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  • Buy More Books (Part 3)

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    The last time I blogged about where I buy (or can potentially buy) books, I had focused on the physical locations. There is something special about going into a real store, browsing books, holding them, and looking through them. However, we live in different times, and there is something to be said for the convenience of online shopping. That’s what I would like to highlight here, friends. Now, there are hundreds of independently owned stores (some linked to a physical location and some not), so if you have a favorite site for purchasing books, keep using it! I am going to touch on some of the ones I myself use.

    Walmart, Target, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million

    Happy Place

    All those physical locations I mentioned earlier? Hey man, they have websites where you can purchase those books, too, and have them sent straight to your door! Some of them even have same-day delivery (Walmart, Target, and BAM)! So if you’re feeling a bit lazy (I feel ya) and need a book, you could always have one of those places deliver a new story right to your door! There are standard shipping options as well. All I can say is, Barnes and Noble needs to catch up with BAM on the delivery front! Wassup with that, B&N? Why ya slackin’?

    Amazon

    That’s my order…every box.

    Let’s get this one out of the way. Look, I get it. I really do. Amazon has…a lot of issues. I absolutely prefer to shop elsewhere for books, but there are some benefits to purchasing from Amazon. If a book is $30 at Barnes and you can’t justify the cost, Amazon is for sure going to have it cheaper. Maybe just a few dollars cheaper or maybe a good chunk of change cheaper, but cheaper. Also, there are so many indie authors that have their material exclusively at Amazon. I love finding authors (whose books I can only purchase on Amazon) who don’t have many reviews or ratings on Goodreads, so I can support them. Let me put it this way: I am more likely to purchase a book by a well-known author from Barnes & Noble or BAM, but I place an order on Amazon with nothing but books by authors I’ve never heard of before.

    BookOutlet

    This is easily one of my favorite places to shop for overstocked books, books that didn’t sell, and books that are way cheaper than going into any store. Is the catalog of books stable? No, if they sell out of a title, you may never see that book on the site again. Do they place a mark on the pages as a price protection measure? Yes, and rightly so. Is the box a bit of a bitch to open? Also, yes. Why do they do the things they do? I feel like I’m fighting a rabid squirrel whenever I get my order and try to get into that damned box. But this site is worth it. Free shipping if you spend $35 dollars. A few times a year, they have their $5.99 sale. Every time you make a purchase, you get points that add up to different dollar amounts off your order. Sometimes they even throw a coupon into the box your order is in to tempt you into another order. Which always works. Every. Single. Time. But it’s worth it!

    Bookshop.org

    Source

    I will admit that I have only used Bookshop.org a few times, and I really should use it more often. When you sign up, you can choose an independent bookstore. When you make a purchase, some of that profit goes back to that independent bookseller. If you don’t choose a store to support, profits from that sale will be split and shared at six-month intervals (I believe). That being said, why the hell don’t I use this site more often? What the hell is wrong with me? Siemelle must make a note to sit down this weekend and go through the site so she can put it into her regular book-buying rotation!

    Friends, that is not the end of the list. Oh, I will be back to share more places to make bad financial decisions!

    For now, go buy a book! Thems the rules.

    Siemelle

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  • The Son of Dr. Jekyll (1951)

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    Well, that wasn’t in the book!

    Starring: Louis Hayward, Jody Lawrance, Alexander Knox, and Lester Matthews (as my guy Utterson)

    Runtime: 1 hr 18 mins

    I don’t know what to say about this film!

    Neither does she

    Alright, so, apparently we are now operating on the idea that Dr. Jekyll didn’t die at the end of his story. No, he went on to have a wife and a son. A son who is desperate to prove that his father’s work can be recreated. Because of that and who his father was, everyone is all like, “Dude is suspicious AF.” They are especially suspicious when people start getting attacked and killed. Clearly, Edward is up to no good, just like his father! Yeah, apparently Dr. Jekyll named his son after the fiend who terrorized people. Interesting choice!

    Dr. Lanyon plays a role (as he did in the original story), trying to determine what is actually going on with Edward. Did Edward crack the code of his father’s experiment? And Utterson! Utterson has a daughter named Lynn, who is also Edward’s fiancée. I’m trying not to take offense that there is no last will and testament in this rendition of the story. If there were, I would imagine Edward Jekyll would leave me a chemistry set (his profession – chemist).

    I’m going to be honest. I was bored. Right in the middle of the film, I decided it was a great time to cut my toenails. Maybe I was just having an off night/week. This film wasn’t bad, but it is definitely not going to be a highlight in this Jekyll and Hyde journey.

    I do so want to do science with a chemistry set though! Be so for real, this would be a disaster in my hands!

