What Have You Read - 2020

[Randy]

So far I'm enjoying the snark since a lot of the titles appear to have earned it. I would like a more thoughtful survey of the better works of the era and authors like Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Tessier and Lisa Tuttle (that last is from reputation; still haven't read a novel by her). Some of the authors and some of the books have received more insightful commentary, but a broad view discussing what was good and still holds up would be appreciated.

[Christopher]

A good example of what I mean, Randy, is his total snarky dismissal of J.N. Williamson, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the HWA and author of at least one novel which deserves to be called a classic—Don't Take Away the Light. I would never deny that he wrote lots of poor novels, but in any fair world we’re judged by our best efforts, not our worst. Hendrix is too busy gleefully spinning his sarcasms to consider that.

I did enjoy Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction, though. Lots of fun, and great images. I remember seeing a lot of those book covers in stores in the 1980s.

[Marie]

I just finished this book which was freaking awesome!

Voodoo Heart by John Everson - 5 star read!
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also finished this book over the weekend:

Mary by Amy Cross - 4 star read.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Erin]

Reconstructing Amelia


I thought it was pretty good.

[Rachel]

[Char]

WendyB wrote: "Bad Men

Amazingly good.
I don't think John Connolly could write a bad book if he tried."

I don't think so either!

[Char]

Randy wrote: "So far I'm enjoying the snark since a lot of the titles appear to have earned it. I would like a more thoughtful survey of the better works of the era and authors like Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Tessi..."

Grady co-wrote that with Will Erickson and his blog might have further analysis on certain books. Here's a link to his site:
http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot....

[Randy]

Thanks, Char. Hendrix also has a website that I think offers some more in-depth commentary (with a ready supply of snark, as well). Grady Hendrix offers an especially good discussion of Stephen King's It.

[Erin]

The Book Thief

[Andrew✌️]

Yesterday I finished The Outsider. In the end, a book that hook me and gives me some good days.

[Renee]

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror I needed a good laugh

[Randy]

Renee wrote: "The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror I needed a good laugh"

I enjoyed that one, too.

[Rachel]

[Christopher]

The Soft Whisper Of The Dead by Charles L. Grant reads much like a well-wrought novelization of a lost Hammer Studios horror film, which was quite deliberate on the author’s part. Lots of fun watching Grant play with the familiar tropes of a Hammer vampire movie. Happily, he wrote two more such novels—one on werewolves, Dark Cry of the Moon, and one on mummies, The Long Night of the Grave. I’ll be getting both.

[Rachel]

[Christopher]

The Early Ray Bradbury: 50 stories under 30
Just finished this huge collection and wrote a review which can be found at the link. Some great pieces in here, including early versions of several classic tales, but overall the book may be more of historical interest than literary value. Bradbury was still learning his craft when he wrote most of these pieces, and too often it shows. Required reading, however, for the hardcore Bradbury fan.

[Renee]

read and hatedMrs. Dalloway

[Erin]

My Husband's Wife


Incredibly boring.

[Christopher]

Mexican Gothic
I love me some slow-burn horror, but this is not slow burn. It’s no burn.

Plain boring.

[Christopher]

Dark Cry of the Moon
The second of Charles L. Grant’s literary equivalents of Hammer horror films. No great masterpiece, but fast-moving, highly visual, and quite enjoyable on its own terms.

[WendyB]

The Lost Village
A very good follow up to the first book The Ghost Hunters.

[Erin]

The Ghost

It was okay.

[Peter]

Am I the only one who cracks up every time I see the avatar picture for this group, lol?

[Renee]

Nope I think its a hoot also

[Krystal]

Peter wrote: "Am I the only one who cracks up every time I see the avatar picture for this group, lol?"

Definitely not alone. It's usually accompanied by a, 'heh. Clown corn.'

It's also a continual reminder to read Clown in a Cornfield

[Peter]

Lol yes! Samsies!!

[Erin]

Peter wrote: "Am I the only one who cracks up every time I see the avatar picture for this group, lol?"

Same here, I love it.

[Padders]

had another stint away from reading (the joys of having a 1 year old) but got back on the reading train and finished....



More of a crime novel, and was released some time ago but really enjoyed this one. Looking forward to the next instalment, had a major 'Silence of the Lambs' vibe

and also just wrapped up this one while at work...



Again felt like a crime/mystery. But tried adding a supernatural element which was unnecessary and it was just a little slow for my liking.

[Rachel]

[Spyros]

I liked it.

[Christopher]

The Long Night of the Grave

I enjoyed this a mite less than Charles L. Grant’s previous two “Universe of Horror” novels, but I think it’s just because by the third one the conceit (novels written to approximate the old Universal and Hammer horror movies) has gotten a bit stale. It’s not a bad story, actually—it reminded me of something Hugh B. Cave might have written, and I’m a big Cave fan.

[Michael]

I've been going old school with titles such as , , , and .

[Char]

Christopher wrote: "
Mexican Gothic
I love me some slow-burn horror, but this is not slow burn. It’s no burn.

Plain boring."

Oh no!

[Char]

Michael wrote: "I've been going old school with titles such as , , , and ."

Some of Your Blood is one of my all time favorite novellas. I have a beautiful copy of Strange Seed, but still haven't read it. :(

[Christopher]

Unholy Trinity

Ray Russell's Gothic novellas are fantastic.

[Randy]

"Sardonicus", "Sagittarius" and "Sanguinarious" (last two probably not quite right) are terrific. I was surprised when Penguin teamed with Guillermo del Toro for several reprints around one Halloween a few years ago that he included Russell's Haunted Castles with among other better known titles. There were a few other short stories included, which were fine but not as strong as the novellas.

[Marie]

Gosh I have been reading my "eyes" 👀 out! LOL :-)
Here is what I have read in the last three weeks:

by David Haynes

by Hunter Shea

by Janice Tremayne

by David J. Cooper

by Hunter Shea

by Jeff DeGordick

by Jonathan Janz

by Graeme Rodaughan

by Graeme Rodaughan

[Rachel]

[Renee]

Cave of Bones

[Erin]

The Whisper Man


I really liked it.

[David]

The Living Dead by George A. Romero

Awesome!

[Renee]

Emma Brown

[Rachel]

[Jeff]

Just finished the Malan Witch...

[Christopher]

Didn’t much care for it. This is Grant in his pulpy-paperback mode, not the elegant stylist of quiet-horror classics like The Black Carousel, which I much prefer.

[Michael]

The last book I read was

I don't think I can add anything that hasn't already been said about this raw yet sensitive novella.

[Nancy]

The Loop

[Michael]

Nancy wrote: "The Loop"
Hearing a lot of buzz around this one.

[WendyB]

Werewolves and vampires and famous authors, oh my!

[Krystal]

WendyB wrote: "

Werewolves and vampires and famous authors, oh my!"

This one sounds fantastic!