Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Category: bibliophile

  • October 19 and 20 – Creepy Reads

    October 19 and 20 – Creepy Reads

    Do you ever read a book and it isn’t necessarily scary but it just leaves you with a skin crawling feeling of creepy? These are not always horror books, but are the books that just keep you on edge and leave you uncomfortable even after the book is done. Here are some of the books that have done this for me:

    Mexican Gothic was one of my favorite reads for 2019/2020, but it absolutely left me with some major icky creepies. This is the story of Noemi who is sent to retrieve her cousin after she receives a missive from the cousin claiming that her husband is trying to poison her. She heads to High Place to find her cousin is quite ill, the house is covered in mushrooms, and everything about this home is creepy. I cannot recommend this book higher, but be prepared for the effects to linger.

    Geek Love is the story of a traveling carnival who goes to extreme lengths to create children who can fill their freak show. The book is so good, but just leaves you with this feeling of bleagh.

    Palahniuk was barely scraping the surface of wild in Fight Club and that is never more obvious than in Haunted. The plot is a “writers group” gets locked into a old Theatre and becomes a social experiment. I have whole scenes from this book that I will never forget. Not for the faint of heart, but a truly creepy read.

    The story of an adult man who “falls in love” with a 12 year old girl, gets rid of her mother, and makes himself the girl’s guardian so they can “be together”. Everything about this book is cringy, creepy and leaves you feeling icky.

    The one that started it all. I read this book at an age that was far too young, probably 10. Certainly I was not prepared for child abuse, starvation, incest, rape, and one incredibly graphic scene after being force fed castor oil. Yeah…not horror but horrific.

    This is my list of the creepiest books I have ever read. Have you read any of these? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you have books you would add?

    Here is the video for Halloween Countdown day 19:

    And from the 20th:

  • October 13 – A Wonderful Gift and Book Bingo

    October 13 – A Wonderful Gift and Book Bingo

    My sister made me an amazing gift and gave it to me this past weekend. She used one of the horseshoes removed from her horse, Arlo. 

    As to where I stand on bookish bingo…no bingo yet, but I am hopeful.

    And the Halloween Countdown for the 13th:

  • October 10 – I got a Book Box in the Mail!

    I follow several authors on TikTok one of which is Katelyn Brawn aka @atomicapplepie. She announced that there would be a book box for her book Pumpkin Pie so I jumped at the chance to support someone I follow and bought the box with the hardback book cover. I decided to record a video of the opening and then I will describe the contents.

    Video of Book Box unboxing

    Aside from a hardback copy of Pumpkin Pie I received: a bracelet made by the author, a tube of bath soak, a honey soap, a pumpkin spice honey lip balm, honey stix, a beautiful fairy book mark and author themed tea in Henry David Thoreau which was apple based and sounds delicious. Oh, and a recipe card for the pumpkin pie made in the book.

    Overall it is a super cute box, I can’t wait to make some tea and read my new book.

    I realized that I forgot to post my Halloween Countdown for yesterday so I clipped them together and here is day 9 and 10:

    Days 9 and 10 of Halloween Countdown.
  • October 4 – My October TBR

    October 4 – My October TBR

    I am trying to read more this month, because I love books and I am ready to get my reading habit back after years of school.

    Currently Reading:                                            

    The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

            

    To Be Read:                                                       

    The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean.                       

    The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling.                      

    The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik.          

    Revenge Body by Rachel Wiley  

    The Night Library of Sternendach by Jessica Levai  

    When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke Narrated by Meg Sylvan     

    Bookish Bingo is looking like this now:

    And my Halloween Countdown item for today is…

  • October 2 – My October Bucket List

    October 2 – My October Bucket List

    • Witch Walk 2022
    • Dark Market 2022
    • Carve a Pumpkin
    • Go to a Halloween Party
    • Celebrate our 10th anniversary
    • Attend Ren Faire at least once a weekend
    • Tales from the Crypt at Green Lawn Abbey
    • Finish and upgrade Mothman Costume for Faire
    • Read 4 books
    • Create a great basket for my spooky basket buddy
    • Have a fire and make smores

    That is a pretty good list to start. We were at the Renaissance Festival today for Time Travelers weekend. There were time lords, mandalorians, multiple tardises, and I was a triceratops.

    Photo of wenches, I am center front holding my triceratops mask to the side.

    Here is my treasure from my Halloween Advent for today…

    And my October book bingo as I read through The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik. Got several off the board.

