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moonlightcupofcocoa's reviews
189 reviews
Georgian Feminists: Ten 18th Century Women Ahead of Their Time by Rebecca Sophia Katherine Wilson
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
First things first, thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for the ARC. As always all thought are 100% my own.
Georgian Feminists is an accessible and thought-provoking introduction to ten intriguing strong women from the Georgian Era. The women are from different classes, different backgrounds and led very different lives. Some of these women I already knew, but I still loved the author's research and thoughts about them. Others were new to me and I am glad to have learned about them for the first time.
The book is clearly well-researched and is approached with respect, passion and open mind. The author doesn't put the ladies in question on a pedestal. Instead, we are introduced to their flaws in addition to their achievements as well as introduces the reader to societal and cultural norms and influences that could have left a mark on each of the women, ultimately leading to their actions.
I enjoyed reading the speculations from the author as much as learning the facts about those women. It almost felt as if I were having a conversation with the author.
The one question that I was left with at the end of the book is why some of these figures were considered 'Georgian Feminists'. Is a feminist any woman that chooses to live her life the way she wants? That is able to stand up to the patriarchal figures in her life and say 'no'? Or must the woman in question advocate of women's right and lift up others in their community?
The women presented in the book are all very iconic. They are all very strong, intriguing and often inspiring. Each in her own way. But while some of them did leave behind a legacy be it in the form of thought-provoking texts or contributions to scientific discoveries or others, others mostly just lived their own lives with sole focus on their own interests.
Don't get me wrong, watching other women, be it historically or currently, live freely and authentically is always an inspiration. It's more that going into the book, I expected more focus on what the figures presented did to further women rights.
Still, I really enjoyed the book and am recommending it to others. You will be introduced to epic women and end up going down so many rabbit holes thanks to the book and the many, many, references it shares.
Georgian Feminists is an accessible and thought-provoking introduction to ten intriguing strong women from the Georgian Era. The women are from different classes, different backgrounds and led very different lives. Some of these women I already knew, but I still loved the author's research and thoughts about them. Others were new to me and I am glad to have learned about them for the first time.
The book is clearly well-researched and is approached with respect, passion and open mind. The author doesn't put the ladies in question on a pedestal. Instead, we are introduced to their flaws in addition to their achievements as well as introduces the reader to societal and cultural norms and influences that could have left a mark on each of the women, ultimately leading to their actions.
I enjoyed reading the speculations from the author as much as learning the facts about those women. It almost felt as if I were having a conversation with the author.
The one question that I was left with at the end of the book is why some of these figures were considered 'Georgian Feminists'. Is a feminist any woman that chooses to live her life the way she wants? That is able to stand up to the patriarchal figures in her life and say 'no'? Or must the woman in question advocate of women's right and lift up others in their community?
The women presented in the book are all very iconic. They are all very strong, intriguing and often inspiring. Each in her own way. But while some of them did leave behind a legacy be it in the form of thought-provoking texts or contributions to scientific discoveries or others, others mostly just lived their own lives with sole focus on their own interests.
Don't get me wrong, watching other women, be it historically or currently, live freely and authentically is always an inspiration. It's more that going into the book, I expected more focus on what the figures presented did to further women rights.
Still, I really enjoyed the book and am recommending it to others. You will be introduced to epic women and end up going down so many rabbit holes thanks to the book and the many, many, references it shares.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This entry in the Anne of Green Gables series is interesting in that it barely has anything to do with Anne, Gilbert or their family. Out of the 12 stories in the book, Anne makes very a very short appearance in two of them.
The stories instead feature other Avonlea residents, most of whom don't make any other appearances in the series.
Something that I didn't know before reading this book is that some of the short stories were actually written and publishing by L. M. Montgomery before Anne of Green Gables was ever published! Then, after the release of the first two Anne books, while under the pressure from her publisher, Montgomery reworked and collected many of the stories to publish as a companion book.
Overall, I enjoyed my brief time with this collection. There were a couple stories that stood out from the rest, others feeling too similar to plots from other books or not quite as memorable.
Similar to other short story collections, I'll be reviewing each story on its own then using the average rating for the whole book.
1. The Hurrying of Ludovic (3 stars): I think this plot is very similar to another one we saw in Anne of Windy Poplars. Anne is asked to help Theodore Dix with her long, and frustratingly slow, courtship. Ultimately, I found myself remembering almost nothing from the story after it was done but enjoyed it enough while listening to it.
2. Old Lady Lloyd (5 stars): I think one of my favourite stories in this collection. A good reminder that often times what we see of people can be farthest from their truths. An old reclusive woman comes across the daughter of her past, and only, love. It was very emotional and sweet.
3. Each in His Own Tongue (5 stars): I listened to this one twice. It addresses generational conflict as well as second chances. An older minister prohibits his grandson from ever touching another violin only to be taught a lesson in the power and passion for music. I cried listening to this one.
4. Little Joscelyn (4 stars): An elderly woman longs to hear the singing voice of a young woman she once saw as her daughter. It was heartwrenching to me. Just not as powerful as the previous two in my opinion.
5. The Winning of Lucinda (4 stars): This one was very cute. A longtime feud between two stubborn lovers. Each of them refusing to be the first one to speak leads to years and years of them not proceeding with the wedding.
6. Old Man Shaw's Girl (3 stars): An elder man awaits eagerly for the return of his daughter after years studying in Toronto and fearing change brought upon by worldliness. It was sweet enough but for some reason I felt like ultimately nothing happened. It was a good character study though.
7. Aunt Olivia's Beau (3 stars): A cute story about a woman who longed to be married only to suddenly be engaged.
8. Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's (3 stars): A man-hating cat-loving woman ends up quarantined with woman-hating dog-loving man and the chaos that ensued. Overall was fine. Not entirely sure I quite agree with the relationship depicted.
9. Pa Sloane's Purchase (2 stars): A man purchases a baby at an auction that starts out as a joke then ends up turning into the real thing.
10. The Courting of Prissy Strong (3 stars): This was another story that I felt like it was too similar to plots in the other books. A woman seeks a courtship despite the strong objections by her sister who prohibited her from courting seeing that she never married herself.
11. The Miracle at Carmody (2 stars): An angry protective woman prohibits her sister and her adopted son from going to church.
12. The End of a Quarrel (4 stars): A cute story of romantic second chances and accepting the ones we love as they are.
The stories instead feature other Avonlea residents, most of whom don't make any other appearances in the series.
Something that I didn't know before reading this book is that some of the short stories were actually written and publishing by L. M. Montgomery before Anne of Green Gables was ever published! Then, after the release of the first two Anne books, while under the pressure from her publisher, Montgomery reworked and collected many of the stories to publish as a companion book.
Overall, I enjoyed my brief time with this collection. There were a couple stories that stood out from the rest, others feeling too similar to plots from other books or not quite as memorable.
Similar to other short story collections, I'll be reviewing each story on its own then using the average rating for the whole book.
1. The Hurrying of Ludovic (3 stars): I think this plot is very similar to another one we saw in Anne of Windy Poplars. Anne is asked to help Theodore Dix with her long, and frustratingly slow, courtship. Ultimately, I found myself remembering almost nothing from the story after it was done but enjoyed it enough while listening to it.
2. Old Lady Lloyd (5 stars): I think one of my favourite stories in this collection. A good reminder that often times what we see of people can be farthest from their truths. An old reclusive woman comes across the daughter of her past, and only, love. It was very emotional and sweet.
3. Each in His Own Tongue (5 stars): I listened to this one twice. It addresses generational conflict as well as second chances. An older minister prohibits his grandson from ever touching another violin only to be taught a lesson in the power and passion for music. I cried listening to this one.
4. Little Joscelyn (4 stars): An elderly woman longs to hear the singing voice of a young woman she once saw as her daughter. It was heartwrenching to me. Just not as powerful as the previous two in my opinion.
5. The Winning of Lucinda (4 stars): This one was very cute. A longtime feud between two stubborn lovers. Each of them refusing to be the first one to speak leads to years and years of them not proceeding with the wedding.
6. Old Man Shaw's Girl (3 stars): An elder man awaits eagerly for the return of his daughter after years studying in Toronto and fearing change brought upon by worldliness. It was sweet enough but for some reason I felt like ultimately nothing happened. It was a good character study though.
7. Aunt Olivia's Beau (3 stars): A cute story about a woman who longed to be married only to suddenly be engaged.
8. Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's (3 stars): A man-hating cat-loving woman ends up quarantined with woman-hating dog-loving man and the chaos that ensued. Overall was fine. Not entirely sure I quite agree with the relationship depicted.
9. Pa Sloane's Purchase (2 stars): A man purchases a baby at an auction that starts out as a joke then ends up turning into the real thing.
10. The Courting of Prissy Strong (3 stars): This was another story that I felt like it was too similar to plots in the other books. A woman seeks a courtship despite the strong objections by her sister who prohibited her from courting seeing that she never married herself.
11. The Miracle at Carmody (2 stars): An angry protective woman prohibits her sister and her adopted son from going to church.
