Gods of Jade and Shadow

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia


I was immediately drawn to Gods of Jade and Shadow by the colorful and gorgeous cover. Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia has done a great job infusing Mayan mythology and Yucatan culture into the story of Casiopea, who is used and abused by her extended family after the death of her father, and crosses paths with a death god who needs the help of a mortal. Bound to his side through a dark journey, Casiopea starts to discover her worth, identity, and the very origins of her society, as well as her place within it.
This story had great potential, but the writing was bloated with clunky syntactical choices such as repeated adverbs and explanations of the actions of characters.

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Mother's Day Faves

I just remembered I was going to post about some favorites related to mothers for upcoming Mother's Day. Here are some books I've read in recent years that highlight the unique experience of being a mom or being loved by one:

Best Boy By Eli Gotlieb
The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
Where The Missing Go by Emma Rowley

What other books about moms do you love?

The Curiosities by Susan Gloss

The Curiosities by Susan Gloss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the heartwarming, albeit somewhat corny, story of Nell, an art historian who has suffered a miscarriage and wonders if her life can ever be complete without a child.

I enjoyed the structure of this book, which follows Nell and the new artists at the colony, as well as the past of Betsy, the woman who bequeathed her home and art to the colony before she died. Each alternating chapter begins with a description of a piece of art, connecting Betsy's rich history to the artists presently living in the home, and opening Nell's eyes to new possibilities in life.

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A Raw Book of Poems

The Twenty-Ninth Year by Hala Alyan


This powerful book of poems reads almost as a memoir, dealing with growing up, straddling different cultures, and trying to come to terms with society as a whole. Alyan succeeds in weaving jarring snapshots of trauma with haunting, and often hopeful, poetry.

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Tasty Has a Cookbook?

You know those Buzzfeed recipe videos that make everything look so delicious and deliciously easy? Apparently it's some sort of channel called Tasty, and the most popular of these videos are now available in book form called Tasty: Latest and Greatest. I received a copy from Blogging for Books, and none of the recipes have really called out to me. Most of them seem either basic (chicken cordon bleu, yeah, okay) or random stoner food with a bunch of cheese (jalapeno popper dip).
It does have a lot of beautiful and appetizing photos! The jury is still out on this one.

Exploring a Rape Investigation in America

I recently watched the Netflix documentary about Gloria Allred, which highlights the force with which the attorney had to fight so that women victims of crime could have a place to seek justice and be heard. It seemed like the perfect follow-up to read A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong. This book explores a group of detectives investigating a series of rapes, starting at the initial report by each of the survivors. Things get tricky when one of the women, a recent graduate of a lifetime of foster care and abuse, changes her story and stops being taken seriously by those investigating her rape.

This is a thrilling, fast-paced, and informative read. The authors did a great job researching where stereotypes about rape come from, and highlighting the realities of police culture and the need for gender-diverse police forces. Every angle of the investigation is fleshed out, including the unique perspectives and backgrounds of the detectives, the survivors, and even the creepy and calculating serial rapist.

Highly recommended!



I received this copy from Blogging for Books, but all opinions are my own.

A Thriller Focused On Friends

For 2018, I wanted to start my reading year off with a bang and actually finish a book. (I actually received a card from a person I worked with today that referenced my inability to finish any books recently!) So, on New Year's Day, I picked up The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor, and I'm excited to report that I actually finished it.
It's about a group of friends doing what kids do, and then finding a body. It definitely has shades of Stephen King's IT and The Stand, but it was an enjoyable and quick read. I really don't want to say too much, except that it made me think of the sinister lens we often view things through as children, and the true backstories of local myths. Like how, in my town, we kids all thought this guy who walked to work every day must have had a tragic accident and refused to ever get behind the wheel of a car again, but really he just didn't have any family or a car, and we all just judged him like assholes.
Anyway, I'm thankful I received this book from Blogging for Books and would recommend it if you're looking for a quick thriller. It really helped get my reading momentum going again!