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2016-19 Activities & Challenges
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2019 Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge -- October Reviews and Discussion
NOTE TO ME WHEN DOING POINTS:Reviews posted on the general discussion thread before this thread was opened:
Amy - The Prince of Mist
NancyJ - Magic Bites
Theresa - The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine
Theresa - Witchful Thinking
We just couldn’t wait - lol! Smart to get that together....
Under the bus I go - lol! Hey, I am having a great month and cannot hold up. Back to the Snow Gypsy...
A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness - 3 starsThis was the first of the supernatural-themed books I've got queued up for October. I started off really liking it - it started as Twilight-for-grownups in an academic setting with a less passive heroine, which I will admit to enjoying a lot, although the number of parallels did get a bit ridiculous at times. As the plot developed the author seemed to take less care to avoid some of the more problematic implications of having a powerful over-protective vampire as a romantic lead, which seemed a shame given that she'd obviously intended to even things out a bit by creating a heroine with a bit more agency. I'm also not generally one for reading a whole series unless I absolutely love the first instalment, so I was irritated that this felt unsatisfying as a standalone read - too many new characters were introduced near the end, and the whole final section was basically about preparing for the action of the second book.
Nikki wrote: "A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness - 3 starsThis was the first of the supernatural-themed books I've got queued up for October. I started off really liking it - it started a..."
This is one of my choices for this challenge..not sure I will get to it. I may go with some Ray Bradbury at my daughters urging.
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
4 stars
Ray Bradbury’s fantasy book, The Halloween Tree, follows eight boys on Halloween night. They are dressed in a range of traditional costumes that among others include a skeleton, witch and ghost. They are out to ‘trick or treat’ and start at an old house where they meet a strange man named Mr. Moundshroud. Their friend, Pipkin, has gone missing and Moundshroud takes them on an elaborate journey to find him. Through the night the boys learn the meaning behind Halloween.
Bradbury’s story connects timeframes of the past, shows similarities and reminds readers of the common fear of death. He captures the loyalty and emotions of the boys. Sometimes there is fear while at others there is excitement. This is a timeless book.
Joanne wrote: "This is one of my choices for this challenge..not sure I will get to it. I may go with some Ray Bradbury at my daughters urging."I love how the next comment was a Bradbury review - clearly a sign!!
That's the 2nd time he's come up for me recently - my 9-yr-old daughter came home from school very excited the other day because her school librarian had been reading his short story 'All Summer in a Day' to them, which I'd told her about enthusiastically but she'd never actually read.
Nikki wrote: "Joanne wrote: "This is one of my choices for this challenge..not sure I will get to it. I may go with some Ray Bradbury at my daughters urging."I love how the next comment was a Bradbury review -..."
My daughter's Drama Teacher in Jr. High loved Bradbury and they did a production of Dandelion Wine-ever since she has been a "fan girl"
Fever Dream - Samantha Schweblin, 5 Stars(Hispanic Heritage Month)
I don't have a clue where to start or how to review this book. Less than 200 pages, told entirely in dialog, a conversation between a woman and child who is not hers, this book is a surreal horror. I want to go hug my children, to not allow them out if my sight.
To describe what happens would, I think, destroy the tension and rising sense of dread the reader feels from the very first sentence. Translated from Spanish, it reads very much like the fever dream from which it receives its title, and exactly matches what I've come to expect of the very best Latinx authors. Do yourself a favor and block out two or three hours to read this book in one sitting.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs - 4 stars I’m finding this review a bit confusing to write. When I think about it logically, a lot of the complaints I had about A Discovery of Witches also hold true for this one: it started strongly but I was less convinced by the later part of the book, it had a great premise that was imperfectly executed, there were a few icky aspects to the supposedly romantic moments, and it spent time at the end setting up for a sequel. BUT – I enjoyed this one far more and wasn’t actually bothered by any of these things (apart from perhaps the romance part…) as I was reading. I think it comes down to expectations – I went into this book with an open mind hoping to be entertained by something ‘peculiar’ and perhaps a bit creepy, and this did that well. I particularly liked the way that the grandfather’s story worked on two levels, with the ‘rational’ explanation for his mysterious beliefs, and his grandson’s attempts to understand him, actually being compelling in its own right. Braver souls than me might be disappointed that it wasn’t actually very scary, but it had the right level of slightly-creepy intrigue to be a good cosy October read for me, and the photographs do add to the experience.
