Quote-tastic ~ Charlie Manx In NOS4A2

Quote-Tastic is a meme held on Mondays by Herding Casts & Burning Soup. Join them every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another.

My quote today comes from NOS4A2 (nosferatu) a novel by Joe Hill. Charlie Manx is a bad man who's in a long-term-care ward called The Vegetable Patch and is threatening nurse Ellen .

"There's a place for Josiah John Thornton in Christmasland, and there's a place for you in the House of Sleep, Charlie Manx said. "The Gasmask Man would know just what to do with you. Give you the gingerbread smoke and teach you to love him. Can't bring you with us to Christmasland. Or I could, but the Gasmask Man is better. The Gasmask Man is a mercy."

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by Sheila@BookJourney 

I've been planning my reading and listening book pile geared towards halloween without imbibing too much of the scare factor cause I'm not a big fan of horror books and movies. That said, I will be reading a lot of spooky themed thrillers in October though, in fact let me share the ones I've been reading so far...

Last Week I read: 

• The Ghost and the Graveyard by Genevieve Jack
• Booster and Reeves: The Night of the Revenants by Troy Blackford
• Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater
• The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wecker
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
• I just finished Horns by Joe Hill
• God's of Nowhere by James Tipper

What I'm Currently Reading: 

• Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
• NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

What I Plan On Reading 

• Salem's Lot by Stephen King
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• Doctor Sleep by Stephen King Night
• NightWhere by John Everson
• Ruler- Blood Magic #3 by Monica S. Kuebler
• Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Boo Berry The Cryptkeeper

I've been busy gearing up for an allhallowsread blogoween and the task isn't going to be an easy one. Starting in October, I will be joining with all kinds of halloween bloggers in the 2013 Countdown To Halloween, where I am posing as the Boo Berry Cryptkeeper. It is my desire to share a few scary books for this halloween facade and festivity and I'm also counting on boo berry to help me from being scared to death. Sorta like Bob the Skull was to Harry Dresden

If I do get scared from all the horror I will turn into bruised berry causing me to swear repletively and then I'll be the scary one *shivers.

from Tom Krohne's site

As far as it goes, I had never read a Stephen King novel or liked reading horror books or movies before. BUT I am determined to slowly change that. So, I've made some book choices, some horror, some not so much, that I will be sharing with you all in the next month. I've realized though, that I generally prefer paranormal to horror. Ghosts don't scare me, they never have, at least not yet anyway. Enjoy yourselves this Halloween folks!

Quote-Tastic ~ Summer Knights

Quote-Tastic is a meme held on Mondays by Herding Casts & Burning Soup. Join them every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another.

Summer Knights is (The Dresden Files #4) by Jim Butcher and honestly there are a dozen quotes I could add from his repertoire but this one comes when Harry goes to meet his friend Karrin who's a cop at a Wal-Mart to ask her for her help in finding the one who killed the Summer Knight. He is dealing with faeries mostly and they are rather dangerous. They get trapped in the store by some deadly mist and an Ogre. Karrin is scared out of her wits.


 

“Karrin."
She looked up at me.
She looked very young somehow.
"Remember what I said yesterday," I said. "You're hurt. But you'll get through it. You'll be okay."
She closed her eyes tightly.
"I'm scared. So scared I'm sick." 
"You'll get through it."
"What if I don't?"
 I squeezed her fingers. "Then I will personally make fun of you every day for the rest of your life," I said. "I will call you a sissy girl in front of everyone you know, tie frilly aprons on your car, and lurk in the parking lot at CPD and whistle and tell you to shake it, baby. Every. Single. Day."
Murphy's breath escaped in something like a hiccup. She opened her eyes, a mix of anger and wary amusement easing into them in place of fear. "You do realize I'm holding a gun, right?” ― Jim Butcher, Summer Knight

Synopsis 

 "Harry Dresden's faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. All par for the course for Chicago s only professional wizard." "But in all Harry's years of supernatural sleuthing, he's never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone completely postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble - and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly." Someone - or something - is stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

THE DRESDEN FILES by Jim Butcher

Last week I listened to

Fool Moon
Grave Peril
Ghost Story
Cold Days

I'm currently listening to

Summer Knight
Side Jobs

Before September ends 

I hope to have read/listened to the rest in the series. I know it's a lot of Dresden but I don't mind. Cold Days and Fool Moon take place around Halloween. Harry Dresden's birthday is on Halloween. Even though they are a little less spooky than your average haunting horror tale I couldn't have picked a better time to read them. I felt it appropriate. I borrowed them from my library in either book format or audio.
I confess that the only one I didn't like is Ghost Story. It's lucky that it's in the latest novels and I'm crossing my fingers that the others I haven't read will not be as ridiculous.

 is about sharing the books you have read
and are currently reading, and plan on reading next
Hosted by Sheila@bookjourney 

Fool Moon

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

Audiobook by Buzzy Multimedia
Narrated by James Marsters
Length: 10:06

Werewolf , therewolf, everywhere a wolf wolf.

