Let me start out by saying, the synopsis doesn’t really tell convey what the story is about, yet it serves a purpose Holy Metafiction Batman!
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Let me start out by saying, the synopsis doesn’t really tell convey what the story is about, yet it serves a purpose for a different reason. I enjoy Catriona Ward’s writing style, but sometimes it can be a little bleak. Despite that, I ended up really enjoying the story even if it got confusing at times.
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Looking Glass Sound is heavy on the twists with reveal after reveal. The story kept me guessing at every turn. Because of the nature of the story, I can’t really give a synopsis without spoiling certain aspects of the book. I can tell you though that characters and the supporting cast are explored well where it was hard to dislike most of the characters since they were complex and fleshed out (except for Mr. Cufflinks whose demise was on my wish list).
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The book is split into four different parts where each could be its own novella. Thankfully, the story did not keep jumping between timelines which is always an added bonus for me unless it is done superbly well. Around the half way mark is when the story started to get convoluted and pulled me out of the story because it got too bleak. This was done for a reason though, and the fourth part was great because of the build up from the third part of the book.
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I want to put so much more in the review, but even a basic summary would approach spoiler territory so easily. The story gets quite confusing, but if you stick with the story until the end, it should clear itself up and make a great read. I find myself looking forward to each new release by Catriona Ward because even if the story isn’t pulling me in(which they have so far), I know that the twists will.
As a fan of horror books, I always get recommended Grady Hendrix. My first foray into his catalog was The Final Girl Support Group. To be honest, I diAs a fan of horror books, I always get recommended Grady Hendrix. My first foray into his catalog was The Final Girl Support Group. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy that book that much which ended up being my fault for the most part. I was a bit wary to start this book, but I am glad I did. How To Sell a Haunted House had all the things I like in a haunted house story, and I could not put it down.
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The prose appealed to me, and I enjoyed how the title of each part of the book signaled a different stage of grief. The book had broad reveals and an engaging plot. There were a couple of red herrings mixed in too. There were times when it felt like the story was about to resolve itself until I realized I had a lot more pages left to go.
I usually write a synopsis in my reviews, though with this book, I feel like it would give quite a lot of the fun away. It’s essentially a grieving family having to deal with each other and the fallout when the Will is revealed in a house full of dolls and puppets which may or may not be haunted (they are). Since I won’t reveal too much, the only thing I have to say is Kakawewe!
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One of the biggest things I enjoyed about this book is the family dynamic. I loved the characters and their interactions because it felt real. The supporting cast was also great. I loved how it kept slowly unraveling the relationships between all of the characters, and how it was revealed that Louise wasn’t really a reliable narrator.
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How To Sell a Haunted House has all of the horror elements that make a good horror story with a realistic family dynamic. Admittedly, the family tree is a bit off, but that is what makes it so interesting. There really were no downsides to this book for me. I feel that anyone who is a fan of the horror genre would enjoy this book unless you don’t like stories about creepy dolls.
The Nightmare Man is not a book for the faint of heart. It is a fast-paced horror mystery novel with a pace that had me gripping the edge of my seat wThe Nightmare Man is not a book for the faint of heart. It is a fast-paced horror mystery novel with a pace that had me gripping the edge of my seat with everything coming at me at once. What really stressed me out though was the character of Mills. The poor man had so many conflicting conditions in his old age that revolved around sleep. He had insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep paralysis which honestly is the real horror of the book.
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I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The story would go in different directions that kept changing up the book where there was never a dull moment. The Nightmare Man had twists and turns that were surprisingly unsurprising at times.
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The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed the relationships between all of the characters too. I don’t like it when characters hold secrets from each other and the reader throughout a novel. This story had our characters leave certain things vague on purpose. Some of that was because the chapter would end on a cliffhanger. That of course, sucked me into reading the next chapter. The biggest surprise for me was how quickly some characters would get around to believing farfetched things that other characters experienced.
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I would normally try to give a summary of the story, but I feel like it would give too much away. My bare bones summary is that an author’s books come to life in a small town. Except it’s not just the graphic killings in his book, but other weird mysteries and crimes that have haunted a town for years. Strap in because the ending comes at you in a rush while leaving room to write a sequel. The book played out like a horror movie with its pacing, and I actually think this book would work almost better as a movie.
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Overall, I enjoyed the book and the mysteries it threw at me. The fast pace was nice, but it can be a bit much as well. I would recommend this book for horror fans rather than mystery fans unless you like dark mystery tinged with the supernatural as well. I am definitely looking forward to other books coming under this pseudonym by the author.
A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher was a good book that I thoroughly enjoyed. She is an author that consistency puts out horror books that I canA House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher was a good book that I thoroughly enjoyed. She is an author that consistency puts out horror books that I can devour and enjoy. This was a fun shorter novel that really didn’t have a downside for me. I enjoyed all the characters and the mother of our protagonist was a saint.
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Kingfisher is great at bringing out the creepy imagery and atmosphere. She does so here as well. The setting though was more simple and easier to picture compared to her other novels (at least for me). Our main character, Sam, stays at her mother’s home after complications with a dig were uncovered. She discovers her mother acting weirdly just as her brother warned her about. To get to the bottom of this mystery, Sam will be forced to interact with a colorful group of neighbors in a rural suburban community.
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I felt like the characters were fleshed out well and experienced more development compared to characters in her other novels. The story was easy to follow, and I kept wanting to read the next page without stopping. The pacing was nice with a supporting cast of characters that enhanced the story. I also got to learn a plethora of insect and vulture facts.
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Overall, I enjoyed this the book way more than I expected to. Nothing really surprised me, but I didn’t care at all because I had an enjoyable time reading it. I would recommend this story to horror fans regardless of whether you are a hardcore fan of the genre or you have a mild interest in in it.
What Moves the Dead is an exciting retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
I must confess though that I didn’t read the originaWhat Moves the Dead is an exciting retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
I must confess though that I didn’t read the original. I then decided to read the original right before this book since it was short. It might have ruined some key events for me, but it also created an interesting dynamic of being able to compare the two of them them.Ìý
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(No, not that Usher!)
