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Book Haven: And Other Curiosities
An eclectic mix of tales to entertain and engage the imagination!
Come peruse the dusty shelves of BOOK HAVEN. Scan the titles, study the strange trinkets that are lined up on display. Maybe pull aside the cobwebs and run your fingers alone the spines of the books, caress the artifacts. You will find many forgotten treasures and un-mined gems among the debris.
From the author of Flowers in a Dumpster comes a new collection of short stories to terrify you, to move you, to make you think. In the spirit of High Cotton by Joe Lansdale, Trigger Warnings by Neil Gaiman, and Skeleton Crew by Stephen King, this short story collection offers an eclectic mix of Horror, Scifi, Fantasy, and drama.
-The title novella features a futuristic landscape where the world’s literature has been lost, and a group of government agents are on the hunt for the mythological Book Haven, a vast secret library.
-In “C U Soon,” a girl dies in a car accident while texting with her boyfriend, but after her funeral he continues receiving mysterious messages from her.
-In “The Man Who Watched the Ocean,” a man mourning the loss of a past love decides to try and join her.
-In “Tanner” a man purchases a used tanning bed in which someone once died and finds that houses aren’t the only places that can be haunted.
-In “Human Bones in a China Cabinet,” a young man has an unusual collection hidden away in a china cabinet
-In “The Sandbox,” a friendless boy playing in a sandbox encounters a strange yet familiar old man who shapes the course of his life
-In “The Farm,” a horror fan visits the location of a cult classic
Some of what you find will be dark and suspenseful, some beautiful and haunting, but all of it is yours for the taking. We’re so glad you found your way here and welcome you inside BOOK HAVEN.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Come peruse the dusty shelves of BOOK HAVEN. Scan the titles, study the strange trinkets that are lined up on display. Maybe pull aside the cobwebs and run your fingers alone the spines of the books, caress the artifacts. You will find many forgotten treasures and un-mined gems among the debris.
From the author of Flowers in a Dumpster comes a new collection of short stories to terrify you, to move you, to make you think. In the spirit of High Cotton by Joe Lansdale, Trigger Warnings by Neil Gaiman, and Skeleton Crew by Stephen King, this short story collection offers an eclectic mix of Horror, Scifi, Fantasy, and drama.
-The title novella features a futuristic landscape where the world’s literature has been lost, and a group of government agents are on the hunt for the mythological Book Haven, a vast secret library.
-In “C U Soon,” a girl dies in a car accident while texting with her boyfriend, but after her funeral he continues receiving mysterious messages from her.
-In “The Man Who Watched the Ocean,” a man mourning the loss of a past love decides to try and join her.
-In “Tanner” a man purchases a used tanning bed in which someone once died and finds that houses aren’t the only places that can be haunted.
-In “Human Bones in a China Cabinet,” a young man has an unusual collection hidden away in a china cabinet
-In “The Sandbox,” a friendless boy playing in a sandbox encounters a strange yet familiar old man who shapes the course of his life
-In “The Farm,” a horror fan visits the location of a cult classic
Some of what you find will be dark and suspenseful, some beautiful and haunting, but all of it is yours for the taking. We’re so glad you found your way here and welcome you inside BOOK HAVEN.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2019
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April 25, 2019
My review of BOOK HAVEN AND OTHER CURIOSITIES can be found at High Fever Books.
ark Allan Gunnells delivers a solid collection of short stories, poems, and a novella in Book Haven and Other Curiosities.
The titular “Book Haven” kicks things off, and Gunnells delivers a neat little cloak-and-dagger espionage story here. A few hundred years in the future, all literature has been digitized and print books are little more than rare antiquities. A terrorist cyber attack, dubbed The Wipe, destroys the ebook collections of the world, erasing every digital copy of every piece of literature. It falls to a newly created government library service to acquire print editions and rebuild the world’s ebooks...which works out about as well as you'd think. “Book Haven” is a nifty little dystopian work, but mostly it's just a lovely ode to books, which I really dug.
Following “Book Haven,” which comprises very nearly the first half of this collection, are 19 other stories. Given the bulk of stories here, I won’t go into specifics about each of these but the majority of them are all pretty satisfying, quick, punchy reads and Gunnells delivers some interesting twists in a number of them. In fact, he’s really good at setting up a premise that you think is headed one way, and then spins it off into a whole other direction entirely.
For instance, I initially thought “C U Soon” was going to be a pretty light-hearted, comedic affair. The gist of this one involves a teenage couple, one of whom dies in an automobile accident after her partner sends her a dick pic. It’s a wild premise that I thought might have been the set-up for an extended joke (it’s also possible I’m just a sicko), but instead Gunnells plays it seriously and goes for the heart with a story about ghosts and guilt. “C U Soon” packs an emotional wallop in a fairly slim page count.
While a number of these Other Curiosities lean toward horror, I really enjoyed the lovely short fiction piece, “The Desk,” revolving around a writer who discovers a trove of manuscripts left behind in his new home by the previous owner. Again, I expected the premise to play out a certain way, but Gunnells shifted into some unexpected territory. This is a credit, also, to the book’s organization. There’s a certain ebb and flow to the narrative beats here, a following of certain thematic arcs, that give the collection a certain rhythm. By the time you’ve settled in and become comfortable with those beats, Gunnells upends it again to deliver some surprises, such as with two pieces of gay erotica horror late in the game. For a collection of otherwise fairly timid stories, encountering these sexually charged piece was a bit surprising! “Tanner” was the better of the two, in my opinion, revolving around a haunted used tanning bed. It’s a fun, silly conceit, but one that’s ripe for horror, along with some other exploits, and Gunnells plays it to the hilt. And, again, once you’ve settled into the shared commonalities of this batch of stories and are primed to expect more similar experiences, Gunnells flips the script again in “The Farm.” Here, a movie fan tours the real-life location of a cult horror movie classic. What starts off as a meet-cute, flirty little story between Becket and Victor charts off into much darker territory that subverts expectations.
Book Haven and Other Curiosities presents a broad range of Gunnells’ talent across multiple genres. Gunnells is a great short story writer, presenting clean, quick cuts that get right to the bone. It’s not easy to craft a story that delivers on both character and plot and still manages to surprise or upend all that came before, but Gunnells is a pro at it. He’s a gifted short story writer, and this collection is excellent showcase of his prowess in the field.
