March 2025
This month I went down the rabbit hole with a new book about a transgendered Mexican revolutionary colonel named Amelio, and other interesting podcasts and TV shows.
๐This month I went down the rabbit hole with these books, podcasts, movies and TV shows! ๐ฐ
Books
This month I read โAmelio, Mi Coronelโ by Ignacio Casas. The cover of this book immediately caught my attention as I browsed through the section at Barnes & Noble where they feature books in Spanish. Iโm excited because Iโve noticed this section is increasingly growing.
The author recounts the true story of Amelio Robles, the first transgender colonel in the Mexican revolutionary war. Born Malaquรญas Amelia de Jesรบs, this historic figure is fascinating. He joins the battle armed with his trusty pistol that once belonged to his dead father. He names the pistol โCasimira.โ
His story is both exhilarating and heartbreaking, as he deals with intense confrontations, physical challenges and the will to carry on despite it all.
Bravo to Ignacio Casas for writing this book!
Podcasts
Collier Landry has always wondered what led to his motherโs death in 1989. In โFinding Momโs Killerโ host Steve Fishman helps him look into the mysterious case that played out in the small town of Mansfield, Ohio.
โCampus Filesโ is a new weekly podcast from Audacy that uncovers the scandals hidden behind the ivy-covered walls of Americaโs colleges and universities. Hosted by journalist Margo Gray, each episode dives into a true story of controversy โ from secret tribunals and rigged admissions to hazing tragedies and academic fraud.
โScam Factoryโ is an explosive new podcast from Wondery that uncovers the shocking truth behind all of those sketchy messages we all receive. It turns out thatmany are sent by people trapped in scam compounds, forced to commit fraud to survive.
๐๏ธ LISTEN to โScam Factory.โ
Baby Broker is a shocking new podcast from Sony Music Entertainment that uncovers the true story of Tara Lee, a woman who ran a fraudulent adoption scheme that devastated over 100 hopeful families. Hosted by journalist Peter McDonnell, the series follows the emotional and financial fallout as victims piece together the truth and seek justice.
๐๏ธ LISTEN to the official trailer for โBaby Brokers.โ
Movies
This month I recommend โJust One of Them Daysโ starring Keke Palmer and SZA. I heard it being described as the female version of โFridayโ and thatโs good enough for me!
TV Shows
This month I devoured the Hulu series โDevil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.โ Itโs a 3-part documentary about the mommy blogger-turned-Mommy Dearest. Much like the โScamandaโ documentary (also on Hulu), it was interesting to put a face to all of the voices since I never watched their YouTube channel.
More on this explosive documentary.
๐ง Listen to the trailer of the podcast โThe Rise and Fall of Ruby Frankeโ. ๐๏ธ
February 2025
This month I went down the rabbit hole with the โScamandaโ HULU show based on the podcast, and other books, movies and TV shows.
๐This month I went down the rabbit hole with these books, podcasts, movies and TV shows! ๐ฐ
Books
This month I read โThe Heaven and Earth Grocery Storeโ by James McBride. I saw this book everywhere because it was named Barnes & Nobleโs book of the year in 2023. I bought it shortly after but didnโt actually pick it up until now. I am so glad I did because it was a lovely story and a delightful book. It takes place in a place called Chicken Hill, a run-down neighborhood mostly populated by immigrant Jewish and African Americans.
The stars of the book are an unlikely couple named Moshe and Chona Ludlow, who run the eponymous Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. Moshe is known for being the first theater to book Black acts, ushering in an era of success for him and his business.
Everything changes after the couple takes in a deaf Black boy and the state tries to take him away.
Goodgoods puts it quite nicely in their book description: โAs the novel unfolds, it becomes clear how much the people of Chicken Hill have to struggle to survive at the margins of white Christian America and how damaging bigotry, hypocrisy, and deceit can be to a community.โ
๐ VNSA Book Sale! I went for the second year in a row and I will be there next year for sure. ๐๐ผ
Podcasts
In one of the latest episodes of โTrue Crime Arizonaโ on Arizonaโs Family, host Bryanna Whitney interviews Gabby Petitoโs parents, just as the new Netflix documentary on the case is released.
