The Best of Archie Christmas Comics
Picked this up to get in the holiday mood - I always forget how amusing Archie comics can be and I'd never even considered that there would be enough Christmas-themed ones to make a collection. But this feels like a good way to round out the end of my reading year. I'm over my self-imposed double-my-reading-challenge goal, and now I can just read whatever I read.
#101-2021
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
This one was unexpected. Another one that I picked up because it was on sale at Book Outlet, and it was seasonal, but I really, really enjoyed it.
I don't think I even read the back cover before I started reading; if I did, it definitely didn't leave an impression that was close to how this book unfolded.
It's fun and quirky with some romance and a little bit of "time travel." (And yes, I put quotes on that for a reason. It's not really time travel, but there's not an easier word for what it is.)
The characters are believable, and it's fun to read how they adapt to crazy situations.
Fun holiday read? Definitely CHECK.
#98-2021
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Book Outlet had a sale that included a bunch of quirky holiday romance novels, so I gained a few of those this year. This was the first of them that I read. It's a cute book, and even if you know where it's going to end up, it's fun to play along with the story.
Maybe it's just me who likes to guess the final outcome though. The characters are well enough written for the speed of the book, and even the town and a car become characters of their own. I admire the author's ability to bring a scene to life even when it's not really consequential to the grander story.
Fun holiday romance? Check.
#97-2021
Finishing up the Roald Dahl box set, with two that I've read before. I really do kind of love Esio Trot, because it's sort of a sweet story. (I also love the wordplay of the title.)
But really, how does he live with all those tortoises?
#95-2021 & #96-2021
Heading into the Christmas season, this one was a free download on my Kobo app, so I grabbed it as a quick read. I needed a bit more seasonal joy as the month of December started.
It's a typical Harlequin-style romance and is apparently the second in a series. I don't imagine the first book is seasonal like this one, but I also don't really have any intention of reading any more of the series. It was enjoyable, but I wasn't captivated enough to want to know more about the characters.
Easy-to-read holiday romance - check. Nothing more is required.
#94-2021
Another Dahl that I remember from childhood. Strangely, I didn't remember as much about this as I thought I did, but something about this story really does catch me in a different way. There's a sentimentality to it, maybe? Or maybe it's the way it wraps up tidily. I don't really know, but I do think I may have to remember to read this again in a few years.
#93-2021
Will by Will Smith
Clearly, based on the cover this book is about and by Will Smith. If you couldn't tell by the title, the picture would absolutely give it away.
I'm not sure exactly why I felt compelled to read this, and immediately after its release too, but I did find it interesting. There's a lot about Will Smith's earlier years that I didn't know anything about. And honestly, I forget how young he was when he first became a known entity. His rise as an actor was not meteoric, but it was well constructed from a publicity and marketing angle.
It's an interesting book for anyone interested in The Fresh Prince and his journey as a star.
#92-2021
Oh my gosh! How do you write about the finale of a trilogy without giving anything away. Obviously, the heroes vanquish their foes, they live happily ever after. But how do they do that? Not in the way that you would imagine. There's a significant amount more drama to be had before the end. You can't be sure that things will happen in the way that you think, or that they're laid out.
It was a satisfying conclusion. The epilogue may have been unnecessary, and if necessary it needed to be a little bit more, but otherwise, it was a good way to end the three books.
#86-2021
#88-2021 & 89-2021
The Witches by Roald Dahl
This is the Roald Dahl novel (besides Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) that I thought I remembered the most, but it turns out I didn't really remember it at all. This is actually pretty disturbing, and I can't imagine reading this as a kid and thinking it was entertaining. I would have been petrified as a child and would have likely been paranoid about Witches from that point on.
Thankfully, I didn't really remember it, and it does follow the tradition of Dahl novels where the "bad guy" gets it in the end, in some way or another. And usually not in a way that you would necessarily guess. They always leave you with that slightly weird twist that makes you keep thinking about the story.
#87-2021
The second book in a series is generally pretty boring. They've set up the conflict in the first book and they finish with an epic battle/love story or whatever in the third book, but in the second book, you're kind of just plodding along picking up pieces.
