tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71516318511746279292024-03-18T18:15:16.122-06:00Epic Stitching & Epic ReadingStitching and reading; all on epic proportions. From giant projects and thick books to many works in progress and over 100 books read a year! Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.comBlogger920125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-47723029853065712542024-03-18T18:14:00.005-06:002024-03-18T18:14:32.632-06:00Book Review: The Dress in the WindowThe Dress in the Window by Robert Tregoning
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
”One beautiful dress for my beautiful son.” This line really sums up this amazingly sweet book. Not once does anyone tell this boy he can’t wear a dress. The whole neighbourhood works with him to find chores to do so he can get money to help pay for the dress. It’s absolutely fabulous! No talk about being a boy or Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-63876881821924979772024-02-26T12:00:00.005-07:002024-02-26T12:00:29.656-07:00Book Review: Last WinterLast Winter by Carrie Mac
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was not what I had hoped for. A small part of it was about wilderness survival; but it was mostly about a wife and mom, and her bi-polar disorder that ravaged both her, her husband, and her family. Which is not to say it wasn’t well written, because it was. To the point where it had my own mental health reacting to the words of the story. My Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-25656080684594930192024-02-14T10:30:00.001-07:002024-02-14T10:30:00.325-07:00Book Review: The Circus InfiniteThe Circus Infinite by Khan Wong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I've been struggling to complete a review of this book for (believe it or not) months. It's not that I didn't like it; or that I loved it. It's a good enough read. The kind of thing I'd be pleased to pick-up at a local bookstore if it was curated content (ie: local, POC author, met a monthly theme, etc.); yet it wasn't quite good Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-40551383870082290172024-02-13T04:30:00.006-07:002024-02-13T04:30:00.151-07:00Book Review: The Bone Shard EmperorThe Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As I write this I am halfway through the third, and final, book of this series. I know two things already: Andrea Stewart is now on my 'must-read' list, and second, that I LOVE the diversity of the points of view Stewart shows and her ability to give us realistic, meaningful characters. Even the companions (who are creatures ofMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-26715317298527538542024-02-12T19:20:00.005-07:002024-02-12T19:20:34.380-07:00Book Review: Me and My Dysphoria Monster Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Even if the only thing a child understands from this book is that boys are sometimes girls, and girls are sometimes boys, for me that would be enough. Yet I think there is a whole lot more here that even a 5 or 6 year-old could understand. From what Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-54304711126301657612024-02-08T22:17:00.003-07:002024-02-08T22:17:45.268-07:00Book Review: Weyward Weyward by Emilia Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Went in expecting the typical persecuted witches (across a couple generations) story. And while Weyward is that, at its core, it’s also distinctly different and has some great twists on the idea. For a debut novel, Emilia Hart has done an incredible job of making sure you are drawn into the story, compelled to flip the page, and rooting for our Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-50598665531868748722024-02-06T18:28:00.005-07:002024-02-06T18:28:59.448-07:00Book Review: Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Please note this is NOT a middle grade, or young adult book. It may look like one on the cover, and read like one in the blurb but it has prostitution, violence, sex, etc. i it. Nothing worse than Sarah J. Maas has in Court of Thorn and Roses; but it should be listed as Teen, in my opinion.Onto my review... Piracy in AsiaMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-20149967466226964702024-02-06T18:10:00.006-07:002024-02-06T18:10:55.098-07:00Book Review: At Midnight (anthology)At Midnight by Dahlia Adler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Really solid. 15 stories inspired by 15 fairy tales. Like with the Poe edition the original story (or a version of it) is at the back of this book. So I read the original and then the retelling. The biggest downfall here is maybe the selection of which fairy tale original was published. There’s so many versions of these tales and to go backMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-19803874855477193242024-01-17T07:00:00.014-07:002024-02-06T17:59:59.161-07:00Cross Stitch Book Review: America the BeautifulAmerica the Beautiful Cross Stitch: Stitch 30 of America's Most Iconic National Parks and Monuments by Becker & Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First, up-front disclosure: I'm an avid stitcher and have been stitching for 30+ years. I was 11 when I was first taught how to cross stitch. It is my primary hobby after reading. Second disclosure: I'm Canadian. Which may seem weird to like this book Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-24169983328861984892024-01-16T15:38:00.003-07:002024-01-16T15:38:31.946-07:00Book Review: The Dyatlov Pass Mystery The Dyatlov Pass Mystery by Cédric Mayen
My rating: 3 of 5 starsThe illustrations and writing here are wonderful. The choice to end this graphic novel without an explanation of what happens is intriguing. But I’m good with it as it encourages folks to research further the details of the Dyatlov Mystery. There is a critical mistake made here in my opinion… so before I get into what that is let meMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-85600264985128683892024-01-05T21:31:00.002-07:002024-01-05T21:31:11.679-07:00Book Review: Never Whistle in the Dark Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I knew it would happen one day… I would give an anthology five stars! Yes there are lessor stories in here; maybe three or four. However, the amazing stories more than make up for them. Especially when there are 28 stories included here!! All kinds of horror are portrayed here. Clever concepts,Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-42903534545845667472023-12-28T21:03:00.005-07:002023-12-28T21:03:55.293-07:00Book Review: The Berry PickersThe Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent characters. Believable real-life situations and challenges. Wonderful Indigenous representation. Even thought The Berry Pickers is outside my norm for typical books I select; I still enjoyed it. This is a ‘book club’ like pick (which I usually avoid). As it’s an Indigenous story I wanted to read it. I’m glad I did. ThereMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-81450872610254698782023-12-28T20:46:00.000-07:002023-12-28T20:46:02.992-07:00Book review: Jake the Growling Dog Jake the Growling Dog by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a bit of a weird one as