The Book Buff's Halloween Countdown: In Which I Discuss Christmas, The Jolly Green Giant, and Big Budget Musicals

Well Book Buffs, it's getting to be one of my favorite times of the year..... Halloween!  I love creepy stuff (not too creepy, I suffer from night terrors) and to celebrate this fun time, I'm going to be highlighting a few of the spookiest books I've ever read leading up to the big day.

Up first is one of the creepiest books I've ever read.....

...............drum roll please....................

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Wait...Whaaaah?  Yup.  I said it.  A Christmas Carol is straight up creepy.  First of all, there are the ghosts.  Here are some of the representations of the ghosts over the years...

See. Creepy.  I told you so.  

Here is The Book Buff's synopsis of the plot.  Rich man takes cheap to a whole other level, let's his miserly ways ruin his life, having complete disregard for his family, his employees and their very sick children.  Man gets a nighttime visit on Christmas Eve from his long dead business partner.  Partner tells him in a super creepy way that he'll be doomed for eternity if he doesn't change his ways and that he'll be visited by 3 spirits to b-slap him into learning the error of his ways (I don't Dickens used that term, but I'm just going to go with it)  So the first ghost to visit him is the Ghost of Christmas past, a he/she candle looking ghost described thus:

"being now a thing with one arm, now with one leg, now with twenty legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head without a body: of which dissolving parts, no outline would be visible in the dense gloom wherein they melted away."

Right.  So.  This weirdo ghosty thingy shows him past Christmases that were happy, as well as the Christmas Eve where he was (rightfully) dumped by his rockin' fiancee he was totally in love with.

Moving on, the Ghost of Christmas Present, who seemed to be a borderline functioning alcoholic, and is described to be a "jolly giant" which, naturally, to my 11 year old brain the first time I read this story looked like this in my head...

Jolly Green Giant, or JGG as all the cool kids are referring to him, shows Scrooge what's happening in the present.  He shows Scrooge the depressing little Christmas scene unfolding at Scrooge's clerk, Bob Cratchit's, house.  He sees Cratchit's infirm child, Tiny Tim, who is deathly ill because his father cannot afford treatment on his awful salary.  The spirit tells Scrooge that if he remains untreated, he will die.  Scrooge's heart begins to crack.  *Sniffle sniffle*

Enter Spirit the Third.  More like Spirit the Creepy.  The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come is the dude who really pushes this story over into my creepy list.  

"The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. ... It thrilled him [Scrooge] with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black."

Here is a clip of one of the things Scrooge was shown by this ghost from my favorite version of A Christmas Carol (Scrooge, Albert Finney, 1970)...

You know you're a bad dude when a whole town dances on your coffin, jeez...The ghost also shows him that Tiny Tim kicks the bucket in a most decidedly depressing manner.  He also sees himself going down to the big bad place that starts with an H and ends with an E DOUBLE HICKEY STICKS.

After these harrowing encounters, Scrooge awakens a new man and changes his miserly ways, leading to the reprise of Thank You Very Much (and my favorite musical number in the whole movie).  The town dances off into the distance and all is well, but not before Tiny Tim proclaims, "God Bless Us, Every One".  The End.

Sorry guys, I grew up doing musical theater and I am a sucker for big musical numbers. Got an empty street?  Well fill it up with people dancing and singing and waving I always say :)

So that's that.  I'm not the biggest fan of Mr. Dickens, but this is one I really love.  Honestly, I think it is jolly enough for Christmas and creepy enough for Halloween.  What do you think?

What do you think of A Christmas Carol?  

What is your favorite creepy book?  

What creepy book do you think I should feature on my blog?  

Sound off in the comments!

Stay tuned for more spooky stories in the weeks to come!

Better Book Titles: Round 2

A few months back, I did a post on an awesomely irreverent blog called Better Book Titles.  Basically the blog takes reader submissions on names that they feel suit the book better than the original.  It is hilarious!  As I stated in my Better Book Titles: Round 1, the original blog is not family friendly, strong language and sexually charged titles are not uncommon, but don't worry, my favorites that I've selected for Round 2 here on The Book Buff are family friendly :)  Read on intrepid Book Buffs!