๐๏ธ LISTEN to the podcast True Crime Arizona episode of โPetitoโs Parents Tell All.โ
Movies
This month I recommend โJust One of Them Daysโ starring Keke Palmer and SZA. I heard it being described as the female version of โFridayโ and thatโs good enough for me!
TV Shows
The celebrity true crime TV show โDeath by Fameโ is highly addictive for true crime aficionados. Iโve been watching all three seasons (so far) on Max, but they might have aired previously on ID?
Among the tragic tales of death as a result of fame is the story of the murder of Run DMCโs Jam Master Jay, the tragic killing of Christina Grimmie by an obsessed fan, and the unbelievable episode about convicted killer Joseph Son, most famously known as the assassin known as โRandom Taskโ in the first Austin Powers movie.
This month I was also obsessed with the TV show based on the hit podcast โScamanda.โ It was so cool to be able to put a face to al the voices and stories I binged on the podcast over a year ago. Check out the trailer for TV show and check out the original podcast it was based on, hosted by Charlie TKTK.
๐ง Listen to the trailer of the hit podcast below. ๐๏ธ
From cover to cover: The 25 books I read in 2024
I set a goal to read at least 12 books last year. I doubled that goal by reading a whopping 25 books, the most Iโve read in a year throughout my entire life.
Last year, I set a goal to read at least 12 books. I ended up doubling that goal by reading a whopping 25 books โ by far the most Iโve read in a year throughout my entire life.
The thing is, I didnโt even try that hard. Constant reading came so very naturally because I was completely in the flow.
It also helps that I am always reading two books at any given time, so Iโm almost doubling up, so to speak.
I also have a new habit that has proven very productive. I watch about 30 minutes of TV and then Iโll take a โreadingโ break. I read a few chapters then go back to finish the show. I find that it keeps me engaged and constantly looking forward to whatโs next.
This year I increased by reading goal to 15 books for 2025. Iโve read three books so far so Iโm right on track! If youโre curious, itโs the A Good Girls Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson. ๐
Here are the 25 books I read in 2024:
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
I read The Poet X in 2023 so I was excited to read Acevedoโs latest novel! Itโs a sweet and nostalgic story about Flor, a matriarch figure who can predict when someone will die. So when she invites her family to a living wake, the Marte sisters become both curious and concerned. This book is a celebration of the priceless relationships between sisters, cousins, mothers, aunts and nieces. ๐
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2. La Casa de los Espรญritus by Isabel Allende
The photo resolution may be low but it was important for me to feature the right cover because this is the same (Spanish) edition of the novel my mom read in the early 1980s. I absolutely fell in love with the 1993 movie based on this book starring Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Winona Ryder, Glenn Close and Antonio Banderas. Itโs an epic tale of family dynamics, magic realism, and everything in between. โ๏ธ
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3. Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah by The Lady Chablis
I first fell in love with the Lady Chablis when she stole every scene she was in โ in the 1997 movie โMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evilโ starring John Cusack. This book had been on my bookshelf for way too long and it did not disappoint. Besides poignant stories about her trails and tribulations, the Grand Empress shares more than a few of her signature recipes, including fried chicken and Mac โnโ cheese. ๐
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4. Unbought and Unbossed by Shirley Chisholm
This is another book I had on my bookshelf for way too long. I picked it up in honor of Black History Month. It was a quick and easy read but incredibly enlightening about how (much worse) politics was back in 1970. The language used most definitely reflects the time is was written. Chisholm is famously the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. This book highlights all the reasons why she found it necessary to run back then โ and why all those reasons are still as relevant as ever. โ๐ฝ
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5. Monstrilio by Gerardo Sรกmano Cรณrdova
This book was odd and completely unexpected but also beautiful. It starts with Magos losing her 11-year-old son, Santiago. She is devastated and in a state of deep grief. Inspired by an old folklore, she cuts a piece of Santiagoโs lung out (yep!). As she nurtures the lung, it grows into a type of, well โ โMonstrilio.โ The story takes place across Mexico City, Brooklyn and Berlin. Itโs a heart-wrenching tale about family ties, queer identities and who and what we consider to be โhuman.โ ๐
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6. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
This is a true horror classic first published in 1983, although it feels much older. Arthur Kipps, a young London solicitor (old-timey lawyer) is tasked with settling the affairs of the mysterious Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. The townspeople obviously know something was up with old Mrs. Drablow but refuse to spill the tea, making all of the scary occurrences (and visions) Arthur experiences that more disturbing. A quick-moving rocking chair in an empty nursery? GTFO!
