Kiss Me, Judas by Will Christopher Baer

Paperback: 330 pages
Publisher: MacAdam/Cage (June 20, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1596921862
ISBN-13: 978-1596921863
Age Level: Adult
Book Series: Phineas Poe: Kiss Me, Judas, Penny Dreadful, Hell's Half-Acre

Reader's Annotation: After being released from a psychiatric institution, Phineas Poe, an ex-cop, awakens on a bed of ice after a steamy night with a woman that he might very well have left with his heart as well as his kidney.


Synopsis: After being released from a psychiatric institution, Phineas meets a woman who charges for her services of love. As it turns out, money wasn't the only Jude, the surrealy beautiful woman takes from Phineas. After a stay in the hospital, and a run in with his old buddies from his cop days, Phineas sets off to do either of two things: get revenge or find the woman who stole his kidney and his heart. In this dark, thriller, the reader who loves noir, edgy writing, and quality dark humor, Baer delivers a wild ride that sucks you in and reminds you of your days hanging out with Palanuick or Tarantino. I think this book is not to be missed, so long as you have the stomach for the violence, sex, drugs, and an occasional kidney surgery.

Notes: Detailed sex, drugs, and violence make up the core of this book. Parental discretion is a must. If the bizarre is your taste, but in the style of pulp noir splashed and decorated with the drug induced haze of writers such as Hunter Thompson and Chuck Palahnuik, then you have found your next read! You will love it! Others: good luck. Ha Ha.

Extras:

New UnLibrarian Pathfinder: Til Depp do us Part

UnLibrarian Pathfinders:
Great tools for Librarians and Patrons!

What is a pathfinder? Pathfinders can be approached in many ways. The basic idea is to lead a patron in the right direction and give them resources on a single topic. They are generally pretty basic and they expect you (the user) to need no prior knowledge of a topic. In the UnLibrarian's case a pathfinder is meant not only to give you resources but it is meant as entertainment as much as it is an infophile's feast! So dig in and ENJOY!

A Clockwork Pathfinder: Have a thing for a time way back when that never existed? Wanna invent new gadgets like something out of an H.G. Wells book? Hoping to run out into Victorian London in your petticoat and goggles and jump into your steampower vessel in a time that never existed? Wondering what the heck I am talking about?


Visit The Escape Artist a pathfinder into all things steam: http://theunlibrarians-steampunk-pathfinder.blogspot.com/


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Johnny Depp & Tim Burton

Who are two people we can't seem to get enough of? From Edward Scissorhands to Alice in Wonderland this pathfinder is the perfect tool to the set you off in the right direction into the truly magical and bizarre world of Tim Burton & his films in collaboration with Johnny Depp.

Til Depp do us Part http://deppandburton-unlibrarian-pathfinder.blogspot.com/



More surely to come, so keep checking back on the UnLibrarian Blog!

World War Z: A Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks

Title: World War Z: A Oral History of the Zombie War
Author: Max Brooks
Paperback: 352 page
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Publishing Date: October 16, 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307346617
ISBN-13: 978-0307346612

Reader's Annotation: Over a decade after the zombies war (a.k.a World War Z) raged across the planet a reporter writes a book using interviews collected by survivors.

Synopsis & Review: 11 years after a zombie plague rages throughout the world a reporter tells the story of the war through the people the survived it. From China, to India, from Africa to America the stories in this book are terrorizing, thought provoking, and yes, sometimes sadistically funny. For the keen mind the oral histories will play out like an echo of todays tragedies for the zombie lover alone no one will be disappointed.The beauty of Max Brooks is he not only writes social commentary here but he does it against a horrific, zombified backdrop that everybody has been before, however, his skill makes it raw, palpable, and frankly...scarily familiar. If you haven't gotten around to reading this book, it's time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as the audio and should note the if you are taking a road trip or at the very least stuck in Los Angeles traffic, the audio is a role call of famous personalities and voices playing out the different the stories within. I would go so far as to reccommend the audio for readers who have already read the book!
Audio CD Info:
Publisher: Random House Audio; Abridged edition (2007)
Language: English
ASIN: B001IZFXMQ

Notes: Adult Content, Parental Suggestion Suggested.

Extras: Author/Publisher Website http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/worldwarz/index2.php

• World War Z is slated to be released as a film in 2010 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816711/

• Max Brooks is the on of Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft.

• "I've no desire to become the next king of Jewish immigrant comics, but I am so proud of my old man" - About his father, Mel Brooks.

• He is the author of the comedic zombie blockbuster, The Zombie Survival Guide which has spawned a never ending out pour of merchandising from Card Decks, to Note Pads & Journals, to a Graphic Novel!
  

• View a video from the publisher's website (of the graphic novel) here.
  

A brief FAN MADE Book Trailer with splices/preview from the fantastic AUDIOBOOK (This is not licensed).



