Tag: reading

Review: Where I Ache by Megan O’Keeffe

DeAnne4 Comments

where I ache coverThough my history with modern poetry is rocky, I have really been enjoying the hard hitting collections this year, so I was delighted when Megan reached out to me and asked if I would review her poetry collection. She described it as a poetry collection broken up into 6 chapters ranging from themes such as depression, jealousy, grief, and strength and it was certainly that. Each chapter had a different feel and theme to it, but the transition and flow of the collection was really paced well and a natural progression.

We’re making angels out of monsters in the dark. – from “Please Don’t Sugar Coat this for Me”

Trigger warnings for this collection include what she mentioned above as well as insecurities/self esteem issues and there were some references to abuse. At some points it was like reading someone’s diaries as they were going through sometimes joyful, sometimes more traumatic events. I think the underlying theme to all of it was strength and survival through it all.

I definitely had some favorites when it came to this collection including “Lost at Sea,” “Fragile” and “To My Knees” among others.  As each part progresses, you can definitely see the journey of the author.  The illustrations by Kevin Furey also add a great contribution to the work, at some times very poignant.

Sand isn’t stable ground to rely on, but even concrete can crack – from “Ocean Blues and You”

This was a great exploration of poetry and there were some truly beautiful moments in her poems. Did every poem call to something in me? No, but that’s as it should be. I’ve always felt that poetry is something that can speak to the soul, but is different for every person and in saying that I think different people will definitely get different things out of this collection.

Where I Ache comes out on June 10th, be sure to check it out if it sounds like something you would enjoy.  Thank you again to Megan for giving me the opportunity to read it.

Happy reading!

Review: Under the Moon by Lauren Myracle

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under the moonI wasn’t sure what to expect going into this, but was intrigued and wanted to check it out since one of my favorite characters from the Batman universe was Catwoman. This was an interesting take on her younger years and the events that lead up to her being who she was. I did feel like some points were a little too overemphasized, but overall the story was interesting and enjoyable.

This story begins when Selina as a child and discusses her adolescent life into high school. We are shown struggles she goes through both at home and at school and there are certainly a number of pivotal moments that lead her to her journey to becoming Catwoman. I’m not sure if this follows canon at all since I’m not super familiar with the original comics, but you can definitely see some of the things that could have led to her later beliefs and actions in this story. This story is definitely more modernized in the technology shown, which I believe is a benefit for younger audiences that may not be super familiar with the original genesis/backstory of the character.

I loved the art style and the more monochromatic theme, especially when past and present had different color schemes. The characters are richly done and easily recognizable once they are introduced.  I have to wonder if this will be a story that will be continued as it would be interesting to see where else Lauren Myracle could take the character.

Under The Moon: A Catwoman Tale is out now, be sure to grab a copy if you want to add it to your collection!

Happy Reading!

Review: Wild Embers by Nikita Gill

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wild embersSince picking up Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill earlier this year I was eager to check out her previous book, Wild Embers and see if I enjoyed it as much.  Spoiler alert, I did. Wild Embers was an amazing collection of modern poetry.  The subject matter was a touch more raw than her other work, and there are definite trigger warnings for talk about abuse of all kinds.  This collection explores not only what the abuse may do to someone, but also what it feels like to come out of it.  That is by far not the only subject matter as it touches on stereotypes, misogyny and more, but it was some of the most poignant of the collection.

 

“You are a myth born to the wrong age.  You are the kind of book that has magical stories trapped in every single page.”

While many of the poems are hard to read and tug at the heart, just as many of them are also empowering and encouraging. I’ve said many times that I am not a major fan of modern poetry, which holds true, but Nikita Gill has become an auto-buy author of mine.  I have loved everything of hers that I have read, perhaps because it resonates so much with me, but the content is important and I feel would resonate with many people.

What have you read lately that has made an author an auto-buy author?

Happy reading!

Review: The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

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the gilded wolvesThis book is probably going to be in my top 5 books of the year, no joke. This book did take me a while to read, but I think a big part of that was the fact that I kept stopping simply so I could absorb what was happening.

The writing in this book is so rich and has so much depth. Chokshi’s description of the places and items were so well built that everything was vivid and could be seen in your mind’s eye. The Paris of 1889 that she built perfectly captured the glitz and opulence of the time, while also weaving in the fantastical elements she created.

I found myself falling in love with each character and their individual quirks. Every character was unique in their back story and motivation, so it was wonderful to see how their paths wove together and allowed them to work towards a common purpose. I won’t lie, there were quite a few tear filled moments as you see the consequences of actions unfolding, but I couldn’t stop reading and had to keep coming back to find out what happened.

I can’t wait for the sequel to this book to come out and waiting is probably going to drive me a little mad. While the story doesn’t necessarily end on a cliff hanger, there are definitely questions that still have to be answered and conflicts that have to be resolved. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would, but alas, that’s the cutoff.

The Gilded Wolves is already out and is available, be sure to check it out!

Happy reading!

Review: the mermaid’s voice returns in this one by Amanda Lovelace

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the mermaid's voiceI’ve read the previous installments in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series and while I enjoyed them, they weren’t favorites. Lovelace was definitely one of my favored voices in modern poetry and I was willing to give anything she put out a chance. This installment in the trilogy blew me away.

One thing I love about Lovelace’s collections is that she always includes trigger warnings in the beginning. This is so appreciated and valuable when it comes to the type of content being discussed. Her language is beautiful while the emotions and subject matter are very raw and real. The way she phrases and formats her poems lend to the style and the expert use of language.

Perhaps it is my own experiences, but this collection just spoke to me. The progression of the story felt like a real progression of healing and learning. The guest poems from other poets perfectly melded into the collection. While they were different voices being added in, they fit in and belonged there. It was wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time.

I definitely recommend this collection for anyone who enjoys her writing or anyone looking for modern poetry that touches hard hitting and difficult subjects.  The mermaid’s voice returns in this one comes out on March 5th from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Happy Reading!

Review: Haphaven by Norm Harper

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haphavenWhen I initially read the description of Haphaven I was intrigued. Haphaven is a graphic novel by Norm Harper and illustrated by Louie Joyce that follows a young teen named Alex as she goes on a quest to save her mother. She has to use all of the superstitions she has learned throughout her life to aid her in a magical world called Haphaven.

I really enjoyed the story in this graphic novel and was surprised by it. It had depth to it that was well developed. The layers to the story lined up beautifully and you find yourself going on this journey with Alex, understanding her hurts and her thoughts. The backstory that was created explained her motivation as well as her character and why she believes the things she does.

Overall this was a really fun story that was full of laughs as well as a daring adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think anyone who likes stories with fantastical elements would also enjoy it.

Haphaven comes out on March 19th from Lion Forge.  Be sure to check it out if it sounds like something you would like.

Happy Reading!

Review: Witchcraft and Monsters

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witchcraft and monsters coversI’m not always the biggest fan of modern poetry collections, but I could resist checking out this title when I saw the cover and description and I’m so glad I did. Though this book is very short, the author’s writing is lyrical and descriptive. There were phrases that literally made me suck in a breath because they were so impactful. I can’t say that there were any poems within this collection that I disliked and found myself identifying with so many of them.

This collection is broken up into different sections that feel like a natural progression. Not only do the themes evolve and change as you make your way through it, but as you make your way through the poems become more reality and less fantasy. It’s obvious that the author has poured herself into this work and truly laid out many of her emotions and thoughts for the reader. That kind of vulnerability is not an easy thing to do and all the more beautiful for it.

I definitely recommend picking this collection up and giving it a read and hope to see more from this author in the future.  Witchcraft and Monsters by Kala Godin is coming out on January 21st by Patchwork press.

Happy reading!

Review: Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

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cogheart cover

There are a number of words or topics that I would consider buzzwords for me, one of them being steampunk. Any books that include steampunk elements can peak my interest, so I was very excited to receive a copy of Cogheart by Peter Bunzl from NetGalley. Though I had never heard of this book, the synopsis was enough to draw me in. This middle grade steampunk adventure was full of twists and turns and interesting characters.

