A bloody trans horror book that was "written in a fit of rage." Benji is a trans male who escapes a religious cult where he is injected with a virus that will transform him into a seraph that will bring about end times. He finds a teen LGBT center that accepts and protects him as he and his new friend try to survive in the post-apocalyptic world.

Very powerful symbolism. VERY bloody/gory. I can see it being an affirming book for queer teens.

A pretty average month for me. Two books were mostly read in January (The Shining and Make-Up Effects), so I read two books, three comics, and two audiobooks. I'm hoping to finish my current read this weekend 😁

#bookspin #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Since I read The Stand fairly recently, I'm going to read the comic adaptation for @BarkingMadRead #losersclub this month. I'm also going to try to re-read the Murderbot Diaries, or at least the first four books, before the show starts.

This was a pretty decent early adventure for Batman, in the style of the original 1939 comic debut, with increased violence, gory, and profanity, as implied by the Black Label designation. I felt the “adult“ aspects weren't really necessary, and the story seemed to struggle to fill all three issues. There were some excellent panels, but overall the art was overly dark and not very appealing.

Most of the stories in this collection were good. I found an old copy of the audio version with John Glover narrating. He was enthusiastic and talented but had a limited number of voices. Several cautionary tales about signing deals, a couple Salem's Lot stories, several rats, and more. A fun sampling of early King.

#tuesdaytunes

I've been finding comfort this week in revisiting 80s/90s country: Doug Stone, Collin Raye, Lonestar, Sawyer Brown, Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Clint Black's D'lectrified was a childhood favorite, and, listening this morning, I couldn't remember for sure whether The Galaxy Song was from Monty Python (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkkjzmuEBbo) or Animaniacs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BphgKX-DZE), and that made me smile 😊

This may have been my favorite volume yet. More tantalizing clues to Mechanika's past, but the investigation is interrupted by a personal matter.

Looks like I'll have AppleTV for at least a month or two come May (depending on the quality of the show 😋)

Fun, quirky fantasy stories with some deep and unique world building

People change
But you know some people never do
You know, when people change
They gain a peace, but they lose one too
...
As it breaks, the summer will wake
But the winter will wash what is left, of the taste
As it breaks, the summer will warm
But the winter will crave what has gone

-Future Islands “Seasons (Waiting on You)“
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upPl9mZW_zw

Do you welcome the peace gained in change, or mourn the peace that is lost?

I've read a couple Criminal stories here and there, but this will be my first proper read through, in anticipation of the upcoming TV series. Leo has a reputation of being an expert thief, but the first to hit the bricks at a sign of trouble. When someone from his past reemerges, he takes a job he knows he shouldn't, and, predictably, it doesn't go well, but modern master Brubaker keeps things interesting.

Finished this Metal Earth AT-ST model while listening to the Batman Returns novelization. Pretty disappointing. The narrator was all over the place with his voices, Max Shreck being particularly rough. There was a lot more misogyny from the Penguin in this adaptation, which was weird. Stick with the movie.

Somehow, O'Meara is able to condense a global history of alcohol into an easy-to-read book infused with plenty of her own personality. She highlights some amazing women and tells some mind-boggling stories. She also avoids the woe-is-woman tone by focusing on the empowering nature of the histories.

A few of the movies discussed in this book that features photos and interviews about the world of Hollywood effects. I devoured this; I love reading about behind-the-scenes of movies and TV, and Face Off is one of the few reality competition shows I've ever enjoyed. This profession requires so much skill and love, and, if done right, the audience won't even think about all the work involved in creating convincing characters.

It is ironic that I would come across this passage in my book today.

Trans history will not be erased. This isn't the 1800s; you can't just burn a document and pretend it never existed. Trump's administration cannot delete history and it will not define our culture. #ThisIsNotAmerica

#valloweenswap @bookish_wookish
Thank you for a most excellent swap! The book sleeve is perfect. I'm excited for the tagged book, and to return to Chuck Palahniuk after quite a few years.

Who's ready for #valloweenswap opening day tomorrow?!

Artist have come together to "illustrate" how demented and destructive Project 2025 could be.

"Our two founding documents are short because it doesn‘t take a lot of words to say 'You matter, and you have a voice.'

Project 2025 is longer because it‘s a detailed plan to shut you up, and shut you out.

Don‘t let it do either."

https://stopproject2025comic.org/

A collection of Obi-Wan stories as he reflects on his life while in exile on Tatooine. There were originally spersed throughout the original run of Marvel Star Wars comics. They are loosely connected and overall okay. Art is average, and examinations of Obi-Wan have been done better elsewhere.

#bookspin #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
4. Hell Followed With Us and 10. Recursion are my picks this month.

So much music news lately: the Grammys, Fire Aid concert, Super Bowl halftime. But I'm going old-school. On Alan Alda's podcast, Clear and Vivid, he recently interviewed neuroscientist and musician Daniel Levitin, and they spoke about using music to treat Parkinson's disease, which Alan suffers from. Scientist have been using songs with strong beats, like I've Got Rhythm, to help patients relearn how to walk!

#tuesdaytunes

I don't follow football, and I have lots of issues with the NFL as an organization, but I did watch a bit of the Superbowl to support my hometown. I also took down Christmas lights yesterday and put up these year-round LED light strips, so I set them green for the night 😁 🦅 #gridirongab

Damn, Seanan, the ending on this one was just brutal! Brilliant, vivid world building, as always. Follows the resent trend of dropping major hints about the doors 🚪 but still not giving any details. What is your game here, Seanan?!

Quite fitting that as I finished reading The Shining, the band Murder By Death announced that they would be more or less ending the band. My younger brother introduced me to them, and we saw several shows together in Philly. The band held an annual show at the Stanley Hotel, the filming location for the Overlook Hotel in the Shining movie. They never broke big, but they made reliably solid records of gothic Americana.

https://youtu.be/r0uPjg63XmQ

King famously disliked the film adaptation of The Shining. Having seen the movie several times, I guess I can see his dissatisfaction, but I think Kubrick did a good job. The book is different enough that I got well caught up in the suspense. Very good #constantreader #losersclub

Bruce goes on a spirit quest to commune with his parents while a daughter of Ra's Al Ghul seeks revenge on her father. Overall, just okay, but there is some great art and some interesting scenes that elevate it to a pick.

Finally bought a set from Cliche tea, a local Alaskan business that offers teas themed on literary cliches. I am trying Magical Powers today, an herbal lemon tea with a gorgeous blue color from butterfly pea. I'm excited to dig into the rest of this set. There is also a romance set, archetypes, and one for writers ☺️

@WildAlaskaBibliophile and I were watching a YouTube video about forgotten 90s hits. This song came on, and I immediately flashed back to Cornwell's Roller Rink in Bensalem, PA! Do you have a favorite roller rink jam?

https://open.spotify.com/track/3zg4stPJlbNSBPA8HJzLZA?si=dnKNc-kISZuczn-SnDDDBg

Another classic 😉 https://youtu.be/D53M1vVF2N4

#Tuesdaytunes

My #valloweenswap gifts have shipped. Books are shipping direct from a local bookstore. Hope the folks at customs are kind to this box.

I don't read much manga, but I have read a few queer slice-of-life series that I've enjoyed. Chika discovered the term asexual for herself after a few unfortunate encounters in her first week at university. What follows are a series of wonderfully frank conversations between new friends.

Tor Books and Veronica Roth just announced this follow-up to one of my favorite books from 2024 (tagged)! While the first book was a complete and satisfying story, I am excited to return to such a rich, unique world.

Good, busy weekend, but started getting a scratchy throat yesterday. And this today. It's going to be a long week (and the next 208 weeks as well)...

