I used to be an avid reader. When I was young, I read all the time in my room. But as I got older, reading became a chore for school, and I no longer enjoyed it.
But during Spring Break this past year, I was home alone, just the dogs and me. I decided to pick up a book I read a long time ago, Under the Beetle’s Cellar. My mom owned this book, and she let me read it. I absolutely loved this book, so I thought it would be a good choice to get back into reading. I was not disappointed!
Under the Beetles Cellar is by author Mary Willis Walker and was written in 1995. It is a suspense novel with Molly Cates set as the main character. She’s a journalist working for a newspaper. Her background in writing about cults helps her when a self-proclaimed prophet named Samuel Mordecai seizes a school bus with the bus driver and schoolchildren as his captive audience. He believes their deaths after 50 days of starvation and ‘cleansing’ will prepare them all for the end of the world.
The book dives into great detail into the underground world that the driver and children are kept in. You feel for them as they’re not only starving, but live with little light and daily reminders from Mordecai’s biblical rants. He’s twisted the words as he sees fit, and the captives know their days are numbered.
But it also follows Molly Cates, who had interviewed Mordecai years ago. While the bus driver tries to keep the children calm with stories and games, Molly interviews people the bus driver knew, as well as investigating Mordecai’s past, in hopes that she can help bring this standoff to an end.
I love the build up in this book but also the character development. Especially about the bus driver. He’s not just an old man driving a bus. From a war buddy, Molly learns about his time in Vietnam and what kind of man he really is. You learn about Molly, who was reluctant to take this story because the filth she felt from her last interview with Mordecai still remains with her. You learn about each of the children and how they all deal differently with the situation they’re in.
And while the end is so good, it’s not without its tragedy. And I love it even more for it.
So, I started reading during Spring Break and haven’t stopped yet. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I’ve stuck mainly to Psychological Thrillers thanks to a Facebook group I’m in. I’ve read both physical books and on my Kindle. Even got a new Paperwhite because of all the reading I’m doing! I think I’ll continue to write about the books I’m reading. Even if it doesn’t help anyone else, it helps me. But if you do decide to read anything in my list, enjoy it. Sit down in a comfy spot with your favorite beverage and favorite animal and just immerse yourself in the story!