Showing posts with label Richie tankersley cusick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richie tankersley cusick. Show all posts
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Flashback Sunday! The Locker: Chapter 5 Recap
Finally back on track, baby!
Previously:
Marlee survived the first day of school with no more smelly locker incidents. Noreen and she chatted about boys and Marlee met a creepy guy who called her a snob. Dobkin (Marlee's younger brother) also reminded her that the smelly smell she smelled was the smell of death and that she had smelled it before...when their parents died.
That's a little longer intro than I usually do but it's been a couple weeks since I did The Locker so I thought I'd give a reminder. Anyways...
Chapter 5:
Marlee freaks out on Dobkin for reminding her of it. She gives Dobkin, her six-year-old brother, a huge guilt trip and starts to stomp off until their aunt pulls up to pick them up. Aunt Celia notices that they're not speaking but decides not to interfere.
Once home, Marlee stomps upstairs and locks her door. Dobkin hangs back, probably feeling like shit.
Upstairs, Marlee is crying into her pillow, trying not to think about what Dobkin said. She remembers the night that their parents died. She had been studying when she felt something similar to what she felt when she opened The Locker. She had gotten upset and run into Dobkin's room (who probably would have been four). They'd held each other until the doorbell rang. Which was the police? I'm guessing, because she doesn't exactly say who told them. Or who arranged the funeral or any of that.
If the police told a 13 year old girl that her parents were dead when she was by herself with her brother they should be fired. I'm assuming their aunt took care of the rest of it.
She goes to the door to find Dobkin there. She doesn't apologize for screaming like a maniac at him. He tells her that their aunt knows she's upset but doesn't know why. And apparently doesn't care to find out. Dobkin says their aunt thinks maybe nerves.
Marlee suggests that maybe that is why she felt what she felt and Dobkin whatevers her. He asks her what she knows about the girl that disappeared but Marlee just knows her name.
Marlee goes over it again and they try to think it through. Dobkin suggests reading old papers to see if they say anything about the disappearance. Then he asks about what Noreen and Tyler did when Marlee freaked out. Like, "Oh, no. The haunted locker strikes again!" But Marlee says they acted normally. Dobkin reminds her of their parents again. How she knew they were dead even though they were miles away. She gets tired of the conversation and hurries him out to do homework. Dobkin warns her that it might happen again, she says no. Dobkin warns her that next time it might be her that's in trouble.
She looks out over their backyard a bit and thinks to herself that it's a little weird that no one has come to welcome them to the neighborhood or anything. It being a small town and all. She notices a tree very close to the house, perfect for climbing out onto or Dawson's Creek levels of spying.
She thinks over what Dobkin said and tries to argue with herself a bit. But that doesn't work for long because she remembers that when it was her turn to pick the city it felt like something grabbed her hand and slammed it into Edison. That is one far-reaching ghost. Or, are her psychic powers like Batman? They know where they're needed.
She feels someone watching her so she screams for her aunt. But then it's gone. So, I'm guessing next chapter when Aunt Celia arrives to check it out, Marlee's going to feel like an idiot and make an excuse. Just a guess. If Aunt Celia does. She might just think it's nerves.
End of Chapter
So, not much exciting this chapter. Just a lot of Marlee arguing with herself. Come back on Tuesday for more of Emily being rude to Deputy Dolly in Dead Dancing Women and Wednesday I'll have another X-File up. After the holidays I plan to do more episodes a week. At this rate the new show will be in it's fourth season by the time I get to the end of season 1.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Flashback Sunday! The Locker: Chapter 4 Recap
Last Week:
Marlee learned that the former owner of her locker disappeared mysteriously.
Chapter 4:
As they're (finally) going to class, Noreen fills Marlee in on who Suellen is.There's not much to tell. One day Noreen and her were walking with each other and the next day she was gone.
Just before going into class Marlee oh-so-casually asks Noreen if she and Tyler are dating. Noreen says they're just friends. Marlee is a little embarrassed because she didn't fool Noreen for a second.
The day goes by in a blur for her. Don't they always when you need to conveniently pass time? Marlee appreciates the fact that everyone is nice to her (take notes, Bella) but she just can't keep her mind off...what? Tyler? Nope! I think we may just have a girl that doesn't fall obsessively in love at first sight. Rare these days, I know.
Actually, what she can't stop thinking about is The Locker. It creeps her out a lot that the girl who had it before her disappeared and the smell and vision are disturbing her. She is somewhat miserable but it has more to do with yet another new school and feeling like everyone is staring and whispering. She's thankful for Noreen's presence.
