Halloween Countdown, Day 8
Oct. 8th, 2011 06:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eldritchhobbitCheck out this amazing Halloween artwork! Just breathtaking. I love the historical flavor of these pieces. (Thanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elizkcampbell!)
Text of the Day: Today's text is longer and oh-so-eerie, a perfect choice for the weekend: the classic Gothic horror novel The Beetle by Richard Marsh (1857-1915). Published the same year as Dracula, The Beetle was at the time considered the more popular and sensational of the two supernatural thrillers.
Excerpt:
Well, if the house was empty, in such a plight as mine I might be said to have a moral, if not a legal, right, to its bare shelter. Who, with a heart in his bosom, would deny it me? Hardly the most punctilious landlord. Raising myself by means of the sill I slipped my legs into the room.
The moment I did so I became conscious that, at any rate, the room was not entirely unfurnished. The floor was carpeted. I have had my feet on some good carpets in my time; I know what carpets are; but never did I stand upon a softer one than that. It reminded me, somehow, even then, of the turf in Richmond Park,—it caressed my instep, and sprang beneath my tread. To my poor, travel-worn feet, it was luxury after the puddly, uneven road. Should I, now I had ascertained that—the room was, at least, partially furnished, beat a retreat? Or should I push my researches further? It would have been rapture to have thrown off my clothes, and to have sunk down, on the carpet, then and there, to sleep. But,—I was so hungry; so famine-goaded; what would I not have given to have lighted on something good to eat!
I moved a step or two forward, gingerly, reaching out with my hands, lest I struck, unawares, against some unseen thing. When I had taken three or four such steps, without encountering an obstacle, or, indeed, anything at all, I began, all at once, to wish I had not seen the house; that I had passed it by; that I had not come through the window; that I were safely out of it again. I became, on a sudden, aware, that something was with me in the room. There was nothing, ostensible, to lead me to such a conviction; it may be that my faculties were unnaturally keen; but, all at once, I knew that there was something there. What was more, I had a horrible persuasion that, though unseeing, I was seen; that my every movement was being watched.
Read the complete novel.
Download an unabridged narration from Librivox.org.
elizkcampbell!)Text of the Day: Today's text is longer and oh-so-eerie, a perfect choice for the weekend: the classic Gothic horror novel The Beetle by Richard Marsh (1857-1915). Published the same year as Dracula, The Beetle was at the time considered the more popular and sensational of the two supernatural thrillers.
Excerpt:
Well, if the house was empty, in such a plight as mine I might be said to have a moral, if not a legal, right, to its bare shelter. Who, with a heart in his bosom, would deny it me? Hardly the most punctilious landlord. Raising myself by means of the sill I slipped my legs into the room.
The moment I did so I became conscious that, at any rate, the room was not entirely unfurnished. The floor was carpeted. I have had my feet on some good carpets in my time; I know what carpets are; but never did I stand upon a softer one than that. It reminded me, somehow, even then, of the turf in Richmond Park,—it caressed my instep, and sprang beneath my tread. To my poor, travel-worn feet, it was luxury after the puddly, uneven road. Should I, now I had ascertained that—the room was, at least, partially furnished, beat a retreat? Or should I push my researches further? It would have been rapture to have thrown off my clothes, and to have sunk down, on the carpet, then and there, to sleep. But,—I was so hungry; so famine-goaded; what would I not have given to have lighted on something good to eat!
I moved a step or two forward, gingerly, reaching out with my hands, lest I struck, unawares, against some unseen thing. When I had taken three or four such steps, without encountering an obstacle, or, indeed, anything at all, I began, all at once, to wish I had not seen the house; that I had passed it by; that I had not come through the window; that I were safely out of it again. I became, on a sudden, aware, that something was with me in the room. There was nothing, ostensible, to lead me to such a conviction; it may be that my faculties were unnaturally keen; but, all at once, I knew that there was something there. What was more, I had a horrible persuasion that, though unseeing, I was seen; that my every movement was being watched.
Read the complete novel.
Download an unabridged narration from Librivox.org.
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Date: 2011-10-08 12:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-08 05:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-08 02:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-08 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-08 06:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-09 03:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-08 10:35 pm (UTC)Never heard of "The Beetle," but I've got it saved now for a dark and stormy night. ;-)
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Date: 2011-10-09 03:30 am (UTC)I hope you like The Beetle! I very much enjoyed it.
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Date: 2011-10-09 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-09 01:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-09 03:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-09 11:33 am (UTC)http://quickhidehere.blogspot.com/
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Date: 2011-10-10 11:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-09 03:32 am (UTC)Thank you again for a fantastic experience in Charlotte. What an amazing day! Kudos to you, and thanks again for inviting me to be involved. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
By the way, I'll be posting the complete Harry Potter Fest hourly schedule for Oct. 28 here tomorrow (that is, Monday). Yay!
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Date: 2011-10-09 11:36 am (UTC)We were so honored to have you at our conference and it was fantastic to see you! It's not everyone who can claim they have a Potter Pundit living up the road.
Looking forward to the schedule--it's likely I'll be able to attend a good bit more than previously anticipated! :D
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Date: 2011-10-10 11:20 am (UTC)The L-R schedule is up now here. Would you mind forwarding the schedule - or the link to it - to the PotterWatch folks? Everyone's invited! :) Thanks!
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Date: 2011-10-09 01:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-09 03:33 am (UTC)