Mail-Time Monday

Today is my first day of the semester, so I've been a little scatter-brained. There was no "Wrap Up Sunday" yesterday, but at least I remembered to do "Mail-Time Monday"!



RoseBlood - A.G. Howard  |  Received from January 2017 Owlcrate

Synopsis: In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera. At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.

Excitement Level: 6/10



The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For - Alison Bechdel  |  Purchased from Thriftbooks

Synopsis: For twenty-five years Bechdel’s path-breaking Dykes to Watch Out For strip has been collected in award-winning volumes (with a quarter of a million copies in print), syndicated in fifty alternative newspapers, and translated into many languages. Now, at last, The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For gathers a “rich, funny, deep and impossible to put down” (Publishers Weekly) selection from all eleven Dykes volumes. Here too are sixty of the newest strips, never before published in book form.Bechdel fuses high and low culture -- from foreign policy to domestic routine, hot sex to postmodern theory -- in a serial graphic narrative “suitable for humanists of all persuasions.”

Excitement Level: 7/10

Girls Vol. 2: Emergence - Joshua Luna & Jonathan Luna  |  Purchased from Thriftbooks

Synopsis: In the lush, rural backdrop of Pennystown, Ethan and his neighbors lived a peaceful kind of life. Now, things have changed... drastically. Clones, spawned from a mysterious girl, are preying on the townspeople and paranormal activity is escalating into a full-blown catastrophe. As the questions pile on, only one thing remains certain-nothing will ever be the same.

Excitement Level: 8/10








Two comics, one Owlcrate. I like this week! Have you read any of them? Let me know in the comments below!

Want to Read Wednesday

Feminism Edition!

Continuing strong into the second "Want to Read Wednesday" with a subject that I'm sure is near and dear to most of our hearts: feminism. I decided to go with a mix of fiction and nonfiction, because I feel that essay and be just as powerful as stories; it depends more on the execution than the medium. Happy reading!

5 Books I Cannot Wait to Read:

5. The Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler

Why: The Vagina Monologues is a compilation featuring interviews from women talking about their vaginas. What isn't to like about that? I've heard about it from pretty much everywhere; it's an incredibly infamous piece of writing, and I'm curious to find out why. I've read some more negative reviews about it recently, so I'm also interested it reading it on my own to form my own sort of opinion on it from start to finish. I feel safe to say that it's considered to be a classic of feminist literature, so regardless of the current consensus, I'd like to add it to my "read" list, more than anything else. Plus, it seems at least mildly entertaining.

4. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

Why: Once you've known me for about five minutes, you'll know that I love dystopian fiction. A world where a women's only real purpose is reproduction sounds horrifying, and like something that may have noticeable parallels to a society from not so long ago. The Handmaid's Tale is on virtually every "Read Before You Die" list, and based on premise alone, I'm inclined to agree. Plus, I'm a bit of a purist, and so I really want to read the book before I see the movie (which looks incredible, by the way). 

3. Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray

Why: This book has everything. Girls, beauty contestants, LGBT character(s), dance numbers (?), and, I'm sure, plenty of talk about societal expectations and roles. And it's funny! I'm a little split on my opinion of books with a ton of relevant characters, and even more split of books with multiple POV's, but I've heard so many great reviews of this Beauty Queens that I know I need to give it a try. 

2. Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions & Heretics, by Jason Porath

Why: First, I know what you might be thinking if you read above- "why is a male author on a list about feminist books?". Rather than beginning the argument over whether or not men should be in the feminism movement (they should), or whether they have any right to write about it (Jury's still out), there is no possible way that this book couldn't be classified as pro-women. Based on historical accounts of women's accomplishments in the past centuries, (the earliest one is from 1500 BCE), based on the Table of Contents), what Porath has done is collect dozens of women who deserved to be in history textbooks but were left out. When it first came in the mail, I couldn't help but to read the first few stories, and my God, are they interesting. He added some fairy tales in there that have since been largely forgotten, and I'm happy at the representation I'm seeing. Probably far from exhaustive, the list still contains histories and stories from all around the world, and will surely please the little historian inside me. 

