Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

Hexagons are the bestagons


"Statistics: the con artist of math"
My math brain. I love it. My love of information. Yes. Tell me all the things.
The humor. The writing style. I love it.

The technicality arguing is just. Chef's kiss.
7 AM MASS. YAAAAAAAS.
It's the trying to figure the other person out and also knowing you'll never figure them out, and loving people with a mental illness for me.
I'm just...gonna be over here dying....because I feel seen....
304 Pages

TS Song: the verses of Dress, Archer

Manga

Blue Flag Volume 1 by KAITO
The bi and gay panic.
gahhh I don't know who to ship.

224 Pages

Blue Period Volume 2 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

Trying to talk to parents about having a creative dream. That's just....waaaay too close to home.

The night courses to prepare for college exams...and they're art exams. boof.

192 Pages

Komi Can't Communicate by Tomohito Oda

Volume 1

Tadano noticing Komi's anxiety and just...being able to sense it... It's just like... Heart eyes

And like...he meets her where she's at and makes her comfortable... I can't.

The dreaded Starbucks order...especially if it's a custom order... God bless mobile ordering.

It's Tadano hiding behind a desk chair while she asks for friends' numbers for me.

192 Pages 

Volume 2

I love it when there are two characters that just know... Like..the ramen guy who knows what Komi wants.

Tadano continuing to show that he knows Komi and her sense of style and what would make her comfortable. Like...he's not trying to change her, and I can't.

....Ok but the whole hairstylist chapter...Same..like..so much.

Also Tadano noticed that she got a hair cut and that's just so life giving.

192 Pages

Volume 3

Summer vacation...aka sitting around the house waiting, trying to spend time with friends.

The anxiety of going to the library and going to the checkout desk...

Ok but the fact that Komi isn't anxious to go play on the swings...cause like...I can't do that

GRANDMAAAA

Tadano continuing to be a boss.

180 Pages

Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun by Izumi Tsubaki

Volume 6

Nozaki can't wrtie spooky themed stories apparently...cause apparently you can't just do a one

off where the MC is a vampire.

Chiyo missing Nozaki cause it's the summer.

Nozaki is always clueless about his feelings

Everyone has crushes on someone.

Chiyo's reactions are just....iconic and dramatic.

160 Pages

Volume 7

When the characters comment on what the authors are supposed to do with a series that's gone on

for decades and technology has advanced, and the characters are still in high school....

what does one do about cell phones, we ask.

The basketball team and their quest to free themselves from the Seo's tormenting clutches...

by finding her a boyfriend...because apparently girls chill out when they get boyfriends

Nozaki experimenting with bullying...which isn't really bullying.

144 Pages

Volume 8

Mikoshiba is anxious and just wants a friend to be his emotional support buddy when he goes on

a group date...mood.

The basketball team trying to get Seo to stop picking on them by setting up a schedule and a

tally system

Kashima continuing in her attempts to impress Hori.....and Hori ate a whole brandy cake.....

144 Pages

The Promised Neverland: Volume 1 by Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu

Me trying to figure out what's happening...cause everything looks sus.

Does this remind me of Annie + creating super children...yes

Yeah the neck tattoos totes don't give any bad vibes

...that...got dark quick...I don't know why I'm surprised.

Also like...if it's mature brains...shouldn't it be like...24 year olds...cause that's 

when brains complete development

Me trying to figure out what the numbers mean.

192 Pages

Sasaki and Miyano Volume 1 by Shou Harusono

Saski asks for manga from Miyano.. Miyano is embarrassed because it's queer. And they both like it.

Chaos.

128 Pages

The Way of the House Husband by Kousuke Oono

Volume 2

Yoga reminds him of the good old days...and the ladies are concerned.

Bro....teach me the ways of cleaning

When they try to decide on a new car, and my mind just goes to the Jade War and all of the car drama.

The way to settle a yakuza feud...volleyball.

160 Pages

Volume 3

The Christmas episode

One hit of [the citric] acid and you'll be flying as high as a kite.

