There isn't anything earthshaking here that hasn't been said in other philosophies (stoicism and Buddhism primarily), but that doesn't make it superfluous unnecessary. This is a very accessible take on figuring out who you are, what your values are, and the art of acceptance.

Like therapy, self help books are about taking the bits that work for you and leaving the rest. There is no magic book that will be a guide cover to cover, and I think a lot of people forgot and criticize on those grounds. This book is no exception, but I do think there will be something in here for everyone regardless of where you are in life.

This series was like junk food, but in the good way. Once you opened the bag, you weren't satisfied until you reached the bottom. And then you shake out the crumbs for good measure.

This book starts with action and then does not pause until the end. Like for the characters, there is no time to catch your breath. I like the themes of family, chosen family, and self-sacrifice for both. I like the characters, though they're a bit one note in that their positive characteristics shown are also their negative ones. Not deep, but a great romp and exactly what you need sometimes.

I love this charming little book and think it's the perfect addition to any a October.

I'm a huge fan of Gaiman and his writing style, but I think it lends itself to this kind of material more than his books targeted at a more adult audience, (Stardust and Ocean at the End of the lane are favorites of mine for reference), and I think it's more similar to those than a standard off- the- shelf children's book.

Coraline in particular is very fairy tale adjacent without taking that final whimsical step into that, and as a result it has this grounded, accessible feel that let's you believe that just maybe a little magic might exist around us. And even when it's scary, it's the small magics of everyday life that keep me going.

This book is a ride that doesn't slow down until it screeches into its end point leaving questions, but still giving what felt like the most satisfying conclusion possible. And that's to its benefit, because the entire cast of characters is so unlikable I was rooting for the ocean at multiple points.

I'd be lying if I didn't say there wasn't an amount of pleasure witnessing this soap opera play out to (most) everyone's misfortune, though.

I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said. When I feel stuck in life and in time, this book is the ship that unchains me back into the now, the then, and the future. How can I be truly stuck if I'm experiencing so much all at once?

So it goes