    Source

    Siemelle

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  • Night of My Favorite Horror Movie

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    My adventures in horror movies, as you may have read previously, started with Freddy Krueger. As much as I loved that franchise growing up and as much as I adore Robert Englund, most people are surprised to find out that no film in that series has taken the crown as my favorite horror movie.

    Nightmare on Elm Street being betrayed

    Now, that first Nightmare film is within my top 20 horror movies. Absolutely! Wes Craven somehow managed to change the face of horror in three different decades. In 1972, with The Last House on the Left. Friends, check your triggers before you go into that film, please. For real, for real. In 1984, with A Nightmare on Elm Street. Then again in 1996, with Scream. Craven has more than earned his place in the horror community. Yet, none of the aforementioned films take my top spot.

    When most people in horror are asked what their ultimate movie is, there is a wide variety of answers. Some people will go a more classic route. The Shining. The Exorcist. Dawn of the Dead. All great films, but not my favorite. Some people profess their love for more modern takes of fear. Get Out. Hereditary. Obsession. Awesome for them, but not for me! Some people steer toward features that highlight gore. Terrifier. Saw. Or the old school classics. Dracula. Frankenstein. The Wolf Man. Every movie listed is amazing in its own way. But no, my friends. No. I am me, and Siemelle will sometimes step away from the crowd, pitter-patter down the side street where the scary fog gathers.

    I was, maybe, eleven or twelve when I was introduced to my favorite horror movie. Keep in mind, I was, perhaps, way too young for much of the films I watched. I say this as a way of preparing you ahead of time. Yes, some of the shenanigans pre-18-year-old me got into were pure what the fuckery. Things were overlooked. Mom and Dad, great as they were, did not monitor the materials (movies, music, books) that I placed my hands on. So, yes, I was probably eleven years old, walking through the mom-and-pop VHS rental store when my eyes came across it.

    And so my desire to be married in a black wedding dress was born

    For those of you who have seen this 1988 film that will forever live in my soul, shut up! I know! It’s not exactly high art!

    For those of you who have no idea what this movie is, it’s not The Shining. There are no standout performances by Oscar winners. There is no picture-perfect cinematography. This movie isn’t the movie you dissect to figure out what each individual frame means. Night of the Demons is not that film, but it’s so amazingly fun that I can’t feel sorry for it being my favorite.

    It’s cliché as hell. A group of teens gathers at an old, abandoned murder mansion on Halloween night (complete with every 1980s horror movie high school stereotype). One past-life seance later, everyone morphs into creepy-looking demons, with Angela at the helm. And she is glorious, my friends.

    Something weird is about to happen, isn’t it?

    It is so late-1980s that it hurts, but I love every second of it. As I said, the setup is basic, but it serves its purpose. The acting? Oh, the acting. This is not a well-acted film. And that’s okay because the questionable acting choices make this oddly charming and solidify it as a cult classic. The atmosphere is top-notch Halloween shiz, right there. I want to go to Hull House and party with the demons! The special effects are actually kinda dope. The demon make-up especially.

    Gah!

    I just love it so much. I want to sell you on this movie, but I understand that it can be difficult to love a film like this in the modern world. There are so many better-made, better-acted movies with better stories. But, come on! Take a walk on the wild side! Take a walk on the “WTF did I just watch” side.

    I leave you with this, my friends.

    Siemelle

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  • How Virgo Am I?

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    Dis me?

    I’m on TikTok. Correction: I don’t create TikToks, but I do watch a lot of other people’s content. Lately, my algorithm has brought me to my astrological sign – Virgo. I admit, I don’t know much about astrology or my own sign. I’m a September Virgo. I don’t know what that means, but TikTok creators have done their best to educate me. Which has made me wonder how many “typical Virgo traits” I have, all bursting inside of me?

    Borrowing from this site, friends.

    So, according to the author of this article. My strengths include loyalty, analytical thinking, kindness, hard work, and practicality. I mean, this could be any person, whether they are a Virgo or not, right? How does astrology work? When it comes to loyalty, is it situational or person-to-person based? Is a Pisces more likely to be loyal to an occupation but a serial cheater when it comes to their partner? Is a Scorpio kind to animals, but will pull an Edward Hyde and trample a kid? (See what I did there?) I don’t know how this works!

    Okay, am I loyal? I would say to my friends and family that I am very loyal. If I love you, there isn’t much anyone can say about you or anything you can do (unless it’s something particularly heinous like trampling a child – I got my eye on you, Scorpio!) that’s going to make me turn my back on you. Oh, understand that I am going to be pissed the fuck off if you do dumb shit, and I will certainly have thoughts, but I’m not going to turn my back on you. But I am absolutely not loyal to, say, any company or employer. Companies love to promote a certain culture, but the truth is that they can fire you on a whim and replace you the next day. So, no, I’m not particularly loyal to them. I’m there to do a job and get paid. I am under no illusion that “we’re family”. No. No, we’re not. So, that’s a caveat to the loyalty thing.

    As for being analytical? Again, which situation are we talking about? I am equally capable of looking at a situation, breaking it down into smaller parts, and figuring things out from there or making a decision solely on emotion. What kind of a day am I having? Am I having a calm day where I can think clearly and make good decisions? Or did my anxiety go up at 10:18 in the morning, and now you’re asking me to solve the mathematical probability of how quickly we can get to McDonald’s so you can get a sausage egg McMuffin before they stop serving breakfast? I don’t know, Sharon; you may have to settle for nuggets.

    Kind, hard-working, and practical? Don’t ask my sister, my supervisor, or anyone I’ve been in a relationship with, because I can’t hear that much truth at once. Everything is situational. I am not going around being mean to everyone. In fact, I like to believe that my default is to be kind because I work in customer service, and WOO, do I not want to be like certain people. That being said, if you’re, say, rude to a server in a restaurant? My head may explode. Your feelings are in danger. I think the point is, I need some more context for the strengths of being a Virgo. Or supposed strengths. Taking a look at the weaknesses, I would say I need context for those as well. I need nuance, dang it.

    However, I can break down likes and dislikes to see if there is some truth.

    Likes. Animals? Yes. Healthy food? It can be good, but I like chocolate, too. Books? …..duh. Nature? Deadly. Cleanliness? Am I depressed or not? Whether or not I am will greatly influence my views on cleaning.

    Dislikes. Rudeness? Oooooh, my goodness. I hate it so much. Why? Just why do certain people feel the need to be rude? What do you gain from it? Asking for help? I’m not a fan unless I have absolutely no other choice. Taking center stage? This is true. I’d rather not. I’d rather be off myself in a corner, judging rude people behind my book while petting a squirrel.

    In the end, I think personality traits are not exclusive to a certain astrological sign unless there is something deeper, more nuanced that separates the signs from one another when it comes to certain traits. Perhaps I’ll do more research if TikTok recommends reading material that explains how a Virgo’s loyalty and kindness differ from a Leo’s. Honestly, though, I’m kind of hoping they just show me some squirrel videos now.

    Siemelle

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  • Jekyll and Hyde, Fantasy Books, and Random Things

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    Hey, friends!

    I’ll try to make this a quick one tonight. It’s 10 pm, it was a long day at work, and I just finished watching a movie that made me tear up. Your girl is going through it today.

    Sunday night, I found two cartoons on YouTube I wanted to mention. Hyde and Go Tweet (1960), a Looney Tunes short starring Sylvester and Tweety Bird. Just over three minutes long, it’s very cute, and you should totally check it out when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store.

    Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse (1947), an MGM cartoon (now Warner Bros?) starring Tom and Jerry. Just over 7 minutes long, also very cute. When you’re standing in that line at the grocery store, watch this one to continue making the wait go faster. After you’re finished watching both, I don’t know what to tell you. You could rearrange the candy, gum, and Tic Tacs to pass the time?

    Next, I’m trying not to fall into a reading slump, so I’m going to incorporate more fantasy into my book selections. I don’t know how this is going to go, as Fantasy is one genre I struggle with more than any others. Wish me faeries? Hobbits? Gnomes? Wizards! That’s the word I’m looking for. I have no clue. Someone needs to clue me in.

    Lastly, there is not enough time in the day for me to do everything I think I should be able to do. Remember I mentioned I keep a planner to stay productive? Yeah, well, now my planner has a planner. I have a freakin’ supplemental planner! I still don’t know how this happened.

    I hope everyone made it through their Monday without eye twitches, headaches, or heavy sighs.

    Siemelle

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  • Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde (1925)

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    So silly

    Giggle

    So, Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde starring Stan Laurel (of Laurel and Hardy fame) was fun! I have heard of Laurel and Hardy, but I have never sat down and watched any of their work. This was about 30 minutes long (give or take) and most definitely a parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. After watching so many serious adaptations, it was fun to sit down and watch something so un-serious!

    Keep in mind, there was no Oliver Hardy in this film, as it was a few years before they officially became a comedic duo. However, I do kind of want to see what they were capable of together because this made me snort a few times. It has a more innocent humor (hey, it was 1925), but amusing nevertheless.

    It does follow the general story of the original text. Mr. Hy…I mean, Mr. Pryde is not as sinister as the other portrayals, though. The worst thing the guy does is steal an ice cream cone from a child (as opposed to trampling him), which is still pretty vile. I mean, I would be pissed if someone tried to steal my ice cream.

    Look, if you want something that is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adjacent and not nearly as dark, this is a good option!

    6.5/10

    Siemelle

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  • June Movies

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    Aside from the Jekyll and Hyde movies I watched in June, I fit in eight others: some new-to-me movies, some trusty rewatches. Here are those movies ranked from the ones I would be less likely to rewatch to the ones I would be down to watch again if someone requested it.

    8 – Gorgo (1961)

    WTH?

    Part Godzilla. Part King Kong. The movie I think both Jaws: The Revenge and Cloverfield may have borrowed from? I will never watch this again.

    7 – Escape Room (2019)

    Those are some fancified escape rooms they have

    This film is alright for a one-time watch, but was there a follow-up? I’m going to have to look into that.

    6 – Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)

    Top 10 Worst Jobs

    It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but it definitely didn’t have the same charm as the games. Always a treat to see Matthew Lillard, though!

    5 – John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998)

    James Woods holds a crossbow with his crew in a scene from the film ‘Vampires’, 1998. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)

    This was a difficult one. I really enjoy the vampires, but there are definitely some aspects that don’t hold up so well. IYKYK.

    4 – The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)

    A piece of nostalgia for me

    Twenty years ago, this would have been higher. I still very much enjoyed this, but it’s definitely lost some appeal. If you remember this one, it’s worth going back and doing at least one rewatch.

    3 – The Birdcage (1996)

    Love them

    Another rewatch. I’m on the fence regarding how well this held up. However, I enjoyed the hell out of Nathan Lane (of course), so he bumped this up a few slots.

    2 – Renfield (2023)

    (from left) Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay.

    First time watching. I enjoyed the fuck out of this movie. This was just a good time.

    1 – The Wedding Singer (1998)

    Adorbs

    After going with my sisters to see the musical version of The Wedding Singer, I decided I needed to rewatch because it had been quite a while. Generally, I’m not a fan of too many Adam Sandler movies, but this one is solid.

    Stick around for July! I need to watch more horror movies. It’s Halloween season now, right?

    That’s what I’m going with anyway.

    Siemelle

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  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913)

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    Plot Twist: Trust fall failed

    So, as it turns out, I had to go backward because I came across another silent adaptation starring our good friend(s?) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Just shy of 30 minutes long, nothing deviates too far from what we’ve already seen in our Jekyll & Hyde movies. Like the previous version I watched (and loathed), there is only one love interest here. However, instead of that being a woman who frequents the club/cabaret, this one’s love interest is his fiancée. She’s forgettable. Their story is forgettable. Other than that, everything falls into place the way it should: trampling children, murder, Jekyll completely losing control of the situation, and the will.

    The will!

    This Jekyll definitely left me something in his will.

    It was a single pearl stuffed in a taxidermied peacock.

    I’m okay with it.

    Honestly, there was nothing special about this adaptation. The look of Hyde is mediocre. The acting was mediocre for a silent film.

    Even my guy Utterson was forgettable. I didn’t even remember my friend was in this film!

    I’d say skip it. You don’t need to watch this one.

    At least I got a taxidermied peacock from the deal, right?

    Siemelle

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  • You Tell Me

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    Daily writing prompt
    If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
    View all responses

    It would be a place where it mostly rains, and the sun doesn’t offend me.

    It would be in the suburbs, but definitely close to a big city with independent bookstores, a theater, and high-quality food.

    Where access to healthcare is stable.

    Where there is relatively low crime.

    Or….

    ….you could just transport me back to 1970s NYC, which, I hear, is mostly the exact opposite of everything I listed above.

    I’m a very complex person, people.

    By the by, in the upcoming months, I’ll be trying out various themes and formats for my space here. So if you see things change numerous times, no, you didn’t! It’s aaaaaalways looked like this.

    Siemelle

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  • Q2 – All the Books Belong to Me

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    Most of my reading this year has been very middle-of-the-road, but a few books stood out in April, May, and June.

    The Haar by David Sodergren

    Primary Genre: Horror

    My Goodreads Review: This is equal parts horrifying and heartbreaking.

    Also, a little gross.

    Another Sky by Cynthia A Rodriguez

    Primary Genre: Romance

    My Goodreads Review: I really enjoyed this one.

    I don’t often enjoy stories that span this amount of time, but this one worked for me.

    The one thing I might have changed is that there are subjects approached, but not delved into. A part of me wanted the author to explore the darker topics with more depth.

    I can’t wait to read the next book!

    Kindred by Octavia E Butler

    Primary Genre: Historical Fiction/Science Fiction

    My Goodreads Review: My review on Goodreads was somehow deleted (no doubt due to my going back and forth between the Kindle and the audiobook), but I had mentioned that it was a very powerful, impactful read.

    If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura

    Primary Genre: Contemporary Fiction

    My Goodreads Review: It was a beautiful story, made me cry, and now I have a headache. I just got beat up by a book!

    The first three books were all 4/5; the last was 5/5.

    I’m hoping to find more 5-star reads in the next quarter!

    Siemelle

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