I'm Spearmintyy

I read a lot and need somewhere to talk about it. Come chat with me!

[spearmintyy]

Review of Rejection: Fiction by Tony Tulathimutte

The ultimate nightmare blunt rotation.

Rating: ★★★★★

Tulathimutte understands the different strains of terminal internet usage in a way few do. In fact the novel's strength is how well he can understand and represent a huge variety of people in a way we rarely understand ourselves. From incels to tech bros to San Francisco queer co-ops, Tulathimutte knows every single one of the worst people you know, and spreads them across the page so viscerally that you can't be sure whether you hate them or are them.

Beneath the character studies that make up the surface of this book is a deep, spiralling depth of self reflection and meta analysis. It is self referential and confusing and so deeply intriguing that you can't help but wonder who truly wrote this book, even though his name's right there on the cover. This novel constantly surprised me, and was constantly adding on new layers of meaning to drive the novel forward and constantly change your perception of everything which had come before.

This novel has been nominated for the 2024 national book award in Fiction, and is definitely my pick to win.

(Also, it had by far the scariest scene I've ever read in anything ever. So that was awesome.)

Recommendations:

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut: An older, but no less relevant, exploration of "the worst people you know." Breakfast of Champions was written long before the internet, so lacks that dimension, but matches Tulathimutte's indepth exploration of loneliness and ego. Additionally, if you liked the meta elements of Rejection, Breakfast of Champions will not let you down.

[spearmintyy]

Review: There is No Antimemetics Division by QNTM

I never had an SCP phase; this book has proved to me that I'm direly missing out.

Rating: ★★★★★

This book has such a strong concept, and explores it so thoroughly. In the first chapter, we're introduced to the subject at hand: Antimemetics, ideas which destroy themselves. Or creatures which destroy the idea of themselves, and are impossible to remember.

From the first encounter, I was sucked in, but QNTM managed to continually outdo themselves throughout this novel. They pushed all their ideas to the furthest possible point, to incredible effect. This is that special type of sci-fi where you're absolutely certain that the author must be a genius in at least three or four fields to synthesize ideas like this.

And yet, for all that, it never comes off as pretentious or hard to follow. It keeps a fun, fast, accessible tone throughout, and never talks down to the reader.

Additionally, the characters all feel very real and well developed. And the plot-- which goes far beyond episodic run ins with one-off creatures-- is stunningly formed. And prior SCP knowledge is not required; I loved this novel without having ever read an SCP. However, my two friends who are SCP fans also loved it, and noted that there are several easter eggs for dedicated fans.

Recommendations:

Valuable Humans in Transit by QNTM. If QNTM's accessible, matter-of-fact exploration of complex science fiction ideas appeals to you, I can't recommend this short story collection enough. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. It is absolutely packed with unique concepts, niche scientific facts, and, of course, complex philosophical explorations of the potential impacts of things as simple as automatic breaking.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells. If you're a fan of the classic monster-of-the-week style sci-fi which There is No Antimemetics Division lovingly invokes, then you've got to read All Systems Red. In my review, I described it as reading like a brand new, especially good episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and I stand by that. It's a bonus that the Murderbot Diaries series has a lot of entries, all of which are short, bite-sized reads.

[spearmintyy]

Review on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This is actually the copy I have. But, somehow, the novel is actually more awesome than the cover.

Rating: ★★★★

Firstly, this book held up as a much easier read than I expected. The prose had just enough of that old school flower and specificity to be charming, without loosing me in the weeds.

The themes were well chosen and skillfully explored. Chosing and self and becoming it-- from Clerval's chivalry, to Victor and Walton's fame and discovery, to the creature's evil. They all juxtaposed so well, neatly illustrating Shelley's argument without her having the spell it out.

It was especially fun to see the lightning motif, knowing how it has evolved not just in Frankenstein adaptations but horror media as a whole.

Lastly, Shelley is an author who is not afraid to treat us to a long damn speech. And I loved every one. The contrast and paralells between Frankenstein and the creature had me breaking out a highlighter and new stack of sticky tabs; two enemies who think so similarly, and regard themselves so similarly, yet can never reach an agreement. Also, all of these pretentious characters having unabashedly grandious voices was equally charming and hilarious.

