Read 'Em & Eat: A Creepy Southern Gothic with a Fantastic Voice + the Best Biscuits I've Ever Had

But maybe don't eat WHILE reading this book because...well, you'll see

Jan 07, 2025

It’s a feels-like temperature of 2 degrees here in Texas as I write this, which basically means we all panic and hide because Texans know how to deal with 102 but not 2. So, what better way to spend the day than staying inside where it’s warm and reading (or listening to) a creepy story by the fire?

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

I have talked before about my love for the horror genre, but I have to admit that there are a few subgenres that I’m not as drawn to. I love a good haunted house story, but when a story is labeled “Southern Gothic”, I sometimes worry that it’s not going to be for me. There’s often a specific kind of grotesqueness to it that hasn’t worked for me in the past.

However, when I heard someone recommend (I can’t remember who!) A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher (Libro.fm | Bookshop.org | Amazon), I was intrigued by the premise, so I decided to give it a shot and grabbed the audiobook.

What It’s About

Sam Montgomery gets a call from her brother—“Mom seems off”—and he wants Sam to check on her. Sam is an archaeologist and an etymologist, so she studies ancient bugs and is currently working on a tedious project. She figures driving down to North Carolina to spend some time with her mom while also getting some quiet time to work on this project sounds like a great idea.

But when she arrives, things are weird from the start. The house, which used to have colorful walls and decor, is now painted stark white, and her grandmother’s old paintings, which she knows her mom hates, are now back on the wall. On top of that, her mom just seems jumpy and weird. She doesn’t want Sam to cuss. She wants them to say grace before meals. All things her mom wouldn’t have cared about before.

Sam’s worried her mom is suffering from early-onset dementia or some medical ailment, so she decides to stay for a while and hopes that spending time with her mom will help her figure it out.

But what if her mom is scared for a reason? And, uh, what’s with the vultures hanging around? Oh, and is that a jar of teeth in the garden?

My Thoughts

This book was such a welcome surprise! I went in expecting a creepy story and I got that, for sure, but what I didn’t expect was the humor. This is a super voice-y novel. I adored Sam’s voice and outlook on life. Her humor is super wry and clever, and I found myself laughing aloud regularly. She was one of those characters I’d want to be friends with—but we’d have to meet at MY house, not her mom’s creepy-ass house. :)

Sam and her mother’s relationship is warm and supportive, and I was rooting for these characters the whole time. This is definitely slow-burn horror, so I wouldn’t go in expecting a thriller pace or a scare-a-minute. But the author did a great job of building the dread chapter by chapter. You could feel the tension tightening with each new discovery Sam made.

What I also appreciated was how the author handled one of the common criticisms in horror—why did the character take so long to believe *insert plot thing*—that the house was haunted, that their spouse was possessed, that aliens had invaded, etc. In this case, Sam is a scientist. She is going to look for a rational explanation for everything. She’s not going to jump to supernatural conclusions. That is believable.

Now, a warning, some gross things happen. I have a very significant bug phobia…and Sam is an etymologist, so I was worried. To avoid spoilers, all I will say is that how the author handled a thing I’d normally be too freaked out to read was pretty impressive. (But if you’re worried about it, look up trigger warnings first.)

So, overall, this was a great read and I’m definitely going to check out T. Kingfisher’s backlist. I love a great voice. I feel like this character could’ve told me any story, and I would’ve been interested in it.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing this one on audio. Mary Robinette Kowal did the narration and it’s one of the best I’ve heard. Here’s what Library Journal said:

"Narrator Mary Robinette Kowal wonderfully conveys the wryly funny prose and the creeping horror of the story. Giving each character a distinct voice, Kowal deftly and consistently moves between them and superbly renders Sam’s voice."—Library Journal

The audiobook is less than 7 hours, so it was a quick listen (especially when I speed it up to 1.3x speed) and it kept me good company while I was cooking and doing dishes.

If you’re looking for something to creep you out and also make you laugh, give this one a try. But it IS horror, so if that’s not your thing, you’ve been warned.

And if reading a Southern Gothic story makes you crave some southern food…

The (OMG Delicious) Magnolia Table Biscuits

For our Christmas holiday, we drove down to Austin, but on the way, we made a pit stop in Waco and ate at Magnolia Table, Joanna and Chip Gaines’ restaurant.

I have to admit, despite knowing it was always packed, I was a little skeptical that the food would actually be anything special. Chip and Joanna are famous for being home renovators and designers on HGTV, they’re not chefs. But here I am, admitting I was being a food snob and was wrong, lol.

We started off our meal with their biscuits, and no hyperbole, they were actually the best biscuits I’ve ever had. Buttery and tender and melt-in-your-mouth. I could’ve just had a basket of those for lunch and been happy.

But, of course, there were more indulgences. My husband and I split the pimiento grilled cheese with butternut squash soup and the cinnamon roll pancakes. Both were fantastic, and splitting was the right choice because the grilled cheese was so rich, I’m not sure I could’ve eaten a whole one. Best to cut it with some pancakes! :)

Sadly, I forgot to take photos of the biscuits. We basically fell on them like hungry lions. BUT, I do have the recipe!

Magnolia Table Biscuits recipe

So, if you can’t make it to Waco, TX anytime soon, you can make them at home. I haven’t tried my hand at them yet, but they’re on my list.

I also promptly bought the first two Magnolia cookbooks (Bookshop.org | Amazon) because they have many of the recipes from the restaurant in them, including the biscuits and pimiento cheese!

Leonard tasted the books and thinks they’re yummy

Now I know we won’t be able to pass through Waco without stopping at the restaurant each time. That drive from Dallas to Austin really is calorically treacherous! Kolaches, Buc-cee’s fudge, Round Rock donuts, now Magnolia Table. I’ll have to wear my stretchy pants next time.

That’s all I have for you today!

A special thanks to those of you who have been liking and commenting on the posts! Since I’ve made a lot of changes here lately, it’s nice to get feedback on whether or not those changes are welcome. :)

Stay warm, y’all!

Roni

What are you reading this week? Has a book in a genre/subgenre that you didn’t think you liked ever surprised you and changed your mind? What’s your favorite road trip food?