Lehane, Dennis "Shutter Island" - 2003

Lehane, Dennis "Shutter Island" - 2003

I didn't think I would like this book because I'm not a huge fan of crime stories. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is not the usual thriller or action movie plot, i.e. there is a plot here.

A gripping story that plays games with your mind. And the twist at the end totally left me flabbergasted. Contrary to many other participants, I had not seen the film

However, I don't think this is a great book for a book club, like most stories like this, what are we going to talk about??? Yes, we can talk about mental illness, PTSD, hospital situations, etc. But it all diverges from the story.

Still, a good read.

Quote on page 279 of my edition, something I ask myself often:

"God gives us earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes. He gives us mountains that spew fire onto our heads. Oceans that swallow ships. He gives us nature, and nature is a smiling killer. He gives us disease so that in our death we believe. He gave us offices only so that we could feel our life bleed out of them. He gave us lust und fury and greed and our filthy hearts. So that we could wage violence in His honour. There is no moral order as pure as this storm we've just seen. There is no moral order at all. There is only this - can my violence conquer yours?"

Comments from the book club meeting:

• "The book was very well received by the group, with everyone giving it either 4/5 or 5/5.
• Many of us had not read the book before, but a large number had seen Martin Scorsese's film adaptation. This created an interesting situation because many readers already knew the main twist before opening the book. Despite this, there was broad agreement that the novel remained very engaging. Several members commented that knowing the ending made it easier to notice clues and details throughout the story, although some wondered whether the book would have been even better or perhaps not as effective without that prior knowledge.
• One of the most frequently praised aspects of the novel was Lehane's writing style. Members repeatedly mentioned the vivid descriptive language and the atmosphere he creates throughout the book. The island, the weather, and the hospital all felt convincing and memorable. It was also noted that Lehane does an excellent job of bringing the reader back to the 1950s. The language, dialogue, and attitudes of the characters help create a strong sense of time and place.
• Much of our discussion focused on how the novel is constructed. We talked about the unreliable narration, the clues hidden throughout the story, and the way Lehane guides the reader towards certain assumptions. We also discussed several of the characters and their roles in the story, particularly how differently they can be viewed once the reader knows the truth behind the mystery.
• The themes of trauma, guilt, memory, and self-deception also generated discussion. We debated the hospital itself, its methods, and the ethical questions raised by the treatment of patients. The ending naturally became one of the main topics, with different opinions about Teddy's final decision and how it should be interpreted.
• As we often do in our discussions, we looked for connections to other books we have read. This time the conversation brought up Fight Club and the Finnish novel Rikosetsivien vapaapäivä because of the way both encourage readers to re-evaluate earlier events and question their understanding of what has happened.
• The discussion also touched on Dennis Lehane as an author more generally. Several members noted that a number of his novels have been adapted into highly regarded films, and that Shutter Island is not the only example of his work translating successfully to the screen. The book also inspired a few members to add more of Lehane's work to their reading lists."

"Shutter Island was a satisfyingly chilling tale to read during the discomfort of the most recent heat wave in Ontario, Canada. Smokescreen after smokescreen arose. I enjoyed the layering of circumstances and personalities and clues and interpretations. This is not at all similar to my usual gentler reading and I feel gratefully stretched."

Again, many thanks to our leader Karin who put together a great review.

This was our international online book club read for July 2026.

Book Description:

"An arresting psychological thriller in which two US Marshals hunting for an escaped mental patient unveil a nightmare world of CIA drug trials, Nazi inspired eugenic work, and repressive mind control.

In the year 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to investigate an unexplained disappearance. Multiple murderess Rachel Solando is loose somewhere on this barren island, despite having been kept under constant surveillance in a locked, guarded cell. As a killer hurricane bears relentlessly down on the island, hints of radical experimentation and covert government machinations add darker, more sinister shades to an already bizarre case. Because nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is remotely what it seems."

Dickey, James "Deliverance"

Dickey, James "Deliverance" - 1970

Apparently, this is one of the most important books of the last century. I read that somewhere but can't find that remark anymore. Still, it seems to have had a great success.

When I read the description, I was afraid this wasn't a book for me and I might not like it. But the description is a little different from the book itself. The story is not as much about the natives but about some criminals in the woods.

Still, the book is totally mesmerizing. And tense. There is so much going on, the trip the four men take is about one of the most horrifying stories I ever read.

Thanks to Karin for the minutes which I will include in the spoiler:

"The book club had a very positive discussion about Deliverance. Almost everyone rated the novel 4/5 or higher, and several readers felt it was close to a five-star book. One of the most praised aspects was the translation, which many felt captured the tone, tension, and atmosphere exceptionally well.

A big part of the conversation focused on how efficiently the novel is built. Compared to many large contemporary literary novels — where hundreds of pages may be spent on background — Deliverance manages to establish its characters, themes, and emotional stakes in about fifty pages. Readers appreciated how tightly the story is framed: first the buildup before the trip, then the intense three days on the river, and finally the aftermath. This clear structure made the story feel focused and impactful.

The characters were widely seen as believable and vividly drawn. We talked a lot about how people react differently in crisis situations: one person freezes while another unexpectedly finds strength, and even serious injury doesn’t necessarily stop someone from acting. The novel felt realistic because the characters make flawed and sometimes foolish decisions in recognizably human ways. Their journey begins partly out of boredom and a desire to escape everyday life, which makes what follows feel even more unsettling.

The discussion also touched on trauma and its aftermath. Rather than being neatly explained, the characters’ experiences linger in ambiguous ways — in memory, in the body, and even in sleep. This subtle psychological impact was something many readers found especially powerful. Several participants noted how the trauma seems disorganized and difficult to articulate, reflecting how real experiences often remain unresolved rather than clearly understood.

Moral questions sparked lively debate. Was it necessary for the characters to hide what happened? Would they have survived if they had trusted the authorities? Would justice have treated them fairly? The novel’s ambiguity — what exactly happened, who was responsible, and how events should be interpreted — kept the discussion open-ended and engaging.

Several readers noticed the careful use of foreshadowing and 'Chekhov’s gun,' where details introduced early gain importance later. The tight pacing and chapter structure were seen as key strengths: nothing feels unnecessary, yet the characters and world feel fully developed.

