August 2021 Reads




 

Audio Books

Notorious London (Great Courses) by Paul Deslandes.  Despite using a very, very wide definition of notorious, this lecture series does have some interesting tidbits.

Dark Tide by Stephen Puleo.  This book details the Molasses Flood in Boston


Children’s

Lizze and Lou Seal by Patricia Keeler.  Cute

This is Circle  by Chrissie Krebs.  Cute, but I don’t really understand what age group this is for, considering the amount of text.

Archer Otters  by Magic Strawberry Pencil.  Fun tale about otters protecting their own.

Downpour by Emily Martin. Not formatted for the kindle very well, but wonderfully illustrated book.

Nymia and the Blue Bear  by Angela Castillo.  Educational and fun book about a child trying to reunite a bear with its mom.

Some Days  by Maria Wernicke.  Nicely illustrated.


Comics

Harrow County 1-4, and Tales from Harrow County Death’s Choir 1-4, Tales from Harrow County Fair Folk #1 by Cullen BunnI am now officially a Harrow County Fan.  Blast free comics, they make you spend more sometimes, you know?

20XX #1 by Johnathan Luna.  This comic presents an interesting idea in terms of a virus.

Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil #1 by Jeff Lemire.  I love the heroine in this issue.  Will continue with the series.

Ruby Falls #1 by Ann Nocenti.  I like the set up but there is something about the book that does not grab me.

47 Ronin #1 by Mike Richardson – Good adaption of the story.

Stumptown Vol 1 by Greg Rucka.  I liked this mystery series.


 Fiction

Life Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee  by Meera Syal.  This novel deals with a friendship between women living in London’s East Asian community.

Animal Wrongs  by Stephen Spotte.  This comic novel is based on trials of animals that occurred during the Middle Ages.


History

The Donnellys: Powder Keg  and The Donnellys: Mascare, Trial and Aftermath both by John Little.  Little’s two volume looks at the Black Donnellys, placing them in historical context.

Forget the Alamo by Bryan Burrough et al.  Well worth reading for a look at how history is used and abused and faked.

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America 1619-2019 ed By Ibram X. K.  Several notable authors are included.


 Memoir

Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Work House by Jennifer Worth.  I liked the first memoir better.  It’s still good but the social issues/problems are far more shoved in the face, and at times one wonders about how she gets some of the stories.

Black Box  by Shiroi Ito.  This book details the struggles Ito went though when she filed a rape charge.


Mystery/Thriller

Nineteen Seventy-Four by David Peace.  The first book in the Red Riding Quartet,  It is very 70s.

People Like Them  by Samira Sedia.  I hope Penguin translates more of her books.  Based on real class in France, this novel looks at why people murder – how race and class pay a part in a crime.

In the Woods  by Tana French.  Oh, I see what the fuss is about.


Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Locked In by John Scalzi.  An enjoyable sci-fi mystery.

Star War’s Queen’s Shadow  by E. K. Johnston.  Love the relationship between Padme and her handmaids.  Hated the whole bit about Qui-Gon knew who Padme really was BS.

 

Travel

The Book Lover’s Guide to London  by Sarah Milne.  Actually lives up to the title and includes a complete listing of books mentioned at the end.

 

Comments