CBRIII Book#5: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

I say with no sarcasm or undue praise that this collection of short stories is probably the best work that King has done in a while. The stories are haunting at times, terrifying at others, and always a study of the pitfalls of human behavior.

CBRIII: Book#4: 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

If you've read any of this blog, you may have seen my reviews of Joe Hill's Horns and Heart-Shaped Box . If so, you already know that I adore Joe Hill and his writing. I believe that he has a real gift for writing and infusing his horror stories with real emotion and relatability. I only learned, or perhaps re-learned, that Hill had his own collection of short stories when the lovely and delightful Julie shared her spoils from Barnes & Noble on Facebook the other day. I immediately reserved it from the library and waited. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long.

Side Job on the Side of the Other Things I Do

For the past two weeks I've been helming the Eloquent Eloquence at Pajiba. You should head over there and read it here and here. Sadly, my last EE will be posted next Monday.

I've also had my review of I Am Ozzy posted over there. Go, read, lavish me with praise.

CBRIII: Book#3: Room by Emma Donoghue

I never thought I would ever read a novel written in the first person voice of a five year old boy. I chose to read Room when I saw it listed on a Best of 2010 list. The only description there was basic and enough to get me interested in reading it. I really had no real idea of what I was in store for and I was riveted when I began to read.

CBRIII: Book#2: I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres

I used to be terrified of Ozzy Osbourne. His album covers were nightmare material and I suspected that the Prince of Darkness would emerge from the shadows of my back yard and murder me. I was afraid that listening to his songs would be akin to calling out Candyman in my bathroom mirror. I was such a pansy. But I got over it. And I listened to Black Sabbath and Ozzy and I realized this was just a man. A flawed, insane, entertaining man. I'm so glad that he 'wrote' (as I suspect Ozzy narrated and Ayres transcribed the stories with the help of a roomful of language experts) about all of the crazy things he has done in his life.

CBRIII: Book#1: The Keep by Jennifer Egan

The Keep is an interesting sort of novel. The blurb provided by the jacket and short reviews focus on an event that occurs when two cousins are teenagers and how they come together later in life with different lives because of that event. After reading the book I feel like it isn't about the cousins or the event. It is about perception and the lengths that people will go to in order to be close to the people and things they love. It's also about choices.