[Note: I received an advance readers copy of this title from the publisher.]
ark Allan Gunnells delivers a solid collection of short stories, poems, and a novella in Book Haven and Other Curiosities.
The titular “Book Haven” kicks things off, and Gunnells delivers a neat little cloak-and-dagger espionage story here. A few hundred years in the future, all literature has been digitized and print books are little more than rare antiquities. A terrorist cyber attack, dubbed The Wipe, destroys the ebook collections of the world, erasing every digital copy of every piece of literature. It falls to a newly created government library service to acquire print editions and rebuild the world’s ebooks...which works out about as well as you'd think. “Book Haven” is a nifty little dystopian work, but mostly it's just a lovely ode to books, which I really dug.
Following “Book Haven,” which comprises very nearly the first half of this collection, are 19 other stories. Given the bulk of stories here, I won’t go into specifics about each of these but the majority of them are all pretty satisfying, quick, punchy reads and Gunnells delivers some interesting twists in a number of them. In fact, he’s really good at setting up a premise that you think is headed one way, and then spins it off into a whole other direction entirely.
For instance, I initially thought “C U Soon” was going to be a pretty light-hearted, comedic affair. The gist of this one involves a teenage couple, one of whom dies in an automobile accident after her partner sends her a dick pic. It’s a wild premise that I thought might have been the set-up for an extended joke (it’s also possible I’m just a sicko), but instead Gunnells plays it seriously and goes for the heart with a story about ghosts and guilt. “C U Soon” packs an emotional wallop in a fairly slim page count.
While a number of these Other Curiosities lean toward horror, I really enjoyed the lovely short fiction piece, “The Desk,” revolving around a writer who discovers a trove of manuscripts left behind in his new home by the previous owner. Again, I expected the premise to play out a certain way, but Gunnells shifted into some unexpected territory. This is a credit, also, to the book’s organization. There’s a certain ebb and flow to the narrative beats here, a following of certain thematic arcs, that give the collection a certain rhythm. By the time you’ve settled in and become comfortable with those beats, Gunnells upends it again to deliver some surprises, such as with two pieces of gay erotica horror late in the game. For a collection of otherwise fairly timid stories, encountering these sexually charged piece was a bit surprising! “Tanner” was the better of the two, in my opinion, revolving around a haunted used tanning bed. It’s a fun, silly conceit, but one that’s ripe for horror, along with some other exploits, and Gunnells plays it to the hilt. And, again, once you’ve settled into the shared commonalities of this batch of stories and are primed to expect more similar experiences, Gunnells flips the script again in “The Farm.” Here, a movie fan tours the real-life location of a cult horror movie classic. What starts off as a meet-cute, flirty little story between Becket and Victor charts off into much darker territory that subverts expectations.
Book Haven and Other Curiosities presents a broad range of Gunnells’ talent across multiple genres. Gunnells is a great short story writer, presenting clean, quick cuts that get right to the bone. It’s not easy to craft a story that delivers on both character and plot and still manages to surprise or upend all that came before, but Gunnells is a pro at it. He’s a gifted short story writer, and this collection is excellent showcase of his prowess in the field.
[Note: I received an advance readers copy of this title from the publisher.]
April 11, 2019
First, as always, I’d like to say thank you to Joe Mynhardt and Crystal Lake Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC of Mark’s forthcoming collection. I always feel honored to be giving the opportunity to do so.
It’s no surprise that I read – a lot – and that the genre I enjoy the most is horror. So, what naturally occurs is that I get asked what the scariest book I’ve ever read is. While most people will assume it is something by Poe, King, or Barker, they are relatively surprised to hear that it’s actually “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. The thought of reading for pleasure being a crime, and books being burned to get rid of them, is the scariest thing I can think of. That is until I read Mark’s novella, “Book Haven” – the first story in this wild collection.
It’s also no secret that I am not a fan, by any means, of eBooks; for a number of reasons. Mark touches on one of the main ones in “Book Haven”. What if something happens, be it an EMP, be it a massive virus, or be it something more sinister, that wipes all the eBooks from existence. Far-fetched? Not really. Think about it. It would be far easier to write a virus to attack a specific file (MOBI or EPUB for example), than it would be to physically destroy all the copies of a specific book; and today, many authors take to eBooks exclusively, opening themselves to their work being lost should something like that occur.
Well, in the novella, “Book Haven”, that’s exactly what happens – all eBooks are lost, and a government agency is created to find physical copies for posterity (those are all but gone as well), or else try to recreate them from spotty memory. Legend tells of a group called Book Haven that has a treasure trove of physical books. What follows is one man’s quest to find this group, and the secrets he learns along the way about the true nature of the book's disappearances.
I don’t say this often, but if ever there was a sequel to “Fahrenheit 451” that rivals the original, Mark’s novella “Book Haven” is it. Truly frightening – enough that I will be buying a physical copy (if available) just so it isn’t lost.
I know I spent a while on the first story in this collection, but it was a fantastic way to start.
Now on to the others.
2) Human Bones in a China Closet – If you are a collector of things, don’t go bragging about it’s worth; you might find out that you have something worth a little more.
3) Welcome Home – If you grew up in a neighborhood like I did, you know there’s that one house that almost blends with its surroundings, and you never see any activity around it. You may have told ghost stories about it with your friends, or dared them to knock. What you didn’t know is that it was something much more sinister. Whatever you do, don’t ever enter it on your own.
4) C U Soon – A PSA about texting while driving. Oh, and maybe about revenge in a very sinister way.
5) End-Of-The-World Benediction – An extremely somber poem about the direction the world is going in, and how we’re just letting it happen.
6) Going to See a Man About a Dog – Growing up (and still) we had a euphemism for going to the bathroom; we’d say, “Going to see a man about a horse.” While that isn’t the context of this story, four-year-old Ethan learns that his junkie father isn’t really getting him a dog, but meets one anyway.
7) The Sandbox – If ever there was a story that should be a Twilight Zone episode, this one is it. Next to Book Haven, this is one of my favorites in the collection. I refuse to say anymore.
8) Wrong – Wow! This one hurt. All parents feel the frustration when their child is acting like Damien from The Omen. We try to stop them from answering back, and/or acting out. But after talking to her boss, Janet realizes there is a way; give them a bath.
9) Evolution – A post-apocalyptic tale of revenge, and friendship.
10) The Bracelet – I don’t know how to sum this one up without giving too much away. Suffice to say, if you use magic to help someone, let them know so they will be more careful.
