A new year begins

Today is the first official day of the thirteen year of my reading.

Last year was amazing, I finish with a total of 45,345 pages, making it my third best year.

This, over 350 different items, which include 27 books, 141 single issue comics, and 182 graphic novels.

My best month of reading was February 2020, with a total of 5,249 pages, my worst month was September 2020 with a total of 2,407 pages, making my best day March 21, 2020 with a total of 573 pages.

In my day to day reading I was averaging about 121 pages, and as you can see below , the color were more on the blue and green, totaling 202 days, with just 13 days with 0 pages read, and to my delight, 10 days with over 300 pages.

This day also marks the retirement of my dear journal, “Reginald”, that after 769 days, I have finally filled it from cover to cover.

This new year will be a short one, 236 days, this is with the intention of finishing on my birthday, and each year after that will be from June to June, until my 50th birthday, in which hopefully I will be celebrating page number 1,000,000

On this journey, I will be accompanied by a brand new journal, “Luther ” , which will be exclusive for this year.

I am really anxious to start with this new year, and tackle those 37,984 pages.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

Happy Birthday to us

It all started back on a chilly day back on 2008, I was sitting on the dinner table of our first apartment, it was a small and cozy space that we loved, it had verily visible exposed brick all over the livingroom, for every inch of that room was filled with bookshelves.

We also were about to have our first anniversary in December, as I sit in our little table for my wife to come back home, surrounded by books , it hit me that I should start keeping track of what I was reading.

Months later, and encouraged by my lovely wife, I started writing about my experience reading, and all the rituals that surrounded this great pastime that literally saved my life.

And thus Lost in a million pages was born

The first entry in my list was a Hellboy novel, On Earth as it is in Hell by Brian Hodge.

Now it is 12 years later, I have read a total of 325,369 pages over 3,543 items.

Cheers for another amazing year, and thank you for coming along for the ride.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

Azriel’s Infinite Bookshelf: World of Warcraft: Ala Sombra Vol. 1 & Vol.2

This two-part story, written by American author Richard A. Knaak, who is no stranger to the World of this famous videogame haven written around 9 other stories in this realm.

He weaves a compelling story filled with Dragons, orcs, elves, humans, and some new mysterious creatures that roam this fantastic world.

The story centers on the human Jorad and the Dragon Tyri, who face a new threat, the mysterious abyssal dragons, with their purpose and leadership unknown, these young creatures are ready to wreak havoc on all of Azeroth.

With famous Korean illustrator Jae-Kwan Kim at the helm of the vibrant black & white artwork, the ample menagerie of dragons just pop up out of the page.

Although this title is part of the Manga collection of World of Warcraft, it does not read as a regular manga, it is a standard comic book read, and it is perfect to get yourself into the dynamic of the artwork and storytelling found in these type of stories.

For, off I go, to find a new adventure.

Year 12

Although my year of reading ends on Sunday, I will take these few days to regroup, to plan out the future of the upcoming years, and most of all recharge for the tasks ahead.

I’ll do some light reading, but I highly doubt that I will sum-up any considerable amount of pages to make this my best year or the second best.

I am really content with my total of this year.

For now, I am off.

azr.

Numbers: 8 days

Tomorrow starts the final week of my twelve year of reading, and I am still determined to make it my best one yet.

I’ll have to take upon the mentality of Aaron Rodgers, and make that hail mary pass with the clock winding down, yeah, that’s a football reference, please excuse me, but it is Sunday.

Right now I have a total of 44,843 of total registered pages, you can see what I mean with registered pages right here, that gives me roughly 2,863 pages left to read in this upcoming week.

For now, I’ll focus on finishing the two books left on the trilogy of Companions Codex, which follows the adventure of the legendary Drow Drizzt Do’Urden, and from which I am about to reach the halfway point of Rise of the King.

Also, I’ll try make some headway on my list to celebrate Spooktober, you can see my complete list of Graphic Novels and Movies in this post.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

Azriel’s Infinite Bookshelf: Justice League: Justice/Doom War

When I picked up this book, just by seeing who the main authors were, Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, I was more than excited.

And surely, they did not disappoint.

The Justice League faces once again the incredible power of Perpetua, who has managed to destroy the wall of the prison that contain her, and with her new acquired pet Lex Luthor, she threatens to colapse the multiverse.

This is why all of the heroes from the various eras, and Earths, come to face her in an spectacular battle for existence.

