#october reading

[astroyongie]

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐October Pick a Card ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐

ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐Welcome to our day 6 of our schedule! This pick a card is easy and i hope it can bring you some enlightment <3 Close your eyes, breath and choose the sticker you feel most attracetd to. If you don't connect with any it's okay! it means that these readings aren't your you <3 ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐

🍂 Pile One - The Ghost 🍂

It seems like you have been going through some harsh times, there’s a lot of things that have been happening. lately you feel lost, stuck in your own head, in your dreamland and it is so hard to get out of it right? but it does seem like there will be some clarity appearing in your life very soon. And if I can even add, it does seem to some of you, there’s love in the air, there’s attraction, there is someone who has such a crush on you. keep an eye open since this is possibly the beginning of a new pretty relationship. give them their chance, and allow love to heal your heart and mind. 

Like i said earlier the cards show that you were in such a lonely situation, there’s so much solitude in your heart and soul, yet the ascension to happiness is right in front of you. Sometimes staying in the dark is comforting, melancholy can do tha. but don’t stop yourself, follow your instincts. If you wish to heal your body and mind, if you wish your health to get better you need to take that step toward the light. This will also allow nw people to come into your life 

And finally remember that of course during your life there will be dark paths, and there will be moments of bigger fragility. be courageous, be brave. Despite the hardships that will come your way in the future, remember to keep your head above the water simply by choosing yourself. choose life. That is the most precious thing you have. fight for it. don't let it go-

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐

🍂 Pile Two - The Cat 🍂

The energy around you is quite heavy, there’s so much emotional manipulation here (for some of you it's you being manipulated and for others it's you manipulating others due to your own condition). I know that you are completely lost in your life, so many decisions to take, so many things to think about but everything is indecisive as you can't make any move. this confusion will subside, and you will have an opportunity for yourself to grow, so please don't lose sight of that one! In order to grow and self develop yourself, search for perfection in a way that makes you feel good. take the talents you have and perfect them. 

It seems the cards are also here to warn you that in your future, in the next weeks or months depending on everyone, you will have a few setbacks, a few blockages concerning your projects or your life in general. that is normal to happen, and try not to panic. take your time to make discernment on what is happening around you, and most importantly: do not fall into pretty words. a lot of people around you aren't really the ones with good intentions. don't put yourself in situations only because someone is swearing to you that it's an amazing idea 

Finally, I want to let you know that you don't need to be scared in taking decisions and actions. If there's something you want to do, a project, or a goal that you want to pursue, just go for it hun. It is time to let go of the fear and go forward with what you desire, as the cards are showing good luck and abundance if you do so. fear won't make you grow, taking risks will. but remember, only those who come from you, not others.  ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐

🍂 Pile Three - The Jar 🍂

The energy here is a little chaotic and complicated to read, but basically what’s happening is that a lot of you are having some huge issues when it comes to finding your path in life, your beliefs, your spirituality, your place in life and earth in general. Despite that, there’s so much success and recognition that is waiting for you to reach and grasp but things are just so tribled at the moment. The good thing is, that it seems the end of your current situation is approaching in big steps so be ready to see your life turn in a brutal way for some of you. there will be delays and there will be lack of foresight and a sense of loss. yet. If you are patient enough and if you push through, you will see that it was the last challenge before your success. 

There’s some warnings in there as well, the first one being that you need to be careful with all the outbursts of energy that you often feel. don’t revolve around hetero or auto violence and aggression because that won’t put you nowhere. violence isn't the answer despite sometimes anger being the only emotion we feel. try to work in your patience and your perseverance if you wish to be able to let go of those energies 

Another two things I wish to tell you is, first and foremost, do not accept any type of opportunity or proposition from someone, unless you are 100% sure of the accuracy and the threfuk+llness behind it. do not engage yourself into projects or ideas, or secrets and gossips until you are sure the person isn't lying to you. The last thing is that it seems like your angels or spiritual guides are trying to contact you and having a hard time doing so. try to open yourself more to meditation, dreams or just your spiritual self to let your angels contact you and deliver their message to you. 

