Favorites of Fall 2024

   🍂 My Favorites of Fall 2024 🍁

Below, I have listed some of my favorite music, movies, YouTube videos, and TV that I have watched or listened to this fall. This has been a great season for some amazing entertainment. I also wanted to share the stories I loved on A03 from this season. 

🎞️ Movies/Movie Trailers/ Specials:

1. Annie

~ Mom and watched this early in September and we had such a great time. I’ve seen this many times when I was a child but not in recent years. I love all of the music and the story. 

~ The only part I really don’t enjoy is the song with Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, and Bernadette Peters. I know they are all famous singers but I think it could have been cut and the musical would have been much more enjoyable. 

2. Wicked

~ I got to see Wicked twice, once on November 24th and the second on December 7th. It was even better the second time around, especially getting to see it with my best friend. We had the time of our lives. This was one of the best musicals I have seen in a long time. The story is one that I have known details about for years but it was great to finally be able to see it. Looking forward to Part 2 next year. 

~ There are so many great scenes throughout this entire movie. Cynthia, Ariana, and Jonathan do an incredible job with the rest of the cast. Cynthia is absolutely incredible in this role. My goodness, she gave me goosebumps multiple times throughout the movie. Especially, during “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity.” I’m so glad she was chosen for Elphaba. She’s literally perfect. Ariana is hilarious and so much fun to watch. Her voice is as great as usual. Love how charismatic Jonathan was as Fiyero. I adored him from his first introduction with Elphaba in the forest. He is such a charming man! 

~ I love the musical numbers which have been playing in my head a lot ever since seeing the movie. “Defying Gravity” has been one of my favorite songs for over 15 years and I adore this version. But I’m surprised to say that my favorite song from this part was actually “What is This Feeling.” I adore it so much! Also, I love the foreshadowing in many of the songs, especially “The Wizard and I” and “Dancing Through Life.” 

~ Loved the surprises, especially in “One Short Day.” That was an absolutely incredible Easter Egg. Also, the nods to The Wizard of Oz  were great additions and I cannot wait to see what they use for Wicked: For Good. 

🎵 Music:

This year has been great for new music. Here are some of the best that I loved in Fall 2024. 

1. The Great Impersonator album by Halsey 

    🎶 Love this album.

2. Wicked (movie version) 

    🎼 I have had a great time listening to this music on repeat ever since seeing the movie. My favorite songs are “What is This Feeling,” “Defying Gravity,” “One Short Day,” “The Wizard and I,” and “Dancing Through Life.” 

3. Wicked (2003 version) 

    🎧 Leading up to the musical, I listened to my favorites from this album quite a lot. I didn’t listen to the ones I never heard before though because I wanted to hear them for the first time in the musical. This will forever have some of my favorite songs. 

4. “Popular” by MIKA and Ariana Grande, “Happy Ending” and “Lollipop” by MIKA

    🎵 I had a resurgence of MIKA coming back into my life in November. Was obsessed with listening to them all throughout high school, but I haven’t listened to them in years. Thanks to “Popular” getting played a lot because of Ariana being G(a)linda.  

5. “Thinking About You” by Dustin Lynch and Lauren Alaina 

    🎼 Such a beautiful song! 

📺 TV Shows:

1. Ghosts (Season 4)

~ I adore this show with all my heart! 

2. Agatha All Along (Episodes )

~ I made posts for each episode of this show. Definitely, one of my favorites ever. 

3. House of the Dragon 

~ Finally got to watch House of the Dragon. Had such a great time watching both seasons. Cannot believe I now have to wait for almost two years to see the next season. I plan on picking up Fire and Blood next year so I can see what happens next in this story. 

🖥️ YouTube:

1. BooksandLala

~ reading until I get a 5⭐️ from 2004!! 

    - Another time I got to watch one of Kayla’s videos as it premiered. I want to read The Shadow of the Wind sometime soon. I’ve owned it for many years and it sounds very good. Now, Kayla has made me want to read this book even more. 

    - Kayla and Rob are pretty good singers. lol

~ I read the final mystery in a 26-book series 🔎

    - Gosh, I love this video series so much! 

    - The videos with Rob are always the best. 

~ Finding a 5⭐️ from 2006!! Series Finale

    - I’m going to miss this series but am looking forward to the bonus episodes she talks about at the beginning. 

    - So many books, I’m planning on reading myself. Especially, The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson. 

~ 🎃 Halloween Tournament of Books👻🔮

    - Such a great video 

    - I love Kayla’s videos with Rob so much and the games were great. 

~ Assigning each Book a Halloween Candy 🎃 October reading wrap-up

   - Great way to wrap up her reading month.

    - I love the way she describes the books using the candy. Such a clever idea. 

~ Dress to Impress Controls What I Read!

