Letters To Darling Poem Series:

Dear Darling 36

I run away from reality
 Chasing the fantasy in my head
Day and night
 Day and night until you came
 Now you make me chase reality
 For it is better than my fantasy
Has ever been
 Thank you 

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You can read the earlier published poems by tapping on the menu and selecting Dear Darling Poems.

Peace out ✌️

Book Review #5

Today’s review will be about the classic Hercule Poirot’s mystery by Agatha Christie: Murder on the orient express.

Credits to Pinterest

Oh my, the casts!! I haven’t watched the whole movie..yet. But I have to admit being spoiled about the ending of this book, not by a review, but I happened to watch the ending of the movie where the plot twist was revealed. Did that make reading it any less intriguing?

No.

I enjoyed this book on a scale I haven’t enjoyed most books. And it could be because of Agatha Christie’s writing style. Similar, not so similar, writing style to Edgar Allan Poe and Ernest Hemingway. I savor reading any of these authors. I don’t skim but read with my wholehearted attention.

Here is the Goodreads blurb:

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks as it travels through the mountainous Balkans. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year but, by the morning, it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside.

One of the passengers is none other than detective Hercule Poirot. On vacation.

Isolated and with a killer in their midst, Poirot must identify the murderer—in case he or she decides to strike again.

***

Without wasting much time of me -I know- rambling about how much I LOVE the writing, the pacing, the intelligence of the characters, and well not-so-nice description of some characters (I see you sheep-face. I wonder what this even looks like), let me get right into

Why you must read this book:

• It is brilliantly written. You’ll appreciate prose for what it really is. Each and every word in this book has a reason to be there.
• The back story of this book is a dream I’ll like to weive into mine -but I know its almost impossible- (mind you impossible is I’m possible. So maybe someday.)
• My head meets a roadblock when an author describes something or a place vividly. I’ll be lost at some point. Agatha Christie does not do that.
• Ohh the humor and sassiness. I laughed out loud a lot while I was reading this book. Something I do whenever I read a book outside of horror or thriller.
• I’m here for the French she included. And although all I know is a handfull words in French from my junior hs days. I love books that include other languages.
• The intelligence, great emphasis on the intelligence and meaning of the plot. If you pay close attention to the beginning of the book, you’ll draw back, thinking this isn’t a coincidence. And if you keep that knowledge with you, will feel like a Jr. Poirot yourself.

Now, will I reread this?

Absolutely!! I’ll probably read this book whenever I’m editing any of my stories to get a sense of how polished a final draft should be and how every scene should lead up to the ending. Not only am I going to reread this, I’m also planning to read all Hercule Poirot’s books. So heads up, this won’t be the last time you’ll see Agatha Christie’s book review.

That’s all I have to say about Murder on the orient express by Agatha Christie. Not that I don’t feel obliged to say once more I love this book but I don’t want to bore you down. Read it and judge it. I’ll like to know at you think about it.

Peace out ✌️

Letters To Darling Poem Series:

Dear Darling 35

You've been through so much
 I know
But I can never understand.
 You fight demons 
I'd have hidden away from.
 You face them with squared shoulders
 While I passed out in fright merely seeing them
 

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You can read the earlier published poems by tapping on the menu and selecting Dear Darling Poems.

Peace out ✌️

Book Review #4

Today’s review is about a masterpiece. I can’t call it anything otherwise. The Collector by John Fowles. This is also the first stalker novel I have ever read except for crime fiction. Specifically Tess Gerritsen books. It has been long since I read her books but I might review some when I brush up what those books were about. So heads up for those mystery and suspense.

Credits to Pinterest

This isn’t the original book cover but BBC’s comment drew my attention to it. And I felt I’ll do more justice to this book by including it instead. “Compulsive reading… I cannot urge you too strongly to read it.”

This one sentence conveys a lot about what I’d have said. It is compulsive indeed, hooking, griping, terrifying? We can talk about that later but most importantly the character. His (Ferdinand, Fredrick, Cadinal, or whatever he is called) has a voice that is so damn unique in a twisted way. He’s interesting enough to have me flipping through pages real fast to know how it’ll end

Guess who has another loop kind of ending? Me! The story towards the ending started taking off like Romeo and Juliet but The Collector found something -someone- to collect. And that is enough reason to keep him alive. The other loop ending I read is books The Ruins by Scott Smith.

Here is the Goodreads’ blurb:

Withdrawn, uneducated and unloved, Frederick collects butterflies and takes photographs. He is obsessed with a beautiful stranger, the art student Miranda. When he wins the pools he buys a remote Sussex house and calmly abducts Miranda, believing she will grow to love him in time.

***

The paragraph above ended with “believe” and that is enough hint that she might or might not grow to love him. I’ll let you decide that:

• He fed her well.
• Let her go around and even outside the house (with tied hands and a gag so she wouldn’t scream)
• Let her bath.
• Is concerned about her.
• And not the last on this list: locks her up in the chapel.

Hmmmm…okay.

