Broken Links, No More Polyvore, + The Future of Book Style

Quick note to apologize that most of (all of?) my Book Styles are showing dead image links at the moment. Polyvore, the website I used to create them, sold to Ssense earlier this year. I'm going to get the images updated based off of my archives as soon as possible. 

For the future I probably won't be creating new  Book Styles until I can upgrade my home computer to something that will play nicer with Photoshop. I will definitely still be blogging about books when it strikes my fancy. 

For those of you who don't follow me on Book Riot, I'll be cross-posting all of my older Book Riot posts here soon, too. 

Thanks all!

2017: A Year In Books

2017 was not the greatest year. It was a trying year for my country. 'Nuff said.  Then, between the stress of relocating across country again, and my mental health taking a nose dive into extra-ville, I think it's fair to say that my seven-year relationship's endurance was tested. I've come out of this trial-filled year with some important lessons about myself learned and with more determination to make 2018 kick ass than ever before, so every cloud does have a silver lining, I guess.

One thing that didn't suck in 2017 was that I finally got my reading mojo back! I really want to take a moment here to thank Multnomah County Library. Every city I've lived in has had a solid public library system, but it wasn't until this move to Portland this past Spring that I really embraced it. I think it's a combination of Multnomah County's great inventory, easy to find and use locations, and, probably most importantly, a stellar app that let's me place items on hold, extend holds and checkouts, and check due dates all from my phone. Also, to the awesome librarian who joined in my search for diverse children's picture books on world mythologies AND didn't judge me for getting distracted by Not Quite Narwhal, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Another big contributor to my reading mojo returning, which still wouldn't have happened without my library access, was my Nancy Drew Review project. While I've been terrible about posting updates for the NDR, I have been steadily reading my way through the original 64 books. There hasn't been a lot of rhyme or reason to the order I'm reading in, it's largely determined by what I find on the shelf at the library and which titles appeal most to me. Right now I am halfway through the NDR with 32 out of 64 books read. I've learned that it takes me almost exactly 2 hours to read one of them, making them excellent filler/reading slump books. At the moment, I need to whittle my current TBR down a bit before I check any more Nancy Drews out, I might just back in in a few weeks.

Like I said, if 2017 was only good for one thing, it was good for me falling back in love with books and reading. I completed a total of 85 books in 2017. I tracked my reading throughout the year on Goodreads, because it's easiest on the go, and the barcode scan function helps me make sure I pick the correct edition.

Towards the end of the year I started populating a spreadsheet with expanded data so I could be a total #datanerd and have all my charts and graphs. If you want a complete list of everything I read this year, check out my Goodreads: 2017 Reads Shelf.

My favorite read this year was Wicked Like A Wildfire by Lana Popović - it was magical, has me anticipating the next in the series, and just really inspired me. My least favorite read was Zombies Vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier - I was disappointed, didn't end up enjoying most of the stories, and had to make myself finish it. 

In 2018, I'm aiming for 100 books read, but I'm over feeling pressured by that goal. It'll either happen or it won't. But I do want to continue reading women, authors of color, queer authors, and works in translation (which was only 3.5% of my reading in 2017). I'm also really committing to Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge this year. 

So how was your 2017 in books? Any goals for 2018? If you want to see the books I'm especially excited about in 2018, check out my Most Anticipated Books of 2018 post. 

Most Anticipated Books Of 2018

It's a new year full of exciting new releases. Here are the titles I'm most excited about in 2018:

Neon in Daylight by Hermione Hoby - January 9th (Catapult)

"What do you get when a writer of extreme intelligence, insight, style and beauty chronicles the lives of self-absorbed hedonists--The Great Gatsby, Bright Lights, Big City, and now Neon in Daylight. Hermione Hoby paints a garish world that drew me in and held me spellbound. She is a marvel." --Ann Patchett

This one had been all over the Most Anticipated lists, and despite not seeming to be in my lane, it keeps calling to me. 

Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee - January 16th (Pamela Dorman)

Sisters and mental illness are two categories I'm always drawn to and this novel has both at its heart. Might make my sister read this one with me. 

