Take a photo of a barcode or cover
strangenessbooks's reviews
965 reviews
Fear on 4 by Jcw Brooke
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This a series of radio shows from the 1980s, mostly adapted from stories from 1800s. Sexism of the time is reflected here and so very middle class as only BBC radio 4 can be. Its definitely not the best to consume most of these stories.
- The Snowman Killing - 1/5 stars for a new dress. - Child actors are painful to listen to. Also sexism
- Green and Pleasant - I think even in 1991, they would not cancel the whole TV day's news for random who might have kidnapped a pop star. 2/5 stars for Global Warming.
- Survival - Incredible, annoyingly sexist. Fatphobic too. While this audiobook came out in 2018, this radio drama is from March 1989. All these stories do have the touches of sexism. They are dated and you can tell. Frankly, this story is too silly. Just too silly to live because space would definitely still have health checks. Hate the ending. 1/5 stars for Men screaming.
- Soul Searching - Bernard Cribbins plays a role in this story so this has actually been on BBC iplayer. That whole what is the soul weighs something, let's mess around in this hospital to find out. Also murder to do it so horror. 2/5 stars for Bad Timing.
- The Beast With Five Fingers - These stories are adapted but it's hard to tell which ones in the context of the audiobook. This one is easy since its a distinctive title and I can tell you, it's a story that's been adapted into a film. The idea sounds sort of comical though. Why not just keep it in a jar? 2/5 stars for Bad Heirlooms.
- The Yellow Wallpaper: It's been a while since I read the story, but I don't love this adaption. 2/5 stars for Yellow stains.
- By the river, Fontainebleau: This is based on a modern short story, but it's not online so does it really exist? Horrible fate for a woman but told by a man. Not sure what the deal is. Poor people suck if I was to guess. Almost tempted to buy it. Almost. 2.5 stars mysterious pigs.
- The Face: Once again a woman's dreams are taken serious and then horror happens. It's fine. It's modernised but you can tell the original story is from 1920s. 3/5 stars for cliff walking.
- The Monkey's Revenge: Questionable disability representation. It has a girl with mental disability being roped into caring for monkeys being used as lab experiments. Not sure why you would think that was a good idea. Actually fucking questionable as hell with that title. Not good. Not good at all. 3/5 stars for unnecessary buttons.
- Fat Andy: Yes, this does involve body shaming and a vibe of ableism. This is another story with a mentally disabled person. There's no reason for it. Disability doesn't need a reason but I don't trust it here. I don't like the title. It should be called Johanna if anything. 2/5 stars for No kisses.
- The Journey Home: Another women being gaslight by her husband, a common theme in this radio show. The idea is scary, but the execution is not. 2.5 stars for Her Eyes.
- Dead Man's boots: People move into a old house and find a secret room. If it was normal, they would have TikTok baited that for a week. Sick of violence against woman and men just being fine. Hated in real life but this is radioshow that someone curated into 13 stories.
- The Judge's House: Adaptation of a Bram Stoker story. I do not love this adaption either. A real lack of tension.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Individual story, Content warning:
The Snowman Killing - Child death, car crash, sexism
Green and Pleasant - Body horror, torture, poison, animal cruelty.
Survival - Pregnancy, cannibalism, clash, space
Soul Searching - Hospital, surgery, murder, medical malpractice.
The Beast With Five Fingers - Death, fire,
The Yellow Wallpaper Mental illness, sexism, references to suicide
by the river, Fontainebleau: animal cruelty, cannibalism, rape implied; ableism;
The Face: sexism, death,
The Monkey's Revenge: Ableism, cancer, death, animal cruelty
Fat Andy: Bullying, Water; drowning; religion, body shaming; death of child, death; ableism (just the vibe of it).
The Journey Home: Car clash, mental illness
Dead Man's boots: domestic abuse (referenced), violence; murder.
The Judge's House: Suicide; rats;
Hell House by Richard Matheson
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
The scariest thing about this book was when my sky light window decided to smash as I was reading it and I dismissed as it being my overactive imagination deciding to spice up this boring book, while I was in a dark house by myself. Yeah, it was the only inside panel so spooky.
This book is from 1970 and apparently being lesbian was the scariest thing possible. Or this was written by a man who wants to fetish woman so it's just someone being sexually oppressed. This book is compared to Shirley Jackson beautiful novel, however, they not that similar except both have a group of four people investigating ghosts. Also, lesbians. One makes me want to dig up a body, just to disrespect it, in the way the author disrespects women. This novel falls into "Men should be banned from writing horror" camp. I found the writing of the women very annoying especially as the men were not sexually haunted.
