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katiemack's reviews
1404 reviews
Monster: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 6 by Naoki Urasawa
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.25
A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I feel a bit curmudgeonly when I admit that I missed the coziness of Tawney and New Tomes and Tea, but it was also fun to meet new characters and see Reyna in her swashbuckling element. My favorite part, however, is in the dedication: "To the people who gave me one-star reviews because the first book 'had lesbians,' I doubled the lesbians in this one. Just for you."
I feel a bit curmudgeonly when I admit that I missed the coziness of Tawney and New Tomes and Tea, but it was also fun to meet new characters and see Reyna in her swashbuckling element. My favorite part, however, is in the dedication: "To the people who gave me one-star reviews because the first book 'had lesbians,' I doubled the lesbians in this one. Just for you."
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
As an anxious habitual People Pleaser, I found a lot of value in this book. The concepts seem obvious (e.g., capitalism is responsible for our definition of laziness), but Dr. Price contextualizes them within concrete steps we can take to combat the Laziness Lie. I also appreciated their chapter about "laziness" within professional and personal relationships.
Raised by Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The coloration is spot-on for the 90s, and the illustrations are flowy in a way that imbues the narrator's haunting loneliness. The story's a little fragmented and unfocused for my taste, but I think it'll appeal to a YA audience searching for that sense of nostalgia for a period they never experienced.
The coloration is spot-on for the 90s, and the illustrations are flowy in a way that imbues the narrator's haunting loneliness. The story's a little fragmented and unfocused for my taste, but I think it'll appeal to a YA audience searching for that sense of nostalgia for a period they never experienced.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism
The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Maybe I would have enjoyed this more if I were an avid Real Housewives fan, but this didn't work for me. There are some funny, campy moments, but the shallow characterization and strange pacing kept me from being invested in the story. Even though the culprit(s) are obvious, the murders are glossed over--as are some other seemingly pivotal events--and the book feels too long even at 288 pages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Murder
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I've never thought more about the way I hold my tongue, the way I hold my shoulders, or--obviously--the way that I breathe. For audiobook listeners: the narrated exercises at the end feel productive and useful.
That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As a librarian, I'm afraid of what is going to happen to our profession during this time of increased book bans and Fascist agendas. Amanda Jones details her personal experience of vitriol, death threats, and taunts via social media and email after suggesting during a library board meeting that, hey, marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by book bans. While I'm lucky enough to work in a supportive community, the hate that my fellow librarians deal with in other areas of the country incenses me. (It took almost a month for me to read this because I had to stop reading it before bed; it made me too angry.) While the pacing is stilted in parts, Jones' message is important--and she provides helpful, concrete steps for us to take to combat these bans.
As a librarian, I'm afraid of what is going to happen to our profession during this time of increased book bans and Fascist agendas. Amanda Jones details her personal experience of vitriol, death threats, and taunts via social media and email after suggesting during a library board meeting that, hey, marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by book bans. While I'm lucky enough to work in a supportive community, the hate that my fellow librarians deal with in other areas of the country incenses me. (It took almost a month for me to read this because I had to stop reading it before bed; it made me too angry.) While the pacing is stilted in parts, Jones' message is important--and she provides helpful, concrete steps for us to take to combat these bans.
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'm glad Rebecca Thorne referred to Travis Baldree directly influencing this book because it is absolutely the fraternal twin sister to Legends and Lattes--which I loved, so I'm not complaining! It has the same sense of found family, coziness, and solid romantic relationships of that book and The House in the Cerulean Sea. So, if you're looking for a D&D-esque fantasy to curl up with during this cold season, I highly recommend this one.
I'm glad Rebecca Thorne referred to Travis Baldree directly influencing this book because it is absolutely the fraternal twin sister to Legends and Lattes--which I loved, so I'm not complaining! It has the same sense of found family, coziness, and solid romantic relationships of that book and The House in the Cerulean Sea. So, if you're looking for a D&D-esque fantasy to curl up with during this cold season, I highly recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Death of parent
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I would NOT recommend reading this book if you are pregnant, gave your baby up for adoption, or have recently given birth (especially if that birth was a traumatic one). As I was reading it I thought, "wow; I'm glad I didn't have to go through all of that at the hospital!" But, truthfully, some of those practices still exist fifty years after this book was set; the patriarchy is alive and well.
Regarding the book itself: I couldn't stop reading it, even though there are pacing issues (some parts are MADDENINGLY slow). Grady Hendrix continues to craft brilliantly eerie scenes and forever makes me wonder how a white man writes within these spheres and utilizes these tropes as well as he does (not that white men need any more praise, but...it's warranted here).
I would NOT recommend reading this book if you are pregnant, gave your baby up for adoption, or have recently given birth (especially if that birth was a traumatic one). As I was reading it I thought, "wow; I'm glad I didn't have to go through all of that at the hospital!" But, truthfully, some of those practices still exist fifty years after this book was set; the patriarchy is alive and well.
Regarding the book itself: I couldn't stop reading it, even though there are pacing issues (some parts are MADDENINGLY slow). Grady Hendrix continues to craft brilliantly eerie scenes and forever makes me wonder how a white man writes within these spheres and utilizes these tropes as well as he does (not that white men need any more praise, but...it's warranted here).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Sexual assault