#roald dahls book of ghost stories

[tinyshe]

Book Review:

I finished a collection of Roald Dahl books (short stories for adults), Penguin Random House UK. There is one under the cover title FEAR (c.2017) which was originally published as ‘Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories’. The only thing he wrote for this one was the Foreword/ Introduction. I usually don’t read such because I have an active enough imagination and live in a house that has tendencies towards the unexplained. But not wanting to waste money (I bought them as a discount bundle), I thought the least I could do was take tiny bites and sit through one reading. They are pretty good selection of talented writers:

W.S. by LP Hartley

Harry by Rosemary Timperley

The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith

In the Tube by EF Benson

Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley

Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie

Playmates by AM Burrage

Ringing the Changes by Robert Aickman

The Telephone by Mary Treadgold

The Ghost of a Hand by J Sheridan Le Fanu

The Sweeper by AM Burrage

Afterward by Edith Wharton

On the Brighton Road by Richard Middleton

The Upper Berth by F Marion Crawford

‘Ringing’ was a little much by the fact that it spawned a series of bad dreams for me but I can’t blame the book; it was because my imagination really latched on to that one to create some scary visuals as it is a little familiar in some ways.

What I like about this collection of stories in FEAR is that there is a refrain from gore, sex and embellished/glorified violence -- very refined, polite company type of ghost stories, if you will, the type you read (aloud perhaps?) all safe and sound under a warm blanket with a hot toddy or spiced cider during the month of October.

[marshmyers]

Who better to investigate the literary spirit world than that supreme connoisseur of the unexpected? From the author of such beloved books as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Witches comes a collection of spooky tales carefully curated by the author himself.

https://bookshop.org/a/95413/9780374518684

[bothsidesnow2000]

*pretends i’m meg ryan in you’ve got mail by getting books from the library and sitting in the sun reading with a cup of coffee from starbucks*

[pagingdrmusic]

Back with a new haul from Barnes & Noble!

[facts-i-just-made-up]

Five Famous Book Monsters Drawn: EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED BY AUTHORS!

Many movie adaptations of famous novels change the character and creature designs, some very drastically. Here are five famous monsters or villains that I've rendered with great care toward their original descriptions in their first books. Some aren't what you might expect from the movie versions! Enjoy!

#1- The Exorcist

The Exorcist by Ira Levin features a demon named Pazuzu. In the book, we see a few glimpses of a wicked face and a horribly injured Linda Blair, but in the original novel, Pazuzu is described as a skeletal ghost with a snakelike spinal column that ends in a devil tail. His hands float separately, and his many horns are topped by a hat with a pigeon feather, much like the biblical description of the demon.

#2- Jaws

Jaws by Peter Benchley was much more of a sci-fi novel than the movie based on it. In the original story, the shark had a human-like mind and arms and legs. It was well armed and killed not with its teeth, but its two AK-47s. It is only defeated when the sheriff ties its loose shoelaces together.

#3- The Lord of the Rings

Sauron is described by J.J.R. Tolkien not as the fiery eyeball or armored mammoth seen in Peter Jackson's movies, but rather as a beautiful long haired man in a white robe with chubby cheeks and enormous, pendulous bosoms. Over 30 pages are spent describing the Mounds of Doom, or in Elvish "Orodroobies" and in Sindarin, "Amon Amammaries."

#4- Frankenstein

Mary Shelly's masterpiece is considered the dawn of sci-fi and horror alike, but it's iconic monster looked nothing like Boris Karloff in the text. Rather it was a tentacled half-octopus, half-man, half-dragon that caused madness in anyone who saw it emerge from its home, the lost island of R'lyeh. Note that the name "Frankenstein" is not that of the monster itself, but is the closest a human can come to pronouncing its true name, as recorded by Igor Alhazrad.

#5- The Lorax

It's hard to guess what Roald Dahl pictured just from the descriptions in his novel, but the title monster from his 15-Volume Norwegian language epic "The Lorax" is nothing like you may have seen in the popular CGI erotic film. In the novel, it has orange hair and big eyebrows but is more like a spectral demon with crystal eyes and jagged fangs that bounds through the Norwegian desert on its two massive feet, each of which has one claw. A similar fate met Agent Smith from his novel "The Matrix" who was a big green robot in the book, but is clearly a Hugo Weaving in the movies.

