I am an absolute sucker for unsettling tales set in weird little pockets of England, as I am from a very odd bit of northern England. I particularly enjoy stories of weird rituals, or backwards societies, similar to The Wicker Man, or Midsommar. Stories that are slightly unnerving, because they are dangerously on the cusp … Continue reading Book Review – The Last Good Man, by Thomas McMullan (Bloomsbury)
My 2021 Book Picks
Well, this is all very exciting, isn't it? New page design, new domain name, same bookish content! Welcome, if we've never met before. Lovely to meet you. Let's get right to it. I spent a lot of 2020 reading, in order to block out the nonsense. And given how the first week of January is … Continue reading My 2021 Book Picks
September 2020 Reading Round-Up
A very brief breakdown of what I read in September. Lost Boy by Christina Henry (ebook) - One of my favorite books of the year. Dark and disturbing Captain Hook origin story. Fuck Peter Pan, and Tinkerbell is a snitch. Summerwater by Sarah Moss (hardcover, UK import) - An exciting read, but not as captivating as her … Continue reading September 2020 Reading Round-Up
Literary Yammerings – July 17th 2020
My brain is a bit messy at the moment, and this is reflected by the disjointed nature of my reading this week. I bashed through Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, in a matter of days. It's wonderfully written, with a fierce central female character. Lots of oddball characters too. An incredibly engaging story, in a … Continue reading Literary Yammerings – July 17th 2020
Bookish Brain-Dump – June 26, 2020
Wonderland - Zoje Stage You can read my full review of Zoje Stage's brilliant new book, Wonderland, on Goodreads or NetGalley, but I just want to re-emphasize my love for these weird novels that seem to be infiltrating the mainstream at the moment. I love well-written folk horror, and cosmic horror, and it seems there's … Continue reading Bookish Brain-Dump – June 26, 2020
Book Bumblings- June 18
On My Read-ar (geddit?) Lots of big exciting releases coming up in the next year. Some favorite authors, some new names. Which are you most excited about? Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia (US release June 30, 2020)Tender is the Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica (US release Aug 4, 2020)Sisters - Daisy Johnson (US release Aug 25, … Continue reading Book Bumblings- June 18
Bookish Babblings – May 19 2020
I Have a Problem I've put a self-imposed physical book-buying ban on myself. I'm still working, still parenting, so it's not as though I have extra time to actually read these books. As I run to the door and sweep the packages up in my arms, I hear my myriad unread books weeping. The ban … Continue reading Bookish Babblings – May 19 2020
Book Blatherings – April 2020 Round-Up
Novels So far this year, I've struggled to find novels that truly engage me. I consume audiobooks differently that the written word; it's not exactly passive, but I definitely feel more involved with a book if I'm actively reading the words. It may be to do with the fact that when I read a book, … Continue reading Book Blatherings – April 2020 Round-Up
My Week in Short Stories – March 29th to April 5th
Hello again! Another week, another bundle of stories. 3/29/20 Green Red Orange Mariana Enriquez 3/29/20 Things We Lost in the Fire Mariana Enriquez 3/30/20 Forgotten Journey Silvina Ocampo 3/30/20 Mildly Unhappy, With Moments of Joy Amber Sparks 3/30/20 Birthing Stones Daisy Johnson 3/31/20 The Apple Tree Daphne du Maurier 4/1/20 The Lady Who Plucked Red … Continue reading My Week in Short Stories – March 29th to April 5th
Book Blatherings – March 31st
Book Surprises I got a lovely surprise this week. I finally bought a copy of Rachel Swirsky's collection, How the World Became Quiet. When it arrived, it was an immaculate ex-library book (which sadly looked unread), and when I opened the cover, I saw this: I love it when something secret appears in a used … Continue reading Book Blatherings – March 31st
California Reading 