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2021 Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge -- October Reviews and Discussion
Dark Wolf by Christine Feehan 3 starsHere's my review:
With werewolves, mages and vampire hunters, perfect book for Halloween!
This is the 22nd book in this series and while I enjoyed it, I was reminded of why I put this series down for a few years. The books all follow a formula, with some minor but interesting details changed.
A fun read though, but definitely not a stand-alone.
Vampires, Bones and Treacle Scones by Kaitlyn Dunnett 3 stars -- part of a series but can be read as a standalone and in any order.
Liss is head of the Moosetookalook All Hallows Festival committee, and planning for the all day and evening Halloween event is going well, especially after getting permission to use the abandoned Chadwick Mansion on the outskirts of town as a haunted house feature. All the planning and vignettes are set, well except for things mysteriously disappearing and reappearing, the the doors being unlocked when they are supposed to be locked. Except while making a final check before opening to the public, Liss discovers the corpse of her jailbird cousin Ned in the parlour. What follows is a murder mystery that is tied to hidden treasure, possible blackmail, hidden treasure and crooks hiding in plain sight.
It was fun, especially the descriptions in the first half of the book of the Halloween festival arrangements. It was especially fun as the abandonned Chadwick mansion features in a later mystery in the series set 5 years after the events in this cozy, which I happened to read recently - X Marks the Scot.
Nice to fill in some of the background that was hinted at but not disclosed in it. I found the ultimate conclusion a little bit fantastic. Our amateur sleuth Liss is a bit irritating as well -- constantly being too squeamish and timid while continuing to insist on both investigating and going into danger.
I really enjoyed that this was a cozy Halloween mystery that had zero paranormal elements.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
5 stars - this is the British edition paperbacks - LOVE the cover art!
Still a wonderful read, though at least the 3rd time actually reading it (I have listened to Jim Dale read the audiobook a few times as well). This time I opted for the original British edition and frankly I don't understand why they changed the title for US audience? there were a handful of vocabulary that were changed in the text -- barely noticeable.
In fact, I was drawn to read it again after recently watching the movies that turn up on cable tv regularly these days. I just wanted to go back to the original material -- and was glad I did although the influence of the movie adaptation does affect reading it now, after all these years. The actor's have put their imprint on so many of the characters, especially. But there are so many little ridbits that are not in the movies, I'm moving on the read the rest of the series again. I think it's my first re-read since the last of the movies came out.
The world created is just so magical on the page. And Halloween at Hogwarts - complete with troll....
If You've Got It, Haunt It - Rose Pressey - 3 Stars
Cookie Chanel owns a popular vintage clothing store in Sugar Creek, Georgia. While attending an estate sale for the late Charlotte Meadows, the sudden appearance of Charlotte gives her a huge surprise. Apparently the only person who can see her is Cookie so she wants her help to discover who strangled her to death.
Charlotte is one of the funniest ghost characters in any book I've ever read. And a very snappy dresser. The absolute best part of any cozy mystery is when an interesting pet makes an appearance. A beautiful cat named Wind Song has psychic abilities and can even communicate using a ouija board. I laughed when her first communication was "Stop buying cheap cat food".
Each chapter begins with either one of Cookie’s Savvy Vintage Fashion Shopping Tips or her friend Heather’s Heartfelt Tips for Getting Rid of an Unwanted Ghost.
This story had all the traditional elements of a cozy mystery with the hook being vintage clothes. I love fashion so I didn't feel like the descriptions of various outfits were overwhelming. Naturally there's going to be a handsome detective who has to warn Cookie off from her own investigation.
I thought it was a fast, light and humorous paranormal cozy mystery that will definitely appeal to more than just a fashion maven. I hope the next book in the series features more of the psychic cat.
The Lost Village by Camilla Sten - 5 StarsWell, it's officially October, and I wanted something atmospheric and spooky. Camilla Sten's The Lost Village scratched those itches and then some.
Deep in the northern wilds of Sweden lies a ghost town called Silvertjärn, where 60 years ago the entire village disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Now, circa 2019, aspiring filmmaker Alice Lindstedt sets out to Silvertjärn with a skeleton crew and a shoestring budget, hoping to location scout for a trailer that will get enough backers interested in funding a full documentary. For Alice, the untold story of Silvertjärn is personal: her grandmother moved away from the town shortly before the mass disappearance, losing her entire extended family. As could be expected, as soon as the team of five arrives in the isolated, abandoned village, things start to go awry. Alice is overambitious and in over her head, and her friends and colleagues all have their own secrets that come to light once tensions begin to rise. The decaying town offers a number of unexpected obstacles, least of which is the dearth of cell phone reception. And then there's the matter of whether or not they're truly alone here...