The pacing is definitely unusual, and would be out of place in a modern novel, but in Frankenstein, it is part of the charm. Yes, you're three layers deep in a story of someone telling a story of someone telling a story. But you'll love it! Overall, this is one of my favorite classic novels I've ever read.

Recommendations:

Dracula by Bram Stoker: The obvious pick for a reason. If you loved that special drama you can only get in classic lit, Dracula is a must read. Every character has a moral code and moral failing; good fights against evil. The main difference between Dracula and Frankenstein is that Dracula is a much more optimistic book, and yet it never feels overly positive or sticky sweet. It's one of my favorites for a reason, and if you enjoyed Frankenstein, you should definitely give it a spin.

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett: Here's a hot take. But if what you loved about Frankenstein was the thematic exploration of what it takes to be human, and you're alright with a pretty drastic tone change, Feet of Clay should be your next stop. Yes, it's part of a larger series (Discworld), but it works as a standalone novel. The tone is much lighter than Frankenstein, but one of the fundamental themes of the book is the meaning of life; however, Pratchett pushes further into exploring those intricacies in a society that pushes that the the only true purpose is to work.

[spearmintyy]

Review on Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

[insert killer guitar riff]

Rating: ★★★★

This book is the absolute definition of fun from the beginning to end. In this novel, Eames balances two layers of epic adventure: on the surface, we follow a group of retired adventurers who reunite for a truly wild journey which involves basically all of the coolest D&D monsters ever written. At the same time, we're following the "band" through a tour of classic rock, as they reunite for one last show. I want to give Eames extra points for making the bassist the protagonist.

This book has some of the best action sequences I've ever read. Eames masters action both on the level of a tight, personal, second-to-second duel, and on the scale of a grand siege. The supporting cast are also intricate and carefully thought out; honestly, my only complaint was that I wish we got more of Moog and Mattrick.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to any fan of fantasy, but especially if you follow music as well, this is a must read.

Recommendations:

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett: Another comedically minded fantasy novel. And it also follows a grumpy old man! Honestly, the name Pratchett should be recommendation enough, but check out my review on this book for more insight on why Guards! Guards! is a must read.

Homeland by R.A. Salvatore: With a book so inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, I can't not recommend the book that inspired so much of Dungeons and Dragons! Homeland was one of the first companion novels, and the first novel of the Legend of Drizzt. These books fleshed out a lot of the DND lore which has made the game what it is today; without them, we might not have The Underdark, or even Rangers! This also features some of the most cinematic, well developed action sequences I've read.

[spearmintyy]

Review on Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

Sorry for the extended hiatus! Life is crazy. But I'm coming back strong with one of my favorite books of all time :)

Rating: ★★★★★

This book is, perhaps, the ultimate comfort read. It is thrilling, clever, and completely hilarious and had me smiling on every page. Like, fully grinning while flipping through a book. In public no less!

Pratchett has mastered comedic timing in a way I didn't know could be achieved on a printed page. He uses so many clever, innovative tricks (the footnotes!) to construct a joke and deliver the punchline; and how incredible that a joke told thirty five years ago can land just right today!

The cast has so much heart-- even Nobby Nobbs, who in fact has my entire heart-- that by the end you feel like you've gotten drinks with them every week for the past twenty years. And they're kind of gross, but you love them. Vetinari is my personal favorite for his... everything. But even characters who only appear in a single page (Cut-me-own-throat, for one glorious example) come to life on the page. Pratchett can craft an entire person in a single line of dialogue.

And all that not to mention the brilliant prose. Pratchett's control over the english language blows me away. He can weave the same phrase into both a powerful symbol, novel bit of imagery, and hilarious punchline all at once. Genuinely, I've never read anyone else who can manage that, and I doubt I ever will.

Guards! Guards! is, in my opinion, the perfect foray into Discworld, which requires no prior context or reading. Just crack it open and get into it. This is my most-well lent book of my personal collection, because I can't help but force it on my friends-- so far, I haven't gotten a single complaint. Nor have any of them rated it below five stars.

Recommendations:

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames. If ever a comedy-fantasy could live up to Discworld, it's this one. Eames' humor is distinct from Pratchett's, in a way that brings his own unique voice to life. He tells a story not just about fantasy (featuring all your favorite and least well known DND creatures), but also about growing old, and rock music! The Band is one of my favorite adventuring parties I've ever had the pleasure to accompany. In every bit of this book, you can tell Eames is writing something he absolutely loves, and to me it was impossible not to love it too.

