What I'm Reading: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Today I have one of the most hotly anticipated books of the new year, and it does not disappoint. This book is stellar and damn good.

The official review appears in the October 15, 2024 issue of Booklist. Below is my draft review and bonus appeal content. 

STAR

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

By Grady Hendrix

Jan. 2025. 432p. Berkley, $30 (9780593548981); paper, $19 (9780593818183). 
First published October 15, 2024 (Booklist).

Neva, fifteen and pregnant in 1970, is brought in secrecy to Florida and the Wellwood House, a maternity home by name, but a prison in practice, a stand-in for such homes that proliferated across the US and Canada between 1945 and 1973. Once admitted Neva is renamed Fern, to protect her from the shame she is reassured, ends after she gives birth. Abandoned, alone, and struggling to access information about what is happening to their bodies, angry at being told they alone must pay for their sins, Fern and her roommates– Zinnia, the only black girl, Rose, a hippie, and Holly, a molested 14 year old– are given a copy of “How to Be a Groovy Witch” by the bookmobile librarian and their lives are changed forever. Told from Fern’s perspective, this is an original and nuanced addition to the witch cannon. However, it is the clear, accurate, and intensely visceral body horror of pregnancy and birth laid bare, that may catch readers off guard. Another stellar novel from Hendrix, a story that has a strong emotional core, compelling plot, unforgettable characters, and 360 degrees of terror. For fans of Horror that empowers the powerless as written by Gwendolyn Kiste, Gabino Iglesias and The Reformatory by Tananarive Due.

YA Statement: Teen horror readers will be invested in Fern, Holly, Zinnia, and Rose’s story which, despite taking place in 1970, is unfortunately still relevant today.

Three Words That Describe This Book: visceral, empowerment, intense

Further Appeal: You all, Hendrix is a DAMN GOOD writer. 

Let's start with the fact that he is a man and it is about pregnant teens. As someone who has been pregnant twice and lived as a young woman in a world that thinks we are all "wayward"-- I am mad that Grady got it all so perfectly correctly. I mean not really mad, but damn, he got it all right. I know this book is based on real experiences from people in his own family and history, but still. I can't wait for men to read this book and be "shocked" and horrified" by the 2 giving birth scenes. They are visceral, intense and also 100% accurate.

I already see people warning others about the graphic birthing scenes; even lowering the star ratings because of it. Giving birth is supposed to be natural and a part of life. It also happens to be body horror by definition. You grow another human and must expel it. There should not have to be a warning. The fact that people feel the need-- this is why the book had to be written and by a man because a woman would be called extra or hysterical for doing it. I cannot wait for the first 1 star review by man who says it is "too much." I will cackle at the moon under the stars. 

But seriously, I also hope that reading this book gives male readers a lot more respect for the women in their lives. It is unfortunate, but I know that many men need a man to write a book to see it. Hendrix has added content in the book (afterward) that explains his personal connection to this story. He also talks at length about the history of the homes for pregnant teens to give readers even more horrifying context.

The work Hendrix put in to researching these homes, whose existence ends after Roe passes, is remarkable. I didn't even know they were a thing. It adds another level of real life horror to the book. And because we know they end with Roe and yet we also know Roe was recently rescinded-- that adds an entirely new level of fear. It also reminds you that this is not a story from the past– this is a horror that is still happening.

The setting's time is important though, because it is a moment of huge turmoil and change in America as a country, and these girls are locked away yet understand that they need more power in their own lives. They have none. And yet, they are carrying new life.

The witch part itself is original, surprising, and terrifying but also uplifting. Often witches are used in Horror novels about powerless women in similar ways. I do not want to give anything away here but in this tumultuous time, even the old ways of the witches are changing. They are not there to help to girls because they are nice friendly witches. I will leave it at that.

There are excerpts from the "How to be a Groovy Witch" book within this book as well. That was cool.

I just can't stress enough how much this is a perfectly constructed book from the details to the pacing to the characters to the setting. It has an intensity that unsettles you coming at the reader from every angle that allowed the Horror to infiltrate every page and the reader. And, the ending wrecked me.

Readalikes: The readalike authors above are a great place to begin. Of course, readers new to Hendrix should read everything he has written and use this link to find more readalikes for each of his books from me. Also the Jade Daniels trilogy by Stephen Graham Jones is a great readalike here, especially My Heart is a Chainsaw which can be read as a standalone.

Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: The Nobel Prize Edition (AND IT'S HORROR)

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 is awarded to the South Korean author Han Kang, “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” In her oeuvre, Han Kang confronts historical traumas and invisible sets of rules and, in each of her works, exposes the fragility of human life. She has a unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead, and in her poetic and experimental style has become an innovator in contemporary prose. 

Press release

Biobibliography

Before we get to using the Nobel Prize as a RA Tool, we all need to stop for a moment and have some real talk about Han Kang and specifically, her most popular work here in America-- The Vegetarian. It is a masterpiece of modern Horror. They can write up her biography and leave the H word out, but we al know that her work is the perfect example of today's brand of intense, psychological Horror.

I can yell until I am blue in the face about the Horror Renaissance (I have done it many places but here is the latest version), but awards like this prove it. There is no more hiding the fact that Horror is not only an important genre, but vital to our storytelling traditions as humans. 

Of course, I have stood on my soapbox about this for years, but I am so filled with joy that it is becoming impossible for other to ignore as well.

Not only is The Vegetarian an often recommended book in many American libraries, but also We Do Not Part, coming in January 2025, was already on all the most anticipated lists. This is a Nobel Prize winner we already know is a good read for our patrons. 

But that is about this particular award winner. The reason I have these posts about using awards lists as a RA tool, is to write about how to use awards to help readers. In this case though, we have an award that does not include a long list, and I am sure some of you are asking why I posted this under that series.

Great question. Thanks for asking. 

It is because the list of past winners is a wonderful resource to dig into, especially for fans of world literature. 

You could make an excellent display of past winners and readalikes for them. There is a great landing page of the Literature Prize here. You can also make online lists where you highlight each author, their work, and other things to try. 

And because the list is international, you can use it outside of the time when the prize is awarded. Make lists and displays that focus on the author's country of origin and use it as a springboard to offer more reading options.

Or simply use the announcement of the Nobel Prize as a chance to put up a display of books in translation, include Kang's books, and add an interactive element asking your patrons their favorite books in translation. (remember to go here to learn how to use conversation starters to fill your displays)

In this case, it is easy because South Korean and korean American authors are very popular here, especially those who write Psychological Suspense and Horror. Click here to get started.

And long live HORROR!

RA for All at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference Through Thursday

The Illinois Library Association's Annual Conference is this week in Peoria. I am on the Executive Board and am presenting on Tuesday and Thursday. RA for All is a sponsor and will be providing coffee on Tuesday.

You can see more about our state conference here, including using this link to not only see all of the programs but also to get access to the handouts without a log-in. 

As a result, I will only be posting on the Horror blog from today through Thursday. I will be back here Friday with a new post-- probably a wrap up of the conference. 

But do go visit 31Days of Horror in the meantime because it running every day, rain or shine, conference or no conference, and  I have 6 books to giveaway this Thursday! And there are some big names in the stack.

What I'm Reading: October 2024 Horror Review Column in Library Journal

   

October 2024 Horror Review Column is now live! In this post I have gathered the titles with my three words and links to my full draft reviews on Goodreads. Click through for readalikes and more appeal information.

First this month's STARS:

• At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca (vivd imagery, disturbing, grief horror
• The Queen by Nick Cutter (visceral, gripping, genetically altered wasps)
• All Your Friends Are Here: Stories by M. Shaw (provocative, slightly askew, ominous)

And the other 5 excellent titles:

• Sundown in San Ojuela by M.M. Olivas (family saga with folk horror, multiple narrators, unnerving)
• Interview with the author in this issue (link to be added when it goes live online)
• Shadow Lab: A Blackstone Publishing Anthology edited by Brendan Deneen (SF Horror--full range, engaging narrators, thought provoking)
• The Swarm by Andy Marino (bugs, multiple point of view, band of survivors)
• Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh (strong sense of place, folklore, women power)
• Curdle Creek by Yvonne Battle-Felton (immersive, cults, thought provoking)

Check back on Thursday as I will have 4 of the books from this column and the Lansdale book I reviewed for Booklist all for giveaway to 5 winners. Head over to the Horror blog to enter now.

What I'm Reading: 2 Online Only Reviews from Booklist

I have reviews of a collection by a bestselling author and an anthology highlighting the work of a forgotten classic author, both as e-only reviews out for Booklist right now. As always, draft reviews are below. I highly recommend both for all library collections.

Please note, online reviews have a much higher word count so I don't have much in my "further appeal" section for these books.