I can't feel much differently about this one, unfortunately. There are some interesting developments, absolutely there are. But for the most part, we're just setting up events for the third book - some interesting Norse mythology moments aside.
#85-2021
This is a beautiful memoir of a normal family in a crazy industry. Opie Taylor, Mark Wedloe, Leon, Richie Cunningham. The story behind the characters is even more interesting than the shows they appeared in.
This book almost reads like its own television show. There is some drama and some antics (from Hee-hee man especially) and even a lesson or two sprinkled in for good measure. Written alternately in Ron's or Clint's voices in nice digestible chunks with the occasional sidebar to give us a glimpse at the still existing brotherly relationship. This is the Hollywood memoir that we needed. Even if we didn't know we needed it.
This wasn't really much of a read. I got it for the illustrations, but it was nice to go back and revisit and remember the stories of Harry Potter through the quotations in this book. The quotes don't really relate to the days that they're attached to in any way but it's a neat way to remind us of the Harry Potter magic in short little bursts.
It's not a necessary book, but it is pretty. Like a compilation of the best moments of the Illustrated editions, but without having the full series of the Illustrated editions.
Great for a Harry Potter collector, not so useful for anyone else.
The Storyteller was a perfect title for this collection of incidents from the life and career of Dave Grohol. It feels as if this is what a conversation with Grohl would feel like - as if he's telling a friend the things he's been through. It reinforces the personality that he's built among music fans of being just a regular guy who's got a pretty irregular life. He's made some great music and some even greater musical connections and he's not in any way bragging when he tells you about them. He's actually as astonished as anyone else.
In this book, we go on a historical journey of the Vanderbilt family. The Rise and the fall as the title suggests. There is a lot to unpack here because anyone who knows anything about the Vanderbilts generally knows that they're rich. But are they still? The book would tell you otherwise, because of their own mismanagement and behaviour. From the patriarch who built the empire to his children and their families, the Vanderbilt family is still interesting even while they may not remain powerful or influential.
Poetry has never really been my thing. I enjoy what I read, but it's not something I choose when given a choice.
But this is written by Misha Collins and given what I've seen of his personality through social media (and Supernatural fan event videos online) I knew this would be worth the read.
There's a lot of emotion packed in this little book. Happy, sad, disappointed. It's all here, and in as few words as possible, Collins manages to flip between them all. There's the wit and humour that I expected as well but it's tempered by some real and relatable sentiments.
So glad I picked this up.
#80-2021
Another Kelly Armstrong, though this time in collaboration with Melissa Marr, whom I've never read before. This took me a while to get through - I chose distractions instead of reading, and it's written for a much (MUCH) younger age group than I belong to so it felt slow.
The characters are written as well as I always find with Armstrong, and the story is based on Norse mythology, so it's interesting to see how the lore is woven through.
The title of this book would lead you to believe it's about minimalism. In fact, it's about figuring out how to do better, while doing less. Learning how to ask what is essential, and focussing on it, to the elimination of things that don't matter.
Learning to take time to make sure you do the best job on the things that matter and don't live that FOMO kind of life, where you say yes to everything because it might be the important thing.
This is a great memoir of conversations and interviews a music journalist has had with female musicians. Focussing on the fact that the experience of a female artist is different than anything a male artist would go through while still going through the same music industry hoops.
As expected, the issues female musicians face are exacerbated by their gender, and by the old boys club that exists within every industry but especially entertainment. And women have the added familial expectations on top of it.
There are some serious heavy hitters discussed in this book, past and present, whose impact on the industry may have been, and may continue to be, overlooked due solely to their gender. People should pay attention.
But apparently, nobody ever asked about the girls.
#77-2021
My dad introduced me to the SuperVet television show a few years ago. I have no idea how he found it, or what made him so interested in it, but I'm not going to question it because it is a uniquely interesting show.
So when I realized that Noel Fitzpatrick - THE SuperVet - had written a book, actually two, I picked them up. This one, the first of the two, starts right at the beginning of Noel. And honestly, I'm amazed at how he handles challenges and hardship in his life. There is seemingly nothing that he can't accomplish just because he decides that he wants to. And none of what he's done so far has been an easy road for him.