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐

🍂 Pile Four - The Skeleton 🍂

This is such a heavy reading and I am very sorry. I feel like there’s so much emotion here that isn't being taken care of properly. you feel overwhelmed with the choices and with life in general depending on your situation. For some of you, I am seeing some financial issues and complications. For some it is relationships that aren't working and arguments happening and finally for others it is issues with your health and disease in general. Please take care of yourself and seek the proper help if needed. the cards are also showing that some of you (most of you) are feeling helpless, hopeless, like there’s no light in the tunnel. For some I also see issues with authority, with paternal figures or men figures in general. I want to let you know that I am very sorry and that this is indeed a complicated situation that only time has the power to solve.

The inner conflicts inside of you are mostly due to a few things that I will try to cover. first because there’s a necessity of balancing yourself, of knowing who you are and what you want for your life. stop pretending to be a person that you are not and try to stick with the true self. make peace with yourself. make peace with the things that you have done, and get rid of the guilt so you can move forward with your life. be also careful with someone around you who hasn't sincere feelings for you (romantic or friendship). Some people pretend to care when they don’t. If you are sexually active, please be careful and use protection and don't engage in dangerous sexual activities.

 I am now going to give you some advice so you can find some joy, some light in yoru current situation. try to spend more time with people you love, with friends or family to find that inner laugh and joy again. spending time outside in nature IS VERY IMPORTANT, especially to recharge your energies and change your toxic environment. start on working on something, on a goal or a project or try to keep yourself occupied with something that would be manual and helps you to put your cognitive self into something instead of rotting somewhere. It sounds harsh, I know. but baby, only you can pick yourself up 

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐

🍂 Pile Five - The Pumpkin 🍂

It is time for you to let go of your toxic behaviors (depending on you, it can either be: alcohol, weed, drugs, other substances, food, codependent relationships, ect). you know what is causing you hurt and harm, and it is time for you to finally let go of this and to focus on your success instead. you need to move fast, and to use the energy around you to do something. For some of you I also see travels, if that is your case use that travel wisely to let go of bad old  habits. Furthermore, I also see a lot of lies and secrets being kept away from you, so be careful who you call friends. love, if you keep yourself focused on your routine and on your work you will be able to achieve success and that is what we want!

If you start putting your energy into good use, if you start to do the things for yourself, I can promise you there will be a lot of victory and recognition for you. so please just let go of everything that has been trapping you and keeping you away from your success. fight for it! If you put effort into it, you will see your life getting better.

By the way, you aren’t really listening to your instincts and your intuition, so try to open yourself more into spirituality or at least to try and connect to your inner self. be aware of a woman in your life that will help you come out from a complicated period. she will be the light in the tunnel or at least she will be the one giving you the rolls to find it. a guidance in your own darkness

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐

🍂 Pile Six - The Scream 🍂

Okay, you are currently very overcommitted with everything you have to do and deal with and that also is making you disorganized (but your energy is equally disorganized). These burdens that you have on your shoulders, for many that are related to school or work (or other depending on your situation), will only be dealt with if you stop procrastinating and start to work on it with meaning and purpose. I also see that it is important at the moment for you to show gratitude to the people around you and for your life in general. spend more time with family, with friends. and also allow yourself to be more romantic and to seek love. For many of you there’s possibilities to reconnect with people or even find relationships. 

For some of you the major theme is “birth”. of course this isn’t literally. For some of you I see new projects starting, new beginnings flourishing. but also for other this means new relationships starting (love or relationship) and some even birth of babies or pregnancies to be announced or even marriages. 

For many of you, there’s this entity/deity or spiritual guide that is protecting you and has been trying to protect you, but your passiveness is making their work well. try to reconnect with those energies and make sure to thank the spirits for protecting you throughout this period.  And finally, I want to let you know that you need to stop trying to fix and change people. you shouldn't use your authority or your influence on people. they will change by themselves and you are not responsible for their actions or their words. 

[brutalfantasytarot]

PAC TAROT READING: WHAT TO EXPECT THE REST OF THE OCTOBER 💘

take a few deep breaths. which image is calling you?

