On the one hand you want to prepare your kid for the realities of life. On the other hand you want to protect their innocence for as long as you can.
TOn the one hand you want to prepare your kid for the realities of life. On the other hand you want to protect their innocence for as long as you can.
This graphic memoir is a powerful exploration of race in America. The author is bi-racial and he explores "the talk" his mother had with him when he was young, and the "the talk" he needs to have with his son. This reads like an editorial rather than a review of his life experiences, and I'll be getting my hands on his Pulitzer Prize winning work....more
This picture book gently acknowledges and explores the reality of having difficult emotions. I liked the soft illustration style, and the message of thThis picture book gently acknowledges and explores the reality of having difficult emotions. I liked the soft illustration style, and the message of this one....more
I'd just finished Fourth Wing, and that cliffhanger, while not a surprise, propelled me to pick up this one. Easy to do as I already had it to hand.
TI'd just finished Fourth Wing, and that cliffhanger, while not a surprise, propelled me to pick up this one. Easy to do as I already had it to hand.
This is a mess of a book, and while I flew through the 800+ pages, that first half was a drrraaaaggg. I get these folks are in their early twenties, but honestly how much miscommunication and angst can they take? Sure hot sex can make you put up with a lot, but honestly! The trope of women fighting over a man simply turns me off. The 2nd half was better - and you know things are not going well when actual war with lots of death and killing is preferable to angsty love. My fave part were the dragons - more time with them, less with the humans would have made me happier. This installment also ends in a predictable manner, and I think someone needs to sit Violet down and give her a piece of their mind.
This is not a duology as I initially thought, but will be 5 book series. Do I care enough to continue? Probably not, but I'll be keeping my eye out for the small screen adaptation.
Over this holiday season I needed a break from some of my tougher reads (aka Toni Morrison), so decided to jump into the buzziest book series of 2023.Over this holiday season I needed a break from some of my tougher reads (aka Toni Morrison), so decided to jump into the buzziest book series of 2023.
The romantasy genre has been rather a miss for me, but my library had copies, so why not? This is as tropey as it gets, a mashup of sorts, the writing is ok, the dialogue not so much, the love triangles rather weak, and the characters are not well fleshed out. Set in a brutal war college with dragons, the sheer number of deaths is staggering, and I only felt a twinge when one person died. Will they, won't they - spoiler: they do - and I rolled my eyes every time Violent describes the hottie.
Though light on the magic and worldbuilding, I enjoyed the dragons - what's not to love about snarky dragons? - and I flew through this 500 page new adult book, and picked up the 2nd series right afterwards. This reads like a YA book, though the sex scenes move it out of that genre - but other than that, that's how this reads....more
It's too bad that I'd read what this was about before I started. The less you know going in the better.
At under 2 hours, this audiobook, wonderfully nIt's too bad that I'd read what this was about before I started. The less you know going in the better.
At under 2 hours, this audiobook, wonderfully narrated by Aidan Kelly, packs a punch. It was the perfect audiobook to be listening to right before Christmas.
Liked this so much I'll be adding the rest of her backlist to my TBR.
Penelope Rex has one fear - Walter, the class goldfish - so imagine her stress when Mrs. Noodleman tells the kids they'll take turns bringing Walter hPenelope Rex has one fear - Walter, the class goldfish - so imagine her stress when Mrs. Noodleman tells the kids they'll take turns bringing Walter home!
This picture book has cute illustrations and gently discusses overcoming fears. I haven't read the first two books in the series, and it works well as a standalone. Recommended for a read aloud with wee ones....more
Finally got around to reading this one, and while the premise is fantastic the book itself felt padded. A tighter longform article would have been morFinally got around to reading this one, and while the premise is fantastic the book itself felt padded. A tighter longform article would have been more effective....more
I'm currently reading 7 of Morrison's novels as part of a group read, and read this one over 2 weeks. During that entire time I found myself emotionalI'm currently reading 7 of Morrison's novels as part of a group read, and read this one over 2 weeks. During that entire time I found myself emotionally low, irritable, and having bad dreams.
Not a surprise as this powerful novel explores the horrors of slavery from the point of view of several characters who were emancipated or runaway slaves. Morrison pulls no punches and invites readers into the lives and trauma of these characters, and how they are haunted by their lived experiences. Every character is fully developed and complex, and Morrison asks much of her readers. I did not find the magical realism aspect of Beloved as powerful as others, and while I appreciated what I believe Morrison was doing, it didn't work as well for me.
Morrison narrates the audiobook, but I found my mind wandering, so switched to the e-book, which was absolutely the right choice for me. I found myself reluctant to pick this back up, but I am not the same person I was before reading it.
The Bluest Eye - 5 stars Sula - 4 stars Song of Solomon - 5 stars Beloved - 4 stars...more
Book blurb: exquisitely crafted meditation on love and loss and the struggles and limitations of family life—how to live together and apart.
In his latBook blurb: exquisitely crafted meditation on love and loss and the struggles and limitations of family life—how to live together and apart.
In his latest book, Cunningham goes back to what I think is his sweet spot - microscopic view of ordinary people's lives. Nothing epic. Simple slice of life with characters who are self aware and reflective.
This one is set on April 5, 2019, 2020, and 2021. A slow, character-driven pandemic story about a woman, her brother, husband, 2 kids, and a few family members that orbit around this core group. The writing is lovely, though in some ways the characters, especially the daughter, feel a little unreal. Very much grounded around Covid -19 when life felt a tad unreal too.
