October 2015 - Spooky Setting / Atmosphere

[Camilla]

Sarah wrote: "@Camilla - what kind of monsters were involved? Did the usual vampires and werewolves show up or were these completely different?"

There was quite a variety. Yes, I remember one story with a vampire and one with a werewolf, but they were a bit different from the usual vamp or werewolf story. There was also a Godzilla (that story was actually sort of funny), mermaids, strange "thin people", weird things that lived underground etc.

[Tasha]

I read The Night Sister which was set in a creepy abandoned motel. It was a really great setting for a book and I just loved how the setting played such a large part of the story. It was good and creepy. I am not a big fan of the ending though (view spoiler)[as it turns out some of the characters were shapeshifters which is a bit too fantasy for my tastes (hide spoiler)] but overall it was a good, spooky read. Perfect for this time of year.

[Lanelle]

I read Castle of Secrets by Amanda Grange.

The setting was typical for a regency gothic type story - the moors of England, wintertime (lots of rain), an isolated castle, a stern and troubled Lord, a creepy lady, secret passages, crying in the cemetery, and a missing relative.

I enjoyed reading the story, but there was nothing special to it.

[Lisa]

I have just finished Naomi's Room which has got to be one of the most frustrating books I have read for a while. It was my first book by Jonathan Aycliffe and I loved it up until about 90% of the way through. It starts off as a classic ghost story (and a genuinely creepy one at that) before shifting into territory that wouldn't be out of place in a horror/slasher film. The change in direction was quite unexpected and a lot of the stuff that happened later on was pretty dark and disturbing but I was still really enjoying it and was all set to rate it 5 stars. However, it fell apart somewhat in the last few chapters. I felt there were too many questions that went unanswered and the ending itself felt rushed and unsatisfying. In the end I gave it 3 stars but my actual rating is 3.5. I really enjoyed most of it, it's just a shame about the closing chapters. I will still be checking out some more of Aycliffe's other works though as I really enjoyed his writing style and he certainly knows how to send shivers down your spine. This book had me throughly creeped out at times for a number of different reasons!

[Sarah]

That is a shame Lisa but it's good that it hasn't put you off reading more from the author especially as he has a good writing style. Do you think it was left open for a sequel?!

[Lisa]

Sarah wrote: "Do you think it was left open for a sequel?!"

Hmm, not sure Sarah. I didn't really get the impression that the author was deliberately leaving things open for a sequel but I do think he had room to write one if he wanted to if that makes sense? It probably would have featured different characters with one or two characters from this putting in an appearance.

I'm actually about to start another of Aycliffe's books, Whispers in the Dark, which sounds like it will be more of a gothic horror story.

[Cherie]

Camilla wrote: "LOL, I think the cover was the scariest part of the whole book! I have to admit I found it a bit repulsive, so I usually turned it upside down on my bedside table..."

You might think about making a book cover from a brown paper bag and replacing the dust jacket or original cover on your next book, when you are disturbed by the original cover. I have done it in the past.

[Joan]

Cherie wrote: "Camilla wrote: "LOL, I think the cover was the scariest part of the whole book! I have to admit I found it a bit repulsive, so I usually turned it upside down on my bedside table..."

You might thi..."
remember being told "Don't judge a book by its cover"

[Cherie]

I agree Joan, but I never would have managed to read Like Water for Elephants (sorry I cannot link it for you) without the brown paper cover. Something in me just rebelled when I looked at the picture. I just could not go inside that tent, even after everyone told me that it was a great story. Anyway, I did read it, and it was! ^_^

[Camilla]

What did you have against that poor circus tent, Cherie?

[Lynda]

Well, this is an area where eBooks will win out, as I almost never see the cover of the book when I'm reading it!

[Tasha]

Ah, good idea. I never thought of it. I would have liked a brown paper bag cover for this one:


but now there is another cover I can choose from.

[Camilla]

Tasha wrote: "Ah, good idea. I never thought of it. I would have liked a brown paper bag cover for this one:

but now there is another cover I can choose from."

LOL, he looks like he suffers from a severe headache!

[Sarah]

@Camilla - sounds like there was a good variety of monsters then.

@Cherie - I remember your brown paper bag for Water for Elephants. The girl on the front of my copy of The Passage is pretty spooky. She keeps looking at me.

@Lisa - yes I see what you mean. I hope you enjoy the next one you are reading of his.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Tasha & Camilla - I won't even consider reading that book because of the cover! It looks like he wants to bust out crying and reminds me of a preschooler pitching a fit. It's awful. I think I would be depressed every time I looked at it.

[Cherie]

Hahaha, Sarah! My ebook cover of The Passage has trees on it.

The picture of the guy on A Little Life is just painful and turns me away from wanting to read it.

Joan - The dark inside the tent flap just did not look inviting to me. The whole cover on my copy (bought used) just felt old and creepy.

[Sarah]

This is cover for mine .

[Cherie]

Yeah, Sarah - I agree. If that one were mine, it would have a brown paper cover on it. ^_^