Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon: October 2019 Wrap-Up Post!

Pardon my slightly belated wrap-up post! Yesterday was a busy day at Casa Lawrence (grocery shopping, Trunk or Treating, etc) so I didn’t have a spare minute to write this wrap-up post!

While I did still read over a thousand pages (1023 to be exact) it was certainly challenging to get as much reading in as a I wanted.  The water company was doing repair work on water lines just outside our house (leaving us without water for about 6 hours), but this gave us the excuse to visit the library to pick up a few more books (and use their facilities)!

John’s return flight was scheduled to arrive around 3.  Unfortunately, his first connection was delayed, requiring him to switch to a later flight, which was in turn delayed.  His flight was supposed to get a little after four but didn’t ultimately arrive until nearly 7 PM.  I finished another book and started and completed another after we got home, but the taxing day left me rather exhausted, so I went to bed around 11:30 PM.

Books completed:

The Haunted by Danielle Vega
The Toll by Cherie Priest
Small Spaces by Catherine Arden
Dead Voices by Catherine Arden

 

Of these, my favorite was undoubtedly The Toll.  The Haunted was a perfect starting off book, and Arden’s titles were great books to end on!

How did you fare this readathon?

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Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon: October 2019 Update Post

 

Today is the day!! I’m ready!  I have my book and coffee in hand and ready to read!

I’m doing things a little different this year! I’ll be doing updates on Instagram and all of those lovely posts will post to Instagram, Twitter, and the gallery of Instagram posts below!  Here’s hoping this cuts down on the time it takes to update! You won’t see any new posts, but the gallery below will update!

Good luck to all all other read-a-thoners!!

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Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon: October 2019

Yay! My favorite fall activity, second only to Halloween itself, is upon us!  Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon!

The October read-a-thon is always my favorite.  It’s likely because I tend to focus on reading horror and all things spooky!  The weather here is cool, perfect “leggings/layers/books” weather!

I have a pretty insane TBR pile (photo to come later)! I don’t plan on reading all of these, but I like to have options:

  • Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
  • Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
  • In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund
  • How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith
  • The Haunted by Danielle Vega
  • Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
  • Dead Voices by Katherine Arden
  • His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler
  • Institute by Stephen King
  • The Toll by Cherie Priest
  • Out of Salem by Hal Schrieve
  • Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand
  • Missing Person by Sarah Lotz

Our menu, the second most important thing, has also been planned:

  • Cheese and fruit tray
  • Totinos Pizzas (tradition!)
  • Cinnamon rolls (tradition!)
  • Trail Mix
  • Apples and peanut butter

In interesting twist to my reading plans: the water department has been doing repair work in our neighborhood for some time. We just got notice they are replacing water valves; we’ll be without water service from 9 AM to 3 PM! This should be interesting!  John returns from visiting his parents tomorrow afternoon, too, so I’ll have a bit of a break in my reading for a little while at least!

Are you joining in on the readathon fun? What books (and menu items!) are on your list!?

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Review: The Good House by Tananarive Due

Review: The Good House by Tananarive DueThe Good House by Tananarive Due
Published by Simon and Schuster on September 2, 2003
Genres: Ghost, Ghost Stories, Horror
Pages: 482
Format: Audiobook
Source: personal copy
Angela Toussaint hasn't returned to her Grandmother Maria's house since the tragic July 4th party that shattered her world.  The Good House sits empty but for those that maintain the upkeep.  With the possibility of it being sold, Angela must return and put closure on the events of the past.  Unbeknownst to her, the secrets of the Good House go back farther than she could have imagined.  Something within wishes destruction on her family line and to inflict death and destruction in the small town. As the only remaining Toussaint, it is up to Angela to put an end this curse forever.

This is actually my second experience with this title. I devoured it years ago in my quest to read more from minority horror authors.  Yet one day on Twitter, I was struggling to find my next audio book.  I crave a good haunted house tale! So when Tananarive herself responded to my tweet, reminding me that The Good House is an excellent audio, I accepted the challenge knowing full well I was going to love it.  Reading a haunted house tale is one thing, but having it read aloud to you is a completely different level of chilling! I am intentionally vague in my descriptions of the storyline, for it is one that the reader must experience, and uncover, on their own!