The kitty latte art.

It's the pet terrier for me....cause they look like Pepper.

160 Pages

Volume 4

I love how our boy just like....talks about everyday thinks and everyone sees the connection,

and jumps to that conclusion....and he's just talking about cooking.

A day at a theme park and a beach.

Trying teach the wisdom and knowledge that comes in the form of dollar store items.

Also...the terrier in the bicycle basket....I would never be able to get Pepper to do that.

168 Pages

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita

Volume 1 and 2 Omnibus 

Ok but the line "I love you and I like seeing you do things that make you happy." ...I can't.

The boy has it baaaaaaaaaaaad.

Hey look. It's the rainy day trope.

"She's sadder than usual." "Oh it's cause a character died." ....bro don't just call me out like that.

256 Pages

Blue Period Volume 1 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

Ok but a high school student pursuing his interest in art, and having support and teachers, and like...ways to improve.... I'm not crying.
and like...having an art club that pushes the members to really improve their art....like.... I can't. 

"Writing off the thing you love like it's just a hobby sounds like something only grown-ups would do, don't you think?" Cries. Cries. Cries. 

The art style is gorgeous, btw...like. sfjkdssfjkld 
224 Pages 

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

So I tried working through this book while I was in college, and I think I got to like...week 6...which honestly tracks. So I listened to the whole thing, and I think I'll go through it week by week with already finished.
I really need to get back into writing morning pages....and artist's dates.... like. fsjkdlsasfjkld
272 Pages

Literary Murder (Michael Ohayon Series # 2)

Literary Murder (Michael Ohayon Series # 2) 

by Batya Gur (Dalya Dilu - Translator)

Pages: 357

Rating: 4 out of 5

Follow the investigation of one of Israel's police superintendents, Michael Ohayon to see if you can solve the murders in this complex mystery. Two murders occur among the staff of the literary department of one of Israel's top academic institutions. Luckily for the police department, Ohayon attended university and can traverse this universe as well as any grad students. His superiors, grudgingly realize the value of his formal education and cultural interests that they have previously derided. The character also asks ethical questions about the relationship between the artist and his creations and between the artist and a moral code. Not a light read. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

This book is just a feel-good collection of art and anecdotes. I enjoyed the messy ink drawings, as well as the artist working with accidents-one of the images includes his dog's paw prints from walking over it. The interactions between the boy and the animals reminded me a lot of Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

A sweet little book with life's wisdom.

128 pages

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

On March 18, 1990, thirteen renowned works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Claire Roth, a struggling artist who specializes in Degas, makes a living reproducing such works for an online retailer. She is approached by Aiden Markel, owner of the hip gallery Markel G, to forge a Degas masterpiece stolen from the Museum in the heist. However, when the painting is delivered to Claire's studio, she begins to suspect it's not the real Degas, either.

360 pages.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is absolutely fabulous, and I would expect nothing less from Becky Albertalli. It's heartfelt and humorous, and it grabbed my attention right from the start. Simon makes appearances throughout the story, which I enjoyed, as he's so lovable and adorable. Leah is pretty different. She's not as cuddly as Simon, but I enjoy how raw and honest she is.

I want there to be so many books like this available that I don't feel the need to point out how great it is to have a well-written YA novel about an overweight girl who is bisexual. Currently, I feel like I still need to keep pointing it out and acknowledging how much I appreciate the diversity in YA novels these days, but I hope that one day, characters like Leah will be so common that all I do is focus my review on how amazing and sweet the story is, regardless of the appearance or sexuality of the MC.

Book 190 read in 2018

Pages: 339

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

This is one of my favorite YA novels, and I don't throw the word favorite around easily. If you told me to grab 10 novels, before stranding me on a deserted island, this would be one of the 10 I grab. No hesitation.

I thought I'd revisit this beauty on audio this week, but the reality is that once I began, there was no turning back. I read it straight through, staying up far too late, even though I already knew how it would all work out. This story is so gorgeous, awkward, and emotional, and I love the use of art and creation to express and uncover truth.