I won’t bore you with a summary of the synopsis. Instead, I will bore you with some of the major differences between this book and the original.
For one, the narrator is not a stand in for the reader anymore. The main character has a full background and personality which was needed considering the page count increased by five times the original. Background characters received names and became fleshed out.
The story also did away with the paranormal in favor of a more biological explanation. Kingfisher built on Poe’s fascination with fungus from the original story and developed it into something of her own.Ìý
°Ú¾±³¾²¹²µ±ð±ÕÌý
I must confess that I was worried at first that the story would be just like the original, since the siblings had the same names as the original, but my fears were dismissed right away. The story kept the sense of gloom and doom that Poe had in the original, but it was used in a different way.
The author uses colorful and descriptive language to describe things such as the fauna that elevated the creepiness factor. I actually felt like this adaption was creepier especially with the rabbits and the hair of some characters. Kingfisher described a character’s smile that I pictured as spine-chilling due to having just watched the movie Smile.Ìý
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There wasn’t really anything surprising about the story (I mean reading the original already gave the general plot). The most surprising thing about this novel is at how in-depth the author researched fungi.
It was easy to see how the author used fungus, since Poe described them in depth in his original short story. I enjoyed this adaption and how it was developed, so I am looking forward to Mike Flanagan’s upcoming take on The Fall of the House of Usher to see if he has his own spin on the story.Ìý
°Ú¾±³¾²¹²µ±ð±ÕÌý
I ended up enjoying this adaption and all the changes that came with it. I like the changes to the characters, and I was glad that the almost twin, incestuous relationship was thrown out even if it lost the symbolism from the original.
This is a nice short read that I would recommend to horror enthusiasts or even people who enjoy a darker side of normal fiction. I continue to enjoy T. Kingfisher’s horror books and look forward to her ever-increasing catalog!
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Find this book and other titles within .Ìý
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Merged review:
What Moves the Dead is an exciting retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
I must confess though that I didn’t read the original. I then decided to read the original right before this book since it was short. It might have ruined some key events for me, but it also created an interesting dynamic of being able to compare the two of them them.Ìý
°Ú¾±³¾²¹²µ±ð±ÕÌý
(No, not that Usher!)
I won’t bore you with a summary of the synopsis. Instead, I will bore you with some of the major differences between this book and the original.
For one, the narrator is not a stand in for the reader anymore. The main character has a full background and personality which was needed considering the page count increased by five times the original. Background characters received names and became fleshed out.
The story also did away with the paranormal in favor of a more biological explanation. Kingfisher built on Poe’s fascination with fungus from the original story and developed it into something of her own.Ìý
°Ú¾±³¾²¹²µ±ð±ÕÌý
I must confess that I was worried at first that the story would be just like the original, since the siblings had the same names as the original, but my fears were dismissed right away. The story kept the sense of gloom and doom that Poe had in the original, but it was used in a different way.
The author uses colorful and descriptive language to describe things such as the fauna that elevated the creepiness factor. I actually felt like this adaption was creepier especially with the rabbits and the hair of some characters. Kingfisher described a character’s smile that I pictured as spine-chilling due to having just watched the movie Smile.Ìý
°Ú¾±³¾²¹²µ±ð±ÕÌý
There wasn’t really anything surprising about the story (I mean reading the original already gave the general plot). The most surprising thing about this novel is at how in-depth the author researched fungi.
It was easy to see how the author used fungus, since Poe described them in depth in his original short story. I enjoyed this adaption and how it was developed, so I am looking forward to Mike Flanagan’s upcoming take on The Fall of the House of Usher to see if he has his own spin on the story.Ìý
°Ú¾±³¾²¹²µ±ð±ÕÌý
I ended up enjoying this adaption and all the changes that came with it. I like the changes to the characters, and I was glad that the almost twin, incestuous relationship was thrown out even if it lost the symbolism from the original.
This is a nice short read that I would recommend to horror enthusiasts or even people who enjoy a darker side of normal fiction. I continue to enjoy T. Kingfisher’s horror books and look forward to her ever-increasing catalog!
After enjoying Alex North’s previous two books, I was excited to get started on this one. For some reason, there wasn’t as much hype surrounding this After enjoying Alex North’s previous two books, I was excited to get started on this one. For some reason, there wasn’t as much hype surrounding this book’s release like the author’s other two books even with its interesting premise. My verdict on this book is that I wanted to like it more than I did because I think Alex North tried too hard to top his other books.
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I like how short and easy it is to read just as with the author’s previous works. On the other hand, I felt that there were too many POVs jumping around in different timelines as well. The plot became too convoluted since it wasn’t linear. The book felt rushed in wrapping certain while other things really weren’t properly wrapped up.
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Normally, I am all for twists as I really enjoy them. It seemed like the author tried to be too smart with the twist, philosophy (think Laplace’s demon), and story. I didn't get surprised by anything unlike his last book because of that. I enjoy the author’s flirtation of supernatural elements in his previous mystery books, but the use of the supernatural was too blatant in this one for me. The overuse of it took away from the story.
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I just did not connect with many of the characters. Katie started out as a solid character for me, but there were instances where she acted out of character which dialed back my fondness of her. I felt bad for Chris but could not connect with him without there being more chapters dedicated to his pov. Other characters felt generic, but I guess my two favorite characters were Siena and Pettifer. The thing I enjoyed the most about the characters was the relationship between them and how it developed (Mother-daughter and siblings especially). (view spoiler)[ I did not enjoy the pov of a certain 2nd generation angel maker because he was a psychotic zealot with tunnel vision. That’s the downfall of having a pov of a psychopath since it's hard to develop them as characters. (hide spoiler)]
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Motivations for certain characters actions also weren’t properly explained. (view spoiler)[ For one, why was Michael fixated on Siena instead of Katie or Chris since Siena isn’t an anomaly. Who killed Alan? It could have been the goon that Edward dispatched, but Edward seemed like he would have reacted to it in a different way and addressed it in his inner monologue. Speaking of Edward, why wasn’t the topic of his Angels addressed? He supposedly had a lot (number never really addressed), and yet it seemed like there was no investigation following those disappearances.
There were other things glossed over too. My biggest gripe was with the father of Edward and Alan. The book made it seem that the nutjob serial kill was in fact some prophet with supernatural abilities. He was straight up despicable, yet the events of the book seemed to confirm he was right since it never addressed the reason for why the book had power in the first place. (hide spoiler)]
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Overall, I ended up liking the book, but I didn’t love it. It felt like Alex North tried to do too much with story and it backfired and wasn't as engaging as his other books since the story bogged it down. That being said, if you enjoyed his previous works such as the The Whisper Man you probably will at the very least enjoy it.
Just typing "Mississippi," I can’t help reciting it in my head. It’s just a fun word to spell!
Mississippi River Mayhem is a fascinating histo4/5 stars
Just typing "Mississippi," I can’t help reciting it in my head. It’s just a fun word to spell!
Mississippi River Mayhem is a fascinating historical record of natural disasters, shipwrecks, murder, and tragedies on the river.
One little known tragedy included in the book is of the steamboat Sultana, which is the worst maritime disaster in American history. The Sultana explosion killed upwards of 1,600 people. Also, read about the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis or the drownings that took place on the Mississippi River in La Crosse.
Author Dean Klinkenberg traveled extensively along the entire Mississippi by car, canoe, and river cruises learning about the historical, cultural, economic, and environmental impact the river has had on the people and land along its shores.
Greed, illegal moonshiners, risk, disease, and bravery can be found in the historical stories written about Ol� Man River Himself: the Mississippi.
Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things is my latest foray into Amanda Lovelace’s fairytale and folklore-inspired poetry. While*As always, spoiler warning!*
Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things is my latest foray into Amanda Lovelace’s fairytale and folklore-inspired poetry. While this volume was on the shorter end, I still enjoyed it and found that many of its poems resonated with me.
“Who said you can’t/Wear a flower crown/& still remain/A fearsome thing?�
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The main mythology Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things draws from is the story of Persephone (also known as Kore), the goddess of spring and of the underworld. (view spoiler)[A complex and fascinating dichotomy, Persephone’s story is one of my favorites from Greek mythology, and I was thrilled that Lovelace was channeling Persephone in her poetry here. (hide spoiler)]
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The symbolism here is fairly obvious in that spring can be associated with the traditional notion of femininity, that of being beautiful, yet delicate. Yet, Persephone also has a tougher side of her, in that she helps to oversee the underworld, no doubt getting a full look at death in all its forms.
There’s a bunch of dualities here, whether it’s in Persephone having her toes both in feminine and masculine realms (her husband, Hades, is the king of the underworld and the primary god of death) and in the creation of life and its death. She is part of the cycle from beginning to end.
“When they drag you through hell/Do not simply accept it/Do not just give in/Go on & reign over the very flames that were meant to be your end/Wear them as a crown�
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I have really come to enjoy Lovelace’s modern take on classical mythology and folklore. I think the main message here is that—surprise, I know—women are complex people, defying the simple nature often ascribed to them by misogynistic views of traditional femininity.
I have been meaning to get back into poetry for a while now. The Princess Saves Herself in This One is the first entry of poet Amanda *Spoiler alert!*
I have been meaning to get back into poetry for a while now. The Princess Saves Herself in This One is the first entry of poet Amanda Lovelace’s “Women Are Some Kind of Magic� series.
This volume was the perfect segue back into poetry for me, and like Amanda Gorman (another awesome poet who happens to share the first name of the author of the book I’m discussing), it will definitely stick around in my brain, hopefully planting seeds of inspiration for my own writing, poetry or otherwise.
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Why do I have the feeling that this book left a mark on me?
Well, for starters, Lovelace tackles her own inner experience, whereas Amanda Gorman’s poetry tackles the collective trauma of a whole nation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying economic downturn. Both explorations of the internal and external are equally valid and powerful. Both explore complex topics and make the reader think. Really think.
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The Princess Saves Herself in This One is an incredibly brave and vulnerable look into Lovelace’s life, where she experiences sexual assault and the neglect inherent in her upbringing. Things no child should have to go through. (view spoiler)[Her mother dies of cancer and another sister perishes by her own hand—all of this happened to her before the age of 19. (hide spoiler)] So heartbreaking.
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But this book is also about hope. This volume’s very existence is a testament to the author’s healing.
By the end, the princess has escaped her tower and slain (most of) her dragons.
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While no one should ever have to suffer to grow, that’s what happened to Lovelace, and she’s moving forward. She can’t change her past, but she uses what she’s learned—particularly self-love—to turn the tables on her trauma, which wants her to believe life isn’t worth living, that she deserves a good life.
This is what happens when I get really into a new book series: I finish the first two books in quick succession and then have to wai* Spoiler alert! *
This is what happens when I get really into a new book series: I finish the first two books in quick succession and then have to wait for the third book that isn't coming out until later this year! (And of course there was quite the cliffhanger after the latest one, and I have to sit here and stew about what might happen next in the concluding volume.)
Why am I like this?!
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I found Blood of Troy, the second entry in Claire M. Andrews' "Daughter of Sparta" series, to be better than the first (and I thought the first book was good).
In Daughter of Sparta, we see Daphne go on a quest to save Olympus itself and narrowly succeed. A year later, she continues to build a hero's reputation for herself (despite being a non-Spartan-born citizen, a mothakes) through her fighting prowess, overcoming opponents twice her size on a regular basis.
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Although, Daphne remains haunted by the trauma of her quest a year ago, so she's a bit off, and the people who care about her are concerned and try to help in their own ways.
Of course, we know that the gods aren't done with Daphne. Early on in Blood of Troy, they command her to become personal guard to Queen Helen of Sparta, a seemingly innocuous errand. (Yes, that Helen, "the face that launches a thousand ships," etc. We'll get to her in a bit.)
