#gotta be honest I haven't actually finished this book and probably won't for a long time

[maganne-studies]

"My father said it looked very sad: a stairway in a field of ruin, going up to nowhere."

- The Woman Who Had Two Navels by NIck Joaquin

[godsfavdarling]

october 2024 book wrap up

Where The Dark Stands Still by A.B Poranek ☆☆☆☆☆

My Throat an Open Grave by Tori Bovalino ☆☆☆☆☆

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë ☆☆☆☆☆

Normal People by Sally Rooney (reread) ☆☆☆☆☆

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney ☆☆☆☆☆

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson ☆☆☆☆

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro ☆☆☆☆

My monthly book wrap ups

My goodreads

(Why do I keep giving out 5 stars left and right, like I'm Oprah handing out cars or something? You get 5 stars! You get 5 stars! And you get 5 stars!)

October has been a fantastic reading month, somehow. Yes, despite starting my final year of uni—wild, I know. But the secret? Reading on the bus (my commute is about 1.5 hours), and reading during class (sue me idc. it's often boring, and I don't have the brain capacity to listen to all of that).

Anyway... Gothic vibes dominated the stack, and I gotta read something silly easy now because my brain is starting to melt from all the intense, haunting reads.

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek kicked off the month. This was a buddy read with a friend, and since I’m Polish, the Slavic elements felt like home. Even though we read it in English, it was funny (and kind of charming) to see Polish names and folklore mixed with English prose. The main character was so down-to-earth and relatable, and the magic had this Howl’s Moving Castle feel to it. Slavic-inspired fantasy is definitely something I need more of—absolutely go read this if you haven't!

Then came My Throat an Open Grave, which got its own post because it just spoke to me. It’s intense, unsettling, and has those Ethel Cain vibes that feel like the book was tailor-made for me!!! Every time I stumble upon a book like this, it’s like some idk... secret, twisted bond. It's haunting, something to linger in, long after the last page. Go read it if you like "weird girl" eerie shit!

Wuthering Heights... what a ride. I knew it was going to be intense, but I didn’t realize how much. Everyone in that book is fucking insane, and I love it! I'm confused a bit about it being a romance, but I can see it... in the most disturbing way possible. Do I want a boyfriend obsessed enough to dig up my grave? Possibly. Was I horrified? Absolutely. Emily Brontë really went all in, especially for her time—it's no wonder this book has lasted as long as it has. She's an icon, and I’m obsessed. I won't say anything that adds to the conversation, unfortunately. Nothing of value. I'm glad I finally read it.

Next was Normal People—a reread from 2021, which I originally rated 4/5. Back then, I actually preferred Conversations with Friends, but after three years, it just hit differently. It’s amazing how much 3 years can shift your perspective!

Then there was Intermezzo. Honestly, I’m not sure what to say. If you’re into Rooney’s style, you’ll probably vibe with this. It’s packed with unlikable, layered characters and endlessly messy relationships. I am already planning a reread to untangle my thoughts. Ivan was giving Spencer Reid, and Margaret's job is what I'm probably going to be doing in the future because my studies are related to management in culture. It was kinda weird.

Now that I’ve drained my soul on gothic intensity, I'm on the lookout for something lighter.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle—a brilliant, short gothic classic that was the perfect finish to a month of eerie reads. How bad is it if I say Merricat is kinda just like me fr?

I've wrapped up the month with Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. To be honest, the beginning was confusing, so I was pissed off and kind of hated it. I was very invested towards the end once I understood more. I get why it's considered quite an important book. For sure, not for everyone. Obviously it's all kinda fucked up and what's even worse is we might get to a point in science when things like that will be possible and I just hate to think about it. We already went too far, I fear. We should all just stop.

Fret not!

November is still reserved for some creepy shit! I wanna read Jane Eyre next! Maybe Mexican Gothic! Also, The Secret History!