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Monica’s Musings: What Moves the Dead

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

“The dead don’t walk. Except, sometimes, when they do.”- T. Kingfisher, What Moves the Dead

Summary:

What Moves the Dead is Kingfisher’s retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania. What is found is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious madness of nerves. Aided by an impressive British mycologist, and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

My Thoughts:

This book was vividly gothic, matching Poe’s style well. The characters were extremely well defined and interesting. Alex Easton was the perfect protagonist to take us on this journey; witty and curious yet clear-headed and skeptical. Kingfisher goes into great detail right from the start on the bleak surroundings of the House of Usher.

More than once while reading this, I cringed at the gross smells and visuals described. The idea of a damp, fungus-infected manor is horrible on its own, but to add in the bizarre behaviors of the Ushers, would be enough to make me run for the hills! This is a quick spooky read, and I look forward to checking out more from this author.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Marriage Portrait

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

First line: Lucrezia is taking her seat at the long dining table, which is polished to a watery gleam and spread with dishes, inverted cups, a woven circlet of fir.

Summary: Lucrezia de’ Medici is the third daughter of the grand duke of Florence. She has always been considered a little different than her siblings. Her family has given her freedom but also the same learning as her brothers. After the death of her sister she is suddenly pushed into a betrothal with her sister’s fiancé, the duke of Ferrara. Even though she fears this marriage she is a dutiful daughter. At first things seem to be going well with her husband but as time passes without an heir she starts to worry that something sinister is brewing in the duke’s mind.

My Thoughts: This book was beautifully written. I love O’Farrell’s style. It is almost poetic in the way it flows. For some it may not be their style and seem rather slow but I found it perfect for the period and subject.

Very little is known about the events of Lucrezia’s life but O’Farrell does a wonderful job of filling out the story and the characters. The narrative flashes back and forth between her childhood and the time of her marriage. I found the scenes with her husband to be dark and sinister. She is worried he is trying to kill her but she continues to question her feelings. As a reader I could feel the tension as she tried to decide how to handle her precarious situation.

If you loved Hamnet then I believe you will find this one just as intriguing. It has the same feeling of dread approaching with the same lyrical writing. I would highly recommend it be savored with a glass of wine on a crisp fall day.

Monica’s Musings: Layla

Layla by Colleen Hoover

“It was like someone let all the air back into my life when I had no idea I was even suffocating.”
― Colleen Hoover, Layla

Summary:

When Leeds met Layla, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her—until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with. To put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the now abandoned bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. Items start moving on their own, and strange occurrences happen around the house.

Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow—an unexpected guest at the house. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers conflicts with Layla’s well-being. Leeds soon realizes he has to choose between them because he cannot help them both. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental to all of them.

My Thoughts:

Once I got about halfway through the book, I could not put it down! This book is great for anyone who enjoys a little paranormal activity and suspense, especially in their October reads! Leeds might not be the most morally sound character, but this book might even make you question what the right thing to do is.

I am so excited to finally be on the Colleen Hoover bandwagon! I have heard so many good things about her writing. With a little research, I found a few common factors in her writing. Her stories are usually about a relationship with a partner who has major red flags. From other reviews I have read on her books, a lot of people find these relationships upsetting to read about. With that, I suggest checking the content of each book before you start it. I went into this book with no expectations, and I really liked it!

What’s Ashley Reading?: Long Live the Pumpkin Queen

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw

First line: At the crisp, inky hour of midnight, Jack and I are married atop Spiral Hill in the Death’s Door Cemetery.

Summary: Sally has married the skeleton of her dreams, Jack. She is now the Pumpkin Queen but she feels that maybe she is not cut out for the job. After their honeymoon, Sally decides to take some time alone where she stumbles upon a new door hidden in the tree grove. As her curiosity takes over, she discovers the door leads to Dream Town but with her actions she has let a monster loose on the other holiday towns. And now it is up to Sally to figure out how to stop the Sandman and wake the residents of Halloween Town.

My Thoughts: Only several years ago did I finally watch The Nightmare Before Christmas. It really is a fun movie. I liked the music but most of all the technique used to create the movie, stop animation. When I saw that a novelized version of what happens after was being released I thought it would be a fun read for the fall leading up to Halloween. And I did find it fun. A little more juvenile than I had originally expected but still a good little story. It brought all the characters from movie and added several new characters plus we got a peak into Sally’s background.

I enjoyed the narrator. She did a good job of mimicking the voice of Sally from the movie but also adding some the voices of other characters as well.

FYI: Definitely watch the movie, even just for the artistry of it.

