Happy October! This is the heart of fall in Manitoba, a bustling time for gardeners and flower-lovers like Ron & I. Later, it is Thanksgiving and Hallowe’en. We cherish the wonderful greenery around us. We keep our plants growing and blooming as long as we can by protecting them with quilts, blankets, and towels on potential frost nights. When the surrounding land is finished, we stay committed to plants that the quilts, blankets, and towels are covering and bring flowerpots indoors. Then, our minds can turn to things that are fun about fall.
We feel the mysterious, tingling presence of a season change and a shift in some of our local birds. All Hallows Eve is placed and named appropriately for reflecting a palpable shift in lighting. Television shows, films, and books we are in the mood to read reflect these atmospheric themes. Around 2012, when I really got into WordPress communities, I did a read-a-thon. For the first time since, because I have a lot of great paranormal literature in mind, my Goodreads friend, Michelle, has convinced me to join “Frightfall Read-A-Thon”! A chance to win a prize is tantalizing and WordPress is working, for me to write this post!
Michelle: thank you for inviting me to a fun activity that blends well with all four our my own challenges. Every title matches one or multiples of: Ethereal, My Kind Of Mystery, Gentle Spectrums, Celtic Coasts! As the hostess of Ethereal, which is all about spirits and things that are out of this world; Michelle’s activity is a great fit for me.
Here are my books. Apparently reviewing is not required but I write about everything I read. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hallowe’en from Carolyn, Ron, Conan, McCartney, Petal, Spirit, Marigold, Angel!
(1) “The Amber Room” Steve Berry 2003
2) “The Ghosts Of Popcorn Hill” Betty Ren Wright 1993
(3) “Haunted Canada 3: More True Ghost Stories” Pat Hancock 2007
(4) “The Dead Man In Indian Creek” Mary Downing Hahn 1990
(5) “Prevailing Spirits: A Book Of Scottish Ghost Stories” Giles Gordon (editor) 1976
(6) “City Of The Dead” Toby Abbott 2009
(7) “Arrow Book Of Spooky Stories” Edna Mitchell Preston (editor) 1962
(8) “The Turn Of The Screw” Henry James 1898
(9) “The Secret Of Devil’s Cave” Jennifer Hale 1973
(10) “Ghost Stories Of Hollywood” Barbara Smith & Arlana Anderson-Hale 2000
(11) “Scottish Ghost Stories” Elliott O’Donnell 1911
(12) “The Whispering Room” Amanda Stevens 2009
(13) “Hallowe’en Trivia” Tonya Lambert 2010
**** November 1, 2019: Michelle and hostesses ****
I finished thirteen in your wonderful read-a-thon! It was fun, intriguing enough to convince a player from years earlier, to try yours. I have enjoyed it! My reviews have been added! :) Sincerely, Carolyn.
“The rule of FrightFall is read at least one scary book; which can be a thriller, mystery, gothic mystery, or similar. Since we are going a month, I hope you will indulge the scary type but that is up to you. It is about the reading.”
RIEDEL FASCINATION 
What a fantastic list! Turn of the Screw is one of my favorites. Have you seen the preview for the film, The Turning. It’s based on that story.
I hope you continue to enjoy the readathon! :)
I could finally get on-line to enjoy my first comment on this read-a-thon, page! I do like to aim for a great variety within the guidelines: thank you, Michelle!
Thank you for joining us, Carolyn. You got some good reading in for sure. Hope you will join us for Christmas Spirit. Sign-ups are now open at the blog. :)
May I have an explanation of what you call “holiday books”? You say you don’t expect us to read those entirely; meaning alternatives are invited, or that you expect contributions to be small? I do have the rest of this year packed with books that finish specific reading challenge goals. I don’t know how many would occur at Christmas. As you see, I like to compete properly. :)
It means a lot that you visited and commented on my post and what’s more, subscribed to my blog, dear Michelle! I hope to be let in more often, as it is working out well today. I had fun with your Hallowe’en theme! Sincerely, Carolyn.
Since it is a Christmas Readathon, I am encouraging at least one Christmas book. I’m doing a lot of non-Christmas reading up until the end of the month myself, but plan to read at least one Christmas themed novel for the readathon. I’m not a rule person so…
Glad you enjoyed the Halloween themed readathon. Hope to see you for more in the future. <3
I suspected my question might not be understood. I will try again. My question is: does other criteria fit your concept? Does it include other celebratory or spiritual books, as long as one is Christmas? Please say “no” if that is the answer. I wouldn’t join if only a book or two on my plate applies, know what I mean? :)
First of all, I’ll clarify something. I do not celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, as I’m an Agnostic Atheist. So, I believe that Christmas (or Yule) is a Pagan holiday. I’m open to any celebratory books. I hope this clarifies things a bit. :)
Another gift on my birthday today: WordPress working for me! This is more like it, thank you. I’m not begging for stretched rules but wondering if they encompass more than it sounds, or I don’t think I’ll read anything about celebrations this year. I am reaching hard for a prize goal in an annual challenge. However, spirituality is possible. Is your theme for December specific celebrations? I often read Sylvia Browne and other faith on the afterlife, healing, sentience of animals and plants.
I have been reading of Gnostic Christianity and respect Pagans. I believe in Jesus and God and do celebrate His birthday; knowing a Pagan date was worked in. It is religion’s handling and interpretation of Jesus and God that I disbelieve, not them. That leaves a lot of leeway with folks on the spectrum of spirituality. :)
First of all, sorry I didn’t stop by sooner to wish you a happy birthday. Hope you had a wonderful one.
Yes, just use your judgment. If you feel like you would like to participate, by all means. If not, Winter’s Respite is coming up the whole month of January, and for that readathon, anything goes.
Hugs. <3
I am happy you have a theme I will probably be able to play next month. I didn’t say in my e-mail: my reviews will probably have been added to my post “Carolyn In FrightFall” by the time you revisit it! I write a streamlined 300 words and of course want them to be seen.
Most important and appreciated: thank you for wishing me a happy birthday, Michelle! I am having a fantastic week being loved and remembered,pending time with our cats who are our children, and friends. It was only three days ago, something I am still celebrating and I just got back onto WordPress now. *Hugs!*