Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2019
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Sari's 2019 Book Challenge
Wish ListCarry-Over:
Iron Gold,
Movie: Victoria & Abdul, Shape of Water, Love Simon,
Comics/ graphic novels are legit. I used to teach dyslexic kids, and often graphic novels were the thing to finally spark a real interest in them for reading. I always allowed them for their reading logs.
I get counting them for dyslexic kids, but non-dyslexic adults? I feel like I use it as a crutch waaay too often because I'm counting them the same as I would a "normal" book. I mean, don't get me wrong, I count everything -- "normal" books, audiobooks, comics/ graphic novels, poetry books, etc. -- because I need a variety of literary "experiences" which makes them all technically valid. However, I really need to get back to reading. My reading speed is steadily decreasing after every traumatic brain injury I collect... and by now I have several. I'm mostly just pointing out to myself that maybe more "practice" reading would help. I hope. (No guarantees at this point, obviously.) *shrugs*
Mod
Here's a list of my 2018 reads:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My goal: 50 books!
Last year was pretty hard to ma..."
Good luck on reaching your goals, and finding reads that make you happy (whether they're comics or audiobooks or poetry or adult books or other "normal" books)! :)
1) Blue Is The Warmest Color; Julie Maroh; Jan 31; 5*When I want to read nothing, I read this, to remind me why I love reading. I still find comfort in its pages, when nothing else will soothe me.
2) Spinning; Tillie Walden; Feb 6/7?, 3.7* This coming-of-age sketchbook, er "graphic memoir," was a unique reading experience. I loved that it revolved around her involvement in ice skating, but still touched on many different experiences and emotions during her adolescence. I completely empathized with her conflicted dedication to something she didn't even really enjoy, but would make sacrifices to continue doing for reasons unknown. This isn't a fast-paced read, but it also isn't pretentious. It's a series of memories. (And I, for one, am fine with it not drowning in introspection/ reflection/ analysis of those events -- but simply presenting them and allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions.) This isn't a book that does the thinking for you -- but it does provide a window into an interesting series of moments.
3) Scythe; Neal Shusterman; Feb 11; 4.7* (Audiobook)I started listening to this last year, but due to a damaged disc, wasn't able to finish the book until this year. The audio was wonderful (and I really hope they maintain the same narrator for the other books in this series). While I don't agree with everything (about death and killing) the author presented, I thought the points were executed well (no pun intended). Some moments were predictable, but for the most part I enjoyed every twist, turn and memorable quote this book provided.
4) Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants; Matthew Inman; Feb 16; 3.8* Fun-but-bizarre comics. Offensive/ sarcastic but occasionally informative and/ or relatable. Perfect for when I need to not take life too seriously for a while.
5) Princess Princess Ever After; Katie O'Neill; Feb 17; 4.2*This was enjoyable. More than just a lesbian fairytale graphic novel for kids, it also touches on bullying, making tough decisions, gender expectations, etc. (And the ending is a major bonus.)
5.1) Prince & Knight; Daniel Haack & Stevie Lewis; Feb 17; 3.2*I like that this book has a gay relationship (twist on the classic fairy tale) and the artwork is fun, but the rhymes are sub-par. This book is cute, but (other than the LGBTQ+ relationship) unremarkable.
6) Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick; Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky; Feb 17; 4.3*Fun, original & completely ridiculous... but with sex, time manipulation, and a librarian. Where has this been all my life? I would recommend to friends who don't take themselves (or sex) too seriously, and are just looking for a good time -- with a graphic novel.
7) Take Me With You; Andrea Gibson; Feb 18; 1.7*Underwhelmed. I didn't go into this with any expectations, but even I'm amazed at how disappointing this book was. I felt like it had zero depth (and several references seemed more like speculation than any actual understanding). This reads less like good poetry, and more like a travesty.
8) She Felt Like Feeling Nothing; R.H. Sin; Mar 5; 3.4*I read this from the perspective of a friend-zoned guy sharing his poems. And it felt pretty close. Which is probably why I enjoyed them... b/c they remind me of poems one of my friends used to write (To be clear, my friend's work is better -- but whatever.), & I got a bit nostalgic. Some do seem repetitive, but not all.
I wanted to add that I am surprised there are so many readers who are unhappy because they read this in a female voice & the author, well, isn't (see Reuben Holmes). I probably liked this more than most because I never had that problem. Also, nostalgia (see above).
9) I Remember Beirut; Zeina Abirached; Mar 6; 2.8*Not much of a story -- just random memories across something resembling a timeline (but not really). The experiences are interesting, given that she was growing up during the war, but the presentation (art and narrative style/ content) leaves something to be desired. In summary: not bad, just not great.
10) The Hate U Give; Angie Thomas; Mar 7; 4.6* rounded up (Audiobook)I am impressed with this book because it managed to discuss a difficult topic in an emotional, entertaining, and informative way without alienating the audience. I feel like this book was its own public service announcement. Was there an overload of stereotypes? Maybe. (Every white person in the book was either rich or the enemy, for instance.) Did it bother me when the author described a recently dead body as "rigid"? Oh yes. (I've handled many a freshly dead person -- mostly because work. Mostly. I doubt the author ever has -- because details.) With those two exceptions out of the way, I really enjoyed this book. You can consider it a call to action, a call to awareness, or just a good book. It's ok to begin it with preconceived notions of what you think it'll be -- as long as you're willing to let them go after a few chapters and give this book a chance. The experience really is worth it. (Also, the audiobook version is quite good.)
