I’m always up to read a good poem. Mostly because they have so many layers and interpretations. It doesn’t matter how often I read a poem, depending on my mood, the weather, etc. I get something else out of the words that I didn’t find before.
The main words that came to me when reading this poem was curfews and darkness. There was something almost gothic and restrictive about the prose. I loved the mystery that it added to my reading.
Then there was the theme of constantly moving and hiding. Constantly learning new things. And always having to shift about. I can’t imagine being immortal and this constant shifting and darkness just reinforced that idea.
At least to a degree, everyone is aware of death knocking at the door. At least, that’s how I’ve always felt. And I really enjoyed the fact that this story focused on that fear. And took it to a whole new level. There’s knowing in an abstract way, and then having an existential crisis over it.
This whole short story is about finding a ‘cure’ for the fear of death. I really like that although there wasn’t a complete cure for this fear, it was also hinted at. Particularly as the story closes – just an idea of curing a paralysing fear.
Part of the ‘cure’ found throughout this is all about stolen moments in time. I like that instead of not being afraid of death, there is a focus on the moments in life that make it worth living. The moments that you return to when you’re having a moment of fear.
This was a beautiful short story. One that reminds you to stop and take in the world around you. The fact that it’s done through food just made it all that much more tantalising.
Title: Maybe This Christmas Author: Susannah Nix Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2019
It’s not all that often that I love the premise of a story, and then I end up loving the execution too. But the idea of a couple and their developing relationship over 10 years was already a great premise. The fact that it’s just the Christmas day every year that is written about… beautiful and seriously sweet. And, at this time of year, who doesn’t go gaga for a Christmas love story?
Not only is this a very cute Christmas story, it’s also a great coming of age tale. Alex and Lucas start out this story as two people leaving high school and on the cusp of adulthood. Although they actually get together in the first chapter, the whole story is honestly just about two people getting to know who they are. And then returning to one another.
I loved the tradition of a group of friends getting together every year at Christmas. The fact that over the 10 years of this story, each of the group still manage to find a way back every Christmas is beautiful. This might be a story about Alex and Lucas falling in love, but it’s also about all of the friendships along the way.
I absolutely adored this story. The uniqueness of taking one day a year and using that chapter to explain all of the happenings of the past year is great in and of itself. But the fact that this is also a really sweet coming of age romance made it all that much better. I’m definitely looking forward to rereading this next Christmas!
This short story was a fantastic, and very interesting Rapunzel retelling. And, even after finishing it (and thoroughly enjoying it), I’m actually not entirely sure who the villain is. It’s not a flipped on its head fairy tale in that Rapunzel is evil. But as you find out more and more of the why and how of her entrapment in the tower… you realise she’s not entirely innocent either.
Danae (Cordova’sversion of Rapunzel) begins this story as an innocent. And, even when you find out why she is trapped, I still thought of her as a bit of an innocent. I mean, being young and not having control over your actions doesn’t make you evil. But, then there’s the fact that she ends her entrapment by taking someone else’s sacrifice. And, when you look at it through that lens, is she really that innocent? I mean, she kind of set the lad up to be a victim here…
This short story was a somewhat dark and very unexpected Rapunzel retelling. I was pleasantly surprised upon reading it and would love to find out more about this magical world nestled in NYC. It was a dark and unexpected tale. One that I look forward to reading again in the near future.
Title: Let It Snow Author: Beth Moran Rating Out of 5: 1.5 (Couldn’t get past the first chapter) Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2022
I had to put this in the DNF pile. I mean, there was nothing super wrong with it. I just could not have cared less about the lead character. And, if after reading the first 3 chapters, I’m still not excited to pick up a book, I tend to put it in the DNF pile.
I think the main thing I found difficult about the lead was that she was obviously supposed to be a little quirky. But, instead of feeling genuine, she felt a little too forceful in her quirkiness… I love quirky female leads. But only when it feels genuine, not as though it’s just matching a cliche.
I wouldn’t tell people to not read this book. But I won’t be interested in finishing it either.
This was such a cute and festive little Christmas novella. There was a touch of danger and suspense to it that helped get the heart pumping. But overall, it was just a nice, predictable, and enjoyable read. Set at Christmas, when all the wishes can come true.
I did like that the lead female character in this romance was named Noelle. I mean, it’s a little cliche, but also very enjoyable. That and, it really fits with the whole sunshine falls for the grinch trope that is going on. Noelle is also just a really great character, and I love how all she wants to do is spread the cheer around.