[cookinguptales]

just watched the dirty laundry ep where one of them talks about how he wrote a short story that worried his teacher and like

ohhh I had one of those when I was a kid. my parents still talk about it to this day.

when I was about 8yo, my teacher put a poster up on the blackboard and said, "I want you all to write me a story inspired by this scene." the scene was of a lush jungle that had animals hidden throughout.

"oh, okay," I said to myself. "I can do this."

see, what my teacher (and parents) didn't know was that my grandmother, knowing vaguely that I liked to read but knowing pretty much nothing else about children, had given me a stack of books that she got at a yard sale. these books were very nice quality and I was happy to get them. too bad that they were all alfred hitchcock presents!

for the uninitiated, AHP was a tv series and book series that collected short, scary stories. stories about murder, stories about ghosts, stories about monsters of all kind. you get stories like du maurier's the birds and blackwood's the wendigo and that fucked-up short story that roald dahl wrote about that guy who collected fingers or whatever.

all that is to say that I had been consuming wildly age-inappropriate atmospheric horror for months at this point and I was like, "yes, I know just what to write!"

I ended up turning in this story about an explorer who was lost in the jungle and he starts hearing this faraway howling sound, which he realizes is a howler monkey. and he keeps getting more and more lost and the howling keeps getting closer and closer and finally, as he is about ready to collapse with exhaustion, he hears the sound of howls all around him and the story ends with the implication that he got mauled to death by howler monkeys.

(I also, coincidentally enough, really enjoyed zoo books!)

lmao ~guess whose parents got a phone call~?

but it kind of backfired on my teacher, because my parents were fully delighted. they were like "WE DIDN'T KNOW SHE COULD WRITE LIKE THIS" and I did not get punished at all.

anyway, my parents still talk about "the howler" to this day when they want to embarrass me at dinner parties. :')

[literalite]

character/story influences tag

rules: write up a blurb or make a visual collage of the people or characters (from books, TV shows, movies, etc.) that inspired your story and/or OC, either visually, personality wise, or just a general vibe

thanks for the tag @tricoufamily :DD i am tagging @gunthermunch @lucidicer @itsmariejanel @orphyd @goldenwaves this is FUN u should do it. thank u

medias/characters meet me in the woods: man in the dark (paul auster), orlando (virginia woolf), lord huron's entire discography, specifically meet me in the woods and the ghost on the shore, the godfather 1972 (barely), age of adaline 2015, the old guard 2020, this specific cc cross, and reading homer's the iliad in my final year of high school. somehow don't go where i can't follow: the raven cycle (maggie stiefvater), his dark materials (philip pullman), adventure time 2010-2018, mitski’s bury me at makeout creek album, next of kin by alvvays, bite the hand by boygenius, matilda (roald dahl) (jokingly), horrible no good homoerotic teenage friendships, the chosen one trope, and this post by tumblr user @/louisegluckpdf. also my life which explains why the aesthetic is completely disjointed RIP violent affairs (with @lucidicer): nbc hannibal, bones and all 2022, arachnids, ethel cain’s preacher's daughter, sir chloe’s i am the dog album, mine and olli's deranged combined mental energies mutually focusing on t4t cannibalism  vinny reign: matt murdock (netflix daredevil), joel miller (tlou), the fallen angel painting by alexandre cabanel, caravaggio paintings, catholic guilt, arsonist’s lullabye by hozier caleb vatore: those italian twinks that renaissance artists kept referencing to paint religious figures, dorian gray, orlando, timothee chalamet (LMAO), the reveal that the noo don’t kill yourself you’re so sexy guy is a twink [redacted] morrow: gojo satoru, howl pendragon (studio ghibli), jay gatsby, kageyama shigeo and also a bit of reigen arataka (mp100), ronan lynch and gansey (the raven cycle), eden's entire discography, birdcage by novo amor, mercy by sir chloe, myself ophelia griffin: ophelia painting by john everett millais, blue sargent (the raven cycle), clairo, phoebe bridger's discography, strawberry blonde and your best american girl by mitski, clairo’s immunity album, the first crush i ever had manny pluto: yotasuke takahashi (blue period), tbh a lot of blue period in general, alhaitham (genshin impact), adam parrish (the raven cycle), a hint of geto suguru, working for the knife by mitski nayef al karim: spiders, abel AND cain, julian slowik (the menu 2022), hannibal lecter (yes obvious i know but moreso the focus on fine dining as opposed to the psychology), stewy hosseini (succession), inbred by ethel cain

