Adult Book Reviews

Fiction

Nonfiction


The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald, F. Scott
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review:

I would say I enjoyed this book. It's about a small group of people, but mainly a young Nick Carraway and a Jay Gatsby. One thing I like about the book is the complex relationships across the characters. Their interactions with each other as the story progresses become more interesting as you learn more. There were some parts during the reading when I got confused by the plot, but that was probably just me. I also feel that towards the end, the plot moves way quicker and intensifies in drama. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it because it's just a classic American novel.

Reviewer's Name: Max
Genres:
The Kite Runner
Hosseini, Khaled
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review:

This book is a good resource historically. Hosseini's writing provides a good perspective of what it's like to have lived in Afghanistan. The story itself is interesting. There is plenty of text to analyze about the struggles of an impending war, which I think is good to gain understanding from other cultures. However, I found that there were some scenes throughout the book that were unnecessary. They were a part of the story but went into extreme detail that made me uncomfortable and covered very mature topics. Overall, I give this a three. It's not bad, just not my cup of tea, so I wouldn't be recommending it to someone myself.

Reviewer's Name: Max
Genres:
Multi-colored book jacket with yellow print
Sexton, Margaret Wilkerson
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

I don’t know about other readers, but generally, as soon as a jacket blurb mentions something like “intergenerational saga” or “centuries-long family lore,” I roll my eyes and drop the book like the proverbial hot potato, sure it’s going to tax me with keeping track of 27 characters and five time periods. For whatever reason, this time, I kept reading past that ominous descriptor, and I’m so glad I did as Margaret Wilkerson Sexton’s moving and engrossing novel, The Revisioners, is one of the best I have read in recent years.

Chapters rotate across three time periods and center on two main characters, Josephine, who was born into slavery but who claims freedom at an early age and lives a long life in Louisiana, and Ava, her great, great-granddaughter, who lives in contemporary New Orleans with her pre-teen son and—in an unexpected twist that becomes increasingly unsettling—her wealthy, white paternal grandmother with dementia. In addition, both Josephine’s and Ava’s own mothers feature vividly in their respective chapters, deepening the layers of national and personal history that Sexton so realistically and poignantly depicts. The maternal line in this family is also characterized by certain gifts of understanding and sight, both earthly and other-earthly, which create a shadowy but certain bond that steadily solidifies among the women as the plot progresses.

Conflicts between our protagonists and somewhat minor but all too powerful white characters in all time periods make for suspenseful, unsettling scenes and, as you might expect, lead to heartbreak and trauma for both Josephine and Ava. Believe me, I cried (well, even sobbed) more than once at the outcome of certain events, but Sexton isn’t after “easy tears”; they would be pointless if not accompanied by genuine acknowledgment of and determination not to hide from our nation’s painful and shameful past, especially on the part of white readers. Even so, the novel’s conclusion (in Ava’s time/place) points towards healing and hope for this family that has endured so much.

I won’t spoil the surprise of the title’s origin and its place in this book (or in which of the three generations of Black American women it is featured), but I found this plot-dependent entity and the way it informs and almost foretells key characters’ lives one of the most poignant and satisfying conceits Sexton employs. I couldn’t recommend this book more emphatically for anyone looking for a serious and unforgettable, not to mention timely, contribution to American literature.

Reviewer's Name: Janele
Pink cover with a woman in a black turtleneck with sunglasses on
Cosimano, Elle
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum, you will love Finlay Donovan! Finlay is a freshly divorced single mother of two and a struggling novelist. Somehow she gets mistaken for a contract killer and "accepts" a job to get rid of a problem husband. This is when the craziness ensues! There is a fun cast of characters - the ex-husband, the mysterious nanny, and a sexy cop! A fun, fast read!

Reviewer's Name: Melissa M.
Genres:
A blue background with a portrait of a young woman
Hadlow, Janice
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Calling all Jane Austen fans! See the world of Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of Mary Bennet, the oft-overlooked, bookish, and socially awkward middle sister. Watch as she steps out of the shadow of her more charming sisters forging her own path as an independent woman. Loved that I could dive back into the Austen world and that Mary Bennett got the story she deserves!

