What are you currently reading?

[RonClinton]

Currently reading Grady Hendrix's latest, WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS, and am not particularly digging it. I’m about 2/5 to halfway through it, and find its pace plodding, its characters too archetypal for a character-driven narrative, and the basic conflict too buried in a book that ultimately didn't seem to know what it wanted to be...Hendrix mentioned in the introduction that he had a difficult time figuring out what the book should be (but finally did), and I'd argue that he never quite did. While there are a couple of his I'm not too fond of (esp. WE SOLD OUR SOULS), I've never become impatient or bored with a Hendrix book, so this is a new experience for me in that regard, and WITCHCRAFT may be my first Hendrix DNF.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading one of my Thunderstorm splatter westerns, "Hunger on the Chisholm Trail" by M Ennenbach. This was a first time read/author for me. While nothing groundbreaking, it was a pretty fun story. Wendigos are such a great horror monster! If I did have one complaint, it would be that there were a bunch of editing/misspelling issues which kept pulling me out of the story. Always disappointing when an LE has them as these should be definitive editions of the story/book. Overall, I'd probably give this one a solid C rating.

A now reading another Splatter Western, "A Savage Breed" by Patrick Harrison III, another first time read/author for me.

[dannyboy121070]

Reading, and really enjoying, Severin's folk-horror anthology ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS. It's a gorgeous little hardcover designed to look like the old "Little Golden Books", and (So far) the stories have all been great. The illustrations are wonderful. So glad I picked this up.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading, "A Savage Breed" by Patrick Harrison III, another first time read/author for me. Enjoyed the story, even though nothing was groundbreaking. The saving grace of this story for me was the character of Liz who was both quite a hoot and completely despicable. Overall, another solid but not spectacular entry in the Splatter Western series.

Am now reading the Centipede LE of Graham Masterson's "The Hell Candidate", a first time read for me.

[brlesh]

Finished up a reread of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House.

Easy to understand why this is considered a classic ghost story, but honestly I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I did on the initial reading.

The creepy atmosphere couldn’t overcome the annoying characters the second time around.

After Hill House, I started Red Inside by Bridgett Nelson, an over the top exotic spider grue fest novella.

Enjoying it so far, though there is a definite lack of logic in the storyline (which maybe explained later on).

B

[Sock Monkey]

Reading, and really enjoying, Severin's folk-horror anthology ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS. It's a gorgeous little hardcover designed to look like the old "Little Golden Books", and (So far) the stories have all been great. The illustrations are wonderful. So glad I picked this up.

Did you buy this separately or as part of the bundle with the new set of movies?

[dannyboy121070]

Did you buy this separately or as part of the bundle with the new set of movies?

As much as I would have liked to grab the films, between my new job totally changing our benefits package in December, and inflation in general, almost all of my (Formerly...) entertainment money is going to medical insurance now, so luckily they were selling the book by itself. I'm buying almost nothing anymore, but I'm on a Folk-Horror kick, so I couldn't pass this up.

(Edited to note that they have the book on Amazon for $31.50, and there is a 20% off coupon that can be used today.)

[brlesh]

Finished up Red Inside by Bridgett Nelson, a short novel that tried to go in too many directions, and ultimately fell short in going anywhere.

After Red Inside, I started Alabaster, the first collection of Dancy Flammarion stories by Caitlin Kiernan.

Three stories in and I am really enjoying this one. Of course, I am a big fan of Kieran’s short fiction.

B

[brlesh]

Finished up Alabaster by Caitlin Kieran, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

Next up, starting All the White Spaces by Ally Wilkes, which is pretty a much a blind read for me.

B

[sholloman81]

Finished up Alabaster by Caitlin Kieran, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

Next up, starting All the White Spaces by Ally Wilkes, which is pretty a much a blind read for me.

B

Glad to hear that you liked Alabaster. I always enjoy Kiernan's stuff, and the Dancy stories are especially fun. Am hoping to pre-order her next collection from SubPress sometime soon.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Centipede LE of Graham Masterson's "The Hell Candidate", a first time read for me. I went into this one blind and was blown away! Man was this book insane, in the best way possible, and such a fun read. The Hunter Peal character also felt very timely with today's political climate. Not sure if I have ever read another novel by Masterson, but if they are all this bold, I may have to track them down. As usual, Centipede's production was top-notch, and the info from Grady Hendrix was very informative. Very glad to have this in my collection!

Am now reading the SST LE of Stephen Graham Jones' "I Was A Teenage Slasher". Very high expectations for this one as I am a big fan of his stuff. Also, as a side note, the signature sheet that SST chose for this one is fantastic, stopped me dead in my tracks as I was flipping by!

[dannyboy121070]

I finished ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS, which was excellent, and started a pair of collections, Robert McCammon's BLUE WORLD and Ray Garton's 'NIDS AND OTHER STORIES.

I am not enjoying BLUE WORLD in the least so far, probably because the stories were so influential that they've been ripped off a million times, and they now seem old hat to me. (I mean, how many times has the "Viet Nam vet gets psychic powers from Agent Orange" trope been used in the decades since Nightcrawlers was published?)

"NIDS is a lot of fun so far. You can never go wrong with giant spiders. (I was amazed to open the hardcover and see that I bought this book NINETEEN YEARS AGO. I remember being so frantic to get a copy that I was nearly jumping out of my skin when Sub Press banned me from buying their books after I had a little blowup with Joe Hill, and they were, I believe, the only place to get a copy. Matt Schwartz grabbed a copy for me, which was a very Matt Schwartz thing to do, and I was SO freaking happy to have it. And then it sat on my shelf for almost two decades......the perils of having TOO...MANY...BOOKS, I suppose.)

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the SST LE of Stephen Graham Jones' "I Was A Teenage Slasher". This was another winner from Jones. Much more of a coming-of-age story than I was expecting but very enjoyable. Fantastic characterization, a fun plot, and a really great narrative voice. Can't wait to read his next one! Also- the production by SST for this one was top-notch. I really enjoyed the artwork and that signature page is killer!

Am now reading the Thunderstorm LE of Kenzie Jennings "Red Station", a first time read and author for me and a part of the Splatter Western series of books.

[brlesh]

Finished All the White Spaces by Ally Wilkes, which was kind of a mixed bag.

Next up, Cold Snap by Lindy Ryan, another new author for me.

B

[RonClinton]

Just finished GHOSTWRITTEN by Ronald Malfi, with one brilliant novella, two great ones, and one that didn't click.

Now reading AGAIN AND AGAIN by Jonathan Evison.