Dona's Book Blog

Thank you to the author J. H. Markert, publishers Crooked Lane Books, and also to NetGalley for a widget of MISTER LULLABY. All views are mine. This book is like NIGHTMARE MAN got a little older and tightened up its wardrobe. I like the progression in Markert's style, too. He's developed his narrative voice, this smokey whisper, urgent and dire, lifting off the page in words. I'm eager to see what more he creates under this pen name. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I love Beth's character and story trajectories. The book cares about her and gives her grace and respects her autonomy, even when, perhaps especially when she's not on page. It's some really good writing on Markert's part. She easily foils the absolute absurdity of the antagonist.  2. A noticeable improvement in mental illness rep. I can tell Markert put in the work to avoid stigmatizing in this book. 3. The horns are freaking great.😆 4. Okay Teddy and Brandy are my favorite...

Thank you to the author Brittany Means, publishers Zibby Books, and NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of HELL IF WE DON'T CHANGE OUR WAYS. All views are mine. Opening Quote: I can tell you that having certainty is sometimes a mirage you create for yourself so you can keep taking steps through the sand. Loc.1875 Three (or more) things I loved: 1. At the end of this book, a lot of readers may hold that Brittany's mom doesn't deserve her children's forgiveness, especially Brittany's. A lot of people in my life have told me in my life that my mother doesn't deserve mine. But our mothers do deserve forgiveness. I forgive my mother. It is a courageous act I engage in ever day. Brittany shows the same courage. This book does many things, including importantly that it instructs deeply on the universal gift of forgiveness.  2. The opening page of chapter 1 is one of the most beautiful and haunting things I've ever read. I make note of my weight p...

Thank you to the author Viola Shipman, publishers Graydon House, and TLC Book Tours, for an advance paperback copy of THE WISHING BRIDGE. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I grew up in Ohio and visited Frakenmuth with my family more than once. A year-round-Christmas town is definitely a magical place and it makes a wonderful setting for a cozy book like this one. I remember some of the places the author writes about, like the giant Christmas store, even if the names are different! It makes for a joyful read! 2 . I appreciate so much that one of the important themes in this story is sibling rivalry. It feels good that Henri works so hard to resolve her conflict with her brother, and the anecdotes are heartwarming. But I wish I didn't feel like she only only worked so hard to reach out to him just so she could make her huge business deal. Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn'...

Thank you to the author Raquel Willis, publishers St. Martin's Press, and SMPInfluencers, for an advance digital copy of THE RISK IT TAKES TO BLOOM. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I love that the author talks about the term "queer" and the queer community's efforts to reclaim the word. 2. I think one of the most important things she discusses is straight spaces and how queer people don't belong in them, are actually made to feel unsafe in them. 3. Raquel Willis Offers such grace and love to to the people who hurt and reject her. She is completely grateful for every drop of grace she receives in return at all stages of her journey. It is wonderful to read about such a courageous person! 4. The story of Raquel, having transitioned fully, seeing her grandmother, who had dementia, and whom she hadn't seen in a long time, is so heartwarming and fulfilling! Loc. 1731 Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn...

Thank you to the author Alexandra Hudson, publishers St. Martin's Press and SMPI, for an advance digital copy of THE SOUL OF CIVILITY. Thank you also to NetGalley for the widget. All views are mine. Opening Quote: Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself. --The Gathas, the Writings of Zarathustra... between 3000 and 2000 BC loc.1260 Opening Quote: Civility is communicative moral conduct. loc.3799 Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I love the focus on distinguishing civility from politeness, where politeness is a collection of superficial behaviors that are mostly demanded as a social requirement of some sort. Whereas civility is behavior informed by deep personal belief, compassion, or justice, to start. 2. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the discussion about Confusionism. Confusion was conflicted, but clearly advocated for emotional stillness and kindness to one's neighbor, as did Lao Tzu. 3. I found fascinating the section about Erasmu...

Thank you to the author Charlene Carr, publishers Sourcebooks Landmark, and as always, NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of HOLD MY GIRL. All views are mine. I tried to read HOLD MY GIRL twice, and neither time was I able to connect to the style, the story, of the characters. I've read quite a few reviews on this book, and it certainly seems like a book I would enjoy. Other readers have for reasons I usually value. Based on this, I think this is just bad luck. What I call "a me thing." I would still recommend this book as it wrestles with some important and perhaps neglected themes in literature, such as infertility and fertility treatment. Thank you to the author and publisher for including trigger warnings in the front matter. Such an important thing. Rating: 🫄🫄🫄🫄 babies comin' Recommend? Yes! Finished: Oct 7 23 Format: Digital arc, NetGalley  Read this book if you like: 💻 contemporary fiction  👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama 👶🏻 havi...

Thank you to the author Florence Reiss Kraut, publishers She Writes Press, and Get Red PR Book Tours, for an advance paperback copy of STREET CORNER DREAMS. Thank you also to Libby for an accomanying widget. All views are mine. Opening quote: She thought how lucky she had been to have a friend like Cousin Surah , strong and wise and loving. A place to stay. Food to eat. Even piecework, stitching bespoke dresses and embroidering shirtwaists... where she could earn money and help pay their expenses. Loc 732 Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The pace is very fast, which keeps the narrative relevant and cohesive, but honestly at the expense of certain detail. 2. This story is brilliant and so important, the history of the single mother in America before the existence of social safety nets. 3. Internal monologues are absolutely gorgeous.  4. Kraut handles transitions deftly. I'm always amazed when the narrative slides from deep introspection of the main character, Gold...

