Halloween Reads - What Frightens You?

What frightens you?
By Maryom and The Mole

Because of the season people have been talking about the most frightening book that there is. One such candidate offered recently was "The Exorcist" by William Peter Blatty and when we received a copy in the post Maryom took the opportunity to read it.

She will be reviewing it later this week*, but I don't think we are letting too much out in that she didn't find it at all frightening. One wonders why?

Another candidate has to be "Dark Matter" by Michelle Paver and this one Maryom did find frightening but I also read it and while I did really enjoy it didn't frighten me at all. And maybe we start to see a little of why.

Maryom feels that one book that she read as a child and found frightening was "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" by Alan Garner and the reason was the tunnels.Tunnels have recently reappeared in the form of potholing in "Torn" by Cat Clarke (another review due this week) in which one of the characters is absolutely terrified at the prospect of going down a narrow tunnel. Both these stories play on Maryom's claustrophobia because if a writer does their job properly then the reader really feels they are entering the tunnels and so brings out the fear that the reader already has.

When it came to "Dark Matter" the subject of the fear is two fold:- the total dark and the ghost that lives in it. Maryom is also extremely uncomfortable in total dark while I am quite happy in the dark (and having worked for a large company for 27 years, am used to being kept in it!)

With "The Exorcist" Maryom felt that you needed to believe that "demonic possession" was possible before it would bother you. At one point the child vomits and a big play is made of this in the film (apparently because I haven't seen the film) but it's important to remember that in the early 70's Monty Python was getting laughs from people vomiting.

So what have I found to be a frightening read? Well it has to be "Shadow Bringer" by David Calcutt. We've all heard noises, as children, that we couldn't understand what they were and exactly where they were coming from and, to me, it's the most terrifying thing imaginable.

So what does an author need to do to write a terrifying novel? They need to find something that frightens most people and play on it deftly. Or they must set out to make you terrified of it, which has to be a whole lot more difficult.





*Review of The Exorcist

Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: School of Meanies by Daren King

Ghostly Fun
review by Maryom

Humphrey Bump doesn't like ghost school but he's soon to discover that 'still-alive' school can be even worse.
His favourite thing is bumping - into people, knocking over things, whatever. When this gets him expelled, no other ghost school will take him, so he's sent to the school for 'still-alives', normal people like you or me. No one really wants him there either - no one wants to be friends, everyone shrieks and runs away despite Humphrey's best efforts to make friends. But the school is plagued by bullies - and the biggest is the headmaster! Can Humphrey - and his bumping- come to the rescue?

School of Meanies is a humorous book with a serious side. It's a tremendously fun read for all with lots of laugh-out-loud one-liners - and, yes, I did keep reading them out to people because they were so funny! Humphrey's ghostly friends and their attempts to help him out are hilarious. At the same time it touches on finding new friends, starting a new school and shows the unacceptability of bullying, whoever it's from.

Maryom's review - 5 stars
Publisher - Quercus
Genre - childrens,
Buy Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: School of Meanies from Amazon

Giles Paley-Phillips author interview

Today the Giles Paley-Phillips blog tour arrives at Our Book Reviews Online. We have reviewed "The Fearsome Beastie" and "There's a Lion in my Bathroom". Today we are publishing an interview that he found time to give us.

You "neglected your education to pursue a career in music"... are we likely to have heard your music on the radio? Yeah we had a bit of airply back in the day, we got to play a few big events too, like Glastonbury and Essential festivals

You are now performing with Burnthouse. What type of music is it you perform?
Alternative Rock

You now write poetry books. Did you write any of the music you have performed?
Yeah I used to write music and some lyrics, but the band was always a collaboration of all the members, where as this is now me on my own!

With your poems, are there any poets that have influenced you at all?
I'm a huge fan of Shel Silverstein, his work was a huge inspiration for me to start writing in the first place.

Your first book of poetry - Linear Hymns was being sold to raise money for leukaemia research. Would you like to tell us more about your involvement with this charity?
My mum died of Leukaemia when I was 6 and I have been a life long supporter.

You wrote a collection of nonsense poems called "There is a Lion in My Bathroom" with illustrations by Matt Dawson. How involved were you with the choice of illustrator?
I loved Matt's work as soon as I saw it and did ask my publisher for him to be involved.

Where do you draw your inspiration for your poetry?
From lots of different things really, just stuff that pops in there!

You have also produced an illustrated children's story in poetry called "The Fearsome Beastie". The illustrations were by Gabrielle Antonini. Again how was this particular illustrator chosen?
Like most picture books, my publisher looked to pair my work work with the most appropriate illustrator.

