Halloween Season 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle (White Mountain, art by Lewis T. Johnson)

This is the second puzzle I got during last week's visit to TJ Maxx. It had been on my wishlist, and finding it there for $9 cheaper than MSRP was quite a nice score! (The thrift stores here are terrible, so I have to take my wins where I can get 'em!) I've only done one White Mountain puzzle previously, and liked the brand well enough based on that experience. This puzzle did nothing to blemish my opinion of them. There was little dust, the pieces were thick and sturdy, and they fit well together. False fits were certainly possible, but the design generally made it very easy to avoid them. The collage is fun to look at, and putting it together revealed plenty of details I'd missed from viewing the box, as many of the of the best puzzles do. My favorite bits are some of the most obvious ones, however, such as the Aurora Universal Monster models and the vintage greeting card art. I really like the often funky piece shapes, too. I can easily see this puzzle becoming a favorite that I rebuild annually during the lead-up to Halloween! I have a few Xmas-themed White Mountain puzzles in my to-do stack, and based on my experiences with the two I've put together, I'm looking forward to assembling them in a couple of months!

Rant Review: World of Dracula 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle (Laurence King, Art by Adam Simpson)

I started doing puzzles regularly again early last year, and it finally occurred to me to start reviewing them here. I've had my eye on this puzzle for some time now, and this past weekend turned out to finally be its time to emerge from its cardboard coffin and strut its stuff across my puzzle board. I really enjoyed this one! It was definitely on the easy side; the only somewhat challenging bits were the large expanse of gray near the bottom and the sky at the top. The art tells the entire story of Dracula as your gaze roams the puzzle. The included poster explains what is happening in each scene for those who haven't read the novel, or just need a refresher. (Though it did get the date wrong when referring to the Bela Lugosi film.) I really liked the texture of the pieces, the fit was good, and there was no dust! There were some false fits, but it was generally very easy to tell if two pieces didn't actually belong together. My only gripe is that some pieces were damaged slightly when separated, an unfortunate side effect of how snug the fit is. I just had to exercise a bit more care than usual when separating pieces. A very nice puzzling experience overall, and I will definitely be doing more puzzles from this series in the near future!

 

Necropost: Ten Books that Changed My Life

Okay, a bit of backstory: On request, I provided my Facebook friends with a list of ten books that have stuck with me. It was an interesting enough exercise, and a long enough post, that I figured an expanded version would make for a good post here. I copy & pasted the list, expanded on it a bit, and resolved to finish it and publish it here later. Well, as sometimes happens, I wound up forgetting about it. A chat with a friend reminded me of it this evening, so I figured I'd dig it up and finish it. The list needs a bit of updating now, but for the sake of finishing what I started nine short years ago, here are ten books that are not necessarily the best I've ever read, but that have stuck with me for one reason or another, presented in no particular order:

The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard
This is my favorite REH story ever, and is the only Conan novel written by the character's creator, as well as the only novel REH ever wrote. It's baffling that no one has ever looked to this story when adapting the character and his world to film; it has absolutely everything anyone could want from a Conan story, and it's practically a blueprint for adaptation. (I know, they kinda sorta based that Kull movie on it, but eh... that doesn't count!)

The Godfather by Mario Puzo
This is one of the rare instances where the movie is actually better than the book, but the book itself is no slouch. In addition to the story used for the first Godfather film, it has all the backstory that was used in the second one.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This is one of the handful of books that anyone who can read should read, without exception. If you can't read, get someone to read it to you. (Perhaps the same person who is presumably reading this to you?) Is it overrated? Maybe. Regardless, it's still easily one of the most important books ever written.

You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
A slightly odd inclusion, as it's not my favorite of Fleming's works, and not even my favorite James Bond novel. (That honor goes to either From Russia, With Love or On Her Majesty's Secret Service.) As the follow-up to the devastating ending of the previous book, however, it has this weirdly fascinating morose tone as it presents Bond as we've never seen him before, and never would again. He stalks his wife's murderer through a Japan populated with ancient castles and bizarre suicide gardens, a shell of his former self who is driven only by a desperate need for vengeance. Not a bit of this, aside from Japan as a location, is in the film that uses the novel's name. It's a book that I'm always interested to re-read because it's so unlike all the other books in the series.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
This and the next entry are books I read pretty much back-to-back when I was 12 or so. I was familiar with both stories previously only from movies and comic book adaptations, so it was revelatory to read them in their original forms. They remain books I enjoy re-reading, though Frankenstein is definitely a bit of a slog for the first 100 pages.