I see this as yet more proof that even though Aunt C is a "cool" aunt she shouldn't be dragging two kids all over the United States. Especially since there is no reason for it. She just doesn't like staying in one place too long. They've lost their parents so why put added stress on them by yanking them in and out of schools every few months?
Anywho, back to the story. She's carrying around all of her stuff rather than face The Locker again.
Noreen invites her out after school but Marlee has to pick up her younger brother, Dobkin. Noreen perks up at the mention of a brother but gets disappointed when she learns that Dobkin is only 6. I usually don't like weird names, especially for little kids. Sometimes it makes it seem too cutesy. But I like the name Dobkin.
Noreen leaves Marlee alone with her thoughts and a knot in her stomach at the prospect of meeting the rest of the kids at school. She's dreading the thought of opening The Locker, fearing a repeat of the first time. Nothing happens though.
Her next door locker neighbor introduces himself. He's described as tall, tanned and shoulder length hair in varying shades of blonde. He is dressed a bit like a down-home boy: in jeans, a denim shirt and boots.
He's very intense and wants to know why they moved to Edison. She counters with a "Why not?"
He says that no one would ever transfer there and they're not related to anyone in town so he wants to know her reason for moving there. Because no one would possibly move somewhere just beacause. He's kind of a dick about it.
Marlee gives him a "What's it to you, asshole?" answer (I may ne paraphrasing a bit here). He thinks she's moved there "looking for a quaint little slice of Americana? Come to study the country bumpkins?"
She insists she's not like that and since we've seen absolutely no proof of it (and neither has he) then he's just being a dick. He brushes off her answer and leaves.
Marlee leaves school also to go pick up Dobkin. He's off by himself on the playground, flipping through a book and looking bored. They talk a little about his day. There was a slight issue with him dyeing a boy's shirt to match his by using grape juice. In Dobkin's words "they're all such children". So, now we know that Dobkin is 'wise beyond his years' and different from other six year olds because of course he is. At least they don't go overboard. He still talks like a six year old and doesn't use a bunch of polysyllabic words.
Dobkin can tell that something is wrong with Marlee and she tells him that "my locker attacked me". He comments that it would make a great movie and I agree (The Locker That Ate the School!)
She thinks that something's wrong but she's not sure what. Dobkin suggests she tell him because he might be able to help.
So she tells him and he reminds her that she knows what that smell was. She tries to fight off the memory and insists that she doesn't know what he's talking about. He says she smelled it once before, the smell of fear.
End of Chapter
I know I keep comparing this to some newer books (like Twilight) but it's hard not to. At least this book moves along at a fairly brisk pace without overly detailing unnecessary stuff and so far I like the main character. She seems like a normal girl. She gets a slight crush on a cute boy but doesn't get overly dramatic about it, descending into utter depression just because she hasn't seen him in a few hours. She's not nasty to everyone or dismissive of people trying to be her friend. She is nervous about meeting new people, and somewhat uncomfortable in a new school. This, however, comes out through the writing and her character. There's not a whole bunch of 'But I'm so ordinary! Why does everyone like meeee!" or unrealistic portrayals of awkwardness. And other people act normally around her. They aren't unreasonably hostile or display sudden love and devotion to someone they've just met.
Well, that's about it for tonight. Join me again on Tuesday and Thursday for another riveting chapter of Dead Dancing Women.
Marlee learned that the former owner of her locker disappeared mysteriously.
Chapter 4:
As they're (finally) going to class, Noreen fills Marlee in on who Suellen is.There's not much to tell. One day Noreen and her were walking with each other and the next day she was gone.
Just before going into class Marlee oh-so-casually asks Noreen if she and Tyler are dating. Noreen says they're just friends. Marlee is a little embarrassed because she didn't fool Noreen for a second.
The day goes by in a blur for her. Don't they always when you need to conveniently pass time? Marlee appreciates the fact that everyone is nice to her (take notes, Bella) but she just can't keep her mind off...what? Tyler? Nope! I think we may just have a girl that doesn't fall obsessively in love at first sight. Rare these days, I know.
Actually, what she can't stop thinking about is The Locker. It creeps her out a lot that the girl who had it before her disappeared and the smell and vision are disturbing her. She is somewhat miserable but it has more to do with yet another new school and feeling like everyone is staring and whispering. She's thankful for Noreen's presence.
I see this as yet more proof that even though Aunt C is a "cool" aunt she shouldn't be dragging two kids all over the United States. Especially since there is no reason for it. She just doesn't like staying in one place too long. They've lost their parents so why put added stress on them by yanking them in and out of schools every few months?
