Happy Halloween!

I posted earlier in the month that I was going to dedicate my reading and blogging blitz for October to horror books! Ah yes....the classic macabre! Before I list the books I want to mention a few things. First, this is not a top 10 list of the world's best horror written in the last century! I obviously tried to fit in some of the best written classics, but failed miserably as the 31st quickly approached. Three authors I missed (shame on me) were Poe, Koontz, and Bradford. Ugggh! 

Second, I had a few repeats in the author section! Honorable mention goes out to Joe Hill (son of Stephen King) for getting two books in October and being my favorite author thus far through the blitz. Seriously, watch out Dad! We have a master coming up through the ranks. Second honorable mention goes to Bram Stoker! (Go figure. Especially when a writing award is named after you.) 

Third, I had a few new authors thrown into the mix and I would highly suggest reading their book. Applause for Nick Cutter and M.R. Carey. 

Reading Blitz for October "Fright Night Month Theme"

18. "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

19. "Dracula's Guest" by Bram Stoker

20. "Heart Shaped Box" by Joe Hill 

21. "Horns" by Joe Hill

22. "Mr. Mercedes" by Stephen King

23. "The Troop" by Nick Cutter

24. "At the Mountains of Madness" by H.P. Lovecraft

25. "Legend of Sleepy Hollow"  by Washington Irving

26. "Mr. B Gone" by Clive Barker

27. "The Girl With All The Gifts" by M.R. Carey

28. "Dark Matter" by Peter Straub

29. "The Turn Of The Screw" by Henry James

30. "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

Kadyn (Book 6)

"My Side Of The Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Based off a kid who runs away from home and lives off the wilderness

Kadyn (Book 5)

"A Week In The Woods" by Andrew Clements

A book on a spoiled student changed by a camping trip

License Renewed (Book 17)

"License Renewed" by John Gardner

John Gardner's first book in a series of 007 James Bond masterpiece!

I loved James Bond and I love Gardner's fast pace, yet delicate and careful writing style. 

I've been downloading several books for free using "Openlibrary.org" which is a marvelous online lending library! It's free. Give it a try.

Gardner's complete James Bond collection can be found on OpenLibrary! You can find every genre and every author! What a great site! Happy Reading! 

Kaleb (Book 3)

"The Story of George Washington Carver" By Eva Moore

Holy Peanuts Batman! 

Kaleb read this in his reading group at school! So, it totally counts!

Kadyn (Book 4)

"Stat" by Amar'e Stoudemire

Written by New York Knick (Amar'e Stoudemire) about a basketball tournament. 

Basketball Baby! 

Kadyn (Book 3)

"A Boy No More" By Harry Mazer

A boys Dad dies in the battle of Pearl Harbor and learns about life without his father.

October Horror Fest!

I decided to celebrate horror fiction and writing through out the month of October and on Halloween will post the horror fiction read during the reading blitz! A mixture of modern day scare and some old classic by Poe and company! Should be an interesting month of reading! 

Stephen King generally leads the charge with Koontz not far behind, but I have found Stephen King to be losing ground to a NEW up and comer! JOE HILL.....which irony couldn't be written any better. The Master of Horror's own son! King can only blame himself, as I'm sure he certainly warped the young Joe Hill's mind as he was growing up! 

It's a great month to cozy up under a blanket and read a little fright night! Try some Bram Stoker, Kate Shelly, Clive Barker, Poe or Lovecraft! 

The furious longing of God (Book 16)

"The Furious Longing of God" by Brennan Manning

Brennan Manning changed my viewpoint on Grace with his book "Raggamuffin Gospel" and upon learning of his passing (this past year) I felt it was appropriate to read a book in his memory. As being part of a larger world full of mixed baggage, I find his view of God compelling, and full of fresh air from the legalistic voices leading the far right (and far left..for that matter). This isn't a religious blog, but anyone soul searching, or crying out for mercy and asking the great question of "Is there a God?" And if so..."Who is He?" Or "What is this complicated thing called Grace?" should read his work. 

Manning is straight forward in this book and its a great read...especially for those working on patching the damage done from organized religion and the church.

We're a messy people! 

The OZ kick! (Book 12,13,14 and 15)

I have fallen behind with the blitz and need to combine some of my posts. So, here is a post dedicated to L. Frank Baum and his genius behind the "Wizard of OZ". Who would have thought that so many hidden political ideas would be behind the disguise of a children's book series? But that is exactly what Baum had intended! Genius! Everyone got behind the original story when Judy Garland came popping out of the tornado-ridden home in her bright blue dress! Not to mention color movies were in very short order back in that time period. It was magical! And somewhere...over the rainbow...people began to believe that "dreams come true" and "there's no place like home". In fact, the Wizard of Oz proved to be so powerful that Gregory Maguire wrote his fabulous version in the "Wicked" series. So, riding the coat tails of success, came along two broadway musicals (the Wiz, and Wicked) and other large screen adaptations through Disney and others. 

So, here in order are the books read during the blitz.

12." Wicked (the life and times of the wicked witch of the west)" by Gregory Maguire

13. "The Marvelous Land of OZ " by L. Frank Baum

14. "Dorothy and the Wizard of OZ" by L. Frank Baum

15. "Ozma of Oz" by L. Frank Baum 

And if you haven't ventured down the "yellow brick road" to learn more about the story of OZ, let me encourage you. The story line completely surpasses Dorothy and her first journey to the Land of Oz. It's worth the journey! 

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (Book 11)

"Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" By Ben Fountain

National Book Award Finalist (2012) 

It's being called a modern day classic by practically everyone! And besides being a finalist for the National Book Award, Ben Fountain took away the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Barnes and Noble Discover Award for Fiction, and a Whiting Writers' Award for this book.

Naturally, with that much press, I had to add it to my reading blitz! I had to slow down and chew this book a little more, but it was WORTH IT! I had to try extremely hard NOT to visualize Jerry Jones as the main antagonist written as "Norm" but it was a nice touch having the Dallas Cowboy's game as the setting.