Review: The Writing Dead: Give Feedback Talking Terror with TV’s Top Horror Writers by Thomas Fahy

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Conversations with the creators, executive producers, and writers of today’s top horror shows
The Writing Dead features interviews with the writers of today’s most frightening and fascinating shows. They include some of television’s biggest names—Carlton Cuse (Lost and Bates Motel), Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Pushing Daisies), David Greenwalt (Angel and Grimm), Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead, The Terminator series, Aliens, and The Abyss), Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica), Brian McGreevy (Hemlock Grove), Alexander Woo (True Blood), James Wong (The X-Files, Millennium, American Horror Story, and Final Destination), Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files and Millennium), Richard Hatem (Supernatural, The Dead Zone, and The Mothman Prophecies), Scott Buck (Dexter), Anna Fricke (Being Human), and Jim Dunn (Haven).
The Writing Dead features thought-provoking, never-before-published interviews with these top writers and gives the creators an opportunity to delve more deeply into television horror than anything found online. In addition to revealing behind-the-scene glimpses, these writers discuss favorite characters and story lines and talk about what they find most frightening. They offer insights into the writing process reflecting on the scary works that influenced their careers. And they reveal their own personal fascinations with the genre.
The thirteen interviews in The Writing Dead also mirror the changing landscape of horror on TV—from the shows produced by major networks and cable channels to shows made exclusively for online streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Studios. The Writing Dead will appeal to numerous fans of these shows, to horror fans, to aspiring writers and filmmakers, and to anyone who wants to learn more about why we like being scared.
Thomas Fahy, New York, New York, is associate professor of English and director of the American Studies Program at Long Island University, Post. He is the author of numerous books, including the young adult horror novels Sleepless and The Unspoken, and editor of The Philosophy of Horror and Alan Ball: Conversations (University Press of Mississippi).

MY TAKE:
I wouldn't consider myself a horror fan, but this book certainly had me reconsidering my preferences.

In The Writing Dead:Give Feedback Talking Terror with TV’s Top Horror Writers, readers get to learn more about some of the best writers and showrunners in the business and their thoughts on the shows they created and wrote for.

Most of the shows these writers wrote for were not new to me, even though I've really only seen one episode of Grimm, and maybe a couple or so seasons of Supernatural. When the writers were asked about their inspirations and characters, there were moments when I drew a blank on who they were, but for the most part, I was able to follow along and enjoy their answers. It helped that the questions were the kind that helped fans learn more about their favorite characters while non-fans still get insights on the genre.

The writers were also asked questions about when and how they got into writing, as well as what the best criticism they received was. The amazing thing I noticed was that a lot of them mentioned Stephen King as an influence. Also, they tend to agree that the best horror writing is when characters are well fleshed-out and viewers care about the characters and what happens to them. I guess I never really thought about it, but I'd have to agree with that.

Overall, I'd say this book is worth a read, especially if you're a fan of any of the shows these writers have done. Even if you're not, you may want to still read this. It's a fascinating take on what makes good horror television. It's also made me seriously think about watching more Grimm episodes.

Thanks to NetGalley and University Press of Mississippi for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It provides plenty of insights.
2. You get a behind-the-scenes look at some famous television horror series.
3. It's an interesting read. 

THE BAD:

1. The format is really just transcripts of interviews, preceded by a paragraph about the person interviewed. 

READ IT IF:

1. You're a fan of any of the shows the interviewees have created or written for.
2. You are a fan of horror, in general.
3. You want to learn more about television production. 

RATING:


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Review: How to Build a Universe: From the Big Bang to the End of the Universe by Ben Gilliland

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

From the first particles of matter and atomic building-blocks to hydrogen fusion, large galaxies and supermassive black holes, with a healthy dose of history and fun facts to glue everything together, this is your very own guide to How to Build a Universe.
Using a mixture of eye-catching graphics, humour and structured narrative, in How to Build a Universe, Metro columnist Ben Gilliland explains the complex concepts surrounding the birth and development of the galaxies, without overwhelming or patronising the reader.
Gilliland demonstrates how the cosmos came to be - from the formation of the first particles in the Big Bang to the development of the first stars, galaxies, planets and leading up to the present day and where the future of the universe might lie. Each chapter has an ongoing narrative, building the universe piece by piece, with graphics and fact boxes interspersed throughout.

MY TAKE:
I was a bit of a space buff as a child, so though my interest isn't as intense as it used to be, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to read this book.

In How to Build a Universe: From the Big Bang to the End of the Universe, readers get a detailed look of the origins of the universe and what happened from then to now and what will possibly happen in the future.

The book is much more comprehensive than my short summary suggests. This book is quite comprehensive and even though I already knew a number of things here, partly because of my childhood love of space and my high school and college's excellent science programs, I still learned a lot of things from this book. If you're looking to learn about space, this book is a must-read and you'll definitely get your money's worth.

That said, as you can expect from such a topic, while you don't have to know a whole lot about stars, galaxies, etc., it really helps to have a good chemistry and physics background. Those two topics are integral to the material herein, and if that stuff bores you, you may find your attention wandering at times while reading this book.

This book is quite nerdy, but still cool. Much of that coolness factor is thanks to the beautiful pictures of galaxies, and the diagrams and other features sprinkled throughout the book. The author also tried to keep things light, which is a big help since the topic and the sheer amount of information included in this book can be overwhelming sometimes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Cassell for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. It's very informative.
2. There are a number of stunningly beautiful photos.
3. There's something for every space fan.  

THE BAD:

1. The amount of information can feel overwhelming. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like anything related to space.
2. You want to learn more about the universe.
3. You're looking for a reference book that has beautiful photos and informative diagrams and features. 

RATING:

Review: The James Beard Cookbook by James Beard

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

An undisputed classic from the man who changed American cuisine forever
Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the best basic cookbooks in America,” The James Beard Cookbook remains as indispensable to home cooks today as it was when it was first published over fifty years ago. James Beard transformed the way we cook and eat, teaching us how to do everything from bread baking to making the perfect Parisian omelet.

Beard was the master of cooking techniques and preparation. In this comprehensive collection of simple, practical-yet-creative recipes, he shows us how to bring out the best in fresh vegetables, cook meat and chicken to perfection, and even properly boil water or an egg. From pasta to poultry, fish to fruit, and salads to sauces, this award-winning cookbook is a must-have for beginning cooks and expert chefs alike. Whether it is deviled pork chops or old-fashioned barbecue, there is not a meal in the American pantheon that Beard cannot teach us to master.

Both timeless and eminently sensible, The James Beard Cookbook is the go-to book for twenty-first-century American home kitchens.

MY TAKE:
The main reason I was eager to get my hands on this book was because after years of watching cooking shows and reality shows, I know that the James Beard Award is a very big deal and that James Beard is a brilliant chef and he wouldn't put out a cookbook that wasn't up to his standards.

In The James Beard Cookbook, readers learn about measurements, herbs, condiments, how to purchase and prepare ingredients, what type of ingredient to use with certain cooking techniques, and many, many more.

To say that this book is comprehensive actually feels like an understatement. It was more like going through the James Beard cooking school. It's a must-have for any kitchen, I think, as there are plenty of very, very useful things in here. So much so that the probably will be retaining them all, that is if you don't cook and put the tips to use on a regular basis.

Unlike modern cookbooks, there aren't any pictures here and the instructions are given in paragraph form, which not many cookbooks do nowadays. If you're a visual learner, you may find it just a tiny bit harder to follow the instructions. The instructions and techniques are simple enough, though, so as long as you actually know what the technique asks of you to do, you should be able to come up with the final product without any trouble.

One upside of having no pictures and using paragraphs instead of a numbered list for instructions is that there are a lot more recipes here than the typical cookbook. It certainly makes this a value-for-money book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Open Road Media for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It has pretty much everything you need to know about cooking.
2. The recipes are simple enough to follow and there are plenty of variations you can try.
3. There are a lot of recipes and very helpful tips. 

THE BAD:

1. There are no pictures for the recipes. 

READ IT IF:

1. You are looking for a must-have addition to your kitchen cookbook collection.
2. You like cookbooks that have a lot of recipes.
3. You like it when cookbooks have plenty of useful additional information. 

RATING:


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Review: Catch You Later, Traitor by Avi

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Other than knowing that Communism was bad, that it was the opposite of America, I didn’t really know much else. Now my teacher said I was a Commie because my Dad was one. Dad was always talking up America to us, how great and important it was. Absolutely, he wasn’t a Red. But if he was a Red, did that make me one?
It’s 1951, and twelve-year-old Pete Collison is a regular kid in Brooklyn, New York, who loves Sam Spade detective books and radio crime dramas. But when an FBI agent shows up at Pete’s doorstep accusing his father of being a Communist, he finds himself caught in a real-life mystery. Could there really be Commies in Pete’s family? At the same time, Pete’s classmates turn against him thanks to similar rumors spread by his own teacher; even Kat, Pete’s best friend, feels the pressure to ditch him. As Pete follows the quickly accumulating clues, he begins to wonder if the truth could put his family’s livelihood—even their freedom—at risk.
In the tradition of Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?, Don’t You Know There’s a War On?, and Nothing But the Truth, Avi’s new novel, Catch You Later, Traitor, tells a funny, insightful story packed with realistic period detail of a boy in mid-20th century America. Its unique look at what it felt like to be an average family caught in the wide net of the Red Scare has powerful relevance to contemporary questions of democracy and individual freedoms.

MY TAKE:
I've never read Avi's other books but I knew that one of them had a Newbery Medal, so I figured this would be a well-written book, even if I wasn't completely sold on the blurb.

In Catch You Later, Traitor, Pete comes to class one day only to find himself ostracized. Later on, he finds out that his teacher had told everyone that Pete's father was a Communist. Before long, the FBI is knocking on Pete's family's door and trying to get Pete to spill his father's secrets. The thing is, Pete doesn't know if his father has any secrets and he's pretty sure his father is not a Communist. So what's really going on here?

As a detective novel, this book totally succeeds. It's told in the manner of old detective movies, like The Maltese Falcon. It's pretty fast-paced and written in such a way that your heart starts beating faster at all the right moments and it's easy to relate to Pete.

Since I don't live in the US, my first introduction to the Red Scare was through a Sweet Valley book. The book had some of the characters do a report about McCarthyism, so that's how I knew about the things Pete's family goes through. That book focused more on the Hollywood side, though, while this book was more broad.

Obviously, times were different back then. If anyone tried that kind of witch hunt today, communities all over the world would be in an uproar. However, this book is still quite relevant because not only does it teach history, it can also help kids grasp the idea that not everything is black and white.

Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It can help teach kids about McCarthyism and the Red Scare.
2. It can help kids grasp the idea that not everything is black and white.
3. It's a good detective novel.

THE BAD:

1.  When Pete starts narrating stuff like a detective, it can be pretty distracting sometimes.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child likes detective stories.
2. Your child likes history.
3. Your child likes action-packed books.  

RATING:


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Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“He’s not feeling well,” Clary said, catching at Simon’s wrist. “We’re going.”
“No,” Simon said. “No, I — I need to talk to him. To the Inquisitor."
Robert reached into his jacket and drew out a crucifix. Clary stared in shock as he held it up between himself and Simon. “I speak to the Night’s Children Council representative, or to the head of the New York clan,” he said. “Not to any vampire who comes to knock at my door —“
Simon reached out and plucked the cross out of Robert’s hand. “Wrong religion,” he said.”

Review: The Wicked Awakening of Anne Merchant Book Two of the V Trilogy by Joanna Wiebe

SUMMARY:

Behind every secret lurks one much darker...
Thrust back into the cryptic world of Cania Christy, Anne Merchant finds herself tangled in a mystic plot she can't escape. Eerie visions haunt her. Whispers of her nefarious past vex her. But it's not until Ben Zin is forced to compete for the Big V—with a vengeful guardian to assure his failure—that she faces the reality of life in a world ruled by wickedness: she must embrace her inner demons to help those she loves. Hoping the ends will justify the means, Anne starts down a slippery slope that, if she lets temptation guide her, could lead her straight to the underworld.

MY TAKE:
I can't remember the last time a book took me on a rollercoaster ride the way this one did.

In The Wicked Awakening of Anne Merchant, Anne finds herself back on Wormwood Island. Her escape resulted in some changes at Cania Christy and the arrival of several new beings who may not be what they seem.

I started this book not really feeling high or low about the story. Then it started going in a direction that made me think that things were going to go downhill and I started to get bored and annoyed. Then just like that things started getting interesting. Then Anne did something that I wasn't pleased about. Then she did something I liked. This cycle continued until the end of the book. There were plenty of crappy things Anne and the others did that irritated me, and then there were twists that made everything interesting and bearable again.

Speaking purely of plot twists and the big picture, however, this is a very good book. Whereas the first book was a slow reveal, this one was jam-packed with revelations from the start. The book didn't give me that heavy feeling I got with the first book, and while the first book creeped me out a little, this book didn't really scare me. I found this one more fascinating than terrifying.

As for the characters, it was nice to see that the characters were mostly complex. Sometimes their actions are obvious, but sometimes they also do unexpected things, but more or less, these things still serve their purposes. I'm still unsure how I feel about Anne though. There's an aspect of her I like, but as a whole, I'm still not sure. I think I would have liked her more if she was a little less selfish and short-sighted.

Thanks to BenBella Books for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The characters are complex.
2. The plot is becoming more interesting.
3. It's more fast-paced than the first book. 

THE BAD:

1. Anne is way too focused on her relationship with Ben. 

READ IT IF:

1. If you like paranormal romances.
2. You like complex storylines.
3. You're looking for a new supernatural series to follow.

RATING:


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In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

FROM PUBLISHER:

The Wicked Awakening of Anne Merchant: Book Two of the V Trilogy by Joanna Wiebe
The MD Factor Diet: A Physicians Proven Diet for Metabolism Correction and Healthy Weight Loss by Caroline Cederquist