What are you currently reading?

[RonClinton]

Love to hear what you think. Had never heard of it and just checked it out on Goodreads. It sounds awesome.

Yes, I love these kind of eerie, off-kilter, something's-not-quite-right-but-can't-pinpoint-precisely-what kind of reads -- when they're done well, which is all often not the case. I can only think of a few examples of books of that type that work...hopefully this'll be one of them. I'm about 25% of the way in, and I'm not sure it's going to meet the entire challenge...it starts off strong, but there's been an introduction of a kind of prosaicness that is either there to lull the reader into complacency before introducing more overt eeriness or, alternatively, steering the book in a more standard-fare horror direction. I hope it's the former.

[Ben Staad]

I'm not reading this yet but I saw somehow recommend it so I'm giving this a try:

Frederic S. Durbin: The Country under Heaven

Louis L'Amour meets H.P. Lovecraft in this thrilling western epic about a former Civil War soldier wracked by enigmatic visions . . . Set in the 1880s, the story follows Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier who has been having enigmatic visions after surviving one of the Civil War's most gruesome battles, the Battle of Antietam. As he travels across the country following those visions, he finds himself in stranger and increasingly more dangerous encounters with other worlds hidden in the spaces of his own mind, not to mention the dangers of the Wild West. Ovid brings his steady calm and compassion as he helps the people of a broken country, rapidly changing but, like himself, still reeling and wounded from the war. He assists with matters of all sorts, from odd jobs around the house, to guiding children back to their own universe, to hunting down unnatural creatures that stalk the night -- all the while seeking his own personal resolution and peace from his visions. Ovid's epic journey across the American West with a surprising cast of characters blends elements of the classic Western with historical fantasy in a way like no other.

I'm not familiar with the author so I'm just rolling the dice on this one. Wish me luck.

[brlesh]

I'm not reading this yet but I saw somehow recommend it so I'm giving this a try:

Frederic S. Durbin: The Country under Heaven

Louis L'Amour meets H.P. Lovecraft in this thrilling western epic about a former Civil War soldier wracked by enigmatic visions . . . Set in the 1880s, the story follows Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier who has been having enigmatic visions after surviving one of the Civil War's most gruesome battles, the Battle of Antietam. As he travels across the country following those visions, he finds himself in stranger and increasingly more dangerous encounters with other worlds hidden in the spaces of his own mind, not to mention the dangers of the Wild West. Ovid brings his steady calm and compassion as he helps the people of a broken country, rapidly changing but, like himself, still reeling and wounded from the war. He assists with matters of all sorts, from odd jobs around the house, to guiding children back to their own universe, to hunting down unnatural creatures that stalk the night -- all the while seeking his own personal resolution and peace from his visions. Ovid's epic journey across the American West with a surprising cast of characters blends elements of the classic Western with historical fantasy in a way like no other.

I'm not familiar with the author so I'm just rolling the dice on this one. Wish me luck.

I’ve never heard of Durbin either, though that synopsis sounds very interesting.

B

[mhatchett]

Yes, I love these kind of eerie, off-kilter, something's-not-quite-right-but-can't-pinpoint-precisely-what kind of reads -- when they're done well, which is all often not the case. I can only think of a few examples of books of that type that work...hopefully this'll be one of them. I'm about 25% of the way in, and I'm not sure it's going to meet the entire challenge...it starts off strong, but there's been an introduction of a kind of prosaicness that is either there to lull the reader into complacency before introducing more overt eeriness or, alternatively, steering the book in a more standard-fare horror direction. I hope it's the former.

Weird Western, Civil War, I'm in LOL!! I love this forum for all the great book tips and news. I can't believe I've been here for 14years. Guys, thanks for making this such a great space!

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of L.P. Hernandez's "Only Gods No Chaos", a first-time author and read for me. Really enjoyed this collection. All of the stories were good and a few were great. My favorites were: Cemetery Joe, Hesitation Cuts, and Offerings to an Old God. Hoping to read another book by Hernandez sometime soon.

Am now reading the Centipede LE of Stephen King's "The Long Walk". Has been in my TBR pile forever and with the movie coming out soon, figured now would be a great time to give it a read. Been forever since I read this as a part of the Bachmann books.

[Ben Staad]

Thanks for the review. I hadn't read that author either.

Best of luck on the re-read of The Long Walk. It's been awhile since my last read of that but I think it's held up well as a story.

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of L.P. Hernandez's "Only Gods No Chaos", a first-time author and read for me. Really enjoyed this collection. All of the stories were good and a few were great. My favorites were: Cemetery Joe, Hesitation Cuts, and Offerings to an Old God. Hoping to read another book by Hernandez sometime soon.

Am now reading the Centipede LE of Stephen King's "The Long Walk". Has been in my TBR pile forever and with the movie coming out soon, figured now would be a great time to give it a read. Been forever since I read this as a part of the Bachmann books.