BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that I've wanted to read for ages, but kept putting off. I'm glad I finally got stuck into it because I really enjoyed it.

In the World State, from the moment of creation, everything and everyone is engineered, controlled, and psychologically manipulated in every way imaginable. Everyone has a job and a purpose, and share everything—including each other. The conditioning to conform is introduced from the beginning of life via sleep-learning and other techniques. Yet, there's always going to be someone who starts to question everything and longs for more...

Okay. Yikes. That was quite a ride.

I love how this story starts from a very technical POV to introduce a cold, dystopian world in an almost text-book style. This introduction not only sets the stage for the antiseptic ways of the world, but also explains everything in great and clinical detail so the reader understands exactly how these people exist. Then, before you realise it, several characters insert themselves into the narrative and their intertwined stories take over.

Bernard is a psychiatrist and outwardly appears to have the same attitude as the people around him, but his height and frame have always set him apart from the others. And now he starts to wonder about things. Lenina is devoted to her work in the Hatchery, but has a tendency to hook up with one guy more than once.

When these two go on a holiday together, they get swept up by what they discover in the Reservation. And then return to their city with unexpected guests that cause quite a bit of trouble to this 'stable' world.

And that brings me to John (or Savage). A character that I initially felt sorry for but then found myself not liking much. It's strange how the workings of the story end up affecting how you feel about the characters and their motivations, interactions, and attitudes.

So much about this tale is awful and uncomfortable to read, even rage-inducing. It's a clinical glimpse at a possible future where the rights of people are stripped before they're even born. A society that keeps people busy with work and then rewards them with drugs (soma) and casual sex. It's also a well written captivating story about what control and forced conformity can do to society. No matter what, human curiousity eventually prevails in some way.

I really enjoyed this book. A lot more than I thought I would. It's thought-provoking, certainly highlights a lot of issues within our own society, and ends in a way I didn't expect, but wasn't surprising. Tragic.


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WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Brontë

 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a classic that I've been meaning to read for years, and early this week I decided to pull out the audio version, which I have on disk. Well, three disks.

Anyway, I don't think I need to go into too many details about this story because everyone knows the tale of Heathcliff, Catherine and Wuthering Heights. This is a couple who love each other but can't be together. A man who wants nothing but revenge. Children who are used as pawns in a fight that started before they were born. And the tragic circumstances that befell two families forever intertwined.

There was a lot about this story that I didn't know going in. Mainly about Cathy, Linton and Thrushcross Grange, but also just what an asshole Heathcliff really is. He's no romantic hero. He's violent, manipulative, and just awful. Not that Catherine was any better, to be honest. I also didn't know that his own selfish desires drive him mad. Oh, and I didn't expect the ghost story side of things. I found this fascinating.

Actually, I found the whole book absolutely fascinating.

Not just because of the Earnshaw and Linton families involved in this twisted saga and their many shared tragedies, but I also enjoyed the interesting way the story is revealed. Instead of having the actual people involved in all of these misfortunes tell their side, we have the housekeeper, Nelly Dean, telling the tale to a man called Lockwood. And I think this style really worked.

I'm glad I finally read this. It was quite an experience.

And on a final note, I think the narration by these two voice actors was great.

 

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THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER by Edgar Allan Poe

 

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been meaning to read this story for ages, but have no idea why it kept escaping my attention. So, this afternoon I decided it was finally time to check it out.

After he receives a letter from his old friend, our unnamed narrator decides to visit the ill Roderick Usher. What he finds is a house that seems as sick as his friend. And when Roderick's sister, Madeline, dies everything gets so much worse...

I have to admit that at the beginning of this tale, I kept wondering when the super creepy horror would hit. But that was my mistake, because the dreadful gothic horror was there all along. Woven into the intricate observations of the location, the descriptions of the mansion, the strange behaviour of his sickly friend. Even in the wild weather.

This says a lot about how good a writer Poe really is, and how well he sets up the mood.

The events sneak up on you, and before you realise it, hit you right at the very end. Everything comes together as soon as you finish reading the last word.

I can already tell that this is one of those stories that I'll subconsciously carry with me and will keep coming back at the most unexpected and random times, because something new has unravelled inside my head.

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DRACULA DAILY by Bram Stoker

 

Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I finished reading this today and enjoyed it as much as the first time. This is a great vampire story, but it's also a terrific story about friendship, loyalty, and how far someone who cares/loves you is willing to go.

