Month: September 2014

Book Review: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews20 Comments

I recently found myself with a long drive coming up and–no audiobook to hand!  So naturally I snatched up And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, read by Hugh Fraser–a narrator I’ve encountered with Christie before, and already on the shelf at my local library.

Even though I wasn’t thinking about the R.I.P. Challenge, I think my subconscious must have been at work–and since this fits the challenge and I listened to it at the right time, I’m counting it!

The story opens with ten people, unconnected to each other, all summoned by various means and reasons to visit a deserted island.  The eight guests and two servants are at the house on the island, but their host is unaccountably absent–and at dinner, a gramophone record plays with a chilling message.  Each individual is accused of being responsible for someone’s murder.  And then one by one, by different means and methods, people on the island begin to die.  The murderer must be among those who remain–but who?

Apart from Murder on the Orient Express, I think this is Christie’s most famous novel.  For that reason I’m glad I “read” it, although it was not my favorite Christie–which is a personal preference that others may not agree with! Continue reading “Book Review: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie” →

Imaginary Illustrations #2

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News2 Comments

Last week I started a new blog feature, sharing quotes from my (unillustrated) books, paired with pictures.  Today I have a quote from my upcoming book, The Storyteller and Her Sisters.  As you might guess, it’s from the titular Storyteller–and is a sentiment I can relate to!

I tell stories

Pre-Order The Storyteller and Her Sisters!

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News1 Comment

Storyteller Cover 1 - SmallI have, of course, told you that my next novel will be out soon…but you can buy it now!  Well, pre-order, at least. 🙂

Storyteller is now listed on Amazon and you can pre-order a Kindle copy today.  Don’t have a Kindle?  It should be available for pre-order on Smashwords within the next week.

All ebooks will be delivered and the paperback will go on sale on October 10th.

And if you’re still on the fence about buying, might I suggest checking out the excerpt now available on Goodreads?  You can download the first three chapters…but I make no promises that it won’t leave you waiting anxiously for October 10th and Chapter Four!

Movie Review: The Giver

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews6 Comments

The_Giver_posterI was twelve when I first read The Giver by Lois Lowry, and then reread it again recently when the fourth book in the quartet came out. It’s one of my favorite dystopias, so I was intrigued—and alarmed!—by the movie version. I went to see it mostly out of curiosity, and while it wasn’t perfect, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it was done.

The book and the movie both tell the story of Jonas, who lives in a community where all of life is carefully ordered and arranged by a ruling council of elders. When Jonas comes of age, he is assigned the role of Receiver, to receive the memories of a time before the community. Jonas’ time with the old Receiver, now dubbed the Giver, and the memories he receives, open his eyes (almost literally) to the world around him. Continue reading “Movie Review: The Giver” →

Fall Reading and R.I.P.

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations2 Comments

lavinia-portraitRIP1It’s still hot where I live, but Autumn will soon be upon us…and that means it’s time for the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge.  This is another seasonal/genre-focused reading challenge hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings.  In keeping with crackling leaves and dusky breezes, this challenge focuses on horror and mystery and stories that make you shiver!

I am very late signing up this year…  The challenge began September 1st, and I only just realized it.  I get distracted for a week and see what happens!  In my defense, although I love all of Carl’s challenges, this one is a distant third.  The spring Once Upon a Time challenge?  Yeah, I may be guilty of checking for the sign-up post multiple times a day as the date approaches… 😉

Even if this one is not quite so beautifully-aligned with my favorite genres, I still always enjoy a walk on the darker side with this challenge.  And I may have been subconsciously preparing for this after all!  I just completed an Agatha Christie audiobook (finished September 3rd) and then began a listen to The Invisible Man, which strikes me as horror.  So you can expect those two reviews soon, and I also just put a Sherlock Holmes novel on reserve at the library, because I always like to get some Holmes in during this challenge.

Beyond that?  The Invisible Man has put me in the mood for old classic horror films, so I may be hunting down a few of those…  And beyond that?  I think I’ll just see how the wind blows!