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Friday, January 15, 2021

Book Review: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

PopSugar 2020 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book about or by a woman in STEM

Other PS 2020 reading prompts this would satisfy: A book that's published in 2020, A book by a WOC, A book with a main character in their 20s

TW: Sexual assault, abuse, incest, violence, mental illness, eugenics, gaslighting, racism, sexism/misogyny, classism

I didn’t know what to expect going into Mexican Gothic. I’d mostly seen positive reviews but I didn’t dig any deeper into them to learn more about the story. I just knew I loved the cover and was excited for a 1950s horror story with a Latinx MC. The story was completely unique and unexpected. Throughout I truly had no clue what would come next.

Noemi is a bit of a party girl. Forever single (by choice), glamorous, fun, and incredibly independent. She works in the family business but went to school for anthropology, something she wishes to pursue further. When her father receives a concerning letter from Noemi’s closest cousin, Catalina, he bids Noemi to travel to her cousin's country home, High Place, where Catalina lives with her new husband and his family. Catalina is convinced her husband is trying to kill her, but Noemi wishes to check in on her cousin. Upon arrival, the uncomfortable atmosphere is apparent. She feels her cousin is ill and wishes to take her away for immediate care, but Catalina’s new husband and in-laws refuse to let her leave. Something is obviously not right at High Place, and Noemi makes it her mission to save her cousin by any means necessary.

Wow. What. A. Book. From the plot of the story, this book could have very easily been predictable and reminiscent of many other works of literature or film, but Moreno-Garcia perfectly executed this story in a way that was horrifying, unique, and completely unpredictable. Everything in the book was set up so effectively. The slow build up of information was paced incredibly well so I was receiving info as I needed it, making it easier to digest in a way that wasn’t overwhelming.

The book was also incredibly frustrating in the best ways. The antagonists were so darkly horrid. The gaslighting was infuriating. But Noemi was such an exciting and fierce MC. I loved her. She was sassy and witty, fantastically smart, but also with a high level of emotional intelligence that made her so aspirational. I love when female characters are well-rounded... when they can be brave and funny, beautiful and emotional all at once. Because that more so encompasses how women really are. We’re not one-dimensional, so seeing that reflecting in fictional stories is such an incredibly liberating and relieving thing to see.

"Noemí’s father said she cared too much about her looks and parties to take school seriously, as if a woman could not do two things at once." - Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The story-telling was so incredible. This was my first time reading a book from Moreno-Garcia, but it certainly won’t be my last.

Goodreads rating: ★★★★☆

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Book Review: You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

Saturday, January 09, 2021

Buying a Car: the Ins and Outs

*This is a collaborative post.

Right now, more and more people are looking into buying a car. So, if you’re considering buying your own set of wheels, you’re not alone! The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has seen increasing numbers of people trying to keep their distance from others and only come into contact with members of their own household in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This isn’t always possible on public transport - especially during common times of travel when the transit can get busier. By having your own vehicle, it’s easier to travel without having to come into contact with anyone else. Having a car also opens up opportunities such as being able to travel around public transit operating hours and being able to leave your home and get straight into your vehicle rather than walking to public transit stops and stations. But of course, buying a car isn’t always easy. There are countless things you need to take into consideration before getting started.

Budget

The first thing you need to do when planning buying a car is to determine your budget. You need to make sure that you can comfortably afford your car as well as the ability to pay all your other bills, and have a little disposable income left over. Ideally, everyone should try to live to a budget in order to avoid overspending and to effectively manage finances, though that can sometimes be difficult due to cost of living. But creating a budget can help to somewhat alleviate the difficulties of possibly living paycheck to paycheck. To create a budget, it’s important to first figure out your salary after taxes and other essential contributions like social security, insurance costs, etc (what you actually “bring home”). Then deduct essentials such as rent or mortgage payments, energy, water, food, and outstanding debts. The money left over is referred to as “disposable income” and that should cover your car and general spending. It’s also important that when coming up with a budget for a car, don’t just deduct the monthly cost of the car itself. You’ve also got to consider costs such as car insurance, fuel, servicing and maintenance costs, and general upkeep of the car.

How Far Are You Willing to Travel?

Most people aim to buy cars from their local area, as it eliminates the need to travel long distances to pick cars up. So, try checking out nearby dealerships and a limited search location when starting to look for a vehicle. Of course, if you find your dream car a little further away, you can always use car shipping services to get it to you safely and securely. When I purchased my dream car, it was almost two hours away, but it was “the one” and they could meet my terms. Don’t forget to negotiate! With so much being available online now, you can talk terms and get down to the nitty gritty before even heading to the lot.

New or Used?

A big decision you may find yourself making is whether to go for a new or a used car. New cars are nice, but they lose a lot of value as soon as you drive off the car lot. Instead, it’s generally advisable to opt for an almost new car with a reduced price tag.

Buying a car is a big decision. At the end of the day, this is probably the second biggest asset you’ll ever invest in after your home. So, take your time, don’t rush and do your research. You’ll inevitably come to the right decision. And with tax season here, it may just be the perfect time to do so!

Tell me about your dream car below.