Hello! October is over, and November is halfway over (which is freaking me out since it feels like it just started yesterday), so it is definitely time to share with you all what I was up to last month!
In October, I read 5 books!
BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER
– Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle (library) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
– Regal Hearts: Episode 1 by Livy Jarmusch (ebook) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (library) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (library) \\ undecided
– The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken (library) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STANDOUT BOOK OF THE MONTH
I really loved The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding. This was such an adventurous and fun book. I loved the ending, and it was the perfect October read!
BOOKS REVIEWED
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Once and for All by Sarah Dessen \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris \\ ⭐️⭐️1/2
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOOK HAUL
I only bought one book last month, which, if you remember September’s haul, is definitely a good thing! I found The Treatment at Books-a-Million for $4, and I could not refuse it! I really loved The Program when I read it last year, so I’m really looking forward to reading book 2.
MISCELLANEOUS
A lot of fun things happened on the blog in October!
I participated in both the Halloween Read-a-Thon, as well as Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!
I participated in a few Top Ten Tuesdays, as well as some super fun Halloween tags!
Top Ten Books with Fall/Autumn Covers | Top Ten Foodie Books | Top Ten October/Halloween Books
Hocus Pocus Book Tag | Trick or Treat Around the Block
I also shared my thoughts on the movie The Haunting, based off the book The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, on Movie Monday.
That wraps up October! I feel like, after a few slow months, October was a really good blogging month. I’m looking forward to continuing this in November. The second half of the month, I have some exciting things coming up. I’m going to be participating in a blog tour, as well as my Countdown to Christmas series, which returns on 11/19! So, get excited! lol
Thanks so much for reading, and be sure to let me know how October went for you!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my links!)
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is:
Top Ten Books I Want My Future Children to Read
Nancy Drew
I’m going to start this off with my obvious answer: Nancy Drew! If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know how much I love Nancy Drew. So, naturally, I’m planning on having all my future children read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. I’m not sure why I connected with these books so much, but they are my forever faves.
The Berenstain Bears
These books were such classics to me as a little kid. They were just so calming to me for some reason, and I remember being so hyped for the show on PBS! I’ll definitely be reading these to my kids some day.
Junie B. Jones
Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket was the very first book that I remember receiving as a gift. I was in 1st grade, and I remember just being so excited to read this book! The Junie B. Jones books will always be so special to me. My future kiddos are going to have to read these books!
Anne of Green Gables
One of my all-time favorite books is Anne of Green Gables, so is it even a surprise at all that I want my future children to read this one?!
Matilda
Matilda is another book that I really cherish, so naturally, I want all my future kids to read this one, too! The love and appreciation of books is just so wonderful. Matilda is such a clever book, that not only do I want my kids to read it, but I want everyone to read it!
Little Critter
The Little Critter series was another one of my favorites growing up. I loved the pictures, and how cute the critters were. These were always such fun books!
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle
The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books were so much fun! She’s such a sassy character, and always knows how to cure children of their “ailments.” I must admit, though, somehow I got it into my mind that her name was pronouced Piggly Wiggly, and so for the longest time – way longer than it should have been – I thought that was her name. I was so shook the day I realized that it was actually Piggle Wiggle! 😂
The Ramona Books
I absolutely loved the Ramona books. She was such a relatable character to me. Also, I’m pretty sure it was the highlight of my childhood reading life when I read Ramona Quimby, Age 8, when I was 8 years old. You guys don’t even know how pleased and excited I was with myself because of that. 😂
The Boxcar Children
Before Nancy Drew, there was The Boxcar Children. I love, love, loved these books! This is the series that got me into mysteries. The Boxcar Children is such a classic series, in my opinion, and I can’t wait for my kids to discover this series.
The Little House Series
Last but not least, I want my kids to read the Little House series. These books are so well written, and are just so memorable. My parents read them, my sisters read them, I read them. My older sister is even reading them to her kids now. I can’t wait to read them to my someday children.
That wraps up this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! Let me know what books you would add to your list!
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my links!)
Title: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken
Pages: 362
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy/Paranormal
Published by: Disney-Hyperion (Sept. 5, 2017)
Summary
Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history — that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper’s great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made — and then broke — a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn’t exactly the forgiving type.
The fiend has reawakened with one purpose — to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his future without a side of eternal servitude, thanks.
Little does Prosper know, the malefactor’s control over his body grows stronger with each passing night, and there’s a lot Alastor isn’t telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host.
From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a tale of betrayal and revenge, of old hurts passed down from generation to generation. Can you ever fully right a wrong, ever truly escape your history? Or will Prosper and Alastor be doomed to repeat it?
What I Thought
This was such a fun, fall book! There was so much buzz about this book in early September, that I just knew that I had to read it for Halloween. I’m so glad I decided to read The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding.