12. The End of a Quarrel (4 stars): A cute story of romantic second chances and accepting the ones we love as they are.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received a free ALC for this book. All thoughts presented here are 100% my own!
This is my first time reading for Marie Bostwick but I am hooked!
'The Book Club for Troublesome Women' is a historical fiction book set in the 1960s in a Virginia suburb featuring four housewives from different backgrounds at different stages of life. What starts off as an awkward, haphazardly thrown together, book club ends up not only bringing them together but changing the projections of their lives altogether.
While at the beginning the group starts by reading 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, the reactions of each of the Bettys and what they make of what they read is the actual focus of the book. Feminism, motherhood, community support, societal pressures, working mothers, financial independence and many more topics get explored through the Bettys' journeys.
I was surprised to find myself relating to not only one or two of the ladies, but all of them. They are all distinct, relatable and very likeable once you get to know them more. Even the secondary characters were memorable and well-done.
The pacing was pretty good! I didn't feel like any particular part overstayed its welcome. I found myself just breezing through the book which is an impressive feat while juggling four different POVs.
Regarding the subject matter, I thought the book covered the struggles women faced then (and now) very respectfully. I took down many notes about further topics and other books recommended by the characters in the book. I especially appreciated the characters (I believe it was Viv) pointing out that many of the conversations being had at the time (again, and now) are limited to women with privilege. That we need to bring in voices from all backgrounds and walks of life to the table if we truly wish to achieve true equality.
I think the only thing I wish we saw more of is more agency for one of the Bettys, Bitsy. While Charlotte and Viv were active drivers in how their lives turned around in my opinion, I can't help but feel that Bitsy's life change was more the result of a decision by her husband. While many women can find themselves in her shoes and perhaps even make the same choices, I think I was still rooting for her to be an active decision maker in her life considering the message of the rest of the book.
For Margaret, I feel she did speak up for herself and was actively balancing her life goals and pleasing her husband. I was a bit surprised by her husband's transformation feeling it a bit sudden despite the circumstances that led to them. Perhaps it's the cynic in me but I think I didn't expect him to change that fast. But still, it was refreshing seeing a husband like him choosing to change for the sake of his mother, wife and daughters.
Specifically for the audiobook, I want to applaud Lisa Flanagan for her narration. She did a fantastic job bringing all four ladies and all the secondary characters to life giving them each a distinctive voice that makes you sometimes forget they're all voiced by the same narrator! I am actually currently looking for other audiobooks specifically narrated by her because she's THAT good!
Overall, I really loved the book and have been recommending it to everyone I know! While going through the book, and now that I'm done, I have found myself constantly thinking about moments from it. Similar to what the Bettys themselves say in the book, while this book in itself won't dramatically change your life, it offers an enjoyable story that will leave you relating and thinking. Changing you in small but meaningful ways.
This is my first time reading for Marie Bostwick but I am hooked!
'The Book Club for Troublesome Women' is a historical fiction book set in the 1960s in a Virginia suburb featuring four housewives from different backgrounds at different stages of life. What starts off as an awkward, haphazardly thrown together, book club ends up not only bringing them together but changing the projections of their lives altogether.
While at the beginning the group starts by reading 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, the reactions of each of the Bettys and what they make of what they read is the actual focus of the book. Feminism, motherhood, community support, societal pressures, working mothers, financial independence and many more topics get explored through the Bettys' journeys.
I was surprised to find myself relating to not only one or two of the ladies, but all of them. They are all distinct, relatable and very likeable once you get to know them more. Even the secondary characters were memorable and well-done.
The pacing was pretty good! I didn't feel like any particular part overstayed its welcome. I found myself just breezing through the book which is an impressive feat while juggling four different POVs.
Regarding the subject matter, I thought the book covered the struggles women faced then (and now) very respectfully. I took down many notes about further topics and other books recommended by the characters in the book. I especially appreciated the characters (I believe it was Viv) pointing out that many of the conversations being had at the time (again, and now) are limited to women with privilege. That we need to bring in voices from all backgrounds and walks of life to the table if we truly wish to achieve true equality.
I think the only thing I wish we saw more of is more agency for one of the Bettys, Bitsy. While Charlotte and Viv were active drivers in how their lives turned around in my opinion, I can't help but feel that Bitsy's life change was more the result of a decision by her husband. While many women can find themselves in her shoes and perhaps even make the same choices, I think I was still rooting for her to be an active decision maker in her life considering the message of the rest of the book.
For Margaret, I feel she did speak up for herself and was actively balancing her life goals and pleasing her husband. I was a bit surprised by her husband's transformation feeling it a bit sudden despite the circumstances that led to them. Perhaps it's the cynic in me but I think I didn't expect him to change that fast. But still, it was refreshing seeing a husband like him choosing to change for the sake of his mother, wife and daughters.
