A Head Full Of Ghosts - Paul Trembley - Book Review

                                   

                Horror has always been my go-to genre when it comes to reading, and exploring different authors is a fun way for me to do it. That helps me de-stress. I had heard the name 'Paul Tremblay' many times and thought I would start with this book that I picked up.

             The Barretts are a typical New England suburban family. While John, the father, loses his job, the elder daughter, Marjorie, starts showing signs of mental illness. John starts becoming religious, and he believes that Marjorie is possessed. As they encounter financial problems, the Barretts get into an agreement with a TV company to document and relay it as a reality show and tragedy strikes. What transpired forms the story through the eyes of Merry, the youngest daughter.

             To start with, an interesting premise at hand. The story is a mish-mash of 'The Exorcist' meets 'Paranormal Activity'. The story confused me at first, and it took 5 or 6 pages for the tempo to set in. The characters are well written, especially the relationship between the two sisters. This book seems like a homage to horror movies with references like The Yellow Wallpaper, The Exorcist, Poltergeist, The Possession, Paranormal Activity, etc. The story talks about the importance of mental health and how it was mistook as possession. The story described in the words of a small kid makes us see the story from a different angle. There is a sense of ambiguity due to this. The book can be creepy. The ending was totally unexpected, and it was quite a shocker for me. 

             To sum it all up, a good read that can give quite a scary experience. This does not come near a Stephen King experience for me, but still an engaging read. 

Random Ramblings #15 - Saying Goodbyes

 

Do goodbyes at workplaces really come from the heart?

There was a send-off at the office where I worked some years back. The person was quitting the company for better opportunities. After exchanging goodbyes, I came home and sat down pondering on the goodbyes that happen in the workplace.

Do the goodbyes that happen at the workplace always come from the heart? Most goodbyes in front of a team at the workplace often happen half-heartedly. It totally depends on the connections that a person builds at his/her workplace and the experiences they faced there. There can be genuine bonds that last for a longer time, but the goodbyes that I have seen have been just an eye wash many times. The toxic work environment in some places can be a major reason for such a reaction. The second one is the way people expect things to happen for them, and how it turns out, actually.

Goodbyes need not be a big party, parting gifts or name-sake speeches. A well-meaning handshake, a wholesome hug or a small heartfelt note of gratitude goes a long way with parties. What do you think? Have your goodbyes at workplaces been from your heart?

Strange Pictures - Uketsu - Book Review

                                       

                The name 'Puskin Vertigo' pulled me into this book as I was browsing the shelves at the library. An interesting book cover and an interesting preface made me pick this book as my next read. How did it turn out to be? Let's check out.

                A college student starts checking out a now-defunct blog where a pregnant woman's sketches create a bizarre undertow. There is a child's picture of home, which has a more sinister meaning. Then, we have the sketches made by an artist before he was found murdered. As we read on, we try to unravel the meanings of these strange pictures to get to the bottom of it.

                This is an interesting premise. When I started reading, it seemed so normal and strange. As the story progressed to the next chapter and picture, I was confused by the ambiguity it was creating. I was under the impression that all these stories were standalone ones. But on reading on, I was able to see the connections. Nevertheless, I was hooked from that point, and the suspense was well maintained by Uketsu. Even though the perpetrator was no surprise, it is the backstory and the nature of unravelling that kept me on the edge. The ending of the story was well written - like closing a full circle. As usual, getting familiar with the names took some time. The translator has done a good job of maintaining the story's crux and excitement. The writing was simple enough, and the characters were well-written, even though they were confusing at first.

                In short, an interesting story with a strange start, but it turned out to be a great read. Pushkin Vertigo does another good job bringing such good reads to the forefront. 

Ghost 19 - Simone St. James - Book Review

 

                There I was hunting for stories to read when I came across the blurb for the book. It did sound interesting on a surface level, and the book is a novella, which promised a quick read. Therefore, I ended up reading the book. How did it turn out?

                Ginette Cox, an ex-actress, is advised by her doctor to move away from the city to a quiet town to cool her nerves. As she moves into a house, she spends her time watching her neighbours, which turns into an obsession. When she tries to leave the house to go out, she realises the truth. The house refuses to let her leave. Is it a figment of her imagination, or is the house haunted? This forms the rest of the novella. 

                This interesting premise is what attracted me to the story. As I mentioned, being a novella, it was a quick read. It did start creepily, but the essence was not maintained throughout. There were a couple of Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rear Window' moments here and there. The writing was simple and fairly engaging. At one point in time, the story starts to turn predictable, which is a damper, as it was a quick one. The unfolding of events also seems rushed. The characters, except for Ginette, lack depth. 

                In short, a quick-read novella that might not fully cater to the taste of horror or mystery genre fans. Nevertheless, this can be a decent one-time read.

Random Ramblings # 14 - The Ritual of Reading

 

Do you like reading? Well, I do. That is one activity that I do all the time. Like any reader, I have my rituals and practices related to reading.

First things first. I prefer physical books. The touch, smell, ruffling of pages, and colourful book covers invoke an unspoken bliss. I am very particular about where I sit and read, and I position specific chairs in almost every room - a rocking chair near my bookshelf, a jhula in another, a round bamboo chair in yet another room. These are more than just simple chairs. They are my reading mates. Now, to the eatables that go with an excellent reading experience: a big cup of piping hot coffee/a big cup of buttermilk/lime juice with a bowl full of peanuts. While such a practice sounds silly, it is not for people like me. And timings. I wake up at 4 in the morning just to read.

Curling up with a book creates a safe space I can crawl into. This provides a support system for me and sets up a meditative space. Importantly, this provides a place to unload my stress levels. While turning towards a creative corner, these small things trigger some spark inside me. I get a sense of positivity to spend the rest of the day that a book spreads into me.

Reading is not just the consumption of words. It involves a ritual that provides a sense of familiarity and love to readers. For an introverted person like me, sitting on a rocking chair, reading books & sipping coffee is a regimen that I religiously follow to keep my life on track. This works! What about you? Do you have any such reading rituals?