[bethanydelleman]

do you have any book recommendations beyond classic lit + Jane Austen? Love your blog by the way!

Thanks! I read/have read a ton of books. My favourite genre as a child was fantasy, but I read almost everything except true crime*, thrillers, murder mysteries, self-help, and biography. But I do sometimes read those, my favourite thriller is Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney. I'm going to start with children's books because honestly, I find so much imagination in that genre.

Children's/YA Books: Gail Carson Levine, specifically The Princess Tales 1 & 2, and Ella Enchanted, among others Jean Little/Kit Pearson - these authors have the same vibe to me. Willow and Twig is a favourite from the first one, The Guests of War trilogy and Awake and Dreaming from the other. They both write coming of age novels for girls, both Canadian. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - I loved the whole trilogy (haven't watched the movie). The story being based around real antique trick photos is my favourite part The Echorium Sequence by Katherine Roberts - a trilogy of books about magical singers with blue hair and their interactions with half-human magical creatures Margaret Peterson Haddix, specifically Running Out of Time, the Shadow Children series, and Double Identity. Margaret Buffie, who writes stories about teenage girls and ghosts. Also Canadian, which I guess isn't that surprising. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. Re-read it last summer and it's as good as I remembered. Roald Dahl, I really loved Matilda as a child, it's been fun to read some of these novels with my kids. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar - and it's sequels. Amazingly quirky and funny stories about a class of students in a weird school

Fantasy: Mercedes Lackey, specifically the Five Hundred Kingdoms series and The Obsidian universe. I also loved the Elvenbane series, but due to the death of Andre Norton it may never be finished. I would advise caution if sexual assault is triggering for you, the ones I like are mostly free of it but that can come up in her other works. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - obviously. Also loved The Hobbit, have not read further The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin - the book opens with the triggering of an apocalypse. The world contains people who can control earthquakes A Baroque Fable by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - this book is so hilarious but I don't know if anyone has heard about it Once Upon a Winter's Night by Dennis L. McKiernan - and it's sequels. This is a romance retold fairy tale series

Science Fiction: Michael Crichton - who spans a bunch of genres but I'll put him here. I've read everything he's written and I recommend most of it. State of Fear has not aged well. His books are very fast-paced and Timeline has one of the best enemies to lovers. Orson Scott Card - I am aware, but Ender's Game is a masterpiece. He also has this single novel called Magic Street that is a sequel to A Midsummer Night's Dream. I also loved Memories of Earth but it's been a while since I read it. I, Robot by Issac Asimov - short stories about artificial intelligence and how it might go weird

Graphic novels: Astro City by Kurt Busiek - superhero, but more focused on how living in that world would affect normal people Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra - every male on earth dies, except for one, and his monkey Fables by Bill Willlingham - after being attacked by an army of wooden soldiers, fairy tale characters and creatures seek refuge in a non-magical world (ours) Nimona by ND Stevenson - a villain gains a shape-shifting sidekick, but she is not what she seems Scurry by Mac Smith - post-apocalyptic earth, the main characters are all surviving mice. Best artwork I've ever seen in a graphic novel American Vampire by Scott Snyder- vampires have different traits depending on their home country, this is about the new, American species. Asterix and Obelix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo - a small group of powerful Gauls defend themselves against the Romans using a magical potion

Non Fiction: Stephan Pinker, I've read both of his trilogies on language and the brain. Trying to get through his huge book about violence The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks - writen by a neurologist, fascinating book Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick by Maya Dusenbery - what it says on the tin

