Horror Collector #1 by Midori Sato and Norio Tsuruta
Horror Collector #1 by Midori Sato and Norio Tsuruta is a series of six creepy Japanese-centric urban legend short stories.
I like Fushigi Senno, despite his aloof standoffishness. I found the addition of grainy photos to preface each story an unusual choice given the rest of the art was manga/anime style drawings. It helped emphasize the creep factor, that’s for sure. I also get Supernatural vibes, as the boy with the hoodie pretty much goes around “hunting things and saving people.” Well, the latter is less intentional than Sam and Dean. That’s not Senno’s motive.
Perfect for horror/urban legends lovers or fans of RL Stine. I enjoyed it so much I bought the whole series! There’s going to be a manga version, too.
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Yen Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Kawaii Birdies by Jen Budrock is one absolutely adorable drawing book. It gives a brief introduction to kawaii, tools, and tips for colouring your birdies. There are also sections looking at individual parts such as wing and beak styles. Then comes the fun part- learning to draw myriad marvellous birdies! You’ll find Old and New World birds, both wild and domestic, getting up to all kinds of mischief.
This is perfect for budding and established artists of any age!
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Quarto/Rock Point for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Fearful Symmetries edited by Ellen Datlow
Fearful Symmetries is another great anthology curated by Ellen Datlow. There are stories by new authors and staples of horror and speculative fiction including such as Gemma Files, Bruce McAllister, Stephen Graham Jones, and Garth Nix. This anthology is more unusual than most. It’s not themed, like most of Datlow’s collections, and it was funded through Kickstarter!
One of my fave stories was Gemma Files ‘A Wish from a Bone’, because war zone archaeology. Gary McMahon’s ‘Kaiju’ and Garth Nix’s ‘Shay Corsham Worsted’ were other favourites. Like any collection of short stories, there were certainly a few that fell short for me. Johnstone’s ‘Catching Flies’ and Kiernan’s ‘Ballad of an Echo Whisperer’.
Recommended if you enjoy horror and/ or short stories.
***purchased and read for my own enjoyment
Oh goodness, the cat opening the door was cute, and the observation that Cat opens Doors reminded me of Kipling’s short story ‘The Cat Who Walks Alone’.
“Like the cats, we have to keep the Door we call freedom of speech and thought open.”
As a memoir, this was very enlightening for me. This isn’t an area of history I have much familiarity with. It’s so hard to fathom how people like Mao come to power, that people can be so insecure that they feel the need to ban books, how we can let such things come to pass. Indeed, even getting an unfortunately up close view of the beginnings of such a downslide here in the US, it’s still so hard to understand.
I did find the choice to use only black and white interesting. It has made it hard for me to parse pictures at times due to poor vision on my part. Recommended, especially if you have an interest in this historical era.
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Ten Speed Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rewriting the Rules by Danna Zeiger
Rewriting the Rules by Danna Zeiger looks at the life of Dr Kathleen Friel and the strides she’s made in helping cerebral palsy patients thrive. Born with the condition herself, Friel was lucky enough to have supportive, loving parents. They let her learn her own ways forward rather than forcing her into a ‘disabled is broken’ box. More importantly, they didn’t stuff her into a facility as one doctor had suggested.
From these auspicious beginnings, Friel would go on to get a PhD, and do work on neuroplasticity and cerebral palsy. She’s developed a protocol that can help these patients carve new neural paths, and strengthen mind and muscle. It always amazes me what our bodies, and even moreso, our minds are capable of.
The art style isnae my cuppa, but the cublings I read it with really enjoyed it, and that’s what matters more, toch? I do really like the neuron flowers and trees. Clever! Overall, recommended, especially if your littles enjoy Vegara’s Little People, Big Dreams series!
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Lerner Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
What Happens After by Diane Namm
In playful, yet solemn rhyme, young readers learn ways of healthy grieving. What Happens After by Diane Namm looks at these themes, and most important to me, stressed that there was no time limit on grief. I really liked the representation of the deceased in the photos as blurred figures, faded but never gone. Lovely artwork and message! Recommended for classroom teaching, therapy, and home reading.
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
