Tag: gothic

A toast to October, a month of thrills and chills

In my opinion, October is the best month of the year! It’s the month of red and purple and golden leaves; horror books and candy and pumpkins; spiced candles and costumes and caramel apples; scary movies and candy corn and…Okay, okay, I’ll stop. But, you get the picture, right? October rocks!  Orange sunrises and all! 

IMG_9292As you read on Monday, I had a fantastic writing weekend. I hardly took a break from my manuscript, producing over 10,000 words. However, not even my hyped up motivation or super-energized taping fingers could put a kibosh on my plans to decorate my house for Halloween. 

On Saturday morning, I climbed down into my crawl space to pull out the bins full of witches and cobwebs and BEWARE! signs. After rescuing these bins from Hell’s lair–I swear there’s a fanged beast down there, lurking in the shadows, watching and waiting to STRIKE!…Or, worse, a big fat spider dangling over my head or racing over to crawl down my shirt–shudder–I threw in a horror movie, lit my apple spiced candle and started draping my home in gloom and doom.

IMG_9311

IMG_9297Okay, my decor isn’t that gloomy or doomy. But, come on, I live alone and going to bed in a haunted mansion seems rather foolhardy. The last thing I need is to scare myself to death by walking into a hanging zombie or a leering ghoul in the middle of the night. 

IMG_9324IMG_9320IMG_9323

IMG_9317IMG_9314

I raise my glass to you, October! Here’s to another golden month of thrills and chills…and, inevitably, lots and lots of chocolate 😉 (clink, clink). 

Related articles

Book Review: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

6457229The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Synopsis

“These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me . . . and the one who cursed me.
So starts the diary of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthorpe, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.
A gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does man become the very thing he hunts?”

Jen’s Review

Goosebumps. Queasiness. Shivers. Those are just some of the things I felt while reading this young adult horror story by the talented Rick Yancey.

Now, although there was plenty of splattered blood, spilled guts and gnashing teeth, there was also plenty of story. When I wasn’t cringing and shuddering, I was laughing (Snap to, Will Henry! Snap to!), pondering and grieving. I thought each character was solidly written and constructed, the dialogue snappy and witty, and the story itself intriguing and terrifying.

Above all, I enjoyed the gradual evolution of Dr. Warthorpe and Will Henry’s relationship. Although they never reach that father/son status, a definite bond forms between them as the book progresses–an endearing, protective bond that connects the quirky monstrumologist and his reluctant assistant. “Oh, Will Henry. After all we have been through, how could I send you away now, at our most critical hour? You are indispensable to me.” Both man and boy prove to be equally determined, courageous and moralistic, giving the reader a reason to cheer and love them both.

With the month of October nearly upon us and Halloween just around the corner, I highly recommend this chilling yet touching read.

“Yes, my dear child, monsters are real. I happen to have one hanging in my basement.” 

Jen’s Rating

4 Star

For more details, click here.

Related articles