Blog
Category: Humour
My favourite books of 2011: Danielle (Publicity)
by Danielle
Animals & Nature + Art & Photography + Food & Drink + Humour + Sports / December 22, 2011
When I was asked to list my top books for this season I was at a loss. Working at Raincoast for all these years the seasons seem to mesh together so I thought to let you in on some books that mirror who I am and what I'm about...
My Last Supper by Melanie Dunea. It's a truly awesome coffee table book filled with not only beautiful photographs of some 50 top chefs but includes their recipes as well. Truly, it's a gem. When I blogged about this book this season I had let readers know what my last supper would be.
"I'd like to eat steak, good steak. Ones we bought from the market. Baked potatoes with all .jpg)
the fixings and a yummy beet salad. And chicken wings from grain fed chicken too (hot of course)." You can see by the pic this is exactly what I love to eat when we're camping in the Okanagan so if I would have to choose this would be my 'last supper' as well.
I was lucky enough to attend quite a few hockey games this past year. We were able to go to the Western Conference 
finals where the Canucks beat ou
t the Sharks. We had a blast. When Portable Press decided to update their Uncle Johns Shoots and Scores, with 70 all new pages I might add, I was quick to take a flip. I'm a bit of a poser when it comes to the game so by reading up I can hang with the boys and show off with som fun hockey facts and stats. 
When the sun is shining and 
I'm in need of getting fresh air what better way to get out and about than riding around town. In my house we love to ride so Cyclepedia made my list. A book for any bike enthusiast.
If you know me, I'm a bit of a cat person. So this is why Meow made it on my list. This book's full of pictures of these adorable creatures with cute ca
ptions. Easy. Oh this is Dash -
Bone-Chilling Books to Put You in the Halloween Spirit
by Siobhan
Art & Photography + Fiction + Humour / October 13, 2011
It's time to put all the warmth and coziness of Thanksgiving behind us, and embrace the cold, dark... Hallowen is just around the corner.
Here are few books to get you into the Halloween spirit ... and awaken the spirits... Mmwhahaha!
Plain Fear: Forsaken
by Leanna Ellis
Sourcebooks
A vampire novel set in an Amish community, Plain Fear: Forsaken is a haunting and heartbreaking story. When passions stir and secrets are revealed, Hannah must choose between light and dark, between the one she has always loved and the new possibility of love. But it's more than a choice of passion; it's a decision that will determine the fate of her soul.
"Forsaken exemplifies the ultimate literary juxtaposition of good and evil, and is made all the more powerful by Ellis's ability to paint a vivid and realistic picture Amish life."
—Linda Castillo, New York Times bestselling author
Dead of Night: A Zombie Novel
by Jonathan Maberry
St. Martin's Press
New York Times bestselling author of Patient Zero, Jonathan Maberry returns with another creepy tale... A prison doctor injects a condemned serial killer with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake while his body rots in the grave. But all drugs have unforeseen side-effects. Before he could be buried, the killer wakes up. Hungry. Infected. Contagious. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang... but a bite.
Read an excerpt from the novel online.
"An intriguingly fresh slant on the zombie genre."
—John A. Russo
The Monster's Corner: Stories Through Inhuman Eyes
Edited by Christopher Golden
St. Martin's Griffin
An all original anthology from some of todays hottest supernatural writers, featuring stories of monster's from the monster's point of view. With contributions by Lauren Groff, Chelsea Cain, Simon R. Green, Sharyn McCrumb, Kelley Armstrong, David Liss, Kevin J. Anderson, Jonathan Maberry, and many others.
Read a Q&A with some of the contributors on ForcesOfGeek.com
Dead Inside: Do Not Enter
Notes from the Zombie Apocalypse
A Lost Zombies Book
Post Secret meets World War Z in this chilling vision of the fallout following a global zombie pandemic. A gradual mutation of a virulent strain of "super flu" gives rise to millions of the undead, who quickly overwhelm treatment facilities and swarm cities around the world, leaving survivors on their own against a legion of the infected. This chilling story is told through the scraps of paper, scrawled signs, and cryptic markers left by survivors as they struggle to stay alive and find those they've lost in a world overrun by zombies...
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor
by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga
Thomas Dunne Books
Also available as an audiobook
Following in the footsteps of the New York Times bestselling graphic novels and the record-breaking new TV show, this debut novel in a trilogy of original Walking Dead books chronicles the back story of the comic book series greatest villain, The Governor.
Listed to a preview of the audio edition online.
"The Walking Dead: The Rise of the Governor is a book that's meant for both fans of the comics and fans of the show… Kirkman's mark is all over the book. It takes great advantage of the literary medium in a way that most tie-in books would not.” —TVOvermind.com
Chasing Ghosts, Texas Style
On the Road with Everyday Paranormal
by Brad Klinge, Barry Klinge and Kathy Passero
Thomas Dunne Books
Part high-adventure tale, part autobiography, this page-turner recounts the eerie experiences that convinced brothers Brad and Barry Klinge, founders of Everyday Paranormal and stars of the TV series Ghost Lab on Discovery Channel, that ghosts really do walk among us Brad and Barry Klinge have been investigating paranormal occurrences for the last twenty years, and in Chasing Ghosts, Texas Style , they divulge some of their most exciting ghost encounters and analyze the science behind their paranormal hunts.
