books read in January

So long January 2017. You were a strange month...though I think probably a reasonable portent of things to come.

ANYWAY, let's talk about BOOKS! Because I feel like I will be reading a lot of fantasy this year to escape reality. It will be the best way to relax.

The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is so well done on so many levels. It may be "children's fiction" but there is something here for readers of all ages. Gidwitz uses his passion for Medieval history and storytelling to weave a tale infused with real historical figures, locations, and legends that may inspire you to read beyond the book to find out more (and don't worry, Gidwitz includes an annotated bibliography to help get you started).

If you're read his previous series, A Tale Dark & Grimm, the same snarky humor pops up in this book as well. But there are also great discussion topics, like theology and prejudice, that make this story a little bit heavier than the fairy tale retellings.

It's funny, it's serious, it's light-hearted and also full of sorrow. A great read! And also, I've been told, a great listen! Bump this up on your TBR pile right now!



Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Marisol Ramirez is the perfect narrator to give voice to a story taking place in New York City. Her voice is clear but she has just enough of the downtown accent to give the story the right feel. This is a great read for teens who like realistic fiction, coming of age stories. There are a few intense moments, but this is mostly a story about growing up.



Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am seriously hovering over that 5th star right now, I just can't decide if it was amazing or not. It was pretty damn good. A great bit of science fiction, with enough of a thriller aspect to keep me up at night, turning the pages into the late hours. Fantastic!



The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Glad to find another Newberry Award winner that I can approve of! Beautiful language, reminiscent of Peter Beagle's The Last Unicorn with that mix of innocence and melancholy that both kids and adults will understand. Great fantasy story with magical characters that you will miss when you finish the book.



Unicorn vs. Goblins by Dana Simpson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another cute entry in this series. Phoebe's time at music camp was my favorite part.



Razzle Dazzle Unicorn by Dana Simpson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Not the best in the series. Still adorable though.



View all my reviews

anime thoughts: Serial Experiments Lain (1998)

I got this anime series for Tim as a Christmas present. It was a short series, only 13 episodes, but it was really well done. It aired in 1998 but it is still eerily relevant when it comes to the themes it explores. It does get a little trippy near the end, going from a mostly linear story to just WEIRD but I still really liked it.

Without giving too much away, the story centers around a young girl named Lain. Her father buys her a new computer, a fancy high end Navi that can connect her to The Wired (internet). As soon as Lain logs into the computer, she finds herself obsessed with it, wanting it to be more powerful and give her more access to the Wired. After a long week of online activity, her school friends invite her out to a club in town. But at the club, something strange happens - people say they have seen Lain there, interacted with her, know her. Lain has know memory of any of this...

I really had to focus on this show, the story had lots of layers going on. There was a lot of atmosphere to the show, moments of long pauses, close ups on the eyes of each character, scenes with the wind blowing through the wires powering the town as birds chirp...

Deep thoughts on our connected society that still ring true today, definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the strange.