It is time for my fall flurries (and Spain) Children's reviews. I don't count these as books read for my adult year, but I do like to get the point for them. One is a high holidays and Spain combo. Amazingly, the two Spain books were quite moving, and had really tough (but true) topics for a Children's Book. Two are just fun nonsensical. But the other two, the Spain ones, teach about the 1942 Inquisition where it wasn't safe to be Jewish, and WW2, where Spanish Jews had to flee for their lives, and many lost their lives and families forever. Here are the three fall flurry children's reads...Dino Halloween by Lisa Wheeler
You guys have seen me review the Dino Books before, probably last Christmas. So Lisa Wheeler has written these clever books where carnivorous dinosaurs verse the vegetarian ones in multiple sports and activities – and they are wonderful. All of a sudden, Dino – Dancing led to Dino-Christmas. Which I wasn’t all that interested in. Although, Dino Christmas did had one redeeming event – that it leads to Dino Halloween. Which was fun and wonderful! You’ll never guess where Dino Halloween leads – its Dino-Thanksgiving. Premiering next November.
Sammy Spider’s Yom Kippur
Almost too young for him now, Sammy Spider comes out for all the Jewish Holidays at this home to teach for Yom Kippur what this is supposed to be about. In this book Sammy learns what it means to say I’m sorry from the heart and want to do better.
The Secret Shofar of Barcelona
This is a true story, about Don Fernando Aguilar, one of the hidden Jews, Conversos who tried to keep their faith during the Inquisition. In many versions of the story, he was head of the Royal Orchestra. In this one, he conducted an orchestral festival, meant to use native instruuments as well, made from gourds, logs, or what have you. The story proposes, that during the concert, held on Rosh Hashannah, that his son plays the holy notes of the Shofar, (sacred Ram’s horn) during the concert, letting all the secret Jews of Barcelona know that they were celebrating the holiday, and that they were still here.
Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 1 / Alan Moore.3 stars
It seemed like I was missing something right at the start! I guess this only started with Swamp Thing #21, when Alan Moore took over the writing of it. Oops! Didn’t realize. And didn’t really know the story. It did seem to back up a bit after the opening bit to explain, and I found the explanation of how the Swamp Thing came to be quite interesting. The rest of the book was ok. I don’t think I’ll continue the series.
The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths4.5 stars (round down to 4)
This gothic suspense novel had me guessing until the very end. I cycled through thinking every single character was the killer—even the actual killer, but I dismissed that person early on—and still hadn't decided on who I thought it was moments before it was revealed.
Clare teaches English at a mediocre English secondary school in a relatively quiet town outside of London. But, she loves it there. She has friends, her teenage daughter Georgie is thriving following Clare's divorce, and Clare finally has more time to (theoretically) work on her novel focused on the life of R.M. Holland. Any shortfalls in her personal life are more than made up for by the fact that the school she works at is in Holland's former home. The late, Victorian, gothic writer who was most well known for his short story The Stranger, had a life plagued by "accidental" deaths and mysterious persons. But, when someone starts killing people in the same manner as those who were murdered in The Stranger, Clare finds herself at the center of an investigation led by Detective Harbinder Kour, who can't decide if Clare is the killer or the next target.
The book is narrated from three POVs: Clare, Georgie, and Harbinder. And, dividing each change in POV, there is a short except from The Stranger. I thought the intermittent excerpts were fantastic! They were creepy and gothic and provided suspenseful insight to the murders. It had me constantly guessing as to who the killer was, but there were so many clever clues along the way that when the person was finally revealed it made perfect sense!
I am not rounding up because the end was a bit rushed, and it could have been drawn out a bit more to match the delicious pace of the rest of the novel, and there was a weird (view spoiler) elopement at the end. I thought Patrick had been professing his love to Georgie and then suddenly he ran off with her friend? I was confused and not a fan of that plot point.
All in all, one of the more original books I have read in a while, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Also, for my audiobook friends, the narration was pretty good. I was not the biggest fan of the narrator for Harbinder, she read in a stilted manner, but good lord the man who read Holland's parts from The Stranger was perfect! It sounded like listening to a creepy story from a tall, slender, very pale man who is dressed and black and has sharp facial features...you know the guy I am talking about!
Spooky Creepy North Dakota
2 stars
Don't judge a book by its cover. The last few stories come from Native American ghost stories which are good but very short. Overall the book is ok. Some stories are longer than others but all of them lack something like background stories, conclusions, substance or some kind of real evidence to help you draw a conclusion that is truly haunted or evil. Highly disappointed in this quick reading book but giving it two stars because it has a wonderful bibliography in the back so I can research some of these stories for myself.
The Witches: Salem, 1692
2 stars
The only reason I finished this book is that I was at a hospital with my other books trapped in our SUV. I wanted so badly to like this book it is such an interesting/strange part of our American history. The book was a tedious dry read with very little flow. I am giving it two stars because I did find parts of it fascinating and you can tell lots of research was done.
SouthWestZippy wrote: "The Witches: Salem, 16922 stars
The only reason I finished this book is that I was at a hospital with my other books trapped in our S..."
UGH! I just picked this up at a used book sale-not even going to bother with it-it is going to the Library as a donation-off the TBR it comes!