The story Due has crafted in this haunted house tale has all the elements of a haunted house tale that I adore, but she’s also intertwined the themes of racial identity and family ties that really add to the overall package.  The Toussaints are an African American family living smack dab in the middle of a white community, so the racial tension has existed in various degrees for generations.  She seamlessly weaves past and present timelines, sustaining the book’s momentum throughout.  Never was there a time that the pacing slowed, for every aspect of this read compelled me to listen more.  I found myself driving the longer way home, or sitting in my truck parked in front of my house, unable to tear myself away.

As I mentioned, I listened to the audio of this title. The narrator, Robin Miles, is a favorite of mine.  Her narration of The Good House was the first horror novel she’d ever narrated. Her experience put her on the path to narrate horror, science fiction, and fantasy.  She’s an award winning narrator, her voice and cadence putting the perfect edge on his listening experience!

I continue to follow Due’s work since reading this over a decade ago. One of her most recent roles is executive producer of Shudder’s groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror! If you haven’t sampled her work yet (either via the documentary or her works of fiction) I highly encourage you to do so!

 

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Come Join Us By The Fire; A Must Listen for Horror Fans!

Horror fans!! Tor Books new horror imprint, Nightfire, has released an exclusive audio project in conjunction with Google Play Books called Come Join Us By the Fire!  It’s made up of 35 tales from the huge talent that makes up the horror genre today, as well as a mix of other genre authors.  What I love most about it is that it’s not only spotlighting the big names, but also new voices I hadn’t yet discovered!

I’m listening now and I’m obsessed; perfect timing, too for this weekend’s readathon!  Download them now and come back and share your favorites!

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Review: The Survival of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson

Review: The Survival of Molly Southbourne by Tade ThompsonThe Survival of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson
Also by this author: The Murders of Molly Southbourne
Published by Tom Doherty Associates on July 9, 2019
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror
Pages: 128
Format: Paperback
Source: personal copy
Molly Southbourne is still alive. She thinks she's uncovered a way to stop the cycle of the mollys, her identical clones that form when she bleeds.  All of the rules she has been forced to live by have been broken.  The only connection to her previous life is the phone number tattooed on her arm.  Calling that number provides her with safety, an escape.  Or does it?

In fleeing her home, Molly meets Tamara, a young woman who suffers from the same affliction as Molly. Unlike mollys, however, tamaras are able to co-exist in a healthy and safe relationship with their prime.  Unlike the existence Molly is used to, she must confront the horrific history that gave her this ability, and to put an end it, forever.

*Note: this is a sequel to The Murders of Molly Southbourne.  Spoilers contained within this review.*

Just when I thought I got a grasp on the world Thompson has crafted, everything is once again upended.  The source of Molly’s ailment is revealed and it’s certainly a complex one! Uncovered, too, are the vast side-effects and symptoms of  this…condition…and they exist beyond Molly’s own being.

This sequel definitely had more of a horror meets sci-fi feel to it.  There are some pretty horrific scenes involving one of the secondary characters.  It’s all done in good taste, however, and only graphic to suit the storyline and not just to be graphic.

The effects of this second book definitely have more of a lasting and lingering effect on me.  It really delves deep into the concept of identity, of nature versus nurture, and much more.  Molly’s character continues on her quest for survival, but it far exceeds the challenges that were presented in the previous title.  Now that I know more about her, I found myself rooting even more for her success and safety, for the answers to the questions she’d been searching for all her life.

All in all, a magnificent follow up to a truly tremendous little book that packs a big punch. Highly, highly recommended.

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Review: The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson

I received this book for free from personal copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade ThompsonThe Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson
Published by Tom Doherty Associates on October 3, 2017
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror
Pages: 128
Format: Paperback
Source: personal copy

If you see a girl who looks like you, run and fight.

