Book Review: The Halloween Tree

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Outstanding. I have the audio version, which is narrated by Bronson Pinchot. I didn't recognize his voice and had to look him up on the web to make sure he was who I thought he was! What a voice talent! From the gravely Mr. Moundshroud to the young boys of Halloween night and all Halloween creatures in between, he is absolutely convincing -- and chilling.

I'm going to make this a yearly listening adventure. Maybe next year I'll be able to catch more of Bradbury's poetic prose. This year the sheer thrill of it, and Bronson's execution, distracted me.

My only nitpick: I don't know where Bradbury came up with the idea that Samhain is a god of the dead; in all I've read, Samhain is the name of an ancient Gaelic pagan festival, not a god of the Druids, but maybe Bradbury had different source material. Doesn't matter; this is fiction, after all.

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Join me at Worcester’s Last Independent Bookstore

Update 6/22/12 I will be unable to attend, but urge you to go anyway. This is a great group of Broads and you'll enjoy their readings and their company - Morven

On Friday, June 22, 2012 from 5-9 pm, members of Broad Universe will be reading selections from their writings, signing books, and discussing writing adventures and publishing. The event will run from 5PM until 9PM, with a rotating schedule – something new every hour! 

Listen to selections of fantasy, science fiction, and horror from writers Elaine Isaak, Rachel Kenley, Jennifer Pelland, Jennifer Allis Provost, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Morven Westfield, and Phoebe Wray.

Broad Universe is an international non-profit dedicated to celebrating, honoring, and promoting women who write speculative fiction.

Multi-Author Signing in Northborough, MA

There's a new bookstore a few towns over and one of my fellow Broads (member of Broad Universe) has arranged a group book signing for us there.

Group signings are always more fun -- the authors get to see their author friends and the audience gets to hear a variety of styles and stories. This event should be even more so as we'll be reading selections of science fiction, fantasy, and horror that includes dystopian universes, magical kingdoms, vampires, and bad-@#$ faeries!

Authors Elaine Isaak, Jennifer Pelland,Trish Wooldridge, Justine Graykin, Phoebe Wray, and I will be reading.


Friday, May 8, 2009
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Jeannie's Book Emporium
299 West Main Street, #4
Northborough, MA 01532

Jeannie's is a new independent book store in the area. Come check it out!