Thank you @Marmie7 for all the books and goodies in my #creepychristmas swap!!! I have so many spooky books to keep me company through the cold season now📚I‘ve been looking forward to reading ‘The Rats‘ as a former rat owner, and love that this copy has an intro by Neil Gaiman! Wonderful chocolates, and omg the Beetlejuice🪲🪲🪲stickers are absolutely fantastic!!Thank you so much for everything!!!

Thank you @teebe for hosting such a fun swap!

Happy #JolabokaflodSwap

Thank you so much @Ericalambbrown !!! You went above and beyond with the books and goodies. Yes, that book definitely is the “right one”, lol, so no worries! I‘ve been so looking forward to reading it and watching the new show it‘s based on. And such decadent chocolate with fruit! I will have a wonderful night of reading and eating treats, thank you 😊 🍫📚🎄

Woohoo 🎉 looks like I got both my #creepychristmas and #jolabokaflod delivered today!!! 🎄 I‘m pretty sure they came from @Ericalambbrown and @Marmie7 🎁 thank you both!!! Now time to squirrel them away until opening day!!! 💫 🌟 🌙

Thank you to @teebe and @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting such lovely swaps!!!😊

Just sent out my #JolabokaflobSwap and #CreepyChristmas packages! 🎁📚🍫🎄

Black Friday was very good to me. I think I have all of my holiday shopping done. Now to sit back, relax, and read! 📖☕️

@MaleficentBookDragon @teebe

Hoping to get some reading done if the morning is slow at work 🧛🏻‍♂️ 💋 🦇

Spooky season reading all set and ready to go!!!
💀👻🎃🍁🍂🕯☕️🔮🔪🪲🍷🫀🦇🕸🌙🍎🪦

#bookspinbingo
@TheAromaofBooks

I am way behind on a lot of things, but woo! Here we go! #bookspinbingo for September!!! @TheAromaofBooks

Here‘s my #bookspinbingo line up for August. There‘s a lot of horror in here, lol. Can you tell I miss fall? 🍁 I‘m also cramming in a few I wanna read to see it they‘ll make good book club books for October 🎃 (I‘m also taking recommendations for that!)

No bingo for July, let‘s hope August falls in a better order on the board for me 🤞🏻 @TheAromaofBooks

This was a powerful, eye opening memoir about a young woman growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It shows the daily life of war and oppression she faced while growing up, and her strength and weaknesses all throughout. It‘s also told through black and white comic form.

I really enjoyed this one! There were lots of twists and turns, some were easy to see coming, some were not. I love the way Foley writes her characters to give them all motive and opportunity to keep you guessing throughout the whole book. And there were many mysteries to solve!

I loved the slow reveal of this one! A mother has just passed and left a lengthy confession to her children in hopes of bring them together. That‘s really the tip of the iceberg.

This book was so rich with characters and family drama (without it being over the top). I highly recommend it if you like Brit Bennet. It‘s very much contemporary literature that has multiple conflicts and could generate in depth discussions on family issues.

I really enjoyed this Greek myth retelling! There were three POVs: Cassandra, Clytemnestra, and Elektra and it bounced around all through famous events while adding new input from these characters.

I will say the plot/rising/falling action was a little unfocused - it did try to take on three major myths at once. BUT no matter who‘s chapter it was or what was going on, I was always interested and invested.

Society collapsed when testosterone producers all turned into feral zombie-esque creatures. Then there are TERF‘s starting war caused by fear that trans-women are time bombs if they are unable to take hormones. Cool premise, I was all about this horror book!

But it comes off as very transphobic. The witty banter between the main characters is just mean, the relationships are all toxic, and the communities/safe havens formed are all full of hate

I love how intricate and varying the characters are in Bennett‘s books. She has mastered the writing technique, “show, don‘t tell” and it makes her characters so undeniably real and complex.

Beyond that, her topics are so well balanced & focused.

Here we have twins, both light but still poc. One goes on to have a very dark daughter, the other starts passing as white and has a very caucasian daughter. The similarities and contrasts are striking!

This was my first Jemisin book. Yup, I can see why she‘s a rising name is sci-fi/fantasy

This was an interesting mythology where gods and mortals interact. The political set up was great, the slow reveal of mysteries kept me intrigued, and the back story of the gods was refreshing.

I did struggle with some of the limitations of the political world and the god‘s powers. That might just be me not being used to fantasy. Overall, an excellent read!

My July #bookspinbingo list! I‘m breaking down some books to feel more accomplished. It motivates me to keep going, lol @TheAromaofBooks

The short story ‘Money for the Dead‘ by Karen Heuler was my #doublespin for June.

These stories were something else. They all perfectly unsettled me. This one in particular started with the basic fear of aging and ghosts, and got creepier and more into regret and true feelings for people/events of the past. Ya know, fun topics 😂. But seriously, the writing was fantastically crafted to elicit emotion from the reader. Just like Shirley Jackson did

Catching up on #bookspinbingo reviews😅listed are short stories from the anthology tagged/pictured.