11) Getting Things Done for Teens: Take Control of Your Life in a Distracting World; David Allen; Mar 9; 3.4* (Audiobook)There's a lot of useful advice in here -- not necessarily unique, but useful. Get the crap out of your life. Set goals and make action plans. Reminders of things we should be doing, but probably aren't -- and forming good habits sooner (rather than later) is always a good idea. There's a few weird/awkward moments in this book, in terms of writing choices that could've been left out (you'll know them when you read them), but overall this was a nice refresher. Or, if you're a teen, a nice place to get yourself organized... for college, conquering the world, or otherwise.
12) Prisoner B-3087; Alan Gratz; Mar 10; 3.3* (Audiobook)I never felt emotionally invested. There. I said it. Also, there wasn't a single female in this book that was portrayed as anything but weak, whiny, useless, etc. I wasn't really down with that, either. Otherwise, the book itself reads like a WWII tour of numerous concentration camps... just bouncing from one to another in rapid succession. It has moments that are informative, both in terms of events/environment and the difficult decisions people had to make to survive. Considering the target age for this book, I felt the author handled this sensitive topic well: not too graphic, but still interesting to read.
13) Scars; Cheryl Rainfield; Mar 17; 3.7* (Audiobook) So many pros and cons. I think this is the best representation of the panicky desperation to inflict self-harm (cutting or otherwise) that I've read. The PTSD flashbacks (bits of moments) were also done well. The LGBT relationship was an unexpected bonus. (I'm neutral about the art focus; I could've lived without it, but whatever.) (view spoiler) In spite of the cons, I was able to (mostly) ignore them and appreciate what the author did right.
14) Allegedly; Tiffany Jackson; Mar 24; 2.4* (Audiobook)This book was heading into 4* territory. Good content about growing up in the juvenile justice system. Group homes. Difficult "family" life. (Bahni Turpin -- of Hate U Give fame -- does the audiobook and she does another excellent job.) It starts well, but goes long where I feel a good editor could've helped. (view spoiler) It also eventually takes the story in an unfortunate direction (view spoiler) This was almost a good book.
15) Bloom; Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau (Illust.); Mar 28; 3.2*Hector's character was great, but Ari was incredibly annoying. Have you ever watched a couple -- one mature and the other still trapped in whiny, self-seeking, juvenile behavior -- and realized that their relationship is a) doomed, and b) really sucks for at least one member of the couple (who could do so-much-better). That's what reading this book is like, but with a bakery and blue illustrations. (To be fair, the illustrations were good -- better than the story.)
16) Hey, Kiddo; Jarrett Krosoczka; Mar 26?; 3.1*I didn't find this graphic novel incredibly interesting or entertaining. I recognize its value as an honest representation of the author's life, and there aren't many comparable graphic novels on this topic that I'm aware of. My basis of comparison arguably ruined this GN for me, but I understand how others could enjoy it.
17) Eliza and Her Monsters; Francesca Zappia; Apr 29; 4.2*A book about a girl who values her anonymity and her artwork (webcomic). (Also, there's a romance. Of course.) I think what I enjoyed the most about this book was that it just felt "real" (to me). Most books -- particularly teen fiction -- don't. Not really. (Also, it had a built-in Fandom and that was a lot of fun as well.) I think, for me, the fear was something I could relate to. Fear of deadlines. Fear of people. Fear of being too honest (or is that fear of telling the truth under the wrong circumstances?). Fear of losing (trusting) someone you're trying to get close to. Anyway, having a social-anxiety-prone main character was fun for me. I can't imagine why.
18) Dry; Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman; May 5; 3.4* (Audiobook)Not one of his best, but still entertaining. I think I liked the premise more than the execution. However, Shusterman still manages to touch on so many issues that relate to disasters-of-resource (or lack thereof).
19) How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals; Sy Montgomery; Apr 5; 3.3* (Audiobook)I didn't love the writing style, and the range of stories spanned from bleh to emotional roller coaster (At one point, I questioned the author's sanity -- even as a fellow animist.), but the book was an overall interesting, and truly genuine, experience.
20) The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Revised & Updated); Dave Ramsey; May 10; 2.3* (Audiobook)Buy stuff with cash. Compound interest is magic. Don't lease a car. Pay off your debts. That's... yeah, that's about it. (This book isn't bad... it just wasn't particularly useful to me.)
21) PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God; Frank Warren; May 22; 4*These are always fun. (More than I expected were related to religion, but that's my own fault for not reading the title.) I always think it's interesting to see what secrets people share -- hilarious (in a WTF? way), tragic, or otherwise. Regardless, the honesty is refreshing... which is probably why I enjoy this series.
22) Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family; Garrard Conley; May 26; 3.7* (Audiobook)What I enjoyed most was the unique perspective and experiences that the author shared. Although being LGBTQ, but raised by a family/ community who views that as a failure of existence, is certainly something many people can relate to. Unfortunately. The writing style was tolerable, although sometimes I felt it lacked focus. I, for one, am glad he told his story -- and included the background information for historical perspective.
23) Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful; Arwen Elys Dayton; June 1; 4.3* (Audiobook)I can only describe this book as a multi-narrative story, over varying time periods, dealing with the science of human alteration (for medical reasons or otherwise). The style was new to me (separate but interconnected experiences over time to establish the story), but overall I really liked it. Unique, but fun! (The audiobook had a variety of different narrators, which was really enjoyable.)
24) The Idiot; David Fishelson (adapted), Fyodor Dostoevsky (original); June 6; 4*(Audiobook)This audiobook (drama) seemed to be well-executed, and covered all the basics. I probably enjoyed it more than the actual book. (It isn't as quotable, but it's still impressive that he fit the main points of the book in such a short play.) 4*
25) The Disasters; M.K. England; June 7; 4.4* (Audiobook)This is a YA Sci-Fi space adventure with a diverse cast and a story that never takes itself too seriously. I like how the LGBT elements were woven into the story, instead of making it the story. (Also, the audiobook has some really memorable voice acting... or maybe that's just me.) I went into this completely blind without any expectations -- and was pleasantly surprised.
