Washington's Gay General - Review

Author: Josh Trujillo & Levi Hastings

Genre:  Nonfiction / Graphic Novel

Format: Hardback

Pages: 192

Okay, honestly the cover and the title are what pulled me into this one. How do you not click on this book to see what's it about? Up until last week, I knew nothing about Baron von Steuben. If he was mentioned at all during my history classes, it was a footnote that was easily forgotten. And, what better way to learn history than through a graphic novel. Especially one done in the soft blue palette of color this one was drawn in.

I will say I love that this isn't just the history of Barn von Steuben. At the core, he's who this graphic novel is about. But, it also spans a lot of Queer history, as well as talking about the author's own experiences. I also really like the honesty that Trujillo inserts from the very start of this book. Both he and Hastings have done their best to retrace the life of Baron von Steuben, but there's only so much you can learn from journals and letters. 

And the author is right, the 1700s were a completely different world than the one we live in now. People lived a completely different way to what we're used to. Their normal isn't ours and it's hard to connect all the dots correctly. But, I feel like these guys did the best they could with what information they could find. 

I feel like they told the story of Baron von Steuben's life the best they could, in a way that was easy to read and understand and didn't feel like a history lecture. We don't just learn American history but a bit about Stueben's own country of Prussia. So there is a lot of information packed into just under 200 pages. 

As mentioned before I loved the soft color palette they chose for this graphic novel as well. I think it works well in the narrative. It's not depressing, but not really happy either. Baron von Steuben lived a wonderfully strange, and yet somehow very sad life. I felt like the color choices worked perfectly. 

While not a very uplifting story, it's an interesting one.

HAPPY READING!!

Spooky Season TBR

It is time! Or, it will be in just two short days. I say short because if someone could tell me what happened to September, I would be much obliged. I swear this month just started, and now my place is decorated for Halloween. I mean I'm absolutely chuffed for Halloween, it's my very favorite time of the year! This means it's time for a Spooky Season TBR! I make a stack of books that I feel are exactly what I want to read during October and November, and usually only manage about two before going off the rails into other books on my shelves!

Most of these have been sitting on my shelves for a minute. One of them just recently came out but It feels like a curl up under a blanket and read while it's raining kind of book! There is a BINGO book in this stack. Something I haven't managed to read since I narrowed my board down to just four squares. There's also a book club book missing. We haven't picked our Goosebumps book for October yet. So that'll need to make the list. But as for a goal of what I'd like to read off this list. I'd love to manage to crack up the top two books. 

Does anyone else have a Spooky Season TBR they're reading crack open?

HAPPY READING!!

The Worst-Case Scenario - Review

Author: Joshua Piven & David Borgenicht

Genre:  Nonfiction / Humor

Format: Hardback

Pages: 272

First, thank you to Quirk Books for an early release copy of The Worst-Case Scenario. This will be hitting shelves on October 31 of this year! Ever wonder what it would take to survive the world's end, no matter how that end presents itself? Honestly, these days it is a fair question. Well, you my friends are in luck because this Handbook is designed to help you start prepping and preparing all kinds of end of days!

This was an absolute delight to read. First of all the cover is done up like a proper old school handbook that I swear I've seen around my dad's and grandad's shops, and the cover art is complete genius and that combined with the title was the reason I had my fingers crossed Quirk Books would send me this one. I love books that combine actual facts with humor, and that's something that Worst-Case Scenario did rather well in my opinion.

It's packed with practical information that can be used whether at the end of the world, trapped for a few days because of the woods. Do I think I'll ever need to use any of this information? Well, I live in the Pacific Northwest so at any time a volcano could erupt, an earthquake could hit us, a tsunami could hit us, or my favorite, a chain reaction where all three happen within the same week. So there were a few gems on being prepared that we've already done in this house, and there might be a few things people don't think about gathering.

That doesn't mean that this book is by any means dry and dull. It also gives you great ways to survive if aliens ever decide they want to hang out here on Earth. What to do if dinosaurs are cloned between aliens and dinosaurs, my bet is on the latter. Despite there being many movies about why that's a bad idea.

