Katrina
"We are all stardust and stories."
--Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
I absolutely adored this novel. It was thrilling, funny, and full of emotion. It made me laugh, gasp, cry, and then laugh some more- all out loud, no matter where I was reading. Besides a page-turning plot, the writing was phenomenal and the characters really struck a chord with me, despite (or maybe because of) almost all of them being animals. When all the humans in the world start succumbing to a disease that turns them into zombie-like creatures, S.T. the crow(who thinks he should have been born human) and his faithful Bloodhound must go on a quest to free the pets of the world from the confines of the houses they are locked in. S.T. is such a plucky, genuine narrator and unlike any I've read before- I loved him so much. From page 1 this book drew me in and I couldn't stop reading it or thinking about it. I want to sit down and read it all over again.
Kingdomtide is an intense, gripping story of survival. When the small plane Cloris and her husband are on crashes in the Montana wilderness, she is the sole survivor. Being that she is 72 years old, no one except Ranger Deborah Lewis expects her to last long, if she even made it through the crash. Lewis is a Park Ranger struggling with her own demons including alcoholism and the aftermath of a divorce. In alternating chapters, the story unfolds as Cloris wanders deeper into the wilderness blindly trying to survive and Lewis struggles to keep the search going and her own issues at bay. Throw in a ghost legend, a fugitive, and the forbidding Montana wilderness and you have an unforgettable story. The voices of the characters are so genuine and authentic. I could not stop reading or thinking about this book, it was so well written. Curtis has an exceptional gift and the fact that this is a debut novel is even more impressive. If you need a book to get you out of a reading slump, this is it!
A love affair for the ages. We first meet Thomas right after he dies and is sent to New York as a sort of purgatory for 90 days. He is not supposed to do anything to incur "regrets" which includes fraternizing with the living. He gets stuck in a boring routine of riding the bus with nothing much to do until a woman catches his eye. Rachel has been noticing him too, seeing that there is something different about him, and sparks fly when they meet. They have passionate relationship that, while they know it will end, seems to be working, until he starts fading away- quite literally. I was swept up in intensity of Thomas and Rachel's relationship and the originality of the story. Bonnaffon's debut is smart, sexy, strange and I loved it!
I love these cartoons! They are hilarious and relatable!
This is the story of Mary Toft, a woman in 1726 who gave birth to dead rabbits. She did this over 10 times, confounding surgeons and townsfolk alike. Is this a hoax, a curse, a miracle, or something in between? Based on a true story- if you are not familiar with it, don't look it up until you finish the book!- we follow surgeon John Howard and his apprentice Zachary as they try to understand what is going on with their stunning patient. Extremely readable while still evoking the language and atmosphere of the time period, we go from small village Godalming, England to London as they recruit the help of the top surgeons of the day. I highly enjoyed this disturbing novel. It is brutal, unexpected, and unputdownable.
Magic For Liars was a fantastic read! Full of mystery, magic, intrigue, twists, and just enough drama to keep pages turning. Oh, and there's even a Chosen One Prophecy. A strange death (murder or suicide?) at a school for mages brings P.I. Ivy Gamble to Osthorne Academy- a place where she doesn't feel like she fits in because she has no magic powers even though her sister, a teacher there, does. Ivy is a relatable and deep character, with both flaws and strengths. I absolutely loved this book and think it's perfect for readers of mystery, fantasy, and those who just want a great story.
This book is utterly captivating and impossible to put down. It's intense and evokes such a strong sense of unease. I can't stop thinking about it, even months after reading it!
This book drew me in on the first page and never let go. It's just the spare and quiet novel I love. A story of relationships, love, nature, and loneliness. Beautifully written.
This short story collection by the creator of Netflix's Bojack Horseman is full of the expected dark humor, but also insightful looks into relationships and life in general. From the personal relationships of superheroes to a dog's inner monologue to a wedding with some unusual traditions, this collection is a great read that goes to unexpected places. It was very unique and had the Bojack humor mixed with touching moments that I love. You're laughing at something and then the next moment realize your heartstrings are being pulled. Completely original and entertaining.
Such charming and lovely illustrations! This is perfect inspiration for making up your own stories.
