Hooked on Books discussion
Toys/Objects Roundup
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C: Teddy Terrors
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I really hope I never have to read another horror book. Stephen King may be a very good writer but that was just....ugh!
Mod
Fats the Dummy is the disturbing ventriloquist’s doll from the 1978 psychological horror film Magic, based on the novel by William Goldman.
Fats is the wooden partner of Corky Withers, a struggling magician turned ventriloquist. With his slicked-back black hair, bulging eyes, wide grin, and weathered, lifelike features, Fats looks unsettling even when silent. But it’s when he speaks, voiced by Corky himself in a raspy, mocking tone, that his presence becomes deeply unnerving.
Unlike many horror dolls, Fats never walks or acts on his own. The terror comes from the psychological unraveling of his owner. Corky begins to lose control, and Fats seems to gain more personality, will, and aggression, speaking dark truths, manipulating his master, and ultimately pushing him toward madness and violence. The question becomes whether Fats is truly alive… or simply the fractured voice of Corky’s split psyche.
Fats stands out in the horror genre not for supernatural antics, but for embodying the descent into insanity, blurring the line between puppet and puppeteer. His dead eyes and cruel wit make him one of the most quietly terrifying dolls in film history.
Fats doesn’t walk. He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t need to. His power isn’t in movement—it’s in manipulation. As Corky’s ventriloquist dummy, Fats slowly takes over the act… and then the mind behind it. His voice cuts deep, mocking and commanding, until it’s unclear who’s speaking—and who’s listening.
Now the dummy’s whispering again. And we need your help to shut him up before he finds a new voice to borrow.
Complete the following tasks:
Mind the Split
If you talk to yourself… make sure it’s actually you.
Read a chain of 3 books that include mental health themes, identity crises, or characters with unreliable inner voices or split selves.
Painted on a Smile
The makeup never cracks. The eyes never move.
Read a chain of 3 books with white or bone-colored covers (at least 50%).
Say Nothing
The worst words are spoken without a mouth.
Read a chain of 3 books where the word “ventriloquist” or “dummy” appears somewhere in the text.
Say Nothing is going to be difficult 😅
I can charge my kindle and do a search through all my books!
If either of you are Gregory Ashe fans it looks like most of his books have dummy in them lol
Amanda wrote: "If either of you are Gregory Ashe fans it looks like most of his books have dummy in them lol"Don't think I've read any of his books but this challenge is all about trying new things.
And I have Pretty Pretty Boys in my tbr! Is dummies acceptable?
@Amanda, 1. Are you able to check if The Strangest Forms has dummy in it?
2. If it does, would you recommend The Strangest Forms or The Face in the Water more?
Ps. Thank you for saving us 😂
Mrsgeo wrote: "Amanda wrote: "If either of you are Gregory Ashe fans it looks like most of his books have dummy in them lol"Don't think I've read any of his books but this challenge is all about trying new thin..."
I would think so, but would definitely ask to double check!
Jessica wrote: "@Amanda, 1. Are you able to check if The Strangest Forms has dummy in it?
2. If it does, would you recommend The Strangest Forms or [book:The Face in the Water|15..."
1. Loc. 5154: "...Like that, dummy"
2. I like the Iron and Iron series more but you have to have read all the four connected series first lol. Both books are 5 star reads though
Mrsgeo wrote: "Amanda wrote: "If either of you are Gregory Ashe fans it looks like most of his books have dummy in them lol"Don't think I've read any of his books but this challenge is all about trying new thin..."
Plurals are acceptable, so I can definitely use Pretty Pretty Boys
Jessica, the book cover needs to be 50% at least white or bone coloured, not yellow or bone. Just in case it's not a typo in your entry on the spreadsheet.
Mrsgeo wrote: "Jessica, the book cover needs to be 50% at least white or bone coloured, not yellow or bone. Just in case it's not a typo in your entry on the spreadsheet."It said bone coloured, I thought this was coloured like an old bone. Do you guys think it's too yellow?
I Googled old bones & you're right; that cover could be used for bone-coloured.
Mod
An ornate, antique silver vase believed to be cursed, originating from the town of Basano del Grappa in Italy. This mysterious vessel is said to bring tragedy and death to its owners, with a dark history of every family member who possessed it dying under strange or unexplained circumstances.
The vase is intricately crafted, featuring detailed engravings and an elegant shape that masks its sinister nature. According to legend, the vase carries a malevolent spirit or curse that dooms anyone who keeps it, making it a feared and avoided heirloom.
Its true whereabouts remain a mystery, and many stories warn of the misfortune it brings, making the Basano Vase a chilling symbol of a haunted object with a deadly legacy.
Complete the following tasks:
🏺1. Death in the Family
Read a chain of 3 books where a family member dies — on or off the page, recent or ancestral, tragic or suspicious.
