mstrust-Books & Tiki #2

Hi, I'm Jennifer in Phoenix. I'm sharing my love for tiki. Tiki cocktails, tiki mugs, tiki bars, tiki music and tiki decor. I don't know if this theme will continue all year, but for now, let's have fun with it. I collect mugs, visit tiki bars and attend a yearly tiki convention. The above pic is of our regular Vegas spot, Frankie's Tiki Room.


March marked my 16th Thingaversary. Wow, it's actually gone by fast!
I spend most of my time writing and researching my Substack, Autumn Lives Here. It's free every other Tuesday, and only for paid members the other Tuesdays. I have short stories, true crime, book reviews, scary movie discussions, cocktail recipes and Autumn baking year round. I'm happy to say that I have over 30 LTers among my weekly readers, and a few LTers among my paid creeps. You're welcome to drop by for a scare. https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/
I've hosted a few months at ScaredyKit and MysteryKit. I'm hosting Contemporary Horror in October at ScaredyKit.
I do read a lot of horror and true crime, so things might be heavy on that end, but I also read cookbooks, travel, gardening and fiction in general.
I hope you'll come by often and say hi.

2024 Reads

1. Muckross Abbey and Other Stories- 4.5
2. My Year of Rest and Relaxation- 4.5
3. Killer Plants-3.5
4. The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread- 3.5
5. The Seventh Bride- 4
6. The Dinner-4.5
7. Phoenix Noir- 3
8. Recipes from the World of H.P. Lovecraft- 4.5
9. Living Like A Runaway- 3.5
10. Joe Gould's Teeth- 4
11. The Mysteries- 3
12. Starter Villain- 4
13. The Bookshop-4
14. Murder in Hollywood- 3.5
15. The Christmas Guest: A Novella- 4.5
16. I Must Be Dreaming-3
17. Death in the Sunshine- 3.5
18. The Eyeball Collector-4
19. Vexed To Nightmare- 3.5
20. The Devil's Rooming House- 4
21. H.P. Lovecraft: Great Tales of Horror- 4
22. Don't Point That Thing At Me-4
23. Lost Hills-4
24. Edible Houseplants-4
25. Little, Crazy Children-4
26. Nightbitch-3
27. Cut & Thirst-3
28. Dearly Devoted Dexter-4.5
29. Last Night at the Lobster-3.5
30. A Certain Hunger-4.5
31. Famous Writers School: A Novel-4.5
32. The Rising of the Moon-3.5

Welcome!

You know, I actually forgot about my 16th Thingaversary last week, but I bought books anyway. Whoopeee!

Happy new thread Jennifer!

Happy new thread, Jennifer! Happy Thingaversary as well :)

>4 Owltherian: Thank you!

>5 alcottacre: Thanks and thanks! How could I have forgotten? My new books are a happy accident.

>6 mstrust: You're very welcome, its always a fun time with new threads.

Happy new thread, Jennifer.

Happy new thread, and happy belated Thingaversary!

Happy New Thread!!

>7 Owltherian: It is.
>8 BLBera: Thanks, Beth.
>9 foggidawn: Thank you, thank you!
>10 hredwards: Thanks, Harold!

To anyone interested, Substack has started a new thing where free subscribers can read one of the locked posts, like this week's Autumn Lives Here. I don't know if it let's you read just the one or if you get to have a field day for a single day or what, but if you're curious, you definitely get at least one.

Happy new thread Jennifer!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

>12 quondame: Thanks, Susan!
>13 cbl_tn: Good to see you, Carrie!
>14 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs!
I know you all live far, far away, so help yourself to the pina colada cookies.


Tiki Oasis put out a list of the performers that will be at our Oasis and The Martini Kings are playing!
Here they are at the recent opening of the artist Shag's gallery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpS8ba0RgdM

>15 mstrust: Yum!

You said it!

25. Little, Crazy Children by James Renner

In 1990, sixteen year old Lisa Pruitt was found murdered in her affluent neighborhood of Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland. She had snuck out of her house after midnight and was stabbed just a few yards from her boyfriend's home, a boy who had invited her. He had been released from a psychiatric hospital just that day and they had been apart for several weeks.