All-in-all this was a lot of fun and it was the perfect vacation, sitting by the pool read. I thoroughly enjoyed it for the fun facts and the outrageous facts! It's the perfect read for winter when things are cold and gloomy to get you laughing out loud. I also think it'll make fun stocking stuff for the friend who loves to read, or a white elephant gift!

Check out The Worst-Case Scenerios hitting shelves Oct 31,2023!

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.

Ana and Reid needed a lucky break.

The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. That's about to change with the words any New Yorker would love to hear―affordable housing lottery.

They've won an apartment in the Deptford, one of Manhattan's most revered buildings with beautiful vistas of Central Park and stunning architecture.

Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia as the price of living in New York―people are odd―but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on the baby.

Why I'm Waiting: Both birds and children are creepy. So yeah, I feel like this is gonna creep me out.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

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.
 

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

    

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially 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! 

In the vein of T. Kingfisher and Christopher Golden, the boundary protecting our world from the monsters on the other side is weakening—and Mister Lullaby is about to break through.

The small town of Harrod’s Reach has seen its fair share of the macabre, especially inside the decrepit old train tunnel around which the town was built. After a young boy, Sully Dupree, is injured in the abandoned tunnel and left in a coma, the townspeople are determined to wall it up. Deputy sheriff Beth Gardner is reluctant to buy into the superstitions until she finds two corpses at the tunnel’s entrance, each left with strange calling cards inscribed with old lullabies. Soon after, Sully Dupree briefly awakens from his coma.

Before falling back into his slumber, Sully manages to give his older brother a message. Sully's mind, since the accident, has been imprisoned on the other side of the tunnel in Lalaland, a grotesque and unfamiliar world inhabited by evil mythical creatures of sleep. Sully is trapped there with hundreds of other coma patients, all desperately fighting to keep the evils of the dream world from escaping into the waking world.

Elsewhere, a man troubled by his painful youth has for years been hearing a voice in his head he calls Mr. Lullaby, and he has finally started to act on what that voice is telling him—to kill any coma patient he can find, quickly.

Something is waking up in the tunnel—something is trying to get through. And Mr. Lullaby is coming.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Mail

So early in the summer, my sister-in-law sent me an Instagram post about this book maybe seconds after it came across my dash. At that point, I assumed it was a canon event and placed a pre-order. Because not only does it sound like a book I would like, but people I know also saw this book and thought the same. So I hit add to cart so fast I didn't have time to second guess the decision. And, then life happened, work got busy, I suddenly had plans, and I promptly forgot I placed this order. Clear up until I was told my book would be delivered this week!

While I know why pre-orders are important to book sales, this always happens to me. And, not just with books. Anything I pre-order sort always gets forgotten until the email that my package is being shipped. Which on the one hand is always a pleasant surprise. On the other hand, how does a person forget what they ordered? Still, this is a great surprise, and just in time for Spooky Season!

Also, as a side note, I didn't realize this was told via found footage! It's one of my favorite sub-genres that I feel there isn't enough of. To the point that I want to make one of my BINGO squares next year found footage! So, not only a surprise, but a double surprise!

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

A hundred percent I picked this one up because of the cover, which is nightmare-inducing on its own. The stories themselves are also super creepy. Inside are two spooky short stories about Inuit Mythology. Both stories are haunting, which is only added to by the artwork that goes along with both stories. Both aspects work well together, and I think keeping them short also adds to the story. It keeps the tempo up, your eyes glued to the story, and both creeped me right out.

I am a little obsessed with the history and lore behind the Bender Family. Mostly because I grew up not far from Cherryvale where the Bender Family lived and killed. Throwing the Bender Family into a story, a plot, or an episode is usually a surefire way to get time to read, or watch, something. For better or worse. This one has the bonus of being by one of my favorite true crime authors and was really good. Is a short and sweet version of what the Bender Family did, and how they were found out. It's a great read for anyone who doesn't know much about the family

HAPPY READING!!