11) Click Bait – An extremely short story about the dangers of clicking unknown links, or accepting friend requests from attractive people.
12) A Day Like Every Other Day – A painful poem about the drudgery of everyday life. More of a message to live life, change your routine, and go for that brass ring (if you’re under the age of 40, you may have to Google that specific reference).
13) The Man Who Watched the Ocean, or Twelve Steps Down Into the Sea – The title seems longer than the story, but it’s a heartbreaking story about unrequited love, and going after something at all costs.
14) The Desk – Another one of my favorites, and the ending is not at all what I thought it was going to be. Nick, an author with a single hit under his belt, but now suffering from writer’s block, buys a house, and finds fantastic, unpublished, manuscripts in a desk that was left by the previous owner. What would you do in this situation?
15) SPOILER WARNING!
When Gas Was 52 Cents Per Gallon – I am nothing, if not honest, and I will say that this story was disturbing, and many may find it offense. Two friends find themselves stranded at a closed, abandoned, gas station when their car breaks down. Spoiler, because I feel it necessary to provide full disclosure with this one - Brandon, who is a repressed homosexual, is brutally raped (which Mark describes in detail) when going in to find a bathroom. At first, he thinks (hopes) that it is his friend Joe (who is a straight jock), but comes to find it may not have been.
16) The Little Boy Who Lived in the Library – Another “Twilight Zone” style story in which a young boy finally finds a way to escape an abusive household.
17) Waiting For the Fall – A touching story about a stroke victim who finally decides it’s time to enjoy his favorite season; forever.
18) SPOILER WARNING!
Tanner – A story about a tanning-bed getting revenge. Another homo-erotic story that some may find offensive.
19) Go to Sleep Little Baby – An extremely short story about what someone is willing to pay for luxury.
20) The Farm – A man unwittingly purchases a farm that was used in a horror movie. Having to deal with sightseers is a common occurrence, and most want to just take photos; until Becket shows up.
21) The Hidden Cemetery – Beth thinks Billy is taking her to a secret place to “fog up the car windows”. What he has in mind is something a little more apropos when they turn into a hidden, and unknown cemetery.
There you have it, twenty-one stories. All have their merits, some will shock you, some will make your skin crawl, a few will have you hugging your kids, and some (for some) will be too hard to read. Make no mistake, Mark is good at what he does. Horror, by its very definition, is supposed to make you uncomfortable; and Mark knows exactly what buttons to push to provide that effect. If you haven’t read anything by Mark, this would be a good start to give you some insight into his style and mindset; just do so with an open mind. So, sit back, grab yourself a glass of sweet tea (he is from South Carolina, after all), and enjoy the ride. And whatever you do, do not enter the abandoned gas station for a pee-break; use the woods instead – it's a lot safer.
It’s no surprise that I read – a lot – and that the genre I enjoy the most is horror. So, what naturally occurs is that I get asked what the scariest book I’ve ever read is. While most people will assume it is something by Poe, King, or Barker, they are relatively surprised to hear that it’s actually “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. The thought of reading for pleasure being a crime, and books being burned to get rid of them, is the scariest thing I can think of. That is until I read Mark’s novella, “Book Haven” – the first story in this wild collection.
It’s also no secret that I am not a fan, by any means, of eBooks; for a number of reasons. Mark touches on one of the main ones in “Book Haven”. What if something happens, be it an EMP, be it a massive virus, or be it something more sinister, that wipes all the eBooks from existence. Far-fetched? Not really. Think about it. It would be far easier to write a virus to attack a specific file (MOBI or EPUB for example), than it would be to physically destroy all the copies of a specific book; and today, many authors take to eBooks exclusively, opening themselves to their work being lost should something like that occur.
Well, in the novella, “Book Haven”, that’s exactly what happens – all eBooks are lost, and a government agency is created to find physical copies for posterity (those are all but gone as well), or else try to recreate them from spotty memory. Legend tells of a group called Book Haven that has a treasure trove of physical books. What follows is one man’s quest to find this group, and the secrets he learns along the way about the true nature of the book's disappearances.
I don’t say this often, but if ever there was a sequel to “Fahrenheit 451” that rivals the original, Mark’s novella “Book Haven” is it. Truly frightening – enough that I will be buying a physical copy (if available) just so it isn’t lost.
I know I spent a while on the first story in this collection, but it was a fantastic way to start.
Now on to the others.
2) Human Bones in a China Closet – If you are a collector of things, don’t go bragging about it’s worth; you might find out that you have something worth a little more.
3) Welcome Home – If you grew up in a neighborhood like I did, you know there’s that one house that almost blends with its surroundings, and you never see any activity around it. You may have told ghost stories about it with your friends, or dared them to knock. What you didn’t know is that it was something much more sinister. Whatever you do, don’t ever enter it on your own.
4) C U Soon – A PSA about texting while driving. Oh, and maybe about revenge in a very sinister way.
5) End-Of-The-World Benediction – An extremely somber poem about the direction the world is going in, and how we’re just letting it happen.
6) Going to See a Man About a Dog – Growing up (and still) we had a euphemism for going to the bathroom; we’d say, “Going to see a man about a horse.” While that isn’t the context of this story, four-year-old Ethan learns that his junkie father isn’t really getting him a dog, but meets one anyway.
7) The Sandbox – If ever there was a story that should be a Twilight Zone episode, this one is it. Next to Book Haven, this is one of my favorites in the collection. I refuse to say anymore.
8) Wrong – Wow! This one hurt. All parents feel the frustration when their child is acting like Damien from The Omen. We try to stop them from answering back, and/or acting out. But after talking to her boss, Janet realizes there is a way; give them a bath.
9) Evolution – A post-apocalyptic tale of revenge, and friendship.
10) The Bracelet – I don’t know how to sum this one up without giving too much away. Suffice to say, if you use magic to help someone, let them know so they will be more careful.
11) Click Bait – An extremely short story about the dangers of clicking unknown links, or accepting friend requests from attractive people.
12) A Day Like Every Other Day – A painful poem about the drudgery of everyday life. More of a message to live life, change your routine, and go for that brass ring (if you’re under the age of 40, you may have to Google that specific reference).
13) The Man Who Watched the Ocean, or Twelve Steps Down Into the Sea – The title seems longer than the story, but it’s a heartbreaking story about unrequited love, and going after something at all costs.
