Booklist

Summer of the Apocalypse by James Van Pelt
When a plague wipes out most of humanity, fifteen-year-old Eric sets out to find his father. Sixty years later, Eric starts another long journey in an America that has long since quit resembling our own, but there are shadows everywhere. Shadows of what the world once was, and shadows from Eric's past. Blood bandits, wolves, fire, feral children, and an insane militia are only a few of the problems Eric faces. Set in Denver, Colorado and the western foothills, Van Pelt's first novel is both a coming-of-age tale, and a story of an old man's search for hope in the midst of disaster. Eric's two adventures lead him through a slice of modern America and into the depths of one man's heart.
I liked this book. The switching back and forth from 15-year-old Eric (at the beginning of the apocalypse) to 75-year-old Eric worked very well. I should say more but I waited too long after reading the book to post a review. It's not fresh on my mind. Sorry.

The Taking by Dean Koontz
The new thriller from Dean Koontz is a novel of surpassing suspense and visceral terror as doomsday dawns. On the morning that will mark the end of the world they have known, Molly and Niel Sloan awaken to the drumbeat of rain. It has haunted their dreams through the night, and now they find an eerily luminous and golden downpour that drenches their small Californian mountain town. As hours pass they hear news of extreme weather phenomena across the globe. An obscuring fog turns once familiar streets into a ghostly labyrinth. By evening, the town has lost all communication with the outside world. First TV and radio go dead, then the Internet and phone lines. The young couple gathers together with some neighbours, sensing a threat they cannot identify or even imagine. The night brings strange noises, and mysterious lights drift among the trees. The rain diminishes with the dawn but a moody grey-purple twilight prevails. Within the misty gloom the small band will encounter something that reveals in a terrifying instant what is happening to the world -- something that is hunting them with ruthless efficiency. Epic in scope, searingly intimate and immediate in its perspective, The Taking is a story of a strangely changed and changing world as apocalypse comes to Main Street.
So, as you can see, I like post-apocalyptic fiction. I just happened upon this book at the library because I had nothing else to read. For me, Koontz has always been a win/lose situation. I either like his books or I don't. This one started out great. Very mysterious, suspenseful and scary. By the middle of the book it was starting to fall apart for me and by the end I was just skimming to get thru it. This book does make me wonder what Koontz's religious views are. I won't say why in case you want to read it.

Atomic Robo by Brian Clevinger and artist Scott Wegener
I picked this graphic novel up on a whim at the library. I like the art very much and the stories are fun. Atomic Robo is a robot-adventurer. To me, he's a cross between Indiana Jones and Hellboy in personality. Fun book.

Life in General

Since I don't blog as often, I thought I'd catch you up on all things Marty.

- On the art front, things are going well. I had a great show at Corridor Gallery on my birthday. Many people came and went. I exposed my art to a bunch of new folks and sold a few works. I have also lined up another show because of it. Masters: Collage, the book that will feature selections of my work, will be out in June. I'm sure this will be a boost and it's especially cool because one of my images is on the cover. The only other thing I'm trying to accomplish is getting an Etsy shop open so I can sell my work online. I hope to have it up and running in a couple weeks. We'll see.

- We've moved back into the theatre after the fire damage. There's still a lot to do but I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. At least I'm back doing my regular job again. Having no routine for 3 months threw off my groove something fierce.

- Socially, things were pretty great over the holidays. We spent a lot of time with friends and it was great. Unfortunately, after the holidays were over, people returned to their busy lives and the social fun ceased. I'm beginning to think I should just give up the pursuit of close friendships and either learn to survive on shallow relationships or become a hermit. The hermit thing looks the most attractive to me right now.

- The bad news is...I'm tired of bad news. Folks with cancer, relatives dying, blah, blah, blah. Again, the whole hermit thing is looking mighty good right about now.

Well, I guess that's all the news that's fit to print. I'll chime in if anything significant happens. Otherwise, I'll probably working on art and laying low as much as possible.

Booklist

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
My reading has slowed down quite a bit of late. I think it's a combo of not having anything interesting to read and being too tired to read at bedtime (which is the only time I read). That being said, I did polish off the first book of LOTR along with a couple of Pearls Before Swine treasuries since my last book update. LOTR remains a tough read for me. It's a good story but I get bogged down in all of Tolkein's descriptions of things. I am much more interested in character development and dialogue. I am now beginning to understand why Peter Jackson made some of the choices he did in the movie. I may move on and finish up the trilogy but I'm going to take a break and read some other stuff first.