[left to right]

message me for a personal reading 🔮

ko-fi.com/brutalfantasy 💓

ko-fi.com/brutalfantasy 💓

ko-fi.com/brutalfantasy 💓

☽☾ ☽☾

PILE ONE: the hierophant, nine of swords, ten of cups

October hasn't been easy on you, that's for sure. you feel so burdened, so distressed. your feelings are so deeply hurt. the energy you're in is so scattered. your suspicions about certain people were deemed true and now you're taking some time to yourself. but this is the final push. this is the last wound. it seems you've found yourself praying a lot. or simply journaling to the void. to any god or goddess out there. and guess what? your prayers are heard. the rest of October is going to be a joy! i see lots of gatherings with the right people. your creativity is going to be soaring to new heights. there is soooo much harmony here! i even see you reconnecting with lost friendships. it's going to be so healing and fun!💘

PILE TWO: the devil, judgement

you've gone through a huge transformation this month. it has been torture. similar to pile one, someone has hurt you this month. blindsided you. you had on rose-colored glasses because you're a very kind-hearted person and you expect people to be like you. but sadly, most aren't. and you found that out this month when you were lied to. cheated on. betrayed. but you're done burning. you're finished letting this hurt consume you. that fire is no longer sadistic, but used as fuel. that fire is surrounding you now. in your auric field. and it's protecting you from people who have no desire to protect your fragile, ever-loving heart. your life force is being multiplied. you're ready to step fully into your power. use that creativity to create something beautiful from the wound. turn your pain into art 💘

[godzilla-reads]

🎃 Happy Halloween 🎃 Happy October 🎃

Being the last day of the month, I thought I’d do my Reading Wrapup. I finished 18 books and my Top 3 are starred below:

⭐️ Godzilla: Unnatural Disasters by IDW Publishing

🍞 The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz

🐦‍⬛ Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow by James Howe

🖤 The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe

🐲 A Town Called Dragon by Judd Winick

🍂 October, or Autumnal Tints by Henry David Thoreau, Robert D. Richardson, and Lincoln Perry

🧚 Arthur Rackham’s Book of Pictures by Elizabeth Congden Kovanen and Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch

🍁 Autumn: A Folio Anthology edited by Sue Bradbury and Kathleen Jamie

🌵 The Evil Garden by Edward Gorey

🥶 The Iceland Wyrm by Dugald Steer

✨ The Dragon Star by Dugald Steer

🪩 The Dragon Dance by Dugald Steer

🦋 The Winged Serpent by Dugald Steer

⭐️ Mural by Mahmoud Darwish (trans. John Berger and Rema Hammami)

🍄 How to See Fairies by Charles Van Sandwyk

🌋 The Dark Secret by Tui T. Sutherland and Mike Holmes

⭐️ Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola and Emily Carroll

🏴‍☠️ One Piece Vol. 8: I Won’t Die by Eiichiro Oda

What books did you enjoy? 😊

[freckles-and-books]

October wrap up! I’m still reading The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden.

[highpriestessaset]

Pick an image: allow your intuition to guide you in your selection.

🕷️| IMAGE #1

Overall Message: “You are already doing it. Keep facing your true north.”

BEG: You may come to separate yourself from something that feels good. It’s a great time to explore if that something is actually beneficial to your health or not. Exploring ways to honor and truly appreciate you are welcomed at this time.

MID: You may be in a position to “call the shots” or make some decisions. This is a time to voice what you want AND how you want it. However, be strategic. Who are you talking to? Does the situation call for you to be more cutesy, playful, professional, or direct?

END: Expect to receive. This can be a gift, some appreciation, or something you’ve been working towards. The long night is over- whatever it is, there is happiness and hope coming along with it.

————————————————————

🦇| IMAGE #2

Overall Message: “Answer the call. What is your soul calling you to do?”

BEG: You may be in a phase of coming out of your shell. I see someone who has been reserved, shy, or self focused, beginning to be more “spicy” or confident. Some would say the phrase, “getting their groove back.” I see an introvert being more extroverted. You may be dating or getting attention from admirers at this time.

MID: You may be meeting someone new or spending time with someone in particular. Whoever this person is, the feelings are mutual. You may see things moving quickly or doing some traveling together. This person may be someone who balances you out like Fire and Water. Despite all the excitement, it’s important to maintain your boundaries at this time- it may be easy to get swept up in a situation or to go along with whatever this person wants.

END: It is possible that you or someone you have been interacting with is hiding their true feelings. The communication may become more distant. It seems like an attempt to protect their heart or to not appear a certain way. This situation calls for you to be patient with yourself and/or them. It is important at this time to not overthink or make assumptions without talking to them first.

