I have loved Carlile's music for a long time. This was a beautifully written look into the artist's life.

Bonus: I had no clue that she sang on the audiobook!

#NonfictionNovember

Loved it!

I know Friends had its issues, but like Miller talks about in the book, watching the show is like comfort food.

There was a lot in this that I already knew, but there were also some things I had no clue about. Either way, listening to this was bittersweet, but also brought up a lot of warm fuzzy feelings.

#NonfictionNovember

#NonfictionNovember

Coming from a family with a history of schizophrenia, I was very interested in this book. Fans of Hidden Valley Road should definitely read this one.

The Genain sisters have a tragic story, and the author did a great deal of research to ensure the reader fully understood the world in which these quadruplets grew up in.

Difficult, but informative read.

I didn't love it; I didn't hate it. It was just okay overall for me.

Jada is open about many things, and I appreciate her taking responsibility, but something in her style with this memoir just didn't connect for me.

#NonfictionNovember

I graduated high school in 1999 in Louisiana, so Britney was a huge part of my memories that year and my first year in college. While I wasn't a fan of her music, I still thought she was very talented.

This book was full of so much heart. Like others have said, I'm thankful she is finally being seen and getting to tell her story.

#NonfictionNovember

I might have a problem. These are my current library checkouts for #ToB 2024.

I think I'm starting the tagged book first.

#NonfictionNovember

I was let down by this book. Aside from reading, playing video games is a favorite hobby of mine. Most of the games mentioned I have played. Perhaps knowing the stories for these games kept me from enjoying it more. I felt like it was just a synopsis of popular games and not really a look at the extensive storytelling I expected.

This book is written for teen readers, though, so it might work better for a younger crowd.

#NonfictionNovember

I've been binging celebrity memoirs recently, and this one was a great audiobook read by Jennifer Grey.

The 80s nostalgia in this was a lot of fun. Grey gives insights into both her acting career and her personal life, and through it all, she felt "real" and honest. It was much more candid than I expected it to be, but that's what made it so entertaining.

Great YA nonfiction!

This is a brief look into authors who have contributed to making the horror genre great. It may be short, but the details and authors featured were all well-researched and presented in an accessible way for readers both familiar and unfamiliar with the authors.

It would make a perfect gift for a budding horror fan.

#NonfictionNovember

#NonfictionNovember

Having read her sister's book first, this one was enjoyable but echoed thoughts from that one, so I couldn't help but spend my time comparing them.

Although Jinger's journey to separate herself from her family takes a slightly different path than her sister's, it hits on key points from their childhood of the control used to keep the family in line.

Fascinating read! I loved this one.

I'm not a hiker, but I can understand the pull of those seeking connection with the natural world. Andrea Lankford did a thorough job with her research about three missing hikers and the search to find out what happened to them. She delves into the culture around the hiking world and doesn't shy away from discussing the terrible accidents that can easily claim a hiker's life.

#NonfictionNovember

#ToB24

I've read 13 of the 58 books listed this year for the Tournament of Books Long List (https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-year-in-fiction-2023).

The bigger the picture above, the more I liked it. I am pleasantly surprised with the horror books featured this year. That's not normally a genre you see many of in this tournament.

I was drawn to this book because the house involved is called "The House of Seven Gables." That made me think this was going to be a gothic haunted house story. But, it wasn't.

Instead, this book is a fast-paced more modern haunted house tale where ancient powers lay hidden both in the house and in an "ancestor" attached to the house. It read like a made for TV horror film, with enough to keep me entertained, but no lasting power.

#NonfictionNovember

I never watched Jennette McCurdy's show, but I was familiar with its popularity. When I started this one, I wasn't sure what to expect. She's so vulnerable with her writing right from the beginning that I instantly felt an emotional connection. The pure honesty of this, mixed with humor through the darkness she faced in her life made me appreciate her story and made me hope for healing and brightness for her future.

I have to admit, I only recently watched this show. I was busy with life when it originally aired, but I have now binged all seasons and needed more. 😁

This book is written in interview style, which I personally loved. It gives so much information on how the show came together, the writers, the actors, and even the struggles.

It was fun to revisit one of my favorite sitcoms and all those who made it great.

