bibliothecarivs's reviews
474 reviews

The Hellebore Guide to Occult Britain and Northern Ireland by John Reppion, Elizabeth Dearnley, Maria J. Pérez Cuervo, Katy Soar, Verity Holloway, Reggie Chamberlain-King

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious medium-paced

5.0

 'HELLEBORE is a UK-based small press devoted to British folk horror and the occult.' - from their website

I loved this travel guide!

#UniteAgainstBookBans #fREADom 

The Last Wolf: The Hidden Springs of Englishness by Robert Winder

informative medium-paced

4.0

Recommended by Paul Kingsnorth, a favourite author.

I liked it, but it wasn't as good as I hoped. A lot of interesting ideas were raised but they weren't quite tied together to my satisfaction. It felt like a long, wandering magazine article.

While reading, I remembered that I had written a short paper on this same subject for my 9th grade geography class decades ago. I should see if I can find it...

Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld

funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

The Four Horsemen: The Conversation That Sparked an Atheist Revolution by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Gender Queer: A Memoir Deluxe Edition by Maia Kobabe

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

4.0

#fREADom #UniteAgaintBookBans 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Body horror

Nudity

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson

dark funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

 Words try to be funny (mostly not funny). Illustrations try to be Gorey-esque (always not Gorey-esque). The incident with the stamp was the best bit. Overall, far below my expectations. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Cannibalism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence

Once & Future Vol. 5 by Kieron Gillen

adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I loved this series so it's bittersweet to reach the end after two years. I look forward to revisiting it. My review of Once & Future, Vol. 1 still stands:

An exciting, violent, and funny adventure. I'm not a frequent comics or fantasy reader but I was attracted by the story and then really impressed by the art.

Also, any book with black-billed magpies on the cover gets extra points from me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Grief, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Infertility

How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life by Danièle Cybulskie

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I once told a friend that I wanted to write a 'Rule of Benedict' for humanists like myself who find inspiration in the Western Christian monastic life but can't believe in the supernatural and don't want to give up sex. Until I compose that rule, this will suffice. I don't think it's comprehensive, but I enjoyed it for what it is.

Absolutely wonderful illustrations by Anna Lobanova and design by Misha Beletsky. 

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Bono's voice is always with me, even if I'm not always with him. His memoir took me not only through his life, but through my memories of my life with his performances.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation by Unknown

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0