Completely Full Bookshelf

Two in a row, y'all! I have a second book review for you this week, and it's another story very much worth sharing. So let's dive in! Feelings A Story in Seasons Written and illustrated by Manjit Thapp Young adult/adult · Graphic memoir(-ish) · 2021 Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · A stunning illustrated journey through one young woman’s year of feelings—from the saturated highs of early summer to the gray isolation of late winter.   Enter Manjit Thapp’s Feelings , where you’ll find moods that change as quickly as the weather; the different shades of anxiety and hope that each new season brings; and the stages of joy and pain that fuel our growth. From the spark of possibility and jolt of creativity in High Summer, to the need for release from anxiety and pressure during Monsoon, to the desolation and numbness of Winter, Feelings implores us to consider the seasons of our own emotional journeys. Articulating and validating th...

GUYS!!! I READ A BOOK!!! I actually do that sometimes, here on this book blog! I was at the bookstore with a friend recently and saw this book hiding on the shelf, and it called to me. So rather than shoving it into my own stuffed bookcases, I actually read it, thereby proving the impermanence of my reading slump. So let's talk about the book! Lavender Clouds Comics about Neurodivergence and Mental Health Written and illustrated by Bex Ollerton Young adult/adult · Graphic memoir · 2024 Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · A dazzling, humorous, and highly personal portrayal of neurodivergence from a leading voice in mental health comics. Eisner Award nominated author Bex Ollerton—known as @Schnumn to her thousands of followers—is a talented comic artist who feels energized and courageous on some days and exhausted and emotionally depleted on others. In Lavender Clouds , she translates her experiences with Autism, ADHD, and mental health in...

Y'all, I have a confession to make... Today I'm reviewing a video game, not a book. And I kind of hate that I'm doing it! This is a book blog, and I post in a roundup of book bloggers. So I hate to use this forum for whatever I feel like—there are standards  to be abided by ,  for goodness's sake! Aaaaaaaaaaaand yet...at the same time, I really want to talk about this game with y'all. Because it's one of the most beautiful pieces of art I can think of, and it matters a lot to me, and I think every human being would find joy and meaning from playing it, and that includes y'all! And I miss talking to y'all about what I'm interested in. And I daresay this game might even have particular appeal to book lovers...especially graphic novel lovers like moi self. (I know that's cheap, but just go with it!) So we're doing it—we're talking about Monument Valley 2 ! What is Monument Valley 2 ? Well, one easy way to find out is to watch the trailer: Bu...

I still haven't read anything, though I actually dreamed I had read some books and put a post together for y'all—does that count? I feel like this has been a pretty good week overall—I had some really fun hangouts with different friends, and I've been fairly productive with the 300 million bazillion things on my to-do list. I would be remiss if I did not mention the election tomorrow. I'm very anxious about the outcome—I think everyone is, but half of us for different reasons from the other half. It's strange—if I and half of America have our way, we will have our first woman president and second president of color, which I think would send a really powerful message to our population about what this country stands for. Or if the other half of America has their way, we will spend four years worrying about the ways our rights could be creatively rolled back, by a man who has said so many appalling and disgusting things that it is literally impossible to keep track. It...

Hi y'all! Again, I am still in a reading hiatus, but I'd be remiss if I did not mention... The Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! If you're interested in coming to the sixth Kidlit Lovers' Meetup  this November, then please fill out this scheduling survey by the end of the day Tuesday!  Your input helps me select a time that as many people can attend as possible. And if you're not familiar with what the meetups are, you can learn more here ! That's all for now—I wish everyone a good week and a happy Halloween! (And don't forget to vote early! ✨🗳️✨)

Still nothing read, as I balance some different hobbies with the chaos of the semester, but I did want to poke my head out of my turtle shell and give a plug for... The Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! Our FIFTH Kidlit Lovers' Meetup is scheduled for: This Wednesday, October 23 4–4:45p Pacific / 5–5:45p Mountain / 6–6:45p Central / 7–7:45p Eastern Virtual (via Zoom) As always, these meetups are a chance for us kidlit book bloggers and readers (and anyone else who wants to join in on the fun) to connect and discuss books, reading, blogging, and more! I've decided to stop using RSVP forms because it was getting confusing. Instead, sign up for the meetup mailing list so you can get the Zoom link for this meetup and all future meetups as they are scheduled. (You can also click that link to learn more about the meetup format, if you're curious!) (I suspect it's also going to get confusing to have two mailing lists, one through Mailchimp for blog posts and one through regular emai...

I am continuing my grandiose reading slump—and honestly? Not feeling too bad about it! Books will still be there when I get back to them. I mentioned last week that I've been playing a video game for a few weeks, Desta: The Memories Between —and like thirty minutes ago, I BEAT THE STORY MODE!!! I love this game—the story is affecting and poignant and wise, and the gameplay is engaging enough to make me feel all clever when I do something right, yet not so demanding that I can't sit and have a relaxing time playing. There are other game modes that I could play in order to explore the rest of the game's story—or I could switch over for now and play another game by the studio (Ustwo Games). Decisions, decisions! But all good decisions, thankfully. Also, I mentioned last week  that I was into the album With a Lightning Strike  by Genevieve Stokes—and if I was into it then, I am INTO IT now. Geez! This album is literally getting me through—I love it so much. Also, something you...

(This post title is in honor of my best friend—she'll know what I mean!) It's been capital-B Busy this last week. Work meetings, org fairs, officer meetings, therapy, night classes, visits with friends (yay!), yoga classes (see below), and networking dinners. I've driven so much  to get to everything—I've been north and south and north again, sometimes both in the same day. It's been hectic, but honestly, it hasn't been bad! There's been a nice balance of work and fun, and I've felt like I have a (relative) sense of purpose. Some random things: My best friend got me into yoga classes, and now I'm hooked! I've been taking some that are full-on exercise classes, and I hate  exercise. But the thing is, we do deep breathing while doing the poses/exercise, and the deep breathing gives me something to focus on besides my body's angst, plus it sometimes gets my body to calm down with it, which makes the exercise easier. I think this is the only form...

Y'all, this semester has been something else!  I was going to find 30 minutes or an hour to finish my book and write a blog post last night, and even that wasn't doable. But at the very least, I did want to post a reminder about... The Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! The fourth  Kidlit Lovers' Meetup , a chance for us book bloggers to hang out and connect over a Zoom call, is scheduled for: This Saturday, September 28, 2024 4-5 PM Pacific / 5-6 PM Mountain / 6-7 PM Central / 7-8 PM Eastern RSVP here >> We'll be talking about books, blogging, reading, and more, and I'll have discussion questions prepared to keep the conversation going. The whole thing is designed to be very low-stress—even if you're as chronically introverted as I am, my goal is for you to still feel welcome and enjoy yourself! You can  RSVP for the meetup here , or  learn more about the meetups here . Feel free to email me at completelyfullbookshelf [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions. Plea...

Update (Monday morning): I added a sentence I forgot to add! I meant to save an hour at the end of the day to get my book finished and my blog posted, but then things ran late (as they love to do) and my plans went awry! So while I don't have any images or fancy formatting to share with you all, I do have some random tidbits and observations to send your way: After my delightful time reading The Tea Dragon Festival  (second in the series) by K. O'Neill last week, I have since started the third and final book, The Tea Dragon Tapestry ! I'm loving it so far, and it's reminding me of a funny quirk of reading series (which I rarely do): it's helpful when you can remember the books beforehand! I have completely forgotten book 1, The Tea Dragon Society , so maybe a re-read is in my near future. (Or a re-read of The Moth Keeper  too!) Honestly, if I had the energy or initiative, I'd love to do a longer post dissecting themes of O'Neill's work across multiple bo...