Rural Voices

I devoured this collection of stories about small towns, back roads, first love, show pigs, college, and teens. First off I really appreciated the diversity in this collection: Black, LatinX, LGBTQ, indigenous teens, a wheelchair user, and teens from other walks of life really helped round out this collection and help make it fresh. Second off the authors all had compelling and heartfelt stories that grab readers attention with only a handful of pages. The stories, poems, and comics take place all over the United States in small rural communities and help challenge the way that many Americans view them. These teens aren't uneducated hicks - they've got full and unique lives ahead of them. Personally, I loved every story and I couldn't even narrow it down to which one was my favorite. An excellent collection I will definitely pick up again!

Fox 8

I don't know what I was expecting, but I will admit, I picked up this book because it was small and it was beautiful Fox 8 is a dark short story about an endearing fox who is enamored by humans. He sits outside of a house night after night listening to the mother read to her children and over time Fox 8 learns how to speak like a "Yuman" and read. He puts his newfound skills to use for his pack to discover what is going on to their forest. Land is being clear and there are more trucks and white boxes every day. Soon their environment is gone and they are starving. Fox 8 is not so impressed with the yumans now. A chilling tale from a cute wolfs perspective on humans screwing up the environment.

The Grownup

Super quick, super weird, and super fun. I read this lil' baby book over my lunch break and i thoroughly enjoyed it. Upgraded from giving hand jobs in the back of the psychic/tarot reading/palmistry shop our protagonist becomes an aura interpreter making up stuff about people's "auras." It may not be glamorous but it pays the bills and it's saving her from the carpel tunnel setting in from years of handies. One day a smart, wealthy woman comes in with a real dilemma. The house is haunted, her stepson is acting weird and please oh please would she come look at it and see if she can fix the houses' aura?  The story takes some unexpected turns and leaves the reader wondering, where does the evil really lie? A fun read.

Drunken Fireworks

At first, the ridiculousness of the narrator's voice annoyed me, but as I stuck with it, I fell in love with his storytelling. It's rough, drunk, and redneck sounding and fits the vibe of the story perfectly. This latest short story by Stephen King tells of an escalating fireworks battle between two lakeside neighbors. Each year the two try to outdo each other until the inevitable happens. Hilariously told, this is a must for fans of Stephen King and short stories.

Darkness Under the Sun

It's been years since I've read a Dean Koontz book so I thought I would test the waters by reading one of his short stories. "Darkness Under the Sun" sheds light on childhood innocence and naivety and how it can be broken. Eleven year old Howie, a sad, laughed at, scarred little boy encounters the terrifying Mr. Blackwood on one of his afternoon adventures. Howie is at first terrified of the stranger's menacing and horrifying appearance, but soon begins to like the odd man because they seem to have much in common. Mr. Blackwood knows what it's like to be pitied and laughed at, the ugliness on the outside doesn't have to reflect what's on the inside (or so Howie thinks). Howie won't realize until it's too late just how sinister and evil this man is, but by then, what innocence he had will be long gone. A chilling tale, with a thoughtful conclusion.

The Strange Library

Bizarre, but oddly satisfying read. It's only about a thirty minute read, but in that time there's enough development and plot to keep you going. A young boy enters a library searching for answers. Once he is directed to room 107 he finds that he may never get the chance to leave. An old twisted librarian keeps him hostage in a labyrinth and his only chance at escape is with a doughnut loving sheep man and a mysteriously beautiful girl. The awesome graphics help keep this crazy story going and it's clear that this short story had some beginning in a dream or nightmare. It's clever and intriguing, I only wish librarians were painted in a better light ;) In Haruki Murakami's book, they like to feast on juicy knowledge filled brains. As the sheep man says: " If all they [librarians] did was lend out knowledge for free, what would the payoff be for them?" Brain sucking librarians aside, I really enjoyed this fanciful little tale. Worth a read for the pictures and amazing cover alone.

The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains

LOVED this. As always Gaiman brilliantly brings to life an old tale, "a tale of travel and darkness with pictures of all kinds." It's a quick read and you will have it done within an hour, but the story will stick with you. It's mesmerizing and powerful in its simplicity and raw emotion. It's hard to summarize this book without giving too much away. Just know that the haunting illustrations and great story-line are worth an hour of your life. Gaiman is a master of the dark otherworlds; this story of vengeance, adventure, and shadow is no exception.