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More Spooky Reads and Contemporary Fiction
In a turn of events, I had substantially more free time than expected in October. While not thrilled with the circumstances, I rolled with the punches, as they say. As promised, I’ve read two more spooky season reads that I’m excited to share with you and, with my extra time, some contemporary fiction pieces released earlier this year.
We Keep The Dead Close
I stumbled upon this title scrolling on Instagram and the title intrigued me enough to seek out the synopsis. We Keep the Dead Close is as much an investigative account of a 1969 cold case murder as it is an exploration of the darker sides of academia. Becky Cooper’s obsession with Jane Britton is both a desire to be a voice for the voiceless and a search for self. The reader gets the sense, almost immediately, that each word of the 500 page account was chosen with precision and care, a quality that captivates and holds the attention. Admittedly, I found the book intimidating once I was holding it in my hands. A 500 page nonfiction, thoroughly researched crime novel is both a feat to write and a feat to read. However, I found myself immediately immersed and unexpectedly reading it in 4 nights. The reader follows Cooper along her quest for the truth, mourns with her as she runs into dead ends, and celebrates when headway is made. An exciting read that, truthfully, had me checking the dark corners of the house upon waking and before sleeping. I highly recommend squeezing this into your October/November TBR stack. Grab your copy on Bookshop!
Payback’s a Witch
Earlier in October I recommended The Ex Hex for a spooky season read. I didn’t want it to end; I wanted to curl up in the festivity and stay awhile. To that end, I sought out more witchy romance halloween reads and found Payback’s a Witch. This novel is essentially Sabrina meets John Tucker Must Die. Or…….at least it was supposed to be? This book let me down a little. I found the main plot to be predictable, stale, and stretched too thin. Ultimately, the plot described in the synopsis saw a total of roughly six chapters. The book spent maybe two of those chapters focusing on the John Tucker of the book. Honestly, I skimmed the last half so I could hurry up and get to my next read. Not a bad read, but I preferred The Ex Hex. Grab your copy on Bookshop!
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Readers are divided when it comes to Rooney. Some people find her lack of quotation marks and refusal to write a plot driven novel annoying and mundane. Others find her observations on human life and ability to bring the mundane to life a refreshing portrait of the millennial generation. I personally wish most nights that I could live in a Rooney novel with an oversized knit sweater, a large glass of red wine, and a few cigarettes on a cold, urban patio. Beautiful World, Where Are You follows four adults in or nearing their thirties who wonder where life went wrong, why they’re so lonely, and if there is beauty in the world. It is an observation into human life and tackles philosophical and political topics of beauty, religion, and climate change. Of all Rooney’s novels, this one seems to have a crispness and clarity that is more refined than her earlier works. I would recommend this to Rooney fans, and I’d recommend those new to Rooney begin with this novel. Prepare to be sad and ponder life — best read with a glass of red wine. Grab your copy on Bookshop!
Filthy Animals
Filthy Animals is a collection of stories that explore the nature of violence and love and the complexity of human emotions. Taylor’s writing so crisply describes human emotions and depicts scenes, dropping the reader into the middle of everything. The reader can’t help but admire his ability to evoke a sense of uneasiness and empathy. Many of the stories are linked by common characters, making this a great collection to pick up if you are new to short story collections. The reappearing characters remind me of the characters from Taylor’s debut novel Real Life. While I found most characters to be unlikeable and the aspect of violence overused, I would recommend this read if you’re looking for something different and out of your norm. Grab your copy on Bookshop!
Kelliemarie Mash 