Ten years ago, I read the first book in Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reach series, Annihilation. I read it because it was a conten10th book read in 2025
Ten years ago, I read the first book in Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reach series, Annihilation. I read it because it was a contender in the Tournament of Books 2015. It was quite one of the most creepy books I have read. It did not win the tournament, and I never went on in the series.
Late last year the author published a final and fourth book set in Area X. So I girded my reading loins and went to read the second book, Authority. It was if anything, more creepy. I am not well read in the horror genre. I used to be afraid of horror but have begun to overcome that fear.
Authority picks up some years after the four members of the previous and twelfth expedition into Area X failed to return. John Rodriguez has been sent in to take over the crumbling Southern Reach agency because three of those missing members have suddenly reappeared.
That is all the explanation I am going to give because most of this volume concerns sorting through what happened, what is happening now, and what will happen next. Thus, readers must stumble through this confusion along with the characters. Maybe that was Vandermeer’s intention. Any exploration of Area X is inevitably going to be dominated by confusion.
Rodriguez is quite the confused person himself, son of a secret agent mom and a deserting father, not sure why he was chosen for this job but suspecting his mother had something to do with it. He is also not sure of himself, at all, but is trying to bluff his way through. We readers must suffer through all this with him. For me, that was not fun but in fact frustrating in the extreme.
The book ends with a cliff hanger. Perhaps the first one did too. I don’t remember. I will go on to #three but not right away. Though maybe I should, so I can remember what has happened so far? Call me confused. ...more
Other than his excellent memoir, On Writing, I have only read one other book by Stephen King: Hearts in Atlantis. I read that in 2002. In my reading lOther than his excellent memoir, On Writing, I have only read one other book by Stephen King: Hearts in Atlantis. I read that in 2002. In my reading log I mentioned that he was a good writer, literary but fast-paced, and that the book was weird but good.
I don't know what impelled me to read that one but otherwise, all through his long, successful career, starting with Carrie in 1974, I have avoided Stephen King because I was afraid to read horror as a genre.
One of my reading groups decided it was time for me to get over my fear, so we read The Shining, even though almost all the other members had read it before.
I survived the experience. The book is scary but not anymore scary, I realized, than many books I have read. I also realized I have been reading horror for quite some years: Dracula, Frankenstein, books by Shirley Jackson, Patricia Highsmith, not to mention Joyce Carol Oates's Gothic novels.
So I feel all grown up now. I understand the thrill of being frightened while reading, the allure of body horror, and the truth that life is actually scary. I led a sheltered life as a child and was carefully protected by a grandmother and parents from anything they thought I might find fearful.
Also I read all 622 pages of The Shining in four days. I read furiously and with excitement, wanting and NEEDING to know what would become of little Danny, to his parents, and if they would escape the Overlook Hotel. The ending was perfect!
To Stephen King I say, I get it now. To my reading group I give huge thanks for opening my eyes to the fact that Horror is a worthy genre....more
I read this classic because I have decided I am finally ready to overcome my horror of the horror genre. In fact, I learned that I have read some horrI read this classic because I have decided I am finally ready to overcome my horror of the horror genre. In fact, I learned that I have read some horror before, chiefly in some of Joyce Carol Oates's novels, not to mention Dracula.
I enjoyed the story which is mostly about a man, Frankenstein, who was somewhere on the spectrum and somewhat the mad scientist. His monster could be seen as a reflection of himself and may have been a primitive version of AI.
Mayhem, frustrated love, questions of the soul. I have always liked the idea that Mary Shelley, her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and Byron's Dr Polidori created a challenge as to who could write the best ghost story. Mary was the only one to finish a story, she got it published, and the rest is history plus movies.
As far as the Prometheus connection, the feminist ideas of Mary's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, the scientific advance called Galvanism, and the extent of upheaval in early 19th century life, I have plenty to learn....more
This was a reading group pick, suggested by me. I was seduced by the gorgeous cover as well as being interested in reading something set in Mexico. AlThis was a reading group pick, suggested by me. I was seduced by the gorgeous cover as well as being interested in reading something set in Mexico. Also since I recently read Joyce Carol Oates's gothic novel, Bellefleur, I thought this book would give me another example of the genre.
It is the 1950s and Noemi is something of a Mexico City debutante. Spoiled, enamored of clothes and parties, she chooses the men she dates by their looks and their cars. She is not ready for marriage, in fact would like to attend college and study anthropology.
First though, she is sent by her father to check up on a newly married cousin who is crying for help from her husband's old family mansion high in the mountains. She claims she is being poisoned. If Noemi can bring back a report to her father, he will let her go to University.
Noemi is full of self-confidence but is innocent as a lamb in most respects. What she finds at the mansion is so creepy, she is soon in as much danger as her cousin. As befits a Gothic heroine her reckless, plucky daring may just get her through.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is masterful with both description and action. A good dose of horror pervades the story along with an intelligent mystery. Most of the fun of reading Mexican Gothic is following the twists and turns of the plot. For some reason the palpable horror did not turn me off. I just wanted to know what would happen.
Fans of Bronte, du Maurier and even Mary Stewart will love this look at Gothic horror, Mexican-style and learn some obscure Mexican history at the same time. The author managed to write a story that feels both light and heavy.
All my reading group members were well pleased....more