Peach by Emma Glass - January 23rd (Bloomsbury)

"Something has happened to Peach. Staggering around the town streets in the aftermath of an assault, Peach feels a trickle of blood down her legs, a lingering smell of her anonymous attacker on her skin. It hurts to walk, but she manages to make her way to her home, where she stumbles into another oddly nightmarish reality: Her parents can't seem to comprehend that anything has happened to their daughter.

The next morning, Peach tries to return to the routines of her ordinary life, going to classes, spending time with her boyfriend, Green, trying to find comfort in the thought of her upcoming departure for college. And yet, as Peach struggles through the next few days, she is stalked by the memories of her unacknowledged trauma. Sleeping is hard when she is haunted by the glimpses of that stranger's gaping mouth. Working is hard when her assailant's rancid smell still fills her nostrils. Eating is impossible when her stomach is swollen tight as a drum. Though she tries to close her eyes to what has happened, Peach at last begins to understand the drastic, gruesome action she must take."

This is going to be an emotional read. 

Brave by Rose McGowan - January 30th (HarperOne)

I feel like the Rose McGowan I had filed away from my high school years and the Rose McGowan crusading for feminism today are so different that I need to read this memoir to really understand who this woman is. If you're going to have heroines, you should know all about them, right? #metoo

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton - February 6th (Freeform)

"Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful."

Some books were just written for me. 

The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara - February 6th (Ecco)

"A gritty and gorgeous debut that follows a cast of gay and transgender club kids navigating the Harlem ball scene of the 1980s and '90s, inspired by the real House of Xtravaganza made famous by the seminal documentary Paris Is Burning"

The gritty glamour of New York in the '80s and the club kid scene is fascinating to me. 

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi - February 13th (Grove)

"An extraordinary debut novel, Freshwater explores the surreal experience of having a fractured self. It centers around a young Nigerian woman, Ada, who develops separate selves within her as a result of being born "with one foot on the other side." Unsettling, heartwrenching, dark, and powerful, Freshwater is a sharp evocation of a rare way of experiencing the world, one that illuminates how we all construct our identities."

I'm so excited to read this one. I love unique points of view from narrators and with the narration shifting between Ada's personalities, this should be unreliable narrative at its finest. 

Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World by Mackenzi Lee, illustrated by Petra Eriksson - February 27th (Abrams)

If you want to get a taste for this one, go check out Lee's Twitter tag #bygonebadassbroads. Y'all know I get excited when history, feminism, and beautiful illustrations all come together, right?

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - March 6th (Henry Holt)

I really hope this book lives up to all of its hype. I mean, the movie is already in development and the first book in the series is still 3 months away! Sinking my teeth into 544 (!) pages of young adult fantasy debut that blends magic, West African influences, and current racial politics together is something I am truly looking forward to. 

The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Mallory Ortberg - March 13th (Holt)

"Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster updates traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief."

I love me a fractured, reworked, modernized, darkened, or whatever fairy tale retelling. If you never read any of Ortberg's "Children's Stories Made Horrific" at The Toast, you've got a couple of months to catch up. 

The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton - March 13th (Candlewick)

The cover alone would've drawn me in, but after to reading Walton's debut - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender - I will literally read anything she writes. I just know that this tale of witch curses and teenage angst is going to be perfection. Sadly, I do not thing Vincent Price plays any sort of role. 

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles - March 20th (Little, Brown)

"The Hate U Give meets All American Boys in this striking and heartbreaking debut novel, commenting on current race relations in America."

Which reminds me that I need to get around to reading The Hate U Give. 

Macbeth by Jo Nesbø - April 10th (Hogarth)

"Set in the 1970s in a run-down, rainy industrial town, Jo Nesbø's Macbeth centers around a police force struggling to shed an incessant drug problem. Duncan, chief of police, is idealistic and visionary, a dream to the townspeople but a nightmare for criminals. The drug trade is ruled by two drug lords, one of whom--a master of manipulation named Hecate--has connections with the highest in power, and plans to use them to get his way."

Nesbø, one of my favorite Scandinavian crime writers, has reworked my favorite work of Shakespeare. April can't get here soon enough. 

Who Is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht - June 12th (Tin House)

"An exhilarating page turner and perceptive coming-of-age story, Who Is Vera Kelly? introduces an original, wry and whip-smart female spy for the twenty-first century."

