Rabid by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy

Title: Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus

Author: Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy

Publisher: Penguin Books 2013

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 288

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Bingo - Medical Condition

The most fatal virus known to science, rabies-a disease that spreads avidly from animals to humans-kills nearly one hundred percent of its victims once the infection takes root in the brain. In this critically acclaimed exploration, journalist Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy chart four thousand years of the history, science, and cultural mythology of rabies. From Greek myths to zombie flicks, from the laboratory heroics of Louis Pasteur to the contemporary search for a lifesaving treatment, Rabid is a fresh and often wildly entertaining look at one of humankind's oldest and most fearsome foes.

I feel very conflicted about this book. I love the premise and the a majority of the pages. I loved learning more about the history of rabies and connections to a shared history. I loved diving into some specific examples throughout history. And yet, I felt like the book took too many long tangents. I don’t think I needed to hear Louis Pasteur’s entire life story leading up to the rabies vaccine. And yet, that’s what we got. As the book went on, I got more and more disappointed in the tangents.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Songbook by Nick Hornby

Title: Songbook

Author: Nick Hornby

Publisher: Riverhead Books 2003

Genre: Essays

Pages: 240

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Rory Gilmore; Popsugar - Seen on TV

Songs, songwriters, and why and how they get under our skin…

Songbook is Nick Hornby’s labor of love. A shrewd, funny, and completely unique collection of musings on pop music, why it’s good, what makes us listen and love it, and the ways in which it attaches itself to our lives—all with the beat of a perfectly mastered mix tape.

I picked this one up to fulfill a few reading challenge slots. I have enjoyed many of Nick Hornby’s books, but this wasn’t a great one. I found many of the essays to be tedious and a little too esoteric. I think this is a case of mediocre white guy rearing it’s head. Not one I would recommend.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Second Deluge by Garrett P. Serviss

Title: The Second Deluge

Author: Garrett P. Serviss

Publisher: 1911

Genre: Proto Scifi

Pages: 215

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Proto Scifi

I routinely listen to The Apocalist Podcast highlighting apocalypse books chronologically and they haven’t recommended many of the books for listeners to read. This one was an exception. I dove in not knowing much about this apocalypse book, but ended up really enjoying it. The book reminds me of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. There’s an adventure story punctuated with random science writing. We get a protagonist which no one listens to until it’s too late. We have some wild plot points. There isn’t many female characters, but that’s pretty typical of writings from the time period. The plot is fairly laughable in 2019 standards, but this was a fairly enjoyable classic science fiction novel.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber

Title: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe

Author: Heather Webber

Publisher: Forge Books 2019

Genre: Magical Realism

Pages: 333

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Literary Escapes - Alabama; Dancing with Fantasy and Science Fiction - Maternal Heritage

Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.

As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.

A random library find that caught my eye. I love the cover on this one and the summary definitely intrigued me. I fell right into the story amongst all the great characters. Anna Kate and Natalie are wonderful narrators for our story. I definitely connected with many of their struggles and concerns. I was rooting for them to find peace and love by the end of the novel. The ending was a bit rushed, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Title: Relic (Pendergast #1)

Author: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Publisher: 1995

Genre: Horror / Thriller

Pages: 484

Rating: 4 /5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Imaginary Creature; Horror

The New York Museum of Natural History is built over a subterranean labyrinth of neglected specimen vaults, unmapped drainage tunnels and long-forgotten catacombs. And there's something down there. When the mutilated bodies of two young boys are discovered deep within the museum's bowels, Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta of the NYPD fears a homicidal maniac may be at large. FBI agent Aloysius X.L. Pendergast believes they may be facing something much worse. As the death toll mounts, and with the opening of the museum's new 'Superstition' exhibition just days away, the two men must work together to prevent a massacre.

As a part of our spooky movie month, we wanted to watch The Relic (1997), but I realized that I had never actually read the original novel that the movie is based on. Off I went to the library to get the book so we could watch. And to my surprise, I really enjoyed the book. It’s a horror thriller in the vein of Michael Crichton’s works. We get a mysterious event, a disbelieving population, scientific discovery, and tons of carnage. I loved all the action bits and the larger mystery of the creature and the murders. I wasn’t quite excited about the long scientific passages. I think the book could have been cut by about 75 pages and still have all the relevant information. I may just have to pick up the next book in the series.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Title: The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho

Publisher: HarperTorch 1988

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 208

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Fantasy Projects Popsugar - One Million GR Ratings

