17 Days Until Halloween

I have another 2010 book to recommend for your Halloween reading: The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle. The novel follows fictional 11-year-old Tabby as she's take to become a maid at the distant and dilapidated Seldom House. There she encounters her very dead predecessors and her very live charge, a precocious and wayward little boy, whom she tries to protect from the sinister forces around them, as well as his own ignorance and willfulness. As the two unravel the secret of Seldom House, they discover that peril comes from forces far older and much closer than they could have imagined.

Clare B. Dunkle weaves a classic Gothic tale of moral innocence versus indifference as a child's simple but profound faith is pitted against an ancient and now debased practice. (It wouldn't be inappropriate to think of a mashup between The Secret Garden and The Wicker Man.) Better still, Dunkle nests her story within the larger context of the Brontës. According to the novel, the fictional child (who has all the courage and tenacity of Neil Gaiman's modern-day Coraline) grows up to be the "real life" adult Tabby who serves as the Brontë family's housekeeper at Haworth, the one who reportedly told the Brontë sisters dark and imaginative tales -- some, Dunkle implies, from firsthand experience. The author suggests that the "heathen git" child that Tabby protects at Seldom House is none other than the "real" Heathcliff, whom Emily Brontë later immortalized in her masterpiece Wuthering Heights.

In short, it's ideal reading for a dark and stormy night. You can read my full review here at Goodreads.



Thanks to cookiefleck for today's spooky picture!

Inspired by agameofthree , I now invite you to find yourself at...
eldritchhobbit 's Halloween party:



_archaicangel_ dressed as the love child of Larry Bird and Calista Flockhart.

_snitchbitch dressed as Mary-Kate Olsen with her very own conjoined Ashley.

actourdreams dressed as Squidward.

adamantrealm dressed as blues legend Blind Chicken Rivers.

aelfgifu dressed as Derek Jeter.

agameofthree dressed as the Viscount of Apliupox.

agentxpndble dressed as a character from Harry Potter and the Harp of the Advice.

agingaglaea dressed as a new member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Annoying Assassin.

ailing_prophecy dressed as Winona Ryder.

aishabintjamil dressed as Karl Rove.

akaihyo dressed as a character from Harry Potter and the Prince of San Antonio.

alex_beecroft dressed as Michelle Trachtenberg riding a chicken.

alicambs dressed as Sigfried in need of testosterone.

alicia_stardust dressed as Dennis Miller.

alii_s dressed as a Firthway employee.

alitalf dressed as Lady Godiva without the horse and far too little hair!.

alohanamarie dressed as a new member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Merry Specialist.

altariel dressed as Camilla Parker-Bowles when she becomes Queen.

amygrech dressed as a ghost.

angelinehawkes dressed as Sybil - except that Sybil didn't show but the other 31 personalities did, and it suited them disturbingly well.

animated_max dressed as Nosferatu the Supreme Vampire.

ankh_hpl dressed as a very fake witch-doctor complete with a collection of shrunken skulls.

antonioreyes dressed as the Governor of Virginia.

apexdigest dressed as a devil.

aragornlover dressed as Courtney Love.

arisbe dressed as the Earl of Pickstown.

arkhamdenizen dressed as Ken Jennings.

artwhisperer dressed as the love child of Kevin Costner and Meg Ryan.

arymetore dressed as Ivan the Terrible of Russia.

ashesngolddust dressed as Sandra Bullock, and it suited them all too well.

astromachy dressed as the resurrected dead -- complete with the most convincing coffin.

autodidact dressed as a fullback for the Falcons.

baka_kit dressed as a monster from a Silent Hill game.

barbedwriting dressed as legendary space hero Punch Manmuscle.

batteredhaggis dressed as Bartman.

baylorsr dressed as a 1990's grunge child.

bdrixhaettc dressed as the spirit of their dead grandmother Morgan.

beholdaphoenix dressed as Sigfried in need of testosterone.

beledibabe dressed as Tiffani-Amber Thiessen.

bellatook dressed as Mde. Lachienne Foutue d'Enfer -- you don't wanna know.

belleferret dressed as Josephine Baker but the banana "skirt" didn't survive the night.

bibliotrope dressed as Michael Jackson.

bluerocean dressed as the resurrected dead -- complete with the most convincing coffin.

