It took me around 3 weeks to finish In the Woods, 5 days to finish The Likeness, and a day and a half to finish Faithful Place. And only because ChrisIt took me around 3 weeks to finish In the Woods, 5 days to finish The Likeness, and a day and a half to finish Faithful Place. And only because Christmas got in the way. I am HOOKED.
I knew I liked Frank Mackey from the minute he appeared in The Likeness. His character just leapt off the page and into my heart. (I'm only crossing out that last bit bc it's cheesy as hell, not because it's untrue.) :D Anyway. In Faithful Place, gah, my heart just broke for him. I haven't read a ton of books set in Ireland but what struck me about this one was how familiar it felt. And then I realized that you could take this story and set it in Korea without changing any of the plot and it would work perfectly. Family and the responsibilities to family, particularly from the eldest, the ties that bind, everything just rang true and so close to home. I loved it. ...more
This is only my second Tana French book, but I LOVE how she doesn't shy away from having her main characters make questionable choices. It's like she This is only my second Tana French book, but I LOVE how she doesn't shy away from having her main characters make questionable choices. It's like she doesn't care whether you like them or not, this is who they are, and of course that makes me love them. Cassie is such a great character. ...more
Who's afraid of the big bad(ass) feminist? Answer: Many, many boys.
It's a shame Marvel canceled this because it's fun, sly and smartass. And that scarWho's afraid of the big bad(ass) feminist? Answer: Many, many boys.
It's a shame Marvel canceled this because it's fun, sly and smartass. And that scary F word -- feminist. Unabashedly so, in fact. Deal with it. ...more
This was the best kind of book, one I picked up on a whim despite knowing nothing about the author or the book itself, and one I absolutely loved. It This was the best kind of book, one I picked up on a whim despite knowing nothing about the author or the book itself, and one I absolutely loved. It has a Lost in Translation vibe, but instead of the loneliness felt by expatriates in a city foreign to them, this is about how people can lack connection in a city that's their own. It's so modern, but also such a timeless story. The writing was simple and lovely. This is going on my Best of 2016 list. ...more
A stunning debut. Harmless Like You is about loneliness and belonging (or not belonging) and what we inherit from our parents, even in absentia. It's A stunning debut. Harmless Like You is about loneliness and belonging (or not belonging) and what we inherit from our parents, even in absentia. It's about Yuki, a Japanese girl who's lived in America for so long that Japan doesn't feel like home but neither does New York, who longs to be an artist. It's about Jay, the son Yuki left behind, who runs an art gallery and has a child of his own and wonders if his disconnect with the baby is his mother's legacy. The idea of nothingness and how it affects more than one person or even generation is explored so well.
This is a quiet, compelling book about longing, loneliness and legacy....more
Do you have a Veronica Mars sized hole in your heart? (That's a rhetorical question because OF COURSE you do.) Well, Lois Lane: Fallout is here to helDo you have a Veronica Mars sized hole in your heart? (That's a rhetorical question because OF COURSE you do.) Well, Lois Lane: Fallout is here to help. I can't believe this book has been sitting on my shelf unread for over a year. It was so good. I never realized how much Lois and Veronica had in common but I am here for it! This book was such an unexpected surprise. I can't wait to read the sequel. ...more
It's not often you come across a book like this. It's epic storytelling in both the classic and modern sense, but it's also a book that shows simply tIt's not often you come across a book like this. It's epic storytelling in both the classic and modern sense, but it's also a book that shows simply that love is love is love is love. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and wonderful.
Note: I highly, highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Frazer Douglas. Alexander Pope said, "Homer makes us hearers." Frazer Douglas is the voice you want to hear say Madeline Miller's words. ...more
This book is such a celebration, not only of all the influences and working parts that came together in the making of this show, but also of the futurThis book is such a celebration, not only of all the influences and working parts that came together in the making of this show, but also of the future shows, students, and audiences it will influence. Jonathan Groff committed to essentially a cameo role because he wanted to be part of the revolution. So do I. #Ham4Ham ...more
Everything I expected from A Week to be Wicked I got in A Lady by Midnight instead. I LOVED this. I recommend the audiobook so you can hear Pauline's Everything I expected from A Week to be Wicked I got in A Lady by Midnight instead. I LOVED this. I recommend the audiobook so you can hear Pauline's Eliza Doolittle accent. ...more
A fantastic middle grade graphic novel about a girl who trips over herself on the first day of school and then when an even nerdier boy helps her, sheA fantastic middle grade graphic novel about a girl who trips over herself on the first day of school and then when an even nerdier boy helps her, she shoves him away. She immediately regrets it but doesn't know how to apologize. This was super cute with diverse characters and interests. A group of Girl Scouts sold me some Thin Mints and I sold them on this book. Win win. ...more
Well, this was wonderful. Oh Rafe. It didn't have the pure magic of Romancing the Duke but it was lovely.
I don't know if the Instagram embed code beloWell, this was wonderful. Oh Rafe. It didn't have the pure magic of Romancing the Duke but it was lovely.
I don't know if the Instagram embed code below will work, but click on this link to see why fiction is better than reality, at least when it comes to marquesses: WHAT ARE THOOOOSE
This is one book where I would recommend the audiobook over print. The narrator is fantastic. She brought all the various characters to life in all thThis is one book where I would recommend the audiobook over print. The narrator is fantastic. She brought all the various characters to life in all their Irish glory. Maureen's dialogue especially needs to be read aloud. ...more
A thoughtful coming of age story about a self-described "scared Puerto Rican baby dyke" just trying to figure shit out. This book is such a great dialA thoughtful coming of age story about a self-described "scared Puerto Rican baby dyke" just trying to figure shit out. This book is such a great dialogue starter for feminism, intersectionality, spaces for women of color and more. Definitely worth a read. ...more