Don't Go To To Sleep

I watched a movie on You Tube yesterday called 'Don't Go To Sleep'. It's a 1982 movie and I watched it years ago, and loved it. I really enjoyed watching it again. The quality wasn't very good but it was worth watching.

It's about a prank that goes wrong and the child comes back to haunt the family.

Here's the link to the first part, and you just click the link and watch the first part and then click the rest as you watch them till you get to part 10.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlH6zDMsYBM&feature=related

The Magic Cottage by James Herbert

Author: James Herbert
ISBN: 0-330-37625-x
Genre: Fiction/Horror
Pages: 394
Format: Paperback
Publisher: PAN

"We thought we'd found our haven, a cottage deep in the heart of the forest. Charming, maybe a little run down, but so peaceful. That was the first part of the Magic. Midge's painting and my music soared to new heights of creativity. That was another part of the Magic. Our love for each other - well, that became the supreme Magic. But the cottage had an alternative side - The Bad Magic." "What happened to us there was horrendous beyond belief. The healings, the crazy sect who wanted our home for themselves, the hideous creatures that crawled from the nether regions, and the bats - oh God, the bats! Even now those terrible things seem impossible to me. Yet they happened..."

This is the second time I've read this book, having read it for the first time years ago. I had forgotten the story so reading it again, was really enjoyable. Although James Herbert is not my most favourite author I really do like some of his books. Reading his books are a little like reading Stephen King's books, I have to be in the 'mood' for it. Otherwise, I'll soon get bored.

Anyway, it took half of this book to get through for anything to really happen, the first half is learning about Midge and Mike, and them moving to the cottage and some of the strange things that begin to happen. Midge is getting over her parents deaths and they both move out into the Cottage. Things happen that they can't explain, and the cottage seems to have a life of it's own. Not too far is a group of people, who are part of a sect. Things seem OK at first, but Mike is suspicious, and as Midge begins to become more friendly with them, the sect begin to get in between them both. There is more to this story but, if I carry on I'll be telling you the whole story!!!

This book is pretty spooky, I was especially spooked when Mike's friend 'Bob' comes to stay with his girlfriend Kiwi. They're awoken to Bob's screams as he sees something 'unnatural' in the cottage, and swears never to return again.

Overall, this is a good spooky ghost book. Which will have you shouting down at the characters, saying No! Wake Up! RUN! I loved the way Mike was described, and the whole relationship he had with Midge. It was sexy in places and had me laughing and smiling a long with them.
I loved how the Cottage was described, it made me want to move in there.

If you're a James Herbert fan, you'll love this book. If you haven't read this book, give it a go. You may find you'll love it.

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice.

Author: Anne Rice
ISBN: 0-7088-3153-2
Genre: Fiction/Horror
Pages:599
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Warner Books


"'Ah, the taste and feel of blood when all passion and greed is sharpened in that one desire!' Lestat: a vampire - but very much not the conventional undead, for Lestat is the truly alive. Lestat is vivid, ecstatic, stagestruck, and in his extravagant story he plunges from the lasciviousness of eighteenth-century Paris to the demonic Egypt of prehistory; from fin-de-siecle New Orleans to the frenetic twentieth-century world of rock superstardom - as, pursued by the living and the dead, he searches across time for the secret of his own dark immortality."

After reading Interview with the Vampire, I was really looking forward to reading the second in this series. The Vampire Lestat is, Lestat's story, his side of events that took place and how he became a vampire. This book was really fun to read, it was gripping in places and emotional. I've become really fond of Lestat, whereas, in Interview with the vampire, from Louis point of view he's a unkind.

Reading this book I could visualise easily the scenery and events taking place, I loved reading how becoming a vampire affected him, and I really liked reading about his relationship with Gabrielle. I'm really looking forward to the next installment which is The Queen of the Damned.

A really good read!

9/10

House of Echoes by Barbara Erskine

Author: Barbara Ersikine
ISBN: 0-58-351149-X
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 421
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Collins


"When Joss, who is adopted, decides to trace her natural parents, she finds her deceased mother has left her a country mansion in her will. Joss and her family are thrilled to start a new life, but gradually they begin to understand the house's terrible past."

I was really looking forward to reading this book, after hearing that some people really enjoyed it but, sadly I hated it! I had to slug through the last pages and basically rushed through the book to finish it.

I thought I was in for a good horror story, but I didn't find it scary and I was sick to death of reading about the whining from the two sisters Joss & Lyn. Whine whine whine!!!! I couldn't connect with any of the characters either. This book just didn't keep me interested. I found that I didn't really like Joss. I'm not sure if it was her character or the way the author writes? As even some things Joss husband (Luke) said to her, just didn't seem right in the book to me? There was just too much whining going on and not enough action and there didn't seem to be any atmosphere to this book.

