27th
Oct
Oct
Today I’m excited to participate in the Blog Tour of ‘American
Ghoul’ by Walt Morton. This is a mature young adult paranormal dark fantasy
novel.
For more information about this blog tour please visit
the tour page.
the tour page.
About the Book:
Seventeen-year-old Howard Pickman has some unusualproblems: He comes from a family of ghouls
with a long history of digging up
corpses, and he’s just moved to a new school filled with kids that are scarier
than he is. American Ghoul is the story of an exceptionally odd teenager trying
to survive the most terrible time anybody has to go through — senior year at
high school.
“A gloriously
macabre young-adult tale about the difficulties of being a teenage ghoul in the
1970s. Once readers dig up this clever supernatural story, they likely won’t
want to put it down.”
macabre young-adult tale about the difficulties of being a teenage ghoul in the
1970s. Once readers dig up this clever supernatural story, they likely won’t
want to put it down.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“Anyone wanting a
refreshing story with a young voice full of humor and teenage angst, yet with
all the Gothic trappings that have kept the genre popular for over two
centuries, give American Ghoul a try!
refreshing story with a young voice full of humor and teenage angst, yet with
all the Gothic trappings that have kept the genre popular for over two
centuries, give American Ghoul a try!
– Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“I admire Morton’s
story-telling ability, his macabre descriptions and his dark treatment of the high
school experience from a teenager with a terrible secret. There were moments
that chilled me to the bone, but kept me turning the pages to follow Howard’s
journey from outsider to anti-hero.”
story-telling ability, his macabre descriptions and his dark treatment of the high
school experience from a teenager with a terrible secret. There were moments
that chilled me to the bone, but kept me turning the pages to follow Howard’s
journey from outsider to anti-hero.”
– Jacksonville Navigator
My Review:
Even though I’m a real fan of fantasy and paranormal
books, ‘American Ghoul’ was not a book I immediately wanted to read. But the cover did spark my interest and I
decided to read some of the reviews about this book. There are a lot of positive
reviews written about ‘American Ghoul’ and after reading a view of them I
really was intrigued about this read. So I was really happy when I heard I
could be a part of the blog tour.
In ‘American Ghoul’ we meet Seventeen-year-old Howard
Pickman. Howard Pickman seems to be a normal teenager on the outside,
but Howard is a Ghoul and his family has been digging up corpses for a long time
to survive.
Pickman. Howard Pickman seems to be a normal teenager on the outside,
but Howard is a Ghoul and his family has been digging up corpses for a long time
to survive.
When Howard’s parents are killed after people found out
they were Ghouls, the only person Howard can turn to is his grandmother. Soon
Howard is not only getting used to his new life as a Ghoul with his
grandmother, but he is also send to attend high school. Being a teenager is
hard enough, and all Howard wants to do is keep a low profile and survive high
school.
they were Ghouls, the only person Howard can turn to is his grandmother. Soon
Howard is not only getting used to his new life as a Ghoul with his
grandmother, but he is also send to attend high school. Being a teenager is
hard enough, and all Howard wants to do is keep a low profile and survive high
school.
‘American Ghoul’ is a very unique and interesting book.
It’s the first time I read a book about a Ghoul. To be honest I even needed to
look the word Ghoul up in a dictionary because I had forgotten what kind of ‘thing’
it was. According to the dictionary, a Ghoul is a legendary
evil being that robs graves and feeds on corpses. Not really something I
thought I would enjoy reading about. But don’t be misled.. ‘American Ghoul’ is a great and amazingly good written story
about a teenage Ghoul who really is just a good kid.
It’s the first time I read a book about a Ghoul. To be honest I even needed to
look the word Ghoul up in a dictionary because I had forgotten what kind of ‘thing’
it was. According to the dictionary, a Ghoul is a legendary
evil being that robs graves and feeds on corpses. Not really something I
thought I would enjoy reading about. But don’t be misled.. ‘American Ghoul’ is a great and amazingly good written story
about a teenage Ghoul who really is just a good kid.