Anywho, back to the story. She's carrying around all of her stuff rather than face The Locker again.
Noreen invites her out after school but Marlee has to pick up her younger brother, Dobkin. Noreen perks up at the mention of a brother but gets disappointed when she learns that Dobkin is only 6. I usually don't like weird names, especially for little kids. Sometimes it makes it seem too cutesy. But I like the name Dobkin.
Noreen leaves Marlee alone with her thoughts and a knot in her stomach at the prospect of meeting the rest of the kids at school. She's dreading the thought of opening The Locker, fearing a repeat of the first time. Nothing happens though.
Her next door locker neighbor introduces himself. He's described as tall, tanned and shoulder length hair in varying shades of blonde. He is dressed a bit like a down-home boy: in jeans, a denim shirt and boots.
He's very intense and wants to know why they moved to Edison. She counters with a "Why not?"
He says that no one would ever transfer there and they're not related to anyone in town so he wants to know her reason for moving there. Because no one would possibly move somewhere just beacause. He's kind of a dick about it.
Marlee gives him a "What's it to you, asshole?" answer (I may ne paraphrasing a bit here). He thinks she's moved there "looking for a quaint little slice of Americana? Come to study the country bumpkins?"
She insists she's not like that and since we've seen absolutely no proof of it (and neither has he) then he's just being a dick. He brushes off her answer and leaves.
Marlee leaves school also to go pick up Dobkin. He's off by himself on the playground, flipping through a book and looking bored. They talk a little about his day. There was a slight issue with him dyeing a boy's shirt to match his by using grape juice. In Dobkin's words "they're all such children". So, now we know that Dobkin is 'wise beyond his years' and different from other six year olds because of course he is. At least they don't go overboard. He still talks like a six year old and doesn't use a bunch of polysyllabic words.
Dobkin can tell that something is wrong with Marlee and she tells him that "my locker attacked me". He comments that it would make a great movie and I agree (The Locker That Ate the School!)
She thinks that something's wrong but she's not sure what. Dobkin suggests she tell him because he might be able to help.
So she tells him and he reminds her that she knows what that smell was. She tries to fight off the memory and insists that she doesn't know what he's talking about. He says she smelled it once before, the smell of fear.
End of Chapter
I know I keep comparing this to some newer books (like Twilight) but it's hard not to. At least this book moves along at a fairly brisk pace without overly detailing unnecessary stuff and so far I like the main character. She seems like a normal girl. She gets a slight crush on a cute boy but doesn't get overly dramatic about it, descending into utter depression just because she hasn't seen him in a few hours. She's not nasty to everyone or dismissive of people trying to be her friend. She is nervous about meeting new people, and somewhat uncomfortable in a new school. This, however, comes out through the writing and her character. There's not a whole bunch of 'But I'm so ordinary! Why does everyone like meeee!" or unrealistic portrayals of awkwardness. And other people act normally around her. They aren't unreasonably hostile or display sudden love and devotion to someone they've just met.
Well, that's about it for tonight. Join me again on Tuesday and Thursday for another riveting chapter of Dead Dancing Women.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Flashback Sunday! The Locker: Chapter 3 Recap
I was going to start the X-Files episode recaps Saturday night but, unfortunately, didn't get a chance to. So I will be starting them tomorrow instead. I'd like to do them Monday, Wednesday and Saturday but I'll just have to see how it goes. If that is too much I will at least aim for Mondays and Fridays.
I'm also reading Dracula by Bram Stoker and doing some tweets of my thoughts. I have read it before (a lot) but it has been a while so most of my thoughts will be fresh coming to it. If you'd like to follow along my Twitter account name is : https://twitter.com/GraceKimball5 (PickingOnStuff@GraceKimball5 if the link doesn't work).
Anyways, on with The Locker!
Last Week:
Marlee made a friend and got assigned a locker that blew death-breath in her face when she opened it. She also heard screams and felt like she was being strangled to death. I've never understood that expression. For instance, I've never heard of anyone being strangled to life. But I digress.
Chapter Three:
Marlee come back slowly from The Dead Zone, understandably a little freaked. She almost faints and realizes that it isn't her new friend Noreen holding her up but Hunky Tyler. For some reason, in the midst of her freaking out she notices a mole behind Noreen's ear, Noreen's shoelace, Tyler's possibly formerly broken pinky and a faded scar on his wrist (more proof that Tyler's emo). None of which really means anything but Marlee being about to faint. They talk a bit about her going to the school nurse even though Marlee insists she's ok, even though she really, really feels like crying. Funnily enough, Tyler actually believes her and they go outside to get some fresh air.