    - Cute idea! Used to be obsessed with games like Dress to Impress when I was a preteen and young teen. One of my favorites was Jojo’s Fashion Show, which is somewhat similar with the categories of outfits. 

    - Definitely going to listen to Maybe This Time. I adore Noah Reid with all my heart!

~ 10 Years of BooksandLala 💕

    - I haven’t been watching her for 10 years but it has almost been that long. Love Kayla’s videos so much. 

    - Love seeing Liam grow up throughout this video. So cute!

~ *TWO* Reading Challenge Announcements | 2025 Buzzwordathon

    - I haven’t done the Buzzwordathon in a couple of years and I definitely want to try to do it this coming year. 

    - Love how she added in book covers this time.

~ Reading the Goodreads Awards 2024 🏆✨ 15 Books across EVERY Genre 

    - Such a great video 

~ Can I complete 12 challenges with just 3 books? 📚 Reading Vlog

    - I love these types of videos from Kayla

    - Had to see if I completed the 2024 Buzzwordathon without even trying, so here are the categories and the books I read this year that could fit. I will put what month I read them in. 

    ❄️ January: there, their, or they’re 

    💖 February: positive, happy words (ex: sweet, cute, happy, joy, smile, cheer, luck, pretty)

            - Charmed Life: Read in October ✔️

    ☘️ March: character names in titles

            - Reynard’s Tale: Read in March ✔️

    🐇 April: anything related to the planet (Earth, dirt, grass, ocean, tree, etc.)

            - Hilda: The Night of the Trolls- Hilda and the Stone Forest/Hilda and the Mountain King: Read in January ✔️

    💐 May: titles that include the word “every” (every, everything, everyone, everybody, etc.)

            - Life the Universe and Everything: Read in May ✔️

    ☀️ June: titles where the same word is used twice or more (including “the,” “of,” “and,” etc.)

            - The Search for the Red Dragon: Read in August ✔️

    🎇 July: anything that could be related to measurement (ex: time, distance, short, long, tall, small, middle, half, mile, pound, etc.)

            - Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West: Read in November ✔️

    🏖 August: titles that included the word “like”

    🍁 September: touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing, and any related words (ex: feel, mouth, eat, nose, eyes, see, watch, look, etc)

    🎃 October: titles that include a relation of any kind (examples: sister, friend, brother, aunt, mother, husband, wife, etc.)

    🦃 November: titles that include the word “only.” 

    🎄 December: titles that include any holiday related words (ex: Christmas, Hanukkah, Santa, merry, holiday, wreath, snow, winter, reindeer, gift, family, etc.)

            - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: Read in December ✔️

~ Guessing YOUR #1 Top Book of the Year 

    - Another great video from Kayla. Love this idea so much. Definitely, looking forward to seeing more of this series. 

2. Dominic Noble

~ The Black Cauldron ~ Lost in Adaptation

    - I love The Chronicles of Prydain so much and am so glad Dom has finally done this video. One of my favorites. 

~ The Little Mermaid ~ Lost in Adaptation 

    - Love this episode, especially learning about Hans Christian Anderson some more. I didn’t know most of what Dom said in this. Did not know “The Little Mermaid” was an author self-insert, brings new context to the original story. 

3. Daniel Greene

~ I Got Engaged 💍 Great Gerwig Narnia Movie 🦁 Marvel & D.C. Lose BIG TIME 🦸~FN~

    - Oh my goodness, Daniel. This is great! So excited for Daniel and Kayla. 

    - Beautiful interior art for Wind and Truth. 

    - So excited for the Greta Gerwig Narnia movies and have been ever since I first heard about them. I’m hoping Saoirse Ronan plays Jadis also. 

~ A COMPLETE HOBBIT SUMMARY! 🧙‍♂️

    - Such a great video. Loved listening to Daniel’s summary of The Hobbit and he had me laughing so many times. Also, I need to reread this and The Lord of the Rings listening to the Andy Serkis audiobooks. 

    - I’ve read this book 2 times and have made many lessons on it but I still had to watch this video. 

4. DanandPhilGames

~ Dress To Impress IN REAL LIFE

    - They are so hilarious.

4. The Library of Allenxandria 

~ Book Jeopardy, Season 2 Episode 6! | Johanna vs Murphy vs Laura

    - I cannot believe I haven’t watched this before now. Great video. I love doing these questions so much. Got a pretty good amount of them correct.  

Other Favorites

1. The Plucky Squire- Nintendo Switch Game 

   🎮 I have been waiting for this game for over two years, ever since it was in the Nintendo Direct in June 2022. The Plucky Squire focuses on how storytelling and art can inspire an individual throughout their entire lives. I loved the talks on how a story can have an effect on a child’s development and interest in being creative. This is a story that greatly resonates with me. It is the perfect mix between a 2D and 3D platforming game. Not hard to play but it had enough challenge to make it worthwhile. 

    📖 Love the literary/meta jokes and references throughout. They were so clever. I particularly enjoyed the Sonnet Swamps. Definitely, had so many laughs from that part of the game. 

    🎮 Also, the childlike aspects of it make the game feel nostalgic and just so much fun. The style is very charming. It was great going back and forth between the book and Sam’s bedroom. Some of it even had me thinking of Toy Story with Sam’s room. 

    📖 They now need to publish a The Plucky Squire book like the one Sam has in this game. Would love to have it in my collection. Or even a graphic novel. 

    🎮 Overall, this was a wonderful mix of platforming, puzzle solving, combat, and adventure. The mini games were a great addition to the overall game and many were such clever ideas. My favorite is probably the magic games (which I will not spoil here). The Plucky Squire has become a new favorite game for me and I know I will play it again and again. If you think it looks great, definitely try it. I’m sure you will not be disappointed. Cannot wait to see what else comes out from All Possible Futures. Wouldn’t mind another Plucky adventure. 

2. My favorite stories on A03

~ They Took My Hat by AppleSeeds

    - Such a hilarious story, like always from AppleSeeds.

~ Hunger by AppleSeeds

    -Oh my goodness, I love this story so much. I have enjoyed reading it throughout Oct, Nov, and Dec. 

Ten Favorite Christmas Songs

One of my favorite parts of Christmas has always been the songs. I love putting on Christmas carols when decorating, making Christmas cookies, or just really doing anything during this time of year. These are the songs I have perpetually on repeat all throughout the season. My favorites for so many years, that all have a special place in my heart. 

1.) “Last Christmas” by Wham!

🎄- My favorite Christmas song for the last ten years or so has been “Last Christmas.” This is a list of songs I wouldn’t mind hearing anytime during the year other than Christmas. I adore them all but this is my favorite on the list. Definitely, don’t ever see that changing. 

2.) “Christmas Tree Farm” by Taylor Swift

☃️ - I love this song a lot and would love to have a full Christmas album from Taylor. 

3.) “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley 

❄️ - My grandma’s favorite singer was Elvis Presley. This song always makes me think of her and I just love listening to it. 

4.) “Let It Be Christmas” by Alan Jackson

🦌 - One of the most beautiful Christmas songs there is. 

5.) “Step Into Christmas” by Elton John 

🎁 - Such a fun song to sing along to. 

6.) “The Christmas Can-Can” by Straight No Chaser

🌟 - A favorite of mine from high school that I have a lot of great memories of. 

7.) “Peace on Earth/ The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie

🕯️- I was never a fan of “The Little Drummer Boy” song as a kid, until I heard this version. It was on one of my Now Christmas cds and I used to listen to it all the time. The first song I would become obsessed with of David Bowies, but definitely not the last. 

8.) “Twelve Days of Christmas” by John Denver and the Muppets

🕊 - My favorite version of this song by a lot. I love listening to it every single year and it makes me nostalgic. Miss Piggy’s parts are the best parts of the song “Five gold rings… Ba-dum bum bum.”  

9.) “My Only Wish (This Year)” by Britney Spears

🤶🏻 - This has been one of my favorites ever since I was a kid. It was another that was on one of my Now Christmas cds. Also, it’s in a Christmas movie I love, called Single All the Way. 

10.) “Santa On the Rooftop” by Trisha Yearwood and Rosie O’Donnell

🎅🏻- Another favorite from my childhood. My mom has Rosie’s Christmas album called A Rosie Christmas and I always loved listening to it. This is definitely my favorite from it. 

November Reads

🍁  November Reviews 🦃

November 1st-30th

Book 121: Inkdeath 

By Cornelia Funke

Read November 2nd-3rd

Pages: 699

Release Year: 2007

📚📚📚📚📚

 

November 2024 reread:

There is a common belief for many writers that their characters control their stories more than they do themselves. This story takes that idea further with an author being brought into his own book and seeing it happen with his own eyes. I adore this world with all my heart and it has been a joy to revisit it again. It’s funny how much a book can change for you within even just few years. It is such a great story for book lovers and writers. 

February 2021 read:

I really enjoyed this ending to the series. I started the book on Sunday and listened to 227 pages of it with the audiobook which were great and then picked up the book again today and read the rest of it myself. The audiobook was great but it was so much better reading it myself. 

This book and the series itself are perfect books for booklovers. I loved following along with the characters and am very happy with the outcome of everything throughout. What a satisfying ending that fit so well with the series as a whole. I do wish that I had read this along with the first book so many years ago though. I know it probably would have been a favorite series of mine for so long.

