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After the People Lights Have Gone Off
After the People Lights Have Gone Off | Stephen Graham Jones
47 posts | 31 read | 110 to read
WINNER, Best Collection of the Year, THIS IS HORROR NOMINATED, Best Collection of the Year, BRAM STOKER AWARDS NOMINATED, Best Collection of the Year, SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARDS The fifteen stories inAfter the People Lights Have Gone Off by Stephen Graham Jones explore the horrors and fears of the supernatural and the everyday. Included are two original stories, several rarities and out of print narratives, as well as a few "best of the year" inclusions. In "Thirteen," horrors lurk behind the flickering images on the big screen. "Welcome to the Reptile House" reveals the secrets that hide in our flesh. In "The Black Sleeve of Destiny," a single sweatshirt leads to unexpectedly dark adventures. And the title story, "After the People Lights Have Gone Off," is anything but your typical haunted house story. With an introduction by Edgar Award winner Joe R. Lansdale, and featuring fifteen full-page illustrations by Luke Spooner,After the People Lights Have Gone Off gets under your skin and stays there. Table of Contents: Introduction by Joe R. Lansdale Illustrations by Luke Spooner Thirteen Brushdogs Welcome to the Reptile House This is Love The Spindly Man The Black Sleeve of Destiny The Spider Box (original Snow Monsters Docs Story The Dead Are Not Xebico Second Chances After the People Lights Have Gone Off Uncle Solve for X
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booklover3258
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Bailedbailed

Nope just nope. Second time I gave this author a chance and was disappointed again. Couldn't finish it. Stories made no sense at all.

For the rest of the review, visit my Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/Pk9YSaBeNFU

Enjoy!

Violetsunrise84 I had this same reaction after the release of the third book in the trilogy that he wrote. I even cancelled my preorder for his newest book. 7h
24 likes1 comment
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ReadingOver50
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Mehso-so

I really want to like Stephen Graham Jones but so far I haven‘t been impressed. This is a book of short horror stories. It started out pretty good and I enjoyed the first few stories. Then it went downhill and I really didn‘t like the last few stories. I was disappointed.

JenniferEgnor I always run into the same problem when reading collections. I end up liking only one or two of the stories. I quit reading these kind of books. 6d
61 likes1 comment
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RiaWritten
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Horror stories and a Midsommar mug of tea on a lovely October Tuesday off.

11 likes1 comment
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amywithbooks
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Cold and rainy day here today.... curled up under my favorite blanket, ready to start this short story collection!

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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

Stephen Graham Jones is fast becoming a new favourite of mine. These stories are SO varied, containing every type of horror, and I wish there had been more. My favourites were the title story and The Spindly Man. His writing is so subtle but so horrifying at the same time, it‘s incredible.

#scarathlon2020 #teamharkness @StayCurious

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Bertha_Mason

I'm taking a break from The Waves, which is a hard slog (gawd DAMMIT, Bernard), to read the tagged book instead.

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Bookzombie
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

This collection of creepy short stories was my first by Stephen Graham Jones, and I'm a big fan.

There's a story in here to cover almost any horror topic you like- aliens, haunted houses, werewolves, and even Stephen King. The black and white illustrations with each story add an extra bit of spookiness. 👻

Definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of this genre. Thanks to @Canndor for picking this one for our family bookclub.

Reggie I loved the one about the book club discussing the Stephen King short story in here. 6y
Addison_Reads @Reggie That was one of my favorites too. It created such a creepy vibe. Have you read any other books by this author? 6y
Reggie Yes!!! I have l, he has this one that is my favorite- Demon Theory. Which is like a demented horror trilogy in one book. Then the other one I read was Zombie Bake-Off which is pure zombie candy. Lol I liked them both. 6y
Canndor Glad you like it! It's up next for me. 🥰 6y
Addison_Reads @Reggie Thank you for the recommendations. I can't wait to check those out. 6y
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Reggie
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Both these books contain a short story, “That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is In French” by SK and “This Is Love” by SGJ, that feature a narrator who is one half of a relationship stuck in some hellish #timewarp. Both are challenging and rewarding, and give that hmmm? feeling at the end. #MusicalNewYear