May #bookspin was ‘Taylor Hall‘ by Jen Glifort. Haunted house and melodrama. About finding gender identity and accepting one‘s self

June #bookspin was ‘Let Down‘ by Claire Hamilton Russell. New take on Rapunzel about body positivity

June #doublespin was ‘The Moon in the Glass‘ by Jude Reid. Hidden Victorian lesbian love, ghosts and guilt

This was a book club pick 📚 I figured I would find it unbearable and give up after the first chapter because I don‘t like 1)historical 2)war 3)spy thrillers

BUT

I was hooked! The writing was beautiful, the characters are dynamic/wholesome and understanding of each other‘s issues, and my reason for reading kept changing every few chapters. It really made me think about the realities of a spy network. There‘s a lot of down time!

This is a collection of short stories from authors that are all inspired by Shirley Jackson. And wow! They are all so creepy and eerie! I found some new favorite from reading these. This is probably my favorite anthology now.

If you‘re a fan of Shirley Jackson or creepy short stories, run, don‘t walk to get this collection!!!

A collection of queer AND gothic stories??!? Don‘t mind if I do!!

There were a lot of fun stories in here. Some weren‘t the best, but the representation was amazing 🤩 And to have it in my favorite genera was spectacular 🥰

I highly recommend this one as a comfort read if queer characters and the gothic genre are your jam! 🏳️‍🌈🫀👻

This was very well written. It kept my interest, kept me guessing, stopped to think about ethics, and had lots of moving parts with multiple conflicts. And it was a short read!

I wont mention much about the actual plot because I think a gradual reveal is the way to go for this one. But I will say to expect light sci-fi, and question what makes a person an individual.

This book fell flat for me. I really think if I was younger (like the target audience age of 13) I would have loved it, but I see too many flaws with the writing now. It also didn‘t have much of the library from the title in it 💀

I have been in such a reading slump this past month. I‘ve already started a few of the books listed, but it appears I‘ve lost the will to read 🫣
Must be the weather.
So I‘ve added a lot of short stories to help rekindle my reading desire 🪵 🔥

Here‘s to a more productive reading month! @TheAromaofBooks

Treated myself to a little book splurge for my 30th birthday 🎉 (as if I don‘t do this once a month anyways)

Guess the horror section was calling to me 😂 💀 Good thing I don‘t fear aging 😅

I started the month reading some heavier books, so it was nice to take a break with this zesty little romance between Eros and Psyche.

It‘s not the best for plot or characters, but it was entertaining and nice to let my mind rest while I read fluff 😍

@TheAromaofBooks this was my #bookspin pick for April

I was hoping for a really creepy murder mystery. And I guess it‘s kinda creepy, and there‘s plenty of murder, but for some reason I just couldn‘t get into this one. Maybe the melodrama didn‘t hit right for me 🤷🏼‍♀️ Or the ending, it was a little over the top and not very well planned.

Here‘s my #bookspinbingo list for May! 📚 @TheAromaofBooks

Yay! Spring has sprung! Thank you @AmyG for my #SpeculativeSpringSwap package 🌼🐝 Everything is perfectly wonderful! 😊 I can‘t wait to cozy up to these books with a nice cup of tea and some chocolate 🍫 ☕️
And thank you too @Avanders for hosting a lovely swap! ❤️

This was a collection of Death‘s stories from the Sandman universe, AND a handful of new stories with established characters.

I loooove the idea behind the Endless, and Death and Dream are my two favorite siblings. Of course I‘m going to love reading more about her exploits!

If you‘re a fan, definitely check out the new stories in here. Feels just like reading the Sandman again!

Interesting and full of drama. Definitely for a mature audience who can handle more than the standard sex scenes. It also touches upon a lot of transgender topics - maybe even too many. At times, I felt like the author was cramming in too much. I found myself agreeing with a lot, but also opposed some view points.

And there‘s parts I don‘t know how to feel about. I‘m looking forward to my book clubs discussion (as long as everyone is respectful)

“A novel of art, memory, and ambition, Station Eleven tells a story about the relationships that sustain us, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the beauty of the world as we know it.”

I wanted to love this book, but I only kinda liked it. It kept me interested with the way it wove the characters & the before and after together. But it kept getting close to something meaningful and beautiful, then would focus on something else. I wanted more depth

It‘s best to know nothing about this book before going in. Even the summary on the back doesn‘t give you anything past the first chapter. But I will say this so you know what type of horror this is: home invasion.

The author noted he re-read Lord of the Flies before writing this, not so much for content, but for atmosphere/mind-set. And yeah, I can see that.

The writing was really well done. Perfect to keep you guessing what the reality is.

This might by my favorite Hendrix book now. And as of reading it, I‘ve officially read all of his novels.