Dracula by Bram Stoker
This novel's epistolary style definitely took me by surprise when I first read it, but it quickly sucked me in. It's definitely not without its flaws, but is compelling reading, regardless. To paraphrase Clive Barker, it's a first-rate 19th century trashy novel! (I managed to find this image featuring the same cover art on the copy I had back when I first read it. Cool, eh?)

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
This is one I picked up due to my fascination with mountaineering. I have no desire to ever actually climb a mountain, and I think I'm probably far too lazy to do it anyway, but I've always been interested in it, for whatever reason. It's the true story of the massive storm that descended on several groups who were climbing Everest in 1997, told firsthand by a journalist who was among them. It's an absolutely harrowing tale, nearly told minute-by-minute, of disaster and tragedy. It's a gut-wrenching read, but so powerful that I've found myself returning to it a couple times all the same. The IMAX documentary "Everest" was being filmed at the same time, and it makes a good companion piece to this book.

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
This is the first of those stories I ever read, and it remains my go-to when I feel I need a quick Holmes fix. It's a perfect sampler for anyone interested in reading the character's stories.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Easily one of the most satisfying reads I've ever come across. It may not have actually happened, but it's true, all the same.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Well, some Twain had to be included, and this was the first of his books that I ever read. It remains possibly my favorite.

Bonus 2022 addition to the list: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
I'd need to do a bit more tinkering with the overall list to fully update it to account for the past near-decade, but I absolutely had to add this one. I've been hearing about how wonderful the Discworld series is for many years, and I finally read the first book in the series, The Color of Magic, back in (consults Goodreads) 2011. I liked, but didn't love, the book. I enjoyed it enough that I wanted to read more, but as I often do, I kinda forgot about it for an entire decade. Early last year, something made me think of the series, and I resolved to give it another chance to really hook me. I jumped ahead to one of the most acclaimed books in the series, and damn, did it ever get its hooks in me! It's a fantastic book packed with memorable characters, humor that frequently made me laugh out loud, and a level of depth that repeatedly surprised me. Since finishing it, I've gone back to the beginning, and am currently reading the entire series in publication order. I'm making myself wait at least a couple of weeks between books so I don't blow through them all in a couple of months. I'm a Discworld nut now, and Pratchett has rocketed right into the top tier of my favorite authors, and it all started with this book.

I limited myself to one work by each author, and didn't count short stories. (Although I cheated a bit by including the Sherlock Holmes collection.) So, questions? Comments? Derogatory remarks?

Transylvania Tuesday: Bela Lugosi's Dracula through the decades

Previously on this date: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror!

Bela Lugosi is best known for portraying the vampire king in the 1931 film, but his career included many other performances as the character, spanning most of his life. Enjoy this collection of photos spanning Bela's decades as the immortal Count!

Here is a young Bela during his stage days, shortly before starring in Universal's film adaptation:

Here's a collection of photos from the 1931 classic:

MGM's Return of the Vampire wasn't technically a sequel to Dracula, but Bela's character is the Count in every way that matters:

Bela's Dracula got one last hurrah in 1948's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein:

Lastly, here are photos from some of Bela's public appearances in full Dracula regalia in the 1950s, including one with Vampira!

Transylvania Tuesday: Happy Birthday to Bela Lugosi!

Previously on this date: Werewolf of London and The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi!

In honor of the great Bela Lugosi's birthday, enjoy a bunch of photos from his life and career! You can check out all my posts about Bela right here. Enjoy!

Here's a shot of Bela as Jesus, from his stage days. Given his fame as Dracula, and the obsession many christian religions have with imbibing blood, it's a natural fit!

Here he is at the tender age of 18!

On the set of Glen or Glenda? with alleged movie director Ed Wood.

Transylvania Tuesday: Bram Stoker's Dracula

Previously on this date: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man and The Monster Squad!

Few horror films are as divisive as Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 release Bram Stoker's Dracula. Personally, I consider it an interesting failure. There are some issues with the script, some baffling casting-- you know who I'm talking about-- and several strange creative decisions. At the same time, it's visually stunning, with some very nice makeup effects and costumes, and it boasts one of my favorite scores from any movie. It's also the only film adaptations (as far as I'm aware) of Stoker's story that portrays the Count as a creepy, elderly man who becomes young after he consumes blood, as in the novel. Today, our focus is on Gary Oldman's portrayal of the titular Count. Whatever gripes you may have with this movie, it cannot be denied that Oldman is amazing throughout.

Throwback Thursday: Son of Dracula

Previously on this date: Frankenstein (1931) and Corpse Bride & Hanged Man decorations

When assigning themes to each day of the week, I had a couple of problems with Thursday. Frankly, there just aren't many alliterative words that would make suitable themes. Sure, there are a couple of possibilities, but none were ideal. finally, I decided to just go with the standard Thursday theme used across all social media: Throwback Thursday. That presented its own set of challenges, namely, since I'm doing posts based on classic horror here, every post is a throwback! However, the solution quickly became apparent: Since I'm only doing posts on the weekdays this month, there are quite a few worthy articles from the first couple of years of the blog that are not being linked in the "previously on this date" bit at the beginning of each post. So, on Thursdays this month, I'll choose one of those to re-present for your enjoyment!

