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Burnt Offerings (Valancourt 20th Century Classics)
Burnt Offerings (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Robert Marasco
Ben and Marian Rolfe are desperate to escape a stifling summer in their tiny Brooklyn apartment, so when they get the chance to rent a mansion in upstate New York for the entire season for only $900, it's an offer that's too good to refuse. There's only one catch: behind a strange and intricately carved door in a distant wing of the house lives elderly Mrs. Allardyce, and the Rolfes will be responsible for preparing her meals. But Mrs. Allardyce never seems to emerge from her room, and it soon becomes clear that something weird and terrifying is happening in the house. As the suspense builds towards a revelation of what really lies behind that locked door, the Rolfes will discover that their cheap vacation rental comes at a terrible cost . . . The basis for a classic 1976 film adaptation and an acknowledged influence on Stephen King's "The Shining," "Burnt Offerings" is one of the most original and scariest haunted house novels ever written. This edition, the first in decades, features a new introduction by award-winning author Stephen Graham Jones. "[N]ear brilliance . . . a disturbing tale . . . highly recommended." - Stephen King ""Burnt Offerings" has no peer. Better than "Rosemary's Baby," "The Other," and "The Exorcist."" - "Hartford Courant" "Insidiously frightening . . . It snares you early and draws you inexorably to one of the most nerve-shattering finales in years." - "Publishers Weekly" "Terrifies even by daylight." - "New York Times"
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LeahBergen
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Let‘s squeeze in one more Halloween read! 👻

AmyG I liked this one. Read it when I was a teen. 13mo
ShelleyBooksie Love the mug!! 13mo
AlaMich I love the bookmark! 13mo
See All 12 Comments
Aimeesue Eeeeeeeek! 13mo
LeahBergen @AmyG I thought I had read it in my teens but I‘m not remembering any of it. 😆 13mo
LeahBergen @ShelleyBooksie Thanks! It‘s an old freebie from David‘s Tea. 13mo
LeahBergen @AlaMich Thanks! My best friend and I spent the night at the Stanley Hotel (where Stephen King stayed and which was the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel). This is a memento. 😆 13mo
Reggie I have not read this one, but I saw the movie. The movie‘s decent. 13mo
AmyG @LeahBergen Wow! I have been trying to get my husband to go with me and stay there. He‘s just not i to it. 🤣 @Reggie I remember the book being better. (Surprise, right?) (edited) 13mo
LeahBergen @Reggie I‘m going to try to find it to watch when I‘m done reading. 👍 13mo
LeahBergen @AmyG 😆 You should! It‘s a nice hotel in and of itself, despite the spooky reputation. 13mo
51 likes1 stack add12 comments
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Fortifiedbybooks
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I've only got two more activities to check off my #Scarathlon bucket list. I'm in the middle of the Walktober Virtual Race, and the #Readathon is next weekend! #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

FlynnDewey Wow!! Very well done! 13mo
13 likes1 comment
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Fortifiedbybooks
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I checked off 2 things from my bucket list for #Scarathlon yesterday - Going to a haunted house and eating Pumpkin Jo-Jo's. #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

bthegood 👻👻 14mo
FlynnDewey How was the haunted house? 14mo
Fortifiedbybooks @FlynnDewey It was a bit overwhelming and definitely scary. Haunted Houses have come a long way since I was a kid. While I'm glad I went, I don't plan on going to another one LOL. 14mo
8 likes3 comments
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Fortifiedbybooks
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I earned 10 points for #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall on the first day of #Scarathlon and checked off Spirit Halloween shopping from my bucket list. Unfortunately, it was slim pickings, but I did manage to get some spooky-looking lantern pathway markers for the front of the house. I'll just have to do my Halloween season shopping earlier next year.

FlynnDewey Were they already picked over? Or just waiting on stock? 14mo
bthegood yay 👻 14mo
Fortifiedbybooks @FlynnDewey They were completely picked over. It didn't look like they had any plans to restock. 14mo
11 likes3 comments
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Fortifiedbybooks
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Here is my #Scarathlon bucket list. There are so many events and other activities I want to do in October, but these are the must-dos! #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