14) The Desk – Another one of my favorites, and the ending is not at all what I thought it was going to be. Nick, an author with a single hit under his belt, but now suffering from writer’s block, buys a house, and finds fantastic, unpublished, manuscripts in a desk that was left by the previous owner. What would you do in this situation?
15) SPOILER WARNING!
When Gas Was 52 Cents Per Gallon – I am nothing, if not honest, and I will say that this story was disturbing, and many may find it offense. Two friends find themselves stranded at a closed, abandoned, gas station when their car breaks down. Spoiler, because I feel it necessary to provide full disclosure with this one - Brandon, who is a repressed homosexual, is brutally raped (which Mark describes in detail) when going in to find a bathroom. At first, he thinks (hopes) that it is his friend Joe (who is a straight jock), but comes to find it may not have been.
16) The Little Boy Who Lived in the Library – Another “Twilight Zone” style story in which a young boy finally finds a way to escape an abusive household.
17) Waiting For the Fall – A touching story about a stroke victim who finally decides it’s time to enjoy his favorite season; forever.
18) SPOILER WARNING!
Tanner – A story about a tanning-bed getting revenge. Another homo-erotic story that some may find offensive.
19) Go to Sleep Little Baby – An extremely short story about what someone is willing to pay for luxury.
20) The Farm – A man unwittingly purchases a farm that was used in a horror movie. Having to deal with sightseers is a common occurrence, and most want to just take photos; until Becket shows up.
21) The Hidden Cemetery – Beth thinks Billy is taking her to a secret place to “fog up the car windows”. What he has in mind is something a little more apropos when they turn into a hidden, and unknown cemetery.
There you have it, twenty-one stories. All have their merits, some will shock you, some will make your skin crawl, a few will have you hugging your kids, and some (for some) will be too hard to read. Make no mistake, Mark is good at what he does. Horror, by its very definition, is supposed to make you uncomfortable; and Mark knows exactly what buttons to push to provide that effect. If you haven’t read anything by Mark, this would be a good start to give you some insight into his style and mindset; just do so with an open mind. So, sit back, grab yourself a glass of sweet tea (he is from South Carolina, after all), and enjoy the ride. And whatever you do, do not enter the abandoned gas station for a pee-break; use the woods instead – it's a lot safer.
April 26, 2019
Review of BOOK HAVEN
Mark Allan Gunnells has proved to be quite a prolific author, but perhaps more significant is the range of his imagination. This collection ranges from the very sad/scary novella "Book Haven" (which I hope is never predictive) to some terrifying short stories (eliciting from me several "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED" responses). I recommend taking these stories one at a time, reading and receiving. Let them slither their way under your skin; enter your brain; lay their eggs; take over your consciousness.
Mark Allan Gunnells has proved to be quite a prolific author, but perhaps more significant is the range of his imagination. This collection ranges from the very sad/scary novella "Book Haven" (which I hope is never predictive) to some terrifying short stories (eliciting from me several "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED" responses). I recommend taking these stories one at a time, reading and receiving. Let them slither their way under your skin; enter your brain; lay their eggs; take over your consciousness.
April 12, 2019
I was absolutely thrilled and honoured to receive an ARC to read and review, (I think the required blurb here is "I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the publisher.”) So, first of all, a HUGE thank you to Joe Mynhardt, for allowing me an early peek into Book Haven!
This really is a wonderful, eclectic mix of many styles and genres, yet the stories all seem to fit together when you read them as a collection. The first novella is a terrifying concept - at least, for someone who is virtually physically connected to their Kindle like me, it is! - just the thought of all the books in the world in digital format being wiped from existence had me in cold sweats. The idea of there being 'real' print copies of actual books still around somewhere, with the Book Haven collection library being a kind of Eldorado - part fable, part hope, part longing for starved readers -is a wonderful concept. The lengths that had been gone to, just to try to reproduce the lost books, like someone trying to re-write a story from memory, shows how much we need the escapism that reading gives us. And, of course, so much more.
I don't want to give too much away about all superb stories in this collection, as my reviews don't tend towards spoilers, but as ever, Crystal Lake have pulled out all the stops to make sure there is literally something for all tastes here. Some stories really creeped me out, some absolutely terrified me, and one - Waiting For The Fall - actually made me weep. It's one of the most poignant and beautiful stories I have ever read, in any genre, and yet it sits here so perfectly at home with its terrifying companions.
There are so many wonderful stories just waiting to be discovered here, that I didn't want the book to end, I just wanted there to be more...I was literally greedy for another treat, and I am certain that fans of this superb genre will love this collection. Short Story writing needs a very special touch, it needs to engage the reader immediately, compress a whole tale into a smaller space, which, when you actually read it, feels like a complete novel. And, of course, the story has to be amazing enough to carry you away.
Every single one of these stories in the Book Haven collection did that for me. As I say, some literally gave me nightmares (for example, 'Tanned' - I will never use a tanning bed EVER again!) And the "text from beyond the grave" story, 'C U Soon', has a nasty little twist that really stayed stuck in the pit of my stomach...watch out for some of these stories. Not all have been completely trained to be friendly, and they may bite.
This is another fantastic collection, dredged up from the depths of Crystal Lake Publishing, which have so many varying degrees of darkness they should come with health warnings... for example, don't read 'Wrong' just before you get your little one, if you have one, ready for their bedtime bath. I do most of my insomniac reading in the wee small hours, and I literally had to get up at 3am and open a door for a blast of bracing Scottish air to bring me back from the edge of nausea and faintness that threatened to overwhelm me, after I read this one. It worked! But to have to resort to gasping in frosty pre-dawn air as a restorative, might give you some idea of how much this one got to me.
I really don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I thought it only fair to mention there is a potential 'issue' that may mean some readers with less open minds on a specific theme may find offensive - some of the stories have homo-erotica contents. It is just a small 'warning', as it's a shame, in my own opinion, that any prejudice would potentially spoil reading what are extremely well crafted stories, but I appreciate not everyone sees the world as a place of equality, and respect everyone has the right to hold their own opionions. It's just a case of awareness, and maybe knowing beforehand about this will help. I hope so, because all the stories deserve to be read.
Clearly, the work that has gone into this collection is a labour of love, and worth suspending personal prejudice, to get the most out of.
A final note on nightmares...'The Hidden Cemetery' may well give you a few. If it does, you will join me because I have had a recurring horrible dream - dream? Who am I kidding! Nightmare! - about the perils of heading up little-known side lanes to out of the way places. Those local urban legends are around for a reason. Don't risk ignoring them!
This really is a collection you will want to re-read, and this is coming from someone who has read 'Night Shift' (a short story collection by Stephen King) so many times I could probably get a job working to write the stories from memory for the Government, in the sadly deleted world of books which 'Book Haven' is set. I am just kidding of course. That's taking my love of Stephen King's short stories too far, because his genius is beyond compare in this field, mind you...it is getting some very serious competition since I found Crystal Lake Publishing!
And here is another gem to add to the collection that this leading horror Publication imprint is bringing to a whole new generation of fans. Well worth gifting this collection to yourself, or any horror-loving friend! And try to remember...they are 'just ' stories. They aren't real, and even though you may want to sleep with the light on for several weeks after reading them, Book Haven is a really fascinating place to visit.
This really is a wonderful, eclectic mix of many styles and genres, yet the stories all seem to fit together when you read them as a collection. The first novella is a terrifying concept - at least, for someone who is virtually physically connected to their Kindle like me, it is! - just the thought of all the books in the world in digital format being wiped from existence had me in cold sweats. The idea of there being 'real' print copies of actual books still around somewhere, with the Book Haven collection library being a kind of Eldorado - part fable, part hope, part longing for starved readers -is a wonderful concept. The lengths that had been gone to, just to try to reproduce the lost books, like someone trying to re-write a story from memory, shows how much we need the escapism that reading gives us. And, of course, so much more.
I don't want to give too much away about all superb stories in this collection, as my reviews don't tend towards spoilers, but as ever, Crystal Lake have pulled out all the stops to make sure there is literally something for all tastes here. Some stories really creeped me out, some absolutely terrified me, and one - Waiting For The Fall - actually made me weep. It's one of the most poignant and beautiful stories I have ever read, in any genre, and yet it sits here so perfectly at home with its terrifying companions.
There are so many wonderful stories just waiting to be discovered here, that I didn't want the book to end, I just wanted there to be more...I was literally greedy for another treat, and I am certain that fans of this superb genre will love this collection. Short Story writing needs a very special touch, it needs to engage the reader immediately, compress a whole tale into a smaller space, which, when you actually read it, feels like a complete novel. And, of course, the story has to be amazing enough to carry you away.
Every single one of these stories in the Book Haven collection did that for me. As I say, some literally gave me nightmares (for example, 'Tanned' - I will never use a tanning bed EVER again!) And the "text from beyond the grave" story, 'C U Soon', has a nasty little twist that really stayed stuck in the pit of my stomach...watch out for some of these stories. Not all have been completely trained to be friendly, and they may bite.
This is another fantastic collection, dredged up from the depths of Crystal Lake Publishing, which have so many varying degrees of darkness they should come with health warnings... for example, don't read 'Wrong' just before you get your little one, if you have one, ready for their bedtime bath. I do most of my insomniac reading in the wee small hours, and I literally had to get up at 3am and open a door for a blast of bracing Scottish air to bring me back from the edge of nausea and faintness that threatened to overwhelm me, after I read this one. It worked! But to have to resort to gasping in frosty pre-dawn air as a restorative, might give you some idea of how much this one got to me.
I really don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I thought it only fair to mention there is a potential 'issue' that may mean some readers with less open minds on a specific theme may find offensive - some of the stories have homo-erotica contents. It is just a small 'warning', as it's a shame, in my own opinion, that any prejudice would potentially spoil reading what are extremely well crafted stories, but I appreciate not everyone sees the world as a place of equality, and respect everyone has the right to hold their own opionions. It's just a case of awareness, and maybe knowing beforehand about this will help. I hope so, because all the stories deserve to be read.
Clearly, the work that has gone into this collection is a labour of love, and worth suspending personal prejudice, to get the most out of.
A final note on nightmares...'The Hidden Cemetery' may well give you a few. If it does, you will join me because I have had a recurring horrible dream - dream? Who am I kidding! Nightmare! - about the perils of heading up little-known side lanes to out of the way places. Those local urban legends are around for a reason. Don't risk ignoring them!
This really is a collection you will want to re-read, and this is coming from someone who has read 'Night Shift' (a short story collection by Stephen King) so many times I could probably get a job working to write the stories from memory for the Government, in the sadly deleted world of books which 'Book Haven' is set. I am just kidding of course. That's taking my love of Stephen King's short stories too far, because his genius is beyond compare in this field, mind you...it is getting some very serious competition since I found Crystal Lake Publishing!
And here is another gem to add to the collection that this leading horror Publication imprint is bringing to a whole new generation of fans. Well worth gifting this collection to yourself, or any horror-loving friend! And try to remember...they are 'just ' stories. They aren't real, and even though you may want to sleep with the light on for several weeks after reading them, Book Haven is a really fascinating place to visit.
April 17, 2019
Book Haven and Other Curiosities
by Mark Allan Gunnells
Mark Allan Gunnells is one of the best writers out there. I discovered Mark’s work when my friend James Newman recommended WHERE THE DEAD GO TO DIE by Mark and Aaron Dries.
I’ve read quite a few stories by Mark at this point, and he never disappoints. When he was sending out ARCs, I was extremely honored to receive one. Thanks again, Mark, and a huge thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing.
I love short stories, poems, novellas, and collections, so I knew this had to be good. I wasn’t wrong.
Book Haven is the title story. It’s a novella and an interesting read.
It’s a futuristic piece where a virus has wiped out all the books. The search is on for mythical library containing physical books. Any physical books that turn up are locked away like the treasures they are in library vaults. Some jobs require books to be rewritten so they can continue to be enjoyed and not forever lost, but some of the writers are rewriting them the way they want them to be.
Eek!
Human Bones in a China Cabinet is about human bones in a china cabinet. Jesse collects bones as a hobby. They’re human bones, and his friend Mike thinks it’s a bit weird. This story reminds me that people aren’t always who you think they are. So much sadness here.
Welcome Home is a different take on the haunted house story. Evan disappeared when he was kid, but his father never stopped looking for him. He never believed his son just vanished into thin air. I wasn’t expecting this ending. Bittersweet.
CU SOON
Oh, what a haunting tale!
Monica is always on her phone playing games, texting, and keeping up with what’s happening on social media. Texting with her boyfriend, Philip, while driving, she’s killed in the accident. Only Philip feels weird about Monica being buried with the very cell phone that killed her. He’s full of guilt, and when he starts receiving text messages from the grave, he might lose his mind…
End-of-the-world Benediction
This poem left me feeling empty and drained of words. It kind of let the air out of me.
