I can't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable reading experience! This book is not my usual cup of tea: it's bleak, it's distressing, it's viI can't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable reading experience! This book is not my usual cup of tea: it's bleak, it's distressing, it's violent, it's mysterious, and the obviously unreliable narrators make it difficult to know what's going on. And yet—it's compelling. I kept turning pages. I also cared deeply about the characters, so even though the situations weren't always clear, I certainly could feel that emotional investment.
And the drama! Well-plotted and full of twists and turns, the narrative keeps building, as the interesting characters work through their struggles and move toward the book's climax. And then! That special moment when everything falls into place. Suddenly, everything makes sense, and the realization is as the sunrise. Light shines in the story, too, and as a VERY minor spoiler, I can say (view spoiler)[the characters who survived the dark night of this novel are greeted at the end by a much more hopeful dawn. Things are definitely looking up. (hide spoiler)] This novel was cathartic. It was cleansing, even healing. Despite the unpleasant subject matter and disturbing events of the story, the novel feels as wholesome by the end as a deep breath in—and out—slowly and peacefully, at the start of a new day....more
A highly enjoyable ghost story that's far more entertaining than scary. A jilted woman, a newlywed bachelor, and a young wife form the key players in A highly enjoyable ghost story that's far more entertaining than scary. A jilted woman, a newlywed bachelor, and a young wife form the key players in this drama. A terrific tale of promises broken, and of promises kept, even from beyond the grave....more
I greatly enjoyed this haunting tale about a mysterious schoolmaster and a boy with a fishing rod. Dark, atmospheric, memorable. I liked that there arI greatly enjoyed this haunting tale about a mysterious schoolmaster and a boy with a fishing rod. Dark, atmospheric, memorable. I liked that there are elements to the mystery that are decidedly human in origin, and the ghostly aspects are built on this solid foundation. A sad story, but quite satisfying....more
Atmospheric and compelling, this gripping tale begins slowly and builds gradually to its horrifying conclusion. Edith Wharton sure knows her craft, anAtmospheric and compelling, this gripping tale begins slowly and builds gradually to its horrifying conclusion. Edith Wharton sure knows her craft, and this melancholy little tale, full of dread and pathos, offers a memorable experience. Well worth the read....more
This was honestly probably just a 4-star read, but I'm giving it five because I enjoyed it so. A horrific depiction of a vampire, a gripping tale of hThis was honestly probably just a 4-star read, but I'm giving it five because I enjoyed it so. A horrific depiction of a vampire, a gripping tale of hunter and prey, and a disturbing tone, of course. This story reminded me a great deal of Bram Stoker's Dracula: both are told in diary format, both describe some men working together to hunt a vampire, and both treat of disturbing subject matter. This story lacks the characters' nuance that Stoker portrayed so well, but this short tale is also nowhere near as long. For what it is—a quick read about a vampire who wakes from death to prey on children—this story is excellent. Fans of Dracula will likely enjoy this shorter tale that follows in the same line. Recommended for fans of horror and vampire stories....more
An interesting read, and likely to be enjoyed by someone looking for an atmospheric ghostly tale. Not a lot happening here, and it isn't particularly An interesting read, and likely to be enjoyed by someone looking for an atmospheric ghostly tale. Not a lot happening here, and it isn't particularly ground-breaking, but it does offer a solid, entertaining tale. An enjoyable read....more
Ooh, oh, ack! This awful, horrifying, dreadful, wonderful ghost story is sure to delight and torment in equal measure. It's horrifying, but I couldn'tOoh, oh, ack! This awful, horrifying, dreadful, wonderful ghost story is sure to delight and torment in equal measure. It's horrifying, but I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to look away but could not. That's part of the story's power: it gripped me and wouldn't let go. I had to keep reading to the end, even though I knew that it would be gruesome, that there was no avoiding the tale's inexorable conclusion. I read it more than a fortnight ago, but I still remember it vividly, and even now, I can feel my skin crawl. Not gory—not at all—but chilling and unsettling. Perfect for horror readers....more
A wonderful nested story-within-a-story. A ship, foreign travels, and a stranger with a tale to tell: this quick read unfolds into a horrifying ghost A wonderful nested story-within-a-story. A ship, foreign travels, and a stranger with a tale to tell: this quick read unfolds into a horrifying ghost story and promises great entertainment. A treat for lovers of horror, of short fiction, and of Victorian drama....more
Eerie, compelling, unnatural. This is one of those Victorian stories that you can wrap yourself in like a warm blanket to enjoy the moody elements of Eerie, compelling, unnatural. This is one of those Victorian stories that you can wrap yourself in like a warm blanket to enjoy the moody elements of the tale. A phantasm, a wind, a mysterious whistle, and some unexplained events . . . this highly enjoyable short story is the perfect read for a dark, windy evening....more
