HugeHorrorFan's 2010 Challenge

Here is to another year and another 100 books read.

Ha! Look! I am not bolded anymore. I still think my 2009 thread was haunted...hehehe

Welcome back! And congrats on getting rid of the bold ghost!!

Glad to see you back HHF!

I got you both starred. For 2010, I keep telling myself that I am going to finish some fantasy series that have been lingering, plus I wanted to read some newer stuff. I still have so many horror novels to get to though, that I might just wing it for the whole year again.

One book at a time, I guess.

Got you starred! I'm excited to add some new horror books to my wishlist ;-)

Your user name caught my eye, so I thought I'd come in and wave hello.

#7: Thank you! I have you starred as well. 2010 is going to be a great reading year. I can feel it crackling in the air.

#8: Feel free to drop by anytime! I plan to hopefully read a few of the Classics this year, and I see that your reading tends to be inclined that way. Care to share the one that had the most impact on you?

#9 Oh my, that's a tough one. Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre are up there, and I'll always maintain that Dracula and Carmilla are amazing. I plan on going back to a lot of classics and gothic novels this year as well. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Ha! Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I feel the same way when someone asks me about my favorite horror novel.

My wife is an English Major, and she keeps bugging me to read some Classics. When I asked her this question, she gave me the same reply as you. It is always tough to pick favorites for us readers that read alot. There is so much good stuff out there.

I know the one at the top of her recommendations is Anna Karenina, which I hope to read soon. Then, I will give one of your books a shot with the exception of Dracula of course, since I have read it enough times. But I must say that I am one of those people that when a discussion arises between Dracula vs Frankenstein, the latter is my favorite.

>11 Huge_Horror_Fan:: Are you going to do the group read with us? You should! It would be fun!

Your the best for pointing this group out to me. I just joined. It is far away enough that I can get my immediate lineup cleared by Jan 15th.

HHF,

As always, I'll continue to check your reading list as we seem to have similar tastes when it comes to horror, and have referred books to each other in the past. I'm finishing The Resurrectionist tonight and while I don't think it's the best horror novel I've read this year, it is one of the better ones.

Ooo, I haven't read Frankenstein in years - I should really go back to that one. Phantom of the Opera and Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner are high on my re-read list for the upcoming year.

#14 - Hey! You took a long hiatus from here for awhile. Glad to you see you back. What was your favorite horror novel of the year?

I have to agree that we have very similar tastes in our books, and I am constantly checking out your library for some new ideas. If we disagree on the favorite horror novel of the year, then the chances are that I probably have not read it yet.

I got a Kindle, so I will be ripping through some digital books from Horror Mall in 2010.

#15 - I read Phantom Of The Opera just a few years ago, but I never read Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. It sounds very interesting. You know my huge TBR Pile is going to love you as it grows to an abominable size.

#16 - I think the abominable TBR and I are going to be great friends. ;)

Actually I had two favorites -- Gifune's Children of Chaos and McBride's The Infected. The Resurrectionist came in #3. I read the reference to the book being "siction" at the beginning, but outside of a few scenes, I didn't find it that extreme. The scene at the end after the severed nose came across as forced, whereas the other "siction" scenes seemed to work within the story.

There's a good amount of digital at Horror Mall and plenty more on the way.

Thanks. I will bump those on my reading list. I have Children Of Chaos but I still have to pick up The Infected. Gifune is a powerhouse and I can see him getting picked up by Leisure soon enough.

#1 Gerald's Game By Stephen King

I noticed you didn't rate this too high. Did you not like it? I read it many years ago but I remember enjoying it, maybe because of it's realism and lack of anything supernatural (at least, that I remember). It wasn't the best King, but I still very much loved reading it :)

I couldn't get into this one at all, but persevered to the end. I like the main line story but all the flashbacks to her sexual abuse was a little dry for me.

I found the story was pretty strong when it dealt with the feelings of being handcuffed to the bed at first, but then quickly became repetitive. I was hoping it would just move on. The novel would have been much better if it was shortened down to maybe 200pgs out of the 450pgs or so.

I really like the imagery with dog scenes though…haha. My back was erect whenever the dog came around.

You are right, there aren’t really any supernatural happenings in this story, but when her mind starts to crack, there are some odd things that begin happening that haunt her.

I plan to read Dolores Claiborne next when I go back to King. I sure hope it is better than this one. I heard there is a subtle connection to Gerald’s Game, so I hope I pick it up as I read it through. All in all, I don’t regret reading it because after all, it is Stephen King, but I don’t think I will feel the itch to read this one again.

I think Dolores Claiborne, Rose Madder, and Gerald's Game are all connected a bit. I've only read Gerald's Game so I can't say, but I'm pretty sure that the eclipse at least plays a part in all three.

I will agree with the sexual abuse. That did get a bit tedious.

I still remember the scene when she wakes up and realizes she isn't alone in the room. That was absolutely terrifying.

I'll be waiting to hear your opinion of Dolores Claiborne. I started it once but only got about 20 pages into it before I became distracted with something else. I hope it's a good read!

I hope you like your next book better, HHF!

#24 -- Thank you Alcottacre. I did too!

#2 Nine Dragons By Michael Connolly



Well good old Detective Harry Bosch is back in Nine Dragons. What is it now, some 23 books in the series? Out of those I have only recently read the debut, but I had this one sitting around. So, I fast forwarded (something I never do) to Connelly’s latest with the plan to go back and read the rest in the correct sequence. So far so good, and out of the two, this one was my favorite.

In 9 Dragons, Harry Bosh investigates a shooting at a liquor store in gritty Los Angeles which comes as an awakening from sheer boredom. He soon discovers that the murder victim has a connection to him by being the last person to have shared a smoke during the riots.

He makes a promise to the family that he will catch the murderer.

As the investigation intensifies, the tracks lead him to a thug with connections to the Triad. The clash escalates to complete new heights between Bosh and the gang itself. And the Triad has the upper hand. They make the problem personal by holding his daughter hostage, who just happens to live in Hong Kong with his ex-wife.

When Bosh arrives in Hong Kong, the bodies pile up in a struggle with time for the rescue his daughter and to keep his promise to the victim’s family at a high page-turning velocity.

The actual initial sleuthing was a little dry for me, but when the action starts, look out. It was darn good. It convinced me enough to keep reading the rest of the books.

I love Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series and really enjoyed Nine Dragons when I read it recently. I hope you get a chance to read more of the series, HHF.

#3 Urban Gothic By Brian Keene

#5 The Interpretation Of Dreams By Sigmund Freud

Regarding Urban Gothic, it's not my favorite Keene, but it's still a good read. He did seem to up the gore factor a bit with that one, but that's not a problem. I'm looking forward to his Darkness on the Edge of Town next month.

#30 - Those were my impressions as well. It was a solid read and the gore was flowing thickly. I had a good time as always when reading a Keene novel, but not one of my favorites by him. I am hoping to receive a copy of Darkness On The Edge Of Town in about a week and a half from Leisure, but I still have to read their January's releases first. I am looking forward to Gord Rollo's and Masterton's latest from this month. Have you read any of the two yet?

