The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett

 

As I am looking through my book journal for 2025 and reflecting on my favorite reads, I realized I neglected to share another of my favorites from the year: The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett. 

This was my second read in 2025 about ventriloquism and insanity (the first being Magic by William Goldman). R.L. Stine's Night of the Living Dummy did something to my psyche, so I am drawn to stories about malevolent ventriloquist dummies. I found this while browsing a book shop in Maine. The cover is arresting: A black-and-white illustration of a ventriloquist dummy with insectile legs where a torso should be. 

This collection of short stories started off as creepy but "fine" until suddenly, in a story with a self-aware pedestrian style, something unlocked in me and this felt like a sinister puzzle box, every story demanding a re-read after finishing a new one, so that it is a book that could be infinitely read; immersed in, studied, driven mad by. Most of them linger in the realm of the uncanny, and they reward a slow, careful read. 

This experience is an argument for buying weird self-published books you've never heard of! It was the perfect thing to read while I was in high altitude for a horror film festival in October, feeling increasingly paranoid and jumpy. I bought a copy for the library, so hopefully I can find myself another convert to the cult-like appeal of Jon Padgett's Secret. 

-Michael G. 

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

 

Since my mom taught me to read, we have swapped book recommendations, but over the past few years we've formed a structured book club of two. We've read War and Peace, Don Quixote, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Lord of the Rings, each over the course of a year. This year I asked to read Charles Dickens, since as a creative writing/English lit major I consider it an embarrassment that I've never read any of his work. I mean, I love The Muppet's Christmas Carol, but it isn't quite the same thing, is it? 

I chose David Copperfield for three reasons: 

1) It's over 800 pages, close to our meaty goal of 1000 pages. 

2) There was a copy taking up significant space on my bookshelf, right next to similarly untouched Bleak House. 

3) Virginia Woolf's blurb is on the cover calling it "The most perfect of all the Dickens novels." 

I went in prepared to be a little bored. The vague sense I had of Dickens was that he was long-winded, needlessly wordy ("He got paid by the word!" people holler, as if that is deterrent rather than impressive), and moralistic. I also wondered if his books were all about miserable orphan boys who make good through steadfast kindness and surprise rich relations. 

Well, David is at one point a fairly miserable orphan boy and he does make good with the help of a rich relation and his own diligence. But! I was not bored and there were only about two chapters I skimmed because they were so weepy. Occasionally it seemed Dickens popped through the veil of fiction, either through clumsy structure (a scene observed through eaves dropping that tests the limits of human understanding; a character's running commentary cringingly meant to bring humor to melodrama), whiplash character changes, or the semi-frequent interruptions of plot to state some sort of thesis on being hard-working and productive. 

Overall, I was impressed with just how continually entertained I was by the storytelling. The characters are so delightfully drawn, I feel like I will carry them with me much longer than I do others. His aunt Betsey was our hero: At one point I texted my mom: "Janet! Donkeys!" and I imagine that will be a phrase we can call to each other through the years. His villains were delicious: the writhing, unctuous Uriah Heep; steely Miss Murdstone; and my favorite, the fantastically bitter Rosa Dartle. Let me just take a moment for Rosa Dartle. Take this first description of her: 

She was a little dilapidated – like a house – with having been so long to let; yet had, as I have said, an appearance of good looks. Her thinness seemed to be the effect of some wasting fire within her, which found a vent in her gaunt eyes.

When she dispenses with her halting manner of speech and lets forth with the full vent of that "wasting fire within her," I could not put the book down. It was so vicious, so intense, so full of emotion and fury. 

I'm satisfied with my first Dickens experience and at some point will pick up another. Probably Great Expectations, because there's a lady called Haversham I'm looking forward to meeting. 

-Michael G.

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

 

The book continues where the second left off, following Bree as she continues with the shadow king in her pursuit of power. This book, however, takes an interesting turn with the style of writing. Deonn moves from the consistent first-person perspective of the first two books, to a more fractured, multiple perspective take. We see the perspectives of William, Bree, Nick, and Mariah to name a few. Eventually, all the experiences meet up and converge back with Bree. 

The spin of this book is part of Bree's deal with the demon king for power has sacrificed her ability to remember the identities of those she loves most. This sets the premise for the whole books. It is a journey of what it means to love someone, to feel such emotion for people you can't even remember, and to actively so do, even when its hard. 

I found the book does a really good job of providing action, romance, and even a bit of mystery. It's awesome seeing all the people eventually come together to support Bree. It really goes to show the power of community and it makes me wonder in what ways I can better practice the art of loving.

The book set itself up for another follow-up! If you haven't already, please give this series a read and share your thoughts!

- Leo H.