I also love the bravery of every character. The creepiness and dread that Dracula adds to this story. And the epistolary format works really well at revealing the overall story via different POVs.

I'm going to miss getting these emails because it was definitely a fun and different way of reading a novel.


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THE RED ROOM by H.G. Wells

 

The Red Room by H.G. Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved The Time Machine, so checking out a horror story by HG Wells sounded like a cool idea.

A skeptic man, in the company of three peculiar old people, has come to a creepy castle to investigate the Red Room. A place where some awful things have happened...

Well, this turned out to be a psychological tale full of imagery that might be there, but might not. I liked how the nameless narrator is so determined to prove everyone wrong and then finds himself in a peculiar situation he can't explain. Because what lurks inside our minds can be so much darker and scarier than what is actually there.

Watching as he loses himself in the frenzy of keeping the candles lit was quite an unnerving display. And the ending pretty much confirms the truth about this 'haunted room'.

This is a psychological gothic horror story with an undercurrent of dread strong enough to make one wonder if it was all in fact in his head. Or was it so much more?

I enjoyed this.

 

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MY COUSIN RACHEL by Daphne du Maurier

 

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been meaning to get stuck into this book for a while, and when I mentioned it to hubby the other day, he recommended I make it my next read. So, I did!

Philip Ashley was raised by his much older cousin, Ambrose and looks up to him. Ambrose is a little spiky, sickly in the winter and doesn't seem to like women much. So when he tells Philip he's met someone abroad and marries her, Philip is concerned. But that's nothing compared to what happens after Ambrose dies. Yet, Cousin Rachel is unlike anyone he's ever met before, and Philip eventually finds himself caught up in her very alluring web...

OMG. This turned out to be quite a wicked and tangled story dripping with so much ambiguity, I'll be thinking about this for years to come.

Is Rachel guilty? Is she innocent? Funny enough, none of that matters once you get lost in this lush and bleak gothic story. There's just so much crammed into this, and all of it packs quite a punch.

I have to admit, I was pretty much hooked from the very beginning. There's something highly addictive about Daphne du Maurier's writing. She paints such an intricate picture of what should be mundane situations and locations, but darkens them with an air of malice that draws me in every time.

The same thing happened with Rebecca. I love getting swept away by lush prose and wicked stories, so this is my perfect reading ambience.

As much as I suspected Rachel early on, but kept changing my mind, I found it really hard to feel much sympathy for Ambrose or Philip. These privileged men are wealthy, have such high opinions of themselves and despise women so much for no other reason than choosing not to be exposed to them, that it was easy to dislike them. And to not trust much of what Phillip narrates.

I mean, I did feel some empathy for Philip because he's an orphaned boy who was raised so closed off from the rest of the world, that he didn't get a chance to experience much through his own eyes. His whole life, even after his cousin's death, is seen through Ambrose-coloured glasses.

There's a lot of commentary woven into this story about strong independent women who are comfortable in their sexuality. As well as the silliness of men who lose their shit over a woman, while still trying to convince everyone that women are weaker and too emotional. 😒

That's okay, we all saw the truth. And I love how it was expressed in this story via Philip's obsession and suspicion.

I really enjoyed this darkly gothic treat, and didn't expect that ending. Or maybe I did.

 

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THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Henry James

 

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a novella I read back in high school, so it's been a while. Still, I remember really enjoying it and I've been meaning to re-read it for ages. Also, The Haunting of Bly Manor is coming to Netflix this week so this was the perfect time to get stuck into it.

The new governess instantly loves her adorable young pupil, Flora. She doesn't even mind when one becomes two and she has to add Miles to the mix. It's the strangers she sees on the manor's grounds that start to unravel her...

I'm very happy to say that I enjoyed the hell out of this story today, as much as I did decades ago. It totally grabbed me and although at times it feels like there are chunks of narrative missing, it only adds to the building mystery. And it's not hard to fill in the gaps.

I get that some people might find the writing a little flowery or even jarring, but I liked it because it's perfect for the setting and time. I also think it adds to the confusion and doubt. Besides, classic writing is often like this and I find it (most of the time) charming.

