It’s time again to ask ourselves the three W’s:
What would you do if you were the last human?
Would you try to learn your history?
Would you want to know why?
Wait, no, that’s not right. We ask these three W’s:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
★★★☆☆ || Goodreads
This book was a little hard to follow and not quite what I was expecting, but I think it was also a really important, poignant narrative about black lives and the sort of struggle that some people still face in this country. It absolutely broke my heart from the very beginning to know that Ella was seeing these little babies ending up dying violently on the streets. I absolutely loved Onyebuchi’s writing style and will definitely be checking out more of his work. This one, though, just didn’t completely work for me. The story was a bit choppy and hard to piece together for me, and the ending just wasn’t very satisfactory to me. It felt too open, and I still had so many questions left unanswered.
The Fox & the Little Tanuki Vol. 1 by Mi Tagawa
★★★★☆ || Goodreads
This was a really cute little graphic novel about a Tanuki who was abandoned by his family because of his magic. In order to have a chance to learn to control his powers and become a helper to the Goddess, he’s put in the (reluctant) care of an evil fox being given a second chance, who would rather not, thanks. I’m loving the found family aspect of this, and the artwork is just adorable!
The Accursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles: Book One by Haiko Hornig
★★★★★ || Goodreads
I was sort of surprised by this one, because I figured I’d either hate it or love it … and I love it! I’m really looking forward to the next one. It’s funny and random and just the sort of story that’s so fun to read. The people are drawn a bit simplistic, which annoys me a bit (though it’s been suggested by someone that this is to set a distinction between the people and the background and to make them stand out). The backgrounds in this are absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous. I’m just so in love with the art in this.
The Count of Monte Cristo: Manga Classics by Alexandre Dumas
★★★☆☆ || Goodreads
So, it’s been a long time since I read the original Count of Monte Cristo, so I was curious to see what it looked like in graphic novel form. It was a little hard to follow the story, and this relied heavily on exposition frames still, but you know what? I like it. I think this is much more accessible and likely to be read by younger audiences than the original, which is … dry and boring. Sorry, but I said it. I sat down and read this graphic novel in one night, and it was pretty easy to get through, while still retaining that classic/formal speech style. I also enjoyed the art style, which is part of why I picked this up in the first place (because that cover is just gorgeous!).
Reviews Posted This Week
The Last Human by Zack Jordan
Status: 73%
The last human in the universe is on the run from a godlike intelligence in this rip-roaring debut space opera.
Sarya is the civilized galaxy’s worst nightmare: a Human.
Most days, Sarya doesn’t feel like the most terrifying creature in the galaxy.
Most days, she’s got other things on her mind. Like hiding her identity among the hundreds of alien species roaming the corridors of Watertower Station. Or making sure her adoptive mother doesn’t casually eviscerate one of their neighbors. Again.
And most days, she can almost accept that she’ll never know the truth–that she’ll never know why humanity was deemed too dangerous to exist. Or whether she really is–impossibly–the lone survivor of a species destroyed a millennium ago.
That is, until an encounter with a bounty hunter and a miles-long kinetic projectile leaves her life and her perspective shattered.
Thrown into the universe at the helm of a stolen ship–with the dubious assistance of a rebellious spacesuit, an android death enthusiast on his sixtieth lifetime, and a ball of fluff with an IQ in the thousands–Sarya begins to uncover an impossible truth.
What if humanity’s death and her own existence are simply two moves in a demented cosmic game, one played out by vast alien intellects? Stranger still, what if these mad gods are offering Sarya a seat at their table–and a second chance for humanity?
The Last Human is a sneakily brilliant, gleefully oddball space-opera debut–a masterful play on perspective, intelligence, and free will, wrapped in a rollicking journey through a strange and crowded galaxy.
This book has been … not quite what I expected? Better, almost. I was expecting something along the lines of Douglas Adams, and while I absolutely love Douglas Adams, I have a hard time following his books sometimes because they’re all over the place. This book is humor, and it’s definitely funny, but it’s more space opera than humor (as opposed to, say, Douglas Adams, whose focus seems to be on humor and absurdity more than anything).
What I was really surprised to find is that it has almost a philosophical bent. There are a lot of philosophical discussions, from one’s place in the universe, to whether luck exists at all, to what constitutes intelligent life, and so many other things in between. I’m enjoying this aspect of it, but I’ll also admit that at this point in the book, the story is slowing down quite a bit to sort of wax philosophical and it’s a bit harder to get through. I really enjoyed the beginning, though.
Cursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales edited by Marie O’Regan & Paul Kane
Status: pg 147/357
Fairy tales take a weird twist in this anthology compiling stories from an all-star cast of fantasy writers, including stories from Neil Gaiman, Charlie Jane Anders and Alison Littlewood.
Here in this book you’ll find unique twists on the fairy tale conceit of the curse, from the more traditional to the modern – giving us brand new mythologies as well as new approaches to well-loved fables. Some might shock you, some might make you laugh, but they will all impress you with their originality.
Sooo … this is still here. xD I’ve been swamped this week, since my daughter’s been home and I have added “teacher” to my list of titles. I am so not cut out for this. I should be finishing this one today, though, and I look forward to telling you about some of my favorites on Friday! These stories are all so different, but I’ve found so many already that I absolutely love, and I can’t wait to finish the rest!
Sooo … I didn’t read as much as I’d hoped, and for now, I don’t see being able to read as much as I’d like … for a while. Schools are closed here for at least another month (if they don’t extend it again), and I still have to work my regular hours, so … I’m exhausted lol.
Night of the Dragon and Time of Dread are still both on my list. I need to at least start them soon. At the sake of not shooting too high here, since I don’t know what my time situation is going to look like, I’m just going to add Wicked Saints to my list, since the sequel comes out soon. This is one I’ve been looking forward to reading since it came out and I rushed out and bought a copy. And then it just sat there. Because wow am I bad at follow-through.
I am finished up a horror novel, The Forever House, and then will be starting the next Longmire book as a series buddy read I’m doing this year with my friend Stormi.
I am sure you’re a great teacher. So many people are adapting to different titles right now. I feel badly for the kids whose parents won’t even try (I investigated abuse and neglect for numerous years so I know they are out there). Think of how far behind they will be. Hang in there!
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I really need to read the Longmire series. Are the books anything like the show? My grandmother loved them, and I’ve been sort of curious about them.
I feel bad for those kids, too. It’s a struggle, because when my Minion is home, she wants to be home. So she rushes through work and gets annoyed when she has to go back and redo it because she didn’t read the directions. She’s getting better at it, though. I got her through the reading comprehension part by bribing her that our science would be watching volcanoes explode and learning about them, so that worked well. xD
Enjoy your reading! I loved Wicked saints, and can’t wait to pick up Night of the dragon!
I just finished all my current reads, so time to pick up something new! Probably The flatshare, sicne I feel like I need something light 🙂
(www.evelynreads.com)
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I’m glad to hear it! I can’t wait to read all these books. I’m definitely excited about my upcoming read list. I hope you enjoy The Flatshare!
The last Human sounds intriguing. I don’t know. I love Douglas Adams although I agree with you that it can be kinda confusing with the sheer load of things. I get why you might just be a little overwhelmed. 🙂
I hope you’ll get the hang of things with you teaching. There are a lot of good websites that might help. But I guess you have them already in your repertoire. 😉
I do love Douglas Adams, too. But I guess I just wasn’t expecting this to be as plot-driven rather than character-driven, but it’s definitely more space opera than humor. Which isn’t a *bad* thing, it’s just a thing. 🙂
Thanks! We do certainly have an array of websites to help with it, thank goodness. Today went a lot better than yesterday, so I guess it’s looking up haha.
I’m actually glad to hear The Last Human isn’t as Douglas Adams heavy as I thought, since I’m not a fan of his humor. Hoping to read it soon! Good luck with the home schooling thing. I personally feel schools should not be expecting parents to do this😐
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It was funny, but it wasn’t the absurd humor like Adams, so I think if Adams was *too much*, then this might be more your speed humor-wise. 🙂 I hope you enjoy it! It’s more space opera than humor, in my opinion, with a fun philosophical bent that makes my head hurt a little bit haha.
Thanks. I’m definitely gonna need the luck. I don’t mind doing it, as the parent, but unfortunately, all the kids in the class get the same packet. And it’s a big range of kids. My Minion is ahead, so today we’ve finished all her work that’s due … next Friday. It just wasn’t challenging enough for her to learn anything. Just busy work, really. So my hardest thing is just finding something to actually help her progress and not stagnate.
The fairy tails anthology seems so intriguing (at least the cover does). I’m interested to see what you think of it when you finish it. Wicked Saints was also on my TBR list but I’m not sure when I’ll get around to it.
I really liked Cursed! It was every bit as dark and twisted as it promised. 🙂 I’ve already started Wicked Saints, and I’m in love with it. I’m hoping that doesn’t change. xD
Very interested in Riot Baby still, will keep in mind about the writing as I head into it (hopefully this weekend). Great reviews!
I hope you enjoy it!
I hope you will enjoy Wicked Saints! I really enjoyed that one and I’m looking forward to read the sequel soon. Happy reading! xx
I just started reading it (since I have an ARC of the sequel), and I’m loving it so far!