Paradise Lost
Currently reading:
The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling
Sunset Gun by Dorothy Parker
New short story collection TBD.
Books finished this week: 2
★★☆☆☆
Where this book came from: I actually backed this project on Kickstarter from Feminist Press!
Why this book: I backed the project because of the promise of queer witches, but then I finally read it now because, one, it’s spooky season, and, two, I was hanging out with my mom’s coworkers a few weeks ago and one of them asked if I’d read it, then gave it high praise.
Thoughts: Unfortunately, while the premise is amazing and the magic system is fascinating, the writing really fell flat for me and made this a tough book to get through. So much was told to us——”it was beautiful,” etc.——instead of shown through the kind of vivid descriptions that usually marks a great fantasy novel, and the flat, plodding feel made it tough for me to want to pick up the book to keep reading. There were a lot of repetitive conversations that didn’t move the plot forward and action scenes that sounded like they were going to be cool were skimmed over in a couple pages. I hate not being able to recommend a trans creator’s work, but I just didn’t click with this book. Though it you’re at all curious about it, I recommend getting yourself a copy to see if maybe it works better for you!
★★☆☆☆
Where this book came from: Picked it up at Split Rock on a summer weekend trip up to Cold Spring.
Why this book: I’m still aiming to read at least one short story every day, and the flap copy on this anthology promised “spine-tingling flash fiction.”
Thoughts: My spine tingled exactly once: during Jac Jemc’s “Lone,” which was genuinely eerie to read alone in bed with most of the lights in my apartment off, and which managed to pack a strong, unsettling punch in so few words. Otherwise, this was overall disappointing. The majority of the stories weren’t terrifying, horrifying, or even just scary; certainly nothing I would call a “nightmare,” in the traditional sense. Many of the stories just kind of . . . cut off, I assume because the author had hit the target word count. Flash fiction is incredibly difficult to do——I try it a lot for assorted NYC Midnight competitions and rarely do I think I’ve done it even remotely well——so I was looking forward to learning from some masters. This, unfortunately, was not the place to look for that. Still, in addition to “Lone,” other standout stories for me were Alana Mohamed’s “We Came Here For Fun,” Chase Burke’s “The Mask, the Ride, the Bag,” Jei D. Marcade’s “#Mothermayhem,” and Troy L. Wiggins’ “Instrument of the Ancestors.”
Library updates:
I haven’t done nearly enough spooky things for it to be October 12. I usually try to watch at least one scary movie every few days in October, catching up on things I missed in theaters and recommendations from friends and revisiting old classics. It’s honestly sacrilegious for me to have gone this long without watching The Faculty, especially now that we can say it stars “Emmy winner Shawn Hatosy.” But I guess having to spend three days every week in the office and overloading your schedule whenever you are home has a way of eating up all your scary-movie time.
Tori (hi, Tori!) and I did give Paradise Lost a try on Friday night, but it was more fun and delicious than scary. (Though did I panic a little in the very short, not even very dark hallway we had to walk down after being welcomed in but before entering the bar? Yes, obviously.) And Brooklyn Horror kicks off this week.
So, until I get my act together, I read. Though I’m also behind on that, truth be told. I have a bunch of horror titles I want to get to over the next few weeks, because once it gets chilly, I lean into the scary media and the otherwise cozy vibes——hot beverages, blankets, big sweatshirts, comfy pants, the whole nine yards. As many of you probably know about me, as much as I enjoy a scary movie, I absolutely hate haunted houses, so my spooky autumnal activities are a bit limited. I like my frights to come at arm’s length, and preferably in a crowd of people ready to also jump and laugh when a bonkers jump scare happens. I do not need a guy in a costume coming into my personal space to threaten me with a plastic knife. (And don’t worry, I’m channeling all this ’fraidy-cat energy into the spooky rom-com I’ve now hinted at a few times.)
I think I’m behind this season because it also really didn’t feel like fall here until a few days ago. I don’t think my brain fully understands that September happened at all, because it felt too hot and humid most of the time to have possibly been anything but August, Part Two. I personally can’t enjoy a nice cinnamon tea or a hot pumpkin coffee when it’s 85 degrees and 92 percent humidity. And though I’ll watch a scary movie any time of the year, it feels most right in October. I’m terrible about keeping up with movies and shows all year long, and my TV usually stands small, dark, and silent in my living room. But it feels a little easier to find something good to settle in with when I limit myself to the one broad genre, and when it gets dark so early, and when maybe an autumnal breeze rattles the branches on the trees across the street.
On another note, I ordered a bunch of books while Bookshop.org was having a sale to compete with Prime Day (because boooooo Amazon), but they haven’t arrived yet, so for this week, I’m technically still a precious, rule-abiding, non-book-buying angel.
Closing thoughts:
Embrace the spooky, be cozy, and enjoy the loveliest time of year.
