Book Review: The Things That Grow With Us

The Things That Grow With Us by Jordan Anderson

 

“Terra autem erat inanis et vacua, et tenebræ erant super faciem abyssi…” – Genesis 1:2

   (But the earth was empty and unoccupied, and darknesses were over the face of the abyss)

Being a complete stranger to the horror genre, This collection of short stories is the spookiest, most hair raising grouping of tales I’ve ever read! Jordan Anderson’s eclectic stories explore all of life’s best horror genres and sink them into an eery, treacle like atmosphere.

The seven stories take you on a journey to outer space, where there are horrifying things awaiting, to a place of folklore, and mutations against prejudice. Anderson has done a perfect job of tackling each story with a strong and sharpened eye for the gory and the horrific.

Seeing the world through each protagonist’s eyes shows the reader a world of terrifying possibilties, and the slow descent into that terror is what makes Anderson’s collection of stories grow on you! (sorry about the pun…i had to do it!)

Full of emotion and character’s that mean something, there is more to these tales than just the novelty splat of blood and spooky ghosts that you’d expect from horror, and the impeccably written plot to each one stretches your mind to the capability of these worlds and true terror found within humans.

Now, let’s talk about my favourite parts!! I LOVE aliens, so the very first short story in this collection got my engines revving!! I was so into the story and I was getting vibes that if it were a film, James Cameron would be directing it!

I love Anderson’s writing style, it’s slow and descriptive yet it grabs your attention with its eerie build and plotting.  And just as it began, this collection ended with a bang! the last story was like ‘the creepy cabin in the woods’  horror plot but with an amazing storyline, and a human heartbeat!

Now, I’d talk at length about each and every story in this collection but I’d rather you all read it for yourselves!! I hate to be the spoiler alert review blog! go and read The Things That Grow With Us!

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‘STRUNGBALLS?!’ – A strange and mind-altering review

To put it simply, this novella is probably the weirdest thing I have ever read! (And I read some weird stuff)

But the weirdness and unfamiliar-ness of this novella is what makes it so great.

 

The story is revolved around Sydney, a boy living within another dimension…or a dystopian planet…but all he knows is the corridors within his city, and the regimented robotic lifestyles he and his parents live.

 

This civilisation has its own way of protection, and this is where Sydney’s adventure begins. In a plain white room, getting a small cube of flesh removed, he doesn’t know why, it is just what is done in this city.

After his disturbing operation, His proud parents then present him with his first strungball! Which is placed within the empty space where his flesh used to be.

 

Through the first half of this novella Sydney seems to be happy, and proud that he has become a part of this tradition…but then through a bizarre turn of events, he thinks for the fist time:

 

‘Why?’ 

 

And this tiny little question brings on chaos! It brings down the regimented and controlled lifestyle lived through this city.

 

And Sydney takes the idea of ‘finding yourself’ to a whole other level.

 

Within 66 pages, Mike Russel managed to take my brain and turn it into scrambled egg!!

 

I really enjoyed it though, it was a complete detachment to real life, I imagine it’s the kind of story David Lynch would turn into an amazing and mind bending film!

 

You should definitely read this novella if you’re into the weird and stomach flipping strangeness of a different world.

The absence of sense and understanding, just reading and enjoying a truly weird story!

 

If it’s not your kind of reading preference I would still recommend this novella, as for me, it is something I wouldn’t have thought to read. But I honestly really enjoyed it!

 

Check out more weirdness from strangebooks!! the awesome home of Mike Russel, the brains behind these amazing stories!

 

Where to buy this book: 

Amazon

 

Book Details:

• Paperback: 66 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (31 Oct. 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1534957138
• ISBN-13: 978-1534957138