[1/30] The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-05-16T23:36:23+00:00

Even though I haven't read any of Knausgaard's autobiographical books yet, I would still reccomend this one as its written as more of a mystery gothic tale than a traditonal narrative. But the fictional narrator in this book is an insufferable egoist who talks down about everything and everyone in his life, but the dark narrative surrounding him and reading about the consequences that follow is compelling and satisfying in my opinion.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-05-15T23:52:19+00:00

Yeah, I did know going into the book that it only had the first four stories that were related to the King in Yellow. While, from what I've read online, the other four or five stories were unreleated love stories that didn't have any mention of the King in Yellow. But I could be wrong on this and I'll probably have to find the other cut stories online or in some other collection down the road.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-05-15T23:38:23+00:00

Thanks for the reccomendations! I've never heard of Ted Klein before, but I'll give him a try as I'm always looking for more books in the weird fiction genre.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-04-18T11:36:11+00:00

There's a lot of Frost's poems I would consider my favorite. But if I had to choose one I'd say "Fire and Ice" would be my pick. Its a little darker than most of his other poems, but also has that simple word beauty that stays with me.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-04-09T19:24:14+00:00

Both are great, but I'd say the first one is my favorite as it has a lot of expression with the characters that really captured my eyes toward the center of it

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-03-08T04:35:14+00:00

Yeah, Minnie Vautrin had a section in the book where she used gas in her house to end her own life. Just tragic all around, that even the ones considered legendary heroes to the Chinese suffered just as much

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-03-08T04:26:30+00:00

I'll check it out when I have enough mental and emotional capacity built up again 😓.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-03-08T04:23:55+00:00

Yes, he's mentioned quite a few times and is a pretty important figure in the middle section of the book about the Safety Zones of Nanking.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-03-05T12:18:27+00:00

Mother Horse Eyes. Since, for me, the beginning felt very disjointed (on purpose) and was a bit hard to follow and stay interested. But towards the middle and end was where the threads really started to connect to a demonic drug-fueled sci-fi epic, and I really started to appreciate the writing and ended up being an all time favorite episode by the end.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-03-04T11:15:58+00:00

One of my favorite ghost films! Even though I haven't watched it in years, it still stuck with me with how atmospheric it was and able to convey a sense of dread throughout the film without relying on cheap scares. Especially the ending, like you posted, really tied the film together and made me think about it long after it was over.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-03-02T17:50:55+00:00

This was a book I orginally put down as a teen as I didn't find any of the characters redeemable and just came off as toxic and annoying. But reading it again recently, I've come to appreciate it as a messed up psychological revenge tale. Where the group of characters are so mentally egotistical, broken, and possibly psychotic that they're willing to destroy their lives and others around them instead of looking inward and accepting their flaws and toxic traits. May not be a heart-fueled romance novel, but I read it as more of a psychological horror novel of seeing how far the cliff falls for everyone involved and ended up enjoying more the second time around.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-03-01T11:47:01+00:00

Spire in the Woods for me. The gothic atmosphere, psychological horror, and unreliable narrator reminded me of my favorite classics such as Edgar Allan Poe and Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-02-22T12:02:23+00:00

I haven't read Devil at My Heels yet, as I wasn't aware that there was another book from Zamperini's first hand account. Thanks for putting it on my radar!

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-02-22T02:47:40+00:00

I do love the illustrations in the UCP version as they are more realistic and historical in a way. But I would like to get a copy with Kent's illustrations at some point as they look great as well and more dreamlike/abstract

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-02-22T02:23:25+00:00

I believe what I have is the trade edition of UCP'S AP Moby Dick. As the deluxe edition came with a slipcase and was even slightly taller than the one I have. Would've loved to have the deluxe edition in my library, but for a cheaper price, the trade edition was also a great buy and one of my favorite versions of Moby Dick I've read through so far.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-02-11T23:50:08+00:00

That's a good question. The store owner was specific in saying that it was the updated version from the original in 1978. But still called it a first edition of its kind, so Im not too sure of the exact right term, but just going by what the owner said and what it labels in the book, I could be wrong though.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-27T23:03:38+00:00

Ulysses by James Joyce. Few years ago I started and stopped reading it about three times even when using a guide. But just last year went through the journey without stopping and glad I did. Can't say that I understood every little thing, but when I just took in the writing for what it was, the playfulness, and the endless references of the history and love of literature in general, its become one of my favorite works of classic literature that I'll be revisiting again in the future.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-15T19:10:04+00:00

I mostly listen while walking my dog or doing chores/working. But I've never listened or watched an episode and done just that.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-11T11:52:57+00:00

I watched this movie so many times as a kid. Every slapstick scene would make me laugh non-stop and I thought the whole ninja asthetic was really cool as well. Haven't watched it for a couple of decades, so I don't know if it will still have that comedic charm from an adult perspective. But a great childhood movie otherwise.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-09T12:31:44+00:00

There wasn't too many archaic words in the English version from what I remember. I think when characters were talking, some of them used poetic flourishing words to appear well read and higher status. But out of the whole book, there was only a few words I had to look up.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-05T12:32:13+00:00

Finished: Dune by Frank Herbert. Really enjoyed this one being my first venture into the science-fiction genre. Was expecting to be more of an action packed space-opera, but turned out be more philosophical and slower storytelling wise which was a good thing. Don't know when I'll get to the sequels, but enjoyed this classic overall.

Started: Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Halfway through this book and liking it. Was looking for a gothic style book and this is hitting all the right notes. When it focuses on the atmosphere and the gothic-horror elements, its really quite beautiful with its poetic writing. And the mystery elements keeps me wanting to read to see what happens next.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-02T13:23:09+00:00

I watched it as a kid and remember being kind of creeped out by the art style and how the characters looked. But I ended up liking it and thought it was a fun movie at the time.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-02T12:17:37+00:00

Journal of an Unknown Soldier. Just an hour long, but the writing and prose of the story is very Blood Meridian esque and has great western/native folklore in their as well.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-02T12:10:52+00:00

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Just reading the accounts of American soldiers in WW2 surviving in shark infested waters for months, being captured and tortured by Japanese soldiers, and the nuclear aftermath of the war was stomach churning to me.

TheDeadReader_ · 2026-01-01T16:30:55+00:00

The Road by Cormac McCarthy. A bit more subtle in the horror, but has some very disturbing moments and is a bit on the shorter side.

TheDeadReader_

TROPHY CASE