Rage On the Page Part II: Trump is a Russian Asset

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We are barely into the second month of the conman’s presidency, and so much irreparable damage has already been done. Last week, I watched one of the darkest days in American history unfold as the Orange Felon and his soulless lackey, JD Vance, berated and belittled Ukrainian President (AND OUR ALLY!) Volodymyr Zelensky. It was so incredibly hard to watch as they attempted to tear down a great man with sheer hatred and belligerence. It was embarrassing to see our “leaders” behave like fifth-grade schoolyard bullies, pushing pro-Russia talking points and silencing him whenever he attempted to speak. The entire performance was shameful, disgusting, and most of all, dangerous. Dear readers, I want to make this point perfectly clear: Our country is now held hostage by a Russian asset. Trump talks a lot about “holding the cards,” but do you know who really has the cards? That would be Putin, an evil war criminal who should be executed for his crimes. My guess is that he has some damning evidence that could put Trump, Vance, and many others in prison for high treason and election fraud. Something sinister is going on, and I hope it all comes out one day…preferably sooner rather than later.

I hope you all understand that this performance was staged for Russian TV. I make sure to listen to the Orange Felon’s word salad closely because he tells on himself constantly. The sad thing is, many woefully uninformed people choose not to take his words seriously or to tune it all out altogether. After humiliating the Ukrainian president, Trump said with a twisted smile, “This should make for good TV.” Let’s extrapolate this for a moment. This statement clearly shows us that the entire Oval Office “meeting” was a pre-meditated ambush for Putin’s viewing pleasure.

I’ve been watching YouTube video podcasts nonstop, hoping for some breaking news about the Democrats pushing back, or miracle of all miracles, a Republican finally going rogue and fighting for the people. Sadly, I’m seeing none of this from our “leaders.” The Democrats are continuing to put out flowery statements, saying things like “We urge the Republicans to take a stand.” Y’all! We have moved past the point of “urging.” We need to start DOING! Our fascist President and his posse of Death Eaters are flouting the rule of law and our Constitution to gut the many critical systems that keep us safe. If you think this is hyperbolic, you’re wrong. They are tearing our federal government apart, slashing and burning and robbing the poor to pad their thick pocketbooks. Medicaid and Medicare are gutted. Millions and millions of Americans are going to lose their lifelines. The time to act is now, but the Democrats keep taking Q-Tips to a knife fight.

This is scary stuff, and I cannot believe we have four years of this. We are losing NATO, and we are teetering on the precipice of World War III. The recession—possibly another Great Depression—is looming. Why is it only up to the people to fight? And thank God they are. The Town Halls in ruby red districts are popping! Angry white Trump voters are finally waking up and holding their so-called leaders accountable. Isn’t it funny that the only way they’ll see the light is when they are personally impacted?

Sometimes I wonder about my former friend, a Trump voter, who would never shut up about how much she feared her boys being drafted into war if—gasp!—Kamala was elected. I wonder if she’s feeling somewhat regretful about her misguided and truly selfish vote. I wonder how she feels about her son—a young pilot in training—flying a small plane amidst all of the recent airplane crashes and near misses. I wonder how she feels about her web coding job, now that our so-called anti-immigrant President is planning to replace all high-paying tech workers with low-paid immigrants. I wonder how she feels about cancer research being cut off since she has a brain tumor that I hope will stay in remission for a very long time. I don’t wish ill will upon her, but I do wonder if she has changed her very stubborn stance on politics. You see, she and her husband were salivating at the chance to “own the libs.” They hate trans athletes. They hate paying taxes. They hate poor people asking for “handouts.” This is all very on-brand for Trumplicans buying into all the culture war garbage. Again, I wish her well, but I do NOT ever want to see or speak to her again.

So there you have it, folks. I’m scared, frustrated, infuriated, and ultimately ashamed to be an American. I can’t wait for my passport to come in the mail so I can have the option to abandon ship when the time comes. For now, I will continue to flood the zone by calling and emailing my senators and keeping an eye out for protests I can join.

Until next time…

Facing Fascism: Chronicles from a Commoner

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I have started this sentence and backtracked so many times because it’s hard to know where to even begin. America is under threat, and we are flooded with red flag alarms about the fast-approaching downfall of democracy and a rapid descent into a fascist hellscape.