We get a little hint that something like this has happened before to Marlee. The vision, I mean. Noreen starts babbling to try to make Marlee feel better. Marlee appreciates it and attributes her nausea to the smell coming from her locker. Tyler and Noreen exchange Meaningful! looks. Marlee tries to laugh it off but they're still staring at her. Which has got to be a little awkward.
Anywho, Noreen says she didn't smell anything and Marlee insists that there's no way she could have missed it. So they all go back into the school to check it out. Tyler takes a sniff and makes a hilarious joke about "the gym socks that wouldn't die!"
Noreen scolds him for it and then they all take turns sniffing The Locker. Which has got to look a little weird. And apparently no one notices these kids aren't in class yet.
Anywhat, they talk a little bit more about the smell and Tyler theorizes that maybe the smell came from the nearby Biology lab. Noreen tells a fascinating story about a friend of hers that walked by the lab and fainted on a goldfish bowl and got cut. Tyler makes a lovely (sarcasm) joke about the poor fish that got squashed because she was a 'heavy' girl. Nice, Tyler.
To drop the subject Marlee agrees that the smell could have come from the lab even though she knows it didn't. Noreen frets a bit about gas leaks and Tyler makes a joke about anything being possible. Like him turning into a werewolf and running around naked looking for a vet. Don't get excited. No werewolves. Noreen makes a joke about Tyler's naked-ity giving her nightmares. After he leaves, however, she says he looks pretty damn good. Well, then.
Anywhere, Marlee suggests they get to class and Noreen talks up Tyler some more and tells that she knows he looks good because she caught him skinny-dipping with a bunch of guys at the cabin. Huh. Marlee's not really listening, however, because she can't stop staring at The Locker. But, she does thank Noreen for not laughing at her and thinking she's a freak.
Marlee thinks that maybe the last person to use the locker left something nasty in it and Noreen is oddly specific on when that particular locker was last used. Marlee wants to know what the deal is. Noreen doesn't really want to say but it turns out that The Locker had last been used by a girl named Suellen Downing who disappeared the previous fall. No one has used it since then. Dun dun dunnn!
End of Chapter
Good cliffhanger and we'll find out more next week. What could Marlee be talking about, I wonder?
I'm also reading Dracula by Bram Stoker and doing some tweets of my thoughts. I have read it before (a lot) but it has been a while so most of my thoughts will be fresh coming to it. If you'd like to follow along my Twitter account name is : https://twitter.com/GraceKimball5 (PickingOnStuff@GraceKimball5 if the link doesn't work).
Anyways, on with The Locker!
Last Week:
Marlee made a friend and got assigned a locker that blew death-breath in her face when she opened it. She also heard screams and felt like she was being strangled to death. I've never understood that expression. For instance, I've never heard of anyone being strangled to life. But I digress.
Chapter Three:
Marlee come back slowly from The Dead Zone, understandably a little freaked. She almost faints and realizes that it isn't her new friend Noreen holding her up but Hunky Tyler. For some reason, in the midst of her freaking out she notices a mole behind Noreen's ear, Noreen's shoelace, Tyler's possibly formerly broken pinky and a faded scar on his wrist (more proof that Tyler's emo). None of which really means anything but Marlee being about to faint. They talk a bit about her going to the school nurse even though Marlee insists she's ok, even though she really, really feels like crying. Funnily enough, Tyler actually believes her and they go outside to get some fresh air.
We get a little hint that something like this has happened before to Marlee. The vision, I mean. Noreen starts babbling to try to make Marlee feel better. Marlee appreciates it and attributes her nausea to the smell coming from her locker. Tyler and Noreen exchange Meaningful! looks. Marlee tries to laugh it off but they're still staring at her. Which has got to be a little awkward.
Anywho, Noreen says she didn't smell anything and Marlee insists that there's no way she could have missed it. So they all go back into the school to check it out. Tyler takes a sniff and makes a hilarious joke about "the gym socks that wouldn't die!"
Noreen scolds him for it and then they all take turns sniffing The Locker. Which has got to look a little weird. And apparently no one notices these kids aren't in class yet.
Anywhat, they talk a little bit more about the smell and Tyler theorizes that maybe the smell came from the nearby Biology lab. Noreen tells a fascinating story about a friend of hers that walked by the lab and fainted on a goldfish bowl and got cut. Tyler makes a lovely (sarcasm) joke about the poor fish that got squashed because she was a 'heavy' girl. Nice, Tyler.
