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Mrs Death Misses Death
Mrs Death Misses Death
Salena Godden | 2021 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is such an original idea: Mrs Death. Death in this book is a black, working class woman. This turns on its head everything we’ve all grown up believing about Death, and I love this. Why shouldn’t Death be a woman? As it says in the book:
“For surely only she who bears it, she who gave you life, can be she who has the power to take it.”
Seems logical to me.
“And there is no human more invisible, more easily talked over, ignored, betrayed and easy to walk past than a woman; than a poor old black woman.”
The thought of walking past death on a daily basis and not realising that’s who you’re passing, is rather a disconcerting thought!
I liked the playful language, starting with the title and moving on through prose mixed with poetry, and parts were written in script form too. This wasn’t reading for the lazy: it kept me on my toes. The historical deaths seen from Death’s point of view were fascinating too.
I did find myself wishing that Mrs Death had found herself another ghost writer, because Wolf Willeford is clearly a vulnerable person with mental health issues - I did wonder if it was written to illustrate a form of psychosis.
Either way, I loved it and read it FAR too quickly. If this is Salena Godden’s first foray into prose, I will be looking out for what she writes next - and looking out for some of her poetry too, when I can get back in to a library!
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-copy of this book through NetGalley.
  
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Merissa (12804 KP) rated Stolen by Her Bear (Black Ridge Bears #1) in Books

Jul 26, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)  
Stolen by Her Bear (Black Ridge Bears #1)
Stolen by Her Bear (Black Ridge Bears #1)
Felicity Heaton | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
STOLEN BY HER BEAR is the first book in the Black Ridge Bears series and we return to the universe of Eternal Mates, and the friendly Cougar Creek neighbours. You could read this by itself, but I personally would recommend you at least read Cougar Creek, just to get some idea of the backstories involved.

Saint is the Alpha of the Bear Pride, and he is none too impressed when they are woken from their hibernation by laughter, frolics, and shenanigans. Unfortunately for him, when he tries to ask nicely, the cougars are holding a grudge and refuse to keep the noise down. Saint's bear takes over and he kidnaps the mate of one of the cougars... except, she isn't!

I loved how Holly was just like her namesake. She was very prickly to begin with, but I couldn't exactly blame her! Saint doesn't want to be grumpy, but he has only just woken up, and his bear is very cranky. He is a sweetie though.

Returning to this universe is like slipping on a favourite pair of shoes. You can walk for miles in them and still feel like going for more. Saint and Holly make a perfect first pair for this series, and I can't wait to see where we go next. (I'm looking at you, Lowe... I think!)

A great, fun read that is definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 26, 2021
  
The Golden Compass
The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman | 1995 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
7.6 (68 Ratings)
Book Rating
Originally reviewed on http://www.frommybookshelf.com

Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass will forever be one of my favorite books. I remember reading it when it was first published in 1995 and thinking then I had never read anything like it before, and each subsequent reading (along with the other books in the His Dark Materials series, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) still brings that feeling of wonder. The ideas and themes that Pullman introduces in these books challenged me as a reader then, and still do over 20 years later.

Lyra's story of friendship and loyalty found in the most unlikely places, and opposing and challenging those whose beliefs may be strong but not necessarily in the right, resonated strongly with me right out of high school, and I still think that these are important themes for any young reader to experience, especially told through Lyra's eyes. Her strength of character and resolve in what she believes right creates a fantastic role model for anyone, but especially those, I think, who are trying to find their way in the world and are looking to literature to help them. Of course, Pullman disguises much of this in a fast-paced adventure story filled with political intrigue and suspense around every corner, so it will keep readers both young and old eager to find out what happens next. Not every book deserves the title "unputdownable", but I think this was one of my first experiences with a book that earned that description for me. An alternate universe, witches, daemons, polar bears who talk, and more make this book one of the more unique books you'll read, and Philip Pullman's writing is beautiful and poignant.