Reviewer's Name: Tatiana
Soil: the Story of a Black Mother's Garden
Dungy, Camille
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

Our relationship to where we live is so multilayered. As a fellow resident of the front range I savored how Camille Dungy ‘spoke my language’ as much as she brought aliveness to her own experience and our current, heartbreakingly fractured American existence. Highly recommend.

Reviewer's Name: Emily
The Signature of All Things
Gilbert, Elizabeth
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

The magical story of Alma, who sees the world with childlike wonder. Living in a simpler world around the turn of the last century, her fascination and passion for working with moss is a unique backdrop for a tale of a woman's growth, empowerment, and reflection amidst a burgeoning world of scientific advancements and great changes in world philosophies.

Reviewer's Name: Nora
And Then There Were None
Christie, Agatha
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

Ten strangers, all holding secrets are invited to an island together. No one knows the man that invited them and soon they will all reveal that they are trapped there. They will have to find creative approaches to make sense of what will happen on that island before all of them are gone. And Then There Were None by world-renowned author Agatha Christie is another great murder mystery. Throughout the entire book you will be thinking of who the murderer is, and every twist and turn will put you on the edge of your seat. This is an amazing book and murder mystery lovers would really enjoy this book.

Reviewer's Name: Drake
Grasshopper Jungle Book Jacket
Smith, Andrew
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review:

This book was weird.
It felt like a windstorm of ideas blowing in my face; a mad prophet's ravings before catastrophe, and a tangled mess of actions and consequences - but somehow they all connected together? It was a bit of an experience.
Grasshopper Jungle is a story about the end of the world, but like many teen novels, it is simply a backdrop to Austin's personal dramas. One of its tags on Libby is "humor" but I think it's more of a tragedy if anything. The main character and his best friend inadvertently bring about an apocalypse by way of 6-foot tall, ravenous grasshoppers after accidentally breaking a jar they really shouldn't have broken.
The book weaves together the stories of Austin, his childhood experiences, as well as those of his brother, Polish ancestor, the mutant grasshoppers, and random strangers around town (such as his principal, his friend's mom's boyfriend, and a vulgar policeman being memorable ones). It's a lot.
I found this story's distinctive style very difficult to tear myself away from. It was authentic to the protagonist's personality, and it reminded me of the narration of classic epics. It stands out in its themes of memory, religious trauma, sexuality, and identity (and somehow being an apocalyptic story as well). The symbolism was uncanny, and the way the outside world and past timelines mirrored Austin's mental state was very artistic and unique.
Onto my criticisms and confusions: #1 has to be the male characters. I think that every single male character in this story thinks constantly about every other character in a grossly objectifying way. Honestly though, this applies to most of the female characters as well, who are just as lustfully self-interested. Very interesting, but it was a... strange experience to read the nuanced and morally grey portrayal of Austin's ancestor, a gay man who had not-consensual relations with a woman to see if he could "love" anyone other than his dead Communist lover.
Austin himself relates to this ancestor because he, too, is "confused". His gay best friend Robby continually makes advances on Austin, and Austin reciprocates because he is completely in love with Robby. He is also in love with his girlfriend, who doesn't take too kindly to the fact that Austin has kissed Robby during their relationship. Austin even documents the POV of the murderous, bi-curious, mutant grasshoppers.
The ending was extremely abrupt. I'll admit, I was glued to this book for the last quarter, and the ending made me stand up and think "what in the world did I just read". However, in all honesty, it very much suited the style of the book. It never deviates from being a chronicle of the end of the world, and the world around Austin certainly comes crashing down.
Grasshopper Jungle is a weird book that made me think, and I don't regret reading it. It is quite graphic, but if you're interested in this swarm of a book, I highly recommend reading it and forming your own opinion. I might read the sequel, but I'm a bit afraid of what it might hold.

Reviewer's Name: Isabel
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood Book Jacket
Noah, Trevor
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

This book is very, very good. While I tend to steer away from biographies and non fiction literature, this book was very interesting and fun to read. Exploring Trevor Noah’s childhood-young adulthood, this book educates its readers on the racial and violent issues that occurred during the apartheid era within South Africa. This book is extremely well written and often times witty. It had me laughing, then crying, then laughing again. I really recommend it!