Book 122: The Colour of Revenge

By Cornelia Funke

Read November 4th- 7th

Pages: 340

Release Year: 2024 (USA)

📚📚📚

 

I have been looking forward to returning to the Inkworld for years. The first time I read Inkheart was when I was fourteen years old and I fell in love with it instantly. I did not finish the rest of the series until much later, though I loved the other two just as much as the first. Cornelia Funke’s books are stunning stories with a world that will draw you in, almost as much as the characters themselves. I had such a wonderful time rereading the original trilogy before picking this up. 

I’m always apprehensive when an author returns to a series so many years later, but I was excited to see where Cornelia would take this story. Sadly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. It was written just as beautifully as the others, but I was not a big fan of the focus in the novel. I don’t want to spoil the plot here, though I will say that it was meant to wrap up Orpheus’s story and it did that. 

Also, this book is so much shorter and it loses some of the magic. Cornelia’s writing is still just as stunning but just too short for me. I always loved how much detail she went into and seeing the books from the many different perspectives: Meggie, Mo, Resa, Dustfinger, Elinor, etc and I missed that in this book. We did get some, but what made the other books feel magical was not here as much. 

One of the best parts from this story was the idea of the book with the paintings. It was so clever and fit so well into the Inkworld and made me think of the book Mo bound in Inkspell. Cornelia always comes up with such interesting ideas for the fantastical aspects of the story. I liked learning about the new characters and getting even more world-building. This is a world I love with all my heart.

It will always be a joy to read a Inkworld story and I would read anything Cornelia writes in this world. I didn’t love this but I’m happy we got to see these characters again. 

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book all opinions are my own.*

Book 123: Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

By T. S. Eliot

Read November 8th

Pages: 56

Release Year: 1939

📚📚📚📚

I had a great time reading these poems. There were many that I already knew about because of Cats the musical. My favorite being “Macavity the Mystery Cat.” These are so strange and fun. 

Book 124: At Midnight

Edited by Dahlia Adler

Read January 28th- November 10th

Pages: 496

Release Year: 2022

📚📚📚📚

I highly enjoy these short story collections edited by Dahlia Adler. In January, I started this collection and read nine stories. I didn't pick the book back up until today but I still vividly remember almost every story I read about a year ago. 

Each of the writers took the fairy tales and twisted them into their own stories. The more creativity the better. I did not love every one of these new tales but most were great. Also, I love how they included the original tales in this book. Most, I have read before, but there were a few I did not know the origin for. 

I'm hoping there will be more collections from this series based on other tales. One, I'm really hoping for is a Mythology one. I could just imagine a young adult take on popular myths, especially the realistic contemporary ones. 

My favorites in the collection are:

🪶 "In the Forests of the Night" by Gita Trelease- inspired by "Fitcher's Bird" which is a tale I had never heard of before. This is probably my favorite from the collection.

 

🔥 "Fire and Rhinestone" by Stacey Lee- inspired by "The Little Match Girl" 

🍖 "Just a Little Bite" by Roselle Lim- a contemporary twist on "Hansel and Gretel" which also had me thinking of Sweeney Todd

💰 "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" by Hafash Faizel- such a wonderful twist on "Little Red Riding Hood"

Book 125: Nettle & Bone

By T. Kingfisher

Read January 14th- November 11th

Pages: 319

Release Year: 2022

📚📚📚📚

T. Kingfisher is great at creating stories that feel like a fairy tale. She does an incredible job blending the dark scenes along with the heartfelt. I didn’t love this as much as her others I have read this year, but it was highly enjoyable. She has definitely become a new favorite author for me and I cannot wait to pick up another of her books soon.

Book 126: Dante’s Inferno: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

Adapted by Paul Brizzi & Gaëtan Brizzi

Read November 13th

Pages: 160

Release Year: 2024 (USA)

📚📚📚📚📚

 

A stunning adaptation of Dante's epic poem Inferno. It is a great example of how such a classic can be re-imagined into a visual medium and is a masterpiece. Paul and Gaëtan Brizzi did a remarkable job adapting the poem to feel like a modern take on the tale while staying true to the source material. It is an abridged version of the story, though. 

The illustrations are beautiful, haunting, and frequently grotesque. They fit along with the story perfectly. I would love to see Paul and Gaëtan take on other adaptations of classic works such as The Iliad, The Odyssey, Paradise Lost, and Dracula. Their style would fit these stories well. 

I highly recommend picking this up. This would be a great inclusion for classes teaching the epic poem. 

*Thank you to Edelweiss for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Book 127: Wicked: The Life and Times of 

the Wicked Witch of the West

By Gregory Maguire

Read November 11th-13th

Pages: 409

Release Year: 1995

📚

I have tried to read this book two times before and could not get past the first part: Munchkinlanders. The first time was in tenth grade (2010) when I first  saw it, recognizing the cover instantly. I had always wanted to see the musical and thought the book would be just as great as I heard the musical was. Thank goodness, I didn't read it then and I wish I didn't now. 