If you are interested in animals, animal science, animal medicine, and/or how animal medicine and human medicine overlap, then you will be interested in this book. And in Noel Fitzpatrick and The SuperVet. Do yourself a favour and at least watch the show. It's an education.
#76-2021
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini
I've been meaning to read this for a while, but it just never made it to the top of the pile. So when I started re-watching King of Queens I figured it was the right time.
I'd watched the A&E series about Scientology with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder and found myself more and more intrigued by the hold this "church" has on its "parishioners." Having read the book, and watched the series, I'm not going to say anything other than it is amazing. And not in a good way.
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
I don't really know what made me pick this up - I'm not generally particularly interested in historical, or war-based books. I'm also not usually into the current popular thing. This book is both.
Having read it, I can now understand why it's a currently popular title. The book is good. I like the way it's written, to ground us into the not-quite modern-day Montana while also making us feel what it was like during the second world war in Paris - two time periods that don't seem to jibe at first glance, but Charles makes it work and work well.
The parallels of the two time periods and the cross-over between them make this dramatic and poignant. There are lessons learned between both lead characters and they can only be taught through their interaction. There are touching and traumatic moments for both and while they may be on completely different levels, they match in the ways that count.
I'm so glad I read this.
#74-2021
What a beautifully foolish way to continue this story. I read the first one late, so I already knew it had a sequel, but this was the perfect completion of the story. I liked the way this was written because it very effectively pointed out how separate the characters became.
Anything else I say would give away parts of the story, and I think it's important in this book that the reader doesn't know what's coming. It just feels important.
#73-2021
I didn't get the perspective I had hoped by picking up this book. Based on the title, I was expecting some brilliance, achieved through experience. But really, it's just a short form re-telling of information that is fairly easily found through past interviews with Justin. The photography in this is, however, awesome. So not a total loss.
I guess I may have just had high expectations based on biographies and memoirs that I've read and seen lately.
#72-2021
I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. So in fact, I had essentially no expectations at all. But I am truly blown away.
As noted when I talk about John Green's books, I started following Vlogbrothers and enjoyed the engagement between John and Hank and the community they created through nerdfighteria and DFTBA. They've created and contributed to some pretty awesome stuff, so of course, when Hank wrote a book I was going to read it.
It's such a great book. The thought and planning that's in here are awesome; getting the reader to think about different perspectives and viewpoints. The story is breathtakingly possible, and at the same time unimaginable. The title really nailed it - it's an absolutely remarkable thing.
#71-2021
The Best of Archie Comics Book 4 Deluxe Edition
Not much to review here - I pick these Best of collections up randomly because I had a huge collection of Archie comics as a kid. Mostly Digests and Double Digests. Somewhere along the way, I decided I didn't want them anymore and they've gone to the wind. I guess I can take heart in the fact that someone else may have enjoyed them as much as I did. I do still enjoy the fluffy comic-book stories of the Archie-verse whenever I get a chance to find them.
#70-2021
Her Heart for a Compass by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
A historical fiction/romance novel written by an actual Duchess? Yes, please.
I was super excited to read this when I got it because I had read that its inspiration came from Fergie's own family history. For me, that makes it so much more authentic. And that she's actually a part of the world that she's written about, be it a century or more later, adds something to it as well.
How do you "review" a book that's about reviewing the world we live in? Super great question. The book's whole premise is what I'm doing here; it's entirely made up of John Green's perceptions, connections, and impressions of things in our current world. Sometimes it's quirky, sometimes it's random. Sometimes you can't help but see where it's coming from and agree completely.
I've never really been a fan of Jessica Simpson - I admit to buying her first couple of albums because there were super catchy songs on them - but I always felt there was something unlikeable about her. She seemed vapid, or vacuous but it wasn't really the case. It was lack of experience and a generally sheltered upbringing that made her seem "dumb."
It made me think about a lot of people who live a particular persona and that gets repeated in the media, and even within their fans. That means that we're probably underestimating a lot of people. It also expands the point that everyone has a back story, and generally, we don't know what that is. Everyone's life is not as simple as we may perceive it to be. People are not black and white because their life story doesn't allow them to be.
