I finally broke out of my reading slump. Read over 100 pages of A Suitable Boy, one vol. of a manga, and also started this book... all in one day 😆
My partner bought new bookshelves to replace our old ones (more space yay!) So while those were being built, I was busy reading and buying more books 📚
A good weekend overall.

#currentlyreading #horror #indieauthors #shelfiesunday

Read this today.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My mom invited me to an escape room this weekend that's Oz themed (based on BOOK only), and she wants me to wear a costume. Told her I'd wear a gold cap (nothing to do with the movie, but if you read the book, it's 💯 percent understandable.) It wasn't exactly what I expected escape room wise, but I still enjoyed time with my fam. ❤️

Just a couple more quotes I enjoyed 🩷

#homegoing #historicalfiction #quotes

This one resonates with me as a biracial person, and I'm sure many biracial people understand this too. The yearning for belonging/fitting or blending in - being 2 different things - and feeling like neither.

#bookquotes #introspective

I started reading Homegoing last weekend. I'm currently page 60 and I've already fallen in love with so many quotes. This one is my fave so far ❤️

#bookquotes #homegoing #historicalfiction

Currently reading/currently crafting. This is a random library find - albeit much better than expected. I nabbed it simply for the title, as I am playing a bard in my current Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Not finding much inspiration dnd bard-wise, but finding lots of entertainment. I did, however, find inspiration in starting a Stardew Valley kitchen towel while I listen/read this fantasy.

#currentlyreading #LitsyCrafters #stardewvalley

I'm not much of a cook, but this book sure makes me feel like one! I tried a couple of recipes, and they've both been a smash. Easy to follow and easier to eat. Found this at the library, and I plan to try a few more before it's due. (Pictured: a watermelon feta salad from the book. 🤤) Bonus mod for recipe pictured was I already had the mint, basil, and jalapeños on hand from my garden.)

#cookbook #recipes #freshaf

Getting ready to do some "lite" reading.

#currentlyreading #timetotome

Started this today. I'm reserving my thoughts and feelings for the end, but I can tell thus far that this book might ruffle a few right-wing feathers 🪶

#currentlyreading #gender #nonfiction

Haiku Review:
😭😭😭😭😭
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
😭😭😭😭😭

Real talk. That's 2/2 books I've read by this author that had me slowly set the book down at the end and say, “Damn. That was f'd up.“
Incredibly sad, full of trauma, and not easy to read nonstop. (Unless that's your thing?)
Took about 6 months to read due to how raw it was. Many tears were shed. Would I read it again? HELL NO! But I'm incredibly glad I read it once. A masterpiece of sorrow.

SHOCKER!!!! 🤦🏾🙄

Back on track with this beautifully illustrated manga. I read vol. 2 & 3 yesterday, then nabbed vol. 4 and 5. I didn't realize this series was going to focus on multiple stories of different brides, but it centers around a few main characters and their side stories. The artwork is exquisite.

#mangaweekly #historicalfiction

A dark read for my afternoon bubble bath on an overcast afternoon. ☁️??☁️

Only a few chapters in, but I don't want to put this down. A middle-aged, soon-to-be divorcee finds passion and excitement when she reconnects with "the one that got away," in college. But he seems to know a lot about her for someone she's only spoken to a few times online since then...
Cont'd in comments... ⬇️

A queer retelling
Of the classic book, Jane Eyre
Thoughtful and charming
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Regardless of having never read, Jane Eyre, I enjoyed this. Introspective, while simultaneously bringing awareness to the genderqueer/gender fluid community. I felt seen while reading. ❤️

#bookreview #queerreads #retelling #haikureview

I've never read, nor thought about reading Jane Eyre, but I am loving this genderqueer retelling sans any context whatsoever.
#currentlyreading #genderqueer #retelling #nonbinary

The Morbid podcast I listened to earlier about, "The Princes in the Tower," was all I needed as a reminder to dive back into this #historicalfiction series. This book essentially picks up right where I need. The White Queen is the mother of those two missing *cough* [murdered] princes.

#currentlyreading #onmyshelf #moodreader

Terrifying tale
When past has a vendetta
And seeks its revenge
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hands down the most terrifying story I've read this year.
Don't mess with nature. Because those actions might come back to haunt you later.... 🦌🦌🦌

I'm still reeling. I especially enjoyed the way it ended. Second book I've read by this author this year, and I'm quickly becoming a fan.

