What Are You Reading?

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EMARX

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Feb 27, 2009
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Thanks! I'm really looking forward to them. It's still pretty warm here during the day (still in the 60's and sunny, and it's almost Thanksgiving. Gotta love California weather) so I'm still able to go out on the patio to read..
Lucky Duck. I could go out on my deck now, but it's so hard to turn pages with mittens on. And yes they have strings on them so they don't get lost.
 

OldDarth

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Jul 10, 2006
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Dark Screams: Volume One - Edited by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar

Strong start to the series that features short stories by:

1) "Weeds", by Stephen King

King wrote this way back in 1976, but outside of its initial appearance in Cavalier Magazine and most recently in Cemetery Dance's 2013 horror anthology Shivers VII, this story has never been part of a Stephen King short story collection.

It was also adapted for the screen in 1982's Creepshow as 'The Lonesome Death of Jordy Virgil' with King himself playing the titular role. Until now that was the only version of the story I was familiar with. That version played the story much more as a comedy - in part amplified by King's acting talent - so I was pleasantly surprised when I read this story to find the horror aspects were more prominent.

The comedic elements are still present - mostly in the persona of Jordy - but his transformation is a gross affair detailed as only King can do.


2) "The Price You Pay", by Kelley Armstrong

This was the surprise of the collection and ended up being my favorite one of the bunch. This is a tale of obsession and paying the price for it. Wonderfully written.

3) "Magic Eyes", by Bill Pronzini

This is a solid if somewhat predictable tale.


4) "Murder in Chains", by Simon Clark

Well written but ultimately underwhelms because it fails to answer the basic question of WHY? Without that, this story ends up seeming like a long setup for a punchline.

5) "The Watched", by Ramsey Campbell

Atmospheric in that Campbell British way, the attractiveness of this story depends on how well you like that type of story telling. Campbell is an acquired taste and I must be acquiring that taste because I enjoyed the story.
 

Haunted

This is my favorite place
Mar 26, 2008
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The woods are lovely dark and deep
Brought home from the library today The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman. On the back of the book I found this:

"I spent three days totally lost in the world Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman have created. This is brilliant, page-turning fiction with the mythic underpinnings that give it a special resonance. A rare collaboration where the sum is truly greater than the parts. The book is like nothing I've ever read before. It sort of took my breath away."
--Stephen King

I am a big fan of Jonathan and his wife, Faye's, works. I have read Jesse on occasion and I am looking forward to reading this joint effort; that is what I can squeeze in between the roasting, peeling, chopping, mashing, whipping and eating.
 

Mr Nobody

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Jul 9, 2008
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So...turns out I had a spare few quid that I wasn't expecting. I went nosing around the Kindle store, and what do I see in the daily deals? Revival.
I thought it'd be my luck for it to have come down in price, but still be just out of reach - any more than a fiver and it was no dice, and since it had been on sale for £9 before...
I hit the image, up came the page. £2.99. So, yoink. (It's back up to £5.99 now. :D)
I even had enough left to get one of the Delphi Complete Collections (Mark Twain).
 

EMARX

Well-Known Member
Feb 27, 2009
2,970
15,757
Brought home from the library today The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman. On the back of the book I found this:

"I spent three days totally lost in the world Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman have created. This is brilliant, page-turning fiction with the mythic underpinnings that give it a special resonance. A rare collaboration where the sum is truly greater than the parts. The book is like nothing I've ever read before. It sort of took my breath away."
--Stephen King

I am a big fan of Jonathan and his wife, Faye's, works. I have read Jesse on occasion and I am looking forward to reading this joint effort; that is what I can squeeze in between the roasting, peeling, chopping, mashing, whipping and eating.
I've read most of Jonathon's, several Faye's and a couple of Jesse's, but this sounds intriguing. I'll keep an eye out for your thoughts.
 

booklover72

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Jan 12, 2014
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i am feeling sort of brainy, Revival, Monte Cassino hold on just checking the books i am read brb, back Robin Williams, note, if you are warm, sensitve and care about people, on the condolences in the book you will not have a dry eye.
 

Mr Nobody

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Jul 9, 2008
3,306
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Walsall, England
Patricia Cornwell's book is called Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed. There was an accompanying documentary, iirc, possibly broadcast in two parts. I remember seeing it, but it's been a while so I can't remember how it was broadcast now.
Her conclusion is quite interesting. I wasn't then, and am not now, entirely convinced - she seemed to start along very professional lines (perhaps unsurprisingly), but ultimately seemed to fixate - but if you're interested in the case it's a good addition to 'the lore'. (There are other books and theories that are easily discredited and/or widely ignored, after all.)
 

booklover72

very strange person
Jan 12, 2014
731
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51
Dublin
Thanks, Mr Nobody Interesting Picture. 22nd reg SAS or the Reg. I assume you read Bravo Two Zero, what you may not have read was another book by a member of the 'reg' called the real bravo two zero. the chappie spent 2 years living with nomads etc and tells interested folks like you and I everything in Bravo two zero is a lie. I don't know what to believe. If you are a member of the SAS you do not tell anyone you are. Offical secrets act. There are 4 troops inSAS mountain boat(not SBS) air, i cant think of the other one.
 

Haunted

This is my favorite place
Mar 26, 2008
17,059
29,421
The woods are lovely dark and deep
I've read most of Jonathon's, several Faye's and a couple of Jesse's, but this sounds intriguing. I'll keep an eye out for your thoughts.
I am going to take the library's book back today and go the B&N with one of my gift cards; I'm getting my own copy. This book grabbed me with the first couple of words, I detect a bit of Faye here too. I cannot let this one go. It is 550 pages, usually a breeze for me, but with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, I am going to be pinched for read time. After the B&N I will be off to the chocolatier's for some dark chocolate fudge to feast on while stealing some quiet conversations with the family Kellerman. Awesome!!
 
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