Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.23k reviews by:
nuhafariha
Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Now available.
In Manon Heugel's inspiration coming of age comic, "Forte"we see a young girl begin to grow comfortable in her own skin. Young Flavia has not had an easy childhood. After watching her father get shot in her favaela, she and her mother have to make ends meet. With a little help from Mr. Lima, a retired pianist, Flavia discovers her hidden passion for music. With an unpredictable journey, Flavia will discover and honor her true identity. With warm illustrations and an uplifting tale, "Forte" is sure to make you smile. I especially enjoyed the way the author effortlessly fused French and Brazilian cultures in a memorable, relatable protagonist. An excellent young adult comic.
Now available.
In Manon Heugel's inspiration coming of age comic, "Forte"we see a young girl begin to grow comfortable in her own skin. Young Flavia has not had an easy childhood. After watching her father get shot in her favaela, she and her mother have to make ends meet. With a little help from Mr. Lima, a retired pianist, Flavia discovers her hidden passion for music. With an unpredictable journey, Flavia will discover and honor her true identity. With warm illustrations and an uplifting tale, "Forte" is sure to make you smile. I especially enjoyed the way the author effortlessly fused French and Brazilian cultures in a memorable, relatable protagonist. An excellent young adult comic.
Thank you to Alain Charles Asia Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available May 28 2020
Award winning author Su Tong's "Shadow of the Hunter" is in many ways a story retelling itself across Chinese landscape in time and space. The story unfolds in Red Toon Street at a mental institution where we meet our hero Baorun, a bondage savant using his skills to prevent his grandfather from digging up all the town's trees. When he meets the ethereal and esoteric Fairy Princess, the custodian's daughter, he falls in love instantly. With the help of his frenemy, Liu Sheng, he attempts to secure his love only to be rescinded many times. As the story deepens, we follow these three characters on their journey through life in rural China. I loved the complexity of Tong's characters, that not one is fully good or bad but somewhere in the middle. With an unique prosaic style, Tong enrapts his readers in an amusing tale
Available May 28 2020
Award winning author Su Tong's "Shadow of the Hunter" is in many ways a story retelling itself across Chinese landscape in time and space. The story unfolds in Red Toon Street at a mental institution where we meet our hero Baorun, a bondage savant using his skills to prevent his grandfather from digging up all the town's trees. When he meets the ethereal and esoteric Fairy Princess, the custodian's daughter, he falls in love instantly. With the help of his frenemy, Liu Sheng, he attempts to secure his love only to be rescinded many times. As the story deepens, we follow these three characters on their journey through life in rural China. I loved the complexity of Tong's characters, that not one is fully good or bad but somewhere in the middle. With an unique prosaic style, Tong enrapts his readers in an amusing tale
Thank you to Tin House Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available July 7th 2020
Set in the sultry, decadent and decaying Athens, Natalie Bakopoulos's second novel, "Scorpionfish" passes like a slow mirage. Dealing with the unexpected death of her parents, young academic Mira returns to her childhood home to reconcile with her past. She meets Capitan, an elder Greek man with his own demons, and Nefeli, a queer artist bringing light to contemporary Greek issues. As readers, we are transported with her to a Greece that revitalizes the olden days with equal parts passion and restraint. Bakopoulos's romantic prose will allure any reader to this salty city, so central to the story itself.
Available July 7th 2020
Set in the sultry, decadent and decaying Athens, Natalie Bakopoulos's second novel, "Scorpionfish" passes like a slow mirage. Dealing with the unexpected death of her parents, young academic Mira returns to her childhood home to reconcile with her past. She meets Capitan, an elder Greek man with his own demons, and Nefeli, a queer artist bringing light to contemporary Greek issues. As readers, we are transported with her to a Greece that revitalizes the olden days with equal parts passion and restraint. Bakopoulos's romantic prose will allure any reader to this salty city, so central to the story itself.
Thank you Abrams Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy
Available September 8th 2020
Guantanamo Bay is, as President George Bush famously declared it, an example of the "worst of the worst" in that it shows the dark side of American History. In Sarah Mirk's graphic anthology, "Guantanamo Voices", the malignant and horrific truth of the events that took place in Guantanamo come to life. With accounts from guards, defense attorneys, prosecutors and ex-detainees, Mirk places a face and a story to each of the 7600 page human rights violations committed on Guantanamo. It is a brutal read. I cried several times, especially at the story of Mansoor Adayfi, a prisoner who risked his life trying to protect the animals at the camp. To honor the memories of those who have suffered and continue to suffer endlessly under the American surveillance state, "Guantanamo Voices" is a necessary read.
Available September 8th 2020
Guantanamo Bay is, as President George Bush famously declared it, an example of the "worst of the worst" in that it shows the dark side of American History. In Sarah Mirk's graphic anthology, "Guantanamo Voices", the malignant and horrific truth of the events that took place in Guantanamo come to life. With accounts from guards, defense attorneys, prosecutors and ex-detainees, Mirk places a face and a story to each of the 7600 page human rights violations committed on Guantanamo. It is a brutal read. I cried several times, especially at the story of Mansoor Adayfi, a prisoner who risked his life trying to protect the animals at the camp. To honor the memories of those who have suffered and continue to suffer endlessly under the American surveillance state, "Guantanamo Voices" is a necessary read.
So so so cute ♥ and realistic and honestly? Like taking a teen version of the L word, only more ethical. I do wish we went more into Doodle's situation because that side story crept out of nowhere and was hella dramatic?? And the parental figures nonchalance with everything was shocking tbh. But other than that, very cute!
