I have heard contrasting opinions on writing in books. Growing up, I always thought it was wrong. I didn’t see annotated reading as an option until I was older. The first book I ever annotated was Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky while I was still in high school. After some trial and…
A Frightful Night at Preston Castle
This Halloween season, I wanted to do something new and unique. Something that would give me a good fright but also leave me with some lasting memories. I have been to countless amusement park horror nights and wanted something different. After careful consideration of other, less advertised horror attractions, we came across the historical landmark,…
10 Questions About the Bill Hodges Trilogy
We both read the Bill Hodges trilogy, by Stephen King, featuring Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers and End of Watch. After reading this, we had some questions and curiosities. It is always more fun to read a book and discuss it with a friend who has also read the same book. Below you will find a…
The Best Way to Rate Books
The best way to review books is by having an uniform system in which to judge them. At Umbra Ex Libris we believe the normal one to five star ratings are too simplified. They work well for Amazon or Goodreads to get a more general sense on the item you are buying but the one…
Southern BBQ in Northern California
Growing up in California I struggled with finding good southern BBQ. My family exposed me to various styles of BBQ on countless trips to Kansas. Going home always left me with a craving for food I would not be able to have. In fact, while in high school, I refused to eat ribs, brisket, or…
The Haunted Book Review
“Making people believe the unbelievable is no trick; it’s work… Belief and reader absorption come in the details: An overturned tricycle in the gutter of an abandoned neighborhood can stand for everything.” Stephen King The creeping shadow in the corner has scared us all at one point in time. What would we do if suddenly…