Night Nature

 

Dim memories of shared laughter reside amidst the dark shores of sanity. Once again, lady night has caressed me with her black embrace.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Mind Journeys II

 

The mystic powers of unfettered minds sweep into our subconscious sensations while the celestial currents of time preserve cosmic harmony and balance.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Picture via Schurr Shot in Oregon about 50 miles west of Eugune. 

Skill and Lunacy Weaved Well Together

 

If she became queen of Wonderland, she promised herself she wouldn’t become steeped in madness. She refused to be like the rest, who relished the fall of the axe and the rush of red blood from the beheadings of questionable criminals.

Dinah’s father was the king of Wonderland, and she was the cities princess, which caused her emotional pain each time an innocent head rolled off the chopping block for the towns people and their children to witness. Winding tendrils of guilt entered Dinah’s mind.

Colleen Oakes wrote a tantalizing tale of Lewis Carroll’s 1865 “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Many moons ago, and by sheer chance, I acquired book two of this trilogy at the dollar store and read it first. As soon I finished reading “Blood of Wonderland,” I immediately purchased “Queen of Hearts” and “War of the Cards” and none of the books disappointed.

 

Oakes has a great writing style, and the vast array of characters was a bit much at times, but she neatly weaved the story together and she wittingly detailed romance with medieval war violence.

The plot is simple yet complex, and it’s not predictable. By the middle of the second book, “Blood of Wonderland,” I assumed Dinah would become queen of Wonderland, and the man she loved and romanced, Wardley would be her husband and King. Even thinking I had the ending pegged before starting the last book, “War of the Cards,” the characters and the tale seized my senses along with Oakes writing prowess.

Three and half stars is my rating for this fascinating trilogy of Wonderland, and I’m not much of a fan for fantasy books, but I really dug the writing style of Colleen Oakes.

Mark Izzy Schurr  

What?

 

A fearful yet alluring presence may appear as an eerie entity as it roams amidst the masses. Come explore the deepest depths of the known and wonderous spheres of existence.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Government III

 

Buried dreams of democracy line the tombs of turmoil and illustrate the pollution of politics. Nothing positive lasts in government. Realities ruins may once again line the White House with the idiot fascist orange man whose cult following defines stupidity and racism.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Chaotic Christmas Killer Invades the Home

 Another Modern Moron movie review. 

Home invasion horror for the holidays in 2016s, “Better Watch Out” worked for me because the movie caught me off guard at times, and the ending left the viewer curious about the absolute ending.

The violence is mostly suggestive rather than physical, and the story-line was blissfully bizarre while displaying the mind of a macabre murderer.

A mysterious phone calls triggers the suspense in this flick. Mayhem erupts into a macabre murders and mystery. 

Olivia DeJonge and Levi Miller 

At a glance, the plot is simple teen horror. Teenagers on a quiet suburban night while a murderous night stalker invades their home. Screen-writers, Zack Kahn and Chris Peckover displayed their signature originality in “Better Watch Out.”

This timeless genre of teen horror grips its audience via the acting skills of Olivia DeJonge who portrays Ashley, the college aged babysitter of Luke, a nearly 13-year-old lad. Levi Miller as did all the other actors channeled fantasy into twisted tangibility.

A solid three-star rating for this chaotic and devious Christmas tale.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Another Modern Moron Book Review

 

Rings of teeth that glistened at the edge of one’s vision, it was the worst kind of monster, the sort that crawled into you and ate you from the inside out. (Emily Carroll)

‘Through the Woods” features five short stories, all written and illustrated by Emily Carroll. I discovered this 2014 book in the young adult section at the Coddingtown library.

This book is a very fast read, and a New York Times best seller. Gothic overtones in her illustrations blend very well with her words.

Her dreams had teeth and clung to her even when she woke. (Carroll) I’m extremely fascinated by the written word, and Carroll seized my attention, and “Through the Woods” kept me entertained until I finished reading the entire book in one setting.

Bombastically bizarre, and even weird was Carroll’s stories and artwork, but it works wonderfully in “Through the Woods.”

“In Conclusion” was fittingly the last of the five very short tales in this book and the story was an intriguing and original take on the classic; “Little Red Riding Hood.”

There once was a young girl who lived on the edge of a deep dense forest…she hopped moonlit streams and took in the scent of pale night flowers. (Emily Carroll) She sucked me in with her poetic prowess, and her cool drawings. Three and a half stars for “Through the Woods.”

Mark Izzy Schurr