Tag: genre: gothic

• Reader, I Found a Friend: Guest Post From Lindsey!

  Posted at 8:34 am by Laura, on June 25, 2014

  When Lindsey commented on a Top Ten Tuesday post, I didn’t think anything beyond “Yes! Another blogger to follow!” But when she followed me on Twitter, and I saw she owned 9 copies of Jane Eyre, I immediately hammered her with enthusiasm. One thing led to another, and we pretty much discovered we’re near doppelgängers. So why not commemorate this happy accident with guest posts? Visit Lindsey’s blog, Bring My Books, to read my thoughts on Jane Eyre!

  ~~~

  My love for Jane Eyre is a weird, weird thing. It is the only book I have ever read in bits and pieces, over a period of years. To this day, I have never read it all the way through start to finish, but rather a chapter here, a chapter there, skip four chapters, read this part again, read that part again, go back to chapter 1, ultimately reading all of the book but in nothing resembling the usual order. I have no idea how this ever happened, because normally I am one book at a time, start to finish. (One of my book goals for this year is to amend this and have a straight through reading!) For some reason, my relationship with Jane has always been anything but ordinary. Maybe it’s because she was anything but ordinary herself? Whatever the reason, I love Jane: her strength, her moral compass, her bravery, her resilience, her independence, her passion, and her inherent goodness.

  

   This tatty edition was the first I ever owned, given to me by my best friend (who, by all accounts, should have never gone near Jane Eyre – it’s not her style at all!). She loved it and told me I needed to immediately read it. (What followed was what was mentioned above: my piecemeal reading).

  

   This edition came shortly after a renewed fervor for Jane & Rochester, spurred on from a late night viewing of the Ruth Wilson PBS Masterpiece adaptation of the novel. My aforementioned friend was home from school on break, and asked if I had ever seen this particular version, and when I said I hadn’t, she told me she was coming over immediately. We settled into watching the 4 hour mini-series at around 11pm; our intention was to watch maybe the first 2 ‘episodes’, if that. About halfway through the 3^rd episode (so around 2:30am), my DVD player broke. Did we take it as a sign that we should reconvene at a later date to conclude the watching? Um. No. We went out to a 24 hour Wal-Mart and bought the cheapest DVD player they had so we could finish what would eventually become my all-time favorite adaptation ever. (Sorry, Mia.)

  

   This one came during my Penguin Putnam phase. I wanted everything Penguin Putnam (the Random House merger didn’t exist at this time); mugs, totes, games, postcards, books. I love everything Penguin does – they’ve managed to create so many incredibly iconic images and series. As soon as this edition came into the store, I was drooling over it – and then I found out it was Penguin and it sealed the deal. (Seriously though, gorgeous much?)

  

   This edition was found at a little used book store in Richmond, VA a few years ago. Yet again, I have to mention my best friend. She found it first, and after seeing my puppy dog eyes, let me purchase it instead. (I hope she knows how grateful I am!!)

  

   I found this one at Powell’s bookstore in Portland, Oregon last year. It was a perfect way to commemorate being at that absolutely amazing bookstore, and while it is not my favorite of my editions, it has a pretty good story tied to it. (My traveling partner basically had to drag me out of that place kicking & screaming!)

  

   Keep an eye out for this Canterbury Classics series (published by Baker & Taylor) the next time you’re in a bookstore. They have an incredible feel to them, and I love the quotes on the back. Aesthetically speaking, this is one of my favorites.

  

  This edition was gifted to me by a friend that knows my love for this book. She was surprised she had gotten me one that I didn’t already own (she was betting on having to return it and find a different copy!). I love that my friends know me so well, and are willing to aid me in my obsessions!

  

  

   This. Is. Amazing. We were looking for fun display ideas last holiday season, and came across these graphic novel adaptations of classic novels. The best part is that they offered a “Classic Text” or a “Quick Text.” The classic text uses graphic novel illustrations with verbatim quotes from the original text, without altering them to better fit within the graphic novel. I love the illustrations and the originality of this edition.

  

  

  Another used bookstore find, this one from Alexandria, VA. The main reason I picked this one up is because it was a textbook. Not like how you get 1 of 100 paperback copies of Old Man and the Sea with your school stamp put in it, with a note to return it by the end of the school year. This is a turtleback edition with an “Issued to:” “Date Returned” “School District” stamp in the front cover. It would have been an even more remarkable find had it ever been used, but alas – I heard the binding crack as I opened it. (How did it make its way to that bookstore, never once being opened?)

