And Then There Were None

Agatha Christie is the mama of mystery. She created the “closed door” mystery and wrote memorable characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her mysteries are complex, but “cozy” in the sense that the audience does not read about the death as it is happening and most of her mysteries take place with middle class society in quaint locations. Christie is also known for stories that are solvable by the reader prior to getting to the end. On top of all this, she is the most translated author, outside of religious texts.

Although I know about her celebrated novels and my parents quite enjoy watching Poirot mysteries on Masterpiece Theatre, I've never read an Agatha Christie novel. Feeling it my duty to read the classics and expand my knowledge, I picked up perhaps her most famous work, And Then There Were None (or Ten Little Indians if you’re not worried about being politically correct).

Christie sets up her story with ten characters all traveling to an island off of England. None of them know one another, but all are connected in what will become a deathly visit. All of the men and women on the island are accused of a crime and from here, they begin to die off. With each death, a little soldier figurine goes missing and the guests get more and more frantic. Is there some lunatic on the island exacting revenge, or is it one of their own?

Christie’s characters all have a back story. Some of them are somewhat one dimensional, but then again, they don’t last long enough to become fully formed. The characters that last until the near end have stories and personalities that leave you wondering…could he/she be a criminal and killer. The setting was perfect: a mansion on a lonely rock in the middle of nothing. While reading, I could see the ocean and smell the salt air. I felt the anxiety the characters felt and mentally told them not to go off alone. Although, as in most mysteries, I just wanted to know who the damn killer was along with the why and how, I found myself eagerly anticipating the next action and trying to deduce who it might be. I thought I knew, then it couldn't be that character, and I would reformulate. That is half the fun with Christie’s novel. On top of that the explanation at the end was complex and rewarding.

I don’t always read mysteries, because instead of concentrating on the journey, I find myself concentrating on the ending. Miss Christie was a truly enjoyable author to read, however. Although she wrote her books in the 1920s and ‘30s, they still remain fun reads today. If you haven’t tried her works yet, give them a shot! They’re not terribly long and they are diverting. In my opinion, this is a classic worth reading.

Since she has been around for a while, a lot of people have imitated her style. Here are some authors who write stories like Agatha Christie.

• M.C. Beaton. Much like Christie, Beaton has created memorable characters in the form of Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth. These are also puzzle mysteries, so the reader can try to solve it before the detectives.
• Louise Penny. This Canadian mystery writer focuses on Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who has high morals and a big appetite. These are more leisurely paced mysteries and feature quirky secondary characters on top of intriguing crimes.
• Ngaio Mars. Cozy mysteries set during “the Golden Age of Crime” are also like Christie in the sense that they don’t contain graphic violence and follow one inspector around.

Pride and Prejudice Reread

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is my go to favorite book. How many times are you asked “what’s your favorite book?” as soon as you pronounce that reading is one of your favorite hobbies? Probably a lot. Well over the years I've adopted P&P as my favorite, whether out of convenience, true love, or literary popularity, I've never been quite sure. Although I absolutely love Jane Austen, it was about time for a rereading of my favorite on top of it being my pick for the Bicentenary Challenge!

First let me go through what I get when I tell people Pride and Prejudice is my favorite:

• “Ugh that’s boring”
• “Huh. So what do you want for an appetizer?”
• “God I hated that book. It’s so boring and the language is so old.”
• “I've never read it.”
• “That is such a good book. Now let’s talk about it and all its merits!”
• “I hated it because it was hard for me to write a paper about.” (this actually was a reaction I got)

Am I a snob? Yeah a little. Maybe by saying P&P is one of my favorites reflects my snobbery. For those who did not enjoy Jane Austen or thought Pride and Prejudice was boring, I understand! If you have reasons for backing up your dislike, awesome! That’s fine. Not everyone needs to like what I like and yes, Austen’s writing is 200 years old, and so it’s dated. Love stories are not everyone’s cup of tea, but what I truly adore about Austen is that the novel is so much more than a quaint story of a beloved character getting what and who she deserves. There’s a reason we still read it.

