Tag Archives: star rating

Dec17

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Inmate By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Inmate By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing another Frieda McFadden thriller called The Inmate. This is the second McFadden book I have read in a row and like its predecessor and all those that came before it, The Inmate was very average. However, it was a quick read and Freida McFadden is the author I turn to when I want a twisty tale that can be read in a sitting or two. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Inmate for general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Brooke has returned to her hometown called Raker with her son, Josh, to live in her recently deceased parents’ home. After horrible bullying at his old school, Brooke thinks Josh needs a fresh start although a new beginning for him means going back into her past. Brooke is the survivor of a terrible string of murders and Josh’s father is none other than the perpetrator. Her parents all but disowned her after deciding to keep the baby and they barely communicated since. Before this all took place, however, the small town she grew up in was a happy place and she hopes the same for Josh.

Prior to the move, Brooke applied as a nurse practitioner to every medical facility in the area and received no calls back… Except from Raker Penitentiary. This was her last resort option and now her only option. She accepts the job and crosses her fingers that her former boyfriend and Josh’s father, Shane, will never end up as one of her patients. Of course, it was bound to happen and Shane ends up in the exam room for stitches on her very first day. She does her job, tries not to notice how good he still looks, heeds the warning from her colleagues that Shane is a “manipulative” person, and sends him on his way.

Shane is not the only ghost from her past that she encounters upon her return to Raker. There is Tim, her next door neighbor, first best friend, and was an attendant at the party in their teens that turned deadly. He is the assistant principal at Josh’s school, has turned into quite the looker, and is still as madly in love with Brooke now as he was back in the day. After a few dates, Tim becomes a staple in their household and Josh adores spending time with him. Life is teetering on being actually good and Brooke could get used to this, if she could just keep her racing thoughts out of her head.

Brooke feels like she is missing something from the night of the murders. A critical piece of information that might make Shane innocent after all. There is something suspicious about Tim and as Brooke removes Shane’s stitches at work, he claims that it was not him but her new boyfriend who committed the crimes. Did Brooke really put an innocent man in prison with her testimony? If she did, she needs to make it right but whodoneit? Her first love and the father of her son or her new flame? Read The Inmate to find out!

I like to fancy myself an amateur detective and every twist that occurred in The Inmate was seen from a thousand miles away. Do I like when this happens? Not necessarily although I like to pat myself on the back lol. I prefer to be surprised and there were no real surprises to The Inmate… until the final twist. And, the final twist is always where my problem lies with Freida McFadden books. The shockers leading up to the grand reveal are so transparent and when the reveal happens it’s so out of left field that it barely makes sense. That was very much the case with The Inmate. BAM here’s what happened and now the story is over. In a way, this feels like a cop out on McFadden’s part. To write an entire book, throw some random ending in, and then just be done. It explains why I always feel unsatisfied after finishing her thrillers!

My other qualm with The Inmate and Freida McFadden books in general are the characters. They are all so simple with nothing special about them and it makes it hard to feel anything for them. The characters in The Inmate felt wildly underdeveloped and it almost read like a first draft rather than completed product. In a crazy thriller scenario, the characters were dull and the sense of urgency of a potentially innocent man in prison was nonexistent. The Inmate was an alright story but it felt so incomplete and, therefore, I was unimpressed.

Overall, I am going to rate The Inmate with a four out of ten stars. This was not McFadden’s best and I would not recommend this one!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec8

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Intruder By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Intruder By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the most recent thriller by Freida McFadden called The Intruder. I have a love/hate relationship with Freida McFadden books. I love how quick and easy they are to read. I hate how perfectly average they always are and The Intruder very much held those sentiments. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Intruder for graphic violence, disturbing content, and child abuse. Now, let’s get to it:

Casey lives in a cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere, New Hampshire. Since her beloved father’s passing, life has been on a downward spiral. Casey promptly lost her teaching job and decided to go off the grid to a ramshackle cabin she could barely afford. The cabin’s roof is falling apart, a huge tree in the yard is on the verge of falling, and oh yeah – there is a dangerous storm on the way. With no help from her landlord, Casey must face the storm on her own and pray that the cabin remains in one piece for the night.

As Casey prepares for the upcoming downpour, she notices movement outside of her cabin and even thinks she sees a face in the window. She chalks it up to paranoia until she sees light coming from the decrepit tool shed. Casey investigates herself thinking that someone might be injured or lost and finds a painfully skinny girl who is soaked in blood and clutching a knife. She promises the girl that she will not let anyone know that she is there as long as she stays in the cabin for the night where it is relatively safe.

