Review: Good Girls Don’t Die

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry is dark feminist horror.  Have you ever read a book and thought you could do better than the main character in surviving whatever it is they are faced with?  What if you then woke up to find yourself in that situation?  That's what this book explores.  It appeals to fans of the Truman Show and the Hunger Games or even just reality TV but the reality TV that is like a Japanese game show where people are entertained by other people getting hurt.  Throw in an overdose of misogyny, and you have quite the recipe.  Would you make it out alive? 

View all my reviews

Review: Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One

Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One by Anita Lo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One written by Chef Anita Lo is exactly that.  There really aren't enough cookbooks in the world designed for single people.  Most recipes make too much food for one person and who wants to do the math to get it down to a single portion?  Not this woman!  I also loved that Lo focuses on making sure there is no waste and supports eating things other people would throw in the trash.  While many of the dishes have meat in them, there were plenty of veggie options or modifications to make vegetarian options.  Make sure you read the stories that come before each recipe too because that is one of the best parts!  

View all my reviews

Review: The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories

The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by Terry Pratchett long before he was ever famous for the Discworld series.  The stories are meant for children but can be enjoyed by anyone.  I had put off reading this for a long time because it is the last book I had on my list by Pratchett.  There will be no more books, and that makes me sad.  But, it was a pleasure to read his voice again.  

View all my reviews

Review: The Book of Cold Cases

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James is another mystery/thriller with a supernatural element.  It is told in alternating narratives between the woman investigating a cold case for her blog and the woman who is suspected of murder in the case. While it could be categorized as horror as well, it isn't really that scary unless you are worried about ghosts murdering you.  Maybe you should be...

View all my reviews

Review: The Library of Lost and Found

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick has a bit of a cozy mystery feeling to it.  There is a mystery although it doesn't involve a murder.  It is more family secrets in a quaint setting.  There are cake and books, which I always support.  The main character has a problem of putting other people's needs before her own as her way of connecting.  It seems like a great trait to have until you realize that you've lost yourself.  This book is about finding yourself and is a nice read when you need that boost. 

View all my reviews

Review: Snowflakes

Snowflakes by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Snowflakes is an Amazon Original Story by Ruth Ware.  It is only 31 pages, so you can read it in one sitting.  A little bit dystopian fiction, a little bit mystery, a little bit thriller.  In this crazy world, I could see this absolutely happening.  Check it out!

View all my reviews

Review: The Penelopiad

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood is a must read for anyone who enjoys Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.  This is the story of Penelope as told by her and the maids that were killed by Odysseus and Telemachus.  It gives you a very different and refreshing perspective.  Penelope was very clever and deserved her own book.  The writing is excellent.  The chapters told by the maidens are unique.  Thoroughly enjoyable!

View all my reviews

Review: Unnatural Death

Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unnatural Death is the 27th book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.  You could pick up here, but at 27 books, there is a lot of history.  Still, even if you don't know all that history, you can enjoy this book.

It just happened that I toured the Cook County Medical Examiner's office at the same time as I was reading this.  It gave me a whole new perspective on the Kay Scarpetta series.  You never quite forget that decomposition smell.  I will think of it every time I read one of these.  This book added a new twist with a special government lab and Sasquatch???  We are also set up for another book, so get to reading!  

View all my reviews

Review: The Beast You Are: Stories

The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay is a collection of short stories and a novella.  If you have read a Head Full of Ghosts, you will recognize some of the characters here.  If you haven't read it, you may want to read it before or after this.  It is really good too!  I highly recommend reading the story notes either after each story or at the end because they are really interesting and, in my opinion, will give you a greater appreciation of each story.  While each story fits into the horror genre, they are not all necessarily scary or gory.  I read them in order, but you don't have to.  

Bonus points for having a novella of anthropomorphized animals.  I am still haunted by Watership Down and always will be.  

View all my reviews

Review: Night Side of the River

Night Side of the River by Jeanette Winterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Night Side of the River is a collection of short ghost stories by Jeanette Winterson.  The stories are divided up into tech-related, location-related, and person-related and each section include at least one true story that Jeanette has encountered.  You can certainly jump around and read them in any order you like.  I really enjoyed the technology-related stories and Jeanette's true stories the most.  Jeanette thinks about tech and artificial intelligence in the same ways that I do.  I find myself drawn to her writings on that.  The stories are beautiful and not necessarily scary.  It is a good reminder that we all live with ghosts even if they don't manifest themselves in the way we traditionally think about ghosts.  

View all my reviews