Welcome to Litsy!

I read the title story years ago. It is permanently etched on my brain as one of the most unsettling things I've read, so when I started this collection I did not revisit it. The other stories are an interesting mix in that in typical JC Oates' fashion there is a range of narrative voices. There are stories told from the POV of pretty awful people & those where the narrative voice is more sympathetic. Aside from the title story the (CONT)

Day 2 of #21DaysofHorror
Joyce Carol Oates' story The Doll-Master, available in both her collection “The Doll-Master & Other Tales of Terror“ & in Ellen Datlow's anthology “The Doll Collection“ (which happens to currently be only $3 on Kindle) is a masterpiece of the slow reveal & that is all I will say about it. You really must experience it for yourself. As a side note: I have always been a bit unnerved by Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls & I feel👇

In the title story, “Soldier” (white guy murders a black teen in “self-defense” & becomes a villain/hero to a divided America), & “Big Momma” (young girl is groomed by an unusual, cultish family), JCO‘s gift for unnerving readers shines. Unfortunately, they are nearly lost in the voluminous page count taken up by the other 3 stories that are too long & vague. Was she paid by the word? If they didn‘t have her name, would they be published?

Yeah this was a big waste of time for me. It‘s almost kind of offensive it‘s in the horror genre and that the title implies terror. I scare easy and most of this was boring as hell. And not horror or creepy. Except the first story.

#review #gladitsover #readinggoals #readingresolutions

Decided to do a kindle book next instead of one of the many library books I need to attend to 😬🤷🏻‍♀️ first story was already a wild ride.

#currentlyreading #kindle #booked2020 #readinggoals #readingresolutions #bookworm

Seriously creepy tales by a master. Title story stays with you! Read to prepare to be on a panel of female horror & fantasy writers on Sunday. #creepy #shortstories #womenwriters

Starting this month of with this one. Hope it lives up to its hype. Picked it up one day for a good price. I hate reading on this thing but too many books come up for a better price. Sometimes I cave and pick them up.

I really enjoyed this book. Admittedly, the stories are more eerie and creepy tales of psychological horror rather than full on tales of terror, but there is only one boring short story of the bunch (Solider). The rest were very enjoyable. Notable standouts include: The Doll-Master, Equatorial and Mystery, Inc. If you were a fan of The Grip Of It by Jac Jemc, this collection is for you!

The Christmas decorations may be up, but I am still in a horror frame of mind with my current read, The Doll-Master by Joyce Carol Oates. This is my first Oates read and despite what many of the reviews say, at least the first story in this collection was creepy and unsettling! #NeverendingOctober #HorrorIsMyNewFavouriteGenre

creep 👀

Love has isolated her, like a disease.

(maybe) I was dead

heavy

Ugh, so true.

About to crack open this cold one

turn 2 in, check 3 out #library

Ok these are more scary stories that showcase the depravity of the human heart. People trying to kill their wives. A bookstore killer who goes after his competitors. But they aren't so full of mystery and twists that you can't see them coming. No Shirley Jackson or Ray Bradbury, but not terrible.

Though I agree with other reviewers that the promise "tales of terror" seems a stretch (a better description: deeply, deeply troubling), these open-ended stories left me with the angst that these psychologically messed-up characters (or others like them) are still in the world at large. And THAT is terrifying! Meanwhile, Hazel Kitty enjoyed this book for its firm comfort. ??

The irony of reading horror at a playground is not lost on me but we couldn't resist taking advantage of the last few sunny days of October.

Can anyone recommend a November daily Litsy challenge? My early New Years resolution is to post here more often and I'm looking for an excuse!

Happy weekend reading!

Joyce Carol Oates's writing is great but this one stretched the definition of terror. That's not a bad thing, but I will hoping for spooky whereas most of these were more subtle.

I'm halfway through these "bedtime stories." They are not traditionally creepy...and she likes to throw in some political twists. All of the ones I read could have really happened. So not mind melting...I hope it gets scarier soon...I want to be frightened out of my wits.

One of my October books is The Doll Master and other Tales of Terror by Carol Joyce Oates. Can't wait to dig in 😆😣

Almost halfway through October and I haven't read anything ooky spooky yet?! Hopefully this will fill that void.

Super excited to read these spooky tales from Joyce Carol Oates - just in time for Halloween!

Starting something new. 😊

These stories are pissing me off. I dont want to "guess" the ending because i literally cant. By the second "what the hell just happened" i gave up. Nothing about these stories are scary. This book just isnt what i thought it would be.

I've tried reading Joyce Carol Oates before and couldn't finish the book. I thought these short stories were pretty good. Not SUPER scary but good.

Here's a #bookstack of my finds at the bookstore and library. I swear I was just going to get 2 specific books at the library, but somehow I walked out with 5. I foresee possible renewals for a couple of them. 😄 #augustphotochallenge
#day13

A great collection of weird and twisty tales. I loved the ambiguity that Oates weaves into each one, leaving certain details open to a reader's interpretation. There's more than one great story here, but my absolute favorite was "Mystery, Inc." I took the long route to work this morning just so I could keep reading and turn those last few pages!

3 more Amazon $ purchases and the two new Joyce Carol Oates. She is doing a book signing in two weeks! I can't wait!

Great collection of spooky short stories. Each ending is non-conclusive, but the reader can assume what happens to the characters, which I enjoyed. I was left with more questions than answers, but I'm okay with this! Love having the option to interpret and speculate my own way.