October 2023 Group read #1 - How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

[Kasia]

Page 175... wow... horrific lol.

[Kimberly]

Kasia wrote: "Page 175... wow... horrific lol."

Agreed.

[Kasia]

Also the whole Mark & Louise relationship is so intense that it could be a book all in itself, forget the house!

Almost on page 200, it's getting so creepy!

[Marie]

Kasia wrote: "Also the whole Mark & Louise relationship is so intense that it could be a book all in itself, forget the house!

Almost on page 200, it's getting so creepy!"

Totally agree on all points! :) That book is so spooky that it is almost a leave the light on book. :)

[Kasia]

Marie wrote: "Totally agree on all points! :) That book is so spooky that it is almost a leave the light on book. :)"

I mean how good was this one on page 199 (view spoiler)[

"The bedroom door stood open.

Every muscle in her body locked. She didn't move. She scanned the room and her vision swarmed with black spots as she tried to see into the shadows. Something on the other side of the room, something low to the floor, inhaled quietly, wet and thick."



(hide spoiler)]

[Eileen]

Hi all, I gave this 3 stars. There were definitely some creepy parts with the dolls....oh my! But for some reason, it did not grab me and I had a hard time staying with it. Most loved it, so it must be me.

[John]

I struggled with it tbh. Id just read My Best Friends Excorcist which was by far a better read.

[Alan]

I struggled with it when I read it. Arguably my least fav of Hendrix's books.

[Erika]

Kasia wrote: "Sorry Im so slow, I've been in a weird reading slump and just dealing with some personal stuff ( lost a pet yesterday) so I have a lot of catching up to do.

On page 140 now and really enjoying it ..."

I feel for you on your loss, Kasia. We lost our English Bulldog, Winston, this past spring. He was 8.
Hope you enjoy the book!

[Erika]

Alan wrote: "I struggled with it when I read it. Arguably my least fav of Hendrix's books."

Please recommend your favorite one that I should read next :)

[Latasha]

We sold our souls! It’s my favorite but I’m a metal girl. Lots of heavy metal.

[Michael]

I'm behind, and planning to start reading this today so I can read and enjoy your comments.

[Erika]

Latasha wrote: "We sold our souls! It’s my favorite but I’m a metal girl. Lots of heavy metal."

Thanks! Added to my shelf. Looks fun and I know I'll appreciate all the metal theme also. Since I didnt like Silver Nitrate-despite it being horror film and metal themed-this could fill the gap in my disappointment??! :P

[Alan]

Erika wrote: "Alan wrote: "I struggled with it when I read it. Arguably my least fav of Hendrix's books."

Please recommend your favorite one that I should read next :)"

I think his best books are:
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
We Sold Our Souls
My Best Friend's Exorcism

However, those are in reverse order of them being released. If you want to watch him grow as an author, I would suggest starting with Exorcism, then Souls then Vampires, as his writing gets stronger as he goes along.

[destiny ♡]

Latasha wrote: "We sold our souls! It’s my favorite but I’m a metal girl. Lots of heavy metal."

Same on both parts!

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "We sold our souls! It’s my favorite but I’m a metal girl. Lots of heavy metal."

LOVED We Sold Our Souls!!

[B]

Andrew “The Weirdling” wrote: "Chapter 22 - where Mark reveals what really happened over that semester at Boston University - might be one of my favorite chapters ever written by Hendrix. I was alternating between horror and hil..."

I just got through that section and after haaaating Mark up until that part, sympathizing with him certainly wasn't where I thought I was headed.

[LTJ]

@Latasha/Kimberly: We Sold Our Souls is perfection for yet another metalhead in me :-D \m/

[Kimberly]

LTJ wrote: "@Latasha/Kimberly: We Sold Our Souls is perfection for yet another metalhead in me :-D \m/"

YES!! That one just had me captured the entire time!!

[Latasha]

Alan wrote: "Erika wrote: "Alan wrote: "I struggled with it when I read it. Arguably my least fav of Hendrix's books."

Please recommend your favorite one that I should read next :)"

I think his best books are..."


I agree with these 3 being the best of the best. I'm part of the Grady Hendrix fan club so I won't ever say he's terrible but I didn;t think Final Girl Support Group lived up the rest of his stuff.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "Alan wrote: "Erika wrote: "Alan wrote: "I struggled with it when I read it. Arguably my least fav of Hendrix's books."

Please recommend your favorite one that I should read next :)"

I think his b..."
I believe that was my least favorite of his as well--the only one I still need to read is My Best Friend's Exorcism.

[Latasha]

Omg Kimberly! It’s so good. You will love it.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "Omg Kimberly! It’s so good. You will love it."

Coincidentally, it's on one of my TBR piles.... LOL!

[Erika]

Alan wrote: "Erika wrote: "Alan wrote: "I struggled with it when I read it. Arguably my least fav of Hendrix's books."

Please recommend your favorite one that I should read next :)"

I think his best books are..."

Thank you, Alan! I would like to see the evolution of his work, so will plan to read in that order.

[Erika]

Latasha wrote: "Omg Kimberly! It’s so good. You will love it."

Good to know! I'm looking forward to it. Love the cover!

[LTJ]

@Kimberly: Certified stamp that you will probably really love My Best Friend's Exorcism as I thought it absolutely fantastic and a 5/5!!!

[Kimberly]

LTJ wrote: "@Kimberly: Certified stamp that you will probably really love My Best Friend's Exorcism as I thought it absolutely fantastic and a 5/5!!!"

That's a GREAT recommendation!

