Books And Nachos

The Dead Zone was Stephen King's follow-up to The Stand. This new novel, about a man who gained psychic powers after a head injury, became the author's first number 1 best seller. It has gone on to be adapted to film by David Cronenberg, and a long-running cable TV series. In this episode of Books & Nachos, Arnie looks back at the book that started it all. He analyzes King's influences that led to the creation of the novel, and deconstructs the characters and plot. So now join him for a review of Stephen King's novel over a year in the making! And if you enjoy Books & Nachos, support the show through our PodBean Crowdfunding Page!

Watchmen. It was the only comic listed on Time Magazine's List of the 100 Best Novels list. It also was in The Comic's Journal's list of the Top 100 Comics of the 20th Century. It has been revered by comic lovers and neophytes alike. Now Arnie and Jakob come together to review all 12 issues of this series, and also give a brief look at the recent Before Watchmen prequel series! Then head to Now Playing Podcast to hear Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie review crew's thoughts on Zack Snyder's film adaptation!

Last week the fourth, and final, Hunger Games film Mockingjay Part 2, dominated theaters. Now that you've had a chance to see how the movie concludes the story of Katniss Everdeen you can join Stuart for his review of Collins original Mockingjay novel. Then head to Now Playing Podcast's donation page to hear Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie review crew's thoughts on all the Hunger Games films! Those movie reviews are only available during the Fall, 2015 donation drive, so donate today!

In 2009 Catching Fire fanned the flames of Hunger Games fans worldwide. Continuing the adventures of Katniss Everdeen, Collins' novel puts her back in the arena for another adventure. In preparation for tonight's release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 movie, join Stuart in L.A. for a look back at Collins' middle novel in the trilogy. Then head to Now Playing Podcast's donation page to hear Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie review crew's thoughts on all the Hunger Games films! Those movie reviews are only available during the Fall, 2015 donation drive, so donate today!

The Hunger Games novels topped the New York Times best seller lists and went on to become Amazon's all-time top selling book series (outselling even Harry Potter). It has since gone on to become a billion-dollar film franchise. In anticipation of the upcoming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Stuart in LA is here to review the original novels. In this episode Stuart looks at the original The Hunger Games. Is this the next Twilight, or is it the next The Running Man? Join Stuart in L.A. now for this review, then head to Now Playing Podcast's donation page to hear Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie review crew's thoughts on the film! Those movie reviews are only available during the Fall, 2015 donation drive, so donate today!

In 1999 Japanese author Koushun Takami gained global notice for his novel Battle Royale. In this ultraviolent, 600-plus page dystopian novel the Japanese government holds an annual competition where Junior High students must kill each other. The last student to survive is the "winner." The book has been released multiple times in English, been the inspiration for the Battle Royale film series, and had a manga adaptation. And Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins has been accused of plagiarizing Battle Royale for her hit trilogy. Is the novel worth the fuss? Join Stuart in L.A. now for this review of the English translation of Battle Royale. Then head to Now Playing Podcast's donation page to hear Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie review crew's thoughts on the film! Those movie reviews are only available during the Fall, 2015 donation drive, so donate today!

Michael Crichton never intended to write a sequel to his bestselling novel Jurassic Park. But when Stephen Spielberg's film was a smash success and the director, and fans, requested a follow-up, Crichton obliged. What were the results? Join Stuart in L.A. for this review of Crichton's novel, then head to Now Playing Podcast's donation page to hear that crew's thoughts on the film! Those movie reviews are only available until July 31, 2015, then they become extinct like the dinosaurs, so donate today!

Today the words Jurassic Park bring to mind a T-Rex roaring at a car, Sam Neil running through a pack of CGI dinosaurs, and John Williams score--all from Steven Spielberg's hit 1993 film. But before it was a movie, Jurassic Park was a bestselling novel by sci-fi author Michael Crichton. The book and the movie share some basic plot elements, but there are also key differences. How do they compare? Join Stuart in L.A. for this review of Crichton's novel, then head to Now Playing Podcast's donation page to hear that crew's thoughts on the film! Those movie reviews are only available until July 31, 2015, then they become extinct like the dinosaurs, so donate today!

King's first novel wasn't Carrie, it was The Long Walk written while the author was a college freshman. It tells of a dystopian, alternate America in which the national pastime isn't Baseball, it's a contest of stamina and will--The Long Walk. King's story of one of these Walks, and walker Raymond Garraty, wouldn't be published for over a decade, until it was released in 1979 as the second novel by King's pen name "Richard Bachman." In this episode of Books & Nachos, Arnie reviews and analyzes this early work by the bestselling author. Join him now in this review of the second Bachman Book!

Mark Millar's comic Kick-Ass was adapted to film by director Matthew Vaughn. Now the two have teamed up again with Kingsman: The Secret Service, an idea the two men spawned while filming Kick-Ass. The story tells of Gary, a juvenile delinquent who's given one last chance at a legitimate life--as a British secret agent! A clever twist on the old James Bond formula, is this comic worth reading? Join the hosts to find out, then join them LIVE, Tuesday Feb 17th at 9:30 pm EST at NowPlayingPodcast.com for the review of the movie Kingsman: The Secret Service.

With his fifth published novel Stephen King went big--a tale about God and demons with the backdrop of a dystopian future. Involving fears both realistic and fantastic, many King fans cite this as the author's best work to date. Now Arnie continues his reviews of all King's works with this multi-part podcast series reviewing The Stand. In this final segment of this review Arnie gives is final review on the book, discusses which of the three print editions is best, and also reviews Marvel Comic's 31-issue comic series based on King's novel.

With his fifth published novel Stephen King went big--a tale about God and demons with the backdrop of a dystopian future. Involving fears both realistic and fantastic, many King fans cite this as the author's best work to date. Now Arnie continues his reviews of all King's works with this multi-part podcast series reviewing The Stand. In the fifth part of this review Arnie looks at The Stand's climax, which reaches biblical proportions, and compares the ending in the original and the 1990 unabridged versions.

With his fifth published novel Stephen King went big--a tale about God and demons with the backdrop of a dystopian future. Involving fears both realistic and fantastic, many King fans cite this as the author's best work to date. Now Arnie continues his reviews of all King's works with this multi-part podcast series reviewing The Stand. In the fourth part of the review Arnie looks at Book II of The Stand, including the survivors' struggles in Boulder and King's own struggles with the narrative.

With his fifth published novel Stephen King went big--a tale about God and demons with the backdrop of a dystopian future. Involving fears both realistic and fantastic, many King fans cite this as the author's best work to date. Now Arnie continues his reviews of all King's works with this multi-part podcast series reviewing The Stand. In the third part of this review Arnie analyzes the evil characters in the novel, including Randall Flagg, Lloyd Henreid, and The Trashcan Man. Also a look at the book's supporting characters Harold, Nadine, Glen, and Rita, and the thought that they may all be psychic!

With his fifth published novel Stephen King went big--a tale about God and demons with the backdrop of a dystopian future. Involving fears both realistic and fantastic, many King fans cite this as the author's best work to date. Now Arnie continues his reviews of all King's works with this multi-part podcast series reviewing The Stand. In the second part of this podcast series Arnie explores the heroic characters featured in The Stand, including Stuart Redmond, Fran Goldsmith, Larry Underwood, and Nick Andros. He also analyzes the deadly superflu Captain Trips, and the start of the novel's biblical allegories.

With his fifth published novel Stephen King went big--a tale about God and demons with the backdrop of a dystopian future. Involving fears both realistic and fantastic, many King fans cite this as the author's best work to date. Now Arnie continues his reviews of all King's works with this multi-part podcast series reviewing The Stand. In the first part of this podcast series Arnie reveals the history of the stand and how it was inspired by Patty Hearst and some dead sheep. He also provides an analysis of the original, iconic cover art, and how George Lucas and J.R.R. Tolkien factor into this 1978 novel!

Of all the monsters in Stephen King's fiction none have captured reader imaginations quite like The Stand's Randall Flagg--The Walkin' Dude, The Dark Man. But nine years before The Stand was published King wrote of this Dark Man who walked, rode trains, and hitchhiked across America leaving bodies in his wake. This is detailed in King's college poem "The Dark Man." In 2013 Cemetery Dance Publications printed this in an illustrated book, and Arnie has read and reviewed it in this episode of Books & Nachos. Join him to learn about The Dark Man's early appearance as he prepares for next week's review of The Stand.

One stage magician learns how to split himself into two so that he can challenge a pair of rival illusionists who pretend to be one in The Prestige, Christopher Priest's sneaky story of splintering identities. Even if you think you've spoiled the trick by seeing the popular Christian Bale-Hugh Jackman movie, there are more secrets to be found in the book's sprawling five-part structure that spans the 20th Century. Join Stuart In LA as he studies the source material and weighs in on which Christopher - Nolan or Priest - is the better conjurer.

In Stephen King's short story "The Man Who Loved Flowers" a man stops to buy roses on the way to see the woman he loves. His warm energy infects all those around him, but there is something they don't know. Now join Arnie as he completes his reviews of the short stories contained in King's Night Shift anthology. In this podcast he reviews "The Man Who Loved Flowers" and looks back at all the short stories from Night Shift!

The short stories collected in Stephen King's Night Shift were written over more than a decade--some originally published in 1968, others printed for the first time in this book. As such, the stories, while having certain similarities, are also wildly varied from the gothic horror of "Jerusalem's Lot" to the more ghastly comedy found in "Gray Matter" to the realistic, personal drama of "The Woman in the Room." "The Last Rung on the Ladder", a Night Shift original, is a dramatic short story in which a man recounts one day when he was ten years old, and he and his little sister played a dangerous game that almost had fatal consequences. Now join Arnie for this review review of "The Last Rung on the Ladder"!