Well hopefully, my dear reader, you know the story of Jane Austen’s most popular work Pride and Prejudice, but let me refresh you. Elizabeth Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman with a silly mother and three silly younger sisters. Luckily, she has an older sister who is sweet as pie and a beloved confidant, Jane. Jane falls for the new rich guy, Mr. Bingley, who moves in next door. Bingley has a very rich friend, Mr. Darcy, who is snobby and condescending. Bingley goes away leaving Jane heartbroken and not too long after, Elizabeth runs into Darcy. Darcy proposes and is refused, because of misunderstood intentions and bad information.  However, through explanation and time, Elizabeth begins to favor him. In the end, Darcy reforms as does Elizabeth and he ends up proposing again. Bingley comes back and marries Jane. La di da, almost everyone is happy!

My rereading of my favorite book reasserted that I adore this novel. I read a list about books that are red flags if people claim them as a favorite and women who say P&P is their favorite are overly romantic and just want to turn the rich snobby guy into their white knight. Maybe, but there’s so much more to it than that very shallow reading. Here’s my list of reasons to love Austen or at least appreciate her.

• Jane Austen is a sociologist/psychologist. She writes characters better than any other author I've encountered. There’s a seamless quality to her description of who a character is, what their motivations are, where they come from, and how they mingle in society.
• As historical fodder, Austen is remarkable. While reading, you understand how society, class, and money played a role in the lives of Regency era people. These books give an understanding of a different time period.
• And yet, Austen did not pigeon hole herself by only being relevant to one era. She didn't give much detail about politics, war, or happenings during the era, so the stories are easily transferable to modern culture.
• Her stories are timeless with themes that are still relevant today such as forgiveness, prejudice, love, duty, honor, slacking morals, and reputation.

This time around, I was more aware of the growing affection Elizabeth felt for Darcy. My one complaint in the past was that in the end it just seems like Lizzy and Darcy are thrown together and she suddenly forgives him. In my rereading, I saw as her feelings developed and how her prejudice against him dropped. Their coupling then did not feel abrupt, instead I longed for him to go to her sooner and for her to say something. Also this time, it took me a number of chapters to be completely absorbed in the book. I understand it starts off as dry reading, but once you get past the first few chapters, and the foolish Mr. Collins shows up, you get sucked in.

Sorry for the length of this post, but my favorite book deserves some recognition. If you’ve never read it, well you should, but it’s not necessary, unless you want to be my friend (friendship with me is very rigorous). If you've read it, awesome! Let’s talk sometime. If you didn’t like it, well your opinion is invalid and you’re an imbecile. I’m kidding! You probably just have no tasteJ

Happy reading, dear reader! 

A Wind in the Door

In second grade, my very bestest friend, also named Kristin (the reason we became besties), had our teacher read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle aloud to us. Now Kristin is a very smart cookie. She was way ahead of me and a voracious and sophisticated reader ahead of her time. At the age of 7/8, A Wrinkle in Time was a bit ahead of me, but I remember being thoroughly absorbed in it. I reread the book a few years ago and am astonished that it was read to me at 7. It’s kind of intense! Well I decided I really wanted to finish the series because it’s a classic and I love the titles.

A Wind in the Door is the second book in the Time series. Charles Wallace, the youngest of the Murry siblings has just started school and is coming home bloodied and bruised because he doesn’t fit in. Now he is seeing dragons and starting to get very sick. Meg, his older sister, soon discovers the “dragon” as well and is taken on a journey with Calvin O’Keefe and a few new arrivals through the universe and into the mitochondirion of Charles Wallace. This is a journey to save Charles Wallace’s life and help dispose of a force so hateful that it seeks to extinguish all life.

