web counter
 

AlabamaPink: One Year Later

By The Pajiba Staff | Posted Under Book Reviews | Comments (68)

n571689334_117105_460-thumb-220x293-484.jpg

While it may appear to the casual viewer that Prisco (Mr. Five books. Shah.) is owning my ass in this race, it simply isn’t true. I’ve just been a febrile mess lately and couldn’t be bothered to write anything about my reads. If anyone is currently keeping count, I am tearing through book four.

So there.

Prisco chose a sci-fi writer’s self-help tome to be his first read. I pick a collection of old fashioned ghost stories edited by Edward Gorey. I’m sure this has deeper meaning.

Edward Gorey was one of those artists/famous people that I dreamed of one day meeting. I love his ability to take the macabre and twisted (The Curious Sofa, anyone?) and make them elegant and just a wee bit quaint. However, I am glad I never got the chance to share a drink with the man, as I am sure he would have thought me a ninny, and I would have learned some horrible truth about him, like his bad dental hygiene or that he was a raging misogynist (Neither of which I know to be true. I’m just speculating here, people.).

The Haunted Looking Glass does much maintain his place of adoration my heart. Gorey selected twelve (Oh, why not thirteen!) old-fashioned ghost stories such masters of the craft as Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, Charles Dickens, and the godfather of the Gothic novel, Wilkie Collins. All of the stories are traditional chillers with haunted houses, premonitory visions, and vengeful spirits. There’s no blood or gore. No vampires or evil clowns. Just a tidy collection of things that go bump in the night and leave you with a chill up your spine. And not only did Gorey have a hand in selecting the stories, but he also provides illustrations for the title page of each.

While some of the stories play out as slightly dated, there were definitely a few standouts with a strong creep factor. “The Empty House” by Algernon Blackwood is a tightly wound telling of a man and his elderly aunt’s visit to a supposed haunted house. Their journey through the vacant house and what they encounter was far more effective at illiciting the eebie-jeebies from me than any of those “supernatural” television shows where people wander around old buildings using night vision cameras and exclaiming, “What was that?”

The most effectively creepy story came from none other than Bram Stoker. “The Judge’s House” has to be the first time I’ve read a story and wanted to shout at the main character, like people do in bad horror films. A student rents an old house as a retreat to complete his studies, and very quickly encounters the infestation of rats in the wainscoting. Yeah, my ass would have been at the Days Inn five seconds after the first pair of beady little eyes peered out of the woodwork, but the unfortunately stubborn student continues to stay in the house. Stoker makes the skin crawl with this tale of haunting by rodents.

Gorey wisely chose to include the ever-frightening “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs. If you’ve never read this classic, you absolutely need to. Right now. All I can say is that it’s the best illustration of how readers’ imaginations sometimes can do all necessary work; a writer just has to give them the right tasty little morsel to set that machine in motion.

M.R. James’ “Casting The Runes” rounds out the lot as the one story that felt the most “modern”. It is a well-paced tale of a man attempting to crawl out from underneath a hex from a bitter, self-described alchemist whose badly written paper the hexed man made the mistake of giving a negative review. Be careful what you write in those Amazon customer reviews.

The Haunted Looking Glass certainly didn’t terrify me to the point of needing to sleep with the light on. There’s only been one book with that kind of power over me, Ghost Story by Peter Straub. But it was darn good for a little shiver before bedtime.

This review is part of the Cannonball Read series. which AlabamaPink co-founded with Brian Prisco. Today is the one-year anniversary of Pink’s passing.









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Review | News: Gladiators v. Werewolves →









Comments

Thanks for header pic. Great way to make me cry this morning, RIGHT AFTER I PUT ON MY MASCARA. Sob! RIP Alabama Pink. Good thoughts flowing to your family.

I've either read this book, or I've read most of the stories in it. Great stories, all of them. Classics.

Posted by: BWeaves at March 25, 2010 8:47 AM

Aw, man...

Posted by: courtney at March 25, 2010 8:51 AM

I'm a snuffling mess now.