Hey everyone! I may already have my Christmas tree up, but I still wanted to wrap-up what I read for the 2017 Halloween Readathon hosted by Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews! Sorry this is late, but I’ve been so busy the past few days, that I haven’t had a chance to share with y’all what I read, but I had so much fun participating that I still had to share. So, here we go!
I read the first volume of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which was made up of the first five issues. This was my first time actually reading a comic book/graphic novel, and it was an interesting experience! I do think I’ll check out more graphic novels and comic books in the future, but I don’t know if it will be with this series. I did enjoy it at first, and it was drawn really well, but honestly, it just got too dark and satanic for me. If I want to read more about Sabrina, I think I’ll stick with the classic Archie comics, which I’ve heard are much more like the TV show.
The very first book I read for this readathon was The Haunting of Hill House. I did enjoy it, but I didn’t absolutely love it. I wrote a whole review about it, which you can check out here!
Alongside all my staple, Halloween classics (Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, Tower of Terror, etc.), I watched The Haunting, which was based off The Haunting of Hill House. It was a pretty good movie, but quite different from the book. I did October’s Movie Monday about this movie. Be sure to check it out here!
Then I read The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding. This book was so perfect for Halloween! There was so much Halloween atmosphere, and it was just really fun to read about. The actual story line was really adventurous and well done, too. I have a review going up for this book tomorrow morning, so please, be sure to check it out then!
I also ended up starting The Halloween Tree, but I was only a little under halfway through, and then Halloween ended, and I lost interest. 🙈 I plan on picking it back up next Halloween, though!
So, in total, I read three books, plus watched a scary movie. However, if you want to count each comic I read individually, that would bring me up to seven books…😏 So, maybe I completed the readathon challenge?! Maybe…🤔
Thanks so much for reading, and Happy [very late] Halloween! 🎃👻🧙♀️🧛♂️🦇
ALSO, sidenote: Y’all can look forward to my Countdown to Christmas series coming back next Sunday! 😏 nothing like talking about Christmas on a Halloween post.😂
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my links!)
Title: Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
Pages: 357
Genres: YA, Magical Realism, Mystery
Published by: Kathy Dawson Books (Aug. 8, 2017)
Summary
If you’re not careful, you can spend your whole life looking for what you’ve lost.
One stormy summer in a small Irish town, things begin to disappear. It starts with trivial stuff—hair clips, house keys, socks—but soon it escalates to bigger things: a memory, a heart, a classmate.
Olive can tell that her best friend, Rose, is different all of a sudden. Rose isn’t talking, and Olive starts to worry she’s losing her. Then diary pages written by someone named Laurel begin to appear all over town. And Olive meets three mysterious strangers: Ivy, Hazel, and her twin brother, Rowan, secretly squatting in an abandoned housing development. The trio are wild and alluring, but they seem lost too—and like Rose, they’re holding tightly to painful secrets.
When a tattered handwritten spellbook falls into the lives of these six teenagers, it changes everything. The spellbook is full of charms to conjure back that which has been lost, and it lists a part for each of them to play in the calling. It might be their best chance to set everything back to rights, but only if they’re willing to pay the price.
What I Thought
I found out about this book when I was reading about upcoming 2017 releases, and after reading the summary, I just had to read this book! Plus, look at that gorgeous cover! I wish I could say I ended up loving this book as much as I thought I would, but unfortunately, that’s not exactly what happened.
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is:
Halloween Freebie
For this week, I’ve decided to share ten books that actually take place during October/Halloween! So many Halloween recommendations feature scary books – which are great – but a lot of them happen throughout the year. Sometimes, I want to read a book that actually takes place in the month of October, to really get me in the Halloween spirit. So, here’s ten books that do!
The Fall of Candy Corn
I know I’ve mentioned this book, and its series, several times on the blog, but that’s because it’s so much fun! I just love how each book takes place during a different season, and that the story is actually based around that season. Plus, this series is so underrated, so it deserves some extra love!
The Accident Season
While, I admit, I found this book to be a bit confusing in parts, it really is a great Halloween read! It is such an eerie and atmospheric book. Every October, accidents happen, and the accidents continue to grow more dangerous as the month goes on.
In the Shadow of Blackbirds
I love this book! While its main focus isn’t Halloween, it does take place in October, and Halloween is mentioned. Plus, it’s all about ghosts! This is another book that is very atmospheric, and just gives you a spooky, autumnal vibe. I would definitely recommend this book!
The Halloween Tree
I’m currently reading this book, and completely enjoying it! Ray Bradbury’s writing is so descriptive and atmospheric. This book perfectly captures the feeling of Halloween!