To drop the subject Marlee agrees that the smell could have come from the lab even though she knows it didn't. Noreen frets a bit about gas leaks and Tyler makes a joke about anything being possible. Like him turning into a werewolf and running around naked looking for a vet. Don't get excited. No werewolves. Noreen makes a joke about Tyler's naked-ity giving her nightmares. After he leaves, however, she says he looks pretty damn good. Well, then.
Anywhere, Marlee suggests they get to class and Noreen talks up Tyler some more and tells that she knows he looks good because she caught him skinny-dipping with a bunch of guys at the cabin. Huh. Marlee's not really listening, however, because she can't stop staring at The Locker. But, she does thank Noreen for not laughing at her and thinking she's a freak.
Marlee thinks that maybe the last person to use the locker left something nasty in it and Noreen is oddly specific on when that particular locker was last used. Marlee wants to know what the deal is. Noreen doesn't really want to say but it turns out that The Locker had last been used by a girl named Suellen Downing who disappeared the previous fall. No one has used it since then. Dun dun dunnn!
End of Chapter
Good cliffhanger and we'll find out more next week. What could Marlee be talking about, I wonder?
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Teen Horror Sunday! The Locker- Chapter Two Recap
Last time:
Marlee had just arrived at her new school and met the Moon Elf Taylor.We also got the rundown on her flaky artist aunt and wise beyond his years little brother, Dobkin. And she got three warnings to "Be careful."
Chapter Two:
Now she's in school and the hallway is teeming with kids again, heading to their next class. And, of course, everyone's staring at the new girl. A student catches up to her to give Marlee her new locker assignment and take her around the school. The girl sounds rather pixie-ish so I'm picturing something like Tinkerbell. I'd use a picture but Disney spies would probably find me and kill me.
Anywho, the Pixie is named Noreen and, unlike other fictional characters I could name (*cough* Bella *cough*) Marlee is nice to her and hopes they become friends. Like most tiny girls in books, Noreen has a lot of personality and bulldozes their way through the hall. Marlee is surprised that Noreen knows so much about her new house and finds out that Noreen's mom is the realtor and it's a small town where everyone knows everything and everybody.
They gossip a bit about the former owner of the house, the oldness of it and the "depressing" old-fashioned furniture. How can furniture be depressing? Being a broke-ass bitch most of the time I get my furniture used and I really could care less what it looks like. As long as it's comfortable and clean, I'm good.
Anywhat, Noreen wonders why they didn't rent one of the more "gorgeous" apartments on a different street (I guess she isn't big on tact, maybe they cost more Noreen!). Noreen suggests making the house nice again to impress everyone and Marlee wonders why they should even worry about impressing anyone. They continue down the hall with Noreen pointing out various doors and teachers. They chat a bit more about how really really small the town is and that everyone's already impressed and jealous of Marlee because she came to them from the Outside World and everything.
The bell rings but Noreen continues to give her the grand tour so she can be out of class longer (my kind of girl). Marlee thinks about how she and Noreen are really clicking and that she'd like to be friends with her. Although she doesn't really want to get close to anyone because they move around so much. Which is, again, a welcome relief from some newer fiction because most of the Bella types only think about how much they hate people and especially hate it when people are nice to them. I'm sorry but I really hate that.
Anywhere, they walk around the school a bit more and bitch about the cold weather (I feel your pain, girl). They go to The Locker. Noreen acts a little funny about it and starts babbling a bit about it obviously being empty although Marlee can't see that because it's closed and they're several feet away. Oddly, The Locker won't open after a few attempts so she tells Noreen to hold her purse while she kicks it's ass.
It pops open suddenly, sending her back a few feet and then she gets overwhelmed with a really nasty stench. She feels hands clawing at her and hears screams of pain and terror.
That's one sucky locker.
End of Chapter
Looks like it's starting to get going so of course they end the chapter with a cliffhanger. At least things are actually happening.
You know, as much as I do poke fun at them the teen horror books from the nineties do hold up incredibly well. The protagonists are generally likeable (for the most part) and have personalities of their own. Some of the plots might be a little far-fetched but no more so than some modern books. And, honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the stream of consciousness style of writing that seems to be pretty popular lately. I don't mind a first person view but in the S.o.C. you're so limited on the world around the character in the book. Plus, it doesn't make sense at times. Just to use an example, in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins there is a part explaining what the Tracker Jackers are. If we were truly in the character's mind then they would know what they are. They wouldn't have to elaborately explain it to the audience because they would already know. But Katniss does have to because the reader needs the explanation. So it makes it seem like the character is telling herself information that she should already know so it's either narrative cheating or making the character seem kind of dumb for having to explain simple facts of their world over and over again.
I'm not really picking on The Hunger Games because I did think it was a pretty decent book, that's just the first example that popped into my mind.
Anyways, my point is that in order to use that style you have to either narratively cheat or over-explain at times if you're not using it well. Stephanie Meyers and E.L. James I'm looking at you. Right at you. It's a hard style to pull off unless you're very talented at it.
Well, enough of me and back to the post.
Tuesday will be the riveting Chapter 5 recap of Dead Dancing Women so be on the watch for that!
And, as always, give me a like or a share if you like the blog or hit me up in the comments with any suggestions or requests. Thanks!
Marlee had just arrived at her new school and met the Moon Elf Taylor.We also got the rundown on her flaky artist aunt and wise beyond his years little brother, Dobkin. And she got three warnings to "Be careful."
Chapter Two:
Now she's in school and the hallway is teeming with kids again, heading to their next class. And, of course, everyone's staring at the new girl. A student catches up to her to give Marlee her new locker assignment and take her around the school. The girl sounds rather pixie-ish so I'm picturing something like Tinkerbell. I'd use a picture but Disney spies would probably find me and kill me.
Anywho, the Pixie is named Noreen and, unlike other fictional characters I could name (*cough* Bella *cough*) Marlee is nice to her and hopes they become friends. Like most tiny girls in books, Noreen has a lot of personality and bulldozes their way through the hall. Marlee is surprised that Noreen knows so much about her new house and finds out that Noreen's mom is the realtor and it's a small town where everyone knows everything and everybody.
They gossip a bit about the former owner of the house, the oldness of it and the "depressing" old-fashioned furniture. How can furniture be depressing? Being a broke-ass bitch most of the time I get my furniture used and I really could care less what it looks like. As long as it's comfortable and clean, I'm good.
Anywhat, Noreen wonders why they didn't rent one of the more "gorgeous" apartments on a different street (I guess she isn't big on tact, maybe they cost more Noreen!). Noreen suggests making the house nice again to impress everyone and Marlee wonders why they should even worry about impressing anyone. They continue down the hall with Noreen pointing out various doors and teachers. They chat a bit more about how really really small the town is and that everyone's already impressed and jealous of Marlee because she came to them from the Outside World and everything.
The bell rings but Noreen continues to give her the grand tour so she can be out of class longer (my kind of girl). Marlee thinks about how she and Noreen are really clicking and that she'd like to be friends with her. Although she doesn't really want to get close to anyone because they move around so much. Which is, again, a welcome relief from some newer fiction because most of the Bella types only think about how much they hate people and especially hate it when people are nice to them. I'm sorry but I really hate that.
Anywhere, they walk around the school a bit more and bitch about the cold weather (I feel your pain, girl). They go to The Locker. Noreen acts a little funny about it and starts babbling a bit about it obviously being empty although Marlee can't see that because it's closed and they're several feet away. Oddly, The Locker won't open after a few attempts so she tells Noreen to hold her purse while she kicks it's ass.
It pops open suddenly, sending her back a few feet and then she gets overwhelmed with a really nasty stench. She feels hands clawing at her and hears screams of pain and terror.
That's one sucky locker.
End of Chapter
Looks like it's starting to get going so of course they end the chapter with a cliffhanger. At least things are actually happening.
You know, as much as I do poke fun at them the teen horror books from the nineties do hold up incredibly well. The protagonists are generally likeable (for the most part) and have personalities of their own. Some of the plots might be a little far-fetched but no more so than some modern books. And, honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the stream of consciousness style of writing that seems to be pretty popular lately. I don't mind a first person view but in the S.o.C. you're so limited on the world around the character in the book. Plus, it doesn't make sense at times. Just to use an example, in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins there is a part explaining what the Tracker Jackers are. If we were truly in the character's mind then they would know what they are. They wouldn't have to elaborately explain it to the audience because they would already know. But Katniss does have to because the reader needs the explanation. So it makes it seem like the character is telling herself information that she should already know so it's either narrative cheating or making the character seem kind of dumb for having to explain simple facts of their world over and over again.
I'm not really picking on The Hunger Games because I did think it was a pretty decent book, that's just the first example that popped into my mind.
Anyways, my point is that in order to use that style you have to either narratively cheat or over-explain at times if you're not using it well. Stephanie Meyers and E.L. James I'm looking at you. Right at you. It's a hard style to pull off unless you're very talented at it.
Well, enough of me and back to the post.
