xangemtheelibrarian's reviews
746 reviews

The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature by Peter Wohlleben

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Of all things to expect, I did not expect Peter Wohlleben's ideas on nature to align with Robin Wall Kimmerer's. Both authors support the sentience of plant life and both are absolutely in awe of the world around us. While I have wondered if trees feel pain when their branches snap, when bark and leaves are stripped off by herbivores, or when we chop them down to use, I have never stopped to consider whether or not a tree or plant could perceive *me.* 

It adds a whole new layer to Kimmerer's plea to respect all living beings. 

The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has remained one of my favorite authors ever since I read Gods of Jade and Shadow in 2019. And with this short story she has wowed me again. Judith is basically Cinderella, but without the evil stepmother and stepsisters. Then the twists. I understand Judith. But I am so glad for that twist at the end. She came to know the truth, and chose to act on it. And she will be stronger for it, I am certain.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

There is something about Indigenous land practices and teachings that just call to me. Kimmerer's discussion of treating all living things with the same respect that you would pay to any human being changed how I see the earth and animals around me. The way she puts gratitude and respect at the forefront of everything she does as she works with nature is also inspiring. This book clicks with something in the core of my soul. I don't know how else to describe it.

This year I am starting a small garden to grow food and herbs for myself and to share with others. I will be taking some of her teachings as I learn to care for these plants. 

Thank you, Kimmerer, for sharing your knowledge with all of us.

Pick the Lock by A.S. King

challenging dark sad 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? No

3.0

"Therapy. You all need THERAPY." Two books in a row where the main character gets to deal with intense parental trauma? Unlike Snow Drowned by Jennifer D. Lyle, this one is actually about domestic abuse. Vernon is an abusive husband and father. He tries to teach Jane and Henry to be abusive towards their mother as well. This is a book about children doing what it takes to avoid being the focus of the abuse. This is a story about a daughter waking up and realizing the truth about her family. 

There is a bit of sci-fi and fantasy in here, all tied into some major spoilers I will not reveal, but it didn't distract from the main point of the story for me. That being said, while I wasn't distracted from the main point of the story, I do wonder WHY Brutus had to be in it. The rat does some really cool stuff, but I just didn't understand why he was needed and why he had to be in the story at all. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting

Spectacular by Stephanie Garber

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a really cute way to revisit one of my favorite series that I had read in 2022. 🥹 I know the print version has illustrations but I just hadn't had time to sit down and read it so audio was the only way. 

Snow Drowned by Jennifer D. Lyle

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Our MC is going to need a LOT of therapy after this....

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This was hard to keep up with. There are so many plot twists and turns that you really don't see the full picture until the very end (which is written for a sequel, btw). This is one of those super toxic romantasies where everyone in the book is bad, the two love interests hate each other so much they get obsessed with each other, and no character is safe from death. The way everyone in this story is wicked in one way or another and the ways they all come to terms with their wickedness reminds me of Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth. 

The aspect of June's disappearance was complex as well. Every string Kidan tugged on to solve the mystery caused 30 other layers of mystery to tumble out on top of her! By the end of the book, we have all the information we need, but almost no resolutions because Kidan's goals evolve and change as she learns more.

I'm unsure if I would pick up book 2, if indeed there will be one. I always struggle with finishing a series, especially with the books are as long as this one is. But it was pretty and I liked the narration. It was very easy to listen to... all the awful acts committed aside. 

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There is a LOT of emotion in this book. Altogether, I think it is a really good book. The storyline is good, the characters are dynamic and have depth, the pace is good, and Coal is a hilarious narrator. This should have been my jam, and I am still trying to figure out why I didn't connect with the story or the characters. 

There are small things I wish could have been better. For instance, for as much lore as we got with this story, I still feel like I don't really understand how Coal's world works. I don't understand this system of nobility or how magic works. I also may or may not have been imagining the system of generating joy as the system Monsters Inc uses to generate scares ^^'

I feel like I was reading this, but not really seeing the world this story takes place in. So maybe the disconnect is with the mood I was in and not the story itself.

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Let me preface with this: I would not consider myself a Star Wars fan. But I know so many people who are. And while I'm not a fan myself, this isn't the first time I've read a Star Wars book. Maybe I should look a little more into this gigantic universe of lore and stories because I have continued to enjoy the stories I've read within. 

The audiobook isn't just an audiobook. It's an entire experience with sound effects and music galore. Each voice is incredibly unique and I had no issues telling each of the characters apart despite the large number of people in this story. I'd heard of audiobooks doing this movie-like experience before, but I'd never had the pleasure of listening to one until now. It was so cool! I'd recommend this audiobook based on the immersion alone. 

As for the story itself, Thrawn was recommended to me as a "If Sherlock Holmes was a military strategist" kind of story. Thrawn, Vanto, and Pryce are the main characters and we learn a lot about them in this one book. Pryce ended up being the one I had been rooting for the most (I know, I know. She's Empire, not Republic), right up until the very end of the book. She's strong, determined, and powerful. Watching her climb up from rock bottom was really cool to read. I cannot cope with the fact that she is an evil character.

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

This short story had no right being so sweet. Out of the entire collection, this one is the one I wish could be a fully-fleshed out story. I want to see Evie dealing with her insecurities over a longer period of time. I want to see her interact with her family more and I want to experience her losing her grandmother with her. I want to see her and Theo fall in love together. 

While I do think the 4th story, Merriment and Mayhem, is my favorite out of all five, this story is the one I see the most potential for more in. This is the one I want to see as a novel.