Book Mail

 

I received some surprise book mail over my weekend from Quirk Books, and always means something good. Only this time I wasn't prepared for what they sent me, and I'm in love. These types of books are my favorite. They're always funny, quick reads, and sometimes have some oddly useful, if not insightful, moments. They're also really fun to read out loud to my roommate!

When I say everything about this book is amazing, there is no lie. It's designed to look and feel, like the old-school guide you'd get for trails or in Girl Scouts with the rough cover. Only this one is about surviving the end of the world, alien invasion, etc. I've only flipped through it since I'm back to work for the week and setting up for Labor Day weekend.

But, this might have to be my vacation book...

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

From veteran true crime master Harold Schechter comes a unique look into the history of crime told through the dark objects left behind. The false teeth of a female serial killer from 1908, the cut-and-paste confession of the Black Dahlia killer, the newly cracked cipher of the Zodiac killer, the shotgun used in the Clutter family murders, which were made famous by Truman Capote's true crime classic In Cold Blood —these are more than simple artifacts that once belonged to notorious murderers. They are objets of fascination to the legion of true crime obsessives around the world. And not merely for fleeting dark thrills, but because they represent a way to better understand those who we typically label monsters in lieu of learning how they actually became one.

In Murderabilia, veteran true crime writer Harold Schechter presents 100 murder-related artifacts spanning two centuries (1808–2014), with accompanying stories of various lengths. A visual and literary journey, it presents a history unlike any previously told in the true crime genre, one that speaks to the dark fascination of true crime fans while also presenting a larger historical timeline of how and why we continue to be captivated by the most sensational crimes and killers among us.

Waiting on Wednesday: I have so many of Harold Schechter's books on my TBR. I really enjoy his writing style when it comes to True Crime. So it was a no brainer to this one the list as well!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It’s about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

This was adorable! It was one of those things that I saw on my library dash as a new release, and the color of the cover is what originally caught my eye. Then I noticed everything else. Listen I dabble in the DnD world, and I love watching my friends play these video games. And, I love getting to pick their side quests because they are hands down the best part. So I was super excited to jump into this one. This book gave me exactly what I wanted to give me. It hit all the fun DnD and fantasy game tropes. It's funny, there are fight scenes and an actual plot. On top of that, it's a satisfying ending. I also like that it's a stand-alone comic. Could there be more? Totally, but there doesn't need to be, nor do I feel like we need more. This story covered the entire compass of how the Tavern started, how everyone came together, and how important found family is. Totally recommend it if you looking for a light fantasy read!  

I'm a little low-key obsessed with the Winchester House. Even if you take the supernatural aspect out of it. It's a pretty interesting house because the designs basically play you against yourself. Which probably makes the supernatural aspects a little easier to believe. Plus who doesn't want a door that opens to a dead drop? It's like your very own Moon Door. As for this graphic novel, the ending is really what saved it for me. The first two chapters were okay little historical pieces on the building of the house and some of the struggles Mrs. Winchestor faced for human enemies. There's a hint of the supernatural, little moments that I wish there were a little more of. But, the ending is what bumped this up a star for me. I liked the idea of this being more than a house-filled ghost. Almost to the point the house itself is possessed by something. That caught my interest. Very Hill House, very much up my alley. I just wish the rest of the novel had been more like the last couple of pages. More scenes of what the house itself was doing, maybe watching it come to power. Otherwise, it's a pretty slow burn.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

   

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

When the parents of the richest family in Fall River are found murdered by an axe, the town is quick to blame newcomer Vik. It doesn’t help that he was caught standing over the bodies with blood on his hands and can’t remember anything about the night in question.

But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to Fall River in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.

Her search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, supposedly cursed forest, as well as the childhood home of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Haul

When a friend suggested getting together last Saturday I was bumped. We hadn't seen each other in months, and when she suggested meeting up at a brewery not far from my favorite comic book store. Well, that was a win-win for me! I got to see her, got to go book shopping, and I got to introduce her to my favorite comic book shop. And, if that was enough! We decided to run into the thrift store next door and I hit the mother load!

Do you see how many Goosebumps books that is?! I actually sat down in the aisle to sort through them. Not all are original editions, a couple of them are reprints, which is fine. I'm just excited to add fourteen more books to the collection. Especially since I'm joining a Goosebumps Book Club in September. We haven't picked our book yet, but at least now I feel like I won't have to scramble to find whichever they do pick! Also, I'm a dozen and some book closer to my original collection because I swear I owned them all back in the day until college me decided to send them off to the swap meet with my mother.

I'm annoyed with past Kal. Did anyone else donate, resell, or give away books they regret?

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel.

When Margaret and her husband Hal bought the large Victorian house on Hawthorn Street—for sale at a surprisingly reasonable price—they couldn’t believe they finally had a home of their own. Then they discovered the hauntings. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee.

Margaret is not most people.

Margaret is staying. It’s her house. But after four years Hal can’t take it anymore, and he leaves abruptly. Now, he’s not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine—who knows nothing about the hauntings—arrives, intent on looking for her missing father. To make things worse, September has just begun, and with every attempt Margaret and Katherine make at finding Hal, the hauntings grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep.

Why I'm Waiting: I love a good haunted house story!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

In Teach the Torches to Burn, a breathlessly romantic remix of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and the seventh book in the Remixed Classics series, a queer teen boy discovers first love amid a bloody, centuries-old feud.

Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his womanly artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor--particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys.

In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he's ever encountered and is shocked to learn he's Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him.

So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever--if not by society's scorn, then by the edge of a blade.

HAPPY READING!!

The Nice House on the Lake - Review

Author: James Tynion IV

Genre: Graphic Novel

Format: Paperback

Pages: 200

How do you think the world is going to end?

I watched the characters in this struggle to come up with an answer to the question, but my first thought was, alphabetically or chronologically. Maybe it's the state of things these last few years, but honestly, maybe we aren't too far away from that. Shame I don't have a friend like Walter to invite me to a house on the lake like this one. 

I'm slowly working through James Tynion's original works and have yet to find one I didn't like. The Nice House on the Lake was no exception. I mean the cover alone is what pulled me in, the story itself had me staying. It's a great trope in science fiction, surviving the end of the world. What I love about this series is how these people saved the world and just Tynion's ability to tell a story. Yes, it's a trope we've seen before, both the end of the world and what Walter is doing, but the way Tynion tells it keeps you invested.

The symbols, the mail system, where exactly is the house, why don't they remember getting to the house. You learn a lot about the plot in two hundred pages through alternating points of view. From how the characters met to Walter's overall plan. To wondering if maybe Walter is a bigger plan than what his 'people' have planned. I'm also a bit in Reg's camp of maybe the world didn't exactly end, maybe it's all a test to see if their system works, or if we're even worth saving.

What I do know is that something big happens in volume two to separate our cast from a unit to solo travelers. Because each of them narrators a new issue, they aren't together, and they are around different symbols. The foreshadowing in this is spot on, from issue to issue and volume to volume. This is one of the stories where I feel like I understand what is about to happen, but also know there might be a twist in the next volume to throw a wrench in that plan. 

The whole concept of this is great and pulls you to the point where you want to know what everything means. The symbols, why Walter picked these people, is the world is really gone, is Reg right. Also, just how good is Walter's mind wipe after that last page. Holy Cow. 

I have so many books and graphic novels waiting for me to read. Books I should read before jumping into volume two. Honestly, this could wait since I'm borrowing them from the library, but I'm not gonna. First chance I get I'm running over there to pick this one up. Because I need to know how it ends. This is only a two-part series, and I need that second part in my life like yesterday.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

   

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

Hawkins, Indiana—for most, it’s simply another idyllic, manicured all-American town. But for Eddie Munson it’s like living in a perpetual Tomb of Horrors. Luckily, he only has a few more months to survive at Hawkins High. And what is senior year, really, but just killing time between Dungeons & Dragons sessions with the Hellfire Club and gigs with his band?
 
It’s at the worst dive bar in town that Eddie meets Paige, someone who has pulled off a freaking miracle . She escaped Hawkins and built a wickedly cool life for herself working for a record producer out in Los Angeles . Not only is she the definition of a badass—with a killer taste in music—she might be the only person that actually appreciates him as the bard he is instead of the devil incarnate. But the best thing? She’s offering a chance for him to make something of himself, and all he needs is to get her a demo tape of Corroded Coffin’s best songs.
 
Just one Recording costs money. Money Eddie doesn’t have. But he’s willing to do whatever it even if that means relying on his old man, Al Munson. His dad just stumbled back into his life, with another dubious scheme up his sleeve, and yet Eddie knows this is his only option to make enough dough in enough time. It’s a risk, but if it pays off he will finally have a one-way ticket out of Hawkins.
 
Eddie can feel 1984 is going to be his year.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Haul

Did I need to go bookshop? The need is subjective, but I definitely wanted to go book shopping because two books I wanted came out this Tuesday. I wanted them on my TBR for when I'm ready to read them. Also, I had a gift card so which I kept forgetting about. How I forget about bookstore gift cards the world may never know, but every time I saw it I was like, oh yeah, I still have that. So after a long week at work and a reminder that I had that gift card. So off to the bookstore I went.  