I believe I'll be looking for this book and Ghost Story by Straub. If that one kept 'Bama up, it'll make me pee myself I'm sure!

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at March 25, 2010 8:54 AM

Thoughts are with Pink's friends and family - still kind of unbelievable...

Posted by: Kash at March 25, 2010 9:05 AM

Oh.....damn.......

Love you Adrian & Monkey. Miss you, Warrior Queen.


CANCER SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: dammitjanet at March 25, 2010 9:11 AM

I can't believe it's been a year. She was a doll.

Posted by: Julie at March 25, 2010 9:20 AM

That picture isn't even fair.

Posted by: Kballs at March 25, 2010 9:21 AM

Ghost Story is great, Pinky.

Cancer can kiss my hairy ass.

Posted by: Cindy at March 25, 2010 9:22 AM

Ahhhh. (that was the sound I made when that picture stabbed me in the heart.)

RIP, Pink.

Much love to ahamos and Li'l Pink today.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverpuppet at March 25, 2010 9:25 AM

I've said it before, but it bears repeating:

Amid the chaos of that day, when all I could hear was the thunder of gunshots, and all I could smell was the violence in the air, I look back and am amazed that my thoughts were so clear and true, that three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record:

You're so cool.
You're so cool.
You're so cool.

Posted by: TK at March 25, 2010 9:35 AM

damn you, TK!

all geep's love to adrian and the rest of the clan.

Posted by: gp at March 25, 2010 9:41 AM

*chokes*

Miss you, Pink.

Posted by: admin at March 25, 2010 9:41 AM

Posted by: BWeaves at March 25, 2010 8:47 AM
---
Me, too. The mascascar part I, I mean.

Ah, Pink Pink Pink, Love you, angel.

Posted by: , at March 25, 2010 9:47 AM

*sigh*

The wife and I were looking over the posts from a year ago, and once again marveling at the outpouring of love and affection for 'Bama and her family. Truly a special family, with special friends.

Posted by: Xtreme at March 25, 2010 9:53 AM

Lots of love to ahamos and Little A today, and everyday. Miss you Manda. You were our friend, our teacher, our sister. Life goes on, better because you were once in it.

Posted by: Kolby at March 25, 2010 9:55 AM

Thank you for posting this today. I have been following Mr. Pink's
blog for the past 12 months and watched him inch closer to this day.
I hope that he and his son have some peace. The First Anniversary is
held up as some sort of gold star on your mourning report card. A
point to get to, but when it arrives, it is just as arbitrary as the day
before and the day after. It's not an after school detention when the bell
rings and you get to go on as before. There is still a person who is
not coming back and you still have to face the day. Fortunately,
with each other to hang onto and love and support from friends, you
can continue to build on the legacy of love its adorable living proof.

Posted by: Henry/Mrs. Julien at March 25, 2010 9:59 AM

I was wondering what would be done to mark this sad anniversary. This is perfect.

Love to ahamos & Lil A & the rest of her family and friends.

Posted by: tamatha at March 25, 2010 10:00 AM

NO ONE at my job has even heard of Pajiba. So yeah, explaining my tears at my desk (when I'm not even supposed to be on the site since i'm 'working') Is just, totally not awkward and impossible, so yeah, thanks you....beautiful bastards.

I said it that day(a year ago? A YEAR ago? What the FUCK), I say it now because it has that associated meaning to me...

So Say We All.

RIP Alabama.
XX

Posted by: nadine at March 25, 2010 10:06 AM

Looking over these posts, and all those from a year ago, I'm reminded of how truly, honestly spectacular the interwebs are.

I mean, here we are, most of us have never met in person, but we were and are all united in our love and sadness over this extradinary woman, who most of us would have never even heard of. I've seen so many commenters reach out to others in times of sorrow or need so many times in these comments and over on Facebook as well. Most of my friends and family just roll their eyes when I start sentences with, "I read on Pajiba today," or "One of my Pajiba friends," because they don't understand.