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
3 stars
Monkeys, murder, magic and mayhem are all part of this leg of bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's career. It's not enough that she is constantly drooling over three men, in this one there is a third, Diesel, and yes, he's one of two men with magic--the other is a nefarious villain called Wulf. Among other things Diesel can start cars with his finger, and I'm talking about cars that require keys in order to start the engine.
Stephanie is on the hunt for two men who have skipped bail and--if you've read this series before be sure to be shocked--neither is cooperative. Okay, you're not shocked, but that's part of the fun, isn't it? She ends up with both a monkey and Diesel staying in her apartment. The monkey's name is Carl, he'll only do his business on a toilet and is quick with the middle finger salute. I know, I know, you're wondering where a little summary or actual synopsis or some kind of plot lure is coming, but it's not--there is enough of that in the blurb.
Hallowe'en Husbands: Marriage at Morrow Creek / Wedding at Warehaven / Master of Penlowen by Lisa Plumley 2 stars
Three historical romance short stories centered on halloween. Not terrible but not all that great either.
Marriage at Morrow Manner by Lisa Plumley -- I like her romances, which are generally lighthearted, a bit quirky and humorous, relatively sweet. Rose has been in love forever with Will, the handsome young driver/man of work for her family's itinerant medicine show in the Old West. It's the week leading up to Halloween and Rose is determined to make a play for Will, who doesn't quite know what hits him. Misunderstandings and cuteness abounds. As do a ghost or two.
Wedding at Warehaven by Denise Lynn - Set in early 12th Century England, Brigit decides to try to determine who will be her true love by an old wives tale around the bonfire celebrating the end of harvest. Just as she casts the 'spell', Randall, the bastard son of the King, rides into the courtyard to suppress the pagan rites being practiced. And of course claim the castle and its daughter as his own. This one ended up spicy and rather fun as Brigit and Randall each appear to have met their match, but Randall's initial domineering and threats were a little off-putting.
Master of Penlowen by Christine Merrill. Arabella is not having a great Halloween. While enroute to Cornwall for a new job as a paid companion, the stage coach is waylaid by highwaymen. She is rescued from them by a mysterious stranger, Richard, who takes her to a very dark and haunted manor house on the cliffs. Let's just say this was a very spooky paranormal themed spicy hot romance. However, Richard was too aggressively moody to be a comfortable hero.
Best of all - another removed from my ebook TBR Towers.
Night Broken ( Mercy Thompson, #8) – Patricia Briggs (5 stars)Another great addition to the Mercy Thompson series. We have a triangle of sorts, never a favorite plot of mine. Adam's ex is being stalked and Adam takes her in. After last volume's clear indication that Christy was a self-centered woman who abandoned Adam when he needed her support, it was hard to see him let her back into his life enough to manipulate the Pack against Mercy. However, it did not show any lack of character on Mercy's part. She was still able to look at the overall dynamic and determine what was the most important issue and make that her priority, allowing other issues to fall into place as the major action proceeded. Still a strong protagonist securing her place in a strong relationship.
Besides the PACK dynamic mentioned above there is an outside villain that requires cooperation between the witches, fae, and vampires. All making for a Halloween read.
Joanne wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: "The Witches: Salem, 16922 stars
The only reason I finished this book is that I was at a hospital with my other..."
Joanne wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: " The Witches: Salem, 1692
2 stars
The only reason I finished this book is that I was at a hospital with my other..."
I am so sorry Joanne. I hate turning people away with a bad review but good choice to walk away from it. NOW, I will add, if anyone is going to do a book report on this subject, use this book but get ready to have to do some digging to get what you need.
Oh don't be sorry-I only paid a buck for it, donating to my library where I am sure someone else will pick it up-and maybe enjoy it...but maybe not! LoL-If you find another, better one, on the subject I would be interested to hear about it-
The Shining by Stephen King4 stars
I've been saving this all year to read in October.
After seeing Joey and Rachel's reaction to The Shining on Friends, where they kept it in the freezer because it was so scary, I was apprehensive about picking it up and reading it. Because I am NOT a fan of horror or being scared. I'm starting to realize that although that translates to movies... thanks to the climatic music, for me, I'm more interested in what happens next and less scared. I will say I read faster and may skim in some parts. LOL
That being said, I've never seen the movie The Shining, because... have I mentioned, I HATE being scared. I am not a fan of scary or horror movies but you would have to live under a rock to not know some of the more famous scenes... i.e. "Here's Johnny" and the scene with the twins... so I kind of already knew what happens because I know who Jack Nicholson plays in the movie.
Overall I enjoyed the whole book. I did have to read really fast/skim a couple of the more gruesome parts. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there were a couple parts that I kind of struggled a little and lost interest for a second in a couple of spots.