The previous review still stands, and this time, I'll give it the sun, and the moon, and all the flowers, too.

Book 185 read in 2018

Pages: 371

PREVIOUS REVIEW:

#Notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy

#Notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to love this one, especially after hearing about it from the author/editor in a webinar. Unfortunately, I found the format off-putting and could not really connect to any message or emotion from this collection. It feels very random, poorly arranged, and incomplete to me. There's no flow between pages and submissions that makes any sort of sense to me, or conveys any sort of theme or emotion, which was disappointing.

I wanted it to feel rich, emotional, creative, and to leave me with some strong feelings and impressions about Native American Women. Instead, it fell flat for me, and I confess, I was glad when I reached the end. There's just not enough depth here, and the format/presentation definitely leaves something to be desired.

I especially hate the quotes, which are printed with small words paired with enormously fat words (randomly selected in a way that doesn't even feel meaningful), all on top of a background of more faded words. If you have any difficulty with reading or vision, that's going to be a struggle for you. To me, it was not a struggle to read the words so much as it was a huge distraction that took away from the quotes having any impact of making any impression on me. It felt like a frustration to just read through the words, so I took very little meaning from the actual quotes and just read them like it was a chore that I had to complete.

Since I'm not a Native American Women, I can't speak to how well this truly does or does not represent those voice. I can say that I'm uncertain what the messages are supposed to be, and there's just a ton of context missing for me. It's possible that without that context, I just don't understand this work, which is sad, as I was so excited to read and experience this one.

I give it 3 stars in honor of those who contributed their art, words, photographs, and experiences for this volume, but my overall interest and enjoyment level is more at two stars. And if I were pointing to Native American representation and voices, I would probably search long and hard for other/ better options before recommending this one to others.

Pages: 109

Messenger of Truth: A Maisie Dobbs Novel, by Jacqueline Winspear

London, 1931. The night before an exhibition of his artwork opens at a famed Mayfair gallery, the controversial artist Nick Bassington-Hope somehow falls to his death. The police rule it an accident, but Nick's twin sister, Georgina, isn't so sure, so she calls on Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. It isn't long before the evidence surrounding Nick's death leads Maisie to the beaches of Dungeness in Kent and the underbelly of London's art world, in another confrontation with the perilous legacy of the Great War.
319 Pages

"Outing the Quarterback" by Tara Lain

Quarterback Will Ashford seems to have it all - a blue Lamborghini, rich parents, starting position on a well-known college football team, and captain of the cheerleader squad for a girlfriend.  The problem is that he hates it all and is afraid to be who he really is - a gay man who only wants to paint.  When he meets starving artist Noah Zajack, he realizes that he can no longer hide his true self if he ever wants to be happy.  (This is just a bare bones description since I don't want to give away any spoilers.)

I really liked this story, and the primary characters were fleshed out well.  There was plenty of angst, especially since not only is Will hiding his sexuality from most everyone but he also hides his desire to be an artist instead of following his father into business.  However, the angst wasn't overwhelming since Noah was fairly patient with Will and his fears.  This is the first book in the Long Pass Chronicles, and I hope to read more.  216 pages (Kindle edition).

"Bad Idea" by Damon Suede

This story features two characters with unusual professions.  Trip Spector is a comic book artist who draws squeaky clean superheroes whom he has come to hate.  Silas Goolsby is a special effects makeup artist currently working for a popular t.v. show.  They meet at a zombie run charity event and are smitten.  With Silas' encouragement, Trip creates "Scratch", an adult graphic novel that could let him write his own ticket.  However, Trip is not a risk taker, and when Silas gives Scratch an outing in public, Trip panics and lets his fears take over his common sense.  Will the men's relationship survive?  Will Scratch be their savior?  These were two nerdy, funny, and flawed but lovable characters whom I won't soon forget.  350 pages (Kindle edition).

