We Have Always Lived in the Castle

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

I was gifted this book in an e-book format without any covers or details. I didn't know the genre or background. I didn't know anything except that it was supposed to be a quick and good read.

I always imagined a horror book to be different. I didn't even realize We Have Always lived in the Castle was a horror until I was through most of it - and I'm so glad. I think when we pick up a book and expect it to be scary, romantic, literary or thought-provoking, it changes the way the book is read. I went into this book without any preconceived notion - other than the notion not to have any preconceived notion. I like not knowing. For a good part of the introduction, I had no certainty of knowing what genre I was reading. That was half the mystery for me. I was told to go into this book with an open mind. (At some point of the first few pages, I was open to the idea of Mary and Constance being mysterious vampire girls.) We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a chilling, haunting and quick read. I wish I could say more about it, but I think it is sufficient to say that it strikes fear in a most understated way. It's not even scary - but it is chilling, as Mary would say.

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

It has been years since I first read the book, but I am always entertained by Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale. It isn't because I love the social or political ideologies, the characterization or plot. It isn't because I think The Handmaid's Tale is extraordinarily thought-provoking. I know a lot of people disagree, but I think Atwood's writing style in this book is beautiful. The narration manages to be dull, simple and hectic. Outside the plot, the themes and all else, I felt at home in that chaotically numb mind of Offred. I didn't understand the setting, but I felt all the confusions of being placed there. I was really sad when the book ended. While reading the book I felt like I was somewhere, feeling something, and when the book ended - I had nothing for a few minutes. (I was reading on the job.)

Atwood's novels read like poetry to me.

Best Sources for Free Quality eBooks

There are many sources of free books on the web. As an advocate of free knowledge (but mostly as a thrifty reader), I love to share this with everyone. Many people don't seem to realize that copyrights expire and books become free to read, to distribute, and to inspire (as many should). There is always something available to read and to learn from as long as you are willing. Below are some of my recommended websites to visit when in search of a good read:

Girlebooks is no doubt my favorite eBook source. I'm a sucker for the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, Victorian romance novels and the likes. Girlebooks offers classic and contemporary eBooks by female writers. Girlebooks eBooks are formatted into multiple eBook formats to accommodate most readers. I've had difficulties reading pdf on my Barnes and Noble Nook, but one of the formats offered by Girlebooks is perfect for my Nook! The founders and volunteers here produce great quality formatted works I truly admire and profit from daily.

Emily Bronte courtesy of Girlebooks

When speaking of free quality eBooks, who could omit Project Gutenberg? Probably the largest of its kind, Project Gutenberg offers over 38,000 free ebooks: epub books, kindle books, pdf, html, etc. Completely free of charge, Project Gutenberg books are formatted and edited by thousands of volunteers. Their mission is, as it always has been, to encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks.

Lastly, if you choose to read books on your phone (I do not), BooksInMyPhone provides thousands of free books you can read from the convenience of your cell phone. I prefer not to spend hours peering over small LCD screens, but I love the initiative to bring great reads and knowledge to any platform available.