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired!

This cold (or whatever it is) is hanging on. I feel pretty crappy. Normally a cold wouldn't knock the wind out of my sails like this but I've been dealing with health stuff for weeks now. First it was my feet. Doc says it was probably tendonitis. I've bought new shoes hoping that will help. Next up was the weird virus that had my stomach messed up for over 2 weeks. I'll spare you the grisly details. And, now that that is finally subsiding, I get hit with a cold.
Work is going to be getting very busy in the next couple of weeks as we start moving back into the theatre and start the next show. I need to be well to be able to deal with the physical challenges of that time. This crud needs to pass on by.

Finally...A Good Burger!

I've long complained that there is something wrong with the taste buds of Seattlites. They recommend mediocre food and call it fantastic. They also think that charging a big chunk of change for something makes it good. To be frank, Seattlites are a bit snobby about food...but they have no basis for it. In most cities I've lived in I've had quite a few favorite restaurants that I like to frequent. Not so in Seattle. When Sarah and I decide we want to eat out, we have a hard time deciding where to eat. We usually don't venture out into new territory because we've been so disappointed in the past. So, we stick with the few "tried and trues" we've found. But, we still hope that we'll discover new places. Last night we did.
A Five Guys Burgers opened across from Northgate Mall so we decided to try it. We're glad we did. It was a good, falling apart, juicy burger. And the fries were good and plentiful. The best part...not having to take out a loan to pay for a mediocre burger. We got a good burger for for a reasonable price...a rarity for Seattle. Needless to say, we'll be repeating this experience.

Booklist

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
I'm not going to post a synopsis because if you don't know what The Hobbit is about by now, you've been living on Mars. After attending the LOTR marathon w/ friends the day after Christmas, I decided it was time for me to re-read the trilogy. Luckily, my wife still has her set from the 70's (same set I had but I have no idea where mine got off to). The set includes The Hobbit so I figured that's the best place to start. I haven't read The Hobbit in a long time and it surprised me how wonderful it still is. It's such a great story, so charming and enchanting. I enjoyed entering Middle Earth again. It really makes me anticipate the Del Toro movie all the more although I don't really understand why it has to be 2 movies. I think one movie would suffice. After all, we all know the movie's going to be 3 hours or more.

Pearls Sells Out: A Pearls Before Swine Treasury by Stephan Pastis
I got my wife 3 of these treasuries for Christmas so I decided to read one of them. Pastis is not right in the head...in a good way. Funny stuff!

Lapse in Blogging

Well, 2009 finally saw me fall off the blogging wagon. I don't know why but I just got tired of writing about myself. I still post the books I've read and every once in a while I might put up something of interest but I just got tired of bitching and complaining. Of course, I need someplace to vent and I may still do that on my blog from time to time but I'd like to not do it as much. I wouldn't mind blogging more but I just don't seem to have that much to write about anymore. My life is pretty routine (or will be once the theatre is remodeled). I usually don't have too many exciting things to report. So...what to do?
Well, I have no answers. I'll just say that it's on my radar to try and blog more. I'm not saying I will but it will be on my mind. Meanwhile, catch me on Facebook if you'd like. I enjoy interacting on there. Perhaps FB is to blame partially for my lapse in blogging?
Gotta blame something.

Booklist

Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child
Alaska's Federal Wilderness Zone.two hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle.one of the most remote places on Earth. But for a group of scientists sponsored by a major media conglomerate, an expedition to the Zone represents the opportunity of a lifetime to study the effects of global warming. The expedition changes suddenly on a routine foray into a glacial ice cave, where the group makes an astonishing find: an ancient animal encased in solid ice. It appears to be some kind of giant cat, possibly a saber-toothed tiger. When their discovery is reported back, their parent company quickly plans the ultimate spectacle - the animal will be cut from the ice, thawed, and revealed on live television. Ignoring the dire warnings of a local Eskimo group (and a native legend forecasting doom for anyone who disturbs this mythic creature), the scientists make one more horrifying discovery: the beast is no cat.it's an ancient killing machine. And it may not be dead.
I used to enjoy Lincoln Child's books. I also used to enjoy the ones he co-wrote with Douglas Preston. Somewhere along the way I stopped enjoying them. Did they change? Did I? All I know is this book was boring and predictable from page 1. The only reason I finished it was because it was a swift read. I gave up on Preston/Child a few years ago. I think I'm officially done with Child now.

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis takes us on a profound journey through both heaven and hell in this engaging allegorical tale. Using his extraordinary descriptive powers, Lewis introduces us to supernatural beings who will change the way we think about good and evil.
I decided to re-read this because Taproot is doing the play based on the book starting in January. Since I had read the book before, I knew doing a stage production based on it would be difficult. I remain skeptical. I'm sure they will pull it off nicely. They always do. I wanted to be a bit more familiar with the story for viewing the play.
I didn't enjoy reading the book as much this time. I think it's because my belief system is different this time around. My faith is in flux so I don't have a solid foundation to rest upon like I did the first time around. Things in the book didn't resonate with me like they did that first time.

Rogue Carolers

Last night, Sarah and I were watching Gremlins (technically, it's a Christmas movie) and we were at the scene where the Gremlins are caroling in Mrs. Deagle's yard. I started hearing another noise and asked Sarah to pause the movie. Sure enough, there were carolers on the corner near our apartment. We listened for a bit and then Sarah, being the Christmas spirited person that she is, ran downstairs to give them all a Christmas cupcake.
Once she came back upstairs she confirmed my suspicion that some alcohol had been consumed. Despite sounding pretty bad, they were having fun and spreading the spirit, if not spirits, thru the neighborhood.
Seattle is an interesting place.

Booklist

MAD's Greatest Artists: The Completely MAD Don Martin
A couple of weeks ago I was at the Pioneer Square art walk with my friend Marshall. We were browsing at Elliot Bay Books (a great bookstore) and Marshall drew my attention to this collection. The cover price is $149.99. They had it for $29.99. So, I just had to get it. I actually bought two. One is a gift for someone close to us who also adores Don Martin.
What can I say about Don Martin and MAD Magazine? Well, one thing I can say is, I doubt I would be an artist today if it weren't for that crazy magazine. I loved it as a kid and read them until the covers fell off. My favorite artists were Sergio Aragones (I still have several of his paperbacks that I bought in the 70's) and Don Martin. I learned how to draw cartoons mostly from these guys. Of course, I had many, many influences, but these guys were in the top ten for sure. I can't tell you how many times I heard (when I was a kid), "Your cartoons look like MAD Magazine." Well, of course they did. Duh.
So, I bought it and read both volumes cover to cover. Some of it's dated but most of it's still pretty funny. The main thing that I bought them for is the art. Martin was an incredible artist and I don't have to invest in the gags to actually appreciate the work. Great stuff. I am so glad Marshall pointed this bargain out to me...even though the book weighs a bloody ton and I nearly killed myself lugging 2 of those bad boys back to the truck. Ugh.

Booklist

Monster Island by David Wellington
It's one month after a global disaster. The most "developed" nations of the world have fallen to the shambling zombie masses. Only a few pockets of humanity survive — in places rife with high-powered weaponry, such as Somalia. In New York City, the dead walk the streets, driven by an insatiable hunger for all things living. One amongst them is different; though he shares their appetites he has retained his human intelligence. Alone among the mindless zombies, Gary Fleck is an eyewitness to the end of the world — and perhaps the evil genius behind it all. From the other side of the planet, a small but heavily-armed group of schoolgirls-turned-soldiers has come in search of desperately needed medicine. Dekalb, a former United Nations weapons inspector, leads them as their local guide. Ayaan, a crack shot at the age of sixteen, will stop at nothing to complete her mission. They think they are prepared for anything. On Monster Island they will find that there is something worse even than being undead, as Gary learns the true price of survival.

I'm not usually one to read a zombie novel but I decided to give this one a try. I almost put it down a couple of times within the first couple chapters but after that it got better. The character of Gary is quite interesting - a zombie with intellect. It was just different enough to grab my attention. Beyond that, I'm not sure if I liked it well enough to continue with the series. We'll see how desperate my reading situation gets over the next few months.

