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Kristy_K

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen | Jose Antonio Vargas

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An incredibly brave memoir.

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Robotswithpersonality

Never Have I Ever: Stories | Isabel Yap

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Add another to my list of books proving that my personal one-author-short-story-collection-is-superior-to-most-multiple-author-anthologies hypothesis is sound.
As the majority of these stories take place in the Philippines, with an appreciable sprinkling of words I've never heard of, I can't say how much of the legends/creatures featured are of the author's invention versus adaptations of existing mythologies/traditional storytelling. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? There does appear to be a beautiful imagination at play.
While the deep blue cover is a good indication of tone, there is a thread of melancholy and darkness in each story, repeated themes of loss, there are also positive, even happy representations of queerness, a couple stories that suggest demisexual characters, a couple stories that suggest gender nonconforming characters. 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 3/? More of the collection leans fantasy than horror, with maybe one or two qualifying for a mix with sci-fi. I think every story but the first one is just the right length, first one felt like a bit of a fragment, not that I'd want it to be longer given the body horror involved. 😬 Yap is skillful at presenting a full narrative, a complete moment, in a short space, to the extent that I'm not sure what a novel by this same author would look like 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 4/? though since I can't find one under her name, I guess I'll have to wait to find out!
Wasn't a fan of the few stories that leaned horror, with one exception.
Below are the ones I loved (which make up most of the collection).

A Cup of Salt Tears
Grief, connection with a monster?, darker fairy tale, somewhat sensual 1mo

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? Milagros
Future of bioengineering, food security; what is lost, denying the environmental crisis, nostalgia for youth, home, cultural traditions, celebrations

A Spell for Foolish Hearts
Queer love story -witch and magical being - classic misunderstanding but definitely HFN if not guaranteed HEA
1mo

Robotswithpersonality 6/? Have You Heard the One About Annamaria Marquez
Good old-fashioned school girl ghost story playing on the kind of variants that happen when stories are told by many over time - quality chills

Syringe
An impactful five pages, shortest of the bunch. Illness of loved ones a recurring theme, sci fi elements, grief for love lost but also for futures eliminated by introduction of robots in various health care roles 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 8/? Asphalt, River, Mother, Child
A different version of the underworld and its inhabitants than I'm familiar with, justice more than forgiveness, a focus on what it means to do the right thing 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 9/? Hurricane Heels (We Go Down Dancing)
Haven't actually ever watched/read Sailor Moon, but I think that's where the 'magical girl transformation' thing came from? Anyways this is 'what if sailor moon type group were ambushed by a monster on th eve of one their member's marriage/bachelorette party, which sounds like a blast but it's definitely darker, slightly more reflections of traumatized veterans than bad ass women action montage 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 10/? Only Unclench Your Hand
Dealing with corrupt or ineffectual systems of justice, class system, where only some feel protected, and it's not by the law but their power, vengeance, curses and healers, cycles of violence? Also, there are bugs, *shudders* 😖

How to Swallow the Moon
Possibly my favourite, don't want to give too much away, queer love story with strong fantasy elements ♥️ 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 11/11
⚠️SA, child death, suicide attempt, body horror, child abuse, paedophilia, internalized misogyny 1mo

9 likes9 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Never Have I Ever: Stories | Isabel Yap

Sure, rip my heart out and stomp on it in one paragraph of a five page story, why not?! 🥺

5 likes

Robotswithpersonality

Never Have I Ever: Stories | Isabel Yap

😼💭

7 likes1 stack add

Eggs

When We Had Wings | Ariel Lawhon, Susan Meissner, Kristina Mcmorris

“This was their task: find a new way to survive. Hope was what kept you putting one foot in front of the other. Hope was what kept you laying down your head at night and rising from your cot the next morning.”

Starting this one soon.

#Nurse #CharacterCharm

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 🤩 3mo

Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you 🪽 🤍 👼 3mo

43 likes1 stack add2 comments

GatheringBooks

All about the Philippines: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids | Gidget Roceles Jimenez

#JulyJazz Day 25: Last year I visited the Philippine booth which proudly showcases the Philippine #Flag during the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Husband drove us for 90 minutes (one way) so I can get the book gifted to me by a Filipina American novelist (Ninotchka Rosca) whose books were featured during the fair.

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great photo 💛 4mo

Eggs Wonderful👏🏻👏🏻 4mo

41 likes2 comments

JenReadsAlot

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen | Jose Antonio Vargas

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Highly recommended!

Texreader Agreed! 4mo

BookmarkTavern Absolutely! 4mo

50 likes2 stack adds2 comments

sjc731

The Gangster of Love | Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn

1 like1 stack add

BoleyBooks

Avenue of Mysteries | John Irving

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
What are you reading?
#boleybooks #johnirving #avenueofmysteries #bookbeast #bookbuds #bookclub #letsread

35 likes1 stack add

Robotswithpersonality

Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees | Aimee Nezhukumatathil

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An absolute joy to read. Exactly what you hope to find in non-fiction by someone with a poetry background.
Such a warm appreciation for food, connecting to remembrances shared with family and friends, of travel, of being the child of immigrants, of discovering the cultures and places of your family tree. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? The essays about various foods also include trivia and history, and don't shy away from more difficult topics including Nezhukumatathil's own experiences as a person of colour, Asian American, with a mixed-race family.
For those who might also appreciate this angle, I'll add that it is not a foodie book that focuses on recipes or much kitchen experience. It's often the food prepared by others or discovered when dining out. 5mo

Robotswithpersonality 3/3 There's no sense of intimidation, even a relatable recognition of when others are more proficient at favoured food prep than yourself.
Truly a wonderful time regardless of your skill level.
Oh, and the illustrations by artist Fumi Nakamura acting as introductions to each new food essay are beautiful and brilliantly colourful. 😍

⚠️Mention of school shootings, enslavement 5mo

10 likes2 comments

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