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marywahlmeierbracciano's reviews
829 reviews
A Horse Called Now by Ruth Doyle
relaxing
4.5
If I was a kid, this would be my favorite book. The horse on the cover takes my breath away and immediately brings to mind a book I cherished as a child. Now, as she’s called, helps her animal friends calm anxiety, practice mindfulness, and remember that moments of discomfort will pass. It’s impossible not to take a deep breath after reading this.
Two Together by Brendan Wenzel
adventurous
funny
relaxing
4.75
I love the rhythm of this book! It’s like a walking meditation. The cat and dog are dynamically illustrated in contrasting art styles, and the book gets more colorful throughout their exciting journey home. A warm and silly friendship story perfect for bedtime.
Not Perfect by Maya Myers
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Perfect* for a budding perfectionist, Not Perfect features magnetizing, expressive art and an important lesson. If your reader needlessly toils for hours and is reluctant to accept praise, this might help.
The Shadow and the Ghost by Cat Min
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
A sweet, celestial tale of unlikely friends and wishes come true, The Shadow and the Ghost is a feel-good story with dreamy illustrations from a favorite publisher of mine.
Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Over a sweltering New Orleans summer, a series of fires plagues the Sisters of the Sublime Blood and their associated school, St. Sebastian’s. Determined to catch the culprit is Sister Holiday, a queer punk Maria von Trapp, who, between playing guitar and helping kids, has broken a commandment or two. It’s actually not that uncommon for nuns to be radical, and the sisters in Holiday’s order are no strangers to run-ins with the law. But whose law comes first—God’s or man’s? This women-led story highlights struggles of incarceration, queerness, poverty, and addiction, with a few lovely Easter eggs for the Catholics among us. Sister Holiday’s love for the divine feminine, despite everything, is inspiring.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Self harm, Suicide, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
The Skunks by Fiona Warnick
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The Skunks is an allegorical romp through new adulthood, following a recent college graduate over a leisurely hometown summer, during which various skunk sightings serve as oracular highlights. Armed only with an anthropology degree, Isabel attempts to find meaning in life as she splits her time between housesitting, babysitting, and yoga studio front desk sitting. She is sophisticated and never thinks about boys *wink*. I just loved this earnest, dreamy, mirror of a novel.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death and Misogyny
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adore this book. A British-Cambodian government translator finds herself working as a sort of mentor to a historical time traveler as part of an experimental program. Her subject—Graham Gore—would have died amid a doomed Arctic expedition from which no man returned had he not been pulled from the year 1847. She befriends him, along with a ragtag crew of other “expats,” while keeping secret most details about her job, which, unbeknownst to her, has been plagued by corruption from the start.
This book explores what happens when what you thought was right turns out to be very wrong, and Bradley accomplishes this in a way that is funny, surprising, and profoundly moving. The slow burn love story crackles with chemistry which surpasses anything I’ve read before, and, most importantly, humanizes the beloved. The Ministry of Time is counted among my few most favorite books.
This book explores what happens when what you thought was right turns out to be very wrong, and Bradley accomplishes this in a way that is funny, surprising, and profoundly moving. The slow burn love story crackles with chemistry which surpasses anything I’ve read before, and, most importantly, humanizes the beloved. The Ministry of Time is counted among my few most favorite books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Genocide, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Empty Hearts by Juli Zeh
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Even as a firm believer that suicide is not to be joked about, I thoroughly enjoyed this German political satire featuring a suicide prevention clinic which is actually an elaborate suicide bomber recruitment operation. Set in the near future with an ultra-conservative government and terrorism on the rise, Empty Hearts follows Britta, owner of the aforementioned business, who suddenly learns that she has not monopolized the market after all. An wild ride that examines political helplessness, performative violence, and modern domesticity, I can’t say I’ve read anything quite like it before.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Excrement
Full of Myself: A Graphic Memoir about Body Image by Siobhán Gallagher
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Siobhán Gallagher’s graphic memoir, Full of Myself, instantly turned me into her biggest fan. No one who grew up in the 2000s—and later, chronically-online—could have come out unscathed by the constant barrage of anti-fat media. I was impressed and moved by Gallagher’s willingness to portray her most shameful (and heartbreaking) moments in the hope that readers will understand they’re not alone. A throwback godsend for Gen Z, and for Millennials, a connection to our childhood selves. It’s got me ready to relive my Lisa Frank® days, minus the self-hate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Prairie, Dresses, Art, Other by Danielle Dutton
4.75
Beginning with stories set amidst the horror of a disappearing prairie, going on to curate and comment upon literature and art, and finishing with a sort of combination of the two in a kaleidoscope of forms, Prairie, Dresses, Art, Other is a writer’s playground. Dutton talks about getting writing inspiration from visual art in a way that emulates the experience of viewing that art. This entire book is in conversation with art and with the prairie and with many other things. Dutton’s words disobey the page and weave into the world. A delightful, weird little book.