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a PI wizard who knows his magic but he gets himself badly injured when he gets involved in a murder investigation dealing with too many werewolves.

Kim Delaney talks to Harry Dresden to help her understand how to conjure up a barrier circle and ends up dead when her spell fails to keep MacFinn, from turning into a Lycanthrope. She was trying to prevent him from killing anyone on the full moon. MacFinn is not the one responsible for killing Spike. He's being framed by an FBI agent Denton, who incidentally is the bad guy. He along with his followers have turned themselves into Hexenwolves voluntarily just to catch a thug by the name of John Carpone. It is up to Harry and Karrin Murphy to figure it out.

I don't like Karrin Murphy much. I think she gets in the way of Harry Dresden too much .

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some quotes worth repeating:

"...and I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down. Good bye " -Denton said
"Death by nursery tales. Hells bells "- Harry Dresden

Cold Days: Review & Audio

Cold Days by Jim Butcher

I was impressed at how far the author had taken the character Harry Dresden from his initial first book.

I really like James Marsters narrating and I love paranormal fantasy books!

Harry Dresden is a supernatural hero. In Cold Days he has to save not just Chicago from an all out apocalypse but the whole world. He is the Winter Knight and works for Mab the Queen of Air and darkness of Arctis Tor now. He also has a special relationship with The Island called Demonreach . Somehow he is made the WARDEN of a prison there. I guess a curse was set to happen here and the prison was going to explode and the bad guys would be released on the city of Chicago unless Harry can stop it. The Island's 'WELL' was created by Merlin . Anyway Maeve, Mab's daughter, is a wicked bitch , and Harry is ordered to kill her.

Harry does an excellent job at making me laugh. He was hilarious inside the mountain talking to Demonreach Lol! ...something about a parasite inside Harry's brain. ya. gulp. It seems like he might turn evil. Even his girlfriend Karrin talks about important negative "factors" about their relationship and how even if he does turn "bad" she will follow him to hell if she has to. awwww ain't that sweet.

I loved the tiny character Toot-toot and Bob, the talking skull, and Lacuna. She seemed so sweet to me :p. Harry's old friends like Mac the bartender was back and Thomas his vampire brother.

All in all it was a fun fast and exciting read and you should read the entire series :)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cover Reveal ~ Dreams of God's & Monsters

Dreams of God's & Monster's by Laini Taylor

Expected Published April 2014

Order Amazon

Goodreads

In this thrilling conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she's ever known. When a brutal angel army trespasses into the human world, Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat--and against larger dangers that loom on the horizon. They begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves--maybe even toward love. From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

Brief Excerpt:

"Step right up, worlds, thought Karou, get your disaster here! She cast again around the table, but she was surrounded by warriors in the midst of a war council, and everything that had been decided here could be filed under “Of course, idiot. What did you think was going to happen?” Still, she tried. She said, “There is no acceptable level of collateral damage. And, humans aside, what about us? How many of us will die?” “As many as necessary,” responded Liraz from across the table, and Karou wanted to shake the gorgeous ice queen angel of death. “What if none of it is necessary?” she demanded. “What if there’s another way?” “Do you have another idea?” And, of course, Karou didn’t. Her grudging admission—“Not yet.”—was bitter. “If you think of any, I’m sure you’ll let us know.” Oh, the slice of her gaze, that sardonic, dismissive tone. Karou felt the angel’s hatred like a slap. Did she deserve it? She darted a glance at Akiva, but he wasn’t looking at her. It was beginning to feel as though he would never look at her again. “If we’re through here,” cut in Thiago, “we have resurrections to perform before we move.” And that was it. Thought Karou as the council broke up: Cue apocalypse."

About the Author:

Laini Taylor is the New York Times bestselling author of Days of Blood & Starlight, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, the Dreamdark books Blackbringer and Silksinger, and the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch: Three Times. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter, Clementine. Her website is www.lainitaylor.com.

What I've been reading ~ An Australian Creation Story

What I finished reading this week

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
The Bat by Jo Nesbo.- see below an australian creation story

What I am currently reading

Don't know yet

What I plan on reading.

I am looking forward to Halloween. For my October reading Challenge I plan to read...


The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
The Graveyard book by Neil Gaiman

The Bat (Harry Hole #1)by Jo Nesbo

The bat is the Aboriginal symbol of death supposedly, and the aborigine man, Toowoomba, killed Inger Holter. I never guessed it was him either. I liked the explanation of the bat symbol. It comes from an interesting parallel story to creation the aborigines call The Dreaming. You can find it on page 51-52

An Australian Creation Story ~ The Dreaming

The first man was Ber-rook-boorn. He was made by Baiame, the uncreated, who was the beginning of everything, and who loved and took care of all living things. Friends called him the Great Fatherly Spirit. After Baiame established Ber-rook-boorn and his wife in a good place, he left his mark on a sacred tree~yarran~ nearby, which was the home of a swarm of bees.
 "You can take food from anywhere you want, in the whole of this country that I have given you, but this is my tree," he warned the two people. "If you try to take food from there, much evil will befall you and those who come after you." One day Ber-rook-boorn's wife was collecting wood and she came to the yarran tree. At first she was frightened at the sight of the holy tree towering above her, but there was so much wood lying around that she did not follow her first impulse ! which was to run away as fast as her legs could carry her. Besides, Baiame had not said anything about wood. While she was gathering the wood around the tree she heard a low buzzing sound above her head, and she gazed up at the swarm of bees. She also saw the honey running down the trunk. She had only tasted honey once before, but here there was enough for several meals. The sun glistened on the sweet, shiny drops, and in the end Ber-rook-boorn's wife could not resist the temptation and she climbed up the tree.

 'At that moment a cold wind came from above and a sinister figure with enormous black wings enveloped her. It was Narahdarn the bat, whom Baiame had entrusted with guarding the holy tree. The woman fell to the ground and ran back to her cave where she hid. But it was too late, she had released death into the world, symbolised by the bat Narahdarn, and all of the Ber-rook-boorn descendants would be exposed to its curse. The yarran tree cried bitter tears over the tragedy that had taken place. The tears ran down the trunk and thickened, and that is why you can find red rubber on the bark of the tree nowadays.'

Craft Project for Halloween

How to make milk jug Halloween ghost luminaries 

I came across this project and I was inspired by how easy and delightful it would be to make. Safeway sells these jugs for cheap or [you can recycle your milk jugs] and really you only need 3 at the least.

What you need to make this recycled Halloween craft:

• Plastic milk jugs 
• Christmas lights 
• Permanent marker 
• Scissors  

Rinse and clean your milk jugs first. Then have fun drawing some silly or spooky faces on them with a black marker.

Cut holes in the sides of your milk jugs so you can string the Christmas lights through them and have them sit side-by-side.

Feed the christmas lights through the holes making sure to bunch up plenty of lights in each milk jug

Line up the milk jugs, plug in the christmas lights, and admire your awesome halloween craft!

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, it’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

I spent way too much on books this month. What was I thinking?

The Iron Fey boxed set by Julie Kagawa. $47.96
I had only read The Lost Prince but I just had to have the whole series didn't I. Only it was YA and it probably was more of the same I'd read in The Lost Prince [sorry it just wasn't for me] so I returned that.
Prince of Thorns, King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence and my first graphic novel by Kim Harrison Blook Work.$25.97 I thought the pictures were cool but I ended up returning these too cause even though they are popular reads I need to start buying more mature adult books. Besides I started reading Prince of Thorns and I couldn't get into it.

Shadowfever $7.99 by Karen Marie Moning hardback copy was on sale and the cover was beautiful in plastic so I am keeping that one even though I already read it borrowed from the library. I just loved the Fever Series and I know it isn't over yet.

Cold Days $10.99 by Jim Butcher  is one I've been wanting to read for awhile now.
The Cuckoo's Calling $20.00 by Robert Galbraith. My review

In the end I really spent $40.98 :p

Book Club Friday 56: The Cuckoo's Calling

This week I am sharing the Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

It's J.K. Rowling first crime novel written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Admitingly I was curious about it because of the author. Anyway I also had to ask the Chapters clerk if he had read it and what he thought of it. He told me basically that it was fantastic. I think the cover is nothing to be admired.

Cormoran Strike is a soldier veteran turned private detective who has a prosthetic leg that causes him some pain. He also just broke up with his beautiful girlfriend, Charlotte, and is living in his office. He quietly endures his share of suffering all the while fighting to get himself out of debt. It's a sad situation for him and when John Bristow hires him to investigate a murder that the police have already deemed a suicide, Strike reluctantly and selfishly takes the case hoping it will help his financial problems... but John Bristow may be a little off his rocker.

UPDATE: At this point [page 212] Strike has just spoken to Rochelle , a homeless girl who was friends with Lulu Landry, and my guess to whodunnit is either one of the two runners that are caught on video from a surveillance camera.

I loved how Strike was able to solve the murder mystery and convict a killer. I am looking forward to reading more about Cormoran Strike and hopefully Lulu Landry's brother, Jonah, will come back as well AND Robin the secretary of course.

"I hate it when the world is led to believe something that is proven as fact but is a lie."- Jackie B.

The Cuckoo's Calling

Synopsis:

When a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.

Strike is a war veteran – wounded both physically and psychologically – and his life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model’s complex world, the darker things get – and the closer he gets to terrible danger . . .

My rating: 

The Friday 56 is all about sharing a sentence or two from page 56 of your current read but in The Cuckoo's Calling it is a blank page! ha! so I will post what's on page 55. It just happens to be Part Two and a quote

No stranger to trouble myself, I am learning to care for the unhappy. - Virgil, Aeneid, Book 1

I think this sentence represents what Cormoran Strike feels and that Robin and/or John Bristow are the unhappy? Most likely the unhappy is John Bristow.