I just finished reading Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley. I originally bought it because the cover illustrations by David Roberts reminded me of Edward Gorey's work. I often judge a book by its cover, and I am often pleasantly surprised. It makes me discover authors I didn't know and takes me out of my literary comfort zone.


Tales of Terror is some kind of children's book for teenagers/adults. If you used to read the short stories from the Alfred Hitchcock presents collection when you were younger, or if you used to enjoy Tales from the Crypt, you will probably love this book. It is a collection of chilling short stories cleverly put together by an ongoing narrative about the relationship between a boy and his very old uncle living in a spooky mansion lost in the woods.

David Roberts' illustrations appear - too rarely - through the book and are a real treat. I have been trying to find some online but failed, so you'll have to judge by the cover illustration, or get the book yourselves!

Apart from this, I currently live the life of a hermit. I interrupted my new lifestyle only to spend a few days with my sister. We went to see the Vanity Fair exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, which will possibly be the subject of another post.

Some sweet new dresses and shoes coming too in the next posts for those who couldn't care less about what I read...