wickedjr89 book review, book thoughts, Bookish, monthly wrap ups

How I did with Nonfiction November and manga

How did I do with Nonfiction November and 30 in 30 Manga Reading challenge?

In my opinion? Great! I read 4 nonfiction books, 1 for each of the prompts, and 6 volumes of Food Wars! … That’s it, 6 volumes. I know that’s no where near 30 but I do remember it being said that the point is just to read more manga than you usually do, and I succeeded in that. Sure, more woulda been nice but I didn’t fail either. And hopefully this time I won’t stop reading Food Wars and will actually finish it! I initially read the first 12 volumes, loved them, and then … well i’m bad at series ok? So I need to read 6 more and i’ll be where I was at before. There are 36 volumes. Wish me luck.

The Nonfiction Books I Read

I read Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff for the prompt Record. I gave it 3 stars. I listened to it on audio book and it was very interesting. I’m just bad at processing audio books and I know it didn’t really get into my brain, but that’s a me problem. I did like it.

I read The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Stephen Brusatte for the prompt Element. I loved this! It was so fascinating (and I have it physically) and understandable and there are pictures and DINOSAURS. I have a newfound love for dinosaurs now. I gave it 5 stars. My review on Goodreads states:

“Dinosaurs are fascinating! I learned so much. Very well written and accessible.
My favorite dinosaur, is penguin. Confused? Read the book. If you are remotely interested in Dinosaurs, read it.”

I read Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake for the prompt Border. I gave this 4 stars. This was also very fascinating, and unexpectedly thought-provoking! I read it on kindle.

I read Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell for the prompt Secret. I gave this 4 stars. This both is and is not what you’d expect. Once you read it you’ll see it everywhere. But is that really terrifying? Yes and No. It depends. Read it if you want to understand what I mean. I listened to it and did really enjoy the narration and it kept my attention.

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September Wrap Up

What I Read

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor – 4 stars

Thought provoking and interesting. Not sure what to say though, but glad I read it.

Dracula by Bram Stoker – DNF

I give up. I read Dracula (all of it) a few years ago. I didn’t like it. I thought maybe i’d appreciate it more now, but I don’t. I listened to 2 chapters. The narrators are great, if you love Dracula check it out (you can find it on audible.com – has Tim Curry and a whole cast). I’m bored. I hate that I don’t like it, I LOVE vampires … generally. But this just doesn’t work for me. I really thought i’d be able to get into it but I can’t, I just can’t. I’ve loved (years ago, I need to rewatch it) the Dracula movie with Gary Oldman. I should just rewatch it.

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom – 5 stars!

I am so glad I loved this one just as much as I did Krampus: The Yule Lord! I saw the same things in it that made me love Krampus enough to read it 3 times already. Maybe i’ll revist Slewfoot later to.

I’m not entirely sure what else to say. I loved Abitha. She’s a strong woman who goes through so much shit. I loved Samson as well. I loved the messages in the story. I just want everyone to experience it for themselves and it’s perfect for spooky season!

Other Stuff

I watched A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars on letterboxd. I still have to finish the franchise.

Happy Spooky Month!

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August Wrap Up

What I Read

BBC Wildlife Magazine – May 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd – 4 stars

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haban Girma – 5 stars

This is a wonderful autobiography! I loved how stories from her life was told in the pretense tense, it felt so much more personal. It’s also infused with humor. You can learn so much from this, in an accessible way and having a nice time while doing it. Please read the discussion questions at the end, they give food for thought.

I have also been disabled my entire life but for entirely different reasons. I am neither deaf nor blind. I do have auditory processing disorder though so when she mentions there was too much noise to make anything out, I relate to that. I can’t make anything out in those situations either.

She’s the first deafblind student to graduate Harvard, and she’s barely 6 months older than me. We still have so far to go, but that’s not meant to take away from how far we’ve come.

BBC Science Focus Magazine by Immediate Media Company London Ltd – 4 stars

Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale and Hui Qing Ang – 5 stars

I wish i’d had this as a child. I would’ve had the words and known I wasn’t alone so much sooner.

