What are you currently reading?

[brlesh]

DNF’d Them at the half way point.

Too slow and could not get interested in the solo character story line.

Starting the 45th anniversary edition of the novelization of Halloween.

This is a reread from 40 years ago.

Have to say, that at that price point ($50) this is a gorgeous production from Printed in Blood Books.

Oversized (7” x 10”) with color illustrations on nearly every page (210 pages).

B

[dannyboy121070]

I finished Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING on Halloween (Yes, THE HAUNTING, as this was the paperback tie-in to the awful Liam Neeson movie from 1999...Yes, I've been sitting on this book that long.), and while it was a fairly quick read, I found Jackson's stylistic quirks to be very annoying, and I was glad when it ended. The majority of the book consists of nonsensical interior monologues from Eleanor, or nonsensical dialogues between Luke, Theodora, and Eleanor that make them all seem like flighty, overgrown children. Add in the fact that literally nothing happens, aside from two characters chasing a phantom dog offscreen and some doors being pounded on briefly, and....glad to have finally read it, but it was a big letdown.

Another dud in-progress is S.T. Joshi's AMERICAN SUPERNATURAL TALES, which, 1/3rd of the way through, reinforces why I rarely read very old stories. Poe, Bierce, Henry James....I find them to be boring and impenetrable. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER consists of page after page of endless, florid prose that is occasionally punctuated by an actual plot point, digresses into a weird, totally unconnected poem (THE HAUNTED PALACE), and then just kind of ends. Not for me. On the other hand, Lovecraft maintains his power to compel me, and I was amazed at how modern Robert Chambers' THE YELLOW SIGN felt. He was ahead of his time.

On a brighter note, Valancourt's LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO SUCK: THE VAMPIRE STORIES OF R. CHETWYND-HAYES is an absolute delight. I can't recommend Chetwynd-Hayes enough, and I wish his work was more readily available.

[brlesh]

Read Isis by Douglas Clegg.

A short novella with strong Pet Sematary vibes, I really liked this one.

Then read the third story in Dark Gods, Black Man With a Horn.

A reread for me & liked it just as much as the previous readings.

Tonight starting Them by WH Chizmar.

B

[sholloman81]

Thanks for the reminder…I still need to pick up a copy of that one.

Glad to assist! Truly hope that it lives up to the hype!

[RonClinton]

Am now reading the Midworld Press LE of Nathan Ballingrud's "The Atlas of Hell" as my Halloween read for this year.

Thanks for the reminder…I still need to pick up a copy of that one.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading Kristopher Triana's "The Prettiest Girl in the Grave". Really enjoyed the heck out of this one. Plowed through it in one setting. Reminded me very much of a Richard Laymon novel in the best of ways.

Am now reading the Midworld Press LE of Nathan Ballingrud's "The Atlas of Hell" as my Halloween read for this year.

[brlesh]

Finished Eynhallow by Tim McGregor, which I really liked. Need to read more by McGregor in the future.

Next up was Petey, the second story in TED Klein‘s collection Dark Gods.

This was a reread for me, and similarly to the previous reading, I thought the set was interesting, but I needed a little more explanation at the end.

Just started the novelization of Creature From the Black Lagoon by Vargo Statten. About 30 pages in and having at lot of fun with this one. Been at least 30 years since I’ve seen the movie, so this is bringing back a lot of memories.

B

[RonClinton]

I finished Brian Keene’s latest non-fiction collection, LOVE AND HATE IN THE TIME OF COVID, and am just starting Jeff Strand’s new one, CREEP OUT — both Thunderstorm releases. This time around, Keene wrote more about personal issues and COVID-related situations, and less about the publishing industry and writing, so I wasn’t as taken with this one as his previous non-fiction collections, but to be fair the title gave me fair warning that the focus this time around would likely be different.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Earthling LE of Jonathan Janz's "Marla". Always enjoy Janz's stuff and this one was no different. Great characters, a great villain, and lots of scary scenes. Truly one of the better entries that I've read in the Earthling Halloween series so far.

Planning to read Kristopher Triana's & Mona Kabbani's "The Dark Embrace" next.

[brlesh]

Finished Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham, a book which I ultimately liked, though I found the first third of the book to be slow and dry.

After Winterset Hollow, I read Children of the Kingdom, the first novella in TED Klein’s Dark Gods.

COTK was a reread for me, though it’s been a while since I last read it. Forgot what a truly twisted story this was.

Lovecraft must have rolled over in his grave with his Mi-go reimagined as rapists!