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Another book by Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes is also perfect for Halloween. This book is so spooky and adventurous! It’s got magic, haunted carnivals, and everything else you love about Halloween.
All Her Secrets
This book, while it doesn’t talk about Halloween, still gives all the Halloween vibes, and it takes place in October, so you can definitely feel the fallen leaves and crisp, autumn winds. All Her Secrets is a futuristic, but not too different from our world, thriller. It has some great twists, and it also gives me Frankenstein vibes – perfect for Halloween!
Hallowe’en Party
Okay, I admit, I have not read this one, but it’s on my TBR! Plus, it has Halloween right in the title! 😉 Hallowe’en Party is a spooky, mystery about a murder that takes place during a Halloween party.
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is another book I’m reading, and loving! It is filled with so many details of Halloween, that really puts you in the spirit. From Halloween decorations all over, to Prosper wearing spooky socks and a pumpkin shirt, this book really offers all the classic Halloween vibes!
Halloween Party
Don’t let the cheesy 80’s/90’s cover fool you, this is actually a really good and festive Halloween book! Halloween Party is a really fun and quick book that reads like a horror movie. It’s a little gross at parts, so if blood freaks you out, you might want to skip this one, but if that stuff doesn’t bother you, this book is perfect for Halloween!
Dead of Night
This book is wild, y’all! It is unlike any Nancy Drew or Hardy Boy book I have ever read. Crazy stuff happens, but it’s absolutely perfect for Halloween! It takes place on Halloween night and is filled with lots of spookiness and adventure.
Also, that cover is so cheesy, I just can’t help but laugh when I see it.
There’s my Top Ten Tuesday! Tell me about yours in the comments.
Happy Halloween!! 👻🎃
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
Hey everyone! I was tagged by Inga from Lady of Bookland for the Trick or Treat Around the Block book tag. It was originally created by The Bookish Porcupine. Thanks so much for tagging me, Inga! 🙂 This tag looks like so much fun, and I’m so excited to be doing it today!
Okay, let’s get started:
#1 Creepy house on the corner of the street
book with a creepy cover
I think this cover is super creepy, and the book itself is super creepy. It definitely makes a great Halloween read!
#2 Lights out (party poopers)
a book you want to read when you want to escape
Anne of Green Gables is one of my absolute favorite books! I love Avonlea, and all the characters. Someday, I’d love to take a trip to visit Prince Edward Island, so I can pretend I’m Anne for the day. 😉
#3 The house that gives out the cheap candy
guilty pleasure book
These R. L. Stine teen books, and other scary books like them, are so fun and cheesy, and perfect for Halloween! They’re not very well-written, but they’re so much fun to read this time of year.
#4 The house with the best decorations on the block
best haunting/Halloween themed cover
I think this cover of The Haunting of Hill House is so spooky looking! Plus, the orange and black color scheme gives me a definite Halloween vibe.
#5 The house that gives out the best candy
#1 Halloween recommendation.
Y’all! This was so hard to choose just one! I decided to go with The Fall of Candy Corn. It takes place during Halloween, and just gives me that Halloween vibe. I know I’ve talked about this series before, but it is just so cute and festive for every season! This one is the second in the series, and I, personally, recommend reading each book during its designated season.
Speed Round
#1 Corn maze or haunted house?
I’m a chicken, so I don’t know how I’d do in a haunted house. So, I’ll go with a corn maze!
#2 Classic or unique costume?
Classic costumes are fun, but I love unique costumes! I’m usually pretty generic with my costumes (I’ve been a cat so many times I’ve lost count, lol), but I really admire people who come up with and create incredibly unique costumes!
#3 Sexy or scary costume?
Honestly, neither. I’m more interested in being that person that comes in the giant duck suit, or is dressed as a slice of pizza…lol!
#4 Comedy or horror Halloween film?
Definitely comedy! Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus are two of my go-to movies!
#5 Chocolate or sour candy?
Chocolate, chocolate chocolate! Chocolate is bae!
There you have it! This was so much fun to do. I tag anyone who wants to do this!
Thanks for reading, and Happy Halloween! 👻🎃
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
Welcome back to Movie Monday! A feature on my blog where I compare and discuss books and their movie or television adaptation!
Today I’m discussing the 1999 movie, The Haunting, based off of the book by Shirley Jackson called The Haunting of Hill House.
Hey everyone! Today, I’ve got a super fun tag to do. With Halloween so close, I thought it would be the perfect time to do the Hocus Pocus book tag! The tag was created by Katie at Never Not Reading, and I was tagged by Danielle over at The Introverted Book Nerd. Thank you so much for tagging me!! I love Halloween, and like many, Hocus Pocus is a Halloween classic, and a movie I have to watch every October.
Alright, let’s get started!
Rules:
There are no rules, but it would be nice to link back to Katie and whoever tagged you!
