The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Week Three Discussion Thread + Community Rules & Spoiler Guidelines

Admittedly, I am behind on my reading for The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates this week. I hope to be caught with Part Three very soon. I wanted to stick to the posting schedule I'd created at the beginning of this read-along. So, with this in mind, I enlisted the aid of Google Gemini to help me flush out the major themes and discussion questions for Part Three of The Accursed. Read the following!

When reading Joyce Carol Oates’s The Accursed, one quickly realizes that the "curse" terrorizing Princeton, New Jersey, in 1905 is far more than a supernatural phantom. It is a physical manifestation of the moral rot, racial violence, and sexual repression buried beneath the polished exterior of Gilded Age America. In Part 3, Oates escalates her gothic pastiche to brilliant, unsettling new heights as the narrative shifts focus from suburban anxieties to the horrifying logic of the demonic "Bog Kingdom."

The Unreliable Historian and the Framing of Horror

A central triumph of the novel—which I really began to appreciate after reading Marianne’s Week 3 post over at Let’s Read—is the framing of our narrator, the late-twentieth-century historian M. W. van Dyck II. Marianne astutely pointed out that van Dyck may well be an unreliable narrator, and once you start looking for the cracks in his scholarly facade in Section 3, they are everywhere.

Van Dyck insists he is compiling an objective, painstaking record in 1984, but his mask as an impartial archivist slips constantly:

• Class and Racial Blind Spots: Writing as an elderly product of the Princeton establishment, van Dyck shares the same socio-political prejudices as the 1905 elite. He routinely sanitizes or rationalizes the community's moral failures while maintaining an air of high-minded decorum.
• Convenient Omissions: He openly admits to withholding, burning, or redacting letters and diary entries whenever the details become too scandalous or damaging to prominent families.
• Impossible Omniscience: Despite claiming to be a mere collector of historical documents, van Dyck casually penetrates the private inner thoughts, feverish hallucinations, and subconscious fears of figures like Woodrow Wilson and Upton Sinclair—turning "history" into a highly subjectively fabricated narrative.
• Personal Stake: Van Dyck isn't a neutral bystander; his own ancestry connects directly to the Slade family line and the events of the curse, giving him every reason to shape how history remembers these events.

As van Dyck channels private visions and glosses over uncomfortable truths, Oates—and van Dyck himself—reminds us that official historical record-keeping is often just as complicit in cover-ups as the perpetrators themselves.

The Horror of Social Hierarchy

Part 3 stands out as the narrative center of gravity for the novel’s social critique. Through Annabel Slade’s captivity under the demon Count Axom Mate, Oates transports readers to the Bog Kingdom—a twisted, funhouse-mirror reflection of Princeton elite society. In this subterranean underworld, populated by grotesque reptilian birds, mollusks, and forgotten corpses, class oppression is laid bare.

Oates doesn't pull her punches: the nightmare of the Bog Kingdom is not an invasion of external evil, but a direct reflection of Princeton's upper class. The way Count Axom Mate discards his former wives and mistreats the "unproductive" laboring class mirrors the cold ruthlessness of turn-of-the-century industrial capitalism and racial hierarchy.

Historical Figures as Flawed Mortals

One of Oates’s sharpest achievements in Section 3 is her continued subversion of historic titan figures. Woodrow Wilson (then President of Princeton University) continues his descent into self-righteous paranoia and petty bureaucratic feuds. Rather than portraying him as a noble statesman, Oates presents Wilson as a deeply conflicted hypocrite whose pious outward demeanor masks secret infatuations and moral cowardice.

Contrasting Wilson's elite ivory tower are figures like Upton Sinclair and Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain). Sinclair’s frantic socialist idealism highlights the severe labor and economic exploitation of the era, while Clemens’s outrage against lynching and white supremacy underscores the true evil haunting the town—not red-eyed devils, but systemic racism and white silence.

The Verdict on Section 3

Part 3 is dense, atmospheric, and intentionally hallucinatory. Oates uses structural subversion—interweaving letters, academic histories, unreliable narration, demonic visions, and pastiche—to challenge the very nature of storytelling. It is not a quick or comfortable read, but as an indictment of American historical amnesia, Section 3 is masterclass gothic literature.

