illtakethenightshiftx's reviews
186 reviews

really enjoyed this! a fascinating look at horror films and some science behind why we love (or hate) them. I loved the horror history, film discussions, and short interviews. to me, they added context to and perfectly illustrated scientific discussions in each chapter, even if I hadn’t seen the films that were discussed. I wish there was a bit more “science” content. This book was extremely approachable as well - I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything because I don’t have a science background.

I would highly recommend this to any horror fan who likes to go on deep dives into the genre!

(blanket spoiler warning for a bunch of horror movies, but that kind of goes without saying)

it’s a no from me

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Motheater is an interesting little story that takes the reader on a journey through time and the Appalachian Mountains. Codega does an incredible job of immersing the reader in a small mining town that sits on Kire Mountain through their prose. I really liked how I felt like I was by Bennie and Motheater's side throughout the novel. Codega did a fantastic job of rooting the reader in place; we see characters speaking in dialect, discuss hyper-local folklore and magic. 

Bennie, the main character, felt extremely one-note and is quick to trust Motheater, a witch she finds in a river who has no idea who she is, where she came from, or what happened to her. For a character that's introduced as hesitant to trust people, this felt odd. When we follow her specifically, her internal thoughts, feelings, and actions are repetitive and it feels like she really didn't learn anything, even after going through an unexplainable journey with Motheater and the other characters in the novel.

I absolutely loved Motheater's character, her backstory, and everything else about her. She reminded me of Nona from Nona the Ninth in many respects, which is why I think I feel such a strong affection for her. Codega slowly peels back Motheater's layers and we learn about her in real-time as she begins to uncover who she is. This particular storytelling method was effective and I looked forward to every one of those chapters.

The overall plot has good bones and an interesting premise, but the work as a whole felt like a draft. At times, the story simultaneously rushed and dragged and it felt like key details were missing. Overall, Motheater's themes are deeply resonant, but the narrative feels disjointed and falls victim of trying to do too much in one book.

a stellar story about family, community, and moving forward. I loved returning to this world and these characters and following them as they journeyed south in search of something new. 

Long form review coming! I have a lot of thoughts kicking around about this book.

Almost all of the CWs are related to the films Janisse references and discusses in graphic detail. It’s a book about horror and exploitation films - read with care!

Very different from the movie but just as dread-inducing. I had fun with this one!

can’t WAIT to talk about this at book club!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Tramps Like Us feels like a confessional, a celebration, and reflection, and a love letter all rolled into one. We follow Joe, our narrator, as he brings us through his life. From beginnings in the south, hitchhiking across the country, and his years in San Francisco. 

The novel is full of booze, drugs, anonymous sex, finding chosen family, and, at its core, hope and love - even in the midst of what will become the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Joe’s chosen family only grows with each passing page and some of these characters you come know and to love as if they could be your own friends. The new forward and afterward further enrich the story told within the pages between them. 

I am so glad this is being republished! I cannot recommend this enough for anyone who reads gay literature. Tramps Like Us feels like it will be a classic, cornerstone piece of gay literature among the likes of Giovanni’s Room and Stone Butch Blues.