Katherine Nabity's Blog, page 239
October 24, 2012
Book # 32*
I don’t quite remember why I decided to read this book. I had watched both the Swedish movie and the US remake. I liked both and, if you know the movie, you know there’s some ambiguity surrounding the Eli/Abby character. Maybe I was interested in how Lindqvist drew the character in the novel versus his screen adaptation. But, I don’t really remember. Regardless of what my picking rational was, it was a good choice.
It is autumn 1981 when the inconceivable comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenage boy is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last—revenge for the bullying he endures at school, day after day.
But the murder is not the most important thing on his mind. A new girl has moved in next door—a girl who has never seen a Rubik’s Cube before, but who can solve it at once. There is something wrong with her, though, something odd. And she only comes out at night….
The book Let the Right One In has a few more threads than the movie and therefore some of the plot takes a while to get going. The payoff is that we know the characters better and that makes some of the ending events all the more horrifying. We also get to know Eli more, including some history.
It’s always tough to judge writing when translation is involved. Occasionally, the way something was expressed felt a little awkward. More plot means more characters and sometimes keeping everyone straight was a challenge. On the other hand, as a writer, it was nice to read a story that had more than one thing going on.
I’m also appreciative of how the young characters are handled. My biggest beef with much of YA fiction is that, as an adult, it doesn’t mean much to me. The angst and heartbreaks of growing up seem to be handled pretty superficially. Non-”YA” fiction with young characters project these things in a way that still resonates with me as an adult. Off the top of my head, the other example of this that I can think of is Stephen King’s “The Body.” I’m fully open to the notion that not all YA is like this, but my opinion is reflective of my experience of it this far. As always, I’m feeling out the reasons that some things catch with me and some thing don’t.
Lindqvist wrote the screenplay for the original movie and I find the adaptation very good. All the dramatic beats remained intact. The story still told well, but in a more compact form. The US version of the film shorted the title to Let Me In, which is okay, I guess. For the book though, Let the Right One In fits so much better. All these characters, every single one, makes the choice of whom to let in.
Format: Trade Paperback
Procurement: PaperbackSwap
Bookmark: Calling Card, mine, not filled out
* My numbering is out of order because I wanted to get my impression of Every House Is Haunted out closer to its release date.
Blogging Triple Play!
October 23, 2012
R.I.P. Progress Report #7
The purpose of R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril VII is to enjoy books and movies/television that could be classified (by you) as: Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. Dark Fantasy. Gothic. Horror. Supernatural. Or anything sufficiently moody that shares a kinship with the above.
Lots to do in this final week of October. Finish work on one manuscript, ready myself for NaNoWriMo, finish reading some books. Wait a minute, that’s a week of total awesome-ness! Since it’s October, this post is also a part of Blogger Dressed in Blood!
I really like Tor’s blog. Sure, it’s a publisher’s website and they want you to purchase product, but it’s also a hub for sci-fi/fantasy/horror news, commentary, art, and lots of great free fiction. This week is Ghost Week at Tor which is happiness for me. Ghosts are one of my favorite fiction tropes. Thus far, they’ve featured two ghost stories.
“The Terrible Old Man” by H.P. Lovecraft – I’ll be honest; I’m not a Lovecraft fan. I’ve found his writing to be too ornate, too oblique. Elder gods just don’t do it for me. (Although I can’t escape H.P.’s influence on me. “He who will not be named” does not evoke Harry Potter for me and, due to its tentacle-rich logo, this restaurant will always be known to me as Fish House of the Elder Gods.) This story was a nice, short, classic creepy house story. And one with the old-fashioned notion of the bad-guy getting their just deserts.
“Too Fond” by Leanna Renee Hieber – A lovely ghostly romance. I’m not familiar with Leanna Renee Hieber, but I suspect I will be reading her in the future. Yeah, if I’m reading a romance, it probably involves a ghost. Doubly great, a Scottish ghost.
Se7en was my favorite David Fincher movie until I saw Zodiac (2007). That’s not to say that Se7en isn’t great, but to me it’s more of a gimmick movie. Se7en has this ever-present darkness and rain (except for the ending) that are maybe too pervasive. The characters are easy foils for each other. The killings, based on the seven deadly sins, are too narrative and well executed. Se7en is too much of a fiction for me.