"In this enjoyable read, sure to entertain even skeptics, the Klinge brothers recount how they first became interested in ghosts, what led them to start their company, and why they decided to make scientific experimentation the hallmark of their practice." —Publishers Weekly
Here's a clip of the brothers' typical antics on the show:
And now that your jaw is clenched and your fingernails are firmly embedded in your chair... I'll finish this list with a few books that are slightly less terrifying...
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Ace Your Zombie Exam!
The Official Ph.Z. Study Guide
by David Murphy
Sourcebooks
The #1 way to get your official PhZ diploma!
Humans, Zombies, we're not that different. We're all hungry for a better life or post-life. That's why the living and living dead alike are turning more frequently to education in order to improve their station, pursuing the highly coveted PhZ. No enrollment necessary — you need only this book and that high-performance noggin of yours.
Day of the Dead
by Kitty Williams and Stevie Mack
Gibbs Smith
The Day of the Dead Celebration is the most important holiday of the year in Mexico and parts of the American Southwest, a joyful time when families remember their dead. Day of the Dead provides a colorful look at the iconic folk art and family traditions that play a vital role in the event, which happens across the country from October 31 through November 2.
The Book of Skulls
by Faye Dowling
Laurence King
The Book of Skulls presents a cool visual guide to the skull, charting its rebirth through music and street fashion to become today's ultimate anti-establishment icon. From Black Sabbath to Cypress Hill, skater punk graffiti to Gothic tattoos, from high-couture to Hello Kitty and Dali to Damien Hirst, this book is the ultimate collection of cool and iconic skull motifs. Drawing together artwork from music, fashion, street art and graphic design The Book of Skulls is a celebration of one of today's most iconic cultural symbols.
A Little Friday Inspiration
by Danielle
Humour / September 16, 2011
Feel better?!? I do! Everyone needs a little pick me up sometimes. Happy Friday!
Book excerpt from Every Thing Is Going to Be OK
Selective Learning and Goodbyes
by Brian
Board Books + Fiction + Graphica + Humour + Kids + Parenting + Picture Books + Vancouver / August 09, 2011
Sad news everyone — it's my last day at Raincoast (cue crying and wailing of Raincoast staff here) and I'm still having trouble coming to grips with having to leave all this behind. But mostly I'm having trouble leaving...
- My Star Wars themed desk
- Our warehouse full of books
- And getting to flip through all the awesome ARCs and Samples
Oh, and the people — they were great too.
Seeing as how this is my last day, I think it'll be a good idea to take a moment and reflect on all that I've learned here at Raincoast.
(I've also been watching a lot of late night talk shows)
The 10 Most Important Things I’ve Learned at Raincoast Books
#10 - You can put Zombies in anything
#9 - "Baby Rage” is real. And IS frightening.
#8 - Women really DO want to trade husbands for housekeepers
#7 – Taco in a Bag is delicious
#6 – "Moleskine" isn’t the same as “Vole Skin”
#5- Vegetables are the “New Meat”
#4- Hand puppets and books DO go hand-in-hand
#3- There’s no such thing as “too much Darcy.”
#2- It takes 1 determined intern, 2 weeks and 3 americanos a day to input sales data for 800 titles into an e-catalogue.
#1 Googling The Naked Roommate at work does not produce the best results.
*I had a great time and learned a lot this past year. Thanks for reading about all the quirky things that happen at Raincoast Books through the eyes of a 20-something and I hope you continue to read about all the awesome people here and their love for books.
Cheers,
Brian
What to expect… When you are expecting at Raincoast
by Liz
Fashion & Textiles + Gift & Stationery + Health & Wellness + Humour + Kids + Parenting / April 28, 2011
When you are having a baby, and work in an office, you can expect a number of things:
- Doors will be held
- Food is always being offered
- Co-workers will discuss upcoming business while simultaneously rubbing your belly
But when you are having a baby in an office that deals with the distribution of top publishers from every genre, you can expect the extra gift of 'how to' and 'how not to' manuals of pregnancy and parenting to pile up on your desk (it's like little stork-elves appear in the night and hide baby books around my work area)
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This is what has been delivered so far:
Pregnancy Planner: Essential Advice for Moms-to-Be (Chronicle Books)
- This is a great weekly planner that gives you facts, tips and hints about what is going on every week of your pregnancy. This week's interesting tidbit: My baby's teeth are already growing!
I'd Trade My Husband for a Housekeeper: Loving Your Marriage After the Baby Carriage (Chronicle Books)
- While I'm not ready to trade my husband in yet (thank goodness he cooks AND cleans!) this is an excellent book to keep on the bookshelf for after the babe is born and I need reminding of why I got into this whole mess in the first place.