   Discussion Questions for Our Read-Along

1. The Unreliable Narrator: Building on Mary Ann's observation about M. W. van Dyck II, where in Section 3 do you feel his bias as an elderly Princeton traditionalist is most obvious? Do you think he is intentionally hiding the truth or simply blinded by his own background?
2. The Mirror of the Bog Kingdom: How does the surreal ecology and social structure of Count Axom Mate’s Bog Kingdom reflect the real-world socio-economic conditions of 1905 America?
3. Historical vs. Fictional Monsters: Oates contrasts supernatural demons with real-world horrors like racial violence, lynching, and labor exploitation. Which forces in Section 3 feel more terrifying or destructive to you?
4. The Deconstruction of Woodrow Wilson: How does Oates’s portrayal of Woodrow Wilson challenge the traditional historical narrative of his legacy? Is he portrayed as a victim of the curse or an active contributor to it?
5. The Role of Repression: Many characters in Section 3 suffer from psychological hallucinations or physical illnesses. How does secret guilt or sexual repression act as a gateway for the curse?

Marianne, from Let's Read, has posted her Week Three thoughts regarding Part Three of The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates. Please click on the link provided to read and comment on Marianne's post. Marianne has once again provided food for thought in her post this week.

Drop Your Thoughts Below!

Feel free to answer any of the questions above, share your favorite line or footnote from Part One, or link your preliminary blog post/review draft in the comments!

Community Rules & Spoiler Guidelines

To keep our discussion engaging, respectful, and easy to navigate across different reading paces, please follow these group guidelines:

• Respect Diverse Perspectives: Book bloggers bring varied analytical styles and opinions. Critique the text, arguments, and narrative choices vigorously, but keep all interactions courteous and constructive.
• Use Spoiler Tags Outside Weekly Threads: Keep all plot discussions strictly within the designated week’s thread or channel. If you reference events beyond the current week's reading target in general chat, use spoiler tags (e.g., ||spoiler text|| or standard forum markup) and clearly label the page/chapter range.
• Tag Review Drafts & Posts: Feel free to share links to your blog posts, review drafts, or social media coverage! When posting links, mark whether the content contains spoilers so members reading at a slower pace can browse safely.
• Pacing & Asynchronous Courtesy: We encourage deep, long-form responses. If you reply to a post from earlier in the week, quote or tag the specific section so members can follow the conversation thread easily.
• Self-Promotion & Crossposting: Use the designated #Blog-Share thread to post your final reviews, group roundups, and cross-promotions. Keep main discussion threads focused on live text analysis.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Atomic Habits by James Clear, which was nicely narrated by the author. Atomic Habits was my last read for the month of September.

I've been meaning to read Atomic Habits for quite awhile, but I had been putting it off for other reads instead. 

Then, about six weeks ago, a Ukrainian woman living in Kyiv, Ukraine that I am an English buddy with, asked me to read Atomic Habits with her. We will be discussing this book via video chat this upcoming week.

I really enjoyed reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. This work of nonfiction about how to change ones habits was very engaging and straightforward. There are four laws to follow to enact changing ones habits. The laws themselves are broken down into easy to follow steps that seem very doable. I also like the fact that there are several pdf downloadable worksheets to help facilitate changing ones own habits. 

Below is the publisher's summary for Atomic Habits by James Clear from the Goodreads website:

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
- Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
- Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
- Design your environment to make success easier;
- Get back on track when you fall off course;
...and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

I am giving Atomic Habits by James Clear a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Nudge by Joseph Fink

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Nudge by Joseph Fink and nicely narrated by Cecil Baldwin & Kevin R. Free. Joseph Fink is a new to me author. Hoopla had recommended this novella to me based on the books I have read or listened to this year via the Hoopla app. 

I chose to listen to this novella based on the high ratings and also its short length at 2 hours, 28 minutes. Plus, I couldn't resist this horror and psychological thriller themed read as Halloween approaches.

Like the publisher's summary mentions below, I found the The Nudge by Joseph Fink to be atmospheric. I liked the duel narration for this novella as well. I also found the storyline to be interesting and engaging. As a side note, while I was listening to The Nudge, I found certain scenes reminding me of particular pop culture things... Like the song, 'Hotel California' by the Eagles, the Winchester Mansion, 'Psycho' (both the movie and novel), and the novel, Cujo. None of these things (Cujo, Psycho, Winchester Mansion, the song 'Hotel California') were actually referenced specifically in The Nudge, but certain scenes that were written made me think of of these particular pop culture icons.