Going to See a Man About a Dog
I’ve heard the expression “going to see a man about a dog” many times in my life, or maybe I heard “going to see a man about a horse” instead. I never really put much thought into what it actually meant or could mean. I always took it to mean someone was going somewhere to do business of some sort, do some trading, or to get away for a bit. Small children take such sayings to heart; they take what we say literally. When four year old Ethan’s stepfather tells him he’s “going to see a man about a dog,” Ethan gets excited. He wants a doggie! What four year old wouldn’t?
All Ethan wants is the doggie Skeeter has mentioned. Skeeter finally agrees to let Ethan go with him, although Ethan can’t understand there wasn’t ever a dog. Skeeter was actually surprised to see a dog tied to the tree when they arrive at his “friend’s” house, and he makes Ethan promise to wait in the truck. Four year olds can only contain their excitement for so long, and Skeeter isn’t in any hurry to return.
There isn’t much that infuriates me more than druggie parents who are too selfish to see past their own “needs” to give their children a decent life. This story gutted me. It infuriated me. It made me sad. This story is the stuff reality is made of, sadly.
Excellent, horrific story.
The Sandbox
Chills. CHILLS! I made a note in my kindle when I finished this story. It simply said, “Chills. CHILLS!” That’s what The Sandbox did to me.
Timothy is a friendless outcast, sitting in a sandbox, playing alone. A seemingly familiar stranger comes over to talk with him. He gives Timothy confidence by sharing positivity and being kind. It’s life-changing. This story is a reminder that no matter how small we think a simple act of kindness is, it can mean the world to someone who hasn’t been shown kindness. A little positivity can go a long way. As I read over this story again to refresh my memory before writing this review, I got chills all over again. There is magic on these pages. Mark Allan Gunnells is a word magician! Wow!! A beautiful, ghostly story.
Wrong
There’s no better title for this story.
Janet finds Carol crying in the copier room. Carol’s son has been accused of a heinous crime. She wishes she could’ve been a better parent. No matter what she did, she couldn’t seem to get through to her son, Jimmy.
They have a heart-to-heart talk about parenting. When Janet walks into her home that evening to hear her own son and husband yelling, she takes the advice Carol gave her, even if it is wrong.
Evolution
A post-apocalyptic story of lost love, unlikely friendship, and revenge.
After a plague wipes out most of the population, Lowell and his boyfriend, Rick, are attacked by some barbaric morons. Dru, almost too cold and distant to call a friend, saves Lowell from the gang. As he heals physically, his emotional pain increases along with his thirst for revenge.
The Bracelet
What if a material object, and maybe a little magic, could really take away something bad, heal, or cure? Take care with those little trinkets and tokens of love, they could really be more a token of love than you know!
Click Bait
Ping! After reading this short story, you might be a bit more selective of the people you accept as friends on social media sites. Beware of the smoking hot babe requests! Some things are exactly what they seem…
A Day Like Every Other Day
A poem about the monotony of life and how doing the same thing, or a slight variation of the same things, every single day can wear on a person. Change up your routine. Try something new. Do something different. Say yes more often. Break out of the cycle. “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow your credit card may run out,” so to speak.
The Man Who Watched the Ocean, or Twelve Steps Down Into the Sea
This short story packs a punch. It’s filled with sadness but also, in a way, a relief.
Mourning the loss of love from the past, Isaac comes to the lighthouse every couple weeks to watch the ocean. On this particularly cold and rainy autumn day, he decides he’s not to visit the lighthouse anymore.
The Desk
This story was completely unpredictable for me.
Nick Henson has moved into an old house that needs upgraded a bit. The previous owner had died a year ago. Nick has writer’s block and deadline, but he’s been getting the house cleaned and fixed up instead, doing anything to avoid writing. When he finds something the previous owner has left behind, he could easily use it to his advantage. No one would ever know. Could this solve his problems and help him meet his deadline?
When Gas Was 52 Cents Per Gallon
It’s hard to write a mini review on this without getting into spoiler territory. Brandon has had a massive crush on his roommate for months. When their car breaks down at a deserted gas station, Brandon risks entering the abandoned building to use the bathroom. What waits for him inside? Is this what he’s been looking forward to, or is it a nightmare?
This isn’t one I’ll soon forget.
The Little Boy Who Lived in the Library
When I’ve gone through rough times, my best escape has always been reading. Music helps some, but my mind tends to wander too much. Reading takes more focus, so I’m able to escape reality and live in another world even if for only a little while. It’s good to see Paul is able to use the library to escape his reality.
Waiting for the Fall
After Darrell’s stroke last winter, he has proved everyone, including his doctors, wrong. They’d expected him to live no longer than a few weeks, but here he was, sitting in a rocking chair on the porch eight months later. His daughters seem to think he’s waiting for something, possibly their brother, his estranged son, Philip. He’s unable to communicate and feels useless. He’s just sitting her waiting, “waiting for the fall.”
Tanner
An erotic yet horrific tale about a man purchasing a used tanning bed.
Matthew’s lover doesn’t like the tanning bed from day one, and he’s constantly badgering him to get rid of it. Things tend to heat up in more ways than one inside the machine, and Matthew is rather enjoying his tanning sessions. Wes’s dislike and possibly even jealousy of “Tanner” is mutual. If the warnings you’ve heard about tanning beds aren’t enough to deter you, this story might make you change your mind.
Go to Sleepy Little Baby
A man and woman are living a luxurious lifestyle. What they sacrifice for the luxury is unfathomable. Is a life of luxury really a life at all? Is it really synonymous with happiness?
The Farm
Victor has bought a farm that was the scene of a horror movie. He gets a few unwanted visitors every month. He’s considering fencing his property to keep sightseers away, but things change once Becket, a “Farm” freak, as Victor calls him, arrives.
The Hidden Cemetery
Billy is driving Beth down a rarely used road that leads to The Limestone Cemetery which is not a well known place around town. She is hoping to smoke some weed and hop into the backseat, but Billy has plans for a whole lot more fun…
In a nutshell: hoard all the books, don’t trust anyone, never give up, don’t take someone else’s advice to heart, seek revenge if you must, take care with the simple gestures, do a background check on anyone before allowing them on your social media sites, break out of the monotony of every day life, be persistent, do the right thing, don’t wander off in deserted places, read to escape reality, be patient, heed tanning bed warnings, don’t believe a life of luxury is all it’s cracked up to be, don’t trust anyone, and don’t trust anyone.