After attempts at conversation that feel like pulling teeth, Casey learns that the girl is named Eleanor. The whole situation seems insane and Casey is fearful of her new guest. However, after she sees bruises and burn marks on Eleanor’s arm she knows that she can’t send her back to wherever she came from. Casey and her visitor share a meal and while Eleanor is in the bathroom, she takes it upon herself to snoop. In Eleanor’s blood soaked backpack is a notebook filled with horrific drawings. Scenes of torture upon a woman who looks like Casey as well as a hand drawn map leading to her home. Is Casey the intended target of Eleanor? Or is she just a pawn in a much bigger plan? Read The Intruder to find out!

I breezed through The Intruder in two sittings and after I was done, I simply said “oh”. It was the definition of a good but not great book. The funny thing about Freida McFadden’s books is that I like the plots of them. I think I just don’t care for McFadden’s writing style which I often feel verges on amateurish. The Intruder featured one of her most twisty plots out of her recent work and I actually didn’t see the biggest reveal of all coming. I love when that happens because I’m usually very good at working it out for myself. Regardless, The Intruder fell short for me.

One of my main qualms about The Intruder was the length of the book as it barely reached two hundred and seventy pages. Don’t get me wrong, I like a short and sweet book as much as the next. However, it just felt incomplete. I understand the fast pacing as Eleanor’s visit occurred during the span of one night. But the book flip flopped between past and present and I was hungry for more information on the past. These flashbacks were when The Intruder really shined with the grit of an excellent suspense novel. I just wish The Intruder maintained that momentum in the present day.

Overall, I am going to rate The Intruder with a five out of ten stars. If you like Freida McFadden, I’m sure you’ll read it. If not, you’re not missing out on anything!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? Do you have plans to see The Housemaid in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov25

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Regulators By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Regulators By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! After accidentally borrowing a book from the library I had read before, I was in a literature limbo. So, I decided to consult mine and Johnny’s own library for a new book. We have been really enjoying watching Welcome To Derry and I had Stephen King on the mind. From Johnny’s collection of his works, I chose The Regulators which was written as Richard Bachman. The kooky cover screamed out at me and I devoured the almost five hundred page book in three sittings. This will be a spoiler free setting, as always. Before we begin, however, a big fat trigger warning will be placed on The Regulators for highly disturbing content, suicide, and violence in all possible forms. Now, let’s get to it:

Poplar Street is the perfect slice of suburbia located near Columbus, Ohio. A place where neighbors barbecue, talk sports over their fences, and kids toss frisbees and footballs all summer long. It is a buzzing community and everyone is constantly out enjoying the weather and freedom of sweet summertime. Except for Audrey and her little nephew, Seth. The neighbors haven’t seen much of them since Audrey’s husband committed suicide and their house sits like a storm cloud on picturesque Poplar Street.

If the house looks uninviting from the outside, just imagine the state indoors. Audrey and her late husband took Seth in after his entire family was killed in a freak drive by shooting. Seth has autism and inside his secret world in his mind and body is the host to something terrible. A vampire named Tak. Tak called to Seth on a family road trip and the little boy answered back. Tak desires strength, to procreate, and shares a passion for everything Seth loves: Chocolate milk and Chef Boyardee and his favorite forms of entertainment. Old westerns like Bonanza and The Regulators as well as a cartoon called MotoKop 2200.

An evil unlike anything the world has ever known is living in her home. A home that is littered with trash, ant infestations, and rotting food. When Tak goes away, Seth is still the same sweet little boy that Audrey loves with all her heart. When Tak returns, he has the power to make people hurt themselves. To slap themselves silly, fall down the stairs, and even end their own life. Tak is growing stronger by the day no matter how hard Audrey and Seth try to block their minds to hinder him. The vampire feeds on pain and negativity and he needs more than what this poor aunt and nephew can provide. So, he takes matters to the streets.

In Tak’s world, anything goes. All he has to do is call on what is already in Seth’s imagination: Outlaws in a shootout and cartoon MotoKops saving the world from destruction. In this skewed reality, the residents of Poplar Street are dead center in a mishmash of Seth’s favorite things. Cowboys and cops wreak havoc on the once quiet neighborhood. Destroying homes, causing fires, and killing everyone that stands in their way. As Tak feeds on the dead, his power increases and he transforms the entire world around them. They are no longer on Poplar Street but a world where Tak reigns supreme. Will the survivors live another hour let alone another minute? Will Seth forever be doomed to be Tak’s host? Read The Regulators to find out!

