Cracking the Glass

May 29, 2024July 10, 2024Leave a comment

Many of you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And with only two days left until we jump into June, I wanted to share this book with you.

Is it new? Is it exciting? Not by a long shot. What it is: relevant. As someone caught in the daily clutches of CPTSD, clinical depression, and severe anxiety, this is a book I return to time and again. Because it gets me. And I see so many of my own inner demons in Esther Greenwood.

These topics—especially concerning society and sex and the expectations put upon women AND men—are as important today as they were 50 years ago. And just because it’s not smacking you in the face with the obvious stick, doesn’t mean that mental illness isn’t hiding in those near and dear to your heart.

So the next time you’re wandering your favorite bookstore, stop by that stack of featured classics. Grab yourself a copy of this book, step into the world of a woman battling with her mind and society, and see what resonates. And if you find some familiarity in that proverbial bell jar, know that you are not alone. You can crack the glass. You can even shatter it. There is always a way to break free.

Pure Genius

February 10, 2024July 10, 2024Leave a comment

What are your favorite book series? One of many personal favorites is the Pure trilogy.
I remember the first time I read Pure. I was pulling my hair out over the fact that I did not have the next book in the series right-here-right-now. Talk about frustration! Even after my second read-through I just couldn’t get enough.

Julianna Baggott is a master world-builder. Her post-apocalyptic world is phenomenally created and is my favorite aspect of these books with their mix of raw brutality and the stark beauty of humanity fighting to exist. From world history to creature construction, there is no stone left unturned. I enjoyed the way Baggott deals with world history by weaving truth, rumor, and speculation in and throughout the dialogue and character interaction.

While beautifully written, there is a dark savagery that pushes the grotesque and uncomfortable into the face of the reader, so this isn’t one I would suggest for those without a strong stomach or on the younger side of the YA spectrum. But it certainly is a book series that I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest to readers and writers alike—for anyone looking for a unique take on a rather overdone trend of dystopian teen saviors.

A Tale of Two Nations

December 9, 2023September 25, 2024Leave a comment

Let’s talk about Pachinko.

There are so many things to love about this book. From a historical context, it’s fascinating. I was already aware of the history between Korea and Japan, and the impacts that still hold to this day. But I was curious to know more. As a recommendation from a Korean friend to find a better understanding of this relationship between the two nations, I can say that it did not disappoint. It’s richly detailed, and Min Jin Lee certainly knows how to pull you into another time and place.

**Warning: SPOILERS ahead!**

What I did not like about this book is that while there is so much history and familial details to get lost in, you’re never given enough time with any one character to really develop a connection. It’s almost as though all the things I love about the book, smother the opportunity for character development. Because a story like this isn’t just about the political and historical climate of those eras—it’s supposed to be about the lives of those in the thick of it. And yet just when you’re getting a feel for a character, the chapter literally ends with their death. And this happens again and again. True to life? Perhaps. But when I read, I want to actually care about the characters, and I was never given the chance to do that.

Is it worth reading? Absolutely! But read it to broaden your knowledge of a tempestuous relationship between two nations, because those are the two characters that truly rule this story.

Side note: I’ve said this maybe five times in my life, but the tv adaptation of Pachinko is amazing and I daresay, better than the book. All the flaws that I struggled with in the book were handled beautifully. The characters are nuanced and richly developed, and cinematically it’s just stunning. Check it out on Apple TV.

Here be Monsters

September 23, 2023July 10, 20241 Comment

A few posts back I promised to post some short reviews. Although not something new, (but certainly treasured) I’ll start with this little gem.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. I randomly picked up Smoke and Mirrors when I was a teen and instantly fell in love. The man’s way with words is just…*swoon*. I have loved every book written by Gaiman, and I readily admit I’m biased. So if you’re looking for impartiality on this particular book, you won’t find it here.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is childhood bound in words. You cannot read this book without seeing the world again through your own seven-year-old eyes. You’ll remember the wonder, the magic, the fear and hesitation. And you’ll be reminded that for all the whimsy found in your imagination, there were also monsters in the darkness that tried to lure you in. Was it all real or just pretend?

“Monsters come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are things people are scared of. Some of them are things that look like things people used to be scared of a long time ago. Sometimes monsters are things people should be scared of, but they aren’t.”

This book is short, and packed full of loveliness that will leave you thinking for days. You’ll reminisce and consider. You’ll hurt and you’ll smile. Really, please, just give it a go.
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