The December Read & Watch Challenge

As you might have noticed, I'm a little behind on posting about this month's theme for the Read & Watch Challenge. I'm in book deadline armageddon mode, so I haven't had much time to dedicate to much else between writing sessions beyond showering and feeding the people who live here. Can you believe they expect to eat multiple times a day?? ; ) 

But I do have a book pick and movie pick for the Magical theme!

Book

Garden Spells (Bantam Discovery)

By Sarah Addison Allen

So many people have recommended Sarah Addison Allen to me, but I didn't get a chance to read her until recently. This book was just flat out delightful and such a feel good read. I went out immediately and bought First Frost after finishing this one. I believe this falls into the category of magical realism because it's a contemporary setting but magic is threaded throughout it. I highly recommend it.

Movie

Y'all, I can't even with this movie. I had heard wonderful things about the book and bought it but hadn't gotten to it yet. We saw this movie with my kiddo and omg, I think I cried through half the damn movie. But it was SO SO SO good. Everyone should see this, especially kids. I loved it. It was truly a magical movie.

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Of course I do plan to work in some magical holiday movies before Christmas. It's a requirement to watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and Home Alone. I also need a big dose of Sleepless in Seattle. I haven't read any holiday books this season, though, so I'm not sure I'm going to sneak any of those in before Christmas.

I'd love to hear your favorite magical books or movies and to hear what you are reading and watching this month. Let me know in the comments. : )

November's Read & Watch Challenge Theme: COZY

It's that time again--the beginning of a new a month and a new theme for the Read and Watch challenge. You don't have to use it like a literal challenge, but hopefully it inspires you to pick up something new to read and watch this month. I, for one, can't resist a good what to read/what to watch recommendation list. 

This month's theme is COZY. Fall is finally here! Down in Texas that is a huge reason to celebrate because it means an end to the oppressive summer heat. We've finally gotten a snap of cooler weather this week and I am so here for it. I hate when we have hot Halloweens. This week I was even able to light the first fire of the season. Hurrah!

So, I'll give you some of my picks and then tell you what I hope to read and watch this month.

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What to Read:

The Men at Work trilogy by Tiffany Reisz

Tiffany Reisz's Men at Work books are such a great seasonal treat. Each one tackles a holiday, all are sexy, and they're super fun. Plus, they take place in the Pacific Northwest, so perfect cozy up weather as a setting. You can read any of them as standalones but they are a great trio to grab.

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

The concept of Hygge is kind of a trend right now so you may have seen it around, but I really enjoyed this brief little book on how to Danes do things. Hygge is ALL about the cozy. I read this in the summer and it made me YEARN for cold weather. Fireplaces and comfort food and candles and blankets and friends. Bring it on.

This Is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick

I'm about two-thirds of the way through this one, but I've really enjoyed it so far. I may write a full post on it when I'm done, but I think it plays well to the theme of cozy. The premise is learning to love where you live. I really like the idea of this. No matter where you live, there are always going to be things you don't like or places you might think are better. But each city has its own charms and unique features. This is a book about digging into those and embracing them. I love the idea of being happy right where you are.

Off the Ice by Julie Cross

A super adorable YA story about family, falling in love, small towns, and hockey. I read this book in its early stages because Julie and I are friends, but it stuck with me. It's the perfect winter read to cozy up with (and I know nothing about hockey, so that's not a requirement.) 

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What to Watch:

via GIPHY

When Harry Met Sally

Do I really have to explain this one? A must watch.

Wanted It GIF from Wanted GIFs

You've Got Mail

Meg Ryan gets all the best cozy fall movies. New York and fall and bookstores. What's not to love? This one is due for a rewatch by me.

College movies with Robin Williams in them...

Still breaks my heart knowing we've lost such a great talent. Prepare the box of tissues for both of these.

Dead Poet's Society

Poetry, Beauty, Romance, Love GIF from Deadpoetssociety GIFs

Good Will Hunting

It's Not Your Fault GIF from Goodwillhunting GIFs

Gilmore Girls

I overloaded on the movie suggestions this time, but if you want a cozy watch for TV, you can't go wrong with the GIlmore Girls. Small town, much coffee drinking, lots of scarves. 