You are now a father of 2. Can you tell us how your children are involved in the creative process?
They are always getting stuff read to them, to gauge their interest and to get their thoughts, my eldest is 4 and massively opinionated! and of course I write stuff I hope they will like.

If your children came home, as young teenagers, and said they were going to go on tour with a band - would you support them in their venture or try to prevent them?
I would like to think I would support them in what ever they decide to do when they are older, if it was something they were passionate about then of course I would actively encourage them to pursue their dreams.

What plans do you have for the future?
I have several more picture books coming out on the next couple of years, plus I've recently become a patron for FSW, a family support work charity based in Sussex, so I will be working closely with them to build up awareness and we are working on some very exciting new events over the next two years, so please do watch this space.

Many thanks for Giles' today and we wish him all the best, particularly in his charity work and fundraising efforts.

The Cat and the Fiddle by Jackie Morris

A Treasury Of Imagination
review by Maryom

Jackie Morris's latest children's book is a collection of nursery rhymes - over 40 of them, picked by the author herself. They range from familiar favourites to the less well known - surrounded by her astounding paintings.

I always get excited when I know there's a new Jackie Morris book about to be published. I absolutely adore her paintings and in a children's book such as this, where the illustrations have greater impact, she gives free range to her imagination.

Each page reveals a world in miniature, peopled by tiny fairy creatures, dressed in shimmering velvets and silks that almost rustle on the page, accompanied by elegant greyhounds and fabulous winged creatures riding on the backs of cats, cockerels or hares, or leading seemingly enormous sheep laden down with balls of wool.

It may be subtitled A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes - but it's a treasury of art and imagination too, one for any child to love forever.

Maryom's review - 5 stars
Publisher - Frances Lincoln
Genre - childrens, nursery rhymes,

You can see the author talking about this book on Youtube

Buy The Cat and the Fiddle: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes from Amazon

Grimm's Fairy Tales by Saviour Pirotta

The Return of an Old Favourite
review by Maryom

Much like a golden-oldie record this story collection is having a re-release. We bought it under its old title of The Sleeping Princess, many years ago when our youngest daughter was a toddler and it was in great demand as a bedtime storybook. It's now back in the shops with a new cover and title but the stories remain as enchanting - and frightening - as ever.
Saviour Pirotta retells ten of Grimm's well known folk tales, including favourites such as Rumplestiltskin, Rapunzel and Hansel and Gretel, all of which are vividly brought to life by Emma Chichester Clark's lively colourful illustrations. Fairy tales are always in fashion, remaining firm favourites with parents and children alike, despite passing trends.

Our copy was much loved and read, and hopefully this new edition will find loving homes with many more children.

Maryom's review - 5 stars
Publisher - Orchard Books
Genre - childrens, fairy stories

Buy The Orchard Book of Grimm's Fairy Tales from Amazon

Mr Aesop's Story Shop by Bob Hartman

Aesop retold with a twist
Review by Maryom

Continuing our week of children's books with a retelling of Aesop's fables.

Bob Hartman presents Aesop as a storyteller with a booth set up in the marketplace, telling his tales for all the passers-by to hear. Every story is the traditional story and, of course, has a moral to it - relating here to incidents that occur in the marketplace and neatly summed up at the end of the chapter with the moral. Each moral is as relevant today as it ever was and so these stories still find favour at some point during a child's early learning. The book is illustrated in colour throughout by Jago, who somehow manages to give a Greek feel to the pictures.

Certainly one to think about as the festive season approaches perhaps?

Publisher -Lion Children's
Genre - Children's

Buy Mr. Aesop's Story Shop from Amazon

Green Janine Turns Detective by Brian Tyrer

Fun Easy Reader Adventure
Review by Maryom

Janine is a different sort of girl - for one thing she's green! In this adventure she is on the trail of amateur burglars, Bob and Bill. With help from the family pet turned sniffer dog and a little magic from her friend Mr Mephista can she find the stolen tiara and return it to the Duchess? I rather suspect she will!

Green Janine Turns Detective is an excellent, quirky adventure which had me laughing out loud. It's not aimed at the absolute beginner but for the slightly more advanced readers - though parents could share it with younger ones. There are black and white cartoon style illustrations by John Bigwood throughout, avoiding the daunting full page of text that can be so off-putting to young readers and at less than 60 pages, split over 4 chapters, it's not a lengthy read.
At the back you'll find various story-related puzzles and activity sheets to be downloaded from the publishers website - aimed at making learning to read fun!

A good first step away from school readers.

Publisher - Seven Arches
Genre - childrens, early reader

Buy Green Janine Turns Detective from Amazon