Don't bleed.

If you bleed, blot, burn, and bleach.

If you find a hole, find your parents

Molly didn't grow up like other young girls. From the moment she can remember, she's been training to kill herself.  Every time she bleeds, a molly is born.  Mollys look just like her, yet they are all out to kill her.

I discovered this title (and the sequel, The Survival of Molly Southbourne) earlier this year and knew I had to include them in my Murder, Monsters & Mayhem feature.

What a completely unique and incredibly captivating premise!  I was intentional in limiting my summary of this novella for it’s one that you must experience on your own!  Though it’s a short read, it most certainly packs a punch!   Molly’s character is surprisingly sane given her situation, but I suppose having grown up in an environment like this, it’s just natural.  She learned quite early on how to kill, the importance of protect herself from harm in order to protect the mollys from attacking her.

Not understanding the origin of her “ailment” doesn’t really detract from the story; most of it is Molly’s own introspective examination of her very existence.  This is the only life she’s known; she isn’t able to experience a cut from falling, a bloody nose, or heck, menstruation, without an increased cause for alarm.  Her situation is completely terrifying yet simultaneously intriguing.  It isn’t until we’ve “accepted” her reality that we begin to learn more about the root cause.

I’m thankful that I’m able to read the sequel immediately following for I’m not sure how I couldn’t have waited to learn more! You’ll want to devour this novella in one sitting and then continue to the next for some resolution and closure.  It’s the type of book that haunts you long after you turn the final pages!   Highly, highly recommended.

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Haunting New Television Series

My love of horror isn’t restricted to just fiction. I’m a huge fan of spooky television series and there is a great line-up this Fall!  Here are some of my favorites:

Prodigal Son (Fox) “Malcolm Bright is a gifted criminal psychologist, using his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother, a serial killer father still looking to bond with his prodigal son and his own constantly evolving neuroses”

Emergence (ABC) “After Jo, a police chief, takes in a young child she finds near the site of a mysterious accident, she soon discovers the girl has no memory of what has happened or who she is. The investigation into the history that led up to the accident — and questions as to how and why it happened — draws the woman into a conspiracy larger than she ever imagined, with the child’s identity at the center of it.”

Evil (CBS) “Skeptical female psychologist Kristen Bouchard joins David Acosta, who is training to be a Catholic priest, and a blue collar contractor as they investigate the church’s backlog of unexplained mysteries, including supposed miracles, demonic possessions and other extraordinary occurrences. Their job is to assess if there’s a logical explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work, examining the origins of evil along the dividing line between science and religion”  My favorite thus far!

 

Additionally, the Travel Channel always has a great line-up of shows.  This year, they are calling their Halloween-themed line-up Ghostober.  Following are those that premiered this weekend/last week:

“Haunted Salem: Live,” a special four-hour live ghost investigation in one of the nation’s most haunted cities: Salem, Massachusetts.

MOST TERRIFYING PLACES: six episodes, each highlighting a different location.

THE HOLZER FILES: a team investigates hauntings discovered from the recently discovered case files of America’s first ghost hunter, Dr. Hans Holzer

This is just the tip of the iceberg, there are quite a few other shows scheduled to premiere the rest of this month!

Are you a fan of spooky television series? Which is your favorite?!

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Review: A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun HamillA Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill
Published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on September 17, 2019
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Family Life, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Horror
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Source: the publisher
"I started collecting my older sister Eunice’s suicide notes when I was seven years old.”

Noah Turner grows up in the shadow of his father's death.  His father, Henry, was obsessed pulp fiction horror tales.  His obsession lead him to create a House of Horrors in the family backyard. He was so obsessed with this idea that he ignored the tumor that grew in his brain, causing his behavior to change.  The family haunted house does lead to a family business that provides for the family financially for many years following his father's death, but with it comes loss.  A daughter goes missing, another retreating emotionally, stability only gained with antidepressants.

