Sunday, December 30, 2018

Adulthood is a Myth:

Adulthood is a Myth: A "Sarah's Scribbles" collection by: Sarah Andersen
Non-fiction: Comic, humor, e-book
E-book Count: 38
Book Count: 75

A collection of comics about the life of an adult female. 

Thursday, December 27, 2018

This Calls for a Drink!:

This Calls for a Drink!:The Best Wines & Beers to Pair with Every Situation by: Diane McMartin
Non-fiction: Food, 245 pages
Physical Book Count: 37
Book Count: 74

This is a book on beer and wine for the average person.  So it tells you drinks that would work good with things like: binge watching TV, stalking people on social media,  dealing with roommates, and the things you picked up at the farmer's market and have no idea what to do with it.  There are boxes with information on different styles of beers and wines as well as how to read the labels of wines from around the world. 

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Love, Lies & Hocus Pocus: Beginnings

Love, Lies & Hocus Pocus: Beginnings (book 1) by: Lydia Sherrer
Fiction: Paranormal: Mystery, E-book
E-book Count: 37
Book Count: 73

Lily is a wizard (born with a natural talent to do magic) her mentor's nephew Sebastian is a witch (can use some magic because of connections made in life to magical beings). We also briefly meet some of the fae that he uses to do work, in exchange for pizza and alcohol.  Most wizards look down on witches, but Lily is willing to help Sebastian from time to time.  In this book of the series she helps him deal with a ghost in a cursed house and retrieves a magical artifact that his family has had for generations (and he stole from his wizard brother.)

Monday, December 10, 2018

Man-Eater: The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal

Man-Eater: The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal by: Harold Schechter
Non-fiction: History, E-book
E-book Count: 36
Book Count: 72

This book goes over the story of Alfred Packer, who was part of  an ill fated group of gold prospectors who do to: bad planning, bad weather, and him not being as good of a guide as he said ended up almost all dying.  He in a small group of the men set out in the bitter cold of Colorado in winter in the hopes of making it to an Indian Agency, that they thought was just a couple of days away.  The 5 men with him all ended up dead and he ate some of them.  Although, the cannibalism was seen as horrible, what ended him up in jail for most of his life was the possibility that he killed all the men and then took their money.  Packer's story was that Bell (one of the other men) killed all the others while he was out looking for food, and then he had to kill Bell in self-defense. (And that the money was doing no good in the pockets of dead men.)  However, Packer was known as a chronic lair, and a number of the details of the story changed the different times he told the story.  The book covers all of his life as well as the legacy of him and his story including people attempting to get him exonerated and those trying to prove his guilt.  

Saturday, December 01, 2018

American Monsters:

American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America By: Linda S. Gogfrey
Non-fiction: 340 pages
Physical Book Count: 36
Book Count: 71

This book is on various cyrptozoological creatures of America.  It is divided into land, water and air creatures, with notes that some could fit in multiple categories.   It has well known things like Bigfoot and more locally known ones as well.  It includes both the history of a creature, especially ones that might be traced back to Native American legends, as well as modern sightings of the creature.  

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Why We're Catholic:

Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love by: Trent Horn
Non-fiction: religion, 219 pages

Physical Book Count: 35
Book Count: 70

As we did a 5 part book club series on this book.  I am only adding it for the count.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places:

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by: Colin Dickey
Non-Fiction: History, Paranormal, 285 pages
Physical Book Count: 34
Book Count: 69

This book is an unusual book on ghosts and haunted places.  It doesn't just go over ghost stories, or talk about looking for famous ghosts.  It's largely about how a place gets known as haunted.  It studies the history of places and examines the difference between what the common stories and legends are and what can be known about the history.  It was written by someone that lived near the Winchester Mystery House, who didn't find historic evidence that people thought it was haunted until that was used as a way to sell tickets to it; however, the Toys'r'us in town was long thought to be haunted.  It digs into the ways that the story of a ghost changes to fit the ideas and beliefs of the people that see the ghost, including examples from around the country.