In the Mad Mountains: Stories Inspired by HP Lovecraft

By Joe R. Lansdale

Oct. 2024. 256p. Tachyon, paper, $16.95 (9781616964245). 
First published September 27, 2024 (Booklist Online).

Lansdale has captured the hearts of readers with his quirky characters, sardonic wit, and gritty tone. His latest collection gathers 8 stories, published in various anthologies since 2009, stories he describes in the book’s introduction as the “best” inspired by Lovecraft that he has written. Taking on the troublesome racism and sexism of the classic author head-on, Lansdale also actively eschews Lovecraft’s use of cumbersome prose, instead employing his trademark direct and folksy narrative voice to the Lovecraftian concept of “the Old Ones,” terrifying but also alluring beings from another realm, trying to intrude upon our world. The result is a collection that makes the enduring appeal of Lovecraft’s brand of existential dread and terrifying nihilism more accessible to today’s readers. Looking into well mined tropes such as selling your soul, the supernatural detective, and a stranded polar ship, Lansdale adds a layer of Cosmic Horror which makes these stories both familiar and fresh at the same time. There are even characters from across the literary landscape that make some fun appearances from Huck Finn to Auguste Dupin to his own Dana Roberts and more. Readers new to Lovecraftian Horror should start with “The Tall Grass,” the shortest story in the volume, and one that perfectly captures the visceral and immersive pull of Cosmic Horror as a subgenre. A man steps off a train, gets lost in a field, and experiences a terror like he has never known. Lansdale has a wide fan base for good reason, but this book presents a wonderful opportunity to expand it even further by suggesting this collection to fans of 21st Century Cosmic Horror authors such as Hailey Piper and Lucy Snyder.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Quirky Characters, Sardonic, Direct and Folksy Narration

Further Appeal: Lansdale is very popular. Readers, even those who do not read Horror will be interested int his one. Also every story has a great introduction setting it up by Lansdale himself writtenin his distinctive voice.

Readalikes: Any cosmic horror or Lovecraftian story is a good read here. The House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias and The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle. But use any resource to find more options for readalikes. This may introduce new people to Lovecraftian Horror, so be ready. (click the link for more titles from me)

Side note: one of the stories here was first published in The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft, an anthology I reviewed for Booklist back in 2015. 

Also, I will have a giveaway of my review copy on the Horror blog next week. Stay tuned.

Where the Silent Ones Watch: Stories of the Borderland, the Night Land, the Sargasso Sea, and More!

Edited by James Chambers

Oct. 2024. 278p. Hippocampus, paper, $25  (9781614984436). 
First published September 27, 2024 (Booklist Online).

William Hope Hodgson may be the most powerful and the most neglected fantasist and horror writer of the twentieth century, argues Chambers, the Bram Stoker Award Winning editor of this collection of 26, original to this volume, stories and poems that celebrate the author and his legacy. Using the ideas, themes and narrative devices of the classic author, one of the foundational voices in Weird Fiction, as their springboard, the contributing authors showcase how his style of wildly imaginative, atmospheric horror, featuring malevolent, unexplainable, supernatural forces as they enter our known world, told in a confessional first person narration that heighten the unease with every word, still resonates today. Readers can expect strange happenings on trains and boats, in space or isolated towns, even in the shadow of Elvis Preseley’s death and amidst Black Lives Matter protests– some places Hodgson set his own stories and others which he could never have imagined. However, what elevates this collection is in how the authors place Hodgson-esque ideas into modern settings while eschewing the classic author’s tendency to use distractingly ornate prose. These choices work in tandem to heighten the fear for a 21st Century reader both in these 26 pieces and Hodgson’s own tales as well. The table of contents includes a nice mix of authors whose works are already widely available on library shelves such as Steve Rasnic Tem, Linda D. Addison, Wendy N. Wagner, John Langan, and Andy Davidson, but there are also plenty of up and coming voices worth checking out. For example, Todd Keisling’s “Little House on the Borderland,” takes the themes and fear inherent in Hodgson’s own classic novel, House on the Borderland, but frames it in the world of podcasts and social media while the anthology’s unforgettable opening story, “The Events at Apoka Station” by Pete Rawlik and Sal Ciano uses a fateful train ride to tell an unsettling story that is both timelessly terrifying and yet clearly set in our present. A great option for Weird fiction fans new and old.