Zodiac is a more grounded movie, grounded in the 1960s-70s’ Zodiac killings. While the movie primarily follows cartoonist and writer Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), the lives and fates of many other characters are woven in and out of the narrative, most notably journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) and inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo). The crimes, committed in several counties in California, vaguely fit a pattern. The investigation is hampered by multiple jurisdictions and lack of communication. The police and press work with and against each other. In the meantime, whoever might have been the Zodiac Killer fades away and becomes a cold case. Yes, for me, the movie based on real life where the killer gets away is more satisfying than the well-told fiction (even when the latter has a good twist ending).
I adore the writing in this movie. It’s witty and sly, and not just when Robert Downey Jr. is on screen. Like Se7en, it has a character that reveres books. The acting is excellent and the cast is filled with great character actors in small parts (Elias Koteas, Brian Cox, Clea DuVall, Donal Logue, John Carroll Lynch). The look and soundtrack of the movie are firmly placed in late 60s and early 70s California. While the pacing is rather deliberate, there are several scenes which make my skin crawl every time I see them. I can’t say that for Se7en or what might be Fincher’s third movie in a loose crime trilogy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
October 22, 2012
It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (10/22/12)
Today I’ll be finishing up my read of Eric’s current project, The Ysenoid (not its real title), and then finishing up Dark Water. I have about 80 pages left.
This Week I’m Reading:
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David GoldThe response to Glen David Gold’s debut novel, Carter Beats the Devil was extraordinary. He hypnotized us with his portrait of a 1920s magic-obsessed America and of Charles Carter—a.k.a. Carter the Great—a young master performer whose skill as an illusionist exceeded even that of the great Houdini.
Filled with historical references that evoke the excesses and exuberance of Roaring Twenties pre-Depression America, Carter Beats the Devil is a complex and illuminating story of one man’s journey through a magical and sometimes dangerous world, where illusion is everything. (Goodreads)
On loan to me from Ken, it would probably be good if I got it back to him at league finals (on the 16th).
Short Story of the Week
It’s ghost week over at Tor. I love ghosts. I don’t believe in ‘em, but I enjoy the concept.
The Usual
A poem, a section of Poetic Edda & two chapters of A Clash of Kings.
Writing This Week
I need to finish this polish of Luck for Hire by the end of October. I have eight chapters left and probably a chapter or two to write. I’m shooting for a chapter a day.
October 20, 2012
My Own Readathon
I missed Dewey’s 24-hour Readathon last weekend. Today, I’m going to hold my own. Silly? Yeah, I suppose, but it’s a long way until the spring readathon, and I really need a weekend to decompress. Don’t know if I’ll make it 24 hours. I’m going to a thing tonight at ASU and there’s a football game which I’ll probably listen to, but I just want to enjoy myself, mostly alone, and engage in one of my top five activities.
Reading List
Two chapters of A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin Done
A section or two of Poetic Edda. Done
A poem or two. Done
The Ysenoid – This isn’t entirely a goof-off weekend. I’ll be reading my husband’s manuscript.
Finish Dark Water by Koji Suzuki
Start Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
Progress
09:31, Saturday – Starting Line
10:31, Saturday – Hour 1
Book: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin, starting on pg.86-108
Total Pages Read: 22
Food & Drink: Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookie, yesterday’s coffee remnant (blech!).
Noise: Planes outside.
Environment: Backroom.
Other Activity: This post.
11:29, Saturday – Hour 2
Book: Poetic Edda, starting at pg. 103-111; Cooking for the Dead by Peter Chiykowski, Sleeping Beauty and the Vampire Rose & Zombie wedding chant Rhea Rose
Total Pages Read: 33
Food & Drink: Toasted Hazelnut Coffee, Mini-Twix
Noise: Same.
Environment: Same.
Other Activity: Updated blog tags/widgets. Fought with Kindle Cloud Reader, Caught up with Facebook.
12:32, Saturday – Hour 3
Book: Dark Water by Koji Suzuki, pg. 191-202; Ysenoid, pg 1-10
Total Pages Read: 54
Food & Drink: Mini-Snickers, water, remains of an engery drink I forgot in the ‘fridge.
Noise: Same.
Environment: Same.
Other Activity: Talked to Eric a tiny bit.
13:32, Saturday – Hour 4, 5, 6, 7
Book: –
Total Pages Read: 54
Food & Drink: Made “dinner”: Spanish rice, leftover fried chicken, tomato salad. Diet Mtn Dew. Mini-Twix.