This is a community. Sometimes it is filled with snark, bitching, back-biting, trolls, and near-virtual fist-fights, but when push comes to shove, nadine put it quite well. You are a bunch of beautiful bastards (and bitches) and I am proud to *know* you all.

Thank you. Ich bin ein Pajibette.

Posted by: dammitjanet at March 25, 2010 10:15 AM

forgive my misspellings....hard to type thru tears

Posted by: dammitjanet at March 25, 2010 10:22 AM

I can't believe it's been a year either. Tonight I'll go home, put on my pink 'Bama shirt, and raise a glass to her memory.

Much love to her family.

Posted by: Stella at March 25, 2010 10:26 AM

I may not have known her as well as others, but I was affected nonetheless, and the love and support I saw, that we all shared in the aftermath, opened my heart up a bit more to this place, and it's bigger now for taking you guys in.

All my thoughts are with Adrian and Lil A today.

Posted by: feramones at March 25, 2010 10:29 AM

I was still just a lurker when AlabamaPink passed. I regret missing my chance to comment to her directly and losing the opportunity to know her personally. What a remarkable woman.

And a suggestion: we're lucky to live in an age where people can write & share things electronically that can be preserved intact forever. If it hasn't been done yet, someone close to the family needs to gather up all the book reviews, blog posts, and status updates that Amanda left behind- everything you can get your hands on- and save them all together for that kid when he grows up. I don't trust blogspot, or facebook, or even Pajiba to back them up for 15-20 years. That's when those words will really be important.

I lost my mother to cancer when I was eight and unfortunately it was in a time when we didn't have archives of email and blogs. And my family is the type that just doesn't spend a lot of time talking about her and the past, so memories fade and we end up further and further apart. I would give anything for a letter from my mom, some glimpse into her life and her personality, just a chance to know her better, because cancer robbed me of that opportunity in life.

Posted by: Yossarian at March 25, 2010 10:37 AM

Shit..

Now I wanna go home and sit under a blanket an sip some comfy hot coco.

Having fun up there, Mrs Pink?

Hugs to the family.

Posted by: Magiel at March 25, 2010 10:45 AM

I don't think this is really a day any of us wants to celebrate, but if anything, it's at least a day to honour. God rest our Warrior Queen.

Posted by: Jeremy Feist at March 25, 2010 10:48 AM

Rest in Peace, 'Pink.
*sniffle*

Posted by: Rykker at March 25, 2010 10:49 AM

I just can't believe it's been a year already. She was such a great presence here at Pajiba and I know all the regulars have missed her. RIP Pink xo

Posted by: b at March 25, 2010 10:51 AM

I just had to put that picture on my desktop.
To taste this day.

Posted by: Magiel at March 25, 2010 10:57 AM

I was a lurker a year ago, and still am a lurker. All I want to say is that my thoughts are with her family today. She inspired me to finally register as a bone marrow donor.

Posted by: Hanneke at March 25, 2010 11:05 AM

We're always thinking of you.

Much love for Adrian and Lil'A.

Posted by: Bizarro Sofía at March 25, 2010 11:06 AM

I wasn't a lurker, but for some reason wasn't around much a year ago, and I never got to know her (much has been my regret) so I've always felt sort of out of the loop whenever Amanda is mentioned, but it's so incredible to see how much she's loved and remembered. SO incredible.

I'm trying to make up for it by doing the second Cannonball read and every time I finish a book, whispering "that was for little A" as I close it. Mr. Snuggie heard me recently and asked what I said. I told him. He thought for a second and said "that's really cool--I thought you were just in some sort of book-reading race, but that reason's even better."

Indeed. Rest in peace, AlabamaPink.

Posted by: Snuggiepants the Deathbringer at March 25, 2010 11:18 AM

RI(ass-kickin)P

Posted by: Ian at March 25, 2010 11:20 AM

Beautiful picture.
RIP Alabama Pink. You are missed every day

xxxx

Posted by: Nieve 'Thread Killer Queen' at March 25, 2010 11:44 AM

Well shit. That picture...now I'm not only crying in public, I'm crying IN CLASS. Slightly awkward. Guess I shouldn't have been on the computer in the first place.