WOW. What a whacky story right?! Totally and completely insane. And you know what? I loved it! The Regulators was so unlike anything I have ever read before or seen in a movie or show and I couldn’t stop turning the page to save my own life. In a way, Richard Bachman created a dream scenario – a child whose favorite shows have come to life. It’s a fantastical idea but the cause and cost are so horrific that the dream is a full fledged nightmare.

My heart absolutely shattered for Seth and Audrey during the entirety of my binge read. This family has already been through so much and now a vampire is added to the mix?! And all they could do was suffer on their own because who would believe a story like this? All the while, life on Poplar Street continued as normal as evil festered a few houses down. It just goes to show that you never know what is going on behind closed doors.

The Regulators was action packed and was a cross between vampire horror, sci-fi, and bang bang shoot em’ up westerns. Right off the jump, this book kicked it into overdrive. So much so, that it took a while to gather my bearings around the other residents of Poplar Street. As this book dealt with so many people, it was hard to get a grip on who was who and form any meaningful connections with them. For me, this didn’t happen until beyond halfway through for some of the key players. At times, it made comprehending everything a bit difficult because all of the insanity was happening to people whose names I barely remembered. However, chaos was exactly what Bachman wanted and The Regulators had it in spades!

Overall, I am going to rate The Regulators with an eight and a half out of ten stars. The story was excellent but I could have done without the countless character overload!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov17

Lil Red’s Book Club: Deviant By Harold Schechter Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Deviant By Harold Schechter Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today’s book club review is going to be a bit different from the norm as we are discussing a book very outside the norm. That being the biography of Ed Gein called Deviant written by Harold Schechter. This is going to be a spoiler free setting, as always, because we are not going to be getting into the nitty gritty of this book. Rather, I just have a few thoughts on it especially with the recent hype of the Ryan Murphy Monster series. It goes without saying that a big fat trigger warning will be placed on Deviant for highly disturbing and highly upsetting content. Be warned if you choose to read it for yourself! Now, let’s get to it:

My Johnny works in a cozy corner and listens to historical or true crime podcasts and audio books throughout the day. A while back ago he listened to Deviant and recommended it. For good reason too as it is easily one of the most excellent true crime books I have read. But more on that later! We decided to give the Ryan Murphy Monster series that focused on Ed Gein a go. Yes, we expected some fabrications but went into it with the mindset of we are watching a show – not a true story. At first, at least.

From the jump of Monster, Johnny immediately began pointing out the complete and utter lack of truth to the series. I was more focused on the acting as it was very good. However, there came a point when we just couldn’t do it anymore. This show was such a massive far cry from the truth of the matter at hand and playing it off as the real deal. Monster was, as to be expected, absolutely disgusting to watch. So much so that we refused to finish it. Yes, Ed Gein’s story is disgusting. There is no denying that. But, the falsities included made it even more so as it was strictly there to disgust. It felt completely gratuitous because countless scenes did not need to be included and was painting a picture of deviancy that Gein never participated in. (If you know some of the scenes I’m talking about, you know!) These additions were so flagrantly wrong that Gein’s biographer, Harold Schechter, ended up speaking out.

After our extremely lackluster viewing of a handful of episodes, Johnny bought Deviant for me so I could read it for myself. Throughout the show, I was shushing Johnny but after reading the book I can definitely see where he was coming from! In fact, he should have been shushing me lol. If you found yourself feeling similarly to us, you must read Deviant because this is exactly what the show should have been. It was unputdownable and I finished it in two sittings!

Deviant was so expertly written by Schechter that it almost felt like you were reading it from the perspective of someone looking through the window of the Gein home. This book was fact driven and never once attempted to sensationalize the situation. Only to tell the story based in truth. Schechter presented stone cold facts through first person accounts, newspaper articles and television soundbites, autopsy reports, physical and psychiatric reports, police reports, court proceedings, historical comparisons, obituaries, and photographs. If you want to know about “the original Psycho”, it starts and ends with Deviant.

Obviously, there was SO much that was hard to read in this book and I must warn you again. But, if you decide to dive in, you will find yourself feeling like me. As I flipped the pages, I literally felt like I was a resident of Plainfield. A fly on the wall watching as the story unfolded and I simply couldn’t stop reading. Of course, there is a lot to unpack from this book but the fact remains that these are the facts. This story was sensational without every single pointless shocker that Ryan Murphy carelessly threw into Monster. If you are a true crime aficionado, then you will be hard pressed to find anything that beats Deviant.

Overall, I am going to award Deviant with a ten out of ten stars. That’s not to say I enjoyed the content in this book. It’s to say that I appreciated the amazing writing and dedication to the facts!

What did you think of the Ed Gein Monster series? Do you like learning about true crime? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov11

Lil Red’s Book Club: Malorie By Josh Malerman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Malorie By Josh Malerman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the sequel to Bird Box by Josh Malerman called Malorie. I have been on a HUGE Malerman kick as of late and have been devouring his horror novels in a day. They are so good that once I start I simply can’t stop! After reading Bird Box, I watched the movie which was alright and eagerly awaited for Malorie to arrive at the library. As soon as I read the first page, I knew exactly what I was doing for the rest of my day! Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Malorie for graphic violence, disturbing content, and child abuse. Now, let’s get to it:

Malorie begins essentially where Bird Box left off. She and her children, Tom and Olympia, made the terrifying blind journey by rowboat to the Jane Tucker School For The Blind. Despite being in a safe space, Malorie insists on “living by the fold”. Meaning that even if they are in an enclosed area with everything they could ever need, her and her children will continue to do so blindly. Malorie’s constant mantra to herself is “don’t get lazy” and that is a good thing as they will soon have to flee and find home elsewhere.

Fast forward ten years later and Malorie, Tom, and Olympia’s home is an old summer camp. Her children are now teenagers and the family has the entire run of the camp and an excellent supply of food and water. In their semblance of a life, Olympia chooses to read everything in the camp’s library. Tom, on the other hand, spends his time inventing tools to allow them to be outside safely even if creatures are there. Creatures that turn you mad with one look – so insane that you will hurt anyone in your way and yourself. As the years go by, Malorie grows increasingly paranoid and takes it out on her children. The brunt falls on Tom who wants to explore the world desperately and without the constant fear that his mother instills in him and his sister.

Then, opportunity comes knocking. Quite literally. A man knocks on the family’s cabin door claiming that he is with the census. He is finding survivors and collecting information about how they have withstood the worldwide takeover of the creatures. To Tom’s delight, the man leaves his literature on the porch and his wildest dreams come true. There is a town called Indian River that is filled with progressive thinkers. People who claim to have caught a creature, people who are trying to invent tools every day and improve the lives that everyone has been subjected to.

Tom is not the only one to learn something new from the papers the census taker left. On the list of survivors, Malorie is shocked to see the names of people she believed to be dead. The route to find them is just a thirty mile walk and a blind train trip away. The family leaves immediately to catch the train, knowing that they are putting themselves in imminent danger. Creatures are lurking everywhere as are ghosts of the past. Will their trip be fruitful? Or will man continue to be the scariest creature of all? Read Malorie to find out!

The reviews I read for Malorie were lackluster at best and I completely disagree. I liked it just as much as Bird Box (Which received my coveted ten star rating), if not more. After reading Bird Box, I wanted to know more about this crazy world that Josh Malerman created and that is exactly what I got. I got a novel that told the tale of teens becoming adults, the titular character becoming someone new, and a world that is on the verge of collapse evolving as the years go by. Malorie is told from the perspective of Tom and Olympia as well as their mother but make no mistake. Although it is family focused, this book is dripping with horror and uncertainty with every turn of the page.

The book being told from the children’s point of view too filled me with such a sense of protection for them as I read. There is gentle Olympia who harbors secrets and fills her head with other people’s stories. Tom is the polar opposite. He wears his heart plainly and is steadfast in his desire to change the world. To see the world no matter what his mom says. This could lead to salvation or his untimely demise but it is a reminder that no reward will come from no risk. A reminder that Malorie will need when she takes her children on what she hopes to be their final trip to a safe home.

Like Bird Box, I am going to award Malorie with a ten out of ten stars. This was the perfect follow up to Bird Box and I really hope they make a movie of it!!

