BEWARE!
Read on if you dare... this week we're out to scare!
This weeks top of the heap: Monsters and spooky stories
Margo's book pick last week was the inspiration for this Top of the Heap post. The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley- Phillips is a great, spooky children's story and it reminded me of another one of my favorite tales of terror. The GnashlyCrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey is completely unique. He wrote and illustrated this classic book, along with other quirky and mysterious short stories. A few years ago, I was able to visit the Edward Gorey Museum in Cape Cod. It was really interesting. The museum is actually his house in Yarmouth Port. Every character in The GnashlyCrumb Tinies had a doll poignantly placed somewhere in the house, set up in the manner in which they met their doom- isn't that bizarre? The dolls were extremely creepy looking, and somewhat unsettling. At the end of the tour, you wind up in a graveyard set up in the backyard. Every grave stone has a character's name on it. The experience was amazingly gruesome. I found all sorts of great Edward Gorey illustrations online and this great video of the odd story of the alphabet children and their deadly demise. The creatively written stories and detailed illustrations really pull you into another world. Enjoy! ~ F
I love the monsters from Fablehavenby Brandon Mull. The animal sanctuary that they have has all kinds of creature lurking in it. You can find fun ones like fairies, nymphs, satyrs and centaurs. I have always thought it would be fun to see some of those because they don't seem so scary, but would be cool to see! There are also dark and scary beings that would probably scare the pants off of me, like trolls, ogres, goblins, imps, and, of course, some demons. I would want to view those beasts from a further distance! It is always fun to imagine what some of the creatures look like that I have only read about. Brandon Mull does an excellent job describing all of the animals/monsters in the sanctuary he created. ~L
Brandon Mull is such a great writer! I love Fablehaven. Jess and I heard Brandon Mull speak last year and he was fascinating. Also- I rode the bus with him in middle school! He got the idea for Fablehaven from the house he lived in during that time. :) Brandon is very nice! ~Stephanie
Scarcy stories are great for children, and I love Brandon Mull. He's very careful in his writings. The Fablehaven series has a special place on my book shelf. My whole family has read this and enjoyed it immensely.
Donna- I agree! His writing is amazing and kids and adults are captivated by his writing. Check out my comment above to Patty about how I know Brandon Mull. :) ~Stephanie
Wow, that museum sounds awesome! I'm a big chicken, though, so I'd probably freak out a bit, but I'd still go through it just for fun. Sounds so unique! Thanks for sharing about these two books. They sound great and I hadn't heard of them before.
Thanks for stopping by! The Gorey House is just classically spooky and odd. The other thing that really stuck out was all the stuff he collected off of the beach by his house. Showcased behind several large glass cases, were bits and pieces of human junk; watches and rings, pictures and strange trinkets. It was fascinating to see. Both stories are amazingly creative- though uniquely different in style and voice. Lizzy and I had fun sharing them with you. Have a great night : )
I have also been to The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouthport. It was a really interesting stop off when I was on vacation a few years ago in Cape Cod. I am a big fan of his mystery writing. The stories are really fun to try to figure out. Great post! Thanks!
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I love scary books. I'm checking these out. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love scary books, too! These are fabulous! :)
DeleteThe Edward Gorey book looks fiercely scary...
ReplyDeleteI love Brandon Mull...read the first one...I am saving the second one for summer...lol...
Patty- Edward Gorey is scary- but fun.
DeleteBrandon Mull is such a great writer! I love Fablehaven. Jess and I heard Brandon Mull speak last year and he was fascinating. Also- I rode the bus with him in middle school! He got the idea for Fablehaven from the house he lived in during that time. :) Brandon is very nice! ~Stephanie
Scarcy stories are great for children, and I love Brandon Mull. He's very careful in his writings. The Fablehaven series has a special place on my book shelf. My whole family has read this and enjoyed it immensely.
ReplyDeleteDonna- I agree! His writing is amazing and kids and adults are captivated by his writing. Check out my comment above to Patty about how I know Brandon Mull. :) ~Stephanie
DeleteWow, that museum sounds awesome! I'm a big chicken, though, so I'd probably freak out a bit, but I'd still go through it just for fun. Sounds so unique! Thanks for sharing about these two books. They sound great and I hadn't heard of them before.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! The Gorey House is just classically spooky and odd. The other thing that really stuck out was all the stuff he collected off of the beach by his house. Showcased behind several large glass cases, were bits and pieces of human junk; watches and rings, pictures and strange trinkets. It was fascinating to see. Both stories are amazingly creative- though uniquely different in style and voice. Lizzy and I had fun sharing them with you. Have a great night : )
DeleteI have also been to The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouthport. It was a really interesting stop off when I was on vacation a few years ago in Cape Cod. I am a big fan of his mystery writing. The stories are really fun to try to figure out. Great post! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCool that you were there too! Wasn't it completely bizarre? ~ F
DeleteI thought Fablehaven was awesome. I've never heard of Edward Gorey. The video was weird but cool.
ReplyDeleteI thought you would like it, Marcus! ~ F
DeleteI haven't read these two yet, but love the illustrations! Spooky and cool.
ReplyDeleteClaudine- The illustrations are wonderful- I can look at them for hours. The writing and the illustrations are perfect together!
DeleteI have read the A-z book by Gorey and I read the first Fablehaven. I have the second one to read- but haven't started it yet.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading, Flex!
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