What are you reading at the moment?

I am reading a series of horror fairytale books at the moment. Otherwise known as kitchen furniture catalogues. The fairytale kitchens come with seriously scary prices! 😨🤣

As I try to yank myself back into the world of reading, I am starting a short novel that's been on my radar for a while (actually it might be a novella, forget how long it actually is). Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a horror story set in a creepy old Japanese mansion. A wealthy young man gets a permit to hold a wedding for some friends in the mansion where terrible things (like people being buried alive) happened. The author is Cassandra Khaw (they/them), a Malaysian-born writer who has put out several acclaimed horror and dark fantasy pieces as well as writing for the videogame industry.

When Elves Attack

I am reading the first volume of Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories, a three-volume biography of the poet, author, and songwriter by Canadian journalist Michael Posner. It's an interesting format with Posner alternating his writing with quotes from the myriad interviews he did with friends, family, and associates of Cohen. And, of course, Lenny himself. Still in the early chapters but it has some of the best coverage of Cohen's upbringing and his family's, especially his grandfather's, significant role in Westmount, the part of Montreal where he grew up that I have seen in a bio. Leonard's own first novel, The Favorite Game, is heavily autobiographical and Posner does point out when a person he is quoting or talking about had a corresponding character in the novel.

The Jungle Books, I have read some of the stories in the past but have not read the whole book before.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Let's see, there's the comp entries here (I have a few to catch up on), the aforementioned bio of Leonard Cohen, and maybe other stuff. I am trying to get back into the Great Courses course on New Testament that I started earlier in the year so might do some Bible reading (though the last two lectures were more background on the early church as reflected in Paul's letters than the testament itself).

No Excuses by Gloria Feldt but I haven't finished it yet.

Quote by MikeHanson

The Jungle Books, I have read some of the stories in the past but have not read the whole book before.

Love those stories.

Just finished Malorie, the sequel to Bird Box. Really good and scary. Probably read a horror play called One Neck next.

I got a long list of books I'm reading:

Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone (decided to read the series again after just finishing the movies recently)

Twilight (just cause it's an old favorite)

Harry Potter A Magical Year

Blooming Crochet Hats (looking for a pattern for a baby hat for my niece's baby girl due in a few months to go along with the blanket I'm crocheting for her )

The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

It's a different take on the standard vampire story. I loved it.

Quote by gillianleeza

The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

It's a different take on the standard vampire story. I loved it.

I heard Grady a few times as a guest on podcasts. Quite a character. Still haven't got around to reading him yet, though.

Quote by Mendalla

I heard Grady a few times as a guest on podcasts. Quite a character. Still haven't got around to reading him yet, though.

He is definitely a character. I read a second book of his, "The Final Girl Support Club". It wasn't as good as the first one I read, but he has a particular style. If you are a fan of 80's horror movie genres and horror pulp fiction, you will enjoy his books. I am a fan of both.

I am starting Owen King's new book, "The Curator." I like his previous work. I am a fan of both Stephen King's sons.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Oddly, for one not really actively Christian, The Gospels. I am a leader on a discussion forum called Bible Passage of the Week on another site and we've been doing stories related to Easter and Holy Week recently.

I'm reading The Pallbearers Club by Paul Trembly. "A cleverly voiced psychological thriller about an unforgettable—and unsettling—friendship, with blood-chilling twists, crackling wit, and a thrumming pulse in its veins, from the nationally bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and Survivor Song."

I like some of his other books, and it's very entertaining so far.

The Cat's Meow. An evolutionary biologist writing about cat behavior. It' good

Quote by gillianleeza

I'm reading The Pallbearers Club by Paul Trembly. "A cleverly voiced psychological thriller about an unforgettable—and unsettling—friendship, with blood-chilling twists, crackling wit, and a thrumming pulse in its veins, from the nationally bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and Survivor Song."

I like some of his other books, and it's very entertaining so far.

I really like him. Have you read A Head Full of Ghosts?

Quote by verbal

I really like him. Have you read A Head Full of Ghosts?

I have read it. He has a new book coming out soon. I believe it is a collection of short fiction.

I finished "Holly" by Stephen King. It was one of his better novels.

Reading Pink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke so far so good. Waiting patiently for John Grisham book the Exchange which is a follow up to the Firm

I'm reading Larry McMurtry:A Life. Just got to the part where he is writing Terms of Endearment. Then I am going reread Lonesome Dove for the third time.

Quote by verbal

I'm reading Larry McMurtry:A Life. Just got to the part where he is writing Terms of Endearment. Then I am going reread Lonesome Dove for the third time.

Funny, but I always forget Terms of Endearment was his. I always associate him with Westerns because of Lonesome Dove. Never read either, just know the media adaptations.

I remember watching Lonesome Dove when it first appeared on television. I did not like Westerns, but I read the book after seeing the adaption because I enjoyed the miniseries.

I am reading "American Prometheus" about Robert Oppenheimer and the book the current movie is based upon. I have not seen the movie and thought I knew a bit about the subject. This book introduces so much more background and information.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Quote by gillianleeza

I am reading "American Prometheus" about Robert Oppenheimer and the book the current movie is based upon. I have not seen the movie and thought I knew a bit about the subject. This book introduces so much more background and information.

I plan on reading that next

I finished "Chasing the Boogeyman" by Richard Chizmar. It's a mixture of true crime and autobiography, or is it? I enjoyed it, and now I am waiting my turn on a library hold for his new book, "Becoming the Boogeyman".

Wellness, by Nathan Hill. Excellent so far. Even if it is an Oprah book club pick

"Introduction to a Devout Life," by St. Francis de Sales

HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. It’s good so far.

All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell. The subject matter can be difficult, but it was a fascinating book.

Reading list from my Cruise:

A Collection of Short Stories and No One Writes to the Colonel, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

We were stopping in his homeland (Colombia) on the cruise and I have never read the Nobel winner so I decided to do so. Very good writing and some intriguing characters and stories but a bit too morose for my mood these days.

A Brief History of Earth, Andrew H. Knoll

In 8 chapters, geologist Knoll takes us from the Big Bang to the Anthropocene. Does a good job of giving a high level look at our world's history and our place in it.

Hadrian's Wall, Adrian Goldsworthy

Nice overview history of the Roman wall that runs across Northern England. Cute anecdote about the author scratching out the "H" in "Hadrian" in a book when he was a kid so it would be "Adrian's Wall".

The End of Everything, Katie Mack

A cosmologist looks at various ways the universe could end and, in doing so, gives a good review of various current theories and speculations about it origins and nature. Good pop science in the vein of Sagan or Degrasse Tyson.