Three Words That Describe This Book: confessional narration, malevolent forces, fantastical Horror

Further Appeal: This anthology gave me a brand new appreciation for Hodgson. Just as the Lansdale Collection above will draw people to Lovecraft, this book will bring people back to Hodgson.

Also, Hippocampus Press is a very trustworthy press. Click here to learn more about them.

Readalikes: Any books by Chambers, the editor, or anyone in the TOC will be a great place to begin-- besides Hodgson himself. I have reviewed books by many of the authors.

Here is the list of authors from the publishers website:

Linda D. Addison • David Agranoff • Meghan Arcuri • Sal Ciano • Michael Cisco • L. E. Daniels • Andy Davidson • Aaron Dries • Patrick Freivald • Teel James Glenn • Maxwell Ian Gold • Nancy Holder • Todd Keisling • John Langan • Adrian Ludens • Lee Murray • Lisa Morton • Peter Rawlik • Sam Rebelein • Ann K. Schwader • Steve Rasnic Tem • Tim Waggoner • Wendy N. Wagner • Kyla Lee Ward • Robert E. Waters • L. Marie Wood • Stephanie M. Wytovich

RA For All Off for Rosh Hashana

Today is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. I am off work today for that reason. 

There is a 31 Days post on the Horror blog however, it was set before-hand (like this post). It's a good one too, my latest column for The Line-Up on the return of scary vampires.

Back tomorrow with some book reviews!

Display Idea: Historical Fiction is Popular, Consider Displaying Titles That Are NOT Set During WWII

Look, we all know readers love Historical Fiction. There are many reasons why. The most common appeal factor for readers who seek out historical fiction is that it is a way to learn something about history while reading. These readers know their books are not the absolute truth, but they enjoy how they can immerse themselves in a real time and place and learn about it through a story.

I include myself in this. In fact, I go even further in understanding the personal appeal of Historical Fiction. For me, I most enjoy historical fiction that is set in times and places that I don't know much about already. As a Gen Xer, WWII is not one of those topics.

All of this is leading up to the fact that we know there is a glut of Historical Fiction about WWII. We know people like it, but I would argue that they would like other settings if they were available.

And I have proof. Kristin Hannah, the best selling Historical Fiction author right now, who has written MANY WWII set novels, has had one of the biggest books of the year in any genre-- The Women-- this year and it is set during....The Vietnam War.

One of my mantras about displays is: Promote the books patrons will not find on their own. When we remind people of the books we have that they did not know about, that is when our worth is noticed and appreciated.

In this vein, do we need lists and displays of Historical Fiction dominated by WWII titles? No. One or two are probably enough. And the titles you pick should be by a marginalized voices and not only on the topic of Japanese Internment-- which quite honestly is the only way we get "diverse titles" into the WWII category. (I suggest this and this) 

But, I digress. There are so many other times and places to promote and recently, the AARP had this post entitled-- "10 Historical Novels NOT Set During WWII." 

Steal this idea! Make your own online lists and displays using that title. Then make it interactive by asking your patrons to share their favorite Historical Fiction titles that are not set during WWII. [Reminder: use my conversation starter to display post to help you do this.]

Look, this is why I tell people to read about books every day. I was alerted to this list via recent Book Pulse from LJ. We need to know what our patrons are seeing about books out there in the non-book world. If AARP (which does an excellent job covering books here FYI) of out there proclaiming that people want Historical Fiction from other time periods, I am confident others will love it if you acknowledge this as well. 

Get those displays up. Any time you are looking for an idea, Historical Fiction is evergreen. And make it interactive. Ask your patrons to share their favs as well.

31 Days of Horror Begins on the Horror Blog

[Note: October 1, begins the 31 days period when I post daily on the Horror blog as well as my 5 days a week here. Please remember that all Horror content (except for book reviews) will only appear over there for this month.]

Hello and welcome to 31 Days of Horror, a blog-a-thon series entering its 14th year. Every single day for 31 straight days, I will have a post here focused on Horror during its most popular season.

While we all know that people read Horror all year long, I spend this, our spotlight month, where the rest of the world and media pays closer attention, intensely focusing on Horror as it is right now. 

This is NOT the place to find long thought pieces about the history of the genre or list of books by dead writer. Rather, it is the place to find out about today's writers, what today's readers are looking for, and most importantly, conversations about why I love Horror. My entire focus here on 31 Days of Horror is to give you a snapshot of Horror and its appeal. In fact, the entire point of the "Why I Love Horror" essays is to offer you, the library worker, an example of why someone loves horror so that you can understand even if you are not a fan yourself. It is also to give you a chance to get to know a current author, add their books to your collection, and/or suggest them to a reader.