26) The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances; Matthew Inman; June 7; 4.7* This is now my favorite Oatmeal comic. Do I identify with everything he says about running? No. Do I identify with a whole lot of it? Absolutely! I haven't ran in a long time, but this makes me want to return to the cathartic zen suffering that is running. So much of it is just, "Lol... yep." I'd recommend this to any runner -- you know who you are.
27) Things You Should Already Know About Dating, You F*cking Idiot; Ben Schwartz & Laura Moses; June 7; 2.6* (Audiobook)True to title, there wasn't anything in here I didn't already know. But I liked how it was narrated with both authors (playing off of each other), and was amusing, although nothing I'd ever listen to again.
28) Grenade; Alan Gratz; June 9; 4.4* (Audiobook) This book made me "homesick" for Oki -- oh, how I miss it. But I digress. Since history is one of my worst subjects, the information this book included about the historic events regarding Okinawa was really helpful. I love the dual-narrator system for telling war-stories (particularly when they're on opposing sides). There were some parts that didn't hold my attention, but overall this was really informative and enjoyable.
29) Girl In Pieces; Kathleen Glasgow; June 19; 3.4* (Audiobook) The beginning was really good. 5* It conveyed the type of truth that only comes from some degree of 1st-hand knowledge. The middle was rather bleh, and the ending seemed unrealistic (but I'm almost ok with that). The epilogue/ author's notes in the back were a nice touch, though. Hopefully, this book gives more people a starting point to discuss this tough topic. It's far from perfect, but I sincerely admire the attempt.
30) Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff; Dana K. White; June 21?; 3.7* (Audiobook)What I liked best about this book was that it made decluttering completely unemotional. (Blame the container.) My primary takeaways were: a) declutter/ clean the most visible areas first (similar to the philosophy behind "pay off your lowest debt first" -- to gather momentum), & b) everything is a container (closets, bookshelves, room, house, etc.), and if it doesn't fit in the container -- then you have too much stuff (and should reduce to fit the given container -- not buy more, or bigger, containers). I found this book to contain a surprisingly refreshing philosophy on stuff-reduction (no pun intended... ok, maybe).
31) The Idiot; Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Author), Richard Pevear (Translator), Larissa Volokhonsky (Translator); June 30; 2.8*Very quotable, but very boring. (I've been calling it a Russian version of the Great Gatsby, since it's another classic that does NOTHING for me.) I feel like if I had a different philosophy/ world view, then this book would "speak" to me more. (That awkward moment when the book your reading is trying to make a point you sincerely disagree with.) *shrugs* But I don't. And it doesn't. However, like I said, there's more than a few good lines in here... and it almost makes it worth reading. Almost. (Am I the only person that rather hated Prince Myshkin? I mean, I did have a character I enjoyed following -- but it definitely wasn't him.)
31.1) How to Be Perfectly Unhappy; Matthew Inman; July 7; 3.3*Not my favorite, but still pretty good. I felt like this book didn't apply to me (I was really hoping I would connect with it more), but it was enjoyable none-the-less. I think he just had a bad (unrealistic) definition of happy/ unhappy (especially happy), but that's just me. However, it was rather quotable. Here's a few of my favorites:
"In truth, when I do these things, I'm often suffering. But I do them because I find them meaningful."
"I do these things because I want to be tormented, and challenged, and interested."
"I want to hurt, so that I can heal."
That was the best part, for me. Everything else was just stuff I kinda disagreed with, but with fun illustrations.
31.2) My Dog: The Paradox: A Lovable Discourse about Man's Best Friend; Matthew Inman; July 7; 3* Yep. Dogs are insane, and we love them (either because -- or in spite -- of this).
31.3) Luna's Red Hat: An Illustrated Storybook to Help Children Cope With Loss and Suicide; Emmi Smid; July 7; 3* This is a nice "difficult topic" picture book. I feel like it hits on the major points for a child (not their fault, parent was ill, docs couldn't help, etc.), but it felt really... clinical. (Arguably, because it is.) I especially liked the guide in the back (for parents/ caregivers) on how to help children with this type of loss (suicide).
31.4) Divorce Is The Worst; Anastasia Higginbotham; July 10?; 4*The collage-style artwork is really impressive, and this book covers a wide-range of possible emotions/ scenarios a child my find themselves in during a divorce.
32) The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck; Sarah Knight; July 11; 3.8* (Audiobook) I feel like a better title for this book would have been, "How To Not Give a F*ck & Not Be An Asshole In The Process," which (at least to me) can be a struggle. (I have the emotional intelligence of a toothbrush, so I'm unfortunately not kidding.) My favorite part was the breakdown between "Nice & Not So Honest," "Honest & Not So Nice," and "Not Nice & Not Honest" (= asshole). I tend to err on more honest than nice, but that's just me. (The struggle is real.) It was a fun 4 hours about prioritizing the important things in life, and politely telling everyone else to f*ck off. (Includes examples.)
33) The Minimalist Home; July 14?; 1.7* (Audiobook) There a good books written about minimalism; this isn't one of them.
34)Thunderhead; Neal Shusterman; July 17; 4.7* rounded up. (Audiobook) Very satisfying sequel. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. This one had some ups and downs (in terms of excitement, and otherwise), but it balanced quite nicely.
