Author: joetbp

Things Wither When The Nightmare Factory Book Club Confronts Domestic Horror….

As dusk settles in, the streetlights blink on one by one, and the neighborhood children are sent scattering to illusions of wholesome meals, sweet tea, and the Late Show before bed. Little do they know that as their block buzzed in the suburban afternoon and they explored the culverts and no-man's-lands that stitched their block … Continue reading Things Wither When The Nightmare Factory Book Club Confronts Domestic Horror…. →

The Authors & Auteurs Book Club Survived Cosmopolis and Looks Forward To Paprika

Cosmopolis was widely dismissed upon publication in April of 2003. It was an "intellectual turkey shoot," (The New York Times) a lesser DeLillo, an ornate, remote curiosity... Oh, what a difference five years and a financial collapse wrought. Eric Packer's farfetched machinations in the world of cyber capital now had some visible real world counterparts … Continue reading The Authors & Auteurs Book Club Survived Cosmopolis and Looks Forward To Paprika →

Judy Greer’s I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW ME FROM Has Taught The Stand Up Sit Down Book Club What It Means To Be The Second Banana

There is a reason that Judy Greer looks familiar.  No.  She isn't your dental hygienist.  No. You probably didn't spit slurred game at her downtown last week after a few too many.  No.  She isn't the wacky ghost in your house that moves stuff around and makes the walls bleed when you're not looking.  Judy … Continue reading Judy Greer’s I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW ME FROM Has Taught The Stand Up Sit Down Book Club What It Means To Be The Second Banana →

#2015ComicBookRenaissance: Staff Selections (8.26.15)

Thomas Constantine vol. 1 The Spark and the Flame by Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes, and Renato Guedes John Constantine has been through a lot. From his introduction in 1985 to his 300 issue run from 1988 to 2013, the con man street sorcerer has had plenty of adventures. In 2013 when DC announced the end of … Continue reading #2015ComicBookRenaissance: Staff Selections (8.26.15) →

The Nightmare Factory Book Club Gets Lost In Area X and NOBODY MAKES IT OUT ALIVE!!!!

The Southern Reach Trilogy (also known as Area X) by Jeff VanderMeer is a hypnotic incantation that transmutes subtlety into a literary universe as it builds itself inside your skull over the course of three books. Annihilation introduces us to Area X --  a pristine, alien landscape that has unfolded onto an unsuspecting fishing village for no … Continue reading The Nightmare Factory Book Club Gets Lost In Area X and NOBODY MAKES IT OUT ALIVE!!!! →

Coming Soon!!! The Authors & Auteurs Book Club!!!

COMING ATTRACTION: The Authors & Auteurs Book Club!!! Books adapted into movies invariably cause a diverse reaction from audiences. How many times have we hailed that the book was better? We spend more time with books. Subplots, inner monologues, and an author’s unique use of words intrigue us over the days or weeks we spend … Continue reading Coming Soon!!! The Authors & Auteurs Book Club!!! →

#2015ComicBookRenaissance: Staff Selections (7.29.15)

Flippo Snakepit Gets Old: Daily Diary Comics 2010- 2012 by Ben Snakepit In his most recent collection (with a seventh, Manor Threat, coming soon), our baby boy's all growned up! I've read through all his comics about his daily life starting all the way back in 2001 so I feel like we're friends! Oh...wait.....Anyway, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, … Continue reading #2015ComicBookRenaissance: Staff Selections (7.29.15) →

The Stand Up Sit Down Book Club Has Read GNARR! And Now It Wants To Be Mayor Of Austin!

Someone asked at random to name one fact about Iceland would probably be able to remember that Bjork is from there. A true devotee of international culture may recall that Iceland is also the home of The Sugarcubes – a band that Bjork was in. It may then come as a surprise that this seemingly … Continue reading The Stand Up Sit Down Book Club Has Read GNARR! And Now It Wants To Be Mayor Of Austin! →

The Nightmare Factory Fears The Deadly Eyes of THE RATS!!!!!!!!!

Like an ooze of unknown origin, dribbling at first, then spurting volcanically through your mind, the horror takes you. So gradually you don't even notice, unease becomes dread becomes apoplexy, and, when the dam ruptures, and the bile runs crimson – that's when you know that the nightmare has noticed you. That's when you feel … Continue reading The Nightmare Factory Fears The Deadly Eyes of THE RATS!!!!!!!!! →