Completely Full Bookshelf

Hi folks! I utterly failed at the goal I shared in my last post to read 5 pages every day. LMAO. But I do have a few wonderful books to share with y'all! I discovered the first two books in this post from other book bloggers, back when the pandemic was in full swing. And then they sat around unread on my shelves for years. I’m glad to have finally experienced them! And an extremely cool person introduced me to the last two books in this post. I am delighted to show them to you as well! Shadow Life Written by Hiromi Goto Illustrated by Ann Xu Adult graphic novel *** Publisher's description *** Poet and novelist Hiromi Goto effortlessly blends wry, observational slice-of-life literary fiction with poetic magical realism in the tender and surprising graphic novel Shadow Life , with haunting art from debut artist Ann Xu. When Kumiko’s well-meaning adult daughters place her in an assisted living home, the seventy-six-year-old widow gives it a try, but it’s not where she wants to be...

Uh...a lot has happened since I last posted here! Geez. In August, this blog turned 9 years old, and I also started a job that I've been in for about 5 months. I like it a lot! And I've had lots of other personal adventures I look forward to telling y'all more about soon. I've decided as of today that I am going to read 5 pages every day. I've been in a huge reading slump for at least six months, but really a few years. And I'd like it to stop now, because books are really good for my mental health and my happiness, and I think they are a missing piece in the puzzle of my life. Before I carry on with reading new books, though, I have several books, bookstores, libraries from the past 6 months that I'd like to update you on now! Books My Boyfriend Is a Bear Written by Pamela Ribon and illustrated by Cat Farris Adult graphic novel You know, for a hilarious graphic novel about a woman named Nora who finds true love by dating a literal giant bear, I was honestly...

(Forgive me for a post that is entirely unrelated to books. Also, minor spoilers for Pixar's Elio  follow. ) On Sunday, my dad and I went to the movies to see the new Pixar movie, Elio , which is currently bombing at the box office despite fairly positive reviews from critics. I loved it. I cried a ridiculous amount of tears in the second half and continued to cry basically the entire walk out of the theater. I loved the movie so much, I took it upon myself during the next twenty-four hours to be its word-of-mouth box-office savior. I talked it up on my blog , and on my most recent Zoom call with my fellow bloggers. I texted one of my friends about it and planned to tell another one at our next hangout. I knew Elio  wasn't a perfect movie. So why did I love it so much? I was a really isolated kid. I was gay, feminine, sweet, socially anxious, and mentally ill. (I am still all of those things!) I always felt out of place and unsafe in the world. So I related to Elio's charac...

Hi everyone! It's been so long since I've posted, since I haven't really been reading much. Instead, I've been doing the following: Graduating from grad school Applying to jobs Stressing More stressing LOTS OF STRESSING Becoming increasingly interested in architecture Becoming re-interested in Taylor Swift (she's so good ) Listening to the new Frankie Cosmos album Going to the movies (see the end of this post) Taking a trip to Boston with my dad! That last bullet deserves expanding upon! Much of my family history took place in Boston, and I was born there, though we moved across the United States when I was a toddler and have stayed put since. Because of things that are kind of complicated to explain and therefore I'm not going to, I haven't taken a plane trip or left my current U.S. state since I was 5. As you can imagine, I am definitely now older than 5, so finally  taking a plane trip across the country was a big deal! It was also immensely  fun. We went...

Hi everyone! I've got a very fun graphic novel to share about today! I'd also like to highlight my review from last week , because I'm low-key very proud of how that one turned out writing-wise. Feel free to check it out too! Noodle & Bao Written and illustrated by Shaina Lu Middle grade · Graphic novel · 2024 Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · Perfect for fans of Animal Crossing and Measuring Up , this whimsical and empowering middle grade graphic novel follows a girl who helps her friend’s humble food cart stand its ground against the gentrification of their Chinatown neighborhood. Momo has lived in Town 99 her entire life. She knows all its quirks and rhythms: the best places to buy fruit, practice tai-chi in the park, and, most of all, get the best meal: Noodle & Bao, run by Momo’s best friend, Bao, and their amah, Noodle. But Town 99 is changing. Rent is becoming unaffordable for Momo and her parents, and even Nood...

Hello, hello, everyone! I'm excited to share a delightful graphic novel with you today, so let's hop to it! Hungry Heart Volume 1 Written and illustrated by Jem Milton Young adult/adult · Graphic novel · 2024 Add it on Goodreads  ·  Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · The humdrum life of an aspiring food writer changes when he meets a famous celebrity chef. Equal parts funny and heartwarming,  Hungry Heart , based on the hit webcomic, is an endearing queer rom-com that grapples with self-discovery, finding your voice, and the power of acceptance. Laurie, a plucky young food writer, gets his big break interviewing heartthrob chef, Oryan Adjei. Laurie has idolized Oryan since watching him rise to fame in the  UK Kitchen Trials  back when they were both teens. But Oryan's life is lonelier than it seems from the outside and his career has taken a direction he isn't sure he wants to continue. Laurie seems to get Oryan in...

So it took me six weeks to finish this book, plus another two to get the review written, plus one more between when I wrote it and when I posted it. Good grief! But it's not for a lack of quality on the book's part. This book is amazing  and essential to read right now, and I'm excited to bring it to y'all's attention today! Fine A Comic About Gender Written and illustrated by Rhea Ewing Adult · Graphic nonfiction · 2022 Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · A vibrant and informative debut with “great documentary power” (Alison Bechdel), Fine is an elegantly illustrated celebration of the transgender community. As graphic artist Rhea Ewing neared college graduation in 2012, they became consumed by the question: What is gender? This obsession sparked a quest in which they eagerly approached both friends and strangers in their quiet Midwest town for interviews to turn into comics. A decade later, this project exploded into...