The Time series is most certainly science fiction. The Murry parents are both scientists, and a lot of the extraordinary things that happen to the children revolve around science and different discoveries the parents are currently making. Although I am thrown off by science-y science fiction (chemistry and physics you allude me yet again!), this book was not out of my comprehension. I mean it is for children, so I would hope it wouldn’t be over my head. I kept waiting for the children to go somewhere out of this world and it wasn’t until about half way through the book that they finally left God’s green earth. In this I was frustrated because I was impatiently waiting for more to come. My expectations were not met with a whole new universe until the book was about half done. Then the problem became that events got melodramatic. Maybe I’m too old to be reading this book, but the way Meg interacted with the other characters and the level of drama annoyed me. There was too much explanation on top of panic and confusion. Everything got jumbled together and it felt like we were rushing to get to the end.

Although I still think it’s a well written classic, it was not my favorite. I will finish the series and I do highly recommend Ms. L’Engle for children who love science or science fiction. 

Manly Classics...Beer and Bulls

Ernest Hemingway. That name stirs up thoughts of Key West, drinking, and misogynistic bastards. Oops did I just say that? Well anyone who knows anything about Hemingway probably knows he isn’t exactly kind or favorable to his two dimensional women.

Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises is about hedonistic ex-pats living in Paris. Our main character is Jake, a newspaper writer. This was Hemingway’s first novel and as with the other novel I read, seems kind of useless. Things happen, but with emotions that linger beneath the surface and thoughts that are never spoken. Hemingway uses his words sparingly, and sometimes it makes the story seem pointless.

The characters are complicated. What they want, where they come from, why they are who they are is never explained. The reader is thrown into their lives and is taken through their current daily happenings. All the characters seem to do is drink and party. They travel all the time and have lovers, some sort of writing careers, and are almost unbelievable. The thing that saved them for me was all of their flaws. One of the men was not particularly popular with the group. Most of them had money troubles, yet continued to spend. They were all overly indulgent with liquor, but seemed to know how to enjoy a good wine and a fabulous meal.

Hemingway’s writing style is stark. He was not one to over explain or get overly detailed. This is what he is known for. He was a newspaper writer prior to being a novelist, and one can see the influence of that profession upon his novel writing. Get to the point and don’t be overly wordy about it, seems to be his motto. The events and things that Hemingway does emphasize are significant to him. These are the things that are important to life; appreciating a good wine, a sporting event, the sun and sand on a beach.

As for the recurring woman in this book, she’s not much to call home about. Brett is a heart breaker and someone who doesn’t seem to care who she hurts as long as she gets her way. She’s a bitch. Her relationship with the men in the novel is complicated. She has been intimate with at least two of these men and then goes on trips and meets other men, yet she is engaged. I did not understand how she functioned and why her behavior was so confusing. Why would her fiancé remain with her when she publicly goes off with other men? Why would she stay in the relationship when she is involved with other men and says she is in love with Jake and he with her? She isn’t realistic. The thing is she actually was based on a woman in Hemingway’s life. As much as I hear Hemingway is a misogynist, his novels always seem to focus around a woman. Maybe he doesn’t understand the female sex, but he sure does enjoy their presence and writing about them.

Jake is a good ole boy. He’s easy going and adventurous. He’s a man who seems to make friends easily and knows what he wants. Jake is always helping Brett out of her complicated situations, which was another one of my annoyances. Brett, for all her independence, was unable to function without a man at her side. Hemingway’s men are men. They have emotions and will be private with their sentiments, but are adventurous, drinkers, and love taking life by the throat. However, most of them, as stated before, don’t have themselves together.

This novel is known for the bullfighting. Jake and his friends travel to Pamplona for the annual fiesta and running of the bulls, an event that still occurs to this day and my father won’t let up on my sister about not seeing when she was in Spain. Anywho, this is where some characteristic violence enters the scene and Hemingway’s testosterone does a manly dance (I couldn't explain said dance to you, but I hope you know a man who dances and can base your manly dance on him). Description of the bull fights, the matadors, and violence on the scene, although not grotesque, are finally talked about towards the end of the novel. I suppose I expected a bit more emphasis on the bull fighting since I thought this was a novel about that subject.

