What are you currently reading?

[RonClinton]

Hi Ron, it's Steve (although, I like Todd, makes me think of Jason Todd-yes I'm a dork!). Anyway, yes, the event was a blast! Didn't realize it was Joe's birthday as well until I arrived and there was cake! Have seen him speak at the Poisoned Pen before and he is always a good time. Bummer that you couldn't make it, but I totally understand! I almost backed-out myself as it's tough to make events during a weeknight! Hope you can make a future event!

Argh, sorry, Steve...thinking on it, that may be the second time I've done that. I don't know why I continue to saddle you with the name of "Todd" but I'll do better moving forward. :-)

Great to hear a good time was had by all, and, yes, I hope to see him again at the PP. It's probably been a decade since I last saw him (in Seattle) -- which was the fourth or fifth time in my several decades there, as his various tours typically took him to the Seattle area. But with less publisher touring support and Covid, etc., it had a been a good long while, which made my missing last night's event even more disappointing.

[sholloman81]

Todd, hope you had a great time last night. As for me, after looking forward to this occasion for a month or more, events conspired against me and I missed it. Was a bit of a gut-punch when I realized it this morning.

Hi Ron, it's Steve (although, I like Todd, makes me think of Jason Todd-yes I'm a dork!). Anyway, yes, the event was a blast! Didn't realize it was Joe's birthday as well until I arrived and there was cake! Have seen him speak at the Poisoned Pen before and he is always a good time. Bummer that you couldn't make it, but I totally understand! I almost backed-out myself as it's tough to make events during a weeknight! Hope you can make a future event!

[RonClinton]

Just finished reading Joe Lansdale's "Hatchet Girls". . . . As a side note if possible, I plan to go see Lansdale at the Poisoned Pen at the end of this month to support this book which should be a fun time!

Todd, hope you had a great time last night. As for me, after looking forward to this occasion for a month or more, events conspired against me and I missed it. Was a bit of a gut-punch when I realized it this morning.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Centipede LE of Kathryn Ptacek's "Gila!", a first-time read and author. Was hoping to enjoy this one a bit more than I did, but ultimately, the story fell a bit flat. While there were some fun moments, the majority of the characters were wooden, and the plot was very basic which led to a dull story overall. There also wasn't as much Gila action as I was hoping for. This book really would have benefited from more action or sleaze. Overall, a very middling read.

Am now reading the Earthling signed LE of The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke.

[sholloman81]

Finished The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke, which I liked quite a bit.

A cosmic horror Halloween story set on a nearly deserted island off Ireland in the early 1940’s. What’s not to like?!

B

Glad to hear that you enjoyed this one as it's my next read!

[brlesh]

Finished The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke, which I liked quite a bit.

A cosmic horror Halloween story set on a nearly deserted island off Ireland in the early 1940’s. What’s not to like?!

Next up, starting The Cold House by A. G. Slatter. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Slatter’s work in the past, so hoping this short novel (novella??) keeps that trend going.

B

[Ben Staad]

Starter reading The North Woods by Douglass Hoover. I'm a few chapters in and it's okay so far. There is a little bumpiness in the writing but it's certainly readable at this point.

This was a completely random purchase. We shall see.

Amazon Blurb:

Over three million acres of dense woodlands make up the North Maine Woods. There are no major towns. No public roads. Nothing but forest for as far as the eye can see.

When two Marines and their Corpsman reunite after a decade apart, they find themselves caught up in the mystery of their former squad leader’s disappearance. With little more to go on than a handful of disturbing charcoal sketches and the whispers of a local legend, they plunge into the depths of one of America’s last truly wild places.

But the trees themselves begin to whisper dark secrets. Secrets of trafficking and violence. Of rotten science and blood. Of something else that lurks in the shadows of the pines — something ancient, savage, and hungry.

[dannyboy121070]

Conversely, I'm taking a break from Kealan Patrick Burke's new string of work to read Philip Fracassi's new one THE AUTUMN SPRINGS RETIREMENT HOME MASSACRE. Only twenty percent in thus far, if that, but really enjoying it...this book is a reminder of the way Fracassi has with characterization, really great stuff.

I read this earlier in the year, and really enjoyed it. Curious to hear your thoughts when you're done, Ron.

[RonClinton]

Taking a break from Dark Carnival to start The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke.

Going into this one with high hopes!

B

Conversely, I'm taking a break from Kealan Patrick Burke's new string of work to read Philip Fracassi's new one THE AUTUMN SPRINGS RETIREMENT HOME MASSACRE. Only twenty percent in thus far, if that, but really enjoying it...this book is a reminder of the way Fracassi has with characterization, really great stuff.

[brlesh]

Taking a break from Dark Carnival to start The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke.

Going into this one with high hopes!

B

[brlesh]

That does sound awesome! Hopefully someone will put out the collection as an LE!

Yeah, I’ve finished 3 of the 4 stories in We All Go Into the Dark and they’ve all been very entertaining.

Lucia really seems to excel at the novella length.

After publishing his debut novel last year, I’m surprised that Thunderstorm hasn’t done another project with him, especially given Paul’s predilection for doing novella collections.

B

[sholloman81]

I read the third novella in the Kevin Lucia collection. Giant spiders in Clifton Heights! This one was a blast.

B

That does sound awesome! Hopefully someone will put out the collection as an LE!

[brlesh]

Man, I'm sorry to hear that's still an issue with these books. This is the reason I quit collecting them a few years back, going as far as to email Kim at Camelot to explain specifically why I wanted to end my Little Book number with them in hopes they would pass along the information. If they did, it unfortunately seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Very disappointing. (And, by the way, Kim was, as always, very kind and understanding in our email exchange.)

The typos were pretty much limited to the first two stories. The rest of the collection was pretty clean (though the first two stories were pretty bad).

After the Blackwood collection I read the third novella in the Kevin Lucia collection. Giant spiders in Clifton Heights! This one was a blast.

Plan on starting Dark Carnival by Ray Bradbury next. It’s been a while since I’ve read any Bradbury, so looking forward to this as a Halloween read, though I’ve probably read all the stories at least once before.

B

[Ben Staad]

Thanks for the heads up and recommendation. These type of books are a nice break from some of the other things I read.

I enjoyed Playground but actually thought the sequel, Playground: Child of Divorce was better. If you get a chance, you should give it a go. The author has gotten better as a writer, and it shows between both books.

[sholloman81]

The other story, Playground, could have been a better read without all of the gratuitous sexual references, which I did not feel added anything to the story. Overall a solid read and I enjoyed the writing style of the author. There are some bumpy parts, chapters which were a little weak, but the narrative moved forward effectively and I would try this author again.

I enjoyed Playground but actually thought the sequel, Playground: Child of Divorce was better. If you get a chance, you should give it a go. The author has gotten better as a writer, and it shows between both books.