http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:02:15 +0000 MyBB http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1204.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:05:55 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1204.html http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1166.html Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:10:05 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1166.html Do readers have a word (like flotsam) to describe these things?]]> Do readers have a word (like flotsam) to describe these things?]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1126.html Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:55:15 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1126.html The House on Blackstone Moor is written in the gothic tradition but it is far darker than anything that would have been acceptable in years gone by.
It is published by Vamplit.

I have the sequel to my novel coming out shortly.

The sequel is entitled, Unholy Testament and it's very dark, indeed!

It is the confession of a demon to the woman he loves.

Synopsis/Excerpt:

“They say my father was mad, so corrupted by evil and tainted by sin that he did what he did. I came home to find them all dead; their throats savagely cut. My sisters only five and eight were gone as well as my brother who was twelve. My mother too lay butchered in her marriage bed. The bed her children were born in…”
Thus begins The House on Blackstone Moor as young Rose Baines discovers the savage murders of her family by her mad, incestuous father.

She is plunged into a nightmare of hell and is incarcerated in two madhouses after which she is helped to obtain a position as governess at Blackstone House.

The house is located on haunted moorland. Nothing is as it seems for Blackstone House and its inhabitants have hideous secrets. There is unimaginable horror there but there is love too--love that comes at a terrible price.

I have endeavored to create a story that is as haunting as it is terrifying. I hope it will remain with the reader long after its disturbing tale has been told.

[i]Excerpt:
“The air was still and warm; heavy. Low clouds hugged the horizon. There was the rumble of thunder too from somewhere far away. I would have preferred to see the moors in the sunshine, the moody atmosphere made it feel grimly forbidding. I didn’t wish to spoil the children’s fun so I smiled and followed their lead.

“If you walk to town, follow along through there,” Ada pointed, “you see at the bottom of that cliff, there’s an old footpath there, you can’t miss it.”

I made a mental note of it, although I didn’t know when I might go.
The children both held onto me. “Mind your step.”
I listened, as they had already frightened me as to the moor’s dangerous conditions.

“And the weather changes so quickly too.” Simon’s voice was grave. “Sometimes an entire herd of sheep have been known to perish.”
Ada shook her head. “Not so many as that Simon don’t be such a liar!”
Simon looked angry. “It’s true, I know it is so.”
“Well,” I said. “Whether it is or isn’t, I’m certain I shall be very careful where I tread.”

Each of them, it seemed to me, was vying with the other for my attention. Ada pointed out rocks and brush and Simon spoke of yet more doom and gloom.

Suddenly, they began to pull me forward. “This is the most fantastic thing you will ever see! Oh do hurry Miss Baines!” Ada was most impatient.

Simon tapped her. “She will see it in her own good time.”
“What is it children? What do you wish me to see?”
They exchanged mysterious looks; I thought to further dramatize the situation.

“Yonder. Do you want to see the ancient stone of legend?”
“What legend is that, Simon?”

Ada spoke up. “The legend of Blackstone Moor of course.”
They began to drag me then toward a rocky mount. “Just in here.”
I was led through a narrow crevice. It quite reminded me of Stonehenge. I wondered what it could be and began to grow excited too.

Suddenly we stopped, Simon pointed at a large flat rock. “There, that’s it!”

It looked like a ledge that had been deliberately laid down. I went to touch it but Ada warned me. “Touch it only if you dare.”
“I dare!” I cried. The surface was far smoother than I would have imagined.
“See how black it is, miss?”
“Quite black!” I agreed.
Simon nodded. “It’s as black as the eternal night and do you know why it’s black
Miss Baines? It’s black with blood!”
“Simon!”
“Yes truly! It has blackened with blood and gore too and innards and guts and things that soaked into the stone!”
“What a thing to say! Where did you hear such things?”
“I just know! Ada and I both know.”

This was the final straw, I drew him aside. “Simon,” I said. “You should know better.

This is not something either of you should think about; it’s worse for Ada since she’s younger than you. You Simon ought to know better.”
He looked down. “I suppose, but Ada’s older than you think!”
“Is she indeed, well I don’t think it appropriate, do you understand me?”
“Yes Miss Baines.”
“I don’t think it’s a subject for children. Besides, it’s probably not true anyway!”
He was agreeing with me, yet there appeared across his face the most quizzical look.
“But there were human sacrifices practiced on these moors once and all manner of dark rites too. Many people died here.”
This was making me feel sick.
“Who told you this?”
“No one.”
“Don’t lie to me Simon.”
“Someone, I can’t say…” Ada was watching him wide-eyed. Clearly she didn’t want him to give me a name, but I continued to press him.
At last he cracked. “Dora! It was Dora! Do you feel better now?”
“It’s not that I feel better, I just wanted to know who told you such things.”
Ada looked at me intently. “Please you won’t have Dora punished, will you?”
“No of course not, but whatever do you mean?”
Ada shook her head. “She might be severely punished that’s all.”
She quite unsettled me with that, but then I took it to mean she might be turned off without a reference. “Well I shall only speak to her about it then, alright?”
“Oh yes, miss. Thank you.”
I took their hands then and we headed back to the house, the children walking just ahead of me whispering with me just behind them wondering what they were saying.

