Elizabeth
“But if we continue walking toward this mirage, if we change our shells even this one more time, I am sure in my blood we'll doom ourselves to always live exactly as we have lived, inhabiting whatever corner of the world isn't nailed down, never staying anywhere long enough to make anything real. We will the the ghosts that feed off the edges of life.” (page 89)
Very capital-L Literary, this work of metafiction has some fantastic writing and highly complex plot layering that made the reading experience confusing and also exciting. I admit that i am not 100% sure I followed every path the narrative took - at some point I definitely just gave up trying to figure it out and went with it. Would be a great book for a college class or serious book club - lots and lots to discuss. (Giller Prize shortlist 2023)
That took a turn I did not see coming. Rebecca Yarros is really good at beginnings and endings, but really struggles with the middle.
This was a lot of fun. There were a LOT of popular fantasy tropes, but when they are done this well it's hard to complain. A little too much combat of all kinds for my personal taste. But will definitely keep reading!
I will never not love a well done YA fantasy romance. It's like catnip. It just makes me feel so good.
Absolutely phenomenal collection. The author spans genres, writing with assurance and ease, bringing a multitude of different characters to sparkling life. I enjoyed every single story in this collection, and will certainly read it again. Fantastic.
“A reminder to remember: just because the sharpness of the sadness has faded does not mean that it was not, once, terrible. It means only that time and space, creatures of infinite girth and tenderness, have stepped between the two of you, and they are keeping you safe as they were once unable to.”
-Carmen Maria Machado, In the Dream House
This is a remarkable memoir, both as a piece of art and as a social commentary. It's construction is unique to any memoir I've ever read - each section is related to a different fairy tale, or work of folklore, or popular story - and while the narrative jumps in time and space, it culminates in such a way that the reader feels connected to the story in a deep and visceral way.
Carmen Maria Machado is quickly becoming one of my must-read authors. Her work is always complex and emotional, and more than a little otherworldly. I can't wait to see what she brings next.
TW: emotional abuse
Good collection of poetry, short stories, and a play. I very much enjoyed the short stories, and felt the play was the weakest section of the collection. (Full disclosure - I don't generally enjoy reading plays.)
This is science fiction, with much emphasis on the science, so be prepared to engage your brain muscles as you read. It's also a story of loss, and loneliness, and the lies we tell in hopes of saving others, so don't be surprised when it tugs on your heart muscles as well. Thoughtful, sometimes painful. One I could read again.
So let's set aside, for a minute, the fact that this novel is one of the most innovative and unexpected dystopian novels I've read in a genre completely saturated with offerings.
The Rending and the Nest is this tender and beautiful exploration of story - of the ways in which our stories shape us; the ways we choose to tell our own stories; and how we then start to believe in the stories we choose to tell. The author gives weight and depth to her words, and this is a novel I will definitely want to read over again.
Also, this is a BANANAS dytopian novel that will blow your mind.
This book is 100% not a novel I'd normally pick up - but my “read the lit prize shortlist” challenge brought it to my attention, and this type of novel is absolutely why I'm expanding my reading horizons with that challenge.
A 800+ page novel, written by a dude, about another dude? Pass. Not my wheelhouse, not my interest list, not for me. And yet. Somehow, I am completely and utterly in love with this behemoth of a story about the four lives of Archie Ferguson.
I think tackling this on audiobook was the way to go - I'm sure I would have bailed trying to get through the print version. But somehow, against the odds, I found myself sucked in to Archie's world - Archie's FOUR worlds, to be exact, and the tiny decisions that completely altered the trajectory of his lives.
AND - let's be honest - Rose Ferguson and Amy Schneiderman are a couple of FAN-freaking-TASTIC female characters. Good job, Auster, for giving readers these two complex and important women to impact Archie's life.
I am 100% sure this book is not for everyone - but good gracious, am I glad I gave it a chance.
Ooooh, this was fun! Should I have read the first trilogy before I started this one? Well, bygones....
Very much enjoyed the varied cast of complex and fascinating characters. I will definitely be reading the second in this series.
This book made me mad, and it made me sad, and it made me cheer. This book reminded me of how exciting it is to be a feminist. This book celebrates female relationships, and shows how powerful they can be. This book is not perfect, but it's pretty dang good, and it makes me look forward to more great novels by this talented author.
