Dear Bookshelves

Books vs. Films 2

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about adaptations of books that I think are better or just as good as the books themselves. As soon as I published the post, I thought of a few other adaptations that fit the prompt. So I’m back for a part two. This time I have three movies to talk about so I hope you enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I don’t really watch movies anymore and am just not a movie person in general so these are just my opinions don’t attack me lol.

The first adaptation I want to talk about is Pride and Prejudice. There is a lot of debate over which adaptation is the best but I’m really partial to the 2005 film. Pride and Prejudice, is the second Austen book I read and I really enjoy it. But sometimes, I want to spend a cozy afternoon with this story but not commit to rereading the book. This film scratches the itch almost as much as the book does. I think most people know what this story is about and I sometimes find Austen novels difficult to summarize but this is a romance between Elizabeth and Darcy. There are dances, family drama, and misunderstandings. It’s just a nice time. When I reflect on this film, the first thing that stands out is the scenery. The entire atmosphere is beautiful and feels so warm. It’s such a comforting movie to watch and even though you know most of what’s going to happen, it just makes me happy to watch unfold. I also just love the family dynamics in this story. In the film, Kitty is played by Carey Mulligan and she’s one of my favorites. I’m certain I’ll be watching this movie again really soon because just writing about it makes me want to experience it again.

The next film I want to talk about is also based on a classic novel. It also stars Kiera Knightley. And that’s the 2012 Anna Karenina adaptation. I read this book five or six years ago and it took quite a while to finish but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story follows Anna who goes to visit her brother and try to save his marriage. While she’s there, she meets Count Vronsky and starts developing feelings for him. Her husband then says she has to choose between Vronsky, and her family. There’s a ton of characters and other side plots in this story but that’s the main gist. The film leaves out quite a bit because it has to but I still really enjoy the watching experience. I don’t think it will work for everyone, though. If you don’t enjoy stories involving extra-marital affairs or just Russian classics in general, then of course you might not like the movie but there’s also something about the way the story is told in the movie that is a little different. The film is framed in a way where it looks like it’s happening on a stage. I think it’s an interesting thing to watch and really compliments the dramatic nature of the story and the fact that the main characters are socialites performing for each other. I also appreciate most of the cuts the film chose to make because Leo Tolstoy talks at length about Russian politics at the time in a way that doesn’t always feel directly connected to the story so the movie allows you to enjoy the main plot and not trudge through some of the more tedious parts.

The last film I want to talk about is one that I watched before I read the book. I then read the book and realized just how much the movie improved upon the source text. Dumplin’ follows Willowdean, the plus-sized daughter of a beauty queen as she falls in love, mourns the loss of her aunt, and enters a beauty pageant to make a statement. Both Willowdean as a character and the overall plot are greatly improved upon by the movie. Willowdean is definitely more unlikable in the book and that’s fine for me but I know that a lot of people have issues with her in the book. I also just think the plot of the book is a little slow. The movie just feels a little more focused and moves a bit faster. I don’t know how to explain why I’ve watched this movie twice other than the vibes are just really great. The Dolly Parton songs, the small-town atmosphere that reminds me of where I grew up, and the strained relationship between mother and daughter really speak to me. I do think there’s some value in reading the book if you like YA contemporary that’s more character than plot-driven BUT if you’re unsure, I’d just recommend giving the movie a watch because it’s just a nice time.

I’m keeping a list of adaptations I want to talk about for this series but since I’m not a big movie watcher, it might be a while before I have another of these. Let me know any adaptations you really enjoy!

Recent Reads 16

Since I’ve been reading more lately, I just haven’t been taking good review notes. That means these reviews might be a little lacking so hopefully you don’t mind too much. This time I’ll be reviewing Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan. If you want to see more, you can find my last “Recent Reads” here.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Genre: Adult fantasy

Pages: 454

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

The first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.

A god will return

When the earth and sky converge

Under the black sun

In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world.

Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain

Brief Review

“Usually,” Xiala said carefully, “when someone describes a man as harmless, he ends up being a villain.”

I don’t think I ever would have read this book if it weren’t for Some Obscure Book Club and that would have been a shame. This fantasy story is full of political intrigue and complex characters. While many of the characters are likable, I never knew who to cheer for because what’s right and wrong isn’t really clear. Speaking of likable characters, I was most drawn to Xiala. She is an amazing ship captain but people are scared of her because of her powers but they need her to survive. I adored the chapters that follow her because I love ocean stories and because she’s such a strong character and I always wanted to see what she would do and say next. I’m really hoping to learn more about her as the series goes. Just like with my favorite book, The Fifth Season, I am happy to see more fantasy that isn’t centered around European-based worlds and Black Sun really delivers on this. I am really excited for the rest of the series and will definitely be rereading this one because there is likely so much I missed from only listening to the audio in the beginning.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: March 30, 2020

Genre: Adult fantasy romance

Pages: 625

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

A Maiden

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

Brief Thoughts

“Fear and bravery are often one and the same. It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside.”