I saw the play based on this story in the West End theatre district while in London during the summer of 1999. It scared the bejeezus out of me! I recently saw the movie โNosferatuโ starring Lily-Rose Depp and it reminded me so much of this novel. Although the plot lines are different, the settings, the dark colors, the gloomy characters and the overall sentiment throughout the film felt eerily similar. ๐ป
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7. Loteria by Cynthia Pelayo
La Loteria is a traditional Mexican game that involves individual rectangular papers and a deck of 54 cards containing all kinds of people and products. Thereโs a bottle (la botella), a frog (la rana), the palm tree (la palma) and dozens more. Some of my favorites are the lady (la dama), the arrows (las jaras), and the star (la estrella).
In this literary homage, Pelayo writes a short story for each card in la Loteria, inspired by or directly linked to the person or product named in the card. These include supernatural characters and other monstrous creatures, as you may expect. Some are freaky, some are nostalgic, and others are just meh. ๐
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8. Gordo Stories by Jaime Cortez
This book of short stories is delightful, even though it broaches difficult topics like the harsh realities of illegal immigration, domestic violence and struggling with oneโs sexual identity. Gordo is officially one of my all-time favorite book characters. Itโs not totally fictitious, as itโs based on Jaime Cortezโs childhood in the 1970s while living at a migrant workers camp near Watsonville, California.
I very much enjoyed the cultural storylines involving a wrestling match inspired by a real-life (luchador) named El Santo. Thereโs also a neighborhood girl and unlikely artist who is simply gone one day. Oh, and donโt miss the same-sex domestic abuse situation just across the street. El Gordoโs perspective on this and other heavy topics is realistic, unique and totally refreshing. ๐
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9. Lilianaโs Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza
This Pulitzer Prize winning-book is based on a true story. Itโs about a sisterโs unrelenting quest to find out what led up to her little sisterโs homicide at the hands of her ex-boyfriend in Mexico City on July 16, 1990. I couldnโt help but feel that the author writing this book was necessary for her grieving process. Itโs heartbreaking because she lived in Texas at the time of her sister Lilianaโs death. Rivera Garza goes to Mexico City following the murder to look for Lilianaโs official murder police file. We tag along as the author goes through the report and paints a tragic picture of โLilianaโs invincible summerโ before her devastating demise. ๐
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10. Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer
I had to read the book that Ryan Murphyโs FX show โFeud: Capote vs. the Swansโ was based on! It features the popular mid-century true crime writer Truman Capote and his bevy of socialite besties in New York City. Among the rich and famous โladies who lunchโ were Barbara Babe Paley (Trumanโs absolute bestie), Slim Hayward, C. Z. Guest and Lee Radziwill (Jackie Oโs sister). I was ecstatic to find a copy of the book at the Bookmanโs in Tucson. Author Laurence Leamer has all of the tea. Truman swore he would write โAnswered Prayers,โ a book he hoped would be hailed as one of the best of the 20th century. In it, he unwisely dished about his famous friendsโ very private affairs, leading to his ostracization by the tight-knit group that truly had been out of his league to begin with. Do tell! โ๏ธ
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I have long since been a fan of the 1966 movie โWhoโs Afraid of Virginia Woolfโ starring real-life off and on-again couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. This book by Philip Gefter was a no-brainer once I saw its release in February 2024. I simply devoured the behind-the-scenes drama that played out during the making of this film. The fact that it has stood the test of time is further proof that it was, indeed, a masterpiece. This book proves all the players felt they were creating something special back then โ and they were right. ๐ท
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12. In the Woods by Tana French
This was my very first Tana French book, which came very highly recommended by one of the many true crime podcasters I follow. The book starts with the very creepy and fascinating backstory of three kids who go missing in a Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984. Two never make it back and one kid, Rob Ryan, is later found terrified โin the woodsโ gripping a tree trunk. He doesnโt remember a thing. Fast forward 20 years later and that kid is now a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad. He and his partner and BFF, Det. Cassie Maddox, are tasked with investigating a missing girlโs case that triggers some serious memories from Ryanโs own traumatic past. No spoilers!
