While I am open to discussing the books I read, and even some book recommendations, this is truly just a space for me to log and briefly write about the things I read here and there. I've tried physical book logs, and they don't work for me. I lose them, I can't keep track of days, I don't like the formats, such is life.
I will try and add content warnings as needed to my reviews, but these are not content warnings for the materials themselves! Additionally, my rating system is completely and entirely based on my own vibes and is otherwise arbitrary. I am open to discussion, but please don't come in expecting a system or academic level cataloguing. I truly am just a nerd with a keyboard.
That out of the way, here's an introduction for those who want it!
You can call me Rat.
My pronouns are they/it.
My favorite genres are horror, graphic novels, fantasy, plays, theology/mythology, and psychology non-fiction. I will read stuff outside of this from time to time, but these are the big ones.
Some of the books I read may be considered 18+. I am an adult who does not personally believe in censoring or restricting access to books. This is why I will instead try my best to include content warnings instead.
Those who are unable to engage respectfully will just be blocked. I am open to discussing differing opinions, but please do so in a generally respectful manner. Adding onto this, I also do not mind switching up some things for accessibility if I need to! If there is something I could be doing better, please let me know!
Book 10: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (1986)
I will be completely honest, I did not know that this book existed for a while. The film by Studio Ghibli had been a favorite of mine since I was a child, and it's probably one of the only movies I have re-watched as many times as I have. I found out that it was based on a book much later in life and it was on my tbr list for a little bit longer. I'm actually a little surprised it took me so long to get around to— I absolutely adored this book!
There are some movie/book duos that I feel as though a "which is better" argument can't be made in as fair a way. Sometimes, they tell very different stories despite having one based on the other, and you then like very different things about them. I am enthralled with the characters in both, but what I like about them in the book is not the same as why I like their Ghibli counterparts. Sophie is a fun and unconventional narrator in the book- taking a very "it is what it is" approach to her troubles- and I found this to be much more compelling than the standard outwardly bold and brave character we often find in this role. She was so very human and I appreciated her for that. I don't even know what I can say about Howl other than he's such a mess and I love him for that. I found him both relatable and humorous in an eye-rolling way at times, both of which managing to be incredibly charming.
I also loved the story and how in-depth it could get within the world the author has built. I really like worlds where magic is more of a common-place thing. It manages to feel both fantastical and quaint at the same time. While having elements that were pretty dark or emotional, it still read like a comfort book. The entire time I found myself wanting to see what happened next.
If you liked the movie, I'd like to implore you to check out this book too. It has the same warmth to it as the movie, but gets to go a lot deeper due to the nature of novels. I also recommend it if you like those more whimsical vibes, or stories about love rather than romance. All in all, this was a very fun read and I don't have much to say that wouldn't align with that review!
A bit of an exposition if you will: I was perusing the witchy section of one of my local book stores when this book caught my eye almost immediately. It wasn't set in a way that was distinct from the others, nor did it really stand out visually, but my eyes felt magnetically drawn to it in a way. I was instantly interested in the themes of magic and transsexuality, but flipping it open to see a review from my favorite drag queen, Peaches Christ, had me sold. I bought it with little other thought. After reading it, this feels incredibly fitting.
Palmieri has crafted a beautiful collage of a memoir and a reading list, telling the audience about their life through the magical books they've read as a framework. I'm typically a pretty slow reader, but I was pulled into each part of this book. I could be biased as a trans witch and aspiring author/artist myself, but this book was so relatable and real that it felt much more like a conversation. I saw myself and my friends and my family in the experiences that Palmieri shares in this book. It was both refreshing and incredibly significant to me.
Inspiration was a big part of my reading of Bargain Witch. I'm currently waiting on my first order of books that I was inspired to find from reading about them in this book. I was inspired to think more about my queerness in relation to my own practice. Palmieri's skill in leading people to books that will be impactful in one way or another is a phenomenal kind of magic that makes this book feel so personal and passionate. I'm sitting here as I'm writing to see if I can think of any solid critique as a contrast, but nothing really comes to mind. I find myself wanting to explore so much more of the things within this book, but that would make for so much longer a post!
I want to recommend this book to any other queer witches and pagans, especially those looking for some reflection and contemplation of their own. Additionally, to those who look for magic in places people don't initially assume to find it.