Homeland by R. A. Salvatore. If you loved the campy '80s fantasy feel of Discworld, the Legend of Drizzt (starting with Homeland) is a great place to get more of it. While Salvatore's work is less satirical and more of a straight-forward adventure, he never shies away from fun and show stopping set pieces. And, sometimes, campy things are all the more fun when presented earnestly and unabashedly.

[sylvestris123]

Agree absolutely on Guards, Guards! And thank you for the other recs!

[spearmintyy]

So glad to hear it <3 and of course!! it's what im here for :)

[spearmintyy]

Review on Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

Sorry for the extended hiatus! Life is crazy. But I'm coming back strong with one of my favorite books of all time :)

Rating: ★★★★★

This book is, perhaps, the ultimate comfort read. It is thrilling, clever, and completely hilarious and had me smiling on every page. Like, fully grinning while flipping through a book. In public no less!

Pratchett has mastered comedic timing in a way I didn't know could be achieved on a printed page. He uses so many clever, innovative tricks (the footnotes!) to construct a joke and deliver the punchline; and how incredible that a joke told thirty five years ago can land just right today!

The cast has so much heart-- even Nobby Nobbs, who in fact has my entire heart-- that by the end you feel like you've gotten drinks with them every week for the past twenty years. And they're kind of gross, but you love them. Vetinari is my personal favorite for his... everything. But even characters who only appear in a single page (Cut-me-own-throat, for one glorious example) come to life on the page. Pratchett can craft an entire person in a single line of dialogue.

And all that not to mention the brilliant prose. Pratchett's control over the english language blows me away. He can weave the same phrase into both a powerful symbol, novel bit of imagery, and hilarious punchline all at once. Genuinely, I've never read anyone else who can manage that, and I doubt I ever will.

Guards! Guards! is, in my opinion, the perfect foray into Discworld, which requires no prior context or reading. Just crack it open and get into it. This is my most-well lent book of my personal collection, because I can't help but force it on my friends-- so far, I haven't gotten a single complaint. Nor have any of them rated it below five stars.

Recommendations:

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames. If ever a comedy-fantasy could live up to Discworld, it's this one. Eames' humor is distinct from Pratchett's, in a way that brings his own unique voice to life. He tells a story not just about fantasy (featuring all your favorite and least well known DND creatures), but also about growing old, and rock music! The Band is one of my favorite adventuring parties I've ever had the pleasure to accompany. In every bit of this book, you can tell Eames is writing something he absolutely loves, and to me it was impossible not to love it too.

Homeland by R. A. Salvatore. If you loved the campy '80s fantasy feel of Discworld, the Legend of Drizzt (starting with Homeland) is a great place to get more of it. While Salvatore's work is less satirical and more of a straight-forward adventure, he never shies away from fun and show stopping set pieces. And, sometimes, campy things are all the more fun when presented earnestly and unabashedly.

[spearmintyy]

Review on All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Book one of the Murderbot Diaries! Lets get into it :)

Rating: ★★★

This book perfectly encapsulated the episodic sci-fi vibe. The nostalgia hit absolutely just right, and it honestly felt like reading a brand new episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Murderbot was a brilliantly constructed protagonist, who instantly endeared himself to me through his awkwardness and lazy attitude. I totally see how someone would fall in love with him and read fifteen (how many??) more books.

My main issue with this book was probably the large cast. There were at least three characters in the "main group" who I struggled to distinguish from each other, and I believe could've been excluded without any loss to the plot. I also found the overall plot a bit formulaic, and rushed (particularly at the end). However, for such a short novel, it accomplished a lot in the low page count. And, most importantly, established all the necessary elements to bring people into the series!

Recommendations:

There is No Antimemetics Division by QNTM. This is a perfectly fitting companion piece in my opinion. Another short science fiction novel in the tone of classic science fiction monster-of-the-week serials. It also follows an equally compelling and fun main character as Murderbot, which is no easy feat. Plus, as a self-published novel, this book gets extra props from me for how well edited and designed it is.

