Monday Meme III

Dearest Methadone Clinic Patrons,

Here's to hoping that today's post doesn't lead you to fall off the wagon. Stay strong, or you know... At least try to stay awake for Monday Meme:
Confession Bear

Cold Days (book 14 The Dresden Files) -- Jim Butcher

HARRY DRESDEN LIVES!!! After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad. Because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard.
He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long. And now, her word is his command, no matter what she wants him to do, no matter where she wants him to go, and no matter who she wants him to kill.
Guess which Mab wants first? Of course, it won’t be an ordinary, everyday assassination. Mab wants her newest minion to pull off the impossible: kill an immortal. No problem there, right? And to make matters worse, there exists a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could land Harry in the sort of trouble that will make death look like a holiday.Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own…His soul.

It is hard for me to give an honest review of this book as I am a bit of a fanboy about the series. I have long awaited this release with baited (insert Tim Curry voice) antici-pation.

Harry Dresden is back, now with an actual body! Not unlike HBO's True Blood, at the end of the last book I was left with more questions than answers.

• Will Harry live?
• Will he keep his old friends?
• Will he fundamentally change now that he has signed on with the Queen of Darkness?
• Will Harry's daughter show up in the story?
• How do I get a dog like Mouse?
• How did Mac get his bar listed as neutral territory under the Unseelie Accords?
• Will Jim Butcher ever release a recipe for some of Macs beers?

The answers are as follows:

• Yes
• Yes
• Yes/No (HA! How do you like THAT ambivalent answer?)
• Not yet
• I can't (the Landlord doesn't want me to have pets)
• Unanswered (STILL!!!!)
• I'm waiting Jim... I'm waiting.

There isn't much I can really write about on this book without severely giving away the plot twists. The few things I can say is that Jim Butcher wrote Harry with the same nerdy/wise-ass dialogue that he always has which is to say: Kind of formulaic. 

Please don't get me wrong, the book stands on its own in the series. One of the things I love about this series are the ancillary characters. Jim is one of the few authors that I've found that invests almost as much time developing the supporting cast as the main characters.

I truly look forward to book 15. Hopefully, Jim can get better soon (he is currently suffering from gastroenteritis) so that he can get back to entertaining me!

Artist profile: Virgil Finlay

Dearest Dope fiends,

I just got my copy of Cold Days (Book 14 of the Dresden files) by Jim Butcher, and am diligently working through it. In the meantime I thought I would share a comic book artist with you that I have loved.

Virgil Finlay

Virgil Finlay (July 23, 1914 – January 18, 1971) was an American pulp fantasy, science fiction and horror illustrator. Finlay specialized in, and became famous for, detailed pen-and-ink drawings accomplished with abundant stippling, cross-hatching, and scratchboard techniques. Despite the very labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of his specialty, Finlay created more than 2600 works of graphic art in his 35-year career.

A few of my favorites to share with you:

Caption:  Abruptly the mesh cloth which was the dancer's only garment seemed to crawl over her body...

this is an illustration from H.G. Wells Time Machine That thing carrying the girl whose chest-icles are about to fall out... yea, that's a Morlock

I would seriously get this next one as a tattoo... 

Meme Monday II

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen Dear Methadone clinic patrons,

As today is yet another Monday in the all-too-soon-ending cycle of our lives I bring to you another Meme Monday.


This weeks meme is another gem I discovered about a year ago and started relating.

I present to you: Scumbag Brain

EVERY GOT-DANGED NIGHT!!!

I'm fairly certain that my wife actually created this one. Apparently in her dreams I hook up with other people. The Dream-me is a Dick, but I suffer the wrath of a woman scorned all damned day...

like one? Have some more to share? Let me know! Leave a comment!

Author of the day- Jonathan Lethem

I have decided to make Jonathan Lethem my author of the day. He should be thrilled by such publicity (knowing all ten of you are reading this, five really if you don't count those poor saps nodding off from their latest Methadone fix).

I first discovered Jonathan when his most recent book at the time just went into paperback. The title of the book Fortress Of Solitude (I'm such a superman nerd, it's sad) grabbed my eye and I was in a rush to get to work.  I then spent the rest of that day completely blowing off customers and shirking responsibilities just to read that book. I was sucked in from page one.

Two days later after killing that book and dying to read some more of his work, I went back to the book store ready to pick up his entire work (or however much $40 would get me). Sadly, they only had one other book by him Gun, With Occasional Music. I was blown away at how different the writing styles were between the two books. So much so in fact, I immediately went to the library and picked up his collection.
The most interesting thing about this author is not that can he imagine a story that will hook you without the lazy use of deus ex machina, not the fact that his characters could actually have a life of their own were they to become real (I'm looking at you Bella). The most interesting thing is that EVERY SINGLE book of his has a different feel, a different flow, and a different writing style (unlike Dean Koontz who has written 75 gazillion books that are all the same).

If you are looking for a good read, please go to his website and pick up a book. you will not be disappointed.



side note: looking through his website, I found his fathers paintings (holy crap! I need to get a few prints) also, his brothers blog (NSFW) which has now become one of my favorites (gotta love graffiti!)

The Casual Vacancy

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (yes THAT J.K. Rowling)

The novel covers the death of a local Councillor, Barry Fairbrother, who croaks in the parking lot of a local golf course. As news spreads throughout town, chaos ensues. The problem arises in deciding whether the estate "The Fields" (which includes a methadone clinic, Bellchapel) should remain as part of Town.

After the election date is announced, the children of those who are standing for election decide to make damaging posts on the Councils online forum. Andrew, is the first person to do so, operating under the name "The_Ghost_Of_Barry_Fairbrother" and informing everyone on the forum that his father had bought a stolen computer. Sukhvinder follows, posting that her mother, Dr. Parminder Jawanda, was in love with Barry. Thirdly, Fats Wall posts, claiming his dad Cubby, diddled a kid.

This book also follows Krystal Weedon. Krystal lives in The Fields with her mother Terri who is a hooker and dope fiend, and brother Robbie. Kay, ( the obligitory Social worker) is determined for Terri to stop her druggie ways and take responsibility for the care of Robbie, however, Terri relapses (of course) and her drug-dealer ends up raping Krystal. Obviously fucked up from yet another traumatic experience in her life. Krystal has hooks up with Fats in an attempt to become preggers. It is during one of these hook-ups that Robbie runs away from the pair in a park, eventually falling and drowning in a river, despite Sukhvinder's attempt to save him. Krystal is so distraught she kills herself via heroin overdose, the novel culminating with her funeral.

The novels major themes were Politics, Class, and Social Issues (such as drugs).
All of which Ms. Rowling, should be able to write about properly, as she was living in the lowest caste of society without being homeless prior to her HP being published.

I feel this book is more CRASS than CLASS. I don't think I went two pages without being assaulted by more "fucks" and "arse" than was even close to necessary for the point of the narrative. I really hope J.K. doesn't stop writing, but I do hope this book comes off the top sellers charts. I feel this book has stayed up there due to her previous achievements.

This is J.K.'s first attempt at an adult book, and it kinda shows. Now please don't get me wrong. I loved her HP series. So much in fact, that when I was last in Orlando I spent a large part of my time at Universal Studios IN the new Hogwarts section.

I was hoping to make my first "official" book review to be something awesome. I guess I was disappointed twice.

I will now leave you with some photos of Hogwarts in Universal Studios.