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Thursday, March 31, 2022

Review: Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon

 



Honestly, these books are my comfort books. Something about the sci-fi, romance, smut mix just makes the happy chemicals in my brain go off. I'm really hoping more of the new artsy covers come out so I can have the whole collection. Also, after I finished this one, I went on a whole Ruby Dixon dive in kindle unlimited and saw that she is really hooking her readers up. I'm pretty sure all of her books are available if you have a kindle unlimited subscription. I really hope that all the books that I read on kindle unlimited don't impact my mom's Amazon account (sorry, Mom). 

I have actually read an Ice Planet Barbarians book every month this year. I really don't want to binge them because I know I will be sad when I am finished and I like to save them for when I really need a pick me up. I do already have the 4th book downloaded though so it's ready to go when I am. 

This book follows the story of Kira and Aehako. Let me add if you look up the fanart like I did (I was having trouble imagining the shell in her ear) you will find so much adorable IPB content. Kira is the original girl to be outside the stasis pods when the humans are abducted. This is why she has an earpiece that allows her to understand alien languages. We don't see a ton of Kira other than in the first book when the girls are on the ship. This of course makes sense as the focus of each book is the couples. 

Kira has a secret that she doesn't want to share with everyone else because she fears it will get her kicked out of the tribe. She knows that this secret is the reason she has not resonated (found a mate) yet. However, that doesn't stop flirty, funny Aehako from pursuing her. He's made up his mind that Kira is his, even if his khui (it's a parasite) hasn't figured it out yet. However, as the aliens that abducted them are coming back, Kira, Aehako, Harlow, and Haedan have to go to the ancestral cave to figure out how to protect the rest of the tribe. 

So far this is my favorite couple, but I do say that with every book. It's also the spiciest book so far (I also say that with each of these). 

If you like sci-fi, romance, hot blue aliens, and spice, you need to check out Ice Planet Barbarians. There is a reason it is so highly reviewed on Booktok. 

I will say that these books are not for everyone. If you do not like pregnancy tropes, this is a book to skip out on as the whole point of the resonance is to reproduce. I will also as always recommend checking out StoryGraph for more detailed content warnings. 

Overall, this is one of my favorite series and my comfort series. I will be reading the 4th book soon (probably in April) and will update when I do. 

Monday, March 28, 2022

Review: Silk Hills by Brian Level, Ryan Ferrier, and Kate Sherron

 


I received this book as a digital advanced reader copy from NetGalley. To be honest, I was surprised to be accepted to read it as I am pretty new to NetGalley. 

I was initially drawn to the book because of the cover which looks very disturbing. This is a graphic novel depicting a creepy story about a small town named Silk Hills. (And for fans of the Mothman, you might want to check this out). 

Overall, the story is pretty simple, a woman moves there to help with the investigation of a missing boy and gets wrapped up in the creepy mess that is in the town. This book was definitely disturbing. There is a lot of body horror and just general creepy gore. I was shuddering throughout the book. 

The art in this book is perfect for the theme of the story. It's early, confusing, and disturbing. There's just a general discomfort when you go into reading it. It's definitely not the most riveting story, but it's good if you want something simple and creepy. 

This book comes out on May 24th of this year. Be sure to check it out when it's released. 

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Review: Verity by Colleen Hoover

 

(Here's my copy that as you can see I got at Target)


This is my first Colleen Hoover book, and from what I have seen, this is not what she typically writes. She's better known for her romance novels. This book, is far from romance, although technically romance is involved. 

I knew this book was dark when I picked it up. It's clear from the description on the back, but also from the content creators that I've seen review it. This book is not for the light of heart and whatever you are expecting going into it, you'll probably find yourself wrong at the end. 

This book tells the story of Lowen, a starving writer who is given a contract writing for a famous author who has been incapacitated. Immediately, we find out that Lowen doesn't seem able to have appropriate work relationships with men because she slept with her current agent. Lowen meets Jeremy, the husband of the before-mentioned writer that Lowen is filling in for. Both Verity, the writer/wife, and Jeremy's lives have been filled with tragedy as both their twin daughters died months apart and Verity gets in an accident that leaves her unable to move or communicate. Lowen moves in with the couple in order to work on the next book in Verity's series and in her search through Verity's papers, finds a manuscript in which Verity paints herself very negatively. Lowen is instantly hooked on reading it. 

