"The Curse of the Blue Figurine" In the dusty, dimly lit room, a small blue figurine stood silently on the shelf. It had been there for years, its origins and purpose unknown to those who passed by. Some said it held a curse, bringing misfortune to anyone who possessed it. Legends of its powers had spread like wildfire, filling the air with a sense of mystery and caution. The curse was said to befall anyone who dared to touch the figurine. They would experience a chain of unfortunate events, their lives unraveling with each passing day.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
The first book in the delightful Johnny Dixon series by the author who provides suspense and action aplenty Booklist , The Curse of the Blue Figurine is a good old-fashioned Gothic adventure. Although life in a new house is strange, Johnny s Grampa listens to his favorite ballgames, takes him on long walks, and tells him stories of the strange mysteries that lurk in the shadows.
They would experience a chain of unfortunate events, their lives unraveling with each passing day. Stories circulated of people losing their jobs, relationships turning sour, and even incidents of accidents and illnesses striking those who had come into contact with the cursed object. However, skeptics dismissed these tales as mere superstitions.
The Curse of the Blue Figurine by John Bellairs
I thought it would be fun to blog about books I loved as a kid that also scared the crap out of me. I clean out books on a fairly regular basis because I buy so many of them, and I donate many to Little Free Libraries around my city. So while cleaning out my books the other day, I came across a stack of children’s and young adult books I’d kept for years and had some pleasant nostalgia when I saw The Curse of the Blue Figurine by John Bellairs. It features the character Johnny Dixon, a young boy who lives with his grandparents in Duston Heights, Massachusetts, in the 1950s. He’s a bookworm, kind of nerdy, loves to read and loves radio drama, and loves chocolate. Well, we can all relate to that!
Johnny is befriended by Professor Roderick Childermass, who is a hilarious character. He reenacts famous sea battles with plastic ships in his bathroom, is a professor of history who is extremely opinionated, plays chess like a wizard, and makes a mean chocolate cake. Naturally, he and Johnny become pals, which is fortunate because when Johnny discovers a mysterious book and a blue figurine in the cellar of his church that once belonged to the evil priest Father Remigius Baart, the curse comes back to haunt Johnny. A blue ushabti figurine – ushabti are small figures found in ancient Egyptian tombs with mummies usually representing servants expected to do certain agricultural labors required of the deceased in the land of the dead – contains the actual curse and when Johnny takes both the book and the figurine, all hell breaks loose.
An example of ushabti figurines.
My edition also features the unique artwork of Edward Gorey, who I absolutely adore! Anyway, this book was a wonderful nostalgic trip down memory lane for me, taking me back to the days when I would sneak books under the covers and read by flashlight after my mom and stepdad had gone to bed and I was supposed to be asleep. I think I always particularly loved the friendship between Johnny and Professor Childermass, because I always was in search of an adult who would treat me as a peer and not a a kid, and these two definitely bond as friends over chess and chocolate. This is one of my favorite passages:
Johnny excused himself and went across the street. He had a great time that evening. The professor was a crafty and merciless chess player. He was every bit as good as Johnny was, and maybe even a bit better. As for the cake….well, Johnny had theories about chocolate cake. He felt that the cake part of the cake was just an interruption between the layers of frosting. As it turned out, the professor’s opinions about cake were similar to Johnny’s. The cake he served had three or four thin layers and the rest was a huge amount of good, dark, thick, fudgy frosting. And he served second helpings, too.
In honor my sister’s birthday, I tried my hand at a four-tier, old-fashioned chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, with focus on the ganache frosting. I decorated it for Halloween, in honor of this high holy season of horror!
INGREDIENTS FOR THE GANACHE FROSTING
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups dark chocolate chips, 70% cocoa solids
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Amaretto
METHOD
Make your cake tiers with whatever chocolate cake recipe you have to hand. Make sure they are completely cool before frosting them.
In a metal saucepan, heat the heavy cream until small bubbles just start to form around the sides and you see steam rising. Don’t overheat the cream or it will curdle. Turn off the heat immediately.
Pour in the chocolate chips and make sure they are covered by the hot cream. Add the almond extract, the vanilla extract and the Amaretto. Cover and let sit for 15 minutes.