I'm not going to say much about this because I don't want to give anything away. But I really loved the way it was set up. Fluid timelines that converge at a central, pivotal point. And characters who aren't exactly who they are and give us insight into so many other characters through their words.
Atwood truly is a marvelous writer. She waited so many years to complete this sequel and it seems to flow so easily from the writing several decades before. Anyone who has read The Handmaid's Tale should really read The Testaments. It's a fabulous follow up and answers a number of questions that an inquisitive reader might still have.
#66-2021
And the last book of the series. There's a lot going on in this one, and I'm super glad there hasn't been a comparative movie so far, because I'm sure that it would have missed a lot. I'll be happy to see how they make this into a move later. Though it's completely possible that they've already taken it in pieces and I didn't even notice.
This actually wraps Aurora's story up neatly and leaves you satisfied that, while her adventures will never be completely over, she may actually be able to live happily ever after.
#65-2021
I really wondered how this book would play out, considering how the comparative movie went. But I find I actually prefer the book. Half-brother Philip is a welcome presence in the books, and I like that he's a bit younger so it adds a different shape to his story.
This story is a little more disturbing than previous ones, mostly because the victims here are teenagers, so there's more at stake. But it ends, as usual, with Aurora saving the day after she's bungled her way into the middle of the problem.
As the penultimate book in the series (currently - I have no idea if there will ever be more.) you can see how this is starting to shape up as a happy ending for Aurora. But you know she'll never stay completely out of trouble.
And we're on to #10 - the last of the series.
#64-2021
Poor Poppy. She really was done to death! This one is also a Hallmark movie but in a very modified form. I enjoyed the relationships that exist to Aurora in this particular book. It's family, but not really.
There's a lot to unpack in this particular story, and some little trinkets that you didn't really expect, but probably should have.
On to #9.
#62-2021
I really enjoyed the movie version of this book, so I wasn't sure what I was in for with this book. There are a lot of details that are changed because Aurora is a different character in the books than in the movies and her life is slightly different as well - with some missing characters as noted for book #6.
But this book didn't really disappoint. It brought back Robin after the loss of Martin and still kept connected to happenings in past stories even while moving forward. It's interesting that the movies follow the Robin storyline more closely than any other of Aurora's love interests. Still, this book can't be taken as a manual to the movie. Enough so that there's still suspense, even after having seen the move.
On to #8.
#61-2021
Working my way through the Teagarden mysteries - this one has a "matching" movie, which didn't really do it justice. There are a lot of details in this book that didn't make it into the movie and might have made the movie that much more exciting. Perhaps another movie can be made to cover the alternate story.
The part I find interesting in the last couple of these mysteries is that the Hallmark movie series never even touched on the courtship and marriage with Martin. In the movie world, it's as if he never existed, which is why this book could never be a complete movie.
On to #7.
#60-2021
I love this series because it's so creative. There are "monsters" I've never heard of and that in other situations would be scary but they're written as creatures to be learned about and treated as equals.
The series title is Royal Guide to Monster Slaying, but it's really more about monster care. It's a lesson that doesn't seem to resonate for people in reality but might make more of an impression on the age group targeted with this series, because of these books.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I have this weird tendency to buy books with titles that include the word library, or book without knowing what they're really about. I would call an episode like that "meta" in TV, but I don't think it's like that with books.
In the case of The Midnight Library, I'm extremely glad I did. This is a great book. The description I read before purchasing didn't tell me anything that I didn't want to know. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by how little I actually knew about the book as I started reading.
Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right by Michael Bach
Equality is giving everyone a shoe. Equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits.
Important words to consider when thinking about diversity and inclusion. Everyone deserves equity because equality isn't taking individualism into account.
There's not a lot I can say about this book. It speaks for itself. Michael Bach is well-versed in diversity and inclusion and sets this book up as a simple-to-read starter for anyone wanting to think more about the topics. There's obviously not going to be a step-by-step manual in a 200-page pocket-sized book, but the words here will make the reader think about themselves, and their organization from a different perspective.
If you are sitting there pondering why he needed to list Diversity and Inclusion separately on the cover, then you should read the book. It contains a great explanation for what we do well, and what we do poorly, in our general attempts at diversity, and inclusion.
