Two friends, two lives going in different directions. My least favorite of the Creature Features, but has a nice twist and a bit of body horror.

As shown by Stephen King's Pet Sematary (1983) and many other versions, this is one of those classic stories that can be adapted endlessly. One of the best and creepiest endings there is, but also sad in a way.

"I shivered comfortless, but cast
No chill across the tablecloth;
I all-forgotten shivered, sad
To stay and yet to part how loth:
I passed from the familiar room,
I who from love had passed away,
Like the remembrance of a guest
That tarrieth but a day."
- At Home

I've been so absorbed in my Kindle lately that I started to miss the scent and feel of actual paper, and Rossetti's poetry collection seemed to fit this moment in my week.

I'm not much of a poetry girl, but I bought this because Goblin Market is one of my absolute favorites. It turned out that I also adore everything else Rossetti has written. Her poems roam through faraway lands, both in life and beyond, in silent bedrooms and luscious nature, and are filled with the scent of ivy and rose, wind, sun, rain, and the taste of fruit and berries. Pre-Raphaelites are amazing, and the movement has been perfectly captured in words. There's also a section for devotional pieces, which are less interesting and not something I would read again, but they are still beautiful.

At first, I was worried this would just be some sort of Psycho variation (a woman steals money, ends up at a motel, a mention of taxidermy), but thankfully, the twist takes it to a whole other level via subtle and not so subtle hints. One of my favorite types of twists.

Travel reading
London, November 2023

I was sitting on a plane drinking free blueberry juice (I forgot I hate blueberry juice) and thinking, am I supposed to understand the Harry Potter references, and why am I reading about kids having a sleepover? Not even remotely creepy and not a fun time.

Travel reading
London, November 2023

I like vagueness, but I also think there needs to be a proper payoff. Here, there isn't one. Derrick suffers from chronic pain and is recommended a doctor whose treatment seems very simple. In the end, there's only one solution, and it's disappointing in more ways than one.

Travel reading
London, November 2023

A creepy historical ghost story about two fake mediums ending up at an isolated girls' school. Fantastic writing and just the right length.

Travel reading
London, November 2023

Yet again I'm in the minority because I didn't care about this that much. Writing style is nice and the story is ok, maybe there's something up for a discussion too, but I didn't get inside everything.

Nice playing with words (which puts you a little closer to the characters) and somewhat interesting story but I didn't really fall in love with it as most have. There's nothing much to say really. I just didn't get the charm of Alex, for example. Period.