Something Wicked This Way Comes

I was inspired to read Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes from Steinbeck's Ghost because the Steinbeck-loving character also loved this novel by Bradbury. It's about two 13-year-old boys, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway, and their strange experience with a rather creepy carnival in October. It's a mix of fantasy and horror as well as an allegory of the struggle between good and evil. 

It was a little dense and required more putting together than I expected out of a young adult novel, so it's certainly for a more advanced young adult reader. It was written in '62, though, so I guess that makes sense for the differences in language. But really, I didn't love it. It's just not a very clear story, or really my type of novel. I recommend it for those who can handle the density of the novel as well as enjoy the dark poetry of Bradbury and, perhaps, Tim Burton? It does remind me of Burton in general . . . But I digress. If you like creepy horror-esque stories, give it a go. If you find your style is generally more in line with me, give it a pass. 

Why I Hate the Boys You Like (in books and sometimes movies)

Oft times, especially during the craze of a new book or movie, I hear other girls gossiping in fond admiration over the latest dreamboat. And all I can do is shake my head, because I don't like that dreamy sweetheart at all. In fact, I find him a little creepy, not romantic at all. As y'all probably know, I don't like Edward (Twilight), Ky (Matched, Crossed), or the movie-version of Noah (The Notebook, but only at the beginning).


They're romantic and sappy, but come off a little creepy if not stalker-y. It's kind of like when the boy you like does something and it's cute, but if a boy who likes you, who you don't like, does it, it's just creepy! Case in point: before Cass (in between Cass?) there was a boy. Looking back, not my best choice. Anyway, one day, he sent me a good morning text. And it pissed me off. Later, with Cass? The occasional good morning text was pleasant.


They're (generally) written by girl authors who have yet to learn how to write like a man.


(Not all authors do this! JK Rowling. Jodi Picoult. Suzanne Collins.)


I understand, it's hard. So don't do it.


Because of this, they act like boys think the same way girls think.
Ex: "I want to cover the tree in her name like I would cover her hand with mine."
PUKE


I want a man -- not a girl in disguise. This makes me worry if maybe I won't like Jane Austen? But it's weird. I just find all these boys creepy! And the thing is, girls really like the boys like that in real life. Like the boys that tuck them into bed at night and give them a kiss on their forehead. Okay, I can see how that can be endearing. But it hits creepy when "he takes such good care of me!" means that you're not equals in your relationship. I get it. I like to be taken care of sometimes, too. But I also take care of Cass. We're adults and we're equals. And, most importantly, he doesn't watch me sleep at night. 


[also, can anyone tell me why there's a hundred spaces between each paragraph??]

The Almost Moon

"Alice Sebold may be our true heiress to Edgar Allan Poe, a novelist who dares to write honestly about the banality of violence, and about how it lives next door to normalcy, in a mist." -Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer

Romano's analysis of Sebold and Almost Moon is completely correct; Sebold is eerily Poe. For a book about mother-daughter relations  and accountability for actions, it is a gripping story with an element of intensity and disgust. Our main character, Helen, is a mother and a daughter, but has always been primarily a daughter. Her mother holds an uncanny grip on her, despite Helen growing up and making a life of her own. Eventually Helen's mother becomes old and feeble. Helen is the only one who can take care of her, continuing to be insulted by her mother. Finally she can take it no longer, and kills her mother. The rest of the novel unfolds with the repercussions of Helen's actions and her resulting emotions. The emotions Helen struggles with are much more exciting than the actual action; it's really intense and makes you think. What would you do in this situation? 

This is a typical creepy book for me and I really enjoyed it! I recommend it, with the caution that it does delve into some un-mormon behaviors as well as touchy emotional subjects. Enjoy! 

Lost Boys

So I was pretty excited to read this book. It's by Orson Scott Card; I've enjoyed other works of his. He's a pretty good guy. Whatevs. And this is what it says on the back:

"As Stevie retreats into himself, focusing more and more on a mysterious computer game and a growing troop of imaginary friends, the Fletchers' concern turns to terror...And as evil strikes out from the most trusted corners, it's suddenly clear: Stevie's next on the list."

I thought I would love this.

I love creepy books. Ya know, ones that mess with ya. Nothing terrible. Mostly along the lines of Jodi Picoult. 

And then I find out the characters are Mormon. Kind of annoyingly Mormon. They keep having religions discussions throughout the book. And then they give us their formula for how they get new callings. Puke.

And the wife is terribly whiny. She's pregnant and has three other small children. From what I understand that's hard. I also understand that I was the same age as the oldest in the book when my Ma had baby number four. And I don't remember my mom being unable to make dinner or being unaware of what was going on in my life. Yet the wife in this book was totally unable to fulfill her homemaking duties, and is often whining to her husband that he should just quit his job and come home. 

And the book is a bunch of padding & fluff -- lots totally irrelevant to the actual  plot. I just kept waiting for the real story to happen.Waiting and waiting and waiting. 400 pages of waiting!

And then the ending is just terrible. It was almost too real in the emotions and the possibility of my children [who are far off in the future!] being hurt or taken. But at the same time, it was totally ridiculous and impossible. [Spoiler: Ghosts, Spirits, Apparitions, Whatever you want to call it, OF THE DEAD CHILDREN. I didn't buy it.]

And I felt totally creeped out and couldn't sleep. 

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU LOVE CREEPY BOOKS. Like, HORROR books full of irrelevant fluff. 

I think this is probably Card's worst work ever. I haven't read everything he's ever written, but I have read a fair sample, and this is a fair assessment. 

Also, I apologize for my ridiculous use of bold. I kind of feel like a teenage girl right now.