I'm going to try to suck it up and watch the movie now. I'll definitely be reading the next book. Doctor Sleep and I look forward to trying to watch that show.
This is the only King book I ever read-then friends dragged me kicking and screaming to the movie, where I continued to kick and scream-lol
Fall Flurries - October Melmoth by Sarah Perry - 4 stars
“When I was a child they told me you wander the earth watching all that’s most base and most wicked in mankind – that wherever sin is greatest you are there, and you are the witness. They said you come to those in the blackest despair, and hold out your hand and offer friendship, because your loneliness is so terrible.” – Sarah Perry, Melmoth
Set in present-day Prague, Helen, an English woman, has been working as a translator of instruction manuals for twenty years. She leads an austere life. A friend and scholar, Karel, tells her of the legend of Melmoth, which he has been researching, and gives her reading material. This material relates to historical atrocities, where Melmoth is believed to have been watching. These bits of historical material are used as “nested stories” within Helen’s narrative. Helen begins to catch glimpses of a shadowy figure following her. She believes it is Melmoth, for Helen is harboring a dark secret of her own.
Themes include conscience, guilt, loneliness, and remorse. Perry establishes Melmoth as a witness of the behaviors that people try to hide: “When she turns her eyes on you it’s as if she’s been watching all your life – as if she’s seen not only every action, but every thought, every shameful secret, every private cruelty.” The story provides a sense of reality melded with folklore, the possibility of something unexplainable lurking, following, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The one being followed experiences a build-up of fear and anxiety, questioning if some nefarious presence really is “out there.” It’s just a superstition, right?
It took me a while to figure out what was going on with this book, and I never got completely immersed in it to the point of feeling scared, but it definitely generated a feeling of discomfort. It reads like a 19th century Gothic novel and Perry excels at creating a dark, cold, haunting atmosphere. While quite unsettling in places, it also contains a possibility of redemption, and the ending is extraordinarily well-constructed. Recommended to readers looking for a disquieting read with a thought-provoking message.
Link to My GR Review
Fall Flurry crossover, due to its relationship to the occult.
The Witches of St. Petersburg by Imogen Edwards Jones - 4 stars
The Witches of St. Petersburg gathers up a lot of my interests. Court Royalty, historical fiction and the occult seems to be a concentration of mine. I perhaps have obtained a major in historical fiction, with a minor in court intrigue as well as the occult. I have always been interested in the royals, vying for succession and power, marriage alliances, using each other as pawns. Killing for the sake of succession. Throughout all of these, madness and the occult are never far. What was different for me around this, is that I knew very little of Russian history, and almost nothing about Rasputin, our infamous nefarious evil character who commands the dark arts as generals command armies. Rasputin is one of our most evil historical characters. He commanded the Tsar and Tsarina, and the entire court, the armies and the militia. Something about him was commanding and mystical. He enticed, forced women to sleep with him, carouse with him, and called it a "healing." In this account, he even beat their sins out of them, and they were willing to this cause - so great was their faith. But in this tale, he was not completely unopposed. He had two women, our heroines, Militzia and Stana, our "Black Princesses." Known for pitch black hair and eyes, these Cinderella figures were also known as the Goat Princess, and they were seen as peasants and intruders and treated as such. They were not accepted into the court, and had to vie for power. Not to mention the sisters had the gifts of the occult, and were not afraid to use it as leverage to save their skins. They both introduced and created Rasputin to the Russian community, and were responsible for the catastrophic impact of that cascade. Rasputin became unstoppable.
To digress for just a moment from the storyline, I want to share an everyday moment. I was in a Starbucks line, missing the beginning of a 4th grade soccer game, where I missed my son making an incredible life defying goal. A woman commented on the book I was holding, The Witches of St. Petersburg. I love that, because normally, I am the one to bee peeking at the titles folks are reading, and to engage them in book discussions. Anyway, the woman was intrigued because she was Russian and she had just returned from St. Petersburg two days earlier. I read the back of the book - synopsis, and we talked about her history briefly. She said, "Its so funny how the women were blamed back then for producing daughters, when nowadays, science, we know sex is entirely determined by the men. Y chromosome and all that. Women feared for their lives if they couldn't produce a son. They were killed for it, abandoned. Its why they turned to the dark arts." She also told me of the little Tsar having hemophilia, which of course they didn't understand scientifically back then, or how to treat it. I didn't realize that this all came from Queen Victoria's line, the "royal disease", which emerged from way back when, the curse of the Tudors. Where the curse was, whoever was responsible for the death of the boys in the tower, would never be able to produce sustaining male heirs, and that appears to have come all the way through history. Obviously, my coffee line partner wasn't talking about the English monarchy, she was much more steeped in the Russian, which I found interesting. But clearly the long awaited Tsar, and his hemophilia, was the perfect storm for a Rasputin to enter, and that landscape of fear was his calling card and source of his power. Tsarina Alix would do whatever it took to keep that child safe, and linked Russia's fate with Rasputin's. And therefore the Black Princesses, too.
