The pick of the litter (ary)

[cleolinda]

From an evening browsing litgothic.com:

"The Bell in the Fog." More Gertrude Atherton here; her work comes recommended.

"Lost Hearts," M.R. James. Another story in that Mostly Ghostly anthology/picture book that I need to read again in this version, because I know for a fact that "Rose Rose" was also in it but rather edited down.

"On Brighton Road," another story I really liked from that book.

"Rappaccini's Daughter,"  Nathaniel Hawthorne. I have a deep affection for this one from the movie version we watched in high school--was Vincent Price playing Rappaccini? I can't remember.

"A Symphony in Lavender," Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. Description: "A story of premonitory dreams; the tale's deliberately genteel surface is in marked contrast to its powerful sexual subtext."

"Let Loose," Mary Cholmondeley. Description: "A masterful example of the "descent into the crypt" tale; a personal favorite here at LitGothic."

"The Red Room," H.G. Wells. Description: "'The Red Room' is a powerfully psychological ghost story that actively deconstructs the traditional Gothic."

"An Eddy on the Floor," Bernard Capes. Description: "A truly disturbing psychological ghost story of twisted persecution and revenge — with its jailhouse setting and sadistic perversity, it may bring to mind The Silence of the Lambs. There's no cannibalism, but prepare to be haunted. An underappreciated gem."

Gina Montani, Ellen Price Wood (Mrs. Henry Wood). Description: "Wood's take on a classic Gothic tale: a long-ago Italian setting, a protagonist whose very name references the villain in that most famous of Gothic novels, Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, a love triangle (well, actually a love quadrangle), jealousy, religious bigotry, deception, murder (by walling up someone alive, a la Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Cask of Amontillado'), a ghost and a family curse — it doesn't get much better than this."

"The Beckoning Fair One," Oliver Onions. Description: "Published in 1911, this work is regarded by some — Algernon Blackwood, H. P. Lovecraft, E. F. Bleiler — as one of the very best classical ghost stories in English."

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, James Hogg. Description: " '...a marvelous document of psychopathology,' according to E. F. Bleiler, who goes on to identify this novel as 'one of the great classics of supernatural fiction.' When Bleiler speaks, we all should listen; besides, there's no question this one's a stunner."



A seasonal favorite: the haunted eBay painting (the second link has an interview with the owner). Warning: it WILL give you the jibblies.

More from eBay, but just funny:

You are bidding on a mistake. We all make mistakes. We date the wrong people for too long. We chew gum with our mouths open. We say inappropriate things in front of grandma. And we buy leather pants.

Q: Are these pants worthy of cruising for transvestites while in my Maserati? I just got one and need an outfit that would go with my new car. 
A: I think leather pants would accent that mid-life crisis quite nicely. 

Q: you enjoy stereotyping people that wear leather dont ya, you think owning leather is gay, let me tell you something i am not gay, i am not famous, dont ride a bike, and unlike i aint a coward. i do own 2 pairs of them, to me they are more comfy than blue jeans ever will be, i where them anywhere i want including church, no ones ever said nothing about them 
A: More important: Do you need a pair of 34x34 leather pants? 
 
Q: [...]  By the way, the last person that claimed that you were stereotyping, did you for some reason envision Dueling Banjos playing in the background with a man sporting a greased back mullet and a makeshift spittoon, and, of course, comfy leather pants, or was that just me?  
A: Yes, the grammar and tone said 'Deliverance' but the leather pants in church said 'Wham UK'. So I'm confused. 

The writer lives at banterist.com, which I think you will also enjoy. Particularly if you're interested in new CSI series. Don't miss the profile/interview with The Guy Who Wrote the "Tiny House," The Best Commercial on TV (Which It Really, Really Is). I basically put my head down on my desk and snorfled when he got to the "three occasions you could name-drop that credential" question.
 
Hey! There are Dionaea House updates! Specifically, the LJ of one loreenmathers.