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

I'd be willing to bet that anyone who read this book in high-school still takes a second thought when eating prepackaged food.  I find myself completely unable to even think about what is in that ubiquitous cereal dust at the the bottom of every cereal bag.

The Princess and the Pea

I have to say, I've never really cared for this story.  Even as a little kid I often wondered why the prince would want such a whiner for a wife.  I'm sorry, but speaking as a person who has born children, I cannot understand why a man would choose a woman who can't even sleep due to a pea, as the mother of his children.  Just sayin...

Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce

Yup.  That about sums up my experience with the book.  Has anyone reading this ever finished the book?  I'm dying to know a.) how you managed to muddle through and b.) what did you think of it?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This one basically made me spray my drink all over the place.  Having a reference to the uber secret "terrible awful" thing mentioned only in whispers throughout the entire book right there on the cover was priceless.  Hilarious!

Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

I'm not poking fun at the belief, just at that prophet that keeps making all of the doomsday predictions, and that people keep believing him.  I understand the first time, but fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...well, you know :)

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

I have a funny story to tell you guys about a certain guy I'm married to having a certain club where they did stupid guy stuff back in high-school, but of course, I can't tell you said story, because it would be breaking rule #1. Y'all know what I'm sayin' *wink*wink*elbow*elbow*

 The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Great book, but as pointed out here, a misleading title indeed.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Best.  Books.  Ever.  (tied with Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Pride and Prejudice, and Hunger Games but shhhhhhhh!  don't tell my favorites that they share the #1 spot, I don't want them to think I'm cheating on them!)

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Sadly, the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer was better than the Demi Moore's version of The Scarlett Letter.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

And still, with all the musical numbers and dancing gangs, I still found West Side Story to be twice as sad.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Harriet Jacobs

In what has become a landmark of American history and literature, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl recounts the incredible but true story of Harriet Jacobs, born a slave in North Carolina in 1813. Her tale gains its importance from her descriptions, in great and painful detail, of the sexual exploitation that daily haunted her life—and the life of every other black female slave.

As a child, Harriet Jacobs remained blissfully unaware that she was a slave until the deaths of both her mother and a benevolent mistress exposed her to a sexually predatory master, Dr. Flint. Determined to escape, she spends seven years hidden away in a garret in her grandmother’s house, three feet high at its tallest point, with almost no air or light, and with only glimpses of her children to sustain her courage. In the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, she finally wins her battle for freedom by escaping to the North in 1842.

My Take:

This book was incredible.  I think the thing that struck me the most about this book, was the author's fairness.  She knew that not every white southerner was evil, and not every white northerner was benevolent.  She was able to capture the good in those people whose souls were essentially good in her eyes, even if their behavior was not always the most noble.  Another aspect of the book took my particular notice, was her incredible story telling ability.  Harriet had been blessed early on in life to live with her parents and was taught to read and write, she used this knowledge to help others throughout her life.  This also instilled her with a love of learning, and she was able to improve herself to the point of being capable of writing this fascinating narrative.  Another positive point, as the book is written after the author had gained her freedom, there was a wonderful underlying sense of hope.  Throughout all of her trials, this selfless woman remained faithful to her family, as well as to herself.  She was willing to stand up for her children because she knew that they had a right to respect and freedom solely based on the fact that they were human beings.  I think this is a very important book for all to read, because again as I said, it is fair.  She wasn't out to paint the people of the south as evil, she just wanted to share her story to help take down the institution of slavery.   She doesn't shy away from describing many of the atrocities the people in her position had to bear, but she doesn't get to graphic or explicit.  It is an accurate and judicious representation of the times, I recommend this book to all.  I give this book a 1, Pay Full Price Guilt Free, it is a must read for everyone.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

Did you enjoy this book?  If so, why not check out the rest of the Classics Section of The Book Buff ?

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG-13, there are adult themes, and some descriptions of violence, but there is nothing graphic. I would rate this PG, except for the fact that, due to the time period and language regularly used at the time, there are several uses of the derogatory "N word"

If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing them from these links!

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Mitch Albom

"From the author of the phenomenal #1 New York Times bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, a novel that explores the unexpected connections of our lives, and the idea that heaven is more than a place; it's an answer.
Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?"