End of excerpt. sorry about the spacing!]]> The House on Blackstone Moor is written in the gothic tradition but it is far darker than anything that would have been acceptable in years gone by.
It is published by Vamplit.

I have the sequel to my novel coming out shortly.

The sequel is entitled, Unholy Testament and it's very dark, indeed!

It is the confession of a demon to the woman he loves.

Synopsis/Excerpt:

“They say my father was mad, so corrupted by evil and tainted by sin that he did what he did. I came home to find them all dead; their throats savagely cut. My sisters only five and eight were gone as well as my brother who was twelve. My mother too lay butchered in her marriage bed. The bed her children were born in…”
Thus begins The House on Blackstone Moor as young Rose Baines discovers the savage murders of her family by her mad, incestuous father.

She is plunged into a nightmare of hell and is incarcerated in two madhouses after which she is helped to obtain a position as governess at Blackstone House.

The house is located on haunted moorland. Nothing is as it seems for Blackstone House and its inhabitants have hideous secrets. There is unimaginable horror there but there is love too--love that comes at a terrible price.

I have endeavored to create a story that is as haunting as it is terrifying. I hope it will remain with the reader long after its disturbing tale has been told.

[i]Excerpt:
“The air was still and warm; heavy. Low clouds hugged the horizon. There was the rumble of thunder too from somewhere far away. I would have preferred to see the moors in the sunshine, the moody atmosphere made it feel grimly forbidding. I didn’t wish to spoil the children’s fun so I smiled and followed their lead.

“If you walk to town, follow along through there,” Ada pointed, “you see at the bottom of that cliff, there’s an old footpath there, you can’t miss it.”

I made a mental note of it, although I didn’t know when I might go.
The children both held onto me. “Mind your step.”
I listened, as they had already frightened me as to the moor’s dangerous conditions.

“And the weather changes so quickly too.” Simon’s voice was grave. “Sometimes an entire herd of sheep have been known to perish.”
Ada shook her head. “Not so many as that Simon don’t be such a liar!”
Simon looked angry. “It’s true, I know it is so.”
“Well,” I said. “Whether it is or isn’t, I’m certain I shall be very careful where I tread.”

Each of them, it seemed to me, was vying with the other for my attention. Ada pointed out rocks and brush and Simon spoke of yet more doom and gloom.

Suddenly, they began to pull me forward. “This is the most fantastic thing you will ever see! Oh do hurry Miss Baines!” Ada was most impatient.

Simon tapped her. “She will see it in her own good time.”
“What is it children? What do you wish me to see?”
They exchanged mysterious looks; I thought to further dramatize the situation.

“Yonder. Do you want to see the ancient stone of legend?”
“What legend is that, Simon?”

Ada spoke up. “The legend of Blackstone Moor of course.”
They began to drag me then toward a rocky mount. “Just in here.”
I was led through a narrow crevice. It quite reminded me of Stonehenge. I wondered what it could be and began to grow excited too.

Suddenly we stopped, Simon pointed at a large flat rock. “There, that’s it!”

It looked like a ledge that had been deliberately laid down. I went to touch it but Ada warned me. “Touch it only if you dare.”
“I dare!” I cried. The surface was far smoother than I would have imagined.
“See how black it is, miss?”
“Quite black!” I agreed.
Simon nodded. “It’s as black as the eternal night and do you know why it’s black
Miss Baines? It’s black with blood!”
“Simon!”
“Yes truly! It has blackened with blood and gore too and innards and guts and things that soaked into the stone!”
“What a thing to say! Where did you hear such things?”
“I just know! Ada and I both know.”

This was the final straw, I drew him aside. “Simon,” I said. “You should know better.

This is not something either of you should think about; it’s worse for Ada since she’s younger than you. You Simon ought to know better.”
He looked down. “I suppose, but Ada’s older than you think!”
“Is she indeed, well I don’t think it appropriate, do you understand me?”
“Yes Miss Baines.”
“I don’t think it’s a subject for children. Besides, it’s probably not true anyway!”
He was agreeing with me, yet there appeared across his face the most quizzical look.
“But there were human sacrifices practiced on these moors once and all manner of dark rites too. Many people died here.”
This was making me feel sick.
“Who told you this?”
“No one.”
“Don’t lie to me Simon.”
“Someone, I can’t say…” Ada was watching him wide-eyed. Clearly she didn’t want him to give me a name, but I continued to press him.
At last he cracked. “Dora! It was Dora! Do you feel better now?”
“It’s not that I feel better, I just wanted to know who told you such things.”
Ada looked at me intently. “Please you won’t have Dora punished, will you?”
“No of course not, but whatever do you mean?”
Ada shook her head. “She might be severely punished that’s all.”
She quite unsettled me with that, but then I took it to mean she might be turned off without a reference. “Well I shall only speak to her about it then, alright?”
“Oh yes, miss. Thank you.”
I took their hands then and we headed back to the house, the children walking just ahead of me whispering with me just behind them wondering what they were saying.

