tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20405867259593990302024-03-13T07:55:34.152-04:00Deviant Muse LibraryLibrary of ReviewsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-27961843891281683132013-02-25T17:00:00.000-05:002013-02-25T17:00:53.143-05:00"Uzumaki" Vol. 1, 2, & 3 by Junji Ito<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVaXhXEcraE/USvbgc2qMDI/AAAAAAAAEB8/6ZFKni0LfZc/s1600/uzu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVaXhXEcraE/USvbgc2qMDI/AAAAAAAAEB8/6ZFKni0LfZc/s200/uzu1.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Vol. 1</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1366028.Uzumaki_Volume_1" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a>)</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">KurÔzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral, the hypnotic secret shape of the world. It manifests itself in small ways: seashells, ferns, whirlpools in water, whirlwinds in air. And in large ways: the spiral marks on people's bodies, the insane obsessions of Shuichi's father, the voice from the cochlea in your inner ear. As the madness spreads, the inhabitants of KurÔzu-cho are pulled ever deeper, as if into a whirlpool from which there is no return.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QbMUNcO5bs8/USvbgTGU-2I/AAAAAAAAEB4/onaLaD7E2PQ/s1600/uzu2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QbMUNcO5bs8/USvbgTGU-2I/AAAAAAAAEB4/onaLaD7E2PQ/s200/uzu2.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Vol.2</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/564876.Uzumaki_Volume_2" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a>)</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">KurÔzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. But the spirit which haunts it does not have a name or a body, only a shape: uzumaki the spiral, the hypnotic secret shape of the world. It possessed the father of teenage Kirie's withdrawn boyfriend Shuichi, causing him to remake himself in its image before he died. It grows in ferns, in seashells, in curls of hair, and in the crooked folds of the human brain. Giant snails are sighted near the high school. An eerie glow shines from the abandoned lighthouse. Mosquitoes fly in drowsy curves and feed on blood. As more people are caught in the pattern, over the town of KurÔzu-cho hangs the spiral smoke of cremated corpses; because even in death, there is no escape..</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3FJjpOndcU/USvbgUewBmI/AAAAAAAAECA/mKi8moRc9ZY/s1600/uzu3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3FJjpOndcU/USvbgUewBmI/AAAAAAAAECA/mKi8moRc9ZY/s200/uzu3.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Vol.3</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1787852.Uzumaki_Volume_3" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a>)</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">With their town devastated by titanic hurricanes, the citizens of the spiral-haunted town of Kurôzu-cho--including Shuichi, Kirie and her family--find themselves cut off from the outside world. Reporters and rescue teams cross the mountain range into Kurôzu-cho only to find themselves unable to leave. Trapped inside the cursed ruins, the desperate survivors struggle and huddle together, waiting to run into giant snails or worse. The very laws of nature are changed as the spiral sucks them in. And to fight it, or to escape, the last survivors must go to the heart of the horror to witness what may be their eventual fate..</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~~~~~~~~~~</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Rating - 4 out of 5</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Genre - Sequential Art, Manga, Horror</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">~~~~~~~~~~</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<u><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Review for Uzumaki, Vol. 1, 2, & 3~</span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">The only reason this book (series) was given 4 stars was because of the artwork. This series was suggested to me by some people on Tumblr. They said it was "really scary" and freaked them out. I asked if it was really scary or just little kid scary. I was promised a really, truly, scary, horror story. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Once again I have been deceived and let down by what others perceive as "horror". </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">This is in no way scary. It is a very interesting story, do not get me wrong. I liked the story, but the artwork outmatched the merry-go-round of stories. The artwork is beautiful!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">I recommend this book to the youngsters out there who like Japanese horror stories.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-16474761598057134502013-02-25T15:59:00.000-05:002013-02-25T15:59:33.626-05:00"Trolley No. 1852" by Edward Lee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EhrTayYlbAQ/USvPVQi6wsI/AAAAAAAAEBo/VqsG1AoDt-E/s1600/9494234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EhrTayYlbAQ/USvPVQi6wsI/AAAAAAAAEBo/VqsG1AoDt-E/s320/9494234.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9494234-trolley-no-1852" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a>)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>In 1934, horror writer H.P. Lovecraft is invited to write a story for a subversive underground magazine, all on the condition that a pseudonym will be used. The pay is lofty, and God knows, Lovecraft needs the money. There's just one catch. It has to be a pornographic story . . . All Aboard Trolley No. 1852 Through the midnight bowels of New York City, the trolley travels. Admitting only a special sort of passenger, and taking them to a very select destination . . . The 1852 Club is a bordello unlike any other. Its women are the most beautiful in the whole city and they will do anything. But there is something else going on at this sex club. In the back rooms monsters are performing vile acts on each other and doors to other dimensions are opening . . .</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>~~~~~~~~~~</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Rating - 4 out of 5</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Genre - Splatterpunk, Horror</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>~~~~~~~~~~</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I love Edward Lee. He is one of my favorite authors. This book just continues with the grotesque and weird that I have come to adore from Lee. It takes you on a trippy journey that some may not be ready to venture. I loved each and every character in this book. Yes, I may be gushing a bit, so what. I, in some strange way, related to them all. I love characters that I can relate to in a bizarre way. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
If you are looking for a review with a rundown of what happened, I am not your chick to get reviews from. I simply give my opinions of the book and what I have read. That is why I post a synopsis on my blog!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I do recommend this book for Edward Lee fans. If you cannot handle gore and twisted imagination, this is a never-read<i>.</i></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-61471749433570936492013-02-25T14:26:00.000-05:002013-02-25T14:26:49.941-05:00"The Menstruating Mall" by Carlton Mellick III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lC4OsiDW2CY/USu3SCkZyPI/AAAAAAAAEBY/rUhghD8B2gs/s1600/11842708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lC4OsiDW2CY/USu3SCkZyPI/AAAAAAAAEBY/rUhghD8B2gs/s320/11842708.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11842708-the-menstruating-mall" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a>)</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Ten ridiculously stereotypical consumer victims (a yuppie, a housewife, a retiree, a jock, a bible thumper, a cowboy, a preppy, a gamer, a goth, and a white suburban gangsta) find themselves unable to leave the mall one day. There is nothing stopping them. The doors are unlocked. Other shoppers are able to come and go as they please. But for some inexplicable reason, these ten people cannot pry themselves away from their shopping miasma. The mall closes, and they won't leave. Days pass, and they're still there, eating meals in the food court and sleeping in department store bedroom displays. Then they begin to die off, one by one, murdered by a mysterious killer, and they still won't allow themselves to escape.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i>Rating - 2 out of 5</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i>Genre - Horror, Comedy (Sci-Fi)</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">What did I think? That is a good question. I am not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I understand Mellick's prose, but this story just did not do it for me. As some reviews I have read compared it to the "Breakfast Club", well, yes it is true with a horror twist. I was pretty much bored with the story after a few pages. The ending simply made my eyes roll so far back I almost saw an alternate universe looming around. Suffice it to say I may or may not give Mellick another try. I did enjoy <a href="http://deviant-muse.blogspot.com/2012/01/cannibals-of-candyland-by-carlton.html" target="_blank">The Cannibals of Candyland</a>. I shall see how I feel in a few months.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">As for recommending this book to anyone, well, if you like The Breakfast Club and are willing to sit through a bunch of whiny people trying to figure out how to leave a mall, then read it. It bored me to tears and did not see much horror in it as I would have liked. I really hesitated to call it "horror" under the genre, but that is what they classify it as.