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

[Kimberly]

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]"

I already read this one, so I won't add anything--but I LOVE reading your comments, because I remember when the thoughts started coming to me!!

[Pisces51]

I finished How To Sell A Haunted House on Oct.31st.The library came through at the last minute on 10-27. Really liked it and renewed my interest in Hendrix. Thank you.

[Kasia]

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

I bet I know what the last chapter will be called and I'm scared lol.

[Kasia]

Michael wrote: "Kasia, I'm just 2 pages behind you, but I had the same thought "

Ha, right? I hope to finish today and find out if we're both correct. Hopefully I will get a chunk of time to read, this is one of those books that I can't just read for a few minutes, I need at least an hour to chill with the story.

[Kasia]

Kimberly wrote: "I already read this one, so I won't add anything--but I LOVE reading your comments, because I remember when the thoughts started coming to me!!"

This is why reading with a group is awesome, bouncing ideas back and forth and sharing our suspicions. Hope to finish today then I can read all the spoilers :D

[Kimberly]

Kasia wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I already read this one, so I won't add anything--but I LOVE reading your comments, because I remember when the thoughts started coming to me!!"

This is why reading with a group i..."

I can't wait to discuss more!

[Kasia]

Kimberly wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I already read this one, so I won't add anything--but I LOVE reading your comments, because I remember when the thoughts started coming to me!!"

This is why reading ..."

I'm on it :) reading now after checking this thread. I love the conversations in this book, it blends some real feels but the things they are talking about are so fantastical. None of these ideas are new per say but the reality/fiction helix is really well done here in my opinion.

[Michael]

Finished this morning! Every new book by Hendrix seems to become my new favorite Hendrix book, knocking the others from the #1 spot. They are all good, but this one really stayed with me.

Now I can read all the comments and spoilers.

[Kimberly]

Michael wrote: "Finished this morning! Every new book by Hendrix seems to become my new favorite Hendrix book, knocking the others from the #1 spot. They are all good, but this one really stayed with me.

Now I ca..."

So glad you enjoyed it!!

[LTJ]

Hell yeah Michael, that's how I felt when I first read his Final Girl Support Group and loved it. LoL he just keeps dropping solid horror novels and I always get excited whenever he has new books published. I also know they are making a movie of this novel so that'll be exciting :-D

[Kasia]

LTJ wrote: "Hell yeah Michael, that's how I felt when I first read his Final Girl Support Group and loved it. LoL he just keeps dropping solid horror novels and I always get excited whenever he has new books p..."

FGSG was my first Hendrix and I really liked it a lot as well, it has some mixed reviews but I enjoyed the heck out of it. This is my 2nd Hendrix read and honestly I'm already lining up the next one.

I have about 40 pages left, I wanted to keep reading last night but when I get too tired I'm scared I won't remember all the details and there's nothing worse than waking up and trying to put the ending together in your head lol.

[Kasia]

My toddler also loves this book, he drew all over the inside with pencils and crayons when I wasn't looking. Also put some stickers on the outside, luckily I always take the dust jacket when I read hardcovers, the book itself looks haunted now.

[Kimberly]

Kasia wrote: "My toddler also loves this book, he drew all over the inside with pencils and crayons when I wasn't looking. Also put some stickers on the outside, luckily I always take the dust jacket when I read..."

[LTJ]

@Kasia: IT WAS MY FIRST HENDRIX NOVEL TOO! I loved it as well and yeah, for me, he's given me a lot of 4s and 5s so that's more than enough for me. I've yet to read a dud by him as all his stuff is usually filled with tons of awesome/unique horror, lots of dark humor, great characters, and a solid story :-)

Have you read Horrorstor or We Sold Our Souls? I loved both, especially the latter since I'm a metalhead and all \m/

LoL yeah, I'm about to knock out now since it's late so I know what you mean. It's hard to fight sleep when a horror novel starts to ramp up all I have to say is... I'm excited for my two days off on Fri/Sat :-D

[Kasia]

Kimberly wrote: "Kasia wrote: "My toddler also loves this book, he drew all over the inside with pencils and crayons when I wasn't looking. Also put some stickers on the outside, luckily I always take the dust jack..."

When he wants to draw or color now, he just comes over and grabs my book of the kitchen island. Luckily he doesn't do it to any other books. There's more on the back, the bad and boozy was in a sticker pack and I thought it was hilarious, he's super into stickers now, our house is covered.

[Kasia]

LTJ wrote: "@Kasia: IT WAS MY FIRST HENDRIX NOVEL TOO! I loved it as well and yeah, for me, he's given me a lot of 4s and 5s so that's more than enough for me. I've yet to read a dud by him as all his stuff is..."

Ahh enjoy your extra time off! My little artist is asleep so it's a good time to sneak some reading!

I have Horrorstor but as ebook and I recall people saying that it reads better in paper format so I guess Ill have to sort that out, the vampire book was next on my list actually. I think.. ugh hard to pick.

[Kimberly]

Kasia wrote: "LTJ wrote: "@Kasia: IT WAS MY FIRST HENDRIX NOVEL TOO! I loved it as well and yeah, for me, he's given me a lot of 4s and 5s so that's more than enough for me. I've yet to read a dud by him as all ..."

Horrorstor was the first I read by him--I actually won a physical copy in a GoodReads contest! I will say, I loved the illustrations....

[Kasia]

Kimberly wrote: "Kasia wrote: "LTJ wrote: "@Kasia: IT WAS MY FIRST HENDRIX NOVEL TOO! I loved it as well and yeah, for me, he's given me a lot of 4s and 5s so that's more than enough for me. I've yet to read a dud ..."

I get an Ikea vibe from the artwork, hm might have to hunt down a copy :D thanks :P

[Kimberly]

Kasia wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Kasia wrote: "LTJ wrote: "@Kasia: IT WAS MY FIRST HENDRIX NOVEL TOO! I loved it as well and yeah, for me, he's given me a lot of 4s and 5s so that's more than enough for me. I've y..."

That's definitely what he's going for!

[LTJ]

@Kasia: Thanks! LoL your little artist I'm sure is tired from all his "work" :-D

LoL oh yes, I loved the e-book but I bet the actual physical book would have been an even better read since it read like an IKEA catalog. LOL Hendrix is hilarious!

LoL touch decisions await but whichever you decide, I hope you enjoy! Happy reading :-)

[LTJ]

@Kimberly: Oh nice! LoL wow, look at that, I've only read the e-book but seen images of the physical book and it looked so damn cool!

[Kasia]

Well Kakawewe! I finished :D

Really enjoyed it, part of the last chapter actually made me tear up. Reading all the spoilery comments now, best part!

[Marie]

Kasia wrote: "Well Kakawewe! I finished :D

Really enjoyed it, part of the last chapter actually made me tear up. Reading all the spoilery comments now, best part!"

Whoo-hoo! Kakawewe back at you! :)

I knew you would really like this one! It was so hard not to discuss spoilers with you too! :)

[Kasia]

Marie wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Well Kakawewe! I finished :D

Really enjoyed it, part of the last chapter actually made me tear up. Reading all the spoilery comments now, best part!"

Whoo-hoo! Kakawewe back at you..."

Haha, as annoying as some of the characters were, it was them that made the story so real, still thinking about it. I miss randomly opening my book and getting back into the story actually. I miss Mark and Louise, and even P, who knew?!

[Lisa]

I'm 3/4 through and I'm loving this book. The originality of the subject matter is impressive and so imaginative. Hendrix does such a great job with humor, dialogue, relationships, and then blindsides you with some really gross, horrifying stuff. It always catches me off guard in the overall tone of his book when those moments crop up. I can't wait to finish and read all of these comments/spoilers.

[Kasia]

Lisa wrote: "I'm 3/4 through and I'm loving this book. The originality of the subject matter is impressive and so imaginative. Hendrix does such a great job with humor, dialogue, relationships, and then blindsi..."