A Victorian horror story about love and regret. It's distinctive and atmospheric, if a little predictable: not the world's greatest story but still weA Victorian horror story about love and regret. It's distinctive and atmospheric, if a little predictable: not the world's greatest story but still well worth reading. Recommended for fans of ghost stories and Victorian literature....more
Well, it's a little bit predictable, but that doesn't detract from this tale's enjoyment one bit. Gripping, sinister, and tragic, this memorable storyWell, it's a little bit predictable, but that doesn't detract from this tale's enjoyment one bit. Gripping, sinister, and tragic, this memorable story will stick with you long after the last page....more
I wasn't sure that I liked this at first, but it turned out to be an interesting and enjoyable tale. The protagonist wasn't especially likeable at theI wasn't sure that I liked this at first, but it turned out to be an interesting and enjoyable tale. The protagonist wasn't especially likeable at the start, but I was certainly rooting for him by the end. This ghostly tale mixes the supernatural with elements that are distinctly human. A haunted house, a missing will, and even a specter! Well worth the read....more
This ghost story is more atmospheric and haunting than scary. A gentle, sad tale with distinctive characters and a great deal of charm, this story weaThis ghost story is more atmospheric and haunting than scary. A gentle, sad tale with distinctive characters and a great deal of charm, this story weaves a memorable yarn. It's very short, but Dickens sure packs a lot into a just a few pages. Very nicely done....more
Creepy, disturbing, awful! Since I suppose that’s rather the point, I have to say that this little horror story is probably pretty good. A morally weaCreepy, disturbing, awful! Since I suppose that’s rather the point, I have to say that this little horror story is probably pretty good. A morally weak protagonist, a sensual mystery woman, a demonic bargain . . . this may not be my cup of tea, but many horror fans will find much to like here. The writing is solid, and the plot keeps driving forward to its ultimate conclusion....more
Interesting and creepy, a ghost story about dead child who endangers other children. This Victorian tale draws heavily on many tropes of the period, aInteresting and creepy, a ghost story about dead child who endangers other children. This Victorian tale draws heavily on many tropes of the period, and lovers of that era's literature will find much to enjoy here: a wealthy family, a bunch of servants, a dead child, a disturbed child, an austere father, a jealous sister, a haunted mansion, creepy organ music, and a lot of sentiment. And the whole thing is framed as a the remembrances, years later, that the titular nurse tells a child. Consequently, the whole story has a soothing, lets-all-gather-around-the-hearth-and-tell-tales kind of vibe. Not everyone's cup of tea, but very nicely done....more
Beautiful, atmospheric, and at times, poignant and utterly sad. Don't look here for gore or jump scares, but if you like subtlety in your creepiness, Beautiful, atmospheric, and at times, poignant and utterly sad. Don't look here for gore or jump scares, but if you like subtlety in your creepiness, you might enjoy this. I was completely taken aback at the tremendous quality of the story and the writing. It started small, kind of unsettling, and it grew into a powerful and ultimately satisfying ghostly tale. Five stars....more
Garfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personaliGarfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personality. This collection of Garfield tales re-interprets the well-loved feline and showcases a variety of styles, genres, and iterations. Consequently, Jim Davis and his team had more freedom to play with the character; things happen here that could not be done in a typical installment of Garfield's established timeline. See? Jim Davis was reimagining his characters before it was cool!
The storytelling AND artwork vary dramatically between the tales, one of which is even in prose and not comics; and this works well, as each of the nine lives stands apart from every other one. The tone changes, too, with some slapstick, some gentle fun, some horror, and even some noir. The stories can't even be said to take place in the typical Garfield universe, as one might be set on a more magical or even spiritual plane, and one takes place in a city run entirely by humanish cats who wear clothes and have humanoid forms. Since this book pushes the boundaries of Garfield's character, it involves some things that maybe are a bit . . . unorthodox. One of the stories involves a scantily-clad woman and a man who spanks Garfield with a paddle (a possible fraternity hazing?) while another tale implies some romance for Garfield involving a lady cat, alcohol, and a convenient couch. The tone is in many places darker than in other Garfield stories, and sometimes things even border on the macabre. There is, for example, a tale in which a homeless cat (not Garfield) asks for someone to bury him, and another story involving people experimenting on and then dissecting animals. Not for the faint of heart!
These stories are, on the whole, very well-crafted, and the creativity involved is just astounding. Shining through all of it, of course, is a love for Garfield and a desire to play with his character a little bit, to try him out in different circumstances and styles, and (as Jim Davis put it), to stretch him to the limits of the imagination....more
Sure to delight some children and horrify others, this alphabet picture book stands apart from all other literary primers. For onWow, this is amazing!
