Purgatory 101: Everything You Wanted To Know About Purgatory

Purgatory 101: Everything You Wanted To Know About Purgatory by: Johan Cyprich
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book

This book should be called: vaguely superstitious uses of devotions and incorrect, likely Rad Trad "information" on the Catholic faith, pray for the souls in Purgatory.    For example, it notes that we know little on Purgatory and that visions, even from saints aren't official doctrine.  It then spends most of the book going over all the ways that you can pray for the souls in Purgatory.  Which wouldn't be bad; except, it's not information on Purgatory and it includes statements declared incorrect by popes.  Things like, if you pray the St. Gertrude the Great prayer 1,000 souls will go to Heaven.  Or if you have 30 Gregorian Masses said for someone, having one said every day for 30 days straight (with no skipping days) then that person will automatically go to Heaven on day 30.  In short, superstitious uses of otherwise good devotions.  And then there is the things that are completely wrong, which were likely right 70 years ago.  Things like saying Lent ends on Easter Vigil or there are 3 mysteries of the rosary (I am assuming that they meant to say 3 groups or types of mysteries.  Also I checked when the Luminous Mysteries were made in relationship to the book,   they started in 2002, the book was updated this year.) 

The Man Who Became Frankenstein's Monster:

The Man Who Became Frankenstein's Monster by:Robert Daicy
Fiction: Historic, E-book

This story is set in the 1920's.  William Barker has a fairly normal life.  He has a good job, a son he loves, and a wife who is unhappy, but one doesn't just get a divorce.  Then after a day of fun activities out with his son, they get in a car accident.  His son, James, dies and he barely lives, with many ugly scars all over his body.  His wife used the son's death as a reason to get a divorce and be free to marry her lover.  William looses his job, as he is too disfigured to work with the customers.  His mom would be happy to let him live with her, but he ends up meeting a man that runs a travelling carnival who offers him a job in the freak show. 

Behold Your Mother:

Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines By: Tim Staples
Non-fiction: Religion, 352 pages

A book on the various Marian doctrines divided up by doctrine. Many of the common arguments and sources used, both for and against the doctrines, but also some less common.

The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship:

The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship (The Adventures of John Blake #1) by Philip Pullman, illustrated by: Fred Fordham
Fiction: Sci-fi, mystery, graphic novel, 160 pages

A mysterious ghost ship appears out of a sudden fog.  If you look into the eyes of the boy on board you die.  Or at least that is the story; the ship isn't full of ghosts, its full of people from all different times who are very much alive, but trapped traveling back and forth in time.  And there is someone from the present day after them.  As well as others searching for answers and deeply connected to the ship's sailors.  John Blake, the boy who is at the center of this all, saves the life of a girl from modern times, and has to risk everything to put her back in her time. 

Baba Yaga's Assistant:

Baba Yaga's Assistant by: Marika McCoola,  illustrated by: Emily Carroll
Fiction, Graphic Novel, Paranormal, Fantasy 132 pages

This story ended too quickly. First thing I did after finishing it was look to see if their might be more books in a series to read. I didn't want the book to end.
  A young adult who's mother died when she was young and her grandmother who raised her also just died finds out her father is getting re-married and she is getting a brat of a step-sister.  She also sees an ad for being Baba Yaga's assistant.  She grew up on the stories that her grandmother told of when she knew Baba Yaga and so she sets out to try and work for her.  Of course it's not as simple as filling out forms, Masha (the girl) has a series of tests starting with even finding the house. 

Vlad the Impaler: A Life From Beginning to End:

Vlad the Impaler: A Life From Beginning to End by:Hourly History
Non-fiction, History, Biography, E-book

As one might tell by the author of the book, this is a cliffnotes version of the history/life story of Vlad the Impaler, which info on his connection to the story "Dracula."  It does go over major points of his life. 

CASE CLOSED: Serial Killers Captured:

CASE CLOSED: Serial Killers Captured by: by R.J. Parker
Non-fiction: True Crime, E-book

A collection of shorter telling of the story of some of the most famous serial killers as well as some lesser known ones.  It goes over the crime, capture and what became of the killer. 

Grunge, Nerds, and Gastropubs: A Mass Culture Odyssey:

Grunge, Nerds, and Gastropubs: A Mass Culture Odyssey by: Kevin Craft
Non-fiction, Essays, Pop Culture, E-book


First this book is all about being a part of Gen X by someone that is considered a Millennial by a number of  people.  It is a great set of essays on why they like a band not even often considered grunge, is a geek (with some nerdy qualities but why they wouldn't say geek when it would make it alliteration?) and why they think Olive Garden is good food.  In short, the book and the title are two very different things. 

Lilith: A Romance:

Lilith: A Romance by George MacDonald
Fiction: Religion, Fantasy, Classic, E-book

There is nothing like Victorian, allegorical, religious fantasy.  (Which is probably a good thing.)  This book was a better read then the (later written, not Victorian, allegorical, religious fantasy) Narnia books; however, it was also way, way more heretical. Like everyone will be saved, including the demons (or pure evil, the void, Satan?)  and just giving up and dying is the way to go.  Also, there is a creepy thing with a person that looks like a girl even if she is older then the guy obsessed with her.