February 12, 2022

Small Favors by Erin A. Craig: a spoiler-free book review

When I'd learned that Erin A. Craig was coming out with another novel, I couldn't contain my excitement. House of Salt and Sorrows is an all-time favorite that I still find myself thinking about. I picked up Small Favors as soon as it was available at my public library.

If you'd asked me to rate it when I was halfway done, I would have said 10/10, easy. My opinion soon changed as I drew nearer to the end of the novel.

Small Favors follows our protagonist, Ellerie Downing. The book is set in Amity Falls, a small town located in the middle of a mountain range, making it fairly difficult to access. Long ago, the town's founders fought off the creatures that inhabited the woods surrounding Amity Falls, which remain unofficially off-limits. Only planned supply runs to replenish the town's non-renewable resources like medicine and other sundries are made. When one of these supply runs goes missing, the fear that the creatures that once inhabited the woods have returned begin to creep in. Slowly, things begin going awry. There are sightings of silver-eyed creatures looking inwards from the treeline. Animals are born with various maladies and deformities. Suspicion begins to fall not only on the untimely visitors that arrive at Amity Falls but among neighbors as well.

One common complaint that I saw was about how slow the novel began, with things only picking up around the last 20% of the book. I, however, love slow burns. I think Craig did a great job at letting the reader get accustomed to Ellerie's norm while giving us subtle indications that things were just a bit off. Additionally, the author is able to create such a perfect atmosphere in her writing, that I personally wouldn't have changed the pacing of the book at the beginning at all. I was completely immersed in Amity Falls, and while I do have qualms with the book, the atmosphere that she creates is not one of them. The book had me craving honey cakes the entire way through, so much so that I let myself have a spoonful of honey every now and then (I even found a honey cake recipe that I can't wait to try). The world she created was *chef's kiss.*

My issues began with the final 20-30% of the book. While the first portion took great care to show us the dire circumstances that Ellerie and the entire town were experiencing, the last quarter just took OFF. Had this been executed in ways that made a little more sense or fit with the established attitude of each character, I wouldn't have had such an issue. Most of the questions were answered, but the ones that weren't were pretty significant. Loose ends were hastily tied and the overall ending felt incredibly rushed. Finishing Small Favors reminded me of answering an essay question on a timed exam: while taking time to write an eloquent and well thought out answer, you realize that you're nearly out of time and quickly scribble out your point before the time is up.

Characters that had been established as being total asses throughout the book made a complete 180 with no explanation at just the right time. Ellerie makes decisions at the pinnacle of the climax that disregards everything that had been established about her person. And finally, the one question that the Downing family had- the sliver of hope that they clung to throughout the god-awful year they experienced in Amity Falls- is never addressed.

I could have enjoyed the fast-paced ending had it been done a bit differently. The combination of off-brand decision-making and peripheral characters that I never really cared about made the landing fall just a little flat for me. I would have liked the ending to have been more fleshed out and/or the beginning to focus on fleshing out the peripheral characters (Whitaker and Rebecca in particular) and their relationships with our protagonist to make me feel something for them when they come into play a bit later on.

Overall, this book was a 7/10 for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive and colorful building of Amity Falls, as well as the subtleties that made me feel everything from the bitter cold to half-starved to death, to unconditional love for my siblings, and everything in between. And let's not forget those honey cakes. I may even post about my attempt at making some in the future.

book review, bookworm, fantasy, spoiler free

November 16, 2021

What I’ve been reading

Today, I thought it'd be fun to make a short list of some of my more recent reads. I'm a consistent reader, so every now and again I like to round up the standouts. Surprisingly, I've gotten really into young adult (and sometimes adult) fantasy. Taking a break from reality and being able to suspend my disbelief is something I thoroughly enjoy, and I feel silly ever having doubted the genre. Be warned: there won't be as much contemporary or literary fiction on this list like there have been in the past. That being said, let's jump in!

Currently Reading:

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

I’m only halfway through this book and I’m absolutely loving it. I love Greek Mythology and this book is really doing it for me. It's telling the story of Theseus and the Minotaur but from the perspective of Ariadne, who assisted in the Minotaur's defeat. Ariadne is the daughter of Minos and half-sister of Asterion (later deemed as the Minotaur). The storytelling is beautiful, and I'm taking my time reading this because I don't want it to be over. I'm letting myself be absolutely consumed in ancient Greece. When adding this book to my currently reading list over on Goodreads I noticed that the author has another book, Elektra, set to release next year, and I cannot wait! You can add me as a friend on Goodreads here!