Specifically for the audiobook, I want to applaud Lisa Flanagan for her narration. She did a fantastic job bringing all four ladies and all the secondary characters to life giving them each a distinctive voice that makes you sometimes forget they're all voiced by the same narrator! I am actually currently looking for other audiobooks specifically narrated by her because she's THAT good!
Overall, I really loved the book and have been recommending it to everyone I know! While going through the book, and now that I'm done, I have found myself constantly thinking about moments from it. Similar to what the Bettys themselves say in the book, while this book in itself won't dramatically change your life, it offers an enjoyable story that will leave you relating and thinking. Changing you in small but meaningful ways.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual content
The Death and Life of Iphigenia by J. Susanne Wilson
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
First things first, thank you to the author for the ARC! All thoughts as always are my 100% my own.
Lately, I've found myself reading historical fiction books where the setting feels more and more like an aesthetic choice and less than an actual fully-researched experience. In 'The Death and Life of Iphigenia', you will find yourself actually transported to Ancient Greece.
You may know a version or more of Iphigenia's story from Greek mythology, but here you get to actually live it with all of its fleeting joys and horrifying terrors. It doesn't just end at her death. You will get to experience the deep sense of loss, isolation and even growth that the young princess has to go through.
I was genuinely delighted by the level of detail in the daily life aspects of this book. It allowed me to lose myself in the pages and practically feel, see and even smell what Iphigenia is going through. The depth of research and the passion for the topic were evident. No surprise there when the author actually has a degree in the field! It really shows!
While there were moments when I wished the pacing moved a bit faster, I appreciated the deliberately human approach to the retelling. The way Iphigenia's emotions evolved naturally over time made it feel more authentic and allowed me to empathize more with her.
The fact that I kept flipping pages late into the night instead of going to bed says a lot. Not only that, but I found myself crying angry tears on Iphigenia's behalf several times throughout the read but especially towards the ending.
This book doesn't idolize or romanticize Ancient Greece. It captures it in all of its glory and brutality. It will make you question who the true heroes are and who the real victim is.
I really cannot wait to read more by J. Susanne Wilson. I noticed that this is the first entry in a series, and I know I'll be eager to read the follow ups day one.
Lately, I've found myself reading historical fiction books where the setting feels more and more like an aesthetic choice and less than an actual fully-researched experience. In 'The Death and Life of Iphigenia', you will find yourself actually transported to Ancient Greece.
You may know a version or more of Iphigenia's story from Greek mythology, but here you get to actually live it with all of its fleeting joys and horrifying terrors. It doesn't just end at her death. You will get to experience the deep sense of loss, isolation and even growth that the young princess has to go through.
I was genuinely delighted by the level of detail in the daily life aspects of this book. It allowed me to lose myself in the pages and practically feel, see and even smell what Iphigenia is going through. The depth of research and the passion for the topic were evident. No surprise there when the author actually has a degree in the field! It really shows!
While there were moments when I wished the pacing moved a bit faster, I appreciated the deliberately human approach to the retelling. The way Iphigenia's emotions evolved naturally over time made it feel more authentic and allowed me to empathize more with her.
The fact that I kept flipping pages late into the night instead of going to bed says a lot. Not only that, but I found myself crying angry tears on Iphigenia's behalf several times throughout the read but especially towards the ending.
This book doesn't idolize or romanticize Ancient Greece. It captures it in all of its glory and brutality. It will make you question who the true heroes are and who the real victim is.
I really cannot wait to read more by J. Susanne Wilson. I noticed that this is the first entry in a series, and I know I'll be eager to read the follow ups day one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity and Terminal illness
The Thing in Christmas Town by Iseult Murphy
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to the author for the free copy. As always all thoughts here are 100% my own.
This is the perfect read when you're in the mood for a cozy horror during the holidays. From the very first pages, you get a satisfying mix of creepiness and festivity.
Diane and her adult children and her son-in-law decide to take a holiday to Christmas Town, a place that is Christmasy all year long. Even in July! While Diane is still struggling with guilt and grief over the loss of her husband, she decides to join her children even if she seems to be disagreeing with everything they see in the lovely, perfect, almost Utopian Christmas Town.
But is it just her or is there actually something amiss?
Overall, this is a quick read that you can probably go through in less than an hour while nursing a hot cocoa by the fireplace. While in general you can predict the ending and how things will play out, the execution is still fun, and you will find yourself flipping through the pages to see what happens next.
The fast pace is both works in its favour and holds it back. Being thrown into the plot with minimal setup quickly puts you on edge since creepiness set in pretty quickly. As quickly as the second chapter from what I remember. But, also, it does mean that there is very little space to get to know the characters and empathize with them.
Diane's grief is real and strong over the loss of her husband, but that makes her reaction to the events that unfold in the story a bit muted. We barely get enough time for the characters to react or for us to sit down with the events for an emotional connection to evolve that it starts taking away from the shock towards the end when the horrors reach their peak.
Overall though, the story itself is fun and the aesthetic is so well-crafted. It feels like a classic horror movie in book form! So make sure to give this a read next Christmas.
This is the perfect read when you're in the mood for a cozy horror during the holidays. From the very first pages, you get a satisfying mix of creepiness and festivity.
Diane and her adult children and her son-in-law decide to take a holiday to Christmas Town, a place that is Christmasy all year long. Even in July! While Diane is still struggling with guilt and grief over the loss of her husband, she decides to join her children even if she seems to be disagreeing with everything they see in the lovely, perfect, almost Utopian Christmas Town.
But is it just her or is there actually something amiss?
Overall, this is a quick read that you can probably go through in less than an hour while nursing a hot cocoa by the fireplace. While in general you can predict the ending and how things will play out, the execution is still fun, and you will find yourself flipping through the pages to see what happens next.
The fast pace is both works in its favour and holds it back. Being thrown into the plot with minimal setup quickly puts you on edge since creepiness set in pretty quickly. As quickly as the second chapter from what I remember. But, also, it does mean that there is very little space to get to know the characters and empathize with them.
Diane's grief is real and strong over the loss of her husband, but that makes her reaction to the events that unfold in the story a bit muted. We barely get enough time for the characters to react or for us to sit down with the events for an emotional connection to evolve that it starts taking away from the shock towards the end when the horrors reach their peak.
Overall though, the story itself is fun and the aesthetic is so well-crafted. It feels like a classic horror movie in book form! So make sure to give this a read next Christmas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So, I'm a mess. No really.
For a long while I wasn't planning on reading this book because I'll be honest Rilla was my least favourite of all the Ingleside children. Not because she was the youngest but because honestly, she was very annoying and whiny. But as I am working on a project about the Anne of Green Gables as a whole, I couldn't just put off this book forever.
It was heart-aching. Seriously. I teared up all through it! It was of course filled with war propaganda, but since it was being told from the perspective of Canadian families whose boys actually fought and died in World War I, it made sense.
What I was most impressed with, however, is Rilla's character development. I started out not liking her at all, but by the end of the books, I found myself not just liking her but actually adoring her. It was impressive and gradual and I applaud L. M. Montgomery for that.
So much so that this was shaping to be a 5-star read. Until the last couple chapters. Why?
Spoiler-free version: No one is safe in this book.
Spoiler-version:Why in the world does L. M. Montgomery hate cats?? Huh? We get two cat deaths at the very end of the book while the dog comes out as a loyal loveable hero. And one of the two deaths was especially brutal!
Overall, I would still recommend reading the book (but especially give the version narrated by Barbara Caruso a try because she's phenomenal) but make sure to check out trigger warnings first!
For a long while I wasn't planning on reading this book because I'll be honest Rilla was my least favourite of all the Ingleside children. Not because she was the youngest but because honestly, she was very annoying and whiny. But as I am working on a project about the Anne of Green Gables as a whole, I couldn't just put off this book forever.
It was heart-aching. Seriously. I teared up all through it! It was of course filled with war propaganda, but since it was being told from the perspective of Canadian families whose boys actually fought and died in World War I, it made sense.
What I was most impressed with, however, is Rilla's character development. I started out not liking her at all, but by the end of the books, I found myself not just liking her but actually adoring her. It was impressive and gradual and I applaud L. M. Montgomery for that.
So much so that this was shaping to be a 5-star read. Until the last couple chapters. Why?
Spoiler-free version: No one is safe in this book.
Spoiler-version:
Overall, I would still recommend reading the book (but especially give the version narrated by Barbara Caruso a try because she's phenomenal) but make sure to check out trigger warnings first!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and War
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
The Creators of Winnie the Pooh: A A Milne and E H Shephard by Andrew Norman
informative
fast-paced
3.5
First things first, thank you to Netgalley and White Owl for the ARC. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
As someone who adored Winnie the Pooh growing up and wanting to dig into the biographies and books by Milne and Shepard soon, I knew I just had to read this book.
The book explores children books that precede A. A. Milne's work, then covers the creative and literary journeys of both Milne and Shepard. Many chapters are also dedicated to their experience through World War I and the emotional and physical toil on them.