There were a few things that bothered me in this book. I will say, there are many content warnings to be aware of, ableism, abortion, child death, sexual content, etc. I would again recommend checking  StoryGraph for further details on possible triggers. 

To start, this book is pretty ableist. The way Lowen talks about Verity, at one point stating she's like an egg whose yokes spilled out, is uncomfortable. However, a conversation with Verity's nurse leads me to believe that this is more about who Lowen is as a person than Colleen Hoover's description of people with disabilities. However, it is still something to be aware of. I also think the fear that Lowen feels towards Verity and her worry that Verity is faking her illness because she stares at her is somewhat problematic. 
On top of that, Lowen's attraction to Jeremy is entirely inappropriate and her fascination with reading about his sex life with Verity is uncomfortable. Unfortunately, more cannot be said without spoiling the story. 

Overall, the story was well-written and fascinating. I could not put the book down. It was dark and cruel and interesting. I can't say I enjoyed the book because there was just too much that didn't sit right with me. However, I will say it was a captivating read and one I'm glad I finished. I think I will be giving Colleen Hoover's work some more of my attention although I expect her other works to be very different. 

Friday, March 25, 2022

My Journey With More Diverse Books

 When I was first reading in the early 2000s - 2010s, YA at the time was definitely lacking diverse voices, but it wasn't completely without them. However, a lot of the books that were supposed to show diverse characters had some issues that people in the book community talk about now. 

In the last few years, YA has vastly changed. There are so many queer stories, stories about people of color, etc. Many readers are finally finding characters like themselves in the books they read. I will say that I did read stories with characters that were different from me, but they were usually adult fiction. There's nothing wrong with that, but I do think it is valuable for a 12-year-old to have stories that are diverse that are aimed at 12-16-year-olds. The adult novels just aren't quite the same. 

I know that book Tiktok has really helped me to expand my reading. There are a lot of books that I wouldn't have given a chance if I hadn't seen them there first. I also think that sometimes when I see characters that are different from myself on the cover of books I think they're not for me and if I buy it I'm taking that book away from someone who the book is for. I have since changed my mind about that. If more people buy these books, they can become more popular and be more available to the people who need them most. 

My hope is that books keep diversifying especially young adult, middle grade, ad kids books because teens and kids need to see themselves in the books they read and they also need to see people who are different from them. It is so important that our bookshelves reflect the world around us. We need to read about others' experiences and understand their stories. A more diverse world of books is great for everyone's reading experience. 

So, I'm trying to read more books about people who are different from me, and to be honest, I'm glad I have because I really enjoy these books. Also, if you have any recommendations, please comment and let me know. I can only see so many books so I need some other perspectives on what to read. 

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Review: Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

 


I read a digital copy of an advanced reader copy of this book. I was drawn to this book because of its cover which is really cool and I would for sure put a print of it up in my room. 

For this book, I'm going to start with a disclaimer as the content has the potential to be offensive to some readers. This book depicts a post-apocalyptic world in which extremist Christians called the Angels have released a sickness that corrupts people and systematically murders those who do not follow their beliefs. The murder of these so-called "heretics" includes anyone who doesn't follow their beliefs including other religious people. Our main character is a transboy and we see queer youth going against this organization. 

I would say those who have religious trauma should be wary and those who would take offense with Christians being depicted in such a way should skip this. There is also transphobia, queerphobia, relationship violence, general violence, children involved in warfare, body horror, gore, and related themes. As always, I recommend StoryGraph for a full list of possible triggers. 

I really enjoyed this book. The story is fascinating and depicts what many queer youths feel that religious and more conservative society feels towards them. I would say it could definitely be a healing and release of anger for those who hold that within themselves. The book has vast representation with multiple gender identities (including someone who uses xe/xem pronouns), an autistic character, gay/lesbian characters, small mentions of characters using a cane, characters of multiple races, and a hijabi character. The representation in this book is vast and as far as I can tell (I'm of course not an expert) respectful. 

I like the depiction of the trans experience for the main character Benji as he shows the different ways that trans people can exist. I also like watching him unlearn the beliefs of the cult he lived in. The background of the world is also really well built without focusing too much on the past. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found myself captivated by the story. It will come out on June 7th of this year so be on the lookout at your book retailers. I think this is a great read for queer youth and a possible contender for LGBTQA+ Youth Center book clubs. Andrew Joseph White is definitely an author to look out for and he went to the same college as me. 

