Reading: when it takes a back seat

January is one of the best times to read and I haven't been able to get past the first chapter of Unbroken. Not that I think it's a terribly boring book, it's quite the opposite, I just can't seem to get through some very important life distractions that seem to be taking up a lot of life-space. When I get like this I usually reach for short stories or magazines. It helps to "brief" so I feel that I am, at the very least, engaged in the one of the areas of my life that is a happy place.

Unbroken is wonderful, I know this, the first chapter is a good indicator. I am anticipating getting back to it as I do want to see the movie. Last night I finally caved to the film, Silver Linings Playbook as I know I won't read the book any time soon. (Fabulous movie, by the way.)  It's quite a struggle, book vs. film. And this is because I have so many TBR piles that naturally, the cave in to a film is easier than fitting in "one more book."  Especially now. But I am going to stand firm with Unbroken.

The new year starts a bit distracted, off kilter and strange, rest assured, book nerds like me always finds a way back to the disciplined book life. I know I will. For now I will continue to tip toe through Unbroken and my short stories (I read all my magazines yesterday. I can tell you what lipstick is in for Spring.)  

* The photo up top? Only one of many piles of TBR books in my bedroom I purposely tipped it over for the snap. I have to get them all in order someday. I think it's time to take all the books I have read off my shelves and replace them with all the TBRs. That way I know what I have.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

Susan Hill is one of my most beloved authors, I have a couple of other books penned by her on my to be reviewed list. 

The Woman in Black is a story about a young solicitor, Mr. Arthur Kipps, that is sent out by his superior to finalize Alice Drablow estate after her death. Eel Marsh House, where Mrs. Drablow lived, is out past the moors on a causeway alone in it's own ghostly world. The contentious villagers shy away from talk of the woman that lived there and the mystery behind it. Mr. Kipps finds a villager to take him to the edge of the causeway so he can get inside and gather all the paper work despite the sly words to the wise. He has a job to do.

What happens next is terrifying.

Children crying and screaming, flashes of movement in the woods and faces appearing in windows make for those rare incidences where I wanted to close the book and say, "Okay, they all lived happily ever after, I am so done with this." But it's too good to pass up. You have to know what happens to Mr. Kipps and the woman in black. 

Terror and death enters the village while Mr. Kipps tries formidably to solve this nightmare as  quickly as he can before another child dies.  

His night at Eel Marsh House is a harrowing one not just for him but for the reader, I knew that this was going to be a heart pounding ride. And it was the suspension of disbelief, my own,  that rocked the house on this one. (no pun intended)

Rating: Buy it

Published: 2001

Going through Netflix for the millionth time with my H,  I saw a flash (how ghostly) of The Woman in Black. I  yelled STOP!!!! ADD THAT TO OUR LIST! He did and we watched this moody, chilling horror movie last night.  It was like the director stepped into my head  when I had read this a while back,  saw my own imaginative brain  images and took a video camera to it. Outstanding atmosphere. Creepy, but outstanding.

 Daniel Radcliffe was perfect as the formidable Mr. Kipps.They stuck to the story like glue leaving out a few things but in the end you will feel like you watched one of the best ghost movies in a long time.

Rating: Rent it, Stream it. Go. Now.