August 2022 – Literary Stoner

August 31, 2022 wickedjr89 book review, book thoughts

Two weeks Wednesday Wrap Up August 31st, 2022

What I Am Currently Reading

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana by Michael Backes

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley – I finished the actual story last October but there’s extras I still need to read. And I love Frankenstein! It’s my favorite book <3.

Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana by Michael Backes – I have recently gotten a medical marijuana card! So yea, I wanna learn things. I use it for chronic pain and stomach problems mostly. I also have anxiety, depression, ptsd, trouble sleeping .. Seriously, i’m a mess of issues. But cannabis is here to help.

What I’ve Recently Finished

BBC Science Focus Magazine by Immediate Media Company London Ltd – I gave it 4 stars. Science magazine. Had nothing to say.

Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale – I gave this 5 stars. I read it thanks to Netgalley and here was my review for it.

I wish i’d had this as a child. I would’ve had the words and known I wasn’t alone so much sooner.

There are some draft errors (like on one page it says missing words and later some sentences just stop in the middle) but I got this from Netgalley and it is an e-arc draft so i’m not holding that against it.

Nisha is a trans girl. She has a dysphoria monster that keeps getting bigger as she’s misgendered but then she comes out and has support and her monster gets smaller. At first she wanted her monster to just go away but with the help of an adult trans man learns what her monster was trying to tell her, and living as who she is makes her so much happier and confident. It’s a beautiful story and has information for adults wanting to support trans kids after the story. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Stinetinglers: All New Stories by the Master of Scary Tales by R.L. Stine – This is a collection of 10 stories and I also read it for Netgalley, here was my review.

I really enjoyed this collection over-all! It has 10 stories. I didn’t care for 2 of them personally (but I didn’t hate them or anything) and I really enjoyed the other 8! 3.65 average rounded up to 4
Welcome to the in-between 3.5
Our Little Monsters 2
Skin 3
The Ghost in the car 4
The boy who heard screams 5
Bugs 3.5
How to change your life 4
The bad side 4.5
The hole in the ground 5
The monster maker 2
These are obviously just my opinions, nothing more.
These stories are perfect for kids I think and they are certainly fun to read as an adult to. If you enjoy Goosebumps (or Goosebumps like books) definitely check this collection out. A few of them gave my spine a tingle!

Philosophy Now – Issue 150 by Anja Publications – Philosophy magazine. I gave it 3 stars. Didn’t care for parts of it, had some issues.

What Do I Think I’ll Read Next?

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor -A Science Fiction, going to read this as it’s my book club pick for The eclecticist of eclectic book club. It’s set in Africa and has something to do with aliens. It sounds awesome!

Dracula by Bram Stoker – I read Dracula once years ago and didn’t like it but I think i’ll like it more now and have been wanting to give it another chance and it’s Georga’s pick for our book club, The eclecticist of eclectic book club. I also have borrowed this audible plus book that has a big cast of narrators, including Tim Curry, so I think that’ll help to!

Other Stuff – I don’t even know where to start, struggling to recover from surgery, i’m sick, Antibiotics don’t seem to be helping, my mom had/has the same cold crap but now has some sort of other bug. It’s my husband’s, who passed away Feb 16th 2021, birthday today so that’s making me sad and my period just started today (i’m a nonbinary trans guy btw) and it was a bit late so it’s like it waited for this day in particular and also I had a huge spider (daddy long legger) crawling on my arm earlier! Made me drop my switch (seems to be fine) and scream. And a Dr’s appointment keeps getting pushed back because I don’t drive and my mom’s been too sick to take me. I’m terrified i’m going to get this new bug on top of everything else and I can’t recover from what i’ve got and the surgery as it is!

Sorry it’s all over the place and might not make sense. It’s been a lot, still a lot. So much. I’m exhausted. Please make it stop, I need a break.

Sorry for complaining.

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August 26, 2022 wickedjr89 book review, Bookish

Stinetinglers: All New Stories by the Master of Scary Tales by R.L. Stine Book Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc.

August 20, 2022 wickedjr89 book review, book thoughts, Bookish

Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale and Hui Qing Ang Book Review

I wish i’d had this as a child. I would’ve had the words and known I wasn’t alone so much sooner.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.

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August 17, 2022 wickedjr89 book review, Bookish

Wednesday Wrap Up August 17th, 2022

I know it’s been 2 weeks again since the last one but I had nothing to post last week really. Hell, I don’t have much now.

What I am currently reading

Nothing at the moment.

What i’ve recently finished

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haban Girma – 5 stars!

This is a wonderful autobiography! I loved how stories from her life was told in the present tense, it felt so much more personal. It’s also infused with humor. You can learn so much from this, in an accessible way and having a nice time while doing it. Please read the discussion questions at the end, they give food for thought.

I have also been disabled my entire life but for entirely different reasons. I am neither deaf nor blind. I do have auditory processing disorder though so when she mentions there was too much noise to make anything out, I relate to that. I can’t make anything out in those situations either.

She’s the first deafblind student to graduate Harvard, and she’s barely 6 months older than me. We still have so far to go, but that’s not meant to take away from how far we’ve come.

What do I think i’ll read next?

Something for netgalley? A magazine? Who knows. Maybe something else.

Other Stuff

Me and my mom are sick. It’s not covid but it still sucks and I can’t get a break because it’s one thing after another trying to recover from intense surgery still and now i’m sick on top of it and my body has a lot of trouble healing in the best of circumstances :(. But the drain sites look better so hopefully in time i’ll get better. If this cold doesn’t turn into pneumonia which they love to do with me. Please, send good vibes or whatever.

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August 16, 2022August 15, 2022 wickedjr89 book haul, Bookish

August Book Haul Part 1

Kindle Books

Moretti Blood Brothers: Volume One – Books 1-4: Steamy vampire romance (Moretti Blood Brothers Romance) by Juliette N. Banks

No One Crosses the Wolf by Lisa Nikolidakis

Elliot, Song of the Soulmate by Anyta Sunday

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

The Twenty Days of Turin by Giorgio De Maria

Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Galeano

Born Free: The Full Story by Joy Adamson

Discover – September/October 2022 by Kalmbach Publishing Co.

Archaeology – September/October 2022 by Archaeological Institute Of America

Physical Books

John M. Templeton Jr.: Physician, Philanthropist, Seeker by John M. Templeton Jr.

I was born with VACteRL Association and a part of that was imperforate anus aka no butthole. Dr. Templeton, who passed away in 2015, made my anus. I was born in 1989. That’s why I got his autobiography. My mom wants to read it since he helped save my life. It is a bit weird though … wiki says he donated $1 million to parties opposing same-sex marriage. I wonder what he’d say now if he knew he saved a queer baby? I can’t help but wonder.

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw

When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff

How to Smoke Pot (Properly): A Highbrow Guide to Getting High by David Bienenstock

Weed: Everything You Want To Know But Are Always Too Stoned To Ask by Michelle Lhooq

Weed the People: The Future of Legal Marijuana in America by Bruce Barcott

Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis, from Dispensaries to Dinner Parties by Lizzie Post

Fifty Shades as Told by Christian Trilogy: Grey, Darker, Freed Box Set by E.L. James

A Short History of South-East Asia by Peter Church

Accidents of Nature by Harriet McBryde Johnson

Epubs

Audio Books

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future by David Attenborough

August 13, 2022August 10, 2022 wickedjr89 book review, book thoughts, monthly wrap ups

July 2022 Wrap Up

What I Read

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I absolutely loved this! This book means so much to me now! I felt so much of what Tova was going through for my own reasons. And felt for Cameron. And Marcellus the Octopus is amazing, all three of these characters are amazing. I loved so many lines. It made me cry. I found so much depth in these pages personally. And I had to hug the book! I wanna give it more than 5 stars!!

More than a month after finishing it I still wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Monster Musume, Vol. 7 by Okayado – Funny manga and I enjoy the characters. Not much to say. 5 stars

Monster Musume, Vol. 8 by Okayado – 4 stars

Saga, Volume 5 and 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples – 5 stars each. Rereads since volume 10 is finally coming out in October (last I checked)!

Why I’m Afraid of Bees by R.L. Stine – 4 creepy fun stars.

Gender Queer: A Memoir Deluxe Edition by Maia Kobabe – ALL THE STARS! ALL OF THEM! I had read the original years ago so it was a reread but in this new edition! Words fail to express the love I have for this book but I did my best in my original review Here and my “review” of the new deluxe edition Here.

Monster Musume, Vol. 9 by Okayado – 4 stars

The Gender Friend: A 102 Guide to Gender Identity by Oakley Phoenix by Oakley Phoenix – I absolutely loved this book! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for letting me have an advanced copy. This book is so accessible in the language and is also kind. Kind not just to transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary folks (TGNCNB for short) but also to loved ones wanting to support their TGNCNB loved ones. I can’t stress enough I can see someone really trying but it’s not always easy. If someone is truly trying and caring I don’t want them to feel like it doesn’t matter or that they are awful if they mess up. Mistakes happen. Trying is what matters and you’ll get there. I am a nonbinary trans person and it’s generally easy to tell who cares and is trying versus the ones that aren’t. This book is like a hug from a kind friend. It explains gender related thing, answer questions, etc. I am going to have to buy this book when it comes out so I can give it to loved ones. 5 stars

Paradise Club by Tim Meyer – 5 stars I cared for the characters and this has a lot of gorey fun! Horror, slasher, splatterpunk …

Discover – May/June 2022 by Kalmbach Publishing Co. – 3 stars. Magazine.

Other stuff

I have a long way to go still in terms of recovering from surgery. I came home with 2 drains, a left and a right, and initially the left was very active and the right wasn’t doing much of anything. Well … the night before (as I was going to lay down to sleep) I was going to get the right drain out the left one, that was still VERY active, fell out!! Scaring the shit outta me!

Long story short (actually still long, sorry) I still have the right drain in. I was also leaking (and still might be to a degree) via part of my incision down my stomach. Well i’ve had (and still have, as of typing this on Monday August 8th) a lot of gauze and tape over my stomach (and a large hernia belt for compression) because the hole that was left behind from the left drain leaked for awhile but it appears to be closed now. While the hole was leaking the right drain continued doing it’s almost nothing crap, which was scary because they said “in theory the right one should pick up the slack” and i’ve been dealing with low grade fever and swelling (feet, legs …) from retaining fluid, even before the left drain fell out!

Also some heat and pain in my lower stomach from the fluid build up. So i’ve been doing as much as I can of walking and keeping my legs up, which is thankfully helping! And now that the left hole is actually closed it looks like the right drain might be picking up finally? Let’s hope so! And let’s hope it stays in long enough! I’m so afraid of needing to go back to the hospital over this shit. But I have been keeping an eye on myself and I know if I start vomiting or get a high fever to call the Dr or go to the ER.

I haven’t felt like reading much, and that’s ok, but I am reading Haben at least this month and I am enjoying it so far! I’ve been playing Sims 2 and watching Youtube videos

Edit (On August 10th, Wednesday): The right drain stopped holding suction and was not salvageable. Had to come out despite it not being ready yet so they said i’ll probably be ok but ya know, if I start feeling like shit etc. to keep them posted. Right now the hole is leaking but if it’s like the left one within 2 days it’ll be closed and my body wasn’t ready yet. So here’s hoping I leak enough + my body is able to absorb the fluid it needs to.

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August 9, 2022August 1, 2022 wickedjr89 book haul, Bookish

July Book Haul Part 2

Kindle Books

The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall

The Bite-sized Bakery Cozy Mysteries: The Complete Collection by Rosie A. Point

The Librarian and the Orc by Finley Fenn

Physical Books

Halloween Rain by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder

The Werewolf in the Living Room by R.L. Stine

Netgalley

Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale

Epubs

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August 6, 2022August 3, 2022 wickedjr89 Monthly POPs

August POP (Pile of Possibilities)

Netgalley

Stinetinglers: All New Stories by the Master of Scary Tales by R.L. Stine – OMG I can’t believe I actually got approved for this! I love R.L. Stine’s books!

A Little Pinprick (Rainey Paxton Series Book 1) by Paige Dearth – I absolutely loved 2 of Paige’s other books so I am excited to read this one!

Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale – Hello, Trans here. Of course I want to read this!

Group Reads

Necroscope by Brian Lumley – The group read for Creatures, Creatures Everywhere!

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haban Girma – My pick for The eclecticist of eclectic book club.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse – Georga’s pick for The eclecticist of eclectic book club.

Other

Saga, Volume 7 and 8 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples – Need to continue the reread for volume 10 in October!

Deep Trouble I and II by R.L. Stine – Working on reading all the Goosebumps books.

Do I think i’ll read all these this month? No. But I just barely got to one in July because of the surgery and everything. Also I think i have an infection at the moment from the drains I still have. Pray for me, seriously. At least 6 of these would be nice but we’ll see what happens.

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley – I’ve been saying I need to finish the extras in this book for awhile now. And Frankenstein is my favorite!

Communion: A True Story by Whitley Strieber – Yes I did just read this a few months ago and yes i’m annoyed I have to reread it. I wanted to get to this for YEARS. I finally did a few months ago, and it’s the first in a 6 book series, and bam, there’s a new edition with extra information or something. Ugh. Yes I know, it’s weird to be complaining about this. But I wanted to continue the series not reread the first one. It’s an autobiography series and at least I was able to get this new edition of the first book on audio and it’s narrated by the author so that’s nice.

Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana by Michael Backes – Until this past week I hadn’t smoked in years but I remembered how it helped my chronic pain and severe stomach problems. Not to mention I like getting high off weed but that’s not the point. My main reason for using it is medical. I finally realized NJ has recreational marijuana legalized now and I went and bought some at my nearest dispensary. I plan to go through the hoops to get a medical card eventually but at least even the “recreational” stuff helps medically to.

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August 3, 2022 wickedjr89 book thoughts, Bookish

Weekly Wednesday Wrap Up August 3rd, 2022

I know it’s been more than a week, because of surgery, and I was going to try to do one last week but the only book I read was The Gender Friend: A 102 Guide to Gender Identity by Oakley Phoenix which I had already wrote a review for Here. So here’s just the past week!

What I am currently reading

Nothing at the moment. Hopefully that’ll change soon, we’ll see. There is at least one book I need to read this month but since i’m feeling like shit (I appear to have an infection from the surgery drains I still have but I am on an antibiotic now so here’s hoping i’ll be ok) i’m not sure what else i’ll get to.

What I finished in the past week

Paradise Club by Tim Meyer – This was good gorey slasher fun! And I liked the characters to, even cried a little bit at a certain death. Gave it 5 stars.

Discover – May/June 2022 by Kalmbach Publishing Co. – Science Magazine. Gave it 3 stars.

BBC Wildlife Magazine – May 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd – Animals and nature magazine. Gave it 4 stars.

What do I think i’ll read next?

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haban Girma – This book is the bare minimum I need to read this month, because I picked it for a book club, The eclecticist of eclectic book club. Hopefully i’ll read more but, who knows. I certainly don’t. I do have an August Pile of Possibilities that’ll be posted on Saturday.

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