Yup. I'm here for that.

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum by Jennifer O'Toole - July 3rd (Skyhorse)

"Beyond being a memoir, Autism in Heels is a love letter to all women. It's a conversation starter. A game changer. And a firsthand account of what it is to walk in Jennifer's shoes (especially those iconic red stilettos)."

This one is pretty close to home for me. I'm not sure if I'm more excited or scared to read it, honestly. 

Fierce Like a Firestorm by Lana Popović - August 21st (Katherine Tegen)

Popović's debut Wicked Like A Wildfire might be my favorite read of 2017. As much as I love discovering a great new YA series, I am super impatient when it comes to waiting on sequels. Come on, August, I need my Montenegrin witchy fix. 

Book Style: Jaya and Rasa

I'm kind of obsessed with this book. Jaya and Rasa is the second book from author Sonia Patel. I'd seen her debut, Rani Patel in Full Effect, several times and was always drawn towards the cover, but I don't have a huge interest in hip hop culture, so I never picked it up. When I crossed paths with Jaya and Rasa and saw the Nirvana links, I knew I had to read this it. And am I glad I did! Here's my review from Book Riot's Best Queer Books of 2017: 

I rarely, oh so very rarely, appreciate non-fantastical YA. I fell head over heels for Sonia Patel’s newest, Jaya and Rasa, from the moment I spotted its stunning cover in the library. I appreciate so much getting to know these two wounded characters from pre-adolescence. Jaya is a transgender teenage boy, something his traditionally-minded Gujarati family would never accept. Despite not being able open up at home, he manages to find his own identity thanks to Nirvana, guitars, charity work, and a best friend who also doesn’t fit in well at his snooty prep school. Rasa has been forced to grow up too fast thanks to being forced to become provider to her younger siblings. When she thinks things might be looking up, despite CPS separating her from her younger brother and sisters, she finds herself trapped in the life of a high-end prostitute. Jaya and Rasa is less Romeo and Juliet in Honolulu, as it’s been billed, and more of a painfully honest look at what growing up “other” is like. Nothing is sugar-coated, the reality is bleak and honest, but Patel gives us just a bright enough glimmer of hope to keep reading, to keep going.

For this Book Style, I envisioned an evolved and more relaxed Rasa. A Rasa who is finally healing and not feeling the need to be overly sexualized 24/7.  A Rasa who loves, supports, and shares passions with her rock star boyfriend. A Nirvana tee was a must, of course. I paired the t-shirt with a pair of "Love Story" flares and "Oahu" platform slides. So, basically, I made this into my standard high school uniform. Class of 2002, baby! Woo! Anyways, I digress. I also gave Rasa the option of having a swimsuit handy since she loves to surf and free dive. I thought this "Teen Spirit" one piece was kind of perfect. It also makes me want sorbet. 

For the accessories I chose a neon pink "Sweety Charity" bag as a nod to Jaya's charity work and a "Munro Blossom Muse" scarf because I'm pretty sure Jaya wouldn't argue with me calling Rasa a Blossom Muse. Around the neck is a "Pimp Aigrette" stunner of a necklace, around the wrist is an "LGBT Pride Awareness" bracelet, and on the ring finger (or whichever finger) is a guitar wrap ring. For the earrings I decided on mixing two singles together: One ear can rock the "White Widow Leaf" ear jacket, which I chose because I prefer Rasa being a white widow instead of the black widow her mother conditioned her to be, and the other ear can rock a hoop with a chunk of molten rock, apropos of Hawaii, of course. 

For the final touches I went with cosmetics. Elizabeth and James' "Nirvana White" perfume is a floral, slightly exotic scent that is perfect for Rasa. She can coat her nails in a holographic and glittery "Crush on Lava" nail lacquer and coat her lips with "Shame" lipstick (to remind herself that she should never feel ashamed). Top off the look with a retro-tastic pair of "Classic 11 Surf" shades and Rasa's look is complete. 

Book Style: Dune

I haven't done a Book Style in forever and a day and my crazy ass decides to start back up with an all brown one. I just really enjoy the Penguin Galaxy Collection and it's the first Dune cover I actually liked! So here's a Dune Book Style for y'all. The general aesthetic is less related to the book and more of a modern desert traveler vibe. 