erzascarletbookgasm Great graphic! I get a little dizzy staring at it! 😂 6y
Reggie @erzascarletbookgasm @TrishB it does feel like I could fall into my phone, lol. 6y
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sprainedbrain Love this picture! 6y
Cinfhen True @erzascarletbookgasm nice graphics, Reggie. And picks sound hmmmm, interesting 🤔🤭 6y
vivastory I love everything about this post. I've read the SGJ, but don't remember the story. I think I'll read them both today. Thanks, Reggie! 6y
76 likes6 comments
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abbylibrarian
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This collection of horror stories is getting a rave review from my horror-loving husband! A great spooky read for October! #horror

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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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I love love love it when authors talk about the inspiration for their stories. Neil Gaiman does it too in his collections.

Gaiman is mentioned in SGJ‘s Story Notes along with Ellison, Gene Wolfe, Laird Barron, and Paul Tremblay which is a murderer‘s row of author‘s I dig.

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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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Pickpick

A collection of unsettling horror shorts that really get under the skin. Sometimes with a utility knife.

Want to find out what happens when the devil saunters in on a book club discussing Stephen King? Or why aliens always visit funerals? Or what happens when a butterfly starts making a cocoon?

The stories are often more sinister than grisly (although both apply to “Solve for X”, the final tale).

“Brushdogs” might be my favorite.

RohitSawant Really need to cross this off my TBR! It's been on my list since I read @Reggie's review. I've only read the book club story at Dark Magazine and absolutely loved it. 6y
Dan_SpiderCrafts A butterfly making a cocoon really gets my interest. 😄 This sounds like a great collection book to seek out! 6y
60 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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Currently working through 2 different collections of horrific short stories and both are seriously delivering.

Reggie Oh, my favorite in the SGJ is the book club story involving the Stephen King story. Sooo good!!! Hope you enjoy it. 6y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Reggie Read that one yesterday and it was fantastic! 6y
48 likes2 comments
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parasolofdoom
Pickpick

SGJ does not hand-hold or talk down to his readers. His stories can get murky, twisted, confusing -- and it's so worth it when you reach the end of one, jaw hanging open, thinking what the hell did I just read while unraveling the threads in your mind. It's not misdirection necessarily but I always had a distinct sensation akin to looking over one shoulder for something out of the corner of my eye then getting slapped on the opposite cheek.

BekahB I love his writing. He has a short story on Tor.com called The Night Cyclist that‘s great! Really unsettling. 6y
parasolofdoom @BekahB I'll have to check it out! 6y
11 likes2 comments
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parasolofdoom
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Fuuuuuuu ... This is a great collection. It seriously gets better and better. Have Mongrels on my tbr but wasn't prioritizing it because werewolves aren't super interesting to me but it's jumping up after a werewolf story in this that I was glued to

parasolofdoom @BarbaraTheBibliophage it's definitely shot up my reading list! I love that his short stories here always make you sort of work for it and really think because he never, ever talks down to the reader 6y
ohyeahthatgirl I still think about some of these stories years after I read them. He's one of my favorite authors. 6y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage @parasolofdoom I have a couple more of his books on my shelf. Now I want to go grab one!! Maybe Mapping the Interior, which is so short. You know he‘s on Litsy, right? He doesn‘t post often, but has some great book recommendations when he does. 6y
parasolofdoom @BarbaraTheBibliophage yes, he liked a post last year that I made about Mapping the Interior! I follow him on Twitter too. Mapping was great but definitely a bit emotionally difficult. 6y
parasolofdoom @ohyeahthatgirl they're so amazing. There have been a couple so far I started thinking were 'meh' then really took unexpected turns! 6y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @parasolofdoom Nice! I might have to put Mapping off a bit. It‘s been a month of emotionally difficult reads! 6y
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parasolofdoom
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Starting this short story collection by horror author Stephen Graham Jones. I read Mapping the Interior last year and it was excellent plus I liked the short I've read by him in a Datlow Best Horror anthology so I'm expecting this will be brilliant! Already like the first couple stories.

