I hate writing reviews on my tablet. Look, don't write. But it's 5 am and I'm too lazy to get out of bed and take the few steps to the PC. One of the cats wants out, excuse me. False alarm, cat just wanted to come into the bedroom.

Well, I suppose you expect a book review here.

This was my first Cemetery Dance Book Club purchase. It is a modest tome bound in cloth with a garish seasonal dj.

This is a fun horror anthology. These stories aren't humorous, I'm talking about why we read horror in the first place fun. This is why you picked up that little paperback that used to be right up by the counter. Not many deep thoughts here. ( )

I really enjoyed this collection of fine writing and wonderful artwork.

Each story was different and well written. Not all are horror, but still unique and chilling in their own way. The styles and voices of each author offered a little bit of something for everyone.

Started with Stephen King -- I just love the way he tells a story. Simple but powerful.

My least favorite entry was by Peter Straub. I appreciate the creative style he took, but the story itself was just meh.

And Clive Barker's story? Holy mother of God.

I would definitely recommend reading it just to get a nice big taste of variety.

My book only had two pieces of visual art: The cover of the first Cemetery Dance Magazine done by Bill Caughron and the cover art by Alan M. Clark.

And for the record, the cover is very nice and that piece by Mr. Caughron is pretty good too. ( )

Full disclosure, I only read one story, Stephen King's "Summer Thunder". I borrowed the book just to read that story. It is an okay story but feels a bit like "The Stand" taken to the ultimate conclusion. He's done better in short stories.

The others in the book didn't grab my attention. I started the Peter Straub but stories by a boy ages 5-8 1/2 didn't work for me.

If you like horror stories there might be something there for you. ( )

This is a nice little collection of horror short stories, featuring big names like King, Ketchum, Barker, and Straub. I love horror so when this came recommended to me through a book blog I followed, I snatched it up from my local library ASAP!

Unfortunately, I have to say I was a tad bit disappointed. I expected to be scared, or at least creeped out, but I wasn’t. Most of the stories didn’t really even make me bat an eye with the exception of “Dollie,” because of reasons (read the story to find out what she does with the doll).

There wasn’t anything horrible. It wasn’t like anything was badly written, although a giant WTF??? to Straub’s story because seriously, WTF???. Apparently it’s a love it or hate it kind of story, but I’m over on the “I have no idea what’s going on in the story” side of the readers because I had no idea what happened. Maybe it was the language, maybe it was the fact that I WAS A VERY CONFUSED READER, but…yeah. not my favorite story at all.

I thought King’s story was excellent, although a trite cliche. World wide death via incurable pathogen/virus/whatever has been done to death, but King is the king of horror for a reason. “Lookie-Loo” and “In The Room” were probably my favorites, bordering the fine line between reality and absolute absurdity that I love to see in my horror. “The Outhouse” had potential, but I didn’t think it reached it. I found it to be boring more than anything else. And the rest just…I don’t know. It’s that weird middle ground where you don’t hate the story but you don’t love it. I was “meh” about them.

I’m giving this collection a 3/5 stars. I think the gems are worth reading and bring this collection up a notch or two. The rest you could probably skip. ( )