Welcome to a new series here on Free Demons, where I take off my socks and run through the tarantula paddock, happy to be alive, caring about nothing and everything, and sharing strobe-lit frames of my flickering attention.
Today’s Forecast: Partially Cloudy With a Chance of Leave Me Alone For Christ
And now on to today’s theme…
Books!
{ 1 } The Crestwood House monster series
Have a look at these babies.
Hardcovers, the lot, done up in the colors of Halloween. To say I was obsessed with these as a kid is an adjective fail of the highest order. Suffice it to say that my desire to load up on these things was directly proportionate to my mother’s desire for me to read literally anything else.
Sidenote: In the early 80s, PBS began airing these movies on the regular. At last, I’d see the pages of my beloved Crestwood House books come to life! I can’t express the pure delight I experienced—every time—when I tuned in to this:
The creakiness of it all!
Sidenote: On New Year’s Day, 2024, we lost David Skal, a Universal Horror film historian whose knowledge and erudition made him nothing short of a national treasure. To describe the aesthetic of the 1931 version of Dracula, Skal coined the term “Hollywood Gothic.” He was right. That’s what it was. And I feel it every time I rewatch.
Personal recommendation: David J. Skal’s wonderful biography of Bram Stoker.
{ 2 } This Bookcase
I can’t get enough of the design of this thing. I’ll admit, it looks a bit sterile in this photo. Can someone explain to me why ads for book shelves and cases never actually fill the damn things with books?
I ask you, which hugs your heart more? The above?
Or this
As noted, it’s a bit too messy for my tastes, but I’d take it any day over sanitized Architectural Digest porn. I love being surrounded by books. So much so that I’ll often grab a few from my shelves and scatter them around my spot like I’m trying to attract Goodreads reviewers.
At any rate, that beautiful bookcase comes in other finishes.
That’s all for the literary-themed portion of our program. Next up…
The Random
{ 1 } Are you awesome?
Click here to find out.
{ 2 } This invitation
I’d donate every cent I own if it was at Yoko Ono’s house.
{ 3 } Quote of the week: Jerry Seinfeld’s life advice, referencing the Titan submersible in his address to Duke U’s 2024 graduating class:
“If the fish where you are have eyes like Shelley Duvall and a bendy straw with a work light hanging off of their head, you do not belong there.”
The entire speech is uplifting, joyous, and important.
And finally…
Results will be announced next week.
Catch you on the flip flop!