Why you should you read this:

• The author went out of his way to get into the character’s head. You won’t even notice the writer here.
• There is an emotional detachment to the story through the view of the character. And that just made it more intriguing.
• The plot…the plot is the usual stalker and then kidnapper but the ending made it a bit different.

Now, will I reread this?

I don’t think so. I have to admit skipping Miranda’s POV for a reason I can’t point out. She was just…not Fredrick and I had the gut feeling I’ll be wasting my time since its reflecting what had happened but from her point of view. But if I’ll ever write a stalker novel (not any day soon) I’ll reread this for reference. It’s executed perfectly. I’ll probably watch the movie now.

That’s all I have to say about The Collector by John Fowles. Read it, and let’s discuss it in the comment if it sounds like something you’ll like.

Letters To Darling Poem Series:

Dear Darling 34

Not even honey:
 Raw and dripping
 Could compare to your words:
 Short and brief always
 But convey more than you wish.
You adore me, you have said.  

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You can read the earlier published poems by tapping on the menu and selecting Dear Darling Poems. I hope you’re having a great Saturday!

Letters to Darling Poem Series:

Dear Darling 33

All the words I've prepared
 To say to you 
 Varnish the instance you look at me.
 I become speechless and
 Mute
 Dumb; when you smile at me.
 

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You can read the earlier published poems by tapping in the menu and selecting Dear Darling Poems. I hope you’re having a wonderful Thursday!

Letters To Darling Poem Series:

Dear Darling 32

I can see through your eyes:
How much you've been holding back
How much pain you've kept yourself
And how much love you crave to share. 
 You are the strongest person 
I've ever met:
 Beyond broken 
But still living your fullest.
 

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You can read the earlier published poems by tapping on the menu and selecting Dear Darling Poems. I hope you’re having a great Sunday!

Book Review #3

Today’s review is about The Troop by Nick Cutter. The very first body horror I’ve read. It has been a while since I read this book, so the review will be more focused on the plot and how it had left me feeling rather than the character’s reactions and actions.

Credits to Pinterest

We have another Stephen King review, guys. And unlike the last one which was more generalized, this is specific. “Scared the hell out of me, and I couldn’t put it down. Not for the faint-hearted.”

I couldn’t put it down too. Not even when I was super uncomfortable, but not necessarily scared, with some gore details. The big picture of this novel makes it even scarier. I mean, if something like that -I’m not including spoilers. But something was created in the book- exists I’m sure many many people will want to use it. Lose weight overnight? Oh, bring it on. However irrational it is I know we will fall victims to this. So the central theme was BAM! Now, Nick Cutter wasn’t satisfied with this alone. How about adding another theme of war? This will be a great spoiler if I talk more about it so no.

Here is Goodreads blurb:

Once a year, scoutmaster Tim Riggs leads a troop of boys into the Canadian wilderness for a three-day camping trip; a tradition as comforting and reliable as a good ghost story and a roaring bonfire. But when an unexpected intruder — shockingly thin, disturbingly pale, and voraciously hungry — stumbles upon their campsite, Tim and the boys are exposed to something far more frightening than any tale of terror. The human carrier of a bioengineered nightmare. An inexplicable horror that spreads faster than fear. A harrowing struggle for survival that will pit the troop against the elements, the infected … and one another.

***

There you have it. Now the reason why you should read this. Honestly, I can’t think of many but these will do:

• Good writing. Even the gory details which I usually skim through in books were well written here. I read them all, not something I’m proud of.
• The plot is terrifyingly good. It’s said that the most frightening things shouldn’t be over the board. And this isn’t. It’s not ghosts, demons, devils, or whatever. Just something humans made. Mind you, it isn’t just a just.
• It is gripping. We get enough back story to know the characters personally and that makes the writing even more disturbing. There is a sociopath here. Yup, I just dropped you one spoiler.
• There are some trigger warnings I’ll have to point out. There is animal abuse? More like deaths and oh so many gore details. I’ve read about people who said it made them gag or vomit but I was warned beforehand. So I braced myself enough to not have had this feeling.

Now, will I reread this?

No. Not really. But will I read from this author again? Yes. I’ll check out his book The Deep. But I don’t like water horror or maybe it’s because I haven’t read any yet. I’ll give it a try though.

That is all I have about The Troop by Nick Cutter. It is terrifying but hasn’t made it to my scariest book ever. Read it and let’s discuss in the comment section.

See you next time!

Dusk

I have always associated the word Dusk 
With darkness
With gloom
And sadness.
So when you said Dusk was your name
I had to think twice before letting you in.
I want no gloom
Or sadness.
Just brightness
And happiness. 

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Thank you for this beautiful prompt, Eugis. I hope you’re having a great Sunday!

Letters To Darling Poem Series:

Dear Darling 31

If I were to choose 
Between you and myself
You know it's you I'll choose 
Without hesitating. 
For I've lost myself once
Twice
And both times 
You've found me 
And taught me what it's like 
To be myself 

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I hope you’re having a great Thursday! You can read the earlier published poems by tapping on the menu and selecting Dear Darling Poems.