Without a father and much of a strong family structure to support him, Noah is lonely.  Then one evening, a scratching at the window introduces him to a creature that should defy belief.  Soon, though, a friendship is forged, one that continues to adulthood and develops into something much more.  Our world is not without monsters, those that come from another existence that isn't too far from our very own.

Egads, this book! I often tell people that one of the many reasons I adore horror fiction, for it really makes you think!  This is no exception, but perhaps one of the best examples! Hamill excels at crafting a truly remarkable story-line, one that will thrill those of us who are fans of greats like Lovecraft.  Though it has similarities to Loftcraftian fiction, it is wholly unique and completely and totally mesmerizing.  You are spooked one moment and the very next you are pausing to contemplate and examine what you’ve just read.

Though the obvious chill factor comes from the monsters that Hamill has crafted, the haunting feeling continues in the relationships he’s crafted.  Noah’s relationship with his sister, Eunice (the one member of the family with whom he has a strong connection) is completely heartwarming.  This balance of family intermixed the chilling world of monsters is done so eloquently, one of the many things I enjoyed about this read.

“If John Irving ever wrote a horror novel, it would be something like this. I loved it.” —Stephen King

The great Stephen King says it best; I couldn’t come up with a better comparison.  Whether you read horror or not, this is a Fall read you don’t want to miss out on.  Highly, highly recommended.

 

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Review: The Remaking by Clay Chapman #murdermonstersmayhem

I received this book for free from the publisher (egalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Remaking by Clay Chapman #murdermonstersmayhemThe Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman
Also by this author: Ghost Eaters
Published by Quirk Books on October 8th 2019
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Occult & Supernatural, Supernatural, Thrillers
Pages: 304
Source: the publisher (egalley)
Ella Louise attempts to live a quiet and remote life in the woods outside of Pilot’s Creek, Virginia.  Expelled by her family, her only companion is her daughter, Jessica.  The identity of Jessica's father is unknown, but the townspeople have their own suspicions.  Residents seek Ella out secretly when they have an ailment that only she can treat.  When a prominent resident dies, Ella is accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake.  Unwilling to leave her, Jessica joins her mother at the stake and the two die together, arms wrapped one another, in the middle of the night.

The site of Ella's burial is a mystery but her daughter's cannot be missed.  The townspeople feared that Jessica may, in fact, be more dangerous than her mother, so she is interred in a steel-reinforced coffin surrounded by a fence of white crosses.

Their story becomes an urban legend, a story told at a campfire by a young man plagued by sightings of Jessica when he was a child.  That man grows up and in the ’70s produces a horror movie inspired by the Witch Girl of Pilot’s Creek. Amber Pendleton, a yet unknown young actress, is cast in the role of Jessica. What transpires on the set of that infamous film ruins her life, and she is forever typecast as young Jessica.

Twenty years later, an attempt to remake the movie brings Amber back to Pilot's Creek. This time, however, the consequences of her role are unforgettable.  Years pass, and an investigator tracks her down to interview her for his popular podcast. Will this reunion restore her lost reputation, or will this perpetual cycle horror continue?

I’ve been pining for this book since I read about it earlier this year.  I don’t need to tell you how obsessed I am with classic horror movies so this was just what I needed to read to get me in the Halloween spirit! I devoured it in one afternoon of reading, something I haven’t treated myself to in some time.

Chapman picks up the very thing about horror movies (and fiction!) that I adore; the feeling of inescapable horror, an evil that persists through time.  The horror that is told around campfires, that is kept alive through word of mouth. He didn’t do it by using an excessive amount of gore that more modern “horror” evokes, but instead focused on the very thing about horror that terrorizes us most.

Also, rather than hiding in the guise of a thriller, Chapman and his publisher (Quirk Books) embrace the very aspects of horror that we must celebrate.  He evokes a feeling of a young Stephen King (yes I did go there) and leaves me hoping that he continues on this path of horror fiction.  A true talent, one that we’ll all be pronouncing as a horror great as we follow him on that dark and haunting path.  Highly, highly recommended.

 

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