A few weeks ago, I was browsing in the bookstore (big surprise, I know!) and a particular cover caught my eye. It was black with the title – Jane-Emily – in white Old English-style font. I read the back cover, intrigued by this ghost story I’d never heard of. I was tempted to buy it, but being a good girl, I wrote the title down in the notebook I carry around for such purposes and instead requested a copy through my library.
I’ve been a bit of a slacker in the blogging department lately, as I actually read the book one evening a couple weeks ago. I decided Jane-Emily would be the perfect first pick for Carl’s RIP Challenge and was in the mood for something spooky. One thing different about my library copy that I didn’t notice until I’d finished it was that it was cataloged as Juvenile Fiction. The copy at the bookstore was in the regular fiction section, so I was expecting and hoping for a scary tale ala The Woman in Black, a book I read for the first time last year and loved, or Comes the Blind Fury, a book that scared the bejesus out of me around age 13.
What I got was a mildly creepy story, one that I read in a couple hours, so not much time spent on it, and it certainly didn’t have me looking over my shoulder or wanting to sleep with the light on. Emily is the menacing spirit of a girl who was pretty rotten when she was alive, and whose temperament hasn’t improved with death. To her home comes Jane, another young girl who becomes preoccupied with Emily’s life, and Jane’s older cousin, Louisa – and then the somewhat tame frights ensue. I can see the appeal of it for a young reader, but unless it holds some sentimental value for you, I don’t think adults would be that entertained by it. Now, if you’re in the mood for some scary movie-watching with some freaky kids, rent the quintessential evil-wrapped-in-sweetness flick, The Bad Seed, or The Other, based on the novel by Thomas Tryon – which I probably should have read instead of Jane-Emily.
And I have an announcement to make. We recently broke one of our household cardinal rules – the one that states that cats must not outnumber the humans – by adopting another black cat. This little kitten was up for adoption at my vet’s, and because he looked and acted so much like Mojo, I couldn’t resist. Thus, we now have Jack, short for Jack O’Lantern, or Blackjack – depending on whether you ask me or my husband. The two have become fast friends and make quite the pair:
Serendipity! I bought Jane-Emily for the same reason. I’ll still read it, although I am grateful for the heads-up.
Congratulations on your adoption!! Your cats are beautiful!
Well, at least the publishers can be glad their reprint is getting attention! It’s not a terrible book by any means, just don’t expect any real thrills or chills.
The Bad Seed still bothers me, but The Other scared the pants off me. I read a number of Tom Tryon’s books after The Other, but found none were quite as unnerving.
I really should get my hands on it – I’ve read Harvest Home, which I really enjoyed. Too bad they’re both out of print.
Our feline rule is that cats may not outnumber human legs — that way there’s always a place for a cat to curl up on its own.
Ah, so I could get one more and still be in compliance! But I think three’s enough for us – they already have the upper hand as it is.
Oh Lesley, that’s an awfully nice pix of your kitties. Question: which is which? Since my Murphy passed, our household has been pet-less. And I think will be for awhile. Murphy was one of a kind and it’s taking us longer to even think about accepting another pet in our home.
I love ghost stories (Woman in Black is my all-time favourite!) but I haven’t read any spine tingling, sleep-with-the-lights-on stories in a long while. I may pick this up but if any one here can recommend a good ghost story, please please let me know. Halloween is coming!!
Jack is the slightly smaller one on the left, and Mojo’s on the right. They’re getting to be so close in size, that I usually have to look at their eyes to tell who’s who – Jack’s eyes are typical cat green while Mojo’s are copper. We brought Mojo into our home after losing our Khayman, and we felt like he brought some of the life back into our house. Sounds like Murphy has a special place in your heart – I completely understand that feeling. *hugs*
Oh, I just love the photos of your cats. I have two litttle furballs at home.
Thanks!
Currently I am also reading a delightful juvenile fiction, and though it has ghosts (legions of them) it is quite funny with no malevolent ghosts.
And I spent most of the time I was reading the post, under the impression that the photograph was a picture (drawn, not clicked) and you chose it to match the subject of the post.
It does look a little like a painting, doesn’t it? I suppose at time it is appropriate, as they two of them together can be quite mischievous!
I liked the title of this book, but it does sound a little tame, even for me. But I’m going to check out the others you mentioned.
Seeing the pictures of your cats made me miss having a little feline around. It’s been a few years since my black cat disappeared. Maybe I will see a kitten somewhere that will entice me to bring it home.
Tame is a good word for it, but I can see it sending shivers up the spine of a younger reader. I hope you find another furball to love.
