What are you currently reading?

[sholloman81]

Been awhile since I’ve read it, but I recall Ladies Night as being one of Ketchum’s lesser efforts.

Essentially his attempt to write a zombie novel without using zombies.

B

I would have to agree that it's not quite as strong as some of his other stuff; however, I still enjoyed the heck out of Ladies Night. IMO, even Ketchum's weaker stuff is freaking good. You are right on the money, this was definitely his stab at a zombie novel, and a very mean one to boot! In the intro to the book, Ketchum mentions that there was once a version at over 400 pages versus the lean mean under 180 page version. While I'm sure there was plenty of bloat, I still would've killed to read it and wish it wasn't lost! Oh well, luckily, there are still a few Ketchum books that I haven't been able to track down; so, there's still some "new" Ketchum out there for me to read.

Am now getting ready to begin Jonathan Janz's "Exorcist Falls/Road". Have been wanting to read this book forever and was finally able to track down a hardcover copy to add to the collection. Now if I could only find a hardcover copy of Children of the Dark, I could finally complete my Janz collection!

[sholloman81]

Just finished Jonathan Janz's "Exorcist Road/Falls". Holy crap was that an amazing read. So glad that I was finally able to track down a hardcover version. I've read everything that Janz has written so far, with the exception of Children of the Dark, and can flat-out tell you that this one takes the cake (siren & specter a close second). Probably one of the darkest books that I've ever read, and I've read all the titans of extreme/splatter horror. If you need a person to root for in the books you read, this is NOT the one for you. There were numerous scenes in this book where I was literally cringing and forcing myself to go on because they were so horrific or gory. That being said, this book is not torture-porn. Author is using a lot of the troupes that the Exorcist and other possession media have given us and is taking them new and even more dark places. Overall, this is a book that I think any horror fan should read once, even if you might feel like you need a shower afterward.

Am now getting ready to re-read Stephen King's Cujo. Been forever since I last read it and I've had the PS Publishing limited version sitting in my to-read pile for quite awhile; so, I think now is finally the time. Be interesting to see how it lands all these years later.

[Ben Staad]

Read Cannibal Creator by Chad Lutzke today. Quick and fun read. The title basically sums up the story as it's an homage to those brutal Cannibal movies of the 70s and 80s. The author does put his own little flair to this story which made it feel a little fresher and a little deeper than one would expect from this sub-genre.

Overall if you like the title you will probably like this book. I will likely track down a few more of his books and give them a read.

[the_last_gunslinger]

Nearly finished with Bentley Little's "The Handyman."

[Sock Monkey]

Nearly finished with Bentley Little's "The Handyman."

How’re you liking it? It’s been in my TBR pile for quite a bit and I almost started it the other day.

[RonClinton]

How’re you liking it? It’s been in my TBR pile for quite a bit and I almost started it the other day.

For what it's worth, I really enjoyed it...felt like old-school Little.

[sholloman81]

Just finished my re-read of Stephen King's Cujo. I have to say that I enjoyed it much more than when I first read it; although, that may be due to the age difference. I think the older me was better able to understand and appreciate the "marital & work" chapters this go-round and wasn't just looking forward to Cujo's reappearance in the book. I also happened to read a Goodreads review of the book from Edward Lorn beforehand and he posits a very interesting theory in regards to Cujo. After the re-read, I think that I just might agree with him. Overall, while not the strongest of King's work, Cujo definitely lands in the plus column for me all these years later!

[brlesh]

Finished Horns by Joe Hill.

Second read for this book, & probably my first in 10+ years.

Surprised at how much of Horns I had forgotten. I liked it the first time I read it, but considered it one Hill’s weaker books.

Came away with a much higher regard for the story the second time through.

Started Her Wan Embrace, a collection by David Barker.

50 pages in & the jury is still out on this one.

I didn’t care much for The Revenant of Rebecca Paulson, so may have a quick trigger on this one.

B

[brlesh]

Just finished my re-read of Stephen King's Cujo. I have to say that I enjoyed it much more than when I first read it; although, that may be due to the age difference. I think the older me was better able to understand and appreciate the "marital & work" chapters this go-round and wasn't just looking forward to Cujo's reappearance in the book. I also happened to read a Goodreads review of the book from Edward Lorn beforehand and he posits a very interesting theory in regards to Cujo. After the re-read, I think that I just might agree with him. Overall, while not the strongest of King's work, Cujo definitely lands in the plus column for me all these years later!

The book that made me a fan!!

Cujo was my first King book, 40 years ago.

Definitely time for a reread.

The movie is, in my opinion, also grossly underrated.

B

[sholloman81]

The book that made me a fan!!

Cujo was my first King book, 40 years ago.

Definitely time for a reread.

The movie is, in my opinion, also grossly underrated.

B

Keep meaning to check out the movie and forgetting. Saw it when I was a tyke and can vaguely see the mom in my head. Beyond that, not much of a recollection of it. Sounds like a great time to revisit it. Thanks for the prompt!

[RonClinton]

Reading a mainstream(ish) thriller from an author I've never read before: UNTHINKABLE by Brad Parks. Kept seeing comparisons to Blake Crouch with regards to this particular book, so when I found a used Fine/Fine 1st HC for $3, I figured, Sure, I'll give it a shot. Just a dozen pages in, so no idea if it's any good yet, but am hopeful.

[brlesh]

Tapped out on Her Wan Embrace by David Barker.

Jumped around in this collection, trying stories from each different section. Just nothing clicked for me.

Next up, something different. The Last Watch by JS Dewes, a space opera novel.

I’ve been wanting to get back to reading some science fiction, so decided to give this a shot (also wanted to read the trade paperback before pulling the trigger on the MidWorld Press LE).

A third of the way through & it’s OK so far. Hoping the story picks up going forward.

B

[sholloman81]

Just finished Kristopher Triana's "And the Devil Cried". If you can stomach dark fiction, this one is highly recommended. You just might need a shower afterward as nothing is considered safe or taboo. More a crime/thriller than the usual horror novel from Triana. The style really seems to suit him. Also, the main character, Jackie, is probably the most horrible character that I have ever read. Not a single redeeming thing about him, or really anybody, in this novel; and yet, I always felt compelled to read on further. Just could not put this book down and ended up finishing it in two swallows (had to stop once as the book and some of the scenes in it are just that damn hardcore). While I'm not comparing their writing styles at all, finishing this one gave me the same sort of feelings that I had when I finished reading Thompson's "A Killer Inside Me" for the first time.

[dannyboy121070]

I've been slogging my way through the new Paul Tremblay novel, THE PALLBEARERS CLUB, for close to a month now, and it is the most boring book that I have read in a LONG time. I've finally reached the halfway mark, and nothing has happened. I just don't get all of the love for Tremblay.......I've only read A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS, but that was the same kind of "nothing happens, then something maybe happens, but did it really happen...?" kind of story. Just not for me, I guess. I'm enjoying the Mel Brooks autobiography, ALL ABOUT ME! , a LOT more.

[sholloman81]

Just finished the Subterranean Press edition of P. Djeli Clark's "A Master of Djinn". Not the usual type of story for me but liked it very much. The worldbuilding in this one is quite enjoyable. This edition also contained the adjacent short-stories and novellas that link to the novel and really went a long way to fleshing out some of the side-characters. Overall, this is a world I would be happy to visit again and hope that Clark continues the series.

Am now reading the Lividian version of Joe Hill's "Heart Shaped Box". Haven't read it since it was originally published. Remember enjoying it quite a bit. Am about 150 pages in so far.