The police investigation focused on a schoolmate who had long been known as am angry weirdo, and the police may have seen him as their only suspect due to a group of high-achieving school mates who pointed the finger at him. He was put on trial, his life ruined, but was he the murderer?
Renner's account of the murder, the trial, and the lives of this group of wealthy, nerdy kids is fascinating. The problems I had with the book are when the author injects his own opinions, swearing to let us know he believes something was unfair, or contriving to tell a backstory of one of the players in order to inject his own politics. Even stranger, he includes a text he received from another reporter telling him that his previous work has been irresponsible. When he sticks to reporting the facts of the case, he does so in a riveting style, but sometimes he goes off on a tangent about himself. 4

Weird little trivia: Molly Shannon had been a babysitter to the young man who stood trial for the murders.

Happy new one, Jennifer.

Happy new thread and Happy Thingaversary, Jennifer!
It's still early in the morning here, but the pina colada cookies are whetting my appetite...

Happy new thread, Jennifer, and belated happy Thingaversary!
We joined LT in the same month.

>15 mstrust: The pina colado cookies look delicious.

>19 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!
>20 SirThomas: Thanks, Thomas, glad you're here!
There's a reason why pina coladas remain a cocktail staple, they're just so good.
>21 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!
We must have both gotten some booky shakes during March and wanted to talk about it. I know that I was searching for book sites when I came upon LT way back when.

😂 - Welcome to the club!

;-D I think the lack of proper punctuation just adds something to it.

Happy new one!! And LOL to >23 mstrust:. : )

Thanks, Kim, glad you're here!

It's a free week at Autumn Lives Here! I've got Netflix scares, a pear cocktail, and the story of Madalynne Obenchain, a lady with too many boyfriends.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

26. Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

Told from the pov of 'The Mother', this is the story of a woman who hates motherhood, most likely due to severe post-partum depression. She has a son who is around two years old, and a husband who travels for business, making him a visitor who arrives for 48 hours, barely interacting, and dismissing her need for help. The mother tells him she thinks she is turning into a dog, growing fur and sharp teeth, but no one else sees it. Her progression, or her belief that she's becoming a feral canine, leads to some disturbing and brutal behavior.
The story is part surrealism that addresses a woman who feels she has lost her own self in motherhood. While she loves her child, she deeply resents that she is the primary caregiver, and the book is told from the perspective of a wildly angry woman who does some incredibly violent things. I can't say that I liked this book, it's too one-note, all rage. If you love cats, you might want to avoid it. 3

>29 mstrust: Mmmmmm. I think I'm gonna pass on this one, but I'll take a pear cocktail please!

That cocktail recipe is drool-worthy. I made myself a Transfusion last night, the cocktail from last week's ALH.

>29 mstrust: I can sympathize, but no.

Pretty much my feeling. About a third of the way in I began thinking, "I don't like this." But I kept going out of worry about the boy.

27. Cut & Thirst by Margaret Atwood

A short story about three older women who have been harboring anger for years on behalf of a fourth friend. They finally decide it's time to exact revenge on the group of men responsible for ruining Fern's career.
A humorous story about friendship and dialing down your fantasies. 3

For your listening pleasure, Martin Denny's "Quiet Village":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exwknWjpCUk

Autumn Lives Here is covering the best true crime on regular ol' cable this week. Plus, the ancient backstory of The Wicker Man, and a mapley breakfast.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

I also got to write a guest post for the popular booky Substack called SoNovelicious. My essay, "The Darkest Corners of the Library", posted today. i dig into how I started reading horror and true crime as a kid. Drop by:
https://substack.com/inbox/post/143357741

>37 mstrust: I bought the boxed set of those not long ago in a sales bin at the local Walmart. As a folklore collector, I can’t pass up good lore with suitably creepy illustrations….

It's true, the illustrations are surprisingly scary!

So many parents complained about this series back in the day. Then it was Goosebumps and Fear Street. I’m sure there are now other young peoples’ horror series that are being targeted today—if they’re not too busy targeting books on racial and LGBTQ+ issues.

Sure, there have always been books that make one group of people uncomfortable. It changes every few years.

28. Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

The second in the Dexter series, this time the Miami PD and Dexter, our charming psychopath serial killer, are trying to find "Dr. Danco", a nickname that refers to his method of turning ex-Special Ops into vegetables. Sergeant Doakes, the man who hates Dexter the most but can't figure out why, has a history with Dr. Danco and may be on the list of men being hunted. That leaves him with no choice but to work with Dexter.
It seems implausible to say these are fun reads, but Dexter is such a witty guy that they are fun. 4.5

>42 mstrust: You’ve enticed me with with your review of the second Dexter book, to go read the first one. Thanks (I think)!

Karen O

You're very welcome, maybe! The books do feature highly creative and gruesome deaths, but Dexter himself is a hoot.

29. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O' Nan

While a blizzard rages outside, Manny, the manager of a Red Lobster restaurant, conscientiously goes through all the hassles and policies as if it's a normal day, but it isn't. Just days before Christmas, this is the last day of operation for this location, a place Manny has worked for years. Though he's been placed elsewhere by the corporation, he believes he will never again see Jacqui, the server he loves.
Told from hardworking Manny's POV, it's the story of a man who knows the most joy he's found is in the past, so he tries to keep his mind on his work. 3.5

This week at Autumn Lives Here: food horror, the inspiration for Arsenic and Old Lace, and digging into all The Walking Dead spin-offs. Plus a cocktail!
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

Howdy Jennifer and happy belated thread!

Congrats on the essay! Nice photos!!

Hi, Lynda! Thanks a lot, and for reading my essay. Gayla asked if I needed any changes and I asked her to do something about my movie screen-sized forehead, but she couldn't. Anyway, I'm happy with how things turned out.

This weekend is Tiki Oasis! We're going to a tropical tasting seminar tomorrow, and seeing what we find at the marketplace, where they sell artwork, mugs and everything else.
On Sunday, we'll be at "Arizonaland", the show from Charles Phoenix.
The tastings always have new cocktails, and the Valley Ho Hotel always features a new signature cocktail for the event, so maybe I'll get some recipes.
Here's one from last year:


The Don Juan

1 3/4 oz Remy Martin
1 oz Licor 43
1/2 oz whole milk
1 oz orange juice
1/2 c cream or half & half

Shake all with ice. Strain into a martini glass or coupe. Garnish with an orange twist.

This sounds like fun - have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks, Thomas, and I hope you have a great one too!

>49 mstrust: This does sound fun.
I like reading Charles Phoenix also.
Have a great weekend!

Thanks, Harold, and you have a great weekend too! I'm really looking forward to the Arizonaland slide show, it should be funny. But I want my cocktails too!

Enjoy the weekend!

You too!

>29 mstrust: wow, this one looks brutal.

I recently read a Margaret Atwood true-crime-ish one, Alias Grace. However I did not know it was based on a real story until the end, and by that time I was over the slow pace of the unfolding of what little story there seemed to be. I wonder if I might have enjoyed it more had I known the basic facts prior?

Can’t wait to hear a report from the weekend. Sounds like a blast!

One Don Juan please.
Hope you're having a fun Tiki weekend!

My dog is digging the jungle sounds in Quiet Village!

>56 LovingLit: With almost no effort, I found another that is even more brutal. It's up next.
I read Alias Grace maybe ten years ago and really enjoyed it, and then The Blind Assassin. Those long, slow-building stories are definitely not everyone's cup of tea, and might not be mine either at another time.
You might have liked it more knowing that it was inspired by real lives, but maybe the pace was too slow for you anyway.

>57 drneutron: >58 PaperbackPirate: I had a very good weekend! We went to the Tropical Tasting on Saturday, which is a group of liquor reps talking briefly about their company and how the product is made, and you're tasting little cups of the liquor straight. Then they open the floor and you can visit each booth and they hand out cups of ready-made cocktails. So we had pina coladas, and some cocktails that were made just for the event. I really liked both the mango and the passion fruit liqueurs from a new company called Chinola. They tasted like mildly spiked fruit nectars and I sucked down three little cups of the straight liqueurs and a cocktail of it. The tastings also give bars of Hawaiian Kona coffee bars from Hawaii, which are delicious, but this year they cut the bars in half. Half a bar!
We had lunch at the hotel restaurant, where I had a Quartermaster cocktail that I think was named because the glass had just a quarter depth of liquid, the rest taken up by a massive ice cube. We also shared a cappuccino tart.
In the marketplace, we bought two carvings for the backyard and an ice cream banana plant, which I was thrilled it. The business, Tiki Yard, is a tropical garden center about 45 minutes from us and they come up in my IG often. The bananas most of us have in our grocery stores, the Cavendish, are more disease resistant and good travelers. I'd read about the ice cream banana, and the woman there said it tastes like vanilla ice cream! I'm transplanting it tomorrow.
On Sunday we were at the "Arizonaland" show by Charles Phoenix. If you don't know who he is, look him up, go to his IG reels, he's a character and it was a fun show. And they had $5 Bloody Marys that were delicious.
We bought my sister a mug for her birthday next month, and we bought three bottles of small batch cocktail syrups in strawberry (for my nephew), prickly pear (to make prickly pear margaritas this summer), and orgeat.
We also had the event's signature cocktails. I had the pineapple-gin punch and Mike had the Stardust Nectar, which is Irish gin, pineapple, grenadine...I'll try to find recipes.
So, a fun weekend.