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Zelma
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Bailedbailed

Not my thing at all. I recognize that these are good horror stories, but the spare writing style isn‘t to my taste and I felt like the narrators all started to sound alike.

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Zelma
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#libraryhaul this evening. I went in picking up light and happy, but left with more horror than anything. And knowing me, I‘ll just start reading something off my shelf tonight.

Well-ReadNeck ❤️❤️❤️❤️This is where I leave you. It‘s hilarious. 7y
AlaMich NOS4RA2 (?? however many times I look at it I can‘t always get it right 🙄) was very good. My first Joe Hill, and I think he learned well from his Old Man! 😊 7y
Zelma @Well-ReadNeck @AlaMich glad I made good choices. 😄 I started with the short stories (After the People Lights ...) 7y
65 likes3 comments
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Heidsalot
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Pickpick

Continuing my creepy reads. A few of the stories were missed for me, but overall I really enjoyed this collection.

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Liberty
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#RiotGrams, Day 9: Today's prompt is "Native and Indigenous Reads." This one is perfect for Halloween! ☠️??

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ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

These are the best kind of horror short stories, where you get to the end and have a slow realization of what has just happened. I swore at lot at the end of some of these. If you are looking for a good read for #scaretober or #spooktober or #allhallowseve or whatever else we are calling it, I absolutely recommend it. Plus the graphic design is truly stunning and adds to the reading experience. #recommendsday

vivastory I've not been able to look at a hoodie the same since reading this 7y
Marchpane This sounds amazing, perfect for October! 7y
ReadingEnvy @vivastory never will I ever buy one used. 7y
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ReadingEnvy @Marchpane yes! I only read it early in hopes I could talk about it on the podcast (I will.) 7y
Reggie My favorite one was about the book club who is reading the Stephen King short story. 7y
ReadingEnvy @Reggie I had to go find some sunshine after that one. 7y
annkuch13 Yes! This is probably my favorite collection of horror. I read it last year but am thinking of a reread. 7y
ReadingEnvy @annkuch13 have you read any of his other books? I only knew of 7y
annkuch13 @ReadingEnvy I haven't yet but Mongrels is on my list for October 7y
ReadingEnvy @annkuch13 awesome, can't wait to see what you think 7y
shawnmooney You have almost convinced me to try it! 👻 7y
RohitSawant This is high up on my TBR!! 7y
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ReadingEnvy
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I'm usually into books for the ideas but dang if this book isn't a pleasure to read because of the design as well. This is going to be perfect for #booktober #spooktober and I have #readingenvy which I can't get rid of until my house guests are gone. @SGJ

Tamra Wow, looks fantastic! 7y
Bookzombie I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. I'm going to read his book tagged below during October. Also loved Mongrels. 🙂 7y
ReadingEnvy @Bookzombie I hadn't heard of Mongrels until I asked Thomas Olde Heuvelt what he was reading! But this is the first time I've tried this author. Good so far. 7y
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mrozzz So cool!!! 7y
vivastory I highly recommend 7y
vivastory It's a screenplay for a trilogy of non-existent horror films. It gets very meta. 7y
ReadingEnvy @vivastory ah thanks! 7y
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ReadingEnvy
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I went on an interlibrary loan request spree after I took this quiz and didn't know the publisher I got. These four came in today! #readingenvy https://bookriot.com/2017/09/16/indie-press-quiz/

vivastory I got Jacaranda Books. Looks like it's finally time for me to read 7y
ReadingEnvy @vivastory Jacaranda my magic word! 7y
vivastory 😂 7y
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Reggie I loved the SGJ. It would be a good Halloween read. 7y
ReadingEnvy @Reggie that is what I was thinking! 7y
readinginthedark Thanks for the link! Really interesting suggestions. 7y
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Reggie
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Pickpick