I enjoyed the book overall, and it did introduce me to other books that I would like to read by the creators of Winnie the Pooh, but many times I felt it was very disjointed. For the first 50 or so pages of the book, the book is mostly focused about other literary works and authors that influenced A. A. Milne and at times sharing what he said about them. While I do think this was a useful exercise, I was surprised that such a long section was dedicated to those and felt it could have benefited from shorter excerpts and quotes from those books and more of the literary analysis by the the author.
The chapters are, in general, paced strangely where you will find many chapters that are a single page long that I feel could have been merged with the preceding or following chapters instead. Perhaps the sections dedicated to World War I could've been merged into two or three longer chapters to help with the flow.
Still, I found the book informative and interesting. Even as an introduction to two of the most influential literary figures even before Winnie the Pooh. I just wish it was paced differently and allowed to see more of the creators themselves versus those around them.
I would still recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard and how Winnie the Pooh came to life!
As someone who adored Winnie the Pooh growing up and wanting to dig into the biographies and books by Milne and Shepard soon, I knew I just had to read this book.
The book explores children books that precede A. A. Milne's work, then covers the creative and literary journeys of both Milne and Shepard. Many chapters are also dedicated to their experience through World War I and the emotional and physical toil on them.
I enjoyed the book overall, and it did introduce me to other books that I would like to read by the creators of Winnie the Pooh, but many times I felt it was very disjointed. For the first 50 or so pages of the book, the book is mostly focused about other literary works and authors that influenced A. A. Milne and at times sharing what he said about them. While I do think this was a useful exercise, I was surprised that such a long section was dedicated to those and felt it could have benefited from shorter excerpts and quotes from those books and more of the literary analysis by the the author.
The chapters are, in general, paced strangely where you will find many chapters that are a single page long that I feel could have been merged with the preceding or following chapters instead. Perhaps the sections dedicated to World War I could've been merged into two or three longer chapters to help with the flow.
Still, I found the book informative and interesting. Even as an introduction to two of the most influential literary figures even before Winnie the Pooh. I just wish it was paced differently and allowed to see more of the creators themselves versus those around them.
I would still recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard and how Winnie the Pooh came to life!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and War
Fateless by Julie Kagawa
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC. As always all opinions are my own.
This was my first Julie Kagawa book and I am hooked!
As a huge fan of the Assassin's Creed series from the very first game (how in the world is the series 18 years old!?), when I read the author notes I got both excited and a tiny bit scared. I had seen some books being compared to the AC series before but ultimately failing to deliver. But I am glad to report back that, yes, Fateless more than delivers.
The series explores a rich, immersive, albeit harsh fantastical universe that lives in the shadows of the now dead Deathless Kings. We follow Sparrow, a young thief who'd spent her entire life working for and living with the Thieves guild. Her fate seems sealed until she receives a curious mission from the Circle, the mysterious group of individuals that seems to control the Thieves Guild from the shadows. And that's when all hell breaks loose.
I really enjoyed the world-building here. The attention to detail was evident, from the varying cultural and religious interpretations of "Fate' to the weather and impact of the harsh changing ecosystem and environments as a consequence of the death of said Deathless Kings. The writing is very atmospheric that I could practically see, feel and even smell, what the characters are being exposed to. Which wasn't always pleasant for the poor souls, let me tell you.
The characters are fun. I appreciate that the FMC actually showed vulnerability. In fact, her character development was done so well, I cheered for her aloud while reading towards the end. "FINALLY YOU GET IT!" In a very good way, haha. Her growth made sense and was handled very carefully and tastefully, in my opinion.
There are some spots where I felt the pacing was a bit slower, but this was usually followed with epic fast-paced action-packed scenes right after that they didn't really make me lost interest or anything. Especially that those scenes were important for character growth across the board.
Overall, I am very excited to read the sequel and I know I'll be recommending this to so many people in my life.
This was my first Julie Kagawa book and I am hooked!
As a huge fan of the Assassin's Creed series from the very first game (how in the world is the series 18 years old!?), when I read the author notes I got both excited and a tiny bit scared. I had seen some books being compared to the AC series before but ultimately failing to deliver. But I am glad to report back that, yes, Fateless more than delivers.
The series explores a rich, immersive, albeit harsh fantastical universe that lives in the shadows of the now dead Deathless Kings. We follow Sparrow, a young thief who'd spent her entire life working for and living with the Thieves guild. Her fate seems sealed until she receives a curious mission from the Circle, the mysterious group of individuals that seems to control the Thieves Guild from the shadows. And that's when all hell breaks loose.