I liked the characters for The Nudge too. However, The Nudge, was not as engrossing as I'd hoped it would be based on the overall rating of this novella.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Nudge by Joseph Fink I found on Chirp's website:

A new horror novella from the creator of Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead.

On the open road, evil doesn’t chase you. It waits . . .

Late one night, a wounded man checks into a remote roadside hotel. He’s running from something he can’t explain or escape. And over the course of a night, he’ll tell the hotel’s proprietor how his life fell apart.

It started with his wife. Subtle changes. Smiles that didn’t belong to her. Then violence—sudden, intimate, almost casual. Therapy offered hope. Recovery seemed possible. Until it wasn’t. He believes a hidden influence has attached itself to him, one that never forces, never commands. It whispers. It suggests. Nudges people toward their worst impulses.

Now the man wanders the country as a fugitive, hoping to break free from the evil that’s wormed its way into him. But as our narrator’s story unfolds, he begins to question whether he’s fled far enough …

Tense, atmospheric, and chilling, The Nudge is a slow-burn tale of suspense that will linger like a whisper in the dark, long after the story is over.

I am giving The Nudge by Joseph Fink a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard

I came across the audio version of Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard via Hoopla. I like eating Indian fry bread, although I haven't eaten it in years. I also wanted to learn more about Native American Culture. Because of this, I chose to listen to Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard. 

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story is a children's book published in 2019 and it has numerous accolades including the Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Medal, Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book of 2019, Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019, and NPR's 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers.

I really enjoyed listening to the audio version of Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, which is nicely narrated by the author. My only complaint about listening to the audio version of this book is that the reader misses out on viewing the illustrations found within the physical book.

For being an illustrated children's book, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story is filled with plenty of information about fry bread and also about Native American history. I learned that the Navajo tribe was the first to make fry bread over 150 years ago. There are also several different recipes for fry bread, which I thought was interesting as I only thought there was one universal recipe. The author even included his own recipe for fry bread and how to make it.

Additionally, I learned that there are 573 federally recognized Native American tribes here in the USA and 67 state recognized Native American tribes. There was plenty of other information within Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story that I found informative too.

I am giving Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

Stoicism by Tony Bennis

I originally download the unabridged audio version of Stoicism by Tony Bennis from Chirp Books around 3 to 4 years ago. However, Chirp Books no longer seems to carry this audiobook title for whatever reason!

I meant to initially listen to Stoicism by Tony Bennis when I first purchased it 3 to 4 years ago, but I kept putting it off and reading other books instead. I am into philosophy and also self-help books that will hopefully inspire change within. Since stoicism is an ancient philosophy, I figured learning more about stoicism may help give me a new perspective on how to inspire change within vs. a more current psychologically based self-help based book.

Stoicism by Tony Bennis is a quick read... Or in my case, a quick listen as the audio edition is less than four hours in length. Stoicism by Tony Bennis is a beginner's overview of stoicism for the uninitiated who desires to to gain basic knowledge about stoicism to hel facilitate practical change. I found this book to be a nice introduction to stoicism that I may refer back to repeatedly as needed. There are also exercises to complete at the end of each chapter to solidify the points made within each chapter. I look forward to exploring more in depth books about stoicism in the future.

Below is the summary for Stoicism by Tony Bennis from Bookshop.org:

Are the troubles of modern life getting to you?

The solution to your troubles is contained in the wisdom of the ancients.

Stoicism is a philosophy that was started in Ancient Greece, but this two-thousand-year-old worldview is enjoying a modern rebirth. All across the globe, people are coming to appreciate the timeless wisdom of Stoicism.

You don't have to suffer. You may not be able to control the path your life will take, but Stoicism teaches that you can control the way you see life. By shifting your way of thinking you can eliminate unnecessary suffering, reshape your thought patterns, and achieve that sense of calm you've always wanted.

In this book, you will find all of the information you need to understand Stoic thought and put it into action in your life.

• Start by understanding what Stoicism is and isn't. Once you understand the basic concepts you'll learn the history of this storied Philosophy. From there you will build up your understanding while learning how to put each new concept into practice.

• Gain insight into the emotions that can keep you from living the life that you want to lead. Find out how to master your heart by feeding positive emotions while starving the negative.

• Learn a strategy for success that has helped some of history's greatest heroes to triumph in the face of tragedy. When you learn to see obstacles as opportunities you can rise to the top while others fall behind.

• Find out how to prepare yourself for any challenge life may hand you. Don't wait for tragedy to strike before you learn how to handle it. Start building the skills that will allow you to weather any storm.