What are you currently reading? Who is your favorite horror author? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov4

Lil Red’s Book Club: Bird Box By Josh Malerman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Bird Box By Josh Malerman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the horror novel by Josh Malerman called Bird Box. This book was made into a movie in 2018 I believe and I never watched it despite the internet going crazy for it. I can’t wait to watch it now! After reading Incidents Around The House, also by Malerman, I decided that I would like to read more by him and thought Bird Box was an excellent place to start. It sure was as I finished this book in one sitting! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Bird Box for violence, disturbing content, child abuse, and harm to animals. Ready? Let’s get to it:

Malorie is newly pregnant and lives with her sister, Shannon. Despite their occasional sibling arguments, they are close as can be and are excited to start their lives in a bigger city. Then, The Problem started. In Russia, a man saw something and violently killed the person he was by and then himself. Similar incidents began to occur throughout Russia, then all over the world, and eventually into America. As The Problem starts by seeing something, people are advised to board up their windows, lock their doors, and never go outside without a blindfold. Shannon succumbs to The Problem and Malorie is left all alone with a decision.

Sure, she could stay in the home where her sister has perished. Or, she could travel with no eyesight to a home who placed an ad in the paper. A home that was safe where people could gather and face The Problem together. She takes option B and through blind faith arrives at the property. She is greeted by several housemates but finds herself drawn to Tom. Tom is a thinker, a problem solver, and a gentle soul. He welcomes pregnant Malorie into the home with open arms even though she will soon bring another mouth to feed.

Flash forward to present day and Malorie has gone at it alone with two children, Boy and Girl, in tow. Since birth, Boy and Girl have been trained to use their ears instead of their eyes. They are so good that they can hear a spider crawling on a windowpane and that is good. Malorie needs Boy and Girl. Supplies are running desperately low and it is only a matter of time before they need to leave to the only safe location she can think of. The journey is a dangerous one as she will have to take them by river in a rowboat. And, yes, she is blinded the whole time.

As we journey back and fourth between past and present, we learn of the turmoils that brought Malorie to where she is today. The people she encountered before Boy and Girl were born. How The Problem can decay peoples’ minds into insanity. And the intense training Boy and Girl had to endure seconds after they were born. Will Malorie have the strength to bring her, Boy, and Girl to safety? Will it ever be safe to step outdoors and see the world again? Read Bird Box to find out!

Holy WOW was Bird Box a great read! As I didn’t follow the hype around the movie release, I had no idea of what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that Sandra Bullock had a blindfold on lol. As soon as I read the first page, I wanted to know more and literally could not stop reading until I was done. What a crazy story. What a crazy idea. And what a fantastic gift Josh Malerman is to the world of horror. Bird Box taps into a primal fear – living in complete darkness. Every time a blindfold is placed on a character’s eyes, I found myself holding my breath for them. The simple act of fetching water from the well or answering the door has turned deadly. Evil could be right beside them and they wouldn’t even know it. Painstakingly written and absolutely harrowing, this book was one hundred and ten percent unputdownable.

Reading Bird Box was an exercise in “what would you do?” and “what type of person in the house would you be?”. As you read, you are immersed into a world that seems impossible but not implausible. A world where every single decision you make could lead to the death of yourself or your ragtag band of survivors. Double that with having children like Malorie and it makes your head spin. Malerman crafted the characters of Bird Box so beautifully and provided every type of person you might encounter. An innovator, a skeptic, a madman, a mother to be. The home they resided in became their cage and, when caged, true selves took form. Reading these characters, some beloved and some not so much, rise to the challenge or shrink away propelled this story forward and begged the question of if man is the scariest creature of all.

Overall, I am going to award Bird Box with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This is a standout horror novel that should not be missed and I am so excited to read more from Josh Malerman!

What did you think of Bird Box if you read it? Did you like the movie if you saw it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct30

Lil Red’s Book Club: Incidents Around The House By Josh Malerman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Incidents Around The House By Josh Malerman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a horror novel by Josh Malerman called Incidents Around The House. I see a fair amount of book related posts on my Facebook newsfeed and the first page of this book has shown up several times during my scrolling sessions. The first page is absolutely gripping and I finally decided to give it a go. Once I started reading, I literally couldn’t stop and finished this three hundred seventy page book in one day! It was excellent and I can’t wait to read more by Malerman. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Incidents Around The House for disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Bela is a little girl who lives with her Mommy and Daddo. She is on summer vacation and has been spending an awful lot of time indoors. Bela doesn’t have many friends to play with, but that’s okay. She has Other Mommy and Other Mommy is her friend. She thinks so, anyways. Other Mommy lives in Bela’s closet and has been visiting in the night for as long as Bela can remember. Sometimes they would laugh and play games, sometimes Other Mommy just watches her.

