Books I read in May!: Margot & Me, The Cows, Becoming Unbecoming, Defy the Stars

Here be the books I read in May! I went on holiday to Italy at the beginning of May and had such a whirlwind time that I didn't finish any of the books I took with me. I'll come back to them for sure- Nasty Women and The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit. I came back to Margot and Me by Juno Dawson after having started it earlier in the year. It definitely grew on me after a shaky start- I've already reviewed it here! I listened to The Cows by Dawn O'Porter on audiobook, which was fun and summery, I actually started that one on holiday and managed to finish it during the month. I got round to reading Becoming Unbecoming by Una, which I got at an Aye Write book festival event in March. It was an enjoyable but also v dark read. I spent the rest of the month reading Defy the Stars- a space based robot/human romance!

Margot and Me by Juno Dawson
(review here)

The Cows by Dawn O'Porter

Becoming Unbecoming by Una

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Review! Margot & Me by Juno Dawson

Hellooo there! I'm going to tell you a little story about the journey my thoughts and feelings went through when reading Juno Dawson's Margot and Me. Don't worry, this story has a happy ending!

So I got a copy of Margot and Me by Juno Dawson from its publisher Hot Key Books at the beginning of the year. I had heard absolutely loads and loads of praise for the book so I was pretty keen to get my paws on it. I'll be honest: I didn't like it as first. I found Fliss's narrative voice SO annoying. I thought she sounded a bit sort of stupid or vapid and not anything like how teenagers really talk. She kept talking about wearing her Mary Janes and for some reason I found that particularly annoying! 

Then I read a tweet (oh god searching for a specific tweet is so hard but I'll try) basically saying to adult reviewers, don't give bad reviews to YA books because you don't like the teenage voice, maybe just accept that YA isn't for you (UPDATE: ohemgee I found the tweet: it's this:)

Hey, fellow adult YA reviewers? You lose all your credibility to review YA when you critique teen characters for acting like teens. Stop it.

— Mary (@knoxdiver) April 20, 2017

So I had that idea in the back of my mind and then when I went back to Margot and Me after a break of a couple of weeks I found I was much more patient with Fliss's narration. Fliss grows so much as a character if you actually get over yourself enough to read the whole book, which thankfully I did! I found Fliss to be engaging and compassionate and I really enjoyed seeing her figure out her new friendships with the new gang, in a totally new environment, far away from her London home, in rural Wales living on her grandmother's farm, to help her mum in her cancer recovery.

The dual narration, with Fliss in the 90s and Margot's diary from wartime, worked really well to tell the story of a complex grandmother/granddaughter relationship. I particularly enjoyed the 90s setting for references to things like Tammy Girl and snap on phone cases. 

So in the end I realised I was being a bit like Margot and unfairly judging Fliss before I had really gotten to know her and her story. This book is moving and compelling and touching and heartbreaking. And I'm glad I went back to finish it. 

Margot and Me is out now from Hot Key Books.

Books I read in April!: Not That Kind of Girl, Traitor to the Throne, The Ship Beyond Time

Another month of essay marking meant another month of hardly reading anything! I did squeeze in three good books though. I listened to Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl on audiobook, which was enjoyable whilst I was catching up on Girls. I think I spent quite a long time reading Alwyn Hamilton's Traitor to the Throne, the sequel to Rebel of the Sands, but it was soooo good. And on kindle I read The Ship Beyond Time, follow up to The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig. Reviews for Traitor to the Throne and The Ship Beyond Time are in this nice post which includes a review of The Scarecrow Queen by Melinda Salisbury too! 

Not That Kind of Girl- Lena Dunham

Traitor to the Throne- Alwyn Hamilton

The Ship Beyond Time- Heidi Heilig

Review! Three Excellent Sequels: The Scarecrow Queen, Traitor to the Throne, The Ship Beyond Time // ruthlilywrites

Welllll what do we have here! Only a three reviews squeezed into one post! I have read three much anticipated sequels in the last month and I wanna gush about all three of them basically. The Scarecrow Queen is part three of The Sin Eater's Daughter trilogy by Melinda Salisbury, Traitor to the Throne is part two in the Rebel of the Sands series by Alwyn Hamilton, and The Ship Beyond Time is the sequel to The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig. I also recently read A Conjuring of Light, part three in V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic trilogy, my thoughts on which you can read over here in a different post.

