Review: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Programming note: I took a little forced hiatus from reading due to some major life and health reasons, which really, really impacted my reading habits. More soon, when I can stomach it. Feeling rusty but let's get to it.

5 stars. In this beloved 1967 children's story/urban fairy tale, Claudia Kincaid and her younger brother Jamie run away and settle in at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Resourceful and delighted by their freedom, they quickly find ways to stay clean, fed, and "educated," for the most part. And even better - helpful, to the Met, as they try to help prove that its latest acquisition is actually a piece of work by Michaelangelo. 

Can you imagine this story had it been written today? In modern times? There's no way - it's an interesting thought exercise that only leads to depressing outcomes. Despite feeling very classic, and more classic every time I read it, many of the lessons and feelings it evokes still resonate. It's funny, too, looking back on this and wondering if it even partially inspired an interest in art history and museums. I didn't even know how to pronounce Michaelangelo when I read it the first time, but maybe it sparked something that still burns decades later.

It's really nice to see the kids' competence and intelligence on full display. They each have slightly different approaches to problem-solving, but they do fit together nicely. They are so witty, and smart, and capable, and driven by wonderfully relatable motives. I know this isn't considered a perfect piece of writing - complaints about the narrator's role, for example, and the plot structure - but I didn't spend a single minute considering any of that while reading. I was way too entertained.

Looking for more of this energy in 2024.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Love, Pamela

5 stars. I admire Pamela Anderson a lot. I grew up in the 90s, so I know her as an icon - perhaps one of the biggest icons - on an international level, from a pop culture perspective... in a way that helps me navigate being female in this world. She almost, in fact, defines the word "icon," like Marilyn maybe does. She's incredible. Incredibly intelligent, witty, passionate, well-read, caring, kind, special, hilarious, and yes, beautiful. She has earned every bit of peace allowed for her - she has earned the choice, the options, and the right to decide for herself how, and where, she is seen and heard. 

So, yes, I'm a fan. After watching the Netflix documentary for the first time, I started it over again, because (I'm aware how cheesy and stupid and uncharacteristic this sounds) I wanted to spend more time with her. I inhaled Pam & Tommy, feeling icky and amazed and compliant and compelled all at once. This means that I went into this book with some awareness, and some context, around what to expect. And the experience of reading it turned out to be deeply transporting - fun and funny and heartbreaking and full of wisdom and wonderful quotes. 

"But, I argued, I am who I am, which is a combination of all I know, and I've always believed that striving to be a sensual person, or being sexy, should not conflict with intelligence. Women have fought hard so that we do not need to limit ourselves. And this confirmed for me that I had to use all I had even more to get attention for what was right. If the cartoon image of me was what got me through the door, so be it. And so I continued the work the only way I knew how. It was too late to turn back now, I thought - it would take time and effort to try to change people's opinion of me."

From her scrappy childhood to parties at Playboy to animal advocacy in Russia to wandering the streets of France to a stage on Broadway, Love, Pamela documents Anderson's life in her own words. She references books and art and influential figures, muses about philosophy and culture, honors those who have helped her, and those who have hurt her. She is charming and concise, with a bit of an unconventional style that in no way impedes a smooth, lovely flow.

"When
you have nothing to live up to--
you can't disappoint--"

If you've seen the documentary, there may be little to surprise here, but it's still an absolute joy to relish in Pamela's presence. We have a lot to learn from her, and maybe also from the mistakes we made in looking at her; perceiving her; dismissing her; limiting her; selling her; exploiting her; trying to define her. She's really something, and I'm happy for what she's found, and for where she is now. And wherever she goes from here, I have a feeling she'll conquer, heart first.

Lobe, Pamela on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Silent Companions

You know what? 5 stars. I was pretty much dead set on 4 until I reached the ending, which left me a little bit breathless and extremely satisfied. I'm very excited to read more by this author, who put together a really beautiful Gothic story here, employing a lot of fun and familiar tropes while managing to keep things fairly unpredictable. AND - I don't have to dock a star for a UDD - in this case - UCD! Small blessings.

