About this Event
It's the powerful forces of White Whale staff picks and a community book club combined: the Pod Picks Book Club! Each month (usually on the last Thursday), a different bookseller gets to pick a book for the club to read, and they'll host the meeting, too. Book club picks will be 10% off 30 days in advance of the meeting day, to give you time to read it. And plan on grabbing a drink and a snack from the café when you come to the meeting!
Carolyn's Pod Pick: She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva
CAROLYN (she/her) is a Pittsburgh native and University of Pittsburgh graduate, where she studied English literature, communications, and religion, while also pursuing a minor in creative writing. She is White Whale's Inventory Manager as well as the section manager for Kids, Young Adult, and Fantasy. When she's not reading about dark-haired morally grey princes or strong heroines weilding swords, she's most likely riding her motorcycle to the nearest antique store or napping with her cat, Koda.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝
“A tale of dark humanity that sticks like a brick in the mouth.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A thoughtful, delightfully rich and visceral historical gothic brimming with sharp ideas about human nature.” —BookPage, starred review
“Vivid, immersive and so gory that the faint of heart should look away … Kovatcheva excels at building atmosphere and depicting rising tensions.” —The Sunday Times
You cannot fight a poor harvest, but you can banish the demon that threatens your land.
In 19th century Bulgaria, Yana is an unconventional helper. A self-proclaimed vampire hunter, she travels the desolate landscape, and in each struggling village that she visits, she stages a grisly tableau in a public square. She tells the stricken villagers stories of monsters that stalk the nights. Then she eliminates the threat, and sows seeds of hope in its wake.
The village Koprivci thinks itself cursed—plagued by illness and dark fortune, its children seldom survive infancy. There, Yana meets Anka—an isolated, lonely girl desperate to escape the threat of sexual violence in her home. Together, they hatch a plan to spirit Anka away. By deception, theatrics, and animal sacrifice, they manifest a village vampire—and work harmoniously until their strange public service clashes with urgent personal need.
“Stunning debut. . . Drawing on Slavic folklore, Kovatcheva explores womanhood, free will, and the question of what truly makes a monster.” —Bustle
“Brimming with folklore, superstitions and a dark gothic backdrop, this is a fantastic read for anyone seeking a character-driven story in a moody setting.” —The Daily Mirror
“Deliciously monstrous and demanding of our attention.” —Ms. Magazine
“A chilling and expertly executed feminist tale.” —The Center for Fiction
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
White Whale Bookstore, 4754 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, United States
USD 0.00