After DNFing ACOTAR earlier this year, I just assumed fantasy romance wasn’t for me and I had no plans to pick this one up. That was until one of my best friends was like, “no really read it.” So I did. And I’m surprised that I honestly had a pretty good time. I was sometimes confused by the plot and some scenes were a little strange especially towards the end but I was completely intrigued with what was happening. There’s SO much tension, political and otherwise and it’s just a fun time.

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Genre: YA fantasy, mythology

Pages: 560

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

Since this is the last book in a series, I’ll link the synopsis for the first book here, and this book here.

Brief Thoughts

“You can’t choose your parentage. But you can choose your legacy.”

I finished the Heroes of Olympus series at the very end of last month and I think this is the best book in the series. All of the aspects of the other books I’ve read in this universe are still there – high stakes, friendship, comedy, heartwarming. In this book particularly, I appreciated the jumps between perspectives because it made all of the action seem really fast-paced. I also loved seeing how much the relationships between different characters developed while they are trying to save the world. I am excited to continue reading the books in this universe. I think I’m going to take a little break before picking up The Kane Chronicles but I look forward to seeing what happens with a new set of characters.

What are you guys reading now? Have you read any of these? Come chat with me!

May 2021 Favs

It’s my first month off from teaching for the summer so I feel like I have SO MANY favorites from books to videogames to talk about because I’ve just been LIVING. As always, if you want to see more about the individual books I’ve read, check out my recent reads posts because I have more detailed reviews there.

Books

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Like I said in the intro, I’ve been reading a lot and while I didn’t have any new standout favorites, I did enjoy most of what I read. I’m going to talk about three things here. First, I want to talk about a book that took me by complete surprise, From Blood and Ash, by Jennifer L. Armentrout. After seeing this fantasy romance everywhere and DNF-ing ACOTAR earlier in the year, I was SURE I wouldn’t be reading this one. BUT THEN one of my best friends was like, you have to! You really have to! And when I saw it at my local bookstore, I thought it was fate so I picked it up. Is this a new favorite? No. Did I have problems with the story? Yes. Am I putting off reviewing it because I don’t know how? Absolutely. BUT I really had a fun time reading this story. I predicted a lot of the plot but I still had fun because of the angst and tension. I’ll be picking up the next book after the Clear Ur Shit Readathon in June so I’m pretty excited.

I also read Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala this month. I’ve never read a cozy mystery before but I’m definitely going to be reading more. I had so much fun with this story about a woman who is helping out at her aunt’s restaurant when her ex visits and suddenly dies in the restaurant. I know if doesn’t sound fun but the food, family, and friendship really made me happy especially over the backdrop of a small town. I really felt like the friendship between the main character and her best friend felt realistic and I’m excited to see what happens in the rest of this series.

Lastly, I’ve been continuing to read through the Blue Exorcist manga series. Wow. I know this story and it’s one of my favorites but this reread has been the exact fun I need. I am particularly drawn to the character development of Rin, the main character, and his relationship with his twin brother, Yukio. Oh yeah, Rin is the son of Satan, in case you’re interested. Seeing them both figure this out as exorcists, is fascinating. I’m currently reading volume 11 and around volume 8 or 9 is where this complicated dynamic is really starts to get interesting and the stakes feel a bit higher. I’ve forgotten some of the plot points because I haven’t read or watched this series in a while so while I’m still in rereading mode, it feels fresh in many ways. I think I’m approaching the point where I start reading volumes I’ve never read before and I’m really excited to see what this series looks like right now.

Music

I have nothing to say about my monthly playlist. I’ve been into older music along with some relatively new tracks. I’ve also been listening to a couple of Last Shadow Puppets songs I included on my older playlists and didn’t want to feature them again but you should certainly check those out too. I’ll embed the playlist at the bottom of this post so you can listen if you want!

Also, I’ve been listening to the Sweet Boys Podcast and I know this part of the Sweet Boys Universe is over and I am devastated but if you want to watch/listen to all of it, I highly recommend. I linked to the YouTube channel because I suggest utilizing the visual component because it’s CHAOS and I love it. I know I haven’t explained anything about it but if you listen to the first episode, you’ll understand why. I can’t explain ANYTHING about it. Just listen.

