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Dean (6927 KP) rated The Pale Blue Eye (2022) in Movies
Jan 8, 2023
A Gothic period piece
I saw this billed as a period murder mystery so had to check it out especially with a great cast line up.
The production is great from locations, sets and costumes. You feel like you are there at the time.
Christian Bale plays a detective to investigate a grisly murder at the Military training base for America. He enlists the help of a cadet who would be wider know as Edgar Allen Poe.
It was a bit slow at times without a lot action wise, the middle section is drawn out too much. The plot seemed a little odd but thankfully the final scenes bring it back on track.
The production is great from locations, sets and costumes. You feel like you are there at the time.
Christian Bale plays a detective to investigate a grisly murder at the Military training base for America. He enlists the help of a cadet who would be wider know as Edgar Allen Poe.
It was a bit slow at times without a lot action wise, the middle section is drawn out too much. The plot seemed a little odd but thankfully the final scenes bring it back on track.
The Lighthouse Witches
10.0
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A deserted lighthouse Upon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island stands a lighthouse. Strange...
Witches Gothic paranormal
Killing Jericho
7.0
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Scott Jericho thought he'd worked his last case. Fresh out of jail, the disgraced former detective...
LGBT
Calligraphy 2017
Lifestyle and Education
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Discover the World of Calligraphy and learn how to improve your Penmanship with this fabulous...
Midge (525 KP) rated The Buried Girl in Books
Mar 5, 2019
A Chilling Psychological Thriller with Gothic Elements
This book caught my eye as I loved the synopsis and I read a lot of books from this genre, although I haven’t read any of the author, Richard Montanari’s books before. “The Buried Girl” is a chilling psychological thriller with some added Gothic elements.
When the wife of a New York psychologist, Will Hardy, is murdered he moves into Godwin Hall, a dusty, shut-up mansion in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio, with his teenage daughter, Bernadette.
At the same time, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl. She is convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades, including her own long-missing sister.
But what place does Will's new home have in the story of the missing girls and why does he have past memories of Godwin Hall? Is the diary of a young woman, written over a century earlier, linked to the killings?
Richard Montanari writes a wonderfully atmospheric and compelling novel. Tense and suspenseful, the many threads of the story slowly begin to link together, central to which is Godwin Hall. Both the characterisation and the plot are superb with the three main characters damaged, but starting the process of recovery. I am hoping that there will be a sequel to this novel as it was a fantastic read which I highly recommend to lovers of thrillers and crime fiction.
{Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins UK/Witness Impulse for the free copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.}
When the wife of a New York psychologist, Will Hardy, is murdered he moves into Godwin Hall, a dusty, shut-up mansion in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio, with his teenage daughter, Bernadette.
At the same time, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl. She is convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades, including her own long-missing sister.
But what place does Will's new home have in the story of the missing girls and why does he have past memories of Godwin Hall? Is the diary of a young woman, written over a century earlier, linked to the killings?
Richard Montanari writes a wonderfully atmospheric and compelling novel. Tense and suspenseful, the many threads of the story slowly begin to link together, central to which is Godwin Hall. Both the characterisation and the plot are superb with the three main characters damaged, but starting the process of recovery. I am hoping that there will be a sequel to this novel as it was a fantastic read which I highly recommend to lovers of thrillers and crime fiction.
{Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins UK/Witness Impulse for the free copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.}
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2267 KP) rated The Last Mrs. Summers in Books
Aug 5, 2020
Gothic Trip to Cornwall
It’s fall 1935, and Lady Georgiana O’Mara is back from her honeymoon and settling into her new married life until Darcy is called away on another of his assignments. Suddenly at loose ends, Georgie jumps at a chance to join her friend Belinda is looking at the cottage she just inherited in Cornwall. However, the cottage turns out to be more of a shack. The friends are deciding what to do when they run into Rose, a childhood friend of Belinda’s. Rose announces she is now the mistress of one of the nearby mansions, and insists that Georgie and Belinda stay with her. However, something is off about life at the mansion. Will Georgie figure out what is going on before tragedy strikes?
It's always fun to slip back into Georgie’s world, and I picked up this book with anticipation. As usual, the book opens with updates on Georgie’s various friends and family, and I enjoy finding out how life is going for them. Once the story gets going, we are treated to a mystery filled with confusing happenings and plenty of atmosphere. The plot is minimally inspired by the classic Rebecca, and it uses the gothic elements well. I’m not familiar with Rebecca, but not picking up on nods to that book didn’t diminish my enjoyment at all. The new characters we meet along the way help pull us into the book. Naturally, everything makes sense once Georgie figures it all out. When you pick up this book, be prepared to be swept back in time. Fans of the series will be thrilled to catch up with Georgie’s latest adventures.
