To me, Vespertine works as a metaphor for antidepressants.
The main character is depressed, suffers from PTSD, and has social anxiety, but he3.5 Stars
To me, Vespertine works as a metaphor for antidepressants.
The main character is depressed, suffers from PTSD, and has social anxiety, but her symptoms greatly improve with some internal help. She is able to see her world in a new way, takes up healthier habits, cuts herself some slack, and even makes friends. My enjoyment of the book grew with her increasing sense of self-worth, and I was eventually very invested.
Otherwise, the worldbuilding, particularly the religion Artemisia belonged to, was weak. Much of it is informed by the reader's preexisting knowledge of France and Catholicism - which, if limited, makes it all the shallower. For a book about a nun, I found there was both a lack of faith and skepticism, all taking a backseat to Artemisia's interactions with her Revenant. I won't say the Catholic-ish imagery is just used for *~aesthetic~* as I do believe Margaret Rogerson has something to say about religion; it just is unclear to me.
Also, any mentions of the term "minstrel show" should be stricken from all future releases. That was a MAJOR flub and definitely cost this book a lot in my estimation....more
I wonder what the eBay seller thought when I purchased their copy of Anakin: Apprentice...?
Although this book was initially written for younglings bacI wonder what the eBay seller thought when I purchased their copy of Anakin: Apprentice...?
Although this book was initially written for younglings back in 2002, in 2o21 this book exists for nostalgic (and sardonic) adults. Post-Disney's acquisition of Star Wars, there hasn't been any Anakin-specific media made for little children - the Obi-Wan show might change this, but there isn't a market for Anakin (pre-Vader) right now. Kids today haven't grown up with his story like they have Rey's and Kylo's.
I grew up with the prequels. I love Attack of the Clones. I love Anakin.
So I didn't face any competition getting this book. It isn't a hidden gem, but I got some good laughs and groans out of it:
But I did unironically love how Anakin jumped into every race and flying competition he learned about. It built off of his established podracing, and made it seem like he needed very little encouragement before going "I'll take them myself" and flying off to battle in the climax of A New Hope. It made a bridge between Anakin the child and Darth Vader - chef's kiss....more
This is a strong horror collection, perfect to induce creeping terror. Here is a breakdown of my thoughts on each piece:
- Jerusalem’s Lot: 4/5 - The 1This is a strong horror collection, perfect to induce creeping terror. Here is a breakdown of my thoughts on each piece:
- Jerusalem’s Lot: 4/5 - The 1st of 2 ’Salem’s Lot stories in this collection; both of which I enjoyed more than the book. This one is the most similar to Dracula
- Graveyard Shift: 2/5 - I demand more positive rat rep!
- Night Surf: 5/5 - A time capsule of Captain Trips, capturing a quiet moment amidst the spreading pandemic
- I Am the Doorway: 4/5 - A unique perspective on alien invasion; the descriptions of the planet Venus scared me more than anything else
- The Mangler: 1.5/5 - As someone who once did hotel laundry, I can say a flatwork ironer need not be possessed to be a nightmare. I did like the modern-day equivalents for spell ingredients, such as Jell-O in place of horse hooves
- The Boogeyman: 4/5 - A fantastic and tense buildup to a twist that ultimately amounted to a goof
- Gray Matter: 1/5 - In this case, ignore Lumière. Skip the gray stuff; it’s decidedly not delicious
- Battleground: 3/5 - A plausible conclusion to the Toy Story universe
- Trucks: 2/5 - A plausible prequel to the Cars universe
- Sometimes They Come Back: 4.5/5 - Our childhood fears and adult ones are sometimes more similar than we realize. I just feel it wasn’t established enough how Jim was privy to the particular supernatural knowledge that ultimately saved him
- Strawberry Spring: 1/5 - Generic violence against women
- The Ledge: 2/5 - Reminded me of Roald Dahl’s Man from the South, somehow with higher stakes, but less tension
- The Lawnmower Man: 4/5 - Fun, but so silly!
- Quitters, Inc.: 5/5 - A perfectly crafted horror story preying on a very common, very relatable vulnerability
- I Know What You Need: 5/5 - A deconstruction of the “perfect man� and the expectations placed on womanhood, told through a horror lens
- Children of the Corn: 5/5 - Iconic for a reason
- The Last Rung on the Ladder: 2/5 - More of a moral than anything; a reminder to take nothing for granted
- The Man Who Loved Flowers: 1/5 - More generic violence against women
- One for the Road: 5/5 - The 2nd ’Salem’s Lot story; a classic vampire bit set on my birthday
- The Woman in the Room: Having spent 2 overnights at the hospital with a very sick loved one this past year, someone I ultimately lost, this story is too difficult for me to rate....more
Everything I wanted In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts to be.
As Dr. Grisel struggled with addiction herself, she avoids language and description that treatEverything I wanted In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts to be.
As Dr. Grisel struggled with addiction herself, she avoids language and description that treats addiction sufferers as others. She is instead compassionate and steady, providing insight and science in equal measure.
I highly recommend this book. It is exceptional!...more
All things considered, I enjoyed more of The Wise Man's Fear than I did The Name of the Wind, however this book was in need of a serious edit. Any parAll things considered, I enjoyed more of The Wise Man's Fear than I did The Name of the Wind, however this book was in need of a serious edit. Any parts I enjoyed overstayed their welcome, becoming as tedious to me as the rest of it. I feel like streamlining it would be to the author's benefit, as well, as he setup a trilogy, and then spent the first two books on Kvothe's freshman and sophomore years of college...so I guess the absolute rest of his life will all have to be resolved in the last volume...
What I liked:
- Kvothe's semester off (I hate the University, quirky professors, student loans, cobbled streets, live music at bars, etc.) - Denna (we stan a girl who supports girls; she deserves much better) - The mission with the Vintic mercenaries - Evil Grandmother Willow
All else was not for me, which it doesn't have to be.
What I'm trying to understand now is whether or not I'm supposed to take Kvothe seriously. As he's recounting how he was at 16, is the audience meant to disregard his bombastic, braggadocious behavior and actions due to his age? Whether or not, I'm very disturbed by the number of adult women who sleep with him while he's underaged.
Sex becomes a major preoccupation-not just for Kvothe, but for the book in general. I continued to be mystified by this world where sex work is so prevalent as to be casual, yet the word "whore" is used constantly as a pejorative?
Also the *surprise* and *shock* of Adem's women warriors was so early 2010s Joss Whedon baby feminism.
And then taking inspiration from real-world POC cultures and applying those attributes to characters and cultures written explicitly as white.
This was about 7 different books at once, and none of them particularly good. For as many romance tropes as it tried to cram in, I'm tempted to call iThis was about 7 different books at once, and none of them particularly good. For as many romance tropes as it tried to cram in, I'm tempted to call it the apotheosis of the genre... but there are so many better romances out there.
What frustrates me most is that this story really didn't have to be a fantasy. Only the barest worldbuilding was done, and the book felt so empty for it. I wish I could view the world through the author's eyes, to see what she saw so enthralling about it - to see what was worth setting a story there.
I do like vampires, though, and didn't know going in that they would feature so prominently. That was a very nice surprise for me!...more
The Push builds itself into a story about grief and healing, albeit in a clumsily Hitchcockian way, but then suddenly remembers it's a thriller in theThe Push builds itself into a story about grief and healing, albeit in a clumsily Hitchcockian way, but then suddenly remembers it's a thriller in the very last sentence. This turn was too pulpy for my taste....more
A lovely picture book where each individual illustration enhances the words on each page. This would be perfect for art teachers to introduce differenA lovely picture book where each individual illustration enhances the words on each page. This would be perfect for art teachers to introduce different techniques and styles to their class! Each page invites us to examine what certain art styles evoke in us, and how that can lend itself to storytelling.
Now, an anecdote on perspective - about a children's book on perspective: The cover led me to believe this book would be about a black cat, which induced me to pick it up. The titular cat is actually a brown tabby....more
As a person with a black cat named after an alien (Spock), I can safely say this book comfortably fits in my niche interests.
Told almost entirely in aAs a person with a black cat named after an alien (Spock), I can safely say this book comfortably fits in my niche interests.
Told almost entirely in an alien language, I can imagine it'd be immensely fun to read aloud, creating what the language would sound like and what the translations would be. It's so open-ended - it could be a new experience each time!
The illustrations are dynamic and beautiful, and it has wonderful themes of cooperation and survival among unlikely allies. I also love anything where cats are depicted as cats - no eviler, and no less....more
#1 Whispering Woman - Flawless execution...in more ways than one ;) #2 Gentle Goodbye - For anyone who wants so badly to see a lost lovedStory Ranking:
#1 Whispering Woman - Flawless execution...in more ways than one ;) #2 Gentle Goodbye - For anyone who wants so badly to see a lost loved one again #3 Tomio � Red Turtleneck - Most striking imagery #4 Blackbird - Best monster #5 Wooden Spirit - A musing of how our homes are more than just places #6 Futon - Solid story...soft futon lol #7 Dissection Girl - TW: animal stuff. Did not like. #8 Magami Nanakuse - No...more
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