The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

This is such a delightfully horrifying book. I like it so much because it doesn't have the usual foul language of the usual Stephen King, because it is the story of a nine year old girl lost in the forest.

Today we went looking for holly in our local Delamere Forest - and, OK there weren't the dreaded mosquitos, but I insisted on keeping within earshot of the road traffic.

Penelope, I remember reading that one several years ago, but the details have escaped my mind. Your general description is right on, though. I think those type of novels are actually scarier than werewolves, vampires or zombies.

Yes, cattleman, it's a bit 'Blaire Witch' isn't it?

I went with my husband to see 'Blaire Witch Project' a few years ago and he had bought a box of Maltesers chocolates for me. When the film ended, we both confessed to feeling quite sick, because we had been unconsciously nervously munching the whole box in our tension during the film.

I'm reading The Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks

Penelope wrote:The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

This is such a delightfully horrifying book. I like it so much because it doesn't have the usual foul language of the usual Stephen King, because it is the story of a nine year old girl lost in the forest.

Today we went looking for holly in our local Delamere Forest - and, OK there weren't the dreaded mosquitos, but I insisted on keeping within earshot of the road traffic.

I came to this thread to post about a Jawsish book I'm reading titled 'Below'. It's a pretty good book so far, written by a debut author.

After reading your post I just had to comment on it. I have this tale - 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon' on my bookshelf. I read it years back and enjoyed it a lot. It was, as you stated, a departure from King's usual abundance of harsh language, but nonetheless enjoyable. I believe this was a tale he penned after being hit by a pick-up truck while taking his daily walk. And you mentioned the mosquitoes... That gave me a flashback of those annoying little no-see-ums prevelant throughout the tale. Well written tale. Very immersive.

Thanks for the memories.

Stephen King is such a brilliant story teller and at one time, I read anything of his that I could get my hands on. However, the foul language sinks into your psyche and I was a young wife with young children at the time........When my husband said anything to annoy me, I used to think all of these very crude phrases courtesy of Mr. King, but if I had ever said them out loud - I don't think the family would have got over the shock.

I do remember saying to them, being a churchgoing believer at the time, that the next time anyone used the word 'Jesus' as an expletive, I would say 'Fuck'. It must have horrified them because the practice ended.....

have just read the firebird by susanna kearsley. couldn't put it down! the story is about Nicola who works at a Russian art gallery in London. she has a 'gift' where she can see the past of any object she touches. a women brings in a wooden carving to be sold that she says was given to her ancestor by the empress Catherine of Russia. she has no providence to prove this so cant sell it. when Nicola touches the carving she 'sees' the history and knows it is the truth. the story splits between the present time to Scotland, france, Belgium and in particular Russia during the period of the jacobite rebellion of the early 18th century. Nicola learns more of the history of the firebird and its original owner, anna, but also learns a lot about herself in the process. loved it!

Hi I am currently reading James and the Giant Peach (admittedly) it is to my seven year old:)- I am not sure who is enjoying it more. Every now and then I like to pick up a children's book and absorb myself into when I first read it as a child. Sam

I just completed "The Hobbit" and now reading "The Lord Of The Rings" by J R R Tolkien.

I am currently reading Martina Cole's "The Graft" first book of hers I have read and am surprisingly enjoying it. Sam