Firstly this is not a new book, it's a republishing of a book that came out in 1989. I was heavily into horror back then and read it and enjoyed it. HFirstly this is not a new book, it's a republishing of a book that came out in 1989. I was heavily into horror back then and read it and enjoyed it. However, it's not aged particularly well.
The one-dimensional characters let the book down as do the tedious descriptions of motorway journeys, towns and hotel rooms.
I loved the premise of the cursed tape but wish this had either been left in the vaults or updated to a more modern setting.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. ...more
Let me start this by saying I fangirl so hard over Graham Masterton, He was my go to author as a teenager and his manitou series is one of my all timeLet me start this by saying I fangirl so hard over Graham Masterton, He was my go to author as a teenager and his manitou series is one of my all time favourites. I was so excited to get a copy of this from NetGalley that I put off reading it so that I didn't have to finish it! Weird yes, but that's just me!
This is up there with his best, it's gory, shocking and such a good read. It felt like sinking back in to a comfy armchair with a glass of red wine and some rich chocolate, a perfect weekend read.
I love me a good horror novel and this is no exception. I will be buying a copy as soon as it's released and it will be taking pride of place on my comfort reading shelf (I did say I was weird).
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. ...more
The grandaddy of all time travel novels, I remember reading or having this read to me as a child. It does not, however, read as well as an adult as itThe grandaddy of all time travel novels, I remember reading or having this read to me as a child. It does not, however, read as well as an adult as it did when I was a child.
The first chapter is so hard to push through and takes the enjoyment out of the story.
I haven't read this since I was about 12, I loved it then. Now I'm conflicted, while I really enjoyed 80% of the book the ending left me flat. I haven't read this since I was about 12, I loved it then. Now I'm conflicted, while I really enjoyed 80% of the book the ending left me flat. ...more
What a ride, from the first page to the last this keeps the reader guessing. I have to admit it was one of the first books where I actually managed toWhat a ride, from the first page to the last this keeps the reader guessing. I have to admit it was one of the first books where I actually managed to work out whodunit! I was 8 at the time so it was a big achievement for me.
I don't have the words to say how good this is. A book I first read as a child that hasn't lost anything over the years.I don't have the words to say how good this is. A book I first read as a child that hasn't lost anything over the years....more
A thrilling journey story set in Africa, I last read this for my course on Imperialism at university.
I still found this to be as enjoyable as when I A thrilling journey story set in Africa, I last read this for my course on Imperialism at university.
I still found this to be as enjoyable as when I first read it as a child, but it's important to remember that this is a novel of the colonial era. It depicts white men exploiting native populations for treasure, and it has a reputation as racist. It's also sexist... as Quatermain himself says "I can safely say that there is not a petticoat in the whole history." the only women are the natives, witches or the temptress who according to Quatermain is thankfully killed because his friend doesn't need the complication of being in love with a native woman.
The many movie versions have not done this justice, concentrating on the events at the mines rather than the long journey that got them there. The bromance (for want of a better word) between Good, Curtis and Quatermain is the crux of the story.
A thrilling adventure, worthy of it's reputation and a brilliant precursor to the Indiana Jones and other seek and you shall find adventure stories.
This was a childhood favorite, I wanted to be Harriet so badly when I was 10. Then I read Lord of the Rings and wanted to be a Rider of Rohan when I gThis was a childhood favorite, I wanted to be Harriet so badly when I was 10. Then I read Lord of the Rings and wanted to be a Rider of Rohan when I grew up. Sadly neither happened, and don't tell anyone but I've never been ice skating that I can remember.
My mom bought me this when I was about 9, in response to my father gifting me Dracula, Lord of the Rings and Jane Eyre. She thought she could get me to read proper children's books instead of the adult orientated choices my father made. I never told her that I preferred his reading material, it's one of the many regrets I had when she died when I was 21.
Anyway... I'll stop waffling now.
I enjoyed this just as much as when I was a child. The thing that strikes me as odd though, why are Lalla's Aunt Claudia and step-uncle David still married? I laughed at the idea of giving a child whiskey after a faint, it seems so far out of time now.
Noel Streatfeild writes cleverly of the difference in class, the lingering aftermath of WWII and the children are so well developed that they feel like they could be our friends, or the children of friends.
I guess it's pretty clear that I loved this, it was perfect for a wet Sunday afternoon by the fire. I'm going to find my battered copy of Ballet Shoes now and read that. ...more
julianne (My TBR is going to outlive me)
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childhood-memories
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