Toddler/Young Child Books: The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone - I give you a 100% guarantee that if you read this book aloud, the kids will be fascinated. It is literally always a hit Robert Munsch - most of his books are amazing, but if you don't want to cry, DO NOT read the backstory of Love You Forever. The Paper Bag Princess was one of my favourites as a child. Little Critter - only the older ones, the new ones are religious for some reason. Just for You and I Was So Mad were favourites for my kids. Early lesson in unreliable narrators. Phoebe Gilman - Something From Nothing, the Jillian Jiggs series, The Balloon Tree... so many good ones! Really good illustrations too Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal - a book about a pea who hates eating candy. This book is fun to read and my kids loved it (I have the box set) The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak - kids love when adults have to do weird things I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen - perfect opportunity to do a lot of funny voices The Mitten by Jan Brett - a whole bunch of animals squeeze into a mitten. That's the whole thing. It's great. The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland - and the rest of the series. These are fun to read because they rhyme. Jonathan Stutzman - my kids LOVE Tiny T. Rex and the Llama series. We haven't read the others An Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems - we have this entire series, they are a delight. An elephant and pig are very silly friends. Good drawings Dr. Seuss - be careful with him though, his books are quite long and can be hard to read, so I recommend waiting until your kids are a bit older. But The Lorax slaps and my personal favourite as a kid was The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

Other: Still Alice by Lisa Genova - or any of her books really. She is a neuroscientist and her books are really interesting explorations of different disorders. Book is better than the movie Warm Bodies by Issac Marion - zombie Romeo and Juliet Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder - a novel that is also an intro to philosophy course Calvin and Hobbes - I own all of them, so excited for when my kids can understand them. I also love The Far Side, Zits, and the earlier Dilbert comics The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John - this book is absolutely charming. I saw the Netflix movie and then bought it right away.

*I avoid true crime because I have heard that the genre causes harassment to victim's families

General Note: I am aware that some of these authors are now considered controversial, some for more serious reasons than others. Sometimes flawed people make really good art. I mean, flawed people make all art because nobody on earth is perfect.

[bookboundnewsletter]

🎃📚👻 Get ready to dive into the spookiest reads of the season! Here are some fang-tastic Halloween book recommendations to send chills down your spine and add a little magic to your All Hallow's Eve. 🦇✨

"The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson: This classic haunted house tale is perfect for those who love a good scare.

"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman: Follow Coraline into a parallel world with eerie button-eyed parents, a black cat, and a spine-tingling adventure.

"Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: Dive into this gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico with a heroine determined to uncover the terrifying secrets of the haunted mansion.

"The Halloween Tree" by Ray Bradbury: This heartwarming tale takes you on a journey through time and space to discover the origins of Halloween.

"The Witches" by Roald Dahl: A wickedly funny story about real witches with a plan to rid the world of children. Who will stop them?

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman: Follow the adventures of a young boy raised by ghosts in a graveyard. It's a perfect blend of eerie and heartwarming.

"Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman: Witches, spells, and a little dash of romance—perfect for a bewitching Halloween.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury: This creepy carnival tale is full of nostalgia and spine-tingling suspense.

[reemasrealm]

Roald Dalh's Book of Ghost Stories

This hidden gem is hauntingly good! Dahl actually collected these horror ghost stories and curated them into a collection, it's a shame that it isn't widely known as his other works.

[sebastianravkin]

Fuck Book Banning in 2024

Sorry, no eloquence today. Just frustration and anger. 

While planning some reading for the coming year, I was reminded again of all the book banning that has happened recently. Some of my favorites . . . .

James and the Giant Peach (Roald Dahl) - My father read this to me as a child, I read it to him as he was dying. A story of a boy and some overly large insects that go on adventures inside a giant peach. Banned for including a vulgar word, having a mystical element, and for advocating communism.

Sandman (Neil Gaiman) - The comics that helped define many of the [interesting] people in my generation. A dark and brooding tale that follows Morpheus Lord of Dreams through various stories. Banned for anti-family themes and offensive language.

Beloved (Toni Morrison) - A book that made me think hard about family, history, and pain when I was in college. A beautiful soft soft soft ghost story about a (not) coping family of formerly enslaved people. Banned for obscene content.

Maus (Art Spiegelman) - An unbelievably important graphic novel in my family used to discuss with my older children the unbelievably impossible horror of the Holocaust. Banned for depicting profanity, nudity, and violence.  

Lost Girls (Alan Moore) - A graphic novel that made me reconsider victimization, womanhood, and storytelling.  A darker than dark retelling of some of fantasy’s favorite women. Banned for very explicit sex content and violence. 

In 2024 - go find one of YOUR favorites on the list of banned books, get angry, buy the book, and read it again (or gift it to someone else to read).

Also, here are some resources if you want other ways to fight book banning in the United States.

[readingbooksinisrael]

March 2023 Read This Month

Rereads

The BFG/Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (mg fantasy)-When Sophie sees a giant she is very lucky it is the BFG--the Big Friendly Giant--and not any of the other giants, like the Fleshlumpeater, who see children as snacks. Together, they hatch a plan to save children from being eaten.

Emily’s Runaway Imagination/Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Beth and Joe Krush (mg historical fiction)-There isn’t much to do in a little farming town in Oregon in the 1920s and so Emily’s imagination often runs away with her; but maybe some of her ideas aren’t so crazy, like getting a library.

Matilda/Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (mg fantasy)-Matilda is a very smart little girl, but her parents hate her and deride her. When she goes to school the Headmistress acts exactly the same way. Then she discovers she can move things with her eyes. Can she use that to save herself and the other children in the school from the terrible Trunchbull?

5 stars

Top Secret/John Reynolds Gardiner, illustrated by Marc Simont (mg contemporary sci fi)-Allen is certain he wants to do a project on human photosynthesis for the upcoming science fair, but everyone except his grandfather forbids him to. He’ll have to prove he can do it--and if that involves calling up the President? Well, it involves calling up the President.

3.75 stars

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches/Sangu Mandanna (adult low fantasy)-As one of few witches, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of the residents of Nowhere House.

3.5 stars

The Priory of the Orange Tree/Samantha Shannon (The Roots of Chaos #1) (adult high fantasy)-The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but makes a choice that could see her life unravel.

Two Dog Biscuits/Beverly Cleary, illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvio-Ryan (Two Times the Fun #2) (realistic fiction picture book)-Jimmy and Janet get two dog biscuits from their neighbor. How will they ever choose which dog to give them to?

3 stars

Haunted Castle on Hallow’s Eve/Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Salvatore Murdocca (Merlin Missions #2) (children’s fantasy)-On Halloween Night Jack and Annie receive another mission from Merlin: put order back to a castle, which the villagers say is filled with ghosts.

חבורת הרפאים/אביגדור שחן, מאוייר ע”י יואב בז’רנו (עלילות גבורה ומיסתורין #1) (ya Jewsish adventure and romance)-Avi is a refugee in a Jewish Romanian town after the Holocaust. He spends his days wandering around the streets when, all at once, he is invited to join two societies preparing for the aliya to Israel. One has the prettiest girl he’s ever talked to and the second is a secret society, preparing to steal back Jewish treasure from a church yard in the nearby Christian town.

2.5 stars

Cities of Wonder/ed. Damon Knight (adult sci fi collection)-A collection of stories ranging from the 20s to the 60s about sci fi cities.

[themovieblogonline]

