Review: When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (L)

Synopsis: To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up. (from the online description)

Review:  Excellent book if you are looking for a story about secrets, gender identity, and family. Magical Realism for the modern age.

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-1-250-05866-9
Year Published: 2016
Date Finished: 4-29-2018
Pages: 270

Review: Thug Kitchen: Eat Like You Give a Fuck by Matt Holloway and Michelle Davis (L)

Synopsis: Thug Kitchen started their wildly popular website to inspire people to eat some goddamn vegetables and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Beloved by Gwyneth Paltrow ('This might be my favorite thing ever') and with half a million Facebook fans and counting, Thug Kitchen wants to show everyone how to take charge of their plates and cook up some real f*cking food.

Yeah, plenty of blogs and cookbooks preach about how to eat more kale, why ginger fights inflammation, and how to cook with microgreens and nettles. But they are dull or pretentious as hell -and most people can't afford the hype.  

Thug Kitchen lives in the real world. In their first cookbook, they're throwing down more than 100 recipes for their best-loved meals, snacks and sides for beginning cooks to home chefs. (Roasted Beer and Lime Cauliflower Tacos? Pumpkin Chili? Grilled Peach Salsa? Believe that sh*t.) Plus they're going to arm you with all the info and techniques you need to shop on a budget and go and kick a bunch of ass on your own.  

This book is an invitation to everyone who wants to do better to elevate their kitchen game. No more ketchup and pizza counting as vegetables. No more drive-thru lines. No more avoiding the produce corner of the supermarket. Sh*t is about to get real. (from the online description)

Review: It seems fair to divide my review of this book into two parts. First, presentation - 5/5 to be sure. Hilarious. The liberal use of swear words, how they give voice to the thoughts we've all had (such as wtf is kale?) and their honesty about how most cookbooks have a tone that can be patronizing to someone who's never cooked anything but instant ramen. As for a first-level cookbook, this is it. If you want to eat healthier but are lost, pick up this book! With humor and honesty, the authors introduce new ideas and ingredients, explaining the recipes without insulting the intelligence of the reader.
The second part: The nutrition ideas - are wrong. They are, naturally, based on the nutrition advice that the government has given us since the 80s. It's all bullshit. Read Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes or see the documentary call FatHead or watch the Youtube lecture by Robert Lustig to understand why much of their advice is incorrect. However, they do include a section on the dangers of sugar, which is excellent.
In the end, if you are looking for a VEGAN cookbook, with yummy recipes and hilarious notes, buy this. But be careful of taking the nutritional advice.

Bookmarks: 3.5 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-1-62336-358-1
Year Published: 2014
Date Finished: 4-28-2018
Pages: 212

Ramble: Adjustments to my 2018 Reading Goals

I posted my 2018 Goals in Early January.

After some review and consideration, I'm adjusting my goals for the year:

TOTAL: 200

120 Books
80 Graphic Novels / Manga

Mini-Challenges have been revised to reflect this change.

Christian: 10+

  

Non-Fiction: 15+

- One on Evolution

- Three written by a Non-Western Author or Translated Work

- One Biography

Science Fiction / Fantasy: 30+

- Two from the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois MacMaster Bujold

- Three Grimdark Books

- Ten+ Vintage Sci-Fi (defined as printed before 1980) 

- One Anthology

- One Trilogy (Must Be a Complete Already-Owned Trilogy)

  

Classics / General Fiction: 20+

- One Persephone Book

- Two African-American Fiction

- Ten by Non-Western Authors or Translated Works

Young Adult / Children: 20+

- Five Newbery Books

- Two Classic (Published Pre-1950)

- No More Than Five Picture/Young Reader Books

In the Fall, I will write an update of these goals and add additional adjustments depending on my success.

Review: The Valiant by Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, Paolo Rivera, Joe Rivera (L)

Synopsis: The Eternal Warrior has protected the Earth for more than 10,000 years. A master of countless weapons and long forgotten martial arts, he is guided by the Geomancers — those who speak for the Earth. During his long watch, the Eternal Warrior has failed three times. Each time, the Geomancer was killed...and a new dark age for humanity began. Each time, he was unable to stop The Immortal Enemy - a monstrous force of nature. A civilization killer. A horror that appears differently each time it arrives...and whose seemingly only purpose is to bring disorder and darkness to the world. Now, the time has come for The Immortal Enemy to return once more. But, this time, the Eternal Warrior will be ready. This time, he has a force greater than any single warrior. This time, he has...THE VALIANT. (from the online description)

Review: When an Eternal Enemy rises once again, Gilad Anni-Padda must call on all the heroes of the Valiant Universe to help protect the Geomancer and save the World.