1. Milk and Honey, by Rupi Kaur

Why: This has been on my to-read list for almost a year. I have no excuse as to why I haven't read it yet. I've reblogged countless photos of it on Tumblr, read select poems posts by other bloggers, and even read The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace (otherwise it would be on this list), which was noticeably inspired by Milk and Honey. So why the hell haven't I read it yet? I think maybe I feel unprepared for it. It's no doubt going to be incredible, but it also feels like the book of poems will be a journey, one that I'm unsure if I'm in the right head space for at the moment. Every line is so powerful, that I know I'm going to want to take my time and not breeze through it, and that takes both willpower and patience, neither of which I possess at the moment. So, until that time comes, Milk and Honey will be left at the top of my "must read" list, until I am ready for that impact on my life. 

Extremely Honorable Mention Goes Out To:

1. We Should All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2. Bad Feminist, by Roxane Gay
3. The Purity Myth, by Jessica Valenti
4. Only Ever Yours, by Louise O'Neill
5. Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights, by Katha Pollitt

Have you read any of these books? What would be on your "Want to Read" List, with feminist characters/subjects? Put any books that I should check out in the comments below!

Mail-Time Monday

This past week's been pretty chill-  I haven't really left the house, so the only new additions to my book family I have to show are ones that actually came in the mail. Please be proud that the name actually makes sense.

Rejected Princesses - Jason Porath  |  Purchased via Amazon

Synopsis: Blending the iconoclastic feminism of The Notorious RBG and the confident irreverence of Go the F**ck to Sleep, a brazen and empowering illustrated collection that celebrates inspirational badass women throughout history, based on the popular Tumblr blog.

Well-behaved women seldom make history. Good thing these women are far from well behaved . . .

Illustrated in a contemporary animation style, Rejected Princesses turns the ubiquitous "pretty pink princess" stereotype portrayed in movies, and on endless toys, books, and tutus on its head, paying homage instead to an awesome collection of strong, fierce, and yes, sometimes weird, women: warrior queens, soldiers, villains, spies, revolutionaries, and more who refused to behave and meekly accept their place.

An entertaining mix of biography, imagery, and humor written in a fresh, young, and riotous voice, this thoroughly researched exploration salutes these awesome women drawn from both historical and fantastical realms, including real life, literature, mythology, and folklore. Each profile features an eye-catching image of both heroic and villainous women in command from across history and around the world, from a princess-cum-pirate in fifth century Denmark, to a rebel preacher in 1630s Boston, to a bloodthirsty Hungarian countess, and a former prostitute who commanded a fleet of more than 70,000 men on China’s seas.

Excitement Level: 10/10


The Serial Killer Files - Harold Schechter  |  Purchased via Barnes & Noble

Synopsis: Hollywood’s make-believe maniacs like Jason, Freddy, and Hannibal Lecter can’t hold a candle to real life monsters like John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and scores of others who have terrorized, tortured, and terminated their way across civilization throughout the ages. Now, from the much-acclaimed author of Deviant, Deranged, and Depraved, comes the ultimate resource on the serial killer phenomenon.

Rigorously researched and packed with the most terrifying, up-to-date information, this innovative and highly compelling compendium covers every aspect of multiple murderers—from psychology to cinema, fetishism to fan clubs, “trophies” to trading cards. 
Excitement Level: 6/10

Honorable Mention (AKA This Isn't Book Related but I Count It Anyway, For Some Reason):

Staedtler FineLiners - 36 Count

Why Do I Count Them?: Because I use Staedtlers for my Bullet Journaling (I'll make a post about that later) and I count that as something towards my blog, so it counts, damnit!

Plus, look how pretty! 

Now, all I need is a proper pencil case, because the cardboard box these came in is not nearly as suitable for travel as I seem to need. 

Excitement Level: 11/10

Weekly Wrap Up

Sunday's are the days where I like to look back on my reading week and see how it goes. Or, you know, guilt myself into reading more, because I get lazy as hell during the semester.

I am adding a few from the end of the last week, because I red them while I was planning out this blog, so I'm going to count it as a long week (only be a day though, so it's okay).