I'd been waiting on this book to cycle through on the "Member Faves" section on Book of the Month Club and I'm so happy that I was finally able to pick it up. I bundled it with Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (pictured below) which I also can't wait to get to. You can try out BOTM with my link here. I'm not sponsored in any way by BOTM, but I do enjoy checking out their monthly picks and choosing one for myself if it piques my interest. Plus, their membership saves you money on brand new hardcovers, with the option to skip a month and not be billed! I've been using BOTM for over a year now and I'm still enjoying it.

Current Library Loans & TBR:

Recent Reads:

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

This is by far my favorite book I've read lately, I'd even go as far as saying it's one of my favorite books I've read, full stop. I wasn't sure what to expect other than a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling. I don't like to read descriptions if I can avoid it. I stick to sources whose recommendations I trust and let the book surprise me. And this one did just that. The horror elements added to the suspense, and have turned me to looking for more horror reads. If you have any, drop them below!

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Read this book, just do it. It's short and sweet, but the story it tells was great. The novel follows Korede as she's forced to deal again, and again with her sister Ayoola's habit of, well, killing. The story sucked me in and was both succinct and thought-provoking. How much would you sacrifice for somebody you love?

The Caraval Trilogy by Stephanie Garber

Caraval and Legendary have taken me on such a great ride, and I cannot wait for the trilogy's conclusion in Finale (also pictured in the stack above). I picked these up the moment I finished the summer term for school and devoured both of them prior to the start of the fall term. It's stories like this that have turned me onto YA fantasy. The excitement, the twists, the story-building, and magic system are *chef's kiss.* I plan on picking up Finale as soon as I finish with Ariadne.

All the Stars and Teeth by Stephanie Garber

This book is part of a duology that follows Amora Montara, the next in line to rule the Kingdom of Visidia. Things go awry, as they must, and the what ensues was a story that was again filled with great worldbuilding and magic systems. Similar to House of Salt and Sorrows, the atmosphere is as gritty and as briny as the sea. Like Legendary, I plan on finishing off this duology soon with All the Tides of Fate.

* I am not sponsored by Book of the Month Club. I earn one book credit for every person who joins using my link but otherwise receive no compensation.

What are some of your favorite reads this year? Let me know!

bookworm, life, relaxing

November 11, 2021

moments: still lifes in autumn

I started this blog to have a space where I could share my photos, travels, and the slice of life I occasionally sprinkle in. I've had some preconceived notions that any photo I choose to share here must have a story or an explanation attached to it. The reality is, however, that I've been taking photographs and collecting cameras since I was a little girl. Today, I have a collection of 35mm film cameras that I keep in working order, as well as my DSLR and my iPhone (not as exciting, I know). I like to tell stories and share my words, but I love taking photos more than anything. My camera roll is bursting at the seams with photos that I can never bring myself to delete. So, I've decided to add Moments as a recurring series on my blog. It will feature my still lifes, with a few animals or people snuck in (my dogs follow my every move). Expect little to no explanation, sometimes I just like the way the light shines through a room or the way a fence leans or how a path curves. Sometimes I mean nothing through the photos I take, and sometimes I do. In any case, I hope you enjoy my Moments.

life, moments, photography, still life

May 25, 2020

124 2A

Although Andrew and I have basically been on one long first date, and most of our time was spent at each other’s apartment at the beginning of our relationship, our first true apartment together was 124 2A. I’m sentimental, though I’m sure you’ve gathered given that I’m dedicating this post to a cluster of rooms. From the moment we realized we’d have to leave 124 2A, I cried for the chapter of our relationship that was soon to be over.

///

The first thing we brought into our new apartment: string lights.

We must have toured it at just the right time of day because the living room was lit up with natural light, something we’d come to learn was a rare occurrence. I remember touching the counter in the bathroom and looking at the shower thinking, “I could take showers there... bath bombs, too.” I’d never had a tub before. I remember thinking of how cool it was that we each had our own closet. And being nervous about not having a washer and dryer yet and how the entire unit was carpeted. All of those things would work themselves out.