35) What Does Consent Really Mean?; Pete Wallis (author), Thalia Wallis (author), Joseph Wilkins (illustrator); July 17?, 3.4* It isn't perfect, but it does make the concept of consent accessible for teens and younger readers. I particularly like the resources in the back (discussion questions, suggested videos, websites, etc.).
36) Surviving the City; Tasha Spillett (author), Natasha Donovan (illustrator); July 17?; 3* I enjoyed reading from the perspective of an indigenous Canadian teen. I liked that some of the language and customs were shared, although I wish more had been explained (as an additional resource or interwoven into the story). If the purpose was to make more people aware of MMIWG2S, then I feel it succeeded.
36.1) What Happens Next; Susan Hughes (author), Carey Sookocheff (illustrator); July 17?; 3* Pro: female bully & genderless victim
Con: disappointingly unrealistic (although anything's possible)
I suppose this would be a good conversation-starter for children about bullying, and actions to take if they find themselves or their friends are being bullied.
36.2) The Dark Machine (Dark Man); Peter Lancett; July 20; 3.5* rounded up.Great illustrations. Easy reader text with a story that has teen/adult appeal. For what it's designed to be, I feel it did a good job.
37) The Burn Journals; Brent Runyon; July 21; 4.3* If it's possible to feel (mostly) unsympathetic towards a teenager that set himself on fire, then here it is. Runyon is unapologetically honest (which comes through as being an asshole, sometimes), but I suppose that's part of the charm. I love that he feels the same about the psych department as I do. *fist bump* I know there was a LOT more pain involved in burn recovery that he delved into, and I think it's very telling that he -- at no point -- makes any attempt to "feel sorry for himself," or engage the reader in any plea for sympathy. It's more like, "This happened. It sucked. Here's how it went down." His evolving philosophy about suicide (from the beginning to the end) was (to me) what really made this book worth reading. My version included the Afterward, which provided information about both the process of writing the book, and his continuing struggle with depression. *keep fighting the good fight, my friend*
38) Medikidz Explain Depression; Kim Chilman-Blair & Shawn Deloache; July 21; 2.7* This was essentially a list of medical information in comic form. No real story, awkward jokes, and it only listed meds and talking (to medical professionals) as treatments. This felt like a book designed for you to hand to a teen immediately before their first psych appointment. However, I like that there is a glossary, list of related organizations, recommended reading, and an index included in the back.
39) Leah on the Offbeat; Becky Albertalli; July 25?; 3.4* (Audiobook)I feel like this book was trying to do for bi girls what "Simon" did for gay guys. While it certainly wasn't as much fun to read (especially the first third) as Simon, it was fine once it picked up... I just had to make it to that point. (If I was a person who DNF'd books, this probably would've been DNF'd. The beginning was THAT bad.) Otherwise, it was an overall satisfying read.
40) The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees; Don Brown; July 31; 3.2*I don't feel like this book was proofread very well, and it jumped around quite a bit. While it did bring attention to the refugee plight (as was its purpose), it's also hard to sympathize with people who throw away food. (I don't deny the monotony of certain foods make you want something else, but... yeah.) This is not his best work; I was neither entertained not emotionally invested. However, I do appreciate his choice of subject matter, even if the execution left a lot to be desired.
41) The Breadwinner: A Graphic Novel; by Deborah Ellis (Original Author), Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine (Adaptation); Aug 2?; 4* I did not realize this was a graphic novel based on an animated movie based on a children's book until after I read it. In spite of that, this was actually pretty good. I really enjoy stories set in the middle east, and this one didn't disappoint. I'm hoping to read the entire series now. In terms of making struggles in the middle east accessible to children, I feel this author did a good job. (And the graphic novel is the quick-and-illustrated version.)
42) The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw; Mark Crilley; Aug 3?; 4.4*It's not perfect, but it's better than my drawing class in college. Seriously. It covers the basics in an incremental way, which is very useful. Although it doesn't delve into very much detail, it certainly gives the reader a good place to start from and a logical (yet intuitive) way to build their skills.
43) Emergency Contact; Mary H.K. Choi; Aug 4; 2.4* (Audiobook)This could've been awesome, but wasn't. I admit, I had really high hopes for this, probably because I have had close friendships that were very phone/ email/ text-based, and I was wondering how the author would approach this. I'm absolutely disappointed in the execution on what was a very promising idea. I feel like this story could've used half as many words; it still would've been just as boring, but at least it wouldn't have wasted as much of my time.
44) Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws; Kate Bornstein; Aug 8; 3.3* Pro: Good for trans/ gender queer or questioning youth. It quickly acknowledges that the usual (default) solutions to being suicidal don't appeal to everyone. (Psych-anything? So much no.) Some suggestions are weird or funny, others kinda dangerous, but they're out there as alternatives to eating a bullet. So, yay for that.
Con: Bad for ace kids. Folks that have no interest in sex will probably feel worse (or at least more of an outsider) after reading this book. It seemed very gender-emphasis heavy, which I felt like made it less of a good generalist book. (Although I recognize that even if this book is more for that population, then I'm actually ok with that.) Again, some suggestions were dangerous, so it's almost like a frying pan vs. fire issue. Is it really better to not be suicidal if the alternative gets you killed? What was the purpose? So the blood isn't on your hands, or that it was an "accidental" death instead of a "suicide"? Semantics. (I reserve the right to say that as someone who lost a very close friend to suicide-by-omission.)
Overall: It was not incredibly useful, in terms of good ideas or otherwise. I finished this book feeling like I could write a better version. And honestly, I'm ok with that. It's a worthy goal, even if it's just for me. So, yay for inspiration.
