospital. Thinking he can no longer help his new froggy friend, he later discovers he has helped in more ways than he knows.
With such a short collection, the stories have a way of growing on the reader, as opposed to other longer collections, where by the end readers can forget some of the earlier stories they’ve read. For anyone looking to try the great Haruki Murakami for the first time, After the Quake is a great start.
Originally written on May 16, 2012 ©Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of After the Quake from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
You might also like . . .
September 23, 2014
Book Report: Authors Against Amazon, Writer’s Late Starts, Books For Batman Fans & More!
Book Art Sculpture
Wondering what you’d like to turn those extra books you have into?
Authors Unite Letter to Amazon
As the battle between Amazon and Hachette continues, Authors Unite has send a personalized letter to Amazon voicing their feelings and opinions.
Author Success at 50
Some authors who didn’t achieve notoriety and success until after 50.
September 18, 2014
“Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey” by Nick Bertozzi (First Second, 2014)
From the author and artist of the popular Lewis & Clark graphic novel comes his next bold adventure, taking on the life and legacy of Ernest Shackleton. In this short but poignant graphic novel, Bertozzi covers a lot of ground historically with regards to Shackleton.
Told with short scenes where the adage a picture speaks a thousand words is put to full use, Bertozzi covers Shackleton’s failures in trying to reach the south pole in the heart of Antarctica, and his next bold mission to cross the great Antarctic land mass. Readers get scenes of Shackleton putting the team together, a hodge-podge of men who will soon become very close starving on the ice; crossing the ocean and reaching the frozen wasteland; and then their journey upon the Endurance through the ice until they become stalled and must make some monumental decisions.
Bertozzi uses his skill as a storyteller and artist, bringing humor to a seemingly dry historical subject, but also color and life to the various characters, making them real people suffering in these harsh conditions. Shackleton does a great job of telling a complete, emotional story in a short book that will provide useful quick reading for anyone wanting to know more about Sir Ernest Shackleton.
Originally written on August 14, 2014 ©Alex C. Telander.
To purchase a copy of Shackleton: An Antarctic Odyssey from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.
September 16, 2014
Book Report: French Bookstore in NYC, Forbes Top Earning Authors, The Return of Indie Bookstores & More!
How Stephen King Teaches Writing
At one point Mr. King was an English teacher, and here’s how he did it and what he recommends.
Reliving College Days
Ten books that help take you back to those innocent, fun college days.
Audiobook Survey
Book Riot presents the results of their recent audiobook survey.
[read more . . .]
September 11, 2014
GUEST POST: Wizard of Oz Spinoffs
When listing classic American films, or just films period, no list is complete without The Wizard of Oz. Based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, first published in 1900, this film has stood the test of time and engaged generations with it’s meaningful message that no matter how old you are, there’s no place like home. The film, first released in 1939, is turning 75 years old this year, so to celebrate this milestone, let’s take a look at some of the dozens of spinoffs and adaptations that have come from both the beloved musical and the novel.
This blockbuster from the modern entertainment powerhouse that is Disney cost the studio an estimated $325 million to make, but dazzled audiences across the planet with its 3D images and dazzling computer generated graphics. Serving as a prequel to the original film, Oz the Great and Powerful tells the story of Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a down on his luck con-man and traveling magician who gets swept into a tornado while riding in a hot air balloon in an effort to escape from people he swindled, and crash lands in a place called Oz. There, he meets a series of women including Glinda (Michelle Williams), Theodora (Mila Kunis), and Evanora (Rachel Weisz who, in my opinion, was the best part of the film).
The film sets the scene for the original in a much darker way than many would have expected. There are many parts that could be deemed downright frightening when considering its young target market, and between Kunis and Weisz tearing up the screen it’s hard to see much relation to the original. However, the gamble Disney took to make it paid off, since it pulled in nearly $500 million worldwide during its theatrical run. Luckily, you can still easily catch the film on demand through DTV or watch it online though Disney.
One spin off of the original film and novel managed to successfully draw in a whole new legion of fans and endear itself to millions across the world. I am, of course, talking about Wicked. Much like Oz the Great and Powerful, Wicked is a prequel to the original story, however that’s where the similarities end. Based on the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, the musical tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West (named Elphaba) and Glinda the good.
The musical, which premiered in 2003 with Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda and Frozen’s Idina Menzel as Elphaba, begins when the two witchy women meet in school. Glinda is, naturally, well liked and popular, while Elphaba is subject to ridicule because of her skin color. Both young women come into their own while embarking on an unlikely friendship which ultimately becomes deeply fractured when the two venture to the Emerald City and meet the Wizard.
The musical has gone on to win three Tony awards as well as a Grammy for its original cast album. On top of that, it has become one of the longest running shows in Broadway history with a staggering 4,500 performances. It’s been translated and performed everywhere from Mexico City to Seoul. Despite rumors of a film version coming, there appears to be nothing substantial yet.
The Wiz is another musical take on the classic story, albeit a significantly more eccentric one. The musical started as an all African-American version of the original book and premiered in 1974 in Baltimore before moving to Broadway the following year.
It created enough buzz that Motown Records Barry Gordy decided to purchase the rights to the film. On the insistence of his star recording artist (and girlfriend), Diana Ross, Gordy cast her as Dorothy in the film version. Acting alongside Ross was a young Michael Jackson as Scarecrow, Lena Horne as Glinda the Good, and Richard Pryor as The Wiz. The film, which cost $25 million to make only earned $13 million at the box office, more or less ended Ross’s big screen career (although she has gone on to do two made-for-T.V. movies since). Despite its financial shortcomings its psychedelic sets and disco-esque music has earned it a major cult following in the years since its release.
The attempts to capitalize on this timeless film and book have been a mixed bag to say the least. Of course, as with anything good, Hollywood will keep trying to churn out sequels and prequels and spinoffs for what is sure to be decades to come. However, nothing will capture the magic of the original. So, in honor of it’s 75th anniversary pop it in the DVD player, make yourself some popcorn, and return to that wonderful land of Oz.
Kate Voss
@kateevoss
