Creed

James Herbert - Creed

James Herbert's 15th novel continues the high standard of Haunted, albeit in a completely different style. The cover copy probably overstates the case - "You'll Be Afraid to Laugh" runs the tagline - as Creed is by no means an outright comedy, but it does have it's rotting tongue in cheek on more than one occasion. This isn't quite the knowing post-modernism of Wes Craven's Scream, but it certainly comes close on occasion.

The Spear

James Herbert - The Spear

I expected to be thrilled by this novel about neo-Nazis and their attempts to gain power using the spear that pierced the side of Christ, but it was an effort to work my way through this novel. I believe it's focus is too narrow-- it's missing a sense of international intrigue that you would get from a good spy novel, or a sense of awe that you would get from a novel that knows something about the occult. In short, it needed to have opened up a bit more, to have a more global perspective on what are basically earth-shaking events. It doesn't help that some of the action scenes are a bit awkward, either. An adequate time-killer, nothing more.

History of Julius Caesar (ebook + audio)

History of Julius Caesar by Jacob Abbott. Read by Cathy Barratt
The book chronicles the extraordinary life and leadership of Rome’s Emperor Julius Caesar, from his early years to his assassination. (Summary by Cathy Barratt)

I'll Catch the Sun: Memoirs and Musings of a Nudist (Audiobook)

An entertaining listen about "life", written by a well-traveled man who simply prefers to be "outside" his clothes rather than 'in' them. This is an audiobook for anyone who loves the sun and the joys of "skinny dipping", or who wants to.
Travel with Richard on a global journey, sharing his nude experiences in the Mediterranean, Japan, Hawaii, South Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States. Woven between amusing anecdotes about the nudist lifestyle are thoughts on celebrating nudism, finding a mate, japanese bath house etiquette, cooking in the nude, culinary delights, and nude cruises.

The House of a Thousand Candles

A reputedly wealthy and eccentric old man dies in Vermont.His home,the House of a Thousand Candles,so called for the owner's preference to candle light,is left empty save a faithful servant--his fortune mysteriously vanished,though rumored to still have been hidden in the house somewhere. John Glenarm,the late old man's grandson,stands to inherit the estate(and so the secret fortune)under the stipulation that he live in the house for one year.If he fails,the house will be forfeited and awarded to Marian Devereaux,the niece of the nun who operates the nearby Saint Agatha's School for girls....