  

  

  Note from Laura: OMGGGGGWANT.

  And. Oh my goodness, and. This. This is by far my favorite edition, and one of my most treasured books that I own. (I don’t care how big the fire is; me, my cats, and this book are coming out unscathed.) This is a box set of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights & Charlotte’s Jane Eyre printed in 1943 by Random House. It has absolutely stunning wood carving illustrations created by Fritz Eichenberg, and I could not imagine a better way to illustrate this two novels. The pictures are spooky and haunting and simply mesmerizing. I went to an estate sale with my boyfriend a few years back, and ran across a box set of these books that I proceeded to purchase for $4.00. (ERM. WHAT?) I was in a phase in my life where I thought I would enjoy cultivating an Etsy shop selling books: older editions, unique covers, quirky and whimsical titles. So what did I do? I sold it. Then about a week later went into a book induced depression after realizing that I loved that box set more than any sane person should, and I never should have sold it. About a month later, my boyfriend shows up at my door with another box set, this one actually in far better condition! (I’m telling you, that guy really is the best.)

  So there you have it. My Janes.

  

  I’ll leave you with this: I think the one resounding thing that has always stuck out to me about Jane Eyre is her dogged determination to be better than what those around her expect her to be. I have such admiration for that quality. Having had moments in my life where I felt the need to go beyond other’s expectations for me, I find it incredibly reassuring to know that she is waiting at home for me, reminding me that I have the strength to be my best self (even when it’s not the simplest course of action).

  I will now leave you with a picture of me holding my Penguin Putnam Jane Eyre mug, wearing my Jane Eyre quote scarf, and carrying my Jane Eyre tote bag. #obsessedmuch

  

  Note from Laura: I want that mug, I NEED THAT MUG.

  Do any of you own multiple copies of the same book? Has it ever led you to someone else with the same obsession?

   

  Posted in books, Guest Post, Update Post | 31 Comments | Tagged book hoarding, books, Bring My Books, genre: classics, genre: gothic, guest post, Jane Eyre, personal

• Book Review: “The Lovely and the Lost” by Page Morgan (ARC)

  Posted at 4:41 pm by Laura, on May 11, 2014

  The Lovely and the Lost by Page Morgan 

  Publisher: Delacorte Press
  Publishing Date: May 13
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, gothic
  ISBN: 9780385743136
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Ingrid and Gabby survived the Underneath. They saved their brother, Grayson, from a future of dark servitude and exposed a plot to undermine the Alliance. But danger still lurks in the streets of Paris, and the Dispossessed, perched on the city’s bridges and rooftops, might not be able to save their human wards this time.

  Two months after surviving the Underneath, Ingrid and Gabby are training hard in their newfound abilities and passions and Grayson attempts to control his shifting. Ingrid works closely with Monsieur Constantine to control her lightning, and Gabby fights demons alongside reluctant Chelle. But disorder erupts upon their father’s arrival and the return of the Alliance. Fallen angel Axia is still plotting to destroy Ingrid, but the Dispossessed, the Alliance, and another secret order have plans for each of the Waverly siblings. There is only so much Luc can manage before things truly begin to tip over the edge.

  Do not continue reading this review if you haven’t read The Beautiful and the Cursed.

  The action, adventure, and fantasy elements are even stronger; stakes even higher; plot even more complicated. What began as a unique spin in paranormal romance (think Mortal Instruments but darker, more dangerous, and with gargoyles) has turned into a lush story for every character involved — so rich in detail, in risk, that I cannot comprehend what the outcome will be in the final book. Side characters like Vander and Nolan are fleshed out further, to the point where the sisters and the reader notice their flaws. In the first book, they made the perfect romantic conquests. The obvious hero of Ingrid and Gabby’s stories. But with this next installment, we learn more about their past, their opinions and values, their future plans. It was a joy to read, because it created a sense of reality in the fantasy.

  The primary narrators — Ingrid, Gabby, Grayson, and Luc — are showcased once again, with their tumultuous emotions and thoughts, their interwoven adventures and separate plots. Gabby struggles with her scars but is strengthened by her drive to become an Alliance member. Ingrid struggles between Vander and Luc in a way that doesn’t come across as a love triangle — it’s complicated to describe, but it’s so very clear which one she loves as a brother and as a lover that it doesn’t feel like a triangle. Her power is more controllable, but with its growth comes extreme danger for everyone involved. Grayson, on the other hand, lacks control in his shifting, but attempts to harness his demon-side and work with the Alliance instead of against them. And poor, poor Luc…he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place, and his turmoil just made me want to curl up and cry. So much responsibility weighs him down, and he is forever at odds with his love for Ingrid. It’s heartbreaking.