Let's start with the outfit proper: A Dune shirt designed by Daretown Kindling is a great base layer under a "Melange" open back sweater. I paired them with a pair of sturdy "Paul" chino trousers in a dreamy chocolate brown. Cinch the waist with a tiger-head belt and throw a pair of "Desert" chukka boots on your feet. On your head, a panama style hat will keep all of the elements out of your eyes. 

For the accessories I chose a tooth ring, a Muad'Dib (aka a mouse) necklace, centipede full-finger ring, and a pair of worm earrings. I added a Dune book cover pin and a Kynes' Imperial Teardrop Mark Of Rank pin (I like the idea of doing several of these). Add a pair of "Jessica" sunglasses and a couple of coats of this metallic "Sand" nail lacquer and you'll be all set to save the empire, or grab coffee with friends. 

Bookmarks Survey

I'm doing research for an article and would really appreciate it if you could answer this brief two-question survey. 


Thanks!

Link Love: 12.14.17

Good googly mooglies! It has been forever since I posted a Link Love. I mean, it's kind of been forever since I posted anything, but, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Let's not dwell on the past, shall we? Here's a round up of some of the best bookish things I've compiled for you over the past couple of months. 

READ:

• I am so pleased with the diversity on my local library's Best Books of 2017 list! Way to be amazing Multnomah County!
• Caleb Green is my new hero. This adorable 4-year-old read 100 books (!) in one day. Because he wanted to!
• Enjoy this Harry Potter chapter written by a predictive text bot. I need a "Hermione Has Forgotten How To Dance" shirt now. 
• Language is political: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year is 'feminism', Global Language Monitor's Word of the Year is 'truth', and Dictionary.com's Word of the Year is 'complicit'. (Still waiting to see what word/s the Oxford English Dictionary and the American Dialect Society announce.)
• Judge books by their covers: Paste's 30 Best Book Covers of 2017. What would you add to this list?
• The first poster for the upcoming Ready Player One movie was released and I suspect Photoshop was used. Poorly. 
• Redcurrant and blackcurrant jelly may have eluded poor Meg Brooks née March in Little Women, but if you follow this recipe you can master it! It sounds delicious and I am not on the hunt for currants. 
• Cover design forecast for 2018. I have zero complaints about any of these trends. 
• Okay, I can follow the logic on banning the pop-up version of A Charlie Brown Christmas (you could hide weapons in it), but I fail to see how Freakanomics could incite a riot where Mein Kampf is okay. If you want to see the entire list of what books are banned in the Texas prison system, you can here. 
• It's so hard not buy books for everyone because, well, BOOKS! But this article makes a good point about not buying books for non-readers this holiday. I'd be mad if someone bought me golf clubs just because they like to golf, because I do not like to golf. 
• Speaking of prisoners and books, an Oakland firefighter is collecting books for inmate fire crews through December. 
• I'm not sure I agree 100% with Eco's logic, but I love that my "antilibrary" is a good thing, especially since I have a small addiction to my library hold function.
• NPR's 2017 Book Concierge is here. 
• "The skin along her arms and shoulders are different shades of tan like water stains in a bathtub." is the line that earned Christopher Bollen this year's "Bad Sex in Fiction" award. 
• Carrie Fisher has been nominated for a posthumous Grammy for the audiobook of The Princess Diarist. Miss her. 
• Why ARE children's authors so eccentric?

BUY:

• Obvious State's 2018 Bibliophilia Mini Calendar is stunning! (Of course it is, everything they make is.)
• I'd be okay if my house smelled like Frostbeard Studios' The Shire candle all the time. 
• Who needs the Sorting Hat when you can have your very own Sorting Candle!
• Literary Rocks Glasses for the book AND booze loving person in your life. FYI, I am that person, and I prefer the Sherlock Holmes one. Thank you in advance. 
• This is the coolest bookish necklace I've seen in ages!
• I LOL'd at this Bookmarks Are For Quitters t-shirt. 
• My husband just made me a tealight holder, so I am all about these Mini Library Scented Tea Lights!
• These Mrs. Darcy nail wraps are gorgeous. 
• Juniper Books' We Write, We Rise collection of female American writers is everything my feminist, lit-loving heart craves. 

