8) “The Gateway of the Monster” by William Hope Hodgson Plot: Upon his return, Carnacki, the occult detective, invites Dodgson (the narrator, whose name curiously resembles the author’s), along with their friends Arkright, Jessop, and Taylor, to dinner. They expect him to regale them with another tale of his strange adventures. Once they’ve finished dinner,Continue reading “Review of “The Gateway of the Monster” by William Hope Hodgson: Halloween Countdown”
Tag Archives: fiction
Review of “The Door in the Wall” by H.G. Wells: Halloween Countdown
5) “The Door in the Wall” by H. G. Wells Plot:Redmond tells the reader he’s relating the story as Lionel Wallace told it to him. He and Wallace were in school together for a while, during which Wallace outperformed him in everything. Even now, Wallace, at 39, is a successful politician who has attained aContinue reading “Review of “The Door in the Wall” by H.G. Wells: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Color Out of Space” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown
3) “The Color Out of Space” by H. P. Lovecraft Plot:Our unnamed hero has a job surveying land west of (fictional) Arkham, Massachusetts, for a new reservoir. The locals tell him the place is evil. While making his way through the dense, overgrown forest and deserted farms, he gets spooked. Nothing prepares him for whatContinue reading “Review of “The Color Out of Space” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Circumstance” by Harriet Prescott Spofford: Halloween Countdown
Note: The story reviewed below deals with violent imagery and sublimated sexual violence as well as not so sublimated racism. 2) “Circumstance” by Harriet Prescott Spofford Plot: Walking home from visiting a sick neighbor, through a “wilderness untrod save by stealthy native of deadly panther tribes,” our heroine sees a winding sheet fluttering in theContinue reading “Review of “Circumstance” by Harriet Prescott Spofford: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown
It’s that time of year again. Happy Halloween. 1) “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe Plot: Egaeus and his cousin Berenice have grown up together and live in an old family house. They are polar opposites. Egaeus tells the reader that Berenice is “agile, graceful, and overflowing with energy.” While he stays home and reads—or whatever—BereniceContinue reading “Review of “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler
Note: The novel is set in a dystopian world where the social order has broken down. Violence, including murder, is common. It discusses rape and depicts acts of attempted rape and cannibalism. While the author does not glorify any of this, it can be hard to read. Plot: Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives with her BaptistContinue reading “Review of “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler”
Review of “Bunny” by Mona Awad
Note: The book reviewed depicts the killing of animals. Plot: This horror novel is an absurdist, nightmarish, magical-realistic take on fine arts higher education. And some other stuff. The reader immediately sympathizes with Samantha, a second-year MFA student at elite—ahem—Warren University somewhere in New England. She remains an outsider in her Workshop program. The fourContinue reading “Review of “Bunny” by Mona Awad”
Review of “The Haunting of Paynes Hollow” by Kelley Armstrong
Plot: Twenty-six-year-old Samantha (but call her Sam) Payne is taking care of her ill mother when her fabulously wealthy grandfather dies. She’s not expecting an inheritance. The family doesn’t speak to her. Years earlier, when she was a child, she saw her father burying a child, a boy who had been pestering her, and reportedContinue reading “Review of “The Haunting of Paynes Hollow” by Kelley Armstrong”
Review of “Bastard out of Carolina” by Dorothy Allison
A word: The work reviewed contains frank and violent depictions of child molestation and physical abuse. Plot:Ruth Anne “Bone” Boatwright comes into the world after her fifteen-year-old mother, Anney, is hurt in a car accident. Anney remains unconscious throughout the delivery but recovers. Granny and Aunt Ruth have tried to smooth things over with littleContinue reading “Review of “Bastard out of Carolina” by Dorothy Allison”
Review of “Chapel Bay Secrets” by Julie Snider
DISCLAIMER: The author of the book reviewed below and I are members of the same early morning writing group. I looked forward to her book when it first came out and finally got around to reading it. Had I thought I could not offer an honest review of her book, I would not write oneContinue reading “Review of “Chapel Bay Secrets” by Julie Snider”
