Monday, October 12, 2009

Book Review: FOOL by Christopher Moore




Christopher Moore is a funny, funny man. He is also irreverent, bawdy, and borderline sacrilegious. If that sounds like someone you might like to have a beer with, then come on in --- the water's fine :)

FOOL (published Spring 2009) is my favorite in a line of utterly fantastic books. Mr. Moore writes stand-alone novels (not every book needs to be a series, you know), but they all fit together like a matched set of poetry. Magnetic poetry. You know, the kind that you stick on the fridge and then your friends rearrange the words into a crude or completely obscure speck of wisdom?

FOOL tells the the story of King Lear, the most tragic of Shakepeare's heroes. Lear remains the crazy old man we loathe and love and his daughters are...well...not very ladylike. But somehow, Mr. Moore has turned the tale into a hysterically funny comedy. It takes the point-of-view of Pocket, his court jester (you know, the fool), and it's incredible what a simple change of perspective can do to a story.

If you are a fan of David Sedaris, Jen Lancaster, and your sense of humor runs toward sarcasm and silly puns, give FOOL a chance.  And then if you love it, try LAMB, A DIRTY JOB, BLOODSUCKING FIENDS. 

Don't take my word for it, Mr. Moore has posted the first chapter on his Web site. Here's the warning he starts the book with. Just click on the title of this posting and you'll go straight to the rest of Chapter 1.

WARNING: 

 This is a bawdy tale. Herein you will find gratuitous shagging, murder, spanking, maiming, treason, and heretofore unexplored heights of vulgarity and profanity, as well as non-traditional grammar, spit infinitives, and the odd wank. If that sort of thing bothers you, then gentle reader pass by, for we only endeavor to entertain, not to offend. That said, if that’s the sort of thing you think you might enjoy, then you have happened onto the perfect story! (Excerpt from FOOL by Christopher Moore)


Enjoy!
Sarah

We Miss You!


 WOOF! 

The summer rush ended just as suddenly as it started. It's always a bit weird to be greeting tons of people, sniffing new dog-friends, and avoiding 90 degree heat one day, and then the next day be hanging out outside in a cool 75 degree breeze with no one to talk to!

The beach can be weird.

Anyway, Sarah and I are going to be updating this blog at least five days a week this winter. We'll give book reviews, author updates, and crafty winter fun suggestions.

We'll announce all the updates on Twitter (FinnegantheNewf), so be sure to follow us and keep up on all the news from the Outer Banks.

Talk to you soon!

Slobbery Kisses,

Finn

Thursday, May 14, 2009

BOOK CLUB BOOK SELECTION!


ARROOOOOOO!

Sarah and I have FINALLY chosen our first book club selection: THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman. This fabulous adventure was a Newbery Honor Book in 2008 and deserves every inch of that little gold circle.


Here's how the Kids' Book Club will work:

1) When you arrive in Corolla at the start of your vacation, pick up a copy of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK.

2) Read it with your child during the week (it's a quick one, don't worry).

3) Come to the store at 3 pm on Friday for fun, games, crafts, and conversation-- all themed around Bod and his friends!


It'll be a blast with lots of laughs!


Call or drop by the store to talk to Sarah about any questions you have and to pick up your copy of the book (book club readers will receive a special discount!)


Excited slobbers,

Finn

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Two NEW Sci-Fi Gems

I LOVE it when the store reopens and I have an excuse to read all kinds of new stuff! But I love it even more when everything I pick up seems to be incredible -- 2009 is shaping up to be a great year for new books!


"PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES"
(by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.


What's this about? Just what it sounds like. Mr. Grahame-Smith has reworked the classic "Pride and Prejudice" into classic zombie mayhem. Pemberly is under attack by zombies and Mr. Bennett is trying to keep his family alive. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan and still win Mr. Darcy?


This book is a RIOT. It's beautifully written and masterfully blends a comedy of manners with zombie gore. A MUST READ for those with a twisted sense of fun :)




"DAEMON"
(by Daniel Suarez)

I've just started this (courtesy of The Sword and Laser podcast - www.swordandlaser.com) and it's quite a tech-manifesto.