30. A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers

The story of Dorothy, a psychopath who indulges in her lack of empathy. Coming from a moderately wealthy family and left an inheritance, Dorothy becomes an exceptionally well-traveled, well-read food critic. She knows the best restaurants and enjoys cooking, describing the both the exotic and traditional dishes she eats, especially in Italy, her adopted second home.
She also relishes finding new lovers, especially if her research on the person turns up something Dorothy can use as leverage in the future. That she can destroy them is always in the back of her mind. As she matures, Dorothy's pleasure in the forbidden includes murder and cannibalism.

It would be too easy to say that Dorothy is a monster and her story is one of vulgar brutality, but that would ignore the times when she discusses the beauty of Italy and the care that goes into the cuisine, or the magazine trade of the 90s, the art of Ivan Albright, how Kosher meat is processed and how the USDA works. All these asides of a page or two combine to show how intelligent and curious Dorothy is about the world. The brutality is mixed with her version of sensuousness, which can be gross, but Summers is a superb writer who has created a fascinating character. 4.5

This week's Autumn Lives Here has workplace horrors, a well-preserved English gent, and a dee-licious Walker cocktail.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

31. Famous Writers School: A Novel by Steven Carter

Wendell Newton advertises his writing course in the back of a literary magazine, stating that he will help aspiring writers through his structured lessons. He begins working with a small collection of writers, sending out assignments that are explained through personal stories, such as the time when he was a young soldier working as a secretary to a general and was able to blackmail his superior into giving him a European vacation. In turn, his students send him whatever writing they want to, such as the ex-model and stripper who writes about the people who become obsessed with her, which quickly includes Wendell. Or Linda, who sends Wendell essays about stalking him and breaking into his house. The only student who is actually writing fiction, a tense crime novel that he sends in chapters, is the one who receives Wendell's strangest replies. Over weeks of correspondence, we find Wendell to be shadier than his early professionalism let on.

A satire of the snail mail writing schools of the past, the reader is plunged into slice-of-life stories from each character that may last a few paragraphs or ten pages. It may be a kidnapping, a romance, or a snotty reply from Wendell. Expertly woven together, it's both fun and remarkably well-written. I've never heard of this book or the author. I think I picked this up at the giant booksale one year. 4.5

>62 mstrust: Ooh, Famous Writers School sounds good—off to track down a copy…

Have a great weekend!

Karen O

I hope you find a copy, it's worth the hunt.
Thanks, you have a good weekend too!

It's a free week at Autumn Lives Here. We're making a gingersnap crisp and talking about crazy Lifetime movies. Drop in!
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

32. The Rising of the Moon by Gladys Mitchell

Young brothers Simon and Keith live with their older brother Jack and his wife June, a couple who are barely staying together. Their village is shocked when a performer in a traveling circus is murdered, quickly followed by another dead woman and another. The brothers begin their own investigation into these Ripper murders because much of the evidence points to Jack, but Scotland Yard sends a detective, Mrs. Bradley, who is surprised to find two young boys who can be so helpful to the investigation.

This is my first finished Mitchell, as I attempted Death at the Opera first but didn't make it past the first chapter. Going into this one, I assumed that it being a British mystery published in 1945, taking place in a village with an elderly female detective, that it would have a passing resemblance to an Agatha Christie. It really doesn't, as this village is peopled with characters who are far more broken than what you'd find in Christie. Jack and June are constantly barking at each other, miserable but unable to part. Jack, Simon and Keith are all in love with their pretty lodger Christina, who is portrayed as both intelligent and kind, yet wrestles around on her bed with the two young boys and allows them to grope and kiss her. Keith is just eleven. Mitchell's village is populated with people who are sometimes sad, angry, or jealous, so this sets it apart from the polite mysteries usually found in this era. 3.5

For your weekend:

Mai tai! Great drinks!

I picked up Sarah Gailey’s latest (I think), Just Like Home. Pretty horrifical.

The blurb for that one sounds intense!
I bought Ring yesterday, the book the movie was based on, so I guess I'll see if that scares me too.

This week's Autumn Lives Here, we're making blood orange cocktails on our Picnic at Hanging Rock. Expect to get dirty.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

>70 mstrust: That was some movie!

The headmistress' hair alone was quite startling!

Delurking -- Hi!

Hi!