"fawn" by Nash Summers

This novella (the first letter is not capitalized) is about two boys in the small town of Heaven.  Rust has dark red hair, is small for his age, and likes to make art out of found objects in nature, at least while he's not sitting under a large pine tree daydreaming and writing letters to people he doesn't know.  Ancel lives in a rented, dilapidated house near Rust's home with his abusive father and gentle German shepherd.  He's quiet and mysterious and the object of Rust's dreams.  He floats in and out of Rust's life, disappearing for years and reappearing unexpectedly.  Written from both boys' POVs, Nash conveys descriptions of their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings very well without resorting to constant similes, especially with Rust.  He's a special character in a lovely story whom I won't soon forget.  78 pages (Kindle edition).

"Twelve Days" by Isabelle Rowan

In this follow up to "A Note in the Margin", John, David, and Jamie are still running the bookstore Margins and are getting ready for Christmas.  David continues to deal with the repercussions of living on the street and is trying to rebuild his relationship with his son with the help of John.  Jamie is worried that he's going to be alone forever and feels especially bad that this will be the first Christmas not spent with his mom.  I was glad to read about all three men and how they've progressed since the first book.  The ending was especially touching.  64 pages (Kindle edition).

Wildman Creek by Robyn Carr

Posted for Diann Stark

Audio reading time: 10 hours, 46 minutes. 368 pages

Colin Riordan came to Virgin River to recuperate from a helicopter crash. His family is supportive, but it’s his art than truly soothes his troubled soul. 

PR guru Jillian Matlock arrived in town recovering from someone she worked with and trusted, stabbing her in the back. She’s bought an old Victorian house that reminded her of her grandmother’s house. She looked forward to working in the garden knowing it will soothe her emotionally.   

When Jillian looks out into her fields she finds Colin at his easel in her yard. Colin paints wildlife to help him relax and let his mind and body heal. There seems to be sparks, but both of them ignore the attraction. Neither one is looking for love, but, as time goes on they realize that they were brought to Virgin River to find one another.

"A Note in the Margin" by Isabelle Rowan

John McCann has taken a one year leave of absence from his job in the Australian corporate world to manage a small bookstore called Margins to get his stress under control.  One of the store's regulars is a quiet man named David who occupies a chair all day in the used books section.  At first, John wants to get rid of him and the reading chairs, but the store's owner's son, Jamie, has befriended David and talks John into leaving him alone.  David is homeless, something John has never had to deal with, and it makes him uncomfortable.  But one very cold night, John's humanity starts to reemerge when he lets David spend the night on his couch.  John soon realizes that beneath the scruff and dirt is a talented artist and sensitive man who needs help to get his life in order.

This was a wonderful story about the power of friendship, patience, and love that wasn't always an easy read.  David's homelessness and what he does to earn money are tough to read.  He has been horribly abused on the street, and it has caused him to run away whenever he feels scared or stressed.  He trusts no one, but John and Jamie do their best to convince him that they won't hurt him.  My only complaint is that the story was told from multiple points of view, and it was not always clear whose view the author was taking which sometimes confused me.  However, it was still a compelling and well-told human drama.  276 pages (Kindle edition).

"The Collage Workbook: How to Get Started and Stay Inspired" by Randel Plowman

Collage seems to be an art form that any of us can do.  There's no need to be a talented drawer or painter; just cut out pictures from old magazines and throw them together in interesting ways.  That's what I used to think collage was all about until I read this book.  Plowman, an MFA student who runs a popular collage blog called "A Collage a Day," explains how to prepare different materials and the tools to use them in your art.  From transparency film to laser transfers on tracing paper to items found in the street, he shows the reader how they can inspire and transform the look of simple collages.  He talks about the basic tools and materials needed to get started and even supplies 50 creativity exercises for the reader to explore their creativity.  My only complaint is that he seems to use some of the same types of  materials over and over in his collages, so that many of them had the same basic look.  132 pages.