This is a retelling of Northanger Abbey, only swap horror movies for gothic novels, and a summer job at a ranch for a season in Bath, and two cute parThis is a retelling of Northanger Abbey, only swap horror movies for gothic novels, and a summer job at a ranch for a season in Bath, and two cute partially-closeted teen gay boys for the central couple.
I will confess that I almost bailed in the early set-up for this book. It takes racism and homophobia head on, and our protagonist, Cade, does NOT want to take the summer ranch job, and once he does he is effectively trapped with no privacy, even sharing a bedroom with his stepdad who Cade is not out to and sometimes makes homophobic comments and THIS ALL FELT LIKE A LITTLE MUCH FOR A JANE AUSTEN RETELLING. But once Cade gets over the first week shock at his new job, the stress drops to a more tolerable level, and I think it does a good job balancing the Jane Austen vibes with the very real feelings of isolation and danger for queer kids in rural Texas. I'm glad I kept with it. ...more
A bunch of white people being the absolute worst can be painful to read. If you are interested in a world where only Black people have superpowers, deA bunch of white people being the absolute worst can be painful to read. If you are interested in a world where only Black people have superpowers, definitely start with the first volume, Black. I enjoyed the dynamics of the team and the ways they played out differently than more familiar superhero tales in Marvel & DC. I wish there was actually a lot more of this....more
Between when I kickstarted this project and when I received my finished copy, I read enough about Artemisia's life elsewhere that this delivered littlBetween when I kickstarted this project and when I received my finished copy, I read enough about Artemisia's life elsewhere that this delivered little new information, and where this slim volume chose to spend its time I did not love. So much time spent on the rapes, the trial, the part of her marriage where her husband was terrible. Hardly ANY time on her building her reputation as an artist, not nearly enough on the friendships she built, the rich and powerful who advocated for her and protected her.
I did like the frame of this story being told by her daughter though, the way she built a life where her children could grow up relatively peacefully, painting only when they liked and for the joy of it.
If you HAVEN'T read much or anything about Artemisia before, you would probably like this better. ...more
I think my enjoyment of this book suffered a bit for reading it right after Flowers of Fire: The Inside Story of South Korea's Feminist Movement and WI think my enjoyment of this book suffered a bit for reading it right after Flowers of Fire: The Inside Story of South Korea's Feminist Movement and What It Means for Women's Rights Worldwide. I loved Yeon-Sik's previous work, Uncomfortably Happy, but this one puts the focus on the protagonist's relationship with his mom (Umma), and her life of always putting her kids (and their abusive alcoholic dad) first. Madang is living his life differently in that he does all the cooking and shares in childcare, but he also resents it when under deadline and snipes about "spoiling" his wife. So it comes so close to directly addressing the gender roles he was raised with, but then never really does, which frustrated me. I did enjoy the book overall, especially the focus on gardening and food. ...more
Up until this point I'd been doing a beyond-stellar job working my way through books I already owned, but we all knew I was going to buy and then devoUp until this point I'd been doing a beyond-stellar job working my way through books I already owned, but we all knew I was going to buy and then devour this the second it was released, didn't we?
(Yes. Yes, we did.)
Every once in a while I worry this ridiculous story is going to fall off the rails, as if Vaughan hasn't already earned plenty of faith from me. This one digs deep into some of the messiest areas of life -- abortion and late-term pregnancy loss, and treats both with Saga's remarkable brand of humanism.
There's also some raunch, revenge, Petrichor finally gets a little action, and lots of discussion on when killing or giving your life for someone or something is or isn't appropriate. And some really fantastic creatures.
In short, continuing to deliver on everything that makes this series great.
Merged review:
Up until this point I'd been doing a beyond-stellar job working my way through books I already owned, but we all knew I was going to buy and then devour this the second it was released, didn't we?
(Yes. Yes, we did.)
Every once in a while I worry this ridiculous story is going to fall off the rails, as if Vaughan hasn't already earned plenty of faith from me. This one digs deep into some of the messiest areas of life -- abortion and late-term pregnancy loss, and treats both with Saga's remarkable brand of humanism.
There's also some raunch, revenge, Petrichor finally gets a little action, and lots of discussion on when killing or giving your life for someone or something is or isn't appropriate. And some really fantastic creatures.
In short, continuing to deliver on everything that makes this series great....more
Listen. I DID NOT COME HERE TO BE GUT-PUNCHED LIKE THIS.
It had been so long since the last volume, and things had been left in such a sad state for soListen. I DID NOT COME HERE TO BE GUT-PUNCHED LIKE THIS.
It had been so long since the last volume, and things had been left in such a sad state for so long. Yet future-Hazel has been narrating all along with this kind of hope? optimism? something to indicate that while tragic things had happened to her, she had been loved and felt safe and grown and ended up in a good place.
So I wanted this to be the start of the path to healing, I guess?
It's not like I expected it to be easy! Or bloodless! Or not to have a cost, or to deal with grief!
But that ending broke me, and I think I am done with this series. ...more
My one-sentence review of this the day I finished it was: aroused more interest than it actually satisfied, and that remains my verdict. There was jusMy one-sentence review of this the day I finished it was: aroused more interest than it actually satisfied, and that remains my verdict. There was just enough information here to make me wish for MORE — a longer, more in depth piece on the period where we could have gotten to know some of the people involved a little better.
I am glad that this was funded and created and so widely distributed though, especially considering the backlash currently happening all over this country. ...more
I bought this book for my teenager, as it was at the top of all the banned book lists, which seemed like a good indicator that it would be worth readiI bought this book for my teenager, as it was at the top of all the banned book lists, which seemed like a good indicator that it would be worth reading. Then, as people continued to talk about it, I decided I had better borrow it from him.
I loved this book immediately. The illustration style is straightforward, inviting, warm, humane. The story is an unfolding of learning and discovery of gender that organically underlines how fluid it all is -- how the markers of gender are so heavily dependent on a particular time, place, social class, society. Maia's journey in slowly finding and drilling down on those things that feel authentic, comfortable, and frankly discussing the tradeoffs of conforming to one expectation or another.
One doesn't have to be questioning one's gender to find this book a revelation (though how helpful this book could be if you were!) The whole vibe of this is liberatory -- reminding us we can all be brave enough to pursue the becoming of who we truly are. In particular there were two scenes that felt like fireworks going off in my brain. First, the "controversial" blowjob scene -- which I honestly wish I could put in the hands of every teenager in their country. While conservatives wring their hands over the "obscenity," I was blown away by the honest depiction of someone trying something sexual with a partner that they thought they would be into, realizing they were NOT, communicating that, and their partner respecting that and moving on. I am comparing this to my own sex ed class, where we were shown a chart of a boy's arousal during sexual activity, and a line that depicted his "point of no return," where, it was heavily implied, it would be too late for us girls to say no.
I still get furious thinking about it. Obviously.
The other moment was unexpected. Maia meets up with Jana Bee, who introduces em to the concept of nonbinary identity and neopronouns. But something about Jaina's presentation -- hair, clothes, and especially that SWEATER made my heart fill with glitter. I am now on a quest for a real-world sweater that fills my heart with as much joy.
Listen. This book is incredible. And incredibly important. It needs to be on the shelves, available to kids who don't even know yet that they need it. ...more
I have never met a "staff recs" section in a bookstore like the one at Hooked. Enough books I have read and loved (some of which fall far from the beaI have never met a "staff recs" section in a bookstore like the one at Hooked. Enough books I have read and loved (some of which fall far from the beaten path) to fill my heart with trust, and then always somehow a handful of I DID NOT KNOW THIS BOOK EXISTED UNTIL THIS SECOND BUT NOW I NEED IT IMMEDIATELY. Like this one.
Listen, I don't now when Asian-Amereican immigration stories became a thing for me, but here we clearly are. Plus it's a graphic novel! And it's queer! And it grapples with the anti-Asian hate that rose during the pandemic.
I loved the energy in Gao's art, and I loved the honesty and humor in this. Given the subject matter, I think this finds an ultimately uplifting balance between the fear and the joy, and I'm impressed at how quickly such a timely book was brought to press.
Another graphic novel I checked out at the library in an attempt to read the entire short list fro the Ignyte Awards Best Comics Team. Squad is a YA sAnother graphic novel I checked out at the library in an attempt to read the entire short list fro the Ignyte Awards Best Comics Team. Squad is a YA shifter teen graphic novel -- like what Heathers would be if all the Heathers had been werewolves. And, you know, made today, so that they weren't all straight white people.
This story is campy and fun and a little dangerous, and the artwork is bright and colorful with JUST enough gore -- keeping the focus on the interpersonal drama rather than blood and transformations. The story is fast-paced, about girls seeking power within the constraints of their parents, their community, and the expectations of both. When things start to spiral out of control, who will rein them back in?
A perfect popcorn balance of tension, teen rebellion, and dark satisfaction, with a cotton candy perfect queer ending. Good, messy fun....more
Sorry, that person's shelf is private.
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