45) How to Fix a Broken Heart; Guy Winch (author) Henn Kim (illust.); Aug 10; 3.4* I really liked the illustrations. The poor illustrator (Henn Kim) isn't even mentioned on Goodreads, but they did great work. While the author really came off as insincere to me, I do like that he addressed areas of heartbreak that often aren't taken seriously (dead pets and non-marital relationships). What made this worth reading was his discussion of actively working through grief, and approaching the challenge of "getting better" as a choice instead of something time just does naturally. Whether it's good in practice or not, at least it comes off as empowering.
46) It's Hard to Be a Girl; Bach; Aug 10; 2.4*I am of the feminine persuasion, and I really didn't identify with this book; I mostly just felt bad for the boyfriend. Maybe this is a good book for someone, but I'm not that person. On the upside, I liked the artwork.
46.1) The Wit and Wisdom of Star Trek; Robb Pearlman; Aug 13?; 2.7*I am a die-hard fan of the Original Series Star Trek, but I really didn't love this. It was fine to look through once, but I didn't feel like it captured the best quotes/ moments of the series. (Not bad, but could've been better.)
47) The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story; Marie Kondō (Author) & Yuko Uramoto (Illust.); Aug 16; 3.4*The basic points of the original book are here. Story is fun. I still think KonMarie is a little out-there, but most of the book follows good logic. The rest isn't so useful, but it's still entertaining... just not in the way it was intended.
47.1) Through a Life; Tom Haugomat; Aug 16; 4.6* Near-wordless book. Beautiful work of graphic art. Simple, effective, & tragic. Loved it.
48) Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War; Aug 16; 4.3* Interesting story. Lots of background/ supplemental info included. Provides websites for further research & advocacy recommendations.
"What're those?"
"They're graphic novels of horrible things... for children."
49) America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell; Don Brown; Aug 16; 3.6*It's not easy helping children understand the tragic events of 9/11, but this comic gives a worthy attempt. It covers all the bases, but mostly concentrates on the twin towers. You follow several characters -- some survive and some don't -- that represent real people and their experiences. I personally didn't feel like this was his strongest work, but it was definitely worth reading.
50) Fallujah; Joeming W. Dunn; Aug 16; 3.4*This book includes a brief history leading up to the Iraq war, info on both Fallujah battles, plus fun extras like a map, biographies, glossary, & index.
51) The Art of War; Sun Tzu; Aug 17; 3* Useful, yet depressing. But mostly useful.
(With the exception of the last entry, I don't precisely remember which day/ order I read these books.) 
52) Love Hurts: Buddhist Advice for the Heartbroken; Lodro Rinzler; Aug 21; 4.2* Soothing. That's really the only way I can describe this book. It wasn't perfect, and some advice really wasn't good advice. For a book that's effectively religious-based (Buddhist), it didn't come off as preachy, which was nice. Reading this was comparable to listening to someone pretending to be your friend talk to you about the tragedies of life. (Or maybe that's just me.) It wasn't perfect, but made several good points and really helped keep me calm (for a few days), even when the anecdotes didn't apply to me. Favorite line: "Hell is not punishment; it's training."
53) Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven; Brandon Easton (author) & Denis Medri (Illust.); Aug 24; 4.4*I am a huge fan of Andre. I followed him from watching "The Princess Bride," and learned about his wresting career along the way (which I expect is the reverse of most people), but he has always seemed very interesting to me, and I've watched more than a few biographies about his life, read "As You Wish" (of course)... you get the idea.
I was intrigued when I saw this comic, because how to do fit a life like Andre's into a comic? It is, admittedly, the "cliff notes" version, but it seems to cover all the bases well. It starts with an endorsement from his daughter, so that made me feel a little more secure about the content. The decision to tell it in 1st person was incredibly effective. The artwork is also done well, and I like to believe that the illustrator chose a monochromatic palette so the emphasis would be on the story. The good. The bad. It's got a little of everything. I'm unconvinced that non-fans would really love it, but for the rest of us, this was a fun homage to a legend.
54) Monster Portraits; Sofia Samatar & Del Samatar; Aug 24; 2.4*Loved the artwork. The text? Not so much. The stories are so bizarre that I have no idea what I just read. Part fiction and part... not? I feel like this could've been more --but wasn't.
55) PTSD; Guillaume Singelin; Aug 25; 3.6*I like that this comic followed a female war veteran. (We're usually just forgotten about, in all honesty.) The artwork takes a few pages to adjust to, but you really learn to appreciate the colors and details (when so much art seems to be going minimalist lately). And can I, just for a moment, say that I'm glad that the character wasn't raped? I'm not saying life doesn't happen; I'm saying I'm glad that wasn't the central tragedy, and it focused instead on the war (and the type of relationship one has with their fellow veterans/ brothers-in-arms) and her community. It's pretty clear the writer doesn't have any actual war-related PTSD experience (and admits it's merely a "tribute" to his favorite war films), but overall this was still a fun read.
56) Off Season; James Sturm; Aug 26; 3*Bizarre, but relatable. Because life is weird. It says a lot, but doesn't really go anywhere. (Need more words? How about uncomfortably honest?)
57) When Living Hurts: A What-To-Do Book for Yourself or Someone You Care about Who Feels Discouraged, Sad, Lonely, Hopeless, Angry or Frustrated, Unhappy, Bored, Depressed, Suicidal (3rd. Ed.); Sol Gordon; Aug 31; 2*I almost DNF'd this book after the first page.
"Depression often occurs because, for one reason or another, you feel inferior. Perhaps you relentlessly compare yourself to others."
