Corey Redekop's Blog, page 54

From the files of the prudish...

From Chapter 6 of James Patterson's mind-numbingly stupid online "chain thriller" Airborne:

Sh*t! Peter went over his plan again.

Yes, you read it right: Sh*t! In an adult novel about kidnapping and mysterious viruses, a character actually thinks to himself, Sh*t!, no doubt pausing afterward to genuflect and repent for daring to think up such a loathsome word.

Can we possibly hope to take any part of a novel seriously when an author is so much of a prude that they won't spell a curse word complete

Apparently, she's a contortionist

From Chapter 3 of James Patterson's already depressingly awful online novel-by-committee "chain thriller" Airborne:

Amanda's throat felt hoarse from all the screaming, which must have lasted for at least 20 minutes – she couldn’t be certain because her watch was strapped to her left wrist, which was hogtied to her right one behind her back...She sighed and felt the perspiration drip from her temples down her face, and she wiped it away on her forearm – she needed to do something.

Her hands tied b

Random Monkey Droppings, March 21, 2009

A few musings, to keep myself entertained whilst I drive nails into my forehead i.e. try to write something worth reading:

1) This sampling of TV blowhard and waste of DNA Bill O'Reilly reading the *ahem* sensual parts of his novel Those Who Trespass is too disturbing for words.

2) I'm reading Joe R. Lansdale's Sunset and Sawdust, and am really digging his overheated southern gothic style.

3) Here's my late-to-the-party thoughts on Watchmen:
Sure, it's not a perfect film, but after sitting

Review - Portobello by Ruth Rendell

Portobello
by Ruth Rendell

I'm a book snob. I admit that up front. And the main reason that I had until this point never picked up a Ruth Rendell is that I am inherently distrustful of the prolific. And can you really blame me? Maybe it's just jealousy (ok, it's definitely part jealousy), but a novelist who apparently publishes every three months does not scream quality. Sure, it can be done. I devour Stephen King and Ed McBain like handfuls of Werther's Originals, but for every King and McBain, t

Monkey Droppings - Angry butterflies and raging toys; The Voice of the Butterfly & Amberville

Two novels today, one old, one new, each strange and bizarre, and both worthy of your consideration.




The Voice of the Butterfly (2001) by John Nichols

“We have become inured to the tragic consequences of human personality on a rampage, and our disinterest is casually destroying The Meaning of Life on Earth.”

[image error] John Nichols has sadly faded from public view as of late. While his New Mexico trilogy (including most famously The Milagro Beanfield War) is a justly-celebrated series on the ongoing rape of

In Memoriam

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the

If Watchmen is only half this good...

...consider me there. Reimagining the Watchmen as a family-friendly Scooby-Doo mystery cartoon is beyond perfection.



Seriously, cannot wait for the film.[image error]

Who will win Canada Reads?

Well, the results of my highly scientific poll are in:

Who Should Win This Year's Canada Reads?

The Book of Negroes, by Lawrence Hill - 29.17% (7 votes)

The Fat Woman Next Door is Pregnant, by Michel Tremblay - 4.17% (1 vote)

Fruit, by Brian Francis - 37.50% (9 votes)

Mercy Among the Children, by David Adams Richards - 20.83% (5 votes)

The Outlander, by Gill Adamson - 8.33% (2 votes)

WHOO! It's a sweep for Fruit! Congratulations, Brian Francis! Pick up your gift bag at the door!

The serious i.e. the re

In today's episode of wasting time online creatively...

And now, I am proud to present...

MYSELF IN SUPERHERO GUISE!


Yeah...buff. Tanned. That's me all right.

Courtesy of The Hero Factory.
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Freedom to Read Week, Feb. 22-28

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For those not in the know, this week, February 22-28, is the 25th National Freedom to Read Week.

I'm not going to bother espousing to any great length on the importance of such a week (but please consider reading Steven Beattie's well-argued consideration), but I would like to point out my personal feelings on the matter.

This is a matter of major importance. It is all fine and good to not want to read a book. It is even acceptable to wish that others would not read certain books. I, if given the