Monday, November 19, 2018

The Defendant:

The Defendant By: G.K. Chesterton
Non:fiction: Essay, Philosophy, E-book
E-book Count: 35
Book Count: 68

This book is a collection of early essays by G.K. Chesterton that first printed in a paper.  They are him defending various things like: penny dreadfuls, nonsense, ugly things, slang and heraldry.  There are 16 essays total, plus a defence (defense) of a new edition being printed.  It is also old enough to be public domain, which is one of the reasons that I read it, as I will likely use it for a book club book on my YouTube channel.  

Saturday, November 17, 2018

the sun and her flowers:

the sun and her flowers by: Rupi Kaur
Non-fiction: poetry, 248 pages
Physical Book Count: 33
Book Count: 67

A collection of poetry grouped together by themes, one of the books I picked for the year long reading challenge.  

Saturday, November 03, 2018

Atlas of Cursed Places:

Atlas of Cursed Places: A Travel Guild to Dangerous and Frightful Destinations By Olivier Carrer
Non-Fiction: paranormal, history, 142 pages
Physical Book Count: 32
Book Count: 66

1st, as I have been too busy to read all the Halloween book that I have wanted to read, I have decided to just keep reading them in November, as it's not like there are all that many Thanksgiving books.  I will still have some food/drink connected books and maybe a history book or two as well.  


2nd, I did actually read this book in October, but just didn't get to writing about it until now.

3rd, about the book: this book is a sampling of places around the world that are thought to be cursed.  Some are cursed because of historical things that happened there.  Some are thought to be cursed due to supernatural things.  And some are cursed do to the mysteries connected to them.  Some of the places included  are: Nuremberg, Poveglia, the Valley of the Kings, the Bermuda Triangle, The Pine Barrens and Amityville.  Each entry includes: the location, with longitude and latitude, a map, a sub title, and a couple of pages of information on why it is in the book.   

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

The Girl in the Green Silk Gown:

The Girl in the Green Silk Gown: Book 2 of The Ghost Roads by: Seanan McGuire
Fiction: Paranormal, 331 pages
Physical Book Count: 31
Book Count: 65

I didn't notice that this was book 2 in the series until I started the book; however, all the important things that you need to know for this story are in the book.  This book is a story of Rose Marshall, aka. the Phantom Prom Date, aka the Girl in the Green Silk Gown, a hitchhiking ghost who was killed on the way to her prom.  This book takes the stories of the Phantom Prom Date and adds another layer to it.  For she was killed by Bobby Cross, a former actor who made a cross roads deal to stay young and alive forever.  But for him to do it, he must constantly drive in his car, that is fueled by the people he murders with it.  Rose was one of the 1st people he killed in the 1950's and the only one who got away.  So of course, he will do anything to destroy her once and for all.
In her decades as a hitchhiking ghost she has made many friends including: Emma, a Bean Sidhe (banshee), Apple, queen of the North American routewitches, Gary, her prom date from that fateful night who lived a long life, but managed to turn himself into a ghost car, and the Ocean Lady, a early American road that has been traveled enough that it has become a goddess of twilight.  

Saturday, October 27, 2018

An Exorcist Explains the Demonic:

An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels By: Fr. Gabriele Amorth with Stefano Stimamiglio
Non-Fiction: Religion 145 pages
Physical Book Count: 30
Book Count: 64

1st, when I started the book I knew that when you are a hammer everything is a nail, so when you are the most famous exorcist in the world, you might see the potential evil in everything.  So when he suggested that one might be opening themselves up to something evil by: getting a non religious tattoo, reading "Harry Potter" or watching scary movies I continued reading.  But, I really have to wonder how many people are hurling spells are people in Italy that that is a major focus of this book.  Also, how are people getting possessed by have another person cursing them, when they are Christians?  I distantly remember  learning that you need to let a demon in, that's why vampires can't go into houses without permission.  Sure, these innocent victims of spells and curses could be oppressed by demons or otherwise attacked from the outside, but that's not possession.    

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Angels and Demons:

Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know about Them? by: Peter J. Kreeft
Non-fiction: Religion, e-book
E-book Count: 34
Book Count: 63

This book answers 100 questions that people have had about angels as well as demons. Some are serous, some are silly, one question is basically a  short essay with the answer being 1 word.  
 They do all have serious theological answers, but some are a bit more light hearted in the response.  For example, how to tell if an angel is visiting you in an assumed body or as a vision: offer them food (not devil's food cake) and see if any of it is missing after they "eat" it, or why science can't prove or disprove angels, because they don't reflect light, and so can't be observed.   Most of the highlights that I made in the book, weren't because they were so deep, but because they were so funny.  

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Dept. H volume 3: Decompressed:

Dept. H  volume 3: Decompressed by: Matt Kindt
Fiction: Sci-Fi, Graphic Novel
Physical Book Count: 29
Book Count: 62

Things have now gotten so bad at the research station that they have to abandon it, but there is not enough subs, or energy for everyone to make it to the surface, and they all have been exposed to some contaminant. 

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Dept. H volume 2: After the Flood:

Dept. H  volume 2: After the Flood by: Matt Kindt

Fiction: Sci-Fi, Graphic Novel
Physical Book Count: 28
Book Count: 61

Things get worst in the research station while we learn more of the backstory of Mia, including more on her mother and the other people in the research station.


Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Dept. H volume 1: Pressure:

Dept. H  volume 1: Pressure by: Matt Kindt
Fiction: Sc-Fi, Graphic Novel
Physical Book Count: 27
Book Count: 60

This book is about a young woman named Mia, who is into exploring space.  Her father started a deep-sea research station.  When the story starts we find out that he died in what might have been an accident or might have been murder in the deep-sea station.  She thinks it was murder, and her job is to go to the station and find out what happened to him.  The list of suspects is small and includes: her own brother, her dad's business partner that she has known for years, and a former friend of hers.  Once she got to the research station things go from bad to worst.


Monday, October 15, 2018

Beware!:

Beware!: R.L. Stine Picks His Favorite Scary Stories edited by: R.L. Stine
Fiction: Short stories, paranormal, classics, poetry, children's, 211 pages
Physical Book Count: 26
Book Count: 59

This book is a collection of short stories, sections from books, poems and other quick reads that all fall under the theme of scary stories.  

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Bites:

Bites: Scary Stories to Sink Your Teeth Into Edited By: Lois Metzger
Fiction: Short Story, Paranormal, YA 103 pages
Physical Book Count: 25
Book Count: 58

I had already read this book 4 years ago, and about 2 stories into the book, I knew that I already read the book, but as I was already into it, I decided to just finish the book.  Old review here.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Crazy Love:

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by: Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski
Non-Fiction: Religion, 205 pages
Physical Book Count: 24
Book Count: 57

While the last book I read was picked for at least in someway fitting with my October reading themes, this one as you might have guessed, has nothing to do with the theme.  I just finished it in this month and I always like to put in all the books that I have read in the actual order that I have read them.  (And there is likely to be at least one more off topic book for this month, as I have a 1 month membership to Formed from the diocese, and so want to use all the resources that I can while I can, and it has e-books.)
The book itself is about the "crazy" love of God for people and how to respond with a "crazy" love in return.  "Crazy" of course referring to the way that this amount of love appears to us, much like the fight over the song "Reckless Love", as God's love is neither crazy or reckless, but can appear that way to humans.  It has a lot of Bible quotes to back up the author's points and ends with a chapter on people that actually put this level of love of God (and neighbor) in practice in the modern world. 

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

The Boy at the Door:

The Boy at the Door by: Alex Dahl
Fiction: 351 pages
Physical Book Count: 23
Book Count: 56

I picked this book out because the top book on my reading list was a Nordic Noir book, and so I've been looking at it in my to read list all year.  So after a quick look online for a book of this genre, and what the local library had, I picked up this book.  And it also fit with my general Halloween books in October rule, as it is a book with many dark themes.  The story starts out when a women with a seemingly perfect life, is asked to take home a boy after one of her daughter's swim classes, as he lived near her, and the pool couldn't get a hold of his family.  The address that he has listed as his address, is an abandoned house with signs of squatters.  She takes him back to her house, as she forgot her cell phone and he convinces her to just let him stay the night.  It's then that everthing in her life changes.