————————————————————

👻| IMAGE #3

Overall Message: “Trust your path. If you knew you would be supported, what would you do?”

BEG: Expect to do some planning regarding some sort of project or journey. (Please note that I am using the term journey with the possibility of it relating to an inner journey of processing or development. Only you know what it means to you- take what resonates, leave what doesn’t .) You may be called to “work around” or change some things about your plans. Organizational tools will be helpful at this time.

MID: I see you focused on the same project or journey but so much so that you may stop interacting with a person or people who want to spend time with you. As much as this project or journey means to you, try not to neglect those who are dear.

END: Expect to feel a weight off of your shoulders. If this is about your project or journey, I see it bringing joy or a feeling of completeness. It may be possible that it is displayed somewhere to be seen or that you receive some sort of acknowledgment. The High Priestess says, it is essential for your personality and gifts to shine here. Use your intuition to guide your creativity and to determine what is needed. It is okay to pour your pain into it. Whatever this is about, it has great potential for healing not only for yourself but others.

*Readings are for entertainment purposes only.*

Have an amazing month!

- //Blessings 🌺

[bloodsuckingviolet]

🎃Ultimate October Reading List👻

I compiled a list of 20+ of my favorite spooky reads, the creepiest, darkest paranormal stories and novels that are perfect to read when October comes around. Feel free to add your favorites in the comments or reblogs!

-Gwen🦇

The Banshee's Warning by Charlotte Riddell (haunting banshee)

The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe (black cats, supernatural)

The Case of the Leannabh Sidhe by Margery Lawrence (changelings, evil fairies)

The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (classic ghost tropes; considered to be the very first gothic novel)

Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu (lesbian vampyres...need I say more?)

A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family by Sheridan le Fanu (haunted, eroding castle, jilted wife)

A Dead Man of Varley Grange by Anonymous (cursed cottage)

The Dead Sexton by Sheridan le Fanu (mysterious corpse thief)

Dracula by Bram Stoker (THEE vampyre, superstitions)

Dobrev (young clairvoyants, succubus, written by yours truly!)

The Family of a Vourdalak by Aleksey Tolstoy (vampyre, recently adapted into a fantastically weird French film)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (creation, horrors of life)

The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen (supernatural, erotic)

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (paranormal, curses)

Hugues, the Wer-wolf by Sutherland Menzies (OG werewolf story)

In the Closed Room by Frances Hodgson Burnett (ghosts, mysterious closed door)

Laura Silver Bell by Sheridan le Fanu (evil fairies, witchcraft)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (ghosts, autumn vibes)

The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis (cruel and dark, such an insane read!)

The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs (supernatural, death)

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (gothic romance, castles, supernatural)

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (ghost, romance)

The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann (dark fairy tale elements, obsession)

The Shadow of a Shade by Tom Hood (haunted portrait)

The Story of Medhans Lea by E. and H. Heron (haunted house, men getting scared, lol)

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (murder, good vs. evil)

Tales of Terror from the Black Ship by Chris Priestley (underrated horror author!)

Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth by Christ Priestley (eerie and disturbing short stories)

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe (guilt, murder)

The Tomb of Sarah by Frederick Loring (cursed tomb)

The Trod by Algernon Blackwood (evil fairies)

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (ghosts)

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley (first of a great ghostly, gruesome trilogy)

The Vampyre by John Polidori (one of the OG vamp tales; seductive, evil vampyre torments a young man and his sister)

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (even creepier than the movie)

[a-ramblinrose]

JOMP Book Photo Challenge || October 30 || Read In October:

99. Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu & Carmen Maria Machado ★★★★ 100. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher ★★★★★ 101. Of Needles and Pins by A.A. Freeman ★★★★ 102. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie ★★★ 103. Labyrinth: The Novelization by A.C.H. Smith ★★★★ 104. Terrifying Tales by Edgar Allan Poe ★★★ 105. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King ★★★★  106. V For Vendetta by Alan Moore ★★ 107. The Book of Cat Poems by Ana Sampson ★★★ 108. Dark Archives by Megan Rosenbloom ★★★ 109. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation Manhua Vol.3 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù   ★★★★ 110. Rip Van Winkle & The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving ★★ 111. A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup ★★★ 112. Friends in Need by Elliot Hay ★★★ 113. Tea and Sympathetic Magic by Tansy Rayner Roberts ★★★★  114. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater ★★★★

[books-and-strawberry-tea]

Okay, here’s my plan:

I have a few book preorders. And to be strict on myself about reading, to be able to keep the preorders, I have to read either the previous book or read the digital version on my kindle (some of the books haven’t released here physically so).