My coffee line partner says there is much lore in Russia about Rasputin, and the greatness of his powers. That he was stabbed, shot, drowned, and poisoned, and his strength was so great, he still didn't die. She said medically (autopsy) he lived underwater long after he should have drowned, and it was medically impossible. The book strongly hints at that too. He is as scary and evil as Voldemort, or any other character. And I must admit that while I was writing the review, and thinking about how all of these women were swayed by this character of ill-repute who gained power by a mixture of charm, power over others, and his "cock", that the unlikely image of Donald Trump continued to come to mind. How people allowed this man to overrun way past any boundary, political, personal, in ways that defy our understanding. Our black princesses seemed to me to be no different than any other female court royalty in trouble and in danger. No more or less noble or nefarious. They were just trying to save their lives, and in a way, Russia's. The idea being that no one should hold that much power. Which is an interesting thought, for both the political and the occult.
Militzia, far more than Stana, is the heroine of the book. Stana too is more ruled by desire, Militzia by principle, and powerful strategy. And yet Militzia had that privilege due to the happier marriage, and perhaps that makes a difference. Her husband was a minor character, but I have to say that I liked him. He and his brother were stand-up men at a time, where scheming and power-grabbing men were also at the center of the book as well as in history.
Historical fiction is really wonderful, because we get to take a well known story and make guesses, really develop the characters inside of them and give them feeling, warmth, heart, and motivations. I loved learning more about Russia, and also the occult piece, which appeared to fit right in, and actually always has throughout our history of court royalty and the fight for succession and power. These women were noble ladies with a badass spirit. A combination I very much like.
The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton5 stars
This was one of the first books in a long time that I stayed up late to finish.
Quite frankly, it took me some time to come around to this book. The shifting between past and present, between points of view, and between characters across time was a bit much for me at the start, but Morton's prose was absolutely beautiful, and I slowly got drawn in. I'm really happy that I persevered.
In broad strokes, this book tells the story of an English countryside house, Birchwood Manor, and various intertwining stories related to a nineteenth-century event that happened there. It covers several different but interlocking timelines across over a hundred years, centered on unraveling an event that occurred at the manor and its repercussions. The timelines slowly weave together over the course of the novel, shedding light on the history of the manor house and its visitors.
I was a bit perplexed by one key development at the book's end ((view spoiler)) but I'm still so pleased with his book, and I now very much want to read some of Morton's other works. I also found it a really lovely fall read: there were certainly supernatural/ghostly elements, and the atmosphere was generally very autumnal and gloriously antique.
Skeleton Crew-Stephen King 4 starsA collection of 22 stories. The longest is the novella The Mist. This story was also the most memorable to me. It involves a mist creeping over an area which turns out to be full of strange creatures and many people end up trapped in a grocery store. My favorite from the remaining stories was Word Processor of the Gods which involves a computer that can make things appear and disappear. These stories had almost all been published before being put in this book but as I wasn't reading King stories in the 80's they were all new to me.
The Dead Girls Club / Damien Angelica Walters4 stars
When Heather was 12-years old, she was best friends with Becca. Rachel and Gia rounded out their group of friends, and the one summer they called themselves the “Dead Girls Club”, as they discussed serial killers and Becca told the other girls the story of the “Red Lady”, a witch who was horribly murdered, but maybe wasn’t actually dead.
Almost 30 years later, Heather begins receiving things in the mail that remind her of that awful summer – the summer she killed her best friend (not a spoiler – it is revealed very early on in the book). Who could be sending these things!? Who even knew what happened that night?
I really liked this. It pulled me in and kept me wanting to read. It turned out to be a pretty fast read. It is told alternating between Then and Now, as the reader slowly learns what happened that summer, while at the same time trying to figure out who has contacted Heather now. Yes, I was surprised by a couple of twists at the end. Maybe some will figure it out (at least one of the twists), but it never occurred to me! And, there were a few creepy parts, so fitting for an October read.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson - 4 starsThis book’s narrator Mary Katherine (Merricat) is at once childlike and defensively hostile, superstitious and perhaps a little creepy. What has happened to make her that way, and who is to blame? Who in her strange little family is being protected, and from what? Who makes the rules, and will things ever change? (view spoiler) This was a fun quick October read - impressively creepy without giving me the fear in real life, and I couldn’t resist going back and skim-reading it again as soon as I’d reached the end, to see how many of my early impressions came from passages that could be also be interpreted totally differently with more knowledge…
Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?
Oh no, said Merricat, you’ll poison me.
Merricat, said Connie, would you like to go to sleep?
Down in the boneyard six feet deep!