It might be a little while for me yet before I get to all of them, as I work through Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, which is quite impressive so far in a "soap operaish" kind of way.

#6 Push By Sapphire

#7 Dark Places By Gillian Flynn

I can't decide if Dark Places is really something for me. Several members read it last year; what did you think?

I enjoyed it. It is my second book by Gillian Flynn and I will likely pick up her next book when it comes out. The book is very dark and disturbing, where no characters are really likeable. It is full of violence and deviant sex, which interestingly enough, intertwines very well with the whole mystery focus of the novel. Nothing is quite what it seems from the get go.

The book begins with the main character, Libby, in her thirty’s. We learn that at a young age she was the only survivor in the brutal murder of her mom and two older sisters. Ben, her older brother in his mid-teens at the time, is put behind bars for these murders.

We come to a point where Libby has used up the funds donated by people who were devastated by these horrendous events. Due to injuries that she suffered during the attack and out of sheer laziness she has no intention to find employment even though her savings are completely depleted. Then, an occasion presents itself that seems to be sent from Heaven: she is approached by a group of people that have fanatical fascination for abhorrent murder cases. They propose to compensate her for connecting with individuals that possess real evidence of the crime. They also offer to purchase any possessions that she still has when the murders occurred as some kind of ego trophies.

Libby does not have much choice in the matter because she seems to want to evade work at all costs. It seems like an easy way out of her predicament. When she first participates at the first gathering in this deviant clique, she discovers that none believe her brother to be truly guilty.

The downward spiral picks up pace from there. As she becomes more determined to put these pieces together, and as we see the story develop through various character perspectives, there are sharp twists abound. The book is well plotted and with a very satisfying ending.

#31: No, I haven't read either of the January books as I'm no longer a member of the book club. It seemed like one of the two books per month either weren't to my liking (Laymon) or were reprints, so I dropped it. I pick up the occasional Leisure horror title now if it's an author I like (Keene, Masteron) or if the book seems like it would be interesting. I also got a bunch of last year's titles from the 70% off sale that Dorchester ran around Black Friday to fill in the blanks over the past year.

I didn't know until recently that Blind Panic was the next (and supposedly last) in the Misquamacus series that started with The Manitou as the cover and title imply nothing to that effect. I'll definitely read that one as I'm a fan of the series and The Manitou was one of the first horror novels I read. Gord Rollo's book seems intriguing, but not a "must read" for me at the moment. I'm off my horror kick at the moment and reading thrillers and sci-fi currently. Which reminds me, I need to post my 2010 list in a thread as I haven't yet.

I see. I quite enjoy reading Laymon, even though, I read most of his stuff in my teens. You should be in luck though, as Leisure is running out of his material to re-publish. There should be some new slots opening for newer stuff. I am wondering what you thought of Keene's Castways from last year, as it was a tribute to Laymon. Did you read that one?

I didn't know that Blind Panic was part of the Misquamacus series. I only read The Manitou from him in this series, so hopefully, I will not get lost. Masterton is still one of those writers that can bring me chills. His most memorable novel so far for me is Spirit, but I still have to read many of books. Good thing he has one heck of a line-up that will keep me busy for years to come.

#8 The Island of Dr. Moreau By H. G. Wells



And back to Anna Karenina I go. I haven't had too much time to read lately, so I am only half way through.

RIP J. D. Salinger. You were one of the greats. I will be reading Catcher In The Rye again very soon.

Your thread is always a wonderful inspiration to get back to my roots. As soon as I finish my planning marathon I'm going back to the classics. Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde are on the shelf by my desk, but I think I'll need to break out Moreau as well.

Regarding Castaways, that is the only Keene MMPB I have not read. I read the short story/novella on which it is based from Fear of Gravity and didn't think too much of it. That is probably the only Keene story I have not liked, so I figured there was no need to read an extended version of it.

You can probably read any of the Manitou sequels and not get confused. A major event happened in Revenge of the Manitou that is referenced in Burial (and maybe Manitou Blood), but reading them out of order would only spoil that one event. I think Burial was originally intended to be the end (and it's my favorite of the first four books).

I've probably read 2/3rds of Masterton's horror novels, but Spirit is not one of them. I have it and plan to get to it sometime.

39> You can never go wrong with H. G. Wells. Out of the bunch that I have read, unfortunately, I found The Island Of Dr. Moreau the weakest out of the bunch. War Of The Worlds is so far, my favorite of his.

#9 Leviathan By Scott Westerfeld

Let me know what you think of Leviathan. It's on my list of steampunk books for the group read after we get done with The Anubis Gates.

I loved the story and the awesome illustrations. Although, I don't read steampunk or that many YA novels for that matter, this one was worth it. The only thing that I can think that would have been made this book better for me, is if it was written for an adult audience. Upscale the violence and some mature themes, and it would be near perfection.

Nevertheless, it was darn good if you take it for what it is. You are in for a fun and wild ride! I will be reading the next in the series for sure. It is left at a bit of cliff hanger, but I am going to shut up now...

#10 The Birthing House By Christopher Ransom

I just looked at the reviews on the book's page, and it looks like it was a disappointing use of what could have been an interesting premise. What are your thoughts?

Hi Luxx,

I hope all is well. I wishing you hadn’t asked me this question.

You know, there is a lot of hard work that is put into a novel. I am going to reserve my thoughts because I respect the author for having the discipline of actually finishing a book and getting it published. Bravo!

For a horror novel, in my opinion, this is about as bad as it gets. Bad, bad...BAD! Full of over used cliches and whatever the mystery the house holds, the author discards them at a whim. Instead, there are tons of gratuitous sex scenes and a whole lot of dumb characters that do the most unnatural things.

Honestly, I will be surprised if a read a worst book this year, or better yet, decade.

I just take it to heart when a horrible horror novel squeaks into mass publication. Any new reader that has the littlest interest in horror fiction, and picks this up for their first try, will never pick up a horror novel again. It is disappointing when there are many good stories out there that would actually contributed to this field, that are never given such an opportunity.

Hehehe…that was me holding back = ;o)

Oh well, back to Anna Karenina for the final stretch and I should be done. I’m in the final 250 pages or so.

We're doing well, although we're a little tired of the snow. I hope all is well for you, too!

I just take it to heart when a horrible horror novel squeaks into mass publication. Any new reader that has the littlest interest in horror fiction, and picks this up for their first try, will never pick up a horror novel again. It is disappointing when there are many good stories out there that would actually contributed to this field, that are never given such an opportunity.

I know this feeling all too well (for example, Dickens turning people off 19th-century fiction). It certainly sounds like one to skip, although I suddenly find myself itching for a good haunted house novel.

Good luck with Anna Karenina! I'm going to go run back to Moving Pictures; Pratchett is always nice on a snow day.

#11 Anna Karenina By Leo Tolstoy

#12 Roll Them Bones By David Niall Wilson

#49: I hope you enjoyed Anna Karenina, HHF!

I was actually quite surprised by it. It was good and very introspective to Russian Society of the time. Loved the characters, the theme of promiscuity and its double standard between the sexes and even the jabs at organized religion. I can see the book being very controversial when it came out.