I really enjoyed the world-building here. The attention to detail was evident, from the varying cultural and religious interpretations of "Fate' to the weather and impact of the harsh changing ecosystem and environments as a consequence of the death of said Deathless Kings. The writing is very atmospheric that I could practically see, feel and even smell, what the characters are being exposed to. Which wasn't always pleasant for the poor souls, let me tell you.
The characters are fun. I appreciate that the FMC actually showed vulnerability. In fact, her character development was done so well, I cheered for her aloud while reading towards the end. "FINALLY YOU GET IT!" In a very good way, haha. Her growth made sense and was handled very carefully and tastefully, in my opinion.
There are some spots where I felt the pacing was a bit slower, but this was usually followed with epic fast-paced action-packed scenes right after that they didn't really make me lost interest or anything. Especially that those scenes were important for character growth across the board.
Overall, I am very excited to read the sequel and I know I'll be recommending this to so many people in my life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Abandonment, and War
Olaf and Essex by Patti Calkosz
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
(Thank you to the author for the ARC! All opinions are 100% my own)
"Even in the midst of turmoil, there was always something to be thankful for."
This quote captures the essence of this story so well.
I'm a firm believer that a good middle-grade story can be enjoyed by readers of any age. Olaf and Essex is a good example of that. I'd argue that adults might even enjoy it more than children! More so about this later.
The story follows several characters through an adventure (in the cases of some, misadventure) revolving around a very special baby. Two of those characters are Olaf the bear and Essex the fox. This might be taking place in New York, but this is a very different city from the one we're used to. A city where the NYPD's Chief Magic Detector just won't stop going after the magical community.
Throughout the story, you will find yourself asking who really should be raising the baby and what could possibly happen next?
While the story sounds very cutesy and almost childlike on the surface, this book delves into darker, and often mature, themes like: Resentment between parent and child, falling out of love between spouses, abandonment, cruelty, giving up and even grief and death. Many times, throughout the book, animals hunt and eat one another. Witches tear wings off of bats. Many deaths.
This alongside with the vocabulary and references (such as many Macbeth and Shakespearean quotes) being used at times had me pause a couple times and double check whether this is marketed for middle-grade or if I'm misremembering. That being said, I remembered that as a middle-grader, I really enjoyed some of the darker stories.
I, an adult in my 30s, cried like a baby so much towards the end for reasons I can't reveal too much about without spoilers, but the writing, the imagery and the events did get to me. But I'll be honest, I cherished it. Not just those scenes but the story as a whole.
It reminded me a lot of Diana Wynne Jones' books where yes, the story may jump around a bit, but the conclusion will be so worth it. And the magic in this universe, the world building and the characterization are all done so well.
Overall, I really adored this book (you already know that from the rating) and I am already looking forward to the second book. As an adult, I think you'd find the journey whimsical, introspective, funny and touching. If you're considering this for a child, I would read it first and then decide whether or not your child would stomach and comprehend the themes.
As for me, I honestly can't wait to read the next book in the Magic-Competents series. The sneak peek we get at the end of Book 1 has me hooked!
P.S: The illustrations are gorgeous!
"Even in the midst of turmoil, there was always something to be thankful for."
This quote captures the essence of this story so well.
I'm a firm believer that a good middle-grade story can be enjoyed by readers of any age. Olaf and Essex is a good example of that. I'd argue that adults might even enjoy it more than children! More so about this later.
The story follows several characters through an adventure (in the cases of some, misadventure) revolving around a very special baby. Two of those characters are Olaf the bear and Essex the fox. This might be taking place in New York, but this is a very different city from the one we're used to. A city where the NYPD's Chief Magic Detector just won't stop going after the magical community.
Throughout the story, you will find yourself asking who really should be raising the baby and what could possibly happen next?
While the story sounds very cutesy and almost childlike on the surface, this book delves into darker, and often mature, themes like: Resentment between parent and child, falling out of love between spouses, abandonment, cruelty, giving up and even grief and death. Many times, throughout the book, animals hunt and eat one another. Witches tear wings off of bats. Many deaths.
This alongside with the vocabulary and references (such as many Macbeth and Shakespearean quotes) being used at times had me pause a couple times and double check whether this is marketed for middle-grade or if I'm misremembering. That being said, I remembered that as a middle-grader, I really enjoyed some of the darker stories.
I, an adult in my 30s, cried like a baby so much towards the end for reasons I can't reveal too much about without spoilers, but the writing, the imagery and the events did get to me. But I'll be honest, I cherished it. Not just those scenes but the story as a whole.