Scratch And Sniff Books For Grown-Ups

This post originally appeared on Book Riot in 2014.

Every November I find myself getting incredibly nostalgic for the one Thanksgiving book I remember reading as a child: Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlín. The really great thing about this particular picture book wasn't the scruffy, gruff captain or the prim, uptight grandmother- it was the scratch-and-sniff aspect. In retrospect, I'm fairly certain our copy was a second-hand edition that probably mostly smelled like paper, ink, and mild mildew by the time it came our way, but I loved the interactive quality of the scratch-and-sniff. Scratch-and-sniff is an underutilized gimmick when it comes to books, but they do still exist, though mostly for children. But they're not all intended for the kiddos. I've rounded up some of the best PG-13 scratch-and-sniff titles for your olfactory pleasure.

DK has put out a their fair share of scratch-and-sniff board books over the years, generally aimed at the still-in-diapers set. But nine-year-old boys, and far more overgrown children will surely appreciate the grosser-than-a-bogey-flavoured-bean The Truly Tasteless Scratch & Sniff Book. This book is disgusting, fascinating, and nauseating. Scents include feces, vomit, halitosis, and gas and are all accompanied by the science behind their foulness. Proceed with caution with this one.

Backstage with Beth and Trina: A Scratch-and-Sniff Adventure by Julie Blattberg. Because who doesn't want a scratch-and-sniff representation of their bad decisions? These scents aren't all pretty; strawberry lipgloss and leather compete with stale beer, smoke, and vomit. No guarantees you won't experience a major, and possibly traumatic, flashback from this one.

My First Book of Smells and Colours: Garden by Orianne Lallemand might be intended for kids, but with clean, poppy design and authentic herb and veggie aromas, wouldn't it make a lovely gift for the home gardener in your life? The smells include rose, lilac, fir tree, onion, strawberry, lavendar, and mint. Other titles in this series are Fruit (strawberry, orange, cherry, apple, peach, banana, and coconut), and Kitchen by Zade Zade (chocolate, banana, onion, vanilla, grapefruit, mint, mango).

The Smelly Old History series by Mary Dobson takes an interesting approach to engaging the reader with history. The series includes Victorian Vapours, Reeking Royals, Medieval Muck, Wartime Whiffs, Greek Grime, Mouldy Mummies, Tudor Oudors, Roman Aromas, and Vile Vikings, among others. These books are heavier on text and actually history than on scratch-and-sniff panels, but the combo of history and grotesque aromas is so appealing in its weirdness.

The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert: Take a Whiff of That by Richard Betts is one of the most practical uses of scratch-and-sniff technology I've ever seen. This is just brilliant. You can learn genuinely useful skills from this book! It uses the scents to walk your nose through the basic noses: the woods, the fruits, and the earths allowing you to impress people right out of their pants at your next party.

Instant Touch: A Tropical Scratch and Sniff by Belly Kids features some stunning upcoming illustrators' interpretations of your basic fruits (grape, cherry, watermelon, etc.) along with the accompanying aroma. This is as much a piece of sweetly-scented art as it is a children's book. Whether coffee table or nursery bound, it's a multi-sensory experience worth having.

Finally, Harley Quinn Annual #1. It's been dubbed rub-and-smell instead of scratch-and-sniff for legal reasons, but I think it comes off as uber creepy, so I'm henceforth refusing to ever use the term rub-and-smell again. This reboot of Punkin's psychotic right-hand gal is centered around Harley attempting to jailbreak Poison Ivy out of Arkham when she is taken down by a powerful hallucinogen. An Ivy/Harley comic heavy on the nonsense and with scented, fourth-wall-breaking asides from the anti-heroine.

Nancy Drew Review: The Message In The Hollow Oak

It's time for another installment of the Nancy Drew Review project. The Message in the Hollow Oak was my third reread of the 64 original titles. For those of you intrigued by Carolyn Keene not being real, since I keep bringing it up, here's a nice chart that goes over the ghostwriting process for these 64 books. 

