Monthly Archives: October 2022

October 31, 2022 · 1:06 pm

Ballad & Dagger by Daniel Jose Older

Ballad & Dagger by Daniel Jose Older

For those who grew up reading about Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology by Rick Riordan, Ballad & Dagger is the first young adult book from Rick Riordan Presents. This one covers the myths of the island of San Madrigal, an island in the Caribbean Sea. Spanish is liberally sprinkled throughout. There is a lot of humor, but it is definitely more serious than Rick Riordan/RR Presents middle grade books. The mythology is laid out in a very understandable way as the story is told. The writing is often poetic and dreamlike. I recommend this book to teens and up who enjoy Rick Riordan/RR Presents books.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 94
Pages Read in 2022: 33,594
Graphic Novels: 2

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Filed under Fantasy, Reason: Bedtime Story for the Boys, Reason: Owlcrate, Young Adult

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October 30, 2022 · 5:55 pm

All of Our Demise by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

All of Our Demise by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

All of Our Demise picks up right where All of Us Villains left off (they truly are one single really, really long book). The same four Champions’ points of view are used in this book. In between attempting to kill each other and waiting for relics to fall, there is plenty of time for three romances to bloom. The trials to destroy the landmarks are each unique and fit the families perfectly. At times it seems to drag a little, but it’s always stuff that is extremely important to the plot. It’s very long, yet reads relatively fast. The ending is satisfying and, like with Hunger Games (it’s still more or less an extremely well-written Hunger Games fanfic), it touches on the trauma that will always affect the surviving Champions. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed All of Us Villains and wants to know how the story ends.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 93
Pages Read in 2022: 33,222
Graphic Novels: 2

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Filed under Fantasy, Reason: Grim Readers, Reason: I Like the Series, Young Adult

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October 30, 2022 · 2:05 pm

Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

Julia and David were raised as virtual twins. Julia is white and David was black. I found the treatment of David (and their other adopted brother Jerome) horrifying. The parents were racist white saviors who enjoyed looking extra pious to their church community for raising these boys “as if” they were family. The author’s writing is very engaging and paints a terrible picture of a few terrible lives. The treatment of the boys and the religious abuse are very triggering. I recommend this book to adults who enjoy memoirs, but be aware of those triggers before reading.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 92
Pages Read in 2022: 32,754
Graphic Novels: 2

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Filed under Memoir, Reason: The Coven of Forbidden Books

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October 30, 2022 · 10:55 am

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liana Moriarty

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

Nine Perfect Strangers is told from the alternating viewpoints of several people who happen to be at a health resort at the same time. I liked some storylines/characters more than others. The characters’ stories were revealed little by little and really pulled me in to keep reading and learning about them. Some parts of the book were funny, some were fascinating, and some were just ridiculous (sometimes ridiculously funny). The last few chapters telling what happened later, basically serving as a years long epilogue, were great and tied everything up very satisfyingly. I highly recommend this book to adults who enjoy contemporary fiction.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 91
Pages Read in 2022: 32,392
Graphic Novels: 2

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Filed under Contemporary Fiction, Reason: Grim Readers, Reason: I Like the Author

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October 18, 2022 · 12:18 pm

The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks

The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks

Elyn Saks is a very successful woman. She is married, holds a rather impressive job, and has been published multiple times. She also has schizophrenia. The Center Cannot Hold is her story. She talks about her struggles with accepting that she needs medication and even accepting that she has a mental illness. Many times she quit taking her medication or reduced it thinking she could just try harder. The descriptions of psychosis and her delusions are vivid. Her writing is engaging even when discussing the more clinical aspects of her illness. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in mental illness.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 90
Pages Read in 2022: 31,629
Graphic Novels: 2

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Filed under Memoir, Reason: Book Club

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October 6, 2022 · 12:44 pm

The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith

The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith

This is not a book that ends with a happily ever after, everything tied up with a bow perfect. It is more real, ending with things going generally well and the hope of something more. The whole thing is an emotional rollercoaster dealing with grief, love, anxiety, and how to move on. The writing is engaging and I had trouble putting it down after a while because I became invested in the characters’ lives. The descriptions of scenery in Alaska are lovely and vivid. I recommend The Unsinkable Greta James to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 88
Pages Read in 2022: 31,080
Graphic Novels: 2

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Filed under Contemporary Fiction, Reason: Book of the Month, Reason: Grim Readers

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October 1, 2022 · 7:56 am

Tales of the Revolution by Seth Godin

Tales of the Revolution by Seth Godin

First of all, Tales of the Revolution isn’t by Seth Godin. He didn’t write any of it, or even edit it. Instead, he just copy and pasted people’s entries, complete with typos. There were a lot of typos. Very few of the entries made sense. They were full of buzzwords and lacked any substance or even explanation of what the people were actually doing to “poke the box” (for that matter I wouldn’t classify most of them as poking the box at all). I found it interesting that in the eleven years since these “amazing” and “revolutionary” ideas were submitted only a few are still in existence. A few, like Teachers Pay Teachers, are still thriving. Some of the submissions were nothing more than living life and doing what many other people do (such as the one who reviews books she reads). At least the book was short. I didn’t find it inspiring or even very interesting. But there was a lot of Seth Godin love in the entries so I guess he did. I don’t recommend this book.

2 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 87
Pages Read in 2022: 30,774
Graphic Novels: 2

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Filed under Non-Fiction, Self-Help/Motivation

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