There are two narratives here - well, almost three. In 1865, newly married Elsie Bainbridge must travel to her husband's isolated rural estate outside of London when he passes away unexpectedly. She is accompanied by her late husband's cousin, Sarah, and is met by an unwelcoming town and an unpleasant household staff. Even worse - the house itself is troublesome, and Elsie begins hearing things and seeing things that seem impossible. You know the drill.

Meanwhile, we are supplied with the journal of an ancestor, who lived on the estate in 1635. She and her husband are overjoyed to receive a royal visit, until things go horribly wrong - revealing an evil that may or may not be connected to Elsie's experiences over two hundred years later.

Yes, this does seem a bit like the same-old haunted house story... but it really does take some delightful twists and turns. Scarier than The Little Stranger I'd say, but in a good way. The writing is super lively, the plot is very well-crafted/well-paced, the ending is brutal, and the setting is perfectly spooky. The characters are pretty unlikeable, especially at first, but everything comes across as intentional. I am a little frustrated by some of the loose ends - I need more lore! And I could use a sequel! - but I was truly transported and enjoyed myself.

I will say too - at first, I found Hetta's ... instruments, shall we say ... extremely cheesy and not scary at all. Maybe a little gimmicky? Despite some fantastic imagery and vivid descriptions of their appearances and expressions, I think I just had some trouble crossing the bridge into fear. I kept getting caught up in the physics of it all - picturing them... glide across the floor or whatever. Also, where the F did they come from in the first place? A mysterious, disappearing shop out of nowhere on top of everything else?! So much going on.

Overall, though - an instant horror classic. Must be read in front of a crackling fire during a blizzard, wind howling against the windows.

The Silent Companions on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: North Woods

5 stars. Lives up to the hype, I fear. Of course, this checks a lot of personal boxes for me: woods, ghosts, art, landscape, the way history sits on top of itself... deep but palatable character studies. I went in with a skeptical eye (I'm sure there are a ton of things any reader could pick apart and criticize, as with all books-of-the-moment), but truthfully, I couldn't put it down. It's immersive and very well-written and satisfying. Also, it's very horny. You'll know what I mean when you read it.

There's that word coined a few years ago that went viral: sonder. The realization - or sensation - that everyone, including (especially) strangers around you, has a life and consciousness as complex and rich and layered as yours. North Woods takes this and applies it to the history of a house and the sequence of its inhabitants, starting with a young Puritan couple and making its way to modern times. It is a love letter to the woods, the specific nature of New England, the land, time, fate, history, and humanity - with all our fights and faults and feelings and connections and errors. It did make me think about the very full, complex, rich lives lived by the previous owners of my home and what they might think of mine.

I'm a bit at a loss as to what further commentary I can offer: I think it's one of those books you just have to read. That being said, I'd be overjoyed to read the critical commentary of others. This is a very full book, and I'd love to take a class on it. I respectfully request a supplemental reading list, a playlist, and a comprehensive list of all the connections and clever throwbacks. I'm happy to own it - it's the type of book I'll want to revisit, and annotate, and breathe in.

North Woods on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: All the Sinners Bleed

5 stars. Damn. This book is incredible. Cosby is back with a nail-biting, stomach-churning, electric thriller that will undoubtedly burrow under your skin and make a home there. 

I mentioned this in my review of Razorblade Tears, but as a Virginian born-and-raised, it's odd - rare, even - to get to take in such an accurate portrait of my state; all of its pockets and contradictions and extremes and microsocieties rendered without the inevitable attempt to balance the scales. Virginia granted me many things - a secure childhood, breathtakingly beautiful surroundings, four wonderful seasons, the best college experience anyone could hope for - but that shouldn't count towards forgiveness of any of its stubborn atrocities. Virginia is what it is. Many things can be true at once. I hope it gets better. I appreciate Cosby's frankness around this.

But I digress. This book is thought-provoking like that. It’s about a Black sheriff in a small town doing the best he can despite rural resources and rising racial tensions. After a horrifying school shooting, he is catapulted into a crazy investigation that only aggravates the town's passionate residents. On the hunt for a serial killer, the sheriff ends up racing against the clock to catch a serial killer and save the town he loves. A town that often, on many days, maybe even on most days, does not love him back.