Only two seasoned writers can handle the sheer amount of characters presented in these pages, and for us, the fans of DC comics, it is a visual feast, I mean, even Kamandi makes a substantial appearance.

I can wait for the continuation of the story, that, according to the final panel, it will continue in Dark Nights: Death Metal.

Now ,off I go, to look for my next adventure.

azr.

Spooktober plans

It is finally here, my favorite time of the year, Spooktober.

A month long indulgence of ghouls and ghosts.

I have plans to rewatch some of my favorite classic movies, and catch up with some horror graphic novels that have been roaming around, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

So let’s talk movies, I have a special place in my heart for the Universal Monsters series, some Hammer Films, who doesn’t what to watch Christopher Lee as Dracula, and George Romero’s classic zombie films.

Here’s goes my movie list.

1. Dracula (1931)
2. Frankenstein (1931)
3. The Mummy (1932)
4. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
5. Werewolf of London (1935)
6. Dracula (1958)
7. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
8. The Brides of Dracula (1960)
9. Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)
10. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
11. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
12. Day of the Dead (1985)
13. Land of the Dead (2005)
14. Diary of the Dead (2007)
15. Survival of the Dead (2009)
16. Cronos (1993)
17. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
18. Halloween (1978)
19. Halloween (2007)

Those are the films I am planning to see, who knows maybe I’ll add some more along the way.

On the book front I have only one on my list, as tradition mandates, I’ll start my year of reading with Frankenstein.

On the graphic novel/comic book front my list is a bit larger, with some of Marvel comics classic horror lines topping the list with a bit of some zombie action.

1. Vampire Tales Vol.1
2. Tomb of Dracula Vol.1
3. Werewolf by Night: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
4. Aliens Omnibus Vol.1
5. Aliens Omnibus Vol.2
6. Aliens Omnibus Vol.3
7. Aliens Omnibus Vol.4
8. Aliens Omnibus Vol.5
9. Aliens Omnibus Vol.6
10. B.P.R.D : Vampire
11. B.P.R.D. : Hell on Earth Book One
12. Gotham by Midnight (2014-2015)Vol. 1
13. Wormwood Gentleman Corpse: Mr. Wormwood goes to Washington
14. Night of the Living Dead : Hunger

I have pretty busy, and exciting month ahead of me.

For now, I am off to read, or sleep, I’ll flip a coin to decide.

azr.

Numbers: 11 days

I had a good day of reading, my total was 112 of the 272 pages that was my goal for yesterday.

I read Hit-Girl in Hollywood, and a few pages of Rise of the King.

I still have 3,152 pages to go, my goal for today is 287 pages.

Today’s reading will be focus on my adventure with Drizzt Do’Urden, and a new volume of the Justice League, Doom War.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

Azriel’s Infinite Bookshelf, Hit-Girl: Hollywood

Hit-Girl written by Kevin Smith, count me in, and along for the ride is Danish illustrator Pernille Ørum, which gives this newest volume of the deadly Mindy a vibrant look that is perfect for this story.

The history is a huge wink to Kevin’s work on film, an if you are not familiar with his body of work ,you might feel left out some inside jokes, but mostly to his 2001 movie Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back, even down to the doppelganger of Hit-Girl, which is a clear homage to the character Cocknoker , hilarious played by the legendary Mark Hammill.

Now the clear enemy are the sleazy studio executives who abuse their power, a direct reference of what the MeToo movement uncover as a wide spread practice in Hollywood, and the logical M.O. of Hit-Girl’s doppelganger for taking revenge.

I am a huge fan of Kevin Smith’s work in comic books and film, and this is a volume I enjoyed as much as some of his films.

Now ,off I go, to look for my next adventure.

Numbers: 12 days

Yesterday was an amazing day of reading.

I finish the last issue of Batman: Curse of the White Knight, written and illustrated by Sean Murphy, these, with an epic showdown between Batman and Azrael.

Also, I read the first volume of Tom King’s Batman: City of Bane, and I am really eager to see the next chapter

My total was 207 of the 267 pages that was my goal.

There are still 3,264 pages in front of me, and my goal for today is 272 pages.

I’ll keep on pounding on Rise of the King, it’s always a treat reading stories of Drizzt Do’Urden, and I’ll read the latest installment of Hit Girl’s solo series, this time in Hollywood.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.