Recently, I did a live event with my publisher, a book discussion of my library textbook, The Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror, third edition. It was me, writer/poet Linda Addison, librarian Lila Denning, writer Gabino Iglesias, writer Hailey Piper, and writer Matthew Salinas. The video of that 60 min event is now available here for free. I think it does a very good job explaining the current state of Horror and what I see as my part in it. You can watch it here or below

 

Now, what can you expect day to day here during 31 Days of Horror? Well, it will be similar to previous years, with a few changes to note:

First, I am going to move my links roundups to every Sunday. Mostly you will not see lists and posts from other places here on 31 Days of Horror as I tend to focus on original content, but I don't want those awesome lists and articles to get lost either. Expect those on 10/6, 13, 20, and 27.

Second, giveaways will not happen on Thursdays only. During this month, giveaways can be offered on any day of the week, but all winners are pulled Friday after 5pm. For example, I have already announced one giveaway this week and there will be another one tomorrow. So, if you want to be eligible to win, enter now. Click here for the rules.

And third, and this is the biggest change. I normally have over a dozen new entries into the Why I Love Horror essays that debut this month. But good news, bad news here. As was announced back in June, next Fall I will have a a book of new essays, by 18 authors, on why they love horror, edited by me. Currently, I have those essays and am actively working to turn it into a draft of that book (due before the end of the year). Click here or on the book announcement below for more details. 

Now, I want to be clear, this does NOT mean that I will not have new essays this year. I do have some very good new entries, including one tomorrow, but I will also be reposting essays from the past 10+ years. I want to pull out some of the very best essays that have appeared here on the blog over time and highlight them for you in 2024. 

As I was working on the pitch for my book, I spent time combing through the backlist of Why I Love Horror essays (which you can access anytime here), and I realized there are some amazing essays worth revisiting. But you will have to wait to see what I pick out.

In the meantime, I also have all of the resources that are here all year long. See the pages in the side bar for lists, resources, approved publishers, and of course the link to  my reviews of hundreds of horror books.

I can't wait to do this with you-- 31 Days of Horror 2024!

31 Days of Horror Begins Tomorrow: Here is a "Fragile" Preview With Special Giveaway

[This is a cross-post with RA for All: Horror]

It is September 30th, but it is also a Monday. What does this mean? Well for me it means I get a bonus 31 Days of Horror post. I could start tomorrow, but it is a Tuesday. Monday feels like a better day to start, and since I am in charge of this madness, I a going to do what feels best to me.

And I have the perfect post to mark the start of my 31 days blog-a-thon.

Fragile Anthology is a high concept anthology by a brand new micro press, run by Michael Allen Rose, a library worker here in the Chicago burbs, a dear friend, multiple Wonderland Award winning author himself, (for context., Gabino Iglesias has won this award), and President of the Bizarro Writers Association. Before I get to a review of the book itself, I asked Rose to talk about his press. Here is what he had to say:

RoShamBo Publishing takes its name from RoShamBo Theatre, the little theatre company I started after moving to Chicago around 2019. Coming from a theatre background, community and collaboration are core values for me, and it makes sense to bring the sensibility that a rising tide raises all ships to this new publishing venture.

My plan is to release things as they happen, carefully curated, high concept books, one at a time as I see fit. I have seen so many wonderful small presses over the years come out with a fiery statement of purpose, release a load of books, and burn themselves out. The plan is to take it slow and just put cool things out into the world. I have a tattoo on my shoulder that's a sigil meaning "Make Art Happen amidst chaos." We're going to try to do that.

My approach to conceptualizing an anthology is really encapsulated in Fragile Anthology, so it serves nicely as a first declaration of intent. You'll find everything in here from psychological horror, to 1980's Short Circuit/Batteries Not Included sci-fi, to cosmic horror, to metafiction, to gross-out humor, to deeply philosophical literary fiction. You'll find big authors and small ones, established names and underground stalwarts. I've always believed in kindness, honesty, and not being an asshole. I've been very lucky to develop that reputation in my career thus far, and so when I asked these authors to write a story for me, every single one of them said yes, including some of the big names that never need to write anything for free again. When I asked, I heard a lot of "For you? Hell yeah." To me, that demonstrates that my long term plan of being someone that's nice and fun to work with seems to have worked

For more from the extremely talented and creative Michael Allen Rose, click here. 