Sten creates a wonderfully spooky atmosphere in the dead, decomposing village. Her main cast of characters are also sharp. These are no weak, dumb horror movie protagonists stumbling so blindly in to danger you're rooting for them to get offed. In particular, the tension between Alice and her one-time best friend Emmy offers a fresh, raw perspective on female relationships; as does her attempts to deal with her past demons as she tries to help Tone. The plot twists in the present day sections are clever and often unexpected, and I was genuinely spooked a few times. (view spoiler)
The flashback sections that reveal of what happened to Silvertjärn's inhabitants were a little weaker. In a horror book, sometimes pulling the curtain back too far is a detriment; I was fine trying to piece together what happened with the film crew. Not that it was bad, per se, I was just having too much fun in the eerie atmosphere of the abandoned village – interrupting that to go back in time to see what was going on broke that tension for me. I was perfectly fine never knowing what exactly befell the town. Additionally, I found (view spoiler) a little hard to swallow. I thought the flashback sections didn't fully convey what was supposed to be happening there. But I was so into the rest of the story I was willing to suspend my disbelief and just go along for the ride. That is definitely a testament to Sten's writing talent. When you are so engrossed in a book you ignore some obvious logistics (like, for instance, how likely is it that Silvertjärn actually spent 60 years completely untouched by vandals, looters, and ghost hunters?), that's some damn good writing. Personally, I'm here for it.
I really enjoyed this novel and would gladly read more of Sten's work. I've read very little fiction by Swedish authors, so I'm glad this got a translation and I was able to experience it.
Olivermagnus wrote: "If You've Got It, Haunt It - Rose Pressey - 3 Stars
Cookie Chanel owns a popular vintage clothing store in Sugar Cr..."
You sold me on it! I agree - a cute pet puts any such read over the top!
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 5 stars.Deliciously creepy! This was GR's Reader's Choice pick for best in Horror, and it didn't disappoint!
This story takes place in a mist-shrouded old house in the Mexican countryside in the 1950s.
Noemi is a vivacious young woman from Mexico City, sent to find out what's gone wrong with her recently married cousin Catalina. It seems the cousin has fallen ill - and also has begun to claim her new husband's house is haunted.
What Noemi finds when she reaches the country home is initially strange, but explainable. But as days go by, she's drawn deeper and deeper into the mysterious family's secrets.
This is a true horror story and a real page turner - I couldn't wait to see how it ended.
Year of Wonders – Geraldine Brooks (4 stars)The year of the title is the year of 1666 when the Plague came to Anna Frith's mountain village in England. Anna is widowed at 18 with a toddler and a baby. She works for the Reverend Michael Mompellion and his wife Elinor. The story follows them and the villagers during that time as seen by Anna.
A proposal by the Reverend to shut themselves off until the disease is spent (no one in, no one out) is based on a true village happening at that time. We see how they deal and suffer and the great changes that are its result. During the year true character and secrets are revealed.
As usual this was a great story by Brooks.
The reason this qualifies for Flurries is the drowning and hanging of two women who are called witches and the cause of people dying.
A ghost does make an appearance ....
Dancing In the Lowcountry – James Villas – 1.5*
I was hoping for a charming, “old Southern lady” romp of a story. Instead, I got a tedious, repetitive meander that went nowhere. I did like all the references to the music of the ‘40s and ‘50s. I’ll give him an extra ½ star for that, though it wasn’t enough to save the book for me.
My full review HERE
October: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - 5 stars - My Review
Published in 1995, this book is much different than expected, in a good way. I had heard of it for years and always thought it was a story for children. Yes, it has an adolescent protagonist, but it definitely has wider appeal. The plot is in the form of a quest undertaken by Lyra, a courageous twelve-year-old, to find a missing friend. She learns how to use an alethiometer (the “compass” of the title) that indicates truthfulness. She searches for the secret of a magical Dust.
The reader gets to know this fantasy world along with Lyra, as she journeys through arctic conditions, meets an armored bear, finds out secrets about her family, uncovers a nefarious conspiracy, and uses her wits to her advantage. One of the highlights is the use of “dæmons” (which some would call familiars), an animal companion that forms an integral part of one’s personality. Each person has a dæmon, and those of young people can change form, before “settling” into one type as the person becomes an adult.
It is an adventure story with a dark side, filled with witches and adults that kidnap children for evil purposes. It is an extremely creative and well-crafted fantasy world. The political situation involves global control by a theocracy. I am not a big reader of fantasy, but this book is the type that appeals to me. Children can enjoy it at face value and adults can marvel at its complexities. It is perfect reading for the Halloween season, especially if you are looking for something a little eerie (but not too scary), a little mystical, and a lot of fun.
