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oceanwriter's reviews
719 reviews
Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel by Andrew Donkin, Ruta Sepetys
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read the original Between Shades of Gray novel and was ready to break my heart all over again when I saw that a graphic novel adaptation exists. The tone of the illustrations fit the emotion of the story perfectly, and as I expected, made the most heart-wrenching moments of the book pack an even greater punch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Deportation
Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
Letters to Jackie: Condolences from a Grieving Nation by Ellen Fitzpatrick
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I had no idea a book like this existed until I stumbled across it in a used bookstore. What a treasure trove it is! There is a lot of hearsay about John F. Kennedy’s assassination (and I am admittedly someone who is willing to listen to all of it), but this is not one of those books. Instead of discussing what did or did not happen, it is a collection of letters from the mourning citizens of America. It’s raw and unfiltered, written by people from every walk of life.
The range of emotion expressed in these letters was both fascinating and devestating. Being the 1960s, all citizens were not treated equally. Some of these letters express these struggles, applauding President Kennedy for his efforts and vision for the future. There were letters from children, from people in their 90s, from people in the service to people on welfare, from Democrats to Republicans… What struck me the most was how many people told of people having heart attacks (most of them fatal) upon the news. The fact that I lost count is a frightening realization of the universal impact of this tragic moment in history.
No matter what a person thinks about the logistics of the assassination, this collection of a nation’s grief cannot be altered by the ‘whodunit’ question. Aside from learning about how America received and grieved John F. Kennedy as president, it’s also a great look at the cultural and class differences of that time in America. Seeing the diversity of letter writers side by side painted an authentic image that could never be replicated by any other form of media.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Suicide and War
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Elvis Presley has been a staple in my household and extended family for my entire life, but I’d never known much about his family outside of a couple of trips to Graceland. My most recent trip was in October of 2023. Even though it was several months after Lisa Marie Presley’s death, it was a sobering time to be there. This book brought so much to light that I think I would have been in tears the entire time had I known the depth of her story then as I do now.
Though Lisa Marie passed away before much of this book was written, her life story was recorded on tapes and later compiled by her daughter, Riley Keough. The book is split into Lisa Marie’s words as well as Riley’s as she reflects on her mother’s life.
Honestly, I’ve struggled coming up with the right words for a review. I have so much I want to say but at the same time, it’s too much. The book hit close to home in various ways, but predominantly, it was reading about someone else’s experience of losing a parent at a young age that struck a chord. Seldom a day has gone by since reading that I’ve not thought back on this book and I’ve desperately been wanting to go back to Graceland. I’ll leave it at that.
As a whole, I feel like I’m not the person to be telling people whether or not this is worth the read. I am biased on more than one level. I would, however, recommend that people looking to read this consider the audiobook as it was fantastic. I essentially read this book twice in a row. I listened to the audio, then went through it again tabbing my physical copy. I will absolutely be reading it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Abortion
One Piece, Vol. 10: OK, Let's STAND UP! by Eiichiro Oda
3.0
It’s hard to top the last volume honestly but I gotta know what happens next.
One Piece, Vol. 8: I Won't Die by Eiichiro Oda
3.0
My interest waned a tiny bit here but I’m also still getting used to the whole 100+ volume concept.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
I’ve heard a lot of people say that this book is slow to start so I ended up opting for the audiobook even though I purchased it through BOTM. I don’t know if it made much difference aside from not having page numbers to follow along with. I found the concept interesting, but it lost me when things started getting spicy. Definitely wasn’t the content I was anticipating for this type of book, but glad I finished it because there was one passage in particular toward the end that was so beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, and War
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The cover of this book has been jumping out at me since it was published and I’ve heard a number of different people reviewing it and speaking about it, but for some reason, I wasn’t super interested in picking it up (the idea of a narrating octopus, perhaps?) until a friend of mine gave a glowing recommendation.
Tova doesn’t have much in her life after the deaths of her husband and son. Her son’s mysterious and sudden death particularly weighs on her. Her job cleaning the Sowell Bay Aquarium is more or less what keeps her going, much to her friends’ chagrin as they wish to see her retire.
Tova forges an unlikely friendship with the aquarium’s octopus, Marcellus. Tova realizes something exceptional about this sea creature (apart from his escape artist capabilities). In turn, Marcellus tries to communicate to her the answers she’s desperately been looking for surrounding her son’s death.
This book was so heartwarming and I liked seeing an older protagonist in a realistic light rather than an over-the-top 70-year-old trying to act like a 30-year-old. Though the story is mainly centered on Tova, we also see bits of narration from Marcellus and a man named Cameron, whom Tova meets as the story progresses.
Honestly, I think without the addition of Cameron’s POV this would have been a full five starts for me. He had good character growth but was insufferable in the beginning and I didn’t find myself caring what happened to him. He did grow on me though, but I don’t think he necessarily had to be a main voice in the story. The heart of the story is Tova and Marcellus for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball by Jon Chad
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
I saw this book on display at the library and it caught my eye. I’ve been a super casual pinball player and haven’t touched a machine for years outside of digital games. I figured this would be a nostalgic read. I had no idea I’d end up learning so much about the history and mechanics of the game.
Did you know that there was a time when pinball was outlawed? I never would have guessed. It took a champion courtroom pinball game to prove that pinball is a game of skill and not one of luck and chance. From 1976 onward, the evolution of pinball boomed along with the technological advancements of the next thirty years making it the game that can still be found and enjoyed today.
The illustrations are bold and educational, often showing the physical elements of gameplay and the machinery of the machines throughout the century. This is accompanied by a detailed history of the game dating back to King Louis XIV.
While pinball isn’t the staple of American culture as it once had been, there is still a cult following and what sounds like a bit of a revival in certain places around the country. Personally, I know of a nearby pub that has an upper level filled with pinball machines. Since reading this book, I’ve been itching to go play!
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
This book was initially recommended to me by a friend because of the historical and academic tone, but I’d put it off being intimidated by the faerie storyline. When it ended up being selected for a group read, I decided not to put it off any longer. Definitely different for me, but a nice different!
Faerie expert Professor Emily Wilde makes a research trip to the northern village of Hrafnsvik to study the local faerie folklore and continue work on her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Things are going all right until her colleague (and rival) Wendle Bambleby shows up without an invitation. Emily feels threatened and increasingly annoyed by Wendell’s presence, and yet, she also has to admit that she finds a certain comfort in having her only friend around.
Her research continues and makes strides, but she also finds herself trying to figure out the mystery that is Wendall Bambleby. She has had suspicions about her past, and this trip may finally bring things to light.
This book screams to be read with a hot drink on a snowy day. It’s so cozy and, in the beginning anyway, low stakes. The story picks up quite a bit after the halfway point. Admittedly, this is where I grew lost having been more interested in the theoretical portions in the beginning. I also didn’t care about the romantic plot, but I can take or leave it. Overall, I enjoyed it though I felt like it took me a long time to get through it. I think this is the first fantasy book I’ve annotated so I consider that a win. I plan on reading the next book soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Murder, and Alcohol