The Governess is a character I would describe as honest. She takes her job seriously, is committed to the children and doesn't appear crazed. The ghostly occurrences are spooky and mysterious, told in a way that could be true spirit manifestations or psychological delusions. Even her accusations about the children could be wrong. Unless you read into what happens and what they actually say, or how they act. Miles sure sounds like a manipulative little creep to me.

At the same time, you also can't help feel sorry for these kids. I mean, their parents died and their uncle sends them away to his country home in Essex to be with strangers, when what they really needed was the compassion of a relative. Yeah, I've got opinions about that man. 😐

Anyway, this was still a great example of storytelling in a style that when the story is over, it's easy to believe the tale is about ghosts and creepy children, but could just as easily be about someone going through a psychological delusion because of isolation and suspicion.

Either way works, but I'm sticking with the ghost story. And I can't wait to see how the Netflix show takes this and turns it into an even creepier experience...

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THE GREAT GATSBY by F Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was in the mood for something shorter, and since I've had this book on my TBR pile for a while, this definitely fit the bill.

Nick Carraway is thinking back to the summer when he found himself the neighbour of the rich and well-known Jay Gatsby. A man who throws lavish parties in his mansion all the time. A man who is surrounded by so many, but is desperately alone...

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. Except that it's an American classic, I have multiple thrift-store copies, and never watched the movie because I find DiCaprio very annoying. ☺

But I really enjoyed it. A lot!

The shallowness of these characters was certainly as disturbing as their sharp words, and blatant cruelty. They only care about perception and want to be seen with the right people at the right places at the right time. The way these men treated women was utterly despicable. It's not a surprise because it seems like women of this era--in spite of their pursuit for independence--were treated like pretty dolls to be gawked at and eventually captured.

These men captured a pretty lady of their own, took her home and when they got bored found another to have on the side. Yet, still treated that one like crap too. 😒

Anyway, back to the book.

I loved Fitzgerald's writing style. He managed to make the most of mundane situations lyrical, and kept my attention glued to the page no matter how annoying the characters were. Or how seemingly boring whatever they happened to be doing at the time was. He certainly had a way with words and provided an expert and intimate commentary about 1920s society.

Wish I could say that the world has grown and become a better and more inclusive place, but we seem to be going round in circles. Different problems, same old attitudes. And of course, I mention this because there were some cringe-worthy word choices and racist attitudes that got on my nerves. That Tom character sure was a piece of shit. On so many levels.

My favourite thing about this story is that I didn't expect it to go from disconnected rich guy who throws parties to fill up his hollow soul, to rich guy is obsessively in love with a married woman and wants her bad, to a hideous accident that becomes a crime. Yikes!

OMG. I wasn't expecting that at all. It's twisted.😯

Actually, I wasn't expecting this book to end up being such a tragic and sad tale about love, loss, desire and shiny people with no substance. Or to be so deep that after I finished, the utter brilliance of everything that happened kept bouncing inside my head. Still is.

Poor, silly Gatsby. Poor disillusioned Carraway.

I'm SO glad I finally read this classic because all the copies I have definitely deserve a place on my Keeper Shelf.

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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES by Agatha Christie

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

During our pre-Covid-19 days, hubby and I used to love going on thrift store adventures. And thanks to this lovely hobby--that we haven't been able to do for months--we picked up a bunch of Agatha Christie books. Then, I went out of my way to pick up quite a few for my Paperwhite to fill in the gaps, and built up quite a collection.

Being the huge reader that I am, it's surprising that although I know quite a bit about Christie, I'd never actually read any of her books. Until now.

I decided to start with the first Poirot story and I'm glad I did.

When Captain Hastings goes to stay in the country manor of his friend, John Cavendish, in Styles he catches up with a few old acquaintances and meets a new host of people.

Things in this seemingly close family are anything but, and when the matriarch dies, Hastings calls on an old friend he's surprised to encounter in the country.

Hercule Poirot is a peculiar but thorough investigator, and when he starts piecing the clues together, he reveals some sinister revelations...

I really enjoyed my first encounter with Poirot as much as my introduction to Agatha Christie, and can't figure out why I waited so long. 😕

Told in the POV of Hastings, I liked how he recounted everything that happened in Styles. He's got a good eye for detail, but Poirot outdoes everyone on the page. He's peculiar and thorough, but also gets answers easily from those he interviews because of his kind manner, clever wit, and the relevance of his questions.