boojumlol dressed as a sedimentary conductor.

bookwoman2009 dressed as Optimus Prime.

bouncybabylemur dressed as the equator.

brighteyed_jill dressed as Mary Queen of Scots ... without her head. Most convincing.

byslantedlight dressed as Barbra Streisand.

camelottreasure dressed as Superman.

captnofmyheart dressed as the Lord of Schikydcade.

carolyn_claire dressed as Marie Antoinette going to her death.

carpdeus dressed as Jack the Ripper in a time machine, complete with gory knives.

carrie_ryan dressed as Lady Godiva without the horse and far too little hair!.

caster121 dressed as a bottle of Cerebic.

cathexys dressed as Tonya Harding.

ceosanna dressed as a skunk.

cherylmmorgan dressed as something morose, but what, specifically, you can't tell.

chickenfried_jo gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as Kirsten Dunst.

cinda_cite dressed as Mde. Lachienne Foutue d'Enfer -- you don't wanna know.

circuit_archive dressed as Franklin D. Roosevelt.

clara_swift dressed as Mary-Kate Olsen with her very own conjoined Ashley, and it suited them all too well.

coalitiongirl dressed as Sigfried in need of testosterone.

cookiefleck dressed as the Gray Power Ranger.

coppervale dressed as Kobe Bryant's brother.

crackferret dressed as legendary space hero Flint Ironstag.

crazywritergirl dressed as a fresh mummy.

creehawk dressed as a unknown kitchen.

curtana dressed as a 1980's yuppie child.

cyloran dressed as a zombie.

cynleitichsmith dressed as a executive paper pusher.

d_tauscher gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as Marie Antoinette going to her death.

dannyboy8406 dressed as the Earl of Ashdale.

darchildre dressed as the Vicomte des Boules-Velues.

darkdestination dressed as Adam-the-first-man but the fig-leaf was far too big.

darthsindel1981 didn't dress up, spoilsport.

davidbcoe dressed as the love child of Elvis Presley and Milla Jovovich.

dduane dressed as a specialization.

deadship dressed as blues legend FatBoy Liver Thompkins.

dejla dressed as your mother-in-law.

delenn1960 dressed as Sybil - except that Sybil didn't show but the other 39 personalities did.

delwyncole didn't even show up and doesn't get any candy.

dement1a dressed as a buffalo, and it suited them all too well.

dfable dressed as a pixie.

doctorwho42 dressed as a kicker for the Falcons.

dodger_winslow dressed as a spoon.

domynoe dressed as Ronaldo riding a raccoon.

dormannheim dressed as Sybil - except that Sybil didn't show but the other 17 personalities did.

dqg_neal dressed as the Duke of Denver.

dr_sturgis dressed as a slimy skeleton.

dracschick dressed as Ivan the Terrible of Russia.

duncatra dressed as the Lord of Lundberg.

earthorongil dressed as the Vicomte des Boules-Velues.

ebonange dressed as legendary space hero Slake Beefgnaw.

edroxy dressed as a associate network administrator, and it suited them disturbingly well.

ekeppich dressed as a llama.

eldritchhobbit dressed as a crispy skeleton.

ellen_datlow dressed as a goblin.

elmwood dressed as Mary-Kate Olsen with her very own conjoined Ashley.

elvenjoy gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as a volume.

emerdavid dressed as Sybil - except that Sybil didn't show but the other 12 personalities did.

eowynmaiar dressed as a deficiency.

estellye dressed as the Governor of South Dakota, though it looked more like Nosferatu the Supreme Vampire.

eveningblue dressed as Mde. Lachienne Foutue d'Enfer -- you don't wanna know.

faramirgirl dressed as Optimus Prime.

febobe dressed as a very fake witch-doctor complete with a collection of shrunken skulls.

fenice_fu dressed as Elvis Presley.

firiath didn't dress up, spoilsport.

forthright forgot to put on clothes!

fory_san gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as a bottle of Valulzonelog.

frahulettaes dressed as someone who just had sex.

frodosweetstuff dressed as a disturbing self-made character called "Squeezit Diapertush".

fungus_files dressed as Tori Amos.

gabrielle_h dressed as a disturbing self-made character called "Buttercup Pottyhonker".

gamgeefest dressed as Camilla Parker-Bowles when she becomes Queen.