  Like Morgan’s first book, the final 50-odd pages are just pure action from each point of view. It was like a movie with different camera angles, each new narrator coming into the picture just as another leaves. It’s amazing how she appears to easily weave these sequences together. Well done.

  This is more than a second book in a trilogy. This book could stand on its own. It has its own plot, rather than a link between the first and last books. New secret societies with cruel intentions crop up, new influential characters are introduced, new stakes and struggles and topics. A beautiful and thrilling read. I cannot wait till it hits shelves — and I’m really looking forward to the final book!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Delacorte Press for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: paranormal, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Authors in the Flesh: Victoria Schwab, AC Gaughen, & Tiffany Schmidt

  Posted at 8:25 am by Laura, on March 20, 2014

  Tuesday evening I had the pleasure of hearing three great YA authors read from their books and meeting one in particular, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab!

  

  Children’s Book World of Haverford, PA, regularly hosts children’s and YA author events and signings. Tuesday night Schwab (The Archived, The Unbound, Vicious, etc), A. C. “Annie” Gaughen (Scarlet, Lady Thief), and Tiffany Schmidt (Bright Before Sunrise, Send Me a Sign) gave us a brief synopsis of their latest books and then opened up the discussion to the floor. Instead of reading pre-selected passages, they asked us to choose between pages 1 and 100 and they would read a sentence (“My sentences are short!” –Schwab) or small passage from that page. Gaughen’s were steamy, Schmidt’s revealed sneak-peaks into the minds of two characters, and Schwab’s were philosophical.

  

  The best moments were when the authors became passionate about why they wrote these particular books. For Gaughen, it stemmed from a love of history, particularly Robin Hood lore and Eleanor of Aquitaine, of creating a fierce, frustrated, independent female character to take place of the poorly represented female of Hood lore. Schmidt wanted to debunk the whole “mean girl” high school hierarchy, that some of the popular girls are that way for being friendly, nice, people-pleasing. The issue lies in identity: if she’s too busy trying to make others comfortable, then who does she want to be? And Schwab’s inspiration stemmed from a desire to write about a hotel-turned-apartment building (setting 1) and a library of the dead (setting 2). The library of the dead came from her fear of death: that, as humans, we are composed of memories and experiences for a short period and then we disappear forever — unless these bodies filled with memories (Histories) are later stored for safe keeping. There’s a possibility for us to wake. Combine the two settings, and voila! rief introductions about their latest books and then opened up the floor for a game: rather than read a pre-selected passage, they wanted us to shout out a random number between 1 and 100 and they would read a sentence (“My sentences are short!” –Schwab) or small passage from that page number. Gaughen’s passages were filled with heavy breathing and sexy times (which we all enjoyed), Schmidt’s had a great selection of two perspectives stating their thoughts, and Schwab’s were existential and philosophical.

  I also really enjoyed how fired up they got regarding female authors in the industry. There’s so much I can state on this — how degrading it feels when a male says, “I’m surprised how great you are in this genre even though you have lady parts,” etc etc — and it was clear they had a lot to say as well, but there’s only so much time in an evening. What are your thoughts? Particularly thriller and sci-fi/fantasy readers? Does it matter to you if a male or female wrote the book, and why/why not?

  When it came time for signing, I went straight to Schwab and reminded her of my tweet from earlier that morning. She remembered and we immediately went on about YA Gothic, wanting to live in the UK, and her plans to move to Edinburgh for graduate school. She claims her degree has nothing to do with writing, but I suspect what she’ll study will seep into her already brilliant books.

  

  Final plug: when you see A Darker Shade of Magic in the future, note that what Schwab really wanted to call it was Pirates, Thieves, and Sadist Kings.

  Posted in Authors in the Flesh, books | 0 Comments | Tagged authors, books, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, personal, signings

• World Book Day // Birthday Gifts

  Posted at 2:23 pm by Laura, on March 6, 2014

  Happy World Book Day! On this day, buy a book from a bookstore or give a book to a friend, family member, or light/non-reader; read and relax and find new adventures; anything and everything relating to books, do it!