This is the first book in His Dark Materials trilogy. I am hooked and plan to read the next two. The audio version is among the best I have heard. It is read by the author and a full cast of about two dozen actors. It is like listening to a play. Simply outstanding!
Link to PBT Thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Later by Stephen King4 stars
Jamie Conklin has always had a special talent although it is not one that he particularly wants. Jamie sees dead people. He not only sees them but can carry on conversations with them but their voices and appearance begins to fade after a day or two. For some reason ghosts are required to tell the truth and Jamie soon learns that he can find out valuable information especially in the case of murder. This fact puts Jamie in extreme danger when an unsavory police detective realizes how she can use Jamie to her advantage.
I enjoyed this fairly short story (at least by King's standards) about good vs. evil. Jamie is one smart young man and one the reader roots for all along the way. The rest of the characters are interesting: his mother is nearly overwhelmed with pressure to provide for her son, care for her institutionalized brother and revive her publishing career; the female police detective starts out fairly nice but soon falls down a dark hole of greed; an elderly neighbor who advises Jamie when Jamie has no where else to turn. All in all it's a good story.
4 stars
Good collection of stories. The Author did not edit the stories he was given so the written up stories are in the words of the sometimes anonymous story teller. Not all of them are good writters or story tellers. The Authors contubution after collecting the stories was doing research about the area, buildings names(past and present),making address corrections, or seeing if anyone else had same experiences that currently work or live there. A couple of the stories will have you sleeping with the lights on. I highly recommend this book, not only gives you some great ghost stories but give you a little histoy lesson on some areas of Lubbock. Tx.
4 stars
This is Darrel Maloney's second book of good collection of stories. A couple of the stories were very intense and left me speechless. The Author did not edit the stories he was given so the written up stories are in the words of the sometimes anonymous story teller. Not all of them are good writters or story tellers. The Authors contubution after collecting the stories was doing research about the area, buildings names(past and present),making address corrections, or seeing if anyone else had same experiences that currently work or live there.
I highly recommend this book, not only gives you some great ghost stories but give you a little histoy lesson on some areas of Lubbock. Tx.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets5 star re-read - review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull - 3 stars
Interesting start of series but very much just a start with introduction to many characters and start of a world where monsters have suddenly been outed to the world. They have always been here but just unknown to most people. There seem to be two long run secret societies in the war of monsters. The one that is inclusive of monsters and try to save each other and the one that wants to control and master the monsters. Neither wanted the secret of monsters leaked but it happened and now the world is taking stock as to what will happen next while the humans still try to deny or demonize those who are different. The secret society wanting to control the monsters is very good at helping humans realize their own fears.
The many characters and monsters are quite interesting and diverse with most every color, sexuality and gender. However it ended while everything was still quite unclear and I fear remembering everything for the next book. I am interested in the next book.
Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury - 4 stars
A continuation of Dandelion Wine set in Green Town, Illinois. It is October 1 and despite the continued heat, the first signs of fall are popping up. This is a story of seasons changing literally as well as the figurative coming of age transition from kids to adults. 13 year old Doug, his younger brother Tom and their crew of boys decide that they are not ready for this change. They decide to make war on the old people and find a way to stop themselves from getting older. First they attack the old men with cap pistols resulting in an actual heart attack and death of one of the older men. Then old Mr Quartermaine picks up the challenge of the war. The boys try several plans to keep themselves young but it is hard to stop time and the end of summer.
Bradbury writes so well especially this small town and being a boy trying to figure out the how it all works. The ending got a bit awkward for me with the fair put on by Mr Quartermaine and the nighttime occurrence ending for the old man and beginning with the new man. Otherwise I quite enjoyed.
Yours Cruelly, Elvira by Cassandra Peterson - 5 Stars
"Nearing age 30, a struggling actress considered past her prime, she auditioned at local LA channel KHJ as hostess for the late night vintage horror movies. Cassandra improvised, made the role her own, and got the job on the spot. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is an unforgettably wild memoir. Cassandra doesn't shy away from revealing exactly who she is and how she overcame seemingly insurmountable odds. Always original and sometimes outrageous, her story is loaded with twists, travails, revelry, and downright shocking experiences. It is the candid, often funny, and sometimes heart-breaking tale of a Midwest farm girl's long strange trip to become the world's sexiest, sassiest Halloween icon."
I was really excited when this book came out. I'm not normally a fan of Hollywood memoirs, but I love horror movies and remember Elvira from my younger years. The description of the book pulled me in and boy did it deliver. There were a few slow spots half way through the book, but when I did sit down to read, I flew through it and really enjoyed the stories.
