Book Review - America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Riger

America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Riger is a visual storybook. The author uses the scrapbook method to visualize key events from US history. I thought the book was an interesting read. It was my first time reading a “history” book that was very engaging and colorful. However, some of the topics were a bit short and I felt like I wanted to know more. Some topics had a few pages dedicated to it while others didn’t have much. The book focuses on BIPOC stories and other marginalized communities.

Book Review - All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

 

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely is about a sixteen-year-old boy, Rashad, who is falsely accused of stealing.  Rashad wanted to stop by the corner store to grab a snack. While in the convenience store, he is accused of stealing from the store. Rashad tries to explain that it is a simple mistake and tries to explain the situation to the cop, Paul Galluzzo. However, Paul takes Rashad explanations as resistance and belligerence and tries to subdue Rashad through excessive physical force.

Some witnesses see what is happening. Quinn Collins is a varsity basketball player and one of Rashad’s classmates who was raised by Paul when Quinn’s father died in Afghanistan. Someone also made a video recording of the altercation and shared it all over the internet. The news has picked up the footage and it sparks public outrage.  

Paul is being threatened and is accused of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn is having a hard time coming to terms with things being said of Paul. Paul had helped mentor and be a father figure to Quinn and he doesn’t want to believe the bad things that are being said. However, Quinn is having a hard time when Rashad is hospitalized and misses school for several days. The basketball team and the school are all taking sides, and Quinn will need to decide which side he is going to be on.

The novel is told from alternating perspectives of Rashad and Quinn. I thought the book was a raw and emotional read. I liked the alternating perspective as both Rashad and Quinn, as a bystander, come to terms with the act of brutality. I think this was an important book for young readers to read as it shows that sometimes, things are not as black and white as it may seem.

Book Review - The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

 

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang is about a young dressmaker, Frances, who wants to become a famous dressmaker. Prince Sebastian is being forced by his parents to find someone to marry. Sebastian, rather, spends his time putting on beautiful and daring dresses and taking Paris by storm as Lady Crystallia. He keeps his life secret from everyone, which becomes harder when he becomes the hottest fashion icon in the fashion capital of the world. 

Sebastian’s best friend, Frances, helps dress him in fashionable and noteworthy dresses. She is only one of two people who know the truth about Sebastian. However, Frances dreams of being a famous dressmaker, but her being Sebastian’s secret weapon means her identity will always be kept a secret.  Frances struggles when she feels she must constantly defer her dreams to protect Sebastian’s secret.

The graphic novel was a fun and cute read. I liked that the drawings were colorful and fun. Some of the characters had prominent features that added a bit of fun. The story was a heartwarming read, It was predictable but enjoyable. I would be open to reading more graphic novels by this author.

Book Review - The Dearly Beloved: A Novel by Cara Wall

 

The Dearly Beloved: A Novel by Cara Wall is about two married couples whose lives are intertwined with each other. In 1963, in Greenwich Village, NYC, Charles and James met for the first time.  They are both hired as co-pastors for the historic Third Presbyterian Church. The pair seem to get along well but they have different personal ideas and goals about the church and their lives.

Charles was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. His father is a respected history professor at Harvard. However, a popular professor had invited Charles to a lecture in the school’s basement, and his life’s trajectory changed. He learns about faith and realizes that he wants to have a career in ministry. His family is horrified by his decision and to make matters worse, he falls for a woman, Lily, who doesn’t believe in God.

James is the youngest son from a low-income Chicago family. He spent most of his youth angry and avoiding his alcoholic war veteran father and escaping from the rest of his family. James receives an unexpected windfall from his uncle that allows him to attend college. While in school, he comes across Nan, who he falls in love with. Nan grew up in Mississippi and is the devout and devoted daughter of a minister. James uses Nan and her faith as a guiding compass when he feels his faith wavering.

The book was an okay read. I didn’t realize it was going to be heavily focused on religion and faith. Personally, this isn’t the type of fiction I like reading. I found the book to be very boring and slow. I felt like nothing happened for long periods. The storyline was predictable, and I found myself yawning throughout the book.  At times, I felt like the pacing of the novel was off.  The beginning was slow, the middle picked up, and the ending was a rushed chaotic mess.  I also didn’t like how they referred to Will, who is autistic. The author commented on how he was a gargoyle but with “proper training and education”, he became a child. I feel like that is implying children with special needs are not seen as human. Readers who like reading about people finding or struggling to find their faith might enjoy this novel more than me.