Monica’s Musings: That Summer

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner

“Death would be too easy. Death would let him off the hook. Life, though, life with the knowledge that Daisy knew what he’d done and who he was…”

― Jennifer Weiner, That Summer

Summary:

While Daisy tries to identify the root of her dissatisfaction in her own life, she’s also receiving misdirected emails meant for another woman, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. While Daisy’s driving carpools, the other woman is chairing meetings. While Daisy’s making dinner, the other woman is making plans to reorganize corporations.

The emails give insight into a glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life, which is miles away from Daisy’s simpler existence. Eventually, the misdirected emails are acknowledged, which leads to the two women meeting and becoming friends. But, as they get closer, you learn that their connection was not completely accidental. Who IS this other woman, and what does she want with Daisy?

My Thoughts:

In my opinion, it is best to go into this book blind. It goes back and forth between the past and the present. You realize pretty early on how the two women are connected. However, it’s what happens after that point that is intriguing and kept me engaged. It’s a thoughtful, meaningful story, but it is one that is not easy to read at times. I think it is a great show of wealth, privilege, and control.

I was expecting an easy summer read, but That Summer was much deeper and more meaningful than I was anticipating. It alludes to the #MeToo movement, and I think it is done very well. With that though, it might be good to double-check the content if you are sensitive to that topic.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The It Girl

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

First line: Afterwards, it was the door she would remember.

Summary: Hannah Jones arrives at Oxford for her first term to find her life changed forever. It has been her dream to attend university and when she meets her roommate April, she feels as if she has won the jackpot. April is smart, beautiful and thrilling. However, by the end of the year April will be dead.

Ten years later, Hannah is married to Will and is expecting their first child. She has spent the last decade trying to forget that terrible night when she came home to find her best friend murdered in their dorm room. But when the news of April’s killer dying in prison it starts to bring everything back. Then a reporter contacts her hoping to get more insight into that night because he believes that the wrong person was convicted of April’s death. If Hannah was wrong, then who killed April?

My Thoughts: I go back and forth on Ruth Ware. Some books have been good and others have been very predictable. I think this one is probably close to being her best. It had a twisting plot filled with flashbacks which I love. And parts of it were set in Edinburgh which I also love!

The beginning moved fairly slowly as we are introduced to the characters and the layout of the story plus all of the introspection on Hannah’s part but at the end the pace picked up. I could easily imagine a girl like April. I feel we have all known someone similar to her making it easy to sympathize with Hannah. Throughout I kept changing my mind on who I suspected as Hannah kept looking into the past. And until just before the big reveal did I finally get it. Even though the book is rather large it seemed to quickly once I was invested in Hannah’s search for answers.

The Lineup: Parker

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Parker’s Lineup

Book: Last night a DJ saved my life: The history of the disc jockey by Bill Brewster

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey: Brewster, Bill: 8601417208380: Amazon.com: Books

As a member of the MTV generation, I love music, especially techno, electronica, and house music, and this book dives deep into range of music scenes, from Chicago house music to Balearic beats and much more. You’ll find narratives about the top DJs, including Frankie Knuckles and Jose Padilla, and learn about their backgrounds and their approaches to mixing.

Available to check out here.

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Music: Luxury

Luxury is one of my all-time favorite albums from one of my all-time favorite DJs, Fantastic Plastic Machine, and it’s been on repeat in my iTunes for weeks. Like many Shibuya-kei albums, it’s a mix of electronica, syncopated samba and bossa nova rhythms, and kitschy ‘60s sounds, especially from French pop music.

Luxury — Fantastic Plastic Machine | Last.fm

My favorite singles are “Honolulu, Calcutta” and “Bossa for Jackie,” but I love every track.

Available to stream here or here.

Book: Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher Mysteries, 1): Greenwood, Kerry: 9781590583852: Amazon.com: Books

Phryne Fisher, a former street-urchin who, thanks to a large inheritance and experience as a nurse in the Great War, has transformed into a most glamorous private detective. After showing quick-wit in capturing in jewel thief, Miss Fisher is hired by a colonel to investigate the suspected poisoning of his daughter, Lydia. She throws caution to the wind and sets sail for Melbourne, but her hometown has become dangerous in her absence. Between the main suspect, Lydia’s husband, turning up dead, and an illegal abortion market, it’s anyone’s guess whether she’ll track down the culprit or get eliminated. Having enjoyed Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, I knew I’d like the novels. This first one is definitely superior to the show, fast-paced and complex. I’d recommend it for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

Available to check out here.

Visit: Tacos from Roadrunner Mexican Fast Food in Wichita

I find myself gravitating toward Roadrunner when I don’t want to cook, which, to be honest, has been more often lately. It’s also reasonably close to my house. They have all sorts of good food, but I love their simple beef tacos best. You should check it out when you’re in the area.