The Scarecrow Queen picks up in the midst of war. We get to spend time with both lead characters this time: Twylla and Errin are in their own separate struggles in the aftermath of the attacks on the secret conclave at the end of book two. Aurek is being the full evil King he wants to be, with Errin held captive. She has to figure out all she can do from within the castle while under the control of Aurek's magic. Twylla meanwhile has to find it within herself to become a leader and a symbol for the rebellion. She learns to fight and lead and strategise. Lief is there being an evil or possible-not-evil-after-all solider man, Merek is in hiding within the castle, and Silas is a prisoner but alive at least. There was a lot to wrap up and I can't quite believe how the gang managed to pull everything off and (SPOILER) survive and win! I thought it was a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy- I found it gripping and well paced and so full of action. It was a good mix of the intense castle prisoner pacing of the first book, and the war brewing, dark magic, run away pacing of the second. I keep remembering scenes I'd forgotten about and being taken right back into that world again. I think I could probably do with a reread of the whole trilogy so I can properly pay attention to all the detail in the lore and everything. I can't wait to see what's coming next from Melinda Salisbury (and I should probably get my hands on The Heart Collector short companion stories to this series!)

Traitor to the Throne takes us back to the middle of the Rebel Prince's rebellion in the desert almost a year after the events of Rebel of the Sands. Amani's reputation is spreading as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, with rumours swirling about the battles she's fought in along with the rebellion, using her sand shifting powers and super gun skills. The pacing of this sequel is a little different from the first in the series, with a lot of time spent in the harem of the Sultan's palace. I think this was a problem for some readers but I found the politics and dynamics of the harem fascinating. Amani has to deal with the loss of her powers, isolation from the rest of her friends in the rebellion and has to face up to characters from her life before the rebellion. There is action, tense political manoeuvring, the summoning of the gods, betrayal, deceit, and an amazing twist in the end. I keep thinking about this book; Alwyn Hamilton has created such a strong sense of place. I want to be back in that world asap and I can't wait for part three.

The Ship Beyond Time is a little different in that it brings many of the issues of book one back in to play, but with a totally new storyline and setting. Nix's dad is sobering up and dealing with the aftermath of the events of book one. Nix takes charge and follows an invitation and map to the mythical island of Ker-Ys, which should be set for a flooding disaster as its story goes. The idea of fate and the telling of fortunes continues to be the main theme, with another rival Navigator messing with the rules of time travel. Most of the book is set in Ker-Ys as Nix, Kashmir, and Blake try to unravel the mystery and figure out what purpose has brought them to the island, and how they can change its doomed fate. This book definitely got my head in a tangle a few times over timelines and time travelling concepts but I really enjoyed being back on the Temptation with its crew. In fact it felt like a really good stand alone episode of Doctor Who, with a time based mystery to solve all set in one really cool location, great guest characters, and the fates of our lead time traveller and her companions brought into question. Now I want to see it on screen a lot. Does Heidi Heilig want to take over from Moffat?


There you have it! Three awesome sequels continuing stories or ending trilogies, each totally enthralling to me. If you haven't read these series, forget everything I just said spoiler-wise and start from the beginning. Well worth your time. There's something for everyone: a fairytale kingdom where old lore is becoming true; a dusty desert, with magic handed down by gods, in the midst of a rebellion; and a ship that can sail through time to lands real and mythical.

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab // ruthlilywrites about...

I was counting down the days to the release of this book- the third in the Shades of Magic series by the absolute goddess V.E. Schwab- and then it took about a million years to arrive because I foolishly preordered it on Amazon like a total dafty. So I was very excited when it was finally in my hands and I could see for myself how huuuuge it is. 

I love the world Schwab has built. The piratey parts of A Gathering of Shadows, part two in the series, were so vivid for me, as were the busy, bustling Night Market scenes during the magical tournament, which reminded a lot of the feel of the Quidditch World Cup in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I guess it is extra magical as multiple world have been built. There is Red London, Grey London, Black London, and White London, each with their different feels. Kell is one of the last travellers or Antari, a type of magic person who can travel between these worlds.

A Conjuring of Light gives us Red London, directly after the magical fighting tournament it has hosted, under siege from an evil magical force, Osaron, with the royal palace at the centre of all the how-do-we-defeat-Osaron planning. The palace is packed with various visiting members of royalty, noblemen and tournament magicians with Prince Rhy, his brother Kell, Lila (who is also an Antari, it turns out), Alucard, Alucard's cat, the King, the Queen, all strategising ways to save the people of Red London and defeat the evil magic. 