Hobbies

I haven’t really been watching TV or movies because when I’m not reading, I’m playing video games. I’ve really been in a handheld mode so I’ve been playing Switch and DS. I’ve talked about most of the games I’m playing currently in previous posts but I have two new fun recommendations. First, I got Calico on the Switch. The link takes you to Steam because it’s also available on PC. This is a game where you create a magical girl character and you get to run a cafe and there’s tons of animals you can have live there. Oh and you can make the animals giant and you can ride on them to places. HOW FUN! I’m currently on a quest for new recipes and clothes.

I’ve also been playing the old and highly addictive Crafting Mama on the DS. The Mama game franchise is one of the few series where I feel the need to totally complete everything and once I start, it’s hard to stop. I am enjoying making the different crafts and trying to get perfect scores. I also have Cooking Mama 4 on the DS so I’m thinking about restarting that game when I finish Crafting Mama. I’m currently on the hunt for Gardening Mama because that sounds like a fun time, too. Also, if you want a laugh, please look up Babysitting Mama. I used to have it on the Wii but my brother and I didn’t have the GIANT stuffed baby that came with it so it was a hilarious time.

So what have you been enjoying this month? Don’t forget to check out my playlist for April!

Recent Reads 15

I’ve been having so much fun reading recently since I have no real obligations for a while so I’m hoping to read more and maybe write a little more here if I can come up with some more ideas. Recently, I’ve read a YA fantasy with a ghost dog, a YA coming of age story about two friends who are very different, and a cute, cozy mystery. If you want to see more, you can find my last “Recent Reads” here.

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

Release Date: August 25, 2020

Genre: YA fantasy, mystery

Pages: 362

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

Imagine an America very similar to our own. It’s got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.

There are some differences. This America been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.

Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered, in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family

Brief Review

“Maybe, sometimes, wants felt like needs. Because the alternative hurt too bad.”

This is SUCH a great YA book! The beginning of this story is so cute! A ghost dog named Kirby? Get out of here; I love it so much. I also really like the family dynamics in this story. It is refreshing to see parents involved in their child’s life in a positive way – they believe and trust Ellie. Thematically, this story brings forward so many discussions about microaggressions, white-washing and erasing history, stolen land, revenge, and exploitation by those with some degree of power. Darcie Little Badger is able to weave these themes into the story while still maintaining a fun and exciting atmosphere. I know people have been talking about this book since last year and I just want to add my voice to others who recommend this book.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Release Date: February 21, 2012

Genre: YA contemporary

Pages: 359

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship–the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Brief Thoughts

“I got to thinking that poems were like people. Some people you got right off the bat. Some people you just didn’t get–and never would get.”

This character-driven, coming-of-age story contains some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read. It is heartbreaking and beautiful and I found myself rooting for Aristotle and Dante’s friendship. It isn’t an easy friendship and they go through so much but I still believed in it. I also loved the family dynamic of both boy’s families. They weren’t perfect by any means but they did accept Aristotle and Dante for who they are. I knew I would like this book but I didn’t think it would be something I absolutely fall in love with but I did. I know that I’m late to the party for this book but if you are too and enjoy YA contemporary, you should pick this one up. A sequel was announced not too long ago and I’m really excited to see where Ari and Dante are now.

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Release Date: May 4, 2021

Genre: Adult cozy mystery

Pages: 336

Trigger warnings in the front of the book: indications of evidence planting and police intimidation, drug use, fatphobia, racism, and domestic violence.

Synopsis

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Brief Thoughts

I’ve never read a cozy mystery before but I definitely think I want to read more. I loved the small town vibes and all the talk about food. I was constantly hungry and I think one of Lila’s later visits to a restaurant made me start wanting hush puppies. I also really liked Lila’s friendship with Adeema. They felt so realistic! There is a small, underlying romance developing in this mystery and it isn’t explored so I am interested to see what happens with the rest of the series. As far as the actual mystery, my second guess was the answer but I still really enjoyed the story. I don’t know if this is a cozy mystery thing, but the end happened so quickly and I might have enjoyed the discoveries slowed down a little more but I still really had a good time. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author.

I’ve also read six volumes of manga so far this month! I’m still trying to figure out how and where to talk about them on my blog. It might end up being part of my larger monthly wrap-up with a special post on my Instagram giving my general thoughts. What are you guys reading now? Have you read any of these? Come chat with me!

Clear Ur Shit 1.5 Readathon TBR

At the end of last year, I participated in the Clear Ur Shit readathon in an attempt to focus on the ridiculous number of unread books I own. Of course, I didn’t clear all my shit but I did really get through a lot so I’ll be participating in the mini version of this readathon in June. I don’t make TBRs anymore but I do for Clear Ur Shit because it keeps me focused and it’s fun.

