Tag Archives: feminism

Book Review Bonanza: Eventide, The Man He Never Was, and Motherland

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Eventide by Therese Bohman

cover125668-mediumEventide is a well-written novel about an intelligent, independent art professor named Karolina Andersson. Reflecting on her past and how she feels displaced in the present, it is an elegantly written novel bursting with art, sex, and the complexity of relationships. Therese Bohman demonstrates superb insight into Karolina’s choices that lead her to moments of regret, acceptance, happiness, and clarity. I very much enjoyed this novel.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The Man He Never Was by James L. Rubart

cover120714-mediumThe Man He Never Was is a fledgling attempt at a reimagining of the novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A man with anger issues wakes up one day to find he has been missing for months. All his anger gone, his family has moved on and he is on a quest for answers and redemption. It starts out ok and then quickly becomes bizarre, and not in an interesting way. Not on my list of books to recommend.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Motherland by G.D Abson

cover127741-mediumMotherland is a procedural crime novel set in modern-day St. Petersburg. Well written and fast-paced, it is a mystery that illustrates how corruption, bribery, and bigotry run rampant in this Russian town. Captain Natalya Ivanova must navigate through all this to find a missing girl. The author is adept at making the reader truly feel all the frustration and strict obstacles the detective faces. A great read, and hopefully this isn’t the only book starring Natalya.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown

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Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos is a smartly written introduction to one of the world’s most celebrated artists. It begins in childhood, where we learn about Frida’s life in the famous La Casa Azul. Frida had a menagerie of animals; a parrot, two monkeys, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a fawn, and a black cat. Frida lived most of her life at La Casa Azul with her family, pets, and eventual husband Diego Rivera. The story tells much about Frida, like when she contracted polio at age six. Though it is never called polio in the book, it does mention that one of her legs was shorter than the other. It also mentions the accident that happened when she was 18 that highly impacted her life. It spares the detail that it was a bus accident.

What this book does best is tell the story of how she persevered through illness and pain to become an amazing artist. We learn that Frida’s mother made her a special easel and hung a mirror over her bed so she could paint. Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos is about how Frida’s animals inspired her paintings. It explains how they often accompanied her in self-portraits. While reading, you get to enjoy a lush, lovely illustrated book with bright colors and beautiful pictures. With the young in mind, the author created a great resource for simplifying a complicated life. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to introduce children to the unforgettable legacy of Frida Kahlo and her work.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own. 

 

Book Review: The Girl Who Said Sorry by Hayoung Yim

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Capturesorry

I sat down with my 8-year-old daughter and read The Girl Who Said Sorry.  At her request, Ellie and I read it over and over. The more we read it, the more she would yell “sorry!” at the prompt. Her yells became more aggressive and confident as we went on. This book tells her what we should already know but are often not taught. No one should apologize for being themselves. I’ve tried to instill this in all three of my children, and her spunk came through while we read. No, she’s not sorry for dressing a certain way, or for eating something she enjoys. She is Ellie, and she roars.
 
The author has written a very important book for the young, old, and all gender identities. Stop being sorry for everything and start embracing who you are. Love yourself. A simple but powerful message written in a beautiful book. The Girl Who Said Sorry is a must read for our budding feminists. It’s also a must-read for ourselves, who continue to apologize for no reason. I’m not sorry I read this book with my daughter!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.