I did get a bonus little book with two short stories that are illustrated. I know nothing about the author or the stories, but the blurbs on the back and the synopsis pulled me in. It definitely has a super creepy feel. One of those, don't read at night when your home alone kind of reads. Which is what I plan on doing. Because I'm crazy, and who needs sleep?

As for the second photo. I sat Target to pillows and whatnot and found a Stranger Things book that is Choose Your Own Adventure book. So that also found its way into my cart. Because it's Target and that's just what happens. Things just fall into your cart cause you only go to the cursed place a handful of times the year. Or, maybe that's my problem. Either way, I'm saving this for the winter when it's too cold, too dark, and I'm too tired to do anything on my day off by reading by the fire!

What was the last book-shopping trip you went on?

HAPPY READING!!

The Chuckling Whatsit - Review

Author: Richard Sala

Genre: Graphic Novel

Format: Hardback

Pages: 199

When this came across my library dash it said it was a Noir style story with a touch of Edward Gorey, or something to that affect. Basically I saw they words: noir and Edward Gorey, and was that enough for me. Just from the title I knew this was going to be a weird one even before Gorey's name was dropped. But, I like weird little stories, so here we are. 

This was okay. It took me longer to read than most graphic novels do because I kept setting it down. Never once really connecting to any of the characters in the story. It also didn't help that the story jumps around lot with very little warning. You'll go from one small plot to another because about three different stories are happening at the same time, but you don't realize that until near the end of the book.  

So I'd get to a point where I'd be flipped around because one story would just drop off and another would be start up, and I would have no idea how I go from one to point to the next. This probably wasn't really a problem in the original format of the story when it was being read piece-by-piece. It doesn't however make it hard to read all bound together. 

I will say the base plot of this story with the dolls themselves was really cool, and my favorite part of the whole thing. It's a classic gothic tale and the reason I didn't DNF this book halfway through. Because I really wanted to know who the Ghoul was and how it all connects together. The entire side plat with G.A.S.H. was my least favorite part, and really just made the whole thing messy. I understood with the author was trying to do. I felt the Dick Tracey vibes they were going for.

However, I personally could have done without. In fact, I would have loved to have skipped over G.A.S.H. so we could have gotten more about what I assume the head the bag. Like for example, where did the living dead dude take the creepy laughing doll? How did the original Ghoul get the doll? All things I'd have rather found out the whatever happened with G.A.S.H. I honestly don't remember.

I will say I did enjoy the pencil sketch artwork. I thought it was beautiful, and worked really well with the story. The entire thing is done in black and white, which was perfect for the noir genre. And that part lived up to the Edward Gorey callout. There are tons of little details, and the details that aren't there are just as important as the ones that are.

So yeah, this was just okay. I liked a good chunk of it, glad I picked it up from the library. 

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It’s about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

Why I'm Waiting: Magical Free Little Library and a talking cat. Say less, I'm all in!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

"Playmate, come and play with me..."

A beloved classic reimagined with a dark twist.

After her parents' painful divorce, Evie Archer hopes that moving to Ravenglass, Massachusetts, is the fresh start that her family needs. But Evie quickly realizes that her new home—known by locals as the Horror House—carries its own dark past after learning about Holly Hobbie, who mysteriously vanished in her bedroom one night.

But traces of Holly linger in the Horror House and slowly begin to take over Evie's life. A strange shadow follows her everywhere she goes, and Evie starts to lose sight of what's real and what isn't the more she learns about The Lost Girl.

Can Evie find out what happened the night of Holly's disappearance? Or is history doomed to repeat itself in the Horror House?

HAPPY READING!!

Night Worms Unboxing

August Theme: Horror Junkie

It's that time again, a new month means a new Night Worms package! I was super excited for this month's package, Horror Junkie because it contained a book by one of the co-owners of Night Worms herself, Sadie Hartmann. Which is definitely sitting on the top of my TBR pile right now. I'm hoping to be able to crack it open this weekend and cover it in tabs: books I've read, books I still need to read, and books going right onto my TBR.

The latter is probably going to be the most used tab! 

I was also really excited for The Handyman Method, it was one of my Most Anticipated Reads this year! So I'm excited to have my own copy, this is one of my top reads for the official start of Spooky Season Next month. This feels like a rainy day, reading all day, kind of book.

Also, how did Night Worms know I was nearly out of coffee!? I'm in between orders, so I'm excited to try this brand because it smelled delicious!!

The magnet this month is absolutely adorable, and the sticker is cute! It looks great on my fridge with all its friends of the past months!

An absolute ace package again this month from Night Worms!

