Halloween Bingo - Final Update & my last Bingo!

 

My final bingo is the last row on the bottom. I was trying to finish one more book for the four corners & center bingo, but I ran out of time. As usual, Halloween Bingo was a huge hit and loads of fun. Thanks for OB & Moonlight for hosting and doing such an amazing job as always. You guys are fabulous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Called:

 

9/1   Classic Horror

9/3   Cryptozoologist

9/5   Cozy Mystery (not on my card)

9/7   New Release

9/9   Southern Gothic

9/11 Terrifying Women

9/13 A Grimm Tale

9/15 Modern Masters of Horror

9/17 Creepy Carnivals

9/19 Relics and Curiosities

9/21 Diverse Voices

9/23 Murder Most Foul

9/25 Amateur Sleuth

9/27 Genre: Suspense

9/29 Supernatural

10/1 Ghost Stories

10/3 Doomsday

10/5 Shifters

10/7 13 (not on my card)

10/9 Terror in a Small Town (not on my card)

10/11 Darkest London

10/13 Gothic

10/15 Genre: Horror

10/17 Fear the Drowning Deep

10/19 Spellbound (not on my card)

10/21 Country House Mystery

10/23 Deadlands

10/25 Romantic Suspense (not on my card)

 

Read:

 

Ghost Stories - Ghost Story

Fear the Drowning Deep - 100 Fathoms Below

Modern Masters of Horror - Revival

Doomsday - Not a Drop to Drink

Relics and Curiosities - Strange Weather

Diverse Voices - The Girl From the Well

Free Space - Murder House

Creepy Carnivals - Full Tilt

Terrifying Women - The Creek

Country House Mystery - Ten

Genre: Suspense - Glimpse

New Release - Obscura

Cryptozoologist - The Jersey Devil

Southern Gothic - The Elementals

Classic Horror - The Exorcist

Murder Most Foul - Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper

 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1804788/halloween-bingo-final-update-my-last-bingo

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Review:

 

 

 

What was the worst thing you've ever done?

- first sentence

 

This is a terrifically terrifying story. I love the way the tension builds slowly. We know something terrible happened in the past, but we aren't quite sure what. We also know something even more terrible is coming. The feeling of claustrophobia grows as the story continues and the town is closed off from the outside world. The evil is frightening and stays with you even after you put the book down.

 

The prologue was a bit confusing, but it made more sense once I got to the end of the book. I actually went back and reread the prologue and understood it much better.

 

I read this one for the Ghost Stories square and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good supernatural square.

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1804786/ghost-story-by-peter-straub

Review:

 

 

 

 

Without a doubt, the most insidious dangers were the ones that hid in plain sight, camoflaging themselves inside the minds of rational men.

- first sentence

 

 

At 100 fathoms, sunlight no longer penetrates the ocean. This book combines the tension of being in a US submarine inside Russian borders during the cold war and being trapped in a submarine with deadly supernatural creatures.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The audio is well done and I spent most of my spare time this past weekend listening to it. The tension starts early and doesn't let up. The worst (best) part is, the reader knows there is something creepy hiding on the sub while the crew is clueless and just thinks a couple people are sick or maybe someone is losing it.

 

I read this one for the Fear the Drowning Deep square.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1804063/post

Bingo Call: 10/29/18

Reblogged from: Moonlight Madness

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1804054/bingo-call-10-29-18

Halloween Bingo Tracking Post #16 - second bingo!

I've been busy and haven't read as much as I planned to, but after 15 days, I finally have another update - and a second bingo!! Hopefully, I can get at least one more (maybe two) before the end of the month, but my hopes of a blackout have been pretty much dashed. :(

Oh well, I did much better than the past times I played. :)

 

 

 

Called:

 

9/1   Classic Horror

9/3   Cryptozoologist

9/5   Cozy Mystery (not on my card)

9/7   New Release

9/9   Southern Gothic

9/11 Terrifying Women

9/13 A Grimm Tale

9/15 Modern Masters of Horror

9/17 Creepy Carnivals

9/19 Relics and Curiosities

9/21 Diverse Voices

9/23 Murder Most Foul

9/25 Amateur Sleuth

9/27 Genre: Suspense

9/29 Supernatural

10/1 Ghost Stories

10/3 Doomsday

10/5 Shifters

10/7 13 (not on my card)

10/9 Terror in a Small Town (not on my card)

10/11 Darkest London

10/13 Gothic

10/15 Genre: Horror

10/17 Fear the Drowning Deep

10/19 Spellbound (not on my card)

10/21 Country House Mystery

10/23 Deadlands

10/25 Romantic Suspense (not on my card)

 

Read:

 

Modern Masters of Horror - Revival

Doomsday - Not a Drop to Drink

Relics and Curiosities - Strange Weather

Diverse Voices - The Girl From the Well

Free Space - Murder House

Creepy Carnivals - Full Tilt

Terrifying Women - The Creek

Country House Mystery - Ten

Genre: Suspense - Glimpse

New Release - Obscura

Cryptozoologist - The Jersey Devil

Southern Gothic - The Elementals

Classic Horror - The Exorcist

Murder Most Foul - Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper

 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1803194/halloween-bingo-tracking-post-16-second-bingo

Revival - audiobook

Review:

 

 

 

In one way, at least, our lives really are like movies.

- first sentence

 

During the first three-quarters of this book, we get to know the characters, especially Jamie. I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Reverend Jacobs is obsessed with electricity; okay, but what's going to happen next. I enjoyed following the characters and feeling their emotions through the ups and downs of their lives, but I was hoping for something... more. Then, when the more finally came, I was surprised, to say the least. I know this book has been out for a while, but I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible so I didn't really know what to expect from this book. I had recently read a couple of reviews that claimed this was his scariest book (at least in recent years). I think I was expecting the scary to be woven throughout the book, but it wasn't - it just hit you in the face during the final part of the book.

 

I don't know how I feel about what the ending says about life and death, but I wasn't especially scared or impressed by it. I'm giving it four stars because Stephen King has been my favorite author for more years than I can count, and because I appreciate his writing and ability to scare us in so many ways. The audio was very well done and I was anxious to see what would happen next. I listened to this every night instead of reading a print book, in addition to listening during my walks and driving time.

 

I read this book for the Modern Masters of Horror square.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1803193/revival-audiobook

Bingo Call: 10/19/18

Reblogged from: Obsidian Black Plague

 

 

Spellbound: books containing witches, warlocks, sorcerors and witchcraft.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1801836/bingo-call-10-19-18

Bingo Call: 10/17/18

Reblogged from: Moonlight Madness

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1801315/bingo-call-10-17-18

Bingo Call: 10/15/18

Reblogged from: Obsidian Black Plague

 

 

Genre: Horror: anything that fits into the horror genre.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1800451/bingo-call-10-15-18

Bingo Call: 10/11/18

Reblogged from: Obsidian Black Plague

 

 

Darkest London: any mystery, suspense, horror or supernatural book set in London.

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1799487/bingo-call-10-11-18

Halloween Bingo Tracking Post #15 - BINGO!! (finally)

 

Hooray! Finally got my first bingo!!

 

 

 

Called:

 

9/1   Classic Horror

9/3   Cryptozoologist

9/5   Cozy Mystery (not on my card)

9/7   New Release

9/9   Southern Gothic

9/11 Terrifying Women

9/13 A Grimm Tale

9/15 Modern Masters of Horror

9/17 Creepy Carnivals

9/19 Relics and Curiosities

9/21 Diverse Voices

9/23 Murder Most Foul

9/25 Amateur Sleuth

9/27 Genre: Suspense

9/29 Supernatural

10/1 Ghost Stories

10/3 Doomsday

10/5 Shifters

10/7 13 (not on my card)

10/9 Terror in a Small Town (not on my card)

 

 

Read:

 

Doomsday - Not a Drop to Drink

Relics and Curiosities - Strange Weather

Diverse Voices - The Girl From the Well

Free Space - Murder House

Creepy Carnivals - Full Tilt

Terrifying Women - The Creek

Country House Mystery - Ten

Genre: Suspense - Glimpse

New Release - Obscura

Cryptozoologist - The Jersey Devil

Southern Gothic - The Elementals

Classic Horror - The Exorcist

Murder Most Foul - Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper

 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1799128/halloween-bingo-tracking-post-15-bingo-finally

Not a Drop to Drink

Review:

 

Lynn was nine the first time she killed to protect the pond, the sweet smell of water luring the man to be picked off like the barn swallows that dared to swoop in for a drink.

- first sentence

 

I couldn't wait to see how this one would end. It is the story of a young girl raised in the wilderness by her mother. In this world, water is more than scarce. The only water Lynn and her mother have comes from their pond and they will do anything to defend it. Her mother taught her not to trust anyone and to be entirely self-reliant. But how long can they survive this way?

 

I enjoyed the wild west feel of this one. I loved Lynn and enjoyed watching her mature and adapt emotionally as the book progressed. Her life is full of struggles and the constant threat of death, but Lynn is strong and she doesn't give up. There was a devastating event towards the end that I totally didn't see coming - it was tough.

 

Apparently, there is a "companion book",  In a Handful of Dust, that I look forward to reading after Halloween Bingo concludes.

 

I read this one for the Doomsday square:

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1799126/not-a-drop-to-drink

Bingo Call: 10/9/18

Reblogged from: Moonlight Madness

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1798801/bingo-call-10-9-18

Halloween Bingo Tracking Post #14

So, when I finish the books I'm reading for Doomsday and Ghost Stories I will finally have bingos. :)

 

 

 

 

Called:

 

9/1   Classic Horror

9/3   Cryptozoologist

9/5   Cozy Mystery (not on my card)

9/7   New Release

9/9   Southern Gothic

9/11 Terrifying Women

9/13 A Grimm Tale

9/15 Modern Masters of Horror

9/17 Creepy Carnivals

9/19 Relics and Curiosities

9/21 Diverse Voices

9/23 Murder Most Foul

9/25 Amateur Sleuth

9/27 Genre: Suspense

9/29 Supernatural

10/1 Ghost Stories

10/3 Doomsday

10/5 Shifters

10/7 13

 

 

Read:

 

Relics and Curiosities - Strange Weather

Diverse Voices - The Girl From the Well

Free Space - Murder House

Creepy Carnivals - Full Tilt

Terrifying Women - The Creek

Country House Mystery - Ten

Genre: Suspense - Glimpse

New Release - Obscura

Cryptozoologist - The Jersey Devil

Southern Gothic - The Elementals

Classic Horror - The Exorcist

Murder Most Foul - Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper

 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1798516/halloween-bingo-tracking-post-14

Strange Weather - audiobook

Review:

 

 

 

Snapshot

Performed by Wil Wheaton.