Now back to this book specifically. From the Goodreads page:

A box is an interesting thing. It contains the essence of mystery. What could be in it? Endless possibilities. For one moving company employee, this question takes on a razor-sharp significance, when the box begins to act in a way no box should. Could it be alive? Dead? Something intelligent? Or just some old clothes? Something terrible? Something beyond description? In the Fragile anthology, 20 different authors present 20 brand new stories of horror, bizarro, sci-fi and speculative fiction all based on a single A hapless mover knows better than to open a client's boxes, but when one of them moves by itself, choices need to be made. Reality explodes with the roll of a die and fragments into myriad possibilities. 

What's in the box?

Featuring new stories by Brian Keene, Cynthia Pelayo, Christine Morgan, Christopher Hawkins, David Scott Hay, Bridget D. Brave, Garrett Cook, Laura Lee Bahr, Brian Pinkerton, Matthew Henshaw, Mykle Hansen, John Wayne Comunale, Chris Meekings, John Baltisberger, J9 Vaughn, Lauren Bolger, Susan Snyder, Eric Hendrixson, Ben Arzate, and Emma Alice Johnson. Conceived and edited by Wonderland Award winner Michael Allen Rose.

Here is my review as well:

Three Words That Describe This Book: Original, Range of Scares, Gaming Frame

I was scheduled to review this book for Booklist. A few weeks ago when I went to read it, I noticed that I was thanked in the opening pages, very publicly. This is sweet. I have been friend with the editor (Michael Allen Rose) for a few years. We work at neighboring libraries as well. But this disqualified me from reviewing the book in any trade journal. However, we pivoted and I made plans to read it to kick off my 31 Days of Horror 2024 blog a thon. 

This is a "premise" anthology that works perfectly. The set up is a mover is working and the box he has moves on its own. He rolls a 20-sided die and the 20 storied that follow answer what is in the box. The mix of authors goes from HUGE names -- Brian Keene-- to big names-- Cynthia Pelayo and Christine Morgan-- to rising stars-- Christopher Hawkins-- to new to you names-- J9 Vaughn (not new to me though, another awesome library worker here in the Chicago burbs). 

I love the connection to table top gaming as well. This is a great handsell for anyone who likes an original idea for a themed Horror anthology, but also, recommend to anyone who also likes D&D and the like. 

However, what makes this anthology stand out over an above the average indie press Horror anthology is Rose himself. He is a multiple Wonderland Award winning author (For context., Gabino Iglesias has won this award) and he is the President of the Bizarro Writers Association. He has put together a solid book-- from the contraction (he knows how tough people can be on books because he is a library worker) to the editing and everything in between. You need this book because of the bigger names in it, but you will want it because it is worth it. 

Since it is not out yet and there really were no advanced copies, I am not going to ruin any of the stories. I will let readers discover them. I am excited for all of you. This one is worth your time-- and for my libraries-- your purchase.

This anthology comes out tomorrow-- October 1, 2024. If you get your pre-order in today from Rose directly here, you get the bonuses: an exclusive zine by Matthew Henshaw, a bookmark, and a 20-sided die to help them navigate the box.

And as a bonus add on to this week's planned giveaway, the first name pulled on Friday will get this special pre-order set as well. I love the idea of using the die and rolling it to read the book in a totally different order. 

If you don't know how to enter the #HorrorForLibraries giveaway, click here for the rules at the top of last week's giveaway.

And come back tomorrow for the official start to 31 Days of Horror, 2024. 

What I'm Reading: Wake Up and Open Your Eyes

October is just on the horizon, and the spooky posts, books, ideas, articles, and displays are coming. That is both a threat and a promise.

Speaking of a threat and a promise, that is a great way to describe the title of the book I am presenting today. The October 1, 2024 issue of Booklist has my STAR review of Clay McLeod Chapman's Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, and let me tell you now....this book is a threat and a promise precisely because waking up and opening your eyes in the plot of this book has TERRIFYING consequences AND you cannot help but have your own eyes opened up after reading it.

I cannot wait for more people to read this book so that I can talk about it. I especially want to share my colleague Konrad Stump's awesome comment about the ending and why it is perfect. BUT I CANNOT UNTIL YOU READ IT!

