This was my library book club pick for the month, but I'm not the right audience for it.
It's historical fiction set in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, circaThis was my library book club pick for the month, but I'm not the right audience for it.
It's historical fiction set in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, circa 1800s. The Widow of the title is a whaler's wife, and is widowed early in the tale. What ensues is an exploration of the lack of rights and agency she has as a woman.
As a reader of both nonfiction and fiction about these themes, there isn't much new here for me. I did however like the nugget that only poor/destitute people ate lobsters and clams in those days. The story was all tell and no show. None of the characters are well fleshed out, and felt like cutouts that the author moved across the pages to make her points. There were also unnecessary and pointless plot lines, and while it's a fast read, I would have DNFed it if not for book club.
It's is however maybe an excellent entry point to readers new to the themes explored here, and while an adult book, would also work for YA readers. I'd collected the other books in this series, and have since un-hauled them all - just don't think Ms. Gunning is for me. For those wondering, other members of my book club mostly loved it.
Book blurb: Adam and Farai are an interracial couple that have been together for two years. Farai has finally persuaded Adam to introduce her to his pBook blurb: Adam and Farai are an interracial couple that have been together for two years. Farai has finally persuaded Adam to introduce her to his parents, but the visit to the in-laws turns out to be a horrible experience for Farai.
When we talk/read/hear about racism, it's usually the big R types, but feeling unsafe, unseen, unheard, dismissed happens in a plethora of ways, both big and small, every single day. This YA graphic novel tackles some of these issues head on. I liked the illustrations and the color palette, and really appreciated how the central themes were explored within the confines of an intimate relationship.
As someone in a long term interracial relationship of three decades, I know how hard it is to unravel familial/societal/personal norms that we all take for granted. We start by looking at our own prejudices, and then believing people when they tell you that what you do/say is hurtful. I was rooting for this young couple all the way....more
This graphic novel is a quick read, but I expected more, especially when at the end, I learned that it's based on a true crime "that shocked and fasciThis graphic novel is a quick read, but I expected more, especially when at the end, I learned that it's based on a true crime "that shocked and fascinated 1930s France and beyond."
What was the point of this story? To show us that these girls had a tough upbringing? That horrible people deserve to be whacked? Maybe something is lost in the telling, but this skims the surface of some dark stuff that simply isn't explored with any depth. The illustration style is sketchy and it's ok, though the noses kept bothering me.
This is an interesting true crime tale, and the author missed an opportunity to tell a gripping story. Anyone have any suggestions of good books/movies about this event? Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi......more
Book Blurb: In this lighthearted collection of one- and two-page comics, writer-artist Grant Snider explores bookishness in all its forms, and the lovBook Blurb: In this lighthearted collection of one- and two-page comics, writer-artist Grant Snider explores bookishness in all its forms, and the love of writing and reading, building on the beloved literary comics featured on his website, Incidental Comics.
This is an ode to readers and all things books. There are some wonderful comics in this collection, though I did like the first half of the book much better than the second. I read it in a two chunks - and would not recommend that. Instead, pick it up, read a couple of ages, and put it down. Pick it up a week or so later and repeat. It's fun and lighthearted, and I liked the sketchy illustration style....more
Sometimes I need a light, things-will-end-well read, and when I'm in that mood I reach for the nearest middle grade fantasy to hand.
I liked this one bSometimes I need a light, things-will-end-well read, and when I'm in that mood I reach for the nearest middle grade fantasy to hand.
I liked this one better than the first installment. I liked the magical school setting, and that all the shenanigans that come up and are satisfyingly resolved. I liked how young Morrigan is learning to trust herself more, and I'd love Julian North as a guardian. The writing is good, and while this action packed tale doesn't have much in the way of character development, I enjoyed the friendships in this quick read.
Comps to Harry Potter are not as obvious here, and I love that a girl is the hero of this series. I do however think that not having more sections with Fen, the Magnificat, is detrimental to the overall story....more
Book blurb: Tiến loves his family and his friends … but Tiến has a secret he's been keeping from them, and it might change everything.
Stories are poweBook blurb: Tiến loves his family and his friends … but Tiến has a secret he's been keeping from them, and it might change everything.
Stories are powerful. As readers we know that. They can help us figure out who we are. This YA graphic novel, while wonderfully illustrated, stuffed too much between its covers. We have three distinct stories here:
POV 1 - Mom. Hien is learning English by having her young son read to her. She doesn't feel like fully fits in America, and is feels like a bad daughter for abandoning her mother in Vietnam.
POV 2 - Tien, her son. Many languages do not have words for gay/lesbian/etc, so how is young Tien supposed to talk about his sexuality with parents who are not native English speakers? I loved that he had such good friends.