I also have Frenchโs โThe Hunterโ and โThe Searcherโ waiting on my bookshelf. I plan on reading at least one of them by the end of the year. ๐ชต
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13. Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime by Alex Espinoza
I was inclined to check this book out from the Tempe Public Library because it was propped up on a shelf celebrating Gay Pride Month. The cover instantly caught my attention although it was not lost on me that I was not the intended audience. Author Alex Espinoza gives us the run-down โ both personal and historical โ of cruising.
Espinoza combines research with oral interviews and his own personal experience with this long-time pastime primarily for the homosexual community. He really breaks down what this practice means to gay men and it is truly eye-opening to see how it's interpreted by many as creating their own claimed spaces and practices when there was nowhere else to go. That is kind of badass. ๐
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14. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
This is another book that I had been meaning to read for a long time before I finally picked it up. It was published back in 2003. Perhaps I built it up too much in my mind butโฆI didnโt really like it like everyone else seems to! I really tried. Azar Nafisi writes about her time as a teacher in the Islamic Republic of Iran. She would invite specific schoolgirls whom she felt were good students to her home every Thursday morning for two years to read โforbidden Western classicsโ like โLolita.โ They also read works by Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Henry James. This book is written with Islamic morality squads and arbitrary raids in Tehran as the backdrop. What I did like about the book was that it was a true celebration of how reading and books can transport you to another place, offering an escape from your less-than-ideal present circumstances. ๐
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15. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I have never read a celebrity memoir faster than I did this one by Jennette McCurdy. Apparently this was the Goodreads Choice AwardWinner for Readers' Favorite Memoir & Autobiography for 2022. I get it because I read it in under a week. I wasnโt familiar with her or her Nickelodeon TV shows โiCarlyโ and โSam & Cat.โ The way she writes is highly entertaining despite the fire hose of TMIโs divulged. I so appreciate her honesty because it shows that even if you perceivably get everything youโve always wanted at a young age, it doesnโt mean your life will be perfect from then on. Her stories are both hilarious and very very sad.
The former child actor talks about her struggles with eating disorders and her super complicated and co-dependent relationship with her โmomager.โ The title of the book may sound harsh, but readers will discover how it took McCurdyโs mom dying of cancer for her to really take stock of what she went through, how to refind and reclaim herself, and how she wants to move forward. To that I say โ ยกBrava!๐ง๐ผ
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16. Brat: An '80s Story by Andrew McCarthy
This is a memoir by Andrew McCarthy, 80s heartthrob from Pretty in Pink, St. Elmos Fire and Mannequin. The title of the book is very obviously an homage to the Brat Pack moniker he and his compatriots like Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson earned in 1985 after a crazy night out in Hollywood. In this book McCarthy tells all about that particular time in his life. We hear about his upbringing, his early college days at NYU and how his first big break led to more incredible opportunities he is still not sure he deserved. The rest is history. It was interesting to realize how self-deprecating McCarthy was and still is. I admit I was one of many girls who thought of him as the ultimate high school boyfriend, despite watching him be a total asshole to Andie in โPretty in Pink.โ After reading this book, letโs just say all is forgiven. ๐
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I loved this book! It was everything I expected it to be and more. As a child of the 80s and sucker for everything Brat Pack and John Hughes, this book did not disappoint. Gora really does her homework by talking to a lot of the key players from that era, including Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy, and John Cusack. She provided some of the coolest insights from the making-of these movies that I never heard before. What a treat! ๐
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18. The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
This was such a lovely little story that I immediately bought a copy for my niece upon finishing it. Itโs a Japanese bestseller that was recently translated. I sped-read on a chair in the Tempe Public Library because I was almost finished and wanted to return it before dayโs end so someone else could enjoy it.
Itโs about a delightful little story inspired by a myth I was not aware of that cats return favors to those who show them love and care for them. Apparently, cats are a symbol of good luck in Japan.
The star (literally and figuratively) of this book is a mysterious coffee shop like no other that appears under a glittering Kyoto moon, but the location varies. Did I mention itโs run by talking cats? Every person featured in the book is going through a trying time and the Full Moon Coffee Shop is always exactly what they needed. Loved it! ๐
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19. When the Night Comes Falling: A Requiem for the Idaho Student Murder by Howard Blum
Although this book was marketed as a โdefinitive inside storyโ into the now notorious murders of four college students in Idaho, (as the nurse administering my annual flu shot at CVS pointed out) it canโt beโฆbecause there hasnโt been a trial yet.