#indigenous #bookreview #horror #LitsyCrafters #haikureview

A couple more good quotes from the book, Shame on You, which I just finished. That was a ride. Social media can be so toxic. I think I'll stick to Litsy, where all we care about is #reading. 😅

#socialmedia #masks

Sometimes family
Is a horror in itself
Toxically insane
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#haikureview #horror #gothic #hauntedhouse

While the ghost parts didn't necessarily freak me out, the dysfunctional behavior of this family certainly did.

Lol WTF.
What a creepy little novella that had little to do with mannequins, and a lot more to do with being a complete Psicópata 🫢
#bookreview #novella #horror #indigenousauthors
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book should be titled, When Women "Ruled" the World instead. While I thought this was going to be about female empowerment/feminism... it's giving much more, "she was in power only bc... "xx" reason." Men were still seen as superior. I thought this was going to be about a time when women were seen as equals.. but the author enjoys pointing out the fact women were never equal - this was all coincidence/luck that brought them into their power.

"We choose our avatars and wear them like masks. They allow us to be whoever we want to be. Yet too often, we fool ourselves into thinking that our mask is who we really are."

#socialmedia ?

I read this book because I love Junji Ito.

The stories were meh, but the artwork kept me captivated enough to finish.

#horror #shortstories #nonfiction

My cat's reaction while seeing me pull another book to read from the shelf of books I own 😱

I need to get better with reading books I own. Because worst case scenario - I dislike it and donate to a Little Free Library, therefore freeing up space on my shelves for essentially, more books.
#winwin #currentlyreading #horror #indigenous

This book was giving
Romeo and Juliet
Sans the tragedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#haikureview

'Spectrum,' is an anthology of short horror stories by autistic authors and writers. I've only read a couple so far, but I enjoy finding #philosophical shit like this sprinkled within. The first story made me squirm a LOT, but I did enjoy this quote.
#anthology #horror #currentlyreading

I just had an epiphany while ranting - pardon me - 'Discussing' this book with my partner. All of a sudden, I understood why the angering side stories that didn't seem to go with the main storyline are there. Spoiler alert - for a reason. And then I stopped ranting. It's all coming together now 🙌🏽
It makes sense. I dig it.

#currentlyreading #audiobook #epiphany #indigenous #horror

On a + note (despite my last post lol) I love the urban/indigenous perspective of a woman in her mid-30's. Despite the horrors/ghosts, Keri is quite relatable to me. I want to seek out more indigenous reviews of this book. I feel the negative reviews I've read thus far aren't focusing on the main story, rather just nitpicking the side parts (WHICH I GET, BUT..) Despite my animosity towards J & D, I can tell the MC has something important to say.

Why does this look like a #manga variation of the Arthur fist meme? 🤣

I started this series earlier today, and after reading two books, I immediately went to the library to nab the rest of the series. It's about a growing relationship between two male teens. One has a hearing impairment. As their friendship grows, so do romantic feelings. I'm such a sucker for the BL genre #fujoshi 🥰 With disability representation to boot, it's a definite win.

#mangaweekly #bl #queerreads #currentlyreading

I'm giving this book a read today since it's super short, and I'm having a hard time continuing the 5 other books I've started in the past 3 months 🙃🫠 #thisisadhd
I just listened to a podcast about this case on Morbid, and this memoir was recommended for deeper reading/more depth on the case. So cheers to my Saturday evening of cross stitching and true crime. (And also a couple beers) 🍻

#currentlyreading #audiobook #truecrime #nonfiction

Gamer geek sundae
With dystopia sprinkles
80s pop on top
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read this with my gaming geek partner, and it was so much fun. Full of nostalgic easter eggs. Wonder if that was intentional? 🤔 I say most likely. . 🤓
Bonus mod for this audiobook was the nat 20 roll to have Wil Wheaton as the narrator. Great choice.
#scifi #dystopia #haikureview

Quest for Fire vibes
Extremely repetitive
Still, I liked this.. Why?
⭐️⭐️⭐️
#haikureview
I watched the movie adaptation of this book with my partner as I was reading the end, and honestly, I was more a fan of the movie ending than the book one.🤫
Despite the Multitude of repetitive descriptions throughout the book (WE GET IT), and the fantasy ideation of Clan Life 25,000+ years ago... I still find myself checking out Valley of Horses.. *sigh

Love how she's portrayed as "old..." she's 20. ?

Times sure were different back then. Between reading this and Clan of the Cave Bear, I'm pretty damn grateful to be around in this day and age and not when it was normal for 11-13 year olds to have children/get married. #yikes
Also, guy calling her "old" looks to be in his 70s, which makes absolutely no sense ?

Side note: the artwork is absolutely stunning.

