April 2012 "Wrap-Up"

It is extremely rare for me to stop reading a book, once I've started it, however I could not even get past the prologue of 'John Dies at the End' (by David Wong)
This book is being turned into an upcoming movie, being directed by Don Coscarelli (of 'Phantasm' fame) hence my interest in the book. 
I may go back to it, if I enjoy the movie...


Since I started the month off, with a funky book that I couldn't get into, I decided to fall back on a guaranteed enjoyable read (generally reserved for Richard Laymon books)
I went back to Edgar Rice Burrough's 'Barsoom' Series [see last month's post]
I read both 'The Gods of Mars' and 'The Warlord of Mars' (#'s 2 & 3 in the series)
These books are fantastic! (though it makes me sad that we may never see them made into films)
I have mentioned these books 1st, as they are in a league of there own - above even my "Book of the Month" this month.


Those books put me back on track for an enjoyable month of reading.
Some days I read casually, others I read voraciously! Hence my list below:


Best Book of the Month:
'Autobiography of a Werewolf Hunter' [aka 'When the Autumn Moon is Bright']
By: Brian P. Easton


If you caught my G+ post a month or so ago, I posted where Permuted Press was having a $1 e-book sale on quite a few of their books... 
(If you are unfamiliar with Permuted Press, they publish "apocalyptic fiction" and are one of my favorite independent book publishers - look them up! I have read close to a dozen of their books, and I can say that I have immensely enjoyed each one)


'Autobiography of a Werewolf Hunter' was one of the books on sale (I bought 6 or 7 that day) and I can honestly say it was one of the best dollars that I've ever spent!
Brian P. Easton is my "new" favorite-author-of-the-year thus far!
This book is so good, I don't even know where to start - it is way more than just a horror/werewolf novel - so much more to it - such epic character development - an excellent read!


Runner-Up(s):
'3-Fingered Jake and the Traveling Side Show' - by: Franklin E. Wales
and
'Carnage Road' - by: Gregory Lamberson


These are two short-stories (though 'Carnage Road' probably falls more into "Novella" territory) by two excellent authors. 
I gave both of these the runner-up spot as both are great zombie stories.


Other books that I read this month:
'The Haunted Vagina' - by: Carlton Mellick III 
I thought this one may have been an April Fool's gimmick, when I came across it at the beginning of this month, however it's legit - part of the "Bizarro" sub-genre (which I had previously been unaware of)
If you read the description of the book, then you will know exactly what you'll be getting into.


'Heart of Scars' [Autobiography of a Werewolf Hunter - Book 2] by: Brian P. Easton
Not as good as the first one (a more dark/depressing read) though still good.


'Deeper' - by: Jeff Long
(this is a sequel to 'The Descent' - while good, 'The Descent' was far superior)


'Tinsel' - by Frazier Lee
This is an extremely short short-story 
(It was free on my Nook and I wanted to read it before purchasing another book of Lee's called 'Lamplighters' - which I'll most likely read next month...)


Best Movie of the Month:
The Raid: Redemption 
(this movie's violence will literally blow you away!)


Runner-Up:
The Cabin in the Woods 
(destined to be a horror classic!)


Other movies that I watched this month:
(in the order that I watched them)


2-Headed Shark Attack (may very well be this year's "Mega-Piranha" - unless of course, "Piranhaconda" lives up to expectations)
Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill!
50/50
Retreat
Scooby Doo and the Music of the Vampire
Ocean Heaven
Dream House
The Darkest Hour
The Descendants
Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred (I hated - with a passion - the 1st Fred movie, but this one isn't too terrible)
Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol
The Divide
Repulsion
Pontypool
Inkubus
Student Bodies
Witchcraft
Octaman
Ninja Vengeance
Sticks of Death
Firelight
Justice League: Doom
Alvin and the Chipmunks 3: Chip-Wrecked
The Sitter
Absentia


My Favorite iPhone App this month:
Gesundheit!


Runner-Up:
Pushy


Two excellent "puzzler" apps that will make your brain think!


That's a wrap for this month - look for next month's wrap-up a little earlier than usual, as I'll be heading back to Florida for our oldest's graduation from High school...


Until then,


Jason