Schwab is just an incredible crafter of scenes, each chapter with its own arc, and not very long chapters too, keeping the pace up and giving us various different points of view. You really should just read this if you haven't yet. Also if you haven't read any of the trilogy yet, please forget all of the above so you are spoiler free!

Schwab had hinted that this isn't the end for this incredibly built world. I'm keeping my fingers crossed she brings us more of Lila and Kell. And Rhy and Alucard. I'd take an Alucard's cat story too.

Books I read in March!: The First Bad Man, A Conjuring of Light, The Scarecrow Queen

Ugh, it's marking season so crap reading record continues. I read three very good books this month though! I listened to Miranda July's The First Bad Man, read by Miranda July, which was so strange and odd and weird, but I really enjoyed it. I took absolutely ages to read part three of V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic trilogy, A Conjuring of Light. It was the perfect end to the series, but also left lots of unfinished business so I have a sneaky feeling we may be returning to that world. I finished the month with another trilogy ender, The Scarecrow Queen part three of Melinda Salisbury's The Sin Eater's Daughter series. It was an incredible and super pacey end. Bigger, review type things coming soon!

A Conjuring of Light- V.E. Schwab

The Scarecrow Queen- Melinda Salisbury

The First Bad Man- Miranda July

Review! Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden

I found Sarah Glidden's first graphic memoir How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less so compelling and thoughtful and reflective so I was very keen to read Rolling Blackouts. It's in a similar style, but with Glidden taking more of an observer's view to the rest of her group, which comprises of two journalist friends and an ex Marine as they travel through Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 2010, pre Arab Spring. 

Glidden's two friends, Alex and Sarah, are reporters and founders of a non profit journalism site, who are researching stories of the effects of the Iraq War. They talk to refugees, an Iraqi American deportee, a UN refugee administrator, an Iranian blogger; gathering stories about their experiences in the aftermath of war. Alongside these encounters and the stories they bring, is the story of childhood friend of the journalists, Dan, who is a former Marine, and his return to Iraq. 

While in How to Understand Israel, Glidden was the centre of the story, seeking an understanding of the complicated history of her heritage, in Rolling Blackouts she becomes more of a fly on the wall as the two journalists and the ex Marine navigate their own understandings of the very complicated post war landscape of Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 2010. And in fact all the more interesting in light of everything that has happened in the last 7 years.

I really love Sarah Glidden's artwork. She has such a soft touch- subtle, with really beautiful watercolour washes, and great characters. Ugh she's good. Can't wait for next thing she does! 

Super interesting, great storytelling, beautiful artwork.

Review!: Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett

Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett is from the Fitzcarraldo Editions. This is the first I've read from these lovely blue editions, and was a Christmas present from my best pal, and I enjoyed it very much. It's another collection of short stories/essays sort of about nothing but also everything, and I will be keeping it near at all times to use as a thesaurus because Claire-Louise Bennett's vocabulary is extensive and lyrical and extremely envious.

Beauty, wisdom, whim, and humour are found in the mundanity of a quiet life in an old cottage in a small town. Claire-Louise Bennett's writing is beautiful and full of much better words than I could possibly muster, like for example this passage from pages 56-57, which I definitely had to read a few times and also made me laugh at the extravagance of the language:

"However, the sensational mode by which the latest idea came to light was in fact not the least bit dazzling or unprompted but was rather the sort of consolidated outcome which is typically produced when a protracted and half-hearted analytical process aggravates the superior auspices of an exasperated subconscious. Consequently, the emanation's illuminating glare softened soon enough, enabling me to continue looking at the trees while at the same time according the contents of this most recent development a privileged yet manageable place among my thoughts."

Just, how mind tangling yet wonderful are those two sentences. I also enjoyed the short but sweet chapter Oh, Tomato Purée! pictured below:

And I keep returning to the chapter To a God Unknown on page 65-66, pictured below, about the character taking a bath with the window open while an old storm blows outside. The idea of an old, familiar storm really caught me:

"And then, from there, it was possible, unavoidable really, to listen to the storm going around and around, and I knew it was an old one that had come back- it seemed to know exactly where it was and there was such intimacy in its movement and in the sound it made as it went along and around and around. Yes, I thought, you know these mountains and the mountains are familiar with you also."