The Bingo card of prompts for the Clear Ur Shit 1.5 readathon

Here’s the bingo card but I want to read a book for each prompt so I’m going to list the prompts and talk a little about my picks for each prompt.

Candles: A book with a black or white cover

For this prompt, I chose Lore by Alexandra Bracken. I’ve had this book since January and I’ve been putting it off because I’ve heard mixed things about it but I want to read it so that I can decide if I want to keep it or not. I enjoy Greek mythology-based stories generally and think it will be a decent time.

Athame: A Book In A Genre You Don’t Normally Read

I genuinely read across most genres. I think the only genre I don’t really read is science fiction but I don’t have any physical sci-fi books on my shelves. I’m going to interpret this as a genre I haven’t been reading recently. I haven’t read a ton of classics since finishing grad school but I have quite a few on my backlog. One of which is Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. This is the only Austen book I haven’t read and I think this is a good time to get to it. I have pretty high expectations and think I’ll really enjoy it. Plus it will be nice to finish the Austen novels and maybe make a ranking post? We’ll see.

Cauldron: A book featuring a magical object

I don’t think I have any books that blatantly feature magical objects but I chose Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend on the strong likelihood that some object in the story is magical. I LOVE Nevermoor, the first book in this series, and I am really excited to see what happens next in this middle-grade fantasy series. I am waiting for the paperback of the third book to come out later this summer because I’m just loving the magical world that reminds me of stuff I enjoyed reading when I was younger.

Bells: A Comfort Read

Since I’m not re-reading anything and don’t really know what will become a comfort read for me, I’m interpreting this prompt as a comfort genre. It’s hot outside and I just want to read about people being in love so I’m choosing a contemporary romance as a comfort genre. The wonderful Rebecca Reads hosted a giveaway and she sent me The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. I’ve never read a book by them and people seem to really like this one so I think I’ll have a nice time reading this either by the pool or at the beach.

Free Space

I am planning to read whatever the Some Obscure Book Club is reading in June for the free space.

Ancient Grimoire: A book that’s four hundred pages or more

I have quite a few books that fit this prompt but I got Fire Keeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley from Book of the Month and I am intimidated by the length. This is a YA thriller and I’ve read quite a few adult thrillers but never a YA one. I’ve always been nervous that I wouldn’t enjoy them but something about this one really intrigues me. This is a debut by an indigenous author and the main character is biracial so I am sure some of the commentary surrounds that but I am excited to see what happens in this story.

Bag of Teeth: A Creepy Book

I haven’t been reading many thrillers this year and I want to so for this prompt, I chose No Exit by Taylor Adams. This is a thriller that has some fun tropes like everyone being isolated in one place and no cell service and those kinds of constraints really work for me. This came out a while ago and I’ve seen people talking about how much they enjoy it. I also tend to read thrillers pretty quickly so that will hopefully help me get through everything I want to read this month.

Incense: A book in your favorite genre

I keep thinking about my answer to the question, “what’s your favorite genre?” and the more I think, the more I realize that I don’t think I have one. So for this prompt I’m just going with my favorite genre right now. That’s definitely contemporary romance. Shocking if you know me in real life but maybe not if you’ve looked at some of my recent blog posts. For this prompt, I’m picking up Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron. I bought this recently because I heard there’s a foot fetish component to the story and while that’s not my thing, I think it might be interesting to read about in a book I literally bought at Target.

Chalice: A book with something elemental

Rebecca Reads also sent me Frostheart by Jamie Littler and while this story isn’t overtly elemental, there’s snow, and a ship in the ocean, and mountains on the cover so I’m just going to go with it because I want another middle grade to help with this lengthy TBR. Plus I’ve heard such great things about this series and I’ve been wanting to pick it up for a while. I’ve flipped through briefly and looked at some of the illustrations and they are just so adorable. I can’t wait to see what this story has to offer.

I’m so excited about this readathon and hope I can get to all of these books. I also plan to continue reading more manga throughout the month on top of these as well as trying not to get anything from the library. The library has really been hindering me from getting through my own TBR this month but June simply has to be the time I really start making a dent.

Come chat with me about this book or any readathons you’re participating in or even this readathon!

Top Five Books on my TBR (eBooks)

A few weeks ago, I talked about some books on my physical TBR that I was most excited about. I didn’t include the books on my ereader in that post but there are DEFINITELY some exciting books there too and I’d like to talk about. As always, library books are preventing me from picking up the books I own, but I think about the books on my ereader all the time. These are in no particular but I tried to pick books from different genres so I can offer a mix.

