D&D, Legends & Lattes, Pocket Blankets and More

Looking to cozy up with tea and a book or read in nature? We've got the goods for your reading life in this issue of The Splash Pad.

The Spite House by Johnny Compton

If you love haunted house stories, come sit by the campfire with me. The Spite House is a short page-turner following three members of the Ross family: Eric and his two daughters, 18-year-old Dess and seven-year-old Stacy. The Rosses are on the run. Eric picks up odd jobs where he can, and Dess risks much to pull her weight. When Eric lands a job minding the most malevolent house Degener, Texas has ever seen, with a giant stack of cash promising to pay for his troubles, the family starts to see light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. But their troubles are just beginning. The Masson House has a terrible history and it knows how to hold a grudge. This is a multiple perspectives Southern Gothic book centering a Black family and characters. It’s the book I’ve been in search of ever since finishing another fave, The Good House by Tananarive Due.

— Sharifah

Matador Pocket Blanket

Sun’s out, books out! I’ve had this pocket blanket for a few years now, and I still feel like a magician every time I pull it out and expand it. I keep the teeny-tiny bundle in my tote bag, and it’s come up clutch when I want to picnic or park it. I originally purchased it because I enjoyed long walks to my favorite park in Portland, OR for some sun and a read, but the idea of lugging a big blanket around frequently deterred me. Problem solved! The nylon fabric is great for both keeping you cool on hot days and separating you from the damp grass.

— Sharifah

¡Ay, Mija! (A Graphic Novel): My Bilingual Summer in Mexico by Christine Suggs

I love a good graphic memoir, particularly if it’s a story of someone whose life is entirely different than mine. Enter this little gem, just published in early April. It follows Suggs as they spend a few weeks in Mexico with their mother’s side of the family, reconnecting with part of their heritage. It’s by turns moving and fun, digging into big ideas of identity, family, and language, and it features a proud fat lead character. This is a quick read, but one that’s impactful and a perfect palate cleanser between meatier tomes. 

— Kelly 

You Turned The Page! Sticker

IYKYK, and it is perfect whether you’re here for the nostalgia or engage with young readers right now. 

— Kelly 

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

I am sure I am not the first person you’ve heard recommend this. I picked it up because I kept seeing people talk about how wonderful it was, I got three chapters in, and I immediately gifted a digital copy to a friend who had just come down with COVID. Sometimes you just need a book that is a warm hug, and this is that book.

— Jenn

Slow North Neck Wrap 

Listen, y’all. I would not normally drop $54 on a hot/cold pack. But I had a gift card to a local boutique, and it had a beautiful moon design on it, and it seemed very sturdy and reusable, and I regret nothing. The weight of this wrap! It’s like a weighted blanket, but very small, that you can put in the microwave or the freezer depending on your body’s needs. I love to heat it up and then cuddle it up with whatever part of my body is (inevitably) aching while reading. 

— Jenn

The Best American Food Writing 2022 edited by Sohla El-Waylly

Oh, there’s nothing like an anthology for discovering potentially dozens of new (or new-to-you) writers, and the “Best American” series has long been a staple of my reading life for precisely this reason. I’m especially a fan of the collections of essays and short stories, which have indeed led me to seek out some writers’ back catalogs and book-length work, and I was delighted to see the series expand to include food writing in 2018. This latest edition has something for every palate, representing a diverse array of writers and food-related interests, and I heartily recommend it for my fellow readers who like to think about food as much as they like to eat.

— Rebecca

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

On a recent vacation, I read Parable of the Sower for the first time. Coming up on 30 years since publication, Butler’s work of dystopian fiction is prescient and scary. Although the world in which the novel is set does not exist, yet, it is a reminder that we should not delude ourselves that things may get better. It is also a reminder that the course can be reversed, but distrust among neighbors and within society could push us beyond that point.

– Clinton

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

I was already a Deanna Raybourn fan girl thanks to the Veronica Speedwell books - and if you haven’t gotten into those yet, consider this a bonus rec. A historical mystery series set in Victorian England featuring a spunky, adventuring lepidopterist and a grumpy, reclusive historian? That’s practically my blood type. Killers of a Certain Age is somehow even more in my wheelhouse, and if you’ve ever wondered, “What would it be like if the Golden Girls were assassins and spies?” you too are in for a treat. Four friends in their 60s go on a much needed vacation — friends who happen to be retired from the assassin game. Plans for relaxation go right out the window when it becomes clear that someone from the clandestine organization that employed them is out to kill them — and frame them for a whole lot of mess in the process. The dialogue is perfection, the action perfectly paced. I had so much fun with this read when I really needed a distraction and it did not disappoint. 

— Vanessa

Paru Tea Herbal Tisanes

(We can all agree that teas are bookish now, right?) After running from the rona for three whole years, COVID finally got me. Thanks to vaccinations and boosters and the miracle of Paxlovid, I wasn’t down for too long, but the days I was down were a rough combo of lethargy and boredom. I was able to do some comfort reading once I turned the body-aches-and-fever corner and pretty much drank my weight in tea while doing so. I was so thankful I had several tisanes (it just sounds so much cooler than “herbal tea,” ya know?) from one of my favorite tea makers at my parents’ house. These flavors are bananas: shiso hibiscus, rose chrysanthemum, coconut chai, salt-cured cherry blossom. One of my OG faves is the blue chamomile, both for its pretty blue color and its lovely, delicate floral taste (it’s more than chamomile: don’t knock it till you try it). It makes a great latte and soothes the soul, plus the shop is queer, BIPOC, and woman owned! 

— Vanessa

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

Of all the original non-canon Star Wars Legends characters that appeared in books, Grand Admiral Thrawn is easily one of my favorites because of his sheer cunning and brilliant strategy. Thrawn (from 2017) properly canonizes the character, telling his backstory of how he rose through the ranks to become the heir to the Emperor. Now that Grand Admiral Thrawn is finally set for his live-action debut this August as part of Star Wars: Ahsoka, this is a fascinating dive into this fan favorite character.

— Alex

Dungeons & Dragons: Behold! A Search and Find Adventure by Wizards of the Coast

Yes, I am an adult with no children who checks out search and find books from the library. Don’t judge me! I’ve been a little obsessed with D&D lately, despite not having a group, so when I saw this, I had to give it a try. Surprisingly, it quickly became a part of my evening routine. I know many people do Sudoku or crossword puzzles to relax, but they’ve never been my thing. I may have to start picking up more search and find books to do before bed, though, because it’s quite meditative. Perhaps that’s because I am not very visual and so it takes concentration to pick things out. There are some characters you need to find on every page — an adventuring party, the Beholder, and some shape-shifting characters — as well as a few for each specific page. At the end, there are some bonus things to find on previous pages. If you are also a D&D fan, I highly recommend picking this one up.

— Danika