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

The Banned Books That I've Read

First, I will say I am strongly against the banning of books unless of course, the content is harmful or out of date (super old textbooks are fine to toss out).  However, I do believe that making books accessible is how we gain insight into diverse experiences. Reading should always be open to everyone. Even if I don't like a book, I want others to have access to it. 

Maus by Art Spiegelman. This is a graphic novel about the Holocaust in which the Jewish people are mice and the Nazis are cats. It depicts the story of the author's family. I borrowed a copy of this book from my aunt when I was in middle school. It's a good book one that I think helps young people get a better grasp of what the Holocaust was. I understand parents what to protect their children from the mature material in the book, but I also think it's important to expose them to the realities of the world. The book demonstrates the pain, violence, and impact on the family after one of the most horrendous events in history. I'm glad that I read it. I definitely recommend it. 

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. This book is dystopian in which society has fallen and people are assigned certain roles. There are maids, cooks, wives, husbands, and handmaids who are to bear children for the wives and husbands. It's an interesting take on the extremes of conservative society and the anti-abortion movement. The story itself is very interesting. I definitely don't think it's as serious as parents feel it is. I enjoyed it and recommend it. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This book is about a young black woman dealing with the aftermath of witnessing her friend murdered by police. Obviously, this book doesn't really serve the "Blue Lives Matter" movement so conservative parents don't like it. It is a really good book and an important read. It's also somewhat of a coming-of-age story for the main character. She's really learning how she fits into the different communities she has to navigate and who she wants to be. I loved this book and am so thankful I was gifted it. I highly recommend reading it. 

Beloved by Toni Morrison.  First of all, Toni Morrison is a fantastic writer and everyone should be grateful to read her books. Beloved looks at the memories and impact slavery had on the main character and her family. There definitely is disturbing content, the book depicts rape among other traumatic incidents so I would recommend readers who are sensitive to that be advised. I understand not reading this as a class as the content might be too traumatic for some students, but those who are interested should have access to it. (My junior year English teacher had it as an option for a reading project which is why I ended up reading it and I'm thankful for her.) Definitely check this out, or at the very least read something by Toni Morrison. 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. This is a book about a girl who commits suicide and leaves tapes blaming people for it. (I'm sorry, I don't feel like coming up with a nice summary). Honestly, I don't really have anything nice to say about this book. When I read it, I hated it. I hated the characters, I hated the stories, I hated it. If I had known that not finishing books was acceptable, I would not have finished it. This book could definitely be argued as harmful, but if students what to read it, let them read it. 

Looking for Alaska by John Green. This is a coming-of-age story about teenagers at a boarding school doing what teenagers do. I got this book because I had a big John Green phase when I was in middle school. Honestly, the content is mature, but it's nothing teenagers don't already hear about. I remember liking this book quite a bit but not as much as some of the others. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is a story that takes place in the 20s and looks at rich socialites. I've read this book twice and I definitely think it's a staple of American English classes so it doesn't make sense to ban it. It does have a possible message that is anti-capitalism, an anti-American dream depending on your interpretation. Again, the material in this is really not that bad for teenagers. It's a good book and shows good figurative language. F. Scott Fitzgerald was a horrible person though. 

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. This book is another kind of coming-of-age story about a rich teenager. This book is basically just teenage angst and depression on paper. I've read it three times and every time it is horrible for my mental health. There's suicidal content, sexual content, and rape content. However, I don't think it's anything a high school freshman can't handle. This also used to be my favorite book, but then I grew up and couldn't relate. 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker. This is the story of a black woman in the rural south learning her place in her world. It's been a long time since I read this. I think I was in 5th grade. This book is so beautiful. I remember loving this book, and I definitely need to reread it because it is one of my favorites. I remember the writing being so amazing. Highly recommended. 

Obviously, there are a lot more than what I have listed here, and many I have read, but these are the ones I could think of/find. I recommend reading banned books, especially if you are one of the people who think they should be banned because you need to know what you're banning. Also, remember, Nazis banned and burned books too, do you really want to side with Nazis? 

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

My Favorite Book Stores

 I am an avid book store lover. I mean really I love any place with a lot of books in it. I just like being around books. 