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

Such a pretentious novel. The reviews range from the most amazing book ever to the worst drivel. I am definitely on the drivel side. This reads less like an parable journey and more like a really bad self-help book. There are shades of Ayn Rand here that I just couldn’t get over. I could not stand this book at all.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Wicked + The Divine Volume 9

Title: The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 9

Author: Kieron Gillen; Jamie Mckelvie; Matt Wilson

Publisher: Image 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 168

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

After five years, we reach the final volume. We go not gentle into that good night, but go driving a converted tank, covered in glitter and spangles, with a soundsystem audible from Mars blaring nothing but bangers. Gods, pop stars, an ending. We'll miss you.
Collects THE WICKED +THE DIVINE #40-45

Another series ender. I guess October has been the month of comics series ending… I loved the ending of this series. We finally get clarification about the beginning of this sequence, plus an awakening from so many of the characters. And we even get the return of a few characters. Hello Lucifer! I wasn’t quite as sold on the last issue’s time jump, but it still felt relevant to the story and characters. I’m so sad to see this series end.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Walking Dead Vol. 32

Title: The Walking Dead Vol. 32: Rest in Peace

Author: Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, Cliff Rathburn, Dave Stewart

Publisher: Image 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

The Commonwealth and Alexandria have joined forces but at what cost to Rick? Collects THE WALKING DEAD #187-193.

We have finally come to the end… and I’m a little disappointed. I read the afterward from Robert Kirkman and understand his reasons for ending the series the way he did. However, I was still a little thrown by the time jump for the last issue. I wasn’t quire sure that I wanted to see the surviving people that many years in the future. And yet, I still found myself enjoying this last trade. It was a nice ending to a very very very long series.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Title: Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Author: J. Ryan Stradal

Publisher: Penguin 2015

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 312

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Literary Escapes - Minnesota

When Lars Thorvald’s wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine—and a dashing sommelier—he’s left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He’s determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter—starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva’s journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her spirit and resilience.

Out book club selection for this month. I had wanted to read this one before reading Stradal’s new book, The Lager Queen of Minnesota. But I wasn’t quite sure what this one was really about. I dove in and after three chapters, finally got the hang of this book. The narration jumps around a bit in narrations and constantly jumps forward in time. And yet, Stradal has done so well in the continuity that I wasn’t annoyed like I usually am. Instead, I was fully immersed in the interconnected stories of the various characters created by Stradal. I especially loved the chapters focusing on Braque and Pat. Beyond the characters, the focus on food was amazing. Stradal deftly combines simple food with larger stories of growing up and finding yourself. In fact, I’m still processing this book. I’m so wrapped up in the storyline, I’m savoring the explorations of food. And I really need to make my own desert bars.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven

Title: Fantasticland

Author: Mike Bockoven

Publisher: Skyhorse 2016

Genre: Horror

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Random TBR

Since the 1970s, FantasticLand has been the theme park where "Fun is Guaranteed!" But when a hurricane ravages the Florida coast and isolates the park, the employees find it anything but fun. Five weeks later, the authorities who rescue the survivors encounter a scene of horror. Photos soon emerge online of heads on spikes outside of rides and viscera and human bones littering the gift shops, breaking records for hits, views, likes, clicks, and shares. How could a group of survivors, mostly teenagers, commit such terrible acts?

Presented as a fact-finding investigation and a series of first-person interviews, FantasticLand pieces together the grisly series of events. Park policy was that the mostly college-aged employees surrender their electronic devices to preserve the authenticity of the FantasticLand experience. Cut off from the world and left on their own, the teenagers soon form rival tribes who viciously compete for food, medicine, social dominance, and even human flesh. This new social network divides the ravaged dreamland into territories ruled by the Pirates, the ShopGirls, the Freaks, and the Mole People. If meticulously curated online personas can replace private identities, what takes over when those constructs are lost?

I went into this book knowing very little about the actual premise and I’m glad that I went in a bit blind. It made the events at Fantasticland that much more horrifying. This was a very quick read. I was desperate to get to each next interview and find out the next phase of the events in the park. Parts are very disturbing (as they should be given the subject matter), but are told in such a way that are easy to read. I loved the interview format to recall the events in question. It reminded me very much of World War Z in that way. I loved the building suspense throughout the pages, but was a bit disappointed in the ending. There were so many unanswered questions. I would have liked to know more. Still it was a perfectly horrifying novel for this spooky October.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

Title: The Broken Girls

Author: Simone St. James

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Thriller / Horror

Pages: 334

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Literary Escapes - Vermont

Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants—the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall, and local legend says the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming—until one of them mysteriously disappears....

