"Chinese poet Yu's fiction debut is utterly charming, particularly so for cat-lovers, who might argue that every bit of magic here is absolutely true."Chinese poet Yu's fiction debut is utterly charming, particularly so for cat-lovers, who might argue that every bit of magic here is absolutely true. Award-winning translator Tiang ensures smooth, playful anglophone access. During 60 pithy chapters - not unlike bursts of irresistible energy - Yu interprets endless kitty antics while her whimsical black-and-white sketches enhance every chapter, with every page framed in inviting pawprints. Ten thousand cats rain out of the sky. Dreams of an elusive kitty inspire the narrator to seek out cats while awake, suddenly noticing them 'everywhere.' Next, she's 'pondering and pondering every second of the day' the questions 'Why didn't I have a cat?' Then she happens upon a 'delicate little kitten, which she hugs and she runs home.' 'All of this happened with such inevitability that I didn't find it odd, and nor did Husband ... It was as if Cat had always been there.' A forever symbiosis follows as they are all linked to each other for all nine lives; training for humans will include amorphous cat shapes, sticky catkins, unpredictable cat tails, unstoppable cat carnage (of plants), and incurable Cat Virus. Perfect balance is achieved when the trio wondrously (albeit rather messily) becomes four, 'two people, two cats ... exactly the right number, depending on one another.' Happily-ever-after abounds." - Starred review by Terry Hong, Booklist. Suggested for teens and adults. ...more
Pros: - Cute setting, fun for a bookish nerd like me; I always love a small town with amusing locals. - The sister dynamic. - The cat. - The mystery itselPros: - Cute setting, fun for a bookish nerd like me; I always love a small town with amusing locals. - The sister dynamic. - The cat. - The mystery itself wasn't too bad.
Cons: - The repeated use of ableist r-slur. A character's child has down syndrome and it was super shitty to refer to her with the r-slur. - The anti-fatness. Lots of anti-fat tropes, from a fat sherif who "should have known the attraction wasn't real" because she was fat (HELLO, FAT PEOPLE LIVE FULL, LOVE-FILLED LIVES!) to the only way to be an acceptable fat person is to be a "good fatty" and be hyper feminine. Just no. - The racist description of a white woman lifting heavy boxes as "slave labor" and "being treated like a slave." WTF!...more
This book felt unending, even on 2x speed. And the ending really didn't work for me, it felt unfinished. But then again, nothing about the plot was alThis book felt unending, even on 2x speed. And the ending really didn't work for me, it felt unfinished. But then again, nothing about the plot was all that important throughout the story, and I do prefer a more plot-driven book than this. I started and stopped this book SO MANY TIMES. It won't be a go-to recommendation for me, but I will pull it out for folks looking for books that zone in on the experience of anxiety....more
"Another cozy sci-fi mystery, Floating Hotel takes place on a luxury star liner filled with intrigue. On the Grand Abeona, you’ll find the last word i"Another cozy sci-fi mystery, Floating Hotel takes place on a luxury star liner filled with intrigue. On the Grand Abeona, you’ll find the last word in fine dining and guest service alongside mysterious love poems littering the lobby and an unknown number of imperial spies. Everyone here has a secret, but it’s one-time stowaway turned manager of the Grand Abeona, Carl, who has to face them all down and decide whether the only place he’s ever called home is still worth the cost of admission." Rachel Brittain, BookRiot https://bookriot.com/queer-cozy-myste......more
"In this cozy British mystery series, an asexual autistic woman who goes by the nickname “Motts” has her quiet life turned upside down when she discov"In this cozy British mystery series, an asexual autistic woman who goes by the nickname “Motts” has her quiet life turned upside down when she discovers a dead body buried in her garden. Now she’s mixed up in a criminal investigation, with a murderer out to get her and a cute detective on her case. This is really not what she had in mind when she moved from the bustle of London to the quiet British countryside. Can she stay alive long enough to solve the case and get back to the life she wanted, or will she wind up as another body buried in the backyard?" Rachel Brittain, BookRiot https://bookriot.com/queer-cozy-myste......more
"A luxury airship banquet ends in death, and it’s up to chef Alex LeBeau to solve it when her son is charged with murder. Alex just wanted to start ov"A luxury airship banquet ends in death, and it’s up to chef Alex LeBeau to solve it when her son is charged with murder. Alex just wanted to start over and provide a quiet life for her son, away from their past, when she got a job as a cooking instructor in Louisiana. That means staying away from any romance, too. But soon enough she’s falling for warm-eyed Josephine and trying to solve a murder to save her son, all while stopping the real killer from striking again." Rachel Brittain, BookRiot https://bookriot.com/queer-cozy-myste......more
"As someone who’s watched my fair share of HGTV home renovation shows, I’m obsessed with this premise. Peter and JP are partners at home and at work a"As someone who’s watched my fair share of HGTV home renovation shows, I’m obsessed with this premise. Peter and JP are partners at home and at work as stars and producers of a hit new home renovation show called Domestic Partners. But when a dead body shows up on the new season, will their skills as a mystery novelist and former star on a cop show be enough to help them solve this real-life murder?" Rachel, Brittain, BookRiot https://bookriot.com/queer-cozy-myste......more
"For fans of Hawai’i-set murder mysteries and amateur sleuths!
