The Scary Story

Today’s scary story review is the novel, “The Bank of the River” by Michael Richan. This is the first book in The River series. UPDATE – Thanks to a kind reader who informed me that this horror novel is available as a FREE download on Google Docs as a PDF. Click here to download The Bank of the River.

Meet Steven Hall, recently unemployed (and okay with it) and being haunted (not okay with it). This book opens with Steven entering a trailer park to visit John and Debra Peterson, the latter of which he hopes can shed some light on the odd happenings in his new home. Debra’s father-in-law used to own the house and came to a bad end within its walls.

Debra does, in fact, provide Steven with some information. It’s enough to cause Steven to enlist his father in an investigation. At that point, the story takes off at a rapid clip.

Steven learns that his father has a very special talent. It’s one that he inherited from his own father and has passed down to Steven. This gift positions Steven to battle a raw, malevolent force with the help of his old man and see the world in a new way, albeit possibly a darker one.

The Good: This is a ghost story. I’m a huge fan. (Still looking for my very own haunted house to call home ;-)) This is also a father-son story. I’m also a fan. The relationship between parent and child and the conflicts brewing therein can add many elements to a story. This one touches on seeing fathers as they are rather than as how we perceive them to be. The book is a good length at 220 pages.

The Bad: Readers who want a stylist penning their horror stories may take issue with Richan’s short, fast paced prose. Every story teller finds a different path and this book relies on creepy developments piling up rather than descriptive phrasing and character introspection. Click here to get it on Amazon.

Have a book recommendation? Let me know in the comments below. Thank you for visiting. LL

I finished the on-paper revisions of a novel today. A milestone like this always means that I reward myself with a little non-writing time relaxing with our rarely used Netflix account. Today’s movie selection was World War Z.

Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of the zombie genre. When it comes to the undead, I prefer the evil sophistication of Lestat to unstoppable slobbering and lumbering. But I freaking loved World War Z. I wish I’d taken the time to see it on the big screen.

For one, Brad Pitt is completely at home in this story. The role fit him like a second skin, even with the hippie hair and neatly trimmed beard (which miraculously never needed a trim). Hats off to Hollywood for not ruining it with some other decrepit actor looking to throw life reservoir to his career. Writers will probably recognize the adventurer plot and external conflicts, which strips a story of character development or a strong arc. It’s a great plot for Hollywood especially in the perfected three-act structure.

I understand that the book is much different from the film. I’m picking up a copy as soon as I finish a few more items on my currently-reading shelf.

What I found most resonant about this movie was the scene on the helicopter between the protagonist and the doomed doctor who describes Mother Nature as a serial killer.

This Mother Nature as a Serial Killer scene touches on nature’s will to survive. Imagine our ecosystems as an intelligent being bent on ridding itself of a troublesome, perplexing species that plunders her resources, causes more than its share of damage and constantly quarrels. If our environment was an intelligent being, surely it would have eradicated us long before we reached the overpopulated, industrialized state that we’re in at this time. I suspect the end would be far less dramatic than a zombie invasions, too. It gives a person pause, doesn’t it?

By the way, the novel mentioned above was ZOIE, previously titled Sinister. I’ve been working on that damn book longer than any writer worth his pen should. But more on that later. Thanks for reading. LL

The Bank of the River, Michael Richan – a Review

World War Z

DARK READS