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-15974921353186711782012-05-30T13:43:00.000-04:002012-05-30T13:43:00.665-04:00"Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture" by Andy Cohen<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EcCENe-3X3s/T8ZaaLYAvvI/AAAAAAAADjk/963-huEBeh4/s1600/most_talkative.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EcCENe-3X3s/T8ZaaLYAvvI/AAAAAAAADjk/963-huEBeh4/s320/most_talkative.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13167847-most-talkative" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a>)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The man behind the Real Housewives writes about his lifelong love affair with pop culture that brought him from the suburbs of St. Louis to his own television showFrom a young age, Andy Cohen knew one thing: He loved television. Not in the way that most kids do, but in an irrepressible, all-consuming, I-want-to-climb-inside-the-tube kind of way. And climb inside he did. Now presiding over Bravo's reality TV empire, he started out as an overly talkative pop culture obsessive, devoted to Charlie's Angels and All My Children and to his mother, who received daily letters from Andy at summer camp, usually reminding her to tape the soaps. In retrospect, it's hard to believe that everyone didn't know that Andy was gay; still, he remained in the closet until college. Finally out, he embarked on making a career out of his passion for television. The journey begins with Andy interviewing his all-time idol Susan Lucci for his college newspaper and ends with him in a job where he has a hand in creating today's celebrity icons. In the witty, no-holds-barred style of his show Watch What Happens Live, Andy tells tales of absurd mishaps during his ten years at CBS News, hilarious encounters with the heroes and heroines of his youth, and the real stories behind The Real Housewives. Dishy, funny, and full of heart, Most Talkative provides a one-of-a-kind glimpse into the world of television, from a fan who grew up watching the screen and is now inside it, both making shows and hosting his own.</i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating - 5 out of 5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Genre - Biography</i></div>
<br />
I do not give usual reviews spewing the content of the book I've just read. I do tell how I felt about the book and if I enjoyed it or not.<br />
<br />
I would not have bought this book and I actually didn't. I received it for Mother's Day from my kids. I do watch some of the Housewives shows and other Bravo television shows. My husband was listening to Howard Stern and Andy just happened to be on that day promoting this book. My husband thought I would like it, so, I got it as a gift.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the book immensely! Andy has had a very interesting life leading up to his fame today. I loved reading about behind the scenes that I would not have known without having read this book.<br />
<br />
Andy has come so far from that little town he grew up in. Thanks to him, those who like Andy and the Bravo shows, have something fun to watch.<br />
<br />
I recommend this book to anyone who loves (even likes just a little) Andy Cohen and/or Bravo shows. Without Andy, we wouldn't have some of the good shows we see on Bravo today. Even if you dislike Andy, give it a read. You will find that you may respect him, on some level, even if you still dislike him or the shows.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-5505384955700399892012-05-29T21:38:00.000-04:002012-05-29T21:46:26.523-04:00"Brain Cheese Buffet" by Edward Lee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjvMyc3zesU/T8V6D4yjDaI/AAAAAAAADjU/4IeM5aUdtpk/s1600/braincheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjvMyc3zesU/T8V6D4yjDaI/AAAAAAAADjU/4IeM5aUdtpk/s320/braincheese.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: left;">Synopsis – (from
</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8299003-brain-cheese-buffet" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a><span style="text-align: left;">) </span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #78ee49; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>You've seen Cannibal Holocaust. You've seen Salo. You've seen Nekromantik. You ain't seen shit Zombie prostitutes, religious rapists, horny werewolves, death by vomit, and sexual fetishes scraped off the sidewalk. From sex prisons to mafia torture chambers, hold on tight because you're about to enter the perverted and twisted mind of Edward Lee. Once you've seen what he has to show you - there's no coming back. Brain Cheese Buffet collects nine of Lee's most sought after tales of violence and body fluids. Featuring the Stoker nominated "Mr. Torso," the legendary gross-out piece "the Dritiphilist," the notorious "The McCrath Model SS40-C, Series S," and six more stories to test your gag reflex.</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #78ee49; font-family: 'Coming Soon', serif;">~~~~~~~~~~</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating – 4 ½ out of 5<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Genre – Horror, Splatterpunk<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I do not do reviews to
re-tell or summarize what I have just read. My reviews offer what I think about
book and the story(ies) within them. If you are looking for a summary or
complete re-tell, do not bother reading any further.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Let me just say I love
Edward Lee. His twistedness suits my style so perfectly! He always leaves me
saying, “Oh man, I could totally envision that in my head clear as day.” Yes, I
may be considered a sicko for that ability, but who cares. His books are fun!
The stories he colors for me in my mind allow me to get away from everyday
horrors such as politics and incessant babble from idiots living with and
around me on Earth. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Brain Cheese Buffet is a
nice little collection of stories. They are all typical Edward Lee and I loved
every grotesque moment within.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~Mr. Torso~</b></u></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Hillbilly-speak tends to
get boring to read after awhile, but it still remains fun in that the
disgusting nature of the story is still in the forefront. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Lud (a.k.a Mr. Torso) is completely
disgusting. The things he does to these women are utterly unbelievable. I asked
myself several times through this particular story how exactly one would even
conceive of pulling off some of the things done. Edward Lee’s vivid descriptions
encapsulate your imagination with very specific details. At one point I caught
myself saying out loud, “AAAghhhh!! What the…..” Incorporating a religious
aspect to the story was also done with zany wickedness. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Ahh Lee, so far, you’ve
yet to disappoint me!</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~Mrs. Torso~</b></u></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Let’s do some math here
boys and girls. Mafia plus torture plus a hooker-junkie with no arms or legs
named Spooky plus Wet-Naps equals what the f*^&ery!</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
How can anyone pass up a
chance to read about the mafia doing illegal stuff? This is way beyond any
mafia behind-the-scenes you have experienced on television or the movies. It
truly is no-holds-barred with this freaky hooker-junkie. For those wondering,
no she doesn’t simply lay there and get got by these mafia-men. She has quite
the mouth on her and boy oh boy it sure does get her in trouble. The vile
things they do to her are pretty sickening, but this is an Edward Lee book
after all!! The ending leaves a quirky smirk on my face. All I will say is, if
you are going to do something, make sure you do it right the first time.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This is another goodie.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~Grub Girl in the Prison
of Dead Women~</b></u></div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I must say immediately
that I am not a zombie type of person. Zombies bore me to death and the only
two zombie movies I enjoy are the original “Night of the Living Dead” and “Zombieland”.
(I have a soft-spot for Woody Harrelson.) I do not purposely read zombie books either. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
As you have guessed, this
little story is about zombies. The only thing that captured my attention was the
variation Lee used for the zombies (grubs as they are called in the story). He
went into detail about the exact food they can eat and what would happen if
they ate anything other than raw food. In my mind, the story was plausible if a
zombie apocalypse did really happen. It was refreshing from the usual, “brains!!”
stereotype.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
He also went into detail
about sex and the detention center they get sent to if they get out of line.
They were basically like humans, but dead and free of disease. It was the
detention center that drew me in further. The things that occurred there were
unsavory to say the least. Once inside there is, as usual, some douche bag, who
is big and bad. The one guy who thinks he is high and almighty. He was almighty
alright…almighty sorry. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This was a fun read
despite it being about zombies. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~The Dritiphilist~</b></u></div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This story made me look
away quite a few times in absolute disgust. I found myself saying, “Ackk!!
