Thank you to Catherynne M. Valente, Subterranean Press, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “ThThank you to Catherynne M. Valente, Subterranean Press, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “The Future Is Blue� for an honest review.
Catherynne is one of my all time favorite authors, who I met as a teenager and can never leave, again, never could, would never want to. My heart and soul are entangled in between the words of her writings and the new lines, loves, worlds she spills out from her lips and fingertips every single time. This, again, was no surprise and no disappointment.
Everything was gorgeous and new in this collection. It was raw, rough, glorious, gorgeous in every direction as we spawned into futuristics worlds as of yet untouched and untapped. I loved see her turn her hand toward science-fiction, hard science, the blueing lines of emotions and connections between beings, again....more
Thank you to Archie Bongiovanni; Tristan Jimerson, Oni Press, Limerence Press, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “A Quick & Easy Guide Thank you to Archie Bongiovanni; Tristan Jimerson, Oni Press, Limerence Press, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns� in return for an honest review.
From the moment I saw the title of this one, and that it was in a graphic novel/comic format, I jumped at being given the chance to review it pre-publication. I wanted to love this book so much more than I ended up liking it. I was so excited when I saw it on offer at Netgalley, but I found myself stymied as I read it, feeling more put off than welcomed in by the book.
As someone who has people in their life (both adults, and children I help guide) who are dealing with these issues I can’t say that anything in this book is wrong, but I felt like it tried to point and laugh at itself too much, and then would suddenly want the reader to be absolutely serious. I felt too dragged back and forth by this one....more
Thank you to Vanita Oelschlager, VanitaBooks, LLC, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “A Tale of Two Daddies� in return for an honest revThank you to Vanita Oelschlager, VanitaBooks, LLC, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “A Tale of Two Daddies� in return for an honest review.
On the heels of recently reviewing “Phoenix Goes To School,� the children book about a transgender child going to elementary and being in school for the first time, I absolutely wanted to do “A Tale of Two Daddies� and “A Tale of Two Mommies.�
I am very pleased at the turnout of all three of these books and about the idea of addressing all these questions children have about these subjects, about their friends, and their friends parents. I will be giving out copies of all three of these to my nieces and nephews in the future....more
Thank you to Vanita Oelschlager, VanitaBooks, LLC, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “A Tale of Two Mommies� in return for an honest revThank you to Vanita Oelschlager, VanitaBooks, LLC, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “A Tale of Two Mommies� in return for an honest review.
On the heels of recently reviewing “Phoenix Goes To School,� the children book about a transgender child going to elementary and being in school for the first time, I absolutely wanted to do “A Tale of Two Daddies� and “A Tale of Two Mommies.�
I am very pleased at the turnout of all three of these books and about the idea of addressing all these questions children have about these subjects, about their friends, and their friends parents. I will be giving out copies of all three of these to my nieces and nephews in the future....more
Thank you to ayle Forman, PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “I Have Lost My Way� in return fThank you to ayle Forman, PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “I Have Lost My Way� in return for an honest review.
I love Gayle Forman. I love, love, love Gayle Forman. I have read almost every single one of her books in less than twenty four hours, because I have so deeply loved and been moved by her books (bested brightest favorites If I Stay and For Just One Day).
This book is another departure from the topics she was writing earlier, and it’s another new foray of writing type. I feel a little sad this sample was only a sniper, but I am very interested in where it is going so far and quite inclined to pick up the full copy and continue on where this one stopped....more
Thank you to David Hinton, Shambhala Publications, Inc., and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Desert: Poems� for an honSummer 2018, Netgalley ARC:
Thank you to David Hinton, Shambhala Publications, Inc., and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Desert: Poems� for an honest review.
I was very interested when it was announced that David Hilton, the highly lauded translator of Chinese classics, would be producing his own book of poetry. I think open this book I expected it to be a collection of poems, but very quickly I found myself in a landscape of a desert that was epic more than snippets.
It reminded me of the great old epics and ballads. This is a land influence and referential to Homer, and Whitman, and the Chinese Classics that are his background. It’s a journey through sky, and sand, and parchedness, as well as the human mind, heart, and soul. I will definitely be buying copies of this for my poet friends....more
Thank you to Michelle Finch, Phoenix Finch, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Phoenix 2018 Summer, NetGalley ARC:
Thank you to Michelle Finch, Phoenix Finch, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Phoenix Goes to School: A Story to Support Transgender and Gender Diverse Children� for an honest review.
I had to jump at this book as soon as I saw it. I am so glad kids books like this are beginning to come into existence, so that children (as well as parents!) will start seeing support for these situations and choices as soon as children are very small. This book is frank, forward, full of feelings, and it nearly made me tear up at the end.
I absolutely want a copy for all of my nieces and nephews already, and they will be getting it as soon as publication happens....more
Thank you to Jim Goodall, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The Summer 2018, Netgalley ARC:
Thank you to Jim Goodall, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The Illustrated History of America's Legendary Mach 3 Spy Plane� for an honest review.
The SR-71 Blackbird has been my favorite plane since I was six or seven and my father brought home a model plane kit and we built it together. I have loved it grounded on Air Force bases (where I could lay my hand on it or sit in the cockpit), in comics and cartoon (X-Men, ahoy!), and in endless movies of the 80’s-90’s.
Obviously, I had to jump at it immediately when I saw there was an illustrated history of this gorgeous, gorgeous spy plane, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. It’s amazing. While the background creation & development is not in-depth (please see: government. spy. plane.), there were endless pictures of the Blackbird itself in every fix and fashion you could imagine, from it being built, flying, being drawn, in wrecked pieces, everything....more
Thank you to Dale Baskin, Karen S. Robbins, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Flags AcrossSummer 2018, Netgalley ARC:
Thank you to Dale Baskin, Karen S. Robbins, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Flags Across America� for an honest review.
I was a little leery when advised to pick this one, especially in our present day hyper-political issues with the flag and the anthem, but I turned out to be very, very glad I did. I was amazed at the many ways our flag was been used and photographed.
I think this will make a lovely table book in the American household (though I don’t feel it would translate worldwide at all). There were so many things I did not expect to see the flag on that I found myself wide-eyed reading all the background on (especially the hot air balloon and the whiskey barrel flags). I think everyone should give this American history a whirl!...more
Thank you to Julia Young, Matt Harkins, Animal Media Group, Animal Media Group LLC, and NetGalley for this advanced copy ofSummer 2018, Netgalley ARC:
Thank you to Julia Young, Matt Harkins, Animal Media Group, Animal Media Group LLC, and NetGalley for this advanced copy of “Please Don't Grab My P#$$y: A Rhyming Presidential Guide� for an honest review.
While this piece if rather campy and filled with comic oil drawings, the book narrates through a list of things President Trump is encouraged to grab (such as a television remote, of a crayon, a golf club) rather than an inappropriate location on a woman’s body.
The poem, also, ends each page with alternate names for the female vagina, that, also, is not Trump’s usage of “pussy� from the release taped conversations of October 2016. While it’s timely and relevant to current goings on with the president, it felt like a very nose-thumbing way to go about making the point. I just expected a little more panache and intellect to go with a rebuttal to the level of what he’d done....more
Thank you to Joseph R. Votano, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “The Timeless Seashore� for a free review.
I hThank you to Joseph R. Votano, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “The Timeless Seashore� for a free review.
I have been in love with the ocean since the very first time I my eyes rested upon those teeming, endless waves rocking toward me and out into eternity, ever different shifting colors, every holding and giving, ever everything. Thus, it’s not doubt or question, I would have to pick up this book the moment that I saw it cross my dashboard of options.
The photos in here are breathtakingly gorgeous. The ocean is so achingly well captured in all seasons, times of days, types of weather. I do think the pages could have included the locations on them, rather than in an index on the back, but I don’t think the ending glossary took away from the easy enjoyment and powerful presence on every page to only see the image....more
Thank you to Barbara Purchia, E. Ashley Rooney, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “Contemporary Sand Sculpture�Thank you to Barbara Purchia, E. Ashley Rooney, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “Contemporary Sand Sculpture� for a free review.
This book ended up being 500% more than I expected when I requested it. This is an amazing artistic tradition, with championships all over the world, and it is a renown art form that I’ve never known about until now. This book displays the best of the best and several of their intricate, gorgeous sculptures from around the world.
A perfect coffee table book for a beach house, or, truly, any house that appreciates art can be found in all the world if you just look. It’s definitely inspired me to look up the closest sand sculpture competitions near me (San Castle Days & AIA Sandcastle) to see some more of this up close in my future....more
Thank you to Ileana Abrev, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltf, Llwellyn Publications, and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “A Cart Full of Magic: Your Thank you to Ileana Abrev, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltf, Llwellyn Publications, and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “A Cart Full of Magic: Your Secret Supermarket Shopping List� for an honest review.
I madly loved reading this book and have been looking for something like this for years. Something that breaks down how to do the simplest and most complicated of correspondences with the simplest of ingredients that could be found at any grocery store through the year, any florist, and even already inside all the cupboards of your house.
I will be picking this up as soon as it is published, and gifting it out to certain friends come Yule this year....more
Thank you to John Jennings, Damian Duffy, Diamond Book Distributors, and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “Black Comix Returns� for an honesThank you to John Jennings, Damian Duffy, Diamond Book Distributors, and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of “Black Comix Returns� for an honest review.
From the stunning cover alone, I knew I wanted to be on the inside of this book, both receiving a review copy and devouring the content that would be taking up all the space inside of it � and I was not let down in the slightest.
While I had expected more in-depth, longer content, per author or artist, I quickly figured out this was more of a sample book. The artwork ranged from the questionable to the, all but literal, heart stompingly gorgeous. I will be tracking down several of these author/artist to be able to read their works that went with the art I fell in love with....more
Thank to Vanessa Simkins, Quarto Publishing Group � Harvard Common Press, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of “Power Blender Revolution: MorThank to Vanessa Simkins, Quarto Publishing Group � Harvard Common Press, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of “Power Blender Revolution: More Than 300 Healthy and Amazing Recipes That Unlock the Full Potential of Your Vitamix, Blendtec, Ninja, or Other High-Speed, High-Power Blender� for an honest review.
I love, love, loved this book. I loved first of all that it’s multipurpose across the products, no first come first serve, must have this one device to pass go, from the beginning. I love that at the beginning it tells you everything in this book will be broken down by vegan, gluten-free, dairy-fee, nut-free, and low sugar so that there will be things in here for people from every walk and way of life as well.
This book is broken down into drinks & eats, separately. The first covering juices, smoothies, shakes, slashes, coffee, teas, creamers, and any kind of alternative milk you could dream of. The latter is made of jams, butters, syrups, spreads, dips, sauces, pestos, condiments, dressings, marinades, smoothie & soup bowls, entrees, vegetables meal sides, muffins, pancakes, breads, desserts. You’ll even find a section on baby food making and for skin care products!
I love the layout of most of the chapters and pages. It could use a few more pictures, and pictures that are not simply 1/4th of a page spread, as they feel a little wedged in and only often enough to be checking a box sometimes, rather than displaying culinary delights to tease the eyes as well as the tongue....more
Thank you to Sandra Stupning, Mirco Stupning, DK publishers, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “LoSummer 2018, NetGalley advance reader;
Thank you to Sandra Stupning, Mirco Stupning, DK publishers, and NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of “Low Carb On The Go: More Than 80 Fast, Healthy Recipes - Anytime, Anywhere� in return for an honest review.
This book is a lovely copy for the purpose it has. There is not much here, though, which brings it above the mark of so many other dozens of books of its ilk, and so it’s hard for me to sing its praises entirely.
The pictures are gorgeously clear, colorful examples of the recipes in question, but I found myself constantly distracted by the color changing of the background pages. I’m hoping the later is only something that exists in the ebook early review copy as it detracts from the focus on the recipes and pictures....more
Thank to Misty Kalkofen, Kirsten Amann, Quarto Publishing Group � Quarry, Quarto Books, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of “Drinking Like LThank to Misty Kalkofen, Kirsten Amann, Quarto Publishing Group � Quarry, Quarto Books, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of “Drinking Like Ladies: 75 modern cocktails from the world's leading female bartenders; Includes toasts to extraordinary women in history� for an honest review.
I knew from the moment I saw this cover and read its title that I was bound for the world of being header heels in love with. Book about good drinks? Check. By *leading women* in the field? Check. With toasts to *extraordinary women* throughout history? Check.
This had gold written all of it. Or it had the makings of a big flop of disappointment.Thankfully to say, it was the prior. This book turned out to meet all my dreams and exceed them from there.
The beginning starts with how the book came into formation and then a short, sweet, but very detailed 101 on essential spirits, mixers, mixology, tools, garnishes, and glassware. Then its broken down into the sections of types of drinks: gun, whiskey, rum, agave, vodka, cognac, brandy, pisco, and punch.
And those toasts we spoke of? To the women of history? They. Are. Amazing. And on top of that? There’s a gorgeous drawing of the women in history to go with the well-written, always about half a page background detailing all about them. As well as quote. Or a saying about them.
This is an amazing production and I cannot wait to both own it and buy it for those wonderful girls in my life who would so appreciate it....more
Thank you to Erin Stern, DK, Alpha Publishing, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy for an honest review of “The Bodybuilder’s Kitchen.�
A heavThank you to Erin Stern, DK, Alpha Publishing, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy for an honest review of “The Bodybuilder’s Kitchen.�
A heavy weightlifter of over three years now, I get leery on which lifting books, advice or cookbooks, I’m willing to picking. Especially because most of them are by men, and thus, are only about 25% applicable to me, my present, and my future goals. So, you can imagine how fast I snapped this book up the moment I saw it was written by a female bodybuilder.
I wanted to like this book so much more than I ended up liking it. I was so excited to receive the notification of being accepted for review and for getting the book down, but neither of my perusals through it turned up much for me. I like that she includes some early persona anecdotal information, but the rest is a little bland.
The 5 full-week plans are nice, and I do like how widely she uses her three-tier scale on every one of the recipes, but for a book being sold in ‘Cooking, Food, & Wine� and not being touted as an exercise book, it’s highly lacking in a lot of helpful notes a cook book might. It’s definitely missing having more examples of what her dishes look like, or even notes about how to change up more than a handful of them....more
Thank you to Ms. Sandra Mahut, Quarto Publishing Group � Quarry, and Netgalley for a free for honest review advanced reader copy of “Unicorn Food: NatThank you to Ms. Sandra Mahut, Quarto Publishing Group � Quarry, and Netgalley for a free for honest review advanced reader copy of “Unicorn Food: Natural Recipes for Edible Rainbows.�
While I am not the greatest of unicorn aficionado’s in my social circles, I could not pass up this delightful looking book from the second I saw that adorable unicorn cake on the front cover. Everything within, perfectly following suit to that first post setter, was just as delightful. Every page is covered in recipes about how to add magic and color to all the dishes, drinks, dessert, and savory eats, most of which you are already eating. Except now with a touch more magic.
Add a few drops of color here and there, and almost everything becomes that much more spectacular. There are noodles in crayon colors, grilled cheese sandwiches that when pulled apart become rainbows, color changing drinks, cakes and sweets to delight, and so much more.
The book is short, sweet, incredibly easy to read (and the recipes within are incredibly easy in enact, as well). I can see myself picking up copies of this for a few friends and for my very young nieces in the future, too....more
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