I think that was the point where I went, "The entire premise of this book is trash. Do I really want to waste my time reading this?" I have been depressed for a long d*mn time, with many friends in a similar situation, and that was -- by far -- not the reason. Ever. For any of us. (For any depressed person I've ever known, really. Morbid obesity not withstanding.) I'm sure that's somebody's reason, but to say it's "often" the reason? Really? *face palm*
The good: I like the way the book is divided into mini-sections every few pages, and how they all fit into overall chapters. I also like that there are plenty of resources (books, websites, phone numbers, etc.).
The bad: Everything else. I'm pretty sure this person has had zero experience with depression -- which I didn't even realize was possible as a human being -- and everything he says just sounds like something he's regurgitating from a book he read. He tries to make assumptions (all wrong) based on his education/ experience/ daily horoscope/ whatever, and it's incredibly frustrating, because this person clearly doesn't know what he's talking about -- but he says it with such professionalism.
58) Walking Wounded: Uncut Stories from Iraq; Olivier Morel & Maël; Sept 1; 3*I'm not really sure how I feel about this. The struggle is real, but different, in my experience. I understand what he was trying to do, but the final product seems... like it's missing something. (I do, however, appreciate the attempt, even if I don't necessarily agree with all of it.) The use of color sparingly is striking -- bonus points to the illustrator.
59) Letter to Survivors; Gébé; Sept 2; 3* So weird. I liked the way it all came together, but... so weird.
60) Diary of an Exercise Addict; Peach Friedman; Sept 5; 2*As eating/ exercise disorder autobios go, this one was not very good. It was more like a jumble of rambling thoughts about her relationships (boyfriends, siblings and parents) than anything to do with a disorder of any kind. (Also, MFA in Creative Writing? *finishes book* Oh, poetry. Riiight.) No depth. Nothing resembling the truth I would expect to find that comes from these experiences. Just... incessant talk about how she's beautiful, where she's staying, who she's spending time with, etc. There isn't even good documentation about what her weight is (with very rare exception), so it's hard to even understand (visualize) where she is in the process (illness/ downward spiral). Surprisingly little talk about food, exercise, depression, etc. Just, really, not a great book. One of those "don't judge a book by its cover" scenarios... because I admit, I do like the cover.
61) Hot Dog Girl; Jennifer Dugan; Sept 8; 3* (Audiobook) On the one hand, I became incredibly frustrated with the main character. On the other hand, I was satisfied with the ending. Just a teen drama at an amusement park. Nothing earth-shattering, but not necessarily an unpleasant experience.
62) Sadie; Courtney Summers; Sept 20; 4.9* (Audiobook) So often, I feel like sexual assault/ abuse is just a side-note in a story. (Enough so that I almost read YA books now going "Oh wow. Am I going to get through and entire book without anyone getting raped? Maybe... nope. There it is. Didn't move the plot along in any significant way, but I guess almost every book has to have one now.") This book doesn't do that -- it sets the stage and just goes for it. No side-note here. If you're going to address the topic, then I feel like this is an example of how to do it right. I admit that I listened to the audiobook, versus reading the book, since the feedback I got was more positive for that method. Maybe this book isn't awesome on paper -- I don't know -- but it was really good on audio (although the audio talent ranged from exceptional to not so much) and the production deserved the YA Audie. Overall, this was an interesting book and a great listening experience.
63) The Ironman Triathlon (Ultra Sports); Bill Scheppler; Oct 3; 3.8*Good overview of the Ironman, including a brief history, training, nutrition, etc. (There are more than 2 ways to get to Kona, but otherwise it seemed fine.) There was a nice listing of US and international Ironmans, which I appreciated. (Not sure how current the list is, but at least it's there.) This was a nice J NF to read. It could use some updating, but holds up pretty well.
64) Going Vegan: A Healthy Guide to Making the Switch (Food Revolution); Oct 6; 4.2*Good overview of becoming vegan. It included ingredients/ products to avoid, reasons to become vegan (animal compassion, environment, health, etc.), recipes, and resources (websites, recommended reading, USDA guidelines, plus glossary and index). I felt some of the eating suggestions were heavy on "fake meat," but while I'm not an advocate for that -- I won't deny that it certainly has its place with new converts. I think the best advice in the book was essentially that if you are growing up and can't buy your own food, make a plan now and become vegan once you're on your own and have control over your dietary choices. (I was really glad to see that.)
65) White Trash Zombie Unchained; Diana Rowland; Oct 9; 3.4*Not my favorite in the series, but I'm willing to bet this is the end because it felt very wrapped up. Arguably too nicely. [I guess I can recommend it to people who are into that kind of thing.] *shrugs* By now, there's so much going on with mods and parasites, I feel like I'm reading a zombie version of Calvinball, and I just don't enjoy it anymore. Personally, with all the changes that have happened in the last few books, I'm glad the series is over.
66) The Year I Didn't Eat; Samuel Pollen; Oct 16; 3.1*I appreciate the attempt at a difficult topic, especially from a male perspective. I think this book could be a good conversation starter or help someone find a character they can identify with going through a similar situation. However, this book had way too many generalizations (about ED/ anorexia) that I didn't feel were (anything resembling) correct. (Sure, it may have been true for this character -- or the author specifically -- but that's it. They were not accurate generalizations, and there's so many of them. I think that's my primary concern with this book.) One obvious typo, but whatever. In spite of the subject matter, the plot was pretty boring. There's at least a page of resources (phone numbers and websites) at the end of this book, which was a plus.
67) Moonstruck, Vol. 2: Some Enchanted Evening; Grace Ellis (author), Shae Beagle (illust.), Kat Fajardo (illust.); Oct 18; 2* Remembered the LGBT+ characters and fantastic art, but left the plot at home. Major disappointment.