It reminded me a lot of Diana Wynne Jones' books where yes, the story may jump around a bit, but the conclusion will be so worth it. And the magic in this universe, the world building and the characterization are all done so well.
Overall, I really adored this book (you already know that from the rating) and I am already looking forward to the second book. As an adult, I think you'd find the journey whimsical, introspective, funny and touching. If you're considering this for a child, I would read it first and then decide whether or not your child would stomach and comprehend the themes.
As for me, I honestly can't wait to read the next book in the Magic-Competents series. The sneak peek we get at the end of Book 1 has me hooked!
P.S: The illustrations are gorgeous!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, and Death of parent
Root Rot by Saskia Nislow
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
(Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own)
"We didn't know if it was the whole house or just The Children's Wing, but there was an unsettled feeling to the air inside that made us not want to be along."
I finished this novella two days ago and it's been haunting me ever since. I needed to sit with my thoughts to figure out how in the world to write this review.
Here's my recommendation: Skip this review, put on the 'Melancholic Instrumentals' playlist on Spotify and just dive into 'Root Rot'. It's unlike anything you've ever read. You'll especially enjoy this if you're a fan of psychological horror and Shirley Jackson!
Now for the actual review:
Root Rot is a fever nightmare that leaves you feeling vulnerable, emotional and exposed. Nine children join their family on a visit to their grandfather's property. More concerned with playing with their cousins at first, they find themselves slowly questioning what is real and what is not.
The children are unnamed, but are given titles such as The Liar, The Oldest, The Crybaby, etc. This may be confusing at first, but the more you read, the more you start recognizing their voices, their quirks and their inner thoughts. You start to feel their emotions, learn glimpses of their lives and question their titles. The plot explores their family dynamics and themes like boundaries, family vs individual, toxic parenting and self-acceptance.
The story is told from a strange, oddly-inclusive POV through scenes that at times bleed together. This leaves you wondering whether something is actually happening or not. Especially when you compare them with later scenes. Was X actually with the group? Where did Y go? Why is Z acting this way now? I enjoyed trying to decipher what was being unraveled and this writing choice definitely added to the tension and creepiness. Especially as your brain starts seeing the patterns and connecting the dots (shudders).
It's really hard for me to explain this without spoilers, but by the end of the book, I found myself experiencing many emotions including grief and release. I admit I ended up crying a bit after the last page and just staring at the wall. If that's not 5-star worthy, not sure what is.
I seriously applaud the author and Creature Publishing for this novella and can't wait to discover more works from them both.
Now excuse me while I go and try to forget about Devil's Tooth Mushrooms. Nature can be both impressive and traumatizing. So is 'Root Rot'.
"We didn't know if it was the whole house or just The Children's Wing, but there was an unsettled feeling to the air inside that made us not want to be along."
I finished this novella two days ago and it's been haunting me ever since. I needed to sit with my thoughts to figure out how in the world to write this review.
Here's my recommendation: Skip this review, put on the 'Melancholic Instrumentals' playlist on Spotify and just dive into 'Root Rot'. It's unlike anything you've ever read. You'll especially enjoy this if you're a fan of psychological horror and Shirley Jackson!
Now for the actual review:
Root Rot is a fever nightmare that leaves you feeling vulnerable, emotional and exposed. Nine children join their family on a visit to their grandfather's property. More concerned with playing with their cousins at first, they find themselves slowly questioning what is real and what is not.
The children are unnamed, but are given titles such as The Liar, The Oldest, The Crybaby, etc. This may be confusing at first, but the more you read, the more you start recognizing their voices, their quirks and their inner thoughts. You start to feel their emotions, learn glimpses of their lives and question their titles. The plot explores their family dynamics and themes like boundaries, family vs individual, toxic parenting and self-acceptance.
The story is told from a strange, oddly-inclusive POV through scenes that at times bleed together. This leaves you wondering whether something is actually happening or not. Especially when you compare them with later scenes. Was X actually with the group? Where did Y go? Why is Z acting this way now? I enjoyed trying to decipher what was being unraveled and this writing choice definitely added to the tension and creepiness. Especially as your brain starts seeing the patterns and connecting the dots (shudders).
It's really hard for me to explain this without spoilers, but by the end of the book, I found myself experiencing many emotions including grief and release. I admit I ended up crying a bit after the last page and just staring at the wall. If that's not 5-star worthy, not sure what is.
I seriously applaud the author and Creature Publishing for this novella and can't wait to discover more works from them both.
Now excuse me while I go and try to forget about Devil's Tooth Mushrooms. Nature can be both impressive and traumatizing. So is 'Root Rot'.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Transphobia and Grief