Reviewer's Name: Edda, Grade 12
The Remains of The Day Book Jacket
Ishiguro, Kazuo
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

I loved this book! The writing is excellent and it has a very unique storyline. The main character of the novel is Williams, a butler that takes care of a wealthy manor. However, Williams struggles to separate his work and life. While he is very proud of himself and the work he accomplishes, he struggles to obtain things that other humans find joy through such as: hobbies, a lover, a family, etc. I’ve never read a book like this before, and I can see why it’s so well-known and critically acclaimed!

Reviewer's Name: Edda, Grade 12
Cover of the book Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus
Shelly, Mary
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book! Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' is a classic novel that everyone knows. It's a tale about Victor Frankenstein, a scientist, and how he creates life. Except it's made from body parts. What I liked about reading this is that this is the original. Young readers don't really know about all the other complex parts of the story. It was so interesting to read and learn about a narrative I never knew before. More on the plot, it's about how Victor creates a creature and then the seemingly endless and terrifying consequences.
However, this book is incredibly hard to read. The old way it's written makes it easier to get lost or not completely understand what happened. There's a lot of words I had to look up, but the context also helps decipher it. One of my favorite parts of the book is the building suspense. Ultimately, I think this book has so much beauty, because of all the emotions I had while reading it and the message it carries about human nature.

Reviewer's Name: Max
The Waves
Woolf, Virginia
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review:

Written in the “stream of consciousness” style, this book is very interesting, but honestly hard to read. There are 6 characters who we follow. Starting when they’re pre-schooler age, to their deaths. Each character has definitive characteristics. I believe each character is supposed to be relatable to in some way, as many of them battle with insecurities, self-comparisons, passions, depression, etc. The writing itself is very good, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

Reviewer's Name: Edda
Genres:
Wuthering Heights
Brontë, Emily
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a masterpiece! I definitely see why it is such a well known novel. However, it is a Victorian gothic novel, so it does explore uncomfortable themes such as incest and abuse. However, it doesn’t delve into them in a way that’s triggering or uncomfortable. This novel focuses on the Earnshaws, a wealthy family that owns the manor Wuthering Heights. While the family of four once lived happily, one night their father returns home with a new child named Heathcliff. A darker-skinned child from unknown origins. As the child adapts to his new environment, facing abuse and belittlement, he begins to slowly take over the manor. This story is super interesting if you’re interested in dramatic stories! I’d definitely recommend, just be wary of any uncomfortable themes. :)

Reviewer's Name: Edda
Genres:
Invisible Man
Ellison, Ralph
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

I recently had to read this novel for a class, and I have to say it is very good! While it explores complicated themes such as visibility, African-American movements/social standing, and life in early 1900’s America, it communicates the hardships and intricacies extremely well. The narrator, a black man in the early 1930’s-1940’s, loses his memory of his early life, including his family and even name. He travels through America; experiencing, learning, and exploring what his new life has to offer. Every experience is different, yet still very interesting, which made it feel like I was almost reading separate stories! Yet, it didn’t feel choppy or fragmented in the least. So, I’d highly recommend! I’ve never read any other book like this, and it definitely taught me a lot.

Reviewer's Name: Edda
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Sanderson, Brandon
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

Rebellion in this world is impossible, the king is immortal, and the people are weak, but Kelsier is determined to make a change. Kelsier has a wild plan, Vin a street urchin, gets wound up in this plan. She realizes that this goes deeper than she thought, and that there is always another secret.

This is one of the first books by Brandon Sanderson I've read and it's magnificent. This fantasy book is one of the best I've read, with twists and turns in every chapter. The characters feel real because of their bonds with each other. This is definitely a book that explores relationships, magic, and rebellion.

Reviewer's Name: Olivia
Genres:
Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil
Karpyshyn, Drew
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Once already addicted to the previous two books of this series, the final book of the trio was a must have! Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil keeps the readers on the edge of their seats! Bane has finally finished training his apprentice, Darth Zannah, in the ways of the Dark Side; However, she seems unwilling to take the title of master for her own. Bane must decide whether to wait longer for Zannah to overthrow him, or he much quickly choose a new apprentice. Which will he choose? Darth Bane, Dynasty of Evil is a perfect book for Star Wars fans, and is an epic ending to the Darth Bane Trilogy.

