Julia Bartz's debut novel may be a page-turning thriller at heart, but as a writer I found parts of THE WRITING RETREAT to be very relatable slices ofJulia Bartz's debut novel may be a page-turning thriller at heart, but as a writer I found parts of THE WRITING RETREAT to be very relatable slices of life, particularly when it comes to aspects of the writing life like writer's block, trying to hit your daily word count, and the urgent, frustrating, all-consuming desire to be published. I loved all the bits about the art and craft of writing, and I found the characters to be interesting, compelling, and memorable. Alex, our protagonist, is deeply flawed, but her flaws are very human, which makes her all the more engaging and relatable, even when she makes decisions in the course of the story that might have you shouting out loud at the book as I did (much to the consternation of my fellow subway riders).
The characters and the exploration/deconstruction of being a writer are what kept me reading, but when one character goes missing during a blizzard, I was intrigued and totally swept up in the story, desperate to find out what was going to happen next. I see from some of the other reviews of THE WRITING RETREAT that the reveal wasn't to everybody's liking -- I can understand that, and to a certain extent I agree -- but it didn't temper my overall enjoyment of the novel.
If you're a writer, I think you'll get an extra kick out of reading THE WRITING RETREAT, but even if you're not, I think this is a compelling, intriguing thriller that will satisfy fans of the genre....more
Many mysteries await Ned Constantine and his family as they start a new life in the small farming town of Cornwall Coombe, in Thomas Tryon's follow-upMany mysteries await Ned Constantine and his family as they start a new life in the small farming town of Cornwall Coombe, in Thomas Tryon's follow-up to his excellent debut THE OTHER. Who was Grace Everdeen and why is she buried outside the town cemetery? Is there any truth to the rumor that there's a ghost in the woods? Who's leaving strange little corn dolls in people's fields? And perhaps most importantly, why is everyone so worked up about Harvest Home, the last day of Cornwall Coombe's corn harvest?
It's a long road to get to the revelations--this isn't a short novel, and it's not always a page-turner--but it's worth the trip. Mystery after mystery is set up and solved in a satisfying, and at times terrifying, manner. Though this may sound like a mystery novel (and indeed it shares the structure of one), the mind-blowing finale drives home exactly why HARVEST HOME is considered a horror novel--and one of the finest of the 1970s, at that.
Interestingly, HARVEST HOME came out the same year as Robin Hardy's classic film THE WICKER MAN, with which it shares some traits, and four years before Stephen King published his famous story "Children of the Corn," which this reader can't help but assume was strongly influenced by HARVEST HOME. (I can see its clear influence on Ari Aster's 2019 film MIDSOMMAR as well.)
Tryon's accomplished prose and knack for vivid description are carried over from THE OTHER into this bigger, more complex novel featuring a larger cast of characters. If you can handle HARVEST HOME's languorous pace and extensive page count, I highly recommend taking the journey....more
A great conclusion to one of the most interesting and exciting original comics series in recent years! Kieron Gillen's writing is so literate and creaA great conclusion to one of the most interesting and exciting original comics series in recent years! Kieron Gillen's writing is so literate and creative, and his characters so well drawn, that between this and DIE, he's quickly become one of my favorite comic book writers. Dan Mora's gothic and occasionally gruesome art continues to shine in this volume. A wonderful story brought to a satisfying conclusion--who could ask for anything more, except perhaps some further adventures in the years to come?...more
I rented the movie adaptation of THE OTHER back in the 1990s and found it so powerful it stayed with me ever since, which made it interesting to read I rented the movie adaptation of THE OTHER back in the 1990s and found it so powerful it stayed with me ever since, which made it interesting to read the novel already knowing its big secret. This allowed me to see the tricks Tryon uses to pull it off, while at the same time enjoying the story all over again.
The novel is spectacular. Tryon's prose is exceptional, as is his ability to immerse the reader in the lives of young Niles, his twin Holland, their seemingly cursed family, which has been plagued by tragedy for years, and the nosy, suspicious, and dimwitted townspeople around them. The structure is truly extraordinary, its plentiful twists and surprises doled out with an expert's hand. It's hard to believe this is a first novel.
Modern readers used to today's fast-paced thrillers might find the languid pace of THE OTHER off-putting, but the novel rewards your attention and perseverance. The ending is powerful and perfect. Those last four pages...holy moly!
I'd been meaning to read THE OTHER for ages and I'm so glad I finally did! I can see why it was such a blockbuster bestseller back in the day ("Six Months on The New York Times Best Seller List," screams the cover of my Fawcett paperback) and such an influential work of horror that it, along with ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE EXORCIST, kickstarted the genre as we know it today.
If you haven't read THE OTHER, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It has become one of my favorite novels....more
This quick, interesting sidebar to the main plot line of SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN follows Maxine Slaughter as she is presented with the opporThis quick, interesting sidebar to the main plot line of SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN follows Maxine Slaughter as she is presented with the opportunity to switch from being a White Mask to a Black Mask. There's not much action here; the story's bigger purpose is to allow readers into the pages of the Book of Slaughter, the secret book of the House of Slaughter that explains all the rites, hierarchy, and iconography of the Order of St. George. I think much of it readers were already able to figure out on their own from context, but it's still nice to see it all clearly laid out.
I heard this is a one-shot, rather than the start of a new spinoff series, but regardless, I suspect we haven't seen the last of Maxine Slaughter in the KILLING universe.
P.S. I read this in paperback, but Goodreads only currently lists the Kindle edition, for some reason....more
Another great volume in this continually excellent series! Volume 5 starts an all-new story, with the additions of Gabi, Riqui, and Carter, all great Another great volume in this continually excellent series! Volume 5 starts an all-new story, with the additions of Gabi, Riqui, and Carter, all great characters, but Erica's choices from the previous volumes are catching up with her. The new monster is terrifying, and so is Cutter, a psychopathic member of the Order of St. George who intends to punish Erica for abandoning the House of Slaughter. I can't wait to see where the story goes next!...more
The famous detective from Baker Street investigates the murder of a member of the royal family only to find the corpse isn't human in this graphic adaThe famous detective from Baker Street investigates the murder of a member of the royal family only to find the corpse isn't human in this graphic adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 2003 short story of the same name. A fun, fast-paced adventure filled with Easter eggs and homages, A STUDY IN EMERALD is Gaiman at his most cleverly playful, with an intriguing twist at the end. Rafael Albuquerque's art perfectly matches the story's tone. A fun little gem!...more
Written in the guise of a business how-to, THE WORLD'S WORST ASSISTANT is a very funny and surprisingly earnest memoir of Sona Movsesian's ongoing carWritten in the guise of a business how-to, THE WORLD'S WORST ASSISTANT is a very funny and surprisingly earnest memoir of Sona Movsesian's ongoing career as Conan O'Brien's assistant. Fans will know Sona well from filmed bits on Conan's TBS show and as an important part of Conan's podcast. She's smart, she's funny, she takes no shit, and her sharp comedic chemistry with Conan practically elevates her to celebrity status herself.
Don't read it looking for a tell-all on Conan O'Brien. He and Sona are tight (even if they bicker constantly). There's no dish here. But you should read it for a fun and sometimes embarrassing glimpse behind the scenes of Sona's job and her life. Also, Conan comes off as a pretty great guy, which is refreshing to hear about a celebrity.
THE WORLD'S WORST ASSISTANT is fun, charming, and well written. Sona's voice and sense of humor come through loud and clear. (Conan would say, "Emphasis on the loud.") I really enjoyed it. It's a fast, breezy read that will leave you smiling and, if you're anything like me, racing to YouTube to watch Sona and Conan's clips....more
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