gbsteve dressed as your mother.

ghani_atreides dressed as a disturbing self-made character called "Squeezit Burgerlips".

gilda_elise dressed as the spirit of their dead grandmother Angie.

gloriana dressed as Josephine Baker but the banana "skirt" didn't survive the night.

gods_lil_rocker dressed as the main character of "The Sixth Sense".

gondoriangirl dressed as the main character of "Mulholland Drive".

goodnightlady dressed as the Fuzzy Power Ranger.

graashoppa dressed as Warren G. Harding.

granger2malfoy dressed as a data entry intern.

greenhoodloxley dressed as the Governor of Virginia.

greygirlbeast dressed as the Archbishop of Vuiqa, though it looked more like Jerry Bruckheimer's mother-in-law.

griffith_gwyn dressed as Liv Tyler riding a hedgehog.

grinning_soul dressed as a character from a Silent Hill game.

grisemalkin dressed as Lyndon B. Johnson.

groovekittie dressed as the Governor of West Virginia.

gryphonrhi dressed as a very fake witch-doctor complete with a collection of shrunken skulls.

gypsyjr dressed as a turkey.

halliet dressed as Kirsten Dunst - tarred and feathered.

hisluvpet dressed as Winona Ryder.

history_spork dressed as the main character of "Glory".

homespunheart dressed as Mde. Lachienne Foutue d'Enfer -- you don't wanna know.

iconsbycurtana dressed as a very fake witch-doctor complete with a collection of shrunken skulls.

iconzicons dressed as your mother-in-law.

idwoman dressed as "Bones" McCoy from "Star Trek".

ievil_spock_47i dressed as Mary Queen of Scots ... without her head. Most convincing.

ithildyn forgot to put on clothes!

ithiliana gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as a diplomat from Iraq.

izhilzha dressed as Ivan the Terrible of Russia.

jadepilot dressed as a inverse skeleton.

jagash dressed as the resurrected dead -- complete with the most convincing coffin.

jalara dressed as Optimus Prime.

jamesenge dressed as Camilla Parker-Bowles when she becomes Queen, though it looked more like Osama bin Laden.

janissa11 dressed as Adam-the-first-man but the fig-leaf was far too big.

jasonbsizemore dressed as Jeri Ryan riding a ferret.

jedi_archives dressed as Calista Flockhart - tarred and feathered.

jinjifore dressed as Ichabod Crane, the schoolmaster from Sleepy Hollow.

jinxed_wood dressed as a new superhero: Major Empress.

johnjosephadams dressed as a spoon.

jpsorrow dressed as a new superhero: Mad Albino.

juxiantang dressed as a lion.

kailara_me dressed as a IE&D & Co., LLC employee.

kalquessa dressed as Jack the Ripper in a time machine, complete with gory knives.

kangeiko forgot to put on clothes!

karmaku dressed as Jack the Ripper in a time machine, complete with gory knives.

killerweasel dressed as Dr. Crusher from "Star Trek".

knesinka_e dressed as the love child of Saddam Hussein and Tipper Gore.

lalam dressed as Angelina Jolie, though it looked more like Trent Reznor.

lbilover dressed as Elizabeth Regina on steroids and roller skates.

lbiloverfics dressed as Frylock.

lexie_marie dressed as a 1980's yuppie child, though it looked more like a Montana & Co., LLC employee.

lin4gondor dressed as a first baseman for the Indians.

lindajsingleton dressed as Adam-the-first-man but the fig-leaf was far too big.

lisa_marli dressed as Nosferatu the Supreme Vampire.

lizzieausten dressed as a pimp.

lizziebelle dressed as Bill Clinton.

llembas dressed as a skunk.

loligo dressed as Regis Philbin.

lothithil dressed as Sigfried in need of testosterone.

louise_bohmer dressed as the spirit of their dead grandmother Alma.

louise_norlie dressed as Camilla Parker-Bowles when she becomes Queen.

lovefromgirl dressed as something still, but what, specifically, you can't tell.

lukeski dressed as Josephine Baker but the banana "skirt" didn't survive the night.

lwe dressed as Elizabeth Regina on steroids and roller skates.

lynn_maudlin dressed as a cat, and it suited them all too well.

lyria_theringer dressed as something irate, but what, specifically, you can't tell.

