Author Spotlight | Terry Pratchett

Thanks to my friend, I have been introduced to the imaginative and creatively worded novels of Terry Pratchett. I've started my journey of his Discworld Collection with The Truth. It is the kind of book that throws puns and politics to you all at the same time. There is something for everyone—vampires, werewolves, zombies, people, dwarfs and imps. Oh, did I mention that there is also magic? If you like a good fantasy novel, give Terry Pratchett's extensive library of options a try. You can read his Discworld collection or something more individual—it's all up to you. For more about Terry Pratchett, head over to his site. If you like organization and online orders, check out Barnes & Noble (yes, I shamelessly promote my preferred bookstore of choice).

Photo via extra quick internet search

Author Spotlight | Jedediah Berry

I believe I've mentioned before that I am guilty of judging books by their cover. You can say whatever mean things you'd like, but an attractive cover is just as important as the words. Maybe I am biased because I am a graphic designer. However, when I was scanning shelves, The Manual of Detection grabbed my attention. It is the debut mystery novel of Jedediah Berry. His writing is so well-executed, that I often felt that the characters had individual voices and that a narrator took me through the paragraphs. I have not read any of his short stories, but I hope to enjoy those now that I've finished his novel. It is a very entertaining and exciting work with several twists and turns. I recommend reading a few pages to see if it is worth a trip to the bookstore or library.

Photo by Lucy Hamblin; Book grab from Jedediah Berry's blog

Newfoundjoye honors the man of rhyme

Today, I hope you take out time,
To celebrate the man of rhyme,
Whose books I read as a child,
With mouth agape, eyes round and wild.

Of course, I speak of this one man—
Dr. Seuss—of whom I'm a fan.
If you have never tried to read
A book of his, how sad indeed.

Maybe during your break for lunch,
You can try this little Hunch
To find the tale that's right for you.
Now I must work, reader, toodle-loo.

Dr. Seuss Books - get personalized recommendations at Hunch.com

Book and Film Recommendation | Watership Down

After getting all of my junk from storage (I hate to admit it, but I have a lot of junk), I realized that I do not own the Watership Down movie although I have managed to find the book. Watership Down was written by British author, Richard Adams and it started off as a story he told his daughters on long car rides. I don't know how he thought of this idea, but it's quite interesting. You'll never look at rabbits the same again, trust me. I suggest that you add this to your Netflix, Blockbuster, library list or whatever rental service you use. And also, I would not recommend this for really young kids.

Author Spotlight | D. M. Cornish

The South Australian author and illustrator D. M. Cornish deserves a bit of recognition. Similar to J. R. R. Tolkien, he creates his own world complete with language and culture. Although his books are marketed towards younger readers, you will find that his Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy is a well-written, expertly crafted read for almost any age. While you must wait until next year for the debut of the third book (Factotum), you can check your local bookstore for Foundling and Lamplighter (that is the proper order in which you should read the books). Below, you will see an advertisement for Foundling. For more information about Cornish and his works, refer to his blog.

Author Spotlight | Dan Brown

Today, Dan Brown released his latest book, The Lost Symbol. Although I have not read his works myself, he is an award-winning author whose books have spurned films (The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons). Several friends and family members love his books and they seem to have captured a diverse audience. If you like puzzles, mystery, intrigue and religious undertones, perhaps it would be in your best interests to visit your local library or bookstore so you too can discover the acclaim behind the author.

Image from NY Daily News

Author Spotlight | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In honor of the esteemed doctor and author, I have decided to give Sir Arthur Conan Doyle a bit of spotlight this morning at newfoundJoye. He is known best for his invention of Sherlock Holmes and his famed creation will soon be on the big screen. So, whether you decide to read a couple of Holmes mysteries or delve into a couple of Professor Challenger stories, take a moment and read a few of Conan Doyle's works. For a brief history of his life and a list of his works, visit Wikipedia.