read Archives

Midnight Meat Train, The

A Classic Horror Short Story Author: Clive Barker The Midnight Meat Train is my first encounter with Cliver Barker in book (ok, short story) format. It was chosen as the monthly read by one of my horror book clubs, and focuses on a famous story (The Midnight Meat Train) written by Baker in 1984 and included in his Books of Blood collection. This story garnered quite a following, and many tried to repeat its gory glory and bring it to the big screen. That finally happened, with Barker fully onboard and participating. As such, the special edition of this book includes [...]

Frances Carden2024-02-24T14:39:38-07:00February 24th, 2024|Tags: book review, clive barker, horror, read, reading, short story|

Praying Life, A

Come as You Are Author: Paul Miller Prayer has always been hard for me. It’s a duty, a chore, and that’s not because the idea of talking to God is boring, but because I’ve fallen into a rut. It is necessary – required even – to pray for those around us, for family and friends, for job woes and life crises. Yet there is little to no variety, and soon our prayers become a list. Saying the same old things about the same old things. The flame of connection dies out, and the odious nature of a duty steps into place. [...]

Frances Carden2024-02-23T18:58:28-07:00February 23rd, 2024|Tags: book review, Christian, nonfiction, prayer, praying, read, reading|

What Kind of Mother

Cannibalistic Crabs and Missing Children Author: Clay McLeod Chapman Madi Price claims that she can read your future in the palm of your hand, but she really reads your needs, your emotions. Consider her a cheap therapist. A well-meaning liar, barely making ends meet, back in the hometown she forsook, trying to stay involved in her adult daughter’s life. Her daughter, however, is more interested in her father, who after years of abandonment has suddenly found religion, an ideal family, and is sanctimoniously perfect. It seems that Madi doesn’t have much to offer anyone anymore, and so she offers hope under [...]

Frances Carden2024-02-19T10:25:01-07:00February 19th, 2024|Tags: book review, horror, read, reading, surreal|