I enjoyed all of the short stories in this collection. Overall, most of them left me feeling unsettled. I'm pretty amazed with what SGJ can do with a character and a setting in a short time. There is a part in one of the Paranormal Activities where the little girl wakes up in the middle of the night to walk into the creepy painting above her bed. Thats what reading these stories felt like. Good stuff.

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Reggie
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Holy $&@*!!!!!!!!! This short story is effin genius. Its about a reading group who gathers to talk about a Stephen King short story. This was not the story to read before turning off the lights. I could read further, but I'm afraid at the end of one of these short stories, the book will end. Sooo good!!!!!

TrishB Nearly tempted! But not a short story fan! 7y
minkyb Sounds terrific - daytime only! 🙃 7y
Ms_T Grrr! Not available as an ebook 😖 7y
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Reggie @TrishB You're missing out. I'm only 6 stories in so far but all have merit. I'm amazed that I find myself caring so much about what happens to some of these characters in such a short amount of time. 7y
Reggie @Minkyb definitely a daytime read. 7y
TrishB I know I probably am but I just never feel fulfilled by short stories! 7y
RohitSawant This sounds terrific! 7y
RohitSawant @Ms_T Just looked it up and it‘s archived on The Dark Magazine‘s website! http://thedarkmagazine.com/the-spindly-man/ 7y
Ms_T @rohit-sawant Wow, thank you! 👍🏻 7y
Reggie @rohit-sawant They are terrific. They have tone and atmosphere. They're solid. 7y
25 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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Chaplew
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Dangerous time of day for me to start a new book. Any moment I will hear "what's for dinner mom?" If I'm too far gone into this book, the answer is cereal.

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Bookzombie
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Pickpick

Maybe I like short stories more than I realized, or maybe it's this particular collection. I feel like these would be great told sitting around a fire: creepy, weird and horrifying. The title story, Uncle, Solve For X, and Doc's Story (first Chapter of Mongrels) are my top picks. I have already started Mongrels, and plan on picking up more of SGJ's books. 4⭐️

annkuch13 Yes! This collection so is good. Solve for X and the title story creeped me out so much! 8y
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annkuch13
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Pickpick

This was such a great horror collection. Great twists and some serious creep factor. I definitely recommend this one!

Uglyburrito Kitties!!🐱 8y
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LindsayReads
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The only morsel of salvation I've read in the past few days. I'll take what I can get.

22 likes1 comment
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LindsayReads
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Pickpick

Short stories can be great to read when you're super busy, and this collection proves no exception. I could rely on this to give me chills in bite-sized pieces, with my top three faves being "The Spindly Man," "The Dead Are Not," and the title story. I had the hardest time with "Solve for X" for its content, but it had a terrific conclusion. Overall, a great #horror #shortstories collection for #scaretober.

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LindsayReads
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OK! Hoping to finish this bad boy before the rest of my gang arrives for a crazy weekend. Everything goes with 4 Hands Oatmeal Stout. Happy read-a-thoning this weekend, Littens! I can't wait to live vicariously through you! #scaretober

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LindsayReads
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Well, he's got librarians down. 😂😂😂😂