FlynnDewey That cemetery tour sounds pretty cool! 14mo
bthegood 👻👻 14mo
12 likes2 comments
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Ast_Arslan
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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I'm back!
Many things have changed in my life recently and I really needed some time on my own, far from all the social media.
I really missed Litsy and its friendly community and now I hope to find time to post and to comment as I did in the past 💪🏻

eeclayton Welcome back ☺️ 2y
Karisa 👋😀 I know that feeling! Sometimes a break is good. Welcome back! 💗 2y
Bookwomble Welcome home 🏡 📖 💖😊 2y
See All 6 Comments
Ast_Arslan @eeclayton @Karisa @Bookwomble thank you all! You are all so nice ❤️ 2y
TheNeverendingTBR Welcome back Val, I hope everything is good. Keep smiling! 💖 2y
Ast_Arslan @TheNeverendingTBR Hi, Michael! Yeah, everything's fine 👍🏻 just too many things in a row 🤯 2y
29 likes1 stack add6 comments
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allureofbeauty
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Panpan

Hoping to mail this and the other book out Monday for the group. I finished it last night and just had my free piece of pie for my birthday (which is tomorrow!)
@phantomx @Jadams1776 @ImperfectCJ

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MadDustKitties
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Pickpick

A solid 70's horror! I found it a little slow at the beginning, but not too painful. The creepy atmosphere slowly builds up. It doesn't rely on blood and gore, instead it uses the unseen and pulls on the reader's imagination.
The further I got into the book, the harder it was to put it down.

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ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

If Burnt Offerings had been written by a woman, it could have been a feminist horror novel, but as it stands, it instead feels vaguely like an indictment of a certain type of woman/wife/mother. I enjoyed reading it but didn't really find it scary or spooky, perhaps because I was a little stuck on the 1970s feel (which I also get reading The Shining). A worthwhile addition for anyone with a desire to get a sense of the history of the horror genre.

ImperfectCJ This is the novel I was supposed to read for April for #lmpbc, but I forgot what month it was. I'm back on track now, though! @Jadams1776 @phantomx @allureofbeauty @suvata 3y
LeahBergen I kinda love ‘70s horror. 😆 3y
allureofbeauty Love the covers and it sounds good lol 3y
52 likes3 comments
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Jadams89
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Hey #LMPBC #Round14 #GroupH - here are a few horror selections I have on hand - and I‘m considering buying the tagged book. Anything look interesting?

See All 8 Comments
allureofbeauty I haven‘t read any of these but I‘d vote burnt offerings or the caretaker or Lorne field. 3y
ImperfectCJ Same as @allureofbeauty ...these are all new to me, but Burnt Offerings and Caretaker look most interesting to me. 3y
phantomx Same, I haven't read any of these. Burnt Offerings or Lorne Field 3y
Jadams89 @phantomx @allureofbeauty @ImperfectCJ Ok, I‘m going with Burnt Offerings 3y
24 likes8 comments
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Yuki_Onna
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1. Yeeess! Me likes a lot! 🤩
2. That's a tricky question... I guess the White Women in general, feral black ghost dogs and/or Japanese Yurei. Prefer psychological horror and creepy vibes to gore.
3. Done. Haven't read the book yet, but the classic 70s movie gives me major chills every time...

@ozma.of.oz #sundayfunday #ghoststories #horror

Have you played? Wanna play? @SoyTooSaucy @BeeMagical @Enchanted_Bibliophile @RaeLovesToRead

BookmarkTavern I love seeing older posts come around again! 😁 Thanks for sharing! 3y
RaeLovesToRead Thanks for the tag! I don't read a lot of ghost stories so my answers probably wouldn't be that interesting! 😅😅 I've got some on my TBR though 🤞🤞🤞 3y
Yuki_Onna @ozma.of.oz Yaaay! I don't care whether the posts are old or the brand new ones either... Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for playing certain ones on the Sunday you originally posted them and so I'll keep them to answer when they feel 'right' ... 😎 Does that make sense? 🤔 3y
See All 9 Comments
Yuki_Onna @RaeLovesToRead Never mind, Rae! 🤗 Uuuhh... Which ones do you have on your TBR, if I may ask? 3y
RaeLovesToRead The haunting of hill house, the woman in white, the haunted hotel, the secret of crickley hall (not sure if that one has a ghost or not), the shuddering... those are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. Most of the ghost stories I read have been a bit unsatisfactory!! 🤣🤣 3y
Yuki_Onna @RaeLovesToRead You're absolutely right, most are a bit unsatisfactory... 😕 Just... meh...
Still I love them and try to find and read as many as possible from all over the world... Don't want to spoil the fun, but The Woman in White -by Collins? does not have a ghost, but it was such a great - and satisfactory 😄 - mystery/gothic/suspense ride! Def. recommend the two Wilkie Collins'!
3y
Yuki_Onna @RaeLovesToRead Have yet to read the Haunting of Hill House and now I must look up The Shuddering and The Secret of Crickley Hall asap, had not heard about these yet. Thanks!
And if you find any nice/obscure ghost tales along the way, please let me know, ok? 🙂
3y
RaeLovesToRead I will indeed. So far I've only read crappy ones though! I must be getting the woman in white mixed up with the woman in black! 3y
BookmarkTavern That makes total sense! ❤️❤️ 3y
8 likes9 comments
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DavidDiamond
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Pickpick

