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Blog Fiction

Nettle & Bone

by T. Kingfisher, book 21 of 2022

My take, this is a charming and fun fantasy novel for low stakes enjoyment and dark humor. The main character, Marra, is a wonderfully relatable princess on a quest to save her sister and family. I won’t give away the details but this book was worth the read just for the secondary characters, a lovely bunch of misfits. Kingfisher mixes worldbuilding similar to Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and characters similar to those in the House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, yet still creates something that feels special. Would absolutely recommend it. 

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

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy 
Content Warnings: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Death of a Child, Cannibalism

Categories
Blog Fiction

Mecca

written by Susan Straight, book 17 of 2022

Mecca is a wild ride through California through the eyes of several interconnected narrators. Just as I was becoming invested in one storyline, the author pivoted to a new equally compelling perspective. I was kept on the edge of my seat waiting for some of the threads to be resolved. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a tremendously human and gritty depiction of the day to day life of some of southern California’s most overlooked populations. 

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

Categories
Blog Nonfiction Social Justice

The Altar Within

written by Juliet Diaz, book 15 of 2022

I am definitely not up to date on the spiritual development/growth industry so I’m not sure I understood that aspect of this book (crystals, manifestation, etc). I requested this guide from Netgalley because I know the author is published through Row House, a publishing entity that specifically is working to be an antiracist alternative to the traditional big names. Going into this as a spiritually novice, I personally enjoyed Juliet Diaz’s candor and relaxed and informal tone. In the early audio edition I’m reviewing there were even “mistakes” that I found endearing considering the content. I thought Diaz did a wonderful job explaining the importance of authenticity and caring for oneself and I will definitely put into practice many of her rituals (with my own spin of course). I especially love the community care aspect of this book. Though not something I’d normally choose to listen to, I’m glad I did. 

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

Recommended for: anyone already invested in spiritually and self help or looking for self care tips.

Categories
Blog Nonfiction

The Expectation Effect

by David Robson, Book 10 of 2022

Having studied psychology in college, I felt that I had a fairly good grasp of the ways expectation can affect experience and was skeptical that I’d learn much from this book. While I did come to the topic with a solid foundation, I was pleasantly surprised that there was still much to learn and consider. In this book David Robson provides some surprising research about just how much additional control humans may have over their experiences through mental framing with applications to subjects such as pain, age, sports performance, hunger, and others. Each chapter ends with some tips to try to put the concepts into action which I’ve enjoyed practicing over the last few days. 

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

Recommended for: anyone who enjoys psychology and interdisciplinary applications.

Categories: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

Categories
Blog Nonfiction

Losing Our Minds

By Dr. Lucy Foulkes, Book 5 of 2022

This book brought something wonderful to the conversation around mental health: context and nuance. There’s a lot of hype around mental health and the mental health crisis of modern times and Dr. Foulkes does a great job presenting the data in its complexity. Having worked in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, I realize that people don’t want the messy, complex reality of science but thankfully this book gives us what we need, not what we want.

It’s impossible for me to distill the messages in this book down to a few sentences but I do think anyone interested in the topic will gain an important and necessary perspective.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ALC and thank you to the author for sharing your personal and professional knowledge.

Recommended for: anyone interested in mental health, has mental health concerns, or cares for someone with mental health challenges, especially parents, teachers, and health professionals.

Content Warnings: Mental Health, Self Harm, Stigma, Suicide

Categories
Blog Fiction

Bibliolepsy

by Gina Apostol, Book 79 of 2021

As other reviewers have expressed, I’m sure I am not well read enough to understand this book fully. That didn’t keep me from enjoying its particular quirks. I was endlessly impressed that Apostol fit so much into such a short novel. Despite having been written in 1997, the troubles of Primi trying to be herself on her own terms while the world is already out of balance felt timely in 2021. I loved that her darker aspects felt like a natural inheritance from her parents (so richly described in so few words) and the narration was perfectly suited. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ALC. 

Recommended for: well read book lovers looking for something different than the usual bookstore or library based story.

Content Warnings: Abandonment, Sexual Assault, Death of Parents, Abuse

Categories
Blog Fiction

Olga Dies Dreaming

written by Xóchitl González, book 74 of 2021

This cover though!!!

This story has it all- humor, romance, political and social commentary. The two main characters are a set of adult siblings from NYC struggling with their relationships as a result of the radicalization and subsequent estrangement from their mother. I read a lot of novels with heavy topics and this one is no different (see content warnings).  It was impossible to stop listening to this one. I’m hoping to travel to Puerto Rico in early 2022 and I was looking for something to enrich my knowledge of the territory and its history. This was it. The narration was excellent, the storytelling was rich and left me with a lot to think about. This was an unexpected favorite of the year.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ALC. 

Recommended for: anyone who loves character driven novels, social and political commentary, strong female leads, or is interested in learning more about the U.S. and Puerto Rico’s complicated and important relationship.

Content Warnings: Emotional Abuse, Abandonment, Sexual Assault, Grief 

Categories
Blog Nonfiction

A Year of Loving Kindness to Myself

written by Brigid Lowry, book 68 of 2021

Let me start by saying I don’t read a lot of spiritual works so I’m not sure my opinion on this should be given a lot of weight. That being said, I enjoyed listening to this book tremendously. The writing is comforting and delightful and the narration was warm and soothing. Lowry’s realistic attempts at implementing her spiritual practices during trying times made me feel seen. Over the last week it was a joy to listen to one of the many micro chapters of this book and smile. This will definitely be an audiobook I will want to revisit over and over. Would also make a great holiday gift! 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ALC. 

Recommended for: anyone needing a little extra love and compassion, so everyone. 

Content Warnings: Divorce, Grief, Religion/Spirituality

Categories
Blog Nonfiction

Care-free Black Girls

A Celebration of Black Women in Popular Culture

by Zeba Blay, Book 64 of 2021

If you’re going into this for a celebratory atmosphere around black joy and black success, you will be disappointed. The tone of this celebration is a lot more somber than I originally expected. Unsurprisingly, Zeba Blay knows her stuff and it shows in this collection of essays focused on the black female experience within pop culture and outside it. I learned a lot about black artistry and its history and I will definitely use this new lens through which to view American pop culture. As a person who’s been trying to read more anti-racist literature, this was a solid addition to the genre.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ALC. 

Recommended for: anyone looking to expand their anti-racism knowledge with a unique perspective.

Content Warnings: Racism, Microaggresions, Death of a Parent, Sexual Abuse, Mental health, Self Harm, Historical/Intergenerational Trauma, Police Violence and others

Categories
Blog Fiction

My Monticello

written by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, book 63 of 2021

In my opinion, 2021 is really turning out to be the year of the short story collection. “My Monticello” is a timely and expertly narrated collection that centers around identity, race, and the current American political crisis. I would absolutely recommend this collection for those who enjoy dystopian fiction, or otherwise known in today’s climate, realistic fiction. The audiobook narration is one of the best I’ve listened to and the stories were all engaging and/or terrifying. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ALC. 

Recommended for: those who enjoy dystopian fiction and social commentary.

Content Warnings: Police Violence, Racism, Microaggresions, Death of a Parent, Racism, Sexual Abuse, Mental health, Self Harm