Showing posts with label Friday Reads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday Reads. Show all posts

Friday, July 5, 2019

Friday Night Frights: Bird Box Spotlight & Movie Rec


Hey Bookdragons! Welcome to the 3rd week of the Friday Night Frights meme!

How It Works:
On your blog feature a horror novel you loved (it doesn't have to be a new release) and recommend a horror movie you love then come back here and post your link in the comments! That's it, as simple as that! 

Bird Box by Josh Malerman
Now a Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar and John Malkovich!

Written with the narrative tension of The Road and the exquisite terror of classic Stephen King, Bird Box is a propulsive, edge-of-your-seat horror thriller, set in an apocalyptic near-future world—a masterpiece of suspense from the brilliantly imaginative Josh Malerman.

Something is out there . . .

Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.

Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?

Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey—a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motely group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside—and confront the ultimate question: in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?

Interweaving past and present, Josh Malerman’s breathtaking debut is a horrific and gripping snapshot of a world unraveled that will have you racing to the final page.


What I loved about Bird Box (the book):
Bird Box isn't strictly a horror novel. It's more sci-fi horror. 

What Bird Box is, is a fast-paced novel about the worst kind of monster... the monster we cannot see. An unseen threat that robs people of their minds should they "see" whatever it is that drives them to kill themselves. Nobody is safe, the madness could come for anyone. 

Bird Box moves back and forth between past and present, from the beginning of the occurrences to Malorie's journey down the river with the two children. 

I love that this book is set in Michigan. I love the idea of the madness and the need to cover one's eyes. It's a whole new kind of terror than the standard haunting or psycho killer.

Movie Rec: Bird Box

I didn't know what to expect when I watched this movie last Christmas. I didn't expect to become as engrossed in it as I did. I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. I didn't expect for it to stay with me 7+ months since the first time I watched it, like I just watched it yesterday.

"Five years after an ominous unseen presence drives most of society to suicide, a survivor and her two children must make it through a forest and river blindfolded in a desperate bid to reach safety."



Sandra Bullock is fantastic in this movie, really she should get some sort of award for her performance in my opinion. The supporting cast is great as well and the screen play brings the novel to life in horrifying detail. 

I love that this movie didn't stick spot on to the novel, instead changing a few small details to increase the tension. 

I don't scare easily, but I know a lot of people found this movie bone-chillingly terrifying, so if you're surfing Netflix and in the mood for a truly scary movie tonight, give Bird Box a watch. You can thank me for the nightmares later! 

Friday, June 14, 2019

Friday Night Frights - Teeth in the Mist Spotlight and Movie Rec


Hey Bookdragons! Since this meme went over really well last week I'm making it a weekly thing and you're all free to join in! Just tell me a horror novel you loved (it doesn't have to be a new release) and recommend a horror movie you love! That's it, as simple as that! 

Teeth In The Mist by Dawn Kurtagich
Before the birth of time, a monk uncovers the Devil's Tongue and dares to speak it. The repercussions will be felt for generations...

Sixteen-year-old photography enthusiast Zoey has been fascinated by the haunted, burnt-out ruins of Medwyn Mill House for as long as she can remember--so she and her best friend, Poulton, run away from home to explore them. But are they really alone in the house? And who will know if something goes wrong?

In 1851, seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at the Mill House as a ward--one of three, all with something to hide from their new guardian. When Roan learns that she is connected to an ancient secret, she must escape the house before she is trapped forever.

1583. Hermione, a new young bride, accompanies her husband to the wilds of North Wales where he plans to build the largest water mill and mansion in the area. But rumors of unholy rituals lead to a tragic occurrence and she will need all her strength to defeat it.

Three women, centuries apart, drawn together by one Unholy Pact. A pact made by a man who, more than a thousand years later, may still be watching...

What I loved about Teeth in the Mist:
Dawn Kurtagich's books are all fantastic in their own way, but this one might be my favorite. Set in three times, we have Hermione, a newlywed bride in the 1580s who everyone begins to think is a witch or a demon and she's the reason her husband's workers, then her children, and her husband begin to disappear mysteriously.

Then in the 1850s we have Roan who is sent to live with a stranger at Mill House (the same house Hermione's husband was building in the 1500s) after the death of her oft-times cruel father. She's got a dark side to her that her father both nurtured and feared. But is she the daughter of the devil? 

Finally, we have Zoey in the present time who goes to Mill House looking for answers years after her father went there (being obsessed with the place and looking for answers of his own about his origins) and lost his mind. 

Mill House is the stuff of nightmares. Hard to get to, dilapidated and humored haunted, the sight of unexplained disappearances, and perhaps home to the devil himself. I love haunted house books but this creepy tale takes things to a whole new level. 

Did I mention this is a retelling of Faustus? It's an awesome horror-fantasy mash-up and I loved every minute of it! 

Movie Rec: Jennifer's Body
Okay, let me be frank: this movie isn't all that great but it kind of sticks with you after you're done watching it. And for some reason it reminds me of the book Last Things by Jaqueline West... I get those same kind of vibes.


