I imagine it must be difficult to write fiction about issues such as toxic masculinity without being cloying, or at worst didactic. For that reason, I usually avoid works that overtly address this topic. However, I think I’ve finally found a book that covers these issues successfully, in Alex McElroy’s debut novel, The Atmospherians. Popular … Continue reading Book Review – The Atmospherians, by Alex McElroy (Atria)
Review – Revival Season, by Monica West (Simon & Schuster)
Disclaimer: This book isn't out until June! Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster for the ARC. This one is worth the wait, I promise! Literary coming-of-age stories with a supernatural twist are my kryptonite. Especially when it involves a teenage girl with potentially magic powers. For this reason, Revival Season was an absolute must-read as … Continue reading Review – Revival Season, by Monica West (Simon & Schuster)
Book Review – The Last Good Man, by Thomas McMullan (Bloomsbury)
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 Top 2020 Reads
I’ve read a lot this year. To escape from the madness of reality? Yes, absolutely. So, in no particular order, here are my favorite books that were released in 2020. Things in Jars - Jess Kidd A strong central female character, a strange kidnapping, and a thoroughly entertaining ghost? Sign me up! Also, a love story … Continue reading My Top 2020 Reads
More Reading Ramblings
Since my last update, I finished The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher, and I absolutely loved it. It was genuinely terrifying; Kingfisher has a great line in creating incredibly disturbing images. My full review can be found on Goodreads, but to summarize, The Hollow Places is one of the scariest and funniest books I’ve ever read. … Continue reading More Reading Ramblings
Meanderings
I’m a bit unsettled this week. Maybe because it’s my birthday on Monday and it feels even more like a non-event than usual. I’m having trouble focusing, I’ve had a weird breathing thing that comes and goes. I know I’m not alone in this, but *waves hands* all of this is getting to me more … Continue reading Meanderings
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
Reading Ramblings – June 7th 2020
On My Read-ar (still funny) The Lost Village by Camilla Sten - This was described on NetGalley as a cross between Midsommar and Blair Witch, so I requested that pretty sharpish. And I just found out it's translated from Swedish! Dude. Keep 'em peeled for this. Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson - … Continue reading Reading Ramblings – June 7th 2020
My Favorite Short Stories of the Year
As you may know, back in April I decided to read a short story every day. While I may not have read a story every single day (see: parenting), I’ve read over 200 stories, and I don’t intend on stopping any time soon. It was hard to narrow down my favorites. I kept a handy … Continue reading My Favorite Short Stories of the Year
The Short Story Shuffle
Since having a baby 16 months ago, my reading habits have changed. Gone are the days where I can finish a book in one day, because I have a tiny human who I’m apparently supposed to regularly interact with. Giving up on reading is not really an options; reading is my form of meditation. If … Continue reading The Short Story Shuffle
California Reading 