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anongoingsoliloquy · 5 years

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Hey babes! This is going to be another quick reading update. I just finished The Handmaid’s Tale. I have been wanting to read this book for a few years, partly because it sounded great, but mostly because everyone kept telling me it was better than Alias Grace. Now mind that Alias Grace is my favorite book, maybe ever. I really love it! And every time I would say how much I loved Alias Grace, whoever I was chatting with would 9 times out of 10 tell me that The Handmaid’s Tale is 100% better. Those are fighting words to me, so I finally set out on reading the latter to prove my loyalty to Grace Marks. And now, having finished The Handmaid’s Tale, I can safely say that Alias Grace is better! I did enjoy The Handmaid’s Tale, a lot actually, but there is something in the unnerving way Grace tells her story that just does it for me. Alright, that’s it; The Handmaid’s Tale is good, but Alias Grace is better.

#alias grace #the handmaid's tale #margaret atwood #books #reading update #book blog

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anongoingsoliloquy · 5 years

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Reading Update

Hey babes!

This is going to be a super short update. First, I just wanted to get it out there that I am finally reading Pride and Prejudice! I’m at Mr. Collins’ proposal, and I love this book. Not that I doubted that I would, given that I’ve watched the Matthew MacFadyen movie more times than I care to admit.

Secondly, I just read that my favorite book The Beast is an Animal is going to be made into a movie! I almost cried when I found out. I’m so excited! I’m sure the panic of ‘having a beloved book turned into a movie with the very real possibility of it being absolute shit’ will sink in eventually, but right now I’m on cloud nine!

Okay, that’s all I have to say. Let me know if you’ve read The Beast is an Animal, and if you’re excited for the movie or if you’re dreading it!

#pride and prejudice #the beast is an animal #reading update

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anongoingsoliloquy · 5 years

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1. How many books are you planning to read in 2019?

I don’t know; I read 100 books in 2018, so maybe 101? I don’t really have a number in my head for this year.

2. Name 5 books that you didn’t get to in 2018, but want to read in 2019.

· Catwoman: Soul Stealer – Sarah J. Maas

· Long Lankin – Lindsey Barraclough

· Moriarty – Anthony Horowitz

· Queen of Air and Darkness – Cassandra Clare

· Dreamland Burning - Jennifer Latham

3. What genre do you want to read more of?

Aside from my mystery obsession, I want to read more horror. I love reading scary books, but I am also a huge chicken! Luckily, my love for the spooks is greater than my chicken-ness. I have a bunch of scary books on my TBR, so I’ll keep ya posted on how that goes.

4. Name 3 non-book related goals of 2019.

· Work out so I feel good in my Harley Quinn cosplay by August

· Spend more time with my friends

· Not let people bother me so much

5. What’s one book you’ve had forever that you still haven’t read?

…Pride and Prejudice… I know!!!! I have to buckle down and read this damn book! This is inexcusable!

6. One word that your hoping 2019 will be…

Soft

#books #book blog #new year 2019 #new years book tag #2018 in review #Anthony Horowitz #sarah j maas #cassandra clare #pride and prejudice #jane austen

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anongoingsoliloquy · 5 years

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Hey babes! So, this time last year I said I wanted to read 100 books in 2018. And I did! I’m super proud to have reached my 100 book goal. A lot of the books I read were amazing, and some were really, really bad. Here is my list of books and ratings!

1. The Clockwork Dynasty- Daniel H. Wilson 4/5

2. Monster - Shane Peacock 5/5

3. A Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket 3.5/5

4. The Reptile Room - Lemony Snicket 4/5

5. The Wide Window - Lemony Snicket 2.5/5

6. Gunslinger Girl -Lyndsay Ely 5/5

7. The Miserable Mill - Lemony Snicket 2.5/5

8. The Austere Academy - Lemony Snicket 2.5/5

9. The Ersatz Elevator - Lemony Snicket 4/5

10. The Vile Village - Lemony Snicket 3/5

11. Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case - Agatha Christie 5/5

12. The Hostile Hospital - Lemony Snicket 3/5

13. Stalking Jack the Ripper- Kerri Maniscalco 5/5

14. Hunting Prince Dracula -Kerri Maniscalco 5/5

15. Cradle and All - James Patterson 4.5/5

16. Harley Quinn vol. 5 -Amanda Connor 5/5

17. The Carnivorous Carnival - Lemony Snicket 3/5

18. The Slippery Slope - Lemony Snicket 3/5

19. The Grim Grotto - Lemony Snicket 4/5

20. The Penultimate Peril - Lemony Snicket 3/5

21. The Countess - Rebecca John 5/5

22. Taken at the Flood - Agatha Christie 5/5

23. The End - Lemony Snicket 3.5/5

24. The Wicked Deep -Shea Ernshaw 3.5/5

25. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee 5/5

26. Alias Grace - Margret Atwood 5/5

27. Courtship and Curses- Marissa Doyle 5/5

28. Third Girl - Agatha Christie 3.5/5

29. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Seth Graham Smith 3/5

30. In a Cottage in a Wood - Cass Green 4.5/5

31. Precious Blood - Tonya Hurley 5/5

32. Penny Dreadful vol.2- Chris King 5/5

33. Passionaries - Tonya Hurley 5/5

34. Hallowed - Tonya Hurley 5/5

35. A Taste for Monsters- Matthew J. Kirby 4.75 /5

36. Joker- Brian Azzarello 3/5

37. Dracula the Undead - Dacre Stoker 1.5/5

38. In the Shadow of Gotham- Stefanie Pintoff 5/5

39. Every Hidden Thing - Kenneth Oppel 5/5

40. The Word is Murder - Anthony Horowitz 5/5

41. The Boundless - Kenneth Oppel 3/5

42. This Dark Endeavor - Kenneth Oppel 4.75/5

43. Such Wicked Intent - Kenneth Oppel 4.5/5

44. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley 5/5

45. Except the Dying - Maureen Jennings 5/5

46. Batman 50: The Wedding 5/5

47. Night Film- Marisha Pessl 5/5

48. The House of Silk - Anthony Horowitz 5/5

49. Murder on the Orient Express Agatha Christie 5/5

50. Mr. Mercedes - Stephen King 5/5

51. Finders Keepers - Stephen King 2/5

52. End of Watch - Stephen King 5/5

53. A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens 5/5

54. Raven’s Gate - Anthony Horowitz 5/5

55. Evil Star -Anthony Horowitz 4.5/5

56. Hocus Pocus and the All New Sequel 5/5

57. A Curtain Falls -Stefanie Pintoff 5/5

58. Night Rise - Anthony Horowitz 4.5/5

59. Secret of the White Rose- Stefanie Pintoff 5/5

60. Harley and Ivy meet Betty and Veronica 5/5

61. Necropolis - Anthony Horowitz 4.5/5

62. Escaping from Houdini- Kerri Maniscalco 5/5

63. Oblivion - Anthony Horowitz 5/5

64. As You Wish - Cary Elwes 5/5

65. Scooby Apocalypse vol 4 5/5

66. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina vol. 1 4/5

67. Salem’s Lot - Stephen King 5/5

68. Children of the Corn - Stephen King 2/5

69. Jughead: The Hunger 3.5/5

70. The Mystery of the Three Quarters - Agatha Christie 4/5

71. Practical Magic -Alice Hoffman 1.5/5

72. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - J.K. Rowling 3.5/5

73. A Rose for Emily- William Faulkner 2/5

74. The Yellow Wallpaper -Charlotte Perkins Gilman 5/5

75. The Fall of the House of Usher - Edgar Allan Poe 5/5

76. The Black Cat - Edgar Allan Poe 4/5

77. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving 5/5

78. The Cask of Amontillado - Edgar Allan Poe 4/5

79. The Masque of the Red Death - Edgar Allan Poe 5/5

80. Jerusalem’s Lot - Stephen King 2/5

81. A Graveyard of Ghost Stories 3/5

82. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein- Kiersten White 3/5

83. The Devil’s Labyrinth - David Saul 2/5

84. Under the Dragon’s Tale - Maureen Jennings 5/5

85. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens 3/5

86. Sea Witch - Sarah Henning 5/5

87. Poor Tom is Cold - Maureen Jennings 5/5

88. The Crimes of Grindelwald - J.K. Rowling 5/5

89. Deathly Hallows - J.K Rowling 5/5

90. Little House in the Big Woods Laura IngalsWilder 3.5/5

91. Let Loose the Dogs - Maureen Jennings 5/5

92. Little House on the Prairie- Laura IngalsWilder 3.5/5

93. Anne of Green Gables -L.M Montgomery 4/5

94. Night’s Child - Maureen Jennings 5/5

95. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens 5/5

96. Of Monsters and Madness - Jessica Verday 5/5

97. Of Phantoms and Fury - Jessica Verday 5/5

98. The Poisoned House- Michael Ford 4.5/5

99. Vices of My Blood - Maureen Jennings 5/5

100. Mad Love -Pat Cadigan and Paul Dini 5/5

#books i read in 2018 #Book Recommendations #book blog

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! I’ve compiled a list of books that I think are perfect to read in October to achieve supreme spookiness! I did my best to get a variety of spookiness in this list; monster books, demon books, historical fiction and contemporary thrillers. Let’s get started!

1. Hocus Pocus and the All New Sequel - A. W. Jantha

The ultimate Halloween read! The first half of this book is a novelization of the Disney film, Hocus Pocus, that we all know and love. The second half is a kick-ass sequel, in which Max and Alison’s daughter, Poppy, comes face to face with the Sanderson Sisters! I was pleasantly surprised with how good the sequel is! It is a perfect book to read on Halloween night!

2. Salem’s Lot - Stephen King

Salem’s Lot is a lot scarier than Hocus Pocus, I can tell you that! Stephen King’s vampire novel is a quasi-retelling of Dracula. I say quasi because it does line up with Dracula in some spots, but definitely does its own thing overall. Salem’s Lot is about a town that becomes overrun with vampires. Our protagonist, Ben, returns to Salem’s Lot, to confront his past and realizes that all the monsters that he feared as a child, are real. I think the way that King wrote the novel is brilliant! It starts off as a contemporary novel with an underlying uneasiness, and then about half way through, all hell breaks loose, and it becomes a full-fledged vampire novel.

3. Daughters Unto Devils - Amy Lukavics

Amy Lukavics’ debut novel actually kept me up at night. I don’t know what it is about open planes and cornfields, but they cause an uneasiness in a person. Nick-named ‘little hell-house on the prairie’, Daughters Unto Devils is just that. This novel is about a family that moves to a prairie after a winter of horror at their mountain home. Our main character, Amanda, is pregnant and is terrified to tell her family. But when the family moves to the prairie, terrifying events tear them apart. Okay, minor spoiler, but the scene with the dead baby in the field fluffing haunts me. I really enjoyed this novel, I just wished that it had a stronger ending. When an author lays down the rule that “the woods are always safe”, the woods should always remain a safe space.

4. Dracula - Bram Stoker

Dracula is a classic Halloween read! it is the ultimate battle between good and evil and is perfect for Halloween. No synopsis for this one, because if you don’t already know the plot to Dracula, please go into the story blind! I can almost guarantee that it is not what you will expect it to be! I have a post all about Lucy Westenra, if you are interested to read that too!

5. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Another Classic! The perfect classic in my humble opinion! Again, no synopsis, because the novel is so different and so much better than most film adaptations! I have a post about Victor Frankenstein, and why I love him so much!

6. Hunting Prince Dracula - Kerri Maniscalco

The second novel in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, (and the best novel of the series so far) is set in the Carpathian Mountains, at the school of forensic sciences that Audrey Rose and Thomas attend. A series of killings, that seems to be vampire attacks, plague the mountain town. It is up to Audrey and Thomas to unmask the killer and restore peace in order to get any studying done. I adored this book, I devoured it in a day! Highly recommend you give this one a go!

7. Night Film - Marisha Pessl

Night Film is the scariest book I’ve read this year, hands down. It is a psychological thriller, that plays with your mind till the last page. The story revolves around Scott McGrath, who is convinced that the death of Ashley Cordova, the daughter of a famous horror director, was not a suicide. The novel is shaped the way that Ashley’s father’s horror films are shaped. It is quite like a Hitchcock film in many ways. Maybe that’s why I love it so much! And it has an ambiguous ending!! If you’ve read some of my other posts, you probably know that I love an ambiguous ending! I read this book in July and I am still thinking about it! 10/10 please read this book!

8. The Countess - Rebecca Johns

The Countess is a historical fiction, based on the life of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, one of the most villainized and awesome women in history. Countess Bathory is my favourite historical female figure; she was a strong and independent woman, who was villainized by the men around her who feared her power and wanted to take her money and property for themselves. This novel is the closest thing you’re going to get without hitting the history texts. It is not a vampire novel; this novel shows Elizabeth as a powerful woman, nothing more. It is the atmosphere of Transylvania and the dark damp castles that Elizabeth lives in that make this book a perfect read for October!

9. In a cottage in a Wood - Cass Green

This is another novel that is just a contemporary thriller. No vampires or ghosts here! But that doesn’t make it any less unnerving. When our main character, Neve witnesses the suicide of a young woman, she is obviously shaken. What Neve doesn’t expect is that woman to leave a house to her. But she does. When Neve travels to the cottage in the wood, she finds that there are bars on the window and many dead bolts on the door. Neve becomes determined to find out what tormented this woman enough to drive her to take her own life. But the longer Neve remains at the cottage, the more she realizes that she may be losing her own grip on reality.

10. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is definitely different than the Sabrina I grew up with in the 90’s! This comic series is scary! The witches are servants of the devil and are also cannibals??? Reading these comics was a wild ride, but I really enjoyed the story of good vs. evil! I’m a big fan of the comics and I can’t wait to watch the new show!!

#Halloween #halloween books #halloween recomendations #chilling adventures of sabrina #in a cottage in a wood #night film #elizabeth bathory #Hunting Prince Dracula #dracula #frankenstein #hocus pocus #books #Book Recommendations

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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It’s spooky season so that means Halloween themed posts here on the ol’ blog! Today I want to do The Creature of the Night Book Tag! I have a few Halloween posts I want to get up here, so stick around for all the spookiness!

1. Vampire – Salem’s Lot - Stephen King

I just finished Salem’s Lot and I freaking loved it! The story revolves around Ben, a man who returns to his childhood home in the hopes to confront his childhood trauma. Instead he finds that all the monsters he feared as a child are real. This is a vampire story, but the vampires are actually terrifying predators. Danny, the child vampire, terrified me just like he did all those years ago when I first watched the movie! I highly, highly, highly, recommend this book! it is a perfectly unnerving Halloween read!

2. Werewolf – Jughead: The Hunger - Archie Comics

This is a fairly new released comic, in which Jughead is a descendant of a long line of werewolves. It’s a fun horror story, separate from the rest of the Archie-verse. I don’t want to say too much about the story because I think it’s always better to go into comics with as little info as possible. But trust me, it’s a great Halloween read!

3. Zombie – Generation Dead - Daniel Waters

Omg I read this book 11 years ago! Oh wow, I feel old! Generation Dead and it’s two follow up novels, are about a town whose teenagers won’t stay dead. All the teens that die in this town come back to life and no one knows why. The zombies are a metaphor for real life discrimination. These books stage rallies and are overall extremely reminiscing of the movements happening today. Maybe Daniel Waters saw the future when he started this series. These books are still super relevant, given today’s social/political climate. They are not scary or spooky in any way other than the blatant reflection of the real world.

4. Ghost – A Taste for Monsters - Matthew J. Kirby

A Taste for Monsters is a tale of Jack the Ripper. The story revolves around the day maid, who is severely disfigured due to phossy jaw, of the Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick. Both she and Mr. Merrick are visited by the ghost of the ripper victims, who slowly begin to drain the life force from Mr. Merrick. This is a beautiful story of acceptance and love. It is not overly spooky, but the ghosts do provide an eerie atmosphere.

5. Witches – Hocus Pocus and the All New Sequel - A. W. Jantha

Guys, a Hocus Pocus sequel, need I saw more?? I don’t want to say anything about the sequel (that doesn’t actually have a title) because you need to just go into it blind! All I will say is that it is a quality sequel and flows seamlessly with the original.

6. Fey – The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

Not at all a Halloween read, but a very good story revolving around the fey realm. When Megan Chase’s little brother is kidnapped by fairies, she along with her best friend Puck and the Winter Prince Ash, Megan will have to travel through the fairy realm to bring her brother home.

7. Demons – Cradle and All - James Patterson

Cradle and All is a great Halloween read if you, like me, love religious spookiness and the Catholic aesthetic. This novel is about two pregnant girls who claim to be virgins, and the private investigator/ex-nun’s struggle to decipher who is carrying the second coming of Christ and who is carrying a demon. I have a full review of Cradle and All here.

8. Angels – City of Glass - Cassandra Claire

City of Glass is the third installment in the Mortal Instruments series, and in this book, the main character Clary comes face to face with TWO angels. One is chained up in a basement, but the other is in all his heavenly glory and it is great! I don’t want to give a synopsis for this one because it is the third in a series. It’s not a Halloween spooky read, but it is great nonetheless!

9. Aliens – A Door into Ocean - Joan Slonczewski

A Door into Ocean is the only science fiction that I have read, and the only book I’ve read with aliens…at least that I can recall. A Door into Ocean is a feminist novel about a planet that is only water and is populated by women. Their pacifist society is endangered when a neighboring society decided to ‘develop’ the watery planet and sends in an army.

10. Superpowers – End of Watch - Stephen King

You thought I was gonna pick a batman comic, didn’t ya?? Not today! For “superpowers”, I picked End of Watch because Brady Hartsfield emerges from his coma with, you guessed it, telekinetic super powers. I think this is a great Halloween read for all the people who don’t like creature/paranormal stories. End of watch, even though Brady has telekinesis, is very grounded in real life. No witches or vampires in this one! i have a review of the entire Bill Hodges series, you can read it here.

And there you have it! The Creature of the Night Book Tag! Keep an eyeball on this blog for more Halloween spookiness and thanks for sticking around while I disappeared for like two months. I will try to do better!

#creature of the night #Book tag #Halloween #spooky #Fall #autumn #books #Book Recommendations #halloween books #halloween recomendations

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! So, I managed to reach my goal of finishing the Mr. Mercedes novels before the 22nd of August! I really enjoyed the trilogy as a whole, and I can’t wait for the new season of the show! These were the first novels I had ever read by Stephen King, but they won’t be the last. Any recommendations of which of his books I should read next?? A lot of people have told me to try Salem’s Lot because there are vampires, but I tried watching the movie and the kid at the window actually terrified me. Is the book really scary?? Anyway, let’s get into the review for each of the Bill Hodges novels, shall we?

Mr. Mercedes

I really liked Mr. Mercedes! I thought it was suspenseful and creepy in places. I think this novel is scary in its own way, because things like the Mercedes Massacre actually happen. Just a few months ago, someone drove a van into a crowd of people in Toronto, which is only about an hour away from where I live. So, the reality of the situation really hit home for me while reading this. But the characters, especially the hero of the novel, Bill Hodge, create a safety net around the horror. I love Bill; he really is a great protagonist. He’s such a normal person. He has flaws, but you really do end up rooting for him. He is obviously smart, but not in a way that some characters are, that they become annoying or pompous. He is a very grounded person, that any reader can identify with. He is also a wonderful representation of what a police officer should be. He strives, almost giving up his life, to protect everyone from Mr. Mercedes. Bill is someone to look up to.

Speaking about characters readers can identify with, let’s talk about Holly Gibney. I love her! She is an anxious, shy, quick as a whip character that is honestly so relatable! I loved that she was a “damaged” character; she had been through hell, but she is still loving and willing to drop everything in her life to help Bill take down Mr. Mercedes. I also like that it is said that Holly’s experience with therapy and psych wards is not the norm. The writing never came across as trying to show that people with mental illnesses shouldn’t get professional help. It was strictly limited to Holy’s experience. Her family life was shit and her mother was a tyrant who didn’t know how to take care of her. Holly is never shown to be weak or helpless, even though she does suffer from mental illness.

The last thing that really brings this novel together is Brady Hartsfield; Mr. Mercedes himself. Brady is one of the best villains I’ve ever come across. He is a vile, repugnant, racist, all around terrible human being. And you do hate him while you read Bill Hodges’ parts of the novel. But when you read Brady’s pov, he makes you almost feel sorry for him. I say almost because she does give a kinda sob story, but then he will use racist slurs, and it snaps you out of the sympathetic feelings. King really did a wonderful job with Brady! He is sexually abused by his mother, has been since he was a child. His home life, since his father died is shit. But, there is always that disconnect between Brady and the reader. He even calls it out in the letter he sends to Bill; people love books and movies about killers because it is so outside of the realm of possibility for them as individuals, that they become fascinated by it. And it’s true, and it’s the same for Brady as a character. It’s extremely fascinating to unravel Brady’s motives and thought process.

All in all, Mr. Mercedes is a quality novel. I’m not crazy about some of King’s grammar and syntax, but the story is definitely a 10. I gave Mr. Mercedes a 5/5.

Finders Keepers

What a disappointing follow up novel. I didn’t like Finders Keepers. First thing, Bill wasn’t in it until half way though the novel. Second thing, the big bad guy was a complete idiot. If I had to read the words “shit don’t mean shit” one more time, I was going to toss the book in the fireplace. And I hated the flippant way rape was talked about in the novel. Like I understand that the characters talking about it were meant to be gross criminals, but I think there could have been a more tactful way to write it into the novel.

I didn’t like the back and forth between three timelines for the first half of the novel, it was way too confusing. I also think that Morris’, the big bad guy’s, motive was so weak. I did like the idea that the books we read can change us, for better or worse, forever; but having a man kill his favorite author because he didn’t like the ending to the last book? Too much. And then have that man terrorize a family to get the unpublished manuscripts of the aforementioned dead favorite author? Way too much. Honestly, the last few chapters save the novel, especially the epilogue.

I gave Finders Keepers 3/5 (and that was being generous)

End of Watch

End of Watch, in my humble opinion, is the best of the Bill Hodges Trilogy! The stakes are raised from the first novel, when Brady wakes up from his coma which telekinetic powers! He wants to pick up where he left off and is determined to make Bill kill himself. This novel deals very heavily with suicide, so if you are uncomfortable with that subject matter, do not read this book. End of Watch is a fast paced, pulse pounding thriller. It is a race against the clock the entire time, both to save thousands from Brady and also for Bill, who is secretly battling a deadly illness. If you like suspenseful novels with hints of the supernatural, you will not be disappointed in this book! I don’t want to say any more about this novel because I will spill all the spoilers! But I will say that I loved the ending for both Bill and Brady!

I gave End of Watch 5/5!

And that’s it! Those are my filtered thoughts on the Bill Hodges Trilogy – Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch – by Stephen King. It was so hard to talk about these books without spoiling them!! Overall, I do recommend this series. The two sandwiching novels make the not-so-amazing second book worth it!

#mr. mercedes #bill hodges trilogy #stephen king #book review #Book Recommendations #suspense #suspense novel

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! Today, i want to do something super chill, so we’re doing a book tag! let’s get started!

1. What are three books you want to get to this summer?

There are a ton of books I want to get through this summer, but there are three books I want to finish before the 22nd of August in particular. Those books are the three novels in the Bill Hodges Trilogy by Stephen King; Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. I started Mr. Mercedes last summer and ended up putting it down because I finished the tv show before the book. So, my goal this summer is to finish the entire trilogy before the second season of the show comes back. I restarted the first book, I’m 15 chapters into it and I’m loving it! Do watch Mr. Mercedes? What do you think of it? I love it!

2. What book character most embodies the feeling of summer?

This is probably going to be an unexpected answer, but the character that reminds me most of summer is Magnus Bane. I read all the Shadowhunter books during the summer, and Magnus is my favorite, so when I think of summer, I think of Magnus. Plus, Magnus wears body glitter and that is 100% my summertime aesthetic!

3. What type of books do you like to read on vacation? Any books with special summer memories for you?

I like reading mysteries, fantasy and romance novels in the summer. A book with special summer memories for me is The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. I read it in Portugal on the beach!

4. If you could go on vacation with any author, who would it be and where would you go?

I have to say Adriana Mather! I want to go on a tour of Salem village with her! We could also bond over having the same name!!

5. What is the best book you’ve read so far this year?

It’s a tossup between The Blessed Trilogy by Tonya Hurley and The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz. They are some of the best books I’ve ever read!

6. How did you spend your summer holidays as a child? What are your plans for this summer?

Since I was a baby until grade 12, I would spend my summers in Portugal! This summer I have two weeks off at the end of August and I’ll be going to Fan Expo! I’m going to meet Robin Lord Taylor and Jason Momoa!

#summer #summer reading book tag #mr mercedes #stephen king #the goddess test #aimee carter #Magnus Bane #adriana mather #The Blessed #Tonya Hurley #the word is murder #Anthony Horowitz #books #Book tag

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! I started writing this review for Dracula: The Undead a few weeks ago but I quickly realized that I was hating on the book so much without really saying why I hate it. I was trying to keep the review spoiler free, but it is impossible to fully express my hatred for this book without pointing to specific parts. So here we are, I’m re-writing it, adding all the spoilers! If you do want to read this book without being spoiled (although I don’t know why you would want to read it), then feel free to skip this review. I promise I won’t mind. Alright let’s get started, cause it’s going to be a long one!

To start, I’ll give you a little synopsis. Dracula: The Undead is marketed as the official sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It is written by Stoker’s direct descendant, Dacre Stoker, and Ian Holt. The fact that this book is the “official sequel” is absolutely ridiculous, but I’ll get to that in a bit. The story revolves around the core characters of Dracula; Mina and Johnathan Harker, Dr. Seward, Arthur Holmwood and Van Helsing. This novel also introduces new characters which are meant to be the main characters but are two dimensional and lack luster. These characters are: Quincy Harker, Mina and Johnathan’s son, the famous actor Basarab, and Countess Elizabeth Bathory. The main story line is that the core characters of Dracula are being killed off in (unnecessarily) brutal fashions. The second story line is that Quincy Harker wants to be an actor and feels misunderstood by his father. Yeah. The main story line of the murders and the question of whether or not Dracula survived the ending of the original novel is not original but could potential be interesting, right? Right. But it is the choices made but the younger stoker and Holt that ruin that potential. Okay, let’s get into the details that make the 424 pages of Dracula: The Undead complete and utter trash.

To start, in the afterword of Dracula: The Undead, Stoker discusses that he and Holt thought it necessary to make alterations to the original novel's plot, due to inconsistencies in the original and to reclaim the Stoker’s family property. Yes, this does mean that they straight up staid that the original novel was wrong! It made for a very awkward and confusing read. And what a slap in the face to Bram Stoker! Younger Stoker and Holt just steam rolled over everything that Bram laid down in the original novel. It was disrespectful and it made me so angry! Dracula is a classic for a reason, and the changes second rate Stoker and Holt made didn’t make any sense! According to the sequel, crosses do not repel vampires and vampires actually do have reflections! They even go so far as to have Bram Stoker as a character in the sequel novel and they make him an idiot. Dracula the novel is a thing in the sequel too. Quincy reads it in the sequel. But the original characters (Mina, Johnathan, etc.) don’t know about it. They play Dracula off as “based on a true story” but one that got most of the details wrong. But the characters from the original novel don’t know that. The original characters still act as if they lived through the events that take place in Dracula. I hope that makes sense! It makes the characters seem fictional in their world. There is a huge disconnect between the characters. The original characters act one way, while the new character act in another; the whole thing makes is seem like the characters are not meant to be in the same book. So, that is the first reason I hate this book.

The second is that they completely ruined the original characters. The only characters that are still similar to their original counterparts are Dr. Seward and Lucy Westenra. And Seward dies in the first few chapters! And Lucy is only in, like, 4 pages and she’s a hallucination! The one thing that I did like was that every time Lucy is mentioned, whoever is recalling her mentions that she was a good person and that she doesn’t deserve all the shit that happened or is said about her. I have a post dedicated to Lucy and why you shouldn’t talk shit about her! You can read it here. Anyway, back to the hate! Dracula: The Undead completely ruins Johnathan! Now I know that there are people out there that don’t like Johnathan, but I am not one of them. I love Johnathan! I often wonder if he ever got the recipe for the piri piri chicken. He is just a delight! But not in this novel. D. Stoker though it best to turn Johnathan into a verbally abusive, alcoholic, misogynist. I hate D. Stoker’s Johnathan! He’s so friggin bitter about not being able to get it up because Mina had sex with Dracula before him. Like, get over it! He blames Mina for his limp dick and that is so not fair! It’s not her fault that you can’t get it up as of late Johnathan! And Mina is a clueless bimbo, but not until the end of the novel! It reads as if she is so in love with Dracula that she is incapable of rational thought. She goes to confront Dracula (he’s alive btw) to save her son and he gives a few feeble excuses and she’s like, “we should have sex and also I want to be a vampire”. ?????????? THIS IS NOT THE TIME!!! And the reasons they both give don’t make any sense. She wants to be a vampire so she’s strong enough to defeat Elizabeth Bathory but both she a Drac already think Bathory is dead. I don’t know if I missed something but was so confused reading this! And then, after we find out that Dracula is actually Quincy’s father (which, given the timeline we are presented with, is impossible unless baby vampires take like 2 years to prep in the womb) both Drac and Mina burst into flames. Absolutely f*cking wild!

This rant would not be complete without talking about the shit show that is Van Helsing. Apparently, Van Helsing has been a vampire through the entirety of the sequel, and he’s okay with it. The man who has spent his life to killing vampires is cool with being turned into a vampire. By this point I was laughing at the stupidity of this book. But not only is Van Helsing okay with being a vampire, he also only speaks in paradoxes. In one paragraph, Van Helsing says that he opened Arthur Holmwood’s eyes to the evil of vampires and that he taught him to eradicate these creatures from the world. He then goes on to say that Dracula was never their enemy; that Dracula was a good and holy crusader the entire time. I don’t even know what to say to this. It’s like they were going to write the character one way, then changed their mind but forgot to edit the first ideas out of the manuscript. This is just sloppy writing.

The third and biggest reason I hated this book is the sexism and homophobic undertones! I honestly can’t tell whether the authors were trying to make a point that the men of this novel are all dipshits or if the authors actually hate women. And it freaked me the fuck out. There are very graphic scenes in this novel. One of which being a torture scene and the other being a rape scene. And guess what; neither was treated as such! Both scenes were extremely erotic, to the point that I was uncomfortable reading them. And as someone who loves a good dime store harlequin romance novel, I have read my fair share of sex scenes, none of which made me feel like I needed to go to church and pray for forgiveness. I won’t go into detail about these scenes because I don’t want to make anyone else uncomfortable. But they are graphic and the language is just over the top. Both read like fuckboy lesbian fantasies but they try to cover it up as ‘showing how bad lesbians are’. It was ineffectual in that, but the rest of the novel was effectual with elements of the grotesque (excluding these two scenes, as I said, they were straight up gross and not needed). A lot of the other aspects of the novel that dealt with the grotesque did work, like the crime scenes – especially Johnathan’s – were very disturbing but in a very specific way that worked with the genre of the book. But the characters were so poorly written that I didn’t care that they were being killed in such a brutal fashion.

To further my point of the authors maybe hating women irl, they completely re-wrote the original Dracula, so Dracula, the friggin biggest bad guy, was not a bad guy at all. Instead the biggest bad to ever walk the earth is Elizabeth Bathory and btw she’s gay in this book. Honest to God, the reason Bathory is the villain in the novel is that she likes girls. Now before I get going on this, I have to let you know that Elizabeth Bathory is my favourite historical figure ever! Her story is so interesting and she does not deserve all the bullshit people say about her! If you want a quasi- realistic depiction of Countess Bathory’s life, you should read The Countess by Rebecca Johns. It is the closest thing you’re going to get to the true story without hitting the non-fiction books. Okay back to the shit show that is Dracula: The Undead. When I first read Bathory’s backstory, I thought it gave her sympathy. In the novel, she was beaten and raped by her husband, and then she was raped by her aunt and, at first, she was like totally against it, but like half way through she liked it??? Then proceeded to sleep with her aunt for years until she fell in love with a servant girl. Then the aunt killed the servant girl out of jealousy! What the actual fuck?!?! Then when Bathory refused to have sex with her aunt, you know, cause she killed the woman she loved, the aunt shipped her back to Bathory’s abusive husband as punishment. Like, bitch I would turn pretty bitter and want revenge too. But instead of turning this into a revenge plot, having Bathory as the hero, a la the Hamlet plot line, she is the villain, killing people she’s never met 200 years later. ???????? Do you understand why I hate this book so much?? That’s not even the extent of it! Bathory is also Jack the Ripper. Because even though she likes girls, she also hates them enough to rip them to shreds. Why? Never explained. Bathory also spends centuries hunting Dracula. I thought this was going to build to the revelation that he is her husband that abused her for years. No. she doesn’t like him because he was a crusader in the holy wars and was a soldier for God the entire time and he never did anything wrong in his entire life. Even though we have a whole novel telling us otherwise. I honestly can’t make sense of it!

So, all in all, Dracula: The Undead is a terrible book and you should never read it for the above reasons. My god, I got so worked up writing this, that I’m tired. It took it out of me man. I’m sorry that this tuned into a rant instead of a review, but sometimes you need to rant about bad books. If you have had the misfortune of reading this book, please let me know what you thought of it. I would love to hear your opinions, whether they be good or bad! As always, thanks for reading!

#dracula #dracula the undead #book review #book rant #vampire

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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What makes a good murder mystery? Well, in all honestly, quite a number of things. Today I want to discuss the top 5 most important things to have in a murder mystery novel. If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you know that I am a murder mystery fiend! I love trying to solve the crime alongside the characters, and, I can’t help but saying, I love it when I’m right. There is nothing quite as satisfying as solving mystery; especially if you were right from the beginning! Okay, let’s get into it!

5. Interesting Cast of Characters

Every mystery novel needs good suspects. The supporting characters are just as important as the main, so they have to be lively and thought out. They should have interesting backstories that give them motive for whatever crime is committed in the novel; be it murder, theft, kidnapping or the like. The connections between the characters also has to be interesting. They definitely don’t have to be great relationships; some of the characters can have strenuous relationships, some familial, while others can be passing relationships (i.e. The murdered character could have sat in a café every day, but the only words that passed between them and the barista was there coffee order). Whatever the relationship is, it must be relevant to the plot; no random acquaintances allowed in a mystery novel!

Best Cast Recommendation: Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie

4. Setting

The setting can arguably tell you what kind of mystery novel you will be reading. If it is set is a remote, sleepy little town (especially if the crime takes place in an old house with lots of secret passages), you will mostly likely be reading an Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery starring a private detective. If it is set in a big city like New York, you’ll probably encounter a police force or the FBI. If your novel is set in a dark and spooky forest, you’re probably going to have supernatural elements, or at least the pretense of the supernatural. Each of these settings have their own strengths; it really depends on what you prefer!

Remote Town Recommendation: Peril at End House – Agatha Christie

Big City Recommendation: In the Shadow of Gotham – Stefanie Pintoff

Spooky Forest Recommendation: In a Cottage in a Wood – Cass Green

3. Attention to Detail

Attention to detail in mystery novel is one of the most important things! The author has to plan everything just so, so all the clues make sense. Think of it like the board game. You have to collect the right clues to figure out that the murder was Colonel Mustard in the drawing room with a candle stick. If the author puts “clues” that don’t fit perfectly or that weren’t really thought out, the read won’t be able to solve the mystery and the ending will feel like a copout.

Best Attention to Detail Recommendation: The Word is Murder – Anthony Horowitz

2. The Detective

The detective is the most important character in a mystery novel, because they are the one that helps the reader through the mystery. They don’t always have to be a private detective like Hercule Poirot, they can be a police officer, a crime reporter, or a young girl (Nancy Drew is eternal and iconic), or they can be just a normal person; the main character who happens to be thrust into the middle of the investigation or is too curious for their own good. Whoever the detective character happens to be, they have to be likable in some way. The reader has to connect with the detective because there is a strong bond between the reader and the detective; they are after all, partners. I’m not saying the detective has to be the best character ever created, that would be boring. They have to have flaws, but they have to have something about their character that outshines the flaws. Take Sherlock Holmes for example; he is a complete asshole, but his intelligence and sarcasm make him interesting to read about. Same goes for Poirot, he is extremely vain and can sometimes be rude, but he’s funny and smart, so that is what makes readers love him!

Best Detective Recommendation: Elephants Can Remember – Agatha Christie

1. The Word is Murder

The # 1 most important thing in a murder mystery novel is the crime. If I may borrow the title of Anthony Horowitz’s newest novel, the word is murder. The murder is the base of the novel, its why all of the other things mentioned on this list are important. Without the murder, there would be no mystery. The murders have to be interesting. The murder victim in Horowitz’s new novel , The Word is Murder, planned her own funeral hours before she was killed. Things like that make you want to devour the novel in one sitting. It also helps to have a supernatural element to the murder; all the doors were locked from the inside which makes it seem like the murderer can walk through walls, or have the whole murder seem like a vampire attack. Details like that are always fun!

Murder Mystery Recommendation: Magpie Murders - Anthony Horowitz

And there you have it! the 5 most important things about Murder Mystery novels. Let me know what your favourite mystery novels are, as I am always open for recommendations

#murder mystery #mystery novels #mystery #agatha christie #Sherlock Holmes #murder on the orient express #Anthony Horowitz #the word is murder #magpie murders

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! Today I want to give you a comprehensive review of The Blessed Trilogy by Tonya Hurley. I binge read these three books over the span of a week and I fell so in love with them, I can hardly stand it! The Blessed, separately titled Precious Blood, Passionaries, and Hallowed, follows our main characters Lucy, Cecilia and Agnes, three girls who believe themselves to be saints. The three girls are brought together by Sebastian, a boy who also believes he is a saint, at the church of Precious Blood. The novels follow the girls from their first awakening, through their struggles and ultimately to the revelation of the truth. ***Minor spoilers***

First things first, I loved these novels! And I loved that the author didn’t go for the cheap out ending of ‘my god they were all crazy the whole time!’. If you sit down and write a story about three modern girls who find out they are reincarnated saints, follow through, and Hurley definitely did, and it was awesome! I think I mentioned this in my review for James Patterson’s “Cradle and All”, but I am Catholic, and I think it is so fascinating to read stories based in the faith but stretching it to encompass today’s society and the implications of the ‘what if this actually happened’. Like “what if three girls did come forward and were declared reincarnated saints?” How would we, as a society, react? Would we condemn them as insane? Would people start to follow them? I don’t even know how I would react personally. The first reaction to any kind of speculation to divine or saintly rumors is more often than not doubt. But I think that even the possibility of miracles in our world is a cause of hope. I like to hope that if a situation like the one in the novel was ever a reality, I would have the strength and constitution to believe in it.

Anyway, let’s talk about the trilogy, shall we? These three novels packed a punch! The story line was solid; I was never confused during the twists and turns, and the transition between the three story lines of each of the girls was always clean and clear. As I said before, I like that Tonya Hurley stuck with the fact that Lucy, Cecilia and Agnes were divinely inspired, because there is nothing I hate more than a big revelation that the characters were mentally ill or that it was all a dream! And that goes for any genre! I think the ‘it was a dream’ or the insanity plea at the end of novels is a complete cop out and show nothing but that the writer didn’t know how to properly wrap up their story. And it plays the read for a fool! That was my biggest fear going into these novels, but my faith was rewarded with a spectacular (and absolutely heartbreaking) ending!

Each book in the trilogy spoke of an important part to the story; the second book, Passionaries, was not a filler book and many second novels tend to be. This story definitely needed all three novels to tell the whole story. I didn’t finish this series and think, ‘well that could have been wrapped up in one book’. Hurley didn’t waste any space with these novels. The better part of the first book was character building, but the reader needed that in order to see how the three girls change and become better people as the story unfolds in the second and third books. Our three main characters, Lucy, Cecilia and Agnes all start out as patients in the ER of Perpetual Help Hospital. One for an overdose, one for accidental drowning, and one for suicide. It is in the hospital that they are first discovered by Sebastian, and where they first receive their chaplets and Milagros. These Milagros, pendants fashioned as the symbols of saints, lead them back to Sebastian and to Precious Blood church. It is first seeing the three girls at their lowest points that makes the ending to their story so much more powerful. We, as readers, really see these girls come into their own and embrace who they truly are and what their purposes in this world are. Each girl is quirky and lovable in their own way. My favorite of the girls is Agnes. I see a lot of myself in her. We definitely have a similar sense of fashion and love for the Victorian era design.

Speaking of character development, let’s talk about Jesse! This boy started out as “This guy’s slimy, I don’t trust him” and ended as “I will protect him with my life”! He is the most realistic character in the novel, with the most realistic reaction to the whole saint situation. He has a very hard time believing in the girls and Sebastian (especially Sebastian), but does become resigned to help them in the second and third novels. Because he is the most resistant of the main characters to have blind faith, his revelation is so inspiring and his faith becomes the strongest. Jesse is honestly the definition of character development. The comparison from the first time we see him to the last is so drastically different, it’s insane! I love reading about characters with such strong character development; it makes the experience so rewarding. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the character that doesn’t undergo any kind of development is Dr. Frey. Now usually I hate when characters don’t see any kind of development, but in the case of Dr. Frey, it works. Dr. Frey is our villain, the big bad who runs the Psych ward at Perpetual Help Hospital. He starts bad and ends bad. There are no redeeming qualities about this man, and that’s exactly the kind of character that is needed. Without Dr. Frey’s wide reach and unyielding malevolence, there would be no stakes for our saints to be up against. Dr. Frey is the one who keeps the tension thick in the novel. Without him and what he represents, the novel would lose meaning.

The last thing I want to talk about is the setting. I think placing Precious Blood and the majority of the story in the “lowest” part of Brooklyn really lent itself to the fact that Jesus was also born in a low place. It creates the idea that anyone can rise up and becoming something more than themselves. The grungy, wet (think Gotham City, puddles everywhere) environment compared to the Catholic, saintly imagery is a beautiful juxtaposition, and works so well in reflecting the average girls thrust into the saintly role.

All in all, I think these books are amazing and will recommend them to everyone forever! I gave each book a 5/5 rating. Okay, I think that’s all I wanted to say. I’ve probably forgotten something, but I think this is good for now! Let me know if you’ve read these books, and if you liked them or not. I would love to chat about them! And, as always, thanks for reading!

#the blessed #the blessed trilogy #tonya hurley #saint lucy #saint cecilia #saint agnes #books #book review #Book Recommendations #religious books #teen books #ya fiction

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! So, this past week was Mystery and Thriller Week over on Goodreads (obviously the BEST week)! Since I’m a mystery and thriller novel advocate, I’ve decided to compile a list of my top 10 favorite chilling novels! Honestly my dream job would be to read mystery books and TV scripts (Murdoch Mysteries mostly) and just let them know if their mysteries were too easy to solve. Extremely unlikely that would ever be a real job, but a girl can dream! Anyway, let’s get into it!

1. Magpie Murders – Anthony Horowitz

Magpie Murders is kind of a two in one. There are two separate stories that interweave into each other, but it’s not in the way you would think. I don’t want to say too much about it because spoilers, but the way that Horowitz connects the two stories is absolute genius! The basic synopsis is this; after reading a manuscript, the editor, Susan, becomes convinced that the author hid a real-life story of jealousy and murder into his final novel. I flew through this book! It was absolutely brilliant!

2. Peril at End House – Agatha Christie

Even though I would recommend the entire Poirot series, Peril at End House is my favorite Poirot novel! The ending was such a surprise, and that’s saying a lot because I (not to brag or anything!) usually figure out who the killer is by chapter 4. Peril at End House sees Poirot trying to prevent the murder of Nick Buckly. When someone inevitably turns up dead, Poirot must solve the case before the bodies begin to pile up!

3. In a Cottage in a Wood – Cass Green

This is a new edition to my collection. In a Cottage in a Wood is much more on the thriller side than the mystery, although there is a kind of mystery to it. This novel follows Neve, who is kind of an all-around disaster of a human. When she meets a lonely woman, Isabelle, on a bridge, she stops and asks if she can help. The woman quickly jumps off the bridge to her death, but before she does, she leaves Neve her cottage that holds many secrets. Learning that Isabelle suffered from paranoia, Neve must figure out the secrets of Isabelle’s life before Neve also falls victim to whatever drove Isabelle to take her own life.

4. Stalking Jack the Ripper – Kerri Maniscalco

Stalking Jack the Ripper is a historical fiction murder mystery, revolving around the most well-known serial killings in the world. When Audrey Rose becomes involved in the mystery of the killings of Jack the Ripper, she, along with her obnoxiously charming side kick, Thomas Cresswell, must solve the case and rid London of a monster. I have a full review for Stalking Jack the Ripper here.

5. Alias Grace – Margaret Attwood

Alias Grace is one of the best suspense novel ever written in my humble opinion. The slow movement towards the center of the story – to the truth of what really happened to Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery – will chill readers to the core. Grace Marks is one hell of a main character, she is both likable and haunting. The hypnosis scene is one of the most unsettling ones I’ve come across in my reading. I loved this book! I have a discussion on Alias Grace here.

6. Meddling Kids – Edgar Cantero

Meddling Kids is a fantastical mystery based on Scooby Doo! This novel takes place thirteen years after our Scooby Doo inspired gang’s last case. Since that last summer, the gang has been haunted by what happened at Sleepy Lake. Now, knowing that none of them will be able to move on with their life unless they confront their fears, the gang heads back to Sleepy Lake to solve the mystery once and for all. I have a full review of Meddling Kids here.

7. Famous Last Words – Katie Alender

Famous Last Words is a contemporary/paranormal murder thriller. I freaking love this book, I’ve read it three times! The story follows our main character, Willa as she adjusts to her new life in Hollywood. On top of trying to fit in at her new school and dealing with the ghostly presences in her house that is driving her a little mad, Willa also becomes swept up in the murder spree by, who the papers call, The Hollywood Killer; a serial killer who stages his murders to mirror the death from classic films.

8. Murdoch Mysteries Series – Maureen Jennings

I love Murdoch Mysteries! I am a huge fan of the show and I’ve recently gotten into the book series. I don’t know which is my favorite so I’m recommending them all! The series follows Detective William Murdoch as he solves some of Toronto’s most twisted murders. Do you watch Murdoch? Who’s your favorite character? Mine is George!

9. Halloween Party – Agatha Christie

I know I already recommended an Agatha Christie book, but one is not enough! Halloween Party is a great and twisted murder mystery. Twisted in the way that the dead person in this story is a young girl. Poirot is really affected by the young girl’s death. Contrary to the title, this book does not take place at a Halloween party. It takes place in the days following one, but the book does have an overall spooky feel to it.

10. The Girlfriend – Michelle Frances

The Girlfriend is the book I’m currently reading for this last day of Mystery and Thrillers Week. it’s about a woman, Laura, whose son brings home a girl. At first the girlfriend seems a perfect fit, but as she becomes more comfortable in the family home, Laura starts to feel that the girlfriend is not all that she seems. After a tragedy, one of these women will tell a lie that will change all of their lives forever. I’m not too far into this one yet. I’ll update you on whether or not this book turns out to be good.

Update: i ended up putting this book down for now. I couldn’t really get into it, so I’m going to try to read it again this summer. I think the summertime will be a better fit for this one.

And that’s it! I hope you enjoyed Mystery and Thriller Week!

#murder mystery #thrillers #mystery and thriller week #books #Book Recommendations #Anthony Horowitz #magpie murders #agatha christie #murdoch mysteries #scooby doo #goodreads

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! It’s the first day of Spring so you know what that means…it’s time for a Spring Reading Recommendations List! For me, springtime is when I want to read all the classics. There’s just something about classic novels that just demands to be read in the spring, I’m not exactly sure why, but it does! So, this list will be made up of a few classics, but I’ve thrown in some historical fiction, some whodunits, fantasy, and contemporaries for good measure. Alright, let’s get started!

1. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

The first of Jane Austen’s novel to be published, Northanger Abbey is a lighthearted novel that follows our heroine, Catherine Morland. In the novel, Catherine is taken to Bath for the first time, and while there she meets Henry Tilney and his sister Eleanor, who invite her to stay at their family home, Northanger Abbey. While there Catherine imagines that a terrible murder has taken place, which leads her to trouble. This novel is really about a young girl’s imagination and the power of reading! It’s really short so it’s perfect to read on a lazy spring day!

2. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I put this book on my winter reading list too, but it’s also going on this one because it’s the best book and perfect for all year ‘round! Great Expectations is a chunky book, but don’t let its size scare you away! it is fantastic! It is truly a story about life. It begins when our main character, Pip, is six years old, when he first meets ‘the convict’. The novel follows Pip throughout his life, from meeting the eccentric Miss Havisham, falling in love with the indifferent and cold Estella, and coming into money and great expectations. We see the rise and fall of Pip as a person, ending the novel around the time that Pip is thirty. I laughed, cried and simply fell in love with the characters of this novel!

3. Courtship and Curses by Marissa Doyle

Courtship and Curses is a prequel to the duology, The Bewitching Season and The Betraying Season. All three novels are prefect to read in the spring, as they are fashioned after the style of Jane Austen. In Courtship and Curses, our main character, Sophie,(who is also a witch!) has a lame leg and walks with a cane, which leads her to think that she will never find a husband during her first season out in society. Then in walks the charming Lord Woodbridge who seems to love Sophie for exactly who and how she is. And let me tell you, Lord Woodbridge is very much like Mr. Darcy. Every word that comes out of his mouth makes me swoon!

4. Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Hamlet is, in my humble opinion, the ultimate classic! It has everything, ghosts, murder, psychotic breaks, romance, incest, adventure, existential crises and even pirates! It is such a good story, and please, please if you have to read it for school, do not write it off as boring or too hard! if you go into it with a closed mind, you won’t enjoy it. So please just let yourself go in this world, and I’m sure you’ll like it! I always read Hamlet in the spring, specifically in May. I read it for the first time in May and now every May, like clockwork, I have to read it!

5. Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie

In Taken at the Flood, Detective Hercule Poirot must solve the mystery of a man, who is thought to be dead but maybe isn’t, who’s family now believes is coming back to reclaim his fortune. This is one of Poirot’s most puzzling cases which includes three dead bodies, blackmail and secret identities! I don’t’ want to say anymore because every little detail could be a spoiler for a murder mystery!

6. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

The ultimate chunky book! Set during the backdrop of the June Rebellion, this story is about one man’s journey to freedom. Biblical allusions, action, adventure and barricade boys. And a bomb musical to go along with it! Don’t let the size of this book turn you away. It is worth the effort!

7. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

A Room with a View follows our main character, Lucy, who has her world turned upside down when she meets a boy in Italy who shows her that there are other ways of living, despite what her rigid English upbringing has taught her. Torn between the bright and lively world of Italy and the life she’s always known in Edwardian England, Lucy must learn to follow her heart…even if it leads to scandal.

8. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

When Megan Chase’s little brother is stolen by the fey, she, along with her best friend and a fairy prince, must travel through the Nevernever to get him back. Along the way, Megan learns that she is the daughter of the King of the Spring Court. Megan must decide which life to claim, the one she has always known in the human world, or the life as one of the fey.

9. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingles

This is the first novel in the Little House series, based on the journals of Laura Ingles. Little House in the Big Woods is a cozy and quaint novel about pioneer living through the eyes of a child.

10. A Night in with Audrey Hepburn by Lucy Holliday

One of the only contemporary novels I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, A Night in with Audrey Hepburn is my dream! One night while staying in feeling sorry for herself, our main character, Libby, comes face to face with the ghost(?) of Audrey Hepburn. During their nights in, Audrey teaches Libby how to be comfortable in her own skin…while also getting up to a few antics! This book really spoke to me; Audrey Hepburn is my idol in every way and I would be thrilled to have her haunt my couch and bestow her wisdom unto me!

And that’s it! I hope you give these books a try because they are really good! Let me know if you do end up reading them or if you’ve already read them. I would love to chat about them with you!

#spring reads #spring recommendations #reading recommendations #classics #jane austen #charles dickens #marissa doyle #shakespeare #agatha christie #victor hugo #audrey hepburn #courtship and curses #Northanger Abbey #Great Expectations #Les Miserables #les mis #a room with a view

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! Let’s do a Valentine’s Day book tag, shall we? I personally think Valentine’s Day is overrated; it makes couples feel like they have to prove something and it makes single people feel bad, but everyone else was doing cute romantic things and I wanted to participate. But everyone is different, some people love Valentine’s Day and that’s cool too. But you know what I do love? A well written romance! Okay, let’s get into it!

1. Favorite basic romance plot?

Daciana and Ileana – Hunting Prince Dracula

These two are wonderful and beautiful and perfect! They are the epitome of a basic romance. Girl meets girl and they fall in love. It’s everything surrounding them (society, an ancient organization, and murder) that are anything but basic. Daciana and Ileana are a couple you really root for because they are just so stinking cute! I love them and I want them to have a spin off novel!

2. Favorite classic romance?

Heathcliff and Cathy – Wuthering Heights

The tragedy and angst of it all gets me every time! Lines like: “whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same”, get me directly in the heart every single time I read them. The fact that these two characters love each other even after death is so romantic to me, I just love it! I know a lot of people hate Wuthering Heights and this romance because it is later fueled by an eternal power struggle and is quite abusive. I get it, and if these were real people, I would be completely against it! But it is fiction, and everything works out in the end, so I let it slide. Please don’t yell at me; just because I like this fictional relationship, doesn’t mean I condone this type of behavior irl.

3. Favorite feel good romance?

Amber and Miles – To Love a Princess

I’ve talked about this novel before; it’s a dime store romance novel. One of those little paperbacks that your grandma reads, and I am complete trash for it! I’ve read it 4 or 5 times. It is just the cutest, sweetest, gooey soft center novels that you just need sometimes! In the novel, Miles is severely burnt on one side of his body. Not only did he loose half his face to the fire, he also lost his family. He shuts himself off from the world, thinking he would be ostracized from society because of his disfigurement. In walks Princess Amber, the illegitimate daughter of the Tsar of Russia. She is on the run from her uncle, who is trying to sell her into sex slavery because he is a greedy pig. She hides away with Miles and the two eventually fall in love. It’s a new take on the beauty and the beast story, and it wonderful! Miles reminds me of Mr. Darcy in a way. A little stiff and awkward around new people.

4. Favorite sad romance?

Samantha and Elijah – How to Hang a Witch

These two are the ultimate sad couple because you know it’s never going to work out because he is a ghost. That’s not a spoiler btw, it’s the point of the book. They deserve a break, but they never, not once, get one. The ending of the book made me cry! They both deserve the world and it makes me sad to see them sad, ya know?

5. Favorite genre to add romance to?

Horror and/or Mystery

Horror and mystery go hand in hand a lot of the time. I’m going to use Hunting Prince Dracula as an example because I finished it yesterday and I loved it with every single fiber of my being! Without Cresswell gallivanting across roof tops and making jokes about how attractive both he and Audrey Rose are at the most inappropriate times, the book would become super depressing. You need that lighthearted romance subplot to break up the dark and dangerous main plot.

6. Least favorite romance OF ALL TIME!?

Gretchen and Hawk – What the Dead Want

To be honest, I had to look up the character names because they were that forgetful. The romance in the book came across as an afterthought, it was completely unnecessary! These characters knew each other one night and Gretchen refers to Hawk as someone she loves. Like???? Worse than Romeo and Juliet. The concept of the book was really cool, but the characters, the romance, and the execution of the really cool concept were all blah. I know there are worse couples out there (i’m sure you all know exactly which couple I’m talking about) but i have blissfully stayed away from those books! and it’s just not fair to bash characters and books you’ve never actually read...

7. Favorite literary couple in general?

Audrey Rose and Thomas – Stalking Jack the Ripper

A new addition to my list of couples I will ship until my dying day! I love these two together! They bicker and insult each other (in a fun, lighthearted way) but they love each so much. Audrey Rose and Thomas would follow each other into the depth of hell, as shown in Hunting Prince Dracula (metaphorically speaking!) And there is NO love triangle! It’s just Audrey Rose and Thomas against the world. I could go on forever!! I don’t want this series to ever end!

8. If you could have one literary significant other, who would it be?

Thomas Cresswell

I thought I had grown out of falling for fictional characters, but here I am, in love with Thomas Cresswell! He’s perfect. He’s snarky, he’s aloof, and he’s kind of an asshole. But he’s also the biggest sweetheart! And, in my head, he looks like Damien Molony! The epitome of perfection! Words fail me. I cannot express how much I love him.

And that’s it! I’m posting this today because I will be too busy sending my best friend cheesy valentine’s day cards on valentine’s day to post anything! If you are celebrating on the 14th, I hope it’s wonderful and if you’re not, you can look forward to all the discount chocolate on Thursday!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

#valentine's day #valentine's day book tag #books #Book Recommendations #stalking jack the ripper #hunting prince dracula #damien molony #Wuthering Heights #to love a princess #How to Hang a Witch

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! So, after much consideration, I’ve decided I’m only going to be posting once a week. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to write two posts a week, and trying to stick to that schedule makes me feel bad when I do inevitably miss days. Okay, with that out of the way, today I want to talk about Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. I loved this book! I’m hitting it out of the park with book choices this year! I don’t think I’ve given lower than 4 stars for all the books I’ve read in January. Let’s get into the book review, shall we?

Stalking Jack the Ripper (obviously) takes place in Victorian London in the Autumn of 1888. The novel follows our main character, Audrey Rose Wadsworth, and her arrogant but oh-so-charming partner, Thomas Cresswell on their hunt to stop Jack the Ripper; one of the most notorious serial killers of all time. Both Audrey Rose and Thomas are a delight to read about! Audrey Rose is a woman before her time. She is a modern woman through and through! She challenges societal norms and becomes an apprentice of forensic sciences, while still maintaining an interest in pretty dresses. I really identified with Audrey Rose, as I think a lot of people will. I love makeup and fashion, both of which are often deemed ‘frivolous’. But I also, as you can probably tell from all the murder mysteries I read, am so interested in horror and the macabre; the psyche of murderers and the forensics that help solve the murders. So, like Audrey Rose says, why can’t I be interested in both? Audrey Rose = feminist icon! And let’s not forget about Mr. Thomas Cresswell! He is my favorite type of male lead. He’s arrogant and kind of an asshole, but he also has a gooey, soft center, and cares so much for Audrey Rose that he’s willing to do anything for her. Plus, in my mind, he looks like Damien Molony, and you really can’t get much better than that!

The detail and atmosphere of this novel is incredible, Maniscalco builds a beautiful and historically accurate London. There are even pictures at the beginning of some chapters to illustrate her descriptions. This novel is quite dark overall with bursts of lighthearted romance. The descriptions of the murder victims are detailed, but not so detailed that it would turn your stomach. The details of the corpses that I liked the most was that they were realistic. None of the ‘she looked like a sleeping angel’ bullshit that is usually said about dead women in YA lit. The position of the women’s legs, the placement of the organs arranged around the bodies, and the mention of the flies was all exactly how it was in the case files, but was not sensationalized, which is probably my favorite thing about the portrayal of the crimes in this novel. I think it’s easy to get swept up in the depravity of the crimes when writing about them, but Maniscalco made a point of presenting the crimes as fact. The one thing that I wish was added to the novel is the details of the last hours of the murder victims. We have quite detailed documents on the final nights of the ripper women, so I think they should have been added. Even if it was through a news article that one of our main characters read, or something! We have Polly Nichols’ last words: " Never Mind! I'll soon get my doss money. See what a jolly bonnet I've got now." I think, because Maniscalco decided to definitively name someone as Jack by the end of the novel, having as many real-life details would have grounded the story that much more.

But despite that, I still gave this novel a 5-star rating! I think this novel is a wonderful debut, the characters, setting and writing were all top notch and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

#stalking jack the ripper #kerri maniscalco #jack the ripper #books #book review #Book Recommendations #murder #macabre #unsolved mysteries #unsolved murder

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! This is a day late, but better late than never right? I was having a hard time coming up with something for today’s post. Lately, even though I’ve been reading nonstop, I’ve been so enthralled with television. One of my favorite shows, Gotham, dropped a bombshell this week and the show is still on its mid-season hiatus! I’ve also been binging two separate series at once. So, as I was pondering today’s post, brilliance hit! Why don’t I give book recs based on my favorite TV series?? So, that is what we’re doing today. I’ve come up with 10 book/TV series for the “If You Like That, Try This” Book tag. Let’s get started!

1. If you Like Gotham, try Gotham: Dawn of Darkness – Jason Starr

I know it isn’t very creative, but hear me out! Everyone that I know who watches Gotham, has never heard of this book and that is such a shame! It is a wonderfully written novel, and is different from most tie-in novels. The author Jason Starr must have watched the series a couple of time, because every detail in the book lined up perfectly with the show. So perfectly, that I find it hard to believe that a tiny throwaway line about Oswald’s shoes cannot be a coincidence! This novel serves as a prequel to Gotham, it follows the days leading up to the Wayne murders. And Jerome Valeska even makes an appearance! I gave this book a five-star rating!

2. If you like Ripper Street, try Stalking Jack the Ripper – Kerri Maniscalco

To be completely honest, I’m only half way through Stalking Jack the Ripper, but I have no guilt in recommending it to everyone! It’s that good! Fun fact about me, I’m obsessed with the Ripper murders, have been since I was way too young to have even known about them! I think my fascination stems from the fact that he committed the perfect murders; they never caught him! I think Stalking Jack the Ripper does a fantastic job in keeping the mystery of the Ripper at the forefront of the story. Honestly, I’m suspicious of everyone at this point in the novel! I would also recommend the book The Case Files of Jack the Ripper if you are interested in the murders. It’s a nonfiction book containing copies of police reports and autopsy photos. Really gruesome, but super interesting!

3. If you like Merlin, try Here Lies Arthur - Philip Reeve

If you’re like me, and your favorite show to ever grace the airwaves is Merlin, then I would recommend Here Lies Arthur. This is by no means anything like Merlin. It is, however a retelling of the Arthurian Legend. It is not fun and magical like the show, and Arthur is nothing like the charming Bradley James version. In this novel Arthur is kind of a brute and the leader of a rough and tumble group for men. This story is about a girl named Gwyna, who is taken in by Myrddin the bard, who is the Merlin like character…only without magic. He is a story teller and is determined to create an awe-inspiring legend out of Arthur. Myrddin transforms Gwyna into lady goddess, a boy warrior, and a spy. Gwyna is the beginning and the end of the Legend of Arthur.

4. If you like Grimm, try Magnus Chase: The Sword of Summer – Rick Riordan

This one is a little out there, but bear with me. I think if you like Grimm, then chances are you would really enjoy the Magnus Chase series. Both have the same underlining elements. In each, a young man is thrust into a new version of the world; one that he doesn’t really understand. With the help of his friends – old and new – the leading man is able to take on his family lineage; a lineage much greater than himself. You see what I did there? The explanations, I’ve got them. i have a review for the Magnus Chase series that you can read here.

5. If you like Vikings, try Vikings: Godhead - Cavan Scott

Another no very creative rec, but I feel like not many people know about this comic series. So, if you like Vikings, you should definitely read Vikings: Godhead. This comic takes place a little before and after the events in France, dealing with Ragnar’s thought process before his 10 year absence from Kattigate. There is also a subplot dealing with Ivar, Siggy and Kattigate’s fear of Ivar when he was a child.

6. If you like Salem, try Fiendish – Brenna Yovanoff

Salem was one of the best shows, and my best boy Cotton deserved a better end. That being said, if you also like Salem, you should give Fiendish a go! It’s set in modern day, but it deals with witchcraft and the coming apocalypse, just like Salem. This novel is not as dark as Salem is, but there is still that unnerving undertone. Our story opens with our main character, Clementine, being found in the basement of her home with her eye stitched shut. And that’s all I’m going to say. I think it’s always best to keep quiet about mysteries!

7. If you like The Exorcist, try Good Omens – Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

Again, hear me out. The Exorcist is my favorite show on TV right now (my favorite character is Father Marcus btw). The big, overarching plot of The Exorcist is that demons are infiltrating the Vatican and are trying to bring about the apocalypse. In Good Omens, the apocalypse is happening “next Saturday”, a little bit before dinnertime. The two main characters, an angel and a demon, have grown fond of earth and its people. So, they go about trying to stop the apocalypse because they aren’t feeling it. If that isn’t the most Tomarcus (ship name for Father Tomas & Father Marcus) thing you’ve ever heard, you’re lying! Good Omens is a fun, yet still dark novel, that I believe The Exorcist fans would love! #RenewTheExorcist

8. If you like Castle, try Magpie Murders – Anthony Horowitz

I think Magpie Murders would suit any Castle fan! The novel revolves around storytelling and one particular manuscript, so I think it is in the same vein as Castle in that regard. Magpie Murders is a wonderful murder mystery! The twists are so beautifully executed, that it keeps you on your toes the entire time! I don’t want to give anything away, so I would say any more about it, other than everyone should read this book!!!

9. If you like Penny Dreadful, try The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim – Shane Peacock

I’ve mentioned the similarities of Penny Dreadful and Edgar Brim in a bunch of posts, but here we go again. The biggest connection between these two are that they both take the classic Gothic characters (Frankenstein, Dracula, etc.), throw them into the same world and spit out completely new stories. I feel like I’ve talked about this series so much so I won’t go into detail again here but I have a review of the second Edgar Brim novel, Monster. You can read it here.

10. If you like Riverdale, try Afterlife with Archie - Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Afterlife with Archie was a wild ride and I loved it! I think if you like Riverdale, you would probably enjoy this comic. It’s basically Riverdale, but with zombies. Both Riverdale and Afterlife with Archie take the classic, wholesome Archie comics and turn them on their head. The comic is the first in a series, were the zombie apocalypse begins when Sabrina brings Jughead’s dog, Hot Dog, back to life after a hit and run. The zombie plague is soon spread to the humans of Riverdale, and it is up to a few non-infected kids to find a cure and save the town. Fun fact – the author of Afterlife with Archie is one of the writers for Riverdale!

And that’s it! This was a lot of fun to do, and I think I’ll be doing it again. Let me know what you want me to give recs based off of for next time. Music, other books, animals??? I don’t know! We shall see!

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anongoingsoliloquy · 6 years

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Hey babes! Well, my resolutions have already gone down the drain, seeing as my resolution was to stick to a posting schedule and I missed two days. But I’m here now! That counts for something right?? Today I want to give you a list of books that I think are perfect to read in the winter. These books are the ones you want to get cozy with and binge on a snow day. Preferably with lots of blankets and a hot chocolate. Let’s get started!

1. Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie

As you may know, I love Agatha Christie books with all my heart! Her novels are perfect for any time of year, but Murder on the Orient Express is especially suited for winter. The novel takes place on a train – the Orient Express – that becomes stranded on a mountain rail because of an avalanche. They are completely snowed in, which keeps the tension palpable because there is a murder among the passengers. It is up to Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, to solve the case!

2. Magpie Murders – Anthony Horowitz

I promise they won’t all be mysteries. But who doesn’t like a whodunit on a snow day? Magpie Murders is the ultimate homage to the classic whodunit. Anthony Horowitz crafts two separate stories that tie into each other in surprising and clever ways. Taking a new approach to a timeless outline, Horowitz’s novel is a breath of fresh air in the genre. I don’t want to give a synopsis to this book because I think it’s better to go in blind with this one. I went in with next to no knowledge of what the book was about, and I was so surprised with what was presented, and I think that’s what made me love it all the more. It is a chunky book, but don’t worry! You will fly through it!

3. The Magnus Chase Series – Rick Riordan

OMG guys, I loved this series! I loved it so much more than the Percy Jackson books, which I know are fighting words, but I can’t help it! Everything about the Magnus Chase series was just so…right, ya know? It had such a diverse cast of characters, and the scenes were beautifully set, and they were hilarious! I can’t say enough good things about these books! The novels follow the adventures of our main character, Magnus Chase, who finds out he is the son of a Norse god, and must start on an adventure to stop Ragnarok! I have a review/discussion on the first two Magnus Chase books here.

4. The Beast is an Animal – Peternelle van Arsdale

I know I put The Beast is an Animal on my Halloween reading recs list because it’s scary, but it is a wonderful winter read as well. Many of the big plot points in the book happen in the winter, and the snow has various effects on the story. I think reading it in the winter will add to the atmosphere of the novel. I have a full review for The Best is an Animal if you want to check it out!

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K Rowling

I don’t think I really need to give any kind of synopsis for this one! Deathly Hallows is the final installment of the Harry Potter series, and I don’t know why it’s perfect for winter time, it just is! I have no rational explanation for this one, you just have to trust me.

6. Alex and Eliza – Melissa de la Cruz

This novel is such a lighthearted historical fiction! It’s set in the winter, but it’s a really cozy book. Not one of groundbreaking substance but a fluffy novel to read while drinking your hot cocoa. This novel follows the early days of the relationship between Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler.

7. Haunted – Barbara Haworth-Attard

Haunted is about a girl who lives on ‘the mountain’ with her grandmother, and on her way into town one day, she discovers human bones. This is a murder mystery/ghost story set in a post-world war I Ontario. This book also does a really good job of portraying a character with special needs. Because of the prejudices of the times, the towns people do become suspicious of this character, thinking he is the murderer but that never changes the reader’s opinion of him. He is shown to be a sweet, loving boy.

8. The Clockwork Dynasty – Daniel H. Wilson

The Clockwork Dynasty is a dual perspective novel, set in present day Oregon and Imperial Russia. It follows our main characters June and Peter as they discover and rediscover (respectively) the secret race of beings called the Automats. The Automats, like Peter, are meant to live and die by their word; the word that encapsulates the essence of their being. But as we see with Peter, as the mechanical beings become more and more human, they must continually search for meaning in the ever-changing world. This was a wonderful novel! It was so touching and really questions what make a human, human. I would also recommend the audiobook, which is read by David Giuntoli and Claire Coffee who played Nick Burkhart and Adalind Schade on Grimm! They did a great job, and David Giuntoli’s voice is like butter. So, maybe give it a shot!

9. Macbeth – Shakespeare

Political intrigue, a murder most foul, and witches…what’s not to love? Set against the snowy backdrop of the Scottish moors, Macbeth is on of Shakespeare’s finest plays... in my humble opinion. I feel like a always have to put a disclaimer with my Shakespeare recs, but please do not write Shakespeare’s plays off because you think they’re boring or the language is too hard! if you go into it with that mindset you won’t enjoy the play. Just let yourself enjoy the story, and resign yourself with the fact that you might have to google a few things. Trust me they’re really good stories! i have a post about the witches in you want to check it out.

10. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

Last but certainly not least, Great Expectations! Great Expectations is a chunky book, but don’t let its size scare you away! It is fantastic! It’s fundamentally a story about life. It begins when our main character, Pip, is six years old, when he first meets the convict. I don’t want to tell you the convicts real name because spoilers! The novel follows Pip throughout his life, from meeting the eccentric Miss Havisham, falling in love with the indifferent and cold Estella, and coming into money and great expectations. We see the rise and fall of Pip as a person, ending the novel around the time that Pip is thirty. Not only is this story filled with some of the best characters, but Dickens has this amazing ability to bring 19th century London to life. London is almost its own character. It is a living, breathing thing and it is so beautifully portrayed.

And that’s it! As always, let me know if you try any of these books out and feel free to leave your own recommendations!

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