So, if you want to read something quite beautiful and quite strange. Quite wordy and quite lyrical. This might be the book for you! I'm not allowed to buy anymore books currently because my TBR pile is essentially a mile high, but I might treat myself to a new Fitzcarraldo Edition for my Italian adventure in May.

Books I read in February!: Wuthering Heights, A God in Ruins, The Handmaid's Tale, Rolling Blackouts

February! My reading has really slowed down the last two months. I blame loads of essay marking and also writing of stuff. I did read some biggies in February though. I finally got round to reading The Handmaid's Tale and Wuthering Heights. I listened to A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson on audiobook, which I had been putting off for ages. And I read Sarah Glidden's Rolling Blackouts, an extremely good graphic novel. 

Wuthering Heights- Emily Brontë

I literally, in the literal sense of the word, had the Kate Bush song in my head every time I picked up my kindle to read this. I didn't realise how much second generation Cathy there was in this. Or how the book is set up as a story told by someone else. Or even have any idea what Wuthering Heights was about apart from moors, Heathcliff and Cathy. Maybe I've not even watched any of the film/tv adaptations? Anyway, now I know all those things and I enjoyed it. I loved the melodrama of the romance, and the creepy darkness of all the scary dark bits. So many people just Stuck in situations. V bleak. 

The Handmaid's Tale- Margaret Atwood

This one had been on my TBR list for years and I've read so many books inspired by it that it felt about time I finally read The Handmaid's Tale. I was totally engrossed in the story and kept wanting to go to bed early to read more. A lot of books I've read that were written after this, now seem so obviously a response to it. In some ways I feel like what has come since is better, but The Handmaid's Tale had to be the first one. I did enjoy it a lot though and the context that comes in to play at the end does give the story a bit more nuance. I now follow Margaret Atwood on twitter, you should too.

Rolling Blackouts- Sarah Glidden

I found Sarah Glidden's first graphic memoir, How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less, so compelling and thoughtful and reflective so I was very keen to read Rolling Blackouts. It's in a similar style, but with Glidden taking more of an observer's view of the rest of her group, two journalist friends and a marines (I think) vet, as they travel through Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 2010, pre Arab Spring. Super interesting, greta storytelling, beautiful artwork.

A God in Ruins- Kate Atkinson

Oh Teddy. I listened to this one on audiobook, and it a great way to read it I think, Kate Atkinson's  wonderful vivid storytelling accompanying me as I walked about. I really liked the world of Life After Life, and while this was different and less multiple lifey, I enjoyed hopping around in time to different parts of Teddy's life after he survives the war. I've read several of Atkinson's books, but I may have to read a few more. Or maybe just revisit Behind the Scenes at the Museum, because I was enthralled by it as a teenager. 

More stuff soon I promise! I went to a couple of Aye Write! book festival events this month in Glasgow so I'll write up wee reviews of them soon and do some reviews of new releases soon too! I just finished reading A Conjuring of Light, which was wonderful.

Harry Potter- Snogging, Valentines, and Romance.

Do you like Harry Potter and reading about snogging? Then this is the post for you! Here I have compiled some of the best valentine, romance, and snogging based moments from the books. All quotes from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, obv. Let me know your fave Harry P snogging scenes! Happy Valentine's Day! Snogging!

Chamber of Secrets-

Harry's singing dwarf valentine:

"'Right,' he said, sitting on Harry's ankles, 'here is your singing Valentine:
'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, 

His hair is as dark as a blackboard. 

I wish he was mine, he's really divine, 

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.' 

Harry would have given all the gold in Gringotts to evaporate on the spot. Trying valiantly to laugh along with everyone else, he got up, his feet numb from the weight of the dwarf, as Percy Weasley did his best to disperse the crowd, some of whom were crying with mirth."

Percy's and Penelope's secret snogging:

"They were almost at King's Cross when Harry remembered something.
'Ginny- what did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?'
'Oh, that,' said Ginny, giggling, 'Well- Percy's got a girlfriend.'
Fred dropped a stack of books on George's head.
'What?'
'It's that Ravenclaw Prefect, Penelope Clearwater,' said Ginny. 'That's who he was writing to all last summer. He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day. He was so upset when she was- you know- attacked. You won't tease him, will you?' she added anxiously.
'Wouldn't dream of it,' said Fred, who was looking as if his birthday had come early.
'Definitely not,' said George, sniggering. 

Goblet of Fire-

Fred's Yule Ball dating wisdom:

'So... you lot got dates for the ball yet?'
'Nope,' said Ron.
'Well, you'd better hurry up, mate, or all the good ones will be gone,' said Fred.
'Who're you going with, then?' said Ron.
'Angelina,' said Fred promptly, without a trace of embarrassment.
'What?' said Ron, taken aback. 'You've already asked her?'
'Good point,' said Fred. He turned his head and called across the common room, 'Oi! Angelina!'
Angelina, who had been chatting to Alicia Spinnet near the fire, looked over at him.
'What?' she called back.
'Want to come to the ball with me?'
Angelina gave Fred an appraising sort of look.
'All right, then,' she said, and she turned back to Alicia and carried on chatting, with a bit of a grin on her face.
'There you go,' said Fred to Harry and Ron, 'piece of cake.'"

Order of the Phoenix-

Harry's first, slightly wet, kiss:

'Did you kiss?' asked Hermione briskly.
Ron sat up so fast he sent his ink bottle flying all over the rug. Disregarding this completely, he stared avidly at Harry.
'Well?' he demanded.
Harry looked from Ron's expression of mingled curiosity and hilarity to Hermione's slight frown, and nodded.
'HA!'
Ron made a triumphant gesture with his fist and went into a raucous peal of laughter that made several timid-looking second-years over beside the window jump. A reluctant grin spread over Harry's face as he watched Ron rolling around on the hearthrug. Hermione gave Ron a look of deep disgust and returned to her letter.
'Well?' Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. 'How was it?'
Harry considered for a moment.
'Wet,' he said truthfully."

Harry's disastrous Valentine's Day date with Cho, ending in her tears and his protestation of 'Women!'

"'Oh, there's a really nice place up here; haven't you ever been to Madam Puddifoot's?' she said brightly, leading him up a side road and into a small teashop that Harry had never noticed before. It was a cramped, steamy little place where everything seemed to have been decorated with frills or bows. Harry was reminded unpleasantly of Umbridge's office.
'Cute, isn't it?' said Cho happily.
'Er... yeah,' said Harry untruthfully.
'Look, she's decorated it for Valentine's Day!' said Cho, indicating a number of golden cherubs that were hovering over each of the small, circular tables, occasionally throwing pink confetti over the occupants."

Half Blood Prince-

Ron and Lavender's first, v public, smooch:

"Harry looked into the corner she was indicating. There in full view of the whole room, stood Ron wrapped so closely around Lavender Brown it was hard to tell whose hands were whose.
'It looks like he's eating her face, doesn't it? said Ginny dispassionately. 'But I suppose he's got to refine his technique somehow. Good game, Harry.'
She patted him on the arm; Harry felt a swooping sensation in his stomach, but then she walked off to help herself to more Butterbeer."

Ron's out of date love potion disaster:

"'Romilda Vane,' said Ron softly, and his whole face seemed to illuminate as he said it, as though hit by a ray of purest sunlight.
They stared at each other for almost a whole minute, before Harry said, 'This is a joke, right? You're joking.'
'I think... Harry, I think I love her,' said Ron in a strangled voice.
'OK,' said Harry, walking up to Ron to get a better look at the glazed eyes and the pallid complexion, 'OK... say that again with a straight face.'
'I love her.' repeated Ron breathlessly. 'Have you seen her hair, it's all black and shiny and silky... and her eyes? Her big dark eyes? And her...'
'This is really funny and everything,' said Harry impatiently, 'but joke's over, all right? Drop it.'
He turned to leave, he got two steps towards the door when a crashing blow hit him on the right ear. Staggering, he looked round. Ron's fist was drawn right back, his face contorted with rage, he was about to strike again."

Harry and Ginny's first, v public, smooch and ensuing 'long walk' nudge nudge wink wink:

"Harry looked around; there was Ginny running towards him; she had a hard, blazing look in her face as she threw her arms around him. And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her.
After several long moments- or it might have been half an hour- or possibly several sunlit days- they broke apart. The room had gone very quiet. Then several people wolf-whistled and there was an outbreak of nervous giggling...
The creature in his chest roaring in triumph, Harry grinned down at Ginny and gestured wordlessly out of the portrait hole. A long walk in the grounds seemed indicated, during which- if they had time- they might discuss the match."

