panNope. When I go into a book knowing there's a semi-absurd premise, something where you're going to work extra hard to suspend disbelief and not think too hard about the details, I'm looking for the result to be charming or meaningful. I feel like this book didn't manage either.
Started out thinking it could have been a novella, now convinced that amount of plot and original rumination minus the redundancies would have fit in a short story. 1/?
This is my current listen. I just started it but so far I'm enjoying it.
Has anyone else on Litsy tried the Caffeine and Legends book box? I received it as an early birthday gift and really love it! No clue what I‘ll think of the book, but all of the extra goodies are so fun! You can choose between tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and then there‘s usually a couple of other goodies! I‘m especially excited about the brown sugar saver 😍
pickTruly stunning. The artwork is exquisite. Nightlights is a lot spookier than I expected a picture book to get. Hicotea managed to have an unflinching moment looking at a dissected frog, then floated into a truly original world inside a turtle's shell and then made a point of indicating wetlands are under threat (if vaguely/supernaturally so).
1/2
pickOne of the most unique literary fantasies released in 2024. A combination of Medieval history, folklore, religious references, and myth blended with existential themes. Basically, the setting is an enormous citadel ruled by a matriarchal society that is subdivided by various boundaries that is inhabited by various classes of humans and enchanted creatures. However, internal conflicts and governing tensions fail to see the looming threat coming.
pick@jlhammar posted about this one recently, and I had Hoopla borrows, so.
I love the art, and economy of line - Fretwell‘s face is dot dot dot and an elongated U,and yet Watson communicates so vividly with those few elements. It‘s remarkable. Reminds me a bit of Quentin Blake.
Story‘s a bit odd. I would‘ve titled it “The Perils of Passivity.” Fretwell just can‘t win–he even loses his lunch to a growly dog - but does nothing about it. Great art tho.
pickI enjoyed this graphic novel, but it‘s a strange one. Author G.H. Fretwell goes on tour to promote his latest novel and unwittingly becomes a murder suspect. Surreal and darkly comic.
Final #BookSpin wrap up for the year. I completed 9/12 picks. Not my greatest year but as always I enjoy making my monthly list and I enjoy seeing the titles coming off my tbr pile. Thanks for hosting another great year of reading @TheAromaofBooks now off to complete the google doc.
I think it's among the scientific literature nowadays that people's natural happiness level varies person to person, something to do with genetics and brain chemistry, beyond what outside factors could modify it, and this story felt like a 3d
The text just barely grazes against the whole, 'many types of privilege, reasons why he's actually very lucky even if one might not rate his life spectacular' which at this point feels so well covered in attempting to gain a more intersectional understanding in non-fiction of how various minorities 3d
And really most of this book, wherein one might assume the author wants us to recognize the many sources of contentment and simple joys in our lives, is chock-full of anxiety-generators: a large unpaid expense coming out of the blue, the idea that 'the best things in life are free' is no longer a reality, and you 3d
Maybe there's an unconvincing romantic thread that's supposed to be blossoming in those phone conversations but for most of it he's being a whiny, entitled ass.
3d
I just - if the author was sincere then I'm sorry I didn't receive whatever he was trying to get across. If this was actually a cynical cash grab in the YOLO/self-help adjacent/contemporary feel-good genre than I'm not surprised and also very comfortable with the fact that I basically just roasted it. 🔥 (edited) 3d