Amla Mater by Devi Menon
Even though I have trouble reading online, I am finding even my longer reads there. Such as Amla Mater by Devi Menon. It is less than 200 pages, and therefore more of a novella graphic novel, but what I mean by longer is not a picture book. Actually picture books can be relatively easy to read online (unless they have a smaller print, a lot of print or illustrations that need the book to be turned to read), but when I do my young adult […]
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
I don’t know exactly why I’m having such a hard time writing a review for this book. It’s pretty straightforward! (if weird). Best friends in the 1980s (get ready for some Reagan-era skewering) persevere through the power of friendship over evil. Plus lots of 80s nostalgia (including some contemporary language usage that was definitely common then but isn’t accepted now, so be warned if that might bother you). The thing about Grady Hendrix is that he knows how to write characters who are realistic and […]
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
This was loaned to me by a friend who said he and his teen daughter loved the whole series, and it is delightful. As someone who grew up with the Oz books, it felt familiar, like a love letter to all our favorite childhood books. September is 12, living in Nebraska and feeling bored. When the Green Wind calls her ‘somewhat irascible’ and offers a trip to Fairyland, she jumps at the chance. She feels a little bad about not waving goodbye to her mother […]
Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett
Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett
In Men at Arms, there’s a series of mysterious deaths in Ankh-Morpork, and the Patrician, Lord Vetinari, strictly forbids Sam Vimes, the head of the City Watch to investigate, thus ensuring that he will do the exact opposite. Vimes, Carrot, Nobbs and Colon, who used to be the whole of the Watch have been joined by new recruits to diversify the Watch, Cuddy (a dwarf), Detritus (a troll) and Angua (a werewolf, although Carrot believes it to be because she’s a woman). As the ragtag […]
The Theory of Everything Else: A Voyage Into the World of the Weird by Dan Schreiber
Once upon a time, many, many years in the past, muddling around in mild conspiracies theories were sort of rather fun? From cryptids like Bigfoot, oddball happenings with aliens and Timecube, there was a strange attraction to other people’s particular niche brands of madness. As a kid, or even a young teen, I found this kind of thing pretty harmless. But sadly, in more recent years conspiracies have gotten far less fun; as conspiracy went mainstream it changed from cute coincidences and goofy silliness to […]
Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis
Bingo 10: Nostalgia The title Baking of Yesteryear kind of explains the fit for the Nostalgia category; this is what it sounds like, a cookbook of baking starts from each decade of the twentieth century up to the 80s. I’m guessing that the reason the 90s get left out is because that might be the decade the author was born; I could probably look that up, but why bother? Overall, this is kind of fun, but I also kind of wish there was a little […]