Without even looking at my ebooks, the first one that comes to mind is The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. I think this will be everything I love. It’s based on actual historical events, namely the Second Sino-Japanese War. I know a bit about this time period and I think reading this book will be the catalyst to help me learn more. It also deals with shamanism and that is where the fantasy elements come in. I think the reason I keep putting this off is because it sounds so perfectly matched to my tastes. I love interesting takes on historical events and morally grey characters and just generally dark stories so if I don’t like it, I’ll be really sad and start to question my taste in books.

Most of my nonfiction is in ebook format so I definitely have to include one of them in this list. The one I’m most excited about is Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. This is a collection of essays and speeches by Lorde, a Black poet and activist. I’ve read from her before in my favorite nonfiction of all time, This Bridge Called My Back and I’m so excited to read more from her. I have been a little detached from nonfiction recently but I want to get back into reading it. This might be the one to get me back into that genre.

In my last TBR post, I talked about wanting to get back into thrillers and a lighter thriller/mystery on my ereader that I think will help reinvigorate my interest is Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. An author is overheard talking about her new book and someone thinks she’s a hitman so she gets caught up in this world. It just sounds fun! Like Arsenic and Adobo, which I talked about last time, I am hoping for something a little different from the thrillers or mysteries that I normally pick up. I’ve also just heard some great reviews for this story and I think it will make me laugh. That’s what I’m looking for in these warmer months.

There are also quite a few horror novels on my ereader and it is really difficult to just choose one but I think I’m going to choose The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. This is a horror novel written by an indigenous author and follow a group of men who are being hunted by a spirit. I have a certain idea about what the social commentary will be and if that’s the case, I am excited to see how it is woven into the horror narrative. I am a really big fan of horror that offers some sort of social commentary and I think Jones will deliver on that want for me.

Lastly, I want to talk about a YA Contemporary that I’m really excited about. I’ve seen Ashley from Bookish Realm on Youtube discuss Parachutes by Kelly Yang a number of times and I really trust her taste in books so I’m excited to read this one. This follows Claire who is sent from China to American to live after getting in some trouble. The daughter of her host family, Dani, resents Claire’s privileged background and I think they will end up having to learn from each other. I know that the cover is really cute but I’ve been told it isn’t a super light story and that really intrigues me. I am participating in a readathon next month and I’m hoping that I can work this into my TBR since contemporary is usually good for readathons.

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I’d love to be able to read these soon because I’m just so excited about them. My library holds are still coming through constantly so I haven’t been able to pick up my own books but I’m going to try and use the “deliver later” feature on Libby especially in June during the Clear Ur Shit readathon. What are you excited to read that you just haven’t been able to get to yet? Let me know!

Recent Reads 14

The semester is over and I’m done grading so I’m hoping to pick up my reading pace a bit this summer. This week, I have a contemporary romance, a queer romance set in ancient Greece, and a short story collection that celebrates love and mythology. If you want to see more, you can find my last “Recent Reads” here.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Release Date: January 26, 2021

Genre: Adult contemporary romance

Pages: 336

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can’t imagine working anywhere else. But lately it’s been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who’s fresh off a journalism master’s program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.

When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it’s this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it’s not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.

As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.

Brief Review

“Sometimes I wonder if content is really just a synonym for complacent.”

I really love the setting and set-up for this story. It’s such a fun concept. I also found it interesting only being in her head and not knowing what her love interest, Dominic, is thinking. Speaking of Dominic, I think he’s an interesting hero with the cutest family ever. I wish I knew more about them. This romance deals with some serious themes of grief and loneliness and developing and maintaining friendships as an adult so while this is a romance, it also offers up so much more to think about. Shay is my age and seeing her having to think about what she wants to do with her life and work through the “what’s next?” in her late twenties is both relatable and refreshing. She’s also older than Dominic which is cute. It might have just been me, but I think the build up to the romance was a little slow but I didn’t really mind it because I like the payoff. Also, there’s a cute dog named Steve.

The Song of Achilles

Release Date: September 20, 2011

Genre: Adult historical fiction, mythology, fantasy

Pages: 352

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Brief Thoughts

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

Only a few pages into the book I made my first note and it says, “Oh, this is going to break my heart, isn’t it?” Even though I knew what was going to happen, it still had a deep impact on me. It was fun once I started remembering specific plot points of The Iliad, which I haven’t read since undergrad, because I could anticipate what would happen and how it would happen in Madeline Miller’s story. This story is a bit slow moving at the beginning but I was fine with it because I like getting to see Achilles and Patroclus get to know each other as well as explore the building tension between them and Achilles’ goddess mother. When the war started, I think it got a little tedious and I was really unsure of how I felt about Achilles but I do think the way Briseis’ character is explored really adds to that part of the story. I was overwhelmingly sad for Patroclus and really love this story.

Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola

Release Date: August 20, 2020

Genre: Adult romance, short stories, mythology

Pages: 278

Click here for trigger warnings.