Ugh!!! Oh God!” out loud. I do not get grossed out easily, but this story was
pretty awful. The story was great, but the content was simply disturbing. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Fetishes are something of
the norm these days. No, most of them are still hidden from public view, but
everyone knows they exist somewhere in the dark corner of people’s imaginations
(or in some cases secret rooms in their homes). If you dare read this story,
you will be invited into one man’s fetish. Just thinking about it makes me
throw up in my mouth a little. At least his therapist could appreciate that.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I liked this story simply
for the gross-out factor. It was completely and utterly grotesque. I hope no
one I know has this fetish because I might have to rethink our friendship. I
just couldn’t sit and look at them the same ever again.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
You noticed how I haven’t
said what the fetish is? That is because I would love to surprise you with how
disgusting it is. Sometimes not knowing before you read makes it an even better
read. I had no idea before reading it and I am glad. It made for such a more
hardcore experience sitting on my bed reading.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Keep the grotesque coming
Lee. You haven’t disgusted me enough….yet!</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~The Mother~</b></u></div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
What if you found
discarded sludge in the lake behind your house? I think I would sell my house
and move elsewhere. It would be the right thing to do. I also wouldn’t allow
anyone I knew near it.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Nightmares of this sludge
contaminating a family could cause anyone to go insane. Did the dad really just
see what he saw or was it a nightmare? Who’s to say! Either way it is
completely gross. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
What if you have children
who get into the sludge? There is just no good way to explain to a child that
some people are dumbasses and like to litter. Sometimes the litter they leave
behind is not good for people to be around. Nightmares would be a nightly occurrence.
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
What if the nightmares
weren’t bedtime nightmares at all, but a real life nightmare happening to your
family? Could you handle it? Would you fight it?</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I asked a lot of
questions for my review. There is just no good way to review this story without
giving important details away. It would ruin the fun at the end! I don’t want
to ruin the fun for you!</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This story isn’t as gross
as other Edward Lee stories, but it is pretty interesting to see where it is
heading.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~The Wrong Guy~</b></u></div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This story was great. It
wasn’t incredibly gross, but revenge is awesome! There is nothing like a good
revenge story. I really do not care who it is against and someone somewhere is
wishing/planning theirs. If you read this story, you get to see what happens
when the act of revenge is played out in spectacular detail. Yes, it gets a bit
goofy here and there, but hey, we need a little goofy with our grotesque
sometimes.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This was fun to read and
I didn’t feel too dirty at the end!</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~The Baby~</b></u></div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
If you have kids and/or
are sensitive, please do not read this story. You will be completely ruined for
life and probably a little pissed off. I generally do not read gory stories
with little kids in them because I am sensitive to them. When I started this
story I didn’t know something foul would involve a baby to the extent it did. I
got through it though.</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This story made me gag a
little too. Not because of the story itself, but because of some of the imagery
Lee describes. There are just some things that I do not need to picture. I am
absolutely sure you will feel the same. I wish I had some eye bleach to unsee
what I read in certain points. I guess if I did that, the story would not make
sense! </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The story overall was decent.
I loved the ending with my entire blackened heart!</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>~The McCrath Model SS40-C,
Series S~</b></u></div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I read, “She’ll have to
eat it….otherwise she’ll drown.” Oh mafia guys, how I love thee. How many other
ways can you find to torture people? Lee found another way and it is completely
disturbing. I think if I were to torture someone I would totally use the
McCrath Model SS40-C, Series S. What a handy tool! This planet would be a lot
less polluted with BS with it in my hands. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This is a fabulously wicked
story with a nice ending. Now, don’t think Lee’s books have nice endings (as in
oh what a happy ending that was), but it does have a spectacular case of
revenge at the end. It left me cheering for the mafia boss. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I definitely recommend
this story to those with twisted minds.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~</div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Brain Cheese Buffet is a
great book of short stories by Edward Lee. If you are looking for a variety of
stories that are quick to read, this is the book for you. If you are not into
the grotesquely disturbing, this is a never-read. Edward Lee doesn’t paint rainbows
and unicorns imagery in his books. Although, if he did, there would be some
sort of torture porn incorporating the unicorn’s horn into some hooker’s
hoo-haa and out her mouth. Ouch! </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-58218291476352166872012-01-05T12:41:00.006-05:002012-01-17T15:14:35.665-05:00"The Cannibals of Candyland" by Carlton Mellick III<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nijGKL3ROdg/TwX0njwizYI/AAAAAAAADbA/RaQuPUbSsMw/s1600/CannibalsOfCandyland-193x300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 193px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nijGKL3ROdg/TwX0njwizYI/AAAAAAAADbA/RaQuPUbSsMw/s320/CannibalsOfCandyland-193x300.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694226264330784130" /></a><br /><div>Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6809118-the-cannibals-of-candyland">goodreads.com</a>)</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%">There exists a race of cannibals who are made out of candy. They live in an underground world filled with lollipop forests and gumdrop goblins. During the day, while you are away at work, they come above ground and prowl our streets for food. Their prey: your children. They lure young boys and girls to them with their sweet scent and bright colorful candy coating, then rip them apart with razor sharp teeth and claws. When he was a child, Franklin Pierce witnessed the death of his siblings at the hands of a candy woman with pink cotton candy hair. Since that day, the candy people have become his obsession. He has spent his entire life trying to prove that they exist. And after discovering the entrance to the underground world of the candy people, Franklin finds himself venturing into their sugary domain. His mission: capture one of them and bring it back, dead or alive.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p></p><p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating - 5 out of 5</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Genre - Erotic Horror</i></div><div><br /></div>I placed this book in my to-read shelf at goodreads.com. I loved the cover art and the whole premise of the story itself. I was actually waiting for it to become available for my Nook Color. After having waited nearly a year, I gave in and finally just bought the paperback. I am so happy I did!<div><br /></div><div>I thoroughly enjoyed the silliness and horrifying aspects of this book. Mellick took an idea from a board game we all know and twisted it into a sickening adult read. I must add that there are no characters in the book from the actual game. It is just the idea of turning a fun game into a place of horrors. Can you just imagine candy people running around eating people? I think that would be scary. Although, I might be laughing like I did as I read this book.</div><div><br /></div><div>This silly yet horrific book gave me a certain demented pleasure while reading it. It held my attention with its simplicity of something that is kid-like, but added a whole other level of "Did I just read that?!" I found myself laughing through most of the book. </div><div><br /></div><div>This book is not for anyone who is looking for a serious horror book. It is very lighthearted. There are points in the book that may be considered horrific, but it is written in a way that keeps your eyes glued to the book. </div><div><br /></div><div>I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, fun read. It was very entertaining.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-60448446941409251562012-01-05T11:19:00.007-05:002012-01-05T12:08:52.967-05:00"Afraid" by Jack Kilborn<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1z5738-ZaAc/TwXS6UcvyOI/AAAAAAAADa0/hClQyN0W4us/s1600/7119288.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 280px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1z5738-ZaAc/TwXS6UcvyOI/AAAAAAAADa0/hClQyN0W4us/s320/7119288.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694189203243387106" /></a><br />Synopsis – (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7119288-afraid">goodreads.com</a>)<div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 19px;"><span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p style="margin-top:13.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:13.5pt;margin-left: 0in"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">Welcome to Safe Haven, Wisconsin. Miles from everything, with one road in and out, this peaceful town has never needed a full-time police force. Until now...</span></i><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="margin-top: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; "><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">A helicopter has crashed near Safe Haven and unleashed something horrifying. Now this merciless force is about to do what it does best. Isolate. Terrorize. Annihilate. As residents begin dying in a storm of gory violence, Safe Haven’s only chance for survival will rest with an aging county sheriff, a firefighter, and a single mom. And each will have this harrowing thought: Maybe death hasn’t come to their town by accident...