POV 3 - Stories. Western and Eastern folktales take center stage in many ways, and give Mother and Son a common language. The stories are narrated by Tien, his Mom and his Aunt.
See what I mean? Any one of those sections would have made for a wonderful story, and this graphic novel was too slim a volume to do justice to any of the complex themes explored. However, this is targeted for middle grade readers, so it might be at just the right level for that audience.
I really liked the art and the use of color is wonderful. I appreciated the gentle exploration of the themes covered, love the representation, especially the ending. It's a good debut, and I'll read more by this author....more
This is a tough book for me to review. As an adult with both parents living, how do I review a memoir of a woman whose Mother dies of cancer at age 47This is a tough book for me to review. As an adult with both parents living, how do I review a memoir of a woman whose Mother dies of cancer at age 47, while the author is 19?
This graphic memoir is a love letter to her Mom. I appreciated the raw honesty of her grief over her mother's diagnosis, death, and the motherless years after. I liked the illustration style and how the mundane and the momentous get mixed up in daily living. While targeted at adult readers, YA readers dealing with grief would also benefit from this one....more
This isn't a graphic memoir, as much as it is an illustrated one. The author illustrates his struggles with OCD and anxiety. The black and white sketcThis isn't a graphic memoir, as much as it is an illustrated one. The author illustrates his struggles with OCD and anxiety. The black and white sketchy style of the illustrations were OK, and I do like the author's published cartoons. I appreciate that this will be an important book for people with the condition, it just wasn't for me. ...more
Sometimes you just can't get rid of your ex. This is the middle volume of this comic series, and the bloody violence continues. I liked getting Andy'sSometimes you just can't get rid of your ex. This is the middle volume of this comic series, and the bloody violence continues. I liked getting Andy's backstory - but this installment has some preachy overtones. You cannot judge historical events by today's morality. We can all agree that awful things are awful, but most people die and don't live long enough to be taken to task by generations 1000 years or so later. Well, if you are kinda immortal you do, and those sections are cheap shots IMO. Can you imagine living for 6000 years? What would your take on humanity be?...more
Book blurb: the story of old soldiers who never die...and yet cannot seem to fade away. Trapped in an immortality without explanation, Andromache of SBook blurb: the story of old soldiers who never die...and yet cannot seem to fade away. Trapped in an immortality without explanation, Andromache of Scythia—"Andy"—and her comrades ply their trade for those who can find—and afford—their services. But in the 21st century, immortality is a hard secret to keep, and when you live long enough, you learn that there are many fates worse than death.
I quite enjoyed the recent Netflix adaptation, and figured I'd give the source material a try. There isn't anything groundbreaking here, but I enjoyed the story, the diversity on the page, and the themes explored. It's bloody and violent and a reminder than humans have been awful to each other for millennia....more
I loved Julián Is a Mermaid and this picture book while lovely, is not quite as good. I really like the illustration style, and the diversity on the pI loved Julián Is a Mermaid and this picture book while lovely, is not quite as good. I really like the illustration style, and the diversity on the page. The wordless sections are joyful, and just when you expect things to go wrong, kindness and gentleness take center stage. This is a wonderful picture book for all ages....more
This is the fourth graphic novel (memoir in this case) that I've read by the author, and I always expect I'll love his work more than I do. I want to This is the fourth graphic novel (memoir in this case) that I've read by the author, and I always expect I'll love his work more than I do. I want to love his work, but for some reason they just don't gel with me.
This graphic memoir had quite a bit of navel gazing - too much for me. I like his illustration style and the stark black and white panels, and I really appreciated his honesty and willingness to let us see his anxieties and the mundane, and sometimes funny, life of a kid who loves to draw and now does that for a living. The thing that I loved was the actual physical book - that it looked just like the Moleskine that the author actually does his drawings in.
I read this a couple of weeks ago and not much has remained with me, but if you are a fan of the author, this would give you insight into his life and struggles. Would also work YA readers who are interested in comics....more
Why do authors do this? Well, Pullman explains in the afterword that this very short story was written to be auctioned at a fundraiser. I gNo. No. No.
Why do authors do this? Well, Pullman explains in the afterword that this very short story was written to be auctioned at a fundraiser. I guess everyone involved decided that it should be published. I do not concur.
The writing felt forced and uninspired and boring. While it was nice to hang out with Lyra and Pan again, this book feels very much like a way to make more money (and it's quite expensive for what you get). Sigh. I liked the illustrations. They are the only redeeming part of this book, and I hope that all the proceeds went to the artist, and I don't mean Pullman. ...more
Book blurb: .... reminds us that people sometimes come out not just once but again and again; that identity is not necessarily about falling in love wBook blurb: .... reminds us that people sometimes come out not just once but again and again; that identity is not necessarily about falling in love with others, but about coming to terms with oneself.
I expected to love this coming of age, queer graphic memoir, and while I'm glad that books like these exist it doesn't tread any new ground, or explore anything that hasn't been explored in much greater depth. It isn't a graphic novel so much as an illustrated memoir/diary.
I liked getting a look at the author's coming of age story, especially the reminder that coming to terms with who we are is not something that happens in an instant. That's a life-long process. What made me happy was that this doesn't end in a horrible way, aka, the lesbian doesn't die at the end (not a spoiler as she's written this book after all), and that might be very helpful to anyone struggling with identity issues when they pick this up. While this is labeled adult, it would work well for YA readers....more
Book blurb: A novel of serendipity, of fortunes won and lost, and of the spectre of imprisonment that hangs over all aspects of Victorian society.
I saBook blurb: A novel of serendipity, of fortunes won and lost, and of the spectre of imprisonment that hangs over all aspects of Victorian society.
I say this every year, but it bears repeating: there is something wonderful about being in the hands of a master craftsman.
2020 marked my 6th annual Dickens in December project. It's a gift I give myself, and it's one of my fave things about the holiday season. For all the fuss over Dickens, this title is not one that people often talk about - at least not one I'd heard much about - so when someone I trust on all things Dickens said this was her fave of his books, how could I not dive in?
It's fantastic. Every single person is wonderfully fleshed out and has a distinctive voice. You could remove their names, and there'd be no doubt as to who was speaking. There are characters you love, those you like, some you tolerate, and those you want to hit on the head with a chamber pot. I have a soft spot for the titled character, and was rooting for her all the way. In some ways this might be the most feminist of his tales I've read, and I enjoyed the variety of the women in this one.
Are there some politically incorrect things here? Sure. It's a book of its times, and also well documents how folks of the Empire viewed everyone else. Let's not change history just so we can be comfortable today.
I loved it. Every single moment. Every tangent. Every character. The expected social critique. The ever present humor. The quirky characters - you can tell that Dickens loved them all. He talks about things we still deal with today in regards to economic markets, and how the other is viewed. When a character says @me, @me again - he precedes today's social media culture by over 150 years. This might well be his masterpiece.
I listened to the audiobook (approx. 32 hours), which was superbly narrated by Simon Vance. I will miss spending time with these characters - well, not all of them - and I see that BBC has a series adaptation with Claire Foy (she of The Crown) playing Little Dorrit. Ordering that up now.
2015 - A Christmas Carol (4 stars) 2016 - Bleak House (5 stars) 2017 - Oliver Twist (4 stars) 2018 - David Copperfield (5 stars) 2019 - Great Expectations (5 stars) 2020 - Little Dorrit (5 stars)...more
I've already returned my library copy, so don't actually recall whether it's YA or adult fantasy. Would work for both.
I enjoyed this fast paced story.I've already returned my library copy, so don't actually recall whether it's YA or adult fantasy. Would work for both.
I enjoyed this fast paced story. I liked the desert setting - reminded me very much of Egypt along the Nile. People die and are reincarnated - all depends on your current and past life actions. Awful people are reincarnated as a kehok - a monster - and you stay that way forever unless you win (with a rider) the Races. Enter two women - one who was a former champion looking to redeem her past choices, and the other a young runway bride-to-be looking for a different life than the one her parents have chosen for her.
The writing is good and the world building interesting. This standalone fantasy story would make a fun movie - I'm sure the CGI folks are twitching to create the kehoks. I flew through it, and it kept my interest, though I guessed many of the plot points fairly early on, and that ending is what makes me think this is YA. I love fully fleshed out characters, and that this book did not deliver. Still, if you or your teens are in the mood for a feminist tale of monster riders give this one a try....more
This is a "visual bible for illustrators and graphic designers." I am neither, but flipping through this huge book felt like I was walking through a wThis is a "visual bible for illustrators and graphic designers." I am neither, but flipping through this huge book felt like I was walking through a wonderfully curated art gallery showcasing the work of an international group of artists using a variety of techniques. Lovely and inspirational. ...more
Found these very cool Black Editions at my library - this one contains Volumes 11 & 12.
The final two installments of this manga, and yet another womanFound these very cool Black Editions at my library - this one contains Volumes 11 & 12.
The final two installments of this manga, and yet another woman gets all googly eyed over Light. Sigh. There continues to be lots of twists and turns, and I do appreciate that the author does not shy away from consequences that cannot be undone. That ending though. Ooh, that ending. Talk about sticking the landing....more
Found these very cool Black Editions at my library - this one contains Volumes 9 & 10.
This manga has become a tad too convoluted with too many characFound these very cool Black Editions at my library - this one contains Volumes 9 & 10.
This manga has become a tad too convoluted with too many characters thrown into the mix. I continue to enjoy the twists and unexpected turns, and I"m curious to see how this one ends....more
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