End of excerpt. sorry about the spacing!]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1094.html Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:18:57 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1094.html
http://www.gothicjournal.com/index_files/Page5665.htm

The books have been donated by many gothic romance enthusiasts and publishers with the intent that they would be kept in perpetuity for readers to check in/out via the USPS. Usage of the library has fallen off over time, as there has been no budget to promote it.

If the GRLL is to survive, it needs someone younger than its 60+ current owner to carry on the torch.

Do you have suggestions as to what could be done with the GRLL (and its books) and/or who might be willing to take on its ownership, housing, and management? Or, is it a concept that is past its time, esp. given the growth of electronic publishing, rising postal costs, and the waning appeal of physical books. A majority of these books are and/or will become unavailable to the public over time, so it would be akin to sacrilege to just throw them in a dumpster. The owner has promised that they will never be sold.

Please post your thoughts on this perplexing dilemma, and I will pass them on to Gothic Journal, or you can contact the owner directly via the contact info there. Gothic Journal]]>
http://www.gothicjournal.com/index_files/Page5665.htm

The books have been donated by many gothic romance enthusiasts and publishers with the intent that they would be kept in perpetuity for readers to check in/out via the USPS. Usage of the library has fallen off over time, as there has been no budget to promote it.

If the GRLL is to survive, it needs someone younger than its 60+ current owner to carry on the torch.

Do you have suggestions as to what could be done with the GRLL (and its books) and/or who might be willing to take on its ownership, housing, and management? Or, is it a concept that is past its time, esp. given the growth of electronic publishing, rising postal costs, and the waning appeal of physical books. A majority of these books are and/or will become unavailable to the public over time, so it would be akin to sacrilege to just throw them in a dumpster. The owner has promised that they will never be sold.

Please post your thoughts on this perplexing dilemma, and I will pass them on to Gothic Journal, or you can contact the owner directly via the contact info there. Gothic Journal]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1092.html Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:38:27 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1092.html
http://womenrunningfromhouses.blogspot.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GothicRomanticSuspense/

I think I've mentioned the first one here before but the title cracks me up every time I think of it, so I thought I'd mention it again.

Can anyone here recommend some more book blogs or websites we might enjoy? I grew up reading Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt/Phillippa Carr, Norah Lofts and others, and scoop them up at library sales and second hand stores whenever I can find them.]]>
http://womenrunningfromhouses.blogspot.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GothicRomanticSuspense/

I think I've mentioned the first one here before but the title cracks me up every time I think of it, so I thought I'd mention it again.

Can anyone here recommend some more book blogs or websites we might enjoy? I grew up reading Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt/Phillippa Carr, Norah Lofts and others, and scoop them up at library sales and second hand stores whenever I can find them.]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1055.html Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:23:35 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1055.html http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1030.html Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:44:34 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1030.html

I'm new to the site but I'm hoping to be a willing contributor.
I've just written a novel which has been published by a fantastic eBook agency and is now available on Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Barnesandnoble.com and
Goodreads.com

I'd love a few reviews from you all. This is the link to the Amazon site:

http://www.amazon.com/Judgement-of-Souls...roduct_top

It's the third part of a series of three novels. The other two go back in time and are currently being written.

It's gritty, bloody and very very gothic.

If you decide to download it, please leave me a review on all the sites I've mentioned that the book is on.

HELP GET A GOTH TO NUMBER ONE!]]>

I'm new to the site but I'm hoping to be a willing contributor.
I've just written a novel which has been published by a fantastic eBook agency and is now available on Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Barnesandnoble.com and
Goodreads.com

I'd love a few reviews from you all. This is the link to the Amazon site:

http://www.amazon.com/Judgement-of-Souls...roduct_top

It's the third part of a series of three novels. The other two go back in time and are currently being written.

It's gritty, bloody and very very gothic.

If you decide to download it, please leave me a review on all the sites I've mentioned that the book is on.

HELP GET A GOTH TO NUMBER ONE!]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1028.html Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:22:47 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1028.html
Of course Philippa does indeed find a way to travel to Bruxenstein and unravel the mystery around her sister's death and the whereabouts of her little nephew, in the meantime landing a handsome baron for herself.

I think this is one of the lesser gothics Victoria Holt has written. It's an interesting tale, it flows well, but ultimately it all seems a bit ridiculous. Philippa isn't very bright and rather gullible. But if she hadn't been, the story would have developed differently, which obviously wasn't Ms. Holt's intention. The atmosphere also is more fairytale than gothic. Picture a Bavarian castle, (the cover of one of the paperback editions even shows a castle resembling Neuschwanstein), dukes, counts and barons, forests with hunting lodges and quaint little cottages, and a handsome prince, errr... baron. I liked that the hero professed his undying love for Philippa early on, though I didn't like that he apparently didn't love her enough to protect her from his taking advantage of her love for him. I hope that sentence makes sense.