Although Bela is excited to see Other Mommy when she goes to bed at night, she is scared of her too. Other Mommy has a frightful appearance and has been known to pull terrifying faces, grow gargantuan in size, and slither around the floor like a snake. Other Mommy says that she’s Bela’s friend and that friends should help each other whenever they can. All Bela needs to do to help Other Mommy is let her into her heart. Then, Other Mommy can be Bela and Bela can live wherever Other Mommy goes whenever she slinks back into the closet.

Other Mommy has grown increasingly persistent and impatient for an answer from Bela about her request. So much so, that she has began making herself known to the adults in Bela’s life. Now that Mommy and Daddo know about Bela’s Other Mommy, they must protect their daughter from the evil in their home. But how? No matter where they go, Other Mommy follows and Other Mommy hurts. Will Other Mommy be vanquished for good? Or is Bela letting her into her heart the only solution? Read Incidents Around The House to find out!

Holy wow! Creepy right? Incidents Around The House was an unputdownable horror read from start to finish. I have to say, it was also delightfully refreshing to read some horror that isn’t Stephen King, as much as I love him! Incidents Around The House definitely reminded me of Coraline and this isn’t a bad thing as I am a huge fan of the book and movie. But make no mistake, this is no children’s book and truly feels like a Coraline for adults. I enjoyed every single page and couldn’t turn them fast enough.

Incidents Around The House is told from Bela’s perspective and my heart just broke for this poor girl. She is dealing with something SO scary all by herself. And, even when adults know about Other Mommy, she is still alone. The adults around her are cracking after just one glimpse of Other Mommy, while Bela has seen her every night. Incidents Around The House is, of course, about being brave even when you are by yourself. But it is also a firm reminder of the danger of harboring secrets and how quickly it can get out of hand when it finally comes to the surface. If you are a horror fan, this is a must read!

Overall, I am going to rate Incidents Around The House with a nine out of ten stars. I suspect there will be a lot more book club reviews for Josh Malerman’s books in the future. Also, I cannot wait to see the movie of this book coming out next year!

Have you read Incidents Around The House? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). As a huge horror movie gal, I am most interested in seeing the movie based on this book that recently came out. Of course, I had to read the book first! After reading through the sweet and cute as can be Chocolat series, I was very excited to delve back into my usual horror and suspense novels. I can’t think of a better place to start than with Stephen King – especially since spooky season is upon us! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this book for graphic violence, child abuse, sexual assault references, harm to animals, and disturbing content all involving children. If you’re up to it, let’s get to it:

The Long Walk is the nation’s favorite yearly pastime. It is a contest in which one hundred teenage boys simply walk under the watchful gaze of soldiers and the mysterious Major. The catch? You must maintain a pace of four or more miles per hour. Should you hit below four, you will receive a warning. There is no additional warning after the third one – you will be dead before you blink. One by one, the boys will be eliminated until there is one lone Walker to claim the prize: Fame and money beyond your wildest dreams and wishes granted. This is a contest that is not for the faint of heart and for boys who have nothing in their lives to lose.

Ray Garraty is our primary contestant and has a strong backing from his state of Maine. Did he enter The Long Walk for the glory, for repentance, or because he has a death wish? Who’s to say? But he is here and he is going to give it his best shot. Some boys compete in The Walk with a plan like to lone wolf it or frustrate other people into making mistakes. In Garraty’s case as with many others, they linked up in groups. Regardless of how you go about The Walk, there can only be one winner. There are no runner ups, no honorable mentions, and death is imminent for ninety-nine other competitors.

Despite these horrible circumstances, the boys trudge on. Armed with nothing but the clothes on their backs, a canteen of water, and food concentrates they must withstand whatever The Walk brings: Stormy weather, the delirium of no sleep, intense mental duress, and the pain that shoots through every inch of their bodies. Yet, they walk on. They walk until their death is the only option they desire. Only the strongest will survive. Will it be Garraty? Read The Long Walk to find out!

I have really mixed feelings about The Long Walk because it was written in a way that told us so much but also told us nothing. The Walk was, obviously, the focal point of this book and was the main character. It surpassed Garraty as the lead meaning that we knew next to nothing about the boys competing and everything about The Walk itself. This left little time to learn full back stories of the key handful of competitors and I wish that that was explored more. In a way, it was a mercy on King’s part. There were several teens that you wanted to see succeed and knowing more would have made their probable failure even more harrowing. The thing is, is that I’m nosey and still would have liked a bit of background information. On the other hand, it gives you the opportunity to draw your own conclusions.