We got so much furniture from family, including an old faux leather sofa that was constantly peeling. But before the sofa and the furniture, we sat on a bean bag and an old office chair to watch tv. We ate our dinners at the coffee table. Andrew's old tv was propped up on a Yeti cooler he got in college and some textbooks to help balance it out. I thrifted most of our decor. When we finally got a real TV stand, we built it wrong and the lower half was built inside out. We'd spent so long putting it together that we didn’t bother fixing it. I said one day I’d paint the raw edges black to match, but I never did.

Our bedroom evolved from piles of clothes organized on the floor to slowly accumulating hangers. Our bed was pushed up against a wall until we got a frame. Then we got dressers and a mirror. We graduated to a bed at the center of the room because that’s what bedrooms look like on tv.

We got into arguments and in those moments the apartment I once found spacious wasn’t big enough. I’d go for walks around the complex but always ended up back inside.

The pool was almost always closed during the summer for cleaning or renovations and it’d close too early in the season. Alabama stays hot enough for swimming well into November. When we’d make it to the pool we’d sneak canned wine and beer, ignoring the signs about no alcohol. Craft beer cans aren’t telling anyway. I fell in love with plants and started turning our patio into a jungle. I read books and drank coffee on that patio. Sometimes I’d sit out there and just exist, staring into the woods and listening to the insects and the birds make their noises. This is before the car wash cut down the forest and started filling the air with the harsh sounds and smells of vehicles being power washed.

A bird made her nest on the electrical box outside our door and laid her eggs. At first she would fly away when we’d be at the door. But soon she recognized us and didn’t leave. We learned her schedule, she learned our voices. We always said hi and goodnight. She was always home by 6pm.

Toads were our nightly visitors on the patio, especially when it was rainy. They favored the spot by our sliding door, behind my now trailing pothos. We named each of them— there were three. When we got a bird feeder, our patio was host to all sorts of critters. Seed would spill over the edges of the feeders and the chipmunks would come out to clean up after the birds on the ground. There was a cat that would come scavenge for food around the complex that we named Socks. We daydreamed that Socks would come to our door and live with us, leaving the life of scavenging for food and shelter behind.

I used to go for walks around the grounds after some good rains. The creek that cuts through the property would really come to life and I loved watching the water critters do their thing as they passed through the complex. I loved walking along the creek and looking at all the colorful mushrooms growing along the banks. It was easy to forget that I was a two-minute walk from our door. I took some of my favorite blog photos around this creek and its bridge.

We got one good snow before the car wash moved in and it looked like a scene in a snow globe. We carved pumpkins two Octobers in a row. We only ever got one trick or treat-er. Still, we bought candy every year knowing we’d be the ones to eat it. We put up a Christmas tree that stayed up until the Following June, but our Halloween decor never got taken down. Every Valentine’s Day and anniversary we’d get a pizza and sit on the floor and watch a movie. Every Halloween we’d each pick a horror movie. We always fell asleep during the second one so we argued about whose movie to watch first.

Our kitchen was so small, but we learned to cook for ourselves. Our refrigerator slowly grew busy with the magnets we picked up on the trips we went on. We eventually started putting them on the dishwasher. I couldn’t reach past the first cabinet shelf and despite swearing I would, I never got a step ladder.

/// miscellaneous memories ///

When it wasn’t rainy, the mosquitoes would eat you up, but those old Alabama woods had a charm of their own. I would breathe in the thick air and for a moment pretend nothing else in the world existed.

There was a big tree whose roots broke through a nearby sidewalk and walking around that tree, mindlessly balancing on the broken cement sidewalk, and hopping from root to root became my go-to activity for phone calls.

Walking around at night while talking to my best friends, telling scary stories, retelling creepy podcasts, and conspiracy theories.

Every window would sweat when it got cold outside.

The shaggy carpet that swallowed anything that fell onto it and the bliss of finally splurging on a new vacuum.

The time Andrew almost set the apartment on fire when he tried to flambé something and the subsequent phone call trying to convince two firefighters the fire was out and we were ok.

The complex planted trees in front of building numbers, so our packages and pizza deliveries always got lost.

That patio would flood if it even drizzled.

Staying outside when there was even the slightest chance of snow, hoping to catch the flurries that rarely came.

Christmas lights strung up everywhere.

Getting over my fear of setting up my tripod to take blog photos of myself in front of curious people.

I hated making the bed.

For three years we got mail for the previous tenants.

Nag Champa burned frequently.