I didn't quite care for the admiration at peasant life during Levin's stay at the farm. I would guess it would have matched Tolstoy's very own personal opinion knowing a little bit about his biography. I found that part a bit dry, although, it would surely not have given during the time period. Although I agree with his opinion entirely, it just seemed to drag for too long.

All in all a great book.

I am glad you enjoyed it. Thus far (about 120 pages in) I am liking it as well.

Ok I know it is a classic and many people have read it but what's a short summary of Anna Karenina.

#13 The House That Jack Built By Graham Masterton

#14 Eragon By Christopher Paolini

and... what did you think of Eragon?

#57 - It was not too bad. I tend to like my fantasy mature and dark which this one was not. But I do have this magnetic pull towards stories with dragons which made me want to give this one a try.

The novel was a bit too much into the YA realm for me. I am not sure if I will be continuing the series, perhaps at some point. The story is fairly simple and plot uses have been done to death in the genre. However, it still charmed me in the entertainment department.

#15 Boneland By Jeffrey Thomas

#16 Horns By Joe Hill

What'd you think of Outliers?

It was an interesting read, but not as insightful as I thought it would be. Many of the points on this book just seemed to boil down to common sense and my existing premonitions on what makes successful people, successful. However, to actually write a book on it and the examples provided to prove some of the points were very well done and gave the impression of being thoroughly researched. I thought when he got down to specifics though, some ideas could be refuted. At a macro level, they work as a possible statistical interpretation of behaviour. If you personalize it though, try to apply it at a micro level, I think there would be holes all over the place.

Still, Gladwell made some good points. For example, mastering a skill is not simply gauged by the extensive time investment into a particular skill. Other indicators have to be taken into account such as the people that are influencing you, and arguably more important, it is all about the timing. And the latter has a lot to do with luck. Is this something new? Hardly. The way Gladwell uses some stats and storytelling ability to prove some of these points, were done very effectively though.

I particularly like the argument on the month you are born being a possible advantage/disadvantage to you. It is a strong argument and one that I completely believe in.

It wasn’t too bad book, and without a doubt, will give you food for thought. For some, perhaps even an eye opener.

#18 Freemasonry By Giles Morgan

#19 Dolores Claiborne By Stephen King

#62: Your review confirms what I'd inferred from the jacket copy: the book expounds on points I already suspect. Frankly I think when it comes to success, broad statistical predictions are the only accurate ones we can expect.

It's good to hear that Gladwell offers some insight, and I'll keep the book in mind but think I can give it a pass for now. Thanks for the review.

#20 Snow By Ronald Damien Malfi

#21 Demonica And The Dream House By Patrick Kill

#22 Headlines By David Niall Wilson

#23 Jenna Sighed By Michael McBride

Even the covers of some of the books you read give me the creeps, HHF :)

70> Hehehe! The last few reads have all been digital short story downloads from the Horror Mall site. For the most part, they have been short, to the point and very juicy. Some were clunkers, but the ones that were good, were excellent and definitely not for the faint of heart. Demonica And The Dream House was especially not for the squeamish, yet, my favorite of the bunch.

#24 Bloody Redemption By Gene O'Neill

#25 Discarded Blessings By James A. Moore

#26 Friday Night In Beast House and The Wilds By Richard Laymon

#27 Your Kids Are Your Own Fault By Larry Winget

#75: A truly horrifying thought in some cases!

#28 Strange Magic By Gord Rollo

#29 The Left Hand Of God By Paul Hoffman



I consider myself somewhat of a seasoned fantasy reader. I have not read all the fantasy novels that are highly praised, but then again, who has really? It is all those unread novels that keep an avid reader ticking, right?

If I had to categorize THE LEFT HAND OF GOD, it would appropriately fit into young adult. It is very well written, and although far from complex, it is fair to say that it is a highly entertaining read with superb pacing. Young readers or mature audiences that are new to the genre will likely enjoy and praise this book. They really should be the target audience.

For the ones that have been around the genre, the book will likely fail to have a great hook to reel you in. We have a rehash of plot building techniques that will be all too familiar and the characters are, dare I say, clumsily developed. Some background is provided, but somehow, the characters still felt very distant and, consequently, hard to care for. It is all about the plot, and what is going to happen next. And for those who can already anticipate what that next is going to be, you are just tagged along by the great prose, and not too shabby dialogue. It felt rather empty when I turned that last page but still entertaining.

I heard this is a planned trilogy; so maybe, there is some disservice in my review without looking at the whole picture. Time will tell…

The tale is seen mainly through the eyes of our main character, Thomas Cale. Although, characters perspectives do change, and this is an essential component for me in fantasy, especially when there are characters militaristically plotting against one another. Again, it is far from complex, but it is still fun to see how both sides are fairing against one another.

So, Cale as a young teen is subjected to a harsh and heavily disciplined atmosphere. In slavery-type conditions where constant punishment is coldly administered by the Redeemers, he and other boys his age are exposed to extreme brutality and malnourishment. All that is done is in the name of religion, of which its beliefs closely mirror that of the Catholic Church during the Dark Ages. We get a clear picture where these kids are being bred for battle. It is loosely disclosed in the story, but you get a sense that the harsh conditions are a tool to breed solid, unflinching soldiers for a yet untold battle that is brewing.

After Cale, in secret, falls witness to horrible act -- he, two of his closest friends and a young girl name Riba are forced to escape. Hence, begins their path, leading them to a city called Memphis. A city where morals seem to be the complete opposite from what they had been taught by the Redeemers: living in sin. The Redeemers will stop at nothing to find Cale, because within him, there is a secret that they want to possess at all costs.

Bloodshed is eminent.

Since I am fairly new to the genre, I will give that one a try. Thanks for the recommendation, HHF.

#31 Dragons Of Spring Dawning, Volume III By Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

#81: I own that trilogy and am hoping to get to it this summer. Did you enjoy the book, HHF?

I did. I enjoyed the entire trilogy, but the third entry was really my favorite. I will likely continue with the rest of the series and discover more about the world of Krynn and all its fascinating characters.

I like the story behind Caramon (a fighter) and his brother, Raistlin (who is a powerful mage, but gained that ability at an extreme cost). Their history is only used as filler in this trilogy though, and not all that fleshed out. I believe the trilogy that follows, goes that very path, where the main characters become these two.

The story is well written especially considering that it is based on role-playing game. The novels based on the games, never seem to be that highly acclaimed. I have not read much of them, but I had been given that impression from friends. I was pleasantly surprised.

I love all the role-playing games and worlds for D&D and play them often with close friends. You can really appreciate the story as a player, because it fits well with the game mechanics that were built.

Compared to the new fantasy that is out there, it does seem a bit out dated and its mild in violence. It is still very much worth the read.

This was one of the first fantasy trilogies I read and still is among my top five (Terry Brooks' original Shannara trilogy, Fred Saberhagen's original Books of Swords trilogy, Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy, and the follow-on trilogy to this one being the other four). I read it when it was first released in the mid 80s and remember staying up late one night to finish it. Ah, the glory days of high school.

