Mad Like Alyce

Off the Shelf: Taking a break from the chaos

So, it’s been awhile, and a lot has been happening!  What, you may ask? I moved… Again! I finally got out of my walking boot, and have been going to physical therapy, setting up the new apartment, Damir’s Dad is finally here from Bosnia, and I’m packing for a week long trip out West to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation… which covers the big stuff.

Add all of that to the little things like working late, working on the Pit Bull Rescue website, and shooting and editing footage for the site, plus the million other projects I have on the site, it had gotten to be a bit much. So much that lately, I have been so wiped that I simply cannot bring myself to pull up my computer in the evening. For this I apologize.

Of course, my best stress reliever is reading, so I have made sure to at least be reading a book while I have been passed out on the bed/couch/floor/anywhere. Its perhaps the best way to completely hijack my stressed out mind and transport it to a wonderful world of someone else’s creation and disappear into their story.

Dreams & Shadows

dreams and shadows

By Robert C. Cargill

This was a wonderful book I had read a few years past, and although I had been yearning to read it again, I simply could not remember the title or author. Thank you Google! I was able to search for the key points in the plot line and find the summary via Amazon (Thank you Amazon!).

This story is a fantastic dive into the supernatural otherworld of the Fae and includes beautiful back story elements on histories of the Jinn. This tale is a beautiful weaving of characters battling a fate that was sealed years prior. Overall, if you are interested in fantasy at all, this is worth a read.

The Secret Place

the secret place

By Tana French

This was a great crime solving novel that included some interesting elements of magic as well. It all starts with a pinboard in an all-girls school allowing them to place their “secrets”. In my opinion, the magical element was a bit unnecessary and ultimately didn’t play as large of a part as it could have.

The beauty of the story is in the incredible rush of emotion surrounding love. Love of a career. Love of a purpose, Love of a friend, and mostly, first Love. The author captured the hormonal and intoxicating pulse of young love in a way that made me so incredibly wistful and nostalgic. Again, a highly recommended read.

Horrorstor

horrorstor

By Grady Hendrix

This was definitely a novelty read, and I only picked it up due to the unique cover. Set in a Knockoff IKEA store called ORSK, the author uses a very unique storyline and plays off of the Sweedish naming conventions of products and the happy go lucky atmosphere while the plot grows continually darker. I felt that I started rushing this one simply to get it done, but overall, I enjoyed the read. Not something to run out and buy, but if you see it on the library shelf, go ahead and take a look.

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Hi! I'm Alyce.
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