No matter what is going on this month, I am choosing to be happy because my birthday will soon be here!
Childish, I know, but hey, taking what joy you can in life these days is a small victory over the forces of evil there, plus a birthday is a great excuse to get more books.
A family member of mine gave me an early present(due to shipping)in that department with an e-gift card from Aardvark Book Club for a one month subscription! Aardvark is a newer online book buying service that I have heard many good things about yet my entertainment budget couldn’t stretch that far for me to try them, until now.
Since my gift card arrived over the past weekend, I chose three books from their March selections(April just dropped and some of those books looked pretty good too) my first choice was the latest from Stephen Graham Jones, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.
This novel is told through a diary discovered by a college professor hoping to gain tenure via the hundred year old tale of her very great grandfather’s ministry days from frontier times.
However, that recounting also tells the story of a member of the Blackfeet tribe who chronicles his journey from mortal to mythical as he becomes a vampire who decides to use this strange new status as protection for his own people.
SGJ is an amazing writer who blends the horror genre with thought provoking looks at social history, not to mention a genuine fan love as well. This book goes into historical fiction territory which should be an engaging lens on his terror takes on classic fear fare indeed:
I then added Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle, a Hollywood goes horror show type of tale.
Screenwriter Misha is at the heights of success in Tinsel Town, thanks to an Oscar nomination and plenty of acclaim for the long running show he has on a major streaming platform.
However, upon refusing to give in to the title trope by the streaming executives, Misha is finding himself less of a charmed one and more of a moving target. Not to mention that actual movie monsters appear to be stalking him and his friends for a truly final cut.
Having just recently finished Tingle’s first traditionally published novel Camp Damascus (which was awesomely good), I am more than ready to pop some corn for this scary movie fest of page turning terror:
For something completely different to wrap this trio up, I went with The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava.
Our leading lady of the title is tired of being given the usual runaround when seeking work as an accountant so she makes a few changes to her resume that actually help to get her that great job she’s always wanted.
Trouble comes from being attracted to cute IT guy Danuwoa , who is very open about his background and likes her right back. However, between their employers frowning on workplace romance and Danuwoa not knowing Ember’s actual identity, this relationship could be over before it starts.
Nava has a new book coming out this summer (which I highlighted here ) and while I have a digital copy, getting a physical edition of this charming romcom is a real treat. Especially when it’s a debut author who is introducing readers to their version of Bridget Jones or Becky Bloomwood:
As we speak, my Aardvark box is on the way and I am very delighted to get such delicious as devil’s food cake reads for my birthday later this month!
Don’t get me wrong, I do also have my Book of the Month Club membership that grants me a free book for my birthday (which I ordered yesterday!) and the more the merrier for sure, although shelf space might be tight.
I don’t know if I will be able to continue with Aardvark but am very grateful for being given a birthday chance to taste their literary wares.
Meanwhile, having two bookish buddies to get gifts from on your birthday isn’t a competition (or supposed to be one at least); rather , it should be an embarrassment of riches in the best book sense indeed:
