The Good Neighborhood is a story about the dark underbelly of the typical suburban life. Following intertwing characters showing their true colors - even with denial trying to eat them alive. The amount of care Fowler gives the young characters in the story should be applaulded. Racism, ageism, sexism with everything in between are in these pages. The journey of all characters being pulled by one core value. Protect your family at all cost. A swift ending not for the faint of heart.
Call me biased but Irby has got to be one of the realest individuals I have ever met. A personal friend who just keeps it 100 to the point of no return. A hilarious truth to becoming the writer she is today. A juxaposed of sucess and real life problems writers don't talk about. Its wrapped in can't catch your breath humor and the honest realistic narrative Irby can only grasp. You won't be sorry!
We all have that friend. You know the weird one who reads all the things, talks about all the things they read and has an unhealthy obsession with fictional characters (but maybe never told you about that one.) This is the book for them! A hilarious and wholesome look into the mind of a reader. The adorable illustrations with every emotion showcased in a four picture graphic. A perfect gift for the bibliophile in your life.
Audre Lorde speaks for herself. One of my all time favorite writers, activist and of course poets. To be honest she should be EVERYONES favorite (top 3 at least!) Tears poured from my eyes as I read 'Now I am forever with child.' My eyes grazing over each letter, syllable, noun, adjective and sentence. She is the rock that slides between your hand black, solid and smooth. Touching each knuckle, each wrinkle. Someone so intricate that took hundreds of years to be on this earth. Don't sleep on Audre's poetry!
@Jillisblack is the thing of the past. The real Jill Busby is here and telling her story! This seems like just speaking to a friend about everything that is right and wrong in today's society. As well as the complexities of relationships and beyond. Busby tells of her realm of living her life with the heaviness of being a black, queer woman with a social justice esque online persona that seems entirely exhausting. The juxtaposed BS of Instragam while doing what she can despite it. Also I appreciate her spilling the tea as well! Put this one on top of your TBR pile!
I am beginning my journey into horror / thriller genre. Let me state this is not for the horror elite. But it certainly has its place within the category. The eeriness of this novel follows you through out. The feeling that creeps on the back of your neck while you read it under a blanket. A young couple troubled in their marriage has tried to do the classic ' let's do something big to fix the problem' situation. So they embark on buying a fixer upper in a small town. The house has a history that no one in town speaks of. Set between the vast ocean and a seemingly dark forest, which both bring along their own set of fear. The oddness of suspicious characters, a house that has its own dubious agenda and the balancing of relationships. The creep factor is real and The Grip of It doesn't disappoint.
What does a millennial, racism, an interracial relationships, wealth and white feminism have in common? THIS BOOK! The mammy complex is written in a matter-of-fact style that Reid captures perfectly. Emira Tucker is a recent college graduate is trying to find her way within the everyday grind. With her love life on the fence and friends harsh judgement she soon becomes a nanny for a wealthy up and coming blogger named Alix. One very dreadful eventful night, that happens to go viral, leads to a domino effect of the how we connect to youner generations, older generations and fear folks have of black people. With a turn of events that are unexpected you'll be asking yourself who is the villian. Kiley’s elegance and true humor shines bright in her debut novel.
Spike Lee coined the term “Magical Negro.” Definition: In the cinema of the United States, the Magical Negro is a supporting stock character who comes to the aid of white protagonists in a film. Basically, the black character is the backbone of the characters development. So to have this title for this particular book of poetry really sets the tone of what you are about read. Its about to get real! Now, to note; I am NOT a poetry buff but the moment I saw this title and the lux of the cover I knew it called to me. Parker breaths life with words the complexity & incomprehensibleness of being black in modern day America. Almost every poem flows in a way that brings so emotion or lack thereof until they do. Things I didn’t even know I felt until the words jumped out at me and I simply rested. Tender, exhilarating and tranquil. This book will certainly leave a tear or 50 in your eyes.
