Leigha's Little Library

It feels weird to me, too, but I guess we're now calling 90s things vintage. Ouch!

I was inspired by Paperbacks From Hell by Grady Hendrix and some awesome Instagram accounts to go on a hunt for some "vintage" books, from Horror, teen and children books.

Inspired by these accounts:

@booksuncovered [They judge books by their covers, but mostly post older, nostalgic type books.]

@vintagebooknerd [They post vintage books, obviously!]

@heylittlethrifter [She thrifts books and a lot are older, nostalgic books! She also has a Youtube channel under the same name.]

Disclaimer: Times were different when these were published. If you look into getting any of these, I am sure by today's standards, they are full of problematic, offensive material (even the children books!) Also, it would be a safe bet to say all the horror books have trigger warnings! I am mentioning the original publish date, not the date of any reprints.

I did something wild... I bought all these without looking up ratings and reviews, like people used to do back in the day.

Okay on to the show!

Here is what I found! 

An Old Friend of the Family [1979 - Dracula series #3 - Mentioned in Paperbacks From Hell]

The Children [1982 - Mentioned in Paperbacks From Hell]

Dominion [1982- Dracula series #5]

Spectre [1988]

Demon Within [1988]

 Fiends [1990]

 Billy [1990]

Candlenight [1991]

Twisted [1992]

Cutting Edge [1986]

The Perfume [1992]

Trapped: Cages of Mind and Body [1998]

The Accident [1991]

Don't Look Behind You [1989]

The Twisted Window [1987]

Stranger With My Face [1981 - Mentioned in Paperbacks From Hell]

The Dreamer [1996]

Humor - Horror - and the Supernatural [1968]

The Stepdaughter [1993]

Midnight Fright [1980]

My True Love Gave To Me [1993 - Scream series #5 (stand-alone series)]

The Scariest Stories You've Ever Heard Part 3 [1990]

The Immortal [1993]

The Party [1988 - Final Friends #1]

The Dance [1988 - Final Friends #2]

Mary Anne's Book [1996 - The Babysitters Club Portrait Collection]

Logan Bruno, Boy Baby-sitter [1991 - The Babysitters Club Special Edition]

Claudia's Book [1995 - The Babysitters Club Portrait Collection]

Sideways Stories from Wayside School [1978 - Wayside #1]

Sunny, Diary Two [1998 - California Diaries #6]

Wayside School is Falling Down [1989 - Wayside #2]

The Stranger I Left Behind [1989]

A Taste Of Smoke [1993]

The Secret Secret Passage [1992 - Clue #2]

The Whipping Boy [1986]

The Ghostmobile [1987]

Fourth-Graders Don't Believe In Witches [1989]

Secret Agents Four [1967]

Mystery of the Secret Dolls [1993]

Just finished Agoraphobia - This story hits too close to home. It was written in the second person, so that made it even more personal as if I were the main character. Thankfully, it gives a hopeful message.

16 stories, 5 finished.

The Mirror - 5/5

The Ghost of Memory - 3.5/5

Vapers - 3/5

Maria - 1/5

Agoraphobia - 4/5

Just finished Maria - This one isn't for me. It has a creepy vibe, but it doesn't feel like a complete story whether it was a short story or not.

16 stories, 4 finished.

The Mirror - 5/5

The Ghost of Memory - 3.5/5

Vapers - 3/5

Maria - 1/5

Just finished Vapers - I don't have much to say about this one other than it was confusing. I did like it and I enjoy the writing style. It was more science fiction than supernatural; maybe that is cause of my confusion, because I don't read much sci-fi.

16 stories, 3 finished.

The Mirror - 5/5

The Ghost of Memory - 3.5/5

Vapers - 3/5

I just finished The Ghost of Memory and I would probably give it a 3.5/5. I felt like it needed to be longer. I did like it, but everything happened so fast. I know it is a short story, but I can't help desiring more. I however really enjoy the writing style. There are a couple parts mentioning spiders, so arachniphobia warning.

16 stories, 2 finished.

The Mirror - 5/5

The Ghost of Memory - 3.5/5

The ending made me cry. The first time I read it, I don't think I saw this story as being sad, but now that I am older, the reality of it is that this is a really sad story. You've got the woman in black's pain that drove her to do what she does, the town people's pain who suffer the spirits hauntings, and then that ending... I really enjoyed the writing style. It flowed beautifully.

The scene with the dog... oh my gosh!

I put in a special order at Barnes and Noble (because for some reason they didn't carry it in store!) for Paperbacks From Hell by Grady Hendrix and while I was at the store to pick it up, we had to go into the kids section to pick up a birthday gift for a 1-year-old.

I saw the Buffy the Vampire Slayer picture book based on the series created by Joss Whedon, with illustrations by Kim Smith. I had to have it! For me! I love horror, adult books, YA, middle grade and of course children books. I think even if my body breaks down over time, reading in this manner will help keep part of my mind young.

