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A Quiet Life
10.0
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From the author of the critically acclaimed debut, A Little Hope comes an enormously powerful and...
The Island
7.0
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It was just supposed to be a family vacation. A terrible accident changed everything. You...
GG
Gay Gotham: Art and Underground Culture in New York
Book
Queer people have always flocked to New York seeking freedom, forging close-knit groups for support...
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated The Alchemist and an Amaretto (Guild Codex: Spellbound, #5) in Books
Jan 8, 2021
This starts with a paintball fight as the Crow and Hammer guild go against each other in an equal parts fun and training game. Afterwards our four main characters head back to the bar where the guild is based and discuss their plans for Christmas and it's decided they should all head to Aaron's parents house/guild/school for the holidays. Only things aren't quite as safe and secure as they seem at the school.
I do love these four people: Tori, Aaron, Kai and Ezra. They've grown into a tight-knit group over the previous books and I am really invested in their adventures - and their romances. Tori had previously dated Aaron but it didn't really last long and now she's realising her feelings for Ezra are a lot more than just friendship and she will do just about anything to save him from his inner demon. I'm very intrigued to see where that will end up going because he's always been the shy, sweet but deadly one.
As for the story of this one with the mutated shapeshifters. I kinda figured out who the bad guy was from pretty early on though I was a little surprised by just quite how deranged he ended up being.
It did surprise me by finishing at the 85% mark. I don't know what I was expecting since the story had wrapped up by that point. I think I was disappointed that I didn't have more to read of this group of friends. Since i got this from the KU library, I'm going to grab some more of the series soon.
I do love these four people: Tori, Aaron, Kai and Ezra. They've grown into a tight-knit group over the previous books and I am really invested in their adventures - and their romances. Tori had previously dated Aaron but it didn't really last long and now she's realising her feelings for Ezra are a lot more than just friendship and she will do just about anything to save him from his inner demon. I'm very intrigued to see where that will end up going because he's always been the shy, sweet but deadly one.
As for the story of this one with the mutated shapeshifters. I kinda figured out who the bad guy was from pretty early on though I was a little surprised by just quite how deranged he ended up being.
It did surprise me by finishing at the 85% mark. I don't know what I was expecting since the story had wrapped up by that point. I think I was disappointed that I didn't have more to read of this group of friends. Since i got this from the KU library, I'm going to grab some more of the series soon.
Young Readers' edition of The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
The Radium Girls: The Scary But True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark was adapted for younger readers by Kate Moore from her bestselling novel The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women.
It tells the story of the wonder drug of the early 1900s, radium. It was thought to cure illnesses, and its luminescent properties made it ideal for glow-in-the-dark watches and for dials and instruments of pilots during WWI. To paint these devices, women would lick the brushes, dip them into the radium, paint, then repeat. The women did not know they were becoming sick with radium poisoning. Some did not show symptoms until years after they stopped working with the radium.
If you read the original version, you know it is detailed and includes timelines of multiple people. The version for a younger audience is written with age-appropriate content, but it is still incredibly detailed and more than 400 pages. The story shows these women as individuals, showing their separate lives, but also the strong, tight-knit group who fought for themselves and to ensure workplace safety for all.
This book is perfect for assigned reading for history or science classes.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/1/20.
The Radium Girls: The Scary But True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark was adapted for younger readers by Kate Moore from her bestselling novel The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women.
It tells the story of the wonder drug of the early 1900s, radium. It was thought to cure illnesses, and its luminescent properties made it ideal for glow-in-the-dark watches and for dials and instruments of pilots during WWI. To paint these devices, women would lick the brushes, dip them into the radium, paint, then repeat. The women did not know they were becoming sick with radium poisoning. Some did not show symptoms until years after they stopped working with the radium.
If you read the original version, you know it is detailed and includes timelines of multiple people. The version for a younger audience is written with age-appropriate content, but it is still incredibly detailed and more than 400 pages. The story shows these women as individuals, showing their separate lives, but also the strong, tight-knit group who fought for themselves and to ensure workplace safety for all.
This book is perfect for assigned reading for history or science classes.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/1/20.
Sourdough: A Novel
7.3
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In his much-anticipated new novel, Robin Sloan does for the world of food what he did for the world...
Fiction
Merissa (13303 KP) rated Awakening the Sheriff (Forestville Silver Foxes #2) in Books
Aug 22, 2023
AWAKENING THE SHERIFF is the second book in the Forestville Silver Foxes series. The title gives away one of the MCs, but the other is a new teacher in town, Keaton Perry.
