New Book; Crazy Bitches

 I think I've started work on a series of short stories. It's going to be a collection of women driven to madness caused by the bull shit they have to go through. I don't know if this will lead to anything, but I feel a sense of catharsis in writing it. I hope that readers will feel the same. I foresee the characters being some antiheros we can all relate to, especially women or more feminine identifying folks. I feel inspired by Gone Girl and other various feme fatals. But instead of being feared, my characters will allow for readers to relate to them, like Breaking Bad or Osarks (the drug one in Alaska, I think... I haven't actually watched either of these shows). I'll post a few of my drafts on here to keep me going. 

Gothic Reads 6: The Two Destinies by Wilkie Collins

The Before:

    I have tried to read this book soooo many different times. It's not bad, I actually really like it, I just keep getting distracted by other books on Cloudlibrary (my library app). I purchased this as an audiobook from Chirp about a year ago. I keep getting through the first few chapters, so let's see how this goes.

The Feels:

This started as good proper gothic romance.

The Concerns:

WOW this was dragged out. This took forever! IT'S JUST THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN; they bump into each other but done realize who the other one is. I WANT SOME DRAMA! I want a ghost (a real ghost, not a dumb apparition). I want murder. I want death. I'm disappointed because I have read Collins before and I know he can do better!

Plot 0/10

Writing Style 3/10

Meaningfulness 1/10

Gothic Reads 5: Beetlejuice

 The Before:

    I've seen this movie like once before (in high school I think), so I really don't remember what happens. Here is a young millennial version of what happens. (Yeah it was a little before my time). A girl with some serious 80's goth vibes, played by Winona Ryder, moves into a haunted house with her nightmare of a mother and stepfather(?). The previous couple that lived there are dead and they don't want to cross over because they like their house. Beetle Juice is a demon or ghost that just  likes to mess with people. There are some giant snake worm things like in Dune. I think Winona Ryder dies after they sing the "Put the lime in the coconut" song. Then the ghosts just live in the house?

The Feels:

    *GASP* It's that lady from Cutthroat Island. Yes, I love that movie! (Also I had to look up the name of that  movie by googling "worst pirate movie ever").

    I also like their caseworker, she's pretty hilarious.

    Also I think this is Tim Burton and it doesn't have any main male character has issues with his father plot. That's also a bonus. Unless this isn't Tim Burton, in which case, strike that. *googles furiously* Yes this is Tim Burton. Wait, what? Alex Baldwin was in this? Where?

The Concerns:

    The couple was murdered by a dog?... Jesus! This movie's f*ckin weird. So it's her stepmom and biodad, but they can't see the ghosts. The ghosts won't leave because they like their house, but then they almost leave because they like Winona Ryder.

    Few concerns about people taking their own lives. There was a joke in the waiting room and I guess her punishment is having to work as a secretary for eternity? Then Winona Ryder says she is going to take her own life at one point... And it's sort of played as a joke? Like she's too naive and is just being "over dramatic"?... YIKES

    And then what is the point of Beetlejuice? He just scares people? And then tries to marry a child bride? But then he doesn't because they say his name too many times and Winona Ryder's family abandons her, so the ghosts raise her? And they sing the Day-O song not the Lime in the coconut song?

    They did a lot of drugs in the 80's right?

Plot: 1/10

Writing Style: 5/10

Meaningfulness: 3/10

Gothic Reads 4: Suspense Radio (Vincent Price Collection)

The Before:

    I've mentioned before that I have a love for all things old-time radio! I came across a collection of Vincent Price stories and have been listening to it all week. Here's a link to the collection if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yMLgxIJ2R0&t=11129s&ab_channel=CalebJones

The Feels:

    I really don't know much about Vincent Price, other than he's almost always the villain, which for the most part, rings true in this collection. It's a bunch of great stories, perfect for this time of the year.

The Concerns:

    Obviously, these stories are old, but I'm always a little surprised with some of the"word" choices that are made. Women are also not the most well depicted in these stories. If you're not in the mood to ignore some old-timey nonsense, don't listen to this. I mean as much as I love it, some of the things they say can momentarily take me out of the story. This collection might not be for you and I totally understand.

Plot: 8/10

Writing Style: 4/10

Meaningfulness: 6/10

Gothic Reads 3: Seven Gothic Tales

 The Before:

    This is one that I've had for a while. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to read it. I'm giving it one last shot today.

The Feels:

The Concerns:

Just about fell asleep with this one... Cannot recommend. 

Plot: 2/10

Writing Style: 3/10

Meaningfulness: 1/10

Gothic Reads 2: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Before:

Today is the loviest of all fall days. I woke up this morning and began to read out on my patio (reviews to come). I've been so busy with the start of the school year, so I've decided to try something a little different today. I'll be listening to a radio drama version of this wonderful story, which you listen to as well right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7kVIIVsFMk&list=PLfkJoqn3qIr1CQ5UV3MUa5FY-7JDRcvJl&index=16&ab_channel=PacemakerStudios

The Feels:

What a perfect start to the season! It totally awoken that cozy feeling inside me, which was only helped by my adventure to the apple orchard today. Katrina is much more kind in this version. 

The Concerns:

YIKES! The conversations in that classroom... The teacher actually hits a kid and we hear the slap. Ichabod is a bit more of a d-bag. Katrina didn't really lead him on; he was really only invited to a party. He then assumed that meant that Katrina wanted to marry him. Although it wasn't nice for Katrina to have invited him while having an ulterior motive, that shit's on him. He was also pretty awful to his horse. 

Plot: 10/10

Writing Style: 9/10

Meaningfulness (Yeah... it just dawned on me that this is in fact a real word and yes I have been spelling it wrong all these months...): 8/10

Gothic Reads 1: Mexican Gothic

The Before:

    Well I obviously have to start the season off right with this big summer hit! Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is about a young woman in the 1950's who is trying to help her newly married cousin that is suffering from some sort of strange illness. Also Yay! New Adult novel. 

The Feels:

    YAAAASSS!! Woman of color lead? Set in Mexico? I'm here for it. Everything is quite literally an homage/criticism of everything Gothic. You've got The Yellow Wallpaper, Rebecca, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Cathulu guy that was super into racism/eugenics so I'm not going to bother looking up his name (she was obviously critical of him), and a bazzilion more. Even got a little nod towards the film Crimson Peak. This is a perfect book for experts of the Gothic genre. 

The Concerns:

    Um... There might be a few rape scenes in this novel? I hate that I honestly don't know if they are or are not. Just left me feeling weird. Not of fan of that part. Taking off some points for that...

    The plot was also a bit slow. Wish the ending was a bit darker/more tragic.

Plot: 8/10

Writing Style: 9/10

Meaningfulness: 10/10