Hello everyone,
Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Reading Is My Superpower.
“I am a frozen statue of a girl in the woods.” – Angeline Boulley.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello everyone,
Today’s review is on The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan.
About the Book
Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.
Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life.
Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love.
My Thoughts
The Astonishing Color of After was beautiful book, even though it is dealing with a difficult topic. The author does a good job of tackling the topics of death of a parent, depression, and suicide. It feels weird to say that I enjoyed it becuase of the subject matter, but I did.
Emily X. R. Pan has a gorgeous writing style and I found myself jotting down a good number of quotes that were just beautiful in how they were describing certain things. It was also interesting to see the magical realism elements that came into play, as well as learning more about Taiwanese culture.
I loved going on Leigh’s journey to find out more about her mom, and what she wanted her to remember after her untimely death. It was also interesting to walk with her as she processes her grief by trying to find the bird that her mother has become. I found her father to be irritating, just in how he abandoned his wife and daughter in the times they needed him most, but at the same time I get it. I also found him insufferable when he tries to dissuade Leigh from pursuing her passion – art.
I also liked how Leigh and her best friend, Axel used colors to describe how they were feeling. It was just an interesting touch to the story.
I am looking forward to picking up more of Emily X. R. Pan’s work in the future. 4/5 Stars.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello everyone,
Today’s post is about why I chose to DNF Dragonball Volume 1 by Akira Toriyama after about 91 pages.
I really wanted to like this, especially since I remember watching bits and pieces of the anime as a kid. However, early on there is some nudity, which is something that caught me off guard – but was not the ultimate reason for me putting this down.
There was also the objectification of Bulma (a female character) that made me extremely uncomfortable. There is a scene where Goku low key sexual assaults her while she’s sleeping. I get that it is made out to be “innocent” because he has never seen a woman before, but I was just very uncomfortable to see. And then there’s the perverted Turtle Hermit who convinces her to flash him a couple times.
It just wasn’t for me. I kept trying to go on, hoping that it would get better, but I just couldn’t. I finally gave up after chapter 5 and Oolong the demon pig objectifies her in a very crude way. I’m all for steaminess, but this wasn’t that, it was just uncomfortable.
I definitely see the appeal for teen boys and men in 1985, when this first came out and it very much is a product of it’s time when stuff like this was more acceptable.
If you have been thinking of picking this up, don’t waste your time. Unless you are okay with the things I mentioned above, then by all means go ahead.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello everyone,
Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Reading Is My Superpower.
“If you read nothing else we’ve sent home, please at least read this.” – To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello Everyone,
Today’s review is on Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber.
Summary:
A special holiday wish list brings about hope, love, and second chances in this nostalgic novel from the queen of Christmas stories, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.
Lindy Carmichael isn’t feeling particularly joyful when she returns home to Wenatchee, Washington, for Christmas. The man she thought was “the one” has cheated on her with her best friend, and she feels completely devoid of creativity in her graphic-design job. Not even carolers or Christmas cookies can cheer her up–but Lindy’s mother, Ellen, remembers an old tradition that might lift her daughter’s spirits.
Reading through a box of childhood letters to Santa and reminiscing about what she’d wished for as a young girl may be just the inspiration Lindy needs. With Ellen’s encouragement, she decides to write a new letter to Santa, one that will encourage her to have faith and believe just as she’d done all those years ago. Little does Lindy know that this exercise in gratitude will cause her wishes to unfold before her in miraculous ways. And, thanks to some fateful twists of Christmas magic–especially an unexpected connection with a handsome former classmate–Lindy ultimately realizes that there is truly no place like home for the holidays.
In Dear Santa, Debbie Macomber celebrates the joys of Christmas blessings, old and new. – Taken from GoodReads.
My Thoughts:
For whatever reason, Debbie Macomber’s books had fallen of my radar, especially her Christmas books. However, I stumbled across her latest and it did not disappoint. Was it cheesy? Yes. Was it a fun, festive read? Yes. While the ending was somewhat predictable, it was a heart-warming novel capturing the magic of the holiday season. I loved how it was also a coming-of-age story for Lindy. I also liked the whole concept of writing letter to Santa as an adult. Overall, I really enjoyed Dear Santa and I am looking to see what Debbie Macomber puts out next. 4/5 Stars.
Hello everyone,
Today’s review is on Queen’s Shadow by E. K. Johnston.
About the Book
Written by the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Ahsoka! When Padmé Naberrie, “Queen Amidala” of Naboo, steps down from her position, she is asked by the newly-elected queen to become Naboo’s representative in the Galactic Senate. Padmé is unsure about taking on the new role, but cannot turn down the request to serve her people. Together with her most loyal handmaidens, Padmé must figure out how to navigate the treacherous waters of politics and forge a new identity beyond the queen’s shadow.
My Thoughts
I am beginning to think that the Star Wars books are just not for me. So far all the ones I have read have been just okay. And maybe it’s just that I haven’t found one that gels with me. I was really looking forward to Queen’s Shadow, and it was just alright.
