Tag: books

Culture, Events, Literature

Remembering Vampire Author Anne Rice at the All Saints’ Day Celebration

by Jennifer Vasquez8 Comments on Remembering Vampire Author Anne Rice at the All Saints’ Day Celebration
Anne Rice: An All Saints' Day Celebration
Anne Rice: An All Saints’ Day Celebration

I first got hooked on (or shall I say sucked into) Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles when I was a teen, and ever since then, I’ve wanted to visit New Orleans. This city is Anne’s birthplace and a significant location in her notorious vampire novels. Because of this, the city has become synonymous with these nocturnal creatures. I dare say, it’s as much a vampire capital as Transylvania! I had the great fortune of being able to finally travel to New Orleans to attend a special event commemorating the author—Anne Rice: An All Saints’ Day Celebration. It was an experience that had a remarkable effect on my soul.

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Culture, holidays, Literature

‘A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding’ Teaches Kids About the Day of the Dead

by Jennifer Vasquez9 Comments on ‘A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding’ Teaches Kids About the Day of the Dead
Woman holding a kid's picture book
Vamp Jenn reading A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding

El Día de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries between November 1st and 2nd. It’s believed that the spirits of loved ones come back to visit the living. The occasion, which has roots in indigenous Mesoamerican traditions, is meant to honor the memory of the deceased and embrace death. While many adults look forward to the Day of the Dead, the concept behind it can be difficult for children to grasp, especially when they believe death is meant to be feared. However, a children’s book titled A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding sets out to change that.

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Culture, Literature

Inside Spinal Dread: A Horror Literature Festival

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Inside Spinal Dread: A Horror Literature Festival
Anaheim Public Library presents Spinal Dread: Horror Literature and Culture Festival
Anaheim Public Library presents Spinal Dread: Horror Literature and Culture Festival

As a bookworm and horror fanatic, I was thrilled to hear that the Anaheim Public Library in Orange County, CA, was going to be hosting a horror literature festival called Spinal Dread.  The free event featured presentations, workshops, and vendors. It was a wonderful way for fellow horror enthusiasts and bibliophiles to connect and explore the horror genre.

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Culture, History, Lifestyle, Literature

9 Books on the Goth Subculture

by Jennifer VasquezLeave a Comment on 9 Books on the Goth Subculture
Photo credit: Sierra Koder via Unsplash
Photo credit: Sierra Koder via Unsplash

Much has been written about the goth subculture, ranging from scholarly literature to pop culture reads. I must admit that I have not read many books on goth. When I first started getting into goth as a teen in the late 90s/early 2000s, I got most of my information from the internet and personal experiences and observations. At the time, there weren’t many books published about the subculture, so I learned about it by browsing the web via goth chat rooms and websites that were around then. 

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Culture, Literature, occult, spirituality

Inside ‘Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions’ by Laura Davila

by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments on Inside ‘Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions’ by Laura Davila
Vamp Jenn reading Mexican Magic by Laura Davila
Vamp Jenn reading Mexican Magic by Laura Davila

“As a bruja, you grow to realize that occult forces are always preparing us and positioning us for divine appointments.” –Mexican Magic by Laura Davila

In her newest book, Laura Davila makes Mexican folk spirituality accessible to a wider audience. Mexican Magic places the power to initiate personal transformation in the hands of the reader. I had the privilege of being gifted with a copy by the publisher Red Wheel/Weiser. The fact that this book has come into my possession is an act of magic to me. Over the past few years, I’ve been strengthening my spiritual connections and have begun researching the spiritual customs of my Mexican ancestors. Davila’s latest work resonated with me on many levels, and I believe others who are on a mystical journey can benefit from it as well.

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History, music

The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth Book Review

by Jennifer Vasquez11 Comments on The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth Book Review
John Robb (Photo credit: John Middleham)

“Nothing exists independently; goth was a kind of fever. It just seemed to seep in on a tide of black lace and black leather.”

–Nina Antonia quoted in The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth

Various books have been written attempting to unravel the mystery of the goth subculture and trace its roots. A new text has recently been added to the canon, The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth by John Robb who’s the frontman of the post-punk band The Membranes and head of the online media publication Louder Than War. His behemoth of a book takes a deep plunge into the musical origins of goth, and it’s quite an adventure.

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Literature

Spotlight On Rose Sinister: Vampire Scholar & Author

by Jennifer Vasquez13 Comments on Spotlight On Rose Sinister: Vampire Scholar & Author
Rose Sinister (Photo credit: Rachel Clinesmith, editor-in-chief Vampyre Magazine and owner of Vampyre Cosmetics)
Rose Sinister (Photo credit: Rachel Clinesmith, editor-in-chief of Vampyre Magazine and owner of Vampyre Cosmetics)

Author and content creator Rose Sinister has been on a mission to explore the question, “Why do we tell vampire stories?” This query laid the foundation for her podcast Rose Sinister: Vampires, which she launched in 2018. Since then, she’s branched off to work on multiple projects dedicated to enriching people’s knowledge of these creatures of the night, plus she’s just released her first novel within the vampire genre titled This Crimson Debt. I had the opportunity to interview the writer and read the story, and it’s fangtastic. Don’t worry; there won’t be any spoilers in the following review.

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Literature

12 Unusual Facts About Mary Shelley

by Jennifer Vasquez23 Comments on 12 Unusual Facts About Mary Shelley
Portrait of Mary Shelley by Richard Rothwell
Portrait of Mary Shelley by Richard Rothwell

In 1818, Mary Shelley published her first major work, Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. More than 200 years later, the novel is still popular among gothic horror fans. Not only has it sparked numerous movie adaptations, but the monster of the narrative has been the inspiration behind Halloween costumes, haunts and a Frankenstein-themed bar in the UK. The author also continues to be a prominent literary figure today, inspiring countless contemporary horror writers. There’s even an annual holiday commemorating her birthday and notorious book, Frankenstein Day on August 30th. To pay homage to the author, here are 12 interesting facts about Mary Shelley that may surprise you.

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Literature

The Vampira Diaries Book Review

by Jennifer Vasquez18 Comments on The Vampira Diaries Book Review
The Vampira Diaries memorabilia
The Vampira Diaries memorabilia

Before Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, there was Vampira, famously known as the original Glamour Ghoul. Her pale visage, raven-colored locks, crimson lips, and highly arched brows made her quite the image to behold on late-night television. While she’s revered today as an icon in the underground scene, her claim to fame was short-lived during her time. 

In an all-new book called The Vampira Diaries: 1954-1956, author Jonny Coffin gives readers a closer look into the world of the queen of the night. Digging out archives from the grave, he presents a collection of unseen photographs, newspaper clippings and excerpts from her diaries, resurrecting the voice and presence of this dark soul. I recently finished the biography and want to share a bit of what lies on the pages.     

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Literature

Midnight Light Book Review: A Poetic Exploration of Life & Death

by Jennifer Vasquez2 Comments on Midnight Light Book Review: A Poetic Exploration of Life & Death

“The moon appears in the night sky
Casting our souls into dreams
Endlessly flowing streams of subconscious move over the land”
-Another Perspective

Midnight Light
Image accompanying the poem “Underneath Icicles” in Midnight Light (Photo credit: Brian Paglinco)

Verse and imagery entwine in Midnight Light, a book that illuminates darkness and uncovers life pulsating in the land of the dead. It is the creation of two dear friends—writer Michael Pace and photographer Brian Paglinco—who wanted to share their artistic vision with the world, as well as pay tribute to their enduring friendship. The pages contain a series of gothic-inspired poems and photos that transported me to different time periods and places as I explored the work.

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