Weis' and Hickman's follow-on trilogy about the Majere brothers is just as entertaining and I highly recommend it. Dragons of Summer Flame, even though it has a similar title, really isn't a direct continuation of the series. Another book, The Second Generation, bridges the gap between the original trilogies and Summer Flame. I liked both of these as well.

They had another trilogy called the War of Souls which continued the main storyline after Summer Flame. However, that trilogy seemed to lack the "magic" of the original books. Their recent trilogy (Lost Chronicles Trilogy), which they claim to be their last stories in Krynn, supposedly fills in some of the blanks from the original trilogy. I've read the first one, but just thought it was so-so. I started the second, but didn't finish it. There are many good books in the Dragonlance world of Krynn, but many that are only average at best. I used to be an avid reader of Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms, but haven't read much of either in the past several years.

#83: I have never played any of the D&D games, but I am hoping to appreciate the books anyway.

Stasia,

I never played the D&D games either, at least, the pencil and paper ones. I did play some of the older computer games based on the Krynn (DragonLance) and Faerun (Forgotten Reams) worlds, but I didn't know the difference between that and other computer RPGs at the time. So, you can definitely enjoy the books without having played any of the games, in my opinion.

#86: That is good to know. Thanks, David.

#84 - Hi David! It has been awhile. I hope you are doing well. I read the Tad Williams series that you mention, but I have yet to read the others. I have been meaning to get to Terry Brooks.

You know, if you really like the series back from the 80's, the one I started with was the Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist. Later books were a let down for me, but I have not read them all yet. However, the first series that started all was fantastic especially the first four: Magician: Apprentice, Magician: Master, Silverthorn and A Darkness At Sethanon.

#87 - Definitely, don't let the idea that the novels are based on a roleplaying game module make you shy away from the series. You will not lose anything about the story whether you played the game or not.

It is just for people that have played the table-top role playing game, will gain something valuable when trying to role play in that world. You get the see the world first hand and any of the characters are very much "playable", even the evil ones. You can read for pure enjoyment or with the role playing game in mind from a statistical point of view.

HHF -- I've heard good things about the early books in the Riftwar saga, but I never have gotten around to trying them. I'll put those on my never-ending list of books to read. Check your gmail when you have a moment as I sent you something a day or so ago.

Oh, and of the first three Shannara books, Elfstones is one of the best fantasy novels I've read. All three are great, but that one stands out.

I'll check e-mail later tonight when I am home. I have not been there in awhile.

I'll make sure to bump up the Shannara books. For fantasy right now, I am trying to wrap up all the series that I have on the go, before starting new ones which includes the final three books in The Sword Of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. The series gets a lot of flack, but I have not found it that bad. Sure, it was a slow downgrade after maybe the first four, but you become so enraptured with the characters, that you just have to read the entire series.

#32 Monster Nation By David Wellington

#33 I, Claudius by Robert Graves

#92: It has been years since I read that one. Are you going to read the follow up, Claudius the God?

I also recommend a follow-up with the BBC version of I, Claudius - *wonderful* cast.

I read about half of Monster Island a few years ago, then got sidetracked and never finished it. The means of preventing zombie-ism was different and the story was above average, but the writing just seemed a bit weak. Then again, it was one of Wellington's first books. His vampire series is excellent. I guess I need to get back to this series and his werewolf series (book 2 will be released later this year).

93> Thank you for letting me know about the follow-up. I did not there was one! I'll have to check it out.

94> Gosh, you would think I live in cave. I had no idea about the BBC version. Is it a miniseries or a movie? I'm going to do a little googling online and watch it.

95> Ha! It was exactly what happened to me. I started reading Monster Planet a year back (maybe more?), and gave up about half way. The market was saturated with zombie novels at the time, in which I had read too many of them. I was itching for a change, so I put it down with the intention of picking it up later. I figured this was a good time to give it another go. It is not the most solid zombie novel out there, but not too bad. There are things in it that I did not like, where suspension of belief was stretched to the limit.

#34 Hosts by F. Paul Wilson



Wow, I am in awe of Wilson. Repairman Jack plot thickens as things get personal for him in this novel, the 5th in the series. We find out a little more history of RJ and events spiral more towards the supernatural without losing any plausibility. There is a multitude of characters where nobody is safe. It is hard to believe this is a 500pg novel, because I found its pacing relentless and it reads more like a novella. I am fully vested in the main characters, that I find myself worrying about them at work.

I am now, and more than ever, an obsessed RJ fan. Good thing there is a lot of us out there, and for good reason!

#96: You remind me that I need to get back to Repairman Jack. Off to find the books . . .

I don't know if you read this one yet, but it is a real heartbreaker...

No, I have not read that one yet.

#35 Death Match By Lincoln Child

I have this one, but haven't read it yet. Like Douglas Preston, it seems that many of his and Child's solo efforts are just average. Their combined works seem to be better (Pendergast and earlier books).

It was my first time reading Child, and I have yet to try Preston. I promised myself that as soon as I am caught up with Repairman Jack series, that I am reading the Pendergast novels.

Death Match was really just that...a very average read. There were some very good parts with a great premise, but way too many dry spots for me after that. The beginning has a pretty good hook, but it really deteriorates until you get near the end. I am still glad I read it, but it will likely be a forgettable book.

#103: What did you think of that one? The reviews appear to be mixed.

I thought it was a decent read and it’s well worth a look.

The novel follows the path of a Russian pilot, Yefgenil Yeremin, who is so proficient in shooting down American planes during the Korean War that he becomes known as “Ivan The Terrible”. With the USSR wanting to keep their involvement very hush-hush from the public, his heroism and successes in battle are suppressed from outsiders. Although Yefgenil’s loyalty to his country is never stilted, you can feel the internal turmoil in needing to be famous, for the world to know how good he is and the need to put his imprint in society. The book gets a bit bogged down with specifics of air flight during the action scenes, but still very enjoyable.

Yefgenil later does get a chance to try to fill that void when serving at a post in the Arctic. He is approached to confront the biggest mission of all: to be the first man on the moon.

Book is a little over 250pgs and can be easily read over a weekend over a few glasses of wine. You are going to need that drink for the big finale.

#105: You are going to need that drink for the big finale.

That might be a bit difficult - I am a teetotaler :)

Thanks for the additional info though. I appreciate it!

Hehehe...well, then drink something non-alchoholic or you are going to have no nails left.

#107: Uh oh.

#37 Columbine By Dave Cullen

#109: That was one of my memorable reads for last year. I thought it was a terrific book. I hope you thought so too.

It was for me too. It was one of the few books this year that I rated at five stars. It perhaps was not a good idea to read this with my daughter starting school this September. It scared me more than any fiction horror novel ever could.

#111: It scared me more than any fiction horror novel ever could.

Yeah, I know how that goes. Richard Preston's books have that effect on me.

#38 Dimiter by William Peter Blatty

Ooo, what did you think of that one?

Hi Luxx,

It has been awhile. I hope all is well.

Dimiter is an intelligent novel if you like spy thrillers with religious tones. I bought the novel on a whim at the bookstore since I was in a rush. I saw that William Peter Blatty had written the novel and immediately thought, “Hey, the guy who wrote THE EXORCIST. I have to get this one”. It was only later when I started reading it that I was disappointed that the book was not really meant to be a horror novel. Shoot.

It is not to say that it was a bad book. The novel is very well plotted and had some twists that I was not expecting, specially the end. There is some deliberate confusion that might put some people off, but if you stick with it, he pulls it all together very well. Still, it was not a horror novel from the guy that wrote THE EXORCIST (did I say that already?) and I was really looking forward to a good scare.

The year is 1973 with Demeter, a hardened American spy renowned for always completing his missions when odds of success are not very favorable. He is being held prisoner in an Albanian prison, exposed to horrific torture. It does get a bit graphic here.

The story then transports us to Jerusalem where we are introduced to two friends, a neurologist and a police detective. Characters are exposed to all sorts of supernatural occurrences, there is a gruesome murder, and a high body count until the story reaches its boiling point. Although the stories seem disjointed at first including in how Demeter fits in all this, they all begin to connect, until you are left with a big picture at the end. It was done well enough for me, because at a lot of the times, it did not go where I thought it was going.

Cheers.

#39 Haiku By Andrew H. Vachss

We're doing well, and I hope you are, too!

I saw that William Peter Blatty had written the novel and immediately thought, “Hey, the guy who wrote THE EXORCIST. I have to get this one”. It was only later when I started reading it that I was disappointed that the book was not really meant to be a horror novel. Shoot. That was exactly what I thought when I saw the title. I'm not sure that's really one for me - thank you for the review!

#40 The Haunted Air by F. Paul Wilson

How was Haiku? I was grieving the end of the Burke series, but more from a place of nostalgia than from my current enjoyment of the books.

I've been debating whether Haiku was worth buying, and you are the first LTer I've seen who has read it.

Hi Nancy,

Haiku was a so-so of a novel for me as far as crime books go, not that I have read that many. It did find it a bit dull. The nararration was putting me to sleep and it took me awhile to get through such a short book. The novel just didn't seem to have any tension pulling me along. Perhaps, the problem was that most of the action takes place off-stage and it is simply described rather than witnessed. It came across as a bit of laziness from the author, or maybe, he was trying for something that I didn't get.

If I do read crime, I prefer them grittier with a touch of noir. It has to be an edge of the seat, white-knuckled read such as the latest novels by the likes of Tom Piccirilli. I like them dark and violent, full of intelligent mystery.

Unfortunately, I have never read the Burke series, so I am unable to compare. If you liked the series that much, I am sure it was in a whole different league than Haiku. I think I gave it 2.5 stars here on LT. It was an average read. I would recommend it but with hesitation, depending on your taste.

>121 Huge_Horror_Fan:: I returned my copy to the library without ever even opening the book so I have to ask: How bad was it?

Ugh, it was awful. It made no sense to me and I am seriously pondering why the book would have even been released at all. I know, because it has the name Dean Koontz on it. I would not even recommend this book to his die hard fans. His latest novels have been more misses than not, that I am considering dropping his books altogether. At least, until he comes to terms of the loss of his dog and moves his writing toward other subjects.

He's got about six stories running together that (I assumed would entwine at the end). Not all of them really did, and the ones that did, crashed and burned. The conclusion was preposterous, the book is too preachy, characters are not developed enough. Pets are good, and people are evil…alright, I get it already.

No more Dean Koontz books for at least the rest of the year until I have had time to lick my wounds. Right now, I would read Dan Brown before Dean Koontz and that says a lot. Maybe it is just me, or the mood that I was in when reading this book, but it was a real waste of my time. A dog on the cover of another Koontz novel is an automatic green light for me to keep walking.

"Right now, I would read Dan Brown before Dean Koontz"

Ouch! That's a bad book! I know Relentless was horrible and I haven't really had a desire to read Koontz since. I'm kind of losing interest in him. I think he's just become too successful so no one's properly editing his books anymore...

#42 Joyride By Jack Ketchum

#43 Weed Species By Jack Ketchum

On a Ketchum kick at the moment? Weed Species looked intriguing when I first saw mention of it a year or so ago, but it was a bit pricey for a novella.

Hi David,

You are in luck then, if you got Leisure's Joyride release. Weed Species is a bonus novella attached at the end of the book. It is very short and I was really excited to read it since it is based on Paul and Karla Homolka. It ended being a very average read and far from when Ketchum is at the top of his game. Both stories were ok but not really horror.

OK. I don't have the Leisure release of Joyride as I got that one as part of a CD grab bag a year or so ago. Since it's just average, I don't think I'll seek out the Leisure publication just to read Weed Species. Thanks for the info.

#44 Journey To The Center Of The Earth By Jules Verne

#45 MEG: A Novel Of Deep Terror By Steve Alten

#46 The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ooo, The Lost World is one I want to pick up for the boys!

If they are crazy about dinosaurs like mine are, they will be in for a treat.

Oh my, dinosaurs are B's favorite thing in the world. We get into arguments about whether or not alligators and fish with teeth (Discovery Channel's "River Monsters") are dinosaurs...

#47 The Darkness On The Edge Of Town By Brian Keene

#48 Anne Frank Remembered By Miep Gies

#49 The Halloween Tree By Ray Bradbury

#138: I have not yet read that one by Bradbury. Did you like it?

I sure did. It is a book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Scary, but not too scary. Superbly written where each careful word paints fantastic pictures. I am keeping a copy of this book and reading it to my little ones come this Halloween over a roaring fire by the fireplace.

#50 The Art Of Being By Erich Fromm

#140: OK, I will look for it! Thanks for the input.

#51 The Backwoods By Edward Lee

#52 Dandelion Wine By Ray Bradbury

#144: I love that one! I hope you enjoyed it too, HHF.

It was a phenomenal book. I liked even better than The Halloween Tree.

#146: I am glad you enjoyed it.

I see you thought as highly of The Backwoods as I did. Too Laymonesque for me.

I thought it started off with potential, sagged immensely in the middle, and the ending just didn't pay off for me. I was really hoping for a tense ending, but was really disappointed when it did not come. I was actually a little bored throughout the majority of the novel.

I think the only Lee novel that I have really liked was SLITHER. I keep waiting for one like it to come my way, but no luck so far.

#53 The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story Of Nonna Bannister By Nonna Bannister

#150: I already have that one in the BlackHole. What did you think of it?

#151: I guess “enjoyed” is the inappropriate response for a diary of a holocaust survivor. At its end, I felt grateful. I felt grateful to experience a little girl having her innocence unwillingly broken by tragic events, to witness events that none of us, no matter what age, should ever witness. We see her and her family live many hardships through Stalin’s communism and then the fascist Nazis. At its centre, Nonna holds an attitude of forgiveness that still dumbfounds me, yet it empowers.

The book is troubling, tragic and often maddening, but still with a few funny moments that make families, families. Still, it is important to keep reminding ourselves how the lives that we have now, were learned by crucial mistakes made in the past. All we can do now is learn from them, and keep reminding ourselves that we will never walk that road again.

