What are you currently reading?

[brlesh]

I was very close to picking up The Omen, but was afraid that it would fall in the same camp as The Amityville Horror. I have not read Jaws. I did read Benchley's Beast, at least I think that's what it was called, about the killer octopus. I found it incredibly underwhelming.

I read The Omen novelization last year and really liked it.

If you’re a fan of the movie you will probably like the novelization, as it follows the movie very closely.

Of course, that’s to be expected, as David Seltzer wrote both the original screenplay and the 70’s novelization.

Definitely preferred The Omen over Jaws (the novel). I reread Jaws last year, and had the same reaction as I did the first time I read it.

Jaws is one of the few instances where, IMO, the movie far exceeds the book.

B

[brlesh]

Finished up The King in Yellow, Robert Chambers classic collection, which I found to be kind of a mixed bag.

Right now, I’m about a third of the way through Gwendy’s Final Task, which has kind of a major shift in tone from the first two Gwendy books.

B

[Sock Monkey]

I was all set to buy a copy of the Suntup edition for exactly that reason, it's pop-culture significance, even though I'd heard it was very disappointing read (I'd not read it before), until cooler heads prevailed and I realized that's a silly reason to drop over a hundred bucks, especially for someone like me who purports to be as much a reader as a collector, so I skipped it. I did buy Suntup's JAWS, even though it's a book that I find many problems with (the film, in contrast, is of course terrific), but that was kind of a one-off and its nostalgic appeal for me is off the charts, bad book or not, and I'm very pleased to have it in my library. Same with Suntup's THE OMEN, which I think is a better written book than either of the other two.

I was very close to picking up The Omen, but was afraid that it would fall in the same camp as The Amityville Horror. I have not read Jaws. I did read Benchley's Beast, at least I think that's what it was called, about the killer octopus. I found it incredibly underwhelming.

[RonClinton]

Yeah, The Amityville Horror is pretty much a stinker if you're over than, say, ten years old. My wife read it a few years back and thought it was pretty horrible. I couldn't really argue with her. Anson's prose is perfunctory, at best. Frankly, I was surprised that Suntup did a limited of it. For me, the only reason to have the limited is for its "cultural significance" rather than its contribution to the genre. It doesn't help that said "significance" has diminished over the years as the whole thing besides the DeFeo murders have been debunked as a hoax.

I was all set to buy a copy of the Suntup edition for exactly that reason, it's pop-culture significance, even though I'd heard it was very disappointing read (I'd not read it before), until cooler heads prevailed and I realized that's a silly reason to drop over a hundred bucks, especially for someone like me who purports to be as much a reader as a collector, so I skipped it. I did buy Suntup's JAWS, even though it's a book that I find many problems with (the film, in contrast, is of course terrific), but that was kind of a one-off and its nostalgic appeal for me is off the charts, bad book or not, and I'm very pleased to have it in my library. Same with Suntup's THE OMEN, which I think is a better written book than either of the other two.

[Sock Monkey]

Just finished reading the Suntup AGE of Jay Anson's "The Amityville Horror", another book that I picked-up via their dinged sale. Had never read this book previously nor seen the movie but was generally aware of its cultural impact. Apologies to people who enjoyed this story, but for me, it couldn't have been more boring. None of the characters were interesting and a lot of the chapters felt repetitive. I honestly have no idea how this book managed to sell so many copies other than it must have captured the zeitgeist of the moment. While this Suntup production is very nice, I can't imagine wanting to read this again so it will most likely end up at the local trade counter at my used bookstore.

Am now reading the Suntup AGE of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, another book that I picked-up as a part of their dinged sale. My godson is actually reading this at school right now, so I told him that I'd read my copy with him. Ashamedly, this is a book that I've never gotten around to reading, even when I was young (but I did see the movie).

Yeah, The Amityville Horror is pretty much a stinker if you're over than, say, ten years old. My wife read it a few years back and thought it was pretty horrible. I couldn't really argue with her. Anson's prose is perfunctory, at best. Frankly, I was surprised that Suntup did a limited of it. For me, the only reason to have the limited is for its "cultural significance" rather than its contribution to the genre. It doesn't help that said "significance" has diminished over the years as the whole thing besides the DeFeo murders have been debunked as a hoax.

Anyways, you are in for a much better read with The Outsiders. A book that's also probably more poignant when read at an early age, but still has heft to it.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Suntup AGE of Jay Anson's "The Amityville Horror", another book that I picked-up via their dinged sale. Had never read this book previously nor seen the movie but was generally aware of its cultural impact. Apologies to people who enjoyed this story, but for me, it couldn't have been more boring. None of the characters were interesting and a lot of the chapters felt repetitive. I honestly have no idea how this book managed to sell so many copies other than it must have captured the zeitgeist of the moment. While this Suntup production is very nice, I can't imagine wanting to read this again so it will most likely end up at the local trade counter at my used bookstore.

Am now reading the Suntup AGE of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, another book that I picked-up as a part of their dinged sale. My godson is actually reading this at school right now, so I told him that I'd read my copy with him. Ashamedly, this is a book that I've never gotten around to reading, even when I was young (but I did see the movie).

[brlesh]

Finished Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, which I liked quite a bit.

However, it is a 65 year old book, and it certainly shows it age at times.

Just finished a reread of Gwendy’s Button Box, which I enjoyed as much the second time around.

Next up, starting a reread of Gwendy’s Magic Feather.

Decide to reread the first two books before picking up Gwendy’s Final Task for the first time.

