Spooky evening

Cover of Poltergeist (25th Anniversary Edition)

I look outside and all I can see is a misty light coming from the streetlights. The fog is so thick you cannot see further than a few meters ahead. Every light has that soft spooky glow that reminds me of old scary movies (yuk!) or stories about witches flying unseen through the dark night (yay!).

I never have been a fan of scary movies, always avoided them as much as I can. I think it started with me watching Poltergeist when I was way too young. You know the story… friends brother gets the movie and lets the kids watch it…. I was terrified of that old geezer in the movie. Still am… I know…it’s sad but true.

I was however always fond of a good story and fairytales. I can read the scariest books, hear the most frightening stories and that doesn’t bother me at all. I find it fascinating and am glued to the tale every second. I loooove a good book with a good story, even a really scary one.

Just do not make me watch it in a movie. Not sure why… I think it is the sounds and the music. My mum went through a phase when she loved scary movies…which meant that whenever we rented a video (yes I am that old) a scary movie was picked as well. Of course I would watch it (aren’t I a sucker for punishment…) and by “watching” it I mean hovering behind a pillow while shoving my fingers into my ears ever so often.

I am not allowed to sit next to anyone when watching something scary either… as I have a tendency to jump at every sound and grab hold of the person next to me… which is not all that appreciated. Very inconsiderate of them don’t you think?!

So I will just look out and think of some spellbinding fairytales. No scary movies for me anymore and you know what… that is totally fine with me.

The lure of a good book

Staying awake most of the night just because I can’t put a book down – that is something that I have done countless times.

That feeling of becoming totally absorbed in a good story is something that I discovered at an early age. My parents read fairy tales to me from as long as I recall and I remember being impatient when it wasn’t told fast enough or for a long enough time. I wanted more. Once I learned how to read, then there was no end to it. I was at the school library as often as I could. I learned to read as fast as I could as I wanted to know what would happen in the story.  I would spend hours reading in bed, long after I was supposed to be asleep, as there was no way that I could go to sleep not knowing what would happen.

This is something that has continued throughout my life. I still get a great thrill from reading a new book and discovering that it is really good. The search for a good read can sometimes be frustrating. There are so many books out there and there is always a risk that you will be disappointed. Unless you strictly stick to one category that you know that you like, you will have to go by trial and error. It really is a very disappointing moment when you realize that the book that you are reading doesn’t do it for you. When you want to put it down, never to pick it up again.

I read a bit of everything and I like a bit of everything. Depending on my mood; I read romances, chick lit, adventure, drama, humor, horror, suspense, fantasy, comic books and through in a few biographies and fact-based books as well. The compelling event for me is if the story grips me, urges me to stay and read on.

There is something about how a good book can get you so drawn into the story and I will be forever grateful that there are authors out there that have this fantastic gift of writing these compelling tales. There are few things as satisfying as finding a book that pulls you into the story and keeps you there. Where you see everything in front of you, hear every sounds described and feel every emotion intended. It is magic.

Now where did I put that book again…?