I wouldn't even compare this book to 'Jame Herbert's The Secret of Crickley Hall', which imo was 100 times more exciting and scarier than this book.

This was my first Barbara Erskine book, I have Sands of Time sitting on my shelf, but that will be going way down on the list! Sorry to all those who like her, I know this book has been highly recommended else where. But I just didn't like this book.

My Rating: Obviously disappointing.

The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert.

Author: James Herbert
ISBN: 1-4050-0520-3
Genre: Fiction.
Publisher: Macmillan

"The Caleighs have had a terrible year...They need time and space, while they await the news they dread. Gabe has brought his wife, Eve, and daughters, Loren and Cally, down to Devon, to the peaceful seaside village of Hollow Bay. He can work and Eve and the kids can have some peace and quiet and perhaps they can try, as a family, to come to terms with what's happened to them...Crickley Hall is an unusually large house on the outskirts of the village at the bottom of Devil's Cleave, a massive tree-lined gorge - the stuff of local legend. A river flows past the front garden. It's perfect for them...if a bit gloomy. And Chester, their dog, seems really spooked at being away from home. And old houses do make sounds. And it's constantly cold. And even though they shut the cellar door every night, it's always open again in morning..."The Secret of Crickley Hall" is James Herbert's finest novel to date. It explores the darker, more obtuse territories of evil and the supernatural. With brooding menace and rising tension, he masterfully and relentlessly draws the reader through to the ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside."


I wanted to read this book after a few people I knew had read it and loved it. So I borrowed it from my sister and was really pleased I had!
For me, so far it has been the best James Herbert book I have read. I found it to go quickly into the story, which for me was really enjoyable. I adored the characters and felt that I was there. I was pretty gripped by this book.
It was pretty scary in places and I wouldn't read in a room on my own, but sometimes I did brave it hehehe.

The book is basically about a family who move into a haunted house, it's haunted by the ghosts of children. I won't say anymore as I don't want to give anything away.

If you're a fan or horror and James Herbert, then I think you'll enjoy this book.

My Verdict: Excellent!

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Author: Anne Rice
ISBN: 0-7088-6073-7
Genre: Horror Fiction
Publisher: Warner Books

"In a darkened room a young man sits telling the macabre and eerie story of his life - the story of a vampire, gifted with eternal life, cursed with an exquisite craving for human blood."

I had been after this book for a long time and when I spotted it in my local 2nd hand book store, I was thrilled! I had heard mixed reviews about this book, some people like it while others hate it.
Personally; I loved it!

I had seen the movie a few years ago and it has always been one of my favourites, so I pretty much knew the plot and the characters of this story. When reading it I did (as you do) picture the actors in the movie as those in the book. I thought that kind of helped, I liked it anyway, considering I love the movie and like the actors in it.

The book gave me an insight into the characters that the movie hadn't. I felt as though I got to know them much more and I could sympathize with them. I felt the book take me deeper into their characters and helped me to see them differently. For instance, you get a better picture of Louis, how he is a vampire who finds it hard to accept his role as a vampire. He finds it hard to let go of his human 'emotions' and feels sorrow for his victims. Lestat you begin to realise isn't that bad after all (in vampire terms lol). Also Claudia and how she has to come to terms with never having the opportunity to become a woman.

There is so much more to this book though and I loved, nearly every minute I spent reading it. There was only one small part of the book I didn't like much, and that was in the first half of the book, every now and then, the boy taking the interview would be mentioned. So where I was getting stuck into the story, I was all of a sudden pulled out of it as the boy asked a questions or he wanted to light his cigarette or something. But the 2nd half of the book that very rarely happened.

Overall, I loved the book and can't wait to read the next two in this series!

My verdict: Excellent!

The Shining by Stephen King

Author: Stephen King
ISBN: 0-450-04018-6
Genre: Supernatrual Fiction
Publisher: nel

"Danny is only five years old, but he is a "shiner", aglow with psychic voltage. When his father becomes caretaker of an old hotel, his visions grow out of control. Cut off by blizzards, the hotel seems to develop an evil force, and who are the mysterious guests in the supposedly empty hotel?"

I had seen the movie of this book ages ago, and as I've just recently become a fan of Stephen King's books, I just had to have this one.

The book is pretty much like the movie (we must remember the book came first), howevever there were a few things that were changed in the movie. I also have to say I do agree with the changes that were in the movie.

Whilst the book was exciting and thrilling to read, it would have been a bit corny if the movie was true to the book. Sounds crazy hey? But I was trying to picture this and that from the book and trying to imagine it in the movie and I just couldn't. The weird thing is I am one of those people who hate it when movie's aren't true to the book, but with this one it worked.

