The Dark

The Dark by James Herbert.

Paperback: 442 pages
Publisher: Pan Macmillan;(April 1, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0330522078

A blackness leaves its lair, and begins slowly to spread

It came like a malignant shadow with seductive promises of power. Somewhere in the night, a small girl smiled as her mother burned, asylum inmates slaughtered their attendants, and in slimy tunnels once-human creatures gathered. Madness raged as the lights began to fade, and humanity was attacked by an ancient, unstoppable evil.

This is my third book by James Herbert and I am sorry to say my least favorite.

The Dark seems to represent the evil in all our minds.  And we do all have good and evil in us. 

He writes very creepy and scary but this time I felt it was overkill.  I got tired of the mass descriptive killings.  But I read the whole book and intend on finding others by James Herbert.  For some reason, other than on Amazon I don't seem to find any of his books.

This is a really short review because I have so much to do to get this computer back to "normal" if it's even possible !!

Letters from Skye

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole.

Publisher: Ballantine Books (May 28, 2014)
ASIN: B00N4EKOXC  (287 pgs)
Review:
A sweeping story told in letters, spanning two continents and two world wars, Jessica Brockmole’s atmospheric debut novel captures the indelible ways that people fall in love, and celebrates the power of the written word to stir the heart.
March 1912: Twenty-four-year-old Elspeth Dunn, a published poet, has never seen the world beyond her home on Scotland’s remote Isle of Skye. So she is astonished when her first fan letter arrives, from a college student, David Graham, in far-away America. As the two strike up a correspondence—sharing their favorite books, wildest hopes, and deepest secrets—their exchanges blossom into friendship, and eventually into love. But as World War I engulfs Europe and David volunteers as an ambulance driver on the Western front, Elspeth can only wait for him on Skye, hoping he’ll survive.
June 1940: At the start of World War II, Elspeth’s daughter, Margaret, has fallen for a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Her mother warns her against seeking love in wartime, an admonition Margaret doesn’t understand. Then, after a bomb rocks Elspeth’s house, and letters that were hidden in a wall come raining down, Elspeth disappears. Only a single letter remains as a clue to Elspeth’s whereabouts. As Margaret sets out to discover where her mother has gone, she must also face the truth of what happened to her family long ago.
Thank you Cath.  (my "sis" from across the pond)
Cath read and wrote a review of Letters from Skye and when I said it sounded like I might like it she agreed.... and so I found a used copy.
I sat down and read the first 30 pages and emailed Cath.. "30 pages in and I love it".
Later that evening I finished the entire book!   That is a first for me!  I have never read a whole book in one day! (ok, so maybe if you count comic books!)
I am not a person to read "love stories".  But I think when they come into my reading, in this case the format of letters intrigued me, that they are such a refreshing change that I like them. 
This one began innocently as a fan writes an author about liking her book. (hmmm, I've done that and now friends with Michael Scott of Ireland who wrote the Secrets of Nicholas Flamel series of books!..but he's way to young for me LOL)  Anyway..  A friendship blossoms and then slowly you learn of both of their lives.  Then comes WWI and their lives change.  I don't want to say much even though the above review does.
I found this book captivating from the first "letter" and now, like Cath, I would love to see the Isle of Skye!
Great book.  Fast read.  A book just to make you feel good!

This House is Haunted

My 6th read for RIP.

 

This House is Haunted by John Boyne.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Other Press (October 8, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1590516796

From Booklist

Eliza Caine is orphaned at 21 when her father succumbs to the flu after he insisted on attending a reading by Charles Dickens in cold, wet weather. She is bereft and, like most heroines of the time, without resources. She has lost her home, and so she leaves her teaching job to take a position as governess to two children in Norfolk. The advertisement is somewhat irregular, but she summons her courage and travels to what should be her new life. But secrets and mysteries abound. There are no parents present, and no servants to speak of. No one will share any information, and terrible things keep happening. Isabella seems old beyond her years, while Eustace is sweet and lovable. Through dogged pursuit, Eliza ferrets out the horrific truth and survives the malevolence of the presence that haunts the house. As the fearful situation grows worse, Eliza finds a strength that is unexpected for her time and place. Does she solve the puzzle, and do she and the children survive? A perfect, shivery gothic tale. --Danise Hoover

Well now, this book was easy reading and quite enjoyable! 

Good background material so you never get lost, and just an all-'round quick "ghostly" read!  Can't ask for anything more during RIP!  Wow , I might even get one more read this month so that I don't embarrass myself on the book count for "things that go bump in the night"!   

This one did not go bump in the night though.  It more went, shove out the window, strangle, push down stairs.. in general: not all nice stuff  :o).  Like I said, perfect for RIP!