Update: Life and Books (Oct 2022)

 
 

I cut my hair! (And bought a pirate shirt!) That’s my big October news.

I also made some art! I bought Rebelle 5 Pro because it was on sale for $20 (normally $150) and mimics traditional media like watercolor and oil paint. I can’t use traditional media because it takes energy, money, and space that I don’t have, so this has been fun to play with! I love the idea of controlled randomness like drips, so I made this to see a bit of what the program can do. I didn’t feel like putting in a ton of effort, so it’s messy and has mistakes, but it was a fun little experiment.

Digital painting of an elf man from the neck up, looking at the viewer, with a bunch of red clawed hands grabbing and caressing his face, and the paint is all drippy, lines of color running down the canvas, including down his face and the hands. More detail: The elf has light skin that's flushed on the cheeks, hooded teal eyes, long brown hair, a short beard and mustache, and pointy ears. One hand grabs him by the chin, one runs a pointy nail along his ear, one caresses his head with the backs of the fingers. The background is black on top and light gray at the bottom.

Has anyone been watching the new Interview with the Vampire series?? It’s incredible! I love it so much. It’s the first show/movie/video in a long time that I’ve been able to focus on, to just sit and watch without having to multitask. It’s different from the books in a lot of ways, I think of it as more of it’s own thing, like a reimagining. But it is just so good, and sexy, and gay, and the actors are amazing. Also, it’s been bringing views to my Vampire Chronicles book reviews 😁

I also found another great song! There’s something about this that is just so vibey. I’d only heard a clip of it, and the first time I put it on to listen to the whole thing, I almost instantly fell asleep, but I mean that in a good way. It was just so immediately calming for me. It feels like middle-of-the-night driving on an empty highway or getting into bed after spending the day at the beach.


Blog/Bookish Updates:

Nothing.

 

Books I Received for Review:

Dragon’s Path by JB McDonald, from NetGalley. Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi, from NetGalley. The Goblin Twins by Kit Barrie, from Gay Romance Reviews. Be My Love, My Lord by Adumi Nagano, from TOKYOPOP.

 

Books I Finished:

Moon Flower by Christina LeeThe Blade Between by Sam J. MillerThe Goblin Twins by Kit BarrieThe Seventh Mansion by Marise MeijerBe My Love, My Lord by Adumi Nagano

If you’re considering buying one of the books below from Amazon, I’d really appreciate if you’d use my affiliate link!

Moon Flower / Moon Spell by Christina Lee – These were sweet, gentle, tender m/m romances (especially the first) with a touch of fantasy (especially the second, because wolf shifters).

Saga Vol. 10 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples – I feel like I can’t talk about this here without spoilers, but I explained my feelings a bit on Goodreads.

The Blade Between by Sam J. Miller – I liked the flawed MC and how different and unique this book felt, but there were so many things, and I just couldn’t figure out how they all connected.

The Goblin Twins by Kit Barrie – High fantasy with various types of queer rep and some interesting and sweet relationship dynamics, including romance, friendship, and family.

The Rebel Guardian by Lexi Blake – An enjoyable foray back into the Thieves series. Books in this series are always sort of comfort reads for me.

The Seventh Mansion by Maryse Meijer – I couldn’t get into this, but it was sorta cool to read something that was unusual and different, both in writing style and story.

Gardening with a Ghost by Amanda Meuwissen – Some of my favorite books are written by this author, but this is not one of them. I just didn’t understand why the MC was doing what he was doing. But ghost sex is always fun to read about!

Be My Love, My Lord by Adumi Nagano – This boys love manga didn’t have much depth, but it was a cute way to spend an hour.

Shadow Fall // Shadow Rise // Shadow Ruin by Audrey Grey – I’d already read the first two books in this series, but I didn’t remember them well, so I reread and finally read the last book. They’re not really the kind of books I read much anymore, but they were good.

Perfume by Patrick Suskind – A sort of classic, I suppose? Lovely writing and audiobook narrating and a unique story, but I was kinda bored. Definitely not bad, just hard for me to stay focused on.

 

In Case You Missed It:

Books:
– I reviewed FANGS Vol. 2 by Billy Balibally, the latest in a really character-focused vampire m/m manga series.
– I reviewed Dream On by E.M. Jeanmougin & Jay Wright, the latest in a fantastic m/m urban fantasy series.
– I did the Horror Movie Book Tag.
– I reviewed Prelude for Lost Souls by Helene Dunbar, an atmospheric ghosty book about struggling teens.
– I did the Spooky “Would You Rather” Book Tag.
– I reviewed The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros, a wonderfully Jewish and queer YA historical fantasy.
– I reviewed The Tutor by Bonnie Dee, a touching m/m historical romance in a haunted manor house.
– I recommended 10 gay ghost books to check out.
– I reviewed The Reanimator’s Heart by Kara Jorgensen, a sweet m/m historical romance.
– I reviewed Sorrow’s Forest by Kaitlin Corvus, an atmospheric, ominous m/m book.

Games:
– I reviewed The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark by Spooky Doorway, a funny and cute point-and-click supernatural detective game.

Other:
– I shared four more supernatural creature poems I wrote!

 
 
 
 

Talk to me!

Have you found any good songs, shows, books, etc. lately?
Have you been watching the new Interview with the Vampire series?
Have you ever had short hair? (It's so much easier to deal with!)

 
 
[shared_counts]
 
 
 

Your Thoughts

 

18 thoughts on “Update: Life and Books (Oct 2022)

I'd love if you'd share your thoughts, too!

 

Reading your comments makes me a very happy blogger!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 
  1. Greg

    I love those pirate shirts- when I used to go to the Ren faire all the time I had several (I still like wearing them occasionally). Especially with a vest- but you get weird looks ha. They’re fun and put me in a different mindframe…

    I feel like that song definitely has that vibe you mention. “middle-of-the-night driving on an empty highway” I always felt that way driving at night listening to old Pink Floyd lol I mean obviously the music’s different but has the same late night quality

    1. Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight)

      Everyone looks good in pirate shirts! They’re great!

      Late night highway driving is great. In college, I’d sometimes drive an hour back to my dorm at like 2 in the morning, empty highway, and the alt rock station would play the chillest music.

  2. Jessica

    I get my hair cut once a year in the spring and not that short though. My mother does though. She had the pixie cut before it was really popular. One time we went to a bathroom and a girl told her mother that there was a man in there. I always joke with her about it. This year I wanted a grunge look, but my hairstylist retired and I had to go to an older woman who missed up the hairstyle. I may have to go to a younger hairstylist next year.
    I haven’t seen the new Interview with Vampire show yet. I have been watching Stranger Things (season 3), The Handmaid’s Tale (season 4), Miss Scarlet and the Duke (season 2), Annaka, Squid Game (season 1), Sprung, Roar, La Brea (season 2), and Miracle Workers (season 1). I have started reading Play Dead by Harlan Coben. It’s getting good.

    1. Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight)

      It’s ridiculous that people still associate hair length with gender. Sorry your hairstylist didn’t get the cut right :-/ I started cutting my own hair when I was like 16 because hairstylists messed it up too many times.

      Glad you’re still enjoying some good shows! I haven’t seen Squid Game, though I know it was wildly popular.

  3. Karen

    I watched the first episode of Interview with a Vampire. With the books and the movie I loved Louis (& I had a fondness not necessarily liked LeStat in the books) but I couldn’t gel with him in the show and I wasn’t loving the show. I might need to try more than one. Sometimes it takes me up 3 episodes to connect with things. I just haven’t been in the headspace to stick with anything lately.

    Love you hair, pirate short and art!

    Have you ever watched Seinfeld? It made me think of the puffy shirt episode lol

    Karen @For What It’s Worth

    1. Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight)

      It’s super different from the books, but I’m not bothered by it because I wasn’t expecting it to be the same. I think what they’re doing with it is cool in its own way, pushing the limits more. Maybe you’ll like it more if you keep trying!

      Thanks!! I haven’t watched Seinfeld, but puffy shirts are great, and I think everyone should wear them lol.

  4. Karen

    And…I don’t know if you have access to HBOMax but have you seen Our Flag Means Death?? You would LOVE that show. I’m so glad it got renewed but who knows if it will make it with all the chaos going on there.

  5. ShootingStarsMag

    Love the new hair – and the pirate shirt! I haven’t been watching tons of TV lately. I love FBI and FBI: Most Wanted and then mostly watching various holiday baking shows. LOL

    Lauren