Link Love: 11.23.13

Unwoven Light by Soo Sunny Park

• Think your vocab is up to snuff? Try this tough vocab quiz. Then try the advanced one. For as much crap as everyone always gives me for using weird and obscure words, I didn't get 100% on either test.
• Wanna watch a robot paint the Mona Lisa by firing paint out of a cannon? You know you do.
• Things I learned this week include how the crossword helped (if we're using a very loose interpretation of the word) end World War II.
• These Burton-ized Disney Princesses are so perfect.
• My bookstore, Elliott Bay Book Company, made the list of indies to throw your money at this holiday season. Yay! (No really, throw your money at us. We're selling online too!)
• If you've ever watched a Disney film with me, you probably already know all these, but here are some of the true - much less warm & fuzzy - versions of the fairy tales.
• Kaelah posted this recipe for a Hot Butterscotch Cocoa cocktail and now I don't want to drink anything else for the rest of the winter.
• I always love when I find kindred spirits who feel the need to correct other people's  ignorance, so finding We Are Not Amused, a tumblr that trolls the Victorian tag and kindly corrects all the mistakes, made my day.
• I need Prologue Tea Company to be real. Now. Concept art this good should not be allowed online because it reminds me of what I can't actually throw my money at.
• I want this piggy bank.
• The 100 best novels as chosen in 1898. SO interesting to see what would still make the cut and what's painfully obscure.
• I love the idea of ghosting. 
• I need to visit these magical places in my lifetime, and the best part is I've already checked one (the glowworm caves) off the list.
• Stunningly beautiful food, at least on the inside. 
• Please say it's true: Monty Python is reuniting!!!

Book Style: Samuel Johnson VS The Devil

John Connolly's Samuel Johnson Vs. The Devil series¹ has been described as Terry Pratchett meets Douglas Adams and I couldn't agree more. In each book, poor Samuel must foil the Great Malevolence² and his right hand demon Ba'al's attempts at bringing about the end of the world. Luckily, Samuel has the help of his best friends, his loyal dachshund Boswell, a pair of hapless policemen, and a not-so-evil demon named Nurd³. The second two books also feature a band of surly, thieving, but very genuine dwarfs and the put-upon Dan the Ice Cream Man. These books are pure genius and I will not listen to any naysayers on the subject. Like Connolly's The Book of Lost Things, the first and third book in the Samuel Johnson series feature gorgeous covers. I'm not a huge fan of the weird 3D style art on the second title, but I didn't want to just leave it out entirely either⁴.

1. The Gates: I wanted to capture the essence of Samuel here, mismatched sneakers and all. The dachshund bag is the perfect nod to Boswell and the hot rod shirt is my subtle nod to Samuel's father's prized car that Nurd drives back into Hell to save the day. A devil necklace seemed appropriate and I thought the PBR bracelet could stand in for some of Spiggit's highly combustible brew.
2. The Infernals: Some ice cream heels help make this outfit a bit dressier while still keeping it playful. The moon sweater is an ode to the peculiar shape of Nurd's head and, of course, a cuff bracelet for Biddlecombe's bravest constabulary. Boswell gets blinged out on a necklace this go round.
3. The Creeps: I figured a dressier outfit was in order to attend the grand opening of Mr. Grimly's toy store as a guest of honor. That t-shirt features Einstein's physics formulae⁵ and the seat belt clutch could be of some use to Nurd in his job⁶. Boswell is silver-plated and wrapped around your finger this time and goes nicely with those viking ship earrings. Some celestial/moon themed nails tie the whole look together. Oh, but try not to squish any nosferatu eyeballs with those killer crepe wedges.

1. I honestly didn't know this was the full title of the series until I finished the third book a couple of days ago. I just referred to it as "Connolly's Samuel Johnson series" because I didn't think it had a proper name at all.

2. He is never actually called the Devil, calling into question whoever named the series... I'm looking at you Mr. Connolly.

3. And Wormwood, Nurd's oldest friend and assistant. Even if Nurd would never admit the friend part out loud.

4. Because I'm a nice person, that's why. Don't argue. I am very nice.

5. Perhaps the scientists at CERN should have looked at a few of them before they went fiddling about with the fabric of the Universe.

6. Turns out an immortal, but reformed demon with a penchant for fast cars makes an excellent automotive safety test dummy.