Plot:The story’s narrator says he has come into possession of some papers belonging to Mr. Wraxall, a traveler and writer of travel guides. In the early summer of 1863, Mr. Wraxall sets off to explore Sweden. At the time, most Britons considered Scandinavia to be a backwater. Snobs. He spends time conducting research at aContinue reading “Review of “Count Magnus” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown”
Tag Archives: books
Review of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown
Plot:Montresor tells the reader that he had borne the injuries from his friend Fortunato as best he could, but when Fortunato insulted him, he vowed revenge. He kept up the pretense of friendship until he could exact his revenge—and he would do so with impunity. Fortunato’s weak point was his belief in his connoisseurship ofContinue reading “Review of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Whistling Room” by William Hope Hodgson: Halloween Countdown
Plot: Carnacki recounts his adventures at (fictional) Iastrae Castle, some twenty miles northeast of Galway, Ireland. Mr. Sid K. Tassoc, the new owner, requested his help after finding the castle haunted. He bought the castle, intending to renovate it before marrying and bringing his bride to live there. He’s frustrated because sounds—whistling and sometimes screaming—comeContinue reading “Review of “The Whistling Room” by William Hope Hodgson: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe
In short: The book has an engaging writing style and is a quick, easy read. However, it is too short to do the subject justice and suffers from oversimplification and insufficient information. My first impression of this book, with its 188 pages of text, was that it was too short to do its subject justice.Continue reading “Review of “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe”
Review of “Mysterious Island” (1961)
Our Saturday night pizza and bad movie offering was an adaptation of a Jules Verne novel with stop-motion special effects of Ray Harryhausen. It brought me back to many Saturday afternoon movies back in the day. Plot: The opening scenes depict a storm at sea, but a scene title tells us the action takes placeContinue reading “Review of “Mysterious Island” (1961)”
Review of “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan
The Stuff: This young adult novel follows the fortunes of several gay boys and young men. A Greek chorus of gay men who died during the AIDS crisis serves as the narrator. They cannot interact with the living. Peter and Neill are a couple still in high school who have been dating for a while.Continue reading “Review of “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan”
Review of “Blindness” by José Saramago
The Stuff: Not all the cars take off when the light turns green. The man inside seems to be saying something, but it takes a while before anyone outside pays attention or stops to hear him. He cries, “I am blind.” The blindness struck suddenly and without warning. The man cannot drive any further. AnotherContinue reading “Review of “Blindness” by José Saramago”
Review of “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson and “The Haunting” (1963)
The Haunting (1963) was our Saturday bad movie and pizza night offering. I remember seeing bits and pieces of it years ago on something called broadcast TV. I’ve read that the book it was based on, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, was one of the best horror novels. (Yes, the same ShirleyContinue reading “Review of “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson and “The Haunting” (1963)”
Review of “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers: Halloween Countdown
For October 21 Plot: As envisioned from 1895, the year 1920 looks good. The tariff and labor questions have been settled. New architecture replaces old. The war with Germany, occasioned by the latter’s seizure of the Samoan Islands, has left no visible mark on the republic. And we won’t mention the ridiculous plight of GeneralContinue reading “Review of “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Open Door” by Mrs. Margaret Oliphant: Halloween Countdown
For October 20 Plot: On his return from India in 18—, Colonel Mortimer takes a house called Brentwood for his family. Edinburgh is within reach so his daughters can have the masters and lessons they need, and his boy, Roland, whose education has been neglected, can now receive the proper education for a lad hisContinue reading “Review of “The Open Door” by Mrs. Margaret Oliphant: Halloween Countdown”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 