ALIVE-Piers Paul Read. About the Uruguayan rugby team whose small plane crashed in the Andes mountain in October 1972 and their struggles for survival.

SEVEN STEPS TO MIDNIGHT-Richard Matheson. Matheson is one of my favorites and he's written some great tomes (I AM LEGEND, HELL HOUSE, THE SHRINKING MAN, many short stories), but sadly, this not one of them. Overly long and the main character wears out his welcome VERY quick.

DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'-Jonathan Cain. Decent bio by Journey Keyboardist

The Haunting of Hill House-Shirley Jackson.

Great book. Enjoy.

ROSE MADDER-Stephen King. Abused wife leaves her abusive Policeman husband (how You will hate this guy) for a new better life. Sadly, he's an expert at tracking people and wants to "Talk to Her Up Close" one last time. One of King's better novels with solid characterization, but too many long spots ("Vive Ze Bool" really slows things down) and the supernatural elements almost hurl it off the tracks (page 234 in paperback). But Rosie is a wonderfully nuanced character and her story grabs You right from the beginning.

Recently read and finished two book.

Kill Creek was well written but it almost read like a movie. But I enjoyed the concept of it.

A God in the Shed was absolutely fantastic. A unique story to be sure and keeps you guessing the whole time.

TO END ALL WARS-Adam Hochschild. Incredible book on WW1, told mostly from the British point of view. Very very well done.

JOYRIDE-Jack Ketchum. Good story, but like most of Ketchum's work, it gets quite violent quite quickly and once again involves a madman on a spree,
This also had a bonus Novella "Weed Species" which pretty much retells the Karla Homolka/Paul Bernardo story and almost matches AMERICAN PSYCHO in repulsiveness.

Carrie. Classic story, not much to add here.

But it does raise a question: in the book, King repeatedly quotes excerpts from books such as "My name is Sue Snell". With fan fiction now a universe of it's own, I was wondering wether someone ever wrote a completed version of those books.

UP AND DOWN WITH THE Rolling Stones-Tony Sanchez. Good trashy fun that came out in 1979. Tony was a companion/drug procurer for Keith and lots and lots of dirt is spilled on Keith and Mick Jagger.

Gunnar Wille - Ritas Jul

Every Christmas, I read a Christmas Carol because it has such great life lessons in it.

"I wear the chains I forged in life. I made them link by link and yard by yard. I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it."

Astrid Lindgren - Ronja Røverdatter

EVERY WOMAN'S NIGHTMARE. This is about the Mark Hacking case who spread a tapestry of BS his wife found out about, so like a coward, he shot her while she was sleeping.


MR S: MY LIFE WITH FRANK SINATRA-George Jacobs. Written by Sinatra's former valet (!953-68) after FS passed-maybe fear of punchout? It's full of gossip and a fun. read. Despite the ending, it is obvious that George loved him and though he details Frank bad behavior, there's also a kinder side that most people didn't know about.

Fiction: THE GREEN MILE-Stephen King. One of his I enjoy the most

Non-Fiction: HELL BENT FOR LEATHER-Seb Hunter. Amusing yet somewhat melancholy tome of a English schoolboy who heard "Let's Get It Up" by AC/DC and became a metal fan. Lots of talk about other bands that inspired him (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, KISS), guitars and his attempt to be a Rock star.

Reading this:
Attachment 19524
Reads just like a really good Bogart movie.

I AM LEGEND-Richard Matheson

The Lake by Richard Laymon

FARGO, ROCK CITY-Chuck Klostermann

The Bat by Jo Nesbo

Fiction: JAWS by Peter Benchley. Getting ready for Summer, You understand...

Non-Fiction: THE OTHER HOLLYWOOD by Legs McNeil and Jennifer Osbourne. Seedy but fascinating Oral history (actors, filmmakers, organized crime, police force, newspaper etc) of Pornographic films from the early 1950's up to the early 2000's. Also recommend Leg's PLEASE KILL ME an oral history of Punk rock.

NAUTICAL CURIOSITIES: A BOOK OF THE SEA by Terry Breverton. "A miscellany of the Sea and all things nautical" reads the dust jacket and truly, ALL You might want to know of this subject. Not intersted in all areas, but some of this is fascinating, particularly how many of our phrases originated from sailing times , like "Under the Weather", "As the Crow Flies", "Son of a Gun" and "Bite the Bullet". Sadly, chapters of shipboard discipline, the slave trade and the effect we are having on our planet and its resources just make me blue. Saddens me how destructive a species we can be::sad::

Gemini Rising - Brian McNaughton

Fiction-OLD FLAMES by Jack Ketchum. Pretty good little novella of a damaged woman seeking to reconnect with her old boyfriend. The fact he's married with teens doesn't deter her from her quest.

Non-Fiction-BRITISH BUTCHERS AND BUNGLERS OF WORLD WAR ONE by John Laffin. The author has a serious issue with WW1 British generals for their unrealistic and uncaring attitudes towards unattainable goals and appallingly massive casualties for little or no gain. The Battle of the Somme is one example with 60,000 casualties the FIRST day and by the time it ended in November, another 400,000 was added.

Fiction: BAMBI by Felix Salten. Reminds me very much of WATERSHIP DOWN, only with deer. Quite hard hitting in parts and not nearly so cuddly as the Disney film.

Non-Fiction: SNAKES! GUILLOTINES! ELECTRIC CHAIRS! MY ADVENTURES IN THE ALICE COOPER GROUP by Dennis Dunaway. DD is a personal hero to me and a seriusly underrated musician. Very good tome about the ACG reaching the big time after lots of work/years and how it fell apart. Enjoyed reading the events after the breakup (though wished there had been something on BATTLE AXE) and appropriately it ends when the group is elected to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fiction: THE GIRL NEXT DOOR-Jack Ketchum. Well written, but extremely horrific of a child guardian from Hell. First time, I read it, truly thought I might not be able to continue as title character has reddish hair and same name as my Daughter.

Non-Fiction: GRANT-Ron Chernow. Well written, although a little TOO complimentary of Civil War General/US President

WALK THIS WAY-Aerosmith with Stephen Davis

Just finished THE OUTSIDER by Stephen King. Quite enjoyed it.

Currently reading this:

Attachment 19566

Great stuff so far.

Fiction: KING KONG-Delos Lovelace

Non-Fiction: HOLLYWOOD CAULDRON-Greg Mank about 13 select 30's-40's Horror films

THE POSIEDON ADVENTURE-Paul Gallico

Started my Halloween reading earlier this month. First off is this:

Attachment 19570
So far this is a really good story and McGammon is quite the storyteller. Not versed enough to know whether this is clichéd material or not but some of it can only be classified as edge-of-the-seater. Three quarters of the way through and showing no signs of slowing down.

Finished The Night Boat. Excellent tale of terror of voodoo/zombies from WWII. McGammon writes with a camera's eye for detail. This would make a great film if done right.

Now I've started this:

Attachment 19576

Only 60 pages into it but so far the only thing I can think of to say is "superb!" Will it be this good all the way through?

Bloch is usually pretty good...

THE PEARL-John Steinbeck.

Yes, it will. ::wink::::wink::

Fiction: The Hunger, by Whitley Strieber (basis for the David Bowie film), Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco.

Non-fiction: The Monster Art of Basil Gogos, written and compiled by Linda Touby, Basil's wife. This book is simply superb, WELL worth the costly cover price ($40).

Jim

Did Gogos do covers for Famous Monsters Of Filmland?

Yes. Not only are those covers here, but also many, many never-before-scene sketches and other portraits of our favorite monsters that I've never seen before.