[spearmintyy]

Review on The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola

I read this in a collection along with My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. For some inexplicable reason, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts was printed first in that collection; if you take anything away from my review, please let it be that The Palm-Wine Drinkard should definitely be read first!

Rating: ★★

Tutuola's writing style definitely takes some getting used to, but part of this book's charm is how utterly unique it is. From the narrative structure (or, maybe, lack thereof) to use of language, this book stands apart from any other I've read. The story's introduction actually helped me a lot with understanding the style's eccentricities (for example, the sometimes tiring use of repetition) as an adaption of the medium of "folk operas". It also provided really useful context for Amos Tutuola's personal relationship with both Christianity and Yoruba tradition, which added a lot of depth to the dynamic of those two beliefs in this story.

My personal favorite vignette was the tale of the Complete Gentleman; I'm a sucker for wordplay and unexpected twists. And in general, the myths and folklore never ceased to surprise and intrigue me throughout. Though, honestly, my favorite part of this book was the introduction.

Recommendations:

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola. I know it's a bit cheap to recommend a book by the same author, but, in all honesty, if you loved The Palm-Wine Drinkard there is no better follow up. My Life in the Bush of Ghosts continues in the same world, and is in many ways a heightening of the Palm-Wine Drinkard. A deeper dive into Yoruba folklore, an even more experimental narrative structure, and even more stylistic prose style. To be totally honest, this one was a bit too stylistic and experimental for me, but if that's what you like, this is the book for you.

Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda. If an interest in folklore was what drew you to My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (as it did me), I recommend this compilation of short, modern retellings of Japanese folklore stories. The writing is compelling and accessible, and the translation by Polly Barton maintains a lot of voice and character.

[spearmintyy]

Review on Coraline by Neil Gaiman

I didn't even mean to read this book (yet), but picked it up in the bookstore and couldn't stop til I'd finished that same day! Let's get into it.

Rating: ★★★★★

First off, I thought this book was brilliantly paced, especially for such a short novel. Gaiman starts and ends the story at the perfect time, without wasting any page space on unneeded context. I can see this being especially important to access a younger audience who needs to be engrossed from the very first page. And I definitely was! I'm always so impressed by how Gaiman balances the most rich description with efficiency of storytelling.

I've always heard that Gaiman began writing this novel as a transcription of the stories he told his children before bed, and that came through in the writing in the most lovely way. I can totally picture reading this aloud to a group of kids; I could practically hear the character voices in my head the whole time. Also, I appreciated how Gaiman never once spoke down to his audience. While everything is accessible to a child's perspective, he doesn't feel the need to spell out absolutely everything, and let's the audience solve some of the puzzles all by themself.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It worked well both as a cleverly told, engaging horror novel, and an excellent children's story. I liked reading it even more than I loved the movie as a kid (though I totally heard Keith David's voice for all the cat's dialogue).

Recommendations:

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton. While definitely a divergence from the horror genre, Hollow Kingdom is another book that deals with darker subject matter through the eyes of an optimistic and naive protagonist. Hollow Kingdom has a much more humorous tone than Coraline, but still tells a very heartfelt story of a protagonist learning to defend the home and people they love-- people who should, perhaps, have been defending them. Also, if the sarcastic talking cat was a highlight of Coraline for you (as it was for me), Hollow Kingdom is seriously the book for you.

Black Paradox by Junji Ito. Okay, hear me out. While this doesn't relate to the children's novel tone of Coraline, I actually found a lot in common with the more adventure-driven interpretation of the horror genre. Black Paradox, like Coraline, very much felt like the protagonists had taken back the narrative by the end of the story. And they're fun to cheer on!

[spearmintyy]

hi, I saw your reddit post about Assassin's Apprentice!!!! that series is one of my favorites ever. who's your favorite character so far?

Omg, such a hard question! I think I have to say Burrich, because the dynamic between him and Fitz is so sweet but also so heartbreaking. The way he punishes Fitz for using the Wit seems so cruel but he's just trying to protect Fitz from what he suffered!! Also, I feel like he has such a history with Patience... I hope we find out more about that in later books.

How about you?? Any favs??

[spearmintyy]

Review on frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss

I'll be the first to admit I don't typically seek out poetry books, but this one came highly recommended to me by a professor, so I gave it a shot!