This book was such a surprise for me. I
really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book but I was
interested from the very first page. Walt Morton has a way of writing that is
easy to follow and makes you think your reading a coming-of-age story about a ‘normal’
teenager. You could easily forget that this teenager was a Ghoul, except for
the eating stuff. It sounds gross, but it really didn’t seem so gross while
reading it.
really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book but I was
interested from the very first page. Walt Morton has a way of writing that is
easy to follow and makes you think your reading a coming-of-age story about a ‘normal’
teenager. You could easily forget that this teenager was a Ghoul, except for
the eating stuff. It sounds gross, but it really didn’t seem so gross while
reading it.
The main character Howard is easy to
like. He is kind and smart and really is just a normal guy, but just with a
strange diet. ‘American Ghoul’ isn’t a horror story, but a great, funny and
touching story about being a teenager and growing up. I really enjoyed it and I’m
even surprised this book hasn’t gotten more attention since its publication in
November 2012. I can easily see this book being made into a movie. And I would
definitely want to see it!!
like. He is kind and smart and really is just a normal guy, but just with a
strange diet. ‘American Ghoul’ isn’t a horror story, but a great, funny and
touching story about being a teenager and growing up. I really enjoyed it and I’m
even surprised this book hasn’t gotten more attention since its publication in
November 2012. I can easily see this book being made into a movie. And I would
definitely want to see it!!
My Rating:
Excerpt:
On the
actual night of Halloween I did not do anything creepy. I did not go dance in a
graveyard or lurk through the sewers. Ghouls don’t do any of that. On Halloween I went over to Sebastian’s
house at five o’clock as the night fell. The Jones’s house was decorated with a
three pumpkins illuminated by yellow candles on the front stoop. The doorway
had a red spooky bulb glowing and fake cobweb on the door. Sebastian answered
the door.
actual night of Halloween I did not do anything creepy. I did not go dance in a
graveyard or lurk through the sewers. Ghouls don’t do any of that. On Halloween I went over to Sebastian’s
house at five o’clock as the night fell. The Jones’s house was decorated with a
three pumpkins illuminated by yellow candles on the front stoop. The doorway
had a red spooky bulb glowing and fake cobweb on the door. Sebastian answered
the door.
“Better
get your ass in here before the kiddies show up. You can help us pass out
candy,” Sebastian said.
get your ass in here before the kiddies show up. You can help us pass out
candy,” Sebastian said.
The
Jones’s living room had been turned into an occult temple with three more
pumpkins and a lot of candles burning. Mrs. Jones came in wearing all black and
a witch’s hat.
Jones’s living room had been turned into an occult temple with three more
pumpkins and a lot of candles burning. Mrs. Jones came in wearing all black and
a witch’s hat.
“Good
evening, Howard, do you like my carved pumpkins?” she said.
evening, Howard, do you like my carved pumpkins?” she said.
“They’re
real spooky,” I said.
real spooky,” I said.
“I
spent two years in Italy studying sculpture,” said Mrs. Jones. She disappeared
into the kitchen.
spent two years in Italy studying sculpture,” said Mrs. Jones. She disappeared
into the kitchen.
“My
mom loves to do trick-or-treat,” Sebastian explained. The living room table was
overflowing with candy.
mom loves to do trick-or-treat,” Sebastian explained. The living room table was
overflowing with candy.
“Whoa,
that’s a ton of candy,” I said.
that’s a ton of candy,” I said.
“The
kiddies gobble it up by the fistful,” Sebastian said. I noted that he barely
had a costume but he did wear a pair of red plastic horns attached to his head
and had written “N.J.” on his forehead in magic marker.
kiddies gobble it up by the fistful,” Sebastian said. I noted that he barely
had a costume but he did wear a pair of red plastic horns attached to his head
and had written “N.J.” on his forehead in magic marker.
“What
are you supposed to be?”
are you supposed to be?”