I love mysteries and this one really captured everything I enjoy about this genre. There was that nice locked-room vibe going on, too. Blend it in with the use of poisons, and it was guaranteed to keep me interested. The setting was also really interesting as it takes place during WWI.

One thing that I always worry about when reading books that were written so long ago is if I'll like the style or if I'll be turned off by the many differences in how much smaller the world and tolerance was back then compared to now. There were a few awkward words peppered throughout that made me cringe, but they were easy to ignore.

I was surprised by the way the story was told because I thought it would be written in the POV of Poirot, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. Hastings was as peculiar as Poirot. LOL. And the unexpected twists and turns were interesting.

Really looking forward to reading other books in this series.

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REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book I've wanted to read for ages. And I'm glad that I finally picked it up.

I was hooked from the first sentence. The lush writing style is lovely and captivated me instantly. I loved the narrator's whimsical look at everything she goes through, and how quickly her thoughts fly away in so many different directions she temporarily loses sight of reality.

She's the young companion of an awful rich woman determined to degrade her every time they have a conversation. But during a trip to Monte Carlo, she meets the mysterious and moody Maximilian de Winter.

Maxim is a widower who sweeps her off her feet. She's convinced she's in love with him, so his marriage proposal is a surprise she accepts. And so begins her new life at Manderley under the shadow of his dead wife Rebecca, and the awful Mrs Danvers...

The atmosphere and suspense in this book is so thick it felt like an actual storm cloud hung over every page. The descriptions of Manderley and its grounds are pretty but shadowed with menace. The house is a character itself.

Actually, the two main characters seemed to be the house and the dead wife. It's like the new Mrs de Winter is an invisible presence in her own home, and everyone around her totally feeds into this. Her inexperience and shyness keeps her from challenging or changing anything.

I loved how Mrs de Winter's story deals with mundane and simple everyday things, but everything is dripping with dread. I kept waiting for the most awful things to happen, and plenty of super creepy stuff does. There are so many terrible secrets that rise to the surface, and I was captivated every step of the way.

The narrator isn't even given a name. Which fits perfectly into how everyone else treats her. She's almost invisible and spoken to like a child. It was frustrating and often made me angry because she didn't stand up for herself, but she has her own strengths. And living in the dark corridors of Manderley certainly helps age her.

Oh, and how awful was that Mrs Danvers? What a cruel and conniving creeper. 😳

This is one of the most addictive books I've ever read. It's also beautifully written. And terrifying on so many levels. It's also interesting as hell and intrigued me all the way through.

That ending was also unexpected, but the only way it could end.

I seriously LOVED Rebecca. The book, not the woman haunting every page.

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THE VIRGIN SUICIDES by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I remember watching The Virgin Suicides years ago, and really enjoying the movie. So of course I wanted to read the book, and when I found a copy during our thrift store adventures last year, I picked it up.

The Lisbon sisters--Cecilia (13), Lux (14), Bonnie (15), Mary (16) & Therese (17)--are the kind of teenage girls all the boys who live near them or go to the same school are obsessed with. They all dream about being part of their lives, and watch them from afar.

But these girls are different and soon become surrounded by death. After the youngest sister commits suicide, the whole family begins to fall into a messy and dark void...

Wow. This is quite a powerful story.

While the book focuses on the five sisters everyone is so entranced with, the narrator is one of their many admirers. A boy whose life is deeply touched by these five girls. Even after he becomes a man, he's still haunted by what happened to them and is trying to get answers.

This writing style gives us the distance to watch the Lisbon Sisters in the same peeping Tom way these boys do. It also keeps the mystery growing throughout the book, and deals with something as dark as suicide in a way that mamages to romanticise the key figures.

One of the reasons (there are quite a few) why I enjoyed this so much is because of how the observer keeps the mystery at the heart of the story alive, all the way through. Although I knew what was going to happen, because it's no secret from the very beginning, I still couldn't stop reading. I was hooked and followed everything through until the end.

This is a great book, but it deals with some very heavy issues. There's clearly abuse going on inside the Lisbon house, in the form of a matriarch willing to keep her daughters so pure and away from sin, that she ends up making them prisoners inside their own home and minds. Controlling her daughters to the point of realising that their only escape is death.

And that makes me very, very sad. And angry.