Deathly Hallows-

And the most iconic of all the snogging moments:

"'No,' said Ron seriously, 'I mean we should tell them to get out. We don't want any more Dobbys, do we? We can't order them to die for us-'
There was a clatter as the Basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione's arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
'Is this the moment?' Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. 'OI! There's a war going on here!'
Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.
'I know, mate,' said Ron, who looked as though he has recently been hit on the back of the head with a Bludger, 'so it's now or never, isn't it?'"

Review!: See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng

See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng is strange and funny and moving story told in the transcriptions of voice recordings 11-year-old Alex Petroski makes on an iPod he intends to send to space on the rocket he has built and will launch at a rocket convention. His unexpected journey takes him from Colorado to New Mexico to Las Vegas to L.A. and back Colorado again.

Alex's father died many years ago, his older brother works far away and checks in rarely, and his mum has been having a lot of her 'quiet days' recently. Alex can cook pretty well for himself and his mum, and has plenty of friends on Rocketforum, where he has learned all his rocket-building skills. With his pocket money from his job at a nearby grocery store Alex has ordered all his rocket parts online and booked his Amtrak tickets from Colorado to New Mexico. 

What ensues is a surprising amount of travel and road tripping for an 11 year old on his own, with a lively cast of supporting characters/grown ups. The transcripts of Alex's voice recordings work really well as a storytelling tool, especially in tense situations with Alex narrating. Alex absolutely melts your heart leaving you rooting for him and of course his faithful doggo, Carl Sagan. 

See You in the Cosmos is out on March 2nd 2017! 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. All views my own, promise!

Books I read in January!: I'll Be Home for Christmas, Pond, See You in the Cosmos, The One Hundred Nights of Hero, Buffering, The Bear and the Nightingale, An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk

Well hello there and welcome to my January reading round up! I had a good variety of books and graphic novels and audio books and short stories this month. When it was still just after Christmas time and I was still on holiday, I read I'll Be Home for Christmas, the short story collection from Stripes Publishing with proceeds going towards Crisis, the national homelessness charity. With stories on the theme of 'home' from writers including Holly Bourne, Non Pratt, Julie Mayhew, Lisa Williamson, Juno Dawson, this YA collection is an excellent festive treat. Maybe save it for next winter if you haven't read it yet!

Next up I read Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett from the Fitzcarraldo Editions. This is the first I've read from these lovely blue editions, and was a Christmas present from my best pal, and I enjoyed it very much. It's another collection of short stories/essays sort of about nothing but also everything, and I will be keeping it near at all times to use as a thesaurus because Claire-Louise Bennett's vocabulary is extensive and lyrical and extremely envious.

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I had a middle grade review copy on my to be read pile crying out to be read- See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng. This strange and funny and moving story is told in the transcriptions of voice recordings 11-year-old Alex Petroski makes on an iPod he intends to send to space on the rocket he has built and will launch at a rocket convention. His unexpected journey takes him from Colorado to New Mexico to Las Vegas to L.A. and back Colorado again.

I finally read Isabel Greenberg's The One Hundred Nights of Hero, the follow up graphic novel to The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, which I loved. The One Hundred Nights did not disappoint, with fantastical stories of from the world of Early Earth woven together into one beautiful tale of resistance and cunning. As always, the artwork is wonderful.

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In audiobooks, this month I listened to Hannah Hart's Buffering, which chronicles Hannah's life and childhood up to her current success as a YouTube creator. I knew a little of Hannah's story from watching her videos, but HOLY MOLY has her life been crazy, which has led to an extremely compelling set of essays. Growing up with a schizophrenic mother, a Jehovah's Witness father, and being in the closet until a couple years into college, Hannah has not had an easy life. She's a natural writer, and I really recommend the audiobook read by Hannah herself.

I preordered The Bear and the Nightingale and it arrived in time for my birthday in the middle of the month. I saw the beautiful cover and so many twitter recommendations and read the blurb and it was a done deal. Based on Russian folk stories in a snowy winter setting, this was the perfect January read. 

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To round off the month I read some more short stories, this time by Jessie Greengrass. An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk, According to One Who Saw It, is the title of the collection and the first story. As it was apparently a Foulis who killed one of the last Great Auks I have a particular interest so the title totally drew me in. The stories were varied and interesting and I'm looking forward to what Jessie Greengrass writes next! 

Full reviews of a couple of these coming soon!