There are some draft errors (like on one page it says missing words and later some sentences just stop in the middle) but I got this from Netgalley and it is an e-arc draft so i’m not holding that against it.

Nisha is a trans girl. She has a dysphoria monster that keeps getting bigger as she’s misgendered but then she comes out and has support and her monster gets smaller. At first she wanted her monster to just go away but with the help of an adult trans man learns what her monster was trying to tell her, and living as who she is makes her so much happier and confident. It’s a beautiful story and has information for adults wanting to support trans kids after the story. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Stinetinglers: All New Stories by the Master of Scary Tales by R.L. Stine – 3.65 stars

I really enjoyed this collection over-all! It has 10 stories. I didn’t care for 2 of them personally (but I didn’t hate them or anything) and I really enjoyed the other 8! 3.65 average rounded up to 4
Welcome to the in-between 3.5
Our Little Monsters 2
Skin 3
The Ghost in the car 4
The boy who heard screams 5
Bugs 3.5
How to change your life 4
The bad side 4.5
The hole in the ground 5
The monster maker 2
These are obviously just my opinions, nothing more.
These stories are perfect for kids I think and they are certainly fun to read as an adult to. If you enjoy Goosebumps (or Goosebumps like books) definitely check this collection out. A few of them gave my spine a tingle!

Philosophy Now – Issue 150 by Anja Publications – 3 stars

Other Stuff

I think i’m on the way to healing but not there yet. My body has been through a lot with the surgery and the sickness.

I did update my “about me” page a bit since I plan to talk about cannabis as well now. The books aren’t going anywhere though, still love to read!

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July 2022 Wrap Up

What I Read

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I absolutely loved this!  This book means so much to me now! I felt so much of what Tova was going through for my own reasons. And felt for Cameron. And Marcellus the Octopus is amazing, all three of these characters are amazing. I loved so many lines. It made me cry. I found so much depth in these pages personally. And I had to hug the book! I wanna give it more than 5 stars!!

More than a month after finishing it I still wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Monster Musume, Vol. 7 by Okayado – Funny manga and I enjoy the characters. Not much to say. 5 stars

Monster Musume, Vol. 8 by Okayado – 4 stars

Saga, Volume 5 and 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples – 5 stars each. Rereads since volume 10 is finally coming out in October (last I checked)!

Why I’m Afraid of Bees by R.L. Stine – 4 creepy fun stars.

Gender Queer: A Memoir Deluxe Edition by Maia Kobabe – ALL THE STARS! ALL OF THEM! I had read the original years ago so it was a reread but in this new edition! Words fail to express the love I have for this book but I did my best in my original review Here and my “review” of the new deluxe edition Here.

Monster Musume, Vol. 9 by Okayado – 4 stars

The Gender Friend: A 102 Guide to Gender Identity by Oakley Phoenix by Oakley Phoenix – I absolutely loved this book! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for letting me have an advanced copy. This book is so accessible in the language and is also kind. Kind not just to transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary folks (TGNCNB for short) but also to loved ones wanting to support their TGNCNB loved ones. I can’t stress enough I can see someone really trying but it’s not always easy. If someone is truly trying and caring I don’t want them to feel like it doesn’t matter or that they are awful if they mess up. Mistakes happen. Trying is what matters and you’ll get there. I am a nonbinary trans person and it’s generally easy to tell who cares and is trying versus the ones that aren’t. This book is like a hug from a kind friend. It explains gender related thing, answer questions, etc. I am going to have to buy this book when it comes out so I can give it to loved ones. 5 stars

Paradise Club by Tim Meyer – 5 stars I cared for the characters and this has a lot of gorey fun! Horror, slasher, splatterpunk …

Discover – May/June 2022 by Kalmbach Publishing Co. – 3 stars. Magazine.

Other stuff

I have a long way to go still in terms of recovering from surgery. I came home with 2 drains, a left and a right, and initially the left was very active and the right wasn’t doing much of anything. Well … the night before (as I was going to lay down to sleep) I was going to get the right drain out the left one, that was still VERY active, fell out!! Scaring the shit outta me!

