Twice today, someone suggested that we watch two different movies, and I replied no thanks, that I was in the unlicensed unsanctioned play version and so I’m sick of it but also have the entire thing memorized forever.

Many of you got a sneak peek of my top ten books of 2025 in Lib Faves last week (most of them were horror). Here’s the full list of my favorite horror books on the blog! chloesnotscared.com/2025/12/20/t...

My Holiday Genre Recs: Silent Night (2021) Krampus Black Christmas (1974) Christmas Bloody Christmas The Sacrifice Game Violent Night Dead End It’s a Wonderful Knife The Long Kiss Goodnight The Lodge Christmas Evil The Apology Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? Henry Selick’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Some GREAT news!!!!!

2025 Book Censorship Wrapped: Trends, Challenges, & Successes Over The Year. Dive into this groundbreaking collaborative piece from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social, @penamerica.bsky.social, @bookriot.bsky.social, @txfreedomread.bsky.social, and @flfreedomread.bsky.social bookriot.com/book-censors...

Many of you got a sneak peek of my top ten books of 2025 in Lib Faves last week (most of them were horror). Here’s the full list of my favorite horror books on the blog! chloesnotscared.com/2025/12/20/t...

I’ve been surviving on a heavy dose of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Christmas cookies and offbrand LaCroix.

#HorrorForLibraries Giveaway: Something Fun to End 2025 An interactive horror coloring book. Enter now and you are entered going forward: raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2025/12/horr...

Drum roll please... the books have been tallied and with over 500 total votes and more than 350 unique titles mentioned, the favorite books of #LibFaves25 are:

Look who’s the Chicagoan of the Year in Books: bit.ly/48I0eFL

What has dirtbike racing, horseback riding, an eclipse, Kyle Richards and Betty Davis? Oh… Disney’s The Watcher in the Woods (1980) of course! Yes I’m yapping about this movie on the internet yet again. Listen here: open.substack.com/pub/chloesno...

News Track: What's happening with Iowa's school book ban law? Latest on appeals www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

omg u guys its sooooo rainy outside we cant go anywhere and this mansion is SO boring!!!! do u wanna take turns inventing monsters that define horror for centuries to come

Officially announcing the Chicago Film Critics Association award nominees for 2025. Click here for more! Yay OBAA! chicagofilmcritics.org/blog/cfca202...

Get in loser, we’re returning to the gothic. chloesnotscared.com/2025/12/06/t...

Library peeps! Starting today, we are counting down our 10 favorite books published in 2025, 1 per day, through 12/17. TITLE in caps, tag #LibFaves25!

Get in loser, we’re returning to the gothic. chloesnotscared.com/2025/12/06/t...

I don't think Netflix should get to eat anything else until it finishes all the prematurely cancelled shows on its plate

Always money for cops, never money for libraries.

What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.

Just put out a new episode with a new friend and prolific SF / horror author @ttmaddenwrites.bsky.social … we chat about Tales from the Hood (1995). Hope you enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/chloesno...

Confession, I haven’t seen an Avatar movie. I also tried to watch Now You See Me and couldn’t make it through the whole movie.

“Are you printing from your phone or from the computer?”

Ugh I wish I still lived in IC so I could grab a book at Haunted Bookshop and pop over to Foxhead to read. It was my tradition every time there’s a first snow ❄️

My pal Brendan screens The Thing in January, when the holiday cheer has faded and there’s no hope of spring.

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen: Vartiina St. Vincent & David Byrne Janelle Monae Belle & Sebastian Chappell Roan

This is your reminder that if you live in #Chicago we have a free bookstore. YES, free bookstore. You can get free books here. I donate all of my books here. So, they generally have a solid horror section because I keep them well-stocked. www.books4cause.com/free-booksto...

I’m considering adding MUBI to my list of streaming services, at least for the holiday season. For those who have tried, is it worth it?

For only nine bucks (or four for the ebook) you can find out if Mary pooped when she gave birth to Jesus. www.timberghostpress.com/store/p78/Th...

Help us send 2,000 books to readers who are incarcerated this winter through our Books Not Bars program

Hell yeah cannot WAIT for this one

It's GIVE TO THE MAX day here in Minnesota and I saved up the funds from the latest Genre Grinder Cares sales ($80.17) to donate today for the greatest impact. Go here to donate yourself! www.givemn.org/organization... My receipts below! Thanks everyone!

I was a guest on @chloesnotscared.bsky.social's Not Scared podcast:

New episode of Not Scared! @gabepowers.bsky.social and I discuss Zombie Flesh Eaters aka Zombi 2 aka Zombie (1979) directed by Lucio Fulci. Take a listen! open.substack.com/pub/chloesno...

Happy news from the library!! I obviously recommend The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by SGJ but also absolutely loved Woodworking by Emily St. James! chipublib.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...

Update on Chicago Public Library’s budget. buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

And with that, this thread has been updated! When you are tempted to ask "what can I do," the answer is probably in here. When you are tempted to ask me what *I* am doing, the answer is in here. This is nearly five years of work. It's all free to you.

Tickets! Or just show up, either way you won’t regret it. Going to be a show for the ages www.eventbrite.com/e/thirst-for...

I need some help shrinking my TBR. Tell me which to read and which to skip, over on IG: www.instagram.com/p/DQ9hkwAkVW...

Can I never see a CGI dog ever again in a feature film please and thank you

The People Want to Read: on the massive budget cuts proposed for Chicago Public Library. What's at stake and what you can do, whether or not you live in Chicago. buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

On the topic of Chicago Public Library, here's a reddit user who is visiting all of the library's branches and eating at a restaurant in that neighborhood. Some are local, some are less-so, but the project is a fun one to read. What makes the libraries & food special? www.reddit.com/r/chicagofoo...

We still need people to call their alderperson and the mayor to demand no cuts to CPL. You can also write a letter (below):

More CPL in the news. This time, in the Chicago Tribune! If you don’t have a subscription, you know how you can read the article? Accessing online resources with your Chicago Public Library card (your pin is your zip code): www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/07/o...

More CPL in the news, this time with a local author, an alderman and the head of their union: www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-...

HOT LIBRARY INTEL: you can ask your library to purchase specific titles for their collection, usually right through the library's website. Librarians can't know every single new title, nor can they mind-read what their patrons might want to check out. Give it a shot!

The talented @directorsclub.substack.com was just on Not Scared podcast chatting about his favorite horror movie, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). It’s a great double feature with my episode of Director’s Club pod, where we discuss Mike Flanagan! chloesnotscared.substack.com/p/9-the-texa...