The boys in their suburb look at these intriguing girls as ethereal creatures of love, who made them yearn. But at the end of the day, they wanted to do the same thing their parents did. In their own way, everyone was so mystified by these girls that they wanted to cage them. It says a lot about girls and what the world likes to do to them. Put enough restrictions, make them feel like exploring their sexuality is shameful, and try to smother their intelligence.

Teenage girls are so often treated like the Lisbon Sisters: like puzzles that need to be solved. When all they need is to be allowed to grow, expand and discover the world in their own way. And that's what happens to these poor girls. They're treated like objects, rather than people. And that, is just one of the many tragedies. That the only way for them to break free is via death, is truly awful.

The underlying messages in this book really spoke to me. That they were written by a man, featuring a puzzled male narrator, and still managed to get all of this through, is even more amazing.

I'm so glad I finally read this!

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, this is the next Christmassy story I decided to read. It's a Dickens classic I'm very familiar with, but have never actually read.

We all know how the story goes: Ebenezer Scrooge is a horrid, lonely old man, and one Christmas Eve he gets a few too many ghostly visitors...

Unfortunately, I thought I'd like this a lot more than I did. I mean, sure, the ghostly presence was good and creepy. Full of pretty cool descriptive imagery, and enough to affect the main character in a way that manages to shake him. To force him to see the errors of his arrogant and selfish ways and change him into a much better, more thoughtful man.

The moral of the story is well executed.

What didn't work for me was some of the dull things that happen along the way. I lost interest a few times during Scrooge's phantom adventures because the writing and dialogue were both a bit clunky. I know this is a thing that happens sometimes with classics, and it certainly affected my enjoyment of this book.

Still, I'm glad I finally read it.

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THE EXORCIST by William Peter Blatty

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Exorcist is a book I've wanted to read for AGES. Of course, I watched the movie when I was very young and have seen it several times since, but reading the book is always a different experience.

We all know how the story goes: a young girl is possessed by an evil entity and two men of the cloth have to rescue her by performing an exorcism...

But, there's so much more to the story. So much.

Starting with how smart and lovely Regan is, how much she loves her mother and how abandoned she feels by her father. Not to mention how her mother tackles an acting career while raising a child. Sure, she's got help in the Swiss couple who run the household and the tutor who teaches her daughter, but she's always there for her. Because, although this story is about a lot of things, one of the main issues is how far a mother is willing to go to save her child. How determined she is to convince doctors and priests about what's really going on.

That's another thing. The words hysteria and hysterical kept coming up. It seemed like their go-to diagnosis when dealing with a child showing clear signs of possession, and the mother trying to get real answers. Typical, right? If a girl or woman is acting differently or demanding answers, she's gotta be hysterical. Even Father Karras often thinks these unhealthy thoughts.

Ah, Father Karras. In spite of his contradictions--or maybe because of them--I really liked him. I enjoyed getting insights into his personal guilt, his medical mind and his personal struggles with faith. He was fascinating, and although it takes him a while, definitely comes through. His redemption is harsh and cruel, but satisfying. In a very sad way.

I also liked Kinderman. He was one of those cops who pretends he's slow-witted, but is one clever fox.

There were a lot of very cool subplots in this story--the desecration stuff, a murder investigation, a troubled daughter--and I enjoyed all of them. I especially liked the one about Father Merrin, because that put everything that happens to Regan and those around her in such a horribly sad light. They were pawns in a bigger game, one they had no clue about.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the hell out of this book. I found it hard to put down, that's why it didn't take me long to read.

I only have one problem. I'd heard, countless of times, that this story was horrifying. But I have to tell you, I didn't find it scary at all. Sure, it was creepy and freaky and disturbing, but not scary.

This is an interesting and very intriguing book, and I'm SO glad to have finally read it!

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ESIO TROT by Roald Dahl

Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last week, hubby surprised me with a Roald Dahl box set and this was one of the books included. The cover's cute, the blurb intrigued me and it's quite short, so I picked it up today and read it in one sitting.

Mr Hoppy is a lonely man who lives in a concrete building above the widow Mrs Silver. He's secretly in love with her but she's only got eyes for her pet tortoise, Alfie.

The day Mrs Silver mentions to him that she wishes Alfie would grow bigger, a nefarious plan takes shape in Mr Hoppy's mind...