I didn't know you, Mrs. Pink, but I knew you, and you are truly missed. Thanks for posting this review. She continues to inspire my own Cannonball read. My love goes out to Adrian and Lil' A.

Posted by: Adrienne at March 25, 2010 11:46 AM

I've been way behind on my own CBR, but today has reminded me what it's all about. Time to turn off the TV and the interwebs and read dammit!

"I am missing you better than I ever loved you."

Posted by: Commander Strikeher at March 25, 2010 11:51 AM

My thoughts also go out to Amanda's family and friends.

Posted by: Alli at March 25, 2010 12:06 PM

Wow. This means I first visited Pajiba one year ago. Yep, my first time on the site was the day she passed. The incredible outpouring of love and support for someone few had met in person let me know, immediately, that I was someplace special. And despite having only read her in retrospect, it's obvious that Pink was an amazing lady. As they have been many times this year, my thoughts are with her husband and baby today.

Posted by: mr friendly at March 25, 2010 12:09 PM

Fuck, just when I was thinking that March was safe. I'll pour one out for ya, Pink, and say hi to Harry and Erin for me. You guys make quite the trio. *tear*

Posted by: The_wakeful at March 25, 2010 12:16 PM

This is what keeps me coming back to Pajiba: the amazing people who gather here. We talk, we bitch, we fight, but when it comes down to it, we truly care, and I hope that never changes. RIP Amanda, and my heart is with ahamos and 'Lil A today.

Posted by: Meli Mel at March 25, 2010 12:20 PM

One year ago today! I remember logging on to Pajiba reading the news, picking up the phone to call Boozehound and then just crying into his voice mail. She is so missed.

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 25, 2010 1:05 PM

Miss you, awesome lady. Prayers and thoughts are with Ahamos and Lil' A today.

Posted by: Melody at March 25, 2010 1:06 PM

I honestly don't know what to say. Every time I think about Manda, the tears well up and...it's just so damn heartbreaking.

We miss you Warrior Queen, you make me proud to be a mother, sister, friend and most importantly, a woman. You taught us all how to be brave in the face of adversity and just how fucking tough you really were.

On this day we honour you. You're so fine.

Alabama: Did I do my part okay?
Clarence Worley: Bamaloo you were perfect.
Alabama: Like a ninja?
Clarence Worley: Like a ninja.


PS. Go visit Adrian Amos blog a send your positive thoughts and wishes to him.

Posted by: Jadine at March 25, 2010 1:12 PM

Oh yeah, Fuck Cancer!!!

Posted by: Jadine at March 25, 2010 1:13 PM

I agree wholeheartedly and half-sackedly with this ^^^

Also:

*--mascara

Posted by: , at March 25, 2010 1:53 PM

I still think of her now and then, for random reasons. The person who was a complete stranger, yet I liked so much. Thanks for this post, Pajiba.

Posted by: katy at March 25, 2010 2:17 PM

Unreal that it's been a year. Equally unreal how someone you never met can touch your heart and your life. What a gift...

Posted by: MrsK at March 25, 2010 2:20 PM

Fuck cancer.

This is one of those days where I'll never forget where I was when I got the news. I was in a room at the Marriot in northern New Jersey after a long day of training for work. I saw the news and just sat and cried for 15 minutes before I called my husband and cried some more. I'm not do good with dates, but I do remember where I was when I heard that my grandfather died, my first grandmother died, then my second grandmother and I remember where I was when Warrior-Queen Amanda died.

You're so cool. You're so cool. You're so cool.

So say we all.

Posted by: stardust at March 25, 2010 2:27 PM

I am still a lurker but I do try to comment occassionally. The very first time I made a comment, it was Amanda who responded to me. She was so nice and she didn't know who... I think I will hold that with me for a good while. Now I'm crying in my car. Good thing it's raining.
Sending thoughts to her family.

Posted by: Najee at March 25, 2010 4:01 PM

You guys are amazing. And so was my friend Manda, who will never be forgotten.