</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p style="text-align: center; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><b>Rating: 0 out of 5</b></span></p><p></p><p></p><center><i><span></span>Genre: Horror</i></center><br />I must admit immediately that I did not finish this book. I started it at the end of July of 2011!</div><div><br /></div><div>This book was so awful that I would rather peel my nails from my fingers with pliers rather than consider opening it back up to try and complete it. It was like riding in a station wagon with the windows up and a stinky dog breathing his dog-breath in your face for ten hours. Yes, that is correct. I hated this book with every ounce of my being.<br /><br />The story started out with promise. There was a cool mystery about the "merciless force" that had appeared in this cozy town. The bad part of that is that the author kept running in circles. I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. I was wanting a change-up somewhere along the line, but was sorely disappointed.<br /><br />I was able, with struggles, to get to the middle of the book. At that point, I simply had to stop reading it. I was so incredibly bored that I wanted to slam my Nook Color into the street so I wouldn't have to subject myself to anymore torture.<br /><br />I have read some other books by Kilborn (JA Konrath) and those were up to my standards. This book was so below those standards I feel I was raped with an elbow macaroni. Wrap your head around that one!</div><div><br /></div><div>I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone other than to those who like repetitive situations. It saddens me that I wasted my money on this book and more importantly...my time.<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-60102327889987610232011-06-03T13:17:00.004-04:002011-06-03T13:24:15.640-04:00"Teratologist" by Edward Lee and Wrath James White<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4TYxpzP8t4/TekXXEuhiWI/AAAAAAAAC-8/5ROfxGqhfeU/s1600/1526673.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4TYxpzP8t4/TekXXEuhiWI/AAAAAAAAC-8/5ROfxGqhfeU/s320/1526673.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614044095667341666" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Synopsis – (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/485684.Teratologist">goodreads.com</a>)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; "><i>Billionaire John Farrington is obsessed with the idea of offending God to the point that God would want to confront him in person. Farrington has abducted priests and nuns to commit sexual atrocities with the most grievously genetically deformed people he can find. People that he's also abducted and kept in such a high state of sexual intensity, with a drug his company produces, that they are just ravenous for physical contact. The abductees, with basically no self control, commit some of the most depraved sex acts, over, and over again. Westmore and Bryant, a photographer and journalist, are given the rare opportunity to interview the reclusive Farrington and see inside his mansion and operation. Only to find the horrors within, and who have become pawns in the mysteries they find behind every door. Farmington's plan may work, and to make sure he's successful, he will do whatever it takes to have the deity of man face him</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">~~~~~~~~~~</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><b>Rating: 5 out of 5</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><i>Genre: Horror, Splatterpunk</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ever since I read my first Edward Lee book, I have wanted this book. It is not available in eBook form as of this post. Luckily, I received it as a gift otherwise it would have stayed low on my to-read list.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">This book was co-authored by Wrath James White. This duo made for an awesomely-grotesque team of the sickening kind. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The book is perfect in length for if it would have been shorter or longer, the gripping details could have proved too little or too much. This was just right!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The story was interesting but what grabbed me by the balls (if I had any) was the grotesqueness of the actions performed within the story. Disturbing acts of freaky sex occurs frequently throughout with enough description to make the reader bit their lip and hold back a little vomit. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The eccentric character made the entire story. Without him and the developmental skills of Lee and White, this story would have flopped big time. He was the meat of the whole book!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I recommend this book to anyone who loves the disturbing, grotesque and all and out face-slapping sickness of Lee and White.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-21251133975185342392011-06-01T18:49:00.013-04:002011-06-01T19:16:28.091-04:00"Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron" (Shades of Grey, #1) by Jasper Fforde<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXBLePpoHps/TebCt5HUrsI/AAAAAAAAC-w/B1T9-7pVoF4/s1600/62565953.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 247px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXBLePpoHps/TebCt5HUrsI/AAAAAAAAC-w/B1T9-7pVoF4/s320/62565953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613388079245340354" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Synopsis: (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7180247-shades-of-grey">goodreads.com</a>)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">Welcome to Chromatacia, where the societal hierarchy is strictly regulated by one's limited color perception. And Eddie Russet wants to move up. But his plans to leverage his better-than-average red perception and marry into a powerful family are quickly upended. Juggling inviolable rules, sneaky Yellows, and a risky friendship with an intriguing Grey named Jane who shows Eddie that the apparent peace of his world is as much an illusion as color itself, Eddie finds he must reckon with the cruel regime behind this gaily painted façade.</span></i></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p></i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating: 5 out of 5</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Genre: Dystopic Fantasy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Before this book, I was not familiar with Jasper Fforde’s work. I took a chance on the referral of a good friend of mine and put “Shades of Grey” in my to-read list. I pushed it back a few times thinking I was not going to like it as much as my disgusting horror books. I decided to get it after my last horror book to change genres. I cannot believe I put it off for as long as I did!</div><div><br /></div><div>Fforde’s writing style in “Shades of Grey” is fantastic and different from anything I have ever read before. The story itself was an amazing spiral of nonsense and true-to-life happenings. The ridiculousness of what happens along with some of the made-up words and history simply makes you laugh and crinkle your brow confused-like simultaneously.</div><div><br /></div><div>The beginning can be hard to get into at first. Do not let this put you off in any way. There is a reason that the book starts the way it does. Imagine being dropped off in another world. Would you understand everything right of way? Do you think you could understand the hierarchy or language in this different world? The story takes its time in explaining some things, but it is worth the wait. It will allow you to appreciate the style and pace the author has chosen. By the end, you will be begging for more!</div><div><br /></div><div>I must say that Jasper Fforde is now one of my most favorite authors. I recommend this book to those who are looking for something comical yet amazingly brilliant. Fforde will not disappoint!</div><div><br /></div><div>I cannot wait for #2!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-16553289482032540672011-05-29T22:17:00.007-04:002011-05-29T22:42:00.885-04:00"Buddhism: The Essence" by David Tuffley<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SS2rQrcwR4k/TeMBndvg5rI/AAAAAAAAC-g/YzntEQDFi0w/s1600/9707410.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SS2rQrcwR4k/TeMBndvg5rI/AAAAAAAAC-g/YzntEQDFi0w/s320/9707410.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612331338144212658" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><p style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; color: rgb(120, 238, 73); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; ">Synopsis – (from <span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9707410-buddhism">goodreads.com</a></span>)</p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span">The distilled essence of Buddhism in plain English. Contains the essential truths that you can apply in your life.</span></i></span></p><div style="text-align: center; "><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; ">~~~~~~~~~~</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; color: rgb(120, 238, 73); font-weight: bold; ">Rating: 5 out of 5</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; "><b></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; color: rgb(120, 238, 73); font-style: italic; ">Genre: Beliefs (Buddhism)</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: center; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); font-style: italic; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); ">It may seem strange for me to give such a high rating for a book that is only 33 pages. I do have my reasons.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); ">First of all, this book is a simple <b>introduction</b> to bits of Buddhism. It is not meant to be a full explanation. It is simply a taste of what can become a full way of living. Second, it is only 33 pages. What do you expect to get from a short book? </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); ">Anyone looking for a lengthy explanation, this is a never-read. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); ">It shows you "The Essence" of Buddhism. It also does not claim to explain it in its entirety or as much as one could explain something like this.