J. S. Wong
Bio
Fiction writer, compulsive book reviewer, horror fan. Subscribe if you like stories on writing, books, and reading!
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Stories (9/0)
"Lock Every Door" Takes Inspiration from Horror Classic "Rosemary's Baby"
Riley Sager’s first book, Final Girls, established his unique brand of horror-inspired psychological thrillers. As mentioned by thriller writer Ruth Ware in her book jacket endorsement, and Sager’s dedication to Ira Levin, Lock Every Door takes inspiration from Levin’s horror masterpiece, Rosemary’s Baby. As one of my favorite horror novels of all time, Sager sets a high bar for himself, channeling the quiet dread from Levin’s novel while delivering his own compelling premise.
By J. S. Wong6 days ago in BookClub
"Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet": A Poignant Coming-of-Age Tale
I don’t typically read historical fiction, but as a Chinese American with family history in the Seattle area, the premise piqued my curiosity. Jamie Ford is a Seattle native and son of a Chinese American father. In an interview featured in the ten year anniversary edition of the book, Ford opens up about the inspiration for the novel. As a child, his father had to wear a “I am Chinese” button during WWII to distinguish him from the Japanese. Ford expanded his original short story until it became his debut novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.
By J. S. Wong9 days ago in BookClub
"The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires": Hendrix's Best Book To Date
I’ve read all of Grady Hendrix’s novels and each one has been a delight. He’s established himself as a unique voice in the horror genre, blending darkness, humor, and pop culture nostalgia. The only thing obviously missing is a cover design as brilliant and quirky as his previous books (like the IKEA catalog for Horrorstör or the high school yearbook and VHS tape from My Best Friend’s Exorcism). Nonetheless, the artwork retains that similar cleverness — the hardcover features a “Town of Mount Pleasant Public Library” stamp. While Exorcism was amazing, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires edges it as his best book to date. Echoing his second novel, Hendrix revisits a late 1980s (and 1990s) Charleston neighborhood as well as the theme of friendship overcoming evil. But instead of adopting another teenage perspective, Hendrix wanted to pit Dracula against his mother.
By J. S. Wong10 days ago in BookClub
How To Compose Solo Piano Music
Whether you’re listening or playing your favorite songs on the piano after a stressful day, it’s no secret that music is therapeutic. If you have a creative side, perhaps you’ve considered expressing your inner world by writing your own music. But composing is a different skill than learning other peoples’ music, so where do you start?
By J. S. Wong17 days ago in Beat
Is "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" The Best Novel of 2022?
Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is one of my favorite books of all time. When her latest novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow came out in 2022, I wanted to read it even before I saw the premise. And when it won the Goodreads Award for best fiction, and accumulated high ratings, I knew it was a must-read.
By J. S. Wong18 days ago in BookClub
"The Bad Ones" Explores Friendship, Morality, and a Local Legend
Melissa Albert’s fifth novel The Bad Ones has been on my 2024 TBR list, so I put an early hold on it at my library. Luckily, I got to read it shortly after it was released in late February. Although I’ve never read Albert’s novels before, the story had a compelling and unique premise. With small town disappearances, a vengeful goddess, dark magic, and a conflicted friendship, The Bad Ones was a fun and spooky read.
By J. S. Wong19 days ago in Horror
"The Mystery Guest": A Must-Read Sequel
I don’t read mystery or thrillers as much these days, but Nita Prose’s 2022 award-winning debut The Maid was an exception, thanks to its unforgettable protagonist Molly Gray. When I saw Prose had written a sequel, I knew I had to read The Mystery Guest.
By J. S. Wong19 days ago in BookClub
How To Give an In-depth Critique
If you’ve shared your writing with other writers, you probably received some sort of feedback. Maybe you got generic praise or a vague suggestion. Or maybe they handed you a template with a few bullet points or a paragraph summarizing with their thoughts.
By J. S. Wong20 days ago in Writers
"The Haunting of Velkwood": An Original Take on a Ghost Story
I encountered Bram Stoker award winning author Gwendolyn Kiste’s stories in horror anthologies, but I never picked up any of her novels. Her 2024 book The Haunting of Velkwood came out in March and I was thrilled to get a brand new copy from my library. In a recent virtual book event, Kiste mentioned taking inspiration from a photo in a photography book titled “Suburbia.” Coupled with her love for ghost stories, this led her to write The Haunting of Velkwood.
By J. S. Wong20 days ago in Horror