My personal favorite book store is Half Price Books or really any used book store. I like knowing that someone else enjoyed the story before me. Also, the prices are a nice bonus. Getting a huge stack of books for $30 was a great part of my childhood. 

My dad used to take my brother and me to Half Price Books every other weekend when we would go visit him. It was a ritual for us. We'd go get burgers from Phil's Icehouse which is right next to the store we went to and then Amy's ice cream and of course books. I already loved reading, but I think getting to go on those trips really helped to solidify my reading ability. 

I remember walking around that store just felt magical. I would walk around stacking up books in my arms. My dad never had to worry about spending too much because each book was usually about five dollars.  I know that for him, this time was important. He liked watching me grow my brain. Because of my childhood, Half Price Books has a special place in my heart. 

Since coming to college, Half Price Books is not accessible to me and the nearest self-owned bookstore is a Christian bookstore. I then visited Barnes and Noble for the first time. This was to get books for class originally and then I was hooked. I have spent way more paychecks (not actually) there than is healthy for someone with as much student debt as me. 

I enjoy seeing all the new books and special editions at Barnes and I am a rewards member. However, my heart hurts that the books aren't as cheap as Half Price. 

Monday, March 21, 2022

Review: My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

 


I got to read this book early through Netgalley. It is about two high school seniors at a prestigious private school. Bel has just transferred here recently and is still figuring things out. Teo, on the other hand, is the poster boy of the school: head of the soccer team and robotics team. Bel finds herself being asked to join the robotics team by her teacher and this is how her interactions with Teo begin. 

This book is a very sweet, fun, teen YA romance. It is just what I needed when I was in high school so I'm glad it will soon be here (May 31st) for current teens. I love the relationship in this book, but more than that I love how the two characters grow for themselves. This is a dual POV book from the perspectives of both Teo and Bel so we see the issues they struggle with first hand. 

The content is appropriate for a teenager, likely ages 13+. There are some make-out scenes and mentions of sex, but nothing explicit. 

I loved seeing the representation of multiple cultures. There is a Holi celebration as well as Indian, Mexican, Filipino, and queer characters. I also liked seeing the representation of women in STEM as well as the difficulties that accompany them. There is also girl power present in this book which I personally think is super important for YA. 

Overall, this book just hit the spot. It is super cute and felt like all the things I needed when I was in high school. Maybe if I had, had this book back then, I would have made more of an effort in science class. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a cute high school romance with some nerdy robotics mixed in. 

Be sure to check this book out when it comes out May 31st of this year. 

Sunday, March 20, 2022

How I Pick My Next Reads

 

(Featuring my Moods from StoryGraph which is a great reader app that I highly recommend) 


So I used to be a pure mood reader when I was a teenager. I would read whatever it was I felt like reading next. I also mostly read romantasy back then. Iron Fey Series, The Mortal Instruments, Trylle Trilogy anything fairy or demon related. My parents were definitely glad to have the local library and the kindle rentals. 

I am still somewhat of a mood reader, but over the decade I've been reading, I have learned how to avoid my reading slumps. For me, switching genres has always been really helpful. Now, I rarely read two books of the same genre right after each other. I need a different genre buffer book to help me move on with my reading. Seeing as I have read the most I have in a long time (maybe ever) this year, I would say it's working pretty well for me. 

However, I still tend to lean towards one genre or another throughout my reading months. Lately, horror has been getting the most love out of all my genres. I really enjoy horror reading so that makes sense but I have left a few genres out. Most notably, memoirs. 

I do have two arcs (advanced reader copies) I need to finish by the end of this month, but after those, I will be reading Educated by Tara Westover. I received this book a few years back from Penguin Random House when I received an honorable mention for a poem I submitted in one of their competitions. I have heard many good things, but haven't gotten around to reading it, but I think it's time. I'll update when I finish. 

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Review: Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman


 

First of all, this book has such a lovely cover. The colors choice and art design are very aesthetically pleasing. I'm definitely going to have to find a nice place to keep it on my bookshelf. 

I picked up this book because I heard that it was about a transperson. For me, queer representation is an instant seller when it comes to books. Let me say, this book did not disappoint. It is a mix of many different things, but the best way I would describe it is a self-realization book or even an adult coming of age. 

The story follows Sol, an archivist, and vampire. He is a transman who has been living in the archives office of his work since being turned into a vampire. He cannot go out in the sun so he lives his life in fear of being exposed. Sol meets Elsie, the widow of the writer of one of Sol's childhood shows. He and Elsie have an instant connection and begin a romance. As Sol looks through the writer, Tracy's, collection, his life begins to unravel. 