  For my birthday I received several gift cards to my bookstore (that I of course immediately used and violated my resolution to read five books before purchasing one more) and an amazing gift from a dear friend.

  

  Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard was one of those books that just called to me. Just like CJ Redwine’s Defiance and Sharon Biggs Waller’s A Mad, Wicked Folly stared at me from the shelves at work — and I tried to avoid them for days, weeks, months — this book stared at me, taunting me. The cover is really pretty, and because the title alone is a reference to music and piano, I had to grab it. Within the first 20 pages, I was hooked. So now I own it, and can read it entirely soon!

  Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is a book I’m ashamed I haven’t read yet, and have seen so many raving reviews! Plus, WWII books have always enticed me, so I can’t wait to begin this one.

  Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys is a book that, when it was first published, I wasn’t sure if it was for me. But as time wore on, the story, the awards, the reviews, and even Sepetys herself (come on, if she can write Between Shades of Gray then clearly she can write anything) convinced me that I need this book. I’m glad I’ve purchased the paperback — I think the cover is much prettier, and as you know I’m all about aesthetics.

  

  Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell I should’ve read ages ago. I grabbed this book so many times on lunch breaks and was completely stunned at how…similar, too similar, I am to Cath’s obsessions. I’m an open fangirl, and have been since I was 10, on Harry Potter. And as an adult I’m still very much a fangirl in other things, like TV shows or book series. But I have to admit, I was nervous to read this book (let alone buy it) because of those similarities. Odd? I know. But  my friend Cara convinced me that every fangirl should read this book because it’s like looking into a mirror and facing one’s fears. I trust Cara’s judgement.

  The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott because, come on, I enjoyed it and I can add it with my other Kate Alcott book!

  The next book was a gift from a friend. We’ve worked together for over a year now, and have become incredibly close ridiculously fast since about this time last year. Our conversations flourished shortly after I mentioned my thesis topic. After months of literary, philosophical, musical, historical, political, and humorous discussions, suddenly we became best friends. It’s not a proper, enjoyable work day if the other isn’t around. Don’t you love those friendships? I sure do.

  If you followed my blog starting roughly this time last year, you would’ve noticed a trend in my book reviews: young adult, dark, mysterious, creepy, frightening stuff. It was a never-ending stream of terrifying yet brilliant YA Gothic books — and so you may have guessed my graduate thesis revolves around Gothic literature. And if you know anything about Gothic literature, you’d know that The Monk is one of the most celebrated Gothic works, frequently referred to because it was one of the first Gothic novels to be written, published, and create quite a sensation among the public (so much so, even Jane Austen’s characters discuss it in Northanger Abbey — not-so-coincidentally my favorite Austen novel).

  

  The Monk was published in 1796, and in this “Gothic romance” the monk explores all sorts of transgressions. He’s lustful, murderous, incestuous — all those bad things the Church frowns upon. He gives in to temptation, and it takes him down a wild path. It’s all about sexual desire, how power can corrupt, and it sparked such drama in the public that it still remains popular today.

  This is a genuine 1830 edition of the first volume of The Monk! All marked, torn, tattered, and faded. It even smells wonderful, that hint of vanilla within the musty scent of old pages. On the inside of the cover is a signature, a Mrs JL Dyer, who must have been the first owner of this book. Makes me want to know her own history, why she purchased it (or who purchased it for her), and what she thought. Alas, at that time, women lost their names to men and this Mrs. Dyer may not ever be found. But wouldn’t it be fun?

  What did you do for World Book Day? Any exciting books you received or gave away?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 9 Comments | Tagged books, genre: classics, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, personal, World Book Day

• Bookshop Goldmine

  Posted at 8:09 pm by Laura, on December 30, 2013

  One of my college friends visited me while I was home for Christmas and asked if I wanted to visit Von’s Books. I had heard him describe this place multiple times — a haven of used and new books, a miracle of bookstores, a goldmine — and not once were we free at the same time to visit. But a few days ago, we did just that, and drove an hour outside of my hometown visit this glorious bookshop.

  Do not be deceived by the poor website, because the store is heaven! I found several Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights editions I’d been searching for for eons. My friend shook his head and laughed when I snatched them off the shelves and held them close to my heart.