• Take steps today to change your life. This isn't a self-help book for you to read and forget, it calls for real action that will create real results.

All throughout the book, you will find a treasure trove of Stoic wisdom in the form of quotes from history's greatest Stoic thinkers. Learn the lessons taught by history's greatest teachers, passed onto you in plain English.

You don't have to live a life ruled by stress and worry. No matter who you are, you can learn how to master your own mind and retake control of your life.

The power to change is inside of you, the ancient secrets of Stoicism will show you how to unlock your full potential.

I am giving giving Stoicism by Tony Bennis a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell

Last month, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell, which was well narrated by Sara Morsey. Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell is the fourth cozy mystery novel in the 'Dune House Series'.

Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell is a short, light listen and was another perfect pick after listening to Therese Raquin by Emile Zola. I adore cozy mystery novels! Hidden Hideaways was a really good cozy mystery novel. Not perfect, but good enough as a palate cleanser after listening to a heavier classic novel earlier in the month.

The storyline for Hidden Hideaways is fun, captivating, and to the point. I liked the main characters quite a bit. Hidden Hideaways has to be my favorite novella in the series. It contains more action, more red herrings, and more characters as suspects to choose from than the previous novellas in the series.

Below is the publisher's summary for Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell from Chirp's website:

Suzie and Mary are enjoying running the newly reopened Dune House, a stunning bed and breakfast on the beach. Their friendship has never been stronger. Mary is in her element using the skills she gained taking care of her family to ensure their guests have an unforgettable experience and Suzie’s relationship with Paul is flourishing.

But when Paul threatens a guest and then the guest is found dead, Paul becomes the prime murder suspect. But there is one problem. He has disappeared without a trace. Suzie believes that Paul is innocent and is worried that he is in grave danger so she starts her own investigation to find him and uncover the truth. 

It’s a race against the clock to find Paul before it’s too late! But is Paul really who Suzie thinks he is or has he deceived Suzie and been using her all along?

I am giving Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars. 

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Treasured History by Cindy Bell

Last month, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Treasured History by Cindy Bell, which was well narrated by Sara Morsey. Treasured History by Cindy Bell is the third cozy mystery novel in the 'Dune House Series'. 

Treasured History by Cindy Bell is a short, light listen and was a perfect pick after listening to Therese Raquin by Emile Zola last month. I adore cozy mystery novels! Treasured History was a good cozy mystery novel. I enjoyed this cozy novella much better than the first two novellas in the series.

The storyline for Treasured History is fun and engaging. I liked the main characters quite a bit. It was also a bit more tricky to guess the killer this go around as there were more red herrings and characters to choose from than in the previous novellas.

Below is the publisher's summary for Treasured History by Cindy Bell from Chirp's website:

Dune House, a stunning old house right on the beach, is finally ready to be reopened as a bed and breakfast. Best friends, Suzie and Mary, are very excited that their hard work has paid off and the opening weekend has finally arrived. They are even more excited that they have guests booked in on opening day.

But before the B & B is officially opened Mary is distracted by a surprise guest and Suzie is distracted by her blossoming romance with Paul. When their guests do arrive they get more than they bargained for. Not only do they have to accommodate a very pretentious guest and an unusual guest but there is a problem with the plumbing.

Then someone is found murdered. With the reputation of Dune House to protect, Suzie and Mary want the murder solved quickly so they do a little investigating of their own to speed up the investigation.

What secrets does the history of Dune House hold that could lead to murder?

I am giving Treasured History by Cindy Bell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones, which was nicely narrated by Shaun Taylor-Corbett.

I have mixed feelings regarding the books written by Stephen Graham Jones. I read and disliked The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, but I enjoyed Night of the Mannequins despite the fact that it was different than I thought it would be. 

So, Mapping the Interior is my third read by Stephen Graham Jones. I didn't love this novella, but didn't hate it either. Maybe, this just means that Stephen Graham Jones's writing just isn't for me.

As far as Mapping the Interior goes, it falls into the indigenous horror genre. There is a lot of suspense as to what is truly happening  and why. Several key indigenous themes throughout make Mapping the Interior an eerie read with a horrific ending.

I asked Google Gemini to flush out the key themes for Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones. See below:

Stephen Graham Jones’s 2017 novella Mapping the Interior blends Indigenous horror with psychological trauma. The story follows Junior, a twelve-year-old Blackfeet boy who catches a glimpse of his deceased father walking through their modular home in full fancy-dancer regalia.

Grief and the Mythologizing of Absence

Junior barely knew his father, who died under mysterious circumstances when Junior was very young. Instead of grieving a real person, Junior constructs an idealized myth of a protective figure. His desire for guidance causes him to ignore the entity’s increasingly parasitic nature, highlighting how unresolved grief distorts judgment and turns memory into a dangerous force.

The Horror of Paternal Duty and Cycle of Harm

The father's ghost presents itself as a guardian, but keeping him anchored requires devastating sacrifices from the living—specifically targeting Junior's younger brother, Dino. Jones explores how generational trauma operates under the guise of family loyalty, forcing children to endure harm to preserve a patriarch's memory.

Displacement and Domestic Space

The modular home acts as a physical manifestation of dislocation and poverty. By literalizing the title, Junior attempts to "map" the house's interior, discovering impossible dimensions inside a cheap structure. This mirrors the experience of off-reservation displacement—trying to carve out identity and cultural connection inside space designed to be impermanent and featureless.

Cultural Identity and Perverted Ritual

Traditional Indigenous practices, such as the father's fancy dancing and ritualistic protection, become twisted into something predatory. Rather than providing spiritual grounding, the ritual elements become violent demands, critiquing the impulse to blindly weaponize tradition without accountability.

Below is the publisher's summary for Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones found Chirp's website:

The New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones, brings readers a spine-tingling journey through a young boy’s haunted home. Winner of the 2017 Bram Stoker Award for Long Fiction!

“A triumph. So emotionally raw, disturbing, creepy, and brilliant.”
—Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie

Walking through his own house at night, a young boy thinks he sees another person stepping through a doorway. The figure reminds him of his long-dead father, who drowned mysteriously before his family left the reservation. When he follows, it he discovers his house is bigger and deeper than he ever knew.

The house is the kind of wrong place where you can lose yourself and find things you’d rather not have. Over the course of a few nights, the boy tries to map out his house in an effort that puts his younger brother in the worst danger, and puts him in the position to save them … at a terrible cost.

I'm giving Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Boats and Bad Guys by Cindy Bell

Last month, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Boats and Bad Guys by Cindy Bell, which was well narrated by Sara Morsey. Boats and Bad Guys by Cindy Bell is the second cozy mystery novel in the 'Dune House Series'.

Boats and Bad Guys by Cindy Bell is a short, light listen and was another perfect pick after listening to Therese Raquin by Emile Zola. I adore cozy mystery novels! Boats and Bad Guys was a decent cozy mystery novel. Not great, but good enough as a palate cleanser after listening to a heavier classic novel earlier in the month.

The storyline for Boats and Bad Guys is fun and to the point. I liked the main characters quite a bit. It was easy to guess the killer as there weren't that many characters in this book to begin with. It would have been nicer to have more characters and red herrings to keep a reader guessing as to whodunnit. At least there was more action to this novella than in Seaside Secrets.

Below is the publisher's summary for Boats and Bad Guys by Cindy Bell from Chirp's website:

Best friends, Suzie and Mary, are enjoying living together in Garber. They are settling into their new lives and are finalizing the renovations on the spectacular B & B on the beach. They find the perfect painting to decorate one of the rooms. It is painted by a local, young artist who committed suicide years earlier.

But then they find something hidden in the frame that piques their curiosity and they want to find out its significance. During their investigations they begin to believe that the artist of the painting did not commit suicide and they try to discover the truth. But there are two dangerous men who want the truth buried. With a storm brewing they overcome many obstacles on their journey to uncover the facts before the evidence is lost forever.

Will Suzie and Mary’s quest for adventure land them in danger? Will they discover the truth before the bad guys silence them? Is love between Suzie and the mysterious captain, Paul, on the horizon?

I am giving Boats and Bad Guys by Cindy Bell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell

 

Last month, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell, which was well narrated by Sara Morsey. Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell is the first cozy mystery novel in the 'Dune House Series'. 

Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell is a short, light listen and was a perfect pick after listening to Therese Raquin by Emile Zola. I adore cozy mystery novels! Seaside Secrets was a decent cozy mystery novel. Not great, but good enough as a palate cleanser after listening to a heavier classic novel.

The storyline for Seaside Secrets is fun and to the point. I liked the main characters quite a bit. It was easy to guess the killer as there weren't that many characters in this book to begin with. It would have been nicer to have more characters and red herrings to keep a reader guessing as to whodunnit.

Below is the publisher's summary for Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell from Chirp's website:

When Suzie inherits a neglected beach house from her estranged uncle, she and her best friend decide to restore the property to its former status as a charming bed-and-breakfast — but as they start renovations, evidence emerges of foul play in Suzie’s uncle’s death. Can they nail a killer before someone has deadly designs on their lives?

I am giving Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

 

As a side note, I help teach English to a Ukrainian woman living in Ukraine. She has read and recommended The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I've seen this book over the years, but have never read it before... That is until this month!

I had Google Gemini flush out, organize, and rewrite my initial thoughts after reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It was too much for me to write a detailed, indepth post while in a CRPS/RSD flare.

Have you ever picked up a book that felt less like a story and more like a quiet conversation with your own life goals?

That is precisely the magic of Paulo Coelho’s novel, The Alchemist. While framed as a simple fiction story, Santiago’s trek across the desert taps into universal themes of destiny, spirituality, and personal growth.

I recently experienced this timeless fable through the audiobook edition narrated by British actor Jeremy Irons, and it gave the entire story a rich, captivating layer. Here is my breakdown of why this short novel makes such a big impact—and how its philosophical roots align with modern ideas about manifestation.

1. A Masterclass in the Hero’s Journey

At its core, The Alchemist follows Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who leaves behind the safety of his home and flock to chase a recurring dream of treasure near the Egyptian pyramids.

Santiago’s path follows Joseph Campbell’s classic Hero’s Journey to a tee:

• The Call to Adventure: A persistent dream that disrupts his routine.
• Mentors & Guides: Unforgettable characters like Melchizedek (the King of Salem), a cautious crystal merchant, and the Alchemist himself.
• Trials & Transformation: Facing robbery, doubt, love, and tribal warfare in the Sahara.

Instead of just seeking material wealth, Santiago’s journey shifts into a search for his "Personal Legend"—the true purpose each of us is called to pursue.

2. Faith, Mysticism, and the "Soul of the World"

Coelho effortlessly blends concepts from various traditions—Christianity, Sufism, and ancient Hermetic wisdom—without landing heavily on any single dogma.

The story introduces the idea of the "Soul of the World," an interconnected spiritual energy where all living things speak a shared, silent language. It’s a comforting, meditative take on spirituality: the idea that listening to your heart and paying attention to everyday omens connects you to a broader universal rhythm.

3. The Proto-Secret: Manifestation Before It Was Trendy

If you’ve ever read Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, Coelho’s most famous line will sound immediately familiar:

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

This is essentially the Law of Attraction wrapped in a mythic allegory. It’s worth noting that Coelho published The Alchemist in 1988—nearly two decades before The Secret hit shelves in 2006. While Byrne framed manifestation as a self-help methodology, Coelho framed it as a narrative truth: when you commit fully to your path, the world aligns to support you.

4. The Jeremy Irons Effect: Why Audio is the Ultimate Format

If you are planning to experience (or re-experience) this book, listen to the audiobook.

Jeremy Irons’ narration is pure audio perfection. His warm, gravelly, and gravitas-filled voice brings a cozy, campfire-story atmosphere to the entire listening experience. He delivers the novel's frequent proverbs and philosophical reflections with a gentle, thoughtful cadence that keeps them from feeling preachy or heavy-handed.

Final Verdict

The Alchemist is a short, lyrical read that sits right at the intersection of fiction, philosophy, and motivation. Whether you read it as an adventure, a spiritual allegory, or a precursor to modern self-help, it leaves you reflecting on your own life goals. 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is filled with too many likable quotes to share here.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho found on Goodreads website:

Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom, and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, following our dreams.

I am giving The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho a rating 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Have you read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? What was your take on this novel? Do you consider The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho to be a modern day classic?

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser)

I can't remember now where I first learned about The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser). Maybe from another book blogger?? Anyway, I've had The Wave on my reading wishlist for quite a while and decided that this month was going to be the one for reading this novel.

The Wave is a young adult novel based on real life events that take place at a high school in Palo Alto, California back in 1969. The fact that this novel is based on real life event and the captivating synopsis are what initially captured my attention enough to want to read The Wave.