Brady is kind of an idiot in a lot of ways… mostly the fact that he keeps making decisions for Noelle based on his own assumptions. But I also love that he is fiercely protective of her. And that the other trope he fits is the brother’s best friend… and that Brady’s best friend is blatantly playing matchmaker here…
This is a wonderfully cute Christmas romance novella. The suspense of the stalker raises the stakes. But overall, it is just an incredibly sweet little story.
Title: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating Author: Christina Lauren Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Contemporary romance Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2018
Hazel is most definitely my favourite kind of calamity walking. She’s funny and cute, but, she also is uncoordinated and tends to put her foot in her mouth. Frequently. With great gusto. But, the bit that I love most about this is that l, although Hazel is off kilter and not exactly mainstream on her actions, she doesn’t change a thing about herself. Throughout this whole story, there isn’t one instance in which she tries to change herself.
Josh as a counterpoint to Hazel is kind of a quiet, vanilla sort of lead. He isn’t the normal male lead that I enjoy, bit too quiet and straight laced for my tastes. But, I enjoyed him a lot regardless. He was sweet and easygoing. Plus, his calmness was the best balance for Hazel’s insanity. That, and the fact that his easygoing nature meant he loved Hazel for exactly who she is. There is not one moment, from friends to lovers, when Josh doesn’t accept Hazel and revel in her uniqueness.
I have to admit, that the start of this story, and the way that Josh and Hazel’s first meet is one of the best meetings I’ve read in a romcom in a long time. I mean, she walks up to him, says she wants to have sex… then throws up on his shoes. If that’s not memorable, then what is? I literally laughed out loud at this, and it made me sink right into these words without wanting to put the book down.
Friends to lovers is one of my favourite romance tropes. The fact that, as friends, they go on a bunch of double dates together just cemented their wonderful friendship. I like that each of these didn’t really end well, so although there were flashes of jealousy, it was more about Josh and Hazel’s getting to know one another better and better. Plus, the humour in each and everyone of these fiascos… made me love this story all that much more.
Title: Hunger, An Introduction Author: Peter Straub In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Ghosts, Horror Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013
Hunger, An Introduction was not quite as creepy as many other stories in the Hauntings collection. Which I’m kind of glad about. Because some of them were seriously intense and kind of uncomfortable to read.
This short story jumped around a lot. It talked a lot about the hunger of death. And how hauntings occur. I’d probably have to read this again to get a better grasp on how it is all related. Particularly to the child at the end.
I don’t normally feel that deaths are necessarily warranted. But Ethel and Frank’s stories were seriously twisted. Their journeys to death row something that made me cringe. And their fate as hauntings kind of felt warranted.
Title: Hula Ville Author: James P. Blaylock In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Ghosts, Horror Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013
This was a bit of an eerie feeling short story, one featuring angels and mummies. And just all of the discomfort that facing the unknown entails. It also had a bit of that feel that if I read it multiple times, I’d find symbols throughout that I missed the first time around. It was all about the mystery of the unknown without providing any answers whatsoever at the conclusion of the tale. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it hard to recount / write a review on…
There were so many layers of meaning throughout this that I just know I didn’t quite grasp. Or at least, that’s how this story made me feel. As though I was almost reaching the reality being revealed, but not quite getting there. Although, this is in a collection called Hauntings so that very elusiveness makes it sit really well within that theme…
Everything about this story, particularly Hula Ville is just not quite what it seems. There is the constant threat of something terrifying happening from the tone of the story. And, even when things didn’t quite end as tragically as anticipated… I was still left feeling disquieted from this story.
There are a lot of books on my shelves that have some kind of age gap. But, the age gap in this story is definitely a whole lot bigger. Probably because it’s between a college girl and a vampire. So that kind of makes sense. I’ve read a lot of fantasy books that feature this kind of age gap. But, for some reason, in this short story, that just felt slightly… wrong.
I think part of the reason that the age gap and relationship in this story felt wrong was that it felt kind of like the girl was being used. She definitely had feelings for the older vampire, but he didn’t seem to have them for her. It was an interesting story, but I definitely felt bad for the young girl. She even seemed to be aware of the fact that she was just being used to pass the time / decades…
There is so much history that must be seen by an immortal. I too would want to ask a thousand questions. So being constantly told “I forget” would drive me absolutely bonkers. I mean, seriously? So much knowledge, and no chance of having ANY of it shared? Even reading this drove me a little bit nuts…
Earth and Skye 