  

  

   

  Wuthering Heights (blue and black profiles) — Harper Design / HarperCollins
  Wuthering Heights (field of leaves) — Vintage

  Jane Eyre (fire) — Harper Perennial Modern Classics
  Jane Eyre (profile) — Vintage
  Jane Eyre (purple leather quotes) — Canterbury Classics

  What books can you not keep your hands from grabbing (and prevent your wallet from emptying) when you see it?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 5 Comments | Tagged authors, book hoarding, books, bookstores, genre: classics, genre: gothic, genre: romance, personal

• Book Review: “The Madness Underneath” by Maureen Johnson

  Posted at 11:13 am by Laura, on December 22, 2013

  The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson 

  Publisher: Putnam / Speak
  Published: December 10 (originally February 23)
  Genre: young adult, gothic, paranormal
  ISBN: 9780142427545
  Goodreads: 3.86
  Rating: ★★★★

  Rory Deveaux has changed in ways she never could have imagined since moving to London and beginning a new life at boarding school. As if her newfound ability to see ghosts hadn’t complicated her life enough, Rory’s recent brush with the Jack the Ripper copycat has left her with an even more unusual and intense power. Now, a new string of inexplicable deaths is threatening London, and Rory has evidence that they are no coincidence. Something sinister is going on, and it is up to her to convince the city’s secret ghost-policing squad to listen before it’s too late.

  After three weeks of pointless therapy in Bristol, Rory’s parents are convinced to send her back to Wexford in London to attempt to catch up and finish her first term. As Rory struggles with her trauma on top of mountains of schoolwork, she is recruited by the Shades as a human terminus: a person with the ability to zap ghosts into oblivion with the touch of her hand. But sinister events are happening around Wexford, events that link ghosts, Rory’s strange new abilities, and a history of madness.

  

  Once again, Johnson brings forth a thrilling paranormal murder mystery to young adult fiction. Rory is witty and humorous, and her internal monologues kept me laughing even through the serious moments. The way she seemed to float through her week back at Wexford — aware she’s behind, stressing out and panicking, getting entirely distracted and researching the history of Wexford’s land and a historical madhouse, and then coming to terms with her own academic failure — felt so real. And surreal. She cannot focus, she knows her priorities, but her trauma and her desire for answers take over any rational thought she may have had prior to the Ripper accident. The whole first half of the book builds on this, and I was quite relieved — trauma can really disorient a person, no one can truly jump back.

  This book appeared to have two things going on: more murders by ghosts, which makes Rory go on a quest about the history of London; and another secret society of ghost-seers and their plans for Rory’s cooperation. I was very intrigued by the madhouse storyline, about the bodies of the insane thrown into graves just outside the London city limits before the Great Fire, the site of which is below Wexford property. But the second we were going somewhere with that storyline, Rory’s tricked and abducted by a group of people who claim to have something in store for her, and threaten her to be silent and cooperate else all those she loves will be harmed. I felt a little lost with this one, as it could have used more development, but that’s what the next book is for, I suppose!

  Because of Rory’s distracted mind, we rarely see Jerome, Jazza, Alastair, and other Wexford friends. Everyone is concerned with exams, and Jazza is desperate to pass German while Jerome is more concerned about Rory’s stability and openness for a relationship. Stephen, Callum, and Boo are back, thank goodness — and I loved seeing them working together and discussing “office dynamics.” We get a better feel for who they are as people rather than a police force, which is appealing for Rory.

  The ending — the cliffhanger — broke my heart. I must find a copy of The Shadow Cabinet the second it’s published!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Her Dark Curiosity” by Megan Shepherd (ARC)

  Posted at 6:31 pm by Laura, on December 14, 2013

  Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd 

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: January 28, 2014
  Genre: young adult, gothic, science fiction
  ISBN: 9780062128058
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

  As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

  With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

  Juliet is back in wintery London, desperate to search for a cure that will rid the animal part of herself. But as Christmas fills the air, so too does the electrical spark of fear and scandal when a murderer begins his rampage throughout Whitechapel. Juliet notices a pattern: every victim victimized her, and every victim’s heart was clawed out similarly to Edward’s Beast on her father’s island. She begins her search for the murderer, for the cause and justification of the King’s Club’s involvement in her father’s dangerous experiments, and for a way to become fully human mind and soul.

  I thoroughly enjoyed this Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde inspired novel far more than Shepherd’s first — and part of it may have to do with the setting and the novella. I was not familiar with Wells, nor am I a jungle-setting fan; I’m very familiar with Stevenson, and deeply love Victorian London. Once again, Shepherd dives into Juliet’s internal conflict of animal within human, human within animal. But this is on a more meaningful scale. Juliet must come to terms with not what’s instinctual and animalistic, but what’s moral and humane.