Although I have some qualms with where the plot lacked, that is not to take away from the fact that is was expertly written, as always, by Mr. King/Bachman. He has a style that is undeniably his own and it continues to radiate. The way he describes horror is almost in a casual sense, then he surrounds the situation with joy wherever it can be found. A funny joke told by one of the boys, a competitor helping a fellow Walker to their feet, a rally by someone you thought was done for. In these moments of beauty, whatever painful situation that comes next hits even harder. There were sections in this book where it literally felt like I was being punched in the gut. Love or hate his books, there is no arguing in that they are a masterclass in pure horror.

Overall, I am going to rate The Long Walk with a six and a half out of ten stars. It wasn’t my favorite King/Bachman novel but it was still pretty good. I am looking forward to seeing the movie!

Have you read The Long Walk or seen the movie? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct20

Lil Red’s Book Club: Vianne By Joanne Harris Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Vianne By Joanne Harris Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the newly released prequel to the Chocolat series by Joanne Harris called Vianne. I have read through *almost* the entire series, skipping on Chocolat as I know the story well, in preparation for the prequel. It has been a delightful experience to read these charming novels of magic, hope, and change. However, I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t excited to delve back into my horror and thriller novels! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Vianne for pregnancy difficulties and miscarriage. Now, let’s get to it:

Vianne and her maman have been on the move for as long as she can remember. Their lives were spent traveling from country to country picking up menial work and living hand to mouth all in the name of avoiding the Man in Black. When the winds change, they ride it and go somewhere new. But, now, the destination is up to Vianne and her alone. Her mother has passed and Vianne would follow their old methods but these are special circumstances. Vianne is with child and she knows that she must find work and a place to call home to prepare for the arrival of her baby.

She ends up in Marseilles and every business she visits in search of work denies her. Finally, she tries her luck at a bistro called La Bonne Mere where the owner, Louis, takes a shine to her. Perhaps it is because of her pregnancy or he just needs the help, but he offers her a job in the kitchen and lodging. At La Bonne Mere, Vianne learns the recipes of Louis’s beloved wife and begins to get to know the people in the community. There is Guy and Mahmed who are opening a chocolate shop, cantankerous Emile, wise Khamaseen, and strangers who will become friends. Being Vianne, she has quickly turned Louis’s ramshackle bistro into a place to be but it worries her. It feels too much like home – too much like a good thing.

After an especially kind gesture from Louis, Vianne does what she does best. She flees. She ends up roughing it in Toulouse until she is beckoned back to Marseilles by Guy. He promises her work in the chocolate shop and will teach her everything he knows. Vianne is in no position to turn down this opportunity over living on the streets and accepts. Knowing that she must go back and make right the lives of the people who suffered in her abrupt parting.

With Guy, Vianne learns the magic of chocolate and helps prepare the chocolaterie for its grand opening. She revels in the ritual, in trying new recipes, and using her magic in a more domestic setting. Magic that spreads good into the world with the taste of chocolate on the tongue. Like the bistro, the chocolaterie feels like a place that Vianne can stay. But will that ever be good enough? Or will she answer the call to the wind once more? Read Vianne to find out!

I really enjoyed reading Vianne and it was so worth reading the Chocolat series through for this experience. After the entirety of the series was said and done, there was still so much that we didn’t know about Vianne prior to her arrival in Lansquenet. The prequel answered all of these questions and made me love this fantastical character even more. To finally know her backstory and fully understand her choices was like a gift from Joanne Harris and I craved reading Vianne as much as I crave chocolate on a regular basis.

For all of its delight, Vianne was a bittersweet read. We already know how it’s going to end because the rest of the series exists. But this book allows you to see what could have been. A cast of characters as dear as the ones in Lansquenet, another chocolate shop that is trying to stay on its feet, a permanent home for her children. Part of me wished for more of these stories because it was all too easy to find a closeness to the Marseilles community. We all know that Vianne wouldn’t be Vianne without accepting the winds of change and this book showed us how she came into her own. To learn the magic of chocolate and to be herself. The woman and mother she wants to be.

Overall, I am going to rate Vianne with a seven out of ten stars. This was definitely one of the better books in the series and was a lovely way to conclude my visit to the world of Vianne Rocher!