Foggy mornings, pumpkin spice, and everything nice! It’s officially the Trick or Treat season aka my favorite time of the year. As orange and black hues dominate, there’s one thing no one’s ever have to pass on. You guessed it. An amazing Halloween Watchlist! Whether you’re a fan of horror movies or not, these timeless non-scary movies are perfect to enjoy on Halloween Eve.  1. The Nightmare Before Christmas The festive and spooky season is taken on a twist. Jack Skellington uncovers the true joy of the holiday season in Tim Burton’s animated flick. With its beautiful visuals and melodious vibe, watching it would be a Halloween done right.   2. Edward Scissorhands What happens when a soft soul gets scissors for hands? Horror, fantasy, romance, and lots of magic! Tim Burton, once again webs a sensual tale for you to enjoy. Edward’s emotional journey to fit in society will make the watchers go through an unconventional Halloween experience. 3. Casper The friendly ghost is probably the most fitting character to discuss, if we’re talking about non-scary movies. Imagine how humor and horror would come together on a family movie night. Discover friendship and the warmth of love presented through lighthearted comedy.   4. Goosebumps Bringing R.L. Stine’s awesome stories to life was one of the best movie-making decisions ever made. The beloved books carry monsters that are accidentally unleashed by a group of teenagers. Fun and fright never looked this good.    5. Hocus Pocus The Sanderson sisters set fire in this cult classic. Mischief blends with magic to concoct the perfect recipe to spend a spooky night. This is the movie that gave us some of the most memorable quotes packed with witchy charms and a hell lot of fun. 6. Coco What’s better than a wholesome movie experience with the heartwarming tale of family love. Set on an unforgettable journey with a young boy landing in the land of the dead to find his lost family. With the backdrop of Día de los Muertos, the festive spirits of Halloween come alive exuberant on screen. 7. The Addams Family They are not your typical neighbors next door. The unusually eccentric and wonderfully chaotic family is all one could ask for to have the most extraordinary non-scary experience . Their funny banter laced with goth aesthetics is the classic Halloween cinema. 8. Hotel Transylvania Monsters, comedy, and the silliest spooky hotel. You won’t be disappointed by picking any of these movies to watch if you’re looking for laughter and adventure altogether. 9. Corpse Bride This movie screams Halloween like no other. Johnny Depp and Helena Carter’s iconic duo will drag you away into the rotten yet magical world. The romantic animated film will surprise you in the best way. We expect nothing less from a Tim Burton movie. 10. Roald Dahl’s The Witches  Another classic book adaptation that is an underrated gem. And guess what? It’s perfect for Halloween! Anne Hathaway’s stunning performance is so convincing that children will contemplate at least once that they might just turn into mice by drinking a secret potion. Who knew that spooky would be this much fun. This watchlist is something you can’t go wrong with on Halloween. So binge watch and make the most of this festive season. Happy Halloween!

[kattra]

What I’m Reading

FEBRUARY READS A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee **  It Would Be Night In Caracas by Karina Sainz Borgo  Under the Smokestrewn Sky by A. Deborah Baker **  Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire ** Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett  Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson (NF)  Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo ** Kat and Meg Conquer the World by Anna Preimaza  Full-Metal Indigiqueer by Joshua Whitehead (P)  The Witches by Roald Dahl 

Graphic Novels: Eros/Psyche by Maria Llovet (GN) Porcelain by Maria Llovet (GN)

(26 books read / 100 books goal)

currently reading:  What I Learned From the Trees by L.E. Bowman (P) A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt  Prospero Regained by L. Jagi Lamplighter  Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson (NF) How Long ’til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin (SS)  An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon  Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

* - re-read // ** - 4+ star-rating (recommended)

GN - graphic novel // NF - non-fiction // P - poetry SS - short story collection // AB - audiobook 

TBR: The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire XOXO by Axis Oh  Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo  Eat A Peach by David Chang (NF) 

WHAT ARE YOU READING? :D

Find me on: GOODREADS | THE STORYGRAPH

[marzipanandminutiae]

I have now looked up the actual plot of the movie

WHAT THE FUCK

MY CHILDHOOD ENTERTAINMENT WAS STUFF LIKE "BOOK WHERE LITTLE GIRL GETS GHOST FRIEND WHO DIED HORRIBLY, VOLUMES 1-479," "OG HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN STORIES," AND "THE MOST KID-FRIENDLY PARTS OF JANE EYRE READ ALOUD BY MY OLDER SISTER," AND THIS STILL STRIKES ME AS TOO MUCH FOR KIDS

(is it just me or were there multiple live action 1960s-1970s kids' movies that were Too Much For Kids but somehow not in a fun way? Between this, Pete's Dragon- trust me, it had its extremely dark moments as I recall -and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory- there was no tunnel of chicken murder in the book, and the book was by Roald Dahl. I love a good dark kids movie, see above, but like. I don't know. these offerings were just Not Fun)

first thought upon waking today: "the straights will really name a fictional woman in a kids' movie Truly Scrumptious and get mad at a lesbian couple kissing in the background of another movie"

(I never saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a child, and I had a serious mental Error 404 when I found out the adult female lead's name was THAT. like. is this a beloved Disney offering, or a porno? from her name, you'd never know! I guess Pussy Galore was copyrighted and this was the next best thing!)

(make sure to emphasize that she's basically an object to be consumed! sexually! sexually consumed! it's the 1960s, baby!)

[terselylove]

8 Classic Books to Read Before They Become Movies and TV Shows

With themes as resonant as ever, narratives as timeless as they come, and characters that nestle into our hearts and minds, classic novels will always influence contemporary content. Whether using the basis of a tale to weave something more modern or directly adapting the source material, classic novels provide bottomless pools of inspiration for filmmakers. Here are the classics you should read before they become movies and TVshows. 

‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ | “The Captain’s Log” in ‘Dracula’

The Last Voyage of the Demeter is based on a single chapter — “The Captain’s Log” — from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Stoker’s 1897 novel was not the first story about a blood-sucking vampire, as that honor belongs to Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1871 novel Carmilla. However, Stoker’s narrative has arguably influenced the vampiric landscape to a greater extent, as over 200 films have been made featuring The Count. 

As for The  Last Voyage of the Demeter, the tale is set aboard the Russian Schooner Demeter —chartered to transport 24 unmarked crates of private cargo from Carpathia to London. The story will follow the seafarers aboard the ship who do all in their power to survive the voyage, as they are terrorized by a dark presence nightly. When the ship finally arrives at the harbor, there is no trace of the crew. André Øvredal (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Autopsy of Jane Doe) directs the upcoming film starring Corey Hawkins (The Walking Dead, In the Heights), Liam Cunningham (The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Clash of the Titans), and Aisling Franciosi (The Fall, The Nightingale). The Last Voyage of the Demeter will premiere in theaters on August 11, 2023.

‘A Haunting in Venice’ | ‘Hallowe’en Party’

A Haunting in Venice is an Agatha Christie adaptation with Detective Poirot at the helm once again. Following in the footsteps of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, A Haunting in Venice sees Detective Poirot come out of retirement to solve the death of a man who lost his life during a seance.

Unlike the previous two murder mysteries directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh in the title role, this film will enter into the horror landscape, boasting jump scares, an eerie atmosphere, and quite the foreboding score. Inspired by Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party, the sequel stars Kelly Reilly of Yellowstone, Jamie Dornan of the Fifty Shades trilogy, funny lady Tina Fey, and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh. The film premiers in theaters on September 15, 2023. 

‘Wonka’ | ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ 

Though not a direct retelling of Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka will serve as a prequel to the tale set forth in the Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp-led adaptations. 

#WonkaMovie Director, Paul King hosted an early look at the new trailer 🤩

Are you ready to enter a world of pure imagination? pic.twitter.com/rCeiyQvRcC

— Warner Bros. UK (@WarnerBrosUK) July 6, 2023

The upcoming movie musical will trace Willy Wonka’s journey to becoming a famous chocolatier. Timothée Chalamet will take on the iconic cooky candyman, with Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, and Ryan Gosling rounding out the primary all-star ensemble. Director Paul King (celebrated for his work on Paddington and Paddington 2) spearheads the film he co-wrote with Simon Farnaby (Ghosts, The Phantom of the Opera). The highly-anticipated fantasy is scheduled to premiere in theaters just in time for Christmas on December 15, 2023.

‘The Color Purple’ | ‘The Color Purple’ 

Nearly 40 years following the film that made Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg household names, The Color Purple will return to the silver screen with an all-star ensemble led by Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Ciara, Halle Bailey of the live-action The Little Mermaid, Corey Hawkins, and Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black).