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(view spoiler)[ Anyone who knows Greek mythology knows the gods are fickle and cagey when it comes to their secrets, so the reader and Daphne both know that there's something more to Daphne's new mission. People like myself (a huge mythology nerd) who are familiar with stories of the Trojan War may have better-educated guesses. Hint, hint! (hide spoiler)]
Before I get ahead of myself, Daphne must prove herself worthy in a contest of athleticism and wits, retrieving a prize before anyone else in order to gain herself the job of Shield of Helen. (Spoiler alert, she does!) That title secured, to the detriment of her brothers' pride, (view spoiler)[ (I became very annoyed with Daphne's brothers in this book, as it seemed like a woman being ambitious, even if it was their (obviously) skilled sister, was this truly awful thing and reflected poorly on their honor) (hide spoiler)] she finds that things aren't what they seem between King Menelaus and Queen Helen from day one. (Fun fact, King Menelaus is a foreign-born king. Helen is the one that's a born Spartan.)
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Andrews is very sympathetic to the character of Helen (rightly so), who seems to be remembered primarily as a pretty prize to be fought over and won by men. I have this bone to pick not only with the story about Helen, but most other classical Greek mythology as well in how girls and women are frequently treated.
So, in Blood of Troy, we see a very unhappy, abusive marriage, with Helen on the receiving end of verbal and physical abuse. (view spoiler)[ Daphne herself gets whipped as punishment at one point in the book when the two sneak away from the palace. (hide spoiler)]
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Spoiler alert: Menelaus is an awful person, not treating Helen with the respect she deserves. I think Helen might've left the marriage if not for the daughter they have together, Hermione. As a result, Helen frequently finds ways to assert herself and enjoy life when she feels that the palace she lives in is her prison.
I loved the friendship that develops between Queen Helen and Daphne, both strong women in their own right. Daphne becomes very protective of Helen, both inside and outside her capacity as Shield.
Anyways, a big meeting between King Menelaus and other Grecian monarchs goes predictably sour, and Daphne finds herself fleeing with Queen Helen and the Trojan envoy after one faction tries to kill them.
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So, the city of Troy becomes Helen's and Daphne's new home, just as the war drums start to beat. Ostensibly, it's about punishing troy for "kidnapping" Helen, but there are various dark forces at work here. (See book one for more details.)
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As war comes to Troy, Daphne is recast as "Traitor of Sparta" as she fights to protect her queen in the midst of a war that is more than it seems. The gods are always playing games, and there's a price to be paid.
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I won't say anymore, because I don't want to ruin the cinematic reading experience that is Blood of Troy, and its predecessor, Daughter of Sparta!
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Greek mythology nerds and general readers alike will enjoy this series. Just give it a try!
This book will be our Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Book Club selection for January. To secure a copy and read along with us, please look for 4.5/5 stars *Spoilers alert!*
This book will be our Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Book Club selection for January. To secure a copy and read along with us, please look for the book within or Libby. Happy reading!
Considering the subject matter of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, I feel like saying I “enjoyed� the book isn’t as appropriate as I found the book heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures.
This book won the 2022 Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Awards in the biography category, and I can see why, as I’m Glad My Mom Died is a powerful, poignant read.
Jennette McCurdy is most well-known for her roles as a child actress in iCarly and Sam and Cat. I remember watching iCarly when the show was running, and it was one my favorites at the time. McCurdy’s Sam was one of my favorite characters, and I truly had no idea what was going on behind-the-scenes. I’m Glad My Mom Died reveals Jennette’s struggles with acting, when she felt like she was only in the profession because it was her mother’s dream, not hers.
(view spoiler)[At the time, McCurdy’s mom had cancer and was dying. (hide spoiler)] Jennette loved her mother and allowed herself to be started on the path to stardom at the age of six, to make her happy and gain her approval. Seeing her mom happy at her success was supposed to be enough.
“She wanted this. And I wanted her to have it. I wanted her to be happy. But now that I have it, I realize that she’s happy and I’m not. Her happiness came at the cost of mine. I feel robbed and exploited.�
Of course, when you’re not in the job you want, you can’t stuff down the negative feelings forever. McCurdy came to resent the hold her mother had on her and their increasingly toxic relationship as mother and daughter.
She increasingly becomes anxious, shameful, and self-loathing as she struggles to tell her mother that acting isn’t what she wanted to do with her life. These feelings manifest in various self-destructive behaviors like eating disorders, addiction, and risky romantic relationships.
“Mom didn’t get better. But I will.�
The book starts with Jennette in her mother’s hospital room, where she lay dying from cancer, and Jennette then recounts everything that led up to that point.
I’m Glad My Mom Died is heartbreaking, full of dark humor, but also cautiously optimistic, as Jennette discovers therapy and is working towards getting better.
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As someone who struggles with mental illness and is in therapy, I’m Glad My Mom Died is incredibly refreshing for its candor, which is telegraphed from the start by the book’s title and cover design.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin won the 2022 Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Awards in the fiction category, so I had to see for myself if I enjoyed it. (Spoiler alert: I did!)
This book has the most compelling exploration of love in all forms, whether it is friendship or a romance. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is primarily about three people that came together to start a video game company.
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The book tracks the progress of these three friends, who develop deep and meaningful relationships with each other as they design and promote video games over a span of thirty years. There is something special that comes with a collaborative art project of any kind, whether it is in video games or painting or writing or any kind of art. Zevin does a good job of showing us how bonds can be forged within and outside of the creative process.
Two of the three co-founders met as kids in a Cambridge, Massachusetts hospital. Sam was in the hospital because a car accident (view spoiler)[that took his mother’s life (hide spoiler)] left him with a crippled foot that needs constant surgery. Sadie encounters Sam in the hospital’s video game room (view spoiler)[Sadie is there with her family because her sister, Alice, is being treated for cancer (hide spoiler)] and the two become fast friends.
However, just as fast as the two strike up a friendship, things go south, leading to a separation that lasts for years. (view spoiler)[ It is revealed that Sadie used her time with Sam at the hospital playing video games to also count towards her community service project. Not surprisingly, Sam is hurt by this, and he cuts off all contact between the two after he finds out from Alice about Sadie’s timesheets. (hide spoiler)]
Sam’s roommate, Marx, becomes their manager, dealing with practical matters, while Sam and Sadie are set free to be game designers. Over a tense summer, requiring personal sacrifices on all fronts, they complete their first video game, Ichigo, and are catapulted into sudden fame.
At 25 years old, Marx, Sam, and Sadie have their own company, Unfair Games, and are rich beyond their wildest dreams, and overjoyed to have more resources at their disposal to create the video games they have always wanted to.
“‘What is a game?�" Marx said. "‘It's tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It's the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.’�
This is where it gets interesting, because just as they are achieving fame and high status, Sam and Sadie start to clash over the creative vision of the company. Both are highly ambitious, Sadie especially, because the video game industry doesn’t have too many women in leadership positions. (This remains the case.) Things deteriorate between the two, providing the underlying emotional conflict that drives the characters as they are navigating life changes, from fame to romance to moving to start again somewhere new.
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California, naturally, is where their game company is headquartered (Silicon Valley, anyone?), and is the location in which most of the emotional and relationship drama takes place. It truly hurt to watch Sam and Sadie have constant miscommunications that drove them apart for significant portions of the book, even though the reader knew how much they continued to care for each other even as they were apart.
Marx, ever the peacemaker, tries to get the two to reconcile, with mixed results. Not only does he care about both Sam and Sadie, but their conflicts are putting Unfair Games in jeopardy.
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A compelling story with compelling characters, one does not need to know much about video games to enjoy Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Zevin is mostly exploring here the emotional connections and life journeys of each character, and only cursorily goes over the creative process in video game designing in a way that is not overwhelming.
I won’t reveal anything else to allow others to read the book and come to their own conclusions.
Two staff members wrote reviews for this book. Happy reading!
Jeremy's review
3.5/5 stars
“…[S]pecies of hyperintelligent octopus…�
Two staff members wrote reviews for this book. Happy reading!
Jeremy's review
3.5/5 stars
“…[S]pecies of hyperintelligent octopus…�
This phrase, from the first sentence of the publisher’s marketing description, was all I needed to know in order to decide that I needed to read this book.
I’ve been fascinated by octopuses (yes, that is the correct plural form, feel free to @ me) ever since doing a report on them in a grad school level course I audited a number of years ago.
An unfortunate side-effect of this, however, was that I kept finding myself wanting to love the book more than I actually did, despite coming away with a sense that I would greatly enjoy having a conversation with the author.
The story is set in an undefined but relatively near future, in which the line between nation-states and corporations has all but completely disappeared and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are both widespread and varied.
There are three primary point-of-view (POV) characters, each in a separate plotline: Dr. Ha Nguyen, a marine biologist hired to study the octopuses; Rustem, an AI hacker, and Eiko; formerly an aspiring programmer, now a slave worker.
Additionally, each chapter opens with an excerpt from one of two books written by two of the characters: Dr. Nguyen or Dr. Arnkatla Minervudottir-Chan, who had created the world’s one and only extant android, Evrim.
It has been written of octopuses that they are the nearest thing to intelligent alien life that we can meet on this planet, and this book runs with this idea. While this sort of ‘first contact� is used to examine philosophical concepts such as consciousness, the same themes are simultaneously put to the test through the human interactions with varying levels of technology: drones, AI, and Evrim.
And therein lies both the strength and weakness of this novel � this sort of intellectual food-for-thought is compelling enough for some of us (raises hand), but while stuff does happen, nobody would describe this as plot-driven storytelling. Could provide plenty of fodder for a very particular sort of book discussion group, but I do wonder about its broader appeal.
Cora's review
*Spoiler alert!*
My heart already wants a sequel to The Mountain in the Sea, but my head says that maybe it's better as a stand-alone. This conflict will continue for some time, because I truly enjoyed The Mountain in the Sea.
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"That was one of the keys, Ha knew, to understanding them. That lack of control from the center, that feedback from limbs, that pure embodiment of mind. They were not trapped in a skull, controlling everything from behind a sheath of bone. They were free-flowing, through the entire body. Not a ladder--a ring. A neural ring moving signals from limb to limb to mind, back again. A distribution loop through the whole body. A whole consciousness that could become parts, and then whole again. A whole consciousness that could become parts, and then whole again. It was one of the many problems Ha felt she would have no time to solve."
My co-worker read this book out of his fascination for the octopus. His review, plus the concept reminding me of Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Ruin, (view spoiler)[featuring a species of sentient, space-faring octopus (hide spoiler)] sealed the deal for me.
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The Mountain in the Sea takes place in a very plausible future, filled with AI, political intrigue, and conflicts over how best to preserve precious ecosystems from destruction. This book probably isn't for everyone, as it's not as plot-driven as space-opera sci-fi as much as food-for-thought, philosophical sci-fi. I enjoy me some philosophical sci-fi that makes me view the world differently after I finish reading it, seeing humanity reflected in the eyes of another species, android or otherwise.
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(No, not that kind of android!)
Not that the story isn't interesting, but I thought I'd be honest about the kind of sci-fi we're dealing with here. Also, there's a bit of time-switching between characters, so that may be disorienting, but I promise that the story manages to fit together decently.
Despite these caveats, the characters were interesting and well-developed, particularly the villain, (view spoiler)[ a militant environmental protection group, very much anti-humanity (hide spoiler)] and that's why I kept reading.
It ended up being a fascinating what-if scenario of what happens when humanity encounters another self-aware species, and how we'd react, particularly considering the context we and this book live in, the climate crisis and political instability. Based on the story, I'd say the results are definitely mixed!
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"It was easier to pretend that Altantsetseg was an individual, that all of her choices were her own, than to admit that Altantsetseg was a part of them. That all of them were, in fact, bound together so tightly that they formed a single entity, incapable of functioning--incapable of surviving--without all of its interlocking parts in place."
I won't say too much more about The Mountain in the Sea, except for, if you're a sci-fi fan, I think you'll enjoy this one, and maybe think about humanity and our world differently. For better or worse.
“Choosing to be curious is choosing to be vulnerable because it requires us to surrender to uncertainty. We have to
4/5 stars *Spoilers warning!*
“Choosing to be curious is choosing to be vulnerable because it requires us to surrender to uncertainty. We have to ask questions, admit to not knowing, risk being told that we shouldn't be asking, and, sometimes, make discoveries that lead to discomfort.�
Atlas of the Heart is a 2022 Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Awards winner in the category of nonfiction. Upon it winning the category, I was curious as to why it had received the most votes, and now I know why!