STAR
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes
By Clay McLeod Chapman
Jan. 2025. 320p. Quirk, $21.99 (9781683693956). 
REVIEW. First published October 1, 2024 (Booklist).

With his most ambitious novel yet, Chapman (What Kind of Mother), leans on established possession and zombie tropes and spins them into an original tale that hijacks readers’ nervous systems. It’s a few days before Christmas and Noah cannot reach his conservative parents in Virginia. Worried, he reluctantly leaves his family behind in Brooklyn to race south arriving at a disaster scene. His parents are clearly not well, and Fax* News is blaring in every room. But this opening is a brilliant red-herring, lulling readers into thinking they know what is coming. They do not. Told in three “phases” each with a distinct writing style, from Noah’s perspective to flashbacks of from his brother's family to a race through an apocalyptic landscape as Noah desperately heads home, incorporating social media, video transcripts, and news reports throughout, Chapman, chronicles The Great Reawakening– a virus that has patiently threaded its way through screens to infect half of America. A compelling, cinematic, visceral, and disturbing tale, driven by fully realized, sympathetic characters, this is a memorable novel that implicates all, regardless of where they stand on “the issues. A terrifying update to King’s classic Cell, for fans of discomforting, social commentary Horror like Wendig’s Wanderers duology, Felker-Martin’s Manhunt and Leede’s American Rapture.

*Fax is not a typo

Three Words That Describe This Book: visceral, nuanced, discomfitingly realistic

Further Appeal: I normally just give my editor, Susan, a sentence or two about my overall feelings about the book, to help as she edits, but for this one....oh boy, I gave her a paragraph. Here it is without spoilers (because as an editor, she often needs spoilers to make sure the tone of the overall books comes through in the review):

This book is bleak and cuts hard on liberals and conservatives. It is really a wake up call but I was not going there in my review. I mean, I will when I promote the review. Also it is GROSS. It is an all 5 senses horror book, but feels real– I tried to capture all of that with “A compelling, cinematic, visceral, and disturbing tale.”  [I gave her actual examples but I have reacted them here]. Also it uses great storytelling devices common to horror like the flashback [more reacted examples] and it uses found footage really well– a lot in section 3. As Noah is walking home from VA to Brooklyn to fill in the gaps but keep the pacing up. 

This novel is a straight up warning to everyone– no one escapes Clay’s wrath here. Not just conservatives. You can’t look away, even if you want to– hence the title. Eye opening– pun intended– especially for those who think they are most immune to the vitriol. Liberal doesn’t help you. Are you online at al?. Are you in any communities? Have you ever clicked on a link? Does your kid watch youtube?  The hook seems easy here, but the book is anything but easy. You will be implicated. If you are not, you aren’t paying attention.

It is presented in "Three Phases"– 3 different narrative choices– makes sense because three different situations. Use of social media posts and videos. 

Cinematic. It is a movie that writes itself– the book utilizes all 5 senses perfectly so that you can see and feel and hear and smell and touch everything. 

As I take notes, I keep a running list of candidates for my "three words." Here is the list for this book: 

barely fiction, squirm inducing (in every way, with your brain and your gut), visceral, triggers a full body anxiety response, possession/zombie/social commentary, nuanced, bleak.

This novel will  elicit a full body response. 

The characters here are relatable, and as they make bad choices or are put into horrible situations, readers are unable to look away, compulsively turning the pages while resisting a full body squirm. 

Final thoughts here: Chapman is a must read horror author at this point....every book. But this book specifically, it is a novel that every American needs to read. This should become a classic novel about wanting us– dystopian like The Handmaid’s Tale.

Readalikes: I came up with so many and yet, this book stands alone. First, Chapman treads the same ground Stephen King’s Cell– but updated for 21st Century. The other 3 books in the review above all have the same feel as this novel; all of them do the thought-provoking, social commentary, without sacrificing it being a good horror novel thing well.

One of the other things I love about Chapman's novels, he always shouts out all of the books he read or consulted while writing each book That is in the acknowledgements, and you can use it as a way to find readalikes as well. He does it for EVERY BOOK.

In this case it really helped me because while I was reading Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, I kept thinking

it had a similar feel to Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman but I could not explain why. And then I got to the acknowledgements he mentions it as well. Ion the same paragraph he also shouts out We Need to Do Something by Max Booth III.

I also think this is a great next generation read for fans of Mira Grant's Newsflesh trilogy. Get those copies out and promote that series as a "while you wait" option for this book.

This book comes out in January. Order it now!