Librariana Does it still count if I have a cup of coffee in the other?? 😄 lol! 😍☕ 8y
LindsayReads @librariana OF COURSE! Us librarians wear many hats and have many hands. 😆👐👐 8y
22 likes2 comments
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LindsayReads
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I would drive to the other side of the city for a car repair waiting room without a TV. This is why I always carry a small arsenal of ear plugs with me! #readerproblems #libraryswag

ohyeahthatgirl I love this book so much! Definitely need to reread it for Halloween. 8y
LauraBrook OMG yaaaaaasssss!!! It's always so loud and distracting. When did we, as people, become unable to exist without a TV screen in front of us?!?!? Drives me insane. I'd do the same thing, would happily drive an hour out of my way to not have a tv on in the waiting room. 8y
LindsayReads @ohyeahthatgirl awesome! I spent so much time waiting for my car to get checked this morning, I'm almost finished 😁 8y
30 likes4 comments
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LindsayReads
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TOTALLY NOT CREEPY LIBRARY BASEMENT WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL THE MURDER ROOM. #AllHallowsRead #TBR @Litsy

LindsayReads Contenders: 8y
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DGRachel I'd call that the Nope Room. 😳 8y
LindsayReads @DGRachel Not gonna lie, I would have hung out a little longer to get a better picture, but I had to nope my way out of there pretty quickly. 8y
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LindsayReads
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I've been thoroughly enjoying this #scaretober selection of #shortstories. They've got the right amount of #horror I require as I delve into a genre with which I'm only just becoming familiar. It's got fantastic art and formatting to boot! "The Spindly Man" is my fave so far, challenging the characters and the reader to question those dark places we avoid... #booktober

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LindsayReads
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Thankful that my neighborhood library is open today (eff this "holiday") so I can enjoy a lovely, cool early autumn walk to get my fix after loving Mongrels. #scaretober

Abby-J I'm reading Sherman Alexie to spite the day. #indigenouspeoples 8y
LindsayReads @Abby-J Stick it to em, Abby! 8y
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Bookzombie
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This collection of stories is part of my October TBR. I'm looking forward to digging in soon. #shortstories #somethingforsept #septphotochallenge

jessberk13 That looks incredibly creepy! 8y
Bookzombie @jessica I hope it is creepy! 🙂 8y
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BookishFeminist
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More creepy #shortstories. 😈

Some of these are a little higher on the horror scale than the last bunch, but most aren't overly so. I loved American Housewife earlier this year! You may not think it's creepy but Helen Ellis writes unsettling, dark domestic stories. Perfect for Twisted Daughters, Troubled Wives. Also, I want that UK cover of Bazaar of Bad Dreams. 😍

