Rory – Page 4 – flannel and folklore

This Fall’s Best Fiction (2018)

I admit that this post’s title is a little misleading. I can’t say this will be the BEST fiction released this autumn, but it is what I am most excited to read on my own to be read list. Below is a mix of genre, young adult, and literary fiction, all of which look promising.Continue reading “This Fall’s Best Fiction (2018)”

The Lost Queen // Signe Pike

A powerful queen and one of the most influential women in early medieval Scotland, Languoreth has been largely forgotten. Her twin brother Lailoken, also known as Myrrdin, likely became the man that inspired the legend of Merlin. Signe Pike’s debut novel, The Lost Queen, fictionalizes their lives. Primarily following the life of Languoreth – firstContinue reading “The Lost Queen // Signe Pike”

Rust & Stardust // T. Greenwood

Florence “Sally” Horner just wants to fit in. When a few of the girls from her class dare her to steal from Woolworth’s – if she does, she can join their exclusive club – Sally reluctantly takes a notebook. Only on her way out, she’s caught by a man claiming to be FBI agent FrankContinue reading “Rust & Stardust // T. Greenwood”

The Optimistic Decade // Heather Abel

Which of the following makes The Optimistic Decade worth reading? a) “In the Colorado Desert, a Debut Novelist Finds a Metaphor for Israel and Palestine.”* b) A novel set at an ‘80s summer camp is bound to be good. c) Compelling prose that conveys the awkward absurdity and loneliness of the young adult years. d)Continue reading “The Optimistic Decade // Heather Abel”

The Regulators // Richard Bachman (Stephen King)

My youngest son is convinced it would be amazing if the fictional characters we love could be real. “Because wouldn’t it be awesome if Pokémon were real? “ “No,” I tell him, “have you seen a Raticate?” Wouldn’t it be awesome if Rescue Bots were real? “Maybe,” I tell him, “but that would mean weContinue reading “The Regulators // Richard Bachman (Stephen King)”

Literary Mixtape | Annihilation

A biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a surveyor walk into the jungle… This group of four women, known only by their occupational titles, is the twelfth expedition into remote Area X, a pristine, yet unusual forest that rarely allows survivors. Annihilation is book one in the Southern Reach trilogy and it centers on aContinue reading “Literary Mixtape | Annihilation”

Florida // Lauren Groff

My love of short stories is well known by now, at least to me. It’s possible I love a good short story collection more than a good novel, though if you’d asked me ten years ago, I would’ve said that was impossible. (I’d still say it’s possible, but not probable, overall.) When I saw theContinue reading “Florida // Lauren Groff”

The Tipping Point // Six Degrees of Separation

The idea behind this exercise is to connect books in any way that’s meaningful to you, from the profound to the inane. Although Kevin Bacon is typically behind the six degrees game, books are just a bit more fun. June’s jumping off point is The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. I did not read that one,Continue reading “The Tipping Point // Six Degrees of Separation”

The Mars Room // Rachel Kushner

I’ll keep this short and sweet, as plenty has been written about the new novel from National Book Award finalist Rachel Kushner. Romy isn’t quite sure where she went wrong. What is this decision? Or that one? Now serving two consecutive life sentences, Romy examines her choices, starting in her wild and neglected childhood, andContinue reading “The Mars Room // Rachel Kushner”

The Ghost Notebooks // Ben Dolnick

The Ghost Notebooks by Ben Dolnick is an eerie, compelling novel about newly engaged couple Hannah and Nick. When Hannah loses her job at the New York Historical Society, she starts looking for work outside New York City. She finds The Wright House, and small museum with a big history (one that is not sharedContinue reading “The Ghost Notebooks // Ben Dolnick”