This book looks at relationships, self-growth, and gender identity. I really enjoyed the exploration of gender in this book and the validation of the genderfluid experience. There is transphobia and body dysphoria/dysmorphia present so that is something to be aware of. I will also mention there is some sexual content and gore present. I recommend StoryGraph for a full list of any potential triggers. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The story is very interesting and the characters are relatable. If you are a fan of queer literature, books about finding yourself, and fanfiction, this is a book worth checking out. 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Looking Through My Old Books Nostalgia

 My boyfriend and I are in visiting my parents in Texas for spring break. Throughout my life, I have collected very many books. These are from holidays, Half Price Books outings, and book splurges. I have loved reading since the fourth grade..... which means I have a ridiculous amount of books. 

On my first night home, I made my boyfriend (who is very patient and sweet and was no doubt bored) look through all of my books with me. Many of these books are unread, but many more are read. Of the 500+ books I own, I would say I've read more than half of them. This is something I am very proud of. I love reading. It is one of those things that brings me a great amount of joy. 

When I was in middle school and early high school, reading was my escape. I was angsty, I felt too many things all at once, and books allowed me a break from all the swirling emotions that came along with puberty. Even now, reading is an excellent break from all the harsh things I have to read and learn about in college. It allows me to escape to something that isn't real, even if it is just as depressing as my actual life, at least it is different. 

Looking at all my books brought back fond memories. For me, each of these books holds a time period in my life and the story I needed to go along with it. The characters and the stories have helped shape who I am today. 

When I was younger I was pretty much a pure romance-fantasy reader. Anything vampires, faeries, dragons, ghosts, and I was all over it. I mostly liked young adult, although I have read some middle-grade stories. I remember my mom always telling me if things got too sexy I'd have to let her read it before I went on. (Fade to black scenes was as spicy as I was allowed to consume in middle school). 

I guess the point is that books mean the world to me. They are truly my favorite thing in the world. I am so grateful to authors for creating the stories they do that allowed me to escape into another world when I needed to. Here's to at least 60 more years with my nose in a book. 

Monday, March 14, 2022

Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert


 

I picked up this book when I was feeling down with the hopes that it would lift my spirits and it did not disappoint. This book is a very cute, cozy romance novel. It follows Chloe Brown, a black disabled woman determined to bring the adventure back into her life, and Redford Morgan, an artist trying to regain his footing after a nasty breakup. Chloe moves into the apartment building that Red is the superintendent of and begins terrorizing his life. 

Chloe has fibromyalgia which causes her to be a bit grumpy at times as she pushes herself through the pain. Red, of course, never catches Chloe at a good moment, only when she's yelling at old women and moms. I would say it's not quite an enemies to lovers, more of a mutual agitation with each other to lovers. However, the frustrated tension builds wonderfully throughout the book. 

I will say this book is a bit spicy. I knew there was some spice going into the book, but while reading it I realized it was far more than I expected. If spice isn't your style I would advise skipping those pages or the book altogether (the majority of the spicy scenes happen towards the end of the book). 

What I really like about this book is the representation of love for a person with a disability and the representation of love for a person who has experienced dating violence. It was good to see someone with a chronic illness in a book in a way that is not expecting the person to "overcome" the illness. Chloe has chronic pain, it's not going to be fixed, and she still makes the most out of her life. She also finds a relationship in which her partner can accept and be considerate of her condition. Red experienced emotional abuse (hinted at throughout the book) and is able to start working past it in order to find a healthy and happy relationship. 

This book is just what I needed for a cozy pick-me-up. I really enjoyed the characters and the romance and already have the second two to read someday soon. If you're looking for a sweet romance with an artist and an adorable grump, I highly recommend picking up this book. 

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Review: I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

 


I went into this book with very little knowledge other than the fact that it is creepy and you won't understand why. To me, this was enough to pique my interest and get me to buy the book. I also saw that there was a Netflix movie of the book so I wanted to read and then watch. 

Here's my first piece of advice, if you don't want the twist spoiled, make sure to read the book first. (Disclaimer: I have not yet watched the movie, but will be doing so soon with my friends). I was told that the movie isn't quite as good as the book, which given the way the book is written, that makes sense. 

