book reviews
Book reviews for horror fans; weather a sleepless night with literary accounts of hauntings, possessions, zombies, vampires and beyond.
Monks, Scientists, and Demons… Oh My!
Religion and science finally collide to portray two very different and horrific interpretations of the super natural and what it means to be obsessed with the temptation of the unknown. Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, and Matthew Lewis, the author of The Monk, both capture the horror of temptation and the pursuit of uncovering the unknown in their 18th century gothic literature classics. Amongst embarking on a literary exploration in an effort to expose the stakes of gothic literature in present day, this paper will compare and contrast Victor, from Frankenstein, and Ambrosio, from The Monk, to illustrate how gothic literature represents obsession and temptation through the frameworks of science and religion.
Chelsea FosPublished 6 years ago in HorrorMy Favorite Forgotten Stephen King Books
Hello, and welcome back to Second Chances where I'm brave enough to give another look at the maligned and forgotten. It's hard to believe that the foremost horror author of modern times Stephen King has been writing for over fifty years now. I first got into him thanks to the movie The Shining. I know he didn't like Kubrick's adaptation, but it did get me to read the book. And guess what? They're both awesome, just in different ways!
Adam WallacePublished 6 years ago in Horror4 Must Read Books for Thriller/Suspense Writers & Lovers to Read ASAP
Books—can't get enough of them, personally. When I die, turn my ashes into the paper for book pages. Now, you may not be as intense as I am (not a bad thing), but books can be both entertaining and full of inspiration. I'm a writer and an avid reader, and I tend to focus on the horror, thriller, and mystery genres. What can I say? I like a good scare. If you're looking for a killer read or something to inspire your writing, here are five books I think you need to read ASAP and why.
Mia PetittiPublished 6 years ago in HorrorBook Review: 'The Death of Mrs.Westaway'
From the writer of the #1 New York Times, bestselling author of The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware comes The Death Of Mrs. Westaway. A fictional thriller that keeps you on your toes throughout the whole book. Hal, the character in the book is a tarot reader who doesn't really believe in what she does. Then one day she receives a letter in the mail saying she's been named in a will of a woman she knows nothing of. Broke and scared of the loan shark coming after her, she takes the opportunity to get some money but ends up getting a lot more than she bargained for. This book captures you so quickly and keeps you turning the pages till the very end. If you enjoy thrillers, this is the book for you.
Dagny DesireePublished 6 years ago in Horror'Drink Some Champagne, Flirt with a Hardbody, Find Some Blow'
For the first time so far, this chapter really belongs to Price in that we see a completely different side to him and so, a completely different side to the Wall Street socialite "stereotype" that we’ve been shown in the first four chapters. Don’t get me wrong, this chapter is still riddled with all the things you’d expect to find in a New York nightclub filled with rich, white businessmen, that being tuxedos, expensive drinks, a "Chandelier Room," and of course, cocaine.
Sam CheesmanPublished 6 years ago in HorrorBest Psychological Thriller Books of 2018
What I love most about well-rounded psychological thrillers, whether it be a movie, TV show, or book, are the growing conflicts that arise alongside the characterization of each individual. It can almost be addicting: the electrifying rush that accompanies the rising buildup, followed by the even more spellbinding conclusion, which usually reveals the most elegant picture of the pieces you have collected throughout you read. That is, if it's truly thrilling and psychological.
Gerald OppugnePublished 6 years ago in HorrorReading for the Sake of Spookiness
Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales, Yoko Ogawa, my thoughts. Let me see... On the surface, nothing too special. The settings are, for the most part, generic, but elegantly established. And often times there are certain aspects of the setting that are intended to off-put the reader. Example: the hillside described at the start of “Old Mrs. J” is depicted as a “swarm of dark green bats” that “might fly away at any moment”. Imagine that, a veritable horde of winged rats taking to the sky all at once. Sort of intimidating. How about this: the hall in the basement in “Lab Coats”, the way it slopes so that the “laundry cart rolls forward on its own...like it’s going to race forward and crash through the door of the morgue”. Magnetic corpse chambers. Fun stuff. Definitely tons of fun for the receptionists who have to be down there sorting out laundry in the same general vicinity. You get my point.
Book Review: 'The Outsider'
Honestly, this book is one of the best Stephen King's I've read in a long time. I started reading his novels around three years ago when I picked up Revival, which was the only book they had in the small bookshop I visited, the End Of Watch trilogy followed, then Carrie, etc.
'You Should Stop Reading All Those Ted Bundy Biographies'
This chapter seems relatively pointless in regards to the narrative of the book. Oddly, however, I think this is the point. Ellis wants us to sit through the pointless exchanges between Bateman and his associates to establish a real difference between us as readers and the character archetypes that he has given us. Because this chapter is just one big irrelevant exchange about unimportant things. But to Bateman, the topics covered at Harry's (a gentleman's club) are of the utmost importance.
Sam CheesmanPublished 6 years ago in Horror"Never Use Cologne on Your Face, Since the High Alcohol Content Dries Your Face Out and Makes You Look Older."
This was the most solid block of text across four pages that I've ever laid eyes on, with almost no direct quotes or dialogue. This chapter is nothing more than an extremely fine-tuned description of Patrick Bateman's highly eccentric apartment and his typically eccentric daily routine. The specificity as well as the ease with which he is able to recall such a lengthy process is frightening. To give an idea of some of the description, my personal favourite of this chapter was...
Sam CheesmanPublished 6 years ago in Horror'You Better Have Change for a Fifty'
It is worth pointing out that I have seen the film adaptation of this book multiple times and therefore I am approaching its key ideas and messages from a slightly different perspective than someone to whom the book is completely new. With that out of the way, I'll begin.
Sam CheesmanPublished 6 years ago in Horror10 Scariest Horror Books That Will Keep You Up All Night
The horror genre has stood the test of time and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. It is the gift that keeps on giving. I mean, who doesn't love good horror story? There are a handful of great horror movies that are released every year and I'm in line to see every single one. I don't mean to brag but I've seen the best horror movies on Netflix and all the classics. However, there is usually a considerable amount of time between the release dates of horror movies throughout the year. So how can someone get their horror fix if there are no movies out?
Jesse KinneyPublished 6 years ago in Horror