Titus - the sheriff, with a great name - is a terrific character. The way Cosby weaves in his personal and professional relationships is truly impressive. Again he tackles so much: racism, masculinity, trauma, change, family, love, tradition, fear. Grief:

"That he went about these tasks so adroitly after staring into the depths of the abyss that was what passed for the souls of those three sociopaths made him feel unclean. He knew better than most that the wheel of life would keep spinning, with little regard to the families who had lost their children or the children who had lost their lives. Waiting for the world to shed tears for your pain was like waiting for a statue to speak. So you filed the reports, you answered the emails. You carried on as best you could."

He isn't heavy-handed. It's just... true. And this time he does it through a religious lens, which is truly fascinating and creates an enormously compelling mystery. It isn't perfect. There's clumsy dialogue, loose ends, a bit of a rushed ending, and some disruptive exposition. But whatever points it may have lost for that it earned right back when it got my heart pounding - racing - on the train. 

Cosby has become a must read for me, and I'm glad many others feel the same. His success is well-deserved.

All the Sinners Bleed on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Waif

5 stars. I love books like this - stories that are so different, and unexpected, and full of so many twists all you can do is hang on for the ride and let the narrative wash over you without feeling like you have to work out a puzzle or solve an equation to identify the killer (this isn't a murder mystery, but you get the idea). I raced through it - because it really is that refreshing.

Waif opens with a woman, Angela, upset over the state of her toxic marriage. She encounters a man in the grocery store, which sparks... some crazy behavior, by both herself and her husband, which in turn sparks some even crazier events... I'm being intentionally vague; go in blind. By the end you'll have followed Angela into an entirely new life - a new identity, a new sense of self, new priorities - maybe even a new reality entirely.

"Women's wrongs" could potentially be an entire genre of books at this point. I love it. Angie wields her dissatisfaction in extremely disturbing ways, but it doesn't really feel wrong. She's a little bit... delightfully insane. It's a challenging book, and will be unsettling for certain readers - check TWs.  The author doesn't shy away from tackling themes such as body dysmorphia, abuse, control, desire, shame, insecurity, sexuality. That's the tip of the iceberg. I personally can't get over that ending, in a good way - as sharp as it gets. So sharp it hurts.

Read this if you're in the mood for something that is both incredibly horrifying and incredibly thought-provoking. 

Waif on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: A Lush and Seething Hell

5 stars. See, there's 5 stars, and then there's... 5 stars. A rating that makes you question every 5-star read before it, because none of them could’ve possible been this good. This book is definitely everything I look for in horror and more. It's a top contender for a Kelly Choice Award and I've already recommended it to friends and family. It's great on multiple levels: premise, writing style, imagery, characterization, themes, and narrative. It is full of disturbing moments and creative scares; it weaves mystery, folklore, culture, and history into two stunning and vibrant and distinct-but-similar sibling stories. 

Let's get into it.

The Sea Dreams it is the Sky

"You do not know what I’ve been through,” he said. “And I do not know what you’ve suffered. There is a beyond to every woman and man. There is a beneath. There will always be misery in the world."

I suppose this story starts with a violent political coup in a fictional South American country. A young woman, who escapes the chaos and lands in another country, encounters another refugee of sorts: a much older, once-infamous poet. They strike up a kinship, perhaps out of shared trauma, and eventually he asks her to watch his apartment so he can return home for not entirely obvious reasons. She discovers many treasurers there, including a dark and mysterious manuscript that references the poet's extremely dark past and uncertain future.

I found this novella to be absolutely beautiful, brilliant, mind-blowing... even a little sexy. It's rare for me to want to highlight, or write down quotes, and I was fighting that urge every few pages. Isabel is wonderfully formidable and... prickly. I liked that about her. The story needed that. And her relationship with The Eye clicked. His characterization was a little less unusual, but very compelling. I rooted for them both.

But, of course, this is horror. Cosmic horror no less. And there's a delicious antagonist and a slippery - but terrifying - central conflict. Some of the details (the original text's title being translated to A Little Night Work, for example; and the content itself - known to the reader by vague reference only) were downright brilliant. BRILLIANT. The little motifs and recurrences - feed the cat, for your protection - I had fun with this. I had FUN with this. It reminded me of when I first encountered Stephen Graham Jones. 

