This is a really lovely collection of stories.  Sometimes moving . Sometimes comic. Sometimes odd. Profoundly queer at all times

A very medium collection but I absolutely loved “Kikimora” by Sofija Ana Zovko. 

This is an absolutely gorgeous story about two friends who are trying to be eco-conscious when they come across a trapped whale. The audiobook is beautifully produced and you get caught up in the drama as adult or child alike. Vital for any children who like marine life, care about the planet, or are looking for a short but beautifully crafted adventure story.

Owlish is a strange, magical-realistic exploration of shifting society through a man's midlife crisis. The professor at the heart of the story develops an obsession with a life size doll who he takes to a secret place to live out his fantasies with. As their interactions progress, the doll seems to be getting more and more life-like. Coppélia meets Murakami.  

This is an engaging and comprehensive study of Chinese cuisine, layered with history and cultural insights. It is the perfect gift for a foodie friend who reads. I found the focus on a "Western" audience a little too prominent and it distracted me from the study of the food and understanding new things. The "meat and two veg are so boring" narrative got especially tedious with some classicist components in the styling of the "average" Britain. The comparision-as-illustration device said more about the author than the reader. It kept foregrounding her assumptions about who might be reading and not the amazing depth of understanding she was offering.

Wow. I loved this poetry collection. I've been picking up many of the works published in this series and Sanah Ahsan's is my favourite to date. The poems span queer intimacy, family, grief, spirituality, racism, and many other topics. Ahsan's style of expression is so rhythmic but also delicate. I found several poems profoundly moving and I've gone back to read more than one several times since I recieved the e-ARC from Netgalley. Certain this will be one of my poetry collections of the year (even though we are only a few days in.)

This poetry collection is special. My copy is tabbed and highlighted. It oscilates between social commentary, reflections on the condition of the wider world, and intimate poems about closeness and how fragile it is. I can't wait to read it again.