Nice girls don't wear cha-cha heels.

This is such an interesting story. And so, so dark. It was certainly not scary, but it was a bit disturbing. I'm not even really sure what to say - I don't want to ruin the story by giving too much away, but suffice to say that there are some very dark themes here - like the possibility that both Miles and Flora may have been sexually abused by the very people who are haunting them, and in Miles' case, that he may be something other than what he seems. But so might the narrator. Or Flora. Or absolutely anyone else in the story, really. This book is an exercise in brilliantly frustrating ambiguity. James was (obvi) a very talented writer, and this is my favorite bit of his work, I think.  It is definitely going to be a down-the-line re-read for me. I need some time to properly digest it before diving back in. I think there is far more to this story than I was able to absorb this time around.  The story, to me, boils down to one question: do any of us really kn

Disclaimer: I read this book already knowing that I like the My Favorite Murder podcast, and knowing that I have adored Karen Kilgariff from afar for years. Now that the disclaimer business is out of the way... I really liked this book! A dual memoir seems like it would be exceedingly tricky, but Karen and Georgia made it work. They tell some personal anecdotes as well as some podcast-related ones, which is a fun mix, and they both allow themselves to be laid fairly bare - and frankly, their willingness to be vulnerable for the sake of the book is what really made this relatively short book worth the price of admission.  4 out of 5 items of rating, and a FUCKIN' HOORAY!

We are all probably familiar with the Ripple Effect – you throw a stone into a pond, and from the point of impact, a multitude of ripples spread wider and wider. Similarly, every chance encounter, every action has innumerable implications that we may not even be aware of until far in the future. The passage of years, and each choice made during that time shape our lives, and the lives of those around us. Will I be authentic today? Will I sell out? Will I tell the truth? Embrace change? Will I let time make me into something that I’m not ready to be? These are just some of the questions addressed by Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad.  “It began the usual way,” page one declares. And thus begins what turns out to be one of the most unusual books I have read in recent memory. In her work of contemporary fiction, Egan explores the lives of a veritable cornucopia of eccentric, narcissistic, and sometimes tragic supporting characters. The story is broken up into 13 d

Although Dead Girls can be a bit meandering at times, it is a very solid bunch of essays which each explore, to some degree or other, America's obsession with the Dead Girl. Bolin discusses the prevalence of the trope in television and movies, in books, and even in real life. Since this is a cobbled together collection of personal essays, she does stray fairly far beyond her chosen topic from time to time, often straying into various aspects of the story of why/how/when she moved to LA (which honestly, I could have done with significantly less of), she does typically find a connection to Dead Girls. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. Total middle of the road, here. When she's "on," Bolin's essays are really good, but she's only on for about half of them in my opinion. 2.5 out of 5 items of rating. Read it if you think you'll dig it - you just might!

Disclaimer: I pulled this from my other blog because it feels more at home here. I just finished a few really great books. In light of that, I am going to throw them out into the universe in hopes that somebody, somewhere has either read them, or will read them based on that. Book #1 was  Starless  by Jacqueline Carey. I think this is now just my most favorite book in the history of books. I. FUCKING. LOVED. EVERY. WORD. I loved the high fantasy. I loved the gods and goddesses directly interacting with the denizens of the world. I loved the gender fluid protagonist Khai, and the differently abled princess Zariyah. I loved the inclusion of the many different cultures in the world that Carey so beautifully fleshed out (which is something that honestly, I always feel she excels at). I loved the struggles, the relationships, the adventure, blah, blah, blah. If you're tired of white guys rescuing white girls and then living happily ever after against the backdrop of high f

Hi there! You might know me from my currently-mostly-defunct blog Is This Where You Want to be When Raptor Jesus Comes?     No? Understandable. It seems silly that I would start a new blog when I can't even keep up on the existing one, but I wanted a place where I could concentrate my need to discuss the media I consume. Plus I'm only 3 months out from completing my English/Writing degree, so I anticipate having a little free time again soon! I'm going to start things off with a piece I stole directly from my other blog, and I'll have more posted soon. Note: I can also be found on Goodreads at  https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3554949-angie  if you're into that.