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; text-align: left; "><span style="color: rgb(120, 238, 73); ">If you are looking for something new or different for what ever reason you are looking, this is a must-try. It is short enough to hold your attention and explains quickly the <b><i>basics</i></b> of this belief/way of living.</span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-16653051131242952052011-05-20T23:07:00.008-04:002011-05-20T23:55:06.468-04:00"Trapped" by Jack Kilborn (J.A. Konrath)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQD0mtWABVY/TdcyjI5YqcI/AAAAAAAAC3g/-Gsh_EngIcw/s1600/9359132.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQD0mtWABVY/TdcyjI5YqcI/AAAAAAAAC3g/-Gsh_EngIcw/s320/9359132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609007440178227650" border="0" /></a><br />Synopsis – (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9359132-trapped">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >A group of city kids on an overnight camping trip get more than they signed up for in this non-stop, rocket right straight into terror. Imagine the worst thing that can happen to you.</span><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >Before I rate this book, I have to mention that I read two versions of it. The first was the final edited version and the second was the uncut version. I will rate them together because they are essentially the same story. There are big differences from one to the other, but those will be discussed in the hidden spoiler section below.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating: 3 out of 5 (edited version)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating: 4 out of 5 (uncut version)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Rating: 5 out of 5</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Genre: Horror</span><br /><br /></div>As usual, Kilborn tantalized my ocular sense with gruesome acts and a spine-tingling horror story.<br /><br />The edited version (EV) felt like the whole story was not being shared with the reader. This is likely due to the editing. The uncut version (UV) filled in the gaps that the EV left out. The UV also allowed for a story that made much more sense than the EV. There was one totally unnecessary addition made to the EV that made me keep saying, “There better be a point to this?”<br /><br />The UV was very descriptive. I am not sure why the editors tore the book apart the way they did. It was so much better than the EV. It made a heck of a lot more sense than the EV. There was nothing to hate about the UV.<br /><br />I understand I am being pretty vague here, but if I got into the details, I may give away some of the fun-tastical story. Please bear with me, especially if you have not read this book yet.<br /><br />The UV has grammatical errors along with spelling errors, but this to be expected with an uncut, unedited book. Despite these small flaws, the UV was much more fulfilling to me as a fan of Kilborn (J.A. Konrath).<br /><br />I recommend reading both versions simply to see the differences for yourself.<br /><br />As for choosing my preferred version, it would most definitely be the uncut version. The story flowed much better and the original characters made it much more believable. I found myself saying, “Oh, now that makes sense!” In addition, the UV does not “feel’ like it is jumping from one person to another.<br /><br />The EV felt like some of the characters were forced into the story unwillingly. The story felt jumpy. What do I mean? I mean that the story felt lacking in believability. It was not true to itself as far as story-telling goes. It was almost as if I was being lied to.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 5px 20px 20px;"><br /><div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom: 2px;"><b><strong>~!~Discussion and Spoilers Here~!~</strong></b><br /><br /><br /><input onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 60px;" value="Show" type="button"> </div><br /><br /><div class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset; margin: 0px; padding: 6px;"><br /><div style="display: none;"><strong></strong><span style="font-weight:bold;">!~*~Spoiler Alert~*~!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The first major and most important difference was the unnecessary baby.</span><br /><br />~In the edited version (EV) there was a baby. It had no real purpose in the story and was more of a distraction that anything else. It really did not have too much to do with the story going on around it. It really felt like an afterthought. It was like pushing a square peg into a circular hole. It just did not fit properly.<br /><br />~*~Seriously, any one of us who has children knows for a fact that a baby would not be that quiet with all that ruckus happening around it. (i.e. jostling, not eating regularly, being hung from a tree) It was very unnecessary.<br /><br />~In the uncut version (UV) there was no baby. I was so thankful for that! It allowed for the characters and story to move in a more natural fluidity.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The next big difference was what actually happened to Sara when she was a child.</span><br /><br />~In the EV, she was playing with some cousins at her aunt’s house and then went to a near-by barn. Her boy cousin eventually coaxed her into an old trunk and locked her in. Sara was stuck in the trunk for several hours and was let out by the boy cousin. He then threatened her with a very big knife so she would not tell on him.<br /><br />~In the UV version, there was no visit to an aunt’s house or cousins. This version had a kidnapper named Paulie Gunther Spence and a friend named Louise. Paulie had kidnapped Sara and Louise. He locked the two girls in a car trunk. He proceeded to remove Louise and do horrific things to her all the while describing to Sara his actions. He also described the knife he was using on Louise.<br /><br />~*~I liked both versions, although, I prefer the kidnapping scenario because that would be scarier to me. As for Sara being locked in an old trunk by a cousin, well, eventually that aunt would notice she was gone and would go look for her. It is no less traumatic. But for this story, the kidnapping had more of an effect on me. It was a more suitable puzzle piece. It also made Subject 33 more of an important character in the UV.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A minor, but notable change was the Georgia and Lester scene in the beginning of the story.</span><br /><br />~In the EV, Georgia and Lester did not have sex. She gave him a hand-job. She did not even consider having sex with Lester at all.<br /><br />~In the UV, these two did have sex. She wanted it and Lester was more than willing to oblige.<br /><br />~*~The reason I wanted to note this was because it made sense to have them have sex. She was already a nutty-freak herself. She had no sense of self esteem and simply having anyone want her in any way was a definite bonus in her eyes. This version allows for a better connection between the two of them later in the story. It was a nice addition!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Another big change was the General and Kong.</span><br /><br />~The EV had a General named Tope. He had been watching the island via satellite and had business with the doctor.<br /><br />~The UV had a director of a prison system from China involving the same business with the doctor.<br /><br />~*~The base story of how these guys were involved were similar in both versions. They both wanted to have Plincer’s serum to gain control over the world. I prefer the UV version because Kong is everything that true American’s despise since 9/11. What could be more evil than someone from another country plotting to kill everyone in another country?! Scary!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">***My comparison is only that of the hatred of Americans, by the book’s character Kong, and wanting to get rid of them by any means necessary. It’s a story and my opinion about the story, not about China, Americans or 9/11. Relax, it’s a book review.***</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">There are other changes, but the ones above are the most worthy of a mention.</span><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-85434690472488152062011-05-18T13:15:00.005-04:002011-05-18T13:21:37.363-04:00"A Daring Twist" by Leigh Ellwood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_QHfG73-Rk/TdP_sA2AAOI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/uLm-wa7a93E/s1600/7662080.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 135px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_QHfG73-Rk/TdP_sA2AAOI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/uLm-wa7a93E/s320/7662080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608107092612219106" border="0" /></a><br />Synopsis – (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7662080-a-daring-twist"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">goodreads.com</span></a>) <p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeTextContainer4282732141242628563">A Dareville short! It's Karaoke Night at the local Cinco de Mayo celebration, but Red Marbury is singing the blues. When a gorgeous barfly named Miguel offers to cheer him up, Red comes to realize he can still enjoy the fireworks.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center">Rating: 2 out of 5</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;" align="center">Genre: Short Story, Erotica</p>This is another short erotica. I must say a disappointing one at that.<br /><br />I was expecting a bit more erotica in this story, but was let down big time. Yes, there was an erotic scene within this story, but it fell flat. It was very brief and left a lot to be desired.<br /><br />It is a quickie-read.<br /><br />If you are looking for a detailed experience, this is a never-read.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-27148992827132778072011-05-18T12:51:00.004-04:002011-05-18T13:25:46.904-04:00"The Mailman's Tale" by Carl East<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B05o-0HFZ7s/TdP59tQxybI/AAAAAAAAC3I/VZuAJ6JyEKM/s1600/10692812.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 120px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B05o-0HFZ7s/TdP59tQxybI/AAAAAAAAC3I/VZuAJ6JyEKM/s320/10692812.