The Terror / Dan Simmons3.25 stars
In 1845, two ships sail from England looking for the Northwest Passage. The Terror and the Erebus later become stuck in ice for three years, as the men manning the ships died not only from starvation, cold, and scurvy, but there is something stalking them. Something… they don’t know what it is but it’s white, and much bigger than the white bears they have seen. It seems to appear out of nowhere to kill, maim, or maul.
This is a mix of survival, historical fiction, and (some) horror. The horror (the “thing” out there), I found was minimal. The focus was on the survival aspect. The book is very long, and I had a hard time getting interested until the last 1/3 of the book – that last 1/3 is what brought my rating up ¼ star. And it would have been nice for the book to be much shorter. The book is told from multiple points of view at different points in time, occasionally jumping back and forth in time. By that last bit of the book where I was more interested, it was chronological.
There were a lot of men on the two ships and, although, I was able to keep what each of them did straight (at least those whose viewpoint we followed), I wasn’t able to keep straight who “belonged’ on which ship. The end was a bit vague in a couple of cases, I thought. Descriptions of the ships and workings of the ships were less interesting to me. A bit horrifying, but more interesting was the description of what happens as someone develops scurvy. Anyone looking for horror, though, this didn’t fit the bill for me at all, unfortunately. It was not scary, in my opinion.
There was a brief author’s note at the end that really just provided citations for his research. It hinted at the fact that this – the “Franklin Expedition” really happened, but I still wasn’t sure, although “Franklin Expedition” did sound familiar to me. Other reviews tell me it did, and I’ve just read a bit on wikipedia about it. That is, the two ships set out to look for the Northwest Passage and disappeared. I guess this partly explains the vagueness of the ending.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. RowlingHalloween is still important in 3rd Year at Hogwarts, with key events happening to Harry, Ron, and Hermione then. Of course, Hagrid's pumpkin patch has a huge role too...even though it is June in the story and technically th5e pumpkins should still be green and the size of apples...though Hagrid no doubt magically helps them along.
I degress.
It felt really fresh reading Prisoner of Azkaban. I had forgotten far more of the plot and details. The complexity of the story Rowling is telling, the many layers, are I think, being shown for the first time. It is like the first two were the introduction and prologue...now the real story Act 1 can start because all is in place.
I marvel at the details. I love the places created...I feel as if I have visited the Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, and Hogsmeade. The whimsy and humor in names, spells, candies. I just love that it is a statue of a one-eyed humpbacked witch that leads to the Hogwarts Tunnel to Honeydukes.
Isn't it just perfect that Hermione sets out to get an owl but acquires a magical cat instead. And isn't it perfect that a tiny owl who was 'eager for the job' is now Ron's?! A perfect match!
Once again I am reading the British edition with the gorgeous cover.
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling - 3.5 starsEvery year, I pick up a Halloween or fallish looking romance and end up disappointed by it. Not this year. The Ex Hex is the Halloween-y rom-com I've been waiting for.
From its opening line, "Never mix vodka and witchcraft," I knew I was in for a fun treat. After breaking up with gorgeous Rhys of the excellent hair and sexy Welsh accent and unfortunately-unknown-to-her betrothal, Vivienne does what any heartbroken 19-year-old would do: wallow. And then throw in a hex for good measure, a hex she never expected to actually do anything. Of course, nine years later, he's back to recharge the ley lines of the town as descendent of the founding family. But as soon as he gets into town, the curse activates, threatening the town itself unless they can figure out how to undo it.
The town itself goes all in for Halloween, so between the festival and Halloween tourists and lightly spooky effects of the curse (there's a ghost! and a haunted house!), it's just a delightfully fallish read, more so than witchy, though that was present. I don't remember it being terribly steamy, but it seemed at least a notch or two above Hallmark level, so it was OK on that front. I honesty waffled between 3 and 4 stars because of the pacing toward the end, but I'll round up for now because it was an enjoyable romp.
The Curse of Braeburn Castle - MenuhinAudio performance by S. Dewhurst-Phillips
3 star
This is the third book of the Heathcliff Lennox mystery series. I thought the first book was mildly entertaining. The murder mystery was predictable, but there were quirky, likable characters in humorous situations. I was happy to buy this audiobook on sale. It sounded perfect for October and Halloween. Although, as it is set in Scotland, the holiday is Samhain.
It’s a great setting for a classic mystery; an isolated, moated castle inconveniently cut off from the mainland by dire weather just as the body count begins to climb. There's an ancient skeleton in a crumbling wall, a lost treasure, and a mysterious psychic performing seances. I wasn’t looking for sophisticated fiction. I did hope for humor.
