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Great Train Rides in Books & Pop Culture

We’ve got trains on the brain today at Quirk Books. It’s no secret that commuter travel plays a major role in the plot of The Girl on the Train, so we started thinking. Cars and planes are well and good, but where would storytelling be without our trusty locomotives? To celebrate the film’s release, here’s a look at our favorite train rides in books and pop culture.

Posted by Danielle Mohlman

Superheroes We Wish Were in the Arrow-verse

The CW’s interconnected superhero series return this month, and with Supergirl joining Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, there are going to be more superheroes on the channel than you can shake a stick at. All four of these shows are fantastic in their own way—the gritty vigilante style of Arrow, the colorful meta-humor of The Flash, the gloriously weird sci-fi twists of Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl’s sunny feminism.

Posted by Rose Moore

Patronuses of Classic Literary Characters

Pottermore, the popular Harry Potter fan site where Potterheads can read exclusive content from J.K. Rowling herself, recently unveiled its official Patronus quiz. Need a refresher? The Patronus Charm is considered one of the most difficult defensive spells in the magical world. When used effectively, the witch or wizard will conjure an apparition in the form of an animal, which serves as a spirit guide and protection against Dementors. Now you can find out if you have an otter Patronus, like Hermione Granger, or perhaps something entirely new. Pretty awesome, right? We decided to have a little fun and assign some of our favorite classic literary characters their own spirt guides. Expecto Patronum!

Posted by KJ Hadjis

11 Books for Eleven from Stranger Things

[Still from Stranger Things, Netflix]

Chances are that sometime in the past couple of months, you’ve either binged or at least heard about Netflix’s original series, Stranger Things. And chances are if you’ve binged it, you’re a teeny bit obsessed with it and can’t wait for Season 2 to premiere. Here are 11 (get it?) books we think El would adore—and they'll help to hold you over until Season 2 of Stranger Things. Don't forget to eat all of El's favorite foods to really get you in the spirit.

Posted by Stefani Sloma

Burtonize Your Wardrobe for the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children Movie

Ransom Riggs’s best-selling novel, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children has officially arrived on the big screen! Time travel, monsters, magic, and love come together in this beautifully imagined world, and with the legendary Tim Burton behind the camera, we are sure to be in for a visual treat. Known for his poetic, gothic style, Burton’s film isn’t an exact adaptation, but an inspired take on the adventures of Jacob, Emma, Miss Peregrine, and the children.

Posted by Rose Moore

Fortune Cookies for Fictional Characters

In all honesty, the best part about ordering Chinese food is getting the fortune cookies. When dinner is over, you're sad for that one split second before you realize what's lingering in the bottom of your takeout bag. Bonus food! Delicious little morsels with a hidden message inside! We all know that moment when we read one and it perfectly fits our lives (which usually results in pinning the fortune to the refrigerator). In the interest of generosity, we thought we would write fortunes for our favorite fictional characters. 

Posted by Sarah Fox