This collection delivers everything; warmth and hope, anger and sadness, paranoia, fear, everything.
Five out of five stars.
by Mark Allan Gunnells
Mark Allan Gunnells is one of the best writers out there. I discovered Mark’s work when my friend James Newman recommended WHERE THE DEAD GO TO DIE by Mark and Aaron Dries.
I’ve read quite a few stories by Mark at this point, and he never disappoints. When he was sending out ARCs, I was extremely honored to receive one. Thanks again, Mark, and a huge thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing.
I love short stories, poems, novellas, and collections, so I knew this had to be good. I wasn’t wrong.
Book Haven is the title story. It’s a novella and an interesting read.
It’s a futuristic piece where a virus has wiped out all the books. The search is on for mythical library containing physical books. Any physical books that turn up are locked away like the treasures they are in library vaults. Some jobs require books to be rewritten so they can continue to be enjoyed and not forever lost, but some of the writers are rewriting them the way they want them to be.
Eek!
Human Bones in a China Cabinet is about human bones in a china cabinet. Jesse collects bones as a hobby. They’re human bones, and his friend Mike thinks it’s a bit weird. This story reminds me that people aren’t always who you think they are. So much sadness here.
Welcome Home is a different take on the haunted house story. Evan disappeared when he was kid, but his father never stopped looking for him. He never believed his son just vanished into thin air. I wasn’t expecting this ending. Bittersweet.
CU SOON
Oh, what a haunting tale!
Monica is always on her phone playing games, texting, and keeping up with what’s happening on social media. Texting with her boyfriend, Philip, while driving, she’s killed in the accident. Only Philip feels weird about Monica being buried with the very cell phone that killed her. He’s full of guilt, and when he starts receiving text messages from the grave, he might lose his mind…
End-of-the-world Benediction
This poem left me feeling empty and drained of words. It kind of let the air out of me.
Going to See a Man About a Dog
I’ve heard the expression “going to see a man about a dog” many times in my life, or maybe I heard “going to see a man about a horse” instead. I never really put much thought into what it actually meant or could mean. I always took it to mean someone was going somewhere to do business of some sort, do some trading, or to get away for a bit. Small children take such sayings to heart; they take what we say literally. When four year old Ethan’s stepfather tells him he’s “going to see a man about a dog,” Ethan gets excited. He wants a doggie! What four year old wouldn’t?
All Ethan wants is the doggie Skeeter has mentioned. Skeeter finally agrees to let Ethan go with him, although Ethan can’t understand there wasn’t ever a dog. Skeeter was actually surprised to see a dog tied to the tree when they arrive at his “friend’s” house, and he makes Ethan promise to wait in the truck. Four year olds can only contain their excitement for so long, and Skeeter isn’t in any hurry to return.
There isn’t much that infuriates me more than druggie parents who are too selfish to see past their own “needs” to give their children a decent life. This story gutted me. It infuriated me. It made me sad. This story is the stuff reality is made of, sadly.
Excellent, horrific story.
The Sandbox
Chills. CHILLS! I made a note in my kindle when I finished this story. It simply said, “Chills. CHILLS!” That’s what The Sandbox did to me.
Timothy is a friendless outcast, sitting in a sandbox, playing alone. A seemingly familiar stranger comes over to talk with him. He gives Timothy confidence by sharing positivity and being kind. It’s life-changing. This story is a reminder that no matter how small we think a simple act of kindness is, it can mean the world to someone who hasn’t been shown kindness. A little positivity can go a long way. As I read over this story again to refresh my memory before writing this review, I got chills all over again. There is magic on these pages. Mark Allan Gunnells is a word magician! Wow!! A beautiful, ghostly story.
Wrong
There’s no better title for this story.
Janet finds Carol crying in the copier room. Carol’s son has been accused of a heinous crime. She wishes she could’ve been a better parent. No matter what she did, she couldn’t seem to get through to her son, Jimmy.
They have a heart-to-heart talk about parenting. When Janet walks into her home that evening to hear her own son and husband yelling, she takes the advice Carol gave her, even if it is wrong.
Evolution
A post-apocalyptic story of lost love, unlikely friendship, and revenge.
After a plague wipes out most of the population, Lowell and his boyfriend, Rick, are attacked by some barbaric morons. Dru, almost too cold and distant to call a friend, saves Lowell from the gang. As he heals physically, his emotional pain increases along with his thirst for revenge.
The Bracelet
What if a material object, and maybe a little magic, could really take away something bad, heal, or cure? Take care with those little trinkets and tokens of love, they could really be more a token of love than you know!
Click Bait
Ping! After reading this short story, you might be a bit more selective of the people you accept as friends on social media sites. Beware of the smoking hot babe requests! Some things are exactly what they seem…
A Day Like Every Other Day
A poem about the monotony of life and how doing the same thing, or a slight variation of the same things, every single day can wear on a person. Change up your routine. Try something new. Do something different. Say yes more often. Break out of the cycle. “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow your credit card may run out,” so to speak.
The Man Who Watched the Ocean, or Twelve Steps Down Into the Sea
This short story packs a punch. It’s filled with sadness but also, in a way, a relief.
Mourning the loss of love from the past, Isaac comes to the lighthouse every couple weeks to watch the ocean. On this particularly cold and rainy autumn day, he decides he’s not to visit the lighthouse anymore.
The Desk
This story was completely unpredictable for me.
Nick Henson has moved into an old house that needs upgraded a bit. The previous owner had died a year ago. Nick has writer’s block and deadline, but he’s been getting the house cleaned and fixed up instead, doing anything to avoid writing. When he finds something the previous owner has left behind, he could easily use it to his advantage. No one would ever know. Could this solve his problems and help him meet his deadline?
When Gas Was 52 Cents Per Gallon
It’s hard to write a mini review on this without getting into spoiler territory. Brandon has had a massive crush on his roommate for months. When their car breaks down at a deserted gas station, Brandon risks entering the abandoned building to use the bathroom. What waits for him inside? Is this what he’s been looking forward to, or is it a nightmare?
This isn’t one I’ll soon forget.
The Little Boy Who Lived in the Library
When I’ve gone through rough times, my best escape has always been reading. Music helps some, but my mind tends to wander too much. Reading takes more focus, so I’m able to escape reality and live in another world even if for only a little while. It’s good to see Paul is able to use the library to escape his reality.