Tuesday will be the riveting Chapter 5 recap of Dead Dancing Women so be on the watch for that!
And, as always, give me a like or a share if you like the blog or hit me up in the comments with any suggestions or requests. Thanks!
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Point Horror Sunday!
THE LOCKER by Richie Tankersley Cusick
As promised I'll be starting the Point Horror recaps today. Well, I'm kind of using Point as a catchall for the '90s teen horror books. If it happens to be a different publisher I'll let you know. The first one up is The Locker (in case you hadn't guessed). The cover is pretty cool looking:
Synopsis:
After the death of their parents Marlee Fleming and her little brother are left in the care of their aunt. They move to a new town hoping to get a fresh start. Things go well at first. A cute guy, a new friend. But then they act weird about The Locker she's been assigned which had belonged to a student who disappeared. After opening her locker she gets a terrifying vision. Now she's afraid. Afraid of her premonitions, afraid of what it might cost her. And she should be afraid. Very afraid.
The Pickings:
We open with Aunt Celia dropping off Marlee at her new school. She tells Marlee that she's looking a little strange today. Just what every girl wants to hear on their first day at a new school, I'm sure. We're told Aunt Celia is wearing, as usual, "overalls with a red flannel shirt underneath". So, I'm guessing she's 'unusual'. And yes, indeed, she is. She's an artist. Something with clay. And since artists are unusual we're told Aunt C looks young enough to pass for nineteen. Aunt C starts to say something about Marlee's mom but trails off and tells her to be careful. Which gives Marlee a painful little heart tug. So, Aunt C tells her she looks strange and then reminds Marlee of her dead mother right before school. Great encouragement there.
Before they leave she pokes her head in for one last chat with her little brother whom she'll be picking up after school. Aunt C makes a joke that Marlee better remember the password or Dobkin (seriously, that's his name) will be stuck in his after school arts program. Wow, way to make them really feel at ease there. Dobkin was named after their grandfather and, of course, he's wise beyond his years. I am always torn on young kids being mini-geniuses. On one hand I hate it when they make kids out to be as dumb as rocks. On the other hand, almost every kid in bookdom is an 'old soul' and perceptive beyond belief. Oh well. Onward.
Dobkin also tells her to be careful. Left alone Marlee stares at her new school a bit while she ruminates on how long it takes her to adjust while Dobkin fits in right away. And Aunt Celia has been moving them around quite a bit. Just what kids need after the traumatic death of their parents. Because, in Aunt C's words "there's a whole wonderful world out there, we have no excuse ever to be bored!" But maybe the children you are now raising might like to stay in one place. Although, really, they don't seem to complain too much about it. So maybe it's just me.
Anyway, their system is she takes out a map of the U.S. and they take turns closing their eyes and sticks a finger on the map. Then they pack up and move. We're told they moved a little early this year (Missouri) and they are now finishing out the school year in the new one. So it must be early-late Spring. We get some more description of Aunt C which is pretty much your artist grab bag. She's scatterbrained and creative and has wanderlust. She is also independently wealthy I guess, since she never sells any of her sculptures but they move around a lot. So, yeah, I'm a flaming ball of jealousy right now.
During this she's been standing outside so I guess she's been standing there with zone-out face this whole time. She gives herself a big old "I'm brave!" purse swing and hits someone behind her. And am I the only one who thinks it's weird that she takes a purse to school? Maybe it's common (or was) but I just used a backpack and dumped everything in there.
Anywho, turns out the person she hit in the stomach was a guy. Enter The Heartthrob who seems to be dressed in a large black overcoat that's buttoned all the way down to his black high tops and a black baseball cap. Backwards, naturally because that's how the nineties kids roll, man. And if this were a modern-day school he'd be arrested by now. And who the hell wears an overcoat buttoned all the way up? It's not even comfortable and certainly doesn't look cool. Even then.
He jokes a little bit about her lethal purse and whatnot. While he picks his stuff up she uses this time to eyeball him a little and notice how cute he is and "how soft his hair looked as he shook it back from his wide dark eyes." Even though he has a baseball hat on. That is some super x-ray vision there Marlee. She describes him to us and he kind of sounds like the Necromancer from Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II so I'll just put this here:
As promised I'll be starting the Point Horror recaps today. Well, I'm kind of using Point as a catchall for the '90s teen horror books. If it happens to be a different publisher I'll let you know. The first one up is The Locker (in case you hadn't guessed). The cover is pretty cool looking:
After the death of their parents Marlee Fleming and her little brother are left in the care of their aunt. They move to a new town hoping to get a fresh start. Things go well at first. A cute guy, a new friend. But then they act weird about The Locker she's been assigned which had belonged to a student who disappeared. After opening her locker she gets a terrifying vision. Now she's afraid. Afraid of her premonitions, afraid of what it might cost her. And she should be afraid. Very afraid.