Synopsis

Discover love from times long ago…

Join Bolu Babalola as she retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology in this stunning collection. From the homoromantic Greek myths, to magical Nigerian folktales, to the ancient stories of South Asia, Bolu brings new life to tales that truly show the vibrance and colours of love around the world.

The anthology is a step towards decolonising tropes of love, and celebrates in the wildly beautiful and astonishingly diverse tales of romance and desire that already exist in so many cultures and communities.

Get lost in these mystical worlds and you will soon realise that humanity – like love – comes in technicolour.

Brief Thoughts

“What matters most is that you feel like you are at your fullest.”

Short story collections are often hit or miss for me but this one just might be the best collection I’ve ever read. There isn’t a single story that bored me or that I didn’t like. The writing in these stories is so beautiful. It is so nice to see stories of joy and love for people of color rather than trauma. The women in these stories are largely powerful and have autonomy which you might not always get in older texts such as mythical tales. I wasn’t familiar with many of the source texts but I still really enjoyed reading these stories and want to look more into the stories I don’t know. The first story was a bit confusing but that might have been because I didn’t know the source material so looking up that story might help me fully appreciate it more. Some standout stories in this collection include Scheherazade which is based on 1001 Nights, Zhinu based on The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, and Psyche. For Psyche, imagine your favs from Greek mythology working at a fashion magazine called Olympus! I am so excited to see what else Bolu Babalola writes because this collection is beautiful.

I’m still reading manga just at a bit of a slower pace from last month. I will probably wrap all of those up in an individual post since I’m just working through one series (Blue Exorcist). Have you read any of these? Do you want to? Come chat with me!

Ace of Spades Review

Release Date: June 10, 2021

Genre: YA Thriller, Dark Academia

Pages: 480

Publisher: Usborne

Click here for trigger warnings.

Pre-order here!

Goodreads Synopsis

An incendiary and utterly compelling thriller with a shocking twist that delves deep into the heart of institutionalized racism, from an exceptional new YA voice. Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students’ dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can’t escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn’t afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they’re planning much more than a high-school game…

Review

***ARC provided through NetGalley***

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one of my most anticipated releases this year and I couldn’t wait to dive into this YA dark academia novel, debut. I was immediately drawn to the characters in this story. Readers follow two points of view, the only two Black students at Niveus, as their secrets are slowly revealed to the school and in the first half, there’s this unease that slowly builds until the second half where the tension really starts to pick up. Then, there’s a constant feeling of dread and hopelessness as Devon and Chiamaka try to figure out what’s happening and why. I’ve never read a young adult dark academia before and wasn’t sure what to expect and I was nervous there would be a lot of high school drama. I was wrong. There are elements of drama that happens in high schools but with the stakes getting higher and higher as the story continues, it’s so much more than that.

Further, I was also invested in the relationships the main characters had throughout the story whether it was with friends or family. As the story progresses, these relationships are challenged and things start to change. Devon and Chiamaka feel that they can’t trust anyone outside of their family and that feeling is passed on to the reader. I was questioning EVERYONE. When it comes to their families, they have to decide how much to tell them about what’s going on and how anything they tell them will impact them in the long run. I can’t spoil anything but the stakes are MUCH higher than you might think at the beginning of this story and I was racing to the end because I needed to have answers. And that ending… *chef’s kiss*.

I really appreciate what this book does thematically; the dark academia genre is incredibly white and sometimes fails to really critique the issues within academia. This story centers Black characters and deals with themes of institutional racism and how that racism is something that is passed down over generations. I was terrified for Devon and Chiamaka as they navigated this horrific situation and I think Àbíké-Íyímídé leaves readers with so much to think about. I highly recommend pre-ordering this book if you can, or just checking it out next month when it comes out.

Recent Reads 13

Here are the last of the books I read in April while also participating in a 30 Days of Manga challenge. This week I have a beloved fantasy I didn’t really love, a historical fiction with a touch of magical realism, and a phenomenal YA fantasy. If you want to see more, you can find my last “Recent Reads” here.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Release Date: March 16, 2020

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy?

Pages: 394

Click here for trigger warnings.

Goodreads Synopsis

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

Brief Review

“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”

I’m really torn about this book so I’m going to break this review up into things I like and things I don’t like. I really appreciate how many touching moments there were with the kids. They really were the best part of the story. The humor really was exactly my style and I laughed out loud more than once. I also was really interested in the interactions between the kids and the villagers in town. There was definitely some prejudice on the side of the villagers and so you never knew what was going to happen when they were confronted with the kids just trying to live their lives. This book really gets into themes of acceptance and the way people who are treated. It’s nothing new and groundbreaking but it was pretty cute.