Completely unrelated to spooky booky links:

US judge sets December date to execute Nobel Peace Prize nominee. "Williams, who co-founded Los Angeles' deadly Crips gang, was convicted in 1981 for the murders of four people and has been incarcerated in a small cell on the death row of San Francisco's San Quentin prison since then. But since receiving his death sentence, Williams, 51, has renounced his gang past, penned children's books, been the subject of a television movie starring Jamie Foxx and been nominated for the world's top peace prize."

thornae: "I don't know whether this holds true for other capital cities, but here in Adelaide I found two copies of The Book in the CBD Dymocks bookstore today. I immediately bought one and gave it to my friend Nett as her early Christmas present. If the other one's still there when I go back, I may have to grab it as well... So, somehow Dymocks have beaten the November 1st deadline, despite them not having the book listed in any way, shape or form on their website. When I next get to my favourite bookshop, who have The Book on order from the UK for me, I shall heartily berate them for not being as clever as Dymocks."

From Esther: "A little message from Europe: You can order M15M at the site of Bol.com Holland."


Off to class I go!

Comments

[thunderphoenix.livejournal.com]

Damn. I wish I had the kind of wit that eBay guy has. But I try...

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

I was incredibly sad when it turned out that Tiny House was another dumb Geico (it was Geico, right?) commercial and not a new reality show. Cuz I actually would've watched that one. Cuz think of all the hijinks you could come up with in a tiny house!

[phanatic.livejournal.com]

I just feel like pointing out that there are absolutely no criteria for being a "Nobel Peace Prize nominee." And actually, according to the foundation's own rules, the names of those nominated are supposed to be kept secret for 50 years. Joseph Stalin was nominated twice.

And, hell, Arafat won one of the things, so I'm not sure that even matters a damn anymore.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Jesus. How the hell was STALIN nominated?

[laurenly.livejournal.com]

Hello! I was wondering if it would be alright for me to send a copy of M15M Troy to my mythology professor... personal enjoyment only. Let me know! And I may break down and by your book on Amazon UK ;)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

As long as I'm credited, that's totally fine. I've spoken to a number of people who passed it on to professors. : )

[someway.livejournal.com]

(First page comment!)

[someway.livejournal.com]

I SO would have watched "Tiny House"--It had an orginal premise, and it seemed like it would be funny.

[sweetdaddydavid.livejournal.com]

Dionaea House is currently fucking my shit UP. And you now know what kind of stuff goes through my head on a normal basis, so that's saying something.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I'll have to dig up the Ted the Caver story from last year, too--we read that and Dionaea House in the space of a week, and nobody slept for, like, a month.

[girlalmighty]

We just read "Rappaccini's Daughter" for my American Lit. class — I loved that. I haven't seen the movie yet, though. The fun part's in the introduction, where he goes on about how it was written by a M. Aubépine who wrote Contes Deux Fois Racontés, because I'm a dork for language jokes. But it's delightfully creepy. Now we're reading Poe in that class, which is also perfect for the season (particularly "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "Fall of the House of Usher").

Mm. This is why I'm doing Gothic for my NaNo.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Is there a joke involved in the Aubepine name? I feel like there must be, but my French is rusty.

[kywhippets.livejournal.com]

Do you know if Banterist has a feed here on LJ?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Not that I know of, but I guess we could ask him.

[beijingdoll.livejournal.com]

Hi! I've been reading your m15m forever and plan on buying the book soon. (Someone used my credit card in Romania, so they're sending me a new one. Yeah. Go figure.) Anyway, I've begun my own video game/movie review journal which isn't quite as funny as yours, but it's alright. Will you honor me by friendage? My name is Hannah.

Congrats on the book!!

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

That painting story is... weird . Eeee.

By the way Cleo, since I haven't been around to comment much lately - congrats on the book! *hugs* I'm excited for the day when it lands in Colorado. :)

[(Anonymous)]

Hello, could you ask everyone who is interested to click on the breast cancer site so that they reach their goal? Thanks.

[skyblade.livejournal.com]

I kind of find the the word of a 4 year old child to be a little supect regarding these things.

[skyblade.livejournal.com]

Er, regarding the painting. God knows the weird shit I imagined as a kid.

[princessstarr.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, if I could remember the link- the Haunted Stitch doll. Funniest Ebay item ever.