Book Review - Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week by Sarah L. Thomson

 

Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week by Sarah L. Thomson is about two young girls, Rani and Emily, who become unlikely friends. Emily and Rani are complete opposites. Emily is a rule follower, predictable, and rarely colors outside of the lines. Rani wears mismatching and colorful shoes and follows her own flow in life.

When Rani, her silver sequined sneakers, and her dog, Otto, move into Emily’s apartment, Emily’s life turns upside down. Emily is surprised that Rani and Otto are allowed to live alone in the attic. Rani’s mother is a research scientist in Patagonia for work.  Emily is surprised when Rani constantly breaks rules and at times, doesn’t seem to understand that rules exist for a reason. With Rani, Emily feels her life is being tossed out of order.

The children’s book is a quick and easy read. It had a few fun moments, and I found it enjoyable to read about Rani and Emily’s fun shenanigans.  However, some of their encounters were a bit over the top and I found myself questioning the moral of the story. Should kids always follow the rules or should they be allowed to have fun? I am not quite sure of the morals being portrayed for young kids. Young readers will find the book a fun and cute read.

Book Review - Leaving Lucy Pear by Anna Solomon

 

Leaving Lucy Pear by Anna Solomon is about Beatrice (Bea) Haven, who leaves her daughter, Lucy Pear, under a pear tree and the woman who raised Lucy. Bea is sent to live with her uncle at Cape Ann, Massachusetts after she becomes pregnant out of wedlock. She is the unwed daughter of wealthy Jewish industrialists and a gifted pianist. Bea was headed to Radcliffe college before her pregnancy, and she yearned for a fresh start.

One night, Bea sees a group of people looting the pear trees in her uncle’s garden. She wraps her daughter and leaves her under one of the trees. Bea waits until another woman picks up the infant and takes her away.

Ten years later, Bea returns to her uncle’s farm. Prohibition is in effect, and racism is prominent. Bea feels unsettled that her dreams for the future remained unfulfilled and she feels stuck. She hopes that spending time with her sick uncle will help cure some of her unhappiness as she feels unhappy that her life is unfulfilled..   Bea hires a caretaker to help with caring for her sick uncle. She soon realizes that not only is the caretaker a rum runner but has also been raising Bea’s daughter.

The novel is a cozy read with some intimate moments. I thought it was an okay read but nothing noteworthy. Nothing  was keeping me hooked to the novel. I felt the plot was boring and the characters ordinary enough that I didn’t care what they had going on. The book had a lot of characters, and it was confusing to keep track of how they related to each other. The book was an okay read, but it wasn’t for me.

Book Review -The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

 

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney is about four siblings fighting over their inheritance.  Every family has their share of problems. The Plumb family is no different. It is composed of four dysfunctional siblings: Melody, Beatrice, Jack, and Leo. The family gathered one cold afternoon in New York City to discuss their inheritance.

The money left to them by their deceased father was supposed to be a supplement to their other own sources of income. However, the siblings had watched as the value of their joint trust fund, nicknamed “The Nest”, soared in value with the stock market. They each have been counting on getting their inheritance money to solve their respective current financial problems.

Leo, their older and charismatic brother, was just recently released from rehab. He was ordered to attend after getting into a car accident with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger.  Melody is a mother and wife living in the suburbs, who has a huge mortgage and upcoming college tuition for her twin teenage daughters. Jack is an antiques dealer, whose store is struggling to make a profit. He has secretly borrowed against the beach cottage that he shares with his husband, Walker.  Bea once had a promising career as a short story author but struggles to write her next novel. She flits aimlessly through life. The siblings hope that Leo or “The Nest” can help alleviate their issues and protect their loved ones from knowing their secret financial woes.

I thought the book was an okay read. It was hard to keep track of the different characters and how they were related. At times, the book kept rambling and was so long-winded that it was easy to lose sight of the plot. The story was predictable and didn’t have any twists. If you are looking for a cozy family drama read, then you might like this novel more than I did.

December 2024 Empties!

 

 

 I can't believe it is already the end of the year! This is literally my last empties post for 2024, oh what a year. I can't believe how quickly the year has blown by but it has been an interesting one.

I didn't really finish much stuff this month, mostly moisturizers since it's been getting a bit cold. A few things I did like but only a handful of things I would consider getting again. 

I got the Bee Naturals Oil Free Moisturizer Facial Serum. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a lightweight moisturizer or a serum but either way, it barely did anything. It was very disappointing and I had to top it off with something. I would apply it to my skin and it would be feel like water on it. 

I am finally finished my Marc Jacobs lip gloss. I still have a few more in reserves but kind of sadden that they don't make them anymore. They are full of glitter and feel so comfortable on lips. I had liked the entire Marc Jacobs makeup line and thought they performed well. It was kind of sucky that they casually just stopped it without letting fans know.