  • Thank you for making me a reader

    Dear Grandma Bailey,

    Thank you for encouraging me to read. Thank you for letting me read aloud to you. Thank you for reading aloud to me. Thank you for buying me books for almost every birthday and holiday. Thank you for all the bookmarks. Thank you for letting me tell you all the stories. Thank you for staying up late with me to read in the summer. Thank you for your part in making me a reader.

    Dear Mom,

    Thank you for encouraging me to read. Thank you for never telling me a book was off limits. Thank you for always having money for me for the scholastic book fair. Thank you for taking me on book buying trips to various places in Columbus. Thank you for putting up with all my massive stacks of books in my room. Thank you for encouraging me to write. Thank you for all your support. Thank you for being proud of me. Thank you for your part in making me a reader.

    Dear Krystie,

    Thank you for encouraging me to read. Thank you for telling me that I was much too young to understand Shakespeare. Thank you for leaving your school texts around so that I could read Grendl, Macbeth and Hamlet when you weren’t paying attention. Thank you for inadvertently challenging me to read more and more difficult texts. Thank you for your part in making me a reader.

    Dear Mrs. Colvin,

    Thank you for encouraging me to read. Thank you for never saying a word when I checked out the same giant book of mythology again and again. Thank you for helping find all the books we had in our tiny Elementary School library about cryptids and hauntings. Thank you for laughing at my antics and appreciating my already strange sense of humor. Thank you for your part in making me a reader.

    Dear Mrs. Atchison,

    Thank you for encouraging me to read. Thank you for introducing me to The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston LeRoux. Thank you for not blinking an eye when I came dressed as Scarlet O’Hara because I was reading Gone with the Wind in fifth grade. Thank you for getting my first poem published. Thank you for your part in making me a reader and a writer.

    Dear Mrs. Kupper,

    Thank you for encouraging me to read. Thank you for teaching me how to properly read Dickens. Thank you for failing me because I undoubtedly deserved it. Thank you for your part in making me a reader.

    Much Love,

    Betsy (Bailey) White

    A voracious reader and bibliophile thanks to you all.

  • 10 Days of Blogging

    10 Days of Blogging

    If you could live inside a book, which book would you pick? Which world would you pick? I have a couple that would be on my shortlist of worlds/ books to live in.

    1 The Starless Sea – How lovely to live in a subterranean library under the earth. Surrounded by books and cats and readers and words…lovely! The bibliophile in me says yes please.

    2 The Night Circus – Another Morgenstern, but as a child I secretly (or not so secretly) wanted to run away and join the circus, and this circus with its black and white color scheme and super magical origin just pulls my soul right in. I would absolutely accept just being a girl who runs a concession stand.

    3 Discworld – Specifically, I would want to be one of the witches even though it looks like a lot of hard work. I just love the world that Terry Pratchett created and I would love to be a part of it. I like to think Terry lives there too, so maybe I could finally meet him.

    4 Newford – This is the setting for many of the books by Charles De Lint where fairies, old gods and the modern world meet. Would love to have tea with Jilly and meet the Crow Girls. Please?

    5 The Hollows Cincinnati/ Chicago in Dresden Files – I am putting these together, because they feel like very similar worlds. This is another set of pretty modern but add magic, urban fantasy wonderland and I would love to live in either one.

    When I was younger I might have added Narnia to this list, but it doesn’t seem as great for an adult. Wonderland also might have made the list, but doesn’t appeal as much to me any more. There are other worlds that have lost some shine for me over the years. MiddleEarth I would take only if I got to live in Hobbiton.

    I have undoubtedly forgotten some, but this is a good beginning list. How about you? Thoughts?

  • 12 Days of Blogging

    12 Days of Blogging

    As the pandemic was ramping up last June I saw an announcement from Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, saying that members of her book club would be receiving an autographed copy of her new book, Broken, as one of their books. I immediately signed up for The Fantastic Strangelings Book Club. I have not regretted it. I admittedly have not read every single book I have been sent, yet, but the books are varied and interesting. I have, so far, received 8 books including the latest which is The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec a book I am planning to jump into feet first tonight when I get off work (I am on break).

    I am a huge fan of Jenny’s writing and her openness about her struggles with mental illness, imposter syndrome, and just being a bit odd. And it excites me to think that I am somehow connected to her, even if it is just by paying to be part of her book club. I also love getting books in the mail every month. As an admitted book hoarder the only thing better than books is more books.