It's always fun to slip back into Georgie’s world, and I picked up this book with anticipation. As usual, the book opens with updates on Georgie’s various friends and family, and I enjoy finding out how life is going for them. Once the story gets going, we are treated to a mystery filled with confusing happenings and plenty of atmosphere. The plot is minimally inspired by the classic Rebecca, and it uses the gothic elements well. I’m not familiar with Rebecca, but not picking up on nods to that book didn’t diminish my enjoyment at all. The new characters we meet along the way help pull us into the book. Naturally, everything makes sense once Georgie figures it all out. When you pick up this book, be prepared to be swept back in time. Fans of the series will be thrilled to catch up with Georgie’s latest adventures.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Frailty (2002) in Movies
Feb 12, 2019
Brooding Southern Gothic horror movie starring and directed by Bill Paxton. Two young boys don't quite know how to react when their father announces he has been chosen by God to become a demon hunter; this involves hitting people with a big axe a lot. Low-key stuff for the most part; Paxton does a good job of taking you into the world of this family and their rather peculiar take on what is 'normal', strong performances all round.
Sadly the film is virtually undone by a frame story featuring a pre-McConnaissance Matthew McConnaughey, leading up to a long-way-sub-Shyamalan twist ending; this one element is so convoluted and unconvincing it drags down what's otherwise an atmospheric and effective film into something resembling a forgettable episode of The X Files.
Sadly the film is virtually undone by a frame story featuring a pre-McConnaissance Matthew McConnaughey, leading up to a long-way-sub-Shyamalan twist ending; this one element is so convoluted and unconvincing it drags down what's otherwise an atmospheric and effective film into something resembling a forgettable episode of The X Files.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Dragonwyck in Books
Feb 15, 2019
<b>WARNING:</b> Do <b>NOT</b> read the first Editorial Review at Amazon, just titled Review (it says it's a Kirkus review after the fact), it gives away the whole book.
Here's a link to a good review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2N2VZK2COV9LK/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=156849484X
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I enjoyed this fast and easy Gothic read - my first Anya Seton book! Not much to say, the plot was predictable, yet absorbing, the characters were fine - although Miranda was a bit too distant as the heroine, and the little historical tidbits were interesting, although they didn't quite flow with the storyline.
One of the reasons I read this is because I've seen the film version of Dragonwyck playing on TCM and/or FMC, and I plan to catch it next time! :D
Here's a link to a good review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2N2VZK2COV9LK/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=156849484X
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I enjoyed this fast and easy Gothic read - my first Anya Seton book! Not much to say, the plot was predictable, yet absorbing, the characters were fine - although Miranda was a bit too distant as the heroine, and the little historical tidbits were interesting, although they didn't quite flow with the storyline.
One of the reasons I read this is because I've seen the film version of Dragonwyck playing on TCM and/or FMC, and I plan to catch it next time! :D
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated The Tale of Halcyon Crane in Books
Feb 15, 2019
THE TALE OF HALCYON CRANE is an interesting, easy Gothic read. It wasn't a book that held my interest in one sitting, but was enjoyable whenever I picked it up. A bit slow to start, it didn't really pick up until halfway, maybe two-thirds of the way through. The end was a bit anti-climatic but it fit the book, so that's fine. The author has a wonderful imagination and usually brought that through life, mainly through the island setting and the Hill history, which was enthralling. I loved the inclusion of two Alaskan Malamutes, which are one of my favorite dogs. So, if you like Gothics, and like a more modern setting with a heroine who isn't helpless, give it a go. It's a good book that's very easy to read.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2267 KP) rated The Hound of the Baskervilles in Books
Mar 9, 2018
There is a legend of a monstrous hound that haunts and hunts the members of the Baskerville family. But when legend looks to be real, Holmes is brought in to find out how Charles Baskerville really died. And is the latest heir in danger?
My knowledge of the Holmes cannon is embarrassingly lacking, but I took a step toward fixing that with this book. I found Holmes a little hard to take due to his arrogance early on, but as the book progressed, I grew to like him better. The rest of the characters were great. The mystery is wonderful, and the atmosphere almost gothic. A wonderful read during October.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/10/book-review-hound-of-baskervilles-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
My knowledge of the Holmes cannon is embarrassingly lacking, but I took a step toward fixing that with this book. I found Holmes a little hard to take due to his arrogance early on, but as the book progressed, I grew to like him better. The rest of the characters were great. The mystery is wonderful, and the atmosphere almost gothic. A wonderful read during October.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/10/book-review-hound-of-baskervilles-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.