Book Annotation - Horror

	The Store - By Bentley Little
	Pages:  432
	Publisher:  Signet
	Language: English
	ISBN: 9780451192196

Synopsis:  “It's the corporations we have to worry about, I think. They're the ones with the money.” The Store is a creepy horror tale that also serves to make somewhat of a political statement.  The story primarily follows the lives of Bill Davis, his wife and their two daughters, and is told from Bill’s point of view.  The Store is a retail giant, very similar to Wal-Mart, offering low prices and lots of jobs for the residents of the remote desert town of Juniper, Arizona.  But The Store likes to make their own rules, disregard environmental concerns, and destroy local parks and businesses.  Bill notices that there are strange happenings at The Store, especially at night when the all black clad managers are running the show.  Regardless of the sinister goings on, there is a cult-like following of loyal patrons, and when Bill’s teenage daughters start to work there, he notices an almost zombie-like devotion to the Store.  What happens when people go to The Store? How are they so controlled and blind to what is really going on? The Store grabs you from the beginning, holds on with its creepy tone and pacing, is very believable, and teaches the reader a lesson about large chain stores that invade communities, wipe out small local businesses, and turn small, unique towns into just another generic spot on the map.

Elements of Horror Genre

Pace:  The pacing of the story is often erratic and unexpected.  One minute things are very calm and peaceful, and the next it is very intense with lots of action. Setting:  The setting is typical of the horror genre.  There are monsters (zombies), but some of the monsters are just regular people, characterized by their evil actions and doings. The details of the small town are very descriptive and the reader can imagine it vividly. Story Line: As is typical of the horror genre, the presence of an evil or maleficent force is present in this story.  The reader is left wondering how the novel will end.  Will good triumph over evil? Characterization: Unlike most horror novels, the protagonist in this story is generally a happy, normal character, until he is pushed to the point of fighting back when he realizes something is incredibly wrong with The Store.  The evil characters, of course, are quite sinister. Tone/Mood: The tone of the story is excellent at evoking a sense of menace.  The reader can feel that something is just not right with The Store, and this sense heightens the more you read.  There is also some graphic gore involved.

Read-a-Likes
After Midnight By Richard Laymon	Dark Hollow By Brian Keene	The Black Train By Edward Lee

I'm Looking for Something...

I decided to visit a very small branch of my local library to do a little mystery shopping.  I visited during the middle of the day and found the location to be quite crowded with mostly older patrons and moms with little ones.  There was only one librarian working the desk.  I have to be honest, my hopes for great service were not high.  I waited in line for a couple of minutes behind other patrons, and when I approached the desk, boy was I surprised!  The librarian was absolutely wonderful!!! She asked great questions about my favorite genres, my favorite authors, and even the most recent book I have read that I just couldn't put down.  After working her magic on her computer, she provided me with a list of books that she thought I would love, and she was spot on.  All of them are books I have on my GoodReads shelf to be read. 

Even though she was alone and very busy, she still provided me with excellent service, offered to help me find the book if I needed it, and never rushed through providing me service.  I will definitely go back to this library branch again.

Reading Prompt #1

1.                   I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next! 

The next book in this series is The Lunatic Café.

2.                   What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.  

I would recommend Anthill by Edward O. Wilson or The History of Bees by Maja Lunde.

3.                   I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there! 

I would recommend The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama.

4.                   I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any suggestions?

I would recommend books by Ruth Rendell or Louise Penny because their writing styles are very similar to Elizabeth George.  They explore complex cases, are psychological in nature, and have well-developed characters such as police, investigators and regular civilians.

5.                   My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?

I would recommend any of the following: The Zombie Autopsies by Steven Schlozman, I am Legend by Richard Matheson, or The Rage by Pierre Boisserie.

6.                   I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.

I recommend Gone Girl, A Walk Among the Tombstones, The Monuments Men, and Wonder

7.                   I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.

I would recommend The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith or The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman.  Both of these titles are part of a series, these are the first of the series.

I typically find books to read by looking at the recommendations and ratings of my friends on GoodReads.  We all have similar tastes in genre, so I trust their judgment.

Book Annotation - Thriller

	Behind Closed Doors - B.A. Paris
	Pages: 352
	Publisher:  St. Martin’s Griffin
	Language: English
	ISBN: 978-1250121004

Synopsis:  "The perfect marriage or the perfect lie?"  Jack and Grace seem to be the perfect couple, but things are not always as they seem. Grace is a lovely, elegant woman who is caregiver to her younger sister, Millie, who has Down’s Syndrome. Millie is currently in a special school, but since she will soon be 18 years old, she will need to leave the school for a permanent home, of course to live with Grace.  Jack is very successful lawyer, never having lost a case protecting battered women.  He is charming, affectionate and totally accepting of Millie and her relationship with Grace.  Though Grace initially had qualms about beginning a relationship, Jack seemed so perfect.  He was not only handsome and charming, but loving and caring.  Grace falls quickly for Jack, and agrees to marry him, and that is when the nightmare truly begins.     Behind Closed Doors is a fantastic psychological thriller. The characters are very well-developed and the reader can easily identify with them.  Combined with numerous plot twists and turns, the reader will be on the edge of their seat.

Elements of Thriller Genre

Pace:  The story moves at a rapid pace and is driven by the danger felt by Grace.  The story builds in intensity and leaves the reader wanting to know what will happen next. Setting:  The story is told primarily from the beautiful home of Grace and Jack.  But as the reader learns, a beautiful home can be just a façade with horrors to be found around every corner. Tone/Mood:  The tone of the story is dark and is dominated by danger, fear, and good triumphing over evil.

Story Line: This story has a provocative story line, with several social and moral issues contained within.  It is very detailed and intricate and there is a consistent element of danger.  Characterization:  The characters are well developed and easily to identify with.  The antagonist is very well portrayed as an evil, sadistic monster, but the portrayal is not over the top.

Read-a-Likes
The Couple Next Door Shari Lapena	I See You Clare Mackintosh	When She Was Bad Tammy Cohen

Genres I Have Chosen to Read for Class

I have chosen to read the following genres for class this semester:

Thriller
Horror
Mysteries
Young Adult
LGBTQ

My Reading Profile

I've been an avid reader since I could pick up a book.  Even as a child, when my friends were concerned with the latest and greatest toy on the market, I just wanted to go to the bookstore or the library.  Those places feel like home to me. 

I will read pretty much any genre, but my favorite is thrillers. I love a book that keeps me on edge and guesing as to what the outcome will be. Our textbook describes the thriller genre as books that "move at a rapid pace, driven by danger, their building intensity makes them compelling page turners" (The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, p.73).  This is exactly why I love this type of read.  It hooks me very quickly in the beginning and I just don't want to stop reading!

I'm also very fond of mysteries, suspense, horror, and medical and legal genres.  I spent 18 years working as a paralegal, so the legal realm fascinates me.  At one point in time I wanted to be a nurse, so I believe that is why I am fascinated with medical novels.  I enjoy a romance book from time to time, but it is not a genre I read frequently because I find it ridiculously sappy and unrealistic.  I will admit, however, to reading the Twilight Saga and actually enjoying it.  Don't judge me  lol

Some of my favorite authors include Iris Johanson, Robin Cook, John Grisham, Bentley Little, Stephen King, Lisa Gardner, Mary Kubica and Gillian Flynn.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog!  I hope you find my ramblings to be of some interest and learn a little about me and my quirky sense of humor!  Please feel free to comment or ask questions.  Thanks for reading my posts :)