Yes that's such a good description Lisa! Totally agree. I'm still sitting here thinking about it, there are so many haunted house books but this one really stands out for a variety of reasons.

[Lisa]

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..."

This made me laugh. I loved that show, and he was a great character.

[Lisa]

Zen wrote: "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 alt..."

Totally agree about this aspect of Hendrix's writing. Like I'm having this fun read and then am suddenly freaked out and wondering how this got so dark. Like I'm suddenly caught by a scare I wasn't expecting and it knocks the legs out from under me.

[Lisa]

Brennan wrote: "Finished this book late last night I have a few thoughts


Louise sucked for 2/3rd of the book
I think I understand the point Hendrix is making though. Louise is making all the same mistakes her mo..."

Brennan, great comments on Louise and Mark.

[Lisa]

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..."

Agreed that Final Girls wasn't great. I have to read Exorcism and Souls.

[Lisa]

How much do you all think Louise and Mark's dad knew about what was going on? (view spoiler)[ Did he know that their mom was actually responsible for her brother's death? Did either, or both parent know that it was him possessing Pupkin? And did the mom ever come to acknowledge what really happened to her brother? (hide spoiler)]

Although we'll never have definitive answers to these, I'm interested in the group's thoughts.

[Michael]

Lisa wrote: "How much do you all think Louise and Mark's dad knew about what was going on? [spoilers removed]

Although we'll never have definitive answers to these, I'm interested in the group's thoughts."

I'm guessing that (view spoiler)[Dad knew what happened, but he didn't find out until later when it was too late for him to course correct, so he went along with the plans to hide the evidence and stay silent about it. He did know about the possessed puppet, as he was the one (I'm assuming) that boarded up the attic, maybe the last thing he did before Mom had to rush him to the hospital and the eventual car accident. (hide spoiler)]

[Kasia]

^ Ahh great points Michael, I can totally see that happening in this story.

[Kasia]

Lisa wrote: "Totally agree about this aspect of Hendrix's writing. Like I'm having this fun read and then am suddenly freaked out and wondering how this got so dark. Like I'm suddenly caught by a scare I wasn't expecting and it knocks the legs out from under me."

Yes, the darkness would sweep in unexpectedly, I loved that.

[Lisa]

Lisa wrote: "How much do you all think Louise and Mark's dad knew about what was going on? [spoilers removed]

Although we'll never have definitive answers to these, I'm interested in the group's thoughts."

I think you're right. Just pondering how much he knew or suspected and for how long.

[Kasia]

I miss this story, wish there was part 2!

[Kimberly]

Punkin!

[Erika]

Kasia wrote: "I miss this story, wish there was part 2!"

I agree!

@Kimberly, I loved Pupkin! For those who didn't do the audiobook, I highly recommend it. It was fun! I loved the narrator's voice for Pupkin :D

Now that I reflect back, maybe I should change the stars to 5 because of how it made me feel. I'll reread it in the physical form eventually and then reevaluate that Lol

[Kimberly]

Erika wrote: "Kasia wrote: "I miss this story, wish there was part 2!"

I agree!

@Kimberly, I loved Pupkin! For those who didn't do the audiobook, I highly recommend it. It was fun! I loved the narrator's voic..."

I sort of feel like rereading it now, after talking about it here! LOL!

[LTJ]

@Kasia: They are indeed making a movie of this so hopefully, Pupkin will join us all very soon...

[destiny ♡]

LTJ wrote: "@Kasia: They are indeed making a movie of this so hopefully, Pupkin will join us all very soon..."

OMG I didn't know they were making a movie! That's exciting!!

[LTJ]

@destiny: Oh yes! I think it'll either be a movie or TV show on Amazon, just like My Best Friend's Exorcism! I can't wait :-)

[Kimberly]

LTJ wrote: "@Kasia: They are indeed making a movie of this so hopefully, Pupkin will join us all very soon..."

YES!

[LTJ]

:-D