“I’m
the Jersey Devil.”
the Jersey Devil.”
“The
what?”
what?”
“You
don’t know because they don’t have one in Georgia.”
don’t know because they don’t have one in Georgia.”
“But
what is it?” I said.
what is it?” I said.
Sebastian
grinned and that did make him look devilish. He loved knowing something you
didn’t.
grinned and that did make him look devilish. He loved knowing something you
didn’t.
“There’s
a legend in New Jersey and it’s like this. Back in 1735 a woman named Mother
Leeds had twelve children but she said if she bore another child it would be
born spawn of the devil because she was a witch. The child came out with
hooves, a horse’s head, bat wings, and a forked tail. It growled and screamed,
then flew up the chimney.”
a legend in New Jersey and it’s like this. Back in 1735 a woman named Mother
Leeds had twelve children but she said if she bore another child it would be
born spawn of the devil because she was a witch. The child came out with
hooves, a horse’s head, bat wings, and a forked tail. It growled and screamed,
then flew up the chimney.”
“Good
story,” I said.”
story,” I said.”
About the Author:
Walt Morton is a writer, photographer, and artist. ‘American
Ghoul’, his debut novel, has been called “The Tom Sawyer of horror fiction.”
Ghoul’, his debut novel, has been called “The Tom Sawyer of horror fiction.”
With this book he is continuing a decade-long explorationinto weird tales via photography, film, painting and writing. Walt has
lectured at the British Film Institute and studied intensively in five martial
arts.
A complete biography of his exploits and interests would
be so shocking, improbable and incredible that modesty demands “the less
said the better.” He would like to thank Jane Austen, who coined that “less
said the better” idea. ‘American Ghoul’ is his first of several books
that reinvent the supernatural horror genre. Born and raised in rural
Pennsylvania, he now lives in California.
be so shocking, improbable and incredible that modesty demands “the less
said the better.” He would like to thank Jane Austen, who coined that “less
said the better” idea. ‘American Ghoul’ is his first of several books
that reinvent the supernatural horror genre. Born and raised in rural
Pennsylvania, he now lives in California.
His upcoming novels in 2015 and 2016 will include works
in horror, science-fiction, and detective genres.
in horror, science-fiction, and detective genres.
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions
You might also like:
Review 'Absent in the Spring' by Carrie Elks
Blog Tour 'Beautifully Broken Control' by Catherine Cowles
Review & Excerpt Tour 'Kiss of Vengeance' by S. Young
Blog Tour 'Making Angel' by Amanda Washington
Blog Tour 'Witchbound series: Roots' by Kelbian Noel
Blog Tour 'Boss Lady' by Laralyn Doran
Blog Tour 'The Billionaire's Secret' by Nana Malone
Review 'Hearts in Winter' by Carrie Elks
Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
I'm SO happy to hear you loved this one! I really was blown away by it, it was so different than what I had expected. And so well wrote! Thank you so much for hosting a tour stop and sharing your thoughts!
You're very welcome. This was definitely a really different read and the writing was just unbelievable. Thank YOU for giving me the opportunity to read this one. 😉
That cover wouldn't have gotten my attention, but the blurb does sound interesting. I don't think I have ever read a book about ghouls so far. It's always great when you want to read a book and then are able to get it for review. The eating corpses part does sound pretty gross, so that's good to hear it isn't writte in a gross wya and the main character is a good kid.
btw my copy of The Soldier's Wife arrived today :D. Thanks so much! I am looking forward to reading it!
I don't think there are many books out there about ghouls. I think people just don't pick up a book about a ghoul easily. A pity though.. because this book is amazing and the author is very talented to have been able to pull this off.
I'm glad it arrived and I can't wait to hear what you think. Happy Reading 😉
Hey thank you all for your interest in my book. I am always interested in more people reading it and their reactions.
Thanks for visiting. Your book was great!! Awesome job 😉
This sounds really good! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Maureen.
You're welcome! 😉 It was really good!! Thanks for stopping by.