What pretty cats! I love the photo. It certainly looks like they get along well together. My cats disliked each other, but I think Miss Spooky has been a little lonely without another cat to growl at, as she’s been extremely needy in the last month or so (our other kitty died in July).
They get along, but they are like siblings, in that they fight quite a bit, too. Mojo even got a visit to the vet a couple weeks ago because of a scratch on his eye courtesy of Jack. Thankfully they both leave our older cat, Mina, alone, which is the best-case scenario I was hoping for. Mina went through an obvious grieving period after our cat Khayman died, and really she’s never been the same. I’m sorry about your kitty, it’s hard to lose a furry loved one.
Yeah, Jane-Emily is definitely for the peanut gallery.
Your cats are very pretty, aren’t you glad you broke your rule? My friend B needs a rule…things got out of hand. He’s up to 43 cats.
Yikes! Yeah, I’m definitely guarding against turning into ‘the cat lady’ but I’m very glad I brought Jack home.
What a great photo of your cats! They’re very pretty!
Thank you!
Those are some beautiful cats! I think worth breaking the rule for, for sure!
I think so.
Awww, love the matching cats!! They look so happy!
We’re ready for Halloween, that’s for sure.
Oh, your kitties are beautiful! And look perfect to cuddle up with for the R.I.P. challenge!
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the book. Sounds like one I might pick up for my daughter though.
Well, if I had known it was a children’s book, I wouldn’t have bothered. Still, it wasn’t a bad book, just not intended for an adult audience.
awww! I often wish we could adopt another kitten or so, but truth be told I know that would be mean to the brother-and-sister pair we have now. the girl (Selene) is so very territorial, and we love her so. your cats are adorable!
I think that’s a good idea. If Mojo had a playmate, I wouldn’t have brought Jack home, but Mina is too old and cranky to chase and romp around.
Aren’t those kitties beautiful! Regarding the book, well I do love a good ghost story so I may give this one a chance. I thought Woman in Black was fabulous too.
I’ll be curious to see what you think of it if you end up reading it, Iliana.
Cute cats and a great photo, too!
Thanks!
Lovely cats!! I also saw this book at Walmart (but am trying not to buy new books…). It’s hard to find a really good scary ghost story these days–or maybe I’m not looking in the right places. I did like The Woman in Black, too, however!
Yeah, I’d love a good ghost story for Halloween. Maybe the RIP Challenge will help with that.
Love the cats, they look like twins. It’s a shame you didn’t enjoy your first RIP book more, but I am sure there are better ones out there waiting to be read.
They pretty much are – it’s getting harder and harder to tell them apart!
The cats are adorable! I’ve always wanted a black cat…maybe some day…
Me, too – and now I’ve got a double set. We almost called Jack ‘Ditto’ but figured having two cats with the ‘o’ ending would make it a bit confusing for them. I hope you find your black cat! (check the humane society or pound – apparently black cats are less likely to be adopted)
Yay for the new kitty – congratulations!
Thank you!
Great picture of the cats. Congrats on your adoption. We just adopted a 12 year old black lab. She’s very cute.
Comes the Blind Fury ~ Wow! Scared the bejeezuz out of me at about 13 also. Hmm, maybe I should read that one again. I picked up an old Alfred Hitchcock for kids called Haunted Houses recently and am reading that right now, knowing that it is for kids, so is a pretty fun read.
Congrats on your new addition as well! Hah, glad to hear from someone else who was terrified by CTBF too – I still remember that cover, with the dolls blank eyes. Scary stuff! I wonder if we’d feel the same way reading it now.
Love the black cats! My first cat was black and to be artistic I claimed she was a puff of black smoke. I gave her the name Puff because I had just learned to read with Dick and Jane and may have possibly stolen the “puff of black smoke” from them, too. Aw, 1973, I remember it well…
Awwww, that’s such a cute story! 1973 is not a year I remember, but it was the one I was born in.
Jane-Emily is an old favorite of mine, and I also enjoyed Clapp’s novel about the Mayflower, Constance.
I think if I’d read it when I was younger, I would have counted it among my favorites, and would have looked fondly back upon it as an adult. At least it’s back in print so you can get a copy if you haven’t one already.
We have a black cat named Jack – short for jack-o-lantern too! I adopted him from a shelter I used to volunteer at about 7 years ago. He came into the shelter on or around Halloween one year (which is what earned him his name) and I decided he had to come home with me. He’ll be celebrating his 9th birthday this Halloween
I’ve heard that black cats are less likely to be adopted because of the superstition surrounding them. Is that true in your experience?