The Witches of St. Petersburg 3 starsA tail spun from the life of the last Tzarina of Russia (granddaughter of Queen Victoria by the way), and her struggle to bless the Russian people with a male heir. The arrival of 2 obscure Princesses from Montenegro leads Russia down the path of revolt.
This is what I would call Light/Dark Historical Fiction. Light, because I am a gal who questions liberties taken by authors who write this genre-and there were quite a few here. Dark because, the presence of the occult and some of the disgusting acts portrayed.
That being said, it was an easy, sometimes fun (not often enough) read that I just was not drawn to when it was time to reach for a book. Just OK for me.
Appointment with Fear / Valentine Dyall3.75 stars
This is a BBC radio show that aired in the 1940s. This audio book features four of the programs that aired: “The Pit and the Pendulum”, “The Clock Strikes Eight” “The Sleeping Clock”, and “And the Deep Shuddered”.
I read “The Pit and the Pendulum” in high school, so I remember the gist of it. The other stories were new to me. I enjoyed this. I like these radio shows and dramatic productions of stories. I liked the “Deep Shuddered” one, as well as one of the “Clock” ones (but I can’t remember which was the one I liked better; one ran right after the other, so I’m not sure which was which!). Really, they were all entertaining. I’m giving it the extra ¼ star for the radio dramatization.
The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht, 3.5 starsPerfect little Halloween read. Its macabre sensibilities and monstrous characters fit the atmospheric mood of Halloween to me.
The Monster of Elendhaven is simultaneously dark and quirky, equal parts gloomy gothic tale and strangely adorable relationship between pretty awful characters. Elendhaven is a bleak place, where the sea is black, plague exists in recent memory, and the wealthy elite are little more sympathetic than the vengeful magician Florian whose quest to destroy the city drives the plot. Johann, the eponymous monster ("Monster was the best, his favourite word. The first half was a kiss, the second a hiss."), is both terrifying and oddly endearing in his devotion to his master. Others have called this a bit of a romance, but I'd say it's more of a twisted love story with two characters just monstrous enough to be right for each other. Either way, the combination of moody atmosphere and just enough hint of romance were enough to make this twisted little story work for me, even if I was a little vague on some elements of the backstory.
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher, 4 StarsThis book wasn't set around Halloween, but it was set in October and was about a wizard hunting werewolves, so I figured it counted.
It's the second in the Dresden Files series, and I thought it was much better than the first one. I enjoy the humor, the supernatural elements are done well, and this one had some interesting twists and turns.
The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine by Kate Angell, Jennifer Dawson, and Sharla Lovelace, 2.5 stars2.5 star read - not low enough for a two but not strong enough for 3. I picked it up for the Halloween aspect, but Halloween is just window dressing for cutesy small-town cheesy romances. That's not my romance flavor of choice.
The first story, Charmed by You by Kate Angell, is an insta-lust story precipitated by a cringey meet-cute sort of involving B&B owner Amelia Rose's feisty cat and a torn pair of jeans. It also features some fun old-school misogyny like handyman love interest Cade Maxwell observing that his crew "didn't like being bossed around by a woman, not even an attractive one" on the second page. (That almost made me put the whole book down, honestly, except that I knew the stories were by a several different authors.) By the end of two evenings in story time and about 59 pages, they're ready to call what they have a relationship.
The second story, Mesmerized by You by Jennifer Dawson was a little better, featuring two lifelong friends finally confronting the chemistry between them. Once again, busybody Amelia Rose intervenes, reading their tarot cards and finding their fortunes entangled. After veering wildly between lust and trying to maintain their status quo for the duration of the story, it ends happily. Of course, to get there, the first step in realizing their feelings for each other manifests in the male lead Jack throwing a jealous hissy fit over the heroine Chloe wearing a skimpy costume to the party. Romancelandia, can we please find new ways of characters realizing their feelings without it happening through idiotic jealousy and attempting to control the other person?
I was wary when I started Sharla Lovelace's Enchanted by You, hoping it wasn't a story with a conclusion that involves workaholic lawyer Sidney giving it all up for small-town wholesomeness. Early on, I twitched at a character explaining that his niece changed her name from Smith to Blossom to be more feminist... somehow. Because that's apparently how feminism works, I guess. This one pleasantly surprised me though. It's a sweet, second-chance romance with a decent amount of requisite angst. It won't go down as a favorite, but I mostly enjoyed it.
Honestly, after being burned on yet another Halloween romance that barely engages with Halloween, I'm coming to the conclusion that I need to make Halloween a more integral part of one of my next romances I write.
Hebah wroteHonestly, after being burned on yet another Halloween romance that barely engages with Halloween, I'm coming to the conclusion that I need to make Halloween a more integral part of one of my next romances I write ."Please do!
You were kinder in your rating than I was.
Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb - 3 starsKate Granger goes to stay with her parents at Lake Superior following the ending of her marriage and her career. When the body of a woman and her baby are washed up one morning Kate is shocked to see the face of a woman she has been dreaming about. The lake is well known for its icy depths which keep things in an uncanny state of preservation and this woman looks like she died yesterday but there are no missing persons and the clothes she is wearing are very old.
Potentially a suspect because of her reaction to the body, Kate is mystified when she finds an old photograph in some family papers which appears to show the dead woman when she was alive...... in 1905.
Kate, her cousin, Simon, and Detective Nick Stone look for answers in Kate's family history and the family ghosts help.
This was a good story but it wasn't really creepy, unfortunately. It goes backwards and forwards in time quite easily with parallels between past events and the present but while I don't have any problem with believing in ghosts and such within the pages of a book I do have difficulty in believing in a detective who believes so easily!
I mght have given it 4 stars if it wasn't for the way in which the reader is never left to draw their own conclusions - if there was a point to be made then it was definitely made!
Theresa wrote: "You were kinder in your rating than I was."Not by much. I agree with you, though, I think the third story was the best.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones 5 StarsThis is the 2nd book in the Wayward Children Series-I loved it as much as the first.
This is the "before the Wayward Home" story of twins Jack and Jill. It is just as much a coming of age story (if you expect to be a vampire or Mad Scientist when you turn 18) as it is a dark and heartbreaking fairy tale. Unfortunately no one lives happily ever-after.
Before finding their door Jacqueline and Jillian lead very structured lives, enforced by their parents. Jack, as the pretty little princess and and Jill the dusty dirty Tom Boy. Once through the door their lives are upended and nothing is ever the same.
Seanan McGuire is fast becoming a new favorite of mine. I am anticipating picking up the 3rd book ASAP!
The Ghosts of Devils Lake
5 stars
Great collections of short stories about the Devils Lake, North Dakota area. I had either heard about or read about "The Lightman at the Oprea House" and "The Murder of the Ward Brothers." The other fascinating stories are new to me. When it comes to ghost stories it falls short, it is more of a history book with a ghost story sprinkled in here and there. A couple of stories did almost have me sleeping with the lights on. Well written and can be a quick read if you want or need it to be. The sources of information pages are wonderful and very helpful for further research.
Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capo Crucet 3,5 stars rounded upHispanic Heritage Month
I felt compelled to read Jennine Capo Crucet's book after reading that it was burned by a number of Georgia students after Ms Crucet spoke about white privilege. I wanted to support her and I thought this would work for Fall Flurries with National Hispanic Heritage Month. Once I began the book, I was doubly engaged because I believe that Rawlings College which the main character attended was Cornell, which is in my old stomping grounds.
Lizet, the daughter of Cuban refugees attended a school in Miami known nationally known for ill prepared students. She is at the top of her class and manages to get in highly reputed and tough Rawlings College in a small town in upstate New York. Despite her excellent grades in high school she is ill-prepared for the tough academic criteria of Rawlings and does not know how to navigate. Her college classmates are constantly curious about where she is from:
And so I gave them a new answer: Miami, I’m from Miami. Oh, they’d say, But where are you from from? I was from from Miami, but eventually I learned to say what they were trying to figure out: My parents are from Cuba. No, I’ve never been. Yes, I still have family there. No, we don’t know Fidel Castro. Once I learned what I was supposed to say, it became a chant, like the address I’d memorized but didn’t think of as home.
Crucet describes college life and its intricacies well. The time and the setting drew me in. It is 1999 and Lizet's mother become embroiled with Ariel Hernandez' cause. He is a young Cuban boy who survived the crossing while his mother did not. (we know him as Elian Gonzalez.)
Lizet loyalties are caught between the academic world and the world of her family. She feels protective and tied to her family and struggles to understand the world of academia, but she wants to excel and she loves learning.
The book bogged down a bit when she returned to her family in Miami, but perhaps that was intentional.
I found the book interesting and entertaining and certainly not deserving of the treatment given by the students in Georgia.
Fall Flurries - October - spooky, horrorFrankissstein: A Love Story by Jeanette Winterson, 4 stars
This a weird, funny, sexy modern take on the horror classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Just in time for Halloween.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Year One (Chronicles of the One, #1) – Nora Roberts (5 stars) A plague, call The Doom, erupts in Scotland and quickly crosses the world killing billions. Some people are immune and others get new or enhanced magical powers. As with any disaster there are those looking for a scapegoat and the magicals, named The Uncanny, become the target. The story follows 3 groups originating in NYC, all deciding to head west for various reasons. Max and Lana are witches who head to western PA to find his brother. Arlys, Chuck and Fred head for OH to find Arlys' family. Dr. Rachel, paramedic Jonah and Katie with 3 newborn babies just head out of the chaos looking for a safe place. All run into a variety of situations until they meet up about halfway through the book. Then survival and rebuilding become a focus, with ultimately a new set of problems and disasters.