OMG. This book is pretty much an allegory for loneliness, and what an obsessed man is willing to do to get what he wants. It's not a nice thing and it's a shame he didn't get busted, but sometimes good people do shitty things. Sometimes, even the simplest of manipulations are harmful. And this guy, he wanted a particular someone so badly he was prepared to be terrible.

Mr Hoppy's plan to make Mrs Silver recite a magic spell of sorts so he can replace Alfie with one of the many tortoises he purchases is truly awful. It's conniving and mean.

Not to mention how shitty it is that Mrs Silver doesn't even notice poor Alfie's gone. BTW, I loved Alfie. He was adorable! During the whole time, I couldn't wait to find out what happened to him, and I was glad to see he had his own ending.

I also think it's important to read the Author's Note at the very beginning because after finishing the story, it puts everything into perspective.

This book might not be full of loveable characters, but I still enjoyed it. It's clever, in a very twisted way. Seriously, it's quite messed up when you think about it...

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DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Dracula by Bram Stoker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm not joking when I say it's about time I FINALLY read this book.

It's hard to believe that someone who loves vampires as much as I do still hadn't read DRACULA until now. But it's true, this was my first time.

I've had a paperback copy of this book since I first read FRANKENSTEIN back in high school. Yet, I kept putting it off. Or forgot about it. Or assumed the movie was enough. But I was wrong.

As great as the movie was, you have to read the book to really learn why Bram Stoker's tale is so amazing that we're still talking about it now.

I don't think I need to go into too much detail about the plot since we all know how the simple tale of Count Dracula hosting a young solicitor's clerk, who is to help him with some business affairs in London, leads Jonathan Harker to a super creepy castle in Transylvania and starts a chain reaction filled with innocence lost, lots of blood, and an oddball team determined to end an ancient evil...

Well, that's just the tip of the iceberg. I mean, there's SO MUCH story here. So many weird and wonderful things. The tense atmosphere shadows the narrative all the way through. A bunch of very likeable characters. True friendships forged easily and honestly. And a lot of intelligence, too. Some which comes from the woman who finds herself caught in the middle of everything.

Mina Harker is a character I liked from the moment she appeared on the page. Her voice is gentle and lady-like, yet raw and honest. She's happy in her roles as friend to Lucy and wife to Jonathan, yet is full of ideas and has a logical mind that is hard to ignore. Even when the men try to keep her out of the trouble they're all facing--because they want to protect her--it soon becomes obvious that they need her.

I really liked ALL the characters: Jonathan because he's nice, hard-working, reasonable and truly loves Mina. Dr. John Seward because he's an interesting fellow who runs an asylum, yet doesn't seem to conduct cruel experiments. Professor Abraham Van Helsing because he's so  clever, open-minded and gives the best monologues. Arthur Holmwood (aka Lord Goldalming) because his devotion to Lucy continues even after her death. Quincey Morris because he's an interesting American and a valued member of an unlikely team.

And what I liked best about all these men is how they stay friends even after being in direct competition. There's no toxic masculinity here, or the need for pissing contests. It's so cool how they're not afraid to show emotion and comfort each other without a second thought. And how strong their group is because of their determination to defeat a common foe.

I found the unity between these characters to be so refreshing. No one was fighting, or trying to make someone else look bad. These male characters were SO GOOD! So human.

The way the story is told totally worked for me. There are journal entries, letters and telegrams, from a bunch of different POVs. And everyone shows their diaries so freely, to help put all the clues together!

As for Dracula, I'm glad he was a malicious shape-shifting monster with only one thing on his mind. He was mysterious and awful, sneaky and a bitch to defeat. Not to mention that I thought the three Brides were creepy af.

I would love to read stories about what these freaky ladies got up to while the Count was away chasing other girls--cough--I mean, other business ventures.

Oh, and after everything that happened, I loved that ending note.

It might have taken me a while to get to this book, but as they say: better late than never. And I'm so glad I finally read it because I LOVED every minute of this long and detailed book.

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PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK by Joan Lindsay

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Joan Lindsay's Picnic at Hanging Rock is an Australian classic I've wanted to read for ages. After watching the TV show last year and picking up three different editions of the book, I decided it was time to FINALLY read this beauty.

It's Valentine's Day, in the year 1900, when a group of girls attending the Appleyard College for Young Ladies go on an excursion to the nearby Hanging Rock. Hanging Rock is a rock formation found deep in the Victorian bush, and seems like the perfect spot to visit on this lovely summer day.

