More Fun Reading

This has nothing to do with Valentine's Day, or the Olympics, or the nasty winter weather across the nation. So while this post may not be timely in terms of current events, it is timely in that I've finished reading two more stories. I promised myself I'd make note of what I thought about them.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been trying to get back into the enjoyable habit of reading. Rather than fall back on the classic literature that I either read in college or have already opened multiple times, I spent a whopping dollar on a book of four horror novellas. Let's see what I can tell you about the two I finished this week.

First was "Pyre" by Christopher Golden. Right off the bat it felt like a Harlequin romance paperback. There were descriptions of hair and clothing...things seemed a bit melodramatic (though there was no mention of heaving bosoms and no sign of Fabio). The heroine is in her 20s, and there are some high-school flashbacks. But the story was easy enough to follow, and there were eerie moments and creepy scenes. I would have liked a few TV-movie sentences to wrap it all up at the end, but I suppose being left with some supernatural mystery is appropriate. I could see it as an episode of some sort of anthology series. Overall, not a bad tale.

Yesterday, I read "Jonah Arose" by Tom Piccirilli. I would have to describe it as...odd. It took me awhile to grasp the descriptions of the setting, but it was somewhat effective to reveal things bit by bit. The characters were definitely unique, each with certain well-defined traits. Throughout the piece, the imagery was detailed and specific. I had clear pictures in my head for every page. I did want to keep reading and see if the "hero" succeeded on his "quest," and I must admit to being surprised by the story's climax. The ending had me shaking my head, gagging just a little, and double checking to make sure I had read it correctly. I wouldn't classify it as "horror," but that's as good a label as any. Not really sci-fi, but not mainstream mystery, either. I might at some point even read this one again, perhaps looking more carefully at the symbolism the way a student might. (Secretly, I might also look for more typos. I recall two, and that was without consciously looking.)

Definitely worth the price I paid. In fact, these stories were worth more than that. Reading them meant there were times I was not watching TV or putzing online. For that, I am grateful. Will the last story in the book help me re-cement this as a mind-healthier habit?

As always, I'll let ya know.