My Heart Struck Sorrow

"A piece of music draws you on, leading you places you’ve never been. You’d never think of journeying to."

This story follows a Library of Congress employee, returning to work after the tragic and untimely deaths of his wife and son. He and his colleague travel to the house of a recently-deceased ancestor of a pivotal figure in folklore preservation, who spent time in the 30s traveling the South and recording folk music for the Library. They find a stash of old records, his field journal, and much more than they bargained for. 

This should've been my favorite based on the premise alone (I have a thing for musical horror), but it didn't impress me as much as TSDIITS. But there's so much to enjoy here, too. I have so many questions, which I'm sure is partly the point. It's like I want more, but also it could've been a little shorter. It's another frame narrative, with a story within the story, and there are a surprising amount of penises. That isn't a complaint, exactly (I'm a little tired of female breasts), but a couple times I was like ... is that necessary? Just consider yourself warned.

It's very clear that Jacobs did his research (for both of these) and that absolutely lends itself to the writing. I live in Alexandria, and I'm deeply familiar with the LOC, and he kind of nailed both (the part where he ruminates on justifying his existence for grant money... I felt that lol). I'd love to hear some theories about what the heck happened at the end, though. Maybe some brave soul will do a little rendition of Stagger Lee? I'd be into it. 

...

Both of these stories explore potent, relevant, real-world themes: racism, war, absolute power, cultural and political trauma, America's failures (American as failure), corruption, oppression, guilt, punishment, justice or lack thereof, and the darkness found in humanity. There's a lot to think about. Some of it - especially in MHSS - made me uncomfortable. Jacobs checks himself through Hattie's character, but those moments felt a little contrived, or try-hard, like a last-minute safety net. 

Anyway. As with all horror, not for everyone. But yes, yes, a thousand times yes for me. I haven't really read anything like it, and now I'm really hooked on this vibe. Look out for a re-read, because I won't be able to stay away.

A Lush and Seething Hell on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Maggie's Grave

5 stars. Two Maggies in a row for me, having just finished No One Gets Out Alive, and this one was way too much fun. I've discovered a new favorite author! I can't believe Maggie's Grave combines so many of my favorite tropes into something so fresh and unique. I want more! I wish it was longer! I want everyone to read it so we can discuss the creative kills! 

Three hundred years ago, a group of puritanical Scottish townsfolk executed a falsely-accused witch named Maggie Wall and sacrificed her baby. And now, she's back. The town has shrunk to almost nothing, but she's determined to destroy, rampage and kill every one of her murderers' descendants until she finds what was taken from her so many years ago. But she's not the only threat looming over the little corner of Scotland.

Truly, this was so good. Dark, funny, and a little strange. Maggie Wall is a perfectly rendered monster and the kills are absolutely INSANE!! It was maybe a little predictable (though I did not see that final twist coming), but I didn't mind at all - I was enjoying myself. It all felt very cozy and familiar, in a good way. This should get adapted! Or turned into an anthology episode or something. 

Read this if you're looking for: crisp, easy writing, fast-paced action sequences, small towns, folklore, brutal kills, satisfying revenge, randomly amazing descriptions of beer, a few surprisingly sweet moments, disturbing imagery (TW: naked old people - think sagging butts and flopping penises) and a killer ending. Perfect for Halloween season. Team Maggie! 

Maggie’s Grave on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Stolen Tongues

5 stars. I had a tricky job picking a rating for this book, because of one thing: it scared me. We'll get into it, but I've decided based on some valuable advice to adopt a new rule for my rating process. I already have one, and that is to automatically dock a star for a UDD - an Unnecessary Dog Death. My new rule, to be employed immediately, is to automatically add a star if a book actually spooks me. It's a very rare and very special event (lol that sounds so dramatic), when a book scares me, and I think it deserves recognition. 

Stolen Tongues is about a young couple, Felix and Faye, who are offered a cabin stay in the Rockies by her parents as an engagement gift. Things almost immediately start to go wrong, though, when they hear voices from outside - voices they recognize. Faye, who has always had sleep issues, starts to change and exhibit strange behavior. They leave, but it's not that easy - whoever, or whatever, terrorized them at the cabin follows them home. 