    Jenny also announced that she will be doing a “book tour” in April where she will do live talks online with other authors including Felicia Day, Neil Gaiman and Judy Blume. I am probably going to have to invest in the Neil Gaiman, but I have a minute to decide. If you haven’t already I highly recommend Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson; it is funny, irreverent, honest and wonderful.

  • My Current Reading List

    My Current Reading List

    I am a reader who often has multiple books that I am juggling, or on my to be read (TBR) list. I thought I would share the current books that sit there currently.

    The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix : This is one I am currently reading and it is very funny, very tongue in cheek and altogether quite entertaining.

    Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: I am currently reading this one as well, and I am enjoying it so far. The NPR review was so intriguing I came home and bought it immediately.

    Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    Crossings by Alex Landragin: I got this as a new member of the Fantastic Stranglings Book Club through Nowhere Bookshop which is owned by author Jenny Lawson. I haven’t cracked it yet, but I am excited to do so.

    Witches. Sluts. Feminists. by Kristen J. Sollee: I heard Kristen on the podcast The Devil’s Music with Pleasant Gehman and loved her style, so I picked up this book. I am excited to start it.

    Fat Girl Finishing School and Nothing is Okay by Rachel Wiley: Rachel is a Columbus poet who is so talented, and I have been reading these in bits and bobs. Fun Fact: I saw Rachel at the Fat Babes Club of Columbus Body Positive Pool Party last year and I was utterly star struck and just stared at her across the pool like a huge creeper.

    Great Godesses by Nikita Gill: More poetry. This is a gorgeous collection of poems based on mythology. I have been really inspired by poetry recently, and my next class in my MFA program is Fundamentals of Poetry.

    I have more books on the way that I ordered from local bookstores on Independent Bookstore Day Saturday. I am on a brief hiatus from school so I am hoping I can finish one or two of these.

    Are you reading anything fantastic right now? Are you a book juggler who reads more than one book at a time like me?

  • Isolation Chronicles: Support Your Local Businesses

    I had posted earlier in the Isolation that I purchased a mystery book box from one of my favorite local bookshops The Book Loft. Since that purchase I have been trying very hard to support other local and small businesses in any way I can. Whether that is ordering food, buying products, or just providing support. Here are some of my favorite shops, stores that I could not recommend more.

    1. Elder Forest Soap – I call Katie and Nathan our soap people. Seth and I have almost exclusively used their soaps for the last several years. We have stalked them in a friendly “man I need soap” way to many a festival, and we think of them as friends. I also swear by their pain balm, their salves and their natural deodorant. Recommended soap scents: Rosemary, Patchouli Spice, Sandalwood Rose and Woodland.
    2. Brother’s Drake Meadery – One of the first local meaderies to open in Columbus Ohio. They make amazing meads and if you are local and no longer in lockdown you can take an awesome tour with them. They are also delivering locally and nationwide. Recommended meads: Strongarm and Battleaxe
    3. Blonde Swan Hats – I have owned many Blonde Swan hats in my life and I love them. Blonde Swan is based out of Northern Ohio and they make absolutely amazing leather and suede hats. I ordered a new hat for Ren Faire and an amazing feather piece to wear on it in the last week. My wedding hat was a Blonde Swan that cost more than my actual dress, lol. Seth’s wedding hat was also a Blonde swan. If you like Blonde Swan on facebook she is offering some amazing deals as Warehouse Wednesday too. Recommended Buys: Any and all Witch hats!
    4. Prologue Bookshop – Prologue is another amazing local bookstore in Columbus. I am a member of their LGBTQ+Allies book club, and I have been buying my books for that directly from them to support them because I have the funds available to do so.  This book club reads books written by LGBTQ authors and is a wonderful open group.
    5. Zen Bee Meadery – Yep, another meadery. I love mead. Zen Bee is a smaller part time local meadery that creates delicious session meads, which means they are lower ABV than some other meads. They are delicious and easy to drink. Recommended Meads: Braspberry, Karma Apple
    6. Witch Baby Soap – This is my favorite place to get bath bombs. They smell amazing, sometimes they have crystals and stones in them, and they are totally witchy. They offer quarterly spell boxes which give you one bomb a month for the quarter, plus soaps and extras. Recommended: Psychic Bath Bomb, Rune Stone Bath Bomb. and the Astrological Cake Bath Bombs.

    These are some of my favorite local/small businesses. Do you have some you are supporting right now? Share with me so I can check them out.