Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain is a historical fiction novel set in North Carolina in the 1960s. It’s not a feel-good story, and it’s not exactly a feel-bad story either (hey, don’t laugh at me—words are hard), but it’s a little bit of both. The 1960s were a challenging time for women in general. Married women had to get permission from their husbands to be prescribed the newly available birth control pill, effectively placing their ...
Book Review: Satan’s Harvest by Robert David Chase | Victim Blaming in Paranormal Narratives
Satan’s Harvest is book #6 in the Ed and Lorraine Warren series, and the fourth one I’ve read. I’ve had some trouble tracking down a couple of the earlier titles (yes, I am glaring directly at my library for this), but honestly—that frustration pales in comparison to the reaction this book inspired. I’m just going to say it outright: writing this review may very well be the literary equivalent of setting fire to any chance of being accepted as ...
Book Review: Werewolf by Robert David Chase | Jacob Black Not Included
Werewolf by Robert David Chase is the fifth installment in the Ed and Lorraine Warren series. It’s the third book I’ve read so far, and honestly? At this point, every story involving them somehow circles back to extremely mentally ill people being turned into paranormal spectacles. Werewolf is no different. While it’s credited to the Warrens, the Ramseys, and coauthor Robert David Chase, no matter how many people were involved, the narrative ...
I Take Too Much Responsibility—And It Started in Church
There’s a darker side to religion that’s often sold as a virtue: forgiveness, repentance, and taking responsibility for your actions. None of these things are inherently bad. But after years of narcissistic abuse layered on top of religious trauma, I’ve realized something uncomfortable about myself — I take too much responsibility. That reflex didn’t stay in church. It followed me into friendships, romantic relationships, and workplaces — ...
Book Review: In a Dark Place by Ray Garton | Whassamatter with the Snedeker Family?
Whassamatter with the Snedeker fam? Honestly… I can’t say for sure. My initial thought is addiction and mental illness, because the way this family is written in the book is not a great look. But truly, whassamatter with the author for using words like “whassamatter,” “hummum,” and “whum” and pretending they’re real? I hate feeling like a Karen in a book review—I really do. I try not to make things personal.But seriously… whassamatter with all ...