The author certainly tried to make the story amusing. There were kilt and sporran gags, the batty psychic and a fastidious, lovelorn butler. But, somehow the humor fell flat in this one. The audio performance was too ponderous and slow. I may have missed something because I skipped the second book in the series. I probably will go back and read it sometime when I’m looking for an easy read.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware - 4 StarsThis is less of a creepy thriller and more of a dark family drama with a lot of twists and turns. That's not necessarily bad, though. I'm a big fan of Ruth Ware and turn to her when I want a mystery of solid quality, and The Death of Mrs. Westaway certainly didn't disappoint there.
At 21 years old, Harriet "Hal" Westaway has a harder life than most: her single mother died tragically when she was about to turn 18, and she never had any family to speak of, leaving her struggling to make ends meet instead of being able to go to college. She has taken up her mother's somewhat eccentric profession: as a tarot reader on the pier in Brighton. When her money troubles catch up with her, she needs a way to make some extra cash fast. By a strange twist of fate, she has been notified that a grandmother she never knew has just died and she is owed an inheritance. Hal is convinced this is some mixup – her mother's birth certificate lists different parents – but, desperate for the money, decides to go to Mrs. Westaway's funeral anyway and ingratiate herself to the grieving relatives. She hopes she can use her cold reading skills to scam the Westaways out of some money. Then she turns up at the family home, an old foreboding manor called Trepassen House, and from minute one nothing is what it seems.
Based on this premise, I was expecting a different story. I thought Hal would be proud and deceitful, but that's really not her character at all. She is timid, bumbling and ultimately endearing, which is nice – it can be hard to root for an unlikeable main character. She decides to scam the Westaways out of genuine desperation, and to be honest, she's not very good at it. I liked this subversion: she is a young woman who hasn't quite come into her own yet, and so damaged and grief-stricken from losing her mother that the prospect of having a secret family she never knew about is appealing to her. However, there were times when she seemed to miss some really obvious clues, which made me wonder if she was a very good cold reader after all. Also, Hal quickly realizes she might have a genuine connection to the family, which put the book in a different direction than I was anticipating quite early. This isn't bad, just a little surprising, based on the synopsis.
The supporting cast of characters are interesting and Ruth Ware does a good job at keeping the reader guessing about their motives. There are Mrs. Westaway's three sons and Hal's prospective "uncles" – Harding, Abel and Ezra. Harding clearly wants the inheritance and at times views Hal as a threat. Abel is in turns saintly and stand-offish, making Hal wonder whether he has something to hide. And Ezra's devil-may-care, irreverent attitude makes him charming but also allows him to keep people at arm's length. Between these three men, a vitriolic housekeeper named Mrs. Warren, who seems to inexplicably hate Hal from the get-go, and a cold, decaying gothic manor near the British coast, the atmosphere in this book is top notch. Ware always uses setting to great effect, and this novel is no exception.
The twists were interesting, although I confess I guessed some of them right away. This is the second novel in a row I've read where flashback sections give away more than I would like with a mystery. Because of this, I did think sections of the book dragged while Hal stumbled around cluelessly, ignoring what was right in front of her. There are also a number of red herrings and loose ends I couldn't make sense of (view spoiler), but overall I did enjoy the read.
Not genuinely scary, and not as taut as some of Ware's other work (I still like The Turn of the Key the best), but eerie and atmospheric enough for the Halloween season. The premise presents a unique mystery, and it was a refreshing change of pace not to have a shocking or gruesome murder as the driving force behind the plot.
3 stars
Good collection of Ghost stories,I have heard a few of them. They are grouped by town or areas, some are long stories and others short which are told by the people who experienced the ghostly occurrences. Lots of history mixed in here and there along with pictures.
This Thing Between Us by Gus MorenoFor Hispanic Heritage Month and Spooky Halloween
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Halloween Hijinks - Kathi Daley - 3 Stars
Halloween Hijinks is the first book in the Zoe Donovan Mystery series. It's set in Ashton Falls, a small village where they hold a variety of festivals to earn operating funds for the town's budget. In this one, it's time for the annual Halloween Hamlet, expected to be hosted by ghosts, witches and zombies. The big football game between Ashton Fall and its rival is also taking place at the same time and the teams have been trying to outperform each other with terrible pranks.
Zoe is an animal control officer and her love for all animals is apparent. She has two best-friends-since-kindergarten, Ellie Davis and Levi Denton, and her nemesis Zak Zimmerman, who made his fortune in the technology field, has returned to town.
The murder doesn't happen until almost halfway through the book and I didn't find it all that compelling. It has a few moments that seem a bit bogged down as the author develops the characters and backstories. I feel like this is fairly normal in the first book of a series. I had a hard time envisioning the main characters as adults because they acted quite a bit like teenagers.
What I did like about the book was the variety of animals that become part of the story. I wanted to adopt them all. The characters were nice and Zoe has an interesting family thread that will be developed in the future. I love a cozy mystery with an idealized, too-perfect small town filled with quirky characters. There is a cute three chapter bonus story at the end, along with some delicious sounding recipes that are featured in the original story.
This is a pleasant cozy mystery that is short and quick to read. I plan to read the next two books since they feature festivals for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I may or may not continue beyond that if the stories become more fully plotted. I did rate it a little higher than I probably should have, but I'm a sucker for animal stories.
3.5. Well, I must say it was the perfect book for both the Feminism tag and October Fall Flurries.
Well this early quote kind of sums it up. "Witching and Women's Rights, Suffrage and Spells. They are both a kind of power, aren't they? The kind we don't have and want to have."
Set in New Salem in pre-suffrage times, women who were trying to advocate for the right to vote were witches, and witches aligned with these women as sisters seeking un-allowed power. I enjoyed it. It was long, fantastical, and maybe a little predictable. I like to say that I love magic when its done well. Here, I felt the magic was a little fanciful, sloppy, and gratuitous. But what grabbed me, was the relationship and back story of the three sisters, and how the next relationships developed from there. It was another point for the clearing of the TBR, and yet another book that a challenge directed me to unexpectedly pick up. And a fine enough story. Not a rave by any stretch. Nor impossible or unworthy. Its sort of did its job, albeit a little lengthily.
3 stars
The book is just right for its targeted age group. Some of the short stories are silly and others will have you sleeping with the lights on. I would have read this book when I was younger if it had been around and would have read it over and over but as an adult, one read is good for me.
The art/illustrations in the book are amazing.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
The House of Broken Angels – Luis Alberto Urrea – 3.5***
A large Mexican-American family plans a get-together for the patriarch’s birthday. I have read two of Urrea’s novels previously and am a fan of his writing. He peoples the work with a wide variety of characters and balances tender scenes against highly comic ones or anxiety-producing tragic occurrences. I do wish I had had a family tree handy, however.
My full review HERE
The Pull of the StarsReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This book starts on Halloween 1918, she talks about the decorations, jack-o-lanterns using turnips.
Oh this was just a fun pleasant Halloween themed rom-com. I mean it wasn't deep literature. It read like a very good Hallmark movie, one I'd definitely want to see. But it was fun and great and you completely root for this couple and for the dark secret the horror thriller writer is hiding. I just had a lot of fun with it, and finished it in like a day. I think it's new. I also think there is a sequel starring minor characters introduced in this fun ride. So a new love story is happening next.
One great line, but I can't call it exactly to mind because the copy is already in the back of my car waiting to go back to the library. But it is something like, (and I won't tell you the spoiler behind where the line comes from,) but the opener is something like, we have a problem to fix, or chaos to reign in, or we need to show a person or persons that they are playing with fire, and her retort to her opener is.... "And I have just the pair of stilettos for the job!" Damned if that didn't make me smile. I liked them. Might have even shed a romcom tear or two. Definitely a smile for these two and the predictable but totally fun story.
Witches for HalloweenThe Once and Future Witches - Alix E. Harrow
5 stars
The Once and Future Witches is the story of three sisters in an alternate history of the late 19th century where women are fighting for equal rights as men. In this book, witchcraft is real but has been wiped out by powerful men worried about the power it gives to women. But some of the knowledge has survived in rhymes and stories and in other marginalized cultures. Three sisters work to find the missing words and ways of witch craft to bring it and the power it represents back to their world.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, the three main characters as well as the many supporting characters. I liked how the author incorporated real issues involved in the fight for women's rights and its intersections with workers rights, and civil rights of other marginalized groups. I liked how the author slightly modified well known fairy tales (or witch tales as they are called in the book) to give them a feminist slant. Overall it was an interesting story with good characters that kept me listening (I did the audio book) for hours.
Tales of the Peculiar - Ransom Riggs
3 stars
This collection of fantasy tales feature people that are decidedly peculiar; shape-shifters, people who can regrow their body parts, have unusual body forms, talk to ghosts, or have special powers. They are told in the form of legends and fairy tales. Very quick read. Fun for the season.
Masquerade Murder: A Victoria Town Mystery Novella by Mollie Cox Bryan1 measly star...rounded up.
