Paying the Land by Joe Sacco – 5 stars I read piece of graphic journalism for my graphic narrative class and thought it was absolutely stunning. Sacco explores the history and current status of the Dene, an indigenous tribe in Canada. The artwork is stunning, and Sacco has clearly done his research.
All the Good Little Girls Keep Quiet by K. Kibbee – 2 stars I received a copy of this coming-of-age story from NetGalley. Though I liked the focus on a mother/daughter relationship, but I had some major issues with the pacing of the story that led to me being disappointed. Full Review
The Professor by Charlotte Brontë – 3 stars This was my first read for Victober. It’s dull overall, but I enjoyed comparing it to Brontë’s later works to see how she developed as a novelist. I wouldn’t suggest it for anyone who isn’t a big Brontë fan though. Full Review
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – 4 stars This was my second read for Victober, and it was more successful than the first. I should have read this far sooner. The story is excellent and I’m in love with Wilde’s writing. Full Review
Nunavik by Michel Hellman – 3 stars This was another read for my graphic narratives course. It is a travel memoir about Hellman’s trip to Nunavik, a northern part of Quebec that is home to the Inuit. I wasn’t keen on the art style and found that Hellman was more focused on himself than the actual place he was visiting and the people there. It was fine, but a little disappointing after reading Sacco’s Paying the Land.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender – 5 stars I listened to this wonderful piece of literary fiction on audiobook. It was my favorite book of the month. I loved Bender’s writing style and the main character, Rose. Full Review
Sunshine by Robin McKinley – 3 stars This was one of the two October books for Forgotten YA Gems, a book club on Goodreads that focuses on MG, YA, and NA books published over five years ago. McKinley is a favorite author of mine, and I was excited to see her take on vampires. While her world building was great, I found this wasn’t as well written as her other books.
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins – 5 stars This was my third and final read for Victober and easily my favorite of the month. Honestly, this is probably my favorite classic mystery novel ever. Collins does a great job crafting the mystery and his characters are fantastic. Full Review
The Photographer by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Fréderic Lemercier – 4 stars This memoir was another book for my graphic narratives class. It combines Lefèvre’s photographs and comics to tell the story of his to Afghanistan with Médecins Sans Frontières. It’s a gorgeous book, though difficult due to the subject matter.
White Ivy by Susie Yang – 2 stars I received this book from NetGalley, where it was listed as a thriller and literary fiction. It ultimately turned out to be neither. While Yang does a good job building up tension and hinting at potentially dark secrets, she failed to deliver any payoff, leaving me disappointed at the end of the book. Full Review
A Literary Princess 