#somethingforsept #septphotochallenge #ghostsoflitsy #scaretober

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BookishFeminist @Jenshootsweddings I've only read a few before it had to go back to the library! I need to buy it. 8y
BooksForYears I really really love American Housewife!!! 8y
ohyeahthatgirl I love Stephen Graham Jones' work so hard. So weird, so creepy, so good. 8y
DeborahSmall I need to put my Amazon app just straight beside Litsy. I've ordered at least 10 books in 3 days... 8y
pocketmermaid I just screencapped this for future reference! And ironically, I literally JUST put "Trouble Daughters..." in my Amazon cart before heading over to Litsy. :) 8y
DeborahSmall @BookishFeminist I can send you Bazaar of Bad Dreams! I get you, I've duplicates, triplicates, German, Polish editions etc of my favourite books just because I need that cover! My husband in California after Christmas, I'll have a list of US publications with different titles and covers for him to get me great not to sound like a total freak saying that aloud 😂 my email is:deborahhill1422@yahoo.com. Send me your address, I have a copy I can send 8y
BookishFeminist @DeborahSmall Really?! I would love that! You're the best. 😘 I can do a swap with you too if you like! Lord knows I have plenty of books. 8y
DeborahSmall @BookishFeminist it's no trouble at all. I'm always posting books to friends in US. I'll get it posted on Monday 😘👍🏼 8y
BookishFeminist @DeborahSmall I'll email you later and expect a return favor at some point! 😘 8y
DeborahSmall @BookishFeminist definitely no need! I'll hopefully be over next summer for 3/4 weeks and plan on filling a suitcase, a small one I can pass it off as my daughters luggage, husband hopefully won't notice.. but certainly will let you know if anything catches my eye in the interim 😘👍🏼 8y
britt_brooke I have a question for you. Do you usually read short story collections all at once? Or a story or two at a time? I've only recently started reading them and just curious. Thanks! 8y
slhbooks What great covers! 8y
NovelGirl82 I'm in love with that UK cover!!! I loved Bazaar of Bad Dreams! Thanks for the short story recs. They are always my go to! 8y
BookishFeminist @BooksForYears I did too! I want more Helen Ellis ASAP! 8y
BookishFeminist @ohyeahthatgirl Ditto! I haven't read this collection yet but it's been sitting on my shelf, and it'll happen this fall for sure! 8y
BookishFeminist @pocketmermaid 😂 great minds think alike! It's in my amazon cart too now along with way too many other things 😳 8y
BookishFeminist @DeborahSmall please do let me know! Even if it's something not book related, or a signed copy or something! I travel like that too- suitcase full of books or post them back. I leaned my lesson the hard way when I had to pay the price for oversize luggage last trip I took to London 😂 Also I hear you though maybe it's not such a good idea to put Litsy next to Amazon! 💸💸💸 I'll email you tonight. 😀 8y
BookishFeminist @britt_brooke It depends on the collection- I feel like on average I usually read 1-2 stories at a time. But if a collection is really short or I feel like continuing, I'll read them all at once. I tend to switch between collections and novels or nonfiction. A lot of collections don't read well continuously! 8y
BookishFeminist @slhbooks They are, aren't they!? Publishing has been knocking it out of the park the last few years I think 8y
BookishFeminist @NovelGirl82 You're welcome! I hope you enjoy them & let me know what you think when you're done! And yes that UK cover is way superior! I tend to like US covers better for whatever reason but this one is def an exception 👌🏼 8y
britt_brooke @BookishFeminist Makes sense. I appreciate it! I'm thinking one book of short stories each month, or every couple of months, mixed in with whatever else strikes me will be a good fit. 8y
BookishFeminist @britt_brooke You could try the approach @TheNextBook is doing next year- she's going to read a short story for every book she reads. In between books I'm guessing. Don't know how that would work for you but it might be worth a shot! 8y
britt_brooke @BookishFeminist @TheNextBook I really like that idea, thanks! 👍🏻 8y
TheNextBook @britt_brooke @BookishFeminist yep! In between each book, I'm going to read a short story! Join me! #keepingitshort. I'll start as soon as I re-read Harry Potter in January. 8y
britt_brooke @TheNextBook It's a smart plan. I may have to join in! 😊 8y
139 likes5 stack adds28 comments
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Jamiedemo
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I was just blown away by the story, "This is Love;" wow! Goosebumps & actual tears from a horror story. "Welcome to the Reptile House" was an excellent tale of a certain type of monster(no spoilers). So far the best part of this collection is the surprising freshness. Loving it!

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CherylDeFranceschi
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My bed with bestie and all the books is my Nirvana. #Augustofpages #faveplace

kspenmoll Cute kitty! 8y
BekahB Awww your cat looks so happy! 😸. Also, I love that book! 8y
Sara_Planz Love!!! 8y
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LauraBeth Your cat is like, "you're joining me, right? ? 8y
BethFishReads Heaven 8y
NatalieR Like your purple lights! Great ambiance. 8y
erinreads This photo is the dream. Cat, bed, books. 👌🏻 8y
mhillis Looks so relaxing😺 8y
Laalaleighh 😻 your bookshelves! 8y
DebinHawaii The perfect spot! 🐱❤️ 8y
Tav I love to read in bed too. 8y
Sparkpuppypup Gorgeous! All of it!!! 8y
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CherylDeFranceschi
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Holy cats in pajamas! These stories, though! See how wide Lily's eyes are? She is now a scaredy cat! I promised no more before lights out, but maybe just one short one...

Mayread Lovely tiger there. 8y
39 likes7 stack adds1 comment