Magical Holiday Reading with Canterbury Classics and Thunder Bay Press!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

So, are you ready for the holidays?

I mean, we've got about 6/7 days until the big event and...yeah, it's a bit hectic in my neck of the woods, so I'm assuming I'm not the only one.  (Right?)  Well, whether we're ready or not, it's coming, and with that in mind, if you're still wondering what to get the bookish people in your life, I may just have the thing for you.  That's right, today we're adding a dose of MAGIC to your holiday lists with TWO special titles set to enchant, delight, and, in my case, challenge the crafty side of you.  Both came to my attention thanks to the fabulous Casey over at Media Masters Publicity (THANK YOU!) and now I shall share their wonder with you!  First up...a gift for the Tolkien fan in your life...

What's that I see nestled beneath the tree?  (Okay, so there's no tree in the picture, but you're a reader; use your imagination!) Why it's a...

...GORGEOUS copy of An Encyclopedia of Tolkien:  The History of Mythology That Inspired Tolkien's World by David Day (ISBN:  978-1645170099), in stores now via Canterbury Classics! 

This leather bound edition with gold edging on the pages and a ribbon bookmarker will not only make the hearts of Tolkienites beat a little faster for the wealth of knowledge it holds between it's pages, but the magnificent visual it provides when displayed on their shelf or table.  *stares at it dreamily*  _ahem_  Anywho, back the what we were discussing...

With every turn of the page, you dive deeper and deeper into the worlds Tolkien created, and while some will want to read it cover to cover, you also have the convenience of simply turning to the character or place you want to know more about alphabetically.  BONUS FACT:  Alongside most passages (or immediately following on the next full page spread), there are FULLY DETAILED black and white illustrations bringing the subject to (often times SCARY!) life right there on the page.  I included two candid shots above, pardon my less-than-fabulous camera phone's abilities, just so you could get an idea of what you're in store for.  Do you see the full on MAGIC the artist created?  So a double win here...it not only adds beauty to your collection but it also adds even more depth to the Tolkien world! 

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Now, on to the next MAGICAL HOLIDAY READING item on our list, and this time,  we're casting our gaze skyward as we look for a certain snowy white owl bringing news from the Wizarding World of a certain Mr. H. Potter, thanks to a new licensing partnership between Thunder Bay Press and Warner Bros...

BEHOLD!

It's the  Harry Potter Crochet by Lucy Collin !

(9781684128877)

It's a gift perfect for the burgeoning wizard in your life, or the able fingered crafter who loves a challenge!  Right out of the box...

...it has everything you need to crochet your very own Harry Potter doll, including the colored yarn, a MAGIC WAND crochet hook, thread for the stitches, eyes (the better to see you with...sorry, couldn't resist!), and stuffing to give them a little more body.  

Seriously, it's a full color book with stitch guides to learn the lingo, and enough crafty designs to make your own crochet Hogwarts crew complete with robes, brooms, and more!  I know, I know...I was SUPER STOKED too. So, with my choices being Harry or Dobby, I set out to make the latter and, well...

...okay, so you see that little black sock-like crochet thingy attached to my crochet wand (hook)?  Yeah...that's the only bit that managed to survive my critical eye; the rest I reversed my stitches because yeah, let's just say I'm not apparently as talented at crocheting as I was once upon a time.  *ahem*  Still, the magic was felt, the ideas were mind blowing, and I'm sure the results (given time, patience, and/or more talent than mine) would be astounding!

So there you have it, a few ideas on how to add a little more MAGIC to your holiday reading (and crafting!) this season and a few more ways to share that joy with the ones you love!

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Special thanks to Casey at Media Masters Publicity for the chance to bring these items to the top of your must have lists this holiday season and to the publishers for the copies for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on either title, feel free to click though the links provided above, and be on the lookout for them this shopping season when out and about!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Graphic Novel Fan? Check Out the DARK TALES series from Canterbury Classics!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

My self-imposed BLOGAPALOOZA continues with POST #2...which is actually more like a FOUR IN ONE!  Well sometimes things are best presented together for the overall effect and that certainly fits the situation here.

