Content warning: transphobia, abuse, sexual assault One of the perks of having a wildly out of control TBR list is that sometimes you don't remember exactly what a certain book is or why it's on there. You just recognize its title and author one day in the library, and a little bell goes off in … Continue reading A Tonic Against Despair: Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryko Aoki
I've been a fan of Rainbow Rowell for a long time. She is one of my all-time favourite comfort-read authors, and Fangirl has long been my number one pick of her books (I wrote one of my first blog posts about it). However, these days the Simon Snow trilogy has elbowed its way to the … Continue reading In Which I Talk at Length About Rainbow Rowell’s Simon Snow Trilogy, and Eat Sour Cherry Scones
In an abandoned royal compound surrounded by haunted birch barrens and a glowing lake, an old peasant woman spins stories. A young cleric listens, and writes records. A magical bird listens, and remembers. The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo is a small and perfectly spare novella. In spite of its brevity, it … Continue reading Come for the Intrigue, Stay for the Impeccability: The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
There's nothing like some good fantasy and some deeply engaging storytelling for the depths of the summer, in my humble opinion. And my latest good read not only combines both of those things, but also has a true heart of gold. The book I'm talking about is Elatsoe, by Darcie Little Badger. Hot Tip: Always … Continue reading Storytelling, Magic, and a Whole Lotta Heart: Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
Merriam-Webster Dictionary I don’t know about you, but I love this idea. Certain moods call for certain books, and I for one always feel better after a bit of reading. But first of all, in case it bears mentioning: Nevertheless, in the spirit of bibliotherapy, may I present my extremely unqualified “prescriptions” for books to … Continue reading A Little Bit of Bibliotherapy
Photo by Amador Loureiro on Unsplash Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about language. Since I am an editor, writer, book reviewer, and library branch assistant, this might not shock you. But, specifically, I have been thinking about the way in which language shapes reality, and the unconscious choices that we make with our words, … Continue reading Language Matters
What do you get when you stir together some classical literature, the experience of transmasculine transition, a strict religious upbringing, and a razor-sharp wit capable of seeing and skewering the absurdity of life in pitch-perfect language? Well, you get this book. I have been a fan and follower of Daniel M. Lavery since the days of … Continue reading William Shatner, The Rapture, and Anticipatory Abs: Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery
I don't often find a contemporary mystery novel that hits the spot. As I've mentioned before, I think that contemporary mysteries swing too far either to the cozy or the bleak. This is why, when I want a mystery fix, I always reach for the detective fiction from the Golden Age (the 1920s-40s). The authors … Continue reading Isabel, Isabel, didn’t worry. Isabel didn’t scream or scurry: The Adventures of Isabel: An Epitome Apartments Mystery by Candas Jane Dorsey
Hello folks! Happy Spring! Okay, it's not quite spring. But the snow is (mostly) gone, and the sun is shining (even though the temperatures are low). It's close enough to feel that regeneration is in the air. On that note, you may notice that this blog has a slightly new look! That is because it … Continue reading A change of season and a new look
I have a real THING about book titles. If I love it, I love it. If I hate it, well...I just might not read the book. There is no rhyme or reason to my whims about book titles. Some of my favourites are short, some are long, some are metaphorical or allegorical, some are literal. … Continue reading Bandits, Votaries, and Found Family: The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
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