That being said, I think the pacing for this book was not the best. I had a hard time getting into the story in the beginning and it felt a bit slow. I think the second half picked up a bit but the start was a little lacking plot wise. I also found it strange how focused TJ Klune was on Linus being overweight. It came up so much. I think he was trying to make a point about accepting yourself or about internalized fatphobia but it just felt weird and forced and I really did not enjoy those throwaway comments about how Linus felt like he shouldn’t eat X because he’s worried about his weight or whatever. Overall, there are cute elements to this story and they made me laugh but, for me, the annoying bits are practically equal to the things I enjoyed.

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Release Date: February 12, 2019

Genre: Adult historical fiction, magical realism

Pages: 384

Click here for trigger warnings.

Goodreads Synopsis

A sweeping historical novel about a dancehall girl and an orphan boy whose fates entangle over an old Chinese superstition about men who turn into tigers.

When 11-year-old Ren’s master dies, he makes one last request of his Chinese houseboy: that Ren find his severed finger, lost years ago in an accident, and reunite it with his body. Ren has 49 days, or else his master’s soul will roam the earth, unable to rest in peace.

Ji Lin always wanted to be a doctor, but as a girl in 1930s Malaysia, apprentice dressmaker is a more suitable occupation. Secretly, though, Ji Lin also moonlights as a dancehall girl to help pay off her beloved mother’s Mahjong debts. One night, Ji Lin’s dance partner leaves her with a gruesome souvenir: a severed finger. Convinced the finger is bad luck, Ji Lin enlists the help of her erstwhile stepbrother to return it to its rightful owner.

As the 49 days tick down, and a prowling tiger wreaks havoc on the town, Ji Lin and Ren’s lives intertwine in ways they could never have imagined. Propulsive and lushly written, The Night Tiger explores colonialism and independence, ancient superstition and modern ambition, sibling rivalry and first love. Braided through with Chinese folklore and a tantalizing mystery, this novel is a page-turner of the highest order.

Brief Thoughts

“We were a chocolate-box family, I thought. Brightly wrapped on the outside and oozing sticky darkness within.”

I haven’t read much historical fiction or magical realism recently and that might be why I found the beginning of this book to be pretty slow. When I did start to latch on to this story, I was primarily thinking about it from an academic perspective since I was exposed to a lot of colonial literature in undergrad. I think this story is interesting as a foil for those texts since it’s written by a woman of color and offers undeniable criticism of colonization. This story contains a great deal of mystery and mysterious deaths and at the center, it appears at least one white doctor is the common denominator. Malaysian people are the primary victims, many of whom are women and that gave me a lot to think about in terms of colonization criticism. If I were going to write a research paper, I might pair this with something like South Sea Tales by Robert Louis Stevenson and talk about how authors of color are now able to combat these narratives and use their own voices via historical fiction while celebrating their cultural traditions through magical realism.

I know this review is REALLY different from what I usually write but 90% of my notes on this book are me thinking about how I would write a paper about this text. The other 10% is about how much I didn’t enjoy the toxic romance and how magical realism is really hit or miss for me.

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Release Date: October 8, 2013

Genre: YA Fantasy, Mythology

Pages: 597

Click here for trigger warnings.

Goodreads Synopsis

Since this is the fourth book in a series, I will link the synopsis to the first book here, and this book here.

Brief Thoughts

“Oh, I wouldn’t say Love always makes you happy. Sometimes it makes you incredibly sad.”

This *might* be my favorite book in the Heroes of Olympus series so far. The main characters are really split up in this book so that means there’s a lot of jumping around. I really enjoy stories that do that because the pace feels even faster than it already is. I was particularly interested in Percy and Annabeth’s situation. Riordan also blesses us with more Nico content and the reveal from him around the halfway point broke my heart but also made me happy. Protect Nico at all costs, thank you. There is also a plot line with Leo on his own that I thought was very cute. Before this, I wasn’t super invested in Leo as a character but I think this really raised my interest. The themes of friendship felt so particularly strong in this book and I am nervous to see what happens in the final book of this wonderful series.

What have you been reading recently? Have you read any of these? Are you interested in any of them? Come chat with me!

30 Days of Manga Wrap-up

In the month of April, I decided to try to read 30 volumes of manga in 30 days. I own a lot of manga and really wanted to make a dent in my collection. I decided to read the entirety of Tokyo Ghoul, the entirety of Death Note, and the first four issues of my favorite series, Blue Exorcist. I didn’t include these in my monthly favorites or my recent reads because I wanted to talk about them in their own post. This is that post. I know manga and comics don’t always do well in the book community, but I hope those of you that are interested will enjoy hearing my thoughts.

