My favorite month has come round again. I wish I lived somewhere cool, where October meant wearing a sweater, maybe even boots. Alas, it still reached into the 90s this weekend.
On a walk this evening, I spotted this witch (photo above) leaning against the wall of a house. I’m not a huge fan of the hook nose imagery, but I am a fan of witches generally and of light through the trees. The play of shadows caught my eye, so I had to snap a photo. I don’t know what these neighbors have planned for their witchy silhouette, but I’m looking forward to finding out. Maybe it’ll be interesting.
October, as some of y’all know, is also my birthday month! And as I’m wont to do, I splurged on some books. Well, The Unwritten Book I bought a while back, but it’s what I’m reading at the moment. And The 13 Clocks I picked up in a used bookstore on Bainbridge Island. (I enjoyed our walk around, but I was disappointed the exhibited I wanted to see was closed.) I picked up The Art of the Occult at Curio Mrvosa and A History of Ghosts, Spirits, and the Supernatural at Haunt Happy Books because I have a weakness for beautiful coffee table-esque books or arty, eerie subjects. Now Smothermoss…I might regret. As a rule, I don’t read horror (though a while ago I read Red Rabbit Ghost, which I found less horrifying than I worried about) but Smothermoss was blurbed by Samantha Hunt (author I’m currently reading) and the book jacket mentions an asylum, tarot cards, “a mountain that sighs, monsters made of ink, rabbits dead and alive, and ropes that won’t come undone.” So, I bought it. Sometimes I like to pick up a book I’ve never heard of and surprise myself. But to calm my nerves I added the coloring book, Ghost Town, to the pile. (I think I might use the pages in zines or collage. Not sure yet.)
I’ll not be buying any more books for a while! Like any other wild reader, I have plenty of other books waiting for me–and they’re probably annoyed I’ve brought more books into the house!
Considering the horrors we’re deluged with every day in the year of our Lord 2026, I don’t think buying more books than I can read is a big deal. Support local bookstores, y’all! Books > doomscrolls.
Now what are you reading? What’s next on your reading list? Have you bought any books outside your usual purview? Have you bought any books just because they were pretty?
Thanks for reading this!
I just had a birthday last month, and Sara bought me two Korean pretty lady dresses coloring books and a book called A ROME OF ONE’S OWN: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire by Emma Southon. I’ve already finished it and, as I told Sara, I’m mad about it. I wanted there to be more! Now I’m reading a book of essays on Chekov’s literary history, themes, devices, etc. I came to Chekov late; wish I still had Charlie to talk about him with.
A Rome of One’s Own is a clever title! I can’t replace Charlie, obviously, but if we lived close to each other, I’d love to meet up and talk books!
Another of her books (which I don’t have but plan to ask for for Christmas) is A FATAL THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. I adore her style!
You need to move north, girl! Louisville, Kentucky has a thriving art scene, and it isn’t that far away from me. (Come to the north side, Luke, we have bourbon.)
Funny you should ask!! Just popped into an indie shop moments ago and bought a book that wasn’t on my radar and that I don’t really need, but hey! It looked good. The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford. As for weather, I’m hoping for a crisp fall day as well, but today in the Philly suburbs it was a balmy 84.
I’d take 84 at this point. Heat index over 100 today. Bah. But anyway, isn’t that fun to just happen across a book that captures your attention! Hope the Milford book is as fun as the title suggests!