(read as single issues)

I will be honest, I waited awhile between reading issues of this and then I got p confused about the plot. I still enjoyed all the character moments but also, wait, what.

(read as single issues)

Do I feel like this all tied into something I hadn't read or didn't remember? yes

Did I enjoy it anyway? also yes

I especially loved the focus on women's backchannels and Wakanda's role in pan-African issues. And also the guest visits from Tony Stark, Rocket, and Groot were very charming.

this is a GORGEOUS book, very atmospheric and character-driven. It took me a little while to get into this world, but once I was in, I was IN. I struggled a bit with the...not exactly magical realism but the light fantasy, I guess? Sometimes it was hard for me to tell what was actually meant to be happening? Maybe it all was? Maybe it doesn't matter, since I was all in for the characters regardless of what they might or might not actually be doing. I especially loved seeing the acknowledgment of queer characters in historical fiction and the varying levels of acceptance that could be found for them among different cultures.

can you BELIEVE this book was published in 1978 and it still holds ALL THE WAY UP???



http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-127-sideways-stories-from-wayside-school/

I read this all in one day! (An ideal way to spend a holiday!) It's a really enjoyable read about messy people who you can really root for. I particularly appreciate the value placed on platonic friendships (and friend...not quite breakups, but friend status changes)? Also--as to be expected from Linda Holmes--the casual way that pop culture knowledge can say a lot (or not) about a person. A nice summery dose of feels.

Hmm hmm hmm. There's a lot I liked here--the art is gorgeous, I loved reading about Charlie's story and I think this raises a lot of important issues--questions of faith, microaggressions, macroaggressions, sexuality, gender, Nature... but I guess I didn't realize that this was a collection of a webcomic, and I guess I.................kind of question the decision to collect this at this point in time? The story doesn't come to a conclusion and since it's building up to such an obvious next step (the peak of the mountain) it feels like....IDK maybe could have waited longer before releasing this in print? Just go full [b:Blankets|25179|Blankets|Craig Thompson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460925949i/25179._SX50_.jpg|781193], Melanie!

I really enjoyed this one! I've never been particularly drawn to the "enemies-to-lovers" trope but here it really clicked for me--their "enemyship" started from a misunderstanding when Sana tried to ask Rachel out but Rachel assumed it was a mean joke because Sana was obviously too beautiful and cool to be actually interested in Rachel. Cute??? Except Rachel really lashes out and holds a grudge. For years! Rachel!

Anyway so I really bought these two and their dramatique love story, and I loved what this book is doing against "Not Like Other Girls" syndrome. And I loved the way Sana and Rachel both find inspiration from their respective religious/cultural backgrounds--not in a huge way but it definitely shapes both of them and just like, perfectly spells out what's so lovely about #OwnVoices stuff and how great it is to read books from perspectives that are different from my own!!!

I'm excited that Seanan McGuire is writing for Marvel! I'm less excited about another big crossover event that I guess this tied into?? I haven't read any of the other, uh, Spider-Geddon (sure) books and at first this was a lil confusing. I guess I got the gist of it but, ugh, quit it.

That said, I love Seanan's writing and the way Gwen's personality shines out here despite the confusing setting! I'm excited to read continuing volumes where hopefully we can just get Gwen being Gwen without so much multi-verse shenanigans.

I didn't realize that Millenneagram is a big online thing; I just saw this on a new books list and took it on impulse because the title was kind of funny and I'm really soft for personality test nonsense. It's a very aesthetically appealing book and it definitely assumes you already have some familiarity with the Enneagram system. It has a quick and dirty quiz to sort you--which was WRONG for me, it pegged me as a Two when I'm obviously a Nine. How dare.

Anyway, I liked her humorous tone and there are some good insights in here, if you're into this kind of thing. Which I am. If you're not already, this won't convert you.

I was completely unfamiliar with Jen Pastiloff when I picked this up--which was interesting, because a good chunk of the memoir is about how her increasing online popularity changed her life, etc. But you can't win everybody I guess! I'm glad I heard of her now!

This is definitely a bit woo-y and The Secret-adjacent, but in the way that I like, not the kind that full-on blames poor people for being poor. The writing is lovely. It's very good for the kind of thing that it is; if you don't already like this kind of self-helpy memoir this one probably won't convert you.