When I think of M. R. James, it’s like I’ve accidentally stumbled into a foggy, overgrown cemetery on Halloween night, while wearing the world’s most embarrassing costume and holding a mysterious old book I definitely shouldn’t be holding. His stories - oh, the stories! - are like that one weird uncle who insists on showing … Continue reading Whistles, Rhymes, and Ghosts – Oh My! M. R. James’ Guide to Summoning Ancient Horrors with Nursery Tunes
Tag: present
The Birthday Present
Tomorrow is my birthday. I am, of course, about 36 - chokes on an unforgivable falsehood and gasps for air like a fish flung onto a riverbank. My mind drifts back to a time when birthdays were less about existential reckoning and more about pure, unadulterated want. There was a toy aeroplane in the window … Continue reading The Birthday Present