Here’s my preorders:

2024:

3 Dec - Scarlet Veil Deluxe Edition (this is an automatic keep cause it’s one of my fav books)

10 December - An Education in Malice (I have to read this digitally. For some reason Australia has no stock of this atm that I can find, but Amazon is getting stock soon)

2025:

21 Jan - Phantom (instantly getting this as I adore the Haunting Adeline series. This is also just a kindle book)

29 Jan - Immortal (to keep this preorder, I have to finish daughter of the moon goddess and heart of the sun warrior)

11 Feb - Scythe & Sparrow (have to finish leather and lark to keep this preorder)

2 April - The Shadow Bride (this is an instant keep. I’ve read The Scarlet Veil, as we know, it’s my favourite book so I have to read the next one instantly.)

8 April - My Funny Demon Valentine (have to read this book on my kindle to keep the preorders)

TBR Plan:

November:

An Education in Malice (have to read in November)❗️❗️❗️

Leather & Lark

Charm (personal goal: finish crave series before e.o.y)

Crescent city #1 (Nov - Dec)

The Thirteenth Child (personal goal: to be up to date with all Erin A Craig books)

December:

Daughter of the Moon Goddess (have to read)❗️❗️❗️

Heart of the Sun Warrior (have to read)❗️❗️❗️

My Funny Demon Valentine (have to read)❗️

Cherish (personal goal: finish crave series before e.o.y)

Audiobook:

A Court of Silver Flame (finish by e.o.y)

To Finish:

Breasts and Eggs

If You Have Spare Time: (please do these my god)

If You Could See The Sun

Belladonna

Starling House

Any Japanese Book

Frankenstein

Hunting Adeline (Where’s Molly - if finished)

Is this incredibly ambitious? Absolutely! But I have to try or I can’t get the books I really want.

Get to it Bek!

[anglocatholicguilt]

she's just like me !!!

[enchantedtoreadya]

Books to get into the autumn spirit

Book 1: Title: Nine Liars Author: Maureen Johnson Genre: YA thriller*, murder mystery Book 5 in the Truly Devious series, but I think it can also be read on its own. Teenage detective Stevie is asked to look into a cold case in the English countryside. Nine friends were at the cottage, two were brutally murdered with an axe. No one saw anything. *branded as YA, but I'd advise ages 16+ as it is kind of dark.

Book 2: Title: Pumpkin Everything Author: Beth Labonte Genre: contemporary romance (m/f) Amy moves back to her hometown to help her grandfather, who is recovering from a fall. But Amy originally fled the town of Autumnboro after a fallout with former best friend Kit. And Amy's return may actually throw a wrench in certain plans that Kit is not ready to share yet… A cozy small-town romance for autumn lovers.

Book 3: Title: An Enchantment of Ravens Author: Margaret Rogerson Genre: YA fantasy, romance (m/f) Isobel is a human girl whose talent for painting is popular among the 'fair folk' (fae), who can't make art themselves. They supposedly don't have human emotions. When she paints sorrow in the eyes of Rook, the autumn prince, he is appalled and takes her to his kingdom to stand trial. But Rook has enemies… A beautifully written book for faerie enthusiasts.

Book 4: Title: Pumpkinheads Author: Rainbow Rowell Illustrator: Faith Erin Hicks Genre: YA romance (m/f) Every year in the weeks leading up to Halloween, Deja and Josiah work together at the pumpkin patch. But now that they're in their senior at high school, this will be their last season there. Deja is determined to make it an unforgettable graphic novel Cute story and perfect for autumn/Halloween vibes.

Book 5: Title: Legends & Lattes Author: Travis Baldree Genre: cozy fantasy (some romance, f/f) After discovering the exquisite taste of "coffee", Viv the orc decides to quit her life of violence and establish her own café. It turns into a huge success, and the hired staff become like a family to her. But Viv is hiding something under the floorboard, and someone from her past will stop at nothing to retrieve it… A wholesome tale of found family and learning to let people help.

Book 6: Title: Not Just Gal Pals Author: Elizabeth Luly Genre: romantic comedy (f/f) Jenny is a successful influencer in New York… until an unfortunate incident turns the internet against her. Temporary relief comes when a friend from her hometown asks her to plan her bachelorette party. There's just one problem: Jenny is asked share this duty with her long-time crush, Blake, who has always seemed to hate her. Funny, cute, and perfect for autumn vibes.

(originally posted on instagram)

[disorder-alice]

Girls when

“Write me a tragedy, Lev Fedorov, Write me a litany of sins. Write me a plague of devastation. Write me lonely, write me wanting, write me shattered and fearful and lost. Then write me finding myself in your arms, if only for a night, and then write it again. Write it over and over, Lev, until we both know the pages by heart.”

I am Girls.

[emmbrr]

how i'm trying to be this autumn

[thedeadpoets-blog]

late night studying in october 🍂☕️🎃📚

[shisasan]

Anne Sexton, The Complete Poems

[thoughtfulfangirling]

With October just about to a close, I feel like talking about the books I read over the month as I didn't have a particularly great time. It wasn't that the books were bad, they just weren't the kind of horror I was looking for, for October reads. If I wasn't reading them for the horror thrill, then I would like them very much and did enjoy quite a bit, but it wasn't hitting the itch hardly at all that I was looking to scratch this month.

Again! This doesn't mean these books are bad! And that's particularly why I want to talk about them, because it's super fascinating to me that I can simultaneously see how they are correctly categorized as horror (well… from my perspective which is not super literate in the horror genre) and yet not invoke that thrill of books like say even The Coldest Girl in Cold Town or something as perfectly horror as A Winter Haunting (none of what I read will be gore heavy if I can help it XD)

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez Okay, this is one that I think should have been just fantasy and not horror at all. It's a book about vampires. They feed on humans, but they don't kill them. Rather, the ones we follow don't. I think the last chapter could work as horror, but it didn't like, build up to the last chapter over time in a way that I think lets the rest of the book qualify as horror when it's just a book about a vampire going through the ages. I very much liked this book! I quite enjoyed a book that was about a vampire that read a lot like just a sort of, domestic going about life story. I mean, it's obviously not just like that, but a lot of it kind of is. Managing relationships, who we let in, how we keep growing, when we trust ourselves and grow in that trust, etc. I very much enjoyed, but I actually think this would make a better Spring book.

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould This worked for me! Not all of them failed to scratch the itch, and this was one of those. It is a young adult, which means that it didn't go as dark as other horror will, but it had a very good build of tension and mystery around scary supernatural stuff that had the protagonists feeling out of their depth and even, on occassion, clawing at each other (not literallly) in their distress at not being able to make sense of what is happening. Very good. Very spoopy.

Haunted Wisconsin by Beth Scott & Michael Norman I wanted to read this in October, and I'm glad I did. I never expect any sort of real thrill from nonfiction. It's a compilation of ghost stories, and as someone who enjoys ghost stories but has never been able to place myself in the feelings of real ghost presence (aka I don't have that sense of belief in ghosts which does NOT mean I do not believe others' experiences. I can't force myself to believe shit.) So there's no regret here, and they were very interesting, but no real horror thrill. If more of my fiction books had managed that aspect, it would be a disappointment to me at all that I spent so much time on this book.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris Only the last like, chapter or two felt like I was reading a horror book. I did go in knowing that it would go in that direction, and it did properly build to it by the end where it tracked and felt pretty earned, but if I hadn't known, I could have missed a lot of what makes this book a thriller/horror. There was a lot of anxiety but not so much thrill. I also don't think the ending works well without looking at it through a horror lens, so I do think it's properly placed in the genre, but for about 90% of the book, it didn't Feel horror.

The Ruins by Scott Smith Yeah this one was horror. Thru and thru. Hahaha. It was a summer horror though, which was a little sad to me. In some books that aren't seasonal, I can still sort of picture it taking place during the season in which I'm reading it, but this took place primarily outside in hot, humid heat. No pretending that's taking place in any sort of autumn XD

Fledgling by Octavia Butler This one also falls into a similar situation for me as The Gilda Stories. It read more like a fantasy featuring vampires. It had more horror elements than The Gilda Stories, particularly thru the first two thirds of the book. But the last section was a trial (which was really interesting! And I enjoyed reading very much!) And that just didn't feel horror. I see why it's in the genre, and enough horror-like stuff happens that it seems it deserves it, but it didn't do much to give me that horror thrill. Very good read! Wish I'd have read it a different time of the year.

Vampire Forensics by Mark Collins Jenkins This is in the same category as Haunted Wisconsin almost down to a T. This had a little bit more going for it due to talking at length about decomposition and the way people reacted to corpses when decomposition wasn't thoroughly understood. There's something grotesque but also uncannily relatable about how people would react to the viscera they would see during the decomp process.

The Vampyre; A Tale by John Polidori Victorian novella? Okay this was pretty good with setting a gothic eerie atmosphere… at times. But it was such a short story that only really small sections could be put in those settings. Still, a good October read!

Sorrowland by Rivers Soloman I am 81% through this. This has more horror in it than Fledgling or Gilda Stories, but reads also very similiarly. Things will be mundane, and then they'll be horror! Then things will be mundane (in terms of horror stuff) for a while, and then it's horrorish again! I also fully realize it's required for the story that's being told, but they stripped the mystery away a little too much for it to have that really horror thrill instead of the sort of fantasy quest feeling. The fact that we're only seeing the horror happen to one person and we understand why and how it's happening strips a lot of the thrill away even while it definitely has strong horror elements. I suppose it could go harder from here on out, but it's ramping up to feel much more like a revenge quest from here and while that can be scary, one of the hallmarks imo to horror is the lack of ability to do anything about the horror (until perhaps like the last moment or in a very intangible way) and that just doesn't feel especially present here (unless we're talking like on systemic levels but that kind of circles right around to the fantasy/sci-fi genre WHICH ARE GOOD GENRES but yeah)

The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion by Margaret Killjoy Listening to this on the It Will Happen Here podcast with the spouse (he's a huge fan of the Robert Evans podcasts) and that is absolutely hitting the spots. Uliksi is a fantastic monster, and Danielle is so perfectly out of her depth both in terms of what is happening with him and in terms of his history/the community that summoned him. Excited to finish this up.

This is Halloween by James Moore. A++ This is perfect. Chef's Kiss. I'm glad I'll be finishing up the month with this. I am 73% through this one. It's a series of short stories with an emphasis of occurring during October/Autumn and it's just fingerlicking good as that's EXACTLY what I love most to read this time of year. I could read a whole novel(la) about the Beldam Woods creatures. So far he did three stories in that universe or whatever, and they all super hit the spot for me. Those monsters were so neat and yet different and just yeah. Big fan.

Some of these will eventually get added to my spoopy reading list, but definitely not all of them. Not because they're not horror, but because I just don't know that I really recommend them for the season. Ah well.

[r-rook-studio]

So after spending a week+ on Lovecraft, I sat down with du Maurier's short fiction. The first three stories are all horror classics in their own right. Like Kubrik's The Shining, Hitchcock's The Birds is a stellar thriller but not a good adaptation of du Maurier's apocalyptic story of a Cornwall family. The second story, "Monte Verita," which feels like it's somewhere between a novella and novel, asks all the right questions for a gothic story about both gender and a mysterious pagan cult living atop an Alpine mountain. The third, "The Apple Tree," a haunted story of a widower and ghost-possessed tree, can sometimes feel heavy-handed, but continually asks whether a reliable narrator even exists.

But the last three entirely mundane thrillers are where the real blood-chilling comes in.

In "The Little Photographer," the Marquise, an aristocratic woman, begins an affair with the village man who runs a camera shop. Its power isn't in twists but its straightforwardness. Du Maurier portrays the Marquise as a Ripleyesque figure for whom we are sympathetic despite her vapid cruelty.

In "Kiss Me Again, Stranger," the best piece in the collection (I say as someone who loved "Monte Verita"), a mechanic becomes romantically obsessed with a movie usherette who may be a murderer. The story follows their one night together before a final separation.

"The Old Man" is about family violence through the eyes of a "concerned neighbor." While the story was excellent almost to the end, the end felt like a cheap gag.

All together—despite the terrible ending of the last story—I felt more like someone on a bender of Patricia Highsmith novels rather than gothic novels for which du Maurier is famous. The awareness of class is there, but so is an awareness of gender and the way class and gender interact.