A slow burn of a book (much like the movie that terrorized me as a child which I rewatched last night for the first time in 40 years!) that turns the haunted house trope upside down. Enjoyed the ending which was different from the film.
Well done creepy tale that's perfect for the Halloween season!
#scarathlon2021 #screamathon

LeahBergen I‘ve been meaning to read this one for years! 3y
DavidDiamond @LeahBergen it‘s a quick read…only 200 pages (kindle version)! 3y
30 likes2 comments
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BookwormOfTheDamned
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Pickpick

In this episode, I review the haunted house classic "Burnt Offerings" by Robert Marasco. I buddy read with @Gina and had a great time!

https://youtu.be/ZVpfKeuT6II

Gina Awwwww! I had a suburb time as well! Thanks for inviting me♡ 3y
15 likes1 comment
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Gina
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You know your in the 70s when the smoking begins.

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Gina
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This throwback looks like its gonna be a good time♡

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Addison_Reads
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Pickpick

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Slow building haunted house story that I thoroughly enjoyed. 👻

A family takes over a house as a summer rental, but from the start things are strange and seem too good to be true.

The introduction by Stephen Graham Jones was excellent as well!

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I am loving this cover! ❤️ 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
36 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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ChelseaM6010
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Finished this last night and it‘s definitely become one of my favorite horror novels!

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johncadams
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco

“A trick, he told himself, an hallucination - if he could just rub the sweat out of his eyes and catch his breath it would disappear, and the sound with it.“

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johncadams
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco

“For the last time, she told herself, there's absolutely nothing to worry about.“

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johncadams
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco

“However dark the room was, and airless, and intimidating, however hypnotic that insistent hum, she couldn't have been asleep on her feet, not that suddenly and completely. What in hell has happened to her?“

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johncadams
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco

“The house will always sell itself.“

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Nerdfins
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I saw this on a Book Riot best horror novels list, and hey anything that inspired Stephen King sounds fine by me. My book model was cooperative today. #catsoflitsy #horror

wellreadredhead I‘m always looking for new horror to read. I‘ll have to add this one to my TBR! 5y
14 likes1 comment
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Silje
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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My first read for Halfoweenathon: Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco. I don't read much horror, even though I love the genre in films and TV-series. Hopefully this will be a good haunted house story 😊

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💖 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 6y
See All 8 Comments
Silje @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you! 😊 6y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 6y
rretzler I read that one many years ago when I was in my teen horror phase! Welcome to Litsy! 📖 6y
TheReadingCompanion Is that the bookmark?? 😍 5y
8 likes1 stack add8 comments
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Headinherbooks_27
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"The hum that drew her to the door at the end of the sitting room had become deeper and stronger, but almost imperceptibly so. It was the door itself that caught her attention now. Immediately, she could feel the vibrations passing through her."

Creepy!!!!! A very chilling and suspenseful tale. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed The Shining.

@lahousewyfe

lahousewyfe I'm glad you're enjoying it! 6y
BooknerdsLife Oh! Sounds like a great read! 6y
Headinherbooks_27 @BooknerdsLife It really was a good classic read! I never heard of it before until my swap match gave it to me. 6y
BooknerdsLife @nu-bibliophile Me neither! What a nice way to discover a great book :D 6y
33 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Headinherbooks_27
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My second blind date goes to....

@lahousewyfe
#HocusPocusSwap

lahousewyfe Enjoy! 6y
Headinherbooks_27 @lahousewyfe I've never heard of this story so I'm really curious about it. 6y
lahousewyfe @nu-bibliophile I got this book from a bookseller friend who is a true horror fan. It's obscure and I recall my read of it with goosebumps. 6y
24 likes3 comments
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Ms.Nic
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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"The road, more dirt than gravel now, turned to the right, and the house that suddenly burst on them, way in the distance, with the huge shimmering bay beyond, made Marian gasp and cry, "My God"."

kgriffith NOPE. 7y
2 likes1 stack add1 comment
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FlowerFairy
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Panpan

Wow. Just...wow. It was like listening to a supremely awful 1970‘s B horror movie. I pictured all the decor in the house in various tones of brown, orange and avocado green. LoL I wanted so much to like this. The only thing that kept me going was thinking, “Surely it can‘t get worse...”. But it could. And did. Audiobook.