However, I'm here to talk about the book.

The Book is about how little Danny a 5 year old boy is brought up by his mother and father, his father is a recovering alcoholic and so although he loves his daddy dearly there have been some terrible times. Danny has a gift called the Shine, and this enables him to be able to see things from the future, mostly by his invisible friend Tony paying him a visit. When his father takes up a postion in a Hotel as caretaker, they uproot with him and things begin to go wrong. I won't say anymore about the story as I don't want to give anything away.

It took half of the book to get anything really started, you know the real stuff you can bite into. But it was a great read. Pretty scary in places, which sometimes I had chills going up and down my spine and the hairs of my neck were standing up, so scary that I wouldn't read parts of it on my own! LOL. One of my favourite Stephen King's book!

My Verdict: Brillianty Spooky!

The Green Mile by Stephen King

Author: Stephen King
ISBN: 0-75282-675-1
Genre: Fiction.
Publisher: Orion

"At Cold Mountain Penitentiary, along the lonely stretch of cells known as the Green Mile, killers await death, whilst their guards watch over them. Good or evil, innocent or guilty, none of them have ever seen the likes of brutal new prisoner John Coffey, seemingly a devil in human form."



This is the BEST Stephen King book I have read so far. It was exciting, very moving and also made me laugh in places. I have just finished it and have a headache from crying for the last hour and a half. There aren't really any words I can find to describe this book, because for me it was that great. May be great it the word? But I feel it is better than great. I will let you know in my verdict at the end of this review, I have a word now I feel that comes close to describing it.

I loved how the book went into Pauls life as an old man, you don't really get to see that in the movie, and how Mr Jingles story was carried on, so we found out what happened to him. Although it is different in the movie. Definitely the best Stephen King book I've read so far.

The story is about how Paul Edgecomb is one of those in charge of looking after those on death Role and who also does the executions. His story is about how a young black man is sent to one of his Cells where he waits for his date of Execution. Paul soon realises there is some special about John Coffey. If you've seen the movie, (which was mostly true to the book) then you basically know the book, but I would highly recommed reading the book, part of the story carries on and also, there is another part to the book you don;t really see in the movie. For me the book is better, although I do rate the movie highly too.

My vertict: A Masterpiece!

Pet Sematary by Stephen King.

Author: Stephen King
ISBN: 0-450-05769-0
Genre: Fiction-Horror
Publisher: nel

"The house looked right, felt right to Dr Louis Creed. A place where his family could settle, and the children could grow up and explore the rolling hills and meadows. Surely a safe place. Not a place to seep into your dreams, to wake you, sweating with fear and foreboding."

This is the second Stephen King book I've read and I loved it!
My favourite character in the book was Jud Crandall, who is an old man. For some reason I really do latch on to the older men characters, I feel all protective about them LOL.

I liked how the story went and it kept me gripped. Near the end of the book it was very eerie and gave me goose bumps.

Louis story begins when he moves to Ludlow house, and he finds himself trying to save the life of Pascow a man who is involved in a road accident and shortly afterwards his daughters cat dies, from there his journey begins and the rest is for you to find out!

Verdict: Brilliantly Chilling!

SHRINE by James Herbert

Author: James Herbert
ISBN: 0-450-05659-7
Genre: Fiction- Horror
Publisher: nel


"Innocence and evil become one as a little girl called Alice, a deaf mute, sees a lady in shimmering white who says she is the Immaculate Conception. Alice is suddenly cured and can perform miracles but her saintliness is replaced by a vile force."

I got this book on recommendation from my sister and like her it scared the shit out of me! LOL. I found it to be chilling, spooky and so scary.
I've read some James Herbert novels before; Magic Cottage, The Fog, Once, Haunted, but this one so far is my favourite simply because the fear factor is there. The atmosphere of the book just got to me!

Verdict: Brilliantly Scary!

James Herbert ~ The Fog.

Author: James Herbert
ISBN: 0-330-37615-2
Genre: Fiction-Horror
Publisher: Bantam Press

"The peaceful life of a Wiltshire village is shattered when an earthquake releases a cloud of strange fog that drives people insane. There is only one man who can control the violence that has been unleashed."


I just finished this book. When I first heard about it I thought it was a ghost story, but it isn't.
It's about how an earth quake happens and a mysterious gas is leaked from beneath the ground. This gas turns people crazy and they start to gather and kill them selves, either by throwing themselves into the sea or jumping from buildings. They also turn against each other.

John Holman has to save the UK (and possibily the world) from this gas by trying to get to it's center so a cure can be found.

The book starts off with lots of action but then slows down in the middle. It did pick up again and overall it was an OK book. Not one I would rush to read again.

Verdict: An Okay read