Reviewer's Name: Maverick
The Poppy War
Kuang, R. F.
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

What initially drew me into The Poppy War was all the great things I had heard about the book and it's author R.F. Kuang. Fang Runin, the female main character, was both enjoyable and relatable at many times as she fought for a spot in Sinegard, the country's most elite military academy, in hopes of getting away from an arranged marriage. The book spans over a few years and eventually deals with some very intense and dark themes throughout the book. Kuang does not shy away from any details and makes the book feel incredibly real and allows a deeper connection with the character's emotions.
The pace of the book really picks up towards the second half, and I was constantly surprised where the story went next. The Poppy War is also very heavily inspired by Chinese folklore, but Kuang adds her own touch to the story, making the book seem very unique. I really enjoyed this book and is a definite five star for me.

Reviewer's Name: Rowan
Genres:
The Art of Patience: Seeking the Snow Leopard in Tibet
Tesson, Sylvain
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

An engaging adventure story that celebrates reverence for nature, curiosity about the world, bold explorations into the wild, and a poetic narration that is both reflective and inspiring.

Reviewer's Name: Nora
Havoc
Bollen, Christopher
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

As a reader, do you gravitate towards relate-able, conventional, sweet narrators and stories that follow a comforting and predictable arc, ending in the literary version of “All is well”? If so, then read no further. Christopher Bollen’s page-turning, stomach-churning, prediction-spurning Havoc is not the novel for you.
Bollen’s sole narrator is octogenarian Maggie Burkhardt, a Wisconsin expatriate in Egypt during the pandemic, and Bollen’s use of the first person pays satisfying homage to its origin as an “unreliable narrator.” The book’s synopsis gives us a strong nudge in the “be wary of this narrator” direction, but it also complicates matters by adding an 8-year-old boy, arriving at the shabby-chic hotel on the edge of the Nile in the Sahara Desert with his harried mother, who quickly morphs into an unsettling and eerie nemesis for Maggie.
The peripatetic, well-heeled guests, Ben and Zachary, an American gay couple whom Maggie has befriended and feels comfortable with, as well as Ahmed, the local hotel manager with the proverbial heart of gold, who has warmly welcomed Maggie since her arrival from a mysteriously swift departure from Switzerland, provide rich and believable layers of characterization and sub-plots that robustly deliver from start to finish. But there’s never a doubt that Maggie is the axis around which this beguilingly straightforward yet actually quite twisty plot revolves.
While busying herself with ruminations about which guests might need her special “help” in overturning their lives for the good (ahem)—something Bollen makes sure that readers know is not a newly developed habit--Maggie tries and, to her astonishment, spectacularly fails to befriend young Otto. Subsequently, she becomes convinced that the precocious and troubled 8-year-old, who has quickly inserted himself into the homey interpersonal fabric of the sprawling and laid-back hotel, is on to her. As it happens, she may be right.
Bollen skillfully lays a crumb trail for readers—though never too many crumbs at once!—to suss out and/or add puzzlement to Maggie’s history and motives. Was Maggie’s long-time marriage to Peter who predeceased her as perfect as she recounts? And what’s going on with their daughter who appears in brief, hazy recollections as both a child and an adult when “she died”? The uneasy pleasure of this novel rests in the interwoven nature of Maggie’s unreliable memory and self-talk with the disturbing and escalating aspect of her and Otto’s game of one-up-man-ship. Is Maggie right about her suspicions of this child? Is the kid, in this case, “all right” or….decidedly not? And when friendly Ahmed finally cools towards Maggie because he’s heard just one too many contradictions in her back-story, should we feel pity for someone whose sanity is unraveling or a fervent hope that she be caught out before something worse happens?
The answers to these questions may possibly differ for every reader. But the staggering conclusion, rendered with an admirable combination of nail-shredding suspense and gut-punching abruptness, seemed worthy of Poe to this reader. Kudos to Bollen on his rendition of a “tale of mystery and imagination!”

Reviewer's Name: Janele
Darth Bane: Rule of Two
Karpyshyn, Drew
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

After getting a taste of the raw thrills provided by Drew Karpyshyn’s first novel, Darth Bane: Rule of Two was a must-have! Now having destroyed the Brotherhood of Darkness, Bane must find a suitable apprentice to carry on the power of the Dark Side; His choice: a little girl called Rain who, despite her size, is immensely powerful in the dark side. Bane must struggle to trust his choice of an apprentice, for the future of the Sith relies on it, while Rain must prove that she is worthy of the title of a master. With a similar mix of action as the previous book, this novel also incorporates an integral struggle, making it even more interesting. Darth Bane: Rule of Two will certainly have your hyperdrive engines ready to boost to the third and final book of the series!

Reviewer's Name: Maverick
Only Human
Neuvel, Sylvain
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review:

While I was not actively looking forward to finishing this trilogy, I’m glad I finished it for the sense of closure it brought. I still think Sleeping Giants had such an intriguing concept in how it relayed information to the reader, but that you could only really make that work for a single book. With a cliffhanger in each book of the series, I was hoping Only Human would wrap up everything and provide a satisfying conclusion. It certainly did its best to answer all the questions that came up during the previous books, but the ending didn’t particularly wow me.

The difficulty of maintaining a narrative through reports and journal entries is only exacerbated here because the human characters are the only ones who can convey what it is like to live on an alien planet. The jumping back and forth between the past and present was an OK way to hide some of the bigger reveals, but the biggest problem is the snarky nature of most of the characters. I know it’s likely written for laughs, but after a while it becomes tiresome as the events unfold.

In terms of its message, Only Human didn’t feel like it had anything new to say. Introducing the aliens after everything that they put humanity through in Waking Gods felt somewhat anticlimactic as the major action of this book centered on the same old arms race between countries on Earth. Sure, the moral of the story was perhaps clearer here than in the previous books, but probably more as a foot stomp to make sure the readers got the point of the entire series. If I were to recommend the Themis Files again, I’d suggest readers stick to just the first book.

An ending that tied up loose ends but didn’t particularly wow, I give Only Human 3.0 stars out of 5.

Reviewer's Name: Benjamin W.
H Is For Hawk
Macdonald, Helen
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

A book you can't put down, but have to in order to digest each chapter fully. Macdonald ties in the experience of grief with her study and work with the most violent falcons. Reflective, penetrating, psychic, and wise - Macdonald connects seemingly unrelated topics to the basics of the human condition - effortlessly, as if her words are music and poetry flowing in and out of various moments in time. A book you will want to re-read once you finish it. Truly an original piece of work!

Reviewer's Name: Nora
Uprooted
Novik, Naomi
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

One of my first experiences with the writing of Naomi Novik was with Spinning Silver . This Rumpelstiltskin retelling was quite interesting and complex compared to the original fairy tale it was based on. Realizing this was the second in a “series” (of which I’m using this term loosely), I eventually sought this book’s predecessor. Uprooted seems to be an adaptation of eastern European folktales, but with more of the romance aspect that I expect from these kinds of fantasy books.

As with other fairy tale retellings, Uprooted starts off with plenty of tropes from the Grimm fairy tales. Dragons stealing maidens from their families, peasant farmers in poverty, things like that. It continues into the predictable tropes of the Dragon being misunderstood and the fair maiden resisting his cold personality long enough to have him warm up to her. Fortunately, this book is deeper than the tropes it was based on. The depth of the story is partly why it's much longer than the common folktales it might be based on.

I appreciated the magic system and the descriptions of how it felt to use this magic. I thought the cursed woods trope was developed in a much more interesting way than you usually see in these kinds of stories. The eventual romance between the two characters was telegraphed for a while, leading to a slow burn that was fairly erotic. About my only qualm with this book was the audiobook narration. The narrator had an authentic sounding eastern European accent, which fit the story's potential origins, but at the cost of being unable to understand what she was saying sometimes.

A deeply rich fairy tale with both old and new tropes, I give Uprooted 4.0 stars out of 5.

Reviewer's Name: Benjamin W.
Awards:
Genres:
Elon Musk
Isaacson, Walter
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson is a tremendous book from start to finish. It captures the complete story of the billionaire and does not hesitate upon showing the many struggles he overcame to reach the level he is at today. It is completely unbiased and shows the many positives and negatives of Musk's personality. The amount of detail cannot be found within any other Musk paragraph. I highly recommend this book to readers with aspirations of starting their own business.

Reviewer's Name: Rhythm
Einstein's Dreams
Lightman, Alan P.
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review:

I can appreciate poetic works that try to string each idea together into a connected narrative. I've seen few that have done this as well as Einstein's Dreams has. Of course, the problem with trying to make all these disparate poems work together is that they are still just brief glimpses into stories that could easily stand on their own. Perhaps that's the curse of well-written poetry—it leaves you wanting more. I'd almost consider these stories as writing prompts for anyone looking to make an entire book out of the dreams of the world's best physicist.

Many of the stories in this collection/novel play upon the ideas of general relativity. The way the physics is described and how the people in these worlds live feel legitimately realistic. Of course, sometimes the physics "gimmick" isn't revealed until the end of a story, thus leaving me in the dark as to what was actually happening as I read through the dream. I didn't have enough patience to read through these stories again to fully understand the way their worlds worked.

As a cohesive narrative, there isn't much that advances the story here. It's mostly focused on exploring interesting applications of theoretical physics in the terms of people and their lives. Some are stronger than others, but they're all basically the same idea repeated a couple dozen times in slightly different packaging. And maybe I was expecting something more like Shakespeare in Love (1998) where Einstein's dreams help him break through the concepts he's trying to discover. Instead, the titular character is only in a few pieces of joining text that frame the whole collection. But at least the prose was pretty.

Poetic exploration of theoretical physics, I give Einstein's Dreams 3.0 stars out of 5.

Reviewer's Name: Benjamin W.
Anita De Monte Laughs Last
Gonzalez, Xochitl
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Gonzales is both a non-fiction and fiction writer, whose excellent articles I've read in well-known publications like The Atlantic Monthly. This book is the first novel of hers I've read, and I was not disappointed.

Our two key narrators are Anita, a Latina artist whose husband, we discover right away, killed her in 1980s New York City; and Raquel, a Latina art student in late 1990s Rhode Island, trying to find her way in a predominantly white and privileged community while also maintaining and respecting her cultural roots.

Both Anita (who narrates from the world of the dead and who can use a form of Santeria to manifest her actions and "essence" to people still living) and Raquel share the experience of falling for privileged and self-involved white men, both of whom are controlling and abusive in various ways. While Anita is a fighter to the last, Raquel's self-confidence rises slowly but steadily throughout the novel until the finale when readers see her blossom into a woman who can and will stand up for herself and for her family and true friends.

Beyond the two women's dangerous (and in Anita's case. deadly) relationships with controlling white men, the other linked plotline centers on Anita's art work being gradually erased after her death and the promise that Raquel will somehow unearth those works and breathe new life into them. My only quibble with the progress of this plotline is that its resolution felt rather rushed, not quite providing the satisfaction that a slower, longer narrative of Anita's re-discovery would have.

Gonzales's writing style is propulsive in parts and poetic in others. Her two protagonists are drawn vividly, and even without the named alternating chapters, it would be hard to confuse one voice with another. The conclusion of both narrators' stories shines a light on the importance of women defining themselves outside their roles in men's lives. I think Gonzales also does well to portray Anita and Raquel not simply as victims of male violence and general douche-baggery but as flawed, smart, emotionally conflicted women whose sexual and romantic decisions are as fraught with passion and blind spots as any real-life woman's is.

Reviewer's Name: Janele
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands
Beaton, Kate
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

Having only really experienced Kate Beaton's web comic, Hark! A Vagrant and her sillier material, I was interested to see how a graphic novel of her life would play out on the printed page. I was shocked to find her somewhat whimsical style had so much emotion for a story that was assuredly a difficult one to tell. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands is as gripping as it is frustrating that such working conditions remain this dangerous for women.