I have read this book before and this time I listened to it as an audiobook. This was a new experience for me, which was quite nice. I do feel that reading a book from paper somehow leaves a better imprint on your brain than when it comes in through your ears. One of its causes may be that while reading you can set your own pace and every word and sentence has the time to get fixed in your mind. The narrator never stops so even if a sentence hasn't been processed completely, you must already listen to the next one. I hope that makes sense as well. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, which may also apply to the picture of the words themselves.

The narrator is Eva Haddon and I think she did a great job. She can use several voices for the different people and I liked her children's voices best. Her male voices were rather huskily, so the hero sounded like an old man. She was great using German accents as well, making me wonder how it was possible that she didn't know the "ä" in the German word Gräfin must sound like "race" and not like "vase". As "Gräfin" was mentioned 61 times, this became rather irritating.

My verdict: a 7 out of 10]]>
Of course Philippa does indeed find a way to travel to Bruxenstein and unravel the mystery around her sister's death and the whereabouts of her little nephew, in the meantime landing a handsome baron for herself.

I think this is one of the lesser gothics Victoria Holt has written. It's an interesting tale, it flows well, but ultimately it all seems a bit ridiculous. Philippa isn't very bright and rather gullible. But if she hadn't been, the story would have developed differently, which obviously wasn't Ms. Holt's intention. The atmosphere also is more fairytale than gothic. Picture a Bavarian castle, (the cover of one of the paperback editions even shows a castle resembling Neuschwanstein), dukes, counts and barons, forests with hunting lodges and quaint little cottages, and a handsome prince, errr... baron. I liked that the hero professed his undying love for Philippa early on, though I didn't like that he apparently didn't love her enough to protect her from his taking advantage of her love for him. I hope that sentence makes sense.

I have read this book before and this time I listened to it as an audiobook. This was a new experience for me, which was quite nice. I do feel that reading a book from paper somehow leaves a better imprint on your brain than when it comes in through your ears. One of its causes may be that while reading you can set your own pace and every word and sentence has the time to get fixed in your mind. The narrator never stops so even if a sentence hasn't been processed completely, you must already listen to the next one. I hope that makes sense as well. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, which may also apply to the picture of the words themselves.

The narrator is Eva Haddon and I think she did a great job. She can use several voices for the different people and I liked her children's voices best. Her male voices were rather huskily, so the hero sounded like an old man. She was great using German accents as well, making me wonder how it was possible that she didn't know the "ä" in the German word Gräfin must sound like "race" and not like "vase". As "Gräfin" was mentioned 61 times, this became rather irritating.

My verdict: a 7 out of 10]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1027.html Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:26:59 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1027.html Cover scans here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47936517@N0...396673923/

Barbara Michaels - Ammie, Come Home - rolled spine, tanned pages, some corners turned down

Claudette Nicole - The Mistress of Orion Hall - creased spine, address label on inside cover, price on first page

Daoma Winston - House of Mirror Images - creased spine, price sticker, bookstore stamp

E X Ferrars - Frog in the Throat - thumbprint sized water spot on the top corner of the first 50-60 pages - English Mystery

Elizabeth Salter - Death in a Mist - spine and pages tanned, spine creased, price on first page

Elsie Lee - Mansion of Golden Windows - spine rolled, name in ink on cover

Elsie Lee - The Curse of Carranca - spine rolled, address label and writing on first page, price on cover

Elsie Lee - The Wicked Guardian - spine rolled and tilted, Regency not Gothic

Evelyn Berkman - The Heir of Starvelings - light crease on front cover, writing on back of front cover, price on first page

Evelyn Berkman - The Stake in the Game - light crease on the cover, bookstore stamp, address stamp, has "not very good" and "ditto" on the first page. They are not kidding. English Mystery

Farramonde by Katherine Troy - tape on the spine, worn corners, bookstore stamp and writing on the back of the front cover

Jan Roffman - The Reflection of Evil - AKA Death of a Fox - creases on the front cover, check mark on the front page, tiny print

Jane Aiken Hodge - The Master of Penrose - AKA Here Comes a Candle - creases on both covers, bookstore stamp, writing on the first page

Joan Winslow - Griffin Towers - creases on the cover and spine, slit on the first page, check on the first page

Josephine Tey - Brat Farrar - creases on the covers, some folded corners

Josephine Tey - Miss Pym Disposes - creases on the spine and covers, price on the first page, wear marks on the back cover, rolled spine, front cover is slit at the top of the spine

Josephine Tey - To Love and Be Wise - creases on the covers, writing on the first page

