GentleRain – Page 31 – Cannonball Read 17

“Not running from your emotions is a sign of strength:” Life Lessons from Hell

Hell's Paradise Vol 1-13 by Yuji Kaku

July 27, 2022 by GentleRain 3 Comments

CBR14Bingo: Monster — many of the characters are seen as monsters and they also fight monsters The story of my struggle to get all thirteen of these volumes would drag on too long, but sufficed to say that the paper shortage and resultant out of print plague striking manga has affected us all and I had to wait over a month for the tenth volume to show up. What I really liked about this series was that it’s complete and thirteen volumes is a satisfying […]

“These creatures have no power to harm you”

The Living Demons by Robert Bloch

July 25, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

CBR14Bingo: Question (each story answers the question of the story with a twist ending) This is a collection of Robert Bloch short stories that I got from somewhere I’ve forgotten as a stripped paperback. This was an easy train read for the 3 hour journey I was on this weekend. The stories are mainly pulp horror with twist endings. I wouldn’t say any of them were unjustly forgotten in favor of Bloch’s more famous work, Psycho. They read more like they were written with the […]

“Here it is possible to be instantly and completely happy.”

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

July 22, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

CBR14Bingo: Bird — in the sense that the main character is in flight first from the Russian Revolution and then is in a more metaphorical flight through her feelings This was such a wonderful book, I absolutely loved it! I had read Eva Ibbotson’s children’s books when I was younger, in particular The Secret of Platform 13, but I missed that she also did young adult historical romances, which was a huge oversight on my part. Based off how much I loved this book, I […]

“The rocket made climates, and summer lay for a brief moment upon the land…”

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

July 20, 2022 by GentleRain 3 Comments

CBR14Bingo: Hot This is a book I kept out of the library so long as a kid that I accrued a $75 fine (do I currently have two books out of the library that are also so overdue they’re going to charge me for them if I don’t return them — yes, I haven’t learned my lesson). I can’t even imagine how many times I’ve read it and I’m happy to say it holds up yet again. It has been a few years since I’d […]

Sometimes when you’re trapped in a heat wave you need to read a book where the characters are even hotter

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

July 20, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

CBR14Bingo: Scandal My second Mary Kay Andrews book and another satisfying summer read. Andrews writes a fun mix of romance, family drama, and mystery, all of which combine to keep the plot moving at a fast pace. I noticed that a lot of the chapters were three pages long, which also added to the zippy feel of the book. This was an ideal book to consume during a historic heatwave, as I kept telling myself that at least I wasn’t as hot as the main […]

“Phoenix-like, he flamed against the cloudless sky, looking down upon our miniature school world and all the golden fields of Fairacre.”

Village School by Miss Read

July 16, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

CBR14Bingo: Cozy My mom had the complete set of these when I was a kid and I’d read them and feel very grown up. All I remembered about the book as an adult was a feeling of coziness and warmth, hence the bingo square. I was struck a few weeks ago with the urge to revisit these and see if my opinion had changed, so I picked up the first book and it was a good quick palate cleanser read after the longer commitment that […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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