This book follows the night of a couple going to meet the boyfriend's parents for the first time. The girlfriend is from the beginning very clear that she is "thinking of ending things" with the boyfriend. Based on this, I made some assumptions about how I believed the ending would go. However, I was 100% wrong. 

The book is very offputting. The mannerisms of the characters are very strange and uncomfortable. I found myself unsettled whilst reading. There are all these weird interjections from a maybe crime scene that made me feel more and more concerned as the book went on. It's creepy without really having anything creepy. The character talks about the disturbing in the normal things and this book is like that. Things are just slightly off in a way that makes you anxious. 

This was a quick read. I finished most of it in one sitting. I will say, that while the majority of the book was highly engaging, the last 30 or so pages lost my interest. This might not be true for everyone, it just wasn't as interesting to me. However, I still really enjoyed this book. It creeped me out so much so that I had to do a little light reading before falling asleep to try to prevent any creepy dreams. 

If you like a book that will mess with your mind and make you question things, I would highly recommend picking this one up. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. 

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Review: Nigthcrawling by Leila Mottley

 



I read this book as an e-book advanced reader copy from Netgalley. The book is due to be published on June 7th. 

In the book, we follow the life of Kiara, a young black woman living in Oakland struggling to get by. Her parents are out of the picture and although her older brother used to work, he has given that up to pursue a career in rapping. Unfortunately, he is not good enough to ever get anywhere with that so instead, he is burdening Kiara to be the main breadwinner. 

Kiara goes out in search of work and finds herself accidentally selling her body. After this incident, she turns to prostitution in order to pay the rent. As time goes on, she gets more wrapped up in the dangers that come along with sex work. 

Mottley does a good job of portraying the human side of sex work without victimizing her characters. It's not that she doesn't show the brutality of the work, but she does so in a way that is tasteful and leaves her characters' autonomy. She also shows the joys present in the lives of Kiara and those she cares about. It's a full-fledged life instead of the story of a victim. 

This book has not only a fascinating story, but it is also well written. I can very well see college courses analyzing the book for its literary value sometime in the future. Mottley is most definitely a writer to look out for given this is her debut novel. 

I will say that the content of this book is dark. Readers should be advised of the presence of adult-minor relations, sexual abuse, general abuse, police brutality, drug abuse, child death, child neglect, and more. This book is not for the light-hearted. Despite the dark content, this book is a must-read and an important look into the experience of sex workers, especially when dealing with police forces. 

Friday, March 4, 2022

Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

 


I first discovered Grady Hendrix from the Tiktok account @booksinthefreezer (you can also find her on Instagram at the same handle). She talked about My Best Friend's Exorcism and I knew I had to buy it. I had never been a big horror reader. I've read a few Stephen King novels: Salem's Lot, Carrie, Pet Sematary, but I never really got into the genre. 

Grady Hendrix is a fantastic writer. The first book I read of his got me hooked on horror. I picked up The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires pretty quickly after finishing My Best Friend's Exorcism. I started reading this book pretty quickly after I got it, but then another book caught my eye and I set it aside half-finished. 

This book takes place in the 80s-90s and follows the life of Patricia Cambell, a Southern stay-at-home mom living in a nice neighborhood. The one surprise about her is she participates in a book club obsessed with true crime books. When a new neighbor moves into his aunt's home, Patricia's worked upturns. She gets attacked by the said old aunt and other gruesome events take place (I don't want to spoil the fun for you). 

I liked Patricia, her kids were a bit weird, especially her son who was obsessed with Nazis (it's weird and a big yikes). Her husband was not great, but she seemed interesting. I will say there is a lot of segregation involved in this book. The rich white people live in one area and the poor black people live in another. The white people don't care about the black people's troubles as long as they still clean their houses. This is not really problematic since it reflects the reality of the world, I just think it's good to note as some people might not enjoy reading about that kind of thing. 

I will also mention (and this is maybe a spoiler, sorry) that Patricia's husband is the absolute worst as the book continues. He uses his medical degree to make her believe she is unhinged. He makes his kids believe she is mentally incapable and like the typical horror movie trope, he does not listen when she expresses her concern with a malevolent figure. 

I also thought the instance of rape in this book was unnecessary. Why are women always threatened with rape or the murder of their families? If it is necessary, Hendrix could have handled it better than it's handled in the book. 