Since I'm currently having a complex regional pain syndrome (crps) flare up, I used Google Gemini to help me flush out some of the finer points of this book as follows below:

A Chilling Study in Groupthink: Review of The Wave by Morton Rhue

Morton Rhue’s 1981 novel The Wave (a pen name for Todd Strasser) remains one of the most stark, accessible explorations of how totalitarianism develops within a society. Based on Ron Jones’s real-life 1967 "Third Wave" classroom experiment at a California high school, the story serves as a haunting answer to a timeless question: How could ordinary people allow something like Nazi Germany to happen?

Premise & Plot

When history teacher Ben Ross shows his high school class documentary footage of Holocaust concentration camps, his students react with disbelief. They insist that the average German citizen could not possibly have stood by while millions were murdered. Intrigued and slightly frustrated by their skepticism, Ross decides to launch an unannounced classroom experiment.

He introduces strict discipline, snappy salutes, and unifying slogans: "Strength Through Discipline, Strength Through Community, Strength Through Action." He dubs the movement "The Wave."

What begins as an engaging pedagogical tool quickly spirals out of control:

• Instant Belonging: Outsiders and victims of bullying, like student Robert Billings, suddenly find status and equality within the group.

• Enforced Conformity: The movement rapidly spreads beyond the history classroom. Dissenters—most notably Laurie Saunders, the student newspaper editor—are ostracized, threatened, and labeled as traitors.

• Loss of Control: Ben Ross himself becomes intoxicated by the absolute authority and order he commands, delaying the end of the experiment even as violence begins to leak into the school hallways.

Key Themes

Theme	How It Manifests in the Book
Conformity vs. Individuality	Students willingly trade personal critical thinking for the security and comfort of belonging to a collective.
The Appeal of Fascism	Rhue demonstrates that authoritarian systems do not begin with obvious cruelty; they begin with order, pride, and shared purpose.
Power Dynamics	Ben Ross highlights how authority easily corrupts even well-meaning leaders who believe they remain in control.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Strengths: The pacing is rapid and taut. At under 150 pages, it reads with the urgency of a thriller. The psychological shift of the students feels disturbingly believable, demonstrating how quickly human beings succumb to tribalism when offered structure and inclusion.

• Weaknesses: Written primarily as young adult literature, the prose is straightforward and occasionally sparse. Character development takes a back seat to the central psychological experiment, making some interactions feel somewhat functional rather than deeply nuanced.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser) I found on Amazon's website:

The Wave is based on a true incident that occurred in a high school history class in Palo Alto, California, in 1969.

The powerful forces of group pressure that pervaded many historic movements such as Nazism are recreated in the classroom when history teacher Ben Ross introduces a "new" system to his students. And before long "The Wave", with its rules of "strength through discipline, community, and action," sweeps from the classroom through the entire school. And as most of the students join the movement, Laurie Saunders and David Collins recognize the frightening momentum of "The Wave" and realize they must stop it before it's too late.

I am giving The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser) a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

 

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

I listened to the unabridged audio version of What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, which is well narrated by Avi Roque. I'd had this horror/fantasy novella on my reading wishlist for a while. I'm glad I finally listened to What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher as it was really good. 

What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's, The Fall of the House of Usher. What Moves the Dead is also the first novella in the 'Sworn Soldier' series. If you enjoy reading books and novellas that fall into the horror and fantasy genres and are also into a retelling of a classic story, then this book may be for you. The storyline, plot, and characters are fun! This book is most definitely worth the hype.

Below is the publisher's summary for What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher found on the Goodreads website:

From the award-winning author of The Twisted Ones comes a gripping and atmospheric retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher."

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

I'm giving What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars. 

Until my next post, happy reading!

Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates, which was nicely narrated by Lauren Ezzo. I you enjoy suspenseful novellas, then you will enjoy Cardiff, by the Sea as all four novellas were very good and very different from each other. 

Cardiff, by the Sea is the second book I've read by Joyce Carol Oates this year. Interestingly enough, both books I've read by Joyce Carol Oates this year have been buddy reads. This time around, I read Cardiff, by the Sea with Marianne @ Let's Read. Marianne is a fan of Joyce Carol Oates's writing too! Marianne made a perfect reading buddy as we had lots to discuss. Checkout Marianne's blog by clicking on the link above.

I want to break down my review of Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates by reviewing each novella. Each novella contains a female protagonist who is threatened, manipulated, or traumatized by predatory, abusive, or toxically controlling male figures. 