If a comparison must be made, I still think Anne Frank’s account is still the one with the most impact for me. Maybe because I read it first, or read it when I was very young so its shock left a deeper scar. Nonna’s account will still resonate that same string of making the reader feel helpless and invoking a sense of deep loss. But most importantly, it will give you a sense of direction, a sense that all the little worries in our daily life are mostly trivial. In the end, it will make you want to be a better person.

#152: I agree with you that 'enjoy' is not the response to reading material like that. Perhaps 'appreciate?' I have read multiple Holocaust diaries and many of them find joy amongst the suffering. It always amazes me.

#54 The Painted Darkness By Brian James Freeman

Regarding The Painted Darkness -- I see we agree again. It was OK, but definitely did not live up to the hype. The comparison to early King? I don't think so.

I thought you were on vacation until Friday? Good to see you back! Yeah, The Painted Darkness was ok. Fairly average and very tame. I am not sure why there was a comparison to early King, I could not see similarities either.

I am on vacation, just checking on things during breaks. Breaks meaning when the boys crash and take a nap. Figured I'd take advantage of the free wifi while I had the chance.

#55 I Am Not A Serial Killer By Dan Wells

I really really enjoyed I am Not a Serial Killer, so I hope you did, too.

I am a fan of Bradbury, so I'm adding The Halloween Tree to my list!

Yeah, I liked it too. What did you think?

I enjoyed the novel as much as the both of you. There was one thing that left me feeling a bit cheated, but I know it is a planned trilogy. I am hoping for that crucial answer at some point. For the sake of the story, and being written through first POV, it might make sense to keep it hidden. If the character did not find it out, we cannot either, and given John Cleaver’s sociopathic temperament, maybe it was all secondary to him.

If it was a planned hook by the author to encourage readers to pick up subsequent novels, then I applaud you. You just have to reel me in now.

All in all, it was a great novel especially the dialogue which was extremely fluid, sharp and smart. I loved the conversations with the shrink.

I had I Am Not a Serial Killer checked out of the library but had to return it unread due to book funk earlier this month. I will have to get it back again!

#56 Heart Of The Monster By Brian Knight

#57 Insoluble By David Niall Wilson

#58 Kingdom Of Shadows By Greg F. Gifune

#59 Midnight Blues By Brian Knight

#60 The Night The Moon Made Sound By Anderson Prunty

#61 Screaming Greens By Patrick Kill

#62 Music Theory For Dummies By Michael Pilhofer

#63 Head Games By Joe Hill

#64 Ushers Of Darkness By Greg F. Gifune

#65 Swan Lake By Patrick Kill

#172: Somehow I do not think that is Tchaikovsky's vision of Swan Lake :)

#173: Ha! That was a good one!

Although I enjoy Patrick Kill stories quite a bit, he is definitely not for the squeamish or for persons who are easily offended. And even so, he might still might be too much for those with some tolerance, especially with Swan Lake. It got awfully nasty in parts in all sorts of ways. Me and my reading deviant ways could not help but give this story 5/5 stars. It was not only well written, but an original cautionary tale on beauty. A very imaginative and twisted tale, indeed!

#66 Piano For Dummies By Blake Neely

Wow. That's a big change!

I have been playing electric guitar for about 15yrs now for fun. I never really bothered to learn music notes and music theory. I was always the one to learn a song by ear or use tablature. So, although you pick up some things, what better way to enhance my playing by actually learning the true format and true fundementals of music.

I decided to change my ways this year and on here out. I picked up a roland fantom workstation (basically a keyboard with lots of toys, really cool toys) and I am determined to get into more of the theory and learning to read sheet music. With the Roland and the electric guitar, it is like having a little recording studio. It has tons of patches to imitate countless instruments, I get bass and treble cleff, plus the authentic sound of my Fender Strat that can plug right in. It is a one man band show, without all the bickiring and competition that happens in bands.

Anyway, to learn music, I decided to learn it on piano rather than the guitar to start. The notes on the piano are all in order, where on the guitar they can be scattered all over of the place.

So, there you have it. My spiel for the day. You can never know too much, right? You have to keep challenging yourself.

Very cool! I'm a trombone (and assorted other brass instruments) player from elementary school on through first year in college. Then I got busy with math and physics and had to quit band, so I picked up guitar. Even though I read music and know lots of theory, I never learned to play guitar that way. I'm a decent rhythm player, but from chords and/or by ear. One of my retirement goals is to go back and learn to play guitar correctly. Definitely have to keep challenging yourself!

Ok, sir - where can I find a copy of Swan Lake?

#177: Wow! Good luck with your ambitions in the music department, HHF. I started with violin at age 6, so got an early grounding in reading music and count myself lucky for it. I am also a fellow guitar player.

#179 - Hi Luxx! I hope your boys are keeping you busy.

I have been purchasing digital copies of Patrick Kill stories over at Horror Mall. They are for the most part fairly short stories, and I think he has one or two full collections of short fiction.

Read at your own discretion...

Patrick Kill

#180 - Thank you! Learning music young is definitely the way to go. You are lucky with very smart parents. I like learning and playing music quite a bit, so it is hardly a chore for me. I literally lose track of time when I am with an instrument. I plan to take it in slow steps.

My daughter of five has been sticking to violin for a year now. My younger boy of almost three has been bugging me for drums as his mother shakes her head frantically in the background. We reached middle ground by buying him a toy drum, and he told me so right away, "I cannot make music with this toy. I want reeeeal drums."

Go figure...

#67 Tales Of Madness By William Ollie

#182: I think mom might lose out to the 3-year-old! Sounds like he knows what he wants.

#182 - Thanks! I can't resist anything that inspires such strong reactions - off I go!

#68 Skin Flowers By Gina Ranalli

#70 Sleepless: A Novel By Charlie Huston

HHF is knocking out the digitals.

I haven't tried Gina Ranalli's works yet. Some look intriguing, others don't.

I have been knocking out the digitals, dear friend. It was a very good ride and I will be submersing myself in more digital offerings from the Horror Mall in the near future.

Gina Ranalli's story was a bit above average. It was, say, no Gifune but still enjoyable. I'll be interested to read more stuff by her.

#71 Scratch By Brian Keene

#72 The Cage By Brian Keene

Getting close to 75, Paulo! Good going.

reg #190 -- You seem to have misspelled Crossroad ;-) Just teasing.

I have something by Ranalli, but I can't remember what. I'll try to track it down and give it a shot soon. Well, after I get through the virtual TBR pile that never goes down in size.

The Cage is on my TBR (soon) pile of dead tree books. Good to hear you liked it.

#193 -- Thank you! I am hoping to make it 120 by the end of the year. We'll see...

#194 --Hahaha! You are right, though. I was planning to make my next book buying spree at Crossroad, before Horror Mall. Say, $50 worth. What do you recommend?

#195 -- Its Keene, so you can't go wrong! Other than at just over one hundred pages, it is much too short. It was a solid one hundred pages, though, signed and limited. I am keeping that baby on the new book shelf that should be delivered later this week.