As far as possible triggers in this book, there are many. This book contains gore, rape, child molestation, suicide, child suicide, and bodily harm. I urge readers to be aware of these things before reading the book. 

Overall, I did enjoy the book despite the parts I didn't like. I would give it 3.5/5 stars. I will also most likely be reading more Hendrix in the future. 

My First "To Finish" Book: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

 


I received this book in my senior year of high school as a birthday gift from my best friend. Although the book is short, I never got around to reading it until my first semester of college and even then, I set the book aside as my course load got too large for personal reading. Even when I was able to read for fun again, I didn't pick the book back up. It sat on my bookshelf waiting for me to finish it. 

What's funny is this is a very short book. It's only about 110 pages. It's a quick read. And yet, there it sat 30 pages in. Finally, my fifth semester of college, I decided that I would pick it up again as part of my "to finish" book list. This was the first book I selected which feels fitting. I haven't talked to the friend who gave it to me in over a year which is actually pretty sad to me so it was nice to have a piece of them with me even if it was just for the amount of time it took me to finish. 

I really enjoyed this book. I liked watching the narrator grow up and watching her world change around her. I liked the people she interacted with and the sadness present in some of their stories. It's a story that feels real to me. One that I can imagine would happen in the city near where I grew up. I can imagine like that city, Mango street would likely eventually face gentrification. Instead of people from all over, the street would be demolished in favor of new apartments for wealthy city-goers. That thought makes Esperanza's desire to leave a little bit more heartbreaking. She desires not to struggle which makes sense, but when she is older she might feel sad about leaving. 

That doesn't really have to do with the book too much I suppose, it's just what it made me think of. I really enjoyed this book and would encourage others to read it. It's a fast read and the stories are easy to understand. 


Thursday, March 3, 2022

My "To Finish" Book Stack

 


This month I decided I needed to tackle the stack of books I have that I have neglected to finish. You may be wondering "Didn't you stop reading them because you didn't like them?" And the answer to that question is actually, no. I really enjoyed these books. My stopping reading them really had nothing to do with the books themselves at all. 

For some, some other book popped up and I started reading that instead. For others, the books I had to read for class were unfinished and I no longer had time for pleasure reading. So, one after another, these books were set to the side and left unfinished. The stack just kept growing and I'm sure I have even more of them back in Texas. 

However, I started each of these books because I wanted to read them. (And honestly, I'm not really the type to DNF. I'm stubborn and even the really hard books I feel like I have to finish. It's just how my brain works, no shame to those who do DNF books). I want to finish these books because I know they're important, or I know I liked them, or whatever other reason. 

So this month, I'm going to try tackling at least a couple of these books so I can feel better about bringing myself into even more debt by purchasing more brand-new books that I do not need. I hope to finish at least three of these books this month, but I also want to get to my actual TBR pile. Wish me luck. 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Review: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado


I received this book as a birthday present for my 20th birthday last November. I was a little daunted by it at first. It seemed like it might be a bit intense for my taste and I would find it difficult to read. Because of this, I put the book off. 

Recently, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and read this book. Let me say, I was pleasantly surprised. Even though it is short stories I really expected it to take me a long time to read. However, this book read like poetry. I found myself falling into the pages. 

I will say, just because it read like poetry did not mean it was an easy book to read. It deals with the violence women experience in their lives. There are mentionings of body dysmorphia, sexual assault, and domestic violence (this is just what I can remember). I can definitely see that for some people the themes present would be too triggering for the book to be enjoyable. I, myself, checked out in the last story "Difficult at Parties". I would definitely recommend acknowledging the possible triggers present in the book before deciding to read it. 

My favorite of the stories was "The Husband Stitch". I really liked the writing in this one. It somewhat reminded me of my own writing style, so that's probably why I enjoyed it so much. I also thoroughly enjoyed "Inventory" which looks at the narrator's relationships throughout their life. Something about the writing style was appealing to me. 

Each of the stories had a different tone and a different issue that they dealt with. The style of writing also differed. I really liked how Machado decided to set up the pieces. 

I highly enjoyed this book and I am glad I finally took the time to read it. I would recommend it, but of course, make sure that this is a book you are comfortable with considering the intense themes. 

Review: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

  I picked this book up during the Trans Rights Readathon. I do have a  Youtube video  where I talk about it and my own experience with gend...