Baba Yaga meets Name of the Wind meets gritty, vivid, cosmic horror. If you enjoy the Locked Tomb series, you may find this is your jam. Unsettling in the best possible ways. Excited for the sequel.
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They/them. Lemon drop, bruxa, sweet pea, badass, queer, Philadelphian. Lifter of weight; Reader of books; Lover of cats; Knitter of sweaters. Philosopher by training; product manager by trade
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Anathema finished reading The Border Keeper by Kerstin Hall
Anathema finished reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Anathema rated Yoke: The Union of Yoga and Life: 5 stars
Anathema finished reading Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
Anathema reviewed Japanese Minimalism by Nicole Garrod
Superficial, somewhat appropriative
1 star
There are certainly non-Japanese people who write with deep care, attention, and respect about Japanese culture, who study carefully and frame their outlook on their sources with transparency and delicacy.
This book is not that! This read as pretty superficial and appropriative to me. Wasn't a fan.
Anathema reviewed A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
Gay. Anti-colonial. Delightful.
5 stars
Sapphic Dandy MC, sword fights, anticolonialism, and a willingness to take on the most troubling aspects of the steampunk genre head on with humor and artistic flair. Loved it.
Anathema started reading Hardwiring happiness by Rick Hanson
Hardwiring happiness by Rick Hanson
"SEE THROUGH THE LIES YOUR BRAIN TELLS YOU Why is it easier to ruminate over hurt feelings than it is …
Anathema reviewed Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee
Anathema reviewed Listen Like You Mean It by Ximena Vengoechea
Anathema reviewed Homecoming by John Bradshaw
Dated, so take some things with a grain of salt.
4 stars
Recommended, with some caveats, by my therapist. Feels a little hokey, but in my third reading of this one in 7 years, I have come to see the value in the way that Bradshaw talks about and structures integration of a traumatic childhood.
Queer people, be aware: this was written in 1990, and published in 1992.
There is for sure some clinicalization of homosexuality that may not feel good. I recommend skipping past those references, but it may be too difficult for you to do so comfortably, and that's okay. <3
Anathema reviewed The Border Keeper by Kerstin Hall
I love an author who will not explain a single thing (Not Sarcasm)
5 stars
Absolutely exquisite. Riveting and heart wrenching. Cannot wait for the second book.
Violence: yes Sexual Scenes: no Body Horror: yes Cosmic Horror: YES
Anathema reviewed The Longing for Less by Kyle Chayka
About, not (necessarily) For, Minimalists.
5 stars
Finally, a deeper read on the history of minimalism, its links to the worlds of art, music, philosophy, ethics, and politics. I enjoyed this deeply. It challenged me, asked me to stretch, and rewarded me for doing so.
Anathema reviewed The Lost Art of Doing Nothing by Maartje Willems
Anathema reviewed Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow
CN worthy, but informative and interesting
4 stars
Big content note for alcohol and drug references, near constant in the first quarter of the book. If that content is sensitive for you, I would avoid this one.
That said, tons of very interesting dialogue especially around interracial friendship involving a white person.