Here's the Amazon review: "Originally self-published, Suarez's riveting debut would be a perfect gift for a favorite computer geek or anyone who appreciates thrills, chills and cyber suspense. Gaming genius Matthew Sobol, the 34-year-old head of CyberStorm Entertainment, has just died of brain cancer, but death doesn't stop him from initiating an all-out Internet war against humanity. Sobol's weapon is a daemon, a kind of computer process that not only has taken over many of the world's computer systems but also enlists the help of superintelligent human henchmen willing to carry out his diabolical plan."


Happy Spring!

Sarah

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

"The Hunger Games"


Check it out! Gregor the Overlander is one of my favorites, but author Suzanne Collins has started another amazing series.

The Hunger Games
(sequel due out this summer) is a fantastic thrill ride that is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies and Battle Royale, but with a science-fiction twist or two. Ideal for readers aged 12+, this book has great characters and a tense atmosphere.


Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

$1 CDs


Celebrate spring with music!

All used CDs are $1.00...yup a buck. We are bringing new USED CDs in this summer and need to make room, so come in and check out our inventory!


Slobbers,

Finn

Sunday, March 29, 2009

The Books are Back In Town


Awoooooooo! Woof! Woof!

Sarah and I are finally back in Corolla every day...well except Sundays. Hooray!!!

After a winter full of odd new things life is getting back to normal. I've sniffed out the whole store and eveything looks good. Books are coming in, the craft bins are full, and Sarah's neck-deep in new CDs.

We're having a big sale now, so head on over and check us out!

25% OFF: hardcovers, dog items, stuffed toys, new CDs, new DVDs, and beach bags

ALL USED CDs are $1.00

PAPERBACKs are 10% off


Sarah's going to be posting some great new books she's found over the winter so check back in a few days.

Smell ya later!
Finn

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Reopening in March 2009!



WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

I've been relaxing this winter, trying to teach little Abby how to give me cookies. She doesn't quite get that yet, but she NEVER pulls my ears. What a good baby!


Lately I've been getting a little bored, so I can't wait for Sarah to reopen the store in March! We're also putting together all new activities for this summer, so keep an eye out for more info coming soon!


Love and slobbers,

Finn


Saturday, November 08, 2008

Calling Armchair Chefs!

Hello!

Every year the holidays unbury my deep-seated desire to cook (and bake!) like a professional chef...it's a hopeless quest, but I do it every year. Lucky for Finnegan, this means he gets to chow down on a lot of failed attempts at various strange dishes :)

But if you'd rather take the smart path and just READ about amazing chefs...and then sensibly go out to eat...try these! :)


Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany (Bill Buford)
That title pretty much says it all...but here's the longer synopsis:

"Heat
is a remarkable work on a number of fronts--and for a number of reasons. First, watching the author, an untrained, inexperienced and middle-aged desk jockey slowly transform into not just a useful line cook--but an extraordinarily knowledgeable one is pure pleasure
. That he chooses to do so primarily in the notoriously difficult, cramped kitchens of New York's three star Babbo (Mario Batale's restaurant) provides further sado-masochistic fun. Buford not only accurately and hilariously describes the painfully acquired techniques of the professional cook (and his own humiliations), but chronicles as well the mental changes--the "kitchen awareness" and peculiar world view necessary to the kitchen dweller. By end of book, he's even talking like a line cook."

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (Anthony Bourdain)
"
Most diners believe that their sublime sliver of seared foie gras, topped with an ethereal buckwheat blini and a drizzle of piquant huckleberry sauce, was created by a culinary artist of the highest order, a sensitive, highly refined executive chef. The truth is more brutal. More likely, writes Anthony Bourdain in Kitchen Confidential, that elegant three-star concoction is the collaborative effort of a team of "wacked-out moral degenerates, dope fiends, refugees, a thuggish assortment of drunks, sneak thieves, sluts, and psychopaths," in all likelihood pierced or tattooed and incapable of uttering a sentence without an expletive or a foreign phrase."

(Synopsis and covers courtesy of Amazon.com)

Great New Series Books!

Looking for a new series to get you (or your teen) through the cold winter months? I sure have been! So give these FANTASTIC titles a try...

Take a look and use the "Comments" field to let Sarah and I know what you think!

THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP (Rick Yancy)
For fans of the Stormbreaker series and Ranger's Appprentice!