Your story links, though- *shudders* Love Gothic horror.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Heeeeeee, I remember the haunted Stitch doll. I think my favorite auction to date was a fully equipped antique vampire hunting kit. I *wanted* that thing, man. ; )

[tigereyed24.livejournal.com]

That painting thing is creepy *forces self to look away* *shudders*

Anyways, your book just got here and EEE! I must go read now! At least one or two of the movies (it WOULD show up on the day I have massive amounts of school-related reading to have done for tomorrow... but, you know, I'm sure that can wait.. just a little longer...)

[scarlettfish.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I am going to go to Dymocks this afternoon and see if they have beaten the release date here, too!

[ezaryu.livejournal.com]

Yay for the Dutch finally having good content in their online bookstores! Or, store.

Oh how we suck...


(in case you're keeping scores, I'm done with the first 5 now, and oh-em-gee I laughed way too hard at the part of Independence Day that I cited in my own LJ -- which, btw, if it's in violation of something, just let me know -- anyway, to not get distracted (or more so), I'm absolutely loving it :D)

[lafemmeluna.livejournal.com]

Hey, is that you in your icon? You're so adorable! :) And so is your cat, lol.

[kookaburra1701.livejournal.com]

All these creepy stories are awesome! I'm having a great time. Are you going to repost that link to the "true" ghost stories?

Also- I recently ordered m15m from Amazon.uk. It costs about $21USD total (cost of the book and shipping). It's shipping to California, so I think that's about the most expensive it would be to ship to the continental US. I couldn't remember if you'd put up any posts about how much it would cost for people in NA, so I thought I'd let you know, just in case the info was useful.

[iczer6.livejournal.com]

I just remembered this game when you mentioned the painting.

Found Lost (http://www.ehfilms.com/flash/Lost.html). It's a point-and-click mystery game where the painting plays an...interesting role.

I thought you might like it.

Enjoy!

[mouseykins1.livejournal.com]

AIEE PAINTING! Is scaring me! I don't know why, I think it's the eyes. Like....doll's eye. That reminds me, Cleo, would you ever do Jaws in 15 minutes?
Tiny House can not be beaten. It is so great-tacular.
Oh, and is my new icon nice? I honestly think that 'Tactless and the Red-Neck' would be a family favorite in no time.
And Aaagh! Can someone please explain how to get Le Book in America? I'm internet-shopping impaired.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Apparently you can get the book shipped from Amazon.co.uk for about $21, which is both the book and the s/h.

[firegatka007.livejournal.com]

I hope you never tire of hearing this:

I got my book today!

Its so shiny and new... I almost didn't read for fear of damaging the spine. The I read the back and choked on my milk laughing. :)

[tabbyclaw.livejournal.com]

'M sure I'd piss myself every time I saw it if I hung up a print, but I do quite like that painting.

[lafemmeluna.livejournal.com]

Stop with the scary stuff, Cleo. You're freaking me the fuck out. O_O Why is it that we can't resist what scares us? Like, I'm reading about that painting now because I can't not. Maybe it's a lack of sense on our part, I don't know. The painting actually doesn't bother one until they read about it and then look at it with new eyes. *shiver* Argh. No mas! *runs away like the girl I am*

[platinum-cobra.livejournal.com]

Why is it that we can't resist what scares us?

You should read Stephen King's article "Why We Crave Horror Movies"

SQUEE

[platinum-cobra.livejournal.com]

OMG I have THE BOOK in my possesion. Thank teh 'gods of amazon uk' for a quick and speedy delivery all the way to CA. It is awesome, pure litterary genius. Rock on Cleo!

[sturmclan.livejournal.com]

Cleo...
I just had to share with you that I'm pimping out your book on my blog. I had my 8 year old take pictures of me reading it (yes, stupid, I know) and put them up with a link to amazon.uk so people can buy it. I know you've been itching to see it actually in the hands of people, so here ya go.

http://www.motherhood-unscripted.com/2005/10/where_i_totally_pimp_cleos_boo.html

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwww! Seriously, that is so cool. And you are v. v. photogenic. : )

OMG! BWAH!

[roseredhoofbeat.livejournal.com]

That eBay link TOTALLY cracked my shit up. That was the first time I have laughed so hard I couldn't breathe and was slapping the desk since I read Troy...