Additionally, most of these novellas has an ambiguous ending to them. The final novella has a resolution of sorts, but not everything is entirely wrapped up so neatly at the end. Joyce Carol Oates is notorious for writing ambitious endings! But then again perhaps that's the appeal... Perhaps, JCO wants you, the reader, to draw your own conclusions.

1. Cardiff, by the Sea

This is the titular first novella in the collection and happens to be my personal favorite. JCO's writing here is superb. The basic premise follows an academic in Pennsylvania who discovers a terrifying trauma from her past after inheriting a house in Cardiff, Maine, from a relative she never knew existed.

The protagonist, Clare, was given up for adoption as a baby and never spent much time dwelling on her origins—until she inherits property from her biological paternal grandmother. Summoned by the estate lawyer, Clare travels to Maine and meets her eccentric great-aunts and paternal uncle. That’s where things begin to go awry. Strange, unsettling things start happening to Clare—or so she believes.

Clare learns that both of her biological parents died tragically, but no one—not even the estate lawyer—will explicitly tell her how. Instead, Clare is directed to the local library to uncover the truth herself, and the answers she finds are horrific. Obsessed with uncovering what really happened, Clare sets out to interview anyone who might know the real story behind her parents' dark past.

2. Miao Dao

"Miao Dao" refers to a traditional Chinese two-handed saber, but it doubles as a clever wordplay on JCO's part, as cats ("meow") play a central role in the narrative. In this story, an eleven-year-old girl named Mia is struggling through her parents' tense divorce while navigating the uncomfortable, predatory attention of older neighborhood boys and men. Overwhelmed by loneliness and anxiety, Mia adopts a fierce feral cat. The bond between them turns dark and protective as the cat becomes a silent guardian against the increasingly aggressive males in her life. It’s an unsettling look at how young girls are forced to navigate terrifying environments far too early.

3. Phantomwise: 1972

Set in the title year of 1972, this story centers on Alyce, a brilliant but deeply insecure and shy college sophomore who finds herself in a terrifying dilemma when she becomes pregnant. The setting of 1972 is crucial here: it takes place immediately before the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. At this time, abortion was still largely illegal across most of the United States, leaving young, isolated women with virtually no safe or legal options.

Terrified and lacking institutional support, Alyce becomes completely dependent on the men around her. Enter an older, charismatic poetry professor who steps in to "take her under his wing," though his motives are far from innocent. JCO brilliantly highlights the legal traps and social taboos of the pre-Roe era, showing how restrictive healthcare laws weaponized control over women's bodies and left them uniquely vulnerable to predatory, manipulative authority figures. The tension in this piece is suffocating as Alyce struggles to find agency in a world designed to strip it away.

4. The Surviving Child

This was probably my least favorite of the four novellas, but it was still a gripping, eerie read. The story functions as a subtle roman à clef inspired by the tragic lives of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. It follows Elisabeth, a woman who marries a charismatic, domineering widower whose famous poet ex-wife died by suicide, taking one of their children with her.

JCO leans heavily into the classic, dark "wicked stepmother" trope here—though with a psychological twist. Elisabeth steps into the household trying to care for the surviving child, but she is quickly consumed by the toxic family dynamic. Instead of being the villain, Elisabeth becomes a victim of the domestic haunting, finding herself tormented by the late wife's lingering voice, an inexplicably befouled well, and an unsettling, hypnotic attraction to the garage where the horrific tragedy took place. While it felt a bit slower than the rest, it paints a haunting picture of inherited grief and psychological decline.

Here's the publisher's summary for Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates, which I discovered on Hoopla:

An academic in Pennsylvania discovers a terrifying trauma from her past after inheriting a house in Cardiff, Maine, from someone she has never heard of. A pubescent girl, overcome with loneliness, befriends a feral cat that becomes her protector from the increasingly aggressive males that surround her. A brilliant but shy college sophomore is distraught to discover that she's pregnant, and the professor who takes her under his wing may not have innocent intentions. And a woman who marries into a family shattered by tragedy finds herself haunted by her predecessor's voice, an inexplicably befouled well, and a compulsive attraction to a garage that took two lives.

In these psychologically daring, chillingly suspenseful pieces, the author of We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde writes about women facing threats past and present, once again cementing her reputation for "great intelligence and dead-on imaginative powers" (Los Angeles Times Book Review).

I am giving Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

P. S. I did have Google Gemini help me rewrite my summaries for each of the novellas to make them sound/flow better. The rest of this post is solely written by me without Google Gemini's assistance.