"Grown-ups, who are supposed to protect their children, are limited by what "best" has felt like to them, based on the circumstances they grew in and
"Grown-ups, who are supposed to protect their children, are limited by what "best" has felt like to them, based on the circumstances they grew in and the privilege they did or did not have. The lines between grown-up and child were often blurred between me and my mom. Her "best" did not look like mine; in fact, it looked like danger. It felt like surrender.
4/5 stars. ebook, 190 pages. Read from January 29, 2020 to February 1, 2020.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer:
Whoop whoop! First book into the and its started out with a bang. This year Canada Reads brings one collection of novellas, two memoirs, and two pieces of fiction. I started with We Have Always Been Here which is one of the two memoirs heading into the debates. We Have Always Been Here will be defended by Amanda Brugel during the debates taking place from March 16-19th.
Samra spent her childhood years growing up in Pakistan in fear of religious persecution as well as the threat of a highly patriarchal society that stifled her and her family. After being sexually assaulted by a family friend her life became even more restricted. From a young age Samra had a fire in her that couldn't be put out no matter what was thrown at her. When violence started to escalate her family was thankfully able to pack up and flee to Canada to safety. Samra and her family found themselves in a new home where they were not as affluent as they were in Pakistan. Samra struggled as a new immigrant at school and even more so with her identity as she struggled between her conservative family values and a country with a new way of life that she found immensely appealing. Samra is married and divorced, twice, before the age of 25 and goes on an exploratory journey with her own sexuality as she realises her own queerness. Still, Samra is drawn to her religion and needs to find a new way to connect with her church and her family as she blooms into her true self.
"How do you find yourself when the world tells you that you don't exist?"
Samra is now an advocate for the queer Muslim community with her writing and photography to help highlight and bring light to queer Muslims who have been in her situation. Samra's writing is frank and engaging as she details the story of her life without asking for sympathy. Her journey is an empowering one and one that I didn't want to put down. Samra embraces her queerness, femininity, and religion with grace and strength and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her memoir.
Is this the one book to bring Canada into focus? While this is an immensely important topic we will have to wait and see what the other books bring to the table to the debates.
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Merged review:
"Grown-ups, who are supposed to protect their children, are limited by what "best" has felt like to them, based on the circumstances they grew in and the privilege they did or did not have. The lines between grown-up and child were often blurred between me and my mom. Her "best" did not look like mine; in fact, it looked like danger. It felt like surrender.
4/5 stars. ebook, 190 pages. Read from January 29, 2020 to February 1, 2020.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer:
Whoop whoop! First book into the and its started out with a bang. This year Canada Reads brings one collection of novellas, two memoirs, and two pieces of fiction. I started with We Have Always Been Here which is one of the two memoirs heading into the debates. We Have Always Been Here will be defended by Amanda Brugel during the debates taking place from March 16-19th.
Samra spent her childhood years growing up in Pakistan in fear of religious persecution as well as the threat of a highly patriarchal society that stifled her and her family. After being sexually assaulted by a family friend her life became even more restricted. From a young age Samra had a fire in her that couldn't be put out no matter what was thrown at her. When violence started to escalate her family was thankfully able to pack up and flee to Canada to safety. Samra and her family found themselves in a new home where they were not as affluent as they were in Pakistan. Samra struggled as a new immigrant at school and even more so with her identity as she struggled between her conservative family values and a country with a new way of life that she found immensely appealing. Samra is married and divorced, twice, before the age of 25 and goes on an exploratory journey with her own sexuality as she realises her own queerness. Still, Samra is drawn to her religion and needs to find a new way to connect with her church and her family as she blooms into her true self.
"How do you find yourself when the world tells you that you don't exist?"
Samra is now an advocate for the queer Muslim community with her writing and photography to help highlight and bring light to queer Muslims who have been in her situation. Samra's writing is frank and engaging as she details the story of her life without asking for sympathy. Her journey is an empowering one and one that I didn't want to put down. Samra embraces her queerness, femininity, and religion with grace and strength and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her memoir.
Is this the one book to bring Canada into focus? While this is an immensely important topic we will have to wait and see what the other books bring to the table to the debates.
This book was an easy and enjoyable read. Flavia de Luce is a lovable character who leads you through her passion for chemistry and the mystery that sThis book was an easy and enjoyable read. Flavia de Luce is a lovable character who leads you through her passion for chemistry and the mystery that starts at her home. I'm not a huge fan of mysteries so I cannot say that this book did much for me but it was a fun read and it was nice to change to my reading pattern. ...more
3/5 stars. ebook, 416 pages. Read from September 8, 2020 to September 10, 2020.
Review at The PluviophilWhen you're expecting a comic but get a novel...
3/5 stars. ebook, 416 pages. Read from September 8, 2020 to September 10, 2020.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer:
You know, the problem with not doing book reviews within the same week that you read them is that the ones that don't make an impression then become hard to write about because you forget about them. Eh, my bad. Let's see what I can pull together for this review.
