Archives for December 2021

Non-Fiction EOY Review Dump

I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are by Rachel Bloom

Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui

Real Queer America by Samantha Allen

Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly

Fed Up by Gemma Hartley

meaty by Samantha Irby

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

How To by Randall Monroe

Food by Jim Gaffigan

December 31, 2021 by Nannerbears 1 Comment

I’m making a final push to wrap up CBR13 with my non-fiction review dump. I read more non-fiction this year than I thought I did, and I was never able to sum up my thoughts properly. I’m trying here, with just moments left! Food | Jim Gaffigan Although I disagree with Mr. Gaffigan’s take on mustard, I still enjoyed reading Food. It’s a simple take on food — the good, the not so good, how it shapes us and our culture. It was extra light […]

“On that long journey she wept all the tears stored in her soul, leaving none in reserve for later sorrows.”

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, Margaret Sayers Peden (translator)

December 31, 2021 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

It has been a few years since I last tackled an Allende work, but with tasks in both the Read Harder and Reading Women challenges about translated works (the former asking for non-European novel in translation, the latter asking specifically for a book by a South American author in translation) I had the perfect excuse to move Eva Luna up my to read list. The amount of emotion, detail, and characterization that Allende weaves into her writing is simply astounding. It always takes me a […]

“Conventional lives are the perfect refuge if you are a terrible artist.”

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

December 31, 2021 by cheerbrarian 2 Comments

Scrambling to get this review done! I’m two past my cannonball (queue shock) but want this one on the books as I completed it at the buzzer. This book was a gift of mine from a literary pal who read it, liked it, and thought of me. After I got a chapter or two into it I texted her and said that this book was weird and kind of good and maybe I liked it. That sentiment remained through the whole read. Camille and Caleb […]

Like a Hallmark movie in book form, and all that implies.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

December 31, 2021 by narfna 2 Comments

I feel badly about the review I’m about to write, because it betrays a cynicism I like to squash when possible, but I feel like this book was published (and picked by Book of the Month) because publishers knew it would sell, and not because it was anything special. This is similar to the way that Hallmark Christmas movies are cheaply made, poorly written, and at best acted with mediocrity, but scratch a specific itch in a specific type of person that watches them anyway. […]

Welcome to the House of Whispers

House of Whispers Vol 1: Power Divided by Nalo Hopkinson, Neil Gaiman, Dominke Stanton

December 31, 2021 by teresaelectro Leave a Comment

I have a blossoming habit of buying graphic novels, but rarely find the time to read them. I picked up House of Whispers Volume 1: Power Divided from the independent Black-owned bookstore, Sistah Sci-Fi. I wanted to support them on Indie Bookstore Day. I’ve been meaning to start the Sandman novels by Neil Gaiman, but it always felt so daunting! When I came across this volume, it was an instabuy since I’ve been meaning to read something by Nalo Hopkinson. House of Whispers kicked off […]

Last two I guess

The Fabulous Riverboat by Philip Jose Farmer

Black Stars by Nisi Shawl; Victor LaValle; Nnedi Okorafor; Nisi Shawl; CT Rwizi; Chimamanda Adichie

December 31, 2021 by vel veeter 2 Comments

Fabulous Riverboat – 4/5 Stars In this follow-up, we have Sam Clemens deciding that he’s going to use the height of his power and 19th century technology to build himself a huge riverboat to cruise the long river in the center of the world, searching ala Inferno for his lost love. That said, the woodburning 19th century boat is offered some interesting upgrades via 20th and 21st century people in Riverworld. And like with the first book, the racial politics that were at play in […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

Archives for December 2021

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