I read THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU while on a plane over the Atlantic, and by the end, I was very, very pleased to be on the ground again because nobody wants to crash land on any of the tiny islands in literature.

I haven't read classics lately, so reading Wells was like reacquainting myself with an old room. All the tropes were just where I left them: the Romantic, fainting male protag, the gruesome science born out of isolation, the wondering about the role of compassion in scientific study, and post-Industrial Revolution man's struggle with nature. It was lovely to see them all used again. Almost comforting. That being said, nothing sparkled or stood out with me. Sure, as a writer, I understand how big an impact THE ISLAND and other of Wells' work was for scifi literature. I have a better idea of what's been done with island stories too. However, for me, living in a post-Wells world, nothing super revolutionary happened.

Wells' ability to fascinate, horrify, and ensnare readers doesn't change when the reader is out of high school though. If you're looking for a cozy, deft Victorian read, THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU is a great choice, along with anything else by this master of scifi.

Vaughn is an author who sneaks up on you. You go in expecting a relaxing supernatural read and suddenly it's 3 in the morning and you're halfway through the book and already despairing about reaching the end of those pages. Vaughn's world is utterly engrossing, and the little, real world details are marvelous. The book's sense of balance is also spot on, with each story adding dimension to Kitty's already created world and spicing it all with nostalgia for characters regular readers know so well. Plus, the back section also has little paragraphs about each story, and it was nice to hear all the thought Vaughn puts in her short fiction. Her emphasis on compassion and diversity shines through too, and it tickled me pink.

Overall, my heart reached it's full line of glee with this and I'm happy I own a copy so I can re-read it someday.

I loved LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, so when PIERCED BY THE SUN was available on Kindle, I snatched it up. Esquivel does not disappoint. The conversational style, the tribute to Mexico, the curling plot: I was hooked. This is short, beautiful read.

This book was a tough pill to swallow. James takes the familiar topics of Jamaican slave revolt and focuses in through the lens of language and sexuality. Greek myth and black magic also become familiar motifs, and the usual themes of racism, misogyny, classism, and the depths of human cruelty rear their ugly, blood-soaked heads.

And boy, was this book full of gore. Absolutely not for the faint of heart. In some chapters, every word was a violence.

Yet, James' mastery shows. His characters don't just leap off the page, they are a living, breathing word. Everyone felt authentic and real. Lilith was an interesting choice of POV because she's not the center of the rebellion. She's awkwardly in the middle throughout the novel, and it's amazing how my feelings about this changed from frustration to relief. James had me wrapped around his little finger, and I felt I was in good hands, despite the need to vomit several times.

Seriously, though, don't read this if you're at all triggered by sexual violence, body horror, slurs, torture, or the n-word. The reason I didn't give THE BOOK OF NIGHT WOMEN 5 stars is I couldn't take it at some points and wished James hadn't lovingly gone over every detail. I'm torn between remembering the horrors of slavery and keeping my lunch in my stomach. I never want this book silenced: with all its terror, it's beautiful too. A beautiful, dripping, cursed heart.