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Review: Cleopatra's Needle
by Carole Lanham ~ Immortal Ink 2014, Available for Purchase
Review by Kfir Luzzato, The Harrow
You will hear literary pundits saying that “atmosphere is so 1900’s”, and that
nowadays the reader must be force-fed action from the first paragraph. In fact,
many modern authors try to avoid atmosphere altogether for fear of being
considered outdated. But where atmosphere is concerned Carole Lanham won’t take
bull from anybody.
Cleopatra’s Needle is full of action that feeds on the atmosphere, and of
atmosphere that propels the action. In fact, in spite of its novella length,
it contains far more action than many full-length novels and it still
manages to ooze mood from every line. I found it intriguing – and remarkable – that
in spite of the somewhat jumpy beginning, which needs to bridge over a period
of several years, the feel is never lost and remains consistent throughout the
story.
The reader feels uneasy from page one, although he couldn’t say why, which is a
sure sign that the writing – and what’s behind it – touches the right chord. A
great read for everybody (the faint of heart excluded.)
Tastefully erotic, packed with meaning, and sung with lyric perfection,
THE READING LESSONS will make your imagination dance through the riveting perils
of a forbidden relationship. Carole Lanham’s debut novel is a complete feast.
Thomas Sullivan Author of DUST OF EDEN
The Reading Lessons is a delicate study of a difficult era in American history.
Carole traces the development of love and obsession between two people whose
skin color will never let them be together. While the world evolves around them
where manual labor is being replaced by mechanization, social mores remain
stagnant and to flout them can be fatal. As the dark secrets pile up, Hadley
struggles to free himself from the web of his own making but he cannot escape
Lucinda's pull. A spellbinding read and one whose echos will linger with you
after you have read the last page.
Leslie A Brown
Right from the start, Lanham hauls readers off down the hall by their ear,
creating a guilty sense that you've done something wrong and will enjoy
doing it again, no matter the punishment that awaits. At once both sordid
and endearing, Hadley and Lucinda's love affair will haunt you long after
you've turned the last page. Lanham brilliantly captures an era long gone
and social judgments not nearly as long gone as we might like to think.
Emily Thoroughman (COLUMBIA, MO, US)
THE WHISPER JAR is a collection of nine stories combining a wonderful mix
of horror and fantasy. Easily my favorite of the bunch is “The Blue Word”
which takes place inside a mountain fortress run by the Church for orphan
children. A zombie virus has ravaged society, although the government has
managed to get it under control. Salvation House provides a sanctuary for
children deemed “special” until their eighteenth birthdays when they return to
the world. Salvation House comes under attack at times and the nuns and
the children must fend off the attackers. One young woman named Esther
discovers the truth about who she is and what really happens when the
special orphans leave the only home they’ve known for most of their lives.
Lanham keeps you guessing through the entire story and then hits you in
the gut with and unexpected and heartbreaking ending.
Other stories include “Keepity Keep” about a pair of brothers who discover
a fairy and over the years the brothers become competitive and jealous in
their relationship with Petaloo the fairy, leading to a devastating conclusion;
“The Good Part” about Etta who becomes a vampire and how she uses and
manipulates her brother Gideon through an incestuous relationship; and
“The Forgotten Orphan” about a boy who becomes a doctor’s assistant in
an orphanage and discovers a secret. There are also two poems, “The
Whisper Jar” about a village in which the townsfolk keep their darkest
secrets in jars; and “The Adventures of Velvet Honeybone, Girl Werewuff”
about how a girl became a werewolf.
Carole Lanham writes with a touch of whimsy that draws you into what
ultimately are very dark and macabre stories. She is also able to flawlessly
meld a childlike innocence with an eerie eroticism that for me really makes
THE WHISPER JAR a major standout. The stories are at times playful and
then move into an almost unpredictable darkness. This is one collection
that I highly recommend if you like your horror weird and disturbing.
Colleen Wanglund, August issue of The Horror Fiction Review
I am not a huge fan of poetry. It's just not my thing. So I have to admit I was a
little put off by the book opening with a poem, but forced myself to read it. The
little story depicted in the poem is very clever, so I dove into the first short story.
After that point, I was completely hooked.
THE WHISPER JAR is masterfully crafted. There are two poems and seven short
stories. Each piece is often amusing, magical, well-written disturbing and often
contain a subtle (or not so subtle) element of horror. Out of all the entries into
this collection, my favorite was GARDEN, MISTER SAMUEL, AND THE JILLY
JALLY BUTTER MINTS. It reminded me a little of a Mary Poppin adventure where
everything is not quite as it seems and just a bit frightening. I loved the twist at the end.
There are quite a few themes in the works. The dangers of love and the seduction
of insanity were two I really enjoyed. My favorite story (recommended above) definitely
hit on these themes. Also, the inevitable fate of some of these characters based on
their choices was something I enjoyed tremendously, especially because they could
have possibly avoided the worst if they had just been a bit more clever.
I highly recommend THE WHISPER JAR. Carole Lanham's collection reminded me
of the best of Steven Millhauser and Ray Bradbury. She's absolutely wickedly good
at writing short stories that stay with you long after you've stopped reading.
Rhiannon Frater gave 5 stars to: The Whisper Jar by Carole Lanham
status: Read in February, 2012 — I own a copy
"I'm not a fan of short story compilations as such, nor am I a fan of Forewords
at the beginning of a book. I tend to skip them - as I did with this one. However,
that said, the stories in this book are gripping and I was quite disappointed
that they were only short stories. I would like to have seen them developed
as full length novels -especially The Good Part. The strange relationship
between Etta and Gideon is definitely worth taking further.
If you're a fan of quirky off-beat fantasy or paranormal that doesn't fit the
mould and love to read beautifully written (yet easy to read) prose, you will
love this collection!!
Five Stars out of Five Stars".
L.A. Dale, Author of Heart of Glass
"This past Halloween weekend, I spent my nights engrossed in a book of short stories that was
well-written, intriguing, and surprisingly, incredibly hard to put down. The Whisper Jar, by author
Carole Lanham, speaks to the little kid in us grown-up GeekMoms that still like fairy tales, but
with a deliciously wicked and weird twist."
Geek Mom
"Tonight is not just the time for witches and monsters to come out of their hiding holes and haunt us. It’s also
the day The Whisper Jar is released. It’s no coincidence, as the whisper jar is the keeper of horrible,
unmentionable secrets that should never be told. And yet, here they are, for everyone to read, all wrapped up
in one deliciously creepy collection, beautifully crafted by author Carole Lanham. Read if you dare.
And you should dare, because they’re all great."
Valentina's Room
"This is a collection of Carole's award winning short stories. Every story has won its share of acclaim,
with each one appearing in a `best of' collection, winning an award, or receiving a nomination. After
reading these stories, I can see why..." The Complete Review
Colin F. Barnes, Author of the Newly Released City of Hell Chronicles
"If you’re looking for a spooky story that’s more psychological mystery than blood and gore, local author
Carole Lanham’s latest collection may be for you.
The O’Fallon author’s second book, The Whisper Jar, a collection of short horror stories all revolving around
secrets, hits shelves Tuesday..."
Jordan Lanham (no relation) for
The O' Fallon Patch
"With cover artwork that is gorgeous, writing that is addictive and editing that is impeccable, The Whisper Jar
is sure to be a hit. In my opinion, it can easily compete with other collections of shorts such as Nightmares
Dreamscapes or Nightshift from Stephen King. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a little darkness
to go along with their fairy tales."
C.K Webb for
The Deepening World of Books
Many years ago, when the world and I were both more innocent, I attended a performance of Maxwell Anderson’s
"This collection contains both period and contemporary stories, but this series doesn’t suffer for it because
Carole Lanham moves effortlessly from one to the other... She respects the horror genre without becoming
manacled to it. .."
Bob Leishman
Tangent
"Every now and then, a collection of short stories comes along that not only brings creepiness to new levels,
but reaches in a little deeper and leaves something behind. The stories in The Whisper Jar are like that...they stick with you
like soft voices in the memory. A great book for a dark and stormy night..."
David Niall Wilson, Award Winning Author of
Deep Blue, This is My Blood, and CEO of Crossroad Press
"Few writers can make love seem so horrible, or horror seem so lovely. The weird scenes Lanham paints for us are
poignant and final, with hope strangled - but always in some strangely uplifting way. Perhaps gruesome and memorable
are the best words to describe her work."
Dr. Kim Paffenroth, Author of
Dying to Live and Gospel of the Living Dead
“...I should mention that every story herein has been nominated for an award or won an accolade of some kind on
somebody's "Best of..." list, but that seems almost an understatement. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts,
and here we have the entire nine yards...or, if you will, nine works from a name to watch. Carole Lanham has arrived."
Thomas Sullivan, Pulitzer Prize Nominated Author of
The Water Wolf and The Phases of Harry Moon
"Carole Lanham is made entirely out of awesome. The Whisper Jar is packed to the lid with dark magic and whimsy,
while bearing an ominously old-fashioned touch that might make Edward Gorey feel right at home.
It deserves to be ranked as a modern classic."
Brian Hodge of
Mad Dogs and Picking The Bones
"There are secrets hidden within The Whisper Jar.
These are not the sort of secrets you can whisper into jam jars, twist the lid and know (or hope) they'll stay hidden;
these are secrets that spill out across the pages of Carole Lanham's debut collection, which weaves tales that prove
just how un-innocent childhood can sometimes be.
There are vampires and maybe vampires, and werewolves and fairies, and macabre torture devices that may or may
not kill depending on the flick of a switch. There are the rhyming tales - the title story The Whisper Jar and the tragic
The Adventures of Velvet Honeybone, Girl Werewuff - tales of woe, of childhood friendship, and how the magic dies with
approaching adulthood. Each story is a delight, and the tales are told in Lanham's unique and compelling voice.
Although some secrets should stay hidden, Carole Lanham's The Whisper Jar should not."
Cate Gardner ...a writer of weird things. Scary only in ink, and author of Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits
"Carol Lanham’s stories flirt with relationships, sexuality, paranormality, brutality and even reality.The stories
are glimpses into dark places and alternative realities which never go to full-on Horror, but there is at least one
implied death. Plenty of sexuality, but very little actual sex..."
Conrad Zero
The Blue Word
“The Blue Word” by Carole Lanham was an amazing story, though. This is almost a coming of age tale as a young
woman, an orphan in a Catholic orphanage, learns the truth of the world outside the walls she’s known her entire life,
where she soon must venture. Amusing, sad, confusing and illuminating, this story was the first of the anthology
where I had to put the book down afterward and just let my mind absorb what had been read.
-- Adicus Ryan Garton, editor Cosmic
The Reading Lessons
Many years ago, when the world and I were both more innocent, I attended a performance of Maxwell Anderson’s
“The Bad Seed” and remember being shaken by the concept of an innately evil child. Carole Lanham’s
“The Reading Lessons” evokes a similarly chilling response, as Lucinda introduces her willing victim Hadley to a new
twist in literary explorations. They begin, prosaically enough, by sharing the “naughty bits” in Lucinda’s books. Hoping
to retain and perhaps escalate Lucinda’s interest, a mesmerized Hadley seeks ever more thrilling books to share.
Reading can be hazardous to your health; I’m afraid Hadley may not survive the next one.
Janice Clark
Tangent
“The Reading Lessons” by Carole Lanham is up and I have to admit it’s one of my favorites in the issue.
The prose is light and fun, and the story mixes some pitch-black moments with the child-like joy and
naiveté of the main characters to create an atmosphere that’s well, just plain fun. And really creepy.
Jeremiah Sturgill
Son and Foe 2005
Among the short stories I quite liked Carole Lanham's creepy "The Reading Lessons", about a boy and
his unusual childhood girlfriend.
The Speculative Literature Foundation 2005
The Moribund Room
A remarkable study of the zombie-condition traced back to its original vector, an infected mammoth,
that unwittingly shambled across the primeval hunting grounds of our ancient ancestors and into infamy, History is
Dead tracks mankind's most gruesome affliction as it spreads, raising our dead across the continents, bridging cultures,
and shedding light on ancient mysteries, like the Celtic peat bog-mummies in "The Gingerbread Man", and crossing
paths with iconic greatness, in "The Loaned Ranger" and "The Summer of 1816". The zombie proves itself to be an
effective weapon of war, in "The Barrow Maid", as well as a lover worthdying for, in Carole Lanham's wonderfully
necrotic zombie-romance, "The Moribund Room". A brilliant theme and an outstanding collection, History is Dead
may arguably be one of the most noteworthy horror anthologies of 2007, and surely a contender for this year's
Stoker Award nominations.
Mike Norris
February 7, 2008
“The Moribund Room” by Carol Lanham first appeared in History is Dead, a wonderful anthology of historical
zombie tales. The dark love story, heavy on the morbid, holds up to multiple readings and the prose still holds magic
after all is illuminated.
Michelle Lee’s Book Love
Review of Apex Magazine November 2008
No one is getting my copy of this book. It has heartbreak and humor and horror and history. I adore it.
I never considered myself a zombie fan until I read History is Dead and now I'm hooked. I highly recommend
History is Dead to all horror fans, whether they are zombie lovers or not. I do hope that there is a sequel,
which I will snap up with equal eagerness.
Michele
Goodreads.com
Cleopatra's Needle
Cleopatra's Needle is the most distinctive of the collection. It tells the story of Ryder and Delia,
childhood best friends in Wales who are separated when Ryder's father decides to start a new life in Ohio.
Delia waits patiently for Ryder to make his fortune and send for her, but when he finally invites her to visit,
she arrives to find he has had a brutal ordeal with three witches. This is a genuinely creepy and original story,
as well as being the most sexually charged of the collection.
Jessie Nash
GUD Magazine
The highlights of the anthology for me were Alicia Blade's "The Phantom of Linkshire Manor",
a ghost story with an M.R. James sensibility, and Carole Lanham's "Cleopatra's Needle", a genuinely
touching story of love, for better or worse, with the flavor of a folktale.
Sara Totten
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