Finished:

I Hate MySelfie - Shane Dawson  |  228 pages  |  Jan 3 2017 - Jan 6 2017

Stars: ✮✮✮✮✫
Opinion: I went into this book having read Dawson's followup months prior, so I had a pretty concrete idea of what to expect. That being said, it was interesting to see him talk about sexuality and to make jokes at his own expense when, not long after I Hate MySelfie's release, Dawson came out of the closet as Bisexual. Seeing this as sort of a precursor, or even as a stepping stone on his path to understanding. His books are like watching his YouTube videos (mainly the one's on his second channel which I think is the only one he really updates anymore), so if you don't like his internet personality, you will not like his written one.
Recommend?: Y/N

Strong Signal - Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell  |  229 pages  |  Jan 6 2017

Stars: ✮✮✮✫✫
Opinion: Let me start by saying that yes, this is a mlm romance novel. They're a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine (is that bad? I'm sorry if it is). The reason I picked this up, however, had little to do with the romantic aspect (as surprising as that surely is, with a URL like mine) and much more to do with its characters. Kai was a lot of things that I hadn't read, and filled a void I didn't realize I'd been fostering. He was a Twitch streamer, playing video games as his source of income. My YouTube viewing history is filled with video game Let's Players, so for the story to focus on a demographic that is a major part of another aspect of my source of entertainment was instantly intriguing. To add icing to the cake, Kai has anxiety. He experiences panic attack and hadn't left his home in nearly three years. Reading about his evolution was fascinating, and the romance was pretty enjoyable too, if I may say so myself. It would've deserved three stars, if not for the ending, but it was still a good enough way to end the story; just not how I would have preferred.
Recommend?: Y/N

High Contrast - Tess Bowery  |  226 pages  |  Jan 9 2016

Stars: ✮✮✮✫✫
Opinion: Again, this is a mlm romance. I can normally finish romance novels in a day, regardless of the romantic orientation present. This one was no exception. I actually found it because I was looking for LGBT+ New Adult books (for a reading challenge I'm taking part in), and Goodreads recommended one about a tattoo parlor, a guy who does piercings for a living and may be more metal than man, and his ensuing relationship with a guy who interns at some white collar business. It was definitely... interesting. I originally gave it a 4 star review on Goodreads, but looking back, I think i might have aimed too high. I have a tendency to sway my review based on how good the ending was, if I try to rate the book right after I finish it. I can, however, say that this story will stick with me; from this book, I learned that there are more places on the human body to pierce than I previously knew possible!

Not Finished:

Gemina - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff  |  130/608 pages  |  Dec 29 2016- 

Opinion So Far: I'm intrigued, but like I said on Tuesday, I want to wait to form a more concrete opinion until I'm further in the story. These are the types of books where your opinion can change wildly within twenty or so pages. High hopes, but hesitant to say more. 

Rejected Princesses - Jason Porath  |  25/384 pages  |  Jan 11 2017-

Opinion So Far: Love the concept. Love the art. Love the introduction, where Porath apologizes for everything he got wrong, but hopes that he was close enough to the truth anyway, because this kind of author's note reminds me of basically every essay I've ever written. I think it's interesting that he used to work for Dreamworks, and I feel like that really shows in his art of casual storytelling- he can go on tangents without detracting from the story, and it feels like someone is telling you what's happening, rather than you reading words printed on a page (which is my favorite way to learn of historical accounts). I'm trying to hold off on reading too far into this, because I want it to still count as a "want to read" instead of a "read", but that might be a losing battle. 

Want to Read Wednesday

LGBT Edition!

Woo! First Want to Read Wednesday post! I decided to start it off strong by talking about LGBT+ books that I've been really looking forward to read, since I'm taking part of an LGBT Reading Challenge over on Tumblr (you'll see those posts floating around there if you follow me!

If you're unclear about my weekly posts, feel free to head over here, where I ramble about some of my ideas for what I'm hoping to do with each theme. Happy reading!

5 Books that I Cannot Wait to Read: 

5. Ash, by Malinda Lo

Published by Little, Brown

Why: It just sounds cool. I've never read an LGBT fantasy novel (nothing that I can remember, at least). Let alone one that is also a fairy-tale retelling. Ash- Lo's Cinderella- makes a deal with a dangerous fairy. When she begins to fall for the King's Huntress, she has to decide between her dream, and her love. A story with fairies and magic and "true love" are great on their own, but when a relationship between two girls is added to the mix? Amazement is sure to ensue!

