What is your opinion?
shhh... it will be alright...
"I've always loved Joseph Pinto's writing, and this story is no exception! It's chilling, and the lullaby is going to haunt my dreams for weeks! I already know that I"m not 'final girl' material. In fact, I think I'd be the one begging to be killed as soon as possible. I can hope that I'll be brave and wise like our heroine when my time comes, but... who am I kidding?! onetwothreeDEATH! Hopefully my ending won't reveal that I peed my pants, too. Excellent 'damned' story J.P. Thank you for the opportunity to read it! P, L, & N <3 Shadow Girl"
LULLABY
"I must say, as I am not into Horror what caught my attention was the Title and his blurb. I enjoyed reading his short story and looking forward to reading more about this author. Just a few minutes of your time is all you need and you will be able to see for yourself what a great writer he is."
Left in suspense & wanting more...
"What better way to entice an audience to read a horror story with such a calm, peaceful, & childlike title such as Lullaby? It drew me in and I was never one to read horror stories. However, once I started reading, I instantly felt as though I was a part of the story. It is Joseph Pinto's extensive vocabulary and use of descriptive words which allowed me to feel the bars on the cage against my body; to smell the odors coming from the creature; to hear the lullaby being eerily sung by the old woman; to see the surroundings within & outside of the cage. I found myself fearful in the cage, heart beating faster as I heard the old woman approaching singing the lullaby; hearing the creature's pounding footsteps & imagining the horrid smell that he brought along with him; knowing I wanted to help the unnamed heroine with whom I felt connected to. Perhaps, it was because of her assumed age and for her love of children that I have as well. My heart ached for all of them. My instincts to want to collaborate with her & her plan kicked into high gear. My thoughts had now turned to words. This horror story still leaves me with questions about wanting to know more and is truly a work of art. A "lullaby", known to soothe young children, as it should, did just the opposite. Thank you Joseph Pinto for giving me a new found interest in horror stories. I now have another genres to add to my collection."
Lullaby
"I really enjoyed reading this short story. The writing style kept me in suspense and left me wanting more. The clear descriptions enabled me to visualize and feel like I was there, in the woods, part of the story. I would certainly recommend others to read it."
MG
"Joseph is one of my favorite authors. I have been following his works for a long time now. He always amazes me with his vivid descriptions through his endless vocabulary. Definitely an author worth reading and supporting."
Dark and Twisted
"Joseph Pinto has a way with words that draws you in and doesn't let you go. A story with such an innocent title but a plot that is far from it, young girls being sung a lullaby that frightens and petrifies"
Lullaby
"Classic, gripping horror.. Girls trapped in a cage while a monster awaits. A gnarled old servant who drags them to their doom, and a heroine posessed of the wits to save them all. Mr. Pinto's style is engrossing and tightly descriptive. I'll be looking for more of his."
A really strong read and a great horror fairy tale
"I was really impressed with this piece. It has a very fairy tale, dreamlike atmosphere and a strong command of imagery. I can see why it was one of the most popular horror stories in the list. The characterization of the narrator and the old women who keeps her prisoner was especially telling. If I had an issue, I'd say that some of the writing style created a distance between the reader and the fear that the story was trying to build. I got a sense that the narrator was unafraid the entire time and watched events happen from a distance. Still, a really fantastic piece."
Good atmosphere, weak plot
"I was drawn in by the compelling premise of girls locked in a cage in the woods, and enjoyed the creepiness of the situation and the vivid descriptions. That lullaby is the stuff of nightmares, yikes. I thought the plot was the story's weak point, though. If the old woman could be subdued by two determined people working together, I find it hard to believe a group that includes a grown woman and teenagers didn't try to fight back when they were stronger and more numerous. I'm also unsure what it was that pissed the creature off--was it that the protogonist was too old, or not a virgin? The former seems a bit arbitrary (would a seventeen-year-old have sent the creature into a rage? An eighteen-year-old?), while the latter seems unlikely given that you can't bet the house (much less your life) on a given fifteen- or sixteen-year-old never having had sex before. In the end this story was appropriately creepy, but it sacrificed believability to create that atmosphere. I think I might have preferred it if it didn't try to give logical explanations or end on a happy-ish note. I would have been truly chilled, for instance, if the protagonist's escape was cut off and she became the new jailer in the old woman's place in the hope of defeating the creature eventually. We would know, of course, that that's not going to happen and she's just going to meet her predecessor's fate."