My Take:

First of all, I am not usually a huge fan of this type of book. Most "meaning of life" books I find totally wordy and just plain unnecessary. This book struck me different. I liked that it was simple, to the point and straight forward. Some of these books talk so much about a whole lot of nothing, that it is difficult to even find the message it is trying to get out. The Five People You Meet in Heaven was wonderful. The characters were so vivid and explored so thoroughly in such a short book. This book uses one man's life to illustrate that all people are connected and no life is ever a waste, no matter how bleak their existence may have been. I also enjoyed the setup of Heaven as describes in the book. The structure of if was very interesting. I highly recommend this book. The paperback is very inexpensive and you more than get your money's worth. I give this book a 1, Pay Full Price Guilt Free

Do you agree with my review? Do you think I am totally off base? Either way, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

If you liked this book, be sure to check out The Classics Section of The Book Buff, as well as the rest of The Fiction Section

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG for intense situations in war.

Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen

A wonderfully entertaining coming-of-age story, Northanger Abbey is often referred to as Jane Austen's "Gothic Parody". Decrepit castles, locked rooms, mysterious chests, cryptic notes, and tyrannical fathers give the story an uncanny air, but one with a decidedly satirical twist.

The story's unlikely heroine is Catherine Morland, a remarkable innocent seventeen-year-old woman from country parsonage. While spending a few weeks in Batch with a family friend, Catherine meets and falls in love with Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of Gothic thrillers, lets the shadowy atmosphere of the old mansion fill her mind with the terrible suspicions. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henry's mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy? Catherine finds dreadful portents in the most prosaic events, until Henry persuades her to see the peril of confusing life with art.

Executed with the high-spirited gusto, Northanger Abbey is a lighthearted, yet unsentimental commentary on love and marriage.

My Take:

The very first Jane Austen I ever read was Pride and Prejudice, which is my favorite book EVER, so it set the bar pretty dang high. I don't feel the book was quite as well paced as other Austens such as P&P or Sense and Sensibility, and the characters are not quite as vivid. That being said, while Northanger Abbey is no Pride and Prejudice, it is a wonderful story on it's own. It is well written and a very competent and well done satire. I think the message--don't get so far into fantasy that you lose touch with reality--is as true today as it was then. In fact, with all of the different types of available entertainment, I'd say it is even more applicable and relevant today. There is a delicious sense of trepidation and uneasiness throughout the heroine's stay at Northanger Abbey, and the weird vibe is very palpable, even though it is all in Catherine's head. In the end, despite her flaws, she, like every Austen heroine, eventually finds true love and companionship, despite any obstacles in her way. As always, Jane Austen is a true romantic, who didn't let that fact that she never had her happy ever after love life turn her into a cynic. She knew true love was out there, and she was determined to let that hope shine through her exquisite novels. Overall I give this book a 2, Borders with a Coupon. It is not perfection, but it is pretty dang close.

Do you agree with my review? Do you think I am totally off base? Either way I would love to hear from you. Be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If you enjoyed Northanger Abbey, you will definitely love Pride and Prejudice, also by Jane Austen!

Looking for more history? Check out my these titles...The Boleyn Inheritance, The Other Boleyn Girl, Abundance, Nefertiti, The Perfect Royal Mistress...and don't miss out on the rest of the Historical Fiction Section.

Maybe you are looking for more of the Romance? Be sure to see the Romance section of The Book Buff.

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated G.  While there is reference given to murder and intrigue, it is not offensive.

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

My Take: This is one of the greatest books of all time. The characters are perfect, the writing is perfect, the story is perfect. I have never really been one for fantasies involving fictional characters, but I am in love with Mr. Darcy. If you are a fan of this masterpiece, I highly recommend the A & E mini series. Colin Firth is perfection. As I love this book so much, I feel that I am totally inadequate to review it. I rate this a 1, Pay Full Price. A+++++++

Like Historical Romance? Check these out: The Perfect Royal Mistress, Too Great a Lady,
The Other Boleyn Girl

Do you just like the History, but want less of the mushy stuff? These books are for you: Nefertiti,
Abundance, Witch Child

Or are you looking for some romance a little more modern? Its About Your Husband

Do you agree with my review? Do you think I'm totally off base? I'd love to hear about it either way. Be sure to comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated G, there is no offensive content.