Noise: Nebraska/Northwestern game.
Environment: Same.
Other Activity: VOTS scores. Football game/EQ2.
17:23, Saturday – Hour 8
Book: Ysenoid, pg 11-24
Total Pages Read: 67
Food & Drink: None
Noise: 31 Flavors of October Playlist
Environment: Same.
Other Activity: None.
October 19, 2012
Book #33
In this brilliant debut collection, Ian Rogers explores the border-places between our world and the dark reaches of the supernatural. The landscape of death becomes the new frontier for scientific exploration. A honeymoon cabin with an unspeakable appetite finally meets its match. A suburban home is transformed into the hunting ground for a new breed of spider. A nightmarish jazz club at the crossroads of reality plays host to those who can break a deal with the devil…for a price. With remarkable deftness, Rogers draws together the disturbing and the diverting in twenty-two showcase stories that will guide you through terrain at once familiar and startlingly fresh. (via Goodreads)
I’ve been reading a lot of short stories this year (a lot for me, anyway). I’ve met my goal of averaging one short story a week for the year without counting stories from the six or so short story anthologies/collections that I’ve read. I don’t often commit myself to reading a collection of short stories by an author I’m not familiar with. Usually, I encounter a writer a few times here and there, maybe during awards season or in some themed multi-author anthology. Many short stories can be a little forgettable.
I picked up this collection from NetGalley because I was looking for some good ol’ fashioned horror stories. Yes, I did prejudge the book by its cover and its title. I figured a collection entitled Every House is Haunted had to deliver on some level. Though dubious at first, I was not disappointed. Ian Rogers’ stories are definitely not forgettable.
Rogers’ writing style is unadorned. The plots of his tales meander. I’m reminded of Ray Bradbury’s concept of following where the story leads. Some of Rogers’ stories lead seemingly one way before taking a sharp turn. And then the stories end. Sometimes very abruptly. The other thing I was reminded of was EC Comics and some of the 1980s horror anthology shows. Those stories often ended at that moment when the shambling undead stands knocking on the other side of the door, but the door is never opened…on screen. This leads to a delicious sort of anticipation that’s never quite satisfied. While the writer side of my brain kind of grumbled at the loose end, my reader brain continued to revisit the stories. The utter creepiness of “The Candle” is going to be with me for a while.
While the anthology is broken into different sections, like rooms of a house, there are a couple story threads that I found intriguing. “Autumnology,” “Leaves Brown,” and “Twillingate” all dwell in Eastern Canada and play with the concept of that moment, whether it’s a season or a moment of twilight,when the veil between here and not-here is pulled back. I especially liked the concept of no place being autumn all the time; autumn being a time of dying which has to have an end. “The Dark and the Young” and “The Rift Between Us” both have science fiction elements, an aspect that I wasn’t expecting, but still enjoyed. And of course, there were some straight-up haunted house stories in “The Nanny,” “The House on Ashley Street,” and the gothic “The Inheritor.”
Now that I’m familiar with him, I’ll be keeping a look out for more Ian Rogers. Every House is Haunted is available now from ChiZine Publications.
Format: Adobe Digital Edition
Procurement: NetGalley
This review-ish thing is linked at:
October 18, 2012
Throwback Thursday (10/18/12)
Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books!
Noting that book blogging onften focuses on new releases, here’s how Throwback Thursday works:
Pick a book released more than 5 years ago.
Write up a short summary of the book (include the title, author, and cover art) and an explanation of why you love it.
Link up your post at The Housework Can Wait or Never Too Fond of Books.
Visit as many blogs as you can, reminisce about books you loved, and discover some “new” books for your TBR list!
The Prestige by Christopher Priest
From my original post, 9/13/2012:
This is the book that the Hugh Jackman/Christian Bale movie was based on. I knew that The Illusionist was based on a novella, but I hadn’t realized that the “other magician movie” was based on a text as well. (I currently have some interest in magician novels…)
What strikes me about this novel is that, while originally published in 1995, it is much more like 19th century novels: Dracula, Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights. There is narrator that is external to the majority of the story. The story is formed by several different journals. Which means, there is a great deal of “telling” in this novel rather than showing. And that’s okay. There are quiet a few extraneous details, especially within Angier’s journal, that have more to do with the character’s life than with the story. And that’s okay too. It works.
I do wish that I hadn’t seen the movie before reading this because I knew what to expect twist-wise. I could appreciate some of the literary misdirection that the author engaged in to tell the story, without cheating. I also think that the movie tells a better story by limiting the scope to only the two magicians.
It should be noted that I’m still somewhat interested in magician novels and am going to try my hand at kinda-sorta writing one myself. This was pretty good read, and if you can’t get enough of epistolary novels, this is definitely a book for you.
This post is also a part of Bloggers Dressed in Blood!
October 17, 2012
R.I.P. Progress Report #6
The purpose of R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril VII is to enjoy books and movies/television that could be classified (by you) as: Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. Dark Fantasy. Gothic. Horror. Supernatural. Or anything sufficiently moody that shares a kinship with the above.
Between FrightFall Readathon and time in Nebraska with family, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a short story and TV/movies round-up post. Also, it’s October and this post is a part of Blogger Dressed in Blood!
I have two short stories *and* several poems to share.
The first short story is “Snicker-Snack” by A. D. Bloom. This is a sci-fi/horror story set in a future with bio-technology advanced enough grow semi-sentient living toys. In revolutionary hands, this technology has been used to create gargantuan Godzilla-like monsters that ravaged the land. A hunted teddy bear with razor-sharp claws, Teddy Da seeks home, using the only clue he has about his origins: his tag, StitchLife – Made in Tokyo. Bloom packs a lot of world and history into this short story. Not surprisingly, Bloom has written other novellas in the same world. This story is available to read online at The Chiaroscuro.
Second, “Harpy” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. This story is from a thin little volume I picked off my mom’s bookshelves. Saint-Germain: Memoirs is an anthology of short stories involving Yarbro’s vampire protagonist Le Comte de Saint-Germain. This story was quick, almost vignette, set in ancient Greece. It’s was light on the vampire aspects and lighter on historical elements than most of Yarbro’s stories, but full of iconic Saint-Germain-isms.
Horror poetry? Sure, why not? Apex magazine has a trio of spooky verses in this month’s issue. Two of the poems are by Rachael Swirsky, one of my favorite short story writers. The third is by Liz Argall and features one of my favorite and “mosters,” the golem. “Casanova Clay is the loneliest Golem in the world,” her poem begins. How can you resist that? Pop over to Apex and enjoy!
Dark Shadows (2012) – When the first trailer for the Dark Shadows movie appeared online, my friend Tania messaged me on Facebook. “You like this show, right? What do you think of the trailer?” True, I was a somewhat a fan of the show, through my mother’s fandom. I watched the short-lived 1991 reboot of it with her. It wasn’t bad. I had mixed feelings about Johnny Depp and Tim Burton being involved in the movie version of it. I like both Burton & Depp and most of their collaborations. But, especially together, they have a certain style. Did that style fit a 1960′s supernatural soap opera? The trailer didn’t inspire confidence. It seemed too cheesy. I held out hope that maybe it would still be funny, kind of like the Starsky & Hutch movie.
The reality is: Dark Shadows is kind of cheesy. When I wrote “1960′s supernatural soap opera,” I could almost smell the cheddar. But it’s also earnest about itself. There’s no winking at the camera. Not in the 1966 series, the 1991 series, or the Tim Burton 2012 movie. Taken out of context, of course, the scenes in the movie trailer look worse then Velveeta slices. Within the movie, where everyone is taking the most absurd circumstances seriously, it works. That’s not to say that there aren’t funny parts in the movie. They’re just internally funny. You’re never laughing directly at this movie.
Best part? Michelle Pfeiffer is pretty kick ass as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard.
Fright Night (2011) – This was another remake that I was just not sure about. I like the original well enough, though I’m not a huge fan. Colin Farrell is an interesting actor and David Tennant as a Chris Angel clone is…uh…disconcerting. Not a bad movie, but Charley (our hero, played by Anton Yelchin) is kind of a putz and Colin Farrell isn’t quite menacing enough. Tennant does do a good turn as Peter Vincent, and the climax of the film does include a plan that I’m not sure I’ve seen in a vampire movie previously.
Best part? The relationship between Peter Vincent and his assistant Ginger.
October 15, 2012
It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (10/15/12)
But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!
Still thou are blest, compared wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects drear!
An’ forward, tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear!
from To a Mouse by Robert Burns
Heading home tonight after being with the Nebraska arm of my family for a week.
This Week I’m Reading:
Dark Water by Koji Suzuki, Glynne Walley (Translator)A haunting collection of short stories from Koji Suzuki, author of the smash thriller, Ring, which spawned the hit film and sequels. The first story in this collection has been adapted to film (Dark Water, Walter Salles), and another, “Adrift” is currently in production with Dimension Films. (Goodreads)
Read Ring a few years back after being traumatized by the movie. In the mood for similar.
Short Story of the Week:
My mom has the book Saint-Germain: Memoirs, which seems to be a collection of short stories by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro featuring Comte de Saint-Germain. Going to try fitting in one this afternoon.
The Usual:
A poem and a section of Poetic Edda. I don’t think its yet time for me to go back to George RR Martin.
What I Read Last Week:
Finished up Let the Right One In. I’ll also have a round up of some R.I.P. stuff tomorrow.
October 8, 2012
FrightFall Readathon Wrap-Up
Last week wasn’t a very readathon kind of week. I have some work goals for this month and getting things done on that front *and* spending a huge amount of time reading wasn’t going to happen. I did read nearly 400 pages, which is more than I would have without the readathon. Mission accomplished on that front! Even so, I did not finish a book. I was bouncing back and forth between Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Linqvist and Every House is Haunted by Ian Roger all week long with every intention of finishing the latter on Sunday. Unfortunately, I had to travel on a family matter on Sunday and didn’t have the ability to take the eGalley on the plane with me. Instead, I made more progress on the Linqvist.
I also didn’t get the chance to chat as much as I would have liked. A task on Thursday took much longer than expected and Sunday afternoon was a bit of a shambles. A big huge thanks to Michelle for hosting and trying to get us herd of cats on the same page. Kudo also to Nova and Melissa for hosting a couple of great challenges. Thank you all!
October 5, 2012
Friday Free-for-All: Challenges!
Readathons! Blog Carnivals! Challenges!
The first FrightFall challenge is hosted by Nova at My Seryniti.
You’re sitting by a campfire with some friends. The wind is blowing and the air is just getting that crisp feeling. The beach is just a few feet in front of you and you can hear the surf crashing upon the shore.
Now… answer these questions.
Who would you want warming you up?! (Fictional characters please!!) Phouka from Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks . He’d be totally enthusiastic about this evening, have great stories to tell, and is kinda cute.
What are you listening to? (Music or a story) The Lost Boys soundtrack and other 80s pop and goth.
What snacks would you have? Puppy Chow! And Pumpkin Porter to drink.
We know you brought a book, which one is it!? Dante’s Inferno
It’s your turn to tell a spooky story, which one is it going to be? I’d spin a yarn about zombie ant fungus taking over the world!
And just for fun but not part of the challenge…
Do you celebrate Halloween? Yes, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the year.
What’s your fav horror story? The Haunting of Hell House by Shirley Jackson
Fav type of villain? (Vamp, zombie, etc) Ghosts.
Fav horror movie? Candyman, Saw, The Haunting, Psycho, American Werewolf in London
Fav bad guy! Freddy Kreuger
Halloween costume you plan on wearing (or would) this year. Haven’t given it any thought.
The second challenge is hosted by Melissa at Must Read Faster.
My mission for you is to find the creepiest picture, video, or story and link it here or the link to your post if you post on your website.
Man, the web is full of freaky. I could probably spend now until Halloween surfing TV Trope’s Nightmare Fuel and never hit the end of it. The uncanny unnerves me, so I’m going to go safe, but still creepy.
I remember when the “Hush” episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer first aired. The Gentlemen were far scarier than any previous villain in the Buffy-verse. There a little Slender Man in this bad guy and a ton of freaky.
Week 1 Bloggers Dressed in Blood Challenge: Hosted by Kim at On The Wings Of Books
I’d like you to tell me the best lesson you’ve learned from a horror book or movie and which book or movie you learned it from.
Your best chance at survival in most horror movie situations is to visit the library. Seriously, how much time does Buffy the Vampire Slayer spend in the library? How many times has the secret to unlocking a haunting been found in a musty book in the house’s well-stocked bookshelves? And by library I don’t mean just books. With the internet and wireless technology, IMDB and Wikipedia are just a few finger swipes away when you need that reference to an urban legend that will save your skin. Knowing, my friends, is half the battle.