This short novella by Natasha Brown is indeed a curious one, reminiscent of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. The narration is told by a young Black British financier who goes unnamed. She consciously walks the line of being a woman in the world dominated by rich old white men. She feels as though she is doing life right on the outer shell. She’s held herself to society’s standards; a college graduate, great apartment, burgeoning career and a relationship with a white man from “old money.” She is a success in her own right, but why doesn’t she feel it? Then – something unexpected: a cancer diagnosis. This throws her into an internal dialogue of denial. At a prestigious garden party hosted by her companion’s parents, she is introduced into group dynamics that leave her feeling the harsh realities of her existence. The book pulls from her past and launches the reader into the present with any given paragraph. Without speaking the words, affirmative action, racism, classism and gender roles dominate the narrative. A wonderful book that hits close to home, that takes on the issues we see time and time again in our society. It takes a new look at how we interpret the two versions of ourselves: the one we present and the other we hold onto on the inside.
I have just begun my new journey towards horror and mystery. Malfi's Come With Me has raised the bar immensly for those two genres. This book immidiately pushes you off an emotional cliff the moment you open the first page. A husband reeling from his grief of losing his wife in the most - new - normal horrific way possible. He stumbles upon her most hidden research and finds many dark secrets from her past that soon becomes his obsessive future. Come With Me has one hidden question you'll be asking yourself over and over. Is this a story of coincidences or is it supernatural? A book on showing how everything is some how some way connected to those we love in the darkness of the universe.
I have three kids’ age ranges from 6 to 13. I have been up and down the road of board books, children's pictures books, middle grade and now YA. Every kid needs a stepping stone on their lifelong love of reading. This is where the one and only Mo Willems steps in! He has written a youthful, sweet and fun loving series. The main characters are an Elephant (named Gerald) and his very best friend Piggie. Let’s play Ball is one of my favorites. They make friends with a snake that wants to join the fun. The snake doesn't have arms but don't worry they find a way to have a great time with their new sweet friend! Let's take a drive is about wanting to take a drive but there’s a bigger problem, neither one has a car, so they make the best of it. These books are filled with age appropriate emotional development, empathy and problem solving skills. They embrace their differences in every book not to mention all the sight words you could ask for! There's a reason Mo Willems is an award winning writer. I recommend any of them in the collection!
Traci Todd & Christopher Robinson hit it out of the park with this children's biography about The one and only Nina Simone. This very true story included so much love, turmoil, activism,purity and not to mention music. Robinson brings in his signature bright colors with a muted hues to Todd's scrumptious words and Nina's fascinating life. A story that should be known far and wide. Some of the facts in this special book I didn't even know about. Take a peek and pop it into your kids library asap!
I have said in my previous shelf talkers I am new to the horror genre. My friend and fellow bookseller Lynda has introduced me to some great reads within the realm of horror, thrillers and mysteries. This was my second novel I dove into and honestly I couldn't put it down. I took it everywhere, the grocery store, the beach and parks. The funny thing is- it went with me everywhere BUT I had to mentally prepare myself to actually read it. It is THAT TERRIFYING. Maybe it was my imagination that took me away to a dark, dark place but this book has everything you need. Eleanor is tired of her life taking care of her sick mother and living under the thumb of her sister’s watch. She receives a letter from Dr. Montague asking if she would like to participate in a paranormal experiment. She huffs it to Hill House. The manor is very dreary spooky into which it has had the misfortune of inheriting violence and death within its four walls. She is then joined by two Theodora and Luke. They are establishing their relationships while being haunted by the entities in the house. An embrace of climactic proportions until the very end. Is this all in Eleanor’s head or has the house over taken her soul? This book is a classic among the genre for a big reason. Let your imagination take you to hill house.
I loved the story and the darkness surrounding it! It’s probably weird to say but it truly reads like a dark comedy that increasingly becomes a drama. This mystery, thriller, and horror combo is exactly what we need to veer out of our own realities. The story is set in England and centers on vicar Jack Brooks, who has recently been punished for not acting swiftly enough to aid a young child. She is quickly moved from the big city to a tiny town with layers of secrets and deceit, a town once known for the disappearance of two young girls and a history of “Salem witch vibes.” With her teenage daughter not exactly down for the ride she must help the people of the town cope with all the mysteries that surround it. A BIG twist at the end makes the reader want more from C.J. Tudor.