  

Side note: Anybody have any recommendations for me for easy-to-use video editing apps or software? Preferably free. Preferably. 

Nancy Drew Review: The Spider Sapphire Mystery

Okay, I'm back with another video in my Nancy Drew Review project. Apologies for the handheld shakiness, I wanted to sit in my comfy chair and still have good light. I'm going to be a pro at these videos by the time I finish all 64 books!

Nancy Drew Review: The Bungalow Mystery

Introducing the Nancy Drew Review Project. For the next few months - assuming it takes that long - I'll be rereading my way through all of the classic Nancy Drew stories.

I've decided to do a short(ish) video review following each one where I go ever my thoughts on the books, characters, and series as a whole. I'm a terrible rambler, so I'll apologize in advance for that. Below is my first video for the project.

Since I won't be creating a book style for each of these, you should really check out my Book Style for Confessions of a Teen Sleuth by Chelsea Cain.

Book Style: 1984

This post originally appeared on Book Riot in 2015.

When I wrote this post 1.5 years ago, I was fresh off of laughing at the absurdity of Donald Trump throwing his hat into the election ring. Now we have President Trump's staff offering blatant lies "alternative facts"during press conferences. We have scientists being silenced. We have women's reproductive rights being stripped away. This might not be as fictional of a work as it used to be, sadly.

1984, or Nineteen Eighty-Four depending on which edition you have, is one of those novels I would’ve read even if it wasn’t George Orwell’s most famous, or assigned reading in the majority of U.S. high schools (an irony that is not lost on me). 1984 was the year I was born and I can’t not read a book that is named after the year I graced this fair planet with my glorious presence! All not-so-humble bragging aside, I really enjoy good dystopic fiction and satire and Orwell is the king of that genre. Without 1984 and its predecessor, Huxley’s Brave New World, there would be no Hunger Games, The Giver, Divergent, Maze Runner, or their ilk. 1984 brought the concepts and vocabulary of Newspeak, Big Brother, and Thought Police into the public consciousness. If you have ever uttered the phrase “Big Brother is watching you” and haven’t read this novel, shame on you. Fix that nonsense now.

Doing a Book Style for The dystopian novel wasn’t easy. None of these personality-filled wardrobe items would be acceptable for any of Oceania’s residents, but dammit I would try! I’m in the mood for casual weekend wear, so that’s what I focused on here. If you’re reading a novel as cynical and foreboding as 1984, you need to be relaxed and comfy. We have “1984” boyfriend jeans whose tie to the novel should be fairly obvious and a “Gin” sweatshirt tee for Winston’s “Victory” branded gin. A pair of “Julia” sandals, for Winston’s love interest, and a crisp white belt polish off the base outfit. For the accessories I included a “1984” tote bag, some “Propaganda” sunglasses, a “Big Brother Is Watching You” phone case, and two nail lacquers in “Caught Your Eye” (for the ever-watchfulness of the Thought Police) and “Private Weekend” (for Winston and Julia’s failed attempts to keep their affair private). Finishing it all off is the jewelry: an “Orwell” necklace, a “Big Brother Is Watching You” bracelet, an “Obey” cipher ring, and a pair of coral earrings for the shattered coral paperweight *cough* blatant symbolism *cough*.

Now stay aware, alert, and behaved. And remember, WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH!

Book Style: Dracula

This post originally appeared on Book Riot in 2014.



Dracula is THE classic monster novel. The salacious sexuality of the story and of the titular character have been drawing readers, and later moviegoers, by the hundreds for over a century now. While classically depicted in black and white with captivating touches of blood red, this edition from Penguin let me explore a more flamboyant costume for a Lady Dracula (with Winona’s Mina firmly in mind).

There’s a lot going on here, so let’s start with base layers. Sex appeal and vampires go hand-in-hand, so sumptuous lingerie was a must and this “Bat Your Lashes” bra and panty set is kind of perfect. Yellow tights for a kick of color and because, vampire or no, a lady does not expose bare legs to the public. Next up, a silky blouse with a necktie that evokes a gentleman’s cravat, and a flouncy bustled skirt – I know a proper Victorian lady would not be sporting anything above-the-knee, but when scaling buildings to assault woo your love, you need mobility. Some spiky “London” brogues and a lush, fur-collared “Mina” coat complete the main ensemble.

Let’s run through all of the blood-thirsty accessories, too: A Dracula necklace, stake earrings, fang knuckleduster ring, crimson “Blooming Love” engagement ring, “Paranormal” UV reactive nail lacquer, and a batty clutch polish off our Lady Dracula.

Book Style: Heart Of Darkness

This post originally appeared on Book Riot in 2014.



Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness has proven to be perpetually controversial, first for its chastisement of colonialism and native subjugation and exploitation, and later for stereotyping race. Personally, while horribly racist in his description and treatment of native characters, I applaud Conrad for trying to bring attention to a horrible system, even if it focused a bit too much on the plight of the white protagonists/antagonists. A book like this will never be written again, for a variety of reasons, and, thanks in part to Apocalypse Now’s enduring popularity, it will continue to be read for years to come.

I wasn’t channeling a particular character this time around. This outfit is mostly inspired by this epically haunting cover design and the West African setting of the novel. The key elements of this outfit are an ethically sourced: an “Africa” print jacket and an easy, travel-friendly jumpsuit. Some “Congo” sandals and “Arrow” purse add the necessary (in my book anyway) gleam, while a silky scarf adds some warmth (or additional protection from mosquitoes). In the jewelry category, we have a pair of ivory skull studs, Africa earrings, an ivory bangle, a rifle necklace, and a “Slave Chain” ring. A pop of “African Violet” nail lacquer finishes up this look.

Book Style: One Kick

This post originally appeared on Book Riot in 2014.



I fell in love with Chelsea Cain’s work back when I discovered her Nancy Drew parody, Confessions of a Teen Sleuth, which is now sadly out of print. While I never became as impassioned about her Heartsick series as some of her fans, I’m incredibly thrilled with the launch of her newest novel and series. One Kick is the first of the Kick Lannigan series and if you’re a fan of thrillers you better get off your butt, run out to your local bookstore, and bring one home now. To paraphrase The New York Times review, Kick is comparable to Lisbeth Salander (you know, of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fame), but way more relatable. She’s a survivor of kidnapping and child pornography. Almost a decade later, Kick is presented with an unprecedented opportunity to help rescue other children from the same circumstances.

I gave my best effort to keep this outfit fairly true to Kick’s in-novel attire (even when faced with an incredibly sepia-colored cover). She’s a tomboy who lives in denim and hoodies when she’s not training in the dojo. Her tragic tale made her into a celebrity, something her mother continues to exploit, and Kick often sports a cap and glasses to avoid the curious stares of her neighbors. The puppy dog socks aren’t something Kick would let show to many, but they accurately reflect her undying affection for her dog, Monster. The handcuff bracelet is symbolic of her imprisonment as well as her hobby of lock-picking. The tennis ball watch is a bit kitsch but it’s also a nod to Monster and the events that get the plot rolling. The final touch is the Scrabble tile necklace. I’m not going to tell you how that ties in! I don’t want to spoil the suspense.

Book Riot: Sirens of Titan

Wow. I made this one ages ago and I completely forgot to share it with y'all. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut is the subject of today's Book Style. Vonnegut's speculative fiction novel explores the theme of free will with interplanetary conflict and exploration as a backdrop. I wanted this Book Style to be futuristic, but in a vaguely retro way. I think I achieved that.

For the main outfit we'll start with a pair of purple "Rocket" lace panties. Next we have a pair of "Winston" pants and a celestial "Stonehenge" tee. Toss a lemon-hued leather jacket on (those Martian nights get chilly), step into a shimmery pair of "Chrono" boots, and grab your "Beatrice" bag before we move onto jewelry. I added a "Siren" ring, a dog necklace (I personally decided that Kazak the Space Hound is very mastiff like because I prefer mastiffs to dobermans), a pair of "Double Titan" earrings, an "Odette Space" ring, and a sun cuff. A multi-purpose cosmetic stick epitomizes future efficiency and this magenta illuminating stick in "Quantum" is so yummy on all skin tones. Finally, lacquer those nails with vibrant "Code Purple" polish and you're all set for tackling anything the Tralfamadorians throw your way.