I'm such a dork. Both of these books are so cool!!

The back cover alone makes a Buffy fan happy! Look at the little attention to detail. When you read this, you have to remember it will be way different from the show. It has to be if they are marketing it for children.

I've only flipped through Paperbacks From Hell, but I've already seen some books I own or read, which is pretty neat!

Lupe by Gene Thompson is from 1977. I bought my copy in 2003 from a little used bookstore for $1. So I read it at 19 years old. From memory, this book freaked me out! I was pretty sheltered as a teen, even at 19, so this was probably considered a Taboo book to be reading with my relgious family. I imagine I hid it.

Creepy children...

My copy got a little beat up. I'm not too bothered by that. That just means this book has a history! Would I buy it again if I found a better copy of the first edition (and for cheap again... haha) I probably would if I read this again and still liked the story.

I tried to adjust the photo so you can see the faded text in the receipt! Not every day you find the original receipt tucked away.

As I read Paperbacks From Hell, I will keep track of which books I own, have owned and have read! (Oh, and of course the books I will want to hunt for and read! I know I will want to find the books with the covers the book shows, so my hunt might be harder.)

If you are a dork like me, you might look forward to my list, which I will share here. lol

I've only finshed the first short story so far.

The Mirror: 5/5
I really enjoyed this short story. It is about a mirror that shows you things it shouldn't show you. (Yeah that doesn't sound confusing at all, does it? I promise the story itself makes much more sense than I do!) I couldn't help feeling some Harry Potter "Mirror of Erised" vibes while reading this because the moral of the story. Great short story and I liked the writing style. Set in the UK. I appreciate the research J.S did to make it sound authentic. (Maybe that helped with giving me the Harry Potter vibes lol) The ending was perfect and left me wishing this story was a longer one! For sure a spooky concept!

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Side note, I've personally met J.S. Bailey and got this book signed! I think I've made a vlog about it in the past. (Also won some of her audiobooks on Audible. It is about time I read one of her books!)

It is day 5 of the Books in The Freezer readathon. 5 challenges, 1 down, 1 halfway down.

I have read Frankenstein, the original 1818 text by Mary Shelly. Third time reading it. Still a 4 star rating. I have feelings, but I can't get a proper review down for this book. I will say, I am more on the "Monster's" side, though of course I don't agree some of the stuff he did, part of me can understand why he did those things, though.

I am 50% into The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

[I usually hate movie covers, and it is weird to have "Harry Potter's" face plastered on the cover, but I kinda like this cover.]

Next book on the agenda is Ordinary Souls by J.S. Bailey.

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I'm really excited about the idea of reading spooky books during October. I say I love horror books, but my Goodreads would suggest otherwise because it is probably the genre I read the least. I want to broaden my horizons and read more horror and other books I don't automatically reach for.

Not related to this readathon, but my copy of Paperbacks from Hell is in at Barnes and Noble. I'm excited to buy it!

[How many books will this book make me put on my TBR?]

About the readathon:

"Do not fear, Anne! We will save you from your demons!"

*whispers* "Lord Demon, we will bring you forth, oh Majestic Master."

"This guide book shoud help us...sweet friend."

*whispers* It will help us Lord Demon..."

"Grady Hendrix is a master of his craft, soon you shall be free...Ma-- Anne!"

"It is DONE!"

My second time reading this. Not much to say. I enjoy it.

*cough*like the movie more*cough*

"Girls, I am not sure it is a great idea to read this book to you while I'm babysitting!"

"Who brought the random head?"

"I guess we can read this, but you sure you don't want to pick another book?"

"What are you whispering about, Belle? Pay attention! You guys asked for this, after all."

"Hope, Alice... this is too scary for you, right? Fine...fine, I'll read it!"

The dolls are:

The Books In The Freezer Readathon is going decently, I suppose. I'm still on the first book, but I have until the 15th to read my picks! (All of which are smaller books.)

Halfway done with Frankenstein. I am reading the $1 1818 Kindle version (the original text) and listening to the free public domain audiobook from Librivox at the same time. (Posted on Youtube) That helps me focus on classics. I have dyslexia, so sometimes my mind trips up on the old-fashioned language in classics.

The reason I looked for a copy of the recording on YouTube is that I like to speed up the audio to match how fast my brain works. (If that makes sense)

Free Public Domain Librivox Recording

$1 Kindle 1818 Version

Coraline, the Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman is on sale for $1.99! I don't know how long it will be on sale and what part of the world this sale is for. I thought I would pass along the news. Here

Also anyone with kids (or kids at heart like me!) The first three Ivy & Bean books by Annie Barrows are on sale for $.99 each! Number 1, Number 2, Number 3 They are $3 after the first 3.