I bought a new Hempz Cherry Blossom body lotion. I love the scent but I wish I got more bottles and it was limited edition. I do hope they have it again next year.  I got the Skinceuticals P-TIOX peptide serum. I usually love this brand but this serum was three dollar signs expensive and I didn't even see WOW results. I was a bit disappointed on how little it did.

Is there anything you finished this year that was very memorable?

Book Review - Five Survive by Holly Jackson

 

Five Survive by Holly Jackson is about six friends who decide to take a road trip together for spring break. Red Kenny and five of her friends decided to rent an RV and drive to meet the rest of their classmates for spring break. However, their plans go awry when their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. They try to call for help but realize that they have no cell service.

As the hours pass, they start to realize that this was no accident. They are trapped by someone who is outside of the RV and that someone wants one of them dead. With only a few hours until dawn, they will either need to figure out who is the target or find a way to escape.

I read this book after reading the “Good Girls Guide to Murder” trilogy by the author. I was excited to read this book, but I found Red Kenny to be so off-putting and annoying. She kept playing the victim and was very “woe is me”. It made her seem pathetic and annoying. And then, the number of times the author said Red’s mother died on her knees, can be made into a drinking game with most people being black-out drunk before reaching the end. There were a lot of elements that were repetitive and took away from the story. The plot dragged and felt dull at times. Some of the twists were predictable, and I just lost interest because none of the characters were likable. I finished the book and the only thing enjoyable was that it was done.

Book Review - As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

 

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson is the third book and last book of the series. We find Pip has finished her capstone project about the murder of Andie Bell. She even helped put away a few people, but the one person she was desperate (justifiably) to see behind bars was acquitted during their trial.  Pip is also still haunted by the way her last investigation ended. She felt that she could have done more to help.

Pip has been receiving a lot more death threats after her viral true crime podcast has skyrocketed in popularity. She has gotten used to ignoring it, but one anonymous person keeps sending one message that has her a bit worried. The person asks, “Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears”.

The threats start to escalate in terms of frequency and how scary they are becoming. She feels that someone is watching and following her. Pip decides to go to the police to report her suspicions, but no one believes her. She decides to investigate the issue and notices that there are some similarities between her stalker and a local serial killer who was supposedly caught six years ago. Pip wonders if the wrong person might be behind bars.

This novel was the exciting conclusion of the series. I was surprised at how it turned out. The novel took an unexpected twist for me, and I could understand how it got there. In this novel, we can see Pip suffering from PSTD and not sleeping well.  However, I was surprised when she missed a few clues, such as when her brother said that some shadowy person was watching the house. I am very surprised that she wasn’t worried especially when she got the death threats. She didn’t even think about his comments. Then Pip wears noise-canceling headphones while someone is actively trying to hurt her. Previously, she had an incident in which she was almost killed, and she realizes that a serial killer might be out to get her, yet she wears headphones while she is by herself to block out any noise while in public. I didn’t think those were wise decisions and I felt like the earlier versions of Pip wouldn’t have made such choices. Granted, she was under a lot of stress and not sleeping well.

I thought there would have been a bit more of a mystery aspect to the book. The serial killer was easy to guess. I liked the creepy aspect of the clues that the serial killer was leaving Pip. I didn’t like that the book spent so many pages talking about Pip taking drugs for her trauma and it moved so slowly. I felt like the final book was a huge disconnect from the other books in the series. I would still be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

 

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon is about two friends, Lampo and Gelon, who want to put on a play. After the Peloponnesian War in ancient Sicily, the Syracusans had an abundant number of surviving Athenians left in their city. They kept them as slaves in a rock quarry as prisoners of war and left them to rot.

Lampo and Gelon are two unemployed potters who love listening to poetry and drinking. They head to the quarry to find people who can recite lines from the great playwright Euripides in exchange for some food and drink. Originally, the two headed down to the quarry to pass the time but they decided to put on a full-blown production of Medea.

While most of the Syracusans are no fans of the remaining Athenians, they do enjoy watching plays by them. Lampo and Gelon work to secure funding and props for their production before opening night. They come across a mysterious man who seems to have a big interest in the play.

The novel was an entertaining read. Just a mild warning— It does have a lot of violence, abuse, and coarse language in the book.  The book had some funny moments, putting aside human suffering for one's own entertainment. It did make me wonder what people during that period did for entertainment. There were times that the book dragged and felt pointless.  The ending did leave more to be desired as a reader. However, I do like that the book had a different and unique premise and I would be open to reading more books from the author but, probably not with this storyline.