  Shepherd added another twist to this novel that was fun to read — ulterior motives of great and powerful men in London. Her father’s work was no secret, and they’re determined to replicate it. This is more than a Jekyll and Hyde scenario, but a book filled with political intrigue, global effects, and greater consequences. I liked that this layer was added. It drove the book into a new, fresh direction.

  It should be no surprise that Edward and Montgomery are back, of course. Edward is blatantly the two-sides-of-the-same-coin character, but every character within this novel encounters similar confrontations. Although not a fan of love triangles — they can be quite exhausting, and for me it is very clear that Juliet should be with Montgomery and Edward out of the picture entirely — Juliet thankfully comes to her own conclusion in this novel, with promises of conflict to come in the next book.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Balzer + Bray for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: sci-fi, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books for Halloween

  Posted at 10:16 am by Laura, on October 29, 2013

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween.

  

  Best topic, because this is essentially tapping into my graduate thesis!

  1. The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle — A vampire contagion spreads across the country, but somehow avoids all religious grounds. Katie, an Amish girl, is exposed to the terror and has to convince her community to fight for survival. If you’re looking for chills and apocalyptic horrors, read this. Check out my review! 

  2. Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough — This folktale and eerie song is absolute truth for a little English hamlet post-WWII. A family is cursed to have at least one of the youngest children captured by Long Lankin, a haunting poltergeist that has consumed children since the Middle Ages. I couldn’t sleep for days! Check out my review.

  3. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson — What would happen if Jack the Ripper murders happened in modern time, and even the cameras all over London couldn’t catch him? That’s what Rory is about to discover. This book is for anyone with a deep fascination with the 1888 murders. Check out my review!

  4. The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd — H.G. Wells’s The Island of Dr Moreau has another secret: Dr Moreau has a daughter, and she’s in for a big surprise. If her father is considered a monster, then what does that make her? If you’re in for a sci-fi twist, read this book and my review.

  5. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson — We all have two sides to our personality…but which one is your true self?

  6. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte — This is more than a love story. This is a story about two tormented families across generations, ruined and corrupted by one man whose only wish was to be accepted.

  7. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield — An author is on her last legs and has one more tale to tell. She hires a biographer to record this story, and the biographer makes some haunting discovers about a mansion, some deranged twins, and a horrifying house fire. One of my absolute favorite books (and a new one out in a few weeks); check out my review!

  8. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness — Albeit not frightening or a ghost story, this book is packed with magic, lore, history, and alchemical science. If that doesn’t scream a book to dive into during a magical time of the year, I don’t know what does. Read my review!

  9. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill — Best. Ghost. Story. Ever.

  10. The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter — The Hardscrabble children are sent to live with their aunt in London, but they wander through many adventures and come across a boy who is half human, half animal. A creepy and wonderful middle grade novel worth checking out.

  What are some of your favorite Halloween recommendations?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 15 Comments | Tagged books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: horror, genre: mystery, genre: sci-fi, top ten tuesday

• Top Ten Tuesday: Books I was Forced to Read

  Posted at 10:32 am by Laura, on October 15, 2013

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Book Books I was Forced to Read. 

  

  The Positives!

  1. Jane Eyre — And I’m so glad I read this! Freshman year of high school in my Honors English class, we were covering nineteenth-century literature (I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back it’s very obvious what the theme was). I was new to the school and felt a bit like an outcast, similar to Jane. Soon enough I was participating in discussions and acing the quizzes, and went far beyond our report project requirements. I re-read the book every winter, and it’s a dear favorite of mine. Thank you, Ms Clark, for inspiring me and guiding me towards my favorite genre.

  2. Great Expectations — Again, this was in my Honors English class freshman year. I was curious as to why everyone — adults, students, pets — complained about reading Dickens. “He’s wordy, he has too many characters, the settings are dark.” One complaint after another, and I just plain didn’t understand why. His descriptions are marvelous, his characters are…caricatures, and the settings are reflective of the time! I loved it.

  3. Dante’s Inferno — The AP Language and Composition project required that we create 15-minute video of the circles of hell. My group read Inferno deeply and literally, and placed Harry Potter characters in the levels. It was fascinating, entertaining, and what’s more: my teacher pointed out all the fart jokes. He made epic poetry fun.

