Kick the Latch feels like trading stories over beers at a dive bar with the tough old bird I‘ve always wanted to be. Despite my mother‘s best efforts I never was a horse girl, but this book made me catch a little fomo for life on the backstretch. #wwnorton #newdirections #kathrynscanland #kickthelatch

Man Conner Habib‘s debut is something. Almost done, so far SO good. #wwnorton #connerhabib #hawkmountain #literarythriller #yikes

Lapvona interrogates many things; power, classism, corruption, blind faith, bad faith, survival under extreme duress, violence and victimhood, delusion and dishonesty, that we're born alone and will die alone and quite possibly everyone we've ever met is inexcusably and irreparably terrible in ways we'll never begin to comprehend. It's kind of like a comedy of errors, only depressing and unflinchingly grotesque. In short, it is unbelievably good.

LOVED this. The seemingly quirky premise could have gone a number of ways, and it's with great pleasure that I report back from the depths of Ashley Hutson's debut novel. ONE‘S COMPANY is a strange and thoughtful examination of the perils of unresolved trauma; main character Bonnie Lincoln an object lesson in how unchecked depression can and will trick one into believing warped narratives about one‘s own lived experience. Could not put this down.

Keeping me up late. Little Foxes Took Up Matches is a really compelling blend of classic Russian literary flavor, fairytale and contemporary queer coming of age story. I have about a third more to go. But I‘m really rooting for little Mitya.
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#tinhouse #wwnorton #littlefoxestookupmatches

Shirking all basic life maintenance responsibilities today because this book is so fucking good.

A mix of True Detective & swamp magik by way of Slavic folklore, atmospheric and tense and so damn beautiful despite the brutality of it all. A mad preacher. A swamp witch. A one eyed lawman. A tough as nails female protagonist hellbent on protecting a found family of outcasts she cares about more than herself. And all the while bayou spirits beyond the sway of human influence dwell in the darkest reaches of the cypress groves. So damn good!!

Take note, personal essayists of the future, because Carmen Maria Machado kinda just threw down the gauntlet. This book absolutely wrecked me in places, while simultaneously confirming the notion that I'd follow Machado anywhere. Ursula Le Guin once said women are like volcanoes, when we share our personal truths with the world the maps change. Read IN THE DREAM HOUSE; prepare to pick up a new map.

Of course I had to buy this book as soon as it came out, @Tin_House creates these beautiful little hardcovers and I‘m kind of obsessed. But I only just started reading it. So far it‘s as strange and lovely as I hoped it would be.

Um...I am way into this book right now.

THE perfect time of year to pick up the Harrow County series. An atmospheric, creepy coming of age story, set in the rural hills of the mid-century American south. Really compelling storytelling with a nice mix of horror and heart. And oh my goodness, Tyler Crook‘s art is gorgeous even when it‘s grotesque. Killer story/art combo. Really solid opening volume (the first four single issues). I can‘t wait to read more! #catapproved

Late night early October reading. #hillbilly #ericpowell #albatrossfunnybooks #harrowcounty #cullenbunn #tylercrook #darkhorsebooks #spookyreads