Kit OBrien Jones - To the Dark Tower Came - brown spot on the spine, price on the first page

Laura Frances Brooks - This Old, Evil House - bookstore stamp, writing on the first page

Leslie Paige - She Walks in Shadow - writing on the first page, big blob of magic marker on the back of the front cover that has bled through

Margaret Erskine - The Woman at Belguardo - creases on the spine and covers, bookstore stamp, writing on the back of the front cover

Marilyn Ross - A Gathering of Evil - rolled spine, paint on the back cover, corner looks chewed on

Mary Linn Roby - This Land Turns Evil Slowly - Dig a Narrow Grave - Signet Double Gothic - creased, battered, stamped, written in and taped together

Monica Heath - Chateau of Shadows - creases on the spine, price on the first page

Myra Kingsbury - Beware the Bog - price on the first page

Patience Zawadsky - The Demon of Raven's Cliff - bookstore stamp, "GOOD!" in ink on the first page

Serena Mayfield - Stranger in the House - creases on th front cover, writing inside both covers

Susan Claudia - Madness at the Castle - price on cover, name on first page, creased and rolled

Susan Claudia - The Searching Specter - creased and rolled, bookstore stamp and address stamp

Virginia Coffman - The Devil Vicar - printed with 2 or 3 alternate titles - tape on the spine and the edge of the front cover, tanned pages]]> Cover scans here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47936517@N0...396673923/

Barbara Michaels - Ammie, Come Home - rolled spine, tanned pages, some corners turned down

Claudette Nicole - The Mistress of Orion Hall - creased spine, address label on inside cover, price on first page

Daoma Winston - House of Mirror Images - creased spine, price sticker, bookstore stamp

E X Ferrars - Frog in the Throat - thumbprint sized water spot on the top corner of the first 50-60 pages - English Mystery

Elizabeth Salter - Death in a Mist - spine and pages tanned, spine creased, price on first page

Elsie Lee - Mansion of Golden Windows - spine rolled, name in ink on cover

Elsie Lee - The Curse of Carranca - spine rolled, address label and writing on first page, price on cover

Elsie Lee - The Wicked Guardian - spine rolled and tilted, Regency not Gothic

Evelyn Berkman - The Heir of Starvelings - light crease on front cover, writing on back of front cover, price on first page

Evelyn Berkman - The Stake in the Game - light crease on the cover, bookstore stamp, address stamp, has "not very good" and "ditto" on the first page. They are not kidding. English Mystery

Farramonde by Katherine Troy - tape on the spine, worn corners, bookstore stamp and writing on the back of the front cover

Jan Roffman - The Reflection of Evil - AKA Death of a Fox - creases on the front cover, check mark on the front page, tiny print

Jane Aiken Hodge - The Master of Penrose - AKA Here Comes a Candle - creases on both covers, bookstore stamp, writing on the first page

Joan Winslow - Griffin Towers - creases on the cover and spine, slit on the first page, check on the first page

Josephine Tey - Brat Farrar - creases on the covers, some folded corners

Josephine Tey - Miss Pym Disposes - creases on the spine and covers, price on the first page, wear marks on the back cover, rolled spine, front cover is slit at the top of the spine

Josephine Tey - To Love and Be Wise - creases on the covers, writing on the first page

Kit OBrien Jones - To the Dark Tower Came - brown spot on the spine, price on the first page

Laura Frances Brooks - This Old, Evil House - bookstore stamp, writing on the first page

Leslie Paige - She Walks in Shadow - writing on the first page, big blob of magic marker on the back of the front cover that has bled through

Margaret Erskine - The Woman at Belguardo - creases on the spine and covers, bookstore stamp, writing on the back of the front cover

Marilyn Ross - A Gathering of Evil - rolled spine, paint on the back cover, corner looks chewed on

Mary Linn Roby - This Land Turns Evil Slowly - Dig a Narrow Grave - Signet Double Gothic - creased, battered, stamped, written in and taped together

Monica Heath - Chateau of Shadows - creases on the spine, price on the first page

Myra Kingsbury - Beware the Bog - price on the first page

Patience Zawadsky - The Demon of Raven's Cliff - bookstore stamp, "GOOD!" in ink on the first page

Serena Mayfield - Stranger in the House - creases on th front cover, writing inside both covers

Susan Claudia - Madness at the Castle - price on cover, name on first page, creased and rolled

Susan Claudia - The Searching Specter - creased and rolled, bookstore stamp and address stamp

Virginia Coffman - The Devil Vicar - printed with 2 or 3 alternate titles - tape on the spine and the edge of the front cover, tanned pages]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1026.html Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:19:40 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1026.html I am new to this recently discovered by me forum but old and diehard Goth. For even more time, I am a lover of Gothic Art and literature.]]> I am new to this recently discovered by me forum but old and diehard Goth. For even more time, I am a lover of Gothic Art and literature.]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1025.html Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:03:04 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1025.html Rattling at the windows,and wailing and thundering among our tall trees and
Ivied chimneys-a very dark night...