The stories of many of these heroes intersect here, with several experiencing pivotal points in their lives. The action and plot are face-paced and edge-of-your-seat. It is a bit gory, so be aware for younger readers. The art is bold, dynamic, with extensive use of red and black. There wasn’t time to get into all the characters, so it mostly focused on Bloodshot, Gilad, and the Geomancer. I would argue this story is pivotal for all three of those characters.

An absolute must-read for any fan of the Valiant Universe.  

NOTE: I read this backwards – meaning, I read Bloodshot:Reborn first, then this one. Don’t. You need to read this BEFORE the Bloodshot:Reborn series. Also, you need to read Archer&Armstrong, at least the first 3 volumes, as well. 

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-1-9393-6605
Year Published: 2015
Date Finished: 4-27-18
Pages: 124

Review: The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter

Synopsis: In 2003, the US invaded Iraq, including Basra. Shortly after, journalist Shaila K. Dewan found a story about the Library of Basra. Alia Muhammed Baker, the librarian, managed to save 70% of the library, with only the help of her neighbors and family. This storybook is based on a true story.

Review: With bright bold illustrations, Winter relays the story of Alia Muhammed Baker, the courageous librarian of Basra. Plain text and simple vocabulary make the book suitable for younger readers but the subject matter isn't light. The story is clear - the library was destroyed in bombs dropped by the US Military during the early days of the Iraq War. It is an important story, one what shows one of the many casualties of war. Worth reading to children, to help them understand war. It would be best if an adult reads with them to answer questions and explain the issue.

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: -15-205445-6
Year Published: 2005
Date Finished: 4-23-2018
Pages: 30

Review: Lazarus X+66 by Greg Rucka, et al.

Synopsis: Six separate stories follow characters old and new from The New York Times bestselling series LAZARUS, shining light into the dark places of the world following the events of The Cull.

Review:  This is a collection of vignettes focusing on several of the side characters from the main LAZARUS storyline. Characters include Casey Solomon as she becomes a Dagger; Joacquim and how he became a Lazarus; Joe and Bobbie (parents of %%%%) and their life after the Lift; Zmey, another Lazarus, and a few other Lazari and how they navigate their family obligation with who they are.

Each story is illustrated by a different author although the stories are all written by Greg Rucka.

For any fan of this series, you must read this. It broadens and deepens the world the Forever Carlyle lives in, fleshes out many of the side characters and gives their interactions with Forever new meaning. And it shows how the other Lazari live, who they are, and why they do what they do.

I particularly enjoyed the story of Casey Solomon and Joacquim, as they are two of my favorite characters.

A Must-Read for fans of this series….

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-1-5343-0488-8
Year Published: 2018
Date Finished: 4-22-18
Pages: 176

Review: King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence (The Broken Empire, Book Two)

Synopsis: At age nine, Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath vowed to avenge his slaughtered mother and brother—and to punish his father for not doing so. At fifteen, he began to fulfill that vow. Now, at eighteen, he must fight for what he has taken by torture and treachery. Haunted by the pain of his past, and plagued by nightmares of the atrocities he has committed, King Jorg is filled with rage. And even as his need for revenge continues to consume him, an overwhelming enemy force marches on his castle. Jorg knows that he cannot win a fair fight. But he has found a long-hidden cache of ancient artifacts. Some might call them magic. Jorg is not certain—all he knows is that their secrets can be put to terrible use in the coming battle... (from the online description)

Review: As with the previous installment, this book is full of reprehensible actions, violence, blood, and strange phenomenon.

Jorg, now King, recounts how he settled into life as a monarchy, the years leading to the current place we find him, battling invaders of his stolen land.

Lawrence once again employees the first-person narrative, divided between the present and the past. It could be confusing, but Lawrence uses a deft hand in weaving the narrative, building the past and present into one final conflict. And giving the reader a few twists and turns and at least one “Oh, didn’t see that coming” moment.

It still has the trademark GrimDark quality – people die - badly, violently, painfully. Jorg is still selfish, still cruel, still using people for his own ends. And yet, you find yourself hoping he succeeds.

As this is a post-apocalyptic future of our own work, I often wondered how Lawrence would explain the magic that clearly exists. In this book, he does, a little, and in a way that makes sense to me. It’s almost believable.

Worth reading if you enjoy dark and violent stories with intriguing plots. 

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0-425-25623-7
Year Published: 2012
Date Finished: 04-21-2018
Pages: 419