Visit their website for location and more information.

Writing Challenge Winner: The Villain, the Traitor, and the Daredevil by Isaac McKinnie

Isaac McKinnie is a twelve-year old writer who participated in the 2022 Seafarer’s Writing Challenge in which he wrote a 5,000 word original short story this summer. Isaac’s sci-fi thriller involves a young motorcyclist participating in a race that takes a drastic and traitorous detour.

Read the full story below!

Roads are dull. There is no other way to describe them. They are just slabs of concrete shaped to make a meaningless line. However, roads are even more mind-numbing when no one is using them. On these occasions it almost hurts to see a sight so boring. Luckily for the road next the small harbor in Winfred, Sasnak, this was hardly ever the case; and today was no exception. If someone had been counting how many cars had passed through, they would have lost count in the first ten seconds.

Yet, in all the hustle and bustle of this road, one vehicle stood out. It was a motorcycle, a Hoss Boss to be exact. Its black body paint glistened like obsidian in the early afternoon sun. The beautiful Hoss Boss sped down the (still dull) road with the same amount of importance as King Arthur and his own steed would have. The driver was unfortunately neither wearing a helmet nor taking any safety precautions at all. You might say that he was not very smart. If you did, I would commend you for being smarter than him. However, he seemed to prefer riding without any safety measures. Dylan (for that was the name of the motorcycle rider) laughed as the salty sea wind blew back his black hair and lifted the smell of the ocean to his nostrils. After he finished admiring the view, he revved the engine and sped off. As he rode, he decided to take a route he had not taken yet before going to the meeting place. He sped and then took a random turn. This was what excited him about motorcycling the most: the constant adrenaline, the rush of fear when he took a sharp turn, and the idea that anything might happen. He wove his way around the roads until he finally found his way to the meeting place. There it was––an abandoned warehouse. Now, this warehouse might look like any other abandoned warehouse. But if you went inside and walked through the abandoned warehouse you would find a tear in the wall. If you squeezed through that tear, you would see a small shed. It was there that Dylan met up with his friends.

Monica’s Musings: The Tuesday Night Survivors’ Club

The Tuesday Night Survivors’ Club by Lynn Cahoon

“She’d spent long enough pretending she wasn’t still recovering from the cancer treatments. It was time to check into her body again.”

― Lynn Cahoon, The Tuesday Night Survivors’ Club

Summary:

Two things got Rarity through her breast cancer treatments: friends and books. Now cancer-free, Rarity is devoting her life to helping others find their way through the maze of healing. She’s also started the Tuesday Night Survivors book club. It is the perfect fit for Rarity’s bookstore and a close-knit group of survivors.

Their club is disrupted when one of their members suddenly goes missing. Martha has always kept to herself, never opening up much of her personal life to the group. Now she’s nowhere to be found. With her car abandoned on a trail and her dog left home alone, Rarity is sure something terrible has happened—but will she be able to uncover Martha’s secrets before it’s too late?

This is the first book of a new series by Lynn Cahoon.

My Thoughts:

Honestly, cozy mystery is not really my jam. I wanted to give this one a try because it sounded interesting enough, but the overall story line seemed to drag on compared to many other mysteries I have indulged in. I can’t complain too much though, because the story wrapped up nicely, and although the book seemed slow in a few places, I found it good enough to finish it! If you are a fan of cozy mysteries this is right up your alley.

I did appreciate the fact that the author drew from her own cancer journey. She stated in her dedication that a nurse gave her a bag of cozy mysteries to read during her cancer treatments, and that had made all the difference in her journey. This particular genre is sentimental to the author because of that.

*This is available as an eBook or eAudiobook on Sunflower eLibrary, or potentially through interlibrary loan.

Writing Challenge Winner: The Worst But Somehow the Best Summer Ever by Amy Rogers

Amy Rogers is a twelve-year old writer who participated in the 2022 Seafarer’s Writing Challenge in which she wrote a 5,000 word original short story this summer. Amy’s contemporary story explores a young girl’s unexpected summer with her aunt which turns bloodier than expected.

Read the full story below!

Original artwork by Amy of her main character, Ana

I was happy with my life. No, I wasn’t just happy with my life, I loved it! I had indoor plumbing, electricity throughout the whole house, a comfortable smelling house [you know that nice scent when you come into a clean inviting house], and best of all I got to watch television and play video games! I didn’t have to worry about goats needing milked, and leaky roofs needing fixed, or even any chores at all. In short, I was a lazy, selfish, entitled princess who only cared about herself and nothing else.

But one day, a week before summer break, my father and stepmother told me something that changed my life forever…