Night Worms Unboxing

September Theme: Be Afraid Tengan Much Miedo

It's never fun to have to come home from vacation and go back to work. However, having a Night Worms package waiting for you in your mailbox definitely makes it better! Both I and my roommate were excited for this month's package. She's a fan of Isabel Canas, she already snagged it for her TBR. I however am excited for Wild Space because I love books that pull in eldritch horror!

Listen I cannot with the magnets that Sadie and Ashely, the owners and creators of Night Worms, have been picking out. Each month they get better and better. This month was no exception. I was so excited to our Regency Gentleman Skeleton reading to my fridge! I laughed so loud when I saw him. He's perfect! And of course, another wonderful sticker to add to my collection. It doesn't have a home yet, but never fear, one day it will! As for the hot beverage isn't my favorite, but a friend of mine is a fan. She'll love it!

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.

Two years before the events of Stranger Things Season 4, Eddie Munson—Hellfire Club leader, metalhead, and Hawkins outcast—has one shot to make it big.
 
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.

Why I'm Waiting: I mean, I have an Eddie Munson tattoo, so I think we know why I'm waiting.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

 

A feast for the senses, this sumptuously illustrated book will introduce you to some of the most infamous women throughout world history, united by their shared taste for poison. Welcome to the League of Lady Poisoners.

This riveting and well-researched volume by Lisa Perrin weaves together the stories of more than twenty-five accused women poisoners, exploring the circumstances and skill sets that led them to lives of crime.

You might find yourself rooting for some of them—like Sally Bassett, who helped poison her granddaughter’s enslavers in Bermuda, or Giulia Tofana, who sold her name-brand concoction to women wanting to be rid of their abusive (or otherwise undesirable) husbands. Other stories, though—including that of Yiya Murano, one of Argentina’s most notorious swindlers and serial killers, or the terrifying Nurse Jane Toppan—may prove less palatable.

Organized into thematic chapters based on the women’s motives, the book also includes an illustrated primer that delves into the origins and effects of common poisons throughout history, as well as a foreword by Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, creators and hosts of the podcast Criminalia. It is a treat for true crime fans, feminist history buffs, and any curious readers fascinated by the more macabre side of human nature.

TRUE CRIME Women can do anything—even commit murder. This thoughtfully researched and insightful survey into the lives of the poisoners explores the toxic events that put these women in the spotlight, the deceptive methods and substances they used, and their legacies today. The League of Lady Poisoners is a thrilling deep dive for fans of true crime podcasts, docuseries, and books.

EYE-CATCHING Illustrator and author Lisa Perrin’s beautiful and distinctive art style blends the romantic allure of these pop culture legends with the disturbing and twisted facts of their lives. The hardcover is decorated with shining foil, and the interior contains clever Victorian-inspired lettering, borders, and diagrams that complement the text. Readers and illustrated book collectors will love all the details honoring the Golden Age of Poison.
 
FASCINATING, DIVERSE STORIES OF WOMEN WHO These women lived in different time periods and had varying cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds that influenced their motives. Some acted out of defiance—like the Angel Makers of Nagyrév, who taught women how to dispose of their abusive husbands in Hungary. Others schemed their way to power and money, including Empress Wu Zetian of China and Belle Gunness, who killed more than 14 people in the American Midwest. Discover all their stories in this engaging collection . . . if you have the stomach for them.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

    

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially 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! 

What's it like to be the first to enter an Egyptian burial chamber that's been sealed for thousands of years? What horrifying secret was found among the prehistoric ruins of the American Southwest? Who really was the infamous the Monster of Florence?

Douglas Preston's journalistic explorations have taken him from the haunted country of Italy to the jungles of Honduras. He was granted exclusive journalistic access to the largest tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, broke the story of an extraordinary mass grave of animals killed by the asteroid impact that ended the Cretaceous period and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, and explored what lay hidden in the booby-trapped Money Pit on Oak Island. When he hasn't been co-authoring bestselling thrillers featuring FBI Agent Pendergast, Preston has been writing about some of the world’s strangest and most dramatic mysteries.