He‘s not the most serious writer, but I really enjoy his wild ride of a story, the characters, and especially the female friendships in this one. Not to mention the plethora of 80‘s nostalgia! 📼🛼💋🦉

Cool story that had some really interesting facts about animals, thought provoking questions on religion, and a survival story that adds intensity and suspense.

I remember watching the movie when it came out and thinking, “wow, I should read this!” Well I finally did, and I ruined my reading experience by trying to remember the ending of the movie the whole time 🤦🏼‍♀️

I should know better. Always read the book first 📚

Just sent out my #SpeculativeSpringSwap package!Should reach its destination by Monday 📦📚
@Avanders

Here‘s my #bookspinbingo for April! @TheAromaofBooks

I had to redo a few (I don‘t think my books will be in from the library in time). And I got some fancy new colored pens, lol. The bright colors make me happy 😊

Here‘s to another good month of reading!

I absolutely adored this short story! And even more, the afterword from the author explaining her choices and source material *chefs kiss*💋
I didn‘t know the story of Galatea going in, so I didn‘t anticipate anything. And I think I enjoyed it more for that. It left magic and mystery in my mind. I loved the internal thoughts of Galatea, and how close to poetry it was.
I‘m so excited for Miller‘s version of Pandora she‘s been hinting at working on

Okay, so I was not expecting that. I knew there had to be a reason it was a popular TikTok book, but wow, this is just erotica thinly veiled as sci-fi.

The writing was pretty good, the sex scenes were expertly done, but there were a few moments that left me feeling like the characters/setting/premise weren‘t fully formed. However, I don‘t think the audience for this book is here for those things 😆

This is my #bookspin pick for March

I cannot wait to discuss this with my book club!

The premise- a bunch of rabbits anthropomorphize and try to integrate into UK society, but of course, prejudice is a thing! It‘s light hearted, but still shows the dangers of not accepting people

The witty writing/humor reminded me of Douglas Adams. The satire/comments on society reminded my of Chuck Palahniuk. And the animals pointing out human problems reminded me of Animal Farm/Bojack Horseman

Looks like my #sss #SpeculativeSpringSwap package arrived today! Yay 🌼🌤🐝 📚 @Avanders and @AmyG thank you! Now to squirrel it away and forget about it for a month 😅

This was an interesting read, elegantly written and beautifully drawn. It‘s about a man reflecting on his childhood. He remembers going to a osteopath to fix his dislocated shoulder and finds out the doctor used to treat Al Capone. It gets a little eerie and the ending is open to interpretation.

A very odd little comic, but one that‘s easy to enjoy, and it helped change the way stories can be told with pictures.

Here‘s my #bookspinbingo for March! @TheAromaofBooks

This is everything I hoped it would be. I‘m always floored by Atwood‘s beautiful words and creativity, so her taking on a Greek myth was gorgeously done. She definitely did her research and seamlessly incorporated ancient storytelling techniques while updating a few.

This is the story of Penelope, from her perspective, from birth to afterlife. It focuses on the ending of the Odyssey, Odysseus, and the injustice of the hanged maids.

My book club picked the tag, which I read last year. So I did a puzzle while listening to the audiobook for a quick refresher.

Still a very well paced book that perfectly balances motives to keep you guessing both the victim and murderer up until the end.

And the drama! I know all these characters are adults but they act like horny, emotional teenagers with adult problems! Better than a soap opera, lol. Everyone‘s got skeletons 💀

I kept telling myself I was going to re-read this series before finishing the final volume… then years later, I finally did it! Lol

I finally know the conclusion of this wild alternate universe where the bird flu caused the prohibition of eating chicken, and the conspiracies behind it all (it involves aliens!). If you‘re looking for a different kinda comic, this is it.

Volumes 8 and 10 were my #bookspinbingo picks for February @TheAromaofBooks

I had a lot of fun reading this with my book club! I‘m always a fan of Shakespeare, especially with there‘s witch‘s and murder involved.

We also watched the new movie The Tragedy of Macbeth. Wow, that movie was visually stunning! Black and white, open and empty, diagonals and textures, it feels simple and complex at the same time. Definitely worth checking out!

This book was highly entertaining, but I couldn‘t take it as seriously as the first one. It felt like the author was more interested in jamming in as many pop culture references as possible than working on plot points.

It was chaotic energy, and I never knew what was gunna happen next - which is bad writing in my opinion, but highly fun to read if you just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Woooo! Just signed up for #speculativespringswap hosted by @Avanders

Go check out her page for more details and the sign up form!!!

Reading the second story ‘Home‘ was my #bookspin pick for January. That story felt more like set up for the final story (which I‘m in the middle of right now).

I immensely enjoyed the first story. It‘s sci-if, but deals with so many other issues than just murderous aliens. Extremely creative and well crafted! I look forward to finishing the trilogy!

@TheAromaofBooks