S.P. Oldham's Blog, page 31
January 27, 2020
Reader Interviews
If you are interested in being interviewed as a reader here on So Lost in Words and on other social media platforms, please get in touch and I will get back to you asap. Click the link above to find out more.
January 23, 2020
From a Buick 8 - Stephen King - My Review - SPOILERS!
**spoiler alert ** In my opinion, the one thing you are always guaranteed from Stephen King is a great story. The man makes his characters so believable that I rarely have trouble picturing them or even hearing them, as was true of this book. Just as in real life, some characters are more likeable than others. In general the main protagonists of this tale are all pretty likeable and relatable to some extent. I enjoyed switching from one to another as they took turns to tell their part of the story.
Even so, it is hard to know what to write in this review. In part, that is because for at least half of the book it didn't read like a horror story. Yes, there is an horrific car accident which at first is not described in too much detail. The descriptions of it seem to become more graphic later on, though told to us in a matter-of-fact way; just like a seasoned police officer recalling the facts, actually. That of course makes perfect sense given that we are hearing of it from seasoned (and some rookie, at the time) police officers.
But that doesn't matter, at least not to me. I don't read horror for the graphic elements, though of course it plays a part. To me, the more graphic and ott the horror, the more absurd and therefore less readable it becomes. I love the unexplained, the puzzling, the confusing. The sort of horror that makes you think, that makes you work to some extent. 'From a Buick 8' does exactly that.
The 'horrors' for the most part are spewed from the trunk of this mysterious, dangerous vehicle as it sits imprisoned in its shed. Various deformed, ugly offerings come from it, like attempts at normality in this world, skewed and made repulsive by their passage through from 'their world' - wherever and whatever that may be.
The characters make various attempts to identify these offerings, likening them to bats, fish and stick-lizards. They are all deformed and grotesque, beginning to spoil and rot almost as soon as they reach this world, with the exception of one creature, which has the capacity to fight and to spit acid, wounding and eventually killing the station dog, Mr Dillon, in the process.
This both saddened me and made me angry as I was reading, but then I am an avid dog lover! I liked Mr D and thought it was so unfair that the dog died when it was just reacting instinctively, to protect its humans. And this is what I mean about making you think. If you are willing to accept the supernatural, speculative element of this book, then perhaps your next thought is: 'there again, this strange, tentacled pink thing was probably only fighting for its life, too. Maybe it had not chosen to be sent to our world, just as those men had not chosen to be sent to its own realm.' In other words, perhaps it was not the villain, but a victim, just as Mr D was.
Lots of parts of this book make you think, not just the supernatural element, but some very human elements too. I won't go into detail. Read it and find out for yourself. There are some very real, human back stories to lots of these characters.
The car has the power to touch the lives of those who are unfortunate enough to have to deal with it. Various things such as alcoholism, dangerous driving resulting in death, a collision with a chemical tanker and a bus outside a school, terminal illness to name a few, are all things that happen to the officers who come near the Buick 8. It is never made absolutely clear that these events are because of the vehicle and its strange powers, but it is clearly hinted at. You are left to decide for yourself.
I won't give the ending away - I have probably revealed too many spoilers as it is. What I will say is that over time - many years - the Buick 8 finally gives in to the inevitable, offering some hope to those who survived her.
The only thing that niggles at me a little bit is the driver; the original character who parked the car up, said "Oil's fine" and wandered off into - wherever. Who was he? Why had he not been affected by the car?
A lot of thought led me to these conclusions. He was as much a victim of the car as everyone else who came after him. He had been spewed out, his job done, when he pulled up at the gas pumps, just as those deformities were spewed up from the trunk. I think he walked away out of sight, then simply rotted to nothing, like all of the other things that came from that car. By the time he had endured the horrors of the Buick 8, he was probably glad of it.
Why that town? Why those people? Why the car at all? Who knows? I am sure that if you read, or have read, the book then you will come up with your own answers, or perhaps more questions. The best I can suggest is this: why not? Maybe the car is just a metaphor for the phrase "shit happens." A lot of bad things come into good people's lives. There's often no rhyme or reason to it at all.
But maybe that's too deep. Maybe you should just read the book and enjoy it at face value. Why not? It is an absorbing and gripping read, after all.
Dark Folklore - 'Tales of the Rhymney Valley.'
My lovely neighbours Ronald and Joyce Dunford let me borrow this book and I have to say, some of the folklore and fairy tales in it fit right in with the speculative/dark fiction genre.
