Leah Saylor-Abney's thoughts on movies, books, and writing.
Leah's book "reviews" and recommendations. You will find several genres here - mostly dark fiction and fantasy - but rarely anything that falls under the "romance" category.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars So much more than its “gothic romance” label, thank goodness. Yes, there’s a sheltered teenage girl who falls for her employer, an arrogant, seemingly unattainable “bad boy.” But the deeper love story was not between man and woman; it’s the love Jane showed for herself by never, and I mean [...]
Yesterday I shared a fun little post about America’s hidden problem: literature abuse. But many of you may now be asking yourselves, “am I an abuser?” Complete this short test to find out. Self-Test for Literature Abuse How many of these apply to you? 1. I have read fiction when I was depressed, or to [...]
I’ve had this in my “Share” folder since 1999. I did NOT write it. (The e-mail came through a listserv; I don’t know who the original author is, so I cannot properly credit him/her.) I’ll post the self-test tomorrow. LITERATURE ABUSE: AMERICA’S HIDDEN PROBLEM Once a relatively rare disorder, Literature Abuse, or LA, has risen [...]
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Book One in the Dark Tower epic offers fast-paced fantasy with moderate action and few answers. Its focus, though, is on the introduction of the story’s hero, his initial quest, and his world. The Gunslinger by Stephen King follows Roland, the last gunslinger, on his quest across the desert of a [...]
Rating: 4 of 5 A solid collection of 20 short stories that demonstrates King’s ability to transform everyday normalcies into our worst nightmares. Several of these stories have since been adapted for the screen. Stephen King has brought together nineteen of his most unsettling short pieces–bizarre tales of dark doing and unthinkable acts from the [...]
Some of you may remember this challenge from last year. While I didn’t post a review in the 2011 challenge, I did participate. This year I plan to read AND post at least one “review.” Here are the details: The Classic Bribe – Challenge & Giveaway: Read at least 1 Classic over the summer – [...]
Rating: 3 of 5 A lost-in-the-woods adventure that lacks much of the imagination displayed in King’s other works. Entertaining, but only for those who enjoy fairy tale-ish plots, and those who are patient (and open-minded) enough to overlook a protagonist who doesn’t quite fit the typical nine-year-old girl. Nine-year-old Trisha McFarland strays from the path [...]
The second mini-challenge for The Stephen King Challenge kicked off on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. The prize for this mini-challenge is a surprise. (Psst! I won the first mini-challenge: a brand new hardcover of 11/22/63. I’m pretty stoked about winning.) The mini-challenge schedule is: Feb | March | April May | June | July Aug [...]
Rating: 4 of 5 Justification for why I always hesitated at the door of the “Fun House” and, ultimately, never entered. No justification needed for avoiding clowns, though; they’re scary, period. Here’s the skinny: Amy, eleven years old, and her sister, eight-year-old Jodi, are sent to spend the summer with their father, Russel. No big [...]
Rating: 3.5 of 5 A well-written novel with a multi-layered plot that features King’s trademark descriptions – wordy and vivid – and seamless integration of the paranormal into everyday life. Here is Stephen King’s most gripping and unforgettable novel — a tale of grief and lost love’s enduring bonds, of haunting secrets of the past, [...]
