What are you currently reading?

[RonClinton]

Currently reading THE WIDOWS OF WINDING GALE by Kealan P. Burke...as usual, a very compelling tale. About halfway through this short novel, and looking forward to getting back to it asap.

[brlesh]

Finished up White Trash & Recycled Nightmares by Rebecca Rowland, which was a complete miss for me.

Rowland has a very readable and engaging writing style, but her story endings just didn’t work for me. Too many WTF endings, too many stories were things that occurred in the first half of the story have no relevance to the second half of the story. After this 20 story collection, Rowland is probably an author I can write off as not being for me.

After WTARN, it was back to the gothic horror collection.

Finished up ‘Olalla’ by Robert Louis Stevenson this morning. It’s the longest story in the anthology, and while there were some subtle hints throughout the story, I didn’t think there was enough of a payoff at the end to justify its length. A disappointment, as I was looking forward to this first time read from Stevenson.

B

[sholloman81]

Finished reading the Earthling signed LE of The Widows of Winding Gale by Kealan Patrick Burke. Man was this book amazing! Literally everything worked for me. The characters were top notch, the setting was very realistic, and the scares were genuine and horrifying. Just a total joy to read a book like this! Wish Burke published more often as everything that I've read has been fantastic! This might be my favorite read in the Earthling Halloween series so far, the book is that good!

Am now reading the Lividian LE of Robert McCammon's "Leviathan". This is one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite series of books, so there's no way I could push this one down my tbp pile. Hope McCammon sticks the landing!

[brlesh]

Starting White Trash & Recycled Nightmares, a short story collection by Rebecca Rowland.

First time reading anything by Rowland.

B

[Ben Staad]

Started Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt. New author for me and whoever wrote the introduction really likes his writing.

[Ben Staad]

Finished the below book and thought it was good. Just short of something I would recommend. If you're in the mood to try out a new author, and wish to support a new voice, he is worth checking out.

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.

[TacomaDiver]

(although, I like Todd, makes me think of Jason Todd-yes I'm a dork!).

As a Jason, I also think of Jason Todd whenever I see the name Todd.

[dannyboy121070]

*** Potential spoiler ***

Just finished THE AUTUMN SPRINGS RETIREMENT HOME MASSACRE and thought it was terrific, one of the better, more heartfelt — and yet horrifically compelling — books I’ve read in a while. Fracassi has a real skill with characterization, and this one is one of his best in that regard. My only quibble is the nature of the…um, final resolution, so to speak (to avoid spoilers)…that felt like an odd choice, a sudden shoehorned bit of (perhaps) supernaturalism that felt out of place. Even if not supernatural, it’s still an odd vehicle to use to conclude the book’s events. But otherwise, I really enjoyed it.

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I had the killer pegged early on, just by process of elimination and how they acted, but I still really enjoyed the characters and the mystery. The supernatural aspect was a plus to me, lol. I eat that stuff up.

[RonClinton]

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

*** Potential spoiler ***

Just finished THE AUTUMN SPRINGS RETIREMENT HOME MASSACRE and thought it was terrific, one of the better, more heartfelt — and yet horrifically compelling — books I’ve read in a while. Fracassi has a real skill with characterization, and this one is one of his best in that regard. My only quibble is the nature of the…um, final resolution, so to speak (to avoid spoilers)…that felt like an odd choice, a sudden shoehorned bit of (perhaps) supernaturalism that felt out of place. Even if not supernatural, it’s still an odd vehicle to use to conclude the book’s events. But otherwise, I really enjoyed it.

[RonClinton]

I really need to read some Bernard Taylor. Just ordered his collection This is Midnight from Valancourt, though no idea when I’ll get to it.

Read The Auctioneer a year or two ago and recall really liking it. Has a definite Richard Matheson’s The Distributor vibe to it.

B

...or a more literary take on Bentley Little's schtick. THE AUCTIONEER is a brilliant piece of work...it's sobering to think what could have come from the author had she not passed away so young.

I really dig Bernard Taylor. I think his THE GODSEND is probably his best work, though I readily admit it's nudges on the border of Bad Kid cliche territory...but it's just done so well that it doesn't seem to matter.

[dannyboy121070]

I really need to read some Bernard Taylor. Just ordered his collection This is Midnight from Valancourt, though no idea when I’ll get to it.

Read The Auctioneer a year or two ago and recall really liking it. Has a definite Richard Matheson’s The Distributor vibe to it.

B

THIS IS MIDNIGHT was a blast...I loved every story.

[brlesh]

I finished up Bernard Taylor's THE MOORSTONE SICKNESS, which was fun, and started THE AUCTIONEER, which I figure I'm long overdue to read. Also, still chugging along with THE VALANCOURT BOOK OF HORROR STORIES, VOLUME THREE, which has been, for the most part, very enjoyable. Valancourt almost always delivers.

I really need to read some Bernard Taylor. Just ordered his collection This is Midnight from Valancourt, though no idea when I’ll get to it.

Read The Auctioneer a year or two ago and recall really liking it. Has a definite Richard Matheson’s The Distributor vibe to it.

B

[brlesh]

Finished up the last novella in the four story collection by Kevin Lucia, We All go Into the Dark.

Like the first three stories, I liked this one, though it was probably my least favorite in the collection.

After We All go Into the Dark, I read Meatship, a Rapture publishing chapbook by Sam Rebelein.

This short story didn’t really work for me. It felt like a horror author setting their story in a science fictional environment, but leaving too many things to question.

Up next, probably back to an anthology of gothic horror stories that I’ve been piecemealing for a couple of months.

B

[dannyboy121070]

I finished up Bernard Taylor's THE MOORSTONE SICKNESS, which was fun, and started THE AUCTIONEER, which I figure I'm long overdue to read. Also, still chugging along with THE VALANCOURT BOOK OF HORROR STORIES, VOLUME THREE, which has been, for the most part, very enjoyable. Valancourt almost always delivers.

[brlesh]

Finished The Cold House by AG Slatter, which I liked, but ultimately thought was too ambitious for it’s own good.

Next up, will probably start the final novella in Kevin Lucia’s collection We All go into the Dark.

B