#57-2021
I can't lie. I'm so happy to be done with this series. I am aware, that there wasn't really a reason why I had to read this book, but I'm a completist - I wanted to have read the whole series. I put in the effort to read the others, despite being less than thrilled with the writing in all of them, so finishing this last book seems like an accomplishment of sorts.
I still (STILL) have a lot of issues with the characters and characterization in this series. I literally read it thinking "You are such an asshole!" and "Why are you such a pushover!" Usually, I like the male lead over the female or vice versa, but in this case, I dislike them both. Until the very last chapters, there is no emotional growth from Christian, and even then it's very slight. He just excuses himself from all blame because he blames everyone else for his "feelings" that he doesn't want to have to deal with. It's just frustrating to read.
Beyond that, the writing in this book is no stronger than it was in the first book, which is also disappointing when that could make up for a lot of the issues. There are some really good plot ideas in there; they're just not displayed well. There really is no emphasis beyond the sex. Which is fine, if that's all you need from a novel. I guess for some people that's enough.
Anyway, between this and finishing the Twilight series, I'm just glad to be done. I feel a little bit like I just read the same book twice. Minus the sex from Freed in Midnight Sun, because it's Twilight. I'm craving something with at least a little bit of substance now. But I have no idea what that will be.
#56-2021
Total transparency. I did not have big expectations for this book. I read it only because I had read the rest of the Twilight series, and I'm a bit of a completionist. I didn't even really enjoy the rest of the series that much. This one didn't fail me there.
I had higher hopes because of the amount of time that had passed since the originals had been written. Perhaps Meyer's writing skills had improved. Maybe she'd realized that her characters are a bit like cardboard cutouts. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
After the discovery of the bodies of 215 indigenous children at an old residential school site, I decided that I needed to delve back into the indigenous relations and reconciliation information. This one is written by the same author as 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act that I read earlier this year, and follows well in that conversation.
In typical white privilege fashion, I have to stop myself from arguing with some of the points he makes because there really is no defence for what has been done to the indigenous people in Canada. I don't have to have answers on how to fix it, but I do need to acknowledge that and make sure that I don't perpetuate any of it.
I'm not going to review this in any form. I'm really not qualified for that. But I do recommend anyone read this in order to gain some perspective on Indigenous Relations in Canada. We're getting better, but there's still a long way to go.
#54-2021
I will probably never figure out how someone can come up with the most random ways to have someone die that Charlaine Harris does. They're almost comical, but not quite comical enough to make the entire book seem ridiculous.
Her characters would almost be cartoons if they didn't have little bits of realism that keep pulling you back to normal. I admire the skill of that. Each character and scenario are just almost at the crest of over the top, but they never quite tip to the point of being ridiculous. They're amusing. And you're interested in their reactions because they're never exactly what you expect them to do.
It's almost like reading a soap opera a la General Hospital's Ice Princess. If you were to read a synopsis of it, it would seem ridiculous, silly even. But you want to know what happens because the characters need resolution.
Aurora Teagarden is her same Southern self, with a few fiery independent stripes thrown in. If I met her, I'd probably find her pretty annoying. But she gets things done and in a mystery that's really the important point.
#53-2021
Another fabulous Kelley Armstrong book. She's taken a new supernatural direction on this one and I kind of love it. I'd never considered the possibility of Curse Weavers before, but there's so much potential for mystery and intrigue. I'm not surprised she's managed to create an interesting backstory for this new series.
As always her characters are multi-dimensional and seem realistic despite whatever powers they may have. The skills her characters have augment their personality; they're not the entire personality.
I'm interested to see where this series goes. Of course, I am. It's Kelley Armstrong. She continues to be one of the few authors whose work I will pick up with no thought. I know I won't be disappointed.
#52-2021
I read this for the first time in high school. I remember being appalled but it, but I think I probably was even more so this time.
I wanted to re-read this before the new TV adaptation started airing, but I never actually got it done. I'd been saving the series on my PVR until I read the book. I had to switch TV services recently and was going to lose all the recordings if I didn't watch them, so I started to read.
I didn't manage to finish the book before beginning the series, but it didn't really matter. The book is still appalling in so many ways, and the show just adds to the grotesque and horrific.