"Astonishingly tall 15-year-old Alfred is plunged into a world of adventure, assassination, and Arthurian legend when he agrees to help his uncle filch an ancient sword from the office of a CEO who just happens to be a descendent of the Knights of the Round Table. Of course the sword turns out to be none other than Excalibur, and the guy Alfred swiped it for is Mogart, a knight-gone-bad who hopes to use its magical powers to take over the world..."


H.I.V.E. (HIGHER INSTITUTE OF VILLAINOUS EDUCATION) (Mark Walden)
For fans of Harry Potter and The Lightening Thief!

"H.I.V.E. is operated on a volcanic island in a distant ocean by G.L.O.V.E., a shadowy organization of worldwide wickedness. And, as 13-year-old master of mischief Otto Malpense soon discovers, here the slickest of young tricksters, thieves, and hackers have been brought against their will to be trained as the next generation of supervillains..."


THE WARRIOR HEIR (Cinda Williams Chima)
For fans of the Pendragon series and Ranger's Apprentice books

"An apparently ordinary 16-year-old boy turns out to have magical powers that make him a target of a covert society of wizards, enchanters, and warriors called the Weir. Jack's small-town world in Ohio begins to unravel when he starts to unleash unintentional bursts of wizardry. When he recovers a powerful sword from an ancestor's grave, he begins to realize how different he really is."


HAPPY READING!

-Finn

(Images and quotes courtesy of Amazon.com)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Breaking Dawn Party!



Here are just a few photos from our Breaking Dawn Midnight Release Party!

We had a great time with the ta
rot readings, astrology charts, and masquerade masks. Thanks for coming!!

Love,

Finn, Sarah, Julia, and Corduroy

Fall at the Bookstore


Hi everyone!

It's been an unusual fall and the store has been open pretty rarely. I'm really bummed about that, but Sarah can't take Abigail to Corolla regularly yet. I keep telling her that I can run everything on my own, but she says to be patient. Oh well :)

I wanted to let you know that although our hours are sporadic right now, we will be open six days a week for the two weeks surrounding Thanksgiving.

So please drop by if you're in the neighborhood. I can't wait to see you all!

Love,
Finn

Monday, September 01, 2008

Thanks, Corduroy!


Woof!

What a crazy summer. Sarah just got rounder and rounder as the summer rolled on, so I had to watch her very carefully and make her rest more. We couldn't have done it without Corduroy and Julia -- thanks guys!!


Love and slobbers,

Finn

Friday, August 15, 2008

The Stork Has Arrived!



Guess what!
Sarah and Ken disappeared for a few days in mid-August and then brought home a new playmate for me! Hooray!


Her name is Abigail Juliette and the stork dropped her off on August 15. She's just 6 pounds 5 ounces, so it'll be a little while before she can romp with me.


Harumph...I'll just have to lay here and wait...patiently :)


Saturday, July 26, 2008

Breaking Dawn Midnight Party!

Why wait for news about Bella, Jacob, and Edward all alone?
Join all the other curious souls for...
  • Tarot Readings
  • Masquerade Masks
  • Astrology Star Charts
Join us to celebrate the release of the fourth book in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series on Friday, August 1!

When: Fri., 8/1 from 10 pm 'til midnight
Where: Beach Bag Books & Music
Corolla Light Town Center, Hwy 12,
MP 11.5, Corolla, NC

But no matter when you will be picking up your copy, call ahead to reserve one at (252) 453-2900.


See you soon!
Sarah and Finn

Friday, May 09, 2008

2008 Summer Activities


Enjoy these great activities with Sarah and me every week, beginning MAY 26, 2008!

(Please note, all our new Corolla Kennel Club Activities will be taught by trainer Julia Pierce and her canine coach, Corduroy!)


Kids' Dog Trick Class
Mon., 5:30 p.m.
Learn how to teach your dog new tricks! Come with your dog or learn with Corduroy and Finnegan!

Dog Beach Safety Class
Mon., 7:30 p.m.
Learn how to make sure that your best friend has the time of his or her life at the beach!

Hogwarts Activity Hour
Tues., 4 p.m. ($8 materials fee)
Create something magical from the world of Harry Potter. Perfect for fans of all ages.

Animal Masks Activity Hour
Wed., 4 p.m. ($5 materials fee)
Make soft foam animal masks! Perfect for kids 2–5.

Decorate Dog Cookies
Wed., 5:30 p.m.
Decorate homemade, all-natural dog biscuits for your furry pals! Perfect for animal lovers of all ages.

