Holy sh*t, that was awesome. Just when you think you‘ve figured out what‘s going on, this author smacks you upside the head, because NO! And then she does it again. A darkly funny, gory, creepy, little mindf*ck.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have you read this, @Reggie ?

I‘m guess I‘m having a Stephen King phase again.

Four good, dark stories with themes of bad people getting what they deserve.

1922: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Big Driver: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Fair Extension: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Good Marriage: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Afterword (because SK has had my heart for 30 years): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The book itself is incredibly funny, touching, and wonderfully written. I adored all of the characters, the setting, and the general messiness of the family dynamics here. The audiobook is a thing of beauty. Brilliant narration!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I always have such a hard time reviewing story collections, but I‘m getting smarter: this time I rated each story as I finished it and tried to average.

I truly enjoyed every story at least a little. Two of them were legitimately scary/creepy, but all of them were dark (as promised). Cujo characters and Duma Key making an appearance (in the same story!) = very cool, and Danny Coughlin‘s Bad Dream is 5⭐️ perfection all by itself.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This book was a lot of fun! A fast-paced, weird, atmospheric and pleasingly creepy YA with very lovable characters.

The story made me think of Drew Magary‘s The Hike, which I read years and years ago and still think about. It‘s not really anything like that book, it‘s more of a vibe. I know my reviews are extremely helpful. 🤣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just as good as the first book (maybe even a little better as I think the macho crap was dialed down a little bit?)… well-written and exciting, with characters you can‘t help but give a damn about. And proper scary, monstrous vampires. Yay!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

And I have another 23 on my tbr. Business as usual over here. 😜

This book is just perfection. Beautifully written and translated, with fantastic characters and a heartbreaking, mysterious story. I loved every single thing about it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Time to play one of my favorite games! Is it icky, melodramatic ridiculousness, or am I just too old for the really YA-ish YAs?

Who‘s to say, really.

Giving it a so-so for Kirby Heyborne and Kirby Heyborne only.

⭐️⭐️1/2

So creepy, atmospheric and weird. Loved the book, but the odds are very low that I will be brave enough to watch the movie. #iamaweenie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was an emotional roller coaster. Insightful, poignant and heartbreaking. Also, I absolutely love it when an author narrates their own work beautifully.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So very good. I loved every second of it, ups and downs included.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you like professional baseball, real world feels, a very sweet and occasionally very spicy romance, LGBTQIA+ representation, and having a good time, check this one out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Glad to see that some things don‘t change, even in my prolonged absence… I still struggle to post images on Litsy.

For those who ❤️ #TheStoryGraph, did you see this cool new thing we can do? I love it so much, it made me want to post something somewhere. 😉

If you squint really hard and hold your mouth just right you may be able to see the books I read in June, with ratings. An overall mediocre month, but I loved some of them a whole lot!

This was very hard!

I‘ve read more books this year than ever before, so narrowing down even my top 15 was hard, but I‘ve picked a favorite. For the moment.

Also hard to pick a most anticipated—so many exciting new books coming out soon.

For the first time in years, I‘m not doing a bunch of challenges, so my goals were the easiest part.

Thanks for the tag and the fun post, @KateReadsYA ❤️

#newyearnewbooks

I knew from her published work that Austen was sarcastic, witty, talented, and smart, and reading her personal correspondence with friends and family did nothing to disabuse me of those notions. Making my way through a few letters each day was such a delight, even when things got sad. As much as I love her work (and that‘s a lot), I really do think all of us were robbed when she died so young.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to everyone who read along! ❤️

Not gonna lie… the last few days‘ letters are making me sad. Jane is still witty and gossipy, but as the dates get close to the end of her life and she talks more and more about her own health, I‘m just 😔.

I do know this happened 200+ years ago and that I am ridiculous, but she feels like a friend. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#Pemberlittens

I occasionally see Austen‘s work labeled as romance… I wonder what Jane would think to hear that? 😂

#Pemberlittens

In the words of Cher Horowitz (our 1990s version of Emma herself)…

As if! 😉

#Pemberlittens

Jane on the importance of Aunts, to her new sister-aunt, Caroline. 😅

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Miss Austen was talking about a fictional character, but still. 😂

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Jane giving lots of advice to Fanny in the last couple of days‘ letters. ❤️

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Lots of letters to Anna Austen while Jane was reading/editing Anna‘s manuscript… Jane was definitely a tough critic with lots to say, but she loved it!

I snorted.😆

In other news, Mansfield Park has entered the chat!

#Pemberlittens

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Some of the perks of spinsterhood. 😅

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Jane is starting to make some money from her books, and she seems to love commenting on how rich she is. 😅 She also seems to like to spend her money on her darling Cassandra. ❤️

Forgot to post this yesterday… Jane Austen talking about Elizabeth Bennet makes my heart happy. ❤️

#Pemberlittens

After our current reads end in December, I will be stepping back from leading #Pemberlittens.

I‘ve really enjoyed our years exploring Jane Austen‘s work together! What started as a bright spot in quarantine evolved into a fun adventure.

Thank you to everyone who read along, voted, planned, posted, hosted, attended watch parties, or enjoyed the group with us.

If anyone wants to take over and keep the group going, you are of course welcome to!❤️

Idk what Mr. Digweed did, so in absence of any factual information, I will just assume some very Willoughby-level f*ckboy stuff because that‘s more fun. 😉

#Pemberlittens

😂

Letter 71 also has this mention of Sense & Sensibility:

‘No indeed, I am never too busy to think of S&S. I can no more forget it, than a mother can forget her sucking child; & I am much obliged to you for your enquiries.‘

#Pemberlittens

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I can‘t help it… Jane‘s mention of cravats in letter 65 immediately made me think of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Darcy in their cravats, and more importantly, WITHOUT their cravats, because this is just the way my mind works with regards to cravats. 😍

#Pemberlittens

A lot happening in yesterday‘s and today‘s letters… Jane‘s sister-in-law Elizabeth Knight died shortly after delivering her 11th child, Edward Bridges married Harriot Foote and Jane seems to have some thoughts on that, and the Austen women are gearing up to move to Chawton.

This mention of a ball made me a little sad but also made me smile. Jane is definitely a spinster by this point but still dancing and having a good time!

That ⬆️ is why I‘ve always been a terrible penpal. 😂

Did Edward Bridges propose to Jane, as the notes in my book suggest, or what was this invitation of his she couldn‘t accept?

#Pemberlittens

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Jane is spending time among more fancy people at Goodnestone, this Edward Bridges fellow seems interesting. 😏

#Pemberlittens

Three letters to brother Frank today, all pertaining to the death of their father.

This makes me sad and also very anxious for Jane, her mother and sister… even though I know already how things were for them after he passed away. 🥺

Same, Jane. Same.

Just realized that I was apparently too busy reading and retreating to post yesterday, #Pemberlittens!

In todays letters, Cassandra is finally coming to Bath for a while, a young lady of Jane‘s acquaintance died (that made me sad), and then later Cassandra has been to Weymouth, which is an altogether shocking place, even when Miss Jane Fairfax isn‘t nearly drowning there. 😆

I‘m away for the weekend on another readers retreat at the wonderful Twinflower Inn, and of course I brought JA with me.❤️

My favorite quote from todays letters: ‘The Neighbourhood have quite recovered the death of Mrs. Rider—so much so, that I think they are rather rejoiced at it now.‘

Steventon was really in quite the neighborhood. 😂

#Pemberlittens

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Today‘s letters had Jane visiting at Ibthrop, where there were an abundance of Debaries, then back to Steventon where Rev. Austen is preparing to retire and move the wife and daughters to Bath. More updates on the neighborhood, including the fact that widow Lyford is apparently readying to marry another old guy.

#Pemberlittens

So much drama in letter 25! One neighbor shot himself in the leg and is in bad shape, another got stepped on by his horse, and big storm knocked down lots of trees at Steventon.

Then a letter to Martha, who Jane can‘t wait to see.

Followed by a letter to Cassandra recounting a ball (where Jane got wine drunk) and very cattily describing everyone there. It‘s no wonder Cassandra got rid of letters… JA could be a little vicious!😂

#Pemberlittens

I got some major Mr. Thorpe vibes with Mr. Evelyn and his horses while JA was giving the last news from Bath.

Back at Steventon, Mr. Bayle is apparently horrid. Cassandra was having some great weather for her travels to Godmersham and this required being acknowledged repeatedly.

JA was invited to a ball (see above for results) three times and therefore must have been more at the ball than anybody else. 😂

#Pemberlittens

JA and company have arrived in Bath (though her trunk didn‘t), and are meeting people and shopping while Edward works on his health. Cassandra fortunately escaped the scabies, and poor Martha will not be allowed to read First Impressions again for fear of her publishing it from memory. 😂

I spend so much time giggling through these letters I usually just go with my first laugh for the quote I pick. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#Pemberlittens

Letters 16-18 included lots of updates on two Austen brothers‘ naval careers, various balls and social gatherings, Jane‘s eye trouble, and even a mention of ‘first impressions,‘ which became Pride & Prejudice. ❤️

I think you all are right that Mrs. Austen and Mrs. Bennet have some definite similarities. 😅

#Pemberlittens

I mean, apart from that, she‘s fine! 😏

Lots of health updates and keeping tabs on brothers going on in these letters. Thank goodness Mary finally made it to church since her laying in was the opposite of fashionable. 😅

#Pemberlittens

Couldn‘t resist a second quote tonight… it‘s really no wonder that I love Jane Austen. I‘m 100% convinced we would have gotten along splendidly. 😂

#Pemberlittens

Letter 10 was full of facts and wit. Surely Cassandra laughed when she read these letters? I sure do.

Letter 11 was making me a little sad again (Lefroy) but then I was back to giggling at 12. Cassandra clearly didn‘t write back fast enough. 😅

#Pemberlittens

Jane got a little catty in letter 7… poor Miss Pearson and her lack of beauty, and who‘s to say which Mary had a baby now. 😂

That was followed by a very serious and respectful condolence letter to Philadelphia, and then some notes from a road trip with the parents.

I just keep getting put in mind of Lizzie Bennet writing to Jane!

#Pemberlittens

My thoughts on today‘s letters:

-I wish I could read Cassandra‘s letters back, since Jane says she‘s the finest comic writer of the age.😉

-A lot of socializing going on in both places. I wonder if they dine with four and twenty families?

-My version includes notes about all of the paper-saving that Jane was doing…writing upside down at the top of the page, between lines, etc. Cross-hatching!

#Pemberlittens

I don‘t think Jane Austen could stop being witty if she tried. 😂

Only three letters in, and I‘m already noticing it feels a lot like reading one of her novels to read her letters. That‘s a good thing for me!

There are a LOT of Toms in these letters.😅 The Tom Lefroy references are already making me a little sad though, for no good reason at all.

My November #BookSpin list 😃

Omg what a dumpster fire of a book. And I‘m not even talking about the ‘dark‘ elements I was well warned about (not so much dark as rape glorification). The writing is really bad. The plot is alllllll over the place (is this a ghost story, a crime thriller, a historical mystery, dark erotica? why choose one!), it‘s completely unbelievable, and I absolutely could not stand either of the main characters. Ends with a cliffhanger, but I‘m done.

⭐️1/2