The Lost Tomb brings together an astonishing and compelling collection of true stories about buried treasure, enigmatic murders, lost tombs, bizarre crimes, and other fascinating tales of the past and present.

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 the parents of the richest family in Fall River are found murdered by 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.

Why I'm Waiting: You had me at Lizzie Borden.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

After striking out on her own as a teen mom, Madi Price is forced to return to her hometown of Brandywine, Virginia, with her seventeen-year-old daughter. With nothing to her name, she scrapes together a living as a palm reader at the local farmers market.

It’s there that she connects with old high school flame Henry McCabe, now a reclusive local fisherman whose infant son, Skyler, went missing five years ago. Everyone in town is sure Skyler is dead, but when Madi reads Henry’s palm, she’s haunted by strange and disturbing visions that suggest otherwise. As she follows the thread of these visions, Madi discovers a terrifying nightmare waiting at the center of the labyrinth—and it’s coming for everyone she holds dear.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

    

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially 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! 

Fans of true crime shows like CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Law and Order know that when it comes to "getting the bad guy" behind bars, your best chance of success boils down to the strength of your evidence--and the forensic science used to obtain it. Beyond the silver screen, forensic science has been used for decades to help solve even the most tough-to-crack cases. In 2018, the accused Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, was finally apprehended after a decades-long investigation thanks to a very recent technique called forensic genealogy, which has since led to the closure of hundreds of cold cases, bringing long-awaited justice to victims and families alike. But when it comes to solving these incredibly difficult cases, forensic genealogy is just the tip of the iceberg--and many readers have no idea just how far down that iceberg goes.

For Laurah Norton, forensic science was always more of a passion than anything else. But after learning about a mishandled 1990s cold case involving missing twins, she was spurred to action, eventually creating a massively popular podcast and building a platform that helped bring widespread attention and resources to the case. LAY THEM TO REST builds on Laurah's fascination with these investigations, introducing readers to the history and evolution of forensic science, from the death masks used in Ancient Rome to the 3-D facial reconstruction technology used today. Incorporating the stories of real-life John & Jane Does from around the world, Laurah also examines how changing identification methods have helped solve the most iconic cold cases. Along the way readers will also get to see Laurah solve a case in real time with forensic anthropologist Dr. Amy Michael, as they try to determine the identity of "Ina" Jane Doe, a woman whose head was found in a brush in an Illinois park in 1993.

More than just a chronicle of the history of forensics, LAY THEM TO REST is also a celebration of the growing field of experts, forensic artists, and anthropologists (many of whom Laurah talks to in the book), who work tirelessly to bring closure to these unsolved cases. And of course, this book asks why some cases go unsolved, highlighting the "missing missing," the sex workers, undocumented, the cases that so desperately need our attention, but so rarely get it.

Engrossing, informative, heartbreaking, and hopeful, LAY THEM TO REST is a deep dive into the world of forensic science, showing readers how far we've come in cracking cases and catching killers, and illuminating just how far we have yet to go.

HAPPY READING!!

Vacation Mode

Okay, so I still have to work today before, but by tonight it's a hundred percent vacation mode. Even if it's a short one. I get to unplug, not have to worry about anything but not getting sunburnt and drinking enough water. Shockingly enough at generally bad at both.  

I've been so excited about this trip I'm getting ready to take. It's been a long time since me and the friend of going with have gone on a trip together. We have so many amazing little stops planned and three awesome events lined up. And my favorite plan of all, reading by the pool. 

My Kindle is loaded with so many options, and thanks to Quirk Books I have a pretty amazing physical read! I have been picking up so many shifts, and trying to complain as little as possible when people called out last minute and my days ran long. Because I knew this trip was coming, and I cannot wait to sit in the sun for like four days and not have to answer my phone once!

HAPPY READING!!

101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered- Review

Author: Sadie "Mother Horror" Hartmann

Genre: Horror / Nonfiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 168

I can't imagine anything I say will do this book justice, but I'm going to have a go out it nonetheless. 

This a book for every level of horror reader. No matter how long you've been reading the genre, or what kind of horror you prefer. If you read horror to any extent you need to pick up Sadie Hartmann's book.