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, documents the trials, tribulations, and gradual triumph of Celie (Fantasia) — an African American teenager raised in rural Georgia. Celie narrates her experience via painful letters written to god in a story that examines race and racism, spirituality, self-realization, and more. The Color Purple is scheduled to premiere in theaters on December 18, 2023. 

‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ | ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ 

Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher is one of the author’s most celebrated short stories. Though not exactly a book, its legacy warrants its place on this list, and you will find it in any notable collection of Poe’s works. Capitalizing on the eerie and medieval atmosphere akin to gothic fiction, the tale puts forth themes of isolation, family, and madness to lay the groundwork for the eventual collapse of a decaying mansion. 

The story follows an unnamed narrator who is called to visit The House of Usher by his childhood friend, Roderick, who is slowly dying. The narrator, empathetic for a man on his deathbed, heads to the mansion (and stays longer than he should) out of respect for his childhood friend’s final wishes. 

A few minutes ago we wrapped production on THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, closing a huge chapter of my life. I've worked in Vancouver almost nonstop since BLY MANOR in 2019. We made 4 series in 3 years, only taking a short break for the COVID lockdown in early 2020.

— Mike Flanagan (@flanaganfilm) July 9, 2022

Mike Flanagan — the genius behind the Netflix adaptations of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game, and Henry James’ Turn of the Screw (The Haunting of Bly Manor) — helms the upcoming series. Flanagan, in a manner similar to Quentin Tarantino, likes to call upon the same actors; thus, it should come as no surprise that this series will star Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, and Annabeth Gish — all of whom have worked on multiple Flanagan productions. The series is expected to drop on Netflix in the fall of 2023. 

‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ | ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’

Originally scheduled to premiere in theaters this summer, the live-action retelling of the beloved children’s classic is now scheduled to premiere sometime in 2024. The story will follow Harold as he embarks on a magical mission with the help of his purple crayon. 

While Sony has remained rather tight-lipped about who’s playing who in the upcoming film, we do know a handful of the A-listers set to take center stage. Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel, Ravi Patel (Animal Control, Come As You Are), and Camille Guaty (Prison Break, Daytime Divas) are all set to star in the film from Rio and Ice Age director Carlos Saldanha. Writers Dallas Clayton (An Awesome Book of Love) and David Guion and Michael Handelman — who worked together on Slumberland, Dinner for Schmucks, and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb — penned the screenplay/ 

A dream come true! @ZooeyDeschanel joins the cast of #HaroldAndThePurpleCrayon 💜 https://t.co/P79TtGMMVt

— Harold and the Purple Crayon (@HaroldMovie) February 10, 2022

‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ | ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ 

A movie in 2002. A British TV series in 1956. A TV miniseries in 1998. A 2023 ViX original series starring William Levy. And, now, an upcoming film from Director Matthieu Delaporte starring Pierre Niney (It Boy, Masquerade) in the title role. In short, The Count of Monte Cristo remains a timeless and captivating story from French author Alexandre Dumas. 

The novel chronicles a man’s revenge-seeking journey following his escape from prison and contemplates themes of vengeance, mercy, justice, forgiveness, betrayal, transformation, power, and identity. 

Screenwriters Delaporte and de La Patellière told Variety that their film, “will be told from the point of view of Edmond Dantès, the first French superhero, who steps from the light into the shadows, assuming the identity of masked avenger.” The film will premiere in French cinemas on October 23, 2024. An American release date — whether theatrical or streaming — has yet to be announced. 

‘Lord of the Flies’ | ‘Lord of the Flies’ 

You have quite some time to read this William Golding classic — if you haven’t already read it as part of your high school literature requirements — as the BBC series was only just announced in April 2023. British playwright Jack Thorne (Best Interests, Help, Kir) will take on the challenging task of adapting this complex story, which relies heavily on symbolism and inner dialogue to establish conflicts and thematic undertones. 

The BBC limited series will be the first-ever on-screen adaptation of Lord of the Flies, consisting of four one-hour episodes. The narrative follows a group of young boys who wind up stranded on a tropical island, giving rise to themes of civilization vs. savagery, power and control, loss of innocence, and more. A cast and release date have yet to be announced, but be sure to check back with Thought Catalog for updates.