"After a supernatural romp with a satanic emo band, hot cheerleader Jennifer (Megan Fox) is transformed into a demon with an insatiable appetite for high school boys."


We have Megan Fox, who I always tend to think of as the mean girl character, Amanda Seyfried who plays the annoying best friend (such a weird pairing you wonder how that happened), and Adam Brody as the lead singer of the satanic emo band. Adam Brody looks like someone who would play in an emo band. 

We start out seeing Amanda Seyfried's "Needy" in jail but instead of the innocent mouselike character she is for the rest of the movie she's a bit of a badass. 


The movie backpedals to before and we see Jennifer and Needy together as Jennifer convinces Needy to go to a bar to see an emo band nobody has ever heard of. It's clearly a local dive bar with small town people in it and the band is so clearly a fish out of water it's nearly comical. But Jennifer's into it despite Needy's concerns. 


A fire breaks out, Jennifer leaves with the band, and hours later shows up at Needy's covered in blood which she then vomits all over the kitchen floor. Gross right? Well apparently the band thought she was a virgin and tried to sacrifice her for ultimate fame and fortune but it backfires and Jennifer becomes a monster.


The rest of the move basically dissolves into Needy trying to stop Jennifer from eating all the teenage boys in town, including Needy's loser boyfriend.


I've heard this movie called a "cult classic" and it's not really scary, just sort of stupid, so if you're looking for a low-budget-no-talent-spoof-of-a-horror-movie to watch with a bunch of friends on a boring Friday night then I definitely recommend this one. 

Friday, January 4, 2019

F is for Friday - 4 January 2019


F Is For Friday is a weekly meme created and hosted by Nomadic Worlds.


How it Works:
1. Credit the creator of this tag (Nomadic Worlds ) and link back.
2. Answer the four questions to the best of your ability.
3. Most important of all, enjoy yourself!


Questions:
F – Feature your latest book obsession (it doesn’t have to be your current read)
I – Indicate which book/s you are looking forward to reading this weekend.
F – Favorite quote of the week/day
F – Five things you’re happy or grateful for this week.


F- Feature your latest book obsession (it doesn't have to be your current read)



I saw parts of this book's movie adaptation on Lifetime in 2017 and wasn't "in love" with it but then I decided to give the book a chance and WOW! I'm in love and completely obsessed. It's like a teenage version of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. 

I – Indicate which book/s you are looking forward to reading this weekend.

I'm in a Thriller mood lately. If I finish After the Woods by Saturday I'll be starting The Rules by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie.

F – Favorite quote of the week/day
“The only difference between saints and sinners is that every saint has a past while every sinner has a future. ” 
― Oscar Wilde

This quote was at the beginning of Honor by Jay Crownover and I fell in love with it instantly and wrote it down with my favorite quotes of January.

F – Five things you’re happy or grateful for this week.

1. the #WritingCommunity on Twitter
2. Being back in my own bed!
3. Lunches out with good friends.
4. That my mantle has not given out under the weight of my funko pop and candle collection. 
5. fantasy movies/novels that spark my inspiration.

Have a great weekend Bookdragons!

Friday, November 30, 2018

F is for Friday - 30 November, 2018


F Is For Friday is a weekly meme created and hosted by Nomadic Worlds.


How it Works:
1. Credit the creator of this tag (Nomadic Worlds ) and link back.
2. Answer the four questions to the best of your ability.
3. Most important of all, enjoy yourself!


Questions:
F – Feature your latest book obsession (it doesn’t have to be your current read)
I – Indicate which book/s you are looking forward to reading this weekend.
F – Favorite quote of the week/day
F – Five things you’re happy or grateful for this week.


F- Feature your latest book obsession (it doesn't have to be your current read)

I saw this book about a month ago on Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl's Top Ten Tuesday for Halloween and it looked so good that when I saw it was on Kindle Unlimited I grabbed it right away. I literally could not stop reading this book it was so freaking good! Now I just need the sequel!

I – Indicate which book/s you are looking forward to reading this weekend.

I've been exploring my options with my free trial of Kindle Unlimited and I'm reading and loving Pestilence by Laura Thalassa right now with plans to finish by tomorrow morning and then I'll be starting Crew by Tijan. I love Tijan's writing style and usually breeze through her books and I'm hoping this will be just as good as what I've read before.

F – Favorite quote of the week/day
“It doesn’t change the fact that seeing you butt-ass naked is not on my shortlist of things to do during the apocalypse.” 
― Laura Thalassa, Pestilence

LOL! I love Sara from Pestilence - although I think I'd be more than happy to check Pestilence out naked. 

F – Five things you’re happy or grateful for this week.

1. Kindle Unlimited
2. Pay day
3. New friends
4. The new season of Vikings
5. Chinese Delivery

Have a great weekend Bookdragons!

Read NIGHT OF TERROR