I don’t know if I can properly articulate a written review of Chan’s debut novel but I will try my best. This book has been praised again and again for good reason. Frida is every mom to their core. She living day to day figuring out her daughters temperament, vices and the evolution of toddlerhood. Frida is in the moment of being so overwhelmed in motherhood that the pit of despair sounded like a perfect vacation. As magnificent it is to bring life into the world the enormity of just plain everyday pressures of life on top that can feel so stiflingly. As much as we would say the mundane is boring it is something we look forward to in parenthood. Between waking up and not realizing what your kid will be like today versus yesterday is astonishingly beautiful and slightly terrifying at the same time. Frida, a new mother and a recent divorcee who has had a ‘very bad day.’ After her life changing mistake she is then required by the state into a rehab for good mothers. She has to confront her demons (as the state sees it), lack of confidence and excel to become the mother they want her to be. During one year stint she meets many characters who have run out of parenting steam, had a slip up, neglected, beaten or plainly run away from their responsibilities as a parent. The disparities are prevalent with each mother trying their best to make it a year under the eye of big brother. Along with the school there is the school for good fathers that cast a stark difference in the way motherhood and fatherhood is portrayed in today’s modern world (not much has changed since the turn of the 20th century.) On top of being without her child she must show and use her motherly skills on a computer generated robot. This is now her new daughter. With every step she takes forward she’s always three steps behind. Frida must propel herself forward to get her daughter back into her arms. I have never once read a book like this before and seeing how this book left me to rot in a puddle of tears. I will always recommend this dystopian-not so dystopian- novel about motherhood. It shines a light on what we know as mothers that others do not see behind the curtain of perfectionism.
A fictional mystery thriller based on a serial killer? COUNT ME IN! Chloe Davis has overcome some of the most sinister moments of her life to become a successful psychologist or has she? The atrocities unfolding one by one as she deals with her own inner demons. Unfortunately life is not done dropping disaster into her lap. This novel is beautifully written with a real Gillian Flynn feel. The timelines flow in and out perfectly holding the reader like a vice until the very end. This story really drives the question, “Is the past that far behind us?”
Gus Moreno does not disappoint in this Mexican folklore meets HP Lovecraft’s classic cosmic horror novel. This book has all the weirdness you need to make you uncomfortable while also stretching your imagination to its peak. Thiago must try and face his unbearable grief bestowed upon him from his late fiancés freak accident. With some extremely ominous technology, haunted characters, a dog and the damned universe all working against Thiago’s healing. The no wonder I “couldn’t put it down-ness” is real. If you just love weird- this is the book for you!
As an intermediate crochet hobbyist I find it really difficult to find the perfect patterns to follow. Sometimes pattern makers make things difficult by over explaining, not explaining enough or not enough visual representation for the art. ALL of Kerry Lord’s crochet pattern books have been tremendous in my growth. Everything is easy to follow and really makes the difference in the final product. The font is big enough to read while each stich is lined perfectly on the page. They start off with the perfect ‘body’ that can be used for ‘most’ of their patterns and go from there. It is also split up by levels so you can be as ambitious as you would like. I would definitely grab one of these lovely books off the shelf and welcome crocheting into your life! Enjoy!
This beautiful and enchanting tarot beginning book is exactly what you need to start your journey into focusing in on your intuition. It is simple, sweet and straight to the point. As an avid tarot card collector and reader I have found so much knowlede within these pages. The modern illustrations and symbolism make for the perfect way to learn about your new found love of the tarot.
Veronica finds herself in a situation that she needs desperately to get out of. She's pregnant and needs to terminate asap. She knows she will not be supported by those around her and needs to travel 900 miles to have the procedure. With her misfit ex-best friend is along for the ride they set off for an adventure to secure her future. This heartfelt and hilarious story makes for a complelling read about reproductive rights, friendships, relationships and who is there when you need them the most. Everyone needs to read Unpregnant!! PERIOD!
A hilarious and heartfilled story of a young dung beetle who well eats poop. Dougie is a bit or rather a lot embarassed of his naturally formed delicacy. One day he gets caught up in the storm of popularity, bullying, differences and similar cultures. A wonderful social emotion learning picture book that celebrates standing up for yourself and others. Mark Pett's beautiful illustrations and the voice of Dougie is exactly what kids and parents will love!