From Uncle silas]]> Rattling at the windows,and wailing and thundering among our tall trees and
Ivied chimneys-a very dark night...

From Uncle silas]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1024.html Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:38:52 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1024.html
im reading Anna Karenina at the moment, absolutely loving it, and im wondering if it's considered gothic? probably not, but im just curious. on that note, are there any russian gothic classics? it would be fun to track down the english translations!

Yours Faithfully

Bellatrix]]>
im reading Anna Karenina at the moment, absolutely loving it, and im wondering if it's considered gothic? probably not, but im just curious. on that note, are there any russian gothic classics? it would be fun to track down the english translations!

Yours Faithfully

Bellatrix]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1023.html Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:22:34 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1023.html
  gemini in darkness.jpg (Size: 51.88 KB / Downloads: 1) Well, I did it again. Every time I read another book by the W.E.D. Ross fiction factory, I swear I never will again. And then I decide to give him "just one more chance." For all his faults as a novelist (and there are many), Ross must have done something right. I'm trying to figure out exactly what it is that he offers that makes me keep giving him second chances. Perhaps some of you out there can tell me. Personally, I think it's the cover art and the alluring blurbs that hook me -- then I read the book trying to find the content that lives up to the promise of the blurbs (I seldom succeed).

Gemini in Darkness is a contemporary (1970) suspense novel of the sort that leaves me saying, "Well, that was marginally OK, but where's the Gothic?" Unfortunately this is what happened when demand exceeded supply during the Gothic glut of the late '60s and early '70s -- all the publishers wanted to cash in on the craze but few of the books offered up as Gothic fare actually lived up to the genre's name.

The updating of the formula in this case amounted to the young heroine, Diana Lewis, taking a job as editor of the in-house magazine for an astrological prediction operation run by a mysterious and saturnine (my word, not Ross's) Vincent Price type called Dr. Martin Gill. Of course he is hawk-faced with a domed bald head -- all of Ross's stock characters are cartoon stereotypes. From the description of the urbane Dr. Gill I knew immediately that he was the mad scientist type. There's no creepy laboratory in the cellar but it's obvious that he's running some sort of shady outfit. The figurehead of the organization is the ancient spiritualist Madame Helene, who is repetitiously described as a waxen-faced frail old woman eccentrically garbed in 1920s glamourwear. Apparently that means she's ethereal and possesses extraordinary gifts and sights into the paranormal (or so we are told -- we never glimpse any evidence of this).

Madame's claim to fame is that some of her astrological predictions of disasters have come true with chilling accuracy. This of course brings in large swarms of believers who pay for Madame to deliver more predictions. You begin to wonder by the third or fourth of these why her organization isn't under investigation.

From the beginning this story is tediously predictable. I kept reading only to see if Ross might at some point make the effort to deviate from the formula even in one or two details. He didn't.

Most of the deficiencies in the writing -- over-dependence upon coincidence, two-dimensional characters, contrived dialogue, a simplistic and colorless prose style -- might be forgiven in the case of a genuinely interesting atmosphere or compelling storyline, but the one unpardonable offense committed by Ross here (as in many other books) is the TSTL (too stupid to live) protagonist. Miss Lewis knows she is in grave peril and yet she is free to leave the "sinister mansion on Beacon Street" at any time she wishes. Only . . . she doesn't. She talks herself out of it. Why? She wants to find out what's really going on there. She can't go to the police because she doesn't have any evidence and they wouldn't believe her. That might explain why she doesn't go to the police, but it doesn't even begin to explain why she remains in such a pointlessly threatening situation. The only reason I, as a reader, can imagine, is that Ross needed her to stay there until the end of the story.

This novel might have, in the hands of a better writer, made a truly suspenseful and Hitchcockian story, but Ross is not that author. His talents more resemble what used to be called in Hollywood an "idea man," one who pitched loosely formed storylines to writers. But whenever I read one of his novels, I think, "The concept itself wasn't bad, if only someone else had actually written the book."

I would rate this book 4 out of 10, being generous.]]>
  gemini in darkness.jpg (Size: 51.88 KB / Downloads: 1) Well, I did it again. Every time I read another book by the W.E.D. Ross fiction factory, I swear I never will again. And then I decide to give him "just one more chance." For all his faults as a novelist (and there are many), Ross must have done something right. I'm trying to figure out exactly what it is that he offers that makes me keep giving him second chances. Perhaps some of you out there can tell me. Personally, I think it's the cover art and the alluring blurbs that hook me -- then I read the book trying to find the content that lives up to the promise of the blurbs (I seldom succeed).

Gemini in Darkness is a contemporary (1970) suspense novel of the sort that leaves me saying, "Well, that was marginally OK, but where's the Gothic?" Unfortunately this is what happened when demand exceeded supply during the Gothic glut of the late '60s and early '70s -- all the publishers wanted to cash in on the craze but few of the books offered up as Gothic fare actually lived up to the genre's name.