The Sanderson Sisters
A Great Trilogy
I’m going to have to go with the Angel Eyes trilogy by Shannon Dittemore! This series is so good, and it’s so underrated. I wish more people would read it!
Winifred Sanderson
A Book With a Truly Evil Female Villain
Miss Trunchbull from Matilda is my go-to girl when it comes to evil female villains. She’s so controlling and scary!
Sarah Sanderson
A Book that Uncannily Attracts Children
When I was a little kid, the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park attracted me every single time. I just couldn’t get enough of those books back in the day.
Mary Sanderson
A Book that is Just Plain Silly
I had trouble thinking of one for this one. I know I’ve read silly books before, but I just can’t think of many right now. I recently read There’s a Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone to my nieces and nephew, though, and it’s super cute and super silly, and they loved it!
Max
A book that is trying really hard to be cool, but doesn’t always succeed.
I’m going to go with Private by Kate Brian. I admit, I’ve only read the first book in the series, so maybe it gets better. That being said, I read it, and it wasn’t terrible, but I felt like it was just trying a bit too hard to be gossipy, and cool.
Dani
A Book That Isn’t Afraid to Tell It Like It Is
For this one, I have to go with Bunheads by Sophie Flack. It’s written by a former dancer of NYCB, and it’s such a realistic portrayal of the dance world. Dance definitely has its drama, but not in the way that most books and television make you think. This book is so authentic, and it’s one of my favorites!
Binx
A Book Series that Just Won’t Die
Nancy Drew immediately came into my head for this one! It’s been around for over 85 years, and new books are still being published. Honestly though, I’m super glad this series won’t die, because I love everything Nancy Drew-related!
Ice
A Book with a Character that’s Dumb as a Rock
Y’all, I thought long and hard for this one, and I just cannot think of a dumb character right now! I know there’s plenty that I’ve read, but for now, I can think of none.
The Black Flame Candle
A Book or Series You Wish You Could Resurrect
I would love to see more in the Dreamhouse Kings series by Robert Liparulo. This series was one of my favorites back in high school, and the author always said he was going to make a spin-off/continuation of the original series, but it’s been seven years since the last book was released, and he still hasn’t yet. I just keep waiting for more…
Headless Billy Butcherson
A Book That’s Not as Bad as People Make it Out to Be
I’m going to have to go with Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. This book series gets so much hate, and it’s really uncalled for. I think it’s fun and entertaining, and I’ve read way, wayyy worse that doesn’t even get half the amount of hate that Twilight does.
Winifred Sanderson’s Spell Book
A Book with a Mind of its Own
I think the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling fits this category so well. What started off as just a fun, magical, children’s book, has grown and evolved into so much more! I still need to finish this series.
Garry Marshall
A Book with a Cameo
Any Sarah Dessen book could fit this category. I love how so many of her books feature cameos of characters from her past books. It always makes me so excited to read her new ones and see an old character. It’s like running into an old friend!
There you have it! I had so much fun doing this tag. If you’re reading this, and you want to do it, I tag you!
Thanks for reading and Happy (almost) Halloween!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
Title: The Haunting of Hill House
Pages: 182
Genres: Horror, Classic, Mystery, Fiction
Published by: Penguin Classics (Nov. 28, 2006 [originally 1959])
Summary
The classic supernatural thriller by an author who helped define the genre
First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a “haunting”; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.
What I Thought
A couple years ago, I read the short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson. It was the first time I had read anything by her, and I found it so creepy. So, when I discovered The Haunting of Hill House, I thought it would be a perfect Halloween read. I wanted to read it last year, but I didn’t get a chance, so I’m so happy I finally got to read it this year!
I found the premise of this book to be very intriguing. All the guests, who all live very different lives, are invited to stay in a haunted house to see how they experience its hauntings. All the characters were very well-written, and I feel like each one helped make the story what it was. I felt like Eleanor made the perfect view-point character.
I really loved Shirley Jackson’s writing in this novel. It is so atmospheric, without being overly so. Also, unlike some classics, it’s writing is very straight to the point, without any unnecessary descriptors.
Also, while the book is eerie, and it definitely has its moments, it’s still not as scary as I anticipated. I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat, so that didn’t bother me, but it might be a bit disappointing if you love horror, and are expecting this book to be super scary. Still, let’s just say though, I personally, would never want to live in Hill House!
I really loved the book up until the ending. Personally, I found it to be a bit disappointing. I expected more. That being said, I know a lot of people found the ending to be perfect, so maybe you’ll love!
Overall, aside from the ending, I really enjoyed this book. I found it spooky, but not terrifying, and it was the perfect book to read during Halloween time. I would definitely recommend this book to those who love classic horror fiction, or anyone looking for something spooky to read.
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
the calico books 