What are you currently reading?

[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

[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.