In a time of climate crisis, ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and economic woes, society has made talking about mental health somewhat mainstream. Although much stigma remains for those who suffer mental health conditions, I think perhaps that we might be in a time where we want to explore the domains of emotional and mental health. As in, I think we all want to rediscover how to connect with people, after a few years of being physically isolated from one another.
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"I want this book to be an atlas for all of us, because I believe that, with an adventurous heart and the right maps, we can travel anywhere and never fear losing ourselves."
After all, no matter if you're extroverted or introverted (raises hand) or somewhere in between, humanity is a social species. Personally, I find myself re-evaluating the relationships in my own life, and I think that was part of what I really liked about Atlas of the Heart. I could use some more emotional intelligence, and I genuinely learned a great deal from the book.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book, and the author I think did a great job, making sure to repeat passages that she thought were key. As I was listening, I was often doing chores and sometimes my mind can wonder during that process (because I often find chores just so boring and mind-numbing), so that repeating and emphasis was very helpful and much appreciated.
She did her best to bring psychological terminology down to earth, but I admit I really needed the repeats and the asides, so that I really understood what she was saying before moving on to the next chapter, because they definitely built on each other.
So, there are 87 emotions that humans experience. (view spoiler)[I think I know of at least 10 emotions, so this large number surprised me (hide spoiler)]. However, the 87 emotions are grouped together into categories by how similar they are, with unexpected nuances in related emotions, such as envy and jealousy, or empathy and compassion.
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Brown puts names to experiences I have had that mix a variety of emotions. Names and language in general provide useful anchors, and I think Brown recognizes this and puts it to great use. I also think that language intercedes to make the mysterious less scary, and there's nothing more scary for me than peering at the dark side of my emotional life. Emotions like anger, contempt, and disgust that I tend to shove down. But bringing them to the table and examining them makes them less scary and alien, and they are good indicators of when you need to make some sort of change.
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This whole discussion was made more relevant and relatable by talking about her own process of learning as she conducted research over the years in topics such as empathy and connection. It made me feel less alone in my learning journey, as there were places where I got overwhelmed by the scope of emotional experiences covered here. Brown is a gentle, patient, and understanding guide as we navigate uncharted waters.
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I think this may be a book that I will end up buying in its print edition, because of how good a reference this is. I also have heard how good the illustrations are in the regular book, and I wish to experience those as well.
As a proud Midwesterner (born in Michigan and currently living in Wisconsin), I will admit that my review is a bit biased.
However, Th*Spoiler alert!*
As a proud Midwesterner (born in Michigan and currently living in Wisconsin), I will admit that my review is a bit biased.
However, The Midwest Survival Guide by comedian and podcast host Charlie Berens, is an absolute gem! With contributions from many writers and inspired by Charlie's trips around the country, everything from Midwestern culture to its hidden travel gems are explored in humorous detail.
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You could tell that this book was proudly Wisconsin-centric, as many jokes were made about the state of Illinois, and its professional football team, "da Bears" (the Chicago Bears), chief rival to the Green Bay Packers. (As a Packer fan, I especially enjoyed this.)
I didn't listen to this one on audio, but having gone to one of Berens' shows in La Crosse, I could definitely hear his accent as I read it. (I had a grand time!)
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"Turns out the oceans regulate temperatures and are too big to push around weather-wise. So, when the West and East Coast landscapes try to act up, the Pacific and Atlantic usually quickly put them back in check...In Sioux Falls and Steubenville, however, it's come what may...Sans oceans in the Midwest, it gets extra hot in the summer and extra cold every spring, fall, and winter, and the weather just kinda does whatever it wants all day long. No telling what tomorrow--or the next hour--will bring."
(This quote comes from a section titled: "The Weather: Like a Box of Chocolates")
I felt especially seen when the unpredictable weather of our part of the country was brought up. I can attest to having to wear (or bring with me in the car) multiple layers in case it starts getting hot or starts to rain or sleet.
In the winter, I make sure to pack snowpants and winter boots, and always have an umbrella in my car ready to go. I don't put away the snow and ice scraper back into the trunk until May. Matching your clothes becomes less imperative in the face of unpredictable meteorological conditions.
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"2,462,000 BCE to 650,000--On the Rocks: Giant glaciers say, 'Let me squeeze right past you der' and move over a continent, flattening every mountain in their path, creating thousands of lakes of various sizes, and establishing a chill in the air that's still freezing pipes and hearts today."
(Quote from a section titled: "Midwest History")
Every the history nerd, another part of The Midwest Survival Guide that I really enjoyed was the section on Midwestern history, starting with that gem of a quote from 2,462,000 BCE, when the landscapes we know and love in Wisconsin and elsewhere were shaped.
From the indigenous peoples that originally inhabited the land to the present day, I learned a considerable amount of history not covered in detail in school, such as the first Midwestern city. Established in 1144, this first city, named Cahokia, was inhabited by 20,000+ Native American people.
The illustrations made the reading experience even more enjoyable for me. I picked up on the various bottles of ranch hidden on page corners or within much larger images throughout the book, in a humorous nod to the omnipresent, all-purpose condiment that's not just for salads, mind you.
While The Midwest Survival Guide leans hard into Midwestern stereotypes, it is done in a way that's not condescending to either Midwestern or non-Midwestern people. It gave me greater understanding of the cultural context my siblings and I were born into, explaining family gatherings in a way that confirmed I wasn't crazy that goodbyes took hours or that "uff-da" is a valid, multi-purpose exclamation of frustration or even sympathy with peoples' bad luck.
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If you need a laugh and a break from the 24/7 bad news flood, The Midwest Survival Guide is your book!
Daughter of Sparta is the first entry in Claire Andrews' "Daughter of Sparta" trilogy. It takes the classic Greek tale of Daphne and A*Spoiler alert!*
Daughter of Sparta is the first entry in Claire Andrews' "Daughter of Sparta" trilogy. It takes the classic Greek tale of Daphne and Apollo and gives it a bit of a feminist spin, recentering Daphne as a Spartan-trained warrior called upon by the gods to save Olympus.
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Nine mysterious objects of importance have been stolen from Olympus and the gods' powers are fraying as a result. (view spoiler)[ Turns out the nine "objects" are actually the nine Muses. (hide spoiler)] Daphne is tapped by Artemis to recover these nine artifacts before it is too late, and Apollo is to guard her on the quest.
Unable to refuse the gods, as they hold the fate of her best friend (Lykou) and her brother (Pyrrhus) in their hands (view spoiler)[Pyrrhus has been transformed into a deer, and Lykou, into a wolf (hide spoiler)], Daphne must use her fighting prowess and wits to overcome the odds stacked against her.
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I have to confess that I was not familiar with the tale of Daphne and Apollo, but after I finished reading Daughter of Sparta, I did a little Internet digging! I am glad the author put a more feminist spin on the tale, as Greek myths like these tend to end badly for women caught up in the cruel games of the gods.
The original myth of Daphne and Apollo is no exception to this rule. As someone who enjoys Greek mythology (among many other mythological stories), I have always had this bone to pick with its treatment of girls and women.
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Daughter of Sparta does have the common YA tropes of enemies-to-lovers and "chosen one," but I think they were handled decently here. Daphne gets to shine here as the main heroine of the story, and I enjoyed watching her kicking ass and taking names in Greece, where women don't have as many rights as their Spartan counterparts and must wear veils in public. (I guess too much hasn't changed in that regard, as misogyny still remains rampant, despite the progress we have made since Ancient Greece.)
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As previously mentioned, I grew up reading and truly enjoying the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" and "Heroes of Olympus" series by Rick Riordan. (The movie adaptations of the books I refuse to speak about.) I am happy to announce that I discovered another Greek mythology-steeped story with a kick-ass hero(ine) at its center in Daughter of Sparta. I look forward to reading the next two entries in this series!
Egon was always my favorite Ghostbuster, and anyone who loves Harold Ramis should read this book! Violet Ramis-Stiel does a phenomenal job detailing tEgon was always my favorite Ghostbuster, and anyone who loves Harold Ramis should read this book! Violet Ramis-Stiel does a phenomenal job detailing the life of her dad and the close bond they shared.
This book reads less like a memoir and more like an invitation into a very loving, unusual, and sometimes dysfunctional family.
With any biographical work, you have to be aware of the motivations of the writer and how they approach their subject, but Ramis-Stiel does a good job at painting a portrait of her dad from a very loving and honest perspective.
See also: Update on the Jamestown Township library:
See also: related to book banning, censorship, and intellectual freedom
I think I was drawn to this book because of just all the news lately about worrying trends in book bans nationwide. (Although, this is an issue worldwide as well!)
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I was sad to see a story in the headlines recently about a small-town library in Michigan (Jamestown Township, MI) potentially having to close because fiscal year funding for its operation was voted down.
This got me thinking about books even more than usual, about what censorship and restricting access can to do a community. On a personal note, as a child, libraries were always my sanctuary, wherever I went. I can't imagine not having had libraries growing up.
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Banned Books: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present is an accessible, illustrated handbook to books that have been banned for one reason or another from classical fiction to contemporary fiction and nonfiction.
Divided into different historical eras, each book features an image of its cover and an explanation as to why the book was banned or contested in its time.
Its central message, encapsulated in the introduction, is that censorship tends to do more harm than good. Part of learning is critical thinking, in which one considers all the views on a subject and comes to an informed position. This is hard to do when books are banned or restricted.
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Not to mention, an informed electorate is crucial for any democratic system of government!
My experience of working in a library and seeing diverse groups of people come through on any given day is that books are critical not only for the accumulation of knowledge (you know, occupational or school learning, or just for curiosity), but for seeing each other (that is, people of other backgrounds/experiences) and seeing yourself.
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I think this is especially true for marginalized groups, such as women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Content geared for these groups are seeming to come under increased scrutiny, for ideological, political, or religious reasons.
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The problem is if people don’t see books representing their lived experience on the shelves or in a digital resource collection, that just helps to further marginalize and Other them. (Okay, I’ll step down from my soapbox now.)
While I wished that some of the history was fleshed out a bit more, Banned Books not only gives an important primer on the history of banning books and censorship, but a new reading list for its readers! It’s a great, quick read for a general audience.
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Happy reading!
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-Cora
Find this book and other titles within .
See also: related to book banning, censorship, and intellectual freedom
From the report: [image] Credit: ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom...more
“The immune system is the most complex biological system known to humanity, other than the human brain.�
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I think it’s safe to say that
“The immune system is the most complex biological system known to humanity, other than the human brain.�
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I think it’s safe to say that all of us to some degree, since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, have an elementary knowledge of immunology (the study of the immune system).
Terms often tossed around in the news were (are) “antibodies,� “antigen,� “immunization,� and even “cytokine storm.�
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The book Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System that Keeps You Alive is a gorgeously illustrated cliff-notes lesson on the immune system that will help you make connections between the latter word-salad from above, such as:
“An antigen is a piece of an enemy that your immune system can recognize.�
Meaning that artificially inducing immunity through vaccination introduces your body to say, the COVID-19 virus antigen (its unique molecular signature), so it can prepare defenses against the virus when you encounter it in the wild. (One of the most amazing things to me about the immune system is that it produces “memory cells� after an infection or vaccination, that “remember� a very specific antigen and can help the immune system respond more effectively next time.)
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Or, you may have heard “antigen� in the context of the early COVID tests, which look for viral antigens from your nasal swab to determine if you have COVID and you must quarantine for a while. (I gotta say, some of those sampling techniques are like having your brain poked. Not fun!)
To counter antigens and build up defenses against intruders, the immune system uses “antibodies,� which are just proteins with chemical puzzle pieces that match up to a specific antigen in an enemy (bacteria, virus, parasite, etc.) in order to destroy it.
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So, I ended up coming out of the book with remembering “antigen� and “antibodies� in the context that they are adversaries, e.g., antigens=bad guys; antibodies=good guys.
When the book was discussing how your immune system responds to viruses, I couldn’t help but continue to think of COVID, and how if the immune system responds too strongly to a virus, it could kill you. (I was glad that the book had its own chapter devoted to COVID-19.)
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I think that’s a strength of Immune, that it helps readers to get an overview of important concepts like immune responses, without getting too much in the weeds and overwhelmed, by using accessible, scientific language combined with the exploration of real-life (relevant) cases.
Because the book is so engaging, once you got past some of the essential vocabulary surrounding the cellular players in the immune response, I couldn’t stop reading it. (Well maybe that’s just me nerding out. But still!)
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“The best way to kill a lot of viruses is to destroy infected cells, and the viruses inside them. Let us pause for a moment to appreciate the magnitude of what we are talking about here. Your immune system needs to be able to kill your own cells. Your immune system has an actual license to kill you.�
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The above quote recognizes the extremely fine balance the immune system must walk. Immune cells (like T cells or macrophages) release “cytokines.� (Yes, I wasn’t about to forget cytokines. They’re an important piece of the puzzle.)
Cytokines basically are released by whatever immune cells are responding to an infection, leading to inflammation, which is basically a chemical signal for reinforcements, attracting the big guns needed in serious fights (such as Killer T Cells, a satisfyingly simple and logical name given to a cell whose purpose is, well, to kill invading enemies).
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Basically, the immune system is made up of a whole bunch of non-thinking parts of you (cells, proteins, molecules, etc.), that use various cytokines to communicate with each other. The more cytokines released, the more urgent the cells picking up the cytokine signal react, revving up the immune response.
Okay, this is where I get to the other term I mentioned in the beginning: “cytokine storm.�
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In certain severe cases of COVID-19, an excess release of cytokines kicks the immune system into overdrive against the virus. The immune system is very powerful, but is usually good at tempering its reactions, so as not to accidentally kill you.
However, not everyone has the exact same immune systems, and some are more predisposed to overreacting to a viral infection for whatever reasons (scientists think genetics is part of it, but not the complete picture) not understood too well currently.
(view spoiler)[ Viruses are sneaky little things, and will use your cells to disguise its presence, forcing the immune system to target any of your cells that are carrying the virus. Out of all disease-causing organisms mentioned in the book, viruses scared me the most. They’re fascinating, but mostly terrifying! (hide spoiler)] When the immune system gets too revved-up, its more likely to cause life-threatening complications.
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COVID-19 usually infects the lungs. So, that can lead to difficulties breathing (inflammation releases fluids into the infected area) as some areas of the lungs are swamped with fluids, and eventual organ failure. All very, very horrifying, and awful.
Overall, I experienced more excitement and wonder than dread when learning about the immune system in Immune. It makes me even more thankful for my own immune system and appreciative of the heavy lifting it does to keep me alive (it may be the most graceful part of me, a very, very clumsy person), with a crucial assist from vaccines. (Shout-out to both!)
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Give Immune a try! It’s a fascinating look into a system whose herculean work you don’t have to think about often when it’s going right.
He is judge, jury, and executioner. He is Sir Konrad Vonvalt, who strikes fear into the hearts of all with mysterious powers4.5 stars (rounded-up)
He is judge, jury, and executioner. He is Sir Konrad Vonvalt, who strikes fear into the hearts of all with mysterious powers.
I won’t lie, the premise had me hooked from the start. I had this on my TBR list from various blogs and even Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ lists as an anticipated fantasy debut for 2022.
The synopsis does a good job of painting a glorious picture of Konrad, who will be our main character, right? Well, that isn’t really the case.
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The story instead follows Helena, who is apprenticed to Sir Konrad, and we see the story through her eyes alone.
We follow her, Konrad, and Bressinger (an old friend of Konrad’s who is now employed by him) as they fulfill all of the duties expected of being a Magistrate of the Emperor, including dealing with heathens and religious zealots.
A murder case brings the party to a bustling town where underneath the calm exterior lies something that could cause an upheaval for the Empire and Sir Konrad himself. Our party must navigate the case delicately before political strife rumored to be at the center of the Empire can interfere.
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World settings based on the Roman Empire seem popular for debut fantasy books in the last few years. The empire in this book felt more of a cross between the Ancient Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, since it contained aspects of both.
This is the third book I have read this year that uses the conflict between religious leaders wanting to usurp control over the Empire opposed to mages or other power users. The magic used in the book was only teased, but it felt unique in its own right.
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The religion of the empire reminded me of Judaism and early Christianity in how some books would borrow stories and characters from religions in the surrounding areas (like Samson and other parables, as well as naming demons after Sumerian deities).
I would say that is where the similarities end, as the religion was a unique beast of its own. It consumed religions of conquered kingdoms wholly and had numerous gods and creatures as a part of its mythos. Supernatural creatures existed such as a demon in another plane and a clan of people known as wolf men mentioned in the book.
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The characters in the novel were fleshed out especially considering the novel only followed one point of view. Helena was a complex character fueled by her tragic past and aspirations for a better future for herself.
The reader gets to follow her journey as she develops in the face of harsh realities. My slight gripe with Helena is how at times she seemed naïve and squeamish, considering she was a war orphan.
The relationships between characters really shined through the pages, especially Helena’s relationship with Konrad as she struggled to define it. The act of making Helena the point of view we follow allowed the author to slowly reveal parts of Konrad’s history while still keeping him mysterious and powerful.
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The novel was written well, especially for a debut novel. I could feel the conflict rising that continually built up my anticipation. The book elicited different emotions throughout due to the engaging writing. Different events and plot lines that didn’t seem connected at first were brought together, and a mystery was at the bottom of it all.
The plot was dark without getting too dark like other stories tend to do in the grimdark genre. The ending of the book hinted at exciting things to come in the series.
I liked this book and didn’t really have anything negative to say, except maybe with the synopsis. Konrad would have been great to follow as the main character, since the synopsis made it seem like he was the protagonist. I understand in the end why he wasn’t the main character though.
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I ended up really enjoying this book. I thought the entry was a great debut, and a great start of a series. It was mainly a fantasy book with mixes of a mystery thrown into the plot that set up future books to come.
I would recommend this book to fantasy fans and especially those who are fans of grimdark fantasy.
La Crosse County Library
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