Long story short (actually still long, sorry) I still have the right drain in. I was also leaking (and still might be to a degree) via part of my incision down my stomach. Well i’ve had (and still have, as of typing this on Monday August 8th) a lot of gauze and tape over my stomach (and a large hernia belt for compression) because the hole that was left behind from the left drain leaked for awhile but it appears to be closed now. While the hole was leaking the right drain continued doing it’s almost nothing crap, which was scary because they said “in theory the right one should pick up the slack” and i’ve been dealing with low grade fever and swelling (feet, legs …) from retaining fluid, even before the left drain fell out!

Also some heat and pain in my lower stomach from the fluid build up. So i’ve been doing as much as I can of walking and keeping my legs up, which is thankfully helping! And now that the left hole is actually closed it looks like the right drain might be picking up finally? Let’s hope so! And let’s hope it stays in long enough! I’m so afraid of needing to go back to the hospital over this shit. But I have been keeping an eye on myself and I know if I start vomiting or get a high fever to call the Dr or go to the ER.

I haven’t felt like reading much, and that’s ok, but I am reading Haben at least this month and I am enjoying it so far! I’ve been playing Sims 2 and watching Youtube videos

Edit (On August 10th, Wednesday): The right drain stopped holding suction and was not salvageable. Had to come out despite it not being ready yet so they said i’ll probably be ok but ya know, if I start feeling like shit etc. to keep them posted. Right now the hole is leaking but if it’s like the left one within 2 days it’ll be closed and my body wasn’t ready yet. So here’s hoping I leak enough + my body is able to absorb the fluid it needs to.

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June 2022 Wrap Up

What I Read

Joyland by Stephen King – 5 stars

I wrote a full review Here.

Garden Gnome Sex Party by Fannie Tucker – 3 stars

I wrote a full review Here.

Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo – 3 stars

I found some of it off and the religion aspect kinda weird. Also not sure if i’m supposed to be offended at part of it, but I digress. Listening to it instead of reading it with my eyeballs might be to blame.

I had some laughs and some feels. I was both annoyed with and felt for the characters at different times. I’d say over-all I liked it, it just wasn’t exactly my cup of tea and that’s ok. I loved the diversity. Katy, one of the MC’s, is intersex and has a deaf brother and another character has 2 mom’s.

Trans Wizard Harriet Porber and the Bad Boy Parasaurolophus: An Adult Romance Novel by Chuck Tingle – 4 stars

Despite all the typos and the fact I think this coulda been even better if it had been a bit more polished I still really enjoyed this. It’s hilarious, I enjoyed the characters and the story and especially the calling out of she who shall not be named and the whole romance parody thing. There’s also the complete smashing of the 4th wall.

Now, which of Chuck’s 5,000 other books do I read next?

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca – 2.75 stars

My initial thoughts right after finishing it were …

What in the bloody fuck was that?
I don’t mean that as an insult in any way. It’s just bizarre and I have no idea how to rate it.
I didn’t dislike it at all. I just … wtf man.
…
wtf

Then after looking at my spreadsheet that had different aspects of the book I came up with 2.75 and that feels right somehow. It’s just my opinion and i’m not sure how to express it. I think it needed … more. The characters, the atmosphere, the plot. I just needed, more. But again, that’s just me.

Her Stepsister’s Secret by Callista Bree – 5 stars

Full review Here.

Archaeology – March/April 2022 by Archaeological Institute Of America – 4 stars

Philosophy Now – issue 149 by Anja Publications – 4 stars

BBC Wildlife Magazine – Spring 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd – 5 stars

Magazines

Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess – 5 stars

This was so much fun. I loved getting to know the characters and feel for them. This book made me cry. It also made me question things because things aren’t black and white. It even has a trope I hate and I still loved this book and am giving it 5 stars! That says something.

It’s an interesting slasher, that’s for sure!

The Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III – 4 stars

I’ve really gotta read more bizarro. This is my second book by Carlton Mellick III. My first was The Haunted Vagina. I really enjoyed both of these books. Not only is it weird, it can also be thought-provoking. My only complaint, for both of them, is the ending feels rushed. But I still look forward to reading more by this author!

Archaeology – May/June 2022 by Archaeological Institute Of America – 4 stars

BBC Science Focus Magazine – April 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd – 4 stars

Magazines

What I Watched

I watched Stranger Things volume 1 and now it’s July and I need to watch volume 2!!

Other Stuff

I finally started to play Sims again. Sims 2 specifically. I also have a surgery coming up on July 18th (which i’ve mentioned but in case you missed it). A colostomy hernia repair surgery.

What did you read, watch, do in June?

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May 2022 Wrap Up

What I Read

Look at me, I figured out how to do a gallery thing! Anyway I really enjoyed what I read this month!

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly 4.25 Stars – Initially it did take me a little bit to get into it because the characters annoyed me but i’m so glad I stuck with it because I fell in love with them and understood them! I love the nonbinary rep with London! A female/nonbinary romance is what i’ve wanted for so long! Seriously, my queer nonbinary heart is so happy! I need MORE female/nonbinary romances please! Pleeeeeease.

I don’t understand why there has to be a third-act breakup though and am always annoyed at it and the lack of communication. I am aware real life people act like that, but why?

BBC Science Focus Magazine – February 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd 4 stars

BBC Wildlife Magazine – April 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd 4 stars

Philosophy Now – issue 147 by Anja Publications 4 stars

BBC Science Focus Magazine – March 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd 4 stars

Philosophy Now – Issue 148 by Anja Publications 3 stars

Discover – March/April 2022 by Kalmbach Publishing Co. 4 stars

I have nothing to say about the magazines except I enjoy learning.

I then added my now finished and up Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) fanfiction “A Strange Hope” that’s on AO3 on Goodreads. I didn’t put the “cover” picture up there because it has no cover. Because I wrote it I gave it 5 stars. I wrote it, obviously I read it, more than once for that matter though because editing. I only counted it once lol.

Kraken by M. Caspian 4 stars – And I have a review on it Here. Gay tentacle non-con.

The Little Mermaid (With Original Illustrations) by Hans Christian Andersen 5 stars – I love The Little Mermaid. I don’t know what to say. The Disney movie owes a lot to the original actually even though of course there is more to the Disney movie. It’s fantasy. It’s a fairy-tale. One of these days I might have to go full on analyzing why I love The Little Mermaid in all it’s forms. That would be it’s own post (or possibly several).

The Little Mermaid by Walt Disney Company (Little Golden Book) 5 stars – Picture book for kids, simplifying the movie into 24 pages of a picture book.

Disney: The Little Mermaid by Editors of Canterbury Classics 5 stars – This has more than just the full film script, it has art from the movie and art concepts that were made during the process of making the film and details about the movie, the characters, tid bits, etc. If you are a fan of The Little Mermaid like I am this is a must have!

I love that Ariel is fiery, passionate, goes after what she wants. There is a lot to her. I’ll recommend This Video on why I think she’s autistic and this book also talks a bit more about her personality, and I absolutely love her! And relate to her. I can see there’s so much to why I love her and always have now, in ways I didn’t see before. I must do more in depth posts one of these days. Because I know I can.

Movies I Watched

Goosebumps 2 (3.5 stars) (2018) – I enjoyed it. It’s been years since I saw the first one actually and I finally saw the second one. I had given the first one 5 stars (on letterboxd) so I did enjoy the first one more but I liked this one to.

Nekromantik (unrated) (1987) – I hate myself. That’s my only explanation. I seek out the most disturbing shit and I have no idea why.

The Little Mermaid (1989), The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000), and The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008) I gave all 5 stars. I love them!

The Little Mermaid Live! (2019) (1 star) – You can give .5 stars on Letterboxd. That full 1 star is because the live cast did a good job, but the way they butchered The Little Mermaid and the singing was live and words were changed and weirdly modernized and I just .. I didn’t like it.

What did you read, watch, do in May?

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