Thank you to the author Lee Kelly, publishers Crooked Lane Books, and TLC Book Tours, for an advance hardback copy of WITH REGRETS. Thank you also to Libby for an accomanying digital copy. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1.  Wonderfully shocking interpersonal scene on page 27, I loved it! 2. This is a large cast, handled well. The talk about each other, to each other, which helps the reader learn who is who quicker. It helps they are all together for so many of the scenes. I've already got a feel for this huge cast of characters and I'm only 47 pages in.  3. The narrative shift is so smooth, it's perfect and terrifying! 4. I absolutely loved the approach to this scenario, being trapped in an apocalypse, in a basement wine cellar with the awful people in your most distant social circles. It is a mashup of genres and it is horrifying, a wonderful creation. The House Wives of the Apocalypse.  5. I enjoyed the author's use of experiment f...

Thank you to the author McKenzie Funk, publishers St. Martins Press and SMPI, and as always NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of THE HANK SHOW. I never thought I'd find myself saying this about a biography, but this story is gripping. Hank Asher is essentially the godfather of data consolidation and integration. His research and computer coding efforts are ultimately responsible for contemporary credit reporting, law enforcement databases, terrorism watch lists, marketing email and phone lists, and so much more. If you think this sounds a bit like a movie, well so did Asher; he named one of his most invasive projects "The Matrix." This nonfiction is of the sort that you keep waiting for someone to admit that it's all a story. Half of it is too outlandish to believe. The implications are far-reaching and sometimes suggestive. Let it all be a story. Except that it's not. That makes for great reading in my book, and I was completely breathless at t...

Thank you to the author Naomi Alderman, publishers Simon & Schuster, and also to NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of THE FUTURE . All views are mine. I really really love A.I. and I'm a proponent of its development. So when I heard about this book and heard such good things about it, I was really excited to read it. Unfortunately, I think it just makes too many stylistic and narrative choices that kept me from engaging! I was excited when THE FUTURE started describing the differences between human and computer consciousness. I wanted this book to also explore the moral and intellectual tether humans have to A.I., the similarities between us, the responsibility we have to each other... but the narrative didn't go there. It's undoubtedly strange and wonderful, but I couldn't pay attention with this one. DNF 68% Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The suggestions of uses for Metadata is completely eye-opening and amazing, table at loc. 1204. The au...

Thank you to the authors, and editors Yamile Saied Mendez and Amparo Ortiz, and publishers Algonquin and Hachette Books for an advance paperback copy of OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS. Thank you also to Libby for an accomanying widget. All views are mine. "I make beautiful things to balance out the cruelty in the world," her abuela said.... "Our art is like a prayer--when we make beautiful things, the gods listen.... "   "The Hour of the Wolf" p324 Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I love the Latin American theme these stories share. For me, it means exposure to some wonderful myths and legends I hadn't heard of before! Great examples of use of legend and myth is "El Viejo De La Bolsa" p49 2. I love that most of these stories are socially and stylistically subversive. Makes the reads challenging and enjoyable and also meaningful and outspoken. 3. In most of these stories, the main character is small or young, which emphasizes the hum...

Thank you to the author Jeannee Sacken, publishers Ten 16 Press, and tour organizers TLC Book Tours and Get Red PR, for an advance paperback copy of THE RULE OF THIRDS. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I have to admit that I sort of love this badass hang-with-the-boys female protagonist with emo problems and demons trope. She's fun! And she's real and I relate to her. 2. The chemistry between the two leads is both complex emotionally and very sexy, which pulls me into the story. 3. PTSD rep is so important! I love-vuh how the author works therapy into the storylines, and how well the leads communicate the issues within each of their stories. 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 book is the third in a series of three books. In true "me" fashion, I've not re...

Thank you to the author Kim Cross, publishers Grand Central Publishing, and also to NetGalley for an advance digital copy of IN LIGHT OF ALL DARKNESS. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The richness of detail is spectacular. (Maybe too much at times?) No, no, it's good, it's good. Honestly, in the details, I can really notice the depth of Cross's research. She's able to provide multiple descriptions of things, perspectives, or theories, because she has so many resources from which to pull. 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 grabbed this book at least partly because it sells itself as being "paced like a thriller!" Won't be the first true crime nonfiction that pulled me in with that, but plods along, plotless! True crime fascinates with other magic, it doesn...

Thank you to the author Lynsi Snyder, publishers Thomas Nelson, and TLC Book Tours, for an advance hardback copy of THE INS-N-OUTS OF THE IN-N-OUT BURGER. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine. Being a veteran of the restaurant industry, having experienced the family one can find between the quiet tables of a pre-opened dining room, reading this book written by a restaurant heiress with a deep love of the burgers that uplifted her family and so many others felt like coming home for me. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. It was really interesting to read about how, in In-N-Out's early years, the "hamburger shop" fit in with popular culture: Elvis and rock n' roll, poodle skirts and shared milkshakes... the author's grandparents satisfied a craving this whole country had no idea it had. 2. The author's father was abused in childhood, which is relevant to this family's story in more than one way. But I thought i...

Thank you to the author Asha Ashanti Bromfield, publishers Wednesday Books and #SMPInfluencers, for an advance hardback copy of SONGS OF IRIE. Thank you also to Scrib'd, now Everand for books, for an accomanying audibook. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. I love the chant competition scenes with the singing, which on the audiobook, are sung by the author. It adds a really interesting depth to the medium. 2. I love the Rasta element, love the opportunity to learn more about this culture. 3. I really enjoy stories about empowered and activist teenagers, they feel optimistic to me, even when they deal with challenging subject matter.  SONGS OF IRIE is like this. 4. I love stories that center and empower black communities: Black bodies fill every corner of the space, the energy grimy and raw as they move in time to the dancehall beat. p199 Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for ...