SkeletonKey I know this review isn‘t supposed to make me want to read it MORE and yet... 😂 7y
PirateJenny @SkeletonKey I know what you mean 🤣 7y
80 likes2 comments
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CindyMyLifeIsLit
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Pickpick

The audiobook narrator is great. The story is suspenseful and horrifying on several different levels. There is the horror of the unseen evil that lurks in the house, revealing itself periodically to wreak havoc in the family. There is the terrible, wrenching effects the house has on the family dynamics; finally, and most horrifying, is the effect the house has on Marian. While it influences her, she makes her own choices.

BekahB I‘m hoping to finish this one over the weekend. The narrator is fantastic! 7y
CindyMyLifeIsLit @BekahB Isn‘t she? She really makes the characters come to life! 7y
24 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Sweettartlaura
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Pickpick

I got this as an Audible Daily Deal - what a steal! What a surprise! This is what I love about blindly picking up a book - you have no idea that you might fall in love. Or that you might find out there‘s even an old movie of this. And as a bonus, it might fall neatly under your #192019challenge 😊 #1973
If you‘re looking for a creepy haunted house story, seek this out - you won‘t be disappointed. Also great on audio 👍🏻

AmyG I loved this book. And the Karen Black movie. (edited) 7y
35 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BekahB
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I made a first attempt at peanut butter truffles while listening to Burnt Offerings. Peanut butter, butter, & powdered sugar are mixed & puffed rice cereal is folded in to make a crispy center. Then they‘re covered in chocolate. It‘s like a crunch bar meets a peanut butter cup! I‘m taking them to work to share with coworkers.

I‘m really enjoying the narration of Burnt Offerings! I haven‘t hit the creepy parts yet, but I remember loving the movie.

DivineDiana Looks very professional! ❤️ 7y
Christine They sound and look great! 7y
shanebeth pretty!!! 7y
See All 13 Comments
coffeenebula Yummy! 😋 7y
AlaMich Yum!!😋 7y
AmyG You made those? They look delicious. 7y
bookloo The movie scared me BAD at the end. 😩 Also, these look amazing. ♥️♥️ 7y
mjdowens Oh that looks so good. Your coworkers are lucky👍 7y
RealBooks4ever Wow! Pretty fancy! 💜👍 7y
Serotonin 🤤🤤🤤 7y
BekahB Thanks @DivineDiana, @Christine, @shanebeth, @coffeenebula, @AlaMich, @AmyG, @bookloo, @mjdowens, @RealBooks4ever, & @Serotonin! I got the recipe from this site: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/crispy-peanut-butter-balls. I‘m taking them all to work so I don‘t risk eating them all. 😂 7y
mjdowens Yes! Thanks for the recipe link. 7y
Ms_T Ooh! 😋 7y
85 likes1 stack add13 comments
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tricours
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Pickpick

Great book and great audiobook! This is the kind of ghost story I really enjoy.

Bookzombie I have listened to several audiobooks with this narrator and really like him. 7y
tricours @Bookzombie agreed, he‘s very nice to listen to! 7y
28 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BekahB
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I just bought Burnt Offerings on Audible - on sale today for $2.95! The sample sounded great! As soon as I finish listening to John Hodgman‘s Vacationland, this is next. I‘m looking forward to a spooky listen. 👻

62 likes2 stack adds
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bitterbear
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Love this cover.... Amazon challenge continues...

9 likes1 stack add
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Betterthanasharpstickintheeye
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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This month's Donuts and Death book: Burnt Offerings

ElizabethAndino Is that donut covered in BACON?! 8y
Betterthanasharpstickintheeye Yep it's a maple bacon long john 8y
2 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Betterthanasharpstickintheeye
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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In a lot of horror novels places seem to hold a mesmerizing power to draw in victims.

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ApoptyGina69
Burnt Offerings | Robert Marasco
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Marian Rolf (played by Karen Black in the 1976 film) is my choice for #classicmoviemonster. This is one of my favorite horror films of all time. Great cast and really scary. I was so happy to finally find the book too. #hauntedhouses #spookyoctober #octphotochallenge 😈☠️👹

39 likes1 stack add
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BeckyLeJ
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Bday books part 2. I have LOTS to look forward to!

MrBook Aaaahhh! You have "Shapeshifters"! Let us know what you think of it please. (Always have to be polite.) 8y
BeckyLeJ Will do! I've had my eye on it for some time and was super glad to get it for my bday! 8y
20 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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AnthonyBreznican
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Just finished this vintage horror tale. Bought it used, no cover, with an inscription inside: "Nancy Walters, Nov. 1973." She must have bought it new. The pages and cover are worn, so it has passed through a number of hands over 43 years. Good, long life for a book.