Funny and surprisingly deep, wong's first book is a meditation on her life, love and comedy
What does it mean to live a life? In a large way, Meng Jin's Little Gods describes a life through absence, dark particles, antimatter as Su Lan's daughter attempts to figure out her mother's true identity. Through scorned lovers, mothers and friends, we try to piece together Su Lan's life, a journey through a China we don't often see in movies or books. I loved Jin's voice, one that melds life philosophies and physics in an underhanded manner.
Thank you to Counterpoint Press & NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available August 4th 2020
Reminiscent of the film "Parasite", Yun Ko-eun's The Disaster Tourist is a fresh take on eco-tourism and the savior complex.
Meet The Jungle, a Korean tourism company that sends privileged tourists to disaster zones around the world. Whether it's the nuclear remnants of Chernobyl or the washed up remains of Nagasaki, these tours allow for individuals to experience both the macabre and the grit of the townspeople. When struggling Jungle employee Yona is sent to Mui, she hopes it can be the key to saving her career & perhaps the fate of the town itself. As she works with key players behind the scenes, Yona quickly learns just how much is at stake & what lengths the townspeople will go to make sure their town is a perfect disaster zone.
With a ever expanding narrative, Ko-eun's cleverly constructed narrative lends itself to the perfect metaphor. Just who or what is truly real and authentic anyway?
Highly recommend for a mind-bending read.
Available August 4th 2020
Reminiscent of the film "Parasite", Yun Ko-eun's The Disaster Tourist is a fresh take on eco-tourism and the savior complex.
Meet The Jungle, a Korean tourism company that sends privileged tourists to disaster zones around the world. Whether it's the nuclear remnants of Chernobyl or the washed up remains of Nagasaki, these tours allow for individuals to experience both the macabre and the grit of the townspeople. When struggling Jungle employee Yona is sent to Mui, she hopes it can be the key to saving her career & perhaps the fate of the town itself. As she works with key players behind the scenes, Yona quickly learns just how much is at stake & what lengths the townspeople will go to make sure their town is a perfect disaster zone.
With a ever expanding narrative, Ko-eun's cleverly constructed narrative lends itself to the perfect metaphor. Just who or what is truly real and authentic anyway?
Highly recommend for a mind-bending read.
Thank you to Perseus Books & NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available July 14th 2020
Like his beloved sprawling city, Mario Alejandro Ariza's "Disposable City" covers a lot of ground. With everything from immigration reform and American Indian/American Native activism to glitzy parks and million dollar housing markets, Ariza tries to show us the tangible and very real threat of climate change. In both personal encounters and research, Ariza puts together an intricate and foreboding warning. Even for a reader like me, who is not from Florida and doesn't know a lot about climate change, Ariza's text was engaging and educational. Personally, I enjoyed the he cleverly juxtapositions contrasting viewpoints, like disucssing the preservation of the Everglades from a Native perspective and from the Army perspective. Towards the end, I found myself nodding off a bit, only because the information can become repetitive and without clear, practical solutions, it can frustrating. But perhaps that's the start of another book from this author.
Available July 14th 2020
Like his beloved sprawling city, Mario Alejandro Ariza's "Disposable City" covers a lot of ground. With everything from immigration reform and American Indian/American Native activism to glitzy parks and million dollar housing markets, Ariza tries to show us the tangible and very real threat of climate change. In both personal encounters and research, Ariza puts together an intricate and foreboding warning. Even for a reader like me, who is not from Florida and doesn't know a lot about climate change, Ariza's text was engaging and educational. Personally, I enjoyed the he cleverly juxtapositions contrasting viewpoints, like disucssing the preservation of the Everglades from a Native perspective and from the Army perspective. Towards the end, I found myself nodding off a bit, only because the information can become repetitive and without clear, practical solutions, it can frustrating. But perhaps that's the start of another book from this author.
Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available August 25th 2020
Japanese noir fiction is a brand of its own and Seishi Yokomizo is its respected master as he proves in The Inugami Curse. Set against the gorgeous lakes and forests of Nasu, Japan, this is one hell of a murder mystery. When Sahei Inugami passes away, he leaves his vast inheritance to Tamayo and gives her three months to marry one of his three grandsons. As grief and murder follows the cursed Inugami clan, it is up to the affable and witty Detective Kindaichi to solve the crime. Along the way, we learn more about Sahei's storied past, the half he managed to keep out of national papers.
What I enjoyed the most is the understated manner of writing. It is genteel, yet gruesome, yet impactful. Every single clue means something and as the story slowly unveils itself, you find yourself falling deeper into its spell.
Available August 25th 2020
Japanese noir fiction is a brand of its own and Seishi Yokomizo is its respected master as he proves in The Inugami Curse. Set against the gorgeous lakes and forests of Nasu, Japan, this is one hell of a murder mystery. When Sahei Inugami passes away, he leaves his vast inheritance to Tamayo and gives her three months to marry one of his three grandsons. As grief and murder follows the cursed Inugami clan, it is up to the affable and witty Detective Kindaichi to solve the crime. Along the way, we learn more about Sahei's storied past, the half he managed to keep out of national papers.
What I enjoyed the most is the understated manner of writing. It is genteel, yet gruesome, yet impactful. Every single clue means something and as the story slowly unveils itself, you find yourself falling deeper into its spell.