Terry On Books Blog

I’ve been very remiss in adding new posts to my blog.
2009 was a difficult year, but 2010 certainly looks
rosier and I’ll be making an effort to post more
regularly.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see that my old
postings have still been getting a fair amount of
looks, and I thank all those people who have
been tuning in.

I give a special thanks to people who have
offered comments…especially the complimentary
ones! You may wonder why your comments
haven’t been published on my blog. The simple
reason is that I have the power of veto. I must
approve the comment and add it to my blog.
About 50% of comments I receive are from
people who wish to promote their own business
or agenda; some subtly, some flagrantly, and
some, I suspect, have nefarious motives to
entice other readers to their sites. I feel that I
have an obligation to protect my legitimate readers
from these people. (If you are one of these people,
don’t bother submitting your comment because it’s
a waste of your time.)

Of the other 50%, there are a vast amount of
similar opinions–sometimes in practically identical
words. These are mostly complimentary comments
to the effect that the person is happy to have found
the blog, likes the content, and encourages me to
keep writing. I choose to publish only a few of these
comments just to show that I do have some visitors
and they like what they see. Rarely, there are specific
comments on one of the posts…these I do like to
publish.

Coming soon (I know, I’ve promised before) will be
the third chapter of my serialized book from the 1990’s
on starting and running a used bookstore.
Also, I will be writing some of my thoughts on where
booksellers stand now and what the
future of the book business may be.

Please take some time to visit my website for about
3000 quality books for sale:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Many of the pages need an update and that task is
also on the agenda. However, if you find a book
that you would like and it’s on an outdated page,
please inquire about it. More than 80% of the books
listed are still available. And a few dozen new
items have been added recently.

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever
regret will be the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.

I’ve been reading a series of books by Jim Butcher and his
likeable main character, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden,
a Wizard. In fact, the only professional Wizard advertising
in the Chicago phone book:
“Harry Dresden–Wizard
Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or
Other Entertainment.”

Besides a few odd jobs of exorcisms, ghost removals
and finding lost objects, most of Harry’s income is derived
from work he does with  Lt. Karrin Murphy in the
Special Investigations Division of Chicago PD. Harry and
Karrin have a love-hate relationship from which they
both benefit. Karrin’s group investigates “unusual events”–
unexplainable crimes committed by non-living beings.

Susan Rodriguez is a reporter for the Midwestern “Arcane”,
a tabloid circulated widely from Chicago and specializing in
sensational, and mostly unbelievable stories. But Susan,
friend and sometime romantic interest of Harry Dresden,
believes in his powers as a Wizard and the magical world
that he represents. She’s constantly trying to get the scoop
on some of Harry’s activities so that she can document
them and acquire national syndication for her columns.

In his lab in the basement, Harry keeps a spirit inside a human
skull. Bob, the spirit, is hundreds of years old and supplies
Harry with the recipes for numerous kinds of magic potions.
Occasionally, Harry lets Bob out to seek information for
him from other spirits in Chicago and in Nevernever, the
spirit world.

The White Council, a large group of wizards that Harry is
part of, enforces a code of conduct for all practitioners.
Harry, from time to time, is forced to do things during his
investigations and exploits that put him in the bad graces
of the White Council.

There are lots of comings and goings from Nevernever by
all sorts of creatures, including demons, ghosts, vampires,
werewolves and other shapeshifters. To combat these
antagonists, Harry relies on his staff, blasting rod, a shield
bracelet, a silver pentacle on a silver chain passed down
from his mother, his ability to create “summoning circles”
and make “protective circles”, and a host of energy-creating
incantations and other devices to keep all these beings
at bay and protect his friends. Despite all this, he still
gets knocked around a lot!

I’ve never been much of a reader of horror fiction, or even
a big fan of the majority of fantasy writing, but I admit that
I’m hooked on Jim Butcher’s stories. A customer kept raving
about his books, so when we acquired some in the store,
I had to give Butcher a try. So far, I’ve read the first three
titles: “Storm Front”, “Fool Moon” and “Grave Peril” and
I’m looking forward to reading others.

The atmosphere of the books is reminiscent of the noir
detective fiction of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Dresden’s first-
person narration reminds me of the same droll delivery
of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. And Harry Dresden
shares some of the same traits of two of my other favourite
characters, Jack Reacher in Lee Child’s books, and
Repairman Jack in F. Paul Wilson’s books.

Altogether, a unique and enjoyable reading experience,
at least for me.

Please take some time to visit my website for
nearly 3000 quality books:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever
regret will be the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.