Red Riding Hood

We all can recall the tale of Little Red Riding Hood.  How she is a sweet innocent girl who is eaten by the wolf and saved by the brave woodsman.  That's the story they want you to believe.

In Red Riding Hood, we are taken to the small village of Daggerhorn were we meet two sisters, Lucie and Valerie.  Lucie is portrayed as the perfect daughter, mild mannered, obedient, and quiet.  Valerie is the opposite of her sister, defiant, adventurous, and curious.  Valerie sees the world differently from her friends and family, one gets a sense of disconnection from her village life.  The girls mother and father are in a loveless marriage, and their grandmother lives outside the protective village walls.

This village is different because each month a family offers a sacrifice to the Wolf each month.  The villagers believe it will appease the wolf and keep it from coming after any of them.  On the night of a blood moon, when the girls are out for the harvest, the Wolf attacks and chaos ensues.  The next morning Lucie is found mauled in the field.

Enter Father Solomon, a high priest who is known for his dealings with the supernatural.  He sheds light to the villagers that the Wolf is a werewolf and could be any one of them.  Valerie becomes caught up in a whirlwind of lies, deceit, and betrayal.

This story is based loosley on the fairy tale but possibly has done the Brothers Grimm well.  They were said to appreciate the darker morbid things in life.  The style of writting is easy to follow and the context itself slowly draws the readers in; not letting go till the last possible second.   This is a novel that should be read when one has several hours on their hands.  Its difficult to put down, and more difficult to forget.

So whose afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Bitten by the Book Worm

When I began reading at the age of 12, the first real novel I read was: Number the Stars. It was a sad tale about how two young friends experience first hand the deadly force the Nazi reign has over their small town.  As the two friends learn to hide secrets, deal with Nazi home invasions, and life threatening situations; they grow into young women.  For a 12 year old girl, this was a gripping page turning novel. 

Each time I walk into a bookstore or library I have this chill down my spine.  I allow my hand to rise, slowly, never to hasty to pass over a book.  My eyes become focused on the spines of each of the books.  Skimming over the surfaces works until I feel compelled to raise my hand and let the tips of my fingers caress the spine.  Sometimes there is no reaction, but when there is a slight burst of energy, my hand carefully encases the book, cradling it against my chest.  I fold it open slowly and absorb the synopsis of the books contents. 

With the musty scent of the pages wafting through my nostrils, I cannot help but wish for a candle scent such as this.  Library book pages may be stuck together, but with slow, careful precision, I am able to pull them apart.  New books have crisp white pages just waiting for me to run my fingers over the finely printed words.  To crave the feel and smell of books is a true sign that one has been bitten by a bookworm. 

The goal of this blog is not only to review novellas that have drawn me into their stories, but to have suggestions made from my readers about books that they have been drawn into as well.  I not only wish to expand my book worm taste buds, but be able to help others do the same.


Your comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome in this blog.  Enjoy fellow Book Worms!