Hemingway was one of his own characters or his characters were him. Whereas many authors’ novels are more enjoyable and adventurous than the author was themselves, Hemingway is known to be everything and more that he wrote about. He lived a full life of adventure, love affairs, violence, and in the end tragedy. Hemingway believed in writing the truth, so all of his novels are based on real life events or people.

If you enjoy the straight to the point style that Hemingway crafted, Joan Didion has a similar sparse style. If you’re looking for more of the man-man writing that is so fundamentally Hemingway, try The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. This is a novel about a soldier’s emotional and physical well-being during the American Civil War. Crane was also a journalist, but his style is more detailed than Hemingway.

Happy Reading!

Holiday Reading: Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a fantastic holiday. You gather to enjoy a delectable meal (so long as whoever cooks it is a good cook), you relax, watch football or movies, and give thanks for what you have. No worries about buying presents or having to prepare more than just the meal. It’s truly a lovely holiday.

Well for Thanksgiving, the first book I read was An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott. Alcott, the author of Little Women, sets a quaint scene of family life in early 1800s New Hampshire. The Bassett’s are in the midst of preparing for the Thanksgiving feast that will occur the next day. The girls help their mother cook, while the boys do chores and care for the animals. Suddenly, mother gets word that her mother has become very ill and she must rush away with Papa to be by her side. This leaves the children alone at the house with the oldest child being 16 year old Eph and 14 year old Tilly in charge of all the kids. Now unlike today’s children who would probably run rampant, these children do their chores and maintain the house. The next day, Tilly decides to continue with the Thanksgiving feast anyway because Papa is supposed to be coming home for dinner. Thus her and the girls start cooking their mother’s recipes from memory, which, of course, ends up being a bit of a culinary adventure.

This is a sweet story. It gives the reader a descriptive sense of home life during the time and introduces a loving family. The story reminded me a bit of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories in the Little House on the Prairie series. The way the family divvies up chores and interacts with one another is similar to Wilder’s accounts. It’s always fascinating to me to hear about how people lived when they had to make most things themselves and live a self-sustaining life. This is a very short account of that.

The story is about fifteen pages long, so yes it is very short. Think of this as a good story to tell your children on the Eve of Thanksgiving. It’s warm and easy to get through. Some of the language is outdated, but remember this takes place in the early 1800s and was written in the 1800s, so it’s no wonder some vocabulary and syntax are old fashioned.

If you enjoy adorable things and family events, then sit down for 20 minutes and read this story. If you regret it, it was only 20 minutes!

Classic Science-Fiction

Isaac Asimov is a prevalent name in science-fiction. He was one of the first sci-fi writers who was actually respected and paid well for his craft, and today he is still a force in and outside of his genre. He deserves to be read because his ideas are at play today.

The three laws of robotics say that a robot cannot harm a human or through inaction cause a human harm, they must obey humans, and they must keep themselves out of harms way. "I, Robot" deals with these laws and the history of robotics through an episodic retelling by Susan Calvin to a reporter. Susan is the leading robopsychologist as US Robotics in the mid 21st century, but she is retiring. Through short stories the audience hears tell of robots from early on who could not speak to robots in the mid 21st century who run the economy. Each chapter is a new story of how a problem arouse with a robot and how the three laws can explain any flukes the robots may have. Each story is linked together with familiar characters and the fact that this is all connected back to Susan who is relaying this story. Because each story is about a robot who has gone wrong, or something weird that has happened, they are mini-mysteries or puzzles. Each error needs to be corrected, but first the scientists must figure out why and how the mistake happened. This is not all set in a lab, however, but some are on Earth, others are in space, or on other planets.

The book is not like the movie...at all. I think the movie is actually based off of the first novel in the robot series, "The Caves of Steel". Originally Asimov published each story in sci-fi magazines and then put them all together in the book with the connective tissue being Susan Calvin's memoir. They work as a whole, but you can tell they are meant as individual pieces. As I think is typically the case with a lot of sci-fi, characters come second to plot and ideas. The characters are dimensional, but they are not the focus of the novel. Instead it's really about robotics, and the speculative future.

