Mastering March Madness

You’ve rested up from Mardi Gras and now you are marching forward, book in one hand, booze in the other—and ready for whatever comes, right? I hope so, because the votes went to a place of quiet terror with our March selection, which is Quiet Houses by Simon Kurt Unsworth 2011, 148 pages

“THE HOUSES ARE QUIET. IT IS THEIR RESIDENTS WHO ARE SCREAMING... Simon Kurt Unsworth reinvents the classic English ghost story with a portmanteau collection that takes the haunted house genre and makes it scream...quietly. Because the most terrifying screams are the silent ones… At the centre …is Richard Nakata, a ghost hunter who is investigating all of the separate cases throughout the book, yet his agenda remains hidden until the very last story. http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/1/8/event_95883352.jpegNakata represents everything that Unsworth does well in Quiet Houses, the character is intriguing and sympathetic yet there is enough mystery surrounding him to make the reader question whether or not it is right to be on his side. …As a collection of short stories Quiet Houses is an engaging read, as a complete story the book is fantastic. Every possible emotion is touched upon and each part of the tale is carefully and beautifully crafted. Quiet Houses is a book that will linger in the memory of the reader for many varied and ghastly reasons.”

http://readhorror.co.uk/reviews/quiet-houses-by-simon-kurt-unsworth/

Quiet Houses does not seem to be in the Orleans or Jefferson libraries. It is available online and I will check and Maple Street bookstore will have copies as of Feb 29--be sure to tell them you are in the Booze n'Books meetup so that you receive a discount.

Oh and a note to all you New Orleans newbies—not-to-be-missed March events:

(1) doing the rounds of the St. Joseph Altars to collect your goodies & good-luck fava beans. http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/f/8/event_95883832.jpeghttp://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/seasonal/stjosephsday.htmland (http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/seasonal/stjosephsday.htmland)

(2) celebrating the Mardi Gras Indians on Super Sunday, March 18. http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/supersunday.html http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/0/6/0/event_95884192.jpeg (http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/supersunday.html)

(fyi—no need to be Catholic to embrace these fantastic events—just go!)