The updating of the formula in this case amounted to the young heroine, Diana Lewis, taking a job as editor of the in-house magazine for an astrological prediction operation run by a mysterious and saturnine (my word, not Ross's) Vincent Price type called Dr. Martin Gill. Of course he is hawk-faced with a domed bald head -- all of Ross's stock characters are cartoon stereotypes. From the description of the urbane Dr. Gill I knew immediately that he was the mad scientist type. There's no creepy laboratory in the cellar but it's obvious that he's running some sort of shady outfit. The figurehead of the organization is the ancient spiritualist Madame Helene, who is repetitiously described as a waxen-faced frail old woman eccentrically garbed in 1920s glamourwear. Apparently that means she's ethereal and possesses extraordinary gifts and sights into the paranormal (or so we are told -- we never glimpse any evidence of this).

Madame's claim to fame is that some of her astrological predictions of disasters have come true with chilling accuracy. This of course brings in large swarms of believers who pay for Madame to deliver more predictions. You begin to wonder by the third or fourth of these why her organization isn't under investigation.

From the beginning this story is tediously predictable. I kept reading only to see if Ross might at some point make the effort to deviate from the formula even in one or two details. He didn't.

Most of the deficiencies in the writing -- over-dependence upon coincidence, two-dimensional characters, contrived dialogue, a simplistic and colorless prose style -- might be forgiven in the case of a genuinely interesting atmosphere or compelling storyline, but the one unpardonable offense committed by Ross here (as in many other books) is the TSTL (too stupid to live) protagonist. Miss Lewis knows she is in grave peril and yet she is free to leave the "sinister mansion on Beacon Street" at any time she wishes. Only . . . she doesn't. She talks herself out of it. Why? She wants to find out what's really going on there. She can't go to the police because she doesn't have any evidence and they wouldn't believe her. That might explain why she doesn't go to the police, but it doesn't even begin to explain why she remains in such a pointlessly threatening situation. The only reason I, as a reader, can imagine, is that Ross needed her to stay there until the end of the story.

This novel might have, in the hands of a better writer, made a truly suspenseful and Hitchcockian story, but Ross is not that author. His talents more resemble what used to be called in Hollywood an "idea man," one who pitched loosely formed storylines to writers. But whenever I read one of his novels, I think, "The concept itself wasn't bad, if only someone else had actually written the book."

I would rate this book 4 out of 10, being generous.]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1021.html Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:10:31 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1021.html
Hi... I have a bookstore with a variety of Gothic romance novels for sale, and of course, I hope someone will be interested in purchasing one, but I really am wanting to share my recent addition of 38/40 volumes of the Saga of the Phenwick Women cover art. I will have the missing two volumes added within a couple weeks (on order). And yes, I have the highly-coveted and rare #40 Belinda, the Impatient, in Like New condition. But I am not offering it for sale. I hope you enjoy browsing my close-up photos. (:

Oops... forgot.

http://retrobookshop.com/search.aspx?find=phenwick

  104418.jpg (Size: 121.84 KB / Downloads: 0) ]]>
Hi... I have a bookstore with a variety of Gothic romance novels for sale, and of course, I hope someone will be interested in purchasing one, but I really am wanting to share my recent addition of 38/40 volumes of the Saga of the Phenwick Women cover art. I will have the missing two volumes added within a couple weeks (on order). And yes, I have the highly-coveted and rare #40 Belinda, the Impatient, in Like New condition. But I am not offering it for sale. I hope you enjoy browsing my close-up photos. (:

Oops... forgot.

http://retrobookshop.com/search.aspx?find=phenwick

  104418.jpg (Size: 121.84 KB / Downloads: 0) ]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1020.html Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:23:46 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1020.html The Midnight Room under my own name, Barrymore Tebbs, in which I am writing about Gothic Art, Fiction, and Film. I realize this is the "Other Fiction" category, but I didn't know where else to put it. If you visit, please let me know what you think.]]> The Midnight Room under my own name, Barrymore Tebbs, in which I am writing about Gothic Art, Fiction, and Film. I realize this is the "Other Fiction" category, but I didn't know where else to put it. If you visit, please let me know what you think.]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1010.html Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:36:28 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1010.html http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1009.html Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:26:14 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1009.html
I'm actually not sure if it is a Gothic or a Regency. It has a lot of both qualities in it from what I can remember.

I read it long time ago, and would love to read it again, but alas, I cannot remember either author or title.]]>
I'm actually not sure if it is a Gothic or a Regency. It has a lot of both qualities in it from what I can remember.

I read it long time ago, and would love to read it again, but alas, I cannot remember either author or title.]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1008.html Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:16:55 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1008.html
In addition for you who are the best authors of book of all time? And What genre you preffer to read?]]>
In addition for you who are the best authors of book of all time? And What genre you preffer to read?]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1007.html Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:05:42 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1007.html
I've seen the movie several times and was looking forward to reading the original story. Somehow I always expect the book to be better than the movie, but that isn't always the case. I was very surprised to find out that Helen Capel wasn't mute in the book at all! The script writers took the basic ingredients, added some and left some, and created a much better story.