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

   

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

Internet horror superstar Trevor Henderson is famous for his ghastly creations and hair-raising creepypastas. Now he brings that talent for the terrifying to this debut middle-grade thriller. You don’t stay out after dark in Beacon Point… The small town of Beacon Point has always been plagued by eerie local phenomena. It’s a town where disappearances are common, strange creatures have been sighted with unnerving frequency, and a ghastly secret lurks in the woods. The adults in town are oblivious to these strange occurrences. Others prefer not to talk or even think about them. But over the course of several terrifying nights, a group of kids will come face to face with the horrors hiding within their sleepy town. Guided by the mysterious radio host Alan Graves, they must follow the clues to a terrifying secret before it eats them alive.

HAPPY READING!!

Creepy Cat Vol. 1 - Review

Author: Cotton Valen

Genre: Graphic Novel

Format: Paperback

Pages: 132

I mean the title of this book has before anything else. In fact, I didn't even read the synopsis of this book. I saw the cats on the cover, and the goth-looking theme, and smashed the Hold Button on my library dashboard. There was nothing else I needed to know.

There was no disappointment found in Volume 1. It was as adorable as I assumed it would be. The story was fun and silly, and there was in fact a creepy cat living in a creepy house with a cute little goth girl. It's very Addams Family in vibe, which I loved. 

Also the creepy is very subtle throughout the story. Because it's not really the cat that's creepy. I have questions about the cat because it's more like a Squishmallow come to life than a cat, but that house is totally haunted. And, I love how Cotton showed the ghost of this house throughout each panel. And how the new owner of the house explains everything away thanks to this cat.

I enjoyed all the characters we've met so far, and the story is quirky and fun. It really feels like Cotton enjoyed writing and illustrating this story. Because I had a lot of fun reading it. 

The story behind the cats is interesting enough that you want to know what they are, and where they came from. Was the nightmare and warning? What do the cats want? What's with the super creepy girl and the weird not-there mansion?

I'll definitely be picking up the rest of these volumes throughout the rest of the year. Because yeah, this was a fun and quick read that had me laughing from start to finish!   

HAPPY READING!!

Library Haul

More holds came in over my weekend! This was perfect because I won't have much time to read over the weekend. My town has a big event and the restaurant I manage is right next to said event. So I plan on us being busy for the next three days.

So quick, fun, reads are what I need for after work. Maybe. Sometimes showering after work takes the last of my willpower.

 

However! I'm really excited about the two I just picked up! Quests Aside just sound like a lot of fun. Honestly, side quests are the best part of the main quests in my personal opinion. So this feels like a great way to end my night! 

As for Something is Killing the Children, well that will emotionally destroy me. I just know I'm not going to like how this ends. There's a character I love about to die, and it will be horrid. I just know. Still, I'm excited to see where this volume goes and to see how it's going to tie all the others into. Because I've really also been enjoying the flashback volumes in this universe!

What's the last thing you'll pick up from the library? 

HAPPY READING!!

Stuff of Nightmares - Review

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: Graphic Novel

Format: Paperback

Pages: 144

So this is a modern retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein but with a Goosebumps twist. That was all I needed to hear to put it on my Holds list at the library. Those are two of my favorite things, and I honestly couldn't imagine how it could go wrong. I'm also on this old-school monsters kick where I've been devouring books that retell their stories. It has to be because we're so close to Spooky Season.

This did not disappoint. It is everything I love about both worlds, combined with artwork very similar to Mike Mignola's work. And all of it works together perfectly to tell a truly gruesome story. I loved how gross the monsters were, I loved the story of the brothers and Stella, and I love how the monsters evolved throughout the story.

My favorite part of this tale was the narrator, the collector of nightmares. It felt very much like Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt in the way he told his story. I also really liked the look around his house and all the curiosities he had inside. It was a great way to start and end each chapter, to set up what was about to happen, and add a little humor into the story without taking away from the story itself.

R.L. Stine did a great job of twisting this classic into a modern tale. He didn't reinvent the wheel, instead had the brothers use Mary Shelley's story as the reason behind their twisted idea. I loved how he kept to the theme of hubris throughout the story and kept true to the original Monster. Though I will say I wasn't expecting the little twist at the end. Though it felt very in the vein of Stine himself to have a little moment like that.

Also, it felt very much like Penny Dreadful as well, so getting them issue by issue would have been. One scary little chapter at a time. I think that was the only downside of the story and getting it all together like this. While that's usually my favorite way to read Graphic Novels because I'm impatient, and its easier to wait for the whole volume than for each issue. The Stuff of Nightmares was the exception to that rule. I think I lost a little bit by reading it all at once. 

I'm definitely going to have to keep an eye out for another volume if  R.L. Stines does a second tale. That way I can get issue by issue from my local comic book store!

HAPPY READING!!