She's broken the genre down into sub-genres. This is absolutely genius because while I personally kind of dip my toe in kind of every sub-genre, I definitely have some that aren't my favorites. These I'd like to read more of, and my absolute favorites. This also makes it easy to organize the fact that you are being introduced to 101 new books, and maybe a handful of authors.

It keeps you from feeling like a ton of information is just chucked at you from the other side.

What also helps with this is just the tone Sadie Hartmann uses throughout the books. It really feels like you're just sitting with her talking about your favorite books. You can really tell these are books she holds dear to herself. Books that she wants to share with other horror fans.

There is just so much love and work that went into this collection, and you can really see it as you flip from page to page.  From the trigger warnings to the easy breakdown of each plot, and trying to avoid as many spoilers as possible. A couple of books I've been on the fence about are now sitting in my library queue because Hartmann convinced me to give them a chance.

This is also a low-stress book. There was never a point where I felt like I needed to read this book, or bad because I hadn't read a book. These were just honest opinions about books that Sadie Hartmann loves, and she thinks we might love them. I rarely bust out my book tabs, but my copy of this book is covered in notes and tabs. Mostly books I need to sit down to add to my Goodreads shelf, authors I need to read more of, books I also loved that Sadie loved, and a few books that I'm still not sure about. 

No matter how kind of horror you read, how often you pick it up, if you enjoy reading the spooky stuff, give Sadie Hartmann's book a flip through. There are so many good books in there, and some fantastic author spotlights as well. Grady Hendrix and Alma Katsu are two of my favorites that were featured. I have no doubt everyone will finish this collection with at least one new book added to their TBR.  

HAPPY READING!!

Goosebumps Book Club

Because my plate never seems full enough. Not only am I gearing up for one of the busiest months at the restaurant, with every single weekend in September having some sort of downtown celebration. I'm also going on vacation this month, gearing up for the start of Spooky Season, the two Reading Challenges I've already saddled myself with, and now I've done another thing. Mind it is a small thing. An easy thing all things really considered, and I can totally read this book in a day. And I will read this book in a day.

But I have joined a Goosebumps book club, and it's exactly what it says on the tin. It's a whole group who are either re-reading some of their childhood favorites or finally jumping into this series for the first time. I believe their two camps in this book club. One group is reading from the start of the series, and another is doing it randomly. 

As you can see from the photo I'm in the random camp. Not to boost, but I'm old enough to remember when these books were new, and I spent most of Scholastic Book Fair money on these books. I also used to beg to get them in the flyers we'd get a school about upcoming releases. It rarely happened, but somehow I ended up with a pretty decent-sized Goosebumps collection which has sent gone the way of the ghost. 

Even my Ma wasn't sure where the books went. Probably to younger cousins or garage sales here and there after I moved out, and before I got back into reading after college. 

Anyway! I'm really excited to have an excuse to jump back into this series. Last year I started re-collecting all of them, and since then I've managed to hunt down about half the collection from the original series. Sadly I've only managed to read one since then. So this is a great excuse to throw myself back into the series and make some new friends.

For September we're jumping into the Haunted Mask. I'm not good with technology, but if you want to join in, DM me on Instagram so I can point you in the right direction. There's a Discord, but I'm still learning how to use it. I'm old and bad at learning new tricks, okay! 

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.

Do you want to believe? Explore our fascination with UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence through exclusive interviews, archival photos, and strange but true stories from history.

After decades of cover-ups and denials, in a June 2021 report, the US government finally admitted what many people already yes, UFOs are real, and no, we don’t know what (or who) they are. Writer and historian Marc Hartzman separates fact from fiction and provides a comprehensive tour through the skies,


Deeply researched and highly entertaining, We Are Not Alone will inform and enchant anyone who’s ever doubted that we are really alone in the universe.

Why I'm Waiting: I really enjoyed Hartzman's last book, Chasing Ghosts, and I really enjoyed it. Also, aliens freak me right out. So I know it's going to be good and slightly terrifying. 

HAPPY READING!!