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librarycomic · 3 days
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Eerie Tales from the School of Screams by Graham Annable. First Second, 2023. 9781250195036. 364pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781250195036?partnerid=34778&p_bt
A teacher writes the word "eerie" on the chalkboard in front of her class and then asks the young students to tell the class the eeriest story they have. Their stories are strange. Alvin tells the first, "The Village That Vanished…", about two men who follow a map to a field filled with sheep where they meet a strange dude who tells them what happened to the town of Wattersbug. It's not horribly graphic, but it's also not a story I'd expect a kid to tell, though his teacher seems excited. Alice's story, "The Face In The Forest…" features a girl named Luanne who's expected to do everything for her aunt and uncle, though they don't seem happy that she's so helpful. When she goes into the forest in search of wood she meets a sympathetic head. Will it help her, or does it mean her no good? It's hard to say at first though the head seems very friendly, and it says it wants her help.
More stories follow. They involve drones, ghosts, spaceships, aliens, grandparents, and demons. When you're reading the book, don't jump ahead -- it has a fun ending, but you have to read every page to really enjoy it.
This is my favorite spooky kids' graphic novel in a while. I know a few kids who would have enjoyed it in grade school, but it's probably got more appeal for older students and adults, it would make a great read-aloud.
bookreview #graphicnovel #graphicnovelreview #yagraphicnovel #school #horror
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kaijukiki · 4 months
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I happened upon this book much the way anyone would happen upon a body in the woods, a finger in the dirt, or fragment left where it lie shorn cut at the ankle or wrist…it surprised me. But for Alexa Hagerty, forensic anthropologist finding such evidence of “La violencia” was every bit intentional. And integral to the mystery and the justice of a people who’s story is brought to light, by hands in dirt. Shovels, spades, and toothbrushes. Following a carefully and responsibly constructed narrative that details the process of work that puts people together, but also shreds them to the core. Part linguistic a anthropological triumph and scientific data of accounts, Hagerty writes like a poet in the dirt but also a scientist in a field lab. Truly one of the most uncommon and moving #nonfictionNovember reads I couldn’t put down.
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mirandagoing4baroque · 5 months
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I really don’t know why I’m here. At this point, more than five books into the Murderbot series, you’ve made a choice about whether you’re in or out. I love Murderbot with all my heart and soul, and if you’re a Murderbot stan, I promise that this new entry into the extended Murderbot universe will not disappoint you. And actually if you were more lukewarm on the latest Murderbot, this new novel (yes, novel, not novella--and there was much rejoicing) is a pretty direct sequel to Network Effect. It’s full of Murderbot doing Murderbot things--fun action, corporate skullduggery, and Murderbot feeling uncomfortable about emotions.
If somehow you’ve been living under a rock, and you aren’t familiar with our lord and savior Murderbot, let me give you a quick pitch for why you should be interested in this series. (But if you are, start at the beginning with All Systems Red, not here--this one will make no sense.)
Murderbot is a SecUnit (Half-human half-robot designed to provide security), living in a corporate dystopia. Murderbot has hacked its own governing module, and would like to be left alone to watch it’s trashy TV shows, but unfortunately self awareness also means Murderbot has emotions, and those are inconvenient. If you want to read about a cynical sassy android that is maybe the world’s most relatable robot--get you to Murderbot and you can thank me later.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.
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ninsiana0 · 11 months
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Read TRANSLATION STATE by Ann Leckie if you love mysteries, multiple narrators, space stations, artificial intelligence, coffee, strained treaties, scary aliens, childhood trauma, breaking the laws of physics, dumplings, questioning what it means to be human, and exiled pirates.
•I received an advance copy for review through NetGalley
•expected publication date is 6/6/23
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ampitrit3 · 3 months
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BOOK RECS (ive been working at this forever)
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if you follow me i assume you're a reader as well or possibly even an aspiring writer
i will forever say the best way to become better at writing is to read, expand your vocabulary, expose yourself to new writing formats and styles, being teachable is a lesson that carries through more than just writing
if you don't already know, i am a huge reader. when i was about 11 or 12 i got very into poetry which bled into fantasy, modern renditions of mythology, and of course classic literature i'm 16 now and have accumulated a fair amount of book knowledge
all that being said these are a few books i think everyone should read at least once :)
The Arabian Nights - collection of Middle Eastern folktales - Original folk tales collected in the Arabic language during the Islamic Golden Age, that inspired many modern-day pieces. - You would be surprised just how many writings mirror stories from One Thousand and One Arabian Nights
Mythology, Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes - Edith Hamilton - The perfect balance of true form Homer Greek Myth while being modern enough for basic understanding. - Everyone should know at least the basics of Greek Myth to understand parallels between writings and classic mythological stories. - The interesting part of Greek Myth is it is for everybody. The characters from every story are written to mirror the best and worst parts of humanity. Our dangerous curiosity (Pandora), unrelenting passion (Amphitrite and Poseidon), to our vulnerability (Medusa). They hold a piece of humanity in every story and it makes everything so much more real.
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle - Meg and her younger brother embark on a fantastical journey to find their father that mysteriously went missing after his experiments of the fifth dimension and time travel. Are Meg and Charles (her younger brother) up to the task of crossing space and outwitting evil forces? - Beautifully written and was without a doubt ahead of it's time for being published in 1962 - This was the first book I ever called my favorite, definite must-read
I Fell in Love With Hope - Lancali - Against the merciless landscape of a hospital, a gang of rebellious dying kids plan to reclaim what illness has taken from them before death knocks down their doors. - The voice of the story, Sam finds himself suffocated by grief in the loss of the love of his life. Who tragically committed suicide in front of him. From then on he swore to never love again, until he catches sight of a new face in the hospital. - A heartbreaking story about friendship, rebellion, and reclamation.
Black Girl, Call Home - Jasmine Mans - A beautiful collection of poetry covering topics of race, feminism, and queer identity. Each poem is a love letter to all daughters of America. "The painful, joyous path to adulthood as a young, queer Black woman" - You find yourself wanting to understand that meaningful power behind every word on the page. Subconsciously reading between every line and anticipating a greater meaning by the end of each poem. - Do not pick up this book if you are looking for a quick easy read. To get everything out of it, you must fully indulge yourself
Hood Feminism, Notes From The Women That A Movement Forgot- Mikki Kendall - A collection of essays critiquing the modern feminist movement. - "Mainstream feminist rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue," - Mikki Kendall - A searing take on mainstream feminism urges you to remove your blinders to see the full picture. It is a call to all feminists for fierce love and advocacy that is necessary needed right now.
It's Trevor Noah: Born A Crime - Trevor Noah - A memoir of Trevor Noahs unlikely path growing up in apartheid. The story of a boy who's existence was a contradiction. - If you passed seventh grade English you have probably read this book, but it is definitely worth the read.
Call Us What We Carry - Amanda Gorman - The most alive collection of poetry I have ever read. - Explores themes of identity, grief, and memory while still being a love letter to the people. It captures you in a moment of both appreciation while calling for reparations. - Amanda Gorman is not only a beautifully developed and well respected poet but she is still that little black girl navigating through life with an unwavering will.
Obviously these are a few books of many, but let me know if you want more recs because I had so much fun writing this
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judeinthestars · 3 months
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These are the books that got my heart racing and my brain cells dancing in 2023! All the reviews are on my blog:
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wanderingmanonreads · 9 months
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@WanderingManonReads
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aworldinpages · 1 year
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I'm Glad My Mom Died ~ Jennette McCurdy
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In this both heartbreaking and hilarious memoir, McCurdy very candidly opens up about being thrust into fame from a very young age and the struggles she has dealt with since then. She also focuses on the very turbulent relationship she had with her overbearing mother growing up, who has since died from cancer, and how she managed to retake the reigns of her own life...
Click here to read my full review!
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bidotorg · 2 months
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“I spent years looking for confident bi people to help me build my own confidence. But there’s no one way to come out, and no one way to be bi, and Ruby is a reminder that it’s okay if a label doesn’t feel perfect right away — or ever.”
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sastrasa · 3 months
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Narasinopsis - Pasung Jiwa
Karya Okky Madasari
Sampul yang menarik, judul yang ciamik. Buku “Pasung Jiwa: Apa Itu Kebebasan?”  Sengaja kupilih untuk mengawali tahun 2024. Aku enggak menyangka kalau isi bukunya akan serumit dan seberat itu. Di awal, Sasana sebagai tokoh utama muncul sebagai sosok yang ‘lurus-lurus’ saja. Aku sempat berfikir, dimana letak konflik pada novel ini? Apakah kebebasan karena kekangan orang tua, atau apa? Jujur saja, di awal aku sempat berfikir “Ah, apa sih hal buruk yang mungkin terjadi dengan Sasana?” Dan BOOM! Seperti dihantam sekontainer beras oleh Hulk, aku mendapati kenyataan yang sangat mencengangkan. Hingga pertengahan bab, aku masih enggak menyangka (dan enggak terima) kalau Sasana berubah menjadi seperti itu! Kenyataan itu dibungkus secara implisit yang membuatku harus menerka-nerka sendiri, dan ternyata, Ah, jalan ceritanya memang seperti itu. Lalu, di saat yang sama, Sasana dipertemukan dengan Cak Jek, si Tokoh utama kedua, dimana Cak Jek dipertemukan dengan Sasana hanya untuk melahirkan sisi lain Sasana. Lalu tokoh-tokoh lain yang membuat cerita semakin kompleks tapi berkesinambungan. 
Kak Okky Madasari selalu sukses membuatku penasaran dalam tiap kalimatnya. Sepanjang membaca, selalu ada saja hal yang membuatku menganga, merana, bahkan menangis. Seringkali aku harus menarik nafas untuk kembali melanjutkan membaca. Ceritanya terlampau seru untuk kubaca lambat-lambat, dan terlalu memusingkan kalau aku baca cepat-cepat. Makna kebebasan yang dituang dalam 332 halaman yang rasanya sayang jika terlewatkan sedikit saja sebab ada banyak hal yang baru kusadari bahwa manusia terlampau sering dipenjara, terpenjara, dan memenjarakan dirinya dalam hal tertentu. Akhir cerita yang membuatku harus kembali menerka mereka akan kemana, tapi nyatanya cukup menerbitkan rasa lega. Dan buku ini membuatku ingin membaca kembali buku-buku mbah Sigmund Freud.
- Sastrasa
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bookishfreedom · 4 months
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This is easily my favorite book I've reviewed through NetGalley and one I have every intention of buying my own copy of!!
Someday We'll Find It tells the story of Bliss, a teenage girl living with her aunt and uncle in rural Illinois, after her mother left her behind to pursue her modeling career. Bliss has it all figured out: she's dating the popular boy, River, and she works doubly hard not to let her aunt and uncle see her as a burden. But then she meets Blake, a boy who seems to see her like no one else does, and then, her Mama returns. Bliss is swept up in all the change, and has to figure out what's best for her: the life she worked so hard to prepare for herself, and the life she's always wanted.
I will say that this story probably won't be for everyone, but the reasons many people won't enjoy this book are exactly what made me love it. Bliss's voice is so strong; she really felt like a living breathing person, and so did every person around her. But the strength of her voice made the story start a bit slow, as you get a feel for what the world looks like through Bliss's eyes. (But once I got sucked in, there was no turning back!) She talks the way I would expect a teenager from a small town who had limited education growing up to talk, so if you can't handle intentionally bad grammar, you probably shouldn't pick up this book. Personally, I thought it made her feel even more real.
I would also consider Bliss to be an unreliable narrator (which again, not for everyone, but I love.) We are seeing the world and the people in it through her lens and have to make our own judgments. The people in Bliss's life, and even Bliss herself, are deeply flawed. Even the smallest side characters were lively and flawed and entirely real. I felt every range of emotions reading this book: happy, sad, and absolutely furious. If you have to like the characters in a book to enjoy the book, this one is not for you. But if you like seeing an honest look at family, at the ways people can be terrible to one another even with the best of intentions, or if you like characters that live in gray areas, and watch them figure things out anyway? Pick this one up ASAP
I felt like I was really on this journey with Bliss, and even when she made the wrong call, I was rooting for her every step of the way. (And did I mention this is a debut??? Can't wait to see what Jennifer Wilson comes up with next.)
TW: discussions of SA, domestic violence, abandonment
Many thanks to HarperTeen and NetGalley for the free review copy❤️
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librarycomic · 7 months
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Bea Wolf written by Zach Weinersmith, art by Boulet. First Second, 2023. 9781250776297. With an extensive Afterword by Weinersmith (also illustrated by Boulet) about the poem, its history and translations, that even has a great explanation of kennings, which he uses extensively throughout this book. Plus some pages of Boulet's sketches. https://www.powells.com/book/-9781250776297?partnerid=34778&p_bt
This is a bizarre and beautiful thing. I listened to Weinersmith talk about it a bit at the American Library Association convention, where he appeared with his daughter Ada, which is cool since it's pretty clear she got him to keep writing and was the first reader and even had nice things to say about Boulet's art, which clearly buoyed Boulet's spirits (as he explains in the Acknowledgements in the end).
This is a 600-some line illustrated, epic poem based on Beowulf that owes something to Edward Gorey, Tim Burton, and Weinersmith's English teachers. I have never read anything like it before, and I don't think there's ever been anything like it before. It's about a gang of kids in a treehouse filled with toys and candy and fun that is attacked by a monster who does the most unspeakable thing possible -- he steals children's childhoods. And it's about the heroic girl who comes to face him. It is absolutely awesome, both silly and serious, and full of language that's fun to read aloud and illustrations that are fun to look at.
Some kids will enjoy it, and some adults will enjoy it, but I think far more adults and kids will enjoy it together. In fact, I'd read this with my daughter now if she'd let me. (She's in her early twenties, and after I tell her about it, or if she reads this review, I hope she might.)
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nrhartauthor · 1 year
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Dangerous Love 🔥 “I want to get under your skin and stay there.” Twin Flame Love , a summer season @n.r.hart © 2022 #specialrequest #fridaynight 🔥 • Twin Flame Love out now! Link in my stories to order 🛍 ♥️♥️♥️ We don’t always understand it as it is happening or we can’t put a name to it at the time, but the reasons become apparent later on. 📖🔥 Twin Flame Love by N.R.Hart “You will find new and old soulmate / twin flame poems in this collection. Maybe I have been writing this story all along. Maybe this journey is your journey. If you somehow see yourself in my words, find yourself in my words , feel yourself in my words then maybe my story… is your story.” Twin Flame Love © 2022 @n.r.hart #twinflamelove #bookreview #poetry #bookstagram #newrelease • Love Poems to No One , Beauty and her Beast, The Last of the Romantics 👑 beautiful rose floral hard covers in black including all my original black & white posters inside divided into the four seasons Winter Spring Summer Autumn. These books are a trilogy series. Pick up your copy today. You will want the set! 👉🏻 If you have pictures of my books please tag me. I love seeing where my books end up around the world 🌎 Love, N.R.Hart ❤️ All my books are available @amazon @barnesandnoble Worldwide link : • https://www.amazon.com/Twin-Flame-Love-Soulmate-Poetry/dp/B0BND3GH3W/ https://www.amazon.com/Love-Poems-No-One-Romantic/dp/0578451166/ https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Her-Beast-Romantic-Poetry/dp/0578616440/ https://www.amazon.com/Last-Romantics-Romantic-Poetry/dp/0692168591/ • #nrhart #poetryandpearls #lovepoemstonoone #beautyandherbeast #copyright #mondaycreekpublishing (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmy1gaoO_h5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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dustedmagazine · 5 months
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Marc Masters — High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape (University of North Carolina Press)
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There’s a popular theory, advanced with varying degrees of seriousness, that the best kind of music is whatever was released when you were about 16. There’s also a fairly well-known Brian Eno quotation about the way we tend to romanticize forms of media just as they fall out of currency, eventually becoming loved even for their shortcomings. One of the biggest strengths of Marc Masters’ High Bias, a new history of the compact cassette (as it was originally known), is that it refuses both the personally biased special pleading of the former and the possibly distorting format nostalgia of the latter. Instead Masters brings together a fascinating technical history of the creation, limits, and virtues of the cassette tape, an overview of some of the areas where the medium has been most richly used and adopted, and a reflection on its continued vitality.
That last aspect, which is reflected on throughout High Bias and forms the focus of the book’s last chapter, is one example of the balance Masters manages to strike. It would be easy to fall into a kind of strenuous insistence on the most optimistic vision of the cassette’s future, to tell us that it could or should regain a level of prominence it hasn’t seen in decades. But to do so would require a… selective choice of data, and would probably fall into a kind of “protesting too much” register for many readers. Masters instead has the confidence and knowledge of the actual current (vital, but subcultural) role of cassette tapes to make the more modest but resonant point that the ‘cassette revival,’ such as it is, is already with us and shows no signs of going away. And he both puts this in its proper, inspiring context and makes a persuasive case for its importance because of the book’s continual emphasis on the democratizing and personalizing aspects of cassette tape as a medium.
The opening chapters, which include relatively brief looks at the context of recording technology prior to and at the time of the cassette’s introduction, set the stage well. Masters doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the social, marketing and profit motives impinging on the development and success of the medium (and the sometimes panicked response of the music industry to it, “home taping is killing music” and all), and points out how those aren’t totally separable from the explosion in personal expression that tapes allow. From there, High Bias branches out, looking at various places and times cassettes have helped or even allowed particular peoples, scenes or genres to be heard and spread in ways other media haven’t managed. From Deadheads to the early days of hiphop, Awesome Tapes From Africa to some of the more extremely personal examples that sometimes overlap with those covered in Michael Tau’s recent Extreme Music (reviewed on Dusted here), this slim volume doesn’t pretend to be exhaustive but does manage to illuminate enough different areas most readers may find themselves surprised by at least one of the many little pockets Masters looks into.
The second-last chapter, “The Tape Makers,” may be where High Bias hits many of its intended audience in an even more personal place. Here the book shifts slightly from people making music onto, or then distributed via, cassette, and instead delves into the personal mixtape. The balance between creation and curation is never that clearcut, of course, and the chapter doesn’t pretend it is. But whereas after the cassette we have burned CDs and playlists, before the team at Philips first brought the compact cassette to the world there was simply no mass-available form that offered the particular form of expression that a mixtape does. As with the rest of High Bias, here Masters uses a blend of interviews, secondary sources and direct experience to convey the unique role and impact of the cassette, both in its historical moment and persisting into the current day.
It’s not that the cassette tape is a “better” medium than vinyl, CD, DAT, or saved or streamed digital files (what would “better” even mean in anything other than a subjective sense?), and it’s not that High Bias, despite its doubly accurate title (both a desired quality in a cassette and an implicit acknowledgment that this a very pro-tapes book), tries to make that claim. But Masters clearly had in his sights a compelling portrait of the strengths of the format, and what makes it different from those other media, and here he convincingly portrays it as a special and worthy one. He’s even set up a, well, mixtape for the book on Bandcamp (linked at the beginning of this review), 12 tracks all sourced from current tape labels he discusses in the book. Notably, you can buy that mix on a cassette.
Ian Mathers
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realitys-abore · 1 year
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📖REVIEW📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Firstly: Kadou, our MC has anxiety and the way I squealed at seeing some anxiety rep in a book, and a fantasy one at that! I used to be way more into fantasy but it often has so little rep, so this book was kind of like coming home?
It was so comforting, because I was reading Kadou's POV like...omg it's literally me 🥺 It was brilliantly done and obviously I loved my precious little bean Kadou who was more than capable of being a badass!
The other reason it’s comforting? Queerness is normalised and my heart felt so full as I was reading. Not only is the romance queer, but the use of different pronouns or gender fluidity isn't an issue either.
Kadou’s sister was really out here trying to matchmaker him with a nice young man, I was truly living while I was reading this! Like I was legit trying to read this slowly so I could spend longer in a world this accepting. THIS is why I described this as ‘top tier fan fiction’ btw!
While a lot is thrown at you in the beginning, the introduction and the set up for the other MC is immaculate! The romance may be the main focus with some mystery on the side, but a lot of care was taken with the world to paint a picture of it and to set future events up for a solid plot.
The concept of the Khayalar was intriguing and it makes the romance even more 👌🏻 AND makes some of the future moments between the MC's and conflict really work.
It’s enemies to lovers and Evemer has good reason to hate Kadou, no flimsy, weak excuses here! It takes time for him to get to know Kadou and see that he was wrong! The progression of their relationship was just immaculate like it’s slow-burn at its finest with the way it slowly builds up!
Evemer was badass and stoic but so soft for Kadou 🥹 he’s so patient and he helped him with his anxiety and figuring out the mystery, I loved them 😭
The use of tropes and dual POV in this is phenomenal as well by the way! And I genuinely think the romance in this book has ruined me, I can't believe the end was spicy but had me feeling all the feels at the same time.
Honestly, I really didn't want it to end. It was perfectly written, perfectly built up and you guys...the LONGING. The scenes with the hairbrushing and the caresses, I was literally squealing as I was reading!
Please, please can the author write like 50 more books in this world? I'm begging! Tadek needs a happy ending you know! Zeliha too!
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ninsiana0 · 1 year
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Read WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by T. Kingfisher if you love Edgar Allan Poe, genderfuckery, dilapidated houses, gothic tales, Beatrix Potter, mushrooms, trauma narratives, retellings, zombies, antiquated medical talk, bunnies, Shakespeare references & ominous lakes.
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