The first series I read through was Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida. This series follows Ken Kaneki who is living a pretty normal life; he loves books and hanging out with his best friend. But when an accident happens that leaves him half-ghoul and half-human, he must figure out how to survive in both worlds.

This series is one that I’ve been mildly interested in both in anime and manga form but just never picked up. I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it but the more I saw people talk about it, the more certain I became that it would be something I love. I treated myself to the manga boxed set earlier this year and when I planned a “30 days of manga” challenge for myself, I knew this had to be part of it. This series is phenomenal! It opens the door for discussions about good vs. evil and morality. I expected a horror series full of twists and turns and gore; I got that, but I also got so much more. I think what really added to my enjoyment the most was something that I didn’t think I would like – we get to follow both the ghouls and the humans whose job is to hunt the ghouls and that is what really leads to some further understanding of good vs. evil.

The characters really added to my enjoyment of this series, as well. Sui Ishida creates a few characters that really had me wanting to know everything I possibly can about them. The first character I was really drawn to was Uta. He’s a mask maker for ghouls and his character design alone was enough to hook me. Talk about FASHION. We don’t get a ton about him but I loved the things I was able to learn. I am also really interested in Juuzou Suzuya, the ghoul investigator. His backstory is brutal and heartbreaking and I really felt bad for him.

Overall, this series was so much more than I thought it would be and I am so glad I read each issue back-to-back so I could really immerse myself in the story. I hope to watch the anime at some point though I’ve heard mixed things.

The next series I picked up was Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba. I know a lot of people have an idea of what this series is about but I’ll still give a general synopsis. When Light finds a notebook that was dropped by a death god, he learns that any name written on the pages will die. He vows to use it to rid the world of evil but once the police and a detective, L, start trying to figure out what’s going on, Light has to become even more clever so that he can evade capture.

I received the all-in-one edition of Death Note for Christmas so I knew I wanted to include it in my 30-day manga challenge. The first four or five volumes were a reread for me but a particular plot twist made me stop reading the first time. I pushed through this time and while that specific twist didn’t bother me as much this time around, I still didn’t LOVE the series. In this story, you get to see both Light and the people who are trying to capture him and their thought processes unfold right before your eyes. In Tokyo Ghoul, that sort of dynamic really worked for me but here, I felt that I spent pages and pages reading characters figuring out things that the reader already knows. Sometimes it was interesting to see how they got there but other times, it was very tedious. I also think there was a lot of info-dumping going on. This makes me realize that while my taste in anime is not usually action-heavy, I do want more action in my manga.

My experience wasn’t all bad, though. Again, as with Tokyo Ghoul, the conversations about right and wrong, good vs. evil, were really interesting because Light really is a morally gray character. By using the Death Note to kill criminals, crime rates fall and people feel safer but who is he to get to decide who dies and who doesn’t? It’s a fascinating situation to watch unfold in a fictional world. I also think the Shinigami (death gods) are so funny and they really made the whole story especially in the second half. Sidoh is absolutely a gem and is by far the best thing in the second half of this story. I do think that towards the end the stakes felt really high and the tension was wonderfully built and I appreciated that after some of the more tedious chapters. I could say so much more about this series, particularly the way women were quite literally used in the story but this I’ve already talked a lot so I’ll save it.

After completing these series, I spent the last four days of the month rereading the first four volumes of Blue Exorcist. This anime is definitely one of my favorites and I’ve read a huge chunk of the manga but I took a break ages ago. My goal is to start at the beginning and get caught up. This series is about Rin who thinks he’s a normal kid until one day, demons attack him. He then finds out that he’s the son of Satan. Oh, and he was raised by an exorcist. He then goes on to an exorcist school with the hopes of learning how to defeat Satan.

I’m only going to talk about the first four issues here because I am planning to keep reading a chapter per day until I’m caught up so I don’t have a ton to say other than that this is definitely still a favorite. I like manga that combines action elements with complicated friendship dynamics and comedy. This certainly does that. Rin has to hide his powers from others and that adds to the tension of the story. The fight scenes are really exciting. The other students at the academy are just as interesting as Rin and I love getting to know more about them. This is the first anime (besides Sailor Moon and Pokemon) that I really got into and I immediately picked up the manga. It has a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to get caught up on the story.

Also, this isn’t manga but I started reading Lore Olympus this month. People have been telling me to pick it up but I don’t remember anyone telling me that it was a romance! When I discovered that tidbit, I immediately started reading it and now I can’t stop. IT’S SO CUTE AND FUN! I’m sure I’m the only one who hadn’t picked it up but if you haven’t, please do.

Do you like manga, graphic novels, or comics? Do you have any recommendations? Please let me know!!