I”m a little behind, as When Women Were Dragons (2022) by Kelly Barnhill, was a nominee for a Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fantasy that year. I loved the concept, and have come to realize that I especially enjoy historical fantasy. Told from the perspective of Alex Green, who is recalling her childhood in aContinue reading “When Women Were Dragons”
Category Archives: Weight-Neutral
The Centre
The Centre (2023) by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi was an interesting listen, though it has some flaws and it may not be for everyone. I’d call it character-driven horror with themes of colonialism. Anisa is a Pakistan-born Londoner, supported by her parents but halfheartedly doing Urdu translations for Bollywood films, when she meets Adam at aContinue reading “The Centre”
Pod
Pod (2023) by Laline Paull was completely unique, gripping, and heartbreaking. It’s Paull’s third novel, and I’m going to put her other books on my TBR list, as I understand they are unique as well. The book starts out from Ea’s perspective. She is a young adult spinner dolphin, part of a dolphin pod whoContinue reading “Pod”
Elsewhere
Elsewhere (2005) by Gabrielle Zevin was a delight! You wouldn’t think that a book that opens with a 15-year old girl, Liz, who dies in an accident on her bicycle would be so uplifting, but Zevin (Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow; The Storied Life of AJ Fikry) is a magician, and this is one ofContinue reading “Elsewhere”
Skye Falling
Skye Falling (2021) by Mia McKenzie was both hilarious and heartbreaking in nearly equal measure. Bad things happen, as they do in the world, but Skye’s perspective and ability to find humor made me laugh through the tears. Skye owns a Black travel agency, leading groups traveling around the world, living her best life. She’sContinue reading “Skye Falling”
Big Time
I thoroughly enjoyed many things about Big Time by Ben H. Winters (publication day March 5, 2024)! Winters brought me in to the story immediately–we learn that Allie, a teacher with a young child, has been abducted by a woman who is taking her . . . somewhere. Allie escapes in Maryland, not without doingContinue reading “Big Time”
Mad Honey
Mad Honey (2022) by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan, was the library book group’s February selection, and, as sometimes happens, I started reading with no background or expectations about the book. I’ve read other Picoult books (which I generally enjoyed), but I wasn’t familiar with the second author. I was immediately hooked! We meetContinue reading “Mad Honey”
Learned By Heart
Learned by Heart (2023) is the latest beautifully-written novel by Emma Donoghue (Room. The Wonder). It’s a fictional retelling of the story of Eliza Raine and her relationship with Anne Lister. Lister kept extensive diaries, is known as “the first modern lesbian,” and is the subject of the 2-season HBO series Gentleman Jack. Set primarilyContinue reading “Learned By Heart”
Lessons in Chemistry
I loved Lessons in Chemistry (2022) by Bonnie Garmus and have no idea why it took me so long to get to it! Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in 1959, at a research firm in southern California. She meets Calvin Evans, the hotshot of the office, when she appropriates beakers from his lab because, asContinue reading “Lessons in Chemistry”
Les Be Honest
I had high hopes for Les Be Honest (Pub. Date February 13, 2024) by Sarah Robinson, a multicultural queer lesbian romance by the author of Baby Bank, which I really enjoyed. The story is told from the perspective of Yasmeen, a queer black millennial trust fund young adult with ADHD, who has just had toContinue reading “Les Be Honest”
Reading While Fat 