This time, I decided to listen to the audiobook while painting, which definitely helped a lot. I recommend readers go into this knowing it is a very adult and dark reimaging of the origin of the Wicked Witch of the West. It is not the fantastical story many people believe it to be because of the musical. It focuses on themes of politics, religion, and oppression. 

I liked seeing elements from Baum's Ozian books here, but I wish there were more descriptions of the world of Oz. We learn about some of the different denizens' cultures and religions. But not a lot else. The world does not feel lived in as much as I would like from a fantasy book, especially one based on the world of Oz. Baum's books were short and he was still able to flesh out the world and characters. 

The best part of this novel was the friendship between Glinda/Galinda and Elphaba. I enjoyed watching it grow throughout the first half of the novel. Their scenes together are what made this book bearable, though that was not enough to make me like this. I wish there would have been more of them together.

I do not like the weird scenes in this novel, especially dealing with "The Philosophy Club." There was literally no reason for this to be included other than making it even more adult. It just was off-putting and almost made me stop listening to this. I would have if I didn't make it a goal to read this book before seeing the movie. 

The third part of this novel is where the story lost most of my interest. It lost everything I liked at all in the beginning and it dragged. 

Gregory Maguire had many good ideas here but they were bogged down by awkward writing, many scenes feeling rushed, and overly strange/disgusting scenes. He had an interesting concept which fell apart as the story continued. It loses the magic that drew me into Oz all those years ago. 

I have heard that the musical takes these ideas and creates a more fantastical story. I am highly looking forward to seeing the movie next weekend and do not recommend this at all.

Book 128: Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures

By Walter Moers 

Read November 14th-16th

Pages: 688

Release Year: 2003

📚📚📚📚📚

It is an absolute joy reading the Zamonia books. Walter Moers writes in a way unlike any writer I have seen before and I adore his style. There are similarities to the other absurdist authors that I love, but his just goes above and beyond. These books are large and could probably be shortened a bit, but his world-building makes it worth the length. It is great to learn about the various characters, species, and places throughout the story. 

This novel focuses mainly on our titular character, Rumo (did you know he’s named after a Zamonian card game), who is a Wolperting. He becomes a great hero throughout the novel, with the help of his talking sword Dandelion. I will always be a sucker for a book with a talking sword. I won’t spoil anything else dealing with the sword, but it is comedic gold. 

Rumo’s story is a hero’s journey I had so much fun listening to and reading. I highly recommend both the audiobook and the physical book. The illustrations are a great addition to Rumo’s story. Zamonia is a world I cannot get enough of and I look forward to picking up the next novel soon.

Book 129: Disney’s Animated Classic # 7:

 Disney’s The Little Mermaid 

By Lily Murray

Read November 17th

Pages: 69

Release Year: 2019

📚📚📚📚📚

 

I decided to read this beauty today for the 35th anniversary of the movie. The Little Mermaid will always be my favorite Disney movie and I adore this edition of the story. It has beautiful concept art throughout the entire book. This is the perfect inclusion for any fan’s collection.

 

Book 130: Disney The Little Mermaid

The Full Film Script

By the Editors of Canterbury Classics

Read November 17th

Pages: 144

Release Year: 2022

📚📚📚📚📚

An absolutely wonderful piece of Disney memorabilia. This is the screenplay of the movie, which has every line and song. It also includes concept art, behind-the-scenes stories, fun facts, and insights from many of the people who worked on all aspects of the movie. There are even handwritten notes. I loved learning even more about my favorite Disney movie and had a great time reading through this book.

 

Book 131: Winnie-the-Pooh’s Little Book of Wisdom

By A. A. Milne

Read November 17th

Pages: 96

Release Year: 1999

📚📚📚📚📚

I think everybody needs more Pooh Bear in their life. This is so adorable, insightful, and funny. A great book that helps brings joy to a hard day.

 

Book 132: Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet

By Samantha Allen

Read November 30th

Pages: 288

Release Year: 2024

📚📚📚📚📚

One of the strangest romances I ever listened to and I loved every minute of it! A highly original story that had me both laughing and crying throughout. Chris Henry Coffey and Nick Mills did a great job narrating for both Roland and Adam. 

This was an emotionally packed story about two men finding comfort in each other in the most inopportune moment, after one of them passes away. Roland is a Hollywood A-Lister, who is known for his good looks and charisma. Adam is an ex-Mormon, who wrote a memoir revealing his sexual identity to the world, becoming almost famous. Now, down on his luck, Adam decides to take a job as a ghostwriter for Roland Rogers. Little does he know that the job is going to entail much more than writing. 

When he arrives at Roland's house, Adam finds out that Roland has died in a skiing accident. Roland is still able to communicate if he focuses really hard and wants to get his life story written before anyone else finds out he's dead. He wants to finally come out to the world and believes Adam is the perfect person to write his story. Sparks fly as both men grow closer and reveal so much about themselves to each other. 

This was a heartwarming story with heavy topics such as coming out, religious trauma, fame and homophobia. Samantha Allen does a great job of balancing these elements along with her humor. I laughed out loud many times while listening to this book. Also, the dual perspectives for this book were perfect. I loved hearing the story from both Roland and Adam. 

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this wonderful book. All opinions are my own.*

In Loving Memory of My Dad

This has been the hardest month of my life. On Tuesday, November 19th, my father, Stanley William Griffin Sr. passed away. My dad was a man who would do everything in his power to help everyone out. No matter what, he was always there for us. I cannot say how grateful I am for what he has done for me.

He was a special man that I’m proud to call my dad and definitely the smartest person I knew. I’m thankful for all he taught me and how he instilled the love of learning. He was the reason I got into storytelling to begin with and I know I am who I am today because of him. 

Thank you Daddy for being the man you were. I wish I could have had the opportunity to say goodbye, but I know you can hear me where you are. ♥️💕

IN ONE WEEK!!

 Cannot wait to see this beauty with some of my favorite people next week! My musical loving heart is ecstatic. 🧹🫧💖💚

October Reviews

💀  October Reviews 🎃

October 1st-31st

Another great reading month for me with 20 reads. 

Book 101: The Raven Remix: A Mashup of Poe Titles

By Carolee Dean 

Read October 3rd

Pages: 116

Release Year: 2024

📚📚📚📚

 

The Raven Remix is a clever parody of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. It is told in the style of the original, with the same rhythm and rhyme pattern. The story focuses on a young man who goes to a shop where creatures from Poe's works are escaping. I love that it is even interactive with a puzzle for the reader to solve with a cipher. 

This would be a great piece to use in the classroom when teaching parody to your students, especially if they know Poe's works already. Also, there is supplemental material in the back of the book. Carolee Dean gives the reader information about Poe's life, stories, and poetry. There are brief descriptions about each that is referenced in the parody poem. 

It would be a new and interesting way to introduce younger readers to Poe. I highly recommend this for middle-grade readers.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Book 102: In the Garden of Monsters

By Crystal King

Read October 4th-7th

Pages: 336

Release Year: 2024 

📚📚📚📚

 

An eerie historical fiction retelling of the Persephone (Proserpina) and Hades (Pluto) myth. This was a unique twist on the original story filled with a gothic atmosphere which pulled me in from the first page until the last. It is filled with over the top personalities such as Salvador Dalí and his wife, Gala Dalí, delicious descriptions of food, and art. The Sacro Bosco, Italy’s Garden of Monsters is an intriguing setting for such a story, which adds to the thrilling and mysterious mood of the tale. A perfectly haunting novel, for this time of year. I highly recommend it. 

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.*

Book 103: The Canterville Ghost

By Oscar Wilde

Read October 7th

Pages: 126

Release Year: 1887

📚📚📚📚

I loved this “spooky” tale so much. It is about an American family moving into an old English mansion, which is being haunted by Sir Simon, The Canterville Ghost. The family is originally warned about moving into the house because of everyone getting scared. They at first do not believe in what they think is just nonsense, but soon realize that ghosts are real. It was so funny seeing how the family interacted with Sir Simon’s antics to try and scare them out of the house. One of my favorite parts deals with the bloodstain. This is definitely a story I will pick up again.

Book 104: Wizkit: An Adventure Overdue

By Tanya J. Scott

Read October 7th

Pages: 144

Release Year: 2023

📚📚📚📚

Such an adorable little story with beautiful illustrations. I loved how wholesome this tale was following Wizkit, as she goes on her first adventure into the world with her new friend Book. It has a lot of great messages for children and was reminiscent of many stories I’ve read/watched over the years, particularly The Pagemaster. I’d love to go to the library in this book too. 

Book 105: The House with a Clock in Its Walls

By John Bellairs

Read October 7th-9th

Pages: 180

Release Year: 1973

📚📚📚📚📚

Such a great middle-grade horror. I watched the movie version of this a couple of years ago and have been wanting to read this ever since. John Bellairs balanced the creepy mood along with so many heartfelt scenes. Lewis’s relationship with his Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman was one I highly enjoyed and I cannot wait to see more of it in future books. A perfect book for October. 

Book 106: The Figure in the Shadows

By John Bellairs 

Read October 10th-11th

Pages: 155

Release Year: 1975

📚📚📚📚

 

I am loving this series so far and following Lewis, his Uncle Jonathan, Mrs. Zimmerman, and now Lewis’s new friend Rose Rita. It is great to have a story like this for younger readers where the main character is making mistakes and learning from them. Many times when magic is brought into books for this age range, it is made the solution to every problem that the children are in. This story is showing that it might not be. 