Two of my favorite Fan Made trailers made by a fan (Srsly guys, this is pretty good stuff!):

Feed, by M.T. Anderson, (Guest Review)

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (February 23, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763622591

Reader's Annotation: "In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble." ~via Barnes & Noble

Summary & Review:
Feeding on Feed! In the twisted and somewhat dark realm that "Feed" takes place in, the readers are introduced to a character named Titus and his pack of friends lacking grammar and any insight into the real world due to the chip implanted into the back of their heads as infants. Habits including going "mal" (electronically getting high), flying in upcars, and contracting lesions, it is obvious their state of mind is anything but ordinary. But when Titus meets a girl named Violet, she introduces him to a whole new world outside of Feed! A world where reality is not just a download away... ~By Caleb Sims, Age 16, Washington State

Notes:
AWARDS
Finalist 2002 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
Winner 2003 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction ballsook.com/bghb2003.shtml
Winner 2003 Golden Duck Awards Hal Clement Award for Young Adults
Nominee 2005–2006 Green Mountain Book Award

Extras: Wikipedia for M.T. Anderson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Tobin_Anderson

Lost Constellations: The Art of Tara McPherson, by Tara McPherson

• Title: Lost Constellations: The Art of Tara McPherson
• Author: Tara McPherson
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics (April 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595822224
• ISBN-13: 978-1595822222
• Reader's Annotation:   "Lost Constellations: The Art of Tara McPherson Volume 2 is the compelling road map to the artist's most recent and ambitious journeys in paint, pencil, and sculpture." ~Via Dark Horse 
• Features line drawings next to paintings and illustrations (especially cool for the aspiring artist) Lost Constellations explores the Art of Tara Mcpherson as well as includes some of her FAMOUS art rock posters!

Synopsis: McPherson's Vol. II (second to Lonely at Heart), Mcpherson delivers a collection of artwork that has taken the looky-loos by storm. Like most of her characters suspended in either water or space, the reader will quickly find themselves staring at their own loss and gut-lost past, present, and future while suspended in their own space-like intoxication of Tara McPherson. I dare you to get enough. It's impossible. This is a book to own. 

Notes: Parental suggestion for the young ones. Otherwise, subtley dark & delicious for everyone!

Extras: Want MORE Tara Stuff? Or maybe you just want to look at more McPherson art? Visit http://www.taramcpherson.com/

or to buy artwork: http://www.clickforart.com/

Having trouble filling your whole'd out middle? Revisit your childhood with Tara's coloring book/backpack ensemble. And in the meantime go here to color online. Viva la Tara.

Another UnLibrarian Book Trailer! The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, by Carrie Ryan

Book Trailer by the Unlibrarian!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, By Carrie Ryan

• Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
• Author: Carrie Ryan
• Publishing Date:  March 10, 2009
• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385736819
• Reader's Annotation: In an apocalyptic world Mary lives in a village surrounded by a fence that keeps The Unconsecrated out. Constantly surrounded by death, she is driven by the need to know more. But can Mary survive when she is forced to go down the paths she always dreamed of, and is there really anything other then death waiting for her?
• Synopsis:  As a child Mary's mother tells her of an immense ocean. This place is beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth and has water as far as the eye can see. But, in Mary's village the sisterhood preaches there is nothing outside the Forest of the Hands and Teeth. The only safe place is that of of the village and it is the people's duty to keep the human race from being expelled forever. It is Mary's duty to watch her mother who longs for her lost love (Mary's Father) who has been taken by The Unconsecrated. Mary knows that her mother longs to be with him and she fears she will give herself to The Forest and The Sickness. Meanwhile, the spring vows and binding ceremonies are coming and men in the village are speaking for the women. Mary has only ever longed for one boy, but it is another that seeks her hand. Mary's duty is fast upon her it may not be anything she ever expected. 
• The beauty of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan's first book, lies within it's stark voice that never wavers from it's bleak tone that alludes to that small voice of hope at something more that lives in the back of all our minds. The book doesn't pander to the sugar coated, everything will turn out ok devices that are so inherent in YA lit today. It is refreshing despite it's topic of zombies (a genre being penned at a rate to rival the vampire literary epidemic). The zombie or vampire fan will devour this easy read but not be left without provoking thoughts and conversation. I have the slightest feeling the popularity of this book will spread like the disease of the Unconsecrated. 
  
• Extras: Seven Star Pictures have already bought the rights to the book for a film. It is slated for release in 2010. 
• Medium levels of blood and violence may leave the timid reader uncomfortable, but for the most part warnings for parents and readers are mild. 
  