Disability is treated interestingly here and interesting, I mean it's definitely has ableism. A slur even and disrespectful to intersex people. Surprise, we have a disabled villain reveal at the end that rises several questions for anyone who knows anything about the dangers of amputation in 1800s. We have a disabled main character, but he also a constant sceptic in an haunted house so definitely mocked by the narrative. I don't think he disabled in the film adaption but I'm gonna have to re-watch that because I rated it very high and I'm curious to remind myself why. Possible because all the sex stuff is not there, but definitely had questionable things on disability too.
The sexual nature of this book has aged it terribly. Frankly, now it would be comical for some of the tad bits.Like Jesus's giant penis. . Yes, Americans are still weird about sex but gay people exist in normality now and thanks to the internet, I treat kink in horror like an annoying jump scare. I think it would be funny to adapt it now, with modern people. Maybe that's just Scary Movie 2.
The haunting is meant to be personal but I get the women confused and had to go back to figure out who was being sexually violated this time.
The ending is too convoluted. Frankly, you can only do a fake out once, where this book does three times and expects me to respect it.
The setting of Christmas is incredibly random and it's never justified, or brought up until the last line of the novel. Why start this thing five days before Christmas? I mean in real life, stuff happens whenever but story tend to have reasons for being set at Christmas.
Anyway, Maine continues to be the most cursed place in Horror. Its funny seeing it appear pre-Stephen King who has a thing against his home state. I will probably read "I am legend" but probably done on the novel front for Matheson.
This book is from 1970 and apparently being lesbian was the scariest thing possible. Or this was written by a man who wants to fetish woman so it's just someone being sexually oppressed. This book is compared to Shirley Jackson beautiful novel, however, they not that similar except both have a group of four people investigating ghosts. Also, lesbians. One makes me want to dig up a body, just to disrespect it, in the way the author disrespects women. This novel falls into "Men should be banned from writing horror" camp. I found the writing of the women very annoying especially as the men were not sexually haunted.
Disability is treated interestingly here and interesting, I mean it's definitely has ableism. A slur even and disrespectful to intersex people.
The sexual nature of this book has aged it terribly. Frankly, now it would be comical for some of the tad bits.
The haunting is meant to be personal but I get the women confused and had to go back to figure out who was being sexually violated this time.
The ending is too convoluted. Frankly, you can only do a fake out once, where this book does three times and expects me to respect it.
The setting of Christmas is incredibly random and it's never justified, or brought up until the last line of the novel. Why start this thing five days before Christmas? I mean in real life, stuff happens whenever but story tend to have reasons for being set at Christmas.
Anyway, Maine continues to be the most cursed place in Horror. Its funny seeing it appear pre-Stephen King who has a thing against his home state. I will probably read "I am legend" but probably done on the novel front for Matheson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism and Abortion
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, and Cannibalism
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Man-Size in Marble by E. Nesbit
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
More creepy body horror involving mushrooms🍄
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Violence and War
Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a light read if you're used to serial killer and dark things.
Rhiannon sucks. Not a shock considering she is a serial killer. She also does that weird neurotypical thing where she hangs out with people she hates. She claims it cover but still, not a very good one. She hates everyone so she is randomly ableist. It’s at least two times. She somewhat of mixed of doing likable things for the wrong reason and you know, being a serial killer who gets off on killing people. She only kills bad people, but she is herself a bad person. I love grey characters, but I can’t decide if Rhiannon is compelling or mildly annoying. She is definitely meant to be unlikable at time, with history that explains some of her behaviour.
Rhiannon sucks. Not a shock considering she is a serial killer. She also does that weird neurotypical thing where she hangs out with people she hates. She claims it cover but still, not a very good one. She hates everyone so she is randomly ableist. It’s at least two times. She somewhat of mixed of doing likable things for the wrong reason and you know, being a serial killer who gets off on killing people. She only kills bad people, but she is herself a bad person. I love grey characters, but I can’t decide if Rhiannon is compelling or mildly annoying. She is definitely meant to be unlikable at time, with history that explains some of her behaviour.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism and Animal cruelty
The Suffering by Rin Chupeco
dark
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Minor: Child death, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault