Carole's Sunday Review: Short stories

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Title: Markheim

Genre: Short Stories, Classic, and Horror

Pages: 48

First Published: 1885

Where I Got It: On my shelf (Been on my shelf so long - its collected dust...I can't remember)

At Christmastime, Markheim, the protagonist, comes to a dealer’s shop, pretending that he is looking for a present for a lady. His real plan, however, is to murder the dealer so he can steal his merchandise and money. 

A horror story set during Christmas time? Yes! Perfect for everyone. 

Now, this short story was not to horror-y. It was much more thought-provoking and creepy. Markheim is not a nice man, but he is very charming and handsome, but he gets a true glimpse at his soul through a mirror that the dealer shares with him. 

At first I was very confused by what was going on and why Markheim decides to kill the dealer, but it all made sense after the introduction of the "devil".

This was good overall. I stamp this with 4 stars.

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Title: The Body Snatcher

Genre: Short Stories, Classic, and Horror

Pages: 22

First Published: 1884

Where I Got It: On my shelf (Been on my shelf so long - its collected dust...I can't remember)

A young man studying medicine in Edinburgh is asked by his professor to be responsible for receiving the cadavers to be dissected by the school's students. Though he knows many are stolen from graves, he keeps his silence. Then one night he recognizes one of the cadavers as the victim of murder. Instead of turning in the culprit, he allows himself to be drawn deeper into the gruesome intrigue. But justice has the last laugh when the evidence of the man's crimes -- evidence he thought long since dissected and disposed of -- mysteriously resurfaces to his everlasting horror.

Now...now this was creepy and horrifying! At first I was okay with the story. Kinda grossed out with these fellas and then it quickly and suddenly turned scary! I wanted more...I wanted to story to continue. I really feel that the author could have done more with the story. Maybe I am just being spoiled? But the story was good and the concept was intriguing. 

There is for sure a lesson to be learned with this story....leave dead bodies alone dammit. Bad things happen

This was very good and I recommend it if you are looking for a quick, creepy, horrifying, Halloween read. I stamp this with 5 stars. 

Review: Emma and the Vampires - Wayne Josephson and Jane Austen

Genre: Fiction, historical, paranormal, Classic
Pages: 304
Published: August 2010 Sourcebooks Landmark

What better place than pale England to hide a secret society of gentlemen vampires?

In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. 

I know that some do not like these mash-ups, but I think they are so funny. The things I love the most are the things I like to see changed or made fun of.  This totally works for me. And you all know I love things Austen by now.

Most of you surely know Emma, the pretty spoiled lady who suddenly realizes that she is a great matchmaker, and of course she isn't and that leads to a string of fun misunderstandings. And this book follows that plot, it follows Emma as it should, with a few exceptions...

There are vampires around and in Highbury there are a few gentlemen vampires. The rest seems to be blissfully aware even though these men have black eyes, red eyes, never eat or sleeps and are really pale. Mr Knightley is one of these gentlemen, as is Mr Elton and Mr Weston. But there are also wild vampires around, and Emma who carries a stake is not a bad vampire-killer when attacked. Mr Knightley is also very handy with a sabre, cos yes he and the rest chops a few heads when attacked. A real gentlemen does not attack a lady without being asked.

Vampires works so well here because he keeps it witty and a comedy of manners. The book is hilarious and sure Emma may not be the best heroine but she does have a good heart and means well. Harriett is a vampiremagnet with her heaving bosom and slender neck, Mr Knightley as knightley as ever, Emma's dad just as he always is, and Frank Churchill, a coward, for a vampire.

For readers who wants to read something nice, I would recommend this. For readers who love mash-ups, don't forget this one, and for those that haven't try one, just plunge in, and don't be horrified that Austen's works are being turned into something else. I am pretty sure she would have gotten a few laughs from it too.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner:  Well that looks gross.

Reason for reading: From the publisher.

Final thoughts: The only thing I didn't like was the end, it left me a bit, what, and then? 

4

Being a gentleman, he would never consider roaming about at night attacking young ladies to whom he had not been properly introduced.

- Emma and the vampires

Review: Pride and Prejudice - The Graphic Novel

Genre: Historical, romance, classic, Graphic Novel
Pages: 120
Published: 2009

Author: Jane Austen
Adaptation: Nancy Butler & Hugo Petras

Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present Pride & Prejudice! Two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petras faithfully adapt the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy's father manage to marry off her five daughters, despite his wife's incessant nagging? And will Lizzy's beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness?

I do not think I have to go through the story ;)

I like this one, it worked better than Jane Eyre. Why? Perhaps it was a better suited story for a Graphic Novel, perhaps it was because they did not put in every long, long, long 19th century sentence. They used all the important ones but it never felt like too much.

My fav scenes were there, and I enjoyed this Graphic Novel,, and yes it helped cos the pics were so cute and colorful. And he got the era with the clothes and such.

I will not ever love it as much as the movies, but to a beginner to the novel and movies this one could do just that. Make you interested to read the novel and see if anything was missing.

One thing to complain about, silly really, but the teeth looked really weird sometimes, freaky and like the person were angry all the time.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Adorable! Made into a magazine and looking so cute.

Reason for reading: From the library

Final thoughts: A must for Austen fans, will it work for you or not...

Look, Mr Dacy in the corner!

Review: Jane Eyre - The Graphic Novel

Genre: Graphic Novel, classic, historical
Pages: 144
Published: 2008

Script adaptation: Amy Corzine
Artwork: John M.Burns

Jane Eyre is a plain, determined and intelligent child. Orphaned and poor, she is adopted by her Aunt and Uncle Reed. The death of Uncle Reed allows her unpleasant aunt to send her away to a grim charity school, where she continues her harsh upbringing, but is given the education that finally frees her. Once old enough, she becomes a teacher and takes the role of governess in a large manor house, where she falls in love with her employer. But Rochester is hiding a secret that, when revealed, forces Jane to choose between following her head and her heart. Both critically acclaimed and immensely popular, Jane Eyre dealt with concepts of class discrimination, morality, equality for women, and freedom of choice. Designed to encourage readers to enjoy classical literature, Jane Eyre The Graphic Novel stays true to Brontë's original vision. The book includes 125 pages of story artwork (by the legendary comic book artist, John M. Burns) and fascinating support material detailing the life of Charlotte Brontë.

In the end I wasn't that impressed by this one. The artwork worked fine for me. Though I do feel that Rochester was too handsome, and St: John was too plain looking.

I love Jane Eyre, the book is glorious. But here it fell short for me. In this version they had crammed in all that "old" long speech in the speech-bubbles. And honestly it was just too much. I'd rather just read it in a book. But they have a different version were they have toned it down, I do think that would have worked better for me. Now it was just those big bubbles and sometimes I didn't know how to follow them, when they moved back and fort.

I prefer the book very much to this one.

Though I do like this idea of making Jane Eyre to a graphic novel, and keeping with the real language. That is admirable.