it appears to be a republish, under a slightly different name, with updated illustrations and text. Regardless it’s still quite cute. About a dog named Jake (based on a real dog!) who growls and scares everyone around him. Ironically my own pup, a pitbull mix rescue, likes to growl when he Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-52199011816607986722023-12-28T20:29:00.004-07:002023-12-28T20:29:50.161-07:00Book Review: Who Owns the CloudsWho Owns the Clouds? by Mario Brassard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This graphic novel is poignant and sad. No child should ever have to experience any part of war, directly or indirectly. Unfortunately for me I found this a bit too esoteric. I knew going in what to expect (I thought) but it still felt a bit too intangible. I realize this is partially on purpose; but if you put this in the hands Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-14510037677312938722023-11-20T13:57:00.008-07:002023-11-20T13:57:50.500-07:00Book Review: Starling HouseStarling House by Alix E. Harrow My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
”I cross the river and drive to the place where the streetlights stop and the woods turn wild, where the only light is the faint, amber glimmer of a lit window, shining to me through the trees.”Without a doubt Alix E. Harrow has a magical knack for words. Her descriptions are so rich, alive, and (for Starling House) gothic. The Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-80035355329618056862023-11-19T21:22:00.001-07:002023-11-19T21:22:10.791-07:00Book Review: The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
”I thought if I just kept on, I’d eventually get somewhere. But if you choose the wrong path, you’re not going to end up where you wanted to go by charging ahead, are you? You have to stop and turn around sometimes, even if it’s not easy.” The women in The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill are tough and not easily Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-3742229018041565202023-10-13T04:00:00.008-06:002023-10-13T04:00:00.257-06:00Book Review: Stories from the Tenants DownstairsStories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was an interesting 'anthology' of stories. Although it's not really an anthology as the stories all link together somehow. Each story is about or from the point of view of a tenant of the same building. They all share experiences, knowledge, and (in some cases) friendship throughout the entire set of stories. OverallMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-3945410841391492202023-10-12T17:11:00.002-06:002023-10-12T17:11:33.786-06:00Book Review: A Garden of CreaturesA Garden of Creatures by Sheila Heti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A gem of a book about dying and where we go upon death. This lovely Canadian children’s book has gorgeous illustrations that feel calming. While sometimes sad they are overall loving in the end. An amazing book to gift any child (or even adult) who has experienced loss recently and is having trouble coping. Or, I would suggest, as a wayMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-81525854450207879102023-09-27T22:18:00.010-06:002023-09-27T22:18:00.149-06:00Book Review: The Haunting of AlejandraThe Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Readers should be warned this is a horror novel. At first it may not seem as such but by the end there is visceral, gory, graphic events that may make some queasy or uncomfortable. For another woman this book could rank extremely high. It’s about the female legacy of generational trauma; and how as women we often tend to take on Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-46286619870498147692023-09-26T22:25:00.000-06:002023-09-26T22:25:16.442-06:00Book Review: Night of the Living QueersNight of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror Delight by Shelly Page
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Did I just finish these thirteen creepy blue moon stories moments before midnight on the evening of a Blue Supermoon while a thunderstorm starts overhead… yeah not joking, that’s for real what is happening right now. And I didn’t even try to time it as I didn’t even know about Blue Supermoon untilMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-21138129155237534782023-09-26T22:15:00.001-06:002023-09-26T22:15:15.808-06:00Book Review: Good Weather Suicide CultReunion of the Good Weather Suicide Cult by Kyle McCord
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I think this story would make a better screenplay or mini-series than a book. I know the author is trying to be creative with the use of the ‘Netflix docuseries’ descriptive chapters. Unfortunately for me they were a bit too dry; even though they involved the key details of the mass suicide and the formation of Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-48731242621926611272023-08-22T06:00:00.013-06:002023-08-22T06:00:00.148-06:00Book Review: In the Belly of the CongoIn the Belly of the Congo by Amy B. Reid (translated)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'm waffling between 3 and 4 stars for In the Belly of the Congo. It was good; but not engaging. This could be because it was a translation; something often seems to get lost in the nuances and flow when it's translated to another language (from one to any language, not just English). There are two POVs, 45 years Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-3958790239497103852023-08-21T18:14:00.002-06:002023-08-21T18:14:21.842-06:00Book Review: The Rose CodeThe Rose Code by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An amazing journey, portrayed via multiple POV’s real-life people, in real-life situations, during a real-life war. From the female codebreakers, to the harassed men, to Prince Phillip (yes that Philip that married Queen Elizabeth II); The Rose Code has the kind of human characters, fictional excitement, and basis in real life that makes it one Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-5836752617434027072023-08-21T17:35:00.002-06:002023-08-21T17:35:13.400-06:00Book Review: A Sliver of Darkness A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What would it take for me to, one day, give an anthology 5 stars? I honestly don’t know. Especially considering this was one of the best sets of horror short stories I’ve read in a long time! So much great stuff here. C. J. Tudor really shows that she has range, a crazy imagination, and real staying power (even though she only has 3 full Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151631851174627929.post-24177311441497552292023-07-18T17:56:00.003-06:002023-07-18T17:56:10.717-06:00Book Review: The Bone Shard DaughterThe Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazing!! An absolute tour de force. This book is incredible. My time taken to read it is only because I decided to savour it and read many books in-between. I’ll be onto the second book immediately and do not intend to take near as long to devour it. The plot, the magic, the characters, the beasts; all of it is just so well Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594812333087218854noreply@blogger.com1