It’s been a month since I’ve shined a spotlight on the glorious weirdness found in thrift stores and in that month, I’ve been gathering new photos. Creepy animals, dead-eyed dolls, and clowns. So many clowns. All odd in the way only thrift store finds can be odd. Today’s spotlight, both in weird ephemera and in book recommendation, focuses on an assortment of animals.
Attack of the Sea Shells from the Sea Shore
I think even this poor fish knows he’s rather hideous. The down-turned, vividly red mouth. The shameful refusal to meet your eyes. Ugly fish is ugly and knows it. Poor guy.
Only a Shadow of Who He Used to Be
I’m not sure if this raccoon (?) is a negative image or if existential fear leached all the color from his porcelain fur. Either he has black sclera or his pupils have dilated to the extreme. Either way, I felt sorry for him.
I Want Whatever the Cow Had
This cow has eaten the good mushrooms and is tripping some major balls. He’s seeing sounds and tasting the color five right about now. Maybe it’s the only way to retain any shred of sanity where he’s at.
The Classy Weird Animal Thing
In case your decor doesn’t allow for a plethora of seashells or an explosion of color, I present this elegant bisque… thing. I spent a good ten minutes turning this thing over in my hands trying to figure out what this critter was supposed to be, but still don’t know. So… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Book Recommendation!
I contemplated what book fit this weird assortment of animals and the answer came in an email. Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series has a wide variety of were-critters as well as an interesting assortment of mythological and just plain odd animals twisted by the magic waves. If you haven’t dived into this series, now’s a perfect time to start. As of this post, the first book in the series, Magic Bites, is on sale for only $1.99. If you’re wary of unfinished series, the final book releases in August.
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way…
Elaina Roberts 