There's something truly amazing and odd about books that started as creepypastas. I've read two now - that I know of - that came from Reddit, and in both I was immediately struck by how strange the writing style seems. It's so informal, and amateur-sounding, kind of jarring, in a way that always makes me think like... is this bad? Is this right? But I should not be the dictating voice on what writing should be. It was just noticeable. And then, like, the very thing I sort of recoiled from actually made the book itself that much more effective, even scary? The cheesy dialogue became… endearing? The nonsensical, random plot points didn’t bother me? Life is full of surprises.

Don't get me wrong - this book isn't perfect. It would've earned a solid 4 stars except for the fact that I had to keep the light on after reading it. I really didn't like the character of Faye, and how useless she was. Recognizing she's the victim, and living through a terrible trauma, I would've related to her more had she acted more motivated to... fix the damn problem. And it's a pet peeve of mine when authors throw in exposition to explain a scary moment, versus the other way around? Like "this person had a nightmare." Opening of the next chapter: "this person started having nightmares at age 3." 

I also found the "twist" at the end, particularly related to the number 5, and the conclusion itself to be a little anticlimactic. Ultimately, too, maybe this book is a little long - there are a couple of sequences that are just strings of moments with no forward momentum. A little too repetitive. But OMG OMG OMG - it was so great. Don't listen to my nitpicking and criticizing - this is a must-read for horror fans. This is the type of book I want everyone to read so I can talk about it! Blackwell has an incredible talent for DESCRIBING MOMENTS. He is clearly a VERY thoughtful author, knows how to make you care, knows how to make you scared. I am so excited to read more of his work.

Stolen Tongues on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Pale Blue Eye

5 stars. WOW WOW WOW. Believe it or not, this was a re-read. I specifically remember pulling it off the shelf at the library when I must have been - oh, maybe 15 (?!). I was a huge fan of mysteries and of Poe, already reading way above YA-level, so I must've been interested, until I apparently read it, immediately forgot all of it, and then randomly rated it 2 stars on GR years later. A bit ironic, considering I'd now call it unforgettable.

In the early days of West Point Academy, when even the existence of America's military fluctuates based on politics and opinion, a tragedy has occurred: the death of a cadet. Retired constable Gus Landor is pulled away from his isolated farm to investigate the horrific mutilation of the body, and must enlist the services of a cadet - a young poet named Edgar Allen Poe - for assistance. With few leads and many suspects, the two forge a strong friendship despite, or because of, the strange darkness of the crimes they seek to solve.

This is a deeply engrossing, atmospheric, Gothic-adjacent piece of historical fiction. I was immediately charmed by its tone of voice - both tones of voice - and the wry humor threading its way through the suspense and intrigue. It was easy going, because I was very interested, but it also had me flexing some muscles I gained as an English Lit major I haven't used in a long time. Speaking of which, this book should absolutely be studied.

I should mention that my opinion of this around the 75% mark was different. I thought everything was a bit too obvious, the villain too predictable, the second half draggy, and that our detective didn't even do that much, well, detecting. But I shouldn't have doubted: the storyteller lands the plane with an incredibly satisfying, thrilling, thump to the ground. I am a little bit in awe.

Is it perfect? Of course not. Every now and then I found myself laughing, unsure if I was laughing with the author or at him. That wry humor could've easily veered into an obnoxious pretentiousness - Bayard is obviously incredibly talented, and knows it. And yes, I think maybe the twist will piss off some readers, if they make it there. Cartoonish? It's something. But I, going on gut alone, think Poe would have approved. Does it all make sense? Does it track perfectly? Does it matter?

I would've liked to spend more time with Landor and Poe. They felt like family, by the end... forgivable of their flaws, perhaps even honorable because of them. But there couldn't, or shouldn't, be a second team-up, it would be impossible and cheaply composed and contrary to the corner of this story that is tragic. Another re-read, then, in the future, when I've again forgotten the twists and turns - or maybe when I haven't, and can read it with a sneakier eye. 

The Pale Blue Eye on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads