The Green Mile, by Stephen King

The Green Mile is an evocative title for me. I remember in 1999 seeing the Tom Hanks movie poster appearing on one of those scrolling paper ad screens you saw in shopping malls. I was also astounded to learn that The Green Mile, one of the most emotionally-heavy stories of the last couple of decades, … Continue reading The Green Mile, by Stephen King →

Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, by Neal Gabler

I love Disney, plain and simple. Actually, to say I merely love it is an understatement. Every time we were asked to do a school project on a historical figure, I called dibs on Walt Disney. Every time there is a choice of movie to watch, I'll gravitate toward a Disney flick. Whenever I'm in … Continue reading Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, by Neal Gabler →

Cujo, by Stephen King

You all know the drill by now: Stephen King's name pops up on this blog and I generally laud the author and the story he created. And that's what I usually expect to write when I go into each of his books. I was a little wary of Cujo, though, because how could King build … Continue reading Cujo, by Stephen King →

A Witch in Time, by Constance Sayers

When it comes to stories about witches, I have a very specific idea in my head. I not only expect for them to be powerful, but also to have the ability to overcome a serious obstacle with their magic. If they're lacking in either of those, an interesting story can at least compensate for that. … Continue reading A Witch in Time, by Constance Sayers →

Lessons in Magic and Disaster, by Charlie Jane Anders

While pursuing my MFA at Butler University, I had the privilege of meeting Charlie Jane Anders, whose work crossed journalism, fantasy, and science fiction. I remember talking to her at a Visiting Writers event, where she asked me what my MFA thesis was going to be, and when I told her the plot in detail, … Continue reading Lessons in Magic and Disaster, by Charlie Jane Anders →

A Mother Always Knows, by Sarah Strohmeyer

A few years ago, I said my true crime fix was stalkers, but I think I've added another one to the list: cults. Jonestown, the Ant Hill Kids, the Work, anything that involves a sociopathic narcissist roping innocent victims into their twisted orbit, under the guide of improving their lives. Everyone says that they are … Continue reading A Mother Always Knows, by Sarah Strohmeyer →

Witch You Would, by Lia Amador

I think this is the first romance I've read in a bit that, to my knowledge, has not been rabidly hyped up on social media. It's probably going to be a while until I read another Abby Jimenez book (Abby, I admire your work, but your formula is wearing off), so books like Witch You … Continue reading Witch You Would, by Lia Amador →

Just for the Summer, by Abby Jimenez

Need I even try to introduce Abby Jimenez anymore? For better or worse, this BookTok-famous author (the only one that I've actually liked so far) has slid right into my list of reliable writers. Although I did not enjoy Say You'll Remember Me at all, I was still willing to give her next books a … Continue reading Just for the Summer, by Abby Jimenez →

Pen Pal, by J.T. Geissinger

The next time someone suggests a book that has any sort of popularity on TikTok, I should just not bother. Or at least do my own damn research on a book before deciding to consume it. I first heard of Pen Pal in a TBR video from a YouTuber that I typically get horror movie … Continue reading Pen Pal, by J.T. Geissinger →

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Vol. 1, by Alvin Schwartz

No book title evokes more millennial Halloween nostalgia than Alvin Schwartz' Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. There's probably no use reviewing this book because we all know it so well. But these stories have staying power all these years later, thanks in part to the books' iconic macabre illustrations and the variety of … Continue reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Vol. 1, by Alvin Schwartz →