TRANSA was a compilation album from last year highlighting the work of trans and non-binary artists. My second favorite song on it is a cover of "I Would Die 4 U" with Lauren Auder and Wendy & Lisa, which led me to a deep dive of W&L.
Members of Prince's band The Revolution, they have been recording since 1986 and also write for TV and film, including the Emmy-winning theme of Nurse Jackie.

https://youtu.be/8UWqdVwlimA

#Tuesdaytunes

Roddy McDowall provides excellent narration of the novelization of the 1989 Batman movie. Fans of the animated series will know him as the voice of the Mad Hatter, and you can just tell he is having a blast when he gets to cut loose with the Joker scenes! The novelization is fine; a few scenes omitted, not much added. Definitely worth a listen in audio, though.

A friend bought me this set years ago. Titled "Lost Buildings" (not in database) it contains a DVD of a live recording of This American Life discussing the architect Louis Sullivan and the demolition of his buildings in Chicago. The book is a companion to the video, detailed photographic records of the buildings discussed. I don't have many thoughts on architecture, but this project makes it easy to see what was so special about these buildings.

From Nat Geo's Instagram stories. Immediately made me think of Monk and Robot; IYKYK 😁

I bought a bar calendar for 2025 from Bar World Sanctuary, and they also sent their annual report, which is a transparent breakdown of their finances, but also an index of their rescues for the year. So many lovely sky puppies!

Repost from @wildalaskabibliophile

Roll Call: Who's interested in an International Book Club? 📚✨ We would focus on translated literary works. #InternationalBC

Original post: https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2827182

Valloweeners, matches have been sent! Please check your email and confirm receipt.
🦇💀🖤 #ValloweenSwap @wildalaskabibliophile

We are coming up on one year of Tuesday Tunes! Whether you like to listen to music while reading or just love talking music, share new music discoveries or all-time favorites with the hashtag #tuesdaytunes
The Hold Steady are an indie rock band with punk vibes and lyrical storytelling. I really get a kick out of their song "Sequestered in Memphis"
https://youtu.be/mjDI1oouS8w

Classic!

My first read of 2025! I love the Powell/Loy movies, and I think the first film does an excellent job at adapting this book. If you are not familiar with the title, this is a well done detective novel with fun, sassy characters and an intriguing mystery. But if you've seen the movie, it doesn't really offer much additional story or insight. Still, since it has been a while since I've watched the movie, I had a blast revisiting Nick and Nora.

Join us for #ValloweenSwap. Sign-ups close today!

Do your expressions of love tend towards the darker side? Do you like unrequited or tortured love? Maybe romance is outside of your spectrum? Or perhaps you detest the commercialization of signs of affection?

Whatever your reason, sign up at this link: https://forms.gle/3yQawxV53ZvjZVk46

We had a visitor to our backyard recently. A herd of caribou has been coming in and out of our neighborhood over the past couple weeks. I caught sight of this guy while home sick on Thursday.

#Choose20 comics that stayed with you or influenced you. One comic a day, in no particular order. No explanation, no reviews, just covers.

Day 20

From @notcool

#Choose20 comics that stayed with you or influenced you. One comic a day, in no particular order. No explanation, no reviews, just covers.

Day 19

From @notcool

You would think the introduction of Spawn, Savage Dragon, and Blacula would be somewhat interesting, but this volume feels like blatant corporate crossover slop with hardly any impact on the larger story. With six months between issue 34 and 35, and no word on the future of the series, it is a disappointing way to leave fans hanging. I'd like to see some kind of conclusion, but I'm not in a hurry to continue this series.

A thrilling expansion of Clark's alternative Cairo. The third novella/short story in a trilogy of prequels to A Master of Djinn, we are introduced to Agent Nasr, a no-nonsense agent reluctantly paired with a newbie. Previous stories explored how the introduction of djinn and "angels" affected the city, but a new entity haunts this entry.

#Choose20 comics that stayed with you or influenced you. One comic a day, in no particular order. No explanation, no reviews, just covers.

Day 18

From @notcool

#Choose20 comics that stayed with you or influenced you. One comic a day, in no particular order. No explanation, no reviews, just covers.

Day 17

From @notcool