The Ghost of Halloween Past and Other Catholic Tales from the Edge
Infornuity Publishing
ISBN 9781942590484
eISBN 9781942590491
ASIN B0DJ1QK2ZH
This was one of a few seasonal volumes I picked up for Hallowtide that were recommended by Catholic Reads in their newsletter. I had never heard of the author but the cover was intriguing and the description grabbed my interest. The description states:
“Make Halloween Catholic again!
For centuries, Halloween had been a Catholic holiday, All Hallows Eve. Isn't it high time we got back to telling tales of Catholic horror where the enemy is the devil and his demons, and failure means an eternity in hell?
This collection of ten Edgy Catholic tales will keep you on the edge of your seat, whether it's Halloween or any other spooky night when the moon is full...
Follow along as a mysterious child haunts a woman's dreams in The Ghost of Halloween Past, or witness a painter complete a killer work of art in The Self-Portrait of Andre Duvall. And don't miss out on Home for Christmas, where a man is forced to confront his past during the holiday season. These and other thrilling stories will leave you wanting more.
The Ghost of Halloween Past and Other Catholic Tales from the Edge is a collection of short stories written by Joseph Cillo Jr. that include preternatural and speculative elements and are meant to be spooky.
Experience the horror from a Catholic perspective!”
The stories in the collection are:
Trigger Warnings:
Preface
Epigraph
The Ghost of Halloween Past
The Self-Portrait of Andre Duvall
Home for Christmas
Cellar Door
The Devil’s Hour
The Propagandist of Death
The End of Justice
Memento Mori
The God Killer
The Devil Smokes Marlboros
The End?
I laughed out loud at the warning:
“Any reader who needs a trigger warning for anything should not read this book. The stories deal with edgy material, and while there is no foul language nor nudity, any number of other things might trigger a sensitive reader.”
The preface begins with these words:
“The great Catholic writer, Flannery O’Connor once wrote:
“The novelist with Christian concerns will find in modern life distortions which are repugnant to him, and his problem will be to make these appear as distortions to an audience which is used to seeing them as natural; and he may be forced to take ever more violent means to get his vision across to this hostile audience. When you can assume that your audience holds the same beliefs you do, you can relax a little and use more normal ways of talking about it; when you have to assume that it does not, then you have to make your vision apparent by shock—to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures.”
That bit of wisdom was originally published in 1957. If Catholic writers required shouting and large and startling figures to get their point across in 1957, what might be required in 2024? Perhaps a hard slap in the face?”
Each story in this collection was the result of a Reedsy Prompt. Before each story the author give a quick highlight, the prompt he was working from and a link to get prompts for your own writing. There is also an image for that specific story.
I was surprised by a number of stories in this collection. The stories are pretty hard hitting. Reminds me of Declan Finn but not as smooth. The definitely push the boundary. Some of the stories have very stark and moving events. I found The Ghost of Halloween Past very moving. I was surprised by the twist in The Self-Portrait of Andre Duvall. I absolutely did not see the ending coming in Home for Christmas. And I really enjoyed The Devil Smokes Marlboros.
It was a solid 4/5 stars for my first read by the author. And the stories show a range of the genres he writes in. I would be willing to give another of his works a try. But not for all readers, and I would only recommend for older teens, young adults or up.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Joseph Cillo Jr.:
Merry Friggin’ Christmas: An Edgy Christmas Comedy
Merry Friggin’ Christmas: An Edgy Christmas Comedy – Naughty Edition
…
Blind Prophet Series:
Episode 1: A Prophet Is Born
Episode 2: Spiritual Warfare
Episode 3: The Prophet Goes To Washington
Episode 4: The Great Demon Of Pride
…
Blind Prophet, Part 1 (Episodes 1-4)
…
Elektra Voltare Series:
Blessed with Awful
Eve of the Memes
Instrument of God
…
Elektra Voltare Complete Series
…
When the Wood is Dry Series:
Call of the Innocent
Crucifixion
Resurrection
…
Omnibus Editions:
When the Wood Is Dry: An Edgy Catholic Thriller
When the Wood Is Dry: An Edgy Catholic Thriller – Catholic Edition
…
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