Today's throwback is my feature on 1943's Son of Dracula, which was originally posted on November 17, 2010. Despite the miscasting of Lon Chaney Jr. as the vampire king, it's an enjoyable romp in the style of Universal's horror films of the 1940s. It has several things working against it, but the phrase "greater than the sum of its parts" most certainly applies. go check the article out at the link above, and I'll see you back here tomorrow!

Transylvania Tuesday: Christopher Lee's Dracula

Previously on this date: Garfield's Halloween Adventure and The Wolf Man!

As we've discussed before on these digital pages, there's no doubt that Bela Lugosi is the definitive Dracula. That said, the great Christopher Lee made the role his own in a series of performances spanning three decades. Indulge in some decadent vampire action today with these shots of Lee in action as the vampire king!

31 Days of Halloween Kickoff!

It's back! Longtime TMR readers will surely recall that this blog began five years ago with me doing a Halloween and/or horror-related post every day of October. I was unable to do that the past couple of years, as work and real-life responsibilities got in the way, and I missed it quite a bit. Unfortunately, those things that eat up my time haven't gone away, but I decided to make a concerted effort to return to daily posting this year. To help things work with my hectic schedule, I'll stick to posting on weekdays(aside from the 31st, which is on a Saturday), which will technically make this 23 days of Halloween, but we'll stick with the 31 Days tag on all the posts for simplicity's sake. You'll only get some cool photos or something along those lines more often than not. I'll make sure it's something worth stopping by for though, so no worries there! I'll also include links to past entries that were posted on the same day in years past. Speaking of, on this day one year ago, we similarly kicked off the month of October, four years ago I had a feature on the Ray Bradbury classic From the Dust Returned, and five years ago, the inaugural post featured the 1933 classic The Invisible Man! I'll mostly stick to a theme for each day of the week; for instance, tomorrow will be Frankenstein Friday! (I do love my alliteration, after all.)

For today, enjoy this assortment of photos from classic horror movies to ease you into that Halloween mood! Here's an awesome shot of Bela Lugosi in full Dracula regalia, from his stage days!

Here are a couple of shots of makeup wizard Jack Pierce working on Boris Karloff.

Peter Lorre looks appropriately macabre with a bald head in 1935's Mad Love.

Glenn Strange's Frankenstein Monster is pretty freaked out by his Batman comic!

Lon Chaney is captivating as always as the tragic clown in 1924's He Who Gets Slapped.

That's it for today. Hope to see you again tomorrow, and each day thereafter! 

Halloween month kickoff!

To kick off October, I thought I'd share a couple of photos of some of the new Halloween decorations I've picked up in the last couple of months. (Just to clarify, I won't have time to do a Halloween-related post every day of the month like I used to, but you can absolutely expect plenty of Halloween and horror-related content, as ever.)

First up, courtesy of Dollar Tree, we have the Grotesque Garden Gazebo!

They're not as detailed or as well-painted as the Halloween miniature's you'll see at other places, but the price was right!

When I visited the Spirit Store a couple of days after they opened back up, I found this fella priced at $4.97! No idea why he was the only one marked down while the others were all still full price, but I didn't care. I snatched him up in a blur.

Pretty awesome, eh? Probably my favorite of all the fucked-up horror babies they had up there. (And if the Spirit Halloween store wants to use that line as an endorsement, they're welcome to do so!)

The new series of Lego minifigures has also been showing up the last couple of weeks, ahead of the official release date. I stopped by Walgreen's last week and happened to find the one I wanted most, the one they call Spooky Girl, who is totally not Wednesday Addams. She went right into the centerpiece Haunted House display, of course!

We'll close things out with  few pics of things I saw in stores that I was too cheap-- er, that is, too budget-conscious to buy.
Remember when I mentioned how you can find better Halloween miniatures than my Dollar Tree discoveries? Michael's always has plenty, and this was the most impressive.

This food truck was pretty awesome, too.

Note the prices, however. That lighthouse is pretty badass, but it's not $100 badass.
Back at the Spirit store, we have this apparently bewildered ghost lady who is cursed with man hands.

Then there is this pleasant scene. I think I can see why your toilet's clogged, lady.

That's it for today. Lately, I'm knee-deep in Forza Horizon 2 when I'm not ogling Halloween stuff and working on my next book, so give me a holler if you happen to see me on the open road!