I loved returning to Forestville and the close-knit group of friends. Auden has been stuck in a rut for a while now but has no idea how to change it, whatever 'it' may be. Keaton has moved to Forestville because he has warm memories of living in a small town himself. Of course, life never runs smoothly, especially when you've got teenagers.
Auden and Keaton's story is completely organic - nothing seems forced or false. It moves at a steady pace, giving the reader time to enjoy each and every scene. I loved the get-togethers where we saw all of the friends, and I REALLY loved how Auden expressed himself. Their story shows that love can be easy when you're with the right person, even when life can be hard.
I can't wait for the next book in this series but I am also hoping that we have a Forestville: Next Generation scenario, as I really want to know more about Gabe, Violet, and Dani. I also need Byron to have his HEA. He deserves it so much.
Such a brilliant book! I have absolutely no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending both this book and the series.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 22, 2023
I loved returning to Forestville and the close-knit group of friends. Auden has been stuck in a rut for a while now but has no idea how to change it, whatever 'it' may be. Keaton has moved to Forestville because he has warm memories of living in a small town himself. Of course, life never runs smoothly, especially when you've got teenagers.
Auden and Keaton's story is completely organic - nothing seems forced or false. It moves at a steady pace, giving the reader time to enjoy each and every scene. I loved the get-togethers where we saw all of the friends, and I REALLY loved how Auden expressed himself. Their story shows that love can be easy when you're with the right person, even when life can be hard.
I can't wait for the next book in this series but I am also hoping that we have a Forestville: Next Generation scenario, as I really want to know more about Gabe, Violet, and Dani. I also need Byron to have his HEA. He deserves it so much.
Such a brilliant book! I have absolutely no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending both this book and the series.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 22, 2023
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated 60 Quick Knits: 20 Hats*20 Scarves*20 Mittens in Cascade 220™ in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Cascade 220 is an inexpensive good quality wool in hundreds of colors. However, any yarn of the same weight (or even a different weight if you want to get creative and do something funky) can be substituted if needed.
60 Quick Knits is a fantastic book! The patterns are beautiful and inspiring, each one is unique and holds potential for a million variations of decor, color, stitch patterning etc. There are patterns for kids, like bunny mittens, a lion scarf, a cupcake hat, and more sophisticated patterns like textured tam, hugs and kisses mittens, and even some patterns for the guys like a pocket scarf and tweed mittens.
Here is a preview of some of the patterns photographs I mentioned.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-sER6e5xCaQ/S7fChi20hXI/AAAAAAAACkg/RsTyBqnFFac/s1600-h/60%20knits%20preview%5B4%5D.jpg)
Each pattern tells the level of experience needed to complete it, has one or two high quality good photographs, very good clear instructions, and graphs with keys. In the front of the book is a list of abbreviations, and a conversion table from US needle sizes to Metric needle sizes.
The book doesn’t attempting to teach someone to knit, so you’ll need a good knitting teaching book, or a teacher, or some foreknowledge before you can use it. I find this a good thing, since the book is focusing on patterns rather than instruction.
When I got this one in the mail, I swear I drooled. My mom and I flipped through the pages oooh-ing and aahhh-ing. I’m going to have trouble picking which one to make first!
Recommendation: Knitters at any level
60 Quick Knits is released by Sixth&Springs books on April 6th.
**review copy provided by publisher**
60 Quick Knits is a fantastic book! The patterns are beautiful and inspiring, each one is unique and holds potential for a million variations of decor, color, stitch patterning etc. There are patterns for kids, like bunny mittens, a lion scarf, a cupcake hat, and more sophisticated patterns like textured tam, hugs and kisses mittens, and even some patterns for the guys like a pocket scarf and tweed mittens.
Here is a preview of some of the patterns photographs I mentioned.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-sER6e5xCaQ/S7fChi20hXI/AAAAAAAACkg/RsTyBqnFFac/s1600-h/60%20knits%20preview%5B4%5D.jpg)
Each pattern tells the level of experience needed to complete it, has one or two high quality good photographs, very good clear instructions, and graphs with keys. In the front of the book is a list of abbreviations, and a conversion table from US needle sizes to Metric needle sizes.
The book doesn’t attempting to teach someone to knit, so you’ll need a good knitting teaching book, or a teacher, or some foreknowledge before you can use it. I find this a good thing, since the book is focusing on patterns rather than instruction.
When I got this one in the mail, I swear I drooled. My mom and I flipped through the pages oooh-ing and aahhh-ing. I’m going to have trouble picking which one to make first!
Recommendation: Knitters at any level
60 Quick Knits is released by Sixth&Springs books on April 6th.
**review copy provided by publisher**