pickThis book was insane, I actually dropped it as I physically reacted to a scene of horror. (Which never happens)
The characters are extremely unlikable and its a bit over the top, but damn if it didn't get me caught up in a story and entertained by where it went.
It's not a castle per se, but it's castle-like enough! One of my favorite openings for a book EVER!
“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more.“ ⬇️
pickSet during a time when Black Americans were empowered to correct centuries of wrongs, This Cursed House is as much about empowerment and self-discovery as it is about the ugliest form of intra-race hatred—colorism. Featuring a host of fair-skinned antagonists too shallow to realize segregation begins at home, it offers a glimpse into why the South is as gothic and horrific as the intergenerational trauma it breeds.
Best described as social commentary disguised as fiction, readers experiencing personal and cultural disruption will find themselves fiercely grounded in place.
pickOne of these books I've heard so much about, but never read it. Until now. And oh, how I loved this eerie atmosphere. I guess Hill House got me too, at least I was reading it while in a stadium waiting for the game to begin. The tension is building up very slowly, but it getting more and more intense. I especially loved how the feelings between the characters are changing and changing and ever changing.
pickI enjoyed this novel set in Kentucky and written by a Kentucky author. It was refreshing to relate to the unique features of Kentucky, such as its flowers, limestone, hollars, and sinkholes. It‘s a tale that delves into the complexities of difficult emotions, particularly those stemming from loss. I had an unfortunate problem with my copy though - a major oversight by the publisher.
Full Review abookandadog.com/blog/starling-house
pickShirley Jackson does creepy so so well.
Also, my goal of having fewer than 100 books on my TBR by the end of the year is in danger because of book purchasing. *sigh*
pickSuper unsettling and actually difficult to listen to in parts (this was an audiobook with excellent narration). The characters behave in ways that are so reprehensible I actually yelled in anger, but nothing in the story is what it seems at first—it‘s not cheap tricks though, just layers being peeled back. I could guess the mystery but that didn‘t make the story any less engrossing.
pickThis was excellent! Not ultimately super scary, but such a great exploration of toxic family dynamics!
pickA dark love story, set in a haunted house.
Enjoyed it for a “change” of genre 😂