68) Are U OK?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health; Kati Morton; Oct 19; 2.7* (Audiobook)Everything I never wanted to know about going to therapy. (Just to be clear, this was not what I was expecting.) It felt like a multi-hour advertisement for her profession. I like that it explained acronyms, types of therapists/ mental health professionals (and their corresponding education levels), expectations, signs you have a bad therapist, etc. I didn't like the advice it gave [such as encouraging someone who grew up with an alcoholic parent to try to make it work with someone who went on a 3-day alcohol binge. (Hint: If you're not ok with vices like alcoholism, get out now! Don't let anyone -- therapist or otherwise -- tell you what's ok when you know where your ok line is and that isn't it.)] This book leaned pretty strongly into the opinion that if you're alive, you probably need to be in therapy. (What if you picked this book up with the intention of -- I don't know -- caring for your mental health, perhaps in a way that doesn't involve an insurance company? Nothing in here for that. Sorry the title misled you.) On the upside, she had a wonderful narration voice, and I truly believe this book is meant for plenty of readers -- I'm just not one of them.
69) Beneath the Surface: A Teen’s Guide to Reaching Out When You or Your Friend Is in Crisis; Kristi Hugstad; Oct 20; 3* (Audiobook) (Different Cover)This book started with some really bad (read: outdated) science. (Parts of the triune brain hypothesis from the 1960s? Really?!? There's a reason it isn't used by modern neuroscientists.) After that, though, it was pretty decent. I like that it gave several examples of issues: drugs, sexual assault, gaming overload, suicidal ideation, etc. I always hate the "if someone promises you to not tell, you have to tell," bit. I know why it's there, but it doesn't help with trust. (Just sayin'.)
69a) Dawn of the Bunny Suicides; Andy Riley; Oct 25; 3*Some funny. Some ridiculous. Some kinda boring. All fluffy.
70) Let It Go: Downsizing Your Way to a Richer, Happier Life; Peter Walsh; Nov 3; 2.6* (Audiobook)So much of this book was a cut/ paste of itself. (It said to pick a scenario, but it really did verbatim repeat -- which was quite disappointing/ a waste of time.) The info is what you'd expect, although a lot of it related to downsizing because of family (parents) either dying or otherwise. Good yard sale tips. Realizing that an object has served its purpose for another person (and can end there) was a nice point. I agree with keeping things that make you happy/ associate with good memories, and the table measurement system. I disliked the encouragement to openly "white lie" to people/ parents, and not keep objects with bad memories. I personally believe you need these things to remind you of who you are -- good, bad or otherwise.
70.1) What Makes a Hero; Pamela Bobowicz & Eda Kaban (Illust.); Nov 6; 3.4*Marvel female superheroes got their own picture book. Not much of a story. I didn't love it, but I can see how others would.
70.2) Hidden Critters: Can You Find Them All?; Stan Tekiela; Nov 6; 4*Seek-and-find animals in nature photographs, with a little additional info about each creature.
71) Amazing Decisions: The Illustrated Guide to Improving Business Deals and Family Meals; Dan Ariely & Matt R. Trower (Illust.); Nov 7?; 2* (gift) Social norms vs market norms. Interesting premise. Execution? It's a comic teaching you to assume the best in people, which I believe is a great way to lose a lawsuit and get
72) The Heart of a Boy: Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood; Kate T. Parker; Nov 9?; 3* I felt like some of the messages were redundant. (So many about crying? Really?) Some of the kids weren't boys (18 & 19 are not boys and I'll give a pass to the 17s even though there were more older kids than I expected). And why was at least one boy in two different photos? The entire world of under-18 males, and you needed to duplicate one? (That's just lazy.) Otherwise, it was fine.
73) Living with Self Harm Behaviours; Ong Say How; Nov 10; 3.7*Non-American spellings threw me occasionally. Most (90%) of this is pretty decent, & the rest... *shrug* yeah. Not so much. Given the topic, I found it to be reasonably accurate without being emotional. Resources are in back. (The recommended websites seemed the most useful.)
74) Brave Face; Shaun David Hutchinson; Nov 11; 4.6* (Audiobook)There is so much truth here. About accepting yourself as gay. About fear, depression, loneliness, disappointment. About mental illness. About the fake-happy medical professionals. (Also, don’t start smoking. Ever.)
75) Zombies and Electricity; Mark Weakland (Author) & Jok (Illustrator); Nov 25; 3.4* It covers the basics about electricity, and includes a glossary. Good explanations and comparisons. Also, great art and zombies!
76) The Voice In My Head; Dana L. Davis; Nov 25; 4.2* (Audiobook)If you can get through the beginning, this book is pretty good. When it started, I was really confused about which direction it was going. (Is this a book about suicide? schizophrenia? terminal illness? and what's up with talking to god?) However, once I realized it was a "road trip" book, I was all in. Thankfully, this book isn't built on a teen romance (which is a nice change, and possibly my favorite thing about it). (view spoiler) Good narrators, as each character had a distinctive voice. Even as someone who doesn't believe in fate or god, I thought this was a good read -- so don't let the quasi-religious bit stop you. (view spoiler)
77) Paper Towns; John Green; Dec 10; 2.8* Smart yet awkward guy. Troubled/ toxic girl. Practical jokes. Quirky friends. Is this Looking For Alaska? No. Close. It's Paper Towns. So, almost the same book (idea), just different, from the same writer. I read in an evening because Book Club was the next day. [Personal note: I now (officially) read slower than the audiobooks. I used to be a 50 pgs/ hr kind of girl; not anymore. My self-esteem will never recover from this. Thank you lifetime of concussions; you truly are the gift that keeps on giving. *sigh*] The road trip was fun, at least. However, this book could've been waaay more concise. (Like, the entire middle.) I've read worse, but I really didn't love this one... even if it did have a few good quotes.
