Computers can be a useful tool; heck, I’m typing this very post on one right now. They’ve undeniably reshaped the animation landscape, both for better and worse. Classic hand-drawn 2D animation feels like a relic, a sparkling gem mostly lost to the age of CGI and rapid digital production. But here comes a refreshing breeze: the new Christian animated film, The Light of the World, hitting theaters today, September 5th, is boldly stepping back into the 2D animation realm. As noted on the film’s website, lightoftheworld.com, “Hand-drawn animation is a timeless medium that retains its beauty over many decades. It contains all the subtle flaws we’ve come to call 'human.'” What a beautiful sentiment! It’s a fitting tribute to Jesus—the only flawless figure to ever tread this Earth.

Directed by the talented John Schafer, known for producing the beloved program Superbook (which, I must confess, I had not heard of until now), and alongside animator Tom Bancroft, who has a rich history with Disney, having worked on masterpieces like The Lion King, Mulan, and Beauty and the Beast, this film is the inaugural offering from the Salvation Poem Project—a ministry dedicated to spreading the message of Christ to the world.

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

Do you seek out new authors to read, or do you tend to stick with the same ones?

My Answer:

Most readers have a tendency to stick with familiar authors, a comfort zone that feels like slipping into your favorite pair of worn-out shoes. I’m guilty of that too, yet there’s a thrill in stepping outside those boundaries. If a captivating cover catches my eye or a blurb wows me with its promise, I’m often tempted to explore the works of unknown authors. I can't say I've intentionally set out on a quest to discover new voices, but sometimes, a stunning cover pulls me in like a siren’s song, and occasionally, the author’s name can be a delightful bonus—or irrelevant altogether. 〜B.J. Burgess

Good morning, my fellow book enthusiasts! 

For those of you who’ve been following me, it’s been quite a while since I ventured into the Friday 56, graciously hosted every week by My Head Full of Books. And to the few loyal readers from my now-retired Gunsmoke & Grit blog, you know I've been sharing snippets of Western tales over the past few months. That was until I decided to merge the two realms into a cohesive weekly post here, starting with today's 56 and tomorrow with a Gunsmoke & Grit review that blends Western and horror—a delightful concoction, I’d say. Why the shift, you ask? Well, let's just say, the technical gremlins of the internet had their fun with me. Google decided to deny my sitemap like a bouncer at an exclusive club, throwing out security warnings as if my website were hosting illegal downloads. After a whirlwind of what felt like technical gibberish beyond my understanding, everything sorted itself out. And, to top it off, I’d been entertaining a mere five or six regular readers. So, I decided to publish all my "lost" reviews here, and much to my surprise, a few old posts suddenly surged past 100 views almost overnight. Talk about an awakening! Lesson learned: Setting up a second blog was probably a misguided adventure from the start.

Continuing a book series after the original author has passed away is a well-trodden path in the publishing world. While it’s nothing new, the topic ignites passionate debates among readers. Some devoted fans of the original author might bristle at the idea of a new voice stepping in, while others are curious enough to give the later stories a shot. Then there are the casual readers who may not even notice the shift in authorship. This brings us to "The Girl with Ice in Her Veins," the eighth installment in the Millennium saga, now available on Amazon ^[*] or at your favorite indie bookstore—if you’re lucky enough to have one nearby.

Here’s the rub: this book isn’t penned by the late Stieg Larsson, the brilliant Swedish author who crafted the original trilogy before his untimely death in 2004 at just 50. A second trilogy was later written by David Lagercrantz. Now, in 2022, we’ve got a third trilogy, led by the skilled Karin Smirnoff. "The Girl with Ice in Her Veins" is the second installment, translated from Swedish by the talented Sarah Death.

The Sunday Post, Issue #279

The Editorial

Who can believe it’s already Labor Weekend? Time seems to slip through our fingers like sand at the beach, more quickly with each passing year. Maybe it’s just age creeping up on us, or maybe – just maybe – there’s a glitch in the matrix and we’re all trapped in some bizarre simulation. Let's avoid delving down that strange YouTube rabbit hole; I've lost more hours than I care to admit getting sucked into conspiracy theories that could have come straight out of a Stephen King novel. Trust me, save your time and sanity; you don’t want to wander into that labyrinth.

Lately, I feel like I’m perpetually short on time, a motto that seems to have taken root in my life as if it were something I’d consciously chosen. Life, as it often does, has been hurling curveballs my way, which I somehow manage to navigate—though it's never quite intentional. With that said, here I find myself, immersed in my thoughts about A Week Away: The Series. I originally intended to indulge in just a single episode—remember that “short on time” mantra? But before I knew it, I was binge-watching the entire first season, a delightful adventure that consists of seven mesmerizing episodes.

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop! 

Do you believe the education system should change its approach to teaching reading and literature to students?
— Submitted by Billy @ Coffee‑Addicted Writer

Michael Connelly has long been hailed as “the undisputed master of the modern crime novel” (Real Book Spy), and his recent offering, Nightshade, proves he’s not about to relinquish that title anytime soon. You can find it on Amazon ^[*] or your favorite indie bookstore.

Although Connelly didn’t really vanish, it feels like his return is something to celebrate. The bestselling author behind iconic characters like Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer introduced Nightshade, the inaugural installment of the Catalina series, back in May, published by Little, Brown and Company. Unfortunately, the advance reader copy (ARC) I received took its sweet time arriving, buried in a pile of other books, but here I am, finally ready to share my thoughts.

Set against the sun-soaked backdrop of Los Angeles, Nightshade follows County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell, who’s been banished—almost like a Shakespearean hero—to the laid-back precinct of Catalina Island. It’s a fate worse than death for a detective accustomed to the mainland's gritty chaos, but Stilwell’s new assignment is anything but tranquil. While he grapples with the usual shenanigans of tourists and locals alike—think sunburned vacationers and the occasional petty thief—an unsettling discovery shifts the narrative into darker waters. A body, a Jane Doe, has been found, her identity as murky as the ocean depths, save for one striking detail: a streak of purple hair dye.

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