(This month’s prompt is Cleaning: Write about doing laundry, dishes, and other cleaning activities.) I’ve always liked cleaning. Something about the process — clean mirrors first so drips don’t ruin a just-wiped counter, sweep then mop, wash dishes during cook time so you’re not left with a pile just before dinner — soothes my anxiety-riddled…
2015 End of Year Book Survey
Early every December I realize I’m officially sick of whatever year we’re currently in, and start dreaming obsessively about how much better the next year will be. This is doubly the case with 2015 — some awful stuff happened, and lately I’ve spent a lot of time worried about…well, everything. Fortunately we’re on the cusp…
2015 State of the Blog and Wrap-Up
How is 2015 over already? Let’s talk nerdy. First, the basics Books read in 2015: 73 (46 since 7/1) Audiobooks: 13 since 7/1 Pages read: 24,911 (15,838 since 7/1) Books reviewed: 54 (27 since 7/1) Books not enjoyed: 11 (5 since 7/1) Books not finished: 1 (1 since 7/1) Library books: 37 (21 since 7/1)…
C.J. Cregg Is My Spirit Animal
I love all kinds of book and television characters: heroes, villains, the straight man, the genius, the fool. But what I love more than anything — what makes my little heart go pitter-patter — is a well-rounded, kickass heroine. They’re not always easy to spot, so when I find one I love her immediately, and…
6 Ominous(Ish) Gothic Novels To Read For Halloween
Gothic novels are chock-full of haunted castles, mustache-twirling villains, damsels in distress, dashing heroes, and supernatural elements of all shapes and sizes. If you’ve read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, you’ve read what most contemporary readers call “Gothic.” But Stoker was actually late to the genre party; Dracula was published in 1897, while the first true Gothic…