The book does offer a ton of (salacious) details about the crime itself, including a detailed timeline and what all the parties were doing leading up to the horrific events on Nov. 13, 2022. Itโs written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Howard Blum. The book also does a deep dive into the suspect and his past, speculating on what may have led up to this Manon-like massacre. ๐
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20. Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls by Susan Seidelman
This memoir is from the director of the 80s movie โDesperately Seeking Susanโ starring Madonna and Susanna Arquette. As soon as I knew thatโs who she was, I was totally in on this book. Insights into the making of both the movie and the woman whom I idolize? Yes, please! It was cool to discover Seidelman was one of the few female directors in the 70s. Geez, Hollywoodโฆ She loved telling stories featuring unconventional women in unusual circumstances. I loved her story about shooting with Madonna and witnessing her dramatic rise to fame by the amount of onlookers on-set as they shot the film. It turns out, Seidelman directed the pilot episode of โSex And The Cityโ on HBO. Learn something new eโrr day! She includes plenty about her upbringing as a โrestless teenager.โ She enrolled in NYU In 1973, and the rest is history. This book is like dishing with a really cool and smart filmmaker friend for hours at a bar with a couple of bottles of wine. ๐ฌ
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21. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
This book was on a ton of โbest of listsโ last year. It was a Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller in 2024. Thatโs admittedly one of the main reasons I checked it out from the library. I liked it so much that I had to eventually buy it because I was hooked but couldnโt extend the due date since itโs a new release and highly coveted. I really enjoyed that itโs a slow burn mystery with dark history, family drama, and high-level social commentary. Itโs about a family-run summer camp named Adirondack with a ton of tradition, history and even more secrets.
It takes place in 1975 and starts with one of the campers, 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar, vanishing from the premises. Sheโs also the daughter of the summer campโs longtime owners. And itโs not the only time someone in that family has gone missing. Letโs just say I could not have predicted that ending in a million years. ๐น
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22. Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
I really enjoyed this book because of the mother-daughter-granddaughter dynamic. Itโs a multi-generational whodunnit with a lot of heart and just the right amount of true crime. It starts with teenaged Jack discovering a body while on the job on a kayaking tour. She lives with her mom, Beth, and her badass grandmother Lana Rubicon, who was a high-powered real estate agent in Los Angeles before she got cancer and went to live with them as she recovers.
The Rubicon trio go full-on detective mode once Jack is suspected in the homicide. Lana is itching for some excitement so this presents the perfect opportunity for her to get into character and get to the bottom of things. She stumbles upon longtime family secrets, feuds and plans of revenge. It was cool to see how the trio of women truly only had each other to lean on as they solved this mystery โ forging an even stronger bond than they had before. ๐
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23. Colored Television by Danzy Senna
The premise of this book got me hot under the collar. Itโs about a writer named Jane who is working on her sophomore novel. Sheโs unsure if itโs any good and nobody seems to give her a straight answer. She is counting on it being her golden ticket to tenure at the university where she teaches. Also, Jane and her family have been โborrowingโ homes to live in while she writes the book. Not an ideal situation. She eventually turns to Hollywood after meeting a slick-talking producer who is dying to get his hands on โdiverse content.โ (yep). Is this her big break? She is asked to help create โthe greatest biracial comedy ever.โ But, of course, things donโt always go as planned. ๐บ
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24. Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson
I loved this book so much I passed it on to my mom after I finished and now she is enjoying it, too! It was recommended by โCult Literโ podcast host Spencer Henry. (Not to be confused with Tyler Henry) Author Laura Lynne Jackson is also a psychic medium so is able to offer some serious insight signs and signals from โthe other side.โ She is able to communicate with loved ones who have passed and share messages that offer great relief to the grieving. I was particularly interested in knowing how I can forge my bond with my late grandmother by seeing all of the signs she may be sending me.