#NonfictionNovember

Another book in the Paperbacks from Hell collection.

This book just didn't work at all for me. I love creepy, and I love weird, and this book has both of those things, but nothing makes sense, and it all is too absurd with minimal character development.

The cover is the best part of this book.

I highly recommend listening to this one. The audiobook was so well done.

I'll admit, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. It ended up on my TBR, and I couldn't remember why. However, I'm thankful to #NonfictionNovember for pushing me to read it.

This collection of essays is eye-opening, beautifully written, and addresses many different topics. The combination of social commentary with popular music was pure genius.

Amazing! 🤩

I can't sing enough praise about this book. It is written in free verse with gorgeous illustrations on every page. The way the words and the graphics come together are flawless.

I borrowed this from my library, but I will definitely buy myself a copy for my shelves.

#NonfictionNovember

#NonfictionNovember

Growing up, my parents worked in a funeral home, so I had a different view of death than others around me at the time. Reading about other jobs that deal with death on a daily basis was fascinating, and I thought the author did a great job choosing a varied group of people and jobs to explore in this book.

This book is difficult at times to read. Even the author has trouble at one point, and I appreciated her honesty.

Working at the library means I get to take books home before they go on the shelves, and I was excited to read this one last week.

This book isn't perfect or groundbreaking, but like the first book, it pulls you into a fun, action-packed fantasy world that reads like getting lost in a well-done movie.

I still love the dragons the most. 💚

Although I had heard of Jeanne Villepreux-Power, I was unaware of her history and all the amazing contributions she made to marine science.

This is written for teen readers, but it's still a fascinating read for adults interested in this subject.

The author did a great with the visuals; it added to my understanding and appreciation.

#NonfictionNovember

My local library on Libby recently acquired some of the horror novels re-released in the Paperbacks from Hell series.

Nightblood is a campy vampire story set in a rural town full of secrets and small mindedness. The main character, led by the ghost of his brother, hunts down the undead.

This book had everything I love in an old-school horror read. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and had a few good jump scare scenes.

#NonfictionNovember

I've never watched the show, but I will admit to being intrigued by this family for a long time. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Jill offers a candid look into what it was like growing up a Duggar. She also opens up about breaking free of her family. How she was able to still be around her father after realizing the control he had over her for years really shows maturity and strength on her part.

Mary Shelley has such a tragic story, and yet through that, she created Frankenstein at such a young age that it leaves me in awe.

This is a YA nonfiction (#nonfictionNovember) and it was a tad dry and focused on Percy Shelley more than Mary.

It's a good introduction for readers who might not know anything about her life.

This YA fiction book based on true events was such a powerful read.

Two high school students protest an assignment about Hitler and the Final Solution. The impact this has on not only the school, but the community around it shows how important it is to stand up for what's right.

This came really close to being a pick. I'm a big fan of this author and gothic literature. The buildup was excellent, the mystery kept me interested, but I felt the payoff for all of it was a bit lackluster.

I can understand why others love this one, though. Perhaps I've read too many similar books recently, and it made it harder for this one to truly stand out for me.

I do love this cover though. 😍 #coverlove

Keeping things open for November.

@TheAromaofBooks #BookSpin #DoubleSpin #BookSpinBingo

Total points for #Scarathlon are 74,514!

#SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

I didn't participate as much in the daily activities for #Scarathlon this year, but I was still reading.

I finished 50 books this month, and now it's time to calculate points.

Thank you @Clwojick and @StayCurious for organizing this event each year. And thank you fellow team members on #SpookyGhostClub 👻

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

My last read before midnight.

This is another excellent collection in this series and now I must get my hands on Volume 5. 😁

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

Trying to get my last few reads posted.

This was too similar to the first book, Chasing the Boogeyman, for me to love it as much as I would have liked.

I am a big fan, though, of the mix of what seems like true crime with horror fiction.

#SpookyGhostClub #Scarathlon @Clwojick

This just keeps getting better and better! We're brought right into the story from the previous volume. More backstory is revealed, and Erica continues to be a badass taking care of things.

And let me just say that the artwork in this series is phenomenal and tells a story all on its own.

#NetGalley #Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

Who knew a horror book centered around an apple could be so good! I loved this one.

Dan wants to fulfill his father's dream of having an orchard. The apple growing in his orchard, though, is a variety that's been unseen for years and has sinister side effects when eaten.

This book really surprised me with the depth of the characters, the social commentary, and the creepy vibes throughout.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

This is my third read by Marrs and I've loved them all! He is a master at creating a futuristic setting that feels current, other than the technology. And I have to give him credit because he can deliver a twist unlike any other author.

If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, put this on your TBR.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

Another great volume in this horror series. Some of Erica's backstory is presented in this one as she hunts down the monsters from the first book.

Have volume 3 on hand, though, because the cliffhanger at the end will have you desperate to know what happens next.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

This isn't my favorite collection by King, but I still had a great time reading it.

The story I enjoyed the most was The Library Policeman. I've heard people talk about it for years, and I'm so glad I finally read it.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

Like her previous book, this is a slow burn gothic horror. The romance in this one is a much bigger part of the story than in The Hacienda.

I wish there had been more vampire parts, but I still enjoyed this one and I love how the author can blend Mexican history and culture into a supernatural story.

I love a book with a haunted house.

This was not as scary as I would have liked, but I thought the premise was an interesting way to tell a haunted house story. My favorite part was getting to know all the different ghosts.

There were also a few good twists.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

Cullen Bunn's series Harrow County is one of my favorites, so I was excited he had a new horror series.

There's a lot I liked in this series, but the story just never quite came together for me.

The artwork is excellent, though. 💚

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

What a crazy read!

This book is definitely not for everyone, but the weird worked for me. There were stories in here that made me so uncomfortable that I almost stopped reading, but then the author would pull me back in, and I couldn't pry myself away.

The creativity in this collection is impressive. Bora Chung deserves all the praise she's been receiving.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

I love this series! It's excellent storytelling with vivid artwork that builds a creepy atmosphere full of mystery that makes you desperate to read the next issue as soon as you finish.

Highly recommend for fans of horror.

This was a reread for me for my IRL book club. I still really enjoyed this one, and again, I couldn't help but compare it to Rebecca while reading.

I love a book where the house becomes a character all on its own. This one is a slow build, but that's typical with gothic literature. This author has some truly beautiful writing, which makes this book really come alive on the page.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

This book mixes horror with speculative fiction while presenting thoughtful social commentary about the beauty industry and the lengths people go to in order to be deemed beautiful by society.

The second half of this book goes a bit off the rails, but I was more than happy to hang on tight and enjoy the wild ride.

I adore this author!

Tananarive Due brings her own voice to the terrible atrocities that occurred at the Dozier School. In this book, the school is called the Gracetown Reformatory. The story follows a young man, Robert, sentenced to six months at the school. Robert has a unique gift; he can see haints.

This book deals more with the horrible acts of humans than the supernatural. It was a powerful read.

#NetGalley #Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick #SeriesLive2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

I was thrilled when I saw this book in Libby. I had no clue there was a sequel to Rabbits. Of course, since Rabbits is about a secretive game you're not supposed to talk about, that players sometimes don't even know they're playing, perhaps it's no coincidence that I was pulled back into this fast-paced multidimensional thriller. 😉

Great followup to the first one!

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

If there's a trigger, it's in this book. This is hands down one of the most grotesque, completely insane books that I've ever read.

And yet, I devoured it because I had to see just how far the author was going to push the narrative into unsettling territory.

I had to watch some Disney cartoons after finishing this one just to clear my head. 🤣

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

I really liked this spooky graphic novel about an artist who locks herself away in a haunted house. She wanted a space to push herself artistically and create something new. What she discovers takes her to even darker depths than she expected.

What a crazy wild ride this was!

Underneath the beauty cult/gothic fairytale storyline was a tragic look into a problematic mother-daughter relationship, and the pressures put upon women to be "beautiful."

I love how this author weaves a story with so much substance into a trippy fever dream that leaves you feeling unsettled, yet unable to stop reading.

Another great read by a favorite author.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

Junji Ito delivers another terrifying collection with indescribable horrors.

This collection features stories that all center around a young boy named Soichi. In the first story, we discover that Soichi likes to chew on nails and hide in his closet. From there, things just get more weird and much darker.