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Booksie & Brackish
A Rigidly Fictitious Publishing Hovel
Serving One Creative Writer
Dear Reader, 2026
In its second year of existence, we (I) here at Booksie and Brackish are (am) excited to welcome you to a new phase in our (my) creative development. This phase is best summed up in one word: earnest. At Booksie and Brackish, there is a foundational philosophy that is committed to honesty and must now break new ground into earnestness. The time has come to shed the veil of nonsense (to a degree) and establish ourselves (myself) as a somewhat more serious place of literary engagement.
Do not watch too closely for evidence of this evolution. We (I) are (am) a pot and we refuse to boil under too much scrutiny.
Yours sincerely,
The Only Actual Member of the B&B Creative Team Despite Pervasive Use of Plural Pronouns
"Nothing Burns As Bright As You," by Ashley Woodfolk
My life is full of poetic coincidence, the strange alignment of events and circumstances and feelings that evoke the perfect “and therefore.” There is no script, no plan, no intention, but somehow my world possesses this amazing ability to weave disparate things together. This book is one of those weird poetic coincidences. “Nothing Burns As Bright As You” tells the story of two girls with a relationship that burns too hot and too fast until it blows up in their faces. The pe
mvhwriting
Aug 27, 20252 min read
"Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education" by Stephanie Land
I was watching the Netflix show “Maid” a while back and thought it was such a great series. I was recommending it to everyone everywhere. The main character was a woman, a writer, a mother, a victim of domestic violence, and a maid studying the people who were her clients. I loved how she wrote about her clients and gave the houses names. I loved how she navigated the difficulty of friendship between classes and whether it is utility or true affection that drives the bond. I
mvhwriting
Aug 20, 20254 min read
"The Overstory" by Richard Powers
I deviated from my original plan to read through the books that had been lent to or bought for me. I admit it. I also deviated from my book buying ban (uh…twice). This book is the reason for both of those choices. And let me tell you, this was the book to break with. Like authentic tiramisu on a dessert ban…like unlimited potluck indulgence on a calorie deficit…like feeling enough financial freedom to have a drink AND an appetizer AND a dessert with your fancy meal…The Overst
mvhwriting
Aug 13, 20252 min read
"Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman
I have a long history of putting books on Christmas lists because I suddenly had the urge to read a certain genre or topic. I honestly cannot remember how this book made its way onto my list, though it has every right to be. This collection of poetry ended up being an incredible stepping stone on my reading list this year since it was later referenced by two other works that I read. This is one of many important reasons to read, listen to, view, consume the classics. You will
mvhwriting
Aug 6, 20251 min read
"The Secret Pianist" by Andie Newton
This book is difficult to review because of two different voices in my head. I probably would have loved this story between ages 11-14 because: The writing is straightforward The characters are easy to understand Nothing happens that is too hard to grasp The story is relatively predictable The romance would have been my bread and butter Plus the strong heroine who don’t need no man (butstillendsupwiththeloveinterestbecausesecretlyshereallydoeswanttobeloved) Conclusion – Young
mvhwriting
Jul 30, 20251 min read
"The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum" by Margalit Fox
I cannot say that I do not like history books. I’m the highschooler who went to a history summer camp. I loved it. But I am not like my dad in that I collected all sorts of books and documentaries simply because I love history and want to know everything there is to know. I have my special interests. For him it was the Civil War and World War II (we all have these old men in our lives I think). For me it’s whatever random thing I was either given or ran across on my own. And
mvhwriting
Jul 23, 20252 min read
"This Here Flesh" by Cole Arthur Riley
For the second time this year, I read a book that I felt saw me. It should not come as a surprise to me, I am not special or unique across the vast expanse of humanity. Yet every time it still surprises me how I can sit and listen or read or look and I can feel resembled, represented, and therefore relieved. One friend said all of life boils down to love, my mom speaks to the necessity of community, another teacher in the long litany of teachers says art is about connecting t
mvhwriting
Jul 16, 20252 min read
"On Photography" by Susan Sontag
From January to the end of February I was feeling particularly proud of myself and my reading goals. I had made my way through 6 books, written 6 reviews, and was making excellent progress on my self-imposed reading goal for the year: read all the books bought for or loaned to you, keep what you like. Since the end of February I have read eight books, written zero reviews, and deviated from my goal only once to read something I purchased for myself earlier this year. What cou
mvhwriting
Jul 3, 20252 min read
This is How I Know
When my thoughts are rushing, Broken 'cross the view, No thread or rhyme or bleeding, Just pieces, snapshots without glue, But I pause and sit with paper And through the pen held tight, This is how I know That I have got to write. When I'd rather another's words, Rather scroll and absorb my apps, Consume any other material Than face what within me feel like traps Where my feelings are overwhelming And cause me to put up a fight, This is how I know That I have got to write. I'
mvhwriting
Mar 8, 20251 min read
"Call Us What We Carry" by Amanda Gorman
I was gifted this book by my choir director a couple years ago. I don’t remember the occasion, but I do remember how highly my choir director recommended it. Amanda Gorman is the youngest poet to write and read her work at a presidential inauguration. The poem she read in 2021 culminates this book in a passionate anthem of hopeful determination. To call this book “timely” would imply better and worse times to read these poems. From the moment the United States was stolen and
mvhwriting
Mar 5, 20252 min read
"The Folk Tales of Scotland: The Well at the World's End and Other Stories" by William and Norah Montgomerie
I grew up having all sorts of books read to me: Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Little Women, Treasure Island, just to name a very, very few. But the books I devoured when I was first beginning to love reading were collections of folk and fairy tales. To be perfectly clear, these stories were not retellings or fluffed-up, Disney-fied versions of a much darker original. I loved the originals. The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, with their dry, unelaborate narrati
mvhwriting
Feb 28, 20252 min read
"The Hike" by Drew Magary
This book was a disappointment. I thought I had done my due diligence and made sure this would be the epic adventure I was sure to experience. It was billed as sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. From the blurb and other reviews, it looked like it could be a magic realism jaunt to boot. But no. I was sorely mistaken, and it pains me to admit it because this was a book I selected myself, used it as a bribe for myself, made my friend buy it for me when the bribe was over, and gleefull
mvhwriting
Feb 26, 20252 min read
"I Kissed Shara Wheeler" by Casey McQuiston
This book checks more boxes for why I would not like it than for why I would, and that has more to do with personal taste than it does with quality of material. I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a romance cast in the clichés of Young Adult fiction (emphasis on young…think high school, so not really adult) with an extra shot of mystery because…well, why not, and a thick layer of unbelievability on top. These are all reasons I would not read the book. But I read the book because a form
mvhwriting
Feb 19, 20252 min read
"11/22/63" by Stephen King
It’s considered sci-fi, historical fiction, not really horror. At its core, this book is a love story that broke my heart.
mvhwriting
Feb 12, 20252 min read
"The Creative Act: A Way of Being" by Rick Rubin
Whatever your artistic pursuit, Rubin speaks as a teacher reclined in a disorderly studio and connects to wherever you may find yourself.
mvhwriting
Feb 5, 20252 min read
The Chronic Case of the Saddest Backstory One Can Imagine
Welcome to my theatre! Please, do have a seat.
mvhwriting
Dec 7, 20245 min read
On Gathering
The year is 2024, the family has gathered together, but some are still missing...
mvhwriting
Dec 5, 20243 min read
Ghost Whales
On a brooding November afternoon, I found myself tucked away in my student's living room listening to Bach...
mvhwriting
Nov 24, 20243 min read
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