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An enjoyable look at Sylvia Shoemaker's life in more detail than I knew. I intend to look up whether this is her first book, or nearly. Her key details are shared from book to book, of course, to clue in every reader; thus it was a treat to have a full story. We learn a little about Iena's brutally short life in 1500 Columbia, her spirit guide, "Francine". I was relieved to see Sylvia's Mom, Celeste, being a Mom.

I found a whole suite of Sylvia Browne books I didn't have, in like new condition at a yard sale a year ago. There were others in hardcover to replace copies I do have. I bypassed a few because the previous owner wrote her name in pen. My Sister-in-law, whom I believe only reads on vacation on a beach, loves receiving all the Sylvia from me I have to spare. This is an early book, if not her first for us to enjoy.

So: we have reached my birthday month! As you know, we pray as much as ever for our cat, Conan, to be returned at last and have stepped up the search. Of secondary importance this time, as everything is: November is for treating myself entirely to the kinds of novels I love. If you thought Hallowe'en generated an influx of mysterious mysteries, like spirits... feast your eyes on what I choose for my reading! :)

We are in my birthday month! May our precious Conan finally be home with us by my special day! We are expanding the search right now, trying new resources and certainly not giving up on our precious boy. It is the only gift I need!

I am relieved to reach the point at which a story is too interesting and at the height of its momentum, to postpone. I will finish this today. HAPPY HALLOWE'EN, EVERYONE! Yours, Carolyn.

Y'all know I am Carolyn, even if you simply see "C", I hope. I set it like that merely to avoid giving out my whole name to the general public. I'll stop signing comments and y'all will remember, right? :)

I would much rather be reading something paranormal but I don't mind giving "Ellis Peters" a second chance. I will probably feel motivated to read the third novel, "Monks Hood", because it finishes the prettily-decorated omnibus that my version comprises. Thankfully, although Edith Pargeter is still pissing me off with stupid, needless uses of "gently" that make me want to puke; this novel is superior to the first.

I can't exactly tell which page I am on because my copy of this story is in a triple omnibus. My method with compilations is to choose an individual version for my read Goodreads along status, statistics totals, and reading challenge themes that apply. Guess what? This spiritual, Celtic, and historic mystery covers all four of my own challenges that I run! I will represent the omnibus when I am at its last novel.

A friendly reminder: please uncheck my profile name, if you send book recommendations. My profile info has a note that I do not want to deal with that notification, nor the private message mailboxes. It is easier to talk about books which I might like, in on-going conversations. My profile explains I have dial-up internet: stuck at the best speed 2003 could do! My heart is set on receiving review comments. :)

I thought I would share a tip about photos, because I keep encountering many that I would love to comment or click "like" on; with no option to do so. Be sure that you add photos into a photo album first at your profiles. Do not assign a default picture, until it is in your album. Then you can swith them however you like and not lose them. And friends who love meeting people and their cats, like me, can comment!

Most of us know principal rules to writing excellence that maximizes enjoyment of it for us, as readers. "Show, don't tell" and "keep adverbs & adjectives at a minimum"! Stephen King actually says "skip adverbs"! I hate sofening, weak adverbs / adjectives so much; I cringe, even scream, and can't stand authors like Ellis Peters, whose style is "softly, gently". However, I give first novels a break. Wish me luck!

I love absorbing art books, the times I treat myself to this tranquil visual experience, in natural light. Even in winter I do my best to sit outside in daylight, amid snow, when I continue more pages.

I have not reached dramatic points yet but address anyone unfamiliar with this author. This 1970s cover portait suggests this might be a juvenile, Judy Blume type coming-of-age story, doesn't it? The synopsis at least suggests maturity. What amazes me is, all anyone need do, is just start reading. First experiences with nature are exceptional. You cannot guess how artfully authored, skilled, and elegant this is!

Other reviewers agree, a turn-off from this being a great novel, is the character's Mom. She is a bitch! No one acts that way about a child's feelings about major changes. I am disgusted she forbade "Sarah" to discuss her feelings with her Dad, to "not bother him". He would be understanding about how his joblessness affects them. This kind of cliché bitch would not of course entertain the idea of the paranormal.

I see that this collection's title reads "Mysterious Brockville", not "Haunted" but the words "Ghost Walk" are also on the front and this is hardly what one is getting. The story choices scrape the barrel of points of interest and not to disparage the features of a town; I don't believe Nancy was choosing the best or writing them-up compellingly. She defines "haunting" from the introduction but is coming up short.

Hm, not the most exciting write-up. Any monologue that begins with what a dictionary says makes us all wince, doesn't it? I think a dictionary definition of what a haunting is was needless and these feel reported, rather than jumping into stories. Apparently they are close to Nancy Wickwire Fraser's turf. I think she interviewed / investigated them. Perhaps the personal rather than legendary events will improve.

You would think I would finish the spurt of a few remaining chapters. I wanted to respect my spouse going to sleep. He indulges my reading exclusively at bedtime, often enough. I am pleased to find Velda Johnston entirely original. There is none of the "stuck in a menacing house" trope in her gothic mystery. The heroine moves as she pleases, is a Mom, is respected, and in fact has now travelled to the Caribbean.

Eek, an incident occurred and I don't like who the author chose. I suppose we are past the comfortable, pleasant part of the novel.

For a change, I was not too tired to read several pages, after slogging through a catch-up of my review queue. Hasty people, not already in love with classic gothic mysteries as a staple, might not appreciate the world-building and time Velda Johnston put in to develop her characters and plot. The result is that before it is spooky or dangerous, I am invested in them all and understand them. I am liking this book!

What I love about the gothic mystery genre all the way up to the 1980s, is that I have read a million of them but will always find many more authors to and stories upon which to get delightedly swept away. Velda Johnston is new to me and after collecting a large handful of her hardcovers, I thought I would get started with one of her earliest mysteries, in my dear birth year! :-) It already differs from the usual.

I agree some stories aren't pleasant or emotion-inspiring. I will read along and see if I differ from readers who graded this low. I enjoyed originality and humour in a few of this book's first tales.

This is fun and unexpectedly creative. They aren't your usual spooky stories but originality is my very favourite trait of all! This is a wonderful gem from 1960 and how special: my copy is from 1960 itself, not a later printing. :-)

A lot of this is familiar territory because it is a 2005 write-up. Unless one was born close to world wars, or in known threatening weather regions, it is rare for we 40 year-olds to recall major dangerous history near our home citiies. Thankfully our neighbourhoods were never near floods, fires, or wind storms. But I recall over half of this book's events in my province and in the news. This is of my generation.

Manitobans often feel our province is not covered enough, even in Canadian compilations. It it makes the book we are skimmed, as if there were hardly anything of note about us, which is balderdash, or else we are lumped with the three prairie provinces. We are proud to have good coverage but not like this. We certainly populate this extreme weather book but it isn't happy history, except of hardiness and survival.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE! Sincerely, Carolyn!

Surprisingly inventive and differing so much from any other similar adventure styles, that you don't anticipate the turns and the reactions. It is short on details, introduction, and build-up because it leaps into the surreal situation. However there is plenty of emotion and connectivity between two sets of families, 140 years apart in history.

I have enjoyed Janet and Richard Bock's personal tour and interview experience all around India. Now they are elucidating the crux of their findings: the texts by "Saint Issa". They seem to make very clear that Issa was the transposition of Jesus's name in India. His life history measures up, adds the 18 missing years, and inspiring twists the usual book did not discuss. This book becomes increasingly enjoyable!