So, I guess I’ll start here: A very kind woman at my work shared something deeply personal and frightening: her husband has stage-four colon cancer with liver damage caused by chemotherapy. Since his condition is rare, he’s being studied, yet all of that halted immediately when our shadow President (God, it’s so hard to even write out his name), cruelly pulled the plug on federally funded medical studies. This incredibly kind woman, wanted to give me comfort that day because I was in the throws of anxiety after calling EMS on my father (another blog post for another time). And in this conversation, she told me this:  We are all experiencing a major pivotal point in American history, and that everyday folks need to write about it for future generations to study.

So, here I am, a mere commoner, providing some historical insight into the demise of our great nation with a surprisingly fragile democracy. The intention of this series is not to go viral, get a ton of likes or attract a mass following. I just want to chronicle this experience to share a slice of history not told by political podcasters and academics. These posts will be deeply personal, so I don’t care to share them even on my social media channels because, let’s face it, our pages are riddled with non-friend looky-loos, am I right? I’ll only share this initial post because I want to encourage others to chronicle their experiences too.

Here it goes: I’m incredibly scared. We were warned about the consequences of Trump without guardrails, but the majority of Americans who only serve their own interests (another post for another time) chose to be traitors to their own country. And for what? Racism, sexism, hate, bigotry, cruelty, greed, and the insatiable thirst for cheap groceries. I hate that I live in this deeply, DEEPLY, individualistic, selfish nation, but here I am. They’re proud of themselves for “owning the libs,” but I’m thinking by now they must be regretful. Of course, they won’t admit it to themselves or others, but how could they not be just as scared as the rest of us who voted the right way? How is it even possible to blame multiple plane crashes on something like DEI? Where is the fucking logic in this? They’re all going to find a way to blame Biden for all the hardships, yet none of their arguments make any sense. It’s all spin, spin, spin, fake Russian propaganda news (thanks a lot, Joe Rogen), and conspiracy theories. How are millions of Americans brainwashed? How?????

As for my anxiety de jour, it would have to be the recent scene captured on video of an unknown man barring the doors to the Department of Education Building. While watching the confused crowd of Congress members asking him repeatedly, “Who are you? Why are you blocking the door?” and seeing the armed police officers standing guard behind the glass window, I felt a rush of terror. This is something you would see in a dystopian movie, not real life. If this is allowed to happen, anything goes. My poor, frazzled mind is still grappling with thoughts of the shadow President and his young Nazi minions fucking around with ALL OUR SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION and dumping highly secure data into AI. As Rachel Maddow recently informed us, this is “Christmas in February” for our Chinese and Russian enemies. She also noted that our shadow President has major business dealings in China, so he stands to gain more billions and more power by helping them eviscerate our nation.

I think this is a good place to stop. Boundaries are so important, and I’m doing my best to flip the switch and take care of my mental health. It’s SO hard, but I’m trying. My Calm and Headspace apps are working overtime, and I highly recommend guided meditations, sleep stories, binaural music, and soundscapes to anyone who’s feeling ALL THE FEELS with me. Maybe pick up a self-help book while you’re at it. I recently listened to “Happy Days” by Gabrielle Bernstein and was sadly disappointed that most of her advice weighs heavily on religion, something my college philosophy professor called “the opiate of the masses.” Sorry, but I missed the organized religion indoctrination back in my misspent youth. I wish I could comfort myself with the “Jesus, take the wheel” mentality, but nah. It’s just not for me.

She did provide one very helpful piece of advice that I plan to follow! That’s the thing about self-help books, isn’t it? Most of it is gobbledygook, but one nugget of wisdom can really make a difference! Here’s the advice: Don’t repress your emotions. Get it out on paper by journaling for 20 minutes while listening to binaural music, which does something magical to your brain chemicals. She calls her journal, “Rage on the Page,” which I think is so apropos for the times. Write it all out in these three sections: Fear, frustration, resentment. Afterwards, the enormous cabin pressure should ease just a bit. I’m hoping this will help because dang! I have never felt the weight of the world on my shoulders like this. It’s heavy, unsettling, and so disorienting. I mean–my God–I just read a story in the Austin-American Statesman about a “Trump Burger” chain coming to Texas, making me wonder if this is even real news or something pumped out by Musk and his minions. The world is a scary place when you don’t even know what is real anymore.

While writing this, I’m wondering if a major server crash will wipe out my chronicles, so perhaps I’ll print this all out as I go along and keep a manuscript somewhere safe. That’s where my mind goes, and it’s a dark place, my friends. In the meantime, I’m going to make a conscious effort to take care of my mental health because worrying about things you can’t control is a pointless exercise.

Until next time…

Seasonal Book Recommendations for Cozy Nights

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Ho ho ho! Merry New Year! This post is a tad late now that we’re in January, but I will share my seasonal reads with you all nonetheless! Seriously, how did Christmas come and go so quickly?! It’s hard to believe the holidays are over and the stores are all peddling their Valentine’s goods. I suppose time flies even when you’re not having fun…and totally dreading what’s to come after January 20th. Wow, that got dark fast.! To lighten the mood, here are my light and fluffy holiday reads:

Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop, edited by Otto Penzler

I saw this collection of short stories at Barnes and Noble and just had to pluck it off the shelf! How could I resist 12 short stories about crimes surrounding a bookshop during the Christmas season? As with most short story collections, I had to weed through some duds to get to the good stuff, but It was well worth my while. Here are my faves:

“Snowflake Time” by Laura LIppman: This story is told by a typical white male Fox News enthusiast who bemoans the “snowflakes” in his newspaper columns. I despised him right from the jump, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the karma unfold. This story had the most satisfying ending, and I loved every bit of it.

“The Gift of the Wiseguy” by Rob Hart: This is a bittersweet crime story about a former mob boss making amends with his son. He pays a visit to the Mysterious Bookshop, where his son is giving a reading. Bad things happen when a rival mob discovers their nemesis came out of hiding, and I’ll stop right there to save you from spoilers. I will say that this is a true Christmas story about love and atonement.

“The Christmas Party” by Jeffrey Deaver: This is a twisty little suspense story about a nurse who offers to put a geriatric patient out of his misery—but only after he gets to enjoy his last Christmas party at the old folks’ home. I must admit I didn’t see the plot twist coming—well done!

“A Christmas Puzzle” by Ragnar Jónasson: This is, in my humble opinion, the best story in the entire book! An 80-year-old woman makes a special trip to the Mysterious Bookshop to ask the bookseller to help her solve a puzzle. Together, they solve the literary-themed word riddles, leading to an unbelievable outcome. Wowza—I didn’t see that one coming!

It Happened One Christmas Eve by Jenn McKinlay

This little novella was just fun! If you love a good, silly Hallmark Christmas movie full of hijinks and over-the-top characters, this book is for you. We’re dealing with a reverse Cinderella situation: a woman running away from her Prince Charming (in a glittering ball gown and heels, no less) and hijacking a carriage to get out of dodge. Turns out, she’s stolen Santa’s ride, but this is no ordinary fat man in a red suit. Nope, he’s an undercover reporter with washboard abs looking for a juicy story about the runaway fiancée. Together they make a pact: he helps her get to her hideaway cottage, and she promises him an exclusive story. Hijinks ensue as they run amok in Manhattan, and the romance gets steamier with every misadventure. Love it! This was the perfect escape for all my post-election day woes. A big thanks to the author for giving me a nice little break from reality.

The Scary Book of Christmas Lore: 50 Terrifying Yuletide Tales from Around the World by Tim Rayborn

I’m giving this three stars on Goodreads for the amazing artwork alone. The illustrations are both horrifying and stunning, including the cover art! I just wish I could say the same for the content, which was quite underwhelming. Instead of fireside storytelling, which is what I was hoping for, these little chapters read more like encyclopedia articles, just dry facts about the ghoulish monsters with a few snarky remarks. This would have been better if the author had picked just a few really good, scary stories and fleshed them out more instead of cramming 50 entries into the book. Many of the factoids were repetitive, with each monster punishing naughty children with a switch….blah, blah, blah. I grew rather bored and ended up skimming most of the book. The art, however, is amazing, so I will revisit this little book every holiday season just to scare myself silly by looking at these ghoulish holiday beasts! What can I say? I love a good scare on a cold winter’s night!

Shock and Paw: Cat Cafe Mystery Book 8 by Cate Conte

Let me start off by saying I FREAKING LOVE THIS SERIES! I always look forward to visiting Maddie’s cat café on Daybreak Island. Oh, how I wish this were my life! I mean, yeah, her cute little touristy town has an unusually high murder rate, but other than that, it’s so peaceful and charming. This time around, Maddie’s juggling a lot of plates amidst the busy holiday season. In addition to dealing with her injured grandfather (he really should leave the rooftop decorating to the professionals), she must solve the mystery of the murdered newspaper owner to get her best friend off the hook! Amidst all the madness, there’s a shady cat breeder in town, and Maddie isn’t about to let these poor, helpless kitties get exploited. And this right here is why I love this book series so much. Maddie is passionate about rescuing the kitties, and she hates breeders as much as I do! This was a fun, festive read that delivered all the cozy Christmas vibes for cat rescue enthusiasts. It’s the cat’s meow! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

How Snowball Stole Christmas by Kristen McKanagh

This fun little holiday romance is the cat’s meow! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in this series and highly recommend them to cat ladies like me who need something light and fluffy to read during the stressful holiday season. This time around, little Snowball is playing matchmaker with two of her newest friends, Lara (the local toy shop owner) and Peter (bookshop owner and Grinch). He’s salty about her securing a coveted storefront location, so he pens an anonymous online column bemoaning this new toy shop interloper’s alleged “corporate agenda.” Gee, what a charmer. I’m really rooting for this guy to win over the girl…not. Thankfully, Snowball is on the beat, and she’s maximizing all of her white, fluffy cute charms to bring these reluctant lovers together. The plot thickens when Lara’s repugnant sister-in-law guilts her into taking care of her little kid—an impossible task for someone who’s burning the candle at both ends to run a brand-new business. Let this be a lesson to all of us: we need to use the word “NO!” more often! Wouldn’t you know it, Peter’s frosty attitude melts away as he swoops in to save the day and, well, you can only guess what happens next. Despite the basic plot and predictable ending, this was the purrfect antidote for my holiday/post-election stress, and I’m a little sad this is the last book in the series. Oh well, that’s why I always have my “Chet and Bernie” mysteries to turn to when life gets too stressful!

Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews

First, I must ask: Mary Kay Andrews, are you okay? I mean…what was this story even? A fully employed woman and her dog are left homeless after a nasty divorce, so she ends up squatting at a vacation rental handled by her real estate company/place of employment? How does this even happen? Then, the romance begins when the hunky nephew of the deceased homeowner comes to handle the affairs? What? This was strange, yet mildly entertaining, so I’m going to give it two generous stars on Goodreads. I’d add another star if this had more holiday vibes, which I think the author forgot about while penning one of the world’s most awkward holiday romance novellas. Seriously, so odd.

DNFs

Snowed In at the Cat Cafe by Rachel Rowlands

I could not DNF this book fast enough when I read that most of the cat cafe kitties come from BREEDERS!!! Maybe this is just me being an ignorant American, but do cats not need rescuing in jolly ol’ England? We have a homeless pet explosion crisis all across the nation, so the thought of a cat cafe adopting out (or selling, I guess?) breeder cats is atrocious. It was actually a relief to have a solid reason for giving up on this book early because the beginning chapters were soooooo boring. No thanks.

Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict

murder on the christmas express

I tried. I really did. I came for the “Murder on the Orient Express” thrill ride, but it turned out to be a slow-moving story with a HUGE cast of characters. I couldn’t keep track of everyone amidst the rapid-fire dialogue, so I gave up the ghost very early on. If you choose to read this, I highly advise putting pen to paper and keeping a glossary of all the characters.

A Christmas Ghost Story by Kim Newman

I was hoping this would be a gothic Christmastime ghost story, but this novella didn’t cut it. The plot didn’t seem to go anywhere, and the atmosphere just felt grim and dismal. I’m sorry to say this was not my cup of Christmas tea.

Four Stars for ‘Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice’

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Do you ever finish a really good book and just want to hug it? Well, for me, this is one of those rare gems! I loved everything about this book: the cozy, autumn atmosphere, the adorable coffee shop, the mother-daughter duo, the list goes on. At first, I was put off by the “Gilmore Girls” comparison because every other book I’ve attempted to read those panders to this fanbase has been a disaster. Thankfully, this book is not a cheap replica of the TV show!

As for the story, this is just a very sweet YA book about a high school girl who loves working in her mother’s coffeehouse in a lovely little East Coast town. Think Sleepy Hollow meets Stars Hollow. Be still, my heart! I loved easing my way into the story as Lucy and her mom happily serve delicious drinks and baked goodies to their regular customers amidst the onset of spooky season.  When she’s not baking pies or serving maple lattes, she’s enjoying the fall festival with her friends–corn mazes, bonfires, hot cocoa and all!

Then the plot heats up when a popular coffee chain moves in right across the street and business starts to dip. Things are looking dire for the mother-daughter baristas, but hope is on the horizon when Lucy decides to whip up the most perfect pumpkin spice latte, thus ratcheting up my own cravings for this delicious drink and sending me straight to Starbucks. Yeah, I know it’s a soulless chain, but I’m not lucky enough to live in a cute town with a mom-and-pop coffeehouse, okay!

Anyhoo, romance is brewing (pun intended) between Lucy and the cute new boy, who sadly is the son of the rival coffeehouse owners. I’ll stop right here to avoid any spoilers, but I will say their love story is adorable. A lot of reviewers are upset about the lack of steamy romance, but I don’t really care about any of that.  I was just enjoying the G-rated ride, which really took me back to my high school days when a peck on the lips felt like such a scandal!

I don’t know why, but this book felt more like a throwback to the ‘90s when life seemed simpler…maybe because the social media element wasn’t overdone with teenagers taking nonstop selfies and speaking in hashtags. I know that stuff is our reality now, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it! I also really appreciated Lucy’s take on influencers…and how meaningless and shallow they all seem. Okay, maybe those are my own thoughts, but she did have some introspective moments that rang true to me.

Overall, this is just a wonderful little YA story that will give you all the fall vibes and warm fuzzies. I relished every moment of it!

Four Stars for ‘Midnight Feast’ by Lucy Foley

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The gist: Told in alternating narratives (the “girl boss,” the husband, the mystery guest, the kitchen helper, the detective), this story revolves around a highfalutin, new-agey luxury resort called “The Manor.” Nestled deep in the English countryside, the resort is built on sacred ground rumored to be haunted by vengeful birds. The townsfolk hate it, yet they’re too busy enjoying the sweet life filled with lavish food and complicated cocktails (all gluten and tannin-free, of course). There’s a lot of bad blood between the Manor’s “girl boss” owner (think Gwyneth Paltrow meets Cruella De Vil) and a mysterious ghost from her past. Things escalate VERY QUICKLY, and I’m here to watch it all come crashing down!

The Plot: When I read the dust cover, I was sold. Lucy Foley had me at “haunted resort.” This was a fun ride with all my favorite elements: spooky lore, haunted woods, a super evil villain and vengeance–YES! With the multiple narratives and occasional time-skipping chapters, the book kept me glued to the pages, making me question everything about everyone! No one–not even the husband–is off the suspect list because the resort owner, Francesca, is EVIL AF! We soon learn that a dead body washed shore below the seaside cliffs, but the author doesn’t reveal the name until the very end. Way to dangle that carrot, Miss Foley! I had so many question marks, but thankfully, everything was answered at the end. And let me tell you, it was such a satisfying conclusion!

The atmosphere: There’s a reason why I’m always down to read a Lucy Foley book. She delivers on the atmosphere and weaves in elements of foreboding that give me the chills in the best possible ways. I felt like I was right there at the exclusive retreat surrounded by spooky trees and flocks of birds soaring through the dark clouds. I loved the creepy feeling of tree branches brushing against the windows in the guest cabin, where a mysterious guest had good reason to be afraid. Oh, how this would make such a fantastic movie. Why can’t Hollywood take a break from all the unoriginal superhero movies and turn these books into blockbuster hits?

Overall: If you are a fan of suspense and don’t mind the multiple narrator/time-kipping format, I highly recommend this one. This $30 hardback was worth every penny!

Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas: Horror Books to Read by the Fire

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Good gracious! It’s been a long, long time since my last post! Why must life get so darn busy this time of year? Now that I have a sliver of time to give my little book blog some love, I’m happy to bring you this little roundup of four-star spooky reads…and sadly a few flops.

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

Rarely do I DNF novellas and short stories, but sometimes I just can’t soldier on. I can’t put my finger on it, but this story couldn’t hold my attention. The characters were just too depressing, and I couldn’t tell where this story was even going. While working their night shifts, they formed some sort of cemetery meetup club. At some point, they find the caretaker digging an open grave and decide to investigate him. The premise sounds fun and spooky, but it really didn’t do anything for me. I guess you can say I wasn’t digging it—ha!

The Haunted by Danielle Vega

Oh wow—this was really bad. I’m sorry but claiming this is the “Stephen King of YA” is beyond absurd. The book started off like any campy teen horror movie: a young girl moves into a haunted house with her family and instantly falls into the cool kid crowd. Things start to go bump in the night, and she soon learns that she’s living in a murder house. Sounds fun, right? Just when I thought I might enjoy this book, the author decides to throw in all the annoying tropes. Yep, that means insta-love, a bad boy Vs. good boy love triangle, and a milquetoast “Mary Sue” main character. And then there’s the end! Oh my stars—what a mess! The reveal made little sense, and not clues were dropped along the way to give us readers a chance to piece it together. Not cool, man. I think I’ll go ahead and take the rest of Danielle Vega’s books off of my TBR pile.

Small Town Horror by Roland Malfi

This is my first Ronald Malfi book, which is nuts because I love paranormal horror stories. A YouTube book reviewer likened the storyline to Stephen King’s “It,” so how could I not give this a shot? The storyline involves a group of high school friends reuniting in their dreary small town to ward off evil, which sounds familiar, I’m sure. However, the characters, the town, and the evil forces are far different from Stephen King’s seminal classic. Instead of an evil clown, we’re dealing with witchcraft, curses, and a haunted house with something nasty festering in the basement—such fun! This is a solid horror story set in an isolated seaside town that seems to be shrouded in dread. Think “Midnight Mass” meets “It” meets “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Loved it!

The Safe Man: A Ghost Story by Michael Connelly

This right here is why I can’t quit Audible. Even though I get free audiobooks on Libby and Hoopla, I still can’t get these treasures anywhere else. I’ll confess: this is my first Michael Connelly story, and boy howdy am I impressed! This guy can pen a fantastic ghost story with clever little twists. I enjoyed the entire storyline of a downtrodden locksmith who gets roped into opening a cursed safe. Soon, he and his client (a pompous best-selling horror writer) must close the portal they opened to escape impending doom. Such fun! I loved the ghostly visits and the all-around creepy vibes. This is an amazing full-cast production that is perfect for a long car ride.

31 Books of Halloween: ‘Horror Movie’ by Paul Tremblay

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I must admit, it took me a minute to get into this story. It was all just so very strange, and I couldn’t get a handle on the shifting timelines, mixed media and odd characters—particularly the unreliable narrator. All that aside, this book is a classic Paul Tremblay, and I mean that in the best possible way. Here are my thoughts:

The gist: A group of friends reunite to make a low-budget arthouse horror movie that (aside from a few disturbing clips) never sees the light of day. It becomes a cult classic/cursed film, launching the one surviving cast member (starring as the “Thin Kid”) into notoriety. The story flits from the 90s (during the making of the film) to the present (when the big-time Hollywood producers reboot the film). The chapters also flit from the MC’s narrations to screenplay scenes involving three sadistic teens torturing the “Thin Kid.” It gets pretty wild, especially when you discover their grand scheme!

The scares: I have to be vague because this book is too easy to spoil, but I will say that there are about five pages describing a horrifying scene (and the existential thoughts it conjures amongst the viewers). Do you remember that scene from “It Follows” when the terrified teens watch and wait for a monster to cross through the threshold? Well, this part of the book is even scarier! Oh, and I should mention there is some serious body horror going on here! We’re talking severed fingers, bloody torture and third-degree burns—yeesh!

The characters: I’ll be straight with you. The MC and his group of filmmaker friends (Cleo, Valentina and Karson) are not likeable. Yet somehow, I was still fascinated with their stories and yearned to know what led to their fate. It got to the point where it was hard to tease them apart from the demented characters they played on screen. This also includes the MC, who has no direction, drive, self-worth or purpose. He lets others push him around, which never ends well for anyone, does it?

The ending: I’ll keep this short and free of spoilers, but I will say that the ending was ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING! Of course, there’s some ambiguity regarding the supernatural Vs. mental illness, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

Overall: This book is unsettling in so many ways! Not only am I bothered by the motives of the filmmakers, I’m also questioning the thoughts I didn’t even know I had whilst enjoying my favorite horror movies. This is next-level horror that I didn’t see coming. Well done, Mr. Tremblay.

31 Books of Halloween: When Ghosts Call Us Home

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Number six on my 31 Books of Halloween countdown (yikes—I have some catching up to do!), is a total dud that I should’ve DNFed: When Ghosts Call Us Home). Yowza—this was a real turkey, which is such a disappointment because the premise checks all the boxes: A haunted sea cliff mansion; a viral found footage movie; and a haunted girl searching for clues to her missing sister whilst starring in the second installment of the ill-fated viral movie. There’s so much to unpack here, so let’s get cracking:

What I liked: The cover art is stunning! It’s so beautiful and creepy with elements of the story—ballet shoes, ocean waves, haunted houses—woven in. Chef’s kiss to the artist.

The scares: It’s weird. Even though all the horror elements were there (evil demon, possession, ghostly masquerade balls, etc.), this book was anything but scary. This book is 95% inner monologue, and I just grew tired of being inside Sophie’s head. Every page is packed with repetitive emotional descriptions of fear and dread, causing my eyes to glaze over. I get the feeling this author was trying to channel Eleanor from The Haunting of Hill House, yet the execution was all wrong.

The main character: While trudging through this thing, I realized that I need to veer away from mopey teenage characters. We are inside Sophie’s head the entire time—and it’s a total downer, man. There’s very little dialogue, so the periphery characters are barely even one-dimensional. There’s nothing to like about Sophie, other than her steadfast quest to find her missing sister. But even then, I ask why? The missing sister, Layla, put her through hell while filming her notorious movie, which makes me wonder why we should care about her salvation?

The viral film: I’m having a VERY hard time believing that a teenage kid could have the wherewithal to create a hit film with no background in filmmaking whatsoever. I mean…there’s special effects, crazy horror movie angles, epic dance scenes. How is any of this remotely believable? Also, we get no information about how she filmed, edited, and distributed this thing all by her little self. I get that demonic forces are at work here, but do they have skills in Final Cut Pro? And then the “V-Head” cult following was just absurd. Adding to the ridiculousness is some sort of dark website that challenges users to follow “The Path” to find the missing sister (insert eye roll emoji here).

Overall: I’d complain about wanting my money back, but I read this thing for free thanks to my best friend, Libby! Despite its alluring premise, the pacing is slow and drab. A lot of action is packed into the ending like the author needed to rush through it to meet a deadline. I didn’t understand how everything was resolved so quickly, but to be honest, I was just relieved it was over. Yeesh.

31 Books of Halloween: ‘Frozen Charlottes’ by Alex Bell

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn CoziesLeave a comment

I saw this book featured on BookTube and knew I just had to read it! I mean how could you go wrong with ghostly dolls, a haunted English estate, and a Ouija game gone bad? Here are my thoughts:

The gist: After an ill-fated Ouija game (there’s an app for that!), Sophie goes off to stay with her uncle and cousins in a secluded estate that once served as a boarding school for girls. Sadly, the aunt is unavailable because she’s in a mental health facility! Spooky things happen when creepy dolls whisper to themselves and things go bump in the night!

The scares: For a YA book, this is pretty darn scary! When I got to the part where the dolls–the Frozen Charlottes–started whispering bad things to each other, I had to look over my shoulder a few times just to be sure I was truly alone. I love that the story is set on an island shrouded by fog and mystery–such fun! Then there’s the parrot, Dark Tom, who randomly screeches and rants about murder and mayhem. Yikes!

The mystery: I’ll admit, I saw the twist coming a little early on, but that didn’t detract from the suspense, especially when the evildoer started to spiral. This book has some intense body horror scenes involving eyeballs and needles. After reading this, I’m going to stay far, far away from porcelain dolls.

Overall: This is an atmospheric ghost story that’s just perfect for spooky season. I loved the ending, which hinted at another installment in the series. We haven’t seen the last of these mischievous, murderous frozen Charlottes!

Is She or Isn’t She a Sociopath? My Thoughts on Patric Gagne’s ‘Memoir’

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies7 Comments

I’ve watched enough true crime to know that some people are wired to do very, VERY bad things—like torturing a small animal, then casually enjoying a happy meal. The fact that these humans exist creeps me out, and allegedly Patric Gagne is one of them. And boy is she happy to tell you all about it in her book, aptly titled “Sociopath.”

Before we get into this, I’ll warn you that we’re dealing with a highly unreliable narrator who wears her “HELLO! I’M A SOCIOPATH!” name badge with a bizarre sense of pride. This “memoir” was not what I expected, mainly because her stories just don’t add up, thus making me question whether she’s actually a sociopath. I have theories (*cough* narcissist *cough*), but I’ll leave it at that.
Here are my questions. If you have any insight, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Why is She So Proud of This Label? If I took a shot of whiskey every time she said, “I’m a sociopath,” I’d be wasted before reaching the second chapter. It baffles me how someone could easily latch onto this highly stigmatized diagnosis because it’s, well, creepy. I’m also baffled at how forthcoming she is with this information—even around her coworkers. Yikes. When she described herself as a “Wednesday Adams” breaking into houses with her pet ferret, things started to get clearer. She likes being different and edgy. Oh, don’t we all.

Does She Really Want to Go to Jail? I found it laughable when this extremely privileged girl claimed she wouldn’t mind going to jail because it would be more freeing. I sure wish she could’ve been caught just once while stealing cars so she could get a taste of that life. Little Miss Thang grew up in luxury, and she was hired at her daddy’s big-time Hollywood record label company without any experience. All this bravado about going to jail is just hilarious. Can someone please call her bluff the next time she breaks into a house?

So, Is She a Sociopath? It’s been fascinating reading the commentary by armchair psychologists in the Goodreads threads, but who am I to judge…or diagnose? However, I do question her motives, one being she’s way too eager to get that sociopath diagnosis, which eventually happens when she convinces her psychologist to administer some sort of test, which I’m sure she answered with a clear agenda. Why is this? Would another diagnosis (like..say..narcissistic personality disorder) be more mundane? Based on my honorary doctorate in forensic psychology (by way of murder podcasts), I know sociopaths just DO NOT CARE about having meaningful relationships. They also don’t give a fig about how they’re being perceived by others unless if there is something to be gained. Patic does, in fact, care. In social settings she is extremely self-conscious about not fitting in, but why? If she feels nothing for others, why does it matter? She expresses her love for her parents, her sister, and even her ferret. She’s also a mother and a wife, claiming she “feels a different type of love.” How does this make sense when you read through the classic symptoms of sociopathy in the DSM-5? Perhaps she’s right that so much is unknown about this diagnosis, but I still question her agenda.

Are These Stories Even True? I have a hard time believing that a 40-something can recant word-for-word conversations from her early childhood days. Some of these stories are so outlandish, they seem more like scenes from a bad Lifetime movie—particularly her altercations with a blackmailing schemer and a toxic coworker. Again, we’re dealing with an unreliable narrator who tells you in the opening chapter that she is manipulative AF, so all bets are off.

Are Her Credentials Legit? I’ll be honest; I haven’t done a deep dive into her academic history, but many others have. For someone who brandishes her Ph.D. title loud and proud on the cover, you’d think she’d talk a bit about her research on…oh, I don’t know…sociopathy??? Seems rather odd that she didn’t go there, but then again, she did confess that she’s a liar and a manipulator.

Overall Thoughts: This was a dark read, but not in a fun way. This felt like a waste of time because I wanted more expert knowledge about the innermost thoughts of a true sociopath. But all I got was a bunch of overindulgent drivel about the trials and tribulations of self-absorbed rich girl who wants SO BADLY to go against the mainstream. I have a hard time understanding how a sociopath can feel immense uncomfortable pressure from apathy. Is this really a thing? I can understand how sociopaths might struggle with isolation, but do they really ruminate about apathy?

Another question is why resort to bad things like stalking people, breaking into houses, and hurting precious kitty cats? Why not do adrenaline-junky stuff like jumping out of airplanes or running ultramarathons? It’s unsettling to think that some people can only get joy from doing dark things. Whether or not Patic is a true sociopath is anyone’s guess, but I am 100% convinced that she is creepy. My advice to anyone is to run far, far away when someone boasts about their dark personality disorder. Even if they’re not speaking the truth, keep running in the opposite direction!