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Books, Blogs, and Brain Clouds

Books, Blogs, and Brain Clouds No. 41 (Aug-Oct 2025)

Published 22 days ago • 1 min read

The Beginner Books Encyclopedia

As new Beginner Books continue to hit the market, I've realized that the format for continuing the Beginner Books Encyclopedia I began in I Can Read It All By Myself is no longer ideal. So I created a Google Site instead. Check it out, and read about the latest Beginner Book, Gertrude Gish On a Fish On a Dish.
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The Most Discounted Time of the Year

Both of my publishers are holding sales, so if you want to complete your Paul V. Allen collection, or preorder my new one, this is a great time to do it!

Until November 19, all UPM books (including my upcoming Mark Gruenwald bio) are discounted to $20.26. No code needed, and shipping is free!

From November 15 through December 1 get 35% off The Hopefuls with the code HOLIDAY25 at McFarlandbooks.com.

Hopefuls Song of the Month(s)

Kentucky Air - "I'll Be Back Soon" (2007)

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Following the demise of Spymob, singer-songwriter John Ostby and bassist Christian Twigg formed a smaller-stakes Americana band called Kentucky Air. Their first and only album was produced by none other than Hopefuls Eric Fawcett and John Hermanson.

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It's basically impossible to find anywhere now (I had to ask John Ostby to personally send me a copy), but trust me that it's a sweet collection of laid back country tunes.

What I'm Reading

In preparation for the release of the final season of Stranger Things, I've been catching up on the extended universe novels and graphic novels. My favorite so far is the graphic novel the Tomb of Ybwen. The art is fantastic and the story is a heartfelt exploration of grief and a tribute to Goonies and Indiana Jones.

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Theo and I are on book two of Suzanne Collins's Underland Chronicles, and are enjoying it.

And Finally, a Brain Cloud

Peace, love, and thank you for reading.

paul.allen@gmail.com
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