Remove the lid, and whisk the mixture for 5 minutes. You’ll see the chocolate ganache start to amalgamate as you continue to stir, thickening into a luscious frosting.
One layer at a time, frost the top of each cake layer and stack them on a cake stand, until you have this magnificent layer cake. Proceed to frost the cake top and sides.
Decorate however you want. I tried to find little blue mummies but could not, so I just went full on Halloween instead. The result? Cute, kitschy, and ultimately delicious!
Just look at those fudgy layers! Johnny Dixon would be proud!
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After Professor Childermass tells of the mysterious disappearance of the former rector of their church, Johnny finds a book that was once owned by the Remigius Baart stashed in the basement of Saint Michael's. Disobeying the words on the scroll that it - and a strange blue figurine - should not be removed from the church, Johnny takes the book home that begin a series of nightmarish events that only come to a conclusion high in the White Mountains.
They believed that such stories were fabricated to create a sense of intrigue and suspense. But some remained wary, realizing that there may be more to the curse of the blue figurine than meets the eye. In the nearby town, whispers echoed through the streets as people feared the curse's power. They avoided the shop where the figurine was displayed, fearing its influence and preserving their own luck. The shopkeeper, however, seemed unaffected by the rumors. He dismissed them with a chuckle, lightly touching the blue figurine as if to prove its harmless nature. One day, a curious traveler entered the shop. Ignorant of the tales surrounding the figurine, they gazed in awe at its mysterious beauty. Unable to resist, they reached out, their fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the ceramic figurine. Little did they know, they had sealed their fate. As the traveler continued their journey, a series of unfortunate events unfolded. Their luggage was lost, their car broke down in an isolated area, and even their health began to deteriorate. They couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss, that the curse of the blue figurine had taken hold of their life. Desperate for answers, the traveler reluctantly retraced their steps back to the shop. With trepidation, they confronted the shopkeeper, demanding to know how to lift the curse. The shopkeeper's eyes widened with surprise, realizing the true power of the figurine for the first time. He explained that, once touched, the curse could only be broken by returning the figurine to its rightful place. The traveler hesitated, unsure of whether to believe the shopkeeper's claims. But the toll of the curse had become unbearable, leaving them with no choice but to try. After returning the figurine to its original spot on the shelf, a wave of relief washed over the traveler. The maladies that had plagued them gradually subsided, and their life began to regain its normalcy. The curse had been broken, and the figurine took its place as a mere relic, devoid of its once terrifying curse. The story of the curse of the blue figurine lingered in the town, serving as a cautionary tale. Those who passed by the shop now glanced at it with caution, fearful of the possibility that the curse could strike again. It became a reminder of the power of belief and the consequences that can arise from meddling with the unknown. And so, the blue figurine remained, silently watching over the shop in the dusty, dimly lit room, its curse now a part of local folklore..
Reviews for "The Haunted Art: The Curse of the Blue Figurine Revealed"
1. Rebecca - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Curse of the Blue Figurine". The plot was dull and predictable, and I found it hard to connect with the characters. The writing style was also quite bland and lacked depth. Overall, it just didn't live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. John - 1/5 stars - I couldn't even finish "The Curse of the Blue Figurine". The story was extremely slow-paced and nothing interesting seemed to happen. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced. I found myself bored and uninterested within the first few chapters. Definitely not a book I would recommend.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was hoping for an exciting and engaging mystery, but "The Curse of the Blue Figurine" fell flat for me. The plot lacked originality and the suspense was non-existent. I also found the writing to be overly simplistic and juvenile. I struggled to become invested in the story and it ultimately left me feeling disappointed.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - "The Curse of the Blue Figurine" felt like a cliché-filled young adult mystery novel. The characters were uninteresting and the plot was predictable. There were no surprises or twists that kept me engaged. The writing was also quite average, lacking the creativity and skill that I look for in a book. I had high hopes for this novel, but it unfortunately didn't deliver.
5. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I really disliked "The Curse of the Blue Figurine". The storyline was weak and unoriginal, and the writing was uninspiring. The characters felt flat and I couldn't connect with any of them. It felt like a waste of time reading this book, as it offered nothing new or interesting. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating mystery.