This story features a creepy man (The Phoenician) with a Polaroid camera that steals memories. A teenage boy stumbles across the man and becomes tangled up in his plan.

The story is told from Michael’s memories of what happened. The narration is excellent; it was fun to listen to “Wesley Crusher” perform the story. The idea of a camera that steals memories by taking pictures is frightening. Hill relates it to Alzheimer’s in the way the Phoenician takes away pieces of the older woman’s memories and gradually destroys who she is. I liked that there wasn’t a simple fix. But I kept thinking the story was over and waiting for something cool to happen, and that was a bit of a letdown. (3 stars)

 

Loaded

Performed by Stephen Lang

With all the gun violence in our country, this one was hard to listen to. The story follows a mall shooting and how it affects the security guard involved. I liked the reporter character who helped figure out what really happened in the mall that day. But the story was a bit too dark for me and the ending didn’t help. (2 stars)

 

Aloft

Performed by Dennis Boutsikaris

This is a quirky story about a guy on his first skydiving excursion who somehow lands on a sentient cloud that doesn’t want to let him go. I have an open mind and appreciate fantasy as much as the next reader, but I didn’t love this story. The main problem was I couldn’t stand the main character. (2 stars)

 

Rain

Performed by Kate Mulgrew

In this story, one day instead of water, it rains crystal nails that shred anyone who is left out in the open. Honeysuckle tries to find her girlfriend’s father and, in the process, finds clues leading to the cause of the deadly rain. I liked following Honeysuckle’s journey and her interactions with other survivors, but there were too many coincidences and the final conclusion seemed highly unlikely. I did enjoy the narrow scope of the story and how it focused on Honeysuckle’s journey as opposed to the effects of the overall apocalypse. I must say that I love Kate Mulgrew and will happily listen to any story she performs, so that may affect my rating. (3 ½ stars)

 

I listened to this one for the Relics and Curiosities square.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1798515/strange-weather-audiobook

Bingo Call: 10/07/18

Reblogged from: Obsidian Black Plague

 

 

13: any book that relates to bad luck, superstitions, including (but not limited to) black cats, ravens or crows, or the unlucky number 13, either in the title, series, book cover or page count.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1798201/bingo-call-10-07-18

Halloween Bingo Tracking Post #13

 

I'm close to a Bingo in three different places. I'm currently reading a book for Relics & Curiosities. I guess my next pick should be either Doomsday or Ghost Stories. 

I'm doing much better than last year. :)

 

 

 

Called:

 

9/1   Classic Horror

9/3   Cryptozoologist

9/5   Cozy Mystery (not on my card)

9/7   New Release

9/9   Southern Gothic

9/11 Terrifying Women

9/13 A Grimm Tale

9/15 Modern Masters of Horror

9/17 Creepy Carnivals

9/19 Relics and Curiosities

9/21 Diverse Voices

9/23 Murder Most Foul

9/25 Amateur Sleuth

9/27 Genre: Suspense

9/29 Supernatural

10/1 Ghost Stories

10/3 Doomsday

 

 

Read:

 

Diverse Voices - The Girl From the Well

Free Space - Murder House

Creepy Carnivals - Full Tilt

Terrifying Women - The Creek

Country House Mystery - Ten

Genre: Suspense - Glimpse

New Release - Obscura

Cryptozoologist - The Jersey Devil

Southern Gothic - The Elementals

Classic Horror - The Exorcist

Murder Most Foul - Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper

 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1797261/halloween-bingo-tracking-post-13

The Girl from the Well

Review:

 

 

I am where dead children go.

- first sentence

 

Murdered deads live in storms without season, in time without flux. We do not go because people do not let us go.

- Chapter 1

 

Okiku is a spirit who was murdered hundreds of years ago. She takes vengeance on child killers and releases the souls of their victims. Tark is a teenager with an evil spirit locked inside him. When they find each other, they become part of a battle between good and evil.

 

This book is fantastic. It was scary, bloody, and suspenseful. It is told from the point of view of Okiku and is a bit disjointed at times. It combines the troubles of teenage life with a Japanese ghost story. There is a lot of Japanese culture throughout the story, especially towards the end when the family returns to Japan.

 

I liked Okiku and Tark and their relationship. Okiku really knows how to deal some bloody vengeance. It's cool that Tark and his cousin are some of the few people who can see Okiku and she is able to communicate with them. I liked hearing her backstory. And the ending was perfect.

 

I read this book for the Diverse Voices square.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1797260/the-girl-from-the-well