The Hours - 4 stars Day - 4 stars Land's End: A Walk in Provincetown - 3 stars The Snow Queen - 2 stars Specimen Days - DNF ...more
Book blurb: Us is Sara and Diana’s love story, as well as the story of Diana’s gender transition. English translation by Silvia Perea Labayen.
I appreciBook blurb: Us is Sara and Diana’s love story, as well as the story of Diana’s gender transition. English translation by Silvia Perea Labayen.
I appreciated the difficult themes explored in this queer graphic memoir, but it often felt like I was reading a PSA (public service announcement) as opposed to a memoir. It's a difficult line to walk, but at no point did I feel brought into the lives of this couple and their struggles. I liked the illustration style, though did find it odd that the cover and internal pages were such drastically different styles.
I can see how in the right hands this can be life affirming and important book....more
The story revolves around two women - one in her 70s who inadvertently buys a manga about teen gay boyI'd describe this manga as sweet and wholesome.
The story revolves around two women - one in her 70s who inadvertently buys a manga about teen gay boys, and a young women bookseller who loves these books but hides that she does. A friendship unfolds. The author keeps clear of ageist tropes, and I so appreciated when the older woman calculated how long she'd have to live to be able to read a completed manga series. I will read on as additional books are translated to see how this story develops....more
I loved The Space Between Us and while I've read several other books written by the author, none lives up to that one for me.
This is a well crafted faI loved The Space Between Us and while I've read several other books written by the author, none lives up to that one for me.
This is a well crafted family story about a man returning to India for one reason, but uncovers family secrets that change everything. Important themes were explored with a really light tough, and overall this felt like a "curry" book to me. I found it hard to suspend disbelief in the current timeline, though did find the uncovered secret more compelling.
Thought this would be the perfect book to read during a sick day - Russian inspired fantasy, a winter setting, and the first installment in a much lovThought this would be the perfect book to read during a sick day - Russian inspired fantasy, a winter setting, and the first installment in a much loved trilogy.
I feel so differently about this than all the rave reviews. I liked the main character - how could I not root for a young girl who refuses to be tamed? But similar to Spinning Silver, I found this a boring fairytale retelling. All tell and no show, reads like YA, lackluster plot and character development. I'll not be continuing with this series....more
Blurb - In the first days of the apocalypse, a group of high school boys may be the last alive in the city.
The premise of this comic is interesting, bBlurb - In the first days of the apocalypse, a group of high school boys may be the last alive in the city.
The premise of this comic is interesting, but while liked the illustration style this did not hold my interest and I will not be continuing with the series....more
I listened to the audiobook which is well narrated by the author.
This full length novel is much larger in scope as compared to The Bluest Eye and SulaI listened to the audiobook which is well narrated by the author.
This full length novel is much larger in scope as compared to The Bluest Eye and Sula. Morrison also changes things up by focusing more on male characters, including the coming of age of Macon "Milkman" Dead, though Pilate was my fave character in this story. The writing is masterful, the main themes of the story deftly explored, and I felt like I got to know these people and their connections. And that ending!
The Bluest Eye - 5 stars Sula - 4 stars Song of Solomon - 5 stars...more
While I didn't know most of the artists in this collection, I loved getting a peek into their sketchbooks. Wonderful inspiration for folks who keep jouWhile I didn't know most of the artists in this collection, I loved getting a peek into their sketchbooks. Wonderful inspiration for folks who keep journals/sketchbooks....more
A slice of life graphic novel set in New York City. Two high school friends reconnect over Spring break after being away at college, one brings along A slice of life graphic novel set in New York City. Two high school friends reconnect over Spring break after being away at college, one brings along a dorm mate.
Growing up is hard. This book gently explores how women's relationships can change over time, and I appreciated that things were not neatly wrapped up at the end. The illustration style is lovely and bolder than the other books - maybe it's the juxtaposition of young women against gritty NYC. I've read several books by the Tamaki cousins, and this is my fave of the lot so far.
This was such a buzzy release and I can see why. This nonfiction story introduced me to the tale of HMS Wager and her crew. Shipwreck, mutiny, oh my! This was such a buzzy release and I can see why. This nonfiction story introduced me to the tale of HMS Wager and her crew. Shipwreck, mutiny, oh my! While I was constantly hungry during the reading, the telling itself seemed rather choppy. This sensational story should have had me on the edge of my seat, and there were sections that did just that, but overall there was a spark missing.
I'm noticing a thing with this author - I really like the things he writes about, but his books feel like they really should be a longform magazine article to prevent padding things out. I had a similar reaction to Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, so if you loved that, you might enjoy this one better.
Book blurb: A young woman marries a kind dentist only to realize that there’s a dark mystery surrounding his former wife’s death.
This is a wonderfullyBook blurb: A young woman marries a kind dentist only to realize that there’s a dark mystery surrounding his former wife’s death.
This is a wonderfully creepy graphic novel with Rebecca undertones. Unlike her other books, this one pairs a superb story with her gorgeous illustrations. The less you know going in the better.
Standalone fantasy, dark academia, strong female protagonist - these are a few of my Loved The Sword of Kaigen, so this moved up my TBR when released.
Standalone fantasy, dark academia, strong female protagonist - these are a few of my favorite things. This one explores tough themes, there's lots of death (and I mean lots), the writing and pacing is good, but the spark I was expecting was missing. I loved the bold choice of that ending, but overall didn't find this as satisfying a read as Kaigen.