Sprained!

I went to the doctor on Tuesday to find out why my left foot was swollen and hurt so much. Turns out it's sprained. I have no explanation for this. I've done no twisting, no falling. Doc thinks it might be a combo of overwalking, the orthotics in my shoes, or the stretches I do for my back. (and before you ask, the stretches involve alot of leg and foot stretching)
So, I took 2 days off work but I returned today. I'll just have to take it easy. I'm wearing a brace that helps a bit. When I'm home I'll just have to keep it up and ice it. (fun in the winter)
Last month I had shingles. Now this. I'd ask, "What's next?" but I don't want to know.

Booklist

Christmas on Mill Street by Joseph Walker
Take A Christmas Story and mix in The Sandlot and you’ll get Joseph Walker’s new holiday novel — Christmas on Mill Street. It’s 1962, and young Sam Andrews just moved to Utah from Arizona. A tall, overweight, semi-clumsy outsider, he’s still trying to fit in with the neighborhood boys. When discussion about sledding down the infamous Mill Street begins, Sam pipes in and says he’ll do it. The problem is, Sam has seen snow only in pictures and has never actually ridden a sled. And to top it off, Mill Street is practically a vertical drop with two deadly curves. A rider going too fast can get shot right off Mill Street and into the Tuttles’ thorn-filled pyracantha bushes. But there’s no turning back now. Readers will laugh out loud at the adventures and many poignant lessons leading up to Christmas Day and Sam’s eventual duel with Mill Street. Christmas on Mill Street is a delightful and inspirational family gift for this holiday season.
I grabbed this one on a whim from the library's new releases shelf. It's promise of being a cross between A Christmas Story and Sandlot is greatly exaggerated. The story is so predictable and full to the brim with hokey sentiment. The humor is pretty basic...nothing nearly as creative as the adventures of Ralphie in ACS. So, if you want to read a hokie period piece about Christmas in Utah...this is your book.

Booklist

Time Travelers Never Die by Jack McDevitt
When physicist Michael Shelborne mysteriously vanishes, his son Shel discovers that he had constructed a time travel device. Fearing his father may be stranded in time - or worse - Shel enlists the aid of Dave MacElroy, a linguist, to accompany him on the rescue mission. Their journey through history takes them from the enlightenment of Renaissance Italy through the American Wild West to the civil-rights upheavals of the 20th century. Along the way, they encounter a diverse cast of historical greats, sometimes in unexpected situations. Yet the elder Shelborne remains elusive. And then Shel violates his agreement with Dave not to visit the future. There he makes a devastating discovery that sends him fleeing back through the ages, and changes his life forever.

I really enjoyed this book. While I almost didn't pick it up because of the title (dumb if you ask me) I'm glad I took a chance. It's a very smart, realistic portrayal of time travel. The story is more about the people than the technical stuff. The plot is reminiscent of Timeline by Michael Crichton but far more satisfying. I think I've read 2 books by McDevitt now. The first, Eternity Road, was only so-so for me. It made me hesitate to read more by this author. Now I'm ready to find more. Has anyone out there read any other books by him? Can you recommend something?

Booklist

The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment by A. J. Jacobs
For his first book, The Know-It-All, A. J. Jacobs read the entire Encyclopædia Britannica from cover to cover in a quest to learn everything in the world. In The Year of Living Biblically, he followed every single rule of the Bible -- from the Ten Commandments right on down to stoning adulterers.
Now comes a collection of his most hilarious and thought-provoking experiments yet. In his role as human guinea pig, Jacobs fearlessly takes on a series of life-altering challenges that provides readers with equal parts insight and humor. (And which drives A.J.'s patient wife, Julie, to the brink of insanity.)

I really, really, really like Jacob's books. This guy is really going out of his way to make sense of life. He thinks way outside the box and he doesn't really care (well, I'm sure he cares a little) what people think of his weird experiments. He's like a mad scientist of humanity. I can't wait to see what he does next.
I'm not an in-depth book reviewer. I merely put these entries out there so I can keep track of what I've read and so I can recommend these books to those few of you who read my scribblings. I highly recommend you grab anything Jacobs has written and devour it. You won't regret a single moment.