Published by Simon & Schuster

4. Boyfriends with Girlfriends, by Alex Sanchez

Why: I've owned this book for a while, and I'm excited to finally delve into it. Focusing on two relationships, BwG is about "four very real teens striving to find their places in the world- and with each other". Plus, their variation to each characters sexualities, which is incredible in my opinion, because it shows that not everyone feels the exact same level of attraction, or has the exact same experiences. If that makes any sense? Lance is gay, Sergio is bi. Allie's questioning, and Kimiko is a lesbian (I believe, taken from the Goodreads summary). Obviously, I haven't read it, so I could be way off. But at least the idea I have of it in my head makes me really eager to begin reading it.

Published by Dover

3. Great Speeches on Gay Rights, collected by James Daley
Why: I don't feel familiar enough with public displays of support towards the queer community. I was the Treasurer of my High School's GSA, and I'm currently Secretary of my University's Queer Alliance. I need to become more informed, and I'm excited to read of the movements and power of a community that I am proud to say I am a part of.

2. Pantomime, by Laura Lam

Published by Strange Chemistry

Why: Pantomime is a little... difficult for me to explain my relation to it. I was so excited to read it when I was gifted a copy (really, I won a giveaway, but doesn't "gifted" sound so professional?). I opened it to begin reading, and I think I made it through the fifth page before I put it down. That was two years ago, and I haven't even attempted to restart it. I still really want to read it: I love magical realism, and the story has such a fantastical air to it that I'm really intrigued by. Plus, Micah's intersex. Intersex characters are rarely seen in books, or in media in general, on a grander scheme (unless I've just been blind to it. If that's the case, please feel completely free to recommend me movies/TV shows/books/etc. with intersex characters).

I don't know what it was, that made me put it down before. I think it might have something to do with the way my edition was formatted on the page (which is a huge pet peeve of mine, by the way?). Or maybe I just wasn't in the right place that day, and I've built it up in my head since then so much that I think there's something there when there isn't? Either way, it's time to face my fear, so to speak, and finally dive in, because I'm sure that it'll be a story I'll remember long after I've finished it. 

1. Keeping You a Secret, by Julie Anne Peters

Published by Little, Brown & Co. 

Why: I've only read one book by Peters before, and it was a book that I can honestly say changed my life. I didn't understand my sexuality when I started Lies My Girlfriend Told Me; I remember seeing it at Barnes & Noble when I went with my parents so they could pick out a present for a party we were going to straight after. I was browsing the Young Adult section while I waited for them, and I picked up LMGTM. My eyes went wide reading the blurb: girls in a relationship with each other? Gay people had always been around me growing up, but until then I had never really understood that it was something that was normal, and that I might be part of the community too. I almost had a heart attack asking my dad if I could get it, and I read it all in one sitting that night. The girls had relationship problems, like "normal" couples did. They joked around and flirted and confided in each other and depended on one another, things I'd only ever seen straight couples do. This is why diversity in media is so incredibly necessary; so that kids growing up know that they are not alone, and that there is nothing wrong with them for not following the expectation that so much of media places on them. Lies My Girlfriend Told Me will always be the book that helped me discover my sexuality, and for that, I'll be forever grateful. 

Keeping You a Secret would be the second book I'd have read by Julie Anne Peters, and suffice it to say, I'm excited (and a little nervous) to read it.

Extremely Honorable Mention Goes Out To:

1. More Happy Than Not, by Adam Silvera
2. How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater, by Marc Acito
3. Grasshopper Jungle, by Andrew Smith
4. Not Otherwise Specified, by Hannah Moskowitz
5. Bi Any Other Name, by Lorain Hutchins & Lani Kaahumanu

Have you read any of these books? What would be on your "Want to Read" List, in regards to the LGBTQIAPP+ community? Put any books that I should check out in the comments below <3

Tidbit Tuesday

Yay! My first Tidbit Tuesday. If you're wondering what this is all about, check out my (causal) overview post here. Happy reading!

Gemina - Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman |  Began reading Dec 17 2017

Page Count: 138/659

Synopsis: Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.
When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.
But relax. They've totally got this. They hope.

