What are you currently reading?

[RonClinton]

Starting Stewart O’Nan’s HENRY, HIMSELF, the “companion” volume to EMILY, ALONE, which I’ve read.

Well, that didn’t work. DNF.

Starting AMERICAN AFTERLIFE by Pedro Hoffmeister. Post-apocalyptic (earthquake, etc.) survival in Oregon.

[sholloman81]

Finished Josh Malerman's "Daphne". Loved it! Anxiety in horror has rarely been done this well. Also, Daphne was a kick-ass "boogeyman"!

[RonClinton]

Starting Stewart O’Nan’s HENRY, HIMSELF, the “companion” volume to EMILY, ALONE, which I’ve read.

[TacomaDiver]

Started Stephen Graham Jones's My Heart is a Chainsaw last week, and was really enjoying the first part of it because I was hearing his voice while reading it. I've seen him twice recently so I have a good memory of his cadence when he speaks which translates very well to his written words.

But after about 30% of the book, I'm struggling a little bit. I think it's because I've just been so damn tired when I get to bed and try to read.

Was speaking to a buddy about SGJ and he asked if I had read Mongrels yet. I haven't, but it gave me a good idea of a reading theme next year. Werewolves.I have quite a few werewolf books that I've read and not read before, and think it could make a good theme. We'll see if that happens or not.

[RonClinton]

Bummer to hear that! Without venturing too far into spoilers, what didn't work for you? Only asking because I'm thinking of picking up the LE from SST once they announce it but haven't actually read the story yet. Was just assuming that I will enjoy it like everything else he has written.

That was my plan as well...I held off picking up the trade -- signed or otherwise -- because I was going to snag the SST limited when it was offered to join the rest of my Tremblay limiteds, and wanted to use the $$ toward the copy (and read the story in its deluxe presentation). But then I came across this trade HC for ten bucks at a local used bookstore and my resolve shattered. Now I'm thinking it was probably a blessing, as I don't think I'm going to give this book another chance via a re-read in a S/L edition, so I guess I just saved $40.

I don't even really know where to start with why it didn't work for me. Generally uninteresting characters (save for the first, I don't know, 50 pages or so, that were, in fact, very promising); an initially intriguing presentation construct that didn't work to entertain or enlighten or chill but rather to, for me, kind of annoy and distract; a plot that developed veerryyy slowly so that only by the halfway point of the book was there some sort of sense where the story might be heading; and so on. I'm really disappointed in my experience as this was a book I had been really looking forward to, given my love for Tremblay's work, but it just did not work for me in any way. I'm half-tempted to grab the SST anyhow and see if a re-read a year (?) from now, or whenever it releases, changes my perspective as, frankly, I'm surprised at my reaction to it -- so maybe it's me, not the book? -- but, eh, I probably won't...there are issues here that even objectively I can see are contrary to the way I like to see stories presented. To be fair, though, I have read positive reviews of it among the mixed reaction, so some folks clearly enjoyed it...I wish I was one of them, I truly do. But this one-off bad experience hasn't shaken my confidence in Tremblay's ability to entertain me...he's built up too much goodwill with me with his backlist for that. I'm looking forward to his new short-story collection next year, and whatever else he may have coming down the pike.

[sholloman81]

Before starting this book, I was aware there were mixed reviews on this, far more than his other titles, but I went in optimistic, figuring that as much as I had enjoyed all his other books (to varying degrees) I'd probably be on the side of the fence of those who enjoyed it. But halfway through last night I DNF'd it, the first time I've done that with any of his books, so kinda disappointing. Oh well, no author is going to be bat 500 for every reader.

Bummer to hear that! Without venturing too far into spoilers, what didn't work for you? Only asking because I'm thinking of picking up the LE from SST once they announce it but haven't actually read the story yet. Was just assuming that I will enjoy it like everything else he has written.

[RonClinton]

Starting Paul Tremblay’s THE PALLBEARERS CLUB.

Before starting this book, I was aware there were mixed reviews on this, far more than his other titles, but I went in optimistic, figuring that as much as I had enjoyed all his other books (to varying degrees) I'd probably be on the side of the fence of those who enjoyed it. But halfway through last night I DNF'd it, the first time I've done that with any of his books, so kinda disappointing. Oh well, no author is going to be bat 500 for every reader.

[brlesh]

About half way through Let’s go Play at the Adams’ by Mendal Johnson.

Not the kind of book you say you like, but I’ve found the first 150 pages to be compelling reading.

B

[RonClinton]

Starting Paul Tremblay’s THE PALLBEARERS CLUB.

[sholloman81]

Just finished the PS Publishing version of Stephen King's "Needful Things". Enjoyed the heck out of it. Hadn't read it since its' initial publication and think I liked it much more this go-round. There were whole swathes of the book that I didn't remember at all. For example, totally forgot that Ace Merrill makes an appearance in this book; so, seeing him again was a complete surprise. Also liked the references to other Castle Rock tales that were littered throughout the book. If I had one complaint with the story, it would be that I didn't care for the Polly Chalmers chapters. Had a hard time connecting to her character and found a lot of her sections to be a bit boring. Since the Polly character is a main character, for me, it does drag the story down a bit. Would much rather have spent more time with other characters in the town. That being said, I would still give this story a solid B+ grade. In terms of the production values of the book, I really enjoyed the interior artwork but think that PS could have chosen better artwork for the cover and slipcase. Also wish that PS used a sturdier style of slipcase. Every time I took the book out of the slipcase, it felt like the slipcase could easily rip of be damaged. Haven't actually had that happen with any of the PS slipcases that I own; however, the worry is always there.

[brlesh]

Half way through Fairy Tale by King and really enjoying it so far.

B

[brlesh]

Starting The Black Maybe; Liminal Tales by Attila Veres.

Collection of stories by a Hungarian author published by Valancourt Books.

B

Just finished The Black Maybe by Attila Veres, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

The stories tended to be more weird fiction than horror, with a couple that would have fit right into a Lovecraft anthology.

Of the 10 stories, I found them all to be interesting, with only one story that I really didn’t care for.

Up next, starting Of Foster Homes & Flies by Chad Lutzke later tonight.

To my recollection, I think this will be the first thing I’ve read by Lutzke.

B

[sholloman81]

Just finished the SST version of Stephen Graham Jones' "My Heart Is A Chainsaw". Really enjoyed the heck out of this one. As a lifelong horror fan, it was neat seeing all of the slasher/horror references that Jones sneaks into the story. Also thought that the characterization was top-notch. The main character, Jade, really grew on me and felt very real. The first third of this book does feel a little slow; however, once the other two-thirds kick-in, it's pure adrenaline from that point util the end. Jones also makes sure to pay-off all of the red-herrings and info dumps in that first third of the book; so, none of the pages feel wasted. Jones also sneaks lots more humor into this story than I was expecting. Overall, I'm super glad to be able to add this one to my bookcase and give it a solid A grade. I also give SST's production values on this one a solid A grade as well. Cover-Art is fantastic, and those just might be my favorite end-papers of all-time!!!

[brlesh]

Starting The Black Maybe; Liminal Tales by Attila Veres.

Collection of stories by a Hungarian author published by Valancourt Books.

B

[brlesh]

Sixty pages into Blooding Night by Tim Curran and liking it so far. To this point, it’s been more restrained than I was expecting.

B

Just finished up Blooding Night by Tim Curran.

Overall, not bad.

One complaint, for a relatively short novel, it is somewhat repetitive (something I’ve noticed in previous books by Curran).

But if you’re looking for some mindless blood & guts for a few nights entertainment, you could certainly do worse than Blooding Night.

B