• Author's Website:  http://www.carrieryan.com/news.php
• The book trailer was a Teen Book Video Award 2008 Finalist.  It is one of the best I've seen! If you are thinking of reading this book you must watch the trailer! 
• 
  
• The UnLibrarian is currently working on a fan "casting" book trailer! Stay Tuned!  

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance – Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem

By: By Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith

Publish Date: 2009

ISBN: 1594743347

Page #: 320 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fiction, Horror

Age Level: Adult, Older Teen

Series Titles: n/a

Subjects: Zombies, Regency Romance, Classics, Satire

Reader's Annotation: Jane Austen's beloved classic Pride and Prejudice now has zombies! After coming out of copyright, Graham-Smith brilliantly adds his own twist by transforming this literary classic with a few choice words here and there (and what a difference)!

 

Synopsis & Review: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins the literary transformation of the famous first line of one of the worlds most beloved works of fiction of all time. But if you are like me and so many others, you wouldn’t read Austen to save your life. Unless of course, your life was being threatened by Zombies! I adore a great deal of classics, but in the case of Austen I was particularly inclined to stay away. Now, with open arms, I am taking in my Austen as I never thought I could. Seth Grahame-Smith delivers a hilarious mash-up of Austen romance, Austen dresses, & Austen manners, and now Austen style zombies. (Note the zombie woman who wastes such a fine wedding gown while praying on brains. ‘Tis a shame.) Readers with a taste for Austen, a taste for zombies, or any variation of the two will revel in the satiric re-telling that aptly plays on the original heroine (Elizabeth Bennet) by keeping her as the spirited and determined central character she always was, but now she carries a Katana and martial arts training! Ms. Bennet, who holds a singular talent to slice and dice the demon dead that has been unleashed upon English countryside. Enter Mr. Darcy an arrogant zombie fighter who is drawn to Ms. Bennet and her skill to kill. Their love affaire de couer takes them through all the woes and wins of the original work but turns them into a cutting edge dance with “unmentionables” (a more Austen-esque term then undead I think) at the core. For those of you who abhor romance this is the romance for you. And for those of you who abhor violence, well, dare I say: this is the horror story for you! On a personal Level, I could not recommend a book more! IN fact, this is a Darcy that I can really sink my teeth into! Or shall I say in spirit, I am in want of more! It must be noted that Grahame-Smith does an excellent job at seamless transitions from Austen to zombie moments. Fans of Austen will get a kick out of it! 

Notes: Obviously violence should be taken into parental consideration for younger readers, however comedy and romance tempers the real threat of offensive material (I often laughed at loud). A great choice for reluctant readers of classical literature.

Not surprisingly, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is already being optioned for a movie. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1374989/

Stars: 5

Extras: Seth Grahame-Smith: A "polite" Q & A

How did the book come about?
SETH GRAHAME-SMITH: I'm an aspiring screenwriter living in L.A. At the moment, I'm executive producing a pilot for MTV that I wrote which is a sort of updatedWonder Years-meets-Superbad. But I also wrote a book called How to Survive a Horror Movie and another called Pardon My President, which was letters of apology from George Bush to all the people that he had wronged. My editor at Quirk had wanted to do a mash-up of some type for a long time. He had all these lists of public domain titles and lists of modern literary devices. The robot phenomenon. The vampire phenomenon. And zombies. And we arrived at Pride and Prejudice and Zombies because, when you take a look at the original book, it's almost as if, subconsciously, Jane Austen is laying out the perfect groundwork for an ultraviolent bone-crushing zombie massacre to take place. For instance, there's a regiment of soldiers camped out near the Bennett household. In the book, they're just there for characters to flirt with. But it's not that big a leap to say, Okay, they're there because the countryside has been overrun with what they call the "unmentionable menace."

The what, now?

SETH GRAHAME-SMITH:"The unmentionable menace." They call zombies "unmentionables" because it's a very polite society and the word "zombie" is kind of like a curse word. These aristocrats are trying to get on with their lives as best they can, despite the fact that the country is being devoured around them. They still have their balls and their teas and their manners. It was terrific fun to write, in the style of Jane Austen, describing horrific deaths and entire villages being slaughtered and burned to the ground.

Source: http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/02/monster-mash-up.html

BOOK TEASER BY THE UNLIBRARIAN: YEA, THAT'S ME. AND YEA, I MADE ANOTHER ONE...

Leviathan Update!

• Title: Leviathan
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416971734

Leviathan, Scott Westerfeld's yet to be released new steampunk novel has had a visit to "New Pretty Town" for a jacket make-over!

Check out the new Cover. I hate to say it but THIS makes me feel Bubbly. Click here to see the definition of Bubbly & some free Uglies related stuff online. Leviathan before turning 16 (seconds old) and after the Specials had their way with it...I apologize for the Uglies references, but can you blame me? It's an awesome remake!

Notes:

Can't wait for Fall 2009?

