“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
I can say with unshakeable certainty that Rebecca is one of the best horror novels I've ever read. It wasn't an action-packed gore-fest like many books of the same genre, but in my mind that's what makes it one of the greats. It's a British novel positively dripping with atmosphere and dramatic tension with an excellent… Continue reading My Emotionally Abusive Relationship with Daphne Du Maurier
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS NOT SEEN WONDER WOMAN AHEAD. What I liked: Wonder Woman herself. I admit I had many misgivings going into this movie because Hollywood can be notorious about writing terrible female characters. Particularly in films about women. Diana was an excellent well-rounded character that, while ignorant about our world, wasn't a… Continue reading Thoughts On “Wonder Woman” The Movie
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE BOOK OUTLANDER AHEAD. Strap in, folks, this is gonna be a long review. Then again this was a long book, so what do you expect? What I liked: The great characters. I didn't always like Claire, but she always felt like a person and not just a vassal through which the author… Continue reading Thoughts on “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon
Over the years, I've been forced to read many a poem, and, while I can appreciate the effort it takes to compose one, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the art form. However, that doesn't mean that I don't have a favorite poet. During my trip to Scotland last year, I came across… Continue reading Ode to the Worst Poet in the World
WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE NOVEL. As an avid fan of du Maurier's Rebecca, I have to confess that I was a bit disappointed with My Cousin Rachel. It started off very strong with little Philip coming face to face with the corpse of a man who had been hanged for murdering his wife, a scene… Continue reading Thoughts on “My Cousin Rachel” by Daphne du Maurier
Perhaps I'm just whingeing over semantics here, but I had to get this off my chest. When I purchased the audiobook for Neil Gaiman's book on short stories I was very excited. Not only am I a fan of Gaiman's writing, I am also a big fan of his narration. His dulcet tones and faint… Continue reading Why I’m Disappointed By Neil Gaiman’s “Trigger Warning”
I am going to tell you something I wasn't sure I would ever admit on this blog..... A secret that I have been keeping under wraps for fear of being ostracized by the literary community. *takes a breath* I don't like Stephen King novels. I know, I'm sorry. It's not for want of trying. I've… Continue reading Thoughts on the “IT” 2017 Trailer
When I was a child I daydreamed all the time about talking to my favorite writers. While I was toiling for hours over my own horrible manuscripts, I would wonder to myself what wisdom they would impart onto me if I ever mustered up the courage to write to them. Writers back then were these… Continue reading Social Media Killed My Curiosity About Authors
When you decide to become a writer, there's one truth that you must confront at some point: what you write will probably not be as good on paper as it was in your head. I've come to realize this after multiple drafts and constant rewrites of fiction, nonfiction, blog posts and etc. I know it's… Continue reading If You Want To Be a Writer, Lower Your Expectations a Lot
As crappy as it is that Peter didn't get a fair shake at being The Doctor, this decision to leave is for the show's benefit. Doctor Who has been in dire need of a direction change for years now and I think it would really benefit from a clean slate. Many people are complaining that… Continue reading Opinion: Peter Capaldi is Leaving Doctor Who and That’s a Good Thing
The Crooked Pen 