When four of the girls go for a walk and only one returns in hysterics, a teacher vanishes too. The mystery of what happened on that day becomes the only thing anyone can talk about.

And then another returns...

I'm SO glad I finally read this eerie little book.

Not only is the mystery at the core of the story super addictive and kept me glued to the pages, but the whole experience felt like walking through a surreal nightmare. Every word adds to the unsettling suspense, spreading a cloud of darkness that keeps expanding.

That's why I found the writing style perfect for this story. It's told in third-person omniscient POV, taking the reader from one character to another very quickly, as well as revealing past and present tidbits along the way. Telling the story in this way usually bugs me, but not this time. Dealing with the narrative in this way helped keep the intrigue going, as well as include the many characters featured in order to get the full scope of the story. It also made the setting and surroundings feel as strong and important as the characters.

Although the girls who disappeared were popular seniors, the actual plot revolves around what happens to everyone else--teachers, students, staff--at the boarding school they attended. It spans to include the last guy to see them that day, and how his life is affected. And even the policemen conducting the investigation.

Sarah's story is so sad. I felt bad for her because her life is affected in the worst way possible. There were so many things she didn't know, especially the people who actually cared about her and were willing to help. Instead, she gets stuck with the awful headmistress. The flower imagery surrounding this poor child was tragically beautiful.

The French teacher, Mademoiselle de Poitiers, was another character I really liked. I was totally invested in her journey and her part in everything was great.

There are so many things to love about this story, and one of my most favourite things was the gothic atmosphere that drips off every page. Not to mention how well the author captured the bush, the climate and how harsh Australia's landscape can be. I felt like I was there with the characters, every step of the way.

As for the ambiguous ending, it TOTALLY worked for me. Not just because it was a clever way to end the tale, but also because I already had my own theory and was hppy with what I read.

Oh, and after finishing the book I went back to the foreword, which was full of spoilery stuff. Plus I also found out about the original Chp 18, which explained what happened to the girls. I thought it was cool.

Either way, I enjoyed this a lot.

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WEB by John Wyndham

Web by John Wyndham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This slim book was sitting in a basket marked FREE outside a local thrift store, with a bunch of other random titles. It also seems to have lived as a high school library book in its former life, and has now become another book I've read and thoroughly enjoyed.

When a millionaire English lord buys a remote Pacific island with the hopes of forming a new, utopian society, an assorted group of people is chosen to set sail and get things started.

But the island of Tanakuatua might not be as uninhabited as first assumed, and any plans to start a new kind of society quickly becomes impossible when they discover the eight-legged population...

With a name like Web, of course this was going to be about spiders. Dangerous spiders. A multitude of them. Yeah, if you have arachnophobia this is probably not the best book for you to read.

Anyway, the story isn't too long but it's a nice and detailed one. The narrator, Arnold Delgrange, has recently gone through a family tragedy, so he decides to sign up for this interesting expedition. It gives him something to do, and he has the chance to meet other people.

I really enjoyed the way he tells the story. Arnold (social historian) has a strong and interesting voice that drew me in and kept me reading. Every detail he reveals is relevant to the overall plot and is dripping with a sense of doom. Of course you know right away that something bad happens.

I mean, it's just like a couple of rich white guys to buy an uninhabited island they believe THEY can turn into some fantastical utopian society. Without considering there could be natives. Never once checking to see what animals or creepy-crawlies are about. Simply turn up with equipment to clear land, build on it and take ownership. 😒

It was interesting to read about the underlining social commentary that is (unfortunately) still relevant today.

Another character I really liked was Camilla Cogent (biologist), who is first described as "a lonely figure—there, but not with us" and soon becomes one of the smartest people in the group. There's a reason why she always seems lost in thought. I loved the observations she makes when they arrive on the dreaded island.

I enjoyed this little adventure tale about a group of people silly enough to think they can create and shape a new world order without first researching who lives on the island they're so keen to invade. It was fun!

Oh, and this edition even has full-page illustrations.

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MRS. CALIBAN by Rachel Ingalls

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had this lovely novella for a few months, and since I'm loving my new Paperwhite (Gen 10) I decided to check it out today.

Well, the intention was to get a taste, but I was hooked instantly and had to read it right away. I couldn't put it down!