👻3. Spirits Attached
Read a chain of 3 books that feature a ghost, spirit, or lingering presence — friendly, malevolent, or just confused. Bonus if it haunts an object.
🗡️5. A Body on the Floor
Read a chain of 3 books that includes a murder or homicide — it can be part of the main plot or a key backstory detail. The more mysterious or cursed, the better.
I'm running a bit behind at the moment. Completing other challenges that finish today.
Mrsgeo wrote: "I'm running a bit behind at the moment. Completing other challenges that finish today."No worries Sheena!
Mod
Annabelle is inspired by a true story about a doll believed to be haunted by the spirit of a young girl. In 1970, a student and her roommate reported that their Raggedy Ann doll, the real Annabelle doll the movie is based on (pictured on the right), was acting strangely. A medium told them the doll was inhabited by the spirit of Annabelle Higgins. Despite their attempts to care for the doll, they couldn’t control its behavior and eventually sought help from Ed and Lorraine Warren, famous demonologists. The Warrens concluded that an unnatural entity was manipulating the doll. They took the doll and secured it in their museum, protected by sigils and wards. While the Warrens documented several instances of unusual activity, including the doll seemingly moving on its own, there is no proof it has ever caused physical harm or death.
The movie Annabelle draws heavily from this story, but is a fictionalized version. Still, the doll in the film (pictured above on the left) is undeniably creepy.
Complete the following tasks
Step 1: Purify the space & spirit by burning sage
Read a chain of 3 books that start with a letter in SAGE
Step 2: Choose the materials for your wards
Read a chain of 3 books with your ward material chosen on the cover (the team must choose from plants, stones, metal, or crystal, but you will all read for the same material)
Step 3: Put your ward items at the 4 corners of your area (around Annabelle). Draw your sigils/symbols in oil or water, encircling your space with a defensive boundary. It's all about intention.
Read a chain of 3 books that have the word SYMBOL in the text
For 2 I think plants probably easiest? Maybe metal because buildings? good with whatever everyone things
I think stone is best for me, but I'm unsure if bricks count as stone?I do have a book with plants on also
Seemed like we all could find something so I went with it lol
Just wanted to double check before choosing.
Mod
Robert the Doll is one of the most infamous real-life haunted objects in the world. Currently housed in the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, Robert has terrified visitors and inspired countless legends of curses and paranormal activity.
The doll stands about three feet tall, stuffed with wood wool, and is dressed in a sailor suit (reportedly one that belonged to its original owner). His face is worn and unsettling, with beady black eyes and a faint, sinister smile. He once held a toy dog in his lap, adding to his eerie, childlike presence.
Robert originally belonged to a young boy named Robert Eugene Otto in the early 1900s. Legend has it that the doll was given to him by a disgruntled servant skilled in voodoo, and that strange things began happening soon after: objects moved, voices were heard, and young Eugene blamed the doll for everything, insisting “Robert did it.”
Over time, stories of Robert's malevolence grew. Visitors to the museum claim cameras malfunction near him, and that bad luck (injuries, accidents, and job loss) follows those who mock or photograph him without permission. The museum displays letters from people who wrote to apologize after disrespecting the doll.
Whether seen as a cursed object or just a creepy antique, Robert the Doll continues to fascinate and frighten, blurring the line between myth and reality.
Dressed in a sailor suit with beady black eyes and a faint smirk, Robert the Doll might look like a forgotten toy from a dusty attic—but legends say he’s far from innocent. He’s been blamed for mischief, madness, and full-on curses for over a century. Mock him, and your luck may not recover.
Now Robert’s out of his case, and we need your help to contain him—politely, of course.
Complete the following tasks:
1. Salt in the Seams
That sailor suit isn’t just for show.
Read a chain of 3 books with a maritime or nautical theme—ships, sailors, sea curses, coastal towns, or anything that smells like salt and secrets.
4. Always the Fourth
He’s quiet. But he never misses his turn.
Read a chain of 3 books that is #4 in a series (or the fourth entry in a multi-book set).
6. Name the Curse
It’s written right there. You just didn’t notice.
Read a chain of 3 books that each include the letters of DOLL somewhere in the title (any order, 2 Ls).
So for Name The Curse, do we need to do a letter each and in order?
Jessica wrote: "So for Name The Curse, do we need to do a letter each and in order?"No, I don't think so. Read a book with the letters D, O, L, L in the title. They can be in any order and must contain at least 2 × L.
eg. Glen & Tyler's Paris Double-cross
Mrsgeo wrote: "Jessica wrote: "So for Name The Curse, do we need to do a letter each and in order?"No, I don't think so. Read a book with the letters D, O, L, L in the title. They can be in any order and must c..."
Thank you! I completely misread that.