We also discussed broader themes, including human behavior under pressure, the thin boundary between civilization and survival, encounters with wilderness, and the portrayal of rural stereotypes. Many agreed that the book 'gets under your skin' — even for readers who wouldn’t normally choose this genre.

Notes on the Film Adaptation
Some members had seen the film adaptation and recommended it alongside the book. The movie was described as very effective in showing the physical danger and tension of the river journey. While the novel focuses more on the characters’ inner thoughts and moral uncertainty, the film emphasizes action and atmosphere with the actors even doing their own dangerous stunt work. The group felt the two versions work well together: the book offers psychological depth, and the film adds a strong visual and emotional experience".

Overall Takeaway
"Overall, the group agreed that Deliverance is a balanced, well-crafted novel that combines suspense with psychological depth. Even when it wasn’t stylistically everyone’s personal favorite, it left a strong and lasting impression and proved to be an excellent choice for discussion — a book that continues to provoke thought long after finishing it." 

This was our read in our international online book club in March 2026.

Book Description:

"The heart-stopping classic 1970 novel--an unforgettable tale of violent adventure and profound inner discovery.

Four middle-class men from suburban Altana decide to embark on a three-day canoe trip down a particularly wild section of a river in Georgia. For them the trip represents a break in the domestic routine, a chance for adventure with few real risks, and the last occasion to see a beautiful valley before the river is dammed up. Their leader, an enthusiastic outdoorsman and champion archer, is obsessed by the desire to pit himself against nature.

When two of the group are attacked viciously by sinister mountain men, a mildly adventurous canoe trip explodes into a nightmare of horror and murder. Men stalk and are stalked by other men, the treacherous river becomes a graveyard for those without the strength or the luck to survive, and one man, forced to assume the leadership of the group, must call up his resources to try to achieve deliverance."

Swindells, Robert "Abomination"

Swindells, Robert "Abomination" - 1998

A Friend told me about this book and lent it to me. She had taught it at school and was sure I would like it. And I did. What a story!

The story of Martha is heartbreaking. She has no freedom, she is kept like a prisoner at home. She cannot make friends. Children at school bully her. Well, that part I could comprehend because I had that same problem at school. My parents didn't have much money and my mother used to sew all my clothes. They were nice clothes but I was always bullied because of it. And I didn't belong to anyone.

But luckily my parents were just ordinary Catholics and they would always complain about people who placed religion over their own family. Because this is what Martha's parents do.

I cannot go into the story without revealing what happened and why the family behaved like that. Only this, Martha does make a friend and he helps her to find to herself.

I am sure this book would have a different effect on children than they have on me but I was pretty shocked.

From the back cover:

"A dark tale of shameful secrets, religious intolerance, and breaking through the emotional chains binding one girl to an abusive home life Martha is 12—and very different from other kids, because of her parents. Strict members of a religious group—the Righteous—their rules dominate Martha's life. And one rule is the most important of she must never ever invite anyone home. If she does, their shameful secret—Abomination—could be revealed. But as Martha makes her first real friend in Scott, a new boy at school, she begins to wonder. Is she doing the right thing by helping to keep Abomination a secret? And just how far will her parents go to prevent the truth from being known?"

Oates, Joyce Carol "Daddy Love"

Oates, Joyce Carol "Daddy Love" - 2013

I have always loved books by Joyce Carol Oates and often said, she should receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.

I have read many of her books but she has written so many that I won't get to all of them soon.

When one of my blogger friends (Lisa @ Captivated Reader) talked about a buddy read she had started with another reader, I was very keen to join in. They had already started and I still had to get the book, so I joined in a little too late. It was still interesting to have someone to talk to directly.

Lisa already warned everyone that this is the darkest novel she read by JCO and that is something to say because her books usually are pretty dark. And she is right. It's about child abduction and abuse, lots of psychological problems that come along with it.

The author has a great way of describing the trauma of the abduction by describing it five times from different angles. As always, the author uses fantastic ways to let us into the story.

I would love to write more but don't want to say too much. 

If you are interested in the buddy read, here is the discussion I had with Lisa. But there are spoilers!

 

Chapter I - 1 - 5
Abduction
Ypsilanti, MI, 11.04.06

M: At first I was a little surprised that the abduction was described five times. But it is a good way of introducing us to the whole story. How did it all happen? How did the abductor manage to snatch away little Robbie?
L: Yes, the abduction is described in five slightly different ways... At first, I was wondering why JCO was describing the abduction so many times. But, I felt describing the abduction of Robbie was a very cinematic way of sharing the traumatic event with readers giving us a slightly different perspective/feel with each retelling of the abduction. Additionally, I felt that perhaps describing the abduction this many times gives us a view of how traumatic it was for Robbie's mother physically, mentally, and emotionally. I can't even begin to imagine being a mother of a child and having my child snatched from me in such a horrific manner. So, perhaps this is another way of showing how this event affected Dinah so very deeply. It seems to me that Dinah most definitely had PTSD. How could she not after what happened to her son and herself? We (or at least myself) felt the guilt that Dinah had over losing her son. Dinah blames herself for not protecting Robbie enough and being too tired, giving me the feeling that if she'd been more alert then perhaps things would have turned out differently... And perhaps, Robbie would not have been abducted from her. Classic case of mother's guilt. I also felt like the first five chapters were very atmospheric. JCO really knows how to deep dive into the minds of her characters. JCO is such an excellent writer. Even though Daddy Love is a difficult read due to the subject matter, it is a very readable book in and of itself. I found that I was able to read this novel really quickly.

Chapter I - 6-10
6 Church of Abiding Hope, Detroit, MI, 12.04.06
7 I-80 East, Michigan, OH, 13.-14.04.06
8 I-80 East, Ohio, PA, 14.04.06
9 I-80 East, PA, NJ, 15.-16.04.06
10 Kittatinny Falls, NJ, 27.04.06
Introduction to Daddy Love and how he grooms Robbie

M: So, we get introduced to "Daddy Love" and how he grooms Robbie. Certainly not chapters for the faint-hearted. But a good description to find empathy amongst the readers. Poor little Robbie. You always ask yourself how children, once taken from their real parents, don't look for them, don't alert anyone. Now we know why. JCO has described this so well. Robbie couldn't because he didn't know any better. He believed "Daddy Love" who found great arguments to tell him why his parents didn't want him any longer. And he was too young to really remember how all that happened. We also get introduced to the Church of Abiding Hope. I never trust those sects, no matter how they always insist of being "free churches. Or any kind of over-religious people, even from the main-stream ones.
L: We're into the meat of Robbie's abductor, Daddy Love (AKA Chet Cash). Boy, isn't Chet a piece of work!? It's interesting to see how JCO lays out the storyline for Daddy Love. I've read Zombie by JCO and Daddy Love is shaping up to be similarly creepy as a character. It was interesting to read about Chet's background and his previous abductions. We see how he has evolved in stalking and abducting children and separating them from their parents. Chet/Daddy Love is a real narcissist as he fantasizes about a made for tv movie about his life. In chapter 9, we hear Robbie now being addressed as Gideon now by Daddy Love. We learn that Gideon means Brave Warrior. Seems like the meaning of Brave Warrior may be a bit of foreshadowing to come later on in this novel as Robbie just may live up to the meaning of his new moniker. Chet/Daddy Love understands the way to brainwash and manipulate young minds through repeated abuse and isolation. Young children, Robbie's age, are easily controlled after being abducted. They can only rebel for so long before succumbing to the brainwashing. Additionally, young children of Robbie's age do not have enough life experience or understanding to know enough about how the real world works in order to escape initially.

Chapter I - 11-14
11 Ypsilanti, MI, 05/06.06
12 Kittatinny Falls, NJ, 07/08.06
13 Kittatinny Falls, NJ, 08/09.06
14 Ypsilanti, MI, 08/09.06

M: Here we get to see what this whole abduction has done not only to the child but also to the parents. I cannot see how someone can get through that, how they still can live. Only the hope to see the child again, the wish to be there should he turn up again, can make them stay halfway sane. Oh gosh, how can you get through this? We have to wonder how any marriage can get through such an upheaval.
L: As far as Daddy Love goes, it's a tough read! When I wrote my blog review of this novel I mentioned that this novel is not for everyone due to the trigger warnings of physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse of minors. But I think Daddy Love is very much worth reading for everyone despite the subject matter and I can get into that once you've finished this novel, if you like. Yes, the killing of the dog was cruel and uncalled for by Daddy Love. Daddy Love was angry with "Gideon" because of the way the teacher fawned over "Gideon" to Daddy Love. Daddy Love's retribution was to kill the dog that "Gideon" loved so much. Daddy Love never liked the dog anyway.... Everyone and everything is a "tool" to be used by Daddy Love and this is apparent throughout the entire novel. Daddy Love is a true sociopath and narcissist. He doesn't care for anyone or anything beyond its usefulness to himself.

Chapter II - 1-5
II 04-05.12
1-3 Kittatinny Falls, NJ, 04/12
4 Church of Abiding Hope, Trenton, NJ, 05/12
5 NJ Transit Station, Trenton, NJ, 05/12

M: How weird that the teachers did not dig deeper. I mean, something was obviously wrong with "Gideon". My son and his friends once were beaten by other children at a birthday party in an indoor playground and since he inherited getting marks all over the body just from hitting a chair or so, I told the teachers so they wouldn't think it was us. They said, don't worry, kids who get beaten at home always show other signs, as well. And "Gideon" did show a lot of other signs. Killing the dog was another huge cruelty that should have been noticed by someone. What about those other "religious" people? As I said earlier, they only think of themselves and pretend to be "good" people. And the incident in the transit station. That guy gets worse all the time. And why did Robbie not take the chance and ran away? Because he wasn't aware of that possibility and that's what "Chet" wanted to try. But, oh so cruel!
L: Yes, I agree with you that you'd think the teachers would think that "Gideon" was being abused, but Daddy Love was always so pleasant when interacting with people in the outside world and this included "Gideon's" teachers that I think the teachers would have had a difficult time coming to terms that Daddy Love was an abusers. Daddy Love seemed to be a good con artist in this way. Daddy Love seemed to have a dual personality. I think this came about when Daddy Love spent time in Juvenile Hall as a youngster for his crime and had faked his behavior to his probation officer after being released in order to make it seem like he'd been rehabilitated for the world outside. Yes, it's difficult to understand how people turn out badly under some circumstances, while others have trauma, but still manage to be normal and not turn into monsters.

Chapter II 04-05
1-3 Kittatinny Falls, NJ, 04/12
4 Church of Abiding Hope, Trenton, NJ, 05/12
5 NJ Transit Station, Trenton, NJ, 05/12

M: That church again. They pretend to care so much about people but don't see through such a huge betrayal. I mean, how does nobody wonder why "Chet" always turns up with different boys who then disappear? Does anyone really care about anything than their own soul? I don't think so. And what about that episode with the transit station? I suppose he watched "Gideon" to see whether he can trust him now. But it's all completely weird. Well, we should never try to understand such a cray person, might be contagious.
L: Yes, the killing of the dog was cruel and uncalled for by Daddy Love. Daddy Love was angry with "Gideon" because of the way the teacher fawned over "Gideon" to Daddy Love. Daddy Love's retribution was to kill the dog that "Gideon" loved so much. Daddy Love never liked the dog anyway.... Everyone and everything is a "tool" to be used by Daddy Love and this is apparent throughout the entire novel. Daddy Love is a true sociopath and narcissist. He doesn't care for anyone or anything beyond its usefulness to himself. Yes, I agree with you that you'd think the teachers would think that "Gideon" was being abused, but Daddy Love was always so pleasant when interacting with people in the outside world and this included "Gideon's" teachers that I think the teachers would have had a difficult time coming to terms that Daddy Love was an abusers. Daddy Love seemed to be a good con artist in this way. Daddy Love seemed to have a dual personality. I think this came about when Daddy Love spent time in Juvenile Hall as a youngster for his crime and had faked his behavior to his probation officer after being released in order to make it seem like he'd been rehabilitated for the world outside.

Chapter II 06-10
6-9 Kittatinny Falls, NJ, 05/12
10 Ypsilanti, MI, 05/12

M: The killing of the dog was definitely not a surprise. I think I said that I am not a great animal lover and would never want a dog but that doesn't mean I would want to kill an innocent animal. Just shows what type of character he is. I mean, he also killed those children, right? As to the teachers. I think I told you the story about my son and the bruises. Those teachers would have said something. And I have seen it in classes where my kids were that the teachers had an extra eye on children with "weird" behaviour. "Gideon" certainly fit that description. And they know that some parents behave differently in the open than at home. It gets worse and worse. We find out that he not only abuses his victims but also uses them for his work. Well, another thing that doesn't surprise. And while we fear the worst by the Evil One's announcement that he is looking for a "little brother", we can also see how things get worse in the original family. My goodness, how much compassion I feel for them, especially the mother
L: Have you read the parts yet where Gideon essentially turns into a criminal!! Gideon visits his teacher's home and starts a fire was mind blowing!! Gideon did this all because his teacher had told Daddy Love what a great art student Gideon was and Daddy Love didn't take it well. It's like Gideon thinks it is his teacher's fault and not Daddy Love's fault. the kid has been brainwashed for sure! Then there's a child labor issue with daddy using Gideon to macrame items to sell at boutiques and then pawning it off as his own to sell and make money. Or the story about Daddy/Chet taking Gideon with him to rob those rich people while they are away from home. Then Gideon being left for a long time at the bus station by Daddy Love!! Gideon had no idea if he was being left behind or what.

Chapter III
III Ann Arbor, MI, 09/12

M: That is the conclusion of the novel. Robbie getting back to being Robbie, being reunited with his family, one he barely remembers. No wonder he is reluctant. No wonder they all need professional help. And I am sure they'll be getting there. There is so much love from the parents. And in time, Robbie will see the advantage of a real family. At least we can all hope for it.
L: I didn't like the ambiguous ending for Daddy Love! I like solid endings and was hoping to see/hear a satisfactory outcome to Daddy Love's/Chet's trial. I was telling another friend about the ambiguous ending and was told that JCO writes ambiguous endings frequently. It's been a while since I've read anything by JCO, so I don't recall if this is the case or not. Maybe the ambiguous ending was due to the fact there could be no satisfactory ending to this story. Robbie is damaged and may never be normal again even with years of therapy. We already saw him turning into Daddy Love/Chet in this last of five chapters as he doesn't care about school anymore, starts acting out towards teachers, thinks poorly of women like Daddy Love (calling them cunts), thinks the new kid Daddy Love brought home is whiney, believes the lies Daddy Love/Chet said about his parents giving him up, and does various acts of arson and bomb he made and left behind. Robbie seems to have two personalities due to the abuse by Daddy Love. Robbie hides behind a mask and is guarded, not letting anyone know his true feelings. So, I'm left wondering if Robbie will ever trust anyone again or show his true self. And, who is the unidentified man at the end!? Did you ever draw a conclusion about the person Robbie/Gideon was eating lunch with when his mom found him?
M: I never realized that a lot of JCO's books end that way but now that you mention it, I can see it. I don't mind them so much. A "final" end would have been too happy-endish, if you know what I mean. It will take a long time, if ever, before the family can start a new life. Same as you, I have no idea who the guy at the end was, if he had any meaning at all. But the final sentence gave me hope. "Hi Mom". I am still thinking about the review I am going to write. I will definitely include the link to your post. The rest, I will have to see. I usually try not to give away too much to the readers but might include some of your thoughts. If that's alright with you.
******

And here is Lisa's post.

From the back cover: 

"Have they found him?
Have they found Robbie?
They waited.
Each hour of the day they waited.
No one told her, the latest news, for the latest news was usually no news.
A day, a night, two days, several days, a week and finally twelve days - and then, fifteen days:
no news."

Book Description:

"Daddy Love, aka Reverend Chester Cash, has for years abducted, tortured, and raped young boys. His latest victim is Robbie, now renamed 'Gideon,' and brainwashed into believing that he is Daddy Love's real son. Any time the boy resists or rebels he is met with punishment beyond his wildest nightmares. As Robbie grows older he begins to realize that the longer he is locked in the shackles of this demon, the greater chance he'll end up like Daddy Love's other 'sons' who were never heard from again. Somewhere within this tortured boy lies a spark of rebellion... and soon he will see just what lengths he must go to in order to have any chance at survival."

There are tons of quotes but I just leave it at this one:
"After all these years, Joyce Carol Oates can still give me the creeps." Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

Gaiman, Neil "Coraline"

Gaiman, Neil "Coraline" - 2002

Coraline is only a short novella. It was an alright read though nothing spectacular. I probably would have enjoyed reading it with my boys.

I have never been a fan of books where children are heroes and this falls into this category. But I can see the attraction.

I loved the pictures by Chris Riddell. He is a wonderful illustrator and makes every book better, even the great ones.

And I liked these quotes:

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

"When you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave."

Luckily, there are always several people in a book club who have a different opinion, so here goes:

•    I absolutely loved Coraline. I listened to it as an audiobook that was narrated by Neil Gaiman himself. His narration was perfect for the story.

•    The story had everything I want from a book: it was mysterious, a little spooky, thrilling, had thought provoking layers and interesting vivid details. Not to mention a lovely protagonist, very interesting different side characters, especially the CAT, and a really interesting antagonist.

•    Nice plot twists with playing games with the other mother and everything turning out alright at the end again.

•    I rather not think about what this says about me and my brain, but this was the most brain stimulating and heartwarming story I read/heard all year. ♥

We read this in our international online book club in December 2023.

From the back cover:

"Sometimes, a door is closed for a very good reason…

There is something strange about Coraline’s new home. It’s not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It’s the other house - the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back…"

Poe, Edgar Allan "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

Poe, Edgar Allan "The Murders in the Rue Morgue and other stories" - 1841

Our international online book club read in August 2023.

Dark, gruesome, abysmal, that's what I read somewhere about the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I know people who love this sort of writing but I don't. I was afraid I wouldn't like it but tried my best to discover something that might tempt me to read more by this author. Alas, that was not to be. This time, it was a good thing that the book wasn't that thick. Or maybe that added to my disenjoyment.

My biggest problem with stories like these, there is nothing to learn from them. Absolutely nothing. And that is my main reason for reading.

Our book club had chosen to read a collection of short stores. The trouble with this is always that there are different ones in different languages. These were the stories the Finnish members had:
The Tell-Tale Heart (1843)
The Imp of the Perverse (1845)
The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841)
The Mystery of Marie Rogêt (1843)
The Purloined Letter (1844)
'Thou Art the Man' (1844)

And these were the ones in the English edition:
The Oval Portrait
Ligeia
Eleonora
Morella
Berenice
The Fall of the House of Usher
The Masque of the Red Death
Hop-Frog
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Cask of Amontillado
The Gold-Bug
The Murders in the Rue Morgue
The Mystery of Marie Rogêt
The Purloined Letter

The group had some other opinions. There was a really good discussion about Poe's works and life. Some had read some of the gruesome and terrible works but most of us had read a selection of a few different kinds, some of which are really clever and intelligent, and you clearly can see how he was starting a genre to influence literature for hundreds of years to follow.

From the back cover:

"Between 1841 and 1844, Edgar Allan Poe invented the genre of detective fiction with three mesmerizing stories about a young and eccentric French private detective named C. Auguste Dupin.

Introducing to literature the concept of applying reason to solving crime, these tales brought Poe fame and fortune, although much less of the second during his lifetime. Decades later, Dorothy Sayers would describe 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' as 'almost a complete manual of detective theory and practice.' Indeed, Poe’s short Dupin mysteries inspired the creation of countless literary sleuths, among them Sherlock Holmes. Today, the unique Dupin stories still stand out as utterly engrossing page-turners."

Gotthelf, Jeremias "The Black Spider"

Gotthelf, Jeremias "The Black Spider" (German: Die schwarze Spinne) - 1842
A story that is probably as old as mankind. Several old legends are processed here. The eternal struggle between Good and Evil is described. The devil tries to bribe people. And anyone who doesn't keep their pact with him will be punished. I'm surprised they haven't made a movie out of it yet. Or maybe they did?

From the back cover:

"It is a sunny summer Sunday in a remote Swiss village, and a christening is being celebrated at a lovely old farmhouse. One of the guests notes an anomaly in the fabric of the venerable edifice: a blackened post that has been carefully built into a trim new window frame. Thereby hangs a tale, one that, as the wise old grandfather who has lived all his life in the house proceeds to tell it, takes one chilling turn after another, while his audience listens in appalled silence. Featuring a cruelly overbearing lord of the manor and the oppressed villagers who must render him service, an irreverent young woman who will stop at nothing, a mysterious stranger with a red beard and a green hat, and, last but not least, the black spider, the tale is as riveting and appalling today as when Jeremias Gotthelf set it down more than a hundred years ago. The Black Spider can be seen as a parable of evil in the heart or of evil at large in society (Thomas Mann saw it as foretelling the advent of Nazism), or as a vision, anticipating H. P. Lovecraft, of cosmic horror. There’s no question, in any case, that it is unforgettably creepy."

Kafka, Franz "The Metamorphosis"

Kafka, Franz "The Metamorphosis" (German: Die Verwandlung) - 1912

Kafka was one of the writers I had to read in school and I found terrifying to read. Especially this story here. That was probably the first step that put any "fantastic literature" on my negative list.

I can't relate to that kind of idea. At the time, I even wished that Kafka's friend, who had promised him to destroy all his works after Kafka's death, had fulfilled this. Unfortunately, he didn't, and so students have to struggle forever and ever with reading his stories.

What does the author want to tell us with this story? No idea. And I really don't want to know either.

From the back cover:

"One morning, traveling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes from an anxious dream to discover that he has inexplicably changed into a monstrous insect. Nonetheless, life goes on, and poor Gregor is left to deal not only with the existential questions of who or what he now is but also with more mundane concerns: his job (which he fears he’ll lose), his loved ones (whom he fears he disgusts), and the daily indignities of everyday life (which continue apace). Soon, even those who sympathize with his bizarre predicament begin to lose their patience…

A darkly comic examination of social mores, family dynamics, and the nature of identity itself, Kafka’s unsettling masterpiece has inspired a century of literary debate and interpretive theories. But its enduring power lies in the simplicity of its audacious premise, its deadpan surrealism, and its humane sensitivity."

Leroux, Gaston "The Phantom of the Opera"

Leroux, Gaston "The Phantom of the Opera" (French: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) - 1910

 

This is my ninth Classic Spin and we were given #5. And it also coincides with another challenge I take part in: Paris in July.

My niece gave this to me. Thank you, Jessica. She had received it from a friend and said she'd never read it. I said I love classics and would gladly read it. And I am always interested in reading any classic book and loved most of them. So, I put the book on my classics spin list and the number was drawn. Looks like it was the right time for it.

The description of the story says that it's riveting. Maybe I already heard too much about it before but I thought I misunderstood the word. But no, it is supposed to be completely engrossing; compelling. Well, it is a little too "fantastic" for me, a little too gothic.

Well written and the characters come to life, though I didn't really care for any of them. I love the French language and I really like the French but I seem to struggle with their literature. I have no idea why.

I like a few of the songs written for the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber but I have never watched it. There must be a reason.

We read this in our international online book club in November 2023.

Some remarks from the discussion. The meeting was started with listening to the Phantom of the Opera signature song by Sarah Brightman and Steve Harley to make a suitable gothic atmosphere. 

The original story was much more a book than expected. It had a backstory, very visual storytelling, and a scary villain. Of course with old stories like this, it had not aged so well in terms of gender equality, but the mechanics and psychology of the phantom was quite interesting.

We were happy to know the original story now, compared to just the Lloyd Webber musical version.

From the back cover:

"First published in French as a serial in 1909, The Phantom of the Opera is a riveting story that revolves around the young, Swedish Christine Daaé. Her father, a famous musician, dies, and she is raised in the Paris Opera House with his dying promise of a protective angel of music to guide her. After a time at the opera house, she begins hearing a voice, who eventually teaches her how to sing beautifully. All goes well until Christine's childhood friend Raoul comes to visit his parents, who are patrons of the opera, and he sees Christine when she begins successfully singing on the stage. The voice, who is the deformed, murderous 'ghost' of the opera house named Erik, however, grows violent in his terrible jealousy, until Christine suddenly disappears. The phantom is in love, but it can only spell disaster.

Leroux's work, with characters ranging from the spoiled prima donna Carlotta to the mysterious Persian from Erik's past, has been immortalized by memorable adaptations. Despite this, it remains a remarkable piece of Gothic horror literature in and of itself, deeper and darker than any version that follows."

Stoker, Bram "Dracula"

Stoker, Bram "Dracula" - 1897

I am neither a fan of fantasy nor of horror. But the subject for our Xanadu reading challenge in November was "Classics: any adult or children’s classic in any genre that you have never read before". There aren't really any genres I never read, I have tried everything, some I like a lot more than others, so I chose one that I rarely read. My son still had "Dracula" at home, so I thought this is the best time to finally read it.

Of course, there is no way I didn't know the Dracula story even though I never even watched a snippet of one of the many films they made out of this classic. So, the story wasn't a surprise. I also wasn't shocked or frightened, that is not the reason I don't read horror stories, they usually just bore me.

I am glad I read the novel because it is always talked about so much. But I don't believe in vampires and I wouldn't say I was excited about the story. Still, as it is one of the classics, it was an alright read even for such a truth lover like me.

From the back cover:

"A true masterwork of storytelling, Dracula has transcended generation, language, and culture to become one of the most popular novels ever written. It is a quintessential tale of suspense and horror, boasting one of the most terrifying characters ever born in literature: Count Dracula, a tragic, night-dwelling specter who feeds upon the blood of the living, and whose diabolical passions prey upon the innocent, the helpless, and the beautiful. But Dracula also stands as a bleak allegorical saga of an eternally cursed being whose nocturnal atrocities reflect the dark underside of the supremely moralistic age in which it was originally written - and the corrupt desires that continue to plague the modern human condition."

Jackson, Shirley "The Lottery"

Jackson, Shirley "The Lottery" - 1948

Once a month, Kate at Books Are My Favourite and Best invites us to participate in her challenge Six Degrees of Separation (see here my latest post).

Often, we have not read the book but still can start our chain with the information given. This time, since it is the first time she started with short story, she said there were no excuses for not reading the starting book, right? While I don't care much for short stories, I thought this was as good a reason as any to read it. And it is available online (here). I don't read books online but for a short story that I have to get quickly, I thought I could do it.

It is hard to review this story without telling the whole story. In any case, a lot of towns in the USA seem to hold this lottery once a year. (Don't forget, this is fiction!) Nobody wants to win in this case but someone has to. This story reminded me of "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Mind you, since that novel was written in 2008 and this short story in 1948, we can only imagine who copied the idea from whom, if that was the case.

A very dark, sinister and shocking story that could have been made into a series and probably would have as "The Hunger Games" and "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood and several other stories demonstrate.

While looking for a picture for this post, I saw this "joke":
"I hope you win the Lottery soon. Not the state-run lotto, but the Shirley Jackson one."
I'm glad to say I don't know anyone to whom I would say that. I know that these kinds of things happen in other parts of the world and I don't wish it on anyone.

From the back cover:

"In a small American town, the local residents are abuzz with excitement and nervousness when they wake on the morning of the twenty-seventh of June. Everything has been prepared for the town’s annual tradition - a lottery in which every family must participate, and no one wants to win.

'The Lottery' stands out as one of the most famous short stories in American literary history. Originally published in The New Yorker, the author immediately began receiving letters from readers who demanded an explanation of the story’s meaning. 'The Lottery' has been adapted for stage, television, radio and film."

Another book that this reminded of is "The Wave" by Morton Rhue, it's a good addition to this short story.

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft "Frankenstein"

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft "Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus" - 1818

I always wanted to read this book, it's one of the classics that doesn't really fit into my usual genre but it is definitely a classic. Apparently, one of the very first science fiction novels. Mary Wollstonecraft spent some time in Switzerland with her later husband Percy B. Shelley and Lord Byron when they decided to have a competition. Who would write the best horror story? I haven't read any of the two other authors but I'm sure Mary won this one.

Like I said, not my usual genre but our book club chose it as a solution to the lockdown procedures which prevented many of us to use our usual library and therefore, we needed something we could find online. Luckily, my son still has part of his books in our house so that I even had the book.

Frankenstein is not the monster, as people often believe. He's the creator. Although, maybe he has the touch of a monster in himself as he doesn't really care what will become of his creation. He is so ugly that he can't socialize and therefore becomes a monster.

This book is not just a horror story, there's a lot of psychology behind the scenes. We can look inside human beings, their dreams and their ambitions.

What I liked about the science fiction part, there are no strange explanations about how the being is created. You see this so often in films that they make something that is absolutely impossible in a way that you know wouldn't work. This way, there is nothing we can say was done incorrectly. We just have to imagine that it happened.

And before I forget, this is great writing. Not just the plot, also the style and technique are wonderful. Beautiful classic.

This was our international online book club novel in June 2020.

From the back cover:

"Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.

Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever."

Saki "The Complete Short Stories of Saki"

Saki (H.H. Munro) "The Complete Short Stories of Saki" - 1909-24

Our book club had decided to read the book "The Open Window and other short stories" by Hector Hugh Munro, or Saki, as he was known better. I couldn't find the book, so I bought one will all his short stories. These are the stories we were going to discuss:

from the collection:
" Reginald":
- Reginald on Besetting Sins: The woman who told the truth (1904)"
"Reginald in Russia":
- Gabriel-Ernest (1910)
- The Soul of Laploshka (1910)
"The Chronicles of Clovis":
- Tobermory (1911)
- Sredni Vashtar (1911)
- The Music on the Hill (1911)
- Ministers of Grace (1911)
"Beasts and Super-Beasts"
- Laura (1914)
- The Open Window (1914)
- The Story-Teller (1914)
"The Toys of Peace and other Papers":
- The Wolves of Cernogratz (1919)
- The Hedgehog (1919)
"The Square Egg":
- The Infernal Parliament (1924)

I've mentioned it a lot of times before, short stories are not my thing and while I have read some books where I liked it, this was a little too much. Some of the short stories were great but they were over in no time. I couldn't get into them fast enough to really enjoy them.

There were stories that I liked and others that were a little OTT for me, too slapstick-y, if you know what I mean.

One of my favourite stories was the one that is mentioned in the title of the book we were supposed to read. "The Open Window". There is a short video that you can see here on YouTube to see what I mean.

Apparently, the author was influenced by by Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll and Rudyard Kipling and he influenced A. A. Milne, Noël Coward and P. G. Wodehouse. I can definitely see the comparison with P. G. Wodehouse whose collection "Right Ho, Jeeves" I read earlier this year. I can see the similarity but Wodehouse's sense of humour is so much better, that's why I enjoyed him so much more.

While reading the stories, I came to the conclusion that Saki disliked both women (in particular suffragettes) as well as children. When I searched whether he was married, I found out he was gay. That surprised me a little, he came across as quite the misogynist.

Would I read more of his short stories if he had written more? Probably not. Would I read a novel by him? I think I would.

Same as me, not everyone liked all of the stories. But those that we did like, the end twists were particularly hilarious.

Some favourites from those we discussed:
The Open Window
The Story-Teller
The Wolves of Cernogratz

Next to "The Open Window", my other favourite was "The Mouse" (from "Reginald in Russia"). That's the kind of humour I love.

We discussed this in our international online book club in April 2020.

From the back cover:

"Hector Hugh Munro (1870-1916) was a British writer, whose witty works satirizing Edwardian society and culture led him to be known as a master of the short story. Munro, better recognized by the pen name Saki, produced works that contrasted the conventions and hypocrisies of Edwardian England with the uncomplicated and sometimes cruel state of nature, a conflict which the latter usually won. This complete edition of short stories will entertain readers with its wonderfully intricate characters, rich political satire and fine narrative style. The book begins with Saki's first works, the 'Reginald' stories, a small series of vignettes centered around the societal and cynical young Reginald. Also included are Saki's later and more popular story collections: 'Reginald in Russia,' the somewhat macabre tales of 'The Chronicles of Clovis', Saki's best known 'Beasts and Super-Beasts', 'The Toys of Peace', and 'The Square Egg.'"

Fowler, Christopher "Hell Train"

Fowler, Christopher "Hell Train" - 2011

"Hell Train", a ghost story. Not my usual genre. But a friend asked me to read the German translation and see how it flows.

Well, it flows very well. The story is interesting, even though I wouldn't normally pick one of these. The characters, four people who happen to meet in a train, are well described, each and every one of them comes alive well. The story moves back and forth from real life into the film that is supposedly under construction. Maybe that made the whole story more believable to me even though I think most people who love horror stories could have lived without it. I did like the folk tales people were telling each other about the train, stories they had heard as children and lived with all their lives.

I haven't read the original but I would think that anyone who likes to read these kind of stories will love it.

See more comments on my ThrowbackThursday post in 2025.

From the back cover:

"Four passengers meet on a train journey through Eastern Europe during the First World War, and face a mystery that must be solved if they are to survive... Bizarre creatures, satanic rites, terrified passengers and the romance of travelling by train, all feature in this classically styled horror novel. As the ‘Arkangel’ races through the war-torn countryside, the passengers must find out: What is in the casket that everyone is so afraid of? What is the tragic secret of the veiled Red Countess who travels with them? Why is their fellow passenger the army brigadier so feared by his own men? And what exactly is the devilish secret of the 'Arkangel' itself?

 Imagine there was a supernatural chiller that Hammer Films never made. A grand epic produced at the studio’s peak, which played like a cross between the Dracula and Frankenstein films and Dr Terror’s House Of Horrors..."

Matheson, Richard "I am Legend"

Matheson, Richard "I am Legend" - 1954

All of my friends will be surprised that I even started this book. Yes, I did read it. And yes, I did finish it. Again, it was for an online book club and I would have never chosen it for myself if I'd read the description - and I always do that when I choose a book.

However, I did not choose this book. It was not a subject I am inclined to read, I don't believe in zombies, vampires, time travel, anything that has to do with something science can't explain. However, I liked that the author tried to explain these vampires through biology during a time where people did not know, yet, what vampires were, how these stories were created. Nowadays we do and even though they are not bacteria like Richard Matheson said, at least he made an attempt to find an explanation.

I was not too impressed with the story, I couldn't be with a story like this. But the book is not too bad. If you like these kind of narrations, I think you will like it.

From the back cover:

"Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth...but he is not alone. Every other man, woman, and child on Earth has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville's blood.

By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for dawn.

How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?

I am legend
Buried talents
The near departed
Prey
Witch war
Dance of the dead
Dress of white silk
Mad house
The funeral
From shadowed places
Person to person"

Golding, William "Lord of the Flies"

Golding, William "Lord of the Flies" - 1954

A very disturbing dystopian novel, probably because it concerns children and makes us human beings look even less human than some of the other ones I read. (See my list of dystopian novels here.)

What makes people behave in an inhumane way? In this case, children are left to their own device after a plane crash. We can tell from the beginning that there are two different kinds, some that see the final goal, they want to be saved and work for that, others that just want to have instant gratification, i.e. food and are willing to fight for that.

I can see why this novel has become so successful, it is not just the story being told but all the underlying hidden meanings, as well. There are signs everywhere. They boy with the glasses (Piggy), for instance, represents the first group, the more rational thinking.

As in most other dystopian novels, we can see the background of the novel easily. 1954, World War II had been over for almost a decade. Did people go back to being human and treat each other accordingly? I don't think William Golding saw it that way. On the contrary, he feared that there might be a repetition of the hell everyone had just been through, he had fought in the Navy himself so certainly had a lot of bad memories. He had seen that people were not born to be peaceful, that civilization was just a thin line that you could fall off any minute.

This is the main reason I love dystopian novels, it's another way of dealing with history and trying to avoid its repetition. It's another hope that there might be a peaceful time one day.

Great book, should be on everyone's reading list.

From the back cover:

"A plane crashes on an uninhabited island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast.

In this, his first novel, William Golding gave the traditional adventure story an ironic, devastating twist. The boys' delicate sense of order fades, and their childish fears are transformed into something deeper and more primitive. Their games take on a horrible significance, and before long the well-behaved party of schoolboys has turned into a tribe of faceless, murderous savages."

William Golding received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983 "for his novels which, with the perspicuity of realistic narrative art and the diversity and universality of myth, illuminate the human condition in the world of today".

I contribute to this page: Read the Nobels and you can find all my blogs about Nobel Prize winning authors and their books here.

Ruiz Zafón, Carlos "Marina"

Ruiz Zafón, Carlos "Marina" (Spanish: Marina) - 1999

Just as Carlos Ruiz Zafón's other books, "Marina" grips you from the first page. It starts with the end, as the author reveals but it is exciting all the way. This is even darker than any of his other novels.

This book was written before "The Shadow of the Wind" and has only become famous after that big one was such a huge success. Again, Barcelona plays a major role and one gets the idea that it is full of secret and forbidden streets and alleyways that everyone would like to explore.

Óscar and Marina, the protagonists of this story, come across a mysterious character, someone who should have been dead a long time ago. Ruiz Zafón is faithful to his storytelling and doesn't disappoint anyone who has read his later books. Shows how you have to be on all the shelves before you are read. It is a horror story as well as a love story, actually, two love stories, one in the past, the other one in the presence, both beautiful and "forever".

In any case, if you want a short book (only 350 pages) with an exciting story, this is your literature. It's gripping and just brilliant. One of those "unputdownables". I love Carlos Ruiz Zafón's novels and would like to learn Spanish well enough just to be able to read them.

See more comments on my ThrowbackThursday post in 2023.

From the back cover:

"In May 1980, fifteen-year-old Óscar Drei suddenly vanishes from his boarding school in the old quarter of Barcelona. For seven days and nights no one knows his whereabouts. It all began the previous autumn when, while exploring the dilapidated grounds of what seemed to be an abandoned house filled with portraits, he inadvertently stole a gold pocket watch. Thus begins Óscar's friendship with Marina and her father Herman Blau, a portrait painter. Marina takes Óscar to the gardens of the nearby cemetery to watch a macabre ritual that occurs on the fourth Sunday of each month. At 10 a.m., a coach drives up to the cemetery and a woman with her face shrouded, wearing gloves, and holding a single rose is helped down from the coach and walks over to a nameless gravestone, where she sets down the flower, pauses for a moment, and then returns to the coach. The gravestone bears no marking but the outline of a strange-looking butterfly with open wings. On one of their subsequent walks Óscar and Marina spot the same woman and determine to follow her. Thereupon begins their journey into the woman's past, and that of the object of her devotion. It is a journey that takes them to the heights of a forgotten, postwar-Barcelona society, of now aged or departed aristocrats and actresses, inventors and tycoons; and into the depths of the city's mysterious underground of labyrinthine sewers, corrupt policemen, beggars' hovels, and criminal depravity."

Brijs, Stefan "The Angel Maker"

Brijs, Stefan "The Angel Maker" (Dutch/Flemish: De engelenmaker) - 2005

A story about a doctor who clones lives a very private life with his children in a remote village in the German speaking part of Belgium. As the story unfolds, we get to know his secret.

We had chosen the book because there are only a few Dutch books translated into English. We had different feelings about the story. It was gripping, a thriller, thought-provoking.

We learned about Asperger syndrome, autism and how inmates of asylums used to be treated. And about cloning.

It was interesting to see the contrast between modern science and narrow-mindedness. The book was easy to read but had so many layers. There was a lot of symbolism, the trinity appeared again and again.

The author did a great research, a lot of information and facts seemed correct.

Some really enjoyed the book, others found it disturbing and depressing, even horrific, disgusting, took some of us way past our comfort zone. It is very gothic-like.

The small town mentality was disturbing. We found that they are the same everywhere.

There was nobody in the whole novel we could relate to, even the children were portrayed so inhuman, we could only feel empathy for the school teacher.

We like to say that "science is value free", that there can be no limits, it's discovery for the sake of discovery. What do we do with the discoveries, someone will use it who doesn't have the inhibitions. The quote "Medicine has allowed us to die more slowly." was mentioned.

You know from the first sentence, this is not going to end well. He leaves a lot of questions open.

I didn't care much for the title, in German, an angel maker is someone who performs an unsafe illegal abortion, However, as a subject, this was just as bad. I hadn't looked forward to the book and didn't care for it much. I also didn't like the (original) cover picture or the one of the artist. The former reminded me of a fried egg gone bad, the latter made me think the author was writing about himself.

Still, we had a very interesting discussion about a sensitive subject.

We discussed this in our international book club in November 2012.

From the back cover:

"A literary page-turner about one man’s macabre ambition to create life - and secure immortality

The village of Wolfheim is a quiet little place until the geneticist Dr. Victor Hoppe returns after an absence of nearly twenty years. The doctor brings with him his infant children - three identical boys all sharing a disturbing disfigurement. He keeps them hidden away until Charlotte, the woman who is hired to care for them, begins to suspect that the triplets - and the good doctor - aren’t quite what they seem. As the villagers become increasingly suspicious, the story of Dr. Hoppe’s past begins to unfold, and the shocking secrets that he has been keeping are revealed. A chilling story that explores the ethical limits of science and religion, The Angel Maker is a haunting tale in the tradition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein. Brought to life by internationally bestselling author Stefan Brijs, this eerie tale promises to get under readers’ skin."

Ruiz Zafón, Carlos "The Watcher in the Shadows"

Ruiz Zafón, Carlos "The Watcher in the Shadows" (Spanish: Las Luces de Septiembre) - 1995 (Niebla 3)

A family in France in 1937. After the death of her father, Irene's mother moves with her children from Paris to a remote place in Normandy, a mysterious mansion inhabited by a toymaker who lives there with his sick wife. Shadows, Ruiz Zafón loves shadows, it's amazing what he can do with shadows …

I don't really like ghost stories but nobody tells them so beautifully as Carlos Ruiz Zafón. All he needs is a remote island, a mysterious castle, an old library, whatever, he makes it into a voyage into the unknown.

I have loved every single one of this brilliant author's works, any one of them a masterpiece. Can't wait to get a hold of the next one.

See more comments on my ThrowbackThursday post in 2023.

Find more books about this great author here.

From the back cover:

"A mysterious toymaker who lives as a recluse in an old mansion, surrounded by the magical beings he has created...

A sickly wife locked away in a hidden room...

An enigma involving strange lights that shine out from the small island on which an old, disused lighthouse stands...

A shadowy creature that hides deep in the woods...

These are the elements of a mystery will bind 14-year-old Irene to Ismael during one magical summer spent in Blue Bay when her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for the enigmatic toymaker, Lazarus Jann."