After the Stork: The Couple's Guide to Preventing and Overcoming Postpartum Depression (New Harbinger)
- I can't really predict what will happen when our kid arrives but I can try to prepare in advance for what I can only imagine is an incredible emotional and physical upheaval. This book provides powerful tools for dealing with all the many changes that will come our way.
My Mom, Style Icon (Chronicle Books)
- Based on the awesome blog, Piper Weiss reminds us that our moms were people—young, hip, fashionable people—before we came along to monopolize their time. This book is an excellent reminder that having a baby doesn't mean I have to change who I am.
Mama's Big Book of Little Lifesavers: 398 Ways to Save Your Time, Money, and Sanity (Chronicle Books)
- As a first time parent any advice is appreciated. This book is full of hints and tips to help parents keep their sanity. Such as always carrying wipes, and if our child is messy eater don't let it stop us from eating out—just tip well! (as a former waitress I really like this one)
Fortune-Telling Book for Moms-to-Be (Chronicle Books)
- This is a fun little gift book full of ancient wisdom and old wives tales to decode everything from your baby's gender to their post-natal temperament. So far things I have learned are that tying knots during pregnancy can make labour difficult (note to self: give up macramé asap), and that I should eat avocados for a healthy and beautiful baby (but that a beautiful baby will make a homely adult... oh the dilemma...)
And I can't even get started on the baby name books we have. I'll save those for another post.
Easter Books to Usher in Spring
by Siobhan
Animals & Nature + Art & Photography + Humour / April 20, 2011
Growing up in Northern Ontario, I always thought the image of Easter you see on TV was a bit off... I mean, how could you possibly have an Easter egg hunt outdoors when the ground is still blanketed in snow — or worse, slush? (Wearing poufy pastel dresses, no less.)
And then I moved to Vancouver... and now I get it (except for the pastel dresses; I think I may be a bit old for that now). While some (most?) of the country is still bracing for snow, it's feeling quite Spring-like and Easter-y here in Vancouver. The cherry blossoms are out and it's bright and sunny outside. There are daffodils poking up all over the place. Sorry, rest-of-Canada, but it's true.
But there's hope yet. In the spirit of Easter, here are a few books to usher in Springtime, no matter how cold, wet or snowy it may be outside. Just curl up with a book that's full of Springtime goodness, and use your imagination... Chocolate eggs also help.
Chicken and Egg is one of my personal favourites from Chronicle's Spring list. In it, food writer Janice Cole shares her adventures of deciding to take on raising chickens in her backyard. This book is not only lovely to look at (thanks to the crack design team at Chronicle), it's also topical, as allowing "urban poultry" seems to be an issue that's been raised in several Canadian cities in the past couple of years, and also downright delicious... Did I mention that the book also includes 125 recipes for delicious chicken and egg dishes?
Read a guest post by the author on the Chronicle blog.
Read the spread on Chicken and Egg in a recent issue of HELLO magazine (PDF).
Another gorgeous book with a Springtime feel is Nests: Fifty Nests and the Birds that Built Them. This book featuresamazing photography drawn from the collections of the California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley, and the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. Close-up photos of nests are accompanied by short portraits of the birds that constructed them. The variety and detail is fascinating. Here are a few spreads from the book... (Click on the images below to see them larger.)
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And for something that's just plain fun(ny), check out One Chick to Another. Full of quips and funny one-liners paired with cute photos of, you guessed it, chicks.
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chicken cookbooks easter egg humour photography spring
Feel Better Little Buddy - Spoons edition
by Matt
Animals & Nature + Events + Fashion & Textiles + Health & Wellness + Home & Garden + Humour + Podcasts + Vancouver / March 21, 2011
Just after we picked Spoons up from emergency in the morning. Not sure how he did it, but broke two bones in his paw. Ouch. I think I'll submit this to Chronicle Books' "Feel Better Little Buddy", 2nd ed
Here he is getting used to his cast...doing his favorite thing (beside eating and defending his territory)
Cast comes off in 4-5 weeks. Healing time is a little longer than normal because he is 11 years old in May. 60 years old in human years. I hope my whiskers look as good!
My Milk Toof
by Dan
Craft + Humour / March 08, 2011
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craft inhae lee milk toof photography
Night of the Living Trekkies Trailer
by Dan
Fiction + Humour / September 14, 2010
I don't think I need to say anything about this new book trailer for Night of the Living Trekkies other than it is a) AWESOME b) not for the squeamish...
PPZ Movie To Start Shooting Next Year?
by Dan
Fiction + Humour / August 13, 2010
We were very excited around here when we heard whispers last year from our friends at Quirk Books that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was going to be made into a movie. So just imagine our delight when they confirmed that the book was optioned by Natalie Portman, who will produce and star in the film adaptation, and that David O. Russell, who directed and wrote Three Kings and the existential comedy I ♥ Huckabees is writing the script and directing!
Last month at the San Diego Comic-Con, Portman updated MTV on where things are at with the movie:
And if literary mash-ups are your thing, don't forget about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and the latest Quirk Classic Android Karenina!