The Figure in the Shadows has a sinister and creepy figure come into play, that adds to the spooky feeling of the novel. I love how Lewis is not only dealing with this aspect but also realistic elements such as bullying and self-esteem. Hopefully, the other novels will continue with Lewis’s growth as a character. Rose Rita was also a great addition to this story.

Book 107: Charmed Life

By Diana Wynne Jones

Read October 12th-13th

Pages: 272

Release Year: 1977

📚📚📚📚📚

What a charming start to this series. I loved this world especially as all the pieces started to come together in the later half of the book. Diana Wynne Jones is a master at creating a fantasy world that feels alive and real from the very first page. It surprised me how dark this book became and I look forward to seeing where the series will go from here. Chrestomanci is such an intriguing character and I’m interested in learning more about him. Also, in seeing Cat grow.

Book 108: The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring

By John Bellairs 

Read October 12th-14th

Pages: 208

Release Year: 1976

📚📚📚📚

This is an entertaining continuation of the Lewis Barnavelt series, focusing mostly on Mrs. Zimmerman and Rose Rita. I was surprised how little Lewis and Uncle Jonathan were in the book, but it was just as enjoyable as the last. This was the creepiest book out of the series yet. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Book 109: The Dragon’s Apprentice

By James A. Owen

Read October 14th

Pages: 376

Release Year: 2010

📚📚📚📚📚

 

Another great book in the series. I love the time travel adventures throughout each book and this one had a lot of them. It also has been great to see Rose, Burton, Houdini, Doyle, and Madoc grow as characters throughout the series along with our caretakers. I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen next. There are so many thought-provoking aspects in the story especially about the nature of good vs. evil and how this can change based on your actions.

 

Book 110: The Halloween Tree

By Ray Bradbury

Read October 17th-18th

Pages: 145

Release Year: 1972

📚📚📚

A pretty good Halloween story. It focuses on eight friends who are trying to find their friend Pipkin, who is taken early in the plot. They go to an old haunted mansion and meet a man named Moundshroud, who offers to help them find Pipkin. He takes them on a journey from Ancient Egypt to modern-day Mexico, to learn the truth about Halloween. 

Bradbury has an interesting way of telling a story, but I will say some of it is a bit too wordy in parts. I did have a good time reading this though. 

 

Book 111: A Fine and Private Place

By Peter S. Beagle

Read October 19th-20th

Pages: 320

Release Year: 1960

📚📚📚📚📚

 

A Fine and Private Place is about a man named Jonathan, who has lived in a cemetery for the last 19 years and how he was changed by two ghosts and a widower. Jonathan is a man who has forgotten how to live after being alone for so long and never leaving the cemetery. His only companionship is the ghosts of the people buried there and also a sarcastic talking raven. I loved this raven so much. He had many great lines throughout. 

Jonathan’s lonely life changes after a university professor, Michael Morgan, gets buried there. They become friends, spend many days discussing life, death, and relationships, and also play games of chess. As time moves on, a woman named Laura is buried there too. She builds a friendship and later, a relationship with Michael. I loved how they all learned from each other. 

Jonathan tries to avoid anyone else alive who comes to the cemetery. One day when he is walking with Michael, he cannot avoid a woman named Gertrude Klapper. She is a widower who comes to visit the grave of her deceased husband. They build a friendship, which helps Jonathan get over his issues with human interaction and also gives Gertrude the companionship she has been lacking since her husband passed away. 

This book was funny, sad, and quite insightful. It is a story about learning how to live even with many of the characters being deceased. I love philosophical books that get you thinking, and this one was a great example. It is not a plot heavy book. Many scenes focus on discussions, but there is so much beauty in these conversations. The heart of the story is about the relationships you build in life and how important they are. It’s my favorite type of ghost story, and I could not get enough of Peter S. Beagle’s writing style. I cannot believe he wrote this book at 19. Every time I read one of his books, I come to realize what a one of a kind style he has. 

I highly recommend this book. 

*Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC of this edition of the book. All opinions are my own.*

 

Book 112: The Girl From the Other Side (Volume 1)

By Nagabe

Read October 21st

Pages: 177

Release Year: 2016

📚📚📚📚📚

A beautifully creepy fairytale that I had such a great time reading. I highly recommend picking this one up. 

 

Book 113: The Girl from the Other Side (Volume 2)

By Nagabe

Read October 21st-22nd

Pages: 174

Release Year: 2016

📚📚📚📚📚

 

Love this creepy fairy tale so much. 

 

Book 114: The Girl from the Other Side (Volume 3)

By Nagabe

Read October 22nd

Pages: 180

Release Year: 2017

📚📚📚📚📚

 

This has added so much more to the story that was definitely needed, though I’m hoping we learn more soon about what is going on with the Outsiders. 
 