Our neighbors at the next building over that we loved. We’d stand out there and shit talk management forever.

Our washer was tiny and our dryer took forever to dry things.

Andrew left his balled-up socks everywhere. I was no better.

My grow lights made our apartment purple during the winter. I made many weed jokes.

Welcome mats only lasted a year. We went through three.

Every winter we played a game where we tried to go as long as we absolutely could without turning our heat on. 15 degrees outside, but it was a game to us and we didn’t wanna throw in the towel.

Our overly sensitive smoke detector that ate up batteries.

The wainscoting in the dining room that I loved.

The chandelier.

We rarely ate at the dining table. Instead, it played host to junk mail and Amazon boxes.

Our gym was right across the street and I don’t think I’ll ever find a gym that great again.

The cheap paint that marked way too easily. I know they did that on purpose. There were streaks of red anywhere my polished hands would graze a wall.

///

I could go on forever.

Thank you, 124 2A, you were the best first home we could have asked for.

life

October 17, 2019

Cleveland Photo Diary

Back in January, we started planning on going to a Seahawks game sometime this year and Cleveland was the one that made the cut. I’ve visited the city once before, albeit briefly, so I was excited at the prospect of getting to really explore it.

We like to get as early a start as possible when we’re traveling, and this trip was no different. Because this was a shorter trip than usual, we didn’t want to sleep in. We decided to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on the same day, so we headed out early for Canton. Even for someone like me who isn’t particularly into football, the HoF was pretty impressive. My personal favorite was looking at the uniforms and photographs from the earliest days of the sport. This was one of the many moments when I wished that our trip could be longer. We drove around parts of Canton that I really wished we could have explored, but simply didn’t have time to.

The Rock & Roll HoF was just as I’d remembered it, with a few changes. I was really excited to show Andrew some of my favorite parts of the museum, but they were in the middle of installations, so several of the larger areas were empty or closed to the public altogether. Nevertheless, we had a blast. We took our time through each exhibit, studying the clothing, lyrics, and instruments of some of our favorite artists and their iconic performances.

After being tourists, we got down to what we do best in new areas: breweries and thrift stores. Savers would prove to be my favorite among the thrift stores I visited on these trips. I made out with sweaters, long sleeves, and even a vest that I never thought I'd be able to pull off. I’ll have an autumn favorites post coming up soon! After a quick thrift trip, we headed out to dinner. Andrew found Saucy Brew Works and put it at the top of his list. They’re known not only for their beer but also for their pizza. We hung out for a while, cozying up in our sweaters while the temperature outside dropped.

We made our way to Brewnuts afterward for another beer for Andrew, a chai latte for me, and a donut for each of us. I had the blueberry vanilla bean and Andrew had the Count Chocula donut. These things were massive and I had to save the other half for the next day. On our way from the parking lot, we came across Superelectric Pinball Parlor. It's exactly what it sounds like. We peeped a crowd of people hanging out playing pinball and we needed to learn more. We stopped in after Brewnuts and had a blast. We swapped a few bucks for some coins and went to town. They had a bunch of retro machines from the 80s and beyond. I had a great time carrying my glass of Riesling from machine to machine while refusing to believe someone can be as bad at pinball as I am.

We didn’t have concrete plans for the second day in the city, so we let our list do the work. Something new that we tried on this trip— in part because of the trip’s short nature— was to prepare a shared note on our phones of the things we most wanted to do. I included the venues’ hours, website, and a highlight or two about the location or why we wanted to visit it. This cut back on so much time that we waste figuring out what to do. Additionally, many of our map apps use Yelp, and you can create lists of your bookmarks that I used to save the places I was hoping to visit. This was the perfect city to make a few locations must-sees and then make the rest up as we go. There was something to do no matter what part of the city we were in.

We made it a point to try Bob Evans while we were in the midwest and had a great breakfast first thing. We spent the day exploring the West Side Market, various breweries, bookstores, thrift stores, ice cream parlors and more. We loved walking around the market, sampling and picking out some uncommon fruits. I also spotted a huge homemade ice cream shop and eventually made my way to the biggest scoops of wild berry crumble ice cream. Note the hilariously small cone that I picked out before I knew how big the scoops really were.

oops.