78) Death Is Hard Work; Khaled Khalifa (Author) & Leri Price (Translator); Dec 10; 3*You'd think a story about a family road trip through the Middle East with a dead body would be interesting/ exciting. You'd be wrong. (The translation was good, though, so there's that.) My favorite character wasn't even alive -- she was just talked about in past tense. I would like to have heard more about her.
79) Internment; Samira Ahmed; Dec 17; 4* (Audiobook)This is very much a book of its time. I don't necessarily consider it an original story, but one that I feel needed to be written nonetheless.
80) The Vegan Starter Kit: Everything You Need to Know About Plant-Based Eating; Neal D. Barnard; Dec 22; 2* I'm a huge advocate for a vegan diet, and this book is definitely not something I'd recommend. Too off-putting for the newcomer. Too general for the initiated. It really doesn't have an audience. It's not as well cited as I'd hoped, and doesn't contain anything I didn't already know. (There's also some questionable info, like nonstick pans and the breastfeeding recommendation.) I'm a fan of the content, but I don't feel this was well executed. Even most of the included recipes were disappointing. (No all, but most.) It felt like a sales pitch. The websites and recommended reading were mostly good, but I wish recommended films had also been included. I mean, you could do worse, but this author has done better. My recommendation is to go read (at least) the first half of the China study (if you haven't already) instead.
81) Running is My Therapy: Relieve Stress and Anxiety, Fight Depression, Ditch Bad Habits, and Live Happier; Scott Douglas; Dec 22?; 3* (Audiobook)I was hoping this would be more inspirational or something, but it was just an entire book about studies related to mental health and running with a few anecdotes for good measure. Not really what I was hoping for, but not a total waste of time. Now that I'm injured (before I finished the book) and can't run (with little hope of ever running again, due to said injury), it's just depressing to listen to.
82) The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated; Helaine Olen & Harold Pollack; Dec 24; 3* (Audiobook)Basic financial advice/ information, including good ideas for how to diversify a portfolio. (More than just "index fund." I mean, there's that too, of course, but it offered more detailed advice... which I appreciated.)
83) Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness; Gretchen Rubin; Dec 24; 2* (Audiobook)Soothing declutter book, but nothing I haven't heard before.
84) Goodbye Things, Hello Minimalism!; Mai Kurosawa; Dec 25; 2* (Audiobook)The only useful part was that there are different types of minimalism. I thought it was only about reducing stuff, but apparently there are different motivations/ areas of emphasis --e.g., aesthetic, eco. It makes sense now that I know. (In an ironic twist, however, there were ads for extra stuff before and after the audiobook.)
85) Becoming a Minimalist: Your Guide to Living a Great Life with Less Through Minimalism; Kimberly Wilson; Dec 25; 2.3* (Audiobook)Summary: less stuff equals more happiness. I'm all about getting rid of needless excess to make room for what's important, but we can't all live within walking/ biking distance to work. (Some families require two cars.) It did briefly go over minimalism, from food to house to travel to hygiene. At least it was nice getting an opinion about all different aspects of the minimalist life.
86) Shout; Laurie Halse Anderson; Dec 28; 3* (gift) (Audiobook)Summary: sexual assault is everywhere. (Thanks. Didn't realize that.) This was less-worse than I was expecting, but less meaningful than it could've been. (Bleh in prose. Or poetry. Or whatever. I'm sure it'll win plenty of awards, regardless.)
87) Saving Savvy: Smart and Easy Ways to Cut Your Spending in Half and Raise Your Standard of Living and Giving; Kelly Hancock; Dec 29? 2.4* (Audiobook)Cut coupons! The power of Christ compels you! (Ugh.) So much religion. So many references to PDFs (which are useless on an audiobook). The beginning interview was a complete waste of time. However, the book did eventually cover a variety of topics: stacking coupons, moral couponing, food planning with sales+/coupons, batch cooking, bulk food, and freezing/ separating. If you can make it through (because I feel like this book was written for a very specific audience), then this covers a lot of the basics... but that's a big if.
Now, it's time for the 2019 Year End Awards:Best Graphic Novel: The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
-- Honorable Mention: Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven
Best Memoir: (Teen NF) Brave Face
-- Honorable Mention: The Burn Journals
Best Fic.: (Teen) Sadie
Best Tween: (NF) The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw
Best Picture Book: (Adult) Through a Life
Most Disappointing: The Idiot
Worst Book of the Year: (tie) The Minimalist Home; Take Me With You
Here's my 2020 Book Challenge list:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Saving Savvy: Smart and Easy Ways to Cut Your Spending in Half and Raise Your Standard of Living and Giving (other topics)Shout (other topics)
Goodbye Things, Hello Minimalism! (other topics)
Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness (other topics)
The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated (other topics)
More...
Here's a list of my 2018 reads:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My goal: 50 books!
Last year was pretty hard to make the goal. I'm not sure what this year will have in store for me. All I know is 50 seems doable. I'm not sure how I feel about having so many a) comics and b) audiobooks in my 2018 goal. Do either of those really count as reading? I mean, sure, why not? However, I really need to get back to sitting with a book -- a legit book -- and reading it (not listening to it -- reading it). I'm not sure how doable a goal is. (If I take away all my audiobooks and comics, I only read 1 real teen fiction book, and 2-ish teen nonfiction books -- which was either a waif or had lots of pictures). I'm not proud of that. It's looking like I have several poetry books liked up, so maybe poetry is going to be the new graphic novel. We'll see.