Posted by: Nicole at March 25, 2010 5:58 PM

Much love to you, Pinky. You are sorely, sorely missed. The interwebs just haven't been the same without you, and never will be.

Posted by: livience at March 25, 2010 6:08 PM

You jerks are making me tear up. Like many who frequent this site I never knew her personally, but I think about her whenever I see anything "Alice in Wonderland" related. She was such a badass.

Posted by: Dingles at March 25, 2010 6:09 PM

No one saw me crying at work the day Pink died but cry I did. It was almost six months to the day after my mom died from cancer.

All Hail Alabama Pink! Cancer can suck it.

Posted by: FyreHaar at March 25, 2010 6:17 PM

We miss you AlabamaPink. The world is a sadder place without you in it.

Posted by: CptCrckpot at March 25, 2010 6:41 PM

***raises glass***

"To Alabama Pink!"

One cool lady.

Cyber hugs to Adrian and Little A.

Posted by: blackbird at March 25, 2010 6:47 PM

If anyone's feeling like they can spare some cash...Adrian is doing a run on Saturday in Amanda's honour and if you go to his blog you can be linked to make a donation.

Posted by: blackbird at March 25, 2010 7:17 PM

Thank you, Dustin.

She was the best...

Posted by: Evelyn at March 25, 2010 8:50 PM

Well, that hurts all over again. Actually, it never stopped. Sometimes I just wouldn't notice for a while.

I've looked up the AlabamaPink threads from time to time over the last year. Didn't know why until I got there. Inspiration. A reminder. Sometimes when I have been adrift and overwhelmed the smart part of my brain would send me to the example and reassurance I needed.

"Like this. This is how you do the hard stuff."

"Look how she lived. You can at least try to live up."

I'm a better person for 'bama's example. And I'm weeping - again. But I can handle it.

Oh yeah ... Fuck Cancer. (Not in a good way.)

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at March 25, 2010 9:01 PM

There isn't anything I can say that hasn't been said. She was a powerful woman, and her legacy lives on.

Posted by: Dagon at March 25, 2010 9:39 PM

Fuck cancer.

Like BierceAmbrose said above, I am a better person for 'Bama's example.

Posted by: TWoP_Fan at March 25, 2010 10:44 PM

Fuckers. Way to blindside me on a good day.

Posted by: QueBarbara at March 25, 2010 10:59 PM

My thoughts have been on Ahamos and little A today.
You're so cool!

And Cancer can bite my fat ass!
Love to all my wonderful friends on the site!

Posted by: trixie at March 26, 2010 1:02 AM

Fuck cancer indeed!

Much love and strength to her family. Not just for today (yesterday), but for all the other ones lived without your warrior princess.

Posted by: Pants at March 26, 2010 9:02 AM

Is it wrong to rape cancer? I think not.

Posted by: Mit_Huffman at March 26, 2010 9:14 AM

I can only echo what everyone else has said.

You're sadly missed, 'bama.


Also, could anyone who reads this please support Adrian in his charity run.

Posted by: frank_247 at March 26, 2010 9:36 AM

So say we all!

And many virtual hugs to ahamos, if he reads this...

Posted by: tarn at March 26, 2010 4:09 PM

Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn something like this before. So good to search out somebody with some unique thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this website is one thing that is wanted on the internet, someone with somewhat originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the internet!

Posted by: home remedies for acne at March 10, 2011 6:41 AM

I simply needed to appreciate you again. I'm not certain what I could possibly have tried without those recommendations contributed by you relating to such a theme. Entirely was a frightful difficulty in my view, nevertheless seeing the specialised avenue you solved the issue forced me to weep with delight. Now i'm grateful for the service and believe in you realize what a powerful job you are always doing training the rest with the aid of your site. I am certain you've never met all of us.

Posted by: Emilia at March 12, 2011 3:04 PM

Thanks i like your blog very much , i come back most days to find new posts like this.

Posted by: Andrew Pelt at March 15, 2011 2:38 PM