Have you read the Chocolat series? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the fifth and final installment of the Chocolat series called The Strawberry Thief. I have been rereading the series to gear up for the newly released prequel called Vianne and I am so excited to sink my teeth into it next. In October, scary movies reign supreme as Johnny and I complete the 31 scary movies in 31 days challenge. These lighthearted, easy read books are a nice change of pace from that and I have really enjoyed revisiting Joanne Harris’s work again. Before we begin chatting about one of my favorite books in the series, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Strawberry Thief for child abuse and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

It has been eight years since Vianne returned to Lansquenet with Anouk and Rosette after receiving a letter from her beloved and deceased friend. She had no intention of staying for long, just long enough to solve a problem for Father Reynaud and then it was back to Paris to be with Roux. However, the urge to settle became too strong and so Vianne, the girls, and even Roux made Lansquenet their home once again. A lot has changed in eight years but some things have remained the same. Vianne’s chocolaterie is open once more, Anouk is now living in Paris with her boyfriend, Rosette is still Rosette, and Roux has stayed in the same place for longer than he ever has before. Life is good, but the wind is blowing and with that wind comes drastic changes.

Rosette has never been one for words and prefers to use sign language or make animal noises. She makes some people uncomfortable but found a friend in the elderly man who runs a flower shop named Narcisse. He is gruff and unfriendly to almost everyone but has taken a shine to Rosette, his little strawberry thief. This nickname came from her love of exploring the woods behind his shop and eating her fill of the wild strawberries that grow there. She dreams of living there one day all by herself and maybe she will. Narcisse passed away suddenly and left the woods on his property to Rosette, much to the disdain of his daughter and family.

Not only did Narcisse leave Rosette a substantial piece of property but he made Father Reynaud the executor of his will. He also leaves behind his confession and life story that is for Reynaud’s eyes only. This infuriates his daughter even more and she spends her time harassing Vianne, Roux, Reynaud, and Rosette for more information. She wants to contest the will so she can have Rosette’s property all to herself. This isn’t the only change that the wind has brought. Shortly after Narcisse died, a new renter has set up in his old flower shop. A mysterious place, ran by an even more mysterious woman.

Vianne has a bad feeling about whatever is going on in that shop and demands that Rosette stay away. Perhaps because the owner reminds her a bit too much of Zozie, the eater of hearts? Despite her mother’s urges, the temptation to enter the shop is too great and Rosette enjoys the company of the owner named Morgane. On her first visit, she learns that Morgane is a tattoo artist – a profession that Lansquenet has never seen the likes of. This information delights Vianne because there is no way that a tattoo parlor will flourish in their small village. Right?

Wrong! Soon enough, Lansquenet is buzzing with tattoo fever and even the most unlikely residents have gotten fresh ink from Morgane. Rosette loves visiting the shop and between the stress of Morgane and her daughter’s friendship, a faltering romance with Roux, and Rosette’s newly acquired property, Vianne takes matters into her own hands. Vianne was once an outcast in Lansquenet and she wants Morgane to have the same treatment. No one, even Father Reynaud, can see what she sees but she feels it fiercely. Maybe if the wind takes Morgane away, the Kindly Ones will be satisfied and leave Vianne in peace. Or maybe, what she’s feeling is all in her head. Will Rosette be able to keep her woods? And will order be restored in Lansquenet if Morgane were to just pack up and go? Read The Strawberry Thief to find out!

I absolutely loved The Strawberry Thief and it was such a wonderful change of pace from its predecessor, Peaches For Father Francis. The Strawberry Thief was fast paced, short and sweet, and I devoured it in three sittings. This book was told from the point of view of Vianne and Father Reynaud as well as Rosette and this delighted me. Finally being able to hear Rosette’s thoughts after two books of not knowing much about her was so amazing. Rosette is sixteen in this book and her chapters spoke of growing up, social isolation, and carving a place in the world that was just for her. The words in her chapters moved me so deeply and solidified what I always knew – she’s not so different after all.

Not only did we get to see the world through Rosette’s eyes, but we also got to travel back in time with Narcisse’s life story. There is a secret that he took to his grave and needed to confess to someone in his passing. Who better than Father Reynaud? To learn the secret, we must start at the beginning and his is a harrowing tale of trauma, abuse, and grief that never left him. It was heartbreaking but beautiful as this shed light on why he became so fond of Rosette. With all of the excitement of these interweaving tales AND a tattoo shop opening in Lansquenet, I simply couldn’t stop turning the pages. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and was definitely one of the strongest in the entire series!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strawberry Thief with an eight out of ten stars. After my wishy washy sentiments over Peaches For Father Francis, I wasn’t sure what I was in for with this book. It was even better than I hoped for!

What are you currently reading? Who is your favorite author? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah