What are you currently reading?

[RonClinton]

Wow, never heard of this book/author, but it sounds very cool. Keep us posted!

Ended up DNF'ing it at about the halfway point. Took me two weeks just to get to that point. Sure, I have stuff going on, but c'mon, that kind of molasses-like progress is indicative of a book that just isn't working for me with no real interest in getting back to the story and character. It isn't a bad book at all -- I can see why it has the reputation it does -- but, man, you really have to be in the right state of mind to immerse yourself into a book that has no real narrative conflict and is told entirely though the thoughts of one woman, a character that is generally (and purposely, I think) bland and shy of personality. I just have too much stuff going on right now to free my mind enough to appreciate this kind of story, but others' milage may vary, so THE WALL comes with a very qualified recommendation.

Starting a biography of Mickey Spillane, and I suspect this one will be far more up my alley at the moment.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Michael J Seidlinger's "The Body Harvest". Overall, I enjoyed the book but didn't love it. The writing style & plot reminded me very much of Chuck Palpalahniuk except lacking his trademark humor, which is a shame as I think some humor might have made this book much better. For me, this story had some great ideas/themes, but too little in the way of plot, and it did drag at times as pretty much all of the characters are sad-sack loser types, and I found it hard to connect/care with what was happening to them, even if I did feel bad for their circumstances. Overall, glad to have read this book, just not sure that I will be too keen on a re-read in the future.

Am now reading the Thunderstorm LE of Laurel Hightower's "The Day of The Door".

[brlesh]

Finished up the Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King.

It was something different from my usual reads, and I liked it quite a bit, though it did run a little long towards the end of the story.

Tonight, starting You Like It Darker by Stephen King.

I’ve always enjoyed King’s short stories, so looking forward to cracking this one open.

B

[brlesh]

Finished Commodore. Liked it.

Perhaps Fracassi’s tip of the hat to From a Buick 8.

Next up, starting The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King.

B

[RonClinton]

Wow, never heard of this book/author, but it sounds very cool. Keep us posted!

Will do. I hadn't heard of it either, but someone posted about it on X a week or so ago and it sounded right up my alley.

[dannyboy121070]

Started the "new" Bram Stoker book, GIBBET HILL today, and still working through R. Chetwynd-Hayes' LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO SUCK, which I'm loving.

[sholloman81]

THE WALL by Marlen Haushofer, a 1968 Waldean, last-person-on-Earth (?) feminist novel that seems like a precursor to King's UNDER THE DOME. From the back: "While vacationing in a hunting lodge in the Austrian mountains, a middle-aged woman awakens one morning to find herself separated from the rest of the world by an invisible wall. With a cat, a dog, and a cow as her sole companions, she learns how to survive and cope with her loneliness. Allegorical yet deeply personal and absorbing, The Wall is at once a critique of modern civilization, a nuanced and loving portrait of a relationship between a woman and her animals, a thrilling survival story, a Cold War-era dystopian adventure, and a truly singular feminist classic." I've just started it, so can't attest to whether it's a good one or not, but I'm optimistic.

Wow, never heard of this book/author, but it sounds very cool. Keep us posted!

[RonClinton]

THE WALL by Marlen Haushofer, a 1968 Waldean, last-person-on-Earth (?) feminist novel that seems like a precursor to King's UNDER THE DOME. From the back: "While vacationing in a hunting lodge in the Austrian mountains, a middle-aged woman awakens one morning to find herself separated from the rest of the world by an invisible wall. With a cat, a dog, and a cow as her sole companions, she learns how to survive and cope with her loneliness. Allegorical yet deeply personal and absorbing, The Wall is at once a critique of modern civilization, a nuanced and loving portrait of a relationship between a woman and her animals, a thrilling survival story, a Cold War-era dystopian adventure, and a truly singular feminist classic." I've just started it, so can't attest to whether it's a good one or not, but I'm optimistic.

[brlesh]

Next up, Commodore by Philip Fracassi.

B

[brlesh]

Finished up the Halloween novelization and really enjoyed it.

Very nostalgic, and a well told story that stays true to the script while filling in a few holes along the way.

The book itself, from Printed in Blood, is a beautiful over-sized hardcover, though there are some editing issues throughout.

After Halloween, I read Nadelman’s God, the last story in Dark Gods, and the only one I had not previously read.

I liked NG quite a bit, and overall really liked the entire collection.

B

[Martin]

Read Isis by Douglas Clegg.

A short novella with strong Pet Sematary vibes, I really liked this one.

Then read the third story in Dark Gods, Black Man With a Horn.

A reread for me & liked it just as much as the previous readings.

Tonight starting Them by WH Chizmar.

B

I read Isis years ago. I actually have no memory of the story but I must have liked it as I upgraded to a Lettered PC copy at some point. May be time for a re-read.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Midworld Press LE of Nathan Ballingrud's "The Atlas of Hell". Took me longer than expected due to being busy at work, but in some ways that worked out well as it forced me to slow down and savor these stories individually rather than plowing through them. Each of them were quite good, but the last two were flat out amazing, and I loved the way that he slightly linked the stories in this book giving it a shared universe feeling. This was my first Ballingrud read and will not be my last based on this. For me, this was an A+ collection.

Am now reading the Thunderstorm LE of Michael J Seidlinger's "The Body Harvest".

[brlesh]

DNF’d Them at the half way point.

Too slow and could not get interested in the solo character story line.

Starting the 45th anniversary edition of the novelization of Halloween.

This is a reread from 40 years ago.

Have to say, that at that price point ($50) this is a gorgeous production from Printed in Blood Books.

Oversized (7” x 10”) with color illustrations on nearly every page (210 pages).

B

[dannyboy121070]

I finished Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING on Halloween (Yes, THE HAUNTING, as this was the paperback tie-in to the awful Liam Neeson movie from 1999...Yes, I've been sitting on this book that long.), and while it was a fairly quick read, I found Jackson's stylistic quirks to be very annoying, and I was glad when it ended. The majority of the book consists of nonsensical interior monologues from Eleanor, or nonsensical dialogues between Luke, Theodora, and Eleanor that make them all seem like flighty, overgrown children. Add in the fact that literally nothing happens, aside from two characters chasing a phantom dog offscreen and some doors being pounded on briefly, and....glad to have finally read it, but it was a big letdown.

Another dud in-progress is S.T. Joshi's AMERICAN SUPERNATURAL TALES, which, 1/3rd of the way through, reinforces why I rarely read very old stories. Poe, Bierce, Henry James....I find them to be boring and impenetrable. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER consists of page after page of endless, florid prose that is occasionally punctuated by an actual plot point, digresses into a weird, totally unconnected poem (THE HAUNTED PALACE), and then just kind of ends. Not for me. On the other hand, Lovecraft maintains his power to compel me, and I was amazed at how modern Robert Chambers' THE YELLOW SIGN felt. He was ahead of his time.

On a brighter note, Valancourt's LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO SUCK: THE VAMPIRE STORIES OF R. CHETWYND-HAYES is an absolute delight. I can't recommend Chetwynd-Hayes enough, and I wish his work was more readily available.

[brlesh]

Read Isis by Douglas Clegg.

A short novella with strong Pet Sematary vibes, I really liked this one.

Then read the third story in Dark Gods, Black Man With a Horn.

A reread for me & liked it just as much as the previous readings.

Tonight starting Them by WH Chizmar.

B