The A-Z Blog Challenge, Letter O

Letter O of My Favourite Books by title

Two authors - Two genres
Young Adult and Horror

The first is The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. Here's the blurb: 

Ponyboy can count on his brothers. And on his friends. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up "greasers" like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect- until the night someone takes things too far.

This was a teen read for me, and one that never left me. It was perfect from beginning to end. It spoke of so many things, from outcasts, to living in poverty, taking responsibility, trying to work out who you are in the world, as well as bullying, taking risks for others, the class system, and a whole host of other themes. I could relate to many of them.

S.E. Hinton captured it all in this book, and the heart-breaking moment that the innocence of childhood is broken. How purity can be tainted by events. I always felt that was what 'Stay Gold Ponyboy' meant.

I also loved the film with Rob Lowe & Patrick Swayze too. I think they did the book proud. Of course I own a copy of that too.

 ***

The second is, Others, by James Herbert. Here's the blurb: 

Nicholas Dismas is a Private Investigator, but like no other that has gone before him. He carries a secret about himself to which not even he has the answer . . .

He is hired to find a missing baby. One that was taken away at birth . . . Or was it?

His investigation takes him to a mysteriously located place called Perfect Rest. It is supposed to be a nursing home for the elderly . . . But is it?

Here Dismas will discover the dark secret of the Others. And in an astonishing and spectacular finale he will resolve the enigma of his own existence . . .

A complete contrast to The Outsiders, Others shows a glimpse of the nasty secret underbelly of society; things that are kept behind closed doors and wouldn't dare to be thought about, let alone whispered. It's the author's note at the end of this story that disturbed me more than the book itself. Fiction horror is one thing, but the thought that some of it might be real is a whole other thing. 

James Herbert explores the sickest of ideas in this book, and also dabbles in ideas about reincarnation and penance. 


Not to be mistaken for the movie, The Others with Nicole Kidman; this is no ghost story. Others is horror in its purest form, if that form is the sick things that humans will do to another. A worthwhile read if you are not easily disturbed by the idea that these things could be going on unchecked.