The book isn't bad, though. There's a murderer on the loose and Helen runs around a house where the other residents disappear one by one for some reason, and soon there's nobody left to protect her.

I think the movie is better, more gothic and more plausible than the book. If there hadn't been a better movie to compare it with, I might have given it a higher rating, now it's no more than a 6 out of 10.]]>
I've seen the movie several times and was looking forward to reading the original story. Somehow I always expect the book to be better than the movie, but that isn't always the case. I was very surprised to find out that Helen Capel wasn't mute in the book at all! The script writers took the basic ingredients, added some and left some, and created a much better story.

The book isn't bad, though. There's a murderer on the loose and Helen runs around a house where the other residents disappear one by one for some reason, and soon there's nobody left to protect her.

I think the movie is better, more gothic and more plausible than the book. If there hadn't been a better movie to compare it with, I might have given it a higher rating, now it's no more than a 6 out of 10.]]> http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1006.html Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:57:56 +0000 http://www.gothicromanceforum.com/thread-1006.html What did Barbara Michaels add to make this one special? Perhaps the way the people discussed the possible explanations of the ghostly manifestations. When a girl appears to become possessed, someone believes she may be suffering from multiple personality disorder, and later on they all wonder if perhaps all of it is some hoax.

Ruth is the main protagonist, a forty-something widow. Next we have her niece, Sara, a college student. Bruce is Sara's boyfriend and Pat is her professor who shows an interest in Ruth. Sara started living with Ruth a few months ago in the house Ruth recently inherited from a distant aunt. Both of them hear someone calling in the night "Ammie, come home", but they think it's just a missing dog named Sammie. The trouble really begins after Ruth invites people over and they hold a seance, just for fun.

I've seen the TV-movie "The house that wouldn't die" (1970) a long time ago, and it was nice to visualize Barbara Stanwyck, who I admire a lot, as Ruth. So it wasn't hard to sympathize with Ruth.
I thought Barbara Michaels usually wrote about feministic women, but in this case she surely didn't. As soon as the first ghostly visitation occurred, the men took over. Ruth and Sara were only good enough to do some secretarial work and see that the coffeepot remained filled, and they never rebelled.

One of my pet peeves turned up: I hate it when authors use different languages and make grammar errors. “‘Ich hatte eine Kameraden,’” he quoted. This should have been "einen". I always start wondering what else the author did wrong, but which I'm not aware of.

For old time's sake I've also watched the TV-movie again. I remembered it well so it must have impressed me when I saw it in my teens. Now I felt nothing. Probably I've seen too many better films in the meantime. And I think the same goes for books: I've had my fill of haunted houses. I've also decided to give up on Barbara Michaels. I suppose this one was well done, I just didn't like it very much. As I'm not fond of ghost stories, I'm not the right person to write a valid review and I shan't give a verdict.]]> What did Barbara Michaels add to make this one special? Perhaps the way the people discussed the possible explanations of the ghostly manifestations. When a girl appears to become possessed, someone believes she may be suffering from multiple personality disorder, and later on they all wonder if perhaps all of it is some hoax.

Ruth is the main protagonist, a forty-something widow. Next we have her niece, Sara, a college student. Bruce is Sara's boyfriend and Pat is her professor who shows an interest in Ruth. Sara started living with Ruth a few months ago in the house Ruth recently inherited from a distant aunt. Both of them hear someone calling in the night "Ammie, come home", but they think it's just a missing dog named Sammie. The trouble really begins after Ruth invites people over and they hold a seance, just for fun.

I've seen the TV-movie "The house that wouldn't die" (1970) a long time ago, and it was nice to visualize Barbara Stanwyck, who I admire a lot, as Ruth. So it wasn't hard to sympathize with Ruth.
I thought Barbara Michaels usually wrote about feministic women, but in this case she surely didn't. As soon as the first ghostly visitation occurred, the men took over. Ruth and Sara were only good enough to do some secretarial work and see that the coffeepot remained filled, and they never rebelled.

One of my pet peeves turned up: I hate it when authors use different languages and make grammar errors. “‘Ich hatte eine Kameraden,’” he quoted. This should have been "einen". I always start wondering what else the author did wrong, but which I'm not aware of.

For old time's sake I've also watched the TV-movie again. I remembered it well so it must have impressed me when I saw it in my teens. Now I felt nothing. Probably I've seen too many better films in the meantime. And I think the same goes for books: I've had my fill of haunted houses. I've also decided to give up on Barbara Michaels. I suppose this one was well done, I just didn't like it very much. As I'm not fond of ghost stories, I'm not the right person to write a valid review and I shan't give a verdict.]]>