pickTo no one's surprise, I had a great time reading this. I'll admit to being biased towards the first book in what looks to be a series, but this one followed in its footsteps with lovely illustrations and a good message. The shift to cakes in the narrative means somewhat of a pastel departure from the rich tones of the original, and similarly, there was a beautiful contrast between earlier moments of loneliness and concern to warmth 1/?
When in doubt, go to the library. 🥰
Reminder for Ember: Shiny coins are NOT worth more. 😊💰
pickNot quite as straightforward as a series of linked short stories, even the interstitials between each short story don't quite fall into a single chain, but there's certainly an interplay, a weaving in and out of themes, characters and imagery. For those wondering: no, it's not horror, though the Devil pops up occasionally to act as muse or seeker of stories, to seemingly offer aid or apologize for when he cannot, indicating his age old role 1/?
Okay, new first place in memorable dedications! 😈
pickThat was so much fun! This book truly is a love letter to the films, to their place in the horror genre, the self-made whodunnit slasher subgenre. I'd say this is definitely more of a film history, sharing the ins and outs of how each movie was made, but among the reflections and reminiscences there are discussions about how each instance and the series as a whole differs from other horror/slasher movies, 1/?
An essential part of why I love them.
Today I learned shaving cream is the secret to getting fake blood off?! 🪒
Okay, but I really, really want to see the bedazzled Ghostface mask. 💎👻
Interior decorating? 🩸🫣
Happy little trees! 😁🌲🌳
Feels like a cornerstone of a healthy Hollywood set: if you as the director wouldn't feel comfortable doing it, don't make your actors do it. 👏🏻🩸
Promise I'll get back to absorbing nifty Scream movies trivia in a moment, just had to pause for this:
What do you mean TOM HANKS was in a slasher movie?! 🤯 Is this the same Tom Hanks? Was he not acting but directing/producing /writing? Which one feels odder? Was it early in his career? Did that wholesome fellow actually play creepy for once? Just gonna go IMDB...🤔
🫢 Well that certainly creates a strong impression.
Violent, but evocative. 🌄
pickOkay, yes, I cried several times but I would NOT describe this as an emotionally devastating read. What it had to say, the strength of the relationships and the actions taken both as a result and in spite of those connections, to care for those around you, and also not just your own species at large, but the fate of a fragile peace for many beings, *UGH*, I love the way Scalzi writes this series. 1/?
pickHad a splendid time with this reread. Definitely one of my favourite of the witch books in the Discworld, for a number of reasons.
The concise manner in which the elves are portrayed as menacing by their very indifference to life (even outside the evil cat metaphor), Pratchett is able to make you creeped out and concerned in a few sentences. 1/?
Sometimes it's just the best word. 💁🏼♂️🤬
Gretchen is a badass, Tav is bringing the comic relief and King is going to need aloe vera for those burns. 🔥
Getting the DIRECTOR to whistle to pad out the score. Shoestring indeed. 😗🎵
Not that you'd actually need another reason to entice me into a trip to the countryside, but this would totally work on me. Must... catalogue! 📚🤓
I forgot how creepy the elves were in Pratchett's version. 🫣
My new favourite VIVID analogy. 😬
panI'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. Mostly that I got suckered by a subtitle. At 171 pages full of spelling mistakes and missing words, this book feels more like an outline to a furture book, than a book in itself. Considering the page count, it's hard not to look on the author's frequent quoting from other sources as filler, or scrabbling to support via other's work, the few solid arguments that are made. 1/?
It is time. 💀🔪
pickAdd another to my list of books proving that my personal one-author-short-story-collection-is-superior-to-most-multiple-author-anthologies hypothesis is sound.
As the majority of these stories take place in the Philippines, with an appreciable sprinkling of words I've never heard of, I can't say how much of the legends/creatures featured are of the author's invention versus adaptations of existing mythologies/traditional storytelling. 1/?
pickOne of my favourite reads of this year. It's so wonderful to see such clear evidence for hope, such rigorous documentation of positive change, such stalwart defence of the need for such projects. 1/?
Cleopatra says yes: she would still love you if you were a worm. 👑♥️🪱
Aw, puppy, no. Put spiky new friend down. 🤦🏼♂️🥴🦔🐶
Sure, rip my heart out and stomp on it in one paragraph of a five page story, why not?! 🥺
pickAnother banger! This series does not disappoint.
The mystery was twistier than first anticipated, the personal growth of the main character was authentically balanced by his own ingrained biases. The exploration of an alternate future for mankind on an alien world was absorbing in theory if somewhat disturbing in practice. 1/?
pickA perfectly pleasant time was had by all. 😊
I think maybe this one loses a point or two from the constant to-ing and fro-ing to a limited number of locations, but gains points by having Flo's sister along for the ride. Two Armstrongs are even more fun than one and it's enjoyable when twins in a mystery are not the well worn reveal, but rather part of the investigative work and cheeky chatter. 1/?
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