Read Dog is a monthly book subscription box that sends something to read along with other goodies in each box.
You can get or gift a Read Dog subscription. When you sign up, you'll tell the company a little about yourself, like your age, favorite genres, and your ideal reading experience. Then Read Dog sends a monthly book that fits your preferences. (Plus some other treats to enjoy!) According to the founders, their most popular genres are fantasy, young adult, thriller, children's, nonfiction, and contemporary literature. The company takes books and the relationship we have with them seriously, so look forward to thoughtfully chosen stories picked just for you.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Read Dog
The Cost: $31.99 per monthly box (less if you sign up for multiple months up front)
The Products: One book per month and small gifts, too.
Ships to: US for free, Canada for $8.00, and the rest of the world for $15.00
Check out all of our Read Dog reviews and the Books Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente - Value on Amazon $16.99 (retail price $24.99)
Wow, this is an incredibly inventive book. Radiance is part sci-fi, part golden-age Hollywood escapade.
Book Summary on Amazon:
Radiance is a decopunk pulp SF alt-history space opera mystery set in a Hollywood-and solar system-very different from our own, from Catherynne M. Valente, the phenomenal talent behind the New York Times bestselling The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.
Severin Unck's father is a famous director of Gothic romances in an alternate 1986 in which talking movies are still a daring innovation due to the patent-hoarding Edison family. Rebelling against her father's films of passion, intrigue, and spirits from beyond, Severin starts making documentaries, traveling through space and investigating the levitator cults of Neptune and the lawless saloons of Mars. For this is not our solar system, but one drawn from classic science fiction in which all the planets are inhabited and we travel through space on beautiful rockets. Severin is a realist in a fantastic universe.
But her latest film, which investigates the disappearance of a diving colony on a watery Venus populated by island-sized alien creatures, will be her last. Though her crew limps home to earth and her story is preserved by the colony's last survivor, Severin will never return.
Told using techniques from reality TV, classic film, gossip magazines, and meta-fictional narrative, Radiance is a solar system-spanning story of love, exploration, family, loss, quantum physics, and silent film.
Watching this world unravel is instantly engaging, but apart from that, the book uses the most clever devices to tell its story—including scenes laid out like a script as a nod to the movie-centric plot.
Craft Strips - Value $1.00?
These translucent strips are like washi tape without the stickiness. They don't have any backing or anything but have a cute "I Love You" pattern on them in different colors.
I guess these could be good for a craft project, a planner, or maybe in a pinch, they could be used as a bookmark. I do wish there was some more context for these little strips. I could use a little inspiration about how to make these worth their while!
6 Glow in the Dark Stars - Value $0.40?
I had these on my ceiling as a kid! This is a cute reference to the space adventure aspects of the book. I had them out in the light for about an hour or two, and they ended up with a soft, limey glow.
Aurora Borealis Print Card - Value $5.70?
This square card is made of regular, poster-grade paper, printed with this pretty image of the northern lights. It's not framed, and doesn't come packaged or anything, but it's still a sophisticated print that I'd love to hang by my desk. A little colorful tape in gold or coral would really make the blue hues pop.
4 Tiny Real Starfish - Value $0.57?
This is such a unique find! These starfish come in a tiny ziplock bag. They're extremely delicate and awfully cute. Again, I was instantly drawn in by these little guys, but I'm worried about how to make sure of them!
Gray Yarn - Value $0.87
8.0mm Crochet Hook - Value $0.58?
I've knitted before—not super well, haha—and it was a lot of fun, so I'm eager to use this excuse to try crocheting! The gray yarn isn't the highest quality (I think it's just acrylic), but the wintry color is the perfect match for this November weather.
Numi Breakfast Blend - Value $0.26
Twinings Winter Spice - Value $0.16
Twinings Earl Gray Tea - Value $0.10
I'm never gonna turn down tea! The classics are nice, but I think I like the Winter Spice one the best. It has a spicy apple flavor that's super seasonal and sweet.
Verdict: I liked the book in this month's Read Dog box, but I wish the other items had a bit more practical use. The craft strips and the starfish, for example, don't have a lot of the context I'd like in order to give them a life beyond that initial wow factor. The value is about $27.00, which is pretty shy of the $31.99 price. I really love the book—it's such a unique story—but I wish the other items bumped up the value a little more!
What do you think of Read Dog?
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