B

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Suntup AGE for Ania Ahlborn's "If You See Her". I liked it, but didn't love it. It's a very well written grief-horror story with a great idea at its core, but the first three quarters of the book move so slowly that I'm guessing a lot of people will tap out before the final bit which was actually quite good and almost saved the book for me. I also think the book is hurt by having mostly unlikeable characters. Overall, I'm glad to have read this but it may be a good while before I ever revisit it.

Am now reading the Suntup AGE of Jay Anson's "The Amityville Horror", another book that I picked-up via their dinged sale a while back. Have never read the book or seen the movie; so, I will be going into this blind!

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Lividian LE of Philp Fracassi's "A Child Alone with Strangers". Really enjoyed this one. It was a pretty mean story but had tons of heart. Also really enjoyed the ending. I thought for sure that Fracassi was going for the full-blown happy ending, but he of course subverted what I was expecting and gave us something much darker. In terms of the production, Lividian did a great job as always. If I had one small complaint, I do wish the font had been a bit larger, but it didn't hurt my eyes too bad. Overall, very glad to have this LE as a part of my colection.

Am now reading the Suntup AGE for Ania Ahlborn's "If You See Her". Have no expectations for this one as I picked it up as a part of the last Suntup dinged sale. Am hoping that it is as good as some of the other stuff tat I have read by Ahlborn.

[dannyboy121070]

I started the last Robert McCammon Matthew Corbett book, LEVIATHAN, and I'm about 1/4 of the way through, and enjoying it so far. I question the need for a new pair of big bads, since the cast is already stocked with a few, and I always dislike when an author introduces new characters into the last chapter of a series, but...we'll see how it plays out. At least I'm feeling a little more hopeful that McCammon will wrap this all up in a satisfactory manner..I won't go as far as to say that I hated the last book (THE KING OF SHADOWS), but I will say that I hated every minute that the cast spent on that stupid island with its pointless inhabitants, I hated the amnesia subplot that we just saw in a different manner in the prior book, and I hated how much time was spent in flashbacks. If KING hadn't been part of such a stellar series of books, I would probably have left it unfinished. I was sad that McCammon was wrapping the series up, but after 700 pages of wheel-spinning, it seemed like he was just trying to fulfill a contract and had run out of ideas. Hoping LEVIATHAN is the proper sendoff that Matthew and company deserve.

[brlesh]

Finished The Devil’s Pocketbook by Ross Jeffery.

An engaging and genuinely creepy first half that was marred by an increasingly ridiculously second half.

After TDP, started back on The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers.

Took another break from TKIY and started Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank this morning.

Thirty pages in and really enjoying it so far.

B

[RonClinton]

Ron, what was the podcast you mentioned? I’m always looking for something to listen to on my rather long commute.

Hmm, I *think* it was This Is Horror. Hendrix has been on two or three times, so I can't tell you which particular episode it was (Googling it it's probably episode 251 or 501), but he talked briefly about how WE SOLD OUR SOULS did not come easy nor did it do well (and, again, this was my least favorite so I can't say I am surprised by either admission) and that it tanked his career streak at this point and that he was unsure how to rebound. Something like that. But clearly he found his way, and like Koontz, has since done one type/tone of story but it's a type of story he does well. SOULS was far too indulgent and serious, and -- at least based on that book -- that's not what he does particularly well. Then again, I'm not much of one for the horror / rock-'n-roll mashup thing, so I probably wasn't the correct target audience anyhow.

[dannyboy121070]

Ok, confession time, I've yet to read anything by Hendrix. How would you describe his stuff?

At this point, I'd be hard-pressed not to number him high up on my list of favorite authors. I've loved everything of his that I've read, even his Kung-Fu movie book. (Haven't read the new one or FINAL GIRL yet.)

[sholloman81]

Light horror, often with touches of humor. Very readable. That description suggests lightweight, and in a few books he bumps against that qualification, but in others those features work in tandem to create something very heartfelt and immersive, as in MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM. He has a particular lane in the road, and he drives it well, but if you're looking for something more graphic and edgy, you're not going to find that in Hendrix's stuff.

I've read them all, and would list recs in this order:

1). MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM
2). THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES
3). HORRORSTOR
4). THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
5). HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE
6). WE SOLD OUR SOULS (my least favorite, and the one that in a podcast Hendrix said almost torpedoed his career)

I don't know where WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS will fall, since I haven't read it yet, but reviews and comments suggest it will probably replace the #3 slot, if I had to guess.

Btw, his non-fiction guide to '70s and '80s mmpb horror, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL, is absolutely essential reading.

Thanks for this info! I'm sure that I will read him sometime soon and am definitely aware of who he is via the Paperback from Hell Book, I've just always held off reading his actual novels as I've always been under the impression that they would be jokey, which isn't really my thing; however, your usage of "light humor" has me much more intrigued.

[Sock Monkey]

Light horror, often with touches of humor. Very readable. That description suggests lightweight, and in a few books he bumps against that qualification, but in others those features work in tandem to create something very heartfelt and immersive, as in MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM. He has a particular lane in the road, and he drives it well, but if you're looking for something more graphic and edgy, you're not going to find that in Hendrix's stuff.

I've read them all, and would list recs in this order:

1). MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM
2). THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES
3). HORRORSTOR
4). THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
5). HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE
6). WE SOLD OUR SOULS (my least favorite, and the one that in a podcast Hendrix said almost torpedoed his career)

I don't know where WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS will fall, since I haven't read it yet, but reviews and comments suggest it will probably replace the #3 slot, if I had to guess.

Btw, his non-fiction guide to '70s and '80s mmpb horror, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL, is absolutely essential reading.

Ron, what was the podcast you mentioned? I’m always looking for something to listen to on my rather long commute.