  4. The Awakening — My AP Literature and Composition class theme focused on transcendentalism. You know, Walden and the like. I was bored to tears and worried that maybe literature wasn’t my forte when we began reading Kate Chopin’s book. And then everything changed back again. I love it. I haven’t re-read it recently, though I should.

  5. Brave New World — Soma holidays? Commentary on the nature of technology and genetic enhancement? Not my cup of tea…till my Honors English teacher my sophomore year created a fantastic unit that mirrored the book. For a week we were divided into the different castes, assigned different tasks, and somehow, someway, we ended up experiencing the book in real life. It was a wonderful week (even though I was Epsilon), and I’ve never understood a book or genre so fully till this.

  The Negatives!

  6. Grapes of Wrath — Honestly, the turtle chapters were my favorite. And even then I hardly skimmed.

  7. Oroonoko — Or any 18th-century British literature. Shoot me now.

  8. Ethan Frome — This unit in freshman Honors English was torturous. Edith Wharton and I are not friends.

  Surprisingly Never Read for My Education!

  I’m tossing this in here because most students are forced to read these books, but I never had to.

  9. Frankenstein — I’ve only just recently read it for my graduate thesis. I wanted to see how long I could go in my education before I read the book, because somehow I missed it throughout high school and in all of my British literature / Victorian literature / Gothic literature classes. The professors always said, “I know you’ve read this book so I didn’t add it to the syllabus.” Little did they know…

  10. Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird — Never read them. Don’t even have a desire to read them.

  Which books were you forced to read by teachers, friends, or family members?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 18 Comments | Tagged books, education, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, genre: dystopian, genre: fiction, genre: gothic, top ten tuesday

• Top Ten Tuesday: Books on Fall TBR List

  Posted at 10:45 am by Laura, on September 17, 2013

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR List, in no particular order.

  

  1. The Last Enchantments by Charles Finch — An ARC I received that is very good so far! William Baker takes a year off from his life in NYC and moves to Oxford, England. While there, he’s caught up in sudden friendships and a whirlwind romance, experiences he never thought would fall into his plans away.

  2. Allegiant by Veronica Roth — Because I have to know how it ends.

  3. The Secret Daughter of the Tsar by Jennifer Laam — Another ARC I received. After falling in love with Paullina Simons’s trilogy, and then reading Natalie Standiford’s Cold War account, it seems Russian-themed fiction is destined to fall into my hands and sink deep into my heart. I have hopes for this one.

  4. Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield — As a long-time fan of The Thirteenth Tale, I’m beyond excited to read this next chilling book by Setterfield! She has the power to unsettle and fascinate, and I cannot wait to read her words again.

  5. The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott — From the author that brought you The Dressmaker is another ARC due out in February 2014. This book follows a young woman who becomes a Mill Girl, and the series of events from working conditions to a murder of a fellow factory worker leads to a shocking court case based on true facts.

  6. . The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett — Hay-on-Wye, Victorian painters, Shakespeare manuscripts, lost love, books, obsession, history…This is the book for me!

  7. Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd — An ARC that will be published in January 2014, and the sequel to The Madman’s Daughter, a retelling of H.G. Wells’s The Island of Dr Moreau, this book is bound to be great for Victorian London enthusiasts and fans of Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

  8. Stolen by Lucy Christopher — I’m always talking about this book and recommending it to people, and yet I’ve never read it! It’s about time that I do.

  9. And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard — An ARC due out in January 2014 about a girl traumatized by a school shooting, interwoven with healing inspiration from Emily Dickinson’s works.

  10. Just One Day by Gayle Forman — Another one of those books I’m always recommending yet I’ve never read. Need to get on that.

  What are some books on your to-read list this fall?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 4 Comments | Tagged books, genre: dystopian, genre: gothic, genre: history, genre: mystery, goodreads, top ten tuesday

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

• Search the Blog

  Search for:

• Currently Reading

  

• Book Review Rating Key

  ★★★ — It’s good
  ★★★★ — It’s great
  ★★★★★ — OMG LOVE!!!

• Recent Posts

  • MSWL for 2026
  • Favorite Reads of 2025
  • Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, YA Romance
  • Deal Announcement: Sharon Choe, YA Fantasy
  • Deal Announcement: Hanna R. Neier, MG Historical/Contemporary