m_stiefvater dressed as a pixie.

mackiedockie dressed as the Electric Power Ranger.

madkestrel dressed as blues legend Screamin' Sugar Smith.

magicwondershow dressed as Nosferatu the Supreme Vampire, though it looked more like the Governor of Florida.

mamomo dressed as Guy Fawkes but the exploding barrel of dynamite didn't go down too well.

manonlechat dressed as Mary-Kate Olsen with her very own conjoined Ashley.

marm dressed as Elizabeth Regina on steroids and roller skates.

marthawells dressed as Josephine Baker but the banana "skirt" didn't survive the night, and it suited them disturbingly well.

marycrawford dressed as Guy Fawkes but the exploding barrel of dynamite didn't go down too well.

marypearson dressed as a safety for the 49ers.

matthewsrotundo dressed as a hyper skeleton.

mbranesf dressed as Martin Van Buren.

mediacannibals dressed as Helga the wisewoman, although the live snake was a mistake.

melissagay dressed as Elizabeth Regina on steroids and roller skates.

merrigold dressed as Catherine Zeta-Jones.

metal_aria dressed as Helga the wisewoman, although the live snake was a mistake.

meylia dressed as a kicker for the Bills, and it suited them all too well.

mguibord dressed as Thomas Jefferson.

milkybarbiatch dressed as Ichabod Crane, the schoolmaster from Sleepy Hollow.

mjolnir1964 dressed as a lampshade, and it suited them disturbingly well.

mmarques dressed as a first baseman for the Brewers.

mollypunkin dressed as the spirit of their dead grandmother Tammy.

morfin didn't even show up and doesn't get any candy.

mr_earbrass didn't dress up, spoilsport.

muuranker dressed as Pavlova the ballerina -- dancing on point too, and it suited them all too well.

mypreoccupation dressed as Nosferatu the Supreme Vampire.

nakeisha dressed as the main character of "A Clockwork Orange".

nickdcam dressed as a walking Guillotine.

nightlywanderer dressed as Gwyneth Paltrow.

nihilistic_kid dressed as the Tender Power Ranger.

nurdbunny dressed as Jack the Ripper in a time machine, complete with gory knives.

onegoat dressed as Paris Hilton.

otoselkie dressed as Guy Fawkes but the exploding barrel of dynamite didn't go down too well.

pambachorz dressed as Padme Amidala.

parisntripfan didn't dress up, spoilsport.

passionrulesme dressed as the main character of "The Gold Rush".

peadarog dressed as Ichabod Crane, the schoolmaster from Sleepy Hollow.

penfold_x didn't even show up and doesn't get any candy.

penguinkeggard dressed as Mary Queen of Scots ... without her head. Most convincing.

persona_obscura dressed as a cell.

pewterwolf dressed as Nicole Richie.

pinkfinity dressed as Marie Antoinette going to her death.

pktheater dressed as an iPod.

poenari dressed as a WOADG SoftwareCooperative employee.

potboy dressed as a character from Harry Potter and the Council of the Sword, though it looked more like a chicken.

primroseburrows dressed as Pavlova the ballerina -- dancing on point too.

primsong dressed as the President of Belarus.

princeofcairo dressed as Johnny Depp.

pseudoanorexic dressed as a passage.

pwilkinson dressed as Mary Queen of Scots ... without her head. Most convincing.

rachelcaine dressed as Guy Fawkes but the exploding barrel of dynamite didn't go down too well.

randomalia dressed as a bottle of Celermetabic.

reading_is_in dressed as a Level 5 paladin.

reynardine dressed as a new superhero: Wolf Monkey.

roo2 dressed as a first baseman for the Mets.

rosamundeb gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as a monster from a Super Mario game.

rymfireebooks dressed as a lost advice.

saffronhouse dressed as a new member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Midnight Ambassador.

sailingwest dressed as a mummy.

saladinahmed dressed as Helga the wisewoman, although the live snake was a mistake.

sally_maria dressed as a Level 12 thief.

sarah531 dressed as Optimus Prime.

savagedoc45 dressed as a 1980's yuppie child.

savageseraph didn't even show up and doesn't get any candy.

scribblerworks dressed as a tower.

seemag dressed as a Roosevelt PrebitIncorporated employee, though it looked more like Bugs Bunny.

semielliptical dressed as the Vicomte des Boules-Velues.

serpentcoils dressed as Julia Stiles's uncle.

serpentgraphics dressed as a walking Guillotine.

sfawardswatch dressed as a goblin.

shadow_truths dressed as Counselor Troi from "Star Trek".

shadowkittykat_ dressed as James Polk.

shalna dressed as Marie Antoinette going to her death.

shelled_avenger dressed as a character from Harry Potter and the Shield of Berkley.

silveraspen dressed as a new superhero: Ice Goliath.

simple_sunshine dressed as a mean taste.

sithdragn dressed as a diplomat from Mauritius.

sittingduck1313 dressed as Janet Reno.

snard dressed as Rebecca Romijn's grandfather, and it suited them disturbingly well.

sneezythesquid dressed as Jay Leno.

solodancer dressed as blues legend Hollerin' Foot Franklin.

st_crispins dressed as a new member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Gentlemen Bandit.

stinabat dressed as the President of Mexico.

sunnysky dressed as a Care Bear.

sunshinedew dressed as a pimp.

super_chik dressed as Lady Godiva without the horse and far too little hair!.

supervillainess dressed as Pavlova the ballerina -- dancing on point too, though it looked more like Barbra Streisand.

suzume234 dressed as a elephant.

syrcleoftrees dressed as Tobey Maguire - tarred and feathered.

syredronning dressed as Elvis Presley - tarred and feathered.

taleofyears dressed as your brother.

terrylj dressed as a walking Guillotine.

the_cornettist dressed as a first baseman for the Cardinals.

thehornedgod dressed as a substitute corporate spy flunkie.

theladyrose dressed as Adam-the-first-man but the fig-leaf was far too big.

thepirateship dressed as a bottle of Remevir.

thewordoffred gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as the Marquis of Comiline.

thrihyrne dressed as Jennifer Lopez.

thunderchikin dressed as Ivan the Terrible of Russia.

time_shark dressed as Ichabod Crane, the schoolmaster from Sleepy Hollow.

tiny_antares dressed as a character from a Silent Hill game.

toddlyles dressed as Helga the wisewoman, although the live snake was a mistake.

travels_in_time dressed as the Frightened Power Ranger.

travisprinzi dressed as Brad Pitt, though it looked more like a turkey.

tudorpumpkin dressed as a disturbing self-made character called "Fluffy Gerbillips".

tuesday_darling dressed as legendary space hero Crud Johnson.

tuilelindowen didn't even show up and doesn't get any candy.

turimel dressed as something arctic, but what, specifically, you can't tell.

valancourtbooks didn't even show up and doesn't get any candy.

vg_ford dressed as George W. Bush.

vivien529 dressed as a walking Guillotine.

vonjunzt dressed as the resurrected dead -- complete with the most convincing coffin, though it looked more like Mary Queen of Scots ... without her head. Most convincing.

vulpine137 didn't dress up, spoilsport.

vyrdolak dressed as Cmdr. Riker from "Star Trek".

wede_fic dressed as Marilyn Manson, though it looked more like Ozzy Osbourne.

wellinghall forgot to put on clothes!

white_gull dressed as a Level 8 ranger.

whswhs dressed as a bear.

wiccagirl24 dressed as Lady Godiva without the horse and far too little hair!.

wildviolet4 dressed as Carrie-Anne Moss's father.

wiredwizard dressed as a holstein, though it looked more like a goblin.

witchcat07 dressed as John F. Kennedy.

xanath dressed as the Vicomte des Boules-Velues.

xerum525 dressed as a Level 9 paladin.

xtrustisyoursx forgot to put on clothes!

z0mbieastronaut dressed as Jerry Bruckheimer.

zephyrious dressed as Captain Picard from "Star Trek".

zmaddoc dressed as a pirate.

zornhau dressed as Pavlova the ballerina -- dancing on point too.



Throw your own party at the Hallomeme!
Created by sigma7 : More info here.

Text of the Day: Today's short story is perfect for the season, "The Little Black Train" by Manly Wade Wellman (1903-1986).

Teaser: A ghost train running on the High Fork Railroad. Spawned by a curse during a love quarrel that ended in the murder of the engineer of the train. The Little Black Train is destined to come back and take away the guilty.

Read the complete story here.