The Pickings:
We open with Aunt Celia dropping off Marlee at her new school. She tells Marlee that she's looking a little strange today. Just what every girl wants to hear on their first day at a new school, I'm sure. We're told Aunt Celia is wearing, as usual, "overalls with a red flannel shirt underneath". So, I'm guessing she's 'unusual'. And yes, indeed, she is. She's an artist. Something with clay. And since artists are unusual we're told Aunt C looks young enough to pass for nineteen. Aunt C starts to say something about Marlee's mom but trails off and tells her to be careful. Which gives Marlee a painful little heart tug. So, Aunt C tells her she looks strange and then reminds Marlee of her dead mother right before school. Great encouragement there.
Before they leave she pokes her head in for one last chat with her little brother whom she'll be picking up after school. Aunt C makes a joke that Marlee better remember the password or Dobkin (seriously, that's his name) will be stuck in his after school arts program. Wow, way to make them really feel at ease there. Dobkin was named after their grandfather and, of course, he's wise beyond his years. I am always torn on young kids being mini-geniuses. On one hand I hate it when they make kids out to be as dumb as rocks. On the other hand, almost every kid in bookdom is an 'old soul' and perceptive beyond belief. Oh well. Onward.
Dobkin also tells her to be careful. Left alone Marlee stares at her new school a bit while she ruminates on how long it takes her to adjust while Dobkin fits in right away. And Aunt Celia has been moving them around quite a bit. Just what kids need after the traumatic death of their parents. Because, in Aunt C's words "there's a whole wonderful world out there, we have no excuse ever to be bored!" But maybe the children you are now raising might like to stay in one place. Although, really, they don't seem to complain too much about it. So maybe it's just me.
Anyway, their system is she takes out a map of the U.S. and they take turns closing their eyes and sticks a finger on the map. Then they pack up and move. We're told they moved a little early this year (Missouri) and they are now finishing out the school year in the new one. So it must be early-late Spring. We get some more description of Aunt C which is pretty much your artist grab bag. She's scatterbrained and creative and has wanderlust. She is also independently wealthy I guess, since she never sells any of her sculptures but they move around a lot. So, yeah, I'm a flaming ball of jealousy right now.
During this she's been standing outside so I guess she's been standing there with zone-out face this whole time. She gives herself a big old "I'm brave!" purse swing and hits someone behind her. And am I the only one who thinks it's weird that she takes a purse to school? Maybe it's common (or was) but I just used a backpack and dumped everything in there.
Anywho, turns out the person she hit in the stomach was a guy. Enter The Heartthrob who seems to be dressed in a large black overcoat that's buttoned all the way down to his black high tops and a black baseball cap. Backwards, naturally because that's how the nineties kids roll, man. And if this were a modern-day school he'd be arrested by now. And who the hell wears an overcoat buttoned all the way up? It's not even comfortable and certainly doesn't look cool. Even then.
He jokes a little bit about her lethal purse and whatnot. While he picks his stuff up she uses this time to eyeball him a little and notice how cute he is and "how soft his hair looked as he shook it back from his wide dark eyes." Even though he has a baseball hat on. That is some super x-ray vision there Marlee. She describes him to us and he kind of sounds like the Necromancer from Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II so I'll just put this here:
You're welcome
They have their little meet-cute and he shows her where the office is. Also, his name is Ysuran Auondril Tyler. He sexily walks off backwards (managing to not run into a hallway teeming with students). Then he points at her and tells her to be careful. Wow, third time in five pages. And, as Marlee notes, warnings always come in three. Also, if a guy dressed all in black smiles when he says be careful and points at you, RUN. I've heard of bad things coming in threes but not specifically warnings. But then, warnings are rarely good, so, you know, there's that.
End of Chapter
So, these chapters are pretty short but I guess that's good since this is a weekend thing. Oh, and I just noticed that my book is actually Archway Publishing but I'm too lazy to retitle the whole project. So, I'll just mention them as I go along. I'd hate to get sued for attributing the wrong cover to the wrong publishing house.
Also also, as always, the buttons at the bottom do work even though they're grayed out. And, as ever, please leave a comment, like or tweet if you like the blog. I'll happily attend to any suggestions or criticisms but please keep it constructive, there's too much negativity on the internet as is and I'd like to keep this a happy place!
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