Book 115: The Girl from the Other Side (Volume 4)

By Nagabe

Read October 22nd

Pages: 180

Release Year: 2017

📚📚📚📚

 

I liked seeing Shiva’s aunt, Teacher, and Shiva trying to live together. There were many great scenes in this though it wasn’t my favorite from the series. The implications of the ending are probably going to make the next volume sad.

 

Book 116: The Girl from the Other Side (Volume 5)

By Nagabe

Read October 22nd

Pages: 180

Release Year: 2018

📚📚📚📚

 

I was right about this volume. These last couple volumes are making me hope we get to learn more about what is going on with the Outsiders and “mother soon.” 

 

 

Book 117: The Ghost in the Mirror

By John Bellairs (finished by Brad Strickland)

Read October 22nd-23d

Pages: 176

Release Year: 1993

📚📚📚📚📚

  

The Ghost in the Mirror is definitely one of my favorite books so far in the series. I loved this adventure with Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman, most of it taking place in the past. A great read for October.

 

Book 118: The Crimson Crown

By Heather Walter

Read October 23rd-25th

Pages: 544

Release Year: 2024

📚📚📚📚📚

 

A highly imaginative, twisted, and dark retelling of one of the most famous fairy tales there is. I love villain origin stories and Heather has created such a clever one with Ayleth’s story. I’ve been looking forward to picking this up ever since she first talked about it years ago and I’m very happy I did. 

It was interesting to see how she took so many elements of the original story and used them within her own. The Crimson Crown focuses on Ayleth leaving her witch coven to go to court in hopes of finding what she needs there and to prove herself. She has never been respected by her mother, the head of the coven, and wants to prove that she is worthy of being her mother’s second. Though she does not feel like she ever could be. Out in the mortal world, she encounters, Jacquetta, the woman who betrayed her and broke her heart so many years before. 

When she eventually finds herself at the White Palace, she starts having to spend time around the royals. Some who will accept her with open arms and others who want to use her for their own needs. I loved the queen, Sybil and the princess, Blodwyn. They were so different than expected and were such enjoyable characters to follow throughout the novel. I loved every scene with Blodwyn, who was my favorite character in the novel. We also get the White King, Callen, who is despicable and uses the women around him for his own needs. Callen was balanced between his charismatic scenes and then the ones when we saw his true nature. 

This was one of the best retellings I have ever read for “Snow White,” even if it was just the origin of the Evil Queen. It was very dark throughout, with the evil forces seeming to be following Ayleth around everywhere. I love where this story went and cannot wait to read the next book in this duology.  

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.* 

Book 119: Inkheart

By Cornelia Funke

Read October 28th-30th

Pages: 536

Release Year: 2003

📚📚📚📚📚

 

 October 28th-30th reread:

It will always be a joy to revisit Inkheart. I decided to do so this time to catch up with the series again before reading the fourth book The Colour of Revenge. Such a wonderful world and story. 

January 17th-19th, 2021 reread:

The first time I picked up Inkheart was probably thirteen or fourteen years ago. I can vividly remember my excitement with this story. It was my first "book lovers'" book or book dealing with the love of reading and I was hooked. 

I remember relating to Meggie and wanting to have a house where you were surrounded by books. Little did I know, how many books I would attain over the years. Also, when I originally read the book, I adored Elinor's character. I was distraught with what Capricorn's men do to her and rooted the entire time for her and the rest of the family. This time around I loved her just as much as the first time and am looking forward to seeing her more in the following books. She is literally what I wanted to be like as an older woman (still is...lol). 

When I first read this book, I read it through the reader's perspective and loved the idea of being able to read your favorite characters out of books. It's funny, I was thinking about the characters that I would want to read out of books then and now. One of them would definitely be Sirius Black, which was one from back then too. I read this book from the reader's perspective again but I also read it from the writer's perspective too. I cannot imagine how surreal it would be to be in Fenoglio's place and meeting your own characters. It would be thrilling. 

This book was one of my absolute favorites when I was younger and this time around it was just as great for me. I don't know why I waited this long to finish the series but I will be this year. It's kind of funny though because I heard that Cornelia is planning on continuing the series this year with a short book. So I picked the right time to do this. 

If you are a lover of books, I completely recommend this book to you.

Book 120: Inkspell

By Cornelia Funke

Read October 30th-31st

Pages: 655

Release Year: 2005

📚📚📚📚📚

 

2024 reread:

The Inkworld series showcases the beauty of the written word through its characters and world. I adored traveling through this story again as Meggie and her family all try to survive in Inkheart. The idea with the bound book is so clever.  

2021 read:

I have loved Inkheart for a very long time, having read it over thirteen years ago and I have got to say this book is just as good as the first. It was interesting to go into the Inkworld and follow Meggie as she realizes that it is not as good as it seems. Truthfully, it's a dream for many readers to go into their favorite books but it sure would not be a good thing in some of them, especially Inkheart (the one in this book series). Next month, I will be finishing up the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next.