Today, we're diving into a new series from Canterbury Classics that's taking tales of old, and giving them a modernization in both the story and the delivery.  What's that?  You don't do fairy tale redos?  Well, I'm going to  recommend you hold judgment until the end because I was pretty surprised myself with a few of them.  At first glance, there's no doubt you'll recognize the titles, I mean who wouldn't...they are classic stories...but that second glance will reveal the first of the "changes"...the delivery or format.  That's right, they are GRAPHIC NOVELS and while that's not completely novel, the artwork certainly is, and though I'm not one generally drawn to this particular genre, I did find some of it rather appealing.  Now, for that second surprise...

A third glance at these titles, albeit only noticeable if you actually open them so consider me your virtual page turner there, reveals the story changes themselves.  Now, don't get your pants in a bind...they didn't take liberties per se, though those they do are openly acknowledged and begged pardon for, but they may not completely be the tales you're familiar with.  How so?  Well,the opening to each (which was totally a BONUS!) reveals the history of the original story and how things have been changed or represented differently from the first publication.  For example, did YOU know Belle apparently had SIBLINGS?  Or that the Beast's curse was a tad different than simple vanity?  Or how about that Maurice was actually WELCOME to the castle and created his own mess with a warned against blunder?  Yeah...now you see what I'm getting at.  The books take us through the story as it changed throughout history, and then allow us to indulge in this modernization with full color illustrations depicting the journeys along the way.

Though I did indulge in all four tales, I admit...I had favorites...

Beauty and the Beast  (978-1-68412-099-4) was certainly one of them.  Though once again, I was surprised by the differences to the story as I remember it, this version was quite the read!  I loved Belle's fierceness and determination, though she still retained her bookish nature and loving heart.  I also enjoyed the curious nature of the castle in which they live (which was not simply filled with enchanted talking servants!) and the horrible evil that lived side by side in the shadows.  ~shudders~  It was definitely different than the Disney versions many of us know, but equally memorable!

The Snow Queen  (978-1-68412-102-1) was next up on the favorite list.  Though this was a tale I was only vaguely familiar with in its entirety, I was able to see so many other stories that were influenced by this original as I read.  Gerda was one special girl and Kay was lucky to have her on his side because there are not many that would go through so much with so little promise of a happy end.  Also, can I just say I really liked the reindeer?  He was a bright spot for me despite the terrible circumstances in which he meets Gerda, and believe me with the evil start to the story along with the Queen herself, you REALLY needed a bright spot!

The Hound of the Baskervilles ( 978-1-68412-100-7) would be third on the list....despite the fact that I was most familiar with this one (I even had a kiddie book version of it as a kid!).  It might have been the familiarity that had it sink to third, but I think it was also the illustrations.  While well penned and certainly depicting the scenes as they came, they just didn't sit as well with me.  Cie la vie, the story IS just as amazing as it's always been though, so certainly no love lost there, and it makes a great way to introduce another generation to the story they may be reluctant to divulge in classic lit.

The Call of Cthulhu (978-1-68412-101-4) unfortunately...didn't exactly make my list.  I know, I know...fans of the author's work will probably want my head for this, but keep in mind, though I know OF his works, I've never READ his works, so my opinion on this story is purely from this version.  Now, I had a coworker see I was reading it, got a little curious, and picked it up for a glance.  According to them (they ARE a fan of the author's work), while it captured the basics of the story, and the artwork was interesting, it didn't really do the work justice on the whole.  Hmm...might be a case of the book just simply doesn't translate well into this particular format...it happens, but in any case, it would still certainly serve the purpose of getting a reluctant reader interested in discovering MORE.  As for this reader, maybe one day...just not today.

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Special thanks to Casey at Media Masters Publicity for the chance to read and share these new works with you as well as the copies for review.  (THANKS!) For more information on these titles, the series, or Canterbury Classics other editions, feel free to click through the links provided above.  The Dark Tales series is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!