[LTJ]

:-D

[Marie]

Kasia wrote: "Marie wrote: "Totally agree on all points! :) That book is so spooky that it is almost a leave the light on book. :)"

I mean how good was this one on page 199 "

I know! That creeped me out! I had some weird dreams with this book too which made the story all the more creepier. I love horror books that delve deep down into my psyche to the point of giving me some weird dreams.

[Pisces51]

This morning I was able to obtain a copy of How To Sell A Haunted House from one of my libraries. I will have it read by the end of the month and hopefully be able to comment or share in any late discussions.

[Hayley]

Fantastic read. Grady Hendrix's books always make me laugh and then scare the hell out of me too, and it always surprises me. "Be strong, have faith in the Lord, and stay hydrated" is going to have to be one of my personal mantras now.

[Kasia]

Pisces51 wrote: "This morning I was able to obtain a copy of How To Sell A Haunted House from one of my libraries. I will have it read by the end of the month and hopefully be able to comment or share in any late d..."

The discussion is always open, even when the next awesome group reads start :) I love checking older threads and partake as well.

[Leigh]

This book was a lot of fun! The author did very well with balancing out the scary and the hilarious. (view spoiler)[While Pupkin made for a good sadistic puppet villain, I was probably more deeply terrified by the scenes with Spider. Mark was a great character and I love how the book unfolded the backstory of both him and Pupkin. I never thought about looking up radical puppet collectives, but now it's in my head! That and "Kakawewe!" which I hope to never utter in public. (hide spoiler)] People here seem to recommend My Best Friend's Exorcism, so I'll have to put that on my list.

[Pisces51]

I finished the novel over three consecutive nights and was done on Halloween night. I really enjoyed the book. I especially liked the undercurrents of dark humor among the colorful (and the stressed) people who populated the book. It was really dark at times but never lost touch with the human element and that underlying sense of humor. Loved the sister and brother team and all of the dysfunctional family drama. I had read Final Girls Support Group and liked this novel much better. Glad I got it under the wire and love the idea of being in a book group read.

[Lisa]

I'm late to the party here but starting today. Looking forward to chatting with other latecomers and reading all of your comments once I dig in.

[Kimberly]

Lisa wrote: "I'm late to the party here but starting today. Looking forward to chatting with other latecomers and reading all of your comments once I dig in."

It's never too late to join in!

[Karen]

Leigh wrote: "This book was a lot of fun! The author did very well with balancing out the scary and the hilarious. [spoilers removed] People here seem to recommend My Best Friend's Exorcism, so I'll have to put ..."

When Pupkin was yelling "kakawewe" on the plane I was rolling!

[Hayley]

Kasia wrote: "I'm on page 50 and the family dynamics are really well crafted here, it will make the whole story no matter how fantastical that much more real I think.

Mark reminds me of Daphne's brother from th..."

OMG. He is TOTALLY Daphne's brother.

[Kasia]

Hayley wrote: "Kasia wrote: "I'm on page 50 and the family dynamics are really well crafted here, it will make the whole story no matter how fantastical that much more real I think.

Mark reminds me of Daphne's b..."

Ah you see it too, love that!

[Kasia]

Lisa wrote: "I'm late to the party here but starting today. Looking forward to chatting with other latecomers and reading all of your comments once I dig in."

Great to have you! Yay!

[Pisces51]

I got it from the library on the 29th and read it by 10-31-23. I thought it was surprisingly engaging. Things got a little crazy there at the end (no spoilers). I bought a novel by Hendrix because this one was so good.

[Lisa]

Started reading today and teared up twice already reading in a coffee shop lol. And I’m only 40 pages in.

[Kasia]

Lisa wrote: "Started reading today and teared up twice already reading in a coffee shop lol. And I’m only 40 pages in."

I think his characters are solid and their stories and family struggles hit so close to home, great background for something "other" happening to make it more real, I really dig that tactic.

[Michael]

I'm really late with this one. I started late, and struggled to get engaged with it. Not sure why, because I enjoy Hendrix and love the way he constructs realistic, relatable, and flawed characters. Started reading more every time I pick this up, and now I'm fully immersed by page 180. Is there anything creepier than dolls and puppets?
I think, to be on the safe side, I'll wait to finish before I read any comments on this thread. Sorry I missed the group. Hope to catch you next time.

[Kasia]

I'm behind too, my kid keeps drawing in any physical book I leave around and I'm reading this in hardcover so half the time I have to hide it then forget to read it, but I'm on page 261 and sh*t is getting real, gah!!!!!!!!

[Kasia]

Michael wrote: "I'm really late with this one. I started late, and struggled to get engaged with it. Not sure why, because I enjoy Hendrix and love the way he constructs realistic, relatable, and flawed characters..."

Glad to have you Michael, always enjoy reading your thoughts and comments in all the group reads :)

[Kasia]

On page 311 and just had a thought, don't read my spoiler unless you're finished in a wild case I'm actually right lol, don't want to ruin anything but what if (view spoiler)[ it was the mother that was somehow haunted and not the house? A lot of it seems to center around her, even her favoritism to Mark who was easy to control (hide spoiler)]

[Michael]

It's getting harder to put this down. Just finished the "depression" section. So intense. Whew.

[Michael]

Kasia wrote: "On page 311 and just had a thought, don't read my spoiler unless you're finished in a wild case I'm actually right lol, don't want to ruin anything but what if [spoilers removed]"
Kasia, I'm just 2 pages behind you, but I had the same thought (view spoiler)[ not a house that was haunted, but a person. Except I think it may be the entire family haunted, and now just Louise and Mark since they are the only two left (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

I’m only 100 pages in and I’m loving the writing and the story. My blood is boiling at the will situation, however, and at the treatment of Louise by her parents…ughhh.