Exciting, great world building and beginning to a series. Very different for Roberts but her characters are typical of her style and her concepts fall in line with her past writings. Very good new direction.
I have been losing interest in her trilogies lately, particularly the paranormal ones. The previous three couple interface in each volume seemed so forced keeping everyone up on the status of each other, so no character was unaware of a crucial piece of information to forward the plot. This works so much better because the characters can act independently while being part of a larger group.
HalloweenDinosaur Lake II :Dinosaurs Arising / Kathryn Meyer Griffith
4 stars
It’s been five years since the park at Crater Lake had to deal with dinosaurs that appeared and were attacking people. Now, they are back! But, not the same dinosaurs – these are different ones, these ones can fly…
I really enjoyed this one, as well. There was a stretch in the middle where it slowed down a bit and we were dealing with the head park ranger’s (Henry’s) wife’s (Ann’s) illness, but it picked up again soon after that. Speaking of Ann, I still quite liked most of the characters (the only ones I didn’t like were very secondary), and I was interested in how things would go for them. Also loved the kitten. :-) I do hope to continue with the series (though, it’s self-published, so a bit trickier to get my hands on).
HalloweenBaba Yaga's Assistant by Martika McCoola and illustrated by Emily Carroll - 4 stars
Perfect Halloween story. McCoola blends contemporary sensibilities and issues like the blending of families and coping with grief after the loss of family members with the old-school threat of Baba Yaga, scourge of naughty children everywhere. Baba Yaga has posted an ad for an assistant, and heroine Masha, unhappy with her home life, is ready to apply herself to the tests. The atmosphere in this middle-grade story is dark and unsettling but not too scary, all while still keeping Baba Yaga a tricksy, unpredictable threat. Heroine Masha is delightfully resourceful, and I loved the flashbacks with her grandma, a woman who also encountered Baba Yaga back in her day. Keep this one in your back pocket for kiddos who want a bit of horror.
Newly Wed and Slightly Dead - Danielle Garrett (3 stars)A fun, very light and quick Halloween read. I got this free from iBooks as a first in a series.
Anastasia is a magical wedding planner working on the biggest gig of her career to date - the slightly controversial wedding of Dmitri Vanguard (a member of one of the very best vampire families) to Alice, a mere human. Dmitri’s mother is not happy but despite her best efforts to break things up, things stay on track ... until a murder on rehearsal night throws everything into disarray. Things aren’t all bad though - enter Mr Tall and Gorgeous ...
A touch of Devil Wears Prada in the office politics and a chaotic younger sister create some gentle smiles. Don’t expect literature or a complex mystery (and a couple of chapters are woefully badly edited) but the author likes
her characters and has a nice touch to her storytelling. This was a good undemanding way to distract me for a couple of the wee small hours when I couldn’t sleep
The book I picked for October flurry turned out to be a middle grade book (I thought it was young adult). It only took a few hours to read, so I also read a novella (less than 200 pages) that was definitely an adult level read. Rather than submit either book for an entire point, I am submitting them both and requesting a total of only one point for both books combined (if this is not OK, that is fine).City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab
3 1/2 stars
This is a middle grade level book about a girl who has the ability to see ghosts and lift the veil to enter the ghost dimension (or in between as another character calls it). She obtained this ability after a near death experience. Throughout the book, she is learning that there may be a purpose to her gift and she also learns that the gift has potential dangers she never anticipated. It was an entertaining world with some fun characters. Like most middle grade books, the good guys were really good, the bad guys were really bad, and the parents were clueless. The story didn't have much depth (even for a middle grade book) and felt like it was a set up for future books in the series. But I liked the world and the characters and I think my middle grade kids would really like it.
The Murders of Molly Southbourne - Tade Thompson
4 stars
This novella was about a girl with an usual problem, every time she bled a doppelganger was created and it was intent on killing her. Although how this worked was never explained, the author did an excellent job exploring the problems that this would create (for example, what happened when the girl got her first period). There was a lot of action (Molly was forced to kill her copies before they killed her) and suspense as the reader wondered how this was going to end. Molly was an interesting character with a lot of depth, the story of how she coped with her condition was suspenseful and interesting. There was a lot of material to analyze for symbolism (What do the Mollys represent? What does it mean that the main character had to keep killing parts of herself to survive?) but it could be enjoyed even for those who wish to read it at face value. I definitely recommend it to those that enjoy horror and suspense.
Cora wrote: " I am submitting them both and requesting a total of only one point for both books combined (if this is not OK, that is fine).."Request granted!
Nicole R wrote: "Cora wrote: " I am submitting them both and requesting a total of only one point for both books combined (if this is not OK, that is fine).."Request granted!"
Thanks Nicole!
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