Regarding recommendations, definitely Ash Wednesday and Soulstorm, if you haven't already read them. Both of those are excellent novels by Chet Williamson. Also, if you like short stories, the three Ronald Kelly collections are great (Cumberland Furnace, Dark Dixie, and The Sick Stuff). This is My Blood is a great vampire story, but it will step on some toes (and it's $.99 at the moment).

I'll send you a PM through LT in a little bit with some more specifics.

#73 Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

#74 The Turn Of The Screw By Henry James

#199: Did you like that one, Paulo? I have never attempted any Henry James, but that one is a book I mean to try one of these days.

#200: I didn't like it at all. I had heard this was one of the best ghost stories ever written, and I struggle to see why. Maybe for its time? I give it a high score on prose and style. There is no doubt that Henry James had skill with words. In the midst of all his technical ability, I think the story got lost. I felt too detached from characters and plot, which is the exact opposite feeling I want to experience when reading a horror-gothic story. The story was very convuluted to the point where you feel like you are walking through mud, rather than at a brisk pace.

If I want solid gothic stories, I'll stick to Edgar Allan Poe, in my opinion.

#201: OK, thanks for the input! I guess that one can continue to sit on the back burner for me.

#75 Flesh Welder By Ronald Kelly

#76 Somebody: The Reckless Life and Remarkable Career Of Marlon Brando By Stefan Kanfer

#295 = Thank you! It has been a solid reading year, although I remember at the beginning of the year I told myself I would wrap up some of the fantasy series that have been lingering. It has not happened yet, but we still have three and a half months to go.

#77 Clickers II: The Next Wave By J. F. Gonzalez & Brian Keene



This was a pretty solid sequel with lots of mayhem. The Clickers go berserk in urban USA leaving the reader with incredible visual imprints, and breathing heavy along with the characters. Man, the Clickers are such a great foe creation, if you enjoy monsters.

There were some actions from the Dark Ones that were questionable. They are supposed to be an intelligent, yet primitive, species. However, a few of their actions had me wondering if they were psychic. I can not picture a race sequestered in the deep sea, having enough knowledge to perform certain offensive maneuvers like taking out a generator in a heavily fortified military base with pin-point precision. How the heck would they even know what a generator is?

Yet, I have the third one coming in the mail and I can not wait to dive into it.

When I read those action-adventure kind of books, I just have to put my brain on hold because most of the time my sense of disbelief is stretched to the max. It does not stop me from reading them either.

#78 Nightmares and Dreamscapes By Stephen King

#79 Pressure By Jeff Strand



Wow! Quite simply the best novel I read so far this year and my very first by Jeff Strand. Tightly crafted, and engaging to the point that you have no life until you have turned that last page.

Plot is simple enough, but the execution is near perfection. No, correction, it is perfect.

People that have enjoyed DEXTER and I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER are bound to have fun with this book.

More Strand coming up in the near future, that’s for sure.

#209: Well, if I liked horror I would rush right out and buy that one, but as it is. . .

I would not really consider this novel horror. It is more of a thriller, but it is a violent one and emotionally draining. You really feel for the main character.

I am glad you found a new author you can really enjoy, Paulo. I hope you find more of his books!

#212 -- Thank you. I already have one of his in my huge pile of books that I am going to bump up. I know there are quite of few of his available at the Horror Mall.

#80 Packing for Mars: The Curious Science Of Life in the Void By Mary Roach

#213: Well, it looks as though the local library finally has a copy of that one. I hope to have my hands on it soon!

I hope you like it. I have only read one other book by Mary Roach called Spooks. I did like the subject matter on the latter more, but that is not really why I read her books. I really like the tone of her narrative and her keen eye for the absurd.

#215: I just finished Roach's Stiff. If you have not already read that one, I recommend it!

#81 Dog Blood By David Moody

#82 Clickers III: Dagon Rising by J. F. Gonzalez & Brian Keene

#83 Dweller By Jeff Strand

#219: Did you enjoy your second foray into Strand's books as much as the first one?

Yes, it is an amazing novel.

There is something in his writing that really reminds me of Robert McCammon earlier novels. Surprisingly enough, when I exchanged some e-mails with him and mentioned this to him, it just happens that McCammon is his favorite author!

Dweller is about a boy who can't fit at school and is constantly bullied by two kids. Being an outsider in school moulds him to turn into his imagination and learning how to play by himself. With his backyard facing a forest, it becomes his playground for most of his childhood.

It is there that he meets a monster and befriends it. The novel follows their relationship well into his old age. The things to happen are something to witness.

Strand handles the subject matter artfully. The novel could have easily fallen flat or silly but not in the hands of this master. No way.

I can't recommed this book highly enough.

I am glad you have found a new favorite author!

#84 The Lake By Richard Laymon

The cover alone makes me want to read The Lake. How was it?

Hi Cal,

I went away for the weekend with the kids, so I am only visiting this site now and noticed your post.

If you have never read Richard Laymon before, I would suggest you start somewhere else. The Lake is one of three novels that were published after his death, and quite honestly it shows. In having read many of his earlier novels, this is one of the first real disappointments. I am confident that if he had more time in his life, this book would not have seen the light of day as is. It came out disjointed and sometimes a bit confusing.

It was still a decent read if you are a die hard fan, of which I am, but it needs lots of polishing.

If you want to really experience Laymon I would suggest any of his earlier novels. These four really show him at the top of his game:

The Island
Resurrection Dreams
One Rainy Night
The Travelling Vampire Show

I hope you had fun with your family. I actually was on vacation too!

Thanks for advice on Laymon. I will have to look for his books.

#85 The Passage By Justin Cronin

#227: I have that one here to read. What did you think of it, Paulo?

I can’t believe it! You have a vampire book on your TBR pile? You are on your way to being converted. What’s next? Some Brian Keene? Hehehehe.

The book was ok. I think I made the mistake of riding the hype a bit too much especially with comparison’s to Stephen King’s The Stand and Robert McCammon’s Swan Song. I thought this book was far from these two novels and for such an epic, was just too wordy in spots making it a struggle to get through a very saggy middle. It does pick up again with about 150pgs left (out of 800pgs!), but I was so drained by then I don’t know if I really cared about it all that much anymore. My mind was already on the next book that I was planning to read.

The story itself starts off with great potential and it had me really engaged for the first 200pgs. It then jumps nearly a century into the future a bit abysmally. I just was not expecting at all. It read like two novels, really, and I did not have quite as much interest. I also felt a bit cheated since I usually read these types of stories to see how the author handles and manipulates his characters through the end of the world as we know it.

I am not sure if I will be reading the next two. I will have to let it stew for the next couple of years when the sequel is due.

I think most ratings have been favourable, so I am likely in the minority here.

#229: No, on the Brian Keene. Yes, to the Justin Cronin book which I will put aside if it gets too gory for me.

I have seen a couple of poor reviews here in the group, although the majority have seemed to like it.

Surprisingly, no, it doesn't get gory at all. It seems to tune off right when it is about to get good. In being a flaw for me, it should serve your tastes much better. The vampires sit in the background for the most part. It is more about the survival and the remaining survivors trying to deal with not only the creatures, but their internal turmoil as well. It was an ok read but still a bit below average for me.

I liked the book I finished last night alot better...

#86 The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

#232: I love that book!

(you snuck that one in when I was not looking, so I deleted the previous comment)

Me too! I actually stole it from my wife's library pile since I thought the inside cover blurb sounded really interesting.

I will be buying the whole trilogy and following through.

I already have them all. I am just waiting for my reading partner so we can finish them together.

I think your assessment of The Passage is dead on. Great start, jolting timeframe change, lagging middle, great ending. I think, in the end, I liked it more than you did, but that may be because you are so much more widely read in the genre. I think he owes a huge and obvious debt to The Stand right down to the black god-connected female character.

Nonetheless, I think the world and his writing are promising enough to continue with him.

Hmm. I've got The Passage coming from the library ADN (Any Day Now). I've been tracking the reviews so far and have lowered my expectations a bit, so hopefully, the jolting won't be as big a factor for me. I'll let you know...

#239: I agree on his writing. I have no quarrel on how Cronin expresses himself with words. He is quite good. If you are going to definetely read the second book, I will have to star your thread. When it is out, I will be looking for your review. I might be convinced to give the second book a try. I hate to leave a series hanging, but if there are no significant changes, I might just have to.

#238: Great, thanks. It would be great to read your thoughts on it. Especially with the great reviews that you put on here.

I promised myself I would not start another fantasy series until I finished some of the ones I have on the go. D'oh...

#87 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe By C.S. Lewis

I always tell myself I am not going to start another series, but I always do. You are not alone :)

I think that I should make that into a personal challenge....finishing series that I have started! Maybe next year.

I hope you follow through better than me. It was my plan for this year, and it did not go any where. I can't believe we are in mid-November already.

#88 The Haunting Of Hill House By Shirley Jackson

I don't think that I will have any luck with it but it sounds like a great plan.

What a great book, I hope you liked it!

Here is the greatest review, ever:

It was awesome!

I am shocked on how many Hollywood movies have "borrowed" Shirley Jackson's formula for a haunted house story.

#89 Blind Panic By Graham Masterton

#246: Not touching that one. Even the cover is off-putting to me :)

#247: Hehehe. I tend to like Masterton novels, but this was came as a bit silly to me. The dialogue, especially, made me laugh at times and then had me scratching my head. I made it to the end, but I was close to dropping the novel at around 200pgs.

#90 The Rising: Selected Scenes from the End of the World By Brian Keene

Well, I hope the Keene book made up for the silliness of the Masterton book.

The Keene book was awesome as they always tend to be for me. Tons of short stories from his zombie books, plus some insider information on his arching mythos. Good stuff.

#91 Prince Caspian By C. S. Lewis

#250: I will trust you about the Keene book since I am unlikely ever to read it :)

#92 Offspring By Jack Ketchum

I like horror and can tolerate a fair amount of gore, but The Girl Next Door was easily the most disturbing and haunting book I've ever read so I'm leery of more Jack Ketchum. The fact that he could do that to me speaks to his abilities as an author, but still...

I have to agree. The The Girl Next Door was very disturbing and it was the second novel that I read by Ketchum. Although he took some liberties with the story, it makes it all the scarier that it is based on true events.

Offspring is a sequel to his debut novel Off Season which also happens to be based on true events. Arguably, it is not as emotionally draining as the The Girl Next Door, but the pacing is unbelievable and it is more descriptively violent.

I would recommend all three, if of course, you can stomach it.

Oh, one more thing. If you found that The Girl Next Door was too much, I would suggest that you stay away from Survivor by J. F. Gonzalez.

It is a very good novel, but the emotional impact is very similar.

#93 The Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger

I hated that book!!

Haha...can I ask why?

I thought it was pretty good, and I find it is well known for the wrong reasons. Although there was really no build-up and it did not really seem to have that much sense of direction, I found Holden Caulfield an interesting character.

How can you hate a book with quotes like “I am quite illiterate, but I read a lot”, "All morons hate it when you call them a moron" or "If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late? Nobody."

The book is disturbing yet darkly humorous, all in one.

#94 Catching Fire By Suzanne Collins

258> I didn't care for TCitR because first, I couldn't stand Holden. He was a whiney, irresponsible crybaby. I know, I know a lot of teenagers are but I was surprised. This book has always been required reading and I thought that the main character would have some grasp on life, a role model perhaps. I get that turmoil and distress is a draw for people but.....
Second, I thought it was boring. I had to make myself finish it. I am a sinker so I will read until my eyes cross but I really wanted to toss this book in the corner and call it quits! It's been several years since I finished it so I can't give you specific examples of things I didn't like about it, I just know that I didn't like it.

Fair enough, we all come across one of those books at some point. I know I have.

#95 Mockingjay By Suzanne Collins

#96 Sausagey Santa By Carlton Mellick III

#97 The Sick Stuff By Ronald Kelly

#264: Reminds me of the old Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Khan :)

#265 - lol... :-)

#98 Short Ride To Nowhere By Tom Piccirilli

#266: Short Ride To Nowhere?

Then what is the point?

Hehehe...you have never read a Tom Piccirilli novel yet, have you? The guy is an amazing thriller/noir writer who has won multiple awards. There is always a point to reading one of his yarns, so do not let the title deceive you.

#268: How graphic are the books, Paulo? I enjoy thriller/noir books, but do not do well with graphic violence for the most part.

Hi Stasia,

His novels are not explicitly graphic (even his horror novels), but they are very brooding and dark. It is not uncommon for Tom Piccirilli to write strong revenge stories, where the main character is so obsessed about vengeance that he disregards everything to attain his goal, even his own life. He also does not shy away from ripping away everything from his main character from the get-go. It can often include the murder of the main character’s wife and children. However, he does not go on to describe such murders in high detail. It is often about the emotional toll that it takes on the main character and how he is going to cope with it.

Tom Picccirilli is also no stranger to really blur the lines between reality and illusion. His books can sometimes come across as a trippy acid flash-back. The main character is so enraged and incredibly broken, he seems like a beaten down boxer reaching the seven-count and still lying flat on the ring. Yet, he is trying to get up one body part at a time.

He’s an incredibly intelligent writer with intelligent and mature plots. He also writes many limited editions and has a few digital only stories, but through mass publication, anything he wrote from 2006 onward are thrillers starting with The Dead Letters. It will give you a good taste for this noir style if you read that one. If you like it, I would recommend his two book series about Chase: The Cold Spot and The Coldest Mile. I heard through the grapevine that he might be coming out with a third, but I think it is just a rumor at this point.

#99 Cumberland Furnace and Other Fear Forged Fables By Ronald Kelly

#100 Dark Dixie: Tales Of Southern Horror By Ronald Kelly

Happy holidays!

Merry Christmas to you Luxx, and to the rest of your family. I hope you all get what you wished for this year.

#270: Thanks for the input, Paulo!

Happy Holidays!

#101 The Undead: Zombie Anthology By Various Authors