The Ghost of Midnight Lake, by Lucy Strange
I had hopes for this book, but was sadly disappointed. I loved Strange’s first book, The Secret of Nightingale Wood. That was such a unique story. This one felt as if it was done in a hurry—not well thought out. Even the name is weird as the lake in the book is called Goss Lake. Anyway, it didn’t turn out to be my thing.
Enola Holmes & the Black Barouche, by Nancy Springer
I listened to this one lasts month. In September, I read it. Still great.
Jane, by Aline Brosh McKenna
A graphic novel retelling of Jane Eyre, set in modern-day New York. Orphan Jane is going to art school and working as a nanny. She gets caught up in the lives of little Adele and her mysterious father. The art was really lovely, but the story kind of fell flat. It was trying too hard to give a shocking twist to the end.
Ghost Wood Song, by Erica Waters
A wonderfully scary young adult novel. It’s got family secrets, a murder, and lots of bluegrass music (so much that I had to put some on while I was reading, something I never do). Fiddle-player Shady must work against the clock to try and clear her brother who has been accused of murdering their stepfather. To do it she wants to find her father’s violin, which can summon ghosts. When she does find it, she may find that she’s above her head in dealing with the spirit world. Lots of fun.
Fresh Water for Flowers, by Valerie Perrin
My one audio book this month. A meandering sort of story that builds and builds up the story so that you’re really into the characters’ stories. Violette is the lone caretaker of a cemetery in rural France. Her life is circumscribed by the headstones she cares for, until a mourning man arrives at her doorstep with questions about why his dead mother wanted to be laid to rest with a stranger. This starts Violette down a road to her past, even as it opens up new opportunities for her. A little long, but lush and lovely. Reminded me a bit of Joanne Harris’ Chocolate.
The Crows, by C.M. Rosens
Oh, boy, where to start. This novel can definitely be defined as horror. In fact, it has every kind of horror—body, eldritch, monster, gothic, curses, everything! When Londoner Carrie buys the old house, known as The Crows, and fixes it up, little does she know that she’s releasing the spirit of the house. Also, it turns out that the rural Sussex town she’s moved to is a beacon for the unusual, which includes zombies, witches, cannibals, and more. This is a wild ride of a book, tons of fun but not for those with a queasy tummy or the faint of heart.
I had hopes for this book, but was sadly disappointed. I loved Strange’s first book, The Secret of Nightingale Wood. That was such a unique story. This one felt as if it was done in a hurry—not well thought out. Even the name is weird as the lake in the book is called Goss Lake. Anyway, it didn’t turn out to be my thing.
Enola Holmes & the Black Barouche, by Nancy Springer
I listened to this one lasts month. In September, I read it. Still great.
Jane, by Aline Brosh McKenna
A graphic novel retelling of Jane Eyre, set in modern-day New York. Orphan Jane is going to art school and working as a nanny. She gets caught up in the lives of little Adele and her mysterious father. The art was really lovely, but the story kind of fell flat. It was trying too hard to give a shocking twist to the end.
Ghost Wood Song, by Erica Waters
A wonderfully scary young adult novel. It’s got family secrets, a murder, and lots of bluegrass music (so much that I had to put some on while I was reading, something I never do). Fiddle-player Shady must work against the clock to try and clear her brother who has been accused of murdering their stepfather. To do it she wants to find her father’s violin, which can summon ghosts. When she does find it, she may find that she’s above her head in dealing with the spirit world. Lots of fun.
Fresh Water for Flowers, by Valerie Perrin
My one audio book this month. A meandering sort of story that builds and builds up the story so that you’re really into the characters’ stories. Violette is the lone caretaker of a cemetery in rural France. Her life is circumscribed by the headstones she cares for, until a mourning man arrives at her doorstep with questions about why his dead mother wanted to be laid to rest with a stranger. This starts Violette down a road to her past, even as it opens up new opportunities for her. A little long, but lush and lovely. Reminded me a bit of Joanne Harris’ Chocolate.
The Crows, by C.M. Rosens
Oh, boy, where to start. This novel can definitely be defined as horror. In fact, it has every kind of horror—body, eldritch, monster, gothic, curses, everything! When Londoner Carrie buys the old house, known as The Crows, and fixes it up, little does she know that she’s releasing the spirit of the house. Also, it turns out that the rural Sussex town she’s moved to is a beacon for the unusual, which includes zombies, witches, cannibals, and more. This is a wild ride of a book, tons of fun but not for those with a queasy tummy or the faint of heart.