Personally this book wasn't for me. I'm not a futuristic, technology, space person, and there is some technical language in here that my anti-science brain didn't like. It was not over zealous on tech language and it's nothing the average reader should be afraid of, but it just doesn't appeal to me. On top of that I thought the pace of each story was a bit more leisurely and longer than I would like, especially when I'm already turned off by the setting and plot line. I am not saying this was a bad novel. On the contrary it was good. Asimov is able to write well and he set up a nice world for more books about robot/human interaction and artificial intelligence. I will not be reading them though.

If you like sci-fi, or if you want to diversify yourself and step outside of your boundaries, you should try giving Asimov a read. If not this novel, try The Caves of Steel. It is a mystery and the pace is compelling, but it still holds the sci-fi elements that are important and it is a part of the "I, Robot" universe.

The Wind in the Willows

I have been reading this book in spurts for quite some time. That is some of the beauty of Kenneth Grahame's little piece. Sure you can read it in one fell swoop, but it's also easy to put it down and pick it back up whenever. It's as relaxed and easy a read as the river by which it takes place.

As a girl, my parent's read me a few of the stories from The Wind and the Willows. They were in story book form, however, instead of the novel form I've read. There were beautiful drawings of Rat and Mole, the Wild Woods, and the Riverbank. I thought it was magical as a child. How I wished for those woods and waterways, the ambling lifestyle of the characters, and the beauty of nature that they lived in harmony with.  The four main characters of the stories are Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. They live in England in the country in the early 20th century. As an adult going back to those first stories and then reading through the entire book, I wondered why this book is a classic? Why is it for adults and children? I enjoyed reading it and still had the longings of my childhood, but I was trying to understand the meaning, if there is one, behind the concept for the stories. Upon asking my father, the ever wise patriarch of my family, he said that The Wind in the Willows is about life and lifestyles. The four characters represent different characteristics and lifestyles.

Toad is the easiest to place. He is conceited, wealthy, extravagant. He has few redeeming characteristics, but does love his friends, however he gets in loads of trouble because he is unable to see the fault in his actions.

Water Rat is friendly, outgoing, clever, intelligent, and always ready with a helping paw. He tries to set Toad right when he needs it, and he befriends Mole and shows him the world. He loves his River and the people on it and is happy with floating down it with a picnic basket and a good buddy.

Mole is sensible, patient, kind-hearted, and a good listener. He too cares about his friends and shyly makes new ones, but is ready for his new adventures in the River world.

Badger is wise, stern, speaks softly, but carries a big stick, he is fond of solitude, but generous when he is around others.

The stories are good for a languid afternoon or a drowsy evening. The whole book encompasses a year. My favorites are "The Riverbank", "The Wild Wood" (which leads into "Mr. Badger"), and "Dulce Domum". Pretty much the stories involving Mole and Rat. Whether these sophisticated creatures are getting lost in the woods, reeking havoc on the road, or enjoying evenings together, it's a testament to how one can enjoy life in several different ways. This is not a moral that screams at you, but you'll find yourself dreaming about such lifestyles for years to come. I can't wait to read these stories to my nieces and nephews (once one of my siblings has a kid) and have them dreaming of streams and wooded adventures.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

*I must preface this post with the fact that I have yet to finish Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse". I know naughty, naughty, but Ms Woolf is a lot for me to handle and I need to write/move on to a lighter read. I promise I will finish this book once I get all of my projects, research, and papers out of the way. *

Virginia Woolf is not for everybody. I understand that. Even as a student of literature and a proclaimed lover of books, I struggle with her writing. Every time I pick up a piece of her work, I feel a weight settle in on my shoulders. It's like homework a lot of the time. I have to concentrate on every sentence in order to catch the meaning, subtle digs, and thoughts that are pulsing beneath the surface. But like a well thought out assignment, one may start it reluctantly, but in the end, it broadens your horizons, teaches you something, and, God forbid, you may actually enjoy it.