Valerie Corbin is a retired caterer who was recently in a car accident that killed her b"For fans of Hawai’i-set murder mysteries and amateur sleuths!
Valerie Corbin is a retired caterer who was recently in a car accident that killed her brother. To help her grieving process and her marriage, she goes on vacation to Hawai’i with her wife, Kristen. The vacation turns murder mystery when Valerie swears she sees a man’s leg right before a volcano’s lava covers it. Kristen might not believe Valerie saw this, but it won’t stop Valerie from investigating!" - BookRiot
"Karst (the Sally Solari mysteries) introduces grief-stricken retired caterer Valerie Corbin in this entertaining cozy series launch. Valerie, the traumatized survivor of a car accident that killed her brother, Charlie, knows her emotional numbness has put a strain on her marriage. To brighten things up, she plans a vacation to Hawaii’s Big Island with her wife, Kristen. The couple’s island respite is short-lived, however. While viewing an active lava flow one day, Valerie spots a man’s boot, then notices it’s still attached to a leg. Moments later, the leg and boot are covered by molten rock. Though Kristen doubts what Valerie saw, Valerie doubles down on her claim and scours for information about missing people in the area. Soon, she discovers that a local man has recently disappeared, possibly in connection with a rash of avocado thefts, or a protest movement enraged that the island’s sacred resources are being exploited. Karst rewards armchair travelers without ignoring the thorny politics of Hawaiian tourism, and firmly grounds the core mystery in Valerie’s emotional struggles. Readers will be hungry for the sequel. Agent: Erin Niumata, Folio Literary. (Apr.) --Staff (Reviewed 02/19/2024) (Publishers Weekly, vol 271, issue 7, p)"...more
"An autistic book editor stumbles into a murder mystery while attempting to claim her inheritance in this wonderful series launch from historian Schil"An autistic book editor stumbles into a murder mystery while attempting to claim her inheritance in this wonderful series launch from historian Schillace (Mr. Humble & Dr. Butcher). After her mother dies, Josephine “Jo” Jones heads from New York City to England to take possession of her family’s long-abandoned country estate. Following a divorce and a devastating job loss, Jo plans to restore the property and start a new life. When she arrives, however, she finds caretaker Sid Randles dead in his cottage on the property. A short time later, she discovers a strange portrait of a woman who resembles one of her ancestors hidden in the main house’s attic that subsequently goes missing. She reports both incidents to the local authorities, but they’re skeptical of Jo’s outsider status and insensitive to her autism. Teaming up with new friends, including an antiques dealer and an innkeeper’s wife whom she meets in town, Jo sets out to clear her name, and find the killer and the thief before they strike again. Schillace, who’s autistic herself, draws a marvelously believable heroine in Jo, and sets her up with an expertly constructed mystery. Readers will be hungry for a sequel. Agent: Jessica Papin, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.) --Staff (Reviewed 01/15/2024) (Publishers Weekly, vol 271, issue 2, p)"...more
The friend who suggested this to me describes this story as "a big gentle hug for your heart" and I couldn't agree more! If you are looking for the waThe friend who suggested this to me describes this story as "a big gentle hug for your heart" and I couldn't agree more! If you are looking for the warm, cozy, pastoral, and friendship vibes of The Snowman and Winnie the Pooh, pick this up. It has a fable quality to it, and I find it very wise. Good for readers of any age. I think it would particularly touching to read to young ones and to give to someone during transition points (graduation, first time living alone, struggling through grief, moving to a new place, etc.). ...more
Awwww I loved this! The illustrations are luminous and dream-like. I wasn’t expecting the twist, I thought it was very clever. This book is comfortingAwwww I loved this! The illustrations are luminous and dream-like. I wasn’t expecting the twist, I thought it was very clever. This book is comforting. This is such a precious tale that honors friendship, transitions, growing up, grief, and imagination. I consider it a must-read and is one that can be enjoyed over and over again. ...more
This book is as sweet as I remember it! I can’t remember the last time I read (or was read) this book, but I think it must have been when my youngest This book is as sweet as I remember it! I can’t remember the last time I read (or was read) this book, but I think it must have been when my youngest sister was 5 or younger. Soooo several decades! The illustrations alternate between black and white line drawings and full color spreads. The message is that your parent will always be there for you, no matter how far you go or what you become. This isn’t always the case in real life, but it is a comforting dream. Lots of nostalgia for this book! ...more
"When the man whose bed Hayden McCall wakes up in goes missing, he becomes the police’s prime suspect in what might be a case of foul play. But Hayden"When the man whose bed Hayden McCall wakes up in goes missing, he becomes the police’s prime suspect in what might be a case of foul play. But Hayden doesn’t know anything. In fact, Camilo Rodrigues was practically a stranger before he accidentally kicked Hayden in the face at a nightclub. Now, Hayden needs to track down Camilo’s friends and find out more about this guy before anything else happens. Because even worse than the police suspecting Hayden would be them not investigating this disappearance at all." Rachel Brittain, BookRiot https://bookriot.com/queer-cozy-myste......more
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