Anyone can see the signs, if we know what weโre looking for. I loved how she shared real stories from her experience so the readers can see true-life stories of people who have had incredible experiences that can only mean signs from our dearly departed. ๐
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25. Tacky: Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer by Rax King
This collection of essays is highly entertaining and feels like weโre snooping on the authorโs diary. Her millennial insights on coming of age in the naughts are nostalgic, hilariously dated and deeply cringe-worthy. Think shopping at Hot Topic, idolizing โJersey Shoreโ and overanalyzing the Cheesecake Factory.
There are more than a few vulnerable entries where you sense the author is baring her soul and you canโt help but empathize. Also, maybe you relate to one or two of her missteps and insecurities. ๐ธ
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January 2025
This month I went down the rabbit hole with A Good Girlโs Guide to Murder series and other books, podcasts, movies and TV shows!
๐This month I went down the rabbit hole with these books, podcasts, movies and TV shows! ๐ฐ
Books
I devoured the entire โA Good Girlโs Guide to Murderโ series by Holly Jackson by the end of the month. It had been a while since I read a Young Adult novel but now I see why theyโre so popular! The story was so entertaining and the language flowed so effortlessly that I felt like I was speed-reading.
Thereโs โA Good Girlโs Guide to Murder,โ โGood Girl, Bad Blood,โ โAs Good as Deadโ and a prequel novella that came out after the third book titled โKill Joy.โ โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
GIF courtesy of Daksha Giri (@dakshagiri)
I read 25 books last year! Check out the list of books here!
Podcasts
Check out โThe Con: Kaitlynโs Baby.โ
I did not see this podcast comingโฆ Just when you think youโve seen it all, thereโs a scam like this.
Movies
Watched โNosferatuโ on Jan. 15 starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgรฅrd in the titular character. I absolutely loved the movie โ particularly the feel and the setting. It reminded me of the book โThe Woman in Black.โ Every frame in the film felt like a fine art painting. It is very violent and gory, but isnโt that what we signed up for?
Also watched โThe Substanceโ at the end of December which most definitely left an impression on me. It stars the iconic Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Refer to male gaze critiqueโฆ
TV Shows
Itโs baaaaaaack! โSeverance,โ that is. The quirky quarter is back and itโs weirder than ever. I love it! We catch up with Mark, Helly, Irving and Dylan as they come back from their โoutieโ world. There is a major surprise twist at the end of the fourth episode. Fans of the show can also listen to a behind-the-scenes โSeveranceโ podcast that drops immediately after each episode hosted by Adam Scott and Ben Stiller where they chat with actors and other key players from the show.
I got hooked! Have you seen โMean Girl Murdersโ on Max?
Letโs talk books, art, podcasts, and living life creatively
This blog is intended for book lovers and those who love to read. But full disclosure: I will also write about provocative podcasts Iโm listening to that you may also enjoy. And I will occasionally write about TV shows and movies, too.
Hello, friends!
Welcome to my book blog and digital scrapbook. Thank you for visiting. I am thrilled that you are here!
This blog is primarily for readers and book lovers. But full disclosure: I will occasionally write about provocative podcasts Iโm listening to or TV shows and movies that I think are interesting, too.
My hope is that you will find these observations and recommendations entertaining โ and maybe even a bit helpful when looking for what to read or listen to or watch next.
I will write about my favorite books, new authors Iโm excited to read, book sales I encounter and more relevant topics I hope will be useful to my fellow readers.
I am a lifelong avid reader but picked up some serious speed about 8 years ago. Since then, I have kept a spreadsheet with all the books Iโve read and I often want to recommend some of my favorite reads to more people than just family and friends.
Last year (2024) I set a personal goal to read 12 books and Iโm happy to report that I doubled that goal by reading 25! This year I set a goal of 15 books and I have two books under my belt so far in 2025 so I should be just fine.
I am a writer and photographer based in Southern Arizona. I currently live in Tempe. Iโve written for publications like Upworthy and Buzzfeed and am currently a writer at Arizona State Universityโs Knowledge Enterprise. Before that I was a digital producer for 3TV/azfamily and later for RightThisMinute.
The current goal is to share at least one article a week, but may post more often as we go along. Next up, Iโll be writing about the 25 books I read in 2024.
I invite you to subscribe to my digital scrapbook as I embark on this new and exciting chapter of Alice in Pictureland.
Please feel free to comment with your favorite books, what youโre currently reading, or what you would like to see in this blog.
Find me on Goodreads! Letโs have some fun, shall we?
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