Ranking: ★★

For me, this collection started out really strong. The in-the-moment sequence of poems of her approaching the lighthouse were clever and resonant, with a good balance of humor and self-reflection.

However, she really lost me in the rehashing of her life story. It felt like she was trying to paint herself as a prototypical tortured artist, constantly trying to prove to the reader that she was born with some inherent poetic drive. It just didn't feel honest to me.

My favorite poem in this collection was "I Wanted to be Like the Boy in the Book." To me, this poem was immensely interesting and resonant. Rather than a rehashed cliche, I felt like Diane Seuss was tackling an incredibly personal, genuine struggle that I think many can relate to, though it is not often discussed.

It's possible I'm too harsh, or just don't understand this type of poetry. But in a book of 127 poems, she only spoke highly of another woman once. This felt like a life story told through the men in her life; often it felt like she was using their treatment of her as evidence of her worth. Furthermore, and this is a personal gripe, but I find the sentiment of "I haven't experienced love, so it must not be real and everyone else is deluding themselves/dumber than me" very juvenile and was actually surprised to see it so frequently in a book written by someone later in life.

Recommendations:

Now, it feels a bit strange giving recommendations based on a book I didn't like, so instead I'll give some recommendations of poetry and short fiction that I did like.

Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman. These are two collections of short stories and poems written by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman has a (to me, at least) unique style of poetry with a more narrative approach, which makes it very accessible and engaging. Also, these collections contain some seriously amazing short stories, including my favorite of all time, The Goldfish Pond and other Stories. Genres vary from lovecraftian horror, to modern fantasy, to fairy tales.

The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay. Similar to frank: sonnets, in that this is another collection of short, non-fiction works, Ross Gay takes an entirely different view on life. These short essays were written in a year, one a day (though not every essay was included in the published collection), and each reflects on something he experienced that day which brought him joy. Gay sees the artistic value in the expression and exploration of joy. However, he's not afraid to tackle challenging concepts like racism and the pressure of masculinity, which he does in a way that is somehow touching, educational, and entertaining.

[spearmintyy]

Review: The Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Read this classic for the first time recently. Warning: Review contains (very) mild spoilers!

Ranking: ★★★★★

This book was truly such a treat to read. It had everything I want from a fantasy novel: a full cast of well developed characters, unique and interesting magic system, and solid character driven plot. The worldbuilding was the perfect balance of well-thought-out and simplistic; it felt real and tangible, and yet at no point was I bogged down by an overly complicated hard magic system.

The story was strong from the beginning, but the end sequence was what really blew me away. The way Hobbs weaved together so many different plot lines and character arcs was seriously masterful. And yet she left just enough unresolved that I can't wait to read the sequel.

My personal favorite aspect of the book was the relationship between Burrich and Fitz. It was both so sweet and so heartbreaking; my friends kept asking me why I was crying while reading and I couldn't even begin to explain the complexity of it (I'm an easy crier, but still). The line in the epilogue about Burrich and Hands actually broke me.

Overall, I give this book a five stars because it was everything I wanted from a fantasy novel, and more: so, so many dogs! This book is so good, in fact, that it definitely deserves a better title and cover. Though, I'm not sure I'd be willing to sacrifice that amazing 90s of it all...

Recommendations:

Homeland by R.A. Salvatore: This is this first installation in the Legend of Drizzt (which is 39 books now, wow! I need to catch up...), and it follows Drizzt through his adolescent years. Drizzt, a youth growing up in a rigid society with strict rules and predefined rolls, struggles against his family's brutal expectations and is embroiled in political intrigue as well as frequent fighting. Also, in every way that Assassin's Apprentice is delightfully 90s, Homeland takes it to the next level. Definitely campier than Assassin's Apprentice, but still very fun and at times heartfelt (I cried at this one too, but that might be personal bias).

Leviathan by Scott Westerfield: While this novel doesn't take place in a typical high fantasy setting, the steampunk reimagining of World War One feels just as whimsical and exciting as any castle full of magic could. I recommend this to enjoyers of the Assassin's Apprentice as it is also a coming-of-age story, and follows two protagonists, one of whom shares Fitz struggle of being burdened with royal blood without the benefits, and the other who works in a (stable-adjacent?) environment taking care of animals. While this novel is technically YA, the tropes of the genre don't overpower it and the characters and setting still shine.