Ugh. This Halloween cozy mystery novella had promise of being a fun read. After all, it was written by same author who gave us the delightful Christmas Cow Bells. The premise was good...in a mansion rumored to be haunted, a body is found at the Victorian Masquerade Ball, with the discoverer being led there by a mysterious figure clothed and veiled in traditional Victorian mourning clothes. Different, right?
Alas, the execution was very bad. It needed serious editing. The book is also the most appallingly bad copyediting job I have ever seen in an ebook.
The Third Witch https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It seems that I've started this three years in a row and now I've finally finished it.
Fair is Foul, and foul is fair
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
This is the story of the third witch, the youngest witch. It is a YA story of revenge. Under it all is an intriguing story which I wish was further developed and tied together more tidily.
Themes are touched on but never fully developed as women's vulnerability at the time, and danger for women branded as witches, inequity and hunger. I would have enjoyed the book more if issues of love, family and loyalty were better examined or if the consequences of youthful angst and impulsivity were examined by the main character.
As for what would truly have made this book better is eliminating 19 out of 20 times the word revenge was used.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
5 stars
There was SO MUCH detail and plot threads that I had forgotten! Good as the movie adaptation is, it cannot compare with the book. This time as I reread it, I took my time and just savored it, enjoyed all the clues threaded throughout. I loved the whole moldy shoe portkey travel to the World Quidditch match, and could absolutely visualize and hear the whole event as described. I always love the time spent at the Burrow with the Weasleys, and what a hoot their attempt to travel by floo to collect Harry. I cried in the cemetery as all appeared out of Voldemort's wand, a reaction I don't have when watching the movie. And had completely forgotten how Hermione gets back at Rita Skeeter! I do think I spotted a small mistake by Rowling at the very end .... will know better once I get a few pages into the next.
Halloween is very important in this book's plot as the drawing of the Triwizard Champions from the Goblet of Fire happens on Halloween -- and that is when the evil plot truly takes off.
Once again, I'm reading the gorgeous British paperback editions - just look at that cover!
The Birds and Other StoriesI have just had a week's holiday in Cornwall with a trip to the spooky Bodmin Jail and Jamaica Inn. I've already read Daphne Du Maurier's Jamaica Inn so I decided to read The Birds instead for October and it was so good! I really didn't expect it to be completely different from the film, which I also liked, but actually I found it much more creepy. The book focuses on Nat, a farmworker, and his family - wife, daughter and infant son. It is largely about Nat trying to protect his family and particularly keep his children from being frightened. The descriptions of the birds trying to get into the house are quite terrifying and I could really imagine the sounds being described.
Peaches for Father FrancisThere is more than enough mystical material to qualify for the flurries. Winds that change, the Black and White Autun, tarot readings, mystical chocolate, seeing people's colors, and magical animal friends....
Peaches for Father Francis is the 3rd book in the Chocolat Series, four in total. Chocolat has been my series for 2021. What fun to follow this vulnerable magical family - through questions of what is religion, faith, compassion, community, humanity? For all her life Vianne Rocher has been a woman on the run, an outsider everywhere she goes, in danger, just by being who she is. But now with two kids, an odd gift for seeing the colors of others, she is again obliged and forced to be of help to communities and families and faith communities in conflict. But now, really for the first time, there are others who step in to help and stand up for what's right. Vianne stands for others and gains strength for herself. And she does it with compassion, bravery, and chocolate. Perfect chocolates uniquely shaped, to give the individual exactly what their soul needs. Although the deviation in this book, is that she also does it with Peach Jam. From the garden of her old friend Armande, that you might remember from the first Chocolat, in book one. Armande will always be the incomparable Judi Dench. And Vianne gets strength from her family and her daughters, and her River Rat Roux.
The magical realism is rather delightful, especially with the invisible but colorful friends of the daughters. A Rabbit named Pantoufle, and a Monkey called Bam! And friends appearing in the most unexpected of places. Really enjoyed this read, and it has been a great series to follow.
Witch Is When Things Fell Apart by Adele AbbottAnother cute chapter in the story of Jill Gooder, PI following in her adopted father's shoes, and newly reunited with her witch family who are teaching her how to use her magic. The characters and shenanigans are cute and quirky. The author relies a bit too much on introducing too many minor characters and mysteries rather than going deeper into the characters and many storylines but all good and fun. Winky, the one eyed cat, and Mrs V, the knitting secretary, are my favorites. In this book, Jill solves a murder, participates in a magic competition, solves cake smashing crime spree, faces of Jack's new partner, helps Winky with his love life, helps Mrs V in a challenge against her sister and then some.
