The Haunting of Hill House -- by Shirley Jackson -- The book that sets the stage for modern day Gothic Horror

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It took me way too long to tick this one off my TBR list, having weened my horror teeth on Stephen King and maybe Anne Rice instead. My earliest introduction to Jackson was in high school, with her short story The Lottery, and that one stuck with me enough to know I would have to get to her greater work. So... here we are.

Shirley Jackson's genre defining work sets the stage for most Gothic horror novels to come after it, so if haunted house stories are your go to read, this one is a must in terms of foundational classics. It's that simple, without laying out the details of the story. It’s a short and easy read, and no—you can’t watch the Mike Flanagan series on Netflix and say you've "read it." The series isn’t an adaptation. It's more like a sequel. This book is more like the backstory.

I also believe that the title is a bit of a play on words. Hill House might not necessarily be a haunted house in as much as it is a house searching for a lonely spirit to haunt it. And that’s where our main character Eleanor steps in. I'm not going to explain the plot. You might generally say it's about a group of the first paranormal investigators, sans infrared cameras and detection meters, but it's also about more. It's about the young woman Eleanor looking for where she fits in life. The story can feel a bit meandering at times, but it makes sense by the end because we are not supposed to focus on the house as much as we are on Eleanor.

Anyway, it's a renowned read for a reason, so if you haven’t read it, go check it out. Or refresh. Then go enjoy the Netflix series, because Flanagan did a great job with broadening the scope of the book's tone and ideas. 

2054: A Dystopian Future that Vaguely Mirrors Our Current Divide

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While this novel, by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis, is set in 2054, the premise of this futuristic telling of the fate of our world tackles some very now topics. I find that part of the book a worthwhile reason to check it out. You've got scientists chasing after the definitive discovery of the Singularity, where technology and biology will one day merge to create some utopia of existence that shouldn’t be ours to be had. It touches on political upheavals because two sides of a broken government system can’t find common ground. It touches on world domination and control, while racing to utilize this new technology in astounding, and also horrific, ways. It starts with the assassination of a controversial president, without clearly picking a political side. 

All of this is rolled into an intriguing idea for a futuristic story that doesn’t really stray far from current events and news, and yet the story itself—the characters within it— felt emotionally distant for this reader. It didn’t gel for me like I had hoped. Let’s be transparent, though. This book is a sequel, and I didn't read the first one. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I started with the first of the series, 2034. It still has some really intriguing setups, and it touches on the dangers within the new technologies of AI and remote gene manipulation, and that might be reason enough to give it a try. I’m a horror aficionado more than I am a sci-fi one, although sometimes the two genres cross over enough for me to fall in love. This one is more political thriller set in a futuristic world. If you’re deeply into sci-fi or political thrillers in general, this might be the read for you. Click the cover image above for where to buy it online.

The Eris Ridge Trail, by Larry Hinkle -- A short read about a long trip through a cosmic horror world

 

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I received a HWA read request in my inbox for this little cosmic horror piece, and I chose to check it out for the oddest of reasons: the author's name happens to be a name I recognize from my high school days. We weren’t necessarily friends—or enemies, for that matter. Or even in the same graduating class. And as I write this, I’m not convinced that @thatscarylarry is even the Larry I had a passing knowledge of. It’s plausible though. And that’s kinda weird.

Much like the novella in question, The Eris Ridge Trail, by Larry Hinkle, is kinda weird in a cosmic/weird tales kind of way. It’s an imaginative story of a random group of people (and their dogs, in some cases) who individually get lost in different locations across the country, while on the same named trail. They find each other in this weird new world that seems to be otherwise desolate, and that randomly shifts through time, sometimes at photo shutter speeds.

Each character among this ragtag group is also in a state of being lost within the trajectory of their lives, and because of it, they gravitate to becoming a much needed family. They learn to depend on each other in a world full of constantly shifting unknowns.

It's a cleverly written piece and a quick read at just under 200 pages. The characters are relatable and likable enough and, of course, the dogs are adorable saints and saviors to some degree. That having been said, I didn’t feel like there was much of a character arc for any of them—no real epiphany for them to come to. The horror aspect was mostly situational, and not really the result of anything derived from deep character flaws. Mistakes are made throughout their combined attempts to return home, but I felt like the reason why this was happening to these characters in particular was left unanswered.

The horror aspect of the story as a whole was atmospheric, with a couple of gory parts that were relatively brief. Overall, this is a pleasant novella length story from a promising newish voice.

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Mercury in Retrograde -- by Rachel Stuart-Haas -- A Review for the Astrologically Curious

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With a title that might equate to clickbait (a discussion on Mercury in Retrograde is but a small part of this book), this little review on how to read and utilize astrology in your life is actually a good starter companion for the astrologically curious. It also doubles as a bit of a self help book, pointing out ways that astrology might help us better understand ourselves and find ways to accept who we are—and who others are. It's not deep reading, but it helps put an astrological chart in perspective for the novice.

I have always been interested in astrology on a surface level. I was introduced to it by a hometown astrologer who did up a chart in my high school years. She was the mom of a friend, and some people thought she was a witch. Now, I’m drawing up a character based on the woman in my latest writing project, and having this book (gifted to me by one of my own kids) helped me understand the craft of astrology just enough to bring the character to life.

It touches on Mercury retrogrades and what they actually mean, sure. It even explains the actual physics of a retrograde regarding the movement of planets (because my other kid, who took astronomy and earth science classes in college, wanted to make sure I knew—I did. Without the help of this book, but still, it’s good to see an astrology book not dismiss it.). But it touches on a broader scope of what things mean in your chart too—the planets, the sun, the moon, conjunctions, sextiles and trines, even an asteroid or two.

Like I said, it doesn’t go deep. It touches on the basics with short, easy to read passages for the astrology curious. It’s worth checking out if you are, indeed astrology curious.

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On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder -- Remember That Book You Bought 8 Years Ago? Good Time to Read It.

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Look, I’m not going to heap accolades on this little gem for giving me any astounding revelations. I got a copy of this book at the start of a first particular presidential run, and probably scanned the chapter headings and said, yeah, this tracks. Then I set it aside and here I am, presidential run two. I should actually read it this time. This book aligns with my political worldview, so I am not surprised by anything it has to say. In fact, I found myself shaking my head, chastising myself for delaying to read beyond the headlines the first time, as it were. It's not a difficult read. In fact, you could probably get through it in a day if you wanted to, and it's a good reminder of where we are as a nation and its parallels with where we've been.

What I will say is this, now in late 2025, is a perfect time to read it. Or to revisit it. It’s a perfect time to be reminded about where we are and what we can still do to remain consciously active in our democracy. Nothing in this book rings false for me — even after nearly 10 years. It's a quick, easy read that plays out as more of a checklist of things to do more than anything else. But it’s an important checklist. And you'll feel better with every check you make. One thing on that checklist is to distance yourself from the poison on the internet, and maybe pick up a book to read. I get a half check here, thanks to this book.

You can too, because it's good advice. And the more you check off the list, the better you will feel. I guarantee it.