[spearmintyy]

Review: Dracula

In honor of the annual Dracula Daily Day, I thought I'd write my first review on one of my favorite novels! I know I'm a day late, but posting while Jonathan's paprika hendl is still hot!

Ranking: ★★★★★

I loved this novel so much more than I thought I would going into it. Ironically, I don't think it holds up particularly well as horror (in the modern sense), but more as a heroic adventure; of which, this is one of the best I've read!

The thematic good-vs-evil struggle is very classic, but executed with such genuine ernesty that it made a huge impact. I love the cast of characters, each with their own unique brand of chivalry, bravery, and so-very-human goodness. Quincy was my personal favorite, but I always love a cowboy.

From the structure to the characters to the themes, every part of this felt like a quintessential classic novel. And yet each element was so charming and heartfelt that it stood on its own and resonated very truly.

Recommendations

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly: I know this is probably the most predictable recommendation, but these two books pair together far beyond the superficial "universal monsters" connection! Their structures are very similar (Dracula being told as a series of letters, Frankenstein as a series of recursive stories). The main difference between these two books, in my opinion, is that, while Dracula is ultimately a hopeful, heroic tale, Frankenstein is a good deal darker in tone, with a bleaker outlook on humanity. Still, though, who doesn't like a melancholic, can't-help-but-make-everything-worse protagonist? And who doesn't like TWO?

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater: Okay, hear me out. While a very different genre than Dracula, I actually found a lot of similarities in these two books. They both follow groups of unlikely friends, who unite together in supernatural circumstances, and investigate chivalry and heroism in its varying forms.

[spearmintyy]

Introducing myself through five favorite books!

Favorite Classic: Bram Stoker's Dracula

There's so many reasons why this is one of my all time favorites, but the part that really sticks with me is the characters. Each of them were so different from each other (a cowboy, a professor, a doctor, a school teacher, and an aspiring lawyer!) but their friendship still felt so true and genuine. One of my favorite adventure novels, so hopeful and sweet but not afraid to take dark twists. To me, this book is the definition of classic.

Favorite New Book: Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

I know I'm using "new" loosely (can't believe 2017 was seven years ago...) but at the very least, this book is new to me! I thought this was such a clever take on the fantasy genre, which is my favorite. It kept all the classic aspects of wizards, flying ships, and even owl bears, while reframing them in terms of the modern music industry. I love old and new music, specifically punk and nu wave, so I really enjoyed all the little nods to it. Plus, the storyline of aging heroes reconvening to relive their glory days was just amazing.

Favorite Nonfiction: On Writing by Stephen King

To be totally honest, I'm not usually one for nonfiction. But this book was genuinely a page turner. While it's often touted as a must-read for aspiring writers, I don't actually think that's where this book shines. For me, personally, the most interesting parts were the beginning and end, learning how Stephen King grew up to be such a successful author, and learning about how he overcame the accident he was in and got back into writing afterwards. Also, his prose is just so entertaining I think it'd be hard not to enjoy.

Favorite Graphic Novel: Uzumaki by Junji Ito

I'm a horror lover, and this manga might be the most unique horror media I've ever experienced. Junji Ito really makes the most of the visual medium, and his art is incredible. I wish I could plaster my apartment with these pages, seriously. Beyond that, he finds such creative and fresh topics to explore, I think I left this book with all new fears. Seriously, my terrarium (as seen in the pic) is full of snails, and ever since I read this book I've been scared they'll escape.

Favorite of All Time: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

No book has impacted me so much as American Gods. It'll be hard to keep this short, as I genuinely think I could write a thesis on the complexities and lore of this book. But overall, I'll say I love folklore, and reading this book, I could genuinely believe Neil Gaiman knows more folklore than I could ever hope to learn in my entire life. Every scene and inclusion is so well crafted and thought out; reading this book probably took my twice as long because every chapter I finished made me want to read at least three wikipedia pages. Also, Shadow is one of my favorite protagonists I've ever read. Between his appreciation for the bigfoot magazine cover and constant attempts to entertain kids with coin tricks (which doesn't work out as often as it should!) I absolutely fell in love with him.

Thanks everyone for reading! I plan to use this blog as a space to share reviews of the books I read (as well as share favorite music and movies on occasion). Feel free to send in asks, comments, and questions. Nice to meet you!