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608100799523703218" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Synopsis – (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10692812-the-mailman-s-tale"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">goodreads.com</span></a>)</p> <p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeTextContainer10865781017382428580">Mailmen have always got a story or two to tell, however not too many are quite like this one. ***This tale is graphic in nature and is meant for adults only*** Enjoy</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center">Rating: 3 out of 5</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;" align="center">Genre: Short Story, Erotica</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview169207383">This was a nice and short erotic story. The erotica could have been a bit more descriptive and a bit longer. It felt a little rushed, but that is usually the case, in my experience, with most short stories.<br /><br />If you are looking for a quickie, this is for you.<br /><br />If you are looking for something with a lot of detail, this is a never-read. </span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-39416120908737984722011-05-14T09:32:00.005-04:002011-05-14T09:38:36.113-04:00"Needing Nita" (To Serve and Protect #3.5) by Norah Wilson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8JiMLZtmBg/Tc6FSddykCI/AAAAAAAAC2s/yXbKVjjCG6c/s1600/9475240.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 132px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8JiMLZtmBg/Tc6FSddykCI/AAAAAAAAC2s/yXbKVjjCG6c/s320/9475240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606565138316562466" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Synopsis – (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9475240-needing-nita">goodreads.com</a>)</p> <p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Attorney Nita Reynolds is hot for Det. Craig Walker, but he's given up asking her out. She doesn't date cops...until a doctor's call makes her re-examine her priorities. Believing she has a brain tumor like the one that killed her father, she vows to make love to Craig Walker while she still has her full faculties. By the time the doctor realizes he's mixed up the scans, she's in way too deep.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center">Rating: 5 out of 5</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;" align="center">Genre: Short Story, Erotica</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am currently in the middle of a horror and wanted to switch things up. This story sounded interesting so I tried it on for size. It fit like a glove. Even though it is a short story it is well written. I did not realize it was part of an ongoing series. I am glad it is. I just may read the others to eat up time or break up the monotony of my horror/splatterpunk desires.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The base story is a typical man likes woman and woman likes man but they playfully pick on each other. Some bad news is reported to the woman and she decides to go all out and give in to her desires. Later, she finds out the bad news was a mistake. Oh no! Now she has this escapade she experienced to deal with. How will it end? Read it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sex scenes were pleasantly described so one could perfectly picture them in the mind.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Very nice and easy read. I recommend it for a quickie…no pun intended.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-565555314042864342011-05-13T21:17:00.004-04:002011-05-13T21:23:21.967-04:00Discussion Group on GoodReads.comI have created my own discussion group on Good Reads dot com. Why? I can not stand some the groups that are on there. They make a new topic for something specific...it lasts awhile...then it goes straight to chit-chat. It completely strays from the topic at hand and never returns.<br /><br />I made my own.<br /><br />Please feel free to visit or even join the group!<br /><br />Hope to see you there.... <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/47975.Abysmal_Misery">Abysmal Misery</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-12286020902024823852011-05-10T16:54:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:06:23.163-04:00"Meat" by Joseph D' Lacey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--A86gR54InQ/Tcmm3gwDtLI/AAAAAAAAC2k/LZRx4trmsQA/s1600/10562176.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 91px; height: 140px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--A86gR54InQ/Tcmm3gwDtLI/AAAAAAAAC2k/LZRx4trmsQA/s320/10562176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605194683853812914" border="0" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="readable reviewText"> Synopsis: (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10562176-meat">goodreads.com</a>)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span id="freeText9419538185939609301" style="">A nightmarish vision of a very twisted food chain-you'll never look at meat in the same way again.</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span id="freeText9419538185939609301" style=""></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span id="freeText9419538185939609301" style="">Abyrne is a decaying town, trapped by an advancing wilderness. Its people depend on meat for survival, meat supplied by the processing plant on the edge of town. Meat is sanctified and precious in Abyrne, eaten with devout solemnity by everyone. A feud smolders between the town's religious and secular powers-whoever controls the food supply controls everything, and conflict is imminent. But a handful of people suspect Abyrne is evil, rotten to its religious heart, and they are prepared to sacrifice everything for the truth. What goes on in the meat processing plant? Where does meat really come from? The townsfolk are hungry. The townsfolk must be fed.</span></span><br /></div></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview163058316" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span id="freeTextreview163058316">~~~~~~~~~~</span><span id="freeTextreview163058316" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Rating: 2 out of 5</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview163058316" style=""></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview163058316" style="">Genre: Apocalyptic, Horror, Science Fiction, Dystopia</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview163058316" style=""></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview163058316" style=""><br />I was expecting a horror book, but instead I got a book that, I felt, was preaching to me. The subject matter could be horrific providing it really happened, but it did not.<br /><br />This book left me feeling ripped-off and praying for its end to near almost halfway through the book. I also found myself falling asleep, literally, during most of it.<br /><br />I am extremely picky about my books and this one came highly-recommended. I gave this book two stars because it had the potential to be a great horror. The extra star came from the story not being bad, but it absolutely could not hold my interest for more than 4-5 pages at a time. I just do not like being preached to throughout a book that I bought to read for fun.<br /><br />I really wanted to like this book, but it flopped to appease my expectations.<br /><br />I recommend this book to vegans, vegetarians and those who are thinking about becoming either. D'Lacey preaches quite a bit about not eating meat.<br /><br />I do not recommend this book to anyone looking for a good horror. This is a never-read. You will be disappointed.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview163058316" style=""><span style="font-size:85%;">*review published with permission on <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://narwo.com/archives/1619">http://narwo.com/archives/1619</a> *</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-40527406316387758592011-05-10T16:50:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:09:27.684-04:00"Off Season" by Jack Ketchum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yf7vM05WDfk/Tcmlt9Dzu6I/AAAAAAAAC2c/93iK4KiEKks/s1600/10982671.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 83px; height: 127px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yf7vM05WDfk/Tcmlt9Dzu6I/AAAAAAAAC2c/93iK4KiEKks/s320/10982671.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605193420142525346" border="0" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="readable reviewText"> Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10982671-off-season">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeTextContainer16692142298700766328">A family of savage murderers preys on unsuspecting tourists on a small island off the coast of Maine.</span><br /></span></div><br /></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview162113939" style="font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Rating: 2 out of 5</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview162113939" style=""></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview162113939" style="">Genre: Horror, Thriller</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview162113939" style=""></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview162113939" style=""><br />"Off Season" was simply OK. It was not thrilling or suspenseful in any way. Ketchum's writing style caused me to re-read many of the sentences to be sure I understood what exactly he was saying.<br /><br />I got lost at times. It could have been because the story bored me through most of the book. This was probably not Ketchum's fault as the editors tore his original to shreds during the editing process.<br /><br />If you are looking for something exciting, this is a never-read. If you are looking for something to read because there is nothing else available, this is the book for you. I do not think Ketchum's style is for me. Live and learn.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-23383657495668511092011-05-10T16:47:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:11:14.242-04:00"Bunnies" by Justin Cawthorne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LS6lXrrOKU8/Tcmkoao896I/AAAAAAAAC2U/5XiMLgR439U/s1600/8517745.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 139px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LS6lXrrOKU8/Tcmkoao896I/AAAAAAAAC2U/5XiMLgR439U/s320/8517745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605192225492105122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8517745-bunnies">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;" id="freeTextContainer4085802074790439450">Some friends lie to you, keep you safe from the horrors of the world, give you gifts that mean nothing. Katarina isn't one of those friends. With Easter just two days away she makes her way to her best friend's house with a gift that means the world to her. It's a gift her friend will never forget. For as long as he lives.