While I did like reading more about the politics of the Republic, as well as Padme’s adjustments to her role as senator, it just failed to keep me interested at times. And while it was interesting to read from Sabe’s perspective, it also felt jarring at times. I did like that we got to know Senator Bail Organa a bit more and his connection to Padme, which leads to his eventual adoption of her daughter after her death.
As of yet, I don’t know if I will continue with the rest of the Padme trilogy, but I do plan on reading Ahsoka soon and hopefully I’ll fare better with that. 3/5 Stars.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello everyone,
Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Reading Is My Superpower.
“There were hundreds of trees, big and little, on Silver Bush farm and every tree was a personal friend of Pat’s.” – Mistress Pat by L. M. Montgomery.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello Everyone,
Today’s review is on Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.
About the Book
Global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, the secret to eternal life. Mostly in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore.
Clay Jannon tells how serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has sent him from Web Drone to night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. After just a few days on the job, Clay realizes just how curious this store is.
A few customers come in repeatedly without buying anything. Instead they “check out” obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. All runs according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes.
He embarks on a complex analysis of the customers’ behavior and ropes in friends to help. Once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore. A quest to New York City dips in a world conspiracy for eternal life. The current of romance pulls Clay onward.
My Thoughts
Maybe I had too high expectations for this book, especially since I have had Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore on my radar for over 5 years. And that’s more on me than on the actual content of this book.
I think one of my complaints is that the author seems to tackle several themes including books and technology. I don’t know, to me it seemed like an overload at times. It also seemed like it condoned the pirating of eBooks, which seemed odd. As well as condoning how technology is taking over a lot of things.
However, I did like the whole idea of a secret society trying to fined the secret to immortality. I also liked how Mr. Penumbra is open to trying new techniques to solving the code, whereas there are others within the society that believe the only way to solve the mystery is through the way its always been done.
The characters are mostly flawed, and although they definitely make questionable choices, I still found myself rooting for them. I especially liked Mr. Penumbra and his quirkiness and I liked seeing him in contrast to Corvina.
Overall, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore was okay, but also disappoint for how my expectations were, but that’s on me. however, I do highly recommend the author’s follow-up, Sourdough. 3/5 Stars.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello everyone,
Today’s review is on The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Imani Messina.
About the Book
The international bestselling novel sold in 21 countries, about grief, mourning, and the joy of survival, inspired by a real phone booth in Japan with its disconnected “wind” phone, a place of pilgrimage and solace since the 2011 tsunami.
When Yui loses both her mother and her daughter in the tsunami, she begins to mark the passage of time from that date onward: Everything is relative to March 11, 2011, the day the tsunami tore Japan apart, and when grief took hold of her life. Yui struggles to continue on, alone with her pain.
Then, one day she hears about a man who has an old disused telephone booth in his garden. There, those who have lost loved ones find the strength to speak to them and begin to come to terms with their grief. As news of the phone booth spreads, people travel to it from miles around.
Soon Yui makes her own pilgrimage to the phone booth, too. But once there she cannot bring herself to speak into the receiver. Instead she finds Takeshi, a bereaved husband whose own daughter has stopped talking in the wake of her mother’s death.
Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World is the signpost pointing to the healing that can come after.
My Thoughts
I liked this book. I appreciate how the author chooses to focus on those who lost loved ones, especially during the 2011 tsunami. I have vivid memories of watching the breaking news about what had happened.
I also appreciate how the novel deals with grief and finding hope and joy even when it feels impossible. Hope and joy are definitely the main themes of the book.
I loved following Yui as she learns more about the Wind Phone and gets to know Takeshi. I also loved how we got to know some of the other visitors, and even how their story continues. I also found it interesting that some of the chapters were short lists, or even simply the name of a book that was mentioned in the previous chapter.
Some of the writing was gorgeous, even though it was translated from Italian. I found myself writing down a number of quotes. Here are a couple that stood out to me:
“She just had a feeling that certain complex things like happiness had to be taught by example rather than words. We need to possess joy in abundance before we can bestow it upon somebody else.” (p. 44).
“She was also convinced that words, the ones you heard or read (not necessarily in the the Bible, but anywhere) came to you by chance but not without reason.” (p. 328).
“Yui didn’t like to talk about her own frailty. But in the end she had accepted it, and that was the start of her path toward taking care of herself again. Acknowledging it helped her connect to the truest part of the people, it was what made it possible to feel close to them, part of their lives.” (p.369).
While there was a lot I liked about this book, there was also something about it that failed to draw me in fully. It could’ve been that it was translated or anything else. Whatever the case, I am still glad I read it!
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Reading Is My Superpower.
“”Oh, oh, and I think I’ll soon have to be doing some rooting in the parsley bed,” said Judy Plum, as she began to cut Winnie’s red crepe dress into strips suitable for “hooking.”” – Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
Meanderings of a BookWorm 