“This is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or an equalist or whatever. But a feminist. It's not a bad word. After today it might be my favorite word. Because really all it is is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that's always finding ways to tell them they're not.”
As someone who had both awful and amazing summer camp experiences, I could very much relate to Vera - her excitement, her disappointment, her eventual resetting of expectations. Love the art style!
Hah! I thought we were pattering along in a story I had basically figured out in my head, and then we took a turn and OH MY!!! It got so WEIRD!! And strangely funny, and a little bit cute, and I kinda loved it. Give this one a shot - I bet it will surprise you.
Really lovely graphic novel about two boys - not exactly friends - whose pact to follow their lanterns down the river turns into much more than they could have imagined. Beautiful art and a heartwarming story make this a winner, and one I will be happy to encourage my kids to pick up. We all need a good quest story every now and then, and this one is extremely satisfying.
Anytime a book makes me gasp out loud as a major revelation becomes clear, I know it's a good one. This novel was beautifully written, often heartbreaking, and so very honest in its depiction of difficult relationships. The Leavers is a standout from start to finish.
I saw this on a library display and picked it up, not knowing much about the story I'd be jumping into. What I found was a fascinating and heartbreaking journey into near-future New York, where storms are forever changing the lives of its inhabitants.
DiFrancesco writes a diverse and difficult set of characters - each of the three main characters is complex, and not entirely likable. Race and class politics, gender orientation, and sexual assault are all examined as these characters learn to navigate their post-apocalyptic world.
All City would easily stand up to a re-read - lots of weighty moments to digest. I'm excited to see what this author will bring to readers next.
I thought this was a lot of fun. It took some time to get into the story and characters, and I felt like it was a good thing I read the first couple of issues as one volume, or I don't know that I would have kept going. But once we got to the first mention of the Kitten Holy, I was hooked. I still have a bit of trouble keeping the names straight, and I'm hoping for more backstory, but I will definitely keep reading.
I just really like this author. Perhaps it's nostalgia from my youth, and remembering how much I enjoyed reading her books when I was around 12 or so. I can certainly see the problems with the story, but I still mostly found it charming. Definitely one to find a copy of when my own kids are a bit older.
This was just so well done. I think it's hard to truly explain to young people the importance of what ordinary people have done in the name of freedom and justice. If there were more books like this, that would become easier. This story is so simply told, yet so powerful in it's impact. I'm not sure I've read anything before that allowed me in to the events of the civil rights movement with such immediacy. Because the illustrations were right there, in actual black and white, this story became more than just a story - it became a life, of someone who was just a regular kid who dreamed of something better. Highest recommendation.
I found myself quite impressed with this book. Vines makes thoughtful and reasoned arguments for his belief that committed, same-sex relationships are not condemned by the Bible. I specifically appreciated how clear it was that this is a man who has a deep respect for the Biblical text, and has carefully studied to find an answer he believes to be true, not just the answer he wants to be right. Will it still be a hard sell for most conservative Evangelical Christians? Certainly. But I think Vines has earned the right to be heard, and his clear and well-researched thesis deserves a place at the table. Important stuff, this. (To be clear - I agree with Mr. Vines' conclusions, and am grateful to him for his work.)
Oh, good gravy I loved this series. From the first time I picked up the first book I was hooked. And, for me, Library of Souls was a beautiful ending for these characters I've come to love.
As usual, Riggs has his motley crew struggle through a good number of harrowing situations, and Jacob and Emma must use all the wits at their disposal to figure out a way to rescue Miss Peregrine and save the world. I appreciated that a happy ending wasn't a foregone conclusion, and the author didn't tie up all the loose ends in a neat little bow. I feel like I spent the last 1/4 of the book just holding my breath, and didn't feel safe to let it out until the very last page. And what a lovely, meaningful phrase to end the series - “We have time.”
I know these books won't be for everyone, but for me the combination of storytelling and pictures worked to make this series a unique and fully engaging reading experience. I know these will be books I return to, and I'm excited to introduce my kids to Jacob, Emma, and Miss Peregrine, and watch them take this journey too. Highly recommended.