</span></span><br /></div><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163405835">~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Rating: 2 out of 5</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163405835"></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163405835">Genre: Short Story, Horror</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163405835"></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163405835"><br />A quick story about a girl who "talks" to her bunnies. She is considered "weird" by the kids at school, but she does not care. All that matters to her are her pet bunnies. I would not mess with her though.<br /><br />The ending left a lot to be desired though.<br /><br />Good read if you only have a few moments to yourself during a lunch break or waiting for an oil change.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-8100964989325148492011-05-10T16:08:00.000-04:002012-05-30T13:49:43.544-04:00"Graves' by Justin Cawthorne<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axs38mDJt40/Tcmdhb3pRSI/AAAAAAAAC2M/hjCSm8XM7QA/s1600/7629209.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605184408981685538" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axs38mDJt40/Tcmdhb3pRSI/AAAAAAAAC2M/hjCSm8XM7QA/s320/7629209.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 141px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 91px;" /></a><span class="readable reviewText" style="font-weight: bold;"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163408166"><br /></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7629209-graves" target="_blank">goodreads.com</a>)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">In a small town, a grave stone appears on a lonely mans lawn. He is found dead the next day. The grave stone begins to appear on other neighbor's lawns and the mystery begins...</span></span></div>
</div>
<span class="readable reviewText" style="font-weight: bold;"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163408166"><br /></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163408166">~~~~~~~~~~</span></span><span class="readable reviewText" style="font-weight: bold;"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163408166"><br /><br />Rating: 2 out of 5</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span class="readable reviewText" style="font-style: italic;"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163408166">Genre: Short Story, Chiller</span></span><br />
<span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163408166"></span></span></div>
<span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163408166"><br />A head-stone appears one day and people start dying. It sounds kind of boring, yes? It was a bit boring, but I think it was due to it being a short story. The plot could be developed into a wonderful story if it were longer. It is predictable.</span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-8124240383195034702011-05-10T16:04:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:16:26.655-04:00"Endurance" by Jack Kilborn (J.A. Konrath)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uY4j6kDOPN0/TcmawybAc2I/AAAAAAAAC2E/zEPo7gN5McE/s1600/8601995.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 91px; height: 135px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uY4j6kDOPN0/TcmawybAc2I/AAAAAAAAC2E/zEPo7gN5McE/s320/8601995.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605181374198739810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8601995-endurance">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeText1795442312766418268" style="">From the author of AFRAID comes a non-stop descent into madness, murder, and living nightmares. When four female triathletes are forced to stay at a creepy bed and breakfast in the middle of the West Virginia woods, they had no idea of the horrors in store. They are forced to fight for survival against an evil as secret as it is terrifying--and some of them won't get out alive..</span><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview161896744" style=""><br /></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview161896744" style="">~~~~~~~~~~</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview161896744" style=""><br /><br />Rating: 4 out of 5</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview161896744" style=""></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview161896744" style="">Genre: Horror</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview161896744" style=""></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview161896744" style=""><br />This book reminded me of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" mostly. It was a quick and easy read. The story builds the more you read. Some may think it is slow in the beginning, but it picks up sooner than you think.<br /><br />There were pretty many suspenseful parts leaving me looking at my closet to ensure it was closed. I'm just glad that my bed is flat on the floor so I did not have to keep looking under there too! I love stories like this that make you check your locks and windows 2-4 times before even considering going to bed.<br /><br />I do not scare easily, but this book did have me double-check various rooms and doors in my house. I love when stories can get to me in that fashion. It is not often that they are able to do that. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel a little paranoid after each reading session.<br /><br />An Inn, off-set in the backwoods, is the setting for this paranoid-horror ride. Blood, incest, deformities, torture, and former presidents of the United States are poured into your soul as your read each page. A very fun read!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-11452464939003458382011-05-10T14:48:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:17:59.736-04:00"Strawberries" by Justin Cawthorne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4Fyw5N1-og/TcmXuaPTnoI/AAAAAAAAC18/ADv9y_P3qlk/s1600/10479281.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 151px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4Fyw5N1-og/TcmXuaPTnoI/AAAAAAAAC18/ADv9y_P3qlk/s320/10479281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605178034812591746" border="0" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="readable reviewText"> Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10479281-strawberries">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeTextContainer11293418879046326706">Strawberries. Delicious, tasty, juicy strawberries. What could possibly go wrong...?</span><br /></span></div></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span style="font-weight: bold;" id="freeTextContainerreview163406773"><br /></span><span id="freeTextContainerreview163406773">~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-weight: bold;" id="freeTextContainerreview163406773"><br /><br />Rating: 4 out of 5</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163406773"></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163406773">Genre: Short Story, Horror</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163406773"></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview163406773"><br />I was only going to give this short story 3 stars, but the ending changed my mind.<br /><br />People are going crazy over these delicious strawberries. They are even fighting one another for them. What's so great about these strawberries? Take a chance and read this quick story to find out.<br /><br />The story was interesting, but the ending made me like it even more.<br /><br />I love strawberries! ;)</span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-36795134790543374772011-05-10T14:43:00.001-04:002011-05-19T19:44:20.249-04:00"Lap Dance" (Naughty Nooners Series) by Sally Painter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ2aptexP94/TcmIDMqjdfI/AAAAAAAAC10/-J0Bns5I6ZE/s1600/8292779.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 76px; height: 126px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ2aptexP94/TcmIDMqjdfI/AAAAAAAAC10/-J0Bns5I6ZE/s320/8292779.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605160799759988210" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8292779-lap-dance">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeText734690994801625898" style="">Cat’s last task in the Extreme Challenge is to give a lap dance to a stranger. Simple—until she landed on Grant Evanston’s lap. Now she’s a pulsating wreck each time she rubs against him. The new challenge is to not have an orgasm in front of everyone. </span><br /><span id="freeText734690994801625898" style=""> </span><br /><span id="freeText734690994801625898" style="">Grant needs a woman to accept his true gargoyle form before sunrise or he’ll be imprisoned in stone for another twenty years. His extreme challenge just became to not rip the scant costume from the curvaceous Cat. The sexy redhead has set him on fire and there’s only one way this teasing lap dance can end.</span><br /></span></div></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview162984894"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Rating: 2 out of 5</span></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview162984894"></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview162984894"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview162984894">Genre: Erotica, Short Story, Paranormal</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview162984894"></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview162984894"><br />It was only 25 pages and a very quick read. The story has potential if it were longer. The story was alright, but not quite my cup of tea. Creature relations bore me a bit. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-89066531754936695362011-05-10T14:37:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:21:11.331-04:00"The Bighead" by Edward Lee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d0uXd2i68Y/TcmGwY0Y-XI/AAAAAAAAC1s/CMtpg3thL5g/s1600/10049024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 136px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d0uXd2i68Y/TcmGwY0Y-XI/AAAAAAAAC1s/CMtpg3thL5g/s320/10049024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605159377093327218" border="0" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="readable reviewText"> Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10049024-the-bighead">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeText1788457435766364079" style="">Who is he? What is he? An inbred homicidal pervert? A supernatural psychopath? Who or whatever he is, he's on a roll now, raging out of the Virginia backwoods and leaving in his wake a trail of blood, guts, and disgust far beyond the limits of your reckoning. Never before has a work of fiction dared to delve so deeply into the realms of perversion, sexual dementia, and bad taste.