Sure to delight some children and horrify others, this alphabet picture book stands apart from all other literary primers. For one thing, it is intended, I think, for slightly older children than would typically be reading an alphabet book. There is a bit of an unexpected approach near the end, and the author (as indicated by a note at the start of the story) clearly expects his readers to be familiar enough with the ABCs to pick up on the reason that the alphabet given in this story can't be trusted. (Gee, could it be dangerous to trust it?)
This alphabet is given in 13 rhyming couplets, which don't so much tell the story as offer commentary on it. The plot is surprisingly intricate, but it comes more through the illustrations than through the text. The plot is that two "brave" children set out on a boat ride. The brother is clearly the more dominant of the two, pulling his sister along behind him and acting as the leader of their party. In her one moment of autonomy, the sister falls for a villain's trick and gets herself captured; she then spends the rest of the book trapped with so many other victims until her "hero" brother finds the bad guys, follows them, fights with his sword, and rescues her. In general, I don't tend to get as invested in books when most characters are passive and only one active—there's just not a lot of interaction in general—but I do think this book did a decent job of showcasing the sister's personality even when she doesn't have much to do. She is still strong and (mostly) dignified, even when horrible things are done to her.
And speaking of horrible things, this book has them. And they all happen to innocent children the monsters have taken (and they mostly happen in the pictures, not the text). There is horror and anguish and (implied) eating of children. There is disturbing nightmarish imagery. There are fingers and chains and giant eyeballs. There is a (somewhat veiled) reference to hell. There is confinement and torment and despair. There is graphic bloody violence (to children). In a word, it's macabre.
And oh!—is it ever something! It's the kind of horrifying book that kid-me would have liked. Again, not 3-year-old, just-learning-the-alphabet me, but maybe 9-year-old, able-to-appreciate-irony me. Nine-year-old me was tired of sanitized stories where bad things never actually happened. Where it was hard to take the danger seriously because I knew the author would never actually let it manifest. Where no one ever suffered, and consequently, no one was ever strong. Kid-me, if I had read THIS book then, would have felt somehow that Gaiman and Grimly were different from other authors, that they perhaps trusted their readers—even their child readers—to read about unpleasantness and pain and horror, not to need things to be all sunshine and rainbows. And of course, once you've had the dark night of terror, what comes next? Why, the dawn, of course. How glorious.
This book is also quirky! For example, one character's favorite letters is thorn (hey! That's MY favorite letter!). I doubt the authors expect kids to know what the þ is, but there is also a bit of an explanation given, so no one should feel condescended to. In addition, although this is a children's book, there is plenty to appeal to adults as well. For example, (view spoiler)[it turns out that it's dangerous to trust the alphabet because W is given before V, not after. I think this is a nod to old alphabet books that switched the orders around frequently. I know Gaiman is British, but Grimly is American, and the most influential children's book of our colonial period was The New England Primer, which gave the alphabet at least 4 times, and in different ways each time. One of the alphabets in the book was told in rhyming couplets, and W preceded V (which was mostly not there at all!). So history-buff, language-nerd adult-me really loved seeing something that hearkened back to such a confusing educational tool. (hide spoiler)]
While this book undoubtedly has appeal for grownup readers, this ultimately IS a journey for (older) children. The authors trust their readers, and that is perhaps the book's greatest strength. Bad stuff happens, but there is courage, too, from both children. There is a lot of drama that builds throughout, up to a satisfying conclusion. There is humor, too, and a bit of a meta flavor, as the author even wrote himself in as a character. The pictures have much detail and nuance, and astute readers will find a great deal of enjoyment in illustrations. There is a warning at the beginning not to trust the alphabet as given here, so there is an element of mystery, for kids to find what's untrustworthy about it—to get the readers to be in on the joke. And the ending is absolutely perfect....more
As of this moment, this book has one review and only three ratings (not including mine). That's a pity, because Steve Vernon's Sea Tales deserves to bAs of this moment, this book has one review and only three ratings (not including mine). That's a pity, because Steve Vernon's Sea Tales deserves to be read by a much wider audience. Unfortunately, that audience is not I. I DNF'd after only 4 of the 7 stories.
The writing is great. Moody, atmospheric, gripping. Characters are more nuanced and developed in their few pages here than some other characters are in novels. This author really knows his craft.
That said, I don't care for his style. I stopped reading Stephen King because I decided that gruesome horror tales are not for me, and it turns out, that a large part of what this collection is. I don't know if I'd call this horror, per se—maybe disturbing magical realism—but the subject matter is a little too disturbing for me. If you like authors with excellent skill, are okay with supernatural elements in tales, and can stomach a few morbid and unsettling plot twists, you may love this book....more
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