Vermont, 2014. Twenty years ago, journalist Fiona Sheridan's elder sister’s body was found in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And although her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of the murder, Fiona can’t stop revisiting the events, unable to shake the feeling that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during renovations links the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past—and a voice that won’t be silenced....

This was the Girly Book Club selection for October and it is absolutely the perfect read for the month! I really really loved this page. St. James blends a murder mystery (well three actually) and a ghost story to create the perfect blend of thriller and horror book. I immediately fell for the 1950 storyline. The atmosphere was perfect for the plot. I felt very claustrophobic, just like the girls stuck at Idlewild. I was terrified of turning my head and seeing Mary Hand standing in my bedroom. Very scary! I loved the suspenseful moments sprinkled throughout. The modern storyline was not as good, at least for the first half of the book. I wasn’t a fan of Fiona, but she started to grow on me once we dove deeper into her emotions and goals. Once she met with Margaret Eden, I was finally onboard with Fiona’s story. From there, the book kicked into high gear and didn’t stop until the last page. Loved it!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Rat Queens Vol. 6

Title: Rat Queens Vol. 6: The Infernal Path

Author: Kurtis Wiebe; Owen Gieni

Publisher: Image

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

The further adventures of the booze guzzling, death dealing battle maidens-for-hire in the business of killing all the gods’ creatures for profit. Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric, Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief and Braga the Orc Princess.
RAT QUEENS is a modern spin on an old school genre, a monster killing epic with a twisted sense of humor. Collects RAT QUEENS Volume 2 #11-15 and NEON STATIC SPECIAL

Hmmm… I’m a bit disappointed in this volume of issues. I just don’t feel the same joy as I did at the beginning of this series. The storyline has become a bit convoluted and hard to follow. I am not loving some the choices for characters. And the art has gone down a bit. I really loved the art style in the beginning. I imagine that I will pick up the next trade when it publishes, but I won’t rush out for it.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4)

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson 2019

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 464

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell have landed in America, a bold, brash land unlike the genteel streets of London. But like London, the city of Chicago hides its dark secrets well. When the two attend the spectacular World's Fair, they find the once-in-a-lifetime event tainted with reports of missing people and unsolved murders.

Determined to help, Audrey Rose and Thomas begin their investigations, only to find themselves facing a serial killer unlike any they've encountered before. Identifying him is one thing, but capturing him---and getting dangerously lost in the infamous Murder Hotel he constructed as a terrifying torture device---is another.

Will Audrey Rose and Thomas see their last mystery to the end---together and in love---or will their fortunes finally run out when their most depraved adversary makes one final, devastating kill?

Am I mad that I called the villain and the ending at about page 150? Nope, because I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and especially these characters. The series is the right blend of adventure and horror. I love all the real historical references mixed in with our fictional story. The plot constantly twists and turns but not in a ridiculously annoying way. I enjoyed the roller coaster. But my favorite part of these book and ultimately the series is the relationship between Audrey Rose and Thomas. Oh so incredibly sweet! I am sad to reach the end of their story, but it was a great journey.

Stalking Jack the Ripper:

Next up on the TBR pile:

Paper Girls Vol. 6

Title: Paper Girls Vol. 6

Author: Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, Matt Wilson

Publisher: Image 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: /5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

After surviving adventures in their past, present and future, the Paper Girls of 1988 embark on one last journey, a five-part epic that includes the emotional double-sized series finale. Featuring a new wraparound cover from Eisner Award-winning co-creator CLIFF CHIANG, which can be combined with the covers of all five previous volumes to form one complete mega-image!

Somehow I did not get the memo that this was the last trade for the series. These pages contain the four girls’s storylines coalescing in a conclusion. I felt like I was on a runaway train unable to stop the inevitable crash. But it was such a thrilling ride! I really enjoyed how the four girls eventually fulfilled their own adventures. Sad to see this series end.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine

Title: Sword and Pen (Great Library #5)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: Berkley 2019

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Motif; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Steampunk

The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen. But with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, its future is uncertain. Jess Brightwell and his friends must come together as never before, to forge a new future for the Great Library...or see everything it stood for crumble.

And we finally reach the end of The Great Library saga! It was a crazy whirlwind of action and adventure. I loved every page of it. Every chapter was narrated from a different character helping the reader see multiple areas of Alexandria throughout the timelime of the book. I loved getting more from Morgan and Khalila. Such great characters! Over the course of the series, each of the main characters have grown so much. I feel like we have seen them evolve to embrace their individual identities. I didn’t quite want the series to end, but it was nice to get a proper conclusion.