Cogheart follows Lily Hartman, the daughter of a famous inventor who has gone missing in an airship crash. Very quickly the reader is made aware of nefarious characters having ulterior motives towards Lily and her father. Lily is a feisty girl who pines for adventure and to be the heroine of her story. Throughout the book she is accompanied by her new friend Robert and her mechanical fox, Malkin, whose quick wit and sharp tongue made me laugh more than once.

The story itself was a tad predictable regarding the final outcome, but the journey to get there was worth it and full of character building and depth. Bunzl’s descriptions of settings, vehicles, different people and mechanicals were rich and full of the whimsy that I love to associate with steampunk in general. With such vivid details it was easy to see the story play out in one’s mind and made the read even more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a fun middle grade adventure that is sure to suck the reader into a unique and whimsical world I would definitely recommend picking this up. I greatly look forward to getting the opportunity to read the following stories as well.

Cogheart is being released by Jolly Fish Press on February 12, 2019, be sure to check it out!

Happy reading!

Review: Hidden Heartbreak

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Hidden Heartbreak CoverI used to follow @HiddenHeartbreak’s posts on Instagram as the art and story intrigued me, so when I found out that much of that story had been compiled into a book I was excited to take a look.

I was a little disappointed that it didn’t seem to include much art that was new, though it was nice to see the entire story, or healing process, in one continuous stream.

Hidden Heartbreak is a graphic representation of the author’s relationship and where it went wrong.  It does take a look at insecurities some people may have, as well as glimpses of a toxic relationship and how the author worked her way back from it.

I probably would have gotten much more out of this book if I wasn’t already familiar with the art, of if there had been more that was brand new, but I felt that this was a great collection of the art from the instagram account.

Hidden Heartbreak comes out January 8, 2019 from Andrews McMeel Publishing.  If it’s something that interests you, check it out!

Happy reading!

 

Bookish Goals for 2019

DeAnne1 Comment

I don’t know about everyone else, but 2018 went by super fast for me.  I felt like I accomplished a lot regarding reading and writing, but it was also a whirlwind.  This year and some of 2017 really felt like the first years I was back to being myself reading wise since my father died in 2013.

I ended 2018 with a total of 283 books read.  They were a balance between audio books and physical/e-books and I won’t deny that the ability to listen to audio books at work really allowed me to listen to more.

While I would like to read that amount or more in 2019 and really tackle my TBR, I’ve set my Goodreads goal to 100. I have some other goals that I am setting for myself with books in mind.

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  1. Make decent headway on the physical books on my TBR – currently my physical TBR is, shall we say, a tad out of control.  I have 1.5 bookcases in my bedroom that purely contain unread books, plus a couple stacks.  I have made some progress on some of those far down on my TBR by listening to their audiobooks, but I need to concentrate more on this backlist more than I have been.  Last year only 58 of the 283 books I read were books that I already had a physical copy of, which is 20%.  If I truly want to bring down my physical TBR I need to up this percentage.
  2. Finish some of the series I have started – I have a good amount of duologies/series which I have started, but haven’t completed and in many cases I do own the other books. I’m going to strive to finish 5 of these active series in 2019.
  3. Continue to keep track of my books added to my TBR, books read and other stats in my bullet journal – this was the first year I tried out a bullet journal and I kept it very simple.  I had a page for books read, books added, and number of books per month as well as a couple other small graphs.  This really helped me curb my buying as I had a physical representation of just how much I was bringing in.  I made a goal to not add more books in a month than I read and I only failed that twice (one of which was my birthday month so…).
  4. Ahem, be better about posting here – this blog is new for me but I am really enjoying it; however, with a full time job that requires a lot of my mental energy, it can sometimes be hard to get myself to do anything on my time off.  I’m really going to make an effort to post more and be more regular about the content here.

And a bonus writing goal – I hope to once again participate in Nanowrimo in November.  I did it this year for the 2nd time and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did in 2017, I made a lot of progress and reached my goal.  I’m hoping to continue the trend for a 3rd time in a row.

So far that’s the main goals I have planned for myself and I will be more than happy if I can accomplish them.  What are some of your goals for 2019?

Happy reading!