There is a Sneak Peak in the new paperback version of the Extras. And yes, it is a different one that was in From Bogus to Bubbly.

Super Extra Fun: Scott Talks Art & Illustration!

The Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/

Pre-Order: http://www.amazon.com/Leviathan-Scott-Westerfeld/dp/1416971734

The Unlibrarian's Steampunk Pathfinder: http://theunlibrarians-steampunk-pathfinder.blogspot.com/

Mind-Rain, By: Scott Westerfeld

Title:

Mind-Rain: Your Favorite Authors on Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Series

By: Scott Westerfeld

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Benbella Books (June 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933771348

Reader's Annotation: A collection of essays about Scott Westerfeld's amazing Uglies Series.

Notes: Due Out June 2, 2009

• With essays by Lili Wilkinson, Robin Wasserman, Diana Peterfreund, Sarah Beth Durst, Gail Sidonie Sobat, Rosemary Clement-Moore, J. Fitzgerald McCurdy, Janette Rallison, Linda Gerber, Charles Beaumont, Ted Chiang, Will Shetterly, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and Delia Sherman.
  

S. Darko, Directed By: Chris Fisher

• Director: Chris Fisher
  
• Writers: Nathan Atkins, Richard Kelly
• Producers: Adam Fields, Ash R. Shah, Jennifer Lane Connolly, Jim Busfield, Kent Beyda
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• ASIN: B001RP975G
  
• 
  
• Reader's Annotation: S. Darko follows the Youngest Darko sister 7 years after her brother Donnie Darko meets his fate in the original Richard Kelly masterpiece film. Samantha Darko & her wild best friend flee the mess left behind only to find their own bizarre Darko-esque reality.

Courtney's Opinion: I am going to try to be kind here. Oh, who am I kidding. No, I am not. Here's the deal. Girls: Yes, Jackson Rathbone a.k.a. Jasper "Twilight" Cullen and Ed Westwick a.k.a. Charles Bartholomew "Chuck" Bass of Gossip Girl are in this film. Breathe. Release. Guys: Yes, Daveigh Chase (apparently the Gyllenhaal are capable of morphing into child model hotness) & Elizabeth Berkley of Showgirls and Saved by the Bell (Well, some of us remember this one...) are indeed in this film. So, what do you get when you combine a Vampire who can crack a ball like a god, an upper east side brat you love to hate, a mother-i'd-like-to-hug stripper, & model girl-child? Um, nothing. No nothing is a compliment. It's in the negative. And here is why.We've seen these guys and gals doing fine work here and there. We even LOVE some of them. And we all loved Donnie Darko (for me, it's one of my favorite films of all time). Sadly, something happened to all of the above and it goes by the name of Chris Fisher. (I Don't wanna leave out the writer, Nathan Atkins for writing such stunning, dialogue as: Corey: Only two more good mornings. Sam: Only one more day. Corey: We're so perfect. Sam: Immaculate. Yea...well, you get the idea...) So here's the thing. If you haven't seen Donnie Darko, please do. And if I were you I would see it in place of this. But, if you must get your Rathbone-Daveigh-Westwick-Berkley fix so be it. But don't say I didn't warn you. This is by far the worst film. Ever. I think I brushed my teeth 8 times just to kill the time until it was over. 

Stars: 1 (And only for two reasons. 25% goes to Rathbone for being pretty, 25% goes to Westwick for rolling cigarettes in his sleeve and keeping a straight face, 25% goes to the zexy guy i watched it with just for being hot and distracting me from the atrocity in front of me (yea, j...your quarter surely spillz into another star; but alas, i just couldn't give it to the film), and the last 25% goes to the sheer laughs we got from watching it. Minus 4 stars for sullying the perfection of Donnie Darko-Which I refuse to acknowledge ever happened as I plan to travel back in time to retrieve every minute I wasted watching this thus making things as they should be. 

Notes: This movie is rated R. Parental supervision is strongly suggested. Artistically inclined parents & their multi-talented children may want to consider discussing artistic integrity and other issues with their children after or before viewing this film. Or throughout the entire film as a means of drowning out the dialogue. 

An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.

Richard Kelly (and the original team) did NOT endorse or work on this film at all. In fact Kelly publicly denounced S. Darko.

Donnie Darko Link: http://www.donniedarkofilm.com/

Donnie Darko imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/

Donnie Darko Trailer:

 

Official S. Darko Link: http://www.sdarko.com/ 

I have to say, the website and trailer far surpass the film itself.

S. Darko imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231277/

Official S. Darko trailer:

 

Rotten Tomatoes: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1209496/

Just Because I feel so bad for them, here are some incarnations of a better them: Daveigh Cook in Big Love, Jackson Rathbone in Twilight, Ed Westwick in Gossip Girl, & of course: Elizabeth Berkeley in Saved by the Bell.