Review: The Lady from the Black Lagoon

3 1/2 stars

Pop culture, Old Hollywood, Monster Movies, and the story of a talented and confident women who broke new ground in a film system that (still) dismisses and undervalues women (and anyone else who isn't a straight white male).

Much of Patrick's work went uncredited and this isn't a strict "just the facts" biography. It's more of an ode to an (unfairly) unknown female artist in the entertainment industry from her biggest fan. Bits of the artist's history are alternated with the author's reflections and experiences while researching Milicent Patrick's personal life and professional work.

It's an interesting and sad story and one can't help but pine for the potential creations that might have been brought to the big screen from Patrick's abundant imagination and talent. To sum up her professional career simply : Woman creates monster. Monster makes money. Man takes credit. THE END. This book spotlights the injustice Milicent Patrick endured in the the 1950s with the hopes that her story inspires women to create art that confronts and defies the sexism that we still face. 

Review: The Whisper Man by Alex North

The Whisper Man is a first-rate multiple POV crime thriller. I was reading this novel over Father’s Day weekend which ended up being the perfect time as it touches on several child-father relationship issues (physical and emotional estrangement, alcoholic fathers, abusive fathers, fathers and sons dealing with bereavement, etc.) Most thrillers rely solely on twists and turns to keep readers engaged, but North’s dives into the deeper waters of father-son dynamics makes his debut a cut above the rest. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a fair review. 

Review: The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm

This is the first book I've finished for my True Crime Summertime Challenge.

The story of the murders at Fox Hollow Farm was unfamiliar to me before reading The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm. 

The first part of the book provides some backstory into the multiple murders that occurred at Fox Hollow Farm and gives examples of paranormal activity that has been experienced by its new owners (ironically, the resident family’s last name is “Graves” because the woods around their home is essentially an unmarked graveyard) and their tenant. The remaining chapters are about what happens when psychics and paranormal investigators visit the property. 

The investigators detail their encounters with both benign spirits and malevolent presences sometimes referred to as “The Frog,” “Sounds like Joe,” and possibly even the ghost of the home’s former owner himself, serial killer Herb Baumeister. 

The descriptions of the rooms in the house with the worst negative energy and creepy encounters with some of the paranormal entities gave me goosebumps. This book convinced me that I have zero desire to ever visit this place. I’m fairly sure the only thing that grows at Fox Hollow Farm is fear.

Thank you to NetGalley, Llewellyn Publications, and the authors for the chance to read this book in return for a fair review. 

I feel the need, the need to read.

Since apparently the rain has no intention of stopping for days, this seems like the perfect time to read and drink some Purple Rain tea.

True Crime Summertime

I have several true crime books that have been on my physical and digital shelves for a criminally looo…ng time! Additionally, I have a couple of ARC true crime books that I need to read and review. Since crime rates go up correlationally with temperatures, this hellaciously hot month seems perfect to knock out several true crime reads. What are some of your favorite true crime books?

Here’s a preliminary list of my True Crime Summertime selections:

The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm (currently reading)

The Last Stone 

The Devil in the White City

I’ll be Gone in the Dark 

Killers of the Flower Moon

Incendiary 

Review: The Bobcat by Katherine Forbes Riley

This book is beautifully written with lush descriptions of the power of art and nature as therapy. Laurelie uses her artwork to express what is unspeakable and bonds develop between traumatized (human and bobcat) outsiders that help them integrate back into the world. 

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.