Current Opinion: My relationship with Gemina has been rocky. The first book in this series was an instant favorite for me, and a book that has been at the top of my recommendations list for literally everyone who's ever asked for a recommendation. So much so, that I preordered this book and entered a raffle for my name to be used as one of the victims in the sequel (the one I'm reading right now). I was ecstatic to continue to narrative. When I found out they were switching MC's, at first I was a little disappointed, but then I decided to think more positively. More people to love! More of the universe to explore! I was prepared. It came in the mail in October, but I was too worried about being let down to start it until a few weeks ago.
Immediately, the two main characters were not as instantaneously loved as the two in Illuminae. Don't get me wrong: I still like them very much, but I just don't feel as much as an attachment to them as I did to Kady and Ezra. I'm not desperate to see ore interaction between the two. I'm not begging for their survival yet.
That being said, shit just began to go down. Things are happening, people are dying. And, there's more intrigue with this one. A gang is on board Heimdall (Nik's family) and this one seems like it's going to be more about hiding and fighting back than running away. There's so much story left, that I feel like anything I say now could be completely disregarded and/or proved completely false by the end of the book. I still have a long way to go with Gemina, and I am enjoying the book as a whole so far, it just has to grow a little more for it to catch up with its predecessor.

Favorite Quote: "It didn't need to be this way. They were the words playing through my head through the whole thing. Likes some old media disk stuck on an infinite loop" - page 108


Have you read it yet? Let me know what you thought in the comments!

Mail-Time Monday

~ Here we go! My first official post on this account (are you proud? Because i'm very proud). I have a weekly spread line up that I'm hoping to adhere to (you can check it out here). So, without further ado, here is my first Mail-Time Monday Post! ~

This week has been pretty good, comic book-wise. One book that I've been waiting on for months arrived, I bought two Deadpool collections in store (my favorite way to buy books, even though it doesn't technically fall under "mail-time"), and a comic collection centered around the LGBT+ community that benefits Equality Florida and the survivors/families of the Pulse Massacre.

Published by: Apex

Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling - Jaym Gates & Monica Valentinelli |  Received as Perk from Kickstarter Campaign

Synopsis: Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling is an anthology of short stories, poetry, and essays edited by Monica Valentinelli and Jaym Gates. Over two dozen authors, ranging from NYT-bestsellers and award winners to debut writers, chose a tired trope or cliche to challenge and surprise readers through their work.

Read stories inspired by tropes such as the Chainmaille Bikini, Love at First Sight, Damsels in Distress, Yellow Peril, The Black Man Dies First, The Villain Had a Crappy Childhood, The Singularity Will Cause the Apocalypse, and many more...then discover what these tropes mean to each author to find out what inspired them.
Excitement Level: 9/10

Published by: Marvel

Deadpool Classic Vol. 4 - Joe Kelly & James Felder  |  Purchased from Cards & Comics Central (5424 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94103)

Synopsis: The secrets of Deadpool revealed! In some of his funniest adventures of all time, the truth behind Deadpool's origins in the Weapon X program is explored, as well as his unique relationship with Death herself! Ajax returns for revenge on Dr. Killebrew as Deadpool faces the ghosts of his past...literally! And is Deadpool the Cosmic Messiah, destined to save all? Featuring Captain America, Batroc the Leaper, Blind Al and Arnim Zola! 

Collecting: Deadpool (1997) #18-25 & #0, Deadpool & Death Annual 1998

Excitement Level: 8/10

Published by: Marvel

Deadpool: I Rule, You Suck (Vol. 6) - Daniel Way  |  Purchased from Cards & Comics Central (5424 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94103)

Synopsis: Doctor Bong? Are you serious?! Uh-oh. It looks like maybe somebody got talked into doing something for someone who wasn't who they said they were. And now the person who really is that person - Steve Rogers, the former Captain America - is kinda mad. Well, really mad, actually. But that's OK, because Deadpool is totally gonna fix this. Just like he always does.

Collecting: Deadpool #27-#31 (2011)
Excitement Level: 7/10

Published by: IDW Publishing & DC

Love is Love - Marc Andreyko  |  Purchased from Amazon

Synopsis: The comic industry comes together in honor of those killed in Orlando. Co-published by two of the premiere publishers in comics—DC and IDW, this oversize comic contains moving and heartfelt material from some of the greatest talent in comics, mourning the victims, supporting the survivors, celebrating the LGBTQ community, and examining love in today’s world. All material has been kindly donated by the writers, artists, and editors with all proceeds going to victims, survivors, and their families. Be a part of an historic comics event! It doesn’t matter who you love. All that matters is you love.

Excitement Level: 10/10




Please, let me know in the comments if you've read any of these and how you liked them, or if you're interested in any of them! I'm so happy with all of them, and I know I'm pretty damn excited to get started!