Woolf is a challenge to me. "To the Lighthouse" is a book that sat on my shelf for years collecting dust. I'll tell anyone who asks that I am fascinated and reverent of Woolf. She wrote one of my favorite books/series of essays, but the truth of the matter is I struggle just picking up her work. "To the Lighthouse" is quintessential Woolf. There isn't much of a plot and you skip from one character's thoughts to the next. This is frustrating. It's hard to follow and often semi-boring. So why read her? Let me tell you my thoughts on the subject....

Woolf will not drive you through her novel with captivating plot points or even characters you fall in love with. But Woolf is a bloody good writer! She's a literature lover's wet dream. Each sentence carries weight and often times it's not what's said that matters, it's the space between. Woolf does what I've noticed most of my favorite authors do, she breaks people down. This book is not about going to the lighthouse, it's about the journey or non-journey there. She makes one average day into an existential interior dialog. The brilliance of Woolf is that she sees genius in the everyday, average people as deep thinkers. One does not need a catastrophic event to make them think about life. Everyday offers the opportunity for realization, philosophy, contemplation of life, the meaning of it all, God, and existence. Woolf is a master at her craft because you can read her words over and over again and find new meaning each time. She writes beautifully and it feels effortless.

My sister and I discussed the characters in Woolf's novels and how they all seem egocentric. I must agree that for the most part they are selfish and egotistic. But let's consider that we are invading their private thoughts. Who of us isn't almost always thinking of our self? Mrs. Ramsay, one of the main characters in this book, has many thoughts about not being understood. She is a woman with nine children who gives her time, love, and devotion to them everyday. I don't think Woolf is trying to separate the characters from one another, but bring them closer to their audience. Many of Woolf's readers are women of a certain age who perhaps feel like Mrs. Ramsay, which is to say unseen as an individual, and can relate to her in many ways. Their personal thoughts are meant to enrich our own lives and show us we are not alone in our struggles.

"To the Lighthouse" is a good Woolf read, though I think "Mrs. Dalloway" offers a better variety and I preferred the stories in "Mrs. Dalloway". I enjoyed the scenery in "TtL". The Scottish coast gives a relaxed, yet contemplative atmosphere to the novel. One of my favorite characters is Charles Tansley, the one character whose thoughts are not as deep and meaningful as he thinks they are.

Here's my suggestion: if you're into Woolf, give it a try. If you've read Woolf and think she's brilliant, but perhaps not someone you want to continue reading, understandable. If you are of neither of these opinions, then just leave her be. It is worth reading at least an extract of her work, to see why she is still relevant, but you don't have to torture yourself. Unless you're into masochism. Just don't tell me about it.

Elementary my dear Reader.

Does Sherlocke Holmes ever go out of style? That's a rhetorical question. If you don't know the answer please stop reading now. Yes I am being a snob, but I think by recognizing that it takes away some of the ill favor that marries itself with snobbery.

Anywho chaps, if you haven't read any Holmes, no worries. Sherlocke is a classic figure that nearly everyone recognizes for good reason. This is one bloody brilliant fictional character (though I doubt Doyle was a dim wit himself) and his stories make for good reading.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is perhaps his most famous book and my second literary encounter with Sherlocke. Always the logical, detail oriented, violin playing, addict, Holmes is up against what he takes to be his most worthy opponent. A family phantom in the form of a wolf is stalking the great Baskerville family, killing the current male taking residence at the family estate. Watson goes with the newest member to take possession to see if he can gather clues for Holmes and what follows is an interesting account of the people, place, and events that occur.

I enjoyed reading this book. I'm not terribly fond of mystery novels because I just want to know what happened or who done it. Doyle is a fantastic writer and keeps his audience engaged and fascinated by the story and Sherlocke's mannerisms and explanations. I still found myself wanting to get to the end so I could learn who the culprit was and why they did it. I suggest giving Baskerville a shot. It's a classic, and not one of the dry ones that everyone says they read, but never did. There is life within these pages and Sherlock is an intriguing character. Sit down, get your pipe, magnifying glass, and plaid cape ready and read perhaps the most famous and brilliant fictional detective that has been written.