Waiting for the Fall
After Darrell’s stroke last winter, he has proved everyone, including his doctors, wrong. They’d expected him to live no longer than a few weeks, but here he was, sitting in a rocking chair on the porch eight months later. His daughters seem to think he’s waiting for something, possibly their brother, his estranged son, Philip. He’s unable to communicate and feels useless. He’s just sitting her waiting, “waiting for the fall.”
Tanner
An erotic yet horrific tale about a man purchasing a used tanning bed.
Matthew’s lover doesn’t like the tanning bed from day one, and he’s constantly badgering him to get rid of it. Things tend to heat up in more ways than one inside the machine, and Matthew is rather enjoying his tanning sessions. Wes’s dislike and possibly even jealousy of “Tanner” is mutual. If the warnings you’ve heard about tanning beds aren’t enough to deter you, this story might make you change your mind.
Go to Sleepy Little Baby
A man and woman are living a luxurious lifestyle. What they sacrifice for the luxury is unfathomable. Is a life of luxury really a life at all? Is it really synonymous with happiness?
The Farm
Victor has bought a farm that was the scene of a horror movie. He gets a few unwanted visitors every month. He’s considering fencing his property to keep sightseers away, but things change once Becket, a “Farm” freak, as Victor calls him, arrives.
The Hidden Cemetery
Billy is driving Beth down a rarely used road that leads to The Limestone Cemetery which is not a well known place around town. She is hoping to smoke some weed and hop into the backseat, but Billy has plans for a whole lot more fun…
In a nutshell: hoard all the books, don’t trust anyone, never give up, don’t take someone else’s advice to heart, seek revenge if you must, take care with the simple gestures, do a background check on anyone before allowing them on your social media sites, break out of the monotony of every day life, be persistent, do the right thing, don’t wander off in deserted places, read to escape reality, be patient, heed tanning bed warnings, don’t believe a life of luxury is all it’s cracked up to be, don’t trust anyone, and don’t trust anyone.
This collection delivers everything; warmth and hope, anger and sadness, paranoia, fear, everything.
Five out of five stars.
April 30, 2019
I was provided an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Since the author started off with the book's namesake, so will I. Book Haven, a novelette for the first half of the book was a well done, futuristic and unique story. Print, real, physical books have long ago been lost and replaced with ebooks on a server. After 'The Wipe' when all the books are erased, gov't agents begin the arduous job of finding lost copies to upload onto the server. If they can't be found, some employees upload by memory or rewrite the story completely. Rogue agents, greed, backstabbing, a mysterious missing agent and the hunt for the elusive and possible mythical Book Haven (where print copies of all books may be stored) all make this a thrilling page turner to the end.
Human Bones in a China Cabinet, Wrong, CU Soon, The Farm and Hidden Cemetery were what I consider good old-fashioned horror stories. Scary, creepy, and spot on.
The other stories weren't what I consider horror. They were curious, odd, peculiar and thought-provoking. A fitting tribute to one of my favorite shows as a kid, The Twilight Zone (which the author mentions in his bio), and I enjoyed them.
I should mention there are two 'adult' stories, Tanner and When Gas was 52 cents. I liked them, but if you're not a fan of erotica, you may not.
Usually in anthologies there's bound to be a story or two that a reader doesn't click with. That honestly wasn't the case here. Simply put, they were all good stories and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read Book Haven. I'll definitely check out other works by Mark Allan Gunnells.
Since the author started off with the book's namesake, so will I. Book Haven, a novelette for the first half of the book was a well done, futuristic and unique story. Print, real, physical books have long ago been lost and replaced with ebooks on a server. After 'The Wipe' when all the books are erased, gov't agents begin the arduous job of finding lost copies to upload onto the server. If they can't be found, some employees upload by memory or rewrite the story completely. Rogue agents, greed, backstabbing, a mysterious missing agent and the hunt for the elusive and possible mythical Book Haven (where print copies of all books may be stored) all make this a thrilling page turner to the end.
Human Bones in a China Cabinet, Wrong, CU Soon, The Farm and Hidden Cemetery were what I consider good old-fashioned horror stories. Scary, creepy, and spot on.
The other stories weren't what I consider horror. They were curious, odd, peculiar and thought-provoking. A fitting tribute to one of my favorite shows as a kid, The Twilight Zone (which the author mentions in his bio), and I enjoyed them.
I should mention there are two 'adult' stories, Tanner and When Gas was 52 cents. I liked them, but if you're not a fan of erotica, you may not.
Usually in anthologies there's bound to be a story or two that a reader doesn't click with. That honestly wasn't the case here. Simply put, they were all good stories and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read Book Haven. I'll definitely check out other works by Mark Allan Gunnells.
September 23, 2021
Good collection
I previously enjoyed Where the dead go to die by this author and Aaron Dries and so I though I would give this collection a go. These are good stories and my favourites were C U Soon and The Desk.
There are 2 tales which contain quite graphic material and this may put some readers off but this is not a complaint, merely an observation. All in all I enjoyed this collection.
I previously enjoyed Where the dead go to die by this author and Aaron Dries and so I though I would give this collection a go. These are good stories and my favourites were C U Soon and The Desk.
There are 2 tales which contain quite graphic material and this may put some readers off but this is not a complaint, merely an observation. All in all I enjoyed this collection.
August 29, 2022
Book Haven is an incredible collection full of beautiful tales, magical stories, and scary pieces that make for an incredible and memorable experience. The titular novella is full of twists and a rich story that sounds terrifying when you consider it could happen, with realistic characters and a great ending. The short stories are fantastic. Some of them made me smile, others were scary, and some made me have to stop and reflect on what I read, but all of them were amazing. It's really good!
December 27, 2019
Curiosities, yes
The titular novella was pretty well done, but certainly not horror or even very suspenseful --that coming from a lit major who despises revisionist fiction. The rest of the vignettes are just snapshots. Most of them are too short to contain any kind of narrative and rely on a certain gore factor to evoke a response from the reader.
The titular novella was pretty well done, but certainly not horror or even very suspenseful --that coming from a lit major who despises revisionist fiction. The rest of the vignettes are just snapshots. Most of them are too short to contain any kind of narrative and rely on a certain gore factor to evoke a response from the reader.
April 23, 2019
Very well out together book of short stories with a great theme. I enjoyed it.
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