Beach Explorer Activity Hour

Thurs., 4 p.m. ($8 materials fee)
Make a kaleidoscope, loot bag, and compass. Perfect for kids 5+.

Gimp Jewelry-Making
Fri., 4 p.m. ($8 materials fee)
Make braided bracelets. Perfect for kids 7+.

Beach Dog Photos
By Appointment-- call 252-384-3649
Have a photo taken of you and your best pal on the beach!

Meet the Trainer
Various times.
Drop by the store to meet Julia and her canine companion, Corduroy! They'll be providing tips for how to help your dog adjust to vacation and beach-living. Remember, dogs can get stressed in an unfamiliar house, full of unfamiliar people :) (Private training sessions and vacation help are always available!)

Book Release Parties (FREE!)
Are you excited about all the new books coming out this summer? Finnegan is too! We will be holding midnight release parties for many books for kids, teens, and adults all summer long. Give us a call or check our Website for details about your favorite and to reserve a copy!

Additional activities may be added during the summer, so check this Website for updates or call us at (252) 453-2900.

Finnegan the Businessman (dog)!


Hi everyone!

After a long winter, we're finally back with all kinds of awesome new stuff!! And this year, Sarah let me pick out a bunch of new things for the store---JUST FOR DOGS!!

I'm calling my new store "The Corolla Kennel Club" and it's the perfect place for Beach Dogs or the parents of wanna-be-beach-dogs to find...

• Homemade Dog Treats
• Flavored Ices (great for hot days!)
• Beach Toys
• Grooming Stuff (even waterless shampoo so you smell good for the ride home without a bath!)
• Balls and other floating fun
• Corolla Kennel Club gifts (for dogs and people)
• Handmade Treat Jars and Food Bowls


And much more!

So stop by, say hi, and don't forget to grab a cookie!

Hugs and Smooches,
Finnegan

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Coming Soon ---


Drop by this summer to hang out with me at the Corolla Kennel Club - Corolla's Beach Dog Boutique!

Love,
Finn

Friday, November 16, 2007

Holiday Sale!


HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!

The season of good cheer and GREAT food is finally back! Mmmmmmm....I love the crinkley sound of tin foil...that means that something good for me is coming out of the fridge. :)


Sarah wanted me to let you all know a few things about the store this week. So here it is:
Thanksgiving Sale:
Up to 40% off all hardcover books
Up to 50% off all CDs (new and used)
10% off all new DVDs

Thanksgiving Hours:
Sun-Tues., 10-5
Wed, 10-2
Thurs, Closed
Fri-Sun., 10-5

Drop by this week to say hi and pick up a few cool gifts!!

Love,
Finn

Great Gift Ideas!

Hi again,

Sarah and I have been having fun pulling out some books that would make really fun gifts for everyone in the family this holiday seas
on! Here's a short recap and just ask us if you're looking for more ideas!
  • Fiction: The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters (Gordon Dahlquist)
  • Science: Einstein (Walter Isaacson)
  • Science: This is Your Brain on Music
  • Fantasy: The Tawny Man Trilogy (Robin Hobb)
  • Mystery: Murder at Whalehead (Joe Ellis)
  • Memoir: Three Cups of Tea (G. Mortenson)
  • Action/Adventure: Battle Royale (K. Takami)
  • Paranormal Romance: The Dark Brotherhood Series (JR Ward)
  • Contemporary Romance: Tall, Dark, & Dead (Tate Halloway)
  • Teens: Twilight Series (Stephenie Meyer)
  • Teens: Cirque due Freak Series (Daren Shan)
  • Chapter Books: Holiday Inn (James Howe)
  • Chapter Books: The Sister's Grimm Series (Michael Buckley)
Read these BEFORE you see the movie! :)
(Yes, the books are ALWAYS better...)

  • Alex Rider Series (Anthony Horowitz "Stormbreaker")
  • Inkheart Series (Cornelia Funke "Inkheart")
  • **The Dark is Rising Series (Susan Cooper "The Seeker")
  • The Chronicles of Narnia Series (CS Lewis "Prince Caspian")
  • Inheritance Series (Christopher Paolini "Eragon")
  • His Dark Materials Series (Phillip Pullman "The Golden Compass")
  • The Black Cauldron Series (Lloyd Alexander "The Black Cauldron")

Love and slobbers,
Finn