The perfect non fiction book for young readers. Your curious scientist is going to love to learn everything about one of the most annoying bugs in the world. The illustrations are simple and witty. The dialogue is cohesive and filled with sight words. The Disgusting Critters collection includes cockroaches, flies and earthworms to name a few. If your little loves bugs of every type (or even if they don't) the books are a great introduction to nature and learning the vast eco-system around them.
What do you get when you mix rock n roll & whimically yet simple illustrations? This lovely kids book! Based on one of the sweetest songs released by The White Stripes. This books makes for the perfect conversation piece for kids and parents alike! You can't help but sing along and open some new doors of music to kiddo in your life.
One of the most magical things about being a parent is wondering who your child will become. This books bright color pallet mixed with sweet dialouge really makes for a warm hug of a book that can be read again and again.
Kitty is making her mark as a magical super hero! A lovely mix of glittery joy and what great things hides in the dark of night. Along with silly talking animals this series is definitely a win!
A precious misunderstood ghost tries to find their place in the world. While exploring one Halloween night they discover being different brings comfort in the place they least expected.
The Baby Sitters Little Sister series is a great spin off of the original featuring Kristy's step sister. The graphic novel format have made a huge impact on little readers. It’s the perfect spin of brilliant illustrations and dialogue between the characters. These books reveal true situations we have faced as young kids. These books are a staple in our home and I hope they will be for yours too!
A great introduction to graphic novels for young readers. Owly is a loveable misunderstood character who happens to meet a friend who also loves him unconditionally.
A delightful series featuring a loveable unicorn and their many adventures with new friends. The books are bright, fun and perfect for new readers!
A thriving tooth business! Talluah's CEO story is hilarious, endering and will show the ins and outs of the tooth business. Talluah's drive will show kids leadership and how to problem solve with the best of them!
With a very Addams Family feel Jeffers keeps the friendly spook factor blossoming in this children's picture book. A tale of a young girl searching for her invisible permanent houseguest. This book is ageless in its illustrations. The somber gothic setting is mixed beautifully with its curiosity. A must for spooky season!
“We’re not the fucking Hardy Boys, Mia.”
“Maybe you’re not, but I’m the hardiest fucking boy there is.”Ronald Malfi, the author of Come with Me, has proven yet again that he is the one to watch out for in the Horror world. Black Mouth chewed me up and spit me out. Four broken characters find themselves back in their small town where evil dwells. They must face their abused past & irreparable mistakes in order to move forward in their futures. Malfi balances the perfect amount of eerie supernatural with real world consequences. A bit Stephen King-esque but with a wild ending that's simply a punch in the gut. "Do you want to see a magic trick?" takes on a whole new meaning in Malfi's world. cw: animal abuse, domestic violence, abuse towards children, self harm, murder and a disturbing carnival.
This story is tragic. There's no happy ending here. The 'tied in a nice bow' horror fiction does not exist in these pages. Now with that out of the way, this where you should start on your quest throughout Malfi's novels. Written in 2016 (recently republished), it is his humble beginnings that will lead you to his incredible growth as an author. This dredge through the mud horror parallels our world immensely. A 'us against the world' familiar family story of a father, David and his eerie daughter Ellie. Death is spiraling around them while a sickness has taken over the world. David is determined to get them to safety. Will they survive or succumb to a battle laid out before them? Once again, Malfi moves swiftly throughout supernatural- fantasy, horror and with a touch of gore. It won't give you nightmares, but it will give you the all the feels and blood.
This cookbook is my Bible. My mecca of of all things holy in the cookbook world. I don't the time for the extra. Basic delicious meal with the right amount of proteins, herbs and veggies. I have made multiple meals from this and they are always huge hit in our house. She has everything from everyday quick breakfast to delectable desserts. Also foods ranging from vegetarian pizza to short ribs. The Beef Bourguignon (using a pressure cooker) was gobbled up in my house in five mins. The Sage Chicken is the right balance of sweet and salty and can be done in thirty mins. The earthy tones, savory sauces, easiness of each recipes are just *chefs kiss*!
An ABC science book for the strange and unusual. This stomach turning yet fascinating gallery will fill your curious cup right up. Ever wonder what a Pyogenic Granuloma or Arteriosclerosis looks like? I had no clue until I popped opened this title. The fragility and strength of the human body is highlighted within these pages and makes for an excellent look into our physical selves.