Just finished reading the Suntup AGE of Jay Anson's "The Amityville Horror", another book that I picked-up via their dinged sale. Had never read this book previously nor seen the movie but was generally aware of its cultural impact. Apologies to people who enjoyed this story, but for me, it couldn't have been more boring. None of the characters were interesting and a lot of the chapters felt repetitive. I honestly have no idea how this book managed to sell so many copies other than it must have captured the zeitgeist of the moment. While this Suntup production is very nice, I can't imagine wanting to read this again so it will most likely end up at the local trade counter at my used bookstore.
Am now reading the Suntup AGE of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, another book that I picked-up as a part of their dinged sale. My godson is actually reading this at school right now, so I told him that I'd read my copy with him. Ashamedly, this is a book that I've never gotten around to reading, even when I was young (but I did see the movie).
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
What are you currently reading?
Collapse
X
-
Finished Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, which I liked quite a bit.
However, it is a 65 year old book, and it certainly shows it age at times.
Just finished a reread of Gwendy’s Button Box, which I enjoyed as much the second time around.
Next up, starting a reread of Gwendy’s Magic Feather.
Decide to reread the first two books before picking up Gwendy’s Final Task for the first time.
B
Leave a comment:
-
Just finished reading the Suntup AGE for Ania Ahlborn's "If You See Her". I liked it, but didn't love it. It's a very well written grief-horror story with a great idea at its core, but the first three quarters of the book move so slowly that I'm guessing a lot of people will tap out before the final bit which was actually quite good and almost saved the book for me. I also think the book is hurt by having mostly unlikeable characters. Overall, I'm glad to have read this but it may be a good while before I ever revisit it.
Am now reading the Suntup AGE of Jay Anson's "The Amityville Horror", another book that I picked-up via their dinged sale a while back. Have never read the book or seen the movie; so, I will be going into this blind!
- 1 like
Leave a comment:
-
Just finished reading the Lividian LE of Philp Fracassi's "A Child Alone with Strangers". Really enjoyed this one. It was a pretty mean story but had tons of heart. Also really enjoyed the ending. I thought for sure that Fracassi was going for the full-blown happy ending, but he of course subverted what I was expecting and gave us something much darker. In terms of the production, Lividian did a great job as always. If I had one small complaint, I do wish the font had been a bit larger, but it didn't hurt my eyes too bad. Overall, very glad to have this LE as a part of my colection.
Am now reading the Suntup AGE for Ania Ahlborn's "If You See Her". Have no expectations for this one as I picked it up as a part of the last Suntup dinged sale. Am hoping that it is as good as some of the other stuff tat I have read by Ahlborn.
- 1 like
Leave a comment:
-
I started the last Robert McCammon Matthew Corbett book, LEVIATHAN, and I'm about 1/4 of the way through, and enjoying it so far. I question the need for a new pair of big bads, since the cast is already stocked with a few, and I always dislike when an author introduces new characters into the last chapter of a series, but...we'll see how it plays out. At least I'm feeling a little more hopeful that McCammon will wrap this all up in a satisfactory manner..I won't go as far as to say that I hated the last book (THE KING OF SHADOWS), but I will say that I hated every minute that the cast spent on that stupid island with its pointless inhabitants, I hated the amnesia subplot that we just saw in a different manner in the prior book, and I hated how much time was spent in flashbacks. If KING hadn't been part of such a stellar series of books, I would probably have left it unfinished. I was sad that McCammon was wrapping the series up, but after 700 pages of wheel-spinning, it seemed like he was just trying to fulfill a contract and had run out of ideas. Hoping LEVIATHAN is the proper sendoff that Matthew and company deserve.
Leave a comment:
-
Finished The Devil’s Pocketbook by Ross Jeffery.
An engaging and genuinely creepy first half that was marred by an increasingly ridiculously second half.
After TDP, started back on The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers.
Took another break from TKIY and started Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank this morning.
Thirty pages in and really enjoying it so far.
B
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Sock Monkey View Post
Ron, what was the podcast you mentioned? I’m always looking for something to listen to on my rather long commute.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by sholloman81 View Post
Ok, confession time, I've yet to read anything by Hendrix. How would you describe his stuff?
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by RonClinton View Post
Light horror, often with touches of humor. Very readable. That description suggests lightweight, and in a few books he bumps against that qualification, but in others those features work in tandem to create something very heartfelt and immersive, as in MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM. He has a particular lane in the road, and he drives it well, but if you're looking for something more graphic and edgy, you're not going to find that in Hendrix's stuff.
I've read them all, and would list recs in this order:
1). MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM
2). THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES
3). HORRORSTOR
4). THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
5). HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE
6). WE SOLD OUR SOULS (my least favorite, and the one that in a podcast Hendrix said almost torpedoed his career)
I don't know where WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS will fall, since I haven't read it yet, but reviews and comments suggest it will probably replace the #3 slot, if I had to guess.
Btw, his non-fiction guide to '70s and '80s mmpb horror, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL, is absolutely essential reading.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by RonClinton View Post
Light horror, often with touches of humor. Very readable. That description suggests lightweight, and in a few books he bumps against that qualification, but in others those features work in tandem to create something very heartfelt and immersive, as in MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM. He has a particular lane in the road, and he drives it well, but if you're looking for something more graphic and edgy, you're not going to find that in Hendrix's stuff.
I've read them all, and would list recs in this order:
1). MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM
2). THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES
3). HORRORSTOR
4). THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
5). HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE
6). WE SOLD OUR SOULS (my least favorite, and the one that in a podcast Hendrix said almost torpedoed his career)
I don't know where WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS will fall, since I haven't read it yet, but reviews and comments suggest it will probably replace the #3 slot, if I had to guess.
Btw, his non-fiction guide to '70s and '80s mmpb horror, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL, is absolutely essential reading.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by RonClinton View Post
Light horror, often with touches of humor. Very readable. That description suggests lightweight, and in a few books he bumps against that qualification, but in others those features work in tandem to create something very heartfelt and immersive, as in MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM. He has a particular lane in the road, and he drives it well, but if you're looking for something more graphic and edgy, you're not going to find that in Hendrix's stuff.
I've read them all, and would list recs in this order:
1). MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM
2). THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES
3). HORRORSTOR
4). THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
5). HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE
6). WE SOLD OUR SOULS (my least favorite, and the one that in a podcast Hendrix said almost torpedoed his career)
I don't know where WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS will fall, since I haven't read it yet, but reviews and comments suggest it will probably replace the #3 slot, if I had to guess.
Btw, his non-fiction guide to '70s and '80s mmpb horror, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL, is absolutely essential reading.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by sholloman81 View Post
Ok, confession time, I've yet to read anything by Hendrix. How would you describe his stuff?
I've read them all, and would list recs in this order:
1). MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM
2). THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES
3). HORRORSTOR
4). THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
5). HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE
6). WE SOLD OUR SOULS (my least favorite, and the one that in a podcast Hendrix said almost torpedoed his career)
I don't know where WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS will fall, since I haven't read it yet, but reviews and comments suggest it will probably replace the #3 slot, if I had to guess.
Btw, his non-fiction guide to '70s and '80s mmpb horror, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL, is absolutely essential reading.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by RonClinton View PostCurrently reading DESOLATION ROAD by Michael Farris Smith. After this one it'll likely be the copy of Grady Hendrix's new one, WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS. His last one, HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE, was...okay, but I hear this new one is a particularly good one, so am really looking forward to it.
Leave a comment:
-
Currently reading DESOLATION ROAD by Michael Farris Smith. After this one it'll likely be the copy of Grady Hendrix's new one, WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS. His last one, HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE, was...okay, but I hear this new one is a particularly good one, so am really looking forward to it.
Leave a comment:
-
Just finished reading the SST LE of Josh Malerman's "Black Mad Wheel". Had previously read this story when it was released as a trade edition and thought it was just ok, but I enjoyed it much more on this re-read. For some reason, the main character just connected with me better this go-round and I was better able to understand what the author was going for with his central mystery. Still, I do wish we had gotten a few more explanations regarding the mystery itself or the Goat character and his background. At points, I felt like maybe I was missing some literary connection. I also did not enjoy the ending at all as it felt farfetched to me, but I get why the author choose it as the band in the book is loosely based on his own and he wanted the happy ending. Overall, while not Malerman's best book, it was still an enjoyable read.
Am now reading the Lividian LE of Philp Fracassi's "A Child Alone with Strangers".
Leave a comment:
Leave a comment: