What a lovely graphic novel. It has beautiful art which is fantastical and perfectly fits the mood of night time adventures. I already liked the style from the cover. It vaguely reminds me of a close artist friend's style. The book uses really nice paper as well. This is the second young adult graphic novel that I've read recently which I find amazing. I think this is an area of young adult fiction that does…
Category: Books
I have mixed feelings on this series. Like the first volume, I found this one disjointed. There were at least four separate storylines and over a dozen characters for most of the novel. Keeping track of the plotlines is one thing and I don't mind it as much in Monstress (which is more confusing and complex than this series). I don't find many of the characters that compelling especially when they are apart. While the…
In an attempt to meet new people and read books, I have started to attend some book clubs. I read this book for one. The synopsis interested me right away. I had not heard of this author who is relatively well known in Japan. This novel from the beginning is beautifully written. Nature in particular is rendered poetically. It sometimes feels quiet but movingly so. The first third or half of the novel is slower…
Another interesting volume of this graphic novel series. This instalment was less confusing than the previous one. I often forget so many of the details of this series between volumes. They come out only once a year so I can't remember all the details from volume one or two let alone three. I did like this volume better than the last one. There was some family drama and the little Fox got some things to…
A bit late with this review. I finished this book almost two weeks ago on a plane. This book was nice and sweet. I listen to Linda Holmes on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. I remember reading her recaps back in the day when she was Miss Alli on Television Without Pity. I had heard this book got good reviews for a debut novel. It is a good debut novel. Holmes is a proficient writer…
It has been many years since I read The Handmaid's Tale. I did not list it in my books read in the early aughts but I remember reading it and Alias Grace at some point in high school. As a Canadian, I think I read it for school. I could barely remember the ending but I remember liking the writing enough. I had to remind myself and read a synopsis of it before I started…
My first book of 2020 was graphic novel for children based on history. I really liked this graphic novel; it's heavy and well written and drawn. I like the use of water colours and images from historical times. Even though the story is not real history, it is based on it and I believe some of the elements concerning the religious aspect is true. I really enjoyed the folk and fairy stories in it as…
I finished 2019 by reading these two children's books. The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright I really liked this one. It was published in 1941. With the Agatha Christie books and this one, I was put into a real pre-war mood. The novel is quite similar to the Boxcar Children as well. I thought there was a lot of clever writing and it makes me miss this early 20th century writing style. No one writes like…
One of the best mysteries ever written. I thought I read this book but then I checked GoodReads for the date and this blog. I have read a lot less of Christie than I thought. It feels as if I've read more because I've watched several adaptations to her books including this one. I watched at least one version. As a result, I was spoiled to the big twist. I had forgotten the finer details…
Recently, I found three Agatha Christie novels that I had bought years ago. Even though this was one of Christie's most popular novels, I have managed to be unspoiled. It was well done and genuinely one of the better mysteries and twists I've read in a long time. It is a suspenseful thriller and horror novel. Everyone in the novel is unlikeable and there is no one to truly root for. I usually would not…
Part of my spontaneous reading challenge to read children's books. I have heard about this book growing up. I vaguely remember the 1997 movie but I never watched it. The only time I really became interested was when Studio Ghibli released Arrietty. I like the descriptions and the world building but the book did not win me over until the last third. I think the movie is better than the book in this case. I…
If you read my previous review on Hodgman's Vacationaland, you would know I am a fan Hodgman. It's a bit funny because like Hodgman admits in this book, he is not a typical celebrity or famous person. The Judge John Hodgman podcast is my absolute favourite podcast. I really like Hodgman's humanistic style. I liked Vacationland too. Hodgman admits that Meallion Status was harder to write and it does show. While I like some of…