It's really fascinating when a book you bought simply because it caught your eye has a chapter early on about bibliomancy and information finding you rather than searching for it. I can't wait to see what all else is in here. I'll include more thoughts once I type up the review ✌️
Book 8: The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills by Sonny Jane Wise
It is always incredibly refreshing to read a book about neurodivergency by someone who is neurodivergent. All too often, books about autism and/or ADHD are written by neurotypical individuals with a deficit framework, or are just for children. This book is not that.
What I really appreciated about this book was the general accessibility without being patronizing. There are some seriously good practices in here, and the way they are worded makes a lot of sense with some solid visuals thrown in for the ability to interact with the material. I like the organization of the content by what kind of needs you may be having the most. It also takes the time to explain different concepts that may get skipped over a lot when talking about neurodiversity coping needs, which I really enjoyed.
As a person who has been researching things in this nature for a while now, I see this as a good tool for the whole scale. If you are entirely new to managing these sorts of things, this seems like a great start! If you have been looking into it for a while, this is a useful practical guide. All in all, I really enjoyed reading this and plan on recommending it to others!
Book 7: Essential Art Therapy Exercises by Leah Guzman, ATR-BC
CW: Reference of mental health topics without specificity.
This book is a collection of art therapy practices (conveniently color coded as a nice touch) that range in use and accessibility. Some of the exercises felt a little less accessible, especially in a therapy or group setting, but it does mention materials needed alongside each one. There are also a decent amount of practices that require few to no costly materials, which I did appreciate. I've tried out a few of the exercises myself and they seem to be especially helpful for mindfulness and reflection. While I would like to see more in depth use of art in treating things such as trauma or depression, this book feels like a nice introduction for people who may not have tried these kinds of activities before. Plus, you don't have to be in therapy with a trained art therapist to do these! That is to say though, as with any kind of mental health exercise, if overwhelming reactions do pop up having a therapist as a guide may be helpful. I also liked how a lot of the things in this book are adaptable. I think the emphasis on creativity here is more important than one for one following the instructions. I am interested to see what I take from this book in a longer period of time. Trying out the different exercises is different from using coping strategies that stick, and I'm very curious to see which of these sticks for me as a person with mental health experiences of my own.
I would suggest this book for folks wanting to use art to heal and grow as well as professionals who may be interested in starting to use more art in their work with folks on their healing journeys. I would not recommend it as a replacement for therapy or to be used in crisis situations. It does not promote itself as such, but I feel it is important to address this nonetheless. As said before, it's a really good Art Therapy 101 kind of resource. It's easy to read, not too detailed or science-y, and really highlights the kinds of reflections that can be done with this kind of work. I do wish I would have seen more attention paid to making certain activities more accessible, but I feel like the variation makes up for that a little. I feel like the rating for this book is very middle range for me. I didn't dislike it, but it wasn't the most involved or invested I have been in a book either, which was important for me going into it because I was looking for that practical, long-term usage. Ultimately, I feel pretty neutral about this book, which is not a bad thing! In fact, I am excited to now find more in-depth things to read next!
Book 6: Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood (1939)
CW: Discussion of Nazi Germany
I picked this book up after learning that it was one of the ones that inspired the musical, Cabaret. This is one of my favorite musicals, and recently I have gotten into researching and learning about the context for the show. I am honestly surprised that I had not heard of this book or of Christopher Isherwood before. I am glad, however, that I found this book (I got the last copy from my local store!) and put it at the top of my reading list.
This book is a really interesting perspective on Weimar Germany and the culture of Berlin right before the rise of the Nazi party. It is important to note that in later years, Isherwood was very clear that this book was more fiction than the diary it claims to be. With that in mind though, Goodbye to Berlin is still an impactful view of the era. I feel like this period of time is often disregarded when discussing history. Before this learning endeavor, I had no idea Berlin was anything like how it had been described in this book. Isherwood also pulls you into each person he writes about. Though I may be biased, I especially loved reading more about Sally Bowles. Each new person that Christopher met pulled me in, making me want to learn more about them as well. While I am not usually a big fan on historical fiction as a genre, which I guess is what I would consider this if autobiography is now unfitting, I did find the story being told to be compelling and important.
I feel as though I'll have a more thorough opinion of this book once I've read the next books. I plan on reading Christopher and his Kind, in the near future. This book, to my understanding, rehashes his time in Berlin with a more accurate and honest retelling of what it was like for him. Regardless, there is a lot of history in this book. It made me all the more sad to think about these aspects of a culture that were destroyed or erased. If you like the musical, Cabaret, this book is definitely a must.
