Babel

 

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translator's Revolution         by R. F. Kuang             Literary Fiction/Historical Fantasy

(from Amazon)  1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel.  Babel is the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization.  For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide…

(My Review)

Wow!  I'm not sure where to start (I literally just finished reading it).  As the book starts out, I found myself really enjoying the dark academia vibes.  I loved the descriptions of Oxford University, of academic life, the discussions of the linguistic lectures.  It was so very scholarly and interesting.  But, there were instances that were a bit unsettling.  Kuang did a great job building up this tension, until about 70% through the book, and you're like...WHAT??  This story is so powerful, making you think about how complicated language is - how it separates us, and brings us together.  This story also looks at the complicated history of colonialism.  I HIGHLY recommend this book!!!  

Sad Ghost Club

Sad Ghost Club (Volume 1 of 2) by Lize Meddings           YA Humorous Graphic Novel/Mental Health

(from Amazon)  This is the story of one of those days - a day so bad you can barely get out of bed, when it's a struggle to leave the house, and when you do, you wish you hadn't. But even the worst of days can surprise you. When one sad ghost, alone at a crowded party, spies another sad ghost across the room, they decide to leave together. What happens next changes everything.  Because that night they start the The Sad Ghost Club - a secret society for the anxious and alone, a club for people who think they don't belong.

(My Review) 

This delightful graphic novel, follows a "sad ghost" who is struggling with anxiety, overthinking, and loneliness.  Everyone just needs a friend. 

 

Nothing More to Tell

 

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus              YA Mystery

(from Amazon)  Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.  The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin’s murder—but instead, thanks to Tripp, they're now at the top of the Saint Ambrose social pyramid. Tripp's friends have never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day, and neither has he. Just like he hasn’t forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie.  Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and when Brynn begins to investigate what happened in the woods that day, she uncovers secrets that might change everything—about Saint Ambrose, about Mr. Larkin, and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot.  Four years ago someone got away with murder. More terrifying is that they might be closer than anyone thinks.

(My Review)  

Another great mystery from K.M. McManus.  Brynn moves back to her hometown, and starts an internship.  She convinces her new boss into looking into the murder of a beloved teacher that happened at her school, years ago, before she moved away.  She digs up secrets that some would prefer to stay buried. 

Long Live the Pumpkin Queeen

 

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen:  Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw

                                                                            Teen and YA Holiday and Celebrations/Dark Fantasy

(from Amazon)  Jack and Sally are "truly meant to be" ... or are they? Sally Skellington is the official, newly-minted Pumpkin Queen after a whirlwind courtship with her true love, Jack, who Sally adores with every inch of her fabric seams -- if only she could say the same for her new role as Queen of Halloween Town. Cast into the spotlight and tasked with all sorts of queenly duties, Sally can't help but wonder if all she's done is trade her captivity under Dr. FInkelstein for a different -- albeit gilded -- cage. But when Sally and Zero accidentally uncover a long-hidden doorway to an ancient realm called Dream Town in the forest Hinterlands, she'll unknowingly set into motion a chain of sinister events that put her future as Pumpkin Queen, and the future of Halloween Town itself, into jeopardy. Can Sally discover what it means to be true to herself and save the town she's learned to call home, or will her future turn into her worst... well, nightmare?

(My Review)

This was a lovely continuation of the "The Nightmare Before Christmas" story.  I loved learning more about Sally, and going on this adventure with her.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

 

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin               Literature & Fiction

(from Amazon)  The irascible A. J. Fikry, owner of Island Books - the only bookstore on Alice Island - has already lost his wife. Now his most prized possession, a rare book, has been stolen from right under his nose in the most embarrassing of circumstances. The store itself, it seems, will be next to go.  One night upon closing, he discovers a toddler in his children’s section with a note from her mother pinned to her Elmo doll: I want Maya to grow up in a place with books and among people who care about such kinds of things. I love her very much, but I can no longer take care of her. A search for Maya’s mother, A. J.’s rare book, and good childcare advice ensues, but it doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the transformation of both bookstore and owner, something of particular interest to the lovely yet eccentric Knightley Press sales rep, Amelia Loman, who makes the arduous journey to Alice Island thrice each year to pitch her books to the cranky owner. 

(My Review)

What a sweet, beautiful story!  This book reminded me of a bookish Silas Marner (which I also recommend).  It was just a lovely, cozy read.  I highly recommend it.

The Nature of Witches

 

The Nature of Witches  by Rachel Griffin                     YA Contemporary Fantasy

(from Amazon)  For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, but now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic; the storms, more destructive. All hope lies with Clara, a once-in-a-generation Everwitch whose magic is tied to every season.   In autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic - losing the ones she loves - is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.   In winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference.  In spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses. In summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves...before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos. 

(My Review)

In a world where the weather is getting very erratic, witches can control the weather.  However, different witches are born whose magic only works in one season.  Very rarely is born an Everwitch whose magic works in all seasons.  She must learn to control her magic and use it save the world.  This was such a lovely read.  It had so much imagery, and a beautiful story a woman accepting her own abilities and strength.  

I'm Glad My Mom Died

 

I'm Glad My Mom Died  by Jennette McCurdy            Memoir/Dysfunctional Family

(from Amazon) Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.  In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.  Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

(My Review)

I have so many thoughts after reading this. I remember watching her on iCarly with my kids. Who knew? Who ever knows?? I was so horrified to read what this poor child went through at the hands of her mother, and with the entertainment industry that obviously does not look after the welfare of children. Children are just a commodity. I just think of the trauma Jennette experienced, and wonder if she will ever truly ever recover. Do I recommend this book? Yes, but be warned it can be disturbing. While it is not exactly explicit, it is still disturbing. I think it's interesting to consider the generational trauma/abuse in this book as well.  I still think of what she went through, and hope for the best for Jennette's continued recovery. I also recommend watching interviews she has done to promote the book, and you will see how therapy has helped her to recover. I am really proud to see her strength.