Cursed is an interesting take on the story of King Arthur. Nimue is of the fey people and is an outcast in her own community due to her mysterious and uncontrollable powers. When the fanatical human religious group called the Red Paladins begin exterminating her kind, Nimue's mother sends her off with a mysterious sword with strict instructions to bring the sword to Merlin, a fey who is considered a traitor to his kind. Merlin has been working beside the human king and seems to have lost his powers so he takes to drink (a lot) and tries to fool others into thinking he is still powerful. Yet Merlin can sense something is stirring within the magical realm and feels a deep connection to the sword. Nimue is assisted by a human mercenary named Arthur who helps her escape the Paladins in her journey to deliver the sword. Throughout the journey, Nimue becomes the voice and figure of hope for the fey people as she wields the sword and uses her magic to combat the Paladins. The Paladins call her the Wolf Witch and they want her head but Nimue is resistant to this heroic role that she has been thrown upon her as she now finds herself responsible for the fate of her own people.
Nimue is supposed to represent the average underdog but she was not the heroine I was hoping for. I was often disappointed with how she handled herself in situations and there were a few very stereotypical YA tropes that took place within her character, the plot, and Nimue's relationship with Arthur. Conceptually I enjoyed this book, it's a great idea, but it wasn't as exciting as I was anticipating. For one, and sorry to Frank Miller and his fans, the artwork wasn't what I was expecting and it felt really disjointed from the story and writing and added absolutely nothing to the plot for me. When I picked up this book I was actually expecting a graphic novel as I knew that Frank Miller was apart of it, I didn't actually know it was a novel. The images felt like they were meant for a completely different plotline and that perhaps Frank Miller was not the best choice of artist for this story like somehow a YA novel shouldn't be paired with one of the most violent graphic novel artists? The artwork wasn't even all that prominent even, just a few images thrown throughout the book. It's like the publishing company knew that by having Frank Miller put in a couple of images the book would do better.
I didn't hate the book but I was disappointed with it. It had the potential to a really engaging and unique take on a classic story. I watched some of the TV show on Netflix and felt the same there too. It was interesting but engaging so I didn't even bother to finish the season but at least I finished the book.
If you watched or read the book, what are your thoughts on them? Did you enjoy one and not the other? Or did you like/dislike them both?
Merged review:
When you're expecting a comic but get a novel...
3/5 stars. ebook, 416 pages. Read from September 8, 2020 to September 10, 2020.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer:
You know, the problem with not doing book reviews within the same week that you read them is that the ones that don't make an impression then become hard to write about because you forget about them. Eh, my bad. Let's see what I can pull together for this review.
Cursed is an interesting take on the story of King Arthur. Nimue is of the fey people and is an outcast in her own community due to her mysterious and uncontrollable powers. When the fanatical human religious group called the Red Paladins begin exterminating her kind, Nimue's mother sends her off with a mysterious sword with strict instructions to bring the sword to Merlin, a fey who is considered a traitor to his kind. Merlin has been working beside the human king and seems to have lost his powers so he takes to drink (a lot) and tries to fool others into thinking he is still powerful. Yet Merlin can sense something is stirring within the magical realm and feels a deep connection to the sword. Nimue is assisted by a human mercenary named Arthur who helps her escape the Paladins in her journey to deliver the sword. Throughout the journey, Nimue becomes the voice and figure of hope for the fey people as she wields the sword and uses her magic to combat the Paladins. The Paladins call her the Wolf Witch and they want her head but Nimue is resistant to this heroic role that she has been thrown upon her as she now finds herself responsible for the fate of her own people.
Nimue is supposed to represent the average underdog but she was not the heroine I was hoping for. I was often disappointed with how she handled herself in situations and there were a few very stereotypical YA tropes that took place within her character, the plot, and Nimue's relationship with Arthur. Conceptually I enjoyed this book, it's a great idea, but it wasn't as exciting as I was anticipating. For one, and sorry to Frank Miller and his fans, the artwork wasn't what I was expecting and it felt really disjointed from the story and writing and added absolutely nothing to the plot for me. When I picked up this book I was actually expecting a graphic novel as I knew that Frank Miller was apart of it, I didn't actually know it was a novel. The images felt like they were meant for a completely different plotline and that perhaps Frank Miller was not the best choice of artist for this story like somehow a YA novel shouldn't be paired with one of the most violent graphic novel artists? The artwork wasn't even all that prominent even, just a few images thrown throughout the book. It's like the publishing company knew that by having Frank Miller put in a couple of images the book would do better.
I didn't hate the book but I was disappointed with it. It had the potential to a really engaging and unique take on a classic story. I watched some of the TV show on Netflix and felt the same there too. It was interesting but engaging so I didn't even bother to finish the season but at least I finished the book.
If you watched or read the book, what are your thoughts on them? Did you enjoy one and not the other? Or did you like/dislike them both?...more
"Almost everyone has an inborn need to create; in most people this is thwarted and forgotten, and the drive is pushed into other activities that are l
"Almost everyone has an inborn need to create; in most people this is thwarted and forgotten, and the drive is pushed into other activities that are less threatening, less difficult, and less rewarding. In some people, that need to create is transmuted into the need to destroy."
4/5 stars. ebook, 145 pages. March 10, 2019 to March 11, 2019.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer:
This book is one of those delightful Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ finds. A reviewer I follow gushed about how brilliant this book is and after reading the description I was hooked.
A horror writer is staying in a remote cabin in the French Alps to finish a book he is struggling to write. The author is drawn to the classic horror novel, Frankenstein, but not because he enjoys the book, in fact, he despises it. As the narrator draws his own conclusions about the horror genre in an attempt to write his own book he discusses the weak points of Frankenstein, details of the author, Mary Shelley's history and life, all the while making philosophical remarks about how we create our own monsters along with the nuances of the reading and writing processes.
"Orwell's vision of our terrible future was that world-- the world in which books are banned or burned. Yet it is not the most terrifying world I can think of. I think instead of Huxley-- ...I think of his Brave New World. His vision was the more terrible, especially because now it appears to be rapidly coming true, whereas the world of 1984 did not. What's Huxley's horrific vision? It is a world where there is no need for books to be banned, because no one can be bothered to read one."
As the story progresses the narrator begins to be visited by ghosts, first by Mary Shelley herself and then by the characters in her book. As the narrator navigates this dreamlike horror, he realizes that he is going to have to face the monster of Shelley's creation and of his own.
This short novel leaves the reader wondering what actually happens to the narrator and how much of this tense story is real or metaphorical. The writing is smart, highly creative and very well paced making for an engaging read. The story reads like a diary or an essay that focuses on the unique writing process of a horror story, the act of creation itself, and of course, our own personal monsters. I particularly enjoyed the author's comments on the creative process and how he looks at writing in general as they're bookmark worthy spots if you need help breaking up a writer's block.
�The binary colour of words on a page give the sense of simplicity and clarity. But life doesn’t work like that. And neither should a good story. A good story ought to leave a little grey behind, I think.�
This book may not be for everyone however as its approach and topics are slightly unusual. The story is a quick read so its a good candidate if you're looking to catch up on your reading goal or even if you're looking for something exceptionally different than your usual reads. If you love horror, are familiar with the author, or are a writer yourself, you may find this book is perfect for you.
| | | |
Merged review:
"Almost everyone has an inborn need to create; in most people this is thwarted and forgotten, and the drive is pushed into other activities that are less threatening, less difficult, and less rewarding. In some people, that need to create is transmuted into the need to destroy."
4/5 stars. ebook, 145 pages. March 10, 2019 to March 11, 2019.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer:
This book is one of those delightful Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ finds. A reviewer I follow gushed about how brilliant this book is and after reading the description I was hooked.
A horror writer is staying in a remote cabin in the French Alps to finish a book he is struggling to write. The author is drawn to the classic horror novel, Frankenstein, but not because he enjoys the book, in fact, he despises it. As the narrator draws his own conclusions about the horror genre in an attempt to write his own book he discusses the weak points of Frankenstein, details of the author, Mary Shelley's history and life, all the while making philosophical remarks about how we create our own monsters along with the nuances of the reading and writing processes.
"Orwell's vision of our terrible future was that world-- the world in which books are banned or burned. Yet it is not the most terrifying world I can think of. I think instead of Huxley-- ...I think of his Brave New World. His vision was the more terrible, especially because now it appears to be rapidly coming true, whereas the world of 1984 did not. What's Huxley's horrific vision? It is a world where there is no need for books to be banned, because no one can be bothered to read one."
As the story progresses the narrator begins to be visited by ghosts, first by Mary Shelley herself and then by the characters in her book. As the narrator navigates this dreamlike horror, he realizes that he is going to have to face the monster of Shelley's creation and of his own.
This short novel leaves the reader wondering what actually happens to the narrator and how much of this tense story is real or metaphorical. The writing is smart, highly creative and very well paced making for an engaging read. The story reads like a diary or an essay that focuses on the unique writing process of a horror story, the act of creation itself, and of course, our own personal monsters. I particularly enjoyed the author's comments on the creative process and how he looks at writing in general as they're bookmark worthy spots if you need help breaking up a writer's block.
�The binary colour of words on a page give the sense of simplicity and clarity. But life doesn’t work like that. And neither should a good story. A good story ought to leave a little grey behind, I think.�
This book may not be for everyone however as its approach and topics are slightly unusual. The story is a quick read so its a good candidate if you're looking to catch up on your reading goal or even if you're looking for something exceptionally different than your usual reads. If you love horror, are familiar with the author, or are a writer yourself, you may find this book is perfect for you.
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