After a few more stops, we started looking for some good dinner spots and made our way to The Harp. I kept it basic with some fish & chips while Andrew got the Shepherd’s Pie— our typical Irish pub orders. With full bellies, we headed back to our Airbnb where we relaxed, watched movies, and rested up for the day ahead.

I wish we could be there for this because this is right up my alley.

Our last day was pretty much pre-planned with the football game. We got there early to see the teams warm up, ate stadium food, and enjoyed the Seahawks 32-28 win over the Browns. We didn’t wanna be out late since we had to be up early the next morning for our return drive home, but we still managed to fit some exploring and dinner into the mix. We headed to Boss Dog Brewing Co. under the impression that it’d be a simple brewery, but it was, in fact, a full restaurant, so we got dinner there too. This was probably one of my favorite stops during the trip. The food was great, our server was awesome, and it was an all-around great atmosphere.

We packed up Sunday night and got on the road early. Our Airbnb was right on Lake Erie so we took some time to walk along the shore and watch the lake lighten as the sun began to rise. I would have loved to witness a full sunrise or sunset, but we had to be on the road sooner rather than later. We stopped at Tim Hortons for breakfast as we passed through Columbus and headed home. Thankfully, the trip home was much smoother than the one up and made it home earlier than anticipated.

Because we did so much in so little time, it would take ages to work in every single place we visited, so I made a list of our favorite restaurants, breweries, and everything in between.

To Eat & Drink

The Harp // Irish pub type food and a cozy atmosphere. Our table had a nice view of Lake Erie and part of the Cleveland skyline.

Bob Evans // Traditional breakfast, think Cracker Barrel. Good coffee and generous portions.

Saucy Brew Works // Original pizzas, great craft beer, sports, and a lively atmosphere.

Brewnuts // A unique donut selection that changes weekly, as well as a craft beer selection from local breweries and even some coffee and tea offerings. They have the cutest decor and even cuter bathrooms. I’m glad I went before leaving because otherwise, I would have missed the pink flamingo glamour of it.

Boss Dog Brewing Co // Another brewery that has mastered the art of offering a full menu selection. Great food, and a comfortable atmosphere with the option to sit outside in the cozy patio area or sit at the bar for some sports on their flat-screens. Aside from the bar where they have some sports, the rest of the space feels more like a sit-down restaurant.

Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream // Some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Extremely generous portions, so keep that in mind, lol! Unique flavors, lots of seating, and similar to a brewery, there are large windows where you can see the ice cream being made!

Bad Tom Smith // A traditional brewery that offers some bar snacks, think pretzels. Has a large bar and some high top seating. It can feel crowded, but it's such a great atmosphere, more people just means you can make even more friends with the other patrons!

Nano Brew // Brewery that serves food as well, lots of seating indoors, as well as an outdoor bar and a lot more seating.

Just for Fun

Superelectric Pinball Parlor // a good collection of retro and modern pinball machines as well as a bar with craft beer, wine, and cocktail offerings. There’s a seating area and the entire space feels very nostalgic. Strong Stranger Things vibes here.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame // The house that rock built. When it’s in full swing, you can get lost for hours looking at anything and everything you can imagine. So much to learn and relive. They have a small restaurant, coffee shop, and eating areas as well as some food trucks outside. Endless photo opportunities, no flash photography! It’s right on Lake Erie, so you can walk around outside, or just sit by the water.

They added a Vans Warped Tour section that wasn't there the first time I was there and my little heart was so happy.

Pro Football Hall of Fame // Everything from the earliest days of football to current super bowl rings, busts of every player who’s been inducted, a large gift shop, and an area where you can toss the ball around outside. No photography allowed!

Horizontal Books // Discount bookstore with some new and used titles. The more books you buy, the higher the discount!

West Side Market // So many vendors selling fresh produce and more. We went when it was winding down, but still picked up some fruits that we snacked on while exploring. Lots to see and sample, I wish we lived locally so we could really shop around and have somewhere to put our stuff.

Although we only had three full days in the city, we were able to check most things off of our list. We returned to our Airbnb every night exhausted but so satisfied with what we were able to do. We’ve been to quite a few places over the years, but Ohio has held a special place in my heart since the first time I visited. Everything from the people to the atmosphere has me wanting to go back to the midwest. We both miss it so much, and I think it was more than just missing vacation spots once you’re home. Both of us felt an immediate attachment to the area that has us genuinely missing the people, the atmosphere, all of it. Here’s to hoping we find our way back soon.