Right now I’m about 40 pages into Eynhallow, Tim McGregor’s take on Victor Frankenstein creating a companion for his original creation.

First thing I’ve read by McGregor, and so far really enjoying it.

B

[dannyboy121070]

Just read Lisa Morton & John Palisano's novella PLACERITA, which concerns lizard men under 1920's L.A. A fun read, but, man....as a proofreader who CD hasn't used in years, I was aghast to see all of spelling and grammar errors that made it into the finished book. I makes CD look amateur-hour. Really disappointing.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Suntup AGE of Richard Matheson's "Hell House". This was my first time reading Hell House and it was everything that I was hoping for and more. Really strong character work, a great setting, and a willingness to push boundaries. I don't traditionally enjoy haunted house books as much as other horror troupes as I don't find them very scary, but this one worked for me big-time. Everything about the Belasco house/haunting was creepy, and the story was so much meaner that I had expected going-in. Overall, an A+ read for me and perhaps my new favorite haunting novel of all-time!

Am now reading the Earthling LE of Jonathan Janz's "Marla". This was a previous entry in Earthling's Halloween Series that I never got around to; so, I figure now's the time!

[dannyboy121070]

Thanks for the review on STRANGE STONE because, like sholloman, I've been not too sure if I should pull the trigger or not on it. I like Sangiovanni, Lee not so much, and I feel Lovecraft is hit-or-miss.

How's that GHOST RIDER omnibus? I never read the series when it came out, but I know it was hugely popular. I mean, in the 90s every comic had Wolverine, the Punisher, or Ghost Rider guest-starring in it to boost sales. I read a little of the spin-off series SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE when it came out and it was...fine. I find Howard Mackie's work to be VERY hit-or-miss. When it works, it's so much fun. When it doesn't...well, not so much.

You hit the nail right on the head with "fun". The book is, mainly, a lot of fun. Mackie is NOT a skilled writer, and some of the dialogue, MOST of the dialogue, is cringe-worthy. The stories are so gonzo that you can't help but enjoy them. The book is dragged down by dozens of short stories/arcs from MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS that are all uniformly terrible, so I ended up giving the book a 5 out of 10. I'll probably be back for the second volume, though.

After finishing the GR omnibus, I moved on the the slightly better third volume of the SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR omnibus. Stories by Len Wein & Bernie Wrightson and Marv Wolfman & Gene Colan were a real treat.

[Sock Monkey]

Doing my Halloween reading, with some Horror selections perfect for October:
DANNY KETCH: GHOST RIDER OMNIBUS, VOL. 1, STRANGE STONES by Edward Lee and Mary Sangiovanni, MONSTERS AMONG US by Linda Godfrey, and and oldie plucked from the depths of the TBR room, CINEMA MACABRE, a 2005 book from PS that features essays by 50 genre greats, talking about their favorite Horror film. I was especially pleased to crack open this gem and find that I had sprung for the deluxe slipcased limited, which features 6 pages of signature sheets, with 52 signatures, some of which fill holes in my collection. Simon Pegg, Jonathan Ross, Adam Nevill, Les Edwards, Basil Copper, whose work I'm just discovering at this late date....it's a real gem of a book. I miss the days of these books with dozens of signatures.

The Lee/Sangiovanni book started out fun, but soon got too deep into the weeds of the stuff that I find interminable about Lovecraft...the descriptions of odd geometry, weird stones, strange architecture....it just goes on and on. Short novella, but I can't wait for it to end, sadly.

Thanks for the review on STRANGE STONE because, like sholloman, I've been not too sure if I should pull the trigger or not on it. I like Sangiovanni, Lee not so much, and I feel Lovecraft is hit-or-miss.

How's that GHOST RIDER omnibus? I never read the series when it came out, but I know it was hugely popular. I mean, in the 90s every comic had Wolverine, the Punisher, or Ghost Rider guest-starring in it to boost sales. I read a little of the spin-off series SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE when it came out and it was...fine. I find Howard Mackie's work to be VERY hit-or-miss. When it works, it's so much fun. When it doesn't...well, not so much.

[dannyboy121070]

Thanks for your review of Strange Stones. Been on the fence about picking that one up.

Your mileage may vary. The story is basically a trip through some of Lovecraft's most famous locales and situations, so enjoyment will hinge on your tastes regarding Lovecraft. I'm a big fan of his straight Horror stories, but when he gets bogged down in descriptions of strange stones, buildings, dimensions, etc., my eyes gloss over. There's a lot of that here.