i feel physically ill every single time i think about mungo. i had to cry myself to sleep before i could even write this review. that child deserves all the love in the world and to know that he deserves it unconditionally. i’m sick. maureen buchanan when i get my hands on you…

i’m writing fanfic for my own peace of mind because i will not live in a world where mungo hamilton is not loved. no, in fact, give me all the hamilton kids. if you’re not going to care for them, i will.

between this collection and the noah kahan album, i just wasn’t in a good place, a brutal combination for anyone who frequently feels very alone.

this collection can feel repetitive for anyone who wants to read the whole thing in one sitting. i read a few poems a day, returning to it sporadically. months later, i don’t know if i would connect as deeply with these poems as i did when i first started reading, but i do feel more at peace. i think i’ll find myself returning to this collection time and time again. dog songs makes me tear up just thinking about it.

maybe not every single poem is a wild geese, but there’s comfort in this collection, hope in the search for purpose.

as someone who had to take texas history, i’ve never been under the impression that the heroic anglo narrative is correct, but i’ve also never bothered to learn more. i will admit a small part of me did hope there was some truth to the story we learned, and while i’m not surprised to learn the white men of the alamo were failed congressmen, racists, and/or slave owners, it is disappointing.

the alamo is just another representation of how this state continuously fails its marginalized people and my feelings about the state i love. it is a place with an incredibly storied history, far beyond the texas revolution, one that belongs to people of color and is now a symbol that has been co-opted by white supremacists.

a book i would highly recommend to anyone who grew up in texas or hearing the myth of the alamo. it’s written with the voice of the cool, woke history teacher giving a lecture. it’s cringey at worst, endearing at best. if anything, kind of an insane tutorial guide on how to sell phil collins (yes THE phil collins) fake alamo collectibles with a little bit of solvent and a whole lot of charm.

no, you’re so right, i’ve never considered the third option to the trolley problem is to kill everyone involved. right, right….

this escalates the events of foundryside in such a way that i don’t have a clue where the third book can even go. i’m still trying to figure out how exactly scriving works, everything is on fire behind me, so i’ll need a minute before i start the third book.

i have left this experience a changed person. i was listening to this on audiobook and at one point, felt such a strong urge to pull over and just run screaming. carmilla, i love you, are you free after work on friday?

there have been plenty of annoying men written in history and henry is currently at the top of my list. was genuinely upset every time that man was around. i feel a real rage just thinking about him right now. i’m on the computer now making a fancam of lenore and carmilla right now dni.

this was such a ride that i’m just now circling back to review it and i still don’t think i can adequately explain my feelings about this book.

the writing is beautiful and i couldn’t finish this in one sitting because of the absolute dread i felt. it’s heavy and it stays. i’ll be going about my day and suddenly remember this book. things start happening and they don’t stop. i read those trigger warnings and was still unprepared.

it packs so much into a short amount of time and doesn’t linger unnecessarily, but there’s also so much that each part leaves you wanting just a little more. i’ve changed my rating on this a few times because i just can’t settle and that’s really how this book has left me feeling - unsettled.