Well, this is pretty near the second coolest thing that ever existed. Writer Gabe Soria figured out all the music that was ever mentioned in Jaime Hernandez’es Locas stories in Love and Rockets and made a play list out of it. Here it is, the perfect punk and dark sounds track for your adventures driving out on the coast in the middle of the night, attending a backyard barbecue full of intrigue or having a heart broken. As he notes the mosic of Ape Sex and Las Lloronas will only exist in our imaginations, and he had to make an educated guess for “The Death of Speedy” but it works.
The coolest thing ever? Still Love and Rockets.
I have a stack of books that needs reviewing. Not the metaphorical stack that I always have, but a real stack, right next to me. We'll see how many I get through before I get to class!
London Calling Edward Bloor
As with most Bloor, the plot is pretty dense and complicated, which makes it a little hard to explain.
Martin is a poor kid at a snooty rich school. He doesn't want to be there. After getting in a fight with the son of one of the school's heros (and financial benefactors) he decides to do an independent study from home for a semester.
When his grandmother dies, he is given an old radio that his grandfather had when he worked at the embassy in London during the Blitz.
Through that radio, Marin ends up traveling through time to the days of the blitz. What he sees there sparks research and discoveries that seemed impossible and is about the blow the lid off several family secrets, for several different families.
The time travel bit sounds a bit hokey, I know, but Bloor is a master. I like the hard look he gave the Blitz on many different levels. It's a fascinating book that I couldn't put down.
Confessions of a Serial Kisser Wendelin Van Draanen
Evangeline is sick and tired of moping after her parent's divorce. Inspired by a romance novel found under her mother's bed, she is on a quest to find the perfect Crimson Kiss.
So, she gives herself a make-over and starts kissing every guy in sight. Drama ensues.
Overall, it was a nice book about finding yourself and how you won't be crimson without some attraction. There was friend drama that I didn't fully understand, because there were some serious flaws in that relationship even before Evangeline starts going kiss-crazy.
It's also interesting how it's only about kissing. Kissing is taken very seriously in this book and where I can see why randomly grabbing guys and making out with them will damage your rep (because people think if you're willing to do that in the cafeteria, you're willing to do a whole lot more elsewhere) but at the same time, it's high school. Also, a guy who smokes pot is A TOTAL DRUGGIE AND THAT'S BAD BAD BAD BAD. The whole thing is a little... innocent. (I can understand not wanting to date a pothead, but... he's not an ax-murderer.)
Out in May 2008.
Life Sucks Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria, Warren Pleece
You know I love First Second.
Anyway, being a vampire today in LA totally sucks. All Dave wanted was a night job at the convenience store, but who knew his boss was a vampire? And he made Dave a vampire, and now Dave is bound to his Master, spending all night every night at the convenience store. It doesn't help with the day shift guy is late and Dave has to rush to make it home before the sun comes up.
There's surfer god Wes, who was such a bad employee, Dave's master rides him even harder, which Wes just loves to rub in Dave's face.
Then there's Rosa, the goth girl who hangs out at the juice bar by the sore. Beautiful Rosa who seems to maybe like Dave. And Wes. She also thinks being a vampire would be awesome. How can Dave tell her how much it totally sucks?
Well thought out and funny, the graphics have a pretty dark, muted palate that fit the all-night all-the-time setting.
Look for it at the end of April
Barb and Dingbat's Crybaby Hotline Patrick Jennings
One afternoon in 1975, Barb calls Jeff and dumps him on behalf of her friend, Viv. As it turns out, Jeff likes girls. He's not that picky, or that observant, he just likes girls.
Throughout a series of phone calls, we see Jeff as the ultimate clueless guy, but Barb is willing to help him. Maybe.
Funny and true to all of those random phone calls made and received in junior high and high school, the quick read of phone call transcripts makes is a good pick for reluctant readers.
Thanks to Jos from NoDirectOn(not:NoDirection) when you comment on A Nice Place In The Sun post it will follow your link! I saw where many blogs had a design that read "I follow" but I didn't know what it meant. However, thanks to Jos I now have the answer! I followed his directions from his post on how to install the "I follow" plugin or rather how to uninstall the nofollow link in my blogs template.
So follow this post and find out what I'm talking about! Since Jos does a much better job of explaining blog techo lingo than I!
Go to NoDirectOn(not:NoDirection)and Dummies Guide To Google Blogger for more information on the "I follow" plugin and Randa Clay Design for the "I follow" logo!
Thanks fellow blog friends from A Nice Place In The Sun and my other blog readers!
Hmm... Actually... All credits should really go to Randa and to this blog called "Dummy Guide to Google Blogger Beta".
It's nice to see that you've managed to crack this one, too, though :)
And: your comments system working fine, too! Let's hear it for BlogMaster Ann! ;-)
(I'm laughing out loud):)))
I was a basket case! I always am when I work with my template. I'm afraid something is going to happen and my blog is going to go poof! Oh I would be so upset, since I wouldn't know what had happened to Christy, and you and Sandee, and so many other people who have become such great friends! That's another reason I'm glad that I can now give something back! I really like the "I follow", and I'm so glad you looked into it! I'll add "Dummy Guide to Google Blogger Beta"
I should have known that since I laughed when I clicked on the link on your site, and I arrived at that page! It fits me perfectly! Although you and they did a good job of describing it!
By the way Sandee is a writer with wit, and already a friend!
Comedy plus is fun to read. Every time I read it I leave laughing.
Thanks jos for your help! Hang in there, o.k.?
The Blogmaster!
O.K., BlogMaster! On to the next one. I have only recently figured this one out myself: How to turn a badge in your sidebar (like the I Follow logo, or your Award logo's) into a clickable link to the respective post...
Easy. Just check: http://betabloggerfordummies.blogspot.com/2007/01/making-image-link.html
If you need any help, just let me know and I'll try.
Jos:)
Thank you Jos! What a thoughtful idea! I'll see, if I disappear you'll know what happened! :)
Ann