Finding Five Star Reads
Welcome to my first reading vlog! I've been in a rut since November, so this video was a great way for me to reinvigorate my love for reading. In it, I talk about gross girl humor, aliens and monsters trying to be human, and losing my mind while book shopping. I found new favorites and five star reads in this video~
Go support your local library and indie bookstore! In this video I had a great reset day and enjoyed shopping in central Iowa. I went to The Little Book during their opening weekend. I thought it was a cute little store, but not necessarily a new favorite. It’s nice that it specializes in youth books, but I also love that they expanded their adult book section a lot since opening day. I then went to the Storyhouse Bookpub, which is a favorite of mine. The vibes are absolutely there, and they have a great curated selection of titles. When I went, they introduced their used book section. I thought it was nicely selected, but I didn’t find one to take home. I’m also used to small town Iowa used book prices, so I had to keep that in check while I was in the Des Moines metro.
Books mentioned and summaries:
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean's most notorious pirates, she's survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.
But when she's tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she's offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade's kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family's future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God's will.
Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there's more to this job, and the girl's disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there's always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power...and the price might be your very soul.
Girl Juice by Benji Nate
Welcome to the Girl Juice House, home of only the hottest gang in town. Benji Nate's stylish and rambunctious sense of humor lovingly takes digs at the young and tragically hip-reserved and introspective Nana, comically hypersexual Bunny, fledgling U-tuber Tula, and Designated Mom(TM) Sadie-as they navigate life, love, and the pursuit of a good time.
Girl Juice flaunts the gloriously messy and hilariously self-indulgent day-to-day hijinks of four young women doing the most. Watch them bicker over making rent and come up with creative solutions for getting there! Cringe as they attend an adult prom! Split your sides as they try their hand at camping! Cower as they confront their mommy issues, and cheer as they battle inner demons that feed off attention-seeking behavior!
Nate's colorful attention to detail and gift balancing for graphic hyperbole with subtle comedy are a deep, much-needed breath of fresh air. With front-facing cameras ever at the ready, Girl Juice is a snappy reminder that the time of your life is always just a text away.
Walking Practice by Dolki Min, translated from the Korean by Victoria Caudle
Dolki Min's haunting debut novel is part psychological thriller, part searing critique of the social structures that marginalize those who are different--the disabled, queer, and nonconformist. Walking Practice uncovers humanity in who we consider to be alien, and illuminates how alienation can shape the human experience.
The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren
It has Hikaru's face. It has Hikaru's voice. It even has Hikaru's memories. But whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn't Yoshiki's best friend. Whatever it is, it's dangerous. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed--as if Hikaru isn't gone--would be crazy...but when it looks so very like Hikaru...and acts so very like Hikaru...
