the_original_shelf_monkey's Reviews (2.46k)

False Bodies

J.R. McConvey

4.25

adventurous dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Enormously fun Newfoundland-set fantasy/mystery/horror. A salty fusion of hardboiled tropes, cryptids, cosmic horror, supervillainry, and squids galore, resulting in an inky brine that delights the pleasure centre of my brain. A sea monster-mash worthy of encore!

The Wicker Man

Anthony Shaffer, Robin Hardy

4.0

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

BOOK #18, 2025
THE WICKER MAN, Robin Hardy, Anthony Shaffer (1978)
One of the best movie novelizations I’ve read. Adds gratifying depth to characters to better accentuate the horror of tale’s end. A creepy slow burn (pun intended).

Things We Lost in the Fire

Mariana Enríquez

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

BOOK #17, 2025
Very strong collection of stories set in modern Argentina. Tinged with supernatural/cosmic horror but often horrific without need for paranormal embellishment. Deeply unsettling stuff.

The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper

Roland Allen

4.0

adventurous challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

BOOK #16, 2025
A thoroughly engaging trek through 3000+ years of notebooks and note taking. Roland Allen’s presentation is proof positive that there is nothing so seemingly mundane that a fascinating book cannot be written about it.

HIM

Geoff Ryman

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

BOOK #15, 2025
Brilliant take on the Christ mythos. Ryman subverts the story into a ferocious investigation of identity, gender roles, and self-examination.
Profoundly moving. Demands a re-read.