</span><br /></span></div></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span id="freeTextreview155938969">~~~~~~~~~~</span><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Rating: 4 out of 5</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style=""></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style="">Genre: Horror</span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style=""></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style=""><br />I was not sure what I was getting myself into when I purchased this book. This is only the second book from Lee I have read. I was not sure what to really expect after reading various reviews of this book. In short, I liked it. I took 1 star away due to numerous editing errors that should have been fixed during the editing process.<br /><br />The story jumps around between various characters of the story. Following the different stories can get a bit tedious, but they all tie in together nicely in the end.<br /><br />I really do not wish to spew out a 'back-cover" review. So, I won't.<br /><br />If you are looking for a smooth read, this is a never-read for you. It jumps around a lot from many different characters. There is also a lot of redneck-speak which, at times, can be hard to read and even decipher. If you are still intrigued, then be warned that there are almost constant rape-situations and various disturbing sexual acts that many may not be able to stomach. This book is pretty sick.<br /><br />Another must mention, there is much talk about God and other religious subjects that may turn even the most open-minded believers into outraged readers. If you feel you cannot handle blasphemy of the Catholic Church, this book is a never-read.<br /><br />I could hardly put this book down when I had to do real-life things. I was always thinking about it when I was not reading it and wondering what was going to happen next while I was reading it. It is not for everyone. If you like to dabble in the unknown or the sickening, try this book on for size. It may leave a disgusting taste in your mouth.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style="">Be warned!</span></span><br /></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style=""><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style="">(This was the book I was reading when I was having my demon nightmares.)</span></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview155938969" style=""></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-1897586882249442532011-05-10T14:33:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:22:51.767-04:00"The House" by Edward Lee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dniL635lOiM/TcmFVD0tA3I/AAAAAAAAC1k/UCkSBgbJjqA/s1600/10529757.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 141px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dniL635lOiM/TcmFVD0tA3I/AAAAAAAAC1k/UCkSBgbJjqA/s320/10529757.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605157808089400178" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview158961922" style=""></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10529757-the-house">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeText255602993446222089" style="">THE PIG: The traditional tale of a man with big city dreams and how one wrong deal can put you in the woods filming porn with junkie whores, sexual freaks, psycho mobsters and, oh yeah...a pig. </span><br /><span id="freeText255602993446222089" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText255602993446222089" style="">THE HOUSE: Melvin has come to investigate the so-called haunted house. Soon his dreams smash head first into the memories of a man sentenced to film the most atrocious sex acts imaginable.</span><br /></span></div></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview158961922" style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span>~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Rating: 4 out of 5</span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview158961922" style=""></span></span> <span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview158961922" style=""><span style="font-style: italic;">Genre: Splatterpunk, Horror</span></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview158961922" style=""></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview158961922" style=""><br />This book has two stories, "The Pig" and "The House". The first story begins in 1977 and the second continues the first but many years later. With that, I will review them separately.<br /><br />"The Pig" was pretty much disgusting and not for any animal-lover. It is a definite never-read for animal lovers! If you can take a lot of animal cruelty and beastiality, then give "The Pig" a read. It is not only about that, but does have a considerable amount of rape and other grotesque acts incorporated into this story about a man who simply wants to make movies.<br /><br />I must admit, this is my first Edward Lee read and so far I am impressed. Although, "The Pig" ended too abruptly for my liking. Hence, minus one star.<br /><br />"The House" is a continuation of "The Pig". This story held my interest for the duration. I could not put the book down for anything. I sat and read it in one sitting, which is rare for me. The is no beastiality in this story, but there are many crude sexual acts that can be considered disturbing. Again, a man who simply wants to do his job, as a journalist this time, is put into a tight situation in the same house that "The Pig" was setup in. All the previous stories intertwine into this amusing yet stomach churning tale of ghostly sickness.<br /><br />I recommend this book to those who can stomach and/or enjoy the disturbing and grotesque.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040586725959399030.post-23485336868999859322011-05-10T14:27:00.000-04:002011-05-10T17:24:26.069-04:00"Naked Lunch" by William S. Burroughs<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uA9UWw_P_64/TcmEpdYoreI/AAAAAAAAC1c/oyr3iWREMPc/s1600/7993871.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 92px; height: 139px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uA9UWw_P_64/TcmEpdYoreI/AAAAAAAAC1c/oyr3iWREMPc/s320/7993871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605157059036753378" border="0" /></a><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview157898123" style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">Synopsis - (from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7993871-naked-lunch">goodreads.com</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="freeText14580333289835213784" style="">Naked Lunch is one of the most important novels of the twentieth century. Exerting its influence on the work of authors like Thomas Pynchon, J. G. Ballard, and William Gibson, on the relationship of art and obscenity, and on the shape of music, film, and media generally, it is one of the books that redefined not just literature but American culture. Reedited by Burroughs scholar Barry Miles and Burroughs's longtime editor James Grauerholz, Naked Lunch: The Restored Text includes many editorial corrections to errors present in previous editions, and incorporates Burroughs's notes on the text, several essays he wrote over the years about the book, and an appendix of 20 percent all-new material and alternate drafts from the original manuscript, which predates the first published version. For the Burroughs enthusiast and the neophyte, this volume is a valuable and fresh experience of this classic of our culture.</span><br /></span></div></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview157898123" style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span>~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Rating: 4 out of 5</span></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview157898123" style=""><span style="font-style: italic;">Genre: Classic, American Literature, Contemporary</span></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview157898123" style=""></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview157898123" style=""><br />This book is not for very many people. It is very confusing and it jumps around in a lunatic-type way. If you are into thinking and being talked to by a book, this is your book. If you are looking for a story, this is a never-read.<br /><br />I read about 15 pages of this book and had a look of extreme confusion on my face the entire time. It went from one crazy story to another. One story had nothing to do with the previous story then it jumped back into a previous story with additions. Are you dizzy yet?<br /><br />I went online to read reviews of this book to see if I could be enlightened as to what the heck was going on and if I was missing something. I had to read A LOT of reviews. Even the reviews were a swirling mass of confusion...sort of like Alice in Wonderland but ten times as screwy! I found a review that told it like it was.<br /><br />It stated, and I'm paraphrasing here, that there is no order to this book. You must read this book with an open mind and simply let each section process on its own. This means that one story is not a continuation of another. They are separate delusions not meant to be shared with the other delusions. A reader can open the book in the middle and begin there without missing anything. There is absolutely no order to this book.<br /><br /><em><strong>As a first time read, I would read the articles in the back (Naked Lunch: The Restored Text Edition) FIRST, to understand what is happening in the beginning, if that is where one would start.</strong></em><br /><br />I understood the book and was able to see the brilliance of the book <strong>after</strong> reading the various articles at the end. It may seem like a bunch of babbling nonsense.....but it is not supposed to make sense. He is a junkie, telling stories/delusions of a junkie. If you have ever known a junkie, majority of what they say while high makes no sense most of the time. This is a great example and looking-glass into how some drug abusers may see the world while high.<br /><br />This is a very difficult read especially for those of you who are expecting a story-type book. This is not a story...it's brilliant babble.<br /><br />I would have to say that I hated to read this book but I love this book. It makes you think and it makes you crazy. I am so glad I did not stop reading this book. Accepting the chaos allowed for me to open my mind even further than it already was.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0