Would you believe I already read a sailor book this week even though I dont usually lol
Amanda wrote: "Would you believe I already read a sailor book this week even though I dont usually lol"My favourite thing to do! Even better if I can put it in more than two challenges. Always feel I should go out and buy a lottery ticket when that happens.
Jessica wrote: "Mrsgeo wrote: "Jessica wrote: "So for Name The Curse, do we need to do a letter each and in order?"No, I don't think so. Read a book with the letters D, O, L, L in the title. They can be in any o..."
Just done that in the Fall Seasonal. Read a book specifically for an option that I couldn't use. However, I still had some spaces in my 5 point tasks & thankfully, it fit one of them.
Mrsgeo wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Would you believe I already read a sailor book this week even though I dont usually lol"My favourite thing to do! Even better if I can put it in more than two challenges. Always fe..."
Oh no, the opposite I read it before it could be used! It was unlucky. I liked it a lot though! The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway and another sky pirate book I read and loved this month A Blazing Fury
I'm really sorry for holding us up! It's harder to find DOLL than I was expecting. I need to read Beasts of a Little Land but Amazing Race just isn't lining up for me.
Mod
The Zuni Fetish Doll from Trilogy of Terror (1975) is one of the most iconic and terrifying horror dolls in film history. It appears in the third segment, "Amelia," based on a Richard Matheson story.
The doll is a small, tribal warrior figure with sharp teeth, wild hair, and a gold chain around its waist. According to the story, the chain is meant to imprison the spirit of a Zuni hunter god named "He Who Kills." When the chain mysteriously falls off, the doll comes to life, unleashing pure, relentless violence.
Despite its tiny size, the Zuni Fetish Doll is shockingly fast, aggressive, and nearly unstoppable, attacking with a spear and a savage, high-pitched growl. It terrorizes the main character, Amelia, in her apartment in a tense and claustrophobic battle that ends with a chilling twist. Destroying its body ends with the spirit looking for a new vessel, the one who defeats it.
This doll is remembered for its primal fury and the intense suspense it creates, making it a standout in horror anthology history.
Complete the following tasks
Step One: Collect items for binding spell
Read a chain of 3 books with paper on the cover
Read a chain of 3 books with candles on the cover
Read a chain of 3 books with black covers (min 50%)
Read a chain of 3 books with a string on the cover or in the text
Read a chain of 3 books that start and end with a letter in BINDING OIL
Step 2: Write his name on the paper
Read a chain of 3 books with all the letters of HE WHO KILLS in the title/subtitle/series
Step 3: Anoint the candle. Then light it, focusing on the person being restrained and visualising them stopping their actions. Tie the string around the paper to bind.
Read a chain of 3 books that starts with a letter in the word BIND
I'm assuming we each need to read 5 books for step 1, but I've asked in the QA to confirm.
I think it's going to be like the other ones, since it's still called a "chain""One person should NOT complete a whole chain by themselves. This is a team challenge. However, if a toy/object has multiple chains and a slower reader can only/want to only read for 1 or 2 chains (they must read at least one), then the other two faster readers on the team can complete the other chains between the two of them."
I'm good with us still splitting 3 ways for each of them unless there are any that someone doesnt want to do
I want to try and catch up with the other teams so I might do two from a few chains if you're happy with that.
Jessica wrote: "I want to try and catch up with the other teams so I might do two from a few chains if you're happy with that."Whatever you feel happiest with.
Amanda wrote: "I'm good with us still splitting 3 ways for each of them unless there are any that someone doesnt want to do"Jessica wants to do 2 covers with candles. I need to read one urgently for the Fall Reading Challenge. I hope you're OK with giving that task a miss.
Mrsgeo wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I'm good with us still splitting 3 ways for each of them unless there are any that someone doesnt want to do"Jessica wants to do 2 covers with candles. I need to read one urgently ..."
Ah, I only took it as I thought it was hardest but if you have one planned then I'll do one for candles and two for a different.
Jessica wrote: "Mrsgeo wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I'm good with us still splitting 3 ways for each of them unless there are any that someone doesnt want to do"Jessica wants to do 2 covers with candles. I need to rea..."
I would wait until Amanda replies. As long as she's OK with it, you can read two covers with candles books.
You can absolutely take two from candles, I dont have anything coming for that one
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Beasts of a Little Land (other topics)A Blazing Fury (other topics)
The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway (other topics)
Glen & Tyler's Paris Double-cross (other topics)
Nova Praetorian (other topics)
More...
4 adults, 2 children in a (British 1970s) 4 bedroom bungalow = smallish, no attic, no basement, no stairs. Can't sit on floor - impossible for me to get..."
My goodness Sheila 🤣 I hope the bottom bunk is comfortable at least. It sounds so busy but it must be lovely to have such a big family, even if they are all on top of you at the moment