Yaaay, a new ghost story collection! Some cracking British writers have banded together to give you the winter willies. You won't find a haunted cell phone or Zoom seance here; these tales of very much "traditional" ghost stories. Here's a mini breakdown of what you can expect. A Study in Black and White (Bridget Collins) … Continue reading Review – The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights
Review – The BBC National Short Story Award 2021 (Edited by James Runcie, Comma Press)
It’s that time of year again! I’ve loved it for years, and I’m glad to report that the nominated stories for 2021 are incredibly strong. Click on each title to hear the stories for free on BBC Sounds. The first story will be broadcast on September 20th, with a new story for the following four … Continue reading Review – The BBC National Short Story Award 2021 (Edited by James Runcie, Comma Press)
Review – When Things Get Dark: Stories Inspired by Shirley Jackson, edited by Ellen Datlow (Titan Books)
I am so excited to be able to finally share my love of this incredible anthology! When Things Get Dark is easily one of the best, and most consistent anthologies I’ve read in years. Each writer has brought their A-Game in Shirley’s name. Comparisons to Jackson’s work are a dime-a-dozen, and often completely unwarranted. But … Continue reading Review – When Things Get Dark: Stories Inspired by Shirley Jackson, edited by Ellen Datlow (Titan Books)
Review – The Mammoth Book of Folk Horror, edited by Stephen Jones (Skyhorse)
We’ve all gone a bit mad for folk horror in the last few years, haven’t we? I’m frankly still shocked that a movie as audacious as Midsommar was so successful! As someone who watched The Wicker Man at an incredibly impressionable age, I’m very excited that the mainstream has decided to follow me into the … Continue reading Review – The Mammoth Book of Folk Horror, edited by Stephen Jones (Skyhorse)
Review – The Art of Space Travel and Other Stories, by Nina Allan (Titan Books)
Few things delight me more than a strong, consistent short story collection. Anthologies, by their very nature, are varied, and the constant switches between authors can prevent the reader from gaining a sense of flow. But well-written, single-author collections are to be treasured. There is nothing like being taken by the hand, and following the … Continue reading Review – The Art of Space Travel and Other Stories, by Nina Allan (Titan Books)
Short Story Update
The Saddest Short Story Ever Written Yesterday, I read the saddest short story I've ever read in my life, so I need to share the details with you. I found this little gem in The Persephone Book of Short Stories, which features a wealth of gorgeous stories by well-known and little-known female writers. I urge … Continue reading Short Story Update
Short Stories – A Beginner’s Guide
A dear, dear friend of mine asked for "A recommendation for an introduction into short stories", that would be applicable to adults, and 14-16 year-olds. Oof, what a tremendous request! What follows is not a complete guide, but here are my suggested gateway drugs. The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Is it the best short story … Continue reading Short Stories – A Beginner’s Guide
April 2021 Round-Up and May Reads
April Reads Well, suppose I’d better get my April round-up done before June comes along. Here’s the run-down: Parable of the Sower - Octavia Butler (Grand Central Publishing)Near the Bone - Christina Henry (Berkley Publishing)Folklore - Angela Mi Young Hur (Erewhon)Chouette - Claire Oshetsky (Ecco)Jews Don’t Count - David Baddiel (TLS Books)Sometimes Amazing Things Happen - Elizabeth Ford … Continue reading April 2021 Round-Up and May Reads
Where To Read Amazing Short Stories
I'm approaching the three-year anniversary of starting my habit of reading a short story every day. I've read over 1000 stories. To be honest, I don't manage to read one absolutely every day; I don't treat it like homework. There are days when I'm just not feeling it, or I'm engrossed in a novel. I … Continue reading Where To Read Amazing Short Stories
More Reading Ramblings
Since my last update, I finished The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher, and I absolutely loved it. It was genuinely terrifying; Kingfisher has a great line in creating incredibly disturbing images. My full review can be found on Goodreads, but to summarize, The Hollow Places is one of the scariest and funniest books I’ve ever read. … Continue reading More Reading Ramblings
California Reading 