I'm finally reading the book after years of adoring the movie, and oh Howl Pendragon how I love you. I am rotating him in my mind as we speak. You are such a character
Book 5: Modern Handfasting: a Complete Guide to the Magic of Pagan Weddings by Liz Williams (2021)
It has been a while since I had last read a nonfiction witchy book. I am fairly particular when it comes to this genre for several reasons, but as I am currently happily tasked with planning a handfasting myself, this one seemed like a good starting place. After reading it, I am happy to say that it was exactly that!
This books covers a lot. I'd say it's a good introduction to several different things without going too heavily into one specific aspect of handfasting. I particularly enjoyed the history section of the book. I also found the book to have many useful considerations when planning a handfasting that I likely wouldn't have thought of prior to reading it. That, and it is a good book to skim at times, as the selection gives it a "take what you want and read the rest" kind of reading style.
I must say that I do appreciate it when new age and pagan books bring up the topic of cultural appropriation and doing your own research before engaging with something new to you. In my own practice, I find research to be essential, so seeing this in books is always refreshing. I also appreciated that this book was in no way just hetero-normative. The language is pretty neutral, even including non-pagans who wish to have a less traditional wedding for their marriage, and where the book itself fails to give more detail it refers out to books specializing in the topic (one of which I have already purchased and am incredibly excited to read).
Ultimately, I think this was an okay starter book. I learned some new things and was able to build an idea of where I want to go next with my own planning. Not everything in the book was necessarily my cup of tea, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I look forward to continuing my research on this topic though, as all in all, this book gave me some really helpful things to think about next!
Date Finished: 1/4/2026, first book of the new year!
Book 4: Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1872)
CW: Vampires, no explicit details in the review though!
Getting it out of the way, I loved this book. I went into it knowing very little, and I was honestly a little surprised at the initial tone and structure of the story. However, it quickly grew on me and I found it interesting to read this recounting, like reading the journal of Laura after she had some time to reflect on what happened to her. It was also much shorter than I had expected, but it was still a fun and satisfying read.
I absolutely adore the descriptions of Carmilla herself. I can see why Laura both felt drawn to her, as well as confused and off-put. I also loved the descriptions in the creepier scenes, as they had such vivid imagery. I felt like I could really see the world of the story, as well as the mystery that was Carmilla. I felt myself wanting to know more, and really my only disappointment in the book was how fast her defeat ended up being. That scene just felt a tad too short. I did, though, adore the descriptions of vampirism. I wish more modern adaptations would have kept some of the unique qualities that the vampires in this story have.
I also really enjoyed the overall tone and word use. For this review, I want to share a quote I highlighted. It was just one of the moments in the book that I was just as drawn in as Laura was.
" 'I have been in love with no one, and never shall,' she whispered, 'unless it should be with you.' "
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it for people who are fans of that toxic yuri trope, or just really love a good queer classic. Additionally, if you are a vampire or classic horror fan, this story is a must! It was a quick read and a pretty cheap e-book, and for those who like physical copies comes in many different fun covers.
Book 3: Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph. D. (2015)
CW: Discussion of sexuality
This book was recommended to me because I have been studying sexuality and gender psychology as a sort of hobby for a few years now. This book is easily accessible to folks of all levels though, whether you have been studying sexuality for a while or have never read anything like it before. If you are the latter, I highly recommend this book.
While this book focusses on cisgender women and their personal experiences with their own sexuality, there were many things that I found important regardless of sex or gender identity. Dr. Nagoski does an incredible job debunking myths around sex and sexuality and breaking down the different aspects of how it impacts all of us. This is done in a very empowering and light-hearted way in my opinion. She explains more complicated psychological and biological processes into more digestible metaphors and examples, including more than just the heteronormative defaults! This book is a wonderful blend of up-to-date research and real-life experiences. The main lesson? No one is broken for having different experiences with their sexuality. While I think everyone could learn something from this book, I'd especially recommend it to folks who are struggling with their own sexuality as women, people who want to better understand their partners, and anyone who works with sexuality in any way like doctors or therapists. I wish more of our discussions on sexuality were like the ones in this book!
CW: Discussion of banned books and implications of homophobia.
I bought this book to celebrate banned book week. Banned books are an interest of mine, and I am very fond of learning about censorship as a practice just as much as the pieces of media that are being "banned." This is one of the books that has been challenged for having "pornographic" material in it, which is not uncommon for books with LGBTQ+ topics. Something I am very fond of reminding people of is that not all graphic novels are aimed at children. Comics can and have had adult audiences for quite some time now, so a graphic novel with mature themes should not be a surprise. Anyway, I specifically bought this because of it's history of being challenged while also not being advertised as a challenged book with the rest of my local bookstore's selection for this week. Instead, I found it in the "social sciences" section along with the other memoirs and autobiographies of queer artists. There *used* to be an entire LGBTQ+ section, but I won't press too deeply into that for the purposes of this post.
I went into this book knowing very little about Bechdel outside of her other popular series Dykes to Watch Out For. I was, however, immediately drawn in to the story she tells in Fun Home. The title is an interesting twist and makes a lot of sense regarding the story she tells following it. The entire book has a heavy atmosphere to it, but in a sort of way that is hard to explain. It's distant but loving, uncertain but understanding. Calling it bittersweet feels like an understatement and doesn't do it justice. This in-depth autobiography is paired with illustrations that present it in a colorful-despite-being-in-black-and-white kind of way. I also love how Bechdel uses words to illustrate just as much as her drawings. A lot of feeling is conveyed throughout the entirety of this book. I don't think there was a single time when I wasn't having some kind of emotional reaction.
I think LGBTQ+ stories are incredibly important. When I read the stories of folks within my community, I can feel it in my chest. Because of that, I think I'd rate this one fairly highly. I'm unsure if I'll reread it any time soon, but that's mostly because I did have to take a few breaks here and there as I read it this week. Not an easy read, but a worth-while read.
This is the first book I wanted to write about, and therefore catalogue for myself, because this was a long journey for me. The way I went about this piece of media was backwards in comparison to what I typically prefer. First, I watched the American adaptation of the movie. My local theater had a sale, and it was Halloween, so I figured why not. I ended up liking it a lot more than I expected, and immediately went home to watch the Japanese adaptation (which I also loved!) While doing so, I kept a notebook and jotted down all the differences I noticed between the two. I also ended up doing some research, and was very surprised to see that this story is often considered a queer horror classic. I hadn't seen anything that would suggest that in either of the two movies. As a fan of horror, but especially queer horror, I needed more. However, the universe didn't let me find a copy of this book until almost two years later. Every bookstore I checked was out, and I try not to buy books from big online sellers unless absolutely needed. I actually forgot about it for a while until I just so happened to see it on the shelf while I was perusing the horror section. So, now that I have read it, here are my thoughts:
First of all, I can see why they changed the things that they did. Regardless of accuracy to the source material, I feel as though the main characters in either movie are more likable than the ones in the book. Maybe I need to rewatch them, or maybe I missed something, but I wasn't too invested in either of the men that lead the book. I did, however, love seeing more of Sadako and her story in the form it was originally intended to be in. I think the movies fall flat in chalking her up to just be some vengeful spirit. I think the "virus" nature of the video is far more interesting, especially with some of the other contextual pieces alongside it. Maybe that didn't feel as scary to modern viewers as a haunted videotape. Maybe it was too much for a shorter movie version. Either way, I liked the lore bits a lot more. I think the American version of the story really pares away at the story, almost telling a completely different one other than the tape itself. I feel like a lot of horror movies do this, to the point where it doesn't feel like a fair comparison.
Finally, as for this being a classic in queer horror, I have mixed feelings. I think the intersex representation is really cool, but it had a lot less to do with the story than I thought it would. Additionally, the only way we as the audience learn about her being intersex is through a sexual assault scene. I'm glad her being intersex is not treated as the horror itself, as is often the case in horror media, but I still find myself wanting more for queer horror stories. Also, if you haven't read the story yet and want a more complete list of content warnings, I recommend looking for one. This is not a complete overview, and this book had a chunk of disturbing topics and imagery in it that I did not include in this review.
Overall, I did find myself enjoying this book as a whole. It wasn't my favorite horror book, but I can see why it went on to inspire several more adaptations and homages since being published. Because of this, if I were to rate it, I would give it 4 stars. This is a totally arbitrary grading system based on vibes alone, so take that with a grain of salt.
I'd like to add one more part before wrapping up, as this is the first time I have ever reviewed a book like this before. If you'd like to engage with my writing, please do! I am happy to discuss books and take recommendations. Also, if there is something you'd like to see me talk about while I'm writing these, please let me know! I'm new, so I can only assume I have a lot to learn throughout this process. Best case-scenario, I get to talk with folks about something I am very passionate about. Worst? I write to myself about something I am very passionate about!
