I have been aware of the delightful @gothiccharmschool for quite some time now, largely through her interactions with folk I follow here on tumblr.
What I did not know until a couple of weeks ago was that she wrote an etiquette book.
I discovered the existence of this darling and informative book at work, when I suddenly found myself holding a signed first edition paperback with her name on the cover. To say I was excited would be an understatement. (I squealed and flapped and found every coworker in the room to show the book to, then promptly borrowed it to read.)
Having now read the entirety of Gothic Charm School, I definitely recommend it to everyone.
Why? Let’s make a list.
1. It’s an actual etiquette book about Goth culture for both Goths and those who are not Goth but know or encounter Goths.
2. The writing style is both easy to read and positively charming.
3. Actual practical advice for social situations that can be applied well outside interactions with Goths. (As an autistic person who doesn’t try to hide my neurodivergence behind a neurotypical act all the time, I really like much of the advice in here. Please follow it. You’ll make me happy.)
4. Actual practical advice for everything from clothing alterations to getting candle wax out of shag carpets. Life skills, people! Everyone should know these things–one day you could be someone’s hero.
5. Learning manners is important.
6. Learning about subcultures you don’t understand is important.
7. The fantastic illustrations by the talented Pete Venters.
8. The wit and humor in this book is spot on and made me laugh aloud several times and smile a lot. On public transit. So there.
Seriously, if you’ve never thought to pick up an etiquette book, do yourself a favor and pick up this etiquette book. You won’t regret it.
Find a copy here! Or, if you’re in Portland, Oregon, get yourself downtown to Powell’s–the copy I have is going back on the shelf tomorrow, awaiting someone to come and take it home for keeps.
I am being totally vain and self-promoting, because this review of my book made me smile. Thank you, @book-a-day-2016!
(Also, thank you for calling out that the copy you read was a first edition! That’s right, folks, Gothic Charm School: an Essential Guide for Goths and Those Who Love Them is officially in it’s 2nd printing! I’m still flabbergasted by that. ::grin:: )
@i-want-my-iwtv and I will be presenting a reading list of classics and contemporary novels, nonfiction, essays, and poetry to read alongside the Vampire Chronicles.
Rather than a list of “read alikes” or books with vaguely similar themes, this will be a selection of works from the cannon that are mentioned or referenced in the series: from Dante to Milton, to the less obvious Swinburne and Baudelaire.
I can only assume that the ones who haven’t aren’t reading the right books.
FUCKING BOOKS.
Only all the time.
Does Fanfiction count??
Reblogging for how accurate the gif describes my life
Holy shit. This!
When I’m 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I’ll be reading Harry Potter. And my family will say to me, ‘After all this time?’ And I will say, ‘Always.’
RIP Alan Rickman (1946-2016)
^Apparently Rickman did not say this but I think he’d agree with the sentiment
We are what we love to read, and when we admit to loving a book, we admit that the book represents some aspect of ourselves truly, whether it is that we are suckers for romance or pining for adventure or secretly fascinated by crime.
This is the seedier side of literature and sometimes when it’s late, I cruise the streets until I find him….sprawled in some dusty corner of a well-used bookshop with pages draped over his bare arm, a glazed look in his eyes, high as a kite on Chaucer or Fitzgerald, and a trail of crumpled bills leading to the counter. As I pick up his inert body and walk past the shelves, dog-eared, greasy, stained pulp novels that have seen things, call me ‘Sugar’ and put their wares on display to tempt me. I keep going with his weight in my arms. For him, I cannot give in. It’s fortunate that I love him so…..even though he’s an addict. *shakes his head*
I-want-my-IWTV 