Chaos in Death, by JD RobbI’ve read all the principal novels in the series but none of the novellas, so Flurries was a great push to pick up my first. Several of them seem to have spooky or paranormal themes, so I picked one of them more or less at random…
A gruesome triple murder of three former junkies puts Eve on the trail of one of the strangest killers a witness has ever described - green skin, red bulging eyes, maniacal laughing, inhuman strength. All roads lead back to the medical treatment and research centre where the victims were receiving rehab but nobody whom Eve and Peabody encounter looks even vaguely like the killer.
Some nice meetings with favourite characters, dialogue to make you grin on occasion and general badassery from Eve (plus Roarke gets to smack the bad guy in the end as well). There’s an even greater (!) need to suspend belief than there is with many of the novels, and it’s less genuinely scary than I thought it might be, but the story is fun enough. Not a fave, but I’d certainly dip into other novellas now
Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell3 stars
This is a graphic novel about two friends on their last day of work at a pumpkin patch. Joshua and Deja are seniors in high school and have worked together in the Fall the last few years. They have two goals this night; Joshua wants to talk to a girl he likes and Deja wants to eat snacks. These objectives take them all over the grounds of the patch and they run into different people and situations along the way. This is a cute story with fun illustrations which are equal or even more important than the words said by the characters. Both adults and kids will like this book.
Witches and monsters ... 
Circe – Madeline Miller – 5*****
In this marvelous work of literary fiction, Miller, tells us the story of Circe, daughter of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, and possibly best known for turning Odysseus’s men into swine. I studied the classics in high school so was familiar with the basic story line, and some of the family connections, but Miller gives me so much more detail and really fleshes out these characters. Miller’s writing wove a spell that completely enthralled me. I was so beguiled that a part of me wished the novel itself were immortal, and that I could keep reading forever.
My full review HERE
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling3 Stars
Well this was cute. A perfectly fun Halloween-not-so-spooky read with a contemporary romance story, a dash of paranormal, all with the young modern tone of a rom com. It ended up being a little underwhelming for me, but I think it was mostly due to pacing, and ghosts not really being one of "my things".
Halloweentown-esque city that goes all out for Halloween. Witches are real, and the university has both normal classes and Witchy classes. Vivianne is our heroine who accidently cursed an ex when she was younger. When he comes back in to town, the curse starts a domino effect of mishaps and hazards around town. There were fun witchy references- a la Harry Potter. But I felt the book did drag a bit. There was a lot of will they/won't they, but we all know what is going to happen next. A lot of the paranormal stuff seemed to be a side bar, and there when convenient, or to add something spooky-but not really substantial.
Stories from Suffragette City4 stars
This book is a series of short stories written by various authors, including Paula McLain, Christina Baker Kline, Chris Bohjalian, Megan Chance, Jamie Ford, Alyson Richman, Lisa Wingate, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Katherine J. Chen and Steve Berry. The stories all take place on October 23, 1915, the day thousands of marchers took to the streets of New York City to march for womens right to vote.
I found it very interesting and easy to read. I liked that the writers showed so much diversity and told on so many different stories from so many angles. A couple that really stand out for me are when Mabel went back to get her mother so that she could join the march in Boundless We Ride, and how Ani stood up to William in Just Politics.
I also found the thread of Grace a nice touch, connecting the stories together.
These stories show that the women of the time understood the importance of the suffragette movement and how they knew it was the start of the future being better for all their daughters and granddaughters.
I am so proud of each and everyone of them. It wasn't easy to stand up for what is right. Maybe we can all learn something from them as we navigate through this interesting political time.
My Soul to Keep - Tananarive Due4 stars
My Soul to Keep is an examination of the consequences of immortality on an individual's psyche wrapped up in a paranormal thriller story. I really enjoyed both sides to this story. David was a complicated hero/villain and Jessica is a strong female character. It gave me a lot to think about in terms of what it would mean to live forever and what that would do to a person and how that drove the actions of David, our protagonist. It also was a a suspenseful thriller as Jessica, David's wife, comes to the realization that she does not truly know her husband and the danger he and her daughter are in because of him. Overall I a glad I finally read this book and I am looking forward to reading more of the African Immortal series and other books by Due.
Shifting Shadows - Patricia Briggs4 stars
This collection is a mix of stories that provide back story for characters in the Mercy Thompson series including the beginning of Bran and Samuel's existence as werewolves, stories of new characters in the World of Mercy, stories that fit in between volumes and stories that provide context from a different character's point of view. It ends with some out takes from the Mercy books. Altogether a good book for die hard fans of the series. Many of the stories have witch characters.
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The Ex Hex (other topics)The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires (other topics)
Practical Magic (other topics)
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Gods of Jade and Shadow (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Erin Sterling (other topics)Alice Hoffman (other topics)
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