Dramatic GIF from Lorelaigilmore GIFs

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What I'll Be Reading

I have a few possibilities in mind. I haven't chosen yet, but these are the candidates.

Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams

I realized the other day when I saw the preview for Murder on the Orient Express that I used to love Agatha Christie books. Well, the modern day version of that style is called the cozy mystery. So it's perfect for this month's theme. And this cozy mystery is based at a book retreat--so mystery and books! I'm in. Plus, after two many grim thrillers, it's sometimes nice to read a mystery that's fun and free of gore.

The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine by Kate Angell, Jennifer Dawson, and Sharla Lovelace

This cover totally got me. I mean, that just screams cozy fall read.

Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence

A librarian writes love letters and break up letters to books. I love this concept and plan to put this one on my bedside table to read in little bites.

My Kitchen Year by Ruth Reichl

What's cozier than a food memoir? This is the story of what happened to head editor Ruth Reichl after Gourmet magazine was suddenly shut down and she found herself without a job. She turned to food and cooking to process everything and heal. There are recipes in here but I've been told it reads more like a memoir, not a cookbook.

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What I'll Be Watching

Stranger Things

I loved the first season of Stranger Things, so I can't wait to dive into season 2. Nothing like a good, spooky TV show for the fall.

Murder on the Orient Express

I read the book in high school (because I had awesome English teachers who assigned cool books) and I'm so excited about the movie. Also, it's been so long since I've read it, I don't remember who the murderer is, lol. So I'll be surprised!

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That's my list for the month. What will you be reading and watching?

My Podcast Addiction: Some Faves and New Finds

How did it take me so long to discover the world of podcasting? It's become one of my most favorite things over the past year or two. They're so convenient to listen to. During rides in the car, while I do dishes, when I take walks, etc. And I love learning new things or hearing about books, so it's like a little treat in my day to be able to listen to a podcasts. (I'm also a recent convert to audiobooks for similar reasons, but more on that at another time.)

Today I wanted to tell you about a few of my must-listen-to-every-week podcasts and then some new ones I've stumbled upon in the last few months. I've blogged a few times about podcasts I like here and here so you may recognize some of my recurring favorites. 

So, up first are the ones that I listen to every week and often listen to on the day they release.

My Favorites

What Should I Read Next with Anne Bogel

I've mentioned this one before. Anne has a reader on each episode. Readers tell her three books they love, one book they hate, and then what they would like to be different in their reading life. Anne then makes recommendations. Anne doesn't read romance so that's not what she's recommending, but otherwise, there is a wide variety of types of books recommended. This podcast has cost me SO MUCH book money because her descriptions often sell me on the book. General Focus: mysteries, suspense, literary fiction, classics, general fiction, women's fiction, non-fiction BONUS: Safe to listen to with your kids around and she has a very soothing voice. 

Get Booked by Book Riot

Similar to the one above in that it's about readers and book recommendations, but the format is a little different. Readers send in questions and the two hosts answer them with recommendations. General focus: all types of fiction including romance (yay!), non-fiction, poetry, short stories, essay collections, etc. BONUS: Special emphasis on diverse picks and feminist books. Warning: No profanity or anything but not always kid-friendly because books with heavy topics are often discussed. They do give trigger warnings, however.

All the Books! by Book Riot

This show goes through the books that are releasing that week. The hosts talk about their recommendations. Very similar in style to Get Booked but no reader questions. It's all about what's out this week and what you should read. Same warnings I gave for Get Booked apply here.

New-to-Me Podcasts I'm Loving

Sorta Awesome with Megan Tietz and friends

This one is hard to describe, but it covers a lot of ground. Below is the description from the website, but it's just a podcast that is fun and full of interesting tips. It feels like sitting down with your girlfriends over wine and discussing life.

"Sorta Awesome is a weekly podcast geared toward women who want to stay current on all things awesome, including culture, media, trending conversations and general girlfriend chat. Each episode of Sorta Awesome begins with the Awesome of the Week. Meg and her co-host share a recent discovery that makes life easier, better or more sparkly. From there, the show delves into topics that are as varied as the team itself. One week, we might confess our popular opinions. The next, we might share tips on organization. Our goal is for listeners to feel encouraged, empowered and excited to find the awesome in the everyday."

Note to Self with Manoush Zomorodi

This one is about the effects of technology in our lives presented in a super interesting way. Y'all know I've been kind of obsessed with this topic since our Device-Free Summer, so this is right up my alley. The host is the author of the new book Bored and Brilliant which I'm reading right now, but the podcasts has a wide range of technology topics.

The Lazy Genius with Kendra, The Lazy Genius

The motto of this show is this: "A Lazy Genius is a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't." So that's exactly what it is. Kendra dedicates each episode to one topic to be a lazy genius about. Simple things like hanging stuff on your walls (and why you shouldn't be scared about it) to creating mental space in your day. These are usually pretty quick and good for a short car ride.

New Ones I'm Trying Out

Recommended by Book Riot

This is a short podcast where authors recommend a favorite book to readers. Interesting stories usually accompany the recommendation because the authors tell you why that particular book meant something to them.

The Simple Show with Tsh Oxenreider

The motto of this one is saying yes to the things that matter and no to the things that don't. The two hosts pick a topic each week (cleaning, TV watching, roadtrips) and discuss what they say yes and no to within those topics. Can take on a religious lean sometimes but it's not a religious show. 

The Rewatchables

I just added this one and haven't listened to an episode yet, but I love the concept. It's all about taking older movies and discussing why they are worth a rewatch. I'm excited because they seem to have episodes about a lot of movies I love: You've Got Mail, Clueless, Scream, etc.

If you're new to podcasts, it's easy to get started. Most phones have a native podcast app. Just open the app, search for the podcasts you want, and you can download episodes for free (or subscribe if you want them to download every time a new episode is available.) The native Apple podcast app works fine, but I like the added features of the Overcast app, which is free in the app store.

That's my list for now, what podcasts do you love? Or are you new to the whole idea of podcasts?

Friday Reads: Sourdough by Robin Sloan

Delightful and effortlessly readable. That's the description I kept coming back to as I was reading today's Friday Read. As many of you know, I'm an enthusiastic subscriber to the Book of the Month club. (If you want to check it out, my referral link will get you your first month for 9.99 and a cute tote bag.) And one of the things I like best about the club is that it forces me out of my reading comfort zone. Sourdough by Robin Sloan is a book I never would've picked up and checked out on my own. A book about a slightly magical sourdough starter? What?

But I'm telling y'all, this was the perfect book for the reading slump I was in. It was so fun and quirky and just a delight to read. There was even a tiny little romance in it. I like books that make me feel good and smile, and this one definitely did. So if you find yourself in a funk or a bad mood, give it a try. Bonus: The cover on the hardback glows in the dark!

Also, be warned. It's going to make you crave bread. It made me bake, lol.

See...

So books and bread, a winning combo. I bought this author's other book while the bread was still cooling off. That's the highest compliment because my TBR is like whoa and I do not need to be adding more books. 

About the book:

Lois Clary is a software engineer at General Dexterity, a San Francisco robotics company with world-changing ambitions. She codes all day and collapses at night, her human contact limited to the two brothers who run the neighborhood hole-in-the-wall from which she orders dinner every evening. Then, disaster! Visa issues. The brothers close up shop, and fast. But they have one last delivery for Lois: their culture, the sourdough starter used to bake their bread. She must keep it alive, they tell her—feed it daily, play it music, and learn to bake with it.

Lois is no baker, but she could use a roommate, even if it is a needy colony of microorganisms. Soon, not only is she eating her own homemade bread, she’s providing loaves daily to the General Dexterity cafeteria. The company chef urges her to take her product to the farmer’s market, and a whole new world opens up.

When Lois comes before the jury that decides who sells what at Bay Area markets, she encounters a close-knit club with no appetite for new members. But then, an alternative emerges: a secret market that aims to fuse food and technology. But who are these people, exactly? 

Leavened by the same infectious intelligence that made Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore such a sensation, while taking on even more satisfying challenges, Sourdough marks the triumphant return of a unique and beloved young writer.

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book of the Month Club (where you can get the hardcover for about half the price)

What are you reading this weekend?

October Read and Watch Challenge: STRANGE

It's that time of the month again--time for a new monthly theme for the Read & Watch Challenge! This month I wanted to nod to Halloween and the change of seasons (if we ever GET a change of season here in Dallas. So. Hot. Still.) But I also didn't want to make it all about scary books and horror because not everyone reads that. So I thought the word STRANGE could cover a lot of bases. 

*If you're not familiar with the challenge, you can find out the details here. Feel free to join in anytime.

So, I have a few recommendations for you and then I'll give you some of my plans for what I'm going to read and watch this month.

What to Read:

First, I'm going to recommend (with caveats) a horror writer that I discovered last year: Grady Hendrix. So his books are like if horror movies from the 80s got mixed up with a Southpark episode. They are gory but also darkly funny and snarky. Having said that, don't read these if you don't like horror or are easily grossed out. They are still horror, even if they have that dark comic edge. But I've enjoyed both of these, and I love the quirky concepts.

I read My Best Friend's Exorcism last week and it was a page-turner. Plus, the presentation of the book itself adds to the experience. The hardcover I have looks like a high school yearbook complete with signatures and cheesy pages with dedications and school clubs and such. Also, each chapter is the name of an 80s song. I'm not sure if all the humor will land if you didn't grow up in the 80s. Like I can remember how there was this rampant fear back then that satanists were stealing kids and doing rituals in the woods near my house. It's weird to think about it now, but people legitimately were worried that kid-stealing satanists were a widespread problem. So there are nods to that time in this book. Also, there's a scene at the end where she invokes a view things during an exorcism (I won't spoil it) that made me laugh out loud and made the whole book worth it. But it is GORY. I was grossed out a number of times. So this isn't going to be for everyone.

This photo is of the hardcover that I have, but the paperback version has one that looks like a crazy VHS tape. Also, it looks like the kindle version has enhanced content.

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

An unholy hybrid of Beaches and The Exorcist that blends teen angst, adolescent drama, unspeakable horrors, and a mix of ’80s pop songs into a pulse-pounding supernatural thriller

The year is 1988. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to act…different. She’s moody. She’s irritable. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she’s nearby. Abby’s investigation leads her to some startling discoveries—and by the time their story reaches its terrifying conclusion, the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single question: Is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil?

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Also, if that one appeals to you, I'll do a shout out for another by Grady Hendrix that I read a few years ago. I did a full review on this one here and have already recommended it. But in case you missed it, it's a horror story set in an IKEA-like store. Who wouldn't think that getting lost in an IKEA at night would be scary? I highly recommend the print copy of this one because it's made to look like an IKEA catalog and has drawings of different furniture that becomes increasingly sinister as the story goes on. :) 

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

A traditional haunted house story in a thoroughly contemporary setting, Horrorstör comes packaged in the form of a glossy mail order catalog, complete with product illustrations, a home delivery order form, and a map of Orsk’s labyrinthine showroom. It’s “a treat for fans of The Evil Dead or Zombieland, complete with affordable solutions for better living.”—Kirkus Reviews. 

Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.
 
To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.

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If you like your strange with a little more science fiction and less horror, you might want to try Dark Matter by Black Crouch. This is a thriller with a science fiction twist. It puts the characters in a lot of strange situations, so this fits the theme perfectly. I did a full review here, but here are the details about the book:

Dark Matter by Black Crouch

A mindbending, relentlessly surprising thriller from the author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy.

“Are you happy with your life?” 
 
Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. 
 
Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. 
 
Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”  
 
In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.
 
Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.
 
Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human—a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

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What to Watch:

It

Okay, y'all, confession: the original IT was one of my favorite movies/mini-series (even though the ending always pissed me off.) I saw it high school and read the book and loved that brand of horror. So I was both excited and nervous when the new one came out because remakes are usually a big disappointment. But I got a chance to see it this week and I have to say, I was impressed. They did a really great job with it and benefitted from the technology advances since the first one. Plus, the child actors did a great job portraying the characters. I also liked that this one just focused on the half of the story that took place when they were kids (they moved it from set in the 60s to the 80s). There will be a second movie I'm guessing to cover the adult portion, but it made it feel less rushed. So if you like a scary movie that's more about psychological horror than jump scares, this is a good choice. For me, this one is all about characterization and caring about the characters, which is often rare in modern horror movies.