After reading through, I have picked out some of the tales that I feel are the best fit for my blog. I will share them with you here from time to time but before I do, credit where it is due.
The book is called ‘Tales of the Rhymney Valley.’ It was published by Rhymney Valley and District Council and printed by Mid Glamorgan County Supplies Dept, Waterton, Bridgend. Most importantly, the author retelling these tales was Richard Felstead and the illustrator was John Jones. I can’t seem to find a date of publication but I would guess mid-eighties as the foreword refers to a pageant held in 1983.
I was drawn to this book partly because of the fit with the genres I write in, but also partly because I have written two folklore-style tales of my own; one based around a genuine character of local myth and legend, Mari Lwyd, called ‘Mari on the Mountain,’ and the other about a bird of such renown and beauty that it eventually contributed to her downfall, called ‘The Feathered Nest.’ This second one came entirely from my imagination and was not based around any tale I have heard, unlike Mari Lwyd. You can find both of these tales on my website, should you want to.
I find such tales melancholy, dark, sinister and yet somehow irresistibly attractive, both to read and to write. Since Wales is rich in such tales throughout the land, to use fairy tale speak, and since I am a Welsh girl myself, perhaps that is not too surprising.
Anyway, I will post the few I selected here on my blog from time to time. I hope you enjoy them and if you have similar tales of local myth and legend from wherever you are living, please share them. As always, I would love to hear from you.
S P Oldham
23/01/2020
January 20, 2020
First Interview of the Year!
I was privileged to be interviewed by Gareth Stevens on Written Undead, first interview of the year no less!
Gareth Stevens - Author Interview Series - S P Oldham
Don't forget to vote for the Written Undead 2019 Book Awards!
January 13, 2020
Sleep Talking - Do YOU Do It?
Do any of you talk in your sleep? It is something I have always done, even as a child. However, medication I take these days (won't bore you with the details) seems to have enhanced this ability! In recent months I have amused, and sometimes worried, my poor, put-upon husband with various conversations.
The most recent occurred last night, when I apparently had a full discussion with him about a half-sleeve tattoo that my sub-conscience is seemingly telling me I want. In this tattoo I 'want' "the Kronenburg castle" and an elephant. (I do love elephants in reality, so I can understand that.) I have no desire to have a tattoo at all!
Before that though, there were these little gems:
I started howling like a wolf (made me laugh when he told me about that the following morning. Can't imagine what the neighbours were thinking...)
I sat upright, flung out my hand and ordered him to "get me a curry, now!" I mean really? Wtf?
I bunched my fist up, held it to his chin and asked him repeatedly, "Do you want some? Do you? Come on, do you want some?" As if! I wouldn't challenge anyone to a fight! I couldn't fight my way out of a wet paper bag! I thought this was hilarious.
I also sat up, rested my elbow on his head and laid my chin in my hands as if contemplating, using him as a table effectively.
Since he knows I have an extremely active and vivid imagination, coupled with the fact I write horror, I am forbidden to have any sharp objects anywhere near me in the bedroom! He has even threatened to sleep in the spare room. Ha ha. I can't get over the fact that I am completely unaware and remember none of this.
Anyway, over to you. Any stories to tell?
Javan Bonds Fundraiser
I am very proud to be part of this. Please do what you can to help. Links are at the end of the interview or just type 'Javan Bonds' into the Facebook search box and it should come up. If you are unable to donate then a share is just as good. Let's get this out there! Thanks everyone.
January 9, 2020
Flash Giveaway
Flash giveaway! First five to claim will win a free download of The Dragon Has Wings! Feel free to share. Okay, let's go! Just comment 'Yes please.'
https://solostinwords.com/home/the-dragon-has-wings-
January 5, 2020
New Silly Sunday Zombie Limerick
Not only is this week's Silly Sunday Zombie Limerick up on the site, but you get a sneak preview of next week's limerick too! Go here Silly Sunday Zombie Limericks on So Lost in Words then leave me a comment or ask me a question!
January 3, 2020
5 Star Review - The Dragon Has Wings
New Review for The Dragon Has Wings here:The Dragon Has Wings on Amazon UK
January 2, 2020
Top 5 Reads of 2019 - Kendall Reviews
Wakeful Children made it into Jennifer Sullivan's Best Reads first 2019 list! Great news, thank you Jennifer and congratulations to the other authors who made the list too. Kendall Reviews
