Take a photo of a barcode or cover
purplepenning's Reviews (1.72k)
Some favorite elephant wisdom:
A first friend is a true gift, because forever after, your heart knows what's possible.
I suppose that's one of the hardest parts of growing up … Realizing that grown-ups don't have all the answers. Realizing that the answers may have to come from you.
"The ones we love" says Aunt Akello, "live forever in our hearts."
We are not our best selves without kindness … We are not our best selves without wonder … We are not our best selves without courage … We are not our best selves without gratitude.
To be born elephant is a great gift. To be part of a herd is to be part of this beautiful world. But make no mistake: that does not mean you should blindly follow your herd. It does mean we must strive for connection despite our differences.
I am a ship that's built to ride the greatest waves … I'm not built with hammers. I'm built with hearts. What kind of ship am I? Friendship!
"Every day" says Aunt Akello, "pick a quiet time and ask yourself these two questions. 'What gifts did the world give you today? What gifts did you give the world?" … All at once I'm hearing Aunt Stella's voice, as if she's standing right there next to me, asking me, with different words, the same two questions: What amazed you today, little Ruby? What made you proud? I never lost her. She was here with me all along.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent
The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder is a cozyish mystery uniquely situated in the world of high-stakes antiques dealing and featuring an interesting niece-aunt team of amateur sleuths. Unlike other reviewers, I appreciated the narrator shifts and thought they added to the insight and enjoyment of the reading experience. The found-family vibes, the thoughts on aging, the reflections on past mistakes and course correcting, the plucky courage of the elderly aunt and the reemerging analytical courage of the middle-aged niece — all work to give this a little more depth and intrigue than a typical cozy mystery might have. If this is the beginning of a series, I'd definitely check out the next one.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Vomit
Survival, and even atonement, turned out to be second-best motivations. Tonight wasn't just about stealing [the] portrait; it was about stealing their lives back.
Resist the false expectations of the rom-com/cozy caper title and cover and you'll have a much better chance of enjoying this. The Frame-Up leans a little more gritty than cozy caper and the romance is a nice subplot but not the point. It delivers a coordinated team-heist style adventure with paranormal elements, a bit of mystery, some historical context, big mother-daughter drama, and a found-family core. I like a little my heists with a little more humor, but the main character, the mystery, and the historical backstory kept me engaged.
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Abandonment