Mud

Quentin: We’re posting this a day earlier than usual because Ben and Travis are taking us sailing this weekend for Cade’s birthday. We’re leaving for the lake right after school, so no time for a movie.

Jake: Finally, summer and sailing. I can’t wait.

Jason: And Quentin’s graduating from high school.

Jake: Is it getting real?

Quentin: I don’t want to talk about it.

Jason: So we went to see Mud today, because Jake kept pointing out the 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Quentin: Are we ready to swim against the tide of critical consensus?

Jake: Let’s do it.

The Return Top 40 Countdown

Quentin: Today we are introducing The Return Top 40 Countdown. Brad said something about Casey Kasem, but I don’t know who that is.

Jason: Since there is so much music in the book, Brad created a playlist of 40 songs that have some relevance to the story.

Quentin: As the songs countdown, they get more important.

Jason: Until #1, which is the most important song in the book.

Jake: And to get ready for release day, he’ll be posting one song each day on Twitter and Facebook, at 7:30pm CDT.

Quentin: From now until 07-05-13.

Jake: Release day.

Jason: #TheReturn

Quentin: So if you want to join in, follow him on Twitter or like his Facebook page.

Jake: For the record, though, you don’t need to be familiar with the music to enjoy the book.

Jason: Not at all.

Quentin: Brad calls it “value add.”

Jason: The countdown begins today.

Jake: As a bonus, we’re going to post #40 now, after the jump.

Before Midnight

Quentin: It’s nice to be back talking about movies.

Jake: We decided to say no to both Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover III.

Jason: And went to see Before Midnight instead.

Quentin: It’s good to support Austin filmmakers.

Jake: Richard Linklater is from Houston.

Quentin: I know. But Austin claims him. Slacker is one of the great chronicles of our fair city.

Jason: Can I recap?

Quentin: Go for it, little bro.

The Return Description Reveal & Giveaway

Quentin: This is turning into a full-time job.

Jason: We never do four posts in a week.

Jake: You're both so lazy. <kisses Jason>

Jason: Are you having fun?

Jake: Yes. I'm learning a lot about giveaways and widgets and shit. Did you know you can only run a giveaway on Facebook with a third-party app?

Jason: I didn't know that.

Quentin: Now ask me if I care?

Jake: I wasn't talking to you, jackass. Let's move on.

Quentin: So, people have been asking me, what is Brad's new book about?

Jason: Which is what brings us here today. The description is after the jump.

Jake: It ain't much.

Quentin: One paragraph. I'm probably going to get into trouble for saying this, but I feel people should know that the blurb describes maybe 15% of the book.

Jake: It barely scratches the surface.

Jason: Short and sweet. That's how Brad wanted it. "The less people know, the more they'll enjoy it."

Quentin: Jake, tell us about the giveaway.

Jake: It runs for 48 hours. The prize is another $25 Amazon gift card. Open to all readers worldwide, but once again, you must have an account with Amazon in some country. There are three ways to enter.

• Tweet about this post. The tweet and verification are built into the widget. It tells you how to find the link to your tweet and paste it into the entry so that we can verify you sent it. Since that's kind of a pain in the ass, it's worth 10 points.
• Answer a Three Amigos question. If you are a regular reader of the blog, you will know the answer. 5 points.
• Answer a question about The Nothingness of Ben. 5 points.

Jason: Can someone do all three?

Jake: Absolutely. If you tweet, and  you read Brad's first book, and you read the blog, you can enter to the tune of 20 points. That increases your chances of being randomly selected by Rafflecopter.

Quentin: We want to stress, we do not pick the winners.

Jason: Can we give the answer to the contest question?

Quentin: Yes. But we can't announce the winner until we verify the email. Jake, what's the answer?

Jake: "Born to Run". Bruce Springsteen. A couple of people answered "Slowhand" by Eric Clapton.

Quentin: Ben said that's a good guess, but Brad told me he's never seen that album cover in his life.

Jake: That's it for the giveaway. Read the Terms and Conditions. Quentin wrote them and they're pretty funny.

Quentin: Enough chat. Onto the description of The Return by Brad Boney...

The Return Cover Reveal & Contest

Quentin: Big day.

Jake: The cover of Brad's next book is after the jump.

Jason: The release date is 07-05-13. #TheReturn

Quentin: We also have a contest. Jake, do you want to give the details?

Jake: Sure. Brad told us that a famous album cover inspired the cover of the book. So, in order to be eligible for the $25 gift card, you must correctly identify the artist and album title. You can enter the contest after the jump, using the Rafflecopter widget.

Quentin: The widget looks a little cheapo.

Jake: I know, but I like the features.

Jason: If you don't know the answer, don't panic. We didn't know it either, but I called up David and he knew it right off.

Quentin: That's a hint. It's an album from the olden days, when they put music on vinyl. So call your parents.

Jason: Or any old person.

Jake: And if that doesn't work, I put these Facebook and Twitter buttons together. Ask your friends and followers if they know the answer.

Tweet

Quentin: Ask everyone you know. Are you sure the buttons work?

Jake: I'm pretty sure the Twitter button works. I'm less confident about the Facebook one. I guess we'll find out.

Jason: A winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter.

Jake: From all correct entries.

Quentin: What happens if no one knows the answer?

Jake: Then no prize will be awarded. But we'll take the $25 and add it to the next one on Wednesday. And you don't need to know anything to enter that giveaway.

Quentin: Anything else?

Jake: The contest runs for 48 hours. You must have an Amazon account in some country to claim your prize. Read the Terms and Conditions. And come back on Wednesday, when we'll reveal the book description and give away another gift card.

Quentin: Then if we're done with all that, we present the cover of The Return, by Brad Boney...

The Vampire Diaries Season 4

Quentin: We just finished watching the season finale of The Vampire Diaries.

Jake: Season 4.

Jason: We didn't plan on doing a review, but Jake was over here watching with us, and when it finished, we looked at each other and Quentin said, “Let’s hit the table.”

Jake: This is for people who have seen the final episode. SPOILERS AND LOTS OF THEM after the jump.

Quentin: Before we get started, don’t forget we’ll be revealing the cover of Brad’s next book tomorrow, May 20, at 7:30pm CDT.

Jason: #TheReturn.

Jake: There will also be a contest in conjunction with the reveal.

Jason: And a $25 Amazon gift card for one lucky winner.

Quentin: And we have the book description coming up on Wednesday.

Jason: #TheReturn.

Jake: With another $25 gift card.

Quentin: Lots of cash flying around on the blog next week. Okay, onto the review…

Star Trek Into Darkness

Quentin: Now that’s what I call a movie.

Jake: As you’ve probably guessed by now, we went to see Star Trek Into Darkness last night.

Jason: Full disclosure. We all agree that the J.J. Abrams first Star Trek was arguably the best reboot in franchise history.

Quentin: Amazing. I still can’t get over what he did.

Jason: So we came to this predisposed to like it.

Jake: And we weren’t disappointed.

Quentin: There is so much to enjoy here. Where to begin?

The Great Gatsby

Quentin: That was a somber experience.

Jake: We went to see The Great Gatsby today.

Jason: What were you expecting?

Quentin: I guess I thought he’d bring some fun to the story.

Jason: Baz Lurhmann, you mean?

Iron Man 3

Quentin: And we’re back.

Jason: We took a week off.

Jake: It was my fault. I couldn’t see another Dwayne Johnson film. Not to offend any of his fans, but it just wasn’t in me.

Quentin: I think the time off was good. We got non-stop films now that summer has officially begun in movie land.

Jake: We went to see Iron Man 3 today.