Telling the story of how Beaton paid off her student loans from art school in the fastest way possible, Ducks highlights the misogyny and sexism present in the (frankly) male-dominated field of petroleum. Working on the oil sands isn't safe in a physical sense, but add to that the "hanging with the guys" tropes that eventually lead to assault. It was hard to read sections of this book, knowing that men should be better than this. Beaton pours her trauma out on the page and it stuck with me in a way that only a graphic novel like this could convey.

I'd say that this book should be required reading for both men and women going into these fields, but I know it probably wouldn't change anything. There's too much inertia to effect the significant changes that would need to happen. This shouldn't lessen discussions about the depression, substance abuse, and suicide that men in these jobs endure, but instead highlight the tenuous strengths and inevitable weakness of humans pushed to their breaking points. For some, though, it is a lifestyle. For the lucky ones, they make it out alive in as little time as possible—which is still long enough to have lasting negative effects on their lives.

A deeply moving memoir about women working in a male-dominated field, I give Ducks 5.0 stars out of 5.

Reviewer's Name: Benjamin W.
After Earth
David, Peter
1 star = Yuck!
Review:

It's weird how a bit of hindsight brings a work into full focus. I never watched the movie After Earth (2013) because of its critical reception among audiences and critics alike. I figured maybe I would give the novel a try, not realizing it was not some work that the movie adapted, but instead a novelization of the movie itself. This was clearly a Will Smith passion project and never have I seen such blatant self-inserts in a work of fiction.

While the author of this novelization may be Peter David, Will Smith was behind much of this plot. Seeing the home life of the adult character in this book mirroring the home life that we know between Will and Jada is cringe-worthy. What's worse is that these characters (either the Will or the Jaden stand-ins) were so flat and boring as to be completely worthless. The plot that drives their adventure felt so juvenile that any group of six-year-olds could think it up playing on a playground. It's almost laughable that there were signs this was meant to be a bigger series.

Ultimately, After Earth is frustrating. It's a mediocre story with lackluster ideas. But, since a rich and famous person wanted to make it, Hollywood and Random House spent a lot of money to get it made. Thinking of all the fantastic (and nearly hidden) indie stories out there that will never get the amount of exposure that this bomb got makes me sad for the entertainment industry. Sure, sometimes there are breakthroughs, but these are rare as the rough edges of interesting works are sanded off to become marketable to the masses.

A nepotism story with no subtlety, I give After Earth 1.0 stars out of 5.

Reviewer's Name: Benjamin W.
Legion: Skin Deep
Sanderson, Brandon
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Multiple personalities is one of those tropes that some writers use as a crutch to explain why their main character is so good at a litany of unique skills necessary to move the plot forward. And while the main character in Legion suffers from this superhuman trait, Brandon Sanderson still gives him enough weaknesses so that it's not entirely overpowered. Still, I can appreciate that this concept only took up three novellas (contained in this volume), since it can often overstay its welcome.

Each of the stories revolves around Stephen Leeds, a super-genius investigator who has portioned off his polymath of abilities to different personalities in his head. These personalities take up a physical space around him, even if nobody else can see them. Some of the "rules" around these invisible characters didn't seem to make much sense since they're allegedly all in Stephen's head, but I guess a character like this needs a Kryptonite to prevent him from solving all his problems so easily. I also had to suspend my disbelief with the mysteries Stephen was investigating, mostly rolling my eyes at the unbelievable nature of these concepts.

Overall, though, this trilogy of novellas is a solid read. It's basically a novel in three parts, as I've read full books longer than these three novellas put together. The unique personalities of the "personalities" were all quite entertaining, even if they overshadowed Stephen's somewhat milquetoast characteristics. The engineer in me wanted to know more about how this specific form of multiple personality disorder functioned, since it was a unique take on the disability. At any rate, if you're a fan of Sanderson's work, this is a quick read that proves he knows how to write in short form as well as his standard epic-length books.

An overdone trope that doesn't overstay its welcome, I give Legion 4.0 stars out of 5.

Reviewer's Name: Benjamin W.