Anne

There are those works that leave you hopeless. Once you finish rifling through its pages you're heartbroken and the rest of your day is ruined for the loss of those beautiful words. The characters, plot, writing have touched you in a way that makes it futile to even try for happiness. Your life seems simple and trivial in comparison and you wish for the world of the book back.

Welcome to my current state of being.

I have just put down "Anne of the Island", the third installment of the 'Anne of Green Gables' series. The past two books were enjoyable and I grew to love Anne, the charismatic, imaginative, charming girl of Canada. But it was the third book that blew me away. Anne goes to college to get her BA and she's truly grown up now. Her struggles, triumphs, dashed hopes, and confused romances echoed my own experiences. I connected with Anne in this book as I hadn't in the others. Her encounters with romance and her tarnished girlhood images of what romance should be resonated with me. After four years at college, her sense of loss at having to leave the place that was her home and the girls who became her best friends was almost an exact match to the despondent feelings I felt at leaving my own Alma Mater.

In Anne I find a hero, an ideal, a girl to whom I should aspire. She is good, loving, and kind yet she has faults. I want to be as decided and clear in my morals and attitudes as she is on the page. Anne has become royalty in my world of literary characters. She is a new favorite, the likes of which is rare to find in literature and the world.

The Halloween Tree

Seeing as I'm cheap and prefer to borrow some books from the library, I didn't get Ray Bradbury's book, The Halloween Tree until after Halloween. So much for my Halloween spirit.

Well this book is about young Tom Skeleton and his gang of Trick-or-Treaters. It's Halloween night and the boys go to meet their best bud Pipkin at a strange secluded, squeky house at the edge of town. There they meet Mr. Moundshroud, the eerie Tim Burton-esque man, who takes the boys on a journey to discover why Halloween exists. 

The book was creepy at places, especially as I thought about reading it to a child. It was an easy read and informative. I learned about different celebrations of the dead throughout history and the world. The writing flowed well and the pictures were great. This is a short book and is worth a quick read. I could certainly see a youngish boy liking this one. Perhaps it's the fact that I could see Tim Burton jumping all over this book that made me wary. I didn't have a problem with this book, but if it went on for much longer I don't think I would have felt inspired to continue reading. It wasn't an entrancing read for me, but seeing as this is a children's book, perhaps they would find more worth in the pages.

Shivers down your back....

In order to get into the season I have decked out my apartment with pumpkins, a few Halloween decorations, and other fall favorites. But I needed to REALLY get into the halloween mindset, so a little Poe always does the trick (along with ghost shows and scary movies)! He may not be Wes Craven, but this is classic horror we're talking about people! He was the granddaddy of all the greats and he's just a creepy dead writer (anyone who was in love with a family member is kinda odd in my book).

SO...I read 'The Cask of Amontillado', a short little number that isn't frightening until you start thinking about it. It's a tale of revenge, as are a lot of Poe's pieces, and somewhat of the psychological consequences thereof. The ending was a little creepy to actually picture, but it's tame in comparison to other Poe stories, so I still think I need to read some more. I would suggest giving it a read. It takes a matter of minutes to get through, so why not? I still need some more Poe frights! 'The Black Cat' creeped me out when I was a kid. It reminds me a bit of pet semetary with the dead cat coming back to life. Poe must have been one messed up guy to think of all this stuff, but they say there's a thin line between genius and insane. I think Poe may have slipped a little bit between them.

A little later.....
Ok so I just picked up my Poe book again to read 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and I needed to talk some more about him. I adore his style. He doesn't start his stories off by giving background or reminding you that this is a story, he dives right into his subject as if you're part of all the has preceded. I always start off a bit confused about what's going on, but then he works you in. In 'The pit...', he begins with the characters mental state and it feels like he's working out his current frame of mind and situation to himself. Poe effortlessly makes his audience a part of the current situation, which is the most frightening part of his tales. You feel the damp walls that the character feels, hear the raven's caw, and fear for the outcome of the situation. He's brilliant, and although sometimes dry at first and the language can be difficult, Poe is a master.