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What I'll Be Reading:

Sourdough by Robin Sloane

This is one of my Book of the Month picks and I love the sound of this one. Magical bread? Sign me up. :) (Also, if you're interested in checking out Book of the Month, you can get the new John Green book or the new Stephen King and Owen King book for free. My referral link will get you 3 months for 10 dollars a month, which is way cheaper than the new release hardbacks are sold anywhere else.)

About the book:

In his much-anticipated new novel, Robin Sloan does for the world of food what he did for the world of books in Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

Lois Clary is a software engineer at General Dexterity, a San Francisco robotics company with world-changing ambitions. She codes all day and collapses at night, her human contact limited to the two brothers who run the neighborhood hole-in-the-wall from which she orders dinner every evening. Then, disaster! Visa issues. The brothers close up shop, and fast. But they have one last delivery for Lois: their culture, the sourdough starter used to bake their bread. She must keep it alive, they tell her—feed it daily, play it music, and learn to bake with it.

Lois is no baker, but she could use a roommate, even if it is a needy colony of microorganisms. Soon, not only is she eating her own homemade bread, she’s providing loaves daily to the General Dexterity cafeteria. The company chef urges her to take her product to the farmer’s market, and a whole new world opens up.

When Lois comes before the jury that decides who sells what at Bay Area markets, she encounters a close-knit club with no appetite for new members. But then, an alternative emerges: a secret market that aims to fuse food and technology. But who are these people, exactly? 

Leavened by the same infectious intelligence that made Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore such a sensation, while taking on even more satisfying challenges, Sourdough marks the triumphant return of a unique and beloved young writer.

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Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix

Yes, this one is the very definition of strange and it's another pick by Grady Hendrix, but I'm fascinated by the evolution of book genres and this is all about the rise of horror in the 80s and the history of it. Oddly enough, it's tied to romance (picture those gothic book covers with the woman running in her nightgown away from a big scary house.) So yes, this is a weird pick but I'm looking forward to it. Plus, it has all kinds of photographs of the creepy and weird horror covers of the past.

About the book:

Take a tour through the horror paperback novels of the 1970s and ’80s . . . if you dare. Page through dozens and dozens of amazing book covers featuring well-dressed skeletons, evil dolls, and knife-wielding killer crabs! Read shocking plot summaries that invoke devil worship, satanic children, and haunted real estate! Horror author and vintage paperback book collector Grady Hendrix offers killer commentary and witty insight on these trashy thrillers that tried so hard to be the next Exorcist or Rosemary’s Baby. It’s an affectionate, nostalgic, and unflinchingly funny celebration of the horror fiction boom of two iconic decades, complete with story summaries and artist and author profiles. You’ll find familiar authors, like V. C. Andrews and R. L. Stine, and many more who’ve faded into obscurity. Plus recommendations for which of these forgotten treasures are well worth your reading time and which should stay buried.

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This is another Book of the Month pick. The premise seems to fit the Strange theme perfectly.

The Blinds by Adam Sternbergh

From the Edgar Award-nominated author of Shovel Ready, a blistering new thriller that Dennis Lehane calls “propulsive and meaningful”

For fans of Cormac McCarthy, Jim Thompson, the Coen Brothers, and Lost

Imagine a place populated by criminals—people plucked from their lives, with their memories altered, who’ve been granted new identities and a second chance. Welcome to The Blinds, a dusty town in rural Texas populated by misfits who don’t know if they’ve perpetrated a crime or just witnessed one. What’s clear to them is that if they leave, they will end up dead.

For eight years, Sheriff Calvin Cooper has kept an uneasy peace—but after a suicide and a murder in quick succession, the town’s residents revolt. Cooper has his own secrets to protect, so when his new deputy starts digging, he needs to keep one step ahead of her—and the mysterious outsiders who threaten to tear the whole place down. The more he learns, the more the hard truth is revealed: The Blinds is no sleepy hideaway. It’s simmering with violence and deception, aching heartbreak and dark betrayals.

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What I'll Be Watching

Here's what's on my DVR or in my Netflix/Hulu queue that fit this theme: Channel Zero (season 2), The Handmaid's Tale, The Mist.

All right, those are my picks, I'd love to hear some of yours! Do you tend to seek out creepier books as Halloween gets closer or do you steer clear of them? What is the strangest read you've read lately?