The Great Library

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Umbrella Academy Vol. 3

Title: The Umbrella Academy Vol. 3: Hotel Oblivion

Author: Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba

Publisher: Dark Horse Books 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 200

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Faced with an increasing number of lunatics with superpowers eager to fight his own wunderkind brood, Sir Reginald Hargreeves developed the ultimate solution ...

Now, just a few years after Hargreeves's death, his Umbrella Academy is scattered. Number Five is a hired gun, Kraken is stalking big game, Rumor is dealing with the wreckage of her marriage, an out-of-shape Spaceboy runs around the streets of Tokyo, Vanya continues her physical therapy after being shot in the head--and no one wants to even talk about what Séance is up to ...

This volume was so much better than the first two. I loved the multiple storylines following each of the seven children. But my favorite was Allison’s storyline. So good! The scenes set in space were drawn so well. I loved those pages the most. My goodness that was a cliffhanger ending.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Among the Dead by Daniel Cotton

Title: Life Among the Dead (Live Among the Dead #1)

Author: Daniel Cotton

Publisher: Permuted Press 2013

Genre: Horror

Pages: 444

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

There are over a million people in the city of Waterloo. Today, most of them have died, and now they are hungry. Corporal Dan Williamson is caught in the middle of the outbreak. He is desperately trying to reach his wife who is somewhere amid the urban decay. There are other souls out there, other tales of survival among the horror. Dan will soon learn that the living may prove to be an even bigger threat than the dead.

A random free ebook find for spooky October! Overall, I really enjoyed this zombie adventure story. I loved the vignette style of storytelling and constant change of setting. Dan is a good zombie apocalypse hero for follow. I ended up knocking off a star for the too many sexual references and scenes. I just couldn’t with those scenes. I doubt that I will continue with the series, but this was a good read for the week.

Life Among the Dead:

#1 Life Among the Dead
#2 A Castle Made of Sand
#3 A Bittersweet Victory
#4 The End

Next up on the TBR pile:

Heathen Vol. 2

Title: Heathen Vol. 2

Author: Natasha Alterici, Charles Martin, Adrian F. Wassel

Publisher: Vault 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Aydis the banished viking sets sail on the open sea to reach Heimdall, the magical entrance to the land of the gods. She’ll need the help of a crew of worldly pirate women and man-eating mermaids to survive the dangerous journey. Back on land, the cursed Valkyrie Brynhild and the goddess of love Freyja are chipping away at Odin’s power, testing the god-king’s patience and tempting his wrath.
Collects issues 5 through 8

Still enjoying this comic series. Although I would like it to move just a bit faster. I’ll be on the lookout for Volume 3.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Title: Shadow of Night (All Souls #2)

Author: Deborah Harkness

Publisher: Viking 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 574

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Monthly Keyword - Night; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Magical Law Enforcement

Picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night takes Diana and Matthew on a trip through time to Elizabethan London, where they are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782 deepens and Diana seeks out a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them, and they embark on a very different—and vastly more dangerous—journey.

The further journey of Diana and Matthew, but this time, we’re in 1590 Europe. Goodness! I was very excited to finally read this second book in the series. Once i dove in, I didn’t want to stop. I loved the larger storyline and all the great characters (both historical and fictional) that we met. I especially loved the various witches Diana meets in London. On a more negative note, I really didn’t like Matthew until about halfway through the book. He was too distant, too much the alpha male, too guarded with all his secrets. He came off as an arrogant asshole and I was not interested at all. Thankfully things turned more positive after their official mating. From there, he started to actually remind me of the Matthew that we met in the first book. All in all, it was a good addition to the series even if I think Harkness could have probably shaved off at least 75 pages.

All Souls Trilogy:

#1 A Discovery of Witches
#2 Shadow of Night
#3 The Book of Life

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Tower Formerly Known as Sears and Two Other Tales of Horror by Lisa M. Lilly

Title: The Tower Formerly Known as Sears and Two Other Tales of Urban Horror

Author: Lisa M. Lilly

Publisher: 2011

Genre: Horror

Pages: 45

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

A recruiting event at an amusement park turns deadly when the attractions develop minds -- and purposes -- of their own. A woman struggles with whether to stay in her soulless job, unaware that far more than her career is at stake. And an unpopular new law firm chairman faces not only disgruntled attorneys but a haunted skyscraper bent on his destruction.

I didn’t realize that this was such a short collection of stories. It was one of those free ebooks that I picked up along the way and I finally just opened it the other night. Very uneven stories. I really enjoyed the Sears Tower story. The amusement park story was interesting. But the last story at the restaurant was very strange and not to my taste at all.

Next up on the TBR pile: