Dona's Book Blog

(Update 10.31) Thank you to the author Marlena Williams and publishers The Ohio State University Press for an advance paperback copy of NIGHT MOTHER. All views are mine. Opening quote: ... Evil is not something amorphous or corporeal. Evil is active. It is a doing, and then a doing again and again and again . p124 Three (or more) things I loved: 1. One might say that the true subject of the horror genre is the struggle for recognition of all that our civilization represses or opresses p36. I love this insight. I do think this is true, and one of the most important things about horror books and themes. 2. She provides a great discussion about use of meta as a technique in the story, the book, and the movie. Great examples of this at p43 and p49. 3. The statements this book makes about the "satanic panic" of the 80s and 90s, and about moral panics in general, are so important: Focusing on stories about satanic murder...allows us to deflect, to focus all our rag

Thank you to the author and publisher for inviting me to review this wonderful biography and for providing me an advance hardback copy of ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀɪᴛʜ ᴏғ ᴇʟᴠɪs. I found my audio copy on Libby. All views are mine. Opening quote: [Elvis] said..., "It is not a sin to be rich, but it is a sin to love money."  I was surprised how much I loved this faith-centered biography of Elvis from the perspective of an adoring little brother. I felt this cross-section of the King's life revealed something truly special about him, and remarkable about fame and the vulnerability it brings. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I love this image of Elvis as the spoiling, over-doting big brother. I knew he grew up an only child, so that he got this opportunity as a young adult to be a brother is a truly wonderful story. For the boys too, having a much older brother with such vivacious spirit was a source of love, excitement, and huge personal growth. 2. Some real interest insights into

Thank you to the author Alyssa Harmon and BookSiren for an advance digital copy of TREADING WATER. All views are mine. habromania   delusions of happiness  a calendar with june 24th crossed out in blue pen,  water spilling out of a cracked straw,  a fortune cookie that says  you can’t drown forever,  a sandless hourglass,  the stray dog wandering on a deserted beach with a tag that says you have to be your own savior —  all these bad habits collected like marbles. Loc.108 Three (or more) things I loved: 1. "The Chalk Fairy" at loc.130 is an excellent piece. Wonderful progression and turn. 2. I love the piece "band-aids" at loc.121 because of the reference to invisible injury. This is such an important issue for people with disabilities. I really connect to this, as someone with invisible disabilities, and currently helping a family member adapt to a newly developed invisible disability.  3. "anchors" is a brilliant little piece about mental il

Thank you to the author Olivia Worley, and publishers Wednesday Books, for an advance copy of PEOPLE TO FOLLOW. Thank you also to NetGalley for the widget. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The details are really doing it for me and possibly even glue this story together. 2. Elody is a very interesting piece of character work! ( But that linguistic quirk ("Babe!") of hers becomes annoying bordering on rage-inducing.) Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof. 1. I don't really believe the story parameters; even the producer in the book says how unbelievable and unprofessional it is that producers would leave all these people alone on this island. And yet, the story proceeds with those parameters. 2. There are so many different perspectives,  and with the exception of Elody'

Thank you to the author Kacen Callender, publishers Hachette Books, and NetGalley an advance digital copy of STARS IN YOUR EYES. All views are mine. As much as it is a romance, STARS IN YOUR EYES is a story about sexual assault, how we define it, and how to support a partner who has experienced it. For me, these topics trigger, but thanks to a thorough content warning in the front matter, I was able to go into the book prepared. Characters drove this one, so I was often shocked, but never surprised, about where the story traveled. Reading this story was both challenging and rewarding, traits the best books possess. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I respect and appreciate that the author and publishers include a content warning in the front matter. Take care of yourselves, readers! 2. The experimental form of this book is exciting and engaging. Chapters in multiple perspectives interspersed with chapters in description of multimedia.  3. Really excellent description of

Thank you to the author David Rosenfelt, publishers Minotaur Books, and SMPInfluencers Program for an opportunity to read TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS early. Thank you also to NetGalley for the digital widget. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The different dogs (I believe there are 5?) have so much personality. They simply jump off the page. The orphan dogs tug on my heartstrings just as hard as if they were adorable missing twin children, begging for a meal and warm bed. The irascible Sebastian the bloodhound is my favorite.  2. The sass, wit, and sarcasm add so much richness! Quote loc. 1203 3. Andy Carpenter is my favorite detective because he is so sarcastic, and because, as a defense attorney, he is positioned to know the ins and outs of the law. I sometimes find the "quirky detective" a little hard to believe, but Andy is totally authentic and believable. Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn't only for cri

Thank you to the author Jessica Parra, publishers Wednesday Books, and Goodreads Giveaways, for an advance paperback copy of RUBI RAMOS'S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. Thank you also to Libby for a digital copy. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I like the multicultural aspect! I loved reading about the Cuban desserts, and reading the French I didn't at all understand lol it was fabulous! This brought more dimension to all elements of the story. 2. I appreciate the indelible marks Rubi's family make upon her and how much their emotions influence her decisions. Her fear of harming them emotionally drives much of the story, which unfortunately isn't a plot type I'm interested in. But in this case, the intercharacter dynamics are powerful. Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof. 1. This is