Dorothy is a bored woman in a loveless marriage. Her husband is always working and when he's not working, he's out and about. Also, he's a total douche. I mean, I know some awful stuff happened that affected both of them in different (negative) ways, but Fred is totally gross.

Shortly after Dorothy hears about an aquatic creature escaping a facility on the radio, the frog-man invites himself into the house. Instead of being scared or outraged, she welcomes Larry into her home and starts sleeping with him...

Yeah, the premise of this novella is a strange one but the execution is so outstanding that it TOTALLY works. It's so well written, and is full of witty feminist dialogue that cracked me up.

As soon as Dorothy meets Larry, she's drawn to him. In spite of him being a tall, muscled green man who looks like a frog, she's never disgusted. She does everything she can to feed, protect and hide him from everyone--including her husband. Who is so aloof he doesn't even see what's going on inside his house.

Larry becomes her companion around the house. He helps with housework (which he enjoys), makes her feel comfortable walking around the house in a bathrobe (a look he likes), and they go on night walks together. Not to mention their conversations, the long drives, sitting together to watch TV and their, uh, sexy times.

He ignites Dorothy's passion in a way that thrills her, makes her feel alive and gives her a purpose. She feels happy about her little secret and becomes determined to help Larry get back home to the sea before the authorities find him.

This book is many things. It's a really sweet love story. It's intriguing and kept me guessing. And the ending totally blew my mind. I certainly didn't expect THAT. I thought we were in The Shape of Water territory here, but nope.

Also, another cool thing is that although Dorothy and Larry's tale is at the core of everything, there's a lot going on. See, Dotty has a best friend called Estelle. Estelle likes to play the field because after her divorce she's not interested in getting into one-man situations. Except, as the plot unravels some really disturbing and terrible secrets are revealed that turn everyone's lives upside down.

I have many favourite things in fiction, but one of my most fave is when everyday tasks are written into the story and don't feel like padding because every detail is essential to the plot. And this is a great example of why I love reading about characters getting on with their day.

I LOVED THIS STORY!

It was such a lovely surprise. 🐸

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MARY VENTURA AND THE NINTH KINGDOM by Sylvia Plath

Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom by Sylvia Plath

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my second Plath book--but first story--and I absolutely loved it.

This is definitely one of those stories that will stay with me for a long, long time. Not just because it's so well written, but because it's multi-layered, open to interpretation, contains peculiar characters (loved Mary's innocence and the knitting lady's knowledge), and really makes you think.

When Mary Ventura gets on the train, it seems like her parents are really eager for her to go on this trip. They're quite pushy about it, even cold about their determination to get their daughter to leave. It's not until the train starts moving and the imagery surfaces all around Mary that I realised just how morbid the beginning was.

I mean, once you realise what's going on, their behaviour is nothing but disturbing. Actually, the whole story is like a fever-dream that throws the reader into as much confusion as the poor main character.

On a subconscious level, I knew instantly what this train symbolised and what the trip would lead to, but the story is written in such a clever way that it's easy to ignore the obvious until it's glaring you in the face. And boy is it a heavy thing to deal with, especially if you know anything about Plath's tragic life.

I'm glad I read this in one sitting. (Even if it was peppered with breaks to discuss things with my daughter. After all, this is her recommendation and her book.)

I seriously LOVED this story and can't believe it was ever rejected, because it's a classic work of art. It truly is.

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THE BREAKTHROUGH by Daphne du Maurier

The Breakthrough by Daphne du Maurier

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've got a few Daphne du Maurier books on my TBR pile--Rebecca and Jamaica Inn--that I'm looking forward to reading. But first, I wanted to read this cute Penguin Modern Classic short story. And it was a great introduction, I reckon.

When Stephen is transferred to Saxmere because of his expertise, he ends up in an isolated facility where a small team is conducting a peculiar experiment unlike anything he's been involved with before...

I really enjoyed this! It's so well written and Stephen's voice was very compelling. As soon as his story started, I was invested in finding out what was going to happen to him. I was also very interested in the experiment.

The pseudo-science in this story was very clever, and I like the way it blended science with computers while dealing with the human soul. It was also very mysterious and downright creepy--especially the scenes with the little girl. O.o

I also thought the isolated and cold location really suited what was going on behind closed doors. Not to mention how easily Stephen's doubts are overcome by the curiosity of tapping into the unknown.

Such a great story. Now I'm really looking forward to reading more of this author's books.

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