#mangaweekly #justmythoughts

All memories lost
Cat doesn't know who to trust
But she'll find out fast...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⚡️

I found this absolutely unhinged. It's a good story if you're into the world of cults and brainwashing. I'm not sure why, but I find cults fascinating. I don't know if I wish I could be duped myself as a way to escape reality, or I just find it wild that ppl can be so easily influenced by others. Either way, this was a good read.

#haikureview #cults #twins

The book itself was pretty interesting, though moreso a memoir on the life of the author (who happened to be an acquaintance of Tony Chop Chop) instead of details on the heinous crimes he committed. I feel that even though they still portrayed him as a monster, it was 'Monster Lite' compared to what actually went down. I listened to this podcast after reading and was outstandingly more shocked at the disturbing things he did that weren't covered.

Engaging story
From the perspective of Death
And rebellion
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#haikureview #historicalfiction #eyeopener

"JesusMaryandJoseph"
...
Omg I can't get away from this expletive!! ??

#currentlyreading #nonfiction #JesusMaryandJoseph

If I had a dollar for every time I read, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" as an expletive, I would finally be able to buy that keyboard piano I've been saving up for ?

But seriously, this book is good. Eye opening. Introspective. Humanizing. (Is that a word?)
Took me long enough, but I'm glad I picked this up. I'm on track to finish today.

#currentlyreading #historicalfiction

A tale of revenge
With a science fiction twist
Don't mess with the Tusks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This short novella definitely made up for the less than savory finish of my last read.
🦣

#haikureview
#novella
#sciencefiction

Lots to unpack
I'd rather stay packed and move on
5 tropes too many
⭐️⭐️

Well, that went completely off the fucking rails. It started off great, really had me hooked. Then it just got to be too much. Ghosts (I mean FURIES), cults, serial killers, misogyny, perimenopausal madness... bro just pick ONE. Not every single thing needs to packed into a stand alone book. ⬇️⬇️

#bookreview
#haikureview

The person ringing me up at Barnes&Noble today said this was the most diverse selection of purchases he's ever seen lol. 2 horror mangas by one of my favorites, indigenous teachings about nature and learning from plants, a puzzle, and a magazine about gardening.

I told him I have a lot of interests. What's funny is this just scratches the surface of things I enjoy 😆

#bookhaul #variety

I may end up hating this. It's been on my shelf awhile, and I've been ambivalent about reading it due to the author not actually knowing a damn thing about Indigenous folks/their culture. I'm on Chapter 3. 2 things have irked me thus far. But I do enjoy the imagery/atmosphere of what it would be like living on Earth 25,000+ or so years ago. If it gets too cringe, I'll Ban the Clan, but I'm of an open mind thus far.

#historicalfiction

Nothing like the film
Misogynistic at worst..
And needed more shark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⚡️

Ok, so despite the many 70s culture flaws going on with the characters and whatnot... I still very much enjoyed the ride. Enough to finish, at least. What drew me in initially was reading from "The Fish" perspective. It was creepy and definitely made me tremble a bit. ?
Character side drama... a lot to take in. Tbh.. my favorite character was the shark.

#haikureview

This is like... really good so far. I can already tell the narrator is unreliable, and can't wait to see how unhinged this becomes. As a huge fan of Carrie, (Stephen King), I can definitely see the correlation the author noted in the introduction/author's note. I feel for this main character, but am also low-key afraid of what she's capable of doing.

#currentlyreading #horror #sofarsogood #debut

I'm taking a break from listening to Don Quixote during my commute.. and I started listening to Jaws! 🦈

Thoroughly enjoying it, though I have to remind myself this was written in the 70's because his references to costs and what seemed expensive back then.... man, I WISH. Imagine making 8k a YEAR and still being able to afford a house and support a stay at home mom/wife and 3 children. Yeah... right. Not in this economy!!

#currentlyreading

I gave this a chance
Cliché hetero romance
Not my cup of tea

Not my normal genre, but the cover drew me in.. was not a fan of the audiobook narrator, (🤠🙄) but I shallowly bypassed that to give the author a chance.. because I think she's cute 🫣😅
All in all, it's not bad, but I don't plan to continue/read the rest of the series.
#haikureview #romance #fantasy

The irony.. ?

I've been slowly reading this graphic along with the book. It's a nice way to recap via illustrations. It is wild to me that the most memorable part of Don Quixote (based on comments and discussions I've seen so far) are the windmill "giants" in the first 10% of the book.That just tells me most people never read the whole thing, because it's completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of this tome.

#casuallyqueer quips in #classics

"Black history is Black horror."

I honestly have nothing else to say.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️