Category: Blog

All the Living and the Dead

Post author By Kit
Post date August 12, 2022

by Hayley Campbell, book 55 of 2022

I found this book almost impossible to put down despite its dark and graphic content. Campbell does a wonderful job taking the reader behind the scenes with folks in a variety of death related industries. From a crime scene cleaner to a death doula, Campbell’s writing treats every situation with honesty and care. Ultimately, I found this to be a hopeful book, and I’d recommend this investigative work to those who are interested and brave enough to uncover the secrets of what happens to us after we die.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE GRIEVING, ANXIOUS, DEPRESSED OR SQUEAMISH. Death (all kinds, all ages), Gore, Violence, Grief, Miscarriage

Blog Fiction

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

Post author By Kit
Post date July 31, 2022

by Megan Bannen, book 54 of 2022

This is an enemies to lovers romantic comedy focusing on death and featuring zombies. Hart is a lonely demigod warden tasked with overseeing the safety of humans facing a growing drudge problem (drudges are essentially zombies). Mercy is the oldest daughter in a long line of undertakers struggling to keep the family business intact despite growing problems both inside her family and from her competitors. Hart and Mercy hate each other… or do they? This book has a somewhat convoluted premise but a very sweet and spicy execution. Seriously there’s a lot going on here (multiple gods, demigods, magical creatures, souls, abstract geography, etc). Despite having to do more mental work than I desire for a light romantic comedy read, I loved so much of this book. I laughed, I cried, and I loved these characters.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Death, Violence, Something that’s basically a zombie, lots of death.

Categories: Fiction, LGBTQ, Multiple Narrators

Blog Nonfiction

The Viral Underclass

Post author By Kit
Post date July 25, 2022

by Steven W. Thrasher, book 52 of 2022

Book Cover, tan colored background with black text reading The Viral Underclass. Center has a red virus symbol with a black silhouette of a human inside. Subtext says The human toll when inequality and disease collide.

Dr. Thrasher provides some extremely timely and insightful criticisms of how our society fails to protect the most vulnerable and suffers for it. He mixes personal stories with his analysis to discuss the factors that contribute to the sickness and death of the “viral underclass”, the people our society discriminates against, incarcerates, or otherwise neglects. This is an extremely relevant look into the modern concerns of public health policymakers and I’m eager to discuss it with other public health professionals. That being said, I’d recommend it to anyone interested in broadening their understanding of viruses and the social factors around health, the info shared here is relevant for all of us.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Death (COVID/HIV), Drug use, Police Violence/Murder, Racism, Mental Health/HIV/LGBTQ Discrimination and Stigma, Suicide, Ableism, Ageism, etc.

Tags LGBTQ, nonfiction

Blog Fiction

Big Girl

Post author By Kit
Post date July 25, 2022

by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, book 51 of 2022

Cover of the book Big Girl, bright teal background with large gold block lettering with purple accents. Images of Harlem's street scape in the letters.

The heart of this book is Malaya, a funny and resilient young girl growing up in Harlem in the 1990’s. While the book covers hip hop, race, gentrification, and Malaya’s sexual awakening, the vast majority is about Malaya’s relationships with her parents, grandmother, friends and most of all food. This book was moving and wonderfully descriptive, but extremely stress inducing for me.

Warning, if you have any kind of eating, dietary, or body image issues, this book could be very triggering. I found myself disturbed by the way Malaya’s mother and grandmother talked about food, their bodies, and women’s bodies in general, though nothing surprised me considering the way society scrutinizes women’s appearance and choices. I will say the writing was great and the end was very moving and hopeful but it was a real challenge to enjoy the ride.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Addiction, Death of a family member, Statutory Rape

Tags Coming of Age, Fiction, Racism, Realistic Fiction, Women’s Stories

Blog Fiction

The Puppeteer’s Daughters

Post author By Kit
Post date July 17, 2022

by Heather Newton, Book 50 of 2022

This is a story of 3 half sisters coming to terms with the declining health of their father and their differing relationships with him after discovering an unexpected addendum to his will. This book has a mild element of magical realism that I just loved. The characters were well developed and easy to become invested in. I’m not a huge fan of family dramas but I’m glad I requested this one and I’d recommend it to those who generally enjoy them.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Recommended for: those looking for family drama with a touch of magical realism.
Content Warnings: Family Drama, Body shaming, Addiction

Blog Nonfiction

Bitch: On the Female of the Species

Post author By Kit
Post date June 5, 2022

By Lucy Cooke, book 35 of 2022

I found this book unexpectedly delightful. Definitely one of the most engaging nonfiction works I’ve listened to this year. Cooke’s narration was excellent and I was surprised to find myself laughing out loud while learning. Would recommend this to anyone interested in animals, gender and sexual issues, or just science in general.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Blog Fiction

Cult Classic

Post author By Kit
Post date May 24, 2022

by Sloane Crosley, Book 29 of 2022

I have so many feelings about this book.The story centers on Lola, an engaged woman in New York City who can’t seem to stop encountering her ex-boyfriends. I felt like the story took a little more time than I would have liked to heat up but once it did I could not stop reading. It was unexpected, suspenseful, and often laugh out loud funny. Plus extra bonus points for having one of my favorite covers of the year so far.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Blog Fiction

The Immortal King Rao

Post author By Kit
Post date May 13, 2022

by Vauhini Vara, book 27 of 2022

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and won’t spoil it by sharing more than the book’s description already has. I’d consider it less science fiction and more dystopia or unconventional family saga. It includes all the thought-provoking and depressing social commentary I usually enjoy with interesting historical references and context. While I enjoyed the premise and writing of this book, I did find myself annoyed by the pacing. Lately I’ve read several books that felt more like the author was trying to write something that could be easily adapted as a mini series for tv instead of writing for the actual audience, the people reading the book.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC.

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Content Warnings: Death, Climate Change, Rape, Sexual content, Murder

Tags Fantasy, Fiction