<–The State of the Reader: 7/31/19 The State of the Reader: 8/28/19–>
A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list. Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me! I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.
Books Obtained: 1
Books Finished: 1
Title: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
Author: H. P. Lovecraft
Date Added: March 15, 2013
Date Started: May 9, 2019
Date Finished: August 1, 2019
Media: eBook/Kindle
Interesting tidbit: the MC of this isn’t the titular character, but rather Dr. Willett. He’s the one who struggles to piece everything together before it’s too late, who traverses the horrors of the underground lair, who finds the alchemical dark materia used for nefarious purposes, and who uncovers the terrible truth. Charles is a victim, and I definitely need to research alchemy. I realized that after watching a Silent Hill video about it, which made me realize there’s a shit ton of it in FFVII, too. More essays forthcoming.
Books DNF: 1
Title: Cloud Atlas
Author: David Mitchell
Date Added: September 5, 2013
Date Started: August 5, 2019
Date DNF: August 13, 2019
Media: eBook/Kindle
Let me just preface this by saying I watched and great enjoyed the movie, and I disagree with the edgy critiques that only want to snark at the idea of the connective threads between the six stories. I don’t quite remember the film, but I do remember the chills I got at its conclusion, so it did its job well. I’m DNFing this because while I understand the casual and rampant racism of Ewing, I’m not in the place to deal with it, because well *gestures vaguely at everything* It’s interesting. When I was younger I could devour books with that kind of paradigm because I (ignorantly) saw that as something of the past. Granted, it wasn’t as flagrant in the 80’s/90’s, but that kind of mindset was still the result of my highly sheltered mind. I understand Mitchell is (very accurately) writing Ewing as a man of that era, so I don’t fault him for that. I’m just…not in a place where I can read it, so DNF I did. I think I might re-watch the movie some time in the near future.
Currently Reading
Title: The King in Yellow
Author: Robert W. Chambers
Date Added: January 5, 2018
Date Started: August 4, 2019
Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress: 6%
In the game What Remains of Edith Finch, you catch a glimpse of this book on a shelf, which is how it came into my ken. The version I have has an introduction by H. P. Lovecraft whom I just finished reading (The Case of Charles Dexter Ward). Apparently the title is the title of a book, and if you read the ten stories from it, you’ll suffer a terrible fate.
This is similar to the movie The Ring, which changed my entire outlook on horror, so I’m a little scared/nervous, but I’m going to assume (or hope) all the people who’ve left reviews haven’t been turned into Deku scrubs, otherwise how would they type them?
Title: Snow White Learns Witchcraft: Stories and Poems
Author: Theodora Goss
Date Added: February 5, 2019
Date Started: May 5, 2019
Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress: 87%
I thought I knew my favorite story in this, but I’m not sure anymore. They’re all so good.
Title: Tigana
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Date Added: February 9, 2016
Date Started: December 8, 2018
Media: Paperback
Progress: 90%
I’m hoping to finish this by next status update.
Title: The Hero With a Thousand Faces
Author: Joseph Campbell
Date Added: April 24, 2014
Date Started: December 3, 2018
Media: Hardback
Progress: 61%
“…the world and the age between deep sleep and waking consciousness, the zone where the One breaks into the manifold and the many are reconciled in the One.” This is pretty much the basis of most if not all religions/systems of belief. Once you understand this duality that is anything but (and tbh you don’t really understand it, you just kind of meditate on it and consider it), you’re on your way.
I was on schedule but since it’s now a new month I’m one book behind again. I should finish Snow White and Tigana this month, so that should put me back on track.
<–The State of the Reader: 7/31/19 The State of the Reader: 8/28/19–>
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
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I hadn’t heard about Snow White Learns Witchcraft, but I like Theodora Goss so I’ll definitely add this to my tbr.
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I love Dr. Goss. Have you read Red as Blood, White as Bone? It’s in the Snow White collection. I read it separately, but it’s within the volume I’m currently reading.
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I haven’t but it’s on my tbr.
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