Blog Posts

5 Unreliable Narrators Who Made For Unforgettable Stories

published by Natalie Zutter on May 17, 2013 - 11:05am

As a writer, I’m endlessly fascinated by the notion of unreliable narrators in fiction. Whether they’re pathological liars, mentally ill, naïve, or acting out of good impulses, these characters manipulate the readers into believing a certain order of events. They fudge details, hide vital information, and challenge their audience to evaluate not only the story being told, but the way in which it’s being relayed. They’re the most authentic characters you’ll encounter because of this very human trait.

It’s also a trope that exists across literature, TV, and film alike, utilizing the elements of each medium to reveal how deep the deception actually goes. The unreliable narrator is an exhaustive trope, so this list of my personal favorites only scratches the surface. Warning: I’ll be discussing spoilers (some major, some minor) in these entries.

Eat More Books: Episode 2 "The Scroll"

published by Rick Chillot on May 16, 2013 - 10:24am

Book Launch and Gallery Show for The Resurrectionist in Philadelphia on June 6!

published by Blair Thornburgh on May 15, 2013 - 11:36am

Philadelphia! On June 6th, come out and join author E. B. Hudspeth and Quirk Books to celebrate the release of The Resurrectionist at Indy Hall!

Worst-Case Wednesday: How to Steal Your Stuff Back

published by Jennifer Murphy on May 15, 2013 - 11:35am

(Image via flickr)

He’s got your Hanson CD; she’s got your ratty, old college sweatshirt. You don’t really want these items back, but you certainly don’t want them to keep your once prized possessions! Even if you have a copy of your ex’s house key, you’ve still got to figure out how to get in there and grab your things without them noticing. We’ve all been on the other side of that locked door, whether a devious ex has slammed it in your face or you’ve simply locked yourself out of your apartment again.

Jimmying the door frame, gingerly picking at the lock with a stray bobby pin, trying to unscrew the windows that are designed perfectly for keeping people out—these are all signs of someone who has not prepared for this scenario. Really, you should know enough by now to stash a small tool kit in your trunk, and as someone who’s been locked out numerous times and still has neglected to buy a screwdriver, I can tell you that it’s time to get creative about breaking into locked spaces.

There’s such a small window of opportunity to get your stuff back after a break-up, and since it needs to be done as efficiently as possible, use this guide from The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating and Sex to ease you though safely.

Get Caught Reading Month: Melissa Alam Catches Philly Readers

published by Melissa Alam on May 14, 2013 - 10:41am

Hello you Quirky readers! Since May is national Get Caught Reading Month, I thought I’d walk around our great city of Philadelphia to see what everyone was reading. Take a gander below and maybe you’ll get inspired to pick up a book too!

Name: Ben S., Engineer/Producer of Elevate Sound Studios, and his cat, Dookie
Currently Reading: The Science of Self-Realization by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Says Ben: “I got this book from a monk who was spreading the spiritual word at the big Broad Street Fair a few weeks ago. Figured it would be an interesting read for the spring.”

Dan Brown vs. Dante: An "Inferno" Smackdown for the Ages!

published by Blair Thornburgh on May 13, 2013 - 9:57am

It’s any author’s worst nightmare: another, really well established writer comes out with a novel with the exact same title. There’s the jealousy, the awkward cocktail-party explanations (“no, I wrote the other one”), and the incalculable damage to the first book’s SEO.

Dante Aligheri has been dead for a while, so his reaction to Dan Brown’s new novel Inferno will likely be limited to a little grave-spinning. But that doesn’t mean we can’t put the two writers head-to-head for a little comparison challenge!

In this corner: best-selling novelist, armchair cryptologist, and occasional songwriter Dan “Dan” Brown! And in this corner, Il Sommo Poeta, the Father of the Italian Language himself, Dante “Dan” Aligheri!

DING!

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