panWhat. The. Actual. Fuck. So Child just decided to throw all the development from the third book out, huh?
Worst female characterization yet, and misogyny in general is why I will NOT be continuing in the series.
Author is bending over backwards to find a reason for Reacher to be involved in yet another criminal investigation even though he's not formally connected to any law enforcement agency, 1/?
pickThe ending definitely made this one.
I knew it would be heavy in tone before I read it, and for the majority it's a hard read about hard lives, but the ending has a beauty to it, even if you see it coming, and it wouldn't have the same impact if the plot had been gentler, if different choices were made. 1/?
pickAs part of my new goal to read more Canadian books, I picked up this poetry collection from a woman who was born in India and immigrated to Canada at a young age. I had no deal what it contained. In the best traditions of feminist non-fiction poetry, this follows a very personal journey the author took following emotionally, physically devastating circumstances, it dwells in darker moments but gradually transitions to ideas of love and healing. 1/
I had no idea when I picked this collection up I'd be just as stunned by the art as the writing.
The sentiment is lovely, the illustration is exquisite.
Wasn't actually looking for a reason to cry today...this is beautiful in a way that hurts. 🥹😭
pickHappy to finally get the next volume from the library, full of the expected heartfelt moments and truly absurd humourous moments, with the unexpected gut punch of Mission 91, which really got me. Starting with an event for wounded veterans bringing a number of characters together, it got heavy and eloquent in a way that stunned me: turning an argument about who lost what in the war, who deserves respect and who should shut their mouth, 1/?
pickGotta love a series so zany to begin with that even the most off the wall bonus bits tacked on the end don't feel out of place.
Highlights for this volume:
Everything with the hamster
Denouement of the sauna episode
Completely oblivious misinterpretation of zombie motivations
pickFelt like it had harder edges this time 'round. It's certainly more entertaining on reread, knowing the ultimate tack the tale takes, seeing the winks to the reader throughout the story, but I think maybe my love for the Vimes books makes it harder for me to love the Witch ones.
With a great deal of veracity, Magrat, Ogg and Weatherwax are ultimately three women respected in their community for how they have helped out, now having to encounter 1/
Strangely touching dedication. 🥹🐻
Coincidental colour palette commonality in current reads. ☺️
pickSo many ways faith can break people. The book also shows the hazards of ego/pride, prejudice/unwillingness to move beyond past wrongs, but in-fighting in the midst of a religious war, and fanaticism in particular, are the true villains here. I would not recommend this book to anyone who has trauma around armed conflict because the plot of this third book is heavily steeped in battle, its mistakes and losses. 1/?
Okay but Vengeance, Incorporated is amazing
Isn't it nice that the fans were responding favourably to the chemically enhanced creativity by supplying the artists with more mind-altering substances? 🙃🧪
Was this by any chance an LSD or mushroom-induced trance, Steve?! 😵💫🍄
pickTruly unique in a way I know I'm going to struggle to do justice to.
First, please, please, do a tandem read on this. The audiobook is read by the author, whose voice is both genuine and a completely beautiful surprise. Her way with words will make you want to have the print in front of your eyes at the same time.
The format is quietly groundbreaking, taking moments to discuss the form, function and life cycle of plants, trees, 1/?
“America may say that it values science, but it sure as hell doesn't want to pay for it.“ 😞
Favourites from the first half of 2025.
Upon reflection, these are the most powerful, memorable, beautiful, enjoyable reads from January to June .
From the top left to bottom right:
Non-fiction memoir and general, graphic novels, art non-fiction, poetry, picture books,
Fiction: fantasy, sci fi, contemporary/historical, crime, horror
pickGiggles aplenty. 😁
Highlights from this volume include:
Woman huffing kitty cat, then adopting/absconding with the one in the cat cafe that reminds her of her husband
Medical professional critiquing the drama set up by Tatsu and Miku to entertain a kid in the hospital
Of COURSE, the continuing adventures surrounding a retired mob boss and his darling dog Pinky
Competitive haiku with the adorable father-in-law along for the ride
pickAbsurd in a way that leaves me grinning.
Fave of this volume was of course dogs + mobsters episode.
Other highlights include:
Food that transports via sense memory people back to moments in their past that wreak emotional devastation in the most entertaining way possible
The flair with which house husband and nerd team up for the pursuit of prizes
Poor Masa repeatedly ending up that worse for wear thanks to the power couple's good intentions
Never heard neutering phrased quite like that...🤦🏼♂️
pickStunning art, the quality of the narrative varies.
Town Mouse Country Mouse is a reproduction of the original tale with glorious detail in both the nature of country mouse and the luxuriously cozy surroundings of city mouse, not to mention the various other animals in their imaginative ensembles. Top notch way to engage with a classic.
1/?
Beautiful, the colour and the detail.
pickWonderful. The ART! The rendering of nature, the detail in both the borders and background and central figures on each page, the use of colour, the expression on the little turtle faces! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT. And of course, a great message contained within the narrative. So grateful Jan Brett was recommended to me.
Just gorgeous. And the meeting of Mossy and Scoot, so cute! 🥰
pickA lovely time, with just a sprinkle of bittersweetness among the flights of fancy. I enjoy the visual design choices, colours vibrant in memories and more muted in present, the pink standing out throughout, and the choice to make the story almost, but not completely, word free.
pickOverall, a pleasant experience. I'll admit I was confused to start with, as the author has produced works of fiction related to the Vinyl Cafe radio show, but this collection is essays rather than short stories.
A lot are simple moments, what I might term as palate cleansers, but they do occasionally get more involved, heavy, moving, discussing the author's past and present as well as that of Canada and Canadians. 1/?
...“as if I had run my hand across the entire country like you would a piano.“
I love the way that description engages the senses.
...“the deadfalls are part of the beauty.“
Suddenly my love of old graveyards and old forests are linked. What a wonderful way of seeing.
🍃☀️
pickEverything I wanted it to be.
The focus is on Black cinematic horror, but to address the subject well, it also dips into Black cinematic history beyond horror, and the Black experience in America, historical and present day. There is some coverage of international releases, but the book is primarily talking about US films and the minutiae reflecting the particular racism of each decade as it affects the output of Black horror cinema, 1/?
And one that is immediately prejudiced against Reacher, shrewish, obstinate and inflexible, unwilling to listen (though that has other motivations attached), 4h
Oh, and a major plot point involves hypnosis.
Yeah, I think I'm done with this series, permanently. 🚮
⚠️SA, misogyny 4h