M’s Comments (group member since May 31, 2022)

M’s comments from the 2025 Reading Challenge group.

I just finished the 10th story, "Before I Go" by Norris Black and overall I'd say that I'm enjoying this.
I found Before I Go to be really creepy even though it was a story I've heard before in many variations.

Reading a story or two in between other books is a nice like palate cleanser!

Snakes Are Born in The Dark by D.H. Trujillo was not my cup of tea. But also yeah - see that's why you don't disrespect the ancient ancestors bro! Gross.

I'd like to nominate The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Connection in the title

Finished this today and feeling mighty accomplished!
This has been on my shelf for years and what a feeling to have actually read this.
Is this Kings best? I don't think so but I really enjoyed it anyway.
The relationship between Jake and Sadie never felt fully authentic to me so I wasn't as emotionally connected to the story as I would have liked.
But once you jump in it's hard to put this down - unless of course you're reading the 4lb paperback like I was.

Aaand Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau was exactly the kind of story I wanted when I picked this up. 5 stars. Easy.

I just finished reading Quantum by Nick Medina and it's my favorite so far. Definitely felt the darkness increase with these last 2 stories.

Finished!
While I did not love this, I understand why so many do. I can see why this is so popular. There's some really beautiful writing here.
I just couldn't connect emotionally to anyone and nothing was surprising :(
Glad to see others enjoyed it though and to finally check it off my list!

I am an absolute sucker for any and all things Peter Pan related. I'm excited to read this one as it's been on my shelf for years!

I'm still reading Demon Copperhead and 11/22/63 so I won't be fully immersed into this until July but I read the first 3 stories over the last 2 days and this is very different than anything I've read recently.
It almost reminded me of an adult version of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Nothing truly terrifying yet but I can sense the potential :)

I'd like to suggest The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara for August or September

Jen wrote: "Aren't the swing dancing kids from IT?

I'm now up around page 400 and it still feels like very little has happened. It's a pretty good book, but it would be great if it was chopped in half. Or if..."

Yep - lots of references to IT in the beginning.

I liked the time we spent with him teaching! :) The play had me all misty eyed throughout.
I do think we could do without the Sadie storyline as I'm about 65% through and they do nothing for me so far. So for me, that's a lot of writing that I don't think is doing this story any favors.

Ciara wrote: "I've been readding Stephen King off & on for 40 years (since I was 5--my first of his books was Pet Sematary, & I really don't know how much I understood as a 5-year-old"

Five years old and reading Pet Semetary?!

I'm almost half way (Chapter 31) and I've not yet connected with Demon but I'm not so bored that I want to stop reading this.
Regardless though, I'm glad this was a suggested buddy read and that I'll soon be able to check this off my list.
Hoping to find more to love by the end.

I'm a little stalled at chapter 19 - I'm not sure I love this narration/writing style at the moment (fresh from finishing a fantasy read) but I'm curious about Demon and I want to keep going. Something good has to happen for this kid right?!
Think I'mma do a little palate cleanse with some Stephen King and come back to this in a few days :)

Lisa wrote: "I won't be joining this discussion this month, but out of curiosity, are any of you reading an e-book version of this book?
I ask because I was trying to get it for my Kindle and cannot for the li..."

Have you tried the Libby app? I borrow all my kindle reads from there :)

Aw no worries, I know how that goes!

Oh heck yes - see - now I know picking up the whole trilogy was a good idea, haha.

It's about 11pm where I live and while I have to be at work at 8am, I just finished another read and I reeeallly wanna jump into this one right now, haha.
Who needs sleep right?! Just a few chapters.... :))

Finished this today!
This was the perfect pick me up after I didn't really connect with my last read and a nice step back from the really dark violent world that was Before They Are Hanged (which was fantastic btw).
This was entertaining (though it got a little repetitive mid way) and an easy read to jump in and out of.

I've read in a few reviews that this was similar to The City of Brass (also reading that CoB is better?!) aaannd funny enough - I just scored all three books from that trilogy at my local used bookstore today so that's exciting :)

If you get a chance to read it this